Seroprevalence of low pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2) and associated risk factors in the Gyeonggi-do of Korea during 2005-2006

Between November 2005 and March 2006, a total of 253 poultry flocks in the Gyeonggi-do of Korea were examined for seroprevalence against avian influenza (AI) using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and an agar gel precipitation test. No low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus was isolated from 47 seropositive flocks that lacked clinical signs during sampling. The unadjusted percentage of seroprevalence rates of layer and broiler flocks were not significantly different, i.e., 26% (25/96) and 23% (22/97), respectively. The HI titer of the layers (mean = 89) was higher than the broilers (mean = 36; p < 0.001). A cross-sectional study was conducted for the seroprevalence of LPAI in the layers. Of 7 risk factors, farms employing one or more workers had a higher seropositive prevalence as compared to farms without hired employees (adjusted prevalence OR = 11.5, p = 0.031). Layer flocks older than 400 d had higher seropositivity than flocks younger than 300 d (OR = 4.9, p = 0.017). The farmers recognized at least one of the clinical signs in seropositive flocks, such as decreased egg production, respiratory syndromes, and increased mortality (OR = 2.3, p = 0.082). In a matched case-control study, 20 pairs of case and control flocks matched for type of flock, hired employees, age, and flock size were compared. Frequent cleansing with disinfectants was associated with a decreased risk of seropositivity (OR = 0.2, p = 0.022). Although there was a low statistical association, using a foot disinfectant when entering the building led to a decreased rate of seropositivity (OR = 0.3, p = 0.105)

k-Space Deep Learning for Reference-free EPI Ghost Correction

Nyquist ghost artifacts in EPI are originated from phase mismatch between the even and odd echoes. However, conventional correction methods using reference scans often produce erroneous results especially in high-field MRI due to the non-linear and time-varying local magnetic field changes. Recently, it was shown that the problem of ghost correction can be reformulated as k-space interpolation problem that can be solved using structured low-rank Hankel matrix approaches. Another recent work showed that data driven Hankel matrix decomposition can be reformulated to exhibit similar structures as deep convolutional neural network. By synergistically combining these findings, we propose a k-space deep learning approach that immediately corrects the phase mismatch without a reference scan in both accelerated and non-accelerated EPI acquisitions. To take advantage of the even and odd-phase directional redundancy, the k-space data is divided into two channels configured with even and odd phase encodings. The redundancies between coils are also exploited by stacking the multi-coil k-space data into additional input channels. Then, our k-space ghost correction network is trained to learn the interpolation kernel to estimate the missing virtual k-space data. For the accelerated EPI data, the same neural network is trained to directly estimate the interpolation kernels for missing k-space data from both ghost and subsampling. Reconstruction results using 3T and 7T in-vivo data showed that the proposed method outperformed the image quality compared to the existing methods, and the computing time is much faster.The proposed k-space deep learning for EPI ghost correction is highly robust and fast, and can be combined with acceleration, so that it can be used as a promising correction tool for high-field MRI without changing the current acquisition protocol.Comment: To appear in Magnetic Resonance in Medicin

Jamming transition in a highly dense granular system under vertical vibration

The dynamics of the jamming transition in a three-dimensional granular system under vertical vibration is studied using diffusing-wave spectroscopy. When the maximum acceleration of the external vibration is large, the granular system behaves like a fluid, with the dynamic correlation function G(t) relaxing rapidly. As the acceleration of vibration approaches the gravitational acceleration g, the relaxation of G(t) slows down dramatically, and eventually stops. Thus the system undergoes a phase transition and behaves like a solid. Near the transition point, we find that the structural relaxation shows a stretched exponential behavior. This behavior is analogous to the behavior of supercooled liquids close to the glass transition.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

A Study on Development of Optimal Noise Filter Algorithm for Laser Vision System in GMA Welding

AbstractIn recent years, noise filter of image processing have been widely used in automated manufacturing processes in noisy environment, such as removal of noise in arc welding process, because such filters are robust even in the presence of extreme noise. Since arc, soot and splash etc., salt noise which has certain noise amplitude at random location was found in captured image. It is important to employ a noise filter to intensify the laser lines and ultimately remove or reduce the noise. In this study, the welding seam image captured from the CCD camera was processed by noise filters to remove the noise due to the complexity of welding environment. Comparison of three noise filters (Gaussian filter, Median filter and Wiener filter) was made to find out the optimal noise filtering algorithm. The result showed that the Median filter algorithm is the preferred method, as not only this algorithm performance provided lower MSE (Mean Square Error) and RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) values than those of Gaussian filter and Wiener filter, but also the values of the PSNR (Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio) and SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) were higher. Therefore, the Median filter can be considered to have a better enhancement effect than the other two filters

Industrialisasi Berbasis Pertanian sebagai Grand Stratedy Pembangunan Ekonomi Nasional

EnglishAs a developing economy Indonesia, should have a comprehensive integrated long-term development plan which may be used as the guideline in implementing its national economic development as well as an instrument for evaluating government accountability and credibility. The New Order regime had prepared its first and second long-term development plan for 1969-1993 and 1993-2018 successively. The twin plans, however, has led Indonesia to the 1997-1999 multi dimensions crises and is considered in appropriate in the existing new era of total reformation. It must be totally reconstructed. For this, public discussions on the need for the government to formulated the new grand strategy of national development have emerged, but up and down, in the last two years. As an active contribution to the public debase, this paper reviews previous, Indonesia development plans, others\u27 countries experiences as well as grand theories of economic development. Then it is suggested that the agricultural based industrialization may be the most suitable one for Indonesia. The new grand strategy should be decided based on a national concensus in order to avoid the practice of just for political rhetoric\u27s as was during the New Order regime. IndonesianBagi negara berkembang seperti Indonesia, rencana pembangunan jangka panjang komprehensif-integratif sangat di perlukan sebagai acuan pelaksanaan pembangunan dan sebagai salah satu instrumen akuntabilitas dan kredibilitas pemerintah. Pemerintahaan Orde Baru telah menyusun rancangan pembangunan jangka panjang tahap I dan II masing-masing untuk peiode 1969-1993 dan 1993-2018. Rencana jangka panjang yang disusun rejim Orde Baru tersebut terbukti membawa Indonesia kedalam krisis tahun 1997-1999 dan sudah tidak sesuai dalam era Reformasi sehingga perlu dirancang ulang. Dalam dua tahun terakhir sesungguhnya telah muncul wacana publik yang menuntut agar pemerintah segera menyusun grand strategy ( strategi besar ) pembangunan nasional. Sebagai bagian dari wacana tersebut, tulisan ini mereview tentang konsepsi strategi pembangunan selama Orde Baru, pengalaman beberapa negara lain pemikiran teoritis tentang strategi pembangunan ekonomi. Berdasarkan hasil review tersebut, disarankan agar industrialisasi berbasis pertanian (agricultural based industrialization) dijadikan sebagai strategi besar (grand strategy) pembangunan nasional. Strategi tersebut haruslah dijadikan sebagai konsensus nasional, sehingga tidak sekedar retorika politik seperti pada masa Orde Baru

CVD-grown monolayer MoS2 in bioabsorbable electronics and biosensors

Transient electronics entails the capability of electronic components to dissolve or reabsorb in a controlled manner when used in biomedical implants. Here, the authors perform a systematic study of the processes of hydrolysis, bioabsorption, cytotoxicity and immunological biocompatibility of monolayer MoS2

Lumbar plexopathy after radical nephrectomy -A case report-

Lumbar plexopathy is characterized by an abrupt onset of sensory disturbances, weakness, and loss of deep tendon reflexes of lower extremities. The various causes of lumbar plexopathy include trauma, infections, space-occupying lesion, vascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and the use of drugs such as heroin. Postoperative rhabdomyolysis occurs secondary to prolonged muscle compression due to surgical positioning. Herein, we report a case of lumbar plexopathy, complicating an injury to the paraspinal muscle and iliopsoas muscle that occurred in the flexed lateral decubitus position following radical nephrectomy