Volcanically forced Madden-Julian oscillation triggers the immediate onset of El Niño.

A process-level understanding of the volcanically forced climate response is an urgent challenge due to its similarities to the potential effects of geoengineering techniques. Although the influence of volcanic forcing on El Niño events has been studied extensively, the mechanisms driving the volcanically-induced immediate onset of El Niño remain uncertain, with many climate models producing a delayed El Niño response compared to observations. In this study, using large ensemble simulations that allow us to isolate the impacts of volcanic forcing on the El Niño response, we demonstrate a mechanism that highlights the central triggering role of the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO), which has been overlooked in existing literature.

High-Temperature Stable Amorphous Sn-Rich InSnGaO Thin Films Fabricated Via Atomic Layer Deposition for Next-Generation Dynamic Random-Access Memory Applications.

Facile phase transitions and electrical degradation of amorphous oxide semiconductors due to a high thermal budget have significantly limited their dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) applications, which require high thermal stability at temperatures over 600 °C. In this paper, we report an amorphous In-Sn-Ga-O (ITGO) semiconductor fabricated via atomic layer deposition, which exhibits high-temperature (∼700 °C) phase stability with moderate electrical properties. The optimal Sn-rich ITGO composition (In/Sn/Ga = 25:58:17 at.

Interaction of RECQL4 with poly(ADP-ribose) is critical for the DNA double-strand break response in human cells.

To overcome genotoxicity, cells have evolved powerful and effective mechanisms to detect and respond to DNA lesions. RecQ Like Helicase-4 (RECQL4) plays a vital role in DNA damage responses. RECQL4 is recruited to DNA double-strand break (DSB) sites in a poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation)-dependent manner, but the mechanism and significance of this process remain unclear.

-Axis Aligned Composite InZnO via Thermal Atomic Layer Deposition for 3D Nanostructured Semiconductor.

Amorphous oxide semiconductors have been widely studied for various applications, including thin-film transistors (TFTs) for display backplanes and semiconductor memories. However, the inherent instability, limited mobility, and complexity of multicomponent oxide semiconductors for achieving high aspect ratios and conformality of cation distribution remain challenging. Indium-zinc oxide (IZO), known for its high mobility, also faces obstacles in instability resulting from high carrier doping density and low ionization energy.

Feasibility of artificial intelligence-driven interfractional monitoring of organ changes by mega-voltage computed tomography in intensity-modulated radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

Purpose: High-dose radiotherapy (RT) for localized prostate cancer requires careful consideration of target position changes and adjacent organs-at-risk (OARs), such as the rectum and bladder. Therefore, daily monitoring of target position and OAR changes is crucial in minimizing interfractional dosimetric uncertainties. For efficient monitoring of the internal condition of patients, we assessed the feasibility of an auto-segmentation of OARs on the daily acquired images, such as megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT), via a commercial artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution in this study.

Feasibility of internal-source tracking with C-arm CT/SPECT imaging with limited-angle projection data for online in vivo dose verification in brachytherapy: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

Purpose: The current protocol for use of the image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) procedure entails transport of a patient between the treatment room and the 3-D tomographic imaging room after implantation of the applicators in the body, which movement can cause position displacement of the applicator. Moreover, it is not possible to track 3-D radioactive source movement inside the body, even though there can be significant inter- and intra-fractional patient-setup changes. In this paper, therefore, we propose an online single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging technique with a combined C-arm fluoroscopy X-ray system and attachable parallel-hole collimator for internal radioactive source tracking of every source position in the applicator.

Electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and crystal growth of p-type tellurium films through temperature dependent RF sputtering.

Te thin films have recently received considerable attention owing to its superior electrical and thermoelectric properties. During the deposition process, if the temperature of the substrate is raised, high crystallinity and improved electrical properties can be expected. In this study, we used radio frequency sputtering for Te deposition to study the relationship between the deposition temperature, crystal size, and electrical performance.

The Preparation and Physiochemical Characterization of Chitin Using Alcalase.

Chitin is mostly produced from crustaceans, but it is difficult to supply raw materials due to marine pollution, and the commonly used chemical chitin extraction method is not environmentally friendly. Therefore, this study aims to establish a chitin extraction process using enzymes and to develop edible insect-derived chitin as an eco-friendly new material. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimal conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis.

Label-free photothermal optical coherence microscopy to locate desired regions of interest in multiphoton imaging of volumetric specimens.

Biochip-based research is currently evolving into a three-dimensional and large-scale basis similar to the in vivo microenvironment. For the long-term live and high-resolution imaging in these specimens, nonlinear microscopy capable of label-free and multiscale imaging is becoming increasingly important. Combination with non-destructive contrast imaging will be useful for effectively locating regions of interest (ROI) in large specimens and consequently minimizing photodamage.

Discovery of a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, (E)-3-cyclohexyl-5-(4-((2-hydroxyethyl)(methyl)amino)benzylidene)-1-methyl-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-oneone, as a novel therapeutic for Parkinson's disease.

Several lines of evidence indicated that generation of NADPH oxidase (Nox)-mediated reactive oxygen species are associated with neuronal inflammation, leading to Parkinson's disease (PD). Novel benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxoimidazolidin-one derivatives as Nox inhibitors were designed and synthesized in order to increase blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to target Nox in brain cells. In lucigenin chemiluminescence assay, eight compounds showed excellent inhibition activity against NADPH oxidases and parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) identified compound 11 with high passive permeability.

Tropical modulation of East Asia air pollution.

Understanding air pollution in East Asia is of great importance given its high population density and serious air pollution problems during winter. Here, we show that the day-to-day variability of East Asia air pollution, during the recent 21-year winters, is remotely influenced by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a dominant mode of subseasonal variability in the tropics. In particular, the concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micron (PM) becomes significantly high when the tropical convections are suppressed over the Indian Ocean (MJO phase 5-6), and becomes significantly low when those convections are enhanced (MJO phase 1-2).

Functional validation of the simplified in vitro 3D Co-culture based BBB model.

Various methods of generating 2D and 3D in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models have previously been published with the objective of developing therapeutics for brain diseases. In general, published methods including our published method demonstrate that in vivo-like semi-permeable barrier can be generated. To further verify that an in vitro BBB model closely represents BBB, functional validation is required.

Simplified in vitro 3D co-culture-based blood-brain barrier model using transwell.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major hurdle for treatment of brain diseases. To overcome this, precise and reproducible BBB model is one of the key factors for successful evaluation of BBB-penetrating efficacy of developmental drugs. Thus, in vitro BBB model recapitulating the physiological structure of the BBB is a valuable tool for drug discovery and development for brain diseases.

Handgrip Strength and Cognitive Function among Elderly Koreans: Insights from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

This study aims to assess handgrip strength as a predictor of cognitive decline within men and women in Korea. A random-intercept logistic regression is fit to estimate the status changes in cognitive function throughout all rounds of the KLoSA, a nationally-representative survey of adults aged 45 years and older. Males in the highest quartile were 71.

Facile synthesis of an organic/inorganic hybrid 2D structure tincone film by molecular layer deposition.

Organic/inorganic hybrid tincone films were deposited by molecular layer deposition (MLD) using ,'--butyl-1,1-dimethylethylenediamine stannylene(II) as a precursor and hydroquinone (HQ) as an organic reactant. From previous studies it is known that SnO can be fabricated through a reaction with HO, which has low oxidizing power. Similarly, when combined with HQ having a bi-functional hydroxyl group, SnO-based 2D hybrid tincones can be produced.

Dry-Etchable Molecular Layer-Deposited Inhibitor Using Annealed Indicone Film for Nanoscale Area-Selective Deposition.

In semiconductor production, the technology node of a device is becoming extremely small below 5 nm. Area selective deposition (ASD) is a promising technique for creating improved overlay or self-alignment, remedying a conventional top-down method. However, the conventional materials and process (self-assembled monolayer, polymer and carbon film fabricated by chemical vapor deposition, and spin coating) for ASD are not suitable for highly conformal deposition.

Dickkopf-1 promotes angiogenesis by upregulating VEGF receptor 2-mediated mTOR/p70S6K signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The expression of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the tumorigenic and angiogenic potential of DKK1 in HCC. Stable cell lines were established using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-based DKK1 knock-out system in Hep3B cells and the tetracycline-based DKK1 inducible system in Huh7 cells.

Ultra-Low-Dose Spectral CT Based on a Multi-level Wavelet Convolutional Neural Network.

Spectral computed tomography (CT) based on a photon-counting detector (PCD) is a promising technique with the potential to improve lesion detection, tissue characterization, and material decomposition. PCD-based scanners have several technical issues including operation in the step-and-scan mode and long data acquisition time. One straightforward solution to these issues is to reduce the number of projection views.

Quantitative Photothermal Characterization with Bioprinted 3D Complex Tissue Constructs for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Therapy Using Gold Nanorods.

Plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has shown great potential for use in selective tumor treatment, because the AuNPs can generate destructive heat preferentially upon irradiation. However, PPTT using AuNPs has not been added to practice, owing to insufficient heating methods and tissue temperature measurement techniques, leading to unreliable and inaccurate treatments. Because the photothermal properties of AuNPs vary with laser power, particle optical density, and tissue depth, the accurate prediction of heat generation is indispensable for clinical treatment.

Facile rearrangement of molecular layer deposited metalcone thin films by electron beam irradiation for area selective atomic layer deposition.

Area selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD) is a promising future technology for the realization of a 5 nm scale Si complementary field effect transistor (FET) and its application in industry. AS-ALD is one of the "bottom-up" technologies, which is a key process that can reduce the cost of fabrication and decrease positional error as an alternative to the conventional "top down" technology. We researched an inhibitor for AS-ALD using molecular layer deposited (MLD) films annealed by electron beam irradiation (EBI).

Sparse-view CT reconstruction based on multi-level wavelet convolution neural network.

Sparse-view computed tomography (CT) is a recent approach to reducing the radiation dose in patients and speeding up the data acquisition. Consequently, sparse-view CT has been of particular interest among researchers within the CT community. Advanced reconstruction algorithms for sparse-view CT, such as iterative algorithms with total-variation (TV), have been studied along with the problem of increasing computational burden and the blurring of artifacts in the reconstructed images.