A study on the formative usability testing for modular powered wheelchair.

The increasing prevalence of mobility impairments underscores the urgent need for accessible and affordable mobility aids. To overcome the mobility limitations of people with disabilities, there is an increasing need for the development of lightweight and portable powered wheelchairs that can be easily loaded. This study aimed to perform an early health technology assessment and a formative usability evaluation on a modular (detachable) powered wheelchair.

Structural basis for T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein 3 and Toxascaris leonina galectin complex.

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein 3 (Tim-3), also known as Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2, has been discovered to have a negative regulatory effect on murine T-cell responses. Galectin-9 exhibits various biological effects, including cell aggregation, eosinophil chemoattraction, activation, and apoptosis, observed in murine thymocytes, T-cells, and human melanoma cells. Such approach demonstrated that Galectin-9 acts as a binding partner on Tim-3 and mediates the T-cell inhibitory effects.

Stimuli-responsive plasmonic core-satellite hybrid nanostructures with tunable nanogaps.

Incorporating stimuli-responsive block copolymers to hierarchical metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) is of particular interest due to their tunable plasmonic properties responding to environmental stimuli. We herein report thermo-responsive plasmonic core-satellite hybrid nanostructures with tunable nanogaps as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanotags. Two different diblock copolymers with opposite charges, poly(acrylic acid--isopropylacrylamide) (p(AAc--NIPAM)) and poly(,-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate--isopropylacrylamide) (p(DMAEMA--NIPAM)), were synthesized.

Functional improvement by body-powered 3D-printed prosthesis in patients with finger amputation: Two case reports.

Rationale: The most common upper limb amputations are finger amputations, resulting in functional limitations that lead to problems with activities of daily living or job loss. For many years, prosthetic options for finger amputations have been limited to passive prostheses. In many countries including South Korea, body-powered finger prostheses have rarely been prescribed due to high cost, lack of experience of physicians and prosthetists, low interest and no coverage by insurance benefits.

Directional self-assembly of anisotropic bimetal-poly(aniline) nanostructures for rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in multiplexing.

Anisotropic organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles possessing different functionalities and physicochemical properties from each compartment have attracted significant interest for the development of advanced functional materials. Moreover, their self-assembled structures exhibit unique optical properties for photonics-based biosensing. We report herein the fabrication of anisotropic bimetal-polymer nanoparticles (ABPNs) via combination of oxidative polymerization and additional growth of metallic nanoparticles on Au seeds as well as their directional clustering mediated via noncovalent interactions.

Janus bimetallic nanorod clusters-poly(aniline) nanocomposites with temperature-responsiveness for Raman scattering-based biosensing.

Herein, Janus bimetallic nanorod clusters-poly(aniline) nanocomposites (JRCPCs) with gold nanorod clusters (GNRCs) in side-by-side (SBS) or end-to-end (ETE) configuration are synthesized, and applied to surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based biosensing of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Taking advantage of their geometrical and chemical anisotropy, GNRCs in both SBS and ETE configurations are prepared by addition of negatively charged citrate anions and poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PAAc-b-PNIPAM), respectively, to electrostatically interact with cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant on the side of the gold nanorods (GNRs). Subsequently, the JRCPCs are prepared by unidirectional growth of polyaniline and additional growth of Ag onto these GNRCs.

Anisotropic Bimetallic Core-Satellite-Poly(aniline) Nanohybrids for Detection of Autoantibodies.

Bimetallic core-satellite nanoparticles are widely exploited in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based applications due to their enhanced optical properties compared to single-component metallic nanoparticles (MNPs). In addition, anisotropic hybrid nanostructures containing both MNPs and polymeric compartments constitute a new class of functional nanomaterials for photonic applications because they show different functionalities and physicochemical characteristics at two distinct compartments. Herein, synthesis of two kinds of anisotropic bimetallic core-satellite-poly(aniline) nanohybrids (ABCPNs) using small or polymeric ligand-coated gold nanospheres or gold nanorods as seeds is reported.

Tunable Decoupling of Dual Drug Release of Oppositely Charged, Stimuli-Responsive Anisotropic Nanoparticles.

Multicompartmentalized nanostructures are of interest because they can provide unique physicochemical properties and multifunctionalities in each compartment. Furthermore, stimuli-responsive anisotropic nanostructures (ANPs) with distinct opposite charges would be useful for drug delivery systems because different drug release kinetics could be achieved from each compartment in response to both charge and stimuli. In this study, stimuli-responsive ANPs were formed via electrohydrodynamic cojetting of poly(-isopropylacrylamide)-based copolymers with opposite charges.

Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Annual and Perennial Species.

We have estimated the average genetic diversity of two annual and six perennial species based upon 76 orthologous gene sets and performed phylogenetic analysis, divergence analysis and tests for departure from neutrality of the eight species using 52 orthologous gene sets. In addition, 367 orthologous gene sets were used to estimate the relationships of 11 accessions. Among the perennials, showed the highest nucleotide diversity.

Thermally-Induced Actuations of Stimuli-Responsive, Bicompartmental Nanofibers for Decoupled Drug Release.

Stimuli-responsive anisotropic microstructures and nanostructures with different physicochemical properties in discrete compartments, have been developed as advanced materials for drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biosensing applications. Moreover, their stimuli-triggered actuations would be of great interest for the introduction of the functionality of drug delivery reservoirs and tissue engineering scaffolds. In this study, stimuli-responsive bicompartmental nanofibers (BCNFs), with completely different polymer compositions, were prepared through electrohydrodynamic co-jetting with side-by-side needle geometry.

Oppositely Charged, Stimuli-Responsive Anisotropic Nanoparticles for Colloidal Self-Assembly.

Anisotropic nanoparticles (ANPs) composed of distinct compartments are of interest as advanced materials because they offer unique physicochemical properties controlled by polymer composition, distribution of functional groups, and stimuli responsiveness of each compartment. Furthermore, colloidal self-assembly of ANPs via noncovalent interactions between compartments can create superstructures with additional functionality. In this study, ANPs with two compartments composed of oppositely charged and thermally responsive ternary copolymers were prepared using electrohydrodynamic cojetting.

PEGylated nanographene-mediated metallic nanoparticle clusters for surface enhanced Raman scattering-based biosensing.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an optical spectroscopy technique that can detect a variety of analytes with high sensitivity and selectivity without any labels. Controlled clustering of metallic nanoparticles to prepare a new class of SERS nanotags is crucial for the ultra-sensitive detection of specific biological and chemical moieties because increased plasmonic hotspot junctions produce a greatly enhanced SERS signal. We report herein that controlled clustering of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) was mediated by PEGylated nano-sized graphene (PNG) and that the PNG-induced AuNP clusters (PNG-AuNPCs) were highly sensitive SERS nanotags with colloidal stability for SERS-based biosensing.

The relationship between anemia and pulse pressure and hypertension: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012.

The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between anemia and pulse pressure (PP) and hypertension (HTN). Data from 16,060 adults (aged ≥20 years) in the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012) were analyzed. Several key findings were identified.

Structural Basis for Carbohydrate Recognition and Anti-inflammatory Modulation by Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasite Toxascaris leonina Galectin.

Toxascaris leonina galectin (Tl-gal) is a galectin-9 homologue protein isolated from an adult worm of the canine gastrointestinal nematode parasite, and Tl-gal-vaccinated challenge can inhibit inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease-induced mice. We determined the first X-ray structures of full-length Tl-gal complexes with carbohydrates (lactose, N-acetyllactosamine, lacto-N-tetraose, sialyllactose, and glucose). Bonds were formed on concave surfaces of both carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) in Tl-gal.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering and Fluorescence-Based Dual Nanoprobes for Multiplexed Detection of Bacterial Pathogens.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based biosensing has been of growing interest for the detection of bacterial pathogens. Moreover, fluorescence (FL)-based bioimaging is also useful in that it is rapid, nearly non-destructive and has high sensitivity. In this study, for the first time, we report the preparation of dual nanoprobes based on both SERS and FL.

Defatted safflower seed extract inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and improves lipid profiles in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice fed a high-fat diet.

In the present study, we hypothesized that defatted safflower seed which is known to be rich in polyphenols might influence adipogenesis and obesity-related disorders, and therefore the anti-adipogenic and hypolipidemic effects of ethanol extract from defatted safflower (Cathamus tinctorius L.) seeds (CSE) were investigated both in cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice fed a high-fat diet. CSE inhibited adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and decreased expression of the adipogenic transcription factors, SREBP1c and PPARγ, and their target genes.

SNP Assay Development for Linkage Map Construction, Anchoring Whole-Genome Sequence, and Other Genetic and Genomic Applications in Common Bean.

A total of 992,682 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was identified as ideal for Illumina Infinium II BeadChip design after sequencing a diverse set of 17 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) varieties with the aid of next-generation sequencing technology. From these, two BeadChips each with >5000 SNPs were designed. The BARCBean6K_1 BeadChip was selected for the purpose of optimizing polymorphism among market classes and, when possible, SNPs were targeted to sequence scaffolds in the Phaseolus vulgaris 14× genome assembly with sequence lengths >10 kb.

Correlation between frictional force and surface roughness of orthodontic archwires.

Lateral force microscopy measures the lateral bending of the cantilever depending on the frictional force acting between the tip and surface. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the relationship between the surface roughness and frictional resistance of four archwire and bracket combinations consisting of the 0.016-inch NiTi and 0.

Arabidopsis AtERF71/HRE2 functions as transcriptional activator via cis-acting GCC box or DRE/CRT element and is involved in root development through regulation of root cell expansion.

AtERF71/HRE2 binds to GCC box or DRE/CRT as transcription activator and plays an important role in root development via root cell expansion regulation. AtERF71/HRE2 transcription factor, a member of the AP2/ERF family, plays a key role in the stress response. GCC box and DRE/CRT, both essential cis-acting elements, have been shown to be recognized by AP2/ERF family transcription factors.

Structural characterization and interaction of periostin and bone morphogenetic protein for regulation of collagen cross-linking.

Periostin appears to be a unique extracellular protein secreted by fibroblasts that is upregulated following injury to the heart or changes in the environment. Periostin has the ability to associate with other critical extracellular matrix (ECM) regulators such as TGF-β, tenascin, and fibronectin, and is a critical regulator of fibrosis that functions by altering the deposition and attachment of collagen. Periostin is known to be highly expressed in carcinoma cells, but not in normal breast tissues.

Enhanced neural cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth on graphene-based biomimetic substrates.

Neural cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth were examined on graphene-based biomimetic substrates. The biocompatibility of carbon nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), that is, single-walled and multiwalled CNTs, against pheochromocytoma-derived PC-12 neural cells was also evaluated by quantifying metabolic activity (with WST-8 assay), intracellular oxidative stress (with ROS assay), and membrane integrity (with LDH assay). Graphene films were grown by using chemical vapor deposition and were then coated onto glass coverslips by using the scooping method.

A genome-wide association study of seed protein and oil content in soybean.

Background: Association analysis is an alternative to conventional family-based methods to detect the location of gene(s) or quantitative trait loci (QTL) and provides relatively high resolution in terms of defining the genome position of a gene or QTL. Seed protein and oil concentration are quantitative traits which are determined by the interaction among many genes with small to moderate genetic effects and their interaction with the environment. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling seed protein and oil concentration in 298 soybean germplasm accessions exhibiting a wide range of seed protein and oil content.

Evidence of complex formation between FADD and c-FLIP death effector domains for the death inducing signaling complex.

Adaptor protein FADD forms the death inducing signaling complex (DISC) by recruiting the initiating caspases-8 and -10 through homotypic death effector domain (DED) interactions. Cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is an inhibitor of death ligand-induced apoptosis downstream of death receptors, and FADD competes with procaspase-8/10 for recruitment for DISC. However, the mechanism of action of FADD and c-FLIP proteins remain poorly understood at the molecular level.

Effects of a brief Qigong-based stress reduction program (BQSRP) in a distressed Korean population: a randomized trial.

Background: Distressed individuals in Korea may benefit from the practice of mind-body exercises such as Qigong. However, the effectiveness of such techniques needs to be investigated.

Methods: Fifty participants who were eligible to this study were randomized into a group receiving a 4-week intervention of a brief Qigong-based stress reduction program (BQSRP) or a wait-list control group.