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Recently, photothermoelectric effect of thermoelectric materials has been hotly explored to develop self-powered and large bandwidth photodetectors working at ambient conditions. However, the key parameters for optimized photothermoelectric effect are still elusive. Here, based on the two-temperature model under static condition, we theoretically studied the key parameters to optimize the photothermoelectric performance of thermoelectric materials. Results verify that when the incident electromagnetic wave only generates electronic intra-band excitation, there is an ideal carrier concentration to optimize the photothermoelectric voltage; when the wavelength of a detected electromagnetic wave can resonantly excite quasi-particle (like phonons) except electrons, the photothermoelectric voltage can be enhanced significantly around the resonant wavelength regime; and when the electronic inter-band transition can be excited by an electromagnetic wave, photothermoelectric voltage is significantly increased due to the high optical absorption. As an example, the theoretical dependence of the photothermoelectric voltage of SnSe on wavelength is in line with the experimental result. This work elucidates the crucial parameters of thermoelectric materials to achieve the ideal photothermoelectric performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies indicated that firm debt holders can use the credit default swap (CDS) market to hedge their credit risk, and thus they would reduce their monitoring of the firms, leading to largely distressed firms shirking and increasing positive abnormal earnings accruals. Besides providing insurance, however, the CDS spreads also perform price discovery of credit risk information sought by trade creditors and potential lenders who are not protected. High absolute abnormal discretionary accruals or bad earnings quality, especially negative abnormal accruals, would lead adverse CDS price signals that are very costly to the firm. This compels the firm under nondistressed conditions to be able to improve cash holdings, cash flows, working capital, and earnings reporting quality. Our new results indicate that the channels of improvement in earnings quality are through a firm's large accounts payable and low cash holdings related to trade credit exposures. In the longer run, this leads to higher profitability and improved firm value. Thus, the generation of public information via the CDS market reduces information asymmetry and can enforce greater discipline in discretionary accounts reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service-oriented manufacturing (SOM) is a new industrial model that combines manufacturing with service. To enhance the competitiveness of manufacturers in SOM systems, we investigate a coordinated production and delivery scheduling problem considering a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. The considered problem can be divided into two phases, including production phase and delivery phase. In the production phase, jobs are processed by multiple manufacturers located in different geographical zones. Jobs are with deteriorating processing time and set-up time. Several structural properties of the problem in the production phase are proposed, based on which a heuristic algorithm is designed to make decisions on job batching and batch sequencing. After being processed, the finished jobs are immediately delivered to a customer by manufacturers' own vehicles or the 3PL provider. A dynamic programming algorithm is developed to solve the problem in the delivery phase. The integrated scheduling problem is proved to be NP-hard. Hence, we develop a general variable neighbourhood search (GVNS) to solve the problem in a reasonable time. The basic variable neighbourhood descent (BVND) is used as a local search method in the GVNS. Finally, the computational experiments are conducted and the results verify the effectiveness and stability of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report both experimentally and numerically that a low-frequency acoustic absorber is realized by double split-ring resonators backed with a rigid wall. This absorber leverages the impedance matching and dissipation effect, which arises due to the thermal-viscous loss within the dual channels. As a result, this absorber achieves near-perfect sound absorption (the absorption coefficient α = 0.99) at a subwavelength thickness of around λ/23. By assembling six unit cells with distinct structure parameters to form a supercell, the fractional bandwidth (the ratio of the bandwidth to the center frequency) is increased to 40% with an average α of 0.86. Acoustic experiment results validate this exceptional performance, which is also in agreement with the simulation results. Moreover, by employing the supercell, we create an anechoic room demonstrating broadband sound absorption in a wide range of incident angles while occupying significantly less space than traditional sound-absorbing porous materials. Our double split-ring composite design paves the way for broadband acoustic absorbers at the deep subwavelength scale [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, quantile-based structural equation model has enjoyed increasing popularity in various fields and applications. As we know, structural equation model consists of structural model and measurement model in total. In our quantile-based measurement model, the observed variables are considered to be manifestations of an underlying construct with changing relationships going from the latent variable to its observed variables at different quantiles. Based on our model, we propose a quantile-based partial least square algorithm with bag of little bootstraps. All of our model and algorithm are compared to our quantile-based partial least square algorithms with traditional bootstrap in simulations, and applied to part of IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Competitiveness Yearbook datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) plays a key role in cotton tolerance to abiotic stress. However, its role in cotton heat stress tolerance is not well understood. Here, we characterize the GhCDPK gene family and their expression profiles with the aim of identifying CDPK genes associated with heat stress tolerance. Results: This study revealed 48 GhCDPK members in the cotton genome, distributed on 18 chromosomes. Tree phylogenetic analysis showed three main clustering groups of the GhCDPKs. Cis-elements revealed many abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways conserved promoter regions. Similarly, analysis of the transcription factor binding sites (TFBDS) in the GhCDPK genes showed many stress and hormone related sites. The expression analysis based on qRT-PCR showed that GhCDPK16 was highly responsive to high-temperature stress. Subsequent protein-protein interactions of GhCDPK16 revealed predictable interaction with ROS generating, calcium binding, and ABA signaling proteins. Overexpression of GhCDPK16 in cotton and Arabidopsis improved thermotolerance by lowering ROS compound buildup. Under heat stress, GhCDPK16 transgenic lines upregulated heat-inducible genes GhHSP70, GHSP17.3, and GhGR1, as demonstrated by qRT-PCR analysis. Contrarily, GhCDPK16 knockout lines in cotton exhibited an increase in ROS accumulation. Furthermore, antioxidant enzyme activity was dramatically boosted in the GhCDPK16-ox transgenic lines. Conclusions: The collective findings demonstrated that GhCDPK16 could be a viable gene to enhance thermotolerance in cotton and, therefore, a potential candidate gene for improving heat tolerance in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational relationships that highlight learning characteristics are created in interpersonal conflicts and lifelong education. Realizing the high-quality development of intergenerational learning has become a key problem. A primary school in eastern China united communities and families to create an efficient intergenerational learning project. This study aims to explore how this intergenerational learning is created. A principal, a teacher, two community educators, and five family members were recruited as the unstructured interview participants to collect data. This study finds that the school, community, and families play irreplaceable roles in creating intergenerational learning. Influenced by educational policies and education responsibilities, the school proactively designed the intergenerational learning project that takes grandparents to school in interaction with the community and families. Adhering to the principle of social services and age-friendly, the community provides sufficient educational resources for implementing intergenerational learning through collaborative support. Considering the generation gap and integration between grandparents and grandchildren, families as participating identities make intergenerational learning from possible imagination into real practice. This study highlights the theoretical framework of how intergenerational learning is created in school-community-family collaboration. The practical implications for optimizing intergenerational relationships and coping with population aging are further emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congo red (CR), a stable benzidine diazo dye due to its azo bonds, resists natural photodegradation and poses a significant ecological threat. Herein, organic photocatalyst material PM7:ITC-2Cl@C was integrated with natural biochar to establish a high-performance photocatalyst coupling with adsorption. PM7:ITC-2Cl@C demonstrated complete degradation of 100 mg L−1 CR in 10 min under indoor weak light, sustaining a degradation efficiency above 99% within 20 cycles. The removal efficiency of TOC content in a simulated aquatic environment containing 100 mg L−1 of CR was over 81%. PM7:ITC-2Cl@C possesses broad photon utilization (450–760 nm) and sequential measurements confirm its remarkable electron–hole separation, and the catalyst surface with functional groups containing oxygen and hydrogen also aids radical generation. Additionally, the strong adsorption of biochar fosters an environment for effective interaction with active oxygen species, ensuring constant pollutant contacting. Moreover, radical quench measurements indicated h+, ˙OH, and ˙O2− as key reactive oxygen species. The potential degradation pathways of CR were explored via LC-MS and DFT analysis, while toxicity analysis revealed low toxicity in the intermediates, suggesting the promising prospects of this system. This approach demonstrates high-performance PM7:ITC-2Cl@C to significantly enhance the catalytic oxidative degradation process of dying wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits how private cross-ownership affects cost-reducing R&D, production quantities, consumer surplus, firms' profits and social welfare in a mixed oligopoly with a convex cost function. We show that increasing cross-ownership reduces private firms' R&D but increases the semi-public firm's R&D. Further, both consumer surplus and social welfare could be enhanced through cross-ownership when the convexity of cost function is small. However, increasing cross-ownership could hurt consumers and social welfare when the convexity of cost function is large. Our finding highlights that the convexity of cost function is very important to the welfare implications of cross-ownership. Hence, antitrust authorities should be more careful when assessing the welfare effects of partial ownership in different industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on producing metal matrix composite (MMC) coatings on Ti–6Al–4V alloy through laser surface alloying using a novel combination of Inconel 625 and SiC precursor materials. Various ratios of alloying powders were examined to evaluate surface properties such as microhardness, wear resistance, and friction coefficient, along with analyzing the phase composition and microstructure of the coatings. The in situ synthesized MMC coatings exhibited the presence of α-Ti, NiTi, NiTi2, and TiC phases. Additionally, Ti5Si3 and α-Ti/Ti5Si3 eutectic structures were observed when the SiC content exceeded 20%. In comparison to the titanium substrate, the MMC coating significantly enhanced microhardness by over threefold and reduced wear by 95%. However, it was crucial to carefully select the appropriate combination of alloying powders to avoid a substantial decrease in friction performance and excessive formation of cracks. Through a comparative analysis of experimental results, the optimal precursor material composition was identified as 85% Inconel 625 and 15% SiC. This study demonstrated the effective utilization of Inconel 625 and SiC alloying materials to enhance the surface properties of titanium alloys, thereby expanding their application in challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valuable metals copper and zinc were successfully recovered from a water-quenched lead smelting slag containing zinc in Gansu Province. This study focuses on the application of the direct reduction roasting-flotation process for extracting these metals from the slag phase. To comprehend the recovery principle of copper and zinc minerals in the slag phase, various techniques including thermodynamic analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and mineral liberation analyzer were employed. The findings demonstrate that zinc minerals can be easily recovered through reduction roasting processes. Following roasting, chalcopyrite within the slag phase recrystallizes into larger particles which become exposed on the surface of vitreous gangue material. By optimizing parameters such as roasting time (90 min), coke dosage (12.5%), and roasting temperature (1250°C), a remarkable volatilization rate of 99.27% for zinc in the slag phase was achieved while successfully recovering high-purity zinc oxide dust. Copper ores undergo a transition from being difficult to dissociate into monomers to becoming easier to dissociate, thereby enhancing their flotation recovery potential. Through one rough flotation followed by three cleaning flotation during process, a concentrate with an impressive copper grade of 18.24% and copper recovery rate of 56.22% was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human action recognition from skeleton motion sequences is widely applied in various fields such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction and kinematic rehabilitation. With the wide use of graph neural networks for extracting spatial features from skeleton anatomy connectivity, spatial-temporal extension of single graph models on human skeleton may improve the network performance. In this paper, we propose a priori separation graph convolution (PS-GCN) network composition with a priori mixed GCN by introducing a hypergraph representation of the skeleton spatial features, and a dynamic adaptive GCN to describe the respective graph model for each sample at each layer of the network of spatial features. For temporal feature analysis, a global attention unit is added to describe the long-term relationship. Moreover, a feature fusion structure is applied for short-term temporal features in the input of the network. The proposed model is evaluated on the NTU-RGB+D, NTU-RGB+D 120 and NW-UCLA datasets via a comprehensive ablative study. The results show that our model is comparable in accuracy to the state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adaptive control method based on immersion and invariance (I&I) is presented in a class of nonlinear systems with time-varying uncertain parameters. A parameter estimation law based on reference models using I&I is designed to accelerate the convergence of estimated parameters to the true value, enabling the closed-loop system to reach the predefined target system on the manifold more quickly and reducing the energy consumption of the system. The inherent integrability obstacles in I&I are overcome by using dynamic scaling techniques, reducing the complexity of controller design. Stability analysis of the closed-loop system demonstrates that the proposed control method can achieve asymptotic stability control of the target system, and verified the robustness of the closed-loop system in the face of external disturbances. Finally, simulations of attitude tracking control demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate natural heritage protection, ecological protection, and tourism development, farmers in natural heritage tourist destinations are often relocated and resettled, thus becoming land-lost farmers. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the livelihood vulnerability of land-lost farmers in natural heritage tourist destinations has become particularly prominent. In this paper, the Yinhuwan resettlement community in China's Mount Sanqingshan Scenic Area is taken as an example and changes in stock and livelihood capital structure of farmers after relocation are analyzed. Based on the "exposure-sensitivity-adaptability" framework, an evaluation index system of farmers' livelihood vulnerability is constructed to evaluate farmers' livelihood vulnerability. The multiple linear regression model is used to empirically analyze the influencing factors of livelihood vulnerability. The results show: (1) Relocation and resettlement induced considerable changes to the livelihood of farmers. After relocation, the livelihood capital of farmers has generally increased. The physical capital and financial capital of farmers increased significantly, while natural capital was replaced by tourism capital. This led to a decrease in human capital of farmers compared with tourism operations. (2) The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the livelihood of farmers in this resettlement community. (3) Under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the livelihood vulnerability of the main Nongjiale operators has become relatively high, while that of part-time Nongjiale operators and non-Nongjiale operators is moderate. (4) Tourism capital, tourism market seasonality, and livelihood diversification are significant factors influencing the livelihood vulnerability of farmers in this resettlement community. In this paper, the original natural capital is replaced with tourism capital, and a new analysis framework of livelihood capital is constructed. This provides a reference for future research on the livelihood of farmers in tourist destinations. This reference helps to study the sustainability of the livelihoods of land-lost farmers, and to evaluate the feasibility of the resettlement policy of farmers in tourist destinations. Several suggestions are presented that provide a basis for the formulation of relevant policies for reducing farmers' livelihood vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypervascularized glioblastoma is naturally sensitive to anti‐angiogenesis but suffers from low efficacy of transient vasculature normalization. In this study, a lipid‐polymer nanoparticle is synthesized to execute compartmentalized Cas9 and sgRNA delivery for a permanent vasculature editing strategy by knocking out the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The phenylboronic acid branched cationic polymer is designed to condense sgRNA electrostatically (inner compartment) and patch Cas9 coordinatively (outer compartment), followed by liposomal hybridization with angiopep‐2 decoration for blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration. The lipid‐polymer nanoparticles can reach glioblastoma within 2 h post intravenous administration, and hypoxia in tumor cells triggers charge‐elimination and degradation of the cationic polymer for burst release of Cas9 and sgRNA, accompanied by instant Cas9 RNP assembly, yielding ≈50% STAT3 knockout. The downregulation of downstream vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) reprograms vasculature normalization to improve immune infiltration, collaborating with interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) reduction to develop anti‐glioblastoma responses. Collectively, the combinational assembly for compartmentalized Cas9/sgRNA delivery provides a potential solution in glioblastoma therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between whole eye movement (WEM) parameters measured using Corvis ST and axial length (AL) to explore whether AL affects WEMs. Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional study included data from healthy subjects and patients preparing for refractive surgery at the Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University. Data were collected from July 2021 to April 2022. We first determined the correlations of WEMs at the time of corneal first applanation (A1_WEM), highest concavity (HC_WEM), and second applanation (A2_WEM), as well as the maximum value of WEM (WEM_Max) with AL. Subsequently, we established a series of regression models to analyze the relationships between different WEM values and AL. Results: AL was negatively correlated with HC_WEM, A2_WEM, and WEM_Max (r = − 0.28, − 0.23, and − 0.22, respectively; P < 0.001). The correlation between AL and A1_WEM was not significant (P = 0.77). According to the adjusted regression models, AL was negatively associated with HC_WEM (Model 2: β = −7.39, P < 0.001) and WEM_Max (Model 4: β = −3.52, P = 0.02), while the associations of AL with A1_WEM (Model 1: P = 0.61) and A2_WEM (Model 3: P = 0.23) were not significant. Conclusions: AL is an independent negative influencing factor for HC_WEM. WEM is a potentially useful parameter that reflects the biomechanical properties of the eye behind the cornea in myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life education is increasingly recognized as one of the potentially effective ways to reduce unnatural deaths. Existing research focuses mainly on classroom knowledge transfer and extracurricular practical activities, which has been criticized for their effectiveness due to insufficient interaction between teachers and students. Creating high-quality life education, therefore, has become a demand for human happiness. Intergenerational learning embedded in life education, developed by collaborating with primary schools and older adult schools in China, has become an effective practice. Two teachers, seven primary school students, and seven older adult learners were interviewed to reveal the characteristics and impact of this effective practice. This model of practice establishes a dual subject of teachers and students in breaking the boundary between teachers as subjects and students as objects, while recognizing diverse lives in the interaction and reflection of intergenerational learning. In addition, this study constructs a classroom teaching model of teachers, primary school students, and older adult learners jointly creating knowledge, skills, emotions, attitudes, and values, and I put forward the life education thought of 'seeing life through life'. This study has implications for policymakers on improving educational policies and practitioners on innovating life education models in cross-cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine, a widespread neurological condition, substantially affects the quality of life, particularly for adolescents and young adults. While its impact is significant, there remains a paucity of comprehensive global research on the burden of migraine in younger demographics. Our study sought to elucidate the global prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) associated with migraine in the 15–39 age group from 1990 to 2021, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Methods: Our comprehensive study analyzed migraine data from the GBD 2021 report, examining the prevalence, incidence, and DALYs across 204 countries and territories over a 32-year span. We stratified the information by age, sex, year, geographical region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). To evaluate temporal trends in these metrics, we employed the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) calculation. Results: Between 1990 and 2021, the worldwide prevalence of migraine among 15–39 year-olds increased substantially. By 2021, an estimated 593.8 million cases were reported, representing a 39.52% rise from 425.6 million cases in 1990. Global trends showed increases in age-standardized prevalence rate, incidence rate, and DALY rate for migraine during this period. The EAPC were positive for all three metrics: 0.09 for ASPR, 0.03 for ASIR, and 0.09 for DALY rate. Regions with medium SDI reported the highest absolute numbers of prevalent cases, incident cases, and DALYs in 2021. However, high SDI regions demonstrated the most elevated rates overall. Across the globe, migraine prevalence peaked in the 35–39 age group. Notably, female rates consistently exceeded male rates across all age categories. Conclusion: The global impact of migraine on youths and young adults has grown considerably from 1990 to 2021, revealing notable variations across SDI regions, countries, age groups, and sexes. This escalating burden necessitates targeted interventions and public health initiatives, especially in areas and populations disproportionately affected by migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, there is a growing concern regarding the relationship between viral infections and neuropathic pain. Chronic neuropathic pain resulting from virus-induced neural dysfunction has emerged as a significant issue currently faced. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear, and clinical treatment outcomes are often suboptimal. Therefore, delving into the relationship between viral infections and neuropathic pain, exploring the pathophysiological characteristics and molecular mechanisms of different viral pain models, can contribute to the discovery of potential therapeutic targets and methods, thereby enhancing pain relief and improving the quality of life for patients. This review focuses on HIV-related neuropathic pain (HNP), postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and neuropathic pain caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, examining rodent models and relevant cellular molecular pathways. Through elucidating the connection between viral infections and neuropathic pain, it aims to delineate the current limitations and challenges faced by treatments, thereby providing insights and directions for future clinical practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferulic acid (FA) is a common phenolic acid in plants and is known to effectively combat cancer; however, the precise mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of FA on breast cancer (BC) cells, together with its molecular mechanism. We observed that FA greatly decreased BC cell viability without any obvious inhibitory effects on normal cell viability. Further, FA could significantly lead to the apoptosis of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. FA administration dramatically increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MDA‐MB‐231 cells, and mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis occurred via the MAPK/STAT3/NF‐κB pathways. It was also demonstrated that with an increase in FA treatment time, the G2/M phase ratio increased and the expression of p‐AKT and cycle‐related proteins was inhibited. The migration of MDA‐MB‐231 cells was significantly inhibited after FA treatment. FA reduced N‐cadherin, vimentin, and SNAI 1 expression levels through the MAPK signaling pathway. Pretreatment with N‐acetylcysteine and MAPK inhibitors (SP600125 or SB203580) increased the expression of these proteins, whereas pretreatment with the MAPK inhibitor (FR180204) decreased their expression. In conclusion, FA can increase ROS levels, induce mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis, block the G2/M phase cycle, and inhibit cell migration. Thus, FA may be a promising new medication in the treatment of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It remains unclear how patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and clinicians perceive the level of patient–clinician communication and if there could be potential lapses. This cross-sectional study aims to compare perspectives between patients with AD and dermatologists regarding communication and treatment expectations in Asia. Methods: Moderate-to-severe patients with AD and practicing dermatologists were recruited from eight Asia–Pacific territories, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Patients and dermatologists completed separate surveys designed to elicit their expectations regarding AD management, and their perceived level of patient–clinician communication. Patients were also asked about their treatment satisfaction and whether they prefer additional treatment beyond what was prescribed. Demographic information and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study was reviewed by the institutional review board in each territory, and all participants provided informed consent. Results: A total of 1103 patients and 271 dermatologists completed the surveys. Both patients and dermatologists were largely aligned in their top treatment goals in AD management. However, greater proportions of patients prioritized the prevention of exacerbation (78.0% versus 47.2%), minimization of treatment adverse effects (46.4% versus 9.1%), and improvement in mental health (16.0% versus 4.9%), compared with dermatologists. Although patient–clinician communication was observed to be generally good, 10.9% of patients reported dissatisfaction with communication in AD management. The majority of patients were either "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with their latest acute AD treatment, but 65.5% of patients still desired additional treatment. Conclusions: This multinational study has provided insights on the perspectives of Asian patients and dermatologists in treatment goals, AD management, and communication. In general, both patients and dermatologists were aligned in treatment goals and there was satisfactory patient–clinician communication in most aspects. However, potential areas of improvement have been identified to further enhance patient-centered care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the determination of the good-dice-in-bad-neighborhoods (GDBNs) has been regarded as an effective technique to reduce the value of the defect parts per million (DPPM) by identifying and rejecting the suspicious dice even though they are good in testing. Instead of examining eight immediate neighbors in a small-sized $3\times 3$ window or exploiting simple linear regression, a large-sized window can be used to recognize the broad-sighted neighborhoods and accurately infer the suspiciousness level for any given die. In this paper, the artificial neural networks (ANN)-based method can be proposed to solve the GDBN identification. Furthermore, two enhanced techniques can be further presented to improve the inference accuracy of the original ANN-based method by considering the variation of the time-dependent wafer patterns and the wafer-to-wafer relationship between two adjacent wafers. After applying the two enhanced techniques, the business profits can be improved in the new ANN-based method. Various experiments on two datasets clearly reveal the superiority of the proposed ANN-based method over the other existing methods. In addition to the reduction of the DPPM value, the new ANN-based method can achieve the 1.5X–2X better reduction in the cost of the return merchandise authorization (RMA). On the other hand, the experimental results show that the similar result can also be obtained in the other lower-yield products. By using the new ANN-based method, the relationships on bad dice cross wafers can be captured and the highly-accurate inference results can be simultaneously maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the significant lifetime improvement of negative bias thermal instability (NBTI) is demonstrated by the introduction of a thin SiN layer fabricated by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) in stress memorization technique (SMT). The thin SiN film is deposited before the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of SiN layer with a high tensile stress. It is revealed that the possible H2 escape accompanied with interface de-passivation can be effectively suppressed by this thin PEALD SiN layer, which may further reduce the interface states at Si/gate dielectric interface. Hence, about 500% NBTI lifetime improvement for PMOSFETs is demonstrated without obvious performance degradation for both NMOSFETs and PMOSFETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The quality of fish is easily damaged during the frozen process, and the ice glazing technology can better maintain the quality of frozen fish. However, the traditional ice glazing technology is not yet stable and some of the properties need to be improved. This research optimised ice glazing technology by adding different antioxidants to the traditional ice glazing, which improved the stability of the ice glazing and lessened the dry consumption of mackerel during frozen storage. The lipid oxidation and protein denaturation of mackerel were inhibited with the addition of antioxidants to the ice glazing, the freshness of mackerel was maintained better, and the production of histamine was also decreased during frozen storage. It was found that the ice glazing with the addition of antioxidant bamboo leaves (AOB) had better water retention, lower TVB‐N value, and histamine content compared to the addition of theaflavins (TF) and sodium isovitamin (VC). Moreover, the sample treated by the ice glazing with AOB showed less lipid oxidation and protein denaturation. Therefore, ice glazing with the addition of AOB could be an optional method for relieving the quality deterioration of mackerel during frozen storage. This research also provides insights into the coupling of antioxidants and ice‐coating techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many resource‐oriented regions on plateaus (RORP) are facing the double threat of ecological destruction and resource exploitation. The traditional development mode will destroy fragile ecosystems in RORP, resulting in substantial environmental governance costs and environmental restoration difficulties. Therefore, realizing the sustainable development of these regions has become a major topic of interest. In this study, we designed a sustainable development mode, that is, "conservation mining‐ecological restoration‐substitute industries‐energy saving and emission reduction" (CESE), for RORP. The integration of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Service and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model and the system dynamics (SD) model were used to evaluate and simulate the comprehensive effect and future trends of the sustainable development mode in the RORP. The evaluation and simulation results clearly show that through long‐term stable operation, this sustainable development mode can alleviate the double threat of the "unbridled development‐fragile ecosystem"(UDFE) and achieve synchronous growth of ecological, economic, and social benefits. Additionally, this study further proposes the potential risks of this mode and directions for iterative improvements, serving as goals of regional optimization and improvement in the future. The sustainable development mode of RORP proposed in this study has important theoretical significance and practical value for mitigating the double threat associated with the development of RORP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaching of uranium, thorium and rare earth from the monazite selective solution residue were studied by conventional leaching--two-stage countercurrent leaching was studied. The effects of various factors on the leaching was investigated. The results show that the leaching rates of uranium, thorium and rare earth are 98.66 %, 95.37 % and 64.23%, respectively under suitable conditions using conventional leaching method. Using the two-stage countercurrent leaching method, the leaching rates of uranium, thorium and rare earth can be increased by 0.5%~1.0%, the residual acid of the leaching solution can be reduced by more than 50%, and the solid-liquid separation performance of the slurry can be improved to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly being diagnosed in older adults. Our objective is to assess the advantages and potential drawbacks of different glucose-lowering medications in this specific population. Methods A network meta-analysis was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials that examined patient-centered outcomes in adults aged ≥65 years with T2DM. We searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase up to September 23, 2023. Quality of eligible studies were assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Results A total of 22 trials that involved 41 654 participants were included, incorporating sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, metformin, sulfonylureas (SU) and acarbose. Our findings reveal that GLP-1RAs reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (risk ratio [RR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 0.97) and body weight (mean difference [MD], −3.87 kg; 95% CI, −5.54 to −2.21). SGLT2 inhibitors prevent hospitalization for heart failure (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.77), renal composite outcome (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.89), and reduce body weights (MD, −1.85 kg; 95% CI, −2.42 to −1.27). SU treatment increases the risk of any hypoglycaemia (RR, 4.19; 95% CI, 3.52 to 4.99) and severe hypoglycaemia (RR, 7.06; 95% CI, 3.03 to 16.43). GLP-1RAs, SGLT2 inhibitors, metformin, SU and DPP-4 inhibitors are effective in reducing glycaemic parameters. Notably, the number of treatments needed decreases in most cases as age increases. Conclusions Novel glucose-lowering medications with benefits that outweigh risks should be prioritized for older patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor has been developed for the detection of microRNA-21 (miR-21) using an isothermal enzyme-free cascade amplification method involving catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and hybridization chain reaction (HCR). The CHA reaction is triggered by the target miR-21, which causes hairpin DNA (C1 and C2) to self-assemble into CHA products. After AgNPs@Capture captures the resulting CHA product, the HCR reaction is started, forming long-stranded DNA on the surface of AgNPs. A strong SERS signal is generated due to the presence of a large amount of the Raman reporter methylene blue (MB) in the vicinity of the SERS "hot spot" on the surface of AgNPs. The monitoring of the SERS signal changes of MB allows for the highly sensitive and specific detection of miR-21. In optimal conditions, the biosensor exhibits a satisfactory linear range and a low detection limit for miR-21 of 42.3 fM. Additionally, this SERS biosensor shows outstanding selectivity and reproducibility. The application of this methodology to clinical blood samples allows for the differentiation of cancer patients from healthy controls. As a result, the CHA-HCR amplification strategy used in this SERS biosensor could be a useful tool for miRNA detection and early cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in assisted driving technologies are expected to enable future passengers to use a wide range of multimedia applications in electric vehicles (EVs). To address the bandwidth demands for high-resolution and immersive videos during peak traffic, this study introduces a bandwidth-management algorithm to support differentiated streaming services in heterogeneous vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks. By leveraging cellular 6G base stations, along with Cell-Free (CF) Massive Multi-Input Multi-Output (mMIMO) Wi-Fi 7 access points, the algorithm aims to provide a high-coverage, high-speed, and low-interference V2X network environment. Additionally, Li-Fi technology is employed to supply extra bandwidth to vehicles with limited connectivity via V2V communication. Importantly, the study addresses the urgency and prioritization of different applications to ensure the smooth execution of emergency applications and introduces a pre-downloading mechanism specifically for non-real-time applications. Through simulations, the algorithm's effectiveness in meeting EV users' bandwidth needs for various multimedia streaming applications is demonstrated. During peak-bandwidth-demand periods, users experienced an average increase in bandwidth of 47%. Furthermore, bandwidth utilization across the V2X landscape is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limitations on the depth of field of high-resolution fluorescence microscope, it is difficult to obtain an image with all objects in focus. The existing image fusion methods suffer from blocking effects or out-of-focus fluorescence. The proposed multi-focus image fusion method based on local maximum luminosity, intensity variance and the information filling method can reconstruct the all-in-focus image. Moreover, the depth of tissue's surface can be estimated to reconstruct the 3D surface model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proficient handling of diabetic wounds, a rising issue coinciding with the global escalation of diabetes cases, poses significant clinical difficulties. A range of biofunctional dressings have been engineered and produced to expedite the healing process of diabetic wounds. This study proposes a multifunctional hydrogel dressing for diabetic wound healing, which is composed of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and N1-(4-boronobenzyl)-N3-(4-boronophenyl)-N1, N1, N3, N3-teramethylpropane-1, 3-diaminium (TSPBA), and a dual-drug loaded Gelatin methacryloyl (GM) microgel. The GM microgel is loaded with sodium fusidate (SF) and nanoliposomes (LP) that contain metformin hydrochloride (MH). Notably, adhesive and self-healing properties the hydrogel enhance their therapeutic potential and ease of application. In vitro assessments indicate that SF-infused hydrogel can eliminate more than 98% of bacteria within 24 h and maintain a sustained release over 15 days. Additionally, MH incorporated within the hydrogel has demonstrated effective glucose level regulation for a duration exceeding 15 days. The hydrogel demonstrates a sustained ability to neutralize ROS throughout the entire healing process, predominantly by electron donation and sequestration. This multifunctional hydrogel dressing, which integrated biological functions of efficient bactericidal activity against both MSSA and MRSA strains, blood glucose modulation, and control of active oxygen levels, has successfully promoted the healing of diabetic wounds in rats in 14 days. The hydrogel dressing exhibited significant effectiveness in facilitating the healing process of diabetic wounds, highlighting its considerable promise for clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We experimentally demonstrated that composites, being effective in optimizing the thermoelectric performance, can also enhance photothermoelectric effects in this work. In detail, we employed an alternating-growth in chemical-vapor-transport to grow the SnSe–SnSe2 composite crystals. The photo-responsivities of SnSe–SnSe2 (atomic-weight-ratio as 44%–56%) composite are comparable to SnSe crystals in the visible band (444 and 532 nm). However, the responsivities of SnSe–SnSe2 have remarkable 27.3% enhancement than those of SnSe crystal at the near-infrared band (1310 and 1550 nm). Supported by optical spectroscopy and theoretical electronic band structure, the enhanced optical responsivity of SnSe–SnSe2 composites is due to the formation of P–N junctions at interfaces between SnSe and SnSe2, leading to more optical transition channels and corresponding optical absorptions in near-infrared band. Our work verifies that hetero-junction formed among constituent compounds in composites is effective in optimizing the photothermoelectric response of thermoelectric materials in certain electromagnetic bands, paving the way to develop photoelectric detection devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancement of autonomous driving and network technologies, future vehicles will function as network nodes, facilitating information transmission. Concurrently, in-vehicle entertainment systems will undergo substantial enhancements. Beyond traditional broadcasting and video playback, future systems will integrate immersive applications featuring 360-degree views and six degrees of freedom (6DoF) capabilities. As autonomous driving technology matures, vehicle passengers will be able to engage in a broader range of entertainment activities while on the move. However, this evolution in video applications will significantly increase bandwidth demand for vehicular networks, potentially leading to bandwidth shortages in congested traffic areas. This paper presents a method for bandwidth allocation for vehicle video applications within the landscape of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks. By utilizing a millimeter-wave (mmWave), terahertz (THz) frequency band, and cell-free (CF) extremely large-scale multiple-input multiple-output (XL-MIMO) wireless communication technologies, we provide vehicle passengers with the necessary bandwidth resources. Additionally, we address bandwidth contention issues in congested road segments by incorporating communication methods tailored to the characteristics of vehicular environments. By classifying users and adjusting according to the unique requirements of various multimedia applications, we ensure that real-time applications receive adequate bandwidth. Simulation experiments validate the proposed method's effectiveness in managing bandwidth allocation for in-vehicle video applications within V2X networks. It increases the available bandwidth during peak hours by 32%, demonstrating its ability to reduce network congestion and ensure smooth playback of various video application types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: How cortical functional reorganization occurs after hearing loss in preschool children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL) is poorly understood. Therefore, we used resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to explore the characteristics of cortical reorganization in these patents. Methods: Sixty-three preschool children with CSNHL and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores were determined at the 6-month follow-up after cochlear implantation (CI). First, rs-fMRI data were preprocessed, and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated. Second, whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis was performed using bilateral primary auditory cortex as seed points. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the differential ALFF, ReHo and FC values and the CAP score. Results: ALFF analysis showed that preschool children with CSNHL had lower ALFF values in the bilateral prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus than HCs, but higher ALFF values in the bilateral thalamus and calcarine gyrus. And correlation analysis showed that some abnormal brain regions were weak negatively correlated with CAP score (p < 0.05). The ReHo values in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, part of the prefrontal cortex and left insular gyrus were lower, whereas ReHo values in the bilateral thalamus, right caudate nucleus and right precentral gyrus were higher, in children with CSNHL than HCs. However, there was no correlation between ReHo values and the CAP scores (p < 0.05). Using primary auditory cortex (PAC) as seed-based FC further analysis revealed enhanced FC in the visual cortex, proprioceptive cortex and motor cortex. And there were weak negative correlations between the FC values in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, occipital lobe, left postcentral gyrus and right thalamus were weakly negatively correlated and the CAP score (p < 0.05). Conclusion: After auditory deprivation in preschool children with CSNHL, the local functions of auditory cortex, visual cortex, prefrontal cortex and somatic motor cortex are changed, and the prefrontal cortex plays a regulatory role in this process. There is functional reorganization or compensation between children's hearing and these areas, which may not be conducive to auditory language recovery after CI in deaf children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) often show reduced anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) before voluntary steps, impacting their stability. The specific subphase within the APA stage contributing significantly to fall risk remains unclear. Methods: We analyzed center of pressure (CoP) trajectory parameters, including duration, length, and velocity, throughout gait initiation. This examination encompassed both the postural phase, referred to as anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) (APA1, APA2a, APA2b), and the subsequent locomotor phases (LOC). Participants were instructed to initiate a step and then stop (initiating a single step). Furthermore, we conducted assessments of clinical disease severity using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and evaluated fall risk using Tinetti gait and balance scores during off-medication periods. Results: Freezing of gait (FOG) was observed in 18 out of 110 participants during the measurement of CoP trajectories. The Ramer-Douglas-Peucker algorithm successfully identified CoP displacement trajectories in 105 participants (95.5%), while the remaining 5 cases could not be identified due to FOG. Tinetti balance and gait score showed significant associations with levodopa equivalent daily dose, UPDRS total score, disease duration, duration (s) in APA2a (s) and LOC (s), length in APA1 (cm) and APA2b (cm), mediolateral velocity in APA1 (X) (cm/s), APA2a (X) (cm/s), APA2b (X) (cm/s) and LOC (X) (cm/s), and anterior-posterior velocity in APA2a (Z) (cm/s) and APA2b (Z) (cm/s). Multiple linear regression revealed that only duration (s) in APA2a and UPDRS total score was independently associated with Tinetti gait and balance score. Further mediation analysis showed that the duration (s) in APA2a served as a mediator between UPDRS total score and Tinetti balance and gait score (Sobel test, p = 0.047). Conclusion: APA2 subphase duration mediates the link between disease severity and fall risk in PD, suggesting that longer APA2a duration may indicate reduced control during gait initiation, thereby increasing fall risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The growing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in younger populations, particularly those of working age (15–64 years), has become a public health concern. Being diagnosed at a younger age implies a greater likelihood of accruing disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) later in life due to potential progression to conditions such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to analyze NAFLD prevalence trends over three decades globally, regionally, and nationally, with a focus on age, period, and birth cohort associations. Methods: Global, regional, and country time trends in the prevalence of NAFLD among working-age people from 1990 to 2019: Age-period-cohort analysis based on Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimates and 95% uncertainty interval (UI) of NAFLD prevalence in the working age population was extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study 2019. Age-period-cohort models were used to estimate the prevalence within each age group from 1990 to 2019 (local drift, % per year), fitted longitudinal age-specific rates adjusted for period bias (age effect), and period/cohort relative risk (period/cohort effect). Results: The global age-standardized prevalence (ASPR) of NAFLD increased significantly from 1990 (14,477.6 per 100 000) to 2019 (19,837.6 per 100 000). In the Western Pacific, there were 42,903.8 NAFLD cases in 2019, 54.15% higher than in 1990. The ASPR also increased significantly in the region over the past three decades. At the national level, Palau had the highest ASPR while Brunei Darussalam had the lowest. Age-period-cohort analysis showed that in the Western Pacific, unlike globally, the risk of NAFLD declined after age 60–64 years. Relative to 1980–1989, incidence and DALY risks decreased but prevalence increased in subsequent birth cohorts. Future predictions indicate an upward trend in NAFLD burden, especially among women and medium (SDI) regions like China. Conclusion: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease imparts an immense health burden that continues to grow globally and in the Asia Pacific region. Our work highlights working age adults as an at-risk group and calls attention to socioeconomic gradients within Western Pacific countries. Upward future projections demonstrate that NAFLD prevention is an urgent priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging non-thermal technologies are widely applied in storage and processing of aquatic products, especially ultrasound-assisted technology. Frequency is an important component of ultrasound, and the effects of different ultrasound frequencies are obviously different. This research evaluated the effects of single-frequency (28 kHz, 40 kHz) and dual-frequency (28/40 kHz) ultrasound-assisted thawing (UAT) treatment on physicochemical quality, myofibril characteristics, and microstructure of large yellow croaker during frozen to refrigeration. The results revealed that UAT treatment retained a better performance, such as water-holding capacity (WHC), color, texture, and water distribution, and relieved disruption of microstructure, especially DUAT-28/40 treatment. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) obtained the most desirable freshness property under the DUAT-28/40 treatment, as well as the free amino acids analysis. In addition, it reduced the myofibril denaturation during frozen to refrigeration, as shown in protein primary structure, infrared detection, and fluorescence intensity analysis. Therefore, DUAT-28/40 treatment could be a possible thawing method for relieving the quality deterioration of large yellow croaker during frozen to refrigeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sciadopitysin (SP) is a flavonoid in Ginkgo biloba that exhibits various pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate its antitumor effects and the underlying molecular mechanism of SP in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods: Network pharmacology was used for target prediction analysis. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to test the cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to test the cell cycle distribution, apoptosis status, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Transwell and wound-healing assay was used to test the migration effect of SP on HepG2 cells. Western Blot assay was used to test the expression levels of proteins. Results: Network pharmacology analysis results showed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and other signaling pathways are involved in the SP anti-HCC biological process. CCK-8 assay results demonstrated that SP showed an obvious killing effect on three types of HCC cells and low cytotoxic effect on normal cells. Western Blot and flow cytometry results showed that SP regulated MAPK/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway to induce mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Additionally, SP can arrest the G0/G1 phase cell cycle via the protein kinase B (AKT)/p21/p27/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)/Cyclin signaling pathway. Wound healing and transwell assays showed that SP inhibited cell motility and invasion through the AKT/glycogen synthase kinase3β (GSK-3β)/vimentin/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that SP induced mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis, arrested cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and inhibited cell migration by regulating the ROS-mediated signaling pathway in HepG2 cells. Thus, SP could serve as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of silicon‐based anodes is significantly challenged by low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cyclability. Traditional pre‐lithiation reagents often pose safety concerns due to their unstable chemical nature. Achieving a balance between water‐stability and high ICE in prelithiated silicon is a critical issue. Here, we present a lithium‐enriched silicon/graphite material with an ultra‐high ICE of ≥110 % through a high‐stable lithium pre‐storage methodology. Lithium pre‐storage prepared a nano‐drilled graphite material with surficial lithium functional groups, which can form chemical bonds with adjacent silicon during high‐temperature sintering. This results in an unexpected O−Li−Si interaction, leading to in situ pre‐lithiation of silicon nanoparticles and providing high stability in air and water. Additionally, the lithium‐enriched silicon/graphite materials impart a combination of high ICE, high specific capacity (620 mAh g−1), and long cycling stability (>400 cycles). This study opens up a promising avenue for highly air‐ and water‐stable silicon anode prelithiation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the thermal environment's effect, we built a dynamics model of rotating pre-twisted ceramic matrix composites blades with elastic boundary constraints based on shell and first-order shear deformation theories. The model considers the effect of temperature and simplifies the blade to a twisted cylindrical plate. Based on the Lagrange equation, the differential equation of the vibration of a rotating pre-twisted blade of CNTs-reinforced ceramic matrix composites in the thermal environment was derived by using the orthogonal polynomial as the acceptable function. The natural frequencies and vibration modes of a rotating pre-twisted blade take into account the effects of Coriolis and centrifugal forces. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparing with the literature and Ansys results. The effects of temperature, the volume fraction of functional gradient, pre-twisted angle, and rotational speed on the model were studied in detail. The results show that the addition of carbon nanotubes can greatly enhance the ceramic-based blade. And both temperature and pre-twisted angle significantly affect the carbon nanotube enhanced functional gradient blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of silicon‐based anodes is significantly challenged by low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cyclability. Traditional pre‐lithiation reagents often pose safety concerns due to their unstable chemical nature. Achieving a balance between water‐stability and high ICE in prelithiated silicon is a critical issue. Here, we present a lithium‐enriched silicon/graphite material with an ultra‐high ICE of ≥110 % through a high‐stable lithium pre‐storage methodology. Lithium pre‐storage prepared a nano‐drilled graphite material with surficial lithium functional groups, which can form chemical bonds with adjacent silicon during high‐temperature sintering. This results in an unexpected O−Li−Si interaction, leading to in situ pre‐lithiation of silicon nanoparticles and providing high stability in air and water. Additionally, the lithium‐enriched silicon/graphite materials impart a combination of high ICE, high specific capacity (620 mAh g−1), and long cycling stability (>400 cycles). This study opens up a promising avenue for highly air‐ and water‐stable silicon anode prelithiation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) worsens inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prognosis. While fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective for refractory or recurrent CDI (rrCDI), comparative success rates between IBD and non-IBD patients are scarce. This study addresses this gap. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from April 2019 to October 2023. Patients receiving FMT for rrCDI were categorized into IBD and non-IBD groups. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared at one month and one year, with successful FMT defined as the resolution of diarrhea without CDI recurrence. The study included 88 patients: 30 with IBD and 58 without IBD. The IBD group was younger, with fewer comorbidities. Success rates at one month were similar between groups (IBD: 80.0% vs. non-IBD: 78.9%, p = 0.908), as were negative toxin tests (IBD: 83.3% vs. non-IBD: 63.8%, p = 0.174). One-year success rates (IBD: 70.0% vs. non-IBD: 67.6%, p = 0.857) and eradication rates (IBD: 94.4% vs. non-IBD: 73.9%, p = 0.112) were also similar. Poor bowel preparation predicted FMT failure at one month (OR = 0.23, p = 0.019). No safety issues were reported. FMT is a safe, effective treatment for rrCDI, demonstrating similar success rates in patients with and without IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of alcohol‐associated diseases is multifactorial, mechanism of which involves metabolic alteration, dysregulated immune response, and a perturbed intestinal host‐environment interface. Emerging evidence has pinpointed the critical role of the intestinal host–microbiota interaction in alcohol‐induced injuries, suggesting its contribution to disease initiation and development. To maintain homeostasis in the gut, the intestinal mucosa serves as the first‐line defense against exogenous factors in the gastrointestinal tract, including dietary contents and the commensal microbiota. The gut‐epithelial barrier comprises a physical barrier lined with a single layer of intestinal epithelial cells and a chemical barrier with mucus trapping host regulatory factors and gut commensal bacteria. In this article, we review recent studies pertaining to the disrupted gut‐epithelial barrier upon alcohol exposure and examine how alcohol and its metabolism can affect the regulatory ability of intestinal epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic wounds present significant challenges, specifically in terms of bacterial infection and delayed healing. Therefore, it is crucial to address local bacterial issues and promote accelerated wound healing. In this investigation, we utilized electrospinning to fabricate microgel/nanofiber membranes encapsulating MXene-encapsulated microgels and chitosan/gelatin polymers. Results: The film dressing facilitates programmed photothermal therapy (PPT) and mild photothermal therapy (MPTT) under near-infrared (NIR), showcasing swift and extensive antibacterial and biofilm-disrupting capabilities. The PPT effect achieves prompt sterilization within 5 min at 52 °C and disperses mature biofilm within 10 min. Concurrently, by adjusting the NIR power to induce local mild heating (42 °C), the dressing stimulates fibroblast proliferation and migration, significantly enhancing vascularization. Moreover, in vivo experimentation successfully validates the film dressing, underscoring its immense potential in addressing the intricacies of diabetic wounds. Conclusions: The MXene microgel-loaded nanofiber dressing employs temperature-coordinated photothermal therapy, effectively amalgamating the advantageous features of high-temperature sterilization and low-temperature promotion of wound healing. It exhibits rapid, broad-spectrum antibacterial and biofilm-disrupting capabilities, exceptional biocompatibility, and noteworthy effects on promoting cell proliferation and vascularization. These results affirm the efficacy of our nanofiber dressing, highlighting its significant potential in addressing the challenge of diabetic wounds struggling to heal due to infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucralose is a popular nonnutritive sweetener. The association of sucralose with gut microbiota and its effect on body weight remains unclear; therefore, we examined the effect of sucralose on human and mouse/rat gut microbiota composition. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by including clinical trials on the effect of sucralose on human and mouse/rat gut microbiota composition. Of nine studies, two were human trials, and seven were mouse/rat trials. In humans, sucralose intake resulted in significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroidetes than controls (mean change in relative abundance = 0.24, P < 0.001); however, the converse was observed in mice/rats (mean change in relative abundance = −11.02,P = 0.01). The relative abundance of Actinobacteria significantly increased in humans after sucralose intake (mean change in relative abundance = 0.30, P < 0.01), and the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia significantly decreased in mice/rats after sucralose intake (mean change in relative abundance = −1.43, P = 0.04). Sucralose reduced obesity in humans by reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and increasing the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. However, sucralose induced obesity in mice/rats by reducing the F/B ratio. More randomized clinical trials and international cooperation in sharing original data are warranted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parotid gland carcinoma (PGC) is a rare malignant tumor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of immune-inflammatory-nutrition indicators and age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index score (ACCI) of PGC and develop the nomogram model for predicting prognosis. Method: All patients diagnosed with PGC in two tertiary hospitals, treated with surgical resection, from March 2012 to June 2018 were obtained. Potential prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The nomogram models were established based on these identified independent prognostic factors. The performance of the developed prognostic model was estimated by related indexes and plots. Result: The study population consisted of 344 patients with PGC who underwent surgical resection, 285 patients without smoking (82.8%), and 225 patients (65.4%) with mucoepidermoid carcinoma, with a median age of 50.0 years. American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (p < 0.001), pathology (p = 0.019), tumor location (p < 0.001), extranodal extension (ENE) (p < 0.001), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (p = 0.004), prognostic nutrition index (PNI) (p = 0.003), ACCI (p < 0.001), and Glasgow prognostic Score (GPS) (p = 0.001) were independent indicators for disease free survival (DFS). Additionally, the independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) including AJCC stage (p = 0.015), pathology (p = 0.004), tumor location (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.009), ENE (p < 0.001), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (p = 0.001), PNI (p = 0.001), ACCI (p = 0.003), and GPS (p = 0.033). The nomogram models for predicting DFS and OS in PGC patients were generated based on these independent risk factors. All nomogram models show good discriminative capability with area under curves (AUCs) over 0.8 (DFS 0.802, and OS 0.825, respectively). Decision curve analysis (DCA), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification index (NRI) show good clinical net benefit of the two nomograms in both training and validation cohorts. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed superior discrimination of DFS and OS in the new risk stratification system compared with the AJCC stage system. Finally, postoperative patients with PGC who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy had a better prognosis in the high-, and medium-risk subgroups (p < 0.05), but not for the low-risk subgroup. Conclusion: The immune-inflammatory-nutrition indicators and ACCI played an important role in both DFS and OS of PGC patients. Adjuvant radiotherapy had no benefit in the low-risk subgroup for PGC patients who underwent surgical resection. The newly established nomogram models perform well and can provide an individualized prognostic reference, which may be helpful for patients and surgeons in proper follow-up strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]