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Summary: The combination of brain structural and functional connectivity offers complementary insights into its organisation. Multilayer network analysis explores various relationships across different layers within a single system. We aimed to investigate changes in the structural and functional multilayer network in 69 patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) compared with 50 healthy controls. Participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting state‐functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) using a three‐tesla MRI scanner. We constructed a structural connectivity matrix derived from DTI using a DSI program and made a functional connectivity matrix based on rs‐fMRI using an SPM program and CONN toolbox. A multilayer network analysis, using BRAPH program, was then conducted to assess the connectivity patterns in both groups. At the global level, significant differences there were between the patients with RLS and healthy controls. The average multiplex participation was lower in patients with RLS than in healthy controls (0.804 vs. 0.821, p = 0.042). Additionally, several regions showed significant differences in the nodal level in multiplex participation between patients with RLS and healthy controls, particularly the frontal and temporal lobes. The regions affected included the inferior frontal gyrus, medial orbital gyrus, precentral gyrus, rectus gyrus, insula, superior and inferior temporal gyrus, medial and lateral occipitotemporal gyrus, and temporal pole. These results represent evidence of diversity in interactions between structural and functional connectivity in patients with RLS, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the brain network in RLS. This may contribute to a precise diagnosis of RLS, and aid the development of a biomarker to track treatment effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been extensively studied in relation to various cognitive abilities, including executive function, attention, and memory. Nevertheless, there is a gap in our scientific knowledge regarding the functionally dissociable neural dynamics across the PFC during a cognitive task and their individual differences in performance. Here, we explored this possibility using a delayed match‐to‐sample (DMTS) working memory (WM) task using NIRSIT, a high‐density, wireless, wearable functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system. First, upon presentation of the sample stimulus, we observed an immediate signal increase in the ventral (orbitofrontal) region of the anterior PFC, followed by activity in the dorsolateral PFC. After the DMTS test stimulus appeared, the orbitofrontal cortex activated once again, while the rest of the PFC showed overall disengagement. Individuals with higher accuracy showed earlier and sustained activation of the PFC across the trial. Furthermore, higher network efficiency and functional connectivity in the PFC were correlated with individual WM performance. Our study sheds new light on the dynamics of PFC subregional activity during a cognitive task and its potential applicability in explaining individual differences in experimental, educational, or clinical populations. Practitioner Points: Wearable functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) captured dissociable temporal dynamics across prefrontal subregions during a delayed match‐to‐sample task.Anterior regions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) activated first during the delay period, followed by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC).PFC disengaged overall after the delay, but the OFC reactivated to the test stimulus.Earlier and sustained activation of PFC was associated with better accuracy.Functional connectivity and network efficiency also varied with task performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate crystals typically exhibit minimal optical anisotropy due to the near‐zero polarizability anisotropy (δ) of [SO4]2− tetrahedra, arising from highly symmetrical electron clouds. Recent research sought to enhance δ via chemical modifications, such as fluorination. However, the resultant crystals often maintain subpar optical anisotropy, frequently with birefringence values below 0.1. In this study, we have uncovered that δ can be significantly strengthened by chemically tailoring the tetrahedral [SO4]2− with anisotropic π‐conjugated modules. This has been demonstrated by several newly proposed S−O‐Org (Org: π‐conjugated organic species) moieties, which show a sharp increase in δ based on theoretical computations. To further validate this experimentally, we synthesized and characterized six new 3‐pyridinesulfonate crystals with the formula A(3‐C5H4NSO3) ⋅ xH2O (A=Li, Ag, K, Rb, Cs, and NH4; x=0 and 1). Notably, these materials exhibit strong optical anisotropy, with birefringence values ranging from 0.240 to 0.312 at 546 nm. These values are approximately 23 to 145.5 times greater than those of corresponding sulfates, and they outperform a vast number of sulfate‐related optical materials, thus verifying the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Furthermore, the title compounds exhibit diverse microstructure peculiarities influenced by the size and binding natures of the counter cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate crystals typically exhibit minimal optical anisotropy due to the near‐zero polarizability anisotropy (δ) of [SO4]2− tetrahedra, arising from highly symmetrical electron clouds. Recent research sought to enhance δ via chemical modifications, such as fluorination. However, the resultant crystals often maintain subpar optical anisotropy, frequently with birefringence values below 0.1. In this study, we have uncovered that δ can be significantly strengthened by chemically tailoring the tetrahedral [SO4]2− with anisotropic π‐conjugated modules. This has been demonstrated by several newly proposed S−O‐Org (Org: π‐conjugated organic species) moieties, which show a sharp increase in δ based on theoretical computations. To further validate this experimentally, we synthesized and characterized six new 3‐pyridinesulfonate crystals with the formula A(3‐C5H4NSO3) ⋅ xH2O (A=Li, Ag, K, Rb, Cs, and NH4; x=0 and 1). Notably, these materials exhibit strong optical anisotropy, with birefringence values ranging from 0.240 to 0.312 at 546 nm. These values are approximately 23 to 145.5 times greater than those of corresponding sulfates, and they outperform a vast number of sulfate‐related optical materials, thus verifying the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Furthermore, the title compounds exhibit diverse microstructure peculiarities influenced by the size and binding natures of the counter cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addictions are thought to be fostered by the emergence of poorly regulated mesocorticolimbic responses to drug‐related cues. The development and persistence of these responses might be promoted by altered glutamate transmission, including changes to type 5 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR5s). Unknown, however, is when these changes arise and whether the mGluR5 and mesocorticolimbic alterations are related. To investigate, non‐dependent cocaine polydrug users and cocaine‐naïve healthy controls underwent a positron emission tomography scan (15 cocaine users and 14 healthy controls) with [11C]ABP688, and a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan (15/group) while watching videos depicting activities with and without cocaine use. For some drug videos, participants were instructed to use a cognitive strategy to lower craving. Both groups exhibited drug cue‐induced mesocorticolimbic activations and these were larger in the cocaine polydrug users than healthy controls during the session's second half. During the cognitive regulation trials, the cocaine users' corticostriatal responses were reduced. [11C]ABP688 binding was unaltered in cocaine users, relative to healthy controls, but post hoc analyses found reductions in those with 75 or more lifetime cocaine use sessions. Finally, among cocaine users (n = 12), individual differences in prefrontal [11C]ABP688 binding were associated with midbrain and limbic region activations during the regulation trials. Together, these preliminary findings raise the possibility that (i) recreational polydrug cocaine users show biased brain processes towards cocaine‐related cues and (ii) repeated cocaine use can lower cortical mGluR5 levels, diminishing the ability to regulate drug cue responses. These alterations might promote susceptibility to addiction and identify early intervention targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion Medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is uncommon but can result in severe destruction of the jaw. This case–control study investigated the therapeutic effects of daily or weekly administration of teriparatide in the management of MRONJ using a cohort for osteonecrosis of the jaw.Patients who were diagnosed with MRONJ and consented to teriparatide administration were assigned either to a group of daily injection or of weekly injection and completed a 4‐week course of injection preoperatively and at least an 8‐week course postoperatively. The control group received either the intraoperative rhBMP treatment (CG_BMP) or no additional perioperative treatment (CG_noBMP). The state of MRONJ was evaluated 2 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) postoperatively for all participants.Either group of daily injection (8.35 weeks ± 1.58; n = 17) or weekly injection (9.17 ± 3.79; n = 12) showed significantly faster healing than those of CG_BMP (14.40 ± 6.08; n = 25) or CG_noBMP (15.79 ± 9.79; n = 39). MRONJ was resolved completely in 24 out of 29 participants who completed the course of teriparatide injections, whereas 46.9% of CG showed delayed resolution. Multiple regression analysis indicated 7.50 times (95% CI, 1.77–31.82) more likelihood of complete resolution of MRONJ for participants with teriparatide injections.A course of daily or weekly administration of teriparatide injections may improve treatment outcomes for patients with MRONJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age‐associated immune changes and pre‐existing influenza immunity are hypothesized to reduce influenza vaccine effectiveness in older adults, although the contribution of each factor is unknown. Here, we constructed influenza‐specific IgG landscapes and determined baseline concentrations of cytokines typically associated with chronic inflammation in older adults (TNF‐α, IL‐10, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ) in 30 high and 29 low influenza vaccine responders (HR and LR, respectively). In a background of high H3 antibody titers, vaccine‐specific H3, but not H1, antibody titers were boosted in LRs to titers comparable to HRs. Pre‐vaccination concentrations of IL‐10 were higher in LRs compared with HRs and inversely correlated with titers of pre‐existing influenza antibodies. Baseline TNF‐α concentrations were positively correlated with fold‐increases in antibody titers in HRs. Our findings indicate that baseline inflammatory status is an important determinant for generating post‐vaccination hemagglutinin‐inhibition antibodies in older adults, and IgG responses can be boosted in the context of high pre‐existing immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The incidence of fungal sinusitis is increasing; however, its pathophysiology has not been investigated previously. We investigate the effect of periodontitis on the incidence of fungal sinusitis over a 12‐year follow‐up period using nationwide population‐based data. Materials and Methods: The periodontitis group was randomly selected from the National Health Insurance Service database. The non‐periodontitis group was obtained by propensity score matching considering several variables. The primary end point was the diagnosis of sinonasal fungal balls (SFBs) and invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS). Results: The periodontitis and non‐periodontitis groups included 12,442 and 12,442 individuals, respectively. The overall adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for SFBs in the periodontitis group was 1.46 (p =.002). In subgroup analysis, the aHR for SFBs was 1.59 (p = 0.008) for those with underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD), 1.58 (p =.022) for those with underlying atopic dermatitis, 1.48 (p =.019) for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 1.36 (p =.030) for those with diabetes mellitus (DM), but these values are applicable only when considering the relationship between periodontitis and SFB. The aHR for IFS in the periodontitis group was higher than in the non‐periodontitis group (2.80; p =.004). Conclusions: The risk of SFBs and IFS increased after diagnosis of periodontitis. This trend is often more severe in patients with DM, COPD, or CKD, but this association with underlying diseases is applicable only when considering the association between periodontitis and fungal sinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a thermoelectric (TE) material is deposited with a secondary TE material, the total Seebeck coefficient of the stacked layer is generally represented by a parallel conductor model. Accordingly, when TE material layers of the same thickness are stacked vertically, the total Seebeck coefficient in the transverse direction may change in a single layer. Here, an abnormal Seebeck effect in a stacked two‐dimensional (2D) PtSe2/PtSe2 homostructure film, i.e., an extra in‐plane Seebeck voltage is produced by wet‐transfer stacking at the interface between the PtSe2 layers under a transverse temperature gradient is reported. This abnormal Seebeck effect is referred to as the interfacial Seebeck effect in stacked PtSe2/PtSe2 homostructures. This effect is attributed to the carrier‐interface interaction, and has independent characteristics in relation to carrier concentration. It is confirmed that the in‐plane Seebeck coefficient increases as the number of stacked PtSe2 layers increase and observed a high Seebeck coefficient exceeding ≈188 µV K−1 at 300 K in a four‐layer‐stacked PtSe2/PtSe2 homostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brønsted acidic Ionic liquid promoted synthesis of functionalized carbazoles and dibenzofurans is reported employing biaryl‐triazene as intermediate. The shorter reaction time, diverse functional group tolerance, high yield, mild reaction condition and employment of microwave and ultrasonic assistance highlight the importance of this reaction. Approximately 80–92% of the product yield was achieved with this highly efficient green technique. Along with this, recycling and re‐use of ionic liquids are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

House dust mite (HDM) allergens cause inflammatory responses and chronic allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. Here, we investigate the mechanism by which HDM induces C–C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) expression to promote chronic inflammation and airway remodeling in an HDM‐induced bronchial asthma mouse model. We showed that HDM increased CCL20 levels via the Akt‐ERK1/2‐C/EBPβ pathway. To investigate the role of CCL20 in chronic airway inflammation and remodeling, we made a mouse model of CCL20‐induced bronchial asthma. Treatment of anti‐CCL20Ab in this mouse model showed the reduced airway hyper‐responsiveness and inflammatory cell infiltration into peribronchial region by neutralizing CCL20. In addition, CCL20 induced the Nod‐like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation through NLRP3 deubiquitination and transcriptional upregulation in BEAS‐2B cells. As expected, anti‐CCL20Ab markedly suppressed NLRP3 activation induced by CCL20. Moreover, HDM‐induced CCL20 leads to epithelial–mesenchymal transition in the lung epithelium which appears to be an important regulator of airway remodeling in allergic asthma. We also found that anti‐CCL20Ab attenuates airway inflammation and remodeling in an HDM‐induced mouse model of bronchial asthma. Taken together, our results suggest that HDM‐induced CCL20 is required for chronic inflammation that contributes airway remodeling in a mouse model of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A westerly phase of the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) was disrupted in 2015/16. Previous studies have primarily focused on the cause of the localized negative momentum forcing, initiating the QBO disruption. However, the upward displacement of the westerly QBO followed by the negative momentum forcing, clearly observed in 2015/16, has received less attention. This study shows that the distinct upward propagation of the westerly winds during the 2015/16 QBO disruption was contributed by the strong Brewer‐Dobson circulation (BDC). Strong Rossby waves with wavenumber 1 propagating from the troposphere mainly drove the strong BDC. Potential contributions of El Niño and Barents–Kara sea ice reduction to Rossby waves are also discussed. Plain Language Summary: The quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO), describing alternate easterly and westerly winds in the tropical stratosphere, generally shows downward phase propagation with time. However, downward‐propagating westerly winds were split into two in February 2016, with one propagating upward and the other propagating downward. It is found that the upward propagation of the westerly winds was contributed from the stronger upwelling in the tropical stratosphere, mainly attributed to the strong planetary‐wave activity in the midlatitude troposphere. Key Points: Strong Brewer‐Dobson circulation contributed to the distinct upward propagation of the westerly QBO during the 2015/16 QBO disruptionMidlatitude Rossby waves with wavenumber 1 mainly induced the strong Brewer‐Dobson circulation in 2015/16 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of North Pacific bomb cyclones in the onset of January 2021 sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is examined by conducting a set of numerical model experiments. The control simulation, initialized 10 days before the SSW onset, successfully reproduces the SSW. As this event is preceded by the bomb cyclones in the North Pacific, their impact is tested by initializing the model without them. This sensitivity experiment shows much weaker polar‐vortex deceleration than the control simulation, resulting in no distinct SSW onset. This difference is attributable to the dampened constructive linear interference between the climatological wave and the cyclone‐related wavenumber‐one anomaly in the sensitivity experiment. It weakens the vertical propagation of wavenumber‐one wave into the stratosphere, thereby reducing wave breaking in the polar stratosphere. This result suggests that bomb cyclones should be considered for better understanding SSW and improving its predictability. Plain Language Summary: Sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is a dramatic event characterized by abrupt warming in the polar stratosphere. During this event, the eastward winds encircling the polar stratosphere change to westward winds, due to the breaking of the upward‐propagating planetary‐scale waves. Since the SSW is often followed by unusual weather events (e.g., cold surges), an accurate prediction of SSW is important for a better weather prediction. Here, we examine the role of the rapidly developing North Pacific cyclones in initiating the 2021 SSW. A set of numerical model experiments show that without cyclones, the 2021 SSW is not initiated due to the reduced breaking of the upward‐propagating planetary‐scale waves. This result suggests that the rapidly developing North Pacific cyclones should be considered for better understanding SSW and improving its predictability. Key Points: The 2021 SSW is successfully reproduced by a model initialized 10 days before the stratospheric warming (SSW)The model initialized without the North Pacific bomb cyclone does not simulate the 2021 SSWRemoving the North Pacific bomb cyclone reduces the k = 1 wave propagation into the stratosphere, reducing wave breaking in the stratosphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptic devices with linear high‐speed switching can accelerate learning in artificial neural networks (ANNs) embodied in hardware. Conventional resistive memories however suffer from high write noise and asymmetric conductance tuning, preventing parallel programming of ANN arrays. Electrochemical random‐access memories (ECRAMs), where resistive switching occurs by ion insertion into a redox‐active channel, aim to address these challenges due to their linear switching and low noise. ECRAMs using 2D materials and metal oxides however suffer from slow ion kinetics, whereas organic ECRAMs enable high‐speed operation but face challenges toward on‐chip integration due to poor temperature stability of polymers. Here, ECRAMs using 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene that combine the high speed of organics and the integration compatibility of inorganic materials in a single high‐performance device are demonstrated. These ECRAMs combine the speed, linearity, write noise, switching energy, and endurance metrics essential for parallel acceleration of ANNs, and importantly, they are stable after heat treatment needed for back‐end‐of‐line integration with Si electronics. The high speed and performance of these ECRAMs introduces MXenes, a large family of 2D carbides and nitrides with more than 30 stoichiometric compositions synthesized to date, as promising candidates for devices operating at the nexus of electrochemistry and electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptic devices with linear high‐speed switching can accelerate learning in artificial neural networks (ANNs) embodied in hardware. Conventional resistive memories however suffer from high write noise and asymmetric conductance tuning, preventing parallel programming of ANN arrays. Electrochemical random‐access memories (ECRAMs), where resistive switching occurs by ion insertion into a redox‐active channel, aim to address these challenges due to their linear switching and low noise. ECRAMs using 2D materials and metal oxides however suffer from slow ion kinetics, whereas organic ECRAMs enable high‐speed operation but face challenges toward on‐chip integration due to poor temperature stability of polymers. Here, ECRAMs using 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene that combine the high speed of organics and the integration compatibility of inorganic materials in a single high‐performance device are demonstrated. These ECRAMs combine the speed, linearity, write noise, switching energy, and endurance metrics essential for parallel acceleration of ANNs, and importantly, they are stable after heat treatment needed for back‐end‐of‐line integration with Si electronics. The high speed and performance of these ECRAMs introduces MXenes, a large family of 2D carbides and nitrides with more than 30 stoichiometric compositions synthesized to date, as promising candidates for devices operating at the nexus of electrochemistry and electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Although it is not recognized as essential to test for antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) in stroke of unknown cause, aPL‐related stroke may account for a considerable number of cryptogenic strokes. We aimed to assess the current status and diagnostic value of aPL testing in cryptogenic stroke patients. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke were examined to confirm the factors associated with performing aPL testing and with positive aPL test results in real‐world practice. Cryptogenic stroke patients were separately examined in the same manner. The antibody profiles of cryptogenic stroke patients with aPL positivity were compared by age. Results: Among 2947 patients, 606 (20.6%) were tested for aPLs and 129 (21.3%) were positive. Physicians tended to perform aPL testing in patients aged <50 years and in cryptogenic stroke patients. Cryptogenic stroke was a strong predictor of positive aPL results (adjusted odds ratio 3.70, 95% confidence interval 2.38–5.76). However, aPL positivity did not differ by age in stroke patients. Among 283 cryptogenic stroke patients, 136 (48.1%) were tested for aPLs and 56 (41.2%) were positive. aPL tests were performed predominantly in patients aged <50 years rather than in older patients, even among cryptogenic stroke patients. The two age groups had similar positivity rates of >40% (<50 years: 43.2%; ≥50 years: 40.4%; p = 0.92) and their antibody profiles were similar. Conclusions: A significant number of patients with cryptogenic stroke had positive aPL results regardless of age. aPL testing may offer additional diagnostic opportunities in cryptogenic stroke patients, and thus may reduce the incidence of cryptogenic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in metabolic networks based on preoperative fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET) in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) between patients with complete seizure‐free (SF) and those with noncomplete seizure‐free (non‐SF) after anterior temporal lobectomy. Methods: This study was retrospectively performed at a tertiary hospital. We recruited pathologically confirmed 75 TLE patients with HS who underwent preoperative FDG‐PET. All patients underwent a standard anterior temporal lobectomy. The surgical outcome was evaluated at least 12 months after surgery, and we divided the subjects into patients with SF (International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE] class I) and those with non‐SF (ILAE class II‐VI). We evaluated the metabolic network using graph theoretical analysis based on FDG‐PET. We investigated the differences in network measures between the two groups. Results: Of the 75 TLE patients with HS, 32 patients (42.6%) had SF, whereas 43 patients (57.3%) had non‐SF. There were significant differences in global metabolic networks according to surgical outcomes. The patients with SF had a lower assortative coefficient than those with non‐SF (–0.020 vs. –0.009, p =.044). We also found widespread regional differences in local metabolic networks according to surgical outcomes. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates significant differences in preoperative metabolic networks based on FDG‐PET in TLE patients with HS according to surgical outcomes. This work introduces a metabolic network based on FDG‐PET and can be used as a potential tool for predicting surgical outcome in TLE patients with HS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin‐orbit torque (SOT) promises fast and reliable switching of the perpendicular magnetization in spintronic devices, such as magnetic random‐access memory or spin logic devices. To apply the SOT technology to practical devices with low power consumption, it is necessary to reduce the switching current. To this end, most of the research to date in this area has focused on improving the charge‐to‐spin conversion efficiency in heavy metal/ferromagnet structures. In this study, it is reported that the SOT switching current is significantly reduced by modulating magnetic easy‐cone states through voltage‐controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA). The introduction of a thin Pt layer at the CoFeB/MgO interface enhances the VCMA effect, allowing a magnetic easy‐cone state of CoFeB to be formed and controlled by the gate voltage. As a result, the SOT switching current density is reduced by up to 50% when the easy‐cone angle is changed from 0° to 58°. Furthermore, the magnetic easy‐cone state is gradually modulated in a reversible and non‐volatile manner, facilitating multilevel spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin‐orbit torque (SOT) promises fast and reliable switching of the perpendicular magnetization in spintronic devices, such as magnetic random‐access memory or spin logic devices. To apply the SOT technology to practical devices with low power consumption, it is necessary to reduce the switching current. To this end, most of the research to date in this area has focused on improving the charge‐to‐spin conversion efficiency in heavy metal/ferromagnet structures. In this study, it is reported that the SOT switching current is significantly reduced by modulating magnetic easy‐cone states through voltage‐controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA). The introduction of a thin Pt layer at the CoFeB/MgO interface enhances the VCMA effect, allowing a magnetic easy‐cone state of CoFeB to be formed and controlled by the gate voltage. As a result, the SOT switching current density is reduced by up to 50% when the easy‐cone angle is changed from 0° to 58°. Furthermore, the magnetic easy‐cone state is gradually modulated in a reversible and non‐volatile manner, facilitating multilevel spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the impact of programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) polymorphisms on the prognosis of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with curative radiotherapy. Methods: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs822336G>C, rs822337T>A, rs822338C>T, and rs2297136A>G) in the PD‐L1 gene were evaluated in 124 NSCLC patients. Clinical stage was I in 28, II in 17, and III in 79 patients. Fifty‐seven patients received radiotherapy alone, including 28 patients who received stereotactic body radiotherapy. Sixty‐seven patients received sequential or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Risk factors for survival outcomes were analyzed with the log‐rank test and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The rs822336GC+CC genotype was associated with better overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.37–0.97, p = 0.036) and regional failure‐free survival (RFFS) (HR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14–0.76, p = 0.009), compared with rs822336GG genotype. The rs822337TA+AA genotype was associated with better OS (HR =0.54, 95% CI = 0.34–0.88, p = 0.014), progression‐free survival (PFS) (HR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41–0.99, p = 0.046), and RFFS (HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.17–0.81, p = 0.013), compared with rs822337TT genotype. Three SNPs (rs822336, rs822337, and rs822338) were in linkage disequilibrium. Combined GTC and GTT (GT*) haplotype was associated with significantly worse OS (p = 0.018), PFS (p = 0.044), and RFFS (p = 0.038), compared with those with other combined haplotypes. Patients with diplotypes of two GT* haplotypes showed significantly worse OS (p = 0.023) and RFFS (p = 0.014) than those with other diplotypes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PD‐L1 polymorphisms could be predictive markers for NSCLC patients receiving radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The subxiphoid single‐port approach for thymectomy has several advantages compared with conventional lateral transthoracic approaches. However, perioperative outcomes of subxiphoid single‐port thymectomy are still lacking. The objective of this study is to present our 6‐year experience of subxiphoid single‐port thymectomy, including our learning curve. Methods: All consecutive 49 patients undergoing subxiphoid single‐port thymectomy between August 2014 and September 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: We analyzed data of 49 patients (27 males and 22 females) with a median age of 58 years (range 49–68). Two patients presented postoperative complications. The conversion to a different approach was required in four cases. The median follow‐up time was 17 months (range 3–35) and locoregional recurrence was observed in one patient. There were no intraoperative deaths and postoperative mortality. The operation time cumulative summation learning curve analysis revealed that the curves descended from the 24th case. Conclusions: The subxiphoid single‐port approach for thymectomy is a safe and feasible modality with few complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four chiral coordination polymers (CPs), M[(S,S)‐C14H14N2O6] and M[(R,R)‐C14H14N2O6] (M=Zn or Cd), have been exclusively synthesized in high yields with the aid of newly designed chiral ligand under hydrothermal condition. The CPs crystallizing in the orthorhombic nonpolar space group, C2221, reveal three‐dimensional framework structures composed of MO4 tetrahedra and the corresponding homochiral linkers. Powder second‐harmonic generation (SHG) measurements indicate that the nonpolar CPs reveal very strong SHG efficiency of ca. 5–9 times that of KH2PO4 and exhibit type‐I phase‐matching behavior. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the unusually large SHG efficiency found from the nonpolar CPs should be attributable to the synergistic effect of polarizable metal cations and enhanced hyperpolarizability in the donor‐acceptor system originating from the hydrogen bonding in the coordinated linkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four chiral coordination polymers (CPs), M[(S,S)‐C14H14N2O6] and M[(R,R)‐C14H14N2O6] (M=Zn or Cd), have been exclusively synthesized in high yields with the aid of newly designed chiral ligand under hydrothermal condition. The CPs crystallizing in the orthorhombic nonpolar space group, C2221, reveal three‐dimensional framework structures composed of MO4 tetrahedra and the corresponding homochiral linkers. Powder second‐harmonic generation (SHG) measurements indicate that the nonpolar CPs reveal very strong SHG efficiency of ca. 5–9 times that of KH2PO4 and exhibit type‐I phase‐matching behavior. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the unusually large SHG efficiency found from the nonpolar CPs should be attributable to the synergistic effect of polarizable metal cations and enhanced hyperpolarizability in the donor‐acceptor system originating from the hydrogen bonding in the coordinated linkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unilateral vocal cord paralysis may result from nerve compression by tumors or direct nerve injuries during tumor resections, which can cause dysphonia or dysphagia, and reduced quality of life. Objectives: This prospective, single‐group study aimed to investigate the effect of percutaneous injection laryngoplasty on voice and swallowing function in patients with cancer‐related unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Methods: Patients underwent percutaneous injection laryngoplasty with hyaluronic acid under local anesthesia. Stroboscopy and videofluoroscopic swallowing study were conducted to evaluate the voice‐ and swallowing‐related outcome measures, respectively. The participants were evaluated before injection laryngoplasty, as well as after two weeks and three months. Results: Injection laryngoplasty significantly improved the glottal gap, vocal fold position, Maximum Phonation Time, and Voice Handicap Index‐10. Post‐hoc analysis using Bonferroni correction showed that the improvements occurred within two post‐treatment weeks and remained at three post‐treatment months. In the subgroup analysis, the patients who underwent injection laryngoplasty within 8 weeks from onset showed significantly higher improvements in the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale and swallowing function than the patients who received the procedure after 8 weeks or more. Conclusion: Percutaneous injection laryngoplasty improves glottal closure and voice in patients with cancer‐related unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Early injection laryngoplasty may lead to greater benefits on swallowing function. Level of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: We aimed to explore structural connectivity in status epilepticus. Methods: We enrolled participants who underwent diffusion tensor imaging. We applied graph theory to investigate structural connectivity. We compared the structural connectivity measures between patients and healthy controls and between patients with poor (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] >3) and good (mRS ≤3) admission outcomes. Results: We enrolled 28 patients and 31 healthy controls (age 65.5 vs.62.0 years, p =.438). Of these patients, 16 and 12 showed poor and good admission outcome (age 65.5 vs.62.0 years, p =.438). The assortative coefficient (−0.113 vs. −0.121, p =.021), mean clustering coefficient (0.007 vs.0.006, p =.009), global efficiency (0.023 vs.0.020, p =.009), transitivity (0.007 vs.0.006, p =.009), and small‐worldness index (0.006 vs.0.005, p =.021) were higher in patients with status epilepticus than in healthy controls. The assortative coefficient (−0.108 vs. −0.119, p =.042), mean clustering coefficient (0.007 vs.0.006, p =.042), and transitivity (0.008 vs.0.007, p =.042) were higher in patients with poor admission outcome than in those with good admission outcome. MRS score was positively correlated with structural connectivity measures, including the assortative coefficient (r = 0.615, p =.003), mean clustering coefficient (r = 0.544, p =.005), global efficiency (r = 0.515, p =.007), transitivity (r = 0.547, p =.007), and small‐worldness index (r = 0.435, p =.024). Conclusion: We revealed alterations in structural connectivity, showing increased integration and segregation in status epilepticus, which might be related with neuronal synchronization. This effect was more pronounced in patients with a poor admission outcome, potentially reshaping our understanding for comprehension of status epilepticus mechanisms and the development of more targeted treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For wearable electronics/optoelectronics, thermal management should be provided for accurate signal acquisition as well as thermal comfort. However, outdoor solar energy gain has restricted the efficiency of some wearable devices like oximeters. Herein, wireless/battery‐free and thermally regulated patch‐type tissue oximeter (PTO) with radiative cooling structures are presented, which can measure tissue oxygenation under sunlight in reliable manner and will benefit athlete training. To maximize the radiative cooling performance, a nano/microvoids polymer (NMVP) is introduced by combining two perforated polymers to both reduce sunlight absorption and maximize thermal radiation. The optimized NMVP exhibits sub‐ambient cooling of 6 °C in daytime under various conditions such as scattered/overcast clouds, high humidity, and clear weather. The NMVP‐integrated PTO enables maintaining temperature within ≈1 °C on the skin under sunlight relative to indoor measurement, whereas the normally used, black encapsulated PTO shows over 40 °C owing to solar absorption. The heated PTO exhibits an inaccurate tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) value of ≈67% compared with StO2 in a normal state (i.e., ≈80%). However, the thermally protected PTO presents reliable StO2 of ≈80%. This successful demonstration provides a feasible strategy of thermal management in wearable devices for outdoor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For wearable electronics/optoelectronics, thermal management should be provided for accurate signal acquisition as well as thermal comfort. However, outdoor solar energy gain has restricted the efficiency of some wearable devices like oximeters. Herein, wireless/battery‐free and thermally regulated patch‐type tissue oximeter (PTO) with radiative cooling structures are presented, which can measure tissue oxygenation under sunlight in reliable manner and will benefit athlete training. To maximize the radiative cooling performance, a nano/microvoids polymer (NMVP) is introduced by combining two perforated polymers to both reduce sunlight absorption and maximize thermal radiation. The optimized NMVP exhibits sub‐ambient cooling of 6 °C in daytime under various conditions such as scattered/overcast clouds, high humidity, and clear weather. The NMVP‐integrated PTO enables maintaining temperature within ≈1 °C on the skin under sunlight relative to indoor measurement, whereas the normally used, black encapsulated PTO shows over 40 °C owing to solar absorption. The heated PTO exhibits an inaccurate tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) value of ≈67% compared with StO2 in a normal state (i.e., ≈80%). However, the thermally protected PTO presents reliable StO2 of ≈80%. This successful demonstration provides a feasible strategy of thermal management in wearable devices for outdoor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, CuO nanocrystals spatially embedded inside carbon polyhedron (CuO@C) derived via morphology‐preserved transformation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are utilized for high‐performance asymmetric supercapacitors (SCs). Using a conventional MOF (several micrometers in size), pore‐filling with polymer inside MOF (polymer@MOF) via vapor‐phase polymerization (VPP) process was achieved that amount of polymer used for VPP can be readily adjusted to control the carbon content of CuO@C after thermolysis and subsequent oxidation processes. When monodisperse and nano‐sized MOF is used for CuO@C (denoted as nCuO@C_1), it presents superior electrochemical performance because monodispersity and smaller size reduce interfacial resistance and promote mass‐transport property, respectively. Asymmetric SC of nCuO@C_1 with carbon sphere (CS) as a counter electrode presents excellent energy density of 55.47 Wh/kg and long‐term stability of 88.7% at 5000 cycles, comparable to the best MO‐based asymmetric SCs derived from MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomical lung resection has become widely accepted for its favorable outcomes with regard to pain. However, oncological outcomes, especially mid‐ or long‐term outcomes, are still lacking. The objective of this study was to present our eight‐year experience of uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection, including mid‐term oncological outcomes. Methods: All consecutive patients undergoing uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection between June 2012 and February 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: We analyzed data of 170 patients (100 male and 70 female), with a median age of 67 years. The median follow‐up time was 21 months (range 11–41). The DFS of the entire cohort was 66.3 months. Stage‐correlated DFS was 73.1 months for stage I, 42.6 months for stage II, 30.6 months for stage III and 12.5 months for stage IV. The OS of the entire court was 67 months. Stage‐correlated OS was 75.6 months for stage I, 50.2 months for stage II, 31.7 months for stage III and 12.5 months for stage IV. Conclusions: Uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection for lung cancer can be performed with satisfactory mid‐term histology‐ and stage‐related outcomes, which is consistent with prior results of traditional VATS or thoracotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serving [TMG][CH3COO] ionic liquid as solvent and promoter, a competent access to unsymmetrically substituted secondary amine is accomplished through a copper catalyzed mono arylation of aromatic/aliphatic amines with diverse 1‐aryltriazenes. No base, ligand, co‐catalyst, additional promoter or additives are necessary to drive the reaction. Varied functional group tolerance, shorter reaction time, better product yield, recycle and re‐use of ionic liquid highlight this reaction as a better eco‐friendly alternative for the conventional synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine the impact of polymorphisms of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) gene on the prognosis of patients with stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received radiotherapy. Methods: Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4658C>G, rs1385129G>A, rs3820589A>T, rs3806401A>C and rs3806400C>T) in GLUT1 gene were evaluated in 90 patients with pathologically confirmed stage III NSCLC. A total of 21 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone, 25 with sequential chemoradiotherapy, and 44 with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The association of the genetic variations of five SNPs with overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) was analyzed. Results: Two SNPs (rs1385129 and rs3806401) were significant risk factors for OS. Three SNPs (rs1385129, rs3820589 and rs3806401) were in linkage disequilibrium. In Cox proportional hazard models, GAA haplotype was a good prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39–0.81, p = 0.002) and PFS (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47–0.99, p = 0.043), compared to variant haplotypes. The GAA/GAA diplotype was observed in 46.7% of patients; these patients showed significantly better OS (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22–0.65, p < 0.001) and PFS (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31–0.85, p = 0.009) compared to those with other diplotypes. Conclusions: These results suggest that polymorphisms of GLUT1 gene could be used as a prognostic marker for patients with stage III NSCLC treated with radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of long‐term botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) treatment for adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD) and to determine the factors predictive of treatment response by investigating dose stability and average intervals. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic tertiary medical centre. Exposures: A total of 470 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, who received electromyography‐guided BoNTA injections over 12 years, were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Main Outcomes and Measures: The patients' demographic data, baseline voice dynamics and treatment profiles (dose, frequency and intervals) were evaluated. Factors correlating with the dose adjustment ratio (number of increasing dosing/total number of BoNTA toxin injections) and changes in intervals between injections were statistically analysed. Results: A total of 122 patients, who received ≥ 4 injections and whose average treatment interval was < 240 days, were finally evaluated. Of them, 115 (94.3%) were female and seven (5.7%) were male, and the mean age at initial treatment was 34.89 ± 13.07 and 41.14 ± 12.71 years, respectively. On average, patients received 18.00 ± 13.33 injections (1.67 ± 0.60 U/injection) to alternating unilateral vocal folds. The treatment period was 65.07 ± 43.28 months and the mean interval between injections was 4.16 ± 1.28 months. The mean dose adjustment ratio among patients who received ≥ 4 injections was 0.15 ± 0.13, and dose changes occurred 4.36 times/patient. The patients' age and gender significantly affected the treatment response, where younger or female patients showed greater dosing variability and shorter intervals between injections. However, the baseline voice dynamics (voice handicap index, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise‐to‐harmonic ratio, maximum phonation time and degree of voice breaks) did not predict the dose adjustment ratio or interval changes. In addition, patients with fluctuating doses showed lower age and higher VHI subscale scores, and patients with short‐treatment interval (< 100 days) showed higher SDF0. Conclusions: Almost all patients received stable low doses of BoNTA over time, irrespective of the baseline results. Patients' age, gender and VHI scores were correlated with poor treatment responses, such as frequent dose changes and shorter intervals between injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Birefringence; Optical Anisotropy; Sulfate Crystals; TetrahedraA design strategy for significantly enhancing the polarizability anisotropy of isotropic tetrahedra in sulfate crystals is reported by Zhiyong Bai and Kang Min Ok in their Research Article (e202315311). This strategy involves chemically alternating tetrahedral [SO4]2− units with π‐conjugated organic groups. Experimental validation of the approach utilized 3‐pyridinesulfonate anion functional building blocks for crystal synthesis...By Zhiyong Bai and Kang Min OkReported by Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Birefringence; Optical Anisotropy; Sulfate Crystals; TetrahedraA design strategy for significantly enhancing the polarizability anisotropy of isotropic tetrahedra in sulfate crystals is reported by Zhiyong Bai and Kang Min Ok in their Research Article (e202315311). This strategy involves chemically alternating tetrahedral [SO4]2− units with π‐conjugated organic groups. Experimental validation of the approach utilized 3‐pyridinesulfonate anion functional building blocks for crystal synthesis...By Zhiyong Bai and Kang Min OkReported by Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Influences of process temperature on the phase of Ga2O3 thin films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on a sapphire substrate is investigated. Ga2O3 thin films grown by ALD at a process temperature of 200°C showed an amorphous phase; however, crystalline α‐Ga2O3 film was deposited at the deposition temperatures from 225 to 250°C. Above a process temperature of 300°C, α and β phases coexist in the grown Ga2O3 thin film. Interestingly, β‐Ga2O3 thin film was deposited on the sapphire by an increase of working pressure during Ga2O3 ALD process at the process temperature of 300°C. The bandgap of β‐Ga2O3 thin film was as high as ~5.2 eV. A metal–semiconductor–metal type photodetector using the β‐Ga2O3 thin film exhibited a fast response speed with a short rise time of 1.3 μs for the detection of deep ultraviolet wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear optical (NLO) materials are indispensable for laser frequency conversion, by which the output wavelength of laser can be greatly expanded. A prerequisite for the applications of NLO materials is that they must be optically transparent in the working spectral range. Although the widely used infrared (IR) NLO crystals such as AgGaS2, AgGaSe2, and ZnGeP2 have very broad mid‐IR (2–20 μm) transparency, they are all inherently suffered by low laser‐induced damage thresholds (LDTs). Oxide‐based materials usually possess desirably high LDTs, however, most of them have quite limited IR transparency, typically, within 6 μm. In this Minireview, we focus on new oxide‐based NLO materials showing exceptionally wide IR transparent ranges beyond 6 μm, in which significant developments have been achieved in recent years. Nine relevant NLO materials are investigated and analyzed from the aspects of design strategy, synthesis and large crystal growth, optical and NLO properties as well as composition‐structure‐property correlations. A brief perspective on the future research directions is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 kinase inhibitors are being vigorously pursued as potential therapeutic options; however, there is a critical need for sensitive and quantitative assays of leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 function and target engagement. Objectives: Our objective was to compare collection and storage protocols for peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and to determine the optimal conditions for downstream analyses of leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 in PD cohorts. Methods: Here, we describe enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay–based assays capable of detecting multiple aspects of leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 function at endogenous levels in human tissues. Results: In peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both healthy and affected carriers of the G2019S mutation in leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2, we report, for the first time, significantly elevated in vitro kinase activity, while detecting a significant increase in pS935/leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 in idiopathic PD patients. Conclusions: Quantitative assays such as these described here could potentially uncover specific markers of leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 function that are predictive of disease progression, aid in patient stratification, and be a critical component of upcoming clinical trials. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of earth‐abundant and efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is necessary for green hydrogen production. The preparation of efficient OER electrocatalysts requires both the adsorption sites and charge transfer on the catalyst surface to be suitably engineered. Herein, the design of an electrocatalyst is reported with significantly enhanced water oxidation performance via dual‐phase engineering, which displays a high number of adsorption sites and facile charge transfer. More importantly, a simple chemical etching process enables the formation of a highly metallic transition boride phase in conjunction with the transition metal hydroxide phase with abundant adsorption sites available for the intermediates formed in the OER. In addition, computational simulations are carried out to demonstrate the water oxidation mechanism and the real active sites in this engineered material. This research provides a new material design strategy for the preparation of high‐performance OER electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruits are largely consumed due to their unique and pleasant aromas. Citrus hybrids have been developed to enhance their flavors and bioactivities. Citrus aroma depends on the composition of the volatile compounds in citrus essential oils (CEOs), which are mostly located in the peels. During the extraction of CEOs, a specific series of chemical reactions occurred depending on the extraction methods (CP, cold pressing; HD, hydrodistillation), leading to variations in the composition of volatile compounds. In this study, the orange and the tangor which is a hybrid between C. reticulata × C. sinensis were investigated to compare the changes in volatile compounds based on the extraction methods. Results showed that the CP‐specific volatile compounds were sesquiterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, and fatty acid derivatives, while the HD‐specific volatile compounds were terpinyl cation derivatives, limonene, and 4‐vinylguaiacol. On the other hand, the contents of some volatile compounds ((E)‐ocimene, α‐terpinene, and α‐terpinolene) were affected by the Citrus species rather than by the extraction methods. In particular, during HD, terpinene‐4‐ol and 4‐vinylguiacol, known as off‐flavor compounds in citrus juice, were formed more abundantly in the orange than in the tangor. In conclusion, these results provide comprehensive data on essential oils, especially those derived from oranges and tangors, for selecting the appropriate extraction method for obtaining a higher yield and quality of citrus flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weak bands around 1100 cm SP -1 sp can be assigned to I v i (O-O) vibrations for the compounds containing peroxo ligands (1095, 1049 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-1 b , 1093, 1026 cm SP -1 sp for B Rb-1 b , 1078, 1024 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-2 b , and 1078, 1026 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-3 b ). The absorption bands near 880 cm SP -1 sp are attributed to I v i (Mo-O) vibrations (894 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-0 b , 877 cm SP -1 sp for B Rb-0 b , 893 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-1 b , 881 cm SP -1 sp for B Rb-1 b , 877 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-2 b , and 875 cm SP -1 sp for B Cs-3 b ). B Cs-1 b and B Rb-1 b initially lose water and decompose to A SB 2 sb Mo SB 3 sb O SB 10 sb (A = Cs or Rb) by losing O SB 2 sb by 600°C, calculated (found): B Cs-1 b ; 6.5% (6.3%), B Rb-1 b ; 10.3% (10.7%). However, final reaction products were identified to be B Cs-0 b (0 mL of H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb ), B Cs-1 b (~0.3 mL of 30% H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb ), or B Cs-2 b (~0.6 mL of 30% H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb ) depending on the added H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb . [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: To investigate the relationships among four different gustatory function tests in healthy young adults: electrogustometry (EGM), filter paper disk (FPD), whole‐mouth, and taste strip methods. The relationships of the results of gustatory function tests with salivary flow rate were also investigated. Methods: Sixty healthy young adults (30 men, 26.9 ± 4.7 years; 30 women, 25.7 ± 4.6 years) who did not have disorders or conditions related with gustatory function were included. Four different gustatory function tests using the EGM, FPD, whole‐mouth, and taste strip methods were performed in each participant with 2‐ to 3‐day intervals between tests. The flow rates of unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva were measured. Results: There were no significant differences between sexes in all the examined gustatory function tests. The levels of correlations between the gustatory function tests were low. The EGM threshold correlated with the taste score of the FPD method in the chorda tympani nerve area. Different chemical gustatory function tests did not correlate significantly in any of the four taste qualities. Salivary flow rates did not correlate with taste perception. Conclusions: The correlations between gustatory function tests were weak. A significant correlation was found between the results of EGM and FPD methods in the chorda tympani nerve area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discovered new biomarker candidates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using micro LC and accurate mass spectrometry. Two serum samples were pooled and used for biomarker screening. UHPLC‐LTQ‐Orbitrap analysis was used with data‐dependent acquisition followed by Sequest search. Six biomarker candidates were selected after fold change analysis of peptides in AMI patient samples compared to healthy controls. Literature search results were reflected. The six biomarker candidates were characterized and quantified using multi reaction monitoring using synthesized peptides or trypsin digested protein standards. Levels of obscurin, alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein 1, and clusterin were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in AMI patient samples compared to levels in healthy controls, while those of antithrombin III and fibrinogen beta were not. We confirmed the diagnostic performance of obscurin and clusterin as biomarker candidates for AMI using commercial ELISA kits. Receiver operating characteristic results showed that obscurin and clusterin showed highest sensitivity and specificity for AMI diagnosis together with troponins by both of multi‐reaction monitoring analysis and ELISA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy harvesting from extremely low frequency magnetic fields using magneto‐mechano‐electric (MME) harvesters enables wireless power transfer for operating Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The MME harvesters are designed to resonate at a fixed frequency by absorbing AC magnetic fields through a composite cantilever comprising of piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials, and a permanent magnetic tip mass. However, this harvester architecture limits power generation because volume of the magnetic end mass is closely coupled with the resonance frequency of the device structure. Here, a method is demonstrated for maintaining the resonance frequency of the MME harvesters under all operating conditions (e.g., 60 Hz, standard frequency of electricity in many countries) while simultaneously enhancing the output power generation. By distributing the magnetic mass over the beam, the output power of the harvester is significantly enhanced at a constant resonance frequency. The MME harvester with distributed forcing shows 280% improvement in the power generation compared with a traditional architecture. The generated power is shown to be sufficient to power eight different onboard sensors with wireless data transmission integrated on a drone. These results demonstrate the promise of MME energy harvesters for powering wireless communication and IoT sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stoichiometrically equivalent noncentrosymmetric (NCS) sodium metal silicates, Na2MgSiO4 and Na2ZnSiO4, and their solid solutions have been synthesized via solid‐state reactions. The structures of the reported materials were determined by powder X‐ray diffraction using the Rietveld method. A careful structural analysis indicates that the unit cell volumes of Na2Mg1−xZnxSiO4 solid solutions decrease as more Zn2+ cations are doped into the site of Mg2+. Also, the synthesized silicate solid solutions revealed three‐dimensional frameworks consisting of highly distorted yet well‐aligned MgO4 (or ZnO4) and SiO4 tetrahedra. The title compounds exhibit very large band gaps ranging from 5.57 to 6.05 eV. Second‐harmonic generation (SHG) measurements indicate that the solid solutions are phase‐matchable and the SHG efficiencies increase as more d10 cation, Zn2+, is added to the backbone. A complete characterization is presented along with the explanation of the structure‐SHG property relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring macroscopic chiral materials with extended structures has become an important and fundamental topic in chemistry. To systematically control the chirality of novel organic–inorganic frameworks, histidinium‐based cationic structure‐directing agents containing specific chiral information are introduced. In this way, two chiral compounds, [(l‐hisH2)MoO2F4]3⋅H2O (L) and [(d‐hisH2)MoO2F4]3⋅H2O (D), and an achiral oxyfluoride, (l/d‐hisH2)MoO2F4 (LD) (his=histidine, C6H9N3O2) have been successfully self‐assembled by a slow evaporation method. The structures of these compounds are composed of histidinium cations and distorted [MoO2F4]2− octahedra. Surprisingly, the histidinium cations not only control macroscopic chirality, but also induce O/F ordering in MoO2F4 octahedra through hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Compounds L and D crystallize in the extremely rare polar space group P1, and exhibit positive second harmonic generation (SHG) signals attributable to a net moment originating from the MoO2F4 groups. Solid‐state circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicate that the MoO2F4 units templated by histidinium cations are chirally aligned through ionic interactions. Crystallization processes influenced by the chirality of the reported materials are also discussed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Although low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) is known to increase the risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), limited reports have described the relationship between LSMM and advanced fibrosis. Here, we investigated the association between LSMM and advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients. Methods: Fatty liver was diagnosed using ultrasound, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. LSMM was defined in two ways: ASM/body weight percentage (LSMM‐BW) and ASM/body mass index. Liver fibrosis stage was assessed by two models, the NAFLD fibrosis score and the Fibrosis‐4 index, which determined low and high cutoff values (COVs). Results: Of 10 711 NAFLD patients, 615 were diagnosed with LSMM‐BW. LSMM patients were older (47.6 vs 52.5 years, P = 0.001) and had higher body mass index values (23.6 vs 29.1 kg/m2, P < 0.001) and waist circumferences (80.1 vs 93.3 cm, P < 0.001) than non‐LSMM patients. LSMM was an independent risk factor for advanced fibrosis assessed by a low COV for the Fibrosis‐4 index regardless of its classification (adjusted for metabolic and lipid profiles and sex, odds ratio [OR], 1.27–2.01; all P < 0.05). LSMM was an independent risk factor for advanced fibrosis assessed by both COVs of NAFLD fibrosis score (adjusted for obesity, hypertension, lipid profile, and sex; OR, 1.64–2.01, P < 0.01 in the low COV group; OR, 2.68–3.12, P = 0.002 in the high COV group). Conclusions: Low skeletal muscle mass is associated with advanced fibrosis in NAFLD patients independent of metabolic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of a 28‐year‐old female who presented with a solid mass lesion in the right middle lobe (RML). A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 3.5 cm sized round and solid mass between the medial and lateral segment of the RML. The patient underwent a percutaneous lung biopsy with CT scan guidance and pathological examination showed pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma. RML lobectomy was performed for definitive treatment. Here, we describe this rare lung disease which presented as a large homogeneous lesion. Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of solitary lung tumor, even if the patient is young. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal metastasis could be considered in the differential diagnosis of melena in the patient with NSCLC history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for high morbidity and mortality in several diseases. However, the relationship between uric acid (UA) and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality remain unresolved in hospitalized patients. Methods: Data from 18 444 hospitalized patients were retrospectively reviewed. The odds ratio (OR) for AKI and the hazard ratio (HR) for all‐cause mortality were calculated based on the UA quartiles after adjustment for multiple variables. All analyses were performed after stratification by sex. Results: The fourth quartile group (male, UA > 6.7 mg/dL; female, UA > 5.4 mg/dL) showed a higher risk of AKI compared with the first quartile group (male, UA < 4.5 mg/dL; female, UA < 3.6 mg/dL), with the following OR: 3.2 (2.55–4.10) in males (P < 0.001); and 3.1 (2.40–4.19) in females (P < 0.001). There were more patients who did not recover from AKI in the fourth quartile compared with the first quartile, with the following OR: 2.0 (1.32–3.04) in males (P = 0.001) and 2.4 (1.43–3.96) in females (P = 0.001). The fourth quartile group had a higher risk of all‐cause mortality compared with the first quartile group, with the following HR: 1.4 (1.20–1.58) in males (P < 0.001) and 1.2 (1.03–1.46) in females (P = 0.019). The in‐hospital mortality risk was also higher in the fourth quartile compared with the first quartile, which was significant only in males (OR, 2.1 (1.33–3.31) (P = 0.002)). Conclusion: Hyperuricemia increases the risks of AKI and all‐cause mortality in hospitalized patients. Summary at a Glance: The present study revealed that patients with a high serum uric acid level had a higher risk of AKI compared with those with a low uric acid level. A high uric acid level was also associated with the risk of non‐recovery from AKI. These findings raise a possible further study about the dose‐response relationship (in particular, the non‐linear relationship) between serum uric acid and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of a 37‐year‐old man with a persistent consolidative lesion in the right lower lobe. A chest computed tomography scan showed a 2 cm focal consolidative lesion in the lateral basal segment of the right lower lobe. The size of lesion had slightly increased over four months. Wedge resection of the right lower lobe was performed with the intention to diagnose the lesion. Pathological examination showed placental transmogrification of the lung. We describe this rare lung disease, which presented with the unusual radiologic findings of a consolidative lesion. Placental transmogrification of the lung should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary consolidative lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]