University of Ulsan Open Access Korea
Not a member yet
17799 research outputs found
Sort by
Laboratory Preparation for Digital Medicine in Healthcare 4.0: An Investigation Into the Awareness and Applications of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
No full textBackground: Healthcare 4.0. refers to the integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analysis, into the healthcare sector. Recognizing the impact of Healthcare 4.0 technologies in laboratory medicine (LM), we seek to assess the overall awareness and implementation of Healthcare 4.0 among members of the Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine (KSLM).
Methods: A web-based survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire. The survey comprised 36 questions covering demographic information (seven questions), big data (10 questions), and AI (19 questions).
Results: In total, 182 (17.9%) of 1,017 KSLM members participated in the survey. Thirty-two percent of respondents considered AI to be the most important technology in LM in the era of Healthcare 4.0, closely followed by 31% who favored big data. Approximately 80% of respondents were familiar with big data but had not conducted research using it, and 71% were willing to participate in future big data research conducted by the KSLM. Respondents viewed AI as the most valuable tool in molecular genetics within various divisions. More than half of the respondents were open to the notion of using AI as assistance rather than a complete replacement for their roles.
Conclusions: This survey highlighted KSLM members' awareness of the potential applications and implications of big data and AI. We emphasize the complexity of AI integration in healthcare, citing technical and ethical challenges leading to diverse opinions on its impact on employment and training. This highlights the need for a holistic approach to adopting new technologies
Effectiveness of vaccination and quarantine policies to curb the spread of COVID-19
No full textA pandemic, the worldwide spread of a disease, can threaten human beings from both social and biological perspectives and paralyze existing living habits. To stave off the more devastating disaster and return to normal life, people make tremendous efforts at multiscale levels, from individuals to the global population: paying attention to hand hygiene, developing social policies such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing, quarantine, and inventing vaccines and remedies. Regarding the current severe pandemic, namely the coronavirus disease 2019, we explore the spreading-suppression effect when adopting the aforementioned efforts. In this numerical study, we especially consider quarantine and vaccination since they are representative primary treatments for blocking the spread and preventing the disease at the government level. We establish a compartment model consisting of susceptible (S), vaccinated (V), exposed (E), infected (I), quarantined (Q), and recovered (R) compartments, called the SVEIQR model. We examine the number of infected cases in Seoul and consider three kinds of vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. The values of the relevant parameters are obtained from empirical data from Seoul and clinical data for the vaccines and estimated through Bayesian inference. After confirming the plausibility of our SVEIQR model, we test various scenarios by adjusting the associated parameters with the quarantine and vaccination policies around the current values. The quantitative results obtained from our model could suggest guidelines for policy making on effective vaccination and social policies
Fast Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Hydrocephalus Using 3-Dimensional Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery: Initial Experience
No full textObjective: This study aimed to demonstrate the initial experience of using fast quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate hydrocephalus.
Methods: A total of 109 brain MRI volumetry examinations (acquisition time, 7 minutes 30 seconds) were performed in 72 patients with hydrocephalus. From the measured ventricular system and brain volumes, ventricle-brain volume percentage was calculated to standardize hydrocephalus severity (processing time, <5 minutes). The obtained values were categorized into no, mild, and severe based on the fronto-occipital horn ratio (FOHR) and the ventricle-brain volume percentages reported in the literature. The measured volumes and percentages were compared between patients with mild hydrocephalus and those with severe hydrocephalus. The diagnostic performance of brain hydrocephalus MRI volumetry was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
Results: Ventricular volumes and ventricle-brain volume percentages were significantly higher in in patients with severe hydrocephalus than in those with mild hydrocephalus (FOHR-based severity: 352.6 ± 165.6 cm 3 vs 149.1 ± 78.5 cm 3 , P < 0.001, and 26.8% [20.8%-33.1%] vs 12.1% ± 6.0%, P < 0.001; percentage-based severity: 359.5 ± 143.3 cm 3 vs 137.0 ± 62.9 cm 3 , P < 0.001, and 26.8% [21.8%-33.1%] vs 11.3% ± 4.2%, P < 0.001, respectively), whereas brain volumes were significantly lower in patients with severe hydrocephalus than in those with mild hydrocephalus (FOHR-based severity: 878.1 ± 363.5 cm 3 vs 1130.1 cm 3 [912.1-1244.2 cm 3 ], P = 0.006; percentage-based severity: 896.2 ± 324.6 cm 3 vs 1142.3 cm 3 [944.2-1246.6 cm 3 ], P = 0.005, respectively). The ventricle-brain volume percentage was a good diagnostic parameter for evaluating the degree of hydrocephalus (area under the curve, 0.855; 95% confidence interval, 0.719-0.990; P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Brain MRI volumetry can be used to evaluate hydrocephalus severity and may provide guide interpretation because of its rapid acquisition and postprocessing times
Novel High-Speed State-of-Charge Alignment Algorithm for EV Battery Maintenance
No full textFor the maintenance of electric vehicle batteries, a special apparatus achieving the state-of-charge (SOC) alignment of the whole cells inside a battery pack is highly promising. Specifically, when battery packs are discharged to a safe SOC level before shipping, according to battery logistic policy, and charged back to a nominal SOC level before being replaced in the swapping station, the SOC levels of all cells should be aligned to a specific target level. Conventionally, numerous cell-balancing hardware architectures and control strategies are studied; however, they only equalize the SOC between cells, and a whole pack SOC alignment feature has not been evaluated. In this article, a novel algorithm with a coordinated operation between a pack-charger and cell-equalizer is proposed as a viable SOC alignment algorithm. The full-duplex coordinated strategy, which utilizes a bidirectional pack-charger and cell-equalizer, is proposed for alignment purposes, which can minimize the operating time and the energy loss. The theoretical strategy is investigated to achieve the minimal operation time, and the performance of the proposed method is verified by a hardware prototype for a battery pack with 20-series cells. After the alignment process, the cell SOC levels are equalized within a voltage deviation of 30 mV or SOC deviation of 3%, when the pack SOC level is simultaneously adjusted to a preset level. In comparison with the half-duplex strategy, the proposed strategy has a twice faster processing time, while the energy loss during the process is 38%, 10.4%, and 26.1% lower than before. Otherwise, the proposed strategy achieves higher speed of 52% and 28.9% compared with the conventional strategies in balancing speed comparison
Degradation of phenol and sulfamethoxazole with persulfate and ozone with nano-MnO2-biochar composites
No full textBACKGROUND: In this study, nano-MnO 2-biochar composites were synthesized as catalysts to promote the oxidation of recal-citrant organic contaminants. MnO 2 nanoparticles coated on biochar were hypothesized to enhance the oxidation of phenoland sulfamethoxazole (SMX) using ozone and/or persulfate.RESULTS: The optimal percentage of MnO 2 coating on the surface of biochar was determined, and the synthesis of nano-MnO 2-coated biochar was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractionand EDS line mapping analyses. Compared with oxidation using ozone or persulfate in the presence of either nano-MnO 2 orbiochar, the synthesized nano-MnO 2-biochar composite markedly enhanced the oxidation of phenol and SMX. This was prob-ably due to the spreading of MnO 2 nanorods on the surface of biochar and the synergistic involvement of nano-MnO 2 and bio-char as catalysts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed the involvement of Mn 3+ in MnO 2 to promote oxidationusing ozone or persulfate. The coexistence of ozone and persulfate could also promote oxidation. Hydroxyl radicals (OH•) andpersulfate radicals (SO4-•) were major reactive oxygen species for ozone and persulfate systems, respectively.CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the synthesized nano-MnO 2-biochar composites may be effective catalysts for various typesof advanced oxidation processes in environmental remediation
Optimal operation guidelines for direct recovery of high-purity precursor from spent ithium-ion batteries: hybrid operation model of population balance equation and data-driven classifier
No full textThe direct resynthesis of precursor from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) via co-precipitation is a crucial step in closed-loop cathode recycling systems. However, design and operation strategies for producing high-purity precursors have not been comprehensively explored or optimized. Herein, we propose the optimization of co-precipitation during the recovery of spent LIBs to achieve impurity-free precursor resynthesis. By incorporating the thermodynamic equilibrium model of the leaching solution of spent LIBs into a population balance equation (PBE) model, we identified the operating ranges that prevented the formation of impurities. Bayesian optimization was employed within the screened operating ranges to determine the optimal operating conditions for minimizing both operation time and maximum particle size. This optimization was performed for both unseeded batch and semi-batch systems. The results demonstrate that the selection of an optimal semi-batch operation can reduce the operation time by 23.33% and increase the particle size by 54.75%, owing to the high nucleation and particle growth rate during the initial time step. By employing an optimization approach based on the PBE model, this study provides detailed operational guidelines for batch and semi-batch co-precipitation, enabling the production of high-purity precursor materials from spent LIBs, while minimizing both operating time and maximum particle size
원발성 담즙성 담관염에서 간세포암의 위험: 국가, 병원기반 코호트연구
No full textBackground & Aims: Large-scale studies on the association between primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Asians are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of HCC and its risk factors in a nationwide cohort.
Methods: The data of 4,882 patients with PBC and 38,603 matched controls were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (2007-2020) and analyzed. The incidence of HCC and its risk factors in patients with PBC were assessed and compared with those in the matched controls. The results were validated in a multicenter hospital cohort of 862 patients with PBC, recruited from Asan Medical Center (n = 815) and Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital (n = 47) in Korea.
Results: In total, 105 patients with PBC developed HCC over the median follow-up period of 5.42 years, yielding an incidence rate of 3.7/1,000 person-years (PYs), which was significantly higher than that in the controls (0.5/1,000 PYs; adjusted hazard ratio: 9.07; 95% CI: 6.71-12.27). PBC, older age, male sex, diabetes, and smoking were identified as significant risk factors for HCC. Twenty-three of the 862 patients with PBC developed HCC in the multicenter hospital cohort, yielding an incidence of 4.0/1,000 PYs (95% CI: 2.4-5.7). Older age (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00-1.10), male sex (SHR: 3.00, 95% CI:1.11-8.13), current alcohol consumption (SHR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.08-12.59), and cirrhosis (SHR: 5.17, 95% CI: 2.07-12.93) were identified as risk factors in the hospital cohort.
Conclusions: Patients with PBC were at a significantly higher risk of developing HCC. Older age and male sex were consistent risk factors in both cohorts
The effects of light emitting diodes on mitochondrial function and cellular viability of M-1 cell and mouse CD1 brain cortex neurons
No full textThe invention of Light Emitting Diode (LED) revolutionized energy-efficient illumination, but concerns persist regarding the potential harm of blue light to our eyes. In this study, we scrutinized the impact of LED light characteristics on eyes using two cell types: M-1 (rich in mitochondria) and CD-1 (neuronal). Variations in color rendering index (CRI) and correlated color temperature (CCT) were investigated, alongside exposure durations ranging from 0 to 24 hours. The findings illuminated the potential benefits of high-quality LED lighting, characterized by a high CRI and low CCT, which emits a greater proportion of red light. This form of lighting was associated with enhanced cell proliferation, elevated ATP levels, and reduced oxidative stress. In contrast, LEDs with low CRI and high CCT exhibited adverse effects, diminishing cell viability and increasing oxidative stress. These results suggest that high-quality LED lighting may have neuroprotective potential as a treatment option, such as for retinal ganglion cells
Single Cell RNA Sequencing to Uncover Differential expression gene using Peripheral blood mononuclear cells according to Rejection type of Kidney allograft
No full textBackground
Analysis of immune pathways using peripheral blood-based gene expression patterns has been employed to elucidate the mechanism of rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Particularly, single-cell sequencing has enabled more precise research by confirming gene expression in specific cells. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with antibody-mediated rejection and T-cell-mediated rejection following kidney transplantation (KT).
Methods
A for-cause biopsy was performed on six KT recipients, who were categorized into three groups: no major abnormality (NOMOA), T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), and antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) according to the Revised Banff 2019 classification. Comprehensive single-cell sequencing analysis was performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from these patients. The DEGs were confirmed using Gene Ontology (GO) biological pathway analysis.
Results
Out of a total of 52,766 cells, 33,185 cells were assessed, and poor-quality cells were excluded from the analysis. CD8+ terminally differentiated effector memory (Temra) T cells and NK T cells were highly abundant in the ABMR group. In CD8+ Temra T cells, 36 ABMR-specific genes were identified, with 20 DEGs involved in immune and inflammatory responses. STRING analysis using 20 genes showed that the most related genes were LGALS1 and ITM2A, which are involved in plasma cell differentiation. There were 48 ABMR-specific genes in NK T cells, and 28 of them had significant functions in the GO biological pathway. Among these, the most relevant genes in the STRING analysis were CD160 and HLA-F, which were confirmed to be involved in the positive regulation of NK cell degranulation. No significant final cells and DEGs were identified in the TCMR group.
Conclusions
We investigated the distribution of PBMCs from KT recipients and identified DEGs in each cell. In the context of ABMR, LGALS1 and ITM2A in CD8+ Temra T cells, and CD160 and HLA-F in NK T cells, unequivocally play pivotal roles. The findings of this research will help identify transcripts suitable for future investigations into the mechanisms of ABMR and non-invasive diagnostic approaches.|서론
말초 혈액 기반 유전자 발현 패턴을 이용한 면역 경로 분석은 신장 이식 수혜자의 거부 반응 메커니즘을 찾는 데 사용되었습니다. 특히, 단일세포 시퀀싱은 특정 세포에서 유전자 발현을 확인함으로써 보다 구체적인 연구를 가능하게 했다. 우리는 신장 이식 후 차등 발현 유전자(Differential Expression Genes; DEGs) 관련 항체 매개 거부반응과 T 세포 매개 거부반응을 발견하는 것을 목표로 했습니다.
연구방법
신장이식 수혜자 6명을 대상으로 원인생검을 실시하였고, 2019 Banff 기준에 따라 주요 이상이 없음(NOMOA), T세포 매개 거부반응 (TCMR), 항체 매개 거부 반응 (ABMR)의 3개 그룹으로 나누었습니다. 이들 환자의 말초 혈액 단핵 세포를 사용하여 포괄적인 단일 세포 서열 분석을 수행했습니다. 그리고 Gene Ontology biological process 분석을 이용하여 유전자의 기능을 확인하였습니다.
결과
총 52766개의 세포 중 퀄리티가 떨어지는 세포들을 제외하고 33185개의 세포를 분석하였습니다. CD8+ Temra T cell 및 NK T cell이 ABMR 그룹에서 많이 분포하였습니다. CD8+ Temra T cell에서 ABMR specific gene은 36개였고 이중 면역반응 및 염증반응에 관여한 차등 발현 유전자는 20개를 확인하였습니다. 20개의 유전자를 이용한 String analysis 결과 가장 관련이 깊은 유전자는 LGAS1과 ITM2A였고 plasma cell differentiation에 관여하였습니다. NK T cell에서 ABMR specific gene은 48개였으며 이중 Geone Ontology biological pathway에서 의미 있는 기능을 가진 유전자는 28개였습니다. 이중 string analysis에서 가장 관련이 깊은 유전자는 CD160과 HLA-F로 positive regulation of NK cell degranulation에 관여하는 것으로 확인되었습니다. TCMR 그룹에서는 최종 의미 있는 세포와 DEGs는 확인되지 않았습니다.
결론
우리는 신장 이식 환자의 PBMC 분포를 조사하고 각 세포에서 DEGs를 확인했습니다. 항체 매개 거부반응에서 CD8+ Temra T cell의 LGALS1과 ITM2A가 NK T cell의 CD160과 HLA-F가 중요한 기능을 하는 것으로 보입니다. 본 연구 결과는 추후 항체 매개 거부반응의 기전과 비침습적 진단에 이용될 수 있는 전사체를 찾는데 도움이 될 것입니다.Docto
High ionic conductivity lithium superionic halogen-rich argyrodite synthesized by liquid-phase technique
No full textIn this work, we synthesized a Li6-xPS5-xCl1.0Br0.5 solid electrolytes by solution technique process to facilitate mass production. First, the precursor was dissolved in acetonitrile for 8 h, and then solvent was removed by vacuum evaporator. The product was then obtained after sintering at 480 °C for 15 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement and Raman spectral analysis were conducted to determine the structural characteristic of the solid electrolytes. The ionic conductivity of the resulting Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.0Br0.5 was highest at 7.0 mS cm-1 at 25 °C. The critical current density was also higher than that of Li6PS5Cl. When Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.0Br0.5 was used in ASSLBs (All-solid-state lithium batteries) with LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 as cathode material and Li-In alloy as an anode material, the initial discharge capacity was 183.6 mAh g-1 at a rate of 0.1 C and the capacity retention was 78% after 50 cycles