FESD: a Functional Element SNPs Database in human

We have created the Functional Element SNPs Database (FESD) that categorizes functional elements in human genic regions and provides a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within each area. In the FESD, the human genic regions were divided into 10 different functional elements, such as promoter regions, CpG islands, 5′-untranslated regions (5′-UTRs), translation start sites, splice sites, coding exons, introns, translation stop sites, polyadenylation signals and 3′-UTRs, and subsequently, all the known SNPs were assigned to each functional element at their respective position. With the FESD web interface, users can select a set of SNPs in the specific functional elements and get their flanking sequences for genotyping experiments, which will help in finding mutations that contribute to the common and polygenic diseases. A web interface for the FESD is freely available at http://combio.kribb.re.kr/ksnp/resd/

An Integrative Remote Sensing Application of Stacked Autoencoder for Atmospheric Correction and Cyanobacteria Estimation Using Hyperspectral Imagery

Hyperspectral image sensing can be used to effectively detect the distribution of harmful cyanobacteria. To accomplish this, physical- and/or model-based simulations have been conducted to perform an atmospheric correction (AC) and an estimation of pigments, including phycocyanin (PC) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), in cyanobacteria. However, such simulations were undesirable in certain cases, due to the difficulty of representing dynamically changing aerosol and water vapor in the atmosphere and the optical complexity of inland water. Thus, this study was focused on the development of a deep neural network model for AC and cyanobacteria estimation, without considering the physical formulation. The stacked autoencoder (SAE) network was adopted for the feature extraction and dimensionality reduction of hyperspectral imagery. The artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR) were sequentially applied to achieve AC and estimate cyanobacteria concentrations (i.e., SAE-ANN and SAE-SVR). Further, the ANN and SVR models without SAE were compared with SAE-ANN and SAE-SVR models for the performance evaluations. In terms of AC performance, both SAE-ANN and SAE-SVR displayed reasonable accuracy with the Nash???Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) > 0.7. For PC and Chl-a estimation, the SAE-ANN model showed the best performance, by yielding NSE values > 0.79 and > 0.77, respectively. SAE, with fine tuning operators, improved the accuracy of the original ANN and SVR estimations, in terms of both AC and cyanobacteria estimation. This is primarily attributed to the high-level feature extraction of SAE, which can represent the spatial features of cyanobacteria. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the deep neural network has a strong potential to realize an integrative remote sensing application

Remodeling Pattern of Spinal Canal after Full Endoscopic Uniportal Lumbar Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression: One Year Repetitive MRI and Clinical Follow-Up Evaluation

Objective: There is limited literature on repetitive postoperative MRI and clinical evaluation after Uniportal Lumbar Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression. Methods: Clinical visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, McNab's criteria evaluation and MRI evaluation of the axial cut spinal canal area of the upper end plate, mid disc and lower end plate were performed for patients who underwent single-level Uniportal Lumbar Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression. From the evaluation of the axial cut MRI, four types of patterns of remodeling were identified: type A: continuous expanded spinal canal, type B: restenosis with delayed expansion, type C: progressive expansion and type D: restenosis. Result: A total of 126 patients with single-level Uniportal Lumbar Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression were recruited with a minimum follow-up of 26 months. Thirty-six type A, fifty type B, thirty type C and ten type D patterns of spinal canal remodeling were observed. All four types of patterns of remodeling had statistically significant improvement in VAS at final follow-up compared to the preoperative state with type A (5.59 +/- 1.58), B (5.58 +/- 1.71), C (5.58 +/- 1.71) and D (5.27 +/- 1.68), p < 0.05. ODI was significantly improved at final follow-up with type A (49.19 +/- 10.51), B (50.00 +/- 11.29), C (45.60 +/- 10.58) and D (45.60 +/- 10.58), p < 0.05. A significant MRI axial cut increment of the spinal canal area was found at the upper endplate at postoperative day one and one year with type A (39.16 +/- 22.73; 28.00 +/- 42.57) mm(2), B (47.42 +/- 18.77; 42.38 +/- 19.29) mm(2), C (51.45 +/- 18.16; 49.49 +/- 18.41) mm(2) and D (49.10 +/- 23.05; 38.18 +/- 18.94) mm(2), respectively, p < 0.05. Similar significant increment was found at the mid-disc at postoperative day one, 6 months and one year with type A (55.16 +/- 27.51; 37.23 +/- 25.88; 44.86 +/- 25.73) mm(2), B (72.83 +/- 23.87; 49.79 +/- 21.93; 62.94 +/- 24.43) mm(2), C (66.85 +/- 34.48; 54.92 +/- 30.70; 64.33 +/- 31.82) mm(2) and D (71.65 +/- 16.87; 41.55 +/- 12.92; 49.83 +/- 13.31) mm(2) and the lower endplate at postoperative day one and one year with type A (49.89 +/- 34.50; 41.04 +/- 28.56) mm(2), B (63.63 +/- 23.70; 54.72 +/- 24.29) mm(2), C (58.50 +/- 24.27; 55.32 +/- 22.49) mm(2) and D (81.43 +/- 16.81; 58.40 +/- 18.05) mm(2) at postoperative day one and one year, respectively, p < 0.05. Conclusions: After full endoscopic lumbar decompression, despite achieving sufficient decompression immediately postoperatively, varying severity of asymptomatic restenosis was found in postoperative six months MRI without clinical significance. Further remodeling with a varying degree of increment of the spinal canal area occurs at postoperative one year with overall good clinical outcomes

Is brain imaging necessary for febrile elderly patients with altered mental status? A retrospective multicenter study.

ObjectiveAltered mental status (AMS) is one of the most common symptoms in the febrile elderly. Brain imaging tests are an important tool for diagnosing AMS patients. However, these may be prescribed unnecessarily in emergency departments, particularly for febrile patients with AMS for whom infection is suspected, leading to excessive radiation risk and cost. In this study, we investigated the factors that can predict clinically significant abnormal brain imaging (ABI) in the febrile elderly with AMS.MethodsThis retrospective multicenter study was conducted from July 2016 to June 2019. Febrile patients over the age of 65 years with AMS who visited the emergency department of two tertiary university hospitals were enrolled. Medical records were reviewed, and laboratory results were obtained. Brain imaging results with a formal reading by a radiologist were obtained.ResultsIn all, 285 patients were enrolled, and 47 (16.49%) showed ABI. The most common diagnoses in patients admitted to the emergency department were intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke for ABI, and pneumonia and urinary tract infection for non-ABI. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, higher systolic blood pressure (odds ratio [OR], 1.017; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.006-1.028), lower body temperature (OR, 0.578; 95% CI, 0.375-0.892), the presence of lateralizing sign (OR, 45.676; 95% CI, 5.015-416.025), and lower Glasgow Coma Scale (OR, 0.718; 95% CI, 0.617-0.837) were significantly associated with ABI.ConclusionLower Glasgow Coma Scale, the presence of lateralizing sign, higher systolic blood pressure, and lower body temperature are significantly associated with ABI in febrile elderly patients with AMS

Kinetics and mechanism of rhenium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Re(IV)-EDTA) complex degradation; For 99Tc-EDTA degradation in the natural environment

© 2022 The Author(s)Mechanism and kinetics of Rhenium complexes as a surrogate of Technetium-99 (99Tc) is worthy of study from radioactive waste safe disposal perspective. Re(IV)-EDTA was synthesized via the reduction of Re(VII) with Sn(II) in the presence of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The Re(IV)-EDTA was then degraded by H2O2 (7%–30%) at pH of 3–11 in ionic strength I = 0–2 M solution. The Re-EDTA was observed to degrade more rapidly at pH of ≤ 3–4 than one of ≥ 10–11 and remained stable at pH = 7–9. The Re-EDTA was degraded in accordance with the H+ addition mechanism in the acidic range and ligand charge transfer in the alkaline region. Complex degradation followed the zero-order rate kinetics for the H+ and Re-EDTA parameters, apart from a pH of 3, for which degradation was a better fit to first order kinetics. A higher Re(IV)-EDTA stability at a pH of 7–9 demonstrated that Re(IV)-EDTA (or 99Tc(IV)-EDTA) tends to be more persistent in natural environments similar to the pH range of 7–9.11Nsciescopu

Neuron-specific enolase level as a predictor of neurological outcome in near-hanging patients: A retrospective multicenter study.

ObjectivesNeuron-specific enolase (NSE) is frequently used to predict neurological outcomes in patients with hypoxic brain injury. Hanging can cause hypoxic brain damage, and survivors can suffer from neurological deficits that may impair daily activities. Here, we investigated the utility of the initial serum NSE level as a predictor of neurological outcomes in near-hanging patients with decreased consciousness.MethodsThis retrospective multicenter study was conducted in patients who visited the emergency department due to near-hanging injury from October 2013 to February 2019 at three university hospitals in Korea. They were divided into two groups according to the presence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The neurological outcome was determined using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) measured at the time of discharge. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine whether initial serum NSE is an independent predictor of neurological outcome.ResultsOf the 70 patients included in the study, 44 showed a poor neurological outcome (CPC score = 3-5). Among the 52 patients with cardiac arrest, only 10 (19.2%) were discharged with good neurological outcome (CPC score = 1-2). In the whole cohort, a high serum NSE level was a significant predictor of poor neurological outcome (odds ratio [OR], 1.343; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.003-1.800, p = 0.048). Among the patients with cardiac arrest, a high serum NSE level was a significant predictor of poor neurological outcome (OR, 1.138; 95% CI, 1.009-1.284, p = 0.036).ConclusionsIn near-hanging patients, a high initial serum NSE level is an independent predictor of poor neurological outcome

Paclitaxel-Polyurethane Film for Anti-cancer Drug Delivery: Film Characterization and Preliminary in vivo Study

Polyurethane (PU) films incorporated with an anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) were prepared using a solvent casting method for potential applications to stent-based drug delivery and the local treatment of malignant tumors around gastrointestinal stents. The films were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and PTX micro-aggregates were observed when the drug loading was > 2.7 wt%. The in vitro release study revealed that the amount of drug released from the film was virtually independent and cumulative percentage release was inversely proportional to the drug loading. When plotted against the square root of time, the cumulative percentage release was initially linear, but the fraction of the linear region decreased with increasing drug loading, indicating that diffusion-controlled release is not applicable to the PTX molecules in micro-aggregates. When 1.25% PTX-PU films were placed under pre-existing CT-26 tumors in mice, tumor growth was slowed by an average of 65.5% compared to that in the control group.Guo QY, 2009, J CONTROL RELEASE, V137, P224, DOI 10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.04.016Shinke T, 2009, INT J CARDIOL, V135, P93, DOI 10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.06.030Stone GW, 2009, NEW ENGL J MED, V360, P1946Han JK, 2009, MACROMOL RES, V17, P99Lao LL, 2008, J CONTROL RELEASE, V130, P9, DOI 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.05.008Kim JH, 2008, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V19, P220, DOI 10.1016/j.jvir.2007.09.023Elkharraz K, 2006, INT J PHARM, V314, P127, DOI 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2005.07.028Zilberman M, 2005, ACTA BIOMATER, V1, P615, DOI 10.1016/j.actbio.2005.06.007Shikanov A, 2005, J CONTROL RELEASE, V105, P52, DOI 10.1016/j.jconrel.2005.02.018Dinnes DLM, 2005, BIOMATERIALS, V26, P3881, DOI 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.09.064Lyu SP, 2005, J CONTROL RELEASE, V102, P679, DOI 10.1016/j.jconrel.2004.11.007Lee DK, 2005, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V61, P296Khan M, 2005, BIOMATERIALS, V26, P633, DOI 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.02.064Stone GW, 2004, NEW ENGL J MED, V350, P221DILOVA V, 2004, B CHIM FARM, V143, P20Han YM, 2003, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V14, P1291, DOI 10.1097/01.RVI.0000092902.31640.39SINGLA AK, 2002, INT J PHARMACEUT, V235, P197Labow RS, 2001, BIOMATERIALS, V22, P3025Kim DH, 2001, KOREAN J RADIOL, V2, P75Zilberman M, 2001, J BIOMAT SCI-POLYM E, V12, P875Chen KY, 2000, BIOMATERIALS, V21, P161NAXHIMURA B, 2000, HDB PHARM CONTROLLEDLAMBDA NMK, 1997, POLYURETHANES BIOMED

Temperature control of micro heater using Pt thin film temperature sensor embedded in micro gas sensor

Abstract Pt thin film temperature sensors (Pt T sensors) are embedded in micro gas sensors to measure and control the working temperature. We characterized electrical resistances of Pt T sensors and micro heaters with temperature changing in the oven and by Joule heating. In order to enhance the accuracy of temperature measurement by the Pt T sensors, we investigated the correlation among the Pt T sensor, micro heater, and the working temperature, which was linear proportional relation expressed as the equation: T2 = 6.466R1–642.8, where T2 = temperature of the Pt micro heater and R1 = the electrical resistance of the Pt T sensor. As the error by physically separated gap between Pt T sensor and micro heater calibrated, measuring and controlling temperature of micro heater in micro gas sensors were possible through the Pt T sensors. For the practical use of Pt T sensor in micro gas sensor, the gas sensing properties of fabricated micro gas sensors to 25 ppm CO and 1 ppm HCHO gases were characterized

An enhanced water quality module of the SWMM model for evaluating Low Impact Development (LID) in Urban area

Climate change and the rapid increase of impervious area greatly influenced the environmental, hydrological, and ecological system at the local and regional area. These phenomena can boost the urban flooding and carrying anthropogenic pollutants. It significantly deteriorates the water quality of the surface waters severely. Low-impact development (LID) practices have been mentioned as a promising urban management technique to mitigate those environmental problems. Modeling approaches have been increasingly more used as an analyzing tool for comparing the LID overall performance. However, LID-associated models are oversimplified regarding to water quality simulation by simply considering the dilution effect by rainfall in LID. This study resolved this problem by using the enhanced water quality module of LID in the stormwater management model (SWMM). We evaluated the model performance for simulating water quality and conducted the LID scenarios analysis using several climate changes conditions. The modified module showed accurate performance for pollutant simulations, showing an average ratio of RMSE to the observation standard deviation ratio (RSR) of 0.52, while the original module presented an inaccurate simulation with an RSR value of 1.11. Scenario analysis presented that the hydrological results were sensitive to the volume of rainfall while the water quality outputs were sensitive to the temporal distribution of rainfall. Therefore, the modified water quality module in LID will be useful in designing LID and in formulating guidelines for LID