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A design of null-scanning antennas operated at 2.45 GHz is proposed. The proposed antenna is composed of two stacked microstrip arrays, and each array can generate omnidirectional radiation patterns in the horizontal plane. For the bottom array with a corporate feed network, the phases of the radiated fields are constant in the whole azimuth plane. As regards the top array, it is excited with a series feed network, and the phases of the radiated fields have a linear variation against the azimuth angle. When the two arrays are simultaneously activated with the same amplitude, the resultant radiation patterns can generate a null at a specific azimuth angle. Moreover, the null can be continuously steered in the whole 360° plane by controlling the differences between the excitation phases of the two arrays. An antenna prototype integrated with the required circuits is fabricated, and its measured results indicate that a null depth of more than 23 dB is obtained when the null is steered. Simulated results validate the experiments.

Colonic or peritoneal metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare. We present the case of a 68-year-old man with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received concurrent chemoradiation therapy. The follow-up whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed 6 months after initial chemotherapy and showed new lesions of increased FDG activity in the colon as well as peritoneum. The final pathological diagnosis proved these metastases were from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The study of protein function and dynamics in their native cellular environment is essential for progressing fundamental science. To overcome the requirement of genetic modification of the protein or the limitations of dissociable fluorescent ligands, ligand-directed (LD) chemistry has most recently emerged as a complementary, bioorthogonal approach for labeling native proteins. Here, we describe the rational design, development, and application of the first ligand-directed chemistry approach for labeling the A1AR in living cells. We pharmacologically demonstrate covalent labeling of A1AR expressed in living cells while the orthosteric binding site remains available. The probes were imaged using confocal microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to study A1AR localization and dynamics in living cells. Additionally, the probes allowed visualization of the specific localization of A1ARs endogenously expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. LD probes developed here hold promise for illuminating ligand-binding, receptor signaling, and trafficking of the A1AR in more physiologically relevant environments.

AbstractRecently, purchasing intention towards green products has gained global attention due to their extensive use and high environmental issues. Thus, the current article investigates environmental concern, environmental knowledge, green product, and eco-innovation influence on the green purchase intention of green products in Taiwan industry. The research also examines the mediating role of consumers’ attention among environmental concerns environmental knowledge, green products eco-innovation, and green purchase intention. The article used questionnaires to collect the primary data from the sampled population. To examine the hypothesis, the PLS methodology was adopted. The results indicated that environmental concern, environmental knowledge, green product, and eco-innovation have a positive association with green purchase intention. The findings also exposed that consumer attention significantly and positively mediates environmental concern, environmental knowledge, green product, eco-innovation, and green purchase intention. The paper also proposed some guidelines to the practitioners which help them in the development of green-related policies to increase purchase intention.

Tc‐99m phytate hepatic scintigraphy remains the standard method for evaluating the functional features of Kupffer cells. In this study, we demonstrate the variable uptake feature of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in Tc‐99m phytate scintigraphy. We reviewed all patients who underwent Tc‐99m phytate hepatic scintigraphy between 2008 and 2012 in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Cases with FNH were diagnosed on the basis of pathology or at least one or more prior imaging with a periodic clinical follow‐up. All patients received a standard protocol of dynamic flow study and planar and Tc‐99m phytate single‐photon emission computed tomography (E. CAM; Siemens). The correlation of variable nodular radioactivity with parameters such as tumor size and localization was analyzed. In total, 15 lesions of 14 patients in the clinic were diagnosed as FNH. The tumor size was approximately 2.9–7.4 cm (mean size 4.6 cm). Four lesions were larger than 5 cm. The major anatomic distribution was in the right hepatic lobe (10 lesions), particularly in the superior segments (7 lesions). Tc‐99m phytate single‐photon emission computed tomography imaging for determining the functional features of Kupffer cells included cool/cold (8 lesions), isoradioactive/warm (6 lesions), and hot (1 lesion) patterns of uptake. We did not observe any statistically significant correlation between variable nodular radioactivity and tumor size (p= 0.68) or localization (p= 0.04). Herein, we demonstrate the variable uptake feature of FNH in Tc‐99m phytate scintigraphy. In small FNH tumors (< 5 cm), increased or equal uptake still provided specificity for the differential diagnosis of hepatic solid tumors.

Tc-99m phytate hepatic scintigraphy remains the standard method for evaluating the functional features of Kupffer cells. In this study, we demonstrate the variable uptake feature of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in Tc-99m phytate scintigraphy. We reviewed all patients who underwent Tc-99m phytate hepatic scintigraphy between 2008 and 2012 in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Cases with FNH were diagnosed on the basis of pathology or at least one or more prior imaging with a periodic clinical follow-up. All patients received a standard protocol of dynamic flow study and planar and Tc-99m phytate single-photon emission computed tomography (E. CAM; Siemens). The correlation of variable nodular radioactivity with parameters such as tumor size and localization was analyzed. In total, 15 lesions of 14 patients in the clinic were diagnosed as FNH. The tumor size was approximately 2.9–7.4 cm (mean size 4.6 cm). Four lesions were larger than 5 cm. The major anatomic distribution was in the right hepatic lobe (10 lesions), particularly in the superior segments (7 lesions). Tc-99m phytate single-photon emission computed tomography imaging for determining the functional features of Kupffer cells included cool/cold (8 lesions), isoradioactive/warm (6 lesions), and hot (1 lesion) patterns of uptake. We did not observe any statistically significant correlation between variable nodular radioactivity and tumor size (p=0.68) or localization (p=0.04). Herein, we demonstrate the variable uptake feature of FNH in Tc-99m phytate scintigraphy. In small FNH tumors (< 5 cm), increased or equal uptake still provided specificity for the differential diagnosis of hepatic solid tumors.

Sustainable energy technology adoption has become a global requirement due to environmental degradation, and this phenomenon needs researchers’ and regulators’ emphasis. Hence, the present study examines the various factors such as low cost, awareness of the environment, attribution of responsibility, habitual energy-saving behavior, and social norms impact on the sustainable energy technologies adoption in ASEAN countries. The article has taken the questionnaires to collect the data from the chosen respondents. The research has also applied structural equation models (SEM) using SPSS-AMOS to test the hypotheses and association among the variables. The results indicated that the low cost, awareness of the environment, attribution of responsibility, and habitual energy-saving behavior are positively correlated with sustainable energy technologies adoption in a sample of ASEAN economies. The findings also exposed that the social norms and sustainable energy technologies adoption are negatively correlated in chosen sample. This study guides the regulators in establishing the policies related to sustainable energy technologies adoption by examining the features mentioned in the study.

Objectives To examine correlations between the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) by primary tumours and axillary lymph nodes, and clinical and biological tumour prognostic parameters, in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.Methods Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who had received a dual-phased FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan for pretreatment staging were enrolled retrospectively. Maximal standardized uptake values at 1 h (SUV1), 2 h (SUV2), and retention indices (RI) of the tumours and ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes were measured. SUV and RI were compared with clinical and biological prognostic parameters.Results A total of 32 patients participated in the study. Tumour FDG uptake correlated with histological grade and tumour size. FDG uptake in axillary lymph nodes correlated positively with lymph node status, metastasis status and clinical stage. RI values for the tumour and lymph nodes were significantly positively correlated with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positivity.Conclusions FDG uptake in tumours and lymph nodes showed correlations with some clinical and biological parameters, and may serve as a predictive marker of tumour biological behaviour in breast cancer.

Super scan pattern on technetium‐99m methyldiphosphonate (Tc‐99m MDP) bone scintigraphy is a special condition of extremely high bone uptake relative to soft tissue with absent or faint renal radioactivity visualization, which is usually seen in diffuse bone metastases or discrete endocrine entities. Here, two cases with super bone scan are presented. One was a young man diagnosed with gastric cancer. The other was a middle‐aged woman with a history of breast cancer with recent recurrence. Both cases had 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) diagnosis simultaneously. Based on imaging of 18F‐FDG PET/CT, diffusely incremental 18F‐FDG avidity in spine/pelvis on PET and subtle erosion of cortical bone on CT were seen. The cytological results of bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of malignant metastasis. However, there were several focal discrepant findings between the 18F‐FDG PET/CT and Tc‐99m MDP bone scan. According to integration of both imaging findings and the result of bone marrow biopsy, we believe that the disseminated malignant spread in bone marrow is a primitive alternation in the super bone scan and that it is also as a result of neoplasm‐related endocrine factors.

Super scan pattern on technetium-99m methyldiphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scintigraphy is a special condition of extremely high bone uptake relative to soft tissue with absent or faint renal radioactivity visualization, which is usually seen in diffuse bone metastases or discrete endocrine entities. Here, two cases with super bone scan are presented. One was a young man diagnosed with gastric cancer. The other was a middle-aged woman with a history of breast cancer with recent recurrence. Both cases had 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) diagnosis simultaneously. Based on imaging of 18F-FDG PET/CT, diffusely incremental 18F-FDG avidity in spine/pelvis on PET and subtle erosion of cortical bone on CT were seen. The cytological results of bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of malignant metastasis. However, there were several focal discrepant findings between the 18F-FDG PET/CT and Tc-99m MDP bone scan. According to integration of both imaging findings and the result of bone marrow biopsy, we believe that the disseminated malignant spread in bone marrow is a primitive alternation in the super bone scan and that it is also as a result of neoplasm-related endocrine factors.

Organosoluble polyimide (PI)/barium titanate (BaTiO3) hybrid composites using different types of treated ceramic powders were prepared and investigated for their dielectric performance. The soluble coPI poly(p-hydroxy-imide) (PI-2) constituted by 4,4'-oxydiphthalic dianhydride/2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane/4,4'-oxydianiline exhibited a higher dielectric constant (K) of 7.4. The ceramic fillers used in the study were multi-doped self-synthesized BaTiO3(SS-BT) and commercially available BaTiO3powders. Up to 50 vol% ceramic fillers were added to the PI, and the resulting dielectric properties were studied. The BaTiO3fillers underwent particle-size refinement using planetary ball milling and surface modifications through the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide and by grafting with a coupling agent of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The highest K-value obtained from the PI-2/SS-BT composites was 52 at a 50 vol% filler content. However, the high-K advantage of SS-BT for hybrid composites is greatly deteriorated by surface modification of the OH-group covering the fillers.

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We present a case with swelling of the lower extremities, shortness of breath, and hyponatremia. 99mTc-labeled red blood cells subcutaneous radionuclide venography was performed to rule out deep vein thrombosis. Disturbed iliac venous flow and a photopenic lesion were noted in the lower abdomen on the planar imaging. SPECTCT imaging revealed a hypodense lesion in the lower abdomen. Distended urinary bladder and retention were impressed. After approximately 4000 mL of urine was drained, symptoms were dramatically relieved, and improvement of hyponatremia was also observed.

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