Monitoring of multi-frequency polarization of gamma-ray bright AGNs

We started two observing programs with the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) monitoring changes in the flux density and polarization of relativistic jets in gamma-ray bright AGNs simultaneously at 22, 43, 86, 129 GHz. One is a single-dish weekly-observing program in dual polarization with KVN 21-m diameter radio telescopes beginning in 2011 May. The other is a VLBI monthly-observing program with the three-element VLBI network at an angular resolution range of 1.0--9.2 mas beginning in 2012 December. The monitoring observations aim to study correlation of variability in gamma-ray with that in radio flux density and polarization of relativistic jets when they flare up. These observations enable us to study the origin of the gamma-ray flares of AGNs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of the conference "The innermost regions of relativistic jets and their magnetic fields", Granada, Spai

Alterations in cell growth and signaling in ErbB3 binding protein-1 (Ebp1) deficient mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ErbB3 binding protein-1 (Ebp1) belongs to a family of DNA/RNA binding proteins implicated in cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation. However, the physiological role of Ebp1 in the whole organism is not known. Therefore, we generated <it>Ebp1</it>-deficient mice carrying a gene trap insertion in intron 2 of the <it>Ebp1 (pa2g4) </it>gene.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ebp1^-/-mice were on average 30% smaller than wild type and heterozygous sex matched littermates. Growth retardation was apparent from Day 10 until Day 30. IGF-1 production and IGBP-3 and 4 protein levels were reduced in both embryo fibroblasts and adult knock-out mice. The proliferation of fibroblasts derived from Day 12.5 knock out embryos was also decreased as compared to that of wild type cells. Microarray expression analysis revealed changes in genes important in cell growth including members of the MAPK signal transduction pathway. In addition, the expression or activation of proliferation related genes such as AKT and the androgen receptor, previously demonstrated to be affected by Ebp1 expression <it>in vitro</it>, was altered in adult tissues.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that Ebp1 can affect growth in an animal model, but that the expression of proliferation related genes is cell and context specific. The Ebp1^-/-mouse line represents a new <it>in vivo </it>model to investigate Ebp1 function in the whole organism.</p

Updates on the genetic variations of Norovirus in sporadic gastroenteritis in Chungnam Korea, 2009-2010

Previously, we explored the epidemic pattern and molecular characterization of noroviruses (NoVs) isolated in Chungnam, Korea in 2008, and the present study extended these observations to 2009 and 2010. In Korea, NoVs showed the seasonal prevalence from late fall to spring, and widely detected in preschool children and peoples over 60 years of age. Epidemiological pattern of NoV was similar in 2008 and in 2010, but pattern in 2009 was affected by pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus. NoV-positive samples were subjected to sequence determination of the capsid gene region, which resolved the isolated NoVs into five GI (2, 6, 7, 9 and 10) and eleven GII genotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 16 and 17). The most prevalent genotype was GII.4 and occupied 130 out of 211 NoV isolates (61.6%). Comparison of NoV GII.4 of prevalent genotype in these periods with reference strains of the same genotype was conducted to genetic analysis by a phylogenetic tree. The NoV GII.4 strains were segregated into seven distinct genetic groups, which are supported by high bootstrap values and previously reported clusters. All Korean NoV GII.4 strains belonged to either VI cluster or VII cluster. The divergence of nucleotide sequences within VI and VII intra-clusters was > 3.9% and > 3.5%, respectively. The "Chungnam(06-117)/2010" strain which was isolated in June 2010 was a variant that did not belong to cluster VI or VII and showed 5.8-8.2%, 6.2-8.1% nucleotide divergence with cluster VI and VII, respectively

Dose selection method for pharmacokinetic study in hemodialysis patients using a subpharmacological dose: oseltamivir as a model drug

BACKGROUND: Dose selection is an important step in pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of hemodialysis patients. We propose a simulation-based dose-selection method for PK studies of hemodialysis patients using a subpharmacological dose of oseltamivir as a model drug. METHODS: The concentrations of oseltamivir and its active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate (OC), were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. To determine a low oseltamivir dose exhibiting PK linearity, a pilot low dose determination investigation (n = 4) was performed using a single administration dose-escalation study. After the dose was determined, a low dose study (n = 10) was performed, and the optimal dose required to reach the hypothetical target OC exposure (area under the concentration-time curve [AUC] of 60,000 ng · hr/mL) was simulated using a nonparametric superposition method. Finally, observed PKs at the optimal dose were compared to the simulated PKs to verify PK predictability. RESULTS: In the pilot low dose determination study, 2.5 mg of oseltamivir was determined to be the low dose. Subsequently, we performed a single-dose PK study with the low oseltamivir dose in an additional group of 10 hemodialysis patients. The predicted AUC(last) of OC following continuous oseltamivir doses was simulated, and 35 mg of oseltamivir corresponded to the hypothetical target AUC(last) of OC. The observed PK profiles of OC at a 35-mg oseltamivir dose and the simulated data based on the low dose study were in close alignment. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the proposed method provides a rational approach to determine the proper PK dose in hemodialysis patients

The Quality of Reporting of Intervention Studies in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN): Based on the TREND Guidelines

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate quality of reports of non-randomized controlled quasi-experimental study articles published in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN). METHODS: A search was done for experimental studies assessing intervention effects among all articles published in the KJWHNfrom 2008 to 2013. Original articles were reviewed and analyzed according to the 22 checklist items of the guidelines for Transparent Reporting for Evaluations with Non-randomized Designs (TREND). RESULTS: Thirty-five articles on experimental studies were identified. The evaluation of the quality of reporting in these experimental studies found that there was a wide variety in the level of satisfying the TREND checklist. In particular, according to TREND topics, low levels of reporting quality were found for &quot;title &amp; abstract (only for information on how units were allocated to the intervention)&quot;, &quot;outcomes in methods&quot;, &quot;assignment in methods&quot;, &quot;blinding in methods&quot;, &quot;recruitment in results&quot;, &quot;baseline data in results&quot;, &quot;interpretation in discussion (especially intervention mechanism and success or barriers), &quot;generalizability in discussion&quot;. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that adherence to TREND guidelines varied in experimental studies published in the KJWHN suggesting the recommendation that for higher levels of complete reporting, TREND guidelines be used in reports on experimental studies

Research Trend of Women's Health in Korean Nursing Journals (2010~2015)

PURPOSE: To explore trends of women&apos;s health in nursing research by analyzing articles on women aged 13 years or older that were published in Korean Journal for Women Health Nursing from 2010 to 2015. METHODS: Seven focus areas were identified and modified to reflect integrative conceptual models of women&apos;s health: maternity care, menstrual concerns, health problems in women, gender influences on health risks, social influences on women&apos;s health, women and health care policy, and sexual health and violence against women. A total of 383 studies were analyzed according to these seven focus areas. RESULTS: Health problems in women, maternity care, and societal influences on women&apos;s health were the most widely studied topics in Korean women&apos;s health. There was increased attention to societal influences on women&apos;s health and gender influences on health risk. However, these areas are still limited in nursing research. Only 1% of these studies were in area of women&apos;s health policy. CONCLUSION: More studies in area of sexual health and violence against women are needed. Studies in area of women and health care policy are also needed to improve women&apos;s health in Korea

Dose selection method for pharmacokinetic study in hemodialysis patients using a subpharmacological dose: oseltamivir as a model drug

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.Abstract Background Dose selection is an important step in pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of hemodialysis patients. We propose a simulation-based dose-selection method for PK studies of hemodialysis patients using a subpharmacological dose of oseltamivir as a model drug. Methods The concentrations of oseltamivir and its active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate (OC), were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. To determine a low oseltamivir dose exhibiting PK linearity, a pilot low dose determination investigation (n = 4) was performed using a single administration dose-escalation study. After the dose was determined, a low dose study (n = 10) was performed, and the optimal dose required to reach the hypothetical target OC exposure (area under the concentration-time curve [AUC] of 60,000 ng · hr/mL) was simulated using a nonparametric superposition method. Finally, observed PKs at the optimal dose were compared to the simulated PKs to verify PK predictability. Results In the pilot low dose determination study, 2.5 mg of oseltamivir was determined to be the low dose. Subsequently, we performed a single-dose PK study with the low oseltamivir dose in an additional group of 10 hemodialysis patients. The predicted AUClast of OC following continuous oseltamivir doses was simulated, and 35 mg of oseltamivir corresponded to the hypothetical target AUClast of OC. The observed PK profiles of OC at a 35-mg oseltamivir dose and the simulated data based on the low dose study were in close alignment. Conclusion The results indicate that the proposed method provides a rational approach to determine the proper PK dose in hemodialysis patients

Development of Korean Menstrual Symptom Scale for University Students

PURPOSE: To develop Korean Menstrual Symptom Scale (KMSS) for university students and test its reliability and validity. METHODS: The scale was developed by intensive literature review, development of preliminary items, verification of content validity, development of secondary items, verification of construct validity, and extraction of final items. Thirty-nine items were constructed. Data for validity and reliability testing were collected with a questionnaire survey from 391 university students. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and reliability coefficients (Cronbach&apos;s α) with the SPSS program. RESULTS: There were 37 final items which were sorted into six factors: ‘negative affection (8 items)’, ‘change of activity level (7 items)’, ‘physical symptom (9 items)’, ‘mood change (9 items)’, ‘change in concentration level (4 items)’, and ‘body water retention (5 items)’. The cumulative percent of variance was 63.3%. Regarding the reliability of the scale, its Cronbach&apos;s α was 0.96. Cronbach&apos;s α values for these factors ranged from 0.75 to 0.91. CONCLUSION: The KMSS demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability. Repeated research is needed to measure menstrual symptom experienced by women of variable ages

Influence of the Acceptor on Electrical Performance and Charge Carrier Transport in Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells with HXS‑1

Enhancing the open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i>_OC) is one way to increase the efficiency of organic solar cells. In cells with the polymer poly­(2-(5-(5,6-bis­(octyloxy)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)­benzo­[<i>c</i>]­[1,2,5]­thiadiazol-7-yl)­thiophen-2-yl)-9-octyl-9<i>H</i>-carbazole) (HXS-1) this can be achieved by replacing the acceptor [6,6]-phenyl-C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) with indene-C60-bis-adduct (ICBA). The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of ICBA is located at a higher energy, which leads to an increase of <i>V</i>_OC from 0.86 to 1.05 V. However, the short-circuit current density (<i>J</i>_SC) and fill factor (<i>FF</i>) are significantly lower in HXS-1:ICBA cells when compared with HXS-1:PC₇₁BM cells, and thus the overall efficiency drops from almost 5% to 2.5%. Despite the smaller LUMO–LUMO offset between HXS-1 and ICBA, strong photoluminescence quenching as well as transient absorption studies indicate efficient and fast exciton dissociation in cells with either fullerene. The slope of the current–voltage characteristics of HXS-1:ICBA cells at short-circuit conditions and the lower dark current in forward direction suggest poor charge carrier transport. These findings were reproduced by a reduction of the electron mobility in electrical simulations. Furthermore, results from Suns-<i>V</i>_OC measurements reveal a dramatically increased transport resistance in cells with ICBA when compared with devices using PC₇₁BM. The observed effects could at least be partially due to a finer morphology in the HXS-1:ICBA layer, which is supported by AFM images