A genetic etiology is identified for one third of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients, including 8% attributable to coding de novo variants (DNVs). To assess the contribution of noncoding DNVs to CHD, we compared genome sequences from 749 CHD probands and their parents with 1,611 unaffected trios. Neural network prediction of noncoding DNV transcriptional impact identified a burden of DNVs in CHD ( n = 2,238 DNVs) compared to controls ( n = 4,177; P = 8.7 × 10 −4 ). Independent analyses of enhancers showed excess DNVs in associated genes (27 genes vs. 3.7 expected, P = 1 × 10 −5 ). We observed significant overlap between these transcription-based approaches (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.0, P = 5.4 × 10 −3 ). CHD DNVs altered transcription levels in five of 31 enhancers assayed. Finally, we observed DNV burden in RNA-binding protein regulatory sites (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.1–1.2, P = 8.8 × 10 −5 ). Our findings demonstrate an enrichment of potentially disruptive regulatory noncoding DNVs in a fraction of CHD at least as high as observed for damaging coding DNVs.

Recently, some researchers have incorporated a sweat-collecting system into sweat sensors for sweat collection and transportation. [6] The sweat-absorbing layers that have been tested include paper [7] and rayon; [2a] however, these collection layers have no directionality in sweat transportation and are therefore not appropriate for continuous monitoring of freshly generated sweat in the sensing area. An alternative is a microfluidics channel system; [8] however, such a system can cause contamination of the sample by allowing old and new sweat to mix by diffusion within the channel. Such devices also have low sweatcollection efficiency because the channel must be filled to fill the sensing area. [9] In all cases, the directionality and the sweatcollecting efficiency are insufficient.In the present study, we demonstrate a sweat-collecting patch with directional sweat transportation and high sweat-collection efficiency, enabling fast and continuous monitoring of sweat by a sensor. The collecting component of the patch consists of channels with a narrow superhydrophilic wedge-shaped pattern within superhydrophobic bounds on a hierarchical microstructured/ nanostructured surface and a sweat reservoir that can be combined with a sweat sensor. The wedge-shaped wettability patterns were inspired by spines of cacti; they are narrow at the perimeter of the patch and gradually widen toward the junction with the sensing area at the center. The Laplace pressure is centripetal because of a combination of geometric structure and the difference between the surface energies of the superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic components. As a result, the sweat is transported spontaneously irrespective of gravity even when the substrate is aligned vertically. The patch transports the sweat almost without leaving it inside the channel and thereby concentrates the sweat from a large area of the skin onto the sensing area. The wedge-shaped wettability-patterned channel has greater sweat-collection efficiency than a conventional microfluidics channel and enables doubling of the speed of sweat collection. In an on-body test, the patch with a sensor responded to biochemicals within 5 min of its wearer beginning to exercise. By accelerating the circulation rate of sweat, the patch reduces the time that sweat remains in the sensing area and, by providing freshly generated sweat to it, enables the continuous sensor-based monitoring of changes in sweat biochemicals as blood changes.A sweat sensor is expected to be the most appropriate wearable device for noninvasive healthcare monitoring. However, the practical use of sweat sensors is impeded by irregular and low sweat secretion rates. Here, a sweatcollecting patch that can collect sweat efficiently for fast and continuous healthcare monitoring is demonstrated. The patch uses cactus-spine-inspired wedge-shaped wettability-patterned channels on a hierarchical microstructured/nanostructured surface. The channel shape, in combination with the superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic surface materials, ...

User‐interactive electronic skin (e‐skin) with a distinguishable output has enormous potential for human–machine interfaces and healthcare applications. Despite advances in user‐interactive e‐skins, advances in visual user‐interactive therapeutic e‐skins remain rare. Here, a user‐interactive thermotherapeutic device is reported that is fabricated by combining thermochromic composites and stretchable strain sensors consisting of strain‐responsive silver nanowire networks on surface energy‐patterned microwrinkles. Both the color and heat of the device are easily controlled through electrical resistance variation induced by applied mechanical strain. The resulting monolithic device exhibits substantial changes in optical reflectance and temperature with durability, rapid response, high stretchability, and linear sensitivity. The approach enables a low‐expertise route to fabricating dynamic interactive thermotherapeutic e‐skins that can be used to effectively rehabilitate injured connective tissues as well as to prevent skin burns by simultaneously accommodating stretching, providing heat, and exhibiting a color change.

The old calendar of pollens did not reflect current pollen distribution and concentrations that can be influenced by changes of weather and environment of each region in South Korea. A new pollen calendar of allergenic pollens was made based on the data on pollen concentrations obtained in eight regions nationwide between 1997 and 2009. The distribution of pollen was assessed every day at 8 areas (Seoul, Guri, Busan, Daegu, Jeonju, Kwangju, Kangneung, and Jeju) for 12 years between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 2009. Pollens were collected by using Burkard 7-day sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, UK). Pollens which were stained with Calberla's fuchsin staining solution were identified and counted. Pine became the highest pollen in May, and the pollen concentrations of oak and birch also became high. Ragweed appeared in the middle of August and showed the highest pollen concentration in the middles of September. Japanese hop showed a high concentration between the middle of August and the end of September, and mugwort appeared in the middles of August and its concentration increased up until early September. In Kangneung, birch appeared earlier, pine showed a higher pollen concentration than in the other areas. In Daegu, Oriental thuja and alder produced a large concentration of pollens. Pine produced a large concentration of pollens between the middle of April and the end of May. Weeds showed higher concentrations in September and mugwort appeared earlier than ragweed. In Busan the time of flowering is relatively early, and alder and Oriental thuja appeared earliest among all areas. In Kwangju, Oriental thuja and hazelnut appeared in early February. Japanese cedar showed the highest pollen concentration in March in Jeju. In conclusion, update information on pollen calendar in South Korea should be provided for allergic patients through the website to manage and prevent the pollinosis.

Human skin plays a critical role in a person communicating with his or her environment through diverse activities such as touching or deforming an object. Various electronic skin (E‐skin) devices have been developed that show functional or geometrical superiority to human skin. However, research into stretchable E‐skin that can simultaneously distinguish materials and textures has not been established yet. Here, the first approach to achieving a stretchable multimodal device is reported, that operates on the basis of various electrical properties of piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, and piezoresistivity and that exceeds the capabilities of human tactile perception. The prepared E‐skin is composed of a wrinkle‐patterned silicon elastomer, hybrid nanomaterials of silver nanowires and zinc oxide nanowires, and a thin elastomeric dielectric layer covering the hybrid nanomaterials, where the dielectric layer exhibits high surface roughness mimicking human fingerprints. This versatile device can identify and distinguish not only mechanical stress from a single stimulus such as pressure, tensile strain, or vibration but also that from a combination of multiple stimuli. With simultaneous sensing and analysis of the integrated stimuli, the approach enables material discrimination and texture recognition for a biomimetic prosthesis when the multifunctional E‐skin is applied to a robotic hand.

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The prevalence of allergic diseases in children has increased for several decades. We evaluated the correlation between pollen count of weeds and their sensitization rate in Seoul, 1997-2009. Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from 3 stations around Seoul. Skin prick tests to pollen were performed on children with allergic diseases. Ragweed pollen gradually increased between 1999 and 2005, decreased after 2005 and plateaued until 2009 (peak counts, 67 in 2003, 145 in 2005 and 83 grains/m3/day in 2007). Japanese hop pollen increased between 2002 and 2009 (peak counts, 212 in 2006 and 492 grains/m3/day in 2009). Sensitization rates to weed pollen, especially ragweed and Japanese hop in children with allergic diseases, increased annually (ragweed, 2.2% in 2000 and 2.8% in 2002; Japanese hop, 1.4% in 2000 and 1.9% in 2002). The age for sensitization to pollen gradually became younger since 2000 (4 to 6 yr of age, 3.5% in 1997 and 6.2% in 2009; 7 to 9 yr of age, 4.2% in 1997 and 6.4% in 2009). In conclusion, sensitization rates for weed pollens increase in Korean children given increasing pollen counts of ragweed and Japanese hop.