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In this paper, we prove the structural stability for a family of scalar reactiondiffusion equations. Our arguments consist of using invariant manifold theorem to reduce the problem to a finite dimension and then, we use the structural stability of Morse-Smale flows in a finite dimension to obtain the corresponding result in infinite dimension. As a consequence, we obtain the optimal rate of convergence of the attractors and estimate the Gromov-Hausdorff distance of the attractors using continuous e-isometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the internet of things (IoT), the power grid has become intelligent using massive IoT sensors, such as smart meters. Generally, installed smart meters can collect large amounts of data to improve grid visibility and situational awareness. However, the limited storage and communication capacities can restrain their infrastructure in the IoT environment. To alleviate these problems, efficient and various compression techniques are required. Deep learning-based compression techniques such as auto-encoders (AEs) have recently been deployed for this purpose. However, the compression performance of the existing models can be limited when the spectral properties of high-frequency sampled power data are widely varying over time. This paper proposes an AE compression model, based on a frequency selection method, which improves the reconstruction quality while maintaining the compression ratio (CR). For efficient data compression, the proposed method selectively applies customized compression models, depending on the spectral properties of the corresponding time windows. The framework of the proposed method involves two primary steps: (i) division of the power data into a series of time windows with specified spectral properties (high-frequency, medium-frequency, and low-frequency dominance) and (ii) separate training and selective application of the AE models, which prepares them for the power data compression that best suits the characteristics of each frequency. In simulations on the Dutch residential energy dataset, the frequency-selective AE model shows significantly higher reconstruction performance than the existing model with the same CR. In addition, the proposed model reduces the computational complexity involved in the analysis of the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we developed a portable, three-electrode electrochemical amperometric analyzer that can transmit data to a PC or a tablet via Bluetooth communication. We performed experiments using an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass electrode to confirm the performance and reliability of the analyzer. The proposed analyzer uses a current-to-voltage (I/V) converter to convert the current generated by the reduction-oxidation (redox) reaction of the buffer solution to a voltage signal. This signal is then digitized by the processor. The configuration of the power and ground of the printed circuit board (PCB) layer is divided into digital and analog parts to minimize the noise interference of each part. The proposed analyzer occupies an area of 5.9 × 3.25 cm2 with a current resolution of 0.4 nA. A potential of 0∼2.1 V can be applied between the working and the counter electrodes. The results of this study showed the accuracy of the proposed analyzer by measuring the Ruthenium(III) chloride (RuIII) concentration in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution with a pH of 7.4. The measured data can be transmitted to a PC or a mobile such as a smartphone or a tablet PC using the included Bluetooth module. The proposed analyzer uses a 3.7 V, 120 mAh lithium polymer battery and can be operated for 60 min when fully charged, including data processing and wireless communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of claimed mental disorders. Because the workers believed the cause of the mental disorders was work-related stress or a specific event, we could identify the major work-related stressor for claimed cases. Methods: We included claimed cases of occupational mental disorder or suicide reported during 2010–2014 to the Korea Workers Compensation and Welfare Service (KCOMWEL), established by Industrial Accidents Insurance (IACI) Act. We conducted qualitative analysis using a form specifically developed for this study as well as a quantitative analysis. Results: Of the 569 claimed cases, 142 cases were recognized as occupational mental disorder or suicide. The approval rate was 24.9 %. Suicide was the most commonly approved mental disorder (23.0 %), followed by major depressive disorder (14.9 %). Regarding profession, 109 workers were managers, and 95 workers were office clerks. The main work-related stressors of the approved cases were acute stressful events (76 cases), long working hours (12 cases), and changes in workload (6 cases). The primary stressful events were work-related legal problems, workplace violence, and employment status-related issues. Conclusion: Claims due to mental disorders or suicide increased during the 5-year study period, and the approval rate was approximately 33 %, and the main stressor of the claimed cases was an acute stressful event such as physiologic trauma, employment-related issues, fear of legal or financial responsibility, abrupt change in organizational responsibility, or workplace violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strain-based load identification model for beam structures subjected to multiple loads is presented. The number of sensors for the load identification model is the same as the number of load conditions acting on a beam structure. In the model, the contribution of each load to the strains measured by strain sensors is defined. In this paper, the longitudinal strains measured from multiplexed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors are used in the load identification. To avoid the dependency on the selection of locations for FBG sensors installed on a beam structure, the measured strain is expressed by a general form of a strain sensing model defined by superimposing the distribution shapes for strains from multiple loads. Numerical simulation is conducted to verify the model. Then, the load identification model is applied to monitoring of applied loads on a 4 m-long steel beam subjected to two concentrated loads. In the experiment, seven FBG sensors and nine electrical strain gages (ESGs) were installed on the surface of the bottom flange. The experimental results indicate a good agreement between estimated loadings from the model and the loads applied by a hydraulic jack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a ground anchor system, cables or tendons connected to a bearing plate are used for stabilization of slopes. Then, the stability of a slope is dependent on maintaining the tension levels in the cables. So far, no research on a strain-based field sensing system for ground anchors has been reported. Therefore, in this study, a practical monitoring system for long-term sensing of tension levels in tendons for anchor-reinforced slopes is proposed. The system for anchor-reinforced slopes is composed of: (1) load cells based on vibrating wire strain gauges (VWSGs), (2) wireless sensor nodes which receive and process the signals from load cells and then transmit the result to a master node through local area communication, (3) master nodes which transmit the data sent from sensor nodes to the server through mobile communication, and (4) a server located at the base station. The system was applied to field sensing of ground anchors in the 62 m-long and 26 m-high slope at the side of the highway. Based on the long-term monitoring, the safety of the anchor-reinforced slope can be secured by the timely applications of re-tensioning processes in tendons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a strain measurement model for beam structures subjected to multiloading conditions by defining the strain-shape function and participation factors to overcome the limitations of strain measurements using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors. Using the proposed model, the maximum strain in a beam is obtained by the sum of the strains caused by the different loadings acting separately. In this paper, the strain-shape functions for various loading and support conditions are provided, and a system of equations is defined to calculate the participation factors. Furthermore, the influence ratio is defined to identify the influence of each loading on the value of the total strain. The measurement model is applied to the monitoring of the maximum strain in a 4 m long steel beam subjected to two concentrated loads. For measurements during the test, seven FBG sensors and nine electric strain gauges (ESGs) were attached on the surface of the bottom flange. The experimental results indicate a good agreement between the estimated strains based on the model and the measured strains from ESGs. Furthermore, the dependency of the locations for the FBG sensors installed at the beam structure on the selection can be avoided using the measurement model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masmoudi (2010) obtained global well-posedness for 2D Maxwell-Navier-Stokes system. In this paper, we reprove global existence of regular solutions to the 2D system by using energy estimates and Brezis-Gallouet inequality. Also we obtain a blow-up criterion for solutions to 3D Maxwell-Navier-Stokes system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the stability of a whirling disk-spindle system, supported by coupled journal and thrust bearings with rotating grooves. The stiffness and damping coefficients of the FDBs change periodically with the whirling motion of the disk-spindle system, which makes it difficult to define the stability problem in the inertia coordinate. However, with the introduction of the coordinate system which rotates with the disk-spindle system, the stiffness and damping coefficients are constant, which makes it possible to define the stability problem in the rotating coordinate system. The Reynolds equations and the perturbed equations of the coupled bearings were derived with respect to the rotating coordinate and were solved using FEM to calculate the stiffness and damping coefficients. The critical mass of the rotor-bearing system was determined by solving the linear equations of motion. As a result, the stability increases with an increase in the whirl radius and with a decrease in the rotating speed. It also decreases with an increase in the tilting angle under a small whirl radius while it increases with an increase in the tilting angle under a large whirl radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total synthesis of ()-isatisine A is described based on the application of a silyl-directed Mukaiyama-type [3 2]-annulation for the preparation of a fully substituted furan core. The indole branch forming the quaternary carbon center at C2 was constructed by addition to an intermediate N-acyliminium ion derived from aminal 4. In addition, the fused tetracyclic framework including furan core was built up using modified Buchwald amidation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convergent synthesis of brevisamide (1) is described based on the application of the crotyl silane-based [4 + 2]-annulation used for the preparation of the advanced oxygenated tetrahydropyran intermediate 2. The side chain bearing a conjugated (E,E)-diene was efficiently constructed under modified Negishi cross-coupling conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Caflisch et al (1997 Commun. Math. Phys. 184 443-55), it was shown that magnetic helicity for ideal magneto-hydrodynamics is conserved for the velocities and magnetic fields in some adequate Besov spaces. We show that magnetic helicity is conserved for the velocities and magnetic fields in L3. We also obtain the necessary condition for the energy and cross-helicity conservation following the methods developed in Cheskidov et al (2007 Preprint 0704.0759 [math.AP]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the singular limit of viscous polytropic fluids without thermal conductivity as the Mach number tends to zero. A uniform existence result for the Cauchy problem in R 3 is proved under the assumption that the initial data belongs uniformly to H k (R 3 ) with k = 2, 3 and is well-prepared in H 1 (R 3 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the stationary measure for the two-dimensional Boussinesq equation with random forcing. We prove the ergodicity for the two-dimensional stochastically forced Boussinesq equation. We also study the Galerkin truncations of the three-dimensional Boussinesq equations under degenerate stochastic forcing. We follow closely the previous results on the stochastically forced Navier–Stokes equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this erratum is to modify the proof of Theorem 1.1 caused by an incorrectly computed estimate (3.5) in Kang and Lee’s 2006 paper [1]. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A highly efficient phase-transfer catalytic aza-Michael addition of tert-butyl benzyloxycarbamate to a wide range of electron-deficient olefins is presented (90–99%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of a pseudoaneurysm secondary to skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) in an 82-year-old female. The patient was hospitalized with an acute episode of bleeding from the right ear, which persisted despite packing placed in the ear. We suspected bleeding from the internal carotid artery (ICA) and performed angiography, which revealed a pseudoaneurysm that presumably developed secondary to invasion of the wall of the petrous segment of the right ICA, and the patient underwent emergency coil embolization. Bleeding from the ear recurred a week later, and we performed repeat angiography, followed by embolization and deployment of multiple stents at the site of the pseudoaneurysm, which controlled the bleeding. Clinicians should be mindful of a pseudoaneurysm as a rare complication of SBO, following the spread of infection to adjacent soft tissues or vessels. A pseudoaneurysm should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with recurrent epistaxis or bleeding from the ears in addition to cranial nerve symptoms, and this condition warrants urgent evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of fetal left modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) in assessment and management of prenatal twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS). Methods We retrospectively reviewed fetuses with TAPS diagnosed prenatally between 2015 and 2019 at Asan Medical Center. Doppler ultrasound evaluation including the peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and fetal echocardiography including left Mod-MPI were evaluated and followed up after antenatal management. Results Among 10 cases of fetal twin pregnancies with prenatal TAPS, six were spontaneous and four were post-laser TAPS. Left Mod-MPI was abnormal in one or both twins of nine cases (90%) including all post-laser TAPS (n = 4) and 83.3% of spontaneous TAPS (n = 5). Three recipients, one donor and three former recipients/new donors had elevated left Mod-MPI values, and one donor, one recipient, two former donors/new recipients had decreased values. Antenatal intervention was performed in eight cases with intrauterine transfusion (n = 4), fetoscopic laser surgery (n = 2), radiofrequency ablation (n = 1), and intrauterine transfusion followed by radiofrequency ablation (n = 1). The remaining two cases were either delivered or managed expectantly. MCA-PSV and left Mod-MPI became normal on the follow-up scans in all cases except the delivered case. There were four fetal deaths: two occurred spontaneously and two were selectively terminated by radiofrequency ablation. Overall perinatal survival per fetus was 80% (16/20) and the median gestational age at delivery was 34.4 (range, 29.2–37.4) weeks. Neither postnatal death nor neurodevelopmental delay occurred during a median follow-up of 13 months (range, 0.25–60 months). Conclusion Fetal left Mod-MPI was useful for assessment of compromised fetal cardiac function in cases with prenatal TAPS. Application of fetal left Mod-MPI in prenatal staging of TAPS might help evaluate the severity of TAPS and decide timely antenatal intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was performed to understand farmers' health status by general characteristic, and to find out the related factors. Methods: All the 984 subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire and SF-12. Among them, only 812 were eligible for analysis. Statistical methods used included frequency, t-test, ANOVA, binary logistic regression with SPSS 19.0. Results: In binary logistic regression, marital status, smoking, regular exercise and monthly day off were associated with physical component score. Marital status, smoking and score of pesticide protective device wearing were associated with mental component score. Conclusions: This study suggests that effort to develop health promotion programs for workers of agricultural industry considering these results can improve their perceived health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method to improve the robustness of a hard disk drive (HDD) spindle supported by fluid dynamic bearings (FDBs) by utilizing the stability analysis of the five degrees of freedom of a general rotor-bearing system. The Reynolds equations and the perturbed equations of the coupled journal and thrust bearings were solved by FEM to calculate the dynamic coefficients. The paper introduces the radius of gyration to the equations of motion in order to consistently define the stability problem with respect to a single variable, i.e., the mass. The critical mass, which is the threshold between the stability and instability of the HDD spindle, is determined by solving the linear equations of motion. The proposed method was applied to improve the robustness of a HDD spindle supported by FDBs by varying the groove parameters. It shows that the optimized groove design obtained using the proposed method increases both the stability and the modal damping ratio of the half-speed whirl mode. This research also determines the motions of the rotating disk-spindle system by solving its nonlinear equations of motion with the Runge-Kutta method. It shows that the groove design optimized using the proposed method has a small whirl radius in the steady state. It also shows that it has very little displacement due to the shock excitation, and that it quickly recovers to the equilibrium state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sexually size-dimorphic species, brood sex composition may exert differential effects on sex-specific mortality. We investigated the sex-specific mortality and body condition in relation to brood sex composition in nestlings of the black-billed magpie Pica pica. Neither significantly sex-biased production at hatching nor overall sex-biased mortality during the nestling period was found. Sex-specific mortality as a function of brood sex composition, however, differed between female and male nestlings. We found higher mortality for females in male-biased broods and higher mortality for males in female-biased broods, a phenomenon that we call ‘rarer-sex disadvantage’. As a result, fledging sex ratios became more biased in the direction of bias at hatching, a phenomenon that cannot be readily explained by previous hypotheses for sex-specific mortality. Two temporal variables, fledging date and laying date, were also correlated with sex-specific mortality: female nestlings in earlier broods experienced higher mortality than male nestlings whereas male nestlings in later broods experienced higher mortality. We suggest that this unusual pattern of mortality may be explained by adaptive adjustments of brood sex composition by parents, either through the effects of a slight sex difference in offspring dispersal patterns on parental fitness, or owing to sex differences as regards the benefits of early fledging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtain the interior regularity criteria for the vorticity of "suitable" weak solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations. We prove that if two components of a vorticiy belongs to [image omitted] in a neighborhood of an interior point with 3/p + 2/q ≤ 2 and 3/2 < p < ∞, then solution is regular near that point. We also show that if the direction field of the vorticity is in some Triebel-Lizorkin spaces and the vorticity magnitude satisfies an appropriate integrability condition in a neighborhood of a point, then solution is regular near that point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the fabrication of self-assembled Au droplets is successfully demonstrated on various type-A GaAs substrates: (711)A, (511)A, (411)A, and (311)A. The nucleation of the selfassembled tiny Au clusters is observed at 300 °C. As an intermediate stage, corrugated Au nanostructures are clearly observed at 350 °C on various type-A GaAs surfaces, rarely witnessed on other substrates. Based on the Volmer-Weber growth mode, the dome-shaped Au droplets with excellent uniformities are successfully fabricated between 500 and 550 °C. As a function of annealing temperature, the self-assembled Au droplets show the increased dimensions including average height and diameter, compensated by the decreased average density. Depending on the substrate indices utilized, the size and density of Au droplets show clear differences throughout the whole temperature range. The results are symmetrically analyzed by using atomic force microscope images, cross-sectional line-profiles, size and density plots, height distribution histograms, and Fourier filter transform power spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monomethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1) is enriched at enhancers that are primed for activation and the levels of this histone mark are frequently altered in various human cancers. Yet, how alterations in H3K4me1 are established and the consequences of these epigenetic changes in tumorigenesis are not well understood. Using ChIP-Seq in human colon cancer cells, we demonstrate that mutant p53 depletion results in decreased H3K4me1 levels at active enhancers that reveal a striking colocalization of mutant p53 and the H3K4 monomethyltransferase MLL4 following chronic tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) signaling. We further reveal that mutant p53 forms physiological associations and direct interactions with MLL4 and promotes the enhancer binding of MLL4, which is required for TNFα-inducible H3K4me1 and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) levels, enhancer-derived transcript (eRNA) synthesis, and mutant p53-dependent target gene activation. Complementary in vitro studies with recombinant chromatin and purified proteins demonstrate that binding of the MLL3/4 complex and H3K4me1 deposition is enhanced by mutant p53 and p300-mediated acetylation, which in turn reflects a MLL3/4-dependent enhancement of mutant p53 and p300-dependent transcriptional activation. Collectively, our findings establish a mechanism in which mutant p53 cooperates with MLL4 to regulate aberrant enhancer activity and tumor-promoting gene expression in response to chronic immune signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider two dimensional chemotaxis equations coupled to the Navier–Stokes equations. We present a new localized regularity criterion that is localized in a neighborhood at each point. Secondly, we establish temporal decays of the regular solutions under the assumption that the initial mass of biological cell density is sufficiently small. Both results are improvements of previously known results given in Chae et al (2013 Discrete Continuous Dyn. Syst. A 33 2271–97) and Chae et al (2014 Commun. PDE39 1205–35) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stereocontrolled synthesis of the left halves of halichondrins was reported. An intramolecular oxy-Michael reaction under basic conditions was used to construct the [6,6]-spiroketal in a stereocontrolled manner. With this approach, the left halves of halichondrins, homohalichondrins, and norhalichondrins were synthesized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a mathematical model motivated by the studies of coral broadcast spawning in spatial dimensions two and three. We establish the local and global well-posedness of regular solutions for the model. We also prove that the total mass of the egg (sperm) density asymptotically approaches a strictly positive constant, provided that the efficiency of the absorbing reaction is strong enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver (Ag) nanostructures have demonstrated the feasibility of being utilized in various optoelectronic, catalytic, biomedical, and sensor devices due to their excellent surface plasmon resonance characteristics. The geometrical structure, spacing, and spatial arrangement of nanostructures are crucial for controlling the properties and device performance. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of various configurations of self-assembled Ag nanostructures on GaN (0001) by the systematic control of deposition thickness and annealing duration. The surface morphology evolution is thoroughly investigated, and the corresponding influence on optical properties is probed. The evolution of Ag nanostructures in response to thermal annealing is described based on the dewetting of thin films, Volmer-Weber growth model, coalescence growth, and surface energy minimization mechanism. For the deposition amount variation between 1 and 100 nm, the Ag nanostructures show gradual morphological transitions such as small nanoparticles (NPs) to enlarged NPs between 1 and 7 nm, elongated nanostructures to cluster networks between 10 and 30 nm, and void evolution with layered nanostructures between 40 and 100 nm. In addition, the annealing duration effect has been studied between 0 and 3600 s, where the Ag nanostructures exhibit the evolution of network-like, elongated and isolated irregular shapes, ascribed to Ostwald's ripening along with Ag sublimation. Furthermore, corresponding Raman, photoluminescence, and reflectance spectra reveal the morphology-dependent behaviors and are discussed based on the phonon, emission band, scattering, absorption, and surface plasmon effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous GaN exhibits unique optoelectronic, chemical, and physical properties such as shift of band gap, increased surface area ratio, excellent chemical, mechanical, and thermal stability as well as efficient luminescence as compared to its bulk counterpart. Herein, we demonstrate a precise, efficient, and still cost-effective method of the fabrication of porous GaN through the enhanced GaN decomposition by using Au nanoparticles (NPs) as a catalyst, in which the size, density, and shape of the pores (nanoholes, NHs) can be precisely controlled. By the thermal annealing assisted with the Au NPs, the NHs are successfully fabricated, and the existence of Au NPs significantly accelerate the GaN decomposition at the interface between the NPs and GaN due to the Ga absorption by the Au NPs. We systematically study the formation mechanism of NHs assisted by the Au NPs by means of annealing temperature, duration, and Au deposition amount, and the results are systematically analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination chemotherapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer commonly employs gemcitabine with an EGFR inhibitor such as erlotinib. Here, we show that the retinoic acid derivative, ABPN, exhibits more potent anticancer effects than erlotinib, while exhibiting less toxicity toward noncancerous human control cells. Low micromolar concentrations of ABPN induced apoptosis in BxPC3 and HPAC pancreatic cancer cell lines, concomitant with a reduction in phosphorylated EGFR as well as decreased ErbB3, Met and BRUCE protein levels. The degradation of ErbB3 is a result of proteasomal degradation, possibly due to the ABPN-dependent upregulation of Nrdp1. Administration of ABPN showed significant reductions in tumor size when tested using a mouse xenograft model, with higher potency than erlotinib at the same concentration. Analysis of the tumors demonstrated that ABPN treatment suppressed ErbB3 and Met and induced Nrdp1 in vivo. The data suggest that ABPN may be more suitable in combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine than the more widely used EGFR inhibitor, erlotinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient enantioselective synthetic method for α-amido-α-alkylmalonates via phase-transfer catalytic α-alkylation was successfully developed. The α-alkylation of α-amidomalonates under phase-transfer catalytic conditions (50% KOH, toluene, -40 °C) in the presence of (S,S)-3,4,5-trifluorophenyl-NAS bromide afforded the corresponding α-amido-α-alkylmalonates in high chemical yields (up to 99%) and optical yields (up to 97% ee), which could be readily converted to versatile chiral intermediates bearing α-amino quaternary stereogenic centers. The synthetic potential of this methodology was demonstrated via the synthesis of chiral azlactone, oxazoline, and unnatural α-amino acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the fabrication and detailed evolution process of self-assembled Au droplets on diverse GaAs type-B (n11) substrates, where n is 9, 7, 5, 4, and 2, are successfully demonstrated. The evolution process is systematically investigated by variation of the annealing temperature (Ta) from 250 to 550 °C. Self-assembled Au clusters begin to nucleate at 300 °C, and wiggly nanostructures with connected geometry are formed as a transitional stage at 350 °C. Between 400 and 550 °C, self-assembled Au droplets are successfully fabricated, and they show increased average dimensions and decreased density with increasing Ta, while showing improved size uniformity above 500 °C. Throughout the Ta range, the properties of the resulting Au droplets depend on the substrates utilized, and this is systematically analyzed in relation to the root mean squared (RMS) roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the effect of deposition amount on self-assembled Au droplets fabricated on GaAs(111)B and (110) is presented. The investigation is systematically performed by the variation of the Au deposition amount from 2 to 20 nm while fixing the other growth parameters such as annealing temperature and duration to clearly observe the effect. Under identical growth conditions, the self-assembled Au droplets show significantly different size and density depending on the amount of Au deposition: i.e. the average height varies by 436% from 21.8 to 95.5 nm and the average diameter swings by 827% from 52 to 430 nm, showing that the size increase is dominated by the lateral expansion. Meanwhile the average density varies by over two orders of magnitude from 1.24 × 108 to 4.48 × 1010 cm-2 on GaAs(111)B. With relatively low Au deposition amounts, below 3 nm, round dome-shaped mini Au droplets with high packing density can be fabricated, while super large Au droplets result with higher deposition amounts, above 10 nm, with a density two orders of magnitude lower. It is also found that the surface index has a minor effect on the fabrication of self-assembled Au droplets with the variation of deposition amount. The results are systematically analyzed and discussed in terms of atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images, line profiles, power spectrums, r.m.s. surface roughness, and size and density plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (CDDP) and its derivatives are considered first-line treatments for ovarian cancer (OVCA). However, despite initial results that often appear promising, in most cases patients will return with recurrent disease that fails to respond to further chemotherapy. We assayed a number of food phytochemicals with reported PI3K inhibitory ability to identify candidates that can influence CDDP treatment outcomes in chemoresistant OVCA cell lines. A direct comparison revealed that the diaryl-heptanoid hirsutenone from the tree bark of Alnus hirsuta var. sibirica was superior at inducing CDDP sensitivity in a number of chemoresistant cancer cell lines. Whereas hirsutenone treatment activated p53, itsmodest efficacy in p53-mutant and -null cell lines suggested the existence of a p53-independentmode of action. Further investigation revealed that hirsutenone causes CDDP-dependent apoptosis in chemoresistant cells by ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis degradation and by enhancing the translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor from the mitochondria to the nucleus. This was found to be, at least in part, under the influence of upstream Akt activity, linking hirsutenone-dependent PI3K inhibition with downstream effects on apoptosis-inducing factor, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, and apoptosis. Our findings provide rationale for further investigation of the effects of hirsutenone on chemoresistant OVCA in clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to cisplatin (CDDP) in ovarian cancer (OVCA) arises from the dysregulation of tumor suppressors and survival signals. During genotoxic challenge, these factors can be influenced by secondary agents that facilitate the induction of apoptosis. Piceatannol is a natural metabolite of the stilbene resveratrol found in grapes and is converted from its parent compound by the enzyme CYP1BA1 p450. It has been hypothesized to exert specific effects against various cellular targets; however, its ability to influence CDDP resistance in cancer cells has not been investigated to date. Here, we show that piceatannol is a potent enhancer of CDDP sensitivity in OVCA, and this effect is achieved through the modulation of several major determinants of chemoresistance. Piceatannol enhances p53-mediated expression of the pro-apoptotic protein NOXA, increases XIAP degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and enhances caspase-3 activation. This response is associated with an increase inDrp1-dependentmitochondrial fission, leading to more effective induction of apoptosis. In vivo studies using a mouse model of OVCA reveal that a number of these changes occur in association with a greater overall reduction in tumor weight when mice are treated with both piceatannol and CDDP, in comparison to treatment with either agent alone. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the potential application of piceatannol to enhance CDDP sensitivity in OVCA, and it acts on p53, XIAP, and mitochondrial fission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an improved version of the numerical method used in a previous study on the dynamic simulation of purse seine gear in three dimensions. The improvement is achieved by refining the mass-spring model to take into account both the drag coefficient as a function of the attack angle and Reynolds number as applied to the setting operation of the purse seine gear. The validity of the numerical simulation is assessed by comparing the measured and calculated values for the sinking depth of the net. The numerical simulation is used to examine the sinking performance of the different designs in which large meshed-panels and netting materials are used together in the main body section of the netting. The results indicate that, compared to the prototype net, nets bearing larger mesh panels require more sinking depth with much more pronounced operational depth at corresponding times of the fishing operation when heavier netting material is used. Moreover, in the new net designs, lower tensile forces are exerted on both ends of the pure wire during pursing. The new net constructions with regard to the operational depth represent alternatives that may reduce the potential problem of frequent failed setting of the tuna purse seine gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have been developed over the past few decades due to their potential applications in future electronics such as wearable and foldable electronics. As the electrical performance of OFETs has improved, patterning organic semiconducting crystals has become a key issue for their commercialization. However, conventional soft lithographic techniques have required the use of expensive processes to fabricate high-resolution master molds. In this study, we demonstrated a cost-effective method to prepare nanopatterned master molds for the fabrication of high-performance nanowire OFETs. We repurposed commercially available compact discs (CDs) as master molds because they already have linear nanopatterns on their surface. Flexible nanopatterned templates were replicated from the CDs using UV-imprint lithography. Subsequently, 6,13-bis-(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene nanowires (NWs) were grown from the templates using a capillary force-assisted lithographic technique. The NW-based OFETs showed a high average field-effect mobility of 2.04 cm2 V−1 s−1. This result was attributed to the high crystallinity of the NWs and to their crystal orientation favorable for charge transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable dispersion of quasi-2D graphene sheets with a concentration up to 1.27 mg mL−1 was prepared by sonication-assisted solvent exfoliation of pitch-based carbon fiber in N-methyl pyrrolidone with the mass yield of 2.32%. Prepared quasi-2D graphene sheets have multi-layered 2D plate-like morphology with rich inclusions of graphitic carbons, a low number of structural defects, and high dispersion stability in aprotic polar solvents, and facilitate the utilization of quasi-2D graphene sheets prepared from pitch-based carbon fiber for various electronic and structural applications. Thin films of quasi-2D graphene sheets prepared by vacuum filtration of the dispersion of quasi-2D graphene sheets demonstrated electrical conductivity up to 1.14 × 104 Ω/□ even without thermal treatment, which shows that pitch-based carbon fiber might be useful as the source of graphene-related nanomaterials. Because pitch-based carbon fiber could be prepared from petroleum pitch, a very cheap structural material for the pavement of asphalt roads, our approach might be promising for the mass production of quasi-2D graphene nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]