Kofoddanielsen8626

Water striders have intrigued researchers for centuries from the viewpoints of biology to biomechanics. In this review, we introduce the basic theories and techniques of physics and force measurement for biomechanical research into water striders. Morphological and behavioral traits of water striders are summarized and discussed from biomechanical perspectives, along with comparative study. This integrated review also highlights potential directions for studies on water-walking arthropods, which might inspire future biological and biomechanical research.The "call for help" hypothesis proposes that alarm calls produced by a bird can transmit warning information to both conspecific and interspecific neighbors. Neighbors who are attracted by social transmission might benefit from knowing about the presence of danger or by gaining information about the presence of predators or brood parasites nearby. Brood parasite hosts can distinguish threats from different intruders and exhibit varied responses correspondingly. However, most previous studies have conducted sound playback at host nest sites and focused on conspecific individuals attracted by the alarm calls. In this study, we used random location playback to investigate the responses of different host species to alarm signals of oriental reed warblers (Acrocephalus orientalis) toward different intruders (brood parasite, predator, and harmless control) in order to reveal how hosts evaluate different threats from different intruders using vocal information in non-nesting areas during the breeding season. We found that the alarm calls given in response to different intruders incurred similar numbers of approaching species for both conspecific and interspecific birds. However, the number of attracted individuals differed significantly among the various species, with conspecifics and vinous-throated parrotbills (Paradoxornis webbianus) dominating, both of which are major hosts of common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus). Nevertheless, interspecific birds did not present any aggressive behavior according to the alarm calls, which implied that visual information may be needed for further confirmation of threats. In addition, determining whether alarm call structure promoted an evolutionary convergence phenomenon still needs further verification.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Factors associated with low heart failure (HF) awareness have not been well-evaluated. This study was conducted to find out which demographic features would be associated with low HF awareness in the general population of Korea. METHODS A telephone interview was conducted with 1,032 adults (58 years and 50.6% were male) across the country. Based on answer to 15 questions about HF, we scored from 0 to 15 points (mean, 7.53±2.75; median, 8; interquartile range, 6-9). A score of less then 8 was defined as low HF awareness, and a score of ≥8 was defined as high HF awareness. RESULTS A total of 478 subjects (46.3%) had low HF awareness. HF awareness scores were 5.18±1.85 and 9.55±1.50 in subjects of low and high HF awareness groups, respectively. Subjects with low HF awareness were older, more female-dominant, more diabetic, lower educational and house hold income levels, and more frequently living in rural areas, compared to those with high HF awareness (p less then 0.05 for each). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, older age (≥67 years odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-2.19; p=0.004), female sex (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.73; p=0.034) and low educational level (high school graduate or less vs. college graduate OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.75-3.22; p less then 0.001) were significantly associated with low HF awareness even after controlling for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS Older age, female sex, and lower level of education were independently associated with low HF awareness in the general Korean population. More attention and education are needed for these vulnerable groups to improve HF awareness. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study presents an update of the surgical outcomes of congenital heart disease (CHD) according to Korea Heart Foundation (KHF) data. METHODS We investigated the data of the 7,305 patients who were economically supported by KHF in 2000-2014. Box5 Of them, we analyzed surgical outcomes of the 6,599 patients who underwent CHD surgery. RESULTS The median patient age was 1.9 years (range, 0-71.5 years). Of the 6,599 patients, 5,616 (85.1%) underwent biventricular repair and 983 (14.9%) underwent palliative procedures. The mean Basic Aristotle Score was 6.6±2.2. A complex procedure (defined as Basic Aristotle Score above 6) was performed in 3,368 patients (51.0%). The early mortality rate was 3.8%, while the late mortality rate was 1.8%. Previous reports of the KHF (1984-1999) showed that the early surgical and late mortality rates were 8.6%, and 5.3%, respectively. There were 491 neonates (7.4%); among them, the early mortality rate was 12.2% and late mortality rate was 3.7%. There were 2,617 infants (40.0%); among them, the early mortality rate was 6.0% and the late mortality rate was 2.3%. A total of 591 patients from 30 countries were helped by the KHF. CONCLUSIONS More neonatal surgeries (491 vs. 74 patients) were performed than those in the past (1984-1999). The surgical outcomes were much better than before. Our surgical outcomes revealed that the Republic of Korea has been transformed from a country receiving help to a country that helps other low socioeconomic status countries. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Little is known about the outcomes of outpatient clinic-based elective external cardioversion (OPC-ECV) for persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF). We investigated the acute, short-term, and long-term elective external cardioversion (ECV) outcomes. METHODS We included 1,718 patients who underwent OPC-ECV (74% male, 61.1±11.0 years old, 90.9% long-standing PeAF, 9.1% after atrial fibrillation [AF] ablation) after excluding patients with atrial tachycardia or inappropriate antiarrhythmic drug medication, and in-patient ECV. Biphasic shocks were delivered sequentially until successful cardioversion was achieved (70-100-150-200-250 J). If ECV failed at 150 J, we administered intravenous amiodarone 150 mg and delivered 200 J. RESULTS ECV failed in 11.4%, and the complication rate was 0.47%. Within 3 months, AF recurred in 55.5% (44.7% as sustaining AF, 10.8% as paroxysmal AF), and the AF duration was independently associated (odds ratio [OR], 1.01 [1.00-1.02]; p=0.006), but amiodarone was independently protective (OR, 0.