The Control Method for Wavelength-Based CCT of Natural Light Using Warm/Cool White LED

Reproducing circadian patterns of natural light through lighting requires technology that can control correlated color temperature (CCT) and short wavelength ratio (SWR) simultaneously. This study proposes a method for controlling wavelength-based CCT of natural light using LED light sources. First, the spectral power distribution (SPD) of each channel of the test lighting (two-channel LED lighting with warm white and cool white) is identified through actual measurement. Next, CCT and SWR are calculated based on the additive mixing of SPD using the mixing ratio from the measured SPD. Finally, the regression equations for mixing ratio-CCT and mixing ratio-SWR are derived through regression analysis. These equations are then utilized to implement a wavelength-based CCT control algorithm. For performance and evaluation purposes, natural light reproduction experiments were conducted, achieving a mean error of 94.5K for CCT and 1.5% for SWR

The Impact of Overactive Bladder on Health-Related Quality of Life, Sexual Life and Psychological Health in Korea

Purpose We aimed to estimate the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in Korea, to assess the variation in prevalence by sex and age, and to measure the impact of OAB on quality of life. Methods A population-based, cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted between April and June 2010 with a questionnaire regarding the prevalence of OAB, demographics, and the impact of OAB on quality of life. A geographically stratified random sample of men and women aged ≥30 years was selected. Results The overall prevalence of OAB was 22.9% (male, 19%; female, 26.8%). Of a total of 458 participants with OAB, 37.6% and 19.9% reported moderate or severe impact on their daily life and sexual life (5.6% and 3.5%, respectively, in participants without OAB). Anxiety and depression were reported by 22.7% and 39.3% of participants with OAB, respectively (9.7% and 22.8%, respectively, in participants without OAB). Only 19.7% of participants with OAB had consulted a doctor for their voiding symptoms, but 50.7% of respondents with OAB were willing to visit a hospital for the management of their OAB symptoms. Conclusions This study confirmed that OAB symptoms are highly prevalent in Korea, and many sufferers appear to have actively sought medical help. OAB has severe effects on daily and sexual life as well as psychological health

Effects of a radiation dose reduction strategy for computed tomography in severely injured trauma patients in the emergency department: an observational study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Severely injured trauma patients are exposed to clinically significant radiation doses from computed tomography (CT) imaging in the emergency department. Moreover, this radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine some effects of a radiation dose reduction strategy for CT in severely injured trauma patients in the emergency department.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We implemented the radiation dose reduction strategy in May 2009. A prospective observational study design was used to collect data from patients who met the inclusion criteria during this one year study (intervention group) from May 2009 to April 2010. The prospective data were compared with data collected retrospectively for one year prior to the implementation of the radiation dose reduction strategy (control group). By comparison of the cumulative effective dose and the number of CT examinations in the two groups, we evaluated effects of a radiation dose reduction strategy. All the patients met the institutional adult trauma team activation criteria. The radiation doses calculated by the CT scanner were converted to effective doses by multiplication by a conversion coefficient.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 118 patients were included in this study. Among them, 33 were admitted before May 2009 (control group), and 85 were admitted after May 2009 (intervention group). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding baseline characteristics, such as injury severity and mortality. Additionally, there was no difference between the two groups in the mean number of total CT examinations per patient (4.8 vs. 4.5, respectively; p = 0.227). However, the mean effective dose of the total CT examinations per patient significantly decreased from 78.71 mSv to 29.50 mSv (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The radiation dose reduction strategy for CT in severely injured trauma patients effectively decreased the cumulative effective dose of the total CT examinations in the emergency department. But not effectively decreased the number of CT examinations.</p

A simple and accurate SNP scoring strategy based on typeIIS restriction endonuclease cleavage and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We describe the development of a novel matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scoring strategy, termed Restriction Fragment Mass Polymorphism (RFMP) that is suitable for genotyping variations in a simple, accurate, and high-throughput manner. The assay is based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and mass measurement of oligonucleotides containing a polymorphic base, to which a typeIIS restriction endonuclease recognition was introduced by PCR amplification. Enzymatic cleavage of the products leads to excision of oligonucleotide fragments representing base variation of the polymorphic site whose masses were determined by MALDI-TOF MS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The assay represents an improvement over previous methods because it relies on the direct mass determination of PCR products rather than on an indirect analysis, where a base-extended or fluorescent report tag is interpreted. The RFMP strategy is simple and straightforward, requiring one restriction digestion reaction following target amplification in a single vessel. With this technology, genotypes are generated with a high call rate (99.6%) and high accuracy (99.8%) as determined by independent sequencing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The simplicity, accuracy and amenability to high-throughput screening analysis should make the RFMP assay suitable for large-scale genotype association study as well as clinical genotyping in laboratories.</p

Development of Transmission Line Employing Graphene-Silver Nanowire/PET Structure for Application in Flexible and Wearable Devices in X-Band Wireless Communication Systems

In this study, we fabricated a coplanar waveguide using a novel graphene-silver nanowire composite structure (GNCS) on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate and then investigated its radio frequency (RF) characteristics. According to the measured results, the coplanar waveguide employing GNCS exhibited a substantially lower loss of transmission line than conventional waveguides. Furthermore, compared to the conventional graphene-based coplanar waveguide, the proposed structure allowed for lower skin depth and higher conductivity, resulting from the high electric conductivity of the silver nanowire. In addition, repetitive bending tests, which were performed to investigate the electric stability of the graphene-silver nanowire, showed that the coplanar waveguide employing GNCS offered substantially better electrical stability than the conventional graphene-based coplanar waveguide. These results indicate that the graphene-silver nanowire structure is a promising candidate for application in flexible wireless communication systems. Notably, this is also the first study to investigate the RF performance and electrical stability of a graphene-silver nanowire/PET structure

Nitric oxide overcomes Cd and Cu toxicity in in vitro-grown tobacco plants through increasing contents and activities of rubisco and rubisco activase

AbstractToxic heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) are global problems that are a growing threat to the environment. Despite some heavy metals are required for plant growth and development, others are considered toxic elements and do not play any known physiological role in plant cells. Elevated doses of Cd or Cu cause toxicity in plants and generate damages due to the stress condition and eventually cause a significant reduction in quantity and quality of crop plants. The nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is reported to alleviate the toxicity of some heavy metals like Cd and Cu. In the current study, the role of NO in alleviating stresses of Cd and Cu was investigated in in vitro-grown tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Based on plant growth, total chlorophyll contents, contents and activities of rubisco and rubisco activase. According to the results of this study, the growth and total chlorophyll contents of Cd/Cu stressed plants were hugely decreased in the absence of SNP, while the supplementation of SNP resulted in a significant increase of both fresh weight and total chlorophyll contents. Remarkable reductions of Rubisco and rubisco activase contents and activities were observed in Cd and Cu-induced plants. SNP supplementation showed the highest contents and activities of rubisco and rubisco activase compared to the control and Cu/Cd-stressed plants. Taken together, our findings suggest that SNP could play a protective role in regulation of plant responses to abiotic stresses such as Cd and Cu by enhancing Rubisco and Rubisco activase