User Recognition Based on Human Body Impulse Response: A Feasibility Study

Human recognition technologies for security systems require high reliability and easy accessibility in the advent of the internet of things (IoT). While several biometric approaches have been studied for user recognition, there are demands for more convenient techniques suitable for the IoT devices. Recently, electrical frequency responses of the human body have been unveiled as one of promising biometric signals, but the pilot studies are inconclusive about the characteristics of human body as a transmission medium for electric signals. This paper provides a multi-domain analysis of human body impulse responses (HBIR) measured at the receiver when customized impulse signals are passed through the human body. We analyzed the impulse responses in the time, frequency, and wavelet domains and extracted representative feature vectors using a proposed accumulated difference metric in each domain. The classification performance was tested using the k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm and the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm on 10-day data acquired from five subjects. The average classification accuracies of the simple classifier KNN for the time, frequency, and wavelet features reached 92.99%, 77.01%, and 94.55%, respectively. In addition, the kernel-based SVM slightly improved the accuracies of three features by 0.58%, 2.34%, and 0.42%, respectively. The result shows potential of the proposed approach for user recognition based on HBIR

Dose Weight loss and Core Exercise improve Oswestry disability index, Trunk Extensor and Flexor Muscle Strength in Obese Middle-Aged Women with Chronic Low Back Pain?

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the weight loss and isotonic core exercise on oswestry disability index (ODI), trunk extensor and flexor muscle strength in obese middle-aged women with chronic low back pain. METHODS Eighteen obese middle-aged woman with chronic low back pain were randomly assigned into weight loss + core exercise group (WL+CE, n=6), core exercise group (CE, n=6), and control group (CON, n=6). The weight loss goal was set at approximately 0.5-1 kg per week, and core exercises were conducted for 60 minutes, three times a week, for 8 weeks. Body composition (weight, % body fat, muscle mass, WHR), ODI, trunk extensor and flexor muscle strength were measured before, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after core exercise. RESULTS WHR and ODI significantly decreased at 4 and 8 weeks of exercise in both the WL+CE and CE groups compared to before exercise (p<.05, respectively). Trunk extensor muscle strength significant increased at 8 weeks after exercise compared to before exercise at 146°, 158°, 170°, and 182° in the WL+CE (p<.05, respectively), and significant increased at 8 weeks after exercise compared to before exercise at 146° and 158° in the CE (p<.05, respectively). Trunk flexor muscle strength was a significant increase at 8 weeks after exercise compared to before exercise at 146°, 158°, and 182° in the WL+CE (p<.05, respectively), and significant increase at 8 weeks after exercise compared to before exercise at 110°, 134°, 146°, and 170° in the CE (p<.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that weight loss and core exercise improve WHR, ODI, and trunk extensor and flexor muscle strength in obese middle-aged women with chronic low back pain

YAF2 promotes TP53-mediated genotoxic stress response via stabilization of PDCD5

AbstractProgrammed cell death 5 (PDCD5) plays a crucial role in TP53-mediated apoptosis, but the regulatory mechanism of PDCD5 itself during apoptosis remains obscure. We identified YY1-associated factor 2 (YAF2) as a novel PDCD5-interacting protein in a yeast two-hybrid screen for PDCD5-interacting proteins. We found that YY1-associated factor 2 (YAF2) binds to and increases PDCD5 stability by inhibiting the ubiquitin-dependent proteosomal degradation pathway. However, knocking-down of YAF2 diminishes the levels of PDCD5 protein but not the levels of PDCD5 mRNA. Upon genotoxic stress response, YAF2 promotes TP53 activation via association with PDCD5. Strikingly, YAF2 failed to promote TP53 activation in the deletion of PDCD5, whereas restoration of wild-type PDCD5WT efficiently reversed the ineffectiveness of YAF2 on TP53 activation. Conversely, PDCD5 efficiently overcame the knockdown effect of YAF2 on ET-induced TP53 activation. Finally, impaired apoptosis upon PDCD5 ablation was substantially rescued by restoration of PDCD5WT but not YAF2-interacting defective PDCD5E4D nor TP53-interacting defective PDCD5E16D mutant. Our findings uncovered an apoptotic signaling cascade linking YAF2, PDCD5, and TP53 during genotoxic stress responses

Inter- and Intra-observer Reliability of MRI for Lumbar Lateral Disc Herniation

Background: The authors analyzed inter- and intra-observer agreement with respect to interpretation of simple magnetic resonance T1- and T2-weighted axial and sagittal images for the diagnosis of lumbar lateral disc herniation, including foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniations.Methods: Forty-two patients in whom lumbar lateral disc herniation was suspected or confirmed by simple magnetic resonance imaging at one institute between May 2003 and December 2004 were included. The magnetic resonance images consisting of T1- and T2-weighted axial and sagittal images, and these were reviewed blindly and independently by three orthopaedic spine surgeons in a random manner. The images were interpreted as positive or negative for lateral disc herniation on 2 different occasions 3 months apart. Results were analyzed using Cohens kappa statistic, and strengths of agreements were determined using the Landis and Koch criteria.Results: The kappa values for inter-observer agreement averaged 0.234 (0.282, 0.111, and 0.308 respectively) on the first occasion, and 0.166 (0.249, 0.111, and 0.137 respectively) on the second occasion, with an overall mean value of 0.200. Thus, the strength of agreement was only slight-to-fair according to the Landis and Koch criteria. Kappa values for intra-observer agreement averaged 0.479 (0.488, 0.491, and 0.459 respectively), indicating moderate agreement.Conclusions: The present study indicates that simple magnetic resonance imaging is not a reliable imaging modality for diagnosing lumbar lateral disc herniation. Another imaging study with improved diagnostic values should be developed to diagnose this pathologic finding.Keywords: Lumbar lateral disc herniation, Inter-observer reliability, Intra-observer reliability, Magnetic resonance imagingOAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2009-01/102/0000004226/1SEQ:1PERF_CD:SNU2009-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000004226EMP_ID:A076317DEPT_CD:801FILENAME:E019T_CiOS-2009_Kim_Inter-and Intra-observer Reliability of MRI for Lumbar.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과EMAIL:[email protected]_YN:NCONFIRM:YCONFIRM:

Successful management of heterotopic cornual pregnancy with laparoscopic cornual resection

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the feasibility of laparoscopic cornual resection for the treatment of heterotopic cornual pregnancy.Study designWomen who underwent laparoscopic cornual resection for heterotopic cornual pregnancy at our hospital between January 2003 and March 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. We evaluated significant parameters such as operative complications and postoperative pregnancy outcomes of concomitant pregnancy.ResultsThirteen patients with heterotopic cornual pregnancy were included in the study. All were pregnant through assisted reproductive technology, and the diagnosis was made at a median of 6+6 weeks (range 5+4–10+0). They were successfully treated with laparoscopic cornual resection and admitted for a median of 4 days (range, 2–7) postoperatively. The median operative time was 65min (range, 35–145min) and estimated blood loss was 200mL (range, 10–3000mL). There was a spontaneous abortion at 7+6 gestational weeks in a patient who received bilateral cornual resection. Seven patients delivered babies at term and 3 at preterm. All 10 women delivered without any maternal or neonatal complications. Two were lost to follow-up.ConclusionsLaparoscopic cornual resection is a feasible primary approach for the management of heterotopic cornual pregnancy

Concomitant renal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus as prognostic factors for acute myocardial infarction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes mellitus and renal dysfunction are prognostic factors after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, few studies have assessed the effects of renal insufficiency in association with diabetes in the context of AMI. Here, we investigated the clinical outcomes according to the concomitance of renal dysfunction and diabetes mellitus in patients with AMI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From November 2005 to August 2008, 9905 patients (63 ± 13 years; 70% men) with AMI were enrolled in a nationwide prospective Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) and were categorized into 4 groups: Group I (n = 5700) had neither diabetes nor renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m²), Group II (n = 1730) had diabetes but no renal insufficiency, Group III (n = 1431) had no diabetes but renal insufficiency, and Group IV (n = 1044) had both diabetes and renal insufficiency. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including a composite of all cause-of-death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and coronary artery bypass graft after 1-year clinical follow-up.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Primary endpoints occurred in 1804 (18.2%) patients. There were significant differences in composite MACE among the 4 groups (Group I, 12.5%; Group II, 15.7%; Group III, 30.5%; Group IV, 36.5%; <it>p </it>< 0.001). In a Cox proportional hazards model, after adjusting for multiple covariates, the 1-year mortality increased stepwise from Group III to IV as compared with Group I (hazard ratio [HR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-2.86; <it>p </it>= 0.001; and HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.62-3.62; <it>p </it>< 0.001, respectively). However, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in probability of death at 1 year between Group III and IV (p = 0.288).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Renal insufficiency, especially in association with diabetes, is associated with the occurrence of composite MACE and indicates poor prognosis in patients with AMI. Categorization of patients with diabetes and/or renal insufficiency provides valuable information for early-risk stratification of AMI patients.</p

500 MS/s 4-Bit Flash ADC with Complementary Architecture

This paper proposes a 500 MS/s 4-bit flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) featuring a differential input voltage range of 1.2 Vpp operating at a supply voltage of 1.2 V. Although the proposed circuit utilizes a conventional flash ADC structure, its track and hold circuit, driving buffer, and preamp circuits corresponding to the analog stages are designed using complementary architecture to attain a sufficient swing range even at a low supply voltage. Notably, the proposed structure satisfies the error requirements. The error source of the flash ADC, such as the comparator’s input referred offset, did not degrade its performance, while the use of a calibration circuit, characterized by power consumption and area burdens and increased complexity, could also be avoided. Therefore, the proposed flash ADC met the error requirements, such as the comparator’s input referred offset, without the need for calibration circuits. The chip, fabricated using the TSMC 65 nm process, covers an area of 1,160 × 950 μm2 and consumes 78 mW of power. Furthermore, its signal-to-noise and distortion ratio and spurious-free dynamic range were measured to be 23.36 dB and 30.26 dB, respectively, at a sampling frequency of 500 MHz

Myocardial atrophy in children with mitochondrial disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy

PurposeMitochondrial disease (MD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are often associated with cardiomyopathy, but the myocardial variability has not been isolated to a specific characteristic. We evaluated the left ventricular (LV) mass by echocardiography to identify the general distribution and functional changes of the myocardium in patients with MD or DMD.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the echocardiographic data of 90 children with MD and 42 with DMD. Using two-dimensional echocardiography, including time-motion (M) mode and Doppler measurements, we estimated the LV mass, ratio of early to late mitral filling velocities (E/A), ratio of early mitral filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/Ea), stroke volume, and cardiac output. A "z score" was generated using the lambda-mu-sigma method to standardize the LV mass with respect to body size.ResultsThe LV mass-for-height z scores were significantly below normal in children with MD (-1.02±1.52, P<0.001) or DMD (-0.82±1.61, P=0.002), as were the LV mass-for-lean body-mass z scores. The body mass index (BMI)-for-age z scores were far below normal and were directly proportional to the LV mass-for-height z scores in both patients with MD (R=0.377, P<0.001) and those with DMD (R=0.330, P=0.033). The LV mass-for-height z score correlated positively with the stroke volume index (R=0.462, P<0.001) and cardiac index (R=0.358, P<0.001).ConclusionLV myocardial atrophy is present in patients with MD and those with DMD and may be closely associated with low BMI. The insufficient LV mass for body size might indicate deterioration of systolic function in these patients

Простой и эффективный метод диазотирования-иодирования ароматических аминов в водных пастах под действием систем: NaNO[2]/п-толуолсульфокислота и NaNO[2]/NaHSO[4]

Предлагается новый, удобный и эффективный метод получения ароматических иодидов из анилинов реакцией диазотирования-иодирования под действием NaNO[2]/KI/p-TsOH или NaHSO[4] при 20 °С в водной пасте. Разработанный метод отвечает требованиям "зеленой химии", предъявляемым к современным химическим процессам

Toll-Like Receptor 4 Decoy, TOY, Attenuates Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane glycolipid, induces sepsis through its interaction with myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). To block interaction between LPS/MD-2 complex and TLR4, we designed and generated soluble fusion proteins capable of binding MD-2, dubbed TLR4 decoy receptor (TOY) using ‘the Hybrid leucine-rich repeats (LRR) technique’. TOY contains the MD-2 binding ectodomain of TLR4, the LRR motif of hagfish variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR), and the Fc domain of IgG1 to make it soluble, productive, and functional. TOY exhibited strong binding to MD-2, but not to the extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in vivo. TOY significantly extended the lifespan, when administered in either preventive or therapeutic manners, in both the LPS- and cecal ligation/puncture-induced sepsis models in mice. TOY markedly attenuated LPS-triggered NF-κB activation, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and thrombus formation in multiple organs. Taken together, the targeting strategy for sequestration of LPS/MD-2 complex using the decoy receptor TOY is effective in treating LPS- and bacteria-induced sepsis; furthermore, the strategy used in TOY development can be applied to the generation of other novel decoy receptor proteins