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In breast cancer radiation therapy, minimizing radiation-related risks and toxicity is vital for improving life expectancy. Tailoring radiotherapy techniques and treatment positions can reduce radiation doses to normal organs and mitigate treatment-related toxicity. This study entailed a dosimetric comparison of six different external beam whole-breast irradiation techniques in both supine and prone positions. We selected fourteen breast cancer patients, generating six treatment plans in both positions per patient. We assessed target coverage and organs at risk (OAR) doses to evaluate the impact of treatment techniques and positions. Excess absolute risk was calculated to estimate potential secondary cancer risk in the contralateral breast, ipsilateral lung, and contralateral lung. Additionally, we analyzed the distance between the target volume and OARs (heart and ipsilateral lung) while considering the treatment position. The results indicate that prone positioning lowers lung exposure in X-ray radiotherapy. However, particle beam therapies (PBTs) significantly reduce the dose to the heart and ipsilateral lung regardless of the patient's position. Notably, negligible differences were observed between arc-delivery and static-delivery PBTs in terms of target conformity and OAR sparing. This study provides critical dosimetric evidence to facilitate informed decision-making regarding treatment techniques and positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shielding parameters can vary depending on the geometrical structure of the linear accelerators (LINAC), treatment techniques, and beam energies. Recently, the introduction of O-ring type linear accelerators is increasing. The objective of this study is to evaluate the shielding parameters of new type of linac using a dedicated program developed by us named ORSE (O-ring type Radiation therapy equipment Shielding Evaluation). The shielding evaluation was conducted for a total of four treatment rooms including Elekta Unity, Varian Halcyon, and Accuray Tomotherapy. The developed program possesses the capability to calculate transmitted dose, maximum treatable patient capacity, and shielding wall thickness based on patient data. The doses were measured for five days using glass dosimeters to compare with the results of program. The IMRT factors and use factors obtained from patient data showed differences of up to 65.0% and 33.8%, respectively, compared to safety management report. The shielding evaluation conducted in each treatment room showed that the transmitted dose at every location was below 1% of the dose limit. The results of program and measurements showed a maximum difference of 0.003 mSv/week in transmitted dose. The ORSE program allows for the shielding evaluation results to the clinical environment of each institution based on patient data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomolecular condensates, often assembled through phase transition mechanisms, play key roles in organizing diverse cellular activities. The material properties of condensates, ranging from liquid droplets to solid-like glasses or gels, are key features impacting the way resident components associate with one another. However, it remains unclear whether and how different material properties would influence specific cellular functions of condensates. Here, we combine optogenetic control of phase separation with single-molecule mRNA imaging to study relations between phase behaviors and functional performance of condensates. Using light-activated condensation, we show that sequestering target mRNAs into condensates causes translation inhibition. Orthogonal mRNA imaging reveals highly transient nature of interactions between individual mRNAs and condensates. Tuning condensate composition and material property towards more solid-like states leads to stronger translational repression, concomitant with a decrease in molecular mobility. We further demonstrate that β-actin mRNA sequestration in neurons suppresses spine enlargement during chemically induced long-term potentiation. Our work highlights how the material properties of condensates can modulate functions, a mechanism that may play a role in fine-tuning the output of condensate-driven cellular activities. Biomolecular condensates play important roles in diverse cellular activities. Here the authors employ optogenetic tool and single-molecule mRNA imaging, showing that sequestering target mRNAs into condensates lead to translation inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to investigate the clinical feasibility of deep learning-based synthetic CT images for cervix cancer, comparing them to MR for calculating attenuation (MRCAT). Patient cohort with 50 pairs of T2-weighted MR and CT images from cervical cancer patients was split into 40 for training and 10 for testing phases. We conducted deformable image registration and Nyul intensity normalization for MR images to maximize the similarity between MR and CT images as a preprocessing step. The processed images were plugged into a deep learning model, generative adversarial network. To prove clinical feasibility, we assessed the accuracy of synthetic CT images in image similarity using structural similarity (SSIM) and mean-absolute-error (MAE) and dosimetry similarity using gamma passing rate (GPR). Dose calculation was performed on the true and synthetic CT images with a commercial Monte Carlo algorithm. Synthetic CT images generated by deep learning outperformed MRCAT images in image similarity by 1.5% in SSIM, and 18.5 HU in MAE. In dosimetry, the DL-based synthetic CT images achieved 98.71% and 96.39% in the GPR at 1% and 1 mm criterion with 10% and 60% cut-off values of the prescription dose, which were 0.9% and 5.1% greater GPRs over MRCAT images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to investigate the deliverability of dynamic conformal arc therapy (DCAT) by gantry wobble owing to the intrinsic inter-segment break of the Elekta linear accelerator (LINAC) and its adverse influence on the dose to the patient. The deliverability of DCAT was evaluated according to the plan parameters, which affect the gantry rotation speed and resultant positional inaccuracies; the deliverability according to the number of control points and dose rates was investigated by using treatment machine log files and dosimetry devices, respectively. A non-negligible degradation in DCAT deliverability due to gantry wobble was observed in both the treatment machine log files and dosimetry devices. The resulting dose-delivery error occurred below a certain number of control points or above a certain dose rate. Dose simulations in the patient domain showed a similar impact on deteriorated deliverability. For targets located primarily in the isocenter, the dose differences were negligible, whereas for organs at risk located mainly off-isocenter, the dose differences were significant up to − 8.77%. To ensure safe and accurate radiotherapy, optimal plan parameters should be selected, and gantry angle-specific validations should be conducted before treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics including microbeads that are heavily utilized in our daily necessities such as cleaners, toothpastes, and cosmetic products as well as in industrial applications have become a severe environmental issue because of their non-degradable characteristics. Upon accumulation in aquatic organisms, microplastics eventually enter the human food supply chain, where these are possibly hazardous to humans. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of microbeads comprising abundant, sustainable, and biodegradable cellulose through an electrospray-based process of cellulose acetate and subsequent chemical treatment as a sustainable alternative to microplastic particles, which are widely used in a range of consumer products in our daily lives. We further show that inferior mechanical properties, which degrade the potential of cellulose, can be improved dramatically by incorporating triazine-based covalent organic nanosheets (CONs). The compressive strength of composite microbeads at breakage is measured to be 238 ± 18 MPa, which is higher than those of cellulose microbeads without CON (142 ± 22 MPa) and polypropylene microbeads (199 ± 6 MPa). The study proposes a simple albeit effective approach to fabricating cellulose microbeads with enhanced mechanical properties. Thereby, it provides insights into the replacement of petroleum-based microplastics with an environmentally friendly material system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the fabrication of transparent multichannel vertical nanotube electrode arrays for detecting cellular activity and optically imaging neuronal networks. To fabricate these transparent electrode arrays, position- and morphology-controlled ZnO nanotube arrays consisting of ultrathin nanowalls were grown on transparent graphene layers and coated with Ti/Au metal layers. Using these multichannel arrays, electrophysiological signals were individually recorded from primary mouse hippocampal neurons and recorded distinctive intracellular potential-like signals. Moreover, the transparent electrode array enabled fluorescence imaging of neuron cell bodies and neurite connections. This transparent graphene- and nanotube-based recording device is proposed to greatly increase the versatility of capabilities for investigating neuronal activity through simultaneous recording and imaging of neuron cultures. The figure depicts a new type of transparent electrode recording array made of vertically aligned zinc oxide nanotubes grown on graphene (top middle). The nanotubes are formed by sharp nanowalls to penetrate the cell (top left) while transparent graphene layers allow imaging the neurons using with conventional microscopy (top right). As a result, simultaneous recording of electrical signals was obtained from multiple neurons at single-cell resolution. Moreover, the signals had distinguishable waveforms that implicated extracellular- and intracellular-like electrophysiological voltage changes (bottom). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several regulations on exhaust gases have been introduced to curb hazardous exhaust of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) from the paint and printing industries. VOCs produce photochemical oxidants and suspended PM such as PM2.5, which is now recognized as a global environmental problem. We assess a nonthermal plasma technique for controlling VOC emissions, especially, propose a wet-type packed-bed plasma reactor to extend the treatment of water-non-soluble VOCs. This paper proposes a wet-type packed-bed plasma reactor to extend the treatment of water-non-soluble VOCs. The proposed technique is evaluated through the simultaneous removal of nanoparticles and toluene at a relatively high flow rate. Simultaneous treatment of the VOCs and nanoparticles using the reactor indicates that the average particle collection efficiency is 94%, and the removal efficiency of 60 ppm toluene is 73% with a gas flow rate of 10 L/min. The resultant byproducts are benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO), benzyl alcohol (C6H5CH2OH), phenol (C6H5OH), ozone, formic acid, and acetic acid, and some are easily dissolved and removed by the sodium hydroxide solution film. A smaller pellet diameter leads to more efficient toluene removal at lower specific energy values, while the ozone concentration does not change. However, the ozone concentration can be greatly suppressed by dissolving the ozone in the alkali solution film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of electron-beam irradiation (EBI) on MoS2-based photodetectors with various electrode structures was investigated to improve the electrical and photoelectrical properties. The MoS2 films were deposited at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering and subsequently transformed into a two-dimensional layered structure by EBI treatment with the electron energy of 3 kV for 1 min. The electrical resistance and photoelectrical properties, such as photocurrent and photoresponsivity, of MoS2 films were examined with patterned Au/Ti electrodes as a top contact (TC) and a bottom contact structure. In addition, the interfacial effect of high-k dielectric materials of thin HfO2 film between MoS2 and the SiO2/Si substrate was investigated to enhance the photoelectrical property. The MoS2 photodetectors fabricated by the EBI before TC formation on HfO2 exhibited the highest photoresponsivity of 11.88 mA/W, which was an increase of 6500% from the EBI before TC structure on SiO2. We believe that this work contributes to the improvement of contact and interface properties of MoS2-based photodetectors readily and quickly compared with conventional high-temperature thermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy coverage-based crop growth monitoring is highly dependent on the performance of crop segmentation algorithms. Under field conditions, crop segmentation for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery should be sophisticated considering geometric distortion of images by wind and illumination variations. Under Korean cultivation conditions, a plastic mulch used to restrict weeds and prevent cold weather damage increases the complexity of the image background. In particular, on-site monitoring of onion and garlic growth has been limited by their morphology because they have long narrow leaves. The ultimate goal of this study was to quantify the growth parameters of onion and garlic at multiple growth stages using red, green, and blue (RGB) imagery obtained with UAVs. Canopy coverage and plant height were used as predictor variables to develop mathematical models to estimate the fresh weights of onion and garlic. The use of a CIE L*a*b* color space and mean shift (MS) algorithm enhanced the extraction of the canopy coverage of onion and garlic from complex backgrounds, including plastic mulch, soil, and shadows under varying illumination conditions. Multiple linear regression models consisting of the a* band-based vegetation fraction (VF) and structure from motion (SfM)-based plant height (PH) fitted the fresh weight data of onion and garlic well with high coefficients of determination (R2) ranging from 0.82 to 0.92. The validation results showed an almost 1:1 slope with highly linear relationships (R2 > 0.82) between the onion and garlic fresh weights obtained with the UAV RGB imagery and actual fresh weights, confirming that the UAV-RGB imagery based on the use of the a*band and PH can be used to quantify the spatial and temporal variability of onion and garlic growth parameters during the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abies koreana, a plant species endemic to Korea, is sensitive to climate change. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying its environmental stress response. Here, we characterized the effects of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) concentration, application method, and application duration on the expression of ABA-responsive genes in A. koreana. The expression level of AkNAC19 was significantly higher in ABA (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mM)-treated leaves (needles) than in non-treated samples, indicating the role of ABA in the induction of gene expression. In addition, 0.2 mM ABA was found to be optimal for gene regulation. When assessing the efficacies of ABA application methods, the dipping method was slightly more effective in inducing gene expression than the pressure method. Therefore, leaves were further treated with 0.2 mM ABA using the dipping method to investigate the expression levels of multiple ABA-responsive genes, including AkNAC19, AkMPK6, AkERF4, AkNAC2, AkbHLH, AkEFP, AkHSP17.6, and AkMYB123. The expression levels of all genes, except AkMPK6, were significantly higher in ABA-treated leaves than in non-treated leaves. However, the optimal treatment duration for gene expression induction varied with the gene type. Overall, these results suggest that A. koreana responds to abiotic stress by upregulating the expression of ABA-responsive genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Micronutrient deficiencies are common complications after bariatric surgery as alterations to the gastrointestinal tract change absorption. Patients are recommended to take supplements including multivitamins, B complex, calcium, vitamin D, and iron after bariatric surgery, and can take these as specifically formulated vitamins for post-bariatric patients or separate vitamin supplements. We investigated the compliance, efficacy, and cost of specifically formulated vitamins for post-bariatric patients in comparison to separate vitamin supplements. Methods: We surveyed 126 post-bariatric adult patients between February 1, 2022, and August 31, 2022, who had undergone bariatric surgery between 2014 and 2021 to assess the type of supplements taken, compliance, and cost. Demographics, type of bariatric surgery, and serum micronutrient levels were evaluated for all patients. Results: There were 51 patients taking formulated vitamins and 75 patients taking separate vitamins. The formulated vitamin group demonstrated greater adherence to optimal vitamin dosage (formulated vitamin group, 76.5% vs. separate supplement group, 30.7%; p < 0.001) and higher compliance (formulated vitamin group, 90.2% vs. separate supplement group, 66.7%; p = 0.002). The costs associated with both groups were comparable. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of micronutrient deficiency between the groups. Conclusions: Our study shows that formulated vitamins do not offer significant difference in micronutrient levels or cost compared to separate standard vitamin supplements. However, formulated bariatric vitamins have improved compliance compared to separate vitamin supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aronia leaf tea, which is generally discarded after harvesting the fruit, was prepared using three different methods. Water extract from dried Aronia melanocarpa leaf tea (DALT), water extract from steamed Aronia melanocarpa leaf tea (SALT), water extract from roasted Aronia melanocarpa leaf tea (RALT) were manufactured and their functional ingredients were analyzed. The total polyphenol contents in the DALT, SALT, and RALT samples were 33.67 mg GAE/g, 57.79 mg GAE/g, and 53.16 mg GAE/g, respectively. The results from the ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP assays showed that there was significantly higher antioxidant activity in SALT and RALT samples than in DALT. The MTT assay revealed that the cytotoxicity of SALT and RALT samples against HeLa cells was higher than that of DALT. These results verified that the phytochemical components of aronia leaves changed based on its tea preparation methods and aronia leaf extracts contain bioactive compounds that have potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study recalculated the use factor of linear accelerators (LINACs) by using an in-house program based on Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine radiation therapy (DICOM-RT). We considered the impact of advancements and changes in treatment trends, including modality, technology, and radiation dose, on the use factor, which is one of the shielding parameters. In accordance with the methodology described in the NCRP 151 report, we computed the use factor for four linear accelerators (LINACs) across three hospitals. We analyzed the results based on the treatment techniques and treatment sites for three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy. Our findings revealed that the use factors obtained at 45° and 90° were 14.8% and 13.5% higher than those of the NCRP 151 report. In treatment rooms with a high 3D-CRT ratio, the use factor at a specific angle differed by up to 14.6% relative to the NCRP 151 report value. Our results showed a large difference in the use factor for specific sites such as the breast and spine, so it is recommended that each institution recalculate the use factor using patient's data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular and functional diversity among region-specific astrocytes is of great interest in basic neuroscience and the study of neurological diseases. In this study, we present the generation and characterization of astrocytes from human embryonic stem cells with the characteristics of the ventral midbrain (VM). Fine modulation of WNT and SHH signaling during neural differentiation induced neural precursor cells (NPCs) with high expression of EN1 and NKX6.1, but less expression of FOXA2. Overexpression of nuclear factor IB in NPCs induced astrocytes, thereby maintaining the expression of region-specific genes acquired in the NPC stage. When cocultured with dopaminergic (DA) precursors or DA neurons, astrocytes with VM characteristics (VM-iASTs) promoted the differentiation and survival of DA neurons better than those that were not regionally specified. Transcriptomic analysis showed that VM-iASTs were more closely related to human primary midbrain astrocytes than to cortical astrocytes, and revealed the upregulation of WNT1 and WNT5A, which supports their VM identity and explains their superior activity in DA neurons. Taken together, we hope that VM-iASTs can serve to improve ongoing DA precursor transplantation for Parkinson's disease, and that their transcriptomic data provide a valuable resource for investigating regional diversity in human astrocyte populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: SB4 is the first approved biosimilar of etanercept, a biologic tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, to treat various autoimmune diseases including axial spondylarthritis (axSpA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and plaque psoriasis (PsO). This post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study of SB4 investigated safety and effectiveness in routine clinical practice and is part of the drug approval process in Korea. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, open-label, observational, phase IV PMS study was designed to enroll patients with axSpA, RA, PsA, and PsO in Korea from September 2015 to September 2019. Both etanercept-naïve patients or patients switched from reference etanercept were included. SB4 was administered weekly via subcutaneous injections using pre-filled syringes. Safety was assessed by the incidence of adverse events (AEs), adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and serious adverse events (SAE). Effectiveness was assessed by the change from baseline of investigator-rated Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and disease activity score-28 (DAS28) in patients with RA. Results: Among 316 enrolled patients, 314 were included in the safety analysis (176 with AS and 138 with RA). The overall incidence of AEs, ADRs and serious AEs were 17.8, 9.9, and 1.3%, respectively. Most AEs were mild (66.7%) or moderate (31.1%) and not related to SB4 (58.9%). Most common AEs were injection site pruritus (1.9%) and injection site rash (1.3%). At week 24, mean disease activity scores significantly decreased compared to baseline in naïve patients with AS and RA (BASDAI 2.7 vs. 6.2, p < 0.0001; DAS28 3.8 vs. 5.7, p < 0.0001) and in switched patients with AS and RA (BASDAI 1.0 vs. 1.3, p = 0.0018; DAS28 2.4 vs. 2.9, p = 0.0893). Conclusion: This first real-world evidence of SB4 from a phase IV PMS study in Korea shows comparable effectiveness to historical SB4 real-world evidence without any new significant safety signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR/Cas9 and Cas12a belonging to the Class II CRISPR system are characterized by a single-component effector protein. Despite unique features of Cas12a like DNA cleavage with 5′ staggered ends and a single crRNA, Cas12a has not been adopted in biotechnological applications to the similar extent as Cas9. To better understand the CRISPR/Cas12 systems, we selected two candidates, designated mgCas12a-1 and mgCas12a-2, from an analysis of the human microbiome metagenome (mg) and provided biochemical characterization. These new Cas12a proteins shared about 37% identity in amino acid sequences and shared the same direct repeat sequences in the crRNA with FnCas12a from Francisella novicida. The purification yield of the recombinant proteins was up to 3.6-fold greater than that of FnCas12a. In cell-free DNA cleavage assays, both mgCas12a proteins showed the higher cleavage efficiencies when Mn2+ was provided with KCl (< 100 mM) than tested other divalent ions. They were able to tolerate ranges of pH points and temperature, and showed the highest cleavage efficiencies at pH 8.0 and 50 °C. In addition, mgCas12a proteins showed 51% less crRNA-independent and 56% less crRNA-dependent non-specific nuclease activity upon prolonged incubation than did FnCas12a. Considering their greater yield in protein preparation and reduced non-specific nuclease activity, our findings may expedite the use of Cas12a especially when genome editing needs to be practiced with the form of ribonucleoproteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine risk factors for transient severe motion (TSM) artifact on arterial phase of gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI using a large cohort. Methods: A total of 2230 patients who underwent gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI was consecutively included. Two readers evaluated respiratory motion artifact on arterial phase images using a 5-point grading scale. Clinical factors including demographic data, underlying disease, laboratory data, presence of ascites and pleural effusion, and previous experience of gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI were investigated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine significant risk factors for TSM. Predictive value of TSM was calculated according to the number of significant risk factors. Results: Overall incidence of TSM was 5.0% (111/2230). In the multivariable analysis, old age (≥ 65 years; odds ratio [OR] = 2.01 [95% CI, 1.31–3.07]), high body mass index (≥ 25 kg/m2; OR = 1.76 [1.18–2.63]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 6.11 [2.32–16.04]), and moderate to severe pleural effusion (OR = 3.55 [1.65–7.65]) were independent significant risk factors for TSM. Presence of hepatitis B (OR = 0.66 [0.43–0.99]) and previous experience of gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI (OR = 0.52 [0.33–0.83]) were negative risk factors for TSM. When at least one of the significant factors was present, the predictive risk was 5.7% (109/1916), whereas it was 16.3% (17/104) when at least four factors were present. Conclusion: Knowing risk factors for transient severe motion artifact on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI can be clinically useful for providing diagnostic strategies more tailored to individual patients. Key Points: • Old age, high body mass index, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and moderate to severe pleural effusion were independent risk factors for transient severe motion artifact on gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI. • Patients with hepatitis B or previous experience of gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI were less likely to show transient severe motion artifact. • As the number of risk factors for transient severe motion artifact increased, the predicted risk for it also showed a tendency to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work attempted to construct a new metal artifact reduction (MAR) framework in kilo-voltage (kV) computed tomography (CT) images by combining (1) deep learning and (2) multi-modal imaging, defined as MARTIAN (Metal Artifact Reduction throughout Two-step sequentIAl deep convolutional neural Networks). Most CNNs under supervised learning require artifact-free images to artifact-contaminated images for artifact correction. Mega-voltage (MV) CT is insensitive to metal artifacts, unlike kV CT due to different physical characteristics, which can facilitate the generation of artifact-free synthetic kV CT images throughout the first network (Network 1). The pairs of true kV CT and artifact-free kV CT images after post-processing constructed a subsequent network (Network 2) to conduct the actual MAR process. The proposed framework was implemented by GAN from 90 scans for head-and-neck and brain radiotherapy and validated with 10 independent cases against commercial MAR software. The artifact-free kV CT images following Network 1 and post-processing led to structural similarity (SSIM) of 0.997, and mean-absolute-error (MAE) of 10.2 HU, relative to true kV CT. Network 2 in charge of actual MAR successfully suppressed metal artifacts, relative to commercial MAR, while retaining the detailed imaging information, yielding the SSIM of 0.995 against 0.997 from the commercial MAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatic steatosis (HS) can be comprehensively assessed by visually comparing the hepatic and vessel attenuation on unenhanced computed tomography (CT). We aimed to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of a CT-based visual grading system (VGS) for comprehensive assessment of HS. Methods: In this retrospective study, a four-point VGS based on the visual comparison of liver and hepatic vessels was validated by six reviewers with diverse clinical experience using the unenhanced CT images of 717 potential liver donors. The diagnostic performance of VGS and quantitative indices (difference and ratio of the hepatic and splenic attenuation) to diagnose HS were evaluated using multi-reader multi-case receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis (reference: pathology). The interobserver agreement was assessed using Fleiss κ statistics. Results: Using the VGS, all six reviewers showed areas under the ROC curves (AUROCs) higher than 0.9 for diagnosing total steatosis (TS) ≥ 30%, macrovesicular steatosis (MaS) ≥ 30%, and MaS ≥ 10%. No difference was noted between the AUROCs of the VGS and quantitative indices (p ≥ 0.1). The reviewers showed substantial agreement (Fleiss κ, 0.61). Most discrepancies occurred between the two lowest grades of VGS (81.5%; 233/283), in which most subjects (97.0%; 226/233) had a MaS < 10%. The average-reader sensitivity and specificity of the VGS were 0.80 and 0.94 to detect TS ≥ 30% and 0.93 and 0.81 to detect MaS ≥ 10%. Conclusion: VGS was reliable and reproducible in assessing HS. It may be useful as a non-invasive and simple tool for comprehensive HS assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies evaluated the post-endoscopic adverse events in patients with neutropenia. We investigated the development of infectious events after endoscopic procedures in neutropenic patients with hematologic diseases. Methods: Patients with neutropenia and hematologic diseases who underwent endoscopic procedures were enrolled. Neutropenia was defined as an absolute neutrophil count < 1500 cells/mm3 and its severity was subdivided as mild, moderate (< 1000 cells/mm3), and severe (< 500 cells/mm3). Infectious events were defined as fever or bacteremia within 7 days after endoscopy. We assessed the development and risk factors of infectious events after endoscopic procedures. Results: We identified 528 procedures in 479 patients (51.0 ± 1.0 years). Antibiotics were used in 455 (95.0%) cases within 3 days of endoscopy. Infectious events were observed in 154 patients (32.2%): 22.9% in mild, 29.5% in moderate, and 43.1% in severe neutropenia. Fever developed in 147 cases (30.7%). Among patients with blood culture studies (n = 267), bacteremia was found in 22 cases (8.2%). In univariate analysis, patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, poor performance status, severe neutropenia, non-use of immunosuppressive drugs, and without history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and colony-stimulating factor use were positively correlated with infectious events. Poor performance status was the strongest factor for the development of infectious events in multivariate analysis (OR 10.3; 95% CI 4.4–23.3; P < 0.01). Conclusions: Procedural invasiveness and severity of neutropenia did not appear to affect infectious events after endoscopic procedure with the use of antibiotics. Neutropenic patients who have poor performance status require careful evaluation for appropriate indications of endoscopic evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fragmented cancer care (FC) means that patients visit multiple providers for treatment, which is common in cancer care. While FC is associated with poor health outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, there is still a lack of evidence in South Korea. We investigated the association between FC and 5-year morality in patients with CRC using population-based claims data. Methods: The study population was followed up from 2002 to 2015. Data were collected from Korea National Health Insurance claims. Participants comprised patients with CRC diagnosed with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 (C18.x–C20.x) and a special claim code for cancer (V193). Data were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier curve with a log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model. The effect of FC on patients' 5-year survival was examined. Results: Of 3467 patients with CRC, 20.0% had experienced FC. FC was significantly associated with an increased risk of 5-year mortality (hazard ratio 1.516, 95% confidence interval 1.274–1.804). FC was prevalent in those who had a low income level, underwent chemotherapy, did not undergo radiation therapy, and did not visit a tertiary hospital for their first treatment. Conclusion: Efforts to decrease FC and integrate complex cancer care within appropriate healthcare delivery systems may improve survivorship among patients with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic value of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-labeled-somatostatin analogue ([68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA) PET/MRI for detecting liver metastasis in patients with neuroendocrine tumor (NET) and to compare it with [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/CT. Methods: A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane was performed to identify original articles reporting the detection rate of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/MRI for liver metastasis in comparison with PET/CT. The pooled detection rates for liver metastasis on PET/MRI and PET/CT were calculated and compared using a restricted maximum likelihood estimation of random-effects model. The pooled added value of PET/MRI in comparison with PET/CT was calculated. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to explore causes of study heterogeneity. Results: In the six included studies (638 liver metastases), the pooled detection rates for liver metastasis on [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/MRI and PET/CT were 93.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85.1–97.3%; I2 = 84.8%) and 76.8% (95% CI, 64.8–85.6%; I2 = 87.8%), respectively. PET/MRI had a significantly higher detection rate than PET/CT (p = 0.02), with 15.3% (95% CI, 8.0–27.4%) added value over PET/CT. After sensitivity analysis, the recalculated detection rates for liver metastasis were 94.8% (95% CI, 90.8–97.2%; I2 = 42.1%) for PET/MRI and 80.0% (95% CI, 65.3–89.5%; I2 = 90.0%) for PET/CT. The study location and the use of predefined imaging criteria for liver metastasis were associated with PET/MRI study heterogeneity. Conclusion: [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/MRI had good overall performance for detecting liver metastasis in patients with NET. Because of the small number of eligible studies, further studies are needed to validate the clinical usefulness of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/MRI. Key Points: • [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/MRI had a higher pooled detection rate for liver metastasis than PET/CT (93.5% vs. 76.8%). • The added value of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA PET/MRI for detecting liver metastasis in comparison with PET/CT was 15.3%. •Study location and the predefined imaging criteria for liver metastasis were significant factors causing PET/MRI study heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of researchers in Korea have tried to set-up the production of radionuclides and develop new radiopharmaceuticals for several decades. Thanks to their 60-year endeavor to advance the field of radiopharmaceutical sciences, now we have a lot of research units and facilities in Korea. Still, there are huge number of issues to be solved in radiopharmaceutical sciences; however, our efforts will be continued to develop new radiopharmaceuticals and to apply the new radiopharmaceuticals into nuclear medicine field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic performance of the liver surface nodularity (LSN) score for assessment of hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Major databases were searched to identify studies reporting the diagnostic performance of the LSN score published from January 2011 to April 2021. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the LSN score in the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (F2–4), advanced fibrosis (F3–4), and liver cirrhosis (F4) were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model, and the summary areas under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) for each were calculated. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the causes of study heterogeneity. Results: Of 168 screened studies, six were included in the analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the LSN score were 68% (95% confidence interval [CI], 45–84%), 89% (95% CI, 83–93%), and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.92), respectively, for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis; 88% (95% CI, 60–97%), 78% (95% CI, 57–90%), and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86–0.91), respectively, for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis; and 83% (95% CI, 71–91%), 80% (95% CI, 72–85%), and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83–0.89), respectively, for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. Cutoff values of the LSN score affected study heterogeneity in the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis (p = 0.03) and liver cirrhosis (p = 0.01). Imaging modality (p = 0.01) and reference standard (p = 0.01) affected study heterogeneity in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. Conclusions: The LSN score showed good diagnostic performance in assessing the hepatic fibrosis stage. Additional investigations are needed to improve and standardize the LSN score. Key Points • The liver surface nodularity (LSN) score showed overall good diagnostic performance in assessing hepatic fibrosis. • The pooled sensitivity of the LSN score was highest in the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 60–97%), and the pooled specificity was highest in the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (89%; 95% CI, 83–93%). • The diagnostic performance of the LSN score differed according to the cutoff value, imaging modality, and reference standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Development of shielding evaluation and management program for O-ring type linear accelerators" published in Scientific Reports. The correction addresses an incomplete Acknowledgments section in the original version of the article. The corrected version now includes additional funding sources from Yonsei University College of Medicine, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and the Nuclear Safety Research Program. The original article has been corrected. [Extracted from the article]

The PERaMpanel pooled analysIs of effecTiveness and tolerability (PERMIT) study was a pooled analysis of data from 44 real-world studies from 17 countries, in which people with epilepsy (PWE; focal and generalized) were treated with perampanel (PER). Retention and effectiveness were assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months, and at the last visit (last observation carried forward). Effectiveness assessments included 50% responder rate (≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency from baseline) and seizure freedom rate (no seizures since at least the prior visit); in PWE with status epilepticus, response was defined as seizures under control. Safety and tolerability were assessed by evaluating adverse events (AEs) and discontinuation due to AEs. The Full Analysis Set included 5193 PWE. Retention, effectiveness and safety/tolerability were assessed in 4721, 4392 and 4617, respectively. Retention on PER treatment at 3, 6, and 12 months was 90.5%, 79.8%, and 64.2%, respectively. Mean retention time on PER treatment was 10.8 months. The 50% responder rate was 58.3% at 12 months and 50.0% at the last visit, and the corresponding seizure freedom rates were 23.2% and 20.5%, respectively; 52.7% of PWE with status epilepticus responded to PER treatment. Overall, 49.9% of PWE reported AEs and the most frequently reported AEs (≥ 5% of PWE) were dizziness/vertigo (15.2%), somnolence (10.6%), irritability (8.4%), and behavioral disorders (5.4%). At 12 months, 17.6% of PWEs had discontinued due to AEs. PERMIT demonstrated that PER is effective and generally well tolerated when used to treat people with focal and/or generalized epilepsy in everyday clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the temporal pattern of incidence of chronic conditions after developing breast cancer using a population-based national registry. We selected 84,969 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer between 2002 and 2016 and a 1:10 sample of age-matched non-breast cancer controls (N = 1,057,674). The main study exposure was incident breast cancer, considered as a time-varying exposure. The outcomes were incident cases of leukemia, endometrial cancer, myeloma, cardiomyopathy, osteoporosis, end stage renal disease (ESRD), pulmonary fibrosis, hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. The development of breast cancer was associated with a significantly increased risk of all outcomes analyzed except for ESRD and hypertension. The fully-adjusted risks of leukemia (HR 3.09; 95% CI 2.11–4.51), cardiomyopathy (HR 2.65; 95% CI 1.90–3.68), endometrial cancer (HR 3.53; 95% CI 2.76–4.53), hypothyroidism (HR 1.29; 95% CI 1.19–1.40), pulmonary fibrosis (HR 1.84; 95% CI 1.12–3.02), and hyperlipidemia (HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.20–1.28) remained significantly elevated after more than 5 years since diagnosis. Optimal care for breast cancer survivors requires close collaboration between oncologists and allied health care professionals to identify and manage the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with these chronic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the radiation dose‒toxicity relationship is important for local tumor control and patients' quality of life. We developed a first intuitive evaluation system that directly matches the three-dimensional (3D) dose distribution with the skin surface image of patients with radiation dermatitis (RD) to predict RD in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Using an RGB-D camera, 82 3D skin surface images (3DSSIs) were acquired from 19 patients who underwent radiotherapy. 3DSSI data acquired included 3D skin surface shape and optical imaging of the area where RD occurs. Surface registration between 3D skin dose (3DSD) and 3DSSI is performed using the iterative closest point algorithm, then reconstructed as a two-dimensional color image. The developed system successfully matched 3DSSI and 3DSD, and visualized the planned dose distribution onto the patient's RD image. The dose distribution pattern was consistent with the occurrence pattern of RD. This new approach facilitated the evaluation of the direct correlation between skin-dose distribution and RD and, therefore, provides a potential to predict the probability of RD and thereby decrease RD severity by enabling informed treatment decision making by physicians. However, the results need to be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the increasing ACW generation, asbestos detoxification and recycling technologies are required for environmental and economic reasons. Recently, microwave heat treatment is being considered an efficient method for ACW detoxification. In the present study, ACW is detoxified through a microwave heat treatment involving SiC plates. These plates absorb the microwaves and radiate the heat, thereby enhancing the heat treatment efficiency relative to those of existing methods, in which the microwave heat treatment method requires a temperature higher than 1100 °C. In the present study, thermochemical experiments were conducted by applying chemical additives during the microwave heat treatment. To determine the optimal heat treatment temperature based on the chemical added, the detoxification response of the ACW as a function of heat treatment was investigated for different chemical additives, and the crystal structure and microstructure changes were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. ACW was then detoxified by applying the optimal temperature derived for each chemical additive in microwave heat treatment involving SiC plates. According to the results, asbestos is eliminated in the ACW at 800 and 900 °C with magnesium chloride and sodium hydroxide, respectively, as the additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As sarcopenia research has been gaining emphasis, the need for quantification of abdominal muscle on computed tomography (CT) is increasing. Thus, a fully automated system to select L3 slice and segment muscle in an end-to-end manner is demanded. We aimed to develop a deep learning model (DLM) to select the L3 slice with consideration of anatomic variations and to segment cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of abdominal muscle and fat. Our DLM, named L3SEG-net, was composed of a YOLOv3-based algorithm for selecting the L3 slice and a fully convolutional network (FCN)-based algorithm for segmentation. The YOLOv3-based algorithm was developed via supervised learning using a training dataset (n = 922), and the FCN-based algorithm was transferred from prior work. Our L3SEG-net was validated with internal (n = 496) and external validation (n = 586) datasets. Ground truth L3 level CT slice and anatomic variation were identified by a board-certified radiologist. L3 slice selection accuracy was evaluated by the distance difference between ground truths and DLM-derived results. Technical success for L3 slice selection was defined when the distance difference was < 10 mm. Overall segmentation accuracy was evaluated by CSA error and DSC value. The influence of anatomic variations on DLM performance was evaluated. In the internal and external validation datasets, the accuracy of automatic L3 slice selection was high, with mean distance differences of 3.7 ± 8.4 mm and 4.1 ± 8.3 mm, respectively, and with technical success rates of 93.1% and 92.3%, respectively. However, in the subgroup analysis of anatomic variations, the L3 slice selection accuracy decreased, with distance differences of 12.4 ± 15.4 mm and 12.1 ± 14.6 mm, respectively, and with technical success rates of 67.2% and 67.9%, respectively. The overall segmentation accuracy of abdominal muscle areas was excellent regardless of anatomic variation, with CSA errors of 1.38–3.10 cm2. A fully automatic system was developed for the selection of an exact axial CT slice at the L3 vertebral level and the segmentation of abdominal muscle areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is one of the main abiotic stresses that cause major damage to plant growth and development. Plants activate a number of response mechanisms to increase tolerance to environmental stresses. To investigate the important components of cold stress signaling in plants, we identified a novel Arabidopsis thaliana gene, which encodes an leucine-rich repeat-only protein, AtLRRop2 (At2g20210), and demonstrated its role in the cold stress response. Amino acid sequence analysis of AtLRRop2 revealed the presence of four leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motifs that mediate protein–protein interactions. To determine the function of AtLRRop2 in cold stress response, we identified three independent T-DNA insertion mutants, atlrrop2-1, atlrrop2-2, and atlrrop2-3, and examined the transcript levels by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The results revealed that atlrrop2-1 and atlrrop2-2 are knockout mutants, while atlrrop2-3 is a knockdown mutant. All three mutants were more sensitive to cold stress than the wild type (Col-0), although atlrrop2-3 mutant plants were less sensitive to chilling and freezing temperatures than atlrrop2-1 and atlrrop2-2 plants. Taken together, these results suggest that AtLRRop2 plays an important role in cold stress signaling in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To systematically determine the inter-reader reliability of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS), with emphasis on its major features for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and LR-M (LI-RADS category M) features for non-HCC malignancy. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched from January 2016 to March 2021 to identify original articles reporting the inter-reader reliability of CEUS LI-RADS. Meta-analytic pooled kappa values (κ) were calculated for major features [nonrim arterial-phase hyperenhancement (APHE), mild and late washout], LR-M features (rim APHE, early washout), and LI-RADS categorization using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Meta-regression analysis was performed to explore any causes of study heterogeneity. Results: Twelve studies with a total of 2862 lesions were included. The meta-analytic pooled κ of nonrim APHE, mild and late washout, rim APHE, early washout, and LI-RADS categorization were 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67 − 0.79], 0.69 (95% CI, 0.54–0.84), 0.54 (95% CI, 0.37–0.71), 0.62 (95% CI, 0.45–0.79), and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.64–0.87), respectively. Compared with the major features, LR-M features had a lower meta-analytic pooled κ. Substantial study heterogeneity was noted in the LI-RADS categorization, and lesion size (p = 0.03) and the homogeneity in reader experience (p = 0.03) were significantly associated with study heterogeneity. Conclusions: CEUS LI-RADS showed substantial inter-reader reliability for major features and LI-RADS categorization, but relatively lower reliability was found for LR-M features. In our opinion, the definitions of imaging features require further refinement to improve the inter-reader reliability of CEUS LI-RADS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a deep learning–based model capable of detecting primary hepatic malignancies in multiphase CT images of patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 1350 multiphase CT scans of 1280 hepatic malignancies (1202 HCCs and 78 non-HCCs) in 1320 patients at high risk for HCC were retrospectively analyzed. Following the delineation of the focal hepatic lesions according to reference standards, the CT scans were categorized randomly into the training (568 scans), tuning (193 scans), and test (589 scans) sets. Multiphase CT information was subjected to multichannel integration, and livers were automatically segmented before model development. A deep learning–based model capable of detecting malignancies was developed using a mask region–based convolutional neural network. The thresholds of the prediction score and the intersection over union were determined on the tuning set corresponding to the highest sensitivity with < 5 false-positive cases per CT scan. The sensitivity and the number of false-positives of the proposed model on the test set were calculated. Potential causes of false-negatives and false-positives on the test set were analyzed. Results: This model exhibited a sensitivity of 84.8% with 4.80 false-positives per CT scan on the test set. The most frequent potential causes of false-negatives and false-positives were determined to be atypical enhancement patterns for HCC (71.7%) and registration/segmentation errors (42.7%), respectively. Conclusions: The proposed deep learning–based model developed to automatically detect primary hepatic malignancies exhibited an 84.8% of sensitivity with 4.80 false-positives per CT scan in the test set. Key Points: • Image processing, including multichannel integration of multiphase CT and automatic liver segmentation, enabled the application of a deep learning–based model to detect primary hepatic malignancy. • Our model exhibited a sensitivity of 84.8% with a false-positive rate of 4.80 per CT scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the excitonic processes at the interfaces of fluorescent π-conjugated molecules and metal electrodes is important for both fundamental studies and emerging applications. Adsorption configurations of molecules on metal surfaces significantly affect the physical characteristics of junctions as well as molecules. Here, the electronic structures and optical properties of molecular assemblies/Au interfaces were investigated using scanning probe and photoluminescence microscopy techniques. Scanning tunneling microscopy images and tunneling conductance spectra suggested that the self-assembled molecules were physisorbed on the Au surface. Visible-range photoluminescence studies showed that Au thin films modified the emission spectra and reduced the lifetime of excitons. Surface potential maps, obtained by Kelvin probe force microscopy, could visualize electron transfer from the molecules to Au under illumination, which could explain the decreased lifetime of excitons at the molecule/Au interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stasis weight ( G s ) that is an independent weight on applied input pulse amplitude was demonstrated for multinary data processing in a synaptic device-based neuromorphic system. Because multinary data is implemented as various input pulse amplitudes, the G s is necessary for high inference accuracy. Typically, synaptic devices exhibit nonlinear current–voltage characteristics (nonlinear device) and have different weight values depending on the applied input pulse amplitudes ( G ns ). Therefore, to achieve high inference accuracy, we proposed pulse modulation circuits that can transform the pulse amplitude into pulse width or number. As a result, the G s was obtained from the nonlinear device possessing the G ns , and the inference accuracy of the simulated MNIST data set was obviously improved from 29.34% to 97.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukapheresis is used for the mechanical removal of leukaemic cells in hyperleukocytosis. However, the effectiveness of leukapheresis remains unclear due to selection and confounding factors in the cohorts. We compared the effectiveness of leukapheresis among the subgroups according to either the 2016 World Health Organization classification or the number of cytogenetic abnormalities with a retrospective, single-centre study from January 2009 to December 2018. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, n = 212) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL, n = 97) were included. The 30-day survival rates (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) for AML and ALL were 86.3% (81.6–90.9%) and 94.8% (90.3–99.2%), respectively. For AML, 'primary AML with myelodysplasia-related changes' and 'AML with biallelic mutation of CEBPA' showed better 30-day survival outcomes (P = 0.026) than the other subgroups. A higher platelet count after leukapheresis was associated with better 30-day survival in AML patients (P = 0.029). A decrease in blast percentage count after leukapheresis was associated with better 30-day survival in ALL patients (P = 0.034). Our study suggested that prophylactic platelet transfusion to raise the platelet count to 50 × 109/L or greater might improve clinical outcome in AML patients undergoing leukapheresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]