Search

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and its receptor, nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, are localized in brain areas implicated in depression including the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, habenula, and monoaminergic nuclei in the brain stem. N/OFQ inhibits neuronal excitability of monoaminergic neurons and monoamine release from their terminals by activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K+ channels and inhibition of voltage sensitive calcium channels, respectively. Therefore, NOP receptor antagonists have been proposed as a potential antidepressant. Indeed, mounting evidence shows that NOP receptor antagonists have antidepressant-like effects in various preclinical animal models of depression, and recent clinical studies again confirmed the idea that blockade of NOP receptor signaling could provide a novel strategy for the treatment of depression. In this review, we describe the pharmacological effects of N/OFQ in relation to depression and explore the possible mechanism of NOP receptor antagonists as potential antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is considered the major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). Telomere shortening is associated with cellular senescence. In this regard, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of telomerase activity has been used to model cellular aging. Here, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology to instantly remove the telomere to induce aging in a neuroblastoma cell line. Expression of both Cas9 and guide RNA targeting telomere repeats ablated the telomere, leading to retardation of cell proliferation. Instant deletion of telomere in SH-SY5Y cells impaired mitochondrial function with diminished mitochondrial respiration and cell viability. Supporting the pathological relevance of cell aging by CRISPR-Cas9 mediated telomere removal, alterations were observed in the levels of PD-associated proteins including PTEN-induced putative kinase 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1-α, nuclear respiratory factor 1, parkin, and aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex interacting multifunctional protein 2. Significantly, α-synuclein expression in the background of telomere removal led to the enhancement of protein aggregation, suggesting positive feed-forward interaction between aging and PD pathogenesis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to efficiently model cellular aging and PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the effectiveness of using multi-functional correlation nanoscopy in investigating the optical and structural properties of nanostructures.

Protonic currents play a vital role in electrical signalling in living systems. It has been suggested that succinoglycan plays a specific role in alfalfa root nodule development, presumably acting as the signaling molecules. In this regard, charge transport and proton dynamics in the biopolymer exopolysaccharide succinoglycan have been studied by means of electrical measurements and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In particular, a dielectric dispersion in the system has revealed that the electrical conduction is protonic rather electronic. Besides, our laboratory- and rotating-frame ¹H NMR measurements have elucidated the nature of the protonic conduction, activation of the protonic motion being associated with a glass transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea catechin is one of the compounds that are closely related to obesity and insulin sensitivity. In order to determine the effect of catechin on adipocyte differentiation, we treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with different kinds of catechins. Our results showed that catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation and repressed the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in lipid synthesis. Furthermore, glucose and fatty acid transport were also suppressed by catechin. We then analyzed the activity of transcription factors—forkhead transcription factor class O1 (FoxO1) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP1c)—which are involved in adipocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis, respectively. The transcriptional activities of both these factors significantly decreased by EGCG. Western blot analysis revealed that EGCG induced the insulin signal-mediated phosphorylation of FoxO1 (Thr24, Ser256). These results suggest that EGCG suppresses the differentiation of adipocytes through the inactivation of FoxO1 and SREBP1c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cluster of oligonucleotide repeat sequences was identified that is linked to the melon ( Cucumis melo L.) andromonoecious ( a) locus, which controls andromonoecy. Six different repeat units, ranging from 11 to 49 base pairs, were clustered within a 0.6-kb intergenic region. The number of repeat units varied from two to six. After sequence analysis of diverse melon germplasms, four haplotypes of this cluster were identified. Length variations among the four haplotypes resulted from insertion or deletion of repeat sequences. Particularly, a tandem array of six repeats of 21 nucleotides was a hotspot for insertion/deletion mutations. A simple PCR-based marker was developed to identify haplotypes of this cluster based on the length polymorphism. In practice, this marker was successfully used in genetic purity tests of melon F1 hybrid cultivars. Four self-pollinated contaminants, which were confirmed by phenotypic examination in grow-out tests, were easily discriminated from 99 F1 hybrid individuals. In addition, the genetic distance between this marker and the andromonoecious ( a) locus was calculated as 7.9 cM, after analyzing melon F2 populations originating from a cross between monoecious and andromonoecious parental lines. Therefore, this marker will be useful as a recombinant selection marker in marker-assisted backcrossing of monoecy in melon breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male-sterile (MS) radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) was found in an accession collected from Uzbekistan. Unlike Ogura MS radishes in which no pollen grain is typically visible during anthesis, a small number of pollen grains stuck together in the dehiscing anthers was observed in the newly identified MS radish. Fluorescein diacetate tests and scanning electron micrographs showed that pollen grains in the new MS radish were severely deformed and non-viable. Cytological examination of pollen development stages showed a clear difference in the defective stage from that seen in Ogura male-sterility. Reciprocal cross-pollination with diverse male-fertile lines indicated that pollen grains of the new MS radish were completely sterile, and the female organs were fully fertile. When the new MS radish and Ogura MS lines were cross-pollinated with a set of eight breeding lines, all F1 progeny originating from crosses with the new MS radish were male-sterile. In contrast, most of the F1 progeny resulting from crosses with Ogura MS lines were male-fertile. These results demonstrated that factors associated with induction of the newly identified male-sterility are different from those of Ogura male-sterility. The lack of restorer lines for the newly identified male-sterility led us to predict that it might be a complete cytoplasmic male-sterility without restorer-of-fertility genes in nuclear genomes. However, cross-pollination with more diverse radish germplasm identified one accession introduced from Russia that could completely restore fertility, proving the existence of restorer-of-fertility gene(s) for the new male-sterility. Meanwhile, the PCR amplification profile of molecular markers for the classification of radish mitochondrial genome types revealed that the new MS radish contained a novel mitotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies showed that monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) concentrations are increased in obesity. In our current study, we demonstrate that plasma MCP-1 level in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice is significantly higher than in lean mice. Furthermore, we determined that basal adipose tissue MCP-1 mRNA levels are significantly higher in ob/ob mice compared with lean mice. To determine the mechanisms underlying obesity-associated increases in plasma and adipose tissue MCP-1 levels, we determined adipose tissue cell type sources of MCP-1 production. Our data show that adipose tissue stem cells (CD34+), macrophages (F4/80+), and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells express significantly higher levels of MCP-l compared with adipocytes under both basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated conditions. Furthermore, basal and LPS-induced MCP-1 secretion levels were the same for both adipose F4/80+ and CD34+ cells, whereas adipose CD34+ cells have twofold higher cell numbers (30% of total SVF cells) compared with F4/80+ macrophages (15%). Our data also show that CD34+ cells from visceral adipose tissue depots secrete significantly higher levels of MCP-1 ex vivo when compared with CD34+ cells from subcutaneous adipose tissue depots. Taken together, our data suggest that adipose CD34+ stem cells may play an important role in obesity-associated increases in plasma MCP-1 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional platinum (Pt) or emerging materials for the counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been fabricated on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. In this study, carbon paper with three-dimensional (3D) carbon fiber networks, which is highly porous, but has sufficient space for efficient transportation of electrolytes, is used in replace of the conventional heavy, rigid and expensive FTO/glass substrate in DSSC CEs. To prove the advantages of these highly conductive carbon paper electrodes, a thin poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) film is uniformly coated on the surface of 3D carbon paper via a chemical polymerization method. The catalytic properties of the PEDOT/carbon paper as the CE in a DSSC are studied using cyclic voltammetry,J-V, and IPCE measurements. Interestingly, the PEDOT/carbon paper CE exhibits better functionality as a CE for tri-iodide reduction as compared to conventional Pt/FTO-based CEs. The controlled DSSC with a PEDOT/carbon paper CE exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 8.05% under 100 mW·cm-2illumination, which is higher than that of conventional DSSCs with standard Pt/FTO CEs (7.41%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased adipose tissue positively correlates with circulating inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. We previously reported that adipose stem cells from genetically obese ob/ob mice produce significantly higher levels of IL-6 compared with other cell types such as adipocytes and macrophages within adipose tissue. We also demonstrated that (n-3) PUFA have anti-inflammatory effects on adipocyte IL-6 secretion. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that EPA 120:5 (n-3)] and stearidonic acid ESDA, 18:4 (n-3)1 would decrease LPS (200 μg/L)-induced IL-6 secretion and IL-6 mRNA content in the adipose stem cells. SDA (100 μmol/L) and EPA (100 μmol/L) significantly reduced LPS-induced IL-S secretion and decreased I L-6 mRNA expression. To determine the underlying intracellular mechanisms, we tested whether LPS-induced Toll-like-receptor (TLR) 4 and TLR2 expression were modulated by these fatty acids using Western-blot analysis. EPA and SDA suppressed LPS-induced TLR2 but not TLR4 protein expression in the adipose stem cells. Furthermore, SDA and EPA significantly lowered the activation and translocation of NE-κB, a TLR2 downstream signaling target, while protein expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinases-1/2 were unaffected. Collectively, our results suggest that EPA and SDA inhibit [PS-induced l[-6 secretion and IL-6 mRNA expression in the adipose stem cells by decreasing TRL2-mediated signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses recently released data from the 2020 Census, along with earlier censuses, to document the geographic spread of several signature dimensions of rural demographic change over the past three decades. These include depopulation, deaths, diversity, and deprivation—the 4Ds—which are now reshaping rural America, perhaps as never before. Rural America is at a crossroads. Since 1990, nonmetro counties have diverged along two tracks, one marked by population growth and renewal, the other by stagnation and lagging economic growth. We show that urbanization is a marker of rural demographic success, and that many nonmetro counties have been left behind in today’s metropolitan and global economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wernicke encephalopathy, also known as thiamine deficiency, is characterized by a triad of symptoms: ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and confusion. However, additional symptoms may manifest depending on the area affected by the lesion. Although multiple cranial neuropathies are possible, sudden onset bilateral hearing loss has been described in rare situations as the first manifestation of Wernicke encephalopathy. Here, we present a case report detailing the clinical experience of a patient diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy, whose initial presentation included sudden bilateral deafness. The patient was a 57-year-old man with alcoholism who was successfully diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy, and his hearing improved after high-dose intravenous thiamine therapy. Our case study results and a literature review indicate that video findings and suppression head impulse tests can be used to evaluate Wernicke encephalopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridine derivatives are fundamental in fields such as organic chemistry, materials science, and pharmaceuticals, largely due to their versatile electronic properties. Fluorination of pyridine significantly alters these properties, yet the specific effects of the position and number of fluorine atoms on valence orbitals and cationic structures remain not fully understood. This study examines the impact of fluorine substitution on the valence orbitals and cationic structures of various pyridine derivatives, with a particular emphasis on 2,6-difluoropyridine (2,6-DFP). Using high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet mass-analysed threshold ionisation (VUV-MATI) spectroscopy, the adiabatic ionisation energy of 2,6-DFP was determined to be 78 365 ± 3 cm−1 (9.7160 ± 0.0004 eV). Franck–Condon simulations were conducted to interpret the VUV-MATI spectra, providing detailed insights into the molecular structure and vibrational modes of the cationic form. The analysis indicated a symmetry shift from C2V to C1 upon ionisation, highlighted by the presence of out-of-plane ring-bending modes. Natural bond orbital analysis identified the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and HOMO−1 as π-orbitals, with HOMO−2 being a nonbonding orbital. The introduction of two ortho-fluorine substitutions in 2,6-DFP significantly influenced this electronic configuration, stabilising the nonbonding orbital through interactions with the two fluorine σ-type lone pairs. This stabilisation notably altered the valence orbital ordering compared to that of 2-fluoropyridine, resulting in a substantial difference in the binding energies between the HOMO and HOMO−1. This research provides a deeper understanding of how halogen substitution affects the electronic properties of pyridine derivatives, promoting research in the field of physical chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to establish evaluation criteria for selecting suitable scintillators by investigating how inorganic scintillators respond to particle radiation, particularly electron beams. We conducted a radiation tolerance study of inorganic scintillators irradiated with a 6 MeV electron beam, examining factors such as beam energy, radiation dose, crystallinity, and operating environment. The energy spectral performance revealed a dose‐dependent decrease in the relative light outputs and energy resolutions of Lu3Al5O12:Pr (LuAG:Pr) and Gd2Si2O7:Ce (GPS:Ce) when irradiated with a 137Cs radioactive source, indicating a reduced radiation detection efficiency. After exposure to a 3 kGy dose of electron beam, the relative light outputs of these scintillators reduced to 66.2% and 56.9%, respectively. In contrast, Lu2−xYxSiO5:Pr and Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce maintained their spectral performances after electron beam irradiation. Changes in the surface microstructure due to surface defects and the formation of color centers in bulk sites, induced by electron beam irradiation, hinder scintillation light detection and transmission, highlighting the importance of defect mitigation strategies and selection of suitable scintillators for radiation detection systems. Transmittance measurements of LuAG:Pr and GPS:Ce demonstrated that with increasing radiation dose, their optical performances and photoluminescence intensities decreased, indicating the impact of defects on light collection efficiency. In addition, their reduced thermoluminescence intensity confirmed that the irradiated electron beam‐induced changes in the defect density within the scintillators. These results suggest that scintillators for medical and aerospace applications should be selected based on their operating environmental conditions. Further studies on defect behavior and its effect on scintillation properties will guide the advancement of radiation detection technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a high surface area sensor composed of Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) embedded within porous ZnO nanofibers (NFs), exhibiting a notable response to acetone. Initially, we synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) NFs containing zinc and cobalt salts via a simple electrospinning method. Subsequently, the calcination of the PVP NFs resulted in the formation of Co3O4 NPs embedded within the porous ZnO NFs. The heterostructure material demonstrated a significant response to 100 ppm acetone detection, with a ratio of electrical resistance in air (Ra) to that in the presence of gas (Rg) reaching 111 at its optimal operating temperature of 275 °C. Furthermore, it exhibited stable performance under high relative humidity conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, tin oxide (SnO2)/polyaniline (PANI) composite nanowires (NWs) with varying amounts of PANI were synthesized for carbon dioxide (CO2) gas sensing at room temperature (RT, 25 °C). SnO2 NWs were fabricated via the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) method, followed by coating with PANI. CO2 sensing investigations revealed that the sensor with 186 μL PANI exhibited the highest response to CO2 at RT. Additionally, the optimized sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity for CO2, long-term stability, and reliable performance across different humidity levels. The enhanced sensing performance of the optimized sensor was attributed to the formation of SnO2-PANI heterojunctions and the optimal PANI concentration. This study underscores the potential of SnO2-PANI composites for CO2 detection at RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) devices based on halide perovskites have recently emerged as a new class of data storage devices, where the switching materials used in these devices have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Thus far, three-dimensional (3D) halide perovskites have been the most investigated materials for resistive switching memory devices. However, 3D-based memory devices display ON/OFF ratios comparable to those of oxide or chalcogenide ReRAM devices. In addition, perovskite materials are susceptible to exposure to air. Herein, we compare the resistive switching characteristics of ReRAM devices based on a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskite, (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13, to those based on 3D CsPbI3. Astonishingly, the ON/OFF ratio of the (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13-based memory devices (109) is three orders of magnitude higher than that of the CsPbI3 device, which is attributed to a decrease in the high-resistance state (HRS) current of the former. This device also retained a high ON/OFF current ratio for 2 weeks under ambient conditions, whereas the CsPbI3 device degraded rapidly and showed unreliable memory properties after 5 days. These results strongly suggest that quasi-2D halide perovskites have potential in resistive switching memory based on their desirable ON/OFF ratio and long-term stability. Memory technology: Organic tricks improve stability A type of computer memory that stores data by changing the resistance of insulating crystals can be made more durable with organic chemical additives. Resistive memory devices constructed from inorganic crystals known as halide perovskites are inexpensive and have minimal power requirements. However, they can degrade quickly in humid conditions. Hyojung Kim from Seoul National University in South Korea and colleagues now report that these stability issues can be improved by sandwiching thin layers of aromatic hydrocarbons between halide perovskite crystals. The water-repelling nature of the organic molecules helps double the lifespan of the new hybrid compared to an unmodified halide perovskite device. In addition, the organic layers augment the differences between 'ON' and 'OFF' resistive memory states, making device operation more reliable. ReRAM devices based on halide perovskites have recently emerged as a new class of data storage device, where the switching materials used in these devices have attracted huge attention in recent years. In this study, we compare the resistive switching characteristics of ReRAM devices based on a quasi-2D halide perovskite, (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13, to those based on 3D CsPbI3. Astonishingly, the ON/OFF ratio of the (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13-based memory devices was much higher than that of the CsPbI3 device. Also this device retained a high ON/OFF current ratio for two weeks under ambient conditions, whereas the CsPbI3 device degraded rapidly and showed unreliable memory properties after five days. We strongly believe that quasi-2D halide perovskites have potential in resistive switching memory based on their high ON/OFF ratio and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) devices based on halide perovskites have recently emerged as a new class of data storage devices, where the switching materials used in these devices have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Thus far, three-dimensional (3D) halide perovskites have been the most investigated materials for resistive switching memory devices. However, 3D-based memory devices display ON/OFF ratios comparable to those of oxide or chalcogenide ReRAM devices. In addition, perovskite materials are susceptible to exposure to air. Herein, we compare the resistive switching characteristics of ReRAM devices based on a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskite, (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13, to those based on 3D CsPbI3. Astonishingly, the ON/OFF ratio of the (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13-based memory devices (109) is three orders of magnitude higher than that of the CsPbI3 device, which is attributed to a decrease in the high-resistance state (HRS) current of the former. This device also retained a high ON/OFF current ratio for 2 weeks under ambient conditions, whereas the CsPbI3 device degraded rapidly and showed unreliable memory properties after 5 days. These results strongly suggest that quasi-2D halide perovskites have potential in resistive switching memory based on their desirable ON/OFF ratio and long-term stability.Memory technology: Organic tricks improve stability A type of computer memory that stores data by changing the resistance of insulating crystals can be made more durable with organic chemical additives. Resistive memory devices constructed from inorganic crystals known as halide perovskites are inexpensive and have minimal power requirements. However, they can degrade quickly in humid conditions. Hyojung Kim from Seoul National University in South Korea and colleagues now report that these stability issues can be improved by sandwiching thin layers of aromatic hydrocarbons between halide perovskite crystals. The water-repelling nature of the organic molecules helps double the lifespan of the new hybrid compared to an unmodified halide perovskite device. In addition, the organic layers augment the differences between ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’ resistive memory states, making device operation more reliable.ReRAM devices based on halide perovskites have recently emerged as a new class of data storage device, where the switching materials used in these devices have attracted huge attention in recent years. In this study, we compare the resistive switching characteristics of ReRAM devices based on a quasi-2D halide perovskite, (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13, to those based on 3D CsPbI3. Astonishingly, the ON/OFF ratio of the (PEA)2Cs3Pb4I13-based memory devices was much higher than that of the CsPbI3 device. Also this device retained a high ON/OFF current ratio for two weeks under ambient conditions, whereas the CsPbI3 device degraded rapidly and showed unreliable memory properties after five days. We strongly believe that quasi-2D halide perovskites have potential in resistive switching memory based on their high ON/OFF ratio and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites have gained much attention lately owing to their excellent optoelectronic properties, chemical tunability, and environmental stability. Multiple methods have been devised to synthesize high quality 2D perovskite single crystals, and recent progress in fabricating its heterostructures is notable as well. In particular, with growing interest in 2D van der Waals heterostructures, 2D perovskites have become a strong candidate as a new building block for heterostructures to reveal unique physical properties across different interfaces. Until now, various heterostructure devices of 2D perovskite single crystals with other types of 2D materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and graphene have been studied, which have shown intriguing results including interlayer excitons and enhanced electronic properties. Here, we introduce various synthetic approaches to realize 2D perovskite single crystals and unique characteristics of their single crystal heterostructures fabricated with precision, possessing sharp interfaces. Moreover, recent studies of semiconductor devices based on 2D perovskite single crystal heterostructures are discussed in-depth. New perspectives to further the horizon in the field of 2D perovskite heterostructures are suggested in this work including the consideration of metal–2D material van der Waals contact, application of dry transfer techniques, electric bias driven ion diffusion studies, and nanocrystal array fabrication. 2D perovskite heterostructure single crystal devices factoring in these novel perspectives will further uncover the true potential of these materials for highly efficient and stable semiconductor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous pure SnO2 nanofibers (NFs) and La2O3 nanoparticles (NPs)-embedded porous SnO2 NFs were successfully synthesized via electrospinning followed by calcination. These materials were systematically evaluated as gas-sensing elements in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) sensors. The La2O3 NPs embedded in porous SnO2 NFs demonstrated superior gas-sensing performance compared to pure SnO2 NFs. Specifically, the incorporation of La2O3 resulted in a 12-fold enhancement in gas-sensing response towards ethanol, significantly improving both sensitivity and selectivity by tuning the carrier concentration and modifying oxygen deficiencies and chemisorbed oxygen levels. Thus, La2O3 NPs embedded in SnO2 NFs present a promising strategy for the development of high-performance ethanol gas sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistive switching (RS) memory devices are gaining recognition as data storage devices due to the significant interest in their switching material, Halide perovskite (HP). The electrical characteristics include hysteresis in its current–voltage (I–V) relationship. It can be attributed to the production and migration of defects. This property allows HPs to be used as RS materials in memory devices. However, 3D HPs are vulnerable to moisture and the surrounding environment, making their devices more susceptible to deterioration. The potential of two-dimensional (2D)/quasi-2D HPs for optoelectronic applications has been recognized, making them a viable alternative to address current restrictions. Two-dimensional/quasi-2D HPs are created by including extended organic cations into the ABX3 frameworks. By adjusting the number of HP layers, it is possible to control the optoelectronic properties to achieve specific features for certain applications. This article presents an overview of 2D/quasi-2D HPs, including their structures, binding energies, and charge transport, compared to 3D HPs. Next, we discuss the operational principles, RS modes (bipolar and unipolar switching), in RS memory devices. Finally, there have been notable and recent breakthroughs in developing RS memory systems using 2D/quasi-2D HPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many manufacturing industries today are adopting sustainable production methods in response to environmental regulations and efforts. One of the typical criteria they consider is the United Nations has set global objectives (Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs) designed to address various social, economic, and environmental challenges. "Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns" (Goal 12) is one of these goals. As a result, not only are manufacturers interested in sustainable products, but consumers are also showing increased interest. Consequently, the market size for sustainable products is also on the rise. This study aims to examine the mechanisms of how to improve customer loyalty of South Korean consumers who have experience purchasing sustainable apparel to vitalize the sustainable product market in Korea. Specifically, this study reveals the impact of perceived value (PV) on loyalty (LY), focusing on the mediating effects of satisfaction (SAT) and trust (TR). The analysis finds that functional value (FV), emotional value (EMV), and green value (GV) have significant direct effects on LY. Additionally, SAT and TR have significant mediating effects between PV and LY, and there is no difference in the strength of the indirect effects of SAT and TR in the relationship between FV, EMV, GV, and LY. This study extends the theoretical background of the mechanisms enhancing loyalty to sustainable apparel through the verification of parallel mediating effects. Furthermore, it is expected that these insights will serve as a direction for the operational strategies of sustainable apparel manufacturing companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the effectiveness of traffic-boosting mobile coupons through a randomized field experiment of over half a million South Korean consumers. The research question analyzes the effectiveness of the content (six message types) and context (three days out of the week for coupon distribution) of mobile coupons on response-to-coupon, store visits, and purchase amount for a health and beauty retail chain. Big data on individual customers, gathered from a field experiment, was analyzed through bivariate probit, mediation analysis, and tobit regression. The results show that message content affects store visits, which was fully mediated through response-to-coupon. In particular, messages that "made the amount of discount salient" and "formed a personal connection" were more effective than other messages. In terms of context, messages sent during the weekdays were more effective in increasing store visit, than those sent during the weekend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a phase-field dislocation dynamics (PFDD) model informed by first-principle calculations to elucidate the competitive dislocation nucleation and propagation between the glide and shuffle sets in InSb diamond cubic crystal. The calculations are directly informed with generalized stacking fault energy curves on the (111) slip plane for both the "glide set," with the smaller interplanar spacing, and the "shuffle set," with the larger interplanar spacing. The formulation also includes elastic anisotropy and the gradient term associated with the dislocation core. The PFDD calculations show that under no stress the equilibrium structure of screw glide set dislocations dissociates into Shockley partials, while those of the shuffle set dislocations do not dissociate, remaining compact. The calculated dislocation core widths of these InSb dislocations agree well with the measured values for other semiconductor materials, such as Si and GaN. We find that a shuffle set dislocation emits from a dislocation source at an applied stress about three times smaller than that needed to emit leading and trailing partials successively on the glide set plane. Once the partial dislocations in the glide set are emitted, they propagate faster than the shuffle set perfect dislocation at the same stress level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common haematological cancer worldwide. Along with related diseases including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) and plasmacytoma, MM incidence is rising, yet it remains incurable and represents a significant disease burden. Clinical registries can provide important information on management and outcomes, and are vital platforms for clinical trials and other research. The Asia–Pacific Myeloma and Related Diseases Registry (APAC MRDR) was developed to monitor and explore variation in epidemiology, treatment regimens and their impact on clinical outcomes across this region. Here we describe the registry's design and development, initial data, progress and future plans. Methods: The APAC MRDR was established in 2018 as a multicentre collaboration across the Asia–Pacific, collecting prospective data on patients newly diagnosed with MM, MGUS, PCL and plasmacytoma in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, with China recently joining. Development of the registry required a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, legal and information technology support, and financial resources, as well as local clinical context from key opinion leaders in the APAC region. Written informed consent is obtained and data are routinely collected throughout treatment by hospital staff. Data are stored securely, meeting all local privacy and ethics requirements. Data were collected from October 2018 to March 2024. Results: Over 1700 patients from 24 hospitals have been enrolled onto the APAC MRDR to date, with the majority (86%) being newly diagnosed with MM. Bortezomib with an immunomodulatory drug was most frequently used in first-line MM therapy, and lenalidomide-based therapy was most common in second-line. Establishment and implementation challenges include regulatory and a range of operational issues. Conclusion: The APAC MRDR is providing 'real-world' data to participating sites, clinicians and policy-makers to explore factors influencing outcomes and survival, and to support high quality studies. It is already a valuable resource that will continue to grow and support research and clinical collaboration in MM and related diseases across the APAC region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now in its 61st year, Display Week has the highest number of papers submitted for the technical symposium in its recent history. Attendees will be greeted with cutting‐edge presentations, technologies, and other signature features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the remarkable choices for active smart window technology is adopting a metal active layer via reversible metal electrodeposition (RME). As the metal layer efficiently blocks the solar energy gain, even a hundred-nanometer-thick scale, RME-based smart window has great attention. Recent developments are mainly focused on the various cases of electrolyte components and composition meeting technological standards. As metal nanostructures formed through the RME process involve plasmonic phenomena, advanced analysis, including plasmonic optics, which is beyond Beer–Lambert's law, should be considered. However, as there is a lack of debates on the plasmonic optics applied to RME smart window technology, as research is mainly conducted through an exhaustive process. In this paper, in order to provide insight into the RME-based smart window development and alleviate the unclear part of plasmonic optics applied to the field, finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic simulations are conducted. In total, two extremely low-quality (Cr) and high-quality (Mg) plasmonic materials based on a nanoparticle array are considered as a metal medium. In addition, optical effects caused by the metal active layer, electrolyte, and nanoparticle embedment are investigated in detail. Overall simulations suggest that the effective refractive index is a decisive factor in the performance of RME-based smart windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-Schmid effects in a representative refractory multi-principal element alloy (MPEA), MoNbTi, are investigated using molecular statics (MS) and phase field dislocation dynamics (PFDD). In addition to imposing a statistical distribution for the energetic barrier to slip, incorporating properties of the screw dislocation core is critical in capturing the wide range of MS-predicted non-Schmid effects. PFDD energy terms are enhanced to better capture the varying screw dislocation core-widths under loading as informed by MS. These enhancements demonstrate that incorporating the details of screw dislocation cores, in different chemical environments, has the strongest effect on representing the MS-predicted range of non-Schmid effects. Impact Statement Varying degrees of non-Schmid effects, unique to refractory MPEAs, are studied for the first time using atomistic and mesoscale models and are shown to result from environment-dependent properties of screw dislocation cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous monitoring of bio/physiological signals will play an essential role in personalized, patient‐centric medicine in the future healthcare industry. One of the challenges involves providing a sustainable, energy‐efficient operation for long‐term monitoring devices. The current technology based on power sources requires periodic replacement. Here, a hybrid film composed of a layer of piezoelectric nanowire (PVDFHFP) and a layer of microgel (pNIPAM‐APBA) is presented that continuously monitors glucose, does not rely on enzymes, is self‐charging, and decouples changes in read‐out signals due to glucose detection from the force is applied to activate self‐charging. By characterizing self‐charging/discharging properties, the operation and sensing mechanism for the nanowire/microgel hybrid film are proposed. A reasonable sensitivity of 70 mV mm−1 with a high linearity value of R2 = 0.9956 is observed. This work demonstrates the potential for use in a self‐charging wearable platform that enables continuous monitoring of bio/physiological signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been significantly improved by utilizing an inorganic hole-transporting layer (HTL), such as nickel oxide. Despite the promising properties, there are still limitations due to defects. Recently, research on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is being actively conducted, which shows promise in reducing defects and enhancing device performance. In this study, we successfully engineered a p-i-n perovskite solar cell structure utilizing HC-A1 and HC-A4 molecules. These SAM molecules were found to enhance the grain morphology and uniformity of the perovskite film, which are critical factors in determining optical properties and device performance. Notably, HC-A4 demonstrated superior performance due to its distinct hydrophilic properties with a contact angle of 50.3°, attributable to its unique functional groups. Overall, the HC-A4-applied film exhibited efficient carrier extraction properties, attaining a carrier lifetime of 117.33 ns. Furthermore, HC-A4 contributed to superior device performance, achieving the highest device efficiency of 20% and demonstrating outstanding thermal stability over 300 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic, federal spending on government safety net programs in the United States increased dramatically. Despite this unparalleled spending, government safety nets were widely critiqued for failing to fully meet many households' needs. Disaster research suggests that informal modes of social support often emerge during times of disruption, such as the first year of the pandemic. However, use of formal government programs and informal support are rarely examined relative to each other, resulting in an incomplete picture of how households navigate disaster impacts and financial shocks. This study compares estimates of informal social support to formal government program use in the rural U.S. West, drawing on data from a rapid response survey fielded during the summer of 2020 and the 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS‐ASEC). We find that informal social support systems were, on aggregate, used almost as extensively as long‐standing government programs. Our findings highlight the critical role of person‐to‐person assistance, such as sharing financial resources, among rural households during a disruptive disaster period. Routine and standardized data collection on these informal support behaviors could improve future disaster research and policy responses, especially among rural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protoheme (hereafter referred to as heme) is an essential cellular cofactor and signaling molecule that is also potentially cytotoxic. To mitigate heme toxicity, heme synthesis and degradation are tightly coupled to heme utilization in order to limit the intracellular concentration of "free" heme. Such a model, however, would suggest that a readily accessible steady-state, bioavailable labile heme (LH) pool is not required for supporting heme-dependent processes. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model and fluorescent heme sensors, site-specific heme chelators, and molecular genetic approaches, we found here that 1) yeast cells preferentially use LH in heme-depleted conditions; 2) sequestration of cytosolic LH suppresses heme signaling; and 3) lead (Pb2+) stress contributes to a decrease in total heme, but an increase in LH, which correlates with increased heme signaling. We also observed that the proteasome is involved in the regulation of the LH pool and that loss of proteasomal activity sensitizes cells to Pb2+ effects on heme homeostasis. Overall, these findings suggest an important role for LH in supporting heme-dependent functions in yeast physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylation patterns in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) have emerged as a promising genomic feature for detecting the presence of cancer and determining its origin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion followed by sequencing (MRE-Seq) using cfDNA, and to investigate the cancer signal origin (CSO) of the cancer using a deep neural network (DNN) analyses for liquid biopsy of colorectal and lung cancer. We developed a selective MRE-Seq method with DNN learning-based prediction model using demethylated-sequence-depth patterns from 63,266 CpG sites using SacII enzyme digestion. A total of 191 patients with stage I–IV cancers (95 lung cancers and 96 colorectal cancers) and 126 noncancer participants were enrolled in this study. Our study showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.978 with a sensitivity of 78.1% for colorectal cancer, and an AUC of 0.956 with a sensitivity of 66.3% for lung cancer, both at a specificity of 99.2%. For colorectal cancer, sensitivities for stages I–IV ranged from 76.2 to 83.3% while for lung cancer, sensitivities for stages I–IV ranged from 44.4 to 78.9%, both again at a specificity of 99.2%. The CSO model's true-positive rates were 94.4% and 89.9% for colorectal and lung cancers, respectively. The MRE-Seq was found to be a useful method for detecting global hypomethylation patterns in liquid biopsy samples and accurately diagnosing colorectal and lung cancers, as well as determining CSO of the cancer using DNN analysis. Trial registration: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT 04253509) for lung cancer on 5 February 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04253509. Colorectal cancer samples were retrospectively registered at CRIS (Clinical Research Information Service, registration number: KCT0008037) on 23 December 2022, https://cris.nih.go.kr, https://who.init/ictrp. Healthy control samples were retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on children's mental health worldwide. Existing studies suggest that children with greater levels of hope are more likely to be resilient in the face of disaster. While social support at the family and community level is proposed as an important factor in sustaining and fostering hope, the children of underprivileged households in developing countries tend to lack this support. We investigate whether development projects run by international NGOs are able to fill this gap and help children to remain hopeful during the pandemic. Using original survey data from 834 children in adolescence (aged between 10 and 18) in Kenya and Zambia, we show that children participating in Good Neighbors' child sponsorship programs and community development projects exhibit higher scores on the Children's Hope Scale than do non-participating children. These projects appear to foster hope by providing emotional and informational support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Early lung cancer detection is vital. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables cell-free DNA (cfDNA) liquid biopsy to detect genetic changes, such as copy number variations (CNVs). Recent machine learning (ML) analyses using cancer markers can identify anomalies, and developing methods based on ML for patient big data analysis is crucial for predicting cancer. We analyzed blood samples of 92 lung cancer patients and 80 healthy individuals, detecting significant differences in cancer markers, cfDNA concentrations, and CNV screening. Here, we used three algorithms of ML, such as Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Logistic Regression (LR). ML analysis using cancer markers, cell-free DNA, and CNV individually exhibited relatively low discriminative power between cancer patients and healthy individuals. However, integrating multi-omics data into ML significantly improved accuracy, suggesting potential for precise cancer diagnosis. This study suggests the prospect of effectively distinguishing and diagnosing lung cancer from healthy individuals through blood-based ML analysis. Early detection of lung cancer is crucial for patient survival and treatment. Recent advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis enable cell-free DNA (cfDNA) liquid biopsy to detect changes, like chromosomal rearrangements, somatic mutations, and copy number variations (CNVs), in cancer. Machine learning (ML) analysis using cancer markers is a highly promising tool for identifying patterns and anomalies in cancers, making the development of ML-based analysis methods essential. We collected blood samples from 92 lung cancer patients and 80 healthy individuals to analyze the distinction between them. The detection of lung cancer markers Cyfra21 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in blood revealed significant differences between patients and controls. We performed machine learning analysis to obtain AUC values via Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Logistic Regression (LR) using cancer markers, cfDNA concentrations, and CNV screening. Furthermore, combining the analysis of all multi-omics data for ML showed higher AUC values compared with analyzing each element separately, suggesting the potential for a highly accurate diagnosis of cancer. Overall, our results from ML analysis using multi-omics data obtained from blood demonstrate a remarkable ability of the model to distinguish between lung cancer and healthy individuals, highlighting the potential for a diagnostic model against lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sparsely populated rural areas are susceptible to high levels of error in their data, making it difficult to examine patterns and trends across geographies. This article aims to advance research methods for rural researchers by offering guidelines for navigating high levels of error associated with the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS presents a useful source of U.S. community level data for rural researchers to utilize in school–community research but not without its difficulties. The small population sizes of rural communities often translate to large margins of error in the data, presenting a degree of uncertainty in the actual measure. To illustrate challenges and best practice, the author conducts a case study of the relationship between the presence of schools and economic vitality of rural communities in Indiana using ACS data. The author demonstrates how to examine the error in the data, introduces options to reduce uncertainty, and ultimately, explains how to move forward with the data, working with the margin of error and acknowledging its presence in the analysis and results. This article offers suggestions and techniques to assist rural researchers in navigating ACS obstacles so that they might produce transparent results with as little uncertainty as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a bold, comprehensive industrial policy that awards extensive subsidy to expedite the clean energy transition and inspire innovation. The final assembly provision of the IRA requires that an electric vehicle (EV) must be assembled with all necessary parts in North America to qualify for $7,500 tax credit. This domestic production requirement spurred a full-scale trade dispute and led foreign governments and automakers to vigorously lobby Washington, D.C. for an exemption. South Korea's economic diplomacy serves as a particularly informative case study of a foreign government's lobbying efforts to exert influence throughout the U.S. legislative and rulemaking process. Although the final assembly requirement engendered a national political crisis in Seoul, the country was forced to rule out mounting a legal challenge against the IRA through the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body, due to its lack of a functional Appellate Body and chronic delays in proceedings. Amidst the mounting opposition to the final assembly requirement from crucial U.S. allies, the Biden administration was also presented with a unique dilemma throughout the Department of the Treasury rulemaking for the IRA: should it honor the unambiguous text or find creative interpretive strategies to make concessions to its allies' demands? This Note shows that the IRA has led governments to question the role of the free trade principles and instead turn to ad hoc political agreements--as opposed to WTO litigation--for trade dispute resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a photovoltaic-based electrical panel available in different colors. The working electrode of the cell consists of a Pd-doped ZnO nanocomposite. UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Incident Photon-to-Current Conversion Efficiency (IPEC) techniques characterized nanoparticles so synthesized. XRD results revealed that the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO remains constant by doping with different molarity concentrations of Pd. The TEM result suggested that the particle featured a spherical shape with uniform distribution over the surface of ZnO. The effect of the thickness of semiconducting layers at the photoanode shows that photocurrent density stopped increasing and became constant for samples doped with 0.46 M Pd. On the other hand, the photocurrent density of the network cell gave a linear increase for samples doped with natural dye, contributing to the enhanced performance of the DSSC. It is about the thickness of the photoanode choice of chemical and natural dye that makes a difference with other solar cells synthesized by different methods. The electricity produced by our synthesized solar cell possibly allows us to harvest with a safe and power output conversion efficiency of 11.92% in real-time without interruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]