Opening the Chrysalis: Willard D. Straight’s Sketches, Photographs, and Accounts of Korea’s Interaction with the Outside World, 1904–5

Willard D. Straight – architect, diplomat, photographer, publisher, sketcher, and writer – arrived in Korea in 1904 as a correspondent during the Russo-Japanese War, and became the US vice consul in Seoul in 1905. By utilizing a number of images from the Willard Dickerman Straight Papers of Cornell University Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, and by referring to other relevant sources of/about Straight, this essay presents a textual analysis and comprehensive visual reading about the country which Straight observed in a very crucial transition period in global history. It provides a glimpse at the perspective of an early twentieth-century American diplomat, eyewitness, photographer, and writer on the cultural, industrial, and technological transformations that Korea experienced in the early 1900s as a consequence of its interaction with major world powers.

Evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Nocardia spp. isolates by broth microdilution with resazurin and spectrophotometry

Background Nocardia species are ubiquitous in natural environments and can cause nocardiosis. In the present study, the use of Resazurin salt and Spectrophotometry were proposed as alternative methods to reduce subjectivity in the interpretation of susceptibility results to antimicrobials by the broth microdilution method for Nocardia spp. Results The susceptibility of Nocardia spp. isolates to Amikacin, Ciprofloxacin, Minocycline and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole was evaluated by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determinations by the broth microdilution method. To verify cellular growth, the colour-changing dye Resazurin was applied, the Optical Densities were measured on a spectrophotometer, and both were compared to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Gold Standard method (visual MIC determination). Percentages of essential and categorical agreements and interpretative categorical errors were calculated within each method (intra-reading) and between them (inter-reading). The Gold Standard visual reading demonstrated 100% of essential and categorical intra-reading agreements for Amikacin, and there was no error when compared with the alternative methods. For Ciprofloxacin, the comparison between the Gold Standard and the Spectrophotometric reading showed 91.5% of essential agreement. In the categorical intra-reading analysis for Minocycline, there were 88.1 and 91.7% in the Gold Standard and in the Spectrophotometric readings, respectively, and 86.4% of concordance between them. High rates of categorical agreement were also observed on the Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole analyses, with 93.7% for the Gold Standard, 84.9% for the Resazurin readings, and 80.5% between them. Conclusions The alternative methods with Resazurin and Spectrophotometric readings showed high agreement rates with the Gold Standard.

Examining the Effect of Using Short Films on Visual Reading Skills

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of using short films in Turkish lesson on visual reading skills of 7th graders. Mixed methods design was utilized. The quantitative part of the study was formed by an experimental pattern with pretest-post-test control group, and the qualitative part was a case study consisting of observation and interview processes. The participants of the study were 46 7th graders from a public secondary school in Erzurum, Turkey. In the quantitative part of the study, the achievement test was used as a data collection instrument. In the qualitative part, observation and interview forms were used for data collection. Descriptive analysis studies were conducted for pre and post test scores in data analysis. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained from the quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, the use of short films in Turkish lessons increased the students’ interest, participation, success, and sensitivity towards their environment; it was found that it improved the visual reading skills significantly, at a high impact level and permanently. At the end of the research, it was concluded that the use of short films in Turkish lesson was effective in the formation of a fun classroom environment, active participation of students in the lesson, gaining awareness and sensitivity towards their environment, and improving their visual reading skills significantly and permanently.

Bacterial Degradation of Bacteriostatic Polyphenols, Tannins

Tannin degradation by bacteria has not been studied much as tannins are commonly known to be bacteriostatic due to enzyme inhibition, substrate deprivation, and the enzyme activity on the bacterial cell wall. However, about a handful of bacteria have been found to tolerate certain concentrations of tannin. This study focuses on isolating and identifying bacteria from decaying portions of tree bark for tannase production and effective catalysis of ester bond hydrolysis in tannins. Different concentrations of commercial tannic acid were used as the sole carbon source on mineral salt medium (MSM) agar plates, to test the maximum tolerable concentrations (MTCs) by the isolates. Tannin degradation was confirmed by a visual reading method and bacterial tannase activity and the biodegradation percentage were determined. One particular isolate was identified to have 50 g/L MTC of tannin, with a tannase activity of 51.61 U/mL that is optimum after 96 hours of incubation. The 16s rRNA sequencing results showed that the isolate belonged to Bacillus genus and the resulting bacterial strain isolate was found to be a new strain of Bacillus subtilis which was submitted to GenBank under the accession number MH330408.

A novel read methodology to evaluate the optimal dose of 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan as a PET imaging agent in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: a phase II clinical trial

Background 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan is a novel somatostatin receptor antagonist exhibiting higher tumour-to-background ratios and sensitivity compared to 68Ga-DOTATOC. This randomised, 2 × 3 factorial, phase II study aimed to confirm the optimal peptide mass and radioactivity ranges for 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan, using binary visual reading. To that end, 24 patients with metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours received 5–20 µg of 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan on day 1 of the study and 30–45 µg on day 16–22, with one of three gallium-68 radioactivity ranges (40–80, 100–140, or 160–200 MBq) per visit. Two 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan PET/CT scans were acquired from each patient post-injection, and were scored by experienced independent blinded readers using a binary system (0 for non-optimal image quality and 1 for optimal image quality). For each patient pair of 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan scans, one or both images could score 1. Results Total image quality score for 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan PET scans was lower in the 40–80 MBq radioactivity range (56.3%) compared to 100–140 MBq (90.6%) and 160–200 MBq (81.3%). Both qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis showed that peptide mass (5–20 or 30–45 µg) did not influence 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan imaging. There was only one reading where readers diverged on scoring; one reader preferred one image because of higher lesion conspicuity, and the other reader preferred the alternative image because of the ability to identify more lesions. Conclusions Binary visual reading, which was associated with a low inter-reader variability, has further supported that the optimal administered radioactivity of 68Ga-satoreotide trizoxetan was 100–200 MBq with a peptide mass up to 50 µg. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03220217. Registered 18 July 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03220217

Reading Modality Modifies Reading Network: Insights from Neural basis of Braille in Proficient Blind Readers

The neural basis of reading is highly consistent across a variety of languages and visual scripts. An unanswered question is whether the sensory modality of symbols influences the neural basis of reading. According to the modality-invariant view, reading depends on the same neural mechanisms regardless of the sensory input modality. Consistent with this idea, previous studies find that the visual word form area (VWFA) within the ventral occipitotemporal cortex (vOTC) is active when blind individuals read Braille by touch. However, connectivity-based theories of brain function suggest that the neural entry point of written symbols (touch vs. vision) may influence the neural architecture of reading. We compared the neural basis of the visual print (sighted n=15) and tactile Braille (congenitally blind n=19) in proficient readers using analogous reading and listening tasks. Written stimuli varied in word-likeness from real words to consonant strings and non-letter shape strings. Auditory stimuli consisted of words and backward speech sounds. Consistent with prior work, vOTC was active during Braille and visual reading. However, in sighted readers, visual print elicited a posterior/anterior vOTC word-form gradient: anterior vOTC preferred larger orthographic units (words), middle vOTC preferring consonant strings, and posterior vOTC responded to shapes (i.e., lower-level physical features). No such gradient was observed in blind readers of Braille. Consistent with connectivity predictions, in blind Braille readers, posterior parietal cortices (PPC) and parieto-occipital areas were recruited to a greater degree and PPC contained word-preferring patches. Lateralization of Braille in blind readers was predicted by laterality of spoken language, as well as by reading hand. These results suggested that the neural basis of reading is influenced by symbol modality and support connectivity-based views of cortical function.

ILHAN BERK IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF PAINTING AND POET IN LINE WITH THE CONCEPT OF INTER-ARTISTS "SEKER AHMET PASA / PRIVATE PROMISES"

In this study; The painting-poetry relation by Şeker Ahmet Paşa's "Education Men" painting and the poem "Şeker Ahmet Paşa / Talim Making Erler" with the same name, named İlhan Berk, were examined with the inter-art method chosen as a subject. The link between the structure and content of postmodern poetry and painting has formed the backbone of this study. In this context, it is aimed to examine the sources of modern and postmodern art, without leaving their own special fields, and while paying attention to their special fields, common concepts and images have been brought together. The research was conducted with the content analysis method on the basis of qualitative approach. In addition, in the study, the table of "Education Performers" was read with the method of visual reading and the poem titled "Şeker Ahmet Paşa / Talim Making Erler" was examined by content analysis technique. Ecfrasis has been handled in the relationship between painting and poetry, which has been intimate throughout the history of art, and two works have been researched in this direction. In the study, ecfrasis was explained and it was explained how it found a place in inter-arts. Berk presented a replica made with letters, which makes the work visible thanks to the formality of the poem. By looking at Şeker Ahmet Pasha's painting, he determined the credits of the painting and wrote his poem in line with this line. Thus, the content of the poem was included in the composition in terms of form, as well as the picture. In addition, while Berk attributes this work to himself, he emphasized Şeker Ahmet Pasha by placing the name of the painter in the name of the poem. The poet has made it a mission to serve and advertise the painting in this inter-art work in which poetry is the framework for the painting. With this study, which is thought to contribute to the literature, it is predicted that it will constitute a different example where ecfrasis and self-appropriation methods are used together.

RPAcan3990: an ultrasensitive recombinase polymerase assay to detect Angiostrongylus cantonensis DNA

Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Ac) is one of the leading causes of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide. A field deployable molecular detection method could enhance both environmental surveillance and clinical diagnosis of this emerging pathogen. Accordingly, RPAcan3990, a recombinase polymerase assay (RPA) was developed to target a region predicted to be highly repeated in the Ac genome. The assay was then adapted to produce a visually interpretable fluorescent readout using an orange camera lens filter and a blue light. Using Ac genomic DNA, the limit of detection was found to be 1fg/μl by both fluorometer measurement and visual reading. All clinical samples known to be positive for Ac from various areas of the globe were positive by RPAcan3990. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from other etiologies of eosinophilic meningitis (i.e. Toxocara sp., Gnathostoma sp.) were negative in the RPAcan3990 assay. The optimal incubation temperature range for the reaction was between 35-40°C. The assay successfully detected 1fg/μl of Ac genomic DNA after incubation at human body temperature (in a shirt pocket). In conclusion, these data suggest RPAcan3990 is potentially a point of contact molecular assay capable of sensitively detecting Ac by producing visually interpretable results with minimal instrumentation.

Evaluation of Geenius HIV-1/2 Confirmatory Assay for the confirmatory and differential diagnosis of HIV-1/HIV-2 in Japan and reliability of the Geenius Reader in the diagnosis of HIV-2

Background NEW LAV BLOT I and II (LAV I and LAV II), they were only option for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) confirmatory test, following HIV screening test using HIV Ag/Ab combination test in Japan. We evaluated the performance of Geenius HIV-1/2 Confirmatory Assay (Geenius), both as a confirmatory test and for differentiation between HIV-1 and HIV-2, in comparison with LAV I and LAV II. Methods Eighty-nine HIV-1-positive plasma specimens, one anti-HIV-1 low-titer performance panel, 10 seroconversion panels, and two anti-HIV-1/2 combo performance panels were tested. The results were read with the Geenius Reader and by visual reading. Results All 89 HIV-1-positive plasma specimens were identified as HIV-1-positive using Geenius; this 100% success rate was superior to that with LAV I (95.5% using WHO criteria, 98.9% using CDC criteria). The HIV-1-positive specimens showed low cross-reactivity with HIV-2 lines in Geenius. The sensitivity of Geenius for HIV-1 detection was the same as or greater than that of LAV I, but less than that of Genscreen HIV Ag-Ab ULT, in our analysis of the commercial performance and seroconversion panels. In contrast, five of the 13 HIV-2-positive specimens that had been identified as HIV-positive untypable by visual reading because of their cross-reactivity to HIV-1 lines were successfully identified by the Geenius Reader as HIV-2-positive with cross-reactivity. Conclusions Geenius provides strong performance for HIV confirmatory tests and HIV-1 differentiation tests. However, when visual reading is used, its performance in HIV-2 differentiation is less reliable. Because HIV-2 infection has been sporadically reported in Japan, the use of the Geenius Reader is preferable to ensure more reliable HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation.