Climatological Features of Korea-Landfalling Tropical Cyclones

The present study analyzed the interdecadal variation by applying the statistical change-point analysis to the frequency of the tropical cyclone (TC) that landed in the Korean Peninsula (KP) for the recent 54 years (1951 to 2004) and performed cluster classification of the Korea-landfall TC tracks using a Fuzzy Clustering Method (FCM). First, in the interdecadal variation analysis, frequency of TC that landed in the KP was largely categorized into three periods: high frequency period from 1951 to 1965, low frequency period from 1966 to 1985, and high frequency period from 1986 to 2004. The cluster analysis result of the Korea-landfall TC tracks produced the optimum number of clusters as four. In more detail, Cluster A refers to a pattern of landing in the southern coast in the KP starting from East China Sea followed by heading north while Cluster B refers to a pattern of landing in the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, also starting from East China Sea followed by heading north. Cluster C refers to a pattern of landing in the southern region of the west coast in the KP moving from mainland China while Cluster D refers to a pattern of landing in the mid-north region of the west coast in the Korean Peninsula, also moving from mainland China

Plasmodium sporozoite phospholipid scramblase interacts with mammalian carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 to infect hepatocytes

After inoculation by the bite of an infected mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites enter the blood stream and infect the liver, where each infected cell produces thousands of merozoites. These in turn, infect red blood cells and cause malaria symptoms. To initiate a productive infection, sporozoites must exit the circulation by traversing the blood lining of the liver vessels after which they infect hepatocytes with unique specificity. We screened a phage display library for peptides that structurally mimic (mimotope) a sporozoite ligand for hepatocyte recognition. We identified HP1 (hepatocyte-binding peptide 1) that mimics a ~50 kDa sporozoite ligand (identified as phospholipid scramblase). Further, we show that HP1 interacts with a ~160 kDa hepatocyte membrane putative receptor (identified as carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1). Importantly, immunization of mice with the HP1 peptide partially protects them from infection by the rodent parasite P. berghei. Moreover, an antibody to the HP1 mimotope inhibits human parasite P. falciparum infection of human hepatocytes in culture. The sporozoite ligand for hepatocyte invasion is a potential novel pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate. © 2021, The Author(s).1

Copper Bottom-Up Filling by Electroplating Without any Additives on Patterned Wafer

In conventional Cu electroplating, various additives are used to fill pattern without defects in patterned wafers. Pulse plating and electrochemical oxidation were used to deposit Cu without any additives. Defects such as voids and seams were generated if only pulse plating was carried out. Electrochemical oxidation was performed to remove Cu metal containing defects and to remain Cu species only at the bottom part of the trenches. Then, defect free Cu films could be obtained when Cu electroplating without additives was performed on the etched substrate.This work was supported by KOSEF through the Research Center for Energy Conversion and Storage RCECS , also by the Institute of Chemical Processes ICP in Seoul National University

Severe Episodic Memory Impairment in a Patient With Clinical Features Compatible With Corticobasal Degeneration

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by asymmetric parkinsonism associated with apraxia, cortical sensory loss, and alien-limb phenomenon. Neuropsychological testing in patients with CBD typically shows deficits in executive functions, praxis, language, and visuospatial functioning, but not in memory. We report a CBD patient with severely impaired memory function but relatively mild motor symptoms. Detailed neuropsychological assessment showed significant verbal and visual memory deficits accompanied by frontal executive dysfunctions. Our observations indicate that CBD can in rare cases present with severe episodic memory impairment associated with frontal executive dysfunctions in the early stage of illness