How Does the Location of Transfer Affect Travellers and Their Choice of Travel Mode?-A Smart Spatial Analysis Approach.

This study explores the relationship between the spatial distribution of relative transfer location (i.e., the location of the transfer point in relation to the trip origin and destination points) and the attractiveness of the transit service using smart card data. Transfer is an essential component of the transit trip that allows people to reach more destinations, but it is also the main factor that deters the smartness of the public transit. The literature quantifies the inconvenience of transfer in terms of extra travel time or cost incurred during transfer. Unlike this conventional approach, the new "transfer location" variable is formulated by mapping the spatial distribution of relative transfer locations on a homogeneous geocoordinate system. The clustering of transfer points is then quantified using grid-based hierarchical clustering. The transfer location factor is formulated as a new explanatory variable for mode choice modelling. This new variable is found to be statistically significant, and no correlation is observed with other explanatory variables, including transit travel time. These results imply that smart transit users may perceive the travel direction (to transfer) as important, in addition to the travel time factor, which would influence their mode choice. Travellers may disfavour even adjacent transfer locations depending on their relative location. The findings of this study will contribute to improving the understanding of transit user behaviour and impact of the smartness of transfer, assist smart transport planning and designing of new transit routes and services to enhance the transfer performance.

Red fluorescent emitting materials based on di-tert-butyl chromene derivatives for organic light-emitting diodes.

In this paper are described two di-tert-butyl chromene-containing red fluorescent materials (Red 1 and Red 2). To explore the electroluminescence properties of these materials, multilayered OLEDs using these materials as dopants in a Alq3 host were fabricated. In particular, a device using Red 2 as the dopant material showed maximum luminous efficiencies and power efficiencies of 1.14 cd/A and 0.58 Im/W, respectively. The CIEx,y coordinates of this device were (0.67, 0.32) at 7.0 V.

Direct generation of acyclic polypropionate stereopolyads via double diastereo- and enantioselective iridium-catalyzed crotylation of 1,3-diols: beyond stepwise carbonyl addition in polyketide construction.

Under the conditions of transfer hydrogenation employing the cyclometalated iridium catalyst (R)-I derived from [Ir(cod)Cl](2), allyl acetate, 4-cyano-3-nitrobenzoic acid, and the chiral phosphine ligand (R)-SEGPHOS, α-methylallyl acetate engages 1,3-propanediol (1a) and 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (1b) in double carbonyl crotylation from the alcohol oxidation level to deliver the C(2)-symmetric and pseudo-C(2)-symmetric stereopolyads 2a and 3a, respectively, with exceptional control of anti-diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. Notably, the polypropionate stereopentad 3a is formed predominantly as 1 of 16 possible stereoisomers. Desymmetrization of 3a is readily achieved upon iodoetherification to form pyran 4. The direct generation of 3a enables a dramatically simplified approach to previously prepared polypropionate substructures, as demonstrated by the synthesis of C19-C27 of rifamycin S (eight steps, originally prepared in 26 steps) and C19-C25 of scytophycin C (eight steps, originally prepared in 15 steps). The present transfer hydrogenation protocol represents an alternative to chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents, and premetalated nucleophiles in polyketide construction.

Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population: demographics and its relation with coexisting rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the demographics, clinical and radiographic features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population, specifically focusing on the incidence of coexisting rotator cuff tear. METHODS: Between October 2014 and January 2015, we performed a prospective multicenter study with 506 patients from 11 training hospitals in Korea. We collected data of demographics and radiographic analysis based on simple radiographs, clinical assessments based on visual analog scale (VAS) and the American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and treatment modalities that are used currently. We also evaluated coexisting rotator cuff tear by ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. RESULTS: There were 402 female patients (79%) with mean age of 55 years (range, 31-87 years). Mean duration of symptoms was 16 months. Mean size of calcific materials was 11.4 mm (range, 0-35 mm). Mean value of VAS and ASES scores were 6.5 (range, 1-10) and 47 (range, 8-95), respectively. Of 383 patients (76%), 59 (15%) had rotator cuff tear including 15 full-thickness tears on US or MRI. Patients with rotator cuff tears were significantly associated with older age, recurrent symptoms, menstrual disorders in females, and having undergone calcification removal surgery and rotator cuff repair (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study reported demographic, radiographic, and clinical features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in Korean population, which were not different from those of Western population. Coexisting rotator cuff tear was found with 15% incidence in this large series, suggesting that further radiographic study to evaluate rotator cuff tear might be needed in some calcific tendinitis patients of older age and presenting with recurrent symptoms.

Diastereo- and enantioselective anti-alkoxyallylation employing allylic gem-dicarboxylates as allyl donors via iridium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation.

Enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of gem-dibenzoate 1e in the presence of aromatic, alpha,beta-unsaturated, or aliphatic aldehydes 2a-i mediated by isopropyl alcohol and employing a cyclometalated iridium C,O-benzoate derived from allyl acetate, 4-cyano-3-nitrobenzoic acid, and (R)-SEGPHOS delivers products of alkoxyallylation 3a-i, 4a, 4e, 4f, and 4i in good isolated yields (62-82%) with good to excellent diastereoselectivities (7:1 to 18:1 dr) and exceptional enantioselectivities (90-99% ee). This protocol provides an alternative to the use of premetalated nucleophiles in carbonyl alkoxyallylation.

All-carbon quaternary centers via ruthenium-catalyzed hydroxymethylation of 2-substituted butadienes mediated by formaldehyde: beyond hydroformylation.

Ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of 2-substituted dienes 1a-i in the presence of paraformaldehyde results in reductive coupling at the 2-position to furnish the hydroxymethylation products 3a-i, which embody all-carbon quaternary centers. Reductive coupling of diene 1g to paraformaldehyde under standard conditions, but employing deuterio-paraformaldehyde, 2-propanol-d(8), or both, corroborated a catalytic mechanism involving rapid, reversible diene hydrometalation with incomplete regioselectivity in advance of C-C coupling. The present method provides an alternative to the hydroformylation of conjugated dienes, for which efficient, regioselective catalytic systems remain undeveloped.

Enantioselective carbonyl reverse prenylation from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level employing 1,1-dimethylallene as the prenyl donor.

Enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of 1,1-dimethylallene 1a in the presence of aromatic, alpha,beta-unsaturated, or aliphatic aldehydes 2a-i mediated by 2-propanol and employing a cyclometalated iridium C,O-benzoate derived from allyl acetate, m-nitrobenzoic acid, and (S)-SEGPHOS delivers reverse-prenylation products 4a-i in good to excellent isolated yields (65-96%) and enantioselectivities (87-93% ee). In the absence of 2-propanol, enantioselective carbonyl reverse prenylation is achieved directly from the alcohol oxidation level to furnish an equivalent set of adducts 4a-i in good to excellent isolated yields (68-94%) and enantioselectivities (86-91% ee). Competition and isotopic labeling experiments suggest rapid alcohol-aldehyde redox equilibration in advance of carbonyl addition along with capture of the kinetically formed pi-allyl complex at a higher rate than reversible beta-hydride elimination-hydrometalation. This protocol represents an alternative to the use of allylmetal reagents in enantioselective carbonyl reverse prenylation and represents the first use of allenes in enantioselective C-C bond-forming transfer hydrogenation.

Intraarterially delivered human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in canine cerebral ischemia.

The present study examined the effects of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCB-derived MSCs) delivered through the basilar artery in a canine thromboembolic brain ischemia model. Cerebral ischemia was induced through occlusion of the middle cerebral artery by injecting thrombus emboli into 10 beagles. In the HUCBC group (n = 5), 1 x 10(6) HUCB-derived MSCs were transplanted through the basilar artery 1 day after ischemic induction using an endovascular interventional approach. In the control group (n = 5), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected in the same manner in as the HUCBC group. Upon neurobehavioral examination, earlier recovery was observed in the HUCBC group. The HUCBC group showed a decrease in the infarction volume at 1 week after cerebral ischemic induction, whereas the control group showed an increase in the infarction volume at 1 week, by magnetic resonance image analysis. Transplanted cells had differentiated into neurons and astrocytes and were observed in and around endothelial cells that were positive for von Willebrand factor (vWF). HUCB-derived MSCs expressed neuroprotective factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), at 4 weeks after the transplantation. The transplanted cells demonstrated their efficacy by reducing the infarction lesion volume and through earlier recovery from the neurological deficit. These results suggest that intraarterial transplantation of HUCB-derived MSCs could be useful in clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a cirrhotic rat model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cirrhosis is a long-term consequence of chronic hepatic injury and no effective therapy is currently available for this disease. Recent reports have shown that the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes, and umbilical cord blood is a rich source of MSCs. Hence, we investigated the effect of infusing of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (HMSCs) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis in a rat model. METHODS: The effect of HMSCs on cirrhosis was evaluated using haematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. To evaluate cirrhosis-related factors, we measured protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), collagen type I and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). RESULTS: Histological findings showed that liver fibrosis in rats was alleviated by HMSCs infusion. Interestingly, CM-DiI-labelled HMSCs expressed the hepatocyte-specific markers, human albumin and alpha-fetoprotein. Infusion of HMSCs significantly inhibited TGF-beta1, collagen type I and alpha-SMA expressions in CCl4-induced cirrhotic rats. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that HMSCs infusion could improve liver fibrosis in rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis, raising the possibility for clinical use of HMSCs in the treatment of cirrhosis.

Comprehensive analysis of excision repair complementation group 1, glutathione S-transferase, thymidylate synthase and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 polymorphisms predictive for treatment outcome in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI.

Oxaliplatin and irinotecan have proven effective in the treatment of gastric cancer. We attempted to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms in ERCC1, GST, TS and UGT1A1 predicted overall survival in gastric cancer patients receiving FOLFOX and/or FOLFIRI chemotherapy. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood of patients. The PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was applied in order to detect the known variant sites of ERCC1, GST, TS and UGT1A1. The response rate of FOLFOX (N=75) was 24%. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and neurotoxicity were observed at frequencies of 34.7 and 16%, respectively. TTP and OS of first-line administration of FOLFOX (N=35) were 3.1 months (95% CI, 0.1-6.1 months) and 13.9 months (95% CI, 12.2-15.6 months), respectively. Only the GSTM1 positive genotype exhibited a significantly better time to progression (P=0.023). However, significant genotypic variation of TS, GST and ERCC1, which was assumed to affect the activity of oxaliplatin, was not observed to affect RR, toxicity and overall survival. The response rate of FOLFIRI (N=74) was 23%. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and diarrhea were observed in 55.4 and 9.5% of cases, respectively. TTP and OS of first-line administration of FOLFIRI (N=33) was 4.9 months (95% CI, 3.5-6.4 months) and 19.0 months (95% CI, 8.5-29.5 months). The low expression type (2R/2R, 2R/3C and 3C/3C) of TS was associated with a high incidence of grade >or=3 neutropenia. However, significant genotypic variation of UGT1A1, which was assumed to affect irinotecan toxicity, was not observed to affect RR, toxicity or survival. In this study, the GSTM1 positive genotype evidenced a significantly better time to progression in cases of advanced gastric cancer being treated with FOLFOX. The low expression type (2R/2R, 2R/3C and 3C/3C) of TS was associated with a high incidence of grade >or=3 neutropenia in cases of advanced gastric cancer treated with FOLFIRI.

Proximal Approach of Ultrasound-guided Suprascapular Nerve Block: Comparison with Subacromial Steroid Injection.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate early clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) using a proximal approach, as compared with subacromial steroid injection (SA). METHODS: This retrospective study included a consecutive series of 40 patients of SSNB and 20 patients receiving SA, from August 2017 to August 2018. The visual analogue scale (VAS), American Shoulder Elbow Surgeon's score (ASES), University of California, Los Angeles score (UCLA), the 36 health survey questionnaire mental component summary (SF36-MCS), physical component summary (PCS), and range of motion (forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation) were assessed for clinical evaluations. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, VAS, and ranges of motion in the SSNB group significantly improved at the 4-week follow-up (VAS scores improved from 6.7 ± 1.6 to 4.3 ± 2.4, p<0.001; all ranges of motion p<0.05), while other variables showed no statistically significant differences. All clinical variables were significantly improved in the SA group (p<0.05). However, all clinical scores at the 4-week follow-up showed no significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided SSNB using proximal approach provides significant pain relief at 4-weeks after treatment, with statistically significant difference when compared with SA, suggesting that SSNB using proximal approach is a potentially useful option in managing shoulder pain. However, in the current study, it was less effective in improving shoulder function and health-related quality of life, compared with SA.

Candy Closure Technique for Chronic Open Infective Lateral Malleolus Bursitis.

The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of the Candy closure technique as a treatment for chronic open infective lateral malleolus bursitis. From June 2014 to March 2018, we performed the Candy closure technique as a treatment for chronic open infective lateral malleolus bursitis in nine patients without secondary operation. We first performed infectious tissue debridement to control infection, and if primary closure was not possible, we performed the Candy closure technique for small wounds. The duration of the wound prior to surgery varied from 4 weeks to 2 years. Seven cases were due to infection on the bursa and two cases were ulcer-type bursitis. All the wounds were small (average, 3.80 cm2; range, 2.25-4 cm2) and circular. Seven wounds showed complete healing at 4 weeks after surgery, one wound showed complete healing at 8 weeks after surgery, and one wound with infected state was lost to missing follow-up. Of the seven wounds that showed complete healing, one wound recurred 6 months after surgery. The Candy closure technique is a simple method for ensuring healing and coverage of chronic open lateral malleolus bursitis, especially for small wounds with dead space.

Development of an improved canine model of percutaneous spinal cord compression injury by balloon catheter.

We developed a minimally invasive canine model of spinal cord injury (SCI). A balloon catheter was inserted into the epidural space via the lumbosacral space, and inflated between L2 and L3 for 30 or 60 min under fluoroscopic guidance. Motor function after SCI was assessed using modified Tarlov scale. All seven dogs showed complete paraplegia after the procedure, neurological problems were evident and the modified Tarlov scores remained at zero after the SCI procedure; no improvement in clinical signs was observed. The dogs underwent 3T MR imaging at 3 days and 1 year after SCI. Histopathologic examinations were conducted at 2 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year after SCI. In the present study, we described an animal model of minimally invasive spinal cord injury using a balloon catheter without laminectomy under fluoroscopic guidance. And, this percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model has many potential applications. The described percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model offers a new means of administering SCI and has many potential applications.

Halide ions as a highly efficient promoter in the Ru-catalyzed hydroesterification of alkenes and alkynes.

The presence of catalytic amounts of halide salts was found to enhance dramatically the reaction efficiency in the Ru-catalyzed hydroesterification of alkenes and alkynes using a chelating 2-pyridylmethyl formate by lowering the reaction temperature. On the basis of IR and NMR studies, the halide effect on the reaction is mainly attributed to the facile dissociation of the trirutheniumcarbonyl precursor into the presumed active metal species. With this milder condition, the substrate scope has been significantly broadened.

A facile access to N-sulfonylimidates and their synthetic utility for the transformation to amidines and amides.

[reaction: see text] It is shown that N-sulfonylimidates can be efficiently prepared by a three-component coupling of terminal alkynes, sulfonyl azides, and alcohols with use of a copper catalyst and an amine base. The reaction is characterized by mild conditions, high selectivity, and tolerance with various functional groups. Facile transformation of imidates to amidines was also achieved by sodium cyanide. Additionally, a protocol for the extremely efficient Pd-catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic sulfonimidates to N-allylic sulfonamides has been developed.

Genetic features of Khoton Mongolians revealed by SNP analysis of the X chromosome.

The Khoton Mongolian population is a small and relatively isolated ethnic group residing predominantly in the northwestern part of Mongolia. A recent genetic study of the Y chromosome revealed that the major Mongolian ethnic groups have a relatively close genetic affinity to populations in the northern part of East Asia, while the Khoton population reflected an apparent genetic differentiation from the other Mongolian populations. To further investigate the genetic features of the Khoton and the other Mongolian populations, we analyzed the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Xq13.3 region, which is thought to have an extremely low level of recombination in the human X chromosome. We found that the frequency distribution of Xq13.3 haplotypes in the Khoton population was substantially different from those in three other Mongolian populations (Khalkh, Uriankhai, and Zakhchin). The same relationship was also revealed by the results from the population tree and principal-component (PC) analysis based on the allele frequencies. These results are largely consistent with the hypothesis that the Khoton population descended from a nomadic tribe of Turkish origin, which has been supported by previous anthropological, historical, and Y-chromosome studies. However, the population structure analysis produced an additional finding, namely, that the Khoton population is likely to be an admixed population.

Detection of single nucleotide insertion of BCR/ABL region in imatinib-resistant human myelogenous leukemia SR-1 cells.

Imatinib mesylate is a selective Bcr/Abl kinase inhibitor and an effective anticancer agent for Bcr/Abl-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. Most patients in chronic phase maintain durable responses; however, many in blast crisis fail to respond, or relapse quickly. Mutations within the BCR/ABL kinase domain are the most commonly identified mechanism associated with relapse. To overcome the imatinib resistance in CML, many investigators have tried to clarify molecular mechanism for imatinib resistance in cells of patients who failed to respond to imatinib. Our aim was to invesitigate underlying mechanism for imatinib resistance in SR-1 cells, which were derived from a CML patient in blast crisis. We detected the new mutation of BCR/ABL, resulting in premature termination and loss of BCR/ABL fusion protein expression, which might be possible mechanism for the resistance to imatinib in SR-1 cells.

Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Specific for Human Cytomegalovirus Using Dendritic Cells In Vitro.

SUMMARY: For the adoptive immunotherapy in immunodeficient bone marrow transplant recipients to prevent and treat human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-associated diseases, HCMV-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) were used as antigen-presenting cells for the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific to HCMV antigens in vitro. The antiviral CTL responses induced by HCMV-pulsed DCs were as highly efficient as those induced by HCMV-infected dermal fibroblasts, and endogenous viral gene expression was not required to induce virus-specific T-cell lines. The strong cytotoxic activity against HCMV-pp65, known as HCMV major antigen, was identified using autologous B lymphoblastoid cell line expressing pp65 antigen. The cytotoxic activity toward HCMV-infected target cells was found to be mediated primarily by CD8+ T cells, although both CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells were able to lyse autologous virus-infected target cells. The CTLs contained a mixture of effector cells that recognized virus peptides in the context of major histocompatibility complex. This system may be useful for defining the cellular immune response to HCMV and for the treatment of HCMV infection in immunocompromised patients.

TNFB polymorphism may be associated with schizophrenia in the Korean population.

This study was conducted to test the association between the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-beta gene (B) polymorphism and schizophrenia in the Korean population. 127 patients with schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV criteria and 202 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Patients and controls were biologically unrelated age and sex-matched native Koreans. Genotyping for the TNFB polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genotype and allele distributions of the TNFB polymorphism in patients with schizophrenia were significantly different from those of the controls. Subjects with the TNFB*2 allele had an increased risk for schizophrenia (Odds Ratio=1.76, 95% CI=1.27-2.45). The present study suggests that the TNFB polymorphism may confer susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Korean population.