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Utilizing the Multi-Voltage Threshold method, All-Digital PET technology, characterized by "All-Digital" and "accurate sampling," facilitates hardware and software decoupling and modular "LEGO-like" system construction. This innovation addresses the limitations of traditional PET system architectures, enabling a broader range of innovative applications. This paper reviews recent advancements in application-specific All-Digital PET systems, highlighting their applications and advantages in proton therapy monitoring, clinical and basic brain science research, and plant metabolism studies. Furthermore, we explore the development trends of All-Digital PET technology to meet the increasing demands of PET imaging applications.

Abstract Background Treating the coronal dens invaginatus (CDI) with pulp infection commonly involves the removal of invagination, which increases the risk of perforation and fracture, and compromises the tooth structure. Minimally invasive endodontic management of CDI is highly recommended. This report describes two cases of type II CDI with the application of personalized templates. Case presentation Two cases of type II CDI, affecting the main root canal in a maxillary canine and a lateral incisor, were diagnosed. A guided endodontics (GE) approach was applied. Cone-beam computed tomography and intraoral scans were imported and aligned in a virtual planning software to design debridement routes and templates. The MICRO principle (which involves the aspects of Mechanical (M) debridement, Irrigation (I), Access cavities (C), Rectilinear routes (R), and Obstruction (O)) was proposed for designing optimal debridement routes for future applications. The templates were innovatively personalized and designed to preserve the tooth structure maximally while effectively debriding the root canal. Root canal treatment with supplementary disinfection was then performed. The follow-up of the two patients revealed favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes. Conclusions The GE approach could be a feasible method for preserving healthy dental structure while effectively debriding the root canal, thereby achieving successful and minimally invasive endodontic treatment for CDI.

The effect of Mn–N on the oxidation behavior and microstructure evolution of a novel nickel-saving Fe–26Cr–4Ni-0.3C dual-phase heat-resistant cast steel at 900 °C was investigated. After 100 h of oxidation, the H–Mn–N steel (3.14 %Mn-0.232 %N) exhibited approximately three times better oxidation resistance compared to the L-Mn-N steel (0.24 %Mn-0.084 %N). The increase of Mn–N decreased the oxidation rate from 2.30 × 10−2 mg2 ∙ cm−4 ∙ h−1 to 3.26 × 10−3 mg2 ∙ cm−4 ∙ h−1. The oxide scale structure of L-Mn-N steel consisted of outer Cr2O3, inner (Fe0.6Cr0.4)2O3, and Fe1.4Cr1.6O4, while the oxide scale of H–Mn–N steel (3.14 %Mn) was SiO2, MnCr2O4, and Mn1.5CrO4 from the matrix to the outside. Mn–N increased the proportion of austenite from 40 % to 70 %, which reduced the diffusion rate of oxygen. This hindered the formation of layered oxide Cr2O3 and promoted the formation of a dense layer of SiO2 on the matrix surface, providing a pathway for the enhancement of the trade-off between oxidation resistance and cost.

ABSTRACT The gastric microbial community plays a fundamental role in gastric cancer (GC), and the two main anatomical subtypes of GC, non-cardia and cardia GC, are associated with different risk factors (Helicobacter pylori for non-cardia GC). To decipher the different microbial spatial communities of GC, we performed a multicenter retrospective analysis to characterize the gastric microbiota in 223 GC patients, including H. pylori-positive or -negative patients, with tumors and paired adjacent normal tissues, using third-generation sequencing. In the independent validation cohort, both dental plaque and GC tumoral tissue samples were collected and sequenced. The prevalence of H. pylori and oral-associated bacteria was verified using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays in GC tumoral tissues and matched nontumoral tissues. We found that the vertical distribution of the gastric microbiota, at the upper, middle, and lower third sites of GC, was likely an important factor causing microbial diversity in GC tumor tissues. The oral-associated microbiota cluster, which included Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus oralis, and Prevotella intermedia, was more abundant in the upper third of the GC. However, H. pylori was more abundant in the lower third of the GC and exhibited a significantly high degree of microbial correlation. The oral-associated microbiota module was co-exclusive with H. pylori in the lower third site of the GC tumoral tissue. Importantly, H. pylori-negative GC patients with oral-associated gastric microbiota showed worse overall survival, while the increase in microbial abundance in H. pylori-positive GC patients showed no difference in overall survival. The prevalence of V. parvula in both the dental plaque and GC tissue samples was concordant in the independent validation phase. We showed that the oral-associated species V. parvula and S. oralis were correlated with overall survival. Our study highlights the roles of the oral-associated microbiota in the upper third of the GC. In addition, oral-associated species may serve as noninvasive screening tools for the management of GC and an independent prognostic factor for H. pylori-negative GCs.IMPORTANCEOur study highlights the roles of the oral-associated microbiota in the upper third of gastric cancer (GC).We showed that the oral-associated species Veillonella parvula and Streptococcus oralis were correlated with overall survival. In addition, oral-associated species may serve as noninvasive screening tools for the management of GC and an independent prognostic factor for Helicobacter pylori-negative GCs.

Summary: The ability to sense and respond to osmotic fluctuations is critical for the maintenance of cellular integrity. We used gene co-essentiality analysis to identify an unappreciated relationship between TSC22D2, WNK1, and NRBP1 in regulating cell volume homeostasis. All of these genes have paralogs and are functionally buffered for osmo-sensing and cell volume control. Within seconds of hyperosmotic stress, TSC22D, WNK, and NRBP family members physically associate into biomolecular condensates, a process that is dependent on intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). A close examination of these protein families across metazoans revealed that TSC22D genes evolved alongside a domain in NRBPs that specifically binds to TSC22D proteins, which we have termed NbrT (NRBP binding region with TSC22D), and this co-evolution is accompanied by rapid IDR length expansion in WNK-family kinases. Our study reveals that TSC22D, WNK, and NRBP genes evolved in metazoans to co-regulate rapid cell volume changes in response to osmolarity.

Abstract Pneumonia is the most common complication of varicella infections. Although previous studies have tended to focus mainly on immunocompromised patients, varicella pneumonia can also occur in healthy adults. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess the progression of varicella pneumonia in immunocompetent hosts. This retrospective study involved immunocompetent adult outpatients with varicella who attended the adult Fever Emergency facility of Peking University Third Hospital from April 1, 2020, to October 31, 2022. Varicella pneumonia was defined as a classic chickenpox-type rash in patients with infiltrates on chest computed tomography. The study included 186 patients, 57 of whom had a contact history of chickenpox exposure. Antiviral pneumonia therapy was administered to 175 patients by treating physicians. Computed tomography identified pneumonia in 132 patients, although no deaths from respiratory failure occurred. Seventy of the discharged patients were subsequently contacted, all of whom reported being well. Follow-up information, including computed tomography findings, was available for 37 patients with pneumonia, among whom 24 reported complete resolution whereas the remaining 13 developed persistent calcifications. Notably, we established that the true incidence of varicella pneumonia is higher than that previously reported, although the prognosis for immunocompetent hosts is generally good.

Abstract In this research, we explore the few-shot object detection application for identifying concealed objects in sub-terahertz security images, using fine-tuning based frameworks. To adapt these machine learning frameworks for the (sub-)terahertz domain, we propose an innovative pseudo-annotation method to augment the object detector by sourcing high-quality training samples from unlabeled images. This approach employs multiple one-class detectors coupled with a fine-grained classifier, trained on supporting thermal-infrared images, to prevent overfitting. Consequently, our approach enhances the model’s ability to detect challenging objects (e.g., 3D-printed guns and ceramic knives) when few-shot training examples are available, especially in the real-world scenario where images of concealed dangerous items are scarce.

In this work, an accurate temperature-dependent drain current $I_{\mathrm { D}}$ fluctuation model valid from 10 to 300 K was proposed for 18 nm ultra-thin body and buried oxide (UTBB) n-channel field effect transistors (n-FETs). The temperature dependence of $I_{\mathrm { D}}$ fluctuation was characterized and investigated from 300 K down to 10 K. In moderate inversion mode, $I_{\mathrm { D}}$ fluctuation is more severe at sub-100 K while in the strong inversion mode, it still can be overshadowed by the charge screening effect. Cryogenic virtual source (CVS) device model was used to extract and analyze the carrier density and mobility which are used in the current fluctuation model. The current fluctuation model was experimentally verified under different inversion conditions, showing it can be used to analyze and optimize the flicker noise in the low temperature (LT) circuit applications.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008307.].

Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for emergency use according to China's immunization programs. These vaccines has created hope for patients with epilepsy, because the vaccines can help to reduce their risk of becoming infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of this study was to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine safety in patients with epilepsy. Here, we assessed the time of symptom control and the features of adverse events of seizure patients following their COVID-19 vaccinations. The results showed that adverse events of COVID-19 vaccinations for epilepsy patients included local pain at the injection site, dizziness and headache, epileptic attack, somnolence, limb weakness, limb pain, allergy, and fever. In addition, the average recovery time of the adverse events was approximately 42 h. More importantly, our study showed that it was relatively safe to vaccinate epilepsy patients who did not experience seizures for approximately 12 months prior to the immunization date.

Abstract Supercritical airfoils are critical components in the design of commercial wide-body aircraft wings due to their ability to enhance aerodynamic performance in transonic flow regimes. However, traditional design methods for supercritical airfoils can be time-consuming and require significant manual effort, not to mention the high cost associated with computational fluid dynamics analysis. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a highly automated approach for supercritical airfoil design, called Evolutionary Generative Design (EvoGD). The EvoGD approach is based on the framework of Evolutionary Computation and employs a series of sophisticated data-driven generative models incorporated with physical information to iteratively refine initial airfoil shapes, resulting in improved aerodynamic performances and reduced constraint violations. Moreover, to speed up the evaluation of the generated airfoils, a series of accurate and efficient data-driven predictors are utilized. The efficacy of the EvoGD approach was demonstrated through experiments on a dataset of 501 supercritical airfoils, including one baseline design and 500 randomly perturbed airfoils. On average, the generated airfoils showed improved performance in terms of buffet lift coefficient, cruise lift-to-drag ratio, and thickness by 5%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. The best generated airfoil outperformed the baseline design in terms of critical buffet lift coefficient and cruise lift-to-drag ratio by 7.1% and 6.4%, respectively. The entire design process was completed in less than an hour on a personal computer, highlighting the high efficiency and scalability of the EvoGD approach.

Abstract Background Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in obesity critically contributes to vascular dysfunction, which might be restored by long-term exercise. Protein kinase B/nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide (Akt/eNOS/NO) down-regulation within PVAT might be involved in the impaired anti-contractile function of arteries. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of long-term aerobic exercise on PVAT function and the potential regulator during this process. Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into normal diet control group (NC), normal diet exercise group (NE), high-fat diet control group (HC), and high-fat diet exercise group (HE) (n = 12 in each group). Upon the establishment of obesity (20 weeks of high-fat diet), exercise program was performed on a treadmill for 17 weeks. After the intervention, circulating biomarkers and PVAT morphology were evaluated. Vascular contraction and relaxation were determined with or without PVAT. Production of NO and the phosphorylations of Akt (Ser473) and eNOS (Ser1177) within PVAT were quantified. Results Metabolic abnormalities, systemic inflammation, and circulating adipokines in obesity were significantly restored by long-term aerobic exercise (P

Abstract Background Mouthwashes were convenient adjuncts to mechanical cleaning procedures. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in orthodontic patients. Methods By April 16, 2022, multiple databases and grey literature were searched based on the PICOS strategy. Randomized controlled trials in orthodontic patients evaluating the efficacy of mouthwashes with at least one microbial parameter and/or plaque- and/or gingival inflammation-related index were included. Relevant data were extracted, and the risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane's tool. Individual mean and standard deviation of the outcomes in mouthwashes and placebos/blank controls were pooled to estimate the weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Sensitivity analysis, and certainty of evidence were evaluated. Results Of 1684 articles, 32 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria, and nine were included for meta-analysis. Missing outcome data was the primary source of bias. Compared to blank controls, the short-term application of fluoride mouthwashes significantly reduced the colony counts of Mutans streptococci (MS), while the long-term application may not be effective. Compared to placebos or blank controls, Chlorhexidine mouthwashes significantly reduced the colony counts of multiple microorganisms in the short-term. Compared to placebos or blank controls, herbal mouthwashes showed the inhibitory effect of MS in the short-term, with some results lacking statistical significance. After meta-analysis, significant lower plaque- and gingival inflammation-related indexes were observed in the Chlorhexidine mouthwashes groups [Gingival Index: WMD = -0.45, 95%CI = -0.70 to -0.20 (placebos as control); WMD = -0.54, 95%CI = -0.96 to -0.13 (blank controls); Plaque Index: WMD = -0.70, 95%CI = -1.12 to -0.27 (blank controls)]. Significant lower gingival inflammation-related indexes were observed in the herbal mouthwashes groups [Gingival Index: WMD = -0.20, 95%CI = -0.32 to -0.09 (blank controls)]. Conclusions The short-term application of fluoride mouthwashes may reduce the colony counts of cariogenic bacteria, but the long-term effect is not evident. Chlorhexidine may reduce the colony counts of multiple microorganisms in the short-term. Short-term application Chlorhexidine and herbal mouthwashes may effectively reduce plaque- and gingival inflammation-related indexes. However, the risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision in the included studies may reduce the certainty of the evidence.

We resolve the debate over the existence and magnitude of cross-sublattice (CS) contributions to spin pumping and spin-transfer torques in a two-sublattice antiferromagnet connected to a non-magnetic metal. Guided by symmetry considerations, we first relate the controversial CS terms to specific components in the spin conductance matrix. Then, we quantify these components by studying the spin-dependent electron scattering on a fully compensated interface. We ascertain the absence of all CS contributions in the collinear regime. Even in the non-collinear regime, the CS contributions only constitute a higher-order correction to the existing theory.

Summary: Background: Currently, the role of EGFR-TKIs as adjuvant therapy for stage I, especially IA NSCLC, after surgical resection remains unclear. We aimed to compare the effect of adjuvant EGFR-TKIs with observation in such patients by incorporating an established 14-gene molecular assay for risk stratification. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Study ID: ChNCRCRD-2022-GZ01). From March 2013 to February 2019, completely resected stage I NSCLC (8th TNM staging) patients with sensitive EGFR mutation were included. Patients with eligible samples for molecular risk stratification were subjected to the 14-gene prognostic assay. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was employed to minimize imbalances in baseline characteristics. Findings: A total of 227 stage I NSCLC patients were enrolled, with 55 in EGFR-TKI group and 172 in the observation group. The median duration of follow-up was 78.4 months. After IPTW, the 5-year DFS (HR = 0.30, 95% CI, 0.14–0.67; P = 0.003) and OS (HR = 0.26, 95% CI, 0.07–0.96; P = 0.044) of the EGFR-TKI group were significantly better than the observation group. For subgroup analyses, adjuvant EGFR-TKIs were associated with favorable 5-year DFS rates in both IA (100.0% vs. 84.5%; P = 0.007), and IB group (98.8% vs. 75.3%; P = 0.008). The 14-gene assay was performed in 180 patients. Among intermediate-high-risk patients, EGFR-TKIs were associated with a significant improvement in 5-year DFS rates compared to observation (96.0% vs. 70.5%; P = 0.012), while no difference was found in low-risk patients (100.0% vs. 94.9%; P = 0.360). Interpretation: Our study suggested that adjuvant EGFR-TKI might improve DFS and OS of stage IA and IB EGFR-mutated NSCLC, and the 14-gene molecular assay could help patients that would benefit the most from treatment. Funding: This work was supported by China National Science Foundation (82022048, 82373121).