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Image detection deep learning models are being used in various fields such as autonomous vehicles, medical, and agriculture. In the defense field, various efforts are being made to apply deep learning models to surveillance systems. Since the defense field deals with important issues such as combat, the reliability of the model is important. Therefore, this study intends to propose a new "strong supervised learning method" to ensure explainability of the defense image classification model. The proposed method is using the knowledge of military experts and the HITL (Human In The Loop) method in which humans and AI interact. This is the learning that provides the data of important parts of objects in addition to the general supervised learning which provides input data and labeling data. The learning process for the additionally provided data is carried out through a loss function of SSIM (Structural Similarity Index Map), which measures the similarity between data of important parts and a feature map of a convolutional neural network. In order to evaluate the proposed methodology, the model learned by general supervised learning and the model learned by the proposed method were compared. The comparison criteria were as follows: first, evaluation of similarity between the results of Grad CAM, a Visual Explain method, along with the data the important parts designated by experts; and second, the classification accuracy of objects. As a result of the experiment using the VGG16, ResNet50, InceptionV3, and Xception models, the similarity between the data of the Grad CAM and the region of interest was improved by an average of 15.52% based on the entire image area. In addition, the classification accuracy showed an average improvement of 4.72% based on Test Set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing utilization of artificial intelligence algorithms in drug development has proven to be highly efficient and effective. One area where deep learning-based approaches have made significant contributions is in drug repositioning, enabling the identification of new therapeutic applications for existing drugs. In the present study, a trained deep-learning model was employed to screen a library of FDA-approved drugs to discover novel inhibitors targeting JAK2. To accomplish this, reference datasets containing active and decoy compounds specific to JAK2 were obtained from the DUD-E database. RDKit, a cheminformatic toolkit, was utilized to extract molecular features from the compounds. The DeepChem framework's GraphConvMol, based on graph convolutional network models, was applied to build a predictive model using the DUD-E datasets. Subsequently, the trained deep-learning model was used to predict the JAK2 inhibitory potential of FDA-approved drugs. Based on these predictions, ribociclib, topiroxostat, amodiaquine, and gefitinib were identified as potential JAK2 inhibitors. Notably, several known JAK2 inhibitors demonstrated high potential according to the prediction results, validating the reliability of our prediction model. To further validate these findings and confirm their JAK2 inhibitory activity, molecular docking experiments were conducted using tofacitinib—an FDA-approved drug for JAK2 inhibition. Experimental validation successfully confirmed our computational analysis results by demonstrating that these novel drugs exhibited comparable inhibitory activity against JAK2 compared to tofacitinib. In conclusion, our study highlights how deep learning models can significantly enhance virtual screening efforts in drug discovery by efficiently identifying potential candidates for specific targets such as JAK2. These newly discovered drugs hold promises as novel JAK2 inhibitors deserving further exploration and investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proving the "expectation-threshold" conjecture of Kahn and Kalai [Combin. Probab. Comput. 16 (2007), pp. 495–502], we show that for any increasing property \mathcal {F} on a finite set X, \[ p_c(\mathcal {F})=O(q(\mathcal {F})\log \ell (\mathcal {F})), \] where p_c(\mathcal {F}) and q(\mathcal {F}) are the threshold and "expectation threshold" of \mathcal {F}, and \ell (\mathcal {F}) is the maximum of 2 and the maximum size of a minimal member of \mathcal {F}. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-Aminobutyric acid aminotransferase (GABA-AT) is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that degrades γ-aminobutyric (GABA) in the brain. GABA is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays important neurological roles in the brain. Therefore, GABA-AT is an important drug target that regulates GABA levels. Novel and potent drug development to inhibit GABA-AT is still a very challenging task. In this study, we aimed to devise novel and potent inhibitors against GABA-AT using computer-aided drug design (CADD) tools. Since the crystal structure of human GABA-AT was not yet available, we utilized a homologous structure derived from our previously published paper. To identify highly potent compounds relative to vigabatrin, an FDA-approved drug against human GABA-AT, we developed a pharmacophore analysis protocol for 530,000 Korea Chemical Bank (KCB) compounds and selected the top 50 compounds for further screening. Preliminary biological analysis was carried out for these 50 compounds and 16 compounds were further assessed. Subsequently, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and binding free energy calculations were carried out. In the results, four predicted compounds, A07, B07, D08, and H08, were found to be highly potent and were further evaluated by a biological activity assay to confirm the results of the GABA-AT activity inhibition assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their clonal origins, tumors eventually develop into complex communities made up of phenotypically different cell subpopulations, according to mounting evidence. Tumor cell-intrinsic programming and signals from geographically and temporally changing microenvironments both contribute to this variability. Furthermore, the mutational load is typically lacking in childhood malignancies of adult cancers, and they still exhibit high cellular heterogeneity levels largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Ewing sarcomas represent highly aggressive malignancies affecting both bone and soft tissue, primarily afflicting adolescents. Unfortunately, the outlook for patients facing relapsed or metastatic disease is grim. These tumors are primarily fueled by a distinctive fusion event involving an FET protein and an ETS family transcription factor, with the most prevalent fusion being EWS/FLI1. Despite originating from a common driver mutation, Ewing sarcoma cells display significant variations in transcriptional activity, both within and among tumors. Recent research has pinpointed distinct fusion protein activities as a principal source of this heterogeneity, resulting in markedly diverse cellular phenotypes. In this review, we aim to characterize the role of the EWS/FLI fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma by exploring its general mechanism of activation and elucidating its implications for tumor heterogeneity. Additionally, we delve into potential therapeutic opportunities to target this aberrant fusion protein in the context of Ewing sarcoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

USP47 is widely involved in tumor development, metastasis, and other processes while performing a more regulatory role in inflammatory responses, myocardial infarction, and neuronal development. In this study, we investigate the functional and biochemical properties of USP47, whereby depleting USP47 inhibited cancer cell growth in a p53-dependent manner—a phenomenon that enhances during the simultaneous knockdown of USP7. Full-length USP47 shows higher deubiquitinase activity than the catalytic domain. The crystal structures of the catalytic domain, in its free and ubiquitin-bound states, reveal that the misaligned catalytic triads, ultimately, become aligned upon ubiquitin-binding, similar to USP7, thereby becoming ready for catalysis. Yet, the composition and lengths of BL1, BL2, and BL3 of USP47 differ from those for USP7, and they contribute to the observed selectivity. Our study provides molecular details of USP47 regulation, substrate recognition, and the hotspots for drug discovery by targeting USP47. Crystal structures of USP47's catalytic domain in its free and ubiquitin-bound states and functional assays reveal molecular details of USP47 regulation, substrate recognition, and hotspots for drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase—also called GABA aminotransferase (GABA-AT)—deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a severe neonatal-infantile epileptic encephalopathy with symptoms such as seizures, hypotonia, hyperreflexia, developmental delay, and growth acceleration. GABA transaminase deficiency is caused by mutations in GABA-AT, the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of GABA. Mutations in multiple locations on GABA-AT have been reported and their locations have been shown to influence the onset of the disease and the severity of symptoms. We examined how GABA-AT mutations influence the structural stability of the enzyme and GABA-binding affinity using computational methodologies such as molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation to understand the underlying mechanism through which GABA-AT mutations cause GABA-AT deficiency. GABA-AT 3D model depiction was carried out together with seven individual mutated models of GABA-AT. The structural stability of all the predicted models was analyzed using several tools and web servers. All models were evaluated based on their phytochemical values. Additionally, 100 ns MD simulation was carried out and the mutated models were evaluated using RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA. gmxMMPBSA free energy calculation was carried out. Moreover, RMSD and free energy calculations were also compared with those obtained using online web servers. Our study demonstrates that P152S, Q296H, and R92Q play a more critical role in the structural instability of GABA-AT compared with the other mutated models: G465R, L211F, L478P, and R220K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia critical region, on chromosome X, gene 1 (DAX1) is an orphan nuclear receptor encoded by the NR0B1 gene. The functional study showed that DAX1 is a physiologically significant target for EWS/FLI1-mediated oncogenesis, particularly Ewing Sarcoma (ES). In this study, a three-dimensional DAX1 structure was modeled by employing a homology modeling approach. Furthermore, the network analysis of genes involved in Ewing Sarcoma was also carried out to evaluate the association of DAX1 and other genes with ES. Moreover, a molecular docking study was carried out to check the binding profile of screened flavonoid compounds against DAX1. Therefore, 132 flavonoids were docked in the predicted active binding pocket of DAX1. Moreover, the pharmacogenomics analysis was performed for the top ten docked compounds to evaluate the ES-related gene clusters. As a result, the five best flavonoid-docked complexes were selected and further evaluated by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation studies at 100 ns. The MD simulation trajectories were evaluated by generating RMSD, hydrogen bond plot analysis, and interaction energy graphs. Our results demonstrate that flavonoids showed interactive profiles in the active region of DAX1 and can be used as potential therapeutic agents against DAX1-mediated augmentation of ES after in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a number of reports on the importance of USP35 in cancer have been published. However, very little is known about the exact mechanism by which USP35 activity is regulated. Here, we show the possible regulation of USP35 activity and the structural specificity affecting its function by analyzing various fragments of USP35. Interestingly, the catalytic domain of USP35 alone does not exhibit deubiquitinating activity; in contrast, the C-terminal domain and insertion region in the catalytic domain is required for full USP35 activity. Additionally, through its C-terminal domain, USP35 forms a homodimer that prevents USP35 degradation. CHIP bound to HSP90 interacts with and ubiquitinates USP35. However, when fully functional USP35 undergoes auto-deubiquitination, which attenuates CHIP-mediated ubiquitination. Finally, USP35 dimer is required for deubiquitination of the substrate Aurora B and regulation of faithful mitotic progression. The properties of USP35 identified in this study are a unique homodimer structure, regulation of deubiquitinating activity through this, and utilization of a novel E3 ligase involved in USP35 auto-deubiquitination, which adds another complexity to the regulation of deubiquitinating enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is one of the human's most common malaria parasites. P. vivax is exceedingly difficult to control and eliminate due to the existence of extravascular reservoirs and recurring infections from latent liver stages. Traditionally, licorice compounds have been widely investigated against viral and infectious diseases and exhibit some promising results to combat these diseases. In the present study, computational approaches are utilized to study the effect of licorice compounds against P. vivax Duffy binding protein (DBP) to inhibit the malarial invasion to human red blood cells (RBCs). The main focus is to block the DBP binding site to Duffy antigen receptor chemokines (DARC) of RBC to restrict the formation of the DBP–DARC complex. A molecular docking study was performed to analyze the interaction of licorice compounds with the DARC binding site of DBP. Furthermore, the triplicates of molecular dynamic simulation studies for 100 ns were carried out to study the stability of representative docked complexes. The leading compounds such as licochalcone A, echinatin, and licochalcone B manifest competitive results against DBP. The blockage of the active region of DBP resulting from these compounds was maintained throughout the triplicates of 100 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, maintaining stable hydrogen bond formation with the active site residues of DBP. Therefore, the present study suggests that licorice compounds might be good candidates for novel agents against DBP-mediated RBC invasion of P. vivax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of the sea surface temperature (SST) on the forecast of two typhoons, which consecutively hit South Korea in 2020. SST data were obtained from the Daily Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) version 2 and HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model/Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation (HYCOM/NCODA; GLBy0.08/expt_93.0). When verified using in situ observational data, the OISST data did not accurately estimate the changes in SST during each typhoon's landfall period compared to the HYCOM data since it has a relatively low temporal resolution. To investigate the impact of these two SST data on typhoon forecasts, we conducted sensitivity experiments using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The results showed that simulated typhoon intensities were significantly improved in the simulations with HYCOM data (HY runs), while typhoon track forecast performances were similar in both runs. In addition, the forecast performances of the maximum wind speed at 10 m during the typhoon landfall period were improved in the HY runs. Therefore, this study showed that the overall typhoon intensity and forecast performances during the landfall period could be improved when the higher temporal-resolution SST data were prescribed in the model boundary conditions for a better representation of typhoon-induced SST changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a highly malignant carcinoma prevalent in children and most frequent in the second decade of life. It mostly occurs due to t(11;22) (q24;q12) translocation. This translocation encodes the oncogenic fusion protein EWS/FLI (Friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor), which acts as an aberrant transcription factor to deregulate target genes essential for cancer. Traditionally, flavonoids from plants have been investigated against viral and cancerous diseases and have shown some promising results to combat these disorders. In the current study, representative flavonoid compounds from various subclasses are selected and used to disrupt the RNA-binding motif of EWS, which is required for EWS/FLI fusion. By blocking the RNA-binding motif of EWS, it might be possible to combat ES. Therefore, molecular docking experiments validated the binding interaction patterns and structural behaviors of screened flavonoid compounds within the active region of the Ewing sarcoma protein (EWS). Furthermore, pharmacogenomics analysis was used to investigate potential drug interactions with Ewing sarcoma-associated genes. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the stability of the best selected docked complexes. Taken together, daidzein, kaempferol, and genistein exhibited a result comparable to ifosfamide in the proposed in silico study and can be further analyzed as possible candidate compounds in biological in vitro studies against ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper molten marks at a fire site provide important clues for determining the causes of fire. Four factors have been presented to quantitatively discriminate copper molten marks, namely the fraction of (001) component perpendicular to the demarcation line, the grain aspect ratio, the fraction of Σ3 boundaries, and the fraction of maximum grain size. However, only laboratory-level results of these parameters have been presented, and their applicability in actual fires is yet to be verified. In this study, a fire reproduction experimental system was configured to generate molten marks similar to those in actual fire sites. The molten marks were measured by electron backscatter diffraction and applied to the four discriminant factors. The results obtained similar characteristics to those of the laboratory unit, confirming the applicability of the four discriminant factors. Discriminant equations and processes that can distinguish the primary and secondary arc beads were derived using the molten marks generated in the laboratory and reproduction experiments. Furthermore, a probabilistic discrimination method and classification model developed by machine learning were proposed. Therefore, the use of the discriminants in actual fires can improve the reliability of the statistics and prevent the recurrence of similar fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure of molten marks changes according to ambient temperatures, when a short circuit occurs. Investigation of microstructural changes is important for understanding the properties of copper and examining the cause of a fire. In this study, the boundary characteristics and grain-size distribution of molten marks—primary-arc beads (PABs), which short-circuited at room temperature (25 °C), and secondary-arc beads (SABs), which short-circuited at high temperatures (600 °C, 900 °C)—were compared using electron backscatter diffraction. The distribution of Σ3 boundaries was compared, and it was found that SABs have a higher fraction of Σ3 boundaries than PABs. Moreover, it was confirmed that the ratio of maximum grain size (area) to the total area of the molten mark in SABs is larger than that in PABs. Thus, reliable discriminant factors were suggested, such as the fraction of Σ3 boundaries and normalized maximum grain size, which can distinguish PABs and SABs. The four discriminant factors, such as the (001)//LD, GAR, fraction of Σ3 boundaries, and fraction of maximum grain size to the total molten-mark area, were verified using the machine learning of t-SNE and Pearson correlation analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors as adjuvant therapy. Objective: We provide pooled scientific evidence highlighting the efficacy and safety of opicapone, a newly approved COMT inhibitor, as an adjuvant to levodopa. Methods: We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant reports. Efficacy and safety were evaluated as off-time reduction and risk ratio (RR) of dyskinesia, respectively. Data were independently extracted using predefined criteria. Selected placebo-controlled trials were divided into double-blind and open-label periods. Using a random-effects model, the mean difference (MD) of the off-time reduction (efficacy), RR for the occurrence of dyskinesia, and on-time without/with troublesome dyskinesia (TD; safety assessment) were compared between opicapone and placebo groups. Results: Five studies from three randomized controlled trials were included, and a meta-analysis was performed with 407 patients receiving opicapone 50 mg and 402 patients receiving placebo. Compared with the placebo, opicapone (50 mg) reduced off-time by 49.91 min during the double-blind period (95% confidence intervals [CIs] = –71.39, –28.43; I2 = 0%). The RR of dyskinesia was 3.43 times greater in the opicapone 50 mg group than in the placebo group (95% CI = 2.14, 5.51; I = 0%). Compared with the placebo, opicapone increased the on-time without TD by 44.62 min (95% CI = 22.60, 66.64; I2 = 0%); the on-time increase with TD did not differ between treatments. Conclusion: Opicapone can play a positive role as an adjuvant to levodopa in patients with PD by reducing off-time and prolonging on-time without PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tried to examine the feasibility of enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) for CO2 leakage prevention in a subsurface condition. For this, the effects of 1) concentrations of urease enzyme and reactants (urea and CaCl2), 2) initial pH (3–9), and 3) temperature (30–50 °C) on the precipitation of calcium carbonate were tested in the batch experiments. In addition, the core-plugging experiment was conducted to test the potential application of EICP to a porous medium with high permeability. The batch experiments showed that the 0.25 M urea was completely hydrolyzed by urease (above 1000 U/l). However, 0.4 M and 0.5 M urea were not completely decomposed because of the insufficient quantity of urease. Our result also showed that urea hydrolysis was not observed at pH 3, while the efficiency of calcite precipitation was not affected in the pH range of 5 to 9. Temperature also affected the hydrolysis of urea. The efficiency of calcite precipitation increased with increasing temperature from 30 °C to 50 °C. In addition, the result of the core-plugging experiment showed that the permeability of the sandstone core decrease by approximately 42% due to the precipitation of calcite in the pores. From our results, this study suggested that EICP can be a potential for CO2 leakage prevention from a storage reservoir within the pH and temperature ranges of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the characteristics of simulated tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific by a regional model (the WRF Model) are verified. We utilize 12-km horizontal grid spacing, and simulations are integrated for 5 days from model initialization. A total of 125 forecasts are divided into five clusters through the k-means clustering method. The TCs in the cluster 1 and 2 (group 1), which includes many TCs moving northward in the subtropical region, generally have larger track errors than for TCs in cluster 3 and 4 (group 2). The optimal steering vector is used to examine the difference in the track forecast skill between these two groups. The bias in the steering vector between the model and analysis data is found to be more substantial for group 1 TCs than group 2 TCs. The larger steering vector difference for group 1 TCs indicates that environmental fields tend to be poorly simulated in group 1 TC cases. Furthermore, the residual terms, including the storm-scale process, asymmetric convection distribution, or beta-related effect, are also larger for group 1 TCs than group 2 TCs. Therefore, it is probable that the large track forecast error for group 1 TCs is a result of unreasonable simulations of environmental wind fields and residual processes in the midlatitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten marks identified at a fire site can aid in determining the cause of a fire. Quantitative analysis of such molten marks has not yet been reported, despite several identification methods for molten marks being proposed based on optical micrographs. Herein, we propose a new methodology to establish the quantitative microstructure parameters of the molten marks using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The globules were generated by heating the copper conductor to 1100°C in a non-energized state. Then, the arc beads were prepared by shorting the copper wire at 25°C and 900°C in an energized state. The globules did not show evident demarcation lines and indicated that the microstructure consisted of globular or dendritic grains; this demonstrated that their characteristics were distinctly different from those of arc beads. However, the primary arc beads (PABs) shorted at 25°C exhibited a strong (001) texture perpendicular to the demarcation line and comprised large fractions of columnar grains with a small grain aspect ratio (GAR). The microstructure of secondary arc beads (SABs) shorted at 900°C presented a mixture of elongated and equiaxed grains with a large GAR and no specific development of texture. The GAR and (001) fraction perpendicular to the demarcation line could be discriminant parameters of PABs and SABs. Consequently, EBSD methods can be newly applied for the classification of globules, PABs, and SABs based on the quantitative microstructure information and orientation distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the kinetic resolution of α‐silyl‐substituted allylboronate esters via chiral phosphoric acid‐catalyzed chemo‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective allylboration of aldehydes. This process provides two synthetically versatile enantioenriched compounds, (Z)‐δ‐silyl‐substituted anti‐homoallylic alcohols and α‐silyl‐substituted allylboronate esters, with a selectivity factor up to 328. We propose that the reaction proceeds through a closed chair‐like transition state with the silane moiety occupying a pseudo‐axial position, thus readily resolving α‐silyl‐substituted allylboronate esters. The synthetic utility of the obtained enantioenriched compounds is highlighted by their further transformations to give a diverse set of enantioenriched molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our basic result, an isoperimetric inequality for Hamming cube Qn, can be written: ∫hAβdμ ≥ 2μ (A)(1−μ (A)). Here μ is uniform measure on V = {0,1\}n (= V(Qn)); β = log2(3/2); and, for S ⊆ V and x ∈ V, hS(x) = {dV\S(x) if x ∈ S, 0 if x ∉ S (where dT(x) is the number of neighbors of x in T). This implies inequalities involving mixtures of edge and vertex boundaries, with related stability results, and suggests some more general possibilities. One application, a stability result for the set of edges connecting two disjoint subsets of V of size roughly |V|/2, is a key step in showing that the number of maximal independent sets in Qn is (1+o(1))2n exp 2[2n-2]. This asymptotic statement, whose proof will appear separately, was the original motivation for the present work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD), incision and suture of the abdominal muscles cause inflammatory changes and elicit somatic pain that deteriorates the quality of life. There have been no previous reports on needle electrical twitch obtaining intramuscular stimulation (NETOIMS) in abdominal open operation; this study aimed to apply NETOIMS for postoperative somatic pain in patients undergoing PPPD as a new treatment modality for pain control.Methods: Between June 2018 and January 2019, 44 patients who underwent PPPD were randomly assigned to a control group and the NETOIMS group. The NETOIMS group received NETOIMS in the transverse abdominis muscle under ultrasound guidance right after operation under general anesthesia. The pain score (visual analog scale), peak cough flow (PCF), and gait speed were repetitively measured from 1 day before operation to 2 weeks after discharge as scheduled. Data were analyzed by the linear mixed model and repeated-measures analysis of variance.Results: Of the 44 patients recruited, data from 38 patients were finally analyzed. The pain scores were significantly lower in the NETOIMS group after PPPD (p = 0.01). Although the PCF at each measuring time point did not show inter-group difference (p = 0.20), improvement of PCF from the second day after operation to discharge was greater (p = 0.02) and gait speed improved significantly faster (p < 0.01) in the NETOIMS group than in the control group.Conclusions: NETOIMS helps in rapid reduction of postoperative somatic pain developed after PPPD and in improvement of PCF and gait speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune system protects its host from not only invading parasites and parasitoids, but also altered self tissue, including dying cells. Necrotic cells are strongly immunogenic, but in Drosophila this has not been directly addressed, due partially to the fact that knowledge about necrosis in Drosophila currently lags behind that for other models. Upon the loss of cell matrix attachment, endocycling polyploid tissues of the Drosophila larva undergo autophagy instead of apoptosis; we employed this system as a model to examine cell death modalities and immunity. Here, we report that larval fat body cells depleted of integrin undergo not only autophagy, but also necrotic cell death, and that a blockade of reaper , grim , hid, or the downstream caspases enhances necrosis. These cells elicit melanotic mass formation, an autoimmune-like response. We also show that necrosis is the main cause of melanotic mass formation in these anchorage-depleted polyploid cells. • Integrin depletion in the larval, polyploid cells induces necrosis and melanotic mass formation. • Necrosis is necessary and sufficient for the melanotic mass phenotype. • A blockade of the proapoptotic pathway enhances necrosis of integrin-depleted, polyploid cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MDM2-p53 pathway is crucial for maintenance of p53 homeostasis. Some ribosomal proteins (RPs) play critical roles in regulating p53 by interacting with MDM2. However, the role and functional mechanism of each RP in MDM2-p53 pathway still remain unknown. In this study, we found that Ribosomal Protein S2 (RPS2) is a new regulator of MDM2-P53 signaling pathway to regulate p53 protein level. Here, we characterized that RPS2 interacts with MDM2 through the RING finger domain of MDM2. RPS2 is ubiquitinated by MDM2 and the ubiquitinated status of RPS2 regulates the stability of p53, which is activated in response to cellular stresses such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and especially ribosomal stress. In addition, p53 is not induced in RPS2 knockdown even in the ribosomal stressed condition, indicating that RPS2 is essential for the stabilization of p53. Collectively, our data suggest that RPS2 plays a critical role in the regulation of p53 signaling including the ribosomal stress response. • RPS2 is ubiquitinated by MDM2. • RPS2 induces p53 protein level by inhibiting MDM2. • Ubiquitination of RPS2 can be used as a regulatory signal for cellular mechanisms. • RPS2 is necessary for p53 signaling pathway under ribosomal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess whether central-symmetric corneal thickness reduces off-centered corneal shift caused by intraocular pressure (IOP). In this retrospective study, 122 healthy eyes of 62 presbyopic patients, mostly myopic, were divided into two groups. Two distinct asymmetric corneal ablations were applied in peripheral presbyopia correction to produce central-symmetric corneal thickness, which reduces the off-centered corneal shift by utilizing intraocular pressure. The first method used a 90° angled combination in group 1 and the second method used a 45° angled combination in group 2. Target refraction was spherical equivalent of - 1D. Self-developed image processing algorithm analyzed the change in thickness and the posterior cone, and obtained two factors: central symmetry (f) and visual axis deviation (d), from each eye's pre and postoperative maps of Orbscan II. UDVA and UNVA were also analyzed. In both groups, mean SE was about - 1D and there was no significant difference in UDVA. UNVA was better in group 2 than group 1. Only in group 2, corneal thickness and posterior cone became central-symmetric and the posterior corneal apex point relocated towards the visual axis. The p values were 0.03, 0.04, and 0.03, respectively. This is the first study to control corneal shape by utilizing the interaction between intraocular pressure and corneal thickness. Only group 2 was applied with asymmetric corneal ablation created by the 45° angled combination of semi-cylindrical ablation patterns, and intraocular pressure contributed significantly to reduce the off-centered corneal shift and reshaped the posterior corneal cone to the center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adolescents are experiencing high rates of depressive symptoms, with negative consequences to their long‐term health. Group‐based, mindful self‐compassion programs show promise in mitigating the development of more significant depression in at‐risk adolescents. However, the lack of well‐designed, active control conditions has limited the ability to examine the efficacy of such interventions. Methods: Fifty‐nine adolescents (Mage = 15.81, 70% female) with subsyndromal depressive symptoms from the Southeastern US were randomized to group‐based Mindful Self‐Compassion for Teens (N = 30) or a newly developed active control Healthy Lifestyles group (N = 29) during 2018 and 2019. Participants attended 8 weekly "main" sessions followed by 6 monthly continuation sessions. The feasibility and acceptability of participation in both groups were measured using attrition, attendance, credibility, and satisfaction data. Depression scores were collected weekly, and self‐compassion scores were collected five times across 36 weeks. Results: Both groups were equally feasible and acceptable during the 8‐week program period; however, monthly continuation sessions were poorly attended in both groups. The risk of developing clinically significant depression was 2.6 times higher in the control group compared with the self‐compassion group (p =.037) across 36 weeks. Depression significantly decreased in the self‐compassion group, while it significantly increased in the control group. Both groups increased significantly in reports of self‐compassion. These findings are on par with results noting the efficacy of cognitive‐based interventions for high‐risk adolescents; follow‐up studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to confirm these findings. Conclusions: Initial examination suggests Mindful Self‐Compassion for Teens programming is feasible, acceptable, and efficacious in preventing the development of clinically significant depression in adolescents with subsyndromal depression. Future studies may benefit from refinements to the self‐compassion measurement and/or the attention control condition; moreover, larger sample sizes are needed to confirm results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This work presents a facile fabrication method for vertical polymerised structures with a tuned superhydrophobic surface on an aluminium alloy. This method includes vertically polymerising heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetra-hydrodecyltrichlorosilane (HDFS), which is used for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coatings, wherein vertical polymerisation is normally considered a process defect. For fabricating the base structure, aluminium hydroxide was generated to form a nanostructure. HDFS was coated as an SAM and microflake fabrication was carried out on this surface for various lengths of time. Microflakes were fabricated by vertical polymerisation of HDFS through this process. Samples coated for 10–30 min showed the water contact angle ( θ C ) of >168.3° and the lowest water sliding angle ( θ S ) of <11.8°. After 30 min, the water droplet clung to the microstructure that increased in size beyond 1 μm, thereby increasing of θ S . This micro/nano dual-scale-flake surface was achieved without any hazardous etching processes and can be facilely applied in various industrial fields that require superhydrophobic surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the successful generation of (diborylmethyl)zinc(II) species by transmetallation beteween isolable (diborylmethyl)lithium and zinc(II) halide (X=Br, Cl) and their application in the synthesis of enantioenriched gem‐diborylalkanes bearing a stereogenic center at the β‐position of the diboryl groups by an asymmetric allylic substitution reaction. The reaction has a broad substrate scope, and various enantioenriched gem‐diborylalkanes can be obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivity. Further elaboration of the enantioenriched gem‐diborylalkanes provides access to a diverse set of valuable chiral building blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report the successful generation of (diborylmethyl)zinc(II) species by transmetallation beteween isolable (diborylmethyl)lithium and zinc(II) halide (X=Br, Cl) and their application in the synthesis of enantioenriched gem‐diborylalkanes bearing a stereogenic center at the β‐position of the diboryl groups by an asymmetric allylic substitution reaction. The reaction has a broad substrate scope, and various enantioenriched gem‐diborylalkanes can be obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivity. Further elaboration of the enantioenriched gem‐diborylalkanes provides access to a diverse set of valuable chiral building blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on data from archives and fieldwork in Myanmar, a country in political change from a five-decade authoritarian regime to a quasi-civilian one, this study explores the reasons for a prevalence of corporatist aspects at the early stage of reforms. The early introduction of corporatism in Myanmar diverges from other Asian countries that experienced transitions accompanied by labour militancy, and only later embraced corporatism when political power shifted to elected pro-labour parties. This article argues, first, that corporatism prevails in the rhetoric of the labour movement and in Myanmar's industrial relations institutions, while labour militancy has simultaneously increased; second, corporatism in Myanmar has few historical precedents but has recently been promoted primarily by the International Labour Organisation (ILO); and third, while corporatism has failed to bring about industrial peace, the rhetoric and institutions of corporatism may limit the political potential of Myanmar's labour movement by restricting unions' activities to economic concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea and Japan have been unwaveringly committed to a nuclear-focused energy supply system despite the contested nature of that technology and the Fukushima accident in 2011. The socio-political consequences of four nuclear-related facilities (Ulju, Gyeongju, Futaba, and Rokkasho) are explored through the lens of social peripheralisation. This framework suggests that nuclear facilities will migrate to communities that are geographically remote, economically marginal, politically powerless, culturally defensive, and environmentally degraded. Nuclear infrastructures in the four cases are imposed on peripheral regions, impairing not only the structure of local economies and political power, but also creating a discriminative structure in terms of social and environmental inequality. Peripheralisation suggests a deeper dynamic by which pro-nuclear attitudes become ‘locked in’ socially and culturally so that communities come to depend on the very processes that made them peripheral. Community dynamics, subnational struggles, and contests over local power relations may determine the future of nuclear power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of SO2-CO2-water-rock interaction on the alteration of a reservoir rock having Ca-deficient conditions and little buffering capacity and its implication for porosity change near the injection well from a CO2 storage pilot site, Republic of Korea. For our study, three cases of experimental and geochemical modeling were carried out (pure CO2, 0.1% SO2 in CO2, and 1% SO2 in CO2, resp.) under realistic geologic storage conditions. Our results show that SO2 accelerated water-rock interactions by lowering the pH. In the 1% SO2 case, pH remained less than 2 during the experiments because of insufficient buffering capacity. Sulfate minerals were not precipitated because of an insufficient supply of Ca. Because the total volume of precipitated secondary minerals was less than that of the dissolved primary minerals, the porosity of rock increased in all cases. Chlorite largely contributed to the decrease in total rock volume although it formed only 4.8 wt.% of the rock. Our study shows that the coinjection of a certain amount of SO2 at CO2 storage reservoirs without carbonate and Ca-rich minerals can significantly increase the porosity by enhancing water-rock interactions. This procedure can be beneficial to CO2 injection under some conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In stacked-nanowire field-effect transistors (stacked-NW FETs), the effect of nanowire surface roughness (NWSR) and random interface traps (RIT) on device performance variation is investigated. The 3-D NWSR profile is applied to the surface of the nanowires, and then, the interface traps are generated and randomly placed in the interfacial layer between the silicon and high-k. First, the interaction between NWSR and RIT in a single-NW FET is investigated; the NWSR-induced performance varia- tion is not independent on the RIT-induced variation. Then, the correlation of NWSR profiles and RIT in stacked-NW FETs is explored. The degree of correlation between the NWSR profiles of stacked-NWs is varied in three cases: 1) positively correlated; 2) negatively correlated; and 3) uncorrelated. Without RITs, the NWSR-induced performance variation of the stacked-NW FETs dramatically increases as the NWSR profiles of the nanowires become positively correlated. However, with RITs, the more positively correlated the NWSR profiles of the nanowires, the larger is the VT variation that the interface traps induce. Interface traps barely affect the VT variation of the negatively correlated NWSR profiles. The variation of current slightly decreases because interface charge scattering degrades the mobility of the carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This large randomized controlled trial examined the effect of naproxen, simvastatin or both on patients with schizophrenia. This was a large multi-center, twelve-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-arm clinical trial administering naproxen, simvastatin or both to 232 subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The primary outcome was change in PANSS total score. ANCOVA and mixed model analyses of the PANSS total score change showed no significant difference between naproxen and placebo (adjusted p = 0.78), simvastatin and placebo (adjusted p = 0.38) or the combination of naproxen and simvastatin compared to placebo (adjusted p = 0.72). No statistically significant drug-placebo differences were found in the PANSS subscales, CGI or BACS between all groups. There was a near significant improvement in negative symptoms (p = 0.06), and an analysis of the 5 factor PANSS factors analysis found a significant improvement in simvastatin above placebo in withdrawal (p = 0.03). These finding were not significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. A meta-analysis on changes in total PANSS scores in studies on statins in schizophrenia, including the present study together with six other studies showed a significant improvement for statins compared to placebo (Hedges' G of -0.245 (CI= -0.403, -0.086, p = 0.002). When one outlying study which showed particularly strong effects of statins was removed, part of the effect went away. In conclusion, in this study, naproxen and simvastatin alone or in combination were not efficacious in the treatment of symptoms in schizophrenia. However, the meta-analysis of all studies of simvastatin for schizophrenia indicates further research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is almost an exclusive disease of adults over the age of 50, and only a few cases have been reported. Two 46-year-old females visited our locomotor pain clinic with multiple joint pain with increased acute phase reactants. Rheumatologic markers, and HLA-B27 were checked. Serum protein electrophoresis and serum immunofixation electrophoresis, imaging studies including plane image, sonography, and magnetic resonance image was done. 18F-Fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) showed characteristic findings of PMR, without evidences of sacroiliitis. Since PMR can develop in mid 40s, a high index of suspicion is necessary in younger patients presenting the bilateral pain in shoulders, hips, and back, with elevated acute phase reactants. Furthermore, in addition to the previous case reports, FDG-PET/CT is helpful in making early differential diagnosis of PMR in patients under the age of 50. Here we present two cases of PMR onset in the mid-40s emphasizing the importance of diagnostic imaging for early differential diagnosis in PMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to construct a design that exhibits variation immunity, the impacts of line-edge roughness (LER) of nanowires (NWs) in stacked-nanowire FETs (stacked-NW FETs) are investigated using 3-D LER simulations. To explore the LER-induced performance variations in stacked-NW FETs, three geometrical parameters are considered: 1) the correlation coefficient (P) between the LER profiles of NWs; 2) the cross-sectional area ratio (d) that represents the volume difference between NWs; and 3) the number of stacked NWs (n). In terms of the correlation between the LER profiles of NWs, positively correlated LER profiles cause the largest performance mismatches. In contrast, when the LER profiles between NWs are uncorrelated or negatively correlated, the performance variations are suppressed effectively. On the other hand, the performance variation can be reduced by a volume difference between the NWs in stacked-NW FETs (especially, when the lower NW is larger than the upper NW in stacked-NW FETs). Finally, in terms of the number of stacked NWs, the performance variation decreases as the number of stacked NWs increases, as long as the LER profiles of the NWs are poorly correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rhodamine hydrazides and hydroxamates derived from hydrazines and hydroxylamines have been applied as fluorescent chemosensors. Reaction-based irreversible probes based on the specific chemical reactions of reactive target species have been developed and applied in bio-imaging studies. The strong chelation frames provided by the rhodamine hydrazides and hydroxamates have been utilized for the monitoring of metal ions, amino acids, and reactive acid derivatives. This Personal Account focuses on our perspective of developing fluorescent probes based on rhodamine hydrazides and hydroxamates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory experiments and calculation of the dissolution constant were performed to investigate the physical property changes of sandstones in Korea resulting from the geochemical reaction of CO under sequestration conditions. To simulate the sub-surface storage condition (100 bar and 50 °C), the high pressurized stainless cell and chamber were used and the supercritical CO fluid was injected into the cell (or the chamber) by the syringe pump and the pressure regulator. Sandstone slabs and cores were used for the experiments of the supercritical CO-sandstone-groundwater reaction. Results of SEM/EDS and SPM analyses showed that the surface roughness of the slab increased and the precipitation of calcite, halite, and Ca-rich silicate minerals on the sandstone slab occurred during 60 days reaction, suggesting the geochemical weathering process, as a result of CO injection, directly leads to property changes of sandstones in a short time. The average porosity of sandstone cores as increased 8.8% with the corresponding decreases in the dry density, P and S wave velocity, dynamic Young's modulus, and the uniaxial compression strength, indicating that the trend of property changes for the sandstone was well fitted to the first-order reaction curve. The average first-order dissolution constant ( K) of sandstones, calculated by using the loss of sandstone mass during the reaction time was 0.0000846 day. The K values will be useful for estimating the dissolution process of sandstones originated from the supercritical CO-sandstone-groundwater reaction while the CO was injected into the sub-surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: An abnormal expression of microRNA is commonly observed in cancer. Since a single miRNA can target numerous genes, it is important to understand the exact mechanism for the regulation of cancer growth by miRNAs. Here, we show that miR-101-3p, which is downregulated in several cancers, regulates RPL11 ubiquitination by targeting USP47, thereby controlling p53 levels by affecting the localization of RPL11 and its interaction with MDM2. Our results provide a novel mechanism for the inhibition of cancer cell growth by miR-101-3p, and suggest that miR-101-3p could be a potential target as an anticancer agent. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate a countless number of genes in the cell, and the aberrant expression of miRNA can lead to cancer. Here, we demonstrate that miR-101-3p regulates the RPL11–MDM2–p53 pathway by targeting ubiquitin-specific peptidase 47 (USP47), consequently inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. We confirm that miR-101-3p directly binds to the 3′-UTR region of the USP47 gene and inhibits USP47 expression. In addition, the overexpression of miR-101-3p suppresses cell proliferation in a p53-dependent manner. MiR-101-3p promotes interaction between RPL11 and MDM2 by inducing the translocation of RPL11 from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm, thus preventing the MDM2-mediated proteasomal degradation of p53. However, these phenomena are restored by the overexpression of USP47, but not by its catalytically inactive form. Indeed, miR-101-3p regulates RPL11 localization and its interaction with MDM2 by inhibiting the USP47-induced deubiquitination of RPL11. Finally, the expression of miR-101-3p is downregulated in lung cancer patients, and the patients with low miR-101-3p expression exhibit a lower survival rate, indicating that miR-101-3p is associated with tumorigenesis. Together, our findings suggest that miR-101-3p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting USP47 and could be a potential therapeutic target for cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coptolabrus smaragdinus sungkii ssp. nov. and Eucarabus sternbergi gureopensis ssp. nov. are reported as new subspecies in Korea. Descriptions, photographs, distributional map, genitalic characteristics, and keys of each subspecies are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinctive feature of leaf-rolling weevils is their special care for their progeny. In many species among the family Attelabidae, the female recognizes the size and shape of the leaf of the host-plant and does the leaf cutting by a definite method. The location of cutting line, length and shape becomes the basic information in understanding the most fundamental structure of female's recognition process and cradle formation strategy. Leaf cutting is not only the process of withering the leaf by blocking the water flow along the main vein but also the process of making reversal easy at the leaf-blade part. The difference in forms of cutting line, leaf blade, interval or dispersion of nibble marks on the stem and pitch of leaf rolling has effects on the shape of the completed cradle. In the present paper we provide leaf-cutting patterns and the cradle formation process for 13 species of subfamily Apoderinae. We also provide a pictorial key of the cradle for the first time in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor plays an important role as a molecular detector of noxious signals in primary sensory neurons. Activity of TRPV1 can be modulated by the change in the environment such as redox state and extracellular cations. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the mercury chloride (HgCl2) on the activity of TRPV1 in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons using whole-cell patch clamp technique. Extracellular HgCl2 reversibly reduced the magnitudes of capsaicin-activated currents (I cap ) in DRG neurons in a dose-dependent manner. The blocking effect of HgCl2 was prevented by pretreatment with the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT). Inhibition of I cap by HgCl2 was abolished by point mutation of individual cysteine residues located on the extracellular surface of TRPV1. These results suggest that three extracellular cysteines of TRPV1, Cys616, Cys634 and Cys621, are responsible for the oxidative modulation of I cap by HgCl2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study found a new molecular mechanism that XIAP directly interacts with p53 and modulates p53 stability in medium spiny neuons. • XIAP modulates the turnover of p53 via autophagy pathway. • XIAP dysfunction leads to abnormal increase of p53 activity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and striatal neuron damage in HD. • XIAP-p53 pathway can be a novel pathological marker and a therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of HD. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with neuronal damage in Huntington's disease (HD), but the precise mechanism of mitochondria-dependent pathogenesis is not understood yet. Herein, we found that colocalization of XIAP and p53 was prominent in the cytosolic compartments of normal subjects but reduced in HD patients and HD transgenic animal models. Overexpression of mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) reduced XIAP levels and elevated mitochondrial localization of p53 in striatal cells in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, XIAP interacted directly with the C-terminal domain of p53 and decreased its stability via autophagy. Overexpression of XIAP prevented mitochondrially targeted-p53 (Mito-p53)-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress and striatal cell death, whereas, knockdown of XIAP exacerbated Mito-p53-induced neuronal damage in vitro. In vivo transduction of AAV-shRNA XIAP in the dorsal striatum induced rapid onset of disease and reduced the lifespan of HD transgenic (N171-82Q) mice compared to WT littermate mice. XIAP dysfunction led to ultrastructural changes of the mitochondrial cristae and nucleus morphology in striatal cells. Knockdown of XIAP exacerbated neuropathology and motor dysfunctions in N171-82Q mice. In contrast, XIAP overexpression improved neuropathology and motor behaviors in both AAV-mHTT-transduced mice and N171-82Q mice. Our data provides a molecular and pathological mechanism that deregulation of XIAP triggers mitochondria dysfunction and other neuropathological processes via the neurotoxic effect of p53 in HD. Together, the XIAP-p53 pathway is a novel pathological marker and can be a therapeutic target for improving the symptoms in HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six undescribed compounds (1–6) were isolated from the leaves of Viburnum erosum along with four known compounds 7–10. The structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were established by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 – 6 were α -glucosidic hydroquinone derivatives with different linear monoterpenoid structures. Compounds 1–10 were also evaluated for their tyrosinase inhibitory activities, and 10 showed potent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme with IC 50 value of 37.9 μ M compared to 47.6 μ M of the positive control (β -arbutin). [Display omitted] • Six undescribed α-glucosidic hydroquinone derivatives were isolated from Viburnum erosum. • Six undescribed compounds were structurally diversed by different linear monoterpenoid derivatives. • The potent tyrosinase inhibition of V. erosum extract was gave arisen from (−)-epipinoresinol. • The potent bioactive biflavonoid, amentoflavone, was found in high content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostrinia palustralis memnialis is an oligophagous insect that feeds on the species of the genus Rumex. Continuous rearing of O. palustralis memnialis was carried out from 2004 to 2005, and its general biology was studied. The preliminary host specificity test showed a promising result for O. palustralis memnialis as a potential biological control agent for Rumex spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Introduction: b Pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) is a treatment for the resectable tumor or cancer in pancreaticoduodenal system. We therefore suggest electrical twitch obtaining intramuscular stimulation (ETOIMS) as a new treatment modality for pain control after PPPD. Through the course of pain relieving, the pain scores were significantly lower in Group 2 after PPPD (P = 0.01). [Extracted from the article]

Benzylic alcohols are rapidly converted to the corresponding benzylic iodides using combination of p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) and potassium iodide under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface functional group dependency of atomic force microscope (AFM) lithography was investigated using three kinds of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a resist film on silicon wafer. The amine-modified surface of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, phenyl-modified surface of phenyltriethoxysilane and methyl-modified surface of octadecyltrichlorosilane SAMs were investigated. The characterizations of these SAMs were carried out by ellipsometer, contact angle goniometer and AFM. The effect of applied voltage of AFM lithography on the line-height and the effect of surface chemical functionality of the resist film on the line-width are discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, the general impact of high-resolution moving nesting domains on tropical cyclone (TC) intensity and track forecasts was verified, for a total of 107 forecast cases of 33 TCs, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The experiment, with a coarse resolution of 12 km, could not significantly capture the intensification process, especially for maximum intensities (>60 m s−1). The intense TCs were better predicted by experiments using a moving nesting domain with a horizontal resolution of 4 km. The forecast errors for maximum wind speed and minimum sea-level pressure decreased in the experiment with higher resolution; the forecast of lifetime maximum intensity was improved. For the track forecast, the experiment with a coarser resolution tended to simulate TC tracks deviating rightward to the TC motions in the best-track data; this erroneous deflection was reduced in the experiment with a higher resolution. In particular, the track forecast in the experiment with a higher resolution improved more frequently for intense TCs that were generally distributed at relatively lower latitudes among the test cases. The sensitivity of the track forecast to the model resolution was relatively significant for lower-latitude TCs. On the other hand, the track forecasts of TCs moving to the mid-latitudes, which were primarily influenced by large-scale features, were not sensitive to the resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]