[en] In this research, we propose a fuzzy gain scheduler (FGS) with an intelligent learning algorithm for a reactor control. In the proposed algorithm, the gradient descent method is used in order to generate the rule bases of a fuzzy algorithm by learning. These rule bases are obtained by minimizing an objective function, which is called a performance cost function. The objective of the FGS with an intelligent learning algorithm is to generate adequate gains, which minimize the error of system. The proposed algorithm can reduce the time and efforts required for obtaining the fuzzy rules through the intelligent learning function. The evolutionary programming algorithm is modified and adopted as the method in order to find the optimal gains which are used as the initial gains of FGS with learning function. It is applied to reactor control of nuclear power plant (NPP), and the results are compared with those of a conventional PI controller with fixed gains. As a result, it is shown that the proposed algorithm is superior to the conventional PI controller

[en] Recently, transparent memory would be useful in invisible electronics. In this work, for the first time we present a feasibility of stable unipolar resistive switching (RS) characteristics with reset current of sub-micron ampere for the fully transparent ITO/oxygen-doped ITO/ITO memory capacitors, i.e., all ITO structures, produced by sputtering method, which shows a high optical transmittance of approximately 80% in the visible region as well as near ultra-violet region. In addition, in a RS test to evaluate a reliability for the proposed memory devices, we observed a stable endurance of >100 cycles and a retention time of >10⁴ s at 85 °C, with a current ratio of ∼10² to ∼10³. This result indicates that this transparent memory by engineering the amount of oxygen ions within the ITO films could be a milestone for future see-through electronic devices. - Highlights: • The resistive switching characteristics of the transparent ITO/O-doped ITO/ITO RRAM cells have investigated. • All ITO-based RRAM cell is achieved using oxygen doping method. • Good endurance and long retention time were observed.

[en] In the present study, to determine whether the ascorbate protect against radiation damage and the possible relationship among the radioprotective effects and antioxidant actions, the effects of ascorbate(240 mg/kg, i.p) pretreatment of mice on the survival ratio, splenic weight, major antioxidant enzymes(SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, glutathione contents and lipid peroxidation in the liver were examined for 2 weeks after whole-body γ-irradiation(6.5 Gy). The 30-day survival ratio increased from 10% to 47% for mice treated with ascorbate. The ascorbate decreased the extent of loss in splenic weight and stimulated recovery of splenic weight in irradiated mice(p<0.01). On the day of 14 after γ-irradiation, the ascorbate pretreatment produced a slight increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and significantly increased reduced glutathione(GSH) contents(p<0.05) in the liver compared with non-treated group. Pretreatment with the ascorbate significantly decreased GSSG/total GSH ratio(p<0.05) without the change of GSSG in the liver and inhibited the radiation-induced increase in the hepatic malondialdehyde levels(p<0.05). In these results, we found that its radioprotective effect by protecting antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione contents from radiation induced a decrease, and thereby suppressing lipid peroxidation which is induced by free radicals

[en] A 2 year-old little girl underwent Tc-99m diethylenthriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) radionuclide cisternography to evaluate CSF rhinorrhea (Fig. 1). Cisternography clearly showed consecutive tracer activity in the nasal cavity and nasal tip, reflecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. However, several unexpected activities appeared on the bilateral mid- and unilateral lower thorax on delayed images, respectively. We performed additional SPECT/CT to delineate the CSF leakage tract and identify the unexpected activities. Through SPECT/CT, we could confirm that the mid-thoracic activity was in the lung parenchyma, while the lower thoracic activity was in the stomach. Thus, we speculated that these unexpected activities were the result of aspirated and ingested CSF rhinorrhea. CSF rhinorrhea occurs when there is a fistula between the dura mater and the skull base and discharge of CSF from the nose. A spinal fluid leak from the intracranial space to the nasal respiratory tract is potentially very serious because of the risk of an ascending infection that could produce fulminant meningitis. Therefore, identification of the fistulous tract is helpful for patient management. Radionuclide cisternography is an important imaging modality to detect the site of leakage in patients with CSF rhinorrhea. The combination of radionuclide cistenography and SPECT/CT has led to a major improvement in the diagnostic accuracy for localization of CSF leakage. This case also shows an important role for SPECT/CT fusion imaging in radionuclide cisternography not only for localizing the primary CSF fistula tract, but also for evaluating ambiguous radiotracer activities in planar imaging; these ultimately turned out to be aspirated and ingested CSF rhinorrhea

[en] A 74 year old man who had experienced priapism for 2 months after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer visited our hospital, and underwent metastatic work up ¹⁸F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT)showed diffuse hypermetabolic activity along the penis shaft, which was confirmed as a penile metastasis

[en] In the present study, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and collagen I were sequentially immobilized on the titanium surface to simultaneously improve the anticoagulation and endothelial cell proliferation. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed that PEG and collagen I were successfully immobilized on the titanium surface. Water contact angle results suggested the excellent hydrophilic surface after the immobilization. The anticoagulation experiments demonstrated that the immobilized PEG and collagen I on the titanium surface could not only obviously prevent platelet adhesion and aggregation but also prolong activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), leading to the improved blood compatibility. Furthermore, immobilization of collagen to the end of PEG chain did not abate the anticoagulation. As compared to those on the pristine and PEG-modified titanium surfaces, endothelial cells exhibited improved proliferative profiles on the surface modified by the sequential immobilization of PEG and collagen in terms of CCK-8 assay, implying that the modified titanium may promote endothelialization without abating the blood compatibility. Our method may be used to modify the surface of blood-contacting biomaterials such as titanium to promote endothelialization and improve the anticoagulation, it may be helpful for development of the biomedical devices such as coronary stents, where endothelializaton and excellent anticoagulation are required.

[en] In this study, we proposed a fuzzy gain scheduler with intelligent learning algorithm for a reactor control. In the proposed algorithm, we used the gradient descent method to learn the rule bases of a fuzzy algorithm. These rule bases are learned toward minimizing an objective function, which is called a performance cost function. The objective of fuzzy gain scheduler with intelligent learning algorithm is the generation of adequate gains, which minimize the error of system. The condition of every plant is generally changed as time gose. That is, the initial gains obtained through the analysis of system are no longer suitable for the changed plant. And we need to set new gains, which minimize the error stemmed from changing the condition of a plant. In this paper, we applied this strategy for reactor control of nuclear power plant (NPP), and the results were compared with those of a simple PI controller, which has fixed gains. As a result, it was shown that the proposed algorithm was superior to the simple PI controller

[en] Congenital H type tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare anomaly in infants and the early diagnosis of this disorder is still a challenge to pediatricians due to scarcity, non specific symptoms and lack of a single diagnostic examination. We report the case of a 3 month old baby with choking and recurrent aspiration which finally turned out to be a tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia (H type)by radionuclide salivagram

[en] Objective: To study the clinical significance of changes of plasma Hcy and hepatic fibrosis markers levels in patients with NAFLD. Methods: Plasma Hcy (with biochemistry) and serum HA, PCIII, CIV, LN(with RIA) levels were determined in 133 patients with uncomplicated NAFLD, 124 patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH i.e.NAFLD complicated with ALT>2 x normal upper range over 4 weeks) and 100 controls. Results: In patients with uncomplicated NAFLD, the Hcy, HA, PCIII levels were significantly higher than those in controls (P<0.05), but the CIV and LN levels were only insignificantly raised (P>0.05). In patients with NASH, the levels of Hcy and other 4 markers were all significantly higher than those in the controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The altogether 257 patients with NAFLD could be divided into: mild (n=138), moderate (n=74) and advanced (n=45) degrees according to the CT value. Plasma Hcy and other 4 markers levels in patients with advanced degree NAFLD were significantly higher than those in patients with NAFLD of moderate and mild degrees (P<0.01), but the levels in patients with mild degree of NAFLD were not significantly different from the levels in patients with moderate degree of NAFLD (P>0.05). Conclusion: Plasma Hcy, HA, PCIII, CIV and LN levels were raised in patients with NAFLD, especially in patients with advanced degree of NAFLD and NASH. (authors)

[en] A phenomenological quantization of electromagnetic field is introduced in the presence of the anisotropic magnetodielectric metamaterial. For a single layer structure with the anisotropic metamaterial, input–output relations of quantized radiation are derived using the Green-function approach. Based on these relations, the reflectance of the linearly polarized wave through this structure is calculated. The results show that different resonant peaks of reflectance appear for different polarized waves and indicate the use of the anisotropic metamaterial as a reflector for a certain polarized wave. Furthermore it is found that such a structure can realize the resonant gap with the increase of the thickness. Finally the effects of the absorption are considered and we find that the above properties do not change with the introduction of the absorption. (paper)