Effectiveness of Acupotomy Combined with Epidural Steroid Injection for Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Pragmatic Pilot Study.

: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of acupotomy combined with epidural steroid injection (ESI) in lumbosacral radiculopathy and examine its feasibility for the main study. : This randomized, controlled, two-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, pragmatic study included 50 patients with severe lumbosacral radiculopathy who had insufficient improvement after an ESI. Patients were randomized (1:1 ratio) into a combined treatment (acupotomy + ESI, experimental) and an ESI single treatment (control) group.

Ultra-soft and highly stretchable tissue-adhesive hydrogel based multifunctional implantable sensor for monitoring of overactive bladder.

A highly stretchable and tissue-adhesive multifunctional sensor based on structurally engineered islets embedded in ultra-soft hydrogel is reported for monitoring of bladder activity in overactive bladder (OAB) induced rat and anesthetized pig. The use of hydrogel yielded a much lower sensor modulus (1 kPa) compared to that of the bladder (300 kPa), while the strong adhesiveness of the hydrogel (adhesive strength: 260.86 N/m) allowed firm attachment onto the bladder.

[Corrigendum] Effect of duty cycles of tumor‑treating fields on glioblastoma cells and normal brain organoids.

Subsequently to the publication of the above article, the authors have realized that Fig. 3 on p. 6, showing the results of bioluminescence imaging of U87 and U373 cells after applying tumor‑treating fields for 72 h, was published containing an erroneous image.

A comparative study of a nerve block therapy with and without a deeply inserted acupotomy applied to hyeopcheok points for lumbosacral radiculopathy: Safety, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness (a randomized controlled, two-arm, parallel study, pilot study, assessor-blind).

Introduction: The prevalence of lumbosacral radiculopathy is estimated to be approximately 3% to 5% in patient populations. Lumbosacral radiculopathy is largely caused by a complex interaction between biomechanical and biochemical factors. Nerve block therapy (NBT) mainly treats lumbosacral radiculopathy by improving the biochemical factors, whereas acupotomy mainly focuses on improving the biomechanical factors.

Effect of duty cycles of tumor‑treating fields on glioblastoma cells and normal brain organoids.

Tumor‑treating fields (TTFields) are emerging cancer therapies based on alternating low‑intensity electric fields that interfere with dividing cells and induce cancer cell apoptosis. However, to date, there is limited knowledge of their effects on normal cells, as well as the effects of different duty cycles on outcomes. The present study evaluated the effects of TTFields with different duty cycles on glioma spheroid cells and normal brain organoids.

Sonochemical activation in aqueous medium for solid-state synthesis of BaTiO powders.

BaTiO-based oxide compounds are important ceramic materials for multilayer ceramic capacitors. In this paper, we report a sonochemical activation process of BaCO and TiO in an aqueous medium for the synthesis of BaTiO powders through a solid-state process. Owing to the physical and chemical effects of the ultrasonication in aqueous medium on the raw materials, BaTiO powders could be successfully synthesized at relatively low temperatures through a solid-state reaction, which was significantly enhanced as compared to the case in ethanol medium.

Investigation for Thermoelectric Properties of the MoS Monolayer-Graphene Heterostructure: Density Functional Theory Calculations and Electrical Transport Measurements.

We investigated the thermoelectric (TE) properties of the MoS monolayer-graphene heterostructure which consists of the MoS monolayer and graphene. The electronic structures of the MoS monolayer-graphene heterostructure are mainly contributed from graphene and the MoS monolayer for the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum, respectively. The change in the electronic structures near the Fermi level is responsible for the fact that the calculated Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivity σ/τ of MoS monolayer-graphene are largely affected from those of graphene and the MoS monolayer.

Anomalous in-plane lattice thermal conductivity in an atomically thin two-dimensional α-GeTe layer.

Low lattice thermal conductivity is one of the most important physical quantities for phononic device applications. Thus, we investigated the in-plane lattice thermal conductivity of mono- and bi-layer α-GeTe systems. The lattice thermal conductivity of the monolayer system along the zigzag direction was 0.

Development of a MEL Cell-Derived Allograft Mouse Model for Cancer Research.

Murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells are often employed as a model to dissect mechanisms of erythropoiesis and erythroleukemia in vitro. Here, an allograft model using MEL cells resulting in splenomegaly was established to develop a diagnostic model for isolation/quantification of metastatic cells, anti-cancer drug screening, and evaluation of the tumorigenic or metastatic potentials of molecules in vivo. In this animal model, circulating MEL cells from the blood stream were successfully isolated and quantified with an additional in vitro cultivation step.

Gigantic Phonon-Scattering Cross Section To Enhance Thermoelectric Performance in Bulk Crystals.

In thermoelectric energy conversions, thermal conductivity reduction is essential for enhancing thermoelectric performance while maintaining a high power factor. Herein, we propose an approach based on coated-grain structures to effectively reduce the thermal conductivity to a much greater degree when compared to that done by conventional nanodot nanocomposite. By incorporating CdTe coated layers on the surface of SnTe grains, the thermal conductivity is as low as 1.

Phonon-glass electron-crystals in ZnO-multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites.

We propose a strategy for enhancing thermoelectric performance through the realization of a 'phonon-glass electron-crystal' (PGEC) by interface control using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). By the consolidation of undoped ZnO nanoparticles with MWCNTs (0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) using spark plasma sintering, we fabricated the interface-controlled ZnO-MWCNT nanocomposites, in which ZnO grains were surrounded with a MWCNT network.

A gigantically increased ratio of electrical to thermal conductivity and synergistically enhanced thermoelectric properties in interface-controlled TiO-RGO nanocomposites.

We report synergistically enhanced thermoelectric properties through the independently controlled charge and thermal transport properties in a TiO-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite. By the consolidation of TiO-RGO hybrid powder using spark plasma sintering, we prepared an interface-controlled TiO-RGO nanocomposite where its grain boundaries are covered with the RGO network. Both the enhancement in electrical conductivity and the reduction in thermal conductivity were simultaneously achieved thanks to the beneficial effects of the RGO network, and detailed mechanisms are discussed.

Hollow porous Cu particles from silica-encapsulated CuO nanoparticle aggregates effectively catalyze 4-nitrophenol reduction.

A hollow metal micro/nanomaterial with a porous wall is one of the most attractive structures for catalysts. The synthesis of hollow porous Cu particles remains a challenge due to their air-sensitive characteristics. In this study, we report a facile and scalable method for the preparation of high-quality hollow porous Cu particles in the range of 500 nm-1.

Structurally nanocrystalline-electrically single crystalline ZnO-reduced graphene oxide composites.

ZnO, a wide bandgap semiconductor, has attracted much attention due to its multifunctionality, such as transparent conducting oxide, light-emitting diode, photocatalyst, and so on. To improve its performances in the versatile applications, numerous hybrid strategies of ZnO with graphene have been attempted, and various synergistic effects have been achieved in the ZnO-graphene hybrid nanostructures. Here we report extraordinary charge transport behavior in Al-doped ZnO (AZO)-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites.

Unoxidized graphene/alumina nanocomposite: fracture- and wear-resistance effects of graphene on alumina matrix.

It is of critical importance to improve toughness, strength, and wear-resistance together for the development of advanced structural materials. Herein, we report on the synthesis of unoxidized graphene/alumina composite materials having enhanced toughness, strength, and wear-resistance by a low-cost and environmentally benign pressure-less-sintering process. The wear resistance of the composites was increased by one order of magnitude even under high normal load condition (25 N) as a result of a tribological effect of graphene along with enhanced fracture toughness (KIC) and flexural strength (σf) of the composites by ~75% (5.

Thermal stability of gallium-doped zinc oxide thin film on glass substrates by an RF sputtering process.

The effects of a heat treatment on the structural and electrical properties of GZO thin films grown by RF magnetron sputtering were investigated. The heat treatment involved temperatures in the range from 200 degrees C to 500 degrees C under air. As the temperature was increased, the electrical properties of GZO thin films increased exponentially and the surface morphology was drastically altered.

Interfacial structure and electrical properties of transparent conducting ZnO thin films on polymer substrates.

The effects of polymer substrates on the interfacial structure and the thermal stability of Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films were investigated. The GZO thin films were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering at room temperature, and thermal stability tests of the GZO thin films on the polymer substrates were performed at 150°C up to 8 h in air. Electrical and structural characterizations of the GZO thin films on the PET and the PEN substrates were carried out, and the origins of the stable interfacial structure and the improved thermal stability of the GZO thin film on the PEN substrate were discussed.

The cardiovascular effects of midazolam co-induction to propofol for induction in aged patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a small dose of midazolam and lessening the propofol dosage could prevent cardiovascular change at tracheal intubation for induction in aged patients.

Methods: Eighty patients over 65 years (ASA physical status 1, 2) scheduled for elective surgery received general anesthesia with remifentanil and propofol or midazolam. Patients in group P (n = 40) were induced with 0.

The expression of survivin and its related genes in adipocyte-derived stem cell by demethylation.

Background: Survivin is thought to contribute to stem cell maintenance partly by a hypomethylation mechanism. This study attempted to elucidate the signal transduction pathway of adipocyte-derived stem cells (ASCs) by using a demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (ADC), to analyze the survivin, MEK/ERK, c-Myc and p53 gene expression.

Methods: Demethylation in the ASCs was induced by 1 microM ADC treatment.

The incidence of cough induced by remifentanil during anesthetic induction was decreased by graded escalation of the remifentanil concentration.

Background: It is well known that opioids induce coughing. Many drugs such as lidocaine and ketamine are used to effectively prevent the coughing induced by opioids and this has been revealed to be effective. In this study, we evaluated the preventive effect of a graded escalation of the remifentanil concentration using a target controlled infusion pump and we compared this with the effect of lidocaine.

Facile synthesis and size control of spherical aggregates composed of Cu(2)O nanoparticles.

The secondary structures of Cu(2)O nanoparticles were prepared in aqueous solution utilizing self-assembled aggregation process. By introducing polyacrylamide (PAM) as a secondary surfactant, the colloidal nanoparticle aggregates (CNAs) become uniform in size and exhibit spherical shape compared to the random aggregates without PAM. The size of CNA can be systematically controlled from 300nm to 1000nm by varying PAM concentration.