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Background: Laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy combined with celiac axis resection and portal vein reconstruction is a new procedure for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This surgical technique may offer patients with pancreatic cancer involving the portal vein and celiac axis an opportunity for radical surgical resection. We aim to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy and describe the surgical details of this technique. Patients and Methods: A 74-year-old man was diagnosed with pancreatic neck–body cancer, with a tumor size of 2.5 × 2.0 × 1.5 cm and local vascular invasion of the celiac axis, common hepatic artery, and portal vein. After four cycles of modified neoadjuvant folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX) therapy, reevaluation showed that the tumor size had considerably reduced, and the surrounding enlarged lymph nodes disappeared. Laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy, combined with celiac axis resection and portal vein reconstruction, was performed. Results: The operative time was 300 min, with blood loss of 200 mL. The drainage tube was removed 5 days postoperatively, and the patient was discharged 9 days later. The patient received eight cycles of modified FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy over the following month. After 15 months of follow-up, no tumor recurrence or metastasis was observed. Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy, combined with celiac axis resection and portal vein reconstruction, is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with pancreatic neck–body cancer involving the celiac axis and portal vein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linezolid (LZD) is used to treat infectious diseases caused by Gram-positive bacteria, but thrombocytopenia is one of the main adverse reactions to LZD administration. Early prediction of linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia (LI-TP) is of great importance to improve the clinical outcomes and prognoses. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a prediction model for LI-TP. Methods: A retrospective cohort of hospitalized adults receiving LZD therapy (January 2014–June 2022) was analyzed. Independent risk factors for LI-TP were identified via logistic regression in the training set (n = 757). A nomogram model for LI-TP were developed based on independent risk factors, and verified in validation set (n = 123). Results: The incidence of LI-TP was 13.5% (102/757). A logistic regression model was developed based on the seven independent risk factors, including age (≥ 60 y), duration of LZD therapy (> 11 d), bPLT (< 308 × 109/L), ALT (> 100 IU/L), Ccr (< 67.5 mL/min), and concomitant use with VPA or Tac (p < 0.01) and transformed into a quantifiable nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated strong discrimination with AUCs of 0.760 in training (95% CI: 0.709–0.812, P < 0.001) and 0.767 in validation (95% CI: 0.635–0.899, P < 0.001). The calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow tests confirmed good reliability and specificity of the nomogram model. Conclusion: This nomogram provides a practical tool for stratifying LI-TP risk, which provide an important reference for enabling timely clinical interventions to enhance LZD safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oysters are one of the largest marine shellfish species worldwide. However, oyster shells are treated as waste, accumulating on coastal shores and seriously polluting the ecosystem. In this study, a composite microbial agent was developed using calcined oyster shell powder, Beauveria bassiana spore powder, and ecological chitosan. To release the active ingredients, oyster shells were treated by calcination. The optimal application ratio of the agent was determined by detecting tomato growth indicators. Application of the optimized agent to vineyards increased 100-grain weight, carotenoids, and total amino acids by 10.55%, 8.71%, and 29.40%, respectively. Further detection of soil microbial population changes showed that the application of the agent increased the abundance and diversity of soil microbial populations, promoting the metabolism of bacterial amino acids, polysaccharides. These findings suggest that the agent not only enhanced plant growth and fruit quality, but also enriched the diversity and abundance of soil microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A transgenic strain of Escherichia coli has been engineered to directly assimilate gaseous CO2 into its biomass through hydrogen-powered anaerobic respiration. This was achieved by expressing key components of the reverse tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, including genes encoding α-ketoglutarate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (KOR) and ATP-dependent citrate lyase (ACL) from Chlorobium tepidum. These enzymes were selected for their essential roles in enabling CO2 fixation and integration into central metabolism. Results: This study found that KOR alone can support cellular maintenance under chemolithotrophic conditions, while additional expression of ACL enhances CO2 assimilation. Using isotopic 13CO2 tracing, it was demonstrated that KOR alone facilitates CO2 assimilation into TCA metabolites. However, co-expression of ACL with KOR redirected carbon fluxes from TCA cycle toward essential metabolic pathways, particularly those involved in protein and nucleotide biosynthesis. Compared to KOR alone, ACL co-expression significantly increased isotopic enrichments in amino acids (e.g., methionine, threonine, glycine) and nucleotides (e.g., deoxythymidine, deoxycytidine). These results suggest that ACL supports the synthesis of nitrogen-containing metabolites when inorganic nitrogen is sufficient, while KOR alone sustains core metabolic functions under chemolithotrophic conditions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a novel strategy to engineer E. coli for CO2 fixation using only one or two heterologous enzymes under chemolithotrophic conditions. These findings reveal the minimal genetic and nutritional requirements for CO2 assimilation and provide insights into metabolic flux partitioning in engineered strains. This research paves the way for sustainable applications in carbon fixation and biotechnological innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the study were to design, synthesize, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of a series of novel aminoguanidine-indole derivatives. Thirty-seven new compounds were effectively synthesized through nucleophilic substitution reaction and guanidinylation reaction. Chemical structures of all the desired compounds were identified by NMR and HR-MS spectroscopy. Most of the synthesized compounds showed significant antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens and clinical resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) isolates. K. pneumoniae is an important opportunistic pathogen that often threatens the health of immunocompromised people such as the elderly, children, and ICU patients. The most active compound 4P showed rapid bactericidal activity against resistant K. pneumoniae 2108 with MIC and MBC values that were 4 and 8 µg/mL, respectively. The hemolytic activity of 4P was low, with an HC50 value of 123.6 µg/mL. Compound 4P induced the depolarization of the bacterial membrane and disrupted bacterial membrane integrity and was not prone to antibiotic resistance. The dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity was also notably inhibited by 4P in vitro. Molecular docking revealed that the aminoguanidine moiety and indole structure of 4P played an important role in binding to the target site of the K. pneumoniae dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) receptor. In the mouse pneumonia model caused by K. pneumoniae, 4P improved the survival rate of mice, reduced bacterial loads, and alleviated tissues' pathological injuries at a dosage of 4 mg/kg. Therefore, compound 4P may be a promising lead compound or drug candidate for antibacterial purposes against K. pneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Liver injury caused by an overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) represents a major public health concern. Paeoniflorin (PF) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and liver-protective effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PF on the crosstalk between pyroptosis and NETs in AILI. (2) APAP-treated C57BL/6J mice were used to demonstrate the protective effect of PF on liver injury. HepG2 and dHL-60 cells were cultured to study the effects of PF on hepatocyte pyroptosis and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in vitro. Moreover, cell co-culture experiments were performed, and mice were treated with a NETs-depleting agent and hepatocyte pyroptosis inhibitor to investigate the improvement of AILI induced by PF through regulating the crosstalk between hepatocyte pyroptosis and NETs. (3) PF significantly alleviated AILI. Additionally, PF inhibited the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and NETs-associated proteins in vitro and in vivo. The co-culture experiments demonstrated that PF not only inhibited the NETs triggered by hepatocyte pyroptosis, but also suppressed the hepatocyte pyroptosis induced by NETs. In mice with depleted neutrophils, the level of hepatocyte pyroptosis notably decreased, indicating a diminished impact of PF. Similarly, NETs formation was reduced in mice receiving a pyroptosis inhibitor compared to the APAP group. Compared with DNase I alone, the reduction effect of PF combined with DNase I on serum ALT and AST levels decreased from 46.857% and 39.927% to 44.347% and 33.419%, respectively. Compared with DSF alone, PF combined with DSF reduced the ALT and AST levels from 46.857% and 39.927% to 45.347% and 36.419%, respectively. (4) PF demonstrated therapeutic effects on AILI. Its mechanism involves the regulation of the crosstalk between hepatocyte pyroptosis and NETs. This research substantiates the pharmacological promise of PF as a therapeutic intervention for acute AILI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine the optimal hormone concentration and suspension culture conditions for callus induction in Cassia mimosoides herb. The leaves of aseptic seedlings were used as explants to determine the effects of various concentrations of 6-BA (6-benzylamino purine) and NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) on the callus induction rate through single-factor experiments. The study examined the effect of initial suspension cell inoculation and inoculum on cell biomass. Using a hormone concentration combination of 3.0 mg L−1 BA and 1.0 mg L−1 NAA, the callus induction rate of the tender leaves of the aseptic seedlings reached 100% with good callus status. In single-factor suspension cell culture experiments, an initial inoculum of 2 g and an inoculum volume of 2 mL were most conducive to the increase in cell biomass. The content of emodin in the suspension cells and the original herb of Cassia mimosoides herb was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that at the same mass, the content of emodin in the suspension cells was 12.22-fold higher compared with that in the original herb. The results indicate that the suspension cells cultured by this method can increase the content of emodin in Cassia mimosoides herb, thus providing a more convenient and efficient method to extract emodin. The small cell clusters and single cells obtained in suspension culture can be directly used for protoplast isolation and also serve as direct receptors for genetic transformation. This provides a foundation for large-scale cell culture and the genetic transformation of Cassia mimosoides herb suspension culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silkworm neuropeptide Orcokinin (abbreviated as BommoOK) is equipped with multiple biological functions, one of which acts as a pigmentation inhibitor. To explore the whitening efficiency of BommoOK, the inhibitory effects on tyrosinase and its adaptability on the cell for six mature peptides of BommoOK were investigated in this paper. At the same time, BommoOKA_type4, the peptide with the best melanin inhibition effect, was used as an additive to prepare a whitening cream, and the effects on skin moisture, oil content, fine lines, skin glossiness, pores, and pigment depth were determined. The results revealed that the cream added with BommoOKA_type4 peptide showed a good improvement effect on the skin, especially in significantly reducing the pigment depths of skin. The results displayed a potential application of BommoOK in whitening and skincare products as an excellent additive and provide certain references for the mechanism research of BommoOK in inhibiting melanin synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling of photovoltaic and pyroelectric effects is a common phenomenon in ferroelectric films and often results in coupling enhancements. Although the coupling effects of a variety of ferroelectric films have been examined in terms of improved performance, they have yet to be quantitatively ranked and assessed. Here, by taking the charge coupling factor, the Yang's charge, and output energy as metrics to evaluate the coupling performance, a methodology is developed for evaluating the performance of a range ferroelectric films when the pyroelectric and photovoltaic effects are coupled. By experimentally measuring and quantitatively ranking the evaluation metrics, the influence of coupling effects on the output charge and the energy harvesting capabilities of various ferroelectric films can be readily visualized. In addition, the analysis of the underlying reasons for the coupling enhancement enables optimization of the methods to quantify the charge coupling factor. This work provides a unique reference for the selection of materials, optimization of performance, and energy harvesting for coupled ferroelectric film-based generators. The Yang's charge is proposed as a metric for evaluating the coupling performance in this study. Compared to the conventional charge coupling factor which only considers the relative performance change, the Yang's charge also considers the absolute performance of the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of hydrophilic‐hydrophobic switching and color‐changing functionalities into textile materials creates a synergistic effect, meeting the demands of complex application environments. This paper presents an innovative and cost‐effective approach to generating a proton‐driven smart textile with dual‐functionality, capable of switchable wettability and color modulation, by combining pH‐responsive branched polymer microcapsules (PRBMs) with conventional textile materials. The prepared PRBMs are spherical with a rough surface, exhibiting dynamic swelling (diameter of 110 nm) in acidic aqueous solutions and reversible contraction (diameter of 70 nm) in neutral or alkaline aqueous solutions. Depositing PRBMs onto polyester fabric imparts pH‐responsive wettability to the fabric surface. As a result, the fabric displays hydrophobic in neutral or alkaline aqueous solutions (pH 7), exhibiting a contact angle greater than 140°, and becomes superhydrophilic when exposed to acidic aqueous solutions (pH 3), with a contact angle of 25° within 120 s. Notably, the fabric also undergoes significant reversible color changes under different pH levels while maintaining good water vapor permeability and breathability, suitable for the pH range of human skin. This one‐step strategy achieves a flexible, visible hydrophobic‐hydrophilic switch, marking a significant advancement in the field of smart textiles and promoting their further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New U.K. GAAP follows the design of IFRS and IFRS for Small and Medium-Sized Entities (SMEs) and was introduced from 2015 to improve the comparability and quality in financial reporting and to reduce disclosure costs. This new standard heavily affected the financial reporting of private firms. To help assess whether the goal of Financial Reporting Council is achieved, this study examines whether switching from IFRS to new U.K. GAAP is associated with private companies' earnings quality. We use U.K. private firm data during 2015–2018 to conduct difference-in-differences and regression analyses. Overall, the results suggest that the switch from IFRS to new U.K. GAAP does not have significant impact on accruals quality, but reduces the timely loss recognition. This study contributes to the ongoing debate over the design of financial reporting standards for private firms and SMEs and provides useful evidence for evaluating new U.K. GAAP and IFRS for SMEs. JEL Classifications: M4; M41; M48. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of existing finite-time prescribed performance control methods require the upper bounds of uncertainties and disturbances to be known, as well as strict restrictions on the initial state of the system. This work proposes an adaptive finite-time prescribed performance control strategy for quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs) in the presence of asymmetric input saturation, unmodeled dynamics and unknown disturbances. In order to constrain tracking errors, a novel time-varying constraining function is introduced, which allows both the settling time and the tracking accuracy to be explicitly specified in advance, irrespective of initial conditions and any design parameter. In contrast to asymptotically stable saturated systems with unknown disturbances, an adaptive control law, a new integral sliding surface and barrier function are integrated into the controller to achieve finite-time convergence of QUAVs, while explicitly considering input saturation and uncertainty. Furthermore, the proposed method does not necessitate the upper bound information of the disturbance, which is typically required in conventional sliding mode control. Subsequently, the finite-time convergence of all signals in the closed-loop QUAVs system is guaranteed via Lyapunov methodology. Finally, numerical simulations and experiments are conducted to demonstrate the efficacy, resilience and practicality of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifaceted global challenge, partly driven by inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment of common infections, develop risk prediction models and examine the effects of antibiotics on infection-related hospital admissions. Methods: With the approval of NHS England, we accessed electronic health records from The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) through OpenSAFELY platform. We included adult patients with primary care diagnosis of common infections, including lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and lower urinary tract infection (UTI), from 1 January 2019 to 31 August 2022. We excluded patients with a COVID-19 record in the 90 days before to 30 days after the infection diagnosis. Risk prediction models using Cox proportional-hazard regression were developed for infection-related hospital admission in the 30 days after the common infection diagnosis. Results: We found 12,745,165 infection diagnoses from 1 January 2019 to 31 August 2022. Of them, 80,395 (2.05%) cases were admitted to the hospital during follow-up. Counts of hospital admission for infections dropped during COVID-19, for example LRTI from 3,950 in December 2019 to 520 in April 2020. Comparing those prescribed an antibiotic to those without, reduction in risk of hospital admission were largest with LRTI (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.35; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.35–0.36) and UTI (aHR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.44–0.46), compared to URTI (aHR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.06). Conclusions: A substantial variation in hospital admission risks between infections and patient groups was found. Antibiotics appeared more effective in preventing infection-related complications with LRTI and UTI, but not URTI. While this study has several limitations, the results indicate that a focus on risk-based antibiotic prescribing could help tackle AMR in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Effective health management is crucial for elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This study applied a Psycho-Cardiology model to CHD management, aiming to assess psychological stress among patients with mild CHD and identify potential influencing factors to provide substantiating evidence. Methods: This longitudinal study was based on a 9-year follow-up program of a community population in Shanghai, China. A total of 44,552 elderly people were included, with the average age being 74.9 (±10.35) years, and the proportion of female participants being 56.5%. To evaluate and compare the effect of the disease, individuals were categorized into four groups based on their medical records from the past 6 months, these being (I) a CHD with other chronic diseases group, (II) a CHD only group, (III) non-CHD patients with one (or more) chronic disease group, and (IV) non-patient group. Demographic characteristics, sleep quality and health status of each participants were collected using the Unified Needs Assessment Form for Elderly Care Questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was used for statistic analysis. Results: Demographic characteristics differed significantly between the three chronic disease groups (Groups I, II and III) and the non-patient group. Participants in the CHD group reported poorer sleep quality, worse health status, and a more rapid health decline when compared to those with other chronic diseases. Factors such as age, gender, education level, disease duration, and family support were identified as potential influences on the self-reported subjective sleep quality in patients with mild CHD. While age, education level, living status and family support were potential factors influencing the self-assessed health status in participants without CHD (Groups III and IV). Conclusion: Patients with mild CHD may experience lower subjective sleep quality, health status scores, and a faster health-sleep decline, indicating elevated psychological stress. Higher education levels offer a protective effect against this stress, highlighting the importance of psycho-emotional interventions and educational strategies. Additionally, it is important to prioritize early intervention for newly diagnosed cases to aid in illness acceptance. These findings provide crucial insights for managing patients with mild CHD and inform the efficient allocation of healthcare resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The sweetness of apple fruit is a key factor in the improvement of apple varieties, with fructose being the sweetest of the soluble sugars, playing a crucial role in determining the overall sweetness of the apple. Therefore, uncovering the key genes controlling fructose accumulation and deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of fructose are vitally important for the improvement of apple varieties.In this study, through BSA‐seq and transcriptome analysis of the 'Changfu 2' × 'Golden Delicious' F1 hybrid population, MdNAC5 was identified as a key regulatory gene for fructose content.MdNAC5 was shown to significantly influence fructose accumulation in both apples and tomatoes. Furthermore, we conducted a detailed identification of sugar transporters and metabolic enzymes in apples, discovering that MdNAC5 can enhance fructose accumulation in vacuoles and the conversion of sucrose to fructose by binding to and activating the promoters of the vacuolar sugar transporter MdTST2 and the neutral invertase MdNINV6. Additionally, MdNAC5 regulated the MdEIN3.4‐MdSWEET15a module, strengthening the unloading of sucrose in the phloem of the fruit.Our results reveal a new mechanism by which MdNAC5 regulates fructose accumulation in apples and provide theoretical foundations for improving apple sweetness through genetic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, declared by the World Health Organization in early 2020, rapidly escalated from a global health crisis to a significant public health issue worldwide. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive global overview of suicidal behavior and associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, literature searches were conducted across five databases: Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Academic Search Complete. The review encompassed studies published from January 1, 2019, to November 29, 2023. A total of 286 studies met the inclusion criteria, offering a broad perspective on suicidal behaviors during the pandemic. The studies underwent quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal for Checklist for Prevalence Studies Scale (CACPSS). Results: The highest rates of suicidal behavior were observed in the Americas, Europe, and the Western Pacific Region, with China and the United States reporting significant cases. Key risk factors included demographic characteristics, mental health conditions, and social support factors. Suicidal ideation prevalence rates ranged significantly, with the highest in some regions exceeding 50%. Suicide attempts and completed suicides also showed considerable variation across different countries and regions. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions and policies to reduce suicide risk, highlighting the multifaceted nature of suicidal behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches are necessary to address this pressing concern, and understanding the interplay among diverse risk factors is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), caused by the abnormal expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) in the ataxin-3 protein, is one of the inherited polyQ neurodegenerative diseases that share similar genetic and molecular features. Mutant polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 protein is prone to aggregation in affected neurons and is predominantly degraded by autophagy, which is beneficial for neurodegenerative disease treatment. Not only does mutant polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 increase susceptibility to oxidative cytotoxicity, but it also hampers antioxidant potency in neuronal cells. Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2), a master transcription factor that controls antioxidant and detoxification gene expression, plays a crucial role in neuroprotection in SCA3 and other neurodegenerative diseases. The present data showed that treatment with erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ethanol extract (HEME) extended longevity and improved locomotor activity in ELAV-SCA3tr-Q78 transgenic Drosophila. Moreover, HEME treatment enhanced antioxidant potency and autophagy, which, in turn, corrected levels of mutant polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 and restrained protein aggregation in both cell and Drosophila models of SCA3. Markedly, HEME increased the activation of Nrf2. Silencing Nrf2 protein expression negated most of the promising effects of HEME on SK-N-SH-MJD78 cells, highlighting the critical role of increased Nrf2 activation in the efficacy of HEME treatment. These findings suggest that HEME has therapeutic potential in SCA3 by enhancing autophagic and Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathways, which may also influence neurodegenerative progression in other polyQ diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher support has a vital impact on students' well-being. However, the role of gender in the relationship between teacher support and students' well-being remained unstudied in East Asia. The present study aims to unravel the relationship between three types of teacher support (i.e., autonomy, competence, relatedness) and four dimensions of students' subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, and eudaemonism), as well as identify the moderating effect of gender. Multiple linear regression with a moderation analysis was implemented for 34,968 fifteen-year-old students from five East Asian economies participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022. Results indicated that teacher support significantly influenced students' subjective well-being in East Asia. Moreover, gender significantly moderated the relationship between teacher support (i.e., autonomy, competence, relatedness) and students' eudaemonism. Compared with males, teacher competence support was more effective in fostering females' eudaemonism in East Asia. This study provides new insights into developing students' well-being from the gender perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tackles the challenges in computer-aided prognosis for glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain cancer, using only whole slide images (WSIs) as input. Unlike traditional methods that rely on random selection or region-of-interest (ROI) extraction to choose meaningful subsets of patches representing the whole slide, we propose a multiple instance bagging approach. This method utilizes all patches extracted from the whole slide, employing different subsets in each training epoch, thereby leveraging information from the entire slide while keeping the training computationally feasible. Additionally, we developed a two-stage framework based on the ResNet-CBAM model which estimates not just the usual survival risk, but also predicts the actual survival time. Using risk scores of patches estimated from the risk estimation stage, a risk histogram can be constructed and used as input to train a survival time prediction model. A censor hinge loss based on root mean square error was also developed to handle censored data when training the regression model. Tests using the Cancer Genome Atlas Program's glioblastoma public database yielded a concordance index of 73.16 ± 2.15 % , surpassing existing models. Log-rank testing on predicted high- and low-risk groups using the Kaplan–Meier method revealed a p-value of 3.88 × 10 − 9 , well below the usual threshold of 0.005, indicating the model's ability to significantly differentiate between the two groups. We also implemented a heatmap visualization method that provides interpretable risk assessments at the patch level, potentially aiding clinicians in identifying high-risk regions within WSIs. Notably, these results were achieved using 98% fewer parameters compared to state-of-the-art models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the investigation of heterotrimeric G protein‐mediated signal transduction in planta, their roles in the transmittance of low K+ stimuli remain to be elucidated. Here, we found that the primary root growth of wild‐type Arabidopsis was gradually inhibited with the decrease of external K+ concentrations, while the primary root of the mutants for G protein β subunit AGB1 and γ subunits AGG1, AGG2 and AGG3 could still grow under low K+ conditions (LK). Exogenous NAA application attenuated primary root elongation in agb1 and agg1/2/3 but promoted the growth in wild‐type seedlings under LK stress. Using ProDR5:GFP, ProPIN1:PIN1‐GFP and ProPIN2:PIN2‐GFP reporter lines, a diminishment in auxin concentration at the radicle apex and a reduction in PIN1and PIN2 efflux carrier abundance were observed in wild‐type roots under LK, a phenomenon not recorded in the agb1 and agg1/2/3. Further proteolytic and transcriptional assessments revealed an enhanced degradation of PIN1 and a suppressed expression of PIN2 in the wild‐type background under LK, contrasting with the stability observed in the agb1 and agg1/2/3 mutants. Our results indicate that the G protein β and γ subunits play pivotal roles in suppressing of Arabidopsis root growth under LK by modulating auxin redistribution via alterations in PIN1 degradation and PIN2 biosynthesis. Summary statement: We demonstrate that Gβγ dimers modulate auxin distribution at the root tip via the auxin efflux transporters PIN1/PIN2, consequently enhancing the adaptive response of plant roots to low K+ conditions. This underscores the critical role of G protein β and γ subunits in the morphogenetic processes of root architecture under low K+ stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective: Nurse practitioners serve a vital role as first responders in emergencies. This study investigated the effectiveness of experiential learning in enhancing emergency care competency and self-efficacy among nurse practitioners. Methods: A single-group repeated measures design was implemented from June to August 2023 at a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan, involving 95 nurse practitioners and NP trainees. Participants completed a baseline (T0) three-minute emergency simulation test, followed by one-on-one guidance, an immediate post-test (T1), and a follow-up test one month later (T2). The "Emergency Care Capability Checklist" (ECCC) was used to assess performance after each test, and the "General Self-Efficacy Scale" at T1 and T2. Results: The mean age of the participants was 42.1 years (SD = 6.7), with 91 out of 95 participants (95.8%) being female. ECCC scores increased significantly from a baseline mean of 34.6 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.8 at T0 to 46.4 (SD = 4.3) at T1 (p < 0.001). Scores remained elevated at T2, with a mean of 44.7 (SD = 4.9), which was significantly higher than T0 (p < 0.001). However, scores at T2 were slightly lower than at T1 (p = 0.018). GSES scores also increased significantly from T1 (mean = 26.2, SD = 0.6) to T2 (mean = 28.0, SD = 0.6) (p = 0.009). Conclusions: This study found that experiential learning was able to significantly improve nurse practitioners' emergency care competencies and self-efficacy. Future research should explore the application of experiential learning in diverse clinical settings to further advance emergency preparedness and self-efficacy among nurse practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of women are conceiving through assisted reproductive technology; however, few studies have investigated their mental health after successful conception. This study investigated the changes in depressive symptoms in women using assisted reproductive technology and the association between the mode of conception and perinatal depressive symptoms. A longitudinal observational study was conducted from 2015 to 2019, 542 pregnant women completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms at eight timepoints during the prepregnancy, pregnancy and first-year postpartum periods. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A generalized estimating equation regression model was employed for repeated measures. In the assisted reproductive technology group, depressive symptoms were more prevalent during early pregnancy and at 1 month postpartum than before pregnancy, and more prevalent before pregnancy and at 1 month after childbirth than in the spontaneous conception group. No significant association was identified between the mode of conception and depressive symptoms during the antenatal or postnatal period. The lack of full-time employment and prepregnancy depressive symptoms were associated with antenatal depressive symptoms. Primipara status and depressive symptoms during prepregnancy and pregnancy were associated with depressive symptoms during the first-year postpartum. Assisted reproductive technology was not a risk factor for depressive symptoms during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, whereas primipara status, lack of full-time employment and prepregnancy depressive symptoms were negative predictors. Therefore, targeted mental health interventions should address these specific factors to effectively support maternal mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the observed clinical benefits of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r), it is uncertain whether Taiwan will continue covering NMV/r for high-risk individuals with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This analysis assessed the impact of sustained utilization of NMV/r on COVID-19-associated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and mortality from the Taiwanese health authority perspective (THAP). A decision tree model estimated the incremental number of clinical events associated with NMV/r utilization over a 30-day period. Model results compared (1) a base case using current rates of NMV/r from the THAP, and (2) a hypothetical scenario assuming the current supply of NMV/r is not extended in Taiwan. NMV/r utilization rates included 80% and 0% in the base case and hypothetical scenario, respectively. Outcomes included the number of hospitalizations involving a general ward (GW) stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and mechanical ventilation (MV) use, as well as the number of bed days, symptom days, and hospitalization deaths. Based on epidemiologic data, 150,255 patients with COVID-19 were eligible for treatment from the THAP. In the hypothetical scenario, HCRU increased by 175% compared to the base case, including increases in hospitalizations involving GW, ICU, and MV use (differences: 2067; 623; 591, respectively), bed days (difference: 51,521), symptom days (difference: 51,714), and deaths (difference: 480). Findings indicate that sustained utilization of NMV/r from the THAP reduces the clinical burden of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 through the reduced incidence of COVID-19-related HCRU and deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the pH‐dependency limitation in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) by creating heterostructures through the chemical bonding between 2D‐dichalcogenides and V4C3Tx (T = OH, O) planes. The one‐step solvothermal synthesis employed in this study constructs a synergistically interacted 1T phase of, e.g., MoS2 and V4C3Tx MXene, demonstrating an omnidirectional improvement on catalytic stability, active site exposure, surface area enlargement, electrical conductivity, and hence enhancement of water dissociation activities. Despite the notable progress in creating hydrogen production catalysts with ground breaking performances, a significant gap remains in the availability of catalysts capable of functioning effectively under high current densities. The catalyst 1T MoS2@V4C3Tx shows remarkable activities under the current density of 1000 mA cm−2, which require overpotentials of 16, 24, and 37 mV in 0.5 m H2SO4, 1 m KOH, and 0.1 m PBS electrolytes, respectively at 10 mA cm−2, and exhibits excellent HER performance with small overpotentials of 103.16 and 138 mV to achieve current densities of 500 and 1000 mA cm−2, respectively, with outstanding stability for 1000 cylic voltammetric cycle HER test without degradation in acidic media. Enhanced HER performance has also been observed in other 2D‐dichalcogenides/V4C3Tx heterostructures, providing prospects for phase‐engineered dichalcogenides/fluorine‐free V4C3Tx composites for pH‐universal HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: "Astringent seed" is a type of abortive seed frequently observed in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata). It is widely recognized but poorly understood for its underlying causes. This study investigates the potential of astringent seeds to alleviate the toxic effects of active aluminum ions. Methods: This study involved treating seeds and seedlings with two distinct concentrations of astringent seeds water extracts under the aluminum ion stress. Then the germination of seeds and growth of seedlings were evaluated and compared. Results: Under aluminum stress, both seed germination and seedling growth were notably inhibited. Treatment with a low-concentration of the extract significantly alleviated this inhibition. Root elongation in the seedlings increased by 36.95% compared to the control group, and the aluminum ion accumulation at the root tips was reduced by 38.89% relative to the aluminum-stressed group. This treatment also normalized the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the roots and leaves, enhanced the activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and restored the levels of endogenous hormones including gibberellin (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), methyl jasmonate (Ja-ME), and abscisic acid (ABA). Furthermore, the low-concentration of the extract positively impacted the disorganized chloroplast structures. In contrast, a high-concentration of the extract failed to revert most of these stress indicators. Conclusion: Low concentrations of astringent seed water extract effectively alleviate the inhibitory effects of aluminum ions on seed and seedling. This implies that in natural environments, the proximity of healthy seeds to astringent seeds could potentially enhance their growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic research suggests that reinforcer immediacy is important; even short delays to reinforcement may impair learning. Further, a previous applied study showed that most participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) acquired tacts more quickly with immediate reinforcement, compared to delays of 6 and 12 s. However, no research has examined variable delays to reinforcement, which may be more common than fixed delays in applied settings. In this study, we examined the effect of variable delays to reinforcement on the acquisition of tacts. Specifically, we evaluated three conditions: a 0 s delay, a 4–8 s delay, and a 10–14 s delay to reinforcement among three children with ASD. The results show that two of the three participants achieved the mastery criterion most quickly in the 0 s delay condition. We discuss the results and implications of this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with dental caries are treated with stainless steel metal crowns (SSC), but the aesthetics and precision still need to be improved. Currently, both 3D‐printed resin crowns (PRC) and computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) resin crowns (CRC) meet the clinical requirements for crown applications in terms of strength, production time, cost, and aesthetics. Aim: This study replaced SSC with customized resin crowns by 3D printing and CAD/CAM. Design: In this study, PRC, CRC, and SSC were used for incisor and molar restorations, and 60 crowns were made with 10 for each group. The fabrication efficiency, surface characteristics, marginal fit, and stability of the two different crowns were evaluated. Results: PRC and CRC show superior color and surface characteristics, though production times are longer (5.3–12.4 times and 3.3–9.1 times, respectively) than for SSC (p <.05). They, however, can be completed within 80 min. Edge gaps for PRC and CRC are significantly lower (13.0–19.2 times and 13.0–13.7 times) than for SSC (p <.05). All materials exhibit good stability. Conclusion: The 3D‐PRCs and CAD/CAM resin crowns may replace SSCs as a potential choice for clinical child caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is still an urgent global public health problem. Notably, mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells play an important role in early anti‐TB immune response. Targeted control of them may be an effective method to improve vaccine efficacy and TB treatment. However, the biology and signal regulation mechanisms of MAIT cells in TB patients are still poorly understood. Previous studies have been limited by the lack of reagents to specifically identify MAIT cells. In addition, the use of alternative markers may subsume non‐MAIT cell into MAIT cell populations. In this study, the human MR1 tetramer which can specifically identify MAIT cells was used to further explore the effect and mechanism of MAIT cells in anti‐TB immune response. Our results showed that the tetramer+ MAIT cells in peripheral blood of TB patients were mainly CD8+ or CD4−CD8− cells, and very few were CD4+ cells. After BCG infecting autologous antigen‐presenting cells, MAIT cells in patients produced significantly higher levels of cytokines, lysis and proliferation compared with healthy controls. After suppression of mTORC1 by the mTORC1‐specific inhibitor rapamycin, the immune response of MAIT cells in patients was significantly reduced. This study demonstrates that peripheral blood tetramer+ MAIT cells from TB patients have significant anti‐TB immune effect, which is regulated by mTORC1. This could provide ideas and potential therapeutic targets for the development of novel anti‐TB immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In patients with chronic kidney disease, the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) accelerates kidney damage and the progression of cardiovascular disease. IS may contribute to vascular diseases by inducing inflammation in endothelial cells. Luteolin has documented antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of luteolin on IS‐mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM‐1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP‐1) expression in EA.hy926 cells and the possible mechanisms involved. IS significantly induced ROS production (by 6.03‐fold, p < 0.05), ICAM‐1 (by 2.19‐fold, p < 0.05) and MCP‐1 protein expression (by 2.18‐fold, p < 0.05), and HL‐60 cell adhesion (by 31%, p < 0.05), whereas, luteolin significantly decreased IS‐induced ROS production, ICAM‐1 and MCP‐1 protein expression, and HL‐60 cell adhesion. Moreover, luteolin attenuated IS‐induced nuclear accumulation of p65 and c‐jun. Luteolin dose‐dependently increased heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) expression and the maximum fold induction of HO‐1 by luteolin was 3.68‐fold (p < 0.05), whereas, HO‐1 knockdown abolished the suppression of ICAM‐1 and MCP‐1 expression by luteolin. Luteolin may protect against IS‐induced vessel damage by inducing HO‐1 expression in vascular endothelial cells, which suppresses nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) and activator protein 1 (AP‐1) mediated ICAM‐1 and MCP‐1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global ban on tributyltin (TBT), the pollution of triphenyltin (TPhT) is an emerging issue in some aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of typical butyltin and phenyltin compounds in the surface water and sediments in the lower Yangtze River, analyzed their occurrence and sources, and assessed their ecological risks. The findings indicate that butyltin and phenyltin compounds are widespread. The total concentration of organotin compounds in surface water was as high as 42.41 ng Sn/L, with an average of 25.71 ng Sn/L, and the total concentration of organotins in sediments reached up to 111.5 ng Sn/g dw, averaging 61.1 ng Sn/g dw. Since the implementation of the AFS Convention, the concentration of organotins in surface water has been significantly reduced. However, the ecological risk of TBT is still high, and the risk of TPhT is also noteworthy. The findings also suggest that the primary source of butyltins in the lower Yangtze River is historical input residues. In contrast, the main source of PhTs is the recent input of agricultural runoff. Therefore, organotin contamination in the lower Yangtze River has changed, but its governance still presents challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new flavonoids including two isoflavanones sophortones A and B (1 and 2), and one chalcone sophortone C (3) were isolated from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis. Their structures were established by UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new cucurbitane-type triterpenoid saponins, 2,20β,22β-trihydroxy-16α,23(R)-epoxycucurbita-1,5,24-triene-3,11-dione 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2,20β,22α-trihydroxy-16α,23(S)-epoxycucurbita-1,5,11,24-tetraene-3-one 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the fruit of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopy, etc. Besides, both of the compounds showed significant hepatoprotective activities at 10 μM against paracetamol-induced HepG2 cell damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) was a potential target for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, a series of novel oxyevodiamine-based HDAC6 inhibitors with a variety of linker moieties were designed, synthesized and evaluated. Compound 12 with a benzyl linker was identified as a high potent and selective HDAC6 inhibitor. It inhibited HDAC6 with an IC50 value of 6.2 nM and was more than 200 fold selectivity over HDAC1. It also had lower cytotoxicity and higher anti-H2O2 activity in vitro comparing with other derivatives. Compound 12 might be a good lead as novel HDAC6 inhibitor for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic osteopathy (HO) is a paraneoplastic syndrome, and the most notable cause in dogs is pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma (OSA). Although many molecular factors in canine OSA have been shown in metastasis, little is known about the gene expression profile of HO secondary to metastatic OSA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the gene expression profiles between primary and metastatic OSA lesions from the same dog and to look for gene expression changes that can elucidate the molecular mechanism of metastases and HO. Tumoral samples were obtained from a 2-year-old, intact male, Labrador retriever. At the first visit, the patient presented with an appendicular OSA as the primary lesion. About 10 months later, the dog developed HO due to a single pulmonary metastasis. Using these primary and metastatic samples from the same dog, as well as normal canine osteoblasts, we investigated the gene expression profiling using the NanoString nCounter® Canine IO panel. A total of 180 differentially expressed genes were identified between malignant OSA cells and non-malignant canine osteoblasts. Furthermore, 5 genes (CCL17, VEGFC, C3, C4BPA, and FOS) were differentially expressed in comparison between primary and metastatic OSA samples. CCL17 and VEGFC were upregulated in the primary lesion compared to the metastatic lesion, while C3, C4BPA, and FOS were downregulated in the primary lesion relative to the metastatic lesion. Given that the metastatic lesion was relevant to the development of HO, the different gene expression profiles may be relevant to understanding the pathophysiology of HO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rifaximin and rifampicin are good broad-spectrum antimicrobials. The irrational use of antimicrobial drugs in veterinary clinics could threaten public health and food safety. It is necessary to develop a reliable detection method of the residue for enhancing the rational supervision of the use of such drugs, reducing and slowing down the generation of bacterial resistance, and promoting animal food safety and human health. So, this study developed an LC-MS/MS method for the detection of rifaximin and rifampicin residues in animal-origin foods. The residual rifaximin and rifampicin of homogenized test materials were extracted with acetonitrile-dichloromethane solution or acetonitrile in the presence of anhydrous sodium sulfate and vitamin C, purified by dispersible solid phase extraction, determined by LC-MS/MS, and quantified by the internal standard method. The specificity, sensitivity, matrix effect, accuracy, and precision of the method were investigated in the edible tissues of cattle, swine, or chicken. In addition, the stability of the standard stock solution and the standard working solution was also investigated. The method was suitable for the muscle, liver, kidney, fat, milk, and eggs of cattle, swine, or chicken, as well as fish and shrimp. The specificity of the method was good, and the detection of the analytes was not affected by different matrices. Both the LOD and LOQ of the two analytes were 5 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg, respectively. The results of matrix effects in each tissue were in the range of 80–120%; there were no significant matrix effects. The average accuracy of rifaximin and rifampicin in different foodstuffs of animal origin was between 80% and 120%, and the method precision was below 20% (RSD). The proposed method showed good performance for determination, which could be employed for the extraction, purification, and detection of residual rifaximin and rifampicin in edible animal tissues. The pretreatment procedure of tissue samples was simple and feasible. The method was highly specific, stable, reliable, and with high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision, which met the requirements of quantitative detection of veterinary drug residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall-induced shallow slope instability is a significant global hazard, often triggered by water infiltration that affects soil stability and involves dynamic changes in the hydraulic behavior of unsaturated soils. This study employs a hydro-mechanical coupled analysis model to assess the impact of rainfall on slope stability, focusing on the dynamic hydraulic behavior of unsaturated soils. By simulating the soil water content and slope stability under four different rainfall scenarios based on observational data and historical thresholds, this study reveals that higher rainfall intensity significantly increases the soil water content, leading to reduced slope stability. The results show a strong correlation between the soil water content and slope stability, with a 20 mm/h rainfall intensity threshold emerging as a reliable predictor of potential slope instability. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of slope stability dynamics and emphasizes the importance of proactive risk management in response to changing rainfall patterns while also validating current management practices and providing essential insight for improving early warning systems to effectively mitigate landslide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, principals have been challenged in their school operations by the low birth rate, the promotion of significant education policies, and changes in the power structure of schools in Taiwan. These problems once caused a retirement boom among principals, significantly affecting educational development. Past research on principals' school operations has focused chiefly on external policies and related support systems, but rarely examined the psychological aspects of the principals themselves. Based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotion, this study explored the relationship among principals' workspace savoring beliefs, principals' perceived workplace hope, and workplace resilience. A total of 302 principals (66 females, 236 males, with an average age of 55.6 years) from Taiwanese senior high schools completed the paper-based questionnaire. The study results indicate that both principals' workplace savoring beliefs and workplace hope positively impacted workplace resilience and that perceived workplace hope partially mediated between workplace savoring beliefs and workplace resilience. This study makes specific recommendations for educational authorities, principals, and subsequent research directions based on the above conclusions. Plain language summary: Purpose: An empirical study explored the key factors (workplace savoring beliefs and perceived workplace hope scale) that drive principals' workplace resilience and examined the relationships between the key factors and principals' workplace resilience. Methods: The Principals' Workplace Savoring Beliefs Scale, Perceived Workplace Hope Scale, and Workplace Resilience Scale were developed. A total of 302 principals from Taiwanese senior high schools completed the paper-based questionnaire. Conclusions: This study confirmed the positive impact of workplace savoring beliefs on workplace resilience. Furthermore, perceived workplace hope mediated the relationship between workplace savoring beliefs and workplace resilience. Implications: This finding has important implications for assisting principals in enhancing workplace resilience when facing school operations challenges. This study revealed that principals with good workplace savoring beliefs could strengthen their resilience when encountering setbacks in school operations through the mediation effect of perceived workplace hope. Limitations: First, about background variables, the differences in this study in perceived workplace hope and workplace resilience were higher among principals with a master's or doctoral degree than those with a bachelor's degree. Second, regarding research variables, this study focused on savoring beliefs, perceived hope, and resilience, while positive psychology includes many other variables. Third, as for the target population, this study was conducted on principals of senior high schools. Fourth, in terms of data processing, SPSS PROCESS Model 4 was used to examine the effectiveness of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Colorectal cancer remains a major global public health challenge. Its incidence is shaped by a complex interplay of screening programmes and age, period and cohort factors. Methods We introduce a novel Age-Period-Cohort-Screening (APCS) model to analyse trends in colorectal cancer incidence in Taiwan from 2000 to 2019. Results In 2010, the incidence of colorectal cancer in Taiwan increased by 19.2% (95% CI: 13.5%, 25.3%) for men and 15.6% (95% CI: 9.2%, 22.4%) for women. This was followed by annual declines of 3.4% (95% CI: 2.8%, 4.1%) and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.4%, 3.9%), respectively. By 2015 for men and 2014 for women, the age-standardized incidence had fallen below the levels projected in a no-screening scenario. By 2019, the incidence had further declined by 12.4% (95% CI: 11.8%, 13.1%) for men and 11.6% (95% CI: 10.7%, 12.6%) for women, compared with the no-screening scenario. Cohort effects have shown a persistent rise from 1920 to 1980: incidence increased 5.8-fold for men and 3.1-fold for women. The trend began to plateau after 1980, with a noticeable decline in women. Conclusion Through its screening programme, Taiwan has successfully reduced colorectal cancer incidence by 10% as of 2019. Furthermore, the incidence due to cohort effects has plateaued and even begun to decline. However, continued monitoring remains crucial. The advanced APCS model could serve as a robust analytical tool for other researchers and policy makers evaluating the impacts of cancer screening programmes on incidence trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Contact with nature (CWN) is a key mental health promoting lifestyle. We developed the GREEN model, which comprises five factors – group, reflection, empowerment, emotion, and nature, to assess the mental health benefits from CWN. In this study, we intended to investigate whether the GREEN model can serve as a framework for CWN. Methods: In this study, we included 112 study participants of students aged 19–28 years taking classes between March and May 2023 at one of two Taiwanese universities. Assessments were done using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) questionnaire and the Inclusion of Nature in Self (INS) scale. Results: On the basis of the AHP survey results, we found that the following weights were assigned to the GREEN model factors: group, 0.13; reflection, 0.21; empowerment, 0.22; emotion, 0.31; and nature, 0.14. We also found that in a subset of study participants with a consistency ratio of < 0.1 in the AHP, the weights to the model factors were as follows: group, 0.12; reflection, 0.22; empowerment, 0.20; emotion, 0.34; and nature, 0.12. All five factors had a weight of > 0.1, indicating that they had good CWN. The weights for the GREEN model factors differed between the low- and high-INS groups. Emotional calmness was emerged as the most crucial factor for effective CWN programs. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the GREEN model is useful for CWN-related interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the development of a seeded diode-pumped 1338-nm Nd:YAG amplifier which delivers 400-ps, 6-mJ, single-frequency pulses every half second with a fluctuation of ∼ 0.7%. A highly stable pulsed current controller is constructed to drive an 808-nm diode laser array that ensures the high stability of the laser. Numerical calculations show that 9.2 μm or 10.2-μm picosecond (<10 ps) pulses with 100-μJ energy can be generated by mixing the 1338-nm 6-mJ pulses with 1540-nm chirped pulses in a BGGSe nonlinear crystal and compressing the pulse with a grating compressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discover novel and effective potential agricultural antifungal agents, various kinds of imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives were designed, and synthesized from available and inexpensive reagents. Their antifungal activities were first evaluated against ten typical phytopathogenic fungi. The in vitro antifungal activity showed that some compounds exhibited more obvious broad-spectrum fungicidal activity than the two commercially-available fungicides chlorothalonil and hymexazol. Valsa mali and Botrytis cinerea strains exhibited the highest susceptibility with EC50 values of 1.4–27.0 μg/mL to more than ten compounds. Compounds 5c and 5f showed the most promising inhibitory effects against Valsa mali (EC50 = 5.6 μg/mL) and Fusarium solani (EC50 = 5.1 μg/mL), respectively. Preliminary studies on the mechanism of action indicated that the imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline skeleton likely exerted its antifungal effects by disrupting hyphal differentiation, spore germination, and germ tube growth. Moreover, the cell experiment results indicated that these target compounds possessed good safety to BV2 cells. Overall, compounds 5c and 5f can be considered candidate compounds against specific fungi for further detailed research. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the application of imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline scaffolds as novel fungicides in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet activation is closely related to thrombosis. Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a novel medicinal compound synthesized by esterifying aspirin with eugenol using the pro-drug principle. Pharmacological and pharmacodynamic experiments showed that AEE has excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and inhibitory platelet activation effects, preventing thrombosis. However, the regulatory network and action target of AEE in inhibiting platelet activation remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AEE on platelets of thrombosed rats to reveal its regulatory mechanism via a multi-omics approach. The platelet proteomic results showed that 348 DEPs were identified in the AEE group compared with the model group, of which 87 were up- and 261 down-regulated. The pathways in this result were different from previous results, including mTOR signaling and ADP signaling at P2Y purinoceptor 12. The metabolomics of heart and abdominal aortic tissue results showed that the differential metabolites were mainly involved in steroid biosynthesis, the citric acid cycle, phenylalanine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Molecular docking results showed that AEE had a better binding force to both the COX-1 and P2Y12 protein. AEE could effectively inhibit platelet activation by inhibiting COX-1 protein and P2Y12 protein activity, thereby inhibiting platelet aggregation. Therefore, AEE can have a positive effect on inhibiting platelet activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with severe hyperkalemia in the emergency department. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients diagnosed with severe hyperkalemia who sought medical care at the emergency department of Aerospace Center Hospital between January 2018 and May 2022. Clinical data, including demographics, comorbidities, laboratory findings, and outcomes, were systematically collected. Patients were categorized into survival and deceased groups based on in-hospital mortality. Comparative analysis between these groups identified significant differences, highlighting key clinically covariates. Binary logistic regression was employed to determine the primary factors influencing patient outcomes. Results: Of 90 patients diagnosed with severe hyperkalemia, 64 were in the survival group, and 26 in the deceased group. Binary logistic regression identified several significant predictors of mortality, including higher APACHE II scores (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, P = 0.02), widened QRS wave on electrocardiogram (ECG) (OR 79.39, P = 0.04), and elevated serum potassium levels (OR 1.3, P = 0.04). In contrast, emergency blood purification was associated with a reduced mortality rate (OR 0.29, P = 0.03). Conclusion: Key risk factors for mortality in patients with severe hyperkalemia include widened QRS wave on ECG, elevated APACHE II score, and high serum potassium level. Timely correction of hyperkalemia through emergency blood purification significantly improves patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Erianin, crepidatin, and chrysotobibenzyl are typical medicinal polymethoxylated bibenzyls (PMBs) that are commercially produced in Dendrobium species. PMBs' chemo‐diversity is mediated by the manifold combinations of O‐methylation and hydroxylation in a definite order, which remains unsolved. To unequivocally elucidate the methylation mechanism of PMBs, 15 possible intermediates in the biosynthetic pathway of PMBs were chemically synthesized. DcOMT1–5 were highly expressed in tissues where PMBs were biosynthesized, and their expression patterns were well‐correlated with the accumulation profiles of PMBs. Moreover, cell‐free orthogonal tests based on the synthesized intermediates further confirmed that DcOMT1‐5 exhibited distinct substrate preferences and displayed hydroxyl‐group regiospecificity during the sequential methylation process. The stepwise methylation of PMBs was discovered from SAM to dihydro‐piceatannol (P) in the following order: P → 3‐MeP → 4‐OH‐3‐MeP → 4‐OH‐3,5‐diMeP → 3,3'(4′),5‐triMeP → 3,4,4′,5‐tetraMeP (erianin) or 3,3′,4,5‐tetraMeP (crepidatin) → 3,3′,4,4′,5‐pentaMeP (chrysotobibenzyl). Furthermore, the regioselectivities of DcOMTs were investigated by ligand docking analyses which corresponded precisely with the catalytic activities. In summary, the findings shed light on the sequential catalytic mechanisms of PMB biosynthesis and provide a comprehensive PMB biosynthetic network in D. catenatum. The knowledge gained from this study may also contribute to the development of plant‐based medicinal applications and the production of high‐value PMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]