• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.644-655
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• 2024

Objective: To develop and validate a preoperative risk score incorporating carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, CT, and fluorine18-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET/CT variables to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) after upfront surgery in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and Methods: Patients with resectable PDAC who underwent upfront surgery between 2014 and 2017 (development set) or between 2018 and 2019 (test set) were retrospectively evaluated. In the development set, a risk-scoring system was developed using the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, including variables associated with RFS. In the test set, the performance of the risk score was evaluated using the Harrell C-index and compared with that of the postoperative pathological tumor stage. Results: A total of 529 patients, including 335 (198 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 64 ± 9 years) and 194 (103 male; mean age, 66 ± 9 years) patients in the development and test sets, respectively, were evaluated. The risk score included five variables predicting RFS: tumor size (hazard ratio [HR], 1.29 per 1 cm increment; P < 0.001), maximal standardized uptake values of tumor ≥ 5.2 (HR, 1.29; P = 0.06), suspicious regional lymph nodes (HR, 1.43; P = 0.02), possible distant metastasis on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT (HR, 2.32; P = 0.03), and CA 19-9 (HR, 1.02 per 100 U/mL increment; P = 0.002). In the test set, the risk score showed good performance in predicting RFS (C-index, 0.61), similar to that of the pathologic tumor stage (C-index, 0.64; P = 0.17). Conclusion: The proposed risk score based on preoperative CA 19-9, CT, and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT variables may have clinical utility in selecting high-risk patients with resectable PDAC.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.706-714
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and procedural characteristics of fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous transthoracic pleural forceps biopsy (PTPFB) in patients with exudative pleural effusion. Materials and Methods: Patients with exudative pleural effusion who underwent PTPFB between May 1, 2014, and February 28, 2023, were included in this retrospective study. The interval between percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) and PTPFB, number of biopsies, procedural time, and procedure-related complications were evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnosing malignancy were computed for pleural cytology using PCD drainage, PTPFB, and combined PTPFB and pleural cytology. Results: Seventy-one patients, comprising 50 male and 21 female (mean age, 69.5 ± 15.3 years), were included in this study. The final diagnoses were benign lesions in 48 patients (67.6%) and malignant in 23 patients (32.4%). The overall interval between PCD and biopsy was 2.4 ± 3.7 days. The interval between PCD and biopsy in the group that underwent delayed PTPFB was 5.2 ± 3.9 days. The mean number of biopsies was 4.5 ± 1.3. The mean procedural time was 4.4 ± 2.1 minutes. Minor bleeding complications were reported in one patient (1.4%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for pleural cytology, PTPFB, and combined PTPFB and pleural cytology were 47.8% (11/23), 100% (48/48), and 83.1% (59/71), respectively; 65.2% (15/23), 100% (48/48), and 88.7% (63/71), respectively; and 78.3% (18/23), 100% (48/48), and 93.0% (66/71), respectively. The sensitivity and accuracy of cytology combined with PTPFB were significantly higher than those of cytological testing alone (P = 0.008 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Fluoroscopy-guided PTPFB is an accurate and safe diagnostic technique for patients with exudative pleural effusion, with acceptable diagnostic performance, low complication rates, and reasonable procedural times.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.55-61
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• 2024

Recently, the number of aging concrete structures is steadily increasing. This is because many of these structures are reaching their expected lifespan. Such structures require accurate inspections and persistent maintenance. Otherwise, their original functions and performance may degrade, potentially leading to safety accidents. Therefore, research on objective inspection technologies using deep learning and computer vision is actively being conducted. High-resolution images can accurately observe not only micro cracks but also spalling and exposed rebar, and deep learning enables automated detection. High detection performance in deep learning is only guaranteed with diverse and numerous training datasets. However, surface damage to concrete is not commonly captured in images, resulting in a lack of training data. To overcome this limitation, this study proposed a method for generating concrete surface damage images, including cracks, spalling, and exposed rebar, using stable diffusion. This method synthesizes new damage images by paired text and image data. For this purpose, a training dataset of 678 images was secured, and fine-tuning was performed through low-rank adaptation. The quality of the generated images was compared according to three base models of stable diffusion. As a result, a method to synthesize the most diverse and high-quality concrete damage images was developed. This research is expected to address the issue of data scarcity and contribute to improving the accuracy of deep learning-based damage detection algorithms in the future.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.913-923
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• 2024

Objective: To prospectively compare single-shot (SS) echo-planar imaging (EPI) and field-of-view optimized and constrained undistorted single-shot multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (FOCUS MUSE) for diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in evaluating thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Materials and Methods: SS EPI and FOCUS MUSE DWIs were obtained from 39 patients with TAO (18 male; mean ± standard deviation: 48.3 ± 13.3 years) and 26 healthy controls (9 male; mean ± standard deviation: 43.0 ± 18.5 years). Two radiologists scored the visual image quality using a 4-point Likert scale. The image quality score, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of extraocular muscles (EOMs) were compared between the two DWIs. Differences in the ADC of EOMs were also evaluated. The performance of discriminating active from inactive TAO was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. The correlation between ADC and clinical activity score (CAS) was analyzed using Spearman correlation. Results: Compared with SS EPI DWI, FOCUS MUSE DWI demonstrated significantly higher image quality scores (P < 0.001), a higher SNR and CNR on the lateral rectus muscle (LRM) and medial rectus muscle (MRM) (P < 0.05), and a non-significant difference in the ADC of the LRM and MRM. Active TAO showed higher ADC than inactive TAO and healthy controls with both SS EPI and FOCUS MUSE DWIs (P < 0.001). Inactive TAO and healthy controls did not show a significant ADC difference with both DWIs. Compared with SS EPI DWI, FOCUS MUSE DWI demonstrated better discrimination of active from inactive TAO (AUC: 0.925 vs. 0.779; P = 0.007). The ADC was significantly correlated with CAS in SS EPI DWI (r = 0.391, P < 0.001) and FOCUS MUSE DWI (r = 0.645, P < 0.001). Conclusion: FOCUS MUSE DWI provides better images for evaluating EOMs and better performance in diagnosing active TAO than SS EPI DWI. The application of FOCUS MUSE will facilitate the DWI evaluation of TAO.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.615-626
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• 2024

To accurately and efficiently monitor soil moisture (SM) across South Korea, this study developed a SM estimation model that integrates the cloud computing platform Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Automated Machine Learning (AutoML). Various spatial information was utilized based on Terra MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and the global precipitation observation satellite GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) to test optimal input data combinations. The results indicated that GPM-based accumulated dry-days, 5-day antecedent average precipitation, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), the sum of LST (Land Surface Temperature) acquired during nighttime and daytime, soil properties (sand and clay content, bulk density), terrain data (elevation and slope), and seasonal classification had high feature importance. After setting the objective function (Determination of coefficient, R² ; Root Mean Square Error, RMSE; Mean Absolute Percent Error, MAPE) using AutoML for the combination of the aforementioned data, a comparative evaluation of machine learning techniques was conducted. The results revealed that tree-based models exhibited high performance, with Random Forest demonstrating the best performance (R² : 0.72, RMSE: 2.70 vol%, MAPE: 0.14).

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2024.07a
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• pp.1321-1321
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• 2024

Concrete arch dams, unlike conventional concrete gravity dams, have thin arch-shaped cross sections and must be designed considering a three-dimensional shape. In particular, double-curvature arch dams, which have arch-shaped vertical and horizontal sections, require careful consideration during design due to their unique shape. Although stress analysis is complex, and various factors need to be considered during the design, these dams offer economic advantages as they require less material. Consequently, numerous double-curvature arch dams have been constructed worldwide, and ongoing research focuses on optimizing their shapes. In this study, an efficient optimization algorithm was developed for the shape optimization of concrete arch dams with double-curvature using genetic algorithms and improved population initializing technique. The developed technique utilized domain knowledge in the field of arch dams to generate an excellent initial population. To assess the relevance of domain knowledge, an investigation was conducted on the accumulated knowledge and empirical formulas from literature. Two pieces of domain knowledge can be gleaned from the iterative structural design experiences associated with arch dams. First, it concerns the thickness of the central cantilever of an arch dam. For minimum tensile stress, it is best to make the thickness as thin as possible at the dam crest and gradually become thicker as it goes down. The second aspect concerns the sliding stability of the arch dam, which depends on the central angle of the horizontal section. This angel is important for stability because the plane arch serves to transfer the hydraulic load from the reservoir to both abutments. Also, preliminary design formulas for arch dams from a manual written by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) were used. On the other hand, since domain knowledge is based on engineering experiences and data from existing dams, its usability should be verified by comparing it with the results of design optimization performed by classic genetic algorithms. To validate the performance of the optimization algorithm with the improved population initialization technique, a test site with an existing dam was selected, and algorithmic application tests were conducted. Stress analysis is performed for each design iteration, evaluating constraints and calculating fitness as the objective function. The results confirmed that the algorithm developed in this study exhibits superior performance in terms of average fitness and convergence rate compared to classic genetic algorithms.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1923-1932
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• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic selenium mixes in pregnant sows on piglet growth, selenium levels in serum and milk, and selenium deposition in newborn piglet tissues. Methods: A total of 44 multiparous sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) with average body weight (BW), backfat thickness, and parity were assigned to one of the three treatments with 14 or 15 sows per treatment in a completely randomized design. The treatments were as follows: i) Control, corn-soybean meal-based diet with no addition of selenium premix; ii) ISOS (mixed inorganic selenium and organic selenium) 30, a basal diet supplemented with 0.15 ppm of inorganic Se and 0.15 ppm of organic Se; iii) ISOS50, a basal diet supplemented with 0.25 ppm of inorganic Se and 0.25 ppm of organic Se. Results: At day 21 of lactation, supplementing a high level of mixed Se at 0.50 ppm resulted in higher piglet BW and weight gain than adding a low level of mixed Se at 0.30 ppm (p<0.05). Selenium concentration of colostrum in sows fed ISOS50 diet was significantly higher than those in sows fed ISOS30 diet (p<0.05). Selenium concentrations in the serum at days 90 and 110 of gestation and 24 hours postpartum were highest when sows were fed ISOS50 diet (p<0.05). Additionally, increasing levels of mixed Se led to an increase in piglet serum Se concentration at 24 hours postpartum (p<0.05). Before ingesting colostrum, piglets from sows fed a mixed selenium (Se) diet had significantly higher kidney Se concentrations compared to those from the control group, with the ISOS50 treatment showing the most significant difference (p<0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation of the gestation diet with 0.5 ppm of mixed Se may improve piglet growth performance, increase Se concentrations in milk, and enhance Se status in the serum of sows, as well as in the serum and tissues of their offspring.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1913-1922
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• 2024

Objective: Nicotinamide (NAM) is easily degraded in the rumen, but the rumen-protected NAM (RPN) supplementation might enable the use of NAM in ruminants. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of RPN supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status and amino acid (AA) metabolism in growing lambs. Methods: A total of 128 healthy and similar lambs (21.3±0.28 kg, 70±6.3 days of age) were allotted to 1 of 4 groups. The treatments were 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/d RPN supplementation. The RPN products (50% bioavailability) were fed at 0700 h every day for 12 weeks. All lambs were fed the same pelleted total mixed rations to allow ad libitum consumption and had free access to water. Results: The RPN tended to increase the average daily gain and feed efficiency. The tendencies of RPN×day interaction were found for dry matter intake during the entire study (p = 0.078 and 0.073, respectively). The proportions of acetic acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid were decreased, whereas the proportions of propionic acid and valeric acid were increased (p<0.05). The ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid was decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, the antioxidative status was enhanced and the glucose concentration was increased by RPN (p<0.05). In addition, 17 AAs were detected in plasma, of which 11 AAs were increased by RPN (p<0.05). Plasma metabolomics analysis identified 1,395 compounds belonging to 15 classes, among which 7 peptides were significantly changed after RPN supplementation. Conclusion: Overall, the results suggested that RPN supplementation favoured the rumen fermentation pattern to propionic acid-type with benefited glucose metabolism, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and changed the AA and small peptide metabolism. This study provides a new perspective for studying the relationship between vitamin and AA metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2014

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of copper-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) and herbal mixture (HBM) on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and immune response in broiler. A total 1,000 1-d old ROSS 308 (initial $BW=41{\pm}0.38g$) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 4 replicates during d 35 of the feeding trial. Dietary included: (1) Control : control diet, (2) Antibiotics : control diet + Avilamycin 6 ppm, (3) Cu-SP : control diet + 100 ppm Cu-soy proteinate, (4) HBM : control diet + 0.15% herbal mixture, (5) Cu-SP+HBM : control diet + 100 ppm Cu-soy proteinate + 0.2% herbal mixture. Two-phase feeding program with a starter diet from d 0 to 21, and a finisher diet from d 22 to 35 was used in the experiment. Within each phase, a diet was formulated to meet or exceed NRC requirements of broilers for macro- and micronutrients. The diet and water were available ad libitum. Result indicated that during d 22 to 35 and over all periods of the experiment, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were greater (P<0.05) for other treatment than control. Significant differences were found in lymphocyte (LY), and stress indicator (HE:LY ratio). Lymphocyte was greater (P<0.05) for Cu-SP + HBM treatment than control. However, stress indicator (HE:LY ratio) were greater (P<0.05) for control than Cu-SP + HBM treatment. The plasma IgG was higher (P<0.05) in the antibiotics, HBM, and Cu-SP+HBM treatments groups compared with control. The population of Clostridium perfringens in the antibiotics, Cu-SP, HBM, Cu-SP + HBM treatment groups were lower (P<0.05) than those control. These result suggested that dietary copper-soy proteinate or herbal mixture may be used as an alternative to antibiotics to improve growth performance, and intestinal health of birds.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.29 no.11B
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• pp.980-990
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• 2004

In this paper, we propose the dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm for the IEEE802.3ah Ethernet Passive Optical Network(EPON) system to provide the fairness among terminals, and evaluate the delay-throughput performance by simulation. For the conventional EPON systems, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) schedules the upstream bandwidth for each Optical Network Unit (ONU), based on its buffer state. This scheme can provide a fair bandwidth allocation for each ONU. However, it has a critical problem that it does not guarantee the fair bandwidth among terminals which are connected to ONUs. For an example, we assume that the traffic from a greedy terminal increases at a time. Then, the buffer state of its ONU is instantly reported to the OLT, and finally the OW can get more bandwidth. As a result, the less bandwidth is allocated to the other ONUs, and thus the transfer delay of terminals connected to the ONUs gets inevitably increased. Noting that this unfairness problem exists in the conventional EPON systems, we propose a fair bandwidth allocation scheme by OLT with considering the buffer state of ONU as welt as the number of terminals connected it. For the performance evaluation, we develop the EPON simulation model with SIMULA simulation language. From the result of the throughput-delay performance and the dynamics of buffer state along time for each terminal and ONU, respectively, one can see that the proposed scheme can provide the fairness among not ONUs but terminals. Finally, it is worthwhile to note that the proposed scheme for the public EPON systems might be an attractive solution for providing the fairness among subscriber terminals.