Predictive Value of the Interaction between CEA and Hemoglobin in Neoadjuvant CCRT Outcomes in Rectal Cancer Patients.

The adoption of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has reshaped the therapeutic landscape, but response prediction remains challenging. This study investigates the interaction between pre-CCRT carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and post-CCRT hemoglobin (Hb) levels in predicting the response of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) to CCRT. Retrospective data from 93 rectal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant CCRT were analyzed.

Perovskite-Based X-ray Detectors.

X-ray detection has widespread applications in medical diagnosis, non-destructive industrial radiography and safety inspection, and especially, medical diagnosis realized by medical X-ray detectors is presenting an increasing demand. Perovskite materials are excellent candidates for high-energy radiation detection based on their promising material properties such as excellent carrier transport capability and high effective atomic number. In this review paper, we introduce X-ray detectors using all kinds of halide perovskite materials along with various crystal structures and discuss their device performance in detail.

Visualization of Ion Migration in an Inorganic Mixed Halide Perovskite by One-Photon and Multiphoton Absorption: Effect of Guanidinium A-Site Cation Incorporation.

In this work, we present the ion migration of CsPbIBr under illumination and impede it by incorporating the large cations of guanidinium (GA). A series of "probe-set-probe" operations are applied to assess the photoluminescence (PL) behavior spectrally and spatially, which is correlated to the ion migration-induced phase separation, of CsPbIBr and GACsPbIBr perovskites. The local lattice distortion introduced by GA could reduce the strain gradient in GACsPbIBr to inhibit the ion migration, leading to a stable PL spectrum and enhanced device stability under light stimulation.

To Optimize Radiotherapeutic Plans for Superior Tumor Coverage Predicts Malignant Glioma Prognosis and Normal Tissue Complication Probability.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) provides a modern treatment to enhance the malignant glioma control rate. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of tumor coverage on disease prognosis and to predict optimal RT plans to achieve a lower normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). Methods: Ten malignant-glioma patients with tumors adjacent to organs at risk (OARs) were collected.

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis of Smartphone Use in University Students.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is an expanded public health heed that requires more study to clarify the influence elements of different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between smartphone use, and sleep quality, self-perceived health, and exercise participation in university students. A total of 1,575 Taiwanese undergraduate students from 7 universities participated in the study.

Effect of the simulated half leaf width of a multileaf collimator on volumetric modulated arc therapy plan quality in hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy.

Purpose: Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is commonly used in patients with multiple brain metastases. Compared with conventional WBRT, hippocampal avoidance WBRT (HA-WBRT) more favorably preserves cognitive function and the quality of life. The hippocampal volume is considerably small (approximately 3.

Comparison of NH and NO Plasma Treatments on BiO Sensing Membranes Applied in an Electrolyte-Insulator-Semiconductor Structure.

In this study, bismuth trioxide (BiO) membranes in an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) structure were fabricated with pH sensing capability. To optimize the sensing performance, the membranes were treated with two types of plasma-NH and NO. To investigate the material property improvements, multiple material characterizations were conducted.

Gelatin/Chitosan Bilayer Patches Loaded with Cortex / Extracts for Anti-Acne Application.

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often occurs with anaerobic (). Anti-acne patches, made of hydrocolloid or hydrogel, have become a popular way of topical treatment. The outer water-impermeable layer of commercial patches might create hypoxic conditions and promote growth.

Multiple-Color Reflectors Using Bichiral Liquid Crystal Polymer Films and Their Applications in Liquid Crystal Displays.

Multiple-color reflectors using bichiral liquid crystal polymer films (BLCPFs) are investigated. The BLCPFs consist of alternate layers of two different single-pitch cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layers, named CLC#A and CLC#B. The thickness of each CLC layer equals its single pitch length.

Optimal tumor coverage with different beam energies by IMRT, VMAT and TOMO: Effects on patients with proximal gastric cancer.

To compare the effects of different photon energies on radiation planning by intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and helical tomotherapy (TOMO) for proximal gastric cancer (PGC). Network analysis with microarray procession and gene ontology were used to identify the effect of radiotherapy (RT) on PGC. Then, we retrospectively analyzed 8 PGC patients after receiving irradiation with a prescribed dose of 50.

CD44-associated radioresistance of glioblastoma in irradiated brain areas with optimal tumor coverage.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) requires radiotherapy (RT) as its definitive management. However, GBM still has a high local recurrence rate even after RT. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) might enable GBM to evade irradiation damage and cause therapeutic failure.

Segregation-free bromine-doped perovskite solar cells for IoT applications.

Perovskite solar cells have attracted much attention as next-generation solar cells because of their high efficiency and low fabrication costs. Moreover, perovskite solar cells are a promising candidate for indoor energy harvesting. We investigated the effect of bandgap tuning on the characteristics of triple cation-based perovskite solar cells under fluorescent lamp illumination.

Double-side operable perovskite photodetector using Cu/CuO as a hole transport layer.

In this study, a perovskite is integrated with an ultra-thin Cu/CuO (CCO) composite film, a transparent material with high mobility, to achieve a double-side and low-voltage operable photodetector. Compared to photodetectors that utilize metal electrode with perovskite, the use of CCO significantly enhances the photocurrent (from nA up to mA). It acts as a large-scale hole transport layer.

Compared with intensity-modulated radiotherapy, image-guided radiotherapy reduces severity of acute radiation-induced skin toxicity during radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an effective treatment for breast cancer. The side effects of breast irradiation, including skin toxicity in the irradiation field, cause considerable discomfort. This study compared the severity of skin toxicity caused by image-guided RT (IGRT) and intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) combined with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in breast cancer.

Highly Efficient 2D/3D Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells via Low-Pressure Vapor-Assisted Solution Process.

The fabrication of multidimensional organometallic halide perovskite via a low-pressure vapor-assisted solution process is demonstrated for the first time. Phenyl ethyl-ammonium iodide (PEAI)-doped lead iodide (PbI ) is first spin-coated onto the substrate and subsequently reacts with methyl-ammonium iodide (MAI) vapor in a low-pressure heating oven. The doping ratio of PEAI in MAI-vapor-treated perovskite has significant impact on the crystalline structure, surface morphology, grain size, UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra, and the resultant device performance.

Cu/CuO nanocomposite films as a p-type modified layer for efficient perovskite solar cells.

Cu/CuO films grown by ion beam sputtering were used as p-type modified layers to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an n-i-p heterojunction structure. The ratio of Cu to CuO in the films can be tuned by the oxygen flow ratio (O/(O + Ar)) during the sputtering of copper. Auger electron spectroscopy was performed to determine the elemental composition and chemical state of Cu in the films.

Optical manipulation of nematic colloids at the interfaces in azo-dye-doped liquid crystals.

This study demonstrates the optical manipulation of colloids dispersed in azo-dye-doped liquid crystals (DDLCs) where the accumulation occurs at the interfaces of the phase domains. We explain the mechanism related to the formation of the domains and the movement of the colloids in DDLCs with respect to the isomerization of azo-dye molecules via the illumination of laser beams. The colloids are dragged to the interfaces of the isotropic/nematic domain and the air bubble/isotropic domain by molecular interaction and Marangoni flows.

Variations in dosimetric distribution and plan complexity with collimator angles in hypofractionated volumetric arc radiotherapy for treating prostate cancer.

Purpose: Hypofractionated radiotherapy can reduce treatment durations and produce effects identical to those of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for treating prostate cancer. Volumetric arc radiotherapy (VMAT) can decrease the treatment machine monitor units (MUs). Previous studies have shown that VMAT with multileaf collimator (MLC) rotation exhibits better target dose distribution.

Comparison of Thoracic Radiotherapy Efficacy Between Patients With and Without -mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma.

To investigate the association between tumor response to thoracic radiotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in patients with lung adenocarcinoma, we collected 48 patients treated between January 2010 and December 2013. Of the 18 patients with EGFR mutation, 15 (83.3%) had a single mutation, and three (16.

Robust and Recyclable Substrate Template with an Ultrathin Nanoporous Counter Electrode for Organic-Hole-Conductor-Free Monolithic Perovskite Solar Cells.

A robust and recyclable monolithic substrate applying all-inorganic metal-oxide selective contact with a nanoporous (np) Au:NiO counter electrode is successfully demonstrated for efficient perovskite solar cells, of which the perovskite active layer is deposited in the final step for device fabrication. Through annealing of the Ni/Au bilayer, the nanoporous NiO/Au electrode is formed in virtue of interconnected Au network embedded in oxidized Ni. By optimizing the annealing parameters and tuning the mesoscopic layer thickness (mp-TiO and mp-AlO), a decent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.

Compared planning dosimetry of TOMO, VMAT and IMRT in rectal cancer with different simulated positions.

Objectives: To compare treatment plans for helical tomotherapy (TOMO), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study from December 2010 to June 2013 included 20 patients with LARC who received neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with radiation doses of greater than 50.4 Gy.

Mixed Cation Thiocyanate-Based Pseudohalide Perovskite Solar Cells with High Efficiency and Stability.

Novel organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite compounds composed of mixed A-site cation (Formamidinium and Cesium) and pseudohalides (SCN and I) ions are successfully synthesized. These new classes of hybrid perovskites photovoltaics exhibited remarkable power conversion efficiency of more than 16% with excellent stability against moisture in ambient environment and under low-light storage condition. The existence of SCN ion inclusion is confirmed by secondary ion mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Low-Pressure Vapor-Assisted Solution Process for Thiocyanate-Based Pseudohalide Perovskite Solar Cells.

In this report, we fabricated thiocyanate-based perovskite solar cells with low-pressure vapor-assisted solution process (LP-VASP) method. Photovoltaic performances are evaluated with detailed materials characterizations. Scanning electron microscopy images show that SCN-based perovskite films fabricated using LP-VASP have long-range uniform morphology and large grain sizes up to 1 μm.

Ultrafast Dynamics of Hole Injection and Recombination in Organometal Halide Perovskite Using Nickel Oxide as p-Type Contact Electrode.

There is a mounting effort to use nickel oxide (NiO) as p-type selective electrode for organometal halide perovskite-based solar cells. Recently, an overall power conversion efficiency using this hole acceptor has reached 18%. However, ultrafast spectroscopic investigations on the mechanism of charge injection as well as recombination dynamics have yet to be studied and understood.

Novel spiro-based hole transporting materials for efficient perovskite solar cells.

Three spiro-acridine-fluorene based hole transporting materials (HTMs), namely CW3, CW4 and CW5, are employed in the fabrication of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells. The corresponding mesoscopic TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/HTM devices are investigated and compared with that made with commercial spiro-OMeTAD. The best conversion efficiency of 16.