Showing papers by "Chung-Ang University published in 2017"

Biology of Acinetobacter baumannii: Pathogenesis, Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms, and Prospective Treatment Options.

Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is undoubtedly one of the most successful pathogens responsible for hospital-acquired nosocomial infections in the modern healthcare system. Due to the prevalence of infections and outbreaks caused by multi-drug resistant A. baumannii, few antibiotics are effective for treating infections caused by this pathogen. To overcome this problem, knowledge of the pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance mechanisms of A. baumannii is important. In this review, we summarize current studies on the virulence factors that contribute to A. baumannii pathogenesis, including porins, capsular polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, phospholipases, outer membrane vesicles, metal acquisition systems, and protein secretion systems. Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of this organism, including acquirement of -lactamases, up-regulation of multidrug efflux pumps, modification of aminoglycosides, permeability defects, and alteration of target sites, are also discussed. Lastly, novel prospective treatment options for infections caused by multi-drug resistant A. baumannii are summarized.

Majorana fermions in the Kitaev quantum spin system α-RuCl 3

Abstract: α-RuCl3 has recently attracted great interest as a possible experimental realization of the Kitaev model. Neutron scattering measurements of a single crystal of this material reveal signatures of Majorana excitations, consistent with Kitaev’s predictions. Geometrical constraints to the electronic degrees of freedom within condensed-matter systems often give rise to topological quantum states of matter such as fractional quantum Hall states, topological insulators, and Weyl semimetals1,2,3. In magnetism, theoretical studies predict an entangled magnetic quantum state with topological ordering and fractionalized spin excitations, the quantum spin liquid4. In particular, the so-called Kitaev spin model5, consisting of a network of spins on a honeycomb lattice, is predicted to host Majorana fermions as its excitations. By means of a combination of specific heat measurements and inelastic neutron scattering experiments, we demonstrate the emergence of Majorana fermions in single crystals of α-RuCl3, an experimental realization of the Kitaev spin lattice. The specific heat data unveils a two-stage release of magnetic entropy that is characteristic of localized and itinerant Majorana fermions. The neutron scattering results corroborate this picture by revealing quasielastic excitations at low energies around the Brillouin zone centre and an hour-glass-like magnetic continuum at high energies. Our results confirm the presence of Majorana fermions in the Kitaev quantum spin liquid and provide an opportunity to build a unified conceptual framework for investigating fractionalized excitations in condensed matter1,6,7,8.

Sterile Neutrino Search at the NEOS Experiment.

Abstract: An experiment to search for light sterile neutrinos is conducted at a reactor with a thermal power of 2.8 GW located at the Hanbit nuclear power complex. The search is done with a detector consisting of a ton of Gd-loaded liquid scintillator in a tendon gallery approximately 24 m from the reactor core. The measured antineutrino event rate is 1976 per day with a signal to background ratio of about 22. The shape of the antineutrino energy spectrum obtained from the eight-month data-taking period is compared with a hypothesis of oscillations due to active-sterile antineutrino mixing. No strong evidence of $3+1$ neutrino oscillation is found. An excess around the 5 MeV prompt energy range is observed as seen in existing longer-baseline experiments. The mixing parameter ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}2{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{14}$ is limited up to less than 0.1 for $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{m}_{41}^{2}$ ranging from 0.2 to $2.3\text{ }{\mathrm{eV}}^{2}$ with a 90% confidence level.

Evidence for a Field-Induced Quantum Spin Liquid in α - RuCl 3

Abstract: We report a $^{35}\mathrm{Cl}$ nuclear magnetic resonance study in the honeycomb lattice $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-${\mathrm{RuCl}}_{3}$, a material that has been suggested to potentially realize a Kitaev quantum spin liquid (QSL) ground state. Our results provide direct evidence that $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-${\mathrm{RuCl}}_{3}$ exhibits a magnetic-field-induced QSL. For fields larger than $\ensuremath{\sim}10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{T}$, a spin gap opens up while resonance lines remain sharp, evidencing that spins are quantum disordered and locally fluctuating. The spin gap increases linearly with an increasing magnetic field, reaching $\ensuremath{\sim}50\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$ at 15 T, and is nearly isotropic with respect to the field direction. The unusual rapid increase of the spin gap with increasing field and its isotropic nature are incompatible with conventional magnetic ordering and, in particular, exclude that the ground state is a fully polarized ferromagnet. The presence of such a field-induced gapped QSL phase has indeed been predicted in the Kitaev model.

Brain-Inspired Photonic Neuromorphic Devices using Photodynamic Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors and their Persistent Photoconductivity

Abstract: The combination of a neuromorphic architecture and photonic computing may open up a new era for computational systems owing to the possibility of attaining high bandwidths and the low-computation-power requirements. Here, the demonstration of photonic neuromorphic devices based on amorphous oxide semiconductors (AOSs) that mimic major synaptic functions, such as short-term memory/long-term memory, spike-timing-dependent plasticity, and neural facilitation, is reported. The synaptic functions are successfully emulated using the inherent persistent photoconductivity (PPC) characteristic of AOSs. Systematic analysis of the dynamics of photogenerated carriers for various AOSs is carried out to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying the photoinduced carrier-generation and relaxation behaviors, and to search for a proper channel material for photonic neuromorphic devices. It is found that the activation energy for the neutralization of ionized oxygen vacancies has a significant influence on the photocarrier-generation and time-variant recovery behaviors of AOSs, affecting the PPC behavior.

Cartilage Regeneration in Osteoarthritic Patients by a Composite of Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Hyaluronate Hydrogel: Results From a Clinical Trial for Safety and Proof-of-Concept With 7 Years of Extended Follow-Up

Abstract: Few methods are available to regenerate articular cartilage defects in patients with osteoarthritis. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of articular cartilage regeneration by a novel medicinal product composed of allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs). Patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 osteoarthritis and International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade 4 cartilage defects were enrolled in this clinical trial. The stem cell-based medicinal product (a composite of culture-expanded allogeneic hUCB-MSCs and hyaluronic acid hydrogel [Cartistem]) was applied to the lesion site. Safety was assessed by the World Health Organization common toxicity criteria. The primary efficacy outcome was ICRS cartilage repair assessed by arthroscopy at 12 weeks. The secondary efficacy outcome was visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain on walking. During a 7-year extended follow-up, we evaluated safety, VAS score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and histological evaluations. Seven participants were enrolled. Maturing repair tissue was observed at the 12-week arthroscopic evaluation. The VAS and IKDC scores were improved at 24 weeks. The improved clinical outcomes were stable over 7 years of follow-up. The histological findings at 1 year showed hyaline-like cartilage. MRI at 3 years showed persistence of the regenerated cartilage. Only five mild to moderate treatment-emergent adverse events were observed. There were no cases of osteogenesis or tumorigenesis over 7 years. The application of this novel stem cell-based medicinal product appears to be safe and effective for the regeneration of durable articular cartilage in osteoarthritic knees. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:613-621.

Antimicrobial Resistance of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: Epidemiology, Hypervirulence-Associated Determinants, and Resistance Mechanisms.

Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most clinically relevant species in immunocompromised individuals responsible for community-acquired and nosocomial infections, including pneumonias, urinary tract infections, bacteremias, and liver abscesses. Since the mid-1980s, hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, generally associated with the hypermucoviscosity phenotype, has emerged as a clinically significant pathogen responsible for serious disseminated infections, such as pyogenic liver abscesses, osteomyelitis, and endophthalmitis, in a generally younger and healthier population. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae infections were primarily found in East Asia and now are increasingly being reported worldwide. Although most hypervirulent K. pneumoniae isolates are antibiotic-susceptible, some isolates with combined virulence and resistance, such as the carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae isolates, are increasingly being detected. The combination of multidrug resistance and enhanced virulence has the potential to cause the next clinical crisis. To better understand the basic biology of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, this review will provide a summarization and discussion focused on epidemiology, hypervirulence-associated factors, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms of such hypervirulent strains. Epidemiological analysis of recent clinical isolates in China warns the global dissemination of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains with extensive antibiotic resistance in the near future. Therefore, an immediate response to recognize the global dissemination of this hypervirulent strain with resistance determinants is an urgent priority.

Crosslinking method of hyaluronic-based hydrogel for biomedical applications.

Abstract: In the field of tissue engineering, there is a need for advancement beyond conventional scaffolds and preformed hydrogels. Injectable hydrogels have gained wider admiration among researchers as they can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures. Injectable gels completely fill the defect area and have good permeability and hence are promising biomaterials. The technique can be effectively applied to deliver a wide range of bioactive agents, such as drugs, proteins, growth factors, and even living cells. Hyaluronic acid is a promising candidate for the tissue engineering field because of its unique physicochemical and biological properties. Thus, this review provides an overview of various methods of chemical and physical crosslinking using different linkers that have been investigated to develop the mechanical properties, biodegradation, and biocompatibility of hyaluronic acid as an injectable hydrogel in cell scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and wound healing applications.

Challenging the IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL): A Survey

Abstract: RPL is the IPv6 routing protocol for low-power and lossy networks, standardized by IETF in 2012 as RFC6550. Specifically, RPL is designed to be a simple and inter-operable networking protocol for resource-constrained devices in industrial, home, and urban environments, intended to support the vision of the Internet of Things with thousands of devices interconnected through multihop mesh networks. More than four-years have passed since the standardization of RPL, and we believe that it is time to examine and understand its current state. In this paper, we review the history of research efforts in RPL; what aspects have been (and have not been) investigated and evaluated, how they have been studied, what was (and was not) implemented, and what remains for future investigation. We reviewed over 97 RPL-related academic research papers published by major academic publishers and present a topic-oriented survey for these research efforts. Our survey shows that only 40.2% of the papers evaluate RPL through experiments using implementations on real embedded devices, ContikiOS and TinyOS are the two most popular implementations (92.3%), and TelosB was the most frequently used hardware platform (69%) on testbeds that have average and median size of 49.4 and 30.5 nodes, respectively. Furthermore, unfortunately, despite it being approximately four years since its initial standardization, we are yet to see wide adoption of RPL as part of real-world systems and applications. We present our observations on the reasons behind this and suggest directions on which RPL should evolve.

Rabies Virus-Inspired Silica-Coated Gold Nanorods as a Photothermal Therapeutic Platform for Treating Brain Tumors.

Abstract: Rabies virus-inspired silica-coated gold nanorods are fabricated by mimicking size, shape, surface glycoprotein property and in vivo behavior of the rabies virus. These nanorods not only resemble the appearance of the actual rabies virus but also travel into the brain through the neuronal pathway bypassing the blood-brain barrier, and moreover respond to near-infrared laser (808 nm) irradiation, emit heat, and effectively suppress brain tumors.

Biogenic amines in foods

Abstract: Biogenic amines are produced by bacterial decarboxylation of corresponding amino acids in foods. Concentration of biogenic amines in fermented food products is affected by several factors in the manufacturing process, including hygienic of raw materials, microbial composition, fermentation condition, and the duration of fermentation. Intake of low amount of biogenic amines normally does not have harmful effect on human health. However, when their amount in food is too high and detoxification ability is inhibited or disturbed, biogenic amines could cause problem. To control concentration of BAs in food, decarboxylase activity for amino acids can be regulated. Levels of BAs can be reduced by several methods such as packaging, additives, hydrostatic pressure, irradiation, pasteurization, smoking, starter culture, oxidizing formed biogenic amine, and temperature. The objective of this review paper was to collect, summarize, and discuss necessary information or useful data based on previous studies in terms of BAs in various foods.

Load Balancing Under Heavy Traffic in RPL Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks

Abstract: RPL is an IPv6 routing protocol for low-power and lossy networks (LLNs) designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of LLN applications including smart grid AMIs, industrial and environmental monitoring, and wireless sensor networks. RPL allows bi-directional end-to-end IPv6 communication on resource constrained LLN devices, leading to the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) with thousands and millions of devices interconnected through multihop mesh networks. In this article, we investigate the load balancing and congestion problem of RPL. Specifically, we show that most of the packet losses under heavy traffic are due to congestion, and a serious load balancing problem appears in RPL in terms of routing parent selection. To overcome this problem, this article proposes a simple yet effective queue utilization based RPL ( QU-RPL ) that achieves load balancing and significantly improves the end-to-end packet delivery performance compared to the standard RPL. QU-RPL is designed for each node to select its parent node considering the queue utilization of its neighbor nodes as well as their hop distances to an LLN border router (LBR). Owing to its load balancing capability, QU-RPL is very effective in lowering queue losses and increasing the packet delivery ratio. We implement QU-RPL on a low-power embedded platform, and verify all of our findings through experimental measurements on a real testbed of a multihop LLN over IEEE 802.15.4. We present the impact of each design element of QU-RPL on performance in detail, and also show that QU-RPL reduces the queue loss by up to 84 percent and improves the packet delivery ratio by up to 147 percent compared to the standard RPL.

Modern analytical methods for the detection of food fraud and adulteration by food category

Abstract: This review provides current information on the analytical methods used to identify food adulteration in the six most adulterated food categories: animal origin and seafood, oils and fats, beverages, spices and sweet foods (e.g. honey), grain-based food, and others (organic food and dietary supplements). The analytical techniques (both conventional and emerging) used to identify adulteration in these six food categories involve sensory, physicochemical, DNA-based, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, and have been combined with chemometrics, making these techniques more convenient and effective for the analysis of a broad variety of food products. Despite recent advances, the need remains for suitably sensitive and widely applicable methodologies that encompass all the various aspects of food adulteration. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Magnetic Excitations and Continuum of a Possibly Field-Induced Quantum Spin Liquid in α-RuCl_{3}.

Abstract: We report on terahertz spectroscopy of quantum spin dynamics in α-RuCl_{3}, a system proximate to the Kitaev honeycomb model, as a function of temperature and magnetic field. We follow the evolution of an extended magnetic continuum below the structural phase transition at T_{s2}=62 K. With the onset of a long-range magnetic order at T_{N}=6.5 K, spectral weight is transferred to a well-defined magnetic excitation at ℏω_{1}=2.48 meV, which is accompanied by a higher-energy band at ℏω_{2}=6.48 meV. Both excitations soften in a magnetic field, signaling a quantum phase transition close to B_{c}=7 T, where a broad continuum dominates the dynamical response. Above B_{c}, the long-range order is suppressed, and on top of the continuum, emergent magnetic excitations evolve. These excitations follow clear selection rules and exhibit distinct field dependencies, characterizing the dynamical properties of a possibly field-induced quantum spin liquid.

Field-induced quantum criticality in the Kitaev system α − RuCl 3

Abstract: $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{RuCl}}_{3}$ has attracted enormous attention since it has been proposed as a prime candidate to study fractionalized magnetic excitations akin to Kitaev's honeycomb-lattice spin liquid. We have performed a detailed specific-heat investigation at temperatures down to $0.4\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in applied magnetic fields up to $9\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$ for fields parallel to the $ab$ plane. We find a suppression of the zero-field antiferromagnetic order, together with an increase of the low-temperature specific heat, with increasing field up to ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}{H}_{\text{c}}\ensuremath{\approx}6.9$ T. Above ${H}_{\text{c}}$, the magnetic contribution to the low-temperature specific heat is strongly suppressed, implying the opening of a spin-excitation gap. Our data point toward a field-induced quantum critical point at ${H}_{\text{c}}$; this is supported by universal scaling behavior near ${H}_{\text{c}}$. Remarkably, the data also reveal the existence of a small characteristic energy scale well below 1 meV, above which the excitation spectrum changes qualitatively. We relate the data to theoretical calculations based on a ${J}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{K}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{3}$ honeycomb model.

Accuracy of a screening tool for medication adherence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8.

Abstract: Background This systematic review examined the reliability and validity of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), which has been widely used to assess patient medication adherence in clinical research and medical practice. Methods Of 418 studies identified through searching 4 electronic databases, we finally analyzed 28 studies meeting the selection criteria of this study regarding the reliability and validity of MMAS-8 including sensitivity and specificity. Meta-analysis for Cronbach’s α, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), sensitivity and specificity to detect a patient with nonadherence to medication were performed. The pooled estimates for Cronbach’s α and ICC were calculated using the random-effects weighted T transformation. A bivariate random-effects model was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity. Findings The pooled Cronbach's α estimate for type 2 diabetes group in 7 studies and osteoporosis group in 3 studies were 0.67 (95% Confidence Interval(CI), 0.65 to 0.69) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.83), respectively. With regard to test-retest, the pooled ICC for type 2 diabetes group in 3 studies and osteoporosis group in 2 studies were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.85) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.85). For a cut-off value of 6, the pooled sensitivity and specificity in 12 studies were 0.43 (95% CI, 0.33 to 0.53) and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.68 to 0.78), respectively. Conclusions The MMAS-8 had acceptable internal consistency and reproducibility in a few diseases like type 2 diabetes. Using the cut-off value of 6, criterion validity was not enough good to validly screen a patient with nonadherence to medication. However, this study did not calculated a pooled estimate for criterion validity using the higher values than 6 as a cut-off value since most of included individual studies did not report criterion validity based on those values.

Anomalous Thermal Conductivity and Magnetic Torque Response in the Honeycomb Magnet α − RuCl 3

Abstract: We report on the unusual behavior of the in-plane thermal conductivity $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ and torque $\ensuremath{\tau}$ response in the Kitaev-Heisenberg material $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{RuCl}}_{3}$. $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ shows a striking enhancement with linear growth beyond $H=7\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{T}$, where magnetic order disappears, while $\ensuremath{\tau}$ for both of the in-plane symmetry directions shows an anomaly at the same field. The temperature and field dependence of $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ are far more complex than conventional phonon and magnon contributions, and require us to invoke the presence of unconventional spin excitations whose properties are characteristic of a field-induced spin-liquid phase related to the enigmatic physics of the Kitaev model in an applied magnetic field.

Wrinkled Surface-Mediated Antibacterial Activity of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Abstract: Surface wrinkles are commonly observed in large-scale of graphene films. As a new feature, the wrinkled surface of graphene films may directly affect bacterial viability by means of various interactions of bacterial cells with graphene sheets. In the present study, we introduce a wrinkled surface geometry of graphene oxide (GO) thin films for antibacterial application. Highly wrinkled GO films were formed by vacuum filtration of a GO suspension through a prestrained filter. Several types of wrinkled GO surfaces were obtained with different roughness grades determined by root-mean-square values. Antibacterial activity of the fabricated GO films toward three different bacterial species, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Staphylococcus aureus, was evaluated in relation to surface roughness. Because of their nanoscopically corrugated nature, the wrinkled GO films exhibited excellent antibacterial properties. On the basis of our detailed observations, we propose a novel concept of the surrounded contact-based mechanism for antimicrobial activity of wrinkled GO films. It postulates formation of a mechanically robust GO surface "trap" that prompts interaction of bacteria with the diameter-matched GO sink, which results in substantial damages to the bacterial cell membrane. We believe that our approach uncovered a novel use of a promising two-dimensional material for highly effective antibacterial treatment.

Prevalence, risk factors and consequences of cerebral small vessel diseases: data from three Asian countries

Abstract: Background Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) has been suggested to be more common in Asians compared with Caucasians. However, data from population-based studies in Asia are lacking. We report on the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of SVD from contemporary studies in three Asian countries using 3-Tesla MRI for the evaluation of SVD. Methods Clinical, cognitive and 3-Tesla brain MRI assessments were performed among participants of three studies from Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea. SVD markers include white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) using the modified Fazekas scale, lacunes and microbleeds. Cognition was assessed using the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Adjustments were made for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. Results A total of 1797 subjects were available for analysis (mean age: 70.1±6.3 years and 57% women). The prevalence of confluent WMH was 36.6%, lacunes, 24.6% and microbleeds, 26.9%. Presence of all three SVD markers showed a steeper increase with increasing age rising from 1.9% in the lowest to 46.2% in the highest 5-year age strata. The major risk factors for the increased severity of SVD markers were advancing age and hypertension. Moreover, increasing severity of SVD markers was independently associated with worse performance on MMSE and MoCA. Conclusion Elderly Asians have a high burden of SVD which was associated with cognitive dysfunction. This suggests that SVD markers should be a potential target for treatment in clinical trials so as to delay progression of cerebrovascular disease and potentially cognitive decline.

Highly Sensitive Textile Strain Sensors and Wireless User-Interface Devices Using All-Polymeric Conducting Fibers

Abstract: Emulation of diverse electronic devices on textile platform is considered as a promising approach for implementing wearable smart electronics. Of particular, the development of multifunctional polymeric fibers and their integration in common fabrics have been extensively researched for human friendly wearable platforms. Here we report a successful emulation of multifunctional body-motion sensors and user-interface (UI) devices in textile platform by using in situ polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-coated fibers. With the integration of PEDOT fibers in a fabric, via an optimization of the fiber pattern design, multifunctional textile sensors such as highly sensitive and reliable strain sensors (with maximum gauge factor of ∼1), body-motion monitoring sensors, touch sensors, and multilevel strain recognition UI devices were successfully emulated. We demonstrate the facile utilization of the textile-based multifunctional sensors and UI devices by implementing in a wireless system that is ca...

Cardiovascular Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution: A Population-Based Study With 900 845 Person-Years of Follow-up.

Abstract: BackgroundStudies have shown that long‐term exposure to air pollution such as fine particulate matter (≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter [PM2.5]) increases the risk of all‐cause and cardiovascular mo...

Anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin and galangin in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis animal models

Abstract: Flavonols are compounds that have been shown to possess potent anti‑inflammatory effects in cellular and animal models of inflammation. In the present study, the anti‑inflammatory effects and mechanisms of two natural flavonols, quercetin and galangin, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were investigated. It was identified that quercetin and galangin markedly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase and interleukin‑6, and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB). In addition, LPS‑induced activation of extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) was suppressed by quercetin and galangin. Taken together, these data implied that NF‑κB, Erk1/2 and JNK may be potential molecular targets of quercetin and galangin in an LPS‑induced inflammatory response. Subsequently, the effects of oral administration of quercetin or galangin, either alone or in combination, in a 2,4‑dinitrochlorobenzene‑induced atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model were investigated. As a result, measurements of ear thickness and the levels of serum immunoglobulin E, and histological analysis revealed that the two flavonols led to a decrease in inflammation, whereas, in combination, they were even more effective. These results suggested that quercetin and galangin may be promising therapeutic agents for AD. Additionally, their combination may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the prevention of AD.

A LiDAR and IMU Integrated Indoor Navigation System for UAVs and Its Application in Real-Time Pipeline Classification.

Abstract: Mapping the environment of a vehicle and localizing a vehicle within that unknown environment are complex issues Although many approaches based on various types of sensory inputs and computational concepts have been successfully utilized for ground robot localization, there is difficulty in localizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) due to variation in altitude and motion dynamics This paper proposes a robust and efficient indoor mapping and localization solution for a UAV integrated with low-cost Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors Considering the advantage of the typical geometric structure of indoor environments, the planar position of UAVs can be efficiently calculated from a point-to-point scan matching algorithm using measurements from a horizontally scanning primary LiDAR The altitude of the UAV with respect to the floor can be estimated accurately using a vertically scanning secondary LiDAR scanner, which is mounted orthogonally to the primary LiDAR Furthermore, a Kalman filter is used to derive the 3D position by fusing primary and secondary LiDAR data Additionally, this work presents a novel method for its application in the real-time classification of a pipeline in an indoor map by integrating the proposed navigation approach Classification of the pipeline is based on the pipe radius estimation considering the region of interest (ROI) and the typical angle The ROI is selected by finding the nearest neighbors of the selected seed point in the pipeline point cloud, and the typical angle is estimated with the directional histogram Experimental results are provided to determine the feasibility of the proposed navigation system and its integration with real-time application in industrial plant engineering

Enhanced Endurance Organolead Halide Perovskite Resistive Switching Memories Operable under an Extremely Low Bending Radius

Abstract: It was demonstrated that organolead halide perovskites (OHPs) show a resistive switching behavior with an ultralow electric field of a few kilovolts per centimeter. However, a slow switching time and relatively short endurance remain major obstacles for the realization of the next-generation memory. Here, we report a performance-enhanced OHP resistive switching device. To fabricate topologically and electronically improved OHP thin films, we added hydroiodic acid solution (for an additive) in the precursor solution of the OHP. With drastically improved morphology such as small grain size, low peak-to-valley depth, and precise thickness, the OHP thin films showed an excellent performance as insulating layers in Ag/CH3NH3PbI3/Pt cells, with an endurance of over 103 cycles, a high on/off ratio of 106, and an operation speed of 640 μs and without electroforming. We suggest plausible resistive switching and conduction mechanisms with current–voltage characteristics measured at various temperatures and with dif...

Development of gold nanoparticle-aptamer-based LSPR sensing chips for the rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium in pork meat

Abstract: A non-labeled, portable plasmonic biosensor-based device was developed to enable the ultra-sensitive and selective detection of Salmonella typhimurium in pork meat samples. Specifically, a plasmonic sensor, using the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to achieve a regulated diameter of 20 nm for the AuNP monolayers, was used to conduct high-density deposition on a transparent substrate, which produced longitudinal wavelength extinction shifts via a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) signal. The developed aptamers conjugated to the LSPR sensing chips revealed an ultra-sensitive upper limit of detection (LOD) of approximately 104 cfu/mL for S. typhimurium in pure culture under the optimal assay conditions, with a total analysis time of 30–35 min. When the LSPR sensing chips were applied on artificially contaminated pork meat samples, S. typhimurium in the spiked pork meat samples was also detected at an LOD of 1.0 × 104 cfu/mL. The developed method could detect S. typhimurium in spiked pork meat samples without a pre-enrichment step. Additionally, the LSPR sensing chips developed against S. typhimurium were not susceptible to any effect of the food matrix or background contaminant microflora. These findings confirmed that the developed gold nanoparticle-aptamer-based LSPR sensing chips could facilitate sensitive detection of S. typhimurium in food samples.