Uneven consequences of global climate mitigation pathways on regional water quality in the 21st century.

Future socioeconomic climate pathways have regional water-quality consequences whose severity and equity have not yet been fully understood across geographic and economic spectra. We use a process-based, terrestrial-freshwater ecosystem model to project 21st-century river nitrogen loads under these pathways. We find that fertilizer usage is the primary determinant of future river nitrogen loads, changing precipitation and warming have limited impacts, and CO fertilization-induced vegetation growth enhancement leads to modest load reductions.

Effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle program based on a mobile serious game for childhood cancer survivors: A quasi-randomized trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle program based on a mobile serious game (HLP-MSG) to enhance the lifestyles of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs).

Methods: This program proceeded in two stages: development and evaluation, using a non-synchronized design with a quasi-randomized trial. The participants were CCSs aged 6-13 years whose treatment was terminated at least 12 months prior.

Efficacy of Supplemental Ultrasound-Guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block Combined with Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block in Patients Receiving Local Infiltration Analgesia after Hip Fracture Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

: Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) represents a potential approach to reducing pain in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block also provides adequate analgesia for fractures and THA. As most hip surgeries use a lateral incision, affecting the cutaneous supply by branches of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), the LFCN block can contribute to postoperative analgesia.

Automated lung tumor segmentation robust to various tumor sizes using a consistency learning-based multi-scale dual-attention network.

Background: It is often difficult to automatically segment lung tumors due to the large tumor size variation ranging from less than 1 cm to greater than 7 cm depending on the T-stage.

Objective: This study aims to accurately segment lung tumors of various sizes using a consistency learning-based multi-scale dual-attention network (CL-MSDA-Net).

Methods: To avoid under- and over-segmentation caused by different ratios of lung tumors and surrounding structures in the input patch according to the size of the lung tumor, a size-invariant patch is generated by normalizing the ratio to the average size of the lung tumors used for the training.

Comparative Efficacy of Commercial Liquid and Mat-Type Electric Vaporizer Insecticides Against Asian Tiger Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae).

Mat and liquid-type electric insecticide vaporizers continuously emit insecticides into the surrounding air. Because both the target insects, mostly mosquitoes, and humans are exposed to those insecticides, it is crucial to understand and monitor their deposition and spatial distribution in treated areas. In the current study, we examined the evaporation of insecticides from seven commercial liquid and mat vaporizers and measured their knock-down and insecticidal activity against the adult females of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse).

Fabrication of Durable Ni-YSZ Hydrogen Electrode for High-Temperature Solid Electrolyzer Cells.

Solid oxide electrolyzer cells with an Ni-Fe-yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-Fe-YSZ) hydrogen electrode as the cathode, lanthanum strontium ferrite (LSCF)-gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) air electrode as the anode, and YSZ as the electrolyte were fabricated, and the oxidation protection effect of sacrificial Fe particles was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that Ni was protected from oxidation under a water vapor atmosphere by sacrificial Fe. Scanning electron microscopy observations suggested that the Ni particles accumulated in the Ni-YSZ hydrogen electrode, which might have been associated with the partial oxidation of Ni during cell operation at 700 °C in 50% H₂O/15% H₂/35% Ar atmosphere.

Cut-off points between pain intensities of the postoperative pain using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Background: Pain assessment and management are important in postoperative circumstances as overdosing of opioids can induce respiratory depression and critical consequences. We aimed this study to check the reliability of commonly used pain scales in a postoperative setting among Korean adults. We also intended to determine cut-off points of pain scores between mild and moderate pain and between moderate and severe pain by which can help to decide to use pain medication.

Patient hiPSCs Identify Vascular Smooth Muscle Arylacetamide Deacetylase as Protective against Atherosclerosis.

Although susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is different for every patient, why some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) develop CVD while others are protected has not yet been clarified. Using T2DM-patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), we found that in patients protected from CVD, there was significantly elevated expression of an esterase, arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC), in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We overexpressed this esterase in human primary VSMCs and VSMCs differentiated from hiPSCs and observed that the number of lipid droplets was significantly diminished.

Fabrication of Ce-Promoted Ni/Al₂O₃ Methane Steam Reforming Catalysts by Impregnation.

CeO₂-promoted Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts were fabricated by impregnation. The effects of the CeO₂ promotion and impregnation order on the microstructural evolution and catalytic durability were investigated for methane steam reforming. The CeO₂-promoter nanoparticles resulted in good dispersion and reduced particle size of Ni catalysts.

Role of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus from mother to child: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: To prevent the perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother to child, administration of an antiviral agent during pregnancy has been attempted in women who are either hepatitis B e antigen positive or have a high viral load. In this systematic review and meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in preventing the perinatal transmission of HBV in pregnant women who have high HBV DNA titers.

Methods: Multiple comprehensive databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases) were searched for studies evaluating the efficacy of TDF for the prevention of perinatal transmission of HBV.

Publisher Correction: Prominence of the tropics in the recent rise of global nitrogen pollution.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Adverse events of conscious sedation using midazolam for gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Background: This study was conducted to identify the types and incidence of adverse events associated with midazolam, which is the most widely used drug to induce conscious sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy, and to analyze the factors associated with hypoxemia and sedation failure.

Methods: Of 87,740 patients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy between February 2015 and May 2017, the electronic medical records of 335 who reportedly developed adverse events were retrospectively reviewed, and analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for hypoxemia and sedation failure, the two most frequent adverse events among those manifested during gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Results: The overall adverse event rate was 0.

Prominence of the tropics in the recent rise of global nitrogen pollution.

Nitrogen (N) pollution is shaped by multiple processes, the combined effects of which remain uncertain, particularly in the tropics. We use a global land biosphere model to analyze historical terrestrial-freshwater N budgets, considering the effects of anthropogenic N inputs, atmospheric CO, land use, and climate. We estimate that globally, land currently sequesters 11 (10-13)% of annual N inputs.

Utility after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy compared to conventional approaches for localized prostate cancer [socioeconomic perspective study].

Background: This study presented the utility across approaches (robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) or open radical prostatectomy (ORP)), across disease states after surgery, and also across functional outcomes for localized prostate cancers. The utility was measured using the time trade-off method.

Methods: This survey was based on a scenario that describes the state of health in detail and considers surgical methods, short-term adverse effects following RP, disease-specific conditions, and additional treatments 1 year following RP.

Health Risk Assessment on Hazardous Ingredients in Household Deodorizing Products.

The inhalation of a water aerosol from a humidifier containing disinfectants has led to serious lung injuries in Korea. To promote the safe use of products, the Korean government enacted regulations on the chemicals in various consumer products that could have adverse health effects. Given the concern over the potential health risks associated with the hazardous ingredients in deodorizing consumer products, 17 ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their health risk on 3 groups by the application type in 47 deodorizing products.

Morphology of travel routes and the organization of cities.

The city is a complex system that evolves through its inherent social and economic interactions. Mediating the movements of people and resources, urban street networks offer a spatial footprint of these activities. Of particular interest is the interplay between street structure and its functional usage.

Rapid Quantification of N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone in Polymer Matrices by Thermal Desorption-GC/MS.

Analysis of a residual solvent in polymeric materials has become an important issue due to the increased regulations and standards for its use. N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a solvent widely used in many industries and restricted as one of the chemicals under EU REACH regulations due to its potential harmful effects. In this study, thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) is applied for the quantitative analysis of NMP with the use of a polymer-coated sample cup.

Relating Land Use and Human Intra-City Mobility.

Understanding human mobility patterns—how people move in their everyday lives—is an interdisciplinary research field. It is a question with roots back to the 19th century that has been dramatically revitalized with the recent increase in data availability. Models of human mobility often take the population distribution as a starting point.

What's the Clinical Features of Colitis in Elderly People in Long-Term Care Facilities?

Background/aims: As life expectancy has increased, the number of elderly patients who need long-term care has grown rapidly. Mortality in patients with colitis in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is increasing. We intend to investigate the main causes of colitis in LTCFs compared to those of colitis in local communities, and to identify the clinical features and risk factors of patients with colitis in LTCFs.

Comparison between the Effectiveness of Oral Phloroglucin and Cimetropium Bromide as Premedication for Diagnostic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: An Open-Label, Randomized, Comparative Study.

Background/aims: Suppression of gastrointestinal (GI) peristalsis during GI endoscopy commonly requires antispasmodic agents such as hyoscine butylbromide, atropine, glucagon, and cimetropium bromide. This study examined the efficacy of oral phloroglucin for the suppression of peristalsis, its impact on patient compliance, and any associated complications, and compared it with intravenous or intramuscular cimetropium bromide administration.

Methods: This was a randomized, investigator-blind, prospective comparative study.

Tracing carbon monoxide uptake by Clostridium ljungdahlii during ethanol fermentation using (13)C-enrichment technique.

Conversion of synthesis gas (CO and H2) to ethanol can be an alternative, promising technology to produce biofuels from renewable biomass. To distinguish microbial utilization of carbon source between fructose and synthesis gas CO and to evaluate biological production of ethanol from CO, we adopted the (13)C-enrichment of the CO substrate and hypothesized that the residual increase in δ(13)C of the cell biomass would reflect the increased contribution of (13)C-enriched CO. Addition of synthesis gas to live culture medium for ethanol fermentation by Clostridum ljungdahlii increased the microbial growth and ethanol production.

The Effect of Comprehensive Hand Repetitive Intensive Strength Training (CHRIST) Using Motion Analysis in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Comprehensive Hand Repetitive Intensive Strength Training (CHRIST) on upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy using motion analysis.

Method: The subjects in this study included 19 children (10 males, 9 females, mean age=8.8 years) with cerebral palsy.

Multiphase contrast-enhanced CT imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma correlation with immunohistochemical angiogenic activities.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between enhancement parameters of multiphase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and immunohistochemical activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors, and CD34 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven patients underwent curative resection for HCC with no preoperative treatment. We defined several CT enhancement parameters by measuring attenuation values of tumor, liver parenchyma, and aorta.