Anisotropic scrunching of SMC with a baton-pass mechanism.

DNA-loop extrusion is considered to be a universal principle of structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins with regard to chromosome organization. Despite recent advancements in structural dynamics studies that involve the use of cryogenic-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), etc., the precise molecular mechanism underlying DNA-loop extrusion by SMC proteins remains the subject of ongoing discussions. In this context, we propose a scrunching model that incorporates the anisotropic motion of SMC folding with a baton-pass mechanism, offering a potential explanation of how a "DNA baton" is transferred from the hinge domain to a DNA pocket via an anisotropic hinge motion. This proposed model provides insights into how SMC proteins unidirectionally extrude DNA loops in the direction of loop elongation while also maintaining the stability of a DNA loop throughout the dynamic process of DNA-loop extrusion.

Ingestion of fishing gear and Anisakis sp. infection in a beached Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) in the Jeju Island, Republic of Korea: findings from post-mortem computed tomography and necropsy.

BACKGROUND: Human fishing activities have significantly affect environmental concern for marine ecosystems, conservation of marine mammals, and human health. Coastal cetaceans are highly vulnerable to ingestion of fishing gear, bycatching, or entanglement, all of which can be fatal for these animals. In particular, certain coastal dolphins and porpoises are heavily impacted by fishing gear such as angling gear or stownet, as their food often overlap with the target fish species of human fisheries. CASE PRESENTATION: This study presents a case of an Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) beached on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, with ingestion of fishing gear and severe Anisakis infection. Although this species inhabits waters ranging from the Persian Gulf to Taiwan, several stranded carcasses have been reported on Jeju Island in recent years. Post-mortem computed tomography revealed a bundle of four fishing hooks in the forestomach, along with nylon lines and steel lines with connectors, which were assumed to be angling gear for Jeju hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus). Further necroscopic investigation revealed that the forestomach contained a large number of Anisakis spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae). Histological examination revealed a thickened forestomach wall with pinpoint and volcanic ulcerations, a thickened layer of stratified squamous epithelium, and infiltrated stroma in the squamous epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the urgent need to address the impact of fishing activities on marine mammals, marine litter pollution, and the bycatch problem in Korean seawater. In addition, the occurrence of N. phocaenoides in seawater around Jeju Island should be raised in future geographical ecology or veterinary pathology studies and when its distribution is updated.

Fatal upper aerodigestive tract obstruction in an East Asian finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri): findings in post-mortem computed tomography.

The present case report aims to outline the post-mortem findings of an East Asian finless porpoise with upper aerodigestive tract obstruction using different post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) visualization techniques and discusses the potential cause of death of this individual. A dead-stranded adult male East Asian finless porpoise was recovered from the Northern coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The carcass was frozen in Jeju National University within 2 h upon first reported. The PMCT examinations were performed at 120 kVp, 200 mAs with a section thickness of 1 mm. The scan field of view (sFOV) was set to 400 mm. Four image rendering techniques, including multi-planar reconstruction, three-dimensional volume rendering, perspective volume rendering, and minimum intensity projection technique, were used to aid the diagnosis of upper aerodigestive tract obstruction in the stranded finless porpoise. Conventional necropsy was performed to provide a complete necropsy report. Using PMCT, a Sebastidae of 24 cm measured length was found to be lodged in the left pharyngeal food channel and esophagus of the finless porpoise. Hard rays of the pectoral fin of the lodged fish have impaled the esophageal mucosa. Fishing gear was found to embed at the dorsal side of the lodged fish. The trachea was compressed ventrally and the arytenoepiglottic tube opening has been narrowed, which may precipitate to the finless porpoise difficult breathing. Pulmonary hyperinflation, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, pneumopericardium, and pneumorrhachis were observed. This case report represents the first documentation of potential radiological indicators of upper aerodigestive tract obstruction in the East Asian finless porpoise using PMCT. Spatial location of the lodged item could be rendered in situ as the time of death. It has demonstrated that PMCT could provide objective measurements to adjunct the necropsy findings in diagnosis of fatal aerodigestive tract obstruction in stranded cetaceans.

Semi-conductive micellar networks of all-conjugated diblock and triblock copolymer blends.

The crystallization-driven self-assembly of the blends of the all-conjugated block copolymers of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly(3-ethylhexylthiophene) (P3EHT) results in the cross-linking of the one-dimensional nanowires of P3HT-b-P3EHT, which is achieved by intercalating P3HT-b-P3EHT-b-P3HT into the nanowire cores. The micellar networks constitute flexible and porous materials that conduct electricity upon doping.

Semiautomated synthesis of sequence-defined polymers for information storage.

Accelerated and parallel synthesis of sequence-defined polymers is an utmost challenge for realizing ultrahigh-density storage of digital information in molecular media. Here, we report step-economical synthesis of sequence-defined poly(l-lactic-co-glycolic acid)s (PLGAs) using continuous flow chemistry. A reactor performed the programmed coupling of the 2-bit storing building blocks to generate a library of their permutations in a single continuous flow, followed by their sequential convergences to a sequence-defined PLGA storing 64 bits in four successive flows. We demonstrate that a bitmap image (896 bits) can be encoded and decoded in 14 PLGAs using only a fraction of the time required for an equivalent synthesis by conventional batch processes. Accelerated synthesis of sequence-defined polymers could also contribute to macromolecular engineering with precision comparable to natural precedents.

Synthesis of cubic transition-metal networks from polymer cubosome templates.

The interfacial topology of block copolymer cubic mesophases opens only one of two internal water channel networks for diffusion. Utilizing this topology selection, single and double diamond cubic crystalline networks of Ni were synthesized from cubic block copolymer (BCP) mesophase templates via electroless plating, in which the lattice structures were converted to the polymer cubosome (PC) internal pore networks by selective metal-ion diffusion. This was accomplished by manipulating the BCP molecular weight, which consequently allowed for selective access to the PC internal pore networks. This work provides a selective protocol for highly defined transition-metal cubic networks that are suitable for application in catalysis, electrochemistry, and synthesis of metamaterials with photonic and magnetic properties.

Simple action planning can affect attentional allocation in subsequent visual search.

Previous research has shown that mental representations of actions can influence performance on relevant tasks or dimensions even when there is no overt execution of the action. In this study, we examined whether cognitive processes prior to the physical execution of an action can elicit attentional bias towards irrelevant tasks or dimensions of that action. Participants performed two independent tasks-an action task and a search task-where they were instructed to plan an action and execute the action following the visual search task. We found that the same features of the object were prioritized in the subsequent search task when participants had planned an action response on the object in comparison to when they had not. This effect occurred even when the feature was irrelevant to the tasks or required action. Furthermore, the effect of action planning without physical response was found to be comparable to the effect of physical response. These results suggest that planning of a simple action can induce attentional bias to irrelevant features of objects even without physical action.

Discrimination study between carcass yield and meat quality by gender in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify a distribution pattern of meat quality grade (MQG) as a function of carcass yield index (CYI) and the gender of Hanwoo (bull, cow, and steer) to determine the optimum point between both yield and quality. We also attempted to identify how pre- and post-deboning variables affect the gender-specific beef quality of Hanwoo. METHODS: A total of 31 deboning variables, consisting of 7 pre-deboning and 24 post-deboning variables from bulls (n = 139), cows (n = 69), and steers (n = 153), were obtained from the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) in South Korea. The database was reconstructed to be suitable for a statistical significance test between the CYI and the MQG as well as classification of meat quality. Discriminant function analysis was used for classifying MQG using the deboning parameters of Hanwoo by gender. RESULTS: The means of CYI according to 1+, 1, 2, and 3 of MQG were 68.64±2.02, 68.85±1.94, 68.62±5.88, and 70.99±3.32, respectively. High carcass yield correlated with low-quality grade, while high-quality meat most frequently was obtained from steers. The classification ability of pre-deboning parameters was higher than that of post-deboning parameters. Moisture and the shear force were the common significant parameters in all discriminant functions having a classification accuracy of 80.6%, 71%, and 56.9% for the bull, cow, and steer, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides basic information for predicting the meat quality by gender using pre-deboning variables consistent with the actual grading index.

Influence of Atlantoaxial Fusion on Sagittal Alignment of the Occipitocervical and Subaxial spines in Os Odontoideum with Atlantoaxial Instability.

Study Design: Retrospective case analysis. Purpose: We hypothesized that larger the C1-C2 fusion angle, greater the severity of the sagittal malalignment of C0-C1 and C2- C7. Overview of Literature: In our experience, instances of sagittal malalignment occur at C0-C1 and C2-C7 following atlantoaxial fusion in patients with Os odontoideum (OO). Methods: We assessed 21 patients who achieved solid atlantoaxial fusion for reducible atlantoaxial instability secondary to OO. The mean patient age at the time of the operation was 42.8 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 4.9 years. Radiographic parameters were preoperatively measured and at the final follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups (A and B) depending on the C1-C2 fusion angle. In group A (n=11), the C1-C2 fusion angle was ≥22°, whereas in group B, it was <22°. The differences in the radiographic parameters of the two groups were evaluated. Results: At the final follow-up, the C1-C2 angle was increased. However, this increase was not statistically significant (18° vs. 22°, p=0.924). The C0-C1 angle (10° vs. 5°, p<0.05) and C2-C7 angle (22° vs. 13°, p<0.05) significantly decreased. The final C1-C2 angle was negatively correlated with the final C0-C1 and C2-C7 angles. The final C0-C1 angle (4° vs. 6°, p<0.05) and C2-C7 angle (8° vs. 20°, p<0.05) were smaller in group A than in group B. After atlantoaxial fusion, the C0-C1 range of motion (ROM; 17° vs. 9°, p<0.05) and the C2-C7 ROM (39° vs. 31°, p<0.05) were significantly decreased. Conclusions: We found a negative association between the sagittal alignment of C0-C1 and C2-C7 after atlantoaxial fusion and the C1-C2 fusion angle along with decreased ROM. Therefore, overcorrection of C1-C2 kyphosis should be avoided to maintain good physiologic cervical sagittal alignment.

Statistical modeling for estimating glucosinolate content in Chinese cabbage by growth conditions.

BACKGROUND: Glucosinolate in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr) has potential benefits for human health, and its content is affected by growth conditions. In this study, we used a statistical model to identify the relationship between glucosinolate content and growth conditions, and to predict glucosinolate content in Chinese cabbage. RESULT: Multiple regression analysis was employed to develop the model's growth condition parameters of growing period, temperature, humidity and glucosinolate content measured in Chinese cabbage grown in a plant factory. The developed model was represented by a second-order multi-polynomial equation with two independent parameters: growth duration and temperature (adjusted R2 = 0.81), and accurately predicted glucosinolate content after 14 days of seeding. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study presents the first statistical model for evaluating glucosinolate content, suggesting a useful methodology for designing glucosinolate-related experiments, and optimizing glucosinolate content in Chinese cabbage cultivation. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Corrugated Textile based Triboelectric Generator for Wearable Energy Harvesting.

Triboelectric energy harvesting has been applied to various fields, from large-scale power generation to small electronics. Triboelectric energy is generated when certain materials come into frictional contact, e.g., static electricity from rubbing a shoe on a carpet. In particular, textile-based triboelectric energy-harvesting technologies are one of the most promising approaches because they are not only flexible, light, and comfortable but also wearable. Most previous textile-based triboelectric generators (TEGs) generate energy by vertically pressing and rubbing something. However, we propose a corrugated textile-based triboelectric generator (CT-TEG) that can generate energy by stretching. Moreover, the CT-TEG is sewn into a corrugated structure that contains an effective air gap without additional spacers. The resulting CT-TEG can generate considerable energy from various deformations, not only by pressing and rubbing but also by stretching. The maximum output performances of the CT-TEG can reach up to 28.13 V and 2.71 µA with stretching and releasing motions. Additionally, we demonstrate the generation of sufficient energy from various activities of a human body to power about 54 LEDs. These results demonstrate the potential application of CT-TEGs for self-powered systems.

Foveal contour changes following surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the change in foveal contour in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) before and four months following pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting and epiretinal membrane peeling, and correlated foveal contour with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients undergoing surgery with pre- and postoperative OCT. Foveal contour grading was devised according to the thickness of the fovea relative to the surrounding macula from OCT radial line scans: Grade 0, foveal depression relative to surrounding macula; Grade 1, relative flatness; and Grade 2, fovea thicker than surrounding macula. Baseline and follow-up grades were compared for change and correlated with BCVA, central retinal thickness (CRT), central subfield thickness (CST), central subfield volume (CSV), and integrity of the ellipsoid zone (EZ). RESULTS: Among 41 eyes of 41 patients, mean follow-up was 125 days. No eyes were Grade 0 at baseline; 7 of 41 eyes were Grade 0 at follow-up. Baseline Grade 1 eyes improved CRT (P < 0.001), CST (P < 0.001), CSV (P = 0.002), and BCVA (P = 0.022). Baseline Grade 2 eyes improved CRT (P < 0.001), CST (P < 0.001), and CSV (P < 0.001), but not BCVA (P = 0.369). CONCLUSIONS: We developed a novel foveal contour grading method to assess retinal contour in ERM eyes before and after surgery. In eyes with ERM and no foveal depression, the majority did not regain foveal depression following surgery even though retinal thickness improved.

Urinary concentrations of dialkylphosphate metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Organophosphorus (OP) insecticides were among the first pesticides that EPA reevaluated as part of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Our goal was to assess exposure to OP insecticides in the U.S. general population over a six-year period. We analyzed 7,456 urine samples collected as part of three two-year cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999-2004. We measured six dialkylphosphate metabolites of OP pesticides to assess OP pesticide exposure. In NHANES 2003-2004, dimethylthiophosphate was detected most frequently with median and 95th percentile concentrations of 2.03 and 35.3 µg/L, respectively. Adolescents were two to three times more likely to have diethylphosphate concentrations above the 95th percentile estimate of 15.5 µg/L than adults and senior adults. Conversely, for dimethyldithiophosphate, senior adults were 3.8 times and 1.8 times more likely to be above the 95th percentile than adults and adolescents, respectively, while adults were 2.1 times more likely to be above the 95th percentile than the adolescents. Our data indicate that the most vulnerable segments of our population-children and older adults-have higher exposures to OP pesticides than other population segments. However, according to DAP urinary metabolite data, exposures to OP pesticides have declined during the last six years at both the median and 95th percentile levels.

Optical AND/OR gates based on monolithically integrated vertical cavity laser with depleted optical thyristor structure.

Latching optical switches and optical logic gates with AND and OR functionality are demonstrated for the first time by the monolithic integration of a vertical cavity lasers with depleted optical thyristor structure. The thyristors have a low threshold current of 0.65 mA and a high on/off contrast ratio of more than 50 dB. By simply changing a reference switching voltage, this single device operates as two logic functions, optical logic AND and OR. The thyristor laser fabricated by using the oxidation process and has achieved high optical output power efficiency and a high sensitivity to the optical input light.

Rapid determination of chlorinated pesticides in fish by freezing-lipid filtration, solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

An analytical method has been developed for measuring 24 chlorinated pesticides in fish tissue samples. Extraction of chlorinated pesticides was carried out by ultrasonication using an acetone-n-hexane (5:2, v/v) mixture. Most of the lipids in the extract were eliminated by freezing-lipid filtration, prior to solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup. During freezing-lipid filtration, about 90% of the lipids extracted from the fish samples were easily removed without any significant losses of chlorinated pesticides. For purification, SPE using Florisil was shown to be more effective than silica. Quantification was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. Spiking experiments were carried out to determine the recovery, precision, and limits of detection (LODs) of the method. The overall recovery was above 80% in the spiked fish tissue sample at 100 ng/g level. The detection limits for chlorinated pesticides were ranged from 0.5 to 5 ppb, except for endosulfan I and II which was 20 ppb. The newly developed method is demonstrated to give efficient recoveries and LODs for detecting chlorinated pesticides spiked into fish tissue with high lipid content.

Identification of electrical degradation products of 4-chlorophenol in water.

The electrical decomposition of 4-chlorophenol in water was examined with iridium dioxide doped on atitanium electrode. A number of electrical degradation products of 4-chlorophenol, such as hydroquinone and chlorohydroquinone via the addition of hydroxyl radicals, and dichlorophenol through addition of chlorine radical, were observed as major products. Moreover, hydroxylated chlorobiphenylethers, hydroxylated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans and hydroxylated chlorobiphenyls formed by a dimerization process during the electrolysis process of 4-chlorophenol were also observed. On the other hand, benzoquinone, muconic acid and aldehyde derivatives that were further oxidative products of hydroquinone formed by photocatalysis process, were not observed. The electrical decomposition products of 4-chlorophenol were trimethylsilylated and then identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The degradation rate of 4-chlorophenol in water by iridium oxide electrode was measured against the electrical process duration. After iridium electrical process for 120 min, about 50% of 4-chlorophenol was converted into a number of products through oxidation processes. On the basis of the identified products, the degradation pathways of 4-chlorophenol under electrolysis process were proposed.