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AbstractIn Bayesian clinical trial design, the power prior methodology offers a flexible framework for incorporating historical data into the analysis. One critical aspect of this approach is determining the effective sample size, which quantifies the amount of information borrowed from the historical dataset. In this article, we derive a formula for computing the effective sample size of a power prior by eliciting the discount parameter on the basis of the type I error consideration. Our formula takes into account various factors, including the sample size of the historical dataset and the maximally allowable type I error rate. We demonstrate the utility of our formula through illustrative examples and provide practical guidelines for its application in clinical trial planning, using a pediatric schizophrenia trial as an example. By accurately estimating the effective sample size, researchers can enhance the efficiency and validity of Bayesian analyses in the context of historical data borrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bayesian statistics plays a pivotal role in advancing medical science by enabling healthcare companies, regulators, and stakeholders to assess the safety and efficacy of new treatments, interventions, and medical procedures. The Bayesian framework offers a unique advantage over the classical framework, especially when incorporating prior information into a new trial with quality external data, such as historical data or another source of co-data. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in regulatory submissions using Bayesian statistics due to its flexibility and ability to provide valuable insights for decision-making, addressing the modern complexity of clinical trials where frequentist trials are inadequate. For regulatory submissions, companies often need to consider the frequentist operating characteristics of the Bayesian analysis strategy, regardless of the design complexity. In particular, the focus is on the frequentist type I error rate and power for all realistic alternatives. This tutorial review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the use of Bayesian statistics in sample size determination, control of type I error rate, multiplicity adjustments, external data borrowing, etc., in the regulatory environment of clinical trials. Fundamental concepts of Bayesian sample size determination and illustrative examples are provided to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and statisticians seeking to develop more complex and innovative designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the risk factors and frequency of metronidazole-associated neurological adverse events. Objective: To investigate the risk factors and frequency of metronidazole-associated neurological adverse events. Design: This retrospective study contained two parts. First, we investigated metronidazole treatment-associated neurologic adverse events by performing a population-based cohort study using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) database from January 2011 to December 2020. Second, we conducted a matched case-control study based on a retrospective cohort of patients treated with metronidazole between January 2006 and July 2021 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. The data analysis was performed from August 2021 to April 2022. Participants: In the case-control study, case patients were defined as those diagnosed with metronidazole-associated encephalopathy or peripheral neuropathy during the study period with causal assessment based on the clinical diagnoses and findings from associated tests. In a ratio of 1:3, case patients were compared to a control group of patients prescribed metronidazole without neurologic adverse events matched for age and cumulative dose of metronidazole. Main Measures: Frequency and risk factors for metronidazole-associated neurological adverse events. Key Results: Overall, 2,309 cases of neurologic adverse events were reported to the KAERS from 2011 to 2020, and the number of reported neurological adverse events showed an increasing trend. Further, 92,838 patients were prescribed metronidazole during the study period at the Severance Hospital; 54 patients were diagnosed with metronidazole-associated encephalopathy or peripheral neuropathy, 40 with central and 28 with peripheral nervous system adverse events. Liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, intravenous administration, and lower body weight were identified as risk factors for these adverse events. Conclusions: The number of reported metronidazole-associated neurological adverse events are increasing. Prolonged metronidazole treatment in patients with the aforementioned factors requires careful examination for neurological adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly stretchable and cycle‐stable (high operando dynamic stretchable) zinc‐ion microbatteries that are nonharmful, environmentally friendly, and low cost are developed herein for the first time. Stretchable zinc‐ion microbatteries (SZIMBs) are fabricated by simultaneously incorporating the facile synthesis of conducting polymer‐intercalated vanadium oxide nanofibers as flexible and elastic cathode materials; the construction, design, and assembly of wavy‐type microdevices; and pre‐zincation techniques that break stereotypes. The poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐intercalated zinc vanadium oxide nanofiber zinc‐ion microbatteries (E‐ZVONF‐SZIMBs) manufactured by combining these strategies exhibit a maximum specific capacity of 0.16 mAh cm−2, high energy density of 0.112 mWh cm−2, and high power density of 3.5 mW cm−2 and maintain 83.7% of the initial specific capacity after 500 cycles. The E‐ZVONF‐SZIMBs maintain 78.9% of their initial specific capacity even after 7000 mechanical stretching/bending tests, exhibiting excellent operando dynamic stretchability. The stretchable zinc‐ion microbatteries show practical feasibility by maintaining 80% and 90% of the capacity at −20 and 60°C under 200% strain, respectively. These remarkable achievements in the field of stretchable zinc‐ion microbatteries are expected to have significant implications for the development of future device platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and trends of essential study design elements in preclinical urological studies, as well as key factors that may improve methodological rigour, as the demand for methodological rigour in preclinical studies is increasing since research reproducibility and transparency in the medico‐scientific field are being questioned. Methods and Results: PubMed was searched to include preclinical urological studies published between July 2007 to June 2021. A total of 3768 articles met the inclusion criteria. Data on study design elements and animal models used were collected. Citation density was also examined as a surrogate marker of study influence. We performed an analysis of the prevalence of seven critical study design elements and temporal patterns over 14 years. Randomisation was reported in 50.0%, blinding in 15.0%, sample size estimation in 1.0%, inclusion of both sexes in 6.3%, statistical analysis in 97.1%, housing and husbandry in 47.7%, and inclusion/exclusion criteria in 5.0%. Temporal analysis showed that the implementation of these study design elements has increased, except for inclusion of both sexes and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Reporting study design elements were associated with increased citation density in randomisation and statistical analysis. Conclusions: The risk of bias is prevalent in 14‐year publications describing preclinical urological research, and the quality of methodological rigour is barely related to the citation density of the article. Yet five study design elements (randomisation, blinding, sample size estimation, statistical analysis, and housing and husbandry) proposed by both the National Institutes of Health and Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments guidelines have been either well reported or are being well reported over time. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022233125. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Viral vector-mediated gene transfer is a promising method to prevent graft rejection. • Adenovirus interleukin 10 gene transfer could be an effective immunosuppressive strategy. • Some microRNAs can serve as potential biomarkers of immune tolerance. The lack of noninvasive biomarkers for graft rejection remains a challenge for the accurate monitoring of vascularized composite allotransplants. Viral vector-mediated gene transfer is a promising method for preventing graft rejection. In this study, we aimed to establish the expression profile of microRNAs (miRNAs) in skin flap allotransplantation, with or without gene transfer, and determine the potential role of several miRNAs as biomarkers of acute rejection and immune tolerance. An abdominal epigastric flap was transplanted from SD (RT1a) to Wistar rats (RT1Au). The adenoviral interleukin 10 (vIL-10) gene was transferred to the experimental group via flap pedicle injection. Postoperatively, flap appearance, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, and miRNA expression analyses were performed. The viral IL-10 gene-treated group showed improved flap survival and reduced acute rejection response compared with the control group. On postoperative day 7, IL-10 expression in the flap was identified using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of miR-191a, miR-31a, miR-16, and miR-3473 was upregulated in the skin tissue, and that of miR-484, miR-132, miR-139, miR-150, and miR-6216 was upregulated in the serum. AV IL-10 gene transfer could be an effective immunosuppressive strategy for the prevention of skin flap allograft rejection. Additionally, some miRNAs were upregulated in the experimental group, serving as potential biomarkers of immune tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel concrete-filled tube (CFT) column system featuring a steel tube comprised of four internal triangular units. The incorporation of these internal triangular units serves to reduce the width-thickness ratio of the steel tube and augment the effective confinement area of the infilled concrete. This design enhancement is anticipated to result in improved structural strength and ductility, contributing to enhanced overall performance and sustainability. To assess the effectiveness of the newly proposed column system, a full-scale test was conducted on five square steel tube column specimens subjected to axial compression. Among these specimens, two adhered to the conventional steel tube column design, while the remaining three featured the new CFT columns with internal triangular units. The shape of the CFT column, the presence of infilled concrete and the presence of openings on the ITUs were considered as test parameters. The test results reveal that the ductility of the newly proposed CFT column system exhibited a minimum 30% improvement compared to the conventional CFT column. In addition, the initial stiffness and axial compressive strength of the new system were found to be comparable to those of the conventional CFT column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We sought to determine whether the levels of complement and other inflammatory and angiogenic mediators in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) are independently associated with intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation (IAI) and imminent spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB, £48 hours of sampling) in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Study Design This was a retrospective study consisting of 85 singleton pregnant women with PPROM at 20 0/7 to 33 6/7 weeks. Amniotic fluid (AF) obtained via amniocentesis was cultured and assayed for interleukin-6. CVF samples collected at the time of amniocentesis were assayed for complement C3a, C4a, and C5a, HSP70 (heat shock protein 70), M-CSF (macrophage colony-stimulating factor), M-CSF-R (macrophage colony-stimulating factor-receptor), S100 A8, S100 A9, thrombospondin-2, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor), and VEGFR-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor 1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that elevated CVF concentrations of complement C3a, 4a, and 5a were significantly associated with an increased risk of IAI and imminent SPTB, whereas those of M-CSF were associated with IAI, but not imminent SPTB (p = 0.063), after adjustment for baseline covariates (e.g., gestational age at sampling). However, univariate, and multivariate analyses showed that the CVF concentrations of angiogenic (thrombospondin-2, VEGF, and VEGFR-1) and inflammatory (HSP70, M-CSF-R, S100 A8, and S100 A9) proteins were not associated with either IAI or imminent SPTB. Conclusion In women with PPROM, elevated CVF concentrations of complement C3a, C4a, and C5a are independently related to an increased risk of IAI and imminent SPTB. These findings suggest that complement activation in CVF is significantly involved in mechanisms underlying preterm birth and in the host response to IAI in the context of PPROM. Key Points Elevated CVF levels of C3a, 4a and 5a are associated with IAI and SPTB. CVF C3a, 4a and 5a have better predictability for SPTB, compared to AF WBC. Elevated CVF levels of M-CSF were associated with IAI, but not SPTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Brassinazole Resistant 1 (BZR1) and bri1 EMS Suppressor 1 (BES1) are key transcription factors that mediate brassinosteroid (BR)‐responsive gene expression in Arabidopsis. The BZR1/BES1 family is composed of BZR1, BES1, and four BES1/BZR1 homologs (BEH1–BEH4). However, little is known about whether BEHs are regulated by BR signaling in the same way as BZR1 and BES1. We comparatively analyzed the functional characteristics of six BZR1/BES1 family members and their regulatory mechanisms in BR signaling using genetic and biochemical analyses. We also compared their subcellular localizations regulated by the phosphorylation status, interaction with GSK3‐like kinases, and heterodimeric combination. We found that all BZR1/BES1 family members restored the phenotypic defects of bri1‐5 by their overexpression. Unexpectedly, BEH2‐overexpressing plants showed the most distinct phenotype with enhanced BR responses. RNA‐Seq analysis indicated that overexpression of both BZR1 and BEH2 regulates BR‐responsive gene expression, but BEH2 has a much greater proportion of BR‐independent gene expression than BZR1. Unlike BZR1 and BES1, the BR‐regulated subcellular translocation of the four BEHs was not tightly correlated with their phosphorylation status. Notably, BEH1 and BEH2 are predominantly localized in the nucleus, which induces the nuclear accumulation of other BZR1/BES1 family proteins through heterodimerization. Altogether, our comparative analyses suggest that BEH1 and BEH2 play an important role in the functional interaction between BZR1/BES1 family transcription factors. Significance Statement: Our study is of significance as it thoroughly analyzed the functional characteristics of all six BZR1/BES1 family members and their regulatory mechanisms, which has not been attempted before. Our study expands the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the BR‐mediated transcriptional regulation network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We establish the global C 1 , α -regularity for functions in solution classes, whenever ellipticity constants are sufficiently close. As an application, we derive the global regularity result concerning the parabolic normalized p -Laplace equations, provided that p is close enough to 2. Our analysis relies on the compactness argument with the iteration procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We establish the interior C 1 , α -estimate for viscosity solutions of degenerate/singular fully nonlinear parabolic equations u t = | D u | γ F (D 2 u) + f in Q 1 , where γ > − 1 and f ∈ C (Q 1) ∩ L ∞ (Q 1). For this purpose, we prove the well-posedness of the regularized Cauchy-Dirichlet problem { u t = (1 + | D u | 2) γ / 2 F (D 2 u) in Q 1 u = φ on ∂ p Q 1 , where γ > − 2. Our approach utilizes the Bernstein method with approximations in view of the difference quotient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data regarding the clinical effects of bacteremia on severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are limited. Thus, we investigated clinical characteristics and outcomes of severe CAP patients with bacteremia compared with those of subjects without bacteremia. In addition, we evaluated clinical factors associated with bacteremia at the time of sepsis awareness. Methods: We enrolled sepsis patients diagnosed with CAP at emergency departments (EDs) from an ongoing nationwide multicenter observational registry, the Korean Sepsis Alliance, between September 2019 and December 2020. For evaluation of clinical factors associated with bacteremia, we divided eligible patients into bacteremia and non-bacteremia groups, and logistic regression analysis was performed using the clinical characteristics at the time of sepsis awareness. Result: During the study period, 1,510 (47.9%) sepsis patients were caused by CAP, and bacteremia was identified in 212 (14.0%) patients. Septic shock occurred more frequently in the bacteremia group than in the non-bacteremia group (27.4% vs. 14.8%; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, hematologic malignancies and septic shock were associated with an increased risk of bacteremia. However, chronic lung disease was associated with a decreased risk of bacteremia. Hospital mortality was significantly higher in the bacteremia group than in the non-bacteremia group (27.3% vs. 40.6%, p < 0.001). The most prevalent pathogen in blood culture was Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by Escherichia coli in gram-negative pathogens. Conclusion: The incidence of bacteremia in severe CAP was low at 14.0%, but the occurrence of bacteremia was associated with increased hospital mortality. In severe CAP, hematologic malignancies and septic shock were associated with an increased risk of bacteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of the smartphone has led to both positive and negative consequences for adolescents' mental health. This study examines the interplay between smartphone dependence (SPD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and various mental health outcomes among Korean adolescents. Data from the 16th Adolescence Health Behavior Survey (2020), including 54,948 middle and high school students, were analyzed. Adolescents were categorized into three groups based on SPD severity. The GAD-7 scale assessed anxiety, and other factors such as subjective health recognition, happiness, weight control efforts, and body mass index (BMI) were considered. Adolescents with higher SPD exhibited lower academic performance, decreased happiness, and increased perception of stress. GAD levels were positively correlated with SPD, with higher SPD linked to more severe GAD symptoms. Additionally, higher SPD was associated with increased loneliness, sadness, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts as well as a greater likelihood of habitual drug use. Gender differences revealed that females were more prone to sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, while males exhibited higher rates of drug use. This study highlights the complex relationship between SPD, GAD, and mental health outcomes among Korean adolescents. Stress recognition was found to mediate the association between GAD and SPD. The process-macro result of the total effect between SPD on GAD and the direct effect of the SPD pathway on GAD was significant; thus, the stress recognition was mediated. Effective interventions should target stress management, especially among adolescents with high smartphone dependence, to mitigate the risk of mental health issues. These findings underscore the importance of addressing smartphone dependence and its impact on the mental well-being of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) has attracted attention for the reinforcement and retrofitting of concrete structures. Thus, their degradation in elevated temperatures is important feature to investigate. Herein, influence of elevated temperatures on microstructure and microhardness properties of different types of CFRP was investigated. A series of CFRP plate-, sheet-, and bar-type samples were fired at 150, 250, 350, and 450°C. Crystal structural properties of epoxy resin matrices and carbon fibers in the CFRP composites were examined using X-ray diffraction analysis. An increase in surface defects was observed for the fired CFRP plates and bars; however, there was no significant difference between the microstructures of the fired CFRP sheets. Hardness of CFRP plates fired at 150 and 250°C substantially decreased from 0.67 to 0.62 and 0.47 GPa, respectively, compared to that of unfired CFRP plate. Similarly, hardness of CFRP bars fired at 150, 250, and 350°C decreased from 2.09 to 1.73, 1.63, and 0.62 GPa, which is reduced by 17, 22, and 70%, respectively, compared to that of unfired CFRP bar. Decrease in hardness is attributed to several factors, such as mechanical degradation in the resin matrix, fiber/matrix debonding, and an increase in microcracks on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rotational electro-magnetic finishing (REMF) was an effective way to minimize burr and improve edge quality on the surface. This study conducted two stages of explicit dynamic simulations: signle collision analysis and multiple collision analysis to verify the effect of abrasives' behavior on the deburring processes. From observed results, successful deburring depended on the total amount of abrasives and the collision angle. Based on the simulated results and response surface methodology, it was found that the accuracy was reached approximately 95.4 %. Additionally, the maximum deburring area from the predictive model and simulation were similar to 2.27 mm2 and 2.37 mm2, respectively, at rotational speed of 1800 rpm, abrasive diameter of 0.7 mm, and abrasive weight of 2.0 kg. In the experimental verification, the results were in good agreement with the experimental data, although specific values did not correspond exactly. Thus, the suggested approach adopting explicit dynamic simulations could effectively evaluate deburring performance in the REMF process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess the effectiveness of Lentilactobacillus parafarraginis A6-2 cell lysate for the removal of aluminum (Al), which induces neurotoxicity, and its protective effect at cellular level. Methods and results The cell lysate of the selected L. parafarraginis A6-2 strain demonstrated superior Al removal compared to live or dead cells. The Al removal efficiency of L. parafarraginis A6-2 cell lysate increased with decreasing pH and increasing temperature, primarily through adsorption onto peptidoglycan. Neurotoxicity mitigation potential of L. parafarraginis A6-2 was evaluated using C6 glioma cells. C6 cells exposed with increasing concentration of Al led to elevated toxicity and inflammation, which were gradually alleviated upon treatment with L. parafarraginis A6-2. Moreover, Al-induced oxidative stress in C6 cells showed a concentration-dependent reduction upon treatment with L. parafarraginis A6-2. Conclusions This study demonstrated that L. parafarraginis A6-2 strain, particularly in its lysate form, exhibited enhanced capability for Al removal. Furthermore, it effectively mitigated Al-induced toxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In some large to massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs), fatty degeneration (FD) is more severe in the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus muscle, and in such cases, suprascapular neuropathy is highly suspected. Nerve release at the suprascapular notch might alleviate this problem. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of the transverse scapular ligament (TSL) release in patients with large to massive RCTs with more severe FD of the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Between September 2017 and January 2022, arthroscopic TSL release with rotator cuff repair was performed in patients with large to massive RCTs and more severe FD of the infraspinatus muscle than the supraspinatus muscle (TSL group). Cuff integrity, FD, and atrophy of cuff muscles were evaluated using preoperative and 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, results were compared with those of patients who did not undergo TSL release during arthroscopic large to massive rotator cuff repair (NTSL group). Results: A total of 103 patients—20 in the TSL group and 83 in the NTSL group—were included. Group preoperative characteristics, including tear size and supraspinatus FD, were not significantly different, but infraspinatus FD (TSL vs NTSL; grade, 0-4, 0/0/5/10/5 vs 1/33/42/4/3) and atrophy (grade, 1-3. 3/9/8 vs 56/20/7) differed significantly (P <.001). Healing failure occurred in 13 of 20 (65%) patients in the TSL group and 30 of 83 (36%) patients in the NTSL group, which was a statistically significant difference (P =.019). Postoperatively, infraspinatus FD and atrophy were more severe in the TSL group than in the NTSL group (P <.001), and supraspinatus FD was more severe in the TSL group (P =.029). Seven patients in the TSL group achieved healing, but FD and atrophy of the supraspinatus and the infraspinatus showed no improvement in this group (all, P >.05). Conclusion: In patients with more FD in the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus muscle, TSL release appeared to have no benefit for cuff healing or FD reversal in cuff muscles. The possibility of suprascapular nerve entrapment remains in patients with more FD in the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus, and this potential nerve problem is not properly addressed by TSL release alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The past few decades have seen remarkable developments in dose-finding designs for phase I cancer clinical trials. While many of these designs rely on a binary toxicity response, there is an increasing focus on leveraging continuous toxicity responses. A continuous toxicity response pertains to a quantitative measure represented by real numbers. A higher value corresponds not only to an elevated likelihood of side effects for patients but also to an increased probability of treatment efficacy. This relationship between toxicity and dose is often nonlinear, necessitating flexibility in the quest to find an optimal dose. Methods: A flexible, fully Bayesian dose-finding design is proposed to capitalize on continuous toxicity information, operating under the assumption that the true shape of the dose-toxicity curve is nonlinear. Results: We conduct simulations of clinical trials across varying scenarios of non-linearity to evaluate the operational characteristics of the proposed design. Additionally, we apply the proposed design to a real-world problem to determine an optimal dose for a molecularly targeted agent. Conclusions: Phase I cancer clinical trials, designed within a fully Bayesian framework with the utilization of continuous toxicity outcomes, offer an alternative approach to finding an optimal dose, providing unique benefits compared to trials designed based on binary toxicity outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interest in complications and sequelae following Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing. Several articles have reported COVID-19-associated autoimmune diseases and the association between autoantibodies and the severity of COVID-19. Thromboembolic complications are frequent in patients with COVID-19, and the anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) is frequently detected. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence, clinical significance, and persistence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and aPLs in COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with oxygen demand and admitted to a tertiary hospital in South Korea between July 2020 and March 2022. ANA and aPLs levels were assessed using an immunoassay kit. Results: A total of 248 patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, five patients were ANA-positive, and 41 were aPL-positive (IgM anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibody in seven patients, IgG aCL in seven patients, IgM anti-β2Glycoprotein1 antibody (aβ2-GPI) in 32 patients, and IgG aβ2-GPI in one patient). Two of five ANA-positive patients, 13 of 32 IgM aβ2-GPI-positive patients, 5 of 7 IgM aCL-positive patients, and 2 of 7 IgG aCL-positive patients were eligible for follow-up analysis, and 100%, 69.2%, 40%, and 50% of the patients remained autoantibody-positive, respectively. There were no differences in clinical outcomes between the autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative groups, except for the IgG aCL group showing a tendency for worse outcomes. Conclusion: A significant proportion of COVID-19 patients with oxygen demand were autoantibody-positive, and autoantibodies persisted for several months after symptom onset. Whether these autoantibodies are related to long-term sequelae in COVID-19 patients requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examined the levels of certain pollutants, primarily ammonia and particulate matter (PM), emitted by a commercial pig farm in Korea. Understanding these levels is vital for reducing the environmental impact of pig farming and ensuring a sustainable future for this industry. Interestingly, the study found that previous guidelines in Korea might have overestimated these pollution levels, although the current findings are consistent with global research. Seasonal variations also impacted pollution levels: more ammonia was released in spring and autumn, while other pollutants increased in summer. Factors such as the number and age of the pigs significantly influenced these emission levels, as did airflow and ventilation. In essence, continued research in this area will help to improve pig farming practices in Korea, ensuring a balance between successful farming and environmental preservation. Quantifying emission factors of ammonia and particulate matter (PM) in livestock production systems is crucial for assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of animal production and for ensuring industry sustainability. This study aimed to determine emission factors of ammonia, total suspended particles (TSPs), PM10, and PM2.5 for piglets and growing–finishing pigs at a commercial pig farm in Korea. It also sought to identify factors influencing these emission factors. The research found that the emission factors measured were generally lower than those currently used in Korea, but were consistent with findings from individual research studies in the literature. Seasonal variations were observed, with ammonia emissions peaking in spring and autumn, and PM emissions rising in summer. Correlation analyses indicated that the number of animals and their average age correlated positively with both ammonia and PM emission factors. Ventilation rate was also positively correlated with PM emissions. Future extended field measurements across diverse pig farms will offer deeper insights into the emission factors of pig farms in Korea, guiding the development of sustainable livestock management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient collection of airborne spray is crucial to reduce environmental contamination and ensure effective pesticide application in agriculture. This study explored the efficacy of passive spray drift samplers, focusing on string collectors for capturing airborne spray droplets. String collectors were assessed in laboratory experiments using a spray drift tunnel. A notable average recovery rate of 82% was observed when string collectors were examined immediately after pesticide capture. Collection efficiency was found to increase with wind speed. Of all the string collectors, string #5, a yarn type, demonstrated consistent collection efficiency, meeting the criteria for passive samplers. This includes effective droplet capture at low wind speeds, a high recovery rate of 93.31%, and suitability for field experiments. Field evaluations further underlined the efficiency of string #5, showcasing its ability to capture spray drift across a wider area and varied heights with less effort and manpower compared to traditional nylon screens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Incorrect matching of motor and sensory fibers after nerve repair causes recovery failure. • Identification of the motor and sensory fascicles is essential. • Cholinesterase histochemical staining is useful for distinguishing motor and sensory nerve fibers. Inappropriate matching of motor and sensory fibers after nerve repair or grafting can lead to nerve recovery failure. Identifying the motor and sensory fascicles enables surgeons to match them accurately and correctly align nerve stumps, which is crucial for neural regeneration. Very few methods have been reported to differentiate between the sensory and motor nerve fascicles, and the replicability of these techniques remains unestablished. In this study, we aimed to assess the accuracy of axonal cholinesterase (CE) histochemical staining in distinguishing motor and sensory nerve fibers. The femoral and sciatic nerves were harvested from rats. The specimens were immediately cut, frozen in isopentane, and cooled with liquid nitrogen. Nerve serial cross-sections were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining, followed by CE histochemistry. The staining protocol solutions included acetylthiocholine iodide, phosphate buffer, cobalt sulfate hydrate, potassium phosphate monobasic, sulfuric acid, sodium bicarbonate, glutaraldehyde, and ammonium sulfide. Cross-sections of nerves containing efferent and afferent nerve fibers in segregated fascicles showed that CE activity was confined to motor neurons. A histochemical study revealed that motor fibers with high cholinesterase activity can be differentiated from sensory fibers. The motor branches of the femoral and sciatic nerves showed specific axonal staining, whereas the sensory branch did not show any specific staining. CE histochemical staining is a useful technique for distinguishing between motor and sensory nerve fibers. It can be potentially useful in improving the outcomes of nerve grafts or extremity allotransplantation surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical significance of BMD discordance has not yet been elucidated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of BMD discordance between the hip and spine for hip fractures. The BMD was measured and related factors were investigated in 109 elderly patients hospitalized for a hip fracture (fracture group) and 109 patients hospitalized without a hip fracture (non-fracture group). BMD discordance of the hip and spine was classified as minor discordance (normal and osteopenia, and osteopenia and osteoporosis) and major discordance (normal and osteoporosis). The risk of hip fracture was calculated according to the type of discordance: no discordance, low hip, and lower spine. There was no significant difference between the general characteristics of the fracture group and the non-fracture group. The rate of BMD discordance and low hip discordance were significantly higher in the fracture group (53.2%, 43.1%) than in the non-fracture group (28.4%, 19.3%). The odds ratio of hip fracture was 2.86 times higher in patients with BMD discordance than in those without discordance and 3.42 times higher in the patients with low hip discordance than in those without no hip discordance. The presence of discordance, particularly when there is low hip discordance, might be related to the hip fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interest in complications and sequelae following Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing. Several articles have reported COVID-19-associated autoimmune diseases and the association between autoantibodies and the severity of COVID-19. Thromboembolic complications are frequent in patients with COVID-19, and the anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) is frequently detected. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence, clinical significance, and persistence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and aPLs in COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with oxygen demand and admitted to a tertiary hospital in South Korea between July 2020 and March 2022. ANA and aPLs levels were assessed using an immunoassay kit. Results: A total of 248 patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, five patients were ANA-positive, and 41 were aPL-positive (IgM anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibody in seven patients, IgG aCL in seven patients, IgM anti-β2Glycoprotein1 antibody (aβ2-GPI) in 32 patients, and IgG aβ2-GPI in one patient). Two of five ANA-positive patients, 13 of 32 IgM aβ2-GPI-positive patients, 5 of 7 IgM aCL-positive patients, and 2 of 7 IgG aCL-positive patients were eligible for follow-up analysis, and 100%, 69.2%, 40%, and 50% of the patients remained autoantibody-positive, respectively. There were no differences in clinical outcomes between the autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative groups, except for the IgG aCL group showing a tendency for worse outcomes. Conclusion: A significant proportion of COVID-19 patients with oxygen demand were autoantibody-positive, and autoantibodies persisted for several months after symptom onset. Whether these autoantibodies are related to long-term sequelae in COVID-19 patients requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen energy is regarded as an auspicious future substitute to replace fossil fuels, due to its environmentally friendly characteristics and high energy density. In the pursuit of clean hydrogen production, there has been a significant focus on the advancement of effective electrocatalysts for the process of water splitting. Although noble metals like Pt, Ru, Pd and Ir are superb electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), they have limitations for large-scale applications, mainly high cost and low abundance. As a result, non-precious transition metals have emerged as promising candidates to replace their more expensive counterparts in various applications. This review focuses on recently developed transition metal phosphides (TMPs) electrocatalysts for the HER in alkaline media due to the cooperative effect between the phosphorus and transition metals. Finally, we discuss the challenges of TMPs for HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to investigate whether there were differences in the short-term changes of retinal and choroidal microvasculature between amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes after patch occlusion treatment in patients with monocular amblyopia. Additionally, we aimed to determine if these changes were associated with improvements in clinical parameters. We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal paired-eye case-control study by analyzing the medical records of patients under the age of 12 who had monocular amblyopia and underwent patch occlusion treatment for a duration of 2 to 12 months. Using optical coherence tomography angiography images, we compared the foveal avascular zone width, retinal blood vessel density (VD), choroidal thickness (CT), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes before and after patch occlusion treatment. We analyzed the correlations between the aforementioned parameters and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and stereopsis. Overall, 114 eyes from 57 patients were enrolled. At baseline, parafoveal superficial plexus VD, foveal and parafoveal deep capillary plexus VD (DCPD) were lower by 0.994 ± 3.312% (p =.026), 2.403 ± 8.273% (p =.033), and 2.469 ± 4.095% (p <.001), respectively; CT was thicker by 30.6 ± 90.7 μm (p =.014); and CVI was higher by 1.920 ± 3.432% (p < 001) in the amblyopic eyes than in the non-amblyopic eyes. Following short-term patch occlusion treatment, foveal and parafoveal DCPD increased by 1.264 ± 3.829% (p =.017) and 1.028 ± 3.662% (p =.036), respectively, CT thinned by 15.5 ± 51.5 μm (p =.019), and CVI decreased by 1.296 ± 3.997% (p =.018) in the amblyopic eyes. Following patch occlusion treatment, as the foveal DCPD decreased and CVI increased, the BCVA improved (p =.017 and.035, respectively). Following patch occlusion treatment, increased foveal DCPD and decreased CVI were associated with improved BCVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between programed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in vestibular schwannoma (VS) has been investigated in a few studies. These published studies report a difference in the PD‐L1 positivity rate in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. We examined PD‐L1 expression and lymphocyte infiltration in patients with VS who had undergone surgical resection and investigated the association between PD‐L1 expression and clinicopathological features. Methods: The expression of PD‐L1, CD8, and Ki‐67 in 40 VS tissue specimens was investigated using immunohistochemistry, and a clinical review of the patients was performed. Results: Of the 40 VS samples, 23 (57.5%) were positive for PD‐L1 and 22 (55%) were positive for CD8. No significant differences in age, tumor size, pure‐tone audiometry, speech discrimination, or Ki‐67 expression were observed between patients in the PD‐L1‐positive and PD‐L1‐negative groups. A higher level of CD8‐positive cell infiltration was observed in PD‐L1‐positive tumors than in PD‐L1‐negative tumors. Conclusion: We demonstrated that PD‐L1 was expressed in VS tissues. Although no correlation was identified between clinical characteristics and PD‐L1 expression, the association between PD‐L1 and CD8 was confirmed. Thus, additional research on targeting PD‐L1 is necessary to improve immunotherapy for VS in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inpatient falls have a significant impact on the outcomes of older patients during inpatient rehabilitation. A retrospective case-control study was conducted using data of 7066 adults aged 55 yrs or older to evaluate significant predictors of inpatient falls during inpatient rehabilitation and the association of inpatient falls with discharge destination and length of stay. A stepwise logistic regression was used to model odds of inpatient falls and home discharge with demographic and clinical characteristic variables and a multivariate linear regression to evaluate the association between inpatient falls and length of stay. Nine hundred thirty-one of 7066 patients (13.18%) had inpatient falls during inpatient rehabilitation. The group with inpatient falls had longer length of stay (14.22 ± 7.82 vs. 11.85 ± 5.33 days, P < 0.0001) and a decreased proportion of home discharges when compared with the group without inpatient falls. There were increased odds of inpatient falls among patients with diagnoses of head injury, other injuries, a history of falls, dementia, a divorced marital status, and a use of laxatives or anticonvulsants. Inpatient falls were associated with an increased length of stay (coefficient = 1.62, confidence interval = 1.19–2.06) and decreased odds of home discharge (odds ratio = 0.79, confidence interval = 0.65–0.96) after inpatient rehabilitation. This knowledge may be incorporated into strategies for reducing inpatient falls during inpatient rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexene-functionalized graphitic nanoplatelets (He- f -GN) were easily prepared using a mechanochemical reaction between solid graphite and liquid 1-hexene. The He- f -GN exhibited outstanding properties (e.g., high specific surface area, high crystallinity and so on) and could be well distributed in various solvents including formic acid. The He- f -GN/Nylon 6_X nanocomposites were simply prepared using the solution method, and showed excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability compared with the neat Nylon 6. Specifically, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the He- f -GN/Nylon 6_1 nanocomposites increased by approximately 32.5% and 33.7%, respectively, compared to the neat Nylon 6 due to the special properties of the He- f -GN and its excellent compatibility with Nylon 6 chains. The He- f -GN also acts as nucleation sites, increasing the crystallinity of Nylon 6, and generated hydrogen bonds with the amide groups of the Nylon 6. The new filler, He- f -GN, provides an effective way to increase the performance of polymer, demonstrating good application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study evaluated the ventilation rates and efficiency in research-scale pig houses by examining different inlet and exhaust configurations. The goal was to understand how well the ventilation system worked. Two pig rooms were studied, and actual ventilation rates were measured using specialized equipment. The results revealed that certain combinations of inlets and exhausts performed better in terms of ventilation rates. However, the measured rates were lower than expected. This study also found that the side exhaust fan closer to where the pigs were active was more effective at providing fresh air compared to the chimney exhaust fan. Additionally, the ceiling inlet provided better air distribution. This study highlights the importance of choosing the right ventilation setup to ensure a healthy environment for both pigs and workers. By improving ventilation efficiency, this research can contribute to creating better conditions for pig farming, resulting in improved animal welfare and productivity. Accurate ventilation control is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive environment in research-specialized pig facilities. This study aimed to evaluate actual ventilation rates and ventilation efficiency by investigating different inlet and exhaust configurations. The research was conducted in two pig rooms, namely pig room A and pig room B, in the absence of animals and workers to focus solely on evaluating the ventilation system's performance. Actual ventilation rates were measured using hood-type anemometers, and the local air change per hour was analyzed at various measurement points via tracer gas decay experiments. The results demonstrated that specific inlet and exhaust combinations, such as side inlet/chimney outlet and ceiling inlet/side outlet, exhibited higher ventilation rates. However, the measured ventilation rates were much lower than the manufacturer's specifications. The side exhaust fan closer to the pig activity space demonstrated better ventilation effectiveness for the animals than the chimney exhaust fan. Additionally, the ceiling inlet exhibited superior air distribution and uniformity. Lower ventilation rates and higher infiltration ratios resulted in reduced ventilation efficiency, with the difference between pig and worker activity spaces being pronounced. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting optimal inlet and exhaust configurations to achieve efficient ventilation and create a healthy environment for both pigs and workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seaweed has a high content of easily degradable carbohydrates, making it a potential substrate for the production of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In this study, response surface methodology pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification (Es) were conducted on a flask culture of Saccharina japonica seaweed. The optimal hydrolytic conditions were: 10.8% (w/v) slurry content, 0.7% H2SO4, and 121°C for 30 min. Es using enzyme cocktails (Celluclast 1.5 L + Viscozyme L) at 16 U/mL produced 6.26 g/L glucose with an efficiency of 92%. The concentrations of laminarin and fucose (prebiotics) were 10.4 and 0.48 g/L after pretreatment and saccharification, respectively. The suitable monosodium glutamate (MSG) addition was 2% (w/v), and further increase in MSG addition (3–5% (w/v)) had no significant effect on GABA production. The pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (10 µM) addition time of 48–72 h was determined based on the GABA fermentation. Adapted Levilactobacillus brevis KCL010 to high concentrations of mannitol improved the synbiotic fermentation efficiency of S. japonica hydrolysates, further improving the consumption of mixed monosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective longitudinal case–control study investigated the short-term effects of patch occlusion treatment compared with optical correction on the microvasculature in monocular amblyopia. We included patients with monocular amblyopia treated for 2–12 months; they were classified into two groups according to the treatment regimen: patch occlusion or optical correction. Children aged < 12 years who presented to our clinic for examination without amblyopia diagnosis were enrolled as the control group. Changes in retinal and choroid microvasculature according to treatment were examined, and the correlation between changes in microvasculature and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated. There were 57, 35, and 41 patients in the patch occlusion, optical correction, and control groups, respectively (mean age, 6.4 ± 2.0 years). Both amblyopic groups showed changes in the foveal and parafoveal deep capillary plexus vessel density (DCPD), choroidal thickness, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) following short-term treatment (mean, 4.5 months). In the patch occlusion group, BCVA improved as the foveal DCPD increased (P = 0.013) and the CVI decreased (P = 0.037). In the optical correction group, BCVA improved as the foveal and parafoveal DCPD increased (P = 0.009). Increased foveal DCPD following amblyopia treatment and decreased CVI by patch occlusion were associated with improved BCVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) clinically benefits cancer treatment. However, the ICI responses are only achieved in a subset of patients, and the underlying mechanisms of the limited response remain unclear. 160 patients with non‐small cell lung cancer treated with anti‐programmed cell death protein‐1 (anti‐PD‐1) or anti‐programmed death ligand‐1 (anti‐PD‐L1) are analyzed to understand the early determinants of response to ICI. It is observed that high levels of intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) in tumors and plasma of patients are associated with prolonged survival. Further reverse translational studies using murine syngeneic tumor models reveal that soluble ICAM‐1 (sICAM‐1) is a key molecule that increases the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 via activation of cytotoxic T cells. Moreover, chemokine (CXC motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13) in tumors and plasma is correlated with the level of ICAM‐1 and ICI efficacy, suggesting that CXCL13 might be involved in the ICAM‐1‐mediated anti‐tumor pathway. Using sICAM‐1 alone and in combination with anti‐PD‐1 enhances anti‐tumor efficacy in anti‐PD‐1‐responsive tumors in murine models. Notably, combinatorial therapy with sICAM‐1 and anti‐PD‐1 converts anti‐PD‐1‐resistant tumors to responsive ones in a preclinical study. These findings provide a new immunotherapeutic strategy for treating cancers using ICAM‐1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnSe2, a layered posttransition metal chalcogenide, has attracted attention as a high-efficiency thermoelectric material owing to the intrinsic low thermal conductivity. Herein, a series of Sn S e 1 − x T e x 2 (x = 0 , 0.025, 0.0375, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.125) samples was synthesized to examine the influence of Te doping on electrical, thermal, and thermoelectric properties of n -type SnSe2 alloys. Interestingly, carrier concentration and mobility were simultaneously increased for x = 0.025 and 0.0375. Therefore, electrical conductivity is increased for x = 0.025 and 0.0375 compared to that for the pristine sample, resulting in power factor increase to 0.25 mW/mK2 for x = 0.025 by 12% at 790 K. However, reductions in the electrical conductivity were observed for the samples with x > 0.0375 due to the decrease in carrier mobility for x > 0.0375 , resulting in the decrease of power factor. The lattice thermal conductivity slightly reduced for the doped samples owing to point defects of Te and vacancies originating from Te doping. Consequently, the thermoelectric figure of merit (z T) was increased to 0.45 and 0.49 for Sn(Se1.975Te0.025)2 (x = 0.025) and Sn(Se1.9625Te0.0375)2 (x = 0.0375) samples at 790 K, respectively, which was enhanced by 40% and 53% compared to that for undoped SnSe2. The enhanced electrical transport properties were validated by weighted mobility, density-of-state effective mass, and quality factor, and the reduction of the lattice thermal conductivity is analyzed by the Debye-Callaway model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 25 years, considerable progress has been made in terms of elucidating the regulatory and signaling mechanisms underlying the control of skeletal muscle mass by myostatin and other secreted proteins belonging to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Preclinical studies demonstrating the potential benefits of targeting the activities of these ligands have fueled the development of numerous biologics capable of perturbing this signaling pathway and increasing muscle mass and function. These biologics have been tested in numerous clinical trials for a wide range of indications characterized by muscle loss and excess adiposity. Here, we review the results of these trials and discuss some of the challenges and future prospects for targeting this signaling pathway to treat muscle and metabolic diseases. Myostatin inhibitors may improve metabolic outcomes by increasing muscle mass, and metabolic disorders may be attractive potential indications for these molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate opioid analgesic utilization and predictors for adverse events during hospitalization and discharge disposition among patients admitted with osteoarthritis or spine disorders. Design: This is a retrospective study of 12,747 adult patients admitted to six private community hospitals from 2017 to 2020. Opioid use during hospitalization and risk factors for hospital-acquired adverse events and nonhome discharge were investigated. Results: The total number of patients using opioids decreased; however, the daily morphine milligram equivalent use for patients on opioids increased from 2017 to 2020. Increased odds of nonhome discharge were associated with older age, Medicaid, Medicare insurance, and increased lengths of stay, increased body mass index, daily morphine milligram equivalent, and electrolyte replacement in the osteoarthritis group. In the spine group, older age, Black race, Medicaid, Medicare, no insurance, increased Charlson Comorbidity Index, lengths of stay, polypharmacy, and heparin use were associated with nonhome discharge. Adverse events were associated with increased age, lengths of stay, Medicare, polypharmacy, antiemetic, and benzodiazepine use in the osteoarthritis group and increased Charlson Comorbidity Index, lengths of stay, and electrolyte replacement in the spine group. Conclusions: Despite the decreasing number of patients using opioids over the years, patients on opioids had an increased daily morphine milligram equivalent over the same period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NLRP3 inflammasome serves as a host defense mechanism against various pathogens, but there is growing evidence linking its activation in sterile condition to diverse inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the identification of specific inhibitors that target NLRP3 inflammasome activation is meaningful and important for novel therapies for NLRP3 inflammasome-associated diseases. In this study, we identified a chemical compound, namely ODZ10117 (ODZ), that showed NLRP3 inflammasome-targeting anti-inflammatory effects during the screening of a chemical library for anti-inflammatory activity. Although ODZ was initially discovered as a STAT3 inhibitor, here we found it also has inhibitory activity on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. ODZ inhibited the cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β-induced canonical NLRP3 inflammasome triggers, but had no effect on those induced by AIM2 or NLRC4 triggers. Mechanistically, ODZ impairs NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the inhibition of NLRP3–NEK7 interaction that is required for inflammasome formation. Moreover, the results obtained from the in silico docking experiment suggested that ODZ targets NLRP3 protein, which provides evidence for the specificity of ODZ to the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, ODZ administration significantly reduced MSU-induced IL-1β release and the mortality rate of mice with LPS-induced sepsis. Collectively, these results demonstrate a novel effect of ODZ10117 in regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of NLRP3-inflammasome-associated immune disorders and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AIM2 inflammasome is an innate immune system component that defends against cytosolic bacteria and DNA viruses, but its aberrant activation can lead to the progression of various inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis. However, there have been few reports of specific inhibitors of AIM2 inflammasome activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory activity of ethanolic extracts of seeds of Cornus officinalis (CO), a herb and food plant used in traditional medicine, on AIM2-inflammasome activation. We found that CO inhibited the release of IL-1β induced by dsDNA in both BMDMs and HaCaT cells, but that it showed no effect on the release of IL-1β induced by NLRP3 inflammasome triggers, such as nigericin and silica, or the NLRC4 inflammasome trigger flagellin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CO inhibited the cleavage of caspase-1, an inflammasome activation marker, and an upstream event, the translocation and speck formation of ASC. In addition, further experiments and mechanistic investigations revealed that CO can inhibit AIM2 speck formation induced by dsDNA in AIM2-overexpressing HEK293T cells. To verify the correlation in vivo, we investigated the efficacy of CO in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis model, which has reported associations with the AIM2 inflammasome. We found that topical application of CO alleviated psoriasis-like symptoms, such as erythema, scaling, and epidermal thickening, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, CO also significantly decreased IMQ-induced expression of AIM2 inflammasome components, including AIM2, ASC, and caspase-1, and led to the elevation of serum IL-17A. In conclusion, our results suggest that CO may be a valuable candidate for the discovery of AIM2 inhibitors and the regulation of AIM2-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the novel coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, a considerable number of pneumothorax (PNX)/pneumomediastinum (PNM) associated with COVID-19 have been reported, and the incidence is higher in critically ill patients. Despite using a protective ventilation strategy, PNX/PNM still occurs in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). This matched case–control study aims to identify the risk factors and clinical characteristics of PNX/PNM in COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled adult patients with COVID-19, admitted to a critical care unit from March 1, 2020, to January 31, 2022. COVID-19 patients with PNX/PNM were compared, in a 1–2 ratio, to COVID-19 patients without PNX/PNM, matched for age, gender, and worst National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ordinal scale. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for PNX/PNM in COVID-19. Results: 427 patients with COVID-19 were admitted during the period, and 24 patients were diagnosed with PNX/PNM. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in the case group (22.8 kg/m2 and 24.7 kg/m2; P = 0.048). BMI was statistically significant risk factor for PNX/PNM in univariate conditional logistic regression analysis [odds ratio (OR), 0.85; confidence interval (CI), 0.72–0.996; P = 0.044]. For patients on IMV support, univariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed the statistical significance of the duration from symptom onset to intubation (OR, 1.14; CI, 1.006–1.293; P = 0.041). Conclusions: Higher BMI tended to show a protective effect against PNX/PNM due to COVID-19 and delayed application of IMV might be a contributive factor for this complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myostatin (GDF-8) was discovered 25 years ago as a new transforming growth factor-β family member that acts as a master regulator of skeletal muscle mass. Myostatin is made by skeletal myofibers, circulates in the blood, and acts back on myofibers to limit growth. Myostatin appears to have all of the salient properties of a chalone, which is a term proposed over a half century ago to describe hypothetical circulating, tissue-specific growth inhibitors that control tissue size. The elucidation of the molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms underlying myostatin activity suggests that myostatin functions as a negative feedback regulator of muscle mass and raises the question as to whether this type of chalone mechanism is unique to skeletal muscle or whether it also operates in other tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School principals play an invaluable role in schools', teachers', and students' success; therefore, it is of particular importance that we learn, through empirical research, about the factors related to recruiting and selecting school principals. This study critically reviewed 64 empirical literature studies that were published in the United States over the past 2 decades on the topic of principal recruitment and selection. The present study examined the characteristics of the individuals who apply and are selected to join the principal workforce, as well as the characteristics of the schools and/or districts that attract potential candidates. The topics identified in the review are gender, race, qualifications, and intrinsic motivation at the individual level, as well as school locale, student characteristics, financial incentives, working conditions, superintendents, and hiring practices at the organizational level. Though hiring is a two-way interactive process, the literature to date has paid little attention to the process and practices that lead to recruiting and hiring effective school leaders. This paper concludes with a discussion about the trends that are recognizable in the existing work on principal recruitment and selection, and the practice and policy implications of the study's review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although polymers are very important and vastly used materials, their physical properties are limited. Therefore, they are reinforced with fillers to relieve diverse restrictions and expand their application areas. The exceptional properties of graphene make it an interesting material with huge potential for application in various industries and devices. The interfacial interaction between graphene and the polymer matrix improved the uniform graphene dispersion in the polymer matrix, enhancing the general nanocomposite performance. Therefore, graphene functionalization is essential to enhance the interfacial interaction, maintain excellent properties, and obstruct graphene agglomeration. Many studies have reported that graphene/polymer nanocomposites have exceptional properties that enable diverse applications. The use of graphene/polymer nanocomposites is expected to increase sustainably and to transform from a basic to an advanced material to offer optimum solutions to industry and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of full-waveform inversion (FWI) is to extract quantitative information pertaining to the material and geometrical properties from measured wave fields with their full contents considered. As an inverse problem, FWI itself is associated with ill-posedness, which means instability and nonuniqueness of the solution, because the fields are measured only at some locations. Owing to these unfavorable conditions, several regularization techniques have been utilized for stable estimations, but it is difficult when using a regularization technique to select a regularization factor, which has no physical meaning. In this paper, the FWI approach is applied to estimate the material properties of a layered half-space. The thin-layered method, an efficient analysis method for wave propagation in a layered medium, is employed for this purpose. It is formulated in the maximum a posteriori (MAP) form, and Tikhonov regularization is expressed as a prior distribution, whose standard deviation replaces the role of the regularization factor to ensure an intuitive meaning. Additionally, a technique to remove outliers is newly introduced for the regularization technique; it captures discontinuities accurately in the material properties of a layered half-space. Through this additional technique, the limitation of the smoothness effect in existing regularization techniques is alleviated. The proposed MAP approach including the regularization-based prior and outlier-removal technique is applied to several numerical examples to estimate the profiles of the shear velocities of a layered half-space. The numerical investigations conducted here confirm the validity of the proposed approach with satisfactory accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose acetate isobutyrate SAIB (E444) is a mixture produced by the esterification of sucrose with acetic anhydride and isobutyric anhydride. It is a food additive that is used as an emulsifier in soft drinks. It is difficult to analyse SAIB quantitatively because there are 256 synthesisable structures in the mixture. This study developed an analytical method for SAIB using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The pre-treatment of SAIB in soft drinks was performed using a liquid-liquid extraction method, which demonstrated a recovery rate of 107.8 ± 7.2%. In the GC-FID analysis of SAIB, numerous peaks were observed in the chromatogram, and the content of SAIB was calculated as the sum of these peak areas. A series of analytical methods were validated according to International Conference for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Accordingly, the applicability of the developed analytical method was confirmed for both domestic and imported soft drinks distributed in Korea. Additionally, in the linoleic acid emulsion, SAIB exhibited better lipid oxidation stability than the natural antioxidant α-tocopherol and had similar efficacy to the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Although SAIB has excellent lipid oxidation stability, it must be used within legal standards according to consumer demand to reduce the use of synthetic materials in processed foods. The validated GC-FID analytical method will enable subsequent monitoring of the distributed products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) is conducted to advance assessment methods for peripheral neuropathies and pruritic skin disorders. The skin-clearing technique was proven to be a reliable method for 3-D imaging of IENFs. Nonetheless, it still requires further improvement in the imaging process. The aim of this study was to standardize the 3-D evaluation method of IENFs and to suggest promising 3-D biomarkers for clinical application. A total of nine healthy individuals were prospectively enrolled. The newly adopted suction blister method was combined with the tissue-clearing technique. The detailed structure of the IENFs was reconstructed and quantified using the neuron tracing software. The suction blister method showed improved linear integrity of IENFs compared with those obtained from the previously used salt-split skin test. The 3-D parameters most significantly related to natural aging were the convex hull two-dimensional perimeter and the total length (both p = 0.020). The meaningful correlations were followed by total volume (p = 0.025), ends (p = 0.026), convex hull 3-D surface, and complexity (both p = 0.030). Thus, the 3-D parameters could be utilized as possible biomarkers to identify ambiguous pathologies of peripheral neuropathies and pruritic skin disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is typically difficult to estimate the number of degrees of freedom due to the leptokurtic nature of the Student t-distribution. Particularly in studies with small sample sizes, special care is needed concerning prior choice in order to ensure that the analysis is not overly dominated by any prior distribution. In this article, popular priors used in the existing literature are examined by characterizing their distributional properties on an effective support where it is desirable to concentrate on most of the prior probability mass. Additionally, we suggest a log-normal prior as a viable prior option. We show that the Bayesian estimator based on a log-normal prior compares favorably to other Bayesian estimators based on the priors previously proposed via simulation studies and financial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle atrophy (MA) is a case in which protein degeneration occurs excessively due to an imbalance between protein synthesis and breakdown, and is characterized by decreased muscle mass and weakened muscle strength. Despite mounting concern about MA, the number of patients with MA is increasing every year. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) hot water extract on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced MA in mice. C57BL/6N mice were grouped (n = 8) as follows: Normal mice (Normal), MA mice were treated with distilled water (Control), MA mice were treated with GF 100 mg/kg (GF100), MA mice were treated with GF 200 mg/kg (GF200). For 10 days, DEX (25 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) injection was used to induce MA, and GF was administered. GF treatment restored the muscle weight decreased due to MA, and in particular, the weights of EDL+TA and Sol were significantly increased in the GF200 group. Also, it was confirmed that the swimming time was improved in the GF200 group. In addition, the expression of NADPH oxidase related to oxidative stress was significantly reduced, and protective (insulin-like growth factor I/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway) and catabolic (AMP-activated kinase [AMPK]/sirtuin 1 [SIRT1]/proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)-forkhead box O (FOXO) pathway) pathways were significantly modulated. These results demonstrate that GF regulates muscle protein synthesis and catabolic pathways, and in particular, it is judged to improve MA by regulating the proteolytic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α-FOXO pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) analysis of human epidermal melanocytes is required for deeper understanding of melanocytic disorders. The purpose of this study was to standardize 3‐D imaging and quantification for the evaluation of epidermal melanocytes. The epidermal specimen was obtained using the suction blister method from a patient with melanocytic nevus on the forearm skin. Cutaneous ACT‐PRESTO, the tissue‐clearing and labeling technique, was subsequently performed. With the 3‐D image analysis program, morphological reconstruction and quantification of selected perilesional and melanocytic nevus areas were possible. The region of melanocytic nevus showed higher numbers of total melanocytic dendrites and similar numbers of cell bodies compared with perilesional area. In addition, the mean area and volume of cell bodies increased in the melanocytic nevus area compared with the results in the perilesional area. The 3‐D evaluation method of human epidermal melanocytes can be applied to investigate novel pathologies related to hyper‐ or hypo‐pigmentary disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the synergistic effects of ammonium persulfate (PS) and ultrasound (US) on the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in buffered peptone water (BPW) and orange juice products. A comprehensive assessment of PS concentrations ranging from 1 to 300 mM, considering not only the statistical significance but also the reliability and stability of the experimental outcomes, showed that 150 mM was the optimal PS concentration for the inactivation of E. coli O157:H7. Additionally, US output intensities varying from 30 % to 60 % of the maximum US intensity were evaluated, and 50 % US amplitude was found to be the optimal US condition. A 50 % amplitude setting on the sonicator corresponds to half of its maximum displacement, approximately 60 μm, based on a maximum amplitude of 120 μm. The inactivation level of E. coli O157:H7 was significantly enhanced by the combined treatment of PS and US, compared to each treatment of PS and US alone. In the BPW, a 10-min treatment with the combination of PS and US resulted in a significant synergistic inactivation, achieving up to a log reduction of 3.86 log CFU/mL. Similarly, in orange juice products, a 5-min treatment with the combination of PS and US yielded a significant synergistic inactivation, with a reduction reaching 5.90 log CFU/mL. Although the treatment caused a significant color change in the sample, the visual differences between the treated and non-treated groups were not pronounced. Furthermore, the combined treatment in orange juice demonstrated significantly enhanced antimicrobial efficacy relative to BPW. Despite identical 5-min treatment periods, the application in orange juice resulted in a substantially higher log reduction of E. coli O157:H7, achieving 7.16 log CFU/mL at a reduced PS concentration of 30 mM, whereas the same treatment in BPW yielded only a 2.89 log CFU/mL reduction at a PS concentration of 150 mM, thereby highlighting its significantly superior antimicrobial performance in orange juice. The mechanism underlying microbial inactivation, induced by the combined treatment of PS and US, was identified as significant cell membrane damage. This damage is mediated by sulfate radicals, generated through the sono-activation of persulfate. In addition, the low pH of orange juice, measured at 3.7, is likely to have further deteriorated the E. coli O157:H7 cells compared to BPW (pH 7.2), by disrupting their cell membranes, proton gradients, and energy metabolism. These findings underscore the effectiveness of PS and US integration as a promising approach for non-thermal pasteurization in the food industry. Further research is needed to optimize treatment parameters and fully explore the practical application of this technique in large-scale food processing operations. Sensory evaluation and nutritional assessment are also necessary to address the limitations of PS. • Combined use of ammonium persulfate (PS) and ultrasound (US) synergistically inactivated Escherichia coli O157:H7. • The combination surpassed the efficacy of individual treatments in both Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) and orange juice. • This combined approach showed a significantly greater antimicrobial effect in orange juice compared to BPW. • Inactivation mechanism was elucidated as cell membrane damage, attributed to the generation of sulfate radicals. • Quality assessments revealed stable color for PS-treated orange juice samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]