In this study, microstructural characteristics and constituent elements of fiberglass splint and cast are examined using a scanning electron microscope and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. As observed by the scanning electron microscope, fiberglass splint and cast had a porous structure with many bundles of fiberglass textures well assembled. Spaces between bundles of the fiberglass splint are triangular or elliptical shaped and the long-axis diameter is measured at about 1 mm. The thickness of fiber bundles covered with plaster is measured at 600 μm and the diameter of a single strand of fiberglass is up to 10 μm. The thickness of the fiberglass bundle of the fiberglass splint is measured at about 700 μm. Spaces between bundles are formed in the shape of triangles with gentle edges and long-axis diameter of up to 1.4 mm, which is larger than that of the splint. The thickness of a single strand of fiberglass of the plaster-coated cast is 11.5 μm, which is thicker than that of fiberglass of the splint. As a result of analyzing constituent elements of the fiberglass cast and the splint with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, Ca, Si, and Al components are identically detected. This result shows that the fiberglass cast has a smoother surface with hardened plaster than the fiberglass splint. The thickness of the fiberglass bundle and the thickness of a single strand of the fiberglass are also larger than those of the fiberglass splint.

Background: While the formal test has been used to provide a quantitative measurement of core stability, studies have reported inconsistent results regarding its test-retest and intraobserver reliabilities. Furthermore, the validity of the formal test has never been established. Objects: This study aimed to establish the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the formal test. Methods: Twenty-two young adults with and without core instability (23.1 ± 2.0 years) were recruited. Concurrent validity was determined by comparing the muscle thickness changes of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal muscle to changes in core stability pressure during the formal test using ultrasound (US) imaging and pressure biofeedback, respectively. For the test-retest reliability, muscle thickness and pressure changes were repeatedly measured approximately 24 hours apart. Electromyography (EMG) was used to monitor trunk muscle activity during the formal test. Results: The Pearson’s correlation analysis showed an excellent correlation between transverse abdominal thickness and pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) pressure as well as internal oblique thickness and PBU pressure, ranging from r = 0.856–0.980, p < 0.05. The test-retest reliability was good, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC1,2) = 0.876 for the core stability pressure measure and ICC1,2 = 0.939 to 0.989 for the abdominal muscle thickness measure. Conclusion: Our results provide clinical evidence that the formal test is valid and reliable, when concurrently incorporated into EMG and US measurements.

A pregnancy diagnosis is an important standard for control of livestock’s reproduction in paricular dairy cattle. High reproductive performance in dairy animals is a essential condition to realize of high life-time production. Pregnancy diagnosis is crucial to shortening the calving interval by enabling the farmer to identify open animals so as to treat or re-breed them at the earliest opportunity. MicroRNAs are short RNA molecules which are critically involved in regulating gene expression during both health and disease. This study is sought to establish the feasible of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of early pregnancy in cattle. We applied Illumina small-RNA sequencing to profile miRNAs in plasma samples collected from 12 non-pregnant cows (“open” cows: samples were collected before insemination (non-pregnant state) and after pregnancy check at the indicated time points) on weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16. Using small RNA sequencing we identified a total of 115 miRNAs that were differentially expressed weeks 16 relative to non-pregnancy (“open” cows). Weeks 8, 12 and 16 of pregnancy commonly showed a distinct increase in circulating levels of miR-221 and miR-320a. Through genome-wide analyses we have successfully profiled plasma miRNA populations associated with pregnancy in cattle. Their application in the field of reproductive biology has opened up opportunities for research communities to look for pregnancy biomarker molecules in dairy cattle.

This paper is an exploratory study to investigate the influence of characteristics of local government web-sites on user satisfaction and trust. The objective of this research is to identify the characteristics of local government web-sites influencing on user satisfaction and trust, and determine how they affect user satisfaction and trust. From the literature review, we identify four characteristics which are expected to influence on user satisfaction: technical, information, customer-oriented, and work-performing characteristics. In addition, we develop research model that the four characteristics are expected to affect user satisfaction and trust via users’ perceived values. The results of the research are as follows. The technical, customer-oriented, and work-performing characteristics significantly affects perceived values, which significantly affected user satisfaction and trust. Perceived value is partially mediated by user satisfaction in affecting user trust. The characteristics of local government web-sites affecting perceived values differed partially by the purpose of visitor. As for the personal goal, the technical, customer-oriented, and work-performing characteristics significantly affect perceived values, with the technical and customer-oriented characteristics having more significant effects. As for the business goal, the technical, information, work-performing characteristics significantly affected perceived values, with information characteristics having more significant effects.

In the Anzunbaengi (Triticum aestivum) whole wheat flour mixture group, some herbs (A [white], B [yellow], C [black], D [blue], and E [red]) were added. The physicochemical properties were compared to the strong flour and whole wheat flour mixture groups. The dry gluten content of the control group (strong flour) was 13.5±0.4%, and the content in the whole wheat flour test group was slightly lower in value than the control group. The final viscosity, breakdown, and setback values of the dough were 248.4±0.8, 104.8±0.9, and 103.1±2.9 RVU, respectively. The breakdown was significantly different in the control and whole wheat flour groups. The setback value of the dough was increased by 30 RVU in the whole wheat flour test group compared to the control group by 103.1±2.9 RVU, but there was no significant difference between the test group samples. The consistency of the control dough was 500±10 FU, and the whole wheat flour test group was significantly increased to 585±10~599±10 FU, respectively. The absorption rate was about 2% higher in the whole flour test group than in the control group (66.2±0.3%). The pH of the control paste gradually decreased with fermentation time, and the results of whole wheat flour test group were similar (5.78±0.12~5.88±0.12). As the fermentation time increased, the volume of dough was increased and the result was slightly lower in the whole wheat flour test group than in the control group.