Removal of Particulate Matter in a Tubular Wet Electrostatic Precipitator Using a Water Collection Electrode

As one of the effective control devices of air pollutants, the wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is an effective technique to eliminate acid mist and fine particles that are re-entrained in a collection electrode. However, its collection efficiency can deteriorate, as its operation is subject to water-induced corrosion of the collection electrode. To overcome this drawback, we modified the wet ESP system with the installation of a PVC dust precipitator wherein water is supplied as a replacement of the collection electrode. With this modification, we were able to construct a compact wet ESP with a small specific collection area (SCA, 0.83 m2/(m3/min)) that can acquire a high collection efficiency of fine particles (99.7%)

Bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation with simultaneous placement of non-submerged sand blasted with large grit and acid etched implants: a 5-year radiographic evaluation

PURPOSE: Implant survival rates using a bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation (BAOSFE) procedure with simultaneous placement of a non-submerged sand blasted with large grit and acid etched (SLA) implant are well documented at sites where native bone height is less than 5 mm. This study evaluated the clinical results of non-submerged SLA Straumann implants placed at the time of the BAOSFE procedure at sites where native bone height was less than 4 mm. Changes in graft height after the BAOSFE procedure were also assessed using radiographs for 5 years after the implant procedure. METHODS: The BAOSFE procedure was performed on 4 patients with atrophic posterior maxillas with simultaneous placement of 7 non-submerged SLA implants. At least 7 standardized radiographs were obtained from each patient as follows: before surgery, immediately after implant placement, 6 months after surgery, every year for the next 3 years, and after more than 5 years had passed. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed at every visit. Radiographic changes in graft height were calculated with respect to the implant's known length and the original sinus height. RESULTS: All implants were stable functionally, as well as clinically and radiographically, during the follow-up. Most of the radiographic reduction in the grafted bone height occurred in the first 2 years; reduction after 2 years was slight. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous placement of non-submerged SLA implants using the BAOSFE procedure is a feasible treatment option for patients with severe atrophic posterior maxillas. However, the grafted bone height is reduced during the healing period, and patients must be selected with care.ope

Short-Term Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow in Normal Tension Glaucoma

PURPOSE: Based on the vascular theory of glaucoma pathogenesis, we wanted to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on peripapillary blood flow in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: Thirty patients with NTG were randomly placed in the GBE-treated or control groups. The GBE-treated group received 80 mg GBE orally, twice a day for four weeks, and the control group received a placebo twice a day for four weeks. Complete ocular examinations including visual field, Heidelberg retina flowmeter, and systemic examinations were performed on the first study day and on the day treatment was completed. RESULTS: After GBE treatment, the mean blood flow, volume, and velocity increased at almost all points, and there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow at almost all points, in comparison to the placebo. Blood volume significantly increased only in the superior nasal and superior temporal neuroretinal rim areas. GBE also significantly increased blood velocity in areas of the inferior temporal neuroretinal rim and superior temporal peripapillary area. CONCLUSIONS: GBE administration appears to have desirable effect on ocular blood flow in NTG patients.ope

Silicon germanium photo-blocking layers for a-IGZO based industrial display

Amorphous indium- gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) has been intensively studied for the application to active matrix flat-panel display because of its superior electrical and optical properties. However, the characteristics of a-IGZO were found to be very sensitive to external circumstance such as light illumination, which dramatically degrades the device performance and stability practically required for display applications. Here, we suggest the use for silicon-germanium (Si-Ge) films grown plasmaenhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) as photo-blocking layers in the a-IGZO thin film transistors (TFTs). The charge mobility and threshold voltage (V-th) of the TFTs depend on the thickness of the Si-Ge films and dielectric buffer layers (SiNX), which were carefully optimized to be similar to 200 nm and similar to 300 nm, respectively. As a result, even after 1,000 s illumination time, the V-th and electron mobility of the TFTs remain unchanged, which was enabled by the photo-blocking effect of the Si-Ge layers for a-IGZO films. Considering the simple fabrication process by PECVD with outstanding scalability, we expect that this method can be widely applied to TFT devices that are sensitive to light illumination.

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase 3-mediated alpha-Synuclein Cleavage in Dopaminergic Cell Death

Evidence suggests that the C-terminal truncation of alpha-synuclein is equally important as aggregation of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson disease (PD). Our previous results showed that an endopeptidase, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), was induced and activated in dopaminergic (DA) cells upon stress conditions. Here, we report that MMP3 cleaved alpha-synuclein in vitro and in vivo and that alpha-synuclein and MMP3 were co-localized in Lewy bodies (LB) in the postmortem brains of PD patients. Incubation of alpha-synuclein with the catalytic domain of MMP3 (cMMP3) resulted in generation of several peptides, and the peptide profiles of WT alpha-synuclein (WTsyn) and A53T mutant (A53Tsyn) were different. Combined analysis using mass spectrometry and N-terminal determination revealed that MMP3 generated C-terminally truncated peptides of amino acids 1-78, 1-91, and 1-93 and that A53Tsyn produced significantly higher quantities of these peptides. Similar sizes of peptides were detected in N27 DA cells under oxidative stress and RNA interference to knock down MMP3-attenuated peptide generation. Co-overexpression of cMMP3 with either WTsyn or A53Tsyn led to a reduction in Triton X-100-insoluble aggregates and an increase in protofibril-like small aggregates. In addition, overexpression of the 1-93-amino acid peptide in the substantia nigra led to DA neuronal loss without LB-like aggregate formation. The results strongly indicate that MMP3 digestion of alpha-synuclein in DA neurons plays a pivotal role in the progression of PD through modulation of alpha-synuclein in aggregation, LB formation, and neurotoxicity

Abnormalities of Rest-Activity and Light Exposure Rhythms Associated with Cognitive Function in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

We aimed to examine the difference in rest-activity rhythm (RAR) and light exposure rhythm (LER) between patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal controls (NC), and to verify their relationships with cognitive functions. The neuropsychological battery was administered to participants above 50 years old. The MCI diagnosis was made according to Petersen’s criteria. Ten patients with MCI (77.90 ± 6.95 years) and eight NC (74.75 ± 5.06 years) were studied. Actigraphy (Actiwatch 2; Philips Respironics) was recorded at home for 5 days. RAR and LER variables, including interdaily stability (IS), intradaily variability (IV) and relative amplitude, were calculated using nonparametric analyses. The associations between cognitive performance and RAR and LER variables were explored using generalized linear models. There were no significant differences in RAR or LER variables between MCI and NC. There was a significant main effect of RAR-IS on the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), indicating a positive relationship between RAR stability and SCWT performance. There was a significant group by RAR-IS interaction on Trail Making Test-A, indicating a negative relationship in MCI compared to NC. There was a significant group by LER-IV interaction on the Boston Naming Test, indicating a positive relationship in MCI compared to NC. There was no disruption in RAR and LER in patients with MCI. Our study showed that circadian rhythm abnormality was associated with a decline in executive function. However, circadian rhythm abnormality was not associated with declines in processing speed and language function in patients with MCI, implying an altered pathophysiology compared to NC

Relationship of the Duration and Timing of Exercise with Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling Adults

Background and Objective We aimed to compare the differences in the subjective and objective sleep quality, and quality of life (QOL) according to the duration and timing of exercise in community-dwelling adults, and to compare these between the exercise group (EG) and non-exercise group (non-EG) in insomnia patients. Methods We recruited 223 volunteers (EG: n = 119, age: 60.8 ± 12.8 years; non-EG: n = 104, age 61.6 ± 13.3 years), who visited to 3 Public Health Centers in a rural area of South Korea. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Korean version of Epworth Sleepiness Scale (KESS), and Short Form-12 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-12) were administered for each subject. Actigraphy (Actiwatch-2, Philips Respironics Co.) recording was done for 7 days at home, and we included the data of 183 subjects in our analysis. We compared the scores of questionnaires and objective sleep parameters according to the duration and timing of exercise, and compared these between the EG and non-EG in insomnia patients. Results Physical component summary (PCS) scores in SF-12 were higher in the EG for more than 60 minutes per day. In the subjects with outdoor exercise, the afternoon EG had lower PSQI scores and higher KESS scores. In insomnia patients, PCS scores in the EG was higher than those of the non-EG. Conclusions Community-dwelling adults who exercised for more than one hour showed higher physical QOL compared to those for less than one hour. Insomnia patients who exercised also showed higher physical QOL. In outdoor exercise, afternoon exercise would be beneficial for subjective sleep quality than morning exercise

The Korean Mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) Extract Has an Antiobesity Effect and Protects against Hepatic Steatosis in Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

This study investigates the inhibitory effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) on adipogenic factors in 3T3-L1 cells and obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice fed a high-fat diet. Male C57Bl/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with KME (3 g/kg/day) for 15 weeks for the antiobesity and NAFLD experiments. Body weight and daily food intake were measured regularly during the experimental period. The epididymal pad was measured and liver histology was observed. The effects of KME on thermogenesis and endurance capacity were measured. The effects of KME on adipogenic factors were examined in 3T3-L1 cells. Body and epididymal fat pad weights were reduced in KME-treated mice, and histological examination showed an amelioration of fatty liver in KME-treated mice, without an effect on food consumption. KME potently induces mitochondrial activity by activating thermogenesis and improving endurance capacity. KME also inhibited adipogenic factors in vitro. These results demonstrate the inhibitory effects of KME on obesity and NAFLD in mice fed a high-fat diet. The effects appear to be mediated through an enhanced mitochondrial activity. Therefore, KME may be an effective therapeutic candidate for treating obesity and fatty liver caused by a high-fat diet