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Abstract The correlation between tonsil microbiome and tonsillar hypertrophy has not been well established. Given that oral dysbiosis is related to several metabolic diseases and that tonsillar hypertrophy leads to disordered breathing during sleep and obesity in children, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between the oral microbiome and tonsillar hypertrophy. After 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of tonsillectomy samples, we evaluated the correlation between the tonsil microbiome and biochemical blood indices in pediatric patients who underwent tonsillectomy. Groups are classified into two categories: based on BMI, and grades 2, 3, and 4 based on tonsil size. Children with obesity and tonsillar hypertrophy have similar microbiome compositions and induce comparable changes in microbiome abundance and composition, confirming the association from a metagenomic perspective. In addition, obesity and tonsillar hypertrophy demonstrated a strong correlation with the Proteobacteria to Firmicutes (P/F) ratio, and among various biochemical indicators, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels increase with obesity and tonsillar hypertrophy, indicating a possible association of tonsil microbiome and liver metabolism. These novel findings demonstrate the significance of the tonsil microbiome and suggest the need for tonsil regulation, particularly during childhood.

Abstract Deformable lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) can serve as the main power sources for flexible and wearable electronics owing to their high energy capacity, reliability, and durability. The pivotal role of cathodes in LIB performance necessitates the development of mechanically free‐standing and stretchable cathodes. This study demonstrates a promising strategy to generate deformable cathodes with electrical conductivity by forming 3D interconnected elastomeric networks. Beginning with a physically crosslinked polymer network using poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMI][TFSI]), subsequent exchange with a 1 M LiPF6 electrolyte imparts elastic characteristics to the cathodes. The resulting LiFePO4 composite electrodes maintained their resistance under 500 consecutive bending cycles at an extremely small bending radius of 1.8 mm and showed high discharge capacity of 158 mAh g−1 with stable potential plateaus in charging and discharging curves. Moreover, flexible cells utilizing the composite electrodes exhibited superior operational stability under rolling, bending, and folding deformations.

Abstract Background It may be challenging for practitioners to secure vascular access in animals, especially in a state of shock. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of commercial 16‐gauge intravenous (IV) catheter stylet vs. 15‐gauge intraosseous (IO) vascular access in emergencies. Methods Six healthy dogs were used in this study. After general anaesthesia, IO catheterisation was performed on both trochanteric fossae of the femurs using a commercial 16‐gauge IV catheter stylet and EZIO 15‐gauge IO needle. The pressures were measured by manual, gravity and mechanical infusion for 5 min each. Additionally, insertion time and success rate were recorded. Results In hand infusion, mean pressure of a 16‐gauge IO (605.06 ± 49.13 mmHg) was statistically lower than that of a 15‐gauge EZIO IO catheterisation (718.84 ± 93.09 mmHg). In gravity infusion, there was no significant difference in pressure during injection between the 16‐gauge IV catheter (52.23 ± 14.48 mmHg) and 15‐gauge EZIO IO catheterisation (50.68 ± 11.89 mmHg). In mechanical infusion, mean pressure of the 15‐gauge EZIO IO catheterisation (128.25 ± 50.16 mmHg) was lower than that of the 16‐gauge IV catheter (152.56 ± 67.23 mmHg). The insertion times of a 16‐gauge IV catheter and 15‐gauge EZIO IO catheterisation were 16.79 ± 0.92 and 11.65 ± 1.70 s, respectively. The success rates of the insertion were similar between both groups. Conclusion This study shows that IO catheterisation with a commercial IV catheter stylet can be an alternative method of IO catheterisation in an emergency, especially for rapid vascular access.

Abstract Recently, the field of regenerative medicine has made great strides in the development of new treatments for various organ dysfunctions. One of the most promising new approaches is the use of three‐dimensional (3D) printing and autologous tissues. In this study, we evaluated the safety of a 3D‐printed autologous omentum patch to kidneys using large animals. A total of seven micropigs underwent transplantation of the 3D‐printed autologous omentum patch. Twelve weeks after transplantation, the safety was evaluated by measuring body weight, blood, and the renal resistive index. In addition, biopsy samples were histologically analyzed. The results showed no surgical complications, renal functional hematological changes, or inflammatory responses. Therefore, this study provides important insights into direct therapy to kidneys with a 3D‐printed patch made of autologous tissue. Furthermore, it has the potential for the development of new therapies for various organ dysfunction.

Background and Objective Among patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, there is a group with surprisingly high adherence (≥ 90%) to automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) treatment. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of these patients. Methods Medical records of 4757 patients, who received APAP prescriptions between July 2018 and December 2019, were reviewed retrospectively. After the exclusion of patients not meeting the study criteria, a total of 103 patients were included in the study, and patients were divided into a very good adherence (VGA; adherence ≥ 90%) group and a poor adherence (PA; adherence < 70%) group, based on nine months of APAP adherence. Patient demographics, medical history, body mass index, and pretreatment polysomnography (PSG) results, as well as APAP therapy adherence-related variables (percentage of total days of APAP usage, and the mean time of APAP usage), the 90th percentile pressure (P90), residual apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and the type of devices or company managers were compared between the two groups. Results Median age was significantly higher in the VGA group than in the PA group (p = 0.032). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) also differed significantly (p = 0.017) between the two groups. There were significant differences in the total sleep time (p = 0.003): 309.04 ± 64.96 min in the VGA group and 345.47 ± 53.06 min in the PA group. Patient sleep efficiency was observed and differed significantly (p = 0.003) 74.46 ± 13.73% in the VGA group and 82.09 ± 10.82% in the PA group. Other parameters, such as a pretreatment PSG and sleep-related questionnaires, did not show significant differences between the two groups. The device-related data at 1, 3, and 9 months were similar, and there were significant differences in the mean usage time (p < 0.001) and the number of days on which the device was used for more than 4 hours a day (p < 0.001) between the two groups. However, the two groups had no significant differences in mean pressure, residual AHI, and the P90. Conclusions The total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and BDI were the main determinants of adherence in patients in the VGA group. To find additional factors which affect adherence, further studies will be needed.

Summary: Background/objective: Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is rare and fatal. Treatment has evolved with advances in imaging and the emergence of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). This study reports a single-center, 5-year experience of TEVAR and open repair for BTAI. Methods: Patients with BTAI treated at a level I trauma center from 2014 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed with patient charts and successive computed tomography angiography images. Patients were grouped according to treatment modality: open repair, TEVAR, or medical management, chosen based on patients’ characteristics and injury severity. Groups were compared in terms of preoperative demographics, injury characteristics, operative variables, short-term, and long-term outcomes. Results: Forty-two patients were included in the study: 16 (38%) underwent open repair, 17 (40.4%) underwent TEVAR, seven (16.6%) were managed medically, and two (4.7%) died during triage. The median age was 49 years (interquartile range [IQR], 38–57.5 years), and 92.5% were male; the median Injury Severity Score was 33 (IQR, 29–41). Overall mortality was 7.5%. The median hospital stay was 33 days (IQR, 19.5–58.5). Patients undergoing open repair were significantly younger (43 vs. 55 years; p = 0.002) and had a smaller aortic diameter (22.3 vs. 24.0 mm; p=

ABSTRACT Red ginseng, widely used in traditional medicine for various conditions, imparts health benefits mainly by modulating the gut microbiota in humans. Given the similarities in gut microbiota between humans and dogs, red ginseng-derived dietary fiber may have prebiotic potential in dogs; however, its effects on the gut microbiota in dogs remain elusive. This double-blinded, longitudinal study investigated the impact of red ginseng dietary fiber on the gut microbiota and host response in dogs. A total of 40 healthy household dogs were randomly assigned to low-dose (n = 12), high-dose (n = 16), or control (n = 12) groups and fed a normal diet supplemented with red ginseng dietary fiber (3 g/5 kg body weight per day, 8 g/5 kg per day, or no supplement, respectively) for 8 weeks. The gut microbiota of the dogs was analyzed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. Alpha diversity was significantly increased at 8 and 4 weeks in the low-dose and high-dose groups, respectively. Moreover, biomarker analysis showed that short-chain fatty acid producers such as Sarcina and Proteiniclasticum were significantly enriched, while potential pathogens such as Helicobacter were significantly decreased, indicating the increased gut health and pathogen resistance by red ginseng dietary fiber. Microbial network analysis showed that the complexity of microbial interactions was increased by both doses, indicating the increased stability of the gut microbiota. These findings suggest that red ginseng-derived dietary fiber could be used as a prebiotic to modulate gut microbiota and improve gut health in dogs. IMPORTANCE The canine gut microbiota is an attractive model for translational studies, as it responds to dietary interventions similarly to those in humans. Investigating the gut microbiota of household dogs that share the environment with humans can produce highly generalizable and reproducible results owing to their representativeness of the general canine population. This double-blind and longitudinal study investigated the impact of dietary fiber derived from red ginseng on the gut microbiota of household dogs. Red ginseng dietary fiber altered the canine gut microbiota by increasing diversity, enriching short-chain fatty acid-producing microbes, decreasing potential pathogens, and increasing the complexity of microbial interactions. These findings indicate that red ginseng-derived dietary fiber may promote canine gut health by modulating gut microbiota, suggesting the possibility of its use as a potential prebiotic.

Background Microcirculatory disturbances are typically most severe during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which occurs during cardiac surgeries. If microvascular reactivity compensates for microcirculatory disturbances during CPB, tissue hypoxemia can be minimized. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether microvascular reactivity during CPB could predict major adverse events (MAE) after cardiac surgery. Methods This prospective observational study included 115 patients who underwent elective on-pump cardiac surgeries. A vascular occlusion test (VOT) with near-infrared spectroscopy was performed five times for each patient: before the induction of general anesthesia, 30 min after the induction of general anesthesia, 30 min after applying CPB, 10 min after protamine injection, and post-sternal closure. The postoperative MAE was recorded. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve analysis was performed for the prediction of MAE using the recovery slope. Results Of the 109 patients, MAE occurred in 32 (29.4%). The AUROC curve for the recovery slope during CPB was 0.701 (P < 0.001; 95% CI [0.606, 0.785]). If the recovery slope during CPB was < 1.08%/s, MAE were predicted with a sensitivity of 62.5% and specificity of 72.7%. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that the recovery slope of the VOT during CPB could predict MAE after cardiac surgery. These results support the idea that disturbances in microcirculation induced by CPB can predict the development of poor clinical outcomes, thereby demonstrating the potential role of microvascular reactivity as an early predictor of MAE after cardiac surgery.

Objective: This study aims to explore regional health disparities in hypertension-related hospitalizations and confirm this difference according to the states of continuity of care (COC).Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data from 2002 to 2019. The dependent variable, hypertension-related hospitalization, included hospitalization for hypertensive diseases (I10–I13, I15), ischemic heart disease (I20–I25), and cerebrovascular disease (I60–I69). Nested case-control matching was performed according to age, sex, and income level. We compared hypertension-related hospitalization fractions in urban and rural areas by classifying them according to the state of COC and analyzed them using conditional logistic regression suitable for matched data.Results: The odds of hypertension-related hospitalization of hypertensive patients were higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas; however, as the COC increased, the difference decreased. There was no change in the results according to the COC observation period.Conclusion: To reduce regional health disparities, both the promotion of COC and the improvement of the quality of primary care must be achieved.

Background and Objective The numbers of prescriptions for continuous positive airway pressure and automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) machines have increased dramatically since the Korean government changed national health insurance coverage. This study examined adherence to APAP therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea who completed the 3-month adaptation period required by the insurance service, and evaluated the factors predictive of good adherence. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a total of 315 patients who received APAP prescriptions between July 2018 and December 2019. After screening, 189 patients were analyzed. Patients were divided into an adherent (AD) group and a non-adherent (NAD) group based on 9 months’ APAP adherence. Patient demographics, medical history, body mass index and pretreatment polysomnography results, as well as APAP therapy adherence-related variables, the 90th percentile pressure, residual apnea hypopnea status, and type of devices or managers were compared between the two groups. Results We found mean usage times, mean pressures, days with ≥ 4 hours of use a day, and 90th percentile pressures differed significantly between the AD and NAD groups. The device-related data at months 1 and 3 and 9 were similar. One type of device performed differently compared to the other devices, but this did not affect adherence. Conclusions The mean pressure and 90th percentile pressure were the main determinants of adherence in patients who passed a 3-month compliance assessment conducted by the Korean National Institute of Health. The data on adherence at months 1, 3 and 9 were similar.

Acupuncture has been commonly used for post-stroke patients, and electroacupuncture allows simultaneous application of acupuncture and electrical stimulation. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism of electroacupuncture on post-stroke motor recovery using diffusion tensor tractography. A total of 33 subacute stroke patients were recruited. The control group was subjected to conventional rehabilitation therapy. In contrast, the patients in the experimental group received electroacupuncture treatment for 30 min per session for 4 weeks in addition to the rehabilitation therapy. Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower extremity (FMA_L), functional ambulation categories (FAC), and the Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI) were used to compare behavioral outcomes between groups. The corticospinal tract (CST) was examined before and after the intervention via diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) to determine the motor recovery mechanism mediated by electroacupuncture. After 4 weeks of intervention, both the control and experimental groups showed a significant improvement with respect to FMA_L, FAC, and K-MBI. The level of improvement in FMA_L, FAC, and K-MBI did not vary significantly between the two groups. However, DTT results showed that the CST fractional anisotropy of the affected side (control: from 0.456 to 0.464, experimental: from 0.459 to 0.512) and its ratio (control: from 89.8 to 90.3, experimental: from 90.2 to 93.3) were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.032 and p = 0.018). In addition, there were significant differences in the CST axial diffusivity of affected side (control: from 0.783 to 0.877, experimental: from 0.840 to 0.897) and its ratio variation (control: from 87.9 to 100.0, experimental: from 95.7 to 100.7) between the groups (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001). Electroacupuncture played a role in promoting brain plasticity and delaying neural degeneration in subacute period after stroke. Thus, electroacupuncture could be an effective adjuvant therapy in addition to conventional rehabilitation for motor recovery after stroke in a long-term perspective.

This paper constructs an explainable neural network model for fault diagnosis with a 1D vibration signal of equipment and proposes an explainable method with a frequency activation map of the proposed model. The frequency activation map visualizes the classification criteria of the time-domain-based learned model in the frequency domain. Since the 1D vibration signal for monitoring the normal and faulty states of equipment is easy to interpret in the frequency domain, the frequency activation map provides the user with a specific frequency of vibration signal where the proposed model focuses on for the classification of normal and faulty states. To generate the frequency activation map, the proposed model structure for learning the 1D vibration signals is designed to filter the frequency components of the 1D vibration signals using a 1D convolutional filter with a norm constraint. Simulation results with two open datasets demonstrate that the proposed model and explainable method can visualize the classification criteria of the model learned with vibration signals through a frequency activation map. Based on the frequency activation map, characteristic frequencies of normal and faulty states are identified.

Background: Prolonged ischemic time is a risk factor for primary graft dysfunction in patients who undergo heart transplantation. We investigated the effect of a supplemental cardioplegia infusion before anastomosis in patients with long ischemic times. Methods: We identified 236 consecutive patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation between February 2010 and December 2014. Among them, the patients with total ischemic times of longer than 3 hours (n=59) were categorized based on whether they were administered a complementary cardioplegia solution (CPS) immediately before implantation (CPS+, n=30; CPS−, n=29). Results: The mean total ischemic times in the CPS+ and CPS− groups were 238.1±30.1 minutes and 230.1±28.2 minutes, respectively (p=0.3). The incidence of left ventricular primary graft dysfunction (CPS+, n=6 [20.0%]; CPS−, n=5 [17.2%]; p=0.79) was comparable between the groups. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, no significant difference in overall survival at 5 years was observed between the CPS+ and CPS− groups (83.1%±6.9% vs. 89.7%±5.7%, respectively; log-rank p=0.7). No inter-group differences in early mortality (CPS+, n=0; CPS−, n=1 [3.4%]; p=0.98) or complications were observed. Conclusion: The additional infusion of a cardioplegia solution immediately before implantation in patients with longer ischemic times is a simple, reproducible, and safe procedure. However, we did not observe benefits of this strategy in the present study.

Background and Objectives Sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) is a benign tumor with a locally aggressive nature and a propensity to recur. Many risk factors for recurrence have been reported, but they are still controversial. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the demographic data, clinical features, and potential risk factors for recurrence of IP. Subjects and Method This work is a retrospective review of 382 patients diagnosed with and treated for sinonasal inverted papilloma between 1986 and 2017 at a single tertiary medical center. Demographic data, presence of associated malignancy, information about previous surgeries, tumor location, Krouse stage, surgical approach, follow-up duration, and data on recurrence were obtained. Results In our study, 31 of 382 cases (8.1%) were associated with malignancy. Mean age was significantly higher in patients with associated malignancy compared to the benign IP group. Of the 351 benign cases, 263 (74.9%) were primary, and 88 (25.1%) were revision cases (residual or recurrent disease). Although the proportion of patients with high Krouse stage or multifocal involvement was high in the revision cases, there was no significant difference in recurrence rate. The 226 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included for recurrence analysis. Recurrence rate was significantly higher in the conventional surgery group (17.4%) compared to that of the endoscopic and combined surgery groups (8.1% and 3.6%, respectively). Also, the recurrence group showed significantly larger proportion of patients with high Krouse stage and multifocal involvement. Conclusion Risk factors for recurrence of IP found in this study are comparable to those previously published. Generally, the factors associated with recurrence of IP were prior surgery, clinical stage, involved site, and surgical approach. Therefore, surgeons should always consider these risk factors to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Latency and amplitude are the measurement parameters of mismatch negativity (MMN). The values of the parameters vary sensitively with the stimulus paradigm. A paradigm using the frequency difference of sounds for the MMN study is well known. This study obtained the reference values of the parameters in healthy young adults by performing the MMN study using the frequency paradigm. The authors recruited ten healthy adults. Their average age was 25.5 years; three were female, and seven were male. On the auditory paradigm for the MMN study, the frequency of sound was 1000 Hz for the standard stimulus, and 1032 Hz for the deviant stimulus. The mean values of latency and amplitude of MMN were 202 ms and 1.88 μV at Fz, 207 ms, and 1.46 μV at Cz, 212 ms, and 1.10 μV at C3, and 214 ms and 1.45 μV at C4. There was no correlation between the latency and amplitude of MMN. This study presented the reference values of the latency and amplitude of the MMN using a standard paradigm that is easy to apply. This information may make the MMN useful for clinical applications and basic research.

Background: When an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is created using the basilic or deep cephalic vein, it is additionally necessary to transfer the vessels to a position where needling is easy; however, many patients develop wound-related postsurgical complications due to the long surgical wounds resulting from conventional superficialization of a deep AVF or basilic vein transposition. Thus, to address this problem, we performed videoscopic surgery with small surgical incisions. Methods: Data from 16 patients who underwent additional videoscopic radiocephalic superficialization, brachiocephalic superficialization, and brachiobasilic transposition after AVF formation at our institution in 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Needling was successful in all patients. No wound-related complications occurred. The mean vessel size and blood flow of the AVF just before the first needling were 0.73±0.16 mm and 1,516.25±791.26 mL/min, respectively. The mean vessel depth after surgery was 0.26±0.10 cm. Percutaneous angioplasty was additionally performed in 25% of the patients. Primary patency was observed in 100% of patients during the follow-up period (262.44±73.49 days). Conclusion: Videoscopic surgery for AVF dramatically reduced the incidence of postoperative complications without interrupting patency; moreover, such procedures may increase the use of native vessels for vascular access. In addition, dissection using a videoscope compared to blind dissection using only a skip incision dramatically increased the success rate of displacement by reducing damage to the dissected vessels.

This paper presents a novel adaptive learning-rate backpropagation neural network (ALR-BPNN) algorithm based on the minimization of mean-square deviation (MSD) to implement a fast convergence rate and robustness to impulsive noises. The learning rates of the weights in each hidden layer are derived to minimize the upper bound of the MSD obtained by the analysis, which guarantees a fast convergence rate in a stable range. Moreover, by adopting the variance of the kind of the measurement noises in each layer through the variance of the error signals, the proposed scheme provides robustness to the impulsive noises. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated on various sequential signals and industrial data including the impulsive noise and compared with conventional ALR-BPNN algorithms. Simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing algorithms.

Abstract Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is an analytical technique that can provide the structural, physical and chemical information of materials. The EELS spectra can be obtained by combining with TEM at sub-nanometer spatial resolution. However, EELS spectral information can’t be obtained easily because in order to interpret EELS spectra, we need to refer to and/or compare many reference data with each other. And in addition to that, we should consider the different experimental variables used to produce each data. Therefore, reliable and easily interpretable EELS standard reference data are needed. Our Electron Energy Loss Data Center (EELDC) has been designated as National Standard Electron Energy Loss Data Center No. 34 to develop EELS standard reference (SR) data and to play a role in dissemination and diffusion of the SR data to users. EELDC has developed and collected EEL SR data for the materials required by major industries and has a total of 82 EEL SR data. Also, we have created an online platform that provides a one-stop-place to help users interpret quickly EELS spectra and get various spectral information. In this paper, we introduce EEL SR data, the homepage of EELDC and how to use them.

Broadband wavelength-swept lasers (WSLs) are widely used as light sources in biophotonics and optical fiber sensors. Herein, we present a polygonal mirror scanning wavelength filter (PMSWF)-based broadband WSL using two semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) with different center wavelengths as the gain medium. The 10-dB bandwidth of the wavelength scanning range with 3.6 kHz scanning frequency was approximately 223 nm, from 1129 nm to 1352 nm. When the scanning frequency of the WSL was increased, the intensity and bandwidth decreased. The main reason for this is that the laser oscillation time becomes insufficient as the scanning frequency increases. We analyzed the intensity and bandwidth decrease according to the increase in the scanning frequency in the WSL through the concept of saturation limit frequency. In addition, optical alignment is important for realizing broadband WSLs. The optimal condition can be determined by analyzing the beam alignment according to the position of the diffraction grating and the lenses in the PMSWF. This broadband WSL is specially expected to be used as a light source in broadband distributed dynamic FBG fiber-optic sensors.

Background: In Leriche syndrome, postoperative graft thrombosis remains one of the most significant clinical challenges. Methods: We reviewed 51 patients who underwent surgery for aortoiliac occlusive disease at our hospital from January 2007 to December 2014. The factors associated with graft patency were determined using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The 2-year prosthetic graft patency rate was 72.5%. Younger age (p = 0.017, Odd ratio (OR) = 1.112), postoperative uncontrolled hypertension (p = 0.044, OR = 3.797), and associated Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease II (TASC II) D femoropopliteal lesion (p = 0.008, OR = 11.139) were significantly related factors for prosthetic graft patency after surgical repair. The existing comorbidities of the patients that indicated the need for axillo-bifemoral bypass seemed to be related to lower graft patency or other complications. Conclusions: For better graft patency after an open surgical repair of Leriche syndrome, strict postoperative hypertension control and distal run-off resolution are necessary. Keywords: Arterial occlusive disease, Graft occlusion, Vascular, Leriche syndrome, Vascular patency

Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) can be applied to various physical and chemical sensors because their alignment structures are changed by external stimuli. Here, we propose a CLC device fabricated by vertically forming the helical axis of the CLC between the cross-sections of two optical fiber ferrules. An optical fiber temperature sensor was successfully implemented using the proposed optical fiber ferrule-based CLC device. A wideband wavelength-swept laser with a center wavelength of 1073 nm and scanning range of 220 nm was used as a light source to measure the variations in the reflection spectrum band according to the temperature change in the CLC cell. The wavelength variation of the reflection spectrum band according to the temperature applied to the CLC cell was reversible and changed linearly with a change in the temperature, and the long-wavelength edge variation rate according to the temperature change was −5.0 nm/°C. Additionally, as the temperature applied to the CLC cell increased, the reflection spectrum bandwidth gradually decreased; the reflection spectrum bandwidth varied at a rate of −1.89 nm/°C. The variations in the refractive indices with temperature were calculated from the band wavelengths of the reflection spectrum. The pitch at each temperature was calculated based on the refractive indices and it gradually decreased as the temperature increased.

This study aimed to develop a high-performance deep learning algorithm to differentiate Stafne's bone cavity (SBC) from cysts and tumors of the jaw based on images acquired from various panoramic radiographic systems. Data sets included 176 Stafne's bone cavities and 282 odontogenic cysts and tumors of the mandible (98 dentigerous cysts, 91 odontogenic keratocysts, and 93 ameloblastomas) that required surgical removal. Panoramic radiographs were obtained using three different imaging systems. The trained model showed 99.25% accuracy, 98.08% sensitivity, and 100% specificity for SBC classification and resulted in one misclassified SBC case. The algorithm was approved to recognize the typical imaging features of SBC in panoramic radiography regardless of the imaging system when traced back with Grad-Cam and Guided Grad-Cam methods. The deep learning model for SBC differentiating from odontogenic cysts and tumors showed high performance with images obtained from multiple panoramic systems. The present algorithm is expected to be a useful tool for clinicians, as it diagnoses SBCs in panoramic radiography to prevent unnecessary examinations for patients. Additionally, it would provide support for clinicians to determine further examinations or referrals to surgeons for cases where even experts are unsure of diagnosis using panoramic radiography alone.

Although facial wounds caused by traffic accidents in dogs are common, the surgical management of severe facial injuries involving the soft tissue, bone, dentition, nose and orbit are challenging. A 2 year-old Korean Jindo dog was diagnosed with severe skin defects of the face and proptosis caused by a vehicular accident. Along the left lateral maxilla, severe injury involving the overlying skin and platysma muscle occurred, to the extent that the middle part of the sphincter colli profundus pars intermedia muscle was exposed. Repair surgeries of the skin defects and globe displacement were performed using a local subdermal plexus rotation flap and a partial transposition of the dorsal rectus muscle combined with small intestinal submucosa (SIS) instead of enucleation as the first attempt. SIS was used to sustain the torn medial region. In this case, the surgery resulted in good cosmetic and functional outcome in the dog, despite the atypical complexities upon presentation.

In semiconductor thin-film deposition equipment in which a fluorine- or chlorine-based gas is used as a cleaning gas, reducing residual fluorine or chlorine inside the equipment is important for increasing production efficiency and reducing production costs. In the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, where cleaning, seasoning, and deposition are sequentially repeated, an AlF3 layer is formed during the cleaning step with fluorine; the physical properties of the seasoning layer in contact with the AlF3 layer play an important role in fluorine diffusion. When the seasoning layer exhibits high compressive stress, the adsorbed fluorine does not diffuse and accelerates damage as it continuously concentrates on the surface of the aluminum component. We demonstrate the relationship between stress in the seasoning layer and fluorine diffusion and show that relieving compressive stress promotes fluorine diffusion, which, in turn, reduces the amount of fluorine inside aluminum components.

Background This study was performed to determine the characteristics of community cats that were admitted to trap–neuter–return(TNR) programs and the feasibility of the high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) model in Seoul, Korea. Methods TNR programs were performed eight times from 2017 to 2018, and a total of 375 community cats from the pilot areas were admitted. The pilot areas were selected regions wherein caregivers voluntarily participated in our TNR program. Each cat was anesthetized, assessed for health status, sterilized, vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia (FVR-CP), and rabies, and treated with insecticide after surgery. The time from anesthesia to recovery was evaluated to verify the efficiency of surgical time of the program. The TNR program at a local animal hospital and the program in this study were compared to assess the veterinary treatment administered and the cost for each cat. Results A total of 375 cats were underwent TNR in this study, including 192 (51.2%) intact females, 180 (48%) intact males, and three (0.8%) sterilized cats. Following surgery, 372 cats (99.2%) were returned to their original locations. Three cats (0.8%) died postoperatively. On average, 21.9% of the cats were pregnant during the TNRs, and the highest percentage of cats (63.9%) were pregnant in March. All cats presented to the TNR program were considered healthy enough to be part of the program after examination. For neutering one animal at a time, similar to conventional TNR ($140), it took 53 ± 16 mins for females and 30 ± 9 mins for males from anesthesia to recovery. In contrast, the standardized procedure can neuter multiple cats simultaneously, similar to the conveyor system, at an estimated rate of 6.8 mins per cat ($45 per female cat, $30 per male cat). Conclusions The TNR strategy in Seoul should be implemented by establishing dedicated clinics to concentrate on HQHVSN surgeries of cats. Through this pilot study, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to effectively apply HQHVSN clinics in Korea. Future studies that perform intensive sterilization in targeted areas are necessary to confirm the efficacy of the TNR strategy.

In this study, we investigated the steroidogenic effect of Taraxacum officinale extract on mouse TM3 Leydig cells, which produce male hormones by increasing the levels of steroidogenic enzymes. Steroidogenic enzymes are involved in the production of testosterone in the testis. To date, the steroidogenic effect of T. officinale has not been reported. Therefore, we examined the steroidogenic effects of T. officinale extract (TOE) on mouse Leydig cells in vitro. Traditionally, plants have been used for the treatment of various kinds of ailments. For many years, some medicinal plants have been used to regulate steroidogenesis or late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). In particular, plants belonging to the genus Taraxacum have anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we determined whether the TOE exerts steroidogenic effects by increasing the levels of enzymes associated with steroidogenesis, such as the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), CYP11A1, and translocator protein (TSPO) in the mitochondria and CYP17A1 in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, in mouse Leydig cells. Our results showed that the TOE significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of steroidogenic enzymes, thereby increasing the testosterone levels in mouse Leydig cells. Thus, our results indicate that the TOE increases the levels of steroidogenic enzymes, and further studies are required to establish the potential of this plant in regulating steroidogenesis and improving LOH.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of treating dairy cattle with exogenous human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), five (5) days post artificial insemination (AI) on serum progesterone (P4) concentration and pregnancy rate. In this experiment, five days after AI, cows were assigned randomly to two groups namely: a) treated group (67) which were administrered with 1500 IU hCG (Chorulon) and b) control group (61), which received no treatment. On day 5, 10, 15 and 20 after the artificial insemination, blood samples from a total of 8 cows (4 from each group) were collected and were analyzed for serum P4 concentration. Cows were detected for estrus according to standing heat by visual observation. Cows that were detected still in estrus after days 18-24 were re-inseminated and recorded as not pregnant (open). Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted by ultrasonographic examination and transrectal palpation of the uterus on approximately 60 days in cows that observed to be not in estrus. The conception rate in hCG treated and control groups were 52.5 and 36.1%, respectively. The results proved that there were no significant differences in conception rate between two groups (p=0.0568). However, pregnancy rates were reduced by hCG treatment. Average serum P4 concentrations did not differ between Hcg-treated and control groups on day 5 (0.377 versus 0.375 ng/ml). On day 20 serum P4 concentrations were greater in the treated group compared with the control group (3.085 versus 2.010 ng/ml). The treatment with hCG seemed to increase P4 level compared with the control. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that 1500 IU of hCG administered on 5 day post AI increased conception rate in dairy cows. This was supported by the results on serum P4 concentration which was greater in hCG treated group.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of activity tracker & application use on adherence, metabolic syndrome factor and body composition of middle and senior-aged. METHODS The subjects of this study were 1,196 middle and senior-aged man and women with health hazard factor. All of subjects divided to two groups, activity tracker & application use group 990(man=492, women=498) was participating in 24 weeks, and control group 206(man=71, women=135) was not in that program. They performed physical activity utilizing activity tracker & application for 24 weeks. The following items were measured before, middle and after the program : physical activity adherence, metabolic syndrome factor and body composition. RESULTS Results of this study showed that physical activity adherence appeared nothing in drop-rate of male(9.35%) and female(8.63%) : So adherence were male(90.65%) and female(91.37%). And changes of metabolic syndrome factor variables were significantly improved in total cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, and glucose in activity tracker & application use group and control group after 24 weeks. Also, body composition were showed significantly different in BMI, weight, waist. CONCLUSIONS Activity tracker & application use accompanied regular physical activity were effective in middle and senior-aged health promotion. This results can be utilized not only in new health promotion program of public health center but also in a local resident health management strategies.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to investigate predictors of crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD), and the effects of CCD on functional outcomes including motor function, activities of daily living, cognitive function, and ambulation 6 months after onset in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).MethodsA total of 74 patients experiencing their first ICH were recruited. If the asymmetric index was more than 10% using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a diagnosis of CCD was confirmed. Clinical factors were retrospectively assessed by reviewing medical records. Radiologic factors encompassed the concomitance of intraventricular hemorrhage, side and location of the lesion, and hemorrhage volume. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index, and measurement of the Functional Ambulatory Category at the time of SPECT measurement and 6 months post-ICH.ResultsLesion location, especially in the basal ganglia (odds ratio [OR]=6.138, p=0.011), and hemorrhagic volume (OR=1.055, p=0.046) were independent predictors for CCD according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. In addition, the presence of CCD was significantly related to the improvement in Fugl-Meyer Assessment score after 6 months (adjusted R2=0.152, p=0.036).ConclusionLesion location and hemorrhagic volume were the predisposing factors for CCD, and the CCD was associated with poor motor recovery over 6 months in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Cryopreservation of germ cells from genetically proven animals could be a source of restoration tools from the risk of extinction or disappearance of wanted characteristics. Using frozen semen, the genetic gains of Korean native cattle have been increased greatly for 70 years. The preservation of genetic resources as a form of frozen semen straw has limited availability due to the numbers. To circumvent this weakness of frozen semen, we tested two re-freezing methods with different initial thawing temperatures using frozen Korean proven semen and rare breed semen from albino, black and chikso breeders. It has been known that human sperm could resist to cryo-damages by repeated freeze-thaw cycles, but not for Korean proven bulls number (KPN) or for rare breeds. Total 7 frozen semem from brindled(2), black(1), Korean Albino(2) and KPN(1) bulls were used for our research. After thawing straws under 5°C/2min or 37°C/40sec with low temperature water bath and thermo jug, spermatozoa were re-diluted with triladyl diluents after first thawing and re-frozen. Sperm motilities were compared between animals and treated groups after re-thawing. Mean values of motility and viability of refrozen/thawed sperm for expansion of the number of straws were significantly higher in 5°C than in 37°C (P< < 0.05). However, the activity of viable sperm thawed at 5°C was significantly decreased after first and second thawing. It is estimated that re-freezing of frozen semen from rare Korean native cattle is possible with resistant properties of survived spermatozoa.

Here the authors demonstrate functionality for on-chip optical communications via reconfigurable exciton-plasmon interconversion in 200 nm-diameter silver nanowires overlapping onto two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide transistors.

During the ovary preservation in low temperature, the cumulus oocyte complexes(COCs) lose their developmental competences after in vitro fertilization. We used phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a basic solutions of at various temperatures (25, 15 or 5 °C) and supplemented them with 1mM glucose and 0.5mM glutamine as a source of carbohydrate metabolites. After recovery of COCs and in vitro fertilization, a significantly higher number of oocytes developed into blastocysts. The developmental competence of embryos that were originated from ovaries preserved at 15 °C was increased compared to those of 25 or 5 °C. The maturation rate of oocytes was not differed between 24 and 36 h at 15 °C but showed lower than control group (71% versus 78%). in vitro-fertilized oocytes from ovaries stored at 25 °C for 24 h or at 5 °C for 24 h had a significantly decreased developmental potentials, but at 15 °C did not (27% versus 29% of blastocysts to develop into day 8). With these results, bovine ovaries can be preserved at 15 °C for 36 h without decreasing developmental capacity of in vitro-fertilized oocyte at least to the blastocyst stage. This information provides valuable information of preserving ovaries for embryo transfer or in vitro embryo production.

Historically, Korea old cattle had been consisted with various lines of coat color brindle, black and white-brown breeds or more. The two rare lines of black and white coat color are maintained for animal resources and preserved critically. The present study was carried out to evaluate potential usage of cysteamine supplementation during in vitro matration (IVM) and in vitro culture/production of embryo (IVP) by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration (Ovum Pick-Up: OPU) for the establishment of cryo-banking system. Immature slaughterhouse-derived cumulus-oocyte complexes (SL-COCs) were matured in IVM medium supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.3 or 0.9 mM cysteamine, and then cultured in mSOF-BAS for 8 days after in vitro fertilization. The treatment of 0.1 mM cysteamine on SL-COCs showed higher rate of blastocyst, so OPU-derived COCs from rare breeds were matured in TCM media supplemented with or without 0.1 mM cysteamine, FSH and 5% FBS. The embryos were evaluated their developmental stages on day 8. During IVM, cysteamine treatment significantly increased the embryo production rate of slaughterhouse-derived COCs (19.6% vs. 30.5%). The presence of cysteamine during IVM of OPU-derived COCs from rare Korean cattle breeds (albino white and black line) also increased embryo production rates than those from SL-COCs (27.4% vs. 41.9% and 36.4%). With these results, cysteamine treatment during IVM is one of key factors IVP of blastocysts to establish banking system of endangered rare Koarean cattle with OPU derived transferable blastocysts.

ABSTRACT We had investigated whether sequence variants within DKK3 gene are associated with the development of prostate cancer in a Korean study cohort. We evaluated the association between 53 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the DKK3 gene and prostate cancer risk as well as clinical characteristics (PSA, clinical stage, pathological stage and Gleason score) in Korean men (272 prostate cancer subjects and 173 benign prostate hyperplasia subjects) using unconditional logistic regression analysis. Of the 53 SNPs and 25 common haplotypes, 5 SNPs and 4 haplotypes were associated with prostate cancer risk (P=0.02–0.04); 3 SNPs and 2 haplotypes were significantly associated with susceptibility to prostate cancer, however 2 SNPs and 2 haplotypes exhibited a significant protective effect on prostate cancer. Logistic analyses of the DKK3 gene polymorphisms with several prostate cancer related factors showed that several SNPs were significant; three SNPs and two haplotypes to PSA level, three SNPs and two haplotypes to clinical stage, nine SNPs and two haplotype to pathological stage, one SNP and one haplotypes to Gleason score. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report documenting that DKK3 polymorphisms are not only associated with prostate cancer but also related to prostate cancer-related factors.

Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) causes ischemic symptoms; it is the rarest type, occurring in 5% of all TOS cases. This paper is a case report of a 38-year-old male patient diagnosed with arterial TOS, displaying symptoms of acute critical limb ischemia caused by thromboembolism. Brachial artery of the patient has been diffusely damaged by repeated occurrence of thromboembolism. It was thought to be not enough only decompression of subclavian artery to relieve the symptoms of hand ischemia; therefore, bypass surgery using reversed great saphenous vein was performed.

To address the performance bottleneck in metal-based interconnects, hybrid optical network-on-chip (HONoC) has emerged as a new alternative. However, as the size of the HONoC grows, insertion loss and crosstalk noise increase, leading to excessive laser source output power and performance degradation. Therefore, we propose a low-power scalable HONoC architecture by incorporating semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). An SOA placement algorithm is developed considering insertion loss and crosstalk noise. Furthermore, we establish a worst-case crosstalk noise model of SOA-enabled HONoC and induce optimized SOA gains with respect to power consumption and performance, respectively. Extensive simulations for worst-case signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and power consumption are conducted under various traffic patterns and different network sizes. Simulation results show that the proposed SOA-enabled HONoC architecture and the associated algorithm help sustain the performance as network size increases without additional laser source power.

The rational design of porphyrin sensitizers is always crucial for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), since the change of only a single atom can have a significant influence on the photovoltaic performance. We incorporated the pyridothiadiazole group, as a stronger electron-withdrawing group, into the commonly well-established skeleton of D-porphyrin-triple bond-acceptor sensitizers by a single atom change for a well-known strong electron-withdrawing benzothiadiazole (BTD) unit as an auxiliary acceptor. The impact of the pyridothiadiazole group on the optical; electrochemical; and photovoltaic properties of D–π–A porphyrin sensitizers was investigated with comparison for a benzothiadiazole-substituted SGT-020 porphyrin. The pyridothiadiazole-substituted SGT-024 porphyrin dye was red-shifted so that the absorption range might be expected to achieve higher light harvest efficiency (LHE) than the SGT-020 porphyrin. However, all the devices were fabricated by utilizing SGT-020 and SGT-024, evaluated and found to achieve a cell efficiency of 10.3% for SGT-020-based DSSC but 4.2% for SGT-024-based DSSC under standard global AM 1.5G solar light conditions. The main reason is the lower charge collection efficiency of SGT-024-based DSSC than SGT-020-based DSSC, which can be attributed to the tilted dye adsorption mode on the TiO2 photoanode. This may allow for faster charge recombination, which eventually leads to lower Jsc, Voc and power conversion efficiency (PCE).

ABSTRACT Prenyltransferase enzymes promote the membrane localization of their target proteins by directing the attachment of a hydrophobic lipid group at a conserved C-terminal CAAX motif. Subsequently, the prenylated protein is further modified by postprenylation processing enzymes that cleave the terminal 3 amino acids and carboxymethylate the prenylated cysteine residue. Many prenylated proteins, including Ras1 and Ras-like proteins, require this multistep membrane localization process in order to function properly. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, previous studies have demonstrated that two distinct forms of protein prenylation, farnesylation and geranylgeranylation, are both required for cellular adaptation to stress, as well as full virulence in animal infection models. Here, we establish that the C. neoformans RAM1 gene encoding the farnesyltransferase β-subunit, though not strictly essential for growth under permissive in vitro conditions, is absolutely required for cryptococcal pathogenesis. We also identify and characterize postprenylation protease and carboxyl methyltransferase enzymes in C. neoformans. In contrast to the prenyltransferases, deletion of the genes encoding the Rce1 protease and Ste14 carboxyl methyltransferase results in subtle defects in stress response and only partial reductions in virulence. These postprenylation modifications, as well as the prenylation events themselves, do play important roles in mating and hyphal transitions, likely due to their regulation of peptide pheromones and other proteins involved in development. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcus neoformans is an important human fungal pathogen that causes disease and death in immunocompromised individuals. The growth and morphogenesis of this fungus are controlled by conserved Ras-like GTPases, which are also important for its pathogenicity. Many of these proteins require proper subcellular localization for full function, and they are directed to cellular membranes through a posttranslational modification process known as prenylation. These studies investigate the roles of one of the prenylation enzymes, farnesyltransferase, as well as the postprenylation processing enzymes in C. neoformans. We demonstrate that the postprenylation processing steps are dispensable for the localization of certain substrate proteins. However, both protein farnesylation and the subsequent postprenylation processing steps are required for full pathogenesis of this fungus.

The interfacial electronic structures of a bilayer of fullerene (C60) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) grown on vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) thin films deposited using radio frequency sputtering under various conditions were studied using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of the ZnPc layer and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of the C60 layer was determined and compared with that grown on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. The energy difference of a heterojunction on all V2O5 was found to be 1.3~1.4 eV, while that on ITO was 1.1 eV. This difference could be due to the higher binding energy of the HOMO of ZnPc on V2O5 than that on ITO regardless of work functions of the substrates. We also determined the complete energy level diagrams of C60/ZnPc on V2O5 and ITO.

Objectives : Demonstrating a novel circulatory path from the acupoint(CV12) to the pancreas. Method : Alcian blue(1% solution, 20μl, pH 7.4) was injected into the acupoint(CV12). Two hours later the surfaces of internal organs were observed by using a stereomicroscope. Results : Alcian blue arrived and colored the omental fat band(OFB) on the pancreas. The OFB connected the head and tail of the pancreas, the pancreas and the spleen, and the pancreas and the stomach. Conclusion : The existence of a novel circulatory path from the acupoint CV12 to the pancreas and its OFB was demonstrated.

Objectives : Showing that Bong-Han corpuscles(BHC) are suppliers of the stem cells in adulthood, and the Bong-Han ducts(BHD) are transportation routes of stem cells. Methods : BHC and BHD were obtained from the internal organ-surfaces of rats. The sliced BHC and BHD were immunostained with various stem cell markers. Extracellular matrices were also analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Result : The presence of mesenchymal stem cells was confirmed by the expression of Integrin beta 1, Collagen type 1 and Fibronectin. But CD54 was not expressed. The hematopoietic stem cell marker, Thy 1 was strongly expressed. BHDs showed Collagen type 1, Fibronectin, and vWF expression. Conclusion : Both hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cell markers were expressed strongly in BHC similarly as in bone marrow. An endothelial cell marker(vWF) demonstrated the possibility of the stem cell transportation routes of BHD.

Research on robots that accompany humans is being continuously studied. The Pet-Bot provides walking-assistance and object-carrying services without any specific controls through interaction between the robot and the human in real time. However, with Pet-Bot, there is a limit to the number of robots a user can use. If this limit is overcome, the Pet-Bot can provide services in more areas. Therefore, in this study, we propose a swarm-driving middleware design adopting the concept of a swarm, which provides effective parallel movement to allow multiple human-accompanying robots to accomplish a common purpose. The functions of middleware divide into three parts: a sequence manager for swarm process, a messaging manager, and a relative-location identification manager. This middleware processes the sequence of swarm-process of robots in the swarm through message exchanging using radio frequency (RF) communication of an IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol and manages an infrared (IR) communication module identifying relative location with IR signal strength. The swarm in this study is composed of the master interacting with the user and the slaves having no interaction with the user. This composition is intended to control the overall swarm in synchronization with the user activity, which is difficult to predict. We evaluate the accuracy of the relative-location estimation using IR communication, the response time of the slaves to a change in user activity, and the time to organize a network according to the number of slaves.

In the near future, we can expect to see robots naturally following or going ahead of humans, similar to pet behavior. We call this type of robots “Pet-Bot”. To implement this function in a robot, in this paper we introduce a self-organizing interaction and synchronization method between wearable devices and Pet-Bots. First, the Pet-Bot opportunistically identifies its owner without any human intervention, which means that the robot self-identifies the owner’s approach on its own. Second, Pet-Bot’s activity is synchronized with the owner’s behavior. Lastly, the robot frequently encounters uncertain situations (e.g., when the robot goes ahead of the owner but meets a situation where it cannot make a decision, or the owner wants to stop the Pet-Bot synchronization mode to relax). In this case, we have adopted a gesture recognition function that uses a 3-D accelerometer in the wearable device. In order to achieve the interaction and synchronization in real-time, we use two wireless communication protocols: 125 kHz low-frequency (LF) and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth low energy (BLE). We conducted experiments using a prototype Pet-Bot and wearable devices to verify their motion recognition of and synchronization with humans in real-time. The results showed a guaranteed level of accuracy of at least 94%. A trajectory test was also performed to demonstrate the robot’s control performance when following or leading a human in real-time.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship among nutritional status, N-terminal probrain-type natriuretic peptide (NT–proBNP) and ventricular remodeling in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Serum concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured by immunoassay. Nutritional status was assessed using the subjective global assessment (SGA) score and malnutrition–inflammation score (MIS). Echocardiographic examinations were performed on all patients. Forty-four patients undergoing maintenance HD were enrolled in this study. Malnourished patients, assessed according to SGA, had higher levels of extracellular water (ECW) per kg body weight (BWt) than well-nourished patients (mean, 0.30 vs 0.26 l/ kg, respectively) and higher levels of NT-proBNP (median, 24,807 vs 4,342 pg/ml, respectively). MIS was positively correlated with left ventricular mass index (LVMI), log NT–proBNP and ECW/BWt (r =0.35, 0.45 and 0.38), and negatively correlated with fat mass and LV systolic dysfunction (r=–0.41 and –0.32). LV systolic dysfunction, LVMI and MIS were associated with log NT-proBNP levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that log NT–proBNP, mean arterial pressure and ECW/BWt were independently associated with LVMI. In conclusion, malnutrition in HD patients is accompanied by volume overload and associated with increased log NT–proBNP levels independent of volume status, and these levels are independently associated with increased LVMI. This suggests that malnutrition may affect ventricular remodeling or dysfunction in HD patients.

Biologically inspired artificial vision research has led to innovative robotic vision systems with low optical aberration, wide field of view, and compact form factor. However, challenges persist in object detection and recognition against complex backgrounds and varied lighting. Inspired by the feline eye, which features a vertically elongated pupil and tapetum lucidum, this study introduces an artificial vision system designed for superior object detection and recognition in a monocular framework. Using a slit-like elliptical aperture and a patterned metal reflector beneath a hemispherical silicon photodiode array, the system reduces excessive light and enhances photosensitivity. This design achieves clear focus under bright light and enhanced sensitivity in dim conditions. Theoretical and experimental analyses demonstrate the system's ability to filter redundant information and detect camouflaged objects in diverse lighting, representing a substantial advancement in monocular camera technology and the potential of biomimicry in optical innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]