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• Empirical observations on convolutional neural networks are presented. • The size of the receptive field did not guarantee improved accuracy. • We observed that dead pixels exist in modern convolutional neural networks. • The effect of dead pixels is discussed with a solution to resolve them. Deep neural networks have been used in various fields, but their internal behavior in how they understand images is not well known. In this study, we discuss two counterintuitive properties of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). First, we evaluated the size of the receptive field of CNNs with their classification accuracy. Previous studies have attempted to increase the size of the receptive field for performance gain. However, we observed that some CNNs with a smaller receptive field can achieve higher classification accuracy. In this regard, we claim that a larger receptive field does not guarantee improved classification accuracy. Second, using the effective receptive field, we examined the contribution of each pixel to the output of CNN. Intuitively, each pixel is expected to equally contribute to the final output, but we found that there exist pixels in a partially dead state with little contribution to the output. We reveal that the reason for dead pixels lies in even stride operations with odd-sized kernels in CNN and propose a kernel padding method to remove the dead pixels. We demonstrated the vulnerability of CNNs with dead pixels when we detect a noise or small box that is on dead pixels. Our findings on dead pixels should be understood and considered in practical applications of CNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of electrical and telecommunication facilities has resulted in increasing requirements for the development of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites. Accordingly, an experimental study was conducted to evaluate the EMI shielding performance of carbon nanomaterial (CNM)-embedded carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) or glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. Nine combinations of CNMs and carbon or glass fibers were used to fabricate the composites. The synergistic effects of CNMs on the EMI shielding performance were systematically investigated. The results indicated that plate-type CNMs (i.e., graphene and graphite nanoplatelets) have more prominent effects than fiber-type CNMs (carbon nanofibers). The composites fabricated with CFRP afforded higher EMI shielding than the GFRP-based composites. Among the eighteen samples, 3% CNT-GNP in CFRP composites, which included plate-typed CNM, exhibited the best EMI shielding performances, showing 38.6 dB at 0.7 GHz. This study helps understand the shielding performance of CNM-embedded CFRP and GFRP composites in electrical and telecommunication facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A subgroup analysis of data from a nationwide study (KCSG-ST19-16) was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of second-line ramucirumab plus paclitaxel treatment in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced gastric or gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Methods: The KCSG-ST19-16 study enrolled a total of 1063 patients from 56 hospitals in South Korea with advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma, who had received second-line treatment with ramucirumab plus paclitaxel. HER2 status was known for 994 (93.5%) of these patients, who were thus included in the subgroup analysis. Results: In total, 163 of 994 patients (16.4%), had HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma. The objective response rate to ramucirumab plus paclitaxel treatment was significantly higher in patients with HER2-positive disease compared to those with HER2-negative disease (23.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 15.9–30.1] vs. 15.1% [95% CI, 12.3–17.9], p = 0.025). The median progression-free survival was longer in patients with HER2-positive versus HER2-negative disease, but the difference was not statistically significant (4.3 months [95% CI, 3.7–5.3] vs 3.7 months [95% CI, 3.4–4.0], p = 0.054). There was no statistically significant difference in median overall survival (OS) between the groups (9.8 months [95% CI, 8.9–12.3] vs 10.1 months [95% CI, 9.2–10.9], p = 0.564). Conclusions: In patients with HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma, the objective response rate to second-line treatment with ramucirumab plus paclitaxel was significantly higher compared to patients with HER2-negative disease. However, an increased response to treatment was not associated with an improvement in OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed fundus images to identify whether convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can discriminate between right and left fundus images. We gathered 98,038 fundus photographs from the Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, South Korea, and augmented these with the Ocular Disease Intelligent Recognition dataset. We created eight combinations of image sets to train CNNs. Class activation mapping was used to identify the discriminative image regions used by the CNNs. CNNs identified right and left fundus images with high accuracy (more than 99.3% in the Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital dataset and 91.1% in the Ocular Disease Intelligent Recognition dataset) regardless of whether the images were flipped horizontally. The depth and complexity of the CNN affected the accuracy (DenseNet121: 99.91%, ResNet50: 99.86%, and VGG19: 99.37%). DenseNet121 did not discriminate images composed of only left eyes (55.1%, p = 0.548). Class activation mapping identified the macula as the discriminative region used by the CNNs. Several previous studies used the flipping method to augment data in fundus photographs. However, such photographs are distinct from non-flipped images. This asymmetry could result in undesired bias in machine learning. Therefore, when developing a CNN with fundus photographs, care should be taken when applying data augmentation with flipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, various normalization layers have been proposed to stabilize the training of deep neural networks. Among them, group normalization is a generalization of layer normalization and instance normalization by allowing a degree of freedom in the number of groups it uses. However, to determine the optimal number of groups, trial-and-error-based hyperparameter tuning is required, and such experiments are time-consuming. In this study, we discuss a reasonable method for setting the number of groups. First, we find that the number of groups influences the gradient behavior of the group normalization layer. Based on this observation, we derive the ideal number of groups, which calibrates the gradient scale to facilitate gradient descent optimization. This paper is the first to propose an optimal number of groups that is theoretically grounded, architecture-aware, and can provide a proper value in a layer-wise manner for all layers. The proposed method exhibited improved performance over existing methods in numerous neural network architectures, tasks, and datasets. • We propose a method to determine the number of groups of group normalization. • A theoretical analysis of group normalization with activation function is provided. • The proposed method is validated against various practical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the differential detection of UV-A (ultra-violet 320–400 nm region) and UV-C (100–280 nm) using porous two-dimensional (2D) Nb2O5 and additional Ag nano-particle decoration. The 2D Nb2O5, which has band-absorption edge near the UV-A zone, was synthesized by thermodynamic conversion of 2D material NbSe2 (Nb2O5 has lower Gibbs formation energy than NbSe2). For the differential detection (to distinguish with UV-C absorption), we decorated the Ag nano-particles on the Nb2O5 surface. By coating Ag nano-particles, we can expect (i) a decrease in the area of light absorption by the Ag-coated area, and (ii) an increase of surface plasmon absorption by Ag nano-particles, especially the UV-A region, resulting in strong intensity ratio change UV-A/UV-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the experimental Raman spectrum of niobium‐selenide nanowires (Nb2Se9) is reported for the first time followed by an analysis of the Raman spectrum using the density functional theory (DFT). According to the group‐theoretical analysis, 33 Ag modes were identified as Raman active modes. In the experimental spectrum, 19 well‐resolved Raman modes were observed: 13 modes in the low‐wavenumber range (50–200 cm−1) and six modes in the high‐wavenumber range (220–340 cm−1). The DFT calculations were performed using the local‐density approximation (LDA) functional and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) with van der Waals corrections (PBE‐D3). PBE‐D3 showed better compatibility with the experimental data for the high‐wavenumber range. Our results provide an essential reference for the Raman scattering of newly synthesized Nb2Se9 nanowires and nanodevices in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although conventional combination chemotherapies for advanced gastric cancer (GC) increase survival, such therapies are associated with major adverse effects; more effective and less toxic treatments are required. Combinations of different anti-cancer drugs, for example, paclitaxel plus ramucirumab, have recently been used as second-line treatments for advanced GC. This study evaluated how copy number variations of the MET gene, MET mutations, and MET gene and protein expression levels in human GC cells modulate the susceptibility of such cells to single-agent (tepotinib, ramucirumab, or paclitaxel) and doublet (tepotinib-plus-paclitaxel or ramucirumab-plus-paclitaxel treatment regimens. Compared with ramucirumab-plus-paclitaxel, tepotinib-plus-paclitaxel better inhibited the growth of GC cells with MET exon 14 skipping mutations and those lacking MET amplification but containing phosphorylated MET; such inhibition was dose-dependent and associated with cell death. Tepotinib-plus-paclitaxel and ramucirumab-plus-paclitaxel similarly inhibited the growth of GC cells lacking MET amplification or MET phosphorylation, again in a dose-dependent manner, but without induction of cell death. However, tepotinib alone or tepotinib-plus-ramucirumab was more effective against c-MET-positive GC cells (>30 copy number variations) than was ramucirumab or paclitaxel alone or ramucirumab-plus-paclitaxel. These in vitro findings suggest that compared with ramucirumab-plus-paclitaxel, tepotinib-plus-paclitaxel better inhibits the growth of c-MET-positive GC cells, cells lacking MET amplification but containing phosphorylated MET, and cells containing MET mutations. Clinical studies are required to confirm the therapeutic effects of these regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We provide empirical tests on various image corruption using vision transformers. • Vision transformers showed performance degradation on contrast-enhanced images. • We proposed PreLayerNorm for the consistent behavior of positional embedding. • We observed that PreLayerNorm improved performance on contrast-enhanced images. • We provide theoretical analyses on the inconsistent behavior of vision transformers. [Display omitted] Vision Transformers (ViTs) have recently demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in various vision tasks, replacing convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, because ViT has a different architectural design than CNN, it may behave differently. To investigate whether ViT has a different performance or robustness, we tested ViT and CNN under various imaging conditions in practical vision tasks. We confirmed that for most image transformations, ViT's robustness was comparable or even better than that of CNN. However, for contrast enhancement, ViT performed particularly poorly. We show that this is because positional embedding in ViT's patch embedding can work improperly when the color scale changes. We demonstrate that the use of PreLayerNorm, a modified patch embedding structure, ensures the consistent behavior of ViT. Results demonstrate that ViT with PreLayerNorm exhibited improved robustness in the contrast-varying environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Several recent reviews of published studies have shown that the eradication of H. pylori infection in patients with ITP improved thrombocytopenia in about half of the cases. However, most included studies were observational case series. We performed the first meta-analysis of randomized trials to gain a better insight into the effect of H. pylori eradication in ITP patients. Methods. A systematic computerized search of the electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (up to December 2017) was conducted. Results. From six studies, a total of 241 patients (125 in eradication group and 116 in control group) were included in the meta-analysis. Patients in the eradication group showed significantly higher overall platelet response rate than those in the control group (odds ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.71, P=0.05). In the subgroup analysis, however, children in the eradication group failed to show statistically better response rate than those in the noneradication group (odds ratio = 1.80, 95% confidence interval: 0.88–3.65, P=0.11). Conclusions. This meta-analysis indicates that H. pylori eradication has a significant therapeutic effect in patients with ITP. Considering the intrinsic limits in the design and sample size of the included studies, however, large randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate the therapeutic impact of H. pylori eradication in adults as well as children with ITP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized poly-trimethoxyphenylsilane (PTMS) and applied it as the carrier film to CVD graphene transfer process for the first time. Since the PTMS particles are not fully crosslinked due to the presence of bulky groups, they do not have crystallinity in the long-range order on the graphene surface and are easily removed by solvent such as toluene. Raman, AFM, and X-ray photoemission (especially, Si 2p signal) analysis confirmed that the surface of the transferred graphene was clean without PTMS impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to assess the efficacy of second-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) after failure of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GEMCIS).Methods: We retrospectively examined patients with histologically documented advanced BTC who received first-line GEMCIS between December 2010 and June 2015. Among 748 patients treated with first-line GEMCIS, 321 (43%) subsequently received fluoropyrimidine-based second-line systemic chemotherapy.Results: Fluoropyrimidine monotherapy and fluoropyrimidine-platinum combination were used in 255 and 66 patients, respectively. In patients with measurable disease, the overall response rate (ORR) was 3% and disease control rate was 47%. After a median follow-up of 27.6 months (range, 0.9-70.4 months), the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 1.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-2.2) and 6.5 months (95% CI, 5.9-7.0), respectively. The ORR was significantly higher in patients who received fluoropyrimidine-platinum combination compared with those who received fluoropyrimidine alone (8 vs 1%, P=0.009), although the PFS (P=0.43) and OS (P=0.88) did not significantly differ between these groups.Conclusions: Fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy was modestly effective as a second-line chemotherapy for advanced BTC patients after failure of GEMCIS. Fluoropyrimidine-platinum combination therapy was not associated with improved survival outcomes, as compared with fluoropyrimidine monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting electrical power consumption is essential in many industries. This paper presents a method to predict total electrical power consumption in a certain period of Hot Rolling Mill (HRM) in steel mills. We adequately pre-processed operation data, including work schedule, work result, and power measurement. In addition, based on domain knowledge, we derived several useful variables relevant to power consumption. To predict power consumption, we developed a Multi-Level Stacked Regression model that combines the strengths of multiple prediction models. Real-world applications have dataset shift characteristics in which the covariance between features or distribution of the features changes over time due to frequent changes in the working environment. To verify the generalization accuracy of our model, we trained and tested our model for various training/test splits and compared it with several comparative models. Our model showed the best accuracy in all training/test splits. We verified whether the predictive model reflects the real-world environment well by analyzing the actual physical meaning of the essential features used in the predictive model. • A series of pre-processing methods are applied to real data from Hot Rolling Mill. • A Multi-Level Stacked Regression algorithm is proposed. • Performance on various training/test splits that contains dataset shifts is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deletions of chromosome 1p36 affect approximately 1 in 5,000 newborns and are associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, and defects involving the brain, eye, ear, heart, and kidney. Arginine-glutamic acid dipeptide repeats ( RERE ) is located in the proximal 1p36 critical region. RERE is a widely-expressed nuclear receptor coregulator that positively regulates retinoic acid signaling. Animal models suggest that RERE deficiency might contribute to many of the structural and developmental birth defects and medical problems seen in individuals with 1p36 deletion syndrome, although human evidence supporting this role has been lacking. In this report, we describe ten individuals with intellectual disability, developmental delay, and/or autism spectrum disorder who carry rare and putatively damaging changes in RERE . In all cases in which both parental DNA samples were available, these changes were found to be de novo. Associated features that were recurrently seen in these individuals included hypotonia, seizures, behavioral problems, structural CNS anomalies, ophthalmologic anomalies, congenital heart defects, and genitourinary abnormalities. The spectrum of defects documented in these individuals is similar to that of a cohort of 31 individuals with isolated 1p36 deletions that include RERE and are recapitulated in RERE-deficient zebrafish and mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that mutations in RERE cause a genetic syndrome and that haploinsufficiency of RERE might be sufficient to cause many of the phenotypes associated with proximal 1p36 deletions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction to: I Scientific Reports i https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04323-3, published online 27 January 2022 The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Yong Seop Han, which was incorrectly given as Yong Soep Han. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04323-3. [Extracted from the article]

Nuclear receptors and their coregulators play a critical role in brain development by regulating the spatiotemporal expression of their target genes. The arginine-glutamic acid dipeptide repeats gene (Rere) encodes a nuclear receptor coregulator previously known as Atrophin 2. In the developing cerebellum, RERE is expressed in the molecular layer, the Purkinje cell layer and the granule cell layer but not in granule cell precursors. To study RERE's role in cerebellar development, we used RERE-deficient embryos bearing a null allele (om) and a hypomorphic allele (eyes3) of Rere (Rereom/eyes3). In contrast to wild-type embryos, formation of the principal fissures in these RERE-deficient embryos was delayed and the proliferative activity of granule cell precursors (GCPs) was reduced at E18.5. This reduction in proliferation was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH), which is secreted from Purkinje cells and is required for normal GCP proliferation. The maturation and migration of Purkinje cells in Rereom/eyes3 embryos was also delayed with decreased numbers of post-migratory Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. During the postnatal period, RERE depletion caused incomplete division of lobules I/II and III due to truncated development of the precentral fissure in the cerebellar vermis, abnormal development of lobule crus I and lobule crus II in the cerebellar hemispheres due to attenuation of the intercrural fissure, and decreased levels of Purkinje cell dendritic branching. We conclude that RERE-deficiency leads to delayed development of the principal fissures and delayed maturation and migration of Purkinje cells during prenatal cerebellar development and abnormal cerebellar foliation and Purkinje cell maturation during postnatal cerebellar development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with terminal and interstitial deletions of chromosome 1p36 have a spectrum of defects that includes eye anomalies, postnatal growth deficiency, structural brain anomalies, seizures, cognitive impairment, delayed motor development, behavior problems, hearing loss, cardiovascular malformations, cardiomyopathy, and renal anomalies. The proximal 1p36 genes that contribute to these defects have not been clearly delineated. The arginine-glutamic acid dipeptide (RE) repeats gene (RERE) is located in this region and encodes a nuclear receptor coregulator that plays a critical role in embryonic development as a positive regulator of retinoic acid signaling. Rere-null mice die of cardiac failure between E9.5 and E11.5. This limits their usefulness in studying the role of RERE in the latter stages of development and into adulthood. To overcome this limitation, we created an allelic series of RERE-deficient mice using an Rere-null allele, om, and a novel hypomorphic Rere allele, eyes3 (c.578T>C, p.Val193Ala), which we identified in an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-based screen for autosomal recessive phenotypes. Analyses of these mice revealed microphthalmia, postnatal growth deficiency, brain hypoplasia, decreased numbers of neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN)-positive hippocampal neurons, hearing loss, cardiovascular malformations–aortic arch anomalies, double outlet right ventricle, and transposition of the great arteries, and perimembranous ventricular septal defects–spontaneous development of cardiac fibrosis and renal agenesis. These findings suggest that RERE plays a critical role in the development and function of multiple organs including the eye, brain, inner ear, heart and kidney. It follows that haploinsufficiency of RERE may contribute–alone or in conjunction with other genetic, environmental, or stochastic factors–to the development of many of the phenotypes seen in individuals with terminal and interstitial deletions that include the proximal region of chromosome 1p36. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: COUP-TFII (also known as Nr2f2), a member of the nuclear orphan receptor superfamily, is expressed in several regions of the central nervous system (CNS), including the ventral thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, and spinal cord. To address the function of COUP-TFII in the CNS, we generated conditional COUP-TFII knockout mice using a tissue-specific NSE-Cre recombinase. Ablation of COUP-TFII in the brain resulted in malformation of the lobule VI in the cerebellum and a decrease in differentiation of cerebellar neurons and cerebellar growth. The decrease in cerebellar growth in NSECre/+/CIIF/F mice is due to reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in granule cell precursors (GCPs). Additional studies demonstrated that insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) expression was reduced in the cerebellum of NSECre/+/CIIF/F mice, thereby leading to decreased Akt1 and GSK-3β activities, and the reduced expression of mTOR. Using ChIP assays, we demonstrated that COUP-TFII was recruited to the promoter region of IGF-1 in a Sp1-dependent manner. In addition, dendritic branching of Purkinje cells was decreased in the mutant mice. Thus, our results indicate that COUP-TFII regulates growth and maturation of the mouse postnatal cerebellum through modulation of IGF-1 expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Go, a heterotrimeric G-protein, is enriched in brain and neuronal growth cones. Although several reports suggest that Go may be involved in modulation of neuronal differentiation, the precise role of Go is not clear. To investigate the function of Go in neuronal differentiation, we determined the effect of Goα, the α subunit of Go, on the expression of Cav2.2, the pore-forming unit of N-type calcium channels, at the transcription level. Treatment with cyclic AMP (cAMP), which triggers neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma F11 cells, increased the mRNA level and the promoter activity of the Cav2.2 gene. Overexpression of Goα inhibited neurite extension in F11 cells and simultaneously repressed the stimulatory effect of cAMP on the Cav2.2 gene expression to the basal level. Targeted mutation of the Goα gene also increased the level of Cav2.2 in the brain. These results suggest that Go may regulate neuronal differentiation through modulation of gene expression of target genes such as N-type calcium channels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Layer-by-layer etching of Si(1 0 0) has been investigated by alternating chlorine adsorption and Ar+ ion irradiation. As the Ar+ ion source, a helicon plasma has been used to invoke the surface reaction of Si with the adsorbed chlorine. At a chlorine partial pressure of 10 mPa, the Si surface was found to be fully saturated with adsorbed chlorine in 20 s. In order to achieve the layer-by-layer etching of Si, the Ar+ ion acceleration energy should be above 20 eV at the time of chlorine adsorption. At energies above 40 eV, however, sputtering of Si was found to occur. The self-limited etch rate was measured to be half monolayer per cycle, which was 0.68 A˚ per cycle. The roughness of Si surface was found to increase during the etching by about 22% after 900 cycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although abundant Go has been found in nervous tissues and it has been implicated in neuronal differentiation, the mechanism of how Go modulates neuronal differentiation has not been defined. Here, we report that the α subunit of Go (αo) modulates neurite outgrowth by interfering with the signaling pathway initiated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). In F11 cells, cAMP induced neurite outgrowth and activated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB). Specific inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase reduced both CREB activity and neurite outgrowth (NOG). Interestingly, cAMP reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk). Neither a dominant negative form nor an active form of Ras altered neurite outgrowth. Expression of αo (αowt) decreased the average length of neurites but increased the number of neurites per cell. An active mutant, αoQ205L, which lost GTPase activity and thus could not bind to Gβγ, gave similar results, suggesting that the effect of αo is not mediated through Gβγ. Expression of αowt or αoQ205L also prohibited CREB activation. Thus, activation of Erk may not be essential for neuronal differentiation in F11 cells and αo may cause changes in NOG by inhibiting CREB activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) is a recently introduced parameter of the neuroretinal rim. We analyzed the repeatability of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) measurements of BMO-MRW in epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients with peripapillary involvement, since the surface around the optic disc is distorted in such patients. BMO-MRW and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements were performed using SD-OCT in prospectively enrolled ERM patients and age-matched healthy control individuals. After two consecutive measurements with a 5 min interval, repeatability was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), repeatability coefficient (RC), and coefficient of variation (CV). Fifty-two eyes of 52 ERM patients and 62 eyes of 62 healthy controls were included in the study. The ICCs of the mean BMO-MRW/RNFL thickness measurements were 0.999/0.985 in ERM eyes and 0.999/0.999 in normal eyes, respectively. The RC values of mean BMO-MRW/RNFL thickness measurements were 9.0/6.25 μm in ERM eyes and 4.61/0.92 μm in normal eyes, respectively. The CV values were 0.91% and 1.45% for BMO-MRW and RNFL thickness in ERM eyes, and 0.63% and 0.33% in normal eyes, respectively. In ERM eyes, the RC, CV of average BMO-MRW were 1.9 and 1.4 times greater than those of normal eyes, but 6.8 and 4.4 times greater for average RNFL thickness. BMO-MRW and RNFL thickness showed good repeatability in the diseased eyes with peripapillary involvement and healthy control eyes. Based on the ICC, RC, and CV values, the repeatability of BMO-MRW measurements in peripapillary membrane patients was better than that of RNFL thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A room-temperature (∼26 °C) NO 2 gas sensor was fabricated using tellurium (Te) nanostructures. Te forms a helical chain with strong covalent bonds in the c-axis and weak van der Waals bonds between the chains. Therefore, the energy required for gas adsorption and desorption is low, thus, giving it the advantage of operating at room temperature. Since the shape and size of the Te helical chains can be freely controlled by adjusting the growth parameters, the electrical reactivities of Te to a specific gas can be controlled. In this study, the reactivity of Te to NO 2 gas was controlled by adjusting the number of Te nanotube walls and lengths. It was also verified that the gas detection performance was maintained even with increasing humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: High MET copy-number variation (CNV) and high MET protein expression via MET exon 14 skipping mutation (METex14SM) are associated with tumorigenesis; however, METex14SM is rare in GC, so target therapy is rarely applicable. In this study, we analyzed GC panels using targeted next-generation sequencing in GC cell lines and found that tepotinib demonstrated therapeutic effects in MET-amplified GC and those with high expressions of PD-L1, CD44, and METex14SM. Our in vitro findings indicate that tepotinib prevents GC-associated MET amplification and MET mutation. Both MET exon 14 skipping mutation (METex14SM) and high copy-number variation (CNV) lead to enhanced carcinogenesis; additionally, programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is often upregulated in cancers. In this study, we characterized the expression of MET (including METex14SM), PD-L1, and CD44 in human gastric cancer (GC) cells as well as the differential susceptibility of these cells to tepotinib. Tepotinib treatments inhibited the growth of five GC cells in a dose-dependent manner with a concomitant induction of cell death. Tepotinib treatments also significantly reduced the expression of phospho-MET, total MET, c-Myc, VEGFR2, and Snail protein in SNU620, MKN45, and Hs746T cells. Notably, tepotinib significantly reduced the expression of CD44 and PD-L1 in METex14SM Hs746T cells. By contrast, tepotinib was only slightly active against SNU638 and KATO III cells. Migration was reduced to a greater extent in the tepotinib-treated group than in the control group. Tepotinib may have therapeutic effects on c-MET-amplified GC, a high expression of both PD-L1 and CD44, and METex14SM. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these therapeutic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate detection of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases in breast cancer is crucial for clinical staging and treatment planning. This study aims to develop a deep learning model using clinical implication-applied preprocessed computed tomography (CT) images to enhance the prediction of ALN metastasis in breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 1128 axial CT images of ALN (538 malignant and 590 benign lymph nodes) were collected from 523 breast cancer patients who underwent preoperative CT scans between January 2012 and July 2022 at Hallym University Medical Center. To develop an optimal deep learning model for distinguishing metastatic ALN from benign ALN, a CT image preprocessing protocol with clinical implications and two different cropping methods (fixed size crop [FSC] method and adjustable square crop [ASC] method) were employed. The images were analyzed using three different convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures (ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet). Ensemble methods involving and combining the selection of the two best-performing CNN architectures from each cropping method were applied to generate the final result. Results: For the two different cropping methods, DenseNet consistently outperformed ResNet and EfficientNet. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for DenseNet, using the FSC and ASC methods, was 0.934 and 0.939, respectively. The ensemble model, which combines the performance of the DenseNet121 architecture for both cropping methods, delivered outstanding results with an AUROC of 0.968, an accuracy of 0.938, a sensitivity of 0.980, and a specificity of 0.903. Furthermore, distinct trends observed in gradient-weighted class activation mapping images with the two cropping methods suggest that our deep learning model not only evaluates the lymph node itself, but also distinguishes subtler changes in lymph node margin and adjacent soft tissue, which often elude human interpretation. Conclusions: This research demonstrates the promising performance of a deep learning model in accurately detecting malignant ALNs in breast cancer patients using CT images. The integration of clinical considerations into image processing and the utilization of ensemble methods further improved diagnostic precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kim, K.; Kim, B.-J.; Kim, E., and Ryu, J.-H., 2020. Classification of green tide at coastal area using lightweight UAV and only RGB images. In: Jung, H.-S.; Lee, S.; Ryu, J.-H., and Cui, T. (eds.), Advances in Geospatial Research of Coastal Environments. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 102, pp. 224-231. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Remote sensing has attracted much attention as a realistic solution to monitor green tide outbreaks quickly and efficiently, and the scope of its utilization is also gradually increasing. The use of remote sensing from satellites and airborne platforms has many advantages when monitoring large areas, but its utilization is very limited considering the cost and spatio-temporal resolution. In this work, the availability of high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image detection for the detection of green tides on the Jeju coast of Korea is presented, and the classification accuracy was evaluated through the application of various classification algorithms. The UAV survey area was 1.0 km2, and the spatial resolution of the UAV images taken at an altitude of 250 m was 4.86 cm. In this study, it was divided the survey area into four classes: Ulva, sand, seawater, and submerged Ulva. classifying them was attempted using only the RGB bands of a lightweight UAV. The high-resolution UAV images were classified as the Mahalanobis distance (MHD), maximum likelihood (MLH), minimum distance (MID), and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms, with the highest accuracy being for the MLH and ANN methods. The green tide was calculated by counting only pixels classified as Ulva and submerged Ulva in the UAV image to determine the area of the green tide in the research area. The green tide areas estimated by the MHD, MLH, MID, and ANN classification algorithms were 0.29, 0.38, 0.30, and 0.37 km2, respectively. Given that many unclassified pixels have been found using the MLH method and that this phenomenon has not been found in the ANN method, the ANN algorithm can be considered to be the most effective for coastal green tide classification. This study showed that high-resolution RGB images of lightweight UAVs could produce highly satisfactory classification results. The methods presented in this study can be considered as a very effective approach in terms of their ability to quickly acquire high-resolution images at low cost and detect vegetation with high accuracy. In the future, more diverse targets and areas will be available for identification if an accuracy assessment of classification results is made based on the spatial resolution of UAV images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical vapor deposition of graphene on transition metals is the most favored method to get large scale homogenous graphene films to date. However, this method involves a very critical step of transferring as grown graphene to desired substrates. A sacrificial polymer film is used to provide mechanical and structural support to graphene, as it is detached from underlying metal substrate, but, the residue and cracks of the polymer film after the transfer process affects the properties of the graphene. Herein, a simple mixture of polystyrene and low weight plasticizing molecules is reported as a suitable candidate to be used as polymer support layer for transfer of graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This combination primarily improves the flexibility of the polystyrene to prevent cracking during the transfer process. In addition, the polymer removal solvent can easily penetrate between the softener molecules, so that the polymer film can be easily dissolved after transfer of graphene, thereby leaving no residue. This facile method can be used freely for the large-scale transfer of 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Input-Series-Output-Parallel (ISOP) converters, a kind of modular converter, are used in high-input voltage and high-output current applications. In ISOP converters, Input Voltage Sharing (IVS) and Output Current Sharing (OCS) should be implemented for stable operation. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a decentralized control method. In the proposed control, output current reference is changed according to the decentralized control characteristic in individual current control loops. In this way, the proposed control method is able to implement IVS and OCS without communication. Also, this method can be easily used in current control loops and has high reliability compared to conventional control methods that require communication. In this paper, the operation principle is described to elucidate the proposed control and a small signal model of an ISOP converter is also implemented. Based on the small signal model, IVS stability analysis is performed using pole-zero maps with varying coefficients and control gains. In addition, the current control loop is designed in a stable region. In order to demonstrate the proposed control method, a prototype ISOP converter is configured using full-bridge converters. The performance of IVS and OCS in an ISOP converter is verified by experimental result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: GaInP/AlGaInP multiple quantum-well (MQW) laser diodes with diffusion barriers for Zn, grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), were fabricated and characterized. To determine the optimal conditions for the diffusion barriers, we investigated Zn diffusion in the GaInP/(Al0.5Ga0.5)0.5In0.5P MQW layers against three undoped (Al0.7Ga0.3)0.5In0.5P diffusion barriers with thicknesses of 0, 90, and 130nm, respectively, by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). Compared to the reference AlGaInP laser diode without a diffusion barrier, the AlGaInP ridge laser with a 130nm thick diffusion barrier on the top of the MQW layer had a threshold current that was greatly reduced from 110 to 75mA and the characteristic temperature T o that was increased from 113 to 144K in the temperature range from 25 to 50°C. This report presents quantitative information on the effect of Zn diffusion on laser performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Needle-like single crystalline wires of TaSe3 were massively synthesized using the chemical vapor transport method. Since the wedged-shaped single TaSe3 molecular chains were stacked along the b-axis by weak van der Waals interactions, a few layers of TaSe3 flakes could be easily isolated using a typical mechanical exfoliation method. The exfoliated TaSe3 flakes had an anisotropic planar structure, and the number of layers could be controlled by a repeated peeling process until a monolayer of TaSe3 nanoribbon was obtained. Through atomic force and scanning Kelvin probe microscope analyses, it was found that the variation in the work function with the thickness of the TaSe3 flakes was due to the interlayer screening effect. We believe that our results will not only help to add a novel quasi-1D block for nanoelectronics devices based on 2D van der Waals heterostructures, but also provide crucial information for designing proper contacts in device architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centimeter‐size single‐crystalline Nb3I8, a new family of two‐dimensional materials, is first synthesized by a vapor transport reaction of niobium and iodine. Through the mechanical exfoliation method, the bulk Nb3I8 crystal is cleaved to monolayer and multi‐layered flakes. It is confirmed to consist of numerous monolayers of Nb3I8 bonded by weak van der Waals interaction. By utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM), the information on structure and electrical properties is obtained at the same time. The analysis results show that the surface potential difference and the work function tend to increase as the Nb3I8 becomes thicker due to the interlayer screening effect. The results for the work function variation dependence on thickness are useful for selecting a suitable metal electrode for future Nb3I8‐based nano‐devices which can have a significant impact on performance. Centimeter‐size single‐crystalline Nb3I8 crystal, a new family of 2D materials, is firstly realized by a controlled solid‐state reaction of niobium and iodine. Since each layer of Nb3I8 is linked by a weak vdW forces, bulk Nb3I8 crystal is easily cleaved to monolayer and multi‐layered flakes by mechanical exfoliation. By utilizing the scanning Kelvin probe microscopy, the authors confirm that the surface potential difference and the work function tended to increase as the Nb3I8 become thicker due to the interlayer screening effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal flats are associated with complicated depositional and ecological environments, and have changed considerably as a result of the erosion and sedimentation caused by tidal energy; consequently, the surface sediment distribution in tidal flats must be constantly monitored and mapped. Although several studies have been conducted with the aim of classifying intertidal surface sediments using various remote sensing methods combined with field survey, most of these studies were unable to consider various sediment types, due to the low spatial resolution of remotely sensed data. Therefore, previous studies were unable to efficiently describe precise surface sediment distribution maps. In the present study, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) red, green, blue (RGB) orthoimagery was used in combination with a field survey (232 samples) to produce a large-scale classification map for surface sediment distribution, in accordance with sedimentology standards, using an object-based method. The object-based method is an effective technique that can classify surface sediment distribution by analyzing its correlations with spectral reflectance, grain size, and tidal channels. Therefore, we distinguished six sediment types based on their spectral reflectance and sediment properties, such as grain composition and statistical parameters. The accuracy assessment of the surface sediment classification based on these six types indicated an overall accuracy of 72.8%, with a kappa coefficient of 0.62 and 5-m error range related to the Global Positioning System (GPS) device. We found that 11 samples were misclassified due to the effects of sun glint and cloud caused by the UAV system and shellfish beds, while 14 misclassified samples were influenced by surface water related to the elevation, tidal channels, and sediment properties. These results indicate that large-scale classification of surface sediment with high accuracy is possible using UAV RGB orthoimagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The droop control strategy is widely used in islanded microgrids to control power flows according to the load condition, with the absence of a critical communication line, interfacing distributed energy sources to provide for the active and reactive power demand of loads. In this case, the system modeling for both steady-state and transient time is one of the key issues of a droop-controlled system for an inverter-based microgrid (MG). With the rapid development of microgrids, it is essential to identify the system stability and optimize the control parameters, taking into account the network and control dynamics caused by multiple tasks such as electric signal filtering, network synchronization, and so on. Therefore, in order to improve model accuracy and determine control coefficients, this paper analyzes and extends a dynamic phasor-based model to the droop-controlled parallel-inverters, considering network and control dynamics such as a low-pass filter, a second-order generalized integrator frequency-locked-loop (SOGI-FLL), and a system operating sequence. Moreover, discussed in this paper are both the design approaches for and the implementation of a droop-controlled parallel-inverter, which enables the system to be stable and reliable. To demonstrate the effectiveness and validity of this paper, PSIM simulation was performed and two parallel-inverters were combined as the proposed design procedure for the 4-kVA prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied dispersants for exfoliating bulk V2Se9 into one dimensional chain units. V2Se9, with a negative zeta potential of −30.1 mV, was acidic and strongly anchored with the amine head of octadecylamine by charge transfer reaction. The steric hindrance by the octadecyl tail promoted the dispersion of V2Se9 to the nano level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK class VII) expression are important in many human diseases, especially cancers, including colorectal, lung, and gastric cancer. Using RNA sequencing analysis, we evaluated the mRNA expression and mutation profiles of gastric cancer patients with neurotropic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) 1-3 overexpression (defined as a ≥2.0-fold change). Furthermore, we screened eight TRK inhibitors in NCI-N87, SNU16, MKN28, MKN7, and AGS cells. Among these inhibitors, entrectinib showed the highest inhibitory activity; therefore, this drug was selected for analysis of its therapeutic mechanisms in gastric cancer. Entrectinib treatment induced apoptosis in NTRK1-3-expressing and VEGFR2-expressing NCI-N87 and AGS cells, but it had no effect on NTRK1-3-, VEGFR2-, TGFBR1-, and CD274-expressing MKN7 cells. SNU16 and MKN28 cells with low NTRK1-3 expression were not affected by entrectinib. Therefore, a mechanistic study was conducted in NCI-N87 (high expression of NTRK1-3 but mutation of NTRK3), AGS (high expression of NTRK1-3) and MKN28 (low expression of NTRK1-3) gastric cancer cell lines. Entrectinib treatment significantly reduced expression levels of phosphorylated NFκB, AKT, ERK, and β-catenin in NCI-N87 and AGS cells, whereas it upregulated the expression levels of ECAD in NCI-N87 cells. Together, these results suggest that entrectinib has anti-cancer activity not only in GC cells overexpressing pan NTRK but also in VEGFR2 GC cells via the inhibition of the pan NTRK and VEGFR signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, high‐quality 1D van der Waals (vdW) Nb2Pd3Se8 is synthesized, showing an excellent scalability from bulk to single‐ribbon due to weakly bonded repeating unit ribbons. The calculation of electronic band structures confirmed that this novel Nb2Pd3Se8 is a semiconducting material, displaying indirect‐to‐direct bandgap transition with decreasing the number of unit‐ribbons from bulk to single. Field effect transistors (FETs) fabricated on the mechanically exfoliated Nb2Pd3Se8 nanowires exhibit n‐type transport characteristics at room temperature, resulting in the values for the electron mobility and Ion/Ioff ratio of 31 cm2 V−1 s−1 and ≈104, respectively. Through transport measurements at various temperatures from room temperature down to 90 K, it is confirmed that Nb2Pd3Se8 FETs can achieve negligible Schottky barrier height (SBH) for the Au contacts at the temperature range, displaying clear ohmic contact characteristics. Furthermore, top‐gated FETs fabricated with the Al2O3 dielectric layer are studied simultaneously with back‐gated FETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Onartuzumab, a humanized monovalent monoclonal antibody to the MET protein, has been tested in various cancers. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized phase II and III clinical trials to investigate the efficacy and safety of onartuzumab in solid cancers.Methods: We searched PubMed, PMC, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library databases. We included randomized phase II or III trials that evaluated the additional benefits of onartuzumab in comparison with the standard treatments. Data on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were pooled and analyzed.Results: From nine studies, a total of 2,138 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The addition of onartuzumab to the standard treatment resulted in no improvement of PFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.00 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.11], P = 0.93) and OS (HR = 1.08 [95% CI, 0.94-1.23], P = 0.29). In the subgroup analysis with patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), onartuzumab was not associated with a significant improvement of OS (HR = 1.12 [95% CI, 0.93-1.34], P = 0.23) and PFS (HR = 1.05 [95% CI, 0.91-1.21], P = 0.52). With respect to AEs, onartuzumab increased the incidence of hypoalbuminemia (odds ratio (OR) = 14.8 [95% CI, 3.49-62.71], P < 0.001), peripheral edema (OR = 6.52 [95% CI, 3.60-11.81], P < 0.001), neutropenia (OR = 1.36 [95% CI, 1.03-1.79], P = 0.03), thrombocytopenia (OR = 1.98 [95% CI, 1.03-3.81], P = 0.04), and venous thrombotic events (OR = 3.05 [95% CI, 1.39-6.71], P = 0.006).Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that the addition of onartuzumab to the standard treatments had no definite survival benefit with increased severe toxicities in patients with solid cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A weakly supervised power line detection algorithm is proposed. • A line specialized refinement algorithm is applied for performance improvement. • A repeated learning framework with noise label develops the model output. Detection of power lines in aerial images is an important problem to prevent accidents of unmanned aerial vehicles operating at low altitudes in the electrical industry. Recently, pixel-level power line detection using deep learning has been studied but production of the pixel-level annotations for massive dataset is difficult. In this study, we propose a power line detection algorithm using weakly supervised learning method to reduce the labeling cost for dataset generation. The algorithm is divided into two stages. First, an approximately localized mask was generated based on a convolutional neural network which was trained with only patch-level labels. Second, recursive training of segmentation network with refined broken line segments was executed. A refinement algorithm, line segment connecting (LSC) is a power-line-specialized refinement module that connects broken lines by approximating the segments as partially straight. In proposed algorithm, predicted image at each recursive step was updated as a label of the next training and the label was developed by itself with LSC. The comprehensive experimental results of our algorithm showed state-of-art F 1 -score of 94.3% in weakly supervised learning approaches on public dataset. This result suggests that the proposed algorithm is useful for low labeling cost with high performance in line detection application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

True one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals materials can form two-dimensional (2D) dangling-bond-free anisotropic surfaces. Dangling bonds on surfaces act as defects for transporting charge carriers. In this study, we consider true 1D materials to be V2Se9 chains, and then the electronic structures of 2D sheets composed of true 1D V2Se9 chains are calculated. The (010) plane has indirect bandgap with 0.757 eV (1.768 eV), while the (111̅) plane shows a nearly direct bandgap of 1.047 eV (2.118 eV) for DFT-D3 (HSE06) correction, respectively. The (111̅) plane of V2Se9 is expected to be used in optoelectronic devices because it contains a nearly direct bandgap. Partial charge analysis indicates that the (010) plane exhibits interchain interaction is stronger than the (111̅) plane. To investigate the strain effect, we increased the interchain distance of planes until an indirect-to-direct bandgap transition occurred. The (010) plane then demonstrated a direct bandgap when interchain distance increased by 30%, while the (111̅) plane demonstrated a direct bandgap when the interchain distance increased by 10%. In mechanical sensors, this change in the bandgap was induced by the interchain distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A voltage balancer (VB) can be used to balance voltages under load unbalance in either a bipolar DC microgrid or LVDC (Low voltage DC) distribution system. An interleaved buck-type VB has advantages over other voltage balance topologies for reduction in output current ripple by an aspect of configuration of a physically symmetrical structure. Similarly, magnetic coupling such as winding two or more magnetic components into a single magnetic component can be selected to enhance the power density and dynamic response. In order to achieve these advantages in a VB, this paper proposes a VB with a coupled inductor (CI) as a substitute for inductors in a two-stage interleaved buck-type VB circuit. Based on patterns of switch poles under load variation, the variation in inductor currents under four switching patterns is induced. The proposed CI is derived from self-inductance based on the configuration structure that has a two-stage interleaved buck type and mathematical design results based on the coupling coefficient, where the coupling coefficient is a key factor in the determination of the dynamic response of the proposed VB in load variation. According to the results, a prototype scale is implemented to confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed VB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a MoI 2 precursor, a one-dimensional linear chain material, Mo 6 S 3 I 6 , was synthesized on a centimeter scale. As MoI 2 can be used to form Mo 6 S 3 I 6 through a gas-phase reaction, a larger amount of single crystals can be synthesized; moreover, these crystals are significantly longer than those synthesized by using Mo, S, and I powder. The synthesized Mo 6 S 3 I 6 exhibited the characteristics of paramagnetic semiconductors with excellent thermal stability and a low bandgap. Furthermore, Mo 6 S 3 I 6 can be separated into long nanometer-scale chains by a solution dispersion process. • First synthesis of cm scale synthesize of vdW 1D material Mo 6 S 3 I 6. • Superior material properties based on high crystallinity. • Atomic level (nm) dispersion for ideal 1D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel one‐dimensional (1D) inorganic material, Nb2Se9, which can be separated into atomic‐level, is synthesized through chemical reaction between Nb and Se sources. Nb2Se9 and Se crystals are formed under an excess Se condition to avoid other phase such as NbSe3, and the residual Se can be removed by heat treatment; thus, high‐purity Nb2Se9 crystals can be obtained. The one‐atom‐thick level Nb2Se9 nanochains are successfully obtained by mechanical exfoliation and dispersion in a solvent. The covalently bonded Nb2Se9 chain, when isolated from its three‐dimensional bulk material, is expected to have unique physical properties based on electron confinement in the 1D chain structure and the absence of dangling bonds. In addition, it has excellent thermal stability (up to 500 °C) and can be widely used in various fields. A novel one‐dimensional inorganic chain Nb2Se9 is synthesized using flux method. The Nb2Se9 nanochains with average diameter of 8 nm can be dispersed in isopropyl alcohol, and one‐atom‐thick Nb2Se9 chains can be obtained by mechanical exfoliation. The Nb2Se9 nanochain is expected to exhibit unique physical properties based on its dangling bond‐free one‐dimensional chain structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The EORTC PET criteria (EORTC criteria) are used to assess metabolic tumor response in patients with solid tumors. We conducted this pooled study to compare tumor responses according to the RECIST and EORTC criteria.Methods: Electronic databases were searched for eligible articles with the terms of "RECIST" or "EORTC criteria". We found seven articles with the data on the comparison of tumor responses by the RECIST and EORTC criteria.Results: A total of 181 patients were recruited from the seven studies. Ninety-two patients (50.8%) received cytotoxic chemotherapy and 89 were treated with targeted agents. The agreement of tumor responses between the RECIST and EORTC criteria was moderate (k = 0.493). Of 181 patients, 66 (36.5%) showed disagreement in the tumor responses: tumor response was upgraded in 54 patients and downgraded in 12 when adopting the EORTC criteria. The estimated overall response rates were significantly different between the two criteria (52.5% by the EORTC vs. 29.8% by the RECIST, P < 0.0001). When comparing the two criteria according to the anti-cancer treatments (chemotherapy or targeted therapy), the levels of agreement in tumor responses were not excellent (k = 0.461 for chemotherapy and k = 0.524 for targeted therapy, respectively) regardless of therapeutic types.Conclusion: This pooled study indicates that the concordance of tumor responses between the RECIST and EORTC criteria is not excellent. When adopting the EORTC criteria instead of the RECIST, the overall response rate was significantly increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a battery simulator (BS) based on a Z-source rectifier (ZSR), with the intention of emulating the discharge or charge characteristic of an actual lithium-polymer battery with high voltage and large capacity. The proposed BS is used for power testing for battery applications. The battery model, combined with a Shepherd model and a Thevenin model, is adopted to freely change the properties and specifications of the battery and to replicate the dynamic behavior of the battery, which is discretized to utilize the digital controller of the BS. The closed-loop voltage controller at the dc side of the ZSR is designed to emulate the rapid dynamic characteristics of the battery based on small-signal methods, considering the influence of the components of the impedance network. In this paper, battery voltage control algorithm (BVCA) is also utilized to minimize the voltage stress across switches while controlling two dc-side voltages within a wide range of output voltages. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the BS of the new feature and the proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a heterogeneous group of diseases comprising intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. Although gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GEMCIS) was established as the standard first-line chemotherapy based on the ABC-02 trial, more data are needed to define the clinical course of BTC and its prognostic factors with the standard GEMCIS treatment.Methods: Between April 2010 and June 2016, 740 patients with histologically documented cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer were treated with first-line GEMCIS in Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.Results: In 389 patients with measurable disease (53%), the objective response rate was 13% (n = 50) and there was no significant difference between primary tumor sites (p = 0.45). With a median follow-up duration of 27.3 months (95% CI 24.2-30.5), the median PFS and OS were 5.2 months (95% CI 4.7-5.6) and 10.4 months (95% CI 9.6-11.2), respectively. In multivariate analysis, male gender (female versus male, hazard ratio [HR] 0.83), baseline CA 19-9 level (elevated versus normal, HR 1.31), initially metastatic disease (versus locally advanced disease, HR 1.92), poor performance status (2 versus 0-1, HR 1.45), and measurable disease by RECIST criteria (versus non-measurable, HR 1.40) were significantly associated with a poorer OS (all p < 0.05).Conclusions: Our retrospective analysis of a large number of patients in a real-world setting found comparable efficacy outcomes to the ABC-02 trial. The prognostic factors identified here may help to predict clinical outcomes and design future clinical trials for advanced BTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FRAS1-related extracellular matrix 1 (FREM1) gene encodes an extracellular matrix protein that plays a critical role in the development of multiple organ systems. In humans, recessive mutations in FREM1 cause eye defects, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, renal anomalies and anorectal malformations including anteriorly placed anus. A similar constellation of findings–microphthalmia, cryptophthalmos, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, renal agenesis and rectal prolapse–have been described in FREM1-deficient mice. In this paper, we identify a homozygous Frem1 missense mutation (c.1687A>T, p.Ile563Phe) in an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-derived mouse strain, crf11, with microphthalmia, cryptophthalmos, renal agenesis and rectal prolapse. This mutation affects a highly conserved residue in FREM1’s third CSPG domain. The p.Ile563Phe change is predicted to be deleterious and to cause decreased FREM1 protein stability. The crf11 allele also fails to complement the previously described eyes2 allele of Frem1 (p.Lys826*) providing further evidence that the crf11 phenotype is due to changes affecting Frem1 function. We then use mice bearing the crf11 and eyes2 alleles to identify lung lobulation defects and decreased anogenital distance in males as novel phenotypes associated with FREM1 deficiency in mice. Due to phenotypic overlaps between FREM1-deficient mice and mice that are deficient for the retinoic acid-responsive transcription factor GATA4 and the extracellular matrix protein SLIT3, we also perform experiments to look for in vivo genetic interactions between the genes that encode these proteins. These experiments reveal that Frem1 interacts genetically with Gata4 in the development of lung lobulation defects and with Slit3 in the development of renal agenesis. These results demonstrate that FREM1-deficient mice faithfully recapitulate many of the phenotypes seen in individuals with FREM1 deficiency and that variations in GATA4 and SLIT3 expression modulate some FREM1-related phenotypes in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new of 2D transition metal thiophosphates, Nb 4 P 2 S 21 , was synthesized through a vapor transport reaction. High purity and centimeter-scale large Nb 4 P 2 S 21 crystals were obtained by controlling the growth temperature and stoichiometric ratio between niobium, phosphorus, and sulfur (using excess sulfur condition, Nb: P: S = 4: 2: 23). It was confirmed that large Nb 4 P 2 S 21 crystals could be separated to a nanometer scale through mechanical exfoliation, and the exfoliated Nb 4 P 2 S 21 layer exhibits semiconducting characteristics by measuring the change in electrical conductivity with temperature (increased conductivity with temperature in the range of 93–333 K). Furthermore, the device characteristics for detecting visible ray laser (635 nm) and NO 2 gas molecules were verified. Based on these characteristics, the synthesized 2D material is expected to be a potential candidate for additional 2D materials and in multi-functional sensor devices, including optoelectronics and gas sensing applications. • Synthesis of 2D transition metal thiophosphates Nb 4 P 2 S 21. • Bulk to few nanometer scale separation of Nb 4 P 2 S 21 using mechanical exfoliation. • Multi-functional sensing application in photodetector and gas sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of 1D inorganic material, MoI 3 , which can be separated into individual 1D chains, was synthesized through a vapor transport reaction between molybdenum and iodine. High-purity and centimeter-scale large MoI 3 crystals were obtained by controlling the growth temperature and the stoichiometric ratio between molybdenum and iodine. Their semiconductor characteristics were confirmed by measuring the electrical conductivity as a function of temperature (conductivity increased with increased temperature across the range −70 to 30 °C). Furthermore, it was confirmed that MoI 3 with a 1.27 eV band gap can be separated to a few nanometer scale through mechanical and chemical exfoliation methods and can be used as a photodetector in the near IR (less than 1000 nm)-to-visible light region. This novel 1D material is expected to play an important role in the development of additional low-dimensional materials and in advanced nano-optoelectronic devices. • Synthesis of 1D inorganic material MoI 3 via chemical vapor transport (CVT) method. • Experimental estimation of band gap (∼ 1.27 eV) and application to photodetector. • Bulk to few nanometer scale separations of MoI 3 chains using mechanical and chemical exfoliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant expression of mucins (MUCs) can promote the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which leads to enhanced tumorigenesis. Carcinogenesis-related pathways involving c-MET and β-catenin are associated with MUCs. In this study, we characterized the expression of EMT-relevant proteins including MET, β-catenin, and E-cadherin in human gastric cancer (GC) cell lines, and further characterized the differential susceptibility of these cell lines compared with the c-MET inhibitor tepotinib. We assessed the antitumor activity of tepotinib in GC cell lines. The effects of tepotinib on cell viability, apoptotic cell death, EMT, and c-MET and β-catenin signaling were evaluated by 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS), flow cytometry, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. The antitumor efficacy was assessed in MKN45 xenograft mice. Tepotinib treatment induced apoptosis in c-MET-amplified SNU620, MKN45, and KATO III cells, but had no effect on c-MET-reduced MKN28 or AGS cells. Tepotinib treatment also significantly reduced the protein levels of phosphorylated and total c-MET, phosphorylated and total ERK, β-catenin, and c-MYC in SNU620 and MKN45 cells. In contrast, this drug was only slightly active against KATO III cells. Notably, tepotinib significantly reduced the expression of EMT-promoting genes such as MMP7, COX-2, WNT1, MUC5B, and c-MYC in c-MET-amplified GC cells and increased the expression of EMT-suppressing genes such as MUC5AC, MUC6, GSK3β, and E-cadherin. In a mouse model, tepotinib exhibited good antitumor growth activity along with increased E-cadherin and decreased phosphorylated c-MET (phospho-c-MET) protein levels. Collectively, these results suggest that tepotinib suppresses tumor growth and migration by negatively regulating c-MET-induced EMT. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which MUC5AC and MUC6 contribute to GC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]