A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with an embedded atom scheme (EAM) is used to investigate the phase stability of Pt
n
(
n
=
38, 147, 309 and 561 atoms) nanoclusters under various temperature ...conditions. The heating and freezing behaviors show that the Pt
147, Pt
309 and Pt
561 clusters have icosahedral morphologies in the temperature range of 460–660
K during freezing, where their formation energies are 0.051
eV/atom for Pt
147, 0.056
eV/atom for Pt
309, and 0.067
eV/atom for Pt
561. The calculation of the free energy change, which is based on the Gibbs–Thomson effect, implies that the coalescence phenomenon of the nanoclusters is a thermodynamically stable process. On a (0
0
0
1) graphite surface, the bottom layer of a Pt nanocluster is rearranged to a close-packed plane due to the arrangements of carbon atoms on the graphite surface, and this rearrangement disturbs the formation of a spherical Pt cluster.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Summary
Kinases have been studied as potential cancer targets because they play important roles in the cellular signaling of tumors. A number of small molecules targeting kinases are prescribed in ...clinics and many kinase inhibitors are being evaluated in the clinical phase. Previously, we discovered a series of aminopyridines substituted with benzoxazole as orally active c-Met kinase inhibitors. One of the compounds, KRC-108, has been evaluated as an anti-cancer agent in vitro and in vivo. A kinase panel assay exhibited that KRC-108 is a potent inhibitor of Ron, Flt3 and TrkA as well as c-Met. Moreover, KRC-108 inhibited oncogenic c-Met M1250T and Y1230D more strongly than wild type c-Met. The anti-proliferative activity of KRC-108 was measured by performing a cytotoxicity assay on a panel of cancer cell lines. The GI
50
values (i.e., 50% inhibition of cell growth) for KRC-108 ranged from 0.01 to 4.22 μM for these cancer cell lines. KRC-108 was also effective for the inhibition of tumor growth in human HT29 colorectal cancer and NCI-H441 lung cancer xenograft models in athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice. This molecule should serve as a useful lead for inhibitors targeting kinases and may lead to new therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
To investigate the impact of fibroids on the blood flow of the uterine and subendometrial arteries and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.
In this study, we analyzed 86 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm ...injection (ICSI) cycles in which a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol was used for controlled ovarian stimulation between January 2008 and March 2009. The subjects comprised 86 infertile women with (fibroid group, n=43) or without (control group, n=43) uterine fibroids.
Patient characteristics were similar between the fibroid and control groups. The IVF/ICSI outcomes in patients with fibroids were similar to those of patients in the control group. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) of the uterine and subendometrial arteries on the day of embryo transfer were also comparable between the two groups. IVF outcomes and uterine hemodynamics in patients with multiple (≥2) fibroids were similar to those of patients with a single fibroid. However, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly lower in patients with fibroids who experienced uterine cavity distortion than in patients with fibroids who had a normal uterine cavity (both p<0.05). The RI and PI of the subendometrial artery were significantly higher on the day of embryo transfer in patients with fibroids who experienced uterine cavity distortion than in patients with fibroids who had a normal uterine cavity (both p<0.05).
Fibroids which distorting the uterine cavity might impair the subendometrial artery blood flow clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate in infertile patients undergoing IVF. Otherwise, IVF outcomes were not influenced by the presence of uterine fibroids.
Continuous technological advances resulted in an ever-growing need for novel materials. In conventional engineering materials, cyclic loadings weaken materials by initiating cracks or degrading ...materials, which leads to premature failure. Contrarily, natural materials such as bones address the issue elegantly. Stress is utilized as a stimulus for material synthesis to strengthen the material. The salient difference between these natural material systems and their synthetic counterparts is their adaptive behavior. Adaptive materials can self-tune their properties in response to stimuli from the environment. Recently, growing attention has been directed towards adaptive materials owing to their autonomous “smart” behavior and multifunctionality. The goal of this article is to discuss the recent efforts in adaptive materials with a focus on mechanically adaptive materials based on piezoelectricity. The rationale behind these material systems is explained as well as an overview of different material systems and their implications. Lastly, we will discuss the challenges to overcome and prospects for future studies.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sub-micron sized, conical shaped moth-eye structure was transferred to thermoplastic polymer film, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) using hot embossing process. Since master template was made of ...polycarbonate, embossing temperature and pressure were carefully maintained to 100°C and 10 atm. Conical shaped moth-eye pattern was reversed to tapered hole pattern on PVC film. Hot embossed PVC film was then used as transparent template for subsequent UV nanoimprint process, in order to form the conical shaped sub-micron moth-eye structure on glass substrate. After thin layer of Si oxide and monolayer of self-assembled, silane based molecules was coated on hot embossed PVC film. UV nanoimprint process was done on the glass substrate using hot embossed PVC film. As a result, the transmittance of glass substrate was increased from 91 to 94% for single side patterned and 96% for both side patterned glass substrate for the spectral range of 350 to 800 nm.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Background
Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) is an inherently severe risk of pancreatic resection. Previous research has proposed models that identify risk factors and ...predict CR-POPF, although these are rarely applicable to minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD). This study aimed to evaluate the individual risks of CR-POPF and to propose a nomogram for predicting POPF in MIPD.
Patients and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 429 patients who underwent MIPD. In the multivariate analysis, the Akaike information criterion stepwise logistic regression method was used to select the final model to develop the nomogram.
Results
Of 429 patients, 53 (12.4%) experienced CR-POPF. On multivariate analysis, pancreatic texture (
p
= 0.001), open conversion (
p
= 0.008), intraoperative transfusion (
p
= 0.011), and pathology (
p
= 0.048) were identified as independent predictors of CR-POPF. The nomogram was developed based on patient, pancreatic, operative, and surgeon factors by using the following four additional clinical factors as variables: American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥ III, size of pancreatic duct, type of surgical approach, and < 40 cases of MIPD experience.
Conclusions
A multidimensional nomogram was developed to predict CR-POPF after MIPD. This nomogram and calculator can help surgeons anticipate, select, and manage critical complications.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
This paper proposes a fuzzy adaptive control approach based on a modular design for uncertain chaotic Duffing oscillators. Using fuzzy logic, the unknown nonlinear function in the Duffing oscillator ...is approximated. Subsequently, a modular adaptive controller is derived consisting of an inputtostate stabilizing (ISS) control module and a passive identifier module. Since the modular design allows for independent design of the controller and identifier, the proposed method provides substantial flexibility in the choice of a parameter identifier. Additionally, the modularity of the controller-identifier pair provides simplicity in the control system derivation. Simulation results are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Purpose Osteoporosis is an important senile disease and has significant relationship with ischemic stroke and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and ...cerebral white matter hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed to investigate the relationship between osteoporosis and cerebral SVD. Methods Medical records of acute stroke patients with age ≥ 65 years were retrospectively collected from single center. Cerebral white matter hyperintensity was classified into two categories, periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH), and the severity was graded according to maximal lesion size. Association between the clinical factors including BMD and the severity of cerebral white matter hyperintensity was analyzed. Results Four hundred eight patients were included in the study. High severity grade of both MWMH and DWMH was independently correlated with low BMD. Additionally, high PWMH grade was correlated with old age and high serum homocysteine. High DWMH grade was correlated with old age, atrial fibrillation history and high serum total calcium. Conclusion Low BMD was associated with a high severity of cerebral white matter hyperintensity in elderly Asian stroke patients, independent of other clinical factors.
Solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs) of the pancreas are still considered a surgical enigma. Many clinical research trials have failed to identify prognostic factors that predict the malignant ...behavior of SPTs.
This work was a retrospective multicenter study that included a total of 17 medical institutions. Data from 351 patients who underwent surgical resection from January 1990 to December 2008 were retrospectively collected using standardized case report forms requesting clinicopathologic features.
Thirty-four patients (9.7%) were male, and 317 (90.3%) were female, with a mean age of 36.8 ± 12.4 years. Recently, minimally invasive (P < 0.001) and parenchyma or function-preserving limited surgeries (P = 0.016) have been more frequently applied for the treatment of pancreatic SPTs. Ninety-eight patients (27.9%) had microscopic malignant features. Only 9 patients (2.6%) experienced tumor recurrence after the initial pancreatic SPT resection. Multivariate analysis showed that a tumor size larger than 8 cm Exp (β) = 7.385, P = 0.018, microscopic malignant features Exp (β) = 10.009, P = 0.011, and stage IV Exp (β) = 42.003, P = 0.002 were significant prognostic factors for tumor recurrence. When combined with stage IV, the microscopic malignant features and 2010 World Health Organization definition of solid pseudopapillary carcinoma more successfully differentiated future recurrence risk groups (P < 0.001).
More specific pathologic descriptions need to be employed in pathologic report forms to provide proper information to predict SPT recurrence after resection. Future studies emphasizing the standardized pathologic evaluation of pancreatic SPTs may unveil the enigmatic nature of pancreatic SPTs.
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