Crack Detection and Analysis of Concrete Structures Based on Neural Network and Clustering.

Concrete is extensively used in the construction of infrastructure such as houses and bridges. However, the appearance of cracks in concrete structures over time can diminish their sealing and load-bearing capability, potentially leading to structural failures and disasters. The timely detection of cracks allows for repairs without the need to replace the entire structure, resulting in cost savings.

Optimized Design of Hyaluronic Acid-Lipid Conjugate Biomaterial for Augmenting CD44 Recognition of Surface-Engineered NK Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents treatment challenges due to a lack of detectable surface receptors. Natural killer (NK) cell-based adaptive immunotherapy is a promising treatment because of the characteristic anticancer effects of killing malignant cells directly by secreting cytokines and lytic granules. To maximize the cancer recognition ability of NK cells, biomaterial-mediated ex vivo cell surface engineering has been developed for sufficient cell membrane immobilization of tumor-targeting ligands via hydrophobic anchoring.

Networked Cluster Formation via Trigonal Lipid Modules for Augmented Ex Vivo NK Cell Priming.

Current cytokine-based natural killer (NK) cell priming techniques have exhibited limitations such as the deactivation of biological signaling molecules and subsequent insufficient maturation of the cell population during mass cultivation processes. In this study, we developed an amphiphilic trigonal 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine (DSPE) lipid-polyethylene glycol (PEG) material to assemble NK cell clusters via multiple hydrophobic lipid insertions into cellular membranes. Our lipid conjugate-mediated ex vivo NK cell priming sufficiently augmented the structural modulation of clusters, facilitated diffusional signal exchanges, and finally activated NK cell population with the clusters.

Surface Engineering of Natural Killer Cells with CD44-targeting Ligands for Augmented Cancer Immunotherapy.

Adoptive immunotherapy utilizing natural killer (NK) cells has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating hematologic malignancies. However, its clinical intervention for solid tumors is hindered by the limited expression of tumor-specific antigens. Herein, lipid-PEG conjugated hyaluronic acid (HA) materials (HA-PEG-Lipid) for the simple ex-vivo surface coating of NK cells is developed for 1) lipid-mediated cellular membrane anchoring via hydrophobic interaction and thereby 2) sufficient presentation of the CD44 ligand (i.

Ex Vivo Surface Decoration of Phenylboronic Acid onto Natural Killer Cells for Sialic Acid-Mediated Versatile Cancer Cell Targeting.

Phenylboronic acid (PBA) has been highly acknowledged as a significant cancer recognition moiety in sialic acid-overexpressing cancer cells. In this investigation, lipid-mediated biomaterial integrated PBA molecules onto the surface of natural killer (NK) cells to make a receptor-mediated immune cell therapeutic module. Therefore, a 1,2-distearoyl--glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine (DSPE) lipid-conjugated di-PEG-PBA (DSPE-di(PEG-PBA) biomaterial was synthesized.

Tailoring tumor-recognizable hyaluronic acid-lipid conjugates to enhance anticancer efficacies of surface-engineered natural killer cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells have clinical advantages in adoptive cell therapy owing to their inherent anticancer efficacy and their ability to identify and eliminate malignant tumors. However, insufficient cancer-targeting ligands on NK cell surfaces often inhibit their immunotherapeutic performance, especially in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To facilitate tumor recognition and subsequent anticancer function of NK cells, we developed hyaluronic acid (HA, ligands to target CD44 overexpressed onto cancer cells)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, cytoplasmic penetration blocker)-Lipid (molecular anchor for NK cell membrane decoration through hydrophobic interaction) conjugates for biomaterial-mediated ex vivo NK cell surface engineering.

Comprehensive Physical Work Capacity Evaluations for Korean Farmers Assessed in Healthy Volunteers.

Objective: To establish the lower limits of normative values of the physical work capacity for Korean farmers in healthy working individual.

Methods: We developed a comprehensive set of physical work capacity evaluation items that encompass common farming tasks. These items include measurements of trunk flexion/extension angles, strength (hand grip, trunk flexion/extension, leg/back lifting, and pushing/pulling), and positional tolerances.

Back Extensor Strength as a Potential Marker of Frailty Using Propensity Score Matching and Machine Learning.

This study assessed the potential of back extensor strength as an alternative marker of frailty. A total of 560 farmers were included. Computed tomography scans measured fat and muscle mass volumes at the mid-L4 vertebral level.

Peptide Decoration Strategies on Stem Cell Surfaces for Augmenting Endothelium Interaction.

Ischemic vascular diseases remain leading causes of disability and death. Although various clinical therapies have been tried, reperfusion injury is a major issue, occurring when blood recirculates at the damaged lesion. As an alternative approach, cell-based therapy has emerged.

Association Between Ergonomic Burden Assessed Using 20-Item Agricultural Work-Related Ergonomic Risk Questionnaire and Shoulder, Low Back, and Leg Pain in Korean Farmers.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the agricultural ergonomic burden in Korean farmers and to analyze its correlation with musculoskeletal pain.

Methods: In total, 1001 farmers (525 females and 476 males; mean age, 59.6±7.

A non-traditional crystal-based compound screening method targeting the ATP binding site of GRP78 for identification of novel nucleoside analogues.

Drug resistance to front-line malarial treatments represents an ongoing threat to control malaria, a vector borne infectious disease. The malarial parasite, has developed genetic variants, conferring resistance to the current standard therapeutic artemisinin and its derivatives commonly referred to as artemisinin-combination therapies (ACTs). Emergence of multi-drug resistance parasite genotypes is a warning of potential treatment failure, reaffirming the urgent and critical need to find and validate alternate drug targets to prevent the spread of disease.

A Case of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis following Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccination.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, severe hyperinflammatory disease characterized by overproduction of cytokines and hemophagocytosis of hematopoietic cells, resulting in multiorgan failure. Prompt treatment initiation is essential for patient survival. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the rapid development of several vaccines, including BNT162b2 by Pfizer-BioNTech.

Associations Between Trunk Muscle/Fat Composition, Narrowing Lumbar Disc Space, and Low Back Pain in Middle-Aged Farmers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: To investigate the association of trunk fat and muscle composition, lumbar disc space narrowing, and low back pain in middle-aged farmers.

Methods: Fat and muscle areas were identified using standard Hounsfield unit ranges for adipose tissue and skeletal muscle with computed tomography images at the mid-L4 vertebral level. Trunk fat mass, muscle mass, and fat/muscle mass ratio were calculated.

The validity of the assignment book-based structured interview in predicting academic performance in medical schools: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Structured interviews have become essential in the medical schools admission selection because structured interviews predict academic achievement after admission. The purpose of this study was to determine validity and fairness of the new structural interview technique, assignment book-based structured interview (ABSI), in predicting future academic achievement of the medical students.

Methods: The validity of this new interview technique and academic achievement was evaluated based on the data of all the applicants and successful applicants who applied for on-time admission between the year 2011 and 2014.

Peak Voluntary Cough Flow and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia as Risk Factors for Pneumonia.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between voluntary peak cough flow (PCF), oropharyngeal dysphagia, and pneumonia in patients who were evaluated with videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS).

Methods: Patients who underwent both VFSS and PCF measurement on the same day were enrolled retrospectively (n=821). Pneumonia (n=138) and control (n=683) groups were assigned based on presence of pneumonia within 1 month from the date of VFSS assessment.

The Association Between Sagittal Plane Alignment and Disc Space Narrowing of Lumbar Spine in Farmers.

Objective: To investigate whether lumbar lordosis (LL) and lumbar segmental lordosis (LSL) are related to sex, age, low back pain (LBP), and lumbar disc space narrowing (DSN).

Methods: A total of 569 farmers were recruited. In lateral spine radiograph, LL (L1-L5) and LSL (L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5) were measured using Cobb's method.

Community-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Conducted in a Public Health Center in South Korea: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the community-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) program that we had developed.

Methods: Individuals aged >40 years with cardiovascular disease or its risk factors who were residing in a rural area were recruited as study subjects. The CBCR program, which consisted of 10 education sessions and 20 weeks of customized exercises (twice a week), was conducted in a public health center for 22 weeks.

A mobile delivered self-exercise program for female farmers.

Introduction: Female farmers commonly experience musculoskeletal pain in the back, knee, and shoulder. Despite their obvious advantages in reducing musculoskeletal pain, face-to-face exercise programs are limited by geographical and physical barriers. Thus, we decided to introduce eHealth technology to farmers' musculoskeletal health care.

Accuracy of Wearable Devices for Measuring Heart Rate During Conventional and Nordic Walking.

Introduction: Nordic walking is being used increasingly as an exercise method in many clinical disorders. To apply Nordic walking in cases of fragile or deconditioned patients, monitoring of exercise intensity such as heart rate (HR) measurement is required. The accuracy of wearable HR monitors during Nordic walking has not yet been reported.

Deimmunizing substitutions in exotoxin domain III perturb antigen processing without eliminating T-cell epitopes.

Effective adaptive immune responses depend on activation of CD4+ T cells via the presentation of antigen peptides in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II. The structure of an antigen strongly influences its processing within the endolysosome and potentially controls the identity of peptides that are presented to T cells. A recombinant immunotoxin, comprising exotoxin A domain III (PE-III) from and a cancer-specific antibody fragment, has been developed to manage cancer, but its effectiveness is limited by the induction of neutralizing antibodies.

Sleep Quality and Attention May Correlate With Hand Grip Strength: FARM Study.

Objective: To determine the socio-demographic, psychologic, hematologic, or other relevant factors associated with hand grip strength in Korean farmers.

Methods: A total of 528 healthy Korean farmers were enrolled. Hand grip strength was measured in both hands using a hydraulic dynamometer.

Highly regioselective biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb2 into compound Y and compound K by β-glycosidase purified from mycelia.

Background: The biological activities of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) are associated with type, number, and position of sugar moieties linked to aglycone skeletons. Deglycosylated minor ginsenosides are known to be more biologically active than major ginsenosides. Accordingly, the deglycosylation of major ginsenosides can provide the multibioactive effects of ginsenosides.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds and airway inflammation.

Background: Exposure to low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ordinary life is suspected to be related to oxidative stress and decreased lung function. This study evaluated whether exposure to ambient VOCs in indoor air affects airway inflammation.

Methods: Thirty-four subjects from the hospital that had moved to a new building were enrolled.

Investigating the interference pattern of dual tasks using serial decomposition.

Background: Specific investigation of dual task-interference (DTI) may help researchers to develop the optimal training exercise for enhancing the performance of daily activities.

Objectives: To reveal the DTI by comparing the performances between personalized single tasks (cognitive or motor task) and dual task with serial decomposition in normal healthy adults.

Methods: After a preliminary period, healthy participants randomly (n = 46) performed three computerized experiments of cognitive (CT), motor (MT) and dual tasks (DT).