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Three carbazole‐substituted anthracene 2CbzAn, 26CbzAn, and 246CbzAn have been developed. The introduction of these carbazole substituents could generate more triplet states with energy levels close to 2× E(T1) that could successfully facilitate the triplet‐triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‐UC) process to achieve high upconversion quantum yield (UCQY). This observation aligns with the Adachi theory about TTA‐UC mechanisms. In organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) device investigation, in a non‐doped state show an external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 5.82% with exceptional pure‐blue emission (CIEy of 0.101), and the DPaNIF doped DMPPP/26CbzAn bilayer structure reaches an impressive EQEmax of 11.12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a combined model based on radiomics features of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) during the Kupffer phase and to evaluate its value in differentiating well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (w-HCC) from atypical benign focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods: A total of 116 patients with preoperatively Sonazoid-CEUS confirmed w-HCC or benign FLL were selected from a prospective multiple study on the clinical application of Sonazoid in FLLs conducted from August 2020 to March 2021. According to the randomization principle, the patients were divided into a training cohort and a test cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Seventy-nine patients were used for establishing and training the radiomics model and combined model. In comparison, 37 patients were used for validating and comparing the performance of the models. The diagnostic efficacy of the models for w-HCC and atypical benign FLLs was evaluated using ROCs curves and decision curves. A combined model nomogram was created to assess its value in reducing unnecessary biopsies. Results: Among the patients, there were 55 cases of w-HCC and 61 cases of atypical benign FLLs, including 28 cases of early liver abscess, 16 cases of atypical hepatic hemangioma, 8 cases of hepatocellular dysplastic nodules (DN), and 9 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). The radiomics model and combined model we established had AUCs of 0.905 and 0.951, respectively, in the training cohort, and the AUCs of the two models in the test cohort were 0.826 and 0.912, respectively. The combined model outperformed the radiomics feature model significantly. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the combined model achieved a higher net benefit within a specific threshold probability range (0.25 to 1.00). A nomogram of the combined model was developed. Conclusion: The combined model based on the radiomics features of Sonazoid-CEUS in the Kupffer phase showed satisfactory performance in diagnosing w-HCC and atypical benign FLLs. It can assist clinicians in timely detecting malignant FLLs and reducing unnecessary biopsies for benign diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norepinephrine transporter (NET; encoded by SLC6A2) reuptakes the majority of the released noradrenaline back to the presynaptic terminals, thereby affecting the synaptic noradrenaline level1. Genetic mutations and dysregulation of NET are associated with a spectrum of neurological conditions in humans, making NET an important therapeutic target1. However, the structure and mechanism of NET remain unclear. Here we provide cryogenic electron microscopy structures of the human NET (hNET) in three functional states—the apo state, and in states bound to the substrate meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) or the orthosteric inhibitor radafaxine. These structures were captured in an inward-facing conformation, with a tightly sealed extracellular gate and an open intracellular gate. The substrate MIBG binds at the centre of hNET. Radafaxine also occupies the substrate-binding site and might block the structural transition of hNET for inhibition. These structures provide insights into the mechanism of substrate recognition and orthosteric inhibition of hNET.Structures of human NET in the apo state and bound to meta-iodobenzylguanidine and radafaxine provide insights into the mechanism of substrate recognition and orthosteric inhibition of hNET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotesia ruficrus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an endoparasitic natural enemy of various Lepidopteran pests, and it plays a significant role in integrated pest management. In the field survey of maize fields, we found for the first time that the indigenous parasitoid C. ruficrus parasitized the major invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in China. We identified 18 odorant-binding proteins (CrufOBPs) of C. ruficrus through the RNA-Seq method, and PCR analysis showed that 13 out of the CrufOBPs were highly expressed in antennae. Two CrufOBPs, CrufOBP3 with the highest antennal expression and CrufOBP17 with antenna-specific expression, were selected for protein biosynthesis in the prokaryotic protein expression system and subjected to protein purification. Through fluorescence binding assay, seven maize volatile compounds were selected for the antennal electroantennography (EAG) study, and the results indicated that female C. ruficrus exhibited distinct responses to these volatiles at different concentrations. Octanal and 2-heptanone of 10 mg mL−1 were chosen for olfactory behavioral experiments because of their high EAG responses, and the results showed that C. ruficrus adults were significantly attracted at certain concentrations. Furthermore, in the cage experiments, 10 mg mL−1 of 2-heptanone significantly increased the parasitism rate of C. ruficrus on S. frugiperda. These findings not only provide a theoretical basis for studying the odorant-binding protein family of C. ruficrus but also contribute to the development of novel pest control strategies for this invasive pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted and evaluated 44 experiments using the non-hydrostatic version of the regional climate model RegCM4 (RegCM4-NH) and an additional three experiments with RegCM version 5 (RegCM5) over Southeast Asia for the period 2010–2015. The initiative was part of the coordinated regional climate downscaling experiment—Southeast Asia (CORDEX-SEA) project, in preparation for downscaling the latest coupled model intercomparison project Phase 6 (CMIP6) global climate models (GCMs). The RegCM4-NH experiments, forced by the ERA5 reanalysis, were configured using combinations of four cumulus, three planetary boundary layer (PBL), and three explicit moisture schemes. The spatiotemporal variability of simulated 2 m-temperature and rainfall for 2010–2015 was evaluated against observational datasets. The best experiments demonstrated reasonable reproduction of observed annual cycles and spatial distribution, while many exhibited unrealistic biases. A score ranking system was implemented to objectively compare the performance of experiments, enabling the identification of top-ranked experiments for Southeast Asia. The ensemble mean of the 44 RegCM4-NH experiments exhibited commendable performance, ranking 11th overall. Furthermore, the three additional RegCM5 experiments did not yield improved results compared to RegCM4-NH under the same physical configuration, suggesting that opting for RegCM4-NH would be a prudent choice for the CORDEX-SEA community in the forthcoming CMIP6 downscaling cycle for Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private university instructors in Malaysia faced obstacles in their adaptation to the online learning mode while holding their pre-existing academic duties. This research aimed to explore those obstacles, and observe how the instructors tailored their pedagogical approaches. The research employed a qualitative research design. We used convenience sampling to select eight instructors from three private universities in Malaysia using semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that the main challenges were instructors’ own workload and lessened time for professional development, the incompatibility of the provided multimedia with their teaching approaches, as well as the problem with their students’ readiness and participation. It was found that the instructors adapted their pedagogical approaches with a main focus on learners’ cognitive development, and this was hoped to be achieved through their choices of learning tools and multimedia, instructional strategies of collaborative and reflective learning, and consideration of learning outcomes and objectives. The instructors also incorporated their students’ feedback into their content development to increase the engagement. Interestingly, some instructors initiated their own content and approach, while receiving support from their institutes, peers, and other resources. The findings may contribute positively to instructor’s efforts in providing and maintaining an interactive, productive and stable learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of attenuation coefficient (AC), hepato-renal index (HRI) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis by employing histopathology as reference standard. Methods: Participants with suspected metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) who underwent US-based parameter examinations and liver biopsy were prospectively recruited. The distributions of US parameters across different grades of steatosis were calculated, and diagnostic performance was determined based on the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: A total of 73 participants were included, with hepatic steatosis grades S0, S1, S2, and S3 distributed as follows: 13, 20, 27, and 13 respectively. The correlation coefficients for CAP, AC, and HRI ranged from 0.67 to 0.74. AC and HRI showed a strong correlation with steatosis grade. The AUC for CAP and AC in diagnosing steatosis ≥ S1 were significantly higher at 0.99 and 0.98 compared to HRI's value. For diagnosing steatosis ≥ S2, the AUC of CAP (AUC: 0.85) was lower than that of AC (AUC: 0.94), and HRI (AUC: 0.94). Similarly for diagnosing steatosis S3, the AUC of CAP (AUC: 0.68) was lower than that of AC (AUC: 0.88), and HRI (AUC: 0.88). Conclusion: The AC and HRI values increased with the progression of hepatic steatosis grade, while CAP increased from S0 to S2 but not from S2 to S3. For mild steatosis diagnosis, CAP and AC showed superior diagnostic performance compared to HRI, while AC and HRI were more advantageous in differentiating moderate and severe steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper takes the central area of Shenzhen as an example to explore the correlation and differences between 2D and 3D green spaces on urban roads during the summer of 2023. By collecting street view image data and using convolutional neural networks for image semantic segmentation, the Green View Index (GVI) was calculated and combined with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for analysis. The results show that the road greening levels in Nanshan District, Futian District, and Luohu District of Shenzhen are relatively high, with GVI exceeding 25%. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the 2D and 3D greening data is 0.5818, indicating a moderate correlation. By analyzing four typical greening scenarios (high NDVI and high GVI, high NDVI and low GVI, low NDVI and high GVI, and low NDVI and low GVI), the study found specific reasons for the differences in green data in different dimensions; the analysis revealed that factors such as building height, density, and elevated transportation facilities significantly affect the accuracy of NDVI in urban spaces. The study suggests that in urban greening assessments, the complementarity and differences between street view data and remote sensing data should be comprehensively considered to improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the use of evidence-based research (EBR) approach in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched from January 2013 to December 2022 for RCTs of acupuncture on PD. The full text and references of each RCT were read to assess whether systematic reviews (SRs) or other types of studies with similar research questions and end-users' perspectives were cited to justify and design the trial. In addition, the discussion section were analyzed to evaluate whether trials placed the new result in the existing SRs to draw a conclusion. Multivariable logistic regression was used to find variables that associated with 3 aspects of EBR approach: (1) citing clinical studies for justification, (2) citing relevant studies that obtain the perspectives of end users, and (3) citing clinical studies for results discussion. Results: Of 473 RCTs included, 45.67% (216) of the trials cited relevant similar studies, 21.56% (102) referenced to the studies that collected end-users' perspectives, and 10.99% (52) placed result in the context of the previous research. Few RCTs appropriately applied EBR approach. Among all the included studies, 3.17% (15) of the trials used SRs to inform study questions but none of them used updated SRs with acceptable quality; 1.05% (5) of the trials cited SRs of end-user's perspectives in the justification and design of the study, and only 1 trial added results in existing SR to draw a conclusion. Year of publication, language, funding, registration, ethical approval and number of sites were significantly associated with 1 of the 3 aspects of EBR approach. Conclusions: Few RCTs in acupuncture-related therapies for PD used the EBR approach to minimize research redundancy. Researchers, research institutes, funding agencies, ethics committees, journals and peer reviewers in acupuncture should make efforts to use and promote the EBR approach to ensure the value of new trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aseismic capability of the water intake tower-traffic bridge, a crucial component of the reservoir's infrastructure, is essential for ensuring the safe operation of the reservoir after an earthquake. Taking the water intake tower-traffic bridge at Shenzhen Beikeng Reservoir as an example, its seismic response was analyzed with finite element method, and its aseismic safety was evaluated. The maximum transverse displacement of the traffic bridge is 3.15 cm, and the minimum distance between adjacent decks is 2.97 cm during the design earthquake. There is no occurrence of beam dropping or collision between adjacent bridge panels. The traffic bridge experiences significant amplification of seismic accelerations in the earthquake. The maximum amplification for the bridge deck's transverse seismic acceleration is 4.01, and for the longitudinal direction, it is 3.36. During the design earthquake, the dynamic shear stress levels in the pier columns of the bridge are not high, indicating that column shear failure is unlikely. However, there are relatively high tensile stress values on the outer vertical side of the bottom of the pier columns. Additionally, the lower beams of the bridge piers exhibit high tensile stress on both the top and bottom surfaces. To ensure the seismic safety of the bridge pier structure, anti-seismic reinforcements are necessary at pier columns and beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since OpenAI opened access to ChatGPT, large language models (LLMs) become an increasingly popular topic attracting researchers' attention from abundant domains. However, public researchers meet some problems when developing LLMs given that most of the LLMs are produced by industries and the training details are typically unrevealed. Since datasets are an important setup of LLMs, this paper does a holistic survey on the training datasets used in both the pre-train and fine-tune processes. The paper first summarizes 16 pre-train datasets and 16 fine-tune datasets used in the state-of-the-art LLMs. Secondly, based on the properties of the pre-train and fine-tune processes, it comments on pre-train datasets from quality, quantity, and relation with models, and comments on fine-tune datasets from quality, quantity, and concerns. This study then critically figures out the problems and research trends that exist in current LLM datasets. The study helps public researchers train and investigate LLMs by visual cases and provides useful comments to the research community regarding data development. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to summarize and discuss datasets used in both autoregressive and chat LLMs. The survey offers insights and suggestions to researchers and LLM developers as they build their models, and contributes to the LLM study by pointing out the existing problems of LLM studies from the perspective of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared lasers have an extensive range of applications in sensing, detection, communication, medicine, and other fields. The principle of directly pumping solid-state lasers is simple, and it can easily achieve high-power and high-efficiency laser output, which is one of the important means to obtain infrared lasers. Incorporating rare earth ions into the substrate as the gain medium for directly pumping solid-state lasers can alter their optical performance and further enhance the performance of the laser. Lasers based on rare earth ion doping have a small volume, high conversion efficiency, good beam quality, wide tuning range, and multiple operating modes. Therefore, the proportion of rare earth ions doped as the gain medium for activating ions is currently very large. In this review, Ho3+, Tm3+, and Er3+ are selected as the representative rare earth ions, and their optical properties, such as luminous power and fluorescence lifetime, when doped in different substrates, such as crystals, ceramics, and fibers, are introduced, respectively, to illustrate their feasibility as infrared laser gain media. In addition, we show the different optical properties when doped with two ions, three ions, and four ions, demonstrating their great potential as infrared laser gain media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedling mode plays a crucial role in the rice production process, as it significantly affects the growth and development of seedlings. Among the various seedling modes, the seedling tray overlapping for seed emergence mode (STOSE mode) has been demonstrated to be effective in enhancing seedling quality. However, the impact of this mode on the germination and growth of seeds with varying plumpness remains uncertain. To investigate the effect of the STOSE mode on seedling emergence characteristics, growth uniformity, and nutrient uptake of seeds with varying plumpness levels, we conducted a study using super early rice Zhongzao 39 (ZZ39) as the test material. The seeds were categorized into three groups: plumped, mixed, and unplumped. The results indicated that the STOSE mode significantly improved the seedling rate for all types of seeds in comparison to the seedling tray nonoverlapping for seed emergence mode (TSR mode). Notably, the unplumped seeds exhibited the most pronounced enhancement effect. The soluble sugar content of the seeds increased significantly after 2 days of sowing under the STOSE mode, whereas the starch content exhibited a significant decrease. Furthermore, the STOSE mode outperformed the TSR mode in several aspects including seedling growth uniformity, aboveground dry matter mass, root traits, and nutrient uptake. Overall, the STOSE mode not only promoted the germination and growth of plumped and mixed seeds but also had a more pronounced impact on unplumped seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is considered as an efficient tool for focal liver lesion characterization, given it allows real-time scanning and provides dynamic tissue perfusion information. An accurate diagnosis of liver lesions with CEUS requires a precise interpretation of CEUS images. However,it is a highly experience dependent task which requires amount of training and practice. To help improve the constrains, this study aims to develop an end-to-end method based on deep learning to make malignancy diagnosis of liver lesions using CEUS. Methods: A total of 420 focal liver lesions with 136 benign cases and 284 malignant cases were included. A deep learning model based on a two-dimensional convolution neural network, a long short-term memory (LSTM), and a linear classifier (with sigmoid) was developed to analyze the CEUS loops from different contrast imaging phases. For comparison, a 3D-CNN based method and a machine-learning (ML)-based time-intensity curve (TIC) method were also implemented for performance evaluation. Results: Results of the 4-fold validation demonstrate that the mean AUC is 0.91, 0.88, and 0.78 for the proposed method, the 3D-CNN based method, and the ML-based TIC method, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed CNN-LSTM method is promising in making malignancy diagnosis of liver lesions in CEUS without any additional manual features selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. Objective: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. Methods: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2–0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. Results: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). Conclusions: High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the ability of Earth System Models (ESMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) to simulate biogeochemical variables in the southern South China Sea (SCS). The analysis focuses on chlorophyll, phytoplankton, nitrate, and oxygen at annual and seasonal scales. The models' performance is assessed against Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) data using statistical metrics such as the Taylor diagram and Taylor skill score. The results show that the models generally capture the observed spatial patterns of biogeochemical variables but exhibit varying degrees of overestimation or underestimation. The performance of the models is also influenced by the season, with some models showing better performance during the southwest monsoon than the northeast monsoon. Overall, the top five best-performing models for biogeochemical variables are MIROC-ES2H, GFDL-ESM4, CanESM5-CanOE, MPI-ESM1-2-LR, and NorESM2-LM. The findings of this study have implications for researchers and end-users of the datasets, providing guidance for model improvement and understanding the impacts of climate change on the SCS ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the ecological status of benthic habitats is important in marine ecosystem management. Sea-crossing bridges have been constructed worldwide to facilitate human travels and transactions. However, limited information is available on the ecological impacts of bridge constructions on local microeukaryotic compositions and functional shifts. In the present study, next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed to compare changes of microeukaryotic communities in local sediments influenced by sea-crossing bridge construction. Relatively low levels of alpha diversity and high levels of beta diversity were observed in samples influenced by bridge construction (group EG). The decreased abundance of Chloroplastida and increased abundance of Animalia in group EG suggested that engineering activities induced environmental disturbance, which impaired the ecosystem balance. LEfSe and SIMPER approaches revealed a significant abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi in group EG, while these taxa were rare in sediments of a control group. Increased abundance and metabolic functions of these rare ectomycorrhizal fungi suggested that rare microeukaryotes should play fundamentally ecological roles in local ecosystems, especially when environmental perturbations occurred. This report is the first to address the ecological impacts of sea-crossing bridge construction on local microeukaryotic communities, which can improve our understanding of local microbial responses to marine infrastructure construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial, published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, discusses the use of new technologies in occupational therapy and neurorehabilitation. It highlights studies that have explored the impact of technologies like virtual reality and non-invasive brain stimulation on cognitive processing, job satisfaction, and motor function. The editorial emphasizes the importance of patient involvement in goal setting and decision-making in occupational therapy. It also discusses various research findings related to neurorehabilitation, including motor imagery, kinesthetic illusion, mental practice, and mirror visual feedback. The document concludes by emphasizing the significance of evidence-based practice and collaboration in improving rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with neurological disorders. [Extracted from the article]

Eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) is a rare but noteworthy adverse effect linked to dupilumab, an interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 inhibitor used in the managing atopic diseases. The underlying mechanisms, potential predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, and optimal management strategies for dupilumabinduced EP remain unclear. We report a 71-year-old patient who developed acute EP after the first 600-mg dose of dupilumab. Eosinophils (EOSs) were also transiently increased (up to 1,600 cells/μl). After the acute EP was effectively treated with glucocorticoids, dupilumab treatment was continued. Rash, itching, and immunoglobulin E levels continued to decrease in the patient, and no further pulmonary adverse events occurred. We combined this case with a literature review of nine articles and analyzed data from 93 cases reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database of patients developing EP after dupilumab use. Our findings imply that dupilumab may induce EP, particularly in individuals over 45 years old, those with a history of respiratory diseases, and those who have previously used inhaled or systemic steroids. Vigilance is required, especially when there is a persistent elevation in peripheral blood EOSs during treatment. Although steroid treatment can effectively manage EP, more data are needed to determine the safety of resuming dupilumab treatment after controlling pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabricated dishes are an effective carrier for the foodization of agricultural products, which is an industry that is gradually moving towards a trillion-level market scale, playing an important role in ensuring food security. The prefabricated dishes industry develops modern agriculture with the concept of industrialization, promotes the further agglomeration and development of upstream and downstream supporting enterprises in the agricultural industry chain, which is the link connecting the primary, secondary and tertiary industries and the endogenous driving force to promote their innovation and development, and is an important bridge connecting the integrated development of multiple industrial chains such as production and sales between rural and urban areas. This paper introduced the development status of the prefabricated dishes industry, analyzed the problems facing by the prefabricated dishes, predicted the future development trend, and made a suggestion for the future development of the prefabricated dishes industry, so as to provide reference for the healthy and sustainable development of the prefabricated dishes industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to type 1 copper (T1Cu) function lies in the fine tuning of the CuII/I reduction potential (E°′T1Cu) to match those of its redox partners, enabling efficient electron transfer in a wide range of biological systems. While the secondary coordination sphere (SCS) effects have been used to tune E°′T1Cu in azurin over a wide range, these principles are yet to be generalized to other T1Cu‐containing proteins to tune catalytic properties. To this end, we have examined the effects of Y229F, V290N and S292F mutations around the T1Cu of small laccase (SLAC) from Streptomyces coelicolor to match the high E°′T1Cu of fungal laccases. Using ultraviolet‐visible absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies, together with X‐ray crystallography and redox titrations, we have probed the influence of SCS mutations on the T1Cu and corresponding E°′T1Cu. While minimal and small E°′T1Cu increases are observed in Y229F‐ and S292F‐SLAC, the V290N mutant exhibits a major E°′T1Cu increase. Moreover, the influence of these mutations on E°′T1Cu is additive, culminating in a triple mutant Y229F/V290N/S292F‐SLAC with the highest E°′T1Cu of 556 mV vs. SHE reported to date. Further activity assays indicate that all mutants retain oxygen reduction reaction activity, and display improved catalytic efficiencies (kcat/KM) relative to WT‐SLAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to type 1 copper (T1Cu) function lies in the fine tuning of the CuII/I reduction potential (E°′T1Cu) to match those of its redox partners, enabling efficient electron transfer in a wide range of biological systems. While the secondary coordination sphere (SCS) effects have been used to tune E°′T1Cu in azurin over a wide range, these principles are yet to be generalized to other T1Cu‐containing proteins to tune catalytic properties. To this end, we have examined the effects of Y229F, V290N and S292F mutations around the T1Cu of small laccase (SLAC) from Streptomyces coelicolor to match the high E°′T1Cu of fungal laccases. Using ultraviolet‐visible absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies, together with X‐ray crystallography and redox titrations, we have probed the influence of SCS mutations on the T1Cu and corresponding E°′T1Cu. While minimal and small E°′T1Cu increases are observed in Y229F‐ and S292F‐SLAC, the V290N mutant exhibits a major E°′T1Cu increase. Moreover, the influence of these mutations on E°′T1Cu is additive, culminating in a triple mutant Y229F/V290N/S292F‐SLAC with the highest E°′T1Cu of 556 mV vs. SHE reported to date. Further activity assays indicate that all mutants retain oxygen reduction reaction activity, and display improved catalytic efficiencies (kcat/KM) relative to WT‐SLAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the on‐site diagnostic performance of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), computed tomography (CECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) across diverse practice settings. Methods: Between May 2019 and April 2022, a total of 2085 patients with 2320 pathologically confirmed focal liver lesions (FLLs) were enrolled. Imaging reports were compared with results from pathology analysis. Diagnostic performance was analyzed in defined size, high‐risk factors for HCC, and hospital volume categories. Results: Three images achieved similar diagnostic performance in classifying HCC from 16 types of FLLs, including HCC ≤2.0 cm. For HCC diagnosis at low‐volume hospitals and HCC with high‐risk factors, the accuracy and specificity of CEUS were comparable to CECT and CEMRI, while the sensitivity of CEUS (77.4 and 89.5%, respectively) was inferior to CEMRI (87.0 and 92.8%, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS + CEMRI and CEUS + CECT increased by 7.8 and 6.2% for HCC ≤2.0 cm, 8.0 and 5.0% for HCC with high‐risk factors, and 7.4 and 5.5% for HCC at low‐volume hospitals, respectively, compared with CEMRI/CECT alone. Conclusions: Compared with CECT and CEMRI, CEUS provides adequate diagnostic performance in clinical first‐line applications at high‐volume hospitals. Moreover, a higher diagnostic performance for HCC is achieved by combining CEUS with CECT/CEMRI compared with any single imaging technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mechanism of microbiota assembly is one of the main problems in microbiome research, which is also the primary theoretical basis for precise manipulation of microbial communities. Bacterial quorum sensing (QS), as the most common means for bacteria to exchange information and interactions, is characterized by universality, specificity, and regulatory power, which therefore may influence the assembly processes of human microbiota. However, the regulating role of QS in microbiota assembly is rarely reported. In this study, we developed an optimized in vitro oral biofilm microbiota assembling (OBMA) model to simulate the time-series assembly of oral biofilm microbiota (OBM), by which to excavate the QS network and its regulating power in the process. Results: By using the optimized OBMA model, we were able to restore the assembly process of OBM and generate time-series OBM metagenomes of each day. We discovered a total of 2291 QS protein homologues related to 21 QS pathways. Most of these pathways were newly reported and sequentially enriched during OBM assembling. These QS pathways formed a comprehensive longitudinal QS network that included successively enriched QS hubs, such as Streptococcus, Veillonella-Megasphaera group, and Prevotella-Fusobacteria group, for information delivery. Bidirectional cross-talk among the QS hubs was found to play critical role in the directional turnover of microbiota structure, which in turn, influenced the assembly process. Subsequent QS-interfering experiments accurately predicted and experimentally verified the directional shaping power of the longitudinal QS network in the assembly process. As a result, the QS-interfered OBM exhibited delayed and fragile maturity with prolonged membership of Streptococcus and impeded membership of Prevotella and Fusobacterium. Conclusion: Our results revealed an unprecedented longitudinal QS network during OBM assembly and experimentally verified its power in predicting and manipulating the assembling process. Our work provides a new perspective to uncover underlying mechanism in natural complex microbiota assembling and a theoretical basis for ultimately precisely manipulating human microbiota through intervention in the QS network. 1Pt_u9XsUgt5LaXgu9Dt3M Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the need for practical aspects to be included in modern criminal law education programs. The current traditional model of education focuses solely on theoretical knowledge, which fails to meet the needs of students and the field of jurisprudence. The article identifies various issues with current practical sessions, such as a lack of real case analysis and a disconnect from legal practice. It emphasizes the importance of practical sessions in enhancing students' ability to apply knowledge, think critically, and understand the rule of law. The document also discusses effective strategies for implementing practical sessions, including situational simulation teaching, the flipped classroom model, and group cooperation. These methods aim to deepen students' understanding of criminal law practice, develop their legal awareness and practical skills, and provide them with comprehensive knowledge and experience in criminal law education. The document emphasizes the importance of adhering to legal provisions and ethical norms in these activities. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model based on Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SCEUS) and clinical features to discriminate poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (P-HCC) from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Patients and method: Forty-one ICC and forty-nine P-HCC patients were enrolled in this study. The CEUS LI-RADS category was assigned according to CEUS LI-RADS version 2017. Based on SCEUS and clinical features, a predicated model was established. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and LASSO logistic regression were used to identify the most valuable features, 400 times repeated 3-fold cross-validation was performed on the nomogram model and the model performance was determined by its discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Results: Multivariate logistic regression and LASSO logistic regression indicated that age (> 51 y), viral hepatitis (No), AFP level (≤ 20 µg/L), washout time (≤ 45 s), and enhancement level in the Kupffer phase (Defect) were valuable predictors related to ICC. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) of the nomogram was 0.930 (95% CI: 0.856–0.973), much higher than the subjective assessment by the sonographers and CEUS LI-RADS categories. The calibration curve showed that the predicted incidence was more consistent with the actual incidence of ICC, and 400 times repeated 3-fold cross-validation revealed good discrimination with a mean AUC of 0.851. Decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram could increase the net benefit for patients. Conclusions: The nomogram based on SCEUS and clinical features can effectively differentiate P-HCC from ICC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SNZ-CEUS) as an imaging biomarker for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: From August 2020 to March 2021, we conducted a prospective multicenter study on the clinical application of Sonazoid in liver tumor; a MVI prediction model was developed and validated by integrating clinical and imaging variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to establish the MVI prediction model; three models were developed: a clinical model, a SNZ-CEUS model, and a combined model and conduct external validation. We conducted subgroup analysis to investigate the performance of the SNZ-CEUS model in non-invasive prediction of MVI. Results: Overall, 211 patients were evaluated. All patients were split into derivation (n = 170) and external validation (n = 41) cohorts. Patients who had MVI accounted for 89 of 211 (42.2%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (> 49.2 mm), pathology differentiation, arterial phase heterogeneous enhancement pattern, non-single nodular gross morphology, washout time (< 90 s), and gray value ratio (≤ 0.50) were significantly associated with MVI. Combining these factors, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of the combined model in the derivation and external validation cohorts was 0.859 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.803–0.914) and 0.812 (95% CI: 0.691–0.915), respectively. In subgroup analysis, the AUROC of the SNZ-CEUS model in diameter ≤ 30 mm and ˃ 30 mm cohorts were 0.819 (95% CI: 0.698–0.941) and 0.747 (95% CI: 0.670–0.824). Conclusions: Our model predicted the risk of MVI in HCC patients with high accuracy preoperatively. Clinical relevance statement: Sonazoid, a novel second-generation ultrasound contrast agent, can accumulate in the endothelial network and form a unique Kupffer phase in liver imaging. The preoperative non-invasive prediction model based on Sonazoid for MVI is helpful for clinicians to make individualized treatment decisions. Key Points: • This is the first prospective multicenter study to analyze the possibility of SNZ-CEUS preoperatively predicting MVI. • The model established by combining SNZ-CEUS image features and clinical features has high predictive performance in both derivation cohort and external validation cohort. • The findings can help clinicians predict MVI in HCC patients before surgery and provide a basis for optimizing surgical management and monitoring strategies for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest guideline about ulcerative colitis (UC) clinical practice stresses that mucosal healing, rather than anti-inflammation, is the main target in UC clinical management. Current mucosal dysfunction mainly closely relates to the endoscopic intestinal wall (mechanical barrier) injury with the imbalance between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) regeneration and death, as well as tight junction (TJ) dysfunction. It is suggested that biological barrier (gut microbiota), chemical barrier (mucus protein layer, MUC) and immune barrier (immune cells) all take part in the imbalance, leading to mechanical barrier injury. Lots of experimental studies reported that acupuncture and moxibustion on UC recovery by adjusting the gut microbiota, MUC and immune cells on multiple targets and pathways, which contributes to the balance of IEC regeneration and death, as well as TJ structure recovery in animals. Moreover, the validity and superiority of acupuncture and moxibustion were also demonstrated in clinic. This study aims to review the achievements of acupuncture and moxibustion on mucosal healing and analyse the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To summarize and identify the available instruments/methods assessing the adequacy of acupuncture in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for proposing a new improved instrument. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out in 7 electronic databases from inception until 21st November 2022. Any study evaluating the adequacy or quality of acupuncture, specifying specific acupuncture treatment-related factors as criteria of subgroup analysis, or developing an instrument/tool to assess the adequacy or quality of acupuncture in an RCT was included. Basic information, characteristics and contents of acupuncture adequacy assessment were presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: Forty studies were included in this systematic review. Thirty-five studies (87.50%) were systematic reviews, none of which used formal methods to develop the assessment instruments/methods of acupuncture adequacy; of 5 methodological studies, only 1 study used a relatively formal method. Thirty-two studies (82.05%) assessed the components of acupuncture, while 7 (17.95%) assessed the overall quality of acupuncture. An independent assessment instrument/method was used to assess acupuncture adequacy in 29 studies (74.35%), whereas as one part of a methodological quality assessment scale in 10 (25.65%). Only 9 (23.00%) studies used the assessment results for subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis or the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Conclusion: Assessment contents for adequacy or quality of acupuncture in RCTs hadn't still reached consensus and no widely used assessment tools appeared. The methodology of available assessment instruments/scales is far from formal and rigorous. A new instrument/tool assessing adequacy of acupuncture should be developed using a formal method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wing polymorphism is an evolutionary trait that is widely present in various insects and provides a model system for studying the evolutionary significance of insect dispersal. The brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) can alter its wing morphs under biotic and abiotic stress. However, whether differential signaling pathways are induced by the 2 types of stress remain largely unknown. Here, we screened a number of candidate genes through weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) and found that ornithine decarboxylase (NlODC), a key enzyme in the synthesis of polyamines, was associated with wing differentiation in BPH and mainly responded to abiotic stress stimuli. We analyzed the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment pathways of differentially expressed genes under the 2 stresses by transcriptomic comparison, and found that biotic stress mainly influenced insulin‐related signaling pathways while abiotic stress mainly influenced hormone‐related pathways. Moreover, we found that insulin receptor 1 (NlInR1) may regulate wing differentiation of BPH by responding to both biotic and abiotic stress, but NlInR2 only responded to biotic stress. Similarly, the juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase associated with juvenile hormone degradation and NlODC may regulate wing differentiation mainly through abiotic stress. A model based on the genes and stresses to modulate the wing dimorphism of BPH was proposed. These findings present a comprehensive molecular mechanism for wing polymorphism in BPH induced by biotic and abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect that can be caused by genetic syndromes. In this study, a case of CDH diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy was reported. Exome sequencing (ES) was used to determine the genetic cause of the CDH, and a variant in the ARID2 gene associated with Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) type 6 was identified. The study highlights the importance of early diagnosis of CDH and suggests that genetic testing, including ES, should be considered in the evaluation of fetuses with CDH. However, ES is not recommended as a routine test in early pregnancy. [Extracted from the article]

Delirium is a severe acute neuropsychiatric syndrome that commonly occurs in the elderly and is considered an independent risk factor for later dementia. However, given its inherent complexity, few animal models of delirium have been established and the mechanism underlying the onset of delirium remains elusive. Here, we conducted a comparison of three mouse models of delirium induced by clinically relevant risk factors, including anesthesia with surgery (AS), systemic inflammation, and neurotransmission modulation. We found that both bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cholinergic receptor antagonist scopolamine (Scop) induction reduced neuronal activities in the delirium-related brain network, with the latter presenting a similar pattern of reduction as found in delirium patients. Consistently, Scop injection resulted in reversible cognitive impairment with hyperactive behavior. No loss of cholinergic neurons was found with treatment, but hippocampal synaptic functions were affected. These findings provide further clues regarding the mechanism underlying delirium onset and demonstrate the successful application of the Scop injection model in mimicking delirium-like phenotypes in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Bakun proposed his hypothesis in 1990 regarding upwelling under climate change, researchers conducted intensive studies to obtain the trends, current status, and future predictions of upwelling. Numerous studies have mainly focused on four major upwelling areas, which are part of the Eastern Boundary Upwelling System (EBUS). However, despite its importance, little attention has been given to the marginal seas upwelling areas such as the South China Sea (SCS), Arabian Sea, Baltic Sea, and other small-scale upwelling locations. Here, we combined several published studies to develop a new synthesis describing climate change impacts on these areas. There had been uncertainty regarding the intensification of upwelling, depending on the locations, data type, and method used. For the SCS, Vietnam and the northern SCS showed intensifying upwelling trends, while the Taiwan Strait showed a decreasing trend. Separate studies in eastern Hainan and the Arabian Sea (Somali and Oman) showed contrasting results, where both increasing and decreasing trends of upwelling had been recorded. Like the SCS, the Baltic Sea showed different results for different areas as they found negative trends along the Polish, Latvian and Estonian, and positive trends along the Swedish coast of the Baltic Sea and the Finnish coast of the Gulf of Finland. While small scales upwelling in La Guajira and southern Java showed increasing and decreasing trends, respectively. All of these limited studies suggest that researchers need to conduct a lot more studies, including the future projection of upwelling, by using climate models to develop a new understanding of how the upwelling in the SCS responds to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KATP channels are metabolic sensors for intracellular ATP/ADP ratios, play essential roles in many physiological processes, and are implicated in a spectrum of pathological conditions. SUR2A-containing KATP channels differ from other subtypes in their sensitivity to Mg-ADP activation. However, the underlying structural mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we present a series of cryo-EM structures of SUR2A in the presence of different combinations of Mg-nucleotides and the allosteric inhibitor repaglinide. These structures uncover regulatory helix (R helix) on the NBD1-TMD2 linker, which wedges between NBD1 and NBD2. R helix stabilizes SUR2A in the NBD-separated conformation to inhibit channel activation. The competitive binding of Mg-ADP with Mg-ATP to NBD2 mobilizes the R helix to relieve such inhibition, allowing channel activation. The structures of SUR2B in similar conditions suggest that the C-terminal 42 residues of SUR2B enhance the structural dynamics of NBD2 and facilitate the dissociation of the R helix and the binding of Mg-ADP to NBD2, promoting NBD dimerization and subsequent channel activation. Cardiac KATP channels consisting of SUR2A are poorly activated by Mg-ADP compared to other subtypes. Here, the authors present structures of SUR2A and SUR2B, uncovering a regulatory helix that inhibits SUR2A activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionizing radiation (IR) has been extensively used for cancer therapy, but the radioresistance hinders and undermines the radiotherapy efficacy in clinics greatly. Here, we reported that the spliceosomal protein thioredoxin-like 4B (TXNL4B) is highly expressed in lung tissues from lung cancer patients with radiotherapy. Lung cancer cells with TXNL4B knockdown illustrate increased sensitivity to IR. Mechanistically, TXNL4B interacts with RNA processing factor 3 (PRP3) and co-localizes in the nucleus post-IR. Nuclear localization of PRP3 promotes the alternative splicing of the Fanconi anemia group I protein (FANCI) transcript variants, FANCI-12 and FANCI-13. PRP3 regulates alternative splicing of FANCI toward the two variants, FANCI-12 and FANCI-13. Radioresistancewas greatly enhanced through the combination of PRP31 and PRP8, the critical components of core spliceosome promoted by PRP3. Notably, the inhibition of PRP3 to suppress the production of FANCI-12 would deprive PRP31 and PRP8 of such interaction. As a result, cell cycle G2/M arrest was induced, DNA damage repair was delayed, and radiosensitivity was improved. Collectively, our study highlights potential novel underlying mechanisms of the involvement of TXNL4B and alternative splicing in radioresistance. The results would benefit potential cancer radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a significant invasive pest identified as a serious threat to global agricultural production and food security. However, its ovipositional preference, larval feeding selectivity, and nutritional indices are less studied. Here, we investigated these traits of FAW when fed on maize, wheat, soybean, tomato, cotton, and Chinese cabbage, and analyzed the correlation between its nutritional indices and the nutritional contents of crops. The results showed that the highest number of eggs were laid on maize and the lowest number were laid on tomato. The highest feeding choice rate of third instar larvae was on maize, and the lowest was on Chinese cabbage. The fifth instar larvae showed the highest feeding choice rate on maize, but no significant differences were found among other crop species. The food consumption (FC), the relative growth rate (RGR), and the approximate digestibility (AD) were significantly higher on maize and wheat, while the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and the efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) were significantly higher when fed on cotton and Chinese cabbage. The FC, the relative consumption rate (RCR), RGR, and AD were significantly and positively correlated with soluble sugar and protein contents of host plants, while the ECI and ECD were significantly and negatively correlated with the soluble sugar content. The present study indicates that FAW may cause potential economic losses to these crops besides maize, and these findings are valuable in managing and controlling this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dandy–Walker malformation (DWM) is characterized by neuron dysregulation in embryonic development; however, the regulatory mechanisms associated with it are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex 4 (NDUFA4) in regulating downstream signaling cascades and neuronal proliferation and apoptosis. Ndufa4 overexpression promoted the proliferation of neurons and inhibited their apoptosis in vitro, which underwent reverse regulation by the Ndufa4 short hairpin RNAs. Ndufa4-knockout (KO) mice showed abnormal histological alterations in the brain tissue, in addition to impaired spatial learning capacity and exploratory activity. Ndufa4 depletion altered the microRNA expressional profiles of the cerebellum: Ndufa4 inhibited miR-145a-5p expression both in the cerebellum and neurons. miR-145a-5p inhibited the proliferation of neurons and promoted their apoptosis. Ndufa4 promoted and miR-145a-5p inhibited the expression of human homer protein homolog 1 and cyclin D2 in neurons. Thus, Ndufa4 promotes the proliferation of neurons and inhibits their apoptosis by inhibiting miR-145a-5p, which directly targets and inhibits the untranslated regions of Homer1 and Ccnd2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corroles have attracted increasing research interests in recent decades owing to their unique properties over porphyrins. However, the relatively inefficient and tedious synthetic procedures of corrole building blocks with functional groups for bioconjugation hindered their bioapplications. Herein, we report a highly efficient protocol to synthesize corrole‐peptide conjugates with good yields (up to 63 %) without using prepared corrole building blocks. By condensing two −COOH‐bearing‐dipyrromethane molecules onto an aldehyde group on resin‐bound peptide chains in a controllable manner, a series of desired products with long (up to 25 residues) and bioactive peptide chains were obtained with at most one chromatographic purification. The synthesized compounds exhibited potential applications as chelators for metal ions for biomedical applications, as building blocks for supramolecular materials, as well as targeted fluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New phosphors Ca2Mg(BO3)2: Ce3+ were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method at a high temperature. The phase purity was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) optical properties of Ce3+ have been investigated, and the lowest 5d levels, the emission, and the Stokes shifts of Ce3+ in the host lattice were identified. In addition, its concentration quenching process was also studied. The results show that Ce3+ ions enter Ca2+ sites with only one emission in a UV-Vis range and that the optimum doping concentration is x = 0.05. The excitation and emission spectra were evaluated to clearly reveal luminescence features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the classic 1,1′:4′,1″‐terphenyl fluorophore, a novel near‐ultraviolet (NUV) fluorescent BB4Ph (4,4″′‐bis(2,3,4,5‐tetraphenylphen‐1‐yl)(1,1′:4′,1″‐terphenyl) is designed, synthesized, and characterized. BB4Ph exhibits a NUV fluorescence with a λmax of 373 and 380 nm in solution and as a thin film, respectively. The grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) reveals BB4Ph having a high value of order parameter (SGIWAXS) of 0.59 for a molecular layer array normal to the substrate; the angle‐dependent photoluminescence (ADPL) measurement shows Θ (horizontal–dipole ratios) as high as 95% with the neat film. The non‐doped BB4Ph organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) show external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 5.24% with 1931 Commission Internationale de l' Eclairage coordinates (CIEx,y) of (0.16, 0.04), a NUV electroluminescence. With 4P‐Cz (9,9′‐(1,1′:4′,1″:4″,1′″‐quaterphenyl‐4,4′″‐diyl)dicarbazole) as a dopant emitter, doped BB4Ph OLEDs show the highest EQE of 6.99% and a NUV 1931 CIEx,y (0.16, 0.04). The photoluminescence quantum yield is measured for the thin film of BB4Ph and 4P‐Cz:BB4Ph as 68% and 96%, respectively. Hence, the low limits of light outcoupling efficiency (ηout) of the two individual OLEDs are estimated as 31% and 29%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: VueBoxtrademark has been used for contrast analysis in DCE-US-based quantitative research. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to use the enhancement-mode and VueBoxtrademark parameters to further evaluate the differential diagnostic value of DCE-US for renal tumors. METHODS: 24 patients with renal tumors, including 7 benign and 17 malignant, were retrospectively analyzed.The DCE-US enhancement-mode and VueBoxtrademark parameters correlated with the histological analyses of tumors were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: The benign and malignant renal tumors showed significant differences in enhancement degree (P = 0.017) and presence of a pseudocapsule (P = 0.009) and in the VueBoxtrademark parameters FT (P = 0.045) and RT (P = 0.039). Receiver operating characteristic analysis for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant renal tumors showed that AUC for a combination of enhancement degree and presence of a pseudocapsule was greater (AUC = 0.815) than the values for either parameter of enhancement mode alone. Similarly, the AUC for a combination of RT and FT was greater (AUC = 0.798) than the values for RT or FT alone. A comprehensive index obtaining by combining the enhancement-mode and VueBoxtrademark parameters showed the largest AUC (AUC = 0.916) with relatively high accuracy (87.50%), sensitivity (76.50%), and specificity (85.70%). CONCLUSIONS: DCE-US with enhancement mode and quantitative analysis can facilitate preoperative differential diagnosis of benign and malignant renal tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea level rise will significantly impact coastal areas around the world. As a coastal country, Malaysia's rising sea levels are a significant concern because they would affect 70% of its population. The study of sea level rise is important in order to implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. This study investigates the performance of CMIP6 Global Climate Models (GCMs) in simulating sea level rise in the Malaysian seas using various statistical methods. The models' performances were evaluated by comparing historic CMIP6 GCM runs from 1993 to 2010 with sea level measurements from the satellite altimetry AVISO+ using the Taylor diagram. The SCS (SCSPM and SCSEM) had a higher sea level range and trend in both selected areas than the SM and SS. With 1.5 °C warmings, the multi-model ensemble means predicted that the SCS would rise by 16 mm near the Peninsular, with sea levels increasing by 0.908 m at a rate of 1.5 mm/year, and by 14.5 mm near East Malaysia, with sea levels increasing by 0.895 m at a rate of 1.1 mm/year. In contrast, 2.0 °C warmings project that SCSPM and SCSEM would cause sea levels to rise by 20.2 mm and 21.5 mm, respectively, at a rate of 0.6 mm/year and 0.7 mm/year. This information will provide an insight into Malaysian sea levels between now and the end of the twenty-first century, which will be beneficial for government agencies, academics, and relevant stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the safety of the ultrasound contrast agent sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles in a large group of patients referred for routine contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Methods: A retrospective assessment was made of all patients that received sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles intravenously for CEUS at 24 centers between January 2006 and April 2019. Patient demographic details, examination type, and the dose of sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles administered were recorded with specific adverse events (AEs) documentation tools at each center. All AEs were recorded as serious or non-serious. Non-serious AEs were classified by intensity as mild, moderate, or severe according to ACR criteria. The frequencies of AEs across patient subgroups were compared using the chi-square test. Results: A total of 463,434 examinations were evaluated. Overall, 157 AEs (153 [0.033%] non-serious; 4 [0.001%] serious) were reported after sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles administration, giving an AE frequency of 0.034% (157/463,434). Among the non-serious AEs, 66 (0.014%) were mild, 70 (0.015%) moderate, and 17 (0.004%) severe in intensity. The liver was the most common examination site, presenting an AE frequency of 0.026%. The highest AE frequency (0.092%) was for patients undergoing CEUS for vascular disease. There were no significant gender differences in either the total number or the severity of non-serious AEs (chi-square = 2.497, p = 0.287). The onset of AEs occurred within 30 min of sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles administration in 91% of cases. Conclusion: The frequency of AEs to sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles is very low and severe reactions are rare, confirming that sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles are appropriate for routine CEUS applications. Key Point: • The frequency of AEs to sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles is very low and severe reactions are rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the major form of vitamin D in the body, has a non-linear association with stroke risk. However, the association is not fully understood. The specific shape of the association and the ideal value of 25(OH)D related to minimum risk of stroke remain unclear. Aim: We conducted the study to establish the correlation between circulating 25(OH)D and stroke history and determine the ideal value of 25(OH)D in relation to the lowest stroke prevalence. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used for analyzes. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis with fitted smooth curves to explore the relationship between 25(OH)D and self-reported stroke history. Subsequently, 40,632 participants were enrolled in the study. Results: A reverse J-shaped association between 25(OH)D and stroke history was determined, where the lowest stroke prevalence for the 25(OH)D level was about 60 nmol/L. After adjusting for confounding factors, prevalence of stroke showed an increasing trend below and above the middle quintile (53.2-65.4 nmol/L) of 25(OH)D. Participants with 25(OH)D levels in the lowest quintile (39.3 nmol/L) had a 38% increased prevalence of stroke (OR 1.38, 95 %CI 1.12-1.70), while those in the higher level range of 25(OH)D (65.5-80.8 nmol/L) had a 27% higher stroke prevalence (OR 1.27, 95 %CI 1.03-1.57). Conclusion: Using data from a large, cross-sectional cohort program, we found that circulating 25(OH)D was related to stroke history in a reverse J-shaped manner. Given how the causal relationship between circulating 25(OH)D and history of stroke has not been established, more high-quality evidence based on the reverse J-shaped feature is needed to elucidate the link between vitamin D and stroke risk, and the effect of vitamin D supplements on stroke prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]