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Recognition of surrounding objects is crucial for ensuring the safety of automated driving systems. In the realm of 3D object recognition through deep learning, several methods incorporate the fusion of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and camera data. The effectiveness of the LiDAR–camera fusion approach is widely acknowledged due to its ability to provide a richer source of information for object detection compared to methods that rely solely on individual sensors. Within the framework of the LiDAR–camera multistage fusion method, challenges arise in maintaining stable object recognition, especially under adverse conditions where object detection in camera images becomes challenging, such as during night-time or in rainy weather. In this research paper, we introduce "ExistenceMap-PointPillars", a novel and effective approach for 3D object detection that leverages information from multiple sensors. This approach involves a straightforward modification of the LiDAR-based 3D object detection network. The core concept of ExistenceMap-PointPillars revolves around the integration of pseudo 2D maps, which depict the estimated object existence regions derived from the fused sensor data in a probabilistic manner. These maps are then incorporated into a pseudo image generated from a 3D point cloud. Our experimental results, based on our proprietary dataset, demonstrate the substantial improvements achieved by ExistenceMap-PointPillars. Specifically, it enhances the mean Average Precision (mAP) by a noteworthy +4.19% compared to the conventional PointPillars method. Additionally, we conducted an evaluation of the network’s response using Grad-CAM in conjunction with ExistenceMap-PointPillars, which exhibited a heightened focus on the existence regions of objects within the pseudo 2D map. This focus resulted in a reduction in the number of false positives. In summary, our research presents ExistenceMap-PointPillars as a valuable advancement in the field of 3D object detection, offering improved performance and robustness, especially in challenging environmental conditions.

An 84-year-old patient with St Jude Medical Endurity TM 2140 DDDR PPM presented with episodes of palpitations and syncope of 1-month duration. In the hospital, he was detected to have PMT. The tachycardia was initiated by a prolonged AV delay due to active VIP TM algorithm. The pacemaker EGMs at the time of syncope showed that the PMT was followed by a fast VT. The VT terminated spontaneously. The VIP TM algorithm was made inactive and the PVARP was increased from 275 ms to 350 ms. He has had no further episodes of PMT or VT over a 15-month period.

Abstract Peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POdF) is a rare, benign ectomesenchymal tumor. Herein, we report a case of a 15‐year‐old female patient who developed POdF in the mandible. The lesion was resected along with the periosteum. Histopathological findings revealed a small mass and cord‐like epithelium. There was no recurrence 16 months postoperatively.

This article aims to determine the form of Shift's religious expression and the factor of the Shift community's interest in the context of cyberreligion. The research method is qualitative with the type of phenomenological research. There are 5 research subjects (subscribers) and the research object of the YouTube channel Shift. The interactive model analysis technique of Miles & Huberman from the results of data collection that the authors get. The results showed that the phenomenon of cyberreligion has touched various circles and was used by Ust. Hanan Attaki by establishing a Shift which targets the younger generation in the form of online religion. The use of YouTube as a means of spreading Shift's da'wah is categorized into the File-Sharing category. The study, which is nicely packaged by Ust. Hanan Attaki, has made it loved by the younger generation as an alternative in their religious information.

Purpose: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease after vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rare, and the prognosis for this condition and its effect on ocular blood flow remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to present the first case of de novo VKH disease after the second vaccination for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine that was successfully treated with systemic steroid therapy and monitored with laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG). Observations: A 30s-year-old Japanese woman reported bilateral decreased visual function 2 weeks after receiving a second dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 OD and 20/70 OS. Optical coherence tomography revealed bilateral serous retinal detachment over the swollen choroidal layer. LFSG showed decreased blood flow in the peripapillary region of both eyes. This case was diagnosed as complete VKH syndrome, and the patient underwent systemic steroid therapy. After treatment, the retinal detachment disappeared, choroidal thickness decreased, and ocular blood flow increased. Three months later, visual acuity recovered to 20/20 in both eyes. Conclusions: Caution should be exercised in cases with visual symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination, even after more than one dose and more than one week after vaccination. LSFG may be a useful way to measure the ocular blood flow response to treatment and determine the prognosis for VKH disease after COVID-19 vaccination.

Media memiliki potensi untuk memainkan peran dalammembantu menentukan perdamaian konflik dan resolusi konflik atau membina ketegangan dalam konflik. Paper ini bercerita tentang bagaimana peran media dalam konflik, khusunya mengintegrasikan praktik peace journalism pada konflik PT. Freeport di Papua, apakah peace journalism itu sudah diterapkan ataukah pemberitaan yang ada malah mengarah kepada war journalism. Pembahasan pada paper ini dimulai dari mengkaji konsep konflik, makna perdamaian dan peace journalism, wacana media tentang perdamaian serta resolusi konflik dan tranformasi media. Dari analisis yang telah dilakukan, dapat ditarik kesimpulan beberapa media online belum dapat mewujudkan peace journlism atau membuat pemberitaan konflik yang damai. Pemberitaan yang menyangkut konflik PT. Freeport di Papua media cenderung membawa perannya sebagai issue intensifier. Framing dan agenda setting yang dibuat media cenderung berorientasi kepada kekerasan, hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa peace journalism belumlah hidup dalam pemberitaan konflik. Media tidak bisa terbebas dari penyajian pemberitaan konflik yang selalu melibatkan ada pihak yang ‘menang’ dan ‘kalah’ karena pada dasarnya media berupaya untuk “menjual” pemberitaan konflik tersebut.

Background: The expressions of genes related to lipid metabolism are decreased in adipocytes with insulin resistance. In this study, we examined the effects of fatty acids on the reduced expressions and histone acetylation of lipid metabolism-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with insulin resistance induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Methods: Short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acid were co-administered with TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Then, mRNA expressions and histone acetylation of genes involved in lipid metabolism were determined using mRNA microarrays, qRT-PCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results: We found in microarray and subsequent qRT-PCR analyses that the expression levels of several lipid metabolism-related genes, including Gpd1, Cidec, and Cyp4b1, were reduced by TNF-α treatment and restored by co-treatment with a short-chain fatty acid (C4: butyric acid) and medium-chain fatty acids (C8: caprylic acid and C10: capric acid). The pathway analysis of the microarray showed that capric acid enhanced mRNA levels of genes in the PPAR signaling pathway and adipogenesis genes in the TNF-α-treated adipocytes. Histone acetylation around Cidec and Gpd1 genes were also reduced by TNF-α treatment and recovered by co-administration with short- and medium-chain fatty acids. General significance: Medium- and short-chain fatty acids induce the expressions of Cidec and Gpd1, which are lipid metabolism-related genes in insulin-resistant adipocytes, by promoting histone acetylation around these genes.

Purpose: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a subtype of age-related macular degeneration that is seen frequently in Asians. Nevertheless, it is rare for this condition to be combined with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The purpose of this paper is to present findings from this rare combination in a Japanese patient, and to describe its successful treatment with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA). Observations: The patient was a 71-year-old Japanese woman with RP (diagnosed at the age of 30) and PCV. She noticed a decrease in vision in her right eye 6 months previously. Decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.05 in her right eye. Optical coherence tomography and indocyanine green angiography (IA) revealed serous retinal detachment (SRD) and PCV in her right eye. The SRD was initially resolved after 3 monthly treatments with IVA, but recurrences began 5 months later, requiring four more treatments with IVA, performed about every 4 months within the next 12 months, for successful resolution. There were no recurrences of PCV in 7 more months of follow-up, as confirmed with IA at the final appointment. Final decimal BCVA in the right eye improved to 0.15. Furthermore, macular retinal sensitivity, measured with microperimetry, increased after the treatment, and RP-related visual field narrowing, determined by Goldmann perimetry, did not progress throughout follow up of 26 months. Conclusion: More than 2 years of follow up showed that IVA may be effective for treating PCV, even in RP patients, and can increase central visual function without causing progression of RP-related visual field narrowing.

Studies indicate that induction of metabolic gene expression by nutrient intake, and in response to subsequently secreted hormones, is regulated by transcription factors binding to cis-elements and associated changes of epigenetic memories (histone modifications and DNA methylation) located in promoter and enhancer regions. Carbohydrate intake-mediated induction of metabolic gene expression is regulated by histone acetylation and the histone acetylation reader bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) on the gene body region, which corresponds to the transcribed region of the gene. In this review, we introduce carbohydrate-responsive metabolic gene regulation by (i) transcription factors and epigenetic memory in promoter/enhancer regions (promoter/enhancer-based epigenetics), and (ii) histone acetylation and BRD4 in the gene body region (gene body-based epigenetics). Expression of carbohydrate-responsive metabolic genes related to nutrient digestion and absorption, fat synthesis, inflammation in the small intestine, liver and white adipose tissue, and in monocytic/macrophage-like cells are regulated by various transcription factors. The expression of these metabolic genes are also regulated by transcription elongation via histone acetylation and BRD4 in the gene body region. Additionally, the expression of genes related to fat synthesis, and the levels of acetylated histones and BRD4 in fat synthesis-related genes, are downregulated in white adipocytes under insulin resistant and/or diabetic conditions. In contrast, expression of carbohydrate-responsive metabolic genes and/or histone acetylation and BRD4 binding in the gene body region of these genes, are upregulated in the small intestine, liver, and peripheral leukocytes (innate leukocytes) under insulin resistant and/or diabetic conditions. In conclusion, histone acetylation and BRD4 binding in the gene body region as well as transcription factor binding in promoter/enhancer regions regulate the expression of carbohydrate-responsive metabolic genes in many metabolic organs. Insulin resistant and diabetic conditions induce the development of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, by reducing the expression of BRD4-targeted carbohydrate-responsive metabolic genes in white adipose tissue and by inducing the expression of BRD4-targeted carbohydrate-responsive metabolic genes in the liver, small intestine, and innate leukocytes including monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils.

Materi Learning vector quantization pada mata kuliah jaringan saraf tiruan bagi sebagian mahasiswa dirasa sulit untuk dipahami. Materi learning vector quantization dirasa sulit oleh mahasiswa pada soal penyelesaian langkah-langkah menentukan pengkodean input dan target pada LVQ dan memahami vector kelas input dan mengklasifikasiannya. Untuk itu perlu dibangun aplikasi media pembelajaran Jaringan Saraf Tiruan khususnya pada materi Learning vector quantization agar dapat digunakan mahasiswa sebagai sarana belajar dan mempermudah dosen dalam menyampaikan materi. Subyek penelitian ini adalah aplikasi multimedia sebagai media pembelajaran Learning vector quantization pada mata kuliah jaringan saraf tiruan. Pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode studi pustaka, metode interview. Aplikasi disusun dengan prosedur yang mencakup identifikasi masalah yang diperoleh, analisis kebutuhan, perancangan konsep, merancang isi, design dokumen dan diagram navigasi, merancang naskah, merancang grafis, memproduksi sistem, pengetesan sistem dengan black box dan alpha test. Hasil penelitian ini adalah aplikasi multimedia sebagai media pembelajaran Learning vector quantization pada mata kuliah jaringan saraf tiruan bagi mahasiswa program studi teknik Informatika di Universitas Ahmad Dahlan yang berdasarkan hasil uji coba tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa aplikasi pembelajaran ini dapat membantu proses pembelajaran pada mahasiswa untuk memahami materi dan dapat digunakan sebagai alat bantu dosen untuk menunjang pembelajaran pada mata kuliah jaringan saraf tiruan .

This study measured the intraoperative anterior aqueous humor concentrations of various cytokines during corneal endothelial transplantation and searched for relationships between these concentrations and postoperative corneal endothelial cell (CEC) depletion. We recruited 30 consecutive patients who underwent corneal endothelial transplantation with Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) at Tohoku University Hospital between February 2014 and July 2017. During surgery, we obtained aqueous humor samples and later measured the concentrations of 27 cytokines with a Multiplex Bead Assay (Bio-Plex Pro). We counted CECs 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery, and used Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to identify relationships between CEC depletion and the concentrations of detected cytokines. The loss of CECs 1-6 months after surgery was significantly correlated with IL-7, IP-10, MIP-1a and MIP-1b concentrations (-0.67, -0.48, -0.39, and -0.45, respectively, all P

Purpose: To describe four cases of concomitant herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) and autoimmune-associated ulcerative keratitis (UK) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Observations: All patients developed HSK and UK while undergoing treatment for RA. The average age of onset for RA, UK and HSK was 49.3, 69.5 and 70.5 years, respectively. UK preceded HSK in three cases and followed HSK in one case. Two patients had bilateral UK and two had unilateral UK. HSK was unilateral in all cases. All the cases had been treated with immunosuppressive agents including steroid, methotrexate, calcineurin inhibitors, etanercept and tocilizumab at the onset of HSK. Every patient was treated for HSK with topical acyclovir ointment combined with oral valacyclovir. The final visual outcome was extremely poor despite intensive therapy. Conclusions and Importance: These cases raise the possibility that RA patients have an increased risk of HSK, and that HSK may tend to be severe in these patients because of their immunocompromised condition. Furthermore, the complication of HSK and UK in RA patients is difficult to treat because of the atypical clinical manifestation. Thus, the emergence of corneal ulcer, especially in patients with a long clinical history of RA, calls for careful follow-up.

With the rapid pace and scale of the emerging coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a growing body of evidence has shown a strong association of COVID-19 with pre- and post- neurological complications. This has necessitated the need to incorporate targeted neurological care for this subgroup of patients which warrants further reorganization of services, healthcare workforce, and ongoing management of chronic neurological cases. The social distancing and the shutdown imposed by several nations in the midst of COVID-19 have severely impacted the ongoing care, access and support of patients with chronic neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Neuromuscular Disorders, Migraine, Dementia, and Parkinson disease. There is a pressing need for governing bodies including national and international professional associations, health ministries and health institutions to harmonize policies, guidelines, and recommendations relating to the management of chronic neurological conditions. These harmonized guidelines should ensure patient continuity across the spectrum of hospital and community care including the well-being, safety, and mental health of the patients, their care partners and the health professionals involved. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on chronic neurological conditions and specific recommendations to minimize the potential harm to those at high risk.

PurposeTo investigate factors associated with poor visual acuity (VA) in branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO).MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 72 eyes with BRAO of 72 patients. For statistical comparison, we divided the patients into worse-VA (decimal VA < 0.5) and better-VA (decimal VA > = 0.5) groups. We examined the association of clinical findings, including blood biochemical test data and carotid artery ultrasound parameters, with poor VA.ResultsMedian age, hematocrit, hemoglobin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) differed significantly between the groups (P = 0.018, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P = 0.025). There was a tendency towards higher median IMT-Bmax in the worse-VA group (worse-VA vs. better-VA: 2.70 mm vs. 1.60 mm, P = 0.152). Spearman's rank correlation test revealed that logMAR VA was significantly correlated to IMT-Bmax (rs = 0.31, P < 0.01) and IMT-Cmax (rs = 0.24, P = 0.035). Furthermore, logMAR VA was significantly correlated to HDL level (rs = -0.33, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that IMT-Bmax (odds ratio [OR] = 2.70, P = 0.049), HDL level (OR = 0.91, P = 0.032), and female gender (OR = 15.63, P = 0.032) were independently associated with worse VA in BRAO.ConclusionsWe found that increased IMT-Bmax, decreased HDL, and female sex were associated with poor VA in BRAO patients. Our findings might suggest novel risk factors for visual dysfunction in BRAO and may provide new insights into the pathomechanisms underlying BRAO.

Purpose: Seatbelt use during pregnancy is important to improve maternal and fetal survival after motor vehicle collisions. However, because the rear seatbelt of a motor vehicle tends to make contact with the neck, even if it is adequately used, some pregnant women sitting in the rear seat opt not to fasten the belt. The purpose of this study is to explore seatbelt–neck contact for pregnant women sitting in the rear seat of a motor vehicle. Methods: We carried out an anthropometric study. Japanese women who were ≥30 weeks pregnant (n = 12) sat in the left side of the rear seat of a typical mid-size passenger sedan and fastened the seatbelt. Seating posture was investigated by measuring the coordinates of the anthropometric data points of the pregnant women (head, shoulder, hip joint, and knee joint). The belt path was analyzed by measuring the clearance between the belt and the sternum or navel. Results: Among the 12 pregnant women at 33.9 week ± 3.3 week gestation, the shoulder belt deviated to the right side and subsequently contacted to the neck in four pregnant women (Contact group). The height of the Contact group was significantly shorter than that of Non-contact group (152.3 cm ± 3.0 cm vs. 159.0 cm ± 3.3 cm, p = 0.008). Regarding the relative position of the seatbelt to the subject's body, the distances from the top of the sternum to the center of the shoulder belt were significantly shorter in Contact group (3.9 cm ± 3.5 cm) than that in the Non-contact group (8.0 cm ± 1.6 cm, p = 0.03). However, no significant difference was found for the distance from the umbilicus to the center of the lap belt. Conclusion: Our findings show that because of short height and late term of pregnancy with protrusion of the abdomen, the shoulder belt deviates to the right or left, avoiding the protruded uterus, and subsequently makes contact with the neck. Seatbelt systems for rear seats need to be developed to improve passenger safety, especially for pregnant women.

Abstract Corneal transplantation is a safe, reliable method of restoring visual acuity in patients with corneal disorders. Although it has a very high success rate, rejection can still occur, especially if the site is infected. Therefore, seeking to find better ways to manage infection risk, this study investigated a new technique, based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), to identify pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, in corneal transplantation recipient sites, donor corneas and the donor cornea storage solution. The subjects comprised 50 patients who underwent corneal transplantation at Tohoku University Hospital between July 2014 and April 2015. We obtained extracted (recipient) cornea samples in 37 cases, donor cornea samples in 50 cases, and corneal storage solution samples in 50 cases (18 of these 50 samples contained DNA). Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA was detected in four recipient corneas, Parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in two recipient corneas, Human herpes virus type 6 was detected in two donor corneas, and Aspergillus DNA was detected in one corneal storage solution sample. Thus, mPCR successfully identified pathogenic DNA in corneal tissues and storage solution, suggesting that evaluation with mPCR may improve the ability to predict the risk of infection after corneal transplantation.

We proposed an advanced mesh generation technique that reuses the proven analysis models by similar sub-part search. The purpose of this research is to reduce interactive mesh improvement work time and to comply with the mesh specifications. It is our feature technique to search sub-parts similar to the archived sub-parts of proven models from new design CAD. In this technique, the similar sub-parts are retrieved from a CAD model described by boundary representation and made correspondence relation surface pairs of a retrieval model (proven model) and a target model (CAD of new design). A similarity score is based on the attributed graphs of a retrieval model and a target model. And, this score is calculated by a geometrical similarity and topological similarity. If there is such search noise, unreusing sub-parts must be canceled by interactive operation. This is an obstacle to automation. Therefore, with the goal of eliminating search noise, we developed a technique to improve the accuracy of similar partial shape retrieval. By quantifying the geometric relationships such as concentric circles and face-to-face distance as similarity, high precision could be realized. It was applied to a door switch cover part of an automobile which is a verification model, and it was confirmed that search noises disappeared.

This paper proposes an advanced mesh generation technique that reuses the proven analysis models by searching for similar sub-parts. The purpose of this development is to reduce interactive mesh improvement work time and to comply with the mesh specifications. In particular shell mesh generation, working time of complex thin parts such as resin parts is long, which causes issues for front-loading. Furthermore, quality improvement and standardization of analysis models are required because the general designers have to manage V&V (Verification & Validation). This technique consists of two distinctive techniques. First, it is the technique to search the subparts from newly designed CAD which have similar shape with the archived feature sub-parts contained in the proven CAD models. In this technique, the similar sub-parts are retrieved from a CAD model described by boundary representation and made correspondence relation surface pairs of a retrieval model (proven model) and a target model (CAD of new design). A similarity score is calculated based on geometrical similarity and topological similarity. Geometric similarity is based on geometric information such as areas and perimeters. Topological similarity is based on the surface connection differences. Second, mesh can be generated automatically by arranging and merging the know-how meshes based on the relationship of the surfaces by similar sub-parts search technique. Experimental results show that this technique can efficiently generate a mesh without interactive mesh improvement operation which was conventionally taken several hours.