Excitation-energy dependence of solvation dynamics in room-temperature ionic liquids.

Influence of the excitation energy of a probe solute molecule on its solvation dynamics and emission spectrum in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (EMI(+)PF6 (-)) is studied via molecular dynamics simulations using a coarse-grained model description. By exciting the probe at different energies, each with an extremely narrow distribution, ensuing solvent relaxation and its dynamic variance are monitored using the isoconfigurational ensemble method. Resulting Stokes shift function, S(t), indicates that long-time solvent relaxation becomes slower with the decreasing excitation energy and approaches the equilibrium correlation function, C(t), of solvent fluctuations.

The role of BRD7 in embryo development and glucose metabolism.

Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) is a member of bromodomain-containing protein family and its function has been implicated in several diseases. We have previously shown that BRD7 plays a role in metabolic processes. However, the effect of BRD7 deficiency in glucose metabolism and its role in in vivo have not been fully revealed.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Titanium Surface Modified by PVD/PACVD Process.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) via crystal violet staining assay on titanium surface modified by physical vapor deposition/plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition process. Specimens were divided into the following three groups: polished titanium (control group), titanium modified by DC magnetron sputtering (group TiN-Ti), and titanium modified by plasma nitriding (group N-Ti).

Evaluation of Osteoblast-Like Cell Viability and Differentiation on the Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser Peptide Immobilized Titanium Dioxide Nanotube via Chemical Grafting.

This study examined the effect of the immobilization of the Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) peptide on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube via chemical grafting on osteoblast-like cell (MG-63) viability and differentiation. The specimens were divided into two groups; TiO2 nanotubes and GRGDS-immobilized TiO2 nanotubes. The surface characteristics of GRGDS-immobilized TiO2 nanotubes were observed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM).

Two-Dimensional Atomic-Layered Alloy Junctions for High-Performance Wearable Chemical Sensor.

We first report that two-dimensional (2D) metal (NbSe2)-semiconductor (WSe2)-based flexible, wearable, and launderable gas sensors can be prepared through simple one-step chemical vapor deposition of prepatterned WO3 and Nb2O5. Compared to a control device with a Au/WSe2 junction, gas-sensing performance of the 2D NbSe2/WSe2 device was significantly enhanced, which might have resulted from the formation of a NbxW1-xSe2 transition alloy junction lowering the Schottky barrier height. This would make it easier to collect charges of channels induced by molecule adsorption, improving gas response characteristics toward chemical species including NO2 and NH3.

5-Hydroxy-7-azaindolin-2-one, a novel hybrid of pyridinol and sunitinib: design, synthesis and cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Angiogenesis plays important roles in tumor growth and metastasis. Sunitinib (Sutent®) is an antitumor agent targeting receptor tyrosine kinases which are involved in angiogenesis as well as cancer cell growth and survival. Using the pyridin-3-ol scaffold, which was previously reported as an excellent antioxidant and antiangiogenic platform, we have synthesized sunitinib mimics 6 by hybridizing bicyclic pyridinol 4 as a key scaffold and pyrrole-2-carbaldehydes 7 as side chains.

Serotype Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates from Adults in Korea from 1997 to 2012.

In Republic of Korea, a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV7) was licensed for use in infants in 2003, and 13-valent PCV (PCV13) replaced it since 2010. We investigated trends in serotype distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of pneumococcal isolates from adult patients with invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD). Invasive pneumococcal isolates from adult patients of ≥ 16 years of age were collected from 1997 to 2012.

Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria: Predisposing conditions and clinical characteristics of six cases and a review of 63 cases in the literature.

Background Several case series have reported on clinical and radiographic characteristics of patients with vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). However, only a few patients were included, and systematic reviews are still lacking. The aim of this study was to update and summarise the pre-disposing conditions, clinical and radiographic characteristics of such cases due to NTM.

Small-Colony Variants in Persistent and Recurrent Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

The small-colony variant (SCV) phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus is associated with intracellular persistence and reduced antimicrobial susceptibility, which can lead to therapeutic failure. Since SCVs grow slowly and have a confusing morphology, the identification of infections due to SCV is difficult. We have identified SCVs in two patients who presented with persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia complicated by surgical site infections after cardiothoracic surgery.

Computer Simulation Study of Graphene Oxide Supercapacitors: Charge Screening Mechanism.

Graphene oxide supercapacitors in the parallel plate configuration are studied via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The full range of electrode oxidation from 0 to 100% is examined by oxidizing the graphene surface with hydroxyl groups. Two different electrolytes, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMI(+)BF4(-)) as an ionic liquid and its 1.

Complete-mouth rehabilitation using a 3D printing technique and the CAD/CAM double scanning method: A clinical report.

According to evolving computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, ceramic materials such as zirconia can be used to create fixed dental prostheses for partial removable dental prostheses. Since 3D printing technology was introduced a few years ago, dental applications of this technique have gradually increased. This clinical report presents a complete-mouth rehabilitation using 3D printing and the CAD/CAM double-scanning method.

The purpose and appropriateness of carbapenem use in a single university hospital, 2009-2013.

This is a retrospective review study to investigate changes in carbapenem consumption and to evaluate the proportion of inappropriate empirical use of carbapenem in the months of September and October of 2009, 2011, and 2013 in a single university-affiliated hospital. Total carbapenem use was classified into 3 categories: prophylactic, directed, and empirical. If an empirical prescription was continued without documentation of any eligible etiologic microorganism, we defined this as 'inappropriate' use.

Heterogeneous dynamics and its length scale in simple ionic liquid models: a computational study.

We numerically investigate the dynamic heterogeneity and its length scale found in coarse-grained ionic liquid model systems. In our ionic liquid model systems, cations are modeled as dimers with a positive charge, while anions are modeled as monomers with a negative charge, respectively. To study the effect of the charge distributions on the cations, two ionic liquid models with different charge distributions are used and the model with a neutral charge is also considered as a counterpart.

Alloyed 2D Metal-Semiconductor Atomic Layer Junctions.

Heterostructures of compositionally and electronically variant two-dimensional (2D) atomic layers are viable building blocks for ultrathin optoelectronic devices. We show that the composition of interfacial transition region between semiconducting WSe2 atomic layer channels and metallic NbSe2 contact layers can be engineered through interfacial doping with Nb atoms. WxNb1-xSe2 interfacial regions considerably lower the potential barrier height of the junction, significantly improving the performance of the corresponding WSe2-based field-effect transistor devices.

Isolation of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from a Patient of the 2015 Korean Outbreak.

During the 2015 outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Korea, 186 persons were infected, resulting in 38 fatalities. We isolated MERS-CoV from the oropharyngeal sample obtained from a patient of the outbreak. Cytopathic effects showing detachment and rounding of cells were observed in Vero cell cultures 3 days after inoculation of the sample.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome versus non-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome lymphoma in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Little is known about differences between immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and non-IRIS lymphoma in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of IRIS and non-IRIS lymphoma in Korean HIV-positive patients on ART compared with lymphoma in those off ART. Of 1490 patients, 41 (3%) had lymphoma.

Differences in characteristics between first and breakthrough neutropenic fever after chemotherapy in patients with hematologic disease.

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the clinical and microbiological characteristics of first and breakthrough neutropenic fever in hematologic malignancy patients after chemotherapy.

Methods: Breakthrough neutropenic fever was any episode of fever, not present initially, that developed either during antibiotic therapy or within 1 week of discontinuation of therapy. A total of 687 neutropenic fever episodes in 241 patients were observed from April 2003 to March 2014.

IBX-mediated synthesis of indazolone via oxidative N-N bond formation and unexpected formation of quinazolin-4-one: in situ generation of formaldehyde from dimethoxyethane.

Synthesis of indazolone derivatives, which exhibit diverse biological and pharmaceutical activities, were achieved by hypervalent λ(5) iodine reagents, such as iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX),-mediated oxidative N-N bond forming cyclization. In this study, the equivalence of IBX was optimized to promote the formation of N-N bond by oxidatively generated acylnitrenium ion. Dimethoxyethane and dichloroethane were discovered as alternative solvents and the reaction could be conducted in more concentrated condition.

Impact of the multiplex polymerase chain reaction in culture-positive samples on appropriate antibiotic use in patients with staphylococcal bacteremia.

Rapid identification of the microorganisms in patients with bacteremia may be useful in clinical practice. We evaluated the impact of the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on appropriate antibiotic use for patients with gram-positive cocci cluster (GPCC) bacteremia. We divided the GPCC bacteremia cases into a pre-PCR group (2010-2011) and a post-PCR group (2012-2013).

The role of heme oxygenase-1 in drug metabolizing dysfunction in the alcoholic fatty liver exposed to ischemic injury.

This study was designed to investigate the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in hepatic drug metabolizing dysfunction after ischemia/reperfusion (IR) in alcoholic fatty liver (AFL). Rats were fed a Lieber-DeCarli diet for five weeks to allow for development of AFL and were then subjected to 90min of hepatic ischemia and 5h of reperfusion. Rats were pretreated with hemin (HO-1 inducer) or ZnPP (HO-1 inhibitor) for 16h and 3h before hepatic ischemia.

Identification of Enterococcus faecalis antigens specifically expressed in vivo.

Objectives: Molecular mechanism of the pathogenicity of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), a suspected endodontic pathogen, has not yet been adequately elucidated due to limited information on its virulence factors. Here we report the identification of in vivo expressed antigens of E.

Kinetics of Serologic Responses to MERS Coronavirus Infection in Humans, South Korea.

We investigated the kinetics of serologic responses to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection by using virus neutralization and MERS-CoV S1 IgG ELISA tests. In most patients, robust antibody responses developed by the third week of illness. Delayed antibody responses with the neutralization test were associated with more severe disease.

Comparison of serological assays in human Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-coronavirus infection.

Plaque reduction neutralisation tests (PRNT), microneutralisation (MN), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-spike pseudoparticle neutralisation (ppNT) and MERS S1-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody titres were compared using 95 sera from 17 patients with MERS, collected two to 46 days after symptom onset. Neutralisation tests correlated well with each other and moderately well with S1 ELISA. Moreover to compare antigenic similarity of genetically diverse MERS-CoV clades, the response of four sera from two patients sampled at two time periods during the course of illness were tested by 90% PRNT.

Time scale of dynamic heterogeneity in model ionic liquids and its relation to static length scale and charge distribution.

We study how dynamic heterogeneity in ionic liquids is affected by the length scale of structural relaxation and the ionic charge distribution by the molecular dynamics simulations performed on two differently charged models of ionic liquid and their uncharged counterpart. In one model of ionic liquid, the charge distribution in the cation is asymmetric, and in the other it is symmetric, while their neutral counterpart has no charge with the ions. It is found that all the models display heterogeneous dynamics, exhibiting subdiffusive dynamics and a nonexponential decay of structural relaxation.