Low-temperature and low-voltage, solution-processed metal oxide n-TFTs and flexible circuitry on large-area polyimide foil

In this article, we report on high-performance solution-based n-type metal oxide TFTs processed directly on polyimide foil and annealed at 250 °C. Saturation mobilities exceeding 2 cm²/(Vs) and Ion/Ioff ratios beyond 108 have been achieved. Using these oxide n-TFTs, fast and low-voltage flexible circuitry is presented. Furthermore, a complete 8-bit RFID transponder chip, containing 294 oxide n-TFTs has been fabricated. Both high-speed and low-voltage operation makes the presented oxide n-TFT technology suited for both the pixel driving and embedded line-drive circuitry at the borders of flexible AMOLED displays

Systematic evaluation of the efficacy-effectiveness gap of systemic treatments in extensive disease small cell lung cancer

Purpose The aim of this study is to assess how clinical outcomes in real-world (effectiveness) correspond to the outcomes in clinical trials (efficacy) of systemic treatments for extensive disease small cell lung cancer (ED SCLC). Methods All patients diagnosed with ED SCLC between 2008 and 2014 in six Dutch large teaching hospitals (Santeon network) were identified and followed-up from date of diagnosis until death or end of data collection. For every patient, an efficacy-effectiveness factor (EE factor) was calculated by dividing individual patients' overall survival (OS) by the pooled median OS assessed from clinical trials with the respective treatment. Results From 792 diagnosed patients, 568 (72%) started with first-line treatment. Overall, the median EE factor was 0.79 (P = 2) and a higher age at diagnosis (age >= 65 years) were independent predictors for a lower EE factor. The EE gap was 43% in patients with both age >= 65 years and ECOG >= 2 (EE factor 0.57). The mean age and the proportion of patients with ECOG >= 2 in real-world were different from those in clinical trials (mean age of 66 versus 62 years, and ECOG >= 2 25% versus 17%; both P <.001). Conclusion OS of patients with ED SCLC treated with systemic therapy in real-world practice is 21% shorter than for patients included in trials. Age at diagnosis and performance status partly explain this gap

Impact of Age and Comorbidity on Choice and Outcome of Two Different Treatment Options for Patients with Potentially Curable Esophageal Cancer

Purpose. This study was designed to assess the impact of age and comorbidity on choice and outcome of definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery. Methods. In this population-based study, all patients with potentially curable EC (cT1N?/cT2-3, TX, any cN, cM0) diagnosed in the South East of the Netherlands between 2004 and 2014 were included. Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival (OS). Results. A total of 702 patients was included. Age C 75 years and multiple comorbidities were associated with a higher

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M&gt;70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0&lt;e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Polymer-based transistors used as pixel switches in active-matrix displays

A 2-in. active-matrix display was demonstrated, containing 4096 solution-processed polymer-based transistors. By using the polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal display (LCD) effect, this results in a reflective, low-power display with paper-like contrast. The influence of the transistor parameters on the display performance is analyzed by use of a model for charging and discharging of the pixel capacitors. Good agreement was obtained between the model and the experimental data. Scaling behavior allows estimation of the performance required for transistors in a quarter-VGA display. These requirements are met by solution-processed pentacene transistors

Meningococcal outer membrane vesicle composition-dependent activation of the innate immune response

Meningococcal outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have been extensively investigated and successfully implemented as vaccines. They contain pathogen associated molecular patterns including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), capable of triggering innate immunity. However, Neisseria meningitidis contains an extremely potent hexa-acylated LPS, leading to adverse effects when its OMVs are applied as vaccines. To create safe OMV vaccines detergent treatment is generally used to reduce LPS content. While effective, this method also leads to loss of protective antigens such as lipoproteins. Alternatively, genetic modification of LPS can reduce its toxicity. In the present study, we have compared standard OMV isolation methods using detergent or EDTA with genetic modifications of LPS to yield a penta-acylated lipid A (lpxL1 and pagL), on the in vitro induction of innate immune responses. The use of detergent decreased both TLR4 and TLR2 activation by OMVs, while the LPS modifications only reduced TLR4 activation. Mutational removal of PorB or fHbp, two proteins known to trigger TLR2 signaling, had no effect indicating that multiple TLR2 ligands are removed by detergent treatment. Detergent treated OMV and lpxL1 OMV showed similar reduction of cytokine profiles in the human monocytic cell line MM6 and human DCs. OMVs with the alternative penta-acylated LPS structure obtained after PagL-mediated deacylation showed reduced induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β but not of IP-10, a typical TRIF dependent chemokine. Taken together, these data show that lipid A modification can be used to obtain OMVs with reduced activation of innate immunity, similar to what is found after detergent treatment