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Comprehensive Summary: Herein, we report an efficient and practical protocol for the photoinduced dehalocyclization of ortho‐halophenylacrylamides with formate by the engagement of a CO2 radical anion to access substituted oxindoles. This method proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and exhibits a wide range of substrate as well as remarkable functional group compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-k dielectric materials were prepared by sintering ZSM-5 zeolite powder compacts at temperatures ranged 1200-1300°C, and the microwave dielectric characteristics were investigated together with the structure evolution during sintering. It was failed to obtain ZSM-5 ceramics by high temperature sintering because the densification could never occur below the tolerable temperature and the ordered porous structure completely collapsed above the tolerable temperature. The structure changed from ZSM-5 zeolite to SiO2-Al2O3 glass at 1240°C, and finally to SiO2-based cristobalite ceramics above 1275°C.Alow dielectric constant (2.63-2.78) combined with low dielectric loss (< 0.0005 at 18GHz) and small temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (varied from -18.6 to -8.1 ppm/°C) was achieved in the present materials, and the value of dielectric loss was the lowest one achieved so far in the dielectric materials with a dielectric constant lower than 3. With the structure evolution fromZSM-5 zeolite to SiO2-Al2O3 glass and finally to SiO2-based cristobalite ceramics, the dielectric constant increased from 2.27 to 2.78, while the Qf value indicated a complicated variation tendency, and the higher Qf values were achieved in the amorphous and crystalline states, while significant drop was determined in the partial amorphous state. It should be a great challenge to prepare dense zeolite ceramicswithout collapse of ordered porous structure, and then the ultra-low dielectric constant materials with high Q could be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Hf1-xZrx)TiO4 and (Hf1-xSnx)TiO4 ceramics were prepared through a standard solid-state reaction route, and the microwave dielectric characteristics were determined together with the microstructures. The single-phase solid solution in space group Pbcn was obtained in (Hf1-xZrx)TiO4, while the two-phase structure with (HfTiO4(s.s.) major phase in space group Pbcn and Sn0.3Ti0.7O2 secondary phase in space group P42/mnm) was determined in (Hf1-xSnx)TiO4. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency τf could be significantly improved to near-zero in both systems, and the best combination of microwave dielectric characteristicwas achieved at x=0.5 in (Hf1-xZrx)TiO4: εr =39.0, Qf=43,150GHz at 5.3 GHz and τf = 3 ppm/°C, and at x = 0.225 in (Hf1-xSnx)TiO4: εr = 37.2, Qf = 52,600 GHz at 5.5 GHz and τf = -6 ppm/°C. In the solid solutions, the obvious improvement of τf could be deeply linked with the degree of covalency and the restoring forces of structure. While, the intermediate near-zero τf is achieved by mixing the phases with opposite τf in multiphase materials. The present work provided an effective way to modify the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency in microwave dielectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex has been an emerging area in the photoinduced organic synthesis field, generating radicals without exogenous transition‐metal or organic dye‐based photoredox catalysts. The catalytic platform to form suitable photoactive EDA complexes for photochemical reduction reactions remains underdeveloped. Herein, a general photoinduced reductive alkylation via the EDA complex strategy is described. A simple yet multifunctional system, triphenylphosphine and iodide salt, promotes the photoinduced decarboxylative hydroalkylation, and reductive defluorinative decarboxylative alkylation of trifluoromethyl alkenes, to access trifluoromethyl alkanes and gem‐difluoroalkenes. Moreover, decarboxylative hydroalkylation can be applied to more kinds of electron‐deficient alkenes as a general Giese addition reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet of Things (IoT) is mainly used to connect different embedded objects over the internet to make communication between them possible. With the help of IoT, devices find a way to interact, work together, and study from each other's experiences just like humans do. IoT finds its way in applications such as smart home, smart city, healthcare, agriculture, and so on. The name smart home arises due to the automation of the normal home appliances to make it smart. When the devices of the normal smart home are connected via the internet, they become a part of the IoT. The smart home should ensure the following characteristics such as security, comfort, convenience, and energy saving. The article presents a technique for IoT controlled devices in a smart home using context‐based fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic is mainly used to monitor and analyze the real‐time data collected from the sensors in the smart homes from various environments. Context‐based fuzzy logic uses a multivalued logic principle which differs from the normal Boolean logic, where the truth value lies between only zero and one (ie, true or false). The proposed smart home is implemented in a real case scenario where it yields an accuracy of 90.5%, response time of 6.41 milliseconds, and an F‐measure of 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current NCCN guidelines recommend considering elective neck dissection (END) for early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) with a depth of invasion (DOI) exceeding 3mm. However, this DOI threshold, determined by evaluating the occult lymph node metastatic rate, lacks robust supporting evidence regarding its impact on patient outcomes. In this nationwide study, we sought to explore the specific indications for END in patients diagnosed with OCSCC at stage cT2N0M0, as defined by the AJCC Eighth Edition staging criteria. Methods: We examined 4723 patients with cT2N0M0 OCSCC, of which 3744 underwent END and 979 were monitored through neck observation (NO). Results: Patients who underwent END had better 5-year outcomes compared to those in the NO group. The END group had higher rates of neck control (95% vs. 84%, p<0.0001), disease-specific survival (DSS; 87% vs. 84%, p=0.0259), and overall survival (OS; 79% vs. 73%, p=0.0002). Multivariable analysis identified NO, DOI ≥5.0 mm, and moderate-to-poor tumor differentiation as independent risk factors for 5-year neck control, DSS, and OS. Based on these prognostic variables, three distinct outcome subgroups were identified within the NO group. These included a low-risk subgroup (DOI <5 mm plus well-differentiated tumor), an intermediate-risk subgroup (DOI ≥5.0 mm or moderately differentiated tumor), and a high-risk subgroup (poorly differentiated tumor or DOI ≥5.0 mm plus moderately differentiated tumor). Notably, the 5-year survival outcomes (neck control/DSS/OS) for the low-risk subgroup within the NO group (97%/95%/85%, n=251) were not inferior to those of the END group (95%/87%/79%). Conclusions: By implementing risk stratification within the NO group, we found that 26% (251/979) of low-risk patients achieved outcomes similar to those in the END group. Therefore, when making decisions regarding the implementation of END in patients with cT2N0M0 OCSCC, factors such as DOI and tumor differentiation should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rare mutations in NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex assembly factor 5 (NDUFAF5) are linked to Leigh syndrome. Objective: We aimed to describe clinical characteristics and functional findings in a patient cohort with NDUFAF5 mutations. Methods: Patients with biallelic NDUFAF5 mutations were recruited from multi‐centers in Taiwan. Clinical, laboratory, radiological, and follow‐up features were recorded and mitochondrial assays were performed in patients' skin fibroblasts. Results: Nine patients from seven unrelated pedigrees were enrolled, eight homozygous for c.836 T > G (p.Met279Arg) in NDUFAF5 and one compound heterozygous for p.Met279Arg. Onset age had a bimodal distribution. The early‐onset group (age <3 years) presented with psychomotor delay, seizure, respiratory failure, and hyponatremia. The late‐onset group (age ≥5 years) presented with normal development, but slowly progressive dystonia. Combing 25 previously described patients, the p.Met279Arg variant was exclusively identified in Chinese ancestry. Compared with other groups, patients with late‐onset homozygous p.Met279Arg were older at onset (P = 0.008), had less developmental delay (P = 0.01), less hyponatremia (P = 0.01), and better prognosis with preserved ambulatory function into early adulthood (P = 0.01). Bilateral basal ganglia necrosis was a common radiological feature, but brainstem and spinal cord involvement was more common with early‐onset patients (P = 0.02). A modifier gene analysis showed higher concomitant mutation burden in early—versus late‐onset p.Met279Arg homozygous cases (P = 0.04), consistent with more impaired mitochondrial function in fibroblasts from an early‐onset case than a late‐onset patient. Conclusions: The p.Met279Arg variant is a common mutation in our population with phenotypic heterogeneity and divergent prognosis based on age at onset. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report an efficient protocol in which formate is used as a precursor of the CO2 radical anion for the photoinduced defluorocarboxylation of α‐trifluoromethylstyrene. A wide range of gem‐difluorovinylacetic acids bearing a variety of functional groups were successfully obtained in the absence of metal catalysts. The synthetic value of this protocol was highlighted by successful gram‐scale synthesis and late‐stage modification for complex biologically active molecules. This protocol provides a complementary method that extends the range of currently available methodologies for accessing the structurally versatile gem‐difluoroalkenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Betel nut chewing involves the chewing of areca nuts or betel quid (areca nuts wrapped in betel leaves), which is associated with an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Statins have anticancer properties. We investigated the association between statin use and ESCC risk in betel nut chewers. Methods: The study included 105 387 betel nut chewers matched statin users and nonusers. Statin use was defined as the use of =28 cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) of statin. The primary outcome was incidence of ESCC. Results: The incidence rate of ESCC was significantly lower in statin users than in nonusers (2.03 vs. 3.02 per 100 000 person-years). Statin users had a lower incidence rate ratio of 0.66 for ESCC (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43-0.85) relative to nonusers. After potential confounders were adjusted for, statin use was determined to be associated with a reduced risk of ESCC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.68; 95% CI: 0.51-0.91). A dose-response relationship was observed between statin use and ESCC risk; the aHRs for statin use at 28-182 cDDDs, 183-488 cDDDs, 489-1043 cDDDs, and > 1043 cDDDs were 0.92, 0.89, 0.66, and 0.64, respectively. Conclusion: Statin use was revealed to be associated with a reduced risk of ESCC in betel nut chewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous endovascular biopsy (PEB) including forceps biopsy and catheter aspiration has been used to make a pretreatment diagnosis for pulmonary artery (PA) masses. This retrospective study aims to describe the procedure of PEB and compare the diagnostic yield of forceps biopsy and catheter aspiration for a definite diagnosis in patients with PA masses. All consecutive 22 patients (53 ± 14 years), 11 males and 11 females, who underwent PEB for pathologic confirmation between November 2018 and November 2022 were enrolled. All 22 patients performed computed tomography pulmonary angiography or positron emission tomography-computed tomography to confirm the filling defects suspicious for PA malignancy before intervention. And then, all patients underwent PEB successfully without acute or fatal complications, including both forceps biopsy and catheter aspiration in 15 cases, only forceps biopsy in 5 cases, and only catheter aspiration in 2 cases. Histopathological analysis provided a definite diagnosis in all PEBs with a clinical success of 91.0% (20/22). Among them, in 15 patients who underwent both forceps biopsy and aspiration biopsy, the technical success using forceps biopsy was 93.3% (14/15), and aspiration biopsy was 6.7% (1/15), and there was a significant difference in diagnostic accuracy when comparing two techniques. Twenty-one out of 22 PA masses (95.5%) were malignant, of which, the most frequent malignant lesion observed was PA sarcoma (66.7%, 14/21). Benign lesion included one thrombus (4.5%, 1/22). In conclusion, PEB is an effective and safe diagnostic method for differentiating benign and malignant PA masses and could be peformed when PA masses appeared clinically malignant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) has been shown to improve bladder cancer diagnosis. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) may assist and improve the clinical workflow by applying TPS in routine diagnostic services. Methods: A deep‐learning–based algorithm was developed to identify urothelial cancer candidate cells using whole‐slide images (WSIs). In the testing cohort, 131 urine cytology slides were retrospectively retrieved and analyzed using this AI algorithm. The authors compared the performance of one cytopathologist and two cytotechnologists using AI‐assisted digital urine cytology. Then, the AI‐assisted WSIs were evaluated in the clinical workflow. The cytopathologist first made a diagnosis by reviewing the AI‐inferred WSIs and quantitative data (nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratio and nuclear size) for each sample. After a washout period, the same cytopathologist made a diagnosis for the same samples using direct microscopy. All diagnosis results were compared with the expert panel consensus. Results: The AI‐assisted diagnosis by the two cytotechnologists and the one cytopathologist demonstrated performance results that were comparable to the expert panel consensus (sensitivity, 79.5% and 82.1% vs. 92.3%, respectively; specificity, 100% and 98.9% vs. 100%, respectively). Furthermore, the performance of the AI‐assisted WSIs compared with the microscopic diagnosis by the cytopathologist demonstrated superior sensitivity (92.3% vs. 87.2%) and negative predictive value (96.8% vs. 94.8%). In addition, the AI‐assisted reporting demonstrated near perfect agreement with the expert panel consensus (κ = 0.944) and the microscopic diagnosis (κ = 0.862). Conclusions: The AI algorithm developed by the authors effectively assisted TPS‐based reporting by providing AI‐inferred WSIs and quantitative data. A deep‐learning–based algorithm was developed to assist the Paris System‐based urine cytology reporting using whole‐slice imaging with automatic annotation of urothelial cells at risk and quantitative information, such as nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratios. Compared with conventional microscopic examination, the algorithm‐assisted method displayed superior sensitivity (87.2% vs. 92.3%), better negative predictive value (94.8% vs. 96.8%), and nearly perfect agreement with the expert panel consensus (k = 0.862). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antiviral drug remdesivir has been used to treat the growing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, the drug is mainly excreted through urine and feces and introduced into the environment to affect non-target organisms, including fish, which has raised concerns about potential ecotoxicological effects on aquatic organisms. Moreover, studies on the ecological impacts of remdesivir on aquatic environments have not been reported. Here, we aimed to explore the toxicological impacts of microinjection of remdesivir on zebrafish early embryonic development and larvae and the associated mechanism. We found that 100 μM remdesivir delayed epiboly and impaired convergent movement of embryos during gastrulation, and dose-dependent increases in mortality and malformation were observed in remdesivir-treated embryos. Moreover, 10–100 μM remdesivir decreased blood flow and swimming velocity and altered the behavior of larvae. In terms of molecular mechanisms, 80 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome analysis in the remdesivir-treated group. Some of these DEGs, such as manf, kif3a, hnf1ba, rgn, prkcz, egr1, fosab, nr4a1, and ptgs2b, were mainly involved in early embryonic development, neuronal developmental disorders, vascular disease and the blood flow pathway. These data reveal that remdesivir can impair early embryonic development, blood flow and behavior of zebrafish embryos/larvae, probably due to alterations at the transcriptome level. This study suggests that it is important to avoid the discharge of remdesivir to aquatic ecosystems and provides a theoretical foundation to hinder remdesivir-induced ecotoxicity to aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fat transplantation is widely used for soft‐tissue filling and wound repair. Owing to the biological changes in adipocytes in some metabolic diseases, allograft fat can provide a better source of donor fat than autologous fat. Fingolimod (FTY720) possesses a powerful immunomodulatory function. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of FTY720 in allogeneic fat transplantation. C57BL/6J mice that received allografts were randomly divided into two groups and treated with saline and FTY720, respectively. Fat graft samples were obtained at 1, 6, and 20 weeks posttransplantation. Graft volumes, graft structure, and immune cells were estimated using histological examination, immunohistochemistry, staining immunofluorescence (IF), and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in grafts was detected by qRT‐PCR. FTY720 treatment significantly enhanced allograft retention, structural integrity, and neovascularization, thereby demonstrating the potential of FTY720 in improving graft survival. Further IF staining showed that FTY720 increased regulatory T cell infiltration and reduced macrophage infiltration to some extent. FTY720 treatment also enhanced the expression of the anti‐inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐10 and weakened the expression of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IL‐6. Furthermore, FTY720 treatment upregulated the expression of CD31 positive cells. This study demonstrated the potential efficacy of FTY720 in improving the graft survival rate of syngeneic fat allograft models, possibly by suppressing immune rejection and promoting angiogenesis. Therefore, this study offers key insights into the potential application of a drug‐assisted strategy to prolong allograft fat survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead halide perovskites have emerged as promising photovoltaic (PV) materials owing to their superior optoelectronic properties. However, they suffer from poor stability and potential toxicity. Here, computational screening with experimental synthesis is combined to explore stable, lead‐free, and defect‐tolerant PV materials. Heavy cations with lone‐pair electrons and mixed anions of chalcogens and halogens as a descriptor for simultaneous realization of defect tolerance and high stability are adopted. Together with the criteria of possessing direct band gap and optimal gap value, the inorganic material database is screened and CuBiSCl2 in the post‐perovskite structure is identified with an ideal band gap of 1.37 eV. The electronic structure and defect calculations suggest its defect‐tolerant characteristics. By optical absorption measurement, its band gap is confirmed to be ≈1.44 eV, with strong absorption near the band edge. The material is stable against thermal decomposition up to 300 °C and can survive from 25 days of storage at ambient conditions with 60% relative humidity. Prototype solar cells are fabricated and demonstrate an open circuit voltage of 1.09 V and a power conversion efficiency of 1.00%. With the excellent properties above, CuBiSCl2 is proposed to be a promising candidate for PV application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years all‐solid‐state sodium‐ion batteries (SS‐SIBs) have drawn significant attention due to their potential to be safer and lower cost than lithium‐ion batteries. However, the lack of sodium solid‐state electrolytes with high ionic conductivity has become one of the major challenges. Here, with first‐principles computation we took NaCuZrS3, consisting of earth‐abundant and environmentally benign elements only, as an example to study Na‐ion transport in the post‐perovskite‐like structure and used computation‐guided design to improve its potential as a solid‐state electrolyte. With ab initio molecular dynamics simulation and nudged elastic band calculation, we studied possible diffusion mechanisms in this material and found that Na ion interstitials have a favorable migration barrier of 0.22 eV, which is among the smallest in the literature reported values. Considering the large formation energy of Frenkel defects, we proposed doping strategy to introduce extra Na interstitials in the material. Our study suggests that the post‐perovskite‐like sulfides are worth of exploration for applications in SS‐SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric (TE) power generation is expected to be one of the most effective solutions to convert industrial exhaust heat to electricity for conserving fossil energy and reducing carbon emissions. However, its real application is obstructed decisively by the weakness of the service stability of state‐of‐the‐art TE materials at high temperatures in air. Refractory iron silicide (β‐FeSi2) used to be widely investigated as TE materials, but the low zT has restricted its practical application and even made it almost vanish from TE research in recent years. Here, guided by theoretical calculation, ultrahigh solubility of Ir on the Fe sites of β‐FeSi2 is successfully realized. Doping 16% Ir elicits multi‐valley electrical conduction and phonon‐electron scattering, doubling the previous zT record of β‐FeSi2 to ≈0.6 at 1000 K. The TE properties of the obtained β‐FeSi2 are practically unchanged after thermal aging in air at 1173 K. The new conceptual electrode‐less β‐FeSi2‐based refractory module demonstrates considerable power density and stable power generation when it is burned by a gas flame in air. These results mark a step toward developing practical TE power generation technology for the recovery of industrial waste heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe our experience and discuss the results, controversies, and the use of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in patients with biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT). Between November 2009 and August 2020, 76 consecutive patients who underwent 77 LTs (44 deceased donor LTs and 33 living donor LTs [LDLT]) were enrolled retrospectively. Endoscopic therapy as initial approach and PTBD as rescue therapy were used for patients with biliary complications. There were 31 patients (31/76, 40.8%) with biliary complications, and two of them died (2/31, 6.5%). Clinical success rate of endoscopic therapy alone was 71.0% (22/31). The remaining nine patients received salvage PTBD and their clinical results were observed according to whether their intrahepatic bile ducts (IHBDs) was dilated (group A, n = 5) or not (group B, n = 4). In group A, the technical and long‐term clinical success rates of PTBD were 100% and 20%, respectively. These five patients received PTBD ranging from 75 to 732 days after their LTs, and no procedure‐related complications were encountered. In group B, the technical and long‐term clinical success rates of PTBD were 50% and 25%, respectively. Three group B patients (75%) underwent PTBD within 30 days after LDLT and had lethal complications. One patient had graft laceration and survived after receiving timely re‐transplantation. The other two patients died of sepsis due to PTBD‐related bilioportal fistula or multiple liver abscesses. Our experience showed salvage PTBD played a limited role in biliary complications without dilated IHBDs within 1 month after LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded RNAs with closed loop structures formed by covalent bonds of head and tail. Exploration of circRNAs is continually increasing; however, their functional relevance largely remains to be elucidated. In general, they are stable, abundant, conserved and expressed in tissue-specific manner. These distinct properties and their diverse cellular actions indicate that circRNAs modulate transcription and translation, and may even function as translation templates. Growing evidence reveals that circRNAs contribute to various physiological and pathological processes, including the initiation and progression of cancer. In this review, we present the current knowledge about circRNAs in cancer development, as well as their potential for use as biomarkers and even therapeutic targets. CircRNA's role in immune regulation and antitumour immunotherapy is also discussed. In addition, possible challenges in antitumour therapy are raised, and current progress and future perspectives are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: An efficient decarboxylative/defluorinative alkylation for synthesizing gem‐difluoroalkenes is described, providing a general method for installation of the challenging alkyl fragments containing α‐electron‐withdrawing groups into α‐trifluoromethyl alkenes. Mechanistic studies suggest that this process involves an SN2′‐type synthetic route in the absence of transition‐metal catalysts or photocatalysis. Moreover, this protocol can easily be scaled up, and successfully applied to the modification of biologically active molecules, thus complementing methodologies that give access to structurally versatile gem‐difluoroalkenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid spread of the Delta variant suggests that SARS-CoV-2 will likely be rampant for months or years and could claim millions of more lives. All the known vaccines cannot well defeat SARS-CoV-2 due to their limited efficacy and production efficiency, except for the neglected live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs), which could have a much higher efficacy and much higher production efficiency than other vaccines. LAVs, like messiahs, have defeated far more pathogenic viruses than other vaccines in history, and most current human vaccines for viral diseases are safe LAVs. LAVs can block completely infection and transmission of relevant viruses and their variants. They can hence inhibit the emergence of vaccine-escape and virulence-enhancing variants and protect immunologically abnormal individuals better in general. The safety of COVID-19 LAVs, which could save millions of more lives, can be solidly guaranteed through animal experiments and clinical trials. The safety of COVID-19 LAVs could be greatly enhanced with intramuscular or oral administration, or administration along with humanized neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Together, extensive global collaboration, which can greatly accelerate the development of safe COVID-19 LAVs, is imminently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To compare the saliva proteomes of experimental Sjögren's syndrome (ESS) model mice and healthy controls to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods: Proteins were extracted from the saliva of three ESS and three normal control mice using the data-independent acquisition technique. R language was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed to functionally annotate the DEPs. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the core proteins were identified with the STRING website and Cytoscape software. The concentrations of Serpin family G member 1 (SERPING1), C3, complement factor H (CFH), fibrinogen alpha (FGA), and fibrinogen gamma (FGG) in saliva were determined by ELISA. Results: A total of 1722 DEPs were identified in the saliva of the ESS mice relative to the controls, of which 50 showed significantly different expression levels between the two groups. SERPING1, C3, CFH, FGA, and FGG were significantly downregulated, and keratin 4 (Krt4) and transglutaminase 3 (TGM3) were upregulated in the saliva of ESS mice. The PPI network showed that SERPING1, C3, FGG, FGA, TGM3, and hemopexin (HPX) were the core proteins. ELISA results showed that the expression of C3, CFH, FGA, and SERPING1 were significantly downregulated in the saliva of ESS mice. However, the expression of FGG was a little downregulated but with no significant difference. SERPING1, FGG, and FGA may downregulate the complement C3 by inhibiting immune complement system, thereby promoting pSS progression. Conclusions: The salivary proteome of ESS mice was markedly different from that of healthy controls, suggesting that salivary proteomics is a promising noninvasive diagnostic tool for pSS. SERPING1, C3, CFH, FGA, and FGG are potential biomarkers of pSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonradiative recombination caused by the trap states at the grain boundaries (GBs) and surfaces directly limits the photoelectronic performance of lead-free all-inorganic perovskites films. In this work, the typical CsSnBr3 films with controlled GBs and surfaces are prepared successfully on glass by a solid-source chemical vapor deposition method. The grain size of CsSnBr3 films increases with the increase of growth temperature, indicating the reduction of GBs. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra show that the lifetime of photogenerated carrier is longer in the large-grain-size CsSnBr3 film. Furthermore, the photodetector based on CsSnBr3 film with decreased GBs shows excellent performance with photocurrent up to 760 nA, responsivity up to 9200 mA W-1, and fast response times of 5/12 ms under the illumination of 405 nm laser. Moreover, the photodetector is also fabricated on a flexible substrate, demonstrating a good bending stability. This work provides a guideline in the growth of high-quality perovskites films with controlled GBs and surfaces for next-generation high-performance photoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although gallium arsenide (GaAs) is one of the most commonly used semiconductor substrate materials, its intrinsic bandgap of 1.42 eV hinders the use of GaAs photodetectors for optical communication. In this study, hot‐electron‐based GaAs active antenna devices are demonstrated, displaying photoresponses well below the bandgap at the telecommunication wavelengths. Using a deep‐trench/thin metal (DTTM) active antenna, a metallic plasmonic structure, high photoresponsivities are achieved under zero bias at wavelengths of 1310 and 1550 nm. Even though the resistance of the semi‐insulating GaAs substrate is approximately 106 times larger than that of the n‐type silicon (Si) substrate, the photoresponsivities are commensurate with most previously reported hot‐electron n‐Si‐based photodetectors operating at communication wavelengths. Furthermore, the devices can be operated under a reverse‐biased voltage with significant enhancements in the photoresponsivities; the highest photoresponsivity (19.96 mA W−1 at 1310 nm) is greater than those reported in all previous studies. Moreover, these GaAs‐based devices are sufficiently robust to be operated over a wide range of operating temperatures (from −193 to +200 °C) while displaying a relatively large bandgap, low dark leakage currents, and high electron mobilities at low temperature. Because these devices can operate at high and low temperatures and at large voltage biases, they are suitable for use under harsh environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there have been reports of separate studies of photon-enhanced and plasmon-enhanced light harvesting to improve perovskite solar cell (PSC) efficiency, there are none that have achieved simultaneous enhancement in both photonic and plasmonic effects in PSCs. In this work, we designed a layer of tapered coaxial humps (TCHs) to harvest both in PSCs. The light absorption behavior of the textured perovskite layer in PSCs was systematically investigated through the finite element method (FEM). The calculation results show that the TCH-textured perovskite layer absorbs 67.6% of visible light under AM 1.5G solar irradiation, a 21.8% increase relative to the planar reference cell without TCHs. Using this design, a perovskite thickness of only 106 nm is needed to realize the full light absorption that normally requires 300-nm-thick perovskite without TCHs. To reveal the mechanism of light absorption enhancement, the specific field distributions were studied. We demonstrated that different photonic modes and plasmonic modes collectively result in remarkable light absorption enhancement in the 500-800 nm wavelength range. The textured PSCs reported herein provide an effective method to decrease Pb-based perovskite consumption and realize angleinsensitive and ultrathin PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current clinical assessment of functional tricuspid valve regurgitation relies on metrics quantified from medical imaging modalities. Although these clinical methodologies are generally successful, the lack of detailed information about the mechanical environment of the valve presents inherent challenges for assessing tricuspid valve regurgitation. In the present study, we have developed a finite element‐based in silico model of one porcine tricuspid valve (TV) geometry to investigate how various pathological conditions affect the overall biomechanical function of the TV. There were three primary observations from our results. Firstly, the results of the papillary muscle (PM) displacement study scenario indicated more pronounced changes in the TV biomechanical function. Secondly, compared to uniform annulus dilation, nonuniform dilation scenario induced more evident changes in the von Mises stresses (83.8‐125.3 kPa vs 65.1‐84.0 kPa) and the Green‐Lagrange strains (0.52‐0.58 vs 0.47‐0.53) for the three TV leaflets. Finally, results from the pulmonary hypertension study scenario showed opposite trends compared to the PM displacement and annulus dilation scenarios. Furthermore, various chordae rupture scenarios were simulated, and the results showed that the chordae tendineae attached to the TV anterior and septal leaflets may be more critical to proper TV function. This in silico modeling‐based study has provided a deeper insight into the tricuspid valve pathologies that may be useful, with moderate extensions, for guiding clinical decisions. Novelty Statement: The novelties of the research are summarized below:A comprehensive in silico pilot study of how isolated functional tricuspid regurgitation pathologies and ruptured chordae tendineae would alter the tricuspid valve function;An extensive analysis of the tricuspid valve function, including mechanical quantities (eg, the von Mises stress and the Green‐Lagrange strain) and clinically‐relevant geometry metrics (eg, the tenting area and the coaptation height); andA developed computational modeling pipeline that can be extended to evaluate patient‐specific tricuspid valve geometries and enhance the current clinical diagnosis and treatment of tricuspid regurgitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are two main choices of administration route of recombinant human endostatin (Endostar) available and the treatment options of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) have changed over time. The aim of this study was to observe the long‐term efficacy and safety of different administration routes of Endostar combined with CCRT. Methods: Patients with unresectable stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from two phase II trials were included as two cohorts. Both were treated with Endostar combined with CCRT. Endostar was administrated by intravenous injection (7.5 mg/m2/day, seven days) in the IV arm and by continuous intravenous pumping (7.5 mg/m2/24 hours, 120 hours) in the CIV arm. Results: A total of 48 patients were included in the IV arm and 67 patients in the CIV arm. The median progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) in the IV arm and CIV arm were 9.9 months versus 15.4 months (HR = 0.751, 95% CI 0.487–1.160, P = 0.200), 24.0 months versus 38.5 months (HR = 0.746, 95% CI 0.473–1.178, P = 0.209), 32.3 months versus 27.1 months (HR = 1.193, 95% CI 0.673–2.115, P = 0.546), 20.1 months versus 49.7 months (HR = 0.603, 95% CI 0.351–1.036, P = 0.067). The one, three, five‐year PFS in the IV arm and CIV arm was 45.8% versus 52.9%, 18.3% versus 31.4%, and 18.3% versus 27.7% and the one, three, five‐year OS was 81.2% versus 82.1%, 31.1% versus 50.3%, and 31.1% versus 41%, respectively. Incidence of hematological adverse reactions were numerically lower in the CIV arm than the IV arm. Conclusions: Endostar delivered by CIV with CCRT may be a better option than IV in terms of potential survival and safety for unresectable stage III NSCLC. Key points: Significant findings of the study Endostar delivered by continuous intravenous pumping might achieve more favorable survival over intravenous injection and reduce adverse hematological reactions in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC treated with Endostar combined with CCRT.What this study adds The administration route of recombinant human endostatin is also one key factor for survival and safety to consider when treating patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional magnesium oxysulphate MgSO4⋅5Mg(OH)2⋅2H2O (abbreviated as 152MOS) with a high aspect ratio was prepared through the hydrothermal reaction route without granular fragments observed in the final products. Those parameters such as molar ratio of MgSO4⋅7H2O to NaOH solution, reaction temperature, reaction time, and dropping order between MgSO4⋅7H2O and NaOH that can influence the morphology, purity, and structure of 152MOS whiskers were taken into consideration. The results indicated that the high purity 152MOS whisker with a length of 170-210 μm can be obtained at 200°C for 15 h in an oven when dropping NaOH into MgSO4 with the molar ratio of 1:1.5. The product characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-infrared, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial discharge (PD)-based diagnosis is extensively employed in condition assessment of electrical equipment. In the case of multiple PD sources, discrimination of mixed signals is significant for reliable PD interpretation. To improve the separation performance of three or more PD sources, a multi-step discrimination method is proposed. The cumulative energy functions are exploited to characterise wave shapes of PD signals, and width and sharpness features are extracted and classified to separate mixed patterns. With the objective of maximising a novel evaluation parameter of separation capability, the oblique line and length of structure element are optimised in the feature extraction stage. For the multi-step discrimination method, the feature extraction and clustering procedures are repeatedly applied to the whole dataset, sub-classes, sub-subclasses etc., until no more clusters are generated. To evaluate the separation performance of the proposed algorithm, a mathematical model for PD pulse is proposed, which is the multiplication of Heidler enveloping function and an oscillating function whose frequency spectrum confirms Gaussian distribution. In the end, the multi-step discrimination method is tested with PD current pulses and ultra-high-frequency signals of three artificial defects in transformer and gas-insulated system, and the results prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early‐stage wind turbine blade design usually relies heavily on low‐fidelity structural models; high‐fidelity, finite‐element‐based structural analyses are reserved for later design stages because of their complex workflows and high computational expense. Yet, high‐fidelity structural analyses often provide design‐governing feedback such as buckling load factors. Mitigation of the issues of workflow complexity and computational expense would allow designers to utilize high‐fidelity feedback earlier, more easily, and more often in the design process. Thus, a blade analysis framework that employs isogeometric analysis (IGA), a simulation method that overcomes many of the aforementioned drawbacks associated with traditional finite element analysis (FEA), is presented. IGA directly utilizes the mathematical models generated by computer‐aided design (CAD) software, requiring less user interaction and no conversion of parametric geometries to finite element meshes. Furthermore, IGA tends to have superior per‐degree‐of‐freedom accuracy compared with traditional FEA. Issues unique to IGA in the context of wind turbine blade design, such as coupling of thin‐shell components, are addressed, and a design approach that combines reduced‐order aeroelastic analysis with IGA is outlined. Aeroelastic analysis is used to efficiently provide dynamic kinematic data for a wide range of wind load cases, while IGA is used to perform buckling analysis. The value of incorporating high‐fidelity analysis feedback into blade design is demonstrated through optimization of the NREL/SNL 5 MW wind turbine blade. A variety of potential designs are produced with reduced blade mass and material cost, and IGA‐based buckling analysis is shown to provide design‐governing constraint information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the impact of the central Pacific warming (CPW) on the monsoon trough (MT) over the western North Pacific (WNP) during July- November of 1948-2015. It is shown that the relationship of the CPW with the MT experienced a remarkable change around 1984. Compared with 1948-1983, the MT was significantly stronger and extended eastward during the CPW events from 1984 to 2015. This relationship can be explained by the increase in the sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Pacific around 1984, especially over the central Pacific. Before 1984, the significantly cool ocean in the tropical western Pacific with the weakly warm ocean in the tropical central Pacific reduced the MT development and the eastward shift over the WNP during the CPW events. However, the enhanced low-level westerlies and cyclonic vorticity induced by the warmer ocean surface in the tropical central Pacific led to the strengthening and further eastward extension of the MT during the CPW events after 1984. Following the eastward extension of the MT, the enhanced 850-hPa positive vorticity, intensified 200-hPa divergence, increased relative humidity, and reduced vertical wind shear tend to shift eastward during the CPW events after 1984, which favor tropical cyclone (TC) genesis. The results show more TCs after 1984 over the WNP during the CPW events than before 1984. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical reaction efficiency for an SOFC is determined mainly at the interfaces between electrodes and electrolyte. The cell performance is influenced by a variety of parameters, such as the particle size, porosity, and microstructure. Microstructural tuning in the electrodes hence provides the performance elevation by increase the effective interfacial reaction sites. In this study, we use traditional materials to form the cells constructed with NiO-YSZ (Yttria stabilized zirconia) as anode supported substrate, YSZ as electrolyte, and YSZ-La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSM) | LSM as functional and cathode layers. In the anode, two different cermet structures with powder refinement approach have been adopted to increase the oxygen exchange rate. On the other hand, introducing LSM-YSZ composite as functional layer is essential for the limited ion conductivity of LSM, which will be beneficial for power output. The cell performance elevation and microstructure analysis allows us to verify functions of sub-micron cermet at anode during the cell operation. The composition effect in cathode may also favor the enhancement. Three typical cells were prepared, and the maximum power density is 280 mWcm-2 for cell with original materials used. The power density increases to 395 mWcm-2 for the cell with cermet particle refinement. It further improves to 520 mWcm-2 for cell with cathode functional layer modification. The small grain size of several tens nano-meter structure in the interfaces exists in a local region near interfaces. It is evidenced that the nano-sized electrode materials which may be attributed to the high current loading can increase the triple phase boundary (TPB) density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaY0.2Ce0.7Zr0.1O3-δ (BYCZ) is a promising candidate as electrolyte for a proton-conducting SOFC (P-SOFC). In this work, the ceramic powder of BYCZ was fabricated by using glycine nitrate combustion (GNC) process. Characterizations of the powders were executed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) measurement as well as the surface area analyses by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The results reveal that the single phase of perovskite structure of BYCZ powder occurs at calcination temperature of 1550 °C and the average value of the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) is 12.6 × 10-6 K-1 at the temperature range of room temperature to 700 °C. In addition, the relative density of BYCZ powder can be achieved near 100% at 1550 °C. The result indicates that the crystal phase of BYCZ is cubic perovskite structure at the calcination temperature of 1550 °C. Further application on the BYCZ-based P-SOFC cell performance evaluation will be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formic acid is efficiently used as a C1 source to directly carboxylate allylic alcohols in the presence of a low loading of palladium catalyst and acetic anhydride as additive to afford β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acids with excellent chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. The reaction proceeds through a carbonylation process with in situ-generated carbon monoxide under mild conditions, avoiding the use of high-pressure gaseous CO. A bisphosphine ligand with a large bite angle (4,5-bis{diphenylphosphino}-9,9-dimethylxanthene, Xantphos) was found to be uniquely effective for this transformation. The regio- and stereoconvergence of this reaction is ascribed to the thermodynamically favored isomerization of the allylic electrophile in the presence of the palladium catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the principal hepatic cell type responsible for liver fibrosis. Although AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to regulate the activation of HSCs, little is known about its underlying molecular mechanisms. In the present study, we demonstrate that AMPK activation by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR) restricts the fibrotic potential elicited by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in LX-2 cells through modulation of autophagy. AICAR treatment activated the mechanistic target of rapamycin/Akt pathway and thus inhibited autophagy flux and lipid droplet degradation in lysosomes induced by TGF-β. Pretreatment with the autophagy inducer rapamycin reversed the effects of AMPK, further confirming that AICAR inhibited TGF-β-induced HSC activation via the regulation of autophagy flux. Our study indicates that AICAR exerts its anti-fibrotic and anti-lipid depletion effect, at least in part, by inhibiting TGF-β-induced autophagy flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid progress in information and communication technologies ( ICTs) has fueled the popularity of e-learning. However, an e-learning environment is limited in that online instructors cannot monitor immediately whether students remain focus during online autonomous learning. Therefore, this study tries to develop a novel attention aware system ( AAS) capable of recognizing students' attention levels accurately based on electroencephalography ( EEG) signals, thus having high potential to be applied in providing timely alert for conveying low-attention level feedback to online instructors in an e-learning environment. To construct AAS, attention responses of students and their corresponding EEG signals are gathered based on a continuous performance test ( CPT), ie, an attention assessment test. Next, the AAS is constructed by using training and testing data by the Neuro Sky brainwave detector and the support vector machine ( SVM), a well-known machine learning model. Additionally, based on the discrete wavelet transform ( DWT), the collected EEG signals are decomposed into five primary bands (ie, alpha, beta, gamma, theta, and delta). Each primary band contains five statistical parameters (including approximate entropy, total variation, energy, skewness, and standard deviation), thus generating 25 potential brainwave features associated with students' attention level for constructing the AAS. An attempt based on genetic algorithm ( GA) is also made to enhance the prediction performance of the proposed AAS in terms of identifying students' attention levels. According to GA, the seven most influential features are selected from 25 considered features; parameters of the proposed AAS are also optimized. Analytical results indicate that the proposed AAS can accurately recognize individual student's attention state as either a high or low level, and the average accuracy rate reaches as high as 89.52%. Moreover, the proposed AAS is integrated with a video lecture tagging system to examine whether the proposed AAS can accurately detect students' low-attention periods while learning about electrical safety in the workplace via a video lecture. Four experiments are designed to assess the prediction performance of the proposed AAS in terms of identifying the periods of video lecture with high- or low-attention levels during learning processes. Analytical results indicate that the proposed AAS can accurately identify the low-attention periods of video lecture generated by students when engaging in a learning activity with video lecture. Meanwhile, the proposed AAS can also accurately identify the low-attention periods of video lecture generated by students to some degree even when students engage in a learning activity by a video lecture with random disturbances. Furthermore, strong negative correlations are found between the students' learning performance (ie, posttest score and progressive score) and the low-attention periods of video lecture identified by the proposed AAS. Results of this study demonstrate that the proposed AAS is effective, capable of assisting online instructors in evaluating students' attention levels to enhance their online learning performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell consisting of a NiO-YSZ anode, YSZ electrolyte, and YSZ-LSM || LSM composite cathodes has been investigated. We use tape casting to produce thin strip of green tape anode substrate. In order to enhance the diffusivity of fuel gas to reach the triple phase boundary for electrochemical reaction, direct pore channel array perforation was created in the anode supporting substrate to improve performance behavior. The anode was subjected to a pore array perforation without causing irregular form or fracture at the perimeter of holes being perforated, so that the cell having low diffusion impedance in fuel gas electricity generation operation that can improve the ability of triple phase reaction at interfacial area among electrodes that can effectively enhance the output power density of the cell and provide power output with long term stability. By laser processing, the as-prepared 10 × 10 cm² cell was tested for comparison. The thicknesses of NiO-YSZ, YSZ, YSZ-LSM, and LSM layers are 450, 10, 10, and 25 μm, respectively. In an electrical performance test of the cell produced by perforation, it shows that the electricity generation efficiency increases from 369 to 406 mW cm-2 at 800 °C, and the gas diffusion impedance can be lowered by a percentage of 40 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iridium photoredox catalyst in combination with either a stoichiometric amount of Brønsted acid or a catalytic amount of Lewis acid is capable of catalyzing regioselective alkylation of N-heteroarenes with N-(acyloxy)phthalimides at room temperature under irradiation. A broad range of N-heteroarenes can be alkylated using a variety of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary carboxylates. Mechanistic studies suggest that an IrII/IrIII redox catalytic cycle is responsible for the observed reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]