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The no‐heating deposition of x%YO1.5–(100−x%)(Hf1−yZry)O2 (x = 0−0.09, y = 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1) is achieved using a radio‐frequency magnetron sputtering method. To investigate the crystal structure and ferroelectric properties, epitaxial films are grown on (111)‐oriented indium tin oxide (ITO)/(111) Y‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates. The ferroelectric orthorhombic phase is obtained for the 5–7%YO1.5–95–93%HfO2 and 5%YO1.5–95% (Hf0.75Zr0.25)O2 films. The field‐induced phase transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic is confirmed for the 8%YO1.5–92%HfO2 and 5%YO1.5–95%(Hf0.50Zr0.50)O2 films. The remnant polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec) are 12–19 μC cm−2 and 2,000–2,500 kV cm−1, respectively. The piezoelectric response of 1 μm thick films is investigated for 6%YO1.5–94% HfO2, 7%YO1.5–93%HfO2, and 5%YO1.5–95%(Hf0.50Zr0.50)O2 films, which have piezoelectric coefficients (d33) of 1.0, 3.3, and 5.0 pm V−1, respectively. These results show no‐heating deposition of x%YO1.5–(100−x%)(Hf1−yZry)O2 films with ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The novel 2‐D shear wave elastography (2D‐SWE) can measure two ultrasound parameters: shear wave dispersion (SWD) and shear wave speed (SWS). We investigated the ability of 2D‐SWE in measuring spleen stiffness using ultrasound multiparametric imaging. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included patients with chronic liver disease who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ultrasonographic examinations of the spleen between September 2018 and December 2021. In total, 157 patients were enrolled in this study: 81 and 67 patients were included in the pilot set for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurements and validation cohort without HVPG measurements, respectively. To confirm reproducibility between the two examiners, an additional 30 patients were enrolled. Results: The Bland–Altman plots revealed no significant bias in the SWD as measured by two examiners. The splenic SWS (r = 0.752) and SWD (r = 0.444) were correlated with the HVPG. Regarding high‐risk varices, as per the Youden index, the cut‐off value for splenic SWS was 3.30 m/s, with a sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity of 92.5%, positive predictive value of 85.7%, and negative predictive value of 92.4% in the pilot set. In the validation set, good diagnostic performance by the splenic SWS was observed. However, SWD did not perform as well as SWS. Conclusions: The splenic SWS, measured using ultrasound multiparametric imaging, was closely correlated with the HVPG. Thus, SWS is a useful predictive marker for high‐risk varices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is a surrogate condition for glucose intolerance development. FLD may involve normal or abnormal liver enzyme levels. Whether FLD is a risk factor for glucose intolerance, regardless of liver enzyme levels, remains unknown. We assessed relationships between the development of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and FLD, liver enzyme abnormalities, and alcohol consumption. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 8,664 participants with more than two annual health check‐ups. Participants were classified according to sex, alcohol consumption, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and fatty liver status. Results: In univariate analyses, IFG onset among men was related to normal or high ALT levels with FLD in the nonalcoholic and alcoholic groups (P‐trend < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, IFG onset among nonalcoholic men was associated with normal or high ALT levels with FLD, independent of potential confounding factors (P‐trend < 0.01). However, IFG onset was non‐independently associated with any condition among alcoholic men. In univariate analyses, IFG onset among women was related to normal or high ALT levels with FLD in the nonalcoholic group (P‐trend < 0.01) and high ALT levels with FLD in the alcoholic group (P‐trend < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, IFG onset was independently associated with only normal ALT levels in nonalcoholic FLD women. Conclusions: Among nonalcoholic men and women, FLD was a risk factor for IFG onset, including normal ALT concentrations. Care is needed for individuals with nonalcoholic FLD, regardless of liver injury, possibly helping reduce glucose intolerance risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Estimated remnant cholesterol (Rem-C) level, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) diagnosed via ultrasonography. However, the relationship between accurate serum Rem-C level measurements and histological findings of MASLD remains unclear., Objective: We aimed to elucidate the relationship between accurately measured serum Rem-C levels and histological findings of MASLD., Design: Cross-sectional single-center observational study., Methods: We assessed 222 patients (94 men and 128 women; age 20-80) who were diagnosed with MASLD via liver biopsy with available medical history, physical examination, and biochemical measurement data. Serum ester-type cholesterol and free cholesterol contents in the remnant lipoproteins were measured using an enzymatic method., Results: Serum Rem-C levels were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD activity score (NAS) 5-8, ＞66% steatosis grade, lobular inflammation with ≥5 foci, and many cells/prominent ballooning cells (a contiguous patch of hepatocytes showing prominent ballooning injury) than in patients with NAS 1-4, <33% steatosis grade, lobular inflammation with <2 foci, and few ballooning cells (several scattered balloon cells), respectively. While univariate analysis revealed no significant association between Rem-C levels and advanced fibrosis, a significant association between Rem-C levels and NAS was evident. This relationship remained significant in multivariate analysis adjusted for confounders. Furthermore, in the analysis by sex, these relationships were significant for men but not for women., Conclusion: High serum Rem-C levels were associated with high NAS, but not with fibrosis stage, particularly in men. Controlling serum Rem-C level may improve MASLD activity., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. See the journal About page for additional terms.)