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Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an initial triple combination therapy (TCT) compared with conventional stepwise add‐on therapy (SAT) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods: This multicentre, randomized, 104‐week, open‐label trial randomized 105 patients with drug‐naïve T2D (with HbA1c level ≥ 8.0%, < 11.0%) to the TCT (1000 mg of metformin, 10 mg of dapagliflozin and 5 mg of saxagliptin once daily) or SAT (initiated with metformin, followed by glimepiride and sitagliptin) groups. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved an HbA1c level of less than 6.5% without hypoglycaemia, weight gain of 5% or higher, or discontinuation of drugs because of adverse events at week 104. Results: HbA1c reduction from baseline at week 104 was similar between the groups (the least squares mean change was −2.56% in the TCT group vs. –2.75% in the SAT group). The primary outcome was achieved in 39.0% and 17.1% of the TCT and SAT groups, respectively, with a risk difference of 22.0 (95% confidence interval 3.0, 40.8; P =.027). HbA1c level less than 6.5% at week 104 was 46.3% in both the TCT and SAT groups, whereas the incidence of hypoglycaemia, weight gain, or discontinuation of drugs was 16.7% and 62.0% in the TCT and SAT groups, respectively (P <.001). TCT was well‐tolerated and had fewer adverse events than SAT. Conclusions: Among newly diagnosed patients with T2D, initial TCT effectively lowered HbA1c levels with higher tolerability and safety than SAT for 104 weeks, suggesting a novel strategy for initial combination therapy in T2D patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is present in blood of patients who do not respond to anti-programmed cell death (ligand) 1 [PD-(L)1] treatment, and through synergy with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), it helps to create an environment that promotes tumor immune evasion and immune tolerance. Therefore, simultaneous inhibition of TGFβ/VEGF is more effective than targeting TGFβ alone. In this study, the dual inhibitory mechanism of TU2218 was identified through in vitro analysis mimicking the tumor microenvironment, and its antitumor effects were analyzed using mouse syngeneic tumor models. TU2218 directly restored the activity of damaged cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells inhibited by TGFβ and suppressed the activity and viability of regulatory T cells. The inactivation of endothelial cells induced by VEGF stimulation was completely ameliorated by TU2218, an effect not observed with vactosertib, which inhibits only TGFβ signaling. The combination of TU2218 and anti-PD1 therapy had a significantly greater antitumor effect than either drug alone in the poorly immunogenic B16F10 syngeneic tumor model. The mechanism of tumor reduction was confirmed by flow cytometry, which showed upregulated VCAM-1 expression in vascular cells and increased influx of CD8 + CTLs into the tumor. As another strategy, combination of anti-CTLA4 therapy and TU2218 resulted in high complete regression (CR) rates in CT26 and WEHI-164 tumor models. In particular, immunological memory generated by the combination of anti-CTLA4 and TU2218 in the CT26 model prevented the development of tumors after additional tumor cell transplantation, suggesting that the TU2218-based combination has therapeutic potential in immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting the ability to directly deposit larger‐sized, flexible, alloying‐type sodium‐ion battery electrodes without the need of additional inactive components and processing steps is a strategic way to achieve higher gravimetric capacities which will be suitable for commercial‐level sodium‐ion (SIB) pouch cell manufacturing. In this regard, a simple, template‐free electroplating protocol is reported for designing phase‐pure tin antimonide (TA)‐based negatrode. An optimum control over the potentiostatic electroplating parameters allows the preferential formation of dendritic nanostructures over an electroplated foam‐based current collector. The prepared negatrode and Mn‐based Prussian blue analog positrode in full coin cell format deliver an average nominal working voltage of 3.0 V with a discharge energy density of 342 Wh kg−1. In single‐layer full pouch cell format, an 8.01 mAh capacity (89.89 mAh g−1, 593.3 µAh cm−2) is achieved at an undeformed state and 97.12% capacity is retained at 180° bend condition. In multi‐layer full pouch cell format, a 35.86 mAh capacity (80.58 mAh g−1, 531.2 µAh cm−2) is achieved with 62.77% capacity retention after 200 cycles (0.125 C). The results of this work showcase how a simple, template free, aqueous electrolyte based electroplating protocol can be developed for the direct fabrication of large‐sized, flexible, alloying‐type negatrodes for commercial SIB pouch cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic potential of single atom incorporated heterostructures holds substantial promise because of their ability to offer customizable chemical functionality and abundant active sites. In this study, a novel approach is employed to synthesize ruthenium single atoms (RuSA) implanted on bimetallic NiFe-LDH derived sulfide nanosheet heterostructures (RuSA-NiS2-FeS2) via a facile technique. Experimental findings demonstrate that RuSA-NiS2-FeS2 exhibits lower overpotential (η) for water splitting. Specifically, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) overpotentials at current densities of (10 and 100) mA cm−2 are measured to be (57 and 187) mV, respectively. Similarly, at (20 and 100) mA cm−2, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) overpotentials are recorded to be (242 and 304) mV, respectively. Conspicuously, the RuSA-NiS2-FeS2 (+, −) electrolyzer requires cell potentials of (1.47 and 1.74) V at (10 and 100) mA cm−2, lower than the cell potentials of (1.57 and 1.92) V required by the RuO2@NF (+)//Pt–C@NF (−) device to achieve similar current densities. These experimental results and the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations unveil that our research offers a promising method for single atom implanted heterostructures that can be used for large-scale clean hydrogen production through water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of contaminant transport in estuarine environments, focusing on the impact of tidal creeks and flats. The research employs advanced hydrodynamic models with irregular grid systems and conducts a detailed residual current analysis to explore how these physical features influence the movement and dispersion of contaminants. The methodology involves simulating residual currents and Lagrangian particle trajectories in both 'Creek' and 'No Creek' cases, under varying tidal conditions. The results indicate that tidal creeks significantly affect particle retention and transport, with notable differences observed in the dispersion patterns between the two scenarios. The 'Creek' case demonstrates enhanced material retention along the creek pathways, while the 'No Creek' case shows broader dispersion, potentially leading to increased sedimentation in open sea areas. The discussion highlights the implications of these findings for sediment dynamics, contaminant transport, and estuarine ecology, emphasizing the role of tidal creeks in modulating flow and material transport. The research underlines the necessity of incorporating detailed environmental features in estuarine models for accurate contaminant transport prediction and effective estuarine management. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of estuarine hydrodynamics and offers valuable insights for environmental policy and management in coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of highly efficient and low-priced multi-functional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for robust zinc–air batteries (ZABs) and water electrolyzers. Herein, we report the preparation of novel Mott–Schottky Co2P/Co heterostructures encapsulated by N,P co-doped graphene and carbon nanotubes (Co2P/Co@N-CNT/NPG) using an in situ pyrolysis strategy, achieving superior trifunctional catalyst performance for the ORR, OER, and HER. The theoretical calculation indicates that the synergistic effect of the Mott–Schottky catalyst could increase the electron transport, trigger the active sites, and enhance the performance toward the ORR/OER. The Co2P/Co@N-CNT/NPG-based ZAB displays a considerable peak power density of 145 mW cm−2, and an outstanding cycle-life of 800 h. Furthermore, the flexible ZAB delivers superior mechanical properties with high flexibility, demonstrating its potential feasibility for practical application. Additionally, the water electrolysis device constructed using Co2P/Co@N-CNT/NPG electrodes requires a small cell voltage of 1.66 V at 10 mA cm−2, indicating the impressive ability to apply the catalyst for commercial energy storage and harvesting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the critical challenge of predicting sediment behavior in a semi-enclosed estuary, where the interplay between artificial freshwater discharge and seawater significantly impacts turbidity. Such environments are characterized by complex hydrodynamic interactions that lead to cycles of sediment settling and resuspension, influenced by tidal forces. To tackle this problem, we employed machine learning, leveraging its capability to analyze and predict complex non-linear phenomena. Our approach involved extensive transect observations conducted over two years, encompassing 11 ebb tide and 9 flood tide cycles. These observations were crucial for training the machine learning model, ensuring it captured the nuanced dynamics of sediment behavior under varying hydrodynamic conditions. The necessity of this research lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of sediment dynamics in estuaries, a vital aspect for environmental management and engineering projects. The findings demonstrate a promising alignment between the machine learning model's predictions and the theoretically assumed sediment behavior, highlighting the model's effectiveness in deciphering and predicting turbidity patterns in these challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst based on binary metal nitride (Zn3N2–Co2N) nanorod arrays decorated with ultrathin Co3O4 nanoparticles is prepared to improve overall water splitting performance. Notably, a charge redistribution process occurs at the heterointerface between the host metal nitride and the guest Co3O4, resulting in the regulation of both their electronic structures to facilitate the reaction kinetics of hydrogen/oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER). Using the material to catalyze the HER, current density of 10 and 50 mA cm−2 are delivered at small overpotential of 80.5 and 121.7 mV, respectively. Similarly, for OER, under the action of the material, overpotential of only 271.7 and 335.7 mV, respectively, is required to achieve 10 and 50 mA cm−2. Thus, an electrolyzer is assembled with the material as both cathode and anode, and shows high performance with a small cell voltage of 1.59 V at 10 mA cm−2, and excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) sensor embedded in a MV-class bushing for high-accuracy insulation analysis. The design, fabrication, and evaluation of a PRPD sensor embedded in a MV-class bushing aimed to achieve the detection of partial discharge (PD) pulses that are phase-synchronized with the applied primary HV signal. A prototype PRPD sensor was composed of a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) with dual-sensing electrodes, utilizing a capacitive voltage divider (CVD) for voltage measurement, the D-dot principle for PD detection, and a signal transducer with passive elements. A PD simulator was prepared to emulate typical PD defects, i.e., a metal protrusion. The voltage measurement precision of the prototype PRPD sensor was satisfied with the accuracy class of 0.2 specified in IEC 61869-11, as the maximum corrected voltage error ratios and corrected phase errors in 80%, 100%, and 120% of the rated voltage (13.2 kilovolts (kV)) were less than 0.2% and 10 min, respectively. In addition, the prototype PRPD sensor had good linearity and high sensitivity for PD detection compared with a conventional electrical detection method. According to performance evaluation tests, the prototype PRPD sensor embedded in the MV-class bushing can measure PRPD patterns phase-synchronized with the primary voltage without any additional synchronization equipment or system. Therefore, the prototype PRPD sensor holds potential as a substitute for conventional commercial PD sensors. Consequently, this advancement could lead to the enhancement of power system monitoring and maintenance, contributing to the digitalization and minimization of power apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen production is emerging as an essential task for future energy. Water splitting is an effective approach to yield green hydrogen with high purity. However, expensive electrocatalysts are required that can increase the production cost. Herein, a novel procedure is proposed to incorporate iridium single atoms into zirconium‐doped pure‐phase cobalt phosphide (Ir@Zr–CoP) that can adjust the electronic properties and enhance the electrochemical active sites. When Ir@Zr–CoP serves as a bifunctional catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), it requires a low overpotential of 74 and 292 mV to accomplish a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Remarkably, when the Ir@Zr–CoP based electrode is assembled as a large‐scalable anion‐exchange membrane water electrolyzer, the device requires a small cell voltage of only 1.88 V to obtain a current density of 1.0 A cm−2 with high stability for 150 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agastache rugosa, also known as Korean mint, is a perennial plant from the Lamiaceae family that is traditionally used for various ailments and contains antioxidant and antibacterial phenolic compounds. Molecular breeding of A. rugosa can enhance secondary metabolite production and improve agricultural traits, but progress in this field has been delayed due to the lack of chromosome-scale genome information. Herein, we constructed a chromosome-level reference genome using Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technology, resulting in a final genome assembly with a scaffold N50 of 52.15 Mbp and a total size of 410.67 Mbp. Nine pseudochromosomes accounted for 89.1% of the predicted genome. The BUSCO analysis indicated a high level of completeness in the assembly. Repeat annotation revealed 561,061 repeat elements, accounting for 61.65% of the genome, with Copia and Gypsy long terminal repeats being the most abundant. A total of 26,430 protein-coding genes were predicted, with an average length of 1,184 bp. The availability of this chromosome-scale genome will advance our understanding of A. rugosa's genetic makeup and its potential applications in various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the primary opportunistic human pathogen responsible for a range of acute and chronic infections; it poses a significant threat to immunocompromised patients and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for nosocomial infections. Its high resistance to a diverse array of antimicrobial agents presents an urgent health concern. Among the mechanisms contributing to resistance in P. aeruginosa, the horizontal acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) via mobile genetic elements (MGEs) has gained recognition as a substantial concern in clinical settings, thus indicating that a comprehensive understanding of ARG dissemination within the species is strongly required for surveillance. Here, two approaches, including a systematic literature analysis and a genome database survey, were employed to gain insights into ARG dissemination. The genome database enabled scrutinizing of all the available sequence information and various attributes of P. aeruginosa isolates, thus providing an extensive understanding of ARG dissemination within the species. By integrating both approaches, with a primary focus on the genome database survey, mobile ARGs that were linked or correlated with MGEs, important sequence types (STs) carrying diverse ARGs, and MGEs responsible for ARG dissemination were identified as critical factors requiring strict surveillance. Although human isolates play a primary role in dissemination, the importance of animal and environmental isolates has also been suggested. In this study, 25 critical mobile ARGs, 45 critical STs, and associated MGEs involved in ARG dissemination within the species, are suggested as critical factors. Surveillance and management of these prioritized factors across the One Health sectors are essential to mitigate the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively resistant (XDR) P. aeruginosa in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The judicious design of highly electrochemically active materials on 1D fiber substrate to form a hierarchical integrated hybrid structure is an efficient technique to improve the limited cylindrical space and volumetric energy density of fiber‐shaped supercapacitors (FSCs). Herein, a 3D negative electrode, consisting of vertically aligned interconnected mesoporous Co‐N/C leaf‐like structure on 1D MXene‐carbon fiber (Co‐N/C@MX/CF) is prepared by controlling the composition and morphology. At the same time, a 3D positive electrode is also prepared by introducing Mo in NiCo‐LDH anchored on Co‐N/C@MX/CF (Mo‐NiCo‐LDH@Co‐N/C@MX/CF) by electrodeposition method. Benefitting from the systematic hierarchical structures with highly accessible surface area, adequate pore size and easy permeation of electrolyte, both positive and negative electrodes demonstrate highly improved electrochemical performance with areal capacity/capacitance of 0.96 mAh cm−2/4.55 mF cm−2 at a current density of 3.86 mA cm−2, respectively. Furthermore, the fiber‐shaped solid‐state hybrid supercapacitor (FSHSC) based on Mo1.5NiCo‐LDH@Co‐N/C@MX/CF(+)//Co‐N/C0.5@MX/CF(−) is fabricated, exhibiting compelling energy density of 86.72 mWh cm−3 at a power density of 480.30 mW cm−3 with an outstanding capacitance retention of 80.2% after 20000 galvanostatic‐charge‐discharge cycles. This study puts forward a new perspective on the development of highly efficient FSCs for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-type Cu-Se thin films were deposited on glass substrates at room temperature using radio frequency magnetron sputtering by a single multi-component CuSe2 target. When using a multi-component target, the impact of the sputtering power on the homogeneity and stoichiometry within the thin films should be investigated in the depth direction to demonstrate a secondary effect on the electrical and optical properties of the thin films. Systematic characterization of the Cu-Se thin films, including the morphology, microstructure, chemical composition, and depth-directional chemical bonding state and defect structure of the thin films, revealed that the sputtering power played an important role in the homogeneity and stoichiometry of the thin films. At very low and very high sputtering power levels, the Cu-Se thin films exhibited more deviations from stoichiometry, while an optimized sputtering power resulted in more homogenous thin films with improved stoichiometry across the entire thin film thickness in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profile, despite showing Se deficiency at all depths. A rapid decrease in carrier concentration, indicating a reduction in the net effect of total defects, was obtained at the optimized sputtering power with less deviation from stoichiometry in the Cu-Se thin films and the closest stoichiometric ratio at an intermediate depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current evidence regarding the mortality outcomes associated with calcium supplementation with or without low‐dose vitamin D is conflicting. Objectives: To investigate the effects of calcium supplementation with or without vitamin D on all‐cause and cause‐specific mortalities in a large‐scale cohort. Methods: This study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance System database and National Death Registry. A total of 27,846 participants aged >55 years who had taken calcium supplements with or without vitamin D for at least 90 days (calcium supplementation only [CaO], n = 6256; calcium supplementation in combination with vitamin D [CaD], n = 21,590) were matched in a 1:1 ratio to those who did not take calcium or vitamin D supplements (control group) using propensity scores. Results: No difference in all‐cause mortality risk was found between the CaO and control groups: (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–1.10). However, all‐cause mortality was lower in the CaD group (HR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.80–0.89) compared with that in the control group. Mortality risk associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) was decreased in the CaD group when the daily vitamin D dose received was less than 1000 IU (HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.64–0.81). Subgroup analysis showed significant effect of vitamin D with calcium in individuals who were female, aged ≥65 years or had previous history of cancer or CVD. Conclusion: In combination with calcium, vitamin D supplementation provides better outcomes for all‐cause mortality, particularly CVD‐associated mortality, in a duration‐dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Inactivated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines are used to protect livestock against the FMD virus. However, adequate levels of antibodies to provide protection against the FMD virus cannot be rapidly produced and take a long time to develop. In this study, to solve the challenge presented by the low antibody formation following FMD vaccination in pigs, an ionic amino–zinc complex (Amino–Zn), which has high bioavailability and immunity-enhancing effects, was administered orally. The effect on the FMD vaccine structural protein (SP) antibody formation was evaluated. As a result, the FMD vaccine SP antibody titer and immune indicators (IFN-γ, IgA) were significantly higher in the FMD vaccine group administered with 0.2% Amino–Zn in the feed compared with the positive control group (FMD vaccine only) after the first and second vaccinations. These results demonstrated that administering Amino–Zn effectively improved the antibody titer induced by the FMD vaccine and the immunity of the piglets. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious animal disease that occurs in cloven-hoofed animals including pigs. To prevent FMD, vaccines and adjuvants are routinely used to induce an immune response; however, it requires an extended period of time to produce sufficient antibodies to prevent viral infection. In this study, we evaluated the increased effectiveness of the FMD vaccine structural protein (SP) antibody by administrating the Amino–Zn adjuvant to 100 pigs from 3 test pig farms in their feed. The FMD vaccine antibody titer and immunological index were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and the hematological and blood biochemical parameters were analyzed using an automatic blood analyzer. The titer of the FMD vaccine SP antibodies in the 0.2% Amino–Zn-administered group was significantly increased compared to that of the positive control group only injected with FMD vaccine at 4 weeks after the first vaccination and at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after the second vaccination (p < 0.05). The FMD vaccine SP antibody positive rate was 100% until shipment. The IFN-γ and IgA levels were significantly increased by Amino–Zn administration 4 weeks after the first vaccination and 4 weeks after the second vaccination (p < 0.05). On the other hand, serum AST, and CPK (p < 0.001) were significantly decreased by Amino–Zn administration. These results show that the administration of Amino–Zn is effective in enhancing the antibody titer and immunogenicity of the FMD vaccine and can be used as an oral adjuvant (OrAd) to prevent viral diseases, such as FMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We aimed to investigate whether the risk of second primary malignancy (SPM) in patients with thyroid cancer (TC) receiving radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy rises in a cumulative, dose-dependent manner compared with those not undergoing RAI. Methods Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Health Information Database (2002-2019), we investigated hazard ratios of SPM associated with RAI in TC. SPM was defined as a second primary malignancy diagnosed at least 1 year after TC diagnosis. Results Of 217 777 patients with TC (177 385 women and 40 392 men; mean [SD] age, 47.2 [11.6] years), 100 448 (46.1%) received RAI therapy. The median (IQR) follow-up duration was 7.7 (5.5-10.3) years, and the median (IQR) cumulative RAI dose was 3.7 (1.9-5.6) GBq. From 2004 to 2019, SPM incidence rates were 7.30 and 6.56 per 1000 person-years in the RAI and non-RAI groups, respectively, with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 1.09 (95% confidence interval = 1.05 to 1.13); this rate remained at 1.08 (95% confidence interval = 1.04 to 1.13) after adjustment for multiple clinical confounding factors. Notably, SPM risk increased significantly, from 3.7 GBq with full adjustments, and a strong linear association between cumulative RAI dose and SPM was observed in the restricted cubic spline analysis. Regarding cancer subtypes, myeloid leukemia and salivary gland, trachea, lung and bronchus, uterus, and prostate cancers were the most significantly elevated risks in patients who underwent RAI therapy. Conclusions This study identified that SPM risk increased linearly in a dose-dependent manner in patients with TC undergoing RAI therapy compared with those not undergoing RAI therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful development of an electrocatalyst capable to promote the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) elements of water electrolysis is desirable for green hydrogen gas production. Herein, this work designs intermolecular metallic single‐site complexes of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and vanadium oxide phthalocyanine (VOPc) dually immobilized on 3D hierarchical MoS2‐coated MXene Mo2TiC2Tx (MX/MoS2) heterostructures as a high‐performance bifunctional electrocatalyst. The well‐organized structure with an unusual coordination environment and electronic localization impressively enhances water adsorption and activation to remarkably accelerate HER and OER kinetics. Therefore, the hybrid material requires overpotentials as small as 17.4 and 300 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2 for the HER and 50 mA cm−2 for the OER in 1.0 m KOH media, respectively. The electrolyzer of MX/MoS2‐FePcVOPc(+,−) exhibits low cell voltage of only 1.45 V to reach a current response of 10 mA cm−2 in 7.0 m KOH at 75 °C along with excellent current retention stability of 99%/94% after long‐term operations of 30 h at 10/50 mA cm−2. Moreover, a solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficacy of 19.96% is achieved in a solar energy‐powered water electrolysis system, highlighting the great potential of the developed MX/MoS2‐FePcVOPc electrocatalyst toward water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful development of an electrocatalyst capable to promote the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) elements of water electrolysis is desirable for green hydrogen gas production. Herein, this work designs intermolecular metallic single‐site complexes of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and vanadium oxide phthalocyanine (VOPc) dually immobilized on 3D hierarchical MoS2‐coated MXene Mo2TiC2Tx (MX/MoS2) heterostructures as a high‐performance bifunctional electrocatalyst. The well‐organized structure with an unusual coordination environment and electronic localization impressively enhances water adsorption and activation to remarkably accelerate HER and OER kinetics. Therefore, the hybrid material requires overpotentials as small as 17.4 and 300 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2 for the HER and 50 mA cm−2 for the OER in 1.0 m KOH media, respectively. The electrolyzer of MX/MoS2‐FePcVOPc(+,−) exhibits low cell voltage of only 1.45 V to reach a current response of 10 mA cm−2 in 7.0 m KOH at 75 °C along with excellent current retention stability of 99%/94% after long‐term operations of 30 h at 10/50 mA cm−2. Moreover, a solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficacy of 19.96% is achieved in a solar energy‐powered water electrolysis system, highlighting the great potential of the developed MX/MoS2‐FePcVOPc electrocatalyst toward water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the longitudinal changes in brain volume and cognitive function associated with diabetes at midlife, and to examine whether long‐term hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance or secretory function is associated with brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Materials and Methods: We used data from 2377 participants with both baseline and 4‐year follow‐up brain magnetic resonance images and neuropsychological measures from the Ansan cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. Time‐weighted mean glycaemic values were calculated using all measurements over an average duration of 10.6 years from cohort initiation to baseline visits. Results: Type 2 diabetes was associated with greater white matter volume reduction (adjusted volume difference = −1.96 ml, 95% CI: −3.73, −0.18) and executive function decline (adjusted Z score difference = −0.14, 95% CI: −0.23, −0.05) during the follow‐up period of 4.2 years. Decline of verbal and visual memory or verbal fluency was not associated with diabetes. Greater executive function decline was associated with higher time‐weighted mean HbA1c level over the preceding 10.6 years (P <.001), but not with insulin resistance markers in the diabetes group. Participants with diabetes, whose time‐weighted average HbA1c level was maintained above 6.5% over the previous decade, showed greater decline in executive function and global cognition than the normal glucose group. Conclusions: Long‐term hyperglycaemia was a major independent factor associated with rapid cognitive decline in middle‐aged adults with diabetes. Maintaining ideal glucose levels in diabetes at midlife might prevent later rapid cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement in crystallinity was investigated by compensating for stoichiometric deviations of non-selenization processed Cu0.9In0.7Ga0.3Se2 (CIGS) thin films due to highly volatile Se by co-sputtering them with Te followed by rapid thermal annealing. The prepared CIGS:Te thin films did not show any linear correlation between the compositional ratio and the co-sputtering time of Te; however, the deviation parameter (Δs) from the stoichiometry and normalized stoichiometric deviations of Se + Te and In + Ga were largely consistent with the behavior of thin-film properties. The proposed method provides better crystallinity with a large grain size, clear grain boundaries, and low microstrain and dislocation density, resulting in a large volume of the unit cell. The CIGS:Te thin films used as absorbers show improved optical properties compared to the conventional CIGS thin films, with Eg = 1.548 eV. These results can advance the low-cost commercialization of the enhanced-efficiency CIGS:Te thin films without the selenization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A heterostructured electrocatalyst of small NiSe2 nanoparticles confined NiMoN nanorods (NiSe2–NPs/NiMoN–NRs) is prepared to accelerate both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a same alkaline medium. The synergistic effects caused by the combination of merits derived from NiSe2 and NiMoN phases trigger an optimum electronic structure with high density of state at near Fermi level and enhance adsorption free energy, thereby resulting in excellent catalytic activities and strengthened working stability. The catalyst requires a low overpotential of 58 mV for HER and 241 mV for OER to reach 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte. A two‐electrode electrolyzer based on the developed catalyst shows outstanding cell voltage of 1.51 and 1.46 V to reach 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M and 30 wt% KOH solution at 25 °C for overall water splitting, respectively. In addition, the solar‐driven water splitting process delivers a high solar‐to‐H2 conversion efficiency of ∼18.4%, impressively unveiling that the developed bifunctional catalyst is highly potential for overall water splitting to produce green hydrogen fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the composition of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–x(Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3 with excellent piezoelectric properties was investigated. Crystal analysis and electrical and piezoelectric properties were analyzed according to the content of the BST composition. A phase change from rhombohedral to tetragonal structure was observed in 0.12 BST, and the densest and most uniform microstructure was confirmed in this composition. The dielectric constant increased from 905 to 1692 as the composition of BST increased to 0.12 BST. Afterward, as the composition of BST increased, the permittivity tended to decrease. Additionally, at 0.12 BST, Pr was the highest at 23.34 μC/cm2. The piezoelectric charge constant (d33) and the electromechanical coupling coefficient (kp) were 152 pC/N and 0.37, respectively, and showed the highest values at 0.12 BST. Curie temperature (Tm) was analyzed 242 °C at 0.12 BST, the optimal composition. It was confirmed that the characteristics of 0.12 BST were excellent in all conditions. Therefore, it was confirmed that 0.12 BST is the optimal composition for (1 − x)BNT–xBST piezoelectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of multifunctional electrocatalysts with high efficiency and stability is of great interest in recent energy conversion technologies. Herein, a novel heteroelectrocatalyst of molecular iron complex (FeMC)‐carbide MXene (Mo2TiC2Tx) uniformly embedded in a 3D graphene‐based hierarchical network (GrH) is rationally designed. The coexistence of FeMC and MXene with their unique interactions triggers optimum electronic properties, rich multiple active sites, and favorite free adsorption energy for excellent trifunctional catalytic activities. Meanwhile, the highly porous GrH effectively promotes a multichannel architecture for charge transfer and gas/ion diffusion to improve stability. Therefore, the FeMC–MXene/GrH results in superb performances towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline medium. The practical tests indicate that Zn/Al–air batteries derived from FeMC–MXene/GrH cathodic electrodes produce high power densities of 165.6 and 172.7 mW cm−2, respectively. Impressively, the liquid‐state Zn–air battery delivers excellent cycling stability of over 1100 h. In addition, the alkaline water electrolyzer induces a low cell voltage of 1.55 V at 10 mA cm−2 and 1.86 V at 0.4 A cm−2 in 30 wt.% KOH at 80 °C, surpassing recent reports. The achievements suggest an exciting multifunctional electrocatalyst for electrochemical energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescence enhancement, including metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF), has been widely explored in the field of biosensor technology. Two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) MEF substrate approaches have been developed for biosensors to detect target biomarkers such as genes and proteins. However, several issues remain, not least poor reproducibility caused by limited recognition and diffusion of biomolecules among target molecules, biological probes, and MEF substrates in aqueous environments. Here, an Ag–ZnO nanocomplex as a 3D MEF substrate was developed in two steps: hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanowire (NW) as a building block of Ag nanoparticles (NPs), and photochemical deposition of AgNPs on the ZnO NW. Fluorescence enhancement on Ag–ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) compared with the glass substrate was 14.8-, 16.9-, 11.4-, and 14.2-fold in the presence of 10, 20, 40, and 60 base pair (bp) double-stranded (ds) DNA, respectively. The MEF effects on glass, ZnO NW, and Ag–ZnO NCs were analyzed by measuring the fluorescence lifetime of fluorescein (FAM)-labeled dsDNA, and the average lifetimes were 9.76, 9.34, and 7.86 ns, respectively. Ag–ZnO NCs showed a 50-fold higher sensitivity for the detection of dsDNA than Ag nanoisland film (AgNIF) as a 2D MEF substrate. Therefore, Ag–ZnO NCs may have potential as a 3D MEF substrate. The MEF phenomenon might involve broad-range interactions between the surface of the metal nanostructure on Ag–ZnO NCs and fluorophores in various scenarios. Our Ag–ZnO NCs could facilitate the development of sensitive MEF-based biosensors for DNA detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional metal dichalcogenides have been evidenced as potential electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); however, their application is limited by a poor oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity due to insufficient number/types of multi‐integrated active sites. In this study, we report a novel bifunctional catalyst developed by simultaneous engineering of single nickel atoms (NiSA) and nickel phosphate clusters (NiPi) to synergistically trigger surface‐functionalized MoS2 nanosheets (NSs) resulting in high reactivities for both HER and OER. The NiSA‐NiPi/MoS2 NSs material exhibits a fairly Pt‐like HER behavior with an overpotential of 94.0 mV and a small OER overpotential of 314.0 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 in freshwater containing 1.0 M KOH. Experimental results of the catalyst are well supported by theoretical study, which reveals the significant modulation of electronic structure and enrichment of electroactive site number/types with their reasonably adjusted free adsorption energy. For evaluating practicability, the NiSA‐NiPi/MoS2 NSs‐based electrolyzer delivers effective operation voltage of 1.62, 1.52, and 1.66 V at 10 mA cm−2 and superior long‐term stability as compared to Pt/C//RuO2 system in freshwater, mimic seawater, and natural seawater, respectively. The present study indicates that the catalyst is a promising candidate for the practical production of green hydrogen via water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Iodine is a vital trace element for systemic metabolic control as well as thyroid hormone synthesis. Though iodine has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, reports on its effects on metabolic disorders are limited and inconsistent. Methods: Impact of urinary iodine concentrations (UICs) on fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and blood pressure (BP) in the general Korean population was evaluated adjusting for covariates including thyrotropin level and presence of thyroid diseases. Results: The median UIC was 302.3 μg/L in all participants and was significantly lower in those with dysglycemia (303.6 μg/L in normal participants, 285.1 μg/L in participants with FBG levels of 100–125 mg/dL, and 261.8 μg/L in participants with FBG levels ≥ 126 mg/dL; p = 0.002). Similarly, the UIC was lower in participants with higher BP (311.6 μg/L in normal participants, 288.7 μg/L in prehypertensive participants, and 265.8 μg/L in hypertensive participants; p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model showed a negative correlation between the UIC and FBG levels (p = 0.002), and the UIC and systolic BP (p < 0.001). One standard deviation increase in the UIC showed odds ratios of 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73–0.98) for elevated FBG levels (≥ 100 mg/dL) and 0.94 (95% CI = 0.88–0.99) for elevated SBP (≥ 120 mm Hg) after full adjustment. Conclusion: Higher UICs were associated with lower FBG and BP levels, independent of thyroid function and other confounding factors in Korea, an iodine-replete country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of multi-metal mixed organic-framework (MMOF)-derived phosphides as promising bifunctional electrocatalysts in energy conversion holds great potential for water splitting due to the high porosity, surface area, crystallinity and exposure of more active functional sites and super inherent catalytic efficacy they offer. Herein, we have fabricated hybrid carbon shell encapsulated nitrogen trimetallic phosphide (Ni–Fe–Mn–P) ultrathin nanosheets derived from a pristine trimetallic-organic framework (Ni–Fe–Mn-MOF) grown on nickel foam using 2-aminoterephthalic acid as the ligand. The curved edge, nitrogen and carbon co-doped trimetallic-organic framework-derived phosphide grown on nickel foam (Ni–Fe–Mn–P/NC@NF) demonstrates low overpotentials of 72 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 274 mV at 30 mA cm−2 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with corresponding Tafel slopes of (79.8 and 56.8) mV dec−1 for the HER and OER, respectively, in 1 M KOH electrolytic solution. The efficient and highly stable electrocatalyst, when constructed as a Ni–Fe–Mn–P/NC@NF (+, −) device, exhibits a cell voltage of 1.52 V at 10 mA cm−2, lower by 0.06 V than that of the benchmark device RuO2@NF (+)//Pt–C@NF (−) at the same current density. We believe this work opens the way for Ni–Fe–Mn–P/NC@NF (+, −) to be applied in industrial overall electrocatalytic water-splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dabie bandavirus, also termed as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), was first isolated in China in 2010. At this time, the virus was found to have spread to South Korea, Japan, and other countries. A high case fatality rate is reported for SFTS, ranging from 12–50% within various sources. Several omics for clinical studies among SFTS patients as well as studies of cultured SFTSV have attempted to characterize the relevant molecular biology and epidemiology of the disease. However, a global serum proteomics analysis among SFTS patients has not yet been reported to date. Methods: In the current study, we evaluated comparative serum proteomics among SFTS patients (eight recovered patients and three deceased patients) with the goal of identifying the protein expression patterns associated with the clinical manifestations of SFTS. Results: The proteomic results in the current study showed that the coagulation factor proteins, protein S and protein C, were statistically significantly downregulated among the deceased patients. Downregulation of the complement system as well as prolonged neutrophil activation were also observed. Additionally, the downstream proteins of tumour necrosis factor alpha, neutrophil-activating cytokine, and interleukin-1β, an inflammatory cytokine, were overexpressed. Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia and multiple organ failure are the major immediate causes of death among SFTS patients. In this study, serum proteomic changes related to thrombocytopenia, abnormal immune response, and inflammatory activation were documented in SFTS patients. These findings provide useful information for understanding the clinical manifestations of SFTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, heterogeneous nickel phosphide‐nickel selenide (Ni2P‐NiSe2) nanosheets are constructed to coat zinc phosphide‐based nanorods (ZnP NRs) under a unique core@shell architecture, which acts as a highly active multifunctional catalyst toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 79 mV at 10 mA cm–2 for HER and 326 mV at 100 mA cm–2 for OER in freshwater under an alkaline condition. The formation of an open 3D channel architecture derived from highly conductive ZnP@Ni2P‐NiSe2 nanorods attached nickel foam generates more exposed active sites and promotes fast mass transport. In addition, density functional theory study reveals a synergistic effect between Ni2P and NiSe2 phase to reduce adsorption free energy and increase the electronic conductivity, thereby accelerating the catalytic reaction kinetics. An electrolyzer of the ZnP@Ni2P‐NiSe2(+,‐) requires only cell voltages of 1.54 V (1.43 V) and 1.51 V (1.44 V) to deliver 10 mA cm–2 in freshwater and mimic seawater at 25 °C (75 °C), respectively, along with prospective long‐term stability. Furthermore, the solar energy‐assisted water splitting process demonstrates a solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 19.75%, implying that the catalyst is an effective and low‐cost candidate for water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus is an emerging infectious virus which causes severe hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia, with a high fatality rate. Since there is no approved therapeutics or vaccines for SFTS, early diagnosis is essential to manage this infectious disease. Methods: Here, we tried to detect SFTS virus in serum samples from SFTS patients by proteomic analysis. Firstly, in order to obtain the reference MS/MS spectral data of SFTS virus, medium from infected Vero cell culture was used for shotgun proteomic analysis. Then, tryptic peptides in sera from SFTS patients were confirmed by comparative analysis with the reference MS/MS spectral data of SFTS virus. Results: Proteomic analysis of culture medium successfully discovered tryptic peptides from all the five antigen proteins of SFTS virus. The comparative spectral analysis of sera of SFTS patients revealed that the N-terminal tryptic peptide of the nucleocapsid (N) protein is the major epitope of SFTS virus detected in the patient samples. The prevalence of the peptides was strongly correlated with the viral load in the clinical samples. Conclusions: Proteomic analysis of SFTS patient samples revealed that nucleocapsid (N) protein is the major antigen proteins in sera of SFTS patients and N-terminal tryptic peptide of the N protein might be a useful proteomic target for direct detection of SFTS virus. These findings suggest that proteomic analysis could be an alternative tool for detection of pathogens in clinical samples and diagnosis of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A serological immunoassay based on enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a crucial tool for screening and identification of human SARS‐CoV‐2 seroconversion. Various immunoassays are developed to detect the spike 1 (S1) and nucleocapsid (NP) proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2; however, these serological tests have low sensitivity. Here, a novel microplate (MP) is developed on which a ZnO nanowire (NW) is fabricated by a modified hydrothermal synthesis method. This plate is coated with SARS‐CoV‐2 NP and used as a fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) to detect antibodies specific for SARS‐CoV‐2 NP. Compared with the bare MP, the ZnO‐NW MP binds high levels (up to 5 µg mL−1) of SARS‐CoV‐2 NP tagged to histidine without any surface treatment. A novel serological assay based on the ZnO‐NW MP is more sensitive than a commercial immunoassay, enabling early detection (within <5 days of a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction‐confirmed COVID‐19 infection) of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NP IgG antibodies in asymptomatic patients with COVID‐19. This is the first assay to detect early antibody responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 in asymptomatic patients. Therefore, this serological assay will facilitate accurate diagnosis of COVID‐19, as well as estimation of COVID‐19 prevalence and incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as a promising candidate for next‐generation energy storage devices because of their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, the insulating of sulfur, Li2S2/Li2S, and the shuttling effect of high order lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) hinder its practical applications. Herein, a heterostructure is explored to enhance the conversion reaction kinetics and adsorption ability of LiPSs. By rationally designing a conductive carbon framework and polar metal sites, both experimental and theoretical results show strong adsorption abilities for dissolved LiPSs and promote the conversion reaction rate. A CoSe2/Co3O4@NC‐CNT/S cathode shows an excellent rate performance (≈1457 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and still retains ≈688 mAh g−1 at a high rate of 5 C). When performing charge–discharge in long‐term stability at 2 C, the CoSe2/Co3O4@NC‐CNT/S cathode delivers a high initial specific capacity of ≈780 mAh g−1 and retains ≈602 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles with an excellent Coulombic efficiency of ≈95.4%. Remarkably, the battery can entirely operate even at a very high sulfur loading of ≈10.1 mg cm−2 and lean electrolyte condition. This work emphasizes a new strategy to rationally design heterostructures that can encourage the industrial application of LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerning the issues of compressed hydrogen (H2) storage, we have developed a novel H2 gas barrier coating containing a dense network structure of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/epoxy semi-interpenetrating network (S-IPN) reinforced with a graphene oxide (GO)/h-boron nitride (BN) hybrid nanofiller (f-GO-BN) for nylon 6 based pressure vessels. A new strategy was adopted to synthesize f-GO-BN by first reacting the aminosilane with GO in the presence of carbodiimide followed by the addition of BN, instead of following the reverse order as reported earlier. The new method manifested homogeneous distribution of BN on the GO surface with higher grafting efficiency, as well as partial reduction of GO, which ultimately exhibited a synergistic effect in mechanical properties when the hybrid nanofiller was dispersed in the S-IPN. The long tortuous path provided by f-GO-BN in conjunction with the dense crosslinked network of the S-IPN as formed after the spray coating drastically reduced the H2 transmission rate (H2GTR) at 25 °C, and at elevated temperature (50 °C). The 10 wt% f-GO-BN filled S-IPN containing 40 wt% epoxy exhibited a 97% reduction of H2GTR at 25 °C and the permeability coefficient was extremely low (0.006 cm3 mm m−2 d−1 atm−1). Moreover, f-GO-BN improved the thermal conductivity and water contact angle, and minimized the thermal expansion of the coated layer. The epoxy chains of the S-IPN and the grafted aminosilane delineated a strong adhesion with nylon 6 at ambient, as well as cryogenic temperatures, ensuring the long-term applicability of the barrier coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current guidelines recommend life-long use of statin for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), however, a number of patients discontinue statin therapy in clinical practice. We aimed to estimate the optimal statin therapy including statin therapy duration, statin intensity, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level among patients with T2D in a real-world setting. Methods: From Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort (2007–2015), 8937 patients with T2D (≥ 40 years of age) who received statin therapy for at least 90 days were included. Risk of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) including ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death was estimated according to statin intensity, achieved serum LDL-C level, and statin therapy duration, respectively. The relative contributions of these factors to MACE risk were quantified by calculating the proportion of log-likelihood explained by each factor. Results: The hazard ratio (HR) of MACE was lower in patients receiving moderate- or high-intensity statins than in those receiving low-intensity statins (HR, 0.72; p = 0.027). Among patients who received moderate- or high-intensity statins, lower achieved LDL-C level was associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Notably, the longer the patients received statins, the lower was the risk of MACE; the HR of MACE was significantly reduced after at least 18 months (adjusted HR, 0.70; p = 0.009) as a reference to 3–6 months of therapy. The proportion of explainable log-likelihood for MACE was greatest for statin duration (2.55), followed by achieved LDL-C level (2.18), and statin intensity (0.95). Conclusions: Statin therapy duration is as important as or more crucial than statin intensity or achieved LDL-C level for the reduction of cardiovascular risk in T2D patients. The concept of "longer is better" regarding statin therapy should be considered in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water-splitting is emerging as a promising pathway to produce pure and green hydrogen. However, the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and slow reaction rate of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remain challenging issues. The state-of-the-art Pt and RuO2/IrO2 electrocatalysts demonstrate excellent HER and OER performance. However, the scarcity and high cost hinder their practical applications. Herein, we present a novel approach to design a WCoSe/WCo3O4 heterostructure and use it as an effective bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water-splitting. The synergistic effect of W and Co metal cations in the heterogeneous phase of Se and O anions could increase the charge transfer and electronic modulation of the material which could improve the catalytic activities. The water electrolysis device with the WCoSe/WCo3O4 heterostructure as a bifunctional catalyst required a small cell voltage of ∼1.49 and 1.66 V at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the water-splitting cell displayed an exceptional durability of 100 h, surpassing the state-of-the-art Pt/C‖RuO2 electrolyzer. This work offers a promising approach to construct novel 3D heterostructure electrocatalysts, which would be suitable for various energy conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing an earth-abundant electrode material with high activity and durability is a major challenge for water splitting to produce clean and green hydrogen energy. In this study, we report a novel high-performance electrocatalyst derived from a unique three-dimensional hierarchical network of two-dimensional iron-doped nickel selenide nanosheets (2D Fe-doped NiSe NSs) and high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on a carbon paper substrate. The synergistic effects derived from Fe doping and interfering effects between 2D NSs and CNTs produce an enrichment of electroactive sites and good electrical conductivity, thereby significantly improving the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activities. As a result, the catalyst requires an overpotential of only 282.7 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte. An electrolyzer of Pt/C(−)//Fe-doped NiSe NSs/CNTs(+) demonstrates a cell voltage of 1.57 V and effective durability, superior to the state-of-the-art Pt/C(−)//RuO2/C(+) system (1.66 V) as well as recently reported catalysts. The achievements indicate a prospective catalyst for enhancing the OER in overall water splitting application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes have been known as a traditional risk factor of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, the study evaluating the impact of long-term glycemic variability on the risk of developing PAD is limited, especially in a general population without diabetes. Methods: We included 152,931 individuals without diabetes from the Korean National Health Insurance Service–Health Screening Cohort. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) variability was measured using coefficient variance (FPG-CV), standard deviation (FPG-SD), and variability independent of the mean (FPG-VIM). Results: A total of 16,863 (11.0%) incident cases of PAD were identified during a median follow-up of 8.3 years. Kaplan–Meier curves showed a progressively increasing risk of PAD in the higher quartile group of FPG variability than in the lowest quartile group (log rank P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis showed the hazard ratio for PAD prevalence as 1.11 (95% CI 1.07–1.16, P < 0.001) in the highest FPG-CV quartile than in the lowest FPG-CV quartile after adjusting for confounding variables, including mean FPG. Similar degree of association was shown in the FPG-SD and FPG-VIM. In sensitivity analysis, the association between FPG variability and the risk of developing PAD persisted even after the participants were excluded based on previously diagnosed diseases, including stroke, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or current smokers or drinkers. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the effects of FPG variability on the risk of PAD were more powerful in subgroups of younger age, regular exercisers, and those with higher income. Conclusions: Increased long-term glycemic variability may have a significant prognostic effect for incident PAD in individuals without diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission after gastric cancer surgery has been reported, little is known about the predictors of postoperative T2D remission. Methods: This study used data from a nationwide cohort provided by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea. We developed a diabetes prediction (DP) score, which predicted postoperative T2D remissions using a logistic regression model based on preoperative variables. We applied machine-learning algorithms [random forest, XGboost, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression] and compared their predictive performances with those of the DP score. Results: The DP score comprised five parameters: baseline body mass index (< 25 or ≥ 25 kg/m2), surgical procedures (subtotal or total gastrectomy), age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years), fasting plasma glucose levels (≤ 130 or > 130 mg/dL), and antidiabetic medications (combination therapy including sulfonylureas, combination therapy not including sulfonylureas, single sulfonylurea, or single non-sulfonylurea]). The DP score showed a clinically useful predictive performance for T2D remission at 3 years after surgery [training cohort: area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71–0.75; validation cohort: AUROC 0.72, 95% CI 0.69–0.75], which was comparable to that of the machine-learning models (random forest: AUROC 0.71, 95% CI 0.68–0.74; XGboost: AUROC 0.70, 95% CI 0.67–0.73; LASSO regression: AUROC 0.75, 95% CI 0.73–0.78 in the validation cohort). It also predicted the T2D remission at 6 and 9 years after surgery. Conclusions: The DP score is a useful scoring system for predicting T2D remission after gastric cancer surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]