Background: Stroke patients have dosiflexor weakness. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) for motor and sensory threshold stimulation has been applied to patients with stroke. Objectives: To investigate effects of FES intervention for motor and sensory threshold on balance and gait in subacute patients with stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: In all, 34 patients with subacute stroke were recruited and randomly assigned to the motor threshold (MTG, n=17) and sensory threshold group (STG, n=17). The measured variables were static balance (BioRescue), dynamic balance (BBS), and gait (TUG test). The study period was 5 weeks, twice a day, 5 days a week. Results: There was a significant difference in all variables except the speed variable (open eye Romberg test) after the intervention; MTG improved more significantly except for the speed variable of the Romberg test (open eye). BBS score increased significantly only in the MTG group after the intervention, and the increase was more significant in the MTG group than in the STG group. The TUG test significantly decreased in both groups after the intervention, and the decrease was more significant in the MTG group than in the STG group. Conclusion: FES for motor threshold applied to patients with subacute stroke appears to be more effective in improving balance and gait ability than FES for sensory threshold.

The Erythropeltidales are a common group of small, mostly epiphytic, marine red algae. However, they are little known in Korea. Many of the described species of Erythropeltidales differ subtly in morphology, and often the morphological differences are due to the substrate or environmental changes. Integration of molecular data with stan- dardized culture conditions has been recommended to account for these algae. A Madagascaria species was first collected from the western coast of Korea and was identified as Madagascaria erythrocladioides based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphological characteristics conformed well with its original description, and the phylogenetic analysis based on rbcL sequence showed Korean M. erythrocladioides nests in the same clade with the original species described in Japan with a genetic distance of 0.0-0.1%. This species was isolated from a red alga, Pterocladiella capillacea, in laboratory culture. The thallus ontogeny and host preference were examined by a co-culture with 13 different species of algae. Results showed a relatively broad host preference in mono-spore attachment and epiphyte development of Madagascaria erythrocladioides. Mono-spores of M. erythrocladioides attached to most of the red algal hosts’ surfaces but no crustose thalli developed on some of the algal hosts even after one month of co-culture.

본 연구는 지카바이러스(ZIKV) 감염이 눈에 미치는 다양한 합병증을 제시하여 ZIKV 감염 예방의 중요성을 알리고자 연구하였다. ZIKV는 1952년 인체에서 처음 발견되었고, 2016년 브라질을 중심으로 남아메리카 대륙에서 폭발적인 감염을 일으키며 세계의 주목을 받게 되었다. ZIKV에 감염된 성인의 80%는 무증상 감염자이고 임산부를 통해 수직 감염되어 신생아에는 소두증 및 선천적 안구 장애를 합병증으로 가질 수 있음이 보고되었다. 눈은 고유의 혈액-망막 장벽을 가지고 안구를 보호하는 면역특권 기관이지만 바이러스 저장소 역할을 하여 ZIKV가 눈의 합병증을 유발한다는 최근의 학계 발표에 주목하고 있다. ZIKV의 감염 경로에 대해서는 활발히 연구 중이지만 지금까지는 백신이 없고 특별한 치료법이 없어 미리 예방하는 것만이 감염을 차단하는 유일한 방법이다. 특히, ZIKV 감염증은 태아 감염을 통한 잠재적 매개 변수를 가지는 더 위험성이 있기에 정부 당국과 지방 자치에서는 지속적 감시가 필요할 것으로 사료되어 이 논문을 제시한다.

This study developed an analytical methodology for the mechanical integrity of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) cladding tubes under external pinch loads during transportation, with reference to the failure mode specified in the relevant guidelines. Special consideration was given to the degraded characteristics of SNF during dry storage, including oxide and hydride contents and orientations. The developed framework reflected a composite cladding model of elastic and plastic analysis approaches and correlation equations related to the mechanical parameters. The established models were employed for modeling the finite elements by coding their physical behaviors. A mechanical integrity evaluation of 14 × 14 PWR SNF was performed using this system. To ensure that the damage criteria met the applicable legal requirements, stress-strain analysis results were separated into elastic and plastic regions with the concept of strain energy, considering both normal and hypothetical accident conditions. Probabilistic procedures using Monte Carlo simulations and reliability evaluations were included. The evaluation results showed no probability of damage under the normal conditions, whereas there were small but considerably low probabilities under accident conditions. These results indicate that the proposed approach is a reliable predictor of SNF mechanical integrity.

Recently, the number and scale of projects being carried out within the enterprise are increasing. Accordingly, many companies are competitively introducing a Project Management Office (PMO) to efficiently manage these projects, allocate resources, and effectively link the projects and corporate strategies. However, the project manager who directly manages the project wants to receive support from the PMO in many areas for successful project management, but the project manager does not like to be interfered with by the PMO. On the other hand, the PMO may not be able to satisfy all the requirements of each PM as PMO oversees the entire project with limited resources. In addition, since the PMO must monitor and control the project and support the project according to the priorities of each project, conflicts with each PM can be formed. Therefore, in this study, based on the case of a company, the difference between the perceptions of PMs and PMOs about the importance of the required roles of PMOs is to be examined. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the core functions and sub-functions of PMO, which PMO members and PMs consider important, are different. It was identified that the PMs valued the PMO function that would be helpful for their successful project execution. On the other hand, PMO members revealed that they had a relatively high priority for the roles to monitor and control project performance for which they were directly responsible.

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of different cutting lengths on fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of whole crop rice (WCR) silage. The WCR was harvested at the yellow ripe stage (43.7%, DM), and then cut at 5 (R05), 10 (R10), and 20 cm (R20) of the theoretical length of cut with no cut WCR (R60). Each forage was ensiled into 20 L mini bucket silo (5 kg) for 150 days in quadruplicates. The cutting lengths were not affected the chemical compositions of WCR silage (p > 0.05). The pH (p < 0.001) and concentration of ammonia-N (p = 0.022) in WCR silage were increased linearly with the increase of cutting length. The concentration of lactate had quadratic effect (p = 0.007), which was highest in R20 silage (p < 0.05). The concentration of acetate was increased linearly (p = 0.014), but the concentration of butyrate was decreased linearly (p = 0.033). The lactic acid bacteria count was decreased linearly (p = 0.017), and yeast count had quadratic effect (p = 0.009), which was the highest in R20 silage (p < 0.05). Aerobic stability had strong quadratic effect (p < 0.001), which was the highest in R20 silage (p < 0.05). In conclusion, R60 silage had highest pH by a linear increase of ammonia-N concentration and led to low aerobic stability. While R20 silage had the lowest pH by high lactate concentration and led to high aerobic stability.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein produced by hepatocytes. The plasma concentration of CRP peaks around 48 hours following stimulation. A rapid decrease in CRP levels is observed when the stimuli end. Considering these characteristics of CRP, it is used to evaluate acute inflammatory responses in clinics. In addition, as it reflects the degree of surgical trauma, measuring the CRP concentration is an effective method of evaluating tissue damage depending upon the surgical method. As CRP is also an acute-phase protein in dogs, the purpose of the present study was to compare the factors related to acute inflammatory responses between dogs undergoing elective general surgery (GS) and orthopedic surgery (OS). A total of 44 healthy dogs were included in this study. The sex ratio of dogs that underwent OS was similar. Both groups showed increased CRP levels and white blood cell (WBC) counts on post-operative day (POD) 1-2. The CRP level in the OS group on POD 1-2 was significantly higher than that of the GS group and it was increased about 16-fold compared to the pre-operative value. No significant difference in WBC counts was observed between the two groups. Although a slight increase in the WBC count was observed on POD 1-2 in both groups, it was near the reference range during follow-up. Thus, measuring CRP levels can be more effective in evaluating acute inflammatory responses than WBC counts. Although a high level of post-operative serum CRP concentrations was observed in the OS group, it rapidly decreased to a level similar to the pre-operative value if there were no post-operative complications.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon and rectum with intervals of acute exacerbation. Its etiology remains unknown, although recent studies suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines initiate the inflammatory responses. In this study, we investigated the ameliorative effects of YB-21 (new product containining Lactobacillus plantarum, Barley Bran and Nymphaeaceae) in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The experimental groups were divided into 6 groups (n = 10) of ICR mice: normal control(NC), DSS-treated(PC, positive control), DSS+latic-L-treated (3×107CFU/ml), DSS+latic-M-treated (3×109CFU/ml), DSS+latic-H-treated (3×1011CFU/ml), and DSS+YB-21-treated. Histological examinations indicated that YB-21 suppressed edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. Moreover, YB-21 reduced serum level expressions of, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These results suggest that YB-21 has an anti-colitic effect by the suppression of intestinal inflammatory responses in DSS-induced colitis in mice.

본 연구는 국내 유통되는 액상 유제품에 함유된 17종의 과불화화합물 (PFCs) 함량에 대한 모니터링을 위해 수행되었다. 샘플을 액체-액체 추출을 통해 추출하고 LC-MS/ MS로 정량 분석하였다. 시중에 유통중인 98개의 액상 유제품 샘플에서 PFCs의 모니터링을 진행하였으며 그 결과, PFTeDA를 제외한 16종의 PFCs가 검출되었다. 총 PFCs의 함량은 0.9037 ng/mL로 액상 우유에서 가장 높았으며, PFPeA, PFDS, PFHxA도 액상우유에서 0.1 ng/mL 이상의 농도 수준을 보였다. 미국과 이탈리아에서 수행한 연구와 비교했을 때 PFOA와 PFOS의 잔류 패턴은 유사한 것으 로 나타났으며, 농도 수준은 0.1 ng/mL 미만이었다. 액상 유제품은 다양한 가공단계(살균, 혼합, 지방제거 등)를 거쳐 총 PFCs의 함량이 감소하는 것으로 보여지며, 특히 짧은 탄소 사슬을 가진 PFCs가 크게 감소하거나 검출되지 않았다. 이는 식품 안전에서 원료의 PFOS와 PFOA의 잔류정도가 중요하다는 것을 의미한다.

In this study, the layered structures of immiscible Fe and Cu metals were employed to investigate the interface evolution through solid-state mixing. The pure Fe and Cu powders were cold-consolidated by high-pressure torsion (HPT) to fabricate a layered Cu-Fe-Cu structure. The microstructural evolutions and flow of immiscible Fe and Cu metals were investigated following different iterations of HPT processing. The results indicate that the HPTprocessed sample following four iterations showed a sharp chemical boundary between the Fe and Cu layers. In addition, the Cu powders exhibited perfect consolidation through HPT processing. However, the Fe layer contained many microcracks. After 20 iterations of HPT, the shear strain generated by HPT produced interface instability, which caused the initial layered structure to disappear.

Hydrolyzed proteins have an advantage over intact proteins in terms of their rate of digestion and absorption. The high-pressure enzymatic extraction (HPE) method has been shown to improve the quality characteristics of hydrolysates from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe) larvae (PBSL). This study investigated the effects of the HPE treatment period, a key candidate factor, on the quality characteristics of PBSL HPE hydrolysates. The hydrolysates were prepared by HPE for 0, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h under optimized conditions—solid:solvent ratio (1:14 [w/v]), using complex proteases (Alcalase:Flavorzyme:Bromelain = 1:1:1, 4%), treatment temperature (50oC), and pressure level (100 MPa). All quality characteristics tended to be superior with longer HPE treatment periods, most of which had the highest values at 30 h, with no significant difference or a slight decrease after that. The quality characteristics of the PBSL HPE hydrolysates were improved by 1.3-1.7 times under conditions of optimal HPE treatment period.

This study aims to investigate the effect of an aluminum chromium nitride (AlCrN) coating on tool wear and hole quality in the conventional drilling process of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites, titanium alloy (Ti), and CFRP–Ti stack workpieces popular in the aerospace industry. The advanced arc plasma acceleration (APA) method of physical vapor deposition (PVD) was used for all AlCrN coatings. The drilling experiments were conducted with uncoated drills as well as AlCrN-coated drills. When drilling CFRP only, the AlCrN coating was removed at the drill cutting edges and the margin area, which suggests the carbon fibers abraded the coatings. When drilling Ti only, the AlCrN-coated drill mitigated the Ti adhesion formation, which resulted in less tool wear. In addition, hole quality for both CFRP and Ti was improved when the coating was used versus the uncoated tool. The machinability of CFRP–Ti stacks in the drilling process was improved by utilizing the advanced AlCrN coating on the WC tool in terms of drilling forces and hole quality parameters such as average hole size, average hole roundness, hole surface roughness, and Ti exit burr height.