Elastic p-12C scattering by using a cluster effective field theory

The elastic p-12C scattering at low energies is studied by using a cluster effective field theory (EFT), where the low-lying resonance states (s1/2, p3/2, d5/2) of 13N are treated as pertinent degrees of freedom. The low-energy constants of the Lagrangian are expressed in terms of the Coulomb-modified effective range parameters, which are determined to reproduce the experimental data for the differential cross-sections. The resulting theoretical predictions agree very well with the experimental data. The resulting theory is shown to give us almost identical phase shifts as obtained from the R-matrix approach. The role of the ground state of 13N below the threshold and the next-to-leading order in the EFT power counting are also discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Evaluation of a systematic career coaching program for medical students in Korea using the Career Readiness Inventory

Purpose The purpose of this study was to implement a systematic career coaching program for medical students and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods First-year medical students of Konyang University College of Medicine took part in the FLEX Mentoring II: Career Coaching Program from September to December in 2016 and 2017. This program included 16 weekly sessions, comprising a total of 32 hours. The students took the Career Readiness Inventory before and after the program, as a pre- and post-test of the program. Data from 100 students were used (46 students in 2016, 54 students in 2017) for the evaluation. Results Medical students’ career readiness pre-test was rated as medium. In particular, many students were at a low level in terms of ‘support from colleagues and peers’ (53.0%), ‘career decision’ (48.0%), and ‘efforts for job preparation’ (60.0%). After 16 sessions of a systematic career coaching program, their career readiness level showed a significant increase except for ‘career decision’ (t= 4.242, P= 0.001) and ‘independence’ (t= 0.731, P= 0.466), a sub-factor of ‘career maturity.’ Conclusion The career readiness level of medical students was not sufficiently high. However, a semester of educational training in a systematic career coaching program helped the students to be better prepared for their career. In particular, the significant reduction in the ‘career decision’ variable after the program can be interpreted as indicating that the students changed their behavior to explore and approach their career more seriously and carefully, which also underscores the need for the implementation of career coaching programs in medical schools

Short-Term Effects of Combined Serial Casting and Botulinum Toxin Injection for Spastic Equinus in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that combination therapy of serial cast and botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection can further enhance the effects of a BTX-A injection in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have an equinus foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children in group A (30 legs of 21 children) received a serial casting application after an injection of BTX-A, and children in group B (25 legs of 17 children) received only a BTX-A injection. Assessments were performed before the intervention and 1 month after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, there were significant improvements in tone, dynamic spasticity, and passive range of motion (ROM) in both groups. However, the changes were greater in group A than in group B. Dimension D (standing) in Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 was significantly improved in group A but not in group B. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in dimension E (walking, running, jumping) in GMFM-66 in either group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that a serial casting application after BTX-A injection can enhance the benefits of BTX-A injection in children with cerebral palsy.ope

Re-insufflation after deflation of a pneumoperitoneum is a risk factor for CO2 embolism during laparoscopic prostatectomy -A case report-

Although symptomatic carbon dioxide (CO2) embolism is rare, it recognized as a potentially fatal complication of laparoscopic surgery. Sudden hemodynamic instability could be a CO2 embolism especially during insufflation. A 65-year-old man received laparoscopic prostatectomy for 5 hours under CO2 pneumoperitoneum without any problem. After resection of prostate, it was stopped following deflation. Thirty minutes later, peumoperitoneum was re-induced to continue the operation. Shortly after re-insufflation, the patient revealed hemodynamic instability suggested a CO2 embolism; severe hypotension, tachyarrythmia, hypoxemia, increased CVP, and changed end-tidal CO2. Gas insufflation was stopped. He was managed with Durant's position, fluid and cardiotonics for 20 minutes. The residual was completed by open laparotomy. Re-insufflation, inducing gas entry through the injured vessels, might be a risk factor for CO2 embolism in this case. The risk to the patient may be minimized by the surgical team's awareness of CO2 embolism and continuous intra-operative monitoring of end-tidal CO2

Optimal application of compressive palatal stents following mesiodens removal in pediatric patients:a Randomized Controlled Trial

There is no scientific evidence supporting the choice of a palatal stent in patients who underwent removal of an impacted supernumerary tooth. We aimed to investigate the effects of palatal stents in patients who underwent supernumerary tooth removal through a palatal approach and to suggest the optimal stent thickness and material. We recruited 144 patients who underwent extraction of a supernumerary tooth between the maxillary anterior teeth. Subjects were assigned to a control group (CG) or one of four compressive palatal stent groups (CPSGs) classified by the thickness and material of the thermoplastic acrylic stent used. Palatal gingival swelling and objective indices (healing, oral hygiene, gingival, and plaque) were evaluated before surgery and on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 7, and 14; pain/discomfort and the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) were assessed as subjective indices of the effects of the stent. The CPSGs showed faster healing than did the CG on PODs 7 (P<0.001) and 14 (P=0.043); swelling was measured by 1.64±0.88 mm and 4.52±0.39 mm, respectively. Although swelling was least in the 4-mm hard group (0.92±0.33 mm), the difference compared with that in the 2-mm hard group (1.01±0.18 mm) was not significant (P=0.077). The CPSGs showed better COHIP (P<0.001-0.036) and pain scores (P<0.001) than did the CG on PODs 1-3. Compressive palatal stents reduce discomfort by decreasing pain and alleviating swelling. Although a stent is effective regardless of its thickness and material, 2-mm hard stents maximized such positive effects with minimal discomfort

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

The Relationship between Life Style, Menstrual Attitude and Premenstrual Syndrome in Nursing Students

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between life style, menstrual attitude and premenstrual syndrome in nursing students. METHODS: The study participants were 246 nursing students of a university in Gyeunggi province. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from May to June, 2012. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Scheffe test. RESULTS: Students who had undesirable alcohol habits (r=.15, p=.020) and negative menstrual attitude (r=.17, p=.009) experienced more a severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Students with dysmenorrhea had more severe PMS (F=12.41, p&amp;lt;.001) and a negative menstrual attitude (F=6.18, p&amp;lt;.001). CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that PMS would be alleviated by nursing interventions to improve alcohol habits and decrease negative menstrual attitudes, and nursing interventions for dysmenorrhea would be helpful in PMS management in nursing students. Further studies on the development of nursing interventions related to these factors are needed for PMS management