A TWO-STAGE APPROACH FOR ESTIMATING THE EFFECT OF DNA METHYLATION ON DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION USING TILING ARRAY TECHNOLOGY

Epigenetics is the study of heritable alterations in gene function without changing the DNA sequence itself. It is known that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are highly correlated with the regulation of gene expression. A twostage analysis is proposed that employs a hidden Markov model and a linear model to evaluate differential expression as related to DNA methylation for the purpose of examining the effects of DNA methylation on gene regulation using tiling array technology. In the first stage, a hidden Markov model (HMM) is employed to estimate the methylation status per tile by utilizing information of neighboring tiles. In the second stage, a linear model is applied to the expression data to identify significantly differentially expressed tiles given the changes in methylation status. The two-stage analysis is applied to Arabidopsis chromosome 4 tiling array data and the results are compared with a traditional ANOVA model which has been employed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes using microarray data

Effects of music therapy and rhythmic exercise on quality of life, blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength in institution-dwelling elderly women.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of music therapy and rhythmic exercise on health related quality of life, blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength in the institution-dwelling elderly women. Methods: The study was designed using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants consisted of 35 elders (18 in the experimental group and 17 in the control group). The music therapy and rhythmic exercise were developed by the investigators. The experimental group took part in this program twice a week for 8 weeks. The Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire, blood pressure and grasp power scale were used as instruments. The data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that music therapy and rhythmic exercise had positive effects on quality of life, especially on vitality, general health and mental health. Also, there were statistically significant differences in diastolic blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength between the pretest and posttest in the experimental group. Conclusion: The study suggests that this program can be applied for older women in long-term facilities to improve quality of life, blood pressure and upper extremity muscle strength

Generation of high concentration nanobubbles based on friction tubes

Nanobubble-related technologies have been confirmed to be useful in various fields such as climate change and the environment as well as water-based industries such as water purification, crops, horticulture, medical care, bio, and sterilization. However, a method of mass production in real time enough to apply nano-bubbles to the industry has not yet been developed. We explored the mechanism of nano-bubble water generation by friction between water and walls and developed a tube device applying the shape of the flow path to maximize the friction in the fluid passing through the flow path. It also describes the case of real-time and low-power mass production of nanobubbles and its technical utility. We found that the friction of nanotubes alone can easily and quickly improve the production of nanobubbles with small particle size in real time; by increasing the shearing pressure while increasing the effective friction constant value, the particle size of nanobubbles can be smaller while increasing the particle concentration.Comment: 24 pages, 24 figures, 6 table

Criterion for transformation of transverse domain wall to vortex or antivortex wall in soft magnetic thin-film nanostripes

We report on the criterion for the dynamic transformation of the internal structure of moving domain walls (DWs) in soft magnetic thin-film nanostripes above the Walker threshold field, Hw. In order for the process of transformation from transverse wall (TW) to vortex wall (VW) or antivortex wall (AVW) occurs, the edge-soliton core of the TW-type DW should grow sufficiently to the full width at half maximum of the out-of-plane magnetizations of the core area of the stabilized vortex (or antivortex) by moving inward along the transverse (width) direction. Upon completion of the nucleation of the vortex (antivortex) core, the VW (AVW) is stabilized, and then its core accompanies the gyrotropic motion in a potential well (hill) of a given nanostripe. Field strengths exceeding the Hw, which is the onset field of DW velocity breakdown, are not sufficient but necessary conditions for dynamic DW transformation

Friction Tubes to Generate Nanobubble Ozone Water with an Increased Half-Life for Virucidal Activity

Nanobubbles and related technologies are expected to be highly utilized in water resource-based industries such as water purification, crops, horticulture, medicine, bio, and sterilization. Ozone, a chemical with high sterilizing power, is known as a natural substance that is reduced to oxygen and water after reacting with pollutants. Ozone water, which is generated by dissolving ozone in water, has been used in various industrial sectors such as medical care, food, and environment. Due to the unstable molecular state of ozone, however, it is difficult to produce, use, and supply ozone at industrial sites in a stable manner. This study proposed a method for constructing a system that can generate high-concentration ozone water in large quantities using low power in real time and maintaining the concentration of the generated ozone water over the long term. Friction tubes (called 'nanotube') played a key role to generate nanobubble ozone water with an increased half-life for virus killing activity. In addition, the safety of ozone water during its spray into the air was explained, and virucidal activity test cases for the influenza A (H1N1/A/PR8) and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus using high-concentration ozone water as well as its technical efficacy were described

Earlier Application of Percutaneous Cardiopulmonary Support Rescues Patients from Severe Cardiopulmonary Failure Using the APACHE III Scoring System

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) is a widely accepted treatment for severe cardiopulmonary failure. This system, which uses a percutaneous approach and autopriming devices, can be rapidly applied in emergency situations. We sought to identify the risk factors that could help predict in-hospital mortality, and to assess its outcomes in survivors. During a 2-yr period, 50 patients underwent PCPS for the treatment of severe cardiopulmonary failure, and of those, 22 (44%) were classified as survivors and 28 (56%) as non-survivors. We compared the 2 groups for risk factors of in-hospital mortality and to establish proper PCPS timing. Twenty patients underwent PCPS for acute myocardial infarction, 20 for severe cardiopulmonary failure after cardiac surgery, 7 for acute respiratory distress syndrome, and 3 for acute myocarditis. Multivariate analysis showed that an acute physiology, age, and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) III score ≥50 prior to PCPS was the only significant predictor of in-hospital mortality (P=0.001). Overall 18-month survival was 42.2%. Cox analysis showed patients with APACHE III scores ≥50 had a poor prognosis (P=0.001). Earlier application of PCPS, and other preemptive strategies designed to optimize high-risk patients, may improve patient outcomes. Identifying patients with high APACHE scores at the beginning of PCPS may predict in-hospital mortality. Survivors, particularly those with higher APACHE scores, may require more frequent follow-up to improve overall survival

Out-of-plane current controlled switching of the fourfold degenerate state of a magnetic vortex in soft magnetic nanodots

We report on an observation of transitions of the fourfold degenerate state of a magnetic vortex in soft magnetic nanodots by micromagnetic numerical calculations. The quaternary vortex states in patterned magnetic dots were found to be controllable by changing the density of out-of-plane dc or pulse currents applied to the dots. Each vortex state can be switched to any of the other states by applying different sequence combinations of individual single-step pulse currents. Each step pulse has a characteristic threshold current density and direction. This work offers a promising way for manipulating both the polarization and chirality of magnetic vortices.open161

Application and evaluation of the MLVA typing assay for the Brucella abortus strains isolated in Korea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A Brucella eradication program has been executed in Korea. To effectively prevent and control brucellosis, a molecular method for genetic identification and epidemiological trace-back must be established. As part of that, the MLVA typing assay was evaluated and applied to <it>B. abortus </it>isolates for analyzing the characteristics of the regional distribution and relationships of foreign isolates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 177 isolates originating from 105 cattle farms for the period 1996 to 2008 were selected as representatives for the nine provinces of South Korea. A dendrogram of strain relatedness was constructed in accordance with the number of tandem repeat units for 17 loci so that it was possible to trace back in the restricted areas. Even in a farm contaminated by one source, however, the <it>Brucella </it>isolates showed an increase or decrease in one TRs copy number at some loci with high DI values. Moreover, those 17 loci was confirmed in stability via <it>in-vitro </it>and <it>in-vivo </it>passage, and found to be sufficiently stable markers that can readily identify the inoculated strain even if minor changes were detected. In the parsimony analysis with foreign <it>Brucella </it>isolates, domestic isolates were clustered distinctively, and located near the Central and Southern American isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The MLVA assay has enough discrimination power in the <it>Brucella </it>species level and can be utilized as a tool for the epidemiological trace-back of the <it>B. abortus </it>isolates. But it is important to consider that <it>Brucella </it>isolates may be capable of undergoing minor changes at some loci in the course of infection or in accordance with the changes of the host.</p