Protective Effects of Cervus elaphus and Eucommia ulmoides Mixture (KGC01CE) on Muscle Loss and Function in Aged Rats.

Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and function which are influenced by certain factors such as aging, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic diseases. Despite numerous efforts to prevent or treat sarcopenia, effective therapeutic options for this disease remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the effects of KGC01CE treatment, a mixture of Cervus elaphus (Ce) and Eucommia ulmoides (Eu), which are well-known traditional herbal medicines in Asia, on age-related muscle loss and functional decline in aged rats. KGC01CE has been found to be more effective than the individual extracts in inhibiting dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy and improving muscle mass and grip strength in C2C12 cells and aged rats. Moreover, animal studies were conducted to determine the minimum effective dose, and a 12-week oral administration of KGC01CE treatment at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg to 15-month-old aged rats resulted in a dose-dependent increase in lean mass, muscle mass, grip strength, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), which had decreased due to aging. Furthermore, it was shown that KGC01CE activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and inhibited the expression of muscle-degrading proteins MuRF, Atrogin-1, and myostatin. These results suggest that KGC01CE treatment may effectively prevent muscle loss and functional decline, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for sarcopenia.

High-resolution phylogeographical surveillance of Hantaan orthohantavirus using rapid amplicon-based Flongle sequencing, Republic of Korea.

Orthohantaviruses, etiological agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, pose a critical public health threat worldwide. Hantaan orthohantavirus (HTNV) outbreaks are particularly endemic in Gyeonggi Province in northern area of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Small mammals were collected from three regions in the Gyeonggi Province during 2017 and 2018. Serological and molecular prevalence of HTNV was 25/201 (12.4%) and 10/25 (40%), respectively. A novel nanopore-based diagnostic assay using a cost-efficient Flongle chip was developed to rapidly and sensitively detect HTNV infection in rodent specimens within 3 h. A rapid phylogeographical surveillance of HTNV at high-resolution phylogeny was established using the amplicon-based Flongle sequencing. In total, seven whole-genome sequences of HTNV were newly obtained from wild rodents collected in Paju-si (Gaekhyeon-ri) and Yeoncheon-gun (Hyeonga-ri and Wangnim-ri), Gyeonggi Province. Phylogenetic analyses revealed well-supported evolutionary divergence and genetic diversity, enhancing the resolution of the phylogeographic map of orthohantaviruses in the ROK. Incongruences in phylogenetic patterns were identified among HTNV tripartite genomes, suggesting differential evolution for each segment. These findings provide crucial insights into on-site diagnostics, genome-based surveillance, and the evolutionary dynamics of orthohantaviruses to mitigate hantaviral outbreaks in HFRS-endemic areas in the ROK.

A Novel Method for Monocular Depth Estimation Using an Hourglass Neck Module.

In this paper, we propose a novel method for monocular depth estimation using the hourglass neck module. The proposed method has the following originality. First, feature maps are extracted from Swin Transformer V2 using a masked image modeling (MIM) pretrained model. Since Swin Transformer V2 has a different patch size for each attention stage, it is easier to extract local and global features from images input by the vision transformer (ViT)-based encoder. Second, to maintain the polymorphism and local inductive bias of the feature map extracted from Swin Transformer V2, a feature map is input into the hourglass neck module. Third, deformable attention can be used at the waist of the hourglass neck module to reduce the computation cost and highlight the locality of the feature map. Finally, the feature map traverses the neck and proceeds through a decoder, comprised of a deconvolution layer and an upsampling layer, to generate a depth image. To evaluate the objective reliability of the proposed method in this paper, we used the NYU Depth V2 dataset to compare and evaluate the methods published in other papers. As a result of the experiment, the RMSE value of the novel method for monocular depth estimation using the hourglass neck module proposed in this paper was 0.274, which was lower than those published in other papers. The lower the RMSE value, the better the depth estimation method; therefore, its efficiency compared to other techniques has been proven.

Usefulness of multiple bioabsorbable Mg screws/K­wires for comminuted radial head fractures.

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that multiple absorbable screws/K-wires would be effective for native head preservation in comminuted radial head fracture fixation (com-RHFs). METHODS: Seventeen patients who met the inclusion criteria between 2018 and 2020 were included. Radiologic findings indicating proper union and clinical outcomes such as the range of elbow motion, visual analog scale score, and Mayo Elbow Performance Score were assessed prospectively after surgery and at least three years of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 4.6 years. Eleven, one, three, and two patients presented with isolated com-RHFs, type 2 (accompanied injury of medial collateral ligament), type 4 ("terrible triad") fractures, and type 5 posterior olecranon fracture-dislocations, respectively. Union was achieved after a mean of nine weeks postoperatively. The head and shaft angles did not differ significantly from the contralateral normal values (p = 0.778 and 0.872, coronal and sagittal, respectively). At the final follow-up, the mean flexion-extension/pronation-supination arcs were 126.47 ± 4.92°/135.59 ± 10.13°, and thus were significantly different from those on the contralateral side (p < 0.001, both), however the arcs were functional ranges for ordinary daily life. Also, functional status was satisfactory in all individuals. The arthritis grade and extent of heterotrophic ossification were satisfactory in all cases, and there were no serious complications requiring revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Absorbable screw/K-wire fixation for com-RHFs is an option before radial head arthroplasty associated with a low complication rate and no need for revision.

Regulation of Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced Hepatic Lipid Accumulation through CYP1B1-Induced mTOR-Mediated Lipophagy.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is caused by lipid accumulation within the liver. The pathogenesis underlying its development is poorly understood. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and a group 1 carcinogen. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by B[a]P induces cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, contributing to hepatic lipid accumulation. However, the molecular mechanism through which the B[a]P-mediated induction of CYP enzymes causes hepatic lipid accumulation is unknown. This research was conducted to elucidate the role of CYP1B1 in regulating B[a]P-induced lipid accumulation within hepatocytes. B[a]P increased hepatic lipid accumulation, which was mitigated by CYP1B1 knockdown. An increase in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by B[a]P was specifically reduced by CYP1B1 knockdown. The reduction of mTOR increased the expression of autophagic flux-related genes and promoted phagolysosome formation. Both the expression and translocation of TFE3, a central regulator of lipophagy, were induced, along with the expression of lipophagy-related genes. Conversely, enhanced mTOR activity reduced TFE3 expression and translocation, which reduced the expression of lipophagy-related genes, diminished phagolysosome production, and increased lipid accumulation. Our results indicate that B[a]P-induced hepatic lipid accumulation is caused by CYP1B1-induced mTOR and the reduction of lipophagy, thereby introducing novel targets and mechanisms to provide insights for understanding B[a]P-induced MASLD.

Arginine-fructose-glucose from red ginseng extract reduces stiffness of keratin fiber in corneocyte of skin.

PURPOSE: The moisture content of the stratum corneum of the skin changes depending on the external environment. The structure of keratinous fiber protein in corneocyte of the skin changes depending on the amount of moisture. As the moisture decreases, the population of the alpha-helix increases, the beta-sheet deceases, and the stiffness increases accordingly. Here, we investigated the effect of humectants from ginseng on the keratin structure. METHODS: Corneocyte was prepared from dry porcine skin with disc tape and measured through ATR-FT-IR. The signal from amide I of the keratin protein in corneocyte was detected, and the change in the ratio of alpha-helix and beta-sheet was calculated. The test samples were treated on the exfoliated corneocyte, and the degree of change was checked. RESULT: Arginine-fructose-glucose (AFG)-enriched extract of red ginseng was effective in changing the keratin structure and was superior to humectants such as glycerin. However, arginine, mono sugar were not effective, and the AFG form in which two sugars were bound to one amino acid could perform its function. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that AFG, when applied to cosmetics, is expected to improve skin texture in a different way from existing moisturizers represented by glycerin by reducing the alpha-helix structure of corneocyte keratin.

Pigmented contact dermatitis and hair dyes: A retrospective case-control multicentre study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Pigmented contact dermatitis (PCD), a rare variant of non-eczematous contact dermatitis, is clinically characterized by sudden-onset brown or grey pigmentation on the face and neck. It is hypothesized to be caused by repeated contact with low levels of allergens. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the risk of using hair dyes in patients with PCD in Korea. METHODS: A total of 1033 PCD patients and 1366 controls from 31 university hospitals were retrospectively recruited. We collected and analysed the data from the patient group, diagnosed through typical clinical findings of PCD and the control group, which comprised age/sex-matched patients who visited the participating hospitals with pre-existing skin diseases other than current allergic disease or PCD. RESULTS: Melasma and photosensitivity were significantly more common in the control group, and a history of contact dermatitis was more common in the PCD group. There were significantly more Fitzpatrick skin type V participants in the PCD group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in sunscreen use between the groups. Using dermatologic medical history, Fitzpatrick skin type and sunscreen use as covariates, we showed that hair dye use carried a higher PCD risk (odds ratio [OR] before adjustment: 2.06, confidence interval [CI]: 1.60-2.65; OR after adjustment: 2.74, CI: 1.88-4.00). Moreover, henna users had a higher risk of PCD (OR before adjustment: 5.51, CI: 4.07-7.47; OR after adjustment: 7.02, CI: 4.59-10.74), indicating a significant increase in the risk of PCD with henna dye use. Contact dermatitis history was more prevalent in henna users than in those using other hair dyes in the PCD group (17.23% vs. 11.55%). CONCLUSION: Hair dye use is a risk factor for PCD. The risk significantly increased when henna hair dye was used by those with a history of contact dermatitis.

Risk factors for recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after loop electrosurgical excisional procedure in patients with positive margins.

AIM: Loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP) is a major treatment method for cervical precancerous lesions. However, recurrence rates were estimated to be 15%, and the risk is increased if a surgical margin is involved by dysplastic cells. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for recurrence of cervical precancerous lesions in patients with positive margins. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who underwent LEEP between 2012 and 2014 and had a positive surgical margin. Clinicopathologic factors were collected, including age, parity, menopausal status, smoking, human papilloma virus infection, results of cytology/biopsy/LEEP, and specimen size and volume. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients with positive margins were included, and 26 (22.2%) patients had recurrence. According to a multivariate analysis, the recurrence rates were significantly higher in parous women (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-8.49), but positive margins at the exocervix (adjusted HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17-0.91) and volume ≥4000 mm3 (adjusted HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.16-0.82) showed negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence for cervical precancerous lesions increased in patients with a history of previous delivery, positive margin at the endocervix, and specimen volume of LEEP <4000 mm3 . These results could help gynecologists determine optimal treatment options for patients with positive margins.

Implantable multireservoir device with stimulus-responsive membrane for on-demand and pulsatile delivery of growth hormone.

Implantable devices for on-demand and pulsatile drug delivery have attracted considerable attention; however, many devices in clinical use are embedded with the electronic units and battery inside, hence making them large and heavy for implantation. Therefore, we propose an implantable device with multiple drug reservoirs capped with a stimulus-responsive membrane (SRM) for on-demand and pulsatile drug delivery. The SRM is made of thermosensitive POSS(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA) and photothermal nanoparticles of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and each of the drug reservoirs is filled with the same amount of human growth hormone (hGH). Therefore, with noninvasive near-infrared (NIR) irradiation from the outside skin, the rGO nanoparticles generate heat to rupture the SRM in the implanted device, which can open a single selected drug reservoir to release hGH. Therefore, the device herein is shown to release hGH reproducibly only at the times of NIR irradiation without drug leakage during no irradiation. When implanted in rats with growth hormone deficiency and irradiated with an NIR light from the outside skin, the device exhibits profiles of hGH and IGF1 plasma concentrations, as well as body weight change, similar to those in animals treated with conventional s.c. hGH injections.

A Study on the Prediction of Cancer Using Whole-Genome Data and Deep Learning.

The number of patients diagnosed with cancer continues to increasingly rise, and has nearly doubled in 20 years. Therefore, predicting cancer occurrence has a significant impact on reducing medical costs, and preventing cancer early can increase survival rates. In the data preprocessing step, since individual genome data are used as input data, they are classified as individual genome data. Subsequently, data embedding is performed in character units, so that it can be used in deep learning. In the deep learning network schema, using preprocessed data, a character-based deep learning network learns the correlation between individual feature data and predicts cancer occurrence. To evaluate the objective reliability of the method proposed in this study, various networks published in other studies were compared and evaluated using the TCGA dataset. As a result of comparing various networks published in other studies using the same data, excellent results were obtained in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Thus, the superiority of the effectiveness of deep learning networks in predicting cancer occurrence using individual whole-genome data was demonstrated. From the results of the confusion matrix, the validity of the model for predicting the cancer using an individual's whole-genome data and the deep learning proposed in this study was proven. In addition, the AUC, which is the area under the ROC curve, which judges the efficiency of diagnosis as a performance evaluation index of the model, was found to be 90% or more, good classification results were derived. The objectives of this study were to use individual genome data for 12 cancers as input data to analyze the whole genome pattern, and to not separately use reference genome sequence data of normal individuals. In addition, several mutation types, including SNV, DEL, and INS, were applied.

De Novo Design of AC-P19M, a Novel Anticancer Peptide with Apoptotic Effects on Lung Cancer Cells and Anti-Angiogenic Activity.

Despite the current developments in cancer therapeutics, efforts to excavate new anticancer agents continue rigorously due to obstacles, such as side effects and drug resistance. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) can be utilized to treat cancer because of their effectiveness on a variety of molecular targets, along with high selectivity and specificity for cancer cells. In the present study, a novel ACP was de novo designed using in silico methods, and its functionality and molecular mechanisms of action were explored. AC-P19M was discovered through functional prediction and sequence modification based on peptide sequences currently available in the database. The peptide exhibited anticancer activity against lung cancer cells, A549 and H460, by disrupting cellular membranes and inducing apoptosis while showing low toxicity towards normal and red blood cells. In addition, the peptide inhibited the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, AC-P19M showed anti-angiogenic activity through the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling. Our findings suggest that AC-P19M is a novel ACP that directly or indirectly targets cancer cells, demonstrating the potential development of an anticancer agent and providing insights into the discovery of functional substances based on an in silico approach.

Anti-Photoaging Activity of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Family Lamiaceae) on Ultraviolet B-Irradiated NIH-3T3 Skin Fibroblast and SKH-1 Hairless Mouse.

We investigated whether Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Family Lamiaceae) (SBD), a traditional medicine used for heat clearing and detoxification, possesses antiphotoaging properties. Pretreatment of NIH-3T3 skin fibroblast cells with non-toxicological levels of water extract of SBD (WESBD) and ethanol extract of SBD (EESBD) restored the expression of procollagen type-1 (COL1A1), matrix metalloproteinase-1a (MMP-1a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) genes following abnormal expression induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. WESBD/EESBD administration to the dorsal skin area of hairless mice significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited UVB-induced wrinkle formation and epidermal thickness. The WESBD and EESBD treatments also restored the dermal collagen content, which was decreased by the UVB treatment, and normal COL1A1 and MMP-1a expression. Interestingly, both the WESBD and EESBD pretreatments significantly attenuated UVB-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) but not that of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). This finding indicates that the antiphotoaging effects of WESBD and EESBD may be related to attenuation of UVB-induced overactivation of AKT phosphorylation. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that isorhamentin and scutebarbatine I were major single components of EESBD. These results suggest that WESBD and EESBD may have potential in development as antiphotoaging agents.

The mutation of BCOR is highly recurrent and oncogenic in mature T-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: BCOR acts as a corepressor of BCL6, a potent oncogenic protein in cancers of the lymphoid lineage. We have found the recurrent somatic mutation of BCOR occurred in mature T-cell lymphoma (TCL). The role of BCOR mutation in lymphoid malignancies is unknown. METHODS: Lymphoma patient samples were analyzed to identify missense mutations in BCOR using Sanger sequencing. Transfection, RNA interference, immunoprecipitation, western blotting, cell proliferation, cytokine assays and quantitative real-time PCR were employed to determine the functional relevance of the novel K607E mutation in BCOR. The significant transcriptional changes were analyzed by performing DNA microarray profiling in cells expressing BCOR K607E mutant. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-seven lymphoma patient samples were analyzed to identify K607E mutation of the BCOR gene. The BCOR K607E mutation was identified in 15 of 47 NK/T cell lymphoma cases (31.9%), 2 of 18 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma cases (11.1%), 10 of 30 peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified cases (33.3%), and 13 of 42 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases (30.9%). Molecular analysis of BCOR K607E mutation revealed that compared to the wild-type BCOR, the mutant BCOR bound to the BCL6, PCGF1, and RING1B proteins with lesser affinity. Ectopic expression of BCOR K607E mutant significantly enhanced cell proliferation, AKT phosphorylation and the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) with up-regulated expression of HOX and S100 protein genes in T cells. BCOR silencing also significantly enhanced cell proliferation, AKT phosphorylation, and IL-2 production. CONCLUSIONS: Functional analyses indicated that K607E mutation of BCOR is oncogenic in nature and can serve as a genetic marker of T-cell lymphoma.

Hypergranulotic Dyskeratotic Acanthoma: Another Histologically Distinctive Acanthoma.

ABSTRACT: Various acanthomas have been named based on their distinctive histopathologic patterns. Hypergranulotic dyskeratotic acanthoma represents another acanthoma with a distinctive histopathologic pattern that has been rarely reported. In this article, clinical and histological features of hypergranulotic dyskeratotic acanthoma are delineated. A retrospective analysis was performed of cases with diagnosis or suggested diagnosis of hypergranulotic dyskeratotic acanthoma between 2012 and 2017 from 2 dermatopathology laboratories. Forty-eight potentials were identified, of which 18 cases met the inclusion histologic criteria. Most cases came from women (78%) with a mean age of 53 years, and the thigh was the most common site involved. All cases had the following histopathological findings: (1) verrucous or digitated epidermal hyperplasia, (2) hyperkeratosis dominated by basketweave or compact orthokeratosis, (3) hypergranulosis involving the breadth of the lesion, and (4) presence of enlarged, often indistinctly bordered, keratinocytes with cytoplasm characterized by a blue-gray granular peripheral zone sometimes showing outstretched desmosomes and central perinuclear eosinophilic zones, a combination of findings representing slowly evolving dyskeratosis. Retrospective nature and a small sample size are the major limitations of the study. In sum, hypergranulotic dyskeratotic acanthoma can be easily distinguished from other acanthomas based on their repeatable histopathological findings.

Active Targeted Surveillance to Identify Sites of Emergence of Hantavirus.

BACKGROUND: Endemic outbreaks of hantaviruses pose a critical public health threat worldwide. Hantaan orthohantavirus (HTNV) causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in humans. Using comparative genomic analyses of partial and nearly complete sequences of HTNV from humans and rodents, we were able to localize, with limitations, the putative infection locations for HFRS patients. Partial sequences might not reflect precise phylogenetic positions over the whole-genome sequences; finer granularity of rodent sampling reflects more precisely the circulation of strains. METHODS: Five HFRS specimens were collected. Epidemiological surveys were conducted with the patients during hospitalization. We conducted active surveillance at suspected HFRS outbreak areas. We performed multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based next-generation sequencing to obtain the genomic sequence of HTNV from patients and rodents. The phylogeny of human- and rodent-derived HTNV was generated using the maximum likelihood method. For phylogeographic analyses, the tracing of HTNV genomes from HFRS patients was defined on the bases of epidemiological interviews, phylogenetic patterns of the viruses, and geographic locations of HTNV-positive rodents. RESULTS: The phylogeographic analyses demonstrated genetic clusters of HTNV strains from clinical specimens, with HTNV circulating in rodents at suspected sites of patient infections. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a major shift in molecular epidemiological surveillance of HTNV. Active targeted surveillance was performed at sites of suspected infections, allowing the high-resolution phylogeographic analysis to reveal the site of emergence of HTNV. We posit that this novel approach will make it possible to identify infectious sources, perform disease risk assessment, and implement preparedness against vector-borne viruses.

Effectiveness of adjuvant treatment for morcellated, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma: A Korean multicenter study.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment for morcellated, uterus-confined leiomyosarcoma in a multicenter setting. METHODS: We identified patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma primarily treated with surgery between 2003 and 2016. Among them, patients who underwent one of the following morcellation methods were included: (i) power morcellation; (ii) intracorporeal morcellation using scalpels or electrocautery; and (iii) vaginal morcellation. Patients' survival outcomes were compared according to the implementation of adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: From 13 institutions, 55 patients were included; 31 for adjuvant treatment group and 24 for surgery only group. The clinicopathological characteristics including the mass size, morcellation methods, extent of surgery, and mitotic count were similar between the groups. In the adjuvant treatment group, 67.7%, 19.4% and 12.9% of patients received chemotherapy, chemoradiation and radiation, respectively. After a median follow-up of 50.5 months, the adjuvant treatment and surgery only groups showed similar overall survival (5-year rate, 92.0% vs 90.4%; P = 0.959). No significant difference in progression-free survival was observed between the two groups (3-year rate, 46.1% vs 78.2%; P = 0.069). On multivariate analyses, adjuvant treatment did not affect progression-free survival (adjusted HR, 2.138; 95% CI, 0.550-8.305; P = 0.273). The adjuvant treatment group showed a trend towards more common distant metastasis, compared to the surgery only group (25.8% vs 4.2%; P = 0.062). The incidences of pelvic, retroperitoneal, and abdominal recurrences were not different between the groups. CONCLUSION: Despite its frequent use in clinical practice, adjuvant treatment did not improve the survival outcomes of patients with morcellated, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma.

A Novel Method for Estimating Monocular Depth Using Cycle GAN and Segmentation.

Modern image processing techniques use three-dimensional (3D) images, which contain spatial information such as depth and scale, in addition to visual information. These images are indispensable in virtual reality, augmented reality (AR), and autonomous driving applications. We propose a novel method to estimate monocular depth using a cycle generative adversarial network (GAN) and segmentation. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating depth information by combining segmentation. It uses three processes: segmentation and depth estimation, adversarial loss calculations, and cycle consistency loss calculations. The cycle consistency loss calculation process evaluates the similarity of two images when they are restored to their original forms after being estimated separately from two adversarial losses. To evaluate the objective reliability of the proposed method, we compared our proposed method with other monocular depth estimation (MDE) methods using the NYU Depth Dataset V2. Our results show that the benchmark value for our proposed method is better than other methods. Therefore, we demonstrated that our proposed method is more efficient in determining depth estimation.

Novel Method of Semantic Segmentation Applicable to Augmented Reality.

This paper proposes a novel method of semantic segmentation, consisting of modified dilated residual network, atrous pyramid pooling module, and backpropagation, that is applicable to augmented reality (AR). In the proposed method, the modified dilated residual network extracts a feature map from the original images and maintains spatial information. The atrous pyramid pooling module places convolutions in parallel and layers feature maps in a pyramid shape to extract objects occupying small areas in the image; these are converted into one channel using a 1 × 1 convolution. Backpropagation compares the semantic segmentation obtained through convolution from the final feature map with the ground truth provided by a database. Losses can be reduced by applying backpropagation to the modified dilated residual network to change the weighting. The proposed method was compared with other methods on the Cityscapes and PASCAL VOC 2012 databases. The proposed method achieved accuracies of 82.8 and 89.8 mean intersection over union (mIOU) and frame rates of 61 and 64.3 frames per second (fps) for the Cityscapes and PASCAL VOC 2012 databases, respectively. These results prove the applicability of the proposed method for implementing natural AR applications at actual speeds because the frame rate is greater than 60 fps.

A Non-Array Type Cut to Shape Soft Slip Detection Sensor Applicable to Arbitrary Surface.

The presence of a tactile sensor is essential to hold an object and manipulate it without damage. The tactile information helps determine whether an object is stably held. If a tactile sensor is installed at wherever the robot and the object touch, the robot could interact with more objects. In this paper, a skin type slip sensor that can be attached to the surface of a robot with various curvatures is presented. A simple mechanical sensor structure enables the cut and fit of the sensor according to the curvature. The sensor uses a non-array structure and can operate even if a part of the sensor is cut off. The slip was distinguished using a simple vibration signal received from the sensor. The signal is transformed into the time-frequency domain, and the slippage was determined using an artificial neural network. The accuracy of slip detection was compared using four artificial neural network models. In addition, the strengths and weaknesses of each neural network model were analyzed according to the data used for training. As a result, the developed sensor detected slip with an average of 95.73% accuracy at various curvatures and contact points.

Expression and In Vitro Function of Anti-Breast Cancer Llama-Based Single Domain Antibody VHH Expressed in Tobacco Plants.

Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) is considered as a prognostic factor of breast cancer, which is positively associated with recurrence when cancer metastasizes to the lymph nodes. Here, we expressed the single variable domain on a heavy chain (VHH) form of anti-HER2 camelid single domain antibody in tobacco plants and compared its in vitro anticancer activities with the anti-HER2 full size antibody. The gene expression cassette containing anti-HER2 camelid single domain antibody VHH fused to human IgG Fc region with KDEL endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (VHH-FcK) was transferred into the tobacco plant via the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The transformants were screened with polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the binding of the purified anti-HER2 VHH-FcK to the HER2-positive breast cancer cell line, SK-BR-3. Migration assay results confirmed anticancer activity of the plant-derived anticancer camelid single chain antibody. Taken together, we confirmed the possibility of using anti-HER2 VHH-FcK as a therapeutic anticancer agent, which can be expressed and assembled and purified from a plant expression system as an alternative antibody production system.