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A systematic study was performed on the dynamic viscoelastic properties of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solutions of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) samples with a wide range of weight average molar masses (Mw) from 140 to 3300 kg mol−1 over a temperature range of −24 to 35 °C in the dilute to semidilute concentration (c) regime in this study. In previous studies under extremely dilute conditions, it was confirmed that PVDF molecules behave as isolated highly elongated rigid rods, and the average particle length (⟨L⟩) and diameter (⟨d⟩) for different PVDF samples were precisely determined. The fundamental viscoelastic parameters used to analyze the dynamics of PVDF molecules dissolved in NMP were precisely determined, including the zero-shear shear viscosity (η0), the steady state compliance (Je), the average relaxation time (τw), and the activation energy (E*v) of τw in this study. E*v increased stepwise above c values corresponding to the reciprocal of the intrinsic viscosity ([η]−1) for different solutions, independent of Mw, showing that contact or the formation of entanglements between PVDF molecules causes the increase in E*v. Je−1 was found to be proportional to the number density of PVDF molecules (ν = cNAMw−1, where NA denotes the Avogadro constant) over the entire investigated v range, irrespective of Mw and the presence of entanglements between PVDF molecules. The reduced specific viscosities, ηspNA⟨L⟩3(Mw[η])−1, were reasonably described as a universal function in the parameter ν⟨L⟩3 over the entire investigated range, and ηspNA⟨L⟩3(Mw[η])−1 ∝ (ν⟨L⟩3)3 was found over the region 102

DYRK2 is a dual-specificity tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation-regulated kinase induces degradation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). The expression of both proteins in breast cancer were investigated as predictors of recurrence.Two hundred and twenty-one patients with early breast cancer treated at our institute between 2000 and 2009, were included. We used immunohistochemical analyses to measure the expression of DYRK2 and TERT and correlated it with clinicopathological factors and survival.DYRK2 and TERT were positive in 58 (26%) and 86 (39%) of 221 patients, respectively. There was no correlation between DYRK2 and TERT expression and clinicopathological factors. Better disease-free survival was observed in the DYRK2-positive group (p=0.032), and poorer disease-free survival was noted in the TERT-positive group (p=0.023). The DYRK2-positive TERT-negative group exhibited significantly better disease-free survival than the other groups (p=0.006).The combination of DYRK2 and TERT may be a powerful tool to stratify breast cancer patients.

Very recently, we proposed that poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) dissolves in a long rectangular column conformation induced by the formation of a two-dimensional folding chain structure in an

The case was a 40-year-old female who was aware of a right breast mass for 1 year before her first visit. She had visited her previous doctor because the mass was gradually increasing in size. After close examination, she was diagnosed with Stage ⅢC triple-negative breast cancer. She underwent 4 courses of EC therapy and 7 courses of paclitaxel(PTX)plus bevacizumab( Bev)therapy and was then, referred to our hospital for resection. We instituted a 2-month break from Bev to prevent postoperative complications. She underwent a right mastectomy, combined chest wall resection, lymph node dissection, and chest wall reconstruction. Because the postoperative course was good and quality of life improved, the multidisciplinary treatment with surgery and pharmacotherapy was considered effective in locally advanced breast cancer.

Febrile neutropenia(FN)is an adverse event associated with chemotherapy. Because well-maintained dose intensity improves survival rate, suppression of FN is important. While the incidence of FN has been recognized to be higher with docetaxel/cyclophosphamide(TC)therapy, it is generally considered lower with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide(AC)therapy, and primary prophylaxis with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor(G-CSF)is not recommended. FN with AC therapy is commonly experienced in our daily practice. Thus, we retrospectively compared the incidence of FN with AC and TC therapies. We examined the data of 48 patients with primary breast cancer, consisting of 26 patients treated with AC and 22 patients with TC as perioperative chemotherapy-from January 2014 to September 2018-to determine the incidence of FN. FN was observed in 7/26 patients who received AC(26.9%)and 5/22 patients who received TC(22.7%). Excluding patients with primary prophylaxis with G-CSF, FN was observed in 7/23 patients(30.4%)who received AC and 5/18 (27.8%)who received TC. The incidence of FN with AC therapy was higher than that with TC therapy in this study. Therefore, positive use of G-CSF is necessary for safety and to adequately maintain dose intensity for AC therapy.

We introduce a method combining two oncoplastic techniques for breast-conserving reconstruction. The procedure is as follows: first, an extended glandular flap is made by undermining the breast from both the skin and the pectoralis fascia to the upper edge of the breast at the subclavicular area. After modeling the breast mound with the extended glandular flap, an inframammary adipofascial flap is made. The flap is reflected back to the breast area remodeled using the extended glandular flap. After reshaping the breast, the inframammary line is then re-shaped. This method is indicated for patients with breast cancer in the outer portion of the breast, who have small dense breasts, and have undergone a large excision of about 40% of their breast volume. We treated four patients, all of whom had either excellent or good cosmetic results with no fat necrosis.

Structures of111low-angle tilt grain boundaries in yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia bicrystals were characterized by conventional transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the 0.4 and 4.0 degrees tilt grain boundaries are composed of periodic arrays of edge dislocations with Burgers vectors . The experimentally estimated strain field of each dislocation in the 0.4 degrees tilt boundary was in good agreement with the theoretically predicted strain field from the Peierls-Nabarro model. On the other hand, the estimated strain field of each dislocation in the 4.0 degrees tilt boundary was clearly different from that in the 0.4 degrees tilt boundary, which suggests that the strain fields of neighbouring dislocations interact when the separation distance between dislocations is shorter than a critical value.

A novel type of organic−inorganic hybrid zeolite has been successfully synthesized, in which lattice oxygen atoms are partially superseded by methylene groups. Various types of hybrid materials with the LTA, MFI, and *BEA structures are obtained from an organosilane in which a methylene group bridges two silicon atoms under synthesis conditions similar to those for conventional zeolites. The presence of a methylene group in the framework is demonstrated by 29Si and 13C MAS NMR and IR, although the Si−C bonds are partially cleaved during the hydrothermal synthesis to give rise to terminal methyl groups. The organic framework is thermally stable enough to remain after the combustion of the occluded organic structure directing agents (SDAs). The thermal stability of the organic framework is much higher than that in amorphous materials synthesized from the same silicon source and is dependent on the zeolite structures. The SDA-free materials not only show microporosity like ordinary zeolites but also exhibit ...

Objectives A computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) scheme for determining histological classifications of breast masses is expected to be useful for clinicians in making a differential diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of using the CAD scheme on ultrasonographic images. Methods The database consisted of 390 breast ultrasonographic images with masses. Three experienced clinicians independently provided subjective ratings on the likelihood of malignancy for each of the 390 masses. Fifty benign masses (25 cysts and 25 fibroadenomas) and 50 malignant masses (25 noninvasive ductal carcinomas and 25 invasive ductal carcinomas) were selected as unknown cases for an observer study based on a stratified randomization method with the ratings. The likelihood of the histological classification in each unknown case was evaluated by the CAD scheme with image features that clinicians commonly use for describing masses. In the observer study, seven observers provided their confidence levels regarding the malignancy of the unknown case before and after viewing the likelihood of the histological classification. The usefulness of the CAD scheme was evaluated with a multireader multicase receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for all observers were improved by use of the CAD scheme. The average AUC increased from 0.716 without to 0.864 with the CAD scheme (P = .006). Conclusion The presentation of the likelihood of the histological classification evaluated by the CAD scheme improved the clinicians' performance and therefore would be useful in making a differential diagnosis of masses on ultrasonographic images.

Organic-inorganic hybrid zeolite materials containing an organic framework have been synthesized by partially superseding a lattice oxygen atom by a methylene group. The use of methylene-bridged organosilane as a silicon source gives zeolite materials containing an organic group as lattice (ZOL), with several zeolitic phases such as the MFI and the LTA structures. Through various characterization methods, the presence of methylene frameworks (Si-CH 2 -Si) that replace siloxane bonds (Si-O-Si) has been verified, although the Si-C bonds are partly cleaved to give rise to terminal methyl groups. The shape-selective lipophilicity of a ZOL material indicates that it is not a physical mixture of conventional zeolite and amorphous organic-containing material but contains a genuine organic-inorganic hybrid zeolite.

Ti-Containing MCM-41 materials were organically modified by employing an organosilane with a bridging organic group between two Si, and employed as catalysts for olefin oxidation using H2O2 as oxidant. The incorporation of a bridging organic group resulted in an increase in d spacing, in contrast to the modification with organosilane having terminal alkyl group, which provides decreased d spacing. High hydrophobicity of organically bridged Ti-MCM-41 materials led to high selectivity to epoxide by depressing allylic oxidation.

We report an electron-probe microanalysis of a hologram recorded in a silica-nanoparticle-dispersed photopolymer film. We used S and Si atoms as label elements to identify formed polymer and nanoparticle species, respectively. It is found that the periodic density distributions of S and Si atoms are out of phase with each other, indicating that those of the formed polymer and nanoparticles are out of phase each other. This result shows decisive evidence of the mutual diffusion of monomer molecules and silica nanoparticles in the film under holographic two-beam interference exposure.