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Scramblase Xk-related protein 8 (Xkr8) regulates the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) during apoptosis and holds a pivotal role in fostering tumor immunosuppression. Targeting Xkr8 in conjunction with chemotherapy demonstrated a novel avenue for amplifying antitumor immune response and overcoming chemo-immune resistance. Here we further evaluated this strategy by using a clinically relevant orthotopic model and elucidated the mechanism through in-depth single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We found that Xkr8 knockdown exhibited the potential to lead to immunogenic cell death (ICD) by impeding the normal clearance of apoptotic cells. Co-delivery of Xkr8 small interference RNA (siRNA) and a prodrug conjugate of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and oxoplatin (FuOXP) showed remarkable therapeutic efficacy in an orthotopic pancreatic tumor model with increased infiltration of proliferative NK cells and activated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Single-cell trajectory analysis further unveiled that tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells are differentiated favorably to cytotoxic over exhausted phenotype after combination treatment. Our study sheds new light on the impact of Xkr8 knockdown on TME and solidifies the rationale of combining Xkr8 knockdown with chemotherapy to treat various types of cancers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHigh-quality academic writing should be presented with clear logical connections. However, it may be too challenging for some students so they may be demotivated. On the other hand, serious games provide students with fun and engagement so their motivation can be enhanced. Thus, this study developed a serious game, which was named as a Digital Entertaining English Logic Learning (D-[EL]2). Students could learn how to present academic writing with clear logical connections in the D-[EL]2 context. Additionally, an empirical study was conducted to investigate students’ reactions to the D-[EL]2 from a cognitive style perspective, in terms of test performance, task performance and task behavior. Regarding test performance, Holists significantly obtained better pre-test scores than Serialists but Serialists’ gaining scores were significantly higher than those of Holists. Accordingly, no significant difference was found for their post-test scores. Regarding task performance, no significant difference existed between Serialists and Holists. Regarding task behavior, Serialists more frequently used the location hint and keyword hint than Holists. Additionally, Serialists used the notebook for multiple purposes whereas Holists used it for a single purpose. Based on these findings, we proposed a framework, which can be applied to personalize the D-[EL]2 in the future so that the preferences and requirements of diverse learners can be satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate whether APOE4 was associated with postoperative neurologic dysfunction occurrence in short- or medium-term among surgical patients and to study the potential genetic association among these two entities. We searched electronic databases for reserch studies to evaluate the association of APOE4 with postoperative delirium (POD) or short- and medium term postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Twenty-two trials (16 prospective and six retrospective) with 6734 patients were included. APOE4 alleles was shown significantly associated with POCD within 1 week (odds ratio, OR, 1.89, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.36 to 2.6278, p < 0.01) in the random-effects model. A significant association was also noted between APOE4 and POCD in medium-term, 1–3 months, after surgery (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.003–2.839, p = 0.049). However, APOE4 was not significantly associated with POCD 1 year after surgery (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.57–1.70, p = 0.9449) and POD (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.85–1.91, p = 0.23). In conclusion, APOE4 alleles was genetically associated with short- and medium-term postoperative neurological dysfunction and future screening or preventive strategies derived is highly potential to improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global public health problem, with ~ 11 million people in Africa infected. There is incomplete information on HCV in Sudan, particularly in haemodialysis patients, who have a higher prevalence compared to the general population. Thus, our objectives were to genotype and molecularly characterize HCV isolated from end-stage renal disease haemodialysis patients.Methods: A total of 541 patients were recruited from eight haemodialysis centres in Khartoum and screened for anti-HCV. Viral loads were determined using in-house real-time PCR in seropositive patients. HCV was genotyped and subtyped using sequencing of amplicons of 5' untranslated (UTR) and non-structural protein 5B (NS5B) regions, followed by phylogenetic analysis of corresponding sequences.Results: The HCV seroprevalence in the study was 17% (93/541), with HCV RNA-positive viremic rate of 7% (40/541). A low HCV load, with a mean of 2.85 × 104 IU/ml and a range of 2.95 × 103 to 4.78 × 106 IU/ml, was detected. Phylogenetic analyses showed the presence of genotypes 1, 3, 4, and 5 with subtypes 1a, 1b, 1 g, 3a, 4a, 4 l, 4 m, 4 s, and 4t. Sequences of HCV from the same haemodialysis units, clustered in similar genotypes and subtypes intimating nosocomial infection.Conclusion: HCV infection is highly prevalent in haemodialysis patients from Sudan, with phylogenetic analysis intimating nosocomial infection. HCV genotyping is useful to locate potential transmission chains and to enable individualized treatment using highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: New-generation anthraquinone derivatives attached with different heterocycles and bearing chloroacetamidines in the side chains have been synthesized to reduce side effects and drug resistance. In this study, we identified the cellular target of the studied compounds through ligand binding assays and in silico simulations. Our results illustrate that the studied compounds bound to and targeted the tumor-associated NADH oxidase (tNOX) in oral cancer cells. tNOX is a growth-related protein and is found to be expressed in cancer cells but not in non-transformed cells, and its knockdown by RNA interference in tumor cells overturns cancer phenotypes, supporting its role in cellular growth. We also identified that tNOX bound to the studied compounds and underwent degradation, which was correlated with apoptosis induction in oral cancer cells. Anthraquinone-based intercalating compounds, namely doxorubicin and mitoxantrone, have been used clinically based on their capacity to bind DNA and induce DNA damage. However, their applications have been limited by side effects and drug resistance. New-generation anthraquinone derivatives fused with different heterocycles have been chemically synthesized and screened for higher anticancer potency. Among the compounds reported in our previous study, 4,11-bis(2-(2-chloroacetamidine)ethylamino)anthra[2,3-b]thiophene-5,10-dione dihydrochloride (designated 2c) was found to be apoptotic, but the direct cellular target responsible for the cytotoxicity remained unknown. Here, we report the synthesis and anticancer properties of two other derivatives, 4,11-bis(2-(2-chloroacetamidine)ethylamino)naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-dione dihydrochloride (2a) and 4,11-bis(2-(2-chloroacetamidine)ethylamino)-2-methylanthra[2,3-b]furan-5,10-dione dihydrochloride (2b). We sought to identify and validate the protein target(s) of these derivatives in oral cancer cells, using molecular docking simulations and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA). Our CETSA results illustrate that these derivatives targeted the tumor-associated NADH oxidase (tNOX, ENOX2), and their direct binding downregulated tNOX in p53-functional SAS and p53-mutated HSC-3 cells. Interestingly, the compounds targeted and downregulated tNOX to reduce SIRT1 deacetylase activity and increase Ku70 acetylation, which triggers c-Flip ubiquitination and induces apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Together, our data highlight the potential value of these heteroarene-fused anthraquinones in managing cancer by targeting tNOX and augmenting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly photoluminescent, lead‐free perovskites are of interest for displays and solid‐state light‐emitting devices. In this report, streak camera‐based time‐resolved emission and transient absorption spanning visible to deep‐ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths are utilized to study self‐trapped and free exciton dynamics in vacuum‐deposited cesium copper halide thin films of CsCu2I3 and Cs3Cu2I5. Self‐trapped exciton emission of CsCu2I3 exhibits more noticeable changes with time in the peak position and width than Cs3Cu2I5. UV‐to‐blue emission is detectable for both compositions, where free exciton emission is distinct for CsCu2I3. Transient absorption shows loss of ground‐state bleach signals at early time delays for both, and the bleach signal shifts toward higher energy as time delay increases, likely due to strains induced by the newly created self‐trapped excitons. Global analysis performed on the transient absorption results yields time constants in these materials that build an overall dynamic scheme. This work aids in building a complete picture regarding light emission in these promising materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies across the world. More than 80% patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage with limited treatment options. PC has the highest frequency of developing cancer cachexia (CC)–sarcopenia (SC) syndrome, but there is no optimal efficient intervention for CC or SC targeting their complicated biological and irreversible processes. As a result, identifying the clinicopathological features and patient characteristics in each advanced PC patient with CC and/or SC is urgently needed to distinguish different wasting phenotypes or body composition and thus support precision medicine and achieve optimal outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 232 advanced PC patients to determine the differential clinical characteristics of CC and SC and the overlap of CC- or SC-related factors in each patient. The impacts of CC, SC, and their relevant factors on the outcomes of PC patients were also evaluated. Pancreatic cancer (PC) has the highest frequency of developing cancer cachexia (CC)–sarcopenia (SC) syndrome, which negatively influences patients' outcome, quality of life, and tolerance/response to treatments. However, the clinical impacts of CC, SC, and their associated factors on outcomes for advanced PC has yet to be fully investigated. A total of 232 patients were enrolled in this study for the retrospective review of their clinical information and the measurement of skeletal muscle areas at the third lumber vertebra by computed tomography scan to identify CC or SC. The association and concurrent occurrence of clinicopathological features in each patient, prevalence rates, and prognosis with the CC or SC were calculated. CC and SC were observed in 83.6% (n = 194) and 49.1% (n = 114) of PC patients, respectively. Low hemoglobin levels more often occurred in CC patients than in non-CC patients (p = 0.014). Older age (p = 0.000), female gender (p = 0.024), low body mass index (BMI) values (p = 0.004), low hemoglobin levels (p = 0.036), and low albumin levels (p = 0.001) were more often found in SC patients than in non-SC patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that CC was an independent poor prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival for all patients, the chemotherapy (C/T) subgroup, and the high BMI subgroup. Meanwhile, SC was an independent predictor of poor OS for the subgroups of C/T or high BMI but not for all patients. These findings reveal the clinical differences for CC and SC and provide useful information for predicting the prognosis of advanced PC patients and conducting personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image quality evaluation is a key factor in the advancement and improvement of display technology, which could lead to effective improvement through the evaluation result from various aspects to achieve the better result further. However, display principles and image characteristics should be considered for Image quality evaluation. For three-dimensional (3D) holograms, charge-coupled devices are mainly applied to capture and record reconstructed images for analysis. 3D holograms have multiple depths and thus can lead to varying light intensities at the information points of the reconstructed images during image acquisition. Finally, it will lead to poor analysis results. Aiming at the previously mentioned problem, an algorithm called three-dimensional structural similarity (3D-SSIM) is proposed in this study. It is expected to optimize hologram evaluation and analysis. A fixed-focus shooting system matching silhouette sampling and SSIM is proposed to sample objects with 360° in order to implement 3D SSIM evaluation. This study successfully optimized the hologram evaluation method, leading to more accurate image evaluation results of hologram algorithms or holographic display systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules linked CdZnSeS/ZnS green-emitting quantum dots (QDs) are self-assembled onto Ag nanoparticles (NPs) for studying the surface plasmon (SP) coupling effect on the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process from QD into R6G. SP coupling can enhance the emission efficiency of QD such that FRET has to compete with QD emission for transferring energy into R6G. It is found that FRET efficiency is reduced under the SP coupling condition. Although R6G emission efficiency can also be enhanced through SP coupling when it is directly linked onto Ag NP, the enhancement decreases when R6G is linked onto QD and then the QD-R6G complex is self-assembled onto Ag NP. In particular, R6G emission efficiency can be reduced through SP coupling when the number of R6G molecules linked onto a QD is high. A rate-equation model is built for resembling the measured photoluminescence decay profiles and providing us with more detailed explanations for the observed FRET and SP coupling behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer-generated holography (CGH) is a technique that aims to produce specific illumination patterns using coherent light. However, traditional CGH algorithms often struggle to balance computational speed with the accuracy of the generated hologram. To address this issue, a non-iterative algorithm named "DL-GSA" is proposed in this paper. DL-GSA combines unsupervised learning in machine learning with convolutional neural networks (CNN) to generate holograms with high accuracy and fixed computational complexity. Simulation experiments reveal that DL-GSA generates hologram patterns faster than the Modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm (MGSA) and double-phase retrieval algorithm (DPRA). Furthermore, the average accuracy of the generated holograms is higher than 95 %. These findings suggest that DL-GSA has the potential to significantly enhance the real-time hologram generation capabilities, making it a promising technique for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of leader humor on workplace ostracism, with leader-member exchange (LMX) and supervisor ostracism employed as mediators. Data from 517 full-time hotel employees indicated that both leader affiliative humor and leader aggressive humor did not directly affect workplace ostracism. Leader affiliative humor improved workplace ostracism first through LMX and then supervisor ostracism. Leader aggressive humor exacerbates workplace ostracism indirectly through supervisor ostracism. Leader aggressive humor exerted a higher effect on workplace ostracism than did leader affiliative humor. Drawing on job demands-resources model and social exchange theory, this study is the first to provide a framework investigating leader humor, LMX, supervisor ostracism, and workplace ostracism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and perioperative outcomes remains incompletely understood. Our purpose is to evaluate the features of postoperative adverse outcomes for geriatric surgical patients with COPD receiving non-thoracic surgeries. Aim To evaluate the potential impact of COPD history on the outcome after general surgery. Design A retrospective cohort study with matching procedure by propensity score. Methods We conducted a nationwide study of 15 359 COPD patients aged 65 years and older who received major non-thoracic surgeries in 2008–2013 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Comprehensive matching procedure with propensity score were used to select 15 359 surgical patients without COPD for comparison. Major postoperative complications and 30-day in-hospital mortality were evaluated among patients with and without COPD by calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Results Patients with COPD had significantly increased risk for postoperative complications, including pneumonia (OR = 90.3; 95% CI: 60.3–135), septicemia (OR = 3.11; 95% CI: 2.82–3.43), acute renal failure (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 2.11–3.02), pulmonary embolism (OR = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.52–4.96), and 30-day postoperative mortality (adjusted OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.76–2.50), compared with surgical patients without COPD. Longer length of hospital stay and higher medical expenditures were also noted in COPD patients than those without COPD. Conclusions Geriatric patients with COPD showed significantly higher postoperative adverse outcome rates with risk of 30-day mortality nearly twofold when compared with patients without COPD. Our findings remind surgical care team pay more attention to this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An open-cage bis[60]fulleroid (OC) was applied as an electron transport material (ETM) in tin (Sn) halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Due to the reduced offset between the energy levels of Sn-based perovskites and ETMs, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Sn-based PSCs with OC reached 9.6% with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.72 V. Additionally, OC exhibited superior thermal stability and provided 75% of the material without decomposition after vacuum deposition. The PSC using vacuum-deposited OC as the ETM could afford a PCE of 7.6%, which is a big leap forward compared with previous results using vacuum-deposited fullerene derivatives as ETMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate ester (DHEA-S), and pregnenolone are neurosteroids that can be synthesized in the brain. Previous studies have hypothesized that these neurosteroids have antiaging, mood-enhancing, and cognitive-preserving effects; however, these effects may be gender-specific. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the gender differences in the relationships among neurosteroids (DHEA, DHEA-S, and pregnenolone), cognitive function, and quality of life in healthy individuals. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 47 men (mean age: 32.8 years) and 75 women (mean age: 35.4 years) who had no major physical or psychiatric illnesses and measured their serum DHEA, DHEA-S, and pregnenolone. Furthermore, we evaluated the subjects' cognitive function and quality of life using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, respectively. Results: The serum levels of DHEA and DHEA-S demonstrated significant gender differences, even after controlling for age effect. In the male subjects, the DHEA serum levels were positively correlated with three domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, including physical health, social relations, and environmental dimensions. Meanwhile, the DHEA-S levels positively correlated with the performance of working memory, and pregnenolone levels had a positive correlation with working memory, verbal fluency, and Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia composite score. However, in the female subjects, we observed a correlation only between the serum levels of DHEA-S and working memory. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate that neurosteroids play a vital role in cognitive function and quality of life among men but less so among women. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms of the gender-specific effect of neurosteroids require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some people often appear asthenopia symptoms of eye fatigue, double vision, nausea, and dizziness while viewing 3D movies. By testing the changes of accommodation function and ocular movements during watching 3D and 2D movies, the factors in visual discomfort are confirmed in this study. 20 subjects with normal visual acuity and binocular vision function view 3D and 2D movies with the same content for 30 min, and the amplitude of accommodation, binocular vergence ability, stereo-acuity, and tear break-up time of the subjects before and after viewing the films are measured. Furthermore, an open-field auto-refractor is utilized for synchronously testing the change of accommodative response while viewing 3D and 2D films, and Skalar IRIS tracking system is applied to record ocular movements through infrared positioning. In comparison with viewing 2D movies, the accommodative response and ocular movements reveal obvious changes while viewing 3D movies. The accommodation ability and binocular vergence ability obviously drop after viewing 3D movies; moreover, the stability of stereo-acuity and tear film also gets worse. The changes of such physiological factors might be the major cause of asthenopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deal with the free boundary problems occurred in cavitation region, this work incorporates an artificial term in Reynolds equation to stabilize the solution. The current result shows that adding the extra term gives accurate pressure distribution and benefits the selection of the groove shape and size. In addition, this study utilizes herringbone grooves on a reversible rotating journal bearing (RHGJB) and numerically analyzes the characteristics of miniature journal bearings with an inner diameter of 0.6 mm. Miniature journal bearings are limited in that the load capacity is significantly reduced with decreased bearing size, and therefore, the performances (load capacity and side leakage) of miniature RHGJBs are optimized. The optimum geometrical appearance of miniature RHGJBs is calculated by evaluating several groove parameters. Using the Taguchi parameter design methodology greatly reduces the number of full-factorial experimental design tests required to determine the optimal design parameters of the RHGJB from 5 9 (1,953,125) to 450 runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageism can generate conflict and harm well-being. Our paper integrates the Aging Stereotypes in Interaction model with intergroup contact theory to predict how communicative elements mediate the effect of intergenerational contact on warmth and competence stereotypes of older adults as a group. Students (N = 288) were randomly assigned to imagine having a conversation with an older adult in one of six experimentally manipulated contact conditions: a competent/incompetent older woman, a sociable/unsociable older woman, or a moral/immoral older woman. Participants’ stereotypes of older adults were affected by the characteristics of their communication partner, and this effect was mediated by specific communication behaviors imagined by the participant for two of the three trait dimensions. For perceptions of competence, overaccommodation was the key mediator. For perceptions of sociability, the key mediator was humorous communication. These mediators represent an expansion in how we understand not just the outcomes of intergroup contact, but also the communicative mechanisms through which it occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Treatment of cancer patients with chemotherapeutic drugs is often associated with the occurrence of tumors with a multidrug resistance (MDR). Furthermore, the relation between overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and resistant cancers has been well established. In this study, novel 2-aminobenzofuran derivatives were synthesized and tested for their ability to modulate P-gp mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in vitro . The most potent compound, 43 , increased P-gp inhibitory activity at 5 μM by 11.12-fold and was 3.6-fold stronger than verapamil. Furthermore, 43 can sensitize Flp-In™-293/MDR cells toward vincristine, paclitaxel and doxorubicin by 17.95-fold, 13.68-fold and 26.43-fold at 2.5 μM, respectively. 43 also can sensitize the resistant cancer cell line KBvin toward vincristine, paclitaxel and doxorubicin by 246.43-fold, 38.72-fold and 5.16-fold at 2.5 μM, respectively. In conclusion, important aspects for developing potent P-gp inhibitors have been emphasized in this study, providing a starting point for the further structural optimization of P-gp inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

InGaAs integration on Si substrates is an important topic for next generation electronic devices. Rapid melt growth (RMG) has the potential to grow defect-free lattice mismatched materials on Si at low cost. Most previous publications have focused on growing binary III–V compounds by RMG, but none have discussed ternary compound materials. In this paper, we demonstrate the RMG of the single crystal ternary compound InGaAs on Si substrates. We discuss two main issues. The first is segregation along the stripe length. An analytical model is developed to describe the segregation of In/Ga in the grown stripe and the model is compared with experimental data. The second issue is the dissolution of the Si seed region during RMG, which leads to formation of Si islands inside the InGaAs stripe. The results of this study are applicable to any compound material in which Si is soluble at the elevated temperatures required for RMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a phenomenon in which cells become resistant to structurally and mechanistically unrelated drugs, and it is one of the emerging problems in cancer therapy today. The relation between overexpression of the ABC transporter subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1/P-glycoprotein) and resistant cancers has been well characterized. In the present study, we successfully synthesized 52 novel benzodipyranone analogs and evaluated for their P-gp inhibitory activity in a P-gp transfected cell line, ABCB1 /Flp-In™-293. Among these derivatives, 5a bearing on the 3-methylphenyl substituent, displayed the most potent P-gp inhibitory activity, which can enable the increase of the intracellular accumulation of P-gp substrate Calcein-AM. 5a exhibited more potency on promoted anticancer drugs cytotoxicity by reversing P-gp-mediated drug resistance in both ABCB1 /Flp-In™-293 and KBvin cell lines. In particular, the compound 5a sensitized ABCB1 /Flp-In™-293 cells toward paclitaxel, vincristine, and doxorubicin by 16.1, 21.0, and 1.6-fold at 10 μM, respectively. Further, 5a dramatically sensitized the resistant cell line KBvin toward paclitaxel and vincristine by 23.1 and 29.7-fold at 10 μM, respectively. It's possible that its mechanism of MDR inhibition can restore the intracellular accumulation of drugs and eventually chemosensitize cancer cells to anticancer drugs and reduce ABCB1 mRNA expression level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis are common in patients with schizophrenia and detrimental to illness prognosis and life quality. Although the pathogenesis is not fully clear, series of studies have revealed factors related to low BMD such as life style, psychotic symptoms, medication use and the activity of bone absorption markers. It has been known that antipsychotic- induced hyperprolactinemia plays a critical role on decreased BMD. However, it remains uncertain whether the risk factors differ between men and women. According to the effect on prolactin, antipsychotics can be classified into two groups: prolactin-sparing (PS) and prolactin-raising (PR). Our previous study has demonstrated that clozapine which is among the PS antipsychotics is beneficial for BMD when compared with PR antipsychotics in women with chronic schizophrenia. We have also found that risks factors associated with low BMD are different between men and women, suggesting that gender-specific risk factors should be considered for intervention of bone loss in patients with schizophrenia. This article reviews the effects of antipsychotics use on BMD with particular discussion for the differences on gender and age, which implicate the alterations of sex and other related hormones. In addition, currently reported protective and risk factors, as well as the effects of medication use on BMD including the combination of antipsychotics and other psychotropic agents and other potential medications are also reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two linear organic A–D–A molecules ( DTPT and DTPTT ) comprised of electron-donating (D) coplanar heteroacenes as core end-capping with electron-accepting (A) dicyanovinylene were investigated as electron donor materials in organic photovoltaic (OPV) applications. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these two dyes were examined. The A–D–A configuration renders these two molecules to have intense and red-shifted absorption characteristics for better light-harvesting (higher photocurrent density), while retaining relatively low HOMO energy levels for keeping sufficiently high open circuit voltage ( V oc ) in OPV. The optical constants and molecular orientation of thin films were acquired with variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE). Due to the anisotropic behavior observed in thin film, these two organic donors were firstly adopted to combine with electron acceptor C 60 in a vacuum-processed planar heterojunction (PHJ) solar cells. The optimized DTPT -based PHJ device yielded a PCE of 3.01%, whereas the PHJ device based on DTPTT , delivered an inferior PCE of 1.70%. The exciton diffusion length extracted from spectrum-response modeling of PHJ devices is ∼5 nm and ∼4 nm for DTPT and DTPTT , respectively. Replacement of C 60 with C 70 for a better spectral response in 400–500 nm, planar-mixed heterojunction (PMHJ) SMOSCs without a thin donor layer in between the active layer and MoO 3 was found to produce optimum device results. The optimized DTPTT -based device showed a PCE of 3.02%, while the shorter counterpart DTPT delivered a PCE up to 5.64%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of photovoltaic cells with an organometallic perovskite as the active layer for indoor dim-light energy harvesting is evaluated. By designing the electron-transporting materials and fabrication processes, the traps in the perovskite active layers and carrier dynamics can be controlled, and efficient devices are demonstrated. The best-performing small-area perovskite photovoltaics exhibit a promising high power conversion efficiency up to 27.4%, no hysteresis behavior, and an exceptionally low maximum power point voltage variation of 0.1 V under fluorescent lamp illumination at 100-1000 lux. The 5.44 cm² large-area device also shows a high efficiency of 20.4% and a promising long-term stability. Compared with the most efficient inorganic and organic solar cells nowadays, the competitive efficiency, low fabrication cost, and low raw material costs make perovskite photovoltaics ideal for indoor light harvesting and as Internet of Things power provider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the growth of thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) market for renewable energy sources, the development of versatile technique for scribing surface patterns with new record efficiency is crucial. This study presents an ultrafast-laser process for noncontact and chemical-free scribing of thin-film layers in CuIn x Ga (1− x ) Se 2 (CIGS)-based PV modules. The proposed ultrafast laser scribing process for single- and multiple-pass patterning was performed using an infrared laser system comprising a femtosecond laser source, galvano-mirror scanner, and high-precision motor driven stage. The interaction between laser beam and three thin films in CIGS-based PV modules was determined by investigating potential film-removal mechanisms, such as geometrical, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties. Well-defined grooves were successfully obtained on thin-film layers by applying pulse energies near the ablation threshold. The experimental results and numerical calculations show that the laser–material interactions indicate that the proposed surface-pattern technique is precise. The energy transfer between the laser beam and thin-film device was affected by introducing an electron–photon coupling variable. The study results show the surface-pattern characteristics of applying an ultrafast laser to thin-film PV modules under controlled process conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graft copolymerization of silicone monomer—3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA) grafted onto styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS; SBS-g-TMSPMA) triblock copolymer was carried out by free radical polymerization, and the improvement of adhesive property of the grafted SBS for glass materials is the major purpose of this study. To gain the optimal reaction conditions and grafting effect, the effect of various factors, such as the monomer ratio and reaction time, on the grafting ratio and grafting efficiency (GE) of SBS-g-TMSPMA graft copolymers were investigated. In addition, various SBS-g-TMSPMA graft copolymers were coated on different substrates based on glass and their tensile strengths that were tested. The optimal graft condition for the SBS-g-TMSPMA was obtained when the molar ratio of TMSPMA to SBS was 1 and reaction time was 4 h. Their grafting ratio and GEreached to a maximum of 56.8% and 60.2%, respectively, and the tensile strength also reached maximum. In this article, we confirm that the higher the grafting ratio, the more the silicone-containing in the graft copolymer. Hence, the –Si–O–Si– bonding between SBS-g-TMSPMA and glass substrate was more intensive and tensile strength was stronger. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates the design and characterization of a miniature fluid dynamic bearing using novel multi-step elliptical grooves for small-form-factor data storage applications and miniature fan motors. In contrast to conventional herringbone-grooved cylindrical journal bearings (HGJBs), the proposed journal bearing contains a single set of multi-step elliptical grooves (EGJB). The performance of the proposed multi-step EGJB is characterized numerically using proprietary flow field analysis software. In addition, to reduce the number of optimal full-factorial experimental design tests (3), the Taguchi parameter design methodology is used to find out the optimal design parameters of the multi-step EGJB. Results show that compared to the conventional HGJB presented by the current group in a previous study, the proposed multi-step EGJB improves the load capacity. Consequently, the proposed motor represents another solution for both existing and emerging miniaturized spindle motor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting ( PONV) is a common complication after pediatric strabismus surgery. Steroids and ondansetron (a 5- HT3 antagonist) can effectively reduce nausea, vomiting, and pain and thus might be useful agents for the prevention of PONV in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) to evaluate the prophylactic effects of dexamethasone and ondansetron on PONV after strabismus surgery in pediatric patients. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify RCTs that investigated the efficacy and safety of intravenous dexamethasone or ondansetron on PONV in pediatric strabismus surgical patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV during the initial 24 postoperative hours. The secondary outcomes were number of patients requiring a rescue antiemetic and complications. Results We included 13 RCTs that evaluated 2006 patients. In the two studies that compared dexamethasone and placebo treatments, POV occurred in 34.3% (23/67) of the patients in the dexamethasone group and in 68.2% (45/66) of the patients in the placebo group. The difference between the two groups was significant ( RR 0.50; 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.34-0.72). Similarly, seven studies that compared ondansetron and a placebo identified a relatively lower incidence of PONV in the ondansetron group (103/277, 37.2%) than in the placebo group (177/270, 65.6%). The difference between the two groups was also significant ( RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.43-0.79). The combination of dexamethasone and ondansetron was significantly more effective at reducing the incidence of POV than dexamethasone or ondansetron alone. In all included RCTs, experimental drug-related complications, such as facial flushing and headache, were limited. Conclusions Surgeons and anesthesiologists are recommended to administer the combination of dexamethasone and ondansetron to pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Polarized phosphorescence was previously realized in mesogenic host–guest systems. [•] The mesogenic phosphorescent Pt(II) complex tended to form nano-scale aggregates in the host. [•] GIXS and CLSM were used to analyze nanostructures in such mesogenic host–guest systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) characteristics of transversely isotropic materials are investigated. A finite element method (FEM) is utilized to solve the Reynolds equation, elastic equation, and load balance equation simultaneously on a ball-on-plane equivalent model. A simplified problem related to cornea and contact lens during blinking is studied. The pressure and oil film thickness distributions, surface deformation, and friction coefficient are discussed for various material properties (Young's modulus) and operating conditions (sliding velocity and load). Results reveal that the effects of soft transversely isotropic materials on lubricating performances are significant, which are helpful to further investigate the biomechanical interactions between a keratoconic cornea and a lens during blinking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study presents the micromachining of CuIn x Ga(1− x )Se2-based (CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules using an infrared (IR) ultrafast laser ablation setup, which is composed of a femtosecond laser source, galvano-mirror scanner and high-precision motor driven stages. Herein the three thin films (including back contact, absorber and front contact layers) of CIGS PV modules are used a one-time scribing technique. In this work, we propose to use the integrated laser system with a high repetition rate (100kHz) and an optimized energy density (fluence) threshold to achieve precise machining quality and acceptable throughput for the process of CIGS PV modules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report the spectra of UV-vis absorption, emission and excitation for fluoro-substituted triscarbene iridium complexes fac-tris(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene-C,C2′) iridium(III), fac-Ir(fpmi)3, and fac-tris(1-(2,4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl imidazolin-2-ylidene-C,C2′ ) iridium(III), fac-Ir(dfpmi)3. The decay of emission and transient absorption curves at 266-nm excitation in the singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) band region are recorded. Using quantum chemical calculations-density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) method B3LYP, we obtained their optimized geometries, electronic structures, energies of vertical transitions and oscillator strengths. Both complexes emit in deep blue/near UV which has the highest emission energy for iridium complexes. These emission bands display vibronic structure and a small rigidochromic shift in the low-temperature. From the measured lifetime data and the emission quantum yield, we obtain a radiative rate constant kr 2.2-2.4 × 104 s−1 for the emitting state and assign the emitting state to 3π-π* for these complexes. In subpicosecond transient absorption, we observed an ultrafast rise implying that crossing rate from 1MLCT to this ligand-centered T1/T2 3π-π* state is faster than our temporal resolution (300 fs)−1. Two components appear with time constants 0.7-1.5 ps and 15-47 ps and are assigned to vibrational cooling/solvation and geometry relaxation, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper experimentally investigates the effects of induced nanostructures on the reduction of friction for mechanical seals. This study examines the properties of low-friction seals, whose surfaces were fabricated using a titanium-sapphire-based femtosecond laser in the authors' previous study. Tribological experiments are carried out with a ring-on-disk apparatus under various loads, which are increased in a stepwise manner. Three surface patterns on seals are used for tribological investigations: a flat surface, a step-bearing surface, and a step-bearing surface combined with nanostructures. The experimental results show that the step-bearing surface with nanostructures had the smallest friction coefficient, which was about 20 % smaller than that of the step-bearing surface without nanostructures. Nanostructures on the SiC surface generate a thicker SiO film than that on SiC without nanostructures and prevent the direct contact of the relative moving surfaces of the ring and disk when the water film breaks down. This study also examines the surface damage of the specimens. Scanning electron microscopy images indicate that the nanostructures on the specimen are not damaged with a step-bearing surface under the hydrodynamic lubrication condition. Hence, employing nanostructures on the surfaces of mechanical seals has great potential to reduce the friction coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of anisotropic slip on the lubrication performances of journal bearings are analyzed. The anisotropic slip boundary conditions on bearing surfaces or/and on journal surfaces are modeled from Navier slip boundary condition with orthogonal principal slip lengths. The modified Reynolds equation considering anisotropic slip is then derived and solved numerically by the finite element method. The effects of principal slip lengths on the load capacities and friction force of journal bearings are discussed. The related Couette and Poiseuille flow correctors in the modified Reynolds equation and in the shear stress are presented to assist our discussion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The trend in the tourism industry has been to focus on environmental concerns and efficient use of energy. However, there has been relatively little work that addresses the employees’ job attitudes towards environmental management practices in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between perceptions of environmental management and employee job attitudes. Survey data from 312 employees of in the hotel industry in Taiwan indicate that energy management, green procurement, organizational system/control, and external relationships positively relate to employees’ job satisfaction. Energy management, organizational system/control, and external relationships positively relate to organizational commitment. Implications of these findings as well as future research directions are subsequently discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Workplace friendship is an important issue in business. Despite its predominance within the management field, there are several unaddressed issues. This study examines the relationship among interactive justice, leader–member exchange, and workplace friendship. Based on data collected from 309 full-time Taiwanese employees, results indicate that interactive justice is positively associated with workplace friendship. Leader–member exchange mediates such relationships. Therefore, as far as the manager is concerned, interactive justice is an effective factor for promoting workplace friendship and the mediating effect of leader–member exchange cannot be neglected. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study presents an alternative method for micron-resolution patterning of a sapphire surface utilizing the characteristic of an ultra-short pulse (10 s) from ytterbium (Yb) femtosecond laser (FS-laser) irradiation. Conventional processes often involve several steps, such as wet chemical or dry etching, for surface structuring of sapphire. In this study, two-dimensional array patterns on the sapphire surface with an area of 5×5 mm and a depth of 1.2±0.1 μm can be directly and easily fabricated by a single step of the FS-laser process, which involves 350-fs laser pulses with a wavelength of 517 nm at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. The measured ablation depths on the sapphire surface display that the proposed process can be under well-controlled conditions. Based on the design changes for being quickly implemented in the micromachining process, a FS laser can be a promising and competitive tool for patterning sapphire with an acceptable quality for industrial usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most previous studies have employed surface patterning to improve the performance of lubrication systems. However, few have experimentally analyzed improved effects on friction reduction in SiC mechanical seals by ultra-fast laser pulse texturing. This work applies surface texturing on a non-contact mechanical seal and analyzes the characteristics of the resultant surface morphology. A femtosecond laser system is employed to fabricate micro/nanostructures on the SiC mechanical seal, and generates microscale-depth stripes and induces nanostructures on the seal surface. This work examines the morphology and cross section of the SiC nanostructures that correspond to the different scanning speeds of the laser pulse. Results show that varying the scanning speed enables the application of nanostructures of different amplitudes and widths on the surface of the seal. The friction coefficient of the introduced SiC full-textured seal is about 20% smaller than that of a conventional SiC mechanical seal. Hence, femtosecond laser texturing is effective and enables direct fabrication of the surface micro/nanostructures of SiC seals. This technique also serves as a potential approach to lubricating applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wogonin, one component in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts, has several beneficial properties for cancers and inflammatory diseases. However, the efficacy of wogonin in cholesterol metabolism of macrophages remains unknown. In macrophages, cholesterol uptake is controlled by scavenger receptors (SR-A and CD36) and cholesterol efflux by SR-BI, ATP-binding cassette transporter-A1 (ABCA1) and ABCG1. In the present study, we investigated the effect and underlying molecular mechanism of wogonin on the formation of macrophage foam cells by murine J774.A1 macrophages. Wogonin attenuated oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced cholesterol accumulation in macrophages. The binding of oxLDL to macrophages and protein expression of SR-A and CD36 were not affected by wogonin. Wogonin enhanced cholesterol efflux and increased the protein level of ABCA1 without affecting the protein expression of SR-BI or ABCG1. Inhibition of ABCA1 by pharmacological inhibitor 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid disodium salt or neutralizing antibody abolished this suppressive effect of wogonin on lipid accumulation. Moreover, the up-regulation of ABCA1 protein by wogonin resulted from a decrease in degradation rate of ABCA1 protein, with no effect on ABCA1 mRNA expression. This reduction in ABCA1 degradation was due to increased protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B)-mediated ABCA1 dephosphorylation, as evidenced by increased interaction between ABCA1 and PP2B; pharmacological inhibition of PP2B would prevent wogonin-induced ABCA1 protein expression, dephosphorylation and attenuation of lipid accumulation. Collectively, wogonin increases the protein stability of ABCA1 via PP2B-mediated dephosphorylation, thus leading to reduced cholesterol accumulation in macrophage foam cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: (R)-phenylephrine [(R)-PE] is an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist that is widely used in over-the-counter drugs to treat the common cold. We found that Rhodococcus erythropolis BCRC 10909 can convert detectable level of 1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino) ethanone (HPMAE) to (S)-PE by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. An amino alcohol dehydrogenase gene (RE_AADH) which possesses the ability to convert HPMAE to (S)-PE was then isolated from R. erythropolis BCRC 10909 and expressed in Escherichia coli NovaBlue. The purified RE_AADH, tagged with 6×His, had a molecular mass of approximately 30kDa and exhibited a specific activity of 0.19μU/mg to HPMAE in the presence of NADPH, indicating this enzyme could be categorized as NADP+-dependent short-chain dehydrogenase reductase. E. coli NovaBlue cell expressing the RE_AADH gene was able to convert HPMAE to (S)-PE with more than 99% enantiomeric excess (ee), 78% yield and a productivity of 3.9mmol(S)-PE/Lh in 12h at 30°C and pH 7. The (S)-PE, recovered from reaction mixture by precipitation at pH 11.3, could be converted to (R)-PE (ee>99%) by Walden inversion reaction. This is the first reported biocatalytic process for the production of (S)-PE from HPMAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are two key cancer markers actively involved in several signal pathways for cancer cell growth. In this study, we focused on the designing of dual-targeted HSP and HER2 inhibitors. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA), and pharmacophore analysis were employed for generating the activity prediction models. The results of CoMFA model showed highly predictive r 2 value with 0.922 and 0.885 in HSP90 and HER2, respectively. In CoMSIA model, the r 2 values were 0.967 and 0.936 in HSP90 and HER2, respectively. The contour maps of both targets showed that there were similar regions of bulky favored area. Additionally, the Hypogen results for HER2 showed high cost difference as 59.13 and r-value as 0.909. At the C2 position of the benzene ring, the HER2 model favored steric bulkier substitutes more than HSP90. The Hypogen results for HSP90 also showed reliable values in cost difference, 85.82 and r-value, 0.902. Overall, we investigated the significances of QSAR models and pharmacophore features for designing the HER2/HSP90 dual-targeted inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes to apply both a biprism and a Double Gauss Lens to an electronic eyepiece through which a single image could be divided into an image pair with left/right angle of view. A biprism with the corner angle 9°is added to the parallel ray path of a symmetric Double Gauss Lens to achieve the image splitting property with the deflection principle of prism. When the biprism is placed at 17 mm of the Double Gauss Lens, the calculated estimated distance Z is 60.050 mm, the best disparity is 0.458 mm, and the image depth is 0.724 mm to generate an image with depth perception. Different from the high cost for a traditional microscope requiring two cameras, the left/right stereo image pair could be acquired with one shot when equipping a stereo electronic eyepiece on a microscope. It not only could reduce the size and weight of the optical element, but could also generate a stereo image with depth perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon materials have been used to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for the degradation of organic pollutants. The mechanism involved, especially whether radicals are formed in these processes, is still under debate. In this research, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was employed to activate PDS for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The effects of solution pH, PDS concentration, 2,4-DCP concentration, and MWCNT loading on the degradation of 2,4-DCP were investigated. The mechanism was explored via radical scavenging experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and MWCNT surface characterization. The results showed that the rate of 2,4-DCP degradation increased with the increasing solution pH, PDS concentration and MWCNT loading. The presence of OH and SO 4 − signals in EPR studies, no inhibitory effect in radical scavenging experiments, and the chlorination of MWCNT observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggested that surface reactions involving both surface-bound radicals and direct electron transfer were responsible for 2,4-DCP degradation. Reusability tests showed that the surface sites responsible for surface-bound radical formation were poisoned after PDS activation, while those responsible for direct electron transfer remained active after five cycles. This research provided the first in-depth insights for the dual roles of MWCNT in the PDS activation process. [Display omitted] • MWCNT effectively activated PDS to degrade 2,4-DCP. • Influences of PDS concentration, MWCNT loading and pH were investigated. • Surface-bound radicals and direct electron transfer were important. • Activation site for surface-bound radical formation was poisoned. • Direct electron transfer persisted after several cycles of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the field of proteomics, protein hierarchies based on sequence analysis have been extensively applied to automate the annotations of new proteins and facilitate the discovery and analysis of protein families. However, the presence of ambiguous similarities in large databases increases the difficulty of delivering protein family hierarchies with favorable sensitivity and specificity. This work develops the HomoClust algorithm that exploits the homogeneity of protein sequences in generating protein family hierarchies. HomoClust improves the clustering quality of traditional hierarchical clustering algorithms by adopting different clustering mechanisms for different levels of sequence similarity. With considering homogeneity detection during clustering process, HomoClust increases the sensitivity of protein clusters without a drop in high specificity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As the sizes of many contemporary databases continue to grow rapidly, incremental clustering has emerged as an essential issue for conducting data analysis on contemporary databases. An incremental clustering algorithm refers to an abstraction of the distribution of the data instances generated by the previous run of the algorithm and therefore is able to cope well with the ever-growing contemporary databases. There are two main challenges in the design of incremental clustering algorithms. The first challenge is how to reduce information loss due to the data abstraction (or summarization) operations. The second challenge is that the clustering result should not be sensitive to the order of input data. This paper presents the GRIN algorithm, an incremental hierarchical clustering algorithm for numerical datasets based on the gravity theory in physics. In the design of GRIN, a statistical test aimed at reducing information loss and distortion is employed to control formation of subclusters as well as to monitor the evolution of the dataset. Due to the statistical test-based summarization approach, GRIN is able to achieve near linear scalability and is not sensitive to input ordering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we propose a technique that reconstructs high-resolution images with improved super-resolution algorithms, based on Irani and Peleg iterative method, and employs our suggested initial interpolation, robust image registration, automatic image selection and image enhancement post-processing. When the target of reconstruction is a moving object with respect to a stationary camera, high-resolution images can still be reconstructed, whereas previous systems only work well when we move the camera and the displacement of the whole scene is the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamondback moth (DBM, Plutella xylostella) is the most significant pest of cruciferous vegetables as they rapidly develop high-level resistance to many insecticides. Monitoring DBM susceptibility and target-site mutation frequency is essential for pest control. In this study, 10 insecticides were tested on 11 field populations. Frequencies of target-site mutations (including para, ace1, Rdl1, RyR1, and nAChRα6 genes) were estimated by pyrosequencing. Insecticides registered after 2007 for DBM control in Taiwan, i.e., spinetoram, chlorantraniliprole, chlorfenapyr, metaflumizone, and flubendiamide, showed >80% mortality toward several populations; Bacillus thurigiensis , emamectin benzoate, and chlorfluazuron showed medium to low efficacy in all populations; and tolfenpyrad and mevinphos were highly ineffective. Susceptibility to insecticides varied substantially among populations: eight out of nine populations were highly susceptible to spinetoram, but only one was susceptible to flubendiamide. Target-site mutations related to organophosphates, pyrethroids, fipronil, and diamides were detected in all populations, but there were few spinosad and spinetoram mutations. Our three-year field study demonstrated rapid efficacy loss for all insecticides tested, particularly for more toxic insecticides. Skipped-generation selection of a field DBM strain to emamectin benzoate, metaflumizone, chlorantraniliprole, and flubendiamide revealed that mortality rates dropped from 60 to 80% to <10% after 6 generations. Next-generation sequencing was performed to identify possible target gene mutations. A resistance management program that considers the instability of resistance to some chemicals and pertinent data on resistance mechanisms should be established. Identifying compounds to overcome high-frequency field DBM point mutations could be beneficial for pest control. [Display omitted] • Diamondback moths are known for rapid resistance development to insecticides. • Susceptibility of field populations were tested using cabbage leaf dip bioassays. • Frequency of five target site mutation categories was detected by pyrosequencing. • Our study found rapid efficacy loss in 10 insecticides over a three-year period. • Susceptibility to 10 insecticides varied for field diamondback moth populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falling is a major cause of personal injury and accidental death worldwide, in particular for the elderly. For aged care, a falling alarm system is highly demanded so that medical aid can be obtained immediately when the fall accidents happen. Previous studies on fall detection lacked practical considerations to deal with real-world situations, including the camera's mounting angle, lighting differences between day and night, and the privacy protection for users. In our experiments, IR-depth images and thermal images were used as the input source for fall detection; as a result, detailed facial information is not captured by the system for privacy reasons, and it is invariant to the lighting conditions. Due to the different occurrence rates between fall accidents and other normal activities, supervised learning approaches may suffer from the problem of data imbalance in the training phase. Accordingly, in this study, anomaly detection is performed using unsupervised learning approaches so that the models were trained only with the normal cases while the fall accident was defined as an anomaly event. The proposed system takes sequential frames as the inputs to predict future frames based on a GAN structure, and it provides (1) multi-subject detection, (2) real-time fall detection triggered by motion, (3) a solution to the situation that subjects were occluded after falling, and (4) a denoising scheme for depth images. The experimental results show that the proposed system achieves the state-of-the-art performance and copes with the real-world cases successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-Glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpression is a major mechanism by which cancer cells acquire the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, and is associated with poor clinical outcome in patients. In an effort to develop MDR-reversal agents, we synthesized and evaluated a series of thiophenylbenzofuran derivatives (4 – 31) as P-gp inhibitors, among which compounds 4 , 10, and 14 represented the optimal agent in reversing the MDR phenotype. These P-gp inhibitors were dramatically effective than verapamil in sensitizing the human ABCB1-overexpressing ABCB1 /Flp-In™-293 cells and MDR KBvin cells to a series of chemotherapeutic agents, including vincristine and paclitaxel, as manifested by multi-fold decreases in the respective IC 50 values to therapeutically attainable levels. Image 1 • Thiophenylaminobenzofurans possess effective inhibitory activity of P-glycoprotein. • Thiophenylaminobenzofurans exhibit higher antiproliferative activities. • These compounds reveal stronger reverse resistance as chemosensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuum Fabrication: Efficient Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Solar Cells through Alternative Thousand-Layer Rapid Deposition (Adv. Funct. Keywords: alternative deposition; cesium; perovskite solar cells; vacuum deposition Alternative deposition, cesium, perovskite solar cells, vacuum deposition. [Extracted from the article]