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We present material substitutions and optical characterization of block copolymer (BCP)-templated gyroid structures that are obtained from a volume-asymmetric polystyrene

The aim of the present study was to examine the conditions, characteristics, and risk factors of level IIb lymph node metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma and to formulate surgical criteria for level IIb lymph node dissection. We analyzed clinical and pathological records for 541 oral squamous carcinoma patients in relation to level IIb metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect risk factors for level IIb lymph node metastasis; a predictive model was built based on multivariate analysis and tested in a validation group. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the training group indicated that level IIa metastasis and Lymphovascular permeation (LVP) were two independent risk factors for level IIb lymph node metastasis. This model was built and tested in a validation group, the area under the curve being 0.697 (P

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is on the rise as a treatment choice for malignant tumor. Compared to conventional radiotherapy, particle beams have different physical and biological properties. Particle beam provides a low entry dose, deposits most of the energy at the endpoint of the flight path, and forms an asymptotic dose peak (the “Bragg peak”). Compared to protons, carbon with its larger mass decreases beam scattering, resulting in a sharper dose distribution border. We report a 50-year-old male who underwent CIRT without surgical resection on osteosarcoma of the mandible. After CIRT, the patient’s pain was gone, and the malignant mass remained stable with accompanying necrosis. Nine months later, however, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated progression of the left mandibular osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastases. After multidisciplinary discussion, concurrent chemoradiotherapy was conducted. While necrotic bone segments came out of the mandible during subsequent periodic outpatient visits, the tumor itself was stable. Thirty months after his first visit and diagnosis, the patient is waiting for chemotherapy. Although CIRT is superior in treating radioresistant hypoxic disease, CIRT is in its infancy, so care must be taken for its indications and complications.

Nanoinks composed of quantum dots (QDs) are applied in light-receiving devices and light-emitting devices such as solar cells and displays. However, since the most widely used QDs, PbS and CdS, are toxic and environmentally concerning, alternative materials need to be developed. We synthesized and analyzed Ag chalcogenide nanoparticles, including AgBiS2 and Ag2S nanoparticles, which are eco-friendly materials. AgBiS2 and Ag2S QD films were prepared by spin-coating nanoparticle solutions and subsequent heat treatment. The effects of the heat treatment on residual ligands and photoluminescence were determined by surface analysis. The photocurrent response of the AgBiS2 and Ag2S QD films was measured in the near-infrared region, and the effect of the heat treatment temperature was investigated. The results indicate that AgBiS2 and Ag2S are prospective materials for near-infrared photodetectors.

Background/aimsThis study aimed to establish a wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) deviation map obtained from swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) scans. Moreover, it also aimed to compare the diagnostic ability of this wide-field deviation map with that of the peripapillary and macular deviation maps currently being used for the detection of early glaucoma (EG).MethodsFour hundred eyes, including 200 healthy eyes and 200 eyes with EG were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, including wide-field SS-OCT (DRI-OCT Triton; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). The individual wide-field scan was converted into a uniform template using the fovea and optic disc centres as fixed landmarks. Subsequently, the wide-field deviation map was obtained via the comparison between individual wide-field data and a normative wide-field database that had been created by combining images of healthy eyes into a uniform template in a previous study. The ability of the new wide-field deviation map to distinguish between EG and healthy eyes was assessed by comparing it with conventional deviation maps based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).ResultsThe wide-field deviation map obtained using the normative wide-field database showed the highest diagnostic ability for the diagnosis of EG (AUC=0.980 and 961 for colour-coded pixels presenting ConclusionThe wide-field SS-OCT deviation map exhibited good performance for distinguishing between eyes with EG and healthy eyes. The visualisation of the wider damaged area on the wide-field deviation map could be useful for the diagnosis of EG in clinical settings.

Rationale: Because the prognosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease varies, a scoring system predicting mortality is needed.Objectives: We aimed to develop a novel scoring system to ...

Three-dimensional (3D) cross-point (X-point) technology, including amorphous chalcogenide-based ovonic threshold switching (OTS) selectors, is bringing new changes to the memory hierarchy for high-performance computing systems. To prepare for future 3D X-point memory scaling, we studied the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) of Ge1−xSx amorphous chalcogenide alloy thin films, the selection of which was motivated by their high optical bandgap and wide amorphous forming regions. The PE-ALD Ge1−xSx thin films were synthesized using a GeCl4 precursor and H2S plasma reactant, and their self-limited growth characteristics were studied in detail as a function of the exposure time of the ALD steps, temperature, and plasma power. The PE-ALD GeS2 thin film showed an RMS roughness of 0.29 nm and good conformality in the vertical 3D structure. Moreover, the OTS behavior of GeS2 and Ge2S3 mushroom-type devices with a 50 nm bottom electrode contact (BEC) were investigated as well as the trade-off relationship between the threshold voltage (1.9–6.2 V) and the normalized off current (20–250 nA) based on scaling the film thickness down from 30 nm to 5 nm. In particular, the GeS2 device showed a higher threshold field (∼3.1 MV cm−1) and lower normalized off current characteristics than the Ge2S3 device due to the higher trap density (2.1 × 1021 cm−3), according to the modified Poole–Frenkel (PF) model. The results achieved by this PE-ALD research on this novel binary GeS2 amorphous chalcogenide for OTS applications will contribute to the development of future 3D cross-point memory scaling.

Ammonia has recently received considerable attention as an alternative energy carrier and a carbon-neutral fuel. In this future energy scenario, the ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) is a pivotal pr...

Background The traditional method of distraction required a long period until the new bone was fully fused. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cyclic and repetitive compressive force on new bone formation by applying a newly designed microactuator-generated distractor compared with the traditional distraction protocol. Methods The distraction devices were applied to the right and left mandibles of eight mature beagles, four of which were allocated to the experimental group and the other four to the control group. After a 5-day latency period, in the experimental group, 1.5-mm distraction and 0.5-mm compression were alternately applied every 12 hours; and in the control group, 0.5-mm distraction was repeated every 12 hours to perform a total of 7-mm mandibular lengthening. After an 8-week consolidation period, microstructure analysis using micro-computed tomography and histologic evaluations were performed. Results Bone volume fraction and trabecular number were significantly higher in the experimental group. Trabecular thickness did not show a significant difference, and trabecular separation was significantly higher in the control group. The measurement of new bone was significantly higher in the experimental group, but the difference in mineral apposition rate between the experimental and control groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions This study has revealed that applying cyclic compressive and tensile forces during the distraction period induces better new bone formation than repetitive distraction alone. In addition, the new distraction device produced reliable distraction results during the experiment.

We describe a new electrophotocatalytic strategy that harnesses the power of light and electricity to generate an excited radical anion with a reducing potential of –3.2 V vs. SCE, which can be used to activate substrates with very high reduction potentials (Ered ~ –1.9 to –2.9 V). The resultant aryl radicals can be engaged in various synthetically useful transformations to furnish arylboronate, arylstannane, and biaryl products.

Bisphosphonates are well-known drugs as inhibitors of bone resorption acting on inducing programmed cell death of osteoclasts. However, many in vitro studies report that optimal concentration of the bisphosphonate affects not only osteoclasts but also osteoblasts, that is, it induces the anabolic effects of osteoblasts. Recently reported 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) is an endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, with an inhibitory activity on bone loss. Researchers have also suggested that 15d-PGJ2 has the ability to reduce bone destruction and as the possibility of regeneration of bone. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the anabolic effect of two anti-resorptive materials, alendronate and 15d-PGJ2, in a critical sized segmental defect model of rat fibula. The regenerated bone on the operative site was assessed through gross, radiographic (plain X-ray, and micro-computed tomography), histomorphologic evaluation, and statistical analysis. Consequently, the locally applied alendronate prevented resorption of grafted materials, and had a positive effect on bone regeneration with positive micro-architectural modification of the surrounding bone, although this study did not verify a significant capacity of bone regeneration of 15d-PGJ2 and instead only shed a light on its possibility.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides have attracted significant attention as gas-sensing materials owing to their superior responsivity at room temperature and their possible application as flexible electronic devices. Especially, reliable responsivity and selectivity for various environmentally harmful gases are the main requirements for the future chemiresistive-type gas sensor applications. In this study, we demonstrate improved sensitivity of a 2D MoS2-based gas sensor by controlling the Schottky barrier height. Chemical vapor deposition process was performed at low temperature to obtain layer-controlled 2D MoS2, and the NO2 gas responsivity was confirmed by the fabricated gas sensor. Then, the number of MoS2 layers was fixed and the types of electrode materials were varied for controlling the Schottky barrier height. As the Schottky barrier height increased, the NO2 responsivity increased, and it was found to be effective for CO and CO2 gases, which had little reactivity in 2D MoS2-b...

Water scarcity is a critical global issue impacting human life. Supply-side solutions alone do not meet the ever-increasing water demands. Economic assessment of water resources can reduce water sc...

Due to their optimal bandgap size and large defect tolerance, nitrides are becoming pivotal materials in several optoelectronic devices, photovoltaics, and photocatalysts. A computational method that can accurately predict their electronic structures is indispensable for exploring new nitride materials. However, the relatively small bandgap of nitrides, which stems from the subtle balance between ionic and covalent bond characteristics, makes conventional density functional theory challenging to achieve satisfactory accuracy. Here, we employed a self-consistent hybrid functional where the Hartree–Fock mixing parameter is self-consistently determined and thus the empiricism of the hybrid functional is effectively removed to calculate the bandgaps of various nitride compounds. By comparing the bandgaps from the self-consistent hybrid functional calculations with the available experimental and high-level GW calculation results, we found that the self-consistent hybrid functional can provide a computationally efficient approach for quantitative predictions of nitride electronic structures with an accuracy level comparable to the GW method. Additionally, we aligned the band edge positions of various nitride compounds using self-consistent hybrid functional calculations, providing material design principles for heterostructures of nitride-based optoelectronic devices. We anticipate the wide use of the self-consistent hybrid functional for accelerating explorations and predictions of new nitride-based functional materials in various photoactive applications.

We develop the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process of titanium silicate with halide-free precursor and evaluate film properties as a spacer for self-aligned double/quadruple patterning (SADP/SAQP). Growth characteristics are investigated depending on substrate temperature. Growth per cycle (GPC) at 100 °C is largely observed than the estimated value, while that as 200 °C shows an opposite trend. There have been reports on ALD ternary oxides, but different growth characteristics observed in this work have not been fully understood. In this work, the growth behavior of ALD titanium silicate are studied by correlating different characterization results, including infrared spectra, chemical compositions, and X-ray reflection spectra. Correlative results suggest that the surface density of hydroxyl group would be a key role for different growth characteristics of titanium silicates. Also, the feasibility of ALD titanium silicate as a spacer is evaluated, such as etch rates and deposited titanium silicates shows better quality than a conventional SiO 2 spacer. This study on ALD titanium silicate should significantly expand multi-patterning applications, especially in a semiconductor field.

Purpose The aim of this study was to conduct epidemiologic investigations on the pattern of the lesion and differences between treatment modalities in terms of recurrence by reviewing follow-up records to form a basis for planning patient follow-up visits. Materials and methods In this retrospective, single-center cohort study, 266 patients diagnosed with odontogenic keratocyst between 1993 and 2013 were included. Medical records and radiographic images were analyzed for age distribution, occurrence site and size, treatment modalities, and recurrence. Results The average age at first diagnosis was 33.1 years, and the male to female ratio was 1.33:1.00. The highest rate of incidence was in the third decade followed by the fourth, second, and fifth decades. The incidence in the maxilla was 34%, and 66% in the mandible. Mandibular ramus was most commonly involved. Lesions between 3 and 6 crowns were the most common, and the rate of recurrence increased with size. Enucleation after decompression had higher rate of recurrence (35.8%) than enucleation (27.1%), but there was no statistical significance. Conclusion The recurrence of odontogenic kerotocyst (OKC) was significantly associated with large size, multilocular form, and surgical procedure. A 10-year follow-up period is recommended to determine any recurrence of OKC.

The mortality rates of COVID-19 vary across the globe. While some risk factors for poor prognosis of the disease are known, regional differences are suspected. We reviewed the risk factors for critical outcomes of COVID-19 according to the location of the infected patients, from various literature databases from January 1 through June 8, 2020. Candidate variables to predict the outcome included patient demographics, underlying medical conditions, symptoms, and laboratory findings. The risk factors in the overall population included sex, age, and all inspected underlying medical conditions. Symptoms of dyspnea, anorexia, dizziness, fatigue, and certain laboratory findings were also indicators of the critical outcome. Underlying respiratory disease was associated higher risk of the critical outcome in studies from Asia and Europe, but not North America. Underlying hepatic disease was associated with a higher risk of the critical outcome from Europe, but not from Asia and North America. Symptoms of vomiting, anorexia, dizziness, and fatigue were significantly associated with the critical outcome in studies from Asia, but not from Europe and North America. Hemoglobin and platelet count affected patients differently in Asia compared to those in Europe and North America. Such regional discrepancies should be considered when treating patients with COVID-19.

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is the largest global cooperation project, which will be built as the world's largest tokamak to explore the commercial production of fusion-based electricity. In order to connect the busbars electrically and hydraulically, the “shaking hands” twin-box type joint was designed and implemented for ITER project. Different from the conventional method, the indium bonding technology was developed instead of the Tin soldering method for the joint connection. In order to qualify for the ITER correction coil (CC) feeder joint structure and the manufacturing technology, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Science (ASIPP) has launched the joint qualification on the manufacture process and the cryogenic performance. By means of the indium bonding, the joint resistance can be lower than 1 nΩ before and after the mechanical fatigue. This paper reports the structure and manufacturing process of CC feeder joint, describes the establishing of the testing setup, and finally discusses the cryogenic testing results. Besides the joint resistance, the pressure drop and the critical temperature are reported.

We report the hydrogen barrier performance of sputtered La2O3 thin films for the device stability of amorphous indium–gallium–zinc–oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). Hydrogen acts as a shallow donor in a-IGZO films, which makes TFTs conductive, resulting in degradation of their on/off properties. Since hydrogen can be easily incorporated by external environments or post-processing, an appropriate hydrogen barrier is essential for enhancing device stability. La2O3, with its extreme electronegativity, can provide excellent hygroscopic characteristics. Because hydrogen exists in the form of –OH groups inside a-IGZO films, La2O3 is expected to be a promising barrier material for preventing hydrogen incorporation. Therefore, we investigate the growth characteristics of sputtered La2O3 thin films as hydrogen barrier layers, focusing on variations in growth rate, refractive index, and film stress, which depend on various process parameters, such as radio-frequency (RF) power, O2 partial pressure, and substrate temperature during reactive magnetron sputtering. The effects of these parameters on hydrogen barrier properties are systematically investigated and correlated with the microstructures of La2O3 films. The results demonstrate that La2O3 films grown with low RF power and low O2 partial pressure have an amorphous phase and provide excellent hydrogen barrier performance. We anticipate that these experimental results will help improve the environmental stability of a-IGZO TFTs.

Lead halide perovskite (APbX3) has recently emerged as a promising active layer in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as well as an absorber for photovoltaic devices. For better LED properties, it is imp...

Considering that the nuclear power plants have a licensed lifetime, the need for research on decommissioning is increasing along with the number of aging plants globally. Unlike the dismantling of other buildings, the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant involves radiation risk, which necessitates a new systematic safety assessment to reduce this risk. This paper proposes a framework for the safety assessment of workers in nuclear power plant decommissioning. The first step of the process is accident identification, in which initiating events caused by mechanical failures or human errors are identified and categorized in accordance with their causes. The second step is frequency analysis, in which worker exposure in normal conditions is evaluated to derive the work time for each required task, and possible events that may happen during each task are derived through both a hazard and operability study and a failure mode and effect analysis. The third step, consequence analysis, models accident scenarios using the dose assessment program VISIPLAN, and evaluates worker exposure in those accident scenarios. The last step is risk analysis, where radiological risk is calculated quantitatively by the frequencies and exposure results of potential accidents. By performing the safety evaluations according to the proposed framework, the safety of workers in nuclear power plant decommissioning may be increased.

Implementing binary neural networks (BNNs) on computing-in-memory (CIM) hardware has several attractive features such as small memory requirement and minimal overhead in peripheral circuits such as analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). On the other hand, one of the downsides of using BNNs is that it degrades the classification accuracy. Recently, ResNet-style BNNs are gaining popularity with higher accuracy than conventional BNNs. The accuracy improvement comes from the high-resolution skip connection which binary ResNets use to compensate the information loss caused by binarization. However, the high-resolution skip connection forces the CIM hardware to use high-bit ADCs again so that area and energy overhead becomes larger. In this paper, we demonstrate that binary ResNets can be also mapped on CIM with low-bit ADCs via aggressive partial sum quantization and input-splitting combined with retraining. As a result, the key advantages of BNN CIM such as small area and energy consumption can be preserved with higher accuracy.

Complex-shaped stiffened panels are widely used nowadays in many structures such as railway vehicles, ships and offshore structures, in order to make them lighter and stronger. Therefore, it is essential to investigate vibration and radiation of the complex shaped panels to predict the vibro-acoustic performance of the large structures. In this paper, a coupled waveguide finite element and boundary element method, which can be applied where the cross-sectional properties of the panels are constant in one direction, is applied to predict the radiation efficiency of the extruded panel. The dependence of the radiation efficiency on two different types of excitation positions is investigated; a point force in the middle of the strip or on an interior stiffener. Finally, numerical results are validated through the comparison with experiments carried out with a 1.5 m length extruded panel.

One of the major goals set by our humanity is to make breakthroughs in key technologies pertaining to energy, environment, and water. The main purpose of this chapter is to give an overview over sustainable CO2 conversion technologies that could be demonstrated from high-performance materials both design and also the realization, so that they could prevent simultaneously environmental problems such as global warming.

Background The RNF213 ( ring finger protein 213 gene) variant R4810K is a susceptibility allele not only for Moyamoya disease (MMD) but also for intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) in East Asian populations. We hypothesized that this variant would affect the distribution of ICAS and recurrence of cerebrovascular events. Methods and Results We conducted a prospective study of patients with ICAS and MMD using high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging and RNF213 R4810K genotyping. Patients were included in the ICAS group when relevant plaques existed on high‐resolution magnetic resonance imagingand in the MMD group when they carried the variant and high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging showed no plaques but characteristic features of MMD. We compared clinical and neuroimaging features of patients with ICAS‐ RNF213 + with patients with ICAS‐ RNF213 − and of patients with MMD. Of 477 patients, 238 patients were in the ICAS group and 239 were in the MMD group. Among patients with ICAS, 79 patients (33.2%) were in the ICAS‐ RNF213 + group and 159 (66.8%) in the ICAS‐ RNF213 − group. Tandem lesions were significantly more common in the ICAS‐ RNF213+ group than in the ICAS‐ RNF213 − group (40.3% versus 72.2%, P RNF213+ and MMD groups. The presence of the R4810K variant (hazard ratio [HR], 3.203; 95% CI, 1.149–9.459; P =0.026) and tandem lesions (≥3) (HR, 8.315; 95% CI, 1.930–39.607; P =0.005) were independently associated with recurrent cerebrovascular events. Conclusions Patients with ICAS carrying the RNF213 R4810K variant showed clinical and imaging features distinct from patients with ICAS without the variant, suggesting that the R4810K variant plays a role in intracranial atherosclerosis in East Asian patients.

‘Ideal’ transparent p-type semiconductors are required for the integration of high-performance thin-film transistors (TFTs) and circuits. Although CuI has recently attracted attention owing to its excellent opto-electrical properties, solution processability, and low-temperature synthesis, the uncontrolled copper vacancy generation and subsequent excessive hole doping hinder its use as a semiconductor material in TFT devices. In this study, we propose a doping approach through soft chemical solution process and transparent p-type Zn-doped CuI semiconductor for high-performance TFTs and circuits. The optimised TFTs annealed at 80 °C exhibit a high hole mobility of over 5 cm2 V−1 s−1 and high on/off current ratio of ~107 with good operational stability and reproducibility. The CuI:Zn semiconductors show intrinsic advantages for next-generation TFT applications and wider applications in optoelectronics and energy conversion/storage devices. This study paves the way for the realisation of transparent, flexible, and large-area integrated circuits combined with n-type metal-oxide semiconductor., Designing efficient thin-film transistors and circuits based on transparent p-type semiconductors remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose a solution-based doping approach to realize high performance transparent inorganic p-type semiconductors (Zn-doped CuI) by spin coating at 80 C with good operational stability.

Background: It is well known that air pollution causes respiratory morbidity and mortality by inducing airway inflammation. However, whether long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with a random-effects model to calculate the pooled risk estimates of COPD development per 10 μg/m3 increase in individual air pollutants. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from the date of their inception to August 2019 to identify long-term (at least three years of observation) prospective longitudinal studies that reported the risk of COPD development due to exposure to air pollutants. The air pollutants studied included particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Results: Of the 436 studies identified, seven met our eligibility criteria. Among the seven studies, six, three, and five had data on PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, respectively. The meta-analysis results showed that a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with increased incidence of COPD (pooled HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.23). We also noted that a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 is marginally associated with increased incidence of COPD (pooled HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00–1.16). PM10 seems to have no significant impact on the incidence of COPD (pooled HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.83–1.08), although the number of studies was too small. Meta-regression analysis found no significant effect modifiers. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 can be associated with increased incidence of COPD.

Continental- to global-scale hydrologic and land surface models increasingly include representations of the groundwater system, driven by crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. These models are essential for examining, communicating, and understanding the dynamic interactions between the Earth System above and below the land surface as well as the opportunities and limits of groundwater resources. A key question for this nascent and rapidly developing field is how to evaluate the realism and performance of such large-scale groundwater models given limitations in data availability and commensurability. Our objective is to provide clear recommendations for improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models. We identify three evaluation approaches, including comparing model outputs with available observations of groundwater levels or other state or flux variables (observation-based evaluation); comparing several models with each other with or without reference to actual observations (model-based evaluation); and comparing model behavior with expert expectations of hydrologic behaviors that we expect to see in particular regions or at particular times (expert-based evaluation). Based on current and evolving practices in model evaluation as well as innovations in observations, machine learning and expert elicitation, we argue that combining observation-, model-, and expert-based model evaluation approaches may significantly improve the realism of groundwater representation in large-scale models, and thus our quantification, understanding, and prediction of crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. We encourage greater community-level communication and cooperation on these challenges, including among global hydrology and land surface modelers, local to regional hydrogeologists, and hydrologists focused on model development and evaluation.

We propose an in-memory neural network accelerator architecture called MOSAIC which uses minimal form of peripheral circuits; 1-bit word line driver to replace DAC and 1-bit sense amplifier to replace ADC. To map multi-bit neural networks on MOSAIC architecture which has 1-bit precision peripheral circuits, we also propose a bit-splitting method to approximate the original network by separating each bit path of the multi-bit network so that each bit path can propagate independently throughout the network. Thanks to the minimal form of peripheral circuits, MOSAIC can achieve an order of magnitude higher energy and area efficiency than previous in-memory neural network accelerators.

Prior studies have shown that patients suffering from chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP) have impaired somatosensory processing including reduced tactile acuity, i.e. reduced ability to resolve fine spatial details with the perception of touch. The central mechanism(s) underlying reduced tactile acuity are unknown but may include changes in specific brain circuitries (e.g. neuroplasticity in the primary somatosensory cortex, S1). Furthermore, little is known about the linkage between changes in tactile acuity and the amelioration of cLBP by somatically-directed therapeutic interventions, such as acupuncture. In this longitudinal neuroimaging study, we evaluated healthy control adults (HC, N ​= ​50) and a large sample of cLBP patients (N ​= ​102) with structural brain imaging (T1-weighted MRI for Voxel-Based Morphometry, VBM; Diffusion Tensor Imaging, DTI) and tactile acuity testing using two-point discrimination threshold (2PDT) over the lower back (site of pain) and finger (control) locations. Patients were evaluated at baseline and following a 4-week course of acupuncture, with patients randomized to either verum acupuncture, two different forms of sham acupuncture (designed with or without somatosensory afference), or no-intervention usual care control. At baseline, cLBP patients demonstrated reduced acuity (greater 2PDT, P ​= ​0.01) over the low back, but not finger (P ​= ​0.29) locations compared to HC, suggesting that chronic pain affects tactile acuity specifically at body regions encoding the experience of clinical pain. At baseline, Gray Matter Volume (GMV) was elevated and Fractional Anisotropy (FA) was reduced, respectively, in the S1-back region of cLBP patients compared to controls (P ​

Introduction: The Ring Finger Protein213 ( RNF213 ) gene variant is a relatively common variant in general population of East Asian countries (0.43 to 1.8%). Recently, RNF213 is reportedly a susceptibility gene not only for moyamoya disease (MMD) but also for intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) in this population. However, the role of this genetic factor in patients with ICAS is unknown. We hypothesized that this variant is involved in the pathogenesis of ICAS. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients with ICAS and MMD using high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) and RNF213 (p.Arg4810Lys variant) gene studies. Patients were classified into intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) when relevant plaques existed on HR-MRI and moyamoya disease (MMD) when patients had RNF213 variant and HR-MRI showed no plaque but characteristic features of MMD (negative remodeling and basal collaterals). We compared clinical and neuroimaging features between (a) the RNF213 - ICAS, (b) the RNF213 + ICAS, and (c) MMD group. Results: Among 178 patients analyzed, 79 were the RNF213 - ICAS, 37 the RNF213 variant+ ICAS, and 62 the MMD group. Vascular risk factors were more frequently observed in ICAS than MMD patients, but there was no difference between RNF213 - ICAS and the RNF213 variant+ ICAS. Moreover, the site of occlusive disease was different between ICAS and MMD patients, but not between RNF213 - ICAS and the RNF213 variant+ ICAS. It was more distally located in RNF213 variant+ ICAS than in MMD (p=0.012). Compared to RNF213 - ICAS patients, tandem lesions were significantly more common in RNF213 + ICAS (24.1% vs. 67.6%, p Conclusions: Patients with ICAS and the RNF213 variant showed distinct clinical and imaging features from MMD patients. A high frequency of tandem lesions in RNF213 + ICAS suggest that this variant may have synergic effects in atherosclerosis which should be tested in a larger cohort.

Background: Although pathogenic mechanisms of moyamoya disease remain unknown, recent studies suggest that it is a caveolae disease. This study evaluated the effect of udenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, on vessel maturation in in vitro and in vivo moyamoya disease models. Methods: Angiogenesis and vessel maturation were assessed in in vitro models, caveolin-1 (Cav-1) knockdown human umbilical vessel endothelial cells (HUVECs) and coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), and in in vivo model of bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion (bICAo). Udenafil was administered (1,3,10 and 30 μM) in cell culture conditions, and functional studies (migration and tube formation assay) were performed and vessel maturation factors and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) accumulation were measured. Udenafil (3 and 10 mg/kg) was orally administered once daily for 4 weeks in bICAo rat model, and histological analysis for angiogenesis and vessel maturation was performed. Results: Udenafil increased vessel formation in both Cav-1 knockdown HUVEC and bICAo models without increased migration/proliferation of HUVECs and CASMCs. Udenafil increased CD31+ vessel density and NG2/Col4+ mural cell density in bICAo models. Cav-1 knockdown inhibited accumulation of cGMP, and udenafil treatment restored cGMP levels in Cav-1 knockdown HUVEC models. Vessel maturation factors (angiopoietin-1 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β) and angiogenic factors (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) were increased after treatment with udenafil in vitro . Conclusion: Our results indicate that udenafil reversed cellular levels of cGMP related to Cav-1 deficiency and induced angiogenesis and vessel maturation. Further studies are warranted to confirm the therapeutic effects of this strategy in moyamoya disease.

Introduction: Intracranial large arterial disease (ILAD) is common, especially in Asians. We compared clinical, genetic, and imaging features between symptomatic and asymptomatic ILAD. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients with acute symptomatic ILAD and subjects with asymptomatic ILAD diagnosed during medical checkups. Patients who had steno-occlusive lesions on the middle cerebral artery and/or distal internal carotid artery underwent high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) and RNF213 (p.Arg4810Lys variant) gene studies. We excluded patients who had proximal embolic sources in ipsilateral carotid and heart. A presumptive etiology of ILAD was made based on HR-MRI and RNF213 gene studies. Patients were classified into intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) when relevant plaques existed on HR-MRI; moyamoya disease (MMD) when patients had RNF213 variant and HR-MRI showed no plaque but characteristic features of MMD (negative remodeling and basal collaterals); and intracranial arterial dissection (ICAD) when pathognomic features (intimal flap/double lumen or mural hematoma) exist on HR-MRI. Results: Among 224 patients analyzed, 124 were symptomatic and 100 were asymptomatic. ICAS-type was more common in symptomatic ILAD than in asymptomatic ILAD (61.4% vs. 45.0%, p=0.009). The RNF213 variant was observed in one third of ICAS-type ILAD (37.0% in asymptomatic and 38.6% in symptomatic). Similarly, the proportion of MMD-type was similar between asymptomatic (33, 21.3%) and symptomatic (32, 19.0%) ILAD. Multivariate testing showed that symptomatic ILAD was associated with the presence of intracranial plaque on HR-MRI, regardless of the presence of the RNF213 variant, site of ILAD, and number of tandem stenosis. Conclusions: While various etiopathologies can cause ILAD, ICAS is an important pathology of symptomatic ILAD and should be target for medical management.

Background: Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is well recognized cause of stroke in young and middle aged individuals. But, prognostic factor of posterior circulation ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) caused by intracranial VAD has been rarely discussed. Our aim was to evaluate the predictors of poor outcomes in posterior circulation ischemic stroke caused by intracranial VAD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke or TIA caused by intracranial VAD using high-resolution vessel wall MRI who were recruited from Samsung Medical Center Stroke Registry (between January 1, 2011 and April 30, 2019). Poor outcomes were defined as a 3-months modified Rankin scale (mRS) score ≥ 2. Results: We registered 96 patients (74 males; mean age, 58.9±14.2 years) with acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke or TIA caused by intracranial VAD. Trauma history associated with VAD was presented in 23 (24%) of patients. Headache and neck pain around neurological symptom onset were presented in 41 (42.7%) and 19 (19.8%) of patients, respectively. Dissecting aneurysm, bilateral vertebral artery involvement, basilar artery involvement and wall hematoma with dissection were presented in 26 (27.1%), 26 (27.1%), 12 (12.5%) and 66 (68.8%) of patients, respectively. Of the 96 VADs, 26 (27.1%) presented with focal stenosis, 21 (21.9%) with multifocal stenosis, and 57 (59.4%) with occlusion. Lateral medulla involvement and multiple territory involvement were presented in 35 (36.5%) and 31 (32.3%) of patients. Recurrence rate of ischemic stroke or TIA within 90 days of symptom onset was 6.25%. Twenty-nine patients (30.2%) had poor outcomes at 3 months. Lateral medulla involvement was an independent predictor for poor outcome (odds ratio=3.293, 95% confidence interval=1.301-8.333, p=0.012). Conclusion: Posterior circulation ischemic stroke or TIA caused by intracranial VAD is associated with relatively benign clinical course. But the presence of lateral medulla involvement is independent predictor for poor outcome. Patients presenting lateral medullary infarction caused by intracranial VAD should be monitored closely.

Binarization of neural network models is considered as one of the promising methods to deploy deep neural network models on resource-constrained environments such as mobile devices. However, Binary Neural Networks (BNNs) tend to suffer from severe accuracy degradation compared to the full-precision counterpart model. Several techniques were proposed to improve the accuracy of BNNs. One of the approaches is to balance the distribution of binary activations so that the amount of information in the binary activations becomes maximum. Based on extensive analysis, in stark contrast to previous work, we argue that unbalanced activation distribution can actually improve the accuracy of BNNs. We also show that adjusting the threshold values of binary activation functions results in the unbalanced distribution of the binary activation, which increases the accuracy of BNN models. Experimental results show that the accuracy of previous BNN models (e.g. XNOR-Net and Bi-Real-Net) can be improved by simply shifting the threshold values of binary activation functions without requiring any other modification., Comment: CVPR 2021, 10 pages, 10 figures

International audience; Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder which affects small-and, to a lesser degree, medium-sized vessels. ANCA-associated vasculitis encompasses three disease phenotypes: granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). This classification is largely based on clinical presentations and has several limitations. Recent research provided evidence that genetic background, risk of relapse, prognosis, and co-morbidities are more closely related to the ANCA serotype, proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA, compared to the disease phenotypes GPA or MPA. This finding has been extended to the investigation of biomarkers predicting disease activity, which again more closely relate to the ANCA serotype. Discoveries related to the immunopathogenesis translated into clinical practice as targeted therapies are on the rise. This review will summarize the current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of ANCA-associated vasculitis and the interplay between ANCA serotype and proposed disease biomarkers and illustrate how the extending knowledge of the immunopathogenesis will likely translate into development of a personalized medicine approach in the management of ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted considerable attention as promising building blocks for a new generation of gas-sensing devices because of their excellent electrical properties, superior response, flexibility, and low-power consumption. Owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio, various 2D TMDCs, such as MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2, have exhibited excellent gas-sensing characteristics. However, exploration toward the enhancement of TMDC gas-sensing performance has not yet been intensively addressed. Here, we synthesized large-area uniform WS2 xSe2-2 x alloys for room-temperature gas sensors. As-synthesized WS2 xSe2-2 x alloys exhibit an elaborative composition control owing to their thermodynamically stable sulfurization process. Further, utilizing uniform WS2 xSe2-2 x alloys over a large area, we demonstrated improved NO2-sensing performance compared to WSe2 on the basis of an electronic sensitization mechanism. The WS0.96Se1.04 alloy gas sensor exhibits 2.4 times enhanced response for NO2 exposure. Further, we demonstrated a low-power wearable NO2-detecting wristband that operates at room temperature. Our results show that the proposed method is a promising strategy to improve 2D TMDC gas sensors and has a potential for applications in advanced gas-sensing devices.

In this paper, we present a vision system with a special camera for knowledge-based real-time monitoring of the inside of a fluid bed heat exchanger (FBHE) chamber in a thermal power plant. With the proposed system, it is possible to monitor the internal flux condition and analyze the inner temperature of a chamber. Due to the fact that the mixture of coal and sand inside a chamber flows by very quickly, there is an immense amount of smoke and dust, which make it difficult to capture images and analyze an existing system. An adaptive average method is proposed here to observe the background internal environment of an FBHE chamber. The experimental results show that real-time monitoring is possible, even under hot and dusty conditions. Preliminary experimental results confirm expectations about the possibility and effectiveness of the developed device for commercialized real-time monitoring systems. They demonstrate that a single camera with embedded image processing software can concurrently analyze the degree of fluidization of a mixture and the temperature of the chamber inside, even in extremely harsh and hazardous conditions. We aim to eventually develop an image analysis system that combines image processing and knowledge engineering techniques.

Flexible zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod (NR) ultraviolet (UV)/gas dual sensors using silver (Ag) nanoparticle (NP) templates were successfully fabricated on a polyimide substrate with nickel electrodes. Arrays of Ag NPs were used as a template for the growth of ZnO NRs, which could enhance the flexibility and the sensing properties of the devices through the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. The Ag NPs were fabricated by the rapid thermal annealing process of Ag thin films, and ZnO NRs were grown on Ag NPs to maximize the surface area and form networks with rod-to-rod contacts. Because of the LSPR effect by Ag NPs, the UV photoresponse of the ZnO NRs was amplified and the depletion region of ZnO NRs was formed quickly because of the Schottky contact with the Ag NPs. As a consequence, ZnO NR UV/gas dual sensors grown on the Ag NP template with a diameter of 28 nm exhibited the outstanding UV-sensing characteristics with a UV on–off ratio of 3628 and a rising time (tr) and a decay time (td) of 3....

Two along-track (level 2) satellite precipitation retrievals by the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) and the Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar Ku-band (DPR-Ku) and two multisatellite precipitation products, global satellite mapping of precipitation (GSMaP) and Integrated Multisatellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), are intercompared for different cloud types during warm season over the western North Pacific region. It is found that the biases of the precipitation measurements are systematically associated with cloud types. The best agreements of passive microwave (PMW) products and infrared-based (IR) products with satellite radar-based estimates are found for a relatively weak precipitation range for mid-low clouds (except over land) and high clouds, while similar agreement is found for heavier precipitation range for deep convection regardless of surface type. Precipitation from mid-low clouds over land is considerably underestimated by PMW and IR products over almost the entire intensity range. The IR-based precipitation estimates for deep convective clouds considerably overestimate the intensity for both weak precipitation and cases where precipitation was not detected by the DPR-Ku algorithm. The findings reveal the characteristics of the biases of the products depend on the associated cloud types, which suggests consideration of the cloud type information to improve satellite-based precipitation estimates.

This paper describes the result of the ITER feeder main busbar joint sample qualification test as confirmation of the requirement of busbar joint resistance, 2 nΩ at 70 kA at zero background field, as well as that of joint performance in various magnetic fields to investigate stability and current distribution characteristics in feeder-type joint box. The results support the quality of the joint manufacturing process for ITER main busbar joint. The qualification sample design was prepared to be tested in SULTAN facility. The SULTAN joint sample consists of joints to be qualified at the level of the peak field and upper terminations. In bottom joints, twin-box feeder-type praying hands configuration is applied. In upper terminations, one of them is made with solder-filled cable for optimum current distribution. The other takes the same length of the copper sole and contact with the busbar cable as those positioned in bottom of the sample. The sample undergoes a test program, which includes joint resistance measurement, ac losses, and stability margin test. The outcomes of those test programs are reported.

ITER magnets are in the final phases of production and are preparing for the upcoming assembly challenges. The ITER magnet team has expressed the need for close-range support labs in order to perform qualification tests, procedure tuning, mockup testing, site acceptance tests, as well as training of assembly staff and logistics management. In the framework of its general support to the ITER project, CEA's Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research proposed a support structure in line with this need on CEA Cadarache premises. In July 2014, the MIFI agreement (Magnet Infrastructure Facilities for ITER) was signed between ITER organization and CEA. It led to the creation of four laboratories and a storage area dedicated to magnet instrumentation components. This paper gives a general description of the work organization in MIFI, and describes the main ongoing activities with specific focuses on critical qualification activities like high-voltage testing and diagnostic of Glass–Kapton–Glass resin impregnated insulation and the scale 1 mock-up and test of the intermediate outer intercoil structure assembly procedure.

The improved electrical properties of Cu-gate thin-film transistors (TFTs) using an ink-synthesizing process were studied; this technology enables a low-cost and large area process for the display industry. We investigated the film properties and the effects of the ink-synthesized Cu layer in detail with respect to device characteristics. The mobility and reliability of the devices were significantly improved by applying a diffusion barrier at the interface between the Cu gate and the gate insulator. By using a TaN diffusion barrier layer, considerably improved and stabilized ink-Cu gated TFTs could be realized, comparable to sputtered-Cu gated TFTs under positive bias temperature stress measurements.

In this letter, we demonstrate the conductive-bridging RAM (CBRAM) with excellent multi-level cell (MLC) and linear conductance characteristics for an artificial synaptic device of neuromorphic systems. Our findings show that inherent characteristics of CBRAM can achieve the linear conductance and MLC characteristics as a product of an integer unit of the conductance. However, uncontrolled metal-ion injection into the switching layer results in a significant degradation of device uniformity, leading to degradation in the classification accuracy. Thus, we introduce a multi-layer CBRAM configuration (Cu/HfO2/Ta/Cu2S/W) to control the ionic motion in electrolytes. As a result of device engineering, highly improved classification accuracy is achieved using CIFAR-10 data set.

We have investigated the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of GeO2 thin films that dissolve in water rapidly and have excellent electrical properties for use in memory devices. The growth characteristics based on surface reactions during the ALD process are discussed by correlation with experimental results and atomistic theoretical calculation. Compared to sputtered GeO2 films, the ALD-grown GeO2 is perfect, pure, and water-soluble at room temperature and has better electrical properties for use as the dielectric layer in memory devices. The superior film properties of ALD GeO2 are attributed to the higher film density, high purity, low roughness, and highly stoichiometric film composition. Finally, we demonstrate the fabrication of charge-trapping memory (CTM) devices with ALD GeO2, and that the electrical information stored in the CTM can be eliminated immediately by exposure to one droplet of water at room temperature. Thus, ALD GeO2 could find widespread application in the fabrication of secure memory de...

We report the effect of Y2O3 passivation by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using various oxidants, such as H2O, O2 plasma, and O3, on In–Ga–Zn–O thin-film transistors (IGZO TFTs). A large negative shift in the threshold voltage (Vth) was observed in the case of the TFT subjected to the H2O-ALD Y2O3 process; this shift was caused by a donor effect of negatively charged chemisorbed H2O molecules. In addition, degradation of the IGZO TFT device performance after the O2 plasma-ALD Y2O3 process (field-effect mobility (μ) = 8.7 cm2/(V·s), subthreshold swing (SS) = 0.77 V/dec, and Vth = 3.7 V) was observed, which was attributed to plasma damage on the IGZO surface adversely affecting the stability of the TFT under light illumination. In contrast, the O3-ALD Y2O3 process led to enhanced device stability under light illumination (ΔVth = −1 V after 3 h of illumination) by passivating the subgap defect states in the IGZO surface region. In addition, TFTs with a thicker IGZO film (55 nm, which was the optimum thicknes...

Downscaling of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) gate stacks requires the introduction of ultra-thin and high-k dielectrics such as HfO2. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is an excellent technique for producing high-quality high-k films. During ALD, chemical reactions on the substrate surface involve multiple processes that affect the chemical and electrical properties of the deposited films. Thus, the choice of an appropriate precursor for ALD is critical for obtaining high-quality high-k films, leading to good device performance. The aim of this study is to understand the surface reactions during the film growth along with the evaluation of the electrical properties of HfO2 deposited using two different Hf precursors, HfCl4 and Hf(N(CH3)2)4. The growth behavior and electrical performance of ALD HfO2 thin films obtained using the two Hf precursors and H2O as an oxidant at 250 °C are studied comparatively and discussed as a function of the process parameters, together with surface-reaction energetics determined by the density functional theory. Compared to Hf(N(CH3)2)4, the HfCl4 shows unfavorable nucleation behavior on the starting Si–OH surfaces. In addition, a more stoichiometric HfO2 film results from HfCl4 owing to its high reactivity, leading to lower leakage currents of Si-based devices than that of the film obtained from Hf(N(CH3)2)4. Further, HfCl4 showed better nucleation on a 2D graphene substrate, leading to superior electrical performance in graphene-based field effect transistors. These results provide practical insights on selecting a suitable Hf precursor for producing gate dielectric layers for future nanoelectronics.