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TiN/Ti/HfO2/Pt resistive switching devices have been fabricated, measured, and modeled. After programming the devices in the low resistance state, the current–voltage characteristic below the reset switching voltage was measured at different temperatures (from 90 to 350 K). A weak but complex temperature dependence was obtained for several voltage regimes. These memristors belong to a wider set known as valence change memories, whose conductance is determined by the formation of conductive filaments (CFs) linked to a high density of oxygen vacancies in a dielectric sandwiched between two metal electrodes. This usually leads to ohmic conduction in the low resistance state. However, a non-linear current dependence has been also observed in the measured devices, in addition to symmetric current–voltage curves for positive and negative biases in the 0–0.6 V voltage range. Three different thermal dependences have been considered for explaining the whole set of experimental data. Two of them are linked to ohmic filamentary conduction; the CF shows a conductivity enhancement due to thermally activated mechanisms at low temperatures; on the contrary, a CF conductivity degradation is observed at the higher temperatures. Finally, an additional slightly higher value for the non-linear current component as the temperature rises has also been taken into account. A semiempirical compact model has been implemented including these conduction mechanisms and their corresponding temperature dependences, the device has been simulated in LT-Spice and the experimental currents have been correctly reproduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Tumor polyvalent neoantigen mRNA vaccines are gaining prominence in immunotherapy. The design of sequences in vaccine development is crucial for enhancing both the immunogenicity and safety of vaccines. However, a major challenge lies in selecting the optimal sequences from the large pools generated by multiple peptide combinations and synonymous codons., Results: We introduce NeoDesign, a computational tool designed to tackle the challenge of sequence design. NeoDesign comprises four modules: Library Construction, Optimal Path Filtering, Linker Addition, and λ-Evaluation. It aims to identify the optimal protein sequence for tumor polyvalent neoantigen vaccines by minimizing linker usage, avoiding unexpected neoantigens and functional domains, and simplifying the structure. It also provides a preference scheme to balance mRNA stability and protein expression when designing mRNA sequences for the optimal protein sequence. This tool can potentially improve the sequence design of tumor polyvalent neoantigen mRNA vaccines, thereby significantly advancing immunotherapy strategies., Availability and Implementation: NeoDesign is freely available on https://github.com/HuangLab-Fudan/neoDesign and https://figshare.com/projects/NeoDesign/221704., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Objective: This study focused on the metabolic characteristics of tongue coating in patients with intra-oral halitosis (IOH) to investigate potential diagnostic biomarkers for IOH., Methods: Oral healthy participants were enrolled in this study. Halitosis was evaluated with an organoleptic assessment, a Halimeter®, and an OralChroma™. Tongue coating samples were collected from 18 halitosis patients and 18 healthy controls. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was conducted to reveal the IOH-related metabolic variations in tongue coating., Results: A total of 2214 metabolites were obtained. Most metabolites were shared between the two groups. A total of 274 upregulated metabolites, such as paramethasone acetate and indole-3-acetic acid, and 43 downregulated metabolites, including deoxyadenosine and valyl-arginine, were detected in the halitosis group. Functional analysis indicated that several metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, histidine metabolism, and lysine degradation were significantly enriched in the IOH group. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression analysis revealed that paramethasone acetate, {1-[2-(4-carbamimidoyl-benzoylamino)-propionyl]-piperidin-4-yloxy}-acetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and valyl-arginine were remarkably associated with IOH., Conclusions: This study revealed the metabolites present in tongue coating and identified effective biomarkers, providing essential insights into the prediction, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of IOH., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Premature termination of treatment is a serious problem in the treatment of eating disorders. Prior research attempting to differentiate patients who are able to complete treatment from those who terminate early has yielded mixed results. One proposed explanation for this is a failure to examine the time course of treatment termination. This study was designed to explore associations between baseline patient characteristics and timing of treatment termination., Methods: Participants were 124 eating disorder patients admitted voluntarily to the inpatient program at Toronto General Hospital between 2009 and 2015. At admission, all patients completed measures of eating disorder symptoms, eating disorder cognitions, depressive symptoms and emotional dysregulation. Body weight was measured weekly. Data analyses were completed using one-way ANOVAs and Chi Square tests., Results: Results showed significant associations between timing of treatment termination and eating disorder diagnosis, severity of eating disorder cognitions and severity of depressive symptoms. Post-hoc analyses revealed that patients who left treatment early had more severe depressive symptoms, eating disorder cognitions related to eating and difficulties engaging in goal directed behaviors when emotionally dysregulated., Conclusions: Patients who terminated inpatient treatment early in their admissions differ from patients who terminated later and those who completed treatment. These differences have potential clinical implications for the clinical management of patients with severe eating disorders requiring inpatient admission. Trial registration This paper is not associated with a clinical trial., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Polycrystalline SnO 2 thin films were grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on SiO 2 /Si(100) substrates from SnI 4 and O 3 . Suitable evaporation temperatures for the SnI 4 precursor as well as the relationship between growth per cycle and substrate temperature were determined. Crystal growth in the films in the temperature range of 225-600 °C was identified. Spectroscopic analyses revealed low amounts of residual iodine and implied the formation of single-phase oxide in the films grown at temperatures above 300 °C. Appropriateness of the mentioned precursor system to the preparation of SnO 2 films was established., (Copyright © 2023, Kalam et al.)

HfO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 thin films and laminated stacks were grown by atomic layer deposition at 350 °C from hafnium tetrachloride, ferrocene, and ozone. Nonlinear, saturating, and hysteretic magnetization was recorded in the films. Magnetization was expectedly dominated by increasing the content of Fe 2 O 3 . However, coercive force could also be enhanced by the choice of appropriate ratios of HfO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 in nanolaminated structures. Saturation magnetization was observed in the measurement temperature range of 5-350 K, decreasing towards higher temperatures and increasing with the films' thicknesses and crystal growth. Coercive force tended to increase with a decrease in the thickness of crystallized layers. The films containing insulating HfO 2 layers grown alternately with magnetic Fe 2 O 3 exhibited abilities to both switch resistively and magnetize at room temperature. Resistive switching was unipolar in all the oxides mounted between Ti and TiN electrodes.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses that can have a significant and persistent physical impact, especially for those who are not treated early in their disease trajectory. Although many persons with eating disorders may make a full recovery, some may not; this is especially the case when it comes to persons with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SEAN), namely, those who have had anorexia for between 6 and 12 years or more. Given that persons with SEAN are less likely to make a full recovery, a different treatment philosophy might be ethically warranted. One potential yet scarcely considered way to treat persons with SEAN is that of a harm reduction approach. A harm reduction philosophy is deemed widely defensible in certain contexts (e.g. in the substance use and addictions domain), and in this paper we argue that it may be similarly ethically defensible for treating persons with SEAN in some circumstances.

Atomic layer deposition method was used to grow thin films consisting of ZrO 2 and MnO x layers. Magnetic and electric properties were studied of films deposited at 300 °C. Some deposition characteristics of the manganese(III)acetylacetonate and ozone process were investigated, such as the dependence of growth rate on the deposition temperature and film crystallinity. All films were partly crystalline in their as-deposited state. Zirconium oxide contained cubic and tetragonal phases of ZrO 2 , while the manganese oxide was shown to consist of cubic Mn 2 O 3 and tetragonal Mn 3 O 4 phases. All the films exhibited nonlinear saturative magnetization with hysteresis, as well as resistive switching characteristics., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

This study offered a comprehensive investigation on engine performance and emission characteristics of Kirloskar make tangentially vertical (TV1) model single-cylinder direct injection diesel engine fuelled with diesel as a benchmark fuel. Steam distilled orange oil was converted into orange oil methyl ester (OME) by means of transesterification process. The physical and chemical properties of fuels were measured and conformed to ASTM biodiesel standards and compared with diesel. Likewise, the chemical compositions of the prepared biodiesel were estimated by using GC-MS analysis. OME comprises of 86.37% of (E)-3-propylidenecyclopentene (C 8 H 12 ) in the maximum range. The presence of free fatty acids such as linoleic acid, palmitic acid and myristic acid in OME permits it to be the acceptable renewable resource for the production of biodiesel. Further, the work was progressed with the addition of oxygenated additives like ethanol and diethyl ether to OME to attain the improved fuel properties. Five and 10% volume of ethanol and diethyl ether were added to OME as oxygenated additives respectively. OME10DEE showed higher performance characteristics than diesel and OME blends. Further, a significant reduction in HC, NOx and smoke emission was noticed with OME10DEE. The present work recommended the application of OME10DEE as an alternative fuel on account of its better engine performance and emission characteristics than other fuel blends.

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection with an extremely high morbidity and mortality. Data on the burden of the disease in the Arab world is lacking. The aim of this study is to highlight the incidence and outcome of this infection in a tertiary care center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In this retrospective study we included all mucormycosis cases admitted to our center between January 2013 and December 2019. A total of 18 proven patients with a median age of 43.5 years (range 13-72 years, 72% males) were identified. The most common presentation was cutaneous and rhino-orbito-cerebral, followed by gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Apophysomyces variabilisRhizopus oryzae) were the main fungal isolates on molecular testing. Trauma was the chief underlying etiology (41.0%) with motor vehicle accident (MVCs) being the predominant type (43.0%). For this reason, most of our patients were young with cutaneous disease and had a better prognosis. All patients received liposomal amphotericin B alone or in combination with other antifungal agents. Repeated aggressive debridement and reversal of the underlying factor was attempted in all patients. This underscores the lower mortality (27.8%) seen in this group. The diagnosis of Mucorales infection is challenging. A high index of suspicion with prompt treatment is required to improve the high mortality of this aggressive disease. Further studies are needed to understand the epidemiology and outcome of this disease in Saudi Arabia., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A series of new C 3 heterocyclic-substituted ciprofloxacin derivatives were prepared from ciprofloxacin acid hydrazide as possible chimeric molecules. They were evaluated for their possible in vitro antibacterial (agar cup/bore diffusion method) and antitubercular (Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) slant method) activities. The results indicated that all the test compounds are highly effective against all the bacterial strains and have shown excellent anti-tubercular activity against normal, multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They were found to be more potent antibacterial and antitubercular agents than the standard, ciprofloxacin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)'s of all the compounds against M. tuberculosis were found to be 0.0625 µg/mL as compared to ciprofloxacin (MIC = 2 to > 8 µg/mL). Molecular docking studies were performed by using AUTODOCK 4.2 on the new ciprofloxacin derivatives at the active site of crystal structure of fluoroquinolones target enzyme Mtb DNA gyrase GyrA N-terminal domain (PDB ID: 3ILW) and also on the active site of crystal structure of chosen heterocyclics target enzyme enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase enzyme (PDB ID: 4TZK). Interestingly, almost all the compounds have shown relatively greater binding affinity at both the active sites than ciprofloxacin. Compound 6 exhibited the highest affinity for 3ILW and 4TZK.

Thin solid films consisting of ZrO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 were grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 400 °C. Metastable phases of ZrO 2 were stabilized by Fe 2 O 3 doping. The number of alternating ZrO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 deposition cycles were varied in order to achieve films with different cation ratios. The influence of annealing on the composition and structure of the thin films was investigated. Additionally, the influence of composition and structure on electrical and magnetic properties was studied. Several samples exhibited a measurable saturation magnetization and most of the samples exhibited a charge polarization. Both phenomena were observed in the sample with a Zr/Fe atomic ratio of 2.0.

Mixed films of a high-permittivity oxide, Er 2 O 3 , and a magnetic material, Fe 2 O 3 , were grown by atomic layer deposition on silicon and titanium nitride at 375 °C using erbium diketonate, ferrocene, and ozone as precursors. Crystalline phases of erbium and iron oxides were formed. Growth into three-dimensional trenched structures was demonstrated. A structure deposited using tens to hundreds subsequent cycles for both constituent metal oxide layers promoted both charge polarization and saturative magnetization compared to those in the more homogeneously mixed films., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Background: Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening illness. Brain circuits believed to drive anorexia nervosa symptoms can be accessed with surgical techniques such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). Initial results suggest that DBS of the subcallosal cingulate is safe and associated with improvements in mood and anxiety. Here, we investigated the safety, clinical, and neuroimaging outcomes of DBS of the subcallosal cingulate in a group of patients during 12 months of active stimulation., Methods: We did this prospective open-label trial at the Department of Surgery of the University of Toronto (Toronto, ON, Canada). Patients were eligible to participate if they were aged 20-60 years and had a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (restricting or binge-purging subtype) and a demonstrated history of chronicity or treatment resistance. Following a period of medical stabilisation, patients underwent surgery for DBS and received open-label continuous stimulation for the entire 1 year study duration. The primary outcome was safety and acceptability of the procedure. The secondary outcomes were body-mass index (BMI), mood, anxiety, affective regulation, and anorexia nervosa-specific behaviours at 12 months after surgery, as well as changes in neural circuitry (measured with PET imaging of cerebral glucose metabolism at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after surgery). This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01476540., Findings: 16 patients with treatment-refractory anorexia nervosa were enrolled between September, 2011, and January, 2014, and underwent DBS of the subcallosal cingulate between November, 2011, and April, 2014. Patients had a mean age of 34 years (SD 8) and average illness duration of 18 years (SD 6). Two patients requested that their devices be removed or deactivated during the study, although their reasons for doing so were poorly defined. The most common adverse event was pain related to surgical incision or positioning that required oral analgesics for longer than 3-4 days after surgery (five [31%] of 16 patients). Seven (44%) of 16 patients had serious adverse events, most of which were related to the underlying illness, including electrolyte disturbances. Average BMI at surgery was 13·83 (SD 1·49) and 14 (88%) of the 16 patients had comorbid mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or both. Mean BMI after 12 months of stimulation was 17·34 (SD 3·40; p=0·0009 vs baseline). DBS was associated with significant improvements in measures of depression (mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores 19·40 [SD 6·76] at baseline vs 8·79 [7·64] at 12 months; p=0·00015), anxiety (mean Beck Anxiety Inventory score 38·00 [15·55] vs 27·14 [18·39]; p=0·035), and affective regulation (mean Dysfunction in Emotional Regulation Scale score 131·80 [22·04] vs 104·36 [31·27]; p=0·019). We detected significant changes in cerebral glucose metabolism in key anorexia nervosa-related structures at both 6 months and 12 months of ongoing brain stimulation., Interpretation: In patients with chronic treatment-refractory anorexia nervosa, DBS is well tolerated and is associated with significant and sustained improvements in affective symptoms, BMI, and changes in neural circuitry at 12 months after surgery., Funding: Klarman Family Foundation Grants Program in Eating Disorders Research and Canadian Institutes of Health Research., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted into the skin of the host where it encounters and interacts with two dendritic cell (DC) subsets; Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal DCs (DDCs). These cells recognize pathogens via pattern recognition receptors, mature and migrate out of the skin into draining lymph nodes, where they orchestrate adaptive immune responses. In order to investigate the response of skin DCs during the early immunopathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis, we injected B. burgdorferi intradermally into full-thickness human skin and studied the migration of DCs out of the skin, the activation profile and phenotype of migrated cells. We found a significant increase in the migration of LCs and DDCs in response to B. burgdorferi. Notably, migration was prevented by blocking TLR2. DCs migrated from skin inoculated with higher numbers of spirochetes expressed significantly higher levels of CD83 and produced pro-inflammatory cytokines. No difference was observed in the expression of HLA-DR, CD86, CD38, or CCR7. To conclude, we have established an ex vivo human skin model to study DC-B. burgdorferi interactions. Using this model, we have demonstrated that B. burgdorferi-induced DC migration is mediated by TLR2. Our findings underscore the utility of this model as a valuable tool to study immunity to spirochetal infections., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and aerobic bacterium, designated FJ12(T), was isolated from seawater, Geoje-si, South Korea. Strain FJ12(T) was catalase and oxidase positive. Growth of strain FJ12(T) was optimally observed at 30 °C and pH 6 and grew in the presence of 0-11 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-3 % NaCl). The phylogenic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains FJ12(T) showed the highest sequence similarity to those of Doghicola eburneus KCTC 12735(T) (95.4 %), Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis KTCT 32324(T) (95.3 %), Sulfitobacter pontiacus KCTC 32185(T) (94.9 %), Roseisalinus antarcticus DSM 11466(T) (94.8 %) and Loktanella soesokkaensis KCTC 32425(T) (94.7 %). The major polar lipids of FJ12(T) were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and unidentified lipids. It contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, and major fatty acid is C18:1 ω7c (51.7 %), C16:0 (24.0 %). The DNA G+C content of the strain FJ12(T) was 60 mol%. Based on physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain FJ12(T) should be regarded as the type species of a novel genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae for which the name Paradonghicola geojensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain FJ12(T) (=KEMB 3001-336(T)=JCM 30384(T)).

A novel bacterium, designated U33(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected in Mykhailyky, Poltavs'ka oblast, Ukraine. The bacterium was aerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming, and consists of motile rods. The taxonomic position of strain U33(T) was studied by a polyphasic approach, and the results clearly showed that the phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties are consistent with those of the genus Aneurinibacillus. The phylogenic analysis with 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains U33(T) showed the highest sequence similarity to those of Aneurinibacillus aneuriniticus ATCC 12856(T) (96.7 %), Aneurinibacillus migulanus DSM 2895(T) (96.7 %), Aneurinibacillus danicus NCIMB 13288(T) (95.8 %), and lower sequence similarity with other members of the genus Aneurinibacillus. Growth was observed at 20-55 °C (optimum, 37 °C) at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7) and with 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 % NaCl). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7 and the cell wall peptidoglycan consist of meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major cellular fatty acids are iso-C15:0 (58.0 %) and anteiso-C15:0 (13.2 %). The DNA G+C content of the strain U33(T) was 45.8 %. The physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics distinguish strain U33(T) from the validly published species of genus Aneurinibacillus, and therefore, we consider this strain to represent a novel species of the genus Aneurinibacillus. The name Aneurinibaciilus humi sp. nov. is proposed with strain U33(T) (= KEMC7305-119(T) = JCM19865(T)) as the type strain.

Background: Left atrial (LA) remodeling and dysfunction reflect chronic exposure to elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressures. The aim of this longitudinal cohort study was to define the effect of reducing LV filling pressures on reverse remodeling of LA volume (LAV) and function., Methods: This retrospective cohort included 195 patients (52% men; mean age, 64 ± 14 years) in sinus rhythm with LA dilatation and sequential echocardiograms (median interval, 1 year; interquartile range, 0.5-2.0 years). One hundred seventy-four patients underwent medical therapy (82 with reduced E/e' ratios), and 21 underwent surgery for valvular heart disease. Biplane LAV (normal value, ≤ 68 mL for men, ≤ 62 mL for women), LA strain (ε) (normal value, >32%) and LV filling pressures (assessed as E/e' ratio; normal value, <13) were measured., Results: Although LAV at baseline and follow-up were 88 ± 27 and 81 ± 24 mL, LA ε and E/e' ratio remained stable at 26 ± 11% and 14 ± 7, respectively. Changes in E/e' ratio were associated with changes in LAV (r = 0.37, P < .001) and LA ε (r = -0.51 P < .001). Although reduced E/e' ratio or improved LA ε at follow-up occurred in about 50% of the patients, only 26% (51 of 195) had normalized LAV. Compared with surgery, successful reduction of E/e' with medical therapy was less effective in reducing LAV (P < .001) but produced similar improvement in LA ε. Having normal or improved E/e' ratio at follow-up was not associated with normalization of LAV (relative risk, 1.29 [P = .326] and 1.22 [P = .421], respectively) but was associated with normalized LA ε (relative risk, 2.04 [P = .011] and 1.86 [P = .017], respectively) independently of LAV., Conclusions: Reduction in LV filling pressures reduces but rarely normalizes LAV. The strong association of reduced LV filling pressure with improved LA function indicated by LA longitudinal ε supports the increasing interest of LA ε measurement., (Copyright © 2015 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)