Effect of Trust in Metaverse on Usage Intention through Technology Readiness and Technology Acceptance Model

The fourth industrial revolution enhanced the development of information technology in all fields and opened up possibilities. A lot of attention is focused on the future possibilities opened up by the metaverse, the core of information technology. Metaverse will have a big impact on reality and the near future. Metaverse is a virtual world that fuses physical and digital reality. Various commerce such as healthcare, instruction, business, and land are foundation to utilize metaverse knowledge in their regular work. There is a series of processes in the stage where newly developed technology is introduced to general users. In order for a new technology to become a user-friendly technology, it is necessary to verify the technology. It can be said that it is hard to derive the operator\u27s usage intention in a state where user trust for new technology is not verified. In the metaverse environment, it is necessary to first verify the trust for new technologies. This study is expected to understand usage intention through the process of checking trust in metaverse, and to become basic data for the popularization of metaverse knowledge. The meaning of this research is to inspect the influence relationship of trust in metaverse on usage intention through Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Statistical package (SPSS23.0) was used for basic numerical examination of the questionnaire. Hypothesis test was performed using the structural equation package Smart PLS 3.0. Discriminant validity and concentration validity of the questionnaire were verified. As parameters that trust in metaverse effects, TR and TAM were set. As factors constituting TR, it was separated into optimism, innovativeness, discomfort, and insecurity. The TAM is separated into perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The outcomes of the study are as follows. First, trust in metaverse had a significant effect on TR. Second, TR was partially adopted in the TAM. Innovativeness and perceived usefulness had no significant effect. Third, TAM significantly influences usage intention. Fourth, perceived ease of use did not significantly influence perceived usefulness

The Fruit Hull of Gleditsia sinensis

Lung cancer has substantial mortality worldwide, and chemotherapy is a routine regimen for the treatment of patients with lung cancer, despite undesirable effects such as drug resistance and chemotoxicity. Here, given a possible antitumor effect of the fruit hull of Gleditsia sinensis (FGS), we tested whether FGS enhances the effectiveness of cis-diammine dichloridoplatinum (II) (CDDP), a chemotherapeutic drug. We found that CDDP, when administered with FGS, significantly decreased the viability and increased the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, which were associated with the increase of p21 and decreases of cyclin D1 and CDK4. Concordantly, when combined with FGS, CDDP significantly reduced the volume and weight of tumors derived from LLC subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6 mice, with concomitant increases of phosphor-p53 and p21 in tumor tissue. Together, these results show that FGS could enhance the antitumor activity of CDDP, suggesting that FGS can be used as a complementary measure to enhance the efficacy of a chemotherapeutic agent such as CDDP

A Strategic Assessment of Needs and Opportunities for the Wider Adoption of Electric Vehicles in Indiana

INDOT plans to invest nearly $100 million to build a statewide electric vehicle (EV) charging network as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. SPR-4509 Phase-I identified energy EV charging deserts in Indiana for long-distance trips. SPR-4509 Phase-II further examines the charging stations\u27 impact on EV long-distance trips in Indiana. Using an agent-based simulation model, the number of charges, vehicle miles traveled, energy used during the trip, and energy used during charging were estimated for nine different cases. High EV daily charging demand areas in Indiana were shown in ArcGIS based on multiple scenarios of different charging station construction phases and EV market penetration rates. The study findings can inform the state’s EV charging plan development

Effects of Age and Body Mass Index on the Results of Transtrochanteric Rotational Osteotomy for Femoral Head Osteonecrosis

Background: Advanced-stage osteonecrosis and a large area of necrotic bone are known risk factors for failure of transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy of the hip in patients with osteonecrosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are other risk factors for failure of this osteotomy. Methods: One hundred and five patients (113 hips) underwent an anterior transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis and were followed for a mean of 51.3 months postoperatively. Radiographic failure was defined as secondary collapse or osteoarthritic change. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess factors associated with secondary collapse and osteophyte formation. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit method was used to estimate survival. Results: Secondary collapse occurred in twenty-seven hips (24%), and fourteen hips (12%) were converted to a total hip arthroplasty. At the time of the most recent follow-up, the hip scores according to the system of Merle d`Aubigne et al. ranged from 6 to 18 points (mean, 15.8 points). Multivariate analysis showed that the stage of the necrosis (III or greater) (hazard ratio = 3.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.49 to 7.24), age of the patient (forty years or older) (hazard ratio = 1.08; 95% confidence interval = 1.02 to 1.14), body mass index ( >= 24 kg/m(2)) (hazard ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.03 to 1.38), and extent of the necrosis (a combined necrotic angle of >= 230 degrees) (hazard ratio = 1.08; 95% confidence interval = 1.04 to 1.11) were associated with secondary collapse. Seven of the eighty-six hips without collapse showed progression to osteoarthritis. The survival rate at 110 months was 63.4% (95% confidence interval 51.1% to 75.7%) with total hip arthroplasty or radiographic failure as the end point and 56.0% (95% confidence interval 44.6% to 67.4%) with total hip arthroplasty, radiographic failure, or loss to follow-up as the end point. Conclusions: Our study showed that age, body mass index, and the stage and extent of the osteonecrosis were determining factors for secondary collapse, unsatisfactory clinical results, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty. These factors should be considered when selecting patients for a transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.Nam KW, 2008, J BONE JOINT SURG AM, V90A, P477, DOI 10.2106/JBJS.F.01582Kearns SR, 2006, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P103, DOI 10.1097/01.blo.0000238868.22852.ddHa YC, 2006, J BONE JOINT SURG AM, V88A, P35, DOI 10.2106/JBJS.F.00535Yoo JJ, 2006, J BIOMED MATER RES B, V78B, P70, DOI 10.1002/jbm.b.30457Jacobsen S, 2004, OSTEOARTHR CARTILAGE, V12, P692, DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2004.05.010.Daniel J, 2004, J BONE JOINT SURG BR, V86B, P177, DOI 10.1302/0301-620X.86B2.14600Hisatome T, 2004, ARCH ORTHOP TRAUM SU, V124, P77, DOI 10.1007/s00402-003-0610-0Flugsrud GB, 2002, ARTHRITIS RHEUM, V46, P675, DOI 10.1002/art.10115Nishii T, 2002, J ORTHOPAED RES, V20, P130Koo KH, 2001, J BONE JOINT SURG BR, V83B, P83HOUGAARD P, 2000, ANAL MULTIVARIATE SUInao S, 1999, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P141Steinberg ME, 1999, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P262Langlais F, 1997, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P110Smith SW, 1996, J BONE JOINT SURG AM, V78A, P1702KIM YH, 1995, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P73HOLMAN AJ, 1995, J RHEUMATOL, V22, P1929HOUGAARD P, 1995, LIFETIME DATA ANAL, V1, P255DEAN MT, 1993, J BONE JOINT SURG BR, V75, P597SUGANO N, 1992, J BONE JOINT SURG BR, V74, P734KATZ RL, 1992, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P145SUGIOKA Y, 1992, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P111SAITO S, 1989, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P198TOOKE SMT, 1987, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P150FICAT RP, 1985, J BONE JOINT SURG BR, V67, P3CORNELL CN, 1985, ORTHOP CLIN N AM, V16, P757PARFITT AM, 1984, CALCIFIED TISSUE INT, V36, pS123TOTTY WG, 1984, AM J ROENTGENOL, V143, P1273SUGIOKA Y, 1978, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P191SWEZEY RL, 1976, RHEUMATOL REHABIL, V15, P10KERBOUL M, 1974, J BONE JOINT SURG BR, VB 56, P291MERLEDAUBIGNE R, 1965, J BONE JOINT SURG B, V47, P612KAPLAN EL, 1958, J AM STAT ASSOC, V53, P457

C-Band GaN Dual-Feedback Low-Noise Amplifier MMIC with High-Input Power Robustness

In this paper, using the 0.2 μm ETRI GaN HEMT process, we developed a C-band GaN dual-feedback low-noise amplifier MMIC for an RF receiver module that requires high-input power robustness. By applying a feedback microstrip line at the source of the transistor and series resistor-capacitor (RC) feedback between the gate and the drain of the transistor, we obtained stable amplifier operation and a compromised impedance trace for both input impedance matching and noise matching while suppressing performance degradation of the maximum available gain and minimum noise figure. The developed low-noise amplifier MMIC, which implements simple matching circuits by using biasing elements as matching elements, had a linear gain of more than 21.4 dB and a noise figure of less than 1.91 dB in the wide bandwidth of 4.3–7.4 GHz. Under the single-tone power test, the low-noise amplifier MMIC had an output P1dB of 14.3–20.1 dBm, and the two-tone intermodulation distortion measurement exhibited an input third-order intercept point (IIP3) of 2.2–5.6 dBm in the same frequency range as the above

Computed tomography–assessed presarcopenia and clinical outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer

Purpose Previous studies have reported that presarcopenia negatively affects rectal cancer treatment. However, most studies have analyzed patients including majority of open surgery, and the association between presarcopenia and clinical outcomes after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of presarcopenia on the clinical and oncological outcomes after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. Methods Three hundred and one patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery between December 2009 and May 2016 were enrolled. Body composition was assessed using computed tomography by measuring the muscle and fat areas at the third lumbar (L3) vertebra. The L3 skeletal muscle area was used to calculate the skeletal muscle index and evaluate presarcopenia. Results Presarcopenia was more common in older (≥70 years, P=0.008) or female patients (P=0.045). Patients with presarcopenia had decreased skeletal muscle area (P<0.001), lower hemoglobin level (P=0.034), longer time to first flatus (P<0.001), and more frequent surgical site infection (P=0.001). However, survival rates were not significantly different between those with and without presarcopenia. Conclusion Computed tomography-assessed presarcopenia was associated with delayed functional recovery and increased surgical site infection, although it was not revealed as a prognostic factor for oncological outcomes

Humanized Anti-hepatocyte Growth Factor Monoclonal Antibody (YYB-101) Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Progression

Current chemotherapy regimens have certain limitations in improving the survival rates of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is important in ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion. This study assessed the effects of YYB-101, a humanized monoclonal anti-HGF antibody, on the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells. YYB-101 suppressed the phosphorylation of the HGF receptor c-MET and inhibited the migration and invasion of SKOV3 and A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, the combination of YYB-101 and paclitaxel synergistically inhibited tumor growth in an in vivo ovarian cancer mouse xenograft model and significantly increased the overall survival (OS) rate compared with either paclitaxel or YYB-101 alone. Taken together, these findings suggest that YYB-101 has therapeutic potential in ovarian cancer when combined with conventional chemotherapy agents.1

A novel bispecific antibody dual-targeting approach for enhanced neutralization against fast-evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants

IntroductionThe emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has caused unprecedented health and socioeconomic crises, necessitating the immediate development of highly effective neutralizing antibodies. Despite recent advancements in anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) derived from convalescent patient samples, their efficacy against emerging variants has been limited. In this study, we present a novel dual-targeting strategy using bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that specifically recognize both the SARS-CoV-2 RBD and fusion peptide (FP), crucial domains for viral attachment to the host cell membrane and fusion in SARS-CoV-2 infection. MethodsUsing phage display technology, we rapidly isolated FP-specific mAbs from an established human recombinant antibody library, identifying K107.1 with a nanomolar affinity for SARS-CoV-2 FP. Furthermore, we generated K203.A, a new bsAb built in immunoglobulin G4-(single-chain variable fragment)2 forms and demonstrating a high manufacturing yield and nanomolar affinity to both the RBD and FP, by fusing K102.1, our previously reported RBD-specific mAb, with K107.1. ResultsOur comprehensive in vitro functional analyses revealed that the K203.A bsAb significantly outperformed the parental RBD-specific mAb in terms of neutralization efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Furthermore, intravenous monotherapy with K203.A demonstrated potent in vivo neutralizing activity without significant in vivo toxicity in a mouse model infected with a SARS-CoV-2 variant. ConclusionThese findings present a novel bsAb dual-targeting strategy, directed at SARS-CoV-2 RBD and FP, as an effective approach for rapid development and management against continuously evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants