Minimal Shift Research Articles

Unraveling the Facet-Dependent Surface Chemistry at Molecular Scale: Photoassisted Oxidation of InP Nanocrystals.

The facet-dependent surface chemistry of nanocrystals (NCs) provides fundamental insights into chemical reactivities, which are critical for obtaining precise control over the NC surface. In this study, by obtaining InP NCs with well-defined {111} and {110}/{-1-1-1} facets (tetrahedrons and tetrapods, respectively) capped with chloride-oleylamine ligands, the previously underinvestigated facet-dependent surface chemistry of III-V materials is explored. Solid-state and solution NMR analyses show that InP tetrahedrons, with their smaller surface heterogeneity (single facet composition and lesser edge/vertex contribution) and stronger Lewis acidity, exhibit narrow 31P and 115In resonances as well as deshielded 13C signals of α-carbon adjacent to the NH2 group of oleylamine. As a result, InP tetrahedra exhibit strong ligand binding and a notable presence of less-mobile oleylamine ligands on the surface, leading to the blocking of access to external species. This is also consistent with the minimal blue shift of the first excitonic peak in absorption spectra and the strong resistance to photoassisted surface oxidation of InP tetrahedrons. Our findings, supported by solid-state/solution NMR, FT-IR, and XPS analyses, highlight the significance of facet-dependent reactivities to surface ligands and, thus, atmospheric moieties, enhancing the potential of III-V NCs in various optoelectronic applications.

White Light Generation and Stability Analysis of High-Power Blue LDs with Remote YAG Phosphors

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of white light generation and the associated aging dynamics using high-power blue laser diodes (LDs) combined with transmissive single crystal remote YAG phosphors. By systematically varying input currents (ranging from 0.6 A to 3 A) and phosphor thicknesses (250 μm and 500 μm), this study elucidates the optical and electrical characteristics of LD-phosphor systems under diverse operating conditions. The results highlight the system’s potential for stable and efficient white light generation, making it suitable for high-power lighting applications. Experimental setups included both single LDs and a 4 × 2 LD array. For the single LD, a peak optical output of 4.16 W was achieved at 3 A, corresponding to an initial luminous flux of approximately 700 Lm and a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4653 K, with minimal color temperature shift observed during a 60 min aging process. The 4 × 2 LD array demonstrated consistent white light output across varying phosphor thicknesses, with maximum luminous fluxes of 1857 Lm at 1.4 A and 2622 Lm at 1.6 A for phosphor thicknesses of 250 μm and 500 μm, respectively. Importantly, the phosphor exhibited excellent thermal stability throughout the aging process, with the CCT maintained within a range of 4600 K to 5500 K. These findings underscore the reliability and applicability of LD-based white light systems in demanding high-power lighting environments, offering a promising alternative to conventional light sources for automotive, industrial, and specialized lighting applications.

Post-legalization shifts in cannabis use among young adults in Georgia-A nationally representative study.

In 2018, the country of Georgia legalized cannabis for recreational use and decriminalized limited possession. This study aimed to assess whether cannabis use increased among young adults (ages 18-29 years) in Georgia after national policy changes and to evaluate whether perceived access became easier after legalization and current risk factors of young adult cannabis use. We used data from the Georgian nationally representative survey administered in 2015 (n = 1308) and 2022 (n = 758), before and after decriminalization. We performed appropriate bivariate analyses and multivariable linear and logistic regressions to assess the following: legalization's impact on cannabis use; perceived difficulty to obtain cannabis; age of first use; differences in use between females and males; and factors associated with current use. Among young adults lifetime prevalence of cannabis use was similar in 2015 (17.3%) and 2022 (18.1%) [Odds Ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.1 [0.7, 1.6], P = 0.726). Annual prevalence (7% in 2015 vs 7.7% in 2022) was also similar (1.1 [0.7, 2.0], P = 0.650). In 2022 it was less difficult to obtain cannabis than in 2015 (0.5 [0.4, 0.8], P = 0.021). The age of first use increased statistically significantly (18.1years in 2015 vs 19.1 in 2022, P = 0.003). In 2022, annual prevalence of use was lower among females (1.9% vs 13.1%; OR = 0.1 [0.0, 0.3], P < 0.0001) and higher among those who gambled (11.7% vs 4.4%; OR = 3.2 [1.5, 6.8], P < 0.003). Males initiated cannabis use at an earlier age (19.1years vs 20.6 for females, P = 0.03), and could obtain cannabis easier than females (P < 0.0001). There was a minimal shift of cannabis use in young adults following implementation of recreational cannabis use legalization in Georgia. Males and people who gambled were at higher risk of cannabis use.

Participatory wildlife films for primate conservation education in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract Audiovisual media has become an integral part of conservation education strategies, with the potential not only to communicate information but also to impact on its viewers perceptions and attitudes towards a particular subject. Despite this potential, few studies have evaluated either the use of film for primate conservation initiatives or the wider impact of participatory film production. Our study evaluates the impact of a participatory documentary film about historic human-primate coexistence in the Los Tuxtlas region, Veracruz, Mexico, to improve people’s knowledge, perception, and attitudes towards the local primate species, Alouatta palliata and Ateles geoffroyi. Our study took place in six rural localities, in four of which a participatory film-making process was undertaken, involving production workshops and public screenings; two localities were intentionally left out as control groups. People’s knowledge, perception, and attitudes towards primates were assessed through randomized sampling using a questionnaire prior (n = 419) and following (n = 223) the presentation of the documentary. Results indicate a minimal but positive shift in participant’s attitudes and perceptions, with statistically significant increases in primate knowledge scores. While the participatory approach offers promise, further exploration and refinement are essential for effective conservation education. The study highlights the need for diverse and locally based perspectives in developing conservation education materials and programs to foster meaningful engagement and drive primate conservation efforts forward.

Orbi‐SIMS Mediated Metabolomics Analysis of Pathogenic Tissue up to Cellular Resolution

AbstractTumors have a complex metabolism that differs from most metabolic processes in healthy tissues. It is highly dynamic and driven by the tumor cells themselves, as well as by the non‐transformed stromal infiltrates and immune components. Each of these cell populations has a distinct metabolism that depends on both their cellular state and the availability of nutrients. Consequently, to fully understand the individual metabolic states of all tumor‐forming cells, correlative mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) up to cellular resolution with minimal metabolite shift needs to be achieved. By using a secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) equipped with an Orbitrap mass analyzer, we present a workflow to image primary murine tumor tissues up to cellular resolution and correlate these ion images with post acquisition immunofluorescence or histological staining. In a murine breast cancer model, we could identify metabolic profiles that clearly distinguish tumor tissue from stromal cells and immune infiltrates. We demonstrate the robustness of the classification by applying the same profiles to an independent murine model of lung cancer, which is accurately segmented by histological traits. Our pipeline allows metabolic segmentation with simultaneous cell identification, which in the future will enable the design of subpopulation‐targeted metabolic interventions for therapeutic purposes.

Cascaded multiplier-free implementation of adaptive anti-jamming filter based on GNSS receiver

Evaluating the computational complexity is critical for assessing the time-domain anti-jamming performance of GNSS receivers. The multiplier is the core component that contributes to the computational complexity in time-domain anti-jamming. However, current algorithms aimed at reducing the complexity of time-domain anti-jamming typically concentrate on shortening the filter length, which fails to address the high computational complexity introduced by the use of multipliers. This paper introduces a cascaded multiplier-free approach for implementing time-domain anti-jamming in navigation receivers. We propose a numerical power decomposition technique based on optimal Canonical Signed Digit coding and coefficient decomposition. By substituting the multiplier with minimal adder and shift operations, the computational complexity of the anti-jamming filter with a high quantization bit-width can be considerably decreased. An optimization strategy is presented, and the low-complexity multiplier-free technique is applied to the time-domain anti-jamming filter. Compared to the traditional Canonical Signed Digit multiplier-free technique, our method can reduce the components required for a 12-bit quantization anti-interference filter by one adder, 20 shift operations, and five coded word lengths, while maintaining a pseudo-range measurement deviation below 0.27 ns.

Thermal Solution Depolymerization of RAFT Telechelic Polymers.

Thermal solution depolymerization is a promising low-temperature chemical recycling strategy enabling high monomer recovery from polymers made by controlled radical polymerization. However, current methodologies predominantly focus on the depolymerization of monofunctional polymers, limiting the material scope and depolymerization pathways. Herein, we report the depolymerization of telechelic polymers synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Notably, we observed a significant decrease in the molecular weight (Mn) of the polymers during monomer recovery, which contrasts the minimal Mn shift observed during the depolymerization of monofunctional polymers. Introducing Z groups at the center or both ends of the polymer resulted in distinct kinetic profiles, indicating partial depolymerization of the bifunctional polymers, as supported by mathematical modeling. Remarkably, telechelic polymers featuring R-terminal groups showed up to 68% improvement in overall depolymerization conversion compared to their monofunctional analogues, highlighting the potential of these materials in chemical recycling and the circular economy.

Impact of Rh, Ru, and Pd Leads and Contact Topologies on Performance of WSe2 FETs: A First Comparative Ab Initio Study.

2D field-effect transistors (FETs) fabricated with transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials are a potential replacement for the silicon-based CMOS. However, the lack of advancement in p-type contact is also a key factor hindering TMD-based CMOS applications. The less investigated path towards improving electrical characteristics based on contact geometries with low contact resistance (RC) has also been established. Moreover, finding contact metals to reduce the RC is indeed one of the significant challenges in achieving the above goal. Our research provides the first comparative analysis of the three contact configurations for a WSe2 monolayer with different noble metals (Rh, Ru, and Pd) by employing ab initio density functional theory (DFT) and non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) methods. From the perspective of the contact topologies, the RC and minimum subthreshold slope (SSMIN) of all the conventional edge contacts are outperformed by the novel non-van der Waals (vdW) sandwich contacts. These non-vdW sandwich contacts reveal that their RC values are below 50 Ω∙μm, attributed to the narrow Schottky barrier widths (SBWs) and low Schottky barrier heights (SBHs). Not only are the RC values dramatically reduced by such novel contacts, but the SSMIN values are lower than 68 mV/dec. The new proposal offers the lowest RC and SSMIN, irrespective of the contact metals. Further considering the metal leads, the WSe2/Rh FETs based on the non-vdW sandwich contacts show a meager RC value of 33 Ω∙μm and an exceptional SSMIN of 63 mV/dec. The two calculated results present the smallest-ever values reported in our study, indicating that the non-vdW sandwich contacts with Rh leads can attain the best-case scenario. In contrast, the symmetric convex edge contacts with Pd leads cause the worst-case degradation, yielding an RC value of 213 Ω∙μm and an SSMIN value of 95 mV/dec. While all the WSe2/Ru FETs exhibit medium performances, the minimal shift in the transfer curves is interestingly advantageous to the circuit operation. Conclusively, the low-RC performances and the desirable SSMIN values are a combination of the contact geometries and metal leads. This innovation, achieved through noble metal leads in conjunction with the novel contact configurations, paves the way for a TMD-based CMOS with ultra-low RC and rapid switching speeds.

92‐1: Invited Paper: Wide‐Color‐Gamut and Stable MicroLED Displays Using UV‐Pumped Cd‐Free Quantum Dots

Applied Materials, Inc. has reported a novel and manufacturable microLED display architecture, featuring UV‐A microLEDs, 4‐subpixel layout, pixel isolation wells filled with inkjetted Cd‐free R/G/B quantum dots (QDs), and a blanket UV blocker on top. A 1.37” smart‐watch active‐matrix display prototype was assembled using such method. Our QDs, including blue QD and the matrix materials exhibit excellent stability under UV excitation, as verified by accelerated lifetime test under higher UV flux and elevated temperature. The emission properties of our R/G/B QDs was further optimized, paving a path to achieve 99% DCI‐P3 color space coverage. Our display demonstrates a highly uniform Lambertian emission pattern with minimal color shift at high viewing angles, attributing to all emissions originating from QD embedded in the same polymer matrix. Furthermore, we can eliminate the QD photon‐brightening effect and demonstrate display with high thermal stability up to 90⁰C.

LEO satellite constellations configuration based on the Doppler effect in laser intersatellite links

SummaryThis paper presents low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation configuration based on the performance of Doppler effect in laser intersatellite links (LISLs). It studies the impact of the LEO constellation's parameters on the performance of the Doppler effect in LISLs. The paper aims to develop LEO satellite constellation configurations that evolve LISLs with minimal Doppler shift. It evaluates the impact of the variation of the relative distance, the inclination angle of the LEO constellation orbital planes, the orbital planes number in the LEO constellation, and the altitude on the performance of Doppler wavelength shift (DWS) in LISLs, for different operating laser wavelengths (OLWs) with respect to two possible intersatellite links (ISL) connection modes within the constellation, straight ISL (n‐to‐n) and inclined ISL (n‐to‐n − 1). n is the order of the satellite in the orbital plane. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of these configurations in terms of altitude, OLW, inclination angle, and the number of orbital planes. In addition, both OneWeb and Starlink constellations are studied to evaluate DWS performance. The study demonstrates that DWS decreases either with the diminution of the relative distance between linked LEO satellites, the inclination of LEO constellation, and the OLW, or with the augmentation of the orbital planes number and altitude. Moreover, the overall DWS between two LEO satellites in the proposed constellation is at least 50% lower than the constellation configuration in other literature. The paper proposes the LEO constellation's configurations that perform LISLs with less possible Doppler effect by optimizing the LEO constellation parameters that impact the Doppler effect. The result of this study helps in the early stage of LEO satellite constellation designing in terms of payload simplicity and cost.

Abstract 3904: Multiplexed flow cytometry based immunophenotyping paired with functional ex vivo (MFLEX) drug profiling informs potential efficacy of therapeutic agents in acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract Introduction: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a heterogenous hematological malignancy with a complex clonal architecture that requires in-depth immunophenotyping for disease characterization. Conventional AML ex vivo models for preclinical drug screening lack functional readouts that provide single cell level data to identify drug activity in defined AML subsets with unique immune signatures. Here, we present a novel platform that links Multiparameter Flow cytometry with high-throughput EX vivo drug screening (MFLEX) in AML patient-derived cell models to simultaneously detect phenotypic changes and predict cell-subset specific drug responses in AML. Method: We developed a 21-color high-dimensional immune profiling panel that captures AML heterogeneity by delineating primitive and mature AML blasts along with normal hematopoietic lineages. The panel also includes markers for functional measurement of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and expression of BCL2 family proteins in lymphoid and myeloid cell subsets. Ex vivo culture conditions were optimized using physiologically relevant stroma-free cytokine-rich media that supports primary AML cells with minimal phenotypic shift, allowing for high throughput functional drug sensitivity testing. Timepoints and dosing conditions for AML standard of care (SoC) agents were optimized to support combination screens. Multi-parameter datasets were analysed for functional differences and visualized using dimension reduction methods. Results: We tested MFLEX on clinically annotated AML samples to understand sensitivity profiles to venetoclax and combination partners: 5-azacytidine, cytarabine, fludarabine and gilteritinib. We identified distinct drug sensitivity profiles for venetoclax in AML patients with varying leukemic differentiation states where M0/M1 subtypes were more sensitive to therapy than M4/M5. We also observed cell lineage specific sensitivities, with myeloid blast being more sensitive to venetoclax compared to autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and this observed difference was correlated with higher expression of BCL2. Our platform demonstrated that patients who previously failed venetoclax therapy could benefit from a combination with 5-azacytidine or fludarabine and this was patient-specific. We further evaluated MFLEX’s predictive value for patient clinical response by systematically comparing venetoclax sensitivity in patient-derived xenograft models in vivo vs ex vivo and found a high correlation between drug responses. Conclusion: We have established a unique, immune drug screening platform, MFLEX, that has high translational value and can be implemented in clinical trials to identify drug response patterns, novel combinations, and potential biomarkers of response for patient stratification in AML. Citation Format: Reecha Shah, Heba Wander, Michelle Hsueh, Muskan Floren, Wei Liu, Patricia Cheung, Courtney Andersen, Michael White, Nathan Kingston, Pablo Morentin Gutierrez, Lisa Drew, Giulia Fabbri, Elena Bibikova, Daniel Auclair. Multiplexed flow cytometry based immunophenotyping paired with functional ex vivo (MFLEX) drug profiling informs potential efficacy of therapeutic agents in acute myeloid leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3904.

A Silver Nanocluster Assembled by a Superatomic Building Unit.

A unique assembly of a two-electron superatom, [Ag10{S2P(OiPr)2}8], as a primary building unit in the construction of a supramolecule [Ag10{S2P(OiPr)2}8]2(μ-4,4'-bpy) through a 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) linker is reported. This approach is facilitated by an open site in the structure that allows for effective pairing. The assembled structure demonstrates a minimal solvatochromic shift across organic solvents with variable polarities, highlighting the influence of self-assembly on the photophysical properties of silver nanoclusters.

Effect of the protein environment on the excited state phenomena in a bacteriophytochrome.

The excited state processes of a bacteriophytochrome are studied using high-level multireference methods. The various non-radiative channels of deactivation are identified for the chromophore. The effects of the protein environment and substituents are elucidated for these excited state processes. It is observed that while the excited states are completely delocalized in the Franck-Condon (FC) region, they acquire significant charge transfer character near the conical intersections. Earlier studies have emphasized the delocalized nature of the excited states in the FC region, which leads to absorption spectra with minimal Stokes shift [Rumyantsev et al., Sci. Rep., 2015, 5, 18348]. The effect of the protein environment on the vertical excitation energies was minimal, while that on the conical intersection (CI) energetics was significant. This may lead one to believe that it is charge transfer driven. However, energy decomposition analysis shows that it is the effect of the dispersion of nearby residues and the steric effect on the rings and substituents that lead to the large effect of proteins on the energetics of the CIs.

Patterned thin film enzyme electrodes via spincoating and glutaraldehyde vapor crosslinking: towards scalable fabrication of integrated sensor-on-CMOS devices.

Effective continuous glucose monitoring solutions require consistent sensor performance over the lifetime of the device, a manageable variance between devices, and the capability of high volume, low cost production. Here we present a novel and microfabrication-compatible method of depositing and stabilizing enzyme layers on top of planar electrodes that can aid in the mass production of sensors while also improving their consistency. This work is focused on the fragile biorecognition layer as that has been a critical difficulty in the development of microfabricated sensors. We test this approach with glucose oxidase (GOx) and evaluate the sensor performance with amperometric measurements of in vitro glucose concentrations. Spincoating was used to deposit a uniform enzyme layer across a wafer, which was subsequently immobilized via glutaraldehyde vapor crosslinking and patterned via liftoff. This yielded an approximately 300 nm thick sensing layer which was applied to arrays of microfabricated platinum electrodes built on blank wafers. Taking advantage of their planar array format, measurements were then performed in high-throughput parallel instrumentation. Due to their thin structure, the coated electrodes exhibited subsecond stabilization times after the bias potential was applied. The deposited enzyme layers were measured to provide a sensitivity of 2.3 ± 0.2 μA mM-1 mm-2 with suitable saturation behavior and minimal performance shift observed over extended use. The same methodology was then demonstrated directly on top of wireless CMOS potentiostats to build a monolithic sensor with similar measured performance. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the combination of spincoating and vapor stabilization processes for wafer scale enzymatic sensor functionalization and the potential for scalable fabrication of monolithic sensor-on-CMOS devices.

Characteristics of changes in the level of resistance of mixed martial arts athletes to a stress stimulus in the conditions of different force load regimes

The presented article is devoted to the study of the problem of developing effective strength training regimens for mixed martial arts athletes, taking into account the specifics of this sport and determining the level of resistance of their body and the manifestation of processes of long-term adaptation to a stressful stimulus of the appropriate nature. The purpose of the study was to study the characteristics of the change in the level of resistance of the body of mixed martial arts athletes under the conditions of the use of power load regimes with different parameters of volume and intensity. 75 athletes aged 19±0.7 years, who were divided into 3 groups, took part in the research. The following research methods were used: theoretical and methodological analysis of data from scientific and methodological literature, control testing of the development of maximum muscle strength of athletes, a method of quantitative assessment of the level of physical exertion in power sports, biochemical methods of controlling the concentration of cortisol in the blood serum of participants, a pedagogical experiment, mathematics - statistical methods of processing results. The results of the study indicate that mainly in the athletes of group 3, who during the 12 weeks of the study used a regime of high-intensity loads (Rа=0.72) under the conditions of anaerobic-lactate type of energy supply of muscle activity, we observe the most accelerated growth rates of the power capabilities of the pectoral m muscles on the background of the lowest load volume indicators in a separate set among the groups. At the same time, under the given conditions of training activity, the level of the body's resistance to such a stress stimulus of a force orientation is maximally increased in such a short period of time among athletes of the 3rd group. At the same time, in the athletes of the first group under the conditions of using the mode of low-intensity power loads (Rа=0.53), not only a minimal shift in relation to the investigated problem was detected, but also a fixed manifestation of compensatory reactions to the stressful stimulus.

Microwave-assisted rapid controllable synthesis of hexagonal prismatic CoNi-MOF-74 and its derivative for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Optimizing the composition and structure of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials has been proven effective in enhancing the performance of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, rapid and controllable synthesis of MOF materials still faces challenges. In this work, we employed microwave assistance and surfactant soft templating to achieve rapidly synthesize CoNi-MOF-74 with controllable morphology. By incorporating 4% polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), we successfully synthesized uniform hexagonal PVP4%-CoNi-MOF-74 within a remarkably short time of only 20 min. The PVP4%-CoNi-MOF-74 exhibited a mesoporous structure, displaying an impressive BET surface area of 1321.8 m2/g. PVP4%-CoNi-C alloy was obtained through a direct high-temperature treatment of PVP4%-CoNi-MOF-74 in an N2 environment. The PVP4%-CoNi-C alloy successfully preserved their initial morphology and pore structure, and exhibited excellent OER performance. At a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in a 1.0 M KOH solution, it demonstrated an overpotential of 310 mV, outperforming the commercial precious metal catalyst RuO2 (overpotential of 394 mV). Impressively, even after 3000 cycles, the overpotential of PVP4%-CoNi-C alloy only experienced a minimal positive shift of 0.02 V, showcasing its excellent stability. Through a combination of experimental findings and DFT calculations, it is believed that the superior OER performance of the PVP4%-CoNi-C alloy can be attributed to its morphological dependence induced by the hexagonal prism structure, its large specific surface area facilitating more active sites, as well as the enhanced coordination interactions and faster electron transfer capabilities provided by the unique CoNi active site module.

LEVERAGING READ-ALOUD INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY (RAIS) FOR ENHANCING ENGLISH READING FLUENCY, ANXIETY, AND CONFIDENCE OF EFL CHINESE UNDERGRADUATES: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MULTI-GROUP DESIGN

&lt;p&gt;The perennial challenge of reading fluency, notably profound among Asian EFL learners, stems largely from linguistic disparities, conventional teaching paradigms, and ingrained cognitive practices. This study critically investigates the challenges Chinese undergraduates face with English reading fluency, notably due to linguistic disparities and historically rooted teaching methodologies. Leveraging the Read-Aloud Instructional Strategy (RAIS), this quasi-experimental study sampled 73 students from a private university in Thailand. Baseline assessments depicted similar fluency levels across groups. Post-intervention, the instructor-centered approach demonstrated profound efficacy, with the mean fluency score soaring to 4.35, compared to the student-centered mean of 2.69 and the near-static comparison group at 2.04. Additionally, confidence metrics evinced a remarkable ascent to 3.46 for the instructor-led group, a notable rise to 2.19 for the student-centered cohort, juxtaposed against the comparison group's minimal shift to 1.71. Furthermore, the instructor-centered method substantially ameliorated reading anxiety (d=1.378) and showcased stronger, albeit weak to moderate, post-intervention correlations between fluency, confidence, and anxiety. This comprehensive study underscores the transformative potential of RAIS, particularly the instructor-centered paradigm, in concurrently augmenting reading fluency, confidence, and reducing anxiety among Chinese EFL undergraduates. The implications herein suggest the exigency of reassessing prevalent pedagogical methodologies in Asian EFL environments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/soc/0051/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Applicability of the FDA-approved Immunohistochemical Panel for Identification of MMRd Phenotype in Uterine Endometrioid Carcinoma.

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Ventana MMR RxDx Panel as the first immunohistochemical companion diagnostic test for identification of tumors with mismatch repair (MMR) status. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of this test in comparison with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis. We assessed the MMR/MSI concordance rate in 140 cases of endometrioid carcinoma. MMR status was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (MMR-IHC), and MSI status was evaluated by PCR-based analysis (MSI-PCR). Potential molecular mechanisms responsible for MSH6 staining variations were also analyzed. Immunohistochemistry showed that 34 tumors (24.3%) were MMRd; these included 26 with combined MLH1/PMS2 loss, 2 with combined MSH2/MSH6 loss, and 6 with isolated MSH6 loss. Heterogeneous MSH6 loss was found in 10 tumors and was recognized only in tumors with combined MLH1/PMS2 loss. Eight of 10 tumors with heterogeneous MSH6 loss harbored MSH6 C8 tract instability, suggesting a secondary somatic event after MLH1/PMS2 loss. MSI-PCR revealed that 102 tumors were MSS, 4 were MSI-low, and 34 were MSI-high. Consequently, MMR-IHC and MSI-PCR showed perfect concordance (kappa=0.080, P <0.0001). However, 10 of the 34 MSI-high tumors, including the 6 tumors with isolated MSH6 loss, showed only minimal microsatellite shift by MSI-PCR, which may have been erroneously interpreted as MSS or MSI-low. On the basis of these findings, we consider that the FDA-approved immunohistochemical panel can detect MMR variations consistently and is more accurate than MSI-PCR for determining the applicability of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of endometrioid carcinomas.

A population-based registry study of extended bisphosphonate use: minimal shift after landmark publications about shorter treatment duration.

Optimal duration of bisphosphonate therapy was unknown until the FLEX study was published in 2006 showing a 5-year course to be adequate for most women. In 2008 a link between long-term bisphosphonate and atypical femoral fractures was reported and confirmed in later studies. We hypothesized these landmark observations should have led to a decrease in use of bisphosphonates for >5 or 10 years, from 2010 onward. The Manitoba BMD registry with linkage to provincial pharmacy data was used to determine the percentage of long and very-long term bisphosphonate users from therapy start. The cohort comprised women age > 50 with BMD between 1995-2018 with oral bisphosphonate first prescribed for >90 days with adherence >75% in the first year. For each calendar year of continued therapy, the percentage of patients and medication possession rate was tabulated. The percentage of users beyond 5 years was compared between patients who started therapy in 1998-2004 (those taking 5 years of therapy still finish prior to 2010) versus 2005-2012 (all new therapy starts overlap 2010 in those taking ≥5 years treatment). The cohort included 2991 women with mean follow up 8.8(1.3) years, 64.9% of whom took continuous oral bisphosphonate for >5 years and 41.9% for >10 years. In the earlier vs later era, there were 74.4% vs 70.2% who completed 5 years. With respect to longer treatment, there were 68.0% and 60.5% of patients treated for 6 or more years (p < 0.0001) and 46.6% vs 33.5% treated for >10 years (p = 0.08). Medication possession rate was >79% in every year of therapy. Landmark studies leading to more limited bisphosphonate courses may have slightly reduced longer-term treatment, but up to one-third of adherent patients in the modern era still receive continuous bisphosphonate therapy for >10 years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

An Amorphous Native Oxide Shell for High Bias-Stress Stability Nanowire Synaptic Transistor.

The inhomogeneous native oxide shells on the surfaces of III-V group semiconductors typically yield inferior and unstable electrical properties metrics, challenging the development of next-generation integrated circuits. Herein, the native GaOx shells are profitably utilized by a simple in-situ thermal annealing process to achieve high-performance GaSb nanowires (NWs) field-effect-transistors (FETs) with excellent bias-stress stability and synaptic behaviors. By an optimal annealing time of 5min, the as-constructed GaSb NW FET demonstrates excellent stability with a minimal shift of transfer curve (ΔVth ≈ 0.54V) under a 60min gate bias, which is far more stable than that of pristine GaSb NW FET (ΔVth ≈ 8.2V). When the high bias-stress stability NW FET is used as the chargeable-dielectric free synaptic transistor, the typical synaptic behaviors, such as short-term plasticity, long-term plasticity, spike-time-dependent plasticity, and reliable learning stability are demonstrated successfully through the voltage tests. The mobile oxygen ion in the native GaOx shell strongly offsets the trapping states and leads to enhanced bias-stress stability and charge retention capability for synaptic behaviors. This work provides a new way of utilizing the native oxide shell to realize stable FET for chargeable-dielectric free neuromorphic computing systems.