• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.687-688
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• 2023

Bone age assessment is a crucial task in pediatric radiology for assessing growth and development in children. In this paper, we explore the potential of Vision Transformer, a state-of-the-art deep learning model, for bone age assessment using X-ray images. We generate heatmap outputs using a pre-trained Vision Transformer model on a publicly available dataset of hand X-ray images and show that the model tends to focus on the overall hand and only the bone part of the image, indicating its potential for accurately identifying the regions of interest for bone age assessment without the need for pre-processing to remove background noise. We also suggest two methods for extracting the region of interest from the heatmap output. Our study suggests that Vision Transformer holds great potential for bone age assessment using X-ray images, as it can provide accurate and interpretable output that may assist radiologists in identifying potential abnormalities or areas of interest in the X-ray image.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2000

The phosphatic calcium compounds such as calcium hydrogen phosphate, bone ash, hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate were prepared using the high purity calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate obtained from shell resources. Calcium hydrogen phosphate had been prepared using the high purity calcium hydroxide and phosphoric acid solution. Using the calcium hydrogen phosphate as a starting materials, bone ash have been prepared by solid state reaction method and hydroxyapatite could be obtained by hydrothermal treatment method, respectively. The tricalcium phosphate was prepared by the solid state reaction of a stoichiometic mixture of bone ash and high purity calcium carbonate. In this paper, the optimal preparation process and conditions of phosphatic calcium compounds were established.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.670-675
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• 2016

Calcium phosphate crystallites were prepared by wet chemical method for use in artificial bone. In order to obtain ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), nano-crystalline calcium phosphate (CaP) was precipitated at $37^{\circ}C$ and at $pH5.0{\pm}0.1$ under stirring using highly active $Ca(OH)_2$ in DI water and an aqueous solution of $H_3PO_4$. The precipitated nano-crystalline CaP solution was kept at $90^{\circ}C$ for the growth of CaP crystallites. Through the growing process of CaP crystallites, we were able to obtain various sizes of rectangular CaP crystallites according to the crystal growing times. Dry nano-crystalline CaP powders at $37^{\circ}C$ were mixed with dry macro-crystalline CaP crystallites and the shaped mixture sample was fired at $1150^{\circ}C$ to make a ${\beta}-TCP$ block. Several tens of nm powders were uniformly coated on the surface, which was comprised of powders of several tens of ${\mu}m$, using a vibrator. The mixing ratio between the nanometer powders and the micrometer powders greatly affected the mechanical strength of the mixture block; the most appropriate ratio of these two materials was 50 wt% to 50 wt%. The sintered block showed improved mechanical strength, which was caused by the solid state interaction between the nano-crystalline ${\beta}-TCP$ and the macro-crystalline ${\beta}-TCP$.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2023

Background: The flexible flatfoot is characterized by a flattening of the foot arch due to excessive bodyweight. The use of shoe insoles or taping methods has been identified as effective in realigning the navicular or calcaneus bones and addressing supination in pronated feet. Objects: This study aimed to analyze the difference between the arch taping attachment method, introduced in a previous study, and a novel taping method designed to provide support to the inner aspect of the heel bone in cases of flexible flatfoot. Methods: A navicular drop test was performed to discriminate flexible flatfoot. To analyze the differences in pressure distribution during walking for each taping method, the subjects underwent testing in the barefoot state with no attachments. The procedure included a sequence of arch taping and heel taping. Subsequent analysis of pressure distribution during walking utilized the GaitRite^® system (GAITRite Gold, CIR Systems Inc.). Results: Arch taping and calcaneus taping significantly reduced the integrated pressure over time and peak pressure on the medial side of the midfoot for both feet compared to the barefoot state. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that supporting the inside of the heel through calcaneus taping, without direct stimulation to the longitudinal arch and navicular bone, is an effective intervention for flexible flatfoot.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.199-210
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• 1993

Many surgeons are on the point of bone excision and reconstruction of the bone defects by autograft. xenograft, and allograft in the treatment of begin and malignant tumors of bone. Of all type of bone grafts, we received the autograft as the best ideal bone graft. Of autogenic bone graft, replantation of excised autogenic bone for reconstructiong the bone defects has been the ideal method until now, but early bone healing reponses and tumor cell devitalization after replantation of excised autogenic bone have not been identified for clinical applications. So, to evaluate bone healing response after replantation in rabbit's calvarial bone, we divided the experimental group into three groups. Group 1 is a fresh autogenous bone group. Group 2 is a deep frozen group. Group 3 is freeze-dried demineralized group. Obtained result were as followed: 1. Inflammatory cell infiltration appeared at I week and disappeared at 4 weeks in all experimental group, Especially, severe inflammatory cell infiltration showed in fresh autogenous bone group at 2 weeks. Group 3 is the least showing group on the point of inflammatory cell infiltration. 2. Osteoblastic activity evenly increased upto 4 weeks and maintained to 6 weeks and decreased after this period, especially osteoblastic activity in group 2 is less than group 1 and group 3. We can't discriminate between osteoblastic activity of group 1 and that of group 3. 3. In new bone formation, group 3 was more active than any other groups at early stage, but there were little differences among three experimental groups at later state. 4. Bone resorption around the grafted bone slightly appeared at 1 week and disappeared at 4 weeks in all experimental groups. We can find the more bone resorption in group 2 at 2 weeks than any other groups. We could suggest, as appears from our results, that freeze-dried deminiralized bone graft is the useful bone graft in the clinical applications of excised autogenic bone.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

In this paper, finite element analyses for estimating the behavior of fractured femur just after the operation were carried out by using ABAQUS 6.71. A stainless steel bone plate and composite bone plates with various stacking angles were considered to find out the effect of bone plate properties on bone fracture healing. In order to simulate the actual state, contact conditions between the plate and bone and fractured bones were imposed on the finite element models and the whole analysis was divided by two steps; screw fastening step and load bearing step. The stress and strain distributions at the fracture site for the cases of the stainless steel and composite bone plates were analyzed and compared with. From the analyses it was found that the composite bone plate had potential advantages for effective bone fractures healing relieving stress shielding effect.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.532-540
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• 2001

This study explored the effect of calcium levels and/or ovariectomy on bone composition and its related factors using the female Sprague-Dawley rats which achieved peak bone mass in normal(0.5%) calcium intake during growth period. The rats were randomly divided into six groups and fed 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.5% calcium diets for 8 weeks after ovariectomized and sham operation. The results indicated that body weight gain was higher in ovariectomized groups than sham groups, regardless of dietary calcium levels and food intakes. Serum Ca and P concentrations were normal level regardless of dietary calcium levels and operation. Estrogen concentration was decreased in ovariectomized rat groups. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity and urinary hydroxyproline were increased in ovariectomized groups. When rats were fed normal Ca diet during growing period, weight, length and breaking force of femur were not significantly different in all groups but increased the same level. Generally, lipid contents in lumbar and femur were lower in low calcium groups and this effect was more pronounced in femur. In case of femur, the significant decrease in Ca contents of bone was observed in a relatively short period of feeding low Ca diet, even though it appeared th desirable peak bone mass had achieved through the growing period by supplementing the adequate amount of calcium. The marked decrease of estrogen levels after ovariectomy did not seem to influence greatly bone parameters measured except bone wet weight. Therefore, this study indicated that lower intake of Ca might be more important determinating factor against osteoporosis than postmenopausal state stimulated by ovariectomy in female rats. With normal or high intake of Ca it appears possible to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal period, and this might apply only in case of achieving peak bone mass in the growing with the adequate intake of calcium. (Korean J Nutrition 34(5) : 532∼540, 2001)

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.49.1-49.15
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• 2024

Importance: Endochondral ossification plays an important role in skeletal development. Recent studies have suggested a link between increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and skeletal disorders. Moreover, previous studies have revealed that increasing the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and osteopontin (OPN) while inhibiting NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) can enhance bone growth. This investigation provides further evidence by showing a direct link between NOX4 and MPO, OPN in bone function. Objective: This study investigates NOX4, an enzyme producing hydrogen peroxide, in endochondral ossification and bone remodeling. NOX4's role in osteoblast formation and osteogenic signaling pathways is explored. Methods: Using NOX4-deficient (NOX4^-/-) and ovariectomized (OVX) mice, we identify NOX4's potential mediators in bone maturation. Results: NOX4^-/- mice displayed significant differences in bone mass and structure. Compared to the normal Control and OVX groups. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed NOX4^-/- mice had the highest trabecular bone volume, while OVX had the lowest. Proteomic analysis revealed significantly elevated MPO and OPN levels in bone marrow-derived cells in NOX4^-/- mice. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased MPO, OPN, and collagen II (COLII) near the epiphyseal plate. Collagen and chondrogenesis analysis supported enhanced bone development in NOX4^-/- mice. Conclusions and Relevance: Our results emphasize NOX4's significance in bone morphology, mesenchymal stem cell proteomics, immunohistochemistry, collagen levels, and chondrogenesis. NOX4 deficiency enhances bone development and endochondral ossification, potentially through increased MPO, OPN, and COLII expression. These findings suggest therapeutic implications for skeletal disorders.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.138.2-139
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• 2003

Apoptosis has been implicated as an important mediator in immunosuppression observed in a depleted nutritional state. The recent report has indicated that IFN-$\gamma$ treated bone marrow macrophages were protected from apoptosis induced by several stimuli in complete medium condition. However, our previous study demonstrated that IFN-$\gamma$ treated peritoneal macrophages were enhanced the apoposis in a depleted nutritional state. Therefor, we investigated the apoptotic regulatory mechanism of IFN-$\gamma$ in malnutrition-induced macrophage. (omitted)

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2016

Results from multiple high profile experiments on the parameters influencing the impacts that cause skull fractures to the frontal, temporal, and parietal bones were gathered and analyzed. The location of the impact as a binary function of frontal or lateral strike, the velocity, the striking area of the impactor, and the force needed to cause skull fracture in each experiment were subjected to statistical analysis using the JMP statistical software pack. A novel neural network model predicting skull fracture threshold was developed with a high statistical correlation ($R^2=0.978$) and presented in this text. Despite variation within individual studies, the equation herein proposes a 3 kN greater resistance to fracture for the frontal bone when compared to the temporoparietal bones. Additionally, impacts with low velocities (<4.1 m/s) were more prone to cause fracture in the lateral regions of the skull when compared to similar velocity frontal impacts. Conversely, higher velocity impacts (>4.1 m/s) showed a greater frontal sensitivity.