Development of real-time investigation technique for nonpoint pollution source distribution using programming interface

Currently both central and local governments that are aware of the importance of conserving rivers, are making continuous efforts to solve the problem of non-point pollution sources (NPS) flowing into rivers. This study established a reactive web service app with a mobile application, to accommodate the need for systematic and scientific investigation and management of NPS. The developed investigation and management techniques incorporate all the PC-based administrative features, thereby improving development efficiency. A prototype of mobile GIS platform for a survey, inspection, and input was proposed, in which data related to pollution source locations and attributes can be effectively collected, stored, updated, and adjusted. To demonstrate, we conducted a quantitative analysis of river pollution source using GPS and GIS to show further details of the framework, which provides geographic information required to develop management technique of NPS flowing into rivers and related parameters in the form of a map. Furthermore, based on the interpolated maps and various environmental factors, the prediction of NPS as well as other parameters can be done. The research will not only improve the efficiency of investigation and management of NPS but also contribute to establishing a management policy, which covers quick decision-making and reaction to inflow accidents

Investigation of the physicochemical features and mixing of East/Japan Sea Intermediate Water: An isopycnic analysis approach

We present spatial distributions of the mixing ratio and properties of the East/Japan Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW) at its core density layer (σθ = 27.2–27.3) based on high-quality hydrographic data observed in the East/Japan Sea (EJS) during summer 1999. ESIW is defined as a source water type showing minimum salinity and maximum dissolved oxygen concentration. ESIW plays an important role in supplying dissolved oxygen and transporting anthropogenic carbon into the intermediate/deep layers in EJS. Studying the ESIW formation and distribution processes may provide insights on EJS\u27s shallow- to mid-depth thermohaline circulation and recent ocean changes. Here, we combine the previously estimated mixing ratio of ESIW, based on Optimum Multi-Parameter (OMP) analysis, and its physicochemical properties, such as pressure, dissolved oxygen, and phosphate, interpolated onto several isopycnic surfaces (σθ = 27.20, 27.25, and 27.30). The physicochemical properties of ESIW show steep north-south gradients across the subpolar front at 40–41°N. Higher dissolved oxygen concentrations (≥335 μmol kg–1) of ESIW are found in the western Japan Basin particularly off the Primorye coast, indicating a potential source region. The spatial and depth distributions of apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) on the ESIW isopycnic surfaces indicate that the subduction of ESIW occurs at 131–133°E (Ulleung Basin) across the subpolar front to the south. The density layer of ESIW shoals near the Korean coast in the Ulleung Basin, implying a potential link to coastal upwelling. The relative age of ESIW at its core layer is estimated from the oxygen utilization rate and AOU. The correlation between the pCFC12 and relative ages, and AOU estimated at 90% surface water oxygen saturation condition suggests a decadal-scale ventilation of ESIW (≤24 years). Younger waters at the ESIW coexist with the high-salinity intermediate water at the same density layer in the eastern Japan Basin. Our analysis suggests that ESIW is sensitive to climate forcing and an important shallow- to mid-depth thermohaline circulation component of EJS

Refraction traveltime tomography using damped monochromatic wavefield

For complicated earth models, wave-equation–based refraction-traveltime tomography is more accurate than ray-based tomography but requires more computational effort. Most of the computational effort in traveltime tomography comes from computing traveltimes and their Fr´echet derivatives, which for ray-based methods can be computed directly. However, in most wave-equation traveltime-tomography algorithms, the steepest descent direction of the objective function is computed by the backprojection algorithm, without computing a Fr ´echet derivative directly. We propose a new wave-based refraction-traveltime– tomography procedure that computes Fr´echet derivatives directly and efficiently. Our method involves solving a damped-wave equation using a frequency-domain, finite-element modeling algorithm at a single frequency and invoking the reciprocity theorem. A damping factor, which is commonly used to suppress wraparound effects in frequency-domain modeling, plays the role of suppressing multievent wavefields. By limiting the wavefield to a single first arrival, we are able to extract the first-arrival traveltime from the phase term without applying a time window. Computing the partial derivative of the damped wave-equation solution using the reciprocity theorem enables us to compute the Fr ´echet derivative of amplitude, as well as that of traveltime, with respect to subsurface parameters. Using the Marmousi-2 model, we demonstrate numerically that refraction traveltime tomography with large-offset data can be used to provide the smooth initial velocity model necessary for prestack depth migration.This work was financially supported by the National Laboratory Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Brain Korea 21 project of the Ministry of Education. We are also grateful to Prof. K. J. Marfurt of the University of Houston and Dr. M. Schoenberger for editing our manuscript

Harvesting electrical energy using plasmon-enhanced light pressure in a platinum cut cone

We have designed a method of harvesting electrical energy using plasmon-enhanced light pressure. A device was fabricated as a cut cone structure that optimizes light collection so that the weak incident light pressure can be sufficiently enhanced inside the cut cone to generate electrical energy. An increase in the device's current output is a strong indication that the pressure of incident light has been enhanced by the surface plasmons on a platinum layer inside the cut cone. The electrical energy harvested in a few minutes by irradiating pulsed laser light on a single micro device was possible to illuminate a blue LED

Toxicological Study on MUNOPHIL, Water Extract of Panax ginseng and Hericium erinaceum in Rats

AbstractObjectiveAs data on the safety profile of Panax ginseng and Hericium erinaceum is lacking, the safety of these two compounds was examined in a series of toxicological studies.Materials and MethodsMUNOPHIL, the water extract mixture of Panax ginseng and Hericium erinaceum was tested in an oral subchronic 28-day toxicity study in rats at doses of 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg/day.ResultsIn repeated dose toxicity studies, no mortality was observed when varying doses of the extracts were administered once daily for a period of 28 days. There were no significant differences in body weight, absolute and relative organ weights between controls and treated rats of both sexes. Hematological analysis showed no differences in most parameters examined. In the biochemistry parameter analysis, no significant change occurred. Pathologically, neither gross abnormalities nor his-topathological changes were observed. Therefore, MUNOPHIL appears to be safe and non-toxic in these studies and a no-observed adverse effect level in rats was established at 5000 mg/kg/day.ConclusionThe data could provide satisfactory preclinical evidence of safety to launch clinical trials on standardized formulation of plant extracts

Predictive Scale for Amyloid PET Positivity Based on Clinical and MRI Variables in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

The presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition is considered important in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), since they can progress to Alzheimer's disease dementia. Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) has been used for detecting Aβ deposition, but its high cost is a significant barrier for clinical usage. Therefore, we aimed to develop a new predictive scale for amyloid PET positivity using easily accessible tools. Overall, 161 aMCI patients were recruited from six memory clinics and underwent neuropsychological tests, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype testing, and amyloid PET. Among the potential predictors, verbal and visual memory tests, medial temporal lobe atrophy, APOE genotype, and age showed significant differences between the Aβ-positive and Aβ-negative groups and were combined to make a model for predicting amyloid PET positivity with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.856. Based on the best model, we developed the new predictive scale comprising integers, which had an optimal cutoff score ≥ 3. The new predictive scale was validated in another cohort of 98 participants and showed a good performance with AUC of 0.835. This new predictive scale with accessible variables may be useful for predicting Aβ positivity in aMCI patients in clinical practice

Epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) in a dog

A seven-year-old castrated male Yorkshire terrier dog was presented for a recurrent skin disease. Erythematous skin during the first visit progressed from multiple plaques to patch lesions and exudative erosion in the oral mucosa membrane. Biopsy samples were taken from erythematous skin and were diagnosed with epitheliotropic T cell cutaneous lymphoma by histopathology and immunochemical stain. In serum chemistry, the dog had a hypercalcemia (15.7 mg/dl) and mild increased alkaline phosphatase (417 U/l). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP) in epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma tissues but the neoplastic cells were not labeled with anti-PTH-rP antibodies. The patient was treated with prednisolone and isotretinoin. However, the dog died unexpectedly

Effect of Mechanical Deformation on in Vitro Calcification of Segmented Polyurethane

To investigate why calcification is accelerated by mechanical flexure, in vitro calcification of segmented polyurethane (SPU) under static elongation and dynamic mechanical flexure was performed. After the calcification period, the amount of calcium deposition was increased by elongation, but the amount of calcium deposition per unit area of the elongated surface was relatively smaller as compared to that of the severe flexing area. Although the surface calcium concentration of the elongated SPU was relatively smaller than the flexed area, there was the increase of surface area by the elongation. The total amount of deposited calcium on the elongated SPU was increased as it is reduced to the original surface area. Therefore, the results reveal that certain changes of surface properties by the Mechanical deformation accelerate the calcium deposition onto the surface and the enlargement of surface area by the mechanical deformation results in the heavy calcification of the severe flexing area in the SPU

Intratumoral heterogeneity characterized by pretreatment PET in non-small cell lung cancer patients predicts progression-free survival on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Intratumoral heterogeneity has been suggested to be an important resistance mechanism leading to treatment failure. We hypothesized that radiologic images could be an alternative method for identification of tumor heterogeneity. We tested heterogeneity textural parameters on pretreatment FDG-PET/CT in order to assess the predictive value of target therapy. Recurred or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subjects with an activating EGFR mutation treated with either gefitinib or erlotinib were reviewed. An exploratory data set (n = 161) and a validation data set (n = 21) were evaluated, and eight parameters were selected for survival analysis. The optimal cutoff value was determined by the recursive partitioning method, and the predictive value was calculated using Harrell's C-index. Univariate analysis revealed that all eight parameters showed an increased hazard ratio (HR) for progression- free survival (PFS). The highest HR was 6.41 (P< 0.01) with co-occurrence (Co) entropy. Increased risk remained present after adjusting for initial stage, performance status (PS), and metabolic volume (MV) (aHR: 4.86, P< 0.01). Textural parameters were found to have an incremental predictive value of early EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) failure compared to that of the base model of the stage and PS (C-index 0.596 vs. 0.662, P = 0.02, by Co entropy). Heterogeneity textural parameters acquired from pretreatment FDG-PET/CT are highly predictive factors for PFS of EGFR TKI in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. These parameters are easily applicable to the identification of a subpopulation at increased risk of early EGFR TKI failure. Correlation to genomic alteration should be determined in future studies.