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Background: There is currently a lack of convincing evidence for microwave ablation (MWA) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for patients ≥60 years old with 3-5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and methods: Patients were divided into three cohorts based on restricted cubic spline analysis: 60-64, 65-72, and ≥ 73 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline variables in a 1:1 ratio. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed, followed by a comparison of complications, hospitalization, and cost. Results: Among 672 patients, the median age was 66 (IQR 62-71) years. After PSM, two groups of 210 patients each were selected. During the 36.0 (20.4-52.4) month follow-up period, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates in the MWA group were 97.6, 80.9, and 65.3% and 95.5, 78.7, and 60.4% in the LLR group (HR 0.98, P = 0.900). The corresponding DFS rates were 78.6, 49.6, and 37.5% and 82.8, 67.8, and 52.9% (HR 1.52, P = 0.007). The 60-64 age cohort involved 176 patients, with no a significant difference in OS between the MWA and LLR groups (HR 1.25, P = 0.370), MWA was associated with a higher recurrence rate (HR 1.94, P = 0.004). A total of 146 patients were matched in the 65-72 age cohort, with no significant differences in OS and DFS between the two groups (OS (HR 1.04, P = 0.900), DFS (HR 1.56, P = 0.110)). In 76 patients aged ≥ 73 years after PSM, MWA provided better OS for patients (HR 0.27, P = 0.015), and there were no significant differences in DFS between the two groups (HR 1.41, P = 0.380). Taken together, for patients older than 65 years, the recurrence rate of MWA was comparable with LLR. Safety analysis indicated that LLR was associated with more postoperative bleeding (P = 0.032) and hypoproteinemia (P = 0.024). Conclusions: MWA was comparable to LLR in patients aged 65 years and older. MWA could be an alternative for the oldest old or the ill patients who cannot afford LLR, while LLR is still the first option of treatments for early-stage 3-5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma in capable elderly's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the effects of aspirin on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, focusing on circulating tumor DNA levels and bone tissue. Two groups (A and B) of ten patients with osteoporosis were selected for the study. Bone tissue samples were obtained from the patients and cultured under sterile conditions. The aspirin group showed a significant decrease in circulating tumor DNA levels and an increase in bone tissue density compared to the control group. Additionally, osteoblast apoptosis was reduced, while proliferation was enhanced in the aspirin group. The protein pAkt related to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was upregulated in the aspirin group. These results indicate that aspirin can effectively lower circulating tumor DNA levels, promote bone tissue proliferation, inhibit apoptosis, and activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby influencing bone cell function. These findings provide a basis for aspirin's potential application in treating metastatic colorectal cancer and encourage further research on its mechanism and clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Acute respiratory viral infections pose significant morbidity and mortality, making it essential to diagnose respiratory viral infections rapidly. In this study, the diagnostic efficacy of the Luminex xTAG Respiratory Virus Panel (RVP) FAST v2 test was evaluated on respiratory viral infections. Materials and Methods: Information was retrieved from electronic databases, including Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, for systematic review. Studies that fulfilled predefined inclusion criteria were included. After the extraction of information, statistical software was utilized for quality evaluation, data analysis, and assessment of publication bias. Results: Eighty groups in fourfold tables from nine articles were included to perform statistical analyses. Therein, the mean specificity and mean sensitivity of Luminex xTAG RVP FAST v2 test for the detection of respiratory viral infections were 0.99 (0.98-0.99) and 0.88 (0.87-0.90), respectively. Additionally, the negative and positive likelihood ratios were 0.14 (0.11-0.19) and 87.42 (61.88-123.50), respectively. Moreover, the diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve of summary receiver operating characteristic were 714.80 and 0.9886, respectively. Conclusion: The Luminex xTAG RVP FAST v2 test could be a reliable and rapid diagnostic method for multiple respiratory viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovative three-dimensional (3-D) nanocrystals constructed by 1-D stalactite-like branches with a diameter of 107 ± 27 nm and a varied length of a few hundred nanometers were successfully synthesized via a facile tri-block copolymer assisted chemical approach. The highly-branched Ag nanocrystals were applied as promising electrical conducting fillers to form PVP-based composites for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. In comparison with the dense Ag-flakes based film, the slip-coated sponge-like Ag film exhibits a comparably-high electrical conductivity after annealing and a stably-excellent EMI shielding effectiveness of 47-53 dB over the frequency from 500 MHz to 10 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is important to understand the elderly's subjective beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fall prevention. This study used the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework to develop a prediction model for the likelihood of fall prevention actions in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Subjects were 704 elderly in the communities of a county in northern Taiwan. Descriptive analysis, item analysis, factor analysis and Pearson's correlations were used for the statistical analysis. Structural equation modeling was used to verify the fit of the overall model and the amount of variance explained. Results: The results showed good overall model fit. Perceived severity (β = 0.144, p < 0.01), Perceived benefit (β = 0.109, p < 0.05), Self-efficacy (β = 0.408, p < 0.01), and Cue to action (β = 0.212, p < 0.01) can effectively predict the likelihood of the community elderly taking action to prevent falls. Self-efficacy had the largest influence, followed by Cue to action, Perceived severity, and Perceived benefit. The overall predictive power was 39.0%. Conclusion: The results provide evidence that the HBM is suitable for exploring the likelihood of fall prevention actions by community-dwelling older adults and identifying the significant influencing factors and the influence paths between factors. Understanding the impact process can help in the development of more effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High polymer content phosphoric acid (PA)-doped meta-para (m/p) polybenzimidazole (PBI) copolymer membrane was prepared via the poly(phosphoric acid) (PPA) process. This m/p-PBI copolymer membrane exhibited a much higher polymer solids content of 17 wt%, leading to the significantly improved creep resistance (1.9 × 10−6 Pa−1 ) compared to the homopolymer para-PBI (only 5.6 wt% and 10.3 × 10−6 Pa−1 ). The performance of an electrochemical hydrogen separation (EHS) device based on the m/p-PBI membrane was investigated and showed the expected operational trends according to the Nernst equation and excellent recoverability over a wide range of operating temperatures (160°C to 200°C) and differential pressures (10 psi to 30 psi). Utilizing the EHS technique, the hydrogen products with a purity of 99.7%–99.96% were efficiently separated from diluted reformate feed streams containing 1%–3% CO with a very high power efficiency up to 77%. The long-term durability test under 30 psi differential pressure over ∼3500 h without any signs of failure indicated that the durable m/p-PBI membranes with excellent creep resistance could be a more favorable candidate than para-PBI membranes (only ∼130 h) under challenging EHS operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the spatial heterogeneity of soil organic carbon and the different sampling scales have an impact on the prediction accuracy of the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon in Karst area. Using grid sampling method, the soil organic carbon content under the sampling of 150 mx150m mesh is taken as the original data, Select a subset of samples at 5 grid scales (300mx300m, 450mx450m, 600mx600m, 750mx750m and 900mx900m). The spatial variation and layout are analyzed and predicted by the ordinary Kriging interpolation method. As shown by the results, the sampling scale significantly affected the prediction accuracy of spatial distribution of soil organic carbon. On the scale of Karst watershed, soil organic carbon research was taken as the purpose of investigation. In soil sampling, 450mx450m sampling scale is a suitable sampling method. When the soil organic carbon is studied on the Karst watershed scale, if the Cochran formula to determine an optimal sampling quantity is used blindly, an insufficient number of sampling points could be determined, which would negatively affect the accuracy of the soil organic carbon spatial prediction. The data derived from low-density sampling are used tofit the trend, whereas the data from highdensity sampling are used tofit the variation function. Meanwhile, an auxiliary variable for the soil organic carbon is introduced for spatial prediction, which may improve the prediction results. Spatial variability of soil organic carbon in Karst should be taken intofull account. It is more important to set the distance of soil sampling points and the number of sample spots than to increase the number of sampling points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the frequency and absolute numbers of different subsets of peripheral blood cells, including CD4+ T cells and CD19+ interleukin (IL) 10+ B regulatory cells (Breg) and their potential association with clinical laboratory measurements in children diagnosed with simple asthma or asthma plus allergic rhinitis (AR). Method: The frequency and numbers of peripheral blood CD4+ interferon (IFN) gamma+ T-helper (Th) type 1, CD4+ IL-4+ Th2, CD4+ IL-17A+ Th17, CD4+CD25+ Forkhead Box P3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD19+ IL-10+ Bregs in 22 children with asthma, 17 children with asthma and AR, and 25 healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry. The levels of serum cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In comparison with healthy controls, patients with asthma alone had significantly increased numbers of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, and their cytokines but decreased numbers of Tregs and Bregs, and the cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta 1. This imbalance between effector and regulatory cells and their cytokines further increased in patients with asthma and AR. The ratios of percentage effector T cells (Th1 + Th2 + Th17) to regulatory cells (Treg + Breg) were positively correlated with fractional exhaled nitric oxide but negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second in patients with asthma or asthma plus AR. Conclusion: The imbalance of effector T cells and regulatory cells contributed to the pathogenesis of airway inflammation of asthma and AR in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beiya skarn gold deposit is located in the eastern Tethyan orogenic belt in western Yunnan province, China. It is one of the largest gold deposits in China, with significant amounts of silver and base metals. To the end of 2014, the estimated resources are 125 million tonnes (Mt) of ore, grading 2.42 g/t Au, 0.48 wt % Cu, 25.5 wt % Fe, 38.85 g/t Ag, 1.24 wt % Pb, and 0.53 wt % Zn. Skarn alteration and mineralization are related to shoshonitic quartz monzonite porphyries that were emplaced in Triassic carbonates (Beiya Formation). Re-Os dating on molybdenite from a skarn orebody indicates an ore-forming age of 36.82 ± 0.48 Ma, which is consistent with previous dating results of the quartz monzonite porphyries. At least two paragenetic stages of skarn minerals and associated sulfides were recognized, with the early stage typified by garnet ± pyroxene, magnetite, and calcite, and the late stage characterized by epidote, amphibole, chlorite, quartz, and calcite, containing up to 70% sulfides (pyrite, chalcopyrite, and minor pyrrhotite). The early skarn is dominated by anhydrous minerals, which were replaced by hydrous minerals formed during the late stage. The garnet in the Beiya deposit is andradite rich (Ad36-97 Gr3-61), and pyroxene is relatively diopside rich (Di8-91 Hd7-89 ). This mineral assemblage indicates an oxidized skarn system, similar to other Au-Cu, Fe-bearing skarn deposits around the world. Fluid inclusions from pyroxene indicate precipitation from high-temperature and high- to moderate-salinity fluids (420°-530°C, 11.1-43.3 wt % NaCl equiv), which probably results from boiling of a moderately saline magmatic fluid. Cooler (180°-365°C) and moderate- to low-salinity fluids (1.6-16.5 wt % NaCl equiv) were trapped in garnet and quartz and are interpreted to be responsible for gold deposition. Chlorite chemistry indicates ore-forming temperatures between 300° and 340°C, in agreement with fluid inclusion data. It appears that gold was transported as chloride complexes under oxidized conditions and was deposited at temperatures of about 300°C, when transport of chloride complexes as gold carriers was less efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, it is difficulty to keep grid size smaller than local mean free path, that influences calculation accuracy much. In this paper, a new modification technique of collision probability with least square method and sub-relaxation technique is introduced to improve simulation accuracy in DSMC with coarse grid size. The new method is applied to direct simulation Monte Carlo method based on unstructured tetrahedral cells, which can be easily used for other grid topology. A numerical example with different grid size is implemented to validate the method discussed here, and the numerical results confirm feasibility of the modification technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]