• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.617-632
• /
• 2022

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and voice prosthesis insertion following laryngectomy may fail to form an adequate seal. When spontaneous closure of the fistula tract does not occur after conservative measures, surgical closure is required. The purpose of this study was to summarize the available evidence on surgical methods for TEP site closure. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane was performed to identify studies describing surgical techniques, outcomes, and complications for TEP closure. We evaluated the rate of unsuccessful TEP closure after surgical management. A meta-analysis with a random-effect method was performed. Thirty-four studies reporting on 144 patients satisfied inclusion criteria. The overall incidence of an unsuccessful TEP surgical closure was 6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1-13%). Subgroup analysis showed an unsuccessful TEP closure rate for silicone button of 8% (95% CI < 1-43%), 7% (95% CI < 1-34%) for dermal graft interposition, < 1% (95% CI < 1-37%) for radial forearm free flap, < 1% (95% CI < 1-52%) for ligation of the fistula, 17% (95% CI < 1-64%) for interposition of a deltopectoral flap, 9% (95% CI < 1-28%) for primary closure, and 2% (95% CI < 1-20%) for interposition of a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. Critical assessment of the reconstructive modality should take into consideration previous history of surgery or radiotherapy. Nonirradiated fields and small defects may benefit from fistula excision and tracheal and esophageal multilayer closure. In cases of previous radiotherapy, local flaps or free tissue transfer yield high successful TEP closure rates. Depending on the defect size, sternocleidomastoid muscle flap or fasciocutaneous free flaps are optimal alternatives.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.259-268
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Hyaluronic acid (HA) affects angiogenesis and promotes the migration and differentiation of mesenchymal cells, thereby activating the osteogenic ability of osteoblasts. Although studies on the action of HA during bone regeneration are being actively conducted, the optimal dose of HA required for bone regeneration remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the most effective HA dose for bone formation using a rat critical-size defect model. Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 6 rats in each group. An absorbable collagen sponge soaked with HA or saline was used to fill an 8-mm defect, which was then covered with a collagen membrane. Different treatments were performed for each group as follows: (1) saline control, (2) 1 mg/mL HA, (3) 25 mg/mL HA, (4) 50 mg/mL HA, or (5) 75 mg/mL HA. After a healing period of 4 weeks, micro-computed tomography and histological analysis were performed. The obtained values were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Tukey test (P<0.05). Results: At week 4, the 75 mg/mL HA group had the highest bone volume/total volume ratio, new bone, and bone fill among the 5 groups, and these values were significantly different from those observed in the control group (P<0.01) and 1 mg/mL HA group (P<0.001). More active bone formation was observed in the higher-dose HA groups (25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 75 mg/mL HA), which included a large amount of woven bone. Conclusions: The 75 mg/mL HA group showed better bone formation than the other groups (1, 25, and 50 mg/mL HA and control).

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.25-42
• /
• 2023

Despite the significance of ports as critical economic infrastructure, the berth facilities usually deteriorate due to heavy loading, unloading, aging, environmental weather conditions, marine growths, and lack of efficient maintenance management. Marine berths require proactive maintenance management to limit deterioration and defects as no berth facility is maintenance-free. Thus, delay in carrying out maintenance work for the marine berths can be devastating to the operational process involving ship entry, loading, and unloading operations. The aim of this research is to coordinate both operations work, and maintenance works that take place inside the berth of a local industrial port in Saudi Arabia, by developing a novel framework that integrates both works without affecting the efficiency and functionality of the berth. The study focused on defining the operational process of the port and identifying the elements with direct and indirect effects. In addition to determining the priority for the entry of ships inside the berth, it also identified the factors involved in designing a framework that included maintenance work as a component of the monthly berth occupancy schedule. By applying a mathematical model, a framework was established, which includes all the important elements of the process. As a result of the mathematical method formulation process, a database was designed that organizes and coordinates the operations of all berths within the port. This creates time to carry out the required maintenance work monthly as well as ease of coordination with the contractors responsible for the implementation of those works.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2024

The aggressive scaling of dynamic random-access memory capacitors has increased the need to maintain high capacitance despite the limited physical thickness of electrodes and dielectrics. This makes it essential to use high-k dielectric materials. TiO₂ has a large dielectric constant, ranging from 30~75 in the anatase phase to 90~170 in rutile phase. However, it has significant leakage current due to low energy barriers for electron conduction, which is a critical drawback. Suppressing the leakage current while scaling to achieve an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) below 0.5 nm is necessary to control the influence of interlayers on capacitor performance. For this, Pt and Ru, with their high work function, can be used instead of a conventional TiN substrate to increase the Schottky barrier height. Additionally, forming rutile-TiO₂ on RuO₂ with excellent lattice compatibility by epitaxial growth can minimize leakage current. Furthermore, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) can be used to deposit a uniform thin film with high density and low defects at low temperatures, to reduce the impact of interfacial reactions on electrical properties at high temperatures. In this study, TiO₂ was deposited using PEALD, using substrates of Pt and Ru treated with rapid thermal annealing at 500 and 600 ℃, to compare structural, chemical, and electrical characteristics with reference to a TiN substrate. As a result, leakage current was suppressed to around 10^-6 A/cm² at 1 V, and an EOT at the 0.5 nm level was achieved.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.71 no.4
• /
• pp.525-536
• /
• 2020

Transcellular calcium transport is an essential activity in mineralized tissue formation, including that in nervous systems. Dysregulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis can induce excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Nckx3, a potassium-dependent Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger, is most abundant in the brain and has a critical role in the transport of intracellular calcium across the cell membrane. However, the roles of Nckx3 in neuron development and function remain unreported. Herein, we examined the behaviors of Nckx3-knock-out mice at the age of six weeks. Detailed behavioral analyses showed Nckx3^-/- mice exhibited an increase in moving distances in the open field test. Additionally, the rotarod test revealed motor learning defects in Nckx3^-/- mice. Both Nckx3^+/- and Nckx3^-/- mice also exhibited deficits in sociability and social novelty preference. Furthermore, Nckx3^-/- mice displayed increased depression-related behavior. However, there was no significant change in cognition function detected in Nckx3^-/- mice. This study demonstrates that NCKX3 is involved in behavior and neuronal function

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.609-613
• /
• 2024

As the operating environment in semiconductor processes becomes demanding, research is being conducted to manufacture dense alumina substrates without defects after sintering to ensure high durability of electrostatic chucks, which are critical components in semiconductor equipment. Therefore, in this study, in order to manufacture green sheets with a high filling ratio for implementing a high-density substrate, alumina powders with average particle sizes of 2.07 ㎛ (L) and 0.37 ㎛ (S) were mixed in ratios of 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, and 6:4, respectively, and green sheets were manufactured and the filling ratio and sintering behavior were observed. Green sheets were fabricated by preparing a slurry using organic materials in Al₂O₃ powders of different particle sizes. The packing density of the green sheet mixed with L and S alumina powders with different average particle sizes in a ratio of 7:3 before and after binder burn-out showed the highest values of 3.19 g/cm³ and 2.87 g/cm³, respectively. As a result of observing the sintered density based on the mixing ratio of alumina powders revealed that the alumina sheet mixed at a 6:4 ratio of L and S powders, sintered at 1,700℃, exhibited the best sintering characteristics with a density of 3.96 g/cm³.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.308-318
• /
• 2024

Background: Many plants compensate for the damage caused by herbivorous insects through tolerance responses. Besides directly causing plant tissue loss and seed production reduction, herbivory causes phenological changes in the host plant. However, little is known about the fitness costs of phenological changes caused by tolerance responses to herbivorous attacks. Results: The girdling beetle Phytoecia rufiventris caused a short-term decrease in the number of flowers of the host plant Erigeron annuus. However, accelerated growth restored the number of flowers, but after a 2-week delay. With an objective to examine whether the tolerance response with such a delay fully compensates the fitness, we experimentally reproduced a 2-week delay in germination under greenhouse and field settings. Under both conditions, intraspecific competition resulted in serious defects in the growth and reproduction of E. annuus plants which of germination was delayed. However, delayed germination (DG) resulted in better growth when competition and herbivory were eliminated from the field. Thus, we showed that the tolerance response to restore reproductive production does not fully compensate for the fitness loss caused by insect attack; rather, the delay in seed production in attacked plants leads to DG and subsequent inferiority in intraspecific competition. Conclusions: Our results imply that compensation for floral production after an herbivore attack does not fully restore offspring fitness in the presence of intraspecific competition and herbivory. Assessing the ecological consequences of defense traits in an appropriate layer of interaction is critical to interpreting adaptive values.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• no.12
• /
• pp.21-36
• /
• 1970

This studies have been carried out to 3nd various causes of cleanness defects on raw silk which has been increased since 1967 in Korea, so that this treatise may be a guide inform action to improve such a defect in future. The cocoon treatment for the proposed work was carried starting with in worst condition to find the critical limit of degrading through such a work. And various analysis have been also worked out using the annual silk testing data past a few years. The results obtained are as follows. 1. There was a great relationship between cleanness and neatness result. 2. Cleanness result is greatly influenced by mounting conditions and handling of cocoons, which brought 40 percent lower as cleanness result than standard ones in which caused minor defects, especially loops and split ends, so the bad mounting conditions and handling of fresh cocoons degraded raw silk from 4A grade to E. 3. The use of good water quality brought the difference of 1.04 percent in cleanness result rather than the use of bad one. 4. Well technical work brought the difference of 0.86 percent in cleanness result rather than poor technical work. 5, Satisfactory cocoon drying installation brought the difference of 1.97 percent in cleanness result rather than insufficient one. 6. Automatic reeling machine marked lower 1,55 percent in cleanness result than multi-end reeling machine. 7. The degrading of cleanness result from 1965 year silk to 1969 year silk marked 1.99 percent, which almost responds to the degrading rate from good to poor cocoon drying installed cleanness results. In view of this result, nowadays, insufficient cocoon drying installation may be main factor to be worse cleanness result of Korean raw silk. 8. The factors of cleanness defect in raw silk once supplied with cocoon into factory are water quality, technique evaluation, cocoon drying capacity and s： reeling machine. The relationship between cleanness result and above factors are as follows. cleanness result＝neatness result＋1.6－1.04(1－a)－1.97(1－b)－0.86(1-c)＋1.55${\times}$d a： The successive we ratio of water quality (0\longrightarrowl) b： The successive ratio of satisfactory cocoon drying installation (0\longrightarrowl) c： The successive ratio of well technical work (0\longrightarrowl) d： 1 in case multi-end reeling machine o in case automatic reeling machine 9, It is not admitted that there is heavy relationship between cleanness occurrence and nonbreaking reel ability. That mal$.$ be sowed with silk reeling technique. 10. The bad mounting conditions caused the worse result on the cocoon quality as much as cleanness. 11. Besides mounting conditions, there may be another factors affecting on the low reel ability of cocoons in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.366-374
• /
• 2010

Introduction: This study evaluated the capability of silk fibroin (SF) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 loaded SF (SF-BMP) as a bone defect replacement matrix when grafted in a calvarial bone defect of rats in vivo. Materials and Methods: A total 70 calvarial critical size defects (5.0 mm in diameter) made on 35 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The defects were transplanted with (1) rhBMP-2 loaded silk fibroin graft (SF-BMP: 0.8+$10\;{\mu}g$), (2) Silk fibroin (SF: $10\;{\mu}g$), and (3) no graft material (Raw). The samples were evaluated with soft x-rays, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium/phosphate quantification, histological and histomorphometric analysis at postoperative 4 and 8 weeks. Results: The SF-BMP group ($48.86{\pm}14.92%$) had a significantly higher mean percentage bone area than the SF group ($24.96{\pm}11.01%$) at postoperative 4 weeks.(P<0.05) In addition, the SF-BMP group ($40.01{\pm}12.43%$) had a higher % bone area at postoperative 8 weeks than the SF group ($33.26{\pm}5.15%$). The mean ratio of gray scale levels to the host bone showed that the SF-BMP group ($0.67{\pm}0.08$) had a higher mean ratio level than the SF group ($0.61{\pm}0.09$) at postoperative 8 weeks. These differences were not statistically significant.(P=0.168 and P=0.243, respectively) The ratio of the calcium and phosphate contents of the SF-BMP ($0.93{\pm}0.22$) group was lower than that of the SF ($1.90{\pm}1.42$) group at postoperative 4 weeks. However, the SF-BMP group ($0.75{\pm}0.31$) had a higher Ca/$PO_4$ ratio than the SF ($0.68{\pm}0.04$) at postoperative 8 weeks. These differences were not statistically significant.(P=0.126 and P=0.627, respectively) For the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, which is recognized as a reliable indicator of the osteoblast function, the SF-BMP ($23.71{\pm}8.60\;U/L$) groups had a significantly higher value than the SF group ($12.65{\pm}6.47\;U/L$) at postoperative 4 weeks.(P<0.05) At postoperative 8 weeks, the SF-BMP ($21.65{\pm}10.02\;U/L$) group had a lower bone-specific ALP activity than the SF group ($16.72{\pm}7.35\;U/L$). This difference was not statistically significant.(P=0.263) For the histological evaluation, the SF-BMP group revealed less inflammation, lower foreign body reactions and higher bone healing than the SF group at postoperative 4 and 8 weeks. The SF group revealed more foreign body reactions at postoperative 4 weeks. However, this immunogenic reaction decreased and the remnant of grafted material was observed at postoperative 8 weeks. For histomorphometric analysis, the SF-BMP group had a significantly longer bone length to total length ratio than those of the SF group at postoperative 4 and 8 weeks.(P<0.05) Conclusion: The rhBMP-2 loaded silk fibroin graft revealed fewer immunoreactions and inflammation as well as more new bone formation than the pure silk fibroin graft. Therefore, silk fibroin may be a candidate scaffold for tissue engineered bone regeneration.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.31-63
• /
• 1991

It was proved that in conventional kiln drying of disks piling position in the kiln exerted a great influence on drying rates, and the larger the variation of disk diameter, the more undulating drying rates of disks. While in vacuum drying disks there was no influence on drying rates. By the end-wrapping treatments and the radial direction of disks tangential surface stresses in the core of disks were slightly compressive in three species. In control disks the drying stresses distributed into one step-style that compressive stresses in the pith side of 6cm from pith were larger than those in the bark side, while in the disks end-wrapped with Korean paper the drying stresses distributed uniformly, because flow rates of free water in disks had no difference between heart-and sap-wood by obstruction of evaporating water from surface of disks by end-wrapping with Korean paper. And end-wrapping with Korean paper considerably restrained those. Tangential differential shrinkage stresses developed the maximum tensile stress near the bark and with approaching the pith the stresses gradually reduced and changed into compressive stresses in near the pith. At the end of vacuum drying the maximum tangential tensile stresses of disks end-wrapped with Korean paper were smaller than those of control disks, and critical moisture contents causing the V-shaped crack of disks end-wrapped with Korean paper were lower than those of control disks because of the set by obstruction of evaporating water of end-wrapping with Korean paper. In the experiment of vacuum drying stress distribution the disks end-wrapped with Korean paper or aluminum foil in three species were free from V-shaped cracks and control disks were defected very slightly by V-shaped cracks. And also disks end-wrapped with Korean paper were free from heart checks in Alnus japonica and Juglans sinensis, and heart checks were occurred very slightly in others. Especially, not to speak of disks end-wrapped with Korean paper, vacuum drying of disks end-wrapped with aluminum foil prevented effectively drying defects, moreover drying times could be shortened, that is. Ginkgo biloba, Alnus japonica, and Juglans sinensis disks could be dried from green to in-use moisture content in 110 hours, 272 hours, and 407 hours, respectively.