• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.575-585
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• 2022

Due to its biofilm formation and colonization of the osteocyte-lacuno canalicular network (OLCN), Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) implant-associated bone infection (SIABI) is difficult to cure thoroughly, and may occur recurrently subsequently after a long period dormant. It is essential to explore an alternative therapeutic strategy that can eradicate the pathogens in the infected foci. To address this, the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement and Fe3O4 nanoparticles compound cylinder were developed as implants based on their size and mechanical properties for the alternative magnetic field (AMF) induced thermal ablation, The PMMA mixed with optimized 2% Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles showed an excellent antibacterial efficacy in vitro. It was evaluated by the CFU, CT scan and histopathological staining on a rabbit 1-stage transtibial screw model. The results showed that on week 7, the CFU of infected soft tissue and implants, and the white blood cells (WBCs) of the PMMA+2% Fe₃O₄+AMF group decreased significantly from their controls (p<0.05). PMMA+2% Fe₃O₄+AMF group did not observe bone resorption, periosteal reaction, and infectious reactive bone formation by CT images. Further histopathological H&E and Gram Staining confirmed there was no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration, neither pathogens residue nor noticeably burn damage around the infected screw channel in the PMMA+2% Fe₃O₄+AMF group. Further investigation of nanoparticle distributions in bone marrow medullary and vital organs of heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. There were no significantly extra Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were observed in the medullary cavity and all vital organs either. In the current study, PMMA+2% Fe₃O₄+AMF shows promising therapeutic potential for SIABI by providing excellent mechanical support, and promising efficacy of eradicating the residual pathogenic bacteria in bone infected lesions.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2022

Despite recent breakthroughs in deep learning and computer vision fields, the pixel-wise identification of tiny objects in high-resolution images with complex disturbances remains challenging. This study proposes a modified U-net for tiny crack segmentation in real-world steel-box-girder bridges. The modified U-net adopts the common U-net framework and a novel Self-Attention-Self-Adaption (SASA) neuron as the fundamental computing element. The Self-Attention module applies softmax and gate operations to obtain the attention vector. It enables the neuron to focus on the most significant receptive fields when processing large-scale feature maps. The Self-Adaption module consists of a multiplayer perceptron subnet and achieves deeper feature extraction inside a single neuron. For data augmentation, a grid-based crack random elastic deformation (CRED) algorithm is designed to enrich the diversities and irregular shapes of distributed cracks. Grid-based uniform control nodes are first set on both input images and binary labels, random offsets are then employed on these control nodes, and bilinear interpolation is performed for the rest pixels. The proposed SASA neuron and CRED algorithm are simultaneously deployed to train the modified U-net. 200 raw images with a high resolution of 4928 × 3264 are collected, 160 for training and the rest 40 for the test. 512 × 512 patches are generated from the original images by a sliding window with an overlap of 256 as inputs. Results show that the average IoU between the recognized and ground-truth cracks reaches 0.409, which is 29.8% higher than the regular U-net. A five-fold cross-validation study is performed to verify that the proposed method is robust to different training and test images. Ablation experiments further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed SASA neuron and CRED algorithm. Promotions of the average IoU individually utilizing the SASA and CRED module add up to the final promotion of the full model, indicating that the SASA and CRED modules contribute to the different stages of model and data in the training process.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.26.1-26.28
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• 2021

Asthma exacerbations are a major cause of intractable morbidity, increases in health care costs, and a greater progressive loss of lung function. Asthma exacerbations are most commonly triggered by respiratory viral infections, particularly with human rhinovirus (hRV). Respiratory viral infections are believed to affect the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a limiting enzyme in tryptophan catabolism, which is presumed to alter asthmatic airway inflammation. Here, we explored the detailed role of IDO in the progression of asthma exacerbations using a mouse model for asthma exacerbation caused by hRV infection. Our results reveal that IDO is required to prevent neutrophilic inflammation in the course of asthma exacerbation caused by an hRV infection, as corroborated by markedly enhanced Th17- and Th1-type neutrophilia in the airways of IDO-deficient mice. This neutrophilia was closely associated with disrupted expression of tight junctions and enhanced expression of inflammasome-related molecules and mucin-inducing genes. In addition, IDO ablation enhanced allergen-specific Th17- and Th1-biased CD4⁺ T-cell responses following hRV infection. The role of IDO in attenuating Th17- and Th1-type neutrophilic airway inflammation became more apparent in chronic asthma exacerbations after repeated allergen exposures and hRV infections. Furthermore, IDO enzymatic induction in leukocytes derived from the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) lineage appeared to play a dominant role in attenuating Th17- and Th1-type neutrophilic inflammation in the airway following hRV infection. Therefore, IDO activity in HSC-derived leukocytes is required to regulate Th17- and Th1-type neutrophilic inflammation in the airway during asthma exacerbations caused by hRV infections.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 1998

Many myocutaneous flaps have been used for the reconstruction of intraoral defects caused by the excision of oral cancer. Among these myocutaneous flaps, cervical island flap has been introduced by Farr et al. Although different in detail, this flap was designed as the platysma myocutaneous flap by Futrell et al in the supraclavicular site. Since many authors applied this flap to cover intraoral defect, they discussed deeply the blood supply of this flap. To improve further flap survival, it was modified by Tashiro et al. This flap makes its vascularity highly reliable. The amount of tissue needed for reconstruction can be accurately planned. The surgical and reconstruction procedure can be performed simply, rapidly, and effectively. Oral functions including deglutition, speech, and denture fitting are not compromised. With it's minimal deformity, new donor fields is not necessory. Of course, we keep in mind that this flap has limitations in patients where much bulk of tissue defects is needed and more than 3000 rad radiation due to the metastasis of neck lymph node is exposed. In three patients with intraoral squamous cell carcinoma($T_{1-3}N_0M_0$), we performed induction chemotherapy with FP regimen including pepleomycin. Thereafter, we ablated oral cancer and peformed reconstruction of intraoral defects with cervical island flap designed by Tashiro et al. Due to these significant benefits and minimal limitations, we have found that this flap is adequate for reconstruction of most intraoral defects following cancer ablation.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2004

Purpose: Current treatment for osteoid osteomas is usually surgical excision of the nidus. Various minimal invasive techniques have been reported to overcome the invasiveness of the surgical excision. We treated 22 patients with osteoid osteoma by percutaneous thermoablation of the nidus under computed-tomography guidance. Materials and Methods: Twenty two consecutive patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous radio-frequency thermoablation between April 1999 and May 2004. The mean age was 26.5(7~55) years. In three cases, the diagnosis was confirmed pathologically before the prodedure while the others clinically and radiologically. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous RF ablation was performed with general or spinal anesthesia. With an RF electrode, the lesion was heated to 80 or 90 degrees C for 6(3~8) minutes. Clinical success was assessed at a mean of 30(4~62) months after the procedure at out patient clinic or by telephone interview. Results: The procedure was technically successful in all cases except a complication. Patients were discharged on 1.9 days after the procedure and resumed normal activities immediately. All patients but three (86%) remained pain free during follow-up (range 4~62 months). A second thermoablation treatment relieved the recurrent symptoms in 2 patients and the remained had persistent pain without a second prodedure. Conclusion: Percutaneous thermoablation appears to be safe and effective for osteoid osteomas, and is a minimally invasive procedure alternative to surgical resection.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.493-501
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• 1999

Purpose: We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the diagnostic values of T1-201, Tc-99m MIBI and I-131 scans in the follow-up assessment after ablative I-131 therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 20 patients who underwent surgical removal of thyroid cancer and ablative radioactive iodine therapy, and followed by one or mote times of I-131 retreatments (33 cases). In all patients, T1-201, Tc-99m MIBI, diagnostic and therapeutic I-131 scans were performed and the results were analyzed retrospectively. Also serum thyroglobulin levels were measured in all patients. The final diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer was determined by clinical, biochemical, radiologic and/or biopsy findings. Results: Positive rates (PR) of Tc-99m MIBI, T1-201, diagnostic and therapeutic I-131 scans in detecting malignant thyroid tissue lesions were 70% (19/27), 54% (15/28), 35% (17/48) and 63% (30/48), respectively. The PR in the group of 20 cases (28 lesions) who underwent concomitant T1-201 and I-131 scans were in the order of therapeutic 131 scan 71%, T1-201 scan 54% and diagnostic I-131 scan 36%. There was no statistically significant difference between T1-201 and diagnostic I-131 scans (p>0.05). In the group of 20 cases (27 lesions) who underwent concomitant Tc-99m MIBI and I-131 scans, the PR were in the order of Tc-99m MIBI scan 70%, I-131 therapeutic scan 52% and I-131 diagnostic scan 33%. The PR of Tc-99m MIBI was significantly higher than that of diagnostic I-131 scan (p<0.05). Conclusion: Tc-99m MIBI scan is superior to diagnostic I-131 scan in detecting recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer following ablation therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. T1-201 scan did not showed significantly higher positive rate than diagnostic I-131 scan. Instead of diagnostic I-131 scan before the I-131 retreatment, Tc-99m MIBI scan without discontinuing thyroid hormone replacement would be a prudent and effective approach in the management of these patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.811-816
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• 2007

Background: We analyzed our experience of arrhythmia surgery in patients with congenital heart disease. Material and Method: A retrospective review was performed on 43 consecutive patients with congenital heart disease, who underwent arrhythmia surgery between June 1998 and June 2006. Result: The median age at surgery was 52 years ($4{\sim}75$ years). The most frequent cardiac anomaly was an atrial septal defect (23/43, 53.5%). The types of arrhythmias were atrial flutter-fibrillation, intermittent non-sustainable ventricular tachycardia and others in 37, 2 and 4, respectively. Arrhythmia surgery consisted of a bi-atrial maze operation in 18 patients (modified cox maze III procedure in 5 patients, and a right side maze plus pulmonary vein cryo-isolation in 13), right side maze operation in 18 patients, cavo-tricuspid isthmus cryoablation for benign atrial flutter in 4 patients, right ventricular endocardial cryoablation in 2 patients and extranodal cryoablation for atrioventricular node re-entry tachycardia in 1 patient. The median follow-up was 23.8 months ($1{\sim}95.2$ months). There was no early mortality, and one late non-cardiac related death. The overall rates of restored sinus rhythm before discharge and $3{\sim}6$ months after surgery were 79% and 81%, respectively (bi-atrial maze group: 72% and 83%, right-side maze group: 77%, 77%). Conclusion: Arrhythmias associated with congenital heart disease can be safely treated surgically with an excellent intermediate-term outcome.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.481-491
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• 2014

Blue-ice area is a glacial ice field in ice sheet, ice shelf and glaciers where snow ablation and sublimation is larger than snowfall. As the blue-ice area has large influences on the meteorite concentration mechanism and ice mass balance, it is required to quantify the concentration of blue-ice. We analyzed spectral reflectance characteristics of blue-ice, snow and cloud by using MODIS images obtained over blue-ice areas in McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica, from 2007 to 2012. We then developed Normalized Difference Blue-ice Index (NDBI) algorithm which quantifies the concentration of blue-ice. Snow and cloud have a high reflectance in visible and near-infrared (NIR) bands. Reflectance of blue-ice is high in blue band, while that lowers in the NIR band. NDBI is calculated by dividing the difference of reflectance in the blue and NIR bands by the sum of reflectances in the two bands so that NDBI = (Blue-NIR)/(Blue + NIR). NDBI calculated from the MODIS images showed that the blue-ice areas have values ranging from 0.2 to 0.5, depending on the exposure and concentration of blue-ice. It is obviously different from that of snow and cloud that has values less than 0.2 or rocks with negative values. The change of NDBI values in the blue-ice area has higher correlation with snow depth ($R^2=0.699$) than wind speed ($R^2=0.012$) or air temperature ($R^2=0.278$), all measured at a meteorological station installed in McMurdo Dry Valleys. As the snow depth increased, the NDBI value decreased, which suggests that snow depth can be estimated from NDBI values over blue-ice areas. The NDBI algorithm developed in this study will be useful for various polar research fields such as meteorite exploration, analysis of ice mass balance as well as the snow depth estimation.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2010

It is of importance that all countries in worldwide, including EU and China, have adopted the Restrictions on the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) for all electronics. IEC62321 document, which was published by the International Electronics Committee (IEC) can have conflicts with the standards in the market. On the contrary Publicly Accessible Specification (PAS) for sampling published by IEC TC111 can be adopted for complementary application. In this work, we tried to find a route to disassemble and disjoint cellular phone sample, based on PAS and compare the screening methods available in the market. For this work, the cellular phone produced in 2001, before the regulation was born, was chosen for better detection. Although X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) showed excellent performance for screening, fast and easy handling, it can give information on the surface, not the bulk, and have some limitations due to significant matrix interference and lack of variety of standards for quantification. It means that screening with XRF sometimes requires supplementary tool. There are several techniques available in the market of analytical instruments. Laser ablation (LA) ICP-MS, energy dispersive (ED) XRF and scanning electron microscope (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were demonstrated for screening a cellular phone. For quantitative determination, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) was employed. Experimental results for Pb in a battery showed large difference in analytical results in between XRF and GF-AAS, i.e., 0.92% and 5.67%, respectively. In addition, the standard deviation of XRF was extremely large in the range of 23-168%, compared with that in the range of 1.9-92.3% for LA-ICP-MS. In conclusion, GF-AAS was required for quantitative analysis although EDX was used for screening. In this work, it was proved that LA-ICP-MS can be used as a screening method for fast analysis to determine hazardous elements in electrical products.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9487-9494
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• 2014

Background: The size of a hepatic neoplasm is critical for staging, prognosis and selection of appropriate treatment. Our study aimed to compare the radiological size of solid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) masses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the pathological size in a Chinese population, and to elucidate discrepancies. Materials and Methods: A total of 178 consecutive patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection after enhanced MRI between July 2010 and October 2013 were retrospectively identified and analyzed. Pathological data of the whole removed tumors wereassessed and differences between radiological and pathological tumor size were identified. All patients were restaged using a modified Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system postoperatively according to the maximum diameter alteration. The lesions were classified as hypo-staged, iso-staged or hyper-staged for qualitative assessment. In the quantitative analysis, the relative pre and postoperative tumor size contrast ratio ($%{\Delta}size$) was also computed according to size intervals. In addition, the relationship between radiological and pathological tumor diameter variation and histologic grade was analyzed. Results: Pathological examination showed 85 (47.8%) patients were overestimated, 82 (46.1%) patients underestimated, while accurate measurement by MRI was found in 11 (6.2%) patients. Among the total subjects, 14 (7.9%) patients were hypo-staged and 15 (8.4%) were hyper-staged post-operatively. Accuracy of MRI for calculation and characterized staging was related to the lesion size, ranging from 83.1% to 87.4% (<2cm to ${\geq}5cm$, p=0.328) and from 62.5% to 89.1% (cT1 to cT4, p=0.006), respectively. Overall, MRI misjudged pathological size by 6.0 mm (p=0.588 ), and the greatest difference was observed in tumors <2cm (3.6 mm, $%{\Delta}size=16.9%$, p=0.028). No statistically significant difference was observed for moderately differentiated HCC (5.5mm, p=0.781). However, for well differentiated and poorly differentiated cases, radiographic tumor maximum diameter was significantly larger than the pathological maximum diameter by 3.15 mm and underestimated by 4.51 mm, respectively (p=0.034 and 0.020). Conclusions: A preoperative HCC tumor size measurement using MRI can provide relatively acceptable accuracy but may give rise to discrepancy in tumors in a certain size range or histologic grade. In pathological well differentiated subjects, the pathological tumor size was significantly overestimated, but underestimated in poorly differentiated HCC. The difference between radiological and pathological tumor size was greatest for tumors <2 cm. For some HCC patients, the size difference may have implications for the decision of resection, transplantation, ablation, or arterially directed therapy, and should be considered in staging or selecting the appropriate treatment tactics.