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Objectives: Cervical disc herniation (CDH) leads to pain, numbness, and potential disability. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) offers an anterior or posterior approach. This study aims to compare postoperative disc height and angle changes one year after PECD, considering both approaches. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data from patients with CDH who underwent PECD from October 2017 to July 2022. Cervical disc height was measured using the preoperative and one-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Lordotic angle (LA), global alignment angle (GAA), segmental alignment angle (SAA), and slippage distance (SD) at the surgical level were measured on radiographs in the neutral, flexion, and extension positions. Results: Thirty-eight patients who underwent posterior PECD (PPECD) and five patients who underwent anterior PECD (APECD) were included in the evaluation. The mean age of the patients was 47.4 years (range: 29–69 years). There was a significant difference in the preoperative and one-year postoperative GAA and SAA in extension in the PPECD group (p = 0.003 and 0.031, respectively). The mean decreased disc height one-year postoperative was 1.30 mm in the APECD group and 0.3 mm in the PPECD group by MRI. A significant disc height decrease was observed in the APECD group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Treating CDH with PPECD or APECD is feasible, as it can relieve symptoms and reduce disability. Stability remained unaffected during the first year after surgery, even though there was an increase in angulation during extension. Despite a significant decrease in disc space following APECD, patients reported significant symptom improvement and no new symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of risk factors for future prediabetes in young men remains largely unexamined. This study enrolled 6247 young ethnic Chinese men with normal fasting plasma glucose at the baseline (FPGbase), and used machine learning (Mach-L) methods to predict prediabetes after 5.8 years. The study seeks to achieve the following: 1. Evaluate whether Mach-L outperformed traditional multiple linear regression (MLR). 2. Identify the most important risk factors. The baseline data included demographic, biochemistry, and lifestyle information. Two models were built, where Model 1 included all variables and Model 2 excluded FPGbase, since it had the most profound effect on prediction. Random forest, stochastic gradient boosting, eXtreme gradient boosting, and elastic net were used, and the model performance was compared using different error metrics. All the Mach-L errors were smaller than those for MLR, thus Mach-L provided the most accurate results. In descending order of importance, the key factors for Model 1 were FPGbase, body fat (BF), creatinine (Cr), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), WBC, and age, while those for Model 2 were BF, white blood cell, age, TSH, TG, and LDL-C. We concluded that FPGbase was the most important factor to predict future prediabetes. However, after removing FPGbase, WBC, TSH, BF, HDL-C, and age were the key factors after 5.8 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study discovered that sucrose and other non-reducing sugars (e.g., trehalose and raffinose) could be used to improve the electrotransfer (ET) of molecular cargo, including DNA, mRNA, and ribonucleoprotein in various cell lines and primary human cells in vitro and in vivo. To understand the molecular mechanisms of this improvement, we used RNA sequencing technology to analyze changes in the cell transcriptome after sucrose treatment. The results from our analysis demonstrated that the sucrose treatment upregulated phospholipase A2 and V-ATPase gene families, which could potentially influence the acidity of intracellular vesicles through augmenting vesicle fusion and the influx of proton, respectively. To determine how this upregulation affects ET efficiency, we treated cells with pharmaceutical inhibitors of phospholipase A2 and V-ATPase. The data demonstrated that the treatment with the phospholipase A2 inhibitor could reverse the ET improvement elicited by the sucrose treatment. The V-ATPase inhibitor treatment either had little influence or further enhanced the effect of the sucrose treatment on the ET efficiency. These observations provide a molecular explanation for our previous findings, demonstrating that the sucrose treatment primarily enhanced the ET efficiency by promoting vesicle trafficking and fusion through the activation of phospholipase A2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the supplier–retailer–consumer system, the retailer's replenishment and pricing strategies impact the entire transaction process, forming a comprehensive trading market. Suppliers offer advance-cash-credit payments to retailers, while retailers provide customers with cash-credit payment options. In the current health-conscious consumer market, purchasing decisions are influenced not only by commodity prices but also by the freshness of products, particularly perishable goods. Growing awareness of climate change and the advent of carbon emission policies have raised concerns about the environmental costs of business transactions. This study focuses on perishable products whose demand is influenced by both price and freshness. It explores the adoption of various payment methods by suppliers and retailers, as well as the impact of carbon emission cap-and-trade policies or carbon tax policies on management and pricing strategies. Suitable inventory models are established to determine the optimal replenishment and pricing strategies for maximizing the current value of total profit. We illustrate that the current value of total profit demonstrates joint concavity concerning both the selling price and the replenishment time. Finally, we verify the proposed models using numerical examples and present the findings of sensitivity analyses. The findings of this study yield several valuable insights for inventory management of perishable goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin (IL)-8 plays a vital role in regulating inflammation and breast cancer formation by activating CXCR1/2. We previously designed an antagonist peptide, (RF16), to inhibits the activation of downstream signaling pathways by competing with IL-8 in binding to CXCR1/2, thereby inhibiting IL-8-induced chemoattractant monocyte binding. To evaluate the effect of the RF16 peptide on breast cancer progression, triple-negative MDA-MB-231 and ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used to investigate whether RF16 can inhibit the IL-8-induced breast cancer metastasis. Using growth, proliferation, and invasiveness assays, the results revealed that RF16 reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness in MDA-MB-231 cells. The RF16 peptide also regulated the protein and mRNA expressions of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in IL-8-stimulated MDA-MB-231 cells. It also inhibited downstream IL-8 signaling and the IL-8-induced inflammatory response via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. In the xenograft tumor mouse model, RF16 synergistically reinforces the antitumor efficacy of docetaxel by improving mouse survival and retarding tumor growth. Our results indicate that RF16 significantly inhibited IL-8-stimulated cell growth, migration, and invasion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by blocking the activation of p38 and AKT cascades. It indicated that the RF16 peptide may serve as a new supplementary drug for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and fatal breast cancer subtype. Nowadays, chemotherapy remains the standard treatment of TNBC, and immunotherapy has emerged as an important alternative. However, the high rate of TNBC recurrence suggests that new treatment is desperately needed. Schisandrin B (Sch B) has recently revealed its anti-tumor effects in cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoma, glioma, and multi-drug-resistant breast cancer. However, there is still a need to investigate using Sch B in TNBC treatment. Interleukin (IL)-1β, an inflammatory cytokine that can be expressed and produced by the cancer cell itself, has been suggested to promote BC proliferation and progression. In the current study, we present evidence that Sch B can significantly suppress the growth, migration, and invasion of TNBC cell lines and patient-derived TNBC cells. Through inhibition of inflammasome activation, Sch B inhibits interleukin (IL)-1β production of TNBC cells, hindering its progression. This was confirmed using an NLRP3 inhibitor, OLT1177, which revealed a similar beneficial effect in combating TNBC progression. Sch B treatment also inhibits IL-1β-induced EMT expression of TNBC cells, which may contribute to the anti-tumor response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)—comprising repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—for depression in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 28 January 2023. Random-effects models assessed the treatment effects, and heterogeneity was evaluated through I2 statistics and funnel plot inspection. Results: From 10 trials (234 participants; 8 rTMS, 2 tDCS), NIBS was found significantly more effective than sham in alleviating depressive symptoms (SMD: 0.588, 95% CI: 0.264–0.912; p < 0.001). rTMS, specifically, showed higher efficacy (SMD: 0.707, 95% CI: 0.306–1.108; p = 0.001) compared to sham, whereas tDCS outcomes were inconclusive (SMD: 0.271, 95% CI: −0.230 to 0.771; p = 0.289). Meta-regression found no correlation with the number of sessions, treatment intensity, or total dose. Notably, while post-treatment effects were significant, they diminished 1–2 months post intervention. Adverse events associated with NIBS were minimal, with no severe outcomes like seizures and suicide reported. Conclusions: rTMS emerged as a potent short-term intervention for depression in TBI patients, while tDCS findings remained equivocal. The long-term efficacy of NIBS is yet to be established, warranting further studies. The low adverse event rate reaffirms NIBS's potential safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade and positive surgical margins (PSMs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) may reflect the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. This study aimed to investigate whether DCE-MRI parameters (i.e., Ktrans, kep, and IAUC) could predict ISUP grade and PSMs after RP. Method: Forty-five PCa patients underwent preoperative DCE-MRI. The clinical characteristics and DCE-MRI parameters of the 45 patients were compared between the low- and high-risk (i.e., ISUP grades III-V) groups and between patients with or without PSMs after RP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the significant predictors of placement in the high-risk group and PSMs. Results: The DCE parameter Ktrans-max was significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (p = 0.028) and was also a significant predictor of placement in the high-risk group (odds ratio [OR] = 1.032, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.005–1.060, p = 0.021). Patients with PSMs had significantly higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) titers, positive biopsy core percentages, Ktrans-max, kep-median, and kep-max than others (all p < 0.05). Of these, positive biopsy core percentage (OR = 1.035, 95% CI = 1.003–1.068, p = 0.032) and kep-max (OR = 1.078, 95% CI = 1.012–1.148, p = 0.020) were significant predictors of PSMs. Conclusion: Preoperative DCE-MRI parameters, specifically Ktrans-max and kep-max, could potentially serve as preoperative imaging biomarkers for postoperative PCa prognosis based on their predictability of PCa risk group and PSM on RP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural analysis of proteins is a major domain of biomedical research. Such analysis requires resolved three-dimensional structures of proteins. Advancements in computer technology have led to progress in biomedical research. In silico prediction and modeling approaches have facilitated the construction of protein structures, with or without structural templates. In this study, we used three neural network-based de novo modeling approaches—AlphaFold2 (AF2), Robetta-RoseTTAFold (Robetta), and transform-restrained Rosetta (trRosetta)—and two template-based tools—the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) and iterative threading assembly refinement (I-TASSER)—to construct the structure of a viral capsid protein, hepatitis C virus core protein (HCVcp), whose structure have not been fully resolved by laboratory techniques. Templates with sufficient sequence identity for the homology modeling of complete HCVcp are currently unavailable. Therefore, we performed domain-based homology modeling for MOE simulations. The templates for each domain were obtained through sequence-based searches on NCBI and the Protein Data Bank. Then, the modeled domains were assembled to construct the complete structure of HCVcp. The full-length structure and two truncated forms modeled using various computational tools were compared. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to refine the structures. The root mean square deviation of backbone atoms, root mean square fluctuation of Cα atoms, and radius of gyration were calculated to monitor structural changes and convergence in the simulations. The model quality was evaluated through ERRAT and phi–psi plot analysis. In terms of the initial prediction for protein modeling, Robetta and trRosetta outperformed AF2. Regarding template-based tools, MOE outperformed I-TASSER. MD simulations resulted in compactly folded protein structures, which were of good quality and theoretically accurate. Thus, the predicted structures of certain proteins must be refined to obtain reliable structural models. MD simulation is a promising tool for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coiled ice-storage-based air conditioning system plays a significant role in enhancing grid peak regulation and improving cooling economy. This paper presents theoretical and experimental studies conducted on the ice storage process of coiled ice storage air conditioning technology. The cooling of water is divided into two stages:10.0 °C to 4.0 °C and 4.0 °C to below 0.0 °C. Initially, the ice storage process forms an ice layer with a thickness of 2.50 mm on the lower surface of the coil, but eventually, the ice layer on the upper surface becomes 3.85 mm thicker than the lower surface as a result of the natural convection of water and density reversal at 4.0 °C. Furthermore, the impact of three coils with different thermal conductivity on the ice storage process was evaluated. It was observed that the thermal conductivity of R-HDPE (reinforced high-density polyethylene) was only 2.6 W/(m·K) higher than HDPE (high-density polyethylene), yet it reduced the freezing time by 34.85%, while the thermal conductivity of steel was 37.4 W/(m·K) higher than R-HDPE, but only decreased the freezing time by 9.40%. The results demonstrated that the rate of ice accumulation increased with thermal conductivity. However, when the coil material's thermal conductivity surpassed that of ice, the further increase of thermal conductivity gradually weakened its impact on the ice storage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CMOS integrated circuits are vulnerable to electrostatic discharge (ESD); therefore, ESD protection circuits are needed. On-chip ESD protection is important for both component-level and system-level ESD protection. In this work, on-chip ESD protection circuits for multi-Gbps high-speed applications are studied. π-shaped ESD protection circuit structures realized by staked diodes with an embedded silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) and resistor-triggered SCR are proposed. These test circuits are fabricated in CMOS technology, and the proposed designs have been proven to have better ESD robustness and performance in high-speed applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After stepping into the pandemic, it has been entirely not bizarre to wear facial masks to diminish the spreading of viruses in human daily outings. Due to the low expense and stable protection capability, disposable masks are the most widely used types of medical masks. By functionalities and medical standards, disposable masks mainly consist of surgical masks and N95/KN95 respirators in the market. In the assembling scheme, there are typically three or more polymeric layers (i.e., mainly polypropylene) in disposable masks; in addition, the ear loops in masks are usually made from textile constituents, such as polyamides. Therefore, the vast utilization and rapid accumulation of disposal mask waste can directly bring an emerging crisis of foreseeable environmental pollution. To minimize and prevent such mask-led microplastic pollution, chemical pyrolysis of mask waste is one of the most feasible and promising strategies. Via the direct and selective pyrolysis of disposable masks, it can effectively convert the mask waste into high-value fuel-range chemicals, e.g., liquid hydrocarbon blends, aromatics, C1–5 gas alkanes/alkenes, hydrogen, etc. In this way, it can not only tackle environmental challenges from plastic waste but also afford sustainable fuels with low carbon emission and circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advertisements play an important role in communicating with target customers. A higher advertisement frequency increases costs but may increase the chances of acquiring new customers. Moreover, faced with a wide-ranging array of products that might fit specific needs, customers usually buy according to expectations about value and satisfaction. When customers are satisfied with a purchasing experience, they are more likely to buy again and share their experiences with others. Hence, companies are concerned about increasing customer value and service satisfaction to develop and manage customer relationships. This maintains a company's competitive edge and can improve its market share. In this article, we incorporate the frequency of advertisements and the cost of customer relationship management (CRM) into the demand function under a product life cycle (PLC). Customers can return products in the appreciation period offered by a retailer. A profit-maximizing model is developed to analyze the joint marketing and ordering policy of each stage of a product's life cycle with a product return guarantee. We construct an algorithm to identify the optimal decisions. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate the proposed model, and managerial insights are obtained from a sensitivity analysis, followed by conclusions and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study found that biochar made from grapevines (GVC), an agricultural waste product, can be used as a nucleating agent to promote the crystallization of polylactic acid (PLA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of GVC/PLA composites showed that different particle sizes (200 and 100 mesh size) and amounts (1 wt%, 10 wt%) of biochar affect the re-crystallization of PLA, with 200 mesh GVC in the amount of 10 wt% being the most significant. In addition, it was found that there were two peaks related to imperfect and perfect crystals in the Tm part for GVC/PLA composites. TGA analysis showed that adding GVC tends to lower the maximum decomposition temperature of PLA, revealing that GVC may accelerate the degradation reaction of PLA. This research also studied the effects of GVC in various particle sizes and amounts on the mechanical properties and degradation of PLA. The results revealed that the tensile and impact strengths of GVC/PLA composite could reach 79.79 MPa and 22.67 J/m, respectively, and the increments were 41.4% and 32.1%, greater than those of pristine PLA. Moreover, the molecular weight of PLA decreased as the amount of GVC increased. Therefore, GVC particles can be used as reinforcing fillers for PLA to improve its mechanical properties and adjust its molecular weight. These agricultural-waste-reinforced biocomposites can reduce both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the cost of biodegradable polymers and achieve the goals of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-infectious cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon type of cerebrovascular disease that usually affects young patients. It occurs frequently in female patients, probably due to the association of sex-specific risk factors for coagulopathies. Currently, the prognostic factors of CVT remain unclear. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics among 260 CVT patients, including 147 females and 113 males. A favorable clinical outcome was defined by the scores of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 2 at hospital discharge, while a poor clinical outcome was defined by an mRS score of 3 to 6. A headache (28.5%) was the most frequent presentation. The most commonly affected sinus was the transverse-sigmoid sinus (59.6%). Most of the cases (78.5%) were treated with anticoagulants. One hundred and fifty-seven patients (60.4%) were discharged with favorable clinical outcomes. Consciousness disturbance (odds ratio: 5.01, p < 0.001) was associated with a poor clinical outcome. Patients with poor clinical outcomes demonstrated higher D-dimer levels on admission (4137.76 ± 3317.07 vs. 2476.74 ± 2330.87 ng/mL FEU, p = 0.029) and longer hospitalization days (31.81 ± 26.29 vs. 13.96 ± 8.82 days, p < 0.001) compared with favorable clinical outcomes. These findings provide important information of clinical characteristics and prognosis for CVT. Aggressive monitoring and treatment should be considered in CVT patients with poor prognostic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction, as indicated by epithelial hyperpermeability and high levels of mucosal-associated bacteria. Changes in gut microbiota may be correlated with IBD pathogenesis. Additionally, microbe-based treatments could mitigate clinical IBD symptoms. Plasmon-activated water (PAW) is known to have an anti-inflammatory potential. In this work, we studied the association between the anti-inflammatory ability of PAW and intestinal microbes, thereby improving IBD treatment. We examined the PAW-induced changes in the colonic immune activity and microbiota of mice by immunohistochemistry and next generation sequencing, determined whether drinking PAW can mitigate IBD induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and dysbiosis through mice animal models. The effects of specific probiotic species on mice with TNBS-induced IBD were also investigated. Experimental results indicated that PAW could change the local inflammation in the intestinal microenvironment. Moreover, the abundance of Akkermansia spp. was degraded in the TNBS-treated mice but elevated in the PAW-drinking mice. Daily rectal injection of Akkermansia muciniphila, a potential probiotic species in Akkermansia spp., also improved the health of the mice. Correspondingly, both PAW consumption and increasing the intestinal abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila can mitigate IBD in mice. These findings indicate that increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut through PAW consumption or other methods may mitigate IBD in mice with clinically significant IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a nanocrystalline Ni-Fe matrix with reinforced TiO2 nanoparticles as a functional nanocomposite material was fabricated by pulsed current electroforming in UV-LIGA (lithography, electroplating, and molding). The influences of TiO2 nanoparticles on the Ni-Fe nanocomposite deposition were also investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and in vitro cytotoxicity assay. It was found that the Ni-Fe nanocomposite with 5 wt.% TiO2 nanoparticles showed a smooth surface and better dispersion property. When the Ni-Fe nanocomposite is combined with 20 wt.% TiO2, it resulted in congeries of TiO2 nanoparticles. In addition, TiO2 nanoparticles possessed better dispersion properties as performed in pulse current electrodeposition. The microstructure of the electrodeposited Ni-Fe-TiO2 nanocomposite was a FeNi3 phase containing anatase nano-TiO2. Moreover, the electrodeposited Ni-Fe-5 wt.% TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited a smooth surface and structural integrity. Cytotoxicity assay results also proved that the Ni-Fe nanocomposite with different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles had good biocompatibility. Therefore, the optimization of pulse current electroforming parameters was successfully applied to fabricate the Ni-Fe-TiO2 nanocomposite, and thus could be used as an endodontic file material for dental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft rubbery materials are capable of withstanding large deformation, and stretched rubber contracts when heated. Additionally, rubber balloons exhibit non-monotonic pressure–volume curves. These unique properties have inspired numerous ingenious inventions based on rubber balloons. To the authors' knowledge, however, it is surprising that these properties have not inspired any study that exploits the elasticity of rubber balloons for energy storage. Motivated by these, this study examines the performance of water balloons as energy storage media. In each experiment, a single water balloon is implemented using a flat membrane, and it is subject to repeated inflation, heating, deflation, and cooling. Inflating the balloon deposits energy into it. The heating simulates the recycling of waste heat. The balloon delivers work during its deflation. Finally, the cooling completes the energy-storage cycle. The performance is evaluated in terms of the balloon's transferred energies, efficiencies, and service life. Simple as it is, a water balloon is actually an impressively efficient energy storage medium. The efficiency is 85–90% when a water balloon stores and releases energy at room temperature. Recycling waste heat can boost a balloon's efficiency beyond 100%, provided that the cost of the heat is negligible so that the heat is not taken as part of the input energy. However, heating shortens the service life of a balloon and reduces the total energy it can accommodate. By running fatigue tests on balloons, this study reveals the trade-off between a water balloon's efficiency and its longevity. These results shall serve as a useful guide for implementing balloon-based mechanical devices not limited to energy-storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a microfluid-based extended gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) biosensor with an on-chip sensing window (OCSW) was fabricated. The detection window was composed of six metal layers, and a ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) film was spattered on the surface and functionalized with lactase to detect lactic acid (LA). To detect LA in a more diversified way, a microfluidic system was integrated with the biosensor. Moreover, a special package was used to seal the sensing window and microfluidic tube and insulate it from other parts to prevent water molecule invasion and chip damage. The sensitivity analysis of the EGFET biosensor was studied by a semiconductor parameter analyzer (SPA). The static and dynamic measurements of the EGFET with sensing windows on a chip were analyzed. The sensing characteristics of the EGFET biosensor were verified by the experimental results. The proposed biosensor is suitable for wearable applications due to the advantages of its low weight, low voltage, and simple manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report a novel per-6-substituted β-cyclodextrin (4) featuring seven phosphoramidate moieties as an innovative host for inclusion. This structurally well-defined host has remarkable water solubility and was isolated in pure form. Analytical techniques such as NMR and ITC were used to probe the molecular interactions with different drug molecules. Our investigations revealed that host 4 can form 2:1 inclusion complexes with various drugs. Further studies showed that the inclusions of drugs by β-CD host (4) are mostly enthalpy driven, highlighting the potential roles played by the phosphoramidate functionalities of the host. Comparatively, a per-O2, O3-acetylated analog (6) of compound 4 was also obtained, which also shows unusual water solubility but diminished inclusion capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancements of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have enabled the implementation of smart and wearable sensors, which can be employed to provide older adults with affordable and accessible continuous biophysiological status monitoring. The quality of such monitoring data, however, is unsatisfactory due to excessive noise induced by various disturbances, such as motion artifacts. Existing methods take advantage of summary statistics, such as mean or median values, for denoising, without taking into account the biophysiological patterns embedded in data. In this research, a functional data analysis modeling method was proposed to enhance the data quality by learning individual subjects' diurnal heart rate (HR) patterns from historical data, which were further improved by fusing newly collected data. This proposed data-fusion approach was developed based on a Bayesian inference framework. Its effectiveness was demonstrated in an HR analysis from a prospective study involving older adults residing in assisted living or home settings. The results indicate that it is imperative to conduct personalized healthcare by estimating individualized HR patterns. Furthermore, the proposed calibration method provides a more accurate (smaller mean errors) and more precise (smaller error standard deviations) HR estimation than raw HR and conventional methods, such as the mean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic power generation is rapidly developing as a kind of renewable energy that can protect the ecological environment. The establishment of photovoltaic power stations in desertification areas can play a very important role in desert windbreaks and sand fixation as well as improve the ecological environment. The realization of the effective integration of photovoltaics and deserts can have multiple benefits for the economy, society, and ecology. However, the deposition of sand and dust caused by environmental factors in desertification areas can seriously affect the power generation efficiency of PV modules. In this study, the output characteristics of photovoltaic modules were tested under three wind speed conditions (5 m/s, 10 m/s, and 15 m/s), with different sand densities, sand particle sizes, and inclination angles. The experimental study showed that the module's output power gradually decreased with an increase in the density of accumulated sand; the sand accumulation density on the surface of the photovoltaic module increased from 0 to 40 g/m2, and the maximum output power decreased by 32.2%. As the sand particle size increased, the maximum output power of the module rose and was gradually stabilized in the three wind speed groups. As the sand particle size increased, the maximum output power of the module increased and gradually stabilized in the three wind speed groups. When the wind speed was 15 m/s, the component output power of the angle had the largest drop; the tilt angle was 60° when the relative output power rate reached the minimum (i.e., 86.5%); that is, there was electrical energy loss of approximately 13.7%. The sand particle size and accumulated sand density were the control variables related to the module temperature and the transmittance of the proportion of the impact of the module filling factor differences. According to the curve analysis of the filling factor in different sand accumulation densities, the filling factor first increased and then decreased. In this test, the filling factor at the sand accumulation density of 35 g/m2 (module temperature valley) reached the peak value. The change trend for the component filling factor under different sand particle sizes fluctuated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and plasmon-activated water (PAW) against IFN-γ/TNF-α induced inflammation in human colon Caco-2 cells were investigated. Cells were divided into the control, induction, LBP treatment (100–500 μg/mL), and combination groups with PAW. Inflammation was induced 24 h with 10 ng/mL IFN-γ when cell confluency reached >90%, and various doses of LBP with or without PAW were treated for 3 h, and subsequently 50 ng/mL TNF-α was added for another 24 h to provoke inflammation. Combination of LBP with PAW significantly decreased the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8. Cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase expression was attenuated in all LBP-treated groups with or without PAW. NLRP3 inflammasome and related protein PYCARD expression were inhibited by LBP at the highest dose (500 μg/mL). All doses of LBP alone significantly decreased p-ERK expression, but combination with PAW increased p-ERK expression compared to those without PAW. Additionally, 250 and 500 μg/mL of LBP with or without PAW inhibited procaspase-3/caspase-3 expression. Therefore, LBP possesses anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related protein. The combination with PAW exerts additive or synergistic effect on anti-inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the computational characterization of electrochemical C-C bond formation through the CO and CHO coupling process utilizing a dioxo-coordinated Cu single atom site ([CuO2]*) supported on a Pd(111) surface. The stable intermediate, [CuO2]*(CO)2, was identified as a tetradentate-and-tetrahedral species formed upon exposure to CO gaseous molecules. Electrochemically, the hydrogenation of the carbonyl group to CHO was found to be 0.87 eV, conceivably lower than the corresponding step for conventional Cu surfaces. This study observed a considerable charge transfer effect from the top layer of Pd atoms to the adsorbate moiety, especially at the TS structure. This phenomenon resulted in an accessible C-C bond formation barrier at 0.67 eV. Furthermore, the reaction energy of C-C bond formation was found to be exothermic at −0.21 eV, indicating a favorable chemical equilibrium condition. Considering the temperature effect and pressure of the gaseous molecules (CO, CO2, O2), the [CuO2]*(CO)2 intermediate was substantially populated at room temperature and was found to be chemically resilient under dry ambient conditions, as suggested by the kinetic modeling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanozymes and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway, as powerful organons, can remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME) to increase efficacy and overcome drug resistance in cancer immunotherapy. Nanozymes have the potential to manipulate the TME by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to positive oxidative stress in tumor cells. Cyclic dinucleotide (2′,3′-cGAMP), as a second messenger, exists in the TME and can regulate it to achieve antitumor activity. In this work, Co,N-doped carbon dots (CoNCDs) were used as a model nanozyme to evaluate the properties of the anti-tumor mechanism, and effective inhibition of S180 tumor was achieved. Based on CoNCDs' good biocompatibility and therapeutic effect on the tumor, we then introduced the cGAS–STING agonist, and the combination of the CoNCDs and STING agonist significantly inhibited tumor growth, and no significant systemic toxicity was observed. The combined system achieved the enhanced tumor synergistic immunotherapy through TME reprogramming via the peroxidase-like activity of the CoNCDs and cGAS–STING signaling pathway agonist synergistically. Our work provides not only a new effective way to reprogram TME in vivo, but also a promising synergic antitumor therapy strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greenhouse's energy consumption is a major limiting factor for output and development. To address this, it is necessary to adopt green and low-carbon heating technologies to replace traditional fuels. This will not only help conserve energy but will also reduce emissions, thereby improving the thermal environmental conditions for agriculture. This paper aims to research and develop a vertical heat exchange tube array device specifically designed for greenhouses. The focus is on enhancing the passive heat absorption and heat storage efficiency of the device and its influence on the thermal environment of the greenhouse. In order to improve the heat absorption and storage efficiency of the heat exchanger device and its impact on the greenhouse thermal environment, experimental comparative analysis was conducted using air, water, and phase-change materials as working fluids inside the pipes. Through a combination of experiments and simulations, it was verified that the heat exchanger device is capable of actively regulating the greenhouse thermal environment. The results show that heat exchangers of all three types of working fluids can effectively improve the stability of soil temperature and play a "shifting the peak and filling the valley" role in regulating the indoor air temperature while positively regulating the relative humidity of the air. Notably, when the working fluid is a phase-change material, it has the most significant impact on the thermal environment of the greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image recognition and neuroimaging are increasingly being used to understand the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, image data from single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are limited. Medical image analysis requires large, labeled training datasets. Therefore, studies have focused on overcoming this problem. In this study, the detection performance of five convolutional neural network (CNN) models (MobileNet V2 and NASNetMobile (lightweight models); VGG16, Inception V3, and ResNet (heavier weight models)) on medical images was compared to establish a classification model for epidemiological research. Brain scan image data were collected from 99 subjects, and 4711 images were used. Demographic data were compared using the chi-squared test and one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni's post hoc test. Accuracy and loss functions were used to evaluate the performance of CNN models. The cognitive abilities screening instrument and mini mental state exam scores of subjects with a clinical dementia rating (CDR) of 2 were considerably lower than those of subjects with a CDR of 1 or 0.5. This study analyzed the classification performance of various CNN models for medical images and proved the effectiveness of transfer learning in identifying the mild cognitive impairment, mild AD, and moderate AD scoring based on SPECT images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a glucose fiber sensor incorporating heterodyne interferometry to measure the phase difference produced by the chemical reaction between glucose and glucose oxidase (GOx). Both theoretical and experimental results showed that the amount of phase variation is inversely proportional to glucose concentration. The proposed method provided a linear measurement range of the glucose concentration from 10 mg/dL to 550 mg/dL. The experimental results indicated that the sensitivity is proportional to the length of the enzymatic glucose sensor, and the optimum resolution can be obtained at a sensor length of 3 cm. The optimum resolution of the proposed method is better than 0.6 mg/dL. Moreover, the proposed sensor demonstrates good repeatability and reliability. The average relative standard deviation (RSD) is better than 10% and satisfied the minimum requirement for point-of-care devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease affect motor symptoms with abnormally increased or reduced movements. Symptoms such as tremor and hand movement disorders can be subtle and vary daily such that the actual condition of the disease may not fully present in clinical sessions. Health examination and monitoring, if available in the living space, can capture comprehensive and quantitative information about a patient's motor symptoms, allowing physicians to make a precise diagnosis and devise a more personalized treatment. WiFi-based sensing is a potential solution for passively detecting human motion in a contactless way that collects no personally identifiable information. This study proposed an approach for human micromotion detection using the WiFi channel state information, which can be realized in a regular-sized room for home health monitoring and examination. Three types of motion were tested to evaluate the proposed method in quantifying micromotion using single and multiple WiFi links. The results show that micromotion could be captured at all distributed locations in the experimental environment (4.2 m × 7.9 m). Our computer algorithm computed the frequency and duration of simulated hand tremors with an average accuracy of 90.9% (single WiFi link)—95.7% (multiple WiFi links). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Betel nut chewing injures bodily health. Although, the relationship between betel nut chewing and kidney stone disease (KSD) is unknown. (2) Methods: We analyzed 43,636 men from Taiwan Biobank. We divided them into two groups on the status of betel nut chewing, the never-chewer and ever-chewer groups. Self-reported diagnosed KSD was defined as the subject's medical history of KSD in the questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of betel nut chewing and the risk of KSD. (3) Results: The mean age of subjects in the present study was 50 years, and 16% were ever-chewers. KSD was observed in 3759 (10.3%) and 894 (12.6%) participants in the group of never-chewer and ever-chewer groups, respectively. Higher risk of KSD was found in participants with betel nut chewing compared with to without betel nut chewing (odds ratio (OR), 1.094; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.001 to 1.196). Furthermore, the daily amounts of betel nut chewing >30 quids was associated with a more than 1.5-fold increase (OR, 1.571; 95% CI, 1.186 to 2.079) in the odds of KSD; (4) Conclusions: Our study suggests that betel nut chewing is associated with the risk of KSD and warrants further attention to this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric subepithelial lesions are common. However, their diagnosis and management can pose a challenge. Herein, we present the case of a 49-year-old man who was incidentally discovered to have a gastric subepithelial lesion that increased in size during follow-up. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection was performed, and the tumor was successfully removed en bloc. The pathological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with a gastric globus tumor. Although rare, glomus tumors should be considered when gastric subepithelial lesions are discovered. Resection with an endoscopic technique can be used to preserve the stomach and can be considered an alternative to surgical removal. However, such procedures should only be performed by experienced therapeutic endoscopists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent problems among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. The recognition of comorbid sleep disorders in patients with HIV is currently hampered by limited knowledge of sleep-related symptoms, sleep architecture, and types of sleep disorders in this population. We aimed to compare the differences in sleep-related symptoms and polysomnography-based sleep disorders between HIV-infected persons and controls. Methods: The study evaluated 170 men with a Pittsburgh sleep quality index scores greater than 5, including 44 HIV-infected men and 126 male controls who were frequency-matched by sex, age (±3.0 years) and BMI (±3.0 kg/m2). For all participants, an overnight sleep study using a Somte V1 monitor was conducted. Differences in sleep-related symptoms and sleep disorders between HIV-infected patients and controls were examined using t-tests or chi-square tests. Results: HIV-infected persons with sleep disturbances more often had psychological disturbances (72.7% vs. 40.5%, p < 0.001) and suspected rapid eye movement behavior disorder (25.0% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.01) than controls. Sleep-disordered breathing was less common in HIV-infected persons than in controls (56.8% vs. 87.3%, p < 0.001). The mean percentage of rapid eye movement sleep was higher among HIV-infected patients than among controls (20.6% vs. 16.6%, p < 0.001). Nocturia was more common in HIV-infected persons than in controls (40.9% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Psychological disturbances and sleep-disordered breathing can be possible explanations of sleep disturbances in HIV-infected persons in whom sleep-disordered breathing is notable. Further studies are warranted to examine the underlying factors of rapid eye movement behavior disorder among HIV-infected persons with sleep disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) range from acute to chronic conditions, leading to multiorgan disorders such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. However, little is known about the influence of DM on intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Moreover, traditional surgical outcomes in DM patients have been found poor, and to date, no definitive alternative treatment exists for DM-induced IVDD. Recently, among various novel approaches in regenerative medicine, the concentrated platelet-derived biomaterials (PDB), which is comprised of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), etc., have been reported as safe, biocompatible, and efficacious alternatives for various disorders. Therefore, we initially investigated the correlations between DM and IVDD, through establishing in vitro and in vivo DM models, and further evaluated the therapeutic effects of PDB in this comorbid pathology. In vitro model was established by culturing immortalized human nucleus pulposus cells (ihNPs) in high-glucose medium, whereas in vivo DM model was developed by administering streptozotocin, nicotinamide and high-fat diet to the mice. Our results revealed that DM deteriorates both ihNPs and IVD tissues, by elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress, inhibiting chondrogenic markers and disc height. Contrarily, PDB ameliorated IVDD by restoring cellular growth, chondrogenic markers and disc height, possibly through suppressing ROS levels. These data imply that PDB may serve as a potential chondroprotective and chondroregenerative candidate for DM-induced IVDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress-induced performance change in electron packaging architecture is a major concern when the keep-out zone (KOZ) and corresponding integration density of interconnect systems and transistor devices are considered. In this study, a finite element analysis (FEA)-based submodeling approach is demonstrated to analyze the stress-affected zone of through-silicon via (TSV) and its influences on a planar metal oxide semiconductor field transistor (MOSFET) device. The feasibility of the widely adopted analytical solution for TSV stress-affected zone estimation, Lamé radial stress solution, is investigated and compared with the FEA-based submodeling approach. Analytic results reveal that the Lamé stress solution overestimates the TSV-induced stress in the concerned device by over 50%, and the difference in the estimated results of device performance between Lamé stress solution and FEA simulation can reach 22%. Moreover, a silicon–germanium-based lattice mismatch stressor is designed in a silicon p-type MOSFET, and its effects are analyzed and compared with those of TSV residual stress. The S/D stressor dominates the stress status of the device channel. The demonstrated FEA-based submodeling approach is effective in analyzing the stress impact from packaging and device-level components and estimating the KOZ issue in advanced electronic packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation therapy (RT) recruits myeloid cells, leading to an immunosuppressive microenvironment that impedes its efficacy against tumors. Combination of immunotherapy with RT is a potential approach to reversing the immunosuppressive condition and enhancing tumor control after RT. This study aimed to assess the effects of local interleukin-12 (IL-12) therapy on improving the efficacy of RT in a murine prostate cancer model. Combined treatment effectively shrunk the radioresistant tumors by inducing a T helper-1 immune response and influx of CD8+ T cells. It also delayed the radiation-induced vascular damage accompanied by increased α-smooth muscle actin-positive pericyte coverage and blood perfusion. Moreover, RT significantly reduced the IL-12-induced levels of alanine aminotransferase in blood. However, it did not further improve the IL-12-induced anti-tumor effect on distant tumors. Upregulated expression of T-cell exhaustion-associated genes was found in tumors treated with IL-12 only and combined treatment, suggesting that T-cell exhaustion is potentially correlated with tumor relapse in combined treatment. In conclusion, this study illustrated that combination of radiation and local IL-12 therapy enhanced the host immune response and promoted vascular maturation and function. Furthermore, combination treatment was associated with less systemic toxicity than IL-12 alone, providing a potential option for tumor therapy in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A chest CT via central vein enhancement not only eliminates peripheral vein regurgitation but also provides better image quality that facilitates precise clinical staging. A chest CT via central vein enhancement may be considered after tissue proof in order to better discriminate disease severity. The differences in chest computed tomography (CT) image quality may affect the tumor stage. The aim of this study was to compare the image quality and accuracy of chest CT via central vein and peripheral vein enhancement. Fifty consecutive patients were enrolled from a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from May 2016 to March 2019. All the patients received a chest CT via central vein enhancement prior to neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation in order to compare the chest CT that was obtained via the peripheral vein. In addition, blind independent central reviews of chest CT via central vein and peripheral vein enhancement were conducted. For T and N stage, chest CT via central vein enhancement had a greater consistency with endoscopic ultrasonography and positron-emission tomography-computed tomography findings (kappa coefficients 0.4471 and 0.5564, respectively). In addition, chest CT via central vein enhancement also showed excellent agreement in the blind independent central review (kappa coefficient 0.9157). The changes in the T and N stage resulted in stage migration in 16 patients. Chest CT via central vein enhancement eliminated peripheral vein regurgitation and also provided more precise clinical staging. This study is registered under the registered NCT number 02887261. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lost circulation is a pervasive problem in geothermal wells that can create prohibitive costs during drilling. The main issue with treatment is that the mechanism of plug formation is poorly understood. Here we applied two experimental approaches to characterize the clogging effectiveness of different materials. Fracture flow tests with different geometries were conducted with various individual materials and mixtures at relevant conditions. A high-temperature flow loop system was also developed to inject single- and mixed-material plugs into a gravel pack with a non-uniform geometry to compare with the fracture tests. The fracture tests revealed that single materials tended to form no plug or an unstable plug, while mixtures of materials were uniformly better at sealing fractures. Gravel pack tests at high temperatures show most of the materials are intact but degraded. The fibrous materials can create partial or unstable plugs in the gravel pack, but mixed-material plugs are far more effective at clogging. Both test types suggest that (1) mixed materials are more effective at blocking fluid flow and (2) fibrous materials seal fracture openings better, while granular materials seal inside fractures or pore throats better. Further research is needed to study the long-term stability of different plug configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxytocin system plays a role in stress responses and behavior modulation. However, the effects of oxytocin signaling on stress adaptation remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated the roles of oxytocin signaling as a biomarker under stress conditions in the peripheral tissues (the gills) and central nervous system (the brain). All the environmental stressors downregulated the expression of oxytocin receptors in the gills, and the alteration of the expression of oxytocin receptors was also found in the brain after the acidic (AC) and high-ammonia (HA) treatments. The number of oxytocin neurons was increased after double-deionized (DI) treatment. By transgenic line, Tg(oxtl:EGFP), we also investigated the projections of oxytocin neurons and found oxytocin axon innervations in various nuclei that might regulate the anxiety levels and aggressiveness of adult zebrafish under different environmental stresses. The oxytocin system integrates physiological responses and behavioral outcomes to ensure environmental adaptation in adult zebrafish. Our study provides insight into oxytocin signaling as a stress indicator upon environmental stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new compounds, eupatodibenzofuran A (1), eupatodibenzofuran B (2), 6-acetyl-8-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one (3), eupatofortunone (4), and eupatodithiecine (5), have been isolated from the aerial part of Eupatorium fortunei, together with 11 known compounds (6‒16). Compounds 1 and 2 featured a new carbon skeleton with an unprecedented 1-(9-(4-methylphenyl)-6-methyldibe nzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)ethenone. Among the isolates, compound 1 exhibited potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 5.95 ± 0.89 and 5.55 ± 0.23 μM, respectively, against A549 and MCF-7 cells. The colony-formation assay demonstrated that compound 1 (5 μM) obviously decreased A549 and MCF-7 cell proliferation, and Western blot test confirmed that compound 1 markedly induced apoptosis of A549 and MCF-7 cells through mitochondrial- and caspase-3-dependent pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we aim to present a single institution's 25-year experience of employing a comprehensive multidisciplinary team-based surgical approach for treating patients with NF-1. Summary Background Data: All patients (n = 106) with a confirmed diagnosis of NF-1 who were treated using a multidisciplinary surgical treatment algorithm at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 1994 and 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were categorized into groups according to the anatomy involved (craniofacial and noncraniofacial groups) and the type of clinical presentation (plexiform and cutaneous neurofibromas groups) for comparative analysis. Methods: The number of surgical interventions and number of specialists involved in surgical care were assessed. Results: Most of the patients exhibited craniofacial involvement (69.8%) and a plexiform type of NF-1 (58.5%), as confirmed through histology. A total of 332 surgical interventions (3.1 ± 3.1 procedures per patient) were performed. The number of specialists involved in surgical care of the included patients was 11 (1.6 ± 0.8 specialists per patient). Most of the patients (62.3%) underwent two or more surgical interventions, and 40.6% of the patients received treatment from two or more specialists. No significant differences were observed between the craniofacial and noncraniofacial groups in terms of the average number of surgical interventions (3.3 ± 3.2 vs. 2.7 ± 2.7, respectively) and number of specialists involved (1.7 ± 0.9 vs. 1.4 ± 0.6). Patients with plexiform craniofacial involvement underwent a significantly higher average number of surgical interventions (4.3 ± 3.6 vs. 1.6 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and received treatment by more specialists (1.9 ± 0.9 vs. 1.2 ± 0.5; p < 0.001) compared with those having cutaneous craniofacial involvement. Conclusions: In light of the potential benefits of employing the multidisciplinary team-based surgical approach demonstrated in this study, such an approach should be adopted to provide comprehensive individualized care to patients with NF-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a primary generalized epilepsy which is closely related to the sleep-wake cycle. This study aimed to investigate whether sleep disturbance is more common among patients with JME and the impact this may have on their quality of life (QOL). Thirty-four patients with JME and age- and gender-matched controls were recruited into this case control study, and assessed using validated sleep questionnaires including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). QOL was assessed using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). The patients had a significantly higher PSQI score and higher proportion of abnormal PSQI scores than the controls. They also had higher ESS and SSS scores, but without statistical significance. The patients with poor sleep quality had significantly lower overall QOL, emotional well-being, and energy/fatigue subscale scores. The use of a higher number of antiseizure medications, dosage of levetiracetam, and usage of antiseizure medication polytherapy were associated with sleep disorders. Our results showed that sleep disturbance is common in patients with JME, and also that it has an impact on their QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges of respiratory infections persist as a global health crisis, placing substantial stress on healthcare infrastructures and necessitating ongoing investigation into efficacious treatment modalities. The persistent challenge of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, underscores the critical need for enhanced diagnostic methodologies to support early treatment interventions. This study introduces an innovative two-stage data analytics framework that leverages deep learning algorithms through a strategic combinatorial fusion technique, aimed at refining the accuracy of early-stage diagnosis of such infections. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset compiled from publicly available lung X-ray images, the research employs advanced pre-trained deep learning models to navigate the complexities of disease classification, addressing inherent data imbalances through methodical validation processes. The core contribution of this work lies in its novel application of combinatorial fusion, integrating select models to significantly elevate diagnostic precision. This approach not only showcases the adaptability and strength of deep learning in navigating the intricacies of medical imaging but also marks a significant step forward in the utilization of artificial intelligence to improve outcomes in healthcare diagnostics. The study's findings illuminate the path toward leveraging technological advancements in enhancing diagnostic accuracies, ultimately contributing to the timely and effective treatment of respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait analysis has been studied over the last few decades as the best way to objectively assess the technical outcome of a procedure designed to improve gait. The treating physician can understand the type of gait problem, gain insight into the etiology, and find the best treatment with gait analysis. The gait parameters are the kinematics, including the temporal and spatial parameters, and lack the activity information of skeletal muscles. Thus, the gait analysis measures not only the three-dimensional temporal and spatial graphs of kinematics but also the surface electromyograms (sEMGs) of the lower limbs. Now, the shoe-worn GaitUp Physilog® wearable inertial sensors can easily measure the gait parameters when subjects are walking on the general ground. However, it cannot measure muscle activity. The aim of this study is to measure the gait parameters using the sEMGs of the lower limbs. A self-made wireless device was used to measure the sEMGs from the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles of the left and right feet. Twenty young female subjects with a skeletal muscle index (SMI) below 5.7 kg/m2 were recruited for this study and examined by the InBody 270 instrument. Four parameters of sEMG were used to estimate 23 gait parameters. They were measured using the GaitUp Physilog® wearable inertial sensors with three machine learning models, including random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and XGBoost. The results show that 14 gait parameters could be well-estimated, and their correlation coefficients are above 0.800. This study signifies a step towards a more comprehensive analysis of gait with only sEMGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar hydrogen production technology is a key technology for building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system. At present, the intermittency and volatility of renewable energy have caused a lot of "wind and light". By combining renewable energy with electrolytic water technology to produce high-purity hydrogen and oxygen, which can be converted into electricity, the utilization rate of renewable energy can be effectively improved, while helping to improve the solar hydrogen production system. This paper summarizes and analyzes the research status and development direction of solar hydrogen production technology from three aspects. Energy supply mode: the role of solar PV systems and PT systems in this technology is analyzed. System control: the key technology and system structure of different types of electrolytic cells are introduced in detail. System economy: the economy and improvement measures of electrolytic cells are analyzed from the perspectives of cost, consumption, efficiency, and durability. Finally, the development prospects of solar hydrogen production systems in China are summarized and anticipated. This article reviews the current research status of photovoltaic-photothermal coupled electrolysis cell systems, fills the current research gap, and provides theoretical reference for the further development of solar hydrogen production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a validated quality evaluation method with peony flower fingerprint chromatogram combined with simultaneous determination of sixteen bioactive constituents was established using UPLC-DAD-MS/MS. The results demonstrated that the method was stable, reliable, and accurate. The UPLC chemical fingerprints of 12 different varieties of peonies were established and comprehensively evaluated by similarity evaluation (SE), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and quantification analysis. The results of SE indicated that similar chemical components were present in these samples regardless of variety, but there were significant differences in the content of chemical components and material basis characteristics. The results of HCA and PCA showed that 12 varieties of samples were divided into two groups. Four flavonoids (11, 12, 13, and 16), five monoterpenes and their glycosides (3, 4, 6, 14, and 15), three tannins (7, 9, and 10), three phenolic acids (1, 2, and 5), and one aromatic acid (8) were identified from sixteen common peaks by standards and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The simultaneous quantification of six types of components was conducted with the 12 samples, it was found that the sum contents of analytes varied obviously for peony flower samples from different varieties. The content of flavonoids, tannins, and monoterpenes (≥19.34 mg/g) was the highest, accounting for more than 78.45% of the total compounds. The results showed that the flavonoids, tannins, and monoterpenes were considered to be the key indexes in the classification and quality assessment of peony flower. The UPLC-DAD-MS/MS method coupled with multiple compounds determination and fingerprint analysis can be effectively applied as a feature distinguishing method to evaluate the compounds in peony flower raw material for product quality assurance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Moreover, this study provides ideas for future research and the improvement of products by these industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing soil salinization can severely restrict local agricultural production. Planting alfalfa is considered an effective measure to ameliorate saline–alkali soil. However, it remains unclear how alfalfa planting years affect the sustained impact on soil and rhizosphere microecology. This study analyzed the effects of alfalfa planted 3, 6, and 8 years ago on soil physicochemical properties and key soil enzyme activities and investigated the rhizosphere microbial community structure and diversity. The results indicate that cultivating alfalfa plants for six years can improve soil physicochemical properties and enhance soil fertility to a certain extent. This is attributed to a higher abundance of plant growth-promoting bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium and Allorhizobium, as well as degradation bacteria, such as Flavobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Brevundimonas, and Massilia, in the rhizosphere of alfalfa plants. These microorganisms promote alfalfa growth, improve soil quality, and inhibit the accumulation of autotoxins. This not only maintains high alfalfa yields but also optimizes soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activity, facilitating more effective nutrient cycling and metabolic processes in the soil. However, extending plant growth to 8 years is not beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used for acid reduction in peptic ulcer diseases and esophageal reflux diseases. The effects of changing gut microbiota, and prolonged hypergastrinemia were reported. This study demonstrated that long-term PPI use in CRC patients was associated with an increased risk of death with dose–response effect but not for recurrence. PPIs may play a complex role in CRC patients. The dose–response effect of proton pump inhibitors on colorectal cancer prognosis is still under exploration. This population-based study in Taiwan was designed to examine the effect of proton pump inhibitors on overall death, colorectal cancer-specific death, and recurrence in colorectal cancer patients with different cumulative proton pump inhibitor dose levels. This cohort study was based on the Taiwan Cancer Registry and Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2005 to 2020. After frequency matching with a 1:1 ratio, a total of 20,889 users with proton pump inhibitors and 20,889 without proton pump inhibitors were analyzed. The cumulative defined daily dose level of proton pump inhibitor was stratified to explore the dose–response relationship. A proton pump inhibitor exposure cumulative defined daily dose > 60 after colorectal cancer diagnosis had higher risk of all-cause death than non-proton pump inhibitor users with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.10 (95% CIs: 1.04–1.18). For recurrence, a proton pump inhibitor exposure cumulative defined daily dose > 60 had reduced recurrence risk with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.84 (95% CIs: 0.76–0.93). This study demonstrated that the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors in patients with colorectal cancer was associated with an increased risk of death that related to the proton pump inhibitor exposure cumulative defined daily dose > 60 and had different dose–response effect in various dose level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an explicit boundary-type numerical procedure, including a constraint-type fictitious time integration method (FTIM) and a two-point boundary solution of the Lie-group shooting method (LGSM), is constructed to tackle nonlinear nonhomogeneous backward heat conduction problems (BHCPs). Conventional methods cannot effectively overcome numerical instability to solve inverse problems that lack initial conditions and take a long time to calculate, even using different variable transformations and regularization techniques. Therefore, an explicit-type numerical procedure is developed from the FTIM and the LGSM to avoid numerical instability and numerical iterations. First, a two-point boundary solution of the LGSM is introduced into the numerical algorithm. Then, the maximum and minimum values of the initial guess value can be determined linearly from the boundary conditions at the initial and final times. Finally, an explicit-type boundary-type numerical procedure, including a boundary value solution and constraint-type FTIM, can directly avoid the numerical iterative problems of BHCPs. Several nonlinear examples are tested. Based on the numerical results shown, this boundary-type numerical procedure using a two-point solution can directly obtain an approximated solution and can achieve stable convergence to boundary conditions, even if numerical iterations occur. Furthermore, the numerical efficiency and accuracy are better than in the previous literature, even with an increased computational time span without the regularization technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si3N4 ceramic as a tool material shows promising application prospects in high-speed machining fields; however, the required high mechanical properties and low-cost preparation of Si3N4 ceramic tool materials restrict its application. Herein, synergistic reinforced Si3N4 ceramic tool materials were fabricated by adding β-Si3N4 seeds, inexpensive Si3N4 whiskers and TiC particles into coarse commercial Si3N4 powder (D50 = 1.5 μm), then sintering by hot-pressing with low temperature and short holding time (1600 °C—30 min—40 MPa). The phase assemblage, microstructure evolution and toughening mechanisms were investigated. The results reveal that the sintered Si3N4 ceramics with synergistic reinforcement, compared to those with individual reinforcement, present an enhancement in relative density (from 94.92% to 97.15%), flexural strength (from 467.56 ± 36.48 to 809.10 ± 45.59 MPa), and fracture toughness (from 8.38 ± 0.19 to 10.67 ± 0.16 MPa·m1/2), as well as a fine Vickers hardness of 16.86 ± 0.19 GPa. Additionally, the various reinforcement modes of Si3N4 ceramics including intergranular fracture, crack deflection, crack bridging and whiskers extraction were observed in crack propagation, arising from the contributions of the added β-Si3N4 seeds, Si3N4 whiskers and TiC particles. This work is expected to serve as a reference for the production of ceramic cutting tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated differences in lipidomic profile features in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) between mild and significant liver fibrosis cases among patients with morbid obesity. Wedge liver biopsy was performed during sleeve gastrectomy and significant liver fibrosis was defined as a fibrosis score ≥ 2. We selected patients with NASH with non/mild fibrosis (stage F0–F1; n = 30) and NASH with significant fibrosis (stage F2–F4; n = 30). The results of the liver tissue lipidomic analysis revealed that the fold changes of triglyceride (TG) (52:6); cholesterol ester (CE) (20:1); phosphatidylcholine (PC) (38:0) and (50:8); phosphatidic acid (PA) (40:4); phosphatidylinositol (PI) (49:4); phosphatidylglycerol (PG) (40:2); and sphingomyelin (SM) (35:0) and (37:0) were significantly lower in patients with NASH with F2–F4 than those with NASH with F0–F1 (p < 0.05). However, the fold changes of PC (42:4) were relatively higher in patients with NASH with stage 2–4 fibrosis (p < 0.05). Moreover, predictive models incorporating serum markers levels, ultrasonographic studies, and levels of specific lipid components [PC (42:4) and PG (40:2)] yielded the highest area under receiver operating curve (0.941), suggesting a potential correlation between NASH fibrosis stages and liver lipid accumulation among specific lipid species subclasses. This study demonstrated that the concentrations of particular lipid species in the liver correlate with NASH fibrosis stages and may indicate hepatic steatosis regression or progression in patients with morbid obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]