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Taoying Lu,1– 3 Mingyue Fan,1 Jianxiong Cai,4 Aolin Liu,1 Qianwen Xie,2,3 Xiaowen Zhou,1 Bei Chang,1 Lingjia Yin,2,3,5 Guli Jiang,6 Bin Sun,7 Wenyi Tang,7 Darong Wu4 1The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Outcome Assessment Research Team in Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Outcome Assessment Research Team in Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 6Department of Scientific Research, Guangzhou Cadre Health Management Center, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Cadre Health Management Center, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Darong Wu, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111 Dade Road, Guangzhou, 510120, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13808869436, Email darongwu@gzucm.edu.cnBackground: Dampness syndrome is a basic syndrome of many major and chronic diseases. Early screening and identification of dampness syndrome are important. The Dampness Syndrome Scale of Chinese Medicine (DSSCM) was developed to measure the occurrence and severity of dampness syndrome. The measurement characteristics of the DSSCM should be further validated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the DSSCM based on a cross-sectional survey.Methods: The development of DSSCM was based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, expert consensus and clinical investigations. Participants were recruited from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine and Guangzhou Cadre Health Management Center in Guangdong Province, China. All participants completed the baseline questionnaire and DSSCM. The reliability of the DSSCM was evaluated by internal consistency reliability and test–retest reliability. The factor structure was tested with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while discriminant validity was evaluated by calculating the difference between the total score of the DSSCM and its four dimensions for participants with or without dampness syndrome. We used a clinician’s diagnosis of dampness syndrome as a criterion to evaluate the criterion validity. Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the associations among gender, age, height, and weight and dampness syndrome.Results: A total of 880 participants were enrolled for psychometric validation and 869 participants were included in the final analyses after exclusion. The mean age of the participants was 42.62± 12.86 years. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the four dimensions of the DSSCM were 0.809, 0.891, 0.816 and 0.780. The ICCs for the four dimensions of the DSSCM were 0.806, 0.674, 0.780 and 0.760. For validity, the results showed that the DSSCM had good content validity, discriminant validity and criterion validity. For the CFA, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.091; the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) was 0.074; the comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.766; and the Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) was 0.745. Weight was found to be associated with the total scores of the DSSCM and its three dimensions.Conclusion: The DSSCM has good reliability and validity to support its use as a tool for assessing the severity of dampness syndrome. This study provides empirical evidence for future updates to the DSSCM.Keywords: dampness syndrome, dampness syndrome scale of Chinese medicine, reliability, validity

Yan Pan, Wei Dong Chen, Lei Liu, Huijuan Yang, Baochao Chang, Caixia Cui Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wei Dong Chen, Email cwd2012@163.comObjective: Serum-specific antibodies as a non-invasive means to effectively diagnose idiopathic membranous nephropathy and assess clinicopathology.Methods: Immunofluorescence of anti-PLA2R and THSD7A antibodies and kidney tissue PLA2R, THSD7A and IgG4 expression in IMN and non-IMN (2020– 2021) was detected to assess the efficacy of diagnosing IMN. IMN patients were divided into two groups, anti-PLA2R antibody positive (161 cases) and negative (26 cases), and two groups, kidney tissue PLA2R (40 cases) and PLA2R+THSD7A (6 cases), to compare the clinical and pathological features, and to carry out a prognostic analysis of THSD7A-positive patients, with a focus on correlation with malignancy.Results: The positive rate of anti-PLA2R antibodies was significantly higher in IMN (P< 0.05); anti-PLA2R antibodies, kidney tissue PLA2R and IgG4 and THSD7A had some diagnostic value. Anti-PLA2R antibodies correlated with proteinuria levels in IMN patients, and their levels were negatively correlated with blood albumin (r=− 0.146, P=0.042); correlated with pathological stage and C3 and IgG4 immunodeposition; there was no significant difference in clinical pathology between kidney tissue THSD7A+PLA2R positive compared to kidney tissue PLA2R positive patients, but the probability of achieving complete remission was low and time longer, and no malignancy events were detected during follow-up.Conclusion: Anti-PLA2R antibodies, kidney tissue PLA2R, THSD7A and IgG4 have high diagnostic efficacy for IMN; anti-PLA2R antibodies can be used as diagnostic markers to assist in the assessment of clinical and pathological features; co-expression of kidney tissue PLA2R and THSD7A is not significantly different from kidney tissue PLA2R in assessing the clinical features, pathological manifestations and prognosis, but requires long-term. However, long-term follow-up is needed to monitor the potential risk, and a larger multicentre study with long-term follow-up is expected to be conducted to comprehensively assess IMN characteristics.Keywords: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy, PLA2R, THSD7A, clinical features and pathology

Abstract Magnetic frustration is a route for novel ground states, including spin liquids and spin ices. Such frustration can be introduced through either lattice geometry or incompatible exchange interactions. Here, we find that epitaxial strain is an effective tool for tuning antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in a square-lattice system. By studying the magnon excitations in La2NiO4 films using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, we show that the magnon displays substantial dispersion along the antiferromagnetic zone boundary, at energies that depend on the lattice of the film’s substrate. Using first principles simulations and an effective spin model, we demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbour coupling is a consequence of the two-orbital nature of La2NiO4. Altogether, we illustrate that compressive epitaxial strain enhances this coupling and, as a result, increases the level of incompatibility between exchange interactions within a model square-lattice system.

Guanxiong Liu,&ast; Duo Zhu,&ast; Quansheng He,&ast; Churen Zhou, Li He, Zhengran Li, Zaibo Jiang, Mingsheng Huang, Boyang Chang, Chun Wu Department of Interventional Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Boyang Chang; Chun Wu, Email changby3@mail.sysu.edu.cn; wuch26@mail.sysu.edu.cnPurpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of combining hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with lenvatinib (LEN) and PD-1 inhibitors in treating arterioportal shunt (APS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).Patients and Methods: Conducted retrospectively, the study enrolled 54 HCC patients with APS and PVTT treated with HAIC, LEN, and PD-1 inhibitors at our center between January 2021 and October 2023. APS improvement, APS recanalization, tumor response, PVTT response rate, overall survival (OS), intrahepatic progression-free survival (InPFS), and adverse events were evaluated.Results: APS improvement was observed in 42 patients (77.8%), with all improvement occurring within two treatment sessions. Complete APS occlusion was achieved in 40 patients (74.1%), and no recanalization occurred. The best objective response rate (ORR) and ORR after two HAIC sessions were 74.1% and 66.7%, respectively. The best PVTT response and PVTT response after two HAIC sessions were 98.1% and 94.4%, respectively. The median OS and InPFS were 10.0 months and 5.0 months, respectively. OS and InPFS were longer in patients with APS occlusion compared to those without (OS 12.1 vs 4.4 months, P< 0.001, InPFS 6.2 vs 2.3 months, P=0.049). ALBI grade, extrahepatic spread, APS disappearance were potential prognostic factors for OS, while APS grade and extrahepatic spread being independently associated with InPFS. No treatment-related mortality occurred.Conclusion: Combining HAIC with LEN and PD-1 inhibitors proves to be both effective and safe in managing APS in HCC with PVTT, potentially improving patient survival.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, shunt, portal vein tumor thrombus, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, combination therapy

Zeyu Wu,1,&ast; Yan Li,1,&ast; Min Jiang,1 Lixuan Sang,2 Bing Chang1 1Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lixuan Sang, Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China, Email sanglixuan2008@163.com Bing Chang, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China, Email cb000216@163.comBackground: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic recurrent gastrointestinal inflammatory disease. Selenium has been reported to have therapeutic potential in IBD. Selenium yeast is a common selenium supplement that is convenient to access. This study explored the effect of selenium yeast on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-)induced chronic colitis in mice.Methods: Mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, selenium yeast group, chronic colitis group, and chronic colitis+selenium yeast group (n=6). Mice were killed on the 26th day. The disease activity index (DAI) score and histological damage score were calculated. Cytokines, serum selenium, colonic tissue selenium, gut microbiota and their metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were evaluated.Results: Selenium yeast lowered IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-22 and IFN-γ (P< 0.05). In addition, selenium yeast significantly elevated Turicibacter, Bifidobacterium, Allobaculum, Prevotella, Halomonas, Adlercreutzia (P< 0.05), and butyric acid (P< 0.05).Conclusion: Selenium yeast could improve DSS-induced chronic colitis in mice by regulating cytokines, gut microbiota and their metabolites.Keywords: selenium yeast, chronic colitis, gut microbiota, metabolism

Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have achieved a burning plasma state with neutron yields exceeding 170 kJ, roughly 3 times the prior record and a necessary stage for igniting plasmas. The results are achieved despite multiple sources of degradations that lead to high variability in performance. Results shown here, for the first time, include an empirical correction factor for mode-2 asymmetry in the burning plasma regime in addition to previously determined corrections for radiative mix and mode-1. Analysis shows that including these three corrections alone accounts for the measured fusion performance variability in the two highest performing experimental campaigns on the NIF to within error. Here we quantify the performance sensitivity to mode-2 symmetry in the burning plasma regime and apply the results, in the form of an empirical correction to a 1D performance model. Furthermore, we find the sensitivity to mode-2 determined through a series of integrated 2D radiation hydrodynamic simulations to be consistent with the experimentally determined sensitivity only when including alpha-heating.

Magnetic frustration is a route for novel ground states, including spin liquids and spin ices. Such frustration can be introduced through either lattice geometry or incompatible exchange interactions. Here, we find that epitaxial strain is an effective tool for tuning antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in a square-lattice system. By studying the magnon excitations in La2NiO4 films using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, we show that the magnon displays substantial dispersion along the antiferromagnetic zone boundary, at energies that depend on the lattice of the film's substrate. Using first principles simulations and an effective spin model, we demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbour coupling is a consequence of the two-orbital nature of La2NiO4. Altogether, we illustrate that compressive epitaxial strain enhances this coupling and, as a result, increases the level of incompatibility between exchange interactions within a model square-lattice system. Frustration in magnetic systems may lead to exotic quantum phases such as spin liquid and spin ice state. Here the authors demonstrate that compressive epitaxial strain in La2NiO4 films deposited on different substrates can tune antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and increase the degree of frustration through the increased level of incompatibility between exchange interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inertial confinement fusion program relies upon detailed simulations with inertial confinement fusion (ICF) codes to design targets and to interpret the experimental results. These simulations treat as much physics from essential principles as is practical, including laser deposition, cross beam energy transfer, x-ray production and transport, nonlocal thermal equilibrium kinetics, thermal transport, hydrodynamic instabilities, thermonuclear burn, and transport of reaction products. Improvements in radiation hydrodynamic code capabilities and vast increases in computing power have enabled more realistic, accurate 3D simulations that treat all known asymmetry sources. We describe how numerical simulations helped to guide the program, assess the impediments to breakeven, and optimize every aspect of target design. A preshot simulation of the first National Ignition Facility experiment that surpassed breakeven predicted an increased yield that matches the experimental result, within the preshot predicted uncertainty, with a target gain of 1.5. We will cover the key developments in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ICF codes that enabled these simulations and give specific examples of how they helped to guide the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shade stress is a common problem encountered in turfgrass management situations worldwide. Shade reduces photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), alters light quality, reduces air movement, and may introduce tree root competition. As a species, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) possesses relatively poor shade tolerance, which limits its use in reduced light environments. However, genetic alteration of the gibberellic acid enzyme pathway has shown promise in some plant species for improving growth in shade. The objective of this 2‐year field study was to determine the comparative performance under reduced PPF and determine minimal daily light integral (DLIm) requirements for acceptable quality of a conventional (CONV) Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) blend and gibberellic acid 2‐oxidase (GA2ox) transformed "ProVista" (PV) KBG. A 2‐year field study was conducted under neutral density shade treatments producing monthly daily light integrals averaging from ∼5.8 (90% shade) to 48 mol m−2 day−1 (full sun) for mid‐June through October study periods. Based on nonlinear regression of mean monthly DLI during the study period versus turfgrass quality (TQ) at the end of each study period, DLIm was found to range from 7.5 to 10 mol m−2 day−1 for PV and from 22.5 to 26.2 mol m−2 day−1 for CONV KBG. Improved TQ of PV under low light intensities may be associated with reduced rates of leaf elongation, greater stand density, higher chlorophyll concentrations, and darker green color compared to CONV KBG. Although shade duration did not exceed 4 months, the results suggest that GA2ox‐transformed PV KBG possesses improved tolerance to reduced PPF compared to CONV KBG. Core Ideas: Limited data are available on minimal light requirements of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars.ProVista shows improved turf quality and color and reduced vertical regrowth relative to conventional under low photosynthetic photon flux.ProVista required minimal daily light integral of 7.5–10 mol m−2 day−1, while conventional Kentucky bluegrass requires 22–26 mol m−2 day−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To rapidly and accurately determine the water requirement (WR) and crop coefficient (Kc) of drip irrigated flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), we conducted an insufficient surface drip irrigation experiment and determined critical growth stages for ensuring an optimal flax yield Combined with meteorological data and crop water requirement measurements, the potential evapotranspiration (ET0) of flax and actual Kc were calculated and compared with the Kc recommended by FAO Document 56. When flax was free from drought and at an optimal yield, the crop WR was 327.4 mm. The largest daily average WR intensity was the greatest in the budding--flowering period, in which a sufficient water supply is crucial. After modifying the Kc as recommended by the FAO, the Kc values were 0.21, 0.58, 0.85 and 0.44, in the intial, rapid, middle, and late growth stages, respectively. The Kc over the whole growth period was 0.59. When the flax irrigation quota of ground drip irrigation was 210 mm in the middle region of the Inner Mongolia agro-pastoral ecotone, China, the theoretical WR calculated by the single Kc method recommended by FAO 56 was 313.44 mm, 10% lower than the measured crop WR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) polymers have been used in biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, durability, toughness and high wear resistance. To enhance the mechanical properties, various types of minerals are commonly utilized as fillers in UHMWPE. One of the minerals is dolomite, which has been recognized as a valuable mineral with versatile applications, particularly in the field of biomedical applications. This paper presents the tensile properties of UHMWPE composites that filled with dolomite and treated-dolomite at various filler loading (i.e., 1-5 wt.%). Nitric acid and diammonium phosphate were used to treat the dolomite. From the results, the peaks of the FTIR spectrum displays carbonate (CO3-2), phosphate (PO4-3) and hydroxyl (OH-) groups in the ct-dolomite powder sample while the XRD pattern reveals that using dolomite treated with 1M nitric acid resulted in the presence of calcium hydroxide phosphate (Ca10(PO4)5(OH)) and MgO. For tensile strength, UHMWPE/ct-dolomite composites show better tensile strength than the pure UHMWPE composites. Treated improve the dolomite filler and resulted in significantly better matrix-filler interfacial interactions and improve the properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disorder that is becoming the leading cause of morbidity and mortality on a global scale. There is an unmet need to investigate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and unlock novel therapeutic avenues for COPD. Recent research has shed light on the significant roles played by diverse noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in orchestrating the development and progression of COPD. This review provides an overview of the regulatory roles of ncRNAs in COPD, elucidating their underlying mechanisms, and illuminating the potential prospects of RNA-based therapeutics in the management of COPD.

Bo-Chieh Chang,1 Meng-Hsuan Kuo,1 Chi-Hui Lee,1 Ya-Lan Chu,1 Kuang-Peng Chen,2 Chun-Liong Tung,2 Ya-Hui Yang,3 Chuan-Sheng Hung,4 Jui-Hsiu Tsai,2,5 Hung-Yi Chuang6 1Department of Pharmacy, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan; 2Department of Psychiatry, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan; 3Department of Long-Term Care and Health Management, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 4Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 5School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; 6Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, TaiwanCorrespondence: Jui-Hsiu Tsai, Department of Psychiatry, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, No. 2, Min-Sheng Road, Dalin Town, Chiayi, 622, Taiwan, Email faanvangogh@gmail.comIntroduction: Poor adherence to antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia is a leading cause of relapse and functional deterioration. Long-acting injectable paliperidone may reduce relapse risks, health-care utilisation, and health-care costs in these patients.Methods: In this 24-month mirror-image study, we compared health-care utilization and costs before and after the initiation of paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly (PP3M) treatment in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Before the initiation of PP3M, the patients received paliperidone 1-monthly (PP1M) treatment. The primary study outcomes were changes in health-care utilisation and costs over the study period.Results: This study included 34 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. During the 12-months period after the initiation of PP3M treatment, the mean duration of hospitalisation decreased from 57.7 to 28.5 days (p = 0.03). Moreover, significant reductions were noted in emergency room visits (PP1M vs PP3M: 0.3 vs 0.0, respectively; p = 0.05) and health-care costs (PP1M vs PP3M: 107,328.8 vs 57,848.6, respectively; p = 0.03).Conclusion: PP3M may significantly reduce hospitalisation duration, emergency room visits, and health-care costs in patients with schizophrenia.Keywords: schizophrenia, long-acting injectable antipsychotics, paliperidone palmitate, health-care cost, health-care utilisation

Abstract Bacterial culturomics is a set of techniques to isolate and identify live bacteria from complex microbial ecosystems. Despite its potential to revolutionize microbiome research, bacterial culturomics has significant challenges when applied to human gut microbiome studies due to its labor-intensive nature. Therefore, we established a streamlined culturomics approach with minimal culture conditions for stool sample preincubation. We evaluated the suitability of non-selective medium candidates for maintaining microbial diversity during a 30-day incubation period based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis. Subsequently, we applied four culture conditions (two preincubation media under an aerobic/anaerobic atmosphere) to isolate gut bacteria on a large scale from eight stool samples of healthy humans. We identified 8141 isolates, classified into 263 bacterial species, including 12 novel species candidates. Our analysis of cultivation efficiency revealed that seven days of aerobic and ten days of anaerobic incubation captured approximately 91% and 95% of the identified species within each condition, respectively, with a synergistic effect confirmed when selected preincubation media were combined. Moreover, our culturomics findings expanded the coverage of gut microbial diversity compared to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing results. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential of a streamlined culturomics approach for the efficient isolation of gut bacteria from human stool samples. This approach might pave the way for the broader adoption of culturomics in human gut microbiome studies, ultimately leading to a more comprehensive understanding of this complex microbial ecosystem.

Objective To explore the correlation between functional connectivity (FC) in the brains of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with depression and the improvement rate of depression after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS). Methods This study included 38 PD patients (25 with depression and 13 without depression) who underwent STN -DBS at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from September 2019 to April 2020. All participants underwent resting-state fMRI. The severity of depression was assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 Items (HAMD-17) before and 2 years after the surgery, and the improvement rate of depression was calculated. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between FC and the improvement rate of depression in PD patients with depression. Results There were 34 different FC between PD patients with and without depression compared to control group (P = 0.000, for all). Among patients with PD, those with depression showed 4 distinct FC compared to those without depression, including left precuneus -right supplementary motor area (t = 6.028, P = 0.000), right insula -right lateral orbital gyrus (t = 5.525, P = 0.000), left paracentral lobule-left precuneus (t = 5.545, P = 0.000), and right paracentral lobule - left precuneus (t = 5.578, P = 0.000). Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between the zFC values of right precuneus-right insula (rs = - 0.544, P = 0.009) and left temporal pole-left insula (rs = - 0.765, P = 0.010) and the improvement rate of depression in PD patients with depression. Conclusions The FC of right precuneus-right insula and left temporal pole-left insula in PD patients with depression is negatively associated with the improvement rate of depression.

Abstract The monitoring of currents in the abyssal ocean is an essential foundation of deep-sea research. The state-of-the-art current meter has limitations such as the requirement of a power supply for signal transduction, low pressure resistance, and a narrow measurement range. Here, we report a fully integrated, self-powered, highly sensitive deep-sea current measurement system in which the ultra-sensitive triboelectric nanogenerator harvests ocean current energy for the self-powered sensing of tiny current motions down to 0.02 m/s. Through an unconventional magnetic coupling structure, the system withstands immense hydrostatic pressure exceeding 45 MPa. A variable-spacing structure broadens the measuring range to 0.02–6.69 m/s, which is 67% wider than that of commercial alternatives. The system successfully operates at a depth of 4531 m in the South China Sea, demonstrating the record-deep operations of triboelectric nanogenerator-based sensors in deep-sea environments. Our results show promise for sustainable ocean current monitoring with higher spatiotemporal resolution.

As the aging population increases, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease rises annually. In this context, the evaluation of cardiac function using medical imaging techniques plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cardiac segmentation is a prerequisite for assessing cardiac function and has been closely studied by clinicians and scientific researchers. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature from the past decade on cardiac segmentation, categorizing the studies into traditional segmentation approaches and deep learning methodologies. Emphasis is placed on the detailed discussion of segmentation methods based on active contours and atlas models; deep learning algorithms based on U-Net and full convolution neural network (FCN) are also extensively discussed. In particular, this paper elaborates various approaches to enhance deep learning networks and achieve accurate segmentation of specific cardiac regions. These approaches include incorporating local modules, optimizing loss functions, and enhancing network architectures. A comprehensive summary of the aforementioned methods is presented, considering three imaging modalities: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasonic cardiogram. Lastly, the article concludes by summarizing the current research status and discussing research directions for further exploration.

The incorporation of technology in education, notably through platforms like Google Classroom, has prompted significant changes in teaching methods. This includes adopting the Kaizen philosophy, which prioritizes continual improvement through small steps. This article examines how this philosophy intersects with Google Classroom, highlighting its importance. This research explained the trend of “The Kaizen Model” by using bibliometrics mapping. This study aims to analyze students’ perception of the technical, process, and evaluation learning of the Teaching Model of Education Management through Google Classroom. The research method used qualitative research. The research method was a qualitative approach through VOS viewer. The object of the research was students of Philippine Women’s University who participated from various countries in the world. The instrument used questionnaires distributed via the website. The finding shows that students’ perceptions of technical indicators in the Kaizen Model learning are positive. Students’ perception of learning process indicators in the Kaizen model learning on average is positive. Students can understand the Kaizen model learning materials through discussions and communication between lecturers and students goes well. Students’ perception of evaluation indicators in the Kaizen Model learning on average are positive. The intense participation was well received by the students in the pilot courses, which allowed for improvements in areas like course ideas, course content, presentation style, and topic or detail selection. The study contributes to science for developing the concept of Kaizen through the education management department.

Abstract In recent years, applications of digital technology have gradually become the primary driving force for enterprise innovation. Although the impact of digital technology applications on enterprise innovation has been recognized by the academic community, existing studies have failed to systematically reveal the mechanism of digital technology applications on firms' dual innovation, overlooking the data-driven dynamic characteristics of innovation development in the digital era, and neglecting external conditions such as environmental complexity. Therefore, based on dynamic capability theory and resource orchestration theory, this study adopts a “technology-economy” research paradigm to explore and analyze the impact of digital technology applications on dual innovation. It also analyzes the mediating role of data-driven dynamic capabilities and the moderating effect of environmental complexity. The article conducts an empirical test using microdata of Chinese Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed firms from 2010 to 2021.The research results show that digital technology applications positively promote dual innovation of enterprises and exhibit certain heterogeneity. Data-driven dynamic capabilities play a mediating role in the relationship between digital technology applications and dual innovation. The study also tests the moderating effect of environmental complexity and finds that the higher environmental complexity in which the company operates, the stronger the facilitating effect of digital technology applications.

This study investigated the impact of thin-flame combustor design on hydrogen flame characteristics and combustion performance through numerical simulations. Differences in the flame shape and combustibility between pure methane and pure hydrogen combustion were analyzed. Three combustor header shapes (flat, concave, and convex) were modeled to assess the influence of header shape on flame behavior. The results revealed distinct flow patterns, with the concave header promoting strong central flows and the convex header dispersing the flow outward. Temperature field analysis indicated that the hydrogen flames had higher temperatures and shorter quenching distances than the methane flames. A comparative analysis of combustion products was conducted to evaluate combustion performance and NOx emissions. The findings showed that the concave header had a high combustibility, with hydrogen combustion producing greater temperatures and NOx fractions than methane combustion.

Objective To investigate the risk of cardiovascular events associated with commonly used dual and triple therapies of evogliptin, a recently introduced dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i), for managing type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice.Design A retrospective cohort study.Setting Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database.Participants Patients who initiated metformin-based dual therapy and metformin+sulfonylurea-based triple therapy in South Korea from 2014 to 2018.Interventions Initiation of combination therapy with evogliptin.Primary and secondary outcome measures Hazards of cardiovascular events, a composite endpoint of myocardial infarction, heart failure and cerebrovascular events, and its individual components. Cox proportional hazards model with propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs.Results From the dual and triple therapy cohorts, 5830 metformin+evogliptin users and 2198 metformin+sulfonylurea+evogliptin users were identified, respectively. Metformin+evogliptin users, as compared with metformin+non-DPP4i, had a 29% reduced risk of cardiovascular events (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.82); HRs for individual outcomes were cerebrovascular events (0.71, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.95), heart failure (0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.82), myocardial infarction (0.89, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.31). Metformin+sulfonylurea+evogliptin users, compared with metformin+sulfonylurea+non-DPP4i, had a 24% reduced risk of cardiovascular events (0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.97); HRs for individual outcomes were myocardial infarction (0.57, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.19), heart failure (0.74, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.01), cerebrovascular events (0.96, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.51).Conclusions These findings suggest that dual or triple therapies of evogliptin for the management of type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice present no cardiovascular harms, but could alternatively offer cardiovascular benefits in this patient population.

The fungus genus Xylaria is an important source of drug discoveries in scientific fields and in the pharmaceutical industry due to its potential to produce a variety of structured novel and bioactive secondary metabolites. This review prioritizes the structures of the secondary metabolites of Xylaria spp. from 1994 to January 2024 and their relevant biological activities. A total of 445 new compounds, including terpenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, polyketides, lactones, and other classes, are presented in this review. Remarkably, among these compounds, 177 compounds show various biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunosuppressive, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This paper will guide further investigations into the structures of novel and potent active natural products derived from Xylaria and their potential contributions to the future development of new natural drug products in the agricultural and medicinal fields.

The ever-growing sample of observed supernovae (SNe) enhances our capacity for comprehensive SN population studies, providing a richer data set for understanding the diverse characteristics of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and possibly those of their progenitors. Here, we present a data-driven analysis of observed SN Ia photometric light curves collected in the Open Supernova Catalog. Where available, we add the environmental information from the host galaxy. We focus on identifying subclasses of SNe Ia without imposing the predefined subclasses found in the literature to date. To do so, we employ an implicit rank-minimizing autoencoder neural network for developing low-dimensional data representations, providing a compact representation of the SN light-curve diversity. When we analyze light curves alone, we find that one of our resulting latent variables is strongly correlated with redshift, allowing us to approximately “de-redshift” the other latent variables describing each event. After doing so, we find that three of our latent variables account for ∼95% of the variance in our sample, and provide a natural separation between 91T and 91bg thermonuclear SNe. Of note, the 02cx subclass is not unambiguously delineated from the 91bg sample in our results, nor do either the overluminous 91T or the underluminous 91bg/02cx samples form a clearly distinct population from the broader sample of “other” SN Ia events. We identify the physical characteristics of SN light curves that best distinguish SNe 91T from SNe 91bg and 02cx, and discuss prospects for future refinements and applications to other classes of SNe as well as other transients.

This paper explores the distribution and features of residual stresses formed by super duplex stainless steel pipe welding. Experimental investigations, which encompass an elevated temperature tensile test and metallographic observation along with a hardness test and residual stress measurement, were first conducted to obtain the mechanical properties at high base metal temperatures and to confirm whether or not the duplex stainless steel undergoes martensitic phase development during the welding process. Finally, experiments were performed to scrutinize the residual stress evolution through the metallurgical phase transformation in the weld region and its vicinity. A sequentially coupled 3D thermal, mechanical and metallurgical finite element (FE) model capable of incorporating the experimental consequences was established next. A 3D FE simulation of the girth welding process was conducted, and the axial and hoop residual stress profiles along the girth were evaluated. The results substantiate that martensitic phase evolution occurs in the process of cooling during the welding of super duplex stainless steel, and they also highlight the significance of taking the metallurgical phase transformation into account in the numerical reproduction of the girth welding process for the accurate expression of weld-induced residual stresses, which is especially important for precisely predicting hoop residual stresses.

Magnetic frustration is a route for novel ground states, including spin liquids and spin ices. Such frustration can be introduced through either lattice geometry or incompatible exchange interactions. Here, we find that epitaxial strain is an effective tool for tuning antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in a square-lattice system. By studying the magnon excitations in La2NiO4 films using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, we show that the magnon displays substantial dispersion along the antiferromagnetic zone boundary, at energies that depend on the lattice of the film's substrate. Using first principles simulations and an effective spin model, we demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbour coupling is a consequence of the two-orbital nature of La2NiO4. Altogether, we illustrate that compressive epitaxial strain enhances this coupling and, as a result, increases the level of incompatibility between exchange interactions within a model square-lattice system. Frustration in magnetic systems may lead to exotic quantum phases such as spin liquid and spin ice state. Here the authors demonstrate that compressive epitaxial strain in La2NiO4 films deposited on different substrates can tune antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and increase the degree of frustration through the increased level of incompatibility between exchange interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simple syndactyly is a common congenital upper extremity difference. Traditional reconstructive approaches utilize skin grafts; however, recent studies suggest skin graftless techniques may improve outcomes. We hypothesized that patients who underwent reconstruction with a skin graftless dorsal metacarpal island VY advancement flap would have fewer postoperative complications compared to those released with a dorsal rectangular flap with skin grafts., Methods: Patients 0-17 years of age presenting for primary reconstruction of simple syndactyly were retrospectively analyzed at a large pediatric hospital. Medical records were identified using ICD-9/10 codes, CPT codes, and case logs from six hand surgeons. Outcomes of interest included early postoperative complications (within 30 days) such as infection, hematoma, seroma, wound healing issues, unplanned returns to the operating room, and digit loss. Late complications (greater than 30 days) included web creep and development of pathologic scar formation., Results: In total, 213 syndactyly repairs from 153 patients were analyzed (rectangular=94 webspaces, 58 patients; VY=119 webspaces, 95 patients). The rectangular group had significantly more early complications (p=0.04). The rectangular group had significantly higher incidences of web creep and hypertrophic scarring (19.3% vs 1.8%, p<0.001; 19.1% vs 5.9%, p=0.003, respectively). The rectangular flap with skin grafts was the only variable predictive of web creep and hypertrophic scar formation on regression analysis (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). Subgroup analyses of syndromic and nonsyndromic cases and incomplete and complete cases mirrored overall cohort results., Conclusion: Simple syndactyly releases with the skin graftless technique produces fewer complications compared to the traditional approach with skin grafts., Competing Interests: Financial Disclosures: Dr. Shaun D. Mendenhall is an educational consultant for PolyNovo, which unrelated to the content of this article. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

This study explores motor cortex stimulation (MCS) as a treatment for Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS)-related neuralgia, which often persists despite traditional therapies. A 68-year-old patient with RHS experienced significant pain and sensory relief after MCS, after ineffective conventional treatments. MCS enhances neural plasticity, offering a promising alternative for managing intractable neuralgia and sensory disturbances in RHS patients. This case underscores MCS's potential efficacy, advocating for further research into its broader application and benefits for RHS-related pain management., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Using Latent Profile Analysis, this study explored the connections between different marginalization profiles and perceptions of decent work among rural primary school teachers in China. Analyzing data from 443 teachers across seven rural primary schools in Fujian Province, we discerned three unique marginalization profiles: Robust Adapters (n = 182, 41 %), Challenge Facers (n = 210, 47 %), and Conditioned Survivors (n = 51, 12 %). These profiles were examined for their links to decent work dimensions. Findings indicated that the Robust Adapters significantly outperformed both the Challenge Facers and Conditioned Survivors across all five dimensions of decent work. In contrast, there were no significant differences between the performances of the Challenge Facers and Conditioned Survivors in these dimensions, which indicated that more marginalization was not inevitably linked to less decent work. The study concluded by discussing the implications of these findings and the directions of future research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The study was performed by the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the first authors' University Ethics Board committee. The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Parkinson's disease confronts challenges in drug delivery due to the blood-brain barrier. Intranasal delivery bypasses the blood-brain barrier for improved drug bioavailability, yet narrow nasal space and brief retention time hinder clinical applicability. We conducted a Bromocriptine Mesylate-loaded PLGA nanoparticles co-modified with low molecular weight protamine (LMWP) and lactoferrin (Lf) (LMWP/Lf-BCM-NPs) for nose-to-brain delivery. The resulting LMWP/Lf-BCM-NPs were uniform spheres with an average size of 248.53 ± 16.25 nm and zeta potential of -2.63 ± 0.74 mV. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed LMWP and Lf attachment. The co-modified nanoparticles showed improving cellular transport and good viability. The LMWP/Lf-BCM-NPs showed increased brain targeting efficiency in mice. In haloperidol-induced Parkinson mouse models, the LMWP/Lf-BCM-NPs showed increased brain targeting efficiency, enhanced behavioral regulatory effects, enhanced antioxidant effects and neuroprotection effects. This study paves the way for a novel, non-invasive brain-targeted therapy, offering a promising avenue for Parkinson's disease clinical treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of NIPT-plus in detecting fetal aneuploidies and CNVs and analyze the factors influencing adverse pregnancy outcomes., Methods: The retrospectively analyzed 8726 pregnant women who underwent NIPT-plus for fetal screening were classified into low- (who tested voluntarily) and high-risk (women with advanced age, abnormal ultrasound, abnormal serological screening, or a combination of indications) groups. Basic maternal information, prenatal findings, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. NIPT-plus performance was assessed for various chromosomal abnormalities and the association between the fetal fraction and adverse pregnancy outcomes., Results: Thirty-six (0.4%) patients had failed tests; 144 (1.65%) positive cases were detected, of which, 107 (74.31%) opted for invasive testing, and 51 were verified as true positives. The total positive predictive value was 45.45% and 48.65% in the low- and high-risk groups, respectively, and the difference was not significant. Among the subsequent cases with abnormal ultrasound monitoring, two false-negative cases were identified, and pathogenic CNV diagnosis was confirmed through amniocentesis, resulting in pregnancy termination. Fetal fraction was not associated with an increased adverse pregnancy outcome risk; however, ethnic differences may affect pregnancy outcomes., Conclusion: NIPT-plus technology use is no longer restricted to high-risk pregnant women, and it may produce false-positive results. The stakeholders should be aware of this limitation. The uncertainties and potential risks of the test results should be explained to the test takers to enable informed decision making and to minimize unnecessary anxiety and concerns. Ethnicity may influence adverse pregnancy outcomes in local multiracial settings., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to declare. Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Urumqi Maternal and Child Health Hospital (XJFYLL202215). Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants included in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background & Aims: Optimizing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can enhance treatment efficacy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study compares modified TACE (M-TACE), which combines a lipiodol-based emulsion and drug-eluting beads, with drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) as initial therapies for solitary HCC., Methods: In this retrospective study, 185 patients undergoing M-TACE or DEB-TACE were evaluated. Propensity score matching was used to create 69 balanced pairs. Initial tumor response, repeated treatments within six months, local tumor progression (LTP), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed., Results: M-TACE exhibited significantly higher initial complete response (CR) rates (39.1% vs. 23.2%, p  = 0.043) and fewer repeated treatments within six months (1.7 ± 0.9 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7; p  = 0.033) compared to DEB-TACE. LTP rates were notably lower with M-TACE at 12 months (39.1% vs. 65.2%, p  = 0.002), and median time to LTP was prolonged with M-TACE (13.3 vs. 8.2 months, p  = 0.038). Stratified analysis revealed a significantly longer OS in individuals achieving a CR after the initial M-TACE (50.5 vs. 33.4 months, p  = 0.043). However, the overall study population did not exhibit a significant difference in OS between the two groups. Comparable AEs (all p  > 0.05) were observed., Conclusions: M-TACE showed higher initial CR rates, lower LTP rates, and extended time to LTP compared to DEB-TACE, indicating its potential to enhance TACE effectiveness for solitary HCC.

Bioaspermeroterpenoid A (1), the first meroterpenoid with an unprecedented hexadecahydroacephenanthrylene carbon skeleton, together with two analogues bioaspermeroterpenoids B and C (2 and 3) were co-isolated from the biotransformation extract of aspermeroterpene C by the fungus Penicillium herquei GZU-31-6. On the other hand, bioaspermeroterpenoid Aa (1a) featuring the same hexadecahydroacephenanthrylene carbon skeleton was synthesized from the precursor aspermeroterpene C by the nucleophilic addition reaction in the presence of CH 3 ONa. Furthermore, bioaspermeroterpenoids A and C showed good inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC 50 values of 26.08 and 7.50 µM, respectively, compared to the positive control (Indomethacin, IC 50 24.1 µM). Especially, bioaspermeroterpenoids A and C also significantly suppressed the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 at the concentration of 12.5 μM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hui Cui reports was provided by Hui Cui. Hui Cui reports a relationship with Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine that includes: non-financial support. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Web creep and scar contracture are established complications of syndactyly reconstruction; however, few reports characterize risk factors for revision surgery. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the rate and risk factors of reoperation for congenital hand syndactyly., Methods: Patients undergoing syndactyly reconstruction from 2007 to 2021 at a single children's hospital were reviewed. Cases with less than 1 year of follow-up were excluded. Demographic, surgical, and outcomes data were recorded by each web space to account for mixed treatments., Results: In total, 514 web spaces in 231 children were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 6.0 years after primary reconstruction; 66 (12.8%) web spaces in 51 (22.1%) children underwent revision. The most common procedures were web space deepening due to web creep (57.9% of cases) and digital scar contracture release (45.6%); these were augmented in a minority (17.5%) of cases by other aesthetic/functional procedures. Revisions occurred at a median of 1.7 years after primary reconstruction. First web spaces (thumb-index finger) were most frequently reoperated (33.3%). On multivariable analysis, first web space involvement, complete syndactyly, and complications after the primary reconstruction significantly increased odds of revision. Age at primary reconstruction was not a significant predictor. Following revision, 10.5% of cases had recurrent web creep, and 14.0% had recurrent scar contracture. Eight (1.6%) web spaces in seven (3.0%) children required multiple revisions., Conclusions: Approximately 13% of syndactyly reconstructions (22% of patients) require reoperation. Most revisions occur within 4 years of primary reconstruction. Complete syndactyly, complications after the primary reconstruction, and first web space involvement increase the risk of revision; age at primary reconstruction is not a risk factor. Revision outcomes mirror the index procedure, with 10% to 14% of revised web spaces experiencing recurrent web creep or contracture., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly to this article., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Over 60,000 patients in the United Kingdom are estimated to have artificial eyes. Manufacturing and hand-painting of artificial eyes have not changed significantly since 1948. Delays and colour-matching issues may severely impact a patient's rehabilitation pathway. Technology advances mean alternatives are now possible. This cross-over, randomised feasibility trial aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale trial of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of digitally-printed artificial eyes compared to hand-painted., Subjects/methods: Patients aged ≥18 years who were longstanding artificial eye users requiring a replacement were randomised to receive either a hand-painted or digitally-printed eye first followed by the other type of eye. Participants were asked to approach a close contact (CC) willing to participate alongside them. A subset of participants, their CCs, and staff were interviewed about their opinions on trial procedures, artificial eyes, delivery times and satisfaction., Results: Thirty-five participants were randomised and 10 CCs consented. Participant retention at final follow-up was 85.7%. Outcome data completion rates ranged from 91-100%. EQ-5D-5L completion ranged from 83-97%. Resource-use completion ranged from 0-94% with total costs at £347 for hand-painted and £404 for digitally-printed eye. There were two adverse events. Twelve participants, five CCs, and five staff were interviewed. There were positive and negative features of both types of eyes. We identified that social and psychological wellbeing is affected, often for many years after eye removal. Participation in the feasibility study was well accepted., Conclusions: The feasibility study outcomes indicate that a full trial is achievable., Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN85921622., Competing Interests: Competing interests: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme [Grant Reference Number NIHR201559]. All authors, with the exception of MT, have a proportion of their salaries covered by the research funding received. Ethical approval: Ethical approval was granted by North West—Haydock on 09th June 2021 (Reference 21/NW/0150). The trial has been registered on ISRCTN (registration number: ISRCTN85921622) on 17th June 2021., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Traditional oxide electrocatalytic materials encounter significant challenges associated with sluggish reaction kinetics and formidable energy barriers for NH intermediates formation in electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation. The implementation of phase control emerges as an effective strategy to address these challenges. Herein, leveraging the energy localization of laser, this work achieved precise phase control of TiO 2 . In the optimized material system, the rutile phase TiO 2 facilitates nitrogen adsorption, while the anatase phase TiO 2 provides proton sources and active oxygen species. The synergistic effect of the two phases effectively enhances the electrocatalytic activity for nitrogen reduction and oxidation, with an ammonia yield reaching ∼22.3 μg h - 1 cm - 2 and a nitrate yield reaching ∼60.9 μg h - 1 cm - 2 . Furthermore, a coupled dual-electrode system with mixed-phase titanium dioxide as both the anode and cathode successfully achieved a breakthrough in electrochemical overall nitrogen fixation. This laser precision control strategy for manipulating phase sites lays the groundwork for designing efficient catalysts for energy conversion and even energy storage nanomaterials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The time-consuming process of manual contouring of healthy tissue and organs in radiation therapy has prompted the development of computational systems to aid and automate this process, such as artificial intelligence (AI) segmentation and interpolation algorithms. These algorithms are useful in saving time, however, they are not always accurate. Fixing such inaccuracies by editing contours is a manual, time-consuming process as no 'undo' feature currently exists in the most commonly used treatment planning system (TPS). In this short technical report, we present our script for automated de-interpolation to enable faster editing of contours to streamline the adoption of AI-assisted methodologies to enhance clinical workflow., Competing Interests: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: Colin Yeo was a fellow in the USC/CHLA Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF) Program, supported in part by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25CA225513 and by the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Concern Foundation for Cancer Research, Curing Kids Cancer, and Tri Delta. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health., (Copyright © 2024, Karnwal et al.)

Background: External and internal head and neck cancer related lymphedema (HNCRL) is a common consequence of radiation treatment (RT). Currently, internal HNCRL can be clinically assessed endoscopically using a visuoperceptual, ordinal rating scale. Use of fluoroscopy to identify and measure internal HNCRL has been explored but is not widely used in clinical practice. Advanced Pneumatic Compression (APC) has shown external HNCRL reduction after a single treatment, whereas internal HNCRL reduction has not yet been assessed., Methods: Fluoroscopic lateral scouts and TIMS Review software (TIMS Medical) were used to assess immediate internal HNCRL measures of 30 HNC patients with RT history following a single APC treatment. Pre and post external measures were also obtained. Paired t-test was used to assess changes in pre and post measures. A post-treatment survey was completed., Results: All 30 patients had both immediate external and internal HNCRL reductions, and all reductions were statistically significant. All reported positive benefit., Conclusions: A single, external APC treatment immediately impacted the extent of pharyngeal and laryngeal edema in post-radiated HNC survivors. Fluoroscopy can be a clinically useful and complementary modality to detect, surveil, and measure internal HNCRL., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The elimination of the β-emitting pertechnetate ion ( 99 TcO 4 - ) from highly alkaline tank waste poses a daunting challenge that is of great significance for nuclear safety and environmental protection. Herein, we report a strategy to fabricate an alkaline-stable porous resin (PANPEI-MeCl) that features hyperbranched quaternary amine groups grafted on the surface and confined within the pores of a superhydrophobic polymer matrix synthesized by a one-pot method, exhibiting a clear superiority both in adsorption kinetics and efficiency compared with available commercial anion-exchange resins applying to 99 TcO 4 - capture. Notably, the alkaline stability of the resin can be improved by manipulating the length of side chain alkyl groups, and it shows ultrahigh structural integrity and prominent performance toward acid/alkaline soaking, high-temperature calcination procedures, and high doses of ionizing radiation. Encouraged by its excellent peculiarity, PANPEI-MeCl can continuously capture most of the ReO 4 - from the simulated radioactive waste by using a sequential injection automatic separation system.

Introduction: Karyotyping and chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) are the two main prenatal diagnostic techniques currently used for genetic testing. We aimed to evaluate the value of chromosomal karyotyping and CMA for different prenatal indications., Methods: A total of 2084 amniocentesis samples from pregnant women who underwent prenatal diagnosis from 16 to 22 + 6 weeks of gestation between January 2021 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected. The pregnant women were classified according to different prenatal diagnostic indications and underwent CMA and karyotype analysis. Clinical data were collected, and the results of the CMA and karyotype analysis were statistically analyzed to compare the effects of the two diagnostic techniques., Results: The total detection rate of abnormal chromosomes was significantly higher using CMA than karyotype analysis. The detection rate of abnormal chromosomes using CMA was significantly higher than that using karyotyping for ultrasound abnormalities, high-risk serologic screening, adverse pregnancy history, positive noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) screening, and ultrasound abnormalities combined with adverse pregnancy history indications. Among the fetuses with inconsistent results between the two testing methods, 144 had an abnormal CMA but a normal karyotype, with the highest percentage of pregnant women with ultrasound abnormalities at 38.89% (56/144). CMA had the highest detection rate for structural abnormalities combined with soft-index abnormalities among all ultrasound abnormalities. The highest detection rate of copy number variants in the group of structural abnormalities in a single system was in the genitourinary system (3/29, 10.34%)., Conclusion: CMA can improve the detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with ultrasound abnormalities, high-risk serologic screening, adverse maternal history, positive NIPT screening, and ultrasound abnormalities combined with adverse maternal history and can increase the detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities in karyotypic normality by 6.91% (144/2,084), this result is higher than similar studies. However, karyotype analysis remains advantageous over CMA regarding balanced chromosomal rearrangement and detection of low-level chimeras, and the combination of the two methods is more helpful in improving the detection rate of prenatal chromosomal abnormalities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xue, Liu, Wang, Zhang, Chang, Ding and Dai.)