Transboundary aerosol transport process and its impact on aerosol-radiation-cloud feedbacks in springtime over Northeast Asia.

Northeast Asia has been suffering from dramatic increases of particulate matter (PM) since the late 1990s, and it still continues to undergo haze despite various abating regulations. In this study, we investigated aerosol-cloud-precipitation (ACP) interactions with the varied PM, and the impact of long-range transport (LRT) process on ACP in springtime was assessed in Northeast Asia. Our long-term (1995-2019) analysis of PM exhibited the correlation with decreases of both sunshine duration and drizzle occurrences that can be interpreted as direct and indirect aerosol effects, while cloud cover induced by the varied PM was found only in more than 90% cloud cover (9/10-10/10 category).

Evaluation of Semen Quality of Jeju Black Cattle (JBC) to Select Bulls Optimal for Breeding and Establish Freezing Conditions Suitable for JBC Sperm.

To optimize the reproduction of Jeju black cattle (JBC), freezing conditions for sperm were established and sperm motility, vitality, morphology, and fertility were evaluated to select the optimal bull for breeding. Semen samples from five JBC bulls were individually mixed with freezing medium at a final concentration of 1 × 108 sperm/mL and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor at a height of 3 or 7 cm (referred to as 3 cm sperm and 7 cm sperm, respectively). When the freezing conditions were compared, the motility of 7 cm sperm was significantly higher than that of 3 cm sperm for the JBC-A bull.

Self-Assembled Hybrid Gate Dielectrics for Ultralow Voltage of Organic Thin-Film Transistors.

We developed self-assembled hybrid dielectric materials via a facile and low-temperature solution process. These dielectrics are used to facilitate ultralow operational voltage of organic thinfilm transistors. Self-assembly of bifunctional phosphonic acid and ultrathin hafnium oxide layers results in the self-assembled hybrid dielectrics.

Cross-Linked Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Composite Films for One-Step Fabrication of Robust Superhydrophobic Surfaces.

Despite the recent demands of bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces with self-cleaning properties in various industrial applications, a low-cost fabrication method for superhydrophobic films with excellent stability has rarely been studied. Herein, we report a robust superhydrophobic organic- inorganic hybrid composites film produced via a facile one-step solution-process. As coating materials for the facile one-step fabrication of the robust superhydrophobic films, we included Al₂O₃ nanoparticles for micro/nano hierarchical dual-scale structures, alkylsilane for low surface energy, and organic cross-linkers for increasing the stability of the hybrid composite films.

Mesorhizobium denitrificans sp. nov., a novel denitrifying bacterium isolated from sludge.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, facultative, rod-shaped bacterium (designated LA-28) was isolated from a sludge sample from a wastewater treatment plant in Hanam city, Republic of Korea. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, strain LA-28 clustered with species of the genus Mesorhizobium and appeared closely related to M. jarvisii LMG 28313 (96.

Pleomorphic Adenoma with Sarcomatous Change in a Lacrimal Gland.

A 69-year-old man was referred with left exophthalmos. Computed tomographic (CT) findings detected a well-circumscribed mass in the left side of the intraorbital cavity. At that time, he refused the further evaluation and treatment.

Expression Patterns of Gli-1, Pleckstrin Homology-Like Domain, Family A, Member 1, Transforming Growth Factor-β1/β2, and p63 in Sebaceous and Follicular Tumors.

Background: Certain epidermal appendage tumors, including hyperplasias (hamartomas), adenomas, benign epitheliomas, primordial epitheliomas, and malignant tumors, can exhibit any stage of differentiation. Several molecules associated with tumorigenesis, such as Gli-1, pleckstrin homology-like domain, family A, member 1 (PHLDA-1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β2, and p63, are associated with tumor grade and aggressive behavior in follicular and sebaceous tumors in ways that are not well understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression of Gli-1, PHLDA-1, TGF-β1/β2, and p63 in benign and malignant tumors of the hair and sebaceous glands and to determine their importance in the degree of tumor differentiation.

Oculomotor nerve schwannoma: a case report.

Schwannomas account for about 8% of intracranial tumors and 90% are vestibular schwannomas. Oculomotor schwannoma without neurofibromatosis is extremely rare. A 41-year-old female presented with complaints of blurred vision, and the neurologic examination revealed afferent pupillary defect and decreased visual acuity of the left side.

Prognostic and Clinicopathologic Associations of BRAF Mutation in Primary Acral Lentiginous Melanoma in Korean Patients: A Preliminary Study.

Background: In the majority of melanomas, the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is constitutively activated, due to oncogenic mutations in the BRAF and NRAS genes. The BRAF mutation has been mainly described in Caucasian melanomas. However, there is a lack of study evaluating the status, and the clinical significance, of BRAF mutation in the Asian population.

Epidermal growth factor receptor is related to poor survival in glioblastomas: single-institution experience.

Purpose: There are conflicting results surrounding the prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Accordingly, we attempted to assess the influence of EGFR expression on the survival of GBM patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Thirty three GBM patients who had received surgery and postoperative radiotherapy at our institute, between March 1997 and February 2006, were included.

Reliability of reconstructed breast flap after chemotherapy and radiotherapy in immediate breast reconstruction.

Background: Postmastectomy adjuvant therapy is used to prevent locoregional recurrence and improve overall breast cancer specific survival rates. However, it can adversely affect the cosmetic results of reconstruction. Therefore, the authors examined flap stability and patients' satisfaction with immediate breast reconstruction after adjuvant therapy.

Phase II study of gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with anthracycline- and taxane- pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Metastatic breast cancer patients are usually exposed to taxane and anthracycline as neoadjuvant, adjuvant and palliative chemotherapeutic agents. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and safety of the use of a gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) combination treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer that were pretreated with anthracycline and taxane.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated the use of a GP regimen (1,000 mg/m(2) gemcitabine administered on days 1 and 8 plus 60 mg/m(2) cisplatin administered on day 1 every 3 weeks) in 38 breast cancer patients who had received prior chemotherapy with anthracycline and taxane as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy, or as a palliative therapy.

Cytogenetic characterizations of central nervous system tumors: the first comprehensive report from a single institution in Korea.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors incorporates morphology, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and immunologic markers. Despite the relatively large number of CNS tumors with clonal chromosome abnormalities, only few studies have investigated cytogenetic abnormalities for CNS tumors in Korea. Thus, we investigated 119 CNS tumors by conventional G-banded karyotypes to characterize patterns of chromosomal abnormalities involving various CNS tumors, and 92.

Prognostic value of ERCC1, thymidylate synthase, and glutathione S-transferase pi for 5-FU/oxaliplatin chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of the excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1), thymidylate synthase (TS) and glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi) predict clinical outcome in patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with fluorouracil (5-FU)/oxaliplatin chemotherapy.

Methods: The study population consisted of 70 patients with advanced colorectal cancer (median age, 54 years). Patients were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m as a 2-hour infusion on days 1 plus leucovorin (LV) 20 mg/m over 10 minutes, followed by 5-FU bolus 400 mg/m and a 22-hour continuous infusion of 600 mg/m from day 1 to 2.

Involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases and p21Waf1 in hydroxyurea-induced G1 arrest and senescence of McA-RH7777 rat hepatoma cell line.

Hydroxyurea is commonly used to treat hematologic disorders and some type of solid tumors, but the mechanism for its therapeutic effect is not clearly known. In this study, we examined the effect of hydroxyurea on rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells, specifically, on the role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathways and p21(Waf1), p27(Kip1) and p53. Rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells treated with hydroxyurea for 7 days, caused the inhibition of cell growth in a dose-dependent manner.