The Different Associations of White Matter Hyperintensities With Severity of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment According to the Distance From the Lateral Ventricular Surface in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are common among the elderly. Although WMH play a key role in lowering the threshold for the clinical expression of dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology, the clinical significance of their location is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between WMH and cognitive function according to the location of WMH in AD. METHODS: Subjects underwent clinical evaluations including volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging study and neuropsychological tests using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet. WMH were calculated using automated quantification method. According to the distance from the lateral ventricular surface, WMH within 3 mm, WMH within 3-13 mm, and WMH over 13 mm were classified as juxtaventricular WMH (JVWMH), periventricular WMH (PVWMH), and deep WMH (DWMH), respectively. RESULTS: Total WMH volume was associated with poor performance in categorical verbal fluency test (ß=-0.197, p=0.035). JVWMH volume was associated with poor performances on categorical verbal fluency test (ß=-0.201, p=0.032) and forward digit span test (ß= -0.250, p=0.012). PVWMH volume was associated with poor performances on categorical verbal fluency test (ß=-0.185, p=0.042) and word list memory test (ß=-0.165, p=0.042), whereas DWMH volume showed no association with cognitive tests. PVWMH volume were also related to Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes score (ß=0.180, p=0.026). CONCLUSION: WMH appear to exhibit different associations with the severity of dementia and cognitive impairment according to the distance from ventricle surface in AD.

Exploring the Relationships Between Antipsychotic Dosage and Voice Characteristics in Relation to Extrapyramidal Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) are common side effects of antipsychotic drugs. Despite the growing interest in exploring objective biomarkers for EPS prevention and the potential use of voice in detecting clinical disorders, no studies have demonstrated the relationships between vocal changes and EPS. Therefore, we aimed to determine the associations between voice changes and antipsychotic dosage, and further investigated whether speech characteristics could be used as predictors of EPS. METHODS: Forty-two patients receiving or expected to receive antipsychotic drugs were recruited. Drug-induced parkinsonism of EPS was evaluated using the Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS). Participants' voice data consisted of 16 neutral sentences and 2 second-long /Ah/utterances. Thirteen voice features were extracted from the obtained voice data. Each voice feature was compared between groups categorized based on SAS total score of below and above "0.6." The associations between antipsychotic dosage and voice characteristics were examined, and vocal trait variations according to the presence of EPS were explored. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed between specific vocal characteristics and antipsychotic dosage across both datasets of 1-16 sentences and /Ah/utterances. Notably, Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) exhibited noteworthy variations in response to the presence of EPS. Specifically, among the 13 MFCC coefficients, MFCC1 (t=-4.47, p<0.001), MFCC8 (t=-4.49, p<0.001), and MFCC12 (t=-2.21, p=0.029) showed significant group differences in the overall statistical values. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MFCC may serve as a predictor of detecting drug-induced parkinsonism of EPS. Further research should address potential confounding factors impacting the relationship between MFCC and antipsychotic dosage, possibly improving EPS detection and reducing antipsychotic medication side effects.

Systemic Inflammatory Proteomic Biomarkers in Atopic Dermatitis: Exploring Potential Indicators for Disease Severity.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory cutaneous disorder, that emerges from intricate interplays among genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, environmental factors, and compromised skin barrier. Understanding the inflammatory pathway in AD is important due to its fundamental role in the pathogenesis of AD. This study aimed to explore the diverse spectrum of proteins linked to the inflammation of AD and the relationship between systemic biomarkers and clinical severity in AD. METHODS: We examined the blood samples from 48 patients with AD and 48 healthy controls (HCs) using the Proximity Extension Assay (Olink). Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine systemic proteomic biomarkers associated with severity of AD. RESULTS: A total of 29 DEPs were significantly up-regulated and 2 DEPs were significantly down-regulated in AD compared with the HC. The MCP-4, IL-18, MCP-3, TNFRSF9, and IL-17C were the top 5 highest DEPs associated with the severity of AD. CONCLUSION: Our study sheds light on the intricate network of inflammatory proteins in AD and their potential implications for disease severity. Our results indicate that these systemic inflammatory proteins could be valuable for assessing AD severity and enhancing our understanding of the disease's complexity and its potential management strategies.

Impact of Preoperative Gum Chewing on Postoperative Anti-Emetic Use in Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Benign Ovarian Masses: A Prospective, Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objectives: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common issue for females undergoing gynecological surgeries, including those assisted by robotic systems. Despite available prophylactic measures, the incidence of PONV remains high, negatively impacting recovery and increasing healthcare costs. This study evaluates whether preoperative gum chewing reduces the need for anti-emetic drugs in females undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian mass. Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial enrolled 92 adult females scheduled for robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to treat benign ovarian mass. Following exclusions, the remaining participants were randomly assigned to either a gum-chewing group or a no-gum-chewing group. The gum-chewing group chewed sugar-free gum for 15 min in the holding area before surgery. The primary outcome measured was the need for anti-emetics to control PONV during the first hour in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Secondary outcomes included the number of anti-emetic requests. No preemptive anti-emetics were administered during surgery. Results: Out of the initial 92 patients, 88 were included in the final analysis, with 44 in each group. The incidence of PONV requiring anti-emetics in the PACU was significantly lower in the gum-chewing group (79.5%) compared to the no-gum-chewing group (95.5%). Additionally, the number of anti-emetic requests was higher in the no-gum-chewing group. No postoperative complications such as tooth or jaw pain/injury or gastric content regurgitation were reported. Conclusions: Preoperative gum chewing for 15 min immediately before surgery significantly reduced the incidence of PONV in females undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian mass. This simple, non-pharmacological intervention improved patient comfort and reduced the need for anti-emetic medications without any adverse effects. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to develop guidelines for incorporating preoperative gum chewing into clinical practice.

Development of Indocyanine Green/Methyl-ß-cyclodextrin Complex-Loaded Liposomes for Enhanced Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising cancer therapeutic approach due to its spatial selectivity and high potency. Indocyanine green (ICG) has been considered a biocompatible PTT agent. However, ICG has several challenges to hinder its clinical use including rapid blood clearance and instability to heat, light, and solvent, leading to a loss of photoactivation property and PTT efficacy. Herein, we leveraged stabilizing components, methyl-ß-cyclodextrin and liposomes, in one nanoplatform (ICD lipo) to enhance ICG stability and the photothermal therapeutic effect against cancer. Compared to ICG, ICD lipo displayed a 4.8-fold reduction in degradation in PBS solvent after 30 days and a 3.4-fold reduction in photobleaching after near-infrared laser irradiation. Moreover, in tumor-bearing mice, ICD lipo presented a 2.7-fold increase in tumor targetability and inhibited tumor growth 9.6 times more effectively than did ICG without any serious toxicity. We believe that ICD lipo could be a potential PTT agent for cancer therapeutics.

Novel Class of Crystal/Glass Ultrafine Nanolaminates with Large and Tunable Mechanical Properties.

The control of local heterogeneities in metallic glasses (MGs) represents an emerging field to improve their plasticity, preventing the propagation of catastrophic shear bands (SBs) responsible for the macroscopically brittle failure. To date, a nanoengineered approach aimed at finely tuning local heterogeneities controlling SB nucleation and propagation is still missing, hindering the potential to develop MGs with large and tunable strength/ductility balance and controlled deformation behavior. In this work, we exploited the potential of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to synthesize a novel class of crystal/glass ultrafine nanolaminates (U-NLs) in which a ∼4 nm thick crystalline Al separates 6 and 9 nm thick Zr50Cu50 glass nanolayers, while reporting a high density of sharp interfaces and large chemical intermixing. In addition, we tune the morphology by synthesizing compact and nanogranular U-NLs, exploiting, respectively, atom-by-atom or cluster-assembled growth regimes. For compact U-NLs, we report high mass density (∼8.35 g/cm3) and enhanced and tunable mechanical behavior, reaching maximum values of hardness and yield strength of up to 9.3 and 3.6 GPa, respectively. In addition, we show up to 3.6% homogeneous elastoplastic deformation in compression as a result of SB blocking by the Al-rich sublayers. On the other hand, nanogranular U-NLs exhibit slightly lower yield strength (3.4 GPa) in combination with enhanced elastoplastic deformation (∼6%) followed by the formation of superficial SBs, which are not percolative even at deformations exceeding 15%, as a result of the larger free volume content within the cluster-assembled structure and the presence of crystal/glass nanointerfaces, enabling to accommodate SB events. Overall, we show how PLD enables the synthesis of crystal/glass U-NLs with ultimate control of local heterogeneities down to the atomic scale, providing new nanoengineered strategies capable of deep control of the deformation behavior, surpassing traditional trade-off between strength and ductility. Our approach can be extended to other combinations of metallic materials with clear interest for industrial applications such as structural coatings and microelectronics (MEMS and NEMS).

Construction and validation of a brain magnetic resonance imaging template for normal older Koreans.

BACKGROUND: Spatial normalization to a standardized brain template is a crucial step in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Brain templates made from sufficient sample size have low brain variability, improving the accuracy of spatial normalization. Using population-specific template improves accuracy of spatial normalization because brain morphology varies according to ethnicity and age. METHODS: We constructed a brain template of normal Korean elderly (KNE200) using MRI scans 100 male and 100 female aged over 60 years old with normal cognition. We compared the deformation after spatial normalization of the KNE200 template to that of the KNE96, constructed from 96 cognitively normal elderly Koreans and to that of the brain template (OCF), constructed from 434 non-demented older Caucasians to examine the effect of sample size and ethnicity on the accuracy of brain template, respectively. We spatially normalized the MRI scans of elderly Koreans and quantified the amount of deformations associated with spatial normalization using the magnitude of displacement and volumetric changes of voxels. RESULTS: The KNE200 yielded significantly less displacement and volumetric change in the parahippocampal gyrus, medial and posterior orbital gyrus, fusiform gyrus, gyrus rectus, cerebellum and vermis than the KNE96. The KNE200 also yielded much less displacement in the cerebellum, vermis, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and thalamus and much less volumetric change in the cerebellum, vermis, hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus than the OCF. CONCLUSION: KNE200 had the better accuracy than the KNE96 due to the larger sample size and was far accurate than the template constructed from elderly Caucasians in elderly Koreans.

Target-controlled infusion of remimazolam effect-site concentration for total intravenous anesthesia in patients undergoing minimal invasive surgeries.

Background: Although pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models of remimazolam have been developed, their clinical application remains limited. This study aimed to administer a target-controlled infusion (TCI) of remimazolam at the effect-site concentration (Ce) in patients undergoing general anesthesia and to investigate the relationship of the remimazolam Ce with sedative effects and with recovery from general anesthesia. Methods: Fifty patients aged 20-75 years, scheduled for minimally invasive surgery under general anesthesia for less than 2 h, were enrolled. Anesthesia was induced and maintained using Schüttler's model for effect-site TCI of remimazolam. During induction, the remimazolam Ce was increased stepwise, and sedation levels were assessed using the Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) scale and bispectral index (BIS). Following attainment of MOAA/S scale 1, continuous infusion of remifentanil was commenced, and rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) was administered for endotracheal intubation. The target Ce of remimazolam and the remifentanil infusion rate were adjusted to maintain a BIS between 40 and 70 and a heart rate within 20% of the baseline value. Approximately 5 min before surgery completion, the target Ce of remimazolam was reduced by 20-30%, and anesthetic infusion ceased at the end of surgery. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was employed to develop pharmacodynamic models for each sedation level as well as emergence from anesthesia. Results: The remimazolam Ces associated with 50% probability (Ce50) of reaching MOAA/S scale ≤4, 3, 2, and 1 were 0.302, 0.397, 0.483, and 0.654 µg/mL, respectively. The Ce50 values for recovery of responsiveness (ROR) and endotracheal extubation were 0.368 and 0.345 µg/mL, respectively. The prediction probabilities of Ce and BIS for detecting changes in sedation level were 0.797 and 0.756, respectively. The sedation scale significantly correlated with remimazolam Ce (r = -0.793, P < 0.0001) and BIS (r = 0.914, P < 0.0001). Age significantly correlated with Ce at MOAA/S1 and ROR. Conclusion: Effect-site TCI of remimazolam was successfully performed in patients undergoing general anesthesia. The remimazolam Ce significantly correlated with sedation depth. The Ce50 for MOAA/S scale ≤1 and ROR were determined to be 0.654 and 0.368 µg/mL, respectively.

Gastric Organoid, a Promising Modeling for Gastric Stem Cell Homeostasis and Therapeutic Application.

The elucidation of the pathophysiology underlying various diseases necessitates the development of research platforms that faithfully mimic in vivo conditions. Traditional model systems such as two-dimensional cell cultures and animal models have proven inadequate in capturing the complexities of human disease modeling. However, recent strides in organoid culture systems have opened up new avenues for comprehending gastric stem cell homeostasis and associated diseases, notably gastric cancer. Given the significance of gastric cancer, a thorough understanding of its pathophysiology and molecular underpinnings is imperative. To this end, the utilization of patient-derived organoid libraries emerges as a remarkable platform, as it faithfully mirrors patient-specific characteristics, including mutation profiles and drug sensitivities. Furthermore, genetic manipulation of gastric organoids facilitates the exploration of molecular mechanisms underlying gastric cancer development. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in various adult stem cell-derived gastric organoid models and their diverse applications.

Immune Cells Are Differentially Affected by SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads in K18-hACE2 Mice.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virus-infected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105 PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.

Nonvolatile Reconfigurable Logic Device Based on Photoinduced Interfacial Charge Trapping in van der Waals Gap.

Due to the increasing complexity in miniaturization of electronic devices, reconfigurable field-effect transistors (RFETs) have emerged as a solution. Although the foundational concepts of RFETs have matured over two decades, ongoing breakthroughs are needed to address challenges such as improving the device performance as well as achieving balanced symmetry between n-type and p-type transport modes with long-term stability. Herein, we present a nonvolatile WSe2-based RFET that utilizes photoassisted interfacial charge trapping at the h-BN and SiO2 interface. Unlike typical RFETs with two gate electrodes, our RFETs achieved polarity control with a single operating gate activated exclusively under white-light exposure. The threshold voltage was tunable, ranging from 27.4 (-31.6 V) to 0.9 (+19.5 V), allowing selective activation of n-type (p-type) operation at VGS = 0 V. Additionally, our WSe2-based RFETs show superior repeatability and long-term stability. Leveraging these advantages, various reconfigurable logic circuits were successfully demonstrated, including complementary inverters and switch circuits as well as pull-up and pull-down circuits, highlighting the potential of WSe2 FETs for future advancements of integrated circuits.

Molecular detection and characterization of Acanthamoeba infection in dogs and its association with keratitis in Korea.

Acanthamoeba infection is associated with keratitis in humans; however, its association with keratitis in dogs remains unclear. To investigate this possibility, we collected 171 conjunctival swab samples from dogs with eye-related diseases (65 with keratitis and 106 without keratitis) at Chungbuk National University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Korea, from August 2021 to September 2022. Polymerase chain reaction identified 9 samples (5.3%) as Acanthamoeba positive; of these, 3 were from dogs with keratitis (4.6%) and 6 were from dogs without keratitis (5.7%). Our results indicated no significant association between Acanthamoeba infection and keratitis, season, sex, or age. All Acanthamoeba organisms found in this study had the genotype T4, according to 18S ribosomal RNA analysis. Acanthamoeba infection in dogs might have only a limited association with keratitis.

The contribution of vitamin D insufficiency to the onset of steatotic liver disease among individuals with metabolic dysfunction.

The interplay between fatty liver disease (FLD) and metabolic dysfunction has given rise to the concept of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). With vitamin D insufficiency frequently co-occurring with FLD and linked to metabolic abnormalities, this study investigates the potential role of vitamin D in the development of MAFLD. In this cross-sectional analysis, 22,476 participants with baseline metabolic dysfunction and known serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 levels were examined. The fatty liver index (FLI) was utilized to predict FLD, dividing subjects into MAFLD and non-MAFLD groups. Further stratification by vitamin D levels (sufficient vs. insufficient) and gender provided a detailed assessment through binary logistic regression to determine the association of vitamin D status with MAFLD incidence. Vitamin D insufficiency correlated with a higher MAFLD incidence in metabolically impaired individuals. Post-adjustment, the correlation was stronger (men: aOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.22-1.43, P < 0.001; women: aOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.18-1.98, P = 0.001). Lower serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 levels were found in MAFLD patients across genders (men: P = 0.003; women: P = 0.014), with a higher prevalence of insufficiency in MAFLD cases (men: P = 0.007; women: P = 0.003). The vitamin D-MAFLD link was stable across subgroups and using varying FLI criteria. Our findings indicate a clear association between vitamin D insufficiency and increased MAFLD incidence, underscoring the potential of vitamin D as an anti-lipogenic and anti-fibrotic agent.

Strengthening Multi-Factor Authentication Through Physically Unclonable Functions in PVDF-HFP-Phase-Dependent a-IGZO Thin-Film Transistors.

For enhanced security in hardware-based security devices, it is essential to extract various independent characteristics from a single device to generate multiple keys based on specific values. Additionally, the secure destruction of authentication information is crucial for the integrity of the data. Doped amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) using poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) induce a dipole doping effect through a phase-transition process, creating physically unclonable function (PUF) devices for secure user information protection. The PUF security key, generated at VGS = 20 V in a 20 × 10 grid, demonstrates uniformity of 42% and inter-Hamming distance (inter-HD) of 49.79% in the ß-phase of PVDF-HFP. However, in the γ-phase, the uniformity drops to 22.5%, and inter-HD decreases to 35.74%, indicating potential security key destruction during the phase transition. To enhance security, a multi-factor authentication (MFA) system is integrated, utilizing five security keys extracted from various TFT parameters. The security keys from turn-on voltage (VON), VGS = 20 V, VGS = 30 V, mobility, and threshold voltage (Vth) exhibit near-ideal uniformities and inter-HDs, with the highest values of 58% and 51.68%, respectively. The dual security system, combining phase transition and MFA, establishes a robust protection mechanism for privacy-sensitive user information.

Comparison of Diagnostic Performance between Classic and Modified Abbreviated Breast MRI and the MRI Features Affecting Their Diagnostic Performance.

Abbreviated breast magnetic resonance imaging (AB-MRI) has emerged as a supplementary screening tool, though protocols have not been standardized. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of modified and classic AB-MRI and determine MRI features affecting their diagnostic performance. Classic AB-MRI included one pre- and two post-contrast T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) scans, while modified AB-MRI included a delayed post-contrast axial T1WI scan and an axial T2-weighted interpolated scan obtained between the second and third post-contrast T1WI scans. Four radiologists (two specialists and two non-specialists) independently categorized the lesions. The MRI features investigated were lesion size, lesion type, and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE). The Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Fisher's exact test, and bootstrap-based test were used for statistical analysis. The average area under the curve (AUC) for modified AB-MRI was significantly greater than that for classic AB-MRI (0.76 vs. 0.70, p = 0.010) in all reader evaluations, with a similar trend in specialist evaluations (0.83 vs. 0.76, p = 0.004). Modified AB-MRI demonstrated increased AUCs and better diagnostic performance than classic AB-MRI, especially for lesion size > 10 mm (p = 0.018) and mass lesion type (p = 0.014) in specialist evaluations and lesion size > 10 mm (p = 0.003) and mild (p = 0.026) or moderate BPE (p = 0.010) in non-specialist evaluations.

The potential of Rhodobacter sphaeroides extract as an alternative supplement for cell culture systems.

It is essential to identify suitable supplements that enhance cell growth, viability, and functional development in cell culture systems. The use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) has been common, but it has limitations, such as batch-to-batch variability, ethical concerns, and risks of environmental contamination. In this study, we explore the potential of Rhodobacter sphaeroides extract, derived from a probiotic photosynthetic bacterium, as an alternative supplement. Our results demonstrate that the extract from R. sphaeroides significantly improves various aspects of cell behavior compared to serum-free conditions. It enhances cell growth and viability to a greater extent than FBS supplementation. Additionally, the extract alleviates oxidative stress by reducing intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and stimulates lysosomal activity, contributing to cellular processes. The presence of abundant amino acids, glycine and arginine, in the extract may play a role in promoting cell growth. These findings emphasize the potential of R. sphaeroides extract as a valuable supplement for cell culture, offering advantages over the use of FBS.IMPORTANCEThe choice of supplements for cell culture is crucial in biomedical research, but the widely used fetal bovine serum (FBS) has limitations in terms of variability, ethics, and environmental risks. This study explores the potential of an extract from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a probiotic bacterium, as an alternative supplement. The findings reveal that the R. sphaeroides extract surpasses FBS in enhancing cell growth, viability, and functionality. It also mitigates oxidative stress and stimulates lysosomal activity, critical for cellular health. The extract's abundance of glycine and arginine, amino acids with known growth-promoting effects, further highlights its potential. By providing a viable substitute for FBS, the R. sphaeroides extract addresses the need for consistent, ethical, and environmentally friendly cell culture supplements. This research paves the way for sustainable and reliable cell culture systems, revolutionizing biomedical research and applications in drug development and regenerative medicine.

Split-Gate: Harnessing Gate Modulation Power in Thin-Film Electronics.

With the increase in electronic devices across various applications, there is rising demand for selective carrier control. The split-gate consists of a gate electrode divided into multiple parts, allowing for the independent biasing of electric fields within the device. This configuration enables the potential formation of both p- and n-channels by injecting holes and electrons owing to the presence of the two gate electrodes. Applying voltage to the split-gate allows for the control of the Fermi level and, consequently, the barrier height in the device. This facilitates band bending in unipolar transistors and allows ambipolar transistors to operate as if unipolar. Moreover, the split-gate serves as a revolutionary tool to modulate the contact resistance by controlling the barrier height. This approach enables the precise control of the device by biasing the partial electric field without limitations on materials, making it adaptable for various applications, as reported in various types of research. However, the gap length between gates can affect the injection of the electric field for the precise control of carriers. Hence, the design of the gap length is a critical element for the split-gate structure. The primary investigation in this review is the introduction of split-gate technology applied in various applications by using diverse materials, the methods for forming the split-gate in each device, and the operational mechanisms under applied voltage conditions.

Anion Engineering for Stabilizing Li Interstitial Sites in Halide Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Li Batteries.

Halide solid electrolytes (SEs) have been highlighted for their high-voltage stability. Among the halide SEs, the ionic conductivity has been improved by aliovalent metal substitutions or choosing a ccp-like anion-arranged monoclinic structure (C2/m) over hcp- or bcc-like anion-arranged structures. Here, we present a new approach, hard-base substitution, and its underlying mechanism to increase the ionic conductivity of halide SEs. The oxygen substitution to Li2ZrCl6 (trigonal, hcp) increased the ionic conductivity from 0.33 to 1.3 mS cm-1 at Li3.1ZrCl4.9O1.1 (monoclinic, ccp), while the sulfur and fluorine substitutions were not effective. A systematic comparison study revealed that the energetic stabilization of interstitial sites for Li migration plays a key role in improving the ionic conductivity, and the ccp-like anion sublattice is not sufficient to achieve high ionic conductivity. We further examined the feasibility of the oxyhalide SE for practical and all-solid-state battery applications.

Exploring shared neural substrates underlying cognition and gait variability in adults without dementia.

BACKGROUND: High gait variability is associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments and is predictive of cognitive impairment and dementia. The objective of this study was to identify cortical or subcortical structures of the brain shared by gait variability measured using a body-worn tri-axial accelerometer (TAA) and cognitive function. METHODS: This study is a part of a larger population-based cohort study on cognitive aging and dementia. The study included 207 participants without dementia, with a mean age of 72.6, and 45.4% of them are females. We conducted standardized diagnostic interview including a detailed medical history, physical and neurological examinations, and laboratory tests for cognitive impairment. We obtained gait variability during walking using a body-worn TAA along and measured cortical thickness and subcortical volume from brain magnetic resonance (MR) images. We cross-sectionally investigated the cortical and subcortical neural structures associated with gait variability and the shared neural substrates of gait variability and cognitive function. RESULTS: Higher gait variability was associated with the lower cognitive function and thinner cortical gray matter but not smaller subcortical structures. Among the clusters exhibiting correlations with gait variability, one that included the inferior temporal, entorhinal, parahippocampal, fusiform, and lingual regions in the left hemisphere was also associated with global cognitive and verbal memory function. Mediation analysis results revealed that the cluster's cortical thickness played a mediating role in the association between gait variability and cognitive function. CONCLUSION: Gait variability and cognitive function may share neural substrates, specifically in regions related to memory and visuospatial navigation.

Cortical Iron Accumulation as an Imaging Marker for Neurodegeneration in Clinical Cognitive Impairment Spectrum: A Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping Study.

OBJECTIVE: Cortical iron deposition has recently been shown to occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate how cortical gray matter iron, measured using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), differs in the clinical cognitive impairment spectrum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 73 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 66.7 ± 7.6 years; 52 females and 21 males) with normal cognition (NC), 158 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 48 patients with AD dementia. The participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging using a three-dimensional multi-dynamic multi-echo sequence on a 3-T scanner. We employed a deep neural network (QSMnet+) and used automatic segmentation software based on FreeSurfer v6.0 to extract anatomical labels and volumes of interest in the cortex. We used analysis of covariance to investigate the differences in susceptibility among the clinical diagnostic groups in each brain region. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to study the association between susceptibility values and cognitive scores including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). RESULTS: Among the three groups, the frontal (P < 0.001), temporal (P = 0.004), parietal (P = 0.001), occipital (P < 0.001), and cingulate cortices (P < 0.001) showed a higher mean susceptibility in patients with MCI and AD than in NC subjects. In the combined MCI and AD group, the mean susceptibility in the cingulate cortex (ß = -216.21, P = 0.019) and insular cortex (ß = -276.65, P = 0.001) were significant independent predictors of MMSE scores after correcting for age, sex, education, regional volume, and APOE4 carrier status. CONCLUSION: Iron deposition in the cortex, as measured by QSMnet+, was higher in patients with AD and MCI than in NC participants. Iron deposition in the cingulate and insular cortices may be an early imaging marker of cognitive impairment related neurodegeneration.