Thermal infrared image processing profiles for speech anxiety monitoring

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This study relates to a method for analyzing speech anxiety by processing biosignals in real time. In the previous study, the effect of galvanic skin response...     

Gradient-based adaptive modeling for IoT data transmission reduction

Wireless Networks - Spatial and temporal correlation between sensor observations in an Internet of Things environment can be exploited to eliminate unnecessary transmissions. Transmitting less data...     

Simultaneous determination of synthetic food additives in kimchi by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Food Science and Biotechnology - A new analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven food additives (Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, Amaranth, 4-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid,...     

Poly(cyclodextrin)‐Polydrug Nanocomplexes as Synthetic Oncolytic Virus for Locoregional Melanoma Chemoimmunotherapy

Despite the approval of oncolytic virus (OV) therapy for advanced melanoma, its intrinsic limitations that include the risk of persistent viral infection and cost‐intensive manufacturing motivate the development of analogous approaches that are free from the disadvantages of virus‐based therapies. Herein, reported is a nanoassembly comprised of multivalent host–guest interactions between polymerized paclitaxel (pPTX) and nitric oxide‐incorporated polymerized β‐cyclodextrin (pCD‐pSNO) that through its bioactive components and when used locoregionally recapitulates the therapeutic effects of OV. The resultant pPTX/pCD‐pSNO exhibits significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, immunogenic cell death, dendritic cell (DC) activation, and T cell expansion in vitro compared to free agents alone or in combination. In vivo, intratumoral administration of pPTX/pCD‐pSNO results in activation and expansion of DCs systemically, but with a corresponding expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells and suppression of CD8⁺ T cell expansion. When combined with antibody targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 that blunts this molecule's signaling effects on T cells, intratumoral pPTX/pCD‐pSNO treatment elicits potent anticancer effects that significantly prolong animal survival. This formulation thus leverages the chemo‐ and immunotherapeutic synergies of PTX and nitric oxide and suggests the potential for virus‐free nanoformulations to mimic the therapeutic action and benefits of OVs.     

Active object search in an unknown large-scale environment using commonsense knowledge and spatial relations

Intelligent Service Robotics - In this study, the goal is to efficiently and actively search for a target object in a previously unknown large-scale environment. To this end, we develop a...     

Sub‐5 nm Dendrimer Directed Self‐Assembly with Large‐Area Uniform Alignment by Graphoepitaxy

Directed self‐assembly (DSA) using soft materials is an important method for producing periodic nanostructures because it is a simple, cost‐effective process for fabricating high‐resolution patterns. Most of the previously reported DSA methods exploit the self‐assembly of block copolymers, which generates a wide range of nanostructures. In this study, cylinders obtained from supramolecular dendrimer films with a high resolution (<5 nm) exhibit planar ordering over a macroscopic area via guiding topographical templates with a high aspect ratio (>10) and high spatial resolution (≈20 nm) of guiding line patterns. Theoretical and experimental studies reveal that this property is related to geometrical anchoring on the meniscus region and physical surface anchoring on the sidewall. Furthermore, this DSA of dendrimer cylinders is demonstrated by the non‐regular geometry of the patterned template. The macroscopic planar alignment of the dendrimer nanostructure reveals an extremely small feature size (≈4.7 nm) on the wafer scale (>16 cm²). This study is expected to open avenues for the production of a large family of supramolecular dendrimers with different phases and feature dimensions oriented by the DSA approach.     

Correlations between histopathologic and dermoscopic findings in Korean actinic keratosis

Skin biopsy for AK diagnosis is usually performed on only a limited part of the whole lesion. Therefore, a clinical diagnosis is important. According to a study, there is no significant correlation between histopathological and clinical classification system. We examined the correlation between microscopic information and dermoscopic findings to deduce if dermoscopic information reflects histopathologic grade severity. Forty seven patients with histologically confirmed AK were enrolled and positive ratio of red pseudonetwork, rosette, red background and targetoid signs, white‐to‐yellow scale, white structureless area, and pigmentation from dermoscopic findings were investigated. Furthermore, viable epidermal thickness, vessel lumen dimensions, existence and thickness of ortho‐ and parakeratosis, degree of sola elastosis, flag sign existence, and Roewert‐Huber classification were measured as histologic findings. Red background did not show a significant correlation with vascular dimension or viable epidermal thickness. When targetoid sign was present, vascular dimension was significantly larger but showed no correlation with viable epidermal thickness, parakeratosis or orthokeratosis. Solar elastosis level was significantly higher when white‐to‐yellow scale was present. According to Spearman's correlation analysis, ortho/parakeratotic thickness showed correlations with each other. The negative correlation between viable epidermal thickness and vascular dimension was also shown. Roewert‐Huber histologic AK classification showed no correlation with any factors we checked. Factors considered to be characteristic features of AK in dermoscopy seemed unassociated with histologic AK classification and additional research is needed to determine degree of dysplasia of AK lesions using dermoscopy.     

Influence of iron doping towards the physicochemical and biological characteristics of hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is the naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite and the most studied material as a bone substituent. Considering HAP's inherent properties, this study explored changes in HAP's characteristics from doping with other metals such as Fe. To form pure HAP and Fe-HAP with different amounts of Fe, we used the hydrothermal approach, and the composites that formed were thoroughly analyzed for their crystallinity, surface bonding, morphology, magnetic behavior, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and in vitro cytotoxicity. The powder XRD studies confirmed the samples' crystallinity, and the lowest crystalline size was 19.7 nm in 10Fe-HAP. The FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of HAP by the hydroxyl, phosphate, and carbonate groups. The FESEM demonstrated that the morphology of the pure HAP was rod-shaped, which transformed into spheres after Fe doping. The EDS analysis confirmed the successful formation of HAP and Fe-HAP composites. The magnetic studies indicated the diamagnetic behavior of the pure HAP, while the Fe-doped HAPs had a superparamagnetic nature with saturation magnetizations (M_s) of 2Fe-HAP, 4Fe-HAP, and 10Fe-HAP at 0.0062, 0.0092, and 0.029 emu/g respectively. Assessment of the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and cytotoxicity indicated that the Fe-doped HAPs were superior to the pure HAP, and among the Fe-HAPs, the 10Fe-HAP) had the highest amount of Fe and the best characteristics. The studies also indicated that Ca²⁺ interactions influenced the cells via HAP doping with that of Fe, equally increasing the physicochemical and biological properties.