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Limited organic carbon in drinking water constrains the removal of nitrate‑nitrogen (NO 3 - -N) via aerobic denitrification. This paper reports the use of silica-coated nano zero-valent iron (nZVI@SiO 2 ) as a stable and sustainable electron donor to enhance aerobic denitrification. The nZVI@SiO 2 , synthesized via a one-step method, was resistant to oxidation and exhibited excellent stability. In conjunction with aerobic denitrifying bacteria, nZVI@SiO 2 achieved NO 3 - -N and total nitrogen TN removal efficiencies of 90.64 % and 80.94 %, respectively. This represents an increase of 24.15 % in the efficiency of TN removal compared with that of the nZVI system. The activity of the nZVI system diminished gradually after just three cycles, whereas nZVI@SiO 2 maintained NO 3 - -N and TN removal efficiencies of 89.33 % and 78.08 %, respectively, after four cycles, respectively, indicating its sustainable ability to enhance aerobic denitrification. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated enhanced electron transfer efficiency of nZVI@SiO 2 . Furthermore, nZVI@SiO 2 significantly promoted the activity of the electron transfer system, ATP levels, nitrate/nitrite reductase activity, contents of complexes I and III, and extracellular polymeric substances. nZVI@SiO 2 significantly enhanced electron generation, transfer, and consumption during biological denitrification by functioning as both an electron donor and mediator. The findings implicate nZVI@SiO 2 as a means to enhance nitrogen removal by aerobic denitrifying microorganisms in oligotrophic water via sustained donation of electrons., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to characterize colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae (CoRKp) strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections and bacteremia between 1999 and 2022 at a tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan., Methods: A total of 1966 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected, among which 21 strains were identified as CoRKp. The antimicrobial susceptibility of these CoRKp strains to 19 antibiotics was assessed. The genome characteristics of 21 CoRKp strains were determined by Nanopore-Illumina hybrid whole genome sequencing. Additionally, conjugation assays were conducted to determine the transferability of plasmids carrying mcr genes to K. pneumoniae ATCC BAA-1706 and E. coli C600. The larvae infection model was used to analyze the differences in virulence between transconjugants and recipient strains., Results: Among the 21 CoRKp, 12 were multidrug-resistant, and four were extensively drug-resistant. The distribution of sequence types (STs) and K types among the CoRKp strains was quite diverse, and ST307 (5 strains) and K64 (3 strains) dominated in CoRKp. The insertion elements IS903B and ISVsa5, were found to inactivate mgrB of 1 and 2 CoRKp isolates, respectively. Moreover, 1, 4, 6, and 1 missense mutations of PhoQ, PmrA, PmrB, and MgrB, were identified in 21 CoRKp. Only two isolates SC-KP169 and SC-KP585 carried mcr-1 and mcr-8, respectively. The plasmid pSC-KP169-1 could be transferred inter- and intra-genus and contributed to the virulence of K. pneumoniae to larvae. In contrast, the plasmid pSC-KP585-1 could be transferred to E. coli but could not affect its virulence to larvae., Conclusions: We identified 21 CoRKp from 1966 isolates and found a conjugative plasmid carrying mcr-1 gene that contributed to the virulence of K. pneumoniae to larvae., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) risk associated with statin therapy in hyperlipidemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) remains obscure., Aim: This retrospective cohort study investigated the UTUC risk for hyperlipidemic patients with CKD or ESKD associated with statin therapy., Methods: From the national insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified hyperlipidemic patients and established three pairs of statin users and non-users sub-cohorts matched by propensity scores: 401,490 pairs with normal kidney function, 37,734 pairs with CKD, and 6271 pairs with ESKD. Incidence rates and hazard ratio (HR) of UTUC were estimated, by the end of 2016, between statin and non-statin cohorts, and between hydrophilic statins users and lipophilic statins users. Time-dependent model estimated adjusted HR, and sub-distribution HR (sHR) accounting for the competing risk of deaths., Results: The statin-users with ESKD were at increased UTUC risk (sHR 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-3.06), significant for younger patients (40-64 years). The incidence was twofold greater in women than in men (31.8 versus 15.9 per 10,000 person-years). Receiving lipophilic statins was associated with increased UTUC risk in CKD and ESKD patients, while receiving hydrophilic statins was associated with increased UTUC risk in ESKD patients., Conclusions: Patients with ESKD receiving statin were at an increased UTUC risk, significant for younger group (<65 y/o). The positive associations between UTUC and statin persisted in both genders with ESKD, and in therapy with either lipophilic statins or hydrophilic statins. Statin users with ESKD deserve attention for UTUC prevention.

Anxiety and postural control deficits may be related in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). However, the association between anxiety levels and weight-shifting control remains ambiguous. This study investigated whether 1) weight-shifting control differed between PwPD with and without anxiety, and 2) the learning effect of weight-shifting differed between the two populations. Additionally, we evaluated cortical activities to investigate neural mechanisms underlying weight-shifting control. Twenty-eight PwPD (14 anxiety, 14 nonanxiety) participated in a 5-day weight-shifting study by coupling the bearing weight of their more-affected leg to a sinusoidal target at 0.25 Hz. We tested the weight-shifting control on day 1 (pretest), day 3 (posttest), and day 5 (retention test) with a learning session on day 3. The error and jerk of weight-shifting trajectory and the theta and gamma powers of electroencephalography in prefrontal, frontal, sensorimotor and parietal-occipital areas were measured. At the pretest, the anxiety group showed larger error and smaller jerk of weight-shifting with greater prefrontal theta, frontal gamma, and sensorimotor gamma powers than the nonanxiety group. Anxiety intensity was correlated positively with weight-shifting error and theta power but negatively with weight-shifting jerk. Reduced weight-shifting error with increased theta power after weight-shifting learning was observed in the nonanxiety group. However, the anxiety group showed decreased gamma power after weight-shifting learning without behavior change. Our findings suggest differential weight-shifting control and associated cortical activation between PwPD with and without anxiety. In addition, anxiety would deteriorate weight-shifting control and hinder weight-shifting learning benefits in PwPD, leading to less weight-shifting accuracy and correction., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Aging Association.)

The standard treatment guideline for stage IIIA/N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial despite years of research, and the necessity of surgery is still debated. This study aims to explore optimal treatment and surgical methods for stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients.We obtained data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) to compare the overall survival rates of different subgroups of stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients, as well as the overall survival rates of different treatment strategies and surgical methods.Our study included 2,237 stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy led to significantly higher survival rates. For T1N2 patients, surgery alone showed better survival (P < .001). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy provided higher survival for T2N2 and T3N2 patients (P < .001). Among surgical types, lobectomy had the lowest mortality rate, which was statistically significant.In conclusion, our study recommends neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery and adjuvant therapy for improved survival in stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients. Surgery should not be excluded for resectable stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients, with lobectomy being the preferred option due to its significantly higher survival rate., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose. IRB approval: Changhua Christian Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB number:190410)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: To investigate the association between air pollution and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues., Methods: We enrolled 1298 CHB patients treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues and analysed the incidence and risk factors for HCC. Daily estimates of air pollutants were estimated since the previous year from the enrolment date., Results: The annual incidence of HCC was 2.1/100 person-years after a follow-up period of over 4840.5 person-years. Factors with the strongest association with HCC development were liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.00/1.55-5.81; p = 0.001), male sex (2.98/1.51-5.90; p = 0.02), body mass index (1.11/1.04-1.18; p = 0.002) and age (1.06/1.04-1.09; p < 0.001). Among patients with cirrhosis, the factors associated with HCC development were male sex (HR/95% CI: 2.10/1.00-4.25; p = 0.04) and NO 2 (per one-unit increment, parts per billion; 1.07/1.01-1.13; p = 0.01). Moreover, patients with the highest quartile of annual NO 2 exposure had more than a three-fold risk of HCC than those with the lowest quartile of annual exposure (HR/95% CI: 3.26/1.34-7.93; p = 0.01). Among patients without cirrhosis, the strongest factors associated with HCC development were male sex (HR/95% CI: 5.86/1.79-19.23; p = 0.004), age (1.12/1.07-1.17; p < 0.001) and platelet count (0.99/0.98-1.00; p = 0.04)., Conclusions: Air pollution influences HCC development in CHB patients who receive nucleotide/nucleoside analogue therapy. Long-term NO 2 exposure might accelerate HCC development in CHB patients with cirrhosis receiving nucleotide/nucleoside analogue treatment., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Thermometric techniques with high accuracy, fast response and ease of implementation are desirable for the study of dynamic combustion environments, transient reacting flows, and non-equilibrium plasmas. Herein, single-shot single-beam coherent Raman scattering (SS-CRS) thermometry is developed, for the first time to our knowledge, by using air lasing as a probe. We show that the air-lasing-assisted CRS signal has a high signal-to-noise ratio enabling single-shot measurements at a 1 kHz repetition rate. The SS-CRS thermometry consistently exhibits precision of <2.3% at different temperatures, but the inaccuracy grows with the increase in temperature. The high measurement repeatability, 1 kHz acquisition rate and easy-to-implement single-beam scheme are achieved thanks to the unique temporal, spectral and spatial characteristics of air lasing. This work opens a novel avenue for high-speed CRS thermometry, holding tremendous potential for fast diagnostics of transient reacting flows and plasmas., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introducing metallic nanoparticles, such as Au, on a substrate as a surfactant or wetting inducer has been demonstrated as a simple but effective way to facilitate the formation of ultra-thin silver layers (UTSLs) during the subsequent Ag deposition. However, most studies have paid much attention to the applications of UTSLs assisted by metallic surfactants but neglected the underlying mechanisms of how the metallic surfactant affects the formation of UTSL. Herein, we have applied in situ grazing-incidence wide-/small-angle X-ray scattering to reveal the effects of the Au surfactant or seed layer (pre-deposited Au nanoparticles) on the formation of UTSL by high-power impulse magnetron sputter deposition (HiPIMS) on a zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film. The comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the in situ X-ray scattering data revealed that the pre-deposited Au nanoparticles can act as additional defects or growth cores for the sputtered Ag atoms despite using HiPIMS, which itself forms many nucleation sites. As a result, the formation of a continuous and smooth UTSL is reached earlier in HiPIMS compared with bare ZnO thin films. Based on the mechanism revealed by the in situ measurements, we provide insight into the formation of UTSL and further UTSL-based applications.

The legalization of hemp cultivation in the United States has raised the need for reliable methods to distinguish between legal hemp and illegal marijuana. Genetic analysis has emerged as a powerful tool, surpassing traditional chemical methods in specific aspects, such as analyzing trace amounts, aged samples, and different parts of the sample. Genetic differences in cannabinoid synthase genes offer promise for precise crop type determination, particularly focusing on genes like tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS), cannabidiolic acid synthase (CBDAS), and cannabichromenic acid synthase (CBCAS). However, previous research faced several challenges in developing discriminatory genetic markers, including limited sample sizes, high similarity between the synthase genes, and the presence of pseudo synthase genes. A comprehensive study using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) introduced a differentiation flowchart based on THCAS, CBDAS, and THCAS pseudogenes. To bridge the gap between NGS and the practical requirements of crime laboratories, two rapid genotyping assays were developed: a CE-based SNaPshot™ assay and a TaqMan™ real-time PCR assay. While the SNaPshot™ assay effectively differentiated various hemp and marijuana types, differentiation was limited with marijuana samples containing THC% close to the 0.3% legal threshold (0.3%-1%). The TaqMan™ qPCR SNP genotyping assay provided quicker results, making it an efficient choice for crime laboratories. However, this method had the same limitations as the SNaPshot™ assay with addtional challenges in differentiating edible hemp seed samples, and it did not provide additional CBD information. The study also highlighted the influence of two variants of one THCAS pseudogene on chemotype determination, emphasizing the necessity for precise genetic analysis for accurate categorization of cannabis varieties., (© 2024 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.)

Myelin protein zero-like 3 (MPZL3) is an Immunoglobulin-containing transmembrane protein with predicted cell adhesion molecule function. Loss of 11q23, where the MPZL3 gene resides, is frequently observed in cancer, and MPZL3 copy number alterations are frequently detected in tumor specimens. Yet the role and consequences of altered MPZL3 expression have not been explored in tumor development and progression. We addressed this in ovarian cancer, where both MPZL3 amplification and deletions are observed in respective subsets of high-grade serous specimens. While high and low MPZL3 expressing populations were similarly observed in primary ovarian tumors from an independent patient cohort, metastatic omental tumors largely displayed decreased MPZL3 expression, suggesting that MPZL3 loss is associated with metastatic progression. MPZL3 knock-down leads to strong upregulation of vimentin and an EMT gene signature that is associated with poor patient outcomes. Moreover, MPZL3 is necessary for homotypic cancer cell adhesion, and decreasing MPZL3 expression enhances invasion and clearance of mesothelial cell monolayers. In addition, MPZL3 loss abrogated cell cycle progression and proliferation. This was associated with increased resistance to Cisplatin and Olaparib and reduced DNA damage and apoptosis in response to these agents. Enhanced Cisplatin resistance was further validated in vivo . These data demonstrate for the first time that MPZL3 acts as an adhesion molecule and that MPZL3 loss results in EMT, decreased proliferation, and drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Our study suggests that decreased MPZL3 expression is a phenotype of ovarian cancer tumor progression and metastasis and may contribute to treatment failure in advanced-stage patients.

Thermal stratification in lakes and reservoirs may intensify and become more persistent with global warming. Periodic thermal stratification is a naturally occurring phenomenon that indicates a transition in aquatic ecosystem homeostasis, which could lead to the deterioration of water quality and impaired aquatic communities. However, the responses of communities and associated nutrient cycling processes to periodic thermal stratification are still poorly understood. This study delved into the changes in water quality, algal-bacterial communities, and functional diversity influenced by thermal stratification succession, and their relationship with nutrient cycling. The results indicated that the apparent community dynamics were driven by environmental factors, with ammonium (NH 4 + ) and nitrate (NO 3 - -N) being the most important factors that influenced the algal and bacterial community structure, respectively. Ecological niche widths were narrower during thermal stratification, exacerbating the antagonism of the communities, and stochastic processes dominated community assembly. Then, the complexities of the co-occurrence network decreased with succession. Algal community assembly became more deterministic, while bacterial assembly became more stochastic. Moreover, the roles of algal-bacterial multidiversity in nutrient cycling differed: bacterial diversity enhanced nutrient cycling, whereas algal diversity had the opposite effect. These findings broadened our understanding of microbial ecological mechanisms to environmental change and provided valuable ecological knowledge for securing water supplies in drinking water reservoirs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) is a significant health issue characterized by hypoperfusion due to damage or occlusion of the cerebral or carotid arteries. CCI may lead to progressive cognitive impairment that is considered as a prelude to neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been implicated in vascular repair in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, primarily by differentiating into endothelial cells (ECs) or through paracrine effects. However, the clinical transplantation of stem cell therapies remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of EPC-derived conditioned medium (EPC-CM) on the impaired vasculature and neurological function in a rodent model of CCI and the mechanism involved., Methods: EPC-CM was analyzed by cytokine array to identify key factors involved in angiogenesis and cellular senescence. The effects and mechanism of the candidate factors in the EPC-CM were validated in vitro using oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-injured ECs and EPCs. The therapeutic effects of EPC-CM and the identified key factor were further examined in a rat model of CCI, which was induced by bilateral internal carotid artery ligation (BICAL). EPC-CM was administered via intracisternal injection one week post BICAL. The cerebral microvasculature and neurobehavior of the rats were examined three weeks after BICAL., Results: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was identified as a key factor in the EPC-CM. Recombinant MIF protein promoted angiogenesis and prevented senescence in the injured EPCs and ECs. The effect was similar to that of the EPC-CM. These therapeutic effects were diminished when the EPC-CM was co-treated with MIF-specific antibody (Ab). Additionally, the vascular, motor, and cognitive improvements observed in the BICAL rats treated with EPC-CM were abolished by co-treated with MIF Ab. Furthermore, we found MIF promoted angiogenesis and anti-senescence via activating the AKT pathway. Inhibition of the AKT pathway diminished the protective effects of MIF in the in vitro study., Conclusions: We demonstrated that EPC-CM protected the brain from chronic ischemic injury and promoted functional recovery through MIF-mediated AKT pathway. These findings suggest EPC-CM holds potential as a novel cell-free therapeutic approach for treating CCI through the actions of MIF., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) and was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of National Taiwan University (Approval no. IACUC-20180430, date of approval: 08/01/2019). The EPCs were collected from fresh human umbilical cord blood and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Study title: Platform establishment, validation, and biomarkers study in cerebrovascular diseases: using pediatric moyamoya disease as a pilot. Approval no. IRB-201204074RIC, date of approval: 07/04/2012; Study title: The pathophysiology of indirect revascularization in chronic cerebral ischemia-induced tauopathy: an in vitro, in vivo and clinical study. Approval no. IRB-202012174RIND, date of approval: 01/19/2021). All patients gave written informed consent for participation in the study and the use of samples. Consent for publication All the authors approved this manuscript to be published in the Journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Therapeutic approaches for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) differ due to distinct diagnostic criteria and treatment strengths. However, reliable biomarkers to differentiate AML from MDS are needed. This study investigated transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications, particularly hydroxy-wybutosine (OHyW), in the transition from MDS to AML. We found a significant decrease in OHyW and its biosynthetic enzyme leucine carboxyl methyltransferase 2 (LCMT2, alias symbol is TYW4) levels in AML compared to MDS. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed distinct tRNA modification patterns, with AML showing decreased OHyW and increased precursor levels, indicating a disrupted biosynthetic pathway. Lower LCMT2 expression correlated with reduced drug sensitivity and limited differentiation potential in AML cell lines. The results highlight the pivotal role of tRNA modifications in the progression from MDS to AML and suggest that targeting LCMT2 may enhance therapeutic outcomes in AML. By understanding these molecular mechanisms, we can develop new diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies, potentially transforming the clinical management of AML and improving patient outcomes., (© 2024 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: While hypomagnesemia is known to be a risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI), the impact of hypermagnesemia on prognosis in AKI patients undergoing continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) remains unclear. This study investigates the relationship between hypermagnesemia and clinical outcomes in this patient population., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from a multicenter medical repository spanning from 2001 to 2019, involving patients who underwent CKRT. Patients were categorized into normomagnesemia (<2 mEq/L) and hypermagnesemia groups based (≥2 mEq/L) on their levels at CKRT initiation., Results: Among the 2625 patients, 1194 (45.5 %) had elevated serum magnesium levels. The hypermagnesemia group exhibited a similar rate of non-recovery of renal function at 90-days compared to the normomagnesemia group (63.1 % vs. 62.8 %, odds ratio [OR] = 1.01, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.90-1.14). Furthermore, the high magnesium group demonstrated higher one-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.14, 95 % CI 1.07-1.21) and an elevated risk of one-year arrhythmia (HR 4.77, 95 % CI 1.59-14.29). There was no difference of incidence of seizure between hypermagnesemia and normomagnesemia group., Conclusions: Our study suggests that hypermagnesemia in AKI patients undergoing CKRT is not associated with improved renal recovery but is linked to worse clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality and arrhythmia. Close monitoring of serum magnesium levels is recommended in this population for optimizing clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dinoflagellate requires a lower temperature and blooms frequently in the spring and autumn compared to regular cyanobacteria. The outbreak of dinoflagellate bloom will also lead to the death of some aquatic organisms. However, research on freshwater dinoflagellates is still lacking due to the challenges posed by classification and culture in laboratory. The removal effect and mechanism of Peridinium umbonatum (P. umbonatum, a typical dinoflagellate) were investigated using solar/chlorine in this study. The effect of simulated solar alone on the removal of algae was negligible, and chlorine alone had only a slight effect in removing algae. However, solar/chlorine showed a better removal efficiency with shoulder length reduction factor and k max enhancement factor of 2.80 and 3.8, respectively, indicating a shorter latency period and faster inactivation rate for solar/chlorine compared to solar and chlorine alone. The removal efficiency of algae gradually increased with the chlorine dosage, but it dropped as the cell density grew. When the experimental temperature was raised to 30 °C, algal removal efficiency significantly increased, as the temperature was unsuitable for the survival of P. umbonatum. Attacks on cell membranes by chlorine and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) produced by solar/chlorine led to a decrease in cell membrane integrity, leading to a rise in intracellular reactive oxygen species and an inhibition of photosynthetic and antioxidant systems. Cell regeneration was not observed in either the chlorine or solar/chlorine systems due to severe cell damage or cysts formation. In addition, natural solar radiation was demonstrated to have the same enhancing effect as simulated solar radiation. However, the algal removal efficiency of solar/chlorine in real water was reduced compared to 119 medium, mainly due to background material in the real water substrate that consumed the oxidant or acted as shading agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A pilot-scale filtration system was adopted to prepare filter media with catalytic activity to remove manganese (Mn 2+ ) and ammonium (NH 4 + -N). Three different combinations of oxidants (KMnO 4 and K 2 FeO 4 ) and reductants (MnSO 4 and FeCl 2 ) were used during the start-up period. Filter R3 started up by KMnO 4 and FeCl 2 (Mn 7+ →MnO x ) exhibited excellent catalytic property, and the NH 4 + -N and Mn 2+ removal efficiency reached over 80% on the 10 th and 35 th days, respectively. Filter R1 started up by K 2 FeO 4 and MnSO 4 (MnO x ←Mn 2+ ) exhibited the worst catalytic property. Filter R2 started up by KMnO 4 and MnSO 4 (Mn 7+ →MnO x ←Mn 2+ ) were in between. According to Zeta potential results, the Mn-based oxides (MnO x ) formed by Mn 7+ →MnO x performed the highest pH IEP and pH PZC . The higher the pH IEP and pH PZC , the more unfavorable the cation adsorption. However, it was inconsistent with its excellent Mn 2+ and NH 4 + -N removal abilities, implying that catalytic oxidation played a key role. Combined with XRD and XPS analysis, the results showed that the MnO x produced by the reduction of KMnO 4 showed early formation of buserite crystals, high degree of amorphous, high content of Mn 3+ and lattice oxygen with the higher activity to form defects. The above results showed that MnO x produced by the reduction of KMnO 4 was more conducive to the formation of active species for catalytic oxidation of NH 4 + -N and Mn 2+ removal. This study provides new insights on the formation mechanisms of the active MnO x that could catalytic oxidation of NH 4 + -N and Mn 2+ ., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In this study, a novel concept of multipoint anionic bridge (MAB) is proposed and proved, which utilizes anions with different sites to connect with the asymmetric solvation structure (ASS). Compared to usual solvation structures, this study utilizes the multifunctional groups of difluoro(oxalate)borate anion (ODFB - ), which can connect with Li + . By tailoring the concentration, the anion serves as a bridge between different solvated structures. The electrolyte is investigated through in situ techniques and simulations to draw correlations between different solvation structures and reaction pathways. The proposed design demonstrates remarkable high-temperature performance on both the anode and cathode sides, enabling stable cycling of LCO||graphite (0.5 Ah, 1.0 C) pouch cell for over 200 cycles at 80 °C and facilitating Li||MCMB and Li||LFP cells to deliver stable performance for 200 cycles at 100 °C. This work paves the way for the development of high-performance electrolyte systems by designing and using new multipoint anions to construct ASSs., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery decortication for phase 3 thoracic empyema is widely accepted, but its optimal timing has not been established. We aim to investigate and assess this timing, in terms of overall survival, for chronic empyema., Methods: Two hundred four patients with pneumonia-caused phase 3 empyema were treated with video-assisted thoracic surgery decortication over 10-years at Changhua Christian Hospital. The 90-day post-operative survival status was analyzed, and we compared the survivor group versus the non-survivor group. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to identify the optimal decortication timing., Results: A comparison between survivors and non-survivors showed statistical differences among age (p=0.004), presence of cardiovascular disease (p=0.018), presence of end-stage renal disease (p=0.002), duration to surgery (p=0.013), length of intensive care unit stay (p=0.010), and overall length of hospital stay (p=0.015). ROC curve analysis determined the cut-off for video-assisted thoracic surgery decortication, based on optimal 90-day post-operative survival, to be 7.5 days after hospitalization; mortality increases threefold thereafter (14.2% vs 44.6%, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, end-stage renal disease, pleural effusion pH≦7.2 and duration to surgery >7.5 days negatively impacted 90-day post-operative survival., Conclusions: Patients receiving decortication surgery within 7.5 days of hospital admission had better overall survival., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We present a compact dual-arm thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) electro-optic phase modulator fabricated using the photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching (PLACE) technique. The design of the device doubles the modulation amount compared to single-arm modulators while maintaining the same chip length. Achieving a half-wave voltage of approximately 3 V, the device outperforms conventional single-arm phase modulators. Furthermore, the phase modulator exhibits low sensitivity to optical wavelengths in the range of 1510-1600 nm and offers a low insertion loss of 2.8 dB. The capability to generate multiple sideband signals for optical frequency comb applications is also demonstrated, producing 29 sideband signals at an input microwave power of 2 W.

We demonstrate an on-chip photodetector by integrating a graphene and topological insulator Bi 2 Te 3 heterostructure on a thin-film lithium niobate waveguide. Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) waveguides are fabricated by the photolithography-assisted chemical mechanical etching method. The bismuth telluride (Bi 2 Te 3 ) and graphene heterostructure design provides enhanced photocurrent due to the effective photocarrier generation. The lithium niobate waveguide-integrated Bi 2 Te 3 /graphene heterojunction presents a high absorption coefficient of 2.1 dB/µm. The Bi 2 Te 3 /graphene heterojunction photodetector exhibits a responsivity of 2.54 mA/W without external bias at a 1.55 µm wavelength, which is enhancement of sevenfold as compared to the pure graphene-based photodetector. The photodetector has a 3 dB bandwidth of over 4.7 GHz. This work provides a potentially viable method for a self-powered, high responsivity, and fast response of the photodetector integrated with the LNOI photonic platform.

Taletrectinib is a potent selective ROS and pan-NTRK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and has been developed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To facilitate pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies of taletrectinib, we developed a procedure for ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to detect the plasma level of taletrectinib in dogs. This assay procedure was validated in compliance with FDA guidance. The dog plasma samples were spiked with internal standard (IS), followed by protein precipitation, and analyzed using a Waters ACQUITY BEH C 18 column coupled to a Thermo triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Separation was executed using the acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid solution with gradient elution, at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Taletrectinib and IS were monitored by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with m/z 406.2 > 349.2 and m/z 441.2 > 138.1, respectively. The procedure demonstrated excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.999 within the concentration range of 0.2-200 ng/mL. The inter- and intra-day accuracy ranged from -5.25 % to 5.26 %, and the precision was below 6.39 %. Acetonitrile-mediated protein precipitation showed high extraction efficiency and a recovery above 85 %. The procedure was then applied to quantify taletrectinib in beagle dog plasma after oral and intravenous doses and achieved success. The obtained pharmacokinetic parameters indicated high bioavailability of taletrectinib (>85 %) and extensive tissue distribution (>40 L/kg)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Spirulina is the common name for the edible, nonheterocystous, filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis that is grown industrially as a food supplement, animal feedstock, and pigment source. Although there are many applications for engineering this organism, until recently no genetic tools or reproducible transformation methods have been published. While recent work showed the production of a diversity of proteins in A. platensis, including single-domain antibodies for oral delivery, there remains a need for a modular, characterized genetic toolkit. Here, we independently establish a reproducible method for the transformation of A. platensis and engineer this bacterium to produce acetaminophen as proof-of-concept for small molecule production in an edible host. This work opens A. platensis to the wider scientific community for future engineering as a functional food for nutritional enhancement, modification of organoleptic traits, and production of pharmaceuticals for oral delivery., (© 2024 The Author(s). Biotechnology and Bioengineering published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Effect of periodic thermal stratification in deep-water reservoirs on aquatic ecosystems has been a research hotspot. Nevertheless, there is limited information on the response patterns of microbial communities to environmental changes under such specialized conditions. To fill this gap, samples were collected from a typical deep-water reservoir during the thermal stratification period (SP) and mixed period (MP). Three crucial questions were answered: 1) How microbial communities develop with stratified to mixed succession, 2) how the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic processes to microbial community assembly, shifted in two periods, and 3) how environmental variables drive microbial co-occurrence networks and functional group alteration. We used Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing to investigate the dynamics of the microbial community over two periods, constructed molecular ecological networks (MENs), and unraveled assembly processes based on null and neutral models. The results indicated that a total of 33.9 % and 27.7 % of bacterial taxa, and 23.1 % and 19.4 % of fungal taxa were enriched in the stratified and mixed periods, respectively. Nitrate, water temperature, and total phosphorus drove the variation of microbial community structure. During the thermal stratification period, stochastic processes (dispersal limitation) and deterministic processes (variable selection) dominated the assembly of bacterial and fungal communities, followed by a shift to stochastic processes dominated by dispersal limitation in two communities. The MENs results revealed that thermal stratification-induced environmental stresses increased the complexity of microbial networks but decreased its robustness, resulting in more vulnerable ecological networks. Therefore, this work provides critical ecological insights for the longevity and sustainability of water quality management in an artificially regulated engineered system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives : The Connexin43 ( Cx43 ) gene is a suspected tumor suppressor gene, as re-expressed wild-type Cx43 genes reduce the malignancy potential of tumor cells. However, the role of Cx43 gene expression in human lung tumorigenesis remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Tumor tissues from 165 primary lung cancer patients were collected to study Cx43 protein expression and gene mutations using immunohistochemistry and direct DNA sequencing. In addition, Cx43 genes with or without mutations were transfected to CL-3 human lung cancer cells to confirm the function of these mutant forms of the Cx43 gene. Results: Aberrant localization of Cx43 protein in the nucleus and cytoplasm of tumor cells was detected in 14 out of 165 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Mutations in the Cx43 gene were also found in patients with aberrant Cx43 localization, and transfection of these mutant genes into lung cancer cells enhanced their proliferation. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate Cx43 gene mutations in human lung neoplasm, supporting the hypothesis that Cx43 may function as a tumor suppressor in some lung cancer patients. Additionally, the findings suggest an association between aberrant localization of Cx43 protein expression and tumor progression.

Prussian white (PW) is considered a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, challenges, such as lattice defects and poor conductivity limit its application. Herein, the composite materials of manganese-iron based Prussian white and reduced graphene oxide (PW/rGO) were synthesized via a one-step in situ synthesis method with sodium citrate, which was employed both as a chelating agent to control the reaction rate during the coprecipitation process of PW synthesis and as a reducing agent for GO. The low precipitation speed helps minimize lattice defects, while rGO enhances electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the one-step in situ synthesis method is simpler and more efficient than the traditional synthesis method. Compared with pure PW, the PW/rGO composites exhibit significantly improved electrochemical properties. Cycling performance tests indicated that the PW/rGO-10 sample exhibited the highest initial discharge capacity and the best cyclic stability. The PW/rGO-10 has an initial discharge capacity of 128 mAh g -1 at 0.1 C (1 C = 170 mA g -1 ), and retains 49.53% capacity retention after 100 cycles, while the PW only delivers 112 mAh g -1 with a capacity retention of 17.79% after 100 cycles. Moreover, PW/rGO-10 also shows better rate performance and higher sodium ion diffusion coefficient ( D Na + ) than the PW sample. Therefore, the incorporation of rGO not only enhances the electrical conductivity but also promotes the rapid diffusion of sodium ions, effectively improving the electrochemical performance of the composite as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Background: Empyema is a serious infection in pleural space. Finding out seasonal variations of empyema and its pathogens can help in providing preventive measures, and implicating future researches., Methods: This study is a 10-year observational study in a single center. Patients with empyema thoracis receiving thoracoscopic decortication between January 2012 and December 2021 were included in the study., Results: There were 1082 empyema patients enrolled in this study. No seasonal variation was noted (spring = 25.7 %, summer =25.5 %, autumn = 24.8 %, winter = 24.0 %). However, we observed seasonal variations in pathogens. Streptococcus species had slightly higher prevalence in winter and spring than summer and autumn (54.3 % vs. 45.7 %) without significant difference (p = 0.251). On the contrary, Staphylococcus species occurred more often in summer and autumn than winter and spring (61.5 % vs. 38.5 %) (p = 0.035). Klebsiella species were more likely found in autumn (34.9 %) (p = 0.050), and Pseudomonas species showed no peak prevalence in any season (p = 0.423). The incidence of Streptococcus species increased over the years., Conclusions: Although no seasonal variation was found in severe empyema patients requiring surgery, there were seasonal variations for the pathogens in Taiwan. The medical community should focus on Streptococcus species in winter and spring and Staphylococcus species in summer and autumn., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aberrant mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics are frequently associated with pathologies, including cancer. We show that alternative splice variants of the fission protein Drp1 (DNM1L) contribute to the complexity of mitochondrial fission/fusion regulation in tumor cells. High tumor expression of the Drp1 alternative splice variant lacking exon 16 relative to other transcripts is associated with poor outcome in ovarian cancer patients. Lack of exon 16 results in Drp1 localization to microtubules and decreased association with mitochondrial fission sites, culminating in fused mitochondrial networks, enhanced respiration, changes in metabolism, and enhanced pro-tumorigenic phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. These effects are inhibited by siRNAs designed to specifically target the endogenously expressed transcript lacking exon 16. Moreover, lack of exon 16 abrogates mitochondrial fission in response to pro-apoptotic stimuli and leads to decreased sensitivity to chemotherapeutics. These data emphasize the pathophysiological importance of Drp1 alternative splicing, highlight the divergent functions and consequences of changing the relative expression of Drp1 splice variants in tumor cells, and strongly warrant consideration of alternative splicing in future studies focused on Drp1., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study uses a resource perspective that combines theories used commonly to explore recovery experiences as a theoretical framework and investigate the effects of recovery at the beginning of the workday on exhaustion and vigour at the end of the workday, with workflow in the morning as a mediator. An experience sampling method was used to collect data from 84 fulltime employees. Participants received three survey links each workday over a 2-week period, resulting in 837 days-level and 2517 data points. Hierarchical linear regression was used to test hypotheses, with results suggesting that greater recovery at the beginning of the workday correlated negatively with exhaustion and positively with vigour at the end of the workday. Recovery at the beginning correlated positively with flow state in the morning, and flow state correlated positively with vigour at the end of the workday. Flow state in the morning mediated the relationship between recovery level at the beginning and vigour at the end of the workday. These findings suggest the importance of recovery and the effects of flow state on employees' vigour., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Biliary mucinous cystic neoplasms (BMCNs) are rare hepatobiliary cystic tumors, which can be divided into noninvasive and invasive types. This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of BMCNs in a large single center., Methods: We analyzed 49 patients with BMCNs confirmed by postoperative pathology at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January 2007 and December 2021., Results: Among the 49 patients, 37 were female (75.5%), and the average age was 57.04 years. Common symptoms included abdominal discomfort, jaundice and fever, while 22 patients (44.9%) had no symptoms. Serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and CA125 concentrations were elevated in 34.8% and 19.6% of patients, respectively. Forty-eight patients had tumors in the intrahepatic bile ducts and only one had a tumor in the extrahepatic bile duct. Forty-eight patients with noninvasive intrahepatic BMCNs were further analyzed in terms of pathological features: 34 (70.8%) had low-grade intraepithelial neoplasms (LGINs), and 14 (29.2%) had high-grade intraepithelial neoplasms (HGINs). The potential immunohistochemical markers of BMCNs were cytokeratin (CK) 19, CK7, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. Follow-up data for 37 patients with intrahepatic BMCNs were obtained. The median overall survival (OS) of BMCNs was not reached. The longest survival time was 137 months.The 5- and 10-year OS rates were 100% and 85.4%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 93.9% and 80.2%, respectively., Conclusions: BMCNs are rare cystic neoplasms that commonly occur in middle-aged females. BMCNs can only be diagnosed and classified by postoperative pathology, as there are no specific clinical presentations, serological indicators or imaging modalities for preoperative diagnosis. Complete surgical resection is necessary for BMCNs, and the postoperative prognosis is favorable., Competing Interests: Competing interest No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article., (Copyright © 2023 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, multifunctional, multilevel phase plates of quartz substrate were efficiently prepared by using a newly developed polygon scanner-based femtosecond laser photolithography system combined with inductively coupled discharge plasma reactive-ion etching (ICP-RIE) technology. The femtosecond laser photolithography system can achieve a scanning speed of 5 m/s and a preparation efficiency of 15 cm 2 /h while ensuring an overlay alignment accuracy of less than 100 nm and a writing resolution of 500 nm. The ICP-RIE technology can control the etching depth error within ±5 nm and the mask-to-mask edge error is less than 1 μm. An 8-level Fresnel lens phase plate with a focal length of 20 mm and an 8-level Fresnel axicon phase plate with a cone angle of 5° were demonstrated. The diffraction efficiency was greater than 93%, and their performance was tested for focusing and glass cutting, respectively. Combined with the high-speed femtosecond laser photolithography system's infinite field-of-view (IFOV) processing capability, the one-time direct writing preparation of phase plate masks of different sizes was realized on a 6-inch wafer. This is expected to reduce the production cost of quartz substrate diffractive optical elements and promote their customized mass production.

Accurate solute solubility measuring and modeling in supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO 2 ) would address the best working conditions and thermodynamic boundaries for material processing with this type of fluid. Theory- and data-driven methods are two general modeling approaches. Using theory-driven methods, the solubility is estimated based on the principles of thermodynamics, while data-driven methods are developed by training the algorithms. Despite acceptance of each of these methods, more experimental solubility data are still needed to promote modeling performances. In this study, for the first time, solubility of morphine sulfate is determined and modeled by a set of 13 semi-empirical (theory-driven) and random forest (data-driven) models. Using a laboratory system with an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, the experimental solubilities including 48 data points were obtained at different temperatures (308-338 K) and pressures (12-27 MPa). The minimum (0.806 × 10 -5 ) and maximum (5.902 × 10 -5 ) equilibrium mole fractions were observed at working pressures of 12 and 27 MPa, respectively, both at the same temperature of 338 K. It was indicated that random forest model (with AARD% of 1.29%) had an excellent predictive performance against semi-empirical models (with AARD% from 9.33 to 19.76%). The results showed that solute molecular weight had the highest effect on random forest modeling. Using modeling results from Chrastil and Bartle models, total and vaporization enthalpies of dissolution of morphine sulfate in ScCO 2 were found to be 35.12 and 59.04 kJ/mole, respectively., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The incidence of Mycobacterium marinum infection is on the rise; however, the existing drug treatment cycle is lengthy and often requires multi-drug combination. Therefore, there is a need to develop new and effective anti- M. marinum drugs. Cochliomycin A, a 14-membered resorcylic acid lactone with an acetonide group at C-5' and C-6', exhibits a wide range of antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antifouling activities. To further explore the effect of this structural change at C-5' and C-6' on this compound's activity, we synthesized a series of compounds with a structure similar to that of cochliomycin A, bearing ketal groups at C-5' and C-6'. The R / S configuration of the diastereoisomer at C-13' was further determined through an NOE correlation analysis of CH 3 or CH 2 at the derivative C-13' position and the H-5' and H-6' by means of a 1D NOE experiment. Further comparative 1 H NMR analysis of diastereoisomers showed the difference in the chemical shift ( δ ) value of the diastereoisomers. The synthetic compounds were screened for their anti-microbial activities in vitro. Compounds 15 - 24 and 28 - 35 demonstrated promising activity against M. marinum , with MIC 90 values ranging from 70 to 90 μM, closely approaching the MIC 90 of isoniazid. The preliminary structure-activity relationships showed that the ketal groups with aromatic rings at C-5' and C-6' could enhance the inhibition of M. marinum . Further study demonstrated that compounds 23 , 24 , 29 , and 30 had significant inhibitory effects on M. marinum and addictive effects with isoniazid and rifampicin. Its effective properties make it an important clue for future drug development toward combatting M. marinum resistance.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant concern for patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV), even after achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) or interferon (IFN)-based therapies. This study compared the risk of HCC in patients with HCV who achieved SVR through the DAA versus IFN regimens., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 4806 HCV patients, without coinfection nor prior HCC history, treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (DAA: 2825, IFN: 1981). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses with propensity score matching (PSM) were used to adjust for baseline differences., Results: DAA-treated patients exhibited a higher incidence of HCC than IFN-treated patients before and after PSM (after PSM: annual: 1% vs. 0.5%; 6-year: 6% vs. 3%, p = 0.01). Both DAA and IFN patients had a decreased HCC incidence during follow-up (>3 vs. <3 years from the end of treatment: DAA: 1.43% vs. 1.00% per year; IFN: 0.47% vs. 0.36% per year, both p < 0.05). HCC incidence was higher in the first three years post-SVR in DAA-treated ACLD patients and then decreased (3.26% vs. 1.39% per year, p < 0.01). In contrast, HCC incidence remained constant in the non-ACLD and IFN-treated groups. Multivariate Cox regression identified age ≥ 60, male sex, BMI, AFP ≥ 6 ng/mL, FIB-4, and ACLD status as independent risk factors for HCC, but antiviral regimens were not an independent factor for HCC., Conclusion: DAA treatment significantly affects HCC risk primarily within three years post-treatment, especially in younger HCV patients with ACLD. HCC incidence was reduced after three years in ACLD patients treated by DAA, but continued surveillance was still necessary. However, patients under 60 without advanced liver disease may require less intensive follow-up.

Thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) has become a promising material platform for large scale photonic integrated circuits (PICs). As an indispensable component in PICs, on-chip electrically tunable narrow-linewidth lasers have attracted widespread attention in recent years due to their significant applications in high-speed optical communication, coherent detection, precision metrology, laser cooling, coherent transmission systems, light detection and ranging (LiDAR). However, research on electrically driven, high-power, and narrow-linewidth laser sources on TFLN platforms is still in its infancy. This review summarizes the recent progress on the narrow-linewidth compact laser sources boosted by hybrid TFLN/III-V semiconductor integration techniques, which will offer an alternative solution for on-chip high performance lasers for the future TFLN PIC industry and cutting-edge sciences. The review begins with a brief introduction of the current status of compact external cavity semiconductor lasers (ECSLs) and recently developed TFLN photonics. The following section presents various ECSLs based on TFLN photonic chips with different photonic structures to construct external cavity for on-chip optical feedback. Some conclusions and future perspectives are provided.

We demonstrate high-extraction-rate Ta 2 O 5 -core/SiO 2 -clad photonic waveguides on silicon fabricated by the photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching technique. Low-confinement waveguides of larger than 70% coupling efficiency with optical fibers and medium propagation loss around 1 dB/cm are investigated in the experiment. Monolithic microring resonators based on Ta 2 O 5 waveguides have shown the quality factors to be above 10 5 near 1550 nm. The demonstrated Ta 2 O 5 waveguides and their fabrication method hold great promise in various cost-effective applications, such as optical interconnecting and switching., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: Acupuncture is frequently used to manage pediatric cerebral palsy (CP), yet updated evidence is needed to guide future research and clinical practice., Methods: Seven databases were searched from 1994 to 26 June 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving body, scalp, or ear acupuncture for managing CP, excluding acupoint injection, catgut embedding, electro-acupuncture, or laser acupuncture, were included., Results: Twenty RCTs with 1797 participants were analyzed. Acupuncture groups had better improvements in gross motor function measure (GMFM) scores by 5% (mean difference: 5.93, 95% CI: 3.67-8.19, p < 0.001, I 2 = 57%); a 16% higher probability to yield prominent improvement in effectiveness rate (ER) (risk ratio: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.25, p < 0.001, I 2 = 0%); and better outcomes in the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.3, 95%, CI: 0.11-0.49, p < 0.001, I 2 = 0%), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (SMD: 2.48; 95% CI: 2.00-2.97, p < 0.001, I 2 = 72%) and ADL (SMD: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.23-2.08, p < 0.001, I 2 = 91%). Studies with eight core acupoints identified from all ninety-five acupoints had better ER., Conclusions: Acupuncture, especially using core acupoints, may be effective for managing symptoms in children with CP.

Biofilms are composed of complex multi-species in nature, potentially threatening drinking water safety. In this work, the formation of single- and multi-species fungal biofilms formed by Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), and the inactivation of mature biofilms using chlor(am)ine were firstly investigated. Results revealed that the antagonistic interaction occurred between A. niger and A. flavus. Chloramination at 20 mg/L for 30 min achieved 74.74 % and 76.04 % inactivation of A. flavus and multi-species biofilm, which were 1.69- and 1.84-fold higher than that of chlorine at the same condition. However, no significant difference was observed in the inactivation of A. niger biofilm between chlorine and monochloramine disinfection due to the lower amount of extracellular polymeric substance produced by it (p > 0.05). The inactivation of biofilm by monochloramine fitted the Weibull model well. According to the Weibull model, the monochloramine resistance of biofilm were as follows: A. flavus > multi-species > A. niger biofilm. Besides, an increase in reactive oxygen levels, damage of cell membrane, and leakage of intracellular substances in biofilms were observed after chlor(am)ination. More intracellular polysaccharides and proteins were leaked in chloramination inactivation (p < 0.05). This study provides important implications for controlling fungal biofilm., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery combines a minimally invasive technique with multimodal locoregional analgesia to enhance recovery. The mainstay sedation protocol involves propofol and fentanyl. Dexmedetomidine, given its opioid-sparing effect with minimal respiratory depression, facilitates sedation in non-intubated patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine during non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery., Methods: A total of 114 patients who underwent non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery between June 2015 and September 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Of these, 34 were maintained with dexmedetomidine, propofol, and fentanyl, and 80 were maintained with propofol and fentanyl. After a 1:1 propensity score-matched analysis incorporating sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, pulmonary disease and hypertension, the clinical outcomes of 34 pairs of patients were assessed., Results: The dexmedetomidine group showed a significantly lower opioid consumption [10.3 (5.7-15.1) vs. 18.8 (10.0-31.0) mg, median (interquartile range); P = 0.001] on postoperative day 0 and a significantly shorter postoperative length of stay [3 (2-4) vs. 4 (3-5) days, median (interquartile range), P = 0.006] than the control group. During operation, the proportion of vasopressor administration was significantly higher in the dexmedetomidine group [18 (53) vs. 7 (21), patient number (%), P = 0.01]. On the other hand, the difference of the hypotension and bradycardia incidence, short-term morbidity and mortality rates between each group were nonsignificant., Conclusion: Adding adjuvant dexmedetomidine to propofol and fentanyl is safe and feasible for non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. With its opioid-sparing effect and shorter postoperative length of stay, dexmedetomidine may enhance recovery after surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is widely used for the identification of cannabinoids in seized plant material. Conditions used for instrumental analysis should maximize decarboxylation, while minimizing the in situ production of Δ9-THC inside the GC inlet. In this study, decarboxylation of the acidic Δ9-THC precursor and in situ degradation of cannabidiol (CBD) were investigated using seven commercial GC liners with different deactivation chemistries and geometries. While the inlet temperature was previously optimized at 250°C in a previously validated assay, we systematically examined the temperature-dependent decarboxylation of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (Δ9-THCA-A) and cyclization of CBD between 230°C and 310°C using different liners using favorable and unfavorable conditions. Significant differences in decarboxylation rate and CBD cyclization were observed between different liner types. While no temperature-dependent differences in decarboxylation rate were observed within liner type, liner-dependent differences were observed (α = 0.05), particularly between those with different geometry. In contrast, temperature and liner-dependent differences were observed for in situ formation of Δ9-THC (α = 0.05). This was influenced by liner geometry and to a smaller extent by surface deactivation. Effects were exacerbated with liner usage. While significant differences were observed using new and used GC liners, differences between liners of the same type but different lot numbers were not observed. Inter-instrument differences using the same liner were also evaluated and had minimal effect. Liner- and temperature-dependent effects were also confirmed using more than 20 cannabis plant extracts. Careful selection of liner, inlet conditions, and regular preventive maintenance can mitigate the risks associated with in situ formation Δ9-THC from CBD., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Spatial hindrance-based pro-antibodies (pro-Abs) are engineered antibodies to reduce monoclonal antibodies' (mAbs) on-target toxicity using universal designed blocking segments that mask mAb antigen-binding sites through spatial hindrance. By linking through protease substrates and linkers, these blocking segments can be removed site-specifically. Although many types of blocking segments have been developed, such as coiled-coil and hinge-based Ab locks, the molecular structure of the pro-Ab, particularly the region showing how the blocking fragment blocks the mAb, has not been elucidated by X-ray crystallography or cryo-EM. To achieve maximal effect, a pro-Ab must have high antigen-blocking and protease-restoring efficiencies, but the unclear structure limits its further optimization. Here, we utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the dynamic structures of a hinge-based Ab lock pro-Ab, pro-Nivolumab, and validated the simulated structures with small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS). The MD results were closely consistent with SWAXS data (χ 2 best-fit  = 1.845, χ 2 allMD  = 3.080). The further analysis shows a pronounced flexibility of the Ab lock (root-mean-square deviation = 10.90 Å), yet it still masks the important antigen-binding residues by 57.3%-88.4%, explaining its 250-folded antigen-blocking efficiency. The introduced protease accessible surface area method affirmed better protease efficiency for light chain (33.03 Å 2 ) over heavy chain (5.06 Å 2 ), which aligns with the experiments. Overall, we developed MD-SWAXS validation method to study the dynamics of flexible blocking segments and introduced methodologies to estimate their antigen-blocking and protease-restoring efficiencies, which would potentially be advancing the clinical applications of any spatial hindrance-based pro-Ab., (© 2024 The Author(s). Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Protein Society.)

Rhythm, as a prominent characteristic of auditory experiences such as speech and music, is known to facilitate attention, yet its contribution to working memory (WM) remains unclear. Here, human participants temporarily retained a 12-tone sequence presented rhythmically or arrhythmically in WM and performed a pitch change-detection task. Behaviorally, while having comparable accuracy, rhythmic tone sequences showed a faster response time and lower response boundaries in decision-making. Electroencephalographic recordings revealed that rhythmic sequences elicited enhanced non-phase-locked beta-band (16 Hz-33 Hz) and theta-band (3 Hz-5 Hz) neural oscillations during sensory encoding and WM retention periods, respectively. Importantly, the two-stage neural signatures were correlated with each other and contributed to behavior. As beta-band and theta-band oscillations denote the engagement of motor systems and WM maintenance, respectively, our findings imply that rhythm facilitates auditory WM through intricate oscillation-based interactions between the motor and auditory systems that facilitate predictive attention to auditory sequences., (© 2024. Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Lung cancer stands as the primary cause of cancer-related death across the globe. The standard therapeutic approach for lung cancer involves concurrent chemoradiotherapy, with consideration of prophylactic cranial irradiation for younger or well-performing patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate prognostic factors and the impacts of different treatment methods on overall survival for stage IIIA small cell lung cancer in Taiwan. We obtained data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry, which included clinical and pathology data of 579 stage IIIA small cell lung cancer patients from January 2010 to December 2018, for this retrospective study. The enrolled patients had data on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, histologic grading, clinical T, clinical N, clinical stage, treatment modality, and overall survival time. We compared overall survival among different subgroups to assess the impacts of these prognostic factors. The five-year survival rate for all patients was 20.57%, with a median survival time of 15.79 months. The data suggest that Charlson Comorbidity Index score, histologic grade, and clinical stage subgroups did not reach statistically significant differences. During the multivariate analysis, age over 70 years, sex, and treatment method were determined to be statistically significant independent prognostic factors. Patients who underwent surgical intervention exhibited significantly better outcomes compared to those who did not undergo operation.. In conclusion, stage IIIA small cell lung cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease. Operation should be considered as one of the alternative treatments in stage IIIA Small cell lung cancer patients., Competing Interests: NO authors have competing interests, (Copyright: © 2024 Yu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Tantalum pentoxide (Ta 2 O 5 ) is widely recognized as a promising material platform for photonic integration. This is primarily attributed to its exceptional properties including large bandgap of 3.8 eV, broad transparency window ranging from 300 nm to 8000 nm, high nonlinear refractive index of ∼7.2 × 10 -19 m 2 /W, low optical loss, moderate refractive index of 2.05, low intrinsic material stress, compatibility with CMOS technology, and high solubility for rare-earth ions. However, dry etching of Ta 2 O 5 is challenging and typically results in sidewall roughness with substantial scattering losses. Here, we report on fabrication of a high-Q whispering gallery mode (WGM) microdisk with a diameter of 120 µm and a loaded Q factor of 1.92 × 10 6 by femtosecond laser photolithography assisted chemo-mechanical etching (PLACE) on amorphous Ta 2 O 5 film. Thanks to the suppression of sidewall scattering, the loaded Q factor is two orders of magnitude higher than the best reported value in dispersion engineered Ta 2 O 5 microresonators.

Background: Lytic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection plays a major role in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). For patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC and resistant to conventional therapies, adoptive cell therapy using EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells (EBV-CTLs) is a promising option. However, the long production period (around 3 to 4 weeks) and low EBV-CTL purity (approximately 40% of total CD8 T cells) in the cell product limits the application of EBV-CTLs in clinics. Thus, this study aimed to establish a protocol for the rapid production of EBV-CTLs., Methods: By culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from EBV-seropositive donors with EBV-specific peptides and interleukin (IL)-2, IL-15, and interferon α (IFN-α) for 9 days, we identified that IL-15 can enhance IL-2-mediated CTL activation and significantly increase the yield of CTLs., Results: When IFN-α was used in IL-2/IL-15-mediated CTL production from days 0 to 6, the productivity of EBV-CTLs and EBV-specific cytotoxicity significantly were reinforced relative to EBV-CTLs from IL-2/IL-15 treatment. Additionally, IFN-α-induced production improvement of virus-specific CTLs was not only the case for EBV-CTLs but also for cytomegalovirus-specific CTLs., Conclusion: We established a novel protocol to rapidly expand highly pure EBV-CTLs from PBMCs, which can produce EBV-CTLs in 9 days and does not require feeder cells during cultivation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Objectives: Hydrocephalus is characterized by progressive enlargement of cerebral ventricles, resulting in impaired microvasculature and cerebral hypoperfusion. This study aimed to demonstrate the microvascular changes in hydrocephalic rats and the effects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) release on cerebral blood flow (CBF)., Methods: On postnatal day 21 (P21), male Wistar rats were intracisternally injected with either a kaolin suspension or saline. On P47, Evan's ratio (ER) was measured using MRI. On P49, the arteriolar diameter and vascular density of the pia were quantified using a capillary video microscope. The CBF was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. The expressions of NeuN and glial fibrillary acidic protein determined by immunochemical staining were correlated with the ER. The CBF and rotarod test performance were recorded before and after CSF release. The expressions of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and c-caspase-3 were studied on P56., Results: Ventriculomegaly was induced to varying degrees, resulting in the stretching and abnormal narrowing of pial arterioles, which regressed with increasing ER. Quantitative analysis revealed significant decreases in the arteriolar diameter and vascular density in the hydrocephalic group compared with those in the control group. In addition, the CBF in the hydrocephalic group decreased to 30%-50% of that in the control group. In hydrocephalus, the neurons appear distorted, and the expression of 4-HNE and reactive astrogliosis increase in the cortex. After CSF was released, improvements in the CBF and rotarod test performance were inversely associated with the ER. In addition, the levels of 4-HNE and c-caspase-3 were further elevated., Conclusion: Rapid ventricular dilatation is associated with severe microvascular distortion, vascular regression, cortical hypoperfusion, and cellular changes that impair the recovery of CBF and motor function after CSF release. Moreover, CSF release may induce reperfusion injury. This pathophysiology should be taken into account when treating hydrocephalus., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2024. All rights reserved.)

The LiCoO 2 (LCO) cathode is foreseen for extensive commercial applications owing to its high specific capacity and stability. Therefore, there is considerable interest in further enhancing its specific capacity by increasing the charging voltage. However, single-crystal LCO suffers from a significant capacity degradation when charged to 4.5 V due to the irreversible phase transition and unstable structure. Herein, an ultra-small amount (0.5% wt. in the electrode) of multi-functional PIM-1 (a polymer with intrinsic microporosity) additive is utilized to prepare a kind of binder-free electrode. PIM-1 modulates the solvation structure of LiPF 6 due to its unique structure, which helps to form a stable, robust, and inorganic-rich cathod-eelectrolyte interphase (CEI) film on the surface of LCO at a high voltage of 4.5 V. This reduces the irreversible phase transition of LCO, thereby enhancing the cyclic stability and improving the rate performance, providing new perspectives for the electrodes fabrication and improving LCO-based high-energy-density cathodes., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)