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Understanding microscopic mechanisms of polarization retention characteristics in ferroelectric thin films is of great significance for exploring unusual physical phenomena inaccessible in the bulk counterparts and for realizing thin‐film‐based functional electronic devices. Perovskite (K,Na)NbO3 is an excellent class of lead‐free ferroelectric oxides attracting tremendous interest thanks to its potential applications to nonvolatile memory and eco‐friendly energy harvester/storage. Nonetheless, in‐depth investigation of ferroelectric properties of (K,Na)NbO3 films and the following developments of nano‐devices are limited due to challenging thin‐film fabrication associated with nonstoichiometry by volatile K and Na atoms. Herein, ferroelectric (K,Na)NbO3 films of which the atomic‐level geometrical structures strongly depend on thickness‐dependent strain relaxation are epitaxially grown. Nanopillar crystal structures are identified in fully relaxed (K,Na)NbO3 films to the bulk states representing a continuous reduction of switchable polarization under air environments, that is, polarization retention failures. Protonation by water dissociation is responsible for the humidity‐induced retention loss in nano‐columnar (K,Na)NbO3 films. The protonation‐driven polarization retention failure originates from domain wall pinning by the accumulation of mobile hydrogen ions at charged domain walls for effective screening of polarization‐bound charges. Conceptually, the results will be utilized for rational design to advanced energy materials such as photo‐catalysts enabling ferroelectric tuning of water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) are emerging as a promising solution for global hydrogen logistics. The LOHC process involves two primary chemical reactions: hydrogenation for hydrogen storage and dehydrogenation for hydrogen reconversion. In the exothermic hydrogenation reaction, hydrogen‐lean compounds are converted to hydrogen‐rich compounds, storing hydrogen from various sources such as water electrolysis, fossil fuel reforming, biomass processing, and industrial by‐products. Conversely, hydrogen is extracted from hydrogen‐rich compounds through an endothermic dehydrogenation reaction and supplied to several hydrogenation utilization offtakers. This review article discusses the development trends in catalytic hydrogenation processes for various LOHC materials, including benzene, toluene, naphthalene, biphenyl‐diphenylmethane, benzyltoluene, dibenzyltoluene, and N‐ethylcarbazole. It introduces references for catalytic hydrogenation processes utilizing both high‐purity and low‐purity (alternatively, mixed) hydrogen feedstocks, with particular emphasis on low‐purity hydrogen applications. The direct storage of hydrogen with minimal purification, using by‐product hydrogen and mixed hydrogen from hydrocarbon and biomass reforming, is crucial for the economic viability of this hydrogen carrier system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Frailty in older adults is influenced by various factors, such as poor nutritional status. Mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a validated, simple, and non‐invasive tool for assessing nutritional status. Despite its potential, no study has explored the association between MUAC and physical frailty in older adults. This study aims to investigate this association and assess whether MUAC can be used as a screening tool in community and primary clinical practice. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 1178 participants aged 71.8 to 86.7 years from the 2019 Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). Physical frailty was defined using the Fried frailty phenotype criteria. MUAC was measured as the average circumference of both upper arms without compressing the subcutaneous tissue. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for physical frailty, stratified by sex, were estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustments. Results: MUAC was lower in physically frail men compared with non‐frail men (28.0 ± 2.9 vs. 29.4 ± 2.6 cm, P < 0.001). MUAC was negatively correlated with the Frailty Index (r = −0.155, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that MUAC was an independent factor for physical frailty in men (OR 0.986, 95% CI 0.973–1.000, P = 0.049). The optimal MUAC cutoff for identifying physical frailty in men was 28.2 cm (sensitivity 60.7%, specificity 71.4%, AUC 0.672, 95% CI 0.595–0.749, P < 0.001). No significant results were found for women. Conclusion: Low MUAC is significantly associated with physical frailty in older men, suggesting the potential for MUAC to be utilized as a screening tool for physical frailty in community and primary clinical settings. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 1292–1299. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive strategy to enhance the polarization performance of mid‐wave infrared photodetectors (PDs) is developed and implemented by integrating wire‐grid polarizers (WGPs) using nanoimprint lithography and femtosecond laser (FSL) polishing. This combined approach offers significant advantages, including large‐area fabrication capabilities, practical device integration, and improved polarization characteristics. By addressing optical losses, the primary factor contributing to polarization degradation through the thermal effects of FSL polishing, substantial improvements are achieved in surface roughness and grain boundary reduction on the WGP, resulting in remarkable performance enhancements. As a result, the extinction ratio of the integrated WGP InAs/GaSb type‐II superlattice PD achieves an impressive value of up to 1044. This approach holds promising potential for advancing polarization‐based imaging and measurement systems to new heights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose‐finding studies play a crucial role in drug development by identifying the optimal dose(s) for later studies while considering tolerability. This not only saves time and effort in proceeding with Phase III trials but also improves efficacy. In an era of precision medicine, it is not ideal to assume patient homogeneity in dose‐finding studies as patients may respond differently to the drug. To address this, we propose a personalized dose‐finding algorithm that assigns patients to individualized optimal biological doses. Our design follows a two‐stage approach. Initially, patients are enrolled under broad eligibility criteria. Based on the Stage 1 data, we fit a regression model of toxicity and efficacy outcomes on dose and biomarkers to characterize treatment‐sensitive patients. In the second stage, we restrict the trial population to sensitive patients, apply a personalized dose allocation algorithm, and choose the recommended dose at the end of the trial. Simulation study shows that the proposed design reliably enriches the trial population, minimizes the number of failures, and yields superior operating characteristics compared to several existing dose‐finding designs in terms of both the percentage of correct selection and the number of patients treated at target dose(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy shows promise for glioma treatment with powerful efficacy and low resistance, however, its effectiveness is significantly lowered by inadequate light delivery through the skull. Herein, a needle‐type implantable microLED device and cathepsin B‐responsive prodrug nanoparticles (PNPs) are newly exploited for glioma's chemo‐photodynamic combination therapy. The microLED containing four small LEDs on the tip of its guide needle can be implanted into the center of glioma tissues without large area opening of skull, uniformly irradiating light to deep glioma tissues. PNPs are formulated via self‐assembly of heterobifunctional prodrug composed of doxorubicin, verteporfin, and cathepsin B‐cleavable peptide linker, wherein they stably maintain inactive nanoparticle structures in normal physiological conditions and specifically deliver therapeutic age to cathepsin B‐overexpressed glioma tissues. In vitro cellular assays, PNPs irradiated with showed the synergistic cytotoxicity of DOX and VFP only in cathepsin B‐overexpressed cancer cells rather than normal cells. In tumor‐bearing mice, PNPs showed high tumor accumulation via the nanoparticle‐driven enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect and they also exhibited remarkable therapeutic efficacy against glioma under microLED‐mediated light irradiation via chemo‐photodynamic combination therapy. Accordingly, applying microLED with PNPs is an outstanding strategy to defeat glioma with cooperative chemo‐photodynamic effects, minimal invasiveness, and desirable systemic/local safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the stabilization of ergodicity and electromechanical strain properties of lead‐free ternary 0.75Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3–0.24SrTiO3–0.01ABO3 piezoceramics (BNT–24ST, ABO3 = BaZrO3 (BZ), CaTiO3 (CT), and BiFeO3 (BF)) were investigated. The relaxor state could be stabilized in BZ‐and BF‐modified BNT–24ST ceramics even at room temperature, whereas pure BNT–24ST and CT‐modified ceramics exhibited ferroelectric (FE) behavior. These phenomena were rationalized by analyzing the temperature‐dependent permittivity; detecting the FE‐relaxor phase transition temperature (TF‐R); and investigating features in strain, polarization, and switching current curves. Furthermore, high‐temperature conductivity data showed that relaxor behavior and realization of large strain properties strongly correlated with the concentration of oxygen vacancies in ABO3‐modified BNT–ST ternary systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to detect the variation of precipitation extreme events in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula during 1961–2020, as well as to investigate its possible causes, based on daily precipitation data from 37 representative stations. Nonparametric tests such as Mann‐Kendall and Kendall‐tau were used to detect statistical characteristics of changes in precipitation indices and climate variables. Findings are as follows: (a) the annual total precipitation manifested a clear shifting point in 1968, with a decreasing rate of about −37.7 mm/decade, conversely, daily precipitation intensity had a clear upward trend, and extreme precipitation events above 100 mm/day became more frequent. (b) There occurred significant upward trends of 8.9 mm/decade for intense rainfall (>95th percentile) and 6.3 mm/decade for extreme intense rainfall (>99th percentile). (c) The continuous wet (dry) days showed a decreasing (increasing) trend of about −0.2 days/decade (1.0 days/decade). The decrease rate of 5‐day max precipitation is five times as large as 1‐day max precipitation. (d) For June‐September, the strengthened West Pacific Subtropical High intensity and the variation of its ridge‐axis position, the southerly shift of the upper subtropical Jetstream and the weakening of lower moisture supplement may have suppressed the northerly move of the summer rain band and delayed the development of rainy season over the study area. (e) In view of the urbanization effect, the possible causes of the precipitation externalization were investigated, and it was found that the upward trends in daily precipitation intensity and 95th percentile intense precipitation in big cities are generally higher than rural regions. Plain Language Summary: The investigation of variation in precipitation extreme events and its possible causes was conducted for the northern Korean Peninsula during 1961–2020. Annual total precipitation had experienced a significant decreasing trend, but extreme precipitation intensity had a clear upward trend, and extreme rainfall events became more frequent, with upward trends of 8.9 mm/decade for rainfall (>95th percentile) and 6.3 mm/decade for rainfall (>99th percentile) and a decreasing (increasing) trend of about −0.2 days/decade (1.0 days/decade) in continuous wet (dry) days. These changes were directly driven by changes in the atmospheric circulation factors for June–September, such as West Pacific Subtropical High, upper subtropical Jetstream, and lower moisture supplement. In some urbanized regions, an asymmetrical shift in the temporal variation of precipitation is seeable. In particular, the decadal trends in daily precipitation intensity and 95th percentile precipitation in the big city are generally higher (about 50% and 15%) than those in rural regions. Key Points: Annual precipitation manifested a decreased trend, but extreme precipitation events became more frequentDecreasing rainy season rainfall is related to variation in West Pacific Subtropical High, low layer moisture flux, and upper subtropical JetstreamAn asymmetrical shift in precipitation pattern over the cities due to the urbanization effect is more detectable than those related to the atmospheric circulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Previous studies have examined the risk of stroke in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), but the incidence of PD onset among stroke patients and its risk according to severity of poststroke disabilities have scarcely been investigated. This study aims to determine whether the risk of PD is increased among stroke patients using a retrospective cohort with a large population‐based database. Methods: We used data collected by the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2010 to 2018 and examined 307,361 stroke patients and 380,917 sex‐ and age‐matched individuals without stroke to uncover the incidence of PD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the risk of PD was compared according to presence and severity of disability. Results: During 4.31 years of follow‐up, stroke patients had a 1.67 times higher risk of PD compared to individuals without stroke (adjusted HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.57–1.78). The risk of PD was greater among stroke patients with disabilities than among those without disabilities, even after adjustment for multiple covariates (adjusted HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.55–1.91; and adjusted HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.56–1.77, respectively). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated an increased risk of PD among stroke patients. Health professionals need to pay careful attention to detecting movement disorders as clues for diagnosing PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: As life expectancy increases worldwide, the prevalence and the disease burden of diabetes in older adults are also increasing. This study aimed to examine sex differences in the reciprocal relationship between glycemic control and depressive symptoms among older adults with diabetes by using longitudinal data at two timepoints. Methods: Wave 1 (W1, 2016–2017) and wave 2 (W2, 2018–2019) data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study were used. Finally, 416 older adults with diabetes who satisfied the inclusion criteria were analyzed (215 males, 201 females). The reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels was examined using a cross‐lagged panel model. Results: HbA1c levels and depressive symptoms at earlier time points were the most significant factors contributing to HbA1c levels and depressive symptoms at later timepoints. The relationship between HbA1c level and depressive symptoms differed according to sex. The cross‐path from depressive symptoms (W1) to HbA1c levels (W2) was positively statistically significant in males (β = 0.18, SD = 0.05, P = 0.001). The path from HbA1c levels (W1) to depressive symptoms (W2) was positively statistically significant in females (β = 0.12, SD = 0.06, P = 0.032). Conclusions: Early management of blood glucose levels and depressive symptoms is important in older adults with diabetes. Moreover, glycemic control through social activities in the community could be effective in relieving depressive symptoms in older females with diabetes, and managing depressive symptoms and glucose levels together could be effective in glycemic control in older males with diabetes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 32–39. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatio‐temporal patterns of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is essential to construct public health interventions. Spatially referenced data can provide richer opportunities to understand the mechanism of the disease spread compared to the more often encountered aggregated count data. We propose a spatio‐temporal Dirichlet process mixture model to analyze confirmed cases of COVID‐19 in an urban environment. Our method can detect unobserved cluster centers of the epidemics, and estimate the space‐time range of the clusters that are useful to construct a warning system. Furthermore, our model can measure the impact of different types of landmarks in the city, which provides an intuitive explanation of disease spreading sources from different time points. To efficiently capture the temporal dynamics of the disease patterns, we employ a sequential approach that uses the posterior distribution of the parameters for the previous time step as the prior information for the current time step. This approach enables us to incorporate time dependence into our model in a computationally efficient manner without complicating the model structure. We also develop a model assessment by comparing the data with theoretical densities, and outline the goodness‐of‐fit of our fitted model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the moisture content is crucial for red ginseng quality control. In this study, we established a moisture content prediction model using partial least squares regression (PLSR) based on short‐wave infrared (SWIR) data of different ginseng types (whole and sliced) at various drying temperatures and times. The model parameters, including the R2 values, ratio of prediction deviation, and range error ratio, showed that the developed model was robust. Sliced ginseng showed a constant rate period, followed by a falling rate period, whereas whole ginseng showed only a falling rate period. The falling‐rate period coincided with the formation of a dry zone on the sample surface in the moisture distribution map, indicating that monitoring the moisture distribution map can predict the onset of the falling‐rate period. These results suggest that the SWIR technique is a promising nondestructive method for evaluating the drying process of red ginseng. Practical applications: Monitoring the moisture content of red ginseng is essential to prevent microbial spoilage during transportation. Traditional monitoring of water content is destructive and time‐consuming. Therefore, using hyperspectral imaging, we aimed to develop an efficient moisture prediction model for the drying process of red ginseng. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to non‐destructive and rapid quality evaluation in red ginseng production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stabilization of ergodicity plays an important role in realizing large strain in a Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3 (BNT)‐based relaxor, which is strongly related to the degree of random fields with respect to the randomly distributed different cations. To clarify the effects of different ionic radii, this study investigated and compared the microstructures, crystal structures, phase transition behaviors, and electrical properties of BNT–ST‐based ternary ceramics by modifying BiMeO3 (where Me = Al and Fe). It was observed that the stabilized relaxor states are different between BiFeO3‐/and BiAlO3‐modified BNT–ST ternary ceramics. As a result, it is suggested that phase transition (more precisely, the stabilization of ergodicity) can be influenced by the different internal strain in BNT–ST‐based ternary ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Brain somatic mutations in mTOR pathway genes are a major genetic etiology of focal cortical dysplasia type II (FCDII). Despite a greater ability to detect low‐level somatic mutations in the brain by deep sequencing and analytics, about 40% of cases remain genetically unexplained. Methods: We included 2 independent cohorts consisting of 21 patients with mutation‐negative FCDII without apparent mutations on conventional deep sequencing of bulk brain. To find ultra‐low level somatic variants or structural variants, we isolated cells exhibiting phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein (p‐S6) in frozen brain tissues using fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS). We then performed deep whole‐genome sequencing (WGS; >90×) in p‐S6+ cells in a cohort of 11 patients with mutation‐negative. Then, we simplified the method to whole‐genome amplification and target gene sequencing of p‐S6+ cells in independent cohort of 10 patients with mutation‐negative followed by low‐read depth WGS (10×). Results: We found that 28.6% (6 of 21) of mutation‐negative FCDII carries ultra‐low level somatic mutations (less than 0.2% of variant allele frequency [VAF]) in mTOR pathway genes. Our method showed ~34 times increase of the average mutational burden in FACS mediated enrichment of p‐S6+ cells (average VAF = 5.84%) than in bulky brain tissues (average VAF = 0.17%). We found that 19% (4 of 21) carried germline structural variations in GATOR1 complex undetectable in whole exome or targeted gene sequencing. Conclusions: Our method facilitates the detection of ultra‐low level somatic mutations, in specifically p‐S6+ cells, and germline structural variations and increases the genetic diagnostic rate up to ~80% for the entire FCDII cohort. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:1082–1093 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, two primary criticisms statisticians have of machine learning and deep neural models is their lack of uncertainty quantification and the inability to do inference (i.e., to explain what inputs are important). Explainable AI has developed in the last few years as a sub‐discipline of computer science and machine learning to mitigate these concerns (as well as concerns of fairness and transparency in deep modeling). In this article, our focus is on explaining which inputs are important in models for predicting environmental data. In particular, we focus on three general methods for explainability that are model agnostic and thus applicable across a breadth of models without internal explainability: "feature shuffling", "interpretable local surrogates", and "occlusion analysis". We describe particular implementations of each of these and illustrate their use with a variety of models, all applied to the problem of long‐lead forecasting monthly soil moisture in the North American corn belt given sea surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion‐substituted lead‐free double perovskite halides through mechanochemical synthesis is realized. According to molar concentration (x), some of the Br atoms in Cs2AgBiBr6 are replaced by halogen Cl atoms, which allows us to achieve heteroanionic Cs2AgBiBr6−xClx. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses show that the as‐synthesized Cs2AgBiBr6−xClx compounds undergo structural transitions with a shift of diffraction peaks attributed to changes in their lattice parameters. The chemical compositions and the optical properties of the anion‐mixed Cs2AgBiBr6−xClx compounds using energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV–visible optical absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy are examined. It is found that the electronic bandgap in the heteroanionic Cs2AgBiBr6−xClx increases progressively with increasing Cl content and the emitted colors are blueshifted from orange to yellow color with increasing Cl content in Cs2AgBi(Br,Cl)6 powders. The results can be used to fabricate lead‐free optoelectronic devices with high performance via bandgap engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid mixing of the undesired frequencies in a free‐space, the point sources of gratings, defined by a spatially varying refractive index, should be sinusoidally rather than binarily arranged. This long‐lasting but gold standard lesson attainable from a classical Fourier optics, however, is underutilized in the practical materialization of gratings, mainly because most of the fabrication methods, developed thus far, are intrinsically compatible with a binary rather than sinusoidal grating. Recently, such design concept of optical Fourier elements has been implemented into the real surface gratings (referred to as optical Fourier surfaces) by taking advantage of advanced nanofabrication, whereas their volumetric equivalents (optical Fourier volumes, OFVs) have yet to be conceptually and experimentally elucidated. In this work, the key characteristics of OFVs and their structural requirements are systematically exploited with the assistance of analytical and numerical calculations. Especially, the dynamic range and thickness of volume gratings, required for OFVs, are newly defined. Given these theoretical blueprints, both the holographic photopolymers and photoaddressable polymers are then revisited and they are experimentally validated as easy‐to‐craft mediums of OFVs. The landscape of volume gratings is extended by providing an integrative pipeline of OFVs across their theoretical design and practical materialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The assessment of liver surface nodularity (LSN) for staging hepatic fibrosis is restricted in clinical practice because it requires customized software and time‐consuming procedures. A simplified method to estimate LSN score may be useful in the clinic. Purpose: To evaluate the regional analysis of LSN and processing time in a single axial liver MR image for staging liver fibrosis. Study Type: Retrospective. Population: A total of 210 subjects, a multicenter study. Field Strength/Sequence: A 3 T/noncontrast gradient echo T1WI. Assessment: Subjects were divided into five fibrosis groups (F0 = 29; F1 = 20; F2 = 32; F3 = 50; F4 = 79) based on the METAVIR fibrosis scoring system. The mean LSN (on three slices) and regional LSN (on one slice) measurements, and the processing times, are compared. The regional LSN scores in five regions‐of‐interests (ROI1‐5) were analyzed in a single axial MRI at the level of the hilum by two independent observers. Statistical Tests: Regional variations in LSN scores were compared using ANOVA with Tukey test. Agreement between the mean and regional LSN measurements was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and Bland–Altman plots. The diagnostic performance of mean and regional LSN scores according to fibrosis stage was evaluated with the AUROC. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total processing time for a regional LSN measurement (3.6 min) was 75.5% less than that for mean LSN measurement (14.7 min). Mean LSN scores and all five regional LSN scores showed significant differences between fibrosis groups. Among regional LSN scores, ROI5 showed the highest AUROC (0.871 at cut‐off 1.12) for discriminating F0‐2 vs. F3‐4 and the best correlation with mean LSN score (r = 0.800, −0.07 limit of agreement). Conclusion: Quantitative regional LSN measurement in a single axial MR image reduces processing time. Regional ROI5 LSN score might be useful for clinical decision‐making and for distinguishing the difference between early fibrosis (F0‐2) and advanced fibrosis (F3−4) in the liver. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatobiliary MRI is often recommended for patients at risk of developing pancreas cancer. But the surveillance MRI protocol has not yet been widely accepted. Purpose: To establish an accelerated MRI protocol targeting the table time of 15 minutes for pancreatic cancer surveillance and test its performance in lesion characterization. Study type: Prospective. Population: A total of 30 participants were enrolled, who were undergoing follow‐up care for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms or newly diagnosed pancreatic cysts (≥10 mm) and were scheduled for or had recently undergone contrast‐enhanced CT (CECT). Field strength/sequence: A 3 T; heavily T2WI, 3D MRCP, DWI, dynamic T1WI, two‐point Dixon. Assessment: In‐room time and table time were measured. Seven radiologists independently reviewed image quality of MRI and then the presence of high‐risk stigmata and worrisome features in addition to diagnostic confidence for accelerated MRI, CECT, and the noncontrast part of accelerated MRI (NC‐MRI). Statistical analysis: Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables and either the Student's t‐test or Mann–Whitney test was performed for continuous variables. The generalized estimated equation was used to compare the diagnostic performance of examinations on a per‐patient basis. Interobserver agreement was evaluated via Fleiss kappa. A P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The in‐room time was 18.5 ± 2.6 minutes (range: 13.7–24.9) and the table time was 13.9 ± 1.9 minutes (range: 10.7–17.5). There was no significant difference between the diagnostic performances of the three examinations (pooled sensitivity: 75% for accelerated MRI and CECT, 68% for NC‐MRI, P = 0.95), with the highest significant diagnostic confidence for accelerated MRI (4.2 ± 0.1). With accelerated MRI, the interobserver agreement was fair to excellent for high‐risk stigmata (κ = 0.34–0.98). Data Conclusion: Accelerated MRI protocol affords a table time of 15 minutes, making it potentially suitable for cancer surveillance in patients at risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Evidence level: 2 Technical efficacy stage: 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: We investigated the classification of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients by subjective symptoms, and identification of the relationship between the patterns and intensities of symptoms and the clustered groups of DPN patients. Materials and Methods: This multicenter study analyzed epidemiological data and sensory symptoms of 649 patients with DPN. Cluster analysis was carried out to identify subgroups of patients with characteristic symptom profiles. Factor analysis was carried out to investigate the symptom patterns of the clustered groups of DPN patients. Results: Three clusters of patients with DPN were identified: severe symptoms with decreased quality of life (cluster 1, n = 119, 18.3%), predominantly insensate symptoms with relatively good quality of life (cluster 2, n = 318, 49.0%), and moderate pain intensity and decreased quality of life (cluster 3, n = 204, 31.4%). The frequency of symptoms on each item of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire showed a similar distribution according to pain intensities along with the three clusters. Conclusions: Our study supports the hypothesis that diversity in sensory symptoms exists in patients with DPN. Heterogeneity in DPN patients should be taken into account for a more stratified or individualized treatment approach. Based on a multicenter study, we identified three clusters of patients with DPN. Our research supports the hypothesis that diversity in sensory symptoms exists in patients with DPN. Heterogeneity in DPN patients should be taken into account for a more stratified or individualized treatment approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of adding low‐dose lobeglitazone (0.25 mg/day) or standard‐dose lobeglitazone (0.5 mg/day) to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with inadequate glucose control on metformin and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP4) inhibitor therapy. Materials and Methods: In this phase 4, multicentre, double‐blind, randomized controlled, non‐inferiority trial, patients with T2DM insufficiently controlled by metformin and DPP4 inhibitor combination therapy were randomized to receive either low‐dose or standard‐dose lobeglitazone. The primary endpoint was non‐inferiority of low‐dose lobeglitazone in terms of glycaemic control, expressed as the difference in mean glycated haemoglobin levels at week 24 relative to baseline values and compared with standard‐dose lobeglitazone, using 0.5% non‐inferiority margin. Results: At week 24, the mean glycated haemoglobin levels were 6.87 ± 0.54% and 6.68 ± 0.46% in low‐dose and standard‐dose lobeglitazone groups, respectively (p =.031). The between‐group difference was 0.18% (95% confidence interval 0.017‐0.345), showing non‐inferiority of the low‐dose lobeglitazone. Mean body weight changes were significantly greater in the standard‐dose group (1.36 ± 2.23 kg) than in the low‐dose group (0.50 ± 1.85 kg) at week 24. The changes in HOMA‐IR, lipid profile and liver enzyme levels showed no significant difference between the groups. Overall treatment‐emergent adverse events (including weight gain, oedema and hypoglycaemia) occurred more frequently in the standard‐dose group. Conclusions: Adding low‐dose lobeglitazone to metformin and DPP4 inhibitor combination resulted in a non‐inferior glucose‐lowering outcome and fewer adverse events compared with standard‐dose lobeglitazone. Therefore, low‐dose lobeglitazone might be one option for individualized strategy in patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We report size‐dependent activity of Pt nanoparticles for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB, NH3BH3) in the size range of 1 to 4 nm without masking by heterogeneous oxidation states of Pt. Specifically, we synthesized five differently sized Pt nanoparticles encapsulated inside generation 6 poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with a uniform oxidation state of Pt in an effort to study the intrinsic size effect of Pt nanoparticles on their catalysis. The five differently sized Pt nanoparticles exhibited significant catalytic activity for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB under mild conditions. Interestingly, we found that the catalytic activity of the Pt nanoparticles encapsulated inside dendrimers was tunable even with the subnanometer changes in the sizes of Pt nanoparticles in the range of small sizes less than 4 nm. In particular, the Pt nanoparticle with a mean size of 2.5 nm exhibited the highest catalytic activity with a turnover frequency value of 242.3 ± 7.1molH2molPt−1 min−1 for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of AB at 25°C. The size‐dependent activity of Pt nanoparticles was attributed to be geometric in nature, primarily due to the square face Pt atoms as the dominant active sites for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB. Novelty Statement: We report size‐dependent activity of Pt nanoparticles in the size range of 1 to 4 nm for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of NH3BH3. We synthesized five differently sized Pt nanoparticles, which were encapsulated inside dendrimers, with a uniform oxidation state of Pt in an effort to study the intrinsic size effect of Pt nanoparticles on their catalytic activity without masking by heterogeneous oxidation states of Pt catalysts. The five differently sized Pt nanoparticles exhibited significant catalytic activity for the dehydrogenation of NH3BH3 under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently available graphitic‐based anodes for lithium‐ion storage do not meet the present‐day energy requirements. Concerning the upcoming energy demands, it is necessary to discover high‐performance anode materials that are suitable for lithium‐ion energy storage systems. Herein, a CoV2O6 (cobalt vanadium oxide, cobalt vanadate denoted as CV) anode material using a simple solvothermal technique is synthesized. Furthermore, the effects of modifying the molar concentration of the precursor materials are investigated. Interestingly, there is no change in the crystal structure, but there is a morphological evolution in the materials. Due to the morphological variations, the electrochemical performances vary significantly. Among the synthesized materials, the CV‐2 compound performs the best, exhibiting excellent performance for lithium‐ion batteries as an anode. At the end of 500 cycles, the material delivers a specific discharge capacity of 391.03 mAh g−1 with a current density of 500 mA g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: There is a scarcity of information regarding the role of prothrombin kringle‐2 (pKr‐2), which can be generated by active thrombin, in hippocampal neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Experimental Approach To assess the role of pKr‐2 in association with the neurotoxic symptoms of AD, we determined pKr‐2 protein levels in post‐mortem hippocampal tissues of patients with AD and the hippocampi of five familial AD (5XFAD) mice compared with those of age‐matched controls and wild‐type (WT) mice, respectively. In addition, we investigated whether the hippocampal neurodegeneration and object memory impairments shown in 5XFAD mice were mediated by changes to pKr‐2 up‐regulation. Key Results: Our results demonstrated that pKr‐2 was up‐regulated in the hippocampi of patients with AD and 5XFAD mice, but was not associated with amyloid‐β aggregation in 5XFAD mice. The up‐regulation of pKr‐2 expression was inhibited by preservation of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) via addition of caffeine to their water supply or by treatment with rivaroxaban, an inhibitor of factor Xa that is associated with thrombin production. Moreover, the prevention of up‐regulation of pKr‐2 expression reduced neurotoxic symptoms, such as hippocampal neurodegeneration and object recognition decline due to neurotoxic inflammatory responses in 5XFAD mice. Conclusion and Implications: We identified a novel pathological mechanism of AD mediated by abnormal accumulation of pKr‐2, which functions as an important pathogenic factor in the adult brain via blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. Thus, pKr‐2 represents a novel target for AD therapeutic strategies and those for related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies have been treated as an important material engineering tool to enhance catalytic performance; for instance, oxygen vacancies suppress charge recombination at the Schottky interface, and thus, the photocurrent can be improved. In this regard, the gradient distribution of oxygen vacancies in n‐type metal oxides produces the ideal band structure for minimizing e−/h+ recombination by efficient hole extraction; however, its achievement remains a daunting challenge. Here, a photoelectrochemical (PEC)‐driven "self‐purification" process is suggested, which can effectively generate a gradient distribution of oxygen vacancies in the thickness range of ≈9.5 nm. As a result, a charge transport efficiency of >95% can be achieved by efficient hole migration from the photoanode to the electrolyte. This unique protocol is expected to provide an advanced metal oxide photocatalyst and photoelectrochemical electrode that exhibit superior photocatalytic performance with enhanced charge separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent decision support systems (IDSS) for complex healthcare applications aim to examine a large quantity of complex healthcare data to assist doctors, researchers, pathologists, and other healthcare professionals. A decision support system (DSS) is an intelligent system that provides improved assistance in various stages of health-related disease diagnosis. At the same time, the SARS-CoV-2 infection that causes COVID-19 disease has spread globally from the beginning of 2020. Several research works reported that the imaging pattern based on computed tomography (CT) can be utilized to detect SARS-CoV-2. Earlier identification and detection of the diseases is essential to offer adequate treatment and avoid the severity of the disease. With this motivation, this study develops an efficient deep-learning-based fusion model with swarm intelligence (EDLFM-SI) for SARS-CoV-2 identification. The proposed EDLFM-SI technique aims to detect and classify the SARS-CoV-2 infection or not. Also, the EDLFM-SI technique comprises various processes, namely, data augmentation, preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification. Moreover, a fusion of capsule network (CapsNet) and MobileNet based feature extractors are employed. Besides, a water strider algorithm (WSA) is applied to fine-tune the hyperparameters involved in the DL models. Finally, a cascaded neural network (CNN) classifier is applied for detecting the existence of SARS-CoV-2. In order to showcase the improved performance of the EDLFM-SI technique, a wide range of simulations take place on the COVID-19 CT data set and the SARS-CoV-2 CT scan data set. The simulation outcomes highlighted the supremacy of the EDLFM-SI technique over the recent approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefits of locoregional radiation therapy (RT) before, after, and concurrent with sorafenib therapy for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Methods: Patients treated with sorafenib for BCLC stage C HCC between January 2015 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. In this study, only RT to locoregional sites, including the primary HCC, tumor thrombosis, or lymph node metastasis, was analyzed. Propensity score matching was used to adjust important baseline characteristics between groups. Results: Among 398 patients treated with sorafenib, 68 (17.1%) patients were treated with locoregional RT. Median progression‐free survival and overall survival (OS) were 2.2 and 9.5 months, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, locoregional RT (P < 0.001) was associated with a favorable OS. After 1:1 propensity score matching, patients who did not receive locoregional RT showed a worse OS than those who received RT (median 9.6 vs 15.7 months, P = 0.017). Whereas locoregional RT before/concurrent with sorafenib did not result in prolonged OS, locoregional RT after sorafenib showed significantly prolonged OS compared with sorafenib without locoregional RT (P = 0.003). Moreover, patients treated with ≥ 12 weeks of sorafenib significantly benefited from locoregional RT (15.3 vs 23.6 months, P = 0.046). Conclusion: Locoregional RT was associated with significantly longer survival in BCLC stage C HCC patients who were treated with sorafenib. Therefore, incorporating locoregional RT could improve the dismal prognosis for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Physical frailty and sarcopenia are geriatric syndromes associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the common and different conditions associated with physical frailty and sarcopenia remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia. Methods: This cross‐sectional study analyzed 2028 community‐dwelling older adults, aged 70–84 years (mean age 75.9 ± 4.0 years; 50.1% men). Physical frailty was defined using the Fried frailty phenotype, whereas sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2014 and 2019 criteria. Results: The prevalence of physical frailty was 5.5%, whereas that of sarcopenia, using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2014 and 2019, was 9.1% and 17.5%, respectively. The concordance of physical frailty with sarcopenia was higher in the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria than in 2014. Frail‐only participants had a higher incidence of disability, cognitive dysfunction, poor self‐perceived health, and depressive symptoms than the sarcopenic‐only participants. Frail‐and‐sarcopenic participants showed a lower body mass index (≥23 kg/m2) than frail‐only participants. Furthermore, in frail‐and‐sarcopenic participants, recurrent falls (16.9% vs 5.5%) were higher than in the neither‐frail‐nor‐sarcopenic participants; falls with fracture (11.5% vs 1.7%) and fear of falling (59.0% vs 36.7%) were higher in frail‐and‐sarcopenic participants than in sarcopenic‐only participants. Conclusions: This study showed significant differences between physical frailty and sarcopenia among community‐dwelling older adults. Older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia were more likely to have higher fall‐related outcomes than the others. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 42–49. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The brainstem has the critical role of regulating cardiac and respiratory function and it also provides motor and sensory function to the face via the cranial nerves. Despite the observation of a brainstem lesion in a radiological examination, it is difficult to obtain tissues for a pathological diagnosis because of the location and small volume of the brainstem. Thus, we aimed to share our 6‐year experience with stereotactic biopsies from brainstem lesions and confirm the value and safety of stereotactic biopsy on this highly eloquent area in this study. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 42 adult patients who underwent stereotactic biopsy on brainstem lesions from 2015 to 2020. The radiological findings, surgical records, pathological diagnosis, and postoperative complications of all patients were analyzed. Results: Histopathological diagnoses were made in 40 (95.2%) patients. Astrocytic tumors were diagnosed in 29 (69.0%) patients, diffuse large B cell lymphoma in 5 (11.9%) patients, demyelinating disease in 4 (9.5%) patients, germinoma in 1 (2.4%) patient, and radiation necrosis in 1 (2.4%) patient. In the 40 patients with successful stereotactic biopsy, 10 (25.0%) patients had inconsistent preoperative radiological diagnosis and postoperative pathological diagnosis. In addition, there was a difference between the treatments prescribed by the radiological and pathological diagnoses in 8 out of 10 patients whose diagnoses changed after biopsy. There was no operative mortality among the 42 patients. Conclusions: A pathological diagnosis can be made safely and efficiently in brainstem lesions using stereotactic biopsy. This pathological diagnosis will enable patients to receive appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, an optically transparent and wideband liquid antenna for UHD‐TV applications is presented. The proposed antenna utilizes a high concentration of dissolved salts as the conductor inside a hollow L‐shaped clear acrylic component, offering very high optical transparency of more than 87% (@200 ppt) in the visible range. The electrical performance of the antenna is optimized and verified through experiments, showing good agreement between the simulation and the measurement. The results show that the antenna has a wide bandwidth of 390 MHz (410–800 MHz; 64.5%) and high radiation efficiency of up to 72% over the entire bandwidth range for UHD‐TV applications (470–771 MHz; 48.4%). This demonstrates the proposed antenna can be considered as an attractive alternative to conventional external transparent antennas for UHD‐TV applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: In cancer patients, the optimal appendicitis treatment has not been established. Therefore, we aimed to determine the ideal treatment option for appendicitis in cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 185 cancer patients with acute appendicitis who were divided into the early surgical group (n = 152) involving surgery performed within 48 h following the appendicitis diagnosis or the conservative group (n = 33) involving intravenous antibiotics. We compared the appendicitis treatment efficacy between the groups. Results: In the early surgical group, the antibiotic duration [5.5 days (4.0–8.0) vs. 17.0 days (12.5–25.0), p < 0.001] and hospital stay length [7.0 days (5.0–11.75) vs. 10.0 days (8.0–32.0), p < 0.001] were significantly shorter. Regarding pathology, 16/171 (9.4%) patients who underwent surgery exhibited appendiceal tumours. During the 1‐year follow‐up period, one recurrence occurred in each group [1/152 (0.7%) vs. 1/33 (3.0%), p = 0.326]. The 1‐year treatment success rate was higher in the early surgical group [99.3% (151/152) vs. 42.4% (14/33), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: Early surgical treatment yielded a significantly higher success rate than conservative treatment for appendicitis in cancer patients. Surgery for appendicitis in cancer patients should be considered not only for treatment but also for pathologic confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy is a powerful methodology for sensing and identifying small quantities of analyte molecules via coupling between molecular vibrations and an enhanced near‐field induced in engineered structures. A metamaterial absorber (MA) is proposed as an efficient SEIRA platform; however, its efficiency is limited because it requires the appropriate insulator thickness and has a limited accessible area for sensing. SEIRA spectroscopy is proposed using an MA with a 10 nm thick vertical nanogap, and a record‐high reflection difference SEIRA signal of 36% is experimentally achieved using a 1‐octadecanethiol monolayer target molecule. Theoretical and experimental comparative studies are conducted using MAs with three different vertical nanogaps. The MAs with a vertical nanogap are processed using nanoimprint lithography and isotropic dry etching, which allow cost‐effective large‐area patterning and mass production. The proposed structure may provide promising routes for ultrasensitive sensing and detection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali metal halide‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods can produce wafer‐scale uniform monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Further defect engineering is necessary to obtain high‐performance functional devices. While defect engineering has focused on the surface of the monolayer TMDs or the contact property, interface defect engineering is rare and non‐trivial. Based on a NaCl‐assisted CVD‐grown large‐scale uniform MoS2 monolayer on SiO2/Si substrate, a trace amount of Na cations is present, residing at the SiO2 substrate during the CVD‐growth process and contributes to the n‐type doping into the supported monolayer MoS2. Furthermore, the residual Na cations are electrically moved toward the bottom side of monolayer MoS2 to passivate the interfacial defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study validates behavior development screening for toddlers (BeDevel), which utilizes a combination of short caregiver interviews (BeDevel‐I) and semistructured play observations (BeDevel‐P). The data of 431 toddlers (male 66.2%; mean age (SD) = 29.11 (8.59) months; ASD, n = 201; developmental delay, n = 46; typically developing, n = 184), aged 18 ~ 42 months, were included in the validation of BeDevel. The best clinical estimate diagnosis, screening rate, validity, sensitivity, and reliability of BeDevel were determined based on data cross‐sectionally collected using BeDevel and existing diagnostic/screening instruments: autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS), autism diagnostic interview (ADI‐R), Vineland adaptive behavior scales‐II (VABS‐II), social response scales (SRS), sequenced language scale for infants (SELSI), Korean childhood autism rating scale (K‐CARS), and Korean social communication questionnaire (K‐SCQ). The k values of BeDevel‐I and BeDevel‐P were 0.055 ~ 0.732 and 0.291 ~ 0.752, respectively. Items related to social referencing in BeDevel‐P had a particularly high diagnostic validity (k = 0.483 ~ 0.684). Reliabilities of BeDevel‐I and BeDevel‐P were sufficient (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86 ~ 0.88 and 0.92 ~ 0.95, respectively). BeDevel‐I and BeDevel‐P showed high sensitivity (BeDevel‐I: 85.00 ~ 89.29%; BeDevel‐P: 85.00 ~ 91.75%), specificity (BeDevel‐I: 77.55 ~ 89.55%; BeDevel‐P: 85.09 ~ 97.01%), PPV (BeDevel‐I: 70.83 ~ 88.54%; BeDevel‐P: 81.52 ~ 94.68%), and NPV (BeDevel‐I: 76.00 ~ 95.24%; BeDevel‐P: 84.62 ~ 95.45%). The agreement between the composite BeDevel score and ADOS, ADI‐R, K‐CARS, and K‐SCQ was >67.6% (range = 67.6 ~ 90.8%). Combining a short caregiver interview and direct play observation is a valid and reliable screening process. More studies on social referencing as an important early marker are needed. BeDevel can be utilized as a secondary screening instrument before diagnostic confirmation in clinical and community settings. Lay summary BeDevel, which consists of a short caregiver interview and direct play observation, is a valid and reliable screening instrument for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We suggest that BeDevel can be utilized as a secondary instrument before administering diagnostic assessments in clinical and community settings. More studies examining social referencing as a potential behavioral marker of ASD are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hydrogen carriers have been actively explored as a viable option for safe and economical hydrogen storage and transportation. However, the highly endothermic nature of dehydrogenation reactions results in a considerable temperature nonuniformity due to severe heat transfer limitations. To address this issue, a bench‐scale catalytic reactor for hydrogen production is developed from methanol steam reforming (MSR) using a liquid‐gas organic phase change material (PCM) working at a medium temperature range (200°C‐300°C) and near‐ambient pressure conditions. First, a comparative study was conducted to quantify the temperature homogeneities with or without adopting PCM; the former showed a higher temperature uniformity, leading to an improved hydrogen production rate and system efficiency. Additionally, a rapid start‐up and uniform temperature profile of the catalytic bed at a steady state by the thermal management of the PCM were manifested. The liquid‐gas organic PCM was stable during MSR at 250°C, despite minor oxidation. For the feasibility study on a bench scale, 0.6 kWe‐level hydrogen generation (equivalent to 5.83 kWe/Lreactor) using the PCM‐based reactor was demonstrated. This work can provide insights into the scale‐up and thermal management of various catalytic dehydrogenation reactors encompassing considerable heat absorption or release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aimed to identify social factors predicting improvement of frailty in community‐dwelling older adults after 2 years using a population‐based cohort study. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2016 and 2018 Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The participants of this study were 1428 community‐dwelling older adults aged 70–84 years who were recruited from 10 medical centers across different regions. Frailty was measured using the five‐item FRAIL scale, which evaluates fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness and weight loss. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to examine baseline social factors that predict frailty improvement after 2 years by frailty status. Results: In frail older adults, higher participation in social activities (odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.34) was significantly associated with frailty improvement. In pre‐frail older adults, there were no significant social factors predicting the improvement of frailty status; however, other modifiable factors such as high and moderate levels of physical activity (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07–1.28, OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.25, respectively) and low depressive symptoms (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84–0.91) were associated with pre‐frail improvements. High levels of physical activity (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.33) were also associated with improvements of frailty. Conclusions: Different strategies depending on the level of frailty are necessary to improve frailty status. Timely and appropriate interventions can promote frailty improvement and prevent negative health outcomes in community‐dwelling older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 465–471. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain mosaic mutations are a major cause of refractory focal epilepsies with cortical malformations such as focal cortical dysplasia, hemimegalencephaly, malformation of cortical development with oligodendroglial hyperplasia in epilepsy, and ganglioglioma. Here, we collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during epilepsy surgery to search for somatic variants in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) using targeted droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. In 3 of 12 epileptic patients with known somatic mutations previously identified in brain tissue, we here provide evidence that brain mosaicism can be detected in the CSF-derived cfDNA. These findings suggest future opportunities for detecting the mutant allele driving epilepsy in CSF. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:1248-1252. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amine–borane complexes have been extensively studied as hydrogen storage materials. Herein, we report a new amine–borane system featuring a reversible dehydrogenation and regeneration at room temperature. In addition to high purity H2, the reaction between ethylenediamine bisborane (EDAB) and ethylenediamine (ED) leads to unique boron–carbon–nitrogen 5‐membered rings in the dehydrogenation product where one boron is tricoordinated by three nitrogen atoms. Owing to the unique cyclic structure, the dehydrogenation product can be efficiently converted back to EDAB by NaBH4 and H2O at room temperature. This finding could lead to the discovery of new amine boranes with potential usage as hydrogen storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes have adapted to various environmental conditions. Symbionts with mosquitoes impact this adaptation in different environments. In the field, mosquitoes could get exposed to antibiotics during their developmental period, which could reduce or eliminate their symbiotic microbes. However, the side effects of the antibiotics on the ovary and reproductive physiology of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of tetracycline and combinations of rifampicin and tetracycline at environmentally acceptable levels on the reproductive physiology of ovaries in Ae. albopictus. Rifampicin and tetracycline in combination reduced the hatching rate and fertility of Ae. albopictus compared to the untreated control group. These antibiotics induced histopathological damage and reactive oxygen species production in the ovaries. The combination of antibiotics decreased the expression of surface protein of Wolbachia (WSP) in Ae. albopictus. Additionally, the expression of Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Myd88 were triggered by the combinations. The findings demonstrate the detrimental effects of antibiotics, particularly combinations of rifampicin and tetracycline, on the reproductive capacity of Ae. albopictus females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: We aimed to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty in Korean older adults with diabetes compared with individuals without diabetes. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the data of 2,403 participants aged 70–84 years enrolled in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Frailty was assessed by the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty phenotype criteria. Results: The mean age of the participants was 76.0 ± 3.9 years, and 47.2% were men. The prevalence of diabetes was 30.2% in men and 25.8% in women. Adults with diabetes showed a lower muscle mass index (appendicular skeletal muscle mass/body mass index) and handgrip strength in both sexes, but only the women showed decreased physical performance. Women with diabetes presented a higher prevalence of sarcopenia diagnosed by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria, and frailty compared with participants without diabetes (sarcopenia 14.7% vs 8.5%, P = 0.001; frailty 9.5% vs 4.9%, P = 0.003). Men in the high and middle tertiles for homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance presented a significantly higher prevalence of sarcopenia, compared with men in the low tertile homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (high tertile 16.6%, middle tertile 13.3%, low tertile 8.6%). Conclusions: In older adults with diabetes, muscle mass index and muscle strength were lower than in those without diabetes. However, the prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty was higher and physical performance was lower only in women with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral thermal capsulotomy with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for patients with treatment-resistant depression: A proof-of-concept study Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a safe and effective treatment modality for capsulotomy in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The patients underwent depression assessments using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months following the MRgFUS. Changes in body weight were recorded for each patient, as follows: patient 1: 69.0-77.0 kg; patient 2: 67.3-69.2 kg; patient 3: 71.4-89.0 kg; and patient 4: 59.0-62.2 kg. [Extracted from the article]

Objective. The relationship between white matter integrity and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype and its effects on motor recovery after stroke are poorly understood. We investigated the values of fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corticospinal tract (CST), the intrahemispheric connection from the primary motor cortex to the ventral premotor cortex (M1PMv), and the interhemispheric connection via the corpus callosum (CC) in patients with the BDNF genotype from the acute to the subacute phase after stroke. Methods. The Fugl-Meyer assessment, upper extremity (FMA-UE), and tract-related FA were assessed at 2 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after stroke using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke were classified according to the BDNF genotype into a Val (valine homozygotes) or Met (methionine heterozygotes and homozygotes) group. Results. The Val group exhibited a larger reduction of FA values in the ipsilesional M1PMv than the Met group from T1 to T2. The FMA-UE at T2 was negatively correlated with FA of the contralesional M1PMv at T2 in the Val group but was positively correlated with FA of the ipsilesional CST and CC at T2 in the Met group. Conclusions. The integrity of the intra- and interhemispheric connections might be related to different processes of motor recovery dependent on the BDNF genotype. Thus, the BDNF genotype may need to be considered as a factor influencing neuroplasticity and functional recovery in patients with stroke. This trial is registered with http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03647787. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]