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This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of radiation dose on the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for benign meningiomas and determine an optimal dosing strategy for balancing tumor control and treatment-related toxicity. Clinical data of 147 patients with 164 lesions treated between 2014 and 2022 were reviewed. Primary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), local control rate (LCR), and radiation-induced toxicity, with secondary outcomes focusing on LCR and radiation-induced peritumoral edema (PTE) in two dose groups (≥14 Gy and <14 Gy). The results revealed a median follow-up duration of 47 months, with 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year PFS rates of 99.3%, 96.7%, and 93.8%, respectively, and an overall LCR of 95.1%. Radiation-induced toxicity was observed in 24.5% of patients, primarily presenting mild symptoms. Notably, no significant difference in LCR was found between the two dose groups (p = 0.628), while Group 2 (<14 Gy) exhibited significantly lower PTE (p = 0.039). This study concludes that SRS with a radiation dose < 14 Gy demonstrates comparable tumor control with reduced toxicity, advocating consideration of such dosing to achieve a balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biomarkers that predict the treatment response in patients with knee osteoarthritis are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of synovial fluid cell counts and their ratios as biomarkers of primary knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This retrospective study investigated 96 consecutive knee osteoarthritis patients with knee effusion who underwent joint fluid aspiration analysis and received concomitant intra-articular corticosteroid injections and blood tests. The monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were calculated. After 6 months of treatment, patients were divided into two groups: the responder group showing symptom resolution, defined by a visual analog scale (VAS) score of ≤ 3, without additional treatment, and the non-responder group showing residual symptoms, defined by a VAS score of > 3 and requiring further intervention, such as additional medication, repeated injections, or surgical treatment. Unpaired t-tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted between the two groups to predict treatment response after conservative treatment. The predictive value was calculated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the optimal cutoff value was determined. Results: Synovial fluid MLR was significantly higher in the non-responder group compared to the responder group (1.86 ± 1.64 vs. 1.11 ± 1.37, respectively; p = 0.02). After accounting for confounding variables, odds ratio of non-responder due to increased MLR were 1.63 (95% confidence interval: 1.11–2.39). The optimal MLR cutoff value for predicting patient response to conservative treatment was 0.941. Conclusions: MLR may be a potential biomarker for predicting the response to conservative treatment in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, significant progress has been achieved in rational developments of electrocatalysts through constructing novel atomistic structures and modulating catalytic surface topography, realizing substantial enhancement in electrocatalytic activities. Numerous advanced catalysts were developed for electrochemical energy conversion, exhibiting low overpotential, high intrinsic activity, and selectivity. Yet, maintaining the high catalytic performance under working conditions with high polarization and vigorous microkinetics that induce intensive degradation of surface nanostructures presents a significant challenge for commercial applications. Recently, advanced operando and computational techniques have provided comprehensive mechanistic insights into the degradation of surficial functional structures. Additionally, various innovative strategies have been devised and proven effective in sustaining electrocatalytic activity under harsh operating conditions. This review aims to discuss the most recent understanding of the degradation microkinetics of catalysts across an entire range of anodic to cathodic polarizations, encompassing processes such as oxygen evolution and reduction, hydrogen reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction. Subsequently, innovative strategies adopted to stabilize the materials' structure and activity are highlighted with an in-depth discussion of the underlying rationale. Finally, we present conclusions and perspectives regarding future research and development. By identifying the research gaps, this review aims to inspire further exploration of surface degradation mechanisms and rational design of durable electrocatalysts, ultimately contributing to the large-scale utilization of electroconversion technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a multi-objective optimization approach to design a steam methane reforming (SMR) reactor and maximize the efficiency of the hydrogen production process. Out of 1782 possible variable combinations, only 50 iterations were performed, identifying three Pareto optimal that resulted in reactor size reductions of 50.53%, 35.56%, and 20.69%, respectively, compared to the reference reactor. The process efficiency for each optimal design varied slightly, with one achieving a 105.05% increase in efficiency, another remaining stable at 100.48%, and a third experiencing a slight decrease to 86.66% compared to the reference case. The results offer practical insights for planning an on-site distributed hydrogen production system, demonstrating that an increase in overall process efficiency can be achieved even with a reduced reactor size. This work is the first attempt to optimize a hydrogen production system by simultaneously considering overall process efficiency and SMR reactor design. • Multi-objective optimization for SMR reactor design and process efficiency. • Bayesian optimization identified 3 Pareto optimal designs out of 1782 combinations. • Process efficiency increased up to 105.05% with 50.53% reactor size reduction. • Study provides insights for on-site distributed hydrogen production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various renal abnormalities, including hydronephrosis, polycystic kidney disease, and hydroureter, have been reported, and these abnormalities are present in DiGeorge syndrome, renal dysplasia, and acute kidney failure. Previous studies have shown that various genes are associated with renal abnormalities. However, the major target genes of nonobstructive hydronephrosis have not yet been elucidated. Results: We examined neuroblast differentiation-associated protein Ahnak localization and analyzed morphogenesis in developing kidney and ureter. To investigated function of Ahnak, RNA-sequencing and calcium imaging were performed in wild type and Ahnak knockout (KO) mice. Ahnak localization was confirmed in the developing mouse kidneys and ureter. An imbalance of calcium homeostasis and hydronephrosis, which involves an expanded renal pelvis and hydroureter, was observed in Ahnak KO mice. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis on RNA-seq results indicated that 'Channel Activity', 'Passive Transmembrane Transporter Activity' and 'Cellular Calcium Ion Homeostasis' were downregulated in Ahnak KO kidney. 'Muscle Tissue Development', 'Muscle Contraction', and 'Cellular Calcium Ion Homeostasis' were downregulated in Ahnak KO ureter. Moreover, peristaltic movement of smooth muscle in the ureter was reduced in Ahnak KO mice. Conclusions: Abnormal calcium homeostasis causes renal disease and is regulated by calcium channels. In this study, we focused on Ahnak, which regulates calcium homeostasis in several organs. Our results indicate that Ahnak plays a pivotal role in kidney and ureter development, and in maintaining the function of the urinary system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strain designated as AN120528T was isolated from farmland soil in South Korea. This strain grows well on R2A medium at 28 °C. The cells are an off-white colour and have no hyphae. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the strain is a member of the genus Shimazuella with a 98.11% similarity to Shimazuella alba KC615T and a 97.05% similarity to S. kribbensis KCTC 9933T, respectively. The strain AN120528T shares common chemotaxonomic features with the other two type strains in the genus. It has MK-9 (H4) and MK-10 (H4) as its predominant menaquinones. The major fatty acids are iso-C14:0, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), lipids (L), and aminolipids (AL) were identified as the major cellular polar lipids. Analysis of the peptidoglycan showed the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the genome of the strain is approximately 3.3 Mbp in size. The strain showed a 77.5% average nucleotide identity (ANI) with S. alba KC615T. The genomic DNA (gDNA) G + C content is 39.0%. Based on polyphasic taxonomy analysis, it is proposed that this strain, AN120528T, represents a novel species in the genus Shimazuella, designated as Shimazuella soli sp. nov. The type stain is AN120528T (=KCTC 39810T = DSM 103571T). Furthermore, shimazuellin I, a new 15-amino-acid peptide, was discovered in the AN120528T through genome mining; it has the features of a lasso peptide, containing eight amino acids (-G-Q-G-G-S-N-N-D-) that form a macrolactam ring and seven amino acids (-D-G-W-Y-H-S-K-) that form a tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-enveloped Bayesian optimization (EBO), a novel optimizer that integrates EBO with CFD to reduce the required CFD simulations by utilizing previous optimization data. The proposed optimizer was applied to determine the optimal catalyst packing ratio of the Fischer–Tropsch microchannel reactor that minimizes the maximum temperature and maximizes the productivity of long-chain hydrocarbons by utilizing the CFD model. The obtained results indicate that the number of iterations required to reach the optimal points is lower than that of BO, and the optimal result exhibits a 5% improvement from the initial condition. The optimizer was evaluated across various catalyst packing cases to assess its robustness. Nevertheless, the proposed optimizer was consistently able to reach optimal points that BO could not achieve. We anticipate that this optimizer can be widely applied to optimize the operating condition of a chemical reactor in the presence of previous optimization data. • Enveloped Bayesian optimization is integrated with CFD. • Catalyst packing ratios of Fischer–Tropsch microchannel reactor are optimized. • 4-channel reactor optimization is conducted utilizing single-channel reactor optimization data. • The optimization performances are evaluated in various cases of different catalyst packing ratio ranges for Fischer–Tropsch microchannel reactor. • The proposed method requires lower number of iterations when compared to Bayesian optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysm is common and sometimes requires microsurgery; however, as data on premammillary artery (PMA) infarction after clipping is scarce, we retrospectively reviewed cases of post-clipping PMA infarction to analyze incidence, independent risk factors of infarction, and anatomical considerations. Data from 569 consecutive patients who underwent microsurgical clipping for unruptured PCoA aneurysm between January 2008 and December 2020 were included. Patients were categorized into the normal or the PMA infarction group. Statistical analyses and comparisons between the two groups were used to determine the influence of various factors. The normal group included 515 patients while the PMA infarction group had 31. The mean length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the PMA infarction group (10.3 ± 9.1 days) than in the normal group (6.5 ± 6.4 days; p < 0.0001). The distribution of Glasgow Outcome Scale at discharge was significantly different between the two groups (p ≤ 0.0001) but was not so at 6 months after discharge (p = 0.0568). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified aneurysm size (odds ratio [OR], 1.194; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.32; p = 0.0005) and medial direction of aneurysm (OR, 4.615; 95% CI, 1.224–17.406; p = 0.0239) as independent risk factors of post-clipping PMA infarction. Surgeons must beware of PMA infarction after clipping of large aneurysms that are medial in direction. Intraoperative verification of the patency of the PCoA and the PMA from various angles using various intraoperative methods can reduce morbidity due to PMA infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of Huntington disease (HD) have identified six DNA maintenance gene loci (among others) as modifiers and implicated a two step-mechanism of pathogenesis: somatic instability of the causative HTT CAG repeat with subsequent triggering of neuronal damage. The largest studies have been limited to HD individuals with a rater-estimated age at motor onset. To capitalize on the wealth of phenotypic data in several large HD natural history studies, we have performed algorithmic prediction by using common motor and cognitive measures to predict age at other disease landmarks as additional phenotypes for GWASs. Combined with imputation with the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine reference panel, predictions using integrated measures provided objective landmark phenotypes with greater power to detect most modifier loci. Importantly, substantial differences in the relative modifier signal across loci, highlighted by comparing common modifiers at MSH3 and FAN1 , revealed that individual modifier effects can act preferentially in the motor or cognitive domains. Individual components of the DNA maintenance modifier mechanisms may therefore act differentially on the neuronal circuits underlying the corresponding clinical measures. In addition, we identified additional modifier effects at the PMS1 and PMS2 loci and implicated a potential second locus on chromosome 7. These findings indicate that broadened discovery and characterization of HD genetic modifiers based on additional quantitative or qualitative phenotypes offers not only the promise of in-human validated therapeutic targets but also a route to dissecting the mechanisms and cell types involved in both the somatic instability and toxicity components of HD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface hydrophilicity of a photocatalyst is an important factor that directly influences its interactions with organic pollutants and significantly impacts its degradation. In this study, we investigated the impact of increased hydrophilicity of g-C 3 N 4 (CN) by alkaline solvothermal treatment on the degradations of three antibiotics (oxytetracycline (OTC), oxolinic acid (OA), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)) with different log K ow values. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed no significant differences in the morphology, crystalline structure, and surface functional groups of CN after alkaline solvothermal treatment (Nv-HPCN). However, contact angle analysis revealed that Nv-HPCN (31.8°) was more hydrophilic than CN (61.1°). To assess the hydrophilicity of the antibiotics, the log K ow values of SMX (0.77), OA (0.43), and OTC (−0.34) were measured. Nv-HPCN showed faster OTC degradation than CN, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for the degradation of OA. Scavenger tests showed that O 2 •− and h+ mainly contributed to the degradation of these antibiotics. Furthermore, the influences of NOM and coexisting anions on antibiotic degradation were investigated. This study thus offers perspectives on the impact of surface hydrophilicity of photocatalysts on the degradation of antibiotics. [Display omitted] • Hydrophilic g-C 3 N 4 with increased N vacancies was synthesized successfully. • Measured log K ow values of antibiotics were in the order of SMX > OA > OTC. • Degradation trend of the antibiotics varied with hydrophilicity of the catalysts. • O 2.•− played a major role in antibiotic degradation by CN and Nv-HPCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Runx3, a member of the Runx family of transcription factors, has been studied as a tumour suppressor and key player of organ development. In a previous study, we reported differentiation failure and excessive angiogenesis in the liver of Runx3 knock‐out (KO) mice. Here, we examined a function of the Runx3 in liver, especially in iron metabolism. Methods: We performed histological and immunohistological analyses of the Runx3 KO mouse liver. RNA‐sequencing analyses were performed on primary hepatocytes isolated from Runx3 conditional KO (cKO) mice. The effect of Runx3 knock‐down (KD) was also investigated using siRNA‐mediated KD in functional human hepatocytes and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Result: We observed an iron‐overloaded liver with decreased expression of hepcidin in Runx3 KO mice. Expression of BMP6, a regulator of hepcidin transcription, and activity of the BMP pathway were decreased in the liver tissue of Runx3 KO mice. Transcriptome analysis on primary hepatocytes isolated from Runx3 cKO mice also revealed that iron‐induced increase in BMP6 was mediated by Runx3. Similar results were observed in Runx3 knock‐down experiments using HepaRG cells and HepG2 cells. Finally, we showed that Runx3 enhanced the activity of the BMP6 promoter by responding to iron stimuli in the hepatocytes. Conclusion: In conclusion, we suggest that Runx3 plays important roles in iron metabolism of the liver through regulation of BMP signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallenes, atomically thin layers composed primarily of under-coordinated metal atoms, have emerged as the newest members in the family of 2D nanomaterials. Furthermore, the remarkable physicochemical properties associated with metallenes coupled with the ease of applying chemical modifications result in exciting opportunities towards catalyst engineering for electrochemical conversions. Especially in recent years, interest around metallenes has grown, evidenced by the surge in available literature. As such, it is imperative to review the findings and present directions for the future. In this review, we highlight the techniques available for deriving metallenes and further discuss the modification strategies commonly employed in devising metallenes to better suit applications in electrocatalysis. We provide a rational understanding of how each strategy drives performance enhancements and present gaps in the knowledge, necessary for further advancements in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated as BN140041T, was isolated from cave soil at Gubyeongsan Mountain, Boeun-gun, Chungbuk province in Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain is closely related to Nocardioides silvaticus S-34 T, N. pelophilus THG-T63T, and N. immobilis FLL521T with 97.4%, 97.1%, and 96.8% similarity. The draft genome length was 4.27 Mb containing 424 contigs with a DNA G + C content of 70.5 mol%. The ANI value between strain BN140044T and its closely related species N. silvaticus S-34 T was 82.6%. The genome sequence of BN140041T displayed a key enzyme involved in the bioremediation of organic pollutants. The diagnostic diamino acid of peptidoglycan was LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid. The major respiratory quinone was MK-8(H4), and the major fatty acids (> 5% of the total fatty acids) were iso-C16:0 (55.3%), C18:1ω9c (7.7%) and iso-C17:0 (5.7%). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylinositol. The results of genotypical, physiological, and biochemical characterization allow the phenotypic differentiation of strain BN140041T from related the Nocardioides strains. Therefore, strain BN140041T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which we propose the name Nocardioides antri sp. nov. The type strain is BN140041T (= KCTC 49080 T = CCTCC AB 2018226 T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although studies of robotic rectal cancer surgery have demonstrated the effects of learning on operation time, comparisons have failed to demonstrate differences in clinicopathological outcomes between unadjusted learning phases. This study aimed to investigate the learning curve of robotic rectal cancer surgery for clinicopathological outcomes and compare surgical outcomes between adjusted learning phases. Study design We enrolled 506 consecutive patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent robotic resection by a single surgeon between 2007 and 2018. Risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) for surgical failure was used to analyze the learning curve. Surgical failure was defined as the occurrence of any of the following: conversion to open surgery, severe complications (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥ 3a), insufficient number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs), or R1 resection. Comparisons between learning phases analyzed by RA-CUSUM were performed before and after propensity score matching. Results: In RA-CUSUM analysis, the learning curve was divided into two learning phases: phase 1 (1st–177th cases, n = 177) and phase 2 (178th–506th cases, n = 329). Before matching, patients in phase 2 had deeper tumor invasion and higher rates of positive LNs on pretreatment images and preoperative chemoradiotherapy. After matching, phase 1 (n = 150) and phase 2 (n = 150) patients exhibited similar clinical characteristics. Phase 2 patients had lower rates of surgical failure overall and these components: conversion to open surgery, severe complications, and insufficient harvested LNs. Conclusions: For robotic rectal cancer surgery, surgical outcomes improved after the 177th case. Further studies by other robotic surgeons are required to validate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The infant brain grows quickly with elaborate microstructural development during the neonatal period. The white matter, during critical periods of development, is selectively vulnerable to altered maturation and impaired growth in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Objective: To evaluate whether abnormal white matter maturation in VLBW infants is associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of corrected age. Methods: Between 2015 and 2017, we recruited 60 VLBW infants at 24–32 weeks of gestational age and 15 full-term controls. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging at near-term age and were assessed at 18 months of corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. The associations between regional white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and developmental outcomes were explored using multivariable linear regression after correcting for gestational age, postmenstrual age at DTI scan, and maternal education level. Results: The FA values of the splenium of the corpus callosum (p = 0.032), corticospinal tract (p = 0.025), middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) (p < 0.001), and cingulum (p = 0.043) were significantly related to cognitive scores; however, only the association corresponding to the MCP remained significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. The MCP FA (p = 0.008) was associated with motor scores after correction for multiple comparisons (p = 0.008). Cognitive impairment (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.823, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.722–0.911) and motor impairment (AUC = 0.776, 95% CI = 0.656–0.899) were predicted by MCP FA. Conclusions: The FA of MCP at near-term age may predict developmental outcomes of VLBW infants at 18 months of corrected age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we emphasize the importance of cavity geometry along with nanoparticle shape and plasmonic nanogap (based on a nanoparticle on a metallic film (NPOM) design) which plays significant role in understanding the complex plasmonic mode characteristics involving nanoparticle and gap mode resonances. The cross-section imprint of planar cavity on metallic film plays decisive role in near field enhancement properties at similar NP size and plasmonic nanogap conditions for spherical and cubical NPOM systems. By mimicking the NPOM structure to metal-insulator-metal design, we understand the resonant emission differences for the respective plasmonic modes. Influence of dominant and weaker gap mode resonances resulted in an interesting optical behavior (fluctuations in near field enhancement strength) in NP mode in case of cubical nanostructures. By such extensive investigation and interpretation of sub-wavelength complex plasmonic mode characteristics, various practical applications in plasmonics field can be accomplished. Image 1 • The cross-section imprint of plasmonic nanocavity's volume or area influences near-field enhancement. • Understanding the complex plasmonic modes properties based on nanoparticle morphology in NPOM based. • Interesting fluctuations in NP mode's nearfield strength in the presence of gap mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The M13 bacteriophage, a nature‐inspired environmentally friendly biomaterial, is used as a perovskite crystal growth template and a grain boundary passivator in perovskite solar cells. The amino groups and carboxyl groups of amino acids on the M13 bacteriophage surface function as Lewis bases, interacting with the perovskite materials. The M13 bacteriophage‐added perovskite films show a larger grain size and reduced trap‐sites compared with the reference perovskite films. In addition, the existence of the M13 bacteriophage induces light scattering effect, which enhances the light absorption particularly in the long‐wavelength region around 825 nm. Both the passivation effect of the M13 bacteriophage coordinating to the perovskite defect sites and the light scattering effect intensify when the M13 virus‐added perovskite precursor solution is heated at 90 °C prior to the film formation. Heating the solution denatures the M13 bacteriophage by breaking their inter‐ and intra‐molecular bondings. The denatured M13 bacteriophage‐added perovskite solar cells exhibit an efficiency of 20.1% while the reference devices give an efficiency of 17.8%. The great improvement in efficiency comes from all of the three photovoltaic parameters, namely short‐circuit current, open‐circuit voltage, and fill factor, which correspond to the perovskite grain size, trap‐site passivation, and charge transport, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To define the functional role of Krüppel‐like factor (KLF) 10 as a modulator of chondrocyte hypertrophy in developing skeleton, the developmental features in the long bone of KLF10 knockout (KO) mice were investigated and the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from KLF10 KO mice were characterized regarding chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. Delayed long bone growth and delayed formation of primary ossification center were observed in an early embryonic stage in KLF10 KO mouse along with very low Indian hedgehog expression in epiphyseal plate. While the chondrogenic potential of mouse MSCs from KLF10 KO mice appeared normal or slight decreased, hypertrophy and osteogenesis were extensively suppressed. These findings suggest that KLF10 is a mediator of chondrocyte hypertrophy in developing skeleton, and that suppression of KLF10 may be employed as a new strategy for preventing hypertrophy in cartilage regeneration using MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New emerging low‐dimensional such as 0D, 1D, and 2D nanomaterials have attracted tremendous research interests in various fields of state‐of‐the‐art electronics, optoelectronics, and photonic applications due to their unique structural features and associated electronic, mechanical, and optical properties as well as high‐throughput fabrication for large‐area and low‐cost production and integration. Particularly, photodetectors which transform light to electrical signals are one of the key components in modern optical communication and developed imaging technologies for whole application spectrum in the daily lives, including X‐rays and ultraviolet biomedical imaging, visible light camera, and infrared night vision and spectroscopy. Today, diverse photodetector technologies are growing in terms of functionality and performance beyond the conventional silicon semiconductor, and low‐dimensional nanomaterials have been demonstrated as promising potential platforms. In this review, the current states of progress on the development of these nanomaterials and their applications in the field of photodetectors are summarized. From the elemental combination for material design and lattice structure to the essential investigations of hybrid device architectures, various devices and recent developments including wearable photodetectors and neuromorphic applications are fully introduced. Finally, the future perspectives and challenges of the low‐dimensional nanomaterials based photodetectors are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A handheld biological particle monitoring system that analyzes airborne biological particles in real time was designed, fabricated and its performance was investigated. An ultraviolet-light emitting diode (UV-LED) light source with a 280-nm wavelength was used. The design of an optical module that is composed of an ultraviolet source, a nozzle and flow controller, an ultraviolet cell, and a detection region was described. Through performance measurements, it was confirmed that scattering signals that corresponded to each particle size were measured, and that the proposed system effectively distinguished biological particles from non-biological components. It is expected that the proposed system can be applied to various biological particle and environment monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, strain-based damage assessment based on elastic-plastic FE analysis was carried out for the piping system test under seismic loads conducted at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC, India) to suggest relevant damage evlaution method and cyclic hardening model. For the damage evaluation method, the cumulative plastic damage and cumulative fatigue damage assessment methods, suggested in ASME B&PV Sec. VIII and Sec. III, respectively, were considered. For the FE analysis, hybrid models consisting of the beam and solid elements were used, validated by comparing with the results using full solid models. To simulate the cyclic hardening behavior of the material, the bi-linear kinematic hardening model suggested in the JSME Code case and the Chaboche kinematic hardening model were considered. By comparing with test results, it is shown that predicted failure cycles are about 33–C;53 % of the test result, and the use of the cumulative plastic damage method is found to be more conservative than the cumulative fatigue damage method. The effect of the hardening model on evaluation results is found to be not so significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total mesorectal excision (TME) is challenging to perform in a deep, narrow pelvis. While previous studies used pelvimetry to assess bony pelvic structures, there is no consensus on exact definition of deep, narrow pelvis. We hypothesized that the shape of pelvic floor muscle may impact the performance of transabdominal pelvic dissection. We aimed to evaluate which parameters of the shape of pelvic floor muscle impact the difficulty of TME and present a predictive reference value for TME difficulty.Methods: From January 2015 to December 2015, 85 consecutive patients who had undergone curative resection for middle to lower rectal cancer were retrospectively studied. Pelvimetry was performed using preoperative T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Predictive factor analysis for surgical duration was studied using linear regression. Mann-Whitney U test, comparing surgical duration between two groups classified by predictive factor, was used for the analysis of reference value.Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index, protective stoma, number of surgeon, and incline angle of pelvic floor muscle (β) were independent predictors of surgical duration. Test statistics of Mann-Whitney U for the difference in surgical duration between groups above and below a β of 54° were maximized.Conclusions: The incline angle of pelvic floor muscle is an independent predictor of surgical duration. In patients with steeper incline of PFM, transabdominal TME is expected to be difficult. This index is novel, but needs to be further validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant effects and cytoprotection of the poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) were investigated. γ-PGA with a molecular weight of ~400 kDa showed hydroxyl radical (OH•) averting capacity (HORAC), 85.2% at 1 mg/mL, which was caused by the chelation of transition metal ions and scavenging hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, this γ-PGA showed 94.1% superoxide anion radical (O 2 •-) scavenging and 96.0% lipid peroxidation inhibition activity at the same concentrations. The IC 50 values were 130 ± 4.2, 107 ± 3.5 and 128 ± 3.8 μg/mL against OH•, O 2 •- and lipid peroxidation, respectively. There was no significant variation in the HORAC of γ-PGA after 9 h, the end point of the simulated digestion model. Furthermore, γ-PGA showed a completely protective effect in Caco-2 cells and probiotic bacteria against oxidative damage at 1 mg/mL. These data suggest that γ-PGA has a potential use as a cytoprotectant in food and feed supplements, cosmetics and biomedical fields. • γ-PGA with a molecular weight of ~400 kDa showed OH• averting capacity, 85.2% at 1 mg/mL. • γ-PGA showed 94.1% O2•- scavenging and 96.0% lipid peroxidation inhibition activity at at 1 mg/mL. • There was no significant variation in the antioxidant activity of the γ-PGA in the simulated digestion model. • γ-PGA showed a completely protective effect in Caco-2 cells and probiotic bacteria against oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intestinal microbial manipulation by dietary probiotic supplementation on digestive enzyme activity, immune-related gene transcription, intestinal structure alteration, and viability against pathogenic challenge in olive flounder. Similar-sized flounders (14.92 ± 0.21 g) were divided into three groups and supplemented with a control (without probiotic) or 1 × 108 CFU/g diet of each of Bacillus sp. SJ-10 (ProB) and Lactobacillus plantarum (ProL) for eight weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the estimated intestinal microbial richness (Chao1) and diversity (Shannon) demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) abundance in the ProB group (484.80 ± 88.75, 5.08 ± 0.17) compared to the ProL (285.32 ± 17.78, 4.54 ± 0.09) and control groups (263.23 ± 20.20, 4.30 ± 0.20). A similar alteration phenomenon was also found at the phylum level, with a higher abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Trypsin and lipase activities were elevated in both the ProB and ProL groups compared to the control, but amylase was only higher in the ProB group. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were significantly higher in the ProB group than in the other two groups. There was a significant increase in transcription of IL-10 in both the ProB and ProL groups compared to the control. The length of villi and microvilli of probiotic-fed olive flounder was increased but was not significantly different from the control group. In an in vivo challenge experiment with Streptococcus iniae (1 × 108 CFU/mL), the survival rates of the ProB and ProL groups were 29.17% and 12.50%, respectively, when control mortality reached 100%. Therefore, intestinal microbiota manipulation by probiotic supplementation increased the richness of the bacterial population, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal immune gene transcription, and infectious disease protection in olive flounder. • Probiotic supplementation manipulated the intestinal microbiota in olive flounder. • The intestinal microbiota was investigated using a culture-independent technique. • Supplementation altered intestinal microbial diversity, digestive enzyme activity, and immune-related gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), an inflammatory disease involving disrupted lung development, is associated with neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. Objective: This study examined the brain volume and white matter (WM) microstructure in preterm infants at term-equivalent age and explored the effects of BPD on brain development. Method: We studied 56 preterm infants (33 with BPD and 23 without BPD) with no evidence of focal abnormalities on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term-equivalent age. Regional brain volumes and diffusion tensor images were examined using advanced segmentation techniques to acquire quantitative volume measurements, and the JHU neonatal template was used for the atlas-based analysis. We compared these infants with 22 healthy term infants of a similar postmenstrual age. Results: The preterm infants with BPD had smaller cerebral WM (p = 0.005) volumes than the preterm infants without BPD, independent of sex, gestational age, age at MRI scan, and total intracranial volume. Independent of sex, gestational age, and age at MRI scan, the preterm infants with BPD exhibited marked reductions in fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum (p = 0.006), corticospinal tract (p = 0.003), and superior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.002) compared with the infants with no BPD, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.008 as a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusion: Our study highlights the potential impairing influence of BPD on WM and cerebellar development in preterm infants compared with those without BPD at term-equivalent age, suggesting its clinical significance for neurodevelopment in BPD infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The N-terminal domain of Pseudomonas FB15 PSphy was fused to the beta-propeller phytase of Bacillus sp. SJ-10. • The fused protein exhibited a lower optimal temperature and maintained high activity at low temperatures. • The fusion protein showed a higher catalytic efficiency than the wild-type enzyme due to increased turnover rate. The beta-propeller phytase (BPP) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes phyate to release inorganic phosphorus. The BPP produced by Pseudomonas sp. FB15 (PSphy) possesses an additional N-terminal domain that is not present in BPP produced by other Bacillus species. In this study, BPP produced by Bacillus sp. SJ-10 (SJ-10phy) was fused with the N-terminal domain of PSphy and the enzymatic properties of the resulting fusion protein (FUSJ-10phy) were investigated. FUSJ-10phy exhibited an optimal temperature that was 10 °C lower than that of the wild-type enzyme. A comparison of kinetic parameters showed that the turnover rate of FUSJ-10phy was 2.39-fold higher than that of SJ-10phy, representing a 1.79-fold increase in catalytic efficiency. In addition, BPP produced by Bacillus sp. SJ-48 has relatively low sequence similarity with SJ-10phy, was fused with N-terminal domain (FUSJ-48phy). FUSJ-48phy also increased catalytic efficiency and changed the optimal temperature. These results indicate that, when fused to other BPPs, the N-terminal domain of PSphy increases catalytic efficiency and enzyme activity at lower temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sidelobe-reduced, four-beam array antenna fed by a modified $4 \times 4$ Butler matrix (BM) is proposed for 5G applications. Two attenuators are utilized in two external channels of the BM to realize a tapered amplitude distribution. In addition, three H-slots are employed as decoupling structures to enhance the isolation between the input ports. The modified BM is then cascaded with a $4 \times 7$ microstrip comb-line array antenna to establish four steering beams with high gains and reduced sidelobe levels. A prototype of the proposed four-beam array antenna is fabricated and experimentally demonstrated. The overall dimensions of the fabricated prototype are $95 \times 32 \times 0.254$ mm3. The total area of the modified BM is only $30 \times 32$ mm2. The measured reflection coefficients and coupling levels between the input ports are less than −15 dB over the target frequency range of 27.525–28.325 GHz. At the center frequency of 27.925 GHz, the measured four beams point toward −16.2°, +40.8°, −39.4°, and +12.6° with corresponding measured peak gains of 17.52, 16.55, 15.74, and 17.87 dBi. The measured peak sidelobe levels for each beam are −16.7, −10.3, −10.9, and −14.5 dB, respectively. Radiation patterns are also presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the acute and long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation on the recovery of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A retrospective study was conducted involving 345 patients with TBI who visited a single trauma center. Vitamin D serum levels were measured without supplementation at admission, 1 month, and 3 months post-TBI (control group) from August to December 2016. From January 2017, vitamin D supplementation was provided to patients with TBI with low vitamin D serum levels at admission (supplement group). The outcomes were investigated by assessing performance function (Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale) and cognitive function (Mini-Mental Status Examination, and Clinical Dementia Rating) at 1 week and 3 months post-TBI. The mean vitamin D serum level in patients with TBI at admission was 13.62 ± 9.01 ng/mL. The level significantly increased from 14.03 ± 8.68 ng/mL at admission to 37.42 ± 12.57 ng/mL at 3 months post TBI in the supplement group (P < 0.001). The cognitive outcomes (Mini-Mental Status Examination/Clinical Dementia Rating, P = 0.042/ P = 0.044) and GOS-E score (total TBI, P = 0.003; mild-to-moderate TBI, P = 0.002) significantly improved from the first week to 3 months post TBI in the patients with vitamin D supplementation. Administration of vitamin D supplements in mild-to-moderate TBI patients with significant vitamin D deficiency during the acute phase of the injury may improve long-term performance and cognitive outcomes. Therefore, the treatment strategies should be individually planned for the patients with TBI based on their baseline vitamin D level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A set of selected parameters is used in online model-based design of experiment (MBDOE). • Near-optimal input trajectory is calculated by performing MBDOE with regard to the relevant parameters at each time instant. • The scheme is free from the convergence issue typical of offline and online MBDOE. • A fed-batch bioreactor case study showed good performance both in terms of convergence and the precision of parameter estimate. Abstract Model-based design of experiments (MBDOE) is being widely used for the efficient identification of complex dynamical systems. Given real-time measurements, online MBDOE can be formulated. However, conventional real-time MBDOE requires considerable computational time for finding a solution which makes real-time implementation impossible. Moreover, the optimality of experimental design and the accuracy of parameter estimates are not ensured. We propose a new algorithm that advances online MBDOE by focusing on the subset of parameters at each design instant. It considerably reduces the numerical complexity of the problem while almost completely preserving its optimality and allowing for faster and more accurate calculation. A case study is presented, wherein the proposed algorithm is applied to a fed-batch bioreactor model with 14 parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Bacillus sp. SJ-10, isolated from traditional Korean seafood, as a probiotic. Strain SJ-10 was demonstrated to be safe, on the basis of in vitro tests confirming the absence of cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and genes with toxigenic potential, and was susceptible to antibiotics. It met the probiotic prerequisites of a spore count that remained almost constant, acid and bile tolerance under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, and significant adhesion to Caco-2 cells. Moreover, SJ-10 demonstrated beneficial properties as a probiotic: broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, hydroxyl radical, antioxidant activity, production of functional enzymes such as β-galactosidase and phytase, and selective growth via β-glucan fermentation. The fish-feeding trial demonstrated that olive flounder fed diets containing SJ-10 alone or in combination with β-glucan exhibited significantly higher growth performance and pathogenic disease resistance compared with those fed diets containing β-glucan alone, indicating that SJ-10 diets exerted a beneficial effect as an antibiotic replacer in terms of growth performance and disease resistance in olive flounder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mammalian palate separates the oral and nasal cavities for normal feeding, breathing and speech. The palatal shelves are a pair of maxillary prominences that consist of the neural crest-derived mesenchyme and surrounding epithelium. Palatogenesis is completed by the fusion of the midline epithelial seam (MES) after the medial edge epithelium (MEE) cells make contact between the palatal shelves. Various cellular and molecular events, such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), are involved in palatogenesis. The Zeb family of transcription factors is an essential player during normal embryonic development. The distinct role of the Zeb family has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In mouse palate, the Zeb family factors are expressed in the palatal mesenchyme until MEE contact. Interestingly, the expression of the Zeb family has also been observed in MES, which is already fused with the mesenchymal region. The regulatory roles of the Zeb family in palatogenesis have not been elucidated to date. The purpose of this study is to determine the Zeb family effects on the cellular events. To investigate the functions of the Zeb family, siRNA targeting Zeb family was used to treat in vitro organ culture for temporary inhibition of the Zeb family during palatogenesis. In the cultured palate containing siRNA, MES was clearly observed, and E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, was still expressed. Inhibition of the Zeb family results in the suppression of apoptosis, increased cell proliferation, and defective cell migration in the developing palate. Our data suggest that the Zeb family plays multiple roles in the stimulation and inhibition of apoptosis and cell proliferation and efficient mesenchymal cell migration during palatogenesis. Highlights • Zeb family is an essential player during proper palate development. • Zeb family regulate apoptosis during palatal fusion. • siRNA targeting Zeb family induce E-cadherin in remaining MES. • Zeb family regulate cell proliferation and mesenchymal cell migration during palatogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) with a device size of 20 nm or less, the leakage current of a capacitor with high-k dielectrics is one of the main factors causing the failure of a device. To reduce the failure rate of the device, we conducted experiments to reduce the boron impurities, which form defect sites in the dielectrics of the capacitor. The boron source flux was reduced during the deposition process of the capping layer after the formation of the capacitor, and the actual boron concentration in the capping layer was measured by an atom probe tomography. The leakage current characteristics of the samples were confirmed through the dielectric leakage failure test, which is a mass production test technique. In addition, the resistance failure test was performed to measure the risk of increased resistance. From these results, it was confirmed that the failure rate due to the leakage current of the capacitor decreased linearly with reduced boron concentration and the increase in failure rate due to the cell node resistance was negligible. In addition, the results show that the failure rate of mass-produced DRAM products can be significantly reduced without any change in the structure or materials of the capacitor. This is expected to contribute greatly to the development of DRAM with dimensions on the scale of 20 nm or less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 18–40 GHz wideband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) H-plane horn antenna is proposed for applications on both the K- and Ka-bands. By employing a grating transition in front of the horn aperture, the impedance bandwidth (IBW) of the proposed antenna is broadened considerably. A broadband double-ridge waveguide (DRW)-to-SIW transition is also developed as the feeding structure for the proposed SIW H-plane horn antenna. The DRW is adopted to support a wider IBW as compared to that of a rectangular waveguide. A prototype of the proposed antenna is experimentally verified. The measured results show that the IBW for $|S_{11}| \leq -10$ dB ranges from 18 GHz to more than 40 GHz, covering the entire K- and Ka-bands. The measured gain varies from 7.52 to 15.37 dBi with an average gain of 11.58 dBi. In addition, the endfire radiation patterns are observed and maintained within the IBW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas sp. FB15 producing phytase with a high activity at low temperature was isolated from foreshore soil. The phytase gene was cloned and sequenced. Molecular modeling predictions using its amino acid sequence indicated that it belongs to the group of beta-propeller phytases (BPPs). However, it differs from the conventional structure of BPPs in the number of propeller-shaped domains. Most BPPs have a propeller with six blades that consist of four or five beta-sheets. However, the BPP from the isolated strain contained a C-terminal domain containing a conserved BPP sequence and also an N-terminal domain consisting of an additional 275 amino acids. The characterization of recombinant BPP from Pseudomonas sp. FB15 (PSphy) revealed the highest activity to be at pH 6 and 40 °C. Additionally, it showed that more than 80% of optimal activity was retained at a relatively low temperature of 25 °C. In addition, CaCl 2 was required for activity, and the optimal concentration of CaCl 2 was 4 mM. The activity at low temperature was reduced in a recombinant protein from which the N-terminal domain was removed, as was catalytic efficiency. These results suggest that the N-terminal domain is required for the low temperature activity and high catalytic efficiency of PSphy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age at onset of Huntington disease, an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, is influenced by the size of the disease-causing CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in HTT and by genetic modifier loci on chromosomes 8 and 15. Stratifying by modifier genotype, we have examined putamen volume, total motor score (TMS), and symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) scores, both at study entry and longitudinally, in normal controls and CAG-expansion carriers who were enrolled prior to the emergence of manifest HD in the PREDICT-HD study. The modifiers, which included onset-hastening and onset-delaying alleles on chromosome 15 and an onset-hastening allele on chromosome 8, revealed no major effect in controls but distinct patterns of modification in prediagnosis HD subjects. Putamen volume at study entry showed evidence of reciprocal modification by the chromosome 15 alleles, but the rate of loss of putamen volume was modified only by the deleterious chromosome 15 allele. By contrast, both alleles modified the rate of change of the SDMT score, but neither had an effect on the TMS. The influence of the chromosome 8 modifier was evident only in the rate of TMS increase. The data indicate that (1) modification of pathogenesis can occur early in the prediagnosis phase, (2) the modifier loci act in genetic interaction with the HD mutation rather than through independent additive effects, and (3) HD subclinical phenotypes are differentially influenced by each modifier, implying distinct effects in different cells or tissues. Together, these findings indicate the potential benefit of using genetic modifier strategies for dissecting the prediagnosis pathogenic process in HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of spintronic devices to utilize an electric current for manipulating the magnetization has resulted in large-scale developments, such as magnetic random access memories and boosted the spintronic research area. In this regard, over the last decade, magnetization manipulation using spin-orbit torque has been devoted a lot of research attention as it shows a great promise for future ultrafast and power efficient magnetic memories. In this review, we summarize the latest advancements in spin-orbit torque research and highlight some of the technical challenges for practical spin-orbit torque devices. We will first introduce the basic concepts and highlight the latest material choices for spin-orbit torque devices. Then, we will summarize the important advancements in the study of magnetization switching dynamics using spin-orbit torque, which are important from scientific as well as technological aspects. The final major section focuses on the concept of external assist field-free spin-orbit torque switching which is a requirement for practical spin-orbit torque devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous oxide semiconductor photodetectors (PDs) are promising ultrasensitive and power-efficient ultraviolet (UV) PDs because they generate low dark current in the dark and exhibit high photoresponse under UV irradiation owing to their superior UV absorption and photocarrier transport characteristics. Herein, we demonstrate UV-sensitive and power-efficient oxide phototransistors through the nanometer-scale engineering of oxide semiconductors and appropriate modulation of gate bias conditions. The dark current and photocurrent of an oxide phototransistor exhibit a trade-off relationship in terms of the thickness of the oxide semiconductor film. Ultrathin InZnO is disadvantageous for fabricating UV-sensitive PDs because of its low photoresponse. In contrast, excessively thick InZnO is disadvantageous for fabricating power-efficient UV PDs owing to its high dark current. However, the InZnO film with an optimal film thickness of 8 nm can simultaneously provide the advantages of both ultrathin and excessively thick cases owing to its low intrinsic carrier concentration and sufficient UV absorption depth. Consequently, an InZnO phototransistor with high UV-sensing performance (Smax = 1.25 × 106), low-power operation capability (Idark = ∼10−13A), and excellent repeatability is realized by using an 8-nm-thick InZnO semiconductor and applying appropriate gate bias modulation (constant gate bias for maximized photosensitivity and temporal positive bias pulse for persistence photocurrent elimination). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of an effective cathode paper electrode comprising comparatively inexpensive hydrous RuO 2 (h-RuO 2) nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNT) for anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis. The concentration of hydrous RuO 2 nanoparticles on the CNT was varied to assess their impact on the electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalytic performance of h-RuO 2 /CNT comprising 22.0 wt% of Ru was evaluated. Promising results were obtained, with a current density of −10 mA/cm2 at only 36 mV of overpotential and a mass activity of −2.41 A/g Ru at 100 mV. Additionally, we conducted first-principles calculations to compare the HER catalytic activities of crystalline RuO 2 and hydrous RuO 2 with varying vacancies and to determine the H 2 O concentration in the structural lattice using free-energy diagrams. The study findings demonstrate that the h-RuO 2 /CNT paper can be used as an efficient electrocatalyst for AEM water electrolysis. [Display omitted] • A highly efficient HER catalyst decorated hydrous RuO 2 (h-RuO 2) nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNT) was prepared. • The paper electrode composed of h-RuO 2 /CNT network structure improved conductivity and achieved excellent HER properties. • This paper electrodes applied to high-efficiency AEM water electrolysis as cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a method to simulate ductile crack growth under very low-cycle fatigue loading condition is given and simulation results are compared with published test data of compact tension specimens and circumferential through-wall cracked pipes. The damage model in simulation is based on the multi-axial fracture strain energy. Two parameters in the damage model are determined from tensile and fracture toughness data under the monotonic loading condition. The determined damage model is then used to simulate ductile crack growth in compact tension specimens subjected to cyclic loading with large-amplitudes and in full-scale through-wall cracked pipes subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading with two different load ratios. Predicted results show a good agreement with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges regarding treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) lies in the inability of neurons to undergo mitosis. Stem cell therapy could provide a possible solution to treat the neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we developed a conductive polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel/silver nanowire (AgNW) composite micropattern-based sensor to direct differentiation of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) and guidance of neurite outgrowth. The ridge micropatterns made from the composite PEG hydrogel/AgNW materials were fabricated on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. Through the combination of these composite materials and the ridge micropatterns, the outgrowth of neurites could be efficiently guided in a controlled manner. Therefore, this conductive PEG hydrogel/AgNW micropattern-based sensor could potentially allow future use of the flexible device as an implant for NSC therapy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is an unusual anionic homopolyamide that is biodegradable, edible, and nontoxic. It has a wide variety of industrial applications depending on its combined cations, and molecular weight. In this study, extracellular viscous γ-PGA produced by halotolerant Bacillus sp. SJ-10 isolated from a traditional Korean salted-fermented seafood was purified and characterized. The physicochemical analysis indicated that the γ-PGA produced by Bacillus sp. SJ-10 consists primarily of d -glutamic acid residues combined with sodium cations. When batch fermentation was performed with 8% NaCl for 3 d, Bacillus sp. SJ-10 produced approximately 24.7 g/L γ-PGA with a molecular weight of approximately 400 kilodaltons (kDa). Under fermentation conditions with 6% NaCl, the maximum yield was 26.2 g/L regardless of the molecular weight. The γ-PGA sodium salt with a molecular weight of 400 kDa exhibited antioxidant activity by scavenging 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radicals and reducing molybdenum, with maximal scavenging activity at 0.5 mg/mL and reducing activity at 1 mg/mL (20 μg ascorbic acid-equivalent), respectively. These results suggest the potential use of γ-PGA in the food, cosmetic, and biomedical industries for its antioxidant qualities. Our results also provide an economical method for controlling the molecular weight of the γ-PGA produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a ductile crack growth simulation method for monotonic and reverse cyclic loading with large-scale yielding using the damage model based on the multi-axial fracture strain energy. The damage model has two parameters which can be determined from tensile and fracture toughness data under the monotonic loading condition. The determined damage model then can be used to simulate ductile crack growth subjected to reverse cyclic loading with large-scale yielding. The proposed method is validated against test data for SA508 Gr.1a and TP316 under monotonic and reverse cyclic loading with three different reverse loading ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most advanced processes struggle to reduce the production cost under constraints. For this, an iterative optimization method called modifier adaptation has been utilized due to its ability to ensure the necessary conditions of optimality even under model-plant mismatch. However, the optimization performance may be degraded by the disturbance which may significantly change the true optimum. In this study, a feedforward decision maker is designed to deal with disturbances in advance and compensate the limitation of feedback scheme of the conventional modifier adaptation. It is constructed by historical data and deep machine learning, and combined with the modifier adaptation. When disturbances occur, the decision maker provides an initial point close to the true optimum by exploiting the historical data. As the information is accumulated, a better initial point for modifier adaptation is obtained. Constrained optimization of numerical example and run-to-run bioprocess are illustrated to validate the utility of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of health insurance on childhood cancer survival has not been well studied. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, this study was designed to assess the association between health insurance status and childhood cancer survival.Methods: Data on cancers diagnosed among children less than 15 years old from 2007 to 2009 were obtained from the SEER 18 registries. The effect of health insurance at diagnosis on 5-year childhood cancer mortality was estimated with marginal survival probabilities, restricted mean survival times, and Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression analyses, which were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and county-level poverty.Results: Among 8219 childhood cancer cases, the mean survival time was 1.32 months shorter (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.31 to 1.66) after 5 years for uninsured children (n = 131) versus those with private insurance (n = 4297), whereas the mean survival time was 0.62 months shorter (95% CI, -1.46 to 0.22) for children with Medicaid at diagnosis (n = 2838). In Cox PH models, children who were uninsured had a 1.26-fold higher risk of cancer death (95% CI, 0.84-1.90) than those who were privately insured at diagnosis. The risk for those with Medicaid was similar to the risk for those with private insurance at diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.93-1.21).Conclusions: Overall, the results suggest that cancer survival is largely similar for children with Medicaid and those with private insurance at diagnosis. Slightly inferior survival was observed for those who were uninsured in comparison with those with private insurance at diagnosis. The latter result is based on a small number of uninsured children and should be interpreted cautiously. Further study is needed to confirm and clarify the reasons for these patterns. Cancer 2017;123:4878-85. © 2017 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many epidemiological studies have examined associations between birth defects (BDs) and pediatric malignancy over the past several decades. Our objective was to conduct a systematic literature review of studies reporting on this association. Methods: We used librarian-designed searches of the PubMed Medline and Embase databases to identify primary research articles on pediatric neoplasms and BDs. English language articles from PubMed and Embase up to 10/12/2015, and in PubMed up to 5/12/2017 following an updated search, were eligible for inclusion if they reported primary epidemiological research results on associations between BDs and pediatric malignancies. Two reviewers coded each article based on the title and abstract to identify eligible articles that were abstracted using a structured form. Additional articles were identified through reference lists and other sources. Results were synthesized for pediatric cancers overall and for nine major pediatric cancer subtypes. Results: A total of 14,778 article citations were identified, of which 80 met inclusion criteria. Pediatric cancer risk was increased in most studies in association with BDs overall with some notable specific findings, including increased risks for CNS tumors in association with CNS abnormalities and positive associations between rib anomalies and several pediatric cancer types. Conclusions: Some children born with BDs may be at increased risk for specific pediatric malignancy types. This work provides a foundation for future investigations that are needed to clarify specific BD types predisposing toward malignancy and possible underlying causes of both BDs and malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Both bone mineral density (BMD) and breast density are related to reproductive hormone levels. This suggests that BMD and breast density could be meaningfully associated, and serve as surrogate markers for breast cancer risk. However, few studies have investigated the association of BMD with percent mammographic density, making it difficult to draw meaningful conclusions. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies published in electronic databases till April 2016 using the following search terms: 'bone density,' 'bone mineral density,' 'mammographic breast density,' 'breast density,' and 'mammographic density.' We identified 203 articles, of which 8 met the inclusion criteria for this review. Results: BMD does not appear to be associated with percent mammographic density. BMD at the spine was weakly positively associated with percent mammographic density among postmenopausal women who were not hormone users, while BMD at the hip and legs was positively associated with percent mammographic density among premenopausal women. On the other hand, one study reported an inverse association of BMD at the spine and hip with percent mammographic density among perimenopausal women. Conclusion: In this review, we found no evidence of an association between BMD and percent mammographic density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high temperature storage (HTS) effects on the thermal stability and electrical characteristics of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were investigated. The step-temperature storage tests in the temperature range from 150 °C to 325 °C were performed to evaluate the reliability of device. It was shown that the electrical properties of devices were remarkably changed as temperature increases. The values of the saturation current and the transconductance ranged from 187 mA to 299 mS/mm (fresh device) to 149 mA and 246 mS/mm (after HTS at 325 °C), respectively. In addition, the threshold voltage was shifted in a positive position and the leakage current was significantly decreased. In order to analyze the fundamental mechanisms of device degradation, we investigated the ohmic contact reliability by the transmission line model and analyzed the gate diode characteristics to estimate the diode parameters. It was found that Ti/Al/Ni/Au ohmic contact were stable and showed good thermal performance, but the Schottky contact was more sensitive to the HTS test. Failure analysis using electrical characterization of the gate diode and TEM/EDX cross-section revealed that the gate metal diffusion phenomenon was main degradation mechanism. During HTS test, Ni diffused out from the metal-semiconductor interface and Au formed a Schottky contact on AlGaN layer. To suppress the gate deformation, we adopted the optimum passivation and demonstrated its effect on the device reliability. By comparing the behavior of gate during HTS test, we clarified that the optimum passivation could suppress the diffusion related degradation mechanism and increase the reliability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of central and peripheral motor neurons, leading to the atrophy of voluntary muscles. It has been previously demonstrated that the kynurenine pathway (KP), the major biochemical pathway for tryptophan metabolism, is dysregulated in ALS. In particular, the neuroactive intermediate, quinolinic acid (QUIN) has been shown to accumulate with a concomitant decrease in other neuroprotective and immunomodulatory KP metabolites. Furthermore, multiple biochemical phenomena associated with QUIN cytotoxicity are present in ALS, suggesting that QUIN may play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of ALS. This review highlights the potential roles of QUIN in ALS, and explores KP modulation as a therapeutic candidate in ALS. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘The Kynurenine Pathway in Health and Disease’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]