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In urban flood modeling, the accuracy of surface and subsurface flow calculations greatly depends on the parameterization of the drainage system. Incorporating the influence of the sewer pipe system is, therefore, integral to accurately simulating urban inundation during shortduration rainfall events. However, obtaining comprehensive data on sewer systems in developing countries is currently challenging. To mitigate this situation, we propose a method for developing a synthetic sewer network to supplement the representation of the sewer system in urban flood models, particularly in data-scarce domains. The model implements the concept of shallow water equation for surface flow and a 1D slot model for pipe flows with an interaction equation between them. We compare case studies with and without discharge interaction between the surface and hypothetical sewer system for the 2020 flood event in an urban subcatchment within the Marikina Basin, Philippines. Results show that the synthetic sewer pipe integration can capture the urban flood propagation more appropriately. Information such as flood depth and pipe flow discharge can aid in identifying flood-prone areas where sewer system parameters may require modifications. The proposed method can be used as an alternative to performing high-resolution urban flood simulations with limited availability of sewer network data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To accurately describe the three-dimensional topology of renal tumors, our study suggests a new nephrometry scoring system, the T-index, that combines information about intraparenchymal extension and peripherality of the renal tumor. Materials and Methods: This study included 113 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy for small clear cell renal cell carcinoma between 2007 and 2014. Manual segmentation of the renal parenchyma, sinus, and tumor was performed using preoperative computed tomography images. The T-index was calculated by adding the reciprocals of the distances from all points on the tumor-parenchyma interface to the renal sinus. Correlations with perioperative factors and the impact of the T-index on postoperative complications were evaluated and compared with existing nephrometry scoring systems (PADUA, RENAL, contact surface area [CSA], and C-index). Results: The mean value of the T-index among the 113 patients was 116.1±100.5 (1/mm). The T-index showed the strongest correlation with perioperative factors compared with other nephrometry scoring systems. The T-index was able to predict the risk for postoperative complications, either overall (p=0.015) or major complications (p=0.030). A predictive model based on the T-index of the overall postoperative complications presented the best performance (area under the curve, 0.692; 95% CI, 0.599–0.776) compared with other nephrometry scoring systems. Conclusions: The T-index can be considered as a single value comprising key structural indicators for surgical complexity. Our findings suggest that the T-index can provide a quantitative and objective scoring system associated with surgical difficulty and postoperative complications of partial nephrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides evidence-based recommendations and expert opinions to aid urologists in making optimal decisions regarding managing urolithiasis in various clinical scenarios. The most frequently asked questions by urologists in their clinical practice have been collected and answered in the form of FAQs; based on the latest evidence and expert opinions. The natural history of urolithiasis is divided into active treatment and silent phases, with the active treatment stage divided into typical and special situations and peri-treatment management. The authors address 28 key questions, offering practical guidance for the proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urolithiasis in clinical practice. This article is expected to be served as a valuable resource for urologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To perform real-time quantitative measurements of penile rigidity for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) using shear-wave elastography (SWE). Materials and Methods: A total of 92 patients with clinically diagnosed ED filled out an abridged five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire and underwent SWE as well as penile color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) after intracavernosal injection for penile erection. Elasticity measurements were repeated on two sites of the corpus cavernosum (central and peripheral elasticity of corpus cavernosum [ECC]) and the glans penis during the erection phase. Correlations between penile elasticity and rigidity scores or IIEF-5 were evaluated statistically. Penile elasticity was also compared with the ED types based on CDUS. Results: The mean age of all patients was 53.5±13.4 years, and the mean IIEF-5 score was 9.78±5.01. The rigidity score and central ECC value demonstrated a significant correlation (r=-0.272; 95% confidence interval: -0.464 to -0.056; p=0.015). The IIEF-5 score was not significantly correlated with penile elasticity. Vascular ED patients showed significantly higher central ECC values than nonvascular ED patients (p<0.001). At a cut-off value of 8.05 kPa, the central ECC had a specificity of 41.5%, a sensitivity of 84.6%, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.720 with a standard error of 0.059 (p=0.019) for predicting vascular ED. Conclusions: Quantitatively measuring Young’s modulus of the corpus cavernosum using SWE could be an objective technique for assessing penile erectile rigidity and the vascular subtype in patients with ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past few decades, various fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis approaches have been developed and applied to understand the physical processes related to a flexible flapping wing. In this paper, a dynamic shell analysis based on a corotational (CR) formulation is developed. Geometrically nonlinear dynamic shell formulation based on the CR framework is derived from Lagrange's equation of motion. This brand new shell formulation is implicitly combined with a preconditioned Navier-Stokes solution for a relevant FSI analysis. Specifically, the shell analysis is extended to a multibody dynamic approach to facilitate the passive pitching motion of a flapping wing. The present analysis is validated by a comparison with the results from either previous analyses or experiments. The effect of a passive pitching motion on a flapping wing is also investigated. Finally, it is found that the presented dynamic shell analysis can enable accurate predictions, and the relevant passive pitching motion of a spanwise flexible wing may be advantageous for generating several aerodynamic loads that are applicable for the control forces of a micro aerial vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and ultrasonography (USG) fusion imaging system for imaging prostate cancer and to verify its diagnostic capability by applying the hybrid imaging system to a prostate cancer phantom. Methods: A multi-channel NIRS system using the near-infrared 785-nm wavelength with 12 channels and four detectors was developed. After arranging the optical fibers around a USG transducer, we performed NIRS imaging and grayscale USG imaging simultaneously. Fusion imaging was obtained by processing incoming signals and the spatial reconstruction of NIRS, which corresponded with grayscale USG acquired at the same time. The NIRS-USG hybrid system was applied to a silicone-based optical phantom of the prostate gland containing prostate cancer to verify its diagnostic capability qualitatively. Results: The NIRS-USG hybrid imaging system for prostate cancer imaging simultaneously provided anatomical and optical information with 2-dimensional registration. The hybrid imaging system showed more NIR attenuation over the prostate cancer model than over the model of normal prostate tissue. Its diagnostic capability to discriminate a focal area mimicking the optical properties of prostate cancer from the surrounding background mimicking the optical properties of normal prostate tissue was verified by applying the hybrid system to a silicone-based optical phantom of prostate cancer. Conclusion: This study successfully demonstrated that the NIRS-USG hybrid system may serve as a new imaging method for improving the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer, with potential utility for future clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently causes feeding artery stenosis or occlusion that may interfere with repeated treatment. Purpose To investigate the incidence and predictors of hepatic arterial damage (HAD) after drug-eluting bead-TACE (DEB-TACE) in comparison with conventional TACE (Conv-TACE). Material and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who underwent DEB-TACE for HCC as an initial treatment with follow-up angiography and 54 patients who underwent Conv-TACE using doxorubicin-lipiodol mixture and gelfoam particles for comparison. HAD was evaluated after a single session of TACE and graded as follows: grade I, no significant wall irregularity; grade II, overt stenosis; grade III, occlusion. Results The incidence of HAD was significantly higher in the DEB-TACE group than the Conv-TACE group when analyzed per branch (odds ratio [OR], 6.36; P < 0.001) and per patient (OR, 3.15; P = 0.005). For each HAD grade, the mean doxorubicin dose was greater in the DEB-TACE group than in the Conv-TACE group ( P < 0.001, P = 0.053, and P = 0.01 for grades I, II, and III, respectively). In multivariate analysis, risk factors of HAD included mean doxorubicin dose and selective embolization in the Conv-TACE group ( P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively) and mean doxorubicin dose in the DEB-TACE group ( P = 0.004). Conclusion The incidence and grade of HAD were higher after DEB-TACE compared to Conv-TACE with doxorubicin dose as a possible risk factor. HAD was independent of overall survival in both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As endoscopic treatment for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has increased, secondary ureteral reimplantation (UR) after failure of endoscopic treatment has increased. We studied the clinical feature and efficacy of secondary UR after failure of endoscopic treatment compared with primary UR. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one children who had UR for VUR were enrolled. Charts were reviewed retrospectively for age, sex, grade of VUR before surgery, operative time, hospitalization period, postoperative complication, and success rate. Primary UR (group A, n=64) was compared with secondary UR after failed endoscopic treatment (group B, n=17). In group B, telephone survey for the satisfaction of endoscopic treatment and surgery was done. Results: Mean age of each group was 49.6±37.1 and 56.6±22.5 months (p=0.236). There was no significant difference between each group in sex, mean operative time, postoperative transfusion, complication rate, and success rate. As telephone survey in group B, eleven responders preferred endoscopic treatment as primary treatment of VUR because it was a simple method and no hospitalization. Conclusions: Secondary UR after failure of endoscopic treatment was similar to primary UR. Parents preferred endoscopic treatment as first line treatment for VUR in spite of the need for secondary UR after failure of endoscopic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical and therapeutic characteristics of adult cryptorchidism, which have been difficult to establish, given the small number of patients presenting to outpatient clinics. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 20 adult patients with cryptorchid testis was performed. We analyzed their palpation of testis, location, surgical method, marital status, number of children, histologic findings, and semen analysis. Results: In 17 cases with unilateral cryptorchidism, the mean age at surgery was 31.1±12.5 years. Fourteen patients had a palpable, small cryptorchid testis. The location of the testis, as verified, was inguinal in 14, prepubic in 2, and intra-abdominal in 1, respectively. We performed orchiopexy in 14 out of 15 patients who sought to have this procedure. Four among 6 married patients had children. Testis biopsy was performed in 12 patients, and all showed abnormal histologic findings. Three among 4 patients, performed semen analysis, showed abnormal findings. In three cases of bilateral cryptorchidism, the mean age at surgery was 35.7±12.5 years. All of these patients had palpated cryptorchid testes in the inguinal area and sought to have a bilateral orchiopexy. Two patients have been married but had no children. All showed abnormal findings in both testis biopsy and semen analysis. No testicular neoplasm was detected during the duration of follow-up. Conclusions: Most adult patients with cryptorchidism preferred orchiopexy to orchiectomy. However, most of patients showed abnormal histology of the testis and semen analysis. Therefore, orchiopexy with regular scrotal examination may be considered a suitable treatment options for adult cryptorchidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We analyzed factors associated with early recovery of continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: Among 467 patients treated with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer between 2007 and 2012, 249 patients who underwent a preoperative urodynamic study were enrolled. The patients' age, prostate volume, preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, pathologic stage, and preoperative urodynamic parameters were recorded. The preoperative membranous and prostatic urethral length on magnetic resonance image, nerve sparing technique, and type of surgical procedure (extrafascial and intrafascial) were analyzed. Patients were considered to have early recovery of continence when they needed no pad in 3 months or less after surgery. Results: Ninety-two patients were in the early recovery group and 157 were in the late recovery group. The membranous urethral lengths were 12.06±2.56 and 11.81±2.87 mm, and prostatic urethral lengths were 36.39±6.15 and 37.45±7.55 mm in each group, respectively. The membranous-posterior urethral length ratios were 0.25±0.06 and 0.24±0.06, and prostatic-posterior urethral length ratios were 0.75±0.06 and 0.76±0.06, respectively. In and of themselves, the membranous and prostatic urethral lengths were not associated with recovery duration however, the membranous-total and prostatic-total urethral length ratios were related (p=0.024 and 0.024, respectively). None of the urodynamic parameters correlated with continence recovery time. In the multivariate analysis, the type of surgical procedure (odds ratio [OR], 7.032; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.660 to 18.590; p<0.001) and membranous urethral length (OR, 0.845; 95% CI, 0.766 to 0.931; p=0.001) were significantly related to early recovery of continence. Conclusions: The current intrafascial surgical procedure is the most important factor affecting early recovery of continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which described an inverse method that allows users to specify desire layouts of magnetized microfibers in solidifying composites. Mathematical model of magneto-hydro-dynamics with solidification; Discussion on the inverse problem of determining unknown magnetic field boundary conditions; Numerical results.

We report the viability of organic solar cells with submicron-thick bulk heterojunction films, which were fabricated by mixing poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester at a solid concentration of 90 mg/ml. To elucidate the physics behind the thick film solar cells, optical transmittance and electrical characteristics were compared for film thicknesses between 520 and 1000 nm. Results showed that the device (520 nm thick film; efficiency=3.68%) exhibited similar performance to that of a control device (170 nm thick). A decreasing device performance was measured for much thicker films (efficiency=0.34% for the 1000 nm thick device). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of T cells leads to the induction of many cytokine genes that are required for appropriate immune responses, including IL-2, a key cytokine for T cell proliferation and homeostasis. The activating transcription factors such as nuclear factor of activated T cells, nuclear factor κB/Rel and activated protein-1 family members that regulate inducible IL-2 gene expression have been well documented. However, negative regulation of the IL-2 gene is less studied. Here we examine the role of zinc finger E-box-binding protein (ZEB) 1, a homeodomain/Zn finger transcription factor, as a repressor of IL-2 gene transcription. We show here that ZEB1 is expressed in non-stimulated and stimulated T cells and using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays we show that ZEB1 binds to the IL-2 promoter. Over-expression of ZEB1 can repress IL-2 promoter activity, as well as endogenous IL-2 mRNA production in EL-4 T cells, and this repression is dependent on the ZEB-binding site at −100. ZEB1 cooperates with the co-repressor C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP) 2 and with histone deacetylase 1 to repress the IL-2 promoter and this cooperation depends on the ZEB-binding site in the promoter as well as the Pro-X-Asp-Leu-Ser protein–protein interaction domain in CtBP2. Thus, ZEB1 may function to recruit a repressor complex to the IL-2 promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]