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Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company, Ltd., has operated the Wolsong Tritium Removal Facility (WTRF) since 2007 to reduce tritium concentrations in the moderator and coolant of the Wolsong nuclear p...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The rate at which the chance of a good outcome of endovascular stroke therapy (EVT) decays with time when eligible patients are selected by baseline diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) and whether ischaemic core size affects this rate remain to be investigated. METHODS This study analyses a prospective multicentre registry of stroke patients treated with EVT based on pretreatment DWI-MRI that was categorized into three groups: small [Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (DWI-ASPECTS)] (8-10), moderate (5-7) and large (

Purpose Ilaprazole, the latest proton pump inhibitor, can be used with clarithromycin and amoxicillin as a triple therapy regimen for eradicating Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacokinetic drug interactions and safety profiles after coadministration of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and ilaprazole. Methods A randomised, open-label, one-way crossover, two parallel sequences study was conducted in 32 healthy subjects. In part 1, the subjects received a single dose of ilaprazole 10 mg in period 1 and clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 6 days in period 2. In part 2, the subjects received clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg once in period 1 and ilaprazole 10 mg twice daily for 6 days in period 2. In both sequences, the three drugs were coadministrated once on day 5 in period 2. Pharmacokinetic evaluations of ilaprazole (part 1), and clarithromycin and amoxicillin (part 2) were conducted. Results Twenty-eight subjects completed the study. For ilaprazole, the peak concentration (Cmax) slightly decreased from 479 (ilaprazole alone) to 446 ng/mL (triple therapy) [Geometric least square mean ratio (90% confidence interval), 0.93 (0.70–1.22)]. The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to the last measurable concentration (AUClast) slightly increased from 3301 to 3538 μg·h/mL [1.07 (0.85–1.35)]. For clarithromycin, the Cmax slightly decreased from 1.87 to 1.72 μg/mL [0.90 (0.70–1.15)], and AUClast slightly increased from 14.6 to 16.5 μg·h/mL [1.09 (0.87–1.37)]. For amoxicillin, the Cmax slightly decreased from 9.37 to 8.14 μg/mL [0.86 (0.74–1.01)], and AUClast slightly decreased from 27.9 to 26.7 μg·h/mL [0.98 (0.83–1.16)]. These changes in the PK parameters of each drug were not statistically significant. Conclusions The coadministration of ilaprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin was tolerable and did not cause a significant PK drug interaction. Thus, a triple therapy regimen comprising ilaprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin may be an option for the eradication of H. pylori. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02998437. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00228-018-2489-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

3D human hand pose estimation (HPE) is an essential methodology for smart human computer interfaces. Especially, 3D hand pose estimation without attached or hand-held sensors provides a more natural and convenient way. In this work, we present a HPE system with a single RGB-Depth camera and deep learning methodologies which recognizes 3D hand poses of both hands in real-time. Our HPE system consists of four steps: hands detection and segmentation, right and left hand classification using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) classifier, hand pose estimation using a deep CNN regressor, and 3D hand pose reconstruction. First, both hands are detected and segmented from each RGB and depth images using skin detection and depth cutting algorithms. Second, a CNN classifier is used to distinguish right and left hands. Our CNN classifier consists of three convolutional layers and two fully connected layers, and uses the segmented depth images as input. Third, a trained deep CNN regressor estimates the key sixteen joints of hands in 3D from the segmented left and right depth hands separately. The regressor is hierarchically composed of multiple convolutional layers, pooling layers and dense fully connected layers to estimate the hand joints from the segmented hand depth images. Finally, 3D hand pose of each hand gets reconstructed from the estimated hand joints. The results show that our CNN classifier distinguishes the right and left hands with an accuracy of 96.9%. The 3D human hand poses are estimated with an average distance error of 8.48 mm. The presented HPE system can be used in various application fields including medical VR, AR, and MR applications. Our presented HPE system should allow natural hand gesture interfaces to interact with various medical contents.

We have developed a new radiation imaging method and system and it provides visualization of 2D or pseudo 3D distributions of gamma emitting sources selected along with superimposed CCD images.The main principle of the imaging method is recovering resolution degradation caused by attenuation and using an ultrahigh sensitive collimation. This is achieved by applying deconvolution of the system response function.To validate the performance of the new method within a real environment setup, we have conducted evaluation studies of various objects in controlled nuclear waste storage areas in nuclear power plants.The imaging system successfully demonstrated visualizing of contaminated hot spot locations with corresponding isotopes ID and activity.The new imaging technique and system are able to provide cost-effective solutions in the field of decommissioning, separation and decontamination of nuclear waste, and 24/7 radiation-leak monitoring of sites in NPP.

The Zeeman splitting of the Da (656.10 nm) and the Hα (656.28 nm) spectral lines and the different impurities from deuterium/hydrogen discharges in the KSTAR tokamak plasma have been observed in the visible region of the spectrum. The internal magnetic field strength has been determined by analyzing the circular polarization of the spectral lines emitted by the plasma. The radial magnetic field is obtained by using the Abel inversion technique. In addition, the magneticfield pitch angle is derived from the polarization characteristics of the σ component of the Zeeman triplet of the H emission at 656.28 nm by using a polarization-sensitive spectroscope.

Automatic detection and classification of the masses in mammograms are still a big challenge and play a crucial role to assist radiologists for accurate diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a novel computer-aided diagnose (CAD) system based on one of the regional deep learning techniques: a ROI-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) which is called You Only Look Once (YOLO). Our proposed YOLO-based CAD system contains four main stages: mammograms preprocessing, feature extraction utilizing multi convolutional deep layers, mass detection with confidence model, and finally mass classification using fully connected neural network (FC-NN). A set of training mammograms with the information of ROI masses and their types are used to train YOLO. The trained YOLO-based CAD system detects the masses and classifies their types into benign or malignant. Our results show that the proposed YOLO-based CAD system detects the mass location with an overall accuracy of 96.33%. The system also distinguishes between benign and malignant lesions with an overall accuracy of 85.52%. Our proposed system seems to be feasible as a CAD system capable of detection and classification at the same time. It also overcomes some challenging breast cancer cases such as the mass existing in the pectoral muscles or dense regions.

Background and objective Automatic detection and classification of the masses in mammograms are still a big challenge and play a crucial role to assist radiologists for accurate diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a novel Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) system based on one of the regional deep learning techniques, a ROI-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) which is called You Only Look Once (YOLO). Although most previous studies only deal with classification of masses, our proposed YOLO-based CAD system can handle detection and classification simultaneously in one framework. Methods The proposed CAD system contains four main stages: preprocessing of mammograms, feature extraction utilizing deep convolutional networks, mass detection with confidence, and finally mass classification using Fully Connected Neural Networks (FC-NNs). In this study, we utilized original 600 mammograms from Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM) and their augmented mammograms of 2,400 with the information of the masses and their types in training and testing our CAD. The trained YOLO-based CAD system detects the masses and then classifies their types into benign or malignant. Results Our results with five-fold cross validation tests show that the proposed CAD system detects the mass location with an overall accuracy of 99.7%. The system also distinguishes between benign and malignant lesions with an overall accuracy of 97%. Conclusions Our proposed system even works on some challenging breast cancer cases where the masses exist over the pectoral muscles or dense regions.

Dual high and low energy images of Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) suffer from noises due to the use of weak amount of X-rays. Denoising these DEXA images could be a key process to enhance and improve a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) map which is derived from a pair of high and low energy images. This could further improve the accuracy of diagnosis of bone fractures, osteoporosis, and etc. In this paper, we present a denoising technique for dual high and low energy images of DEXA via non-local means filter (NLMF). The noise of dual DEXA images is modeled based on both source and detector noises of a DEXA system. Then, the parameters of the proposed NLMF are optimized for denoising utilizing the experimental data from uniform phantoms. The optimized NLMF is tested and verified with the DEXA images of the uniform phantoms and real human spine. The quantitative evaluation shows the improvement of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for the high and low phantom images on the order of 30.36% and 27.02% and for the high and low real spine images on the order of 22.28% and 33.43%, respectively. Our work suggests that denoising via NLMF could be a key preprocessing process for clinical DEXA imaging.

With the goal of developing an accurate and fast lane tracking system for the purpose of driver assistance, this paper proposes a vision-based fusion technique for lane tracking and forward vehicle detection to handle challenging conditions, i.e., lane occlusion by a forward vehicle, lane change, varying illumination, road traffic signs, and pitch motion, all of which often occur in real driving environments. First, our algorithm uses random sample consensus (RANSAC) and Kalman filtering to calculate the lane equation from the lane candidates found by template matching. Simple template matching and a combination of RANSAC and Kalman filtering makes calculating the lane equation as a hyperbola pair very quick and robust against varying illumination and discontinuities in the lane. Second, our algorithm uses a state transfer technique to maintain lane tracking continuously in spite of the lane changing situation. This reduces the computational time when dealing with the lane change because lane detection, which takes much more time than lane tracking, is not necessary with this algorithm. Third, false lane candidates from occlusions by frontal vehicles are eliminated using accurate regions of the forward vehicles from our improved forward vehicle detector. Fourth, our proposed method achieved robustness against road traffic signs and pitch motion using the adaptive region of interest and a constraint on the position of the vanishing point. Our algorithm was tested with image sequences from a real driving situation and demonstrated its robustness.

SUMMARY Bolus transit through the esophagus has not been validated by videoesophagram in patients with dysphagia and changes in impedance with abnormal barium transit have not been described in those patients. The aim of this study was to compare esophageal impedance findings with barium esophagram measurements in patients with dysphagia. The consecutive patients with dysphagia underwent conventional multichannel esophageal impedance manometry, after which a barium videoesophagram was performed simultaneously with multichannel esophageal impedance manometry using a mean of three swallows of barium. Esophageal emptying patterns shown in the esophagogram were classified by the degree of intraesophageal stasis and presence of intraesophageal reflux. Bolus transit patterns in impedance were classified as complete and incomplete transit. Sixteen patients (M : F = 8 : 8, mean age, 47 years) were enrolled. Their manometric diagnosis were normal (n= 6), ineffective esophageal motility (n= 1), diffuse esophageal spasm (DES; n= 2), and achalasia (n= 7). Sixty-three swallows were analyzed. According to impedance analysis, 21/22 swallows with normal barium emptying showed complete transit (96%) and 31/32 swallows with severe stasis showed incomplete transit (97%). Nine swallows with mild stasis showed either complete or incomplete transit patterns in impedance. Swallows with mild barium stasis and complete transit in impedance were observed in patients who had received treatment (two patients with achalasia with history of esophageal balloonplasty and a patient with DES after nifedipine administration). Impedance reflected severe stasis with retrograde barium movement and described typical bolus transit patterns in patients with achalasia and DES. In conclusion, impedance-barium esophagram concordance is high for swallows with normal esophageal emptying and for severe barium stasis in patients with dysphagia.

Epidermal naevus syndrome is a group of congenital syndromes comprising epidermal naevi associated with a variety of developmental abnormalities of the ocular, nervous, skeletal, cardiovascular and urogenital systems. We describe a case of an 8-month-old boy with a brown alopecic plaque on his face and scalp and a vascularized epibulbar mass involving the entire cornea, which had been present since birth. Histopathological examination identified sebaceous naevus in combination with complex choristoma. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hemimegalencephaly.

Summary There are many different imaging studies that can be used to evaluate breast lesions. This article will provide a brief introduction to each of the different examination modalities, including mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging as well as image-guided invasive procedures. General guidelines for recommended use of each modality are suggested.

Paper angle, environment friendly packaging material, has been mainly used as an edge protector, But, in the future, paper angle will be applied to package design of heavy product such as strength reinforcement or unit load system (ULS). Therefore. understanding of buckling behavior fur angle itself, compression strength and quality standard are required. The objectives of this study were to characterize the buckling behavior by theoretical and finite element analysis, and to develop compression strength model by compression test for symetric and asymetric paper angle. Based on the result of theoretical and finite element analysis, as applied load level was bigger and/or the length of angle was longer, incresing rate of buckling of asymmetric paper angle was higher than that of symmetric paper angle. Decreasing rate of minimum principal moment of inertia significantly increased as the extent of asymmetric angle increased, and buckling orientation of angle was open- direction near the small web. Incresing rate of maximum compression strength (MCS) for thickness of angle decreased as the web size increased in symmetric angle. MCS of asymmetric angle of 4357 and 3367 decreased and , and change of buckling increased and , respectively.

Aims: To clarify the role of mesangial fibrinogen deposition in crescentic Henoch-Schonlein nephritis (HSN). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 21 children with HSN treated with immunosuppressants. Serial renal biopsies were performed before and after treatment. They were divided into two groups according to the immunofluorescent course of fibrinogen deposition: group I (n = 9), no or decreased deposition; group II (n = 12), persistent or increased deposition. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in renal manifestations or laboratory and histological findings at presentation. However, the activity index after immunosuppressive treatment was significantly decreased in group I (mean, 7.9 (SEM, 0.7) v 2.9 (0.4); p = 0.008) and unchanged in group II (mean, 6.8 (SEM, 0.3) v 6.0 (2.1)). The chronicity index was unchanged in group I, but increased in group II (mean, 0.8 (SEM, 0.3) v 1.8 (0.3); p = 0.02). Univariate analysis revealed that the only factor significantly related to persistent or increased fibrinogen deposition was age more than 9 years (p = 0.03). Furthermore, the intensity of fibrinogen deposition at the second biopsy correlated positively with the age at onset ( R 2 = 0.306; p = 0.009) and changes in the percentage of crescents (post-treatment crescents (%) minus pretreatment crescents (%)) correlated positively with the intensity of fibrinogen deposition at the second biopsy ( R 2 = 0.193; p = 0.046). Conclusions: This study indicates that fibrinogen deposition has an important role to play in renal injury of crescentic HSN and reflects persistent severe histological activity.

In this paper, a systematic attempt for estimating geometric dimensions of cold forgings is made by finite element method and a practical approach is presented. In the approach, the forging process is simulated by a rigid-plastic finite element method under the assumption that the die is rigid. With the information obtained from the forging simulation, die structural analysis and springback analysis of the material are carried out. In the springback analysis, both mechanical load and thermal load are considered. The mechanical load is applied by unloading the forming load elastically and the thermal load is by cooling the increased temperature due to the plastic work to the room temperature. All the results are added to predict the final dimensions of the cold forged product. The predicted dimensions are compared with the experiments. The comparison has revealed that predicted results are acceptable in the application sense.

To clarify the therapeutic role of cyclosporin A (CyA) for patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) showing nephrotic-range proteinuria.The clinical and histological findings of eight children (7.7+/-3.8 years), who were treated with CyA and prednisolone, were evaluated retrospectively. All underwent a renal biopsy before therapy, and six of the eight patients received a follow-up biopsy after therapy.The histological grade of the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) was improved in all six patients who received a follow-up biopsy (pre-therapy, four grade IIIa and two grade IIIb; post-therapy, one grade I and five grade II) and it was statistically significant (p = 0.031). The activity index was significantly decreased after therapy (8.3+/-1.6 vs. 3.5+/-1.5, p = 0.031), and the chronicity index (0.5+/-0.5 vs. 0.7+/-1.0) and tubulointerstitial (TI) scores (1.5+/-1.3 vs. 0.8+/-1.6) did not change. There was a reduction in proteinuria from 3.2+/-2.3 to 0.1+/-0.1 g/m2/day (p = 0.008) and renal function remained normal in all patients after therapy. However, one patient showed CyA-induced nephrotoxicity at a second biopsy. After an average follow-up period of 3.8 years, six patients showed normal urine and renal function, and two showed minor urinary abnormalities.This study suggests that CyA therapy is effective in reducing proteinuria, which is a known risk factor for the development of renal insufficiency in HSPN and may regress the renal pathology in patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria.

Atorvastatin and ezetimibe are frequently co-administered to treat patients with dyslipidemia for the purpose of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control. However, pharmacokinetic (PK) drug interaction between atorvastatin and ezetimibe has not been evaluated in Korean population. The aim of this study was to investigate PK drug interaction between two drugs in healthy Korean volunteers. An open-label, randomized, multiple-dose, three-treatment, three-period, Williams design crossover study was conducted in 36 healthy male subjects. During each period, the subjects received one of the following three treatments for seven days: atorvastatin 40 mg, ezetimibe 10 mg, or a combination of both. Blood samples were collected up to 96 h after dosing, and PK parameters of atorvastatin, 2-hydroxyatorvastatin, total ezetimibe (free ezetimibe + ezetimibe-glucuronide), and free ezetimibe were estimated by non-compartmental analysis in 32 subjects who completed the study. Geometric mean ratios (GMRs) with 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax,ss) and the area under the curve within a dosing interval at steady state (AUCτ,ss) of atorvastatin when administered with and without ezetimibe were 1.1087 (0.9799–1.2544) and 1.1154 (1.0079–1.2344), respectively. The corresponding values for total ezetimibe were 1.0005 (0.9227–1.0849) and 1.0176 (0.9465–1.0941). There was no clinically significant change in safety assessment related to either atorvastatin or ezetimibe. Co-administration of atorvastatin and ezetimibe showed similar PK and safety profile compared with each drug alone. The PK interaction between two drugs was not clinically significant in healthy Korean volunteers.

The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of intraocular lens (IOL) refixation with intraocular lens exchange using perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) and fibrin glue-assisted sutureless scleral fixation surgery in patients with dislocation of the IOL. Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients who underwent surgery for dislocated IOLs with PFCL and fibrin glue-assisted scleral fixation were studied; 13 eyes experienced IOL refixation (in-the-bag and out-of-the-bag), and 12 eyes experienced IOL exchange. Preoperative and postoperative clinical features from patient charts and 25 eyes with >6 months' follow-up information were reviewed and analyzed. At postoperative 6 months, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spherical equivalent of IOL refixation and exchange were significantly improved (P=0.042, P=0.001), and endothelial cell density was significantly decreased in the two groups with no significant difference between them. Surgically induced astigmatism of IOL refixation improved from 0.90±0.47 to 0.61±0.37 (P=0.012), and IOL exchange improved from 1.17±0.64 to 0.73±0.37 (P=0.037) at postoperative 6 months, with no significant difference between the two groups. Complications occurred in four eyes in the IOL refixation group and in three eyes in the IOL exchange group. PFCL and fibrin glue-assisted IOL sutureless scleral refixation or exchanged fixation was an effective surgical treatment for IOL dislocation. Also, because postoperative BCVA, surgical outcomes, and complications did not differ significantly between IOL refixation and exchange surgery, if IOL exchange surgery is not indicated, IOL refixation surgical techniques should be considered.

The main drawbacks of SMA actuators are a slow response and a waste of electric power. The power should be continuously supplied for SMA elements to remain in the austenite state until the actuator begins to move to the other position. The problems are more serious when batteries and thick SMA elements are used. We develop a new SMA actuator which consumes little energy and responds very quickly. The actuator consists of a specially designed bias spring structure, and two SMA elements which exert the force in opposite direction to each other. The bias spring, unlike a common spring which has one stable position, has two stable positions. A SMA1, for instance, contracts on heating by electricity, the actuator takes one stable configuration. No further power supply is necessary to maintain the stable position, providing enough time for the SMA1 to cool. When the other SMA2 is heated, it contracts with enough force to move the bias spring and to expand the already-cooled SMA1. Power supply stops immediately after the actuator takes the other stable configuration, causing power saving and quick response.

Objectives To study the prophylactic efficacy of lithium administered every second day to patients with bipolar disorder or recurrent unipolar depressive disorder. Methods The study was carried out as a WHO multicentre study in five different psychiatric clinics: Russia (Moscow), Canada (Montreal), India (Lucknow), Germany (Munich) and South Korea (Pusan), with the lithium tablets being supplied from Denmark (Copenhagen). Participation in the study was conditional on the patient having been in prophylactic lithium treatment for the preceding 2-year period and having been free of depressive or manic phases during the preceding 6 months. After a 2-month baseline period during which lithium was administered every day, the treatment was changed to lithium intake every second day, this regimen in most cases being continued for 22 months. Results Forty-seven patients, 42 with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and five with a diagnosis of recurrent unipolar depressive disorder, participated in the study. The number of patients from each centre ranged from six to 11. The mean lithium dose every second day was 36 mmol lithium, leading to a mean 12-h standard serum lithium concentration during the last month of treatment at 0.78+/-0.16 mmol/L. Lithium intake every second day was effective in 38 out of 47 patients. The remaining nine patients had recurrences, a number not differing from the 16 patients in the same group of 47 patients who, during the 2-year period preceding the study, had recurrences. The mean 12-h standard serum lithium concentration was lower in the patients who had recurrences than in those who stayed euthymic. The results suggest that to be effective when administered every second day, lithium must be given in a dose leading to a 12-h standard serum lithium concentration at 0.8 mmol/L or above. Conclusions In the dose administered, lithium intake every second day was as effective as lithium intake every day. The amount and severity of lithium-related side effects were apparently not influenced by the change to lithium intake every second day.

The purpose of this study was to describe the findings of MR imaging of fibrous dysplasia and to evaluate the correlation between radiologic and pathologic findings.MR images of 13 proven cases of fibrous dysplasia were analyzed for signal intensity, hypointense rind, internal septations, cystic changes, soft-tissue extension, and patterns of contrast enhancement.All cases of fibrous dysplasia showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted MR images. Five cases (38%) were hypointense on T2-weighted MR images, and the other eight cases (62%) were hyperintense. Hypointense rind was seen in 10 cases (77%); internal septations were seen in three cases (23%); and cystic changes was seen in two cases (15%). Soft-tissue extension was observed in four cases (31%), including one case (8%) with a pathologic fracture. After gadolinium infusion, central contrast enhancement was noted in eight cases (73%), and peripheral rim enhancement was noted in three cases (27%). Numerous bony trabeculae, confirmed pathologically, caused a hypointense signal intensity on T2-weighted images.Patients with fibrous dysplasia showed a correlation between radiologic and pathologic findings. Our results showed that T1-weighted images reveal fibrous dysplasia as hypointense, and T2-weighted images reveal fibrous dysplasia as either hyperintense or hypointense. Signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images and the degree of contrast enhancement on T1-weighted images depended on the amount and degree of bony trabeculae, cellularity, collagen, and cystic and hemorrhagic changes.

Summary Background Dermatoscopy is a noninvasive technique that can be helpful in the diagnosis of pigmented and nonpigmented skin tumours. The dermatoscopic evaluation of Bowen disease (BD) improves diagnostic accuracy. Objective To evaluate the usefulness of dermatoscopy as a tool for assessing responses to therapy and recurrence of BD. Methods Patients with histopathologically diagnosed BD were prospectively enrolled. In all lesions, 3 months after the end of treatment (photodynamic therapy or 5% imiquimod cream), dermatoscopic and histopathological examinations were repeated to evaluate and correlate changes in dermatoscopic features and histopathological results. Cured lesions were monitored using dermatoscopy during the follow-up period. Results A total of 23 patients with 29 histopathologically diagnosed BD lesions were included in this study. After treatment, dermatoscopic examination revealed the disappearance of pre-existing vascular structures in 16 lesions, and remaining vascular structures in 13 lesions. Histopathological evaluation of the treated lesions showed remnant intraepithelial neoplasms and increased dermal vascularity in lesions with persistent dermatoscopic vascular structures. However, normal epidermis and decreased dermal vascularity were observed in all but one of the lesions without previous dermatoscopic vascular structures. During the follow-up period, one lesion showed reappearance of previous vascular structures on dermatoscopy 9 months after treatment. Histopathological examination confirmed the recurrence of BD. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that the persistence of dermatoscopic vascular structures of BD appears to be associated with residual disease, and disappearance of vascular structures suggests that the disease has been cured. In addition, reappearance of previous dermatoscopic vascular structures indicates the recurrence of BD. Therefore, we suggest that dermatoscopy can be a useful, reliable and noninvasive tool in the therapeutic follow-up of BD.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear strength and structural behavior of reinforced-concrete beams with web openings (hereinafter, "HPRWO"), where the web openings are reinforced with circular steel tubes. The experiments were conducted under the monotonic loading condition. Based on the structural experiments involving HPRWO, ultimate load ratio (d0,d0/h, etc.), ductility, load-deflection curve, and failure mode comparisons were made for evaluation purposes. This study utilized the design formula for predicting the shear strength proposed by the previous studies and formulas to determine the appropriate shear strength for HPRWO. The results of the experiments confirmed that the rigidity, ductility, and other properties of the HPRWO specimens reinforced with circular steel tubes, fiber, and admixtures were superior to those of the unreinforced HPRWOs. With Mansur's formula, a noticeable tendency for the increase in d0 and the sectional area of the web openings to lead to the overestimation of Vu/Vu,cal was found. The Vu/Vu,cal value was found to be more in line with the experiment results based on the AIJ formula compared with the results obtained using other formulas

Intratendinous ganglion cyst is a very rare lesion with an unknown aetiology that originates within the tendon. We encountered a case of 43-year-old woman who complained of a palpable, non-tender mass in the thigh with increasing swelling. An intratendinous ganglion cyst in the semimembranosus tendon of the lower extremity was diagnosed and located by ultrasound and MRI. Nine months after a surgical excision, there were recurrent ganglion cysts along the semimembranosus tendon. We describe this case with a review of the relevant literature.

An intriguing and rarely encountered aspect of language extensibility known as orthophrase is an integral component of the Galaxy language. Orthophrase extensibility allows entirely new constructs to be added to a language, constructs not possible via typical language capabilities, such as standard function, macro, object, or operator definition. The potential of orthophrase additions is far reaching. It can be used to create libraries of application-specific notations and programming constructs, as well as practical special-purpose compilers. The paper discusses how Galaxy implements and employs orthophrase techniques and explores the implications. Examples of functioning applications are presented in the discussion.

The main drawbacks of SMA actuators are a slow response and a waste of electric power. The power should be continuously supplied for SMA elements to remain austenite state until the actuator begins to take the other position. The problems are more serious when batteries and thick SMA elements are used. We propose a new SMA actuator which consumes little energy and responds very quickly. The actuator consists of a specially designed bias spring and two SMA elements which exert the force in opposite direction to each other. The bias spring, unlike a common spring which has one stable position, has two stable positions. A SMA1, for instance, contracts on heating by electricity, the actuator takes one stable configuration. No further power supply is necessary to maintain the stable position, providing enough time for the SMA1 to cool. When the other SMA2 is heated, it contracts with enough force to move the bias spring and to expand the already-cooled SMA1. Power supply stops immediately after the actuator takes the other stable configuration, causing power saving and quick response.

This paper describes a high-voltage IC technology. Various novel lateral high-voltage device concepts, which can be efficiently implemented in a submicron CMOS process, are explained and analyzed. It’s essential for lateral high-voltage devices to show best trade-off between specific on-resistance R sp and breakdown voltage BV, and super-junction devices give an opportunity to achieve a best R sp -BV trade-off for BV over 100V. Key issues for monolithic integration of high-voltage devices and low-voltage CMOS are reviewed in the paper. Finally, hot-carrier (HC) behaviour of a high-voltage 0.35μm lateral DMOS transistor (LDMOSFET) is presented. It is shown that self-heating effects during HC stress have to be taken into account for the HC stress analysis. Together with TCAD simulations and measurements, one can clearly explain the self-heating effects on the HC behaviour of an LDMOSFET.

We studied 11 patients with checkrein deformities of the hallux who underwent surgical treatment. Six had lengthening of the flexor hallucis longus tendon by Z-plasty in the midfoot, and five underwent release of adhesions and lengthening of the tendon by Z-plasty at the musculotendinous junction at the fracture site. All six patients who underwent Z-plasty at the midfoot showed complete correction of the deformity without recurrence. Of the five who had release of adhesions and Z-plasty of the tendon at the fracture site, two showed partial and one showed complete recurrence.

To identify predictive factors for nephritis, relapse, and significant proteinuria in childhood Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).Two hundred and six consecutive patients with HSP (93 female, 113 male), followed up at a single centre between 1996 and 2001, were analysed retrospectively. They were regularly monitored for clinical and laboratory parameters for renal sequelae and relapse.Nephritis was seen in 78 patients (38%), relapse in 52 (25%), and significant proteinuria in 39 (19%). In univariate analysis, an older age at onset (10 years), persistent purpura, severe bowel angina, and relapse were identified as factors associated with nephritis and significant proteinuria. Relapse-related factors were an older age, persistent purpura, severe bowel angina, and leucocytosis. Logistic regression analysis showed that nephritis was significantly associated with an older age, persistent purpura, and relapse, and significant proteinuria was closely related to severe bowel angina and relapse.We identified some predictors for nephritis, relapse, and significant proteinuria in childhood HSP, and close attention should be paid to those patients with the risk factors, such as an older age at onset, persistent purpura, severe bowel angina, and relapse.

Petroleum pipe scale, consisting of concentrated inorganic solids such as barium sulfate, can deposit on the inside of down-hole pipes during the normal course of oil field pumping operations. A portion of this scale has been shown to contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), predominantly compounds of radium. When these pipes are removed from the well, there is a potential for radiation doses to the oil field workers handling the pipes, especially as the pipes are cleaned for reuse. A thorough sampling and measurement protocol was applied under a variety of weather conditions in an outdoor laboratory to obtain an accurate indication of the radiological and aerodynamic characteristics of scale release and dust dispersion during petroleum pipe scale removal from out-of-service pipes with a restored, historically relevant outdoor pipe-cleaning machine. Exposure rate data were also obtained for both the pre-cleaned pipes, and the general area inhabited by workers during the descaling operation. Four radiation exposure pathways were investigated: inhalation of pipe scale dust generated during pipe rattling, incidental ingestion of the pipe scale dust, external exposure from uncleaned pipes, and external exposure from pipe scale dispersed on the ground. Pipes from three oil fields were rattled to collect as much industry-representative data as possible. The Ra specific activity of the pipe scale ranged from 33.6 +/- 0.4 to 65.5 +/- 0.7 Bq g, depending on the formation. A median atmospheric dust loading of 0.13 mg m was measured in the operator breathing zone. The respirable fraction was observed to be about 42% to 46%. Based on cleaning 20 pipes per day,250 d per year on average, annual committed effective doses for the operator and helper ranged from 0.11 mSv (11 mrem) to 0.45 mSv(45 mrem) for inhalation and from 19 microSv (1.9 mrem) to 97 microSv (9.7 mrem) for incidental ingestion. Worker annual external dose from the pipe racks ranged from 0 to 0.28 mSv (28 mrem). In the deposition experiment, more than 99% by weight of the deposited scale fell within 2 m of the machine centerline, the vast majority of which was in the downwind direction. The dose from this deposited material dominated the worker dose estimates. The annual external dose from dispersed material was estimated to be 2.8 mSv (280 mrem) for the operator and 4.1 mSv (410 mrem) for the helper.

A 5‐year‐old boy presented with abdominal pain and arthralgia of both ankles. On examination, there was a palpable purpuric eruption localized to both lower legs. There was no past medical history ...

The fie Id emr,ssion current *from n- type GaN is theore tical& obtained by calculatrng the contrrbiitron from the hidk .state.\ only. By solving the Porsson eqiiatron .for given alyl~ed~fields, we calculate the hand prc?file with the hand bending at the surface. It IS afomd that the eniissron current J increases with increasing doping density n. Such n-dependence is obtained !f the internal voltage drop in the senzicondi.jcfor IS taken into account. The .J 1.5' also calcidated .for several electron affinities x. It is also jbiind that .for the reported values of x, the emission ci.jrrenf j?om a planar electrode can not describe the measured I-V curve. !fa Taylor-cone tip IS assumed to he a hexagonal pyramid emitter, the field intensify F around the cone aIxx IS strong enough to yield J in agreement with experiment. However, such a strong value of F may he close to the breakdown ,field Gallium nitride is a wide bandgap semiconductor which has a broad range of applications for combined optoelectronic and electronic devices. Owing to mechanical hardness, low electron affinity, and high electron carrier concentration, GaN is highly promising for use in practical field emission devices. Recently, the electron field emission from GaN has been observed for the first time by Underwood et al.[ I] They obtained the emission current of 0.8 pA at 2000 V from GaN hexagonal pyramid emitter arrays with the anode being 0.5 mm above. No theoretical calculations have been reported yet. In the present work, we calculate the field emission current from the n-type wurzite GaN along (0001) direction. We assume an independent electron model with the current flow only in the z direction. The current density of emitted electrons from a particular electron energy band is then given by the following equation.

Although the normal pathways of lymphatic drainage from the pelvic organs have been well described in the anatomy literature, the pathways of nodal metastasis from individual pelvic neoplasms are not well illustrated in the imaging literature. The authors retrospectively reviewed computed tomographic scans of the abdomen and pelvis in patients with various pelvic neoplasms, including those of the ovary, testis, prostate, cervix, bladder, anorectum, and other sites, to define the pathways of nodal metastasis. In most patients, pathways of nodal metastasis correlated well with the normal lymphatic pathways described in the anatomy literature, including the superficial inguinal pathway; the anterior, lateral, hypogastric, and presacral routes of the pelvic pathway; and the paraaortic pathway. However, there also were various uncommon pathways of nodal metastasis, such as metastasis along the gonadal vessels, mesenteric and mesocolic nodes, posterior iliac crest nodes, and inferior phrenic nodes. Understanding these common and uncommon lymphatic pathways of metastasis will help radiologists detect disease spread from pelvic tumors.

A large perineal fatty tissue mass shown to be an encapsulated xanthogranulomatous reaction was found in a spinal cord injured man whose neuropathic bladder was for a long time being managed by clean intermittent catheterization, but who had chronic urinary tract infection. He was also known to be a chronic alcoholic. We would say that an alcohol numbed sensorium and multiple catheterizations led to recurrent small urethral perforations which in the setting of chronic bacteriuria promoted the unusual inflammatory mass. Appreciating the increasing use of clean intermittent catheterization for the spinal cord injured, we suspect that similar cases of 'xanthogranulomatous pseudotumors' will be found, and therefore we describe this most unusual clinical presentation.

65 Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important imaging modality for evaluating patients at high risk for breast malignancy. However, the role and utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in breast MRI has not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and histopathologic diagnoses in benign and malignant breast pathologies as well as to assess the relative diagnostic value of this parameter. Methods: We searched our database for patients who received breast MRI studies from February 2010 through March 2011. We then identified those patients who had either known or suspected breast malignancy and who had also undergone DWI. Breast abnormalities were identified through a review of the short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and T1-weighted pre- and post-contrast images. DWI images were evaluated and the corresponding ADC values were calculated. These lesions were correlated with histopathologic results when available. Results: A total of 174 patient MRI studies were evaluated. Single dominant lesions were assessed and included biopsy-proven infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC), biopsy-proven ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and benign lesions including cysts. The median ADC value for IDC was 118 x 10-5 mm2 s-1. The median ADC value for DCIS was 123 x 10-5 mm2 s-1. Finally, the median ADC value for breast cysts was 217 x 10-5 mm2 s-1. Conclusions: As the role of MRI continues to evolve in the evaluation of breast pathology, the addition of DWI may increase diagnostic confidence for breast cancer, allowing for further differentiation from benign lesions. DWI is feasible to implement in many clinical practices and correlates with imaging features of breast cancer. The DWI images are acquired rapidly and without intravenous contrast. This method of imaging could be used in short intervals to assess treatment response to therapies such as biologic inhibitors or radiation therapy.