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In the last decade, deep neural network (DNN)-based object detection technologies have received significant attention as a promising solution to implement a variety of image understanding and video analysis applications on mobile edge devices. However, the execution of computationally intensive DNN-based object detection workloads in mobile edge devices is insufficient in fulfilling the object detection requirements with high accuracy and low latency, owing to the limited computation capacity. In this paper, we implement and evaluate a DNN-based object detection offloading framework to improve the object detection performance of mobile edge devices by offloading computation-intensive workloads to a remote edge server. However, preliminary experimental results have shown that offloading all object detection workloads of mobile edge devices may lead to worse performance than executing the workloads locally. This degradation is obtained from the inefficient resource utilization in the edge computing architectures, both for the edge server and mobile edge devices. To resolve the aforementioned problem with degradation, we devise a device-aware DNN offloading decision algorithm that is aimed to maximize resource utilization in the edge computing architecture. The proposed algorithm decides whether or not to offload the object detection workloads of edge devices by considering their computing power and network bandwidth, and therefore maximizing their average object detection processing frames per second. Through various experiments conducted in a real-life wireless local area network (WLAN) environment, we verified the effectiveness of the proposed DNN-based object detection offloading framework.

This study employs a simple liquid-phase deposition method to grow TiO2 onto nanoscale silver wires, with a diameter of 90 nm and a length of 15∼20 μm. This core-shell structure possesses a high specific surface area, which enhances the gas reaction surface. Measurements can be conducted at room temperature. The main mechanism relies on the conductive properties of silver to transmit electrons, while Schottky barriers between Ag and TiO2 further accelerate oxygen ionization and surface redox reactions. This structure may contribute to enhancing the response value, response time, and recovery time of gas sensors.

A taxol-producing endophyte was Fusarium arthrosporioides. As a novel taxol resource, a taxol-producing endophyte was successfully isolated from the yew tree, Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc. According to the morphological characterization and the ITS4-ITS5 sequences, the isolated endophytic fungus was identified as Fusarium arthrosporioides. Fermentation conditions for taxol production were optimized with the isolated strain (F-40) of F. arthrosporioides. The fungal taxol was analytically confirmed by TLC, RP-HPLC, LC-MS and NMR. F. arthrosporioides isolated from yew was found to produce taxol with a maximum yield of 131 mg/L. Precise methods were established for detecting the fungal taxol and its derivatives.

Abstract Amorphous indium tin zinc oxide (a-ITZO)/Bi2Se3 nanoplatelets (NPs) were fabricated using a two-step procedure. First, Bi2Se3 NPs were synthesized through thermal chemical vapor deposition at 600 °C on a glass substrate, and then a-ITZO was deposited on the surface of the Bi2Se3 NPs via magnetron sputtering at room-temperature. The crystal structures of the a-ITZO/Bi2Se3 NPs were determined via X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The elemental vibration modes and binding energies were measured using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphologies were examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The electrical properties of the a-ITZO/Bi2Se3 NPs were evaluated using Hall effect measurements. The bulk carrier concentration of a-ITZO was not affected by the heterostructure with Bi2Se3. In the case of the Bi2Se3 heterostructure, the carrier mobility and conductivity of a-ITZO were increased by 263.6% and 281.4%, respectively, whereas the resistivity of a-ITZO was reduced by 73.57%. This indicates that Bi2Se3 significantly improves the electrical properties of a-ITZO through its heterostructure, expanding its potential applications in electronic and thermoelectric devices.

Background: Acute dizziness is a common symptom in the emergency department (ED), with strokes accounting for 3 %–5 % of cases. We investigated the risk of stroke in ED patients with acute dizziness and compared stroke characteristics diagnosed during and after the ED visit. Methods: We identified adult patients with acute dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance using a hospital research-based database. Patients with abdominal or flank pain were used as the comparison group. Patients with dizziness were 1:1 matched to comparison patients. Each patient was traced for up to one year until being hospitalized for a stroke. Results: Out of the 24,266 eligible patients, 589 (2.4 %) were hospitalized for stroke during the ED visit. For the remaining 23,677 patients, the risk of stroke at 7, 30, 90, and 365 days after ED discharge was 0.40 %, 0.52 %, 0.71 %, and 1.25 % respectively. Patients with dizziness had a higher risk of stroke compared to the comparison group at 7, 30, 90, and 365 days. The risk ratios decreased from 5.69 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 3.34–9.68) to 2.03 (95 % CI, 1.65–2.49). Compared to patients hospitalized for stroke during the ED visit, those hospitalized for stroke after the ED visit had greater stroke severity despite a lower initial triage acuity. Patients with early stroke (≤7 days) after ED discharge were less likely to have hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation. They mostly experienced posterior circulation stroke. Patients with late stroke (>7 days) were older and less likely to have hypertension and hyperlipidemia but more likely to have a history of prior stroke and ischemic heart disease. Their strokes were mainly located in the anterior circulation territory. Conclusions: The risk of stroke after ED discharge was higher in patients with dizziness than in the comparison group, with gradually decreasing risk ratios in the following year. Patients hospitalized for stroke during and after the ED visit had different profiles of vascular risk factors and clinical characteristics.

Objectives This study aimed to monitor ammonia volatilization in upland fields under different nitrogen fertilizer applications, comparing compost manure (CM) and composite fertilizer (CF) and investigate the environmental factors influencing ammonia volatilization. Methods Ammonia was collected using the static chamber method in upland fields, and the soil analyses were conducted before and after ammonia volatilization monitoring. Pearson's correlation analysis and machine learning were utilized to determine the relationship between ammonia volatilization and environmental factors. Growth characteristics of harvested crops were analyzed, and Duncan analysis confirmed significant differences between nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Results and Discussion In both CM and CF fertilized fields, there was no significant difference in ammonia volatilization. However, more ammonia volatilization was observed in the potato field compared to the Chinese cabbage field, attributed to higher NH4+-N content in the soil of the potato field. Machine learning identified soil temperature and moisture as significant factors affecting ammonia volatilization. The analysis of crop growth revealed a positive effect of increased nitrogen fertilizer application. The result showed that single CM application was insufficient to meet crop nutrient demands. Conclusion This study quantified ammonia emissions, identified influencing factors, and provided valuable data for enhancing fertilizer use efficiency and nitrogen management strategies in agriculture.

Abstract Objective The identification of allergic rhinitis (AR) in early life is important for the target of intervention. AR is caused by various environmental factors, including house dust mites. We investigated the relationship between the Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f)-IgE and eosinophil in mothers with AR at delivery and the eosinophil levels and AR incidence in children. Methods The study participants were 983 mother–child pairs from the COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and Allergic Diseases. AR was diagnosed by a doctor at delivery in mother and at 3 years of age in offspring. The association between eosinophil level and AR was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results The Der f-IgE level in mother having AR at delivery was associated with the mother’s eosinophil level, and the mother’s eosinophil level was associated with the child’s eosinophil level both at age 1 and 3. The risk of AR at age 3 in children was increased according to increased eosinophil levels in mothers at delivery and in children both aged 1 and 3 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.57 [1.14–5.78], 2.28 [1.02–5.13], respectively). The risk of childhood AR at the age of 3 is increased when both mothers and children have high eosiniophils (aOR and 95% CI: 2.62 [1.01–6.79], 1.37 [0.98–1.91]). Conclusions Der f-IgE in mothers at delivery was related to eosinophil levels in mothers with AR and higher level of eosinophils in both mother and children was associated with the increased risk of AR incidence at the first 3 years of life of children.

Despite the development of next-generation antiandrogens, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains incurable. Here, we describe a unique semisynthetic bispecific antibody that uses site-specific unnatural amino acid conjugation to combine the potency of a T cell-recruiting anti-CD3 antibody with the specificity of an imaging ligand (DUPA) for prostate-specific membrane antigen. This format enabled optimization of structure and function to produce a candidate (CCW702) with specific, potent in vitro cytotoxicity and improved stability compared with a bispecific single-chain variable fragment format. In vivo, CCW702 eliminated C4-2 xenografts with as few as three weekly subcutaneous doses and prevented growth of PCSD1 patient-derived xenograft tumors in mice. In cynomolgus monkeys, CCW702 was well tolerated up to 34.1 mg/kg per dose, with near-complete subcutaneous bioavailability and a PK profile supporting testing of a weekly dosing regimen in patients. CCW702 is being evaluated in a first in-human clinical trial for men with mCRPC who had progressed on prior therapies (NCT04077021).

Abstract ZnO/carbon-black heterostructures were synthesized using a sol–gel method and crystallized by annealing at 500 °C under 2 × 10−2 Torr for 10 min. The crystal structures and binding vibration modes were determined by XRD, HRTEM, and Raman spectrometry. Their surface morphologies were observed by FESEM. The Moiré pattern that is observed in the HRTEM images confirms that the carbon-black nanoparticles were covered by the ZnO crystals. Measurements of optical absorptance revealed that the optical band gap of the ZnO/carbon-black heterostructures increased from 2.33 to 2.98 eV as the carbon-black nanoparticle content increases from 0 to 8.33 × 10−3 mol owing to the Burstein–Moss effect. The photoluminescence intensities at the near-band edge and of the violet, and blue light were increased by factors about 68.3, 62.8, and 56.8, respectively, when the carbon-black contents is of the 2.03 × 10−3 mol. This work reveals that the proper carbon-black nanoparticle content involved increases the PL intensities of the ZnO crystals in the short wavelength regime, supporting their potential application in the light-emitting devices.

Abstract Objective Hereditary amyloid transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy, a rare autosomal‐dominant disease, has gained attention in recent years owing to treatment improvements. However, epidemiological real‐world mega database of nationwide natural history and survival rates, especially with the specific mutation of Ala97Ser, are limited. Methods Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database contains data from over 23 million individuals; Among them, 175 ATTRv amyloidosis patients validated by rare disease registry were enrolled. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses were applied to investigate the association between baseline characteristics and all‐cause mortality. Findings From 2008 to 2020, the annual incidence and prevalence rates of specific mutations (Ala97Ser) leading to ATTRv amyloidosis with polyneuropathy were 0.04–1.14 and 0.04–4.79 per million in Taiwan, respectively. In Taiwan, these patients exhibited male predominance with a mean age at validation of 62.75 years. At the 5th year after validation, patients exhibited a survival rate of approximately 50%, with higher mortality in male patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–4.31) and patients older at validation (HR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.15). The two most common departments in outpatient were neurology and family medicine, and neurology and cardiology in inpatient. The three most common causes of death registered were unspecified amyloidosis (30.6%), organ‐limited amyloidosis (20.9%), and neuropathic heredofamilial amyloidosis (9.7%). Interpretation The annual prevalence rate of specific mutation (Ala97Ser)‐dominant ATTRv amyloidosis with polyneuropathy in Taiwan is comparable to the mid‐ to high‐prevalence country level of the research by Schmidt et al. The extraordinarily high mortality, especially among patients older at validation, may reflect the inadequate awareness and the necessity of early intervention with novel disease‐modifying regimens.

Abstract Background In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), combination chemotherapy using 5- fluorouracil, cisplatin, and mitoxantrone (FMP) could achieve a response rate > 20%, but the beneficial effect was compromised by formidable adverse events. Chemotherapy given in a split-dose manner was associated with reduced toxicities. In this retrospective study, we compared the efficacies and side effects between a regular and a split-dose FMP protocol approved in our medical center. Methods From 2005 to 2008, the clinical data of 84 patients with far advanced HCC, who had either main portal vein thrombosis and/or extrahepatic metastasis, were reviewed. Of them, 65 were treated by either regular (n = 27) or split-dose (n = 38) FMP and had completed at least one therapeutic course. The remaining 19 patients were untreated. Clinical parameters, therapeutic responses, survivals and adverse events were compared. Results The median overall survival was 6.0, 5.2, and 1.5 months, respectively, in patients receiving regular FMP, split-dose FMP, and no treatment (regular versus split-dose group, P = 0.447; regular or split-dose versus untreated group; P < 0.0001). Patients receiving split-dose treatment had a significantly lower risk of grade 3/4 neutropenia (51.9 versus 10.5%, P = 0.0005). When the two treated groups were combined, the median overall survival was 10.6 and 3.8 months respectively for patients achieving disease control and progressive disease (P < 0.001). Cox proportion hazard model identified Child-Pugh stage B (hazard ratio [HR], 2.216; P = 0.006), presence of extrahepatic metastasis (HR, 0.574; P = 0.048), and achievement of disease control (HR, 0.228; P < 0.001) as independent factors associated with overall survival. Logistic regression analysis revealed that anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (odds ratio [OR], 9.219; P = 0.002) tumor size (OR, 0.816; P = 0.036), and previous anti-cancer therapy (OR, 0.195; P = 0.017) were significantly associated with successful disease control. Conclusions Comparable overall survival was observed between patients receiving regular and split-dose FMP therapies. Patients receiving split-dose therapy had a significantly lower risk of grade 3/4 neutropenia. Positive anti-hepatitis C virus antibody, smaller tumor size, and absence of previous anti-cancer therapy were independent predictors for successful disease control.

Objectives Major factors affecting ammonia emission from the soil and strategies to reduce ammonia emission were investigated through literature surveys. Methods An academic search was conducted using keywords such as agriculture, ammonia, and fine dust, and the effects of soil characteristics on ammonia emission were summarized for each factor. Results and Discussion Emissions of ammonia into the atmosphere can reduce economic returns for a farmer and negatively impact the atmospheric environment by acting as a precursor to PM2.5 formations. It is reported that agriculture accounts for 78% of the total ammonia emission sources in Korea. Ammonia emission from the soil is affected by the type of ammonia fertilizer, soil moisture, pH, temperature, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, and soil texture. An increase in soil moisture increases ammonia emissions. As soil pH increases, ammonia emissions increase, noticeably above 7.5. An increase in soil temperature increases the rate of hydrolysis of urea and the rate of conversion to ammonia gas, resulting in increased ammonia emissions. Soils with high cation exchange capacity adsorb ammonium to reduce ammonia emissions. Soils with a high clay content and soil organic matter content are more buffered to changes in soil pH, reducing ammonia emissions. Conclusion Based on understanding the mechanisms and causes of ammonia emission from the soil, it is possible to establish soil and environmental management to reduce ammonia emissions into the atmosphere.

The cutoffs of body composition indices are inconclusive in older populations. This study is designed toward determining the optimal cutoffs of the body composition indices based on the association with all-cause mortality. During 2009 and 2010, a cohort population of 1200 was enrolled in central western Taiwan. Of the 1200 subjects, 428 older subjects (mean age: 72.5 ± 5.4 yrs.; 47.7 % were women) were censored in this study. The waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) were measured using standard anthropometric methods. A multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis device was utilized to estimate each participant's body composition indices, including percent body fat (PBF) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI). All claims records of death from 2009 to 2018 in the National Health Insurance Research Databank were identified. A receiver operating characteristic curve method and the highest Youden index were used to identify the optimal cutoffs. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to model associations between each of the recommended cutoff values with all-cause mortality. The all-cause mortality rate was 20.09 % after a follow-up period of 5.86 ± 2.39 person-years. The significant indices cutoff value was identified to be WC (86.7 cm) for older women and BMI (23.8 kg/m2) and as WC (77.6 cm), and SMMI (8.7 kg/m2) for older men. The recommended optimal cutoffs of the body composition indices were gender-specific and can be utilized to predict the risk of all-cause mortality.

Despite recent advances in cancer diagnostics and treatment, the mortality associated with lung cancer is still the highest in the world. Late-stage diagnosis, often accompanied by metastasis, is a major contributor to the high mortality rates, emphasizing the urgent need for reliable and readily accessible diagnostic tools that can detect biomarkers unique to lung cancer. Circulating factors, such as circulating tumor DNA and extracellular vesicles, from liquid biopsy have been recognized as diagnostic or prognostic markers in lung cancer. Numerous clinical studies are currently underway to investigate the potential of circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor RNA, exosomes, and exosomal microRNA within the context of lung cancer. Those clinical studies aim to address the poor diagnostics and limited treatment options for lung cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing clinical markers and personalized therapies. In this review, we discuss the roles of each circulating factor, its current research status, and ongoing clinical studies of circulating factors in non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, we discuss the circulating factors specifically found in lung cancer stem cells and examine approved diagnostic assays designed to detect circulating biomarkers in lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distant metastasis, the leading cause of cancer death, is efficiently kept in check by immune surveillance. Studies have uncovered peripheral natural killer (NK) cells as key antimetastatic effectors and their dysregulation during metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism governing NK cell dysfunction links to metastasis remains elusive. Herein, MAP4K1 encoding HPK1 is aberrantly overexpressed in dysfunctional NK cells in the periphery and the metastatic site. Conditional HPK1 overexpression in NK cells suffices to exacerbate melanoma lung metastasis but not primary tumor growth. Conversely, MAP4K1‐deficient mice are resistant to metastasis and further protected by combined immune‐checkpoint inhibitors. Mechanistically, HPK1 restrains NK cell cytotoxicity and expansion via activating receptors. Likewise, HPK1 limits human NK cell activation and associates with melanoma NK cell dysfunction couples to TGF‐β1 and patient response to immune checkpoint therapy. Thus, HPK1 is an intracellular checkpoint controlling NK‐target cell responses, which is dysregulated and hijacked by tumors during metastatic progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]