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Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common spinal degenerative condition. Minimally invasive interlaminar full-endoscopic decompressive laminectomy provides greater patient satisfaction and faster recovery than open decompressive laminectomy. The aim of our randomized controlled trial will be to compare the safety and efficacy of interlaminar full-endoscopic laminectomy and open decompressive laminectomy. Our trial will include 120 participants (60 per group) who will undergo surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. The primary outcome will be the Oswestry Disability Index measured at 12 months postoperatively. Secondary patient-reported outcomes will include back and radicular leg pain measured via a visual analog scale; the Oswestry Disability Index; the Euro-QOL-5 Dimensions score measured at 2 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively; and patient satisfaction. The functional measures will include time to return to daily activities postoperatively and walking distance/time. The surgical outcomes will include postoperative drainage, operation time, duration of hospital stay, postoperative creatine kinase (an indicator of muscle injury) level, and postoperative surgical scarring. Magnetic resonance and computed tomography images and simple radiographs will be obtained for all patients. The safety outcomes will include surgery-related complications and adverse effects. All evaluations will be performed by a single assessor at each participating hospital who will be blinded to group allocation. The evaluations will be conducted preoperatively and at 2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The randomized, multicenter design of the trial, blinding, and justification of the sample size will reduce the risk of bias in our trial. The results of the trial will provide data regarding the use of interlaminar full-endoscopic laminectomy as an alternative to open decompressive laminectomy that results in similar surgical findings with less invasiveness. Trial registration: This trial is registered at cris.nih.go.kr. (KCT0006198; protocol version 1; 27 May 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of Ge28Sb12Se60 chalcogenide glass for the compression molding of an infrared optical lens with a diffractive structure. Firstly, a mold core was prepared through ultra-precision grinding of tungsten carbide, and a chalcogenide glass preform was crafted through a polishing process and designed with a radius that would prevent gas isolation during the molding process. The test lens was then molded at various temperature conditions using the prepared mold core and preform. The diffractive structures of both the mold core and the resulting molded lens were analyzed using a microscope and white light interferometer. The comparison of these diffractive structures revealed that the molding temperature had an effect on the transferability of the diffractive structure during the molding of the chalcogenide glass lens. Furthermore, it was determined that, when the molding temperature was properly adjusted, the diffractive structure of the core could be fully transferred to the surface of the chalcogenide lens. Optimized chalcogenide glass-based lenses have the potential to serve as cost-effective yet high-performance IR optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In breast reconstruction, synthetic meshes are frequently used to replace acellular dermal matrix (ADM), since ADM is expensive and often leads to complications. However, there is limited evidence that compares the types of substitutes. This study aimed to compare complications between materials via a network meta-analysis. Methods We systematically reviewed studies reporting any type of complication from 2010 to 2021. The primary outcomes were the proportion of infection, seroma, major complications, or contracture. We classified the intervention into four categories: ADM, absorbable mesh, nonabsorbable mesh, and nothing used. We then performed a network meta-analysis between these categories and estimated the odds ratio with random-effect models. Results Of 603 searched studies through the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases, following their review by two independent reviewers, 61 studies were included for full-text reading, of which 17 studies were finally included. There was a low risk of bias in the included studies, but only an indirect comparison between absorbable and non-absorbable mesh was possible. Infection was more frequent in ADM but not in the two synthetic mesh groups, namely the absorbable or nonabsorbable types, compared with the nonmesh group. The proportion of seroma in the synthetic mesh group was lower (odds ratio was 0.2 for the absorbable and 0.1 for the nonabsorbable mesh group) than in the ADM group. Proportions of major complications and contractures did not significantly differ between groups. Conclusion Compared with ADM, synthetic meshes have low infection and seroma rates. However, more studies concerning aesthetic outcomes and direct comparisons are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Although texture parameters of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography images were known to associate tumor biology and clinical features, the types and implications of parameters are too various and complicated. To overcome the limitation of texture parameter, we attempted to produce a new simplified parameter from texture parameters of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography images in lung cancer patients using pseudotime analysis. Pseudotime analysis is a recently developed method to explore changes in cell or tissue characteristics based on transcriptomic expression. It is the first study to apply pseudotime analysis into radiomics dataset other than transcriptomics data. Herein, we demonstrated that pseudotime can be successfully estimated from texture parameters. In the aspect of prognostic prediction, pseudotime was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in contrast to conventional parameters such as metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis. This study showed possibility of integrating various texture parameters into single parameter which reflects disease progression status. Pseudotime, as a concrete value of disease progression, is expected to be used in clinical field to evaluate disease and predict prognosis. Texture analysis provides image parameters from F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT). Although some parameters are associated with tumor biology and clinical features, the types and implications of these parameters are complicated. We applied pseudotime analysis, which has recently been used to estimate changes in individual sample characteristics, to texture parameters from FDG PET/CT images of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) followed by surgery. Our subjects were 303 NSCLC patients who underwent pretherapeutic FDG PET/CT and tri-modality therapy. Texture parameters of the primary tumor were calculated from FDG PET/CT images acquired before neoadjuvant CCRT. Pseudotime analysis was performed using the PhenoPath tool. Clinicopathologic features including survival data were collected and survival analysis was performed to compare the prognostic significances of pseudotime parameters with those of conventional PET parameters. Pseudotime was successfully estimated from texture parameters. Normalized co-occurrence homogeneity, normalized co-occurrence inverse difference moment, and black–white symmetry showed positive correlations with pseudotime, short run emphasis, normalized co-occurrence dissimilarity, and short zone emphasis negative correlation. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) and mean SUV were not associated with overall survival. Pseudotime, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) showed significant associations with overall survival. In contrast to MTV and TLG, pseudotime was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Various metabolic texture parameters can be integrated into a single parameter using pseudotime analysis. Pseudotime of the primary tumor, estimated from FDG PET/CT images, better predicts overall survival in locally advanced NSCLC patients treated with tri-modality therapy than conventional PET parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to compare the information and resource endowments possessed by different analyst types, classified by both location and employment within the context of seven emerging Asian markets. Our results show that local analysts are more accurate than expatriate and global analysts when we consider all earnings forecasts. However, when we control for the segregated herding behaviour of analysts, we find that herding local forecasts are one of the least accurate compared to other herding forecasts. By contrast, bold local (that is, non‐herding local) forecasts are more accurate than all other bold forecasts. This suggests that the information endowment of bold local analysts is superior to the information and resource endowments of bold expatriate analysts. We show that the superior accuracy of bold local forecasts does not stem from business group affiliations, investment banking relationships, demand for local analysts' services or the specialisation of analysts vis‐à‐vis countries or sectors. We consistently find that bold local analysts are better at assessing the earnings of the firm they forecast. Our results show that the prior documented advantage of local analysts in terms of forecasting accuracy is driven by the bold local analysts, with herding locals diluting this effect. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the segregated herding behaviour of local, expatriate and global analysts, and its impact on relative forecast accuracy across analyst types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasal skin defect closures are challenging because the nose is a complex anatomic structure with several subunits, and the nasal tip and ala represent particularly difficult subunits to reconstruct. The traditional full‐thickness skin graft (FTSG) is an easy and well‐established method, but often results in undesirable outcomes in terms of the nasal contour caused by a lack of dermal tissue. Aims: The purpose of the study is to report the outcomes of the simultaneous application of the acellular dermal substitute (Matriderm®) with FTSG in the treatment of nasal skin defects. Patients/Methods: Five patients with various nasal skin defects were treated with multilayered Matriderm grafts followed by FTSGs harvested from the pre‐ or postauricular region. Graft survival, scar quality, and patient satisfaction were evaluated and compared with 10 patients treated with conventional FTSGs. Results: One‐stage Matriderm‐aided FTSGs were well‐taken in all cases. Scar quality in the Matriderm group (8.0 ± 1.9) was statistically superior to that in the FTSG only group (10.8 ± 1.7). The Matriderm‐aided graft was also superior in patient satisfaction. Conclusions: The multilayered application of Matriderm in combination with FTSG is a reliable method for covering nasal skin defects, especially in the thick skin zone of the tip and ala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygalacturonase (PG) activity in plants can serve as an important index for plant disease. However, the conventional method to detect PG activity is a complex process and requires a skilled technician and expensive analytical equipment. In this study, a paper-based colorimetric sensor was developed based on the principle of the ruthenium red (RR) dye method for easy and simple measurement of PG activity. The proposed paper-based sensor has a three-layer structure for detection of PG activity in samples. The sensor sensitivity was enhanced by optimizing the pH of the sodium acetate buffer used in polygalacturonic acid (PGA)-RR complex formation and the reaction temperature for PG and the PGA-RR complex. Further, for quantitative analysis of PG activity, Delta RGB analysis was conducted to detect color changes in the sensing window of the sensor. Results presented that the linear measurement range of the paper sensor was 0.02–0.1 unit with the limit of detection of 0.02 unit, which showed a similar detection range, but a lower detection limit, compared to the spectrophotometry. Furthermore, PG activity based on culture condition was measured using samples from Sclerotium cepivorum to verify the potential application of the developed paper-based sensor in the field. The measured activity showed no statistically significant difference from the values obtained from the spectrophotometry at 95% confidence level. Therefore, the paper-based colorimetric sensor can be used to predict plant diseases in Allium crops during the stage of pathogen invasion, potentially contributing to the improvement of crop production. Image 1 • A paper-based colorimetric sensor for detecting PG activity is developed. • The linear measurement range of the paper sensor is 0.02–0.1 unit with the LOD of 0.02 unit. • The measured PG activity of the paper sensor using S. cepivorum samples is similar to that of the spectrophotometry. • The paper sensor has potential for the early detection of plant disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free proline, termed proline, is a biomarker used for diagnosing drought stress in plants. A previously developed proline–ninhydrin reaction-based paper sensor could quickly and easily detect proline, but it was limited by low sensitivity. In this study, we developed an enclosed multilayer paper-based microfluidic sensor with high sensitivity for the quantitative detection of proline in plants. The multilayer paper-based sensor was manufactured using simple wax printing and origami methods, and contained an internal mixing channel to allow good mixing of the proline with ninhydrin, increasing the proline–ninhydrin reactivity and providing accurate and sensitive proline detection. By preloading ninhydrin onto the sample loading area, uniform coloration of the sensing window was achieved, allowing quantitative analysis of various proline concentrations using a constant reaction time. Only the sensing window and sample loading area were exposed to limit sample evaporation and contamination from the external environment. The LOD of the fabricated sensor was 23 μM, which is approximately 29-fold lower than that of the previously proposed paper sensor (657 μM). Samples were extracted from A. thaliana plants subjected to drought stress for proline detection. The proline concentrations measured using the developed paper sensor and a spectrophotometric method were not statistically significant at a confidence level of 95%. Therefore, the developed sensor can be applied to measure proline concentrations precisely in the field with a low detection limit. The developed paper-based sensor can be used to detect the early stages of drought in plants and thus improve crop productivity. Image 1 • An enclosed multilayer paper-based microfluidic sensor for proline quantification is manufactured. • The enclosed multilayer sensor structure avoids sample evaporation and contamination. • The sensor detects proline with a LOD of 23 μM. • The sensor is suitable for the early detection of drought stress in plants. • The measured proline concentration is similar to that measured by spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the implementation of a pulse-type LAser Detection And Ranging (LADAR) system based on heterodyne detection for long-range measurement. A pulse-type LADAR based on an intensity direct-detection is certainly simple and mature, but it requires a high peak-power laser and a low-noise avalanche photodiode for long-range measurement, which restricts the scope of the application due to the weight, power consumption, and cost of the laser and the photodetector. In this work, heterodyne detection using a PIN photodiode is implemented to increase receiver sensitivity instead of using a low-noise avalanche photodiode. An optical phase-locked loop is adopted to generate an optical local oscillator signal for heterodyne detection. The proposed heterodyne detection scheme achieves a minimum detectable signal level of −52.6 dBm at a bandwidth of 1.2 GHz, and it is adopted in a pulse-type LADAR system for long-range measurement. The pulse-type LADAR system can measure a distance of 2.77 km at a repetition rate of 40 kHz, and it demonstrates great advantages for realizing real-time 3D imaging for long-range measurement with a high frame rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and characterized a paper-based microfluidic sensor for the on-site diagnosis of drought stress in plants. Proline was used as a biomarker for analyzing drought stress, which was extracted by a colorimetric method using the proline-ninhydrin reaction. Paper was used as the main sensor material for the on-site detection of proline as it is easily transportable and cost-effective. The paper-based sensor was fabricated using wax-printing and origami methods, and the sensor was precoated with ninhydrin to allow for easy and convenient on-site use. Furthermore, a sample-to-ninhydrin ratio of 1:2 was found to confer optimal sensitivity to the drought diagnosis sensor. The concentration of proline in a sample was quantified by red-green-blue analysis to determine the change in green color intensity levels in response to distinct proline concentrations, which were detected by the sensor. The limit of detection of proline using the devised sensor was 657 µM, and the green color intensity level decreased with increasing proline concentration. In addition, the sensor was validated in an experimental drought stress model with Arabidopsis and subjected to drought stress for 21 days, and the amount of proline detected was 10 mM. The devised paper-based microfluidic sensor highlights the possibility of the on-site evaluation of drought stress in plants with potential to be utilized in various agricultural areas in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of the saturated transmission and the undepleted ground-state population density of both [Cr.sup.4+]:YAG crystals and dye films as saturable absorbers have been experimentally attempted to understand the additional unsaturated losses in a high Q state. The saturated transmission of a saturable absorber is less than its maximum at a high saturation fluence because of the undepleted ground-state population density. Higher saturated transmission and lower undepleted ground-state population density have been observed for [Cr.sup.4+]:YAG crystals than have been observed for dye films at high optical densities. OCIS codes: 140.0140, 140.3540, 140.3580.

The threshold pump energies at 1.06 [micro]m and Raman gain coefficients of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) at 1.54 [micro]m have been measured in both single-pass and half-resonator configurations at various methane pressures. In the single-pass configuration, the Raman gain coefficients of the backward and forward SRS are 0.32 and 0.23 cm/GW at 95 atm, respectively. The backward Raman gain coefficient is higher than the forward Raman gain coefficient. This gain reduction is caused by the depletion of local pump intensity, the phase-matching conditions, and the transient effect of the high amplification rate in the forward SRS process. In the half-resonator configuration, the Raman gain coefficient was 0.46 cm/GW at 75 atm of methane. [C] 2001 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 140.0140, 140.3550.

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing was employed here to fabricate conductive micro patterns for printed electronic devices. EHD printing offers fine pattern fabrication through additive manufacturing that has several advantages when compared to conventional lithographic techniques. One of the major advantages of additive manufacturing is its ability to print on already fabricated devices for the purpose of alteration or repair. However, printing of micro patterns on a fabricated MEMS device is a tedious task due to the electrostatically induced disturbances in cone jet and the formation of satellite droplets. In this study, a modified EHD printing technique called drop on demand (DOD) process was used to print silver micro patterns on a MEMS device with high accuracy. The focus here was to optimize the technique and parameters, and modify the system hardware to enable patterning on an un-treated device surface. Parameters like supply voltage, waveform shape and frequency, pneumatic pressure, and ink flow rate have been studied and optimized to achieve repeatable and stable conductive patterns up to 3 μm. The modified EHD-DOD system also eliminates the problem of static surface charges by using low voltage thus enabling printing of highly repeatable sub-10 μm conductive patterns well suitable for MEMS repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology has attracted interest in various fields of applications. However, most of the previous studies are focusing on additive printing or developing new printable materials to functionalize the printed structures. Those approaches obviously have shown great performance, but still have no solution to functionalize original printing materials that are supplied by printer suppliers. In this study, we report a feasible method to fabricate three-dimensional printed micro-containers (MCs) coated with Ni-Au core-shell nanowires (NWs) that have multifunctional properties. The surfaces of the polymer-based micro-containers are modified with thiol groups. Then Ni-Au nanowires are directly attached without further treatment. Our approach expands direct applications of polymeric 3DP materials to biomedical and pharmaceutical technology as a utilized platform for functional nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-generally accepted accounting principles (non- GAAP) earnings reporting has been linked with both informative and strategic incentives. We seek to disentangle these conflicting effects by examining the association between non- GAAP earnings disclosure and transitory items in GAAP earnings, conditional on managers' reporting incentives. We report evidence of a statistically and economically significant asymmetric relation between disclosure propensity and transitory items in GAAP earnings conditional on both the sign and magnitude of the GAAP earnings surprise. Our findings suggest that non- GAAP earnings disclosures tend to be driven by a desire for informative (strategic) reporting when GAAP earnings beat (undershoot) market expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An immunochromatographic assay for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was developed using Fe3O4 nanoparticles as signal materials. Anti-HBsAg antibodies were labeled with carboxylated Fe3O4 particles with an average diameter of 153.6 nm, and an immunochromatography strip was constructed. The detection capability of the assay developed here is 1 ng/mL HBsAg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When producing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), one of the main goals of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) was to create a set of standards which were more useful to investors as a predictive tool. We assess the success of the IASB in achieving this goal by investigating the effects of the introduction of IFRS on the relative information content of reported earnings and forecasted earnings under UK generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) and IFRS. Results indicate that the value relevance of forecasted earnings is significantly lower under IFRS while the value relevance of reported earnings is significantly larger. These findings suggest that IFRS substitutes price-relevant information previously provided to the market in the form of analyst forecasts with information encoded by companies in their reported earnings. This implies that the IASB was indeed successful in its stated goal and points towards IFRS forecasts being more accurate and less dispersed than UK GAAP forecasts. This, in turn, implies that analysts are able to provide more informative forecasts under IFRS than under pre-IFRS regimes and that the aforementioned substitution effect is not a consequence of any decrease in the quality of forecasts under the new regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a novel micro xy-stage, driven by double-hot arm horizontal thermal micro-actuators integrated with a piezoresistive sensor (PS) for low-voltage operation and precise control. This micro xy-stage structure is linked with chevron beams and optimized to amplify the displacement generated by the micro-actuators that provide a pull force to the movable platform. The PS employed for in situ displacement detection and feedback control is fabricated at the base of a cold arm, which minimizes the influence of temperature change induced by electro-thermal heating. The micro xy-stage structure is defined through the use of a simple micromachining process, released by backside wet etching with a special tool. For an input power of approximately 44 mW, each chevron actuator provides about 16 µm and the total displacement of the platform is close to 32 µm. The sensitivity of the PS is better than 1 mV µm-1, obtained from the amplified voltage output of the Wheatstone bridge circuit. The potential applications of the proposed micro xy-stage lie in micro- or nano-manipulation, as well as the positioning of ultra-small objects in nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to changes in modern diet, a form of heart disease called chronic total occlusion has become a serious disease to be treated as an emergency. In this study, we propose a micromachined capturer that is designed and fabricated to collect plaque fragments generated during surgery to remove the thrombus. The fragment capturer consists of a plastic body made by rapid prototyping, SU-8 mesh structures using MEMS techniques, and ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators. An array of IPMC actuators combined with the SU-8 net structure was optimized to effectively collect plaque fragments. The evaporation of solvent through the actuator's surface was prevented using a coating of SU-8 and polydimethylsiloxane thin film on the actuator. This approach improved the available operating time of the IPMC, which primarily depends on solvent loss. Our preliminary results demonstrate the possibility of using the capturer for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning probe lithography such as direct–writing lithographic processes and nanoscratching techniques based on scanning probe microscopy have presented new micromachining methods for microelectromechanical system (MEMS). In this paper, a micromachining system for thermal scanning probe lithography is introduced, which consists of the cantilever arrays and a big stroke micro XY–stage. A large machining area and high machining speed can be realized by combining arrays of cantilevers possessing sharp tips at their top with the novel micro XY–stage which can obtain big displacements under relatively low driving voltage and in a small size. According to the above configuration, this micromachining system is provided with high throughputs and suitable for industrialization due to its MEMS–based simple fabrication process. The novel micro XY–stage applied in this system is presented in detail including the unique structure and principles, which shows an obvious improvement and distinct advantages in comparison with traditional structures. It is analyzed by mathematical model and then simulated using finite element method (FEM), it is proved to be able to practically serve the micromachining system with high capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is a polymer hydrogel possessing ionic conductivity that varies with different percentage of absorbed water molecules and ions. This property makes it a good candidate to be used in humidity sensors’ active layers. The degree of crystallinity of PEO thin films decrease with increasing humidity that facilitates the ion conduction in the thin films, thus reducing the film impedance. In this research work, the humidity sensing properties of the thin films of semi-crystalline PEO have been investigated and the material is then modified to its amorphous dominant phase by heating the thin films beyond the melting point of the polymer. The slowly cooled resulting thin films had a waxy solid like appearance and showed an excellent response towards quantitative detection of relative humidity in the surrounding environment. The results show a roughly linear impedance versus relative humidity curve in the range of 0% RH to 90% RH with a very high maximum achieved sensitivity of ∼35 kΩ/%RH. The response and recovery times measured for the modified sensors were 2.8 s and 5.7 s respectively. The 30 day trial of stability readings showed a standard deviation of only 1%. The results prove thermally modified amorphous PEO thin films to be strong candidates for high end electronic relative humidity sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: There is controversy regarding palliative chemotherapy for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). We evaluated whether advanced LCNEC should be treated similarly to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: The clinical reports and tumor specimens of 45 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with advanced LCNEC were reviewed. They were divided into SCLC (n =11) and NSCLC regimen groups (n =34) according to first-line chemotherapeutic regimens. Results: Most patients were male (96%) and smokers (93%) with a median age of 64 years. Neuroendocrine differentiation was established in 42 (93%) tumors by immunohistochemical analyses. Regarding the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy in the SCLC and NSCLC regimen groups, the response rates were 73% and 50% (P =0.19), and the median progression-free survival times were 6.1 and 4.9 months (P =0.41), respectively. The difference in overall survival between the two treatment groups was 7.3 months (16.5 vs. 9.2 months, P =0.10). There was also a considerable difference in the type and efficacy of salvage chemotherapeutic regimens between the two groups: salvage regimens with irinotecan, platinum, or taxanes were commonly used with relatively high objective responses in the SCLC regimen group, whereas frequently used agents in the NSCLC regimen group such as pemetrexed, gefitinib, or erlotinib were associated with no objective response. Conclusion: Regarding palliative chemotherapy for advanced LCNEC, treatment similar to SCLC is more appropriate than NSCLC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The optimal perioperative treatment for resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (LV5FU2) and LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) combination chemotherapies administered adjuvantly for curatively-resected, node-positive ESCC., Materials and Methods: Patients with pathologically node-positive esophageal cancer after curative R0 resection were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive LV5FU2 or FOLFOX biweekly for up to eight cycles. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS)., Results: Between 2011 and 2015, 62 patients were randomized into the two treatment groups (32 in the LV5FU2 arm and 30 in the FOLFOX arm). The median age was 60 years and both groups had similar pathologic characteristics in tumor, nodal status, and location. Treatment completion rates were similarly high in both groups. The DFS rate at 12 months was 67% in the LV5FU2 group and 63% in the FOLFOX group with a hazard ratio of 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 2.62). After a median follow-up period of 27 months, the median DFS was 29.6 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 54.2) in the LV5FU2 arm and 16.8 months (95% CI, 7.5 to 26.1) in the FOLFOX arm (p=0.428), respectively, while the median overall survival was not reached in either arm. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was more frequent in patients in the FOLFOX arm than the LV5FU2 arm (20.0% vs. 3.1%)., Conclusion: The addition of oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) did not lead to better efficacy compared to LV5FU2 chemotherapy in an adjuvant setting in node-positive ESCC patients.

This paper describes the mechanical and electrical characteristics of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cantilever integrated with a high-sensitivity strain sensor. The strain sensor is fabricated using PDMS and graphene flakes that are uniformly distributed in the PDMS. In order to prepare PDMS/graphene composite with uniform resistance, a tetrahydrofuran solution is used to decrease the viscosity of a PDMS base polymer solution. A horn-type sonicator is then used to mix the base polymer with graphene flakes. Low viscosity of the base polymer solution improves the reliability and reproducibility of the PDMS/graphene composite for strain sensor applications. After dicing the composite into the desired sensor shape, a tensile test is performed. The experimental results show that the composite with a concentration of 30 wt.% exhibits a linear response up to a strain rate of 9%. The graphene concentration of the prepared materials affects the gauge factor, which at 20% graphene concentration reaches about 50, and with increasing graphene concentration to 30% decreases to 9. Furthermore, photolithography, PDMS casting, and a stencil process are used to fabricate a PDMS cantilever with an integrated strain sensor. The change in resistance of the integrated PDMS/graphene sensor is characterized with respect to the displacement of the cantilever of within 500 μm. The experimental results confirmed that the prepared PDMS/graphene based sensor has the potential for high-sensitive biosensor applications.

While metastasis, the main cause of lung cancer-related death, has been extensively studied, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. A previous clinicogenomic study revealed that expression of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc-T14), is highly inversely correlated with recurrence-free survival in those with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) has not been determined. Here, we showed that GalNAc-T14 expression was positively associated with the invasive phenotype. Microarray and biochemical analyses revealed that HOXB9, the expression of which was increased in a GalNAc-T14-dependent manner, played an important role in metastasis. GalNAc-T14 increased the sensitivity of the WNT response and increased the stability of the β-catenin protein, leading to induced expression of HOXB9 and acquisition of an invasive phenotype. Pharmacological inhibition of β-catenin in GalNAc-T14-expressing cancer cells suppressed HOXB9 expression and invasion. A meta-analysis of clinical genomics data revealed that expression of GalNAc-T14 or HOXB9 was strongly correlated with reduced recurrence-free survival and increased hazard risk, suggesting that targeting β-catenin within the GalNAc-T14/WNT/HOXB9 axis may be a novel therapeutic approach to inhibit metastasis in NSCLC.

This paper describes a self-adjustable four-point probe (S4PP) system with a square configuration. The S4PP system consists of 3D polymer coil springs for the independent operation of each tungsten (W) probe, microfluidic channels filled with a nontoxic liquid metal, and a LabView-based control system. The 3D coil springs made by PMMA are fabricated with a 3D printer and are positioned in a small container filled with the non-toxic liquid metal. This unique configuration allows independent self-adjustment of the probe heights for precise measurements of the electrical properties of both flexible and large-step-height microsamples. The feasibility of the fabricated S4PP system is evaluated by measuring the specific resistance of Cr and Au thin films deposited on silicon wafers. The system is then employed to evaluate the electrical properties of a Au thin film deposited onto a flexible and easily breakable silicon diaphragm (spring constant: ∼3.6 × 10(-5) N/m). The resistance of the Cr thin films (thickness: 450 nm) with step heights of 60 and 90 μm is also successfully characterized. These experimental results indicate that the proposed S4PP system can be applied to common metals and semiconductors as well as flexible and large-step-height samples.

Fluorescent and magnetic Fe3O4@coordination polymer (Fe3O4@CP) nanochains are synthesized via a simple one-pot solvothermal reaction of magnetite (Fe3O4) and coordination polymer precursors in the presence of an external magnetic field. The shell thickness within Fe3O4@CPs was easily regulated by varying the amounts of coordination polymer precursors used during the reaction.

In this study, we introduce a selective thermochemical nano-patterning method of graphene on insulating substrates. A tiny heater formed at the end of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever is optimized by a finite element method. The cantilever device is fabricated using conventional micromachining processes. After preliminary tests of the cantilever device, nano-patterning experiments are conducted with various conducting and insulating samples. The results indicate that faster scanning speed and higher contact force are desirable to reduce the sizes of nano-patterns. With the experimental condition of 1 μm/s and 24 mW, the heated AFM tip generates a graphene oxide layer of 3.6 nm height and 363 nm width, on a 300 nm thick SiO2 layer, with a tip contact force of 100 nN.