On a conjecture of Huang--Lian--Yau--Yu

We verify a formula on the solution rank of the tautological system arising from ample complete intersections in a projective homogeneous space of a semisimple group conjectured by Huang--Lian--Yau--Yu arXiv:1801.01194. As an application, we prove the existence of the rank one point for such a system, where mirror symmetry is expected.Comment: 8 pages. Comments are welcom

Comparing Cardiopulmonary Functions of National Race Walkers by Walking and Running during Graded Exercise Testing

PURPOSE This study aimed to identify a sport-specific assessment for elite race-walking athletes by comparing physiological responses between walking and running graded exercise test (GXT) protocols. METHODS Six elite race-walking athletes completed both walking and running protocols in a randomized crossover design with 1 week interval between trials. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), ventilation (VE), and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout and after each trial, and blood lactate levels were collected during the recovery period. RESULTS There were significant differences in VO2max, VE, and HR values between the walking and running protocols (p<.001). During the recovery period, VO2max, VE, HR, and blood lactate levels were significantly different in each measurement (p<.001); however, there was no difference between the walking and running protocols. CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, both the walking and running GXT protocols were inappropriate for assessing elite race-walking athletes. This study suggests that a supplement GXT protocol is required to specifically assess elite race-walking athletes

Recent progress of coherent beam combining Kumgang Laser (0.4J@10kHz/10ns)

A coherent beam combining is the most promising technique to achieve a high output energy and a high repetition rate laser system with a good beam quality [1]. It has been demonstrated experimentally that the coherent beam combination using self-phase-controlled stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugate mirror (SC-SBS-PCM) is the simplest coherent beam combination method [2-3]. For an average output power of a kW range, the experimental verification of coherent beam combination is now underway by the Kumgang laser [4-5]..

Minimally Invasive Irrigation for Lumbar Spinal Epidural Abscess using a Trans-Sacral Epiduroscopic Laser Decompression Catheter

We describe a case of a spinal epidural abscess that was successfully treated with minimally invasive irrigation using trans-sacral epiduroscopic laser decompression (SELD) catheter. A 66-year-old man experienced aggravating right leg pain and lower back pain for 1 month despite receiving several pain blocks at a local hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging scans showed annular fissure and bulging disc at the L4/5 level. Therefore, we decided to treat the L4/5 lesion using SELD. Laboratory studies demonstrated leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein level. However, we did not pay attention to the abnormal laboratory values before SELD. During SELD, we found a yellowish epidural abscess and pus drainage. Therefore, we irrigated the epidural abscess using an SELD catheter. His low back pain was relieved dramatically immediately after the procedure. The spinal epidural abscess completely resolved after 20 days of antibiotic treatment. Minimally invasive irrigation and drainage using a SELD catheter and intravenous antibiotic therapy are helpful for the treatment of spinal epidural abscess

Improvement in the hygroscopicity of inorganic binder through a dual coating process

The use of an anti-absorbent is proposed in this work to reduce the hygroscopicity of the inorganic binder in the casting mold, in which the anti-absorbent is coated on the mold prepared with an inorganic binder. Three types of polymers were used to select material with optimal water resistance. Polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used as a water-insoluble polymer and water-soluble polymer, respectively. In addition, polyurethane (PU) prepolymer has intermediate properties between PS and PVA. PVA and PU prepolymer were used for comparative testing with PS. For this testing process, the prepared green body was dipped into a solution of inorganic binder precursor mixed with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, SiO2 precursor) and sodium methoxide (NaOMe, Na2O precursor), and then dipped into a solution of coating reagent after a drying process. Thus, these series of coating processes in a green body is called a dual coating process. Finally the sample was heat-treated at 1000 °C to generate a glass phase by an organic–inorganic conversion process. In the sample prepared with PS, the highest contact angle and a high firing strength were exhibited, independent of polymer concentration, while the sample coated with PVA showed lower green and firing strengths. When prepolymer, PU, was applied, the green strength was remarkably improved, showing lower firing strength compared with that of PS. The green and firing strengths were optimized through the dual coating process with PS. Moreover, the moisture-proof effect of the dual coating process was verified through the moisture steam test

Recent progress of coherent beam combining Kumgang Laser (0.4J@10kHz/10ns)

A coherent beam combining is the most promising technique to achieve a high output energy and a high repetition rate laser system with a good beam quality [1]. It has been demonstrated experimentally that the coherent beam combination using self-phase-controlled stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugate mirror (SC-SBS-PCM) is the simplest coherent beam combination method [2-3]. For an average output power of a kW range, the experimental verification of coherent beam combination is now underway by the Kumgang laser [4-5]..

Impact of commercial cigarette smoke condensate on brain tissue co-cultured with astrocytes and blood-brain barrier endothelial cells

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of two commercial cigarette smoke condensates (CCSC) on oxidative stress and cell cytotoxicity in human brain (T98G) or astrocytes (U-373 MG) in the presence of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Cell viability of mono-culture of T98G or U-373 MG was markedly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and T98G was more susceptible than U-373 MG to CCSC exposure. Cytotoxicity was less prominent when T98G was co-cultured with HBMEC than when T98G was co-cultured with U-373 MG. Significant reduction in trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER), a biomarker of cellular integrity was noted in HBMEC co-cultured with T98G (HBMEC-T98G co-culture) and U-373 MG co-cultured with T98G (U-373 MG-T98G co-culture) after 24 or 48 hr CCSC exposure, respectively. TEER value of U-373 MG co-cultured with T98G (79-84%) was higher than HBMEC co-cultured with T98G (62-63%) within 120-hr incubation with CCSC. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by CCSC in mono-culture of T98G and U-373 MG reached highest levels at 4 and 16 mg/ml, respectively. ROS production by T98G fell when co-cultured with HBMEC or U-373MG. These findings suggest that adverse consequences of CCSC treatment on brain cells may be protected by blood-brain barrier or astrocytes, but with chronic exposure toxicity may be worsened due to destruction of cellular integrity.