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In the field of medical image fusion, traditional approaches often fail to differentiate between the unique characteristics of each raw image, leading to fused images with compromised texture and structural clarity. Addressing this, we introduce an advanced multi-branch fusion method characterized by contrast-enhanced features and interactive information exchange. This method integrates a multi-scale residual module and a gradient-dense module within a private branch to precisely extract and enrich texture details from individual raw images. In parallel, a common feature extraction branch, equipped with an information interaction module, processes paired raw images to synergistically capture complementary and shared functional information across modalities. Additionally, we implement a sophisticated attention mechanism tailored for both the private and public branches to enhance global feature extraction, thereby significantly improving the contrast and contour definition of the fused image. A novel correlation consistency loss function further refines the fusion process by optimizing the information sharing between modalities, promoting the correlation among basic cross-modal features while minimizing the correlation of high-frequency details across different modalities. Objective evaluations demonstrate substantial improvements in indices such as EN, MI, QMI, SSIM, AG, SF, and Q AB/F , with average increases of 23.67%, 12.35%, 4.22%, 20.81%, 8.96%, 6.38%, and 25.36%, respectively. These results underscore our method’s superiority in achieving enhanced texture detail and contrast in fused images compared to conventional algorithms, as validated by both subjective assessments and objective performance metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore advanced oxidation catalysts, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation by Co-Ni-Mo/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite catalysts was investigated. A compound of NiCo2S4, MoS2, and CNTs was successfully prepared using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. The results revealed that the activation of PMS by Co-Ni-Mo/CNT yielded an exceptional Rhodamine B decolorization efficiency of 99% within 20 min for the Rhodamine B solution. The degradation rate of Co-Ni-Mo/CNT was 4.5 times higher than that of Ni-Mo/CNT or Co-Mo/CNT, and 1.9 times as much than that of Co-Ni/CNT. Additionally, radical quenching experiments revealed that the principal active groups were 1O2, surface-bound SO4•−, and •OH radicals. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited low metal ion leaching and favorable stability. Mechanism studies revealed that Mo4+ on the surface of MoS2 participated in the oxidation of PMS and the transformation of Co3+/Co2+ and Ni3+/Ni2+. The synergism between MoS2 and NiCo2S4 reduces the charge transfer resistance between the catalyst and solution interface, thus accelerating the reaction rate. Interconnected structures composed of metal sulfides and CNTs can also enhance the electron transfer process and afford sufficient active reaction sites. Our work provides a further understanding of the design of multi-metal sulfides for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared and visible image fusion can generate a fusion image with clear texture and prominent goals under extreme conditions. This capability is important for all-day climate detection and other tasks. However, most existing fusion methods for extracting features from infrared and visible images are based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These methods often fail to make full use of the salient objects and texture features in the raw image, leading to problems such as insufficient texture details and low contrast in the fused images. To this end, we propose an unsupervised end-to-end Fusion Decomposition Network (FDNet) for infrared and visible image fusion. Firstly, we construct a fusion network that extracts gradient and intensity information from raw images, using multi-scale layers, depthwise separable convolution, and improved convolution block attention module (I-CBAM). Secondly, as the FDNet network is based on the gradient and intensity information of the image for feature extraction, gradient and intensity loss are designed accordingly. Intensity loss adopts the improved Frobenius norm to adjust the weighing values between the fused image and the two raw to select more effective information. The gradient loss introduces an adaptive weight block that determines the optimized objective based on the richness of texture information at the pixel scale, ultimately guiding the fused image to generate more abundant texture information. Finally, we design a single and dual channel convolutional layer decomposition network, which keeps the decomposed image as possible with the input raw image, forcing the fused image to contain richer detail information. Compared with various other representative image fusion methods, our proposed method not only has good subjective vision, but also achieves advanced fusion performance in objective evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration and remoteness of mobile terminals, as well as local area network-based office issues, have basically been solved, that is, a solution established on the basis of a cloud service collaborative platform, which can be implemented between various service systems. Each place enters the office system at all times to process related business, which improves the overall efficiency of our company's collaboration, and each information management system is no longer an information island. Technically, this article provides the possibility for the implementation of the system, and analyzes in detail the business requirements, performance requirements and functional modules of the system. In addition, it briefly introduces the requirements for the key technical means used. The system designed in this paper can effectively process a large amount of data and improve the operation efficiency of the system by separating the front-end management and back-end management. More importantly, the collaborative office platform designed by this system increases the sharing degree of information to the maximum, which can effectively reduce useless work, maximize work efficiency, and stimulate the enthusiasm of workers. At the same time, the operating costs of the system are reduced. It realizes the integration of information processing of data and efficient management of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia and urinary incontinence (UI) are etiologically complex clinical syndromes. Dementia and UI often occur in the same individuals, but underlying factors connecting them are incompletely understood. Objective: Query data from a community-based autopsy series to assess pathologies that underlie UI. Methods: Included research subjects came to autopsy from the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center longitudinal cohort. A total of 368 research volunteers met inclusion criteria for this cross-sectional study. The average age at death was 85.3 years and the average number of annual clinic visits was 5.2 visits. Statistical models were run to evaluate which pathologies were associated with UI. Data included pathologies scored according to conventional stage-based systems, and these studies were complemented by quantitative digital neuropathology. Results: Dementia was diagnosed at the final clinical visit in 208 (56.7% of the sample) and UI was documented in 156 (42.7%). UI was associated with depression and dementia (both p < 0.001). More women than men had a history of UI (p < 0.04), and women with UI had had more biological children than those without UI (p < 0.005). Participants with limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic changes (LATE-NC) were more likely to have UI than those without LATE-NC (p < 0.001). The presence of LATE-NC (Stage > 1) was associated with UI with or without severe Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic changes and/or Lewy body pathology. Conclusion: In this community-based autopsy cohort, multiple factors were associated with UI, but the neuropathologic change most robustly associated with UI was LATE-NC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconductors (HTSC) such as the cuprate superconductors and the iron-based superconductors belong to the class of "correlated materials", in which strong electron correlations play essential roles. Collective mode excitation X-ray absorption generally becomes the strongest when the X-ray energy is tuned to just above the absorption threshold, where the excited electron does not have enough energy to propagate in the conduction band and to excite an electron-hole pair, as shown in Figure 3. Electron-hole pair excitation In path (1) of the RIXS process, the energy of the electron excited into the conduction band changes with the energy of the incident X-ray while the energy of the emitted X-ray basically does not change with the incident X-ray energy. The collective mode excitation appears as Raman signals, for which the energy loss I i I SB i sb i - I SB f sb i remains unchanged when the incident X-ray energy is varied near the absorption peak. [Extracted from the article]

Chromosome 4p deletions can lead to two distinct phenotypic outcomes: Wolf-–Hirschhorn syndrome (a terminal deletion at 4p16.3) and less frequently reported proximal interstitial deletions (4p11-p16). Proximal 4p interstitial deletions can result in mild to moderate intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, and a tall thin body habitus. To date, only 35 cases of proximal 4p interstitial deletions have been reported, and only two of these cases have been familial. The critical region for this syndrome has been narrowed down to 4p15.33-15.2, but the underlying causative genes remain unclear. In this study, we report the case of a 3-year-old female with failure to thrive, developmental and motor delays, and morphological features. The mother also had a 4p15.2-p14 deletion, and the proband was found to have a 13.4-Mb 4p15.2-p14 deletion by chromosome microarray analysis. The deleted region encompasses 16 genes, five of which have a high likelihood of contributing to the phenotype: PPARGC1A, DHX15, RBPJ, STIM2, and PCDH7. These findings suggest that multiple genes are involved in this rare proximal 4p interstitial deletion syndrome. This case highlights the need for healthcare providers to be aware of proximal 4p interstitial deletions and the potential phenotypic manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the correlation between electrochemical performance and physicochemical properties, three types of 1D WO3 nanostructures were fabricated by hydrothermal method using K2SO4, Na2SO4, and (NH4)2SO4 as capping agents. Hexagonal phase was obtained with the assistant of Na2SO4 and (NH4)2SO4, while monoclinic phase was developed using K2SO4 as agent. WO3 nanostructures prepared by (NH4)2SO4 and Na2SO4 exhibited superior specific capacitance (400 F/g and 388 F/g) relative to WO3 prepared by K2SO4 (259 F/g), suggesting hexagonal phase is more suitable for energy storage. The nanostructures prepared using Na2SO4 exhibited inferior rate performance compared with those obtained by (NH4)2SO4 due to low specific surface area and high crystallinity. The electrochemical performance demonstrated nanostructures prepared by (NH4)2SO4 was surface-controlled whereas those using Na2SO4 and K2SO4 were battery-type material. These findings raise the prospects of developing tungsten oxide for energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Molecular tweezers (MTs) are broad-spectrum inhibitors of abnormal protein aggregation. A lead MT, called CLR01, has been demonstrated to inhibit the aggregation and toxicity of multiple amyloidogenic proteins in vitro and in vivo. Previously, we evaluated the effect of CLR01 in the 3 × Tg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, which overexpresses mutant human presenilin 1, amyloid β-protein precursor, and tau and found that subcutaneous administration of the compound for 1 month led to a robust reduction of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and microgliosis. CLR01 also has been demonstrated to inhibit tau aggregation in vitro and tau seeding in cell culture, yet because in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in the 3 × Tg model, tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation are thought to be downstream of Aβ insults, the study in this model left open the question whether CLR01 affected tau in vivo directly or indirectly. Methods: To determine if CLR01 could ameliorate tau pathology directly in vivo, we tested the compound similarly using the P301S-tau (line PS19) mouse model. Mice were administered 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg per day CLR01 and tested for muscle strength and behavioral deficits, including anxiety- and disinhibition-like behavior. Their brains then were analyzed by immunohistochemical and biochemical assays for pathological forms of tau, neurodegeneration, and glial pathology. Results: CLR01 treatment ameliorated muscle-strength deterioration, anxiety-, and disinhibition-like behavior. Improved phenotype was associated with decreased levels of pathologic tau forms, suggesting that CLR01 exerts a direct effect on tau in vivo. Limitations of the study included a relatively short treatment period of the mice at an age in which full pathology is not yet developed. In addition, high variability in this model lowered the statistical significance of the findings of some outcome measures. Conclusions: The findings suggest that CLR01 is a particularly attractive candidate for the treatment of AD because it targets simultaneously the two major pathogenic proteins instigating and propagating the disease, amyloid β-protein (Aβ), and tau, respectively. In addition, our study suggests that CLR01 can be used for the treatment of other tauopathies in the absence of amyloid pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Molecular tweezers (MTs) are broad-spectrum inhibitors of abnormal protein aggregation. A lead MT, called CLR01, has been demonstrated to inhibit the aggregation and toxicity of multiple amyloidogenic proteins in vitro and in vivo. Previously, we evaluated the effect of CLR01 in the 3 × Tg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, which overexpresses mutant human presenilin 1, amyloid β-protein precursor, and tau and found that subcutaneous administration of the compound for 1 month led to a robust reduction of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and microgliosis. CLR01 also has been demonstrated to inhibit tau aggregation in vitro and tau seeding in cell culture, yet because in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in the 3 × Tg model, tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation are thought to be downstream of Aβ insults, the study in this model left open the question whether CLR01 affected tau in vivo directly or indirectly. Methods: To determine if CLR01 could ameliorate tau pathology directly in vivo, we tested the compound similarly using the P301S-tau (line PS19) mouse model. Mice were administered 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg per day CLR01 and tested for muscle strength and behavioral deficits, including anxiety- and disinhibition-like behavior. Their brains then were analyzed by immunohistochemical and biochemical assays for pathological forms of tau, neurodegeneration, and glial pathology. Results: CLR01 treatment ameliorated muscle-strength deterioration, anxiety-, and disinhibition-like behavior. Improved phenotype was associated with decreased levels of pathologic tau forms, suggesting that CLR01 exerts a direct effect on tau in vivo. Limitations of the study included a relatively short treatment period of the mice at an age in which full pathology is not yet developed. In addition, high variability in this model lowered the statistical significance of the findings of some outcome measures. Conclusions: The findings suggest that CLR01 is a particularly attractive candidate for the treatment of AD because it targets simultaneously the two major pathogenic proteins instigating and propagating the disease, amyloid β-protein (Aβ), and tau, respectively. In addition, our study suggests that CLR01 can be used for the treatment of other tauopathies in the absence of amyloid pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a heterogeneous range of neurodevelopmental conditions represented by symptoms including, communication and language deficits, repetitive, and restricted patterns of behavior and inadequate social interactions. Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is known to mediate I responses in the central nervous system by interacting with GABA signaling receptors. In this context, several recent investigations suggest that imbalances in the GABAergic neurotransmission system may be implicated in the development of ASD as well as several other neurodevelopmental disorders, including Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and Rett syndrome. This review initially expounds the functional role of the GABAergic system in the mature brain and during neurodevelopment. This will be followed by discussions concerning the impact of deficiencies in the system on ASD and the other above‐mentioned neurodevelopment disorders. Finally, the connections between these deficiencies and behavioral features observed in the clinic will be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Various heterocyclic-based derivatives exhibited potential P-gp agents. • Detailed explanation of structure–activity relationships. • Electron-donating groups and electron-withdrawing groups play a key role in increasing P-gp agents. • Rational design and development of various heterocyclic-based derivatives against P-gp agents. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) over-expression is a key factor in multi-drug resistance (MDR), which is a major factor in the failure of cancer treatment. P-gp inhibitors have been demonstrated to have powerful pharmacological properties and may be used as a therapeutic approach to overcome the MDR in cancer cells. Combining clinical investigations with biochemical and computational research may potentially lead to a clearer understanding of the pharmacological properties and the mechanisms of action of these P-gp inhibitors. The task of turning these discoveries into effective therapeutic candidates for a variety of malignancies, including resistant and metastatic kinds, falls on medicinal chemists. A variety of P-gp inhibitors with great potency, high selectivity, and minimal toxicity have been identified in recent years. The latest advances in drug design, characterization, structure–activity relationship (SAR) research, and modes of action of newly synthesized, powerful small molecules P-gp inhibitors over the previous ten years are highlighted in this review. P-gp transporter over-expression has been linked to MDR, therefore the development of P-gp inhibitors will expand our understanding of the processes and functions of P-gp-mediated drug efflux, which will be helpful for drug discovery and clinical cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Hierarchical feather duster-like CNT@WO 3 composite is prepared by solvothermal method. • The WO 3 nanosheet arrays grow vertically on the CNT surface. • The composite shows high specific capacitance and good cycling stability. Abstract In order to develop active material with promising properties for supercapacitor, the feather duster-like CNT@WO 3 composite is synthesized by a facial on-step solvothermal method. The as-prepared material shows the superior electrochemical properties with high specific capacitance (496 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and long-lasting cycle stability (96.3% retention after 8000 cycles at 100 mV s−1) in 0.5 mol L−1 H 2 SO 4 electrolyte. This simple preparation method and superior performance can make significant contribution in the synthesis and future application in energy storage material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The new method described here is highly efficient in transferring microinjected mouse eggs (MEs) through the bursa membrane of a surrogate mother mouse to the ampulla of the oviduct without damaging the blood vessels on the bursa membrane. Results: This method causes no loss of blood, and it produces newborn pups/founders from approximately 70% of the transferred MEs, because only a small hole is made on the blood vessel-free area of the bursa membrane and ampulla of the surrogate mother mouse. The infundibulum remains intact. The small hole on the bursa membrane/ampulla may already heal up before the delivery of the new pups. The method described here consists of a simple operation with a home-assembled drill head holding a self-closing fine forceps on one end, while the drill head assembly body is hooked up with the light housing clamp of a dissecting light microscope. The drill head assembly body can be alternatively hooked/tied up to an appropriate size of clamp (purchased from Home Depot) screwed to any light stand with folding segments. Conclusion: This system is able to steadily hold the self-closing fine forceps without shaking and to let the operator use their two hands to steadily hold and quickly insert the pipet carrying the MEs into the ampulla without any delay. Generally MEs stay alive for approximately 15 min at room temperature. The shorter the insertion time is, the more MEs that will survive. Thus, this method may produces more pups/founders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which reported magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements that demonstrated the existence of a surface-step-induced in-plane magnetic anisotropy in ultra thin epitaxial iron films. Results of the magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements; Approaches used in surface magnetization analysis; Direction of remnant magnetization in flat and stepped film systems; Analysis of the magnetic anisotropy and domain structure of ultra thin cobalt films on stepped copper surfaces.

The total emission control target of water pollutants (e.g., COD and NH 4 –N) for a certain industrial sector can be predicted and analysed using the popular technology-based bottom-up modelling. However, this methodology has obvious uncertainty regarding the attainment of mitigation targets. The primary uncertainty comes from macro-production, pollutant reduction roadmap, and technical parameters. This research takes the paper and pulp industry in China as an example, and builds 5 mitigation scenarios via different combinations of raw material structure, scale structure, procedure mitigation technology, and end-of-pipe treatment technology. Using the methodology of uncertainty analysis via Monte Carlo, random sampling was conducted over a hundred thousand times. According to key parameters, sensitive parameters that impact total emission control targets such as industrial output, technique structure, cleaner production technology, and end-of-pipe treatment technology are discussed in this article. It appears that scenario uncertainty has a larger influence on COD emission than NH 4 –N, hence it is recommended that a looser total emission control target for COD is necessary to increase its feasibility and availability while maintaining the status quo of NH 4 –N. Consequently, from uncertainty analysis, this research recognizes the sensitive products, techniques, and technologies affecting industrial water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of CNT@TiO 2 biomimetic composites with needle-leaved (NL) and broad-leaved (BL) trees morphology were synthesized respectively by a simple one-step solvothermal method for the first time. The TiO 2 leaves located on CNT stems act as active sites for photocatalysis. The method allows one to prepare the composites with distinguish morphology of TiO 2 leaves by adjusting the mass ratio of CNT and TiO 2 . In the photodegradation test of methylene orange, the reaction rate up to eightfold increment was observed with both the biomimetic composites compared to bare TiO 2 . The improved photocatalytic activity could be owed to two aspects, namely the enhanced light trapping and scattering ability benefited from large specific area and the direct transport pathway for electrons conducted by CNT, which all derive from the advantages of the unique tree-like structure. This work presents a new strategy to synthesize hetero-photocatalysts with maximized light-harvesting efficiency and low electron hole recombination rate concurrently. These results demonstrate the great potential of biomemic composites and would stimulate further research in photocatalysis and related areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work designs a class of biocompatible PEG-chitosan@CDs hybrid nanogels by integrating nonlinear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), chitosan, and graphitic carbon dots (CDs) into a single nanoparticle for two-photon fluorescence (TPF) bioimaging, pH and near-infrared (NIR) light dual-responsive drug release, and synergistic therapy. Such hybrid nanogels can be simply prepared from a one-pot surfactant-free precipitation polymerization of the PEG macromonomers complexed with chitosan and CDs in water, resulting in a semi-interpenetration of chitosan chains and an immobilization of CDs in the nonlinear PEG networks. The embedded CDs in hybrid nanogels not only serve as an excellent confocal and TPF imaging contrast agent and fluorescent pH-sensing probe, but also enhance the loading capacity of the hybrid nanogels for hydrophobic anticancer drug. The chitosan can induce a pH-sensitive swelling/deswelling of the hybrid nanogels for pH-regulated drug release over the physiologically important range of 5.0-7.4 and surface modulation of embedded CDs to realize fluorescent pH sensing. The thermosensitive nonlinear PEG network can promote the drug release through the local heat produced by the embedded CDs under NIR irradiation. The in vitro results indicate that the hybrid nanogels demonstrated high therapeutic efficacy through the synergistic effect of combined chemo-photothermal treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mood stabilizers lithium and valproates are widely used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It has been shown that these drugs can affect the inositol monophosphatase activity and thus the inositol de novo biosynthesis. However, the molecular mechanism of this action has thus far been vague. As such, characterizing the regulation of the gene encoding inositol monophosphatase at the molecular level can help to understand the bipolar disorder. As the model organism, the inositol monophosphatase is encoded by INM1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we showed, using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis, that INM1 is expressed in the presence of inositol, suggesting that the presence of inositol is required for INM1 transcriptional activation. We also demonstrated, using chromatin immunoprecipitation, that Ino2p is present at the promoter under uninduced conditions. Upon induction, Ino2p dissociates from the INM1 promoter. Furthermore, chromatin remodelers Ino80p and Snf2p are recruited to INM1 promoter upon induction as well as histone acetylases Gcn5p and Esa1p. Altogether, we have provided the evidence which describes how the transcriptional activator and coactivators participate in INM1 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the gender and socioeconomic disparities in the global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to glomerulonephritis from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Data were extracted from the global burden of diseases (GBD) 2019 study, including incidence, prevalence and disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs). Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify the temporal trends in age‐standardized rate (ASR) of CKD due to glomerulonephritis. Paired t‐test, paired Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and Spearman correlation were performed to analyse the association and gender disparity in CKD due to glomerulonephritis. Results: Globally, incident cases of CKD due to glomerulonephritis increased 81% from 9 557 397 in 1990 to 17 308 071 in 2019. The age‐standardized incidence rate increased by 1.47 compared with 1990 and DALYs increased by 1.35 compared with 1990 (per 100 000). The number of patients with CKD due to glomerulonephritis in low‐middle SDI (3829917) and middle SDI (6268817) regions accounts for more than 55% of the total cases. CKD due to glomerulonephritis caused a higher burden including the incidence rate (p <.0001) and DALY rate (p <.0001) in men compared to women. The age‐standardized DALY rate was negatively correlated with SDI (ρ = −0.64, p <.001). In the analysis of risk factors for DALYs, male individuals had a larger burden of hypertension, high BMI and high sodium diet in the DALY rates than female subjects. Conclusion: The burden of CKD due to glomerulonephritis was more skewed towards developing and less developed economies and differed by gender, so certain nations should implement far more focused and targeted policies. Summary at a Glance: We examined the gender and socioeconomic disparities in the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to glomerulonephritis. A higher burden, including the incidence and DALY rate, was observed in men compared to women. The burden of CKD due to glomerulonephritis was more skewed towards developing and less developed economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the three decades since the feasibility study for the establishment of the Taiwan Light Source (TLS) in 1981, the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) has evolved into a well-known light source facility. With rapid advances in the international scientific community, as well as increasing demands for bright X-rays from users to facilitate their challenging scientific experiments, a point was reached at which the construction of a new synchrotron facility was vital to ensuring that NSRRC remained globally competitive. After conducting numerous assessments with our users, the decision to construct the Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) was made at a board meeting held in July 2004. This large-scale project will establish, at the current campus of NSRRC, a new, low-emittance, synchrotron light source of circumference 518 m and with an electron beam of energy 3 GeV. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Backgroud: Supernatants from various cytological samples, including body cavity effusion, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and needle aspiration, have been validated for detecting genetic alterations using cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the sensitivity of fusion variations detection remains challenging. The protection of cell‐free RNA (cfRNA) is critical for resolving the issue. Methods: A protective solution (PS) was applied for preserving cfRNA in cytological supernatant (CS), and the quality of protected cfRNA was assessed by cycle threshold (CT) values from reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Furthermore, we collected an additional set of malignant cytological and matched tumor samples from 84 NSCLC patients, cfDNA & cfRNA extraction and double detection for driver gene mutations was validated using the multi‐gene mutations detection by RT‐qPCR. Results: Under the optimal protection system, 91.0% (101/111) of cfRNA were protected effectively. Among the 84 NSCLC patient samples, seven cytological samples failed the tests. In comparison with tumor samples, the overall sensitivity and specificity of detecting driver genes of supernatant cfDNA and cfRNA were 93.8% (74/77) and 100% (77/77), respectively. Notably, when focusing exclusively on patients with fusion gene changes, both sensitivity and specificity reached 100% (11/11) for EML4‐ALK, ROS1, RET fusions, and MET ex14 skipping. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cfDNA & cfRNA extraction and double detection strategy recommended in this study improve the accuracy of driver genes mutations test, especially for RNA‐based assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Environmental agent aluminum, a well-known neurotoxin, has been proposed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer''s disease (AD), and produced clinical and pathological features which were strikingly similar to those seen in AD brain, such as neurofibrillary tangles. Ginsenoside Rb1, highly abundant active component of ginseng, has been demonstrated to be neuroprotective against various neurotoxins. In this study we investigated the effect of Rb1 on aluminum-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in ICR mice. Mice were exposed to aluminum chloride (200mg/kg/day) for 6 months followed by a post treatment of Rb1 (20mg/kg/day) for another 4 months. Aluminum exposure induced the cognitive ability by Morris water maze, and upregulated the tau phosphorylation level at Ser396 accompanied by increasing p-GSK and decreasing PP2A level in motor, sensory cortex and hippocampal formation. Post treatment of Rb1 significantly improved the learning and memory and reduced the tau phosphorylation by reversing the p-GSK3 and PP2A level. Our results indicate that ginsenoside Rb1 protected mice against Al-induced toxicity. The possible mechanism may be its role in preventing tau hyperphosphorylation by regulating p-GSK3 and PP2A level, which implicate Rb1 as the potential preventive drug candidate for AD and other tau pathology-related neuronal degenerative diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Rho-kinase inhibitor on the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, invasion and migration of NCI-H446 small cell lung cancer cells and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process. After treatment to NCI-H446 small cell lung cancer cells with Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, cell biological behaviors were observed. Matrix metalloproteinase activity and Western blot assay were used to evaluate underlying molecular mechanisms. The IC50 of Fasudil to NCI-H446 small cell lung cancer cells was approximately 0.86mg/ml (95% confidence limits: 0.65–1.17mg/ml). After treatment with 0.75mg/ml Fasudil, the ability of NCI-H446 small cell lung cancer cells, including growth, proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion were decreased, while their apoptosis was increased significantly. On the molecular level, the total amounts of active MMP2 and MMP9 were decreased about 20.5% (P <0.05) and 57.5% (P <0.01) respectively. Myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 phosphorylation (P-MYPT1) was reduced by 27.9% (P <0.05). The activation of caspase-3, and PARP cleavage in experimental group were significantly higher than those in normal control group (P <0.01). Meanwhile, treatment with Fasudil led to a remarkable reduction of the phosphorylated STAT3 (P-STAT3) (P <0.01). Taken together, our findings show that Fasudil prevents the growth, metastasis and induces apoptosis of NCI-H446 small cell lung cancer cells by inhibiting the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway. Changes in MMP2, MMP9, P-MYPT1, caspase-3, PARP cleavage and P-STAT3 may be one of its molecular mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple method based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using a gold electrode modified with folic acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles was used to detect folate receptor-rich HeLa cells with high sensitivity. The electrochemical impedance of the cytosensor was linear in two concentration ranges of HeLa cells, ranging from 6×100 to 1×103 and 1×103 to 1×105 cellsmL−1. The detection limit for HeLa cells was 6cellsmL−1. This method could be significant for future applications in early stage cancer diagnosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A composite of samarium doped ceria (SDC) and a binary carbonate eutectic (52mol% Li2CO3/48mol% Na2CO3) is investigated with respect to its morphology, conductivity and fuel cell performances. The morphology study shows the composition could prevent SDC particles from agglomeration. The conductivity is measured under air, argon and hydrogen, respectively. A sharp increase in conductivity occurs under all the atmospheres, which relates to the superionic phase transition in the interface phases between SDC and carbonates. Single cells with the composite electrolyte are fabricated by a uniaxial die-press method using NiO/electrolyte as anode and lithiated NiO/electrolyte as cathode. The cell shows a maximum power density of 590mWcm−2 at 600°C, using hydrogen as the fuel and air as the oxidant. Unlike that of cells based on pure oxygen ionic conductor or pure protonic conductor, the open circuit voltage of the SDC–carbonate based fuel cell decreases with an increase in water content of either anodic or cathodic inlet gas, indicating the electrolyte is a co-ionic (H+/O2−) conductor. The results also exhibit that oxygen ionic conductivity contributes to the major part of the whole conductivity under fuel cell circumstances. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Cell performance was increased by Co2+ doping and weak magnetic field action. • 10% Co replaces Pb to form shorter Pb(Co) I bond, stabilizing [Pb(Co)I 6 ]4-. • Weak magnetic field action shortens Pb(Co)-I distance, firming [Pb(Co)I 6 ]4-. • Co2+ passivates traps to suppress charge recombination and promote charge transfer. • Weak magnetic field action may inhibit ion migration to further reduce trap states. Weak magnetic field not only shortens Pb(Co) I bond length, stabilizing perovskite structure, but also inhibits ion migration, improving cell efficiency. [Display omitted] To improve the cell performance, CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 film prepared via a two-step method in air was modified by Co2+ doping and magnetic field action. Effects of Co2+ doping and magnetic field strength on film properties and cell performance were investigated. Possible influence mechanisms of Co2+ doping and magnetic field strength on perovskite structure, film properties and cell performance were studied. Results show that Pb in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 was partially replaced by 10% Co, and Co2+ doped device exhibits ameliorative stabilities and efficiency compared with undoped one due to the more stable [Pb(Co)I 6 ]4- octahedron structure and the suppression of ion migration, respectively. Then, weak magnetic field action furtherly improves stability and efficiency of CH 3 NH 3 Pb 0.9 Co 0.1 I 3 based cell by furtherly stabilizing [Pb(Co)I 6 ]4- octahedron structure and inhibiting ion migration, separately. This work has proposed a novel theory for magnetic field action influencing the performance of magnetic ions doped perovskite solar cells and offered a new idea for preparing cells with improved performance, which is helpful to facilitate the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Composite electrolytes made of samarium-doped cerium oxide and a mixture of lithium carbonate and sodium carbonate salts are investigated with respect to their structure, morphology and ionic conductivity. The composite electrolytes are considered promising for use in so called intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC), operating at 400–600°C. The electrolytes are tested in both gaseous anode (reducing) and cathode (oxidising) environments and at different humidities and carbon dioxide partial pressures. For the structure and morphology measurements, it was concluded that no changes occur to the materials after usage. From measurements of melting energies, it was concluded that the melting point of the carbonate salt phase decreases with decreasing fraction of carbonate salt and that a partial melting occurs before the bulk melting point of the salt is reached. For all the composites, two regions may be observed for the conductivity, one below the carbonate salt melting point and one above the melting point. The conductivity is higher when electrolytes are tested in anode gas than when tested in cathode gas, at least for electrolytes with less than half the volume fraction consisting of carbonate salt. The higher the content of carbonate salt phase, the higher the conductivity of the composite for the temperature region above the carbonate melting point. Below the melting point, though, the conductivity does not follow this trend. Calculations on activation energies for the conductivity show no trend or value that indicates a certain transport mechanism for ion transport, either when changing between the different composites or between different gas environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term environmental stability are two critical factors for the development of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, blends of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) have been added to improve the quality of perovskite film, stabilize perovskite crystal structure, and enhance the efficiency and air stability of PSCs. The device modified by 1.5 wt%PVP/0.5 wt%PVA shows a 28.3% increasement of PCE compared to that of the pristine one. Most importantly, the unencapsulated device retains over 82.2% of its initial efficiency even after 30 days in an atmospheric environment with 70% relative humidity. Furthermore, the effect mechanisms of PVP/PVA blends on the properties of Cs 0.2 FA 0.3 MA 0.5 Pb(I 0.85 Br 0.15) 3 film and the performance of corresponding solar cell were clarified. For one thing, the interactions between O atoms of C O in PVP and the incomplete coordinated Pb in Cs 0.2 FA 0.3 MA 0.5 Pb(I 0.85 Br 0.15) 3 passivate the defects in perovskite. For another thing, the hydrogen bonds between O atoms of OH in PVA, and H atoms of MA (CH 3 NH 3 +) and FA (CH(NH 2) 2 +) in Cs 0.2 FA 0.3 MA 0.5 Pb(I 0.85 Br 0.15) 3 stabilize the perovskite structure. Such synergistic effect between PVP/PVA blends and Cs 0.2 FA 0.3 MA 0.5 Pb(I 0.85 Br 0.15) 3 perovskite effectively optimized the quality of perovskite film and stabilized perovskite film, ultimately improving the device performance. Our study provides a useful way to simultaneously improve the efficiency and stability of lead halide PSCs, and supplies a profitable reference for their commercialization. [Display omitted] • Perovskite film was modified by PVP/PVA blends via sequential deposition method. • The PCE of PSC improved 28.3% after 1.5 wt%PVP/0.5 wt%PVA blends modification. • PSC with 1.5 wt%PVP/0.5 wt%PVA kept 82.2% of its initial PCE after 30 days in air. • Interaction between PVP/PVA and perovskite improves film quality and stability. • Synergistic effect between PVP/PVA and perovskite improves cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) takes advantage of greenhouse gases (CH 4 and CO 2) and mitigates their eco-environmental consequences. However, the biggest obstacle for DRM reactions has been the design of catalysts with high resistance to sintering and carbon deposition. In this paper, the embedded bimetallic nickel-cobalt@ silicalite-1 (S1) catalysts (NiCo@S1), with high resistance to sintering and lower carbon deposition, were prepared by grinding crystallization method. The physicochemical characterizations demonstrated that the embedded catalyst for NiCo@S1 could effectively control the size and dispersion of the active metal Ni–Co in the catalyst compared to the supported catalysts for 10Ni/SiO 2 and 10Ni/S1, which further enhance the interaction between the active metal phase and the carrier S1, and greatly minimize the amount of carbon accumulation on the catalysts. After being subjected to a reaction at 700 °C for 6 h, the 10Ni2.5Co@S1 exhibited a significant performance improvement. The instantaneous conversion rate of CH 4 increased from 63.17% to 86.39% (an increase of 23.22%), and the instantaneous conversion rate of CO 2 rose from 70.20% to 88.62% (an increase of 18.42%). Additionally, carbon deposition reduced from 14.58% to 0.82% (a decrease of 13.76%). Therefore, the conceptual design provided a new perspective for designing Ni-based dry reforming catalysts. • An industry-friendly grinding crystallization method has been introduced. • The grinding crystallization method can effectively promote the dispersion of active components、enhance metal-support interaction and prevent the migration of metal nanoparticles and their agglomeration, avoiding sintering, and thus reducing carbon deposition. • 10Ni2.5Co@S1 catalyst showed excellent performance in dry reforming of methane reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified Rice University-type compact Mott spin polarimeter operating at 20 kV is adapted to a large commerical hemispherical electron energy analyzer. Normal energy analyzer functions are preserved via a retractable channeltron in the polarimeter acceleration column. In the spin-detection mode, the polarimeter permits analysis of two orthogonal transverse spin-polarization components. Electron trajectory analysis is used to optimize polarimeter lens column voltages in both normal and spin-detection modes. Performance levels are established by experiments and significantly improved spin-detection efficiency is shown to be accessible by changes in the polarimeter collection solid angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mitochondrial dysfunction, a characteristic pathological feature of renal Ischemic/reperfusion injury (I/RI), predisposes tubular epithelial cells to maintain an inflammatory microenvironment, however, the exact mechanisms through which mitochondrial dysfunction modulates the induction of tubular injury remains incompletely understood. Methods: ESI‐QTRAP‐MS/MS approach was used to characterize the targeted metabolic profiling of kidney with I/RI. Tubule injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, and fumarate level were evaluated using qPCR, transmission electron microscopy, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Results: We demonstrated that tubule injury occurred at the phase of reperfusion in murine model of I/RI. Meanwhile, enhanced glycolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction were found to be associated with tubule injury. Further, we found that tubular fumarate, which resulted from fumarate hydratase deficiency and released from dysfunctional mitochondria, promoted tubular injury. Mechanistically, fumarate induced tubular injury by causing disturbance of glutathione (GSH) hemostasis. Suppression of GSH with buthionine sulphoximine administration could deteriorate the fumarate inhibition‐mediated tubule injury recovery. Reactive oxygen species/NF‐κB signaling activation played a vital role in fumarate‐mediated tubule injury. Conclusion: Our studies demonstrated that the mitochondrial‐derived fumarate promotes tubular epithelial cell injury in renal I/RI. Blockade of fumarate‐mediated ROS/NF‐κB signaling activation may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to ameliorate hypoxic tubule injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Repeated failure of drug candidates targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD) in clinical trials likely stems from a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis. Recent research has highlighted synergistic interactions between aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins in AD, but the molecular details of how these interactions drive AD pathology remain elusive and speculative. Methods: Here, we test the hypothesis that Aβ potentiates intracellular tau aggregation, and show that oligomeric Aβ specifically exacerbates proteopathic seeding by tau. Using tau-biosensor cells, we show that treatment with sub-toxic concentrations of Aβ oligomers, but not monomers or fibrils, "primes" cells, making them more susceptible to tau seeding. The treatment with Aβ oligomers enhances intracellular tau aggregation in a dose-dependent manner when the cells are seeded with either recombinant or brain-derived tau fibrils, whereas little or no aggregation is observed in the absence of Aβ-oligomer priming. Results: Priming by Aβ oligomers appears to be specific to tau, as α-synuclein seeding is unaffected by this treatment. Aβ oligomer-enhanced tau seeding also occurs in primary mouse neurons and human neuroblastoma cells. Using fluorescently labeled tau seeds, we find that treatment with Aβ oligomers significantly enhances the cellular uptake of tau seeds, whereas a known tau-uptake inhibitor blocks the effect of Aβ on tau uptake. Conclusion: The ability of Aβ to promote tau seeding suggests a specific and plausible mechanism by which extracellular Aβ initiates a deleterious cascade that is unique to AD. These data suggest that the Aβ-mediated potentiation of tau uptake into cells should also be taken into account when designing Aβ-targeted therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Existing therapies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are efficacious only in certain patients. Developing new treatment methods is urgent. This meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low‐dose IL‐2 (LD‐IL‐2). Methods: According to published data from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, MEDLINE, MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Library, and FDA.gov, eight trials were included. Results: After the LD‐IL‐2 treatment, 54.8% of patients had distinct clinical remission. The SRI‐4 response rates were 0.819 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.745–0.894), and the SELENA‐SLEDAI scores were significantly decreased (SMD = −2.109, 95% CI: [−3.271, −0.947], p <.001). Besides, the proportions of CD4+ T (SMD = 0.614, 95% CI: [0.250, 0.979], p =.001) and Treg cells (SMD = 1.096, 95% CI: [0.544, 1.649], p <.001) were increased dramatically after LD‐IL‐2 treatment, while there were no statistical differences in the proportions of CD8+ T cells, Th1 cells, Th2 cells, and Th17 cells (p >.05). Besides, the proportions of Th17 (SMD = 1.121, 95% CI: [0.709, 1.533], p <.001) and Treg (SMD = 0.655, 95% CI: [0.273, 1.038], p =.001) were significantly increased after receiving subcutaneously 0.5 million IU of LD‐IL‐2 treatment per day for 5 days, but there were no statistical differences in the proportions of Treg after receiving 1 million IU every other day subcutaneously of LD‐IL‐2 treatment. Injection site reaction and fever were common side effects of IL‐2, which occurred in 33.1% and 14.4% of patients. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: LD‐IL‐2 was promising and well‐tolerated in treating SLE, which could promote Treg's proliferation and functional recovery. Injecting 0.5 million IU of IL‐2 daily can better induce the differentiation of Treg cells and maintain immune homeostasis than injecting 1 million IU every other day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SWC-TPS Workshop of Synchrotron-Based X-ray Spectroscopies on Energy Materials took place November 15–17, 2016, on the Dushu Lake Campus of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. The workshop was co-organized by the Soochow University–Western University Centre for Synchrotron Radiation Research (SWC or the Centre) and Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the memory disorders and global cognitive impairment that accompany neurodegenerative diseases, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) commonly impair quality of life and complicate clinical management. To investigate clinical-pathological correlations of BPSD, we analyzed data from autopsied participants from the community-based University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center longitudinal cohort (n = 368 research volunteers met inclusion criteria, average age at death 85.4 years). Data assessing BPSD were obtained approximately annually, including parameters for agitation, anxiety, apathy, appetite problems, delusions, depression, disinhibition, hallucinations, motor disturbance, and irritability. Each BPSD was scored on a severity scale (0–3) via the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q). Further, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)-Global and -Language evaluations (also scored on 0–3 scales) were used to indicate the degree of global cognitive and language impairment. The NPI-Q and CDR ratings were correlated with neuropathology findings at autopsy: Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes (ADNC), neocortical and amygdala-only Lewy bodies (LBs), limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic changes (LATE-NC), primary age-related tauopathy (PART), hippocampal sclerosis, and cerebrovascular pathologies. Combinations of pathologies included the quadruple misfolding proteinopathy (QMP) phenotype with co-occurring ADNC, neocortical LBs, and LATE-NC. Statistical models were used to estimate the associations between BPSD subtypes and pathologic patterns. Individuals with severe ADNC (particularly those with Braak NFT stage VI) had more BPSD, and the QMP phenotype was associated with the highest mean number of BPSD symptoms: > 8 different BPSD subtypes per individual. Disinhibition and language problems were common in persons with severe ADNC but were not specific to any pathology. "Pure" LATE-NC was associated with global cognitive impairment, apathy, and motor disturbance, but again, these were not specific associations. In summary, Braak NFT stage VI ADNC was strongly associated with BPSD, but no tested BPSD subtype was a robust indicator of any particular "pure" or mixed pathological combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss a method to perform dissipation-assisted quantum state manipulation in a cavity. We show that atomic spontaneous emission and cavity decay might be exploited to drive many atoms into many-body steady-state entanglement. Our protocol offers a dramatic improvement in fidelity when noise strength increases. Moreover, the dephasing noise is suppressed effectively by showing that high-fidelity target state can be obtained in a dissipative environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated whether radiomic features extracted from planning computed tomography (CT) scans predict clinical end points in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. Population: Two hundred and fifty-seven LACC patients who were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy from 2014 to 2017. Methods: Patients were allocated into the training/validation sets (3:1 ratio) using proportional random sampling, resulting in the same proportion of groups in the two sets. We extracted 254 radiomic features from each of the gross target volume, pelvis and sacral vertebrae. The sequentially backward elimination support vector machine algorithm was used for feature selection and end point prediction. Main outcomes and measures: Clinical end points include tumour complete response (CR), 5-year overall survival (OS), anaemia, and leucopenia. Results: A combination of ten clinicopathological parameters and 34 radiomic features performed best for predicting CR (validation balanced accuracy: 80.8%). The validation balanced accuracy of 54 radiomic features was 85.8% for OS, and their scores can stratify patients into the low-risk and high-risk groups (5-year OS: 95.5% versus 36.4%, p < 0.001). The clinical and radiomic models were also predictive of anaemia and leucopenia (validation balanced accuracies: 71.0% and 69.9%). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that combining clinicopathological parameters with CT-based radiomics may have value for predicting clinical end points in LACC. If validated, this model may guide therapeutic strategy to optimise the effectiveness and minimise toxicity or treatment for LACC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Safety and Effectiveness of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Replacement in Postoperative Craniopharyngioma Children" by Zhang-qian Zheng is presented.

The strong selective adsorption property of monoclinic tungsten trioxide nanowires (WONWs) towards organic dyes was reported in this paper. The effects of pH, initial concentration and types of dyes were systematically investigated. Particularly, methylene blue (MB) was more inclined to be adsorbed in acid solution and a maximum uptake capacity of 148.6 mg g was achieved. 88 % of MB can be rapidly adsorbed within 70 min. The kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics for the adsorption of MB and methyl orange (MO) were well described. The kinetic adsorption on WONWs followed a pseudo second-order model ( R = 0.998) and the Langmuir isotherm ( R = 0.992) agreed very well with the experimental data. The negative values of Δ G at various temperatures (−5.656, −5.792, and −5.946 kJ mol) and Δ H (−1.343 kJ mol) implied that the adsorption reaction was spontaneous and exothermic. Specific surface area (864.153 m g) and surface acidic groups of WONWs enabled excellent adsorption performance. A highly selective adsorption mechanism involving the electrostatic interaction between hydroxyls on the WONWs' surfaces and different dye molecules was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) and Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) are each associated with substantial cognitive impairment in aging populations. However, the prevalence of LATE-NC across the full range of ADNC remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, neuropathologic, genetic, and clinical data were compiled from 13 high-quality community- and population-based longitudinal studies. Participants were recruited from United States (8 cohorts, including one focusing on Japanese–American men), United Kingdom (2 cohorts), Brazil, Austria, and Finland. The total number of participants included was 6196, and the average age of death was 88.1 years. Not all data were available on each individual and there were differences between the cohorts in study designs and the amount of missing data. Among those with known cognitive status before death (n = 5665), 43.0% were cognitively normal, 14.9% had MCI, and 42.4% had dementia—broadly consistent with epidemiologic data in this age group. Approximately 99% of participants (n = 6125) had available CERAD neuritic amyloid plaque score data. In this subsample, 39.4% had autopsy-confirmed LATE-NC of any stage. Among brains with "frequent" neuritic amyloid plaques, 54.9% had comorbid LATE-NC, whereas in brains with no detected neuritic amyloid plaques, 27.0% had LATE-NC. Data on LATE-NC stages were available for 3803 participants, of which 25% had LATE-NC stage > 1 (associated with cognitive impairment). In the subset of individuals with Thal Aβ phase = 0 (lacking detectable Aβ plaques), the brains with LATE-NC had relatively more severe primary age-related tauopathy (PART). A total of 3267 participants had available clinical data relevant to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and none were given the clinical diagnosis of definite FTD nor the pathological diagnosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions (FTLD-TDP). In the 10 cohorts with detailed neurocognitive assessments proximal to death, cognition tended to be worse with LATE-NC across the full spectrum of ADNC severity. This study provided a credible estimate of the current prevalence of LATE-NC in advanced age. LATE-NC was seen in almost 40% of participants and often, but not always, coexisted with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genomic testing is the cornerstone of the treatment of patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer. However, comprehensive molecular testing of small specimens may be inadequate due to limited tissue. Liquid biopsy has emerged as a new method of genotyping. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of using supernatants from core needle biopsy samples of lung adenocarcinoma for genomic testing. Methods: Core needle biopsy specimens and their supernatants were collected from patients (n = 48) with lung adenocarcinoma. Genomic testing results of the supernatant samples were compared with results derived from paired tissue samples from the same patient. Result: All 48 supernatant samples yield adequate cell‐free DNA, but the concentration of cell‐free RNA did not meet the criteria for analysis. The concordance rate between the genomic testing results of supernatants and the corresponding tissue samples was 95.8% (kappa = 0.899). The coincidence rate of detectable mutations at the DNA level in the supernatants was up to 100%. Conclusion: Core needle biopsy supernatants can provide a valuable specimen source for genotyping pulmonary adenocarcinoma. However, the method of preserving and extracting RNA from supernatant specimens needs further improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • TRP had significant anti-hyperlipidemia activity. • TRP exerted anti-hyperlipidemia activity by regulating gut microbiota. • The homogeneous polysaccharide TRP-1 was primarily composed of GalA, Glc, and Gal. • TRP-1 inhibited cholesterol absorption by destabilizing cholesterol micelles. The peel of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, is considered one of the primary sources for Trichosanthis pericarpium in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibiting lipid-lowering properties. The impact on hyperlipidemia mice of the crude polysaccharide from the peel of T. Kirilowii (TRP) was investigated in this study. The findings revealed that TRP exhibited a significant improvement in hepatic lipid deposition. Moreover, it significantly decreased serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, while concurrently increasing HDL-C. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technique revealed that TRP group exhibited an increased relative abundance of Actinobacteria , a down-regulated relative abundance of Ruminiclostridium , and an up-regulated relative abundance of Ileibacterium. Therefore, TRP might play a role in anti-hyperlipidemia through regulation of the intestinal milieu and enhancement of microbial equilibrium. Consequently, targeted fractionation of TRP resulted in the isolation of a homogeneous acidic polysaccharide termed TRP-1. The TRP-1 polysaccharide, with an average molecular weight of 1.00 × 104 Da, and was primarily composed of Rha, GlcA, GalA, Glc, Gal and Ara. TRP-1 possessed a backbone consisting of alternating connections between → 6)- α -Galp-(1 → 4)- α -Rhap-(1 → 6)- α -Galp-(2 → 6)- β -Galp-(1 → 6)- α -Galp-(2 → 6)- β -Galp-(1 → units and branched chain containing → 6)- α -Glcp-(1→, 2,4)- β -Glcp-(1, and → 4)- α -GlapA-(1→. Both TRP and TRP-1 exhibited significant disruption of cholesterol micelles, highlighting their potential as lipid-lowering agents that effectively inhibit cholesterol absorption pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sputum cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is a valuable surrogate sample for assessing EGFR‐sensitizing mutations in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Detecting EGFR exon 20 p.T790 M (p.T790 M) is much more challenging due to its limited availability in tumor tissues. Exploring sputum cfDNA as an alternative for liquid‐based sample type in detecting p.T790 M requires potential improvement in clinical practice. Methods: A total of 34 patients with EGFR‐sensitive mutation‐positive lung adenocarcinoma and acquired resistance to the first generation of epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) were enrolled. The sputum samples, and paired tumors and/or plasma samples were tested for p.T790 M mutation and concordance of p.T790 M status among the three sample types was analyzed. Results: The overall concordance rate of p.T790 M mutation between sputum cfDNA and tumor tissue samples was 85.7%, with a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 100%. The sensitivity for detecting p.T790 M in sputum cfDNA was 100%, 66.7%, and 0% in the three sputum groups of malignant, satisfactory but no malignant cells, and unsatisfactory, respectively. The combined results of plasma cfDNA testing and sputum cfDNA testing further increased the sensitivity to 100% for p.T790 M detection in satisfactory but no malignant cells sputum group. Conclusion: These findings revealed that cfDNA from malignant or satisfied but no malignant cells sputum is considered suitable for detecting p.T790 M mutation in patients with acquired resistance to first or second‐generation EGFR‐TKIs. The sputum cytological pathological evaluation‐guided sputum cfDNA testing assists in significantly improving the sensitivity of p.T790 M detection, bringing significant value for the maximal application of third‐generation EGFR‐TKIs in second‐line treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angle‐dependent 2p3d resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering spectra of a LaCoO3 single crystal and a 55 nm LaCoO3 film on a SrTiO3 substrate are presented. Theoretical calculation shows that, with ∼20 meV resolved Co 2p3d resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering (RIXS), the excited states of the isotropic 1A1g(Oh) ground state are split by 3d spin–orbit coupling, which can be distinguished via their angular dependence. However, strong self‐absorption and saturation effects distort the spectra of the LaCoO3 single crystal and limit the observation of small angular dependence. In contrast, the RIXS on 55 nm LaCoO3 shows less self‐absorption effects and preserves the angular dependence of the excited states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]