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Tailgut cyst, known as retrorectal cystic hamartoma, is a rare congenital lesion derived from the remnants of the embryological tailgut. It is usually located in presacral or retrorectal space. We report the first case of a tailgut cyst presented as an intraperitoneal tumor. In this paper, we present one patient who has undergone surgical excision of tailgut cyst. A 33-year-old woman with no symptoms underwent laparoscopic tumor excision for the definite diagnosis and treatment for a left-sided, cystic, and pelvic mass in computerized tomography (CT). The initial diagnosis was left ovarian benign tumor by radiologic study. Histologic findings revealed a tailgut cyst. After surgery, she was discharged after 3 days without any complications. We report an unusual case of tailgut cyst located in intraperitoneal space. Although it is extremely rare for a tailgut cyst to occur in the intraperitoneal area, physicians may consider tailgut cyst in differential diagnosis of an intraperitoneal cystic mass.

BACKGROUND Optimal surveillance strategies for stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) are lacking, and intensive surveillance has not conferred a significant survival benefit. AIM To examine the association between surveillance intensity and recurrence and survival rates in patients with stage III CRC. METHODS Data from patients with pathologic stage III CRC who underwent radical surgery between January 2005 and December 2012 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea were retrospectively reviewed. Surveillance consisted of abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) every 6 mo and chest CT annually during the 5 year follow-up period, resulting in an average of three imaging studies per year. Patients who underwent more than the average number of imaging studies annually were categorized as high intensity (HI), and those with less than the average were categorized as low intensity (LI). RESULTS Among 1888 patients, 864 (45.8%) were in HI group. Age, sex, and location were not different between groups. HI group had more advanced T and N stage (P = 0.002, 0.010, each). Perineural invasion (PNI) was more identified in the HI group (21.4% vs 30.3%, P < 0.001). The mean overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free interval (RFI) was longer in the LI group (P < 0.001, each). Multivariate analysis indicated that surveillance intensity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.999; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.680–2.377; P < 0.001], pathologic T stage (OR = 1.596; 95%CI: 1.197–2.127; P = 0.001), PNI (OR = 1.431; 95%CI: 1.192–1.719; P < 0.001), and circumferential resection margin (OR = 1.565; 95%CI: 1.083–2.262; P = 0.017) in rectal cancer were significantly associated with RFI. The mean post-recurrence survival (PRS) was longer in patients who received curative resection (P < 0.001). Curative resection rate of recurrence was not different between HI (29.3%) and LI (23.8%) groups (P = 0.160). PRS did not differ according to surveillance intensity (P = 0.802). CONCLUSION Frequent surveillance with CT scan do not improve OS in stage III CRC patients. We need to evaluate role of other surveillance method rather than frequent CT scans to detect recurrence for which curative treatment was possible because curative resection is the important to improve post-recurrence survival.

Prurigo pigmentosa is a rare inflammatory skin disease characterized by an unexpected onset of diffuse erythematous papules and macules usually on the chest, neck, and back. These generally resolve, leaving reticular hyperpigmentation. Rarely, vesicular or bullous forms have been reported. We present a case of exfoliative vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa in a 13-year-old boy. He presented with symmetrical eruption of papules and vesicles on his back, neck, and chest in the last 10 days, causing pruritis and prickling sensation. Within a few days, the bullous lesions and all affected areas of the skin showed exfoliation. Histological study and clinical findings indicated the condition to be vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa with exfoliation. Treatment with doxycycline 200 mg/day and topical tacrolimus ointment showed a good response. The lesions resolved, leaving a light-brown reticulated hyperpigmentation. In conclusion, this was a case of exfoliative vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa in an adolescent man successfully treated with doxycycline and topical tacrolimus as an effective and safe treatment option.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and prognosis of de novo CRC patients who underwent liver or kidney transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 66 de novo CRC patients selected from 8,734 liver transplant (LT) or kidney transplant (KT) recipients. We analyzed characteristics and survival outcomes of de novo CRC patients and sporadic CRC patients who underwent radical surgery with stage I-III in Asan Medical Center between 2005 and 2016. Survival outcomes were analyzed via the 1:4 matching method. The standard incidence ratio (SIR) of de novo CRC in KT recipients is 1.67 in men and 2.54 in women. That in LT recipients is 3.10 in men and 2.25 in women. Compared with sporadic CRC patients, de novo CRC patients had more colon cancer than rectal cancer (p=0.041). In 9 patients (13.6%), CRC was diagnosed within one year after transplantation, 21 patients (31.8%) were diagnosed between 1–5 years, and the remaining 36 patients (54.6%) were diagnosed thereafter. There were no significant differences in recurrence-free survival and overall survival between the two groups (p=0.211 and p=0.324, respectively). The risk of developing de novo CRC in transplant recipients was higher than in the general population. The survival outcome of de novo CRC was no different compared with the sporadic CRC. Therefore, regular surveillance is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment for transplantation patients. A large prospective study for an intense CRC surveillance program in transplantation patients is needed.

BackgroundThe impact of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) on atypical meningioma (AM) underwent a gross total resection (GTR) remains unclear, showing conflicting results from various studies. The objective of this study was to perform an updated meta-analysis for observational studies to determine the effect of adjuvant RT after GTR on local recurrence and survival outcomes compared to observation after GTR.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched to identify comparative studies that reported outcomes of adjuvant RT versus observation for AM patients after GTR. Local recurrence rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities related to RT were considered as outcomes of interest. Differences between two cohorts were estimated by calculating odds ratios (OR) for LR rate and hazard ratios (HR) for survival outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for meta-analysis, using R version 4.0.3 software. Included studies were appraised with the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-Randomized Studies. Outcome ratios were combined with the Mantel–Haenszel method and the inverse variance-weighted method, appropriately.ResultsData from 30 studies involving 2904 patients (adjuvant RT: n = 737; observation: n = 2167) were eventually included. Significant reduction of local recurrence rate was seen in the adjuvant RT cohort compare to that in the observation cohort (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.36–0.68;p 5-year revealed that adjuvant RT was superior to observation. There was no significant difference in OS between the two cohorts during any period. Most toxicities were tolerable with grade 1 or 2. There was no documented grade 5 toxicity.ConclusionsFor AM patients who underwent GTR, evidence suggested that adjuvant RT could potentially decrease local recurrence and improve PFS better than observation.

Conventional imaging and recognition systems require an extensive amount of data storage, pre-processing, and chip-to-chip communications as well as aberration-proof light focusing with multiple lenses for recognizing an object from massive optical inputs. This is because separate chips (i.e., flat image sensor array, memory device, and CPU) in conjunction with complicated optics should capture, store, and process massive image information independently. In contrast, human vision employs a highly efficient imaging and recognition process. Here, inspired by the human visual recognition system, we present a novel imaging device for efficient image acquisition and data pre-processing by conferring the neuromorphic data processing function on a curved image sensor array. The curved neuromorphic image sensor array is based on a heterostructure of MoS2 and poly(1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-trivinyl cyclotrisiloxane). The curved neuromorphic image sensor array features photon-triggered synaptic plasticity owing to its quasi-linear time-dependent photocurrent generation and prolonged photocurrent decay, originated from charge trapping in the MoS2-organic vertical stack. The curved neuromorphic image sensor array integrated with a plano-convex lens derives a pre-processed image from a set of noisy optical inputs without redundant data storage, processing, and communications as well as without complex optics. The proposed imaging device can substantially improve efficiency of the image acquisition and recognition process, a step forward to the next generation machine vision., Designing efficient bio-inspired visual recognition system remains a challenge. Here the authors present a curved neuromorphic image sensor array based on a heterostructure of MoS2 and pV3D3 integrated with a plano-convex lens for efficient image acquisition and data pre-processing.

High supersonic vehicles are exposed to high temperature generated by aerodynamic heating. Thermal protection system structures are used on the skin of the fuselage and wings to prevent the transfer of high temperatures into the interior of the vehicle. Thin skin panels can be exposed to acoustic loads by high power engine noise and jet flow noise, which can cause sonic fatigue damage. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the behavior of supersonic/hypersonic vehicle skin structures under thermal-acoustic loads and to predict fatigue life. In this paper, thermal-acoustic testing of titanium specimens under thermal-acoustic load was performed. The response stress history of the specimen was obtained, and the fatigue life was predicted using the time and frequency domain fatigue life prediction method. The effect of the mean stress on the predicted results of the time and frequency domian fatigue life was analyzed. Stress history was generated using a sine series of random phases from stress PSD without phase information. The fatigue life in the generated stress history was predicted using the time and frequency domain fatigue life prediction methods. As the temperature increased, the mean stress of the response stress and the error in the frequency domain fatigue life prediction results increased. The error in the frequency domain fatigue life prediction results with the mean stress effect were greatly reduced by considering the completely reversed stress.

Most cerebellar ataxias (CAs) are incurable neurological disorders, resulting in a lack of voluntary control by inflamed or damaged cerebellum. Although CA can be either directly or indirectly related to cerebellar inflammation, there is no suitable animal model of CA with neuroinflammation. In this study, we evaluated the utility of an intracerebellar injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to generate an animal model of inflammatory CA. We observed that LPS administration induced the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules following activation of glial cells. In addition, the administration of LPS resulted in apoptotic Purkinje cell death and induced abnormal locomotor activities, such as impaired motor coordination and abnormal hindlimb clasping posture. Our results suggest that intracerebellar LPS administration in experimental animals may be useful for studying the inflammatory component of CA.

Background and Objectives Keloids are benign dermal fibrous growth and excessive collagen deposition that occur usually after trauma or surgery. In the treatment of keloids, the recurrence rate is relatively high after surgical excision. Fillet flap is known to be a good surgical method for keloid lesions. The purpose of this study is to find out manifestation and compare the results of ear keloids after the surgery by fillet flap.Subjects and Method We retrospectively evaluated 22 patients with ear keloids (n=31) who underwent core excision with fillet flap at the Department of Dermatology, Chosun University Hospital from May 2010 to June 2018.Results With the 22 of treated patients and 31 ear keloid lesions, the average size of keloid lesions was 0.75×1.05 cm2 . The frequencies of occurrence with respect to the location of keloids according to the anatomical structure of the ear were 12 lobule (38.7%), 17 helix (54.8%), 1 antihelical fold (3.2%), and 1 postauricle (3.2%), respectively. There were 14 lobular types (45.2%), 9 dumbbell types (29.0%), 5 button types (16.1%), and 3 wrap-around type (9.7%). Recurrence was found in 8 keloid lesions (25.8%) and 5 patients (22.7%) after the surgery. Earlobe lesions and dumbbell shaped recurred with the highest recurrence rate. Among the 5 patients who relapsed, 4 had family history of keloids.Conclusion The earlobe and dumbbell shaped types showed the highest recurrence rate and family history was also an important risk factor for recurrence. Also, surgical excision with fillet flap can be very effective and is a good way to treat ear keloids.

Conventional wide-field-of-view cameras consist of multi-lens optics and flat image sensor arrays, which makes them bulky and heavy. As a result, they are poorly suited to advanced mobile applications such as drones and autonomous vehicles. In nature, the eyes of aquatic animals consist of a single spherical lens and a highly sensitive hemispherical retina, an approach that could be beneficial in the development of synthetic wide-field-of-view imaging systems. Here, we report an aquatic-vision-inspired camera that consists of a single monocentric lens and a hemispherical silicon nanorod photodiode array. The imaging system features a wide field of view, miniaturized design, low optical aberration, deep depth of field and simple visual accommodation. Furthermore, under vignetting, the photodiode array enables high-quality panoramic imaging due to the enhanced photodetection properties of the silicon nanorod photodiodes. By integrating a single monocentric lens with a hemispherical silicon nanorod photodiode array, a wide-field-of-view camera is created that offers low optical aberration, deep depth of field and simple visual accommodation.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can be found in pigeon droppings, hay, and dust. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) without systemic involvement is recognized as a distinct clinical condition and is rarely reported in immunocompetent patients. A 78-year-old woman with no history of other diseases except for hypertension presented with a painful diffuse erythematous plaque along with oozing on left forearm that had lasted for 7 weeks. She was treated with cefoperazone/sulbactam for 3 weeks under suspicion of bacterial cellulitis, although the lesions aggravated without any improvement. We performed bacterial and fungal cultures as well as incisional biopsy. The pathogen was identified as Cryptococcus neoformans following sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer gene. The patient was treated with fluconazole 400 mg/day for 3 months, and there was no evidence of recurrence after 3 months of follow-up.

Semiconductor metal oxide gas sensors do not provide selective and sensitive gas adsorption under humid conditions owing to the deactivation of active sites by environmental humidity, leading to inaccurate signals in practical applications. Therefore, it is essential to explore organic-based gas sensors that are highly stable against variations in humidity without loss of selectivity and sensitivity toward the target gas. Herein, we demonstrate that a gas sensor integrated with two-dimensional covalent organic nanosheets (CONs) can show highly sensitive and reliable NO2 sensing performance at high humidity levels. The CON-based sensor can selectively detect the target gas to the 20 ppb level, and is thermally stable up to 300 °C, which is much above the typical working temperature for NO2 sensing. More importantly, the relative humidity change from 0 to 87% neither affects the baseline resistance nor the gas response of the CON sensor; the initial gas response is almost constant in repeated NO2 adsorption/desorption tests. Such excellent sensing stability at high humidity levels is ascribed to the superhydrophobic nature of CONs originating from their strong covalent bonds and additional nitrogen–sulfur bonds in the networks as confirmed by water contact angle (135.4°) measurements and density functional theory calculations.

The indications for and the optimal biopsy approach in pituitary stalk-hypothalamic (PsH) lesions are controversial. Biopsies through an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for PsH lesions have often been considered to cause the infundibulo-tuberal syndrome. The purpose of this study was to analyze the surgical and endocrinological safety of EEA biopsies for PsH lesions. A total of 39 consecutive patients who underwent an EEA biopsy between June 2011 and August 2020 in a single institute were retrospectively analyzed. The ophthalmological and endocrinological outcomes were assessed before and after surgery. PsH lesions were confirmed to be diverse pathological diagnoses, ranging from lymphocytic hypophysitis to diffuse midline glioma, and the most common pathologic diagnosis was a germinoma (18 patients, 46.2%). No patients developed visual deterioration after the biopsy. In patients without preoperative panhypopituitarism, 13 out of 28 patients (46.4%) developed new anterior pituitary hormonal deficiencies after the biopsy. When the tissue was collected from the stalk, the endocrinological deterioration rate was 100% (6 of 6 patients), while the rate was 31.8% (7 of 22 patients) when tissue could be harvested from an extra-stalk lesion. The rate of newly developed permanent diabetes insipidus after surgery was 40.9% (9 of 22 patients). The median surgery time was 125 min, and there was no postoperative CSF leakage or infections noted. An EEA biopsy for PsH lesions is a safe and efficient surgical method unless the tissue is collected from the stalk.

The design of the 77-GHz radar absorbing materials (RAMs) that are suitable for the automotive environment is conducted using a square-patch frequency-selective surface (SP-FSS) on the surface of a grounded dielectric substrate. The inductance ( $L$ ) and capacitance ( $C$ ) of the SP-FSS were determined using the strip wire conductor model and used for determining the resonance frequency and substrate thickness. Impedance matching is satisfied at 77 GHz with a controlled FSS resistance matched to the free-space impedance. The optimized surface resistance of the SP-FSS conductor is $R_{s} = 94\,\,\Omega $ /sq (corresponding to the circuit resistance $R = 377\,\,\Omega$ ) for the lowest reflection loss of −37 dB at 77 GHz. The experimental result with a test sample prepared by the screen printing method is in good agreement with the simulation result and verifies the validity of the proposed design method.

Augmented reality (AR) offers a new medical treatment approach. We aimed to evaluate frameless fixation navigation using a 3D-printed patient model with fixed-AR technology for gammaknife radiosurgery. Fixed-AR navigation was developed using the inside-out method with visual inertial odometry algorithms, and the flexible Quick Response (QR) marker was created for object-feature recognition. Virtual 3D-patient models for AR-rendering were created via 3D-scanning utilizing TrueDepth and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to generate a new GammaKnife IconTM model. A 3D-printed patient model included fiducial markers, and virtual 3D-patient models were used to validate registration accuracy. Registration accuracy between initial frameless fixation and re-fixation navigated fixed-AR was validated through visualization. The quantitative method was validated through set-up errors, fiducial marker coordinates, and high-definition motion management (HDMM) values. 3D-printed models and virtual models were correctly overlapped under frameless fixation. Virtual models from both 3D-scanning and CBCT were enough to tolerate the navigated frameless re-fixation. Although the CBCT virtual model consistently delivered more accurate results, 3D-scanning was sufficient. Frameless re-fixation accuracy navigated in virtual models had mean set-up errors within 1 mm and 1.5° in all axes. Mean fiducial marker differences from coordinates in virtual models were within 2.5 mm in all axes, and mean 3D errors were within 3 mm. Mean HDMM difference values in virtual models were within 1.5 mm of initial HDMM values. The variability from navigation fixed-AR is enough to consider repositioning frameless fixation without CBCT scanning for treating patients fractionated with large multiple metastases lesions (>3 cm) who have difficulty enduring long beam-on time. This system could be applied to novel radiosurgery navigation for frameless fixation with reduced preparation time.

South Korea has been evaluated as a country that is responding well to COVID-19. The Government of the Republic of Korea discloses where, when, and by which means of transportation people confirmed to have the virus have visited. Although disclosure of movement has contributed to flattening the curve and providing timely medical service, concerns about privacy infringement have also been raised. This article determines what factors influence privacy risk tolerance, looking specifically at threat severity, vulnerability, response efficacy, and response cost. We also provide implications for the preparation of better countermeasures for the government to implement.

The Archimedes screw turbine (AST) is the most sustainable mini-hydropower extraction method that offers number of economic, social, and environmental advantages. Nowadays, many researchers are interested in AST development as it is considered a new technology. Currently, a lot of researchers are conducting experimental testing of the screws, comparing their reliability with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. Almost all of them are lab-scale testing models that claiming an average 80% efficiency for low pitch angles. In the case of a real site with a small inclination angle, the length of the screw is large enough to cause severe problems, specially related to bending of the screw. Therefore, this research was conducted to analyze the CFD flow field in a real site-scale AST with the maximum possible inclination of 45 degrees. In addition, the design was done without the upper and lower reservoir as it was conceived as a run-of-river flow system. The simulated real scale AST result showed a maximum efficiency of around 82% for a 5.2 m hydraulic head and 0.232 m3/s discharge. Many researchers claim above 80% efficiency for low inclination angle ASTs with reservoirs. This CFD study indicates that even higher inclination angle ASTs can achieve 80% efficiency in run-of-river; real-scale applications.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe mucocutaneous adverse reaction characterized by extensive necrosis and epidermal detachment involving more than 30% of the body surface area (BSA). It is commonly triggered by antiepileptics, sulfonamide antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A 22-year-old female without any underlying medical history presented with painful multiple erythematous bullae and plaques of varied sizes throughout the body for 1 day. On the second hospitalization day (HD), the bullae progressively coalesced, leading to epidermal detachment involving 60% of the BSA. On the fifth HD, the patient had a tonic-clonic seizure with eyeball deviation for 5 minutes. She was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and administered lorazepam 4 mg and levetiracetam 1,500 mg. Brain computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid examination showed no abnormalities. Although the patient had delirium and additional seizures while in the ICU, her condition improved without any complications after 5 weeks of inpatient treatment. Several complications of TEN such as dehydration, malnutrition, sepsis, and ophthalmic and pulmonary complications have been reported; however, seizures have not been reported yet. Herein, we report a case of seizure in a patient during treatment for TEN. (Ann Dermatol 32(4) 334∼336, 2020)

Nanostructured cellulose fabric with an air-bubble-enhanced anti-oil fouling property is introduced for quick oil-cleaning by water even with the surface fouled by oil before water contact under a dry state. It is very challenging to recover the super-hydrophilicity because once the surface is oil-fouled, it is hard to be re-wetted by water. Anti-oil-fouling under a dry state was realized through two main features of the nanostructured, porous fabric: a low solid fraction with high-aspect-ratio nanostructures significantly increasing the retracting forces, and trapped multiscale air bubbles increasing the buoyancy and backpressure for an oil-layer rupture. The nanostructures were formed on cellulose-based rayon microfibers through selective etching with oxygen plasma, forming a nanoscale open-pore structure. Viscous crude oil fouled on a fabric under a dry state was cleaned by immersion into water owing to a higher water affinity of the rayon material and low solid fraction of the high-aspect-ratio nanostructures. Air bubbles trapped in dry porous fibers and nanostructures promote oil detachment from the fouled sites. The macroscale bubbles add buoyancy on top of the oil droplets, enhancing the oil receding at the oil-water-solid interface, whereas the relatively smaller microscale bubbles induce a backpressure underneath the oil droplets. The oil-proofing fabric was used for protecting underwater conductive sensors, allowing a robot fish to swim freely in oily water.

Microsphaeropsis arundinis is a dematiaceous fungus capable of causing soft tissue infections known as phaeohyphomycosis, mostly in immunocompromised individuals. These infections arise from the traumatic inoculation of fungal materials into the subcutis, and can spread to adjacent subcutaneous tissues or via the lymphatics in a sporotrichoid manner. A 76-year-old man presented with diffuse erythematous plaques and swelling on both forearms and dorsal hands, and rhinalgia. He had been undergoing treatment for hypertension, angina pectoris, and diabetes. Histopathologic examinations of the skin, painful nasal septum, and molecular identification using internal transcribed spacer regions confirmed a diagnosis of subcutaneous and intranasal phaeohyphomycosis caused by M. arundinis. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole for over 5 months, and no recurrence was observed until the time of writing this manuscript. We report a rare case of subcutaneous and intranasal phaeohyphomycosis caused by M. arundinis and propose that confirmation of the causative strains is necessary, as it could affect the prognosis and treatment of the disease.

A design for a conformal load-bearing SATCOM array antenna structure (CLSAAS) is presented in this paper. The newly proposed composite structure uses a 64 patch-type array antenna, which is controlled with electrical beam steering. The main requirement of the CLSAAS is that a structural deformation should be lower than 1% of the side length of the structure. The structure consists of two components: the main load-bearing composite structure as the housing, and the electrical window as the radome. To minimize the antenna position deformation, the housing is designed much stiffer than the radome structure. The composite lay-up gird structure is also applied on the floor of the housing. Numerical simulation is conducted to find out appropriate operating load condition and calculate strain and deformation. The housing is fabricated as carbon fabric-reinforced plastics and the radome is fabricated as quartz/cyanate esters. A full-scale static structural testing provides the design feasibility and proof of the design concept. It is shown that the proposed composite structure ensures to minimize the deformation under loading without any interference.

Mycobacterium abscessus comprises rapidly growing mycobacteria, and the clinical manifestations of M. abscessus skin infection include papule, nodule, ulcer, scar and mixed form. The cutaneous infections have been reported due to minor trauma, cosmetic therapy, acupuncture and disseminated infection. A 75-year-old man presented with pruritic diffuse various sized erythematous papuloplaques and pustules on the neck and chest for 2 months. The cutaneous lesions were spread around the wound of the shaving on the neck. The histopathologic findings were consistent with abscess showing infiltrations of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the dermis and negative findings were observed on immunohistochemical stain including acid-fast bacilli stain. One month later, mycobacterial culture result showed positive findings, and the pathogen was identified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with hybridization. The patient was treated with combination of clarithromycin and ethambutol for 5 months and there is no evidence of recurrence after 6 months of follow-up. Herein, we report a case of M. abscessus cutaneous infection through minor trauma caused by shaving in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE With the advancement of 3D modeling techniques and visualization devices, augmented reality (AR)–based navigation (AR navigation) is being developed actively. The authors developed a pilot model of their newly developed inside-out tracking AR navigation system. METHODS The inside-out AR navigation technique was developed based on the visual inertial odometry (VIO) algorithm. The Quick Response (QR) marker was created and used for the image feature–detection algorithm. Inside-out AR navigation works through the steps of visualization device recognition, marker recognition, AR implementation, and registration within the running environment. A virtual 3D patient model for AR rendering and a 3D-printed patient model for validating registration accuracy were created. Inside-out tracking was used for the registration. The registration accuracy was validated by using intuitive, visualization, and quantitative methods for identifying coordinates by matching errors. Fine-tuning and opacity-adjustment functions were developed. RESULTS ARKit-based inside-out AR navigation was developed. The fiducial marker of the AR model and those of the 3D-printed patient model were correctly overlapped at all locations without errors. The tumor and anatomical structures of AR navigation and the tumors and structures placed in the intracranial space of the 3D-printed patient model precisely overlapped. The registration accuracy was quantified using coordinates, and the average moving errors of the x-axis and y-axis were 0.52 ± 0.35 and 0.05 ± 0.16 mm, respectively. The gradients from the x-axis and y-axis were 0.35° and 1.02°, respectively. Application of the fine-tuning and opacity-adjustment functions was proven by the videos. CONCLUSIONS The authors developed a novel inside-out tracking–based AR navigation system and validated its registration accuracy. This technical system could be applied in the novel navigation system for patient-specific neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND To date, there has been no practical guidelines for the prescription of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in brain tumor patients in Korea. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, had begun preparing guidelines for AED usage in brain tumors since 2019. METHODS The Working Group was composed of 27 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified through searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of the keywords. RESULTS The core contents are as follows. Prophylactic AED administration is not recommended in newly diagnosed brain tumor patients without previous seizure history. When AEDs are administered during peri/postoperative period, it may be tapered off according to the following recommendations. In seizure-naive patients with no postoperative seizure, it is recommended to stop or reduce AED 1 week after surgery. In seizure-naive patients with one early postoperative seizure (

Objective The retroinfundibular and upper clival regions are challenging to access using the endoscopic endonasal approach because these regions are obstructed by the dorsum sellae and posterior clinoid processes. We evaluated the safety and clinical efficacy of endoscopic dorsum sellar resection (DSR) and identified the optimal indications for endoscopic DSR in patients with craniopharyngioma. Methods A retrospective study was conducted of patients who had undergone treatment with an endoscopic endonasal approach from January 2014 to January 2019. We identified a total of 50 patients who had undergone DSR. The indications for DSR included the following: 1) a tumor involving the upper clivus; 2) a tumor located behind the dorsum sellae; and 3) a tumor involving the interpeduncular or prepontine cistern. We evaluated the clinical outcomes, postoperative endocrinological status, and surgical morbidities. Results Of the 50 patients, 16 had been treated for craniopharyngioma, 30 for chordoma, 2 for pituitary adenoma, 1 for schwannoma, and 1 for chondrosarcoma. An extradural approach for DSR with posterior clinoidectomy was performed in 33 patients (66.0%) and an interdural transcavernous approach in 17 patients (34.0%). The overall gross total tumor resection rate was 92.0% (46 of 50 patients). Postoperatively, 28 of 33 patients (84.8%) with normal pituitary function preoperatively showed preservation of hormonal function postoperatively. Conclusions DSR with or without posterior clinoidectomy is a challenging procedure that requires considerable effort and advanced surgical techniques. However, it can be safely performed with accumulating experience and a thorough knowledge of the surrounding anatomical structures.

Portomesenteric vein gas (PVG) refers to the condition where gas is observed in the portal vein and mesenteric vein radiologically. PVG has been described most commonly in patients with severe symptomatic intra-abdominal necrosis. Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is most commonly seen in acute bowel

Immunotherapy via interleukin-2 (IL-2) mediated activation of anti-tumor immune response is a promising approach for cancer treatment. The multi-potent cytokine, IL-2 has a central role in immune cell activation and homeostasis. Since IL-2 preferentially activates immunosuppressive T regulatory cells by IL-2Rα dependent manner, blocking IL-2:IL-2Rα interaction is a key to amplify the IL-2 activity in effector T cells toward anti-tumor response. Anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibodies are good candidates to control the IL-2:IL-2Rα interaction. In a previous study, we developed a new IL-2Rα mimetic antibody, TCB2, and showed that the human IL-2(hIL-2):TCB2 complex can stimulate T effector cells specifically and elicit potent anti-cancer immunotherapeutic effect, especially when administered in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. To understand the molecular mechanism, we determined the crystal structure of TCB2-Fab in a complex with hIL-2 at 2.5 Å resolution. Our structural analysis reveals that TCB2 binds to the central area of the hIL-2Rα binding region on hIL-2, and binding angle and epitope are different from previously known hIL-2Rα mimicking antibody NARA1 which recognizes the top part of hIL-2. TCB2 binding to hIL-2 also induces an allosteric effect that increases the affinity for the hetero-dimeric hIL-2 receptor, IL-2R(β + γ), on effector T cells.

Archimedes Screw Turbine (AST) is a clean and renewable hydro source of energy. It is identified as the most sustainable hydropower generation method since it offer many economic, social, and environmental advantages. As an ecofriendly power generation method, AST has a minimum impact on wildlife; especially fishes. Further, ASTs are recording relatively high-efficiency having low installation and maintenance costs over other small scale hydropower generation methods. Furthermore, AST is considered as a solution to generate electricity in rural areas; where exists a hydro energy potential but hard to access to the national grid distribution. Due to these advantages, many researchers are interested in AST developments. Currently, there are hundreds of AST installations almost entirely in Europe. But AST technology is considered as relatively new hydro technology since there is no perfect theory or rule for the optimal hydraulic design and already installed AST power plants are highly dependent on the experience of the design engineer. Therefore, the development of AST technology is essential to utilize hydro energy all around the world. Now a day, many researchers are focusing on the theoretical design procedure for AST considering various losses. Almost many of them are lab testing scaled models claiming 80% average efficiency for low inclined angles. In the case of a real site having a small inclination, the length of the screw is getting larger enough to affect by bending forces and bearing limitation.Therefore, this research conducted to analyze the computational flow field in real scaled AST having the maximum possible inclination of 45 degrees. Initially, AST was supposed to install in a fish farm, operating under drainage water while discharging to sea. Further, the design was adopted without the upper and lower reservoir, since it planned as a run-of-river system. Since the lack of English guidance for the optimum design procedure of AST and after considering many kinds of research recommendations, the current screw turbine was designed according to Chris Rorris, “The optimum design for an Archimedes Screw,” which optimized for the screw pump. To come up with a reliable computational fluid dynamic (CFD) setup in Ansys CFX, several simulations were conducted to validate the already experimented small scale AST. The CFD result showed a good agreement with the reference study. Therefore, the designed AST simulated using the same CFD setup.Simulated, three-blade real scale AST resulted in 80% maximum efficiency for 5m hydraulic head. The turbine’s outer diameter was calculated as 1.2m, which is suitable for 0.23m3/s and 45 degrees’ inclination. When examining the CFD result, large overflow observed at the first few screw turns because of the incoming water velocity. It can recognize as a power loss. But, relatively higher force distribution observed on the same screw turns because the water strike on the screw blades generates additional force. After the water passes the first few screw-turns, it follows a steady flow field having almost the same water volume per bucket while generating the same pressure difference on each blade as a major driven force. But there can notice a small over-flowing at every screw turn because of the high inclination of the screw. At the same time, water leakage could be observed through the 5mm gap between the screw tip and the trough wall all alone the screw length. At the end of the screw, the highest pressure difference generates on the screw blade because of no backpressure built at the outlet since it is only open to atmosphere. Further, the Rorris’ optimized ratios are identified as compatible ratios for the screw turbine even they are optimized for the screw pump. Since the main driven force in AST is the pressure difference generated by the weight of water, Rorris’ optimized method of maximizing the water volume per bucket is an almost suitable design procedure even for AST design.Many researchers claim about relatively low efficiency for AST in higher inclinations. Finally, this CFD study concluded with claiming that even for 45degree inclined real-scale AST can achieve about 80% hydraulic efficiency in run-of-river system by maintaining the optimum bucket water level with small leakage gap and optimum screw pitch length.

Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) are neurological diseases characterized by loss of muscle coordination that is a result of damage and inflammation to the cerebellum. Despite considerable efforts in basic and clinical research, most CAs are currently incurable. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) against CAs associated with neuroinflammation. We observed that hMSC treatment significantly inhibited the symptoms of ataxia in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory CA (ICA) mice, which were recently reported as a potential animal model of ICA, through the anti-inflammatory effect of hMSC-derived TNFα-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6), the protection of Purkinje cells by inhibition of apoptosis, and the modulatory effect for microglial M2 polarization. Thus, our results suggest that hMSC treatment may be an effective therapeutic approach for preventing or improving ataxia symptoms.

We present that aquatic-vision-inspired camera with unique optical features of ultra-slim, wide field-of-view, and high resolution based on hemispherical photodiode array and tailored monocentric lens.

This study presents the development results of Conformal SATCOM Array Antenna Structure(CSAAS) for transmitting. Tile Type antenna with 8x8 antenna element array has been developed instead of reflector antenna. 8x8 tile antennas are arrayed on the curved surface with one directional curvature to simulate aircraft skin configuration. Housing has the grid structure to minimize out-of-plane deformation that affects the antenna performances. Tile antennas are attached to the surfaces between grids. Radome is designed as an A-sandwich type to carry some distributed skin load and glass epoxy material with lowest dielectric constant and loss tangent was used for the best electromagnetic performance. One tile antenna is designed with a separate data control and power connection for vertical and horizontal polarization. The static structural strength of the housing and impact strength of the radome were verified by the analysis and tests. Beam pattern test, beam control test and beam steering test are performed in an anechoic chamber for the transmitting CSAAS. The results of structural and electromagnetic tests showed that the design objects met the goal successfully.

By reducing the trouble of searching and selecting the right information, recommendation systems help users obtain information efficiently. However, recommendation systems also raise concerns over privacy issues. This paper thus examined consumers’ intentions to provide personal information based on the dual calculus model which incorporates two interrelated trade-offs. An online survey targeting those who have experience using YouTube was conducted. Five distinct types of personal information (usage patterns, personal identifiers, biographical information, usage context, and feedback information) were selected based on an exploratory factor analysis. The results imply that perceived benefits, convenience, and vulnerability do not have significant effects on intention to disclose information. Perceived severity, however, had a significant negative effect on intention to disclose all types of information. Coping efficacy showed positive effects on willingness to disclose personal data except for feedback information. Self-efficacy, on the other hand, had a positive effect only on disclosing feedback information. This study expands the scope of discussion on personal information by reflecting the recent expansion of the collection and use of information for recommendation systems. It also sheds light on how to identify and handle each type of information differently.

In South Korea (RE PUBLIC OF KOREA ), there has been a recent increase in the deployment of renewable energy sources. Concerns regarding environmental impacts from traditional fossil-fuel generation resulted in a 227% increase in renewable energy in 2015, compared to 2008. The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy is considering generating 20% of the nation's electricity using renewable resources by 2030, up from 6.2% in 2017, according to the Renewable Energy 3020 Implementation Plan (signifying that in 2030 there should be 20% of energy from renewables) and the Eighth Basic Plan for Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand, which were announced in December 2017. To aid in achieving this goal, it is expected that the capacity of renewable energy equipment to be supplied by 2030 will be 48.7 GW.

We consider the problem of learning and inference in a large-scale knowledge graph containing incomplete knowledge. We show that a simple neural network module for relational reasoning through the path extracted from the knowledge base can be used to reliably infer new facts for the missing link. In our work, we used path ranking algorithm to extract the relation path from knowledge graph and use it to build train data. In order to learn the characteristics of relation, a detour path between nodes was created as training data using the extracted relation path. Using this, we trained a model that can predict whether a given triple (Head entity, relation, tail entity) is valid or not. Experiments show that our model obtains better link prediction, relation prediction and triple classification results than previous state-of-the-art models on benchmark datasets WN18RR, FB15k-237, WN11 and FB13.

Summary Early quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) technologies have unsatisfactory versatility and accuracy in fields such as drug discovery because they are based on traditional machine learning and interpretive expert features. The development of Big Data and deep learning technologies significantly improve the processing of unstructured data and unleash the great potential of QSAR. Here we discuss the integration of wet experiments (which provide experimental data and reliable verification), molecular dynamics simulation (which provides mechanistic interpretation at the atomic/molecular levels), and machine learning (including deep learning) techniques to improve QSAR models. We first review the history of traditional QSAR and point out its problems. We then propose a better QSAR model characterized by a new iterative framework to integrate machine learning with disparate data input. Finally, we discuss the application of QSAR and machine learning to many practical research fields, including drug development and clinical trials., Graphical abstract, Data analysis in structural biology; Machine learning; Structural biology

This study aimed to assess whether surveillance intensity is associated with recurrence and survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Overall, 3794 patients with pathologic stage I–III CRC who underwent radical surgery between January 2012 and December 2014 were examined. Surveillance comprised abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) every 6 months and chest CT annually for 5 years. Patients who underwent more than and less than an average of three imaging examinations annually were assigned to the high-intensity (HI) and low-intensity (LI) groups, respectively. Demographics were similar in both groups. T and N stages were higher and perineural and lymphovascular invasion were more frequent in the HI group (p &lt, 0.001 each). The mean overall survival (OS) was similar for both groups, however, recurrence-free survival (RFS) was longer (p &lt, 0.001) and post-recurrence survival (PRS) was shorter (p = 0.024) in the LI group. In the multivariate analysis, surveillance intensity was associated with RFS (p &lt, 0.001) in contrast to PRS (p = 0.731). In patients with high recurrence risk predicted using the nomogram, OS was longer in the HI group (p &lt, 0.001). A higher imaging frequency in patients at high risk of recurrence could be expected to lead to a slight increase in PRS but does not improve OS. Therefore, rather than increasing the number of CT scans in high-risk patients, other imaging modalities or innovative approaches, such as liquid biopsy, are required.

Background Immunosuppression and age-related deficiencies in cell-mediated immunity are important factors for the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper 17 (Th17) cells are closely associated with various viral infections. Objective We analyzed Treg cells and Th17 cells in patients with herpes zoster and investigated their relationship with the reactivation of latent VZV. Methods Treg and Th17 cells in peripheral blood and the ratio of Th17 to Treg cells were examined in patients with herpes zoster and healthy controls. Changes between pre-treatment and post-treatment estimates of Treg and Th17 cells and clinical parameters in patients with herpes zoster were also analyzed. Results The proportion of circulating Th17 cells and the Th17/Treg cell ratio were significantly higher in patients with herpes zoster than controls (p=0.012, 0.013), but there was no significant difference in the proportion of Treg cells between groups. There was no significant difference in the proportions of Treg and Th17 cells and the Th17/Treg cell ratio before and after treatment and between the non-postherpetic neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia groups. Changes in Treg and Th17 cells and the Th17/Treg cell ratio were not significantly correlated with changes in the visual analog scale. Body surface area was significantly correlated with Treg cells, Th17 cells, and the Th17/Treg cell ratio (p=0.022, 0.002, 0.004). Conclusion An imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells is associated with the reactivation of VZV, which may contribute to pathogenesis of herpes zoster.