A diffuser-supported hyperspectral near-infrared (DS-HS-NIR) measurement scheme in which a Teflon plate as a photon diffuser was placed beneath a thin sheet sample for trans-reflectance spectral acquisition was proposed to enhance the peak intensity (sensitivity) of the sample. The scheme was to increase the number of sample-interacting photons by generating diffused photons using a Teflon (diffuser) and directing them toward a spectroscopic sampling area to additionally interact with a sample, increasing the intensity of the subsequent peak. When the weighing paper, plastic gloves, and mesh fabric sheets (thickness: 20-230 μm) were measured using a conventional scheme without using the diffuser, peaks corresponding to the sheet samples were difficult to recognize; with the diffuser, they were apparent with enhanced intensity. Furthermore, the increased number of sample-interacting photons when using the diffuser was confirmed by a Monte Carlo simulation. Next, to evaluate its real usage, we attempted to determine the crude protein contents in dried laver sheets (thickness: 210-480 μm). When the diffuser was employed, peaks centered at 1181 and 1461 nm corresponding to the organic constituents of laver sheets were distinct; these peaks were not observed in the measurement without a diffuser. Due to the peaks with enhanced intensity, the determined crude protein contents were well correlated with those based on conventional Kjeldahl analysis.

Home-based tDCS for MDD demonstrated no evidence of effectiveness but was safe and well-tolerated. Further research is needed to address the technical limitations, evaluate broader cognitive functions, and extend durations to evaluate its therapeutic potential.

A diffuser-supported hyperspectral near-infrared (DS-HS-NIR) measurement scheme in which a Teflon plate as a photon diffuser was placed beneath a thin sheet sample for trans-reflectance spectral acquisition was proposed to enhance the peak intensity (sensitivity) of the sample. The scheme was to increase the number of sample-interacting photons by generating diffused photons using a Teflon (diffuser) and directing them toward a spectroscopic sampling area to additionally interact with a sample, increasing the intensity of the subsequent peak. When the weighing paper, plastic gloves, and mesh fabric sheets (thickness: 20-230 μm) were measured using a conventional scheme without using the diffuser, peaks corresponding to the sheet samples were difficult to recognize; with the diffuser, they were apparent with enhanced intensity. Furthermore, the increased number of sample-interacting photons when using the diffuser was confirmed by a Monte Carlo simulation. Next, to evaluate its real usage, we attempted to determine the crude protein contents in dried laver sheets (thickness: 210-480 μm). When the diffuser was employed, peaks centered at 1181 and 1461 nm corresponding to the organic constituents of laver sheets were distinct; these peaks were not observed in the measurement without a diffuser. Due to the peaks with enhanced intensity, the determined crude protein contents were well correlated with those based on conventional Kjeldahl analysis.

Home-based tDCS for MDD demonstrated no evidence of effectiveness but was safe and well-tolerated. Further research is needed to address the technical limitations, evaluate broader cognitive functions, and extend durations to evaluate its therapeutic potential.

The apparel industry is increasingly adopting automation technologies and investing in research to address global reshoring efforts and rising labor costs. One essential process for automation in garment factories is top stitch, which involves sewing two fabric sheets together along a seam line while maintaining a consistent distance from it. This paper presents an automated top stitch system that retrofits a legacy machine using a vision-based macro-mini approach. The system mainly comprises a two-degree-of-freedom automatic sewing machine as the legacy machine, a vision sensor module, a mini-actuator module, and an infrared sensor module. The vision sensor module detects the seam line on the fabric, even in the presence of positional uncertainties, such as, human errors. The infrared sensor module monitors the sewing sequence, while the mini-actuator module operates simultaneously with the sewing machine to compensate for any misalignment. The system demonstrates improvements, with the average and the maximum errors reduced by 79% and 67%, respectively, and the standard deviation improved by 73%, compared to those from the operation without our system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first development of an autonomous top stitch system using a retrofitted legacy machine, presenting a novel architecture that integrates sensors and actuators through a macro-mini approach.

‘Evolutionary Tax Reform in Emerging Economies’ by Robert F. Conrad and Michael Alexeev stands out as a significant and practical guide for policy-makers, tax administrators, students and researchers engaged in the challenging process of fiscal reform in developing and emerging economies. It offers a nuanced and modular framework for rethinking tax policy, embracing gradualism and adapting to diverse country contexts – a valuable approach for officials facing unpredictable institutional constraints and economic transitions. As a former Vice President and President of the Korea Institute of Public Finance (KIPF), with nearly thirty years of experience in public finance research and policy consulting, including current teaching at Korea University's Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), the perspectives presented in this review reflect both academic engagement and hands-on experience. For the past eight years, I have taught tax policy and administration to master's and doctoral students from national tax administrations and finance ministries in diverse emerging and developing countries. My background includes extensive consulting work on tax reform for governments in Asia, Africa, CIS and Latin America. Drawing on this expertise, my review aims to guide curriculum development and practical application for policy makers and officials, graduate students and academics, consultants and development partners. The book is primarily aimed at government officials in finance ministries and tax agencies, particularly those in developing and emerging markets seeking to design or implement meaningful tax reforms. Graduate students, especially those specialising in public finance, taxation and applied economics, would find the book useful for both theoretical understanding and practical case studies. Policy advisors, consultants and international development practitioners with a focus on fiscal policy and revenue mobilisation will also find substantial value in the text. By presenting its material in a way that balances technical rigour with accessibility, Conrad and Alexeev ensure that both practitioners – who need implementable advice – and scholars – who seek deeper analytical insight – will benefit. The book's structure, use of applied examples of advanced payment agents (APAs) and clear discussion of direct taxes, VAT, excises, tariffs and mineral contracts provide concrete tools for real-world application. A defining feature of the work is its collection-driven perspective, which moves beyond the purely theoretical models often found in economic literature. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, the authors recognise the unique starting points and administrative realities of each country. Therefore, their evolutionary approach privileges incremental, adaptive changes over radical, one-shot reform efforts, which can falter in environments with limited administrative capacity and political fragility. The authors emphasise the interplay between long-term goals – such as revenue maximisation and broad-based tax equity – and short-term constraints like political acceptability, administrative feasibility and the capacity of stakeholders to adapt. Chapters systematically address how the base of each tax can be defined and reformed over time, stressing the importance of coordination across instruments like direct taxes and excise taxes. The focus on gradual implementation, especially via withholding taxes and the innovative use of APAs, aligns with the realities faced by revenue authorities in low-capacity settings. A major innovative aspect of the book is the introduction and detailed analysis of Advanced Payment Agents (APAs). APAs function as intermediaries for tax collection, helping harvest advanced payments on income and other flows. This approach not only reduces compliance costs but also bolsters transparency and taxpayer participation in the computation of net income – a stark improvement over opaque or burdensome tax systems. The pragmatic orientation towards withholding mechanisms makes the book especially relevant for countries attempting to broaden their tax base in the informal sector or where direct administration is difficult. For policy-makers, the work offers a richly detailed road map for advancing tax reform in stages, grounded in country-specific diagnostic tools and flexibly adaptable to changing macroeconomic environments. The focus on advanced payment and administrative reform provides actionable strategies for improving revenue collection without undermining growth or discouraging formalisation. As many developing countries face fiscal pressures from global shocks and domestic demands for inclusive development, Conrad and Alexeev's evolutionary template helps navigate trade-offs between efficiency, equity and political feasibility. For advanced students, the book delivers more than theoretical abstraction; it offers a critical lens on prevailing tax doctrines and a practical guide to policy experimentation. Case studies, applied frameworks and the blending of legal and economic reasoning make it a valuable resource for course syllabi, research or policy simulations. It challenges students to think beyond narrow calculations of optimal taxation, encouraging a deeper engagement with the realities of institutional reform and adaptation. International agencies, consultants and those orchestrating fiscal capacity-building in emerging economies will find the evolutionary, modular approach harmonises with best practices promoted by organisations like the IMF and World Bank. While the book does not promise quick fixes, it arms advisors with diagnostic tools and sequencing strategies crucial for achieving sustained revenue gains in diverse empirical settings. Conrad and Alexeev's evolutionary paradigm contrasts with the ‘big bang’ or ‘comprehensive reform’ models, which, while appealing in their conceptual clarity, often prove unsustainable or counterproductive in transitional and developing economies. By weaving together institutional realism, empirical evidence and practical reform pathways, the book takes into account frequent obstacles: corruption, informal economic activity, limited taxpayer education, administrative bottlenecks and political resistance. One of the book's strengths is its explicit acknowledgment that tax reform is never purely technical; it is embedded in – and must respond to – the broader political economy. The discussion of how negative externalities can be addressed through selective excise taxes adds depth to debates about ‘tax neutrality’ versus revenue mobilisation. Moreover, by allowing for country-specific variation, the book resists overgeneralisation and supports a tailored approach, crucial for both academic study and practical reform. While the evolutionary approach foregrounded in the book is sensible and relevant, some readers may desire more granular case analyses from specific countries or more detailed modelling work to anticipate reform outcomes. The text could be supplemented with future volumes or companion materials to enable closer comparative analysis and more robust pilot project documentation. Still, the book succeeds in offering a synthesis that combines economic logic with institutional practicality – ensuring its central message is both theoretically sound and empirically grounded. ‘Evolutionary Tax Reform in Emerging Economies’ is a must-read for anyone tasked with reforming tax systems in challenging institutional environments, especially finance ministry officials, tax administrators, policy consultants and advanced graduate students. It delivers a thoughtful framework for managing reform over time, balancing the need for adaptation with commitment to revenue integrity and policy coherence. By making evolutionary, collection-driven strategies accessible and actionable, the book provides essential guidance for those who must implement change, not just theorise about it. This synthesis of theory, practice and institutional context is what sets Conrad and Alexeev's work apart – and why it should be central reading for practitioners and scholars in the field of tax policy and public finance.

<b>Background</b>: Chronic pruritus and inflammatory skin lesions, characterized by high recurrence, are hallmarks of atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite its increasing prevalence, the development of therapeutic agents for AD remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of deep sea minerals (DSMs) in mist and cream formulations on the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice exposed to either <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i> body extract (Dfb) or 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). <b>Methods</b>: To induce AD, 100 mg of Biostir AD cream containing crude Dfb or 200 µL of DNCB (1%) was topically applied to the dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice. Additionally, 200 µL of deep sea mineral mist (DSMM) and 10 mg of deep sea mineral cream (DSMC) were applied daily to the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. AD was assessed through visual observations, clinical scoring of skin severity, serological tests, and histological analysis. <b>Results</b>: Visual and clinical evaluations revealed that DSMs inhibited the formation of AD-like skin lesions. DSMs also significantly affected trans-epidermal water loss and erythema. Treatment with DSMs resulted in reduced serum levels of IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4. Histological analysis indicated that DSMs decreased skin thickness. Immunostaining for the CD4 antigen demonstrated a reduced infiltration of CD4⁺ T cells, which drive the Th2 response in AD, following DSM treatment. <b>Conclusions</b>: In conclusion, the cream formulation of DSMs showed better results than the mist formulation. These results suggest that DSMs may be an effective treatment for AD-like skin lesions, especially in cream formulation.

Chronic pruritus and inflammatory skin lesions, characterized by high recurrence, are hallmarks of atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite its increasing prevalence, the development of therapeutic agents for AD remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of deep-sea minerals (DSM) in mist and cream formulations on the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice exposed to either Dermatophagoides farinae body extract (Dfb) or 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). To induce AD, 100 mg of Biostir AD cream containing crude Dfb or 200 &amp;micro;L of DNCB (1%) was topically applied to the dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice. Additionally, 200 &amp;micro;L of deep-sea mineral mist (DSMM) and 10 mg of deep-sea mineral cream (DSMC) were applied daily to the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. AD was assessed through visual observations, clinical scoring of skin severity, serological tests, and histological analysis. Visual and clinical evaluations revealed that DSM inhibited the formation of AD-like skin lesions. DSM also significantly affected trans-epidermal water loss and erythema. Treatment with DSM resulted in reduced serum levels of IgE, IFN-&amp;gamma;, and IL-4. Histological analysis indicated that DSM decreased skin thickness. Immunostaining for the CD4 antigen demonstrated reduced infiltration of CD4 T cells, which drive the Th2 response in AD, following DSM treatment. In conclusion, the cream formulation of DSM showed better results than the mist formulation. These results suggest that DSM may be an effective treatment for allergic skin inflammatory diseases, especially in cream formulation.

Patients reported that the app might be easy to use and help manage anxiety, and psychiatrists found the management console practical and well-suited for outpatients. By combining patient-facing therapeutic tools with clinician-driven prescription and monitoring, the devices offer a solution aligned with clinically integrated, real-world psychiatric care. Modified devices based on the improvement suggestions presented in this study will be evaluated in future clinical trials for their impact on engagement and treatment outcomes.

DMC in revision THA can prevent dislocation compared to CC. In particular, DMC is considered a good treatment option in isolated cup revision wherein the surgeon can control the limited options.

The result suggests that regional increases in relative theta power are associated with regional amyloid deposition in patients with MCI. These findings highlight the potential of EEG in detecting amyloid deposition. Future large-scale studies are needed to validate these preliminary findings and explore their clinical applications.