• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Despite the proliferation of numerous morphometric and anthropometric methods for sex identification based on linear, angular, and regional measurements of various parts of the body, these methods are subject to error due to the observer's knowledge and expertise. This study aimed to explore the possibility of automated sex determination using convolutional neural networks(CNNs) based on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 1,476 Iranian subjects (794 women and 682 men) from 18 to 49 years of age were included. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were considered as a network input and output layer including 2 classes(male and female). Eighty percent of the data was used as a training set and the rest as a test set. Hyperparameter tuning of each network was done after preprocessing and data augmentation steps. The predictive performance of different architectures (DenseNet, ResNet, and VGG) was evaluated based on their accuracy in test sets. Results: The CNN based on the DenseNet121 architecture, with an overall accuracy of 90%, had the best predictive power in sex determination. The prediction accuracy of this model was almost equal for men and women. Furthermore, with all architectures, the use of transfer learning improved predictive performance. Conclusion: The results confirmed that a CNN could predict a person's sex with high accuracy. This prediction was independent of human bias because feature extraction was done automatically. However, for more accurate sex determination on a wider scale, further studies with larger sample sizes are desirable.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of exogenous protease supplementation in diets formulated with poultry by-product meal on growth performance, small intestine magnitudes, and meat physiochemical characters in broiler chickens from 21 to 35 days post-hatch. A total of 120, one-day-old "Arbor Acres Plus" broiler chickens (male: female - 50:50) were allocated one of two dietary treatments to give six replicates and ten birds per cage. Two dietary treatments included a control diet (CON) and a diet supplemented with protease (CON+Pro). At day 35, body weight and feed intakes were measured to calculate the feed conversion ratio for the entire experiment period. Two birds from each pen were euthanized to measure the relative lengths and relative weights of three small intestine sections and meat samples were collected for physiochemical characteristic analyses at 35 days post-hatch. Exogenous protease supplementation did not influence (P>0.05) growth performance but showed a tendency to improve FCR (P=0.082). Protease supplementation showed a tendency to reduce proximal small intestine length (P=0.091). Broilers offered dietary treatments influenced minced meat color where protease supplementation resulted in lower CIE b^* (P<0.001) colorimetric value for yellowness and showed a significant trend (P=0.059) on reducing meat redness CIE a^*. In conclusion, the addition of exogenous protease to a broiler diet formulated with poultry by-product meal did not affect the growth performance, small intestine magnitudes, and meat physiochemical parameters (except CIE b^*) in broiler chickens.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.3-15
• /
• 2023

Objective: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that may be negatively associated with the self-image. It might be associated with orthodontic treatment demand and outcome, and therefore is important. Thus, this study was conducted. Methods: The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD-YBOCS) questionnaire was used in 699 orthodontic patients above 12 years of age (222 males, 477 females), at seven clinics in two cities (2020-2021). BDD diagnosis and severity were calculated based on the first 3 items and all 12 items of the questionnaire. The dental health component of the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN-DHC) was assessed by orthodontists. Multivariable and bivariable statistical analyses were performed on ordinal and dichotomized BDD diagnoses to assess potentially associated factors (IOTN-DHC, age, sex, marital status, education level, and previous orthodontic consultation) (α = 0.05). Results: IOTN-DHC scores 1-5 were seen in 13.0%, 39.9%, 29.8%, 12.4%, and 4.9% of patients. Age/sex/marital status/education were not associated with IOTN-DHC (p > 0.05). Based on 3-item questionnaire, 17.02% of patients had BDD (14.02% mild). Based on 12-item questionnaire, 2.86% had BDD. BDD was more prevalent or severer in females, married patients, patients with a previous history of orthodontic consultation, and patients with milder IOTN-DHCs (p < 0.05). Conclusions: IOTNDHC was negatively/slightly associated with BDD in orthodontic patients. Being female and married may increase BDD risk.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.259-269
• /
• 2022

Objective: Animal-free scaffolds have emerged as a potential foundation for consistent, chemically defined, and low-cost materials. Because of its good potential for high biocompatibility with reproductive tissues and well-characterized scaffold design, we investigated whether polyglycolic acid (PGA) could be used as an animal-free scaffold instead of natural fibrin-agarose, which has been used successfully for three-dimensional human endometrial cell culture. Methods: Isolated primary endometrial cells was cultured on fibrin-agarose and PGA polymers and evaluated various design parameters, such as scaffold porosity and mean fiber diameter. Cytotoxicity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and immunostaining experiments were conducted to examine cell activity on fabricated scaffolds. Results: The MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and SEM results showed that endometrial cells grew and proliferated on both scaffolds. Immunostaining showed cytokeratin and vimentin expression in seeded cells after 7 days of culture. On both scaffolds, an epithelial arrangement of cultured cells was found on the top layer and stromal arrangement matrix on the bottom layer of the scaffolds. Therefore, fibrin-agarose and PGA scaffolds successfully mimicked the human endometrium in a way suitable for in vitro analysis. Conclusion: Both fibrin-agarose and PGA scaffolds could be used to simulate endometrial structures. However, because of environmental and ethical concerns and the low cost of synthetic polymers, we recommend using PGA as a synthetic polymer for scaffolding in research instead of natural biomaterials.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 2023

A 5-month-old female domestic short-haired cat presented with a history of seizure episodes for two months following an animal bite injury to the head. There were no remarkable findings on physical and neurological examination or blood analysis. Computed tomography revealed a fracture of the left parietal bone with an inward displacement of the bone fragment while magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enlarged temporal horn of the left lateral ventricle and a pseudomeningocele compressing the adjacent cerebral parenchyma. Subsequently, cerebrospinal fluid analysis results were normal. The patient was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), with subsequent post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) and pseudomeningocele. Despite treatment with phenobarbital and levetiracetam, seizures were not sufficiently controlled. Craniectomy for bone fragment removal and duraplasty were performed after a week. The patient then returned to normal condition with no further seizure activity. On repeated MRI two months after discharge, the hydrocephalus of the lateral ventricle and pseudomeningocele were enlarged; however, the patient maintained a good clinical status without any neurological signs. To the best of our knowledge, PTH and intracranial pseudomeningoceles have not yet been reported in cats. PTH and pseudomeningocele are among the complications of TBI and may not have any significant relevance with the clinical signs in this case. Thus, to broaden our knowledge about PTH and pseudomeningocele in cats, we describe serial changes in the clinical findings of this cat over the treatment period.

• Educational Technology International
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.41-63
• /
• 2005

E-Learning is widely introduced with cyber universities in Korea from 2001 whencyber universities were first authorized by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development. E-learning amplified by cyber university gave a big impact in the campus based university which became the cause for the educational paradigm shift. The changes of status of cyber university shows important trend in college education which was analyzed by enrollment rate, types of cyber university, demography, and study areas. The enrollment rate of cyber universities is ever since 2001 and variety of study areas gives popularity to students. The demography of students is as expected older than traditional students. Female students at the cyber university outnumbered that at campus based university in Korea. For analyzing the trend of e-learning in Korea, there were studies twice in 2001 May-June from 213 faculty members and staff, 630 students and in 2004 May-June with 401 students. Most of e-learning students tent to spend less time yet, students feel more burden with e-learning. Professors tend to load more materials for the e-learning in 2001but in 2004 study, the difference no longer exists. Professors and students feel the academic achievement through e-learning is not as good as from the traditional classes. Difficulties for e-learning in 2001 were the lack of administrative information but in 2004, boring contents and lack of instructional strategies for e-learning. Technical problems still do exist but less serious. Suggestions for e-learning are blended learning, online students prefer video streaming with their own lecturer, new definition of instructor is needed, professional development for content development and online instruction is needed, success story of online learning should be encouraged, guidance for online students needed. The cyber university experiencegave a positive impact on the traditional universities such as rethinking the roles of universities, the quality control of classes, professional development, student oriented educational service of e-learning pedagogy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2024

The substantia gelatinosa (SG) within the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is recognized as a pivotal site of integrating and modulating afferent fibers carrying orofacial nociceptive information. Although naringenin (4',5,7-thrihydroxyflavanone), a natural bioflavonoid, has been proven to possess various biological effects in the central nervous system (CNS), the activity of naringenin at the orofacial nociceptive site has not been reported yet. In this study, we explored the influence of naringenin on GABA response in SG neurons of Vc using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The application of GABA in a bath induced two forms of GABA responses: slow and fast. Naringenin enhanced both amplitude and area under curve (AUC) of GABA-mediated responses in 57% (12/21) of tested neurons while decreasing both parameters in 33% (7/21) of neurons. The enhancing or suppressing effect of naringenin on GABA response have been observed, with enhancement occurring when the GABA response was slow, and suppression when it was fast. Furthermore, both the enhancement of slower GABA responses and the suppression of faster GABA responses by naringenin were concentration dependent. Interestingly, the nature of GABA response was also found to be sex-dependent. A majority of SG neurons from juvenile female mice exhibited slower GABA responses, whereas those from juvenile males predominantly displayed faster GABA responses. Taken together, this study indicates that naringenin plays a partial role in modulating orofacial nociception and may hold promise as a therapeutic target for treating orofacial pain, with effects that vary according to sex.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.43.1-43.13
• /
• 2024

Importance: Haemaphysalis longicornis is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that has gained attention due its role of transmitting medically and veterinary significant pathogens and it is the most common tick species in Republic of Korea. The preferred strategy for controlling ticks is a multi-antigenic vaccination. Testing the efficiency of a combination antigen is a promising method for creating a tick vaccine. Objective: The aim of the current research was to analyze the role of subolesin and enolase in feeding and reproduction of H. longicornis by gene silencing. Methods: In this study, we used RNA interference to silence salivary enolase and subolesin in H. longicornis. Unfed female ticks injected with double-stranded RNA targeting subolesin and enolase were attached and fed normally on the rabbit's ear. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the extent of knockdown. Results: Ticks in the subolesin or enolase dsRNA groups showed knockdown rates of 80% and 60% respectively. Ticks in the combination dsRNA (subolesin and enolase) group showed an 80% knockdown. Knockdown of subolesin and enolase resulted in significant depletion in feeding, blood engorgement weight, attachment rate, and egg laying. Silencing of both resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in tick engorgement, egg laying, egg hatching (15%), and reproduction. Conclusions and Relevance: Our results suggest that subolesin and enolase are an exciting target for future tick control strategies.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.40.1-40.19
• /
• 2024

Importance: The creation of robust maternal-embryonic interactions and implantation models is important for comprehending the early stages of embryonic development and reproductive disorders. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems often fail to accurately mimic the highly complex in vivo conditions. The employment of three-dimensional (3D) organoids has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations in recent years. The advancements in the field of organoid technology have opened new avenues for studying the physiology and diseases affecting female reproductive tract. Observations: This review summarizes the current strategies and advancements in the field of 3D organoids to establish maternal-embryonic interaction and implantation models for use in research and personalized medicine in assisted reproductive technology. The concepts of endometrial organoids, menstrual blood flow organoids, placental trophoblast organoids, stem cell-derived blastoids, and in vitro-generated embryo models are discussed in detail. We show the incorportaion of organoid systems and microfluidic technology to enhance tissue performance and precise management of the cellular surroundings. Conclusions and Relevance: This review provides insights into the future direction of modeling maternal-embryonic interaction research and its combination with other powerful technologies to interfere with this dialogue either by promoting or hindering it for improving fertility or methods for contraception, respectively. The merging of organoid systems with microfluidics facilitates the creation of sophisticated and functional organoid models, enhancing insights into organ development, disease mechanisms, and personalized medical investigations.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.237-248
• /
• 2008

Development of T. urticae was studied on the leaves of eggplant grown in hydroponics with nitrogen contents of 5 mM, 10 mM, 30 mM, and 60 mM. As the nitrogen level in hydroponics increased, it also increased in the plant whereas that of K, Ca, and Mg decreased. More nitrogen in hydroponics resulted in increased contents of water and crude protein, and decreased ash, carbohydrates, and fibers within the plant. Biomass was the heaviest as 989.5 g at 10 mM and the lightest at 60 mM. Leaf thickness and the content of chlorophyll increased as the content of nitrogen increased. Laboratory leaf disc tests obtained from plants grown at various nitrogen levels revealed that feeding and oviposition preferences of T. urticae were high at 30 mM and low at 5 mM. Ratio of damaged leaf by naturally occurring T. urticae on eggplants of 99 days post-transplant in the greenhouse was the highest as 98% at 60 mM. Degrees of damage on eggplants with and without T. urticae infestation turned up more as the differences in the levels of nitrogen in the hydroponics get bigger. No definite differences in the rate of T. urticae development was found between nitrogen treatment levels but, mortalities in immature stages dropped as the nitrogen levels went up. Adult longevity was the longest of 11.9 for female and 6.9 days for male at 60 mM. Oviposition period was also the longest as 11.7 days at 60 mM and shortened as the level of nitrogen decreased. The number of eggs oviposited was the most as 144.4 at 60 mM while it was the least as 41.0 at 5 mM. Sex ratio was 0.75 in favor of female at 10 mM. $R_o$ and T increased, no trends were detected in $r_m\;and\;{\lambda}$, while Dt decreased as the levels of nitrogen went up.