First-Principles Investigations on the Semiconductor-to-Metal Phase Transition of 2D SiTe for Reversible Resistive Switching.

SiTe is attracting attention due to its compatibility with Si technology while still showing advantages as a two-dimensional layered material. Although recent experimental studies have observed the resistive switching process in SiTe-based memristors, the mechanism has not been clearly identified. In this study, first-principles density functional theory calculations are employed to understand the relationship between the phase transition of SiTe and the reversible resistive switching of the SiTe-based memristor.

Semantic Segmentation Using Pixel-Wise Adaptive Label Smoothing via Self-Knowledge Distillation for Limited Labeling Data.

To achieve high performance, most deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) require a significant amount of training data with ground truth labels. However, creating ground-truth labels for semantic segmentation requires more time, human effort, and cost compared with other tasks such as classification and object detection, because the ground-truth label of every pixel in an image is required. Hence, it is practically demanding to train DCNNs using a limited amount of training data for semantic segmentation.

Surface Diffusion and Epitaxial Self-Planarization for Wafer-Scale Single-Grain Metal Chalcogenide Thin Films.

Although wafer-scale single-grain thin films of 2D metal chalcogenides (MCs) have been extensively sought after during the last decade, the grain size of the MC thin films is still limited in the sub-millimeter scale. A general strategy of synthesizing wafer-scale single-grain MC thin films by using commercial wafers (Si, Ge, GaAs) both as metal source and epitaxial collimator is presented. A new mechanism of single-grain thin-film formation, surface diffusion, and epitaxial self-planarization is proposed, where chalcogen elements migrate preferentially along substrate surface and the epitaxial crystal domains flow to form an atomically smooth thin film.

Development of a naftopidil-chitosan-based fumaric acid solid dispersion to improve the dissolution rate and stability of naftopidil.

Naftopidil (NAF), an α-adrenoceptor antagonist, is administered as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia; however, according to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS IV), it is a poorly-soluble drug that exhibits poor permeability. We aimed to increase the dissolution (%) of NAF by adding chitosan to a polymer-free formulation. Compared to the formulation prepared using Flivas®, at 60 min, the solid dispersion (SD) formulation containing NAF, fumaric acid, chitosan, and US2® in a 1:1:2:1 weight ratio improved the dissolution (%) of NAF in distilled water, pH 1.

How good is cola for dissolution of gastric phytobezoars?

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of cola treatment for gastric phytobezoars, including diospyrobezoars.

Methods: A total of 17 patients (range: 48 to 78 years) with symptomatic gastric phytobezoars treated with cola and adjuvant endoscopic therapy were reviewed. Three liters of cola lavage (10 cases) or drink (7 cases) were initially used, and then endoscopic fragmentation was done for the remnant bezoars by using a lithotripsy basket or a polypectomy snare.

Pancreatic tuberculosis masquerading as pancreatic serous cystadenoma.

Solitary pancreatic involvement of tuberculosis is rare, especially in an immunocompetent individual, and it may be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cystic neoplasms. Pancreatic cystic neoplasms are being identified in increasing numbers, probably because of the frequent use of radiology and advances in endoscopic techniques. However, they are composed of a variety of neoplasms with a wide range of malignant potential, and it is often difficult to differentiate pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking cystic neoplasms from benign or malignant pancreatic cystic neoplasms.

Antiviral efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil versus lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B sequentially treated with lamivudine and adefovir due to lamivudine resistance.

Aim: To compare the antiviral efficacy of adefovir (ADV) in lamivudine (LMV)-resistant patients with LMV treatment in nucleoside-naive patients, using serum samples collected sequentially during the course of treatment progressing from LMV to ADV.

Methods: Forty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were included. The patients were initially treated with LMV and then switched to ADV when LMV resistance developed.

Removal of press-through-packs impacted in the upper esophagus using an overtube.

Foreign bodies in the upper esophagus should be removed as soon as possible to avoid serious complications. However, removals of foreign bodies in the upper esophagus are very difficult, especially if they have sharp edges, such as press-through-packs (PTPs). We experienced four cases of the impacted PTPs in the upper esophagus which was successfully extracted endoscopically with the overtube.