We found that the Drosophila brain is assembled from families of multiple LPUs and their interconnections. This provides an essential first step in the analysis of information processing within and between neurons in a complete brain.

PURPOSE Patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have poor prognosis. For these patients, treatment options are limited after first-line systemic therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this open-label phase III clinical study, patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC, whose tumor progressed after first-line systemic treatment, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenous tislelizumab, an anti–programmed cell death protein 1 antibody, 200 mg every 3 weeks or chemotherapy (investigator's choice of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or irinotecan). The primary end point was overall survival (OS) in all patients. The key secondary end point was OS in patients with programmed death-ligand 1 tumor area positivity (TAP) score ≥ 10%. RESULTS In total, 512 patients across 11 countries/regions were randomly assigned. At final analysis, conducted after 410 death events occurred, OS was significantly longer with tislelizumab versus chemotherapy in all patients (median, 8.6 v 6.3 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.70 [95% CI, 0.57 to 0.85]; one-sided P = .0001), and in patients with TAP ≥ 10% (median, 10.3 months v 6.8 months; HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.36 to 0.79]; one-sided P = .0006). Survival benefit was consistently observed across all predefined subgroups, including those defined by baseline TAP score, region, and race. Treatment with tislelizumab was associated with higher objective response rate (20.3% v 9.8%) and a more durable antitumor response (median, 7.1 months v 4.0 months) versus chemotherapy in all patients. Fewer patients experienced ≥ grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (18.8% v 55.8%) with tislelizumab versus chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Tislelizumab significantly improved OS compared with chemotherapy as second-line therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC, with a tolerable safety profile. Patients with programmed death-ligand 1 TAP ≥ 10% also demonstrated statistically significant survival benefit with tislelizumab versus chemotherapy.

Background The functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) measures luminal cross-sectional area and pressure during volumetric distension. By applying novel customized software to produce FLIP topography plots, organized esophageal contractility can be visualized and analyzed. We aimed to describe the stimulus thresholds and contractile characteristics for distension-induced esophageal body contractility using FLIP topography in normal controls. Methods Ten healthy controls were evaluated during endoscopy with FLIP. During stepwise bag distension, simultaneous intra-bag pressure and luminal diameter measurements were obtained and exported to a MatLab program to generate FLIP topography plots. The distension volume, intra-bag pressure, and maximum esophageal body diameters were measured for the onset and cessation of repetitive antegrade contractions (RACs). Contraction duration, interval, magnitude, and velocity were measured at 8 and 3-cm proximal to the EGJ. Results Eight of ten subjects demonstrated RACs at a median onset volume of 29 ml (IQR, 25 - 38.8), median intra-bag pressure of 10.7 mmHg (IQR, 8.6 - 15.9), and median maximum esophageal body diameter of 18.5 mm (IQR, 17.5 - 19.6). Cessation of RACs occurred prior to completion of the distension protocol in three of the eight subjects exhibiting RACs. Values of the RAC-associated contractile metrics were also generated to characterize these events. Conclusions Distension-induced esophageal contractions can be assessed utilizing FLIP topography. RACs are a common finding in asymptomatic controls in response to volume distention and have similar characteristics to secondary peristalsis and repetitive rapid swallows.

In this study, we investigate the resistive switching behavior of radio frequency ͑rf͒-sputtered Al 2 O 3 thin films. It is observed that both high-conducting state ͑ON state͒ and low-conducting state ͑OFF state͒ are stable and reproducible during successive resistive switchings by dc voltage sweeping. The ratio of resistance of the ON and OFF state is over 10 3 . Such a reproducible resistive switching can be performed at 150°C, and the resistance of the ON state can be altered by various current compliances. The conduction mechanisms of the ON and OFF states are demonstrated as ohmic conduction and Frenkel-Poole emission, respectively. Both states, performed by dc voltage sweeping and applying short pulse, are stable over 10 4 s at a read voltage of 0.3 V and the electrical-pulse-induced resistance change ͑EPIR͒ phenomenon is demonstrated, which are all important properties for further resistive random access memory application.