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Radionuclide identification based on energy-weighted algorithm and machine learning applied to a multi-array plastic scintillator

  • Hyun Cheol Lee ;Bon Tack Koo ;Ju Young Jeon ;Bo-Wi Cheon ;Do Hyeon Yoo ;Heejun Chung;Chul Hee Min
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.55 no.10
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    • pp.3907-3912
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    • 2023
  • Radiation portal monitors (RPMs) installed at airports and harbors to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive materials generally use large plastic scintillators. However, their energy resolution is poor and radionuclide identification is nearly unfeasible. In this study, to improve isotope identification, a RPM system based on a multi-array plastic scintillator and convolutional neural network (CNN) was evaluated by measuring the spectra of radioactive sources. A multi-array plastic scintillator comprising an assembly of 14 hexagonal scintillators was fabricated within an area of 50 × 100 cm2. The energy spectra of 137Cs, 60Co, 226Ra, and 4K (KCl) were measured at speeds of 10-30 km/h, respectively, and an energy-weighted algorithm was applied. For the CNN, 700 and 300 spectral images were used as training and testing images, respectively. Compared to the conventional plastic scintillator, the multi-arrayed detector showed a high collection probability of the optical photons generated inside. A Compton maximum peak was observed for four moving radiation sources, and the CNN-based classification results showed that at least 70% was discriminated. Under the speed condition, the spectral fluctuations were higher than those under dwelling condition. However, the machine learning results demonstrated that a considerably high level of nuclide discrimination was possible under source movement conditions.

Facial artery: anatomical variations in the perioral region in cadavers

  • Vu Hoang Nguyen;Lin Cheng-Kuan;Tuan Anh Nguyen;Trang Huu Ngoc Thao Cai
    • Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.266-272
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    • 2023
  • Background: In recent years, there has been an increase in reports of perioral vascular complications resulting from filler injections, such as necrosis of the lip or alar rim, occlusion, and in severe cases, blindness. Conversely, the use of perioral arterial flaps is becoming more prevalent in the treatment of cleft lips, cancer, and trauma. A thorough understanding of perioral arteries is essential to minimize complications and maximize the success of these flaps. However, the course of the facial artery (FA) in the perioral region remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to describe the variations of the FA in the perioral region. Methods: We dissected 52 embalmed and formaldehyde-fixed Vietnamese cadavers. We then studied the size and distribution of perioral arteries in 102 specimens. Results: The superior labial artery (SLA) was the most common branch, occurring in 87.25% of cadavers, followed by the inferior labial artery (ILA) at 78.43%. The SLA primarily originated above the mouth corner (cheilion), accounting for 91.01% of cases, and predominantly exhibited a tortuous course within the submucosa (78.65%). The ILA's branching pattern varied, but it was primarily located below the cheilion (91.25%). The ILA also followed a twisted path, generally within the submucosa. The ILA exhibited two patterns: the typical pattern, distributed at the vermilion border of the lower lip (8.82%), and the horizontal labiomental artery pattern, which ran horizontally in the middle of the lower lip area (69.61%). At their origin, the SLA and ILA had average external diameters of 1.29 mm and 1.28 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Numerous anatomical variations in the FA in the perioral region were found. A detailed anatomic description, suggested landmarks, and angiography before the procedure will be useful to help doctors avoid complications.

The synergistic regulatory effect of Runx2 and MEF transcription factors on osteoblast differentiation markers

  • Lee, Jae-Mok;Libermann, Towia A.;Cho, Je-Yoel
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.39-44
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    • 2010
  • Purpose: Bone tissues for clinical application can be improved by studies on osteoblast differentiation. Runx2 is known to be an important transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation. However, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 treatment to stimulate Runx2 is not sufficient to acquire enough bone formation in osteoblasts. Therefore, it is necessary to find other regulatory factors which can improve the transcriptional activity of Runx2. The erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor family is reported to be involved in various aspects of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Methods: We have noticed that the promoters of osteoblast differentiation markers such as alkaline phosphatase (Alp), osteopontin (Opn), and osteocalcin (Oc) contain Ets binding sequences which are also close to Runx2 binding elements. Luciferase assays were performed to measure the promoter activities of these osteoblast differentiation markers after the transfection of Runx2, myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF), and Runxs+MEF. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was also done to check the mRNA levels of Opn after Runx2 and MEF transfection into rat osteoblast (ROS) cells. Results: We have found that MEF, an Ets transcription factor, increased the transcriptional activities of Alp, Opn, and Oc. The addition of Runx2 resulted in the 2- to 6-fold increase of the activities. This means that these two transcription factors have a synergistic effect on the osteoblast differentiation markers. Furthermore, early introduction of these two Runx2 and MEF factors significantly elevated the expression of the Opn mRNA levels in ROS cells. We also showed that Runx2 and MEF proteins physically interact with each other. Conclusions: Runx2 interacts with MEF proteins and binds to the promoters of the osteoblast markers such as Opn nearby MEF to increase its transcriptional activity. Our results also imply that osteoblast differentiation and bone formation can be increased by activating MEF to elicit the synergistic effect of Runx2 and MEF.

Three-Dimensional Flow Visualization for the Steady and Pulsatile Flows in a Branching Model using the High-Resolution PIV System

  • Suh, Sang-Ho;Roh, Hyung-Woon
    • International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.27-32
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    • 2004
  • The objective of the present study is to visualize the steady and pulsatile flow fields in a branching model by using a high-resolution PIV system. A bifurcated flow system was built for the experiments in the steady and pulsatile flows. Harvard pulsatile pump was used to generate the pulsatile velocity waveforms. Conifer powder as the tracing particles was added to water to visualize the flow fields. CCD cameras($1K{\times}1K$(high resolution camera) and $640{\times}480$(low resolution camera)) captured two consecutive particle images at once for the image processing of several cross sections on the flow system. The range validation method and the area interpolation method were used to obtain the final velocity vectors with high accuracy. The results of the image processing clearly showed the recirculation zones and the formation of the paired secondary flows from the distal to the apex of the branch flow in the bifurcated model. The results also indicated that the particle velocities at the inner wall moved faster than the velocities at the outer wall due to the inertial force effects and the helical motions generated in the branch flows as the flow proceeded toward the outer wall. Even though the PIV images from the high resolution camera were closer to the simulation results than the images from the low resolution camera at some locations, both results of the PIV experiments from the two cameras generally agreed quite well with the results from the computer simulations. Therefore, instead of using the expensive stereoscopic PIV or 3D PIV system, the three-dimensional flow fields in a bifurcated model could be easily and exactly investigated by this study.

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Evolving Internet Information & Technology as Enablers for Creating Shared Values

  • Song, In Kuk;Chun, Junchul
    • KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.309-317
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    • 2015
  • Recently many companies began to realize their visions for the sustainable growth with the advent of CSV(Creating Shared Values). Michael E. Porter, a Harvard Professor, claims that placing social value creation at the core of business strategy has the potential to uncover big opportunities for individual companies and that shared value can play a significant role in increasing competitive advantages while fostering social prosperity. In consequence, the various researches have illustrated how to get the opportunity for competitive advantages from building a social value proposition into corporate strategy, and considerable studies have been promoted heavily from the managerial perspective. However, due to the lack of capability converging information technology with business strategy, any research effort to identify technological or Internet-related issues and to link the issues to CSV does not exist. With Korean being a Internet leading country, the demands of researches analyzing core technology, information, and service utilizing Internet are rapidly growing. The study aims to find out Internet-related enablers for CSV. This paper describes the concepts and features of CSV, identifies emerging Internet-related issues toward the opportunity for competitive advantage, and then depicts the rigorous research endeavors in the areas of Internet information, technology, and services. As a result, 11 papers presented and selected as the outstanding papers at APIC-IST 2014 handle the issues to be brought together, which include: Wireless and Sensor Network, Image Processing and HCI, Big Data and Business Intelligence, Security & Privacy in Internet, SNS & Communication, Smart-Learning and e-Learning, and Internet Business Strategy. The study finally recommends indispensible terms for substantially vitalizing CSV.

A Review of Four Translated Statistics Books (통계학책 번역서 네 권에 대한 비평)

  • 조재근
    • The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.573-594
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    • 2004
  • Four statistics books, one translated by statisticians and three by non-statisticians, are reviewed. They are reviewed in terms of indices and bibliographies, statistical theory and terms, and the history of statistics. In addition, book review articles appeared in daily newspapers are considered. Unfortunately, we can find many(some of them trivial, and some others serious) problems in the translations. Many problems could have been got around if the books had been translated by statisticians. So, conclusion suggested in this article is very simple: Translation of statistics books, especially books for the laymen, is a job that Korean statisticians should not shift to others. Titles of the books reviewed in this article are as follows. 1. Rao, C. Radhakrishna(1997). Statistics and Truth : Putting Chance to Work, Second edition, World Scientific. 2. Best, Joel (2001). Damnel lies and Statistics : Understanding Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists, University of California Press. 3. Bennett, Deborah J. (1998). Randomness, Harvard University Press; 4. Salsburg, David (2001). The Lady Tasting Tea : How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century, W. H. Freeman.

Smoking Trajectories among Koreans in Seoul and California: Exemplifying a Common Error in Age Parameterization

  • Allem, Jon-Patrick;Ayers, John W.;Unger, Jennifer B.;Irvin, Veronica L.;Hofstetter, C. Richard;Hovell, Melbourne F.
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.5
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    • pp.1851-1856
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    • 2012
  • Immigration to a nation with a stronger anti-smoking environment has been hypothesized to make smoking less common. However, little is known about how environments influence risk of smoking across the lifecourse. Research suggested a linear decline in smoking over the lifecourse but these associations, in fact, might not be linear. This study assessed the possible nonlinear associations between age and smoking and examined how these associations differed by environment through comparing Koreans in Seoul, South Korea and Korean Americans in California, United States. Data were drawn from population based telephone surveys of Korean adults in Seoul (N=500) and California (N=2,830) from 2001-2002. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (lowess) was used to approximate the association between age and smoking with multivariable spline logistic regressions, including adjustment for confounds used to draw population inferences. Smoking differed across the lifecourse between Korean and Korean American men. The association between age and smoking peaked around 35 years among Korean and Korean American men. From 18 to 35 the probability of smoking was 57% higher (95%CI, 40 to 71) among Korean men versus 8% (95%CI, 3 to 19) higher among Korean American men. A similar difference in age after 35, from 40 to 57 years of age, was associated with a 2% (95%CI, 0 to 10) and 20% (95%CI, 16 to 25) lower probability of smoking among Korean and Korean American men. A nonlinear pattern was also observed among Korean American women. Social role transitions provide plausible explanations for the decline in smoking after 35. Investigators should be mindful of nonlinearities in age when attempting to understand tobacco use.

ASIC Design of OpenRISC-based Multimedia SoC Platform (OpenRISC 기반 멀티미디어 SoC 플랫폼의 ASIC 설계)

  • Kim, Sun-Chul;Ryoo, Kwang-Ki
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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    • 2008.10a
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    • pp.281-284
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    • 2008
  • This paper describes ASIC design of multimedia SoC Platform. The implemented Platform consists of 32-bit OpenRISC1200 Microprocessor, WISHBONE on-chip bus, VGA Controller, Debug Interface, SRAM Interface and UART. The 32-bit OpenRISC1200 processor has 5 stage pipeline and Harvard architecture with separated instruction/data bus. The VGA Controller can display RCB data on a CRT or LCD monitor. The Debug Interface supports a debugging function for the Platform. The SRAM Interface supports 18-bit address bus and 32-bit data bus. The UART provides RS232 protocol, which supports serial communication function. The Platform is design and verified on a Xilinx VERTEX-4 XC4VLX80 FPGA board. Test code is generated by a cross compiler' and JTAG utility software and gdb are used to download the test code to the FPGA board through parallel cable. Finally, the Platform is implemented into a single ASIC chip using Chatered 0.18um process and it can operate at 100MHz clock frequency.

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Complete Sequences of HIV-1 in a Korean Long-term Nonprogressor with HIV-1 Infection (장기간 진행하지 않는 인면역결핍바이러스(Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV)-1 감염자로부터 분리한 HIV-1의 전체 염기서열 결정)

  • Cho, Young-Keol;Lee, Hee-Jung;Desrosiers, Ronald C.
    • The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.107-118
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    • 1999
  • To characterize the molecular nature of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1, we determined the full-length HIV-1 sequences from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a Korean long-term nonprogressor (LTNP). Without antiretroviral therapy, the individual has maintained CD4+ T counts over $500/{\mu}l$ from 1989 to 1999. Plasma viral RNA copy was 992 U/ml in 1998. Culture supernatant showed positive from culture days 9. A series of 9 overlapping PCR products were amplified from cultured PBMC and cloned About 9.2 kb from R of 5' LTR to R of 3' LTR was determined by automated sequencing. The G-to-A hypermutations were shown throughout the entire region. As a result of G to A hypermutations, premature stop codon was found in integrase coding region. Though there was no recombination between subtypes over all genomes, TATA box in both LTRs was TAAAA which is detected in subtype E instead of TATAA in subtype B. And, there were nucleotide GC insertion between $NF-{\kappa}B$ I and Sp1 III, and duplication of $TCF-1{\alpha}$ in LTR. We could not find any deletion of amino acid in Nef, Gag, Pol and Env gene. This study is the first report on molecular nature of full genomes of HIV-1 isolated in Korea.

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Vasodilation Effect of the Water Extract of Alcohol Steamed Rheum undulatum L. in Rat Thoracic Aorta (종대황의 주습 수치 방법에 따른 백서의 흉부대동맥 혈관이완에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim Hyung Hwan;Park Soo Yeon;Ahn Duk Kyun;Park Seong Kyu
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.69-74
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    • 2004
  • We have examined the relaxative response to the water extract of Rheum undulatum L. (ERU) and water extract of alcohol steamed Rheum undulatum L. (SRU) with isolated thoracic aorta from sprague dawley (SD) rat. Rat thoracic aorta was investigated in vessel segments suspended for isometric tension recording by polygraph. Responses to ERU and SRU were investigated in vessels precontracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT). We found that the thoracic aorta segments responded to ERU and SRU with a dose-dependent vasorelaxation : The thoracic aorta segments responded to ERU and SRU with a dose-dependent vasodilation. The amounts of emodin were 0.063%, 0.076% and 0.145% in ERU and SRU, respectable. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10-4M were inhibited by 85.2±4.76% and 84.0±2.91% after addition of the 0.1mg/mL water extract of ERU and SRU. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10/sup -3/M were inhibited by 100% after 10/sup -3/M emodin. In conclusion, vasodilation effect of the water extract of Rheum undulatum L. in rat thoracic aorta was not decreased according to the processing of alcohol steamed Rheum undulatum L.