Breast Lesion Detection for Ultrasound Images Using MaskFormer.

This study evaluates the performance of the MaskFormer model for segmenting and classifying breast lesions using ultrasound images, addressing ultrasound's limitations. Ultrasound used for breast cancer detection faces challenges like low image contrast and difficulty in the detection of small or multiple lesions, further complicated by variability based on operator skill. Initial experiments with U-Net and other CNN-based models revealed constraints, such as early plateauing in model loss, which indicated suboptimal learning and performance.

Modeling and Experimental Validation of Cell Morphology in Microcellular-Foamed Polycaprolactone.

This study investigates the modeling and experimental validation of cell morphology in microcellular-foamed polycaprolactone (PCL) using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO) as the blowing agent. The microcellular foaming process (MCP) was conducted using a solid-state batch foaming process, where PCL was saturated with scCO at 6 to 9 MPa and 313 K, followed by depressurization at a rate of -0.3 and -1 MPa/s.

The Impact of Persistent Noise Exposure under Inflammatory Conditions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of noise exposure in an intensive care unit (ICU) environment on the development of postoperative delirium in a mouse model that mimics the ICU environment. Additionally, we aimed to identify the underlying mechanisms contributing to delirium and provide evidence for reducing the risk of delirium. In this study, to mimic an ICU environment, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected sepsis mouse models were exposed to a 75 dB noise condition.

Predicting graft failure in pediatric liver transplantation based on early biomarkers using machine learning models.

The early detection of graft failure in pediatric liver transplantation is crucial for appropriate intervention. Graft failure is associated with numerous perioperative risk factors. This study aimed to develop an individualized predictive model for 90-days graft failure in pediatric liver transplantation using machine learning methods.

Numerical Investigation of Overtopping Prevention for Optimal Safety Dike Design.

Leakage accidents at chemical facilities have a negative impact on both the environment and human life, and the government has established and implemented regulations on dikes in order to minimize such accidents. However, the overtopping phenomenon in which chemicals overflow the dike due to catastrophic leakage requires additional safeguards. In this study, the mitigation effect was confirmed by simulating tanks and dikes using various deflector plates to minimize the effect of spilled chemicals.

Family caregivers' responses to a visitation restriction policy at a Korean surgical intensive care unit before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, restricting family visits in the ICU has increased concerns regarding negative psychosocial consequences to patients and families.

Objectives: To compare the quality of life, depressive symptoms, and emotions in family caregivers of ICU patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore families' perceptions and suggestions for the visitation.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in 99 family caregivers of adult surgical ICU patients from an urban academic medical center in South Korea (February to July 2021).

Effects of the Type of Intraoperative Fluid in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Perioperative fluid management in kidney transplant recipients is crucial to supporting the fluid, acid-base, and electrolyte balance required for graft perfusion. However, the choice of intraoperative crystalloids in kidney transplantation remains controversial. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study to evaluate the impact of intraoperative fluids on acid-base and electrolyte balance and graft outcomes.

Classification of Human Failure in Chemical Plants: Case Study of Various Types of Chemical Accidents in South Korea from 2010 to 2017.

The increasing use and distribution of chemicals are causing serious chemical accidents such as fires, explosions, and leaks during manufacturing and handling. In most cases, all risks caused by chemicals are classified as accidents due to defects in process facilities, human errors, and multi-cause accidents. Among chemical accidents caused by human errors, accurate analysis of accidents caused by the complex action of various types of human failures is required.

Ability of Carotid Corrected Flow Time to Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Patients Mechanically Ventilated Using Low Tidal Volume after Surgery.

Predicting fluid responsiveness in patients under mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume (VT) is challenging. This study evaluated the ability of carotid corrected flow time (FTc) assessed by ultrasound for predicting the fluid responsiveness during low VT ventilation. Patients under postoperative mechanical ventilation and clinically diagnosed with hypovolemia were enrolled.

Evaluating effectiveness of dust by-product treatment with scrubbers to mitigate explosion risk in ZrO atomic layer deposition process.

In processes of manufacturing semiconductors, reactive by-products (as a form of fine powder, i.e., dust) are deposited in pipes installed on post processing and exhaust systems, potentially involving a considerable explosion risk.

The first possible choristoderan trackway from the Lower Cretaceous Daegu Formation of South Korea and its implications on choristoderan locomotion.

Here we report a new quadrupedal trackway found in the Lower Cretaceous Daegu Formation (Albian) in the vicinity of Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Korea, in 2018. A total of nine manus-pes imprints show a strong heteropodous quadrupedal trackway (length ratio is 1:3.36).

Inhalation sedation for postoperative patients in the intensive care unit: initial sevoflurane concentration and comparison of opioid use with propofol sedation.

Background: Although the use of volatile sedatives in the intensive care unit (ICU) is increasing in Europe, it remains infrequent in Asia. Therefore, there are no clinical guidelines available. This study investigates the proper initial concentration of sevoflurane, a volatile sedative that induces a Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) score of -2 to -3, in patients who underwent head and neck surgery with tracheostomy.

Assessment of Noise Exposure and Its Characteristics in the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital.

Noise generated in the intensive care unit (ICU) adversely affects both critically ill patients and medical staff. Recently, several attempts have been made to reduce ICU noise levels, but reliable and effective solutions remain elusive. This study aimed to provide evidence on noise distributions in the ICU to protect patient health.

Hydrogel micropost-based qPCR for multiplex detection of miRNAs associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) renders profiling of genes of interest less time-consuming and cost-effective. Recently, multiplex profiling of miRNAs has enabled identifying or investigating predominant miRNAs for various diseases such as cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Conventional multiplex qPCR technologies mostly use colorimetric measurements in solution phase, yet not only suffer from limited multiplexing capacity but also require target-screening processes due to non-specific binding between targets and primers.

Prescription patterns for patients with schizophrenia in Korea: a focus on antipsychotic polypharmacy.

Objective: This study investigated the prescription patterns for Korean patients with schizophrenia with a particular focus on antipsychotic polypharmacy. All data were gathered from patients presenting at 41 tertiary university hospitals and 8 secondary hospitals.

Methods: Data from three multicenter studies conducted in Korea were retrospectively reviewed and integrated to identify patients with schizophrenia who had their antipsychotic medication switched to paliperidone extended-release between 2008 and 2009.

Influencing Factors and Predictors of Early Response in Schizophrenia Patients Receiving the Paliperidone Extended-Release Tablets (Paliperidone ER).

Objective: Paliperidone extended-release tablet (paliperidone ER) is a new oral psychotropic agent developed for schizophrenia treatment. There have been some studies about paliperidone's good efficacy and tolerability. Clinicians appear to change the antipsychotic medication to paliperidone ER.

The Influence of Previous Antipsychotic Polypharmacy Versus Monotherapy on the Effectiveness of Antipsychotic after Switching to Paliperidone Extended-release.

Objective: Although antipsychotic polypharmacy is widely used in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia, its effectiveness is controversial. In particular, clinicians tend to avoid switching to monotherapy in patients who have been prescribed polypharmacy. In the present study, the authors investigate whether there is difference in time to discontinuation of antipsychotics between patients on previous monotherapy or polypharmacy.

Turning refuse plastic into multi-walled carbon nanotube forest.

A novel and effective method was devised for synthesizing a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forest on a substrate using waste plastic obtained from commercially available water bottles. The advantages of the proposed method are the speed of processing and the use of waste as a raw material. A mechanism for the CNT growth was also proposed.

Spontaneous self-organization enables dielectrophoresis of small nanoparticles and formation of photoconductive microbridges.

Detailed understanding of the mechanism of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and the drastic improvement of its efficiency for small size-quantized nanoparticles (NPs) open the door for the convergence of microscale and nanoscale technologies. It is hindered, however, by the severe reduction of DEP force in particles with volumes below a few hundred cubic nanometers. We report here DEP assembly of size-quantized CdTe nanoparticles (NPs) with a diameter of 4.

Factors affecting treatment discontinuation and treatment outcome in patients with schizophrenia in Korea: 10-year follow-up study.

Objective: There have been few long-term studies that have assessed factors influencing treatment discontinuation and long-term outcome of schizophrenia in Korea. The present study aimed to evaluate factors affecting treatment discontinuation and treatment outcome, after 10 years, in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Among hospitalized patients between 1997 and 1999, 191 patients were given continuous follow-up service.

Improvement of SWCNT transparent conductive films via transition metal doping.

To realize transparent conductive films based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), we applied a spray coating process with transition metal doping to SWCNT networks. Schottky contacts between metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs changed to Ohmic contacts due to the reduction of metals on the SWCNT surfaces via direct conversion from solution.

Comparative Analysis of Cognitive Function in Schizophrenia with and without Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Objective: We investigated the neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenic patients with and without obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods: We grouped 27 patients as either obsessive-compulsive or non-obsessive-compulsive based on the presence of OCD. The two groups completed the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and Hamilton Depression Scale.

Major depressive disorder preceding the onset of progressive supranuclear palsy.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by vertical supranuclear palsy and parkinsonian symptoms. The neuropsychiatric symptoms of PSP include anhedonia, depressed mood and cognitive impairment. Patients with PSP have an increased risk for developing depressive disorders within the next year.

Precursor effects of citric acid and citrates on ZnO crystal formation.

We have studied the precursor effects of citric acid and various citrates-including triethyl citrate, tripotassium citrate, trisodium citrate and triammonium citrate-on the formation of ZnO crystals in alkaline solution. These citrate-related chemicals could be divided into three groups (group A, triethyl citrate; group B, tripotassium citrate and trisodium citrate; and group C, citric acid and triammonium citrate) based on their activity for modifying the ZnO growth direction and solution pH dependency on their concentration. We could obtain ZnO structures with various distinct morphologies by simply changing the concentration of citric acid or citrate additive dissolved in the alkaline reaction solution.