Very Early Pulsed Dye Laser Intervention for Optimal Cosmetic Outcome in Post-Thyroidectomy Scars.

Purpose: Early intervention of surgical scars with a pulsed dye laser is known to effectively prevent pathologic scars. Despite multiple reports on the effectiveness of the treatment, very few studies have demonstrated its appropriate initiation timing. In this study, our objective was to determine the optimal timing for initiating laser treatment following thyroidectomy. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 91 patients undergoing pulsed dye laser treatment post-thyroidectomy, grouping them by treatment initiation timing. The patients underwent treatment at intervals of 3-4 weeks with at least five sessions. Those with a high pliability score were injected with intralesional corticosteroids. The Antera 3D® skin imaging analyzer was used to assess biophysical parameters. Results: The total Vancouver Scar Scale score significantly reduced after treatment in all groups. The Vancouver Scar Scale score reduction rate was significantly higher after treatment in the group for which the treatment was initiated within 3 weeks of surgery. The pigmentation and erythema score analyzed by Antera 3D® was also lower in this group. Conclusion: Early intervention using a pulsed dye laser within 3 weeks of thyroidectomy can substantially inhibit pathological scar development, providing physicians with a guide for optimal treatment commencement.

Comparative study on the age-related incidence of seborrheic keratosis and verruca plana in patients with verruca plana-like lesions.

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a common skin disease in the elderly. However, in cases where SK presenting as multiple skin-colored or clustered lesions can be easily misdiagnosed as verruca plana (VP), especially in the young population. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of SK and VP in the lesions that appear clinically similar to VP according to age. We examined the pathology slides of the skin tissue and photographs of patients who were clinically suspected to have VP. A total of 503 patients were included in the study, out of which 174 patients were finally diagnosed with SK (34.6%) and 132 with VP (26.2%). The mean ages of the SK- and VP-diagnosed group were 39.3 and 35.4 years, respectively. SK had a higher prevalence among individuals older than 30 years, and relative frequency of SK should not be ignored in patients with a grouped distribution in their 20 s and 30 s. Therefore, our study suggests that multiple verrucous skin-colored to brownish plaques are also commonly diagnosed as SK in young people as well as VP, and the prevalence of SK and VP may not always depend solely on chronological aging, and the prevalence of SK among young people may be higher than commonly believed stereotypes suggest.

Keratinocyte-derived circulating microRNAs in extracellular vesicles: a novel biomarker of psoriasis severity and potential therapeutic target.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by pathogenic hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and immune dysregulation. Currently, objective evaluation tools reflecting the severity of psoriasis are insufficient. MicroRNAs in extracellular vesicles (EV miRNAs) have been shown to be potential biomarkers for various inflammatory diseases. Our objective was to investigate the possibility of plasma-derived EV miRNAs as a marker for the psoriasis disease severity. METHODS: EVs were extracted from the plasma of 63 patients with psoriasis and 12 with Behçet's disease. We performed next-generation sequencing of the plasma-derived EV miRNAs from the psoriasis patients. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the level of EV miRNA expression. In situ hybridization was used to discern the anatomical location of miRNAs. qRT-PCR, western blotting, and cell counting kits (CCKs) were used to investigate IGF-1 signaling in cells transfected with miRNA mimics. RESULTS: We identified 19 differentially expressed EV miRNAs and validated the top three up-and down-regulated EV miRNAs. Among these, miR-625-3p was significantly increased in patients with severe psoriasis in both plasma and skin and most accurately distinguished moderate-to-severe psoriasis from mild-to-moderate psoriasis. It was produced and secreted by keratinocytes upon stimulation. We also observed a significant intensification of IGF-1 signalling and increased cell numbers in the miR-625-3p mimic transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: We propose keratinocyte-derived EV miR-625-3p as a novel and reliable biomarker for estimating the severity of psoriasis. This biomarker could objectively evaluate the severity of psoriasis in the clinical setting and might serve as a potential therapeutic target. Trial registration None.

Photo-Assisted Ferroelectric Domain Control for α-In2 Se3 Artificial Synapses Inspired by Spontaneous Internal Electric Fields.

α-In2 Se3 semiconductor crystals realize artificial synapses by tuning in-plane and out-of-plane ferroelectricity with diverse avenues of electrical and optical pulses. While the electrically induced ferroelectricity of α-In2 Se3 shows synaptic memory operation, the optically assisted synaptic plasticity in α-In2 Se3 has also been preferred for polarization flipping enhancement. Here, the synaptic memory behavior of α-In2 Se3 is demonstrated by applying electrical gate voltages under white light. As a result, the induced internal electric field is identified at a polarization flipped conductance channel in α-In2 Se3 /hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) heterostructure ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs) under white light and discuss the contribution of this built-in electric field on synapse characterization. The biased dipoles in α-In2 Se3 toward potentiation polarization direction by an enhanced internal built-in electric field under illumination of white light lead to improvement of linearity for long-term depression curves with proper electric spikes. Consequently, upon applying appropriate electric spikes to α-In2 Se3 /hBN FeFETs with illuminating white light, the recognition accuracy values significantly through the artificial learning simulation is elevated for discriminating hand-written digit number images.

A π-Bridge Spacer Embedded Electron Donor-Acceptor Polymer for Flexible Electrochromic Zn-Ion Batteries.

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have drawn much attention for next-generation energy storage for smart and wearable electronics due to their high theoretical gravimetric/volumetric energy capacities, safety from explosive hazards, and cost-effectiveness. However, current state-of-the-art ZIBs lack the energy capacity necessary to facilitate smart functionalities for intelligent electronics. In this work, a "π-bridge spacer"-embedded electron donor-acceptor polymer cathode combined with a Zn2+ -ion-conducting electrolyte is proposed for a smart and flexible ZIB to provide high electrochromic-electrochemical performances. The π-bridge spacer endows the polymeric skeleton with improved physical ion accessibility and sensitive charge transfer through the cycles, providing extremely stable cyclability with high specific capacity (110 mAh g-1 ) at very fast rates (8 A g-1 ) and large coloration efficiency (79.8 cm2  C-1 ) under severe mechanical deformation over a long period. These results are markedly outstanding compared to the topological analogue without the π-bridge spacer (80 mAh g-1 at current density of 8 A g-1 , 63.0 cm2  C-1 ). The design to incorporate a π-bridge spacer realizes notable electrochromism behaviors and high electrochemical performance, which sheds light on the rational development of multifunctional flexible-ZIBs with color visualization properties for widespread usage in powering smart electronics.

A Bioinspired Ultra Flexible Artificial van der Waals 2D-MoS2 Channel/LiSiOx Solid Electrolyte Synapse Arrays via Laser-Lift Off Process for Wearable Adaptive Neuromorphic Computing.

Wearable electronic devices with next-generation biocompatible, mechanical, ultraflexible, and portable sensors are a fast-growing technology. Hardware systems enabling artificial neural networks while consuming low power and processing massive in situ personal data are essential for adaptive wearable neuromorphic edging computing. Herein, the development of an ultraflexible artificial-synaptic array device with concrete-mechanical cyclic endurance consisting of a novel heterostructure with an all-solid-state 2D MoS2 channel and LiSiOx (lithium silicate) is demonstrated. Enabled by the sequential fabrication process of all layers, by excluding the transfer process, artificial van der Waals devices combined with the 2D-MoS2 channel and LiSiOx solid electrolyte exhibit excellent neuromorphic synaptic characteristics with a nonlinearity of 0.55 and asymmetry ratio of 0.22. Based on the excellent flexibility of colorless polyimide substrates and thin-layered structures, the fabricated flexible neuromorphic synaptic devices exhibit superior long-term potentiation and long-term depression cyclic endurance performance, even when bent over 700 times or on curved surfaces with a diameter of 10 mm. Thus, a high classification accuracy of 95% is achieved without any noticeable performance degradation in the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology. These results are promising for the development of personalized wearable artificial neural systems in the future.

Gate-Tuned Gas Molecule Sensitivity of a Two-Dimensional Semiconductor.

In this work, we develop a gate-tunable gas sensor based on a MoS2/hBN heterostructure field effect transistor. Through experimental measurements and numerical simulations, we systematically reveal a principle that relates the concentration of the target gas and sensing signals (ΔI/I0) as a function of gate bias. Because a linear relationship between ΔI/I0 and the gas concentration guarantees reliable sensor operation, the optimal gate bias condition for linearity was investigated. Taking NO2 and NH3 as target molecules, it is clarified that the bias condition greatly depends on the electron accepting/donating nature of the gas. The effects of the bandgap and polarity of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) channel are also discussed. In order to achieve linearly increasing signals that are stable with respect to the gas concentration, a sufficiently large VBG within VBG > 0 is required. We expect this work will shed light on a way to precisely design reliable semiconducting gas sensors based on the characteristics of TMDC and target gas molecules.

Function Analysis of the PR55/B Gene Related to Self-Incompatibility in Chinese Cabbage Using CRISPR/Cas9.

Chinese cabbage, a major crop in Korea, shows self-incompatibility (SI). SI is controlled by the type 2A serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP2As). The PP2A gene is controlled by regulatory subunits that comprise a 36 kDa catalyst C subunit, a 65 kDa regulatory A subunit, and a variety of regulatory B subunits (50-70 kDa). Among them, the PP2A 55 kDa B regulatory subunit (PR55/B) gene located in the A05 chromosome has 13 exons spanning 2.9 kb, and two homologous genes, Bra018924 and Bra014296, were found to be present on the A06 and A08 chromosome, respectively. In this study, we performed a functional analysis of the PR55/B gene using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated system 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated gene mutagenesis. CRISPR/Cas9 technology can be used to easily introduce mutations in the target gene. Tentative gene-edited lines were generated by the Agrobacterium-mediated transfer and were selected by PCR and Southern hybridization analysis. Furthermore, pods were confirmed to be formed in flower pollination (FP) as well as bud pollination (BP) in some gene-edited lines. Seed fertility of gene-edited lines indicated that the PR55/B gene plays a key role in SI. Finally, self-compatible T-DNA-free T2 gene-edited plants and edited sequences of target genes were secured. The self-compatible Chinese cabbage developed in this study is expected to contribute to Chinese cabbage breeding.

Efficient brazzein production in yeast (Kluyveromyces lactis) using a chemically defined medium.

The sweet-tasting protein brazzein offers considerable potential as a functional sweetener with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties. Here, we optimized a chemically defined medium to produce secretory recombinant brazzein in Kluyveromyces lactis, with applications in mass production. Compositions of defined media were investigated for two phases of fermentation: the first phase for cell growth, and the second for maximum brazzein secretory production. Secretory brazzein expressed in the optimized defined medium exhibited higher purity than in the complex medium; purification was by ultrafiltration using a molecular weight cutoff, yielding approximately 107 mg L-1. Moreover, the total media cost in this defined medium system was approximately 11% of that in the optimized complex medium to generate equal amounts of brazzein. Therefore, the K. lactis expression system is useful for mass-producing recombinant brazzein with high purity and yield at low production cost and indicates a promising potential for applications in the food industry.

Spectral Instability of Layered Mixed Halide Perovskites Results from Anion Phase Redistribution and Selective Hole Injection.

Despite the ability to precisely tune their bandgap energies, mixed halide perovskites (MHPs) suffer from significant spectral instability, which obstructs their utilization for the rational design of light-emitting diodes. Here, we investigate the origin of the electroluminescence peak shifts in layered MHPs containing bromide and iodide. X-ray diffraction and steady-state absorption measurements prove effective integration of iodide into the cubic lattice and the spatially uniform distribution of halides in the ambient environment. However, the applied electric field during the device operation is found to drive the systematic halide migration. Quantum mechanical density functional theory calculations reveal that the different activation energies required for directional ion hopping lead to the redistribution of anions. In-depth analyses of the electroluminescence spectra indicate that the spectral shifting rate is dependent on the drift velocity of halides. Finally, it is suggested from our study that the dominant red emission is ascribed to the thermodynamically favorable selective hole injection. Our mechanistic study provides insights into the fundamental reason for the spectral instability of devices based on MHPs.

Multi-Space Excitation as an Alternative to the Landauer Picture for Nonequilibrium Quantum Transport.

While the Landauer viewpoint constitutes a modern basis to understand nanoscale electronic transport and to realize first-principles implementations of the nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism, seeking an alternative picture can be beneficial for the fundamental understanding and practical calculations of quantum transport processes. Herein, introducing a micro-canonical picture that maps the finite-bias quantum transport process to a drain-to-source or multi-electrode optical excitation, the multi-space constrained-search density functional theory (MS-DFT) formalism for first-principles electronic structure and quantum transport calculations is developed. Performing MS-DFT calculations for the benzenedithiolate single-molecule junction, it is shown that MS-DFT and standard DFT-NEGF calculations produce practically equivalent electronic and transmission data. Importantly, the variational convergence of "nonequilibrium total energy" within MS-DFT is demonstrated, which should have significant implications for in operando studies of nanoscale devices. Establishing a viable alternative to the Landauer viewpoint, the developed formalism should provide valuable atomistic information in the development of next-generation nanodevices.

Electron-Transport Characteristics through Aluminum Oxide (100) and (012) in a Metal-Insulator-Metal Junction System: Density Functional Theory-Nonequilibrium Green Function Approach.

Al2O3 is commonly used in modern electronic devices because of its good mechanical properties and excellent electrical insulating property. Although fundamental understanding of the electron transport in Al2O3 is essential for its use in electronic device applications, a thorough investigation for the electron-transport mechanism has not been conducted on the structures of Al2O3, especially in nanometer-scale electronic device settings. In this work, electron transport via Al2O3 for two crystallographic facets, (100) and (012), in a metal-insulator-metal junction configuration is investigated using a density functional theory-based nonequilibrium Green function method. First, it is confirmed that the transmission function, T(E), decreases as a function of energy in (E - E F) < 0 regime, which is an intuitively expected trend. On the other hand, in the (E - E F) > 0 regime, Al2O3(100) and Al2O3(012) show their own characteristic behaviors of T(E), presenting that major peaks are shifted toward lower energy levels under a finite bias voltage. Second, the overall conductance decay rates under zero bias are similar regardless of the crystallographic orientation, so that the contact interface seemingly has only a minor contribution to the overall conductance. A noteworthy feature at the finite bias condition is that the electrical current drastically increases as a function of bias potential (>0.7 V) in Al2O3(012)-based junction compared with the Al2O3(100) counterpart. It is elucidated that such a difference is due to the well-developed eigenchannels for electron transport in the Al2O3(012)-based junction. Therefore, it is evidently demonstrated that at finite bias condition, the contact interface plays a key role in determining insulating properties of Al2O3-Pt junctions.

Piezoresistivity of InAsP Nanowires: Role of Crystal Phases and Phosphorus Atoms in Strain-Induced Channel Conductances.

Strong piezoresistivity of InAsP nanowires is rationalized with atomistic simulations coupled to Density Functional Theory. With a focal interest in the case of the As(75%)-P(25%) alloy, the role of crystal phases and phosphorus atoms in strain-driven carrier conductance is discussed with a direct comparison to nanowires of a single crystal phase and a binary (InAs) alloy. Our analysis of electronic structures presents solid evidences that the strong electron conductance and its sensitivity to external tensile stress are due to the phosphorous atoms in a Wurtzite phase, and the effect of a Zincblende phase is not remarkable. With several solid connections to recent experimental studies, this work can serve as a sound framework for understanding of the unique piezoresistive characteristics of InAsP nanowires.

Role of Quantum Confinement in 10 nm Scale Perovskite Optoelectronics.

Quantum confinement-driven band structure engineering of metal halide perovskites (MHPs) is examined for realistically sized structures that consist of up to 105 atoms. The structural and compositional effects on band gap energies are simulated for crystalline CH3NH3PbX3 (X = I/Br/Cl) with a tight-binding approach that has been well-established for electronic structure calculations of multimillion atomic systems. Solid maps of band gap energies achievable with quantum dots, nanowires, and nanoplatelets concerning sizes, shapes, and halide compositions are presented, which should be informative to experimentalists for band gap designs. The pathway to suppress band gap instability that appeared in mixed halide perovskites is proposed, revealing that the red shift induced by halide phase separation can be hugely diminished by reducing sizes and adopting halides of lower electronegativity. Our modeling results on finite MHP structures of over 10 nm dimensions show a blueprint for designs of stable light-emitting sources with precisely controlled wavelengths.

Nitrogen Doping of Carbon Nanoelectrodes for Enhanced Control of DNA Translocation Dynamics.

Controlling the dynamics of DNA translocation is a central issue in the emerging nanopore-based DNA sequencing. To address the potential of heteroatom doping of carbon nanostructures and for achieving this goal, herein, we carry out atomistic molecular dynamics simulations for single-stranded DNAs translocating between two pristine or doped carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes. Specifically, we consider the substitutional nitrogen doping of capped CNT (capCNT) electrodes and perform two types of molecular dynamics simulations for the entrapped and translocating single-stranded DNAs. We find that the substitutional nitrogen doping of capCNTs facilitates and stabilizes the edge-on nucleobase configurations rather than the original face-on ones and slows down the DNA translocation speed by establishing hydrogen bonds between the N dopant atoms and nucleobases. Due to the enhanced interactions between DNAs and N-doped capCNTs, the duration time of nucleobases within the nanogap was extended by up to ∼300%. Given the possibility to be combined with the extrinsic light or gate voltage modulation methods, the current work demonstrates that the substitutional nitrogen doping is a promising direction for the control of DNA translocation dynamics through a nanopore or nanogap, based of carbon nanomaterials.

Anomalous transport properties in boron and phosphorus co-doped armchair graphene nanoribbons.

Multi-element doping of graphene could potentially provide functionalities that are not available in the single-element doping approach, but it has not been actively studied so far. Carrying out first-principles calculations, we study the structural, electronic, and transport properties of B-P edge-co-doped armchair graphene nanoribbons (aGNRs). We find that the B, P-complex edge-doped aGNRs exhibit an n-type transport behavior, which is counterintuitive considering the p-type and bipolar characters of the corresponding B- and P-doped aGNRs, respectively. Moreover, we show that the n-type property of B, P co-doped aGNRs is superior to that of representative N-doped aGNRs in terms of preserving the valence band edge conductance spectrum. Analyzing the mechanisms, we demonstrate that the structural distortion rather than chemical valence induces the anomalous donor character of B, P co-doped aGNRs. We thus propose a systematic modification of GNR atomic structures via co-doping as a novel approach to control charge transport characteristics of GNRs.