Spine muscle auto segmentation techniques in MRI imaging: a systematic review.

Background: The accurate segmentation of spine muscles plays a crucial role in analyzing musculoskeletal disorders and designing effective rehabilitation strategies. Various imaging techniques such as MRI have been utilized to acquire muscle images, but the segmentation process remains complex and challenging due to the inherent complexity and variability of muscle structures. In this systematic review, we investigate and evaluate methods for automatic segmentation of spinal muscles.

A compact six-axis force/torque sensor using photocouplers for impact robustness.

This paper presents a novel six-axis force/torque (F/T) sensor design for robotics, combining ease of manufacturing with compactness. It features a high measuring range of ∼3700 N, an exceptional resolution of 0.1 N, and a rapid 5 kHz sampling rate.

Analysis of Changes in Sleep Quality and Patterns after Hip Fracture Using Real Evidence of Artificial Intelligence Linked (REAL) Hip Cohort Data.

: Hip fractures are commonly found in elderly patients, and often result in chronic pain and decreased physical function, as well as worsening of overall health. It is known that early surgical intervention during the acute phase and rehabilitation are important for improving clinical outcomes for these patients. However, the importance of management for improving the quality of life of these patients is becoming more emphasized.

Subway station dust-induced pulmonary inflammation may be due to the dysfunction of alveolar macrophages: Possible contribution of bound elements.

With its increasing value as a means of public transportation, the health effects of the air in subway stations have attracted public concern. In the current study, we investigated the pulmonary toxicity of dust collected from an air purifier installed on the platform of the busiest subway station in Seoul. We found that the dust contained various elements which are attributable to the facilities and equipment used to operate the subway system.

Developing a Scale Using Item Response Theory of the Self-Resilience in Taekwondo Players.

The purpose of this study was to identify the ego-resiliency of Taekwondo athletes and to develop a scale measuring such skills. We collected preliminary data using an open-ended online survey targeting Taekwondo athletes from nine countries (South Korea, China, Malaysia, United States, Spain, France, Brazil, United Kingdom, and Taiwan) who participated in international competitions between 2019 and 2020. We extracted participants' ego-resiliency from 48 survey responses, guided by expert meetings and a thorough literature review.

Psychological and Biochemical Effects of an Online Pilates Intervention in Pregnant Women during COVID-19: A Randomized Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of real-time online Pilates exercise during COVID-19 on women's body composition, blood lipids, and psychological health after childbirth. The participants were 16 pregnant women (24-28 weeks pregnant) enrolled at the C Women's Culture Center in Seoul, South Korea, classified into online Pilates groups and non-exercise groups (PE, n = 8; CON, n = 8). The online Pilates program was conducted for 8 weeks, twice a week, and 50 min a day using a real-time video chat app.

-Mediated Gene Editing in Two Cultivars, Hot Pepper CM334 and Bell Pepper Dempsey.

Peppers ( L.) are the most widespread and cultivated species of Solanaceae in subtropical and temperate countries. These vegetables are economically attractive worldwide.

Fabrication of Highly Stable Fully-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Films for Optoelectronic Application.

Despite the fact that stability is a critical issue affecting halide perovskite after the materials have been developed, these materials continue to be studied due to their outstanding optoelectronic characteristics such as narrow emission band width, high PLQY. Many methods are suggested and improved, but the limitations for the display and lighting applications are still remaining. Here, we propose the fabrication of stable cesium lead tri-halide (CsPbX₃; X= Cl, Br, I) perovskite films using photocurable polyurethane material, norland optical adhesive 63 (NOA 63), to generate white LEDs by placing films on the InGaN 450 nm blue chip.

Comparison of the Immediate Effects of Audio, Visual, or Audiovisual Gait Biofeedback on Propulsive Force Generation in Able-Bodied and Post-stroke Individuals.

Real-time biofeedback is a promising post-stroke gait rehabilitation strategy that can target specific gait deficits preferentially in the paretic leg. Our previous work demonstrated that the use of an audiovisual biofeedback interface designed to increase paretic leg propulsion, measured via anterior ground reaction force (AGRF) generation during late stance phase of gait, can induce improvements in peak AGRF production of the targeted and paretic limb of able-bodied and post-stroke individuals, respectively. However, whether different modes of biofeedback, such as visual, auditory, or a combination of both, have differential effects on AGRF generation is unknown.

Clinical Characteristics of False-Positive Lymph Node on Chest CT or PET-CT Confirmed by Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in Lung Cancer.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a standard procedure to evaluate suspicious lymph node involvement of lung cancer because computed tomography (CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) have limitations in their sensitivity and specificity. There are a number of benign causes of false positive lymph node such as anthracosis or anthracofibrosis, pneumoconiosis, old or active tuberculosis, interstitial lung disease, and other infectious conditions including pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible causes of false positive lymph node detected in chest CT or PET-CT.

Silicotungstate, a Potential Electron Transporting Layer for Low-Temperature Perovskite Solar Cells.

Thin films of a heteropolytungstate, lithium silicotungstate (LiSiWO, termed Li-ST), prepared by a solution process at low temperature, were successfully applied as electron transporting layer (ETL) of planar-type perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Dense and uniform Li-ST films were prepared on FTO glass by depositing a thin Li-ST buffer layer, followed by coating of a main Li-ST layer. The film thickness was controlled by varying the number of coating cycles, consisting of spin-coating and thermal treatment at 150 °C.

Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Metallated Polymer for Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells and Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

We report the synthesis and optoelectronic properties of novel platinum-based polymers (p-Pt-DPP) incorporating 3,6-di-2-thienyl-2,5-dihydro-2,5-diethylhexylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione. The synthesized amorphous metallated polymer exhibited long wavelength absorption in the range of 500–684 nm and a band-gap as low as 1.75 eV.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Perfusion Parameters as Imaging Biomarkers of Angiogenesis.

Hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment is the leading factor in angiogenesis. Angiogenesis can be identified by dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI (DCE MRI). Here we investigate the relationship between perfusion parameters on DCE MRI and angiogenic and prognostic factors in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

Preparation and Study on Nickel Oxide Reduction of Polyacrylonitrile-Based Carbon Nanofibers by Thermal Treatment.

Carbon materials containing magnetic nanopowder have been attractive in technological applications such as electrochemical capacitors and electromagnetic wave shielding. In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers containing nickel nanoparticles were prepared using an electrospinning method and thermal stabilization. The reduction of nickel oxide was investigated under a nitrogen atmosphere within a temperature range of 600 to 1,000 °C.

Effects of Electron Beam Irradiation on the Electrospinning of Polyacrylonitrile.

Electron beam (e-beam) irradiation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was performed to investigate the effects of radiation on the electrospinning process. For this study, polyacrylonitrile powder was subjected to e-beam irradiation with different doses of up to 100 kGy under an N2 atmosphere. Polymer solutions were prepared by dissolving PAN in N,N-dimethyl-formamide (DMF) at a 1:9 ratio by weight.

Efficacy and safety of stem cell therapies for patients with stroke: a systematic review and single arm meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Stem cell-based therapy is a potential new approach in the treatment of stroke. However, the efficacy and safety of these treatments are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of available single-arm studies using stem cell-based therapy in patients with stroke.

The optical and electrical properties of graphene oxide with water-soluble conjugated polymer composites by radiation.

In order to overcome the difficulty of dispersion and low conductivity in composite containing graphene, graphene oxide (GO) has been used instead of neat graphene. And the GO treated by radiation, could give improved conductivity of the GO-containing polymer composite. In this study, fluorene based water-soluble conjugated polymer (WPF-6-oxy-F) was introduced in GO solution to investigate the change of optical and electrical properties through radiation process.

The effect of rigorous study design in the research of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transfer in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Although blinding is a methodologic safeguard to ensure obtaining comparability of groups in a clinical trial, it is very difficult to maintain blinding from the beginning to the end of a study. The aim of the study was to see how proper blinding of both participants and treatment providers from the planning phase of the study to during the study affected the study outcomes.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases from inception to November 2011.

Characterization of polyacrylonitrile based carbon nanofiber mats via electron beam processing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of electron beam irradiation to drive stabilization reactions within PAN nanofiber mats to obtain carbon nanofiber mats. PAN nanofiber mats with fiber diameters of 300-400 nm were prepared via an electrospinning method. Electrospun PAN nanofiber mats were stabilized by electron beam irradiation with various doses up to 5,000 kGy.

High frequency properties of Fe-Si nano-powder/epoxy films.

Composites of Fe93.5Si6.5 powder and epoxy (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A type) were prepared using an electron beam irradiation process.