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We study whether fund managers' industry experience is an important source of value creation in hedge fund activism. We find that the targets of industry-expert fund managers realize higher activism announcement returns and better operating performance, particularly when fund managers' industry expertise is more valuable for targets. These targets also engage in more focused acquisition and divestiture activities in industries where fund managers have experience, allocate more employees to these industries, and cut investments more in the postacquisition period. The superior performance of targets of industry-expert fund managers is robust to controlling for the endogeneity concern and the attrition bias. KEYWORDS acquisition, announcement return, hedge fund activism, hedge fund manager, industry experience, operating performance, target, 1 INTRODUCTION The literature shows that targets of hedge fund activism realize positive and significant abnormal returns around Schedule 13D filings. However, the source of this value gain in hedge [...]

Motivation: This paper is motivated by the fact that asset liquidity is important in asset pricing and has significant implications for corporate investments. Premise: This paper attempts to fill the gap in the literature by investigating the impact of bond liquidity on corporate financial policies. Approach: We exploit two exogenous bond liquidity shocks, namely, the inception of the trade reporting and compliance engine (TRACE) and Lehman bankruptcy filing, as well as the traditional measures of bond illiquidity to establish the causal relation between bond liquidity and corporate cash holdings. Results: This study demonstrates that bond illiquidity has a causal positive effect on corporate cash holdings. Additional analysis suggests that bond illiquidity increases the value of cash, and this effect is more pronounced for financially constrained firms. Conlusion: Our findings are consistent with the view that because bond illiquidity hinders firms' access to the external debt market and hence increases the cost of debt, they maintain larger cash holdings to mitigate underinvestment. Consistency: Our results are of interest to regulators who may formulate rules to regulate bond liquidity and practitioners as they make decisions on corporate liquidity and investments. Keywords: bond liquidity, cash holdings, value of cash JEL Classification Codes: G30, G32, G34, INTRODUCTION Creditor rights are crucial to debt contracting. Prior research on bonds concentrates on the debtholder's monitoring role around debt covenant violation. Chava and Roberts (2008) contend that debtholders use [...]

Background: The effects of the decline in health care use at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of children are unclear. We sought to estimate changes in rates of severe and potentially preventable health outcomes among children during the pandemic. Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of children aged 0-17 years using linked population health administrative and disease registry data from January 2017 through August 2022 in Ontario, Canada. We compared observed rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions during the pandemic to predicted rates based on the 3 years preceding the pandemic. We evaluated outcomes among children and neonates overall, among children with chronic health conditions and among children with specific diseases sensitive to delays in care. Results: All acute care use for children decreased immediately at the onset of the pandemic, reaching its lowest rate in April 2020 for emergency department visits (adjusted relative rate [RR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-0.29) and hospital admissions (adjusted RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.42-0.44). These decreases were sustained until September 2021 and May 2022, respectively. During the pandemic overall, rates of all-cause mortality, admissions for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, newborn readmissions or emergency department visits or hospital admissions among children with chronic health conditions did not exceed predicted rates. However, after declining significantly between March and May 2020, new presentations of diabetes mellitus increased significantly during most of 2021 (peak adjusted RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.28-1.74 in July 2021) and much of 2022. Among these children, presentations for diabetic ketoacidosis were significantly higher than expected during the pandemic overall (adjusted RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00-1.30). We observed similar time trends for new presentations of cancer, but we observed no excess presentations of severe cancer overall (adjusted RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.62-1.34). Interpretation: In the first 30 months of the pandemic, disruptions to care were associated with important delays in new diagnoses of diabetes but not with other acute presentations of select preventable conditions or with mortality. Mitigation strategies in future pandemics or other health system disruptions should include education campaigns around important symptoms in children that require medical attention., Although the direct impact of COVID-19 on children has been less severe than among adults, the indirect effect of the pandemic related to deferred care may confer important health consequences. [...]

Objective: To develop and validate prediction models for inference of Latino nativity to advance health equity research. Data Sources/Study Setting: This study used electronic health records (EHRs) from 19,985 Latino children with self-reported country of birth seeking care from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018 at 456 community health centers (CHCs) across 15 states along with census-tract geocoded neighborhood composition and surname data. Study Design: We constructed and evaluated the performance of prediction models within a broad machine learning framework (Super Learner) for the estimation of Latino nativity. Outcomes included binary indicators denoting nativity (US vs. foreign-born) and Latino country of birth (Mexican, Cuban, Guatemalan). The performance of these models was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) from an externally withheld patient sample. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: Census surname lists, census neighborhood composition, and Forebears administrative data were linked to EHR data. Principal Findings: Of the 19,985 Latino patients, 10.7% reported a non-US country of birth (5.1% Mexican, 4.7% Guatemalan, 0.8% Cuban). Overall, prediction models for nativity showed outstanding performance with external validation (US-born vs. foreign: AUC = 0.90; Mexican vs. non-Mexican: AUC = 0.89; Guatemalan vs. non-Guatemalan: AUC = 0.95; Cuban vs. non-Cuban: AUC = 0.99). Conclusions: Among challenges facing health equity researchers in health services is the absence of methods for data disaggregation, and the specific ability to determine Latino country of birth (nativity) to inform disparities. Recent interest in more robust health equity research has called attention to the importance of data disaggregation. In a multistate network of CHCs using multilevel inputs from EHR data linked to surname and community data, we developed and validated novel prediction models for the use of available EHR data to infer Latino nativity for health disparities research in primary care and health services research, which is a significant potential methodologic advance in studying this population. KEYWORDS ethnicity, health disparities, machine learning, surname data, U.S. Census location, 1 | INTRODUCTION Researchers, health systems, and policy makers have highlighted the importance of racial and ethnic health equity research (1) while acknowledging the limitations of currently used broad racial/ethnic [...]

Over the past year, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been continuously striving for world-class excellence throughout its development, especially in the system operation and the development of applications [...]

Organizations are adapting to rapidly changing economic, social, regulatory, and business environments by bringing new capabilities through digital transformations. Digital transformations are affecting many parts of organizations, including the accounting [...]

Wood density is an important attribute that is positively correlated with many wood quality parameters. How to express wood density with drill resistance is a challenge. In this study, we determined the optimal resistance expression using the current, voltage, and power of the DC (Direct-Current) motor. Nine wood blocks crossing over the pith, with widths and heights of 2 cm and 5 cm, respectively, were obtained from three larch (Larix spp.) trees. The microdensity of each wood block at every 0.1-mm length was measured, and the average current, voltage, and power of the DC motor was recorded when the drill fed forward at every 0.1 mm by a self-manufactured resistance drill. The drill path was parallel to the lengthwise direction of the block. The linear models between the current, voltage, and power of the DC motor and wood microdensity were subsequently established, and the model with the highest [R.sup.2.sub.adj] was selected to express the resistance. The adjusted [R.sup.2.sub.adj] of the forward stepwise regression models between the current, voltage, and power of the DC motor and wood microdensity were determined as 0.2943. This suggests that the drilling needle resistance expressed with the current, voltage, and power or other combination may be optimal., The wood resistance drill is a mechanical drill system that measures the drill resistance using a rotating drill that is driven into wood at a constant speed. The resistance of [...]

Byline: Fei-Fei. Chen, Feng. Jiang, Wen-Wen. Zhang, Ya-Jun. Liu, Zi-Fang. He, Zheng-Gao. Xie To evaluate a novel technique for six-point scleral fixation of a three-looped haptics posterior chamber intraocular lens [...]

Byline: Jun. Hu, Wan-Ping. Zhang, Dan-Min. Cao, Qiong. Lei With the progress in refractive cataract surgery, more intraocular lens (IOL) power formulas have been introduced with the aim of reducing [...]

Jun Ping, chair of TEI's Canadian Commodity Tax Committee, a director of TEI's Toronto Chapter, and a chartered professional accountant, has always believed in the importance of communication skills and [...]

Background: Living in low-income neighbourhoods and being an immigrant are each independently associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, but it is unknown if disparities exist in the neonatal period for children of immigrant and nonimmigrant females living in low-income areas. We sought to compare the risk of severe neonatal morbidity and mortality (SNMM) between newborns of immigrant and nonimmigrant mothers who resided in low-income neighbourhoods. Methods: This population-based cohort study used administrative data for females residing in low-income urban neighbourhoods in Ontario, who had an in-hospital, singleton live birth at 20-42 weeks' gestation, from 2002 to 2019. We defined immigrant status as nonrefugee immigrant or nonimmigrant, further detailed by country of birth and duration of residence in Ontario. The primary outcome was a SNMM composite (with 16 diagnoses, including neonatal death and 7 neonatal procedures as indicators), arising within 0-27 days after birth. We estimated relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using modified Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations. Results: Our cohort included 148 050 and 266 191 live births among immigrant and nonimmigrant mothers, respectively. Compared with newborns of nonimmigrant females, SNMM was less frequent among newborns of immigrant females (49.7 v. 65.6 per 1000 live births), with an adjusted RR of 0.76 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.79). The most frequent SNMM indicator was receipt of ventilatory support. Relative to neonates of nonimmigrant females, the risk of SNMM was highest among those of immigrants from Jamaica (adjusted RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.23) and Ghana (adjusted RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.38), and lowest among those of immigrants from China (adjusted RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.48). Among immigrants, the risk of SNMM declined with shorter duration of residence before the index birth. Interpretation: Within low-income urban areas, newborns of immigrant females had an overall lower risk of SNMM than those of nonimmigrant females, with considerable variation by maternal birthplace and duration of residence. Initiatives should focus on improving preconception health and perinatal care within subgroups of females residing in low-income neighbourhoods., Neonatal morbidity and mortality are important public health indicators used to monitor and evaluate neonatal health and quality of perinatal care. (1,2) The neonatal period, ranging from birth to 27 [...]

Background: A randomized controlled trial involving a high-risk, unvaccinated population that was conducted before the Omicron variant emerged found that nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was effective in preventing progression to severe COVID-19. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in preventing severe COVID-19 while Omicron and its subvariants predominate. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study in Ontario that included all residents who were older than 17 years of age and had a positive polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 between Apr. 4 and Aug. 31, 2022. We compared patients treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir with patients who were not treated and measured the primary outcome of hospital admission from COVID-19 or all-cause death at 1-30 days, and a secondary outcome of all-cause death. We used weighted logistic regression to calculate weighted odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals (CIs) using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to control for confounding. Results: The final cohort included 177545 patients, 8876 (5.0%) who were treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and 168 669 (95.0%) who were not treated. The groups were well balanced with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics after applying stabilized IPTW. We found that the occurrence of hospital admission or death was lower in the group given nirmatrelvir-ritonavir than in those who were not (2.1% v. 3.7%; weighted OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.47-0.67). For death alone, the weighted OR was 0.49 (95% CI 0.39-0.62). Our findings were similar across strata of age, drug-drug interactions, vaccination status and comorbidities. The number needed to treat to prevent 1 case of severe COVID-19 was 62 (95% CI 43-80), which varied across strata. Interpretation: Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was associated with significantly reduced odds of hospital admission and death from COVID-19, which supports use to treat patients with mild COVID-19 who are at risk for severe disease., Antiviral therapies to treat COVID-19 and prevent severe outcomes such as hospital admission and death are valuable tools in the global pandemic response. The Evaluation of protease inhibition for COVID-19 [...]

A hydrophilic strong anion-exchange monolithic hybrid column was prepared by in-capillary coating 5-[mu]m bare silica particles with the copolymers of methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and pentaerythritol triacrylate in the presence of a porogen consisting of water, methanol, and cyclohexanol. The composition of the porogen and the concentration of the monomers were investigated and selected. The resulting column was characterized. The column had an uniform pore structure and could withstand a back pressure up to 3500 psi. Its permeability was comparable to that of packed columns and the swelling-shrinking behaviour negligible. Its hydrophobicity could be suppressed at acetonitrile concentrations above 40% (v/v) and the minimum theoretical plate height was about 10 [micro]m for Br-. The column-to-column relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 2.2% and 3.5% (n = 9) and the batch-to-batch RSDs were 2.4% and 5.5% (n = 3) for k and H values, respectively. The column exhibited a remarkable performance for the separation of inorganic anions, organic weak acids, phenols, and nucleotides., Capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) offers high column efficiency, low consumption of sample and solvent, and good compatibility to mass spectrometry (MS) (1-4), which has led to widespread applications. Strong anion-exchange [...]

Byline: Wen-Wen. Zhang, Fei-Fei. Chen, Ya-Jun. Liu, Feng. Jiang, Zheng-Gao. Xie When primary angle-closure glaucoma occurs during an acute attack, routine phacoemulsification is challenging because of the high intra-ocular pressure [...]

Despite extensive investigations on the interfacial activities of mixed anionic and cationic surfactants (Sa/c), the influence of the hydrophobic phase on their interfacial assembly and dilational rheology remains unaddressed. In this study, the interfacial dilational rheology of alkoxy carboxylate (anionic)/cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (cationic) surfactant mixtures was studied at various interfaces. The dilational modulus of Sa/cincreases linearly with interfacial pressure at the interfaces of air, n-hexane/n-octane/n-hexadecane, and toluene. The limit elasticity (ε0) is similar at air and alkane interfaces but significantly decreases at the toluene interface. To explain these phenomena, all-atom molecular simulation was carried out to investigate the microscopic features of surfactants at the interface. The findings emphasize the crucial role of anionic/cationic surfactant bound pairs in regulating interfacial rheology. Sa/ctend to form large aggregates at the air/water surface. When mixed with alkanes like octane, most Sa/cremain as ion pairs. However, when toluene is employed, the coordination number between anionic and cationic surfactants sharply decreases due to π–π interactions between the toluene molecules and the phenyl groups in the anionic surfactant. This leads to a much lower interfacial modulus because interactions between oil molecules and surfactants cannot compensate for weakened interactions among anionic/cationic surfactants. These results suggest that Sa/cin this study tolerate alkanes but are not resistant to aromatics, which helps explain why Sa/cdemonstrate excellent performance for the chemical enhanced oil recovery of a high-wax reservoir and further provides fundamental knowledge of their potential applications, such as gas well deliquification using foamers in the presence of condensate oil, textiles, etc.

The Ruddlesden–Popper (R–P) bilayer nickelate, La3Ni2O7, was recently found to show signatures of high-temperature superconductivity (HTSC) at pressures above 14 GPa (ref. 1). Subsequent investigations achieved zero resistance in single-crystalline and polycrystalline samples under hydrostatic pressure conditions2–4. Yet, obvious diamagnetic signals, the other hallmark of superconductors, are still lacking owing to the filamentary nature with low superconducting volume fraction2,4,5. The presence of a new 1313 polymorph and competing R–P phases obscured proper identification of the phase for HTSC6–9. Thus, achieving bulk HTSC and identifying the phase at play are the most prominent tasks. Here we address these issues in the praseodymium (Pr)-doped La2PrNi2O7polycrystalline samples. We find that substitutions of Pr for La effectively inhibit the intergrowth of different R–P phases, resulting in a nearly pure bilayer structure. For La2PrNi2O7, pressure-induced orthorhombic to tetragonal structural transition takes place at Pc≈ 11 GPa, above which HTSC emerges gradually on further compression. The superconducting transition temperatures at 18–20 GPa reach Tconset=82.5Kand Tczero=60K, which are the highest values, to our knowledge, among known nickelate superconductors. Importantly, bulk HTSC was testified by detecting clear diamagnetic signals below about 75 K with appreciable superconducting shielding volume fractions at a pressure of above 15 GPa. Our results not only resolve the existing controversies but also provide directions for exploring bulk HTSC in the bilayer nickelates.

We report a design for a synergistic lithium (Li) metal hosting layer for high-loading Li(Ni,Co,Al)O2(NCA) (≥5 mA h cm–2)||Li–metal full cells in carbonate electrolytes. Based on density functional theory calculations, the hosting layer was designed as a three-dimensional silver/carbon composite nanofiber (Ag/CNF) network with high Li affinity and a platinum (Pt)-coated polypropylene separator with low Li affinity. This design enabled the tailoring of horizontal Li deposition on the Ag/CNF hosting layer. The Li deposition behavior modulated by the hosting layer was thoroughly examined based on the initial Li deposition and cycling behaviors of the Li||Li symmetric cell configuration. Cryogenic focused-ion beam cross-sectional images of the cycled Li anodes clearly demonstrated that dense lithium deposition was enabled by the synergistic hosting layer high-loading NCA (≥5 mA h cm–2)||Li–metal full cells. When the hosting layer was used, the average cycling performance improved by 78.27% under various cycling conditions. Our work demonstrates that the synergistic hosting layer design is a fruitful pathway to accelerate the commercialization of high-energy-density Li–metal batteries in carbonate electrolytes.

Meta-aramid insulating paper, comprising precipitated fibers as the matrix and chopped fibers as the reinforcing skeleton, exhibits tremendous potential as a next-generation insulating material in high-voltage systems. However, its insulating performance is hampered by severe interface defects, thus limiting its industrial applications. To address this issue, an interface modification method is proposed based on the tunable electrical polarity of chopped fibers, achieved through a practical PDDA treatment, which converts the originally negative potentials of chopped fibers in pulp water to a positive state. As a result, a compact and cross-connected paper structure is formed, wherein the precipitated fibers and chopped fibers exhibit opposite electrical polarities, promoting strong intermolecular attraction and significantly reducing interface defects. We systematically investigate the electrical insulation and mechanical tensile properties of the modified papers, demonstrating remarkable improvements of up to 31% for breakdown strength and 35% for tensile strength. In addition, molecular simulations reveal enhanced compatibility at the fiber interface, driven by the modification of electrical polarity. This study presents an effective approach for designing high-performance meta-aramid paper, while also opening up possibilities for interface modification in various fiber-reinforced composite materials.

Invisible microstrip defect detection is of great significance for ensuring the reliability of integrated circuits and improving the performance of communication system. In this article, the microwave fields radiated by six typically invisible microstrip defects were experimentally characterized with high accuracy based on quantum wide-field microscope, and the origin of microwave field contrast was theoretically analyzed. In a view of $1400\times 700\,\,\mu \text{m}^{2}$ , the microwave near-field distribution radiated by invisible microstrip defects was reconstructed with a resolution of $1.63~\mu \text{m}$ /pixel, and the microwave magnetic field detection sensitivity reached 0.7 nT/Hz $^{\mathrm {1/2}}$ . Meanwhile, the causes of microwave field discrepancies were analyzed specifically on the basis of microstrip transmission line theory. It was attributed to the transmission loss and the uneven distribution of induced current arising from variations in geometrical structures. The phenomenon validated the feasibility of detecting invisible microstrip defects utilizing the microwave field intensity distribution. The proposed approach is expected to have applications in microchip design and radio frequency (RF) equipment maintenance, thereby notably improving the practicability of quantum measurement technology.

Autonomous orientation technology has major engineering significance for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) especially for the intelligent vehicle. The sky polarization characteristics offer a wealth of navigation data. At present, the most advanced polarization navigators can output this navigation information and do not require complex optical structures. However, these current navigation methods are limited severely by the sky conditions, and it is difficult to achieve orientation accurately under interference from reflected light. Here, we report a sky recognition algorithm based on a region prior approach to reduce the influence of the reflected light. Furthermore, to solve the sun fuzzy problem, a morphometric template matching in transform domain (MTMTD) strategy is proposed based on the angle of polarization (AOP). The application scope and practicability of the method are improved effectively by using all the effective pixels as a navigation unit. In addition, this method turns these pixels into curves, which means that even when only one pixel is observed, the sun fuzzy problem can be solved exactly. Our results efficiently verify the feasibility of the proposed strategy, which may provide an interesting solution for heading measurement of intelligent vehicle.

There is an unmet need for second-line and third-line treatments that are effective and tolerable for advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no driver mutations.

In pursuit of advancing the electrooxidation of amines, which is typically encumbered by the inertness of C(sp3)–H/N(sp3)–H bonds, our study introduces a high-performance electrocatalyst that significantly enhances the production efficiency of vital chemicals and fuels. We propose a novel electrocatalytic strategy employing a uniquely designed (NixCo1–x)Se2-R electrocatalyst, which is activated through Se–O exchange and electron orbital spin manipulation. This catalyst efficiently generates M4+species, thus enabling the activation of lattice oxygen and streamlining the electrooxidation of amines. Empirical evidence from isotope labeling, molecular probes, and computational analyses indicates that the electrocatalyst fosters the formation of energetically favorable peroxy radical intermediates, which substantially expedite the reaction kinetics. The refined electrocatalyst achieves an exceptional current density of 20 mA cm–2at a potential of 1.315 V, with selectivity surpassing 99% for propionitrile, while demonstrating remarkable stability over 560 h. This work emphasizes the criticality of deciphering the fundamental mechanisms of amine electrooxidation and charts a more sustainable pathway for the nitrile and hydrogen production, marking a substantial advancement in the field of electrocatalysis.

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies have advanced to enable transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis at submicron resolution over large areas. However, analysis of high-resolution ST is often challenged by complex tissue structure, where existing cell segmentation methods struggle due to the irregular cell sizes and shapes, and by the absence of segmentation-free methods scalable to whole-transcriptome analysis. Here we present FICTURE (Factor Inference of Cartographic Transcriptome at Ultra-high REsolution), a segmentation-free spatial factorization method that can handle transcriptome-wide data labeled with billions of submicron-resolution spatial coordinates and is compatible with both sequencing-based and imaging-based ST data. FICTURE uses the multilayered Dirichlet model for stochastic variational inference of pixel-level spatial factors, and is orders of magnitude more efficient than existing methods. FICTURE reveals the microscopic ST architecture for challenging tissues, such as vascular, fibrotic, muscular and lipid-laden areas in real data where previous methods failed. FICTURE’s cross-platform generality, scalability and precision make it a powerful tool for exploring high-resolution ST.

Underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) stand as promising technologies facilitating diverse underwater applications. However, the major design issues of the considered system are the severely limited energy supply and unexpected node malfunctions. This paper aims to provide fair, efficient, and reliable (FER) communication to the imperfect and energy-constrained UWSNs (IC-UWSNs). Therefore, we formulate a FER-communication optimization problem (FERCOP) and propose ICRL-JSA to solve the formulated problem. ICRL-JSA is a deep multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL)-based optimizer for IC-UWSNs through joint link scheduling and power allocation, which automatically learns scheduling algorithms without human intervention. However, conventional RL methods are unable to address the challenges posed by underwater environments and IC-UWSNs. To construct ICRL-JSA, we integrate deep Q-network into IC-UWSNs and propose an advanced training mechanism to deal with complex acoustic channels, limited energy supplies, and unexpected node malfunctions. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed ICRL-JSA scheme with an advanced training mechanism compared to various benchmark algorithms.

The widespread use of refrigerants results in ozone depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. As new refrigerants replace older ones, the proper disposal of discarded refrigerants becomes crucial for the sustainability of human society. This work proposes photo-thermal coupling catalysis for the degradation of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R134a). This method enhances light absorption efficiency and transforms absorbed energy into thermal energy, thereby improving the degradation efficiency of R134a. To enhance stability and efficiency, a composite of γ-Al2O3@C3N4was synthesized as a photo-thermal catalyst. Experimental findings demonstrate that photo-thermal coupling catalysis achieves an R134a degradation efficiency of 52.9 % within 40 minutes, which is 4.90 and 1.79 times higher than those of photocatalysis and thermocatalysis, respectively. Additionally, photo-thermal coupling catalysis effectively mitigates the instability and deactivation seen in traditional thermal catalysis processes. These results suggest that the proposed photo-thermal coupling catalysis is an effective approach for the efficient and low-energy degradation of R134a, offering a promising avenue for refrigerant disposal.

Primary non-function (PNF) and early allograft failure (EAF) after liver transplantation (LT) seriously affect patient outcomes. In clinical practice, effective prognostic tools for early identifying recipients at high risk of PNF and EAF were urgently needed. Recently, the Model for Early Allograft Function (MEAF), PNF score by King's College (King-PNF) and Balance-and-Risk-Lactate (BAR-Lac) score were developed to assess the risks of PNF and EAF. This study aimed to externally validate and compare the prognostic performance of these three scores for predicting PNF and EAF.

The oncogenic potential of chromosome 8q22 copy number gain in liver cancer remains to be depicted. Here, we report that ZNF706, encoded by a gene mapped to chromosome 8q22, is a C2H2-type zinc finger protein. However, the biological function and mechanism of ZNF706 have been poorly investigated. Clinically, ZNF706 expression was elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and high ZNF706 expression was associated with unfavorable survival in HCC patients. Functional experiments revealed that ZNF706 knockdown inhibited HCC progression both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation-based deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) revealed that mechanistically, ZNF706 is a crucial ferroptosis regulator and that SLC7A11 is a critical target of ZNF706. In addition, ZNF706 knockdown inhibited SLC7A11 expression, increased lipid peroxidation, and promoted ferroptosis. Further analysis revealed that ZNF706 is a novel direct target transcriptionally activated by MYC in HCC cells. Importantly, MYC depletion reduced SLC7A11-mediated redox homeostasis, and this effect was reversed by ZNF706 reexpression. Collectively, our data demonstrate that ZNF706 is a potential oncogene in liver cancer and functions as a ferroptosis regulator by modulating SLC7A11 expression, constituting a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Aim: Tirzepatide, a newly developed dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has received approval for treating type 2 diabetes (T2D) and is currently being studied for its potential in long-term weight control. We aim to explore the safety and efficacy of once-weekly subcutaneous tirzepatide for weight loss in T2D or obese patients. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed on various databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception up to April 29, 2024, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of once-weekly tirzepatide compared to a placebo in adults with or without T2D. The mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) were calculated for continuous and dichotomous outcomes, respectively. The risk of bias was evaluated using the RoB-2 tool (Cochrane), while the statistical analysis was conducted utilizing RevMan 5.4.1 software. Results: Seven RCTs comprising 4795 individuals ranging from 12 to 72 weeks were identified. Compared to the placebo group, tirzepatide at doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg demonstrated significant dose-dependent weight loss. The mean difference (MD) in the percentage change in body weight (BW) was −8.07% (95% CI −11.01, −5.13; p < 0.00001), −10.79% (95% CI −13.86, −7.71; p < 0.00001), and −11.83% (95% CI −14.52, −9.14; p < 0.00001), respectively. Additionally, the MD in the absolute change in BW was −7.5 kg (95% CI −10.9, −4.1; p < 0.0001), −11.0 kg (95% CI −16.9, −5.2; p = 0.0002), and −11.5 kg (95% CI −16.2, −6.7; p < 0.00001), for the 5, 10, and 15 mg doses, respectively. All three doses of tirzepatide also significantly reduced body mass index and waist circumference. Furthermore, it led to a greater percentage of patients experiencing weight loss exceeding 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%. Moreover, tirzepatide showed great success in reducing blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and lipid profiles. In terms of safety, gastrointestinal side effects were the most frequently reported adverse events in all three doses of tirzepatide groups, which were generally mild-to-moderate and transient. Conclusion: Tirzepatide treatment could lead to remarkable and sustained weight loss that is well-tolerated and safe, representing a novel and valuable therapeutic strategy for long-term weight management.

T cell engaging bispecific antibodies (TCBs) have recently become significant in cancer treatment. In this study we developed MSLN490, a novel TCB designed to target mesothelin (MSLN), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein highly expressed in various cancers, and evaluated its efficacy against solid tumors. CDR walking and phage display techniques were used to improve affinity of the parental antibody M912, resulting in a pool of antibodies with different affinities to MSLN. From this pool, various bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) were assembled. Notably, MSLN490 with its IgG-[L]-scFv structure displayed remarkable anti-tumor activity against MSLN-expressing tumors (EC50: 0.16 pM in HT-29-hMSLN cells). Furthermore, MSLN490 remained effective even in the presence of non-membrane-anchored MSLN (soluble MSLN). Moreover, the anti-tumor activity of MSLN490 was enhanced when combined with either Atezolizumab or TAA × CD28 BsAbs. Notably, a synergistic effect was observed between MSLN490 and paclitaxel, as paclitaxel disrupted the immunosuppressive microenvironment within solid tumors, enhancing immune cells infiltration and improved anti-tumor efficacy. Overall, MSLN490 exhibits robust anti-tumor activity, resilience to soluble MSLN interference, and enhanced anti-tumor effects when combined with other therapies, offering a promising future for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. This study provides a strong foundation for further exploration of MSLN490’s clinical potential.

This study investigated chemical compositions and biocidal activities from the aerial parts of Rhododendron thymifoliumagainst Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne, and Ditylenchus destructor. In total, 13 components were isolated from the aerial parts of R. thymifoliumby chromatographic separation techniques. Based on the results of MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectrometry, their structures were determined as ent-kaurane-16β-ol (1), pentacosane (2), undecanoic acid, ethyl ester (3), 1-Tridecanethiol (4), 1-Dodecanol (5), 4-Methyl-7-hydroxycoumarin (6), tertradecan-1-ol (7), apocynin (8), 3-Methoxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde (9), scopoletin (10), hyperin (11), quercetin (12), acetophenone (13). In addition, ent-kaurane-16β-ol (1) was isolated from R. thymifoliumfor the first time. Then, the insecticidal toxicities against T. castaneum, L. serricorne, and D. destructor. of compounds 1–13 were evaluated, and the results showed that apocynin (8) and acetophenone (13) exhibited obvious contact activity against the storage pests with LD50values of 6.46 and 8.72 μg/adult respectively. Acetophenone (13) showed excellent contact activity against D. destructorwith LC50values of 0.08 mg/mL. The study clearly showed the active fractions from R. thymifoliumhave might potential to be developed into potential compounds on storage insect prevention.

For the past 20 years, twice-daily thoracic radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy has been the treatment of choice for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC), which has a poor prognosis. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of high-dose, accelerated, hyperfractionated, twice-daily thoracic radiotherapy (54 Gy in 30 fractions) versus standard-dose radiotherapy (45 Gy in 30 fractions) as a first-line treatment for LS-SCLC.

Naturally derived compounds show promise as treatments for microbial infections. Polyphenols, abundantly found in various plants, fruits, and vegetables, are noted for their physiological benefits including antimicrobial effects. This study introduced a new set of acylated phloroglucinol derivatives, synthesized and tested for their antifungal activity in vitro against seven different pathogenic fungi. The standout compound, 3-methyl-1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl) butan-1-one (2b), exhibited remarkable fungicidal strength, with EC50values of 1.39 μg/mL against Botrytis cinereaand 1.18 μg/mL against Monilinia fructicola, outperforming previously screened phenolic compounds. When tested in vivo, 2bdemonstrated effective antifungal properties, with cure rates of 76.26% for brown rot and 83.35% for gray mold at a concentration of 200 μg/mL, rivaling the commercial fungicide Pyrimethanil in its efficacy against B. cinerea. Preliminary research suggests that 2b’s antifungal mechanism may involve the disruption of spore germination, damage to the fungal cell membrane, and leakage of cellular contents. These results indicate that compound 2bhas excellent fungicidal properties against B. cinereaand holds potential as a treatment for gray mold.

Realizing topological transformation through supramolecular fusion is particularly challenging, as the self-assembly of disparate components often results in the orthogonal assembly of building blocks into distinct structures rather than the formation of a heteroleptic architecture. This study introduces a topological transformation, transitioning from a figure-eight knot (41knot) to a Solomon link (412link) through a supramolecular fusion process. By employing two structurally similar amino acid ligands (L1and L3) of varying lengths as bridge ligands, we obtained figure-eight knot 1and a molecular tweezer-like compound 3when individually complexed with binuclear Cp*Rh acceptor B1. Our results revealed that subtle modifications to bridge ligands can lead to dramatic changes in their structures and recognition properties. Moreover, we successfully achieved the targeted formation of a heteroleptic Solomon link 4by blending figure-eight knot 1and compound 3in a 1:1 ratio without the need for templates. This procedure effortlessly converted the 41knot into a 412link, thus marking a significant advancement in the topological transformation. This work not only marks the construction of the first heteroleptic Solomon link comprising two distinct metallamacrocycles but also demonstrates a process of supramolecular fusion-based topological transformation involving three distinct topological structures.

We have studied the CO oxidation process and CO2desorption dynamics on Pt(111) using density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and van der Waals (vdW) functionals. The calculated potential energy surfaces indicate that the most kinetically favorable pathway for CO oxidation is the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) pathway, where the oxidation is initiated by the movement of an O atom at the HCP site toward the adsorbed CO. The ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation revealed that one of a few combinations of the GGA and vdW functionals provides the most quantitative explanation of the experiments regarding the distribution of the kinetic energy, desorption angle, and OCO bending vibration of the desorbed CO2. The good agreement is the result of an accurate description of the reactant (CO + O) and product (CO2) in both the chemisorbed and physisorbed states. The AIMD simulation also clearly shows that the CO2is desorbed in vibrational excited states with energy transfer between the bending and symmetric stretching modes.

The dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in regulating tumor progression in multiple manner. However, little is known about whether lncRNA is involved in the translation regulation of proteins. Here, we identified that the suppressor of inflammatory macrophage apoptosis lncRNA (SIMALR) was highly expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues by analyzing the lncRNA microarray. Clinically, the high expression of SIMALRserved as an independent predictor for inferior prognosis in NPC patients. SIMALRfunctioned as an oncogenic lncRNA that promoted the proliferation and metastasis of NPC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SIMALRserved as a critical accelerator of protein synthesis by binding to eEF1A2 (eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2), one of the most crucial regulators in the translation machinery of the eukaryotic cells, and enhancing its endogenous GTPase activity. Furthermore, SIMALRmediated the activation of eEF1A2 phosphorylation to accelerate the translation of ITGB4/ITGA6, ultimately promoting the malignant phenotype of NPC cells. In addition, N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) enhanced the stability of SIMALRand caused its overexpression in NPC through the N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification. In sum, our results illustrate SIMALRfunctions as an accelerator for protein translation and highlight the oncogenic role of NAT10-SIMALR-eEF1A2-ITGB4/6 axis in NPC.

Despite the detailed imaging information provided by optical coherence tomography (OCT) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), clinical benefits of this imaging technique in this setting remain uncertain. The aim of the OCCUPI trial was to compare the clinical benefits of OCT-guided versus angiography-guided PCI for complex lesions, assessed as the rate of major adverse cardiac events at 1 year.

Sophora flavescens, a traditional Chinese herb, produces a wide range of secondary metabolites with a broad spectrum of biological activities. In this study, we isolated six isopentenyl flavonoids (1–6)from the roots of S. flavescensand evaluated their activities against phytopathogenic fungi. In vitro activities showed that kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G displayed broad spectrum and superior activities, among which sophoraflavanone G displayed excellent activity against tested fungi, with EC50values ranging from 4.76 to 13.94 μg/mL. Notably, kurarinone was easily purified and showed potential activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium graminearumwith EC50values of 16.12, 16.55, and 16.99 μg/mL, respectively. Consequently, we initially investigated the mechanism of kurarinone against B. cinerea. It was found that kurarinone disrupted cell wall components, impaired cell membrane integrity, increased cell membrane permeability, and affected cellular energy metabolism, thereby exerting its effect against B. cinerea. Therefore, kurarinone is expected to be a potential candidate for the development of plant fungicides.