Search

A novel die-attaching technology, using the in-situ dewetting of Ag shells in submicrometer Ag-coated Cu (Cu@Ag) particles during heating in air, was suggested for power device packaging. The particle size-dependent dewetting of Ag induced the formation of tiny nodules and rapid sinter bonding via fast Ag transfer under external pressure. A die attached by thermal compression for 5 min at 225 °C using 200- or 350-nm Cu@Ag particles showed shear strengths approaching or surpassing that (18.0 MPa) of a die attached using Pb-5Sb.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the incidence and analyze trends related to spinal diseases based on a national database in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to elucidate the healthcare burden that will serve as a useful resource for researchers, clinicians, and patients. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of data obtained from Healthcare Bigdata Hub, the Korean Statistical Information Service, and Open Data Portal from 2012 through 2016. The main disease codes for spinal diseases (M40-M54) were used for identification of these conditions. RESULTS The overall annual incidence rates for spinal disease in the ROK was median 15,877 (men, 13,181; women, 18,588) per 100,000 population, and sex ratio was 1:1.41 (p

Objective To evaluate the compliance and satisfaction of rehabilitation recommendations for advanced cancer patients hospitalized in the palliative care unit. Methods Advanced cancer patients admitted to a hospice palliative care unit were recruited. Patients with advanced cancer and a life expectancy of less than 6 months, as assumed by the oncologist were included. Patients who were expected to die within 3 days were excluded. ECOG and Karnofsky performance scales, function ambulatory category, level of ambulation, and survival days were evaluated under the perspective of comprehensive rehabilitation. Problem-based rehabilitations were provided categorized as physical therapy at the gym, bedside physical therapy, physical modalities, medications and pain intervention. Investigation of compliance for each category was completed. Patient satisfaction was surveyed using a questionnaire. Results Forty-five patients were recruited and received evaluations for rehabilitation perspective. The subjects were reported to have gait-related difficulties (71.1%), pain (68.9%), poor medical conditions (68.9%), bladder or bowel problems (44.4%), dysphagias (11.1%), mental status issues (11.1%), edemas (11.1%), spasticity (2.2%), and pressure sores (2.2%). In the t-test, patients with good compliance for GymPT showed higher survival days (p

이 연구의 목적은 2015 개정 교육과정 도입에 앞서 교사의 전문성 논의에서 최근 강조되는 교수역량에 관한 국내 연구 경향을 분석함으로써 교육과정에서 추구하는 학습자의 핵심 역량을 위한 교수․학습과정에 필요한 교사의 교수역량에 관한 연구의 기초자료를 제공하는 데있다. 이를 위해 교수 및 수업 역량 관련 국내 학술논문 54편을 분석한 결과에 따르면 주로 다루어진 주제는 교수역량의 정의 및 평가 지표 개발이었고 그 연구 방법으로 조사연구가 많이 사용되었음이 드러났다. 또한 대부분의 연구에서 교수역량 지표인 지식, 기술, 태도의 3차원에 해당하는 요소를 모두 다루고 있었다. 그리고 교과별 역량 기준이 개발된 경우에는 다양한 주제의 후속 연구가 이어지고 있음이 드러났다. 이들 결과는 교과의 특성을 반영한 교수역량 기준 및 평가 지표 개발 연구의 필요성을 드러내며, 역량 기준을 피드백할 수 있는 지속적 연구의 필요성을 제기한다.

Objective Early prediction of therapeutic outcomes could reduce exposure to ineffective treatments and optimize clinical outcomes. However, none of the known otologic predictors is amenable to therapeutic intervention for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). The aims of this study were to investigate psychological stress as a potential predictor to discriminate outcomes in ISSNHL. Methods Various psychological measures were conducted including structured interview assessment tools in patients with recently diagnosed ISSNHL before initiating treatment. Using logistic regression analysis, we identified the predictors of treatment response and estimated the probability of treatment response in 50 ISSNHL patients who participated in a clinical trial. Results Treatment non-responders were significantly differentiated from responders by various psychological problems. The depression subscore of Modified form of Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) (p = 0.007) and duration of hearing loss (p = 0.045) significantly predicted treatment response after controlling other clinical correlates. The same predictors were identified from different treatment response measured using Siegel's criteria. The most discriminative measure for treatment response was SRI-MF depression score with an overall classification accuracy of 73%. Conclusions We found depressive stress response to be the strong predictor of treatment response in patients with ISSNHL. Our results highlight the potential use of the psychiatric approach as a tool for enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Future stress intervention studies with larger number of ISSNHL patients are needed.

Background Context Radiofrequency denervation is commonly used for the treatment of chronic facet joint pain that has been refractory to more conservative treatments, although the evidence supporting this treatment has been controversial. Purpose We aimed to elucidate the precise effects of radiofrequency denervation in patients with low back pain originating from the facet joints relative to those obtained using control treatments, with particular attention to consistency in the denervation protocol. Study Design/Setting A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was carried out. Patient Sample Adult patients undergoing radiofrequency denervation or control treatments (sham or epidural block) for facet joint disease of the lumbar spine comprised the patient sample. Outcome Measures Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were measured and stratified by response of diagnostic block procedures. Method We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database for randomized controlled trials regarding radiofrequency denervation and control treatments for back pain. Changes in VAS pain scores of the radiofrequency group were compared with those of the control group as well as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for back pain VAS. Meta-regression model was developed to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency treatment according to responses of diagnostic block while controlling for other variables. We then calculated mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Results We included data from seven trials involving 454 patients who had undergone radiofrequency denervation (231 patients) and control treatments such as sham or epidural block procedures (223 patients). The radiofrequency group exhibited significantly greater improvements in back pain score when compared with the control group for 1-year follow-up. Although the average improvement in VAS scores exceeded the MCID, the lower limit of the 95% CI encompassed the MCID. A subgroup of patients who responded very well to diagnostic block procedures demonstrated significant improvements in back pain relative to the control group at all times. When placed into our meta-regression model, the response to diagnostic block procedure was responsible for a statistically significant portion of treatment effect. Studies published over the last two decades revealed that radiofrequency denervation reduced back pain significantly in patients with facet joint disease compared with the MCID and control treatments. Conclusions Conventional radiofrequency denervation resulted in significant reductions in low back pain originating from the facet joints in patients showing the best response to diagnostic block over the first 12 months when compared with sham procedures or epidural nerve blocks.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of delayed burr hole surgery in relation to the reduction of postoperative subdural hematoma (SDH) volume in patients with acute SDH. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients with acute SDH who received delayed burr hole surgery at our institute. Age, sex, Glasgow coma scale, maximal SDH thickness, volume of SDH, midline shifts, hounsfield unit (HU), and medical history of anticoagulant agent usage were recorded. Outcome measures were delayed operation day, reduction of SDH volume after operation, and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at discharge. The patients were divided two groups according to the post-operative reduction of volume of SDH (≥50%, group A

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) films were fabricated on various substrates, such as glass, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), at room temperature using a facing target sputtering (FTS) system with hetero ZnO and Al 2 O 3 targets, and their electrical and optical properties were investigated. The AZO film on glass exhibited compressive stress while the films on the plastic substrates showed tensile stress. These stresses negatively affected the crystalline quality of the AZO films, and it is suggested that the poor crystalline quality of the films may be related to the neutral Al-based defect complexes formed in the films; these complexes act as neutral impurity scattering centers. AZO films with good optoelectronic properties could be formed on the glass and plastic substrates by the FTS technique using the hetero targets. The AZO films deposited on the glass, PEN, and PET substrates showed very low resistivities, of 5.0 × 10 −4 Ω cm, 7.0 × 10 −4 Ω cm, and 7.4 × 10 −4 Ω cm, respectively. Further, the figure merit of the AZO film formed on the PEN substrate in the visible range (400–700 nm) was significantly higher than that of the AZO film on PET and similar to that of the AZO film on glass. Finally, the average transmittances of the films in the visible range (400–700 nm) were 83.16% (on glass), 76.3% (on PEN), and 78.16% (on PET).

Effects of sodium ethanesulfonate (SES) adsorbed on photoelectrode surface on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. SES-modified photoelectrode was prepared by soa...

Passivated contact in advanced high-efficiency silicon solar cells based on the full back surface field (BSF) is reported here in based on the application of a tunnel oxide layer that is less than 2 nm thick. The open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) was significantly improved via interface passivation due to insertion of the tunnel oxide layer. During oxide layer growth, a transition region, such as a sub-oxide, was observed at a depth of about 0.75 nm in the growth interface between the silicon oxide layer and silicon substrate. The properties of the less than 2 nm thick tunnel oxide layer were primarily affected by the characteristics of the transition region. The passivation characteristics of tunnel oxide layer should depend on the physical properties of the oxide. The interface trap density D it is an important parameter in passivation and is influenced by the stoichiometry of the oxide which in turn strongly affected by the fabrication and the post annealing conditions. During heat treatment of a-Si:H thin films (for the purpose of crystallization to form doped layers), thin film blistering occurs due to hydrogen effusion on flat substrate surfaces. To minimize this behavior, we seek to control the surface morphology and annealing profile. Also, the passivation quality of passivataed contact structure declined for the sample annealed above 900 °C. This decline was attributed not only to local disruption of the tunnel oxide layer, but also to phosphorus diffusion. The resistivity of the tunnel oxide layer declined precipitously for the sample annealed above 900 °C. On the basis of these, implied V oc over 740 mV was achieved in n-type Si wafer through the control of the oxide stoichiometry via optimizing the annealing conditions.

The cobalt (Co(II)) ion is a main component of alloys and considered to be carcinogenic, especially due to the carcinogenic and toxicological effects in the aquatic environment. The toxic trace of the Co(II) detection was conducted using the infrared photodiode electrode (IPDE) using a working electrode, via the cyclic and square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The results indicated a sensitive oxidation peak current of Co(II) on the IPDE. Under the optimal conditions, the common-type glassy carbon, the metal platinum, the carbon paste, and the carbon fiber microelectrode were compared with the IPDE in the electrolyte using the standard Co(II). The IPDE was found to be far superior to the others.

Lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) is a subgroup of the flat-back syndrome and is most commonly caused by unique life styles, such as a prolonged crouched posture during agricultural work and performing activities of daily living on the floor. Unfortunately, LDK has been used as a byword for degenerative sagittal imbalance, and this sometimes causes confusion. The aim of this review was to evaluate the exact territory of LDK, and to introduce another appropriate term for degenerative sagittal deformity. Unlike what its name suggests, LDK does not only include sagittal balance disorder of the lumbar spine and kyphosis, but also sagittal balance disorder of the whole spine and little lordosis of the lumbar spine. Moreover, this disease is closely related to the occupation of female farmers and an outdated Asian life style. These reasons necessitate a change in the nomenclature of this disorder to prevent misunderstanding. We suggest the name "primary degenerative sagittal imbalance" (PDSI), which encompasses degenerative sagittal misalignments of unknown origin in the whole spine in older-age patients, and is associated with back muscle wasting. LDK may be regarded as a subgroup of PDSI related to an occupation in agriculture. Conservative treatments such as exercise and physiotherapy are recommended as first-line treatments for patients with PDSI, and surgical treatment is considered only if conservative treatments failed. The measurement of spinopelvic parameters for sagittal balance is important prior to deformity corrective surgery. LDK can be considered a subtype of PDSI that is more likely to occur in female farmers, and hence the use of LDK as a global term for all degenerative sagittal imbalance disorders is better avoided. To avoid confusion, we recommend PDSI as a newer, more accurate diagnostic term instead of LDK.

Shipping activities have become possible in the Arctic Ocean due to melting ice by global warming. An increasing number of vessels are passing through the Arctic Ocean consequently bringing concerns of ship-iceberg collisions. Thus, most classification societies have implemented regulations to determine requirements for ice strengthening in ship structures. This paper presents the simulation results of an ice-strengthened polar class ship after an iceberg collision. The ice-strengthened polar class ship was created in accordance with the Unified Requirements for a Polar-Ship (IACS URI). An elastic-perfect plastic ice model was adopted for this simulation with a spherical shape. A Tsai-Wu yield surface was also used for the ice model. Collision simulations were conducted under the commercial code LS-DYNA 971. Hull deformations on the ice-strengthened foreship structure and collision interaction forces have been analysed in this paper. A normal-strength ship structure in an iceberg collision was also simulated to present comparison results. Distinct differences in structural strength against ice impact forces were shown between the ice-strengthened and normal-strength ship structures in the simulation results. About 1.8 m depth of hull deformation was found on the normal ship, whereas 1.0 m depth of hull deformation was left on the ice-strengthened polar class ship.

The increase in the radiation exposure from CT examinations prompted the investigation on the various dose-reduction techniques. Significant dose reduction has been achieved and the level of radiation exposure of thoracic CT is expected to reach the level equivalent to several chest X-ray examinations. With more scanners with advanced dose reduction capability deployed, knowledge on the radiation dose reduction methods has become essential to clinical practice as well as academic research. This article reviews the history of dose reduction techniques, ongoing changes brought by newer technologies and areas of further investigation.

The assessment of pulmonary function, including ventilation and perfusion status, is important in addition to the evaluation of structural changes of the lung parenchyma in various pulmonary diseases. The dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) technique can provide the pulmonary functional information and high resolution anatomic information simultaneously. The application of DECT for the evaluation of pulmonary function has been investigated in various pulmonary diseases, such as pulmonary embolism, asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease and so on. In this review article, we will present principles and technical aspects of DECT, along with clinical applications for the assessment pulmonary function in various lung diseases.

Background/PurposeThe purpose of this study was to use heart rate variability (HRV) to investigate the effects of distilled Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu pharmacopuncture and Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture on the autonomic nervous system.Materials and methodsForty healthy male participants were divided into two groups: the participants of the C-group received distilled Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu pharmacopuncture and those of the R-group received Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture. The study design was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Each participant received one of the two solutions injected at GB21 (Jianjing). The changes in HRV were measured seven times using the QECG-3: LXC3203 system (LAXTHA Inc. Korea). Time-dependent changes in HRV for each group were analyzed using the paired t test (significance level: p < 0.05), and the difference in the HRV fluctuations between the two experimental groups was evaluated using the independent sample test (significance level: p < 0.05).Results and conclusionThe results showed that Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu pharmacopuncture and Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture tended to activate the autonomic nervous system within the normal range. Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu pharmacopuncture tended to activate the sympathetic nervous system, whereas Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture tended to activate both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate regional air volume changes at the acinar scale of the lung in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients using an image registration technique. Materials and Methods Thirty-four emphysema patients and 24 subjects with normal chest CT and pulmonary function test (PFT) results were included in this retrospective study for which informed consent was waived by the institutional review board. After lung segmentation, a mass-preserving image registration technique was used to compute relative regional air volume changes (RRAVCs) between inspiration and expiration CT scans. After determining the appropriate thresholds of RRAVCs for low ventilation areas (LVAs), they were displayed and analyzed using color maps on the background inspiration CT image, and compared with the low attenuation area (LAA) map. Correlations between quantitative CT parameters and PFTs were assessed using Pearson's correlation test, and parameters were compared between emphysema and normal-CT patients using the Student's t-test. Results LVA percentage with an RRAVC threshold of 0.5 (%LVA0.5) showed the strongest correlations with FEV1/FVC (r = −0.566), FEV1 (r = −0.534), %LAA-950insp (r = 0.712), and %LAA-856exp (r = 0.775). %LVA0.5 was significantly higher (P Conclusion RRAVC-based %LVA0.5 correlated well with FEV1/FVC, FEV1, %LAA-950insp and %LAA-856exp. RRAVC holds the potential for providing additional acinar scale functional information for emphysematous LAAs in inspiratory CT images, providing the basis for a novel set for emphysematous phenotypes.