RFID-Based Digital Board Game Platforms

This paper presents digital board games built upon RFID-based platforms. The platforms consist of RFID tag-embedded physical objects and RFID reader boards. A library is built upon the platforms for recognizing data, locations, and movements of the physical game objects. Three kinds of game prototypes are designed and developed for use in young children's edutainment. The user tests prove that a natural type of interactivity can be achieved for digital board games, and it can contribute to establishing paradigms for next-generation edutainment

Technological Progress in Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Clinical Applications

Reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is achieved by viral-mediated transduction of defined transcription factors. Generation of iPSCs is of great medical interest as they have the potential to be a source of patient-specific cells. For the eventual goal of clinical application, it is necessary to overcome the limitations of low reprogramming efficiency and chromosomal abnormalities due to viral DNA integration. In this paper, we summarize the current state of reprogramming technology for generation of iPSCs and also discuss potential approaches to the development of safe iPSCs for personalized cell-based replacement therapy

A Novel sLRP6E1E2 Inhibits Canonical Wnt Signaling, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, and Induces Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis in Lung Cancer

Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway contributes to human cancer progression. Antagonists that interfere with Wnt ligand/receptor interactions can be useful in cancer treatments. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of a soluble Wnt receptor decoy in cancer gene therapy. We designed a Wnt antagonist sLRP6E1E2, and generated a replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad), dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2, and a replication-competent oncolytic Ad, RdB-k35/sLRP6E1E2, both expressing sLRP6E1E2. sLRP6E1E2 prevented Wnt-mediated stabilization of cytoplasmic β-catenin, decreased Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cell proliferation via the mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways. sLRP6E1E2 induced apoptosis, cytochrome c release, and increased cleavage of PARP and caspase-3. sLRP6E1E2 suppressed growth of the human lung tumor xenograft, and reduced motility and invasion of cancer cells. In addition, sLRP6E1E2 upregulated expression of epithelial marker genes, while sLRP6E1E2 downregulated mesenchymal marker genes. Taken together, sLRP6E1E2, by inhibiting interaction between Wnt and its receptor, suppressed Wnt-induced cell proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF GOLF SWING PERFORMED WITH INTENDED LATE HITTING

The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the kinematic parameters for standard and purpose golf swings. The purpose golf swing is characterized as intended late hitting and increase displacement of ball through the air (carry). Twenty-five male college golfers were recruited as sUbjects and Science eye field 3 camera system was used to measure the parameters of deterministic model. Paired t-test was used to compare between two different golf swings and correlation coefficients between selected parameters and carry were also computed. As results, a significant difference between standard and purpose golf swings was found in terms of increasing carry. Coefficients of correlation indicated that post-impact ball velocity, pre-impact club head velocity, and meet rate were positively correlated with carry. However, backspin, and angle of release were negatively correlated with carry. These results represented that the parameters of deterministic model were very useful indicators to determine performance and the purpose swing is beneficial to increase carry

Whole-genome sequencing of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from the first listeriosis foodborne outbreak in South Korea

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis in humans with severe symptoms. In South Korea, listeriosis had only been reported sporadically among hospitalized patients until the first foodborne outbreak occurred in 2018. In this study, a L. monocytogenes strain responsible for this outbreak (FSCNU0110) was characterized via whole genome sequencing and compared with publicly available L. monocytogenes genomes of the same clonal complex (CC). Strain FSCNU0110 belonged to multilocus sequence typing (MLST)-based sequence type 224 and CC224, and core genome MLST-based sublineage 6,178. The strain harbored tetracycline resistance gene tetM, four other antibiotic resistance genes, and 64 virulence genes, including Listeria pathogenicity island 1 (LIPI-1) and LIPI-3. Interestingly, llsX in LIPI-3 exhibited a characteristic SNP (deletion of A in position 4, resulting in a premature stop codon) that was missing among all CC224 strains isolated overseas but was conserved among those from South Korea. In addition, the tetM gene was also detected only in a subset of CC224 strains from South Korea. These findings will provide an essential basis for assessing the characteristics of CC224 strains in South Korea that have shown a potential to cause listeriosis outbreaks

Under-reporting of Energy Intake from 24-hour Dietary Recalls in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

AbstractObjectivesChronic degenerative diseases are closely related to daily eating habits, nutritional status, and, in particular, energy intake. In clarifying these relationships it is very important for dietary surveys to report accurate information about energy intake. This study attempted to identify the prevalence of the under-reporting of energy intake and its related characteristics based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in the years 2007–2009.MethodsThe present study analyzed dietary intake data from 15,133 adults aged ≥19 years using 24-hour dietary recalls. Basal metabolic rates were calculated from the age- and gender-specific equations of Schofield and under-reporting was defined as an energy intake <0.9, represented by the ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate.ResultsUnder-reporters (URs) accounted for 14.4% of men and 23.0% of women and the under-reporting rate was higher in the age group 30–49 years for both men and women. The results from an analysis of the age-specific socioeconomic characteristics of participants classified as URs showed that under-reporting was high in women living alone and in women with only elementary school education or no education. The results from an analysis of the health-specific characteristics of URs showed that a large proportion of URs had poor self-rated health or were obese, or both, compared with non-URs. The proportion of participants who consumed less than the estimated average requirements for nutrients was significantly higher in URs compared with non-URs.ConclusionThe under-reporting of energy intake was associated with age, gender, education level, income level, household status (single-person or multi-person), self-rated health, physical activity, and obesity

Pentoxifylline Attenuates Methionine- and Choline-Deficient-Diet-Induced Steatohepatitis by Suppressing TNF- α

Background. Pentoxifylline (PTX) anti-TNF properties are known to exert hepatoprotective effects in various liver injury models. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTX has beneficial roles in the development of methionine- and choline-deficient-(MCD-) diet-induced NAFLD SD rats in vivo and TNF-α-induced Hep3B cells in vitro. Methods. SD Rats were classified according to diet (chow or MCD diet) and treatment (normal saline or PTX injection) over a period of 4 weeks: group I (chow + saline, n=4), group II (chow + PTX), group III (MCD + saline), and group IV (MCD + PTX). Hep3B cells were treated with 100 ng/ml TNF-α (24 h) in the absence or presence of PTX (1 mM). Results. PTX attenuated MCD-diet-induced serum ALT levels and hepatic steatosis. In real-time PCR and western blotting analysis, PTX decreased MCD-diet-induced TNF-alpha mRNA expression and proapoptotic unfolded protein response by ER stress (GRP78, p-eIF2, ATF4, IRE1α, CHOP, and p-JNK activation) in vivo. PTX (1 mM) reduced TNF-α-induced activation of GRP78, p-eIF2, ATF4, IRE1α, and CHOP in vitro. Conclusion. PTX has beneficial roles in the development of MCD-diet-induced steatohepatitis through partial suppression of TNF-α and ER stress

Delayed Migration of Tapered Open-Cell Design Carotid Stent: A Case Report

We present a case of delayed migration of an open-cell design carotid stent, which is a rare complication following carotid artery stenting (CAS). A 65-year-old patient with carotid artery stenosis underwent CAS with an open-cell stent, initially achieving successful deployment. However, 4 months later, the stent migrated and resulted in restenosis. The patient underwent balloon angioplasty and received an additional stent, leading to improved blood flow. The rarity of stent migration, particularly in the absence of risk factors, highlights the need for clinicians to be vigilant and consider early imaging follow-up for patients at risk of this complication after CAS