Temporal Interpolation Is All You Need for Dynamic Neural Radiance Fields

Temporal interpolation often plays a crucial role to learn meaningful representations in dynamic scenes. In this paper, we propose a novel method to train spatiotemporal neural radiance fields of dynamic scenes based on temporal interpolation of feature vectors. Two feature interpolation methods are suggested depending on underlying representations, neural networks or grids. In the neural representation, we extract features from space-time inputs via multiple neural network modules and interpolate them based on time frames. The proposed multi-level feature interpolation network effectively captures features of both short-term and long-term time ranges. In the grid representation, space-time features are learned via four-dimensional hash grids, which remarkably reduces training time. The grid representation shows more than 100 times faster training speed than the previous neural-net-based methods while maintaining the rendering quality. Concatenating static and dynamic features and adding a simple smoothness term further improve the performance of our proposed models. Despite the simplicity of the model architectures, our method achieved state-of-the-art performance both in rendering quality for the neural representation and in training speed for the grid representation.Comment: CVPR 2023. Project page: https://sungheonpark.github.io/tempinterpner

Heterologous gene expression using self-assembled supra-molecules with high affinity for HSP70 chaperone

Contrary to the results of direct expression, various human proteins (ferritin light-chain, epithermal growth factor, interleukin-2, prepro-ghrelin, deletion mutants of glutamate decarboxylase and arginine deiminase, and mini-proinsulin) were all soluble in Escherichia coli cytoplasm when expressed with the N-terminus fusion of ferritin heavy-chain (FTN-H). Through systematic investigations, we have found that a specific peptide motif within FTN-H has a high affinity to HSP70 chaperone DnaK, and that the peptide motif was composed of a hydrophobic core of three residues (Ile, Phe and Leu) and two flanking regions enriched with polar residues (Gly, Gln and Arg). It was also observed that all the recombinant proteins expressed with the fusion of FTN-H formed spherical nanoparticles with diameters of 10–15 nm, as confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy image. The protein nanoparticles are non-covalently cross-linked supra-molecules formed by the self-assembly function of FTN-H. Upon the formation of the supra-molecule, its size is likely to be limited by the assembly properties of FTN-H, thereby keeping the self-assembled particles soluble. This study reports on the dual function of FTN-H for fusion expression and solubility enhancement of heterologous proteins: (i) high-affinity interaction with DnaK and (ii) formation of self-assembled supra-molecules with limited and constant sizes, thereby avoiding the undesirable formation of insoluble macro-aggregates of heterologous proteins

A Case of Familial Cutaneous Collagenoma

Familial cutaneous collagenoma is a rare hereditary disease that is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. It is characterized by early onset of multiple, skin-colored, sometimes hypopigmented cutaneous nodules, which initially show a symmetrical arrangement on the trunk, and later on the neck and upper limbs. We report on a case of a 45-year-old female who presented with multiple oval to round hypopigmented papules measuring 5~15 mm on her trunk. Histopathologically, the lesions showed an increased amount of collagen fibers and decreased, fragmented elastic fibers in the dermis. The skin lesions were diagnosed as familial cutaneous collagenoma and no treatment was administered. To the best of our knowledge, our case is the first reported case of familial cutaneous collagenoma (FCC) in the Korean literature

A systemic review and meta-analysis on the antihypertensive effect of aromatherapy essential oils

Purpose: This study is a systemic review of experimental results on the effects of aromatherapy on blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Journal articles published to December, 2017, were retrieved from twelve databases. Randomized controlled trials in which were evaluated for changes in blood pressure following aromatherapy were selected. Risks of bias were assessed using the risk-of-bias (ROB) tool of the Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analysis were dine using RevMan. Results: Of the 2545 articles retrieved from the electronic databases, 580 duplicate articles and 1891 articles that were unrelated to the PICO (patient/problem, intervention, comparison, outcome) elements or did not satisfy the inclusion criteria excluded. Of the remaining 74 articles, 15 found to satisfy the inclusion criteria after full-text review and therefore selected for analysis. The findings of meta-analysis of 11 of these 15 articles revealed that essential oil inhalation and massage effectively decreased both systolic (n = 379; mean difference [MD], -4.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], -8.38 to -1.07) and diastolic (n = 379; MD, -2.42; 95% CI, -4.46 to -0.38) pressure. Conclusions: Essential oil inhalation and massage therapy can effectively decrease systolic and diastolic pressure in health adults as well as in patients with hypertension

Cancer Morbidity of Foundry Workers in Korea

Foundry workers are potentially exposed to a number of carcinogens. This study was conducted to describe the cancer incidence associated with employment in small-sized Korean iron foundries and to compare those findings to the Korean population. Cancer morbidity in 208 Korean foundries was analyzed using the Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) and Standardized Rate Ratio (SRR). Overall cancer morbidity in foundry workers (SIR=1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01-1.21) was significantly higher than that of Korean general population. Lung cancer (SIR=1.45, 95%CI=1.11-1.87) and lymphohematopoietcic cancer (SIR=1.58, 95%CI=1.00-2.37) in production workers were significantly high compared to Korean general population. Stomach cancer in fettling (SRR=2.10, 95%CI=1.10-4.01) and lung cancer in molding (SRR=3.06, 95%CI=1.22-7.64) and in fettling (SRR=2.63, 95%CI=1.01-6.84) were there significant elevations compared to office workers. In this study, statistically significant excess lung cancer was observed in production workers comparing to Korean general population and office workers. Also, cancer morbidity of overall cancer, lung cancer and stomach cancer was significantly increased with duration of employment at ten and more years comparing to Korean general population. These findings suggest in causal association between exposure to carcinogens during foundry work and cancer morbidity

Effect of donor–recipient size mismatch on long-term graft survival in pediatric kidney transplantation: a multicenter cohort study

Background Donor–recipient size mismatching is commonly occurs in pediatric kidney transplantation (KT). However, its effect on graft survival remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the effect of donor–recipient size mismatch on the long-term survival rate of transplant kidneys in pediatric KT. Methods A total of 241 pediatric patients who received KT were enrolled. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed, and the correlation between donor–recipient size mismatch and graft function and long-term graft outcome was analyzed according to donor–recipient size mismatch. Results Recipients and donors’ mean body weight at the time of KT were 34.31 ± 16.85 and 56.53 ± 16.73 kg, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was 96.49 ± 52.98 months. A significant positive correlation was observed between donor–recipient body weight ratio (DRBWR) or donor–recipient body surface area ratio (DRBSR) and graft function until 1 year after KT. However, this correlation could not be confirmed at the last follow-up. The results of long-term survival analysis using Fine and Gray’s subdistribution hazard model showed no significant difference of the survival rate of the transplant kidney according to DRBWR or DRBSR. Conclusion Donor–recipient size mismatch in pediatric KT is not an important factor in determining the long-term prognosis of transplant kidneys

Establishment of a piglet model for peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer

Background : A piglet model for peritoneal metastasis (PM) of ovarian cancer was developed. It will contribute to establishing innovative chemotherapeutical and surgical strategies without any limitation on rodent models. Methods : A total of 12 four- to five-week-old piglets of 7 to 8 kg were used. Two phases of ovarian cancer cell injections were performed with laparoscopic surgery. In phase I trial, 5.0 × 106 SK-OV-3 cells in 0.1 ml suspension were inoculated into the omentum, peritoneum, and uterine horns of two piglets twice with a one-week interval. In the phase II trial, 5.0 × 106 SNU-008 cells in 0.1 ml suspension were injected only into uterine horns within the same time frame because tumor implantation after inoculation of SK-OV-3 cells was not observed at the omentum or peritoneum in the phase I trial. Modified peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score was used to monitor tumorigenesis up to 4 weeks after inoculation. Tumor tissues disseminated in the peritoneum 4 weeks after injection were used for histological examination with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and paired-box gene 8 (PAX-8) staining. Results : In the phase I trial, two piglets showed PM with modified PCI scores of 5 and 4 at 3 weeks after the first inoculation, which increased to 14 and 15 after 4 weeks, respectively. In the phase II trial, PM was detected in eight of ten piglets, which showed modified PCI scores of 6 to 12 at 4 weeks after the first inoculation. The overall incidence of PM from the total of 12 piglets after inoculation was 75%. Immunohistochemical H&E and PAX-8 staining confirmed metastatic tumors. Conclusions : This study provides strong evidence that piglets can be employed as a model for PM by inoculating ovarian cancer cell lines from humans. Using two cell lines, the PM rate is 75%.This research was supported by a grant from Seoul National University (No,800–20190437). Moreover, Commercializations Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes supported this research with a grant funded by the Korea government (the Ministry of Science and ICT; No. 1711151316)

G-protein coupled receptor 64 (GPR64) acts as a tumor suppressor in endometrial cancer

Background Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer. G-protein coupled receptor 64 (GPR64) belongs to a family of adhesion GPCRs and plays an important role in male fertility. However, the function of GPR64 has not been studied in endometrial cancer. Our objective is to investigate the role of GPR64 in endometrial cancer. Methods We examined the levels of GPR64 in human endometrioid endometrial carcinoma by immunohistochemistry analysis. To determine a tumor suppressor role of GPR64 in endometrial cancer, we used a siRNA loss of function approach in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines. Results GPR64 levels were remarkably lower in 10 of 21 (47.62%) of endometrial carcinoma samples compared to control. Depletion of GPR64 by siRNA transfection revealed an increase of colony formation ability, cell proliferation, cell migration, and invasion activity in Ishikawa and HEC1A cells. The expression of Connexin 43 (Cx43), a member of the large family of gap junction proteins, was reduced through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in Ishikawa cells with GPR64-deficicy. Conclusions These results suggest that GPR64 plays an important tumor suppressor role in endometrial cancer.Grant numbers and sources of support: The design, data collection, data analysis, and data interpretation of this study were supported by Bio-industry Technology Development Program (IPET312060–5), Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea (to J.M.L.), and NIH R01 HD084478 (to J.W.J.). The analysis and interpretation of data and writing support of this manuscript were supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2016R1D1A1B03934346), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Republic of Korea (to J.Y.Y.) and Grant Number P50CA098258 from the National Cancer Institute (to R.R.B. and T.H.K.)