Progress on the development of FMC control software for CIM

This paper presents an architecture and control logic of a Flexible Manufacturing Cell (FMC) which is one of the important elements under Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) environment. To implement FMC, it is very important to develop a software which can control and monitor the overall system in an integrated environment. Our primary concern in this research is not to develop individual systems, but to integrate them in the hierarchical control level. Progress on the research of integrating CAD/CAM, Process Planning, Off-line Robot Programming and Simulation module into FMC control system is reported. FMC hardware system used here has an Automated Storage & Retrieval System (AS/RS), a conveyor system, a transfer robot, a CNC milling machine, a bar-code system, and an IBM PC/AT as Cell Control System (CCS). In order to demonstrate the operational result, the name plates, text-carved aluminium plates, are manufactured by this system

Grammatical error correction based on learner comprehension model in oral conversation

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Drain-Induced Barrier Lowering in Oxide Semiconductor Thin-Film Transistors With Asymmetrical Local Density of States

Asymmetrical electrical properties induced by local acceptor-like defect states in oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors are investigated. In addition, we report on the origin of asymmetrical transport characteristics depending on the drain voltage level. In particular, we observe that these asymmetrical properties depend strongly on this level. Numerical calculations demonstrate that potential barrier lowering in the local area occurs at the drain electrode's edge. © 2013 IEEE.1

The Value of Axial Loading 3D CT as a Substitute for Full Weightbearing 3D CT

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Full weightbearing(WB) three dimensional computed tomography(3D CT) is an excellent imaging tool. However, due to its high cost, it is only used in a few hospitals. We evaluated the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of axial loading(AL) 3D CT by comparing bony alignments with standing radiographs, and assessed reproducibility according to the degree of AL. Methods: Eighty patients(156 feet), who underwent standing radiographs and 3D CT with an AL device from January 2016 to May 2017, were investigated. According to the degree of AL(AL force×100/body weight), the patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Group A(30-50%; n=21, 40 feet), Group B(50-70%; n=32, 63 feet), and Group C(70-100%; n=27, 53 feet). The following angles were measured three times by two orthopedists: hallux valgus(HVA), 1st-2nd intermetatarsal(IMA1-2), and talo-navicular coverage(TNCA), calcaneal pitch(CPA), talo-1st metatarsal(T1MA), and talo-calcaneal angle(TCA). Agreements between the two imaging methods were analyzed and compared according to the degree of axial loading in each group. Results: Intra- and interobserver reliability was excellent (>0.75). In Group A(30-50% AL), all of the angles except HVA and IMA1-2 differed (p .05). Higher agreement between the two imaging methods was realized when 70% or more(>70%) AL was applied. Conclusion: AL 3D CT with >70% axial load has full WB effects and can be substituted for expensive full WB 3D CT

The Efficacy of Different Ropivacaine Concentrations (0.5%, 0.6% vs 0.75%) for Regional Nerve Block in Lower Extremity

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: There have only been a few studies on optimal concentrations, doses, and volume of injection material in the regional nerve block for lower extremity operations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different concentrations of ropivacaine with respect to anesthetic time, intraoperative, postoperative pain, and patient’s satisfaction. Methods: A total of 339 patients underwent lower extremity surgery under ultrasound-guided nerve block (combined femoral and sciatic nerve block) at a single institution between March 2016 and February 2017 and were randomly assigned to three groups: Group A (0.5% 42 ml), B (0.6%, 30 ml), and C (0.75%, 30 ml). The interval between nerve block procedure and onset of the complete anesthetic effect (complete anesthetic time) was investigated. The degrees of intraoperative pain (during the first 10 minutes of the surgical procedure), and postoperative pain (6, 12 hours after operation) were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) score. Patient’s satisfaction (0~10) was investigated 12 hours after the operation. To evaluate the efficacy in accordance with the concentration under the same dose and same volume, group A and B were compared with group C respectively. Results: There were 108, 118, and 113, in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The complete anesthetic times were 78.5, 76.4, and 58.6 minutes, respectively. The intraoperative VAS scores were 2.04, 0.62, and 0.24; and the postoperative VAS scores (6hours / 12hours) were 2.41 / 4.08, 0.26 / 1.24, and 0.38 / 1/53. The patient’s satisfactory scores were 8.53, 9.38, and 9.4 respectively. Compared with group C, group A showed significantly longer complete anesthetic time (p.05). Patient’s satisfactory scores in both group A and B were similar to group C(p>.05, p>.05). There were no adverse reactions in all groups. Conclusion: Ropivacaine 0.6% as well as 0.75% are safe and effective anesthetics under the same volume (30 ml) for regional nerve block of the lower extremity. However, taking into account of the longer complete anesthetic time, the operation start time must be adjusted

Use of the Extended Sinus Tarsi Approach for Treatment of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures Compared with the Extended Lateral Approach

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: We compared the radiographic results and clinical outcomes of patients with displaced, intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated via the extended sinus tarsi approach (ESTA) and the extended lateral approach (ELA). Methods: We retrospectively studied the utility of the ELA (46 patients, 52 feet) and the ESTA (56 patients, 64 feet) in patients operated upon between January 2009 and September 2014. We evaluated pre- and post-operative X-rays and computed tomography (CT) data. Pain, patient-reported functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and postoperative complications, were investigated at the three year follow-up. Results: Neither the postoperative nor three year follow-up Böhler angles, nor the calcaneal width, differed significantly between the two groups (both p > 0.05). The maximum step-off of the posterior facet on the three month CT follow-up of the ESTA was significantly less than that of the ELA (p < 0.05). We found no significant between-group differences in terms of postoperative translation (p = 0.232) or angulation of the sustentacular fragment (p = 0.132), three year follow-up mean visual analog scale pain score at rest (p = 0.641) or during weight-bearing (p = 0.525), Foot Function Index (FFI) (p = 0.712), and self-reported satisfaction (p = 0.823). The ELA experienced significantly more wound complications (p = 0.039) and nonunions (p = 0.014) than the ESTA. Conclusion: Compared with the ELA, the ESTA afforded comparable radiological results and clinical outcomes, associated with a reduced operative time and fewer wound complications and nonunions. We suggest that the ESTA is an efficient surgical option when treating displaced, intra-articular calcaneal fractures

Survival pattern of metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients according to WHO/ISUP grade: a long-term multi-institutional study

Abstract The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) grading of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is classified from grade 1–4, regardless of subtype. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines (2022) state that if there is an adverse pathological feature, such as grade 3 or higher RCC in stage 1 patients, more rigorous follow-up imaging is recommended. However, the RCC guidelines do not provide specific treatment or follow-up policies by tumor grade. Therefore, this study attempted to find out whether tumor grade affects survival rates in patients with metastatic RCC. The Korean Renal Cancer Study Group (KRoCS) database includes 3108 patients diagnosed with metastatic RCC between September 1992 and February 2017, with treatment methods, progression, and survival data collected from 11 tertiary hospitals. To obtain information on survival rates or causes of death, we utilized the Korea National Statistical Office database and institutional medical records. Data were accessed for research purpose on June, 2023. We then reviewed these sources to gather comprehensive and reliable data on the outcomes of our study cohort. This database was retrospectively analyzed, and out of 3108 metastatic RCC patients, 911 had been identified as WHO/ISUP grade. Grades were classified into either a low-grade (WHO/ISUP grade 1–2) or a high-grade group (WHO/ISUP grade 3–4). The patients were then analyzed related to progression and overall survival (OS). In metastatic clear cell RCC patients, the 1-year OS rate was 69.4% and the median OS was 17.0 months (15.5–18.5) followed up to 203.6 months. When comparing the patient groups, 119 low-grade and 873 high-grade cases were identified. No baseline difference was observed between the two groups, except that the high-grade group had a higher ECOG 1 ratio of 50.4% compared with 34.5% for the low-grade group (p = 0.009). There was a significant difference in OS between high-grade and low-grade groups. OS was 16.0 months (14.6–17.4) in the high-grade group and 28.0 months (21.1–34.9) in the low-grade group (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in progression-free survival (PFS) rates with 9.0 months (8.0–10.0) for the high-grade group and 10.0 months (6.8–13.2) for the low-grade group (p = 0.377) in first-line treatment. In multivariable analysis, WHO/ISUP grade was a risk factor (HR = 1.511[1.135–2.013], p = 0.005) that influenced the OS. In conclusion, WHO/ISUP grade is a major data source that can be used as a ubiquitous marker of metastatic RCC in pre-IO era. Depending on whether the RCC is high or low grade, the follow-up schedule will need to be tailored according to grade, with higher-grade patients needing more active treatment as it can not only affect the OS in the previously known localized/locoregional recurrence but also the metastatic RCC patient