Wireless Modular Implantable Neural Device with One-touch Magnetic Assembly for Versatile Neuromodulation.

Multimodal neural interfaces open new opportunities in brain research by enabling more sophisticated and systematic neural circuit dissection. Integrating complementary features across distinct functional domains, these multifunctional neural probes have greatly advanced the interrogation of complex neural circuitry. However, introducing multiple functionalities into a compact form factor for freely behaving animals presents substantial design hurdles that complicate the device or require more than one device.

Wireless optogenetic stimulation on the prelimbic to the nucleus accumbens core circuit attenuates cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization.

Behavioral sensitization is defined as the heightened and persistent behavioral response to repeated drug exposure as a manifestation of drug craving. Psychomotor stimulants such as cocaine can induce strong behavioral sensitization. In this study, we explored the effects of optogenetic stimulation of the prelimbic (PL) to the nucleus accumbnes (NAc) core on the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization.

Senescence Rejuvenation through Reduction in Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Extract: In Vitro Evidence.

Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the major causes of senescence. Strategies to reduce ROS are known to be important factors in reversing senescence, but effective strategies have not been found. In this study, we screened substances commonly used as cosmetic additives to find substances with antioxidant effects.

Softening implantable bioelectronics: Material designs, applications, and future directions.

Implantable bioelectronics, integrated directly within the body, represent a potent biomedical solution for monitoring and treating a range of medical conditions, including chronic diseases, neural disorders, and cardiac conditions, through personalized medical interventions. Nevertheless, contemporary implantable bioelectronics rely heavily on rigid materials (e.g.

Impact on health outcomes of hemodialysis patients based on the experience level of registered nurses in the hemodialysis department: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: The aim of the study is to improve the policy of health authorities regarding registered nurses (RNs) staffing by understanding how the health outcomes of hemodialysis (HD) patients vary depending on the level of HD nursing experience of at least 2 years.

Methods: The study included 21,839 patients who started maintenance HD for 3 months in early 2013 in the same medical institutions. Demographic variables such as sex, age, and causes of HD; institutional variables such as type of institution and number of RNs; and health outcomes such as HD adequacy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), hemoglobin (Hb), and serum albumin were collected through web-based questionnaires.

An Analysis of Priorities in Developing Virtual Reality Programs for Core Nursing Skills: Cross-sectional Descriptive Study Using the Borich Needs Assessment Model and Locus for Focus Model.

Background: There are limitations to conducting face-to-face classes following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Web-based education is no longer a temporary form of teaching and learning during unusual events, such as pandemics, but has proven to be necessary to uphold in parallel with offline education in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to scientifically organize the priorities of a learner needs analysis by systematically and rationally investigating and analyzing the needs of learners for the development of virtual reality (VR) programs for core nursing skills (CNS).

Individual Differences in Colour Perception: The Role of Low-Saturated and Complementary Colours in Ambiguous Images.

Individual differences in colour perception, as evidenced by the popular debate of "The Dress" picture, have garnered additional interest with the popularisation of additional, similar photographs. We investigated which colorimetric characteristics were responsible for individual differences in colour perception. All objects of the controversial photographs are composed of two representative colours, which are low in saturation and are either complementary to each other or reminiscent of complementary colours.

Polarization Inverted Ultrasound Transducer Based on Composite Structure for Tissue Harmonic and Frequency Compound Imaging.

Ultrasound transducer with polarization inversion technique (PIT) can provide dual-frequency feature for tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and frequency compound imaging (FCI). However, in the conventional PIT, the ultrasound intensity is reduced due to the multiple resonance characteristics of the combined piezoelectric element, and it is challenging to handle the thin piezoelectric layer required to make a PIT-based acoustic stack. In this study, an improved PIT using a piezo-composite layer was proposed to compensate for those problems simultaneously.

An Intraocular Pressure Measurement Technique Based on Acoustic Radiation Force Using an Ultrasound Transducer: A Feasibility Study.

High intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of the major risk factors for glaucoma, and thus accurate IOP measurements should be performed to diagnose and treat glaucoma early. In this study, a novel technique for measuring the IOP based on acoustic radiation force was proposed, and its potential was experimentally demonstrated. The proposed technique uses the acoustic radiation force to generate axial displacement on the ocular surface while simultaneously measuring the degree of deformation.

Interleaved Array Transducer with Polarization Inversion Technique to Implement Ultrasound Tissue Harmonic Imaging.

In ultrasound tissue harmonic imaging (THI), it is preferred that the bandwidth of the array transducer covers at least the fundamental frequency f for transmission and the second harmonic frequency 2f for reception. However, it is challenging to develop an array transducer with a broad bandwidth due to the single resonance characteristics of piezoelectric materials. In this study, we present an improved interleaved array transducer suitable for THI and a dedicated transducer fabrication scheme.

Intravascular Ultrasound Transducer by Using Polarization Inversion Technique for Tissue Harmonic Imaging: Modeling and Experiments.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) tissue harmonic imaging (THI) is a useful vessel imaging technique that can provide deep penetration depth as well as high spatial and contrast resolution. Typically, a high-frequency IVUS transducer for THI requires a broad bandwidth or dual-frequency bandwidth. However, it is very difficult to make an IVUS transducer with a frequency bandwidth covering from the fundamental frequency to the second harmonic or a dual-peak at the desired frequency.

A Phase-Canceled Backing Layer for Ultrasound Linear Array Transducer: Modeling and Experimental Verification.

In this study, a phase-canceled backing layer for ultrasound linear array transducer is presented. The proposed backing layer is composed of multiple blocks operated by a phase inversion technique. Inside the proposed backing layer, the phase of the reflected signals can be canceled by adjusting acoustic impedance, piezoelectric layer contact area, and thickness of each block constituting the backing layer.

Computer-aided diagnosis system for thyroid nodules on ultrasonography: diagnostic performance and reproducibility based on the experience level of operators.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance and reproducibility of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for thyroid cancer diagnosis using ultrasonography (US) based on the operator's experience.

Materials And Methods: Between July 2016 and October 2016, 76 consecutive patients with 100 thyroid nodules (≥ 1.0 cm) were prospectively included.

Comparison of three immunoassays for determination of immunity to rubella virus in healthcare workers.

Rubella virus is a critical infectious pathogen to healthcare workers but is preventable by vaccination. In this study, we used three immunoassays - LIAISON Rubella IgG, ARCHITECT Rubella IgG, and AtheNA Multi-Lyte MMRV IgG - to detect rubella virus IgG and tested 182 serum specimens. The percentage of positives with the three Rubella tests were as follows: LIAISON, 71.

AKIN10 delays flowering by inactivating IDD8 transcription factor through protein phosphorylation in Arabidopsis.

Background: Sugar plays a central role as a source of carbon metabolism and energy production and a signaling molecule in diverse growth and developmental processes and environmental adaptation in plants. It is known that sugar metabolism and allocation between different physiological functions is intimately associated with flowering transition in many plant species. The INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD)-containing transcription factor IDD8 regulates flowering time by modulating sugar metabolism and transport under sugar-limiting conditions in Arabidopsis.

Glutamine protects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by decreasing cisplatin accumulation.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug but induces acute kidney injury (AKI). Cisplatin-induced AKI depends on several signaling pathways leading to apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells. Glutamine is a substrate for the synthesis of glutathione, the most abundant intracellular thiol and antioxidant, and plays an important role in protecting cells from apoptosis induced by different stimuli.

Enhancement of IGF-2-induced neurite outgrowth by IGF-binding protein-2 and osteoglycin in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

A previous study using a mouse model of depression showed that chronic immobilization stress (CIS) reduces levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-2, IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), osteoglycin, and fibromodulin in the amygdala. Here, using human neuroblastoma cells, we tested whether these four proteins cooperatively modulate neuronal plasticity. We found that IGF-2 and IGFBP2 synergistically increased neurite outgrowth via enhanced early signaling through the IGF type 1 receptor.

Targeted inactivation of transcription factors by overexpression of their truncated forms in plants.

Transcription factors are central constituents of gene regulatory networks that control diverse aspects of plant development and environmental adaptability. Therefore they have been explored for decades as primary targets for agricultural biotechnology. A gene of interest can readily be introduced into many crop plants, whereas targeted gene inactivation is practically difficult in many cases.

trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane mesoporous silica for asymmetric catalysis: enhancement of chirality through confinement space by the plug effect.

trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane functionalized mesoporous silica was applied as an ideal catalyst for asymmetric Michael addition of various nitroalkane derivatives. Short channels and plugs in the pore structure offered chiral enhancement in Michael addition.

An Analysis of the Correlation between Alopecia and Chief Complaints.

Objectives: In this study, we measured the extent of ten levels of classified symptoms by 300 (male and female) patients visiting the hair loss clinics of "S" hospitals in Gangbuk and Gangnam between January 2009 and June 2011 by analyzing the patients' chief complaints.

Methods: The method of measurement was based on a symptom questionnaire possessing 51 categories. Through the statistical analysis of data mining techniques, decision trees, and logistic regression, we derived a logistic regression model and decision tree model that improved both the response rate and significant hair loss-related characteristics of the questionnaire.

Food protective effects of Periploca sepium oil and its active component against stored food mites.

The aim of this study was to examine the acaricidal activity of Periploca sepium oil and its active component against Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Based on its 50% lethal dose (LD(50) ) value, P. sepium oil (8.

Human nuclear clusterin mediates apoptosis by interacting with Bcl-XL through C-terminal coiled coil domain.

Clusterin (CLU), a glycoprotein, is involved in apoptosis, producing two alternatively spliced isoforms in various cell types. The pro-apoptotic CLU appears to be a nuclear isoform (nuclear clusterin; nCLU), and the secretory CLU (sCLU) is thought to be anti-apoptotic. The detailed molecular mechanism of nCLU as a pro-apoptotic molecule has not yet been clear.

Two splice variants of the IDD14 transcription factor competitively form nonfunctional heterodimers which may regulate starch metabolism.

Alternative splicing of primary gene transcripts provides eukaryotic cells, with a critical scheme for enriching transcriptome and proteome diversity. Here we report that alternative splicing of the Arabidopsis INDERMINATE DOMAIN 14 (IDD14) transcription factor gene generates a competitive inhibitor in regulating starch metabolism. An alternatively spliced IDD14 form (IDD14β), which is produced predominantly under cold conditions, lacks functional DNA-binding domain but is able to form heterodimers with the functional IDD14 form (IDD14α).

Direct synthesis of plugged SBA-15 type mesoporous silica using alcoholamines.

Plugged mesoporous SBA-15 having a 2-D hexagonal pore structure could be directly synthesized under acidic conditions using P123 as a supramolecular template, sodium metasilicate and alcoholamines. The use of alcoholamines seemed to play roles as capturing agents for silica sources that could form internal porous plugs.

Removal of Cu(II) from water by tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin-functionalized mesoporous silica.

Various adsorbents are available for the removal of heavy and toxic metals, silica-based materials have been the most popular. Recently, there has been considerable interest for the modification of organic moieties and mesostructured materials to enable their use as efficient adsorbent for metal removal. In this study, here we are reporting successful incorporation of tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) in mesoporous silica by the post-synthetic method.