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We report a novel deep learning (DL) method for classifying inorganic compounds using 3D electron density data. We transform Density Functional Theory (DFT)-derived CHGCAR files from the Materials Project (MP) and experimental data from the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) into point clouds and sparse tensors, optimized for use in DL models such as PointNet and Sparse 3D CNN. This approach effectively overcomes the limitations of handling the dense 3D data, a common challenge in DL. Contrasting with traditional 1D or 2D X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns that necessitate complex reciprocal space analysis, our method utilizes 3D density data for direct interpretation in real lattice space. This shift significantly enhances classification accuracy, outperforming traditional XRD-driven DL methods. We achieve accuracies of 97.28%, 90.77%, and 90.10% for crystal system, extinction group, and space group classifications, respectively. Our 3D electron density-based DL approach not only showcases improved accuracy but also contributes a more intuitive and effective framework for materials discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This analysis aimed to examine the factors predictive of service utilization among patients with anxiety and/or depression. Quick and appropriate treatment for anxiety and depression can reduce disease burden and improve social functioning. Currently, less than half of the population with comorbid anxiety and depression receives the recommended treatment. Aims: This analysis aims to identify factors predictive of utilizing mental health treatment for those with anxiety and/or depression by analyzing intrinsic, patient-centered factors. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional cohort analysis using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2019 data. The sample size is 7,156 adults aged 18 to 64 with family incomes ≤100% of the federal poverty level. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors predictive of care utilization in this population. Variables of interest include scores on Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), service utilization, level of social functioning, having a usual source for care, and previous mental health care utilization. Additional covariates were age, gender, race, country of origin, education, marital status, and insurance coverage. Results: Twenty-one percent of respondents reported using mental health services. Factors predictive of care utilization were older age, female gender, limited social functioning, having a usual source of care, and insurance coverage. Conclusion: There are significant barriers to receiving quick and appropriate care for anxiety and/or depression. Strategies should focus on reducing barriers for young adults, men, and the uninsured/underinsured. Strategies for integrating mental health services into primary care could increase the percentage of people with anxiety and/or depression who receive services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyber–physical systems have become critical across industries. They have driven investments in education services to develop well-trained engineers. Education services for cyber–physical systems require the hiring of expert tutors with multidisciplinary knowledge, as well as acquiring expensive facilities/equipment. In response to the challenges posed by the need for the equipment and facilities, a metaverse-based education service that incorporates digital twins has been explored as a solution. However, the issue of recruiting expert tutors who can enhance students' achievements remains unresolved, making it difficult to effectively cultivate talent. This paper proposes a reference architecture for a learner-centric educational metaverse with an intelligent tutoring framework as its core feature to address these issues. We develop a novel explainable artificial intelligence scheme for multi-class object detection models to assess learners' achievements within the intelligent tutoring framework. Additionally, a genetic algorithm-based improvement search method is applied to the framework to derive personalized feedback. The proposed metaverse architecture and framework are evaluated through a case study on drone education. The experimental results show that the explainable AI scheme demonstrates an approximately 30% improvement in the explanation accuracy compared to existing methods. The survey results indicate that over 70% of learners significantly improved their skills based on the provided feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filaggrin (FLG) is an essential structural protein expressed in differentiated keratinocytes. Insufficient FLG expression contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Saikosaponin A (SSA), a bioactive oleanane-type triterpenoid, exerts anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effects of topically applied SSA on FLG expression in inflamed skin remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of SSA in restoring reduced FLG expression. The effect of SSA on FLG expression in HaCaT cells was assessed through various biological methods, including reverse transcription PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence staining. TNFα and IFNγ decreased FLG mRNA, cytoplasmic FLG protein levels, and FLG gene promoter–reporter activity compared to the control groups. However, the presence of SSA restored these effects. A series of FLG promoter–reporter constructs were generated to investigate the underlying mechanism of the effect of SSA on FLG expression. Mutation of the AP1-binding site (mtAP1) in the −343/+25 FLG promoter–reporter abrogated the decrease in reporter activities caused by TNFα + IFNγ, suggesting the importance of the AP1-binding site in reducing FLG expression. The SSA treatment restored FLG expression by inhibiting the expression and nuclear localization of FRA1 and c-Jun, components of AP1, triggered by TNFα + IFNγ stimulation. The ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway upregulates FRA1 and c-Jun expression, thereby reducing FLG levels. The SSA treatment inhibited ERK1/2 activation caused by TNFα + IFNγ stimulation and reduced the levels of FRA1 and c-Jun proteins in the nucleus, leading to a decrease in the binding of FRA1, c-Jun, p-STAT1, and HDAC1 to the AP1-binding site in the FLG promoter. The effect of SSA was evaluated in an animal study using a BALB/c mouse model, which induces human atopic-dermatitis-like skin lesions via the topical application of dinitrochlorobenzene. Topically applied SSA significantly reduced skin thickening, immune cell infiltration, and the expression of FRA1, c-Jun, and p-ERK1/2 compared to the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that SSA can effectively recover impaired FLG levels in inflamed skin by preventing the formation of the repressor complex consisting of FRA1, c-Jun, HDAC1, and STAT1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, a pressing global concern, poses significant challenges to agricultural systems worldwide. Among the myriad impacts of climate change, the cultivation of kiwifruit trees (Actinidia spp.) faces multifaceted challenges. In this review, we delve into the intricate effects of climate change on kiwifruit production, which span phenological shifts, distributional changes, physiological responses, and ecological interactions. Understanding these complexities is crucial for devising effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to safeguard kiwifruit production amidst climate variability. This review scrutinizes the influence of rising global temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and a heightened frequency of extreme weather events on the regions where kiwifruits are cultivated. Additionally, it delves into the ramifications of changing climatic conditions on kiwifruit tree physiology, phenology, and susceptibility to pests and diseases. The economic and social repercussions of climate change on kiwifruit production, including yield losses, livelihood impacts, and market dynamics, are thoroughly examined. In response to these challenges, this review proposes tailored adaptation and mitigation strategies for kiwifruit cultivation. This includes breeding climate-resilient kiwifruit cultivars of the Actinidia species that could withstand drought and high temperatures. Additional measures would involve implementing sustainable farming practices like irrigation, mulching, rain shelters, and shade management, as well as conserving soil and water resources. Through an examination of the literature, this review showcases the existing innovative approaches for climate change adaptation in kiwifruit farming. It concludes with recommendations for future research directions aimed at promoting the sustainability and resilience of fruit production, particularly in the context of kiwifruit cultivation, amid a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workload is a ubiquitous feature of the workplace and an exemplar occupational stressor. In contrast to other such experiences, workload represents a necessary aspect of employment that cannot be alleviated or removed. It also has both aversive and beneficial aspects; research, therefore, has aimed to examine the circumstances under which its negative effects can be alleviated while still maintaining its potential benefits for individuals and organizations. Such efforts, however, have had mixed success. In this paper, we propose a new way forward by examining the extent to which the concordance of individual expectations about daily workload and actually experienced workload is associated with aversive affective responses (with ultimate impacts of the latter for cross‐day functioning). We test these propositions in two daily studies and find that when experienced workload levels do not align with expectations, individuals experience higher levels of anxiety. Importantly, these effects of unexpected workload are overall stronger in magnitude than the effects of high but expected workload; furthermore, they operate through their impact on individuals' sense of control. These workload patterns are further indirectly associated with next‐day functioning through sense of control and anxiety. Implications for theory and practice are discussed, together with directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common and chronic problem characterized by hair follicle miniaturization. Aims: In this study, heat‐treated Limosilactobacillus fermentum LM1020 (HT‐LM1020) was investigated in human follicle dermal papilla cell (HFDPC), scalp tissue, and clinical trials for patients with AGA. Patients/Methods: Cell proliferation and the expression of cyclins and cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) were measured in HFDPC. The relative gene expression of 5α‐reductase and growth factors were investigated in hair scalp. This double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial was conducted over 24 weeks. Primary efficacy was evaluated by measuring hair density, and secondary efficacy was assessed by experts and self‐assessment. Changes in the microbiota of the hair scalps were analyzed using 16S metagenome amplicon sequencing. Results: HT‐LM1020 promoted cell growth (p < 0.001) and cyclin B1 expression, and it reduced 5α‐reductase and induced fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), FGF10, and epithelial growth factor7 (EGF7) (p < 0.001). In the clinical trial, the experimental group demonstrated an increase in hair density from 133.70 to 148.87 n/cm2 at Week 24 (p < 0.001), while also expressing satisfaction with their hair density, reduced hair loss, and hairline. At Week 24, the total ratio of lactic acid bacteria operational taxonomic unit (OTU) in the scalp increased from 6.65% to 26.19%. At the same period, placebo‐controlled group decreased Staphylococcus caprae OTU from 77.95% to 14.57% while experimental group decreased from 65.80% to 41.02%. Conclusions: These present results showed that HT‐LM1020 was a co‐effector of ingredients for anti‐hair loss contributing to cell proliferation and the expression of CDKs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of artificial intelligence into industrial settings promises notable enhancements in productivity, quality, efficiency, competitiveness, and innovations. However, transitioning AI models from concept to full-scale industrial applications involves various complexities and challenges. These challenges are not only technical but also extend into the ethical and regulatory realms, calling for a comprehensive approach to AI integration. This paper examines the diverse hurdles faced during developing and deploying AI applications in the industrial domain. It addresses challenges in collecting the right data, construction of AI models, and ensuring that these models work accurately and responsibly when deployed in real industrial environment. Furthermore, the paper presents strategic recommendations, underscoring the necessity of ethical considerations and regulatory compliance to effectively overcome these obstacles. We provide guidelines aimed at maximizing AI's benefits in industrial environments while minimizing potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O3) is an important secondary pollutant that impacts air quality and human health. Eastern Asia has high regional O3 background due to the numerous sources and increasing and rapid industrial growth, which also impacts the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA). However, the SMA has also been experiencing increasing O3 driven by decreasing NOx emissions, highlighting the role of the local in situ O3 production on the SMA. Here, comprehensive gas-phase measurements collected on the NASA DC-8 during the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER)/NASA Korea–United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) study are used to constrain the instantaneous O3 production rate over the SMA. The observed NOx oxidized products support the importance of non-measured peroxy nitrates (PNs) in the O3 chemistry in the SMA, as they accounted for ∼49 % of the total PNs. Using the total measured PNs (Σ PNs) and alkyl and multifunctional nitrates (Σ ANs), unmeasured volatile organic compound (VOC) reactivity (R(VOC)) is constrained and found to range from 1.4–2.1 s-1. Combining the observationally constrained R(VOC) with the other measurements on the DC-8, the instantaneous net O3 production rate, which is as high as ∼10 ppbvh-1 , along with the important sinks of O3 and radical chemistry, is constrained. This analysis shows that Σ PNs play an important role in both the sinks of O3 and radical chemistry. Since Σ PNs are assumed to be in a steady state, the results here highlight the role that Σ PNs play in urban environments in altering the net O3 production, but Σ PNs can potentially lead to increased net O3 production downwind due to their short lifetime (∼1 h). The results provide guidance for future measurements to identify the missing R(VOCs) and Σ PN production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fraction of urban volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions attributable to fossil fuel combustion has been declining in many parts of the world, resulting in a need to better constrain other anthropogenic sources of these emissions. During the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Korea-United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) field study in Seoul, South Korea, during May–June 2016, air quality models underestimated ozone, formaldehyde, and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), indicating an underestimate of VOCs in the emissions inventory. Here, we use aircraft observations interpreted with the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model (version 13.4.0) to assess the need for increases in VOC emissions and for a revised chemical mechanism to improve treatment of VOC speciation and chemistry. We find that the largest needed VOC emissions increases are attributable to compounds associated with volatile chemical products, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas emissions, and long-range transport. Revising model chemistry to better match observed VOC speciation together with increasing model emissions of underestimated VOC species increased calculated OH reactivity by + 2 s -1 and ozone production by + 2 ppb h -1. Ozone increased by + 6 ppb below 2 km and + 9 ppb at the surface, and formaldehyde and acetaldehyde increased by + 30 % and + 120 % aloft, respectively, all in better agreement with observations. The larger increase in acetaldehyde was attributed to ethanol emissions, which we found to be as important for ozone production as isoprene or alkenes. The increased acetaldehyde significantly reduced the model PAN bias. The need for additional unmeasured VOCs, however, was indicated by a remaining model bias of - 0.8 ppb in formaldehyde and a - 57 % and - 52 % underestimate in higher peroxynitrates (PNs) and alkyl nitrates (ANs), respectively. We added additional chemistry to the model to represent an additional six PNs from observed VOCs but were unable to account for the majority of missing PNs. However, four of these PNs were modeled at concentrations similar to other commonly measured PNs (> 2 % of PAN) indicating that these should be measured in future campaigns and considered from other VOC emission sources (e.g., fires). We hypothesize that emissions of oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) such as ≥ C5 aldehydes from cooking and/or alkenes associated with volatile chemical products could produce both PNs and ANs and improve remaining model biases. Emerging research on the emissions and chemistry of these species will soon allow for modeling of their impact on local and regional photochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affected by genetic and environmental factors. Changes in the skin microbiome may affect the immune system and skin barrier functions, thereby contributing to the development and progression of psoriasis. The scalp, which is a common site for psoriasis, is often resistant to therapy. Although several studies have investigated the scalp microbiome, analyses focusing on both bacteria and fungi remain scarce. Methods: We examined the scalp microbiomes of 11 patients with psoriasis complicated with scalp lesions and categorized them according to their Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores. The bacterial and fungal data were analyzed using QIIME2 pipeline version 2021.04 and the UNITE database version 8.3, respectively. Results: The Shannon indices for mild (2 patients), moderate (4 patients), and severe (5 patients) groups were 0.97, 1.38, and 1.88, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between increased mycobiome diversity and disease severity (p = 4.07 × 10−5, Spearman's correlation: 0.9269). Compared with the mild and moderate groups, the severe group exhibited a higher abundance of Malassezia globosa. Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus were, respectively, more prevalent in the moderate and severe groups than in the mild group. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential role of increased fungal diversity and specific microbial compositions in the severity of scalp psoriasis, suggesting a possible avenue for targeted therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder with significant societal and economic impacts. Current pharmacotherapies for insomnia are often accompanied by side effects, necessitating the development of new therapeutic drugs. In this study, the hypnotic effects and mechanisms of Sedum kamtschaticum 30% ethanol extract (ESK) and one of its active compounds, myricitrin, were investigated using pentobarbital-induced sleep experiments, immunohistochemistry (IHC), receptor binding assays, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pentobarbital-induced sleep experiments revealed that ESK and myricitrin reduced sleep latency and prolonged total sleep time in a dose-dependent manner. Based on c-Fos immunostaining, ESK, and myricitrin enhanced the GABAergic neural activity in sleep-promoting ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) GABAergic. By measuring the level of GABA released from VLPO GABAergic neurons, ESK and myricitrin were found to increase GABA release in the hypothalamus. These effects were significantly inhibited by SCH. Moreover, ESK exhibited a concentration-dependent binding affinity for the adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR). In conclusion, ESK and myricitrin have hypnotic effects, and their underlying mechanisms may be related to the activation of A2AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By integrating the construal level theory (CLT) and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) framework, this study identified personal innovativeness (PI) as a key user trait and different sequences of data presentation as key interfaces of an XAI system that determines how users evaluate and accept recommendations received from XAI. Based on CLT, the results of Study 1 identified the degree of psychological distance that users form with AI technology as a key underlying mechanism that explains the positive effects of users' PI on their evaluation of AI recommendation systems. From the perspective of XAI, the results of Study 2 further demonstrated that users' evaluations of XAI recommendation systems are determined by their level of PI and how the XAI interface presents information to them (i.e., whether the explanation comes first and is then followed by a decision or vice versa). The results of this study provide several meaningful theoretical and practical implications for human-AI interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simulation method has been developed to efficiently evaluate the motion of colloidal particles in a low-Reynolds-number confined microchannel flow using a Lagrangian-based approach. In this method, the background velocity within the channel, in the absence of suspended particles, is obtained from a fluid dynamics solver and is used to update the velocity at the particle centres using the Stokesian dynamics (SD) method, which incorporates multi-body hydrodynamic interactions. As a result, instead of computing the momentum of both the fluid and particles throughout the entire computational domain, the microscopic balance equation is solved only at the particle centres, increasing the computational efficiency. To accommodate complex boundary conditions within the SD framework, imaginary particles are placed on the channel walls, allowing the mobility relation to be reformulated to apply velocity constraints to immobilized wall particles. By employing this constrained SD approach, global mobility interactions that need to be computed at each time step are limited to the interior particles, resulting in a significant reduction in computational cost. The efficiency of this study is demonstrated through case studies on particulate flows in contraction and cross-flow microchannels. By using colloidal particles that incorporate Brownian motion and inter-particle attraction, observations through the entire stages of fouling dynamics are possible, from particle inflow to channel blockage. The fouling patterns observed in the simulations are consistent with experiments conducted under the same flow conditions. This study provides an efficient approach for analysing the effect of hydrodynamic interactions on particle dynamics in microfluidics and materials processing fields while allowing for predictions about structural changes over long-time scales, including complex phenomena such as clogging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We recently reported that the dopamine (DA) analogue CA140 modulates neuroinflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-injected wild-type (WT) mice and in 3-month-old 5xFAD mice, a model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effects of CA140 on Aβ/tau pathology and synaptic/cognitive function and its molecular mechanisms of action are unknown. Methods: To investigate the effects of CA140 on cognitive and synaptic function and AD pathology, 3-month-old WT mice or 8-month-old (aged) 5xFAD mice were injected with vehicle (10% DMSO) or CA140 (30 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 10, 14, or 17 days. Behavioral tests, ELISA, electrophysiology, RNA sequencing, real-time PCR, Golgi staining, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting were conducted. Results: In aged 5xFAD mice, a model of AD pathology, CA140 treatment significantly reduced Aβ/tau fibrillation, Aβ plaque number, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 activation. In addition, CA140 treatment downregulated the expression of cxcl10, a marker of AD-associated reactive astrocytes (RAs), and c1qa, a marker of the interaction of RAs with disease-associated microglia (DAMs) in 5xFAD mice. CA140 treatment also suppressed the mRNA levels of s100β and cxcl10, markers of AD-associated RAs, in primary astrocytes from 5xFAD mice. In primary microglial cells from 5xFAD mice, CA140 treatment increased the mRNA levels of markers of homeostatic microglia (cx3cr1 and p2ry12) and decreased the mRNA levels of a marker of proliferative region-associated microglia (gpnmb) and a marker of lipid-droplet-accumulating microglia (cln3). Importantly, CA140 treatment rescued scopolamine (SCO)-mediated deficits in long-term memory, dendritic spine number, and LTP impairment. In aged 5xFAD mice, these effects of CA140 treatment on cognitive/synaptic function and AD pathology were regulated by dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1)/Elk1 signaling. In primary hippocampal neurons and WT mice, CA140 treatment promoted long-term memory and dendritic spine formation via effects on DRD1/CaMKIIα and/or ERK signaling. Conclusions: Our results indicate that CA140 improves neuronal/synaptic/cognitive function and ameliorates Aβ/tau pathology and neuroinflammation by modulating DRD1 signaling in primary hippocampal neurons, primary astrocytes/microglia, WT mice, and aged 5xFAD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics pose a considerable challenge to aquatic ecosystems because of their increasing global usage and non-biodegradable properties. Coastal plastic debris can persist in ecosystems; however, its effects on resident organisms remain unclear. A metagenomic analysis of the isopoda Ligia, collected from clean (Nae-do, ND) and plastic-contaminated sites (Maemul-do, MD) in South Korea, was conducted to clarify the effects of microplastic contamination on the gut microbiota. Ligia gut microbiota's total operational taxonomic units were higher in ND than in MD. Alpha diversity did not differ significantly between the two Ligia gut microbial communities collected from ND and MD, although richness (Observed species) was lower in MD than in ND. Proteobacteria (67.47%, ND; 57.30%, MD) and Bacteroidetes (13.63%, ND; 20.76%, MD) were the most abundant phyla found at both sites. Significant different genera in Ligia from EPS-polluted sites were observed. Functional gene analysis revealed that 19 plastic degradation-related genes, including those encoding hydrogenase, esterase, and carboxylesterase, were present in the gut microbes of Ligia from MD, indicating the potential role of the Ligia gut microbiota in plastic degradation. This study provides the first comparative field evidence of the gut microbiota dynamics of plastic detritus consumers in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The potential relationship between mastication ability and cognitive function in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients is unclear. This report investigated the association between mastication and cognitive function in iNPH patients using the gray level of the co-occurrence matrix on the lateral pterygoid muscle. Methods: We analyzed data from 96 unoperated iNPH patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between December 2016 and February 2023. Radiomic features were extracted from T2 MRI scans of the lateral pterygoid muscle, and muscle texture parameters were correlated with the iNPH grading scale. Subgroup analysis compared the texture parameters of patients with normal cognitive function with those of patients with cognitive impairment. Results: The mini-mental state examination score correlated positively with the angular second moment (P < 0.05) and negatively with entropy (P < 0.05). The dementia scale (Eide's classification) correlated negatively with gray values (P < 0.05). Gray values were higher in the cognitive impairment group (64.7 ± 16.6) when compared with the non-cognitive impairment group (57.4 ± 13.3) (P = 0.005). Entropy was higher in the cognitive impairment group (8.2 ± 0.3) than in the non-cognitive impairment group (8.0 ± 0.3) (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.681 (P = 0.003) and 0.701 (P < 0.001) for gray value and entropy, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest an association between heterogeneity of mastication and impaired cognitive function in iNPH patients and highlight muscle texture analysis as a potential tool for predicting cognitive impairment in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cementless fixation has become increasingly popular in hip arthroplasty due to its shorter operation time, easier technique, biologic fixation, and avoidance of bone cement implantation syndrome compared to cemented fixation. However, intraoperative periprosthetic femoral fracture (IOPFx) is a disconcerting complication during cementless hip arthroplasty. Our purpose was to identify the features of cementless stem that increase the risk of IOPFx during primary hip arthroplasty. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 4806 hip arthroplasties that was performed in a single institution from May 2003 to December 2020. Age at the index arthroplasty, sex, body mass index, physical status, ambulatory function, side of the operation, operational history, cause of the index arthroplasty, type of arthroplasty, surgical approach, surgeon, implant information, and events during the operation were investigated. The shoulder geometry and length of stem were also reviewed. The event of interest was narrowed down to IOPFx among various records of intraoperative events. Results: We found IOPFx of 2.6% among all the hips operated with cementless stem. In the multivariable analysis, female (OR = 1.52), childhood hip disease (OR = 2.30), stove-pipe femur (OR = 2.43), combined approach (OR = 2.60), and standard length of stem (OR = 1.59) were found to be significant risk factors of IOPFx. Conclusions: In conclusion, a stem with a standard length is significantly associated with risk of IOPFx compared to a shortened stem. These findings highlight the importance of careful consideration in terms of the risk of IOPFx when standard length cementless stem is chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma, testing for mismatch repair (MMR) status is becoming a routine process. Mismatch repair deficiency (MMR-D) is caused by loss of expression in one or more of the 4 major MMR proteins: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PHS2. Over 30% of patients with endometrial cancer have MMR-D. Determining the MMR status holds significance as individuals with MMR-D are potential candidates for immunotherapy. Pathological whole slide image (WSI) of endometrial cancer with immunohistochemistry results of MMR proteins were gathered. Color normalization was applied to the tiles using a CycleGAN-based network. The WSI was divided into tiles at three different magnifications (2.5 × , 5 × , and 10 ×). Three distinct networks of the same architecture were employed to include features from all three magnification levels and were stacked for ensemble learning. Three architectures, InceptionResNetV2, EfficientNetB2, and EfficientNetB3 were employed and subjected to comparison. The per-tile results were gathered to classify MMR status in the WSI, and prediction accuracy was evaluated using the following performance metrics: AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. The EfficientNetB2 was able to make predictions with an AUC of 0.821, highest among the three architectures, and an overall AUC range of 0.767 – 0.821 was reported across the three architectures. In summary, our study successfully predicted MMR classification from pathological WSIs in endometrial cancer through a multi-resolution ensemble learning approach, which holds the potential to facilitate swift decisions on tailored treatment, such as immunotherapy, in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression and osteoporosis are common diseases in dialysis patients. In addition, patients with osteoporosis are more susceptible to depression. Contrary to previous anti-osteoporosis agents, denosumab and romosozumab could be used in dialysis patients and have similar action mechanisms for blocking RANKL. RANKL causes bone resorption after binding RANKL, but binding with OPG leads to suppress of bone resorption. In recent mice study, inhibition of RANKL with denosumab improved depressive-like phenotype. Besides, it was found that OPG was associated with depression. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of depressive symptoms with RANKL and OPG in hemodialysis patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total of 172 hemodialysis patients. The participants were measured for plasma RANKL, OPG, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of RANKL and OPG on the presence of depressive symptoms. The depressive symptoms were observed in 90 (52.3%) subjects. RANKL tertile 3 had negative association with BDI score (β − 4.527, 95% CI − 8.310 to − 0.743) in univariate analysis, and this association persisted even after multivariate adjustments (β − 5.603, 95% CI − 9.715 to −1.491) in linear regression. In logistic regression between RANKL tertiles and depressive symptoms, RANKL tertile 3 had significantly lower unadjusted OR (0.40, 95% CI 0.19–0.86), and multivariate-adjusted OR (0.31, 95% CI 0.12–0.82) for depressive symptoms. OPG was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Higher plasma RANKL concentrations were significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms in HD patients. Trial registration WHO registry, No. KCT0003281, date: January 12, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlomoides umbrosa Turczaninow (PU), a traditional Korean medicinal herb, exhibits osteogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. This research explored the effect of PU extracts on hyperimmune responses within the respiratory tract using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and an ovalbumin-induced hyper-responsiveness model. The inflammatory cytokines, protein expression linked to airway inflammation, antioxidant enzyme activity, histopathological observation, and expectorant activity were measured. The results revealed that PU treatment led to a concentration-dependent reduction in Th2 cytokines and the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, phosphatase-tensin homolog, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Simultaneously, antioxidant enzyme activity increased. Furthermore, PU exhibited substantial enhancements in lung tissue condition and expectorant activity relative to the allergic rhinitis-induced group. These findings indicate the potential of PU to mitigate airway inflammation and excessive mucus production by suppressing NF-κB, MAPK, and iNOS pathways. Consequently, PU emerges as a promising anti-inflammatory agent for respiratory tract applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether radiomics of computed tomography (CT) image data enables the differentiation of bone metastases not visible on CT from unaffected bone, using pathologically confirmed bone metastasis as the reference standard, in patients with gastric cancer. In this retrospective study, 96 patients (mean age, 58.4 ± 13.3 years; range, 28–85 years) with pathologically confirmed bone metastasis in iliac bones were included. The dataset was categorized into three feature sets: (1) mean and standard deviation values of attenuation in the region of interest (ROI), (2) radiomic features extracted from the same ROI, and (3) combined features of (1) and (2). Five machine learning models were developed and evaluated using these feature sets, and their predictive performance was assessed. The predictive performance of the best-performing model in the test set (based on the area under the curve [AUC] value) was validated in the external validation group. A Random Forest classifier applied to the combined radiomics and attenuation dataset achieved the highest performance in predicting bone marrow metastasis in patients with gastric cancer (AUC, 0.96), outperforming models using only radiomics or attenuation datasets. Even in the pathology-positive CT-negative group, the model demonstrated the best performance (AUC, 0.93). The model's performance was validated both internally and with an external validation cohort, consistently demonstrating excellent predictive accuracy. Radiomic features derived from CT images can serve as effective imaging biomarkers for predicting bone marrow metastasis in patients with gastric cancer. These findings indicate promising potential for their clinical utility in diagnosing and predicting bone marrow metastasis through routine evaluation of abdominopelvic CT images during follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laypeople often believe that God punishes transgressions; however, their inferences about God's punishment motives remain unclear. We addressed this topic by asking laypeople to indicate why God punishes. We also examined participants' inferences about why humans punish to contribute to scholarly conversations regarding the extent to which people may anthropomorphize God's mind. In Studies 1A to 1C, participants viewed God as less retributive than humans. In Study 2, participants expected God (vs. humans) to view humans' true selves more positively; this difference mediated participants' views of God as less retributive than humans. Study 3 manipulated agents' views of humans' true selves and examined how such information influenced each agent's perceived motives. Participants viewed a given agent as less retributive when that agent regarded the true self as good (versus bad). These findings extend scholarship on lay theories of punishment motives and highlight links between religious and moral cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effect of fermented fig (Ficus carica L., FF) on obesity and diabetes in a mouse model. FF was cultured with the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum BT-LP-01 and isolated from fig peels. The antioxidant results demonstrated that FF exhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. In addition, FF showed high levels of total polyphenol and total flavonoids. Body and organ weight and dietary intake were significantly decreased in the FF groups compared to the HFD group. The FF group showed improved recovery in lipid metabolism and liver function compared to the HFD group. In addition, the FF group showed a significant decrease in serum C-P and insulin concentrations compared to the HFD group. FF-administered mice showed a dose-dependent recovery of fasting blood glucose and IPGTT and AUC levels compared to the HFD group. Furthermore, FF groups showed a decreased expression in FAS, C/EBPα, and FABP4, as well as significantly increased expression in ACC in the liver. This study demonstrates that FF is effective in reducing and inhibiting adipogenesis as well as lowering body weight, the blood glucose level, and lipid-related factors. These research findings demonstrate that FF is effective in treating obesity and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our objective was to assess the overall and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) among patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: An exhaustive systematic review was undertaken, encompassing studies that scrutinized SMRs, both overall and for specific causes, in patients diagnosed with SLE compared to the general populace. The databases of PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane were meticulously searched to collate relevant literature. Following this comprehensive search, a meta-analysis was executed to methodically assess all-cause, sex-specific, ethnicity-specific, and cause-specific SMRs in individuals with SLE. Results: The inclusion criteria were met by 29 studies encompassing 72,342 patients with SLE and documenting 7352 deaths. The meta-analysis disclosed a pronounced 2.87-fold elevation in the SMR for all-cause mortality in SLE patients relative to the general population (SMR, 2.866; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.490–3.242; p <.001). Region-specific assessments showed variable all-cause SMRs, with Europe reporting 2.607 (95% CI, 1.939–3.275; p <.001), Asia revealing 3.043 (95% CI, 2.082–4.004; p <.001), and particularly high SMRs noted in North America and Oceania. Gender-focused analyses presented a pooled SMR of 3.261 (95% CI, 2.674–3.848; p <.001) for females, and 2.747 (95% CI, 2.190–3.304; p <.001) for males. Evaluations specific to cause of death illustrated notably elevated SMRs for renal disease (SMR, 4.486; 95% CI, 3.024–5.948; p <.001), infections (SMR, 4.946; 95% CI, 4.253–5.639; p <.001), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (SMR, 2.931; 95% CI, 1.802–4.061; p <.001), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) (SMR, 1.588; 95% CI, 0.647–2.528; p =.001), and cancer (SMR, 1.698; 95% CI, 0.871–2.525; p <.001). Conclusions: This meta-analysis underscores a significant 2.87-fold elevation in the SMR among patients with SLE compared to the general population, transcending differences in sex or geographical regions. Moreover, an appreciable increase in mortality due to specific causes, including renal disease, infection, CVD, CVA, malignancy, and neuropsychiatric SLE, accentuates the imperative for targeted interventions to mitigate these elevated risks in SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the characteristics of grout mixed with charcoal as an expansive agent were examined to reduce the pre-hardening shrinkage of cementitious materials. This study compared and reviewed the application of CSA, a conventional expansive agent, to grout. The setting time, fluidity, compressive strength, and pre-hardening shrinkage/expansion were evaluated to explore the usability of charcoal as an expansive agent. The test results confirmed that, as the incorporation rate of charcoal increased, the pre-hardening expansion rate of the grout also increased, making it more effective for pre-hardening expansion than the conventional expansive agent CSA. However, when charcoal was used as an expansive agent, the compressive strength decreased after hardening, indicating the need for caution regarding the amount of charcoal used. Furthermore, the pre-hardening shrinkage and expansion rates of the various types of charcoal used in this study showed some differences, suggesting the need for further research on the internal pore volume and pore size of the charcoal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tauopathies exhibit a characteristic accumulation of misfolded tau aggregates in the brain. Tau pathology shows disease‐specific spatiotemporal propagation through intercellular transmission, which is closely correlated with the progression of clinical manifestations. Therefore, identifying molecular mechanisms that prevent tau propagation is critical for developing therapeutic strategies for tauopathies. The various innate immune receptors, such as complement receptor 3 (CR3) and complement receptor 4 (CR4), have been reported to play a critical role in the clearance of various extracellular toxic molecules by microglia. However, their role in tau clearance has not been studied yet. In the present study, we investigated the role of CR3 and CR4 in regulating extracellular tau clearance. We found that CR4 selectively binds to tau fibrils but not to tau monomers, whereas CR3 does not bind to either of them. Inhibiting CR4, but not CR3, significantly reduces the uptake of tau fibrils by BV2 cells and primary microglia. By contrast, inhibiting CR4 has no effect on the uptake of tau monomers by BV2 cells. Furthermore, inhibiting CR4 suppresses the clearance of extracellular tau fibrils, leading to more seed‐competent tau fibrils remaining in the extracellular space relative to control samples. We also provide evidence that the expression of CR4 is upregulated in the brains of human Alzheimer's disease patients and the PS19 mouse model of tauopathy. Taken together, our data strongly support that CR4 is a previously undescribed receptor for the clearance of tau fibrils in microglia and may represent a novel therapeutic target for tauopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop a predictive model for vertebral compression fracture (VCF) prior to spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using radiomics features extracted from pre-treatment planning CT images. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 85 patients (114 spinal lesions) who underwent spinal SBRT. Radiomics features were extracted from pre-treatment planning CT images and used to develop a predictive model using a classification algorithm selected from nine different machine learning algorithms. Four different models were trained, including clinical features only, clinical and radiomics features, radiomics and dosimetric features, and all features. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the curve (AUC). Results: The model that used all features (radiomics, clinical, and dosimetric) showed the highest performance with an AUC of 0.871. The radiomics and dosimetric features model had the superior performance in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Conclusion: The developed predictive model based on radiomics features extracted from pre-treatment planning CT images can accurately predict the likelihood of VCF prior to spinal SBRT. This model has significant implications for treatment planning and preventive measures for patients undergoing spinal SBRT. Future research can focus on improving model performance by incorporating new data and external validation using independent data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on how smoking media literacy (SML) is associated with susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in South Korea and Vietnam are scarce. Thus, we examined the association of SML with susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in these countries to initiate a collaborative global health program. In total, 460 adolescents (Vietnam: 277, South Korea: 183) aged 15–18 completed an online cross-sectional survey. SML was measured using the 15-item SML scale. Susceptibility to smoking was measured by three questions on future smoking and if offered a cigarette by a friend. A multiple logistic regression model explored the association of SML with susceptibility to smoking. The study revealed that higher SML was significantly associated with lower susceptibility to smoking among Vietnamese, but not South Korean adolescents. Further studies to identify pathways between other factors associated with SML and susceptibility to smoking are needed to develop culture-specific intervention strategies for smoking prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental results of combined cyclic load testing on a reinforced concrete (RC) column that was retrofitted with newly designed steel rods. The steel rods were installed around the column longitudinally and then anchored. The proposed steel rods utilize simple components and installation to enhance both the strength and ductility of RC columns. Cyclic lateral load tests were conducted on three specimens: one unreinforced specimen as reference, one specimen with the entire length of the column retrofitted, and one specimen with only the plastic hinge region of the column retrofitted. All specimens were tested under eccentric constant axial load and incrementally increasing lateral loading cycles with eccentricity. The implementation of steel rods resulted in significant improvement in ductility and an up to 60% increase in ultimate loading capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an approach for robust current and power control for a three‐phase grid‐connected inverter set up with an L‐filter that operates under an unbalanced AC grid‐voltage source. This control method consists of two paralleled current control for the positive and negative sequences to accomplish one of three selective control targets: a) supplying balanced three‐phase current; b) supplying non‐oscillated real power; and c) supplying non‐oscillated imaginary power to the AC grid for a given reference value utilizing the identical control gains. The real and imaginary power references, together with the measured grid voltages, are used in the computation of the reference current for each control target. In addition, the proposed dual‐current control system has a control law that comprises state feedback to offer stability and an integral effect to get rid of the offset error in the dq‐frame. To reduce settling time under uncertain system conditions, an optimization problem based on linear matrix inequalities is solved to determine a set of robust stabilizing gains. Simulation and experimental results using a TMS320F28377D digital signal processor validate the proposed control performance under three control targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin- and charge- stripe order has been extensively studied in the superconducting cuprates, among which underdoped La2−xSrxCuO4 (LSCO) is an archetype with static spin stripes at low temperatures. An intriguing, but not completely understood, phenomenon in LSCO is that the stripes are tilted away from the high-symmetry Cu-Cu directions. Using high-resolution neutron scattering on LSCO with x = 0.12, we find two coexisting phases at low temperatures, one with static spin stripes and the other with fluctuating ones, both sharing the same tilt angle. Our numerical calculations using the doped Hubbard model elucidate the tilting's origin, attributing it to anisotropic next-nearest neighbor hopping t ′ , consistent with the material's slight orthorhombicity. Our results underscore the model's success in describing specific details of the ground state of this real material and highlight the role of t ′ in the Hamiltonian, revealing the delicate interplay between stripes and superconductivity across theoretical and experimental contexts. Cuprate superconductors have interesting charge and spin ordering patterns in the form of stripes. By combining experimental and numerical tools, the authors reveal that the stripes are always tilted from the underlying lattice directions, with the origin well explained by the anisotropy of the next-nearest neighbor electron hopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population aging around the world is rapidly progressing; as a result, cognitive decline developing into dementia is becoming a social problem. There is no drug that can cure dementia, and though drugs that alleviate the symptoms of dementia have been developed, they also have side effects. Therefore, we conducted a study on improving cognitive function using natural products that have secured safety. We confirmed the effect of an extract of Scrophularia buergeriana on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment through mouse behavioral experiments, and we observed metabolic changes in the cortex and hippocampus via brain tissue dissection after the behavioral experiment. Mitigating effects of S. buergeriana on cognitive impairment caused by scopolamine were observed in passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests. A metabolic analysis revealed biomarkers related to the alleviating effect of cognitive impairment. Niacinamide, tyrosine, uridine, and valine in the cortex and GABA, choline, creatine, formate, fumarate, hypoxanthine, leucine, myo-inositol, pyroglutamate, and taurine in the hippocampus were identified as biomarker candidates for recovering cognitive impairment. In addition to behavioral experiments, this metabolomics study using specific regions of the brain may be helpful in understanding the effects of cognitive improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOFs) are crystalline materials with stable porous structures. They hold great potential for ion transport, particularly as solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) for all‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs). However, achieving an ionic conductivity of over 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature using pure‐iCOF‐based SSEs, even adding additives such as lithium salts, is challenging as the voids work as strong resistances. Thus, highly conductive iCOFs typically require quasi‐solid‐state configurations with organic solvents or plasticizers. In this study, composites comprising iCOFs and poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) are prepared to make all‐solid‐state iCOFs electrolytes with an exceptional ionic conductivity up to 1.50 × 10−3 S cm−1 and a high Li+ transference number of > 0.80 at room temperature. Combined experimental and computational studies show that the co‐coordination and competitive coordination mechanism established between the PIL, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and iCOFs enabled rapid Li+ transport while restricting TFSI− movement. ASSLMB cells, made of composite SSEs and LiFePO4 composite cathode, demonstrate an initial discharge capacity of 141.5 mAh g−1 at 1C and r.t., with an impressive capacity retention of 87% up to 800 cycles. Overall, this work presents a breakthrough approach for developing advanced SSEs for next‐generation high‐energy‐density ASSLMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research has been conducted on the in vitro mass propagation of pear (Pyrus spp.) trees through vegetative propagation, demonstrating high efficiency in shoot multiplication across various pear species. However, the low in vitro rooting rates remain a significant barrier to the practical application and commercialization of mass propagation. This study aims to determine the favorable conditions for inducing root formation in the in vitro microshoots of Pyrus genotypes. The base of the microshoots was exposed to a high concentration (2 mg L−1) of auxins (a combination of IBA and NAA) for initial root induction at the moment when callus formation begins. The microshoots were then transferred to an R1 medium (1/2 MS with 30 g L−1 sucrose without PGRs) to promote root development. This method successfully induced rooting in three European pear varieties, one Asian pear variety, and a European–Asian hybrid, resulting in rooting rates of 66.7%, 87.2%, and 100% for the European pear (P. communis), 60% for the Asian pear (P. pyrifolia), and 83.3% for the hybrid pear (P. pyrifolia × P. communis) with an average of 25 days. In contrast, the control group (MS medium) exhibited rooting rates of 0–13.3% after 60 days of culture. These findings will enhance in vitro root induction for various pear varieties and support the mass propagation and acclimatization of pear. The in vitro root induction method developed in this study has the potential for global commercial application in pear cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently developed a series of nalfurafine analogs (TK10, TK33, and TK35) that may serve as non-addictive candidate analgesics. These compounds are mixed-action agonists at the kappa and delta opioid receptors (KOR and DOR, respectively) and produce antinociception in a mouse warm-water tail-immersion test while failing to produce typical mu opioid receptor (MOR)-mediated side effects. The warm-water tail-immersion test is an assay of pain-stimulated behavior vulnerable to false-positive analgesic-like effects by drugs that produce motor impairment. Accordingly, this study evaluated TK10, TK33, and TK35 in a recently validated assay of pain-related behavioral depression in mice that are less vulnerable to false-positive effects. For comparison, we also evaluated the effects of the MOR agonist/analgesic hydrocodone (positive control), the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist aprepitant (negative control), nalfurafine as a selective KOR agonist, SNC80 as a selective DOR agonist, and a nalfurafine/SNC80 mixture. Intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP lactic acid) served as a noxious stimulus to depress vertical and horizontal locomotor activity in male and female ICR mice. IP lactic acid-induced locomotor depression was alleviated by hydrocodone but not by aprepitant, nalfurafine, SNC80, the nalfurafine/SNC80 mixture, or the KOR/DOR agonists. These results suggest that caution is warranted in advancing mixed-action KOR/DOR agonists as candidate analgesics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a data‐driven method for predicting the probabilistic response of cable‐stayed bridges. The proposed method is used to construct an optimal prediction model based on a data‐driven machine‐learning method. In addition, the accuracy and efficiency of the prediction model are improved by considering the correlation coefficients between the input sensor data and the output of the target response. The proposed method is comprised of two steps: the selection of meaningful features and the construction of a probabilistic prediction model employing Gaussian process regression. The proposed method is applied to an in‐service cable‐stayed bridge in the Republic of Korea using actual measurement data from various sensors. For comparison purposes, two parametric studies are performed, and the effects of the proposed feature‐selection procedure are investigated based on the normalized correlation coefficients. Consequently, the proposed feature‐selection method is proven to increase the accuracy and efficiency of the prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic sawtooth surfaces have emerged as a versatile platform for growth of single-crystal van der Waals layered materials. However, the mechanism governing the formation of single-crystal atomic sawtooth metal (copper or gold) films on hard substrates (tungsten or molybdenum) remains a puzzle. In this study, we aim to elucidate the formation mechanism of atomic sawtooth metal films during melting–solidification process. Utilizing molecular dynamics, we unveil that the solidification of the liquid copper initiates at a high-index tungsten facet with higher interfacial energy. Subsequent tungsten facets follow energetically favourable pathways of forming single-crystal atomic sawtooth copper film during the solidification process near melting temperature. Formation of atomic sawtooth copper film is guaranteed with a film thickness exceeding the grain size of polycrystalline tungsten substrate. We further demonstrate the successful growth of centimeter-scale single-crystal monolayer hexagonal boron nitride films on atomic sawtooth copper films and explore their potential as efficient oxygen barrier. Although single-crystal (SC) 2D materials can be grown on atomic sawtooth metal surfaces, the formation mechanism during the melting-solidification process remains unclear. Here authors reveal that solidification starts at high-index facets and spreads, forming a SC atomic sawtooth surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of pulmonary embolism in patients diagnosed with sepsis with and without shock. The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify adults with sepsis with and without shock between 2017 and 2019. The prevalence of acute pulmonary embolism and the association of acute pulmonary embolism with in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay for survivors, and overall costs of hospitalization were evaluated. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses, adjusted for various parameters, were used to explore these associations. Of the estimated 5,019,369 sepsis hospitalizations, 1.2% of patients with sepsis without shock and 2.3% of patients with septic shock developed pulmonary embolism. The odds ratio for in-hospital mortality was 1.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85–2.03, p < 0.001). The coefficient for hospital length of stay was 3.24 (95% CI 3.03–3.45, p < 0.001). The coefficient for total costs was 46,513 (95% CI 43,079–49,947, p < 0.001). The prevalence of pulmonary embolism in patients diagnosed with sepsis with and without shock was 1.2 and 2.3%, respectively. Acute pulmonary embolism was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, longer hospital length of stay for survivors, and higher overall costs of hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linkage errors that occur according to linkage levels can adversely affect the accuracy and reliability of analysis results. This study aimed to identify the differences in results according to personally identifiable information linkage level, sample size, and analysis methods through empirical analysis. Methods: The difference between the results of linkage in directly identifiable information (DII) and indirectly identifiable information (III) linkage levels was set as III linkage based on name, date of birth, and sex and DII linkage based on resident registration number. The datasets linked at each level were named as databaseIII (DBIII) and databaseDII (DBDII), respectively. Considering the analysis results of the DII-linked dataset as the gold standard, descriptive statistics, group comparison, incidence estimation, treatment effect, and moderation effect analysis results were assessed. Results: The linkage rates for DBDII and DBIII were 71.1% and 99.7%, respectively. Regarding descriptive statistics and group comparison analysis, the difference in effect in most cases was "none" to "very little." With respect to cervical cancer that had a relatively small sample size, analysis of DBIII resulted in an underestimation of the incidence in the control group and an overestimation of the incidence in the treatment group (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63–4.23] in DBIII vs. 1.80 [95% CI: 1.18–2.73] in DBDII). Regarding prostate cancer, there was a conflicting tendency with the treatment effect being over or underestimated according to the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results summary staging (HR = 2.27 [95% CI: 1.91–2.70] in DBIII vs. 1.92 [95% CI: 1.70–2.17] in DBDII for the localized stage; HR = 1.80 [95% CI: 1.37–2.36] in DBIII vs. 2.05 [95% CI: 1.67–2.52] in DBDII for the regional stage). Conclusions: To prevent distortion of the analyses results in health and medical research, it is important to check that the patient population and sample size by each factor of interest (FOI) are sufficient when different data are linked using DBDII. In cases involving a rare disease or with a small sample size for FOI, there is a high likelihood that a DII linkage is unavoidable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-assembly of M(ClO4)2 (M2+ = Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+) with (1S,1′S,1′′S,2R,2′R,2′′R)-(benzenetricarbonyltris(azanediyl))tris(2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2,1-diyl) trinicotinate (s,r-L) and the corresponding enantiomer (r,s-L) as a pair of chiral tridentate donors gives rise to the chiral cage pairs [M3(s,r- and r,s-L)2](ClO4)6. For the two pairs of [(Me2CO)(H2O)@M3(r,-s and s,r-L)2](ClO4)6 (M2+ = Ni2+ and Zn2+), the inner cavity is occupied by both an acetone and a single water molecule, whereas for the copper(II) pair of [Me2CO@Cu3(r,s- and s,r-L)2](ClO4)6 under the same conditions, the cavity is filled by only one acetone molecule. Thus, the encapsulation of guest molecules into the cages during self-assembly shows significant metal(II) ion effects. These chiral cages are effective for the enantio-recognition of chiral (S)-2-butanol and (R)-2-butanol via the shifts of the electrochemical oxidation potentials obtained by the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) technique, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the chiral 2-butanol adsorption in the single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxyfluorination treatment was used to enhance the capacity for adsorption of tetracycline (TC) from aqueous systems by activated carbon (AC). The AC was oxyfluorinated at room temperature for 5 min in a batch reactor, and the ratio of O2 and F2 gas was used as a variable. The oxyfluorination treatment increased the oxygen functional group content on the AC by up to 19.4%. The specific surface area of the oxyfluorinated AC was decreased by up to 31.7% and the micropore volume was decreased by up to 30.6% due to strong etching by fluorine radicals. AC-O7F3 with a 19.4 at% oxygen group content showed the best TC adsorption performance because the increased number of oxygen functional groups enabled hydrogen bonding. However, the AC-O5F5 sample treated with a high fluorine partial pressure showed poor TC adsorption, which was attributed to the collapse of the pore structure and a decrease in the specific surface area due to perfluorination. Meanwhile, the TC adsorption process showed pseudo second-order kinetics and a good fit with the Langmuir model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze duties, tasks, and task elements of health workers in charge of vaccination at public health centers in South Korea. Design: Descriptive study using a survey. Sample: Health workers in charge of vaccination for more than 1 year at 254 public health centers in South Korea. Of 631 health workers, 401 responded to the questionnaire, and 379 responses were included in the analysis after excluding 22 incomplete responses. Measurements: The Developing A Curriculum (DACUM) workshop was conducted to identify the frequency, importance, and difficulty of duties, tasks, and task elements. Results: Four duties (vaccination promotion, vaccination administration and symptom management, execution of vaccination, and vaccination education), 18 tasks, and 81 task elements were identified. "Execution of vaccination" exhibited the highest determinant coefficient. "Implementing the budget" exhibited the highest determinant coefficient among tasks, and "dealing with an emergency in the case of adverse events" exhibited the highest determinant coefficient among task elements. Conclusions: Duty, task, and task elements with high determinant coefficients have high educational needs. Education demands was higher for administrative work than for direct vaccination. Developing an educational curriculum based on DACUM results could contribute to the professional education of vaccine workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to a pandemic, prompting rapid vaccine development. Although vaccines are effective, the occurrence of rare adverse events following vaccination highlights the necessity of determining whether the benefits outweigh the risks posed by the infection itself. The recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV) platform is a promising vector for vaccines against emerging viruses. However, limited studies have evaluated the genotoxicity and safety pharmacology of this viral vector vaccine, which is crucial to ensure the safety of vaccines developed using this platform. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the genotoxicity and safety pharmacology of the rVSVInd(GML)-mspSGtc COVID-19 vaccine using micronucleus and comet assays, as well as neurobehavioral, body temperature, respiratory, and cardiovascular assessments in Sprague–Dawley rats and beagle dogs. The intramuscular administration of rVSVInd(GML)-mspSGtc at doses up to 1.5 × 109 PFU/animal did not increase the number of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or cause liver DNA damage. Additionally, it had no significant impact on neurobehavioral functions in rats and showed marginal temporary changes in body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, and electrocardiogram parameters in rats and dogs, all of which resolved within 24 h. Overall, following genotoxicity and pharmacological safety assessments, rVSVInd(GML)-mspSGtc displayed no notable systemic adverse effects in rats and dogs, suggesting its potential as a vaccine candidate for human clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current software applications, numerous vulnerabilities may be present. Attackers attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities, leading to security breaches, unauthorized entry, data theft, or the incapacitation of computer systems. Instead of addressing software or hardware vulnerabilities at a later stage, it is better to address them immediately or during the development phase. Tools such as AIBugHunter provide solutions designed to tackle software issues by predicting, categorizing, and fixing coding vulnerabilities. Essentially, developers can see where their code is susceptible to attacks and obtain details about the nature and severity of these vulnerabilities. AIBugHunter incorporates VulRepair to detect and repair vulnerabilities. VulRepair currently predicts patches for vulnerable functions at 44%. To be truly effective, this number needs to be increased. This study examines VulRepair to see whether the 44% perfect prediction can be increased. VulRepair is based on T5 and uses both natural language and programming languages during its pretraining phase, along with byte pair encoding. T5 is a text-to-text transfer transformer model with an encoder and decoder as part of its neural network. It outperforms other models such as VRepair and CodeBERT. However, the hyperparameters may not be optimized due to the development of new optimizers. We reviewed a deep neural network (DNN) optimizer developed by Google in 2023. This optimizer, the Evolved Sign Momentum (LION), is available in PyTorch. We applied LION to VulRepair and tested its influence on the hyperparameters. After adjusting the hyperparameters, we obtained a 56% perfect prediction, which exceeds the value of the VulRepair report of 44%. This means that VulRepair can repair more vulnerabilities and avoid more attacks. As far as we know, our approach utilizing an alternative to AdamW, the standard optimizer, has not been previously applied to enhance VulRepair and similar models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]