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Acoustic levitation is widely used in non-container measurement and non-contact manipulation. Particles in the single-axis acoustic levitation are easily unstable in the radial direction under external perturbations. In order to explore the instability in the acoustic levitation during radial perturbations, a nonlinear acoustic levitation model considering the coupling of radial and axial vibration is proposed to analyze the dominant factors influencing the levitation stability, an acoustic levitation system consisting of a transducer and a plane reflector is established, and high-speed photography is used to observe the vibration behavior of the particle with large radial vibration and the levitation stability. The simulation results are compared and verified with the experiments, which indicate that the reduction in axial trapping stiffness due to radial vibration plays a vital role in the levitation instability. The present model can characterize the radial anti-interference ability of different levitators as well as predict the movement trajectories of levitated particles after being disturbed, which is helpful to optimize the design of acoustic levitators and provide guidance for acoustic manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz (THz) light, probing electronic responses near the Fermi level, is closely linked to DC transport. In this study, we investigate the in situ THz and DC conductivity of epitaxial VO 2 films near the heating-induced insulator–metal transition. We find that the THz conductivity transition occurs at lower temperatures than the DC conductivity transition, with the separation increasing with film thickness and crystallization quality. Analysis of the complex conductivity spectra attributes this separation to released carrier confinement at THz frequencies. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of electron dynamics in VO 2 films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the previous paper [C. W. Kim and I. Franco, J. Chem. Phys. 160, 214111-1–214111-13 (2024)], we developed a theory called MQME-D, which allows us to decompose the overall energy dissipation process in open quantum system dynamics into contributions by individual components of the bath when the subsystem dynamics is governed by a Markovian quantum master equation (MQME). Here, we contrast the predictions of MQME-D against the numerically exact results obtained by combining hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) with a recently reported protocol for monitoring the statistics of the bath. Overall, MQME-D accurately captures the contributions of specific bath components to the overall dissipation while greatly reducing the computational cost compared to exact computations using HEOM. The computations show that MQME-D exhibits errors originating from its inherent Markov approximation. We demonstrate that its accuracy can be significantly increased by incorporating non-Markovianity by exploiting time scale separations (TSS) in different components of the bath. Our work demonstrates that MQME-D combined with TSS can be reliably used to understand how energy is dissipated in realistic open quantum system dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a general and practical theoretical framework to investigate how energy is dissipated in open quantum system dynamics. This is performed by quantifying the contributions of individual bath components to the overall dissipation of the system. The framework is based on the Nakajima–Zwanzig projection operator technique, which allows us to express the rate of energy dissipation into a specific bath degree of freedom by using traces of operator products. The approach captures system-bath interactions to all orders, but is based on second-order perturbation theory on the off-diagonal subsystem's couplings and a Markovian description of the bath. The usefulness of our theory is demonstrated by applying it to various models of open quantum systems involving harmonic oscillators or spin baths and connecting the outcomes to existing results such as our previously reported formula derived for locally coupled harmonic baths [Kim and Franco, J. Chem. Phys. 154, 084109 (2021)]. We also prove that the dissipation calculated by our theory rigorously satisfies thermodynamic principles such as energy conservation and detailed balance. Overall, the strategy can be used to develop the theory and simulation of dissipation pathways to interpret and engineer the dynamics of open quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for characterizing the topological fluctuations in liquids is proposed. This approach exploits the concept of the weighted gyration tensor of a collection of particles and permits the definition of a local configurational unit (LCU). The first principal axis of the gyration tensor serves as the director of the LCU, which can be tracked and analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations. Analysis of moderately supercooled Kob–Andersen mixtures suggests that orientational relaxation of the LCU closely follows viscoelastic relaxation and exhibits a two-stage behavior. The slow relaxing component of the LCU corresponds to the structural, Maxwellian mechanical relaxation. Additionally, it is found that the mean curvature of the LCUs is approximately zero at the Maxwell relaxation time with the Gaussian curvature being negative. This observation implies that structural relaxation occurs when the configurationally stable and destabilized regions interpenetrate each other in a bicontinuous manner. Finally, the mean and Gaussian curvatures of the LCUs can serve as reduced variables for the shear stress correlation, providing a compelling proof of the close connection between viscoelastic relaxation and topological fluctuations in glass-forming liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Normal cells express functional tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), designated WWOXf. UV irradiation induces WWOXf cells to undergo bubbling cell death (BCD) — an event due to the accumulation of nuclear nitric oxide (NO) gas that forcefully pushes the nuclear and cell membranes to form one or two bubbles at room temperature (22 °C) and below. In contrast, when WWOX-deficient or -dysfunctional (WWOXd) cells are exposed to UV and/or cold shock, the cells undergo nuclear pop-out explosion death (POD). We aimed to determine the morphological and biochemical changes in WWOXf cells during BCD versus apoptosis. Methods: WWOXf and WWOXd cells were exposed to UV followed by measuring BCD or POD by time-lapse microscopy and/or time-lapse holographic microscopy at 4, 22, or 37 °C to visualize morphological changes. Live cell stains were used to measure the kinetics of nitric oxide (NO) production and Ca2+ influx. Extent of cell death was measured by uptake of propidium iodide and by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation using agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: WWOXf cells were exposed to UV and then cold shock, or cold shock and then UV, and cultured at 4, 10, and 22 °C, respectively. Initially, UV induced calcium influx and NO production, which led to nuclear bubbling and final death. Cold shock pretreatment completely suppressed UV-mediated bubbling at 37 °C, so the UV/cold shock-treated cells underwent apoptosis. Without cold shock, UV only induced bubbling at all temperatures, whereas the efficiency of bubbling at 37 °C was reduced by greater than 50%. Morphologically, the WWOXf cell height or thickness was significantly increased during cell division or apoptosis, but the event did not occur in BCD. In comparison, when WWOXd cancer cells received UV or UV/cold shock, these cells underwent NO-independent POD. UV/cold shock effectively downregulated the expression of many proteins such as the housekeeping α-tubulin (> 70%) and β-actin (< 50%), and cortactin (> 70%) in WWOXf COS7 cells. UV/cold shock induced relocation of α-tubulin to the nucleus and nuclear bubbles in damaged cells. UV induced co-translocation of the WWOX/TRAF2 complex to the nuclei, in which the prosurvival TRAF2 blocked the proapoptotic WWOX via its zinc finger domain. Without WWOX, TRAF2 did not relocate to the nuclei. Cold shock caused the dissociation of the WWOX/TRAF2 complex in the nucleus needed for BCD. In contrast, the formation of the WWOX/TRAF2 complex, plus p53, was strengthened at 37 °C required for apoptosis. Conclusions: The temperature-sensitive nuclear WWOX/TRAF2 complex acts as a molecular switch, whose dissociation favors BCD at low temperatures, and the association supports apoptosis at 37 °C in UV-treated WWOXf cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study has found that monoclonal antibodies targeting a conserved epitope peptide spanning from residues 1144 to 1156 of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, namely S(1144–1156), can broadly neutralize all of the prevalent SARS-CoV-2 strains, including the wild type, Alpha, Epsilon, Delta, and Gamma variants. In the study, S(1144–1156) was conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and formulated with Montanide ISA 51 adjuvant for inoculation in BALB/c mice to study its potential as a vaccine candidate. Results showed that the titers of S protein-specific IgGs and the neutralizing antibodies in mouse sera against various SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Omicron sublineages, were largely induced along with three doses of immunization. The significant release of IFN-γ and IL-2 was also observed by ELISpot assays through stimulating vaccinated mouse splenocytes with the S(1144–1156) peptide. Furthermore, the vaccination of the S(1143–1157)- and S(1142–1158)-EGFP fusion proteins can elicit more SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in mouse sera than the S(1144–1156)-EGFP fusion protein. Interestingly, the antisera collected from mice inoculated with the S(1144–1156) peptide vaccine exhibited better efficacy for neutralizing Omicron BA.2.86 and JN.1 subvariants than Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and XBB subvariants. Since the amino acid sequences of the S(1144–1156) are highly conserved among various SARS-CoV-2 variants, the immunogen containing the S(1144–1156) core epitope can be designed as a broadly effective COVID-19 vaccine. Key points: • Inoculation of mice with the S(1144–1156) peptide vaccine can induce bnAbs against various SARS-CoV-2 variants. • The S(1144–1156) peptide stimulated significant release of IFN-γ and IL-2 in vaccinated mouse splenocytes. • The S(1143–1157) and S(1142–1158) peptide vaccines can elicit more SARS-CoV-2 nAbs in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high incidence of dyslipidemia comprising high triglyceride (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. An abnormal increase of TGs within cells can lead to intracellular lipid accumulation. In addition to dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia in diabetes may elicit ectopic lipid deposition in non-adipose tissues. Hyperglycemia increases intracellular levels of methylglyoxal (MG) leading to cellular dysfunction. A deficit of glyoxalase I (GLO1) contributes to dicarbonyl stress. Whether dicarbonyl stress induced by MG causes renal lipotoxicity through alteration of lipid metabolism signaling is still unknown. In this study, mice with high fat diet-induced diabetes were used to investigate the renal pathology induced by MG. NRK52E cells treated with MG were further used in vitro to delineate the involvement of lipogenic signaling. After treatment with MG for 12 weeks, plasma TG levels, renal fatty changes, and tubular injuries were aggravated in diabetic mice. In NRK52E cells, MG activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), resulting in stimulation of fatty acid synthase. The intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets was mainly contributed by TGs, which increased the oxidative stress accompanied by high Nrf2 expression. In addition, MG time-dependently activated cyclin D, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and cleaved caspase-3, evidencing that G0/G1 arrest was associated with apoptosis of NRK52E cells. In conclusion, our studies revealed the mechanism of lipotoxicity caused by MG. The target of such dicarbonyl stress may become a promising therapy for diabetic CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has gained popularity due to perceived advantages in achieving better early outcomes. However, the theoretical benefits such as precise implant positioning and accurate leg length restoration are still inconsistent. In this study, we compared implant position and leg length discrepancy (LLD) of the DAA and posterolateral approach (PLA) conducted by a single surgeon who had mastered both approaches. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographic images of 244 patients who underwent THA between 2012 and 2021 by a single experienced surgeon using either the DAA (n = 120) or PLA (n = 124). Postoperative pelvic anteroposterior radiographs at 6 months follow-up were used to assess acetabular component inclination and anteversion, as well as LLD. Mann-Whitney U tests and Chi-squared test were performed to compare outcomes between the two approaches. Results: No significant differences were observed in patient demographics between the two groups. The DAA group demonstrated significantly lower postoperative LLD (0.00 mm) compared to the PLA group (5.00 mm, p < 0.0001). No significant difference was observed in the Lewinnek zone for cup anteversion and inclination angles between the two groups. Conclusions: For experienced surgeons in other approaches, our findings suggest transferring to the DAA may not substantially improve cup positioning, but it might slightly enhance limb length measurement. For surgeons already proficient in other approaches and deciding to maintain those approaches, their primary concern for optimal THA outcome should be striving for leg length equivalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bone grafts are extensively used for repairing bone defects and voids in orthopedics and dentistry. Moldable bone grafts offer a promising solution for treating irregular bone defects, which are often difficult to fill with traditional rigid grafts. However, practical applications have been limited by insufficient mechanical strength and rapid degradation. Methods: This study developed a ceramic composite bone graft composed of calcium sulfate (CS), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with/without graphene oxide (GO) nano-particles. The biomechanical properties, degradation rate, and in-vitro cellular responses were investigated. In addition, the graft was implanted in-vivo in a critical-sized calvarial defect model. Results: The results showed that the compressive strength significantly improved by 135% and the degradation rate slowed by 25.5% in comparison to the control model. The addition of GO nanoparticles also improved cell compatibility and promoted osteogenic differentiation in the in-vitro cell culture study and was found to be effective at promoting bone repair in the in-vivo animal model. Conclusions: The mixed ceramic composites presented in this study can be considered as a promising alternative for bone graft applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Clinical trials have shown the kidney‐protective benefits of sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). However, their real‐world impact, particularly across varying levels of albuminuria, remains less well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the association of SGLT2i, compared with other oral glucose‐lowering drugs, with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) progression in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stratified by urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR) levels.Using data from a national database spanning from 2016 to 2021, the study included patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD with estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and who started on SGLT2i or other oral glucose‐lowering drugs. Patients were stratified into groups by UACR ≥300 mg/g and <300 mg/g. Propensity score matching was used to minimize confounding, and progression to ESKD was evaluated using competing risks and Cox proportional‐hazards models. All‐cause mortality was also analyzed.Following propensity score matching, 18,514 patients in the severely increased albuminuria group (UACR ≥300 mg/g) were tracked, with 2.6% progressing to ESKD over 3 years. In contrast, only 0.3% of the 26,946 patients with UACR <300 mg/g progressed to ESKD. SGLT2i use was associated with a 30% reduction in risk of ESKD progression, compared with the use of other oral glucose‐lowering drugs, in the severely increased albuminuria group (hazard ratio[HR]: 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.80). In the lower albuminuria group, no significant association was evident, though there was a nonsignificant trend toward protection over time. A consistent reduction in mortality risk was observed across all albuminuria levels.SGLT2i are associated with a reduction in the progression to ESKD among patients with severely increased albuminuria, with less pronounced effects observed in those with lower albuminuria levels, suggesting variability in renal outcomes based on albuminuria severity. The consistent survival benefit across all albuminuria levels supports the potential utility of SGLT2i in diabetes and CKD treatment strategies, emphasizing the need for more targeted research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low back pain is a common clinical symptom of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), which seriously affects the quality of life of the patients. The abnormal apoptosis and senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of IVDD. PHLDA2 is an imprinted gene related to cell apoptosis and tumour progression. However, its role in NPC degeneration is not yet clear. Therefore, this study was set to explore the effects of PHLDA2 on NPC senescence and apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms. The expression of PHLDA2 was examined in human nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues and NPCs. Immunohistochemical staining, magnetic resonance imaging imaging and western blot were performed to evaluate the phenotypes of intervertebral discs. Senescence and apoptosis of NPCs were assessed by SA‐β‐galactosidase, flow cytometry and western blot. Mitochondrial function was investigated by JC‐1 staining and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the expression level of PHLDA2 was abnormally elevated in degenerated human NP tissues and NPCs. Furthermore, knockdown of PHLDA2 can significantly inhibit senescence and apoptosis of NPCs, whereas overexpression of PHLDA2 can reverse senescence and apoptosis of NPCs in vitro. In vivo experiment further confirmed that PHLDA2 knockdown could alleviate IVDD in rats. Knockdown of PHLDA2 could also reverse senescence and apoptosis in IL‐1β‐treated NPCs. JC‐1 staining indicated PHLDA2's knockdown impaired disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential and also ameliorated superstructural destruction of NPCs as showed by transmission electron microscopy. Finally, we found the PHLDA2 knockdown promoted Collagen‐II expression and suppressed MMP3 expression in NPCs by repressing wnt/β‐catenin pathway. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that PHLDA2 promotes IL‐1β‐induced apoptosis and senescence of NP cells via mitochondrial route by activating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, and suggested that therapy targeting PHLDA2 may provide valuable insights into possible IVDD therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and influences disease progression. Although molecular and culture‐independent studies revealed RA patients harbored a core microbiome and had characteristic bacterial species, the lack of cultured bacterial strains had limited investigations on their functions. This study aimed to establish an RA‐originated gut microbial biobank (RAGMB) that covers and further to correlates and validates core microbial species on clinically used and diagnostic inflammation and immune indices. We obtained 3200 bacterial isolates from fecal samples of 20 RA patients with seven improved and 11 traditional bacterial cultivation methods. These isolates were phylogenetically identified and selected for RAGMB. The RAGMB harbored 601 bacterial strains that represented 280 species (including 43 novel species) of seven bacterial phyla. The RAGMB covered 93.2% at species level of medium‐ and high‐abundant (relative abundances ≥0.2%) RA gut microbes, and included four rare species of the phylum Synergistota. The RA core gut microbiome was defined and composed of 20 bacterial species. Among these, Mediterraneibacter tenuis and Eubacterium rectale were two species that statistically and significantly correlated with clinically used diagnostic indices such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and IL‐10. Thus, M. tenuis and E. rectale were selected for experimental validation using DSS‐treated and not DSS‐treated mice model. Results demonstrated both M. tenuis and E. rectale exacerbated host inflammatory responses, including shortened colon length and increased spleen weight, decreased IL‐10 and increased IL‐17A levels in plasma. Overall, we established the RAGMB, defined the RA core microbiome, correlated and demonstrated core microbial species effected on host inflammatory and immune responses. This work provides diverse gut microbial resources for future studies on RA etiology and potential new targets for new biomedical practices. Highlights: An rheumatoid arthritis (RA)‐originated gut microbial biobank (RAGMB) was established, comprising 601 bacterial strains representing 280 species (including 43 novel species) across seven bacterial phyla.RAGMB covers 93.2% of medium‐ and high‐abundant RA gut microbe species from isolated samples.The RA core microbiome consists of 20 bacterial species, with Mediterraneibacter tenuis and Eubacterium rectale showing significant correlations with clinical indices such as ESR and IL‐10.RA core species Mediterraneibacter tenuis and Eubacterium rectale exacerbate inflammatory responses, including shortened colon length, enlarged spleen and altered plasma cytokine levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, with many cases being fully curable. However, resistance to anticancer drugs often leads to metastasis or recurrence, contributing to the failure of cancer therapy and, ultimately, patient mortality. The mechanisms underlying molecular differences in patients with metastatic or recurrent PTC, particularly those resistant to anticancer drugs through epigenetic reprogramming, remain poorly understood. Consequently, refractory PTC presents a critical challenge, and effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Therefore, this study aimed to identify small-molecule inhibitors to enhance treatment efficacy in lenvatinib-resistant PTC. We observed an increase in sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) levels in patient-derived lenvatinib-resistant PTC cells compared with lenvatinib-sensitive ones, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. We subsequently identified two SERCA inhibitors [candidates 40 (isoflurane) and 42 (ethacrynic acid)] through in silico screening. These candidates demonstrated significant tumor shrinkage in a xenograft tumor model and reduced cell viability in patient-derived lenvatinib-resistant PTC cells when used in combination with lenvatinib. Our findings have potential clinical value for the development of new combination therapies to effectively target highly malignant, anticancer drug-resistant cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pasteurella spp. can cause fatal zoonotic infections in humans. We performed a multicenter study to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of Pasteurella infections in South Korea during 2018‒2022. We also conducted a collaborative systematic review and metaanalysis of the global burden of Pasteurella bacteremia. The study included 283 cases and found an increasing trend in Pasteurella infections. Blood cultures were positive in 8/35 (22.9%) cases sampled, for an overall bacteremia-associated rate of 2.8% (8/283). Aging was a significant risk factor for bacteremia (odds ratio 1.05 [95% CI 1.01–1.10]), according to multivariate analyses. For the meta-analysis, we included a total of 2,012 cases from 10 studies. The pooled prevalence of bacteremia was 12.4% (95% CI 7.3%–18.6%) and of mortality 8.4% (95% CI 2.7%–16.5%). Our findings reflect the need for greater understanding of the increase in Pasteurella infections and the global burden of Pasteurella bacteremia to determine appropriate case management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of a non-invasive scanning technique called cellular resolution full-field optical coherence tomography (CRFF-OCT) to analyze the features of melasma, a skin condition associated with photoaging. The study found that melasma lesions had significantly higher numbers and activities of activated melanocytes, resulting in spinous hyperpigmentation and increased vascularity compared to nearby perilesions. However, there were no significant differences in basal hyperpigmentation, basement membrane disruption, melanophages, inflammatory cells, or collagen degradation between the two. The findings suggest that photodamage is present in the facial skin of patients with melasma, and treatment should focus on rejuvenating the entire dermis. [Extracted from the article]

With the increasing popularity of watching baseball videos, there is a growing desire among fans to enjoy the highlights of these videos. However, the extraction of the highlights from lengthy baseball videos faces a significant challenge due to its time-consuming and labor-intensive nature. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a novel mechanism, called Hierarchical Multimodal Transformer for Video query (HMTV). The proposed HMTV incorporates a two-phase involving Coarse-Grained clipping for candidate videos and Fine-Grained identification for highlights. In the Coarse-Grained phase, a pitching detection model is employed to extract relevant candidate videos from baseball videos, encompassing the features of pitch deliveries and pitching. In the Fine-Grained phase, Transformer encoder and pre-trained Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) are utilized to capture relationship features between frames of candidate videos and words from users’ questions, respectively. These relationship features are then fed into the Video Query (VideoQ) model, implemented by the Text Video Attention (TVA). The VideoQ model identifies the start and end positions of the highlights mentioned in the query within the candidate videos. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed HMTV significantly improves accuracy of highlights identification in terms of precision, recall, and F1-score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing popularity of watching baseball videos, there is a growing desire among fans to enjoy the highlights of these videos. However, the extraction of the highlights from lengthy baseball videos faces a significant challenge due to its time-consuming and labor-intensive nature. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a novel mechanism, called Hierarchical Multimodal Transformer for Video query (HMTV). The proposed HMTV incorporates a two-phase involving Coarse-Grained clipping for candidate videos and Fine-Grained identification for highlights. In the Coarse-Grained phase, a pitching detection model is employed to extract relevant candidate videos from baseball videos, encompassing the features of pitch deliveries and pitching. In the Fine-Grained phase, Transformer encoder and pre-trained Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) are utilized to capture relationship features between frames of candidate videos and words from users’ questions, respectively. These relationship features are then fed into the Video Query (VideoQ) model, implemented by the Text Video Attention (TVA). The VideoQ model identifies the start and end positions of the highlights mentioned in the query within the candidate videos. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed HMTV significantly improves accuracy of highlights identification in terms of precision, recall, and F1-score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food industry is still dependent on plastics for packaging materials, primarily due to their effectiveness in safeguarding products from external factors, such as moisture, light, and gas. However, traditional plastic packaging lacks the ability to actively preserve the quality and extend the shelf life of food. To address this challenge, various methods are currently being developed through surface modifications and the incorporation of active compounds. In most cases, studies on the modification of active film using low-pressure plasma (LPP) use different parameters, including time, pressure, and power, without a systematic optimization process. Therefore, this study aims to determine the optimum parameters for the combination of LPP treatment and Pickering emulsion (PE) of nutmeg essential oil (NEO) using Taguchi's orthogonal assay design (OAD) to produce LDPE-active film. The results showed that the optimum conditions were 15 W LPP power, 30 s LPP duration time, and 1.5% PE-NEO concentration. These results showed a 50% improvement in power and time efficiency. LDPE film–loaded PE-NEO was then applied to tilapia fillets in cold storage. The results showed that the TBARS and TBVN values of the samples after the treatment were lower than those of the control by 12.11% and 16.74%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes leads to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and neuropathic pain, yet the association between glycemic variability and painful DPN remains insufficiently evidenced. To address this, we conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study involving adult type 2 diabetes patients at a medical center. DPN was identified using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), and neuropathic pain was assessed with the Taiwan version of the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4-T) questionnaire. At baseline in 2013, all participants were free of DPN and were re-evaluated in 2019 for the development of painful DPN. We measured visit-to-visit glycemic fluctuations using the coefficient of variation (CV) of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Patients were stratified into tertiles according to their FPG-CV and HbA1c-CV. Among the 622 participants, 267 developed DPN during the six-year follow-up. Following matching of age and sex, 210 patients without DPN and 210 with DPN (including 26 with neuropathic pain) were identified. Our findings revealed a significant association between high FPG-CV and painful DPN, with the highest tertile showing an adjusted odds ratio of 2.82 (95% confidence interval 1.04–7.64) compared to the lowest tertile. On the contrary, HbA1c-CV did not show a significant association with the risk of painful DPN. Our study indicates that higher FPG-CV is associated with an increased risk of painful DPN, supporting the role of glycemic variability in the development of painful DPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient methodologies for the controlled manufacture of specific stereoisomers bearing quaternary stereocenters has prompted advances in a variety of scientific disciplines including pharmaceutical chemistry, materials science, and chemical biology. However, complete control of the absolute and relative stereochemical configurations of alkyne derivatives remains an unmet synthetic challenge. Herein, a Ni/Cu dual‐catalyzed asymmetric propargylic substitution reaction is presented to produce propargylated products with all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters in high yields with significant diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up to >20:1 dr, >99% ee). The synthesis of all stereochemical variants of methohexital, a widely used sedative‐hypnotic drug, exemplifies the efficacy of dual‐catalyzed stereodivergent propargylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Geriatric hip fracture patients have an increased risk of malnutrition. Proper nutritional supply in the perioperative period is very important for their recovery. Oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) are recommended in geriatric hip fracture patients to improve dietary intake and prevent complications. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative ONSs after total hip arthroplasty in geriatric hip fracture patients. Methods: A retrospective study of elderly patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty for hip fracture was conducted. Data from patients who received ONSs postoperatively until hospital discharge (ONS group, n = 69) were compared with patients who did not receive ONSs (control group, n = 168). Laboratory test results, including serum protein and albumin levels, length of hospital stay, and the incidence of postoperative medical complications of the two groups, were analyzed. Results: Preoperative serum protein and albumin levels were significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.010, respectively). However, the degree of decline for both protein and albumin levels was significantly less in the ONS group (p < 0.001 for both). Serum albumin levels were significantly higher in the ONS group at postoperative two-week follow-up (p = 0.006). The length of hospital stay was shorter in the ONS group (p < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative delirium was significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.007). Conclusions: In geriatric hip fracture patients, postoperative ONSs can improve postoperative nutritional status, shorten the length of hospital stay, and reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central noradrenergic (NA) neurons are key constituents of the respiratory homeostatic network. NA dysfunction is implicated in several developmental respiratory disorders including Congenital Central Hyperventilation Syndrome (CCHS), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and Rett Syndrome. The current unchallenged paradigm in the field, supported by multiple studies, is that glutamate co-transmission in subsets of central NA neurons plays a role in breathing control. If true, NA-glutamate co-transmission may also be mechanistically important in respiratory disorders. However, the requirement of NA-derived glutamate in breathing has not been directly tested and the extent of glutamate co-transmission in the central NA system remains uncharacterized. Therefore, we fully characterized the cumulative fate maps and acute adult expression patterns of all three vesicular glutamate transporters (Slc17a7 (Vglut1), Slc17a6 (Vglut2), and Slc17a8 (Vglut3)) in NA neurons, identifying a novel, dynamic expression pattern for Vglut2 and an undescribed co-expression domain for Vglut3 in the NA system. In contrast to our initial hypothesis that NA-derived glutamate is required to breathing, our functional studies showed that loss of Vglut2 throughout the NA system failed to alter breathing or metabolism under room air, hypercapnia, or hypoxia in unrestrained and unanesthetized mice. These data demonstrate that Vglut2-based glutamatergic signaling within the central NA system is not required for normal baseline breathing and hypercapnic, hypoxic chemosensory reflexes. These outcomes challenge the current understanding of central NA neurons in the control of breathing and suggests that glutamate may not be a critical target to understand NA neuron dysfunction in respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the optimal tracking control problem with prescribed performance for uncertain nonlinear systems subject to input constraint and unknown disturbances. First, a fixed‐time monotonic convergence function is introduced to restrain tracking error, and a nonlinear mapping technique is employed to transform the constrained error into an unconstrained variable, then the fixed‐time output tracking issue is boiled down to the boundedness problem of the transformed variable. With the aid of a nonquadratic cost function, the input constraint is encoded into the optimization problem. To solve the unknown disturbances, an auxiliary system and an auxiliary disturbance policy are constructed, and the optimal control problem is formulated as a two‐player zero‐sum game. Moreover, a Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs (HJI) equation associated with this nonquadratic zero‐sum game is established to give the optimal control and the worst‐case disturbance policy solution. Subsequently, to avoid using knowledge of the system dynamics, three neural network approximators, namely, actor, critic, and disturbance, which are tuned online and simultaneously for approximating the solution of HJI, are constructed based on the integral reinforcement learning algorithm. Theoretical analysis shows that the reconstructed error system states and the weight estimation errors are semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, the simulation study further tests the availability of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Haber‐Bosch process is commonly used to produce ammonia while consuming energy and yielding huge emissions of carbon dioxide. Finding an alternative way to produce ammonia sustainably is a promising research direction with less CO2 emission. Photochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NtRR) to ammonia (NH3) could solve the nitrate pollutant problem in water and approach to produce ammonia with a more environmentally friendly process and lower energy consumption. In this work, the subnanometer‐sized copper oxide clusters decorated on titanium oxide nanoparticles (CuOx‐TiO2) were synthesized through the hydrothermal method and calcination treatment. CuOx‐TiO2 demonstrated impressively conversion rate of NO3− to NH3 with a yield of 153.09 μg‐gcat−1‐h−1 in KNO3 solution. The characteristic structure analysis revealed CuOx clusters with ~less than 1 nm decorated on TiO2 nanoparticles. From in‐situ X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopic technique, the transformation of the oxidation state of Cu clusters and the changes of local structure in the CuOx‐TiO2 were observed. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of nitrate reduction on the CuOx‐TiO2 was successfully revealed. These discoveries have broad implications for the functional advancement of catalysts based on subnanometer‐sized clusters. Our findings may pave the way for exploring advanced ammonia synthesis routes with reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to discuss the identification of the C1 nerve root as an effective surgical approach to successfully locate the shunting point of craniocervical junction spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (CCJ-SDAVF) intraoperatively. This study included all patients with CCJ-SDAVF who underwent surgical treatment using the far-lateral transcondylar approach at a single institution from January 2017 to June 2023. Data on patient demographics, clinical and angiographic characteristics of CCJ-SDAVF, surgical details, and treatment outcomes were collected. Follow-up assessments were conducted for all patients until December 31, 2023. The study included a total of 7 patients, comprising 5 men(71.4%) and 2 women (28.6%), with an average age of 57.6 years. Among them, 4 patients (57.1%) developed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), while 2 patients (28.6%) experienced progressive cervical myelopathy. The shunting points of all CCJ-SDAVFs, which exhibited engorged veins, were identified next to the C1 root. Complete obliteration of CCJ-SDAVFs was successfully achieved in all patients, as confirmed by postoperative angiography one month later. No recurrent CCJ-SDAVFs were observed two years after the operation. Among the patients, 5 (71.4%) experienced good functional recovery, as indicated by an mRS score ranging from 0 to 1, while the remaining 2 patients (28.6%) showed incomplete functional recovery. The surgical interruption of CCJ-SDAVFs is the preferred treatment option, given its high obliteration rate and favorable functional recovery outcomes. We advocate the identification of C1 spinal nerve root as a crucial surgical step to identify the shunting points of CCJ- SDAVFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible data-hiding in encrypted images (RDHEI) plays a pivotal role in preserving privacy within images stored on cloud platforms. Recently, Wang et al. introduced a dual-stage permutation encryption scheme, which is highly compatible with RDHEI techniques. In this study, we undertake an exhaustive examination of the characteristics inherent to the dual-stage permutation scheme and propose two cryptanalysis schemes leveraging a large-kernel convolutional neural network (LKCNN) and a known plaintext attack (KPA) scheme, respectively. Our experimental findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our cryptanalysis schemes in breaking the dual-stage permutation encryption scheme. Based on our investigation, we highlight significant security vulnerabilities in the dual-stage permutation encryption scheme, raising concerns about its suitability for secure image storage and privacy protection in cloud environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the molecular basis of rheological properties is crucial from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. Slit rheometry is commonly employed to measure the viscosity of fluids. This study utilized molecular dynamics simulations to investigate isothermal contraction flow at the nanoscale. Short linear polyethylene chains were uniformly extruded by a constant-speed piston from a reservoir through an abrupt contraction slit into the surrounding vacuum. Overall, die swelling and die wetting phenomena were observed. Molecular chains were stretched within the slit, while those outside the slit shrunk. Notably, the velocity profile within the slit varied with wall slip at different extrusion velocities. The relationship between the apparent shear viscosity and shear rate exhibited two primary characteristics: the first-Newtonian plateau and the shear thinning slope. Therefore, this molecular simulation method effectively demonstrates the general non-Newtonian behavior of macroscopic polymer fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fetal microchimerism occurs in the mother after a pregnancy. To investigate the role of fetal microchimerism cells (FMCs) in rheumatoid arthritis, we analyzed the population of fetal cells in pregnant experimental arthritis mice. Methods: We used EGFP+ fetuses, which were mated with either healthy female mice or CIA mice, and male C57BL/6J‐Tg (Pgk1‐EGFP)03Narl mice, to detect the population of FMCs in maternal circulation. The disease progression was determined by measuring the clinical score and histological stains during pregnancy. The fetal cells have been analyzed if expressing EGFP, CD45, and Scal by flow cytometry. We also detected the expression of CD14+ IL‐10+ cells in vivo and in vitro. Results: Our data showed that the pregnancy ameliorated the arthritis progression of CIA mice. The IHC stains showed the CD45 −Sca‐1+ EGFP+ FMCs were expressed in the bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at 14 gestation days. However, Treg and Tc cell populations showed no significant change in the bone marrow. The data showed the H2Kb + fetal cells induced CD14+ IL10+ cell populations increased in the bone marrow in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: Our investigations demonstrated that the FMCs protected the CIA mice from cartilage damage and triggered an immunosuppressive response in them by increasing the number of CD14+ IL10+ cells. In conclusion, the FMCs could potentially exhibit protective properties within the context of inflammatory arthritis that arises during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, little research delineates the temporal and mechanistic associations between potential risk factors and suicidality in autistic individuals. We assessed 129 autistic and 121 age-matched and sex-assigned-at-birth-matched typically developing (TD) children and youth at baseline and follow-up. We evaluated internalizing/externalizing problems, bullying experiences, and three executive function tasks at a mean baseline age of 13.4 years (standard deviation: 4.2 years). After an average of 5.8 years (standard deviation: 1.7 years), we evaluated their suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The experiences of being bullied partially mediated the temporal relationship between pre-existing ASD and later-reported suicidal thoughts. Several cognitive flexibility and sustained attention indices mediated the temporal relationship between pre-existing ASD and later-reported suicidal thoughts. A multiple mediation model confirmed that bullying victimization and cognitive flexibility jointly mediated the temporal relationship between ASD and suicidal thoughts. Better cognitive flexibility and experiences of bullying victimization in autistic children/youth were both associated with higher risks of later-reported suicidal thoughts in adolescence/adulthood. School bullying-prevention programs and tailored clinical support for autistic youth with better cognitive flexibility are warranted for personalized suicide prevention for the autistic population. Autistic people are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The underlying relationships between potential risk factors and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in autistic individuals remain unclear. To understand this, we investigated whether specific factors in childhood/youth explain the effects of pre-existing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses on later suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescence/adulthood. We assessed internalizing and externalizing problems, bullying experiences, and executive functions (including cognitive flexibility, sustained attention, and spatial working memory) at an average baseline age of 13.4 years and suicidal thoughts and behaviors at an average follow-up age of 19.2 years among 129 autistic and 121 typically developing (TD) individuals. During the follow-up period in adolescence/adulthood, autistic individuals were more likely to report suicidal thoughts than TD individuals. Being bullied partially accounted for the relationship between a pre-existing ASD diagnosis and later-reported higher suicidal thoughts. Contrary to our hypothesis, higher (instead of lower) cognitive flexibility in some autistic young people appeared to partially explain their higher rates of suicidal thoughts compared with typically developing young people. The findings imply that school bullying prevention and tailored intervention programs for autistic people, especially those with higher cognitive flexibility, are warranted to reduce their risks of experiencing suicidal thoughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors present the design of a compact multiband monopole antenna measuring 30 × 10 × 1.6 mm3, which is aimed at optimizing performance across various communication bands, with a particular focus on Wi-Fi and sub-6G bands. These bands include the 2.4 GHz band, the 3.5 GHz band, and the 5–6 GHz band, ensuring versatility in practical applications. Another important point is that this paper demonstrates effective methods for reducing mutual coupling through two meander slits on the common ground, resembling a defected ground structure (DGS) between two antenna elements. This approach achieves mutual coupling suppression from −6.5 dB and −9 dB to −26 dB and −13 dB at 2.46 GHz and 3.47 GHz, respectively. Simulated and measured results are in good agreement, demonstrating significant improvements in isolation and overall multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system performance. This research proposes a compact multiband monopole antenna and demonstrates a method to suppress coupling in multiband antennas, making them suitable for internet of things (IoT) sensor devices and Wi-Fi infrastructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Imiquimod (IMQ) is clinically used in the treatment of various skin malignancies. We previously showed that IMQ-induced apoptosis and autophagic cell death in skin cancer cells are ROS-dependent. Additionally, IMQ-induced apoptosis is associated with a decrease in Mcl-1 levels. However, the exact role of Mcl-1 in IMQ-induced apoptosis, including its protective mechanisms and physiological function in cancer cells, remains unclear. This study demonstrated that the overexpression of Mcl-1 or IL-6-induced Mcl-1 upregulation reversed mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial fission, and mitophagy in IMQ-treated cancer cells and protected them from IMQ-induced apoptosis. These results provide significant insights supporting the role of Mcl-1 in mitochondria and suggest that it may be a potential target for cancer research and therapy. Mitochondria, vital organelles that generate ATP, determine cell fate. Dysfunctional and damaged mitochondria are fragmented and removed through mitophagy, a mitochondrial quality control mechanism. The FDA-approved drug IMQ, a synthetic agonist of Toll-like receptor 7, exhibits antitumor activity against various skin malignancies. We previously reported that IMQ promptly reduced the level of the antiapoptotic Mcl-1 protein and that Mcl-1 overexpression attenuated IMQ-triggered apoptosis in skin cancer cells. Furthermore, IMQ profoundly disrupted mitochondrial function, promoted mitochondrial fragmentation, induced mitophagy, and caused cell death by generating high levels of ROS. However, whether Mcl-1 protects mitochondria from IMQ treatment is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Mcl-1 overexpression induced resistance to IMQ-induced apoptosis and reduced both IMQ-induced ROS generation and oxidative stress in cancer cells. Mcl-1 overexpression maintained mitochondrial function and integrity and prevented mitophagy in IMQ-treated cancer cells. Furthermore, IL-6 protected against IMQ-induced apoptosis by increasing Mcl-1 expression and attenuating IMQ-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Mcl-1 overexpression ameliorates IMQ-induced ROS generation and mitochondrial fragmentation, thereby increasing mitochondrial stability and ultimately attenuating IMQ-induced cell death. Investigating the roles of Mcl-1 in mitochondria is a potential strategy for cancer therapy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-Mg alloys are widely used as important engineering structural materials in aerospace engineering, transportation systems, and structural constructions due to their low density, high specific strength, corrosion resistance, welding capability, fatigue strength, and cost-effectiveness. However, the conventional Al-Mg alloys can no longer fully satisfy the demands of practical production due to difficulties caused by many defects. The high strength of Al-Mg alloys as non-heat treatment precipitation-strengthened alloys is achieved primarily by solid solution strengthening along with work hardening rather than precipitation strengthening. Therefore, severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques can be often used to produce ultrafine-grained structures to fabricate ultra-high strength aluminum alloys. However, this approach often achieves the strengthening of material at the cost of reduced ductility. This paper comprehensively summarizes the various approaches of ultrafine/nanocrystalline materials for enhancing their plasticity, elaborates on the creation of a bimodal microstructure within the alloy, and discusses the formation of a nanotwin microstructure within the alloy and the incorporation of dispersed nanoparticles. The mechanisms underlying both the strengthening and toughening during large plastic deformation in aluminum alloys are summarized, and the future research direction of high-performance ultrafine crystalline and nanocrystalline Al-Mg aluminum alloys is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is used to thoroughly assess and identify complex healthcare problems among older adults. However, administration of CGA is time-consuming and labor intensive. A simple screening tool with the mnemonic "FIND-NEEDS" was developed to quickly identify common geriatric conditions. The present study was to evaluate the clinimetric properties of the FIND-NEEDS. Methods: The participants comprised first-visiting older adults aged 65 years and above (and who were able to communicate by themselves or with the help of a caregiver) who were assessed (October to December, 2021) using the FIND-NEEDS and CGA at geriatric outpatient clinics of a tertiary, referred medical center. The FIND-NEEDS was examined for its criterion-related validity and compared with the CGA results. Two types of scoring (summed score and binary score) of FIND-NEEDS and CGA were analyzed using Spearman correlation, sensitivity and specificity, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The mean age of the 114 outpatients was 78.3 ± 7.6 years, and 79 (69.3%) were female. The internal consistency was excellent when using all FIND-NEEDS items, and was acceptable when using domain scores. Exploratory factor analysis showed that most of the FIND-NEEDS domain scores had factor loadings higher than 0.3. Intercorrelations of binary scores between domains of FIND-NEEDS and CGA showed most domains were moderately correlated. The overall correlation of summed scores between FIND-NEEDS and CGA was high. The FIND-NEEDS summed score was moderately correlated with CGA score (r = 0.494; p < 0.001), and the binary score showed excellent correlation (r = 0.944; p < 0.001). When using the CGA score as the gold standard, the FIND-NEEDS showed excellent AUC (0.950), sensitivity (1.00), and specificity (0.90). Discussion/Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the FIND-NEEDS had acceptable clinimetric properties to screen for geriatric problems among older adults. Further in-depth assessment and care plan can then be conducted afterwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of providing integrated care for older people. Taiwan is the fastest aging country in the world. In 2016, Taiwan implemented the Long-Term Care Plan 2.0 (TLTCP 2.0), aimed at providing integrated long-term care (LTC) services in communities. However, LTC service agencies have not been able to evaluate the level of integrated care they provide due to the lack of an effective assessment tool. To address this need, this study sets out to develop an integration assessment tool, namely the Self-Assessment for Service Integration in Long-Term Care (SASI-LTC), which will allow LTC agencies to self-evaluate their current level of integration from multiple perspectives. The SASI-LTC was developed based on Evashwick's framework, underwent two rounds of Delphi panels with twenty-six experts, and a pilot test with 243 valid questionnaires from administrators of Tier A agencies who are responsible for integrating LTC. The Delphi experts assessed the content with high levels of agreement using medians, the scale content validity index (SCVI) and item content validity index (ICVI). The SASI-LTC included four domains (inter-entity organization and management, integrated care coordination, integrated resources, and integrated information systems) with thirty items. The SASI-LTC showed good reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.94) and good validity, and a confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit index [χ2/df = 1.38; RMSEA = 0.040; CFI = 0.963; SRMR = 0.049] in pilot testing. While the SASI-LTC is a useful and feasible tool for Taiwan's LTC service agencies to evaluate their level of integration in providing LTC services, it could also be used in other countries with minor adjustments to localization of items related to financial integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor immunotherapies targeting PD-(L)1 exhibit anti-tumor efficacy in only 10–30% of patients with various cancers. Literature has demonstrated that a "hot tumor" which contains high T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment exhibits a better response to immunotherapies than a "cold tumor." This study aimed to investigate whether tumor-intrinsic IFNα and CXCL10 determine the recruitment and activation of CD8+ T cells to become "hot tumor." In this study, we found that CXCL10 overexpressed in a variety of tumors including lung, colon, and liver tumors with a correlation with PD-L1. High PD-L1 and CXCL10 are associated with better survival rates in tumor patients receiving immunotherapies. IFNs-downstream transcriptional factor IRF-1 and STAT1 were correlated with PD-L1 and CXCL10 expression. We demonstrated that IRF-1 and STAT1 were both bound with the promoters of PD-L1 and CXCL10, sharing the same signaling pathway and determining IFNs-mediated PD-L1 and CXCL10 expression. In addition, IFNα significantly increased activation marker IFNγ in PBMCs, promoting M1 type monocyte differentiation, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cell activation. Particularly, we found that CD8+ T lymphocytes abundantly expressed CXCR3, a receptor of CXCL10, by flow cytometry, indicating that tumor-intrinsic CXCL10 potentially recruited CD8+ T in tumor microenvironment. To demonstrate the hypothesis, immunotherapy-sensitive CT26 and immunotherapy-resistant LL/2 were used and we found that CT26 cells exhibited higher IFNα, IFNγ, CXCL10, and PD-L1 levels compared to LL/2, leading to higher IFNγ expression in mouse splenocytes. Moreover, we found that CD8+ T cells were recruited by CXCL10 in vitro, whereas SCH546738, an inhibitor of CXCR3, inhibited T cell migration and splenocytes-mediated anti-tumor effect. We then confirmed that CT26-derived tumor was sensitive to αPD-L1 immunotherapy and LL/2-tumor was resistant, whereas αPD-L1 significantly increased T lymphocyte activation marker CD107a in CT26-derived BALB/c mice. In conclusion, this study revealed that CXCL10 expression is correlated with PD-L1 in tumors, sharing the same signaling pathway and associating with better immunotherapeutic efficacy. Further evidence in the syngeneic tumor models demonstrated that immunotherapy-sensitive CT26 intrinsically exhibited higher IFNα and CXCL10 compared to immunotherapy-resistant LL/2 to recruit and activate CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment, exhibiting "hot tumor" characteristic of sensitizing αPD-L1 immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Metavisualization plays a key role in science and technological learning in which visualization is practiced. We conducted two sequential studies with the purposes to first develop an instrument that allows individuals to report or reflect on their metavisualization, and then validate the instrument and investigate the relationships among the dimensions of metavisualization. Sample: A total of 320 university students participated in this research. Methods: Through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in the first study and partial least squares – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in the second study, the validity and reliability of the instrument measuring the four dimensions of metavisualization were reported, and a theoretical model delineating the relationships among the four variables was explored. Findings: It was found that metacognitive skills, rather than metacognitive knowledge, significantly contributed to the demonstration of epistemic knowledge and judgment criteria during visualization. Metacognitive knowledge may also play an indirect role in learners' epistemic performance through its relation with metacognitive skills. Implications: The results provide insights to advance understanding of metavisualization and its relation to metacognition and epistemic practice. The validated instruments may be used for future quantitative or mixed research to advance understanding of the role metavisualization plays in various contexts of learning in science and technological education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security and privacy of digital images are a major concern in cyberspace. JPEG is the most widely used image compression standard and yet there are problems with format compatibility and file size preservation in most of the modern encryption schemes for JPEG images. To address these problems, we propose a novel properties-preserving encryption scheme that obfuscates JPEG images by scrambling AC and DC coefficients. The key observation is that an innovative structured permutation has a remarkable effect on enciphering the coefficients and simultaneously prevents value overflow as well as size increment. On this basis, we first leverage the row-wise reordering and reversing technique to disorganize the DC coefficients. Afterward, a series of groups of consecutive DC differential values are produced using adaptive group differentiation and each of them is independently permuted inside. Finally, we perform block-wise ACCs permutation and intra-block ACCs shuffling to further confuse the outline of the original image. Moreover, invariant features regarding the coefficients are incorporated in the key generation process to resist various cryptanalytic attacks. Experimental results demonstrate a significant improvement in terms of format compatibility and file size preservation, and verify the security against various attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have driven a paradigm shift in the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. However, >50% of CD19-CAR-T-treated patients experience progressive disease mainly due to antigen escape and low persistence. Clinical prognosis is heavily influenced by CAR-T cell function and systemic cytokine toxicities. Furthermore, it remains a challenge to efficiently, cost-effectively, and consistently manufacture clinically relevant numbers of virally engineered CAR-T cells. Using a highly efficient piggyBac transposon-based vector, Quantum pBac™ (qPB), we developed a virus-free cell-engineering system for development and production of multiplex CAR-T therapies. Here, we demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that consistent, robust and functional CD20/CD19 dual-targeted CAR-T stem cell memory (CAR-TSCM) cells can be efficiently produced for clinical application using qPB™. In particular, we showed that qPB™-manufactured CAR-T cells from cancer patients expanded efficiently, rapidly eradicated tumors, and can be safely controlled via an iCasp9 suicide gene-inducing drug. Therefore, the simplicity of manufacturing multiplex CAR-T cells using the qPB™ system has the potential to improve efficacy and broaden the accessibility of CAR-T therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catheter ablation for tachyarrhythmia via superior approach has been used in patients without possible inferior vena cava access such as in cases of venous occlusion or complex anomaly. Difficulty in catheter manipulation, instability, number of required vascular access, and radiation exposure of operator had been described in the procedure. Application of three‐dimensional (3‐D) mapping system in catheter ablation via superior approach could navigate the guiding catheter and provide more precise ablation. We reported four cases receiving catheter ablation due to atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular arrhythmia via superior approach facilitated by 3‐D mapping system with fewer vascular access and catheters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janus metasurfaces, offering versatile light manipulation contingent on incident direction, are explored across microwave to mid‐infrared spectra. Nonetheless, prior designs often resort to spatial multiplexing or vertical stacking, entailing complex fabrication. Metallic Janus metasurfaces, owing to material properties, suffer notable Ohmic losses in the visible spectrum. In this study, Single‐layer TiO2‐based Janus metasurfaces with arbitrary polarization control is experimentally demonstrated, exhibiting directionally asymmetric functionalities in spin and orbital angular momentum (OAM). A novel Jones matrix formulation tailored for Janus metasurfaces is presented, enabling efficient generation of two asymmetric, high‐purity OAM states of vortex beams at wavelength of 532 nm, contingent on incidence direction. This innovation facilitates compact and versatile phase manipulation, encompassing applications such as lasers and optical combiners, thereby expanding its utility across diverse domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridges in areas with high seismic risk are constantly exposed to earthquake threats. Therefore, comprehensive bridge damage assessments are essential for postearthquake retrofitting and safety assurance. However, traditional methods of assessing damage and collecting data are time‐consuming and labor‐intensive. To address this issue, this study proposes a deep generative adversarial network (GAN)‐based approach to predict the surface damage patterns of bridge columns. Using visual patterns from experimental tests, the proposed approach can generate surface damage to the synthetic column, such as cracks and concrete splinters. The study also investigates the effects of different data representation schemes, such as grayscale, black and white, and obstacle‐removed images, and uses the corresponding damage indices as additional constraints to improve network training. The results show that the proposed approach can offer a reliable reference for bridge engineers to evaluate and repair seismic‐induced bridge damage, which can significantly lower the cost of disaster reconnaissance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second commonly-seen liver malignancy and one of the most fatal cancers in Taiwan. Survival after diagnosis of ICC remains poor. This study aimed to investigate the survival and prognostic factors in patients with ICC. All patients with newly diagnosed ICC during 2004 to 2018 were identified from a national cancer database and followed until December 2020. Estimates of overall survival (OS) were conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Initially, 7940 patients with ICC disease (stage IV: 55.6%, 4418/7940) were eligible for this study. Only 32.3% (2563/7940) patients with ICC underwent liver resection. After Propensity score matching, 969 pairs (N = 1938) of patients were matched and selected (mean age 62.8 ± 11.0 years, 53.1% were male, 29.7% had cirrhosis). The median follow-up time was 80.0 months (range 25–201 months). The 3-, 5-year OS rates were 44.0%, 36.4% in the surgical group and 26.0%, 23.7% in the non-surgical group, respectively. Surgery, young patients (≤ 54 years), small tumor size, no vascular invasion and chemotherapy were associated with better OS in patients with stages I–III disease. Surgery benefit was maximum in stage I disease followed by stage II. In patients with stage IV disease, factors such as surgery, young patients (≤ 64 years), single tumor, and no vascular invasion were associated with better OS. Chemotherapy was insignificantly associated with better OS. Long-term survival in patients with ICC is very poor. Compared to non-surgical patients, surgery conveys approximately 18% and 12% better OS rates at 3-year and 5-year, respectively. Early detection and surgical intervention may improve OS substantially in patients with ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The out-of-control action plan (OCAP) is crucial in the wafer probing process of semiconductor manufacturing as it systematically addresses and corrects deviations, ensuring the high quality and reliability of semiconductor devices. However, the traditional OCAP involves many redundant and complicated processes after failures occur on production lines, which can delay production and escalate costs. To overcome the traditional OCAP's limitations, this paper proposes a novel OCAP aimed at enhancing the wafer probing process in semiconductor manufacturing. The proposed OCAP integrates proactive measures such as preventive maintenance and advanced monitoring technologies, which are tested and verified through a comprehensive experimental setup. Implementing the novel OCAP in a case company's production line reduced machine downtime by over 24 h per week and increased wafer production by about 23 wafers per week. Additionally, probe test yield improved by an average of 1.1%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. This paper not only explores the implementation of the novel OCAP but also compares it with the traditional OCAP, highlighting significant improvements in efficiency and production output. The results underscore the potential of advanced OCAP to enhance manufacturing processes by reducing dependency on human judgment, thus lowering the likelihood of errors and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uremic toxins cause bone disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). These disorders are characterized by low turnover osteodystrophy and impaired bone formation in the early stages of CKD. Evidence indicates that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates signals that suppress early osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, whether the AhR mediates the effects of indoxyl sulfate (IS), a uremic toxin, on BMSC osteogenesis remains unclear. We investigated whether IS affects osteogenesis through the AhR/Hes1 pathway. Expression levels of osteogenesis genes (Runx2, Bmp2, Alp, and Oc), AhR, and Hes1 were measured in mouse BMSCs (D1 cells). At concentrations of 2–50 μM, IS significantly reduced mineralization, particularly in the early stages of BMSC osteogenesis. Furthermore, IS significantly downregulated the expression of Runx2, Bmp2, Oc, and Alp. Notably, this downregulation could be prevented using an AhR antagonist and through Ahr knockdown. Mechanistically, IS induced the expression of Hes1 through AhR signaling, thereby suppressing the transcription of Runx2 and Bmp2. Our findings suggest that IS inhibits early osteogenesis of BMSCs through the AhR/Hes1 pathway, thus suppressing the transcription of Runx2 and Bmp2. Our findings may guide new therapeutic strategies against CKD-related bone disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Aerogels, as a unique porous material, are expected to be used as insulation materials to solve the global environmental and energy crisis. Using chitosan, citric acid, pectin and phytic acid as raw materials, an all-biomass-based aerogel with high modulus was prepared by the triple strategy of ionic, physical and chemical cross-linking through directional freezing technique. Based on this three-dimensional network, the aerogel exhibited excellent compressive modulus (24.89 ± 1.76 MPa) over a wide temperature range and thermal insulation properties. In the presence of chitosan, citric acid and phytic acid, the aerogel obtained excellent fire safety (LOI value up to 31.2%) and antibacterial properties (antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli reached 81.98% and 67.43%). In addition, the modified aerogel exhibited excellent hydrophobicity (hydrophobic angle of 146°) and oil–water separation properties. More importantly, the aerogel exhibited a biodegradation rate of up to 40.31% for 35 days due to its all-biomass nature. This work provides a green and sustainable strategy for the production of highly environmentally friendly thermal insulation materials with high strength, flame retardant, antibacterial and hydrophobic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly effective oxidation cross-coupling method involving para -cresol derivatives and malononitrile derivatives has been developed utilizing undivided electrolytic conditions. This electrochemical approach offers a robust route for synthesizing diverse malononitrile derivatives featuring quaternary carbon centers and incorporating para -phenol groups. Notably, the direct electrooxidation of the C(sp3)–H bond in the para -cresol derivative plays a crucial role in this process under electrolytic conditions. Various para -cresol derivatives and malononitrile derivatives with different substituents are readily compatible with this electrochemical transformation, affording coupling compounds in up to 99% yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]