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Background: Tele-assisted home-based palliative care (THPC) usually fulfills the desire of terminal patients to pass away at home. The overall costs of such a service deserve evaluation. Objectives: This study aims to determine health care utilization and costs for cancer patients at the end of life, stratified by THPC service. Design: Patients who received THPC were matched 1:1 based on age, gender, year of death, and propensity score with those who did not receive THPC. Setting/Subjects: A total of 773 cancer patients passed away in a regional hospital in Taiwan during the period of 2012–2020, of which 293 received THPC. Measurements: We measured the rates and costs of outpatient clinic visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions during the last week, the last two weeks and the last month before death. In addition, we estimated the driving times and expenses required for transportation from each cancer patient's home to the hospital using Google Maps. National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursements and out-of-pocket expenses were also calculated. Results: In comparison with patients without THPC, those who received THPC had a 50% lower likelihood of visiting the ED or being hospitalized, a more than 90% reduced chance of ICU admission, but were four times more likely to obtain their medicines from outpatient clinics. THPC patients had similar out-of-pocket expenditures, approximately half of the NHI costs, and lower rates and costs for ambulance transportation to the ED. Conclusions: THPC reduced health care costs for terminal cancer patients in the last week, the last two weeks, and the last month before death, while also increasing the likelihood of patients being able to rest and pass away at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The connection between quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and magnetic fields has been investigated in various celestial bodies. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves have been employed to explain the simultaneous upper and lower kilohertz (kHz) QPOs. Nevertheless, the intricate and undefined formation pathways of twin kHz QPOs present a compelling avenue for exploration. This study area holds great interest as it provides an opportunity for deriving crucial parameters related to compact stars. Aims. We strive to develop a self-consistent model elucidating the radiation mechanism of twin kHz QPOs, which we then compare it with observations. Methods. A sample of 28 twin kHz QPOs detected from the X-ray binary 4U 1636–53 was used for a comparison with the results of the Markov chain Monte Carlo calculations based on our model of the radiation mechanism of twin kHz QPOs, which is related to twin MHD waves. Results. We obtained 28 groups of parameters of 4U 1636–53 and a tight exponential fit between the flux and the temperature of seed photons to Compton up-scattering and find that the electron temperature in the corona around the neutron star decreases with increasing seed photon temperature. Conclusions. The origin of twin kHz QPOs are dual disturbances that arise from twin MHD waves that are generated at the innermost radius of an accretion disc. The seed photons can be transported through a high temperature corona and are Compton up-scattered. The photons that vary the frequencies of twin MHD waves lead to the observed twin kHz QPOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid evolution of voice technology has heightened the need for robust detection systems to distinguish between authentic and tampered speech. Recent competitions have significantly advanced the development of countermeasures against spoofing attacks. However, while advancements in detection technologies have been notable, existing methods often focus on a single type of tampering and language. Our contribution lies in developing an improved model that integrates an enhanced ResNet architecture with an LSTM to improve the detection of tampered audio, particularly in challenging multilingual scenarios. In the experiments, we built a hybrid dataset from self-recording Chinese speech and public VCTK2 English samples, enhanced the ResNet model generalization capabilities, and evaluated our approach using the bilingual dataset. Experiment results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves a superior performance with an equal error rate of 11.62%, even in the face of bilingual conditions, and, more importantly, outperforms the leading models from ASVSpoof 2021 and ADD 2022 competitions. We also employed advanced tampering techniques, including CycleGAN voice conversion and auto splicing, to simulate real-world tampering scenarios and verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a detailed molecular mechanism of the layer‐by‐layer (LbL) film formation process involving BB polymers. The roles of adsorbed and non‐adsorbed chain segments during the layer buildup are revealed by employing surface force apparatus (SFA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe critical aspects such as surface coverage, polymer conformation at the surface, adhesive properties, and morphology after each layer deposition. The results show that the thickness, nanomechanical properties, and surface chemistry of the nanofilms are significantly influenced by the number of layers. All these cues have an important impact on cell behavior when employed as coatings for culture substrates. The evidence is shown that cells respond very differently to these cues and exhibit behavior that goes from superproliferation down to accelerated death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a threshold estimation technique to examine whether the effect of R&D efficiency on economic growth in China differs according to the level of financial development. The results broadly confirm a nonlinear relationship between R&D efficiency and economic growth due to the dynamic and static threshold effects of financial development and R&D expenditure. This finding suggests that R&D efficiency does not significantly impact growth in the low and middle-financial development provinces at conventional levels. Hence, the benefit of R&D efficiency in China could stem from the positive effect of R&D in highly financially developed provinces. Though R&D efficiency is poor, R&D investment still enhances economic growth because the amount of R&D investment is enormous. This finding suggests that while it is most important to not unthinkingly expand R&D gross investment, it is also necessary to make full use of R&D investment by improving R&D efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we employ computational methods to investigate the influence of aeration strategies on simultaneous nitrification–denitrification processes. Specifically, we explore the impact of periodic and intermittent aeration on denitrification rates, which typically lag behind nitrification rates under identical environmental conditions. A two-dimensional deterministic multi-scale model is employed to elucidate the fundamental processes governing the behavior of membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs). We aim to identify key factors that promote denitrification under varying aeration strategies. Our findings indicate that the concentration of oxygen during the off phase and the duration of the off interval play crucial roles in controlling denitrification. Complete discontinuation of oxygen is not advisable, as it inhibits the formation of anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria, thereby impeding denitrification. Extending the length of the off interval, however, enhances denitrification. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the initial inoculation of the substratum (membrane in this study) influences substrate degradation under periodic aeration, with implications for both nitrification and denitrification. Comparison between continuous and periodic/intermittent aeration scenarios reveals that the latter can extend the operational cycle of MABRs. This extension is attributed to relatively low biofilm growth rates associated with non-continuous aeration strategies. Consequently, our study provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between aeration strategies and simultaneous nitrification–denitrification in MABRs. The insights presented herein can contribute significantly to the optimization of MABR performance in wastewater treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive use of synthetic fertilizer has been proven to be an important cause of greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution in many Asian countries. This article aims to provide a better understanding of rice farmers' preferences for a chemical fertilizer reduction scheme (CFRS) by integrating economic and psychometric factors. A survey of 292 farmers was conducted in Taiwan. The results show that farmers using more chemical fertilizers have a negative attitude towards implementing SAP and less trust in government and would prefer a higher entry payment over an eco-label. On the other hand, farmers using less chemical fertilizer prefer to receive an eco-label rather than incentive payments. Our findings indicate that an eco-label and higher entry payment could overcome the psychological factors that hinder farmers' engagement. This study provides policymakers with insights into farmers' decision-making, which could lead to chemical fertilizer reduction, thereby mitigating climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prions can exist as different strains that consist of conformational variants of the misfolded, pathogenic prion protein isoform PrPSc. Defined by stably transmissible biological and biochemical properties, strains have been identified in a spectrum of prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease (CWD) of wild and farmed cervids. CWD is highly contagious and spreads via direct and indirect transmission involving extraneural sites of infection, peripheral replication and neuroinvasion of prions. Here, we investigated the impact of infection route on CWD prion conformational selection and propagation. We used gene-targeted mouse models expressing deer PrP for intracerebral or intraperitoneal inoculation with fractionated or unfractionated brain homogenates from white-tailed deer, harboring CWD strains Wisc-1 or 116AG. Upon intracerebral inoculation, Wisc-1 and 116AG-inoculated mice differed in conformational stability of PrPSc. In brains of mice infected intraperitoneally with either inoculum, PrPSc propagated with identical conformational stability and fewer PrPSc deposits in most brain regions than intracerebrally inoculated animals. For either inoculum, PrPSc conformational stability in brain and spinal cord was similar upon intracerebral infection but significantly higher in spinal cords of intraperitoneally infected animals. Inoculation with fractionated brain homogenates resulted in lower variance of survival times upon intraperitoneal compared to intracerebral infection. In summary, we demonstrate that extraneural infection mitigates the impact of PrPSc quaternary structure on infection and reduces conformational variability of PrPSc propagated in the brain. These findings provide new insights into the evolution of stable CWD strains in natural, extraneural transmissions. Author summary: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease spreading among wild and farmed cervids. Several strains of CWD prions have been identified that propagate stably upon intracerebral passage in experimental models. Understanding the emergence and adaptation of prion strains is critical for risk assessment of CWD cross-species transmission. We capitalize on our new gene-targeted mouse models of CWD that recapitulate key features of CWD pathogenesis in cervids. We infected these mice with whole of fractionated brain homogenates of deer containing previously characterized, distinct CWD strains by inoculation either into the brain or intraperitoneally. We found that the biochemical properties and pathological hallmarks of prions generated in central nervous system tissues of those mice differed, depending on route of inoculation. Furthermore, mouse survival times upon inoculation with fractionated brain homogenates were less variable upon intraperitoneal compared to intracerebral inoculation. Our findings shed new light on the impact of extraneural infection routes that mirror natural transmission and unravel peripheral infection as a selective barrier that restricts the conformational diversity of prions in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA) and InterTan Nail in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. Given the high incidence of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly population and its impact on quality of life, choosing the most effective and safest surgical option is crucial. PFNA and InterTan are currently two commonly used techniques, but there is a lack of systematic evaluation comparing their safety and effectiveness. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap through Meta-analysis, providing clinicians with evidence-based treatment recommendations. Materials and methods: A computer search was used to search for published literature on PFNA and InterTan in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Cinahl, CBM, and CNKI.A total of 853 related literatures were retrieved, and 15 literatures were finally included. Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale and Cochrane systematic review methodologies were used to assess the quality of the literature. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software, following data extraction. Results: The comparison found that during the surgical treatment of intertrochanteric fractures, the operation time, fluoroscopy time, and blood loss in the PFNA group were significantly shorter than those in the InterTan group, and the difference was statistically significant. In terms of postoperative complication rates, the InterTan group had a significant advantage over the PFNA group. Shaft fracture, varus collapse, cut out, screw migration, and pain of hip and thigh were the most likely to occur in the PFNA group, and the differences were all statistically significant. In terms of postoperative efficacy, the results of the PFNA group and the InterTan group were comparable, and there was no significant differences. Conclusions: When selecting surgical techniques for the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures, it is necessary to conduct individualized assessments based on the patient's overall health status, surgical tolerance, and post-operative recovery needs. For patients who cannot tolerate long-term surgery or are in poor physical condition, PFNA may be more appropriate. While for patients who can tolerate long-term surgery or have more complex conditions, InterTan may be more suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice cultivation plays a vital role in the Southeast Asian (SEA) economy, but it poses environmental challenges and contributes a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. To address these concerns, sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) for rice production have been introduced to mitigate the environmental impact of rice production while fostering economic and social sustainability. However, the adoption of these practices remains limited, highlighting the need for a critical review of existing literature to gain deeper insights into the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of these practices in SEA countries. This review analyzed 39 manuscripts to assess the current state of SAPs for rice cultivation in SEA. We found that socio-demographic variables and farm management variables were frequently examined in these studies, with varying levels of significance. Economic and institutional variables were moderately studied and tended to have more significant findings. There is a noticeable research gap regarding behavioral factors, emphasizing the need for further investigation in SEA. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of conducting additional research to develop effective monetary and non-monetary incentives and explore methodologies to address the gaps in understanding farmers’ trade-offs and preferences among different SAPs. These efforts are crucial for promoting the widespread adoption of SAPs in rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are key components in display applications. The quantum efficiency of GaN/InGaN LEDs has been enhanced, leading to advancements in indoor and outdoor RGB LED display applications. White LED backlights are commonly used in displays due to the increased efficiency of InGaN LEDs. Despite efficiency, lifespan and image retention issues, OLED displays are utilized in high-end mobile phones to meet market expectations for screen response time and color saturation. Micro-LED RGB full-color displays have the potential to dominate the next-generation display market, driven by the increasing demands for resolution, power consumption and response time. Micro-LEDs are becoming smaller, reaching sizes of 50μm or even smaller, to meet the high-resolution requirements of displays. They offer higher contrast, brightness and faster response speeds. This research utilizes numerical simulations to develop a model for radiative and nonradiative recombination in InGaN semiconductor materials. The aim is to investigate the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of various chip sizes, quantum well counts, well thicknesses and electron block layers under low current densities. The research reveals that the optimal structure is a single quantum well with an electron block layer (EBL), which can increase IQE from 53.85% to 80.9% at 0.01A/cm2 under low current density conditions, with a decrease in the number of quantum wells to one. The IQE efficiency improvement is 27.05%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the Internet of Things (IOT) has rapidly developed, leading to the development of many smart devices. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G communication are successful, and the demand for high-performance memory is increasing. The emerging nonvolatile RRAM has many advantages, such as low power consumption, fast operation speed, simple structure and excellent scalability, compared with traditional memories; this is promising for complex computing and mass storage. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising candidate for transparent conducting oxide (TCO) applications because of its abundance, high conductivity, low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. It is currently used in various optoelectronic components including thin-film transistors (TFTs) and photodetectors. Notably, TCO has been increasingly used in the switching layers of random resistive access memory systems. In this paper, we intend to combine AGO with a large energy gap and ZnO with a high conductivity to prepare AGZO as a switching layer for RRAM by co-sputtering. By adjusting the oxygen flow ratio and power of co-sputtering, the AGZO RRAM exhibited high performance with more than 1400 switching cycles, 102–103 on/off ratio, and low operation voltage, and high- and low-resistance states could be maintained for more than 10,000s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To elucidate potential molecular mechanisms differentiating osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through a bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in patient synovial cells, aiming to provide new insights for clinical treatment strategies. Materials and methods: Gene expression datasets GSE1919, GSE82107, and GSE77298 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to serve as the training groups, with GSE55235 being used as the validation dataset. The OA and RA data from the GSE1919 dataset were merged with the standardized data from GSE82107 and GSE77298, followed by batch effect removal to obtain the merged datasets of differential expressed genes (DEGs) for OA and RA. Intersection analysis was conducted on the DEGs between the two conditions to identify commonly upregulated and downregulated DEGs. Enrichment analysis was then performed on these common co-expressed DEGs, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify hub genes. These hub genes were further analyzed using the GENEMANIA online platform and subjected to enrichment analysis. Subsequent validation analysis was conducted using the GSE55235 dataset. Results: The analysis of differentially expressed genes in the synovial cells from patients with Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), compared to a control group (individuals without OA or RA), revealed significant changes in gene expression patterns. Specifically, the genes APOD, FASN, and SCD were observed to have lower expression levels in the synovial cells of both OA and RA patients, indicating downregulation within the pathological context of these diseases. In contrast, the SDC1 gene was found to be upregulated, displaying higher expression levels in the synovial cells of OA and RA patients compared to normal controls.Additionally, a noteworthy observation was the downregulation of the transcription factor PPARG in the synovial cells of patients with OA and RA. The decrease in expression levels of PPARG further validates the alteration in lipid metabolism and inflammatory processes associated with the pathogenesis of OA and RA. These findings underscore the significance of these genes and the transcription factor not only as biomarkers for differential diagnosis between OA and RA but also as potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating their expression to counteract disease progression. Conclusion: The outcomes of this investigation reveal the existence of potentially shared molecular mechanisms within Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The identification of APOD, FASN, SDC1, TNFSF11 as key target genes, along with their downstream transcription factor PPARG, highlights common potential factors implicated in both diseases. A deeper examination and exploration of these findings could pave the way for new candidate targets and directions in therapeutic research aimed at treating both OA and RA. This study underscores the significance of leveraging bioinformatics approaches to unravel complex disease mechanisms, offering a promising avenue for the development of more effective and targeted treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To form a tungsten disulfide film, a tungsten trioxide film is deposited first and then hydrogen sulfide is injected into the furnace tube to sulfide the tungsten trioxide film in a high-temperature environment. Due to the need to accurately control the thickness of tungsten trioxide, the power of the RF sputtering machine was reduced as much as possible in a stable condition in the experiment and the bias voltage during each process was monitored. In this experiment, a sapphire substrate and a silicon substrate with 200nm silicon dioxide are used. Then use optical instruments such as Raman optics, ellipsometers and high-resolution electron transmission microscopes, atomic force microscopes and other instruments for further measurement. The analysis results show that we have successfully made tungsten disulfide films of different thicknesses. Moreover, two-dimensional tungsten disulfide thin film has a response to light, gas and pH and related devices have been successfully fabricated in experiments. Among them, comparing the single-layer film and the double-layer film, the film quality of the double-layer film is better. The quality of the film grown on the sapphire substrate is also better than the quality of the film grown on the silicon dioxide substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astaxanthin (AST) is a xanthophyll carotenoid with strong oxidation resistance, which can effectively scavenge various free radicals and protect organisms from oxidative damage. AST is also known to have prominent anti‐aging effects, but the underlying mechanism of AST in anti‐radiation aging is largely unknown. In this work, we applied ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to accelerate the aging of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and treated the nematodes with AST to explore whether and how AST could attenuate the radiation‐induced aging effect. Our results showed that AST improved the survival rate of C. elegans, reduced the aging biomarkers, and alleviated the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the irradiation. Based on the transcriptome sequencing analysis, we identified that the key genes regulated by AST were involved in JNK‐MAPK and DAF‐16 longevity signaling pathways. Furthermore, we employed jnk‐1 and daf‐16 mutants and verified the role of the JNK‐1/DAF‐16 signaling pathway in the anti‐aging effect. As such, this study has not only demonstrated that AST can resist the aging process caused by UV‐irradiation but also revealed the anti‐aging mechanism of AST through JNK‐1/DAF‐16 activation in C. elegans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop cholic-acid-stabilized itraconazole nanosuspensions (ITZ-Nanos) with the objective of enhancing drug dissolution and oral absorption. A laboratory-scale microprecipitation–high-pressure homogenization method was employed for the preparation of the ITZ-Nanos, while dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope analysis, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis were utilized to evaluate their physicochemical properties. The absorption and bioavailability of the ITZ-Nanos were assessed using Caco-2 cells and rats, with Sporanox® pellets as a comparison. Prior to lyophilization, the particle size of the ITZ-Nanos measured approximately 225.7 nm. Both X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed that the ITZ remained crystalline within the nanocrystals. Compared to the pellets, the ITZ-Nanos exhibited significantly higher levels of supersaturation dissolution and demonstrated enhanced drug uptake by the Caco-2 cells. The AUC(0–t) value for the ITZ-Nanos in rats was 1.33-fold higher than that observed for the pellets. These findings suggest that cholic acid holds promise as a stabilizer for ITZ nanocrystals, as well as potentially other nanocrystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colloidal borescope, using colloidal particle motion, is used to monitor the flow velocities and directions of groundwater. It integrates advanced techniques such as microscopy, high-speed photography, and big data computing and enjoys high sensitivity at the micron level. However, In the same well, the groundwater flow velocity monitored by colloidal hole mirror is varies greatly from that obtained by conventional hydrogeological monitoring, such as pumping test. In order to solve this problem, the stability catcher and stratified packer are designed to control the interference of the vertical flow in drilling, and to monitor the flow velocity and direction of groundwater velocity at the target aquifer and target fracture. Five wells with different aquifers and different groundwater types were selected for monitoring in south-central China. The instantaneous velocity and direction are converted into east–west component and north–south component, the average velocity and direction is calculated according to the time of 10 min, and the particle trajectory diagram is established. Based on these results, it proposed a concept of cumulative flow velocity. Using curve-fitting equations, the limits of cumulative flow velocities as the monitoring time tends to infinity were then calculated as the actual flow velocities of the groundwater. The permeability coefficient of aquifer is calculated by using the fissure ratio of aquifer, hydraulic slope and flow velocity, and compared with the permeability coefficient obtained by pumping test. The results are as follows: (1) The variation coefficient of the instantaneous flow velocity measured at the same depth in the same well at different times is greater than that of the time average flow velocity and greater than that of the cumulative flow velocity. The variation coefficient of the actual velocity is the smallest, indicating that the risk of using the actual flow velocity is lower. (2) The variation coefficient of the flow rate monitored at different depths in the same well is mainly controlled by the properties of the aquifer. The more uniform water storage space in the aquifer, the smaller the variation coefficient. (3) The comparison between the permeability coefficient obtained by monitoring and the permeability coefficient obtained by pumping test shows that the flow of structural fissure water controlled by planar fissure is more surface flow, and the results are consistent. When the groundwater flow is controlled by pores and solution gaps, the flow channel is complicated, which is easy to produce turbulent flow, and the result consistency is poor. (4) According to different research accuracy requirements, different monitoring and calculation methods can be selected for different aquifers and groundwater types. Researches show that, the permeability coefficient calculated for the actual flow velocity in well DR01 is the same as that calculated for the pumping test. The aquifer characteristics reflected by the coefficient of variation of the actual flow velocity in the same aquifer are more realistic. The pumping test method obtains the comprehensive parameters of a certain aquifer, and this method can be used to monitor a certain fissure. In this paper, the new technology developed for monitoring, and the new algorithm established for data processing, can accurately obtain the flow velocity and direction of groundwater, using capsule hole mirror monitoring method. The key parameters of hydrogeology can be obtained by using one well, which can reduce the time and cost input and improve the work efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the three-dimensional model of executive function and the I3 theory of aggressive behavior, we examined the mediating roles of inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility in the relationship between impulsivity and both proactive and reactive aggression in adolescents. We recruited 1,462 middle school and high school students in Sichuan Province, who completed the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, the Teenage Executive Function Inventory, and the Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire. Results showed that impulsivity was positively correlated with both proactive and reactive aggression, and was negatively correlated with the three subcomponents of executive function. The three-dimensional components of executive function in adolescents were negatively correlated with both proactive and reactive aggression. Further, impulsivity directly predicted both proactive and reactive aggression. In addition, all three subcomponents of executive function in parallel mediated the relationship between impulsivity and proactive aggression. However, only inhibition mediated the relationship between impulsivity and reactive aggression. In conclusion, improving executive function may reduce the impact of impulsivity on aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicomponent reactions, particularly those entailing four or more reagents, have presented a longstanding challenge due to the inherent complexities associated with balancing reactivity, selectivity, and compatibility. In this study, we describe a palladium‐catalyzed multi‐component fluoroalkylative carbonylation of 1,3‐enynes. A series of products featuring three active functional groups‐allene, fluoroalkyl, and carboxyl, were efficiently and selectively integrated in a single chemical operation. Furthermore, more intricate fluoroalkyl‐substituted pyrimidinones can be constructed by simply altering the 1,3‐bisnucleophilic reagent. This approach also provides a valuable strategy for the late‐stage modification of naturally occurring molecules and concise construction of diverse cyclic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicomponent reactions, particularly those entailing four or more reagents, have presented a longstanding challenge due to the inherent complexities associated with balancing reactivity, selectivity, and compatibility. In this study, we describe a palladium‐catalyzed multi‐component fluoroalkylative carbonylation of 1,3‐enynes. A series of products featuring three active functional groups‐allene, fluoroalkyl, and carboxyl, were efficiently and selectively integrated in a single chemical operation. Furthermore, more intricate fluoroalkyl‐substituted pyrimidinones can be constructed by simply altering the 1,3‐bisnucleophilic reagent. This approach also provides a valuable strategy for the late‐stage modification of naturally occurring molecules and concise construction of diverse cyclic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymer translocation through a nanopore from a donor space (or named cis side) to a receiver space (trans side) in the chaperone-induced crowded environment has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to its significance in biological systems and technological applications. In this work, we mainly focus on the effects of chaperone concentration and chaperone-polymer interaction on the polymer translocation. By assuming the polymer translocation to be a quasi-equilibrium process, the free energy F of the polymer can be estimated by Rosenbluth-Rosenbluth method and then the translocation time τ can be calculated by Fokker-Plank equation based on the obtained free energy landscape. Our calculation results show that the translocation time can be controlled by independently tuning the chaperone concentration and chaperone-polymer interaction at the cis side or the trans side. There exists a critical chaperone-polymer attraction ε*=−0.2 at which the volume exclusion and interaction effects of the chaperone can balance each other. Additionally, we also find that at large chaperone-polymer attraction, the translocation time is mainly governed by the diffusion coefficient of the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality associated with blood pressure (BP) levels of 130–139/80–89 mmHg in Chinese adults with different glucose metabolism, during a long-term follow-up of over 20 years. Methods: A prospective population-based cohort of 2,132 adults in Shanghai was established in 2002 and followed for 21 years. The association between BP categories and mortality was assessed, and the risk was further analyzed using multiple Cox regression analysis by combining BP and blood glucose categories. Results: The final analysis included 2,004 participants, with 397 all-cause and 166 cardiovascular mortality. The incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality per 1,000 person-years for different BP categories were as follows: BP < 130/80 mmHg (4.5 and 1.3), 130–139/80–89 mmHg (7.7 and 2.9), and ≥ 140/90 mmHg or treated groups (19.9 and 8.7), respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and other factors, BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg was significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality across different blood glucose categories. However, using BP < 130/80 mmHg and normoglycemia as the reference, a BP of 130–139/80–89 mmHg was significantly associated with higher risks of all-cause (hazard ratio 3.30 [95% confidence interval 1.48–7.38], P < 0.01) and cardiovascular mortality (9.60 [1.93–47.7], P < 0.01) in diabetes, but not in those with normoglycemia or prediabetes. Conclusions: BP of 130–139/80–89 mmHg may lead to a significantly higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Chinese adults with diabetes, but not in those with normoglycemia or prediabetes. This suggests that the targeted BP for people with diabetes should be < 130–139/80–89 mmHg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Focus aims at showcasing the significance of manipulating atomic and molecular layers for various applications. To this end, this Focus collects 15 original research papers featuring the applications of atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, wet chemistry, and some other methods for manipulations of atomic and molecular layers in lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, catalysis, field-effect transistors, optoelectronics, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective study was performed on 200 patients who underwent miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL) or retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for 10–20 mm sized lower pole renal calculi to investigate the relationship between computed tomography (CT) attenuation of calculi and surgical outcomes. CT was used to examine the location, size, and CT attenuation values of the calculi. Additionally, the operation time, hospital stay, hemoglobin (Hb) reduction, stone-free rate (SFR), and complication rate were also meticulously documented and subjected to comparative analysis. Complications were assessed using the Clavien-Dindo grading system. We observed no significant differences in hospitalization data and follow-up outcomes, except for a longer hospital stay and higher Hb drops in patients receiving mini-PCNL. Statistical analysis revealed an association between CT attenuation and operation time. Compared with mini-PCNL, RIRS could reduce bleeding, hospital stay, surgery time, and complications for 10–20 mm sized lower pole kidney stones with CT values < 1000 HU. RIRS resulted in longer operation time and lower stone-free rates despite shorter hospital stays and less bleeding than mini-PCNL for stones with CT values > 1000 HU. Therefore, selecting an appropriate surgical method based on CT attenuation might improve outcomes. For patients with stone attenuation values < 1000 HU, RIRS is the recommended option. When stone attenuation values > 1000 HU, the surgical method should be chosen based on the patient's individual situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, few studies have investigated the toxicological effects of the combined use of amphetamine and heroin in the heart. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify indicators for clinical evaluation and prevention of cardiac injury induced by the combined use of amphetamine and heroin. Four different groups were analyzed: (1) normal group (n＝25；average age＝35 ± 6.8); (2) heart disease group (n＝25；average age＝58 ± 17.2); (3) drug abusers (n = 27; average age = 37 ± 7.7); (4) drug abstainers (previous amphetamine-heroin users who had been drug-free for more than two weeks; n = 22; average age = 35 ± 5.6). The activity of MMPs, and levels of TNF-α, IL-6, GH, IGF-I, and several serum biomarkers were examined to evaluate the impact of drug abuse on the heart. The selected plasma biomarkers and classic cardiac biomarkers were significantly increased compared to the normal group. The zymography data showed the changes in cardiac-remodeling enzymes MMP-9 and MMP-2 among combined users of amphetamine and heroin. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 only increased in the heart disease group. Growth hormone was increased; however, IGF-I level decreased with drug abuse and the level was not restored by abstinence. We speculated that the amphetamine-heroin users might pose risk to initiate heart disease even though the users abstained for more than two weeks. The activity change of MMP-9 and MMP-2 can be a direct reason affecting heart function. The indirect reason may be related to liver damage by drug abuse reduce IGF-1 production to protect heart function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious prions consist of PrPSc, a misfolded, aggregation-prone isoform of the host's prion protein. PrPSc assemblies encode distinct biochemical and biological properties. They harbor a specific profile of PrPSc species, from small oligomers to fibrils in different ratios, where the highest infectivity aligns with oligomeric particles. To investigate the impact of PrPSc aggregate complexity on prion propagation, biochemical properties, and disease pathogenesis, we fractionated elk prions by sedimentation velocity centrifugation, followed by sub-passages of individual fractions in cervidized mice. Upon first passage, different fractions generated PrPSc with distinct biochemical, biophysical, and neuropathological profiles. Notably, low or high molecular weight PrPSc aggregates caused different clinical signs of hyperexcitability or lethargy, respectively, which were retained over passage, whereas other properties converged. Our findings suggest that PrPSc quaternary structure determines an initial selection of a specific replication environment, resulting in transmissible features that are independent of PrPSc biochemical and biophysical properties. Prion aggregate complexity affects prion biochemical properties, neuropathology, and clinical signs upon infection of mice. Aggregate size-specific clinical signs are retained upon passage despite convergence of prion properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of traditional text abstract extraction algorithms for processing long text of Chinese patents and unsatisfactory results of long abstract generation, the PatBertSum algorithm is proposed, which enables the algorithm to process long (more than 1500 words) patent text with high efficiency and generate high-quality long (more than 200 words) text summaries. The method is based on the improved BertSum algorithm model, using the new CLTPDS patented text dataset, processing long texts by Head-Tail, transforming Chinese input representations, generating sentence vectors using a pre-trained model, and capturing internal text features and text structure features to extract summaries. Experimentally, this paper demonstrates that the method has improved the recall and F-value of ROUGE by more than 8 percentage points compared with existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Bayesian method, we investigate single-index quantile regression with missing observation. In particular, using spline approximation for the link function, we construct quasi-posterior distribution of the index vector based on asymmetric Laplace likelihood with missing observation, and establish asymptotically normality of the posterior estimator of the index parameters. At the same time, we use a hierarchical model based on spike and slab Gaussian priors to do variable selection and study consistency of the variable selection. Finite sample performance of the proposed methods is analyzed via simulation and real data too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for making use of the catalytic ending PdII-H for the relay-catalytic cycle for dicarbonylation of amines has been developed in a buffer condition, which shows an excellent compatible ability to allow two incompatible catalytic systems working simultaneously in the same catalytic system. [Display omitted] • A novel method for making use of the catalytic ending PdII-H into the next relay-catalytic cycle for dicarbonylation of amines in a buffer condition has been developed. • Two incompatible catalytic systems to work simultaneously in the same catalytic system. • This protocol features excellent regioselectivity and broad substrate scope. A new method for making use of the catalytic ending PdII-H for the relay-catalytic cycle for dicarbonylation of amines has been developed in a buffer condition, which shows an excellent compatible ability to allow two incompatible catalytic systems working simultaneously in the same catalytic system. This protocol features excellent regioselectivity and broad substrate scope. Our combined experimental and computational studies indicated that the reaction proceeds through a Pd0/PdII-H relay-catalytic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an extension of electron tomography (ET), serial section electron tomography (serial section ET) aims to align the tomographic images of multiple thick tissue sections together, to break through the volume limitation of the single section and preserve the sub-nanoscale voxel size. It could be applied to reconstruct the intact synapse, which expands about one micrometer and contains nanoscale vesicles. However, there are several drawbacks of the existing serial section ET methods. First, locating and imaging regions of interest (ROIs) in serial sections during the shooting process is time-consuming. Second, the alignment of ET volumes is difficult due to the missing information caused by section cutting and imaging. Here we report a workflow to simplify the acquisition of ROIs in serial sections, automatically align the volume of serial section ET, and semi-automatically reconstruct the target synaptic structure. Results: We propose an intelligent workflow to reconstruct the intact synapse with sub-nanometer voxel size. Our workflow includes rapid localization of ROIs in serial sections, automatic alignment, restoration, assembly of serial ET volumes, and semi-automatic target structure segmentation. For the localization and acquisition of ROIs in serial sections, we use affine transformations to calculate their approximate position based on their relative location in orderly placed sections. For the alignment of consecutive ET volumes with significantly distinct appearances, we use multi-scale image feature matching and the elastic with belief propagation (BP-Elastic) algorithm to align them from coarse to fine. For the restoration of the missing information in ET, we first estimate the number of lost images based on the pixel changes of adjacent volumes after alignment. Then, we present a missing information generation network that is appropriate for small-sample of ET volume using pre-training interpolation network and distillation learning. And we use it to generate the missing information to achieve the whole volume reconstruction. For the reconstruction of synaptic ultrastructures, we use a 3D neural network to obtain them quickly. In summary, our workflow can quickly locate and acquire ROIs in serial sections, automatically align, restore, assemble serial sections, and obtain the complete segmentation result of the target structure with minimal manual manipulation. Multiple intact synapses in wild-type rat were reconstructed at a voxel size of 0.664 nm/voxel to demonstrate the effectiveness of our workflow. Conclusions: Our workflow contributes to obtaining intact synaptic structures at the sub-nanometer scale through serial section ET, which contains rapid ROI locating, automatic alignment, volume reconstruction, and semi-automatic synapse reconstruction. We have open-sourced the relevant code in our workflow, so it is easy to apply it to other labs and obtain complete 3D ultrastructures which size is similar to intact synapses with sub-nanometer voxel size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel method for chemodivergent deoxygenative- and alkoxy-carbonylation of alcohols. • With boronic acids as the reaction partner, esters and ketones can be produced selectively. • This protocol features excellent regioselectivity and broad substrate scope. • Highly base-sensitive boronic acid substrates can also be applied under base-free conditions. A method for the chemodivergent deoxygenative- and alkoxy-carbonylation of alcohols with boronic acids via palladium catalysis has been developed. Manipulation of the divergent selectivities depend on simply changing the choice of activators. While a carbodiimide activator promoted the formation of ketones through deoxygenative carbonylation, selectivity for esters via alkoxy carbonylation was observed with an azo activator. Notably, in addition to the broad substrate scope, this base-free strategy enables the use of highly base-sensitive boronic acid substrates. This study contributes to the art of chemoselectivity control in carbonylation chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Al-4.5wt.%Cu was selected as the research object, and a phase field-lattice Boltzmann method (PF-LBM) model based on compute unified device architecture (CUDA) was established to solve the problem of low serial computing efficiency of a traditional CPU and achieve significant acceleration. This model was used to explore the evolution of dendrite growth under natural convection. Through the study of the tip velocities, it is found that the growth of the dendrite arms at the bottom is inhibited while the growth of the dendrite arms at the top is promoted by natural convection. In addition, research on the inclined dendrite under natural convection was conducted. It is observed that there is a deviation between the actual growth direction and the preferred angle of the inclined dendrite. With the increase of the preferred angle of the seed, the difference between the actual growth direction and the initial preferred angle of the inclined dendrite shows a trend of increasing at first and then decreasing. In the simulation area, the relative deflection directions of the primary dendrite arms in the top right corner and the bottom left corner of the same dendrite are almost counterclockwise, while the relative deflection directions of the other two primary dendrite arms are clockwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of financial technology (fintech) on bank efficiency in Taiwan from 2007 to 2020, using parametric and non-parametric analyses. In the future, fintech is expected to play an important role in bank sustainability operations. The findings show that fintech-related initiatives affect bank efficiency. These results illustrate how fintech can help banks directly or indirectly improve their efficiency, leading to higher profits or lower costs. For instance, mobile payment systems, a fintech-related initiative, improve bank efficiency. However, this degree of improvement is not substantial. In general, the findings imply that fintech-related initiatives do not significantly improve bank efficiency, implying an IT "productivity paradox." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Most studies of body size perception have been performed in adolescents, and most focus on gender differences in accurate perception of body size. This study investigated misperceptions of body sizes among males and females at different stages of adulthood in Taiwan. Designs: In-person home interviews were used to proportionally and randomly select 2095 adult men and women to answer the East Asian Social Survey. Participants were divided into 18–39, 40–64, and 65 + age groups. The main variables analyzed were self-perceived body size and standardized BMI. Results: Women, unlike men, were more likely to misperceive their body size as being overweight (OR = 2.92; p <.001). People with higher self-perceived social status were less likely to misperceive themselves as overweight (OR = 0.91; p =.01). People with college educations were 2.35 times more likely to overestimate their body size as being heavier than they were (p <.001) and less likely to underestimate it as being thinner than they were (OR = 0.45; p <.001). Women 18–35 and 36–64 years old were 6.96 and 4.31 times more likely (p <.001) to misperceive themselves as being overweight than women 65 or older, who were more likely to misperceive themselves as being too thin. There were no significant differences in body size misperceptions among the three age groups of adult men (p >.05). We found no different significant discrepancies between self-perceived body size and actual BMI between the older men and women (p =.16). However, younger and middle-aged men were 6.67 and 3.1 times more likely to misperceive themselves as being too thin than women in their same age groups (OR = 0.15 and OR = 0.32, respectively). Conclusions: Age and gender affect self-perceptions of body size in Taiwan. Overall, women are more likely than men to misperceive themselves as being too big, and men are more likely than women to misperceive themselves as too thin. Older women, however, were more likely to misperceive themselves as being too thin. Clinicians and health educators should know that people's perceptions and concerns regarding their body size vary by age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart respiratory therapy is enabled by continual assessment of lung functions. This systematic review provides an overview of the suitability of equipment-to-patient acoustic imaging in continual assessment of lung conditions. The literature search was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO Preprints, and Google Scholar. Fifteen studies remained for additional examination after the screening process. Two imaging modalities, lung ultrasound (LUS) and vibration imaging response (VRI), were identified. The most common outcome obtained from eleven studies was positive observations of changes to the geographical lung area, sound energy, or both, while positive observation of lung consolidation was reported in the remaining four studies. Two different modalities of lung assessment were used in eight studies, with one study comparing VRI against chest X-ray, one study comparing VRI with LUS, two studies comparing LUS to chest X-ray, and four studies comparing LUS in contrast to computed tomography. Our findings indicate that the acoustic imaging approach could assess and provide regional information on lung function. No technology has been shown to be better than another for measuring obstructed airways; hence, more research is required on acoustic imaging in detecting obstructed airways regionally in the application of enabling smart therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inert gas entrainment by the impact of free fall jet can avoid the bubble grow‐up on nonwetting interface between liquid steel and refractory gas nozzle, which produces bubbles as small as 0.37 mm for deep cleaning the liquid steel in an argon‐filled tundish. The time‐dependent vibration of free fall jet is described by a high‐speed camera combined with image postprocessing software. The effect of liquid flow rate and free fall length on jet vibration is investigated. The equivalent surface roughness is proposed to characterize the surface wave of free fall jet without fixed amplitude and frequency. The entrained gas flow rate shows a good correlation with the equivalent surface roughness. Gas entrainment cannot happen with a free fall jet shorter than 2 mm, as the jet vibration is insufficient to make the bubbles separate from the gas sheath. The surface fluctuation caused by the impact of free fall jet can be well isolated within a submerged shield that remains a stable slag layer outside of the shield. Besides, the strong mixing flow caused by free fall jet is beneficial to dissipate the turbulence kinetic energy of the entry flow, which improves the tundish flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on partially linear varying coefficient quantile regression with observations missing at random, which allows the responses or responses and covariates simultaneously missing. By means of empirical likelihood method, we construct posterior distributions of the parameter in the model, and investigate their large sample properties under fixed prior. Meanwhile, we use a Bayesian hierarchical model based on empirical likelihood, spike and slab Gaussian priors to discuss variable selection. By using MCMC algorithm, finite sample performance of the proposed methods is investigated via simulations, and real data analysis is discussed too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive (carbonized porous ceramic ring, CPCR or Cp) and non-conductive filters (porous ceramic ring, PCR or P) were used as anode packing materials in a biotrickling filter microbial fuel cell (BTF-MFC). The optimal packing ratio (2:1 for CPCR: PCR, expressed as Cp 2 P 1) yielded 1.1 times and 1.5 times higher rates of decomposition of acetone than did Cp 1 P 2. Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) not only reduces the oxygen diffusion rate, but also improves the proton transfer capacity. The tensile strength of the PEM to which was added nZVI (5 mg ml−1) was 1.29 times higher than that of conductive carbon black (CCB) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel (PVA/CCB-H) before drying and 1.23 times higher after drying. A combination of this composite material and BTF-MFC can be used to treat gaseous pollutants, increasing both removal efficiency and power generation. The microbial population could be increased by controlling the characteristics of the packing materials. On the non-conductive materials near the PEM, the dominant species of bacteria were aerobic, while on the conductive materials far from the PEM, more bacteria were anaerobic, so the filter materials could be distributed to improve the acetone removal capacity and power output of the BTF-MFC. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether deregulation has affected bank efficiency in the 'cross-strait' relationship between China and Taiwan. I measure bank efficiency across three periods – after Taiwan and China joined the World Trade Organization, the global financial crisis, and the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) – and show that Taiwanese banks were significantly more efficient than their Chinese counterparts. These results show that the ECFA platform has not improved bank efficiency and thus has failed to function effectively. This finding suggests that China and Taiwan should continue negotiating within the ECFA context to enhance cross-strait financial cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival of free fat grafts is dependent primarily on adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs); however, ADSCs are susceptible to oxidative stress in the recipient area. Astaxanthin (Axt) is a natural xanthophyll carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties and numerous clinical applications. To date, the therapeutic potential of Axt in fat grafting has not been explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Axt on oxidatively stressed ADSCs. An oxidative model of ADSCs was developed to simulate the host's microenvironment. Oxidative insult decreased the protein levels of Cyclin D1, type I collagen alpha 1 (COL1A1), and type II collagen alpha 1 (COL2A1), while increasing the expression of cleaved Caspase 3 and secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in ADSCs. Axt pre-treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress, increased the synthesis of an adipose extracellular matrix, alleviated inflammation, and restored the impaired adipogenic potential in the present model. Furthermore, Axt immensely activated the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, and ML385, an inhibitor of Nrf2, could negate Axt's protective effects. Additionally, Axt alleviated apoptosis by inhibiting bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX)/Caspase 3 signaling and improving the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which could also be abolished by ML385. Our results suggest that Axt may exert its cytoprotective effect on ADSCs through the Nrf2 signaling pathway and could be therapeutic in fat grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Proton dosimetric uncertainties resulting from the patient's daily setup errors in rotational directions exist even with advanced image-guided radiotherapy techniques. Thus, we developed a new rotational robust optimization SPArc algorithm (SPArcrot) to mitigate the dosimetric impact of the rotational setup error in Raystation ver. 6.02 (RaySearch Laboratory AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Approach. The initial planning CT was rotated ±5° simulating the worst-case setup error in the roll direction. The SPArcrot uses a multi-CT robust optimization framework by taking into account of such rotational setup errors. Five cases representing different disease sites were evaluated. Both SPArcoriginal and SPArcrot plans were generated using the same translational robust optimized parameters. To quantitatively investigate the mitigation effect from the rotational setup errors, all plans were recalculated using a series of pseudo-CT with rotational setup error (±1°/±2°/±3°/±5°). Dosimetric metrics such as D98% of CTV, and 3D gamma analysis were used to assess the dose distribution changes in the target and OARs. Main results. The magnitudes of dosimetric changes in the targets due to rotational setup error were significantly reduced by the SPArcrot compared to SPArc in all cases. The uncertainties of the max dose to the OARs, such as brainstem, spinal cord and esophagus were significantly reduced using SPArcrot. The uncertainties of the mean dose to the OARs such as liver and oral cavity, parotid were comparable between the two planning techniques. The gamma passing rate (3%/3 mm) was significantly improved for CTV of all tumor sites through SPArcrot. Significance. Rotational setup error is one of the major issues which could lead to significant dose perturbations. SPArcrot planning approach can consider such rotational error from patient setup or gantry rotation error by effectively mitigating the dose uncertainties to the target and in the adjunct series OARs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • FW components exert significant impact on FW methane yield. • HPLFW feeds showed significantly higher CH 4 yield than HCFW feeds. • FW CH 4 production can be described by a modified two-component kinetic model. • Element formula of organic content of FW were determined. This study assessed the methane production from food waste (FW) with dominant components of Meat (MFW), Fruit &Veg (VFW), Grain (GFW), Dairy (DFW), and the mixed feed of these components (MixFW). The high protein and lipid content FW (HPLFW) of MFW, DFW, and MixFW showed the methane yields of 337.0 ± 3.0, 307.4 ± 0.8, and 297.1 ± 1.2 ml-CH 4 /gCOD, respectively, while those for the high carbohydrate content FW (HCFW) of VFW and GFW were 238.3 ± 1.2 and 171.2 ± 0.3 ml-CH 4 /gCOD, respectively. A modified two-component kinetic (MTK) model was demonstrated to be the best to describe the methane production kinetics of both HPLFW and HCFW types of feeds. The element balance analysis revealed the element formula of the FW feeds and the methane-conversion organic content. The results obtained from this study showed that the high lipid and animal protein content increased the methane yield and biogas methane composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death driven by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a pivotal research focus with implications across various cellular contexts. In this study, we employed a multifaceted approach, integrating label-free Raman spectroscopy and microfluidics to study the mechanisms underpinning ferroptosis. Our investigations included the ferroptosis initiation based on the changes in the lipid Raman band at 1436 cm−1 under different cellular states, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, DNA damage/repair, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Importantly, our work highlighted the dynamic role of vital cellular components, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH), ferredoxin clusters, and other key factors such as glutathione peroxidase 4 and nuclear factor erythroid 2, which collectively influenced cellular responses to redox imbalance and oxidative stress. Quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular docking simulations (MD) provided further evidence of interactions between the ferredoxin (containing 4Fe–4S clusters), NADPH, and ROS, which led to the production of reactive Fe species in the cells. As such, our approach not only offered a real-time, multidimensional perspective on ferroptosis but also provided valuable methods and insights for therapeutic interventions in diverse biomedical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To predict 3-Level version of European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire utility from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT), the study attempts to collect EQ-5D-3L and CAT data from COPD patients. Response mapping under a backward elimination procedure was used for EQ-5D score predictions from CAT. A multinomial logistic regression (MLR) model was used to identify the association between the score and the covariates. Afterwards, the predicted scores were transformed into the utility. The developed formula was compared with ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models and models using Mean Rank Method (MRM). The MLR models performed as well as other models according to mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) evaluations. Besides, the overestimation for low utility patients (utility ≤ 0.6) and underestimation for near health (utility > 0.9) in the OLS method was improved through the means of the MLR model based on bubble chart analysis. In conclusion, response mapping with the MLR model led to performance comparable to the OLS and MRM models for predicting EQ-5D utility from CAT data. Additionally, the bubble charts analysis revealed that the model constructed in this study and MRM could be a better predictive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peritoneal contamination is a major concern during natural orifice specimen extraction after laparoscopic colorectal resection (LCR-NOSE), but few data are available. We explored the prevalence, risk factors, and association between clinical outcomes and infectious complications in patients with positive peritoneal drain fluid culture (PDFC) after LCR-NOSE. Method: We retrospectively analyzed patient records in our prospectively maintained registry database who underwent LCR-NOSE between 2011and 2020. Peritoneal drain fluid was collected within 12 h post-operative and cultures for microorganisms were obtained. The relationships between PDFC, clinical variables, and infectious complications were examined by univariate and multivariable analysis. Results: Of 241 consecutive patients who underwent LCR-NOSE and drainage fluid culture, 59 (24.5%) had PDFC. Anterior resection (Odds ratio OR 2.40) was identified as an independent predictor for PDFC. Twenty-eight patients (11.6%) developed infectious complications. Multivariable analysis identified low anterior resection (OR 2.74), prolonged operative time (OR 3.20), and PDFC (OR 5.14) as independent risk factors. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently found microorganism (OR 5.19) responsible for infectious complications. Conclusions: Microorganisms are commonly present in the peritoneum after LCR-NOSE and play a critical role in the development of infectious complications and related morbidity. Specific caution is warranted in patients contaminated with specific types of microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an immunogenic tumor, and investigating the immunorelated genes is essential. To investigate the immunoprognostic genes of ccRCC, we analyzed the data assimilated from a public database (The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database) using bioinformatics. Then, an immunoprognosis model was constructed to identify four hub genes with moderate predictive values for the prognosis of ccRCC patients. These four genes were associated with the prognosis of ccRCC patients based on Oncomine and Gena Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. The correlation analysis between the immune infiltrate, immune checkpoints, and immunotherapy and this immunoprognosis model showed that immune infiltration could predict the immunotherapy effects. We also conducted a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and found that the expressions of three hub genes were associated with tumor progression (P<0.1). In conclusion, four genes that may serve as potential biomarkers in ccRCC were identified with respect to prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Anti‐neurofascin 155 (NF155) antibody has been discovered in chronic demyelinating conditions. However, the positive rate and clinical description were insufficient in acute demyelinating conditions, such as Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). This study aimed to explore the positive rate of anti‐NF155 antibody in GBS patients and determine whether there were unique clinical characteristics in these patients. Materials & Methods: Serum anti‐NF155 antibody was detected from 94 GBS patients and 50 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls using cell‐based assay and tissue‐based assay with immunostaining of mouse teased sciatic nerve fibers. Clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and electrophysiology examinations were retrospectively collected. Results: Seven of 94 (7.45%) GBS patients were positive for anti‐NF155 antibody, and the main IgG subclass was IgG1. Compared with anti‐NF155 antibody‐negative GBS patients, anti‐NF155 antibody‐positive GBS patients had a higher GBS disability score at nadirs (p =.010), higher modified Erasmus GBS outcome score (p =.022), higher rate of abnormal compound motor action potential (CMAP) amplitude (p =.002), higher frequency of prolonged F‐wave latency (p <.001), lower frequency of abnormal sensory conduction velocity (p <.001) and sensory nerve action potential amplitude (p <.001), more axonal type (p =.040), and poorer therapeutic effect (p =.017). Conclusions: Anti‐NF155 antibody exists in a small portion of GBS patients. Anti‐NF155 antibody‐positive GBS patients possibly have a more severe clinical course, less sensory nerves involved, higher proportion of axonal type, poorer therapeutic effect, and worse prognosis, but the pathogenicity of the anti‐NF155 antibody in GBS needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first study to integrate structural and non-structural approaches into the evaluation of competitive conditions for banks in Taiwan. It is found that the results of structural and non-structural approaches are compatible. This study finds that market share may not have a significant impact on banks' efficiency but may significantly impact profitability. This implies that banks are willing to sacrifice something to expand their market share, such as not enforcing minimum cost targets and wasting resources to raise an already unrealistic market share target. Furthermore, it is essential to pay attention to the observation that the degrees of competition deteriorated after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This argues that the transmission mechanism from market structure to performance occurring through product differentiation is able to exercise market power in banks products and earn supernormal profit, which is normally associated with dominant banks and not with collusive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether prognostic nutritional index (PNI) predicts patient survival outcomes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and methods: The data of a total of 360 patients subjected to primary surgery for OSCC were retrospectively analysed. Patients were categorised into high‐PNI (≥51.75) and low‐PNI (<51.75) groups based on the PNI cut‐off value attained from receiver operating characteristic analyses (p <.001), and the intergroup differences in clinicopathological features were determined. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were employed to determine the survival prediction ability of the PNI, and a nomogram based on the PNI was established for individualised survival prediction. Results: A low PNI was noted to exhibit a significant association with shorter overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) (both p <.001). Multivariate Cox analyses showed that a lower PNI independently indicated shorter OS and DFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.187; p =.001 and HR = 1.459; p =.023, respectively). The concordance index and calibration plots of the PNI‐based nomogram revealed the high discriminative ability for OS. Conclusions: Preoperative PNI is a valuable biomarker for predicting OSCC prognosis, and the proposed PNI‐based nomogram can provide individualised prognostic prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]