Shear Performance of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Small Circular Openings Strengthened Using Rectangular and Octagonal-Shaped Reinforcement.

An experimental case study was carried out to investigate the shear performance of reinforced concrete beams with small circular openings under a cyclic anti-symmetric bending moment. The openings were strengthened by using a newly developed reinforcement continuously bent into rectangular and octagonal shapes, which was convenient for installation and effective for crack control. The presence of web opening reinforcement, the reinforcing method, and the web opening spacing were employed as main variables in the design of five specimens.

Investigation on STR profiling of maternal DNA from a degraded placenta with an abandoned newborn male baby.

The placenta is a unique and complex organ composed of a mixture of fetal and maternal tissues. In this study, we aimed to detect maternal short tandem repeats (STRs) in degraded placenta from a newborn male baby found abandoned in a river. In order to deduce maternal alleles-which was not possible by sampling of different parts of the placenta-we collected samples from the maternal blood pool in the intervillous space and applied a multi-step method (named tempo-gap DNA extraction) for extracting DNA at defined time points after cell lysis (10 min, 2 h 10 min, and 4 h 10 min).

Relationship between Health Behaviors and Marital Adjustment and Marital Intimacy in Multicultural Family Female Immigrants.

Background: This study analyzed the relationship between health behaviors and marital adjustment in multicultural couples to evaluate their health status.

Methods: Married couples (70 Korean men and their immigrant wives) completed a structured interview on health behaviors and sociodemographic factors, the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), and the Marital Intimacy Scale. Based on the cutoff value of the RDAS, respondents were classified into two groups: high or low dyadic adaptation groups.

Usefulness of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korean Revised Version in Screening for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Alcohol Use Disorder among College Students.

Background: There is a distinction in alcohol consumption behavior between adults and college students. This study aims to verify the usability and the optimal cutoff point of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korean revised version (AUDIT-KR) for screening alcohol use disorder in college students when the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM), 5th edition diagnostic criteria is applied.

Methods: A total of 922 college students living in Daejeon were enrolled and divided into two groups based on how many items they corresponded to among DSM-5 alcohol use disorder diagnostic criteria: those who corresponded to ≥2 of the 11 items were classified into the patient group (107 males, 89 females) while the others into the control group (311 males, 415 females).

A structurally-characterized peroxomanganese(iv) porphyrin from reversible O binding within a metal-organic framework.

The role of peroxometal species as reactive intermediates in myriad biological processes has motivated the synthesis and study of analogous molecular model complexes. Peroxomanganese(iv) porphyrin complexes are of particular interest, owing to their potential ability to form from reversible O binding, yet have been exceedingly difficult to isolate and characterize in molecular form. Alternatively, immobilization of metalloporphyrin sites within a metal-organic framework (MOF) can enable the study of interactions between low-coordinate metal centers and gaseous substrates, without interference from bimolecular reactions and axial ligation by solvent molecules.

In-bag power morcellation technique in single-port laparoscopic myomectomy.

Objective: This study introduces and evaluates the feasibility, safety, and surgical outcomes of the in-bag power morcellation technique during single-port assisted (SPA) laparoscopic myomectomy in comparison with manual scalpel morcellation.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of a total of 58 patients who underwent SPA laparoscopic myomectomy employing in-bag power morcellation (n=27) or manual scalpel morcellation (n=31), performed between December 2014 and December 2016. Surgical outcomes, including total operation time, estimated blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin changes, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain (visual analog scale), perioperative and postoperative complications were evaluated.

Molecular Epidemiology of an Gene Encoding a 56-kDa Type-Specific Antigen in Chiggers, Small Mammals, and Patients from the Southwest Region of Korea.

A phylogenetic analysis of was performed to elucidate its antigenic diversity in chiggers, small mammals, and patients. Between September 2014 and December 2016, a total of 3,816 chiggers were identified within nine species of four genera in the southwest region of Korea: (49.9%; 1,907/3,816), (21.

Delayed hemorrhage effect of local anesthesia with epinephrine in the loop electrosurgical excisional procedure.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate factors preventing delayed hemorrhage after the loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP).

Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent LEEP at one university affiliated hospital from October 2013 to January 2015 were reviewed. Patients with or without delayed hemorrhage were classified.

Seroepidemiological Survey of Zoonotic Diseases in Small Mammals with PCR Detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Chiggers, Gwangju, Korea.

Serosurveillance for zoonotic diseases in small mammals and detection of chiggers, the vector of Orientia tsutsugamushi, were conducted from September 2014 to August 2015 in Gwangju Metropolitan Area. Apodemus agrarius was the most commonly collected small mammals (158; 91.8%), followed by Myodes regulus (8; 4.

In vitro and in vivo reduction of post-prandial blood glucose levels by ethyl alcohol and water Zingiber mioga extracts through the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a serious problem for developed and developing countries. Prevention of prediabetes progression to type 2 diabetes with the use of natural products appears to be a cost-effective solution. Zingiber mioga has been used as a traditional food in Asia.

Elaboration of copper-oxygen mediated C-H activation chemistry in consideration of future fuel and feedstock generation.

To contribute solutions to current energy concerns, improvements in the efficiency of dioxygen mediated C-H bond cleavage chemistry, for example, selective oxidation of methane to methanol, could minimize losses in natural gas usage or produce feedstocks for fuels. Oxidative C-H activation is also a component of polysaccharide degradation, potentially affording alternative biofuels from abundant biomass. Thus, an understanding of active-site chemistry in copper monooxygenases, those activating strong C-H bonds is briefly reviewed.

Amine oxidative N-dealkylation via cupric hydroperoxide Cu-OOH homolytic cleavage followed by site-specific fenton chemistry.

Copper(II) hydroperoxide species are significant intermediates in processes such as fuel cells and (bio)chemical oxidations, all involving stepwise reduction of molecular oxygen. We previously reported a Cu(II)-OOH species that performs oxidative N-dealkylation on a dibenzylamino group that is appended to the 6-position of a pyridyl donor of a tripodal tetradentate ligand. To obtain insights into the mechanism of this process, reaction kinetics and products were determined employing ligand substrates with various para-substituent dibenzyl pairs (-H,-H; -H,-Cl; -H,-OMe, and -Cl,-OMe), or with partially or fully deuterated dibenzyl N-(CH2Ph)2 moieties.

A N3S(thioether)-ligated Cu(II)-superoxo with enhanced reactivity.

Previous efforts to synthesize a cupric superoxide complex possessing a thioether donor have resulted in the formation of an end-on trans-peroxo-dicopper(II) species, [{(Ligand)Cu(II)}2(μ-1,2-O2(2-))](2+). Redesign/modification of previous N3S tetradentate ligands has now allowed for the stabilization of the monomeric, superoxide product possessing a S(thioether) ligation, [((DMA)N3S)Cu(II)(O2(•-))](+) (2(S)), as characterized by UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopies. This complex mimics the putative Cu(II)(O2(•-)) active species of the copper monooxygenase PHM and exhibits enhanced reactivity toward both O-H and C-H substrates in comparison to close analogues [(L)Cu(II)(O2(•-))](+), where L contains only nitrogen donor atoms.

Deflection of resilient materials for reduction of floor impact sound.

Recently, many residents living in apartment buildings in Korea have been bothered by noise coming from the houses above. In order to reduce noise pollution, communities are increasingly imposing bylaws, including the limitation of floor impact sound, minimum thickness of floors, and floor soundproofing solutions. This research effort focused specifically on the deflection of resilient materials in the floor sound insulation systems of apartment houses.

Copper-peptide complex structure and reactivity when found in conserved His-X(aa)-His sequences.

Oxygen-activating copper proteins may possess His-X(aa)-His chelating sequences at their active sites and additionally exhibit imidiazole group δN vs εN tautomeric preferences. As shown here, such variations strongly affect copper ion's coordination geometry, redox behavior, and oxidative reactivity. Copper(I) complexes bound to either δ-HGH or ε-HGH tripeptides were synthesized and characterized.

Mechanistic insights into the oxidation of substituted phenols via hydrogen atom abstraction by a cupric-superoxo complex.

To obtain mechanistic insights into the inherent reactivity patterns for copper(I)-O2 adducts, a new cupric-superoxo complex [(DMM-tmpa)Cu(II)(O2(•-))](+) (2) [DMM-tmpa = tris((4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)amine] has been synthesized and studied in phenol oxidation-oxygenation reactions. Compound 2 is characterized by UV-vis, resonance Raman, and EPR spectroscopies. Its reactions with a series of para-substituted 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols (p-X-DTBPs) afford 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DTBQ) in up to 50% yields.

NSrp70 is a novel nuclear speckle-related protein that modulates alternative pre-mRNA splicing in vivo.

Nuclear speckles are known to be the storage sites of mRNA splicing regulators. We report here the identification and characterization of a novel speckle protein, referred to as NSrp70, based on its subcellular localization and apparent molecular weight. This protein was first identified as CCDC55 by the National Institutes of Health Mammalian Gene Collection, although its function has not been assigned.

Synthesis, structural, and spectroscopic characterization and reactivities of mononuclear cobalt(III)-peroxo complexes.

Metal-dioxygen adducts are key intermediates detected in the catalytic cycles of dioxygen activation by metalloenzymes and biomimetic compounds. In this study, mononuclear cobalt(III)-peroxo complexes bearing tetraazamacrocyclic ligands, [Co(12-TMC)(O(2))](+) and [Co(13-TMC)(O(2))](+), were synthesized by reacting [Co(12-TMC)(CH(3)CN)](2+) and [Co(13-TMC)(CH(3)CN)](2+), respectively, with H(2)O(2) in the presence of triethylamine. The mononuclear cobalt(III)-peroxo intermediates were isolated and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography, and the structural and spectroscopic characterization demonstrated unambiguously that the peroxo ligand is bound in a side-on η(2) fashion.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of benzofuran-5-ols.

Benzofuran-5-ol derivatives were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activity against Candida, Aspergillus species, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Among them tested, many benzofuran-5-ols showed good antifungal activity. The results suggest that benzofuran-5-ols would be promising antifungal agents.

Hydrogen-atom abstraction reactions by manganese(V)- and manganese(IV)-oxo porphyrin complexes in aqueous solution.

High-valent manganese(IV or V)-oxo porphyrins are considered as reactive intermediates in the oxidation of organic substrates by manganese porphyrin catalysts. We have generated Mn(V)- and Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins in basic aqueous solution and investigated their reactivities in C-H bond activation of hydrocarbons. We now report that Mn(V)- and Mn(IV)-oxo porphyrins are capable of activating C-H bonds of alkylaromatics, with the reactivity order of Mn(V)-oxo>Mn(IV)-oxo; the reactivity of a Mn(V)-oxo complex is 150 times greater than that of a Mn(IV)-oxo complex in the oxidation of xanthene.

High-valent manganese(v)-oxo porphyrin complexes in hydride transfer reactions.

Hydride transfer from dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) analogues to trans-dioxomanganese(v) porphyrin complexes proceeds via proton-coupled electron transfer, followed by rapid electron transfer.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinoline-4,9-diones and 4,9-dioxo-4,9-dihydro-1H-benzo[f]indoles.

1H-Pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinoline-4,9-diones and 4,9-dioxo-4,9-dihydro-1H-benzo[f]indoles were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activity against fungi. Among them tested, many compounds showed good antifungal activity. The results suggest that 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-g]quinoline-4,9-diones and 4,9-dioxo-4,9-dihydro-1H-benzo[f]indoles would be potent antifungal agents.

Direct evidence for an iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin pi-cation radical as an active oxidant in catalytic oxygenation reactions.

A high-valent iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin pi-cation radical is an active oxidant in the catalytic oxygenation of organic substrates by an iron(III) porphyrin complex and peracids, whereas an iron(III)-oxidant porphyrin adduct is a sluggish oxidant in iron porphyrin model reactions.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of 1H-indole-4,7-diones.

1H-Indole-4,7-diones were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activity against fungi. The synthesized 1H-indole-4,7-diones generally showed good antifungal activity against Candida krusei, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus niger. The results suggest that 1H-indole-4,7-diones would be potent antifungal agents.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of 6-hydroxycinnolines.

6-Hydroxycinnolines 2 and cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione derivatives 6 were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activity against Candida and Aspergillus species. 6-Hydroxycinnolines 2 showed, in general, more potent antifungal activity against Candida species than the other cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-diones. The results suggest that 6-hydroxycinnolines would be potent antifungal agents.