Histogram analysis of ADC maps based on entire tumor volume can be a useful tool for grading gliomas. The fifth percentile of the cumulative ADC histogram obtained at a high b value was the most promising parameter for differentiating high- from low-grade gliomas.

This paper presents experimental and analytical studies on the characteristic resistance of NI (no-insulation) ReBCO pancake coils, which are used in an equivalent circuit model to characterize 'radial as well as spiral' current paths within the NI coils. We identified turn-to-turn contact resistance as a major source of the characteristic resistance of an NI coil. In order to verify this, three single pancake NI HTS coils-60, 40, 20 turns-were fabricated with their winding tension carefully maintained constant. A sudden discharge test was performed on each coil to obtain its characteristic resistance, and the relation between the turn-to-turn contact and the characteristic resistance was investigated. Based on the characteristic resistance and the n-value model, an equivalent circuit model was proposed to characterize the time-varying response of the NI coils. Charging tests were performed on the three test coils and the experimental results were compared with the simulated ones to validate the proposed approach with the equivalent circuit model.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of ovarian granulosa cell tumors.MethodsMedical records of 113 patients presenting between January 1995 and December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsOne-hundred two patients had adult type disease, with a mean age of 46.2 years (range, 18 to 83 years) and a mean follow-up period of 54.7 months (range, 1 to 155 months). The distribution of FIGO stages was 86 patients at stage I, 11 at stage II, and 5 at stage III. During follow-up, ten patients recurred at a mean time of 48 months (range, 4 to 109 months). Among them, three patients died after a mean of 57 months (range, 25 to 103 months). In recurrence analysis, advanced stage (p=0.032) and presence of residual disease (p=0.012) were statistically significant, and age<40 years, premenopause and positive washing cytology were marginally significant (p<0.1). In multivariate analysis, stage was the only factor associated with recurrence; adjuvant chemotherapy and fertility-sparing surgery were not statistically significant. Among 36 patients with fertility-sparing operations, eight patients had nine pregnancies and delivered seven babies. Eleven patients had juvenile type tumors; the mean age was 20.0 years (range, 8 to 45 years) and the mean follow-up period was 69.8 months (range, 20 to 156 months). The distribution of FIGO stage was nine patients at stage I and two at stage III. There were no recurrences or deaths reported. Four patients had seven pregnancies and delivered six babies.ConclusionStage is the only factor associated with disease-free survival, and fertility-sparing surgery may be a treatment option for women with early-stage disease who want to retain fertility.

Background: Observational studies of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak suggest that a 'cytokine storm' is involved in the pathogenesis of severe illness. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the altered pathological inflammation in COVID-19 are largely unknown. We report here that toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-mediated inflammatory signaling molecules are upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from COVID-19 patients, compared with healthy controls (HC). Methods: A total of 48 subjects including 28 COVID-19 patients (8 severe/critical vs. 20 mild/ moderate cases) admitted to Chungnam National University Hospital, and age/sex-matched 20 HC were enrolled in this study. PBMCs from the subjects were processed for nCounter Human Immunology gene expression assay to analyze the immune related transcriptome profiles. Recombinant proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) were used to stimulate the PBMCs and monocyte-derived macrophages, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the mRNA expressions of the proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Results: Among the most highly increased inflammatory mediators in severe/critically ill patients, S100A9, an alarmin and TLR4 ligand, was found as a noteworthy biomarker, because it inversely correlated with the serum albumin levels. We also observed that recombinant S2 and nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2 significantly increased proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines and S100A9 in human primary PBMCs. Conclusion: These data support a link between TLR4 signaling and pathological inflammation during COVID-19 and contribute to develop therapeutic approaches through targeting TLR4-mediated inflammation.

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Despite a substantial research literature on the influence of dimensions and exercises in assessment centers (ACs), the relative impact of these two sources of variance continues to raise uncertainties because of confounding. With confounded effects, it is not possible to establish the degree to which any one effect, including those related to exercises and dimensions, influences AC ratings. In the current study (N = 698) we used Bayesian generalizability theory to unconfound all of the possible effects contributing to variance in AC ratings. Our results show that ≤ 1.11% of the variance in AC ratings was directly attributable to behavioral dimensions, suggesting that dimension-related effects have no practical impact on the reliability of ACs.Even when taking aggregation level into consideration, effects related to general performance and exercises accounted for almost all of the reliable variance in AC ratings. The implications of these findings for recent dimension-and exercise-based perspectives on ACs are discussed. When, in the context of selection, appraisal, and development, behavioral criteria are used to evaluate individuals, it is essential that these criteria are measured reliably.Unsurprisingly, therefore, the measurement properties of assessment center (AC) ratings have come under close scrutiny in the applied psychology literature. In ACs, the behavior of jobholders or candidates is sampled across several work-related situations (exercises, e.g., a role play exercise, group discussion, presentation) and is typically assessed by trained assessors in terms of pre-defined behavioral dimensions (e.g., communication skills, teamwork, planning and organizing). As a result of their multifaceted measurement properties, incorporating dimensions, exercises, and assessors, ACs provide a rich source of information about the extent to which work-related behavioral criteria can be reliably measured in a job-relevant setting.Historically, researchers have questioned the extent to which behavioral dimensions are measured reliably in ACs, and have implied that researchers should utilize an exercise-oriented approach to scoring ACs

Core-shell-structured magnetic polystyrene (PS)/inorganic particles were fabricated by Pickering emulsion polymerization using nanosized Fe2O3 particles as a solid stabilizer. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the synthesized PS/Fe2O3 particles to be comprised of a PS surface coated with Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The chemical structure of the composite nanospheres was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The thermal properties of composite nanospheres and corresponding pure polymer were examined by thermogravimetric analysis. The rheological properties of the core-shell-structured magnetic PS/inorganic particles dispersed in silicone oil were investigated under an external magnetic field strength using a rotational rheometer. The particles with extremely lower density than common magnetic particles exhibited solid-like magnetorheological phase characteristics, and the flow curves were fitted to the Cho-Choi-Jhon model of the rheological equation of state.

Both meniscal root repair and transplantation of meniscus improved contact mechanics, but it did not appear that repair of the meniscal root or transplantation of meniscus restores the biomechanical function back to normal level. The MAT plus MCL release was similar to those after MAT alone. Therefore, it is better to preserve meniscus and MCL release could be done during the MAT.