An original reinforced concrete(RC) column and four strengthened specimens, two with RC jackets and two with wing walls, were tested in this study. The original column specimen was designed to comply ...with older(pre-1999) design standards so that the usual detailing defi ciencies in existing school buildings in Taiwan could be simulated. Two different structural details were chosen to fabricate the full-scale specimens for each retrofi tting technique. The study confi rmed that either RC jacketing or the installation of wing walls with two different structural details can effectively improve the stiffness and strength of an existing column. RC jacketing shows a better improvement in energy dissipation and ductility when compared to the columns with wing walls installed. This is because the two RC jacketed columns experienced a fl exural failure, while a shear failure was found in the two columns with the wing walls installed, and thus led to a drastic decrease of the maximum lateral strengths and ductility. Since many factors may affect the installation of a post-installed anchor, it is better to use standard hooks to replace post-installed anchors in some specifi c points when using RC jacketing or installing wing walls.
Sarcopenia is associated with loss of muscle mass as well as an increased risk of physical disability in elderly people. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of elastic band resistance ...training (ERT) on muscle mass and physical function in older women with sarcopenic obesity. A randomized controlled trial with an intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. A total of 56 women (mean ± SD age 67.3 ± 5.1 years) were randomly assigned to the experimental group receiving 12 weeks of ERT and to the control group receiving no exercise intervention. Lean mass (measured using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer), physical capacity (assessed using the global physical capacity score), and a 36-item short form questionnaire were conducted at the baseline examination (T
), as well as the 3-month (T
) and 9-month followups (T
). At T
and T
, the between-group difference was measured in total skeletal mass relative to T
, with mean differences of 0.70 kg (95% CI 0.12-1.28; P < 0.05) and 0.72 kg (95% CI 0.21-1.23; P < 0.01), respectively. Similar results were found in muscle quality, physical capacity, and physical function outcomes. The ERT exerted a significant beneficial effect on muscle mass, muscle quality, and physical function in older women with sarcopenic obesity.
Online game research has explained the sources of gamer loyalty, but has not discussed the role of gaming team competition, i.e., who would engage in gaming team functions and what gaming team ...functions would foster members' loyalty. A lack of answers to these member-retaining questions keeps game providers in the dark about making game design decisions to retain gaming team members, threatening their survival. To address the questions, we conduct this study on online games that are typical in the gaming team context. We create a new typology of gaming team functions comprising two dimensions: (1) defensive vs. offensive and (2) agile vs. structured, and examine how the six conscientiousness facets lead online gamers to engage in gaming team functions, fostering online gamer loyalty. We analyze 703 responses from gamers of the popular online game (League of Legends). Interestingly, half of the facets motivate gamers' decisions to engage in defensive functions, while the other half motivate them to engage in offensive functions. Moreover, not all gaming team functions fuel loyalty. Pragmatically, our findings provide insights for game system providers to make decisions on game design to sustain members' loyalty. Academically, our study extends online game research to understand who engage in what gaming team functions and how to build gamer loyalty.
Aim
Laparoscopic anterior resection with natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) has favourable short‐term outcomes. However, NOSE is rarely adopted for left hemicolectomy procedures. This study ...aimed to review the feasibility, safety and short‐term outcomes of transrectal NOSE in patients undergoing laparoscopic left hemicolectomy.
Method
All consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic left hemicolectomy surgery with transrectal NOSE in a single institution between January 2018 and December 2020 were reviewed. Transrectal NOSE was performed with an enterotomy at the upper rectum. The specimen was brought out via a transanal endoscopic microsurgery scope inserted through the anus. A supplementary video demonstrates this technique. Surgical outcomes, including complications, postoperative short‐term recovery and the level of pain intensity, are presented.
Results
Twenty patients were reviewed. There were no immediate postoperative complications and no wound infections in these patients. The average time to tolerate a soft diet was 3.6 days, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 4.5 days. The average score on the numerical rating scale of postoperative pain was 3.0 on postoperative day 1. The median follow‐up time was 23.5 months.
Conclusion
Laparoscopic left hemicolectomy with transrectal NOSE is a safe and feasible procedure that leads to early postoperative recovery and a short hospital stay.
Obesity is a metabolic disorder that results from complex interactions between genetic predisposition and dietary factors. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), besides its role in immunity, has metabolic effects on ...insulin efficacy. We studied the effects of IL-4 on metabolic abnormalities in a mice model of obesity involving leptin deficiency and leptin resistance. Leptin-deficient 145E and leptin-resistant high-fat diet (HFD) mice showed lower levels of circulating IL-4. 145E and HFD mice showed a number of abnormalities: Obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, liver injury, and adiposity with concurrent inflammation, decreases in Akt, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and STAT6 phosphorylation in the hypothalamus, liver, and epididymal fat. Independent of leptin-deficient obesity and dietary obesity, a course of 8-week IL-4 supplementation improved obesity and impairment in Akt, STAT3, and STAT6 signaling. Amelioration of cytokine expression, despite variable extents, was closely linked with the actions of IL-4. Additionally, the browning of white adipocytes by IL-4 was found in epididymal white adipose tissues and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Chronic exercise, weight management, and probiotics are recommended to overweight patients and IL-4 signaling is associated with clinical improvement. Thus, IL-4 could be a metabolic regulator and antiobesity candidate for the treatment of obesity and its complications.
Background & Aims The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases with age, but protective antibody responses decrease with time after infants are immunized against hepatitis B virus (HBV). ...We investigated whether immunization of infants against HBV prevents their developing HCC as adults. We also searched for strategies to maximize the cancer-preventive effects. Methods We collected data from 2 Taiwan HCC registry systems on 1509 patients (6–26 years old) diagnosed with HCC from 1983 through 2011. Data on history of HBV immunization and prenatal maternal levels of HBV antigens of all HCC patients born after July 1984 were retrieved from the HBV immunization data bank of the Taiwan Center for Disease Control. We collected data on birth cohort-specific populations (6–26 years old) of Taiwan using the National Household Registry System. Rates of HCC incidence per 105 person-years were derived by dividing the number of patients with HCC by the person-years of the general population. Relative risks (RR) for HCC were estimated by Poisson regression analysis in vaccinated vs unvaccinated birth cohorts. We stratified patients by age group to evaluate the association of birth cohorts and HCC risks. Results Of the 1509 patients with HCC, 1343 were born before, and 166 were born after, the HBV vaccination program began. HCC incidence per 105 person-years was 0.92 in the unvaccinated cohort and 0.23 in the vaccinated birth cohorts. The RRs for HCC in patients 6–9 years old, 10–14 years old, 15–19 years old, and 20–26 years old who were vaccinated vs unvaccinated were 0.26 (95% confidence interval CI, 0.17–0.40), 0.34 (95% CI, 0.25–0.48), 0.37 (95% CI, 0.25–0.51), and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.32–0.56), respectively. The RR for HCC in 6- to 26-year-olds was lower in the later vs the earlier cohorts (born in 1992–2005 vs 1986–1992; P < .001 and 1986–1992 vs 1984–1986; P < .002). Transmission of HBV from highly infectious mothers and incomplete immunization were associated with development of HCC. Conclusions Based on an analysis of 1509 patients with HCC in Taiwan, immunization of infants against HBV reduces their risk of developing HCC as children and young adults. Improving HBV vaccination strategies and overcoming risk factors could reduce the incidence of liver cancer.
Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) with protogynous hermaphroditic features are one of the most economically important aquaculture species in Taiwan. However, larvae stage grouper are ...susceptible to infection by the bacterial pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of the immune response to V. alginolyticus in Epinephelus coioides larvae, we used high-throughput deep sequencing technology to study the effect of infection on gene expression.
A total of 114,851,002 reads were assembled, consisting of 9,687,355,560 nucleotides; these were further assembled into 209,082 contigs with a mean length of 372 bp. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of the transcriptome revealed 12 cellular component subcategories, 16 molecular function subcategories, and 42 biological process subcategories (P value <0.05). A total of 32664 Epinephelus coioides genes were mapped to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG); 1504 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subsequently identified, in 12 categories (P value <0.05). Vibrio infection affected the expression of genes involved in complementation, coagulation cascades, pathogen (Staphylococcus aureus) infection, phagosome activity, antigen processing, and the antigen presentation pathway.
We conclude that the complement pathway of innate immunity and the hepicidin antimicrobial peptide may play important roles in the defense of Epinephelus coioides larvae against V. alginolyticus, and the immune response may activate at 4 h after bacterial infection. These results implicate the complement pathway signal pathway in immunity during V. alginolyticus infection at early developmental stages, enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the immune response to Vibrio infection in Epinephelus coioides.
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