Partial-Interpenetration-Controlled UiO-Type Metal-Organic Framework and its Catalytic Activity.

An unprecedented correlation between the catalytic activity of a Zr-based UiO-type metal-organic framework (MOF) and its degree of interpenetration (DOI) is reported. The DOI of an MOF is hard to control owing to the high-energy penalty required to construct a partially interpenetrated structure. Surprisingly, strong interactions between building blocks (inter-ligand hydrogen bonding) facilitate the formation of partially interpenetrated structures under carefully regulated synthesis conditions. Moreover, catalytic conversion rates for cyanosilylation and Knoevenagel condensation reactions are found to be proportional to the DOI of the MOF. Among MOFs with DOIs in the 0-100% range, that with a DOI of 87% is the most catalytically active. Framework interpenetration is known to lower catalytic performance by impeding reactant diffusion. A higher effective reactant concentration due to tight inclusion in the interpenetrated region is possibly responsible for this inverted result.

The Effects of ICT-Based Interventions on Physical Mobility of Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to integrate and analyze intervention studies dealing with the effects of information and communications technology- (ICT-) based interventions on the physical mobility of older adults in the community. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for studies published from January 2000 to December 2022. We used the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool to evaluate the quality of the randomized controlled studies in the systematic review. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. The model was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for both effect measures. I2 tests were used to measure the presence of heterogeneity. Thirty-seven randomized controlled trials were included (2,419 intervention participants), of which 23 were included in the meta-analysis. ICT interventions significantly improved Timed Up and Go (TUG) as a marker of physical mobility variable in older adults (SMD = -0.33, 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.10, p=0.005, I2 = 74.7%). A sensitivity analysis was performed on subgroups, and interventions were found to be effective in improving TUG in the exergame group (SMD = -0.40, 95% CI: -0.72 to -0.08, p < 0.001, I2 = 75.0%) and in the exergame with virtual reality (VR) group (SMD = -0.33, 95% CI: -1.01 to 0.35, p < 0.001, I2 = 91.0%) but both groups showed high heterogeneity. A meta-analysis was also performed on Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) but statistically significant results were not found (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.61 to 0.23, p=0.375, I2 = 87.7%). For the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the post-intervention scores were significantly better than baseline (SMD = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.48 to 2.57, p=0.004, I2 = 93.5%). However, the number of studies included in the meta-analysis was small and heterogeneity was high, so follow-up studies are needed. This study confirmed that exergames, telecommunication, e-health, information applications, and robots were used as effective ICT-based interventions for improving the physical mobility of older adults. It is necessary to develop and apply more diverse ICT-based interventions that will prevent impairments of mobility and encourage older adults to live more independently, with a higher quality of life, based on extensive research on ICT-based interventions.

Determination of Hydrophobic Dispersive Surface Free Energy of Activated Carbon Fibers Measured by Inverse Gas Chromatographic Technique.

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) as one of the most important porous carbon materials are widely used in many applications that involve rapid adsorption and low-pressure loss, including air purification, water treatment, and electrochemical applications. For designing such fibers for the adsorption bed in gas and aqueous phases, in-depth comprehension of the surface components is crucial. However, achieving reliable values remains a major challenge due to the high adsorption affinity of ACFs. To overcome this problem, we propose a novel approach to determine London dispersive components (γSL) of the surface free energy of ACFs by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at an infinite dilution. Our data reveal the γSL values at 298 K for bare carbon fibers (CFs) and the ACFs to be 97 and 260-285 mJ·m-2, respectively, which lie in the regime of secondary bonding of physical adsorption. Our analysis indicates that these are impacted by micropores and defects on the carbon surfaces. Comparing the γSL obtained by the traditional Gray's method, our method is concluded as the most accurate and reliable value for the hydrophobic dispersive surface component of porous carbonaceous materials. As such, it could serve as a valuable tool in designing interface engineering in adsorption-related applications.

Reliable Data Collection Methodology for Face Recognition in Preschool Children.

Most face datasets target adults who can make their own decisions. In the case of children, consent from parents or guardians is necessary to collect biometric information, thus making it very difficult. As a result, the amount of data on children is quite small and inevitably private. In this work, we built a database by collecting face data of 74 children aged 2-7 years in daycare facilities. In addition, we conducted an experiment to determine the best location to perform face recognition on children by installing cameras in various locations. This study presents the points and methods to be considered to build a children's face dataset and also studies the optimal camera installation setups for the face recognition of children.

Surface energetics of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide determined by inverse gas chromatographic technique at infinite dilution at room temperature.

Graphene is of great interest for many far-reaching applications that involve interparticle interactions in adsorbents, coatings, and composites. A deep understanding of the surface components has been crucial but achieving the most accurate and reliable values of these, unaffected by experimental conditions or the analytical techniques used, remains a major challenge. To this end, we have proposed in this paper a novel approach for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, to determine London dispersive and specific (polar) components including the Lewis acid-base character of the surface free energy of graphene materials (graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and graphite) using inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at an infinite dilution. We have estimated the London dispersive surface energy values of graphite, GO, and rGO as van der Waals interaction to be 156-179, 89-106, and 110-119 mJ m-2, respectively, in the temperature range of 320-360 K. These are attributable to the surface properties impacted by the oxygen moieties, defects, and micropores on the carbon frameworks. Further, the acceptor (KA) and donor (KD) parameters of GO were found to be 0.71 and 0.96, respectively, while those of rGO were 0.54 and 1.05. Notably, the GO is more of the Lewis acid character that could be amphoteric, while the Lewis base characteristics of both GO and rGO are not significantly changed. These results provide foundational knowledge to understand the physicochemical properties of graphene surfaces, which should be helpful to designing interface engineering in various applications.

Changes in Daily Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic among South Korean Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Qualitative Study.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults are considered a high-risk group and have been advised to stay home or practice social distancing. This qualitative study examined the effects of strong quarantine measures and social distancing on older adults' lifestyles. The participants in this study were 13 people aged 65 and older with chronic diseases who resided in South Korean communities. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to interpret the data collected from in-depth interviews. Four themes and 13 subthemes were identified. The four themes were "lifestyle changes," "increased cautiousness in daily life," "psychological changes," and "adaptation to life during the COVID-19 pandemic." The participants followed quarantine rules strictly and noted lifestyle changes, such as increased time spent at home due to social distancing guidelines, a smaller radius of daily activity, and changes in exercise and dietary habits. They also reported increased caution toward other people and objects that other people interacted with due to their fear of COVID-19 infection. They expressed fear about COVID-19 infection and anxiety about COVID-19-related news, and they often felt bored and depressed; however, the participants accepted, endured, and gradually adapted to these lifestyle changes. Non-face-to-face community support is urgently needed for older adults facing reduced levels of physical activity and psychological hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of Resistance Training Maintaining the Joint Angle-torque Profile Using a Haptic-based Machine on Shoulder Internal and External Rotation.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to present an individualized resistance training method to enable exercise while maintaining an exercise load that is set according to an individual's joint angle-torque using a haptic-based resistance training machine. [Methods] Five participants (machine group) performed individualized shoulder internal and external rotation training with a haptic resistance training machine, while another five participants performed general dumbbell-based shoulder internal and external rotation training for eight weeks. Internal and external rotation powers of subjects were measured using an isokinetic machine before and after training. [Results] The average powers of both shoulder internal and external rotation has been improved after training (25.72%, 13.62%). The improvement in power of external rotation in the machine group was significantly higher than that in the control group. [Conclusion] This study proposes a haptic-based individualized rotator cuff muscle training method. The training protocol maintaining the joint angle-torque profile showed better improvement of shoulder internal/external rotation than dumbbell training.

The Effect of Shoulder Flexion Angles on the Recruitment of Upper-extremity Muscles during Isometric Contraction.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in muscle activation patterns of the biceps brachii (BB) and flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscles, while measuring the resultant force (RF) at different shoulder flexion angles. [Subjects] Thirteen healthy males (age 24.85±3.4 years, weight; 77.8±7.9 kg; height, 1.7±0.05 m) were enrolled in this study. [Methods] The resultant force was measured by a force transducer . The elbow angle remained constant and the flexion shoulder angle was changed (30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°). [Results] The results of the surface EMG show the largest muscle activities occurred at a shoulder flexion of 75° for BB and 90° for FCR. The largest resultant force was measured at a shoulder flexion angle of 75°. We conclude, that when performing the biceps curl exercise using an arm curl machine, the shoulder should be flexed at 75° to maximize the focus of the exercise for the BB. [Conclusion] These results are useful from the perspective of design as they highlight the differences in the muscle activation of BB and FCR with postural change. Ultimately this knowledge can be used in the design of rehabilitation training for the shoulder as they show that posture can affect muscle activation.

Promotion of both proliferation and neuronal differentiation in pluripotent P19 cells with stable overexpression of the glutamine transporter slc38a1.

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated the functional expression in newborn rat neocortical astrocytes of glutamine transporter (GlnT = slc38a1) believed to predominate in neurons over astroglia in the brain. In order to evaluate the possible role of this transporter in neurogenesis, we attempted to establish stable transfectants of GlnT in mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells endowed to proliferate for self-renewal and differentiate into progeny cells such as neurons and astroglia, in addition to in vitro pharmacological profiling of the green tea ingredient theanine, which is shown to be a potent inhibitor of glutamine transport mediated by GlnT in cultured neurons and astroglia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The full-length coding region of rat GlnT was inserted into a vector for gene transfection along with selection by G418, followed by culture with all-trans retinoic acid under floating conditions and subsequent dispersion for spontaneous differentiation under adherent conditions. Stable overexpression of GlnT led to marked increases in the size of round spheres formed during the culture for 4 days and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide reduction, with concomitant promotion of subsequent differentiation into cells immunoreactive for a neuronal marker protein. In these stable GlnT transfectants before differentiation, drastic upregulation was seen for mRNA expression of several proneural genes with a basic helix-loop-helix domain such as NeuroD1. Although a drastic increase was seen in NeuroD1 promoter activity in stable GlnT transfectants, theanine doubled NeuroD1 promoter activity in stable transfectants of empty vector (EV), without affecting the promoter activity already elevated in GlnT transfectants. Similarly, theanine promoted cellular proliferation and neuronal differentiation in stable EV transfectants, but failed to further stimulate the acceleration of both proliferation and neuronal differentiation found in stable GlnT transfectants. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: GlnT would promote both proliferation and neuronal differentiation through a mechanism relevant to the upregulation of particular proneural genes in undifferentiated P19 cells.

Promoted neuronal differentiation after activation of alpha4/beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in undifferentiated neural progenitors.

BACKGROUND: Neural progenitor is a generic term used for undifferentiated cell populations of neural stem, neuronal progenitor and glial progenitor cells with abilities for proliferation and differentiation. We have shown functional expression of ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and gamma-aminobutyrate type-A receptors endowed to positively and negatively regulate subsequent neuronal differentiation in undifferentiated neural progenitors, respectively. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the possible functional expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) by undifferentiated neural progenitors prepared from neocortex of embryonic rodent brains. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed mRNA expression of particular nAChR subunits in undifferentiated rat and mouse progenitors prepared before and after the culture with epidermal growth factor under floating conditions. Sustained exposure to nicotine significantly inhibited the formation of neurospheres composed of clustered proliferating cells and 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction activity at a concentration range of 1 µM to 1 mM without affecting cell survival. In these rodent progenitors previously exposed to nicotine, marked promotion was invariably seen for subsequent differentiation into cells immunoreactive for a neuronal marker protein following the culture of dispersed cells under adherent conditions. Both effects of nicotine were significantly prevented by the heteromeric α4ß2 nAChR subtype antagonists dihydro-ß-erythroidine and 4-(5-ethoxy-3-pyridinyl)-N-methyl-(3E)-3-buten-1-amine, but not by the homomeric α7 nAChR subtype antagonist methyllycaconitine, in murine progenitors. Sustained exposure to nicotine preferentially increased the expression of Math1 among different basic helix-loop-helix proneural genes examined. In undifferentiated progenitors from embryonic mice defective of NMDA receptor subunit-1, nicotine was still effective in significantly inhibiting the proliferation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Functional α4ß2 nAChR subtype would be constitutively expressed to play a role in the mechanism underlying the determination of proliferation and subsequent differentiation fate into a neuronal lineage in association with preferential promotion of Math1 expression in undifferentiated neural progenitors of developing rodent neocortex independently of NMDA receptor activation.

Expression of thioredoxin during progression of hamster and human cholangiocarcinoma.

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a multifunctional redox protein that has growth-promoting and anti-apoptotic effects on cells and protects cells from endogenous and exogenous free radicals. Recently, altered expression of Trx has been reported in various cancers. In the present study, we investigated altered expression of Trx at the precancerous and carcinogenic phases during cholangiocarcinogenesis in a hamster cholangiocarcinoma (ChC) model, using semiquantitative immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses. Moreover, to determine if the results correlated well with those in human ChCs, we carried out a comparative immunohistochemical study for Trx in tissue-arrayed human ChCs with different grades of tumor cell differentiation. Trx was found highly expressed in the cytoplasm of dysplastic bile ducts with highly abnormal growth patterns and ChCs irrespective of tumor type or tumor cell differentiation. Overexpression of Trx at the precancerous and carcinogenic phases was further supported by significant elevation of Trx protein in Western blotting. The results from the hamster ChCs were in good agreement with those from human ChCs. Our results strongly suggested that the redox regulatory function of Trx plays an important role in bile duct cell transformation and tumor progression during cholangiocarcinogenesis.

Primary subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma of the hamster hind leg.

We report the first case of a primary subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma that originated in the hind leg of a hamster and metastasized to the bone marrow, lung and diaphragm. A 10-month-old female Syrian golden hamster was presented with a large, firm, white subcutaneous mass in the right hind leg. The tumor invaded into the bone marrow and small nodules were also present in the lung and diaphragm; however, no tumor masses were found in the visceral organs. Histologically, the tumors were spindle cell sarcomas, composed of densely packed pleomorphic spindle cells with oval to elongate nuclei and moderate amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin, desmin, and smooth muscle actin, but negative for alpha-sarcomeric actin and S-100. Thus, the diagnosis was primary leiomyosarcoma of the hind leg with metastasis to the bone marrow, lung and diaphragm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous primary subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma of the hind leg with distant metastasis in laboratory animals.