Measurements of Location-Dependent Nitric Oxide Levels on Skin Surface in relation to Acupuncture Point

Location-dependent skin surface’s partial nitric oxide pressure (pNO) is studied using highly sensitive amperometric NO microsensor with a small sensing area (diameter  = 76 μm). The pNO level of LI4 (Hegu) acupuncture point is measured and compared with the pNO level of nonacupuncture point. In addition, the mapping of pNO is carried out over the left wrist skin area one- as well as two-dimensionally. Statistically higher pNO levels near the position of acupuncture points than non-acupuncture points are observed consistently, implying tight relationship between the level of NO release of skin and acupuncture points. The amperometric planar NO microsensor successfully monitors the heterogeneity of skin pNO distribution in high spatial resolution due to its advantageous features such as high sensitivity and small sensing dimension. The current study suggests the direct connection between NO and acupuncture points and possibly provides beneficial information to understand physiological roles and basis of the acupuncture points

Quantum-mechanical analysis of effect of alloying elements on ε-martensite start temperature of steels

11Ysciescopu

Enabling Grant-Free URLLC for AoI Minimization in RAN-Coordinated 5G Health Monitoring System

Age of information (AoI) is used to evaluate the performance of 5G health monitoring systems because stale data can be fatal for patients with serious illness. Recently, grant-free ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) have shown greater potential of minimizing AoI than conventional grant-based approaches; however, existing grant-free schedulers cannot provide guaranteed performance in 5G health monitoring systems because they involve two fundamental problems in time and frequency domains, namely the joint scheduling problem and physical resource block (PRB) allocation. In this study, we investigate two resource allocation problems for the first time, aiming to enable grant-free URLLC to minimize AoI in 5G health monitoring systems. Specifically, we propose two adaptive solutions based on an open radio access network-coordinated wireless system: 1) a joint scheduling algorithm and 2) an adaptive PRB allocation algorithm. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed solutions, we built a simulation environment similar to a real health monitoring system and captured the performance variations under realistic deployment scenarios

Subacute Neurological Deterioration with Selective Axonal Injury in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke following Reperfusion of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

To date, the long-term effects of reperfusion on the salvaged brain tissues have not been addressed in the literature. We report 4 cases presenting subacute neurological deteriorations with selective axonal injury following reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke. Our case series based on 4 patients showed common features distinct from those of early reperfusion injury in that (1) the neurological symptoms developed after 1-2 months of reperfusion therapies, (2) these symptoms were accompanied by the subcortical white matter changes on brain MRI, and (3) these findings were mostly reversible with time. This suggests that axons in the reperfused brain may be vulnerable to further neurological injury

Heterogeneity of Skin Surface Oxygen Level of Wrist in Relation to Acupuncture Point

The distribution of partial oxygen pressure (pO2) is analyzed for the anterior aspect of the left wrist with an amperometric oxygen microsensor composed of a small planar Pt disk-sensing area (diameter = 25 μm). The pO2 levels vary depending on the measurement location over the wrist skin, and they are systematically monitored in the analysis for both one-dimensional single line (along the wrist transverse crease) and two-dimensional square area of the wrist region. Relatively higher pO2 values are observed at certain area in close proximity to the position of acupuncture points with statistical significance, indicating strong relationship between oxygen and acupuncture point. The used oxygen microsensor is sensitive enough to detect the pO2 variation depending on the location. This study may provide information helpful to understand possible physiological roles of the acupuncture points

Molecular cloning of the Ecotin gene in Escherichia coli

AbstractThe nucleotide sequence of a 876 bp region in E. coli chromosome that encodes Ecotin was determined. The proposed coding sequence for Ecotin is 486 nucleotides long, which would encode a protein consisting of 162 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 18 192 Da. The deduced primary sequence of Ecotin includes a 20-residue signal sequence, cleavage of which would give rise to a mature protein with a molecular weight of 16 099 Da. Ecotin does not contain any consensus reactive site sequences of known serine protease inhibitor families, suggesting that Ecotin is a novel inhibitor

BEAM BASED ALIGNMENT AT THE POHANG LIGHT SOURCE*

Abstract A beam based alignment method was adopted to recalibrate the Beam Position Monitors (BPM) to the center of quadrupole magnets at the Pohang Light Source (PLS). We added a shunt circuit to each quadrupole magnet to control the current independently. This alignment method involves BPM readings and shunt impedance controls at the quadurpole magnets. This paper presents the beam based alignment control mechanism, the process, and the results

Chromoblastomycosis Caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi

We report herein a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea (F.) pedrosoi in a 39-year-old male, who showed multiple, asymptomatic, scaly erythematous plaques on the left shin for 12 months. Histopathologically, chronic granulomatous inflammation and either sclerotic or muriform cells were observed. The fungal culture produced typical black colonies of F. pedrosoi. The DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the clinical sample was 100% match to that of F. pedrosoi IFM 47061 (GenBank accession number AB240943). The patient was treated with 200 mg of itraconazole daily, for 3 months. Skin lesions were improved. In Korea, only 9 cases of chromoblastomycosis, including this case, have been reported until now. The etiologic agent was F. pedrosoi in the majority of cases (6/9;67%). The incidence of chromoblastomycosis was slightly higher in female, and the upper limbs were more affected than the lower limbs in patients