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Sintering phenomena, densification, and grain growth are crucial for proper control of the microstructure for good mechanical strength. Here, materials and processing parameters, the addition of La2O3, and two‐step sintering (TSS) were combined to lead to higher strength in the porous alumina prepared by freeze‐casting. Based on grain growth and densification behaviors with the La2O3 doping, a beneficial thermal profile was designed for the TSS. As a result, higher relative density levels and smaller grain size were obtained compared with the results with conventional sintering (CS): 38.56% and 0.82 µm at 1500°C by CS; 40.78% and 1.78 µm at 1600°C by CS; 41.43% and 0.87 µm by TSS. The microstructural benefits provided ∼1.4 times higher compressive strength (5.46 MPa) from TSS than from the CS sample (3.92 MPa), highlighting the synergetic effect of La2O3 doping and the TSS strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric (TE) generation with solution‐processable conducting polymers offers substantial potential in low‐temperature energy harvesting based on high tunability in materials, processes, and form‐factors. However, manipulating the TE and charge transport properties accompanies structural and energetic disorders, restricting the enhancement of thermoelectric power factor (PF). Here, solution‐based strong acid–base treatment techniques are introduced to modulate the doping level of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films with preserving its molecular orientation, enabling to achieve a remarkably high PF of 534.5 µW m−1 K−2. Interestingly, theoretical modeling suggested that further de‐doping can increase the PF beyond the experimental value. However, it is impossible to reach this value experimentally, even without any degradation of PEDOT crystallinity. Uncovering the underlying reason for the limitation, an analysis of the relationship among the microstructure–thermoelectric performance–charge transport property revealed that inter‐domain connectivity via tie‐chains and the resultant percolation for transport are crucial factors in achieving high TE performance, as in charge transport. It is believed that the methods and fundamental understandings in this work would contribute to the exploitation of conducting polymer‐based low‐temperature energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity generation using the piezoelectric effect is an important energy harvesting method. In this study, a solar radiation pressure‐driven crater‐shaped light pressure electric generator (LPEG) device with a Pb(Zr0.52, Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) piezoelectric layer and grained Ag layer is fabricated on GaAs(100) wafer. The electrical output of the device is improved by adsorbing Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the Ag layer with the surface of closely connected Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). By controlling the size and concentration of the AuNPs, a maximum power density of 867.5 µW cm−2 is obtained under a solar simulator (AM 1.5G), which represents a 151.7% improvement over the case without AuNP adsorption. The results of Raman spectra, finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulations, and COMSOL Multiphysics demonstrate that the newly formed hotspots between AgNPs─AuNPs and AuNPs─AuNPs enhance the electric field of the incident light significantly and extend the region where the electric field is maximally amplified to 600–800 nm, resulting in increased solar radiation pressure on the PZT piezoelectric layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase mechanical strength of porous ceramics, here, an effective two‐step sintering (TSS) technique capable of producing highly porous alumina with enhanced mechanical strength is suggested. Based on the sintering theories, here, a significantly lower activation energy for densification at low temperature region allowed a beneficial temperature range for the TSS to be deduced. With a specific TSS regime (T1 = 1550°C and T2 = 1400°C), significantly higher compressive strength levels (8.00–15.24 MPa) were measured with an apparent porosity of 56.49% compared to conventional sintering (1.03–1.86 MPa) with similar apparent porosity of 57.84%. Specifically, another TSS regime (T1 = 1550°C and T2 = 1380°C) left submicron‐sized open pores within the lamellar walls, providing a hierarchical porous structure with enhanced mechanical strength. An evaluation of the mechanical stability by a finite element analysis indicated outstanding compressive strength even with small pores in the lamella walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridizing single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with π‐conjugated organic small molecules (π‐OSMs) offers a promising approach for producing high‐performance thermoelectric (TE) materials through the facile optimization of the molecular geometry and energy levels of π‐OSMs. Designing a twisted molecular structure for the π‐OSM with the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level comparable to the valence band of SWCNTs enables effective energy filtering between the two materials. The SWCNTs/twisted π‐OSM hybrid exhibits a high Seebeck coefficient of 110.4 ± 2.6 µV K−1, leading to a significantly improved power factor of 2,136 µW m−1 K−2, which is 2.6 times higher than that of SWCNTs. Moreover, a maximum figure of merit over 0.13 at room temperature is achieved via the efficient TE transport of the SWCNTs/twisted π‐OSM hybrid. The study highlights the promising potential of optimizing molecular engineering of π‐OSMs for hybridization with SWCNTs to create next‐generation, efficient TE materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic nanostructured metals have many advantages for applications in high‐performance surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. In particular, unique designing nanostructures with bicontinuous ligaments surrounded by cylindrical voids with tunable dense pores from a few to hundreds of nanometers can be utilized for the high‐performance SERS‐active substrate. Here, a fabrication strategy is reported to prepare hierarchically arranged micro/nanostructures of wrinkled nanoporous gold (WNPG) films, which involves laminating of the dealloyed Au film on the heat‐shrinkable shape‐memory polymer film and geometrical modulation of the substrate. As a result, the various types of WNPG films are crafted with a remarkable density of cracks in the structured surface area. Specifically, the WNPG films consisting of multilayered overlapping features are explored and used as the SERS‐active substrate. This dual porosity coupled with localized surface plasmon resonance estimated by numerical simulation in a suitable model of bicontinuous ligaments is found to be the core mechanism for the enhancement of SERS sensitivity, which quantitatively characterizes the "hot spots" from the surface to interlayers. These suggested characteristic features are fully assessed by applying a series of dye molecules and DNA strands on the prepared SERS substrate, demonstrating the enhanced intensity of the Raman scattering signals on the optimized WNPG surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A light‐pressure electric generator (LPEG) device, which harvests piezoelectric energy using solar radiation enhanced by surface plasmons (SPs), is demonstrated. The design of the device is motivated by the need to drastically increase the power output of existing piezoelectric devices based on SP resonance. The solar radiation pressure can be used as an energy source by employing an indium tin oxide (ITO)/Ag double layer to excite the SPs in the near‐infrared (NIR) and visible light regions. The LPEG with the ITO layer generates an open‐circuit voltage of 295 mV, a short‐circuit current of 3.78 μA, and a power of 532.3 μW cm−2 under a solar simulator. The power of the LPEG device incorporating the ITO layer increased by 38% compared to the device without the ITO layer. The effect of the ITO layer on the electrical output of the LPEG was analyzed in detail by measuring the electrical output when visible and NIR lights are incident on the device using optical bandpass filters. In addition, finite‐difference time‐domain simulation confirmed that the pressure of the incident light can be further amplified by the ITO/Ag double layer. Finally, the energy harvested from the LPEG was stored in capacitors to successfully illuminate red light‐emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic indoor photovoltaics (IPVs) are attractive energy harvesting devices for low‐power consumption electronic devices and the Internet of Things (IoTs) owing to their properties such as being lightweight, semitransparent, having multicoloring capability, and flexibility. It is important to match the absorption range of photoactive materials with the emission spectra of indoor light sources that have a visible range of 400–700 nm for IPVs to provide sustainable, high‐power density. To this end, benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐based homopolymer (PBDTT) is synthesized as a polymer donor, which is a classical material that has a wide bandgap with a deep highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) level, and a series of random copolymers by incorporating thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6,‐dione (TPD) as a weak electron acceptor unit in PBDTT. The composition of the TPD unit is varied to fine tune the absorption range of the polymers; the polymer containing 70% TPD (B30T70) perfectly covers the entire range of indoor lamps such as light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent lamp (FL). Consequently, B30T70 shows a dramatic enhancement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 1‐sun (PCE: 6.0%) to the indoor environment (PCE: 18.3%) when fabricating organic IPVs by blending with PC71BM. The simple, easy molecular design guidelines are suggested to develop photoactive materials for efficient organic IPVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D materials exhibit unique electrical and mechanical properties, and therefore have been investigated extensively. One of their important applications is logic‐in‐memory, which can perform logic operations as well as store data. This makes it possible to overcome the intrinsic obstacles of the von Neuman computing architecture that uses separate processing and storage units. Herein, a two‐terminal self‐gating random‐access memory (SGRAM) based on partially aligned graphene/MoS2/h‐BN/graphene/h‐BN/Au heterostructures is proposed. One of the two electrodes acts as the drain as well as the gate electrodes; thus, the SGRAM exhibits both diode‐like behaviors and nonvolatile memory effects, allowing the construction of a simple crossbar array without a selector. The SGRAM crossbar array consisting of 2 × 2 cells is constructed and its random accessibility is verified by addressing each cell independently. In addition, reconfigurable AND/OR logic gates are implemented using the SGRAM array. Hence, it is demonstrated that SGRAMs are promising candidates for "Beyond von Neumann" computing architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the asynchronous mode‐dependent sampled‐data control synthesis for non‐homogeneous Markovian jump systems subject to generalised transition rates and bounded conditional probabilities. To increase the reality in system modelling, the asynchronous phenomenon between plant mode and sampled plant mode (i.e. control mode) is explored along with the non‐homogeneous nature of the Markov process, and the time variability of the conditional probabilities indicating the degree of the asynchronous phenomenon is imposed on the stabilisation process. Moreover, to achieve less conservative results, a reinforced looped‐functional is established by introducing two novel time‐integrated states, so that more detailed state information can be utilised during the stabilisation process, and an effective relaxation technique is proposed so that the zero‐sum and boundary constraints of multiple time‐varying parameters can be sufficiently utilised when transforming the parameterised stabilisation conditions into linear matrix inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the oxidation resistance effect of B on the high‐temperature sintering of Cu‐based metallisation for crystalline Si solar cells is described. Atmospheric sintering of B‐containing Cu–Ag core‐shell paste printed on a Si wafer is performed at high temperatures (up to 800°C). The oxidation of Cu is effectively prevented by B, affording a brown bulky Cu–Ag film with low electrical resistivity (order of 10−6 Ω cm). The Cu–Ag film formation is monitored via microscopic and crystallographic analyses. The Cu–Ag film exhibits increased electrical conductivity with increasing B content from 0 to 5 wt.%. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data reveal that the B2O3 formed on the Cu–Ag film surface prevents external oxygen diffusion into the bulk. The developed paste is applied to a crystalline Si solar cell, affording a maximum efficiency of 17.55%. These results show the practical applicability of Cu‐based electrodes in the solar cell industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is the only curative therapy for distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCC). There has been no study to compare outcomes between minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) and open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) for dCC. The aim of the study is to compare the two operation types for dCC in terms of postoperative and oncologic outcomes. Methods: Data from 426 patients who underwent MIPD (n = 91) or OPD (n = 335) for dCC from January 2012 to December 2019 at two tertiary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. After 1:2 propensity score matching, postoperative and oncologic outcomes were compared. Results: Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy group showed more favorable results than OPD group in terms of blood loss (MIPD vs OPD, 250 [150‐400] vs 400 [200‐600], mL, P <.001), and length of hospital stay (19.8 ± 11.3 vs 26.6 ± 14.3 days, P <.001). OPD group showed more favorable results than MIPD group in terms of operation time (MIPD vs OPD, 457 ± 70 vs 398 ± 85 min, P <.001) and harvested lymph nodes (14.9 ± 7.8 vs 20.7 ± 11.5, P <.001). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the R0 resection rate and complications. In long‐term survival analysis, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy showed comparable postoperative complications and long‐term oncologic survival with OPD in the treatment of dCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differentiation and activity of bone‐resorbing osteoclasts are tightly regulated to maintain the homeostasis of healthy bones. In this study, the role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) during osteoclastogenesis was studied in myeloid‐specific Ptpn1‐deficient (conditional knockout [cKO]) mice. The mRNA and protein expression of PTP1B increased during the formation of mature osteoclasts from mouse bone macrophages on stimulation with macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL). The Ptpn1 cKO mice exhibited increased femoral trabecular bone volume with a decreased number and activity of osteoclasts compared with control mice. The in vitro culture of osteoclast precursors corroborated the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis in cKO cells compared with control, with concomitantly decreased RANKL‐dependent proliferation, lower osteoclast marker gene expression, reduced nuclear expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), diminished intracellular Ca2+ oscillations, and increased phosphorylation of proto‐oncogene tyrosine‐protein kinase Src on inhibitory tyrosine residue. In a ligature‐induced periodontitis model, Ptpn1 cKO mice exhibited attenuated osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone loss following the induction of inflammation. The Ptpn1‐deficient mice were similarly protected from ovariectomy‐induced bone loss compared with control mice. These results provide a novel regulatory role of PTP1B in osteoclastogenesis and suggest a potential as a therapeutic target for bone‐lytic diseases. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio ichthyoenteri, and Photobacterium damselae isolated from olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Korea by multiplex PCR developed using the rpoB gene. Keywords: bacterial fish pathogen; conventional PCR; quantitative PCR; recA gene; Vibrio scophthalmi EN bacterial fish pathogen conventional PCR quantitative PCR recA gene Vibrio scophthalmi 373 378 6 01/17/22 20220201 NES 220201 Since it was first isolated from the intestine of the turbot (Cerdà-Cuéllar et al., 1997), I Vibrio scophthalmi i has been considered an opportunistic pathogen in several fish species (Gauger et al., 2006; Valdenegro-Vega et al. 2013). Bacterial fish pathogen, quantitative PCR, conventional PCR, recA gene, Vibrio scophthalmi. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, we propose high‐performance polymer/metal/polymer (HP–PMP) films with simultaneous heat reflection/transparent heater functions. The thickness‐optimized HP–PMP films showed a maximum transmittance of 77.12% (86.65% without the base film) at a wavelength of 460 nm, sheet resistance of 5.982 Ω/□, and figure of merit of 12.44 × 10−3 Ω−1 (39.89 × 10−3 Ω−1 without the base film). In the surface heating test, the temperature reached approximately 150°C at an applied voltage of 11 V. In the heat mirror experiment using an infrared lamp, the HP–PMP film showed 85.1% heat shielding, compared to the base film. After the mechanical rolling reliability test, the HP–PMP film did not show any change in resistance after 10 ,000 cycles under a rolling condition of 240°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of multi‐valued logic devices, which involve switching between more than two states, is one of the promising approaches for overcoming the issues caused by the further scaling down of the current complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor devices. This paper presents ternary devices based on MoS2/h‐BN/graphene heterostructures, in which an active channel of MoS2 is partially aligned with a floating gate of graphene, unlike in the case of typical flash memory devices; thus, they can be regarded as a circuit consisting of a memory device and field‐effect transistor internally connected in parallel. The transfer curves of these devices exhibit two different threshold voltages (Vth) with ternary states ("0," "1," and "2"). Furthermore, the intermediate state can be controlled by oxygen plasma treatment, resulting in a ratio >102 for "1"/"0" states and "2"/"1" states. Thus, these devices can be used to implement a resistive‐load standard ternary inverter, whose output voltage is close to 1, 0.5, and 0 V under the supply voltage of 1 V. In addition, ternary NMIN and NMAX circuits with resistive loads are demonstrated by connecting two ternary inverters in series and parallel, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate pharmacokinetic equivalence and preliminary safety of the adalimumab biosimilar CT‐P17 administered via autoinjector (CT‐P17 AI) or prefilled syringe (CT‐P17 PFS) in healthy subjects. Methods: This phase I, open‐label study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04295356) randomised subjects (1:1) to receive a single 40‐mg (100 mg/mL) dose of CT‐P17 AI or CT‐P17 PFS. Primary endpoint was pharmacokinetic equivalence of CT‐P17 AI to CT‐P17 PFS for: area under the concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0–inf); area under the concentration–time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration (AUC0–last); maximum serum concentration (Cmax). Equivalence was determined if the 90% confidence interval for the geometric least‐squares mean ratio was within the 80–125% equivalence margin. Additional pharmacokinetic endpoints, safety and immunogenicity were evaluated. Results: Of 193 subjects who were randomised (98 CT‐P17 AI; 95 CT‐P17 PFS), 180 received study drug. Pharmacokinetic equivalence was demonstrated: 90% confidence intervals were within the 80–125% equivalence margin (AUC0–inf: 93.98–114.29; AUC0–last: 91.09–121.86; Cmax: 94.08–111.90). Mean serum CT‐P17 concentrations, secondary pharmacokinetic parameters and numbers of subjects with antidrug antibodies (ADAs) or neutralising ADAs were comparable between groups. AUC0–inf, AUC0–last and Cmax were numerically lower for ADA‐positive than for ADA‐negative subjects (both groups); pharmacokinetic equivalence was also demonstrated among ADA‐positive subjects. CT‐P17 AI and CT‐P17 PFS were well tolerated, with comparable overall safety profiles. Conclusions: CT‐P17 AI and CT‐P17 PFS were pharmacokinetically equivalent. Overall safety and immunogenicity were comparable between the 2 delivery devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly active and durable systemic therapies such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy can convert widespread metastatic disease into oligometastatic status, for which metastasis‐directed local intervention can control and potentially prolong survival. Radiation therapy is an effective therapeutic option for oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease. Here, we present a case of induced oligometastasis and repeated oligoprogressive lung cancer in which more than 6 years of survival was achieved with a combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) treatment involves the haemostatic treatment for acute haemorrhage and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) to eradicate FVIII inhibitory antibodies. Aim: We assessed the clinical features of AHA and analysed treatment outcomes in Korea. We further identified prognostic factors affecting treatment outcomes. Methods: Medical records of 55 patients with AHA from 18 institutions were reviewed retrospectively. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to elucidate clinical factors affecting the achievement of complete remission (CR). The primary endpoint was time to CR after IST, and secondary endpoints were time to haemostasis, the achievement of CR, and overall survival (OS). Results: Among the 55 patients, 50 (91%) had bleeding symptoms. Bleeding was severe in 74% of patients. Thirty‐six (72%) patients received haemostatic therapy. Of the 42 patients who received IST, 23 (52%) received steroid alone, with a 52% response rate, and 10 (25%) received a combination of steroid and cyclophosphamide, with an 83% response rate. Five (16%) patients relapsed after a median duration of 220 days. There were eight deaths. In the Cox regression analysis, the FVIII inhibitor titre ≥ 20 BU/mL was the only significant prognostic factor affecting time to CR and haemostasis. No significant difference was observed in OS based on the inhibitor titre. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the demographic data of AHA in Korea and showed that FVIII inhibitory antibody titre was a predictor of time to achieve CR after IST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to demonstrate pharmacokinetic (PK) equivalence of a single dose of the proposed adalimumab biosimilar CT‐P17 to United States‐licensed adalimumab (US‐adalimumab) and European Union‐approved adalimumab (EU‐adalimumab). This double‐blind, parallel‐group, phase I trial (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03970824) was conducted at 10 hospitals (Republic of Korea), in which healthy subjects (1:1:1) were randomized to receive a single 40 mg (100 mg/ml) subcutaneous injection of CT‐P17, US‐adalimumab, or EU‐adalimumab. Primary end points were PK equivalence in terms of: area under the concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0–inf); AUC from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration (AUC0–last); and maximum serum concentration (Cmax). PK equivalence was concluded if 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for percent ratios of geometric least squares means (GLSMs) for pairwise comparisons were within the equivalence margin of 80–125%. Additional PK end points, safety, and immunogenicity were evaluated. Of the 312 subjects who were randomized (103 CT‐P17; 103 US‐adalimumab; 106 EU‐adalimumab), 308 subjects received study drug. AUC0–inf, AUC0–last, and Cmax were equivalent among CT‐P17, US‐adalimumab, and EU‐adalimumab, because 90% CIs for the ratios of GLSMs were within the 80–125% equivalence margin for each pairwise comparison. Secondary PK end points, safety, and immunogenicity were similar between treatment groups. In conclusion, PK equivalence for single‐dose administration of CT‐P17, EU‐adalimumab, and US‐adalimumab was demonstrated in healthy adults. Safety and immunogenicity profiles were comparable between treatment groups and consistent with previous reports for adalimumab biosimilars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the chemical structure at the interfaces of nanocomposite thin films, consisting of MgF2 nanoparticles and a plasma polymer fluorocarbon (PPFC) matrix, was analyzed to elucidate the relationship between fluorine dispersion and surface properties. Using self‐made MgF2–carbon nanotube–polytetrafluoroethylene ternary composite sputtering targets, MgF2 nanoparticles were successfully embedded in the PPFC matrix through sputtering. The spectrometric analysis showed that the fluorine atoms transfer at the nanoparticle interface created a carbon‐rich region in the PPFC polymer matrix, resulting in higher thin film hardness. The optimized MgF2 nanoparticle/PPFC matrix thin film showed that surface hardness reached 4.32 GPa, and it also exhibited high optical transparency and water repellency. MgF2–PPFC nanocomposite thin film could be applicable to protective optical coatings for display and automotive windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tip plasty using a septal extension graft (SEG) is useful in the Asian population. However, complications such as decreased tip projection, infection, or deviation are noted post-surgery, and additional support using an SEG is often necessary. We aimed to transplant an additional 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) graft to the tip plasty using the SEG to reinforce the SEG.Methods: The study included 43 patients (20 males and 23 females; mean age, 28.7 years; range, 17-58 years) who received rhinoplasties using the SEG method combined with a 3D printed PCL graft from November 2016 to August 2017. The mean observation period was 14.8 months (range, 12-20 months).Results: Twenty-six patients rated their satisfaction level as excellent, 13 rated good, 3 rated fair, and 1 rated poor. In total, 28 patients did not exhibit tip drooping at the 1-year follow-up; 13 patients demonstrated mild to moderate tip drooping, and 2 patients demonstrated severe tip drooping. Thirty-one patients demonstrated "stiffness" of the nasal tip, of which 11 patients reported discomfort, and 20 patients reported none; two patients demonstrated deviation of the tip.Conclusion: Although the 3D-printed PCL graft provided support, biocompatibility, and manipulability, care is required to prevent complications.Level Of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1680-1685, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the tissues surrounding teeth that causes destruction of connective tissues. During the progress of periodontitis, osteoclasts are solely accountable for the resorption of alveolar bones that leads to the loss of teeth if not properly treated. Thus, the development of effective anti‐resorptive therapies will greatly benefit the treatment of periodontitis patients. In the present study, we suggest an inhibitory effect of 6‐shogaol, an ingredient of ginger, on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Methods: Mouse bone marrow cells were cultured in the presence of macrophage‐colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL) to investigate the effect of 6‐shogaol on osteoclast differentiation and intracellular signaling pathways. 6‐shogaol significantly reduced osteoclast differentiation, actin ring formation, and resorption. In the presence of 6‐shogaol, osteoclast signaling including the RANKL‐induced activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases, Ca2+ oscillation, generation of reactive oxygen species, and nuclear factor of activated T‐cells, cytoplasmic 1 nuclear translocation was significantly inhibited in vitro. Furthermore, a ligature‐induced periodontitis model in mice was used to determine the role of 6‐shogaol in vivo. Results: The administration of 6‐shogaol prevented osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone resorption induced by ligature. Furthermore, the ligature‐induced number of macrophages and neutrophils as well as the expression of interleukin‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐α were considerably lower in the periodontal tissues following shogaol injection. Conclusion: These results confirm the anti‐osteoclastogenic effect of 6‐shogaol and suggest the possibility of application as an anti‐resorptive strategy in periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the phase 3 study RERISE, patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase demonstrated significantly faster and higher rates of major molecular response (MMR) with twice‐daily radotinib 300 mg (n = 79) or 400 mg (n = 81) than with once‐daily imatinib 400 mg (n = 81) after 12 months. With ≥48 months' follow‐up, MMR was higher with radotinib 300 mg (86%) or 400 mg (83%) than with imatinib (75%). Among patients with BCR‐ABL1 ≤ 10% at three months, MMR and molecular response 4·5 (MR4·5) were achieved within 48 months by more radotinib‐treated patients (300 mg: 84% and 52%, respectively; 400 mg: 74% and 44%, respectively) than imatinib‐treated patients (71% and 44%, respectively). Estimated overall and progression‐free survival rates at 48 months were not significantly different between imatinib (94% and 94%, respectively) and radotinib 300 mg (99% and 97%, respectively) or 400 mg (95% and 93%, respectively). The treatment failure rate was significantly higher with imatinib (19%) than with radotinib 300 mg (6%; P = 0·0197) or 400 mg (5%; P = 0·0072). Safety profiles were consistent with previous reports; most adverse events occurred within 12 months. Radotinib continues to demonstrate robust, deep molecular responses, suggesting that treatment‐free remission may be attainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared a plasma‐polymer‐fluorocarbon/Cu/SiNx (PCS) film heater with a transparent, self‐cleaning surface and excellent mechanical flexibility by using Cu as the heating metal. The PCS film heater exhibited a maximum transmittance of 78.3% in the visible region, a sheet resistance of 4.6 Ω/sq, and a water contact angle of 105° on the film surface. The maximum mechanical inner bending radius was 4 mm, and the cyclic reliability was excellent. In particular, despite the lower optical properties, compared with those of the Ag‐based heater, the maximum transmittance of the PCS film heater in the visible light region was almost the same as that of Ag, and the maximum bending radius was smaller. To evaluate the industrial applicability of the PCS film heater, various sizes were fabricated to evaluate the electrical and heating properties, and a thermotherapy pad was fabricated to demonstrate its applicability as a medical device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Kimchi, a Korean food, is now produced and consumed in many other countries. In this study, the macro, trace, and toxic element content in varieties of kimchi from Korea and China was evaluated. A health‐risk assessment, involving the calculation of estimated dietary intake values, was undertaken. To discriminate among samples with different origins, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied. RESULTS: The analytical methods used for analyses were successfully validated. In the quantification of elements, no significant differences were detected in the concentrations of the elements that were analyzed. Based on the fresh weight of kimchi, among the macro elements, the concentrations of Na and K were relatively high, with values of 4181.9–9919.8 mg kg−1 and 1661.8–6623.5 mg kg−1, respectively. Among the trace elements that were analyzed, zinc in Korean samples, and strontium in Chinese samples showed the highest concentrations, at 2.67 and 2.98 mg kg−1, respectively. Concentration levels of the toxic trace elements were within permissible limits. The amount of daily intake and provisional daily intake of each element calculated based on kimchi intake confirmed its safety for consumption. Linear discriminant analysis and PCA successfully discriminated among the samples of Chinese and Korean origin. CONCLUSION: The provisional daily intake of the toxic elements was within provisional tolerable daily intake values. The normal intake of kimchi could not pose a threat upon consumption. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted therapy at the molecular level is important for pancreatic cancer treatment. This study looked over the anticancer activity of Orostachys japonicus in a human pancreatic cancer cell line, PANC‐1. An ethyl acetate fraction containing quercetin, kaempferol, and flavonol glycosides from O. japonicus (OJE) exhibited significant anticancer activity against the PANC‐1. OJE activated caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9, leading to the induction of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. It also inhibited cyclin D1, cyclin B1, and cyclin‐dependent kinase 4, representing cell cycle arrest at both G1/S and G2/M phases. In addition, OJE phosphorylated MAPKs such as p38, JNK, and ERK, which are important upstream signaling factors in apoptosis and arrest of cell cycle inducing system. In conclusion, OJE effectively exerted antipancreatic cancer activity via induction of apoptosis directed by both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and arrest of cell cycle regulated at both G1/S and G2/M stages, which is activated by MAPKs, p38, JNK, and ERK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a common form of dementia, is caused in part by the aggregation and accumulation in the brain of amyloid ß (Aß), a product of the proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in endosomes. Trafficking of APP, such as surface‐intracellular recycling, is an early critical step required for Aβ generation. Less is known, however, about the molecular mechanism regulating APP trafficking. This study investigated the mechanism by which SPIN90, along with Rab11, modulates APP trafficking, Aβ motility and accumulation, and synaptic functionality Method: This study utilized live‐imaging technology with molecular, cellular and 5xFAD model mice system. Result: Brain Aβ deposition was lower in the progeny of 5xFAD‐SPIN90KO mice than in 5xFAD‐SPIN90WT mice. Analysis of APP distribution and trafficking showed that the surface fraction of APP was locally distinct in axons and dendrites, with these distributions differing significantly in 5xFAD‐SPIN90WT and 5xFAD‐SPIN90KO mice, and that neural activity‐driven APP trafficking to the surface and intracellular recycling were more actively mobilized in 5xFAD‐SPIN90KO neurons. In addition, SPIN90 was found to be cotrafficked with APP via axons, with ablation of SPIN90 reducing the intracellular accumulation of APP in axons. Finally, synaptic transmission was restored over time in 5xFAD‐SPIN90KO but not in 5xFAD‐SPIN90WT neurons Conclusion: The interaction of SPIN90 and Rab11 is implicated in Aβ production through the regulation of APP trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the safety (hemolysis and enzyme activity), probiotic properties (gastrointestinal tract tolerance, adhesion, hydrophobicity, and auto‐aggregation), and functional characteristics (antimicrobial, antioxidant, and β‐galactosidase activities) of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from kimchi, in order to select a multifunctional LAB strain for starter culture in fermented food. The five isolated strains included Lactobacillus plantarum WiKim83, L. plantarum WiKim84, Pediococcus pentosaceus WiKim85, P. pentosaceus WiKim86, and L. plantarum WiKim87, as identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis; they were confirmed to be nonhemolytic and not able to produce β‐glucuronidase, a carcinogenic enzyme. Probiotic properties of the five LAB strains were evaluated relative to those of commercial Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and results revealed probiotic potential of three strains (L. plantarum WiKim83, L. plantarum WiKim84, and L. plantarum WiKim87) to be superior. L. plantarum WiKim84 showed high antimicrobial activity against pathogens, and L. plantarum WiKim83 exhibited the highest antioxidant and β‐galactosidase activities. Based on the probiotic and functional properties, the main characteristics of each strain were highlighted and two of them, L. plantarum WiKim83 and L. plantarum WiKim87, were selected as the most potent by principal component analysis. These strains showed antimicrobial, β‐galactosidase, and antioxidant activities, which recommend their suitability as starter culture in various fermented foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Edwardsiella is one of the major causes of fish diseases globally. Herein, we examined 37 isolates from ten different fish species from India, South Korea and Taiwan to gain insight into their phenotypic and genotypic properties, of which 30 were characterized as E. tarda with phenotypic homology estimated at 85.71% based on API‐20E biochemical tests. Genotyping using 16S rRNA put all isolates together with E. anguillarum, E. hoshinae, E. tarda, E. piscicida and E. ictaluri reference strains in a monophyletic group. In contrast, the gyrB phylogenetic tree clearly separated E. ictaluri, E. tarda and E. hoshinae reference strains from our isolates and put our isolates into two groups with group I being homologous with the E. anguillarum reference strain while group II was homologous with the E. piscicida reference strain. Hence, our findings point to E. piscicida and E. anguillarum as species infecting different fish species in Asia. Homology of the ompW protein suggested that strains with broad protective coverage could be identified as vaccine candidates. This study underscores the importance of combining genotyping with phenotyping for valid species classification. In addition, it accentuates the importance of phylogenetic comparison of bacterial antigens for identification of potential vaccine candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lin28, which is highly expressed during embryogenesis, has been shown to play an important role in cell growth and embryonic development. Meanwhile, Lin28 represses let‐7 miRNA biogenesis and block pre‐let‐7 processing in the cytoplasm. The let‐7 family of miRNAs is known to repress oncogenesis and cell cycle progression by targeting oncogenic genes and signalling pathways. Consequently, Lin28 acts as an oncogene by upregulating let‐7 targets through the repression of let‐7 biogenesis. A recent genome‐wide association study (GWAS) showed that many genes related to Type 2 diabetes (T2D) are also oncogenes or cell cycle regulators. The role of Lin28 in mouse growth and glucose metabolism in metabolic‐related tissues has also been studied. In these studies, whole‐body Lin28 overexpression was found to promote glucose utilization and prevent weight gain by inhibiting let‐7 biogenesis. Furthermore, Lin28 has been found to directly stimulate skeletal myogenesis and cell growth. Therefore, we determined whether similar effects mediated by Lin28a, which is essential for cell growth and proliferation, may also apply to pancreatic ß‐cells. We found that overexpression of Lin28a protects pancreatic β‐cells from streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced β‐cell destruction in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Lin28a‐overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mice had higher insulin secretion in the presence of glucose than in control mice. Our findings suggest that the Lin28/let‐7 axis is an important regulator of pancreatic β‐cell functions and that precise modulation of this axis may be helpful in treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Significance of the study: We demonstrate that Lin28a prevents pancreatic β‐cell death against streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced β‐cell destruction in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Lin28a promotes cell survival and proliferation by activating the PI3K‐Akt signalling pathway, which may be dependent on let‐7 regulation. Taken together, our results imply that the Lin28a/let‐7 axis is an important regulator of pancreatic β‐cell functions and that precise modulation of this axis may be helpful in treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a novel fabrication method for the moisture barrier films composed of plasma polymer fluorocarbon (PPFC) and inorganic (SiNx or SiO2) multilayers using a continuous roll‐to‐roll sputtering process. PPFC thin films are produced via the mid‐range frequency sputtering of a carbon nanotube‐polytetrafluoroethylene composite target. After depositing a PPFC layer on the surface of the multilayer structure, it exhibited a high degree of water repellency and enhanced transmittance in the visible light region. The produced 2‐dyad structure containing a SiNx inorganic layer deposited on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate demonstrates good barrier properties characterized by a water vapor transmittance rate (WVTR) of 1.8 × 10−2 g/m2/day. By replacing the inorganic layer with a SiO2 thin film, a better barrier film with a WVTR value of 1.1 × 10−2 g/m2/day is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although nilotinib has improved efficacy compared to imatinib, suboptimal response and intolerable adverse events (AEs) limit its effectiveness in many patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML‐CP). We investigated the 2‐year efficacy and safety of nilotinib and their relationships with plasma nilotinib concentrations (PNCs). In this open‐label, multi‐institutional phase 4 study, 110 Philadelphia chromosome‐positive CML‐CP patients were treated with nilotinib at a starting dose of 300 mg twice daily. Molecular responses (MRs) and AEs were monitored for up to 24 months. The 24‐month cumulative MR4.5 rate was evaluated as the primary endpoint. Plasma samples were collected from 94 patients to determine PNCs, and the per‐patient mean was used to categorize them into four mean PNC (MPNC) groups. Cumulative MR rates and safety were compared between groups. With a median follow‐up of 22.2 months, the 24‐month cumulative MR4.5 rate was 56.2% (95% confidence interval, 44.0%–8.3%), and the median time to MR4.5 was 23.3 months. There were no significant differences in the cumulative rates of major molecular response, MR4, and MR4.5 between MPNC groups. One patient died due to acute viral hepatitis, and two developed hematological or cytogenetic relapse, while no progression to accelerated or blast phase was observed. Safety results were consistent with previous studies with no new safety signal identified. Across the MPNC groups, there was no significant linear trend in the frequency of AEs. Nilotinib is highly effective for the treatment of CML‐CP with manageable AEs. The measurement of PNC has no predictive value for patient outcomes and is thus not found to be clinically useful. This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov, Number NCT03332511. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Radotinib is a second‐generation BCR‐ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CP‐CML). Here, using the data from a Phase 3 study conducted in patients with newly diagnosed CP‐CML, the dose–efficacy as well as dose–safety relationship analyses were performed to determine a safe and effective initial dosage regimen of radotinib. A significant positive association was detected between the starting dose of radotinib adjusted for body weight (Dose/BW) and the probability of dose‐limiting toxicity (≥grade 3 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity) (P = 0.003). In contrast, a significant inverse association was discovered between Dose/BW and the probability of major molecular response (BCR‐ABL1/ABL1 ≤ 0.1%) when controlled for sex (P = 0.033). Moreover, frequent dose interruptions and reductions secondary to radotinib toxicities occurred in the Phase 3 study, resulting in nearly half (44%) of patients receiving a reduced dose at a 12‐month follow‐up. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate the need for initial radotinib dose attenuation to improve the long‐term efficacy and safety of radotinib. Hence, the authors suggest a new upfront radotinib dose of 400 mg once daily be tested in patients with newly diagnosed CP‐CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to develop an improved relaxation technique (especially in terms of conservatism and computational complexity) for the control design of a class of non‐homogeneous Markovian jump fuzzy systems with general transition descriptions. With this point of view, novel component‐summation‐based constraints are introduced to stringently establish the overall constraints on completely unknown transition rates, which play a key role in making relaxation techniques less conservative. Further, to reduce the computational complexity of relaxation processes with multiple slack variables, this study provides a method of replacing all self‐mode‐transitions with other transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) on the thermoelectric properties of free-standing poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the film containing 0.50 vol% GQDs are 164.60 S/cm and 34.85 μV/K, compared with 22.50 S/cm and 27.72 μV/K, respectively, for the pristine PEDOT:PSS film without GQDs. The power factor (PF) increased up to 22.37 μW/mK2, which is ~13 times higher than that (1.73 μW/mK2) of the pristine film through the selective dedoping of PEDOT by the chemical treatment. Thus, the improved PF is due to the optimized charge carrier concentration and increased Hall mobility by the morphological and structural evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are important for clinical application and stem cell research. Although human melanoma-associated antigen A2 (hMAGEA2) expression is known to affect differentiation in embryonic stem cells, its specific role in iPS cells remains unclear. To evaluate the function of hMAGEA2 and its characteristics in iPS cells, we produced hMAGEA2-overexpressing iPS cells from hMAGEA2-overexpressing transgenic mice. Although the iPS cells with overexpressed hMAGEA2 did not differ in morphology, their pluripotency, and self-renewal related genes (Nanog, Oct3/4, Sox2, and Stat3), expression level was significantly upregulated. Moreover, hMAGEA2 contributed to the promotion of cell cycle progression, thereby accelerating cell proliferation. Through embryoid body formation in vitro and teratoma formation in vivo, we demonstrated that hMAGEA2 critically decreases the differentiation ability of iPS cells. These data indicate that hMAGEA2 intensifies the self-renewal, pluripotency, and degree of proliferation of iPS cells, while significantly repressing their differentiation efficiency. Therefore, our findings prove that hMAGEA2 plays key roles in iPS cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two heteroleptic iridium( III) complexes with fluorine-free pyridylpyrimidine main ligands were designed and synthesized for use as blue phosphorescent emitters in organic light-emitting diodes ( OLEDs). Complexes 1 and 2 have a molecular formula of Ir(C∧N)2(L∧X), where C∧N = 2-tert-butyl-5-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidine ( b5ppmH) is the main ligand and L∧X = picolinic acid (pic) and 2-( 1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine (ptz) are ancillary ligands. The thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of these complexes were investigated. Even without electron-withdrawing fluorine substituents, the complexes emitted blue light at 463 and 455 nm with moderate quantum efficiencies (Φ PL = 0.54 and 0.43), respectively. Furthermore, the replacement of the pyridine ring with a pyrimidine ring allowed blue emission without fluorine substituents. An organic light-emitting device fabricated using complex 2 as a dopant and 1,3-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene ( mCP) as a host exhibited a maximum external quantum efficiency of 11.5% and color coordinates of (0.17, 0.26) at 100 cd/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Properties of hole transporting layers (HTLs) and back electrode are very critical to the stability of inverted bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules. Here, various deposition methods for back electrodes and materials of HTLs are examined by applying to inverted organic solar cells with a structure of indium tin oxide/ZnO/photoactive layer/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/Ag. The experiment is performed on encapsulated modules with flexible barrier films under accelerated conditions. The OPV modules with screen-printed Ag electrodes are shown to be electrically unstable with a reduction of the current density under damp heat condition at 85 °C/85% RH. Optical images for the active layer/PEDOT:PSS interface reveal that a reaction between the solvent from the Ag electrode and the underlying layers is the major cause for the degradation. In comparison with materials of the HTLs, the PEDOT:PSS layer shows low stability compared to the MoO3 layer under the accelerated conditions. Unusual chemical changes in the PEDOT:PSS film are observed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and this is further addressed by correlating the stability of the OPV devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the treatment responses, toxicities, and survival outcomes of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received daily thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone ( CTD) or daily thalidomide, melphalan, and prednisolone ( MTP) at 17 medical centers in Korea. Three-hundred and seventy-six patients were enrolled. The combined chemotherapy of thalidomide, corticosteroid, and an alkylating agent ( TAS) was second-line chemotherapy in 142 (37.8%) patients, and third-line chemotherapy in 135 (35.9%) patients. The response rate overall was 69.4%. Patients who were not treated with bortezomib and lenalidomide before TAS showed a higher response rate compared to those who were exposed to these agents. The estimated median progression-free survival and overall survival times were 10.4 months and 28.0 months, respectively. The adverse events during TAS were generally tolerable, but 39 (10.4%) patients experienced severe infectious complications. There were no differences in terms of efficacy between CTD and MTP, but infectious complications were more common in CTD group. TAS is an effective treatment regimen which induces a high response rate in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. Due to the high incidence of grade 3 or 4 infection, proper management of infection is necessary during the TAS treatment, especially the CTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which described the preparation and supramolecular assembly of highly charged tin(IV) porphyrin cations stabilized by ionic hydrogen-bonding interactions. Cited are several uses of tin(IV) porphyrins such as in the design of functional multiporphyrin arrays and in the applications of visible-light-sensitized photocatalysis and photodynamic therapy. Methods and materials used in the study are described.

BACKGROUND Patients receiving red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are at risk of iron overload, which can cause significant organ damage and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS This study was an open-label, single-arm, prospective clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deferasirox (DFX) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients with serum ferritin levels of at least 1000 ng/mL and ongoing transfusion requirements were enrolled. DFX was administered for up to 1 year. A total of 100 patients were enrolled. RESULTS Serum ferritin levels decreased significantly following treatment (from 2000 to 1650 ng/mL, p = 0.004). The median absolute reduction in serum ferritin levels was −65 ng/mL in AA (p = 0.037), −647 ng/mL in lower-risk MDS (MDS-LR; p = 0.007), and −552 ng/mL in higher-risk MDS (MDS-HR)/AML (p = 0.482). Mean labile plasma iron (LPI) levels decreased from 0.24 μmol/L at baseline to 0.03 μmol/L at 1 year in all patients (p = 0.036). The mean LPI reduction in each group was −0.17 μmol/L in AA, −0.21 μmol/L in MDS-LR, and −0.30 μmol/L in MDS-HR/AML. Gastrointestinal disorders were commonly observed among groups (16.0%). DFX was temporarily skipped for adverse events in seven patients (7.0%) and was permanently discontinued in 11 patients (11.0%). CONCLUSION DFX reduced serum ferritin and LPI levels in patients with transfusional iron overload. Despite the relatively high percentage of gastrointestinal side effects, DFX was tolerable in all subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of a unique silicone hot-melt bonding solution for device fabrications is described. Inherent attributes of traditional silicones including water repellency, chemical resistance and durability are augmented with automated precision hot-melt delivery. Other properties include instant room-temperature adhesion to provide ingress and impact protection while allowing manufacturers the benefit of reworkability and design flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]