Effect of GNWs/NiO-WO3/GNWs Heterostructure for NO2 Gas Sensing at Room Temperature.

Recently, as air pollution and particulate matter worsen, the importance of a platform that can monitor the air environment is emerging. Especially, among air pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a toxic gas that can not only generate secondary particulate matter, but can also derive numerous toxic gases. To detect such NO2 gas at low concentration, we fabricated a GNWs/NiO-WO3/GNWs heterostructure-based gas sensor using microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) and sputter, and we confirmed the NO2 detection characteristics between 10 and 50 ppm at room temperature. The morphology and carbon lattice characteristics of the sensing layer were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Raman spectroscopy. In the gas detection measurement, the resistance negative change according to the NO2 gas concentration was recorded. Moreover, it reacted even at low concentrations such as 5-7 ppm, and showed excellent recovery characteristics of more than 98%. Furthermore, it also showed a change in which the reactivity decreased with respect to humidity of 33% and 66%.

Identification of Monoallelically Expressed Genes Associated with Economic Traits in Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle).

Hanwoo, an indigenous Korean cattle breed, has been genetically improved by selecting superior sires called Korean-proven bulls. However, cows still contribute half of the genetic stock of their offspring, and allelic-specific expressed genes have potential, as selective targets of cows, to enhance genetic gain. The aim of this study is to identify genes that have MAEs based on both the genome and transcriptome and to estimate their effects on breeding values (BVs) for economically important traits in Hanwoo. We generated resequencing data for the parents and RNA-sequencing data for the muscle, fat, and brain tissues of the offspring. A total of 3801 heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in offspring were identified and they were located in 1569 genes. Only 14 genes showed MAE (seven expressing maternal alleles and seven expressing paternal alleles). Tissue-specific MAE was observed, and LANCL1 showed maternal allele expression across all tissues. MAE genes were enriched for the biological process of cell death and angiogenesis, which included ACKR3 and PDCL3 genes, whose SNPs were significantly associated with BVs of lean meat production-related traits, such as weight at 12 months of age, carcass weight, and loin eye area. In the current study, monoallelically expressed genes were identified in various adult tissues and these genes were associated with genetic capacity in Hanwoo.

Structure-Based Design and Preclinical Characterization of Selective and Orally Bioavailable Factor XIa Inhibitors: Demonstrating the Power of an Integrated S1 Protease Family Approach.

The serine protease factor XI (FXI) is a prominent drug target as it holds promise to deliver efficacious anticoagulation without an enhanced risk of major bleeds. Several efforts have been described targeting the active form of the enzyme, FXIa. Herein, we disclose our efforts to identify potent, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitors of FXIa. Compound 1, identified from a diverse library of internal serine protease inhibitors, was originally designed as a complement factor D inhibitor and exhibited submicromolar FXIa activity and an encouraging absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profile while being devoid of a peptidomimetic architecture. Optimization of interactions in the S1, S1ß, and S1' pockets of FXIa through a combination of structure-based drug design and traditional medicinal chemistry led to the discovery of compound 23 with subnanomolar potency on FXIa, enhanced selectivity over other coagulation proteases, and a preclinical pharmacokinetics (PK) profile consistent with bid dosing in patients.

Prediction of ARA/PPI Drug-Drug Interactions at the Drug Discovery and Development Interface.

Advances in understanding of human disease have prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to classify certain molecules as "break-through therapies," providing an accelerated review that may potentially enhance the quality of patient lives. With this designation come compressed timelines to develop drug products, which are not only suitable for clinic trials but can also be approved and brought to the market rapidly. Early risk identification for decreased oral absorption due to drug-drug interactions with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or acid-reducing agents (ARAs) is paramount to an effective drug product development strategy. An early ARA/PPI drug-drug interaction (DDI) risk identification strategy has been developed using physiologically based absorption modeling that readily integrates ADMET predictor generated in silico estimates or measured in vitro solubility, permeability, and ionization constants. Observed or predicted pH-solubility profile data along with pKas and drug dosing parameters were used to calculate a fraction of drug absorbed ratio in absence and presence of ARAs/PPIs. An integrated physiologically based pharmacokinetic absorption model using GastroPlus™ with pKa values fitted to measured pH-solubility profile data along with measured permeability data correctly identified the observed ARA/PPI DDI for 78% (16/22) of the clinical studies. Formulation strategies for compounds with an anticipated pH-mediated DDI risk are presented.

Artificial selection increased body weight but induced increase of runs of homozygosity in Hanwoo cattle.

Artificial selection has been demonstrated to have a rapid and significant effect on the phenotype and genome of an organism. However, most previous studies on artificial selection have focused solely on genomic sequences modified by artificial selection or genomic sequences associated with a specific trait. In this study, we generated whole genome sequencing data of 126 cattle under artificial selection, and 24,973,862 single nucleotide variants to investigate the relationship among artificial selection, genomic sequences and trait. Using runs of homozygosity detected by the variants, we showed increase of inbreeding for decades, and at the same time demonstrated a little influence of recent inbreeding on body weight. Also, we could identify ~0.2 Mb runs of homozygosity segment which may be created by recent artificial selection. This approach may aid in development of genetic markers directly influenced by artificial selection, and provide insight into the process of artificial selection.

Alteration of Inflammatory Mediators in the Upper and Lower Airways under Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia: Preliminary Animal Study.

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that CIH may affect the upper airway immune system and aimed to verify whether CIH can induce airway inflammation in a murine obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) model. METHODS: C57BL6 male mice were exposed to intermittent hypoxia (CIH group; 5 ~ 21% FiO2, 120 sec cycles, 12 h/d, n = 6) or room air (Sham group, n = 6) for up to 4 weeks in identical chambers. Nasal and lung tissues and lavage fluid were collected and analyzed by multiplex assay. Lung lavage fluid was also utilized for FACS analysis to determine eosinophil count. RESULTS: We determined the protein level of 24 different cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory mediators. Among various cytokines, levels of IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13 were significantly elevated in nose or lung tissue from the CIH group. In addition, MCP-1 and periostin were elevated in nose and lung tissue and lavage fluid from the CIH group. CONCLUSIONS: CIH for 4 weeks altered the levels of inflammatory mediators in both the nose and lungs of mouse model. We suggest that the airway immune system may be deteriorated by CIH and allergic inflammation in the upper or lower airway could be worsened by sleep apnea.

Evolutionary Analyses of Hanwoo (Korean Cattle)-Specific Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Genes Using Whole-Genome Resequencing Data of a Hanwoo Population.

Advances in next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled population-level studies for many animals to unravel the relationships between genotypic differences and traits of specific populations. The objective of this study was to perform evolutionary analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes of Korean native cattle Hanwoo in comparison to SNP data from four other cattle breeds (Jersey, Simmental, Angus, and Holstein) and four related species (pig, horse, human, and mouse) obtained from public databases through NGS-based resequencing. We analyzed population structures and differentiation levels for the five cattle breeds and estimated species-specific SNPs with their origins and phylogenetic relationships among species. In addition, we identified Hanwoo-specific genes and proteins, and determined distinct changes in protein-protein interactions among five species (cattle, pig, horse, human, mouse) in the STRING network database by additionally considering indirect protein interactions. We found that the Hanwoo population was clearly different from the other four cattle populations. There were Hanwoo-specific genes related to its meat trait. Protein interaction rewiring analysis also confirmed that there were Hanwoo-specific protein-protein interactions that might have contributed to its unique meat quality.

Experimental investigation of defect-assisted and intrinsic water vapor permeation through ultrabarrier films.

In the development of ultrabarrier films for packaging electronics, the effective water vapor transmission rate is a combination of permeation through pinhole defects and the intrinsic permeation through the actual barrier film. While it is possible to measure the effective permeation rate through barriers, it is important to develop a better understanding of the contribution from defects to the overall effective barrier performance. Here, we demonstrate a method to investigate independently defect-assisted permeation and intrinsic permeation rates by observing the degradation of a calcium layer encapsulated with a hybrid barrier film, that is, prepared using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and plasma enhanced deposition (PECVD). The results are rationalized using an analytical diffusion model to calculate the permeation rate as a function of spatial position within the barrier. It was observed that a barrier film consisting of a PECVD SiN(x) layer combined with an ALD Al2O3/HfO(x) nanolaminate resulted in a defect-assisted water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 4.84 × 10(-5) g/m(2) day and intrinsic WVTR of 1.41 × 10(-4) g/m(2) day at 50 °C/85% RH. Due to the low defect density of the tested barrier film, the defect-assisted WVTR was found to be three times lower than the intrinsic WVTR, and an effective (or total) WVTR value was 1.89 × 10(-4) g/m(2) day. Thus, improvements of the barrier performance should focus on reducing the number of defects while also improving the intrinsic barrier performance of the hybrid layer.

Spectroscopy and control of near-surface defects in conductive thin film ZnO.

The electronic structure of inorganic semiconductor interfaces functionalized with extended π-conjugated organic molecules can be strongly influenced by localized gap states or point defects, often present at low concentrations and hard to identify spectroscopically. At the same time, in transparent conductive oxides such as ZnO, the presence of these gap states conveys the desirable high conductivity necessary for function as electron-selective interlayer or electron collection electrode in organic optoelectronic devices. Here, we report on the direct spectroscopic detection of a donor state within the band gap of highly conductive zinc oxide by two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. We show that adsorption of the prototypical organic acceptor C60 quenches this state by ground-state charge transfer, with immediate consequences on the interfacial energy level alignment. Comparison with computational results suggests the identity of the gap state as a near-surface-confined oxygen vacancy.

Hybridization-Induced Carrier Localization at the C60 /ZnO Interface.

Electronic coupling and ground-state charge transfer at the C60 /ZnO hybrid interface is shown to localize carriers in the C60 phase. This effect, revealed by resonant X-ray photoemission, arises from interfacial hybridization between C60 and ZnO. Such localization at carrier-selective electrodes and interlayers may lead to severely reduced carrier harvesting efficiencies and increased recombination rates in organic electronic devices.

Evaluation of Malnutrition Risk after Liver Transplantation Using the Nutritional Screening Tools.

Malnutrition is a common problem in patients with end-stage liver disease requiring liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional status by using nutritional screening tools [Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) 2002, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA)] in patients before and after liver transplantation. We analyzed medical record, blood test, nutrient intake and malnutrition rate just before transplantation and at discharge, and at 3, 6, 12 months after transplantation respectively. Initially 33 patients enrolled as study subjects and finally 28 patients completed the study. Nutrients intake such as energy, fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and folate were insufficient at 12 months after transplantation. The rates of malnutrition before transplantation were very high, reported at 81.8% for the NRS 2002, 87.9% for the MUST, and 84.8% for the SGA. By 12 months after operation, malnutrition rates reported at NRS, MUST and SGA had decreased to 6.1%, 10.7%, and 10.7%, respectively. Sensitivity was 87.1% for the NRS 2002, 82.0% for the MUST, and 92.0% for the SGA. Of these screening tools the SGA was the highest sensitive tool that predict the risk of mortality in malnutrition patients who received transplantation. Further studies on nutritional status of patients and proper tools for nutrition intervention are needed to provide adequate nutritional care for patients.

Disrupted Attosecond Charge Carrier Delocalization at a Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Semiconductor Interface.

Despite significant interest in hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductor interfaces, little is known regarding the fate of charge carriers at metal oxide interfaces, particularly on ultrafast time scales. Using core-hole clock spectroscopy, we investigate the ultrafast charge carrier dynamics of conductive ZnO films at a hybrid interface with an organic semiconductor. The adsorption of C60 on the ZnO surface strongly suppresses the ultrafast carrier delocalization and increases the charge carrier residence time from 400 attoseconds to nearly 30 fs. Here, we show that a new hybridized interfacial density of states with substantial molecular character is formed, fundamentally altering the observed carrier dynamics. The remarkable change in the dynamics sheds light on the fate of carriers at hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductor interfaces relevant to organic optoelectronics and provides for the first time an atomistic picture of the electronically perturbed near-interface region of a metal oxide.

Perigastric lymph node metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma in a patient with early gastric cancer: the first case report.

Distant metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), particularly from papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, is rare. We present a case of perigastric lymph node metastasis from PTC in a patient with early gastric cancer and breast cancer. During post-surgical follow-up for breast cancer, a 56-year-old woman was diagnosed incidentally with early gastric cancer and synchronous left thyroid cancer. Therefore, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection and left thyroidectomy were performed. On the basis of the pathologic findings of the surgical specimens, the patient was diagnosed to have papillary thyroid microcarcinoma with perigastric lymph node metastasis and early gastric cancer with mucosal invasion. Finally, on the basis of immunohistochemical staining with galectin-3, the diagnosis of perigastric lymph node metastasis from PTC was made. When a patient has multiple primary malignancies with lymph node metastasis, careful pathologic examination of the surgical specimen is necessary; immunohistochemical staining may be helpful in determining the primary origin of lymph node metastasis.

Systematic reliability study of top-gate p- and n-channel organic field-effect transistors.

We report on a systematic investigation on the performance and stability of p-channel and n-channel top-gate OFETs, with a CYTOP/Al2O3 bilayer gate dielectric, exposed to controlled dry oxygen and humid atmospheres. Despite the severe conditions of environmental exposure, p-channel and n-channel top-gate OFETs show only minor changes of their performance parameters without undergoing irreversible damage. When correlated with the conditions of environmental exposure, these changes provide new insight into the possible physical mechanisms in the presence of oxygen and water. Photoexcited charge collection spectroscopy experiments provided further evidence of oxygen and water effects on OFETs. Top-gate OFETs also display outstanding durability, even when exposed to oxygen plasma and subsequent immersion in water or operated under aqueous media. These remarkable properties arise as a consequence of the use of relatively air stable organic semiconductors and proper engineering of the OFET structure.

Investigation of the flatband voltage (V(FB)) shift of Al2O3 on N2 plasma treated Si substrate.

The relationships between the physical and electrical characteristics of films treated with N2 plasma followed by forming gas annealing (FGA) were investigated. The Si substrates were treated with various radio frequency (RF) power levels under a N2 ambient. Al2O3 films were then deposited on Si substrates via remote plasma atomic-layer deposition. The plasma characteristics, such as the radical and ion density, were investigated using optical emission spectroscopy. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the chemical-bonding configurations of the samples treated with N2 plasma and FGA were examined. The quantity of Si-N bonds increased as the RF power was increased, and Si--O--N bonds were generated after FGA. The flatband voltage (VFB) was shifted in the negative direction with increasing RF power, but the VFB values of the samples after FGA shifted in the positive direction due to the formation of Si--O--N bonds. N2 plasma treatment with various RF power levels slightly increased the leakage current due to the generation of defect sites.

Quantification of protonation in organic solvents using solution NMR spectroscopy: implication in salt formation.

PURPOSE: Investigate the use of solution NMR spectroscopy to evaluate whether the general ΔpKa rule is valid in organic solvents. Such information may be useful in evaluation of acid-base reactions and solvent selection for salt formation. METHODS: (1)H NMR chemical shift changes in model bases during titration with acids, and separately, on the addition of acids at a molar ratio of 1:1 were determined in water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methanol. The effect of acid strength on the fraction of ionized base was examined. RESULTS: (1)H NMR chemical shift changes indicated protonation (in situ salt formation). Different media affected the observed chemical shift changes. In all media investigated the data followed the ΔpKa (base-acid) general rule, that the pKa value of the acids should be 2-3 units lower than the pKa of the base to ensure proton transfer. The addition of water into organic solvents increased the fraction of ionized base. CONCLUSIONS: Protonation, as measured by chemical shift changes using solution NMR spectroscopy, provided novel insight on potential salt formation in different media. Even though pKa values change with the solvent, the general ΔpKa rule can be applied in different solvent systems. Solution NMR spectroscopy appears to be a useful tool to evaluate salt formation reaction and process control in different solvent systems.

The effects of radio frequency plasma power on Ai2O3 films deposited at room-temperature by remote plasma atomic layer deposition.

Al2O3 films were deposited by a remote plasma atomic layer deposition (RPALD) method at room temperature (25 degrees C) in a reactor using alternating exposures of Al(CH3)3 and O2 plasma. Oxygen plasma was used as a reactant gas to decompose the trimethylaluminum [TMA, Al(CH3)3] precursor at room temperature. The RF plasma power was increased to produce enough radicals for the deposition of the Al2O3 films at room temperature. Then, changes in the interfacial and bulk properties of the deposited Al2O3 films were investigated according to increasing RF power. Al2O3 films deposited by RPALD with RF powers over 100 W showed similar bulk properties, indicating that radicals over a certain threshold did not have a decisive effect on the additional decomposition of precursors for a low impurity content in the films. An increase in RF plasma power could improve the interfacial stability due to an increase in radicals and ions in the plasma and the minimization of plasma-induced substrate damage by adopting remote plasma.

Liver function alterations after laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy for gastric cancer and its clinical significance.

AIM: To evaluate the factors associated with liver function alterations after laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) for gastric cancer. METHODS: We collected the data of gastrectomy patients with gastric cancer and divided them into 2 groups: open gastrectomy (OG) and LAG. We also collected the data of patients with colon cancer to evaluate the effect of liver manipulations during surgery on liver function alterations. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase were measured on the preoperative day and postoperative day 1 (POD1), POD3, POD5, and POD7. RESULTS: No changes in liver function were observed after the operation in patients with colon cancer (n = 121). However, in gastric cancer patients (n = 215), AST and ALT levels increased until POD5 compared to those in colon cancer patients and these findings were observed both in the LAG and OG without a significant difference except at POD1. The mean hepatic enzyme levels at POD1 in the LAG group were significantly higher than those in the OG group (P = 0.047 for AST and P = 0.039 for ALT). The factors associated with elevated ALT on POD1 in patients with gastric cancer were body mass index (P < 0.001), operation time (P < 0.001), intraoperative hepatic injury (P = 0.048), and ligation of an aberrant left hepatic artery (P = 0.052) but not type of operation (OG vs LAG, P = 0.094). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the liver function alteration after LAG may have been caused by direct liver manipulation or aberrant hepatic artery ligation rather than the CO2 pneumoperitoneum.

Modeling the effects of constructed wetland on nonpoint source pollution control and reservoir water quality improvement.

This article describes the integrated modeling approach for planning the size and the operation of constructed wetlands for maximizing retention of nonpoint source pollutant loads and reservoir water-quality improvement at a catchment scale. The experimental field-scale wetland systems (four sets, 0.88 ha each) have been in operation since 2002, where water depth was maintained at 30-50 cm and hydraulic loading rate was at 6.3-18.8 cm/day. The wetland system was found to be adequate for treating polluted stream water with stable removal efficiency even during the winter. The integrated modeling system (modified-BASINS) was applied to the Seokmoon estuarine reservoir watershed and calibrated with monitoring data from constructed wetland, stream, and reservoir. The calibrated integrated modeling system estimated that constructing wetlands on 0.5% (about 114 ha) of the watershed area at the mouth of reservoir could reduce 11.61% and 13.49% of total external nitrogen and phosphorus loads, respectively. It also might improve the nitrogen and phosphorus concentration of the reservoir by 9.69% and 16.48%, respectively. The study suggested that about 0.1%-1.0% of the watershed area should be allocated for constructed wetland to meet specified water-quality standards for the estuarine reservoir at the polder area where land use planning is relatively less complicated.

Modified right lobe graft with bovine pericardium for middle hepatic vein reconstruction.

Modified right lobe graft with middle hepatic vein reconstruction is commonly carried out in living donor liver transplantation these days. Cadaveric vascular graft has been widely used to maintain good outflow in middle hepatic vein tributaries. However, cadaveric donors are limited in Korea. This problem may be compensated with bovine pericardium. From April 2007, we experienced 4 cases of modified right lobe graft living donor liver transplantation using bovine pericardium. After donor hepatectomy, a 2-cm diameter cylinderic shape was made with the large sized bovine pericardium. V5 and V8 (greater than 5mm in diameter) were anastomosed to the bovine pericardium with end-to-side pattern. After reperfusion, it was anastomosed to the recipient's middle and left hepatic vein trunk. All patients recovered well and are currently remaining good liver function (3 to 11 months). Three cases maintain tolerable middle hepatic venous flow and have no congestion of right anterior sector in enhanced computerized tomography or in Doppler ultrasonography. Bovine pericardium can be one of the alternative materials for middle hepatic vein reconstruction of modified right lobe graft in the area of cadaveric organ shortage.