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Background: Culex pipiens pallens is a well-known mosquito vector for several diseases. Deltamethrin, a commonly used pyrethroid insecticide, has been frequently applied to manage adult Cx. pipiens pallens. However, mosquitoes can develop resistance to these insecticides as a result of insecticide misuse and, therefore, it is crucial to identify novel methods to control insecticide resistance. The relationship between commensal bacteria and vector resistance has been recently recognized. Bacteriophages (= phages) are effective tools by which to control insect commensal bacteria, but there have as yet been no studies using phages on adult mosquitoes. In this study, we isolated an Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH that specifically targets resistance-associated symbiotic bacteria in mosquitoes. We investigated the impact of Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH in an abundance of Aeromonas hydrophila in the gut of Cx. pipiens pallens and its effect on the status of deltamethrin resistance. Methods: Phages were isolated on double-layer agar plates and their biological properties analyzed. Phage morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after negative staining. The phage was then introduced into the mosquito intestines via oral feeding. The inhibitory effect of Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH on Aeromonas hydrophila in mosquito intestines was assessed through quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Deltamethrin resistance of mosquitoes was assessed using WHO bottle bioassays. Results: An Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH was isolated from sewage and identified as belonging to the Myoviridae family in the order Caudovirales using TEM. Based on biological characteristics analysis and in vitro antibacterial experiments, Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH was observed to exhibit excellent stability and effective bactericidal activity. Sequencing revealed that the Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH genome comprises 43,663 bp (51.6% CG content) with 81 predicted open reading frames. No integrase-related gene was detected in the vB AH-LH genome, which marked it as a potential biological antibacterial. Finally, we found that Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH could significantly reduce deltamethrin resistance in Cx. pipiens pallens, in both the laboratory and field settings, by decreasing the abundance of Aeromonas hydrophila in their midgut. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that Aeromonas phage vB AhM-LH could effectively modulate commensal bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila in adult mosquitoes, thus representing a promising strategy to mitigate mosquito vector resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Methods Results Conclusion Evaluation of the programmed cell death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) combined positive score (CPS) is vital to predict the efficacy of the immunotherapy in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), but pathologists show substantial variability in the consistency and accuracy of the interpretation. It is of great importance to establish an objective and effective method which is highly repeatable.We proposed a model in a deep learning‐based framework, which at the patch level incorporated cell analysis and tissue region analysis, followed by the whole‐slide level fusion of patch results. Three rounds of ring studies (RSs) were conducted. Twenty‐one pathologists of different levels from four institutions evaluated the PD‐L1 CPS in TNBC specimens as continuous scores by visual assessment and our artificial intelligence (AI)‐assisted method.In the visual assessment, the interpretation results of PD‐L1 (Dako 22C3) CPS by different levels of pathologists have significant differences and showed weak consistency. Using AI‐assisted interpretation, there were no significant differences between all pathologists (P = 0.43), and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value was increased from 0.618 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.524–0.719] to 0.931 (95% CI = 0.902–0.955). The accuracy of interpretation result is further improved to 0.919 (95% CI = 0.886–0.947). Acceptance of AI results by junior pathologists was the highest among all levels, and 80% of the AI results were accepted overall.With the help of the AI‐assisted diagnostic method, different levels of pathologists achieved excellent consistency and repeatability in the interpretation of PD‐L1 (Dako 22C3) CPS. Our AI‐assisted diagnostic approach was proved to strengthen the consistency and repeatability in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilized the hydrothermal method and freeze-drying technology to prepare the macroscopic aerogel structure and powder structure of MOF-808/RGO. Through comparative analysis of aspects such as photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance, electron transfer efficiency, macroscopic structure, and microstructure, it has been discovered that aerogel structure can provide favorable conditions for mass transfer of CO 2 and water molecules, and light propagation. The introduction of RGO successfully captures electrons and the reduction reaction occurs on the surface of the material. [Display omitted] • Macroscopic aerogel and powder structures of the MOF-808/RGO composite photocatalysts were fabricated separately and used for comparison. • The photocatalytic performance of the MOF-808/RGO macroscopic aerogels in reducing CO 2 to CO was approximately 16 times that of MOF-808 and 12 times that of RGO. • The aerogel structure provides an abundance of pore structures within the material. • The presence of the aerogel structure successfully enhanced the photothermal and photoelectric conversion efficiencies of the composite photocatalysts. Three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic aerogels have emerged as a critical component in the realm of photocatalysis. Maximizing the integration of materials can result in enhanced efficiency and selectivity in photocatalytic processes. In this investigation, we fabricated MOF-808/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) 3D macroscopic aerogel composite materials employing the techniques of hydrothermal synthesis and freeze-drying. The results revealed that the macroscopic aerogel material exhibited the highest performance in CO 2 reduction to CO, particularly when the concentration of RGO was maintained at 5 mg mL−1. In addition, we synthesized powder materials of MR-5 composite photocatalysts and conducted a comparative analysis in terms of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance and electron transfer efficiency. The results show that the macroscopic aerogel material boasts a high specific surface area, an abundant internal pore structure, and increased active sites. These attributes collectively enhance light energy utilization, and electron transfer rates, thereby, improving photothermal and photoelectric conversion efficiencies. Furthermore, we conducted in-situ FT-IR measurements and found that the M/R-5 aerogel exhibited the best CO 2 adsorption capacity under a CO 2 flow rate of 10 mL min−1. The density functional theory results demonstrate the correlation between the formation pathway of the product and the charge transfer pathway. This study provides useful ideas for realizing photocatalytic CO 2 reduction of macroscopic aerogel materials in gas–solid reaction mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel photonic crystal fiber (PCF) sensor for refractive index detection based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is presented in this research, as well as designs for single-channel and dual-channel structures for this PDMS-PCF sensor. The proposed structures can be used to develop sensors with biocompatible polymers. The performance of the single-channel PDMS-PCF sensor was studied, and it was found that adjusting parameters such as pore diameter, lattice constant, distance between the D-shaped structure and the fiber core, and the radius of gold nanoparticles can optimize the sensor's performance. The findings indicate that the detection range of the single-channel photonic crystal is 1.21–1.27. The maximum wavelength sensitivity is 10,000 nm/RIU with a resolution of 1 × 10 − 5 RIU, which is gained when the refractive index is set to 1.27. Based on the results of the single-channel PCF, a dual-channel PDMS-PCF sensor is designed. The refractive index detection range of the proposed sensor is 1.2–1.28. The proposed sensor has a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 13,000 nm/RIU and a maximum resolution of 7.69 × 10 − 6 RIU at a refractive index of 1.28. The designed PDMS-PCF holds tremendous potential for applications in the analysis and detection of substances in the human body in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the in-depth study of solid-state batteries (SSBs), various in situ and ex situ characterization technologies have been widely used to study them. The performance and reliability of SSBs are limited by the formation and evolution of lithium dendrites at the interfaces between solid electrodes and solid electrolytes. We propose a new method based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in situ characterization of the internal state of solid-state batteries. OCT is a low-loss, high-resolution, non-invasive imaging technique that can provide real-time monitoring of cross-sectional images of internal structures of SSBs. The morphology, growth, and evolution of lithium dendrites at different stages of cycling under various conditions can be visualized and quantified by OCT. Furthermore, we validate and correlate the OCT results with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XPS, proving the accuracy and effectiveness of the OCT characterization method. We reveal the interfacial phenomena and challenges in SSBs and demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of OCT as a powerful tool for in situ and operando imaging of battery interfaces. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms and factors that affect SSB performance, safety, and lifetime, and suggests possible solutions for improvement and application in the field of applied energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke produces the highest adult disability. Despite successful recanalization, no-reflow, or the futile restoration of the cerebral perfusion after ischemia, is a major cause of brain lesion expansion. However, the vascular mechanism underlying this hypoperfusion is largely unknown, and no approach is available to actively promote optimal reperfusion to treat no-reflow. Here, by combining two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM) and a mouse middle cerebral arteriolar occlusion (MCAO) model, we find myogenic vasomotion deficits correlated with post-ischemic cerebral circulation interruptions and no-reflow. Transient occlusion-induced transient loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) permanently impairs mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contacts and abolish Ca2+ oscillation in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), the driving force of myogenic spontaneous vasomotion. Furthermore, tethering mitochondria and ER by specific overexpression of ME-Linker in SMCs restores cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis, remotivates myogenic spontaneous vasomotion, achieves optimal reperfusion, and ameliorates neurological injury. Collectively, the maintaining of arteriolar myogenic vasomotion and mitochondria-ER contacts in SMCs, are of critical importance in preventing post-ischemic no-reflow. The no-reflow phenomenon after stroke is attributed to damaged spontaneous vasomotion of cerebral arterioles, which can be alleviated by maintaining mitochondria-ER contact-dependent Ca2+ oscillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a directly self-starting second-order s-sub-step explicit method, within which the three novel members are developed and analyzed for demonstration. The novel explicit schemes can output second-order accelerations for general structures, which cannot be achieved for the directly self-starting single- and two-sub-step algorithms. Each explicit algorithm achieves controllable algorithmic dissipation and adjustable bifurcation points. As a result, the novel explicit algorithms impose two algorithmic parameters, ρb and Ωb, to control numerical dissipation and bifurcation point, respectively. The parameter ρb, denoting the spectral radius at the bifurcation point, controls numerical dissipation, whereas the parameter Ωb, denoting the bifurcation point, adjusts the amount of dissipation imposed in the low-frequency range. This paper provides users with two recommended selections of Ωb. Apart from these desirable features, each novel explicit algorithm attains the maximum stability bound, 2 × s where s denotes the number of sub-steps. The four- and five-sub-step algorithms perform optimization to reduce numerical low-frequency dissipation. As the number of sub-steps increases, the novel explicit algorithms can have better numerical characteristics without an increase in the computational effort. Numerical examples are simulated to validate the performance and superiority of the novel explicit algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, owing to the continuous development of polymer nanofiber manufacturing technology, various nanofibers with different structural characteristics have emerged, allowing their application in the field of sensing to continually expand. Integrating polymer nanofibers with optical sensors takes advantage of the high sensitivity, fast response, and strong immunity to electromagnetic interference of optical sensors, enabling widespread use in biomedical science, environmental monitoring, food safety, and other fields. This paper summarizes the research progress of polymer nanofibers in optical sensors, classifies and analyzes polymer nanofiber optical sensors according to different functions (fluorescence, Raman, polarization, surface plasmon resonance, and photoelectrochemistry), and introduces the principles, structures, and properties of each type of sensor and application examples in different fields. This paper also looks forward to the future development directions and challenges of polymer nanofiber optical sensors, and provides a reference for in-depth research of sensors and industrial applications of polymer nanofibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, locally resonant membrane with attached resonators is introduced to duct system to achieve good noise control effect especially in low frequency range. A rigorous analytical model based on modal expansion method is developed to investigate the vibroacoustic coupling characteristic of proposed duct-membrane-resonator system. The corresponding theoretical results show a good agreement with numerical simulation. The velocity distribution, sound transmission loss curve, and the mechanism behind are discussed and explained deeply. It is found that the attached resonators on the membrane can lead to new transmission loss peak which is related to but not exactly equal to the resonance frequency of attached resonator itself. Correspondence between zero equivalent density mass and transmission loss peak is achieved at the non-antisymmetric modes. Compared to single resonator, multi-resonators system can realize more transmission loss peaks for better sound transmission effect. In principle, ultra-low frequency noise reduction and arbitrarily adjustable frequency can be achieved by changing the frequency, position, and number of exerted resonators, which provide a new approach for duct noise control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SNX5 is a protein that is involved in endosomal sorting, signal transduction and endocytosis pathways. However, the roles of fish SNX5 were largely unknown. In this study, we identified an SNX5 homolog (EcSNX5) from an orange-spotted grouper (E. coioides) and investigated its role during viral infection. EcSNX5 encoded 412 amino acids with a PX domain and a BAR domain. In addition, it shared high identities with other known fish SNX5. Through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), the high expression of EcSNX5 was observed in the head, kidney and heart. After stimulation with the red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) in vitro, EcSNX5 expression was significantly induced. After RGNNV infection in vitro, EcSNX5 overexpression enhanced the expression of RGNNV genes, including coat protein (CP) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). EcSNX5 knockdown downregulates expression of CP and RdRp. The TCID50 assay showed a higher viral titer when EcSNX5 is over expressed. Moreover, EcSNX5 overexpression could reduce the expression of interferon genes (IRF1, IRF3, IRF7, MX1, ISG15, ISG56, MDA5 and TRIF) and inflammatory genes (IL6, IL8, IL-1β and TNF-α). EcSNX5 knockdown could promote the expression of interferon factors and inflammatory factors. Moreover, EcSNX5 overexpression suppresses the expression of autophagy genes (LC3-II, BECN1, ATG5 and ATG16L1) and upregulates the expression of apoptosis genes (Bax, BNIP3), but EcSNX5 knockdown had the opposite effect. According to the subcellular localization, EcSNX5 is localized in the cytoplasm and co-localizaed with RGNNV CP protein. The results showed EcSNX5 can influence viral infections by regulating the expression of interferon factors and inflammatory factors as well as adjusting virus-induced autophagy. These data will contribute to a better understanding of the immune response of fish during virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Global Navigation Satellite Systems Service (IGS) ionospheric total electron content (TEC) data are used to study the periodic perturbation in the ionosphere during the 2019 Antarctic sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event, a rare Southern Hemisphere minor SSW event in the last 40 years. A 14.5 day periodic signal with a zonal wavenumber of 0 is observed in the mesosphere and the lower thermosphere (MLT) region and the ionosphere during this SSW period, which could be related to the lunar tide. The 14.5 day periodic disturbance in the IGS TEC exhibits local time dependence and latitudinal variation, with the maximum amplitude appearing between 1000 and 1600 LT in the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest regions. Additionally, the 14.5 day periodic oscillation shows an obvious longitudinal variability, with the weakest amplitude appearing in the longitudinal region of 30° W–60° E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salmonella typhimurium (S.T), as an important foodborne bacterial pathogen, can cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Numerous studies have confirmed that exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have various biological functions, but the mechanism through which EPSs improve the immunity of animals against the invasion of pathogenic bacteria is unclear. Here, we explored the protective effect of EPSs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on the S.T-infected intestine. Methods: Mice received adequate food and drinking water for one week before the start of the experiment. After 7 d of prefeeding, 2×108 CFU/mL S.T solution and an equivalent volume of saline (control group) were given orally for 1 d. On the fourth day, the mice were treated with 0.5 mg/mL EPSs, 1.0 mg/mL EPSs, 2.0 mg/mL EPSs, or 2.0 mg/mL penicillin for 7 d. Finally, the body and relative organ weight, histological staining, and the levels of antioxidant enzyme activity and inflammatory cytokines were determined. Results: The S.T-infected mice exhibited symptoms of decreased appetite, somnolence, diarrhea and flagging spirit. Treatment with EPSs and penicillin improved the weight loss of the mice, and the high dose of EPSs showed the best therapeutic effect. EPSs significantly ameliorated S.T-induced ileal injury in mice. High-dose EPSs were more effective than penicillin for alleviating ileal oxidative damage induced by S.T. The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in the ileum of mice showed that the regulatory effects of EPSs on inflammatory cytokines were better than those of penicillin. EPSs could inhibit the expression and activation of key proteins of the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway and thereby suppress the level of S.T-induced ileal inflammation. Conclusions: EPSs attenuate S.T-induced immune responses by inhibiting the expression of key proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, EPSs could promote bacterial aggregation into clusters, which may be a potential strategy for reducing the bacterial invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common male condition that impacts many men's quality of life by generating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In recent years, inflammation has become very common in the prostate, and BPH with inflammation has a higher International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) score and an enlarged prostate. Chronic inflammation leads to tissue damage and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of BPH. We will focus on current advancements in pro-inflammatory cytokines in BPH, as well as the future of pro-inflammatory cytokine research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses mainly on developing single-step explicit integration algorithms considering the implicit treatment of velocity. A novel explicit algorithm (GSSI) is proposed and recommended as a self-starting dissipative alternative to the central difference methods in transient analysis. GSSI not only shares the same advantages as the central difference methods, such as second-order accuracy and computational cost, but also achieves flexible dissipation control and self-starting property. Remarkably, GSSI provides a significantly larger stability bound than the central difference methods in the damped case. GSSI imposes two algorithmic parameters ( ρ s and ρ b ) to flexibly adjust numerical dissipation at the bifurcation point. In general, the ρ b controls numerical dissipation at the bifurcation point, while the ρ s further adjusts the amount of dissipation in the low-frequency range. Spectral analysis and numerical examples are given solved to show the superiority of GSSI over the existing single-step explicit methods with respect to accuracy, stability, and dissipation control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper constructs and analyzes a composite s -sub-step explicit method. • Seven explicit schemes in the present method are developed and compared. • Each explicit scheme is second-order accurate and provides maximal stability bound. • Each explicit scheme (s > 1) can control numerical dissipation at the bifurcation point. This paper constructs a composite s -sub-step explicit method and analyzes second-order accuracy, conditional stability, and dissipation control at the bifurcation point. In the present s -sub-step method, each explicit scheme achieves identical second-order accuracy for analyzing general structures and provides maximal stability bound, that is 2 × s where s denotes the number of sub-steps. Except for the single-sub-step case, each explicit scheme achieves dissipation control at the bifurcation point. After registering second-order accuracy and controllable numerical dissipation, the composite multi-sub-step explicit method should be well-designed to reach maximal stability bound. The analysis reveals that as the number of sub-steps increases, the developed explicit schemes can reduce numerical low-frequency dissipation and enlarge stability. Under the same computational cost, the advantage of reducing low-frequency dissipation and enlarging stability is gradually weakened with the increase of sub-steps, so the first seven explicit schemes are only developed and compared in this paper. Some typical experiments are provided to confirm the methods' numerical performance. The proposed explicit schemes are more accurate and efficient for some models than existing second-order algorithms of that class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) treats early‐stage breast cancers, especially triple‐negative breast cancers (TNBCs). NAT improves pathological complete response (pCR) rates for different breast cancer patients. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors that target programmed death 1 (PD‐1) or programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) in combination with NAT have shown antitumor activity in patients with early breast cancer. However, the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in different subtypes of breast cancers, like TNBC, hormone receptor‐positive (HR+), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 amplified (HER2+) and its changes by NAT remain to be fully characterized. We analyzed pre‐NAT tumor biopsies from TNBC (n = 27), HR+ (n = 24), and HER2+ (n = 30) breast cancer patients who received NAT, followed by surgery. The different immune makers (PD‐1, PD‐L1, CD3, and CD8) of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were identified with immunofluorescence‐based microenvironment analysis. TILs within cancer parenchyma (iTILs) and in cancer stroma (sTILs) were counted separately. We found that PD‐L1+ cells in tumor and stroma were significantly higher in TNBC patients than in others. PD‐L1+ sTILs were significantly higher in pCR than in non‐pCR patients of all the subtypes. The infiltration scores of B‐cell memory, T‐cell CD4+ memory activated, T‐cell follicular helper, and Macrophage M0 and M1 were relatively higher in TNBC patients, indicating immunoreactive TME in TNBC. Analysis of TCGA‐BRCA RNA‐seq indicated that PD‐L1 was highly expressed in TNBC patients compared with HR+ and HER2+ patients. Higher PD‐L1 expression in TNBC patients was associated with significantly longer overall survival (OS). Our results demonstrated that PD‐L1 expression level of iTILs and sTILs is highest in TNBC among breast cancers. TNBC patients had significantly different immunoreactive TME compared with HR+ and HER2+ patients, suggesting potentially favorable outcomes for immunotherapy in these patients. Also, PD‐L1+ could be a powerful predictor of pCR in TNBC patients after NAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have explored the relationship between intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and the risk of postoperative biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer (PCa), although the results are contradictory. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis to investigate the effect of MVD on BCR in PCa. Method: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct/Elsevier, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and EMBase databases from inception through January 2022, with no year or language restrictions, and used NOS guidelines to evaluate the quality of the 19 eligible studies. The derived hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to assess each endpoint. Data synthesis was performed with RevMan to assess the prognostic value of MVD in PCa and its heterogeneity, while the publication bias was examined using STATA 16.0. Results: Our meta‐analysis included 19 articles (4 for T1‐2, 6 for T1‐3, and 9 for T1‐4) on postoperative biochemical recurrence of PCa, among which, 3933 patients were pooled. The predictive ability of intratumoral MVD for different stages of PCa on BCR was T1‐2 (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.08–5.58; p = 0.03; I2 = 83%), T1‐3 (HR, 2.38, 95% CI, 1.41–4.01; p = 0.001; I2 = 82%), T1‐4 (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.19–2.19; p = 0.002; I2 = 61%).The subgroup analyses based on European and immunohistochemical antibody none‐factor VII were consistent with primary one. Sensitivity analysis excluding those studies judged to be at high risk of bias in T1‐2 showed a HR of 2.99[1.70,5.27] (I2 = 38%, p = 0.0001), demonstrating the robustness of risk estimates of MVD for the assessment of biochemical recurrence. Conclusion: Microvessel density is a predictor of BCR among patients with PCa, and earlier T stage PCa with a stronger MVD is associated with BCR. Further studies are needed to investigate neoangiogenesis in different T stages of PCa and whether MVD will be of benefit to the EAU‐recommended tool for biochemical recurrence risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holmium laser lithotripsy is currently the optimum standard for surgical treatment of upper urinary calculi. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Moses compared with conventional holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of patients with upper urinary calculi. We conducted a systematic search using multiple databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov) until June 2022. Clinical trials comparing Moses and conventional holmium laser lithotripsy were included. Analysis was performed using RevMan version 5.4.4 software. Four studies with 892 patients were included. There were no significant differences regarding stone-free rate (mean difference [MD] 1.19, 95% CI 0.54, 2.64, p = 0.66), operative time (MD − 9.31, 95% CI − 21.11, 2.48, p = 0.12), fragmentation time (MD − 1.71, 95% CI − 11.81, 8.38, p = 0.74), total energy used (MD 1.23, 95% CI − 0.44, 2.90, p = 0.15), auxiliary procedures (MD 0.38, 95% CI 0.08, 1.90, p = 0.24), and overall complications (odds ratio [OR] 0.70, 95% CI 0.30, 1.66, p = 0.42) between the groups. However, the laser working time (MD − 0.94, 95% CI − 1.20, − 0.67, p < 0.001) of Moses technology was shorter than that of conventional technology. Moses technology has similar outcomes to regular technology in terms of safety and efficacy. Given the higher operating costs of the Moses technology, further study is required to determine whether there are benefits to this new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship between histological prostatitis (HP) and clinical parameters related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in male. The clinical data of 196 BPH patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate were collected. According to the results of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining of prostate tissue, patients were divided into two groups: BPH with HP group and BPH without HP group. Differences in acute urinary retention (AUR), prostate volume (PV), serum sex hormones, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related parameters, and systemic inflammation indicators were compared between the two groups. SPSS software v.25 was used for statistical analysis. Compared with the BPH without HP group, the BPH with HP group had greater AUR rate, PV, total IPSS, and IPSS-storage in BPH with HP group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in IPSS-voiding, post-void residual volume, maximum urinary flow rate, serum sex hormones, and systemic inflammation indicators between the two groups (p > 0.05). This study suggests that patients with HP have larger PV, more severe LUTS, and a higher risk of AUR. HP is closely related to BPH and may be a key factor in the occurrence and clinical progress of BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies explored the prognostic value of the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) in urothelial carcinoma (UC), but the results are controversial. This study aimed to quantify the relationship between pretreatment mGPS and survival in patients with UC. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify eligible studies published before August 2022. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association between pretreatment mGPS and the prognosis of UC. Results: Thirteen eligible studies involving 12,524 patients were included. A high mGPS was significantly associated with poor overall survival (mGPS 1/0: HR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.12–1.58, p = 0.001; mGPS 2/0: HR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.43–2.84, p < 0.0001), progression-free survival (mGPS 1/0: HR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.03–1.53, p = 0.021; mGPS 2/0: HR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.12–2.77, p = 0.013), recurrence-free survival (mGPS 1/0: HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.18–1.56, p < 0.0001; mGPS 2/0: HR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.44–2.000, p < 0.0001), and cancer-specific survival (mGPS 2/0: HR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.30–2.52, p < 0.0001). A subgroup analysis of OS also yielded similar results. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that high pretreatment mGPS in UC is closely related to poor survival. Pre-treatment mGPS is a powerful independent prognostic factor in patients with UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To provide a systematic analysis of outcomes comparing outpatient and inpatient robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer based on the best available evidence. Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) was conducted to determine eligible comparative studies as of July 2021. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Parameters including perioperative, oncologic, and functional outcomes were collected. Results: Nine studies with 2721 patients were included, of which 831 underwent outpatient RARP and 1890 underwent inpatient RARP. The combined results demonstrated that compared with the inpatient group, the outpatient group had shorter operation time (weighted mean difference −8.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] −14.08 to −3.10, p = 0.002) and lower overall complication rate (odds ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.95, p = 0.03). However, there were no significant differences regarding estimated blood loss, readmission rate, positive surgical margin, and urinary continence rates between the groups. Conclusions: Outpatient RARP does not increase the incidence of complications and readmissions compared with inpatient RARP. This suggests that routine same-day discharge after providing patients with RARP is safe and feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type I interferon (IFN) has been identified in patients with Lyme disease, and its abundant expression in joint tissues of C3H mice precedes development of Lyme arthritis. Forward genetics using C3H mice with severe Lyme arthritis and C57BL/6 (B6) mice with mild Lyme arthritis identified the Borrelia burgdorferi arthritis-associated locus 1 (Bbaa1) on chromosome 4 (Chr4) as a regulator of B. burgdorferi-induced IFNβ expression and Lyme arthritis severity. B6 mice introgressed with the C3H allele for Bbaa1 (B6.C3-Bbaa1 mice) displayed increased severity of arthritis, which is initiated by myeloid lineage cells in joints. Using advanced congenic lines, the physical size of the Bbaa1 interval has been reduced to 2 Mbp, allowing for identification of potential genetic regulators. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing identified Cdkn2a as the gene responsible for Bbaa1 allele-regulated induction of IFNβ and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). The Cdkn2a-encoded p19 alternative reading frame (p19ARF) protein regulates IFNβ induction in BMDMs as shown by siRNA silencing and overexpression of ARF. In vivo studies demonstrated that p19ARF contributes to joint-specific induction of IFNβ and arthritis severity in B. burgdorferi-infected mice. p19ARF regulates B. burgdorferi-induced IFNβ in BMDMs by stabilizing the tumor suppressor p53 and sequestering the transcriptional repressor BCL6. Our findings link p19ARF regulation of p53 and BCL6 to the severity of IFNβ-induced Lyme arthritis in vivo and indicate potential novel roles for p19ARF, p53, and BCL6 in Lyme disease and other IFN hyperproduction syndromes. Author summary: Lyme disease is caused by infection with the tick-transmitted bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Although different isolates of B. burgdorferi have distinct potential for dissemination and tissue invasion, factors intrinsic to the infected host also play an important role in directing the severity of Lyme disease. In the animal model, infected C3H mice develop severe Lyme arthritis following elevation of type I IFN in joint tissue, while in C57BL/6 (B6) mice arthritis is mild and not associated with type I IFN. We demonstrated that the Borrelia burgdorferi arthritis-associated locus 1 (Bbaa1) on chromosome 4 (Chr4) intrinsically controls the magnitude of IFNβ production and the severity of Lyme arthritis in C3H vs B6 mice. The Cdkn2a gene was positionally identified as the regulator of IFNβ within Bbaa1, and determined to function through its protein product p19 alternative reading frame (p19ARF). ARF regulates IFNβ expression and Lyme arthritis severity by modulating the activities of the tumor suppressor p53 and transcriptional repressor BCL6. Our study provides new insight and potential therapeutic targets for the investigation of type I IFN-dependent Lyme arthritis and other IFN-driven diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The CAS is an end-to-end neural network that directly reconstruct SR image with a spatial resolution of ∼80 nm from raw images. • The subnet of the CAS-Net utilized the sparsity constraint with a U-Net circumvents the need for a training dataset and the necessity to tune manually the fitting parameters. • The CAS-Net has a good generalization ability for different structures and SIM imaging conditions. Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is one of the significant super-resolution (SR) optical microscopic techniques most suitable for live-cell imaging. Here, we devise a cascaded deep network (entitled CAS-Net) for super-resolution reconstruction of SIM. The CAS-Net comprises two subnets, the first uses a mixed Fourier attention transformer network (MFATN) to reconstruct a SR image from nine raw images, while the second incorporates sparsity constraint with a U-Net and further improves the resolution to ∼80 nm. Particularly, the subnet that provides physical and sparsity constraints circumvents the need for manually labeled datasets and the necessity to tune manually the fitting parameters required in the conventional sparse deconvolution process. The generality of the proposed CAS-Net was tested with the raw images acquired by different SIM microscopes. We can envisage that the CAS-Net will be widely applied for SIM techniques in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing S-scheme heterojunctions is an effective method to improve the charge localization on the surface of photocatalysts. Their effective charge transport routes can be enhanced with the help of interfacial noble metal nanoparticles. Herein, an Ag/CuO@ZnIn 2 S 4 plasma S-scheme heterojunction with heterogeneous interfacial covalent bonds was successfully designed. The 15% Ag/CuO@ZnIn 2 S 4 has promising photocatalytic performance and stability with the highest CO and CH 4 yields of 6.9 and 54.4 µmol g−1 h−1 and CH 4 selectivity of 92.8%. It is evidenced that the photogenerated charge can be efficiently separated and transported due to the influence of both the S-scheme electron migration mode and the Cu-S covalent bond. The process is further accelerated by using precious metals as cocatalysts, which can then selectively convert CO 2 into CH 4. This research is expected to provide helpful information for engineering S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts and investigating their charge transfer kinetics. [Display omitted] • Design of a S-scheme heterojunction to promote the separation of carriers. • Built the Cu-S bonds to accelerate the transfer of charges. • Utilizing the LSPR effect to generate hot electrons and enhance light absorption. • The Ag/CuO@ZnIn 2 S 4 photocatalysts can selectively reduce CO 2 to CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study demonstrates the techno-economic feasibility of a stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system to satisfy the electric and hydrogen load for remote rural communities. • In this study, the proposed system is more economical compared with grid extension, and less carbon footprint with CO 2 emission avoidance of around 375.44 t/year. • Sensitivity analysis on annual average hydrogen load growth and system capacity shortfall friction have been performed. Reliable and sustainable energy supply is essential for the development of remote rural areas, especially in the context of stringent carbon emission reduction target. This study aims to demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility of a stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) to satisfy the electric and hydrogen load for remote rural communities, where a case study of a village in West China is presented. By performing simulation and optimization, the most cost-competitive system configuration is identified, the net present cost (NPC), cost of energy (COE) and cost of hydrogen (COH) of which are $1.26M, $0.162/kWh and $12.5/kg, respectively. Compared with grid extension, the proposed system is more economical with a breakeven grid extension distance (BGED) of 16.15 km, and less carbon footprint with CO 2 emission avoidance of around 375.44 t/year. In addition, sensitivity analysis on annual average hydrogen load growth and system capacity shortfall friction have been performed. The results indicated that the implementation of a hybrid power system can be a reliable and economic viable solution for remote rural electrification and decarbonizing local transport sector, whilst social and environmental benefits are also achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit intriguing performance in electrocatalysis owing to their maximized atom utilizations and unique electronic structures, but effective anchoring metal atoms with defined coordination structure on hierarchical integrated electrode remain a challenge. Herein, a fast and facial flame‐assisted strategy is developed to construct oxygen‐coordinated SACs on integrated carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays with promising applications in electrocatalysis. Density functional theory calculations show that oxygen in carbon substrate imparts homogeneous sites for the efficient anchoring of metal atoms, thereby enabling SACs to disperse uniformly and firmly and thus bringing optimized activities. Moreover, the integrated CNT array with abundant oxygen‐containing groups is constructed and has been used as an efficient matrix for anchoring metal atoms (CNT‐O@M) via a flame‐assisted method. The as‐prepared CNT‐O@M (M = Co and Pt as typical examples) shows excellent activities in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction with utilization of active site as high as 75.7%, which is superior to the reported SACs. Particularly, the performance of CNT‐O@M can maintain stably under various harsh conditions, showing a promising prospect in the long‐time applications. The methodology and concept proposed in this work could be extended to the synthesis of a variety of integrated SACs for efficient electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the overall efficacy and safety between holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate (B-TUEP) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Method: We systematically searched electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) to identify eligible comparative studies as of July 2021. The parameters including perioperative results, complications, and functional outcomes were evaluated. RevMan version 5.4 was used for the analysis.Results: A total of 10 studies involving 1725 patients were included. HoLEP had lower operative time (p = .03), shorter catheterization time (p = .007), lower bladder irrigation time (p = .01), and higher enucleation weight (p = .01) compared with B-TUEP. However, there were no significant differences between the techniques regarding the length of stay (LOS), hemoglobin drop, transfusion rates, and complications. Furthermore, no significant differences were also observed in postoperative functional outcomes at 1, 3, 6, 12, or 24 months.Conclusions: HoLEP has more advantages in perioperative parameters compared with B-TUEP, but no significant differences are found regarding functional outcomes and complications. Large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are required to compare the outcomes of these two techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objective: The benefits and risks of restarting antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients with spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) remain controversial. This meta‐analysis was performed to explore the efficacy and safety of restarting APT for these patients. Methods: We followed the recommended PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. Studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI and the Cochrane Library were systematically retrieved from the inception of each database to 31 July 2020. We also manually retrieved studies of reference. Results and discussion: In this study, seven cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial (RCT) with subjects were included. APT resumption after spontaneous ICH did not significantly increase the risk of major haemorrhagic events (HR 1.15; 95% CI: 0.70–1.89; p =.59). However, it did not significantly reduce the risk of a composite endpoint concerning occlusive/thromboembolic events (HR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.81–1.19; p =.83) and all‐cause mortality (HR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.80–1.08; p =.35). What is new and conclusion: Restarting APT for patients with spontaneous ICH is generally safe. However, the benefits of reducing the risk of ischaemic vascular events and all‐cause mortality were not apparent. More RCTs are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Endourology compared the outcomes of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) to multiport RARP. The study found that the single-port group had a shorter hospital stay and catheterization time, as well as a lower need for postoperative pain medication compared to the multiport group. The authors concluded that single-port RARP provides similar perioperative, functional, and tumor outcomes to multiport RARP, which can help clinicians make evidence-based treatment decisions for prostate cancer. However, the inclusion and exclusion process of the study and the lack of subgroup analysis for different surgical systems were raised as potential concerns. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Acid-tolerant enteric pathogens can evade small intestinal acid barriers, colonize and infect the intestinal tract. However, broad-spectrum antibiotics are not the best therapeutic strategy because of the disruption of intestinal flora caused by its indiscriminate antimicrobial activity against beneficial and harmful bacteria. So that is what inspired us to combine pH regulation with nanotechnology to develop a pH-triggered site-targeted antimicrobial peptide with entrapping function. Results: A pH-triggered dual biological functional self-assembled peptide (SAP) was designed according to the features of amino-acid building blocks and the diagonal cation–π interaction principle. The results of characterization experiments showed that changes in pH conditions could trigger microstructural transformation of the nanopeptide from nanospheres to nanofibers. The subsequent antibacterial and toxicity experiments determined that SAP had great antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus above 15.6 μg/mL under acidic conditions by disrupting bacterial membrane integrity, excellent biocompatibility in vitro even at 250 μg/mL and high tolerance in physical environment. Moreover, at peptide concentrations greater than 62.5 μg/mL, SAP showed the entrapment property, which played an important role in phagocytic clearance in infection forces. Meanwhile, the in vivo results revealed that SAP possessed excellent therapeutic effect and good biosafety. Conclusions: Our study revealed the antibacterial activity of a short β-hairpin forming self-assembled peptide, and established an innovative design strategy for peptide-based nanomaterials and a new treatment strategy for gastrointestinal bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper further analyzes three Bathe algorithms (γ -Bathe, β 1 ∕ β 2 -Bathe and ρ ∞ -Bathe) with their unknown properties revealed. The analysis shows firstly that three Bathe algorithms can cover two common integration schemes, trapezoidal rule and backward Euler formula, and that the second-order β 1 ∕ β 2 -Bathe algorithm is algebraically identical to the ρ ∞ -Bathe algorithm. Via formulation of the generalized two-sub-step Newmark algorithm, it is shown that the common Newmark method cannot be considered as a special case of the ρ ∞ -Bathe algorithm. For wave propagation problems, optimal Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) numbers for reducing dispersion errors are found for the three Bathe algorithms by considering spatial and temporal discretizations simultaneously, while the modified integration rules are used for the element mass and stiffness matrices to reduce the anisotropy in wave propagating directions. The recommended optimal algorithmic parameters are given for the three Bathe algorithms to help users effectively solve various dynamic and wave propagation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its low calorific value, abnormal phenomena such as incomplete combustion and flameout may occur during the combustion process of biomass syngas. The applicability of adding hydrogen can assist in the combustion of biomass syngas in boilers to overcome the above defects, and the effects need to be investigated. In this study, a multi-mechanism model is employed to numerically simulate the flow and combustion of a horizontal boiler burning biomass syngas. The reliability verification of the model is conducted by comparing it with the experimental results of combustion in a domestic boiler with biomass syngas. From the views of multi-fields and synergy, the effects of hydrogen addition on the thermal performance and emissions of biomass syngas are further expounded. Two scenarios are taken into consideration: hydrogen addition at a constant fuel volume flow rate and constant heat input. The result indicates that hydrogen addition significantly affects the multi-field synergy, which is advantageous for improving the heat transfer performance and combustion efficiency of biomass syngas. However, when the hydrogen addition ratio exceeds 20% at a constant fuel volume flow rate and 25% at constant heat input, its impact may be reduced. When the hydrogen content increases, the outlet temperature of the combustion chamber decreases, and pollutant emissions are effectively controlled. The turbulent kinetic energy at the reversal section decreases, and the uniformity of the flow field improves. These results provide certain guidance for the efficient utilization of biomass syngas and the operation of boilers burning biomass syngas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, large‐scale satellite networks have been studied emphatically due to its advantages in high throughput and low latency. Many companies and institutions are keen to build large‐scale low earth orbit satellite constellations to provide space‐based Internet services, which poses a great demand for the design of efficient and reliable routing schemes. Three attribute indexes to evaluate the performance of the satellites are proposed. With the Dempster–Shafer theory, the attributes can be fused for the routing decision‐making process. Based on the Message Identification divergence (M‐I divergence) measure method, a Belief Message Importance divergence based Routing algorithm is proposed. By adjusting the characteristic parameter, it can amplify the divergence between distance‐based evidence and others properly. In this way, Belief Message Importance divergence‐based Routing attempts to find the optimal shortest path according to the status of intermediate nodes. Compared with existing satellite routing schemes, the algorithm that is proposed can approach the optimal routing performance, increasing the throughput by 47.2% on average, and decreasing the total delay and packet drop rate by 59.5% and 42.1% on average, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time digital polymerase chain reaction (qdPCR) provides enhanced precision in the field of molecular diagnostics by integrating absolute quantification with process information. However, the optimal reaction conditions are traditionally determined through multiple iterative of experiments. Therefore, we proposed a novel approach to precisely determine the optimal reaction conditions for qdPCR using a standard process, employing real-time fluorescence monitoring within microwells. The temperature-sensitive fluorophore intensity presented the real temperature of each microwell. This enabled us to determine the optimal denaturation and annealing time for qdPCR based on the corresponding critical temperatures derived from the melting curves and amplification efficiency, respectively. To confirm this method, we developed an ultrathin laminated chip (UTL chip) and chose a target that need to be absolutely quantitative. The UTL chip was designed using a fluid‒solid‒thermal coupling simulation model and exhibited a faster thermal response than a commercial dPCR chip. By leveraging our precise determination of reaction conditions and utilizing the UTL chip, 40 cycles of amplification were achieved within 18 min. This was accomplished by precisely controlling the denaturation temperature at 2 s and the annealing temperature at 10 s. Furthermore, the absolutely quantitative of DNA showed good correlation (R2 > 0.999) with the concentration gradient detection using the optimal reaction conditions with the UTL chip for qdPCR. Our proposed method can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of determining qdPCR conditions, which holds great promise for application in molecular diagnostics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a straightforward Schiff base (2-(phenylmethyl-1-hydrazine formamide)) was synthesized via ionic liquid catalysis using benzaldehyde and aminourea hydrochloride. This approach represents a simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly synthesis method, with the added benefit of recyclability and reusability of the ionic liquid catalyst. Additionally, the Schiff base exhibits considerable capability for anion detection and demonstrates selective identification of CrO 4 2− and Cr 2 O 7 2− across different pH environments. The stoichiometric ratio was determined to be 2:1 through UV–vis absorption titration, with detection limits for CrO 4 2− and Cr 2 O 7 2− measured at 6 × 10−5 M and 7 × 10−5 M, respectively. To assess the probe's complexation mechanism with hexavalent chromium ions, infrared spectroscopy, and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were employed. Complexation mechanism of Schiff base probe with metal ions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We performed this meta-analysis to assess the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Method: We conducted extensive searches on the PubMed, Science and Cochrane Library to identify all articles. Outcomes including annual prostate growth rate, prostate volume (PV), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS sub-scores (voiding and storage), prostate- specific antigen (PSA), maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urine volume (PVR) and quality of life (QoL) were assessed.Results: 21 studies with 15,317 patients were included. Patients with MetS had higher annual prostate growth rate [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.79; p < .001], larger PV (WMD = 2.62; p < .001), lower Qmax (WMD = -0.48; p = .001) and more PVR (WMD = 8.28; p < .001). However, no significant differences were found between two groups in IPSS (WMD = 0.20; p = .37), IPSS-voiding (WMD = -0.05; p = .78), IPSS-storage (WMD = -0.22; p = .26), PSA (WMD = 0.04; p = .43), and QoL (WMD = -0.01; p = .70).Conclusions: The study suggested that MetS may be one of the risk factors for the clinical progress of BPH. However, further study is warranted to support these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of 68Gallium-PSMA positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (68Ga-PSMA PET/CT) for lymph node (LN) staging in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) by a meta-analysis of diagnostic tests.Methods: We systematically retrieved articles from Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, PubMed. The time limit is from the creation of the database until June 2019, and Stata 15 was used for calculation and statistical analyses.Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (PLR, NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) be used to evaluate the diagnostic value. A total of 10 studies were included in our meta-analysis, which included 701 individuals. The results of each consolidated summary are as follows: sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.55-0.95), specificity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.87-0.98), PLR and NLR was 17.19 (95% CI 6.27, 47.17) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.05-0.56), respectively. DOR of 100 (95% CI 18-545), AUC of 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.98).Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT has a high overall diagnostic value for LN staging in patients with moderate and high-risk PCa. But our conclusions still require a larger sample size, multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial to verify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article explores the differences in the effectiveness and safety of the treatment of bladder cancer (BC) by robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC). Methods: A systematic search was performed using databases including Medline, PubMed and Web of Science within a limited period from January 1, 2000, to September 1, 2019. RevMan 5.3 was used for calculation and statistical analyses. Results: We performed meta-analysis on operation time, estimated blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion, positive surgical margin, oral intake time, length of hospital stay, complication and other indicators, and found that there were no statistically significant differences between LRC and RARC. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis results show that LRC and RARC have similar results on the effectiveness and safety of BC. For those medical institutions that cannot perform robot-assisted surgery but are seeking minimally invasive and faster postoperative recovery, LRC is worth considering. However, a larger sample size, more rigorous design and longer follow-up randomized controlled trials are still needed to support our conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample digital technology is a powerful method for absolute quantification of target molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. The excellent sample stability and mass production capability has enabled the development of microwell array-based sample digitizing methods. However, in current microwell array chips, samples are loaded by the liquid scraping method, which requires complex manual operation and results in a low filling rate and limited hole filling uniformity. Here, we perform sample loading of a through-hole array chip by a microfluidics-driven method and design a double independent S-shaped flow channels sandwiched through-hole array chip. Because of the capillary force and capillary burst pressure, the sample flowing in the channel can be trapped into through-holes, but cannot flow through the other side. Via air flow and displacement of the remaining sample in the channel, the sample can be partitioned consistently, with zero surplus sample residue in the channel. We evaluated the actual performance of the sample-loading process: the chip enables 99.10% filling rate of 18 500 through-holes, with a grayscale coefficient of variation value of 6.03% determined from fluorescence images. In performing digital polymerase chain reaction on chip, the chip demonstrates good performance for the absolute quantification of target DNA. The simple and robust design of our chip, with excellent filling rate and microsample uniformity, indicates potential for use in a variety of sample digitization applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size‐fractionated aerosol particles were collected with a MOUDI 10‐stage cascade impactor from an urban roadside place in a downtown area of Hong Kong. Fine aerosol particulate samples from stage 6 (aerodynamic particle diameter between 0.56 and 1 μm) and stage 9 (aerodynamic particle diameter between 0.10 and 0.18 μm) were pretreated at a chosen temperature, including −100°C, −50°C, 25°C, and 60°C, in a load lock chamber and then analyzed using time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) at the same temperature (−100°C). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to further analyze ToF‐SIMS spectra of aerosol particles with different pretreatment temperatures from two selected stages. ToF‐SIMS results showed that the intensities of aliphatic hydrocarbon ions such as C4H7+ and C4H9+ and amine ions such as C2H8N+ and C4H12N+ decreased with an increase of the pretreatment temperature under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. We have shown that analyses of this type of aerosol particles using ToF‐SIMS should not be conducted at ambient temperature but at low temperature (eg, −50°C). In addition, we also developed a procedure that can be used to analyze aerosol particle samples under ultrahigh vacuum environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chip-based dPCR (cdPCR) with a physical boundary between micro-units allows for high parallelism, robustness and sensitivity. However, cross-contamination between micro-units is still a problem that affects the accuracy of results. To overcome this problem, we introduced a heterogeneous modification strategy by microcontact printing to prepare a through-hole microwell chip (TMC) with a hydrophobic exterior surface and hydrophilic interior surface. The modified TMC can reduce cross-contamination (sample residual rate (SRR) of (4.9 ± 1.5)%) by an efficient partitioning yield (unit filling rate (UFR) of (91.1 ± 2.2)%). The sample-residual properties of modified TMCs could be tuned by the reaction conditions. As the contact time increased, the surface CA of the TMC increased, which caused decreases of the SRR and UFR. However, prolonging the contact time to 25 s would cause a sharp reduction of the UFR. The modified TMCs with high UFRs were used for further dPCR studies. The fluorescence images of dPCR chips were collected by fluorescence microscopy and a self-developed optical system, followed by image processing and data statistics to obtain quantitative results. The copy number variation results of the surface hydrophobic TMC was closer to the true value compared to that of the hydrophilic TMC. The results indicated that the sample residue on the hydrophilic TMC would increase the number of positive points, which would cause false positives and clustering error. The absolute quantitative results of gradient dilution plasmid DNA of JAK2 gene using modified TMC also proved that heterogeneous modification made the quantitative results more accurate. The heterogeneous modified TMC is expected to be used for high-throughput, high-sensitivity and high-specificity biological analyses, such as circulating tumor DNA and cell analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel family of composite sub-step algorithms with controllable numerical dissipations is proposed in this paper to obtain reliable numerical responses in structural dynamics. The new scheme is a self-starting, unconditionally stable and second-order-accurate two-sub-step algorithm with the same computational cost as the Bathe algorithm. The new algorithm can control continuously numerical dissipations in the high-frequency range in an intuitive way, and the ability of numerical dissipations can range from the non-dissipative trapezoidal rule to the asymptotic annihilating Bathe algorithm. Besides, the new algorithm only involves one free parameter and always achieves the identical effective stiffness matrices inside two sub-steps, which is not always achieved in three Bathe-type algorithms, to reduce the computational cost in the analysis of linear systems. Some numerical examples are given to show the superiority of the new algorithm over the Bathe algorithm and the CH- α algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Further studies on the Bathe algorithm is given and hence a novel class of the Bathe-like algorithm is presented. • It provides a new family of algorithms with the optimal numerical characteristics. • It gives a novel family of algorithms, which can be regarded as the alternative to the original Bathe algorithm. • This study shows that the Bathe algorithm can reduce to the trapezoidal rule and the backward Euler formula. The Bathe algorithm is superior to the trapezoidal rule in solving nonlinear problems involving large deformations and long-time durations. Generally, the parameter γ = 2 − 2 is highly recommended due to its optimal numerical properties. This paper further studies this implicit composite sub-step algorithm and thus presents a class of the Bathe-like algorithm. It not only gives a novel family of composite algorithms whose numerical properties are the exactly same as the original Bathe algorithm with γ = 2 − 2 , but also provides the generalized alternative to the original Bathe algorithm with any γ. In this study, it has been shown that the Bathe-like algorithm, including the original Bathe algorithm, can reduce to two common single-step algorithms: the trapezoidal rule and the backward Euler formula. Besides, a new parameter called the algorithmic mode truncation factor is firstly defined to describe the numerical property of the Bathe-like algorithm and it can estimate which modes to be damped out. Finally, numerical experiments are provided to show the superiority of the Bathe-like algorithm over some existing methods. For example, the novel Bathe-like algorithms are superior to the original Bathe algorithm when solving the highly nonlinear pendulum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The new algorithm is second-order accurate, unconditionally stable (L-stable) and self-starting. • The new algorithm shares the identical effective stiffness matrices inside three sub-step. • There is no overshoot for the proposed algorithm when nonzero initial displacement and/or velocity are used. • The second-order accuracy is obtained in its final form, but it is not required in each sub-step. In this paper, a novel three sub-step composite algorithm with desired numerical properties is developed. The proposed method is a self-starting, unconditionally stable and second-order accurate implicit algorithm without overshoot. Particularly, the second-order accuracy in time is achieved in its final form, but it is not required in each sub-step. Its unique algorithmic parameter is analyzed to achieve the unconditional stability and it shares the identical effective stiffness matrix inside three sub-steps to save the computational cost in linear analyses. The same as the Bathe algorithm, the proposed algorithm is always L-stable, meaning that the spurious high-frequency modes can be effectively eliminated. Three numerical examples are simulated to illustrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm over some existing implicit algorithms. The first numerical simulation, solving a linear single-degree-of-freedom system, shows less period elongation errors and the second-order accuracy of the present scheme. The second one, a clamped-free bar excited by the end load, shows the ability of effectively damping out the unexpected high-frequency modes. The last example solves the nonlinear mass-spring system with variable degree-of-freedoms and illustrates that the composite sub-step algorithm can save more computational cost than the traditional implicit algorithm when the integration step size is selected appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrostatic interactions are important in non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement. Previous reports had focused on the calculation of electrostatic interactions in AFM with metal and dielectric samples, and the present work extended the discussion to semiconductor samples based on Green's function theory and Debye-Hückel theory, considering sample dielectric polarization and free carriers at the same time. In order to enhance the calculation efficiency, an equivalent charge method was implemented and developed with a linear algebra-based algorithm. The calculation results of two limiting cases, metal and dielectric limit with infinite and zero carrier concentrations respectively, were in good agreement with the boundary element method. For a finite carrier concentration, it is found that the electrostatic force on the tip cone is quickly saturated whereas that on the tip apex slowly increases as the carrier concentration increases. On the other hand, the interaction radius on the sample surface is found independent of the sample free carriers, but it linearly increases as the tip-sample distance. Our work can be useful for the carrier concentration detection of semiconductor samples using non-contact electrical AFM modes such as Kelvin probe force microscopy and electrostatic force microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High selectivity and fast charge separation are two important factors for photocatalytic wastewater treatment. Herein, we prepared a molecular imprinted Ag/Ag 3 VO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst (MIP) that exhibited great specific recognition ability along with excellent photocatalytic activity. The ultrathin g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets with high surface are used to prepare. The Z-scheme Ag 3 VO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure and the surface plasmon resonance of the photoreduced Ag0 together contributed to the improvement of the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. In addition, MIP provides the specific recognition ability to preferentially adsorb the target pollutant. The selectivity of photocatalysis was evaluated by the degradation of oxytetracycline and tetracycline solutions. Photoluminescence and transient photocurrent measurements further prove the improved charge separation efficiency of MIP. A plausible photocatalytic reaction mechanism is proposed based on electron spin resonance measurement and the active species trapping experiments, where indicates that the main active species of this photocatalytic process are O 2 − and h+. This research provides an effective strategy for the simultaneous enhancement of selectivity and activity via molecular imprinting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although previous studies have compared the minimally invasive simple prostatectomy (MISP) with open simple prostatectomy (OSP) for large prostates, there is still controversy. This study aims to provide the latest evidence for clinical practice. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and Clinicalkey databases for articles comparing MISP and OSP for large prostates. Result parameters including International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), operative time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBL), irrigation time (IT), catheterization time (CT), length of hospital stay (LOS), transfusion rate (TR), and complications were evaluated using RevMan 5.3. Results: A total of 995 patients were included in 10 studies. No statistically significant differences were found between two groups in IPSS (weighted average difference [WMD] = −0.36, p = 0.26), QoL (WMD = −0.22, p = 0.05), Qmax (WMD = 0.46, p = 0.62), and PVR (WMD = −2.14, p = 0.65). The MISP group had similar IT (WMD = −1.52, p = 0.06), lesser EBL (WMD = −292.22, p < 0.001), shorter CT (WMD = −1.89, p < 0.0001), shorter LOS (WMD = −2.52, p < 0.001), lower TR (odds ratio [OR] = 0.21, p < 0.001), and lower complications (OR = 0.49, p < 0.001) compared with OSP group. However, the OT (WMD = 43.07, p < 0.001) of MISP was longer than that of OSP. Conclusions: The present results demonstrated that MISP provided similar efficacy to those of OSP while maintaining a better security. Our findings imply that MISP is a feasible and effective alternative to the OSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given real-world limitations in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing, concordance studies between PD-L1 assays are needed. We undertook comparisons of PD-L1 assays (DAKO22C3, Ventana SP263, Ventana SP142, E1L3N) among observers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to provide information on the analytical and clinical comparability of four PD-L1 IHC assays. Methods: Paraffin embedded samples of 50 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were obtained, satined with all four PD-L1 assays. PD-L1 was evaluated by 68 pathologists from 19 different hospitals. PD-L1 expression was assessed for combined positive score (CPS). Results: The expression sensitivity of SP263 was the highest in ESCC, followed by 22C3, E1L3N and SP142. Taking CPS 10 as the critical value, inter-observer concordance for CPS scores among 68 physicians was assessed for the 22C3, SP263, SP142, and E1L3N assays, yielding values of 0.777, 0.790, 0.758, and 0.782, respectively. In the comparison between assays, the overall CPS scores concordance rates between 22C3 and SP263, SP142, and E1L3N were 0.896, 0.833, and 0.853, respectively. 22C3 and SP263 have high concordance, with OPA of 0.896, while E1L3N and SP142 have the highest concordance, with OPA of 0.908. Conclusion: In ESCC, the concordance of PD-L1 evaluation among observers is good, and the immune cell score is still an important factor affecting the concordance of interpretation among observers. Cases near the specific threshold are still the difficult problem of interpretation. SP263 had the highest CPS score of the four assays. SP263 cannot identify all 22C3 positive cases, but had good concordance with 22C3.E1L3N and SP142 showed high concordance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial regulation strategy between semiconductors can effectively promote the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and enhance photocatalytic activity under the synergistic effect. Herein, AgInS 2 QDs-MoS 2 /GO (AIS-MS/GO) composites were prepared by interfacial coupling of AgInS 2 QDs (AIS), hierarchical MoS 2 and ultrathin GO. Ultrathin GO successfully solved the agglomeration problem of AIS and hierarchical MoS 2. Moreover, the photogenerated carriers were effectively separated and transferred under the synergistic effect of the AIS-MS heterojunction and ultrathin GO, thus promoting tetracycline (TC) degradation and CO 2 reduction performance. The degradation rate of tetracycline (TC) reached 96.5 %, and the yields of CO and CH 4 in the CO 2 reduction products reached 52.6 and 28.5 μmol g–1, respectively, when using the optimized photocatalyst. In-situ FTIR analysis indicated that TC is gradually degraded by small molecules on the composite surface, and has excellent dissociation ability of water molecules during the CO 2 reduction process. This work provides a new vision for the rational design of heterojunction-based photocatalysts using the interfacial regulation strategy for enhancing interfacial charge separation and photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • AIS-MS/GO composites were prepared via the interfacial regulation strategy. • The photogenerated carriers were effectively separated and transferred under synergistic and interfacial effects. • The aggregation problem of AIS and hierarchical MoS 2 was effectively solved. • AIS-MS/GO composites achieve a 96.5 % TC degradation rate and 35.1 % selectivity for CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]