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Purpose This study aimed to examine the causes of death in Korean patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and investigate the relationship between comorbidity and mortality. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study including 4,064 consecutive patients who had prostate cancer and underwent radical prostatectomy between January 1998 and June 2013. The primary endpoint of this study was all-cause mortality, and the secondary endpoints were cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and other-cause mortality (OCM). Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was calculated to assess the comorbidities of each patient. Results Of 4,064 patients, 446 (11.0%) died during follow-up. The cause of death was prostate cancer in 132 patients (29.6%), other cancers in 121 patients (27.1%), and vascular disease in 57 patients (12.8%) in our cohort. The overall 10-year CSM rate was lower than the OCM rate (4.6% vs. 10.5%). The 10-year CSM rate was lower than the OCM rate in low- to intermediate-risk group patients (1.2% vs. 10.6%), whereas they were similar in high-risk group patients (11.8% vs. 10.1%). In the multivariable analysis, CCI was independently associated with all-cause mortality after radical prostatectomy, regardless of age and pathologic features. Conclusion Death from prostate cancer was rare in Korean men who underwent radical prostatectomy. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of overtreatment of low-risk prostate cancer in men with significant comorbidity. Our findings may help to facilitate counseling and plan management in this patient group.

The clinical implications of postoperative detection of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer are largely unknown. We investigated the association between postoperative circulating tumor cell detection after radical prostatectomy and disease recurrence in prospectively enrolled patients with prostate cancer.A total of 203 patients with an undetectable prostate specific antigen who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were prospectively enrolled. Circulating tumor cell sampling was performed at a median of 4.5 months after surgery. The primary end point was biochemical recurrence-free survival. Detection of circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients was performed using a novel approach with a replication-competent adenovirus controlled by prostate specific antigen/prostate specific membrane antigen transcription regulatory elements (Ad5/35E1aPSESE4).Circulating tumor cells were detected in 73 (36.0%) patients with undetectable prostate specific antigen concentrations after surgery. The 3-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rate from the time of surgery was significantly higher in circulating tumor cell-negative than in circulating tumor cell-positive cases (81.6% vs 48.9%, log rank p0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that postoperative circulating tumor cell detection was independently associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence (HR 5.42, 95% CI 3.24-9.06, p0.001). C-index was increased in combinations of multivariable model and postoperative circulating tumor cell detection compared with the multivariable model alone.Circulating tumor cells in the blood were frequently detected in patients with undetectable prostate specific antigen levels after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. Furthermore, circulating tumor cell detection was associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence, suggesting that circulating tumor cell detection precedes prostate specific antigen rise after surgery in cases of prostate cancer recurrence. Large-scale validation is needed in the future.

Background: While aspirin use is known to be associated with reduced incidence of various cancer types, it is unclear whether this benefit extends to thyroid cancer. We aimed to evaluate the associ...

Amorphous structures of the as-cast bulk metallic glass samples (BMGs) of Cu60Zr25Ti15 and (Cu60Zr25Ti15)95Ni5 alloys are confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Isothermal crystallization kinetics of these BMGs are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. For both the alloys, the apparent activation energy (Ea) shows a strong dependency on crystallization volume fraction (x). Isothermal crystallization kinetic parameters are calculated by Arrhenius and Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equations. Avrami exponential factor (n) is also found to show clear correlation with the crystallization volume fraction (x). It is found that the crystallization process is easier in Cu60Zr25Ti15 BMG than in (Cu60Zr25Ti15)95Ni5 BMG as the Ea decreases constantly for the former alloy though in the case of second alloy, the Ea is almost unchanged up to x = 60%. For both the alloys, nucleation activation energy (Enucleation) is found to be higher than that of growth activation energy (Egrowth). This indicates that the growth of crystals during isothermal crystallization in these glasses is easier than nucleation, and the minor addition of Ni causes the higher thermal stability against crystallization in isothermal condition.

Recently, applications of biomass-based plastics have increased according to the eco-friendly policy of the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in domestic and foreign government. In this study, a paper plastic composite was produced by compounding polypropylene and micronized paper powder that was prepared using dry pulverization technology. Subsequently, the specimen of paper plastic was verified with mechanical properties, formability and product safety test to confirm the suitable packaging materials for food packaging. Paper plastics showed slightly lower mechanical properties than currently commercialized PP composites. However, paper plastics are valuable materials as environmentally friendly carbon-reducing material because of high biocarbon content, light weight features and applicability of existing manufacturing machines or system.

PurposeWe investigated the efficacy of temozolomide during and after radiotherapy in Korean adults with anaplastic gliomas without 1p/19q co-deletion.Materials and MethodsThis was a randomized, open-label, phase 2 study and notably the first multicenter trial for Korean grade III glioma patients. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older and had newly diagnosed non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive radiotherapy alone (60 Gy in 30 fractions of 2 Gy) (control group, n=44) or to receive radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide (75 mg/m2/day) followed by adjuvant temozolomide (150-200 mg/m2/day for 5 days during six 28-day cycles) (treatment group, n=40). The primary end-point was 2-year progression-free survival (PFS). Seventy patients (83.3%) were available for the analysis of the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 gene (IDH1) mutation status.ResultsThe two-year PFS was 42.2% in the treatment group and 37.2% in the control group. Overall survival (OS) did not reach to significant difference between the groups. In multivariable analysis, age was a significant risk factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 4.16). The IDH1 mutation was the only significant prognostic factor for PFS (HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.59) and OS (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.50). Adverse events over grade 3 were seen in 16 patients (40.0%) in the treatment group and were reversible.ConclusionConcurrent and adjuvant temozolomide in Korean adults with newly diagnosed non-co- deleted anaplastic gliomas showed improved 2-year PFS. The survival benefit of this regimen needs further analysis with long-term follow-up at least more than 10 years.

A 9-MeV electron linear accelerator based on C-band microwaves for medical applications is being assembled at the Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (DIRAMS). The accelerating column has an on-axis coupled structure and will be operated with a π/2-mode standing wave. Parameters of the cavities are selected based on simulations with CST MICROWAVE STUDIO® (CST MWS), and the cold test and micro-machining are performed to obtain the desired RF characteristics of the cavity. Then, the bead-pull test is conducted to measure the RF properties of the full accelerating column structure. The fabrication of the C-band accelerating column and the results of the low-power RF tests are discussed.

A uniform electron field is required for medical applications of electron linear accelerators (LINACs). Electron irradiation devices, including scattering foils and applicators for generating uniform electron fields, are widely used in medical LINACs. In this research, an electron scattering device consisting of scattering foils and applicators was designed for clinical application of a 9-MeV electron LINAC planned at the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to calculate the depth dose and the beam profile curves in a water phantom by using the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code.

The 6-MeV C-band standing-wave accelerator was constructed in 2015 and is providing for the beam service. The new 9-MeV accelerator was designed and constructed in 2018 at the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (DIRAMS), Busan, Korea. The 5712 MHz accelerating column was designed with an average accelerating gradient of 16.7 MV/m at a pulsed resonance frequency (RF) power of 2.5 MW. The C-band coaxial magnetron was chosen for its high RF power of 2.5 MW and RF frequency of 5712 ± 10 MHz. While the 6-MeV accelerator was operating using a magnetron manufactured by BVERI, China, the 9-MeV accelerator uses a magnetron manufactured by CPI, USA. Though the CPI magnetron requires more heating power and precise heating control for high repetition operation, the frequency spectrum and the RF power distribution are satisfactory for our accelerating columns. The magnetron installed on the 9-MeV accelerator was tested with the 6-MW pulse modulator based on the thyratron-switched pulse-forming network and is currently operating for accelerator RF conditioning. In this paper, we present a brief description of the 9-MeV accelerator, the integration of the RF transport systems and the commissioning status. We also discuss the results obtained during the early commissioning and future plan.

Gamma-rays and fast and thermal neutron attenuation features of (Bi2O3)x–(TeO2)(100−x) (where x = 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 mol%) and [(TeO2)0.7–(B2O3)0.3](1−x)–(Bi2O3)x (where x = 0.05, 0.10, 0,15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.3 mol%) glass systems have been explored and compared. For all samples, mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) are estimated within 0.015–15 MeV photon energy range by MCNP5 simulation code and correlated with WinXCom results, which showed a satisfactory agreement between computed μ/ρ values by these both methods. Additionally, effective atomic number (Zeff), effective electron density (Neff), half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), total atomic cross-section (σa), and total electronic cross-section (σe) are calculated by utilizing μ/ρ values. The μ/ρ, Zeff, and Neff are energy dependent and have higher values at the lowest energy and smaller values at higher energies. Moreover, using the G–P fitting method as a function of penetration depth (up to 40 mfp) and incident photon energy (0.015–15 MeV range), exposure buildup factors (EBFs) and energy absorption buildup factors (EABFs) are evaluated. Both 85TeO2–15Bi2O3 (mol%) and 49TeO2–21B2O3–30Bi2O3 (mol%) samples, by possessing higher values of Zeff, exhibit minimum EBF and EABF values. Highest μ/ρ, Zeff values and lowest HVL, TVL, MFP values of 49TeO2–21B2O3–30Bi2O3 (mol%) sample indicated its better gamma-ray absorption capability among all selected glasses. Further, macroscopic effective removal cross-section for fast neutrons (ΣR), coherent scattering cross-section (σcs), incoherent scattering cross-section (σics), absorption cross-section (σA), and total cross-section (σT) values for thermal neutron attenuation have been computed. Among all samples, 49TeO2–21B2O3–30Bi2O3 (mol%) glass possesses a better ΣR value for fast neutron attenuation, while the largest ‘σT’ value of 66.5TeO2–28.5B2O3–5Bi2O3 (mol%) sample suggests its good thermal neutron absorption efficiency.

Earned Value Management (EVM) has been established as a project management technique for project monitoring and control. The traditional EVM performs well in forecasting Cost Performance index and other cost metrics. However, in terms of schedule performance, the accuracy of the forecasted schedule metrics through the traditional EVM approach are always questionable. The schedule performance is not measured in time unit but rather in monetary units or uses cost information, which may cause misleading in the interpretation of the EVM schedule metrics. The schedule performance is not accurately forecasted, resulting in underestimating the estimate at completion (t). Even the renowned Earned Schedule also uses cost as a proxy to determine the earned schedule. This paper presents a new EVM tool, Duration estimate at completion (DEAC-model) developed to accurately forecast the time estimate at completion. DEAC-model uses the actual time spent on each activity, either in progress or upon completion, where the Performance is measured in time units. The benefits of DEAC-model to project management team and researchers are that it can be used: 1) to forecast schedule metrics accurately so that resources can be effectively allocated to complete the remaining activities, 2) as a gauge to assess if the project can be completed within the plan schedule, and 3) to apply time series and simple linear regression model concepts using excel worksheet syntax to forecast duration estimate at completion that is easily applicable.

Angiogenesis is important for the proliferation and survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Bone marrow (BM) microvessel density (MVD) is a useful marker of angiogenesis and an increase in MVD can be used as a marker of poor prognosis in MM patients. We developed an automated image analyzer to assess MVD from images of BM biopsies stained with anti-CD34 antibodies using two color models. MVD was calculated by merging images from the red and hue channels after eliminating non-microvessels. The analyzer results were compared with those obtained by two experienced hematopathologists in a blinded manner using the 84 BM samples of MM patients. Manual assessment of the MVD by two hematopathologists yielded mean±SD values of 19.4±11.8 and 20.0±11.8. The analyzer generated a mean±SD of 19.5±11.2. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plot of the MVD results demonstrated very good agreement between the automated image analyzer and both hematopathologists (ICC=0.893 [0.840-0.929] and ICC=0.906 [0.859-0.938]). This automated analyzer can provide time- and labor-saving benefits with more objective results in hematology laboratories.

This study explores changes in means and extreme events of human-sensible temperature (HST), which is quantified by selective combination of Universal Apparent Temperature, Heat Index, and a new Wind Chill Index, in Korea for the last 100 years (1919-2018) and illustrates the synoptic patterns of the East Asian monsoon system (EAMS) for extreme HST events. The time series analyses show that HST has increased much faster than near-surface air temperature (AT) in winter due to decrease in wind chill as well as to increase in AT. On the other hand, HST in summer, which is higher than AT on average because of high humidity in monsoon climate, has increased at a slow rate compared with those in other seasons. However, more extremely hot, long-lasting HST events have been observed in recent decades, as in 1994, 2013, 2016, and 2018, with shorter recurrent intervals. Greater increases of HST than AT are more distinct in the southern region under maritime subtropical climate than in the temperate climate zone in the north in all seasons. Composite maps for multiple high or low HST extreme events reveal that a dipole pressure anomaly pattern, rather than the intensity at the center of these air masses, is more closely related to the frequency of extreme HST events in Korea: A west high-east low pattern in winter formed by the expansion of the Siberian High accompanying an intense migratory low pressure system, and a south high-north low pattern formed by the westward intrusion of the Northwest Pacific subtropical high in summer after earlier terminations of summer rainy period (Changma). These indicate that monitoring of changing EAMS's characteristics is crucial to the mitigation of potential damages caused by unprecedented HST extreme events in the warmer twenty-first century.

Authors aim to study multicomponent barium bismuth borate glasses doped with Dy3+ (1 mol%) for white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) application. All samples, synthesized through melt-quench approach, were characterized by XRD, optical absorption, excitation, emission, and decay lifetimes. Oscillator strengths and Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω2, Ω4, Ω6) for all glasses were computed from absorption spectra and further, radiative emission transition probability (AR), branching ratio (βR), and radiative lifetime (τR) were estimated for Dy3+ ion various excited states using J–O parameters. Upon 350 nm excitation, 4I15/2 → 6H15/2 [454 nm (blue)], 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 [483 nm (blue)], 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 [575 nm (yellow)], and 4F9/2 → 6H11/2- [663 nm (red)] emission transitions were observed among which 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transition exhibits the highest intensity. Dy3+: Li glass showed relatively higher PL intensity and quantum efficiency than Dy3+: Na and Dy3+: K samples. Calculated CIE chromaticity (x = ~ 0.35, y = ~ 0.39) coordinates (λex.: 350 nm) and CCTs (4749‒4890 K) proclaimed overall neutral white light emission from all samples, implying their suitability for WLED applications. Decay lifetimes (τexp) were determined for Dy3+: 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transition. Additionally, stimulated emission cross-section ($$\sigma^{\text{E}}_{\text{p}}$$) and gain bandwidth ($$\sigma^{\text{E}}_{\text{p}}$$ × Δλeff) were calculated for respective blue and yellow emission transitions.

Optical fiber is widely used in optical coherence tomography (OCT) to propagate light precisely with low attenuation and low dispersion. However, the total optical path length within the optical fiber varies in accordance with changes of the temperature. This leads changes in the total optical travel path of the interfering signals and results in shifting of OCT image position to an unintended depth pixel value. In this paper, we presented the temperature-based automatic path length compensating method in OCT to limit the external temperature effect and control the image position in micro-scale without manual movement of optical components. By utilizing developed hardware and software of automatic temperature control system, the external temperature of optical fiber is precisely regulated that evokes thermal expansion and finally changes the physical length of fiber, which is main mechanism of temperature-based path length compensating method. The effectiveness of the presented method was verified by two-dimensional OCT images of mirror and in vivo retina. The obtained results confirmed the path length variance due to temperature change is computable and can be regulated in real-time for whole pixel range of OCT image. Therefore, the proposed temperature-based path length compensating method can be used as an alternative method to precisely control the position of OCT image, while eliminating the effect of external temperature and apply to effectively configuring compact optical systems.

Dental crowns are used to restore decayed or chipped teeth, where their surfaces play a key role in this restoration process, as they affect the fitting and stable bonding of the prostheses. The surface texture of crowns can interfere with this restoration process, therefore the measurement of their inner surface roughness is very important but difficult to achieve using conventional imaging methods. In this study, the inner surfaces of dental crowns were three-dimensionally (3D) visualized using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system. Nine crowns were fabricated with a commercial 3D printer using three different hatching methods (one-way, cross, and 30° angle counter-clockwise) and three different build direction angles (0°, 45°, and 90°). In addition, an image processing algorithm was developed, which uses morphological filtering, boundary detection, and a high-pass frequency filtering technique, to quantitatively evaluate the inner surface roughness of the dental crowns cross-sections with the depth-of-focus set to match two different regions. The averaged smoothness of fabricated crown was effectively produced using the cross-hatching and the build direction angle of 90° by the respective process. Thus, the results confirm the potential use of this methodology to determine the best parameters to use in 3D fabrication for improving the effectiveness and stability of dental prostheses.

To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) related to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following primary or interval cytoreductive surgery for primary ovarian cancer.Between 2010 and 2016, a total of 184 patients were randomly assigned to receive cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC (n=92) or without HIPEC (n=92). Quality of life (QOL) assessment was evaluated at baseline (before surgery); on postoperative day 7; after the 3rd and 6th cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy; and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after randomization. Patient-reported QOL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30), ovarian cancer questionnaire modules (QLQ-OV28), and the MD Anderson Symptoms Inventory (MDASI).Of the 184 patients enrolled, 165 (83/92 in the HIPEC group and 82/92 in the control group) participated in the baseline QOL assessment. There were no statistically significant differences in functional scales and symptom scales in QLQ-C30; symptom scales, including gastrointestinal symptoms QLQ-OV28; and severity and impact score in MDASI between the 2 treatment groups until 12 months after randomization.HIPEC with cytoreductive surgery showed no statistically significant difference in HRQOL outcomes. Thus, implementation of HIPEC during either primary or interval cytoreductive surgery does not impair HRQOL.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01091636.

To minimize damage to people due to pollutants generated from construction work, it is essential to manage environmental performance by maintaining pollutant emissions below regulation stan...

Adequate shielding from ionizing radiations is essential in nuclear facilities because of such radiations’ adverse effects on humans in the event of unwanted or accidental exposure. In the current work, for four distinct compositions of B2O3-Li2O, Li2O-Na2O-K2O-B2O3, Gd2O3-SiO2-B2O3, and Bi2O3-Li2O-ZnO-B2O3 glass systems, neutron and γ-ray attenuation competencies combined with elastic features have been examined for feasible nuclear radiation protection purposes. ΣR (fast neutron removal cross-section) and for thermal energy neutrons σT (total cross-section) and SP (shielding percentage) were estimated. Comparably, in all samples, 50B2O3-10K2O-40Li2O (mol%) glass possesses larger ΣR (=0.11755 cm−1), whereas 25B2O3-37.5Si2O-37.5Gd2O3 (mol%) glass shows large σT (=646.171 cm−1) and SP for thermal neutrons at minimal thickness, indicating the included Gd2O3’s positive effect as element Gd has a high neutron absorption capacity. Employing the Phy-X/PSD program and MCNPX code, μ/ρ (mass attenuation coefficient) of all selected glasses is calculated for a γ-ray energy span of 0.015 – 15 MeV. Gd2O3 or Bi2O3 addition improved μ/ρ, and such increment is significant at low energies owing to PEA (photoelectric absorption) dominance and Gd or Bi K-edges. Also, for 15B2O3-10ZnO-5Li2O-70Bi2O3 (mol%) glass, μ/ρ has been derived by the WinXCOM program and FLUKA, Geant4, and PHITS codes, and a good accord between such simulated and theoretical μ/ρ outcomes is noticed following the calculated relative differences. Next, linear attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and electron density, MFP (mean free path), TVL (tenth-value layer), HVL (half-value layer), and RPE (radiation protection efficiency) have also been evaluated. Comparatively, at 1.25, 0.662, and 0.2 MeV energies, 15B2O3-10ZnO-5Li2O-70Bi2O3 (mol%) sample possesses lower MFP and HVL than five SCHOTT AG commercial glass shields. Approximated RPE results affirmed all Gd2O3-SiO2-B2O3 and Bi2O3-Li2O-ZnO-B2O3 samples’ potent absorption (almost 100%) ability for lower energy γ-rays. Moreover, equivalent atomic number, and by geometric progression fitting process, within energy 15 keV–15 MeV extent for ten different penetration depths at 1–40 mfp span buildup factors have been assessed. 15B2O3-10ZnO-5Li2O-70Bi2O3 (mol%) glass exhibits better gamma-ray shielding effectiveness in all chosen samples, specifying Bi2O3’s favorable impact. Changes in photon shielding factors were interpreted following pair production, Compton scattering, and PEA processes. Later, elastic (Young's (Y), bulk (K), shear (S), and longitudinal (L)) moduli and Poisson's ratio values have been calculated for all inspected glasses. BC (bond compression) and M-M (Makishima–Mackenzie) models were utilized for such elastic traits reckoning. All K, Y, S, and L values’ trends for binary B2O3-Li2O glasses were identical in both BC and M-M models, and Kbc was found to be raised from 73.63 to 89.89 GPa, while KM–M increased from 75.35 to 180.53 GPa accordingly when Li2O content improved from 9.6 to 39.9 mol% in the chemical composition. © 2022 The Author(s) 2-s2.0-85129475632

Background In malnourished patients, postoperative morbidity, hospitalization period, and medical expenses are reportedly to be high. We evaluated the clinical impact of a preoperative nutritional support program (PNSP) among malnourished cancer patients. Methods For this quasi-experimental study, we enrolled 90 patients who underwent major pancreatobiliary cancer surgery. Malnutrition was defined as at least one of the following: (1) Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) grade B or C; (2) > 10% weight loss within 6 months; (3) body mass index 2; and (4) serum albumin level < 3.0 g/dL. Forty-five malnourished patients allocated to the PNSP group received in-hospital PNSP for a median of 6 (4–35) days. In the PNSP group, the nutrition support team calculated the patients’ daily nutritional requirements based on their nutritional status and previous day’s intake. The supplementation targets were as follows: total calorie intake, 30–35 kcal/kg/day; protein intake, 1.2–1.5 g/kg/day; and lipid intake, 1–1.5 g/kg/day. Patients who did not meet the diagnostic criteria for malnutrition were allocated to the well-nourished group and underwent surgery without receiving the PNSP (n = 45). We compared the perioperative nutritional indices (as measured using PG-SGA), postoperative outcome, and quality of life (QOL) according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3.0. Results In the PNSP group, the proportion of patients with serum prealbumin p = 0.013). Moreover, patients with PG-SGA grade A had a statistically significant increase (2.2% vs. 50%, p < 0.001). The overall and major complication rates were higher in the PNSP group than in the well-nourished group without significance (51.1%, 33.3%; 42.2%, 26.7%, respectively). However, the overall and major complication rates were similar between the subgroup with PG-SGA improvement after PNSP and the well-nourished group (40.9% vs. 42.2%, p = 0.958; 27.3% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.525, respectively). QOL indicators in the PNSP group were comparable with those in the well-nourished group after PNSP. Conclusion PNSP may improve perioperative nutritional status and clinical outcomes among malnourished patients with pancreatobiliary cancer.

Herein, a highly efficient three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor-based heterostructure photocatalyst (i.e., WO3–g-C3N4 monolithic architecture; WOCNM) was developed by immobilizing a WO3–g-C3N4 heterostructure powder on a melamine foam (MF) framework. Subsequently, the sustained control of two harmful model gas-phase pollutants (i.e., n-butanol and o-xylene) over WOCNM and selected monolithic counterparts (i.e., MF-supported WO3 monolith and MF-supported g-C3N4 monolith) was investigated under visible-light irradiation. WOCNM exhibited higher photocatalytic capabilities in the sustained control of the two model pollutants than those of individual WO3 and g-C3N4 monoliths because the WO3–g-C3N4 heterojunction enhanced its charge-separation ability. Notably, WOCNM exhibited highly efficient photocatalytic capabilities in the sustained control of n-butanol (up to 97%) and o-xylene (up to 86%). Moreover, no noticeable changes were observed in the WOCNM photocatalytic capability after the final run of successive applications. The fresh and successively used WOCNMs were nearly identical, and the photocatalyst powder was not observed in the reaction chamber after its successive application. As a result, WOCNM was a highly efficient and stable 3D heterostructure photocatalyst for the sustained control of gas-phase n-butanol and o-xylene, without significant catalyst powder loss. Promisingly, this study will expedite the future development of 3D photocatalysts for the sustained control of harmful gas-phase pollutants.

For B2O3-Bi2O3-BaO glass system, γ, proton, alpha, electron, and neutron radiation shielding aspects were examined. Adopting Phy-X/PSD software, mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) have been derived, and such μ/ρ quantities are in good unanimity with evaluated FLUKA, Geant4, and MCNPX codes corresponding μ/ρ end products. Equivalent atomic number and up to 40 mfp ‘buildup factors’ (utilizing G–P fitting procedure) were reckoned at ten distinct penetration depths. Deduced radiation protection efficiency values validated all glasses’ laudable absorption potential for the minimal energy photons. At 15–15 × 103 KeV kinetic energy range, alpha particle and proton mass stopping powers and projected ranges by SRIM code including electron mass stopping power using ESTAR database were evaluated. For fast neutrons, the calculated macroscopic effective removal cross-section (ΣR) reveals that 25B2O3-70Bi2O3-5BaO (mol%) sample owns proportionately larger ΣR (=0.1206 cm–1). 70B2O3-15Bi2O3-15BaO (mol%) glass exhibits the largest total cross-section for thermal neutron absorption. Further, various physical features and elastic (Young’s, bulk, shear, and longitudinal) moduli and Poisson’s ratio values were derived for all samples. Both BC (bond compression) and M-M (Makishima–Mackenzie) models have been utilized for elastic aspects evaluation, and such features are altered considerably with Bi2O3 increment in the studied glasses. By BC and M-M models, obtained Poisson’s ratio is varied at 0.2434 – 0.2749 and 0.2384 – 0.2826 ranges respectively.

The application of deep learning (DL) for solving construction safety issues has achieved remarkable results in recent years that are superior to traditional methods. However, there is limited literature examining the links between DL and safety management and highlighting the contributions of DL studies in practice. Thus, this study aims to synthesize the current status of DL studies on construction safety and outline practical challenges and future opportunities. A total of 66 influential construction safety articles were analyzed from a technical aspect, such as convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and general neural networks. In the context of safety management, three main research directions were identified: utilizing DL for behaviors, physical conditions, and management issues. Overall, applying DL can resolve important safety challenges with high reliability; therein the CNN-based method and behaviors were the most applied directions with percentages of 75% and 67%, respectively. Based on the review findings, three future opportunities aiming to address the corresponding limitations were proposed: expanding a comprehensive dataset, improving technical restrictions due to occlusions, and identifying individuals who performed unsafe behaviors. This review thus may allow the identification of key areas and future directions where further research efforts need to be made with priority.

Background and Objectives: Due to the unexpected spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there was a serious crisis of emergency medical system collapse. Healthcare workers working in the emergency department were faced with psychosocial stress and workload changes. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers in the emergency department in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, Korea, from November 16 to 25, 2020. In the survey, we assessed the general characteristics of the respondents; changes in the working conditions before and after the COVID-19 pandemic; and resulting post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety statuses using 49 questions. Results: A total of 529 responses were collected, and 520 responses were included for the final analyses. Changes in working conditions and other factors due to COVID-19 varied by emergency department level, region and disease group. Working hours, intensity, role changes, depression and anxiety scores were higher in the higher level emergency department. Isolation ward insufficiency and the risk of infection felt by healthcare workers tended to increase in the lower level emergency department. Treatment and transfer delay were higher in the fever and respiratory disease groups (M = 3.58, SD = 1.18; M = 4.08, SD = 0.95), respectively. In all the disease groups, both treatment and transfer were delayed more in Gyeongbuk than in Daegu. Conclusions: Different goals should be pursued by the levels and region of the emergency department to overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and promote optimal care.

Background This study aimed to investigate differences in knowledge, and attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation of emergency physicians. Additionally, we analyzed factors affecting the attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation. Methods We conducted a survey of specialists and residents registered with the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine in December 2020. The respondents’ sex, age, position, personal registration for organ donation, experience of soliciting organ donation, participation in related education, knowledge, and attitude about brain death organ donation, and attitude toward stopping life-sustaining treatments were investigated. According to the characteristics of the respondents (specialists or residents, experience and education on organ and tissue donation), their knowledge and attitude toward deceased organ donation were compared. Stepwise hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the factors affecting the attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation. Results Of the total 428 respondents, there were 292 emergency medicine specialists and 136 medical residents. Specialists and those who registered or wished to donate organs had higher knowledge and attitude scores regarding deceased organ and tissue donation. Those who had experience recommending organ and tissue donation more than 6 times had higher knowledge scores on deceased organ and tissue donation and higher overall scores in attitude. Those who received education from the Korean Organ Donation Agency had higher knowledge scores. Specialists, and those who wished to donate or had registered as organ donors and had a higher life-sustaining treatment attitude score and knowledge about deceased organ and tissue donation, had more positive attitudes toward deceased organ and tissue donation. Conclusion For more potential deceased organ and tissue donors to be referred for donation, there should be continuous education for emergency physicians on brain-dead organ and tissue donation-related knowledge and procedures. In addition, institutional or systematic improvements that can lead to organ donation when deciding on the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment should be considered., Graphical Abstract

For five Ga2O3-Bi2O3-B2O3 composition glasses for improved Bi2O3 content at 25 to 65 mol% (10% continuously each time) at a fixed 10 mol% Ga2O3 amount, distinct physical and mechanical aspects and nuclear radiation attenuation factors were investigated. Increased Λ (optical basicity) values with a gradual Bi2O3 addition indicate studied samples’ improving basic character. Applying BC (bond compression) model key mechanical traits such as Ybc (Young’s modulus), Kbc (bulk modulus), S (shear modulus), L (longitudinal modulus), and σ (Poisson’s ratio) are evaluated where in all glasses 10Ga2O3-65Bi2O3-25B2O3 (mol%) sample exhibits superior elastic moduli. Enhanced Bi2O3 causes for compactness of the gallium borate network as ǹc (average cross-link density) improves from 2.3 to 3.4 indicating increased rigidity of glasses. Later, PHITS, FLUKA, and MCNPX codes are wielded to derive μ/ρ (mass attenuation coefficient) of all selected samples for photons having energy ranging from 15 KeV to 15 MeV. Simulated μ/ρ quantities exactitude is tested via Phy-X/PSD and WinXCOM programs’ μ/ρ results and identified a fairly good harmony among them. With photon energy, MFP (mean free path), TVL (tenth-value layer), and HVL (half-value layer) values variations show a similar tendency and against the trend which noticed for μ/ρ and μ (linear attenuation coefficient) values. 10Ga2O3-65Bi2O3-25B2O3 (mol%) sample’s MFP and HVL are correlated with five commercial γ-ray glass shields’ respective values at 1.25 MeV, 0.662 MeV (137Cs), and 0.2 MeV energies. Further, Zeq (equivalent atomic number) and using G–P (geometric progression) fitting approach for ten individual PDs (penetration depths) within 1–40 mfp range at 15 – 15 × 103 KeV energy region BUFs (buildup factors) were estimated. Attained RPE (radiation protection efficiency) findings attest all chosen Ga2O3-Bi2O3-B2O3 glasses’ competent absorption capacity for lower energy photons. Next, α-particles and protons MSPs (mass stopping powers), i.e. ΨA and ΨP and PRs (projected ranges), i.e. ΦA and ΦP by utilizing SRIM code as well as for electrons MSPs (ΨE) and CSDA (continuous slowing‐down approximation) ranges by ESTAR database have been calculated within 15–15 × 103 KeV KE (kinetic energy) range. Also, ΣR (fast neutron removal cross-section) and for 0.253 × 10–4 KeV energy neutrons σT (total cross-section) and SP (shielding percentage) values were approximated. With Bi2O3 addition, realized ΣR is changed at 0.1161–0.1213 cm−1 extent. For thermal neutrons absorption, 10Ga2O3-25Bi2O3-65B2O3 (mol%) glass shows larger σT (=17.534 cm−1) and at any considered thickness higher SP whereas 10Ga2O3-65Bi2O3-25B2O3 (mol%) (lead-free) glass has better attenuating features for photons affirming the incorporated Bi2O3 favorable effect.

In this study, an engineering characteristic test was conducted on cement milk using expansive additives during the construction of bored piles. Expansive additive mixtures with various mixing ratios were prepared according to the construction standards of the Korea Expressway Corporation. Segregation resistance, compressive strength, frictional resistance stress, scanning electron microscope images, porosity, and economic feasibility were analyzed. It was found that segregation effects due to expansive additive incorporation were insignificant, and it was confirmed that all specimens exceeded 0.5 N/mm2, the compressive strength standard of the Korea Expressway Corporation pile bearing capacity. Given a water–binder ratio of 83% mixed with 10% expansive additives, frictional resistance increased up to ~35%, skin friction force was significantly improved, and a cost-saving effect of up to ~33.24% was achieved.

Advancements in deep learning and vision-based activity recognition development have significantly improved the safety, continuous monitoring, productivity, and cost of the earthwork site. The construction industry has adopted the CNN and RNN models to classify the different activities of construction equipment and automate the construction operations. However, the currently available methods in the industry classify the activities based on the visual information of current frames. To date, the adjacent visual information of current frames has not been simultaneously examined to recognize the activity in the construction industry. This paper proposes a novel methodology to classify the activities of the excavator by processing the visual information of video frames adjacent to the current frame. This paper follows the CNN-BiLSTM standard deep learning pipeline for excavator activity recognition. First, the pre-trained CNN model extracted the sequential pattern of visual features from the video frames. Then BiLSTM classified the different activities of the excavator by analyzing the output of the pre-trained convolutional neural network. The forward and backward LSTM layers stacked on help the algorithm compute the output by considering previous and upcoming frames’ visual information. Experimental results have shown the average precision and recall to be 87.5% and 88.52%, respectively.

The food environment has been determined to affect a range of healthy eating and health indicators, but the study on the regional difference of food environment effects on these outcomes is limited. This study aimed to examine whether food environment factors influence vegetable and fruit acquisition and healthy eating behaviors in urban and rural areas using a nationwide dataset. The study participants were community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older (n = 830) who participated in the 2019 Consumer Behavior Survey for Food provided by the Korea Rural Economic Institute. Food environment factors were assessed using questionnaires measuring perceived food accessibility and affordability. The negative perceptions of food environment were related to lower vegetable and fruit acquisitions and poor healthy eating behaviors. The higher risks of low vegetable and fruit acquisitions in older rural adults were related to a negative perception of food accessibility only (odds ratio [OR]: 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–4.32 for vegetable; OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.02–3.75 for fruit). For older urban adults, negative perceptions of both food accessibility and food affordability were related to the increased risk of low vegetable acquisition (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.07–3.83 for food accessibility; OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.26–5.04 for food affordability). In terms of healthy eating behaviors, for those who perceived that either food accessibility or affordability was poor, older urban adults were less likely to have various and healthy food eating behaviors when they had a negative perception of affordability (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25–0.90 for variety; OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11–0.46 for eating healthy foods); however, older rural adults were less likely to have the behaviors when they had a negative perception of accessibility (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.21–0.97 for variety; OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.63 for eating healthy foods). In conclusion, the negative perceptions of food accessibility and affordability were related to low vegetable acquisition and poor healthy eating behaviors. The effects of food accessibility and affordability on vegetable and fruit acquisitions and healthy eating behaviors were different between urban and rural areas.

With the growing demand for structural health monitoring system applications, data imaging is an ideal method for performing regular routine maintenance inspections. Image analysis can provide invaluable information about the health conditions of a structure’s existing infrastructure by recording and analyzing exterior damages. Therefore, it is desirable to have an automated approach that reports defects on images reliably and robustly. This paper presents a multivariate analysis approach for images, specifically for assessing substantial damage (such as cracks). The image analysis provides graph representations that are related to the image, such as the histogram. In addition, image-processing techniques such as grayscale are also implemented, which enhance the object’s information present in the image. In addition, this study uses image segmentation and a neural network, for transforming an image to analyze it more easily and as a classifier, respectively. Initially, each concrete structure image is preprocessed to highlight the crack. A neural network is used to calculate and categorize the visual characteristics of each region, and it shows an accuracy for classification of 98%. Experimental results show that thermal image extraction yields better histogram and cumulative distribution function features. The system can promote the development of various thermal image applications, such as nonphysical visual recognition and fault detection analysis.

Purpose This study proposed the optimal definition of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after salvage radiotherapy (SRT) following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.Materials and Methods Among 1,117 patients who had received SRT, data from 205 hormone-naïve patients who experienced post-SRT prostate-specific antigen (PSA) elevation were included in a multi-institutional database. The primary endpoint was to determine the PSA parameters predictive of distant metastasis (DM). Absolute serum PSA levels and the prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSA-DT) were adopted as PSA parameters.Results When BCR was defined based on serum PSA levels ranging from 0.4 ng/mL to nadir+2.0 ng/mL, the 5-year probability of DM was 27.6%-33.7%. The difference in the 5-year probability of DM became significant when BCR was defined as a serum PSA level of 0.8 ng/ml or higher (1.0-2.0 ng/mL). Application of a serum PSA level of ≥ 0.8 ng/mL yielded a c-index value of 0.589. When BCR was defined based on the PSA-DT, the 5-year probability was 22.7%-39.4%. The difference was significant when BCR was defined as a PSA-DT ≤ 3 months and ≤ 6 months. Application of a PSA-DT ≤ 6 months yielded the highest c-index (0.660). These two parameters complemented each other; for patients meeting both PSA parameters, the probability of DM was 39.5%-44.5%; for those not meeting either parameter, the probability was 0.0%-3.1%.Conclusion A serum PSA level > 0.8 ng/mL was a reasonable threshold for the definition of BCR after SRT. In addition, a PSA-DT ≤ 6 months was significantly predictive of subsequent DM, and combined application of both parameters enhanced predictability.

Infrared thermography is the science of measuring the infrared energy emitted by an object, translating it to apparent temperature variance, and displaying the result as an infrared image. Significantly, acquiring thermal images delivers distinctive levels of temperature differences in solar panels that correspond to their health status, which is beneficial for the early detection of defects. The proposed algorithm aims to analyze the thermal solar panel images. The acquired thermal solar panel images were segmented into solar cell sizes to provide more detailed information by region or cell area instead of the entire solar panel. This paper uses both the image histogram information and its corresponding cumulative distribution function (CDF), useful for image analysis. The acquired thermal solar panel images are enhanced using grayscale, histogram equalization, and adaptive histogram equalization to represent a domain that is easier to analyze. The experimental results reveal that the extraction results of thermal images provide better histogram and CDF features. Furthermore, the proposed scheme includes the convolutional neural network (CNN) for classifying the enhanced images, which shows that a 97% accuracy of classification was achieved. The proposed scheme could promote different thermal image applications—for example, non-physical visual recognition and fault detection analysis.

As the time spent indoors increases significantly due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, creating an indoor environment to promote the health of occupants has become critical. Although green walls efficiently realize a healthy indoor environment, few studies have analyzed their impact on occupants based on the visual element of green walls. This study measures the emotional impact, task performance, and task load of the subjects according to four virtual experiments (a non-green wall, a freestanding green wall, two freestanding green walls, and a full-sized green wall). The results of the four experiments are as follows: (i) The visual elements of the green wall had an emotional impact on the occupants, which was verified through the Friedman test; (ii) the effect of the visual elements of the green wall on the task performance of the occupants was not verified by the one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA); and (iii) the task load of the occupants influenced their task performance, which was verified by the repeated-measures ANOVA. This study can help determine the optimal type and area of green walls by considering their impact on the occupants as well as on the economic and constructional aspects of the indoor space.

The use of nontraditional soil stabilizers increases. Various new soil binding agents are under study to augment renewability and sustainability of an earth structure. However, despite increasing interest involved in red clay, there is minimal research investigating the stabilizing red clay with polymer. This paper presents the findings obtained by applying the acrylic polymer and epoxy emulsion as binding agent for red clay and that for sand. The epoxy–hardener ratio, amount of epoxy emulsion, and amount of polymer aqueous solution were manipulated to quantify their effects on red clay and sand, respectively. After compacting a pair of cylindrical samples of which diameter and height are 5 cm and 10 cm, respectively, it is cured for 3 and 7 days in a controlled condition. Each pair is produced to represent the engineering performance at each data point in the solution space. An optimal composition of the binding agents for red clay and that for sand mixture are identified by experimenting every data point. In addition, given lime into each sample, the maximum unconfined compressive strength (UCS) endured by red clay sample and that by sand sample are 2243 and 1493 kPa, respectively. The UCS obtained by the sample mixed with clay and sand reaches 2671 kPa after seven days of curing. It confirms that the addition of lime remarkably improves the UCS. When the clay–sand mixture, of which the ratio is 70:30, includes 5% lime, the UCS of the mixture outperforms. Indeed, these findings, i.e., the optimal proportion of components, may contribute to the increase of initial and long-term strength of an earth structure, hence improving the renewability and sustainability of the earth construction method.

For six 1 mol% Tm3+-doped B2O3-BaO-ZnO-LiF glasses containing single and mixed alkali oxides (fabricated by melt-cast approach), optical absorption, and visible and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence features including visible luminescence decay times were explored. Optical band gaps, Urbach energy, and two-photon absorption coefficients were evaluated for all studied glasses. Judd–Ofelt (J–O) analysis from absorption spectra was performed to compute Tm3+: 4f–4f transitions J–O parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4, 6), and utilizing Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6 values radiative transition probabilities (AR), branching ratios (βR), and radiative lifetimes (τR) for all Tm3+ ion’s excited levels were assessed. For obtained intense blue emission band (454 nm) upon 358 nm excitation, various parameters considered in developing visible laser systems were calculated. Tm3+: Na ions having sample exhibits high AR, highest peak emission cross-section ( σ max em ) (=5.89 × 10–21 cm2) and gain bandwidth ( σ max em × Δλeff) (=9.69 × 10–27 cm3) for 1D2→3F4 luminescence transition in all glasses for a favorable blue lasing process. All emission decay curves of the 1D2 upper level showed nonexponential nature. Commission Internationale de l'eclairage (CIE) coordinates, color purity, and luminous efficiency of radiation were derived from visible fluorescence spectra, and attained CIE (x,y) coordinates values reflect the purplish-blue light region. Under direct optical pumping of 3H6→3H4 transition using 808 nm laser diode, NIR fluorescence spectra exhibit a wideband within 1.3–1.6 μm spectral range peaked at 1.46 μm (3H4→3F4 transition). NIR emissions effective bandwidth (Δλeff) was varied relying on different alkali oxides. Δλeff ~ 121 nm was deduced for Tm3+: Li ions comprising glass with large σ max em (=1.832 × 10–21 cm2), high ( σ max em × Δλeff) (=2.22 × 10–26 cm3), and optical gain (=12.608 × 10–25 cm2s) for 3H4→3F4 emission transition and its gain profile wraps the entire S-optical communication band range for efficient broadband amplification purpose in wavelength-division multiplexing systems.