The Development of an Artificial Intelligence Video Analysis-Based Web Application to Diagnose Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Pilot Study.

The gold standard test for diagnosing dysphagia is the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). However, the accuracy of this test varies depending on the specialist's skill level. We proposed a VFSS-based artificial intelligence (AI) web application to diagnose dysphagia. Video from the VFSS consists of multiframe data that contain approximately 300 images. To label the data, the server separated them into frames during the upload and stored them as a video for analysis. Then, the separated data were loaded into a labeling tool to perform the labeling. The labeled file was downloaded, and an AI model was developed by training with You Only Look Once (YOLOv7). Using a utility called SplitFolders, the entire dataset was divided according to a ratio of training (70%), test (10%), and validation (20%). When a VFSS video file was uploaded to an application equipped with the developed AI model, it was automatically classified and labeled as oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal. The dysphagia of a person was categorized as either penetration or aspiration, and the final analyzed result was displayed to the viewer. The following labeling datasets were created for the AI learning: oral (n = 2355), pharyngeal (n = 2338), esophageal (n = 1480), penetration (n = 1856), and aspiration (n = 1320); the learning results of the YOLO model, which analyzed dysphagia using the dataset, were predicted with accuracies of 0.90, 0.82, 0.79, 0.92, and 0.96, respectively. This is expected to help clinicians more efficiently suggest the proper dietary options for patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Hole Depth Prediction in a Femtosecond Laser Drilling Process Using Deep Learning.

In high-aspect ratio laser drilling, many laser and optical parameters can be controlled, including the high-laser beam fluence and number of drilling process cycles. Measurement of the drilled hole depth is occasionally difficult or time consuming, especially during machining processes. This study aimed to estimate the drilled hole depth in high-aspect ratio laser drilling by using captured two-dimensional (2D) hole images. The measuring conditions included light brightness, light exposure time, and gamma value. In this study, a method for predicting the depth of a machined hole by using a deep learning methodology was devised. Adjusting the laser power and the number of processing cycles for blind hole generation and image analysis yielded optimal conditions. Furthermore, to forecast the form of the machined hole, we identified the best circumstances based on changes in the exposure duration and gamma value of the microscope, which is a 2D image measurement instrument. After extracting the data frame by detecting the contrast data of the hole by using an interferometer, the hole depth was predicted using a deep neural network with a precision of within 5 µm for a hole within 100 µm.

Facile Analytical Methods to Determine the Purity of Titanium Tetrachloride.

We propose a simple method to investigate both the qualitative and quantitative properties of titanium tetrachloride. The selection and concentration of the employed solvent were found to be very important in the analysis of highly reactive titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). Herein, we employed various concentrations of an acid solution to serve as a stabilizing medium. Qualitative analysis was performed via Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Additionally, the quantitative analysis was performed via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). We concluded that both the qualitative and quantitative properties of titanium tetrachloride could be easily measured using a specific acidic solvent as a medium.

Three New Isoprenylated Flavonoids from the Root Bark of Morus alba.

Phytochemical investigation of the root bark of Morus alba has led to the isolation and identification of three new isoprenylated flavonoids, namely sanggenon U (1), sanggenon V (2), and sanggenon W (3), along with four known isoprenylated flavonoids: euchrenone a7 (4), sanggenon J (5), kuwanon E (6), and kuwanon S (7). All compounds were isolated by repeated silica gel (SiO2), octadecyl SiO2 (ODS), and Sephadex LH-20 open column chromatography. The structure of the compounds were determined based on spectroscopic analyses, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), circular dichroism (CD), and infrared (IR). In addition, compounds 1-4 were isolated for the first time from the root bark of M. alba in this study.

Electro-Catalytic Activity of RuO2-IrO2-Ta2O5 Mixed Metal Oxide Prepared by Spray Thermal Decomposition for Alkaline Water Electrolysis.

Oxygen evolution reaction for alkaline water electrolysis was studied using various mixed metal oxide catalysts. Mixed metal oxide electrodes consisting of RuO2, IrO2, and Ta2O5 with various ratios on a titanium substrate were prepared by spray thermal decomposition. The crystallinity of the synthesized catalyst was investigated via X-ray diffraction, and the oxidation state of each component was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and the roughness factor was determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 1 M H2SO4. Electo-catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction was measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 1 M KOH at room temperature, and it was found to be strongly dependent.on composition of catalyst. Among all electrodes tested, catalyst with a composition of Ru:Ir:Ta = 1:2:2.5 exhibited the highest current density of 100 mA cm(-2) at 1.67 V, corresponding to an overpotential of 0.44 V.

Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured Manganese Oxide for Supercapacitors.

Nanostructured manganese oxides were synthesized by a sol-gel method using manganese acetate (MnAc2) and citric acid (C6H8O7,) as precursors, and characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The nano-rod structure of MnO2 developed gradually when the calcination temperature varied from 380 to 580 degrees C. As the pH increased, the pore size increased, while the specific surface area decreased. The effects of the pH and calcination temperature on the electrochemical properties of the nano-MnO2 electrode, including the supercapacitive behavior, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests. The tests were performed between 0 and 0.8 V versus Ag/AgCl in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte at various scan rates (10-200 mVs(-1)). The specific capacitance of the SP-380 sample, prepared at pH 6, was equal to 269.3 Fg(-1). After 300 cycles, approximately a 3.4% increase of the specific capacitance was measured, confirming the excellent cyclability.

Isoprenylated flavonoids from the root bark of Morus alba and their hepatoprotective and neuroprotective activities.

A new isoprenylated flavonoid, 2S-5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-3',5'-di-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)flavanone, sanggenol Q (1), along with seven known isoprenylated flavonoids, sanggenol A (2), sanggenol L (3), kuwanon T (4), cyclomorusin (5), sanggenon F (6), sanggenol O (7), and sanggenon N (8), three known Diels-Alder type adducts, sanggenon G (9), mulberrofuran G (10), and mulberrofuran C (11), and a known benzofuran, moracin E (12), were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba using silica gel, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Chemical structures were determined based on spectroscopic data analyses including NMR, MS, CD, and IR. For the first time, compounds 1 and 7 were isolated from the root bark of M. alba. All compounds were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells and neuroprotective activity on glutamate-induced cell death in HT22 cells. Compounds 1, 4, 8, 10, and 11 showed protective effects on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress with EC50 values of 6.94 ± 0.38, 30.32 ± 6.82, 23.45 ± 4.72, 15.31 ± 2.21, and 0.41 ± 0.48 µM, respectively, and compounds 1, 2, 10, 11, and 12 showed protective effects on glutamate-induced cell death with EC50 values of 5.54 ± 0.86, 34.03 ± 7.71, 19.71 ± 0.71, 16.50 ± 7.82, and 1.02 ± 0.13 µM, respectively.

Incorporation of ammonium fluoride into clathrate hydrate lattices and its significance in inhibiting hydrate formation.

The stability of hydrate frameworks is influenced by guest molecules capable of hydrogen bonding with surrounding water molecules. Four remarkable features from the ammonium fluoride incorporation into a crystalline hydrate matrix provide important information on the thermodynamic stability, formation kinetics, structural characteristics, and molecular behavior in clathrate hydrate systems.

Fabrication and Characterization of Amorphous Cobalt-Doped Molybdenum Sulfide for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

In the present study, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by alkaline water electrolysis was conducted without using a precious metal catalyst. We synthesized an amorphous cobalt-doped molybdenum sulfide by electrodeposition using different cobalt loadings. The amorphous Co-MoSx produced was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The cobalt doping and sulfidation procedure resulted in the successful fabrication of a candidate catalyst for the catalytic hydrogen evolution in alkaline solution with high intrinsic activity. Cobalt incorporated amorphous MoSx exhibited 3 times higher HER activity than non-promoted MoSx.

Antidepressant effects of Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Santicosi extracts on rat models with depression in terms of immobile behavior.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antidepressant effects of the Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Santicosi-extracts in response to the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (9-week-old) were orally administered the Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Santicosi extracts (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) daily for 14 consecutive days. Serum corticosterone level was measured by using commercially available kit. The c-fos immunoreactivity was analyzed using immunohistochemistry methods. RESULTS: The effect of Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Santicosi extracts on the immobility time was significantly decreased at high-dose (300 mg/kg) treated group in the TST and FST (47.7% and 69.6%, p < 0.05), and decreased the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to the stress, as indicated by an attenuated corticosterone response and decreased c-fos immunoreactivity in the hippocampal and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus region. CONCLUSION: Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Santicosi extracts have beneficial effects on depression behaviors and restore both altered c-fos expression and HPA activity. Thus, Radix et Caulis Acanthopanacis Santicosi extracts may be a novel agent for the treatment of stress-related disorders.

Electric double-layer capacitor based on an ionic clathrate hydrate.

Herein, we suggest a new approach to an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) that is based on a proton-conducting ionic clathrate hydrate (ICH). The ice-like structures of clathrate hydrates, which are comprised of host water molecules and guest ions, make them suitable for applications in EDLC electrolytes, owing to their high proton conductivities and thermal stabilities. The carbon materials in the ICH Me4NOH⋅5 H2O show a high specific capacitance, reversible charge-discharge behavior, and a long cycle life. The ionic-hydrate complex provides the following advantages in comparison with conventional aqueous and polymer electrolytes: 1) The ICH does not cause leakage problems under normal EDLC operating conditions. 2) The hydrate material can be utilized itself, without requiring any pre-treatments or activation for proton conduction, thus shortening the preparation procedure of the EDLC. 3) The crystallization of the ICH makes it possible to tailor practical EDLC dimensions because of its fluidity as a liquid hydrate. 4) The hydrate solid electrolyte exhibits more-favorable electrochemical stability than aqueous and polymer electrolytes. Therefore, ICH materials are expected to find practical applications in versatile energy devices that incorporate electrochemical systems.

Solitary metastasis of gastric carcinoma to the cerebellopontine angle.

Internal auditory canal (IAC) and cerebellopontine metastases are very rare lesions and their diagnosis is very difficult due to their similarity to vestibular schwannoma in clinical characteristics and radiologic findings. Our case is peculiar and differs from previously reported cases of malignant metastasis to the IAC in two aspects: 1) solitary IAC metastasis occurred without distant metastasis and 2) symptoms due to IAC metastasis preceded outbreak of primary lesion symptoms or diagnosis of primary lesion. In our literature search, no correlating cases have been reported. In this peculiar case, rapid progression of otologic symptoms, short duration of onset from hearing impairment to facial palsy, and laterally eccentric contrast enhancement in gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging may have been clues for metastatic lesion.

Skeletal growth and IGF levels in rats after HT042 treatment.

HT042, a new herbal prescription consisting of Astragalus membranaceus, Phlomis umbrosa and Eleutherococcus senticosus, is used in traditional Korean medicine to stimulate growth in children. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of HT042 on skeletal growth, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels, and oestrogenic activity in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; 20 µg/kg/day), and HT042 (100 mg/kg/day) groups and treated for 3 weeks. Axial skeletal growth, femur length, and growth plate length were measured every 3 weeks. The serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were analysed. Moreover, the oestrogenic activity of the herbal extracts in the immature and ovariectomized rats was tested. The nose-anus, nose-tail, femur and growth-plate lengths were increased significantly in the HT042 group. Both IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were highly expressed in the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate. The serum IGF-1 levels were increased. Moreover, HT042 had no uterotrophic effects in the rats. Consequently, HT042 promoted longitudinal bone growth by stimulating cell proliferation in the epiphyseal plate and inducing the expression of IGF-1 without an oestrogenic response. HT042 may be helpful in stimulating growth in children with short stature.