• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.135-151
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• 2023

Using 3D asphalt pavement surface data, a deep and multiscale network named CrackNet-M is proposed in this paper for pixel-level crack detection for improvements in both accuracy and robustness. The CrackNet-M consists of four function-specific architectural modules: a central branch net (CBN), a crack map enhancement (CME) module, three pooling feature pyramids (PFP), and an output layer. The CBN maintains crack boundaries using no pooling reductions throughout all convolutional layers. The CME applies a pooling layer to enhance potential thin cracks for better continuity, consuming no data loss and attenuation when working jointly with CBN. The PFP modules implement direct down-sampling and pyramidal up-sampling with multiscale contexts specifically for the detection of thick cracks and exclusion of non-crack patterns. Finally, the output layer is optimized with a skip layer supervision technique proposed to further improve the network performance. Compared with traditional supervisions, the skip layer supervision brings about not only significant performance gains with respect to both accuracy and robustness but a faster convergence rate. CrackNet-M was trained on a total of 2,500 pixel-wise annotated 3D pavement images and finely scaled with another 200 images with full considerations on accuracy and efficiency. CrackNet-M can potentially achieve crack detection in real-time with a processing speed of 40 ms/image. The experimental results on 500 testing images demonstrate that CrackNet-M can effectively detect both thick and thin cracks from various pavement surfaces with a high level of Precision (94.28%), Recall (93.89%), and F-measure (94.04%). In addition, the proposed CrackNet-M compares favorably to other well-developed networks with respect to the detection of thin cracks as well as the removal of shoulder drop-offs.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.157-167
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the relationship among activities of daily living, ego integrity, social support and the compliance of patient-role behavior in elderly patients receiving hemodialysis, including the effect of these variables on the compliance of patient-role behavior. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted with 150 elderly patients over 65 years of age who were also receiving hemodialysis. Data was collected from September 28 to November 13, 2021 and analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 26.0. Results: The results show that patient compliance had significant correlations with ego integrity (r=.63, p<.001) and social support (r=.28, p=.001). The other factors influencing patient compliance were the sub-domains of ego integrity, such as the acceptance of the past and the presence (β=.46, p<.001) and attitudes toward life (β=.26 p<.001), with an explanatory power of approximately 35.0% (F=17.21, p<.001). Conclusion: This study confirms that the ego integrity of elderly patients receiving hemodialysis has an effect on the compliance of patient role behavior. Nursing intervention programs that improve the ego integrity of elderly hemodialysis patients could help improve the compliance of patient-role behavior, which is an important factor in the disease management process.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.917-933
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: As peanuts germinate, the content of the components beneficial to health, such as resveratrol, increases within the peanut sprout. This study examined whether the ethanol extract of peanut sprout tea (PSTE) inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis. MATERIALS/METHODS: After orthotopically injecting 4T1 cells into BALB/c mice to induce breast cancer, 0, 30, or 60 mg/kg body weight/day of PSTE was administered orally. Angiogenesis-related protein expression in the tumors and the degree of metastasis were analyzed. 4T1 and RAW 264.7 cells were co-cultured, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the crosstalk between breast cancer cells and macrophages. RESULTS: PSTE reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis. In particular, PSTE decreased matrix metalloproteinase-9, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, F4/80, CD11c, macrophage mannose receptor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 expression in the tumors. Moreover, PSTE prevented 4T1 cell migration, invasion, and macrophage activity in RAW 264.7 cells. PSTE inhibited the crosstalk between 4T1 cells and RAW 264.7 cells and promoted the macrophage M1 subtype while inhibiting the M2 subtype. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PSTE blocks breast cancer growth and metastasis to the lungs. This may be because the PSTE treatment inhibits the crosstalk between mammary cancer cells and macrophages and inhibits the differentiation of macrophages into the M2 subtype.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.51.1-51.20
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• 2022

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is an intracellular protozoan parasite, which is now present in most industrialized countries. About 40% of T. cruzi infected individuals will develop severe, incurable cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorders. The molecular mechanisms by which T. cruzi induces cardiopathogenesis remain to be determined. Previous studies showed that increased IL-6 expression in T. cruzi patients was associated with disease severity. IL-6 signaling was suggested to induce pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses, however, the role of this pathway during early infection remains to be elucidated. We reported that T. cruzi can dysregulate the expression of host PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) during early infection. Here, we aim to evaluate the dysregulation of IL-6 signaling and the piRNAs computationally predicted to target IL-6 molecules during early T. cruzi infection of primary human cardiac fibroblasts (PHCF). Using in silico analysis, we predict that piR_004506, piR_001356, and piR_017716 target IL6 and SOCS3 genes, respectively. We validated the piRNAs and target gene expression in T. cruzi challenged PHCF. Secreted IL-6, soluble gp-130, and sIL-6R in condition media were measured using a cytokine array and western blot analysis was used to measure pathway activation. We created a network of piRNAs, target genes, and genes within one degree of biological interaction. Our analysis revealed an inverse relationship between piRNA expression and the target transcripts during early infection, denoting the IL-6 pathway targeting piRNAs can be developed as potential therapeutics to mitigate T. cruzi cardiomyopathies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 2020

Alcohol impacts many central nervous systems, such as dopamine, serotonin, opioids, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), leading to addiction. Many studies have investigated the relationship between GABA and alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GABA high and low rice intake on the alcohol intake behavior of mice. Black sticky rice with giant embryo (BSRGE), black sticky rice (BSR), giant embryo rice (GER), and rice (Rice) were germinated for 48 hr in brown rice. The embryos were then collected and used in the study. The diets were fed to respective C57BL/6 mouse groups ad libitum for 16 days and investigated for 2 hr alcohol intake, 22 hr water intake, 24 hr feed intake, and body weight. As a result of the repeated measure of ANOVA for the daily change of alcohol intake for 2 hr daily between the BSRGE and BSR groups, there was a significant difference in the number of days of intake (DF = 7, F = 4.812, p = 0.026). A significant daily decrease in alcohol intake was observed in the BSRGE group compared to the BSR group. This reduction was consistent from Day 10 to Day 16. Alcohol consumption also significantly decreased in the GER group compared to the Rice group. This decrease was observed from Day 12 to Day 16. In conclusion, BSRGE and GER resulted in decreased alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice compared to BSR and rice. This suggests that BSRGE may prevent relapse in patients with alcohol use disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.12 s.148
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• pp.1595-1607
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• 2005

Three-dimensional(3-D) body scanners used to capture anthropometric measurements are now becoming a common research tool far apparel. This study had two goals, to test the accuracy and reliability of 3-D measurements of dynamic postures, and !o analyze the change in upper body surface measurements between the standard anthropometric position and various dynamic positions. A comparison of body surface measurements using two different measuring methods, 3-D scan measurements using virtual tools on the computer screen and traditional manual measurements for a standard anthropometric posture and for a posture with shoulder flexion were $-2\~20mm$. Girth items showed some disagreement of values between the two methods. None of the measurements were significantly different except f3r the neckbase girth for any of the measuring methods or postures. Scan measurements of the upper body items showed significant linear surface change in the dynamic postures. Shoulder length, interscye front and back, and biacromion length were the items most affected in the dynamic postures. Changes of linear body surface were very similar for the two measuring methods within the same posture. The repeatability of data taken from the 3-D scans using virtual tools showed satisfactory results. Three times repeated scan measurements f3r the scapula protraction and scapula elevation posture were proven to be statistically the same for all measurement items. Measurements from automatic measuring software that measured the 3-D scan with no manual intervention were compared with the measurements using virtual tools. Many measurements from the automatic program were larger and showed quite different values.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2016

Purpose Recent retrospective studies are being actively conducted to analyze the survival of patients with SUVmax, MTV, TLG, such as information from a variety of PET originating. However, there is no clear way is difficult to accurately measure the volume of the tumor may be the difference between the caster is raised. In this study, to evaluate compare the volume measuring methods according to the characteristics of the tumor. Materials and Methods 18F-saline to fill the NEMA IEC Body Phantom insert the volume of balance and imbalance in phantom were acquired to the Biograph truepoint 40 (Siemens medical system, Germany) PET/CT scanner. The ratio of the volume and Background was acquired as 3.0, 5.0, 8.0, 18, 40. Clinical patients were randomly selected 120 people in staging patients with cancer of the digestive system from the year 2010 until the year 2014. Measurement methods were used a 40% threshold, 50% threshold and gradient segmentation technique, i.e. PET EDGE. Five years of experience of the two radio-technologist and one doctor was measured by repeated three times. Analysis methods were Intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson correlation. Results In Phantoms, the 40% threshold method gave the best concordance between measured and actual volumes (r = 0.992, 0.997). In clinical patient outcome agreement between observers EDGE it is as high as 0.999 (CI: 0.998-0.999). And there were no statistical significance of the difference between the measurements (P = 0.620). 40% threshold method showed the best correlation between the measurements (r = 0.953). Increasing the ratio of tumor to background decreased the influence of a measuring method. Conclusion How to measure volume of the tumor in the patient was clinically most useful is 50% and the lowest impact on the characteristics of the tumor. Therefore, to reduce the background of the patients in PET/CT scan, it should be required research and effort.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.312-322
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of surface roughness on the surface color and translucency of the composite resins. Two composite resins (Esthet-X, Dentsply, Milford, USA and Charisma, Kulzer, Domagen, Germany) were used to investigate the surface color. Charisma was used to investigate the translucency. 40 disc samples (diameter: 8 mm, thickness: 5 mm) were made by each product to measure the surface color. Polymerized each sample's one side was treated by Sof-Lex finishing and polishing system (Group C, M, F, SF). 40 disc samples (diameter: 6 mm, thickness: 1 mm) were prepared to measure the opacity. 1 mm samples were ground one side with #600, #1000, #1500 and #2000 sandpapers. CIE $L^{*}a^{*}b^{*}$ values of each 5 mm thickness samples, and XYZ values of 1 mm thickness samples on the white and black background were measured with spectrophotometer (Spectrolino, GretagMacbeth, Regensdorf, Switzerland). Mean surface roughness (Ra) of all samples before and after surface treatment was measured using the Surface Roughness Tester SJ-301 (Mytutoyo, Tokyo, Japan). Regardless of type and shade of the composite resin, $L^{*}$ values measured in group C were higher than others (p < 0.05), and $L^{*}$ value decreased as the Ra value decreased except B3 shade of Esthet-X. But there were no significant difference in $a^{*}$ values among groups. In control group and SF, highest $b^{*}$ values were measured (p < 0.05), except B1 shade of Esthet-X. Contrast ratio decreased as the Ra value decreased (p < 0.05). With the above results, difference of surface roughness has influence on surface color and translucency of dental composite resins.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.82-98
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• 2019

The importance of spatial information is rapidly rising. In particular, 3D spatial information construction and modeling for Real World Objects, such as smart cities and digital twins, has become an important core technology. The constructed 3D spatial information is used in various fields such as land management, landscape analysis, environment and welfare service. Three-dimensional modeling with image has the hig visibility and reality of objects by generating texturing. However, some texturing might have occlusion area inevitably generated due to physical deposits such as roadside trees, adjacent objects, vehicles, banners, etc. at the time of acquiring image Such occlusion area is a major cause of the deterioration of reality and accuracy of the constructed 3D modeling. Various studies have been conducted to solve the occlusion area. Recently the researches of deep learning algorithm have been conducted for detecting and resolving the occlusion area. For deep learning algorithm, sufficient training data is required, and the collected training data quality directly affects the performance and the result of the deep learning. Therefore, this study analyzed the ability of detecting the occlusion area of the image using various image quality to verify the performance and the result of deep learning according to the quality of the learning data. An image containing an object that causes occlusion is generated for each artificial and quantified image quality and applied to the implemented deep learning algorithm. The study found that the image quality for adjusting brightness was lower at 0.56 detection ratio for brighter images and that the image quality for pixel size and artificial noise control decreased rapidly from images adjusted from the main image to the middle level. In the F-measure performance evaluation method, the change in noise-controlled image resolution was the highest at 0.53 points. The ability to detect occlusion zones by image quality will be used as a valuable criterion for actual application of deep learning in the future. In the acquiring image, it is expected to contribute a lot to the practical application of deep learning by providing a certain level of image acquisition.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2004

Purpose: NEMA NU2-2001 was proposed as a new standard for performance evaluation of whole body PET scanners. in this study, system performance of Siemens CTI ECAT EXACT 47 PET scanner including spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction, and count rate performance in 2D and 3D mode was evaluated using this new standard method. Methods: ECAT EXACT 47 is a BGO crystal based PET scanner and covers an axial field of view (FOV) of 16.2 cm. Retractable septa allow 2D and 3D data acquisition. All the PET data were acquired according to the NEMA NU2-2001 protocols (coincidence window: 12 ns, energy window: $250{\sim}650$ keV). For the spatial resolution measurement, F-18 point source was placed at the center of the axial FOV((a) x=0, and y=1, (b)x=0, and y=10, (c)x=70, and y=0cm) and a position one fourth of the axial FOV from the center ((a) x=0, and y=1, (b)x=0, and y=10, (c)x=10, and y=0cm). In this case, x and y are transaxial horizontal and vertical, and z is the scanner's axial direction. Images were reconstructed using FBP with ramp filter without any post processing. To measure the system sensitivity, NEMA sensitivity phantom filled with F-18 solution and surrounded by $1{\sim}5$ aluminum sleeves were scanned at the center of transaxial FOV and 10 cm offset from the center. Attenuation free values of sensitivity wire estimated by extrapolating data to the zero wall thickness. NEMA scatter phantom with length of 70 cm was filled with F-18 or C-11solution (2D: 2,900 MBq, 3D: 407 MBq), and coincidence count rates wire measured for 7 half-lives to obtain noise equivalent count rate (MECR) and scatter fraction. We confirmed that dead time loss of the last flame were below 1%. Scatter fraction was estimated by averaging the true to background (staffer+random) ratios of last 3 frames in which the fractions of random rate art negligibly small. Results: Axial and transverse resolutions at 1cm offset from the center were 0.62 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), and 0.67 and 0.69 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D). Axial, transverse radial, and transverse tangential resolutions at 10cm offset from the center were 0.72 and 0.68 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), 0.63 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), and 0.72 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D). Sensitivity values were 708.6 (2D), 2931.3 (3D) counts/sec/MBq at the center and 728.7 (2D, 3398.2 (3D) counts/sec/MBq at 10 cm offset from the center. Scatter fractions were 0.19 (2D) and 0.49 (3D). Peak true count rate and NECR were 64.0 kcps at 40.1 kBq/mL and 49.6 kcps at 40.1 kBq/mL in 2D and 53.7 kcps at 4.76 kBq/mL and 26.4 kcps at 4.47 kBq/mL in 3D. Conclusion: Information about the performance of CTI ECAT EXACT 47 PET scanner reported in this study will be useful for the quantitative analysis of data and determination of optimal image acquisition protocols using this widely used scanner for clinical and research purposes.