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Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, major classes of immune checkpoint inhibitors, are increasingly prescribed for different cancers. Data from Asian cohorts have been sparse [1], especially on the liver immune-related adverse effects [2]. We examined patients receiving PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors until 31 August 2020 in Hong Kong. The methods are detailed in Supplementary Methods. A list of PD-1 and PD-L1 drugs and ICD-9 codes are listed in Supplementary Tables S1 and S2, respectively. Propensity score matching between PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitor users (1:3) with nearest neighbour search strategy was carried out. Initially, 2426 cancer patients were identified (Supplementary Figure S1). After exclusion, 1735 patients were included (64.78% males, median age 63.5 years old; PD-1 inhibitors: n = 1341, PD-L1 inhibitors: n = 394) (Supplementary Table S3). On follow-up (median: 262 days), 1120 patients died (64.5%) and 33 patients showed grade 3/4 hepatitis (1.90%) after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment. In the matched cohort, PD-L1 inhibitor use was associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.20, P = 0.0149) and grade 3/4 hepatitis (hazard ratio 3.53, P = 0.0044) compared with PD-1 inhibitor use (Supplementary Table S4). A previous study found that incidence of severe hepatitis was 8.6% in combination therapy using nivolumab and ipilimumab and 1% in monotherapy with either drug individually [3]. Another study found a higher incidence of 10.1% [4]. In our study, the incidence of severe hepatitis was lower. A possible explanation is that prior studies included patients with pre-existing grade 1 or 2 hepatitis [5], which were excluded in this study. Together, the incidence of grade 3/4 hepatitis was 1.9% after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment. PD-L1 inhibitor use was associated with a higher risk of grade 3/4 hepatitis compared with PD-1 inhibitor use after propensity score matching.

A fast-ion Dα (FIDA) diagnostics system was installed for core and edge measurements on KSTAR. This system has two tangential FIDA arrays that cover both blue- and redshifted Dα lines (cold: 656.09 nm) in active views along the neutral beam 1 A centerline. The spectral band is 647-662.5 nm, and it covers the Doppler shift of the emission from the maximum energy of the neutral beam (100 keV). A curved filter strip with a motorized stage adequately prevents saturation of the electron multiplying charge-coupled device signal by the cold Dα line from the plasma edge. From comparisons of the measured spectra and FIDASIM modeling code, the FIDA spectra are well matched quantitatively. Moreover, the first measurements show that the FIDA radiance agrees with the neutron rate in the time trace during external heating and perturbation. In addition, responses are observed in the core FIDA radiance during the edge-localized mode cycle.

A fast-ion Dα (FIDA) diagnostics system was installed for core and edge measurements on KSTAR. This system has two tangential FIDA arrays that cover both blue- and redshifted Dα lines (cold: 656.09 nm) in active views along the neutral beam 1 A centerline. The spectral band is 647–662.5 nm, and it covers the Doppler shift of the emission from the maximum energy of the neutral beam (100 keV). A curved filter strip with a motorized stage adequately prevents saturation of the electron multiplying charge-coupled device signal by the cold Dα line from the plasma edge. From comparisons of the measured spectra and FIDASIM modeling code, the FIDA spectra are well matched quantitatively. Moreover, the first measurements show that the FIDA radiance agrees with the neutron rate in the time trace during external heating and perturbation. In addition, responses are observed in the core FIDA radiance during the edge-localized mode cycle.

In the context of the development of lightweight and vehicle-NVH-refined sound package solutions, car manufacturers have identified that it is essential to promote new dedicated CAE design methods which can be applied at a very early stage, before body and trim designs are frozen.

Simultaneous core toroidal rotation and ion temperature measurements of different impurity species from X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer and charge-exchange spectroscopy diagnostics have shown re...

In this paper, an equivalent circuit model for magnetoelastic resonator is introduced. Elements of the model consist of coil inductance, magnetization of the resonator, a parallel RLC resonator representing the resonator resonance and a transformer indicating conversion ratio. This model suggests an approach to describe electrical response and characteristics of the resonator subject to geometries and excitation conditions. Moreover, corresponding techniques for extraction of parameters of the system are developed. Experimental results show that the model gives reasonable approximation of the system and accurately predicts behavior of the system.

We have observed reduction of the runaway electron synchrotron radiation, hard X-ray (HXR) intensity, and HXR energy after applying 110 GHz 2nd harmonic electron cyclotron resonant heating (ECRH) during runaway electron (RE) discharges at low density with startup runaway electrons. However, we did not see a significant reduction of X-rays from 170 GHz 2nd harmonic ECRH at a higher field. A recently installed IR TV camera was used to observe the forward cone of synchrotron radiation from high energy REs in KSTAR. We have observed changes to the synchrotron images and reduction of the HXR by application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP) from in-vessel control coils (IVCC) installed inside KSTAR in the n = 1 configuration.

Objective Coacervates are inevitably formed on scalp on using hair washing products. Our goal was to analyse the coacervates in detail to identify the part responsible for scalp stimulation. Methods Shampoo that increases coacervate formation was applied to in vitro skin and was washed. The residue was then analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–focal plane array (FTIR-FPA) and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). And HaCaT cells were used for irritant test of coacervate. Results Through this research, it was confirmed that the coacervate was a macromolecule structurally similar to a cationic polymer and contains an anionic surfactant. Its anionic surfactant was structurally semi-stable so that it released onto scalp when it absorbs moisture. Conclusion Coacervate releases sulphate bonding into the matrix when it is exposed to water. Thus, the scalp stimulation would be expected.

A compact diagnostic system for monitoring Hard X-Ray (HXR) in the KSTAR tokamak has been developed in this work. Its development aims for an extension of the counting rate limit, and a good time r...

Hard X-ray (HXR) emission from KSTAR superconducting Tokamak has been measured during discharges which includes ECH assisted start up. Since the HXR signal indicates energetic electrons we can assu...

The behaviors of an intrinsic toroidal rotation without any external momentum sources are investigated in KSTAR. In these experiments, pure ohmic discharges with a wide range of plasma parameters are carefully selected and analyzed to speculate an unrevealed origin of toroidal rotation excluding any unnecessary heating sources, magnetic perturbations, and strong magneto-hydrodynamic activities. The measured core toroidal rotation in KSTAR is mostly in the counter-current direction and its magnitude strongly depends on the ion temperature divided by plasma current (Ti/IP). Especially the core toroidal rotation in the steady-state is well fitted by Ti/IP scaling with a slope of ∼−23, and the possible explanation of the scaling is compared with various candidates. As a result, the calculated offset rotation could not explain the measured core toroidal rotation since KSTAR has an extremely low intrinsic error field. For the stability conditions for ion and electron turbulences, it is hard to determine a domin...

The inconsistency of the first experimental results from the X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device utilizing a multi-wire proportional counter (MWPC) is clarified after improving the photon-count rate of the data acquisition system for the MWPC and ground loop isolator for the whole spectrometer system. The improved MWPC is successfully applied to pure Ohmic plasmas as well as plasmas with high confinement modes.

Highly coherent structures associated with an extremely long-lived saturated magnetohydrodynamic instability have been observed in KSTAR tokamak under a long-pulse and steady-state operation. They persist essentially unchanged for the full duration of a discharge up to 40 s, much longer than any dynamical or dissipative time scales in the system. Analysis of the data, supported by numerical simulations, indicates that they may be associated with a pressure-driven mode causing some degradation in the toroidal rotation, electron, and ion energy confinement.

This study is aimed to elucidate the effects of surface pH of bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) on their binding property to calcium and protein. It is hypothesized that the binding affinities of the BHV for calcium and protein are surface pH dependent. To test this hypothesis, collagen-elastin matrix (CEM) made of varying ratios of collagen and elastin were used as calcifiable matrices to simulate the calcium binding process of BHV. The calcium binding profiles of CEM, whose surface pHs were adjusted at 3.4, 5.0 or 7.4, were examined by either incubating CEM in the buffer solutions containing various calcium concentrations or implanting CEM in the rat subcutaneous model. The amounts of calcium and protein bound to CEM decreased as the surface pH of CEM decreased. The calcium level in the CEM (pH 7.4) was 2.32+/-0.8 as compared with 1.23+/-0.35 (microg/mg) in CEM (pH 3.4). The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) was in a reciprocal relationship with the surface pH. This study demonstrated that the affinity of CEM for calcium is surface pH dependent and provided basic information about the role of surface properties in BHV calcification.

Although active tuberculosis (TB) is a contraindication for liver transplantation (LT), LT may be the only possible treatment option in patients with irreversible liver failure and concurrent TB.To assess the outcome of LT in patients with concurrent TB and liver failure.We retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of nine LT recipients with concurrent TB in Korea, an intermediate TB burden country.The primary causes of living-donor LT (LDLT) in nine patients were anti-tuberculosis drug-induced fulminant hepatic failure (n = 4) and end-stage liver disease (n = 5). The sites of active TB were the lungs (n = 5), lymph nodes (n = 3) and pleura (n = 1). After LDLT, most patients were treated with less hepatotoxic drugs, including fluoroquinolones, ethambutol and cycloserine; none was treated with pyrazinamide. One patient experienced acute rejection, probably attributable to an interaction between rifampicin and cyclosporine. All nine patients, including one taking rifabutin, successfully completed anti-tuberculosis treatment and have been followed up for a median of 926 days after LDLT, without relapse of TB.When properly managed, the prognosis of LDLT recipients with concurrently active TB at transplantation is very favourable. The current protocol, which considers active TB an absolute contraindication for LT, should be modified or relaxed, particularly for patients with LDLT.

Glycerol carbonate is a key bifunctional compound employed as solvent, additive, monomer, and chemical intermediate. We have synthesized it on a pilot scale in the laboratory in cyclic or alicyclic organic carbonate medium. In this study, we examined the use of supercritical CO2 as a reaction medium and as a source of carbonate for carbonatation of glycerol. Glycerol carbonate could be obtained by direct reaction of carbon dioxide with an organic carbonate in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts. Carbonatation of glycerol into glycerol carbonate went to equilibrium in supercritical CO2 medium.

The glycerin is transformed into glycerol carbonate by reaction with urea in the presence of a series of heterogeneous catalyst system including metallic sulfates or zinc organomettallic sulfate. Zinc sulfate exhibits characteristic catalytic behaviour in the carbonylation of glycerin into glycerol carbonate wich gives a good molar yield of 86% at 140δC, 30 mbar for 2 hours.

This paper reports on experimental evidence that shows perpendicular electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) can trigger classical tearing modes when deposited near a rational flux surface. The complex evolution of an m = 2 island is followed during current ramp-up in KSTAR plasmas, from its initial onset as the rational surface enters the ECRH resonance layer to its eventual lock on the wall after the rational surface leaves the layer. Stability analysis coupled to a transport calculation of the current profile with ECRH shows that the perpendicular ECRH may play a significant role in triggering and destabilizing classical m = 2 tearing modes, in agreement with our experimental observation.

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The high fraction of runaway current conversion following disruptions has an important effect on the first wall for next-generation tokamaks. Because of the potentially severe consequences of a large full current runaway beam on the first wall in an unmitigated disruption, runaway suppression is given a high priority. The behavior of runaway currents both in spontaneous disruptions and in D2 massive gas injection (MGI) shutdown experiments is investigated in the KSTAR tokamak. The experiments in KSTAR show that the toroidal magnetic field threshold, BT >2 T, for runaway generation is not absolute. A high fraction of runaway current conversion following spontaneous disruptions is observed at a much lower toroidal magnetic field of BT = 1.3 T. A dedicated fast valve for high-pressure gas injection with 39.7 bar is developed for the study of disruptions. A study of runaway current parameters shows that the conversion efficiency of pre-disruptive plasma currents into runaway current can reach over 80% both in spontaneous disruptions and in D2 MGI shutdown experiments in KSTAR.

We report on the interlayer screening effect of graphene using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). By using a gate device configuration that enables the supply of electronic carriers in graphene sheets, the vertical screening properties were studied from measuring the surface potential gradient. The results show layer-dependence of graphene sheets, as the number of graphene layers increases, the surface potential decreases exponentially. In addition, we calculate the work function-related information of the graphene layers using KPFM.