Search

Renal recovery following dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (AKI-D) is a vital clinical outcome in critical care, yet it remains an understudied area. This retrospective cohort study, conducted in a medical center in Taiwan from 2015 to 2020, enrolled patients with AKI-D during intensive care unit stays. We aimed to develop and temporally test models for predicting dialysis liberation before hospital discharge using machine learning algorithms and explore early predictors. The dataset comprised 90 routinely collected variables within the first three days of dialysis initiation. Out of 1,381 patients who received acute dialysis, 27.3% experienced renal recovery. The cohort was divided into the training group (N = 1135) and temporal testing group (N = 251). The models demonstrated good performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81–0.88) and an area under the precision-recall curve of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.62–0.76) for the XGBoost model. Key predictors included urine volume, Charlson comorbidity index, vital sign derivatives (trend of respiratory rate and SpO2), and lactate levels. We successfully developed early prediction models for renal recovery by integrating early changes in vital signs and inputs/outputs, which have the potential to aid clinical decision-making in the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the healthcare utilization and medical expenditure of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and identified the associated factors. The healthcare utilization and expenditure of T2DM patients with (case group) and without (control group) GAD between 2002 and 2013 were examined using the population-based Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Healthcare utilization included outpatient visits and hospitalization; health expenditure included outpatient, inpatient, and total medical expenditure. Moreover, nonpsychiatric healthcare utilization and medical expenditure were distinguished from total healthcare utilization and medical expenditure. The average healthcare utilization, including outpatient visits and hospitalization, was significantly higher for the case group than for the control group (total and nonpsychiatric). The results regarding differences in average outpatient expenditure (total and nonpsychiatric), inpatient expenditure (total and nonpsychiatric), and total expenditure (total and nonpsychiatric) between the case and control groups are inconsistent. Sex, age, income, comorbidities/complications, and the diabetes mellitus complication severity index were significantly associated with outpatient visits, medical expenditure, and hospitalization in the case group (total and nonpsychiatric). Greater knowledge of factors affecting healthcare utilization and expenditure in comorbid individuals may help healthcare providers intervene to improve patient management and possibly reduce the healthcare burden in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms are essential regulators of a multitude of physiological and behavioral processes, such as the metabolism and function of the liver. Circadian rhythms are crucial to liver homeostasis, as the liver is a key metabolic organ accountable for the systemic equilibrium of the body. Circadian rhythm disruption alone is sufficient to cause liver cancer through the maintenance of hepatic metabolic disorder. Although there is evidence linking CRD to hepatocarcinogenesis, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the circadian crosstalk that leads to hepatocellular carcinoma remain unknown. The expression of CRD-related genes in HCC was investigated in this study via bulk RNA transcriptomic analysis and single-cell sequencing. Dysregulated CRD-related genes are predominantly found in hepatocytes and fibroblasts, according to the findings. By using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing analyses, the dysregulated CRD-related genes ADAMTS13, BIRC5, IGFBP3, MARCO, MT2A, NNMT, and PGLYRP2 were identified. The survival analysis using the Kaplan–Meier method revealed a significant correlation between the expression levels of BIRC5 and IGFBP3 and the survival of patients diagnosed with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The synchronization process of yak estrus plays a crucial role in enhancing the reproductive success rate of yaks and safeguarding the continuation of the species. Metabolomics, a branch of bio-chemistry, primarily focuses on the quantitative analysis of all metabolites within an organism, aiming to identify the relative relationships between metabolites and physiological changes. It serves as a valuable tool for delving into the molecular mechanisms and responses of metabolic pathways under various perturbations. In this study, metabolomics methods were utilized to analyze blood samples collected from non-estrus yaks as well as those that underwent hormonally induced synchronized estrus to identify differential metabolites. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the optimization and application of synchronized estrus technology in yaks, promoting the healthy development of the yak industry. The yak is a unique species of livestock found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas. Due to factors such as late sexual maturity and a low rate of estrus, its reproductive efficiency is relatively low. The process of estrus synchronization in yaks plays a crucial role in enhancing their reproductive success and ensuring the continuation of their species. In order to clarify the characteristics of the serum metabolites of yak estrus synchronization, the yaks with inactive ovaries were compared with the estrus synchronization yaks. In this study, yaks were divided into the inactive ovaries group (IO), gonarelin-induced yak estrus group (GnRH), and chloprostenol sodium-induced yak estrus group (PGF). After the completion of the estrus synchronization treatment, blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of the non-estrus yaks in the control group and the yaks with obvious estrus characteristics in the GnRH and PGF groups. Metabolites were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and differential metabolites were screened by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that a total of 70 significant differential metabolites were screened and identified in the GnRH vs. IO group, and 77 significant differential metabolites were screened and identified in the PGF vs. IO group. Compared with non-estrus yaks, 36 common significant differential metabolites were screened out after the induction of yak estrus by gonarelin (GnRH) and cloprostenol sodium (PGF), which were significantly enriched in signaling pathways such as the beta oxidation of very long chain fatty acids, bile acid biosynthesis, oxidation of branched chain fatty acids, steroidogenesis, steroid biosynthesis, and arginine and proline metabolism. This study analyzed the effects of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandin F (PGF) on the reproductive performance of yaks treated with estrus synchronization, which provides a theoretical basis for the optimization and application of yak estrus synchronization technology and promotes the healthy development of the yak industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the sharing mode selection and optimal pricing for an electric vehicle manufacturer (EVM). We evaluate three sharing modes, i.e. Mode N, car sales business only, Mode S, car sales business and car-sharing service provided by a self-built sharing platform, and Mode T, car sales business and car-sharing service provided by a third-party sharing platform. Further, we consider two types of government subsidy policies: purchase and production subsidies. We find that for purchase subsidies, the EVM should select Mode S if the transaction cost per sharing service is low, and select Mode T otherwise; for production subsidies, the EVM should select Mode S. Regardless of the subsidy policy, the optimal sales prices of EVs under Mode N and Mode S are the same, but both are lower than that under Mode T. The optimal rental price of EVs under Mode S is lower than that under Mode T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the continuing education requirements and factors influencing school nurses' needs in relation to medication administration on school campuses. Design: A total of 391 school nurses working in K‐12 schools in Taiwan were invited to participate in an online questionnaire survey. Methods: This cross‐sectional study employed a probability proportionate to size technique along with a random sampling method. Data were collected from February to April 2023. Results: School nurses reported a significant demand for continuing education and perceived moderate levels of stress and government support related to medication administration. Among the various dimensions, the highest demand was observed for 'definition of campus medication errors' and 'regulations for campus medical orders.' Moreover, the 'identifying drug interactions' and 'adverse drug effects and referrals' dimensions were identified as the most stressful aspects. Notably, perceived stress emerged as the sole predictive factor for continuing education demand, accounting for 16.1% of the variance. Conclusions: The study found that there was a significant demand for and moderate stress related to continuing education among school nurses. Therefore, it is crucial for the government and school nursing organizations to develop targeted programs focusing on medication administration. These initiatives should be designed to enhance nurses' capabilities and reduce their stress, thereby ensuring safe medication administration on campuses. Impact: Continuing education enables school nurses to acquire up‐to‐date knowledge and improve the workflow in their practice. This study highlights a strong need for education in medication administration with a focus on 'campus medication error definitions' and 'campus medical order regulations.' The government and relevant school nursing organizations should prioritize the development and implementation of continuing education programs to decrease the school nurses' stress related to medication administration. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. Reporting Method: This study adhered to the relevant cross‐sectional EQUATOR STROBE guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of neutron star mass and radius or tidal deformability deliver unique insight into the equation of state (EOS) of cold dense matter. EOS inference is very often done using generalized parametric or non-parametric models, which deliver no information on composition. In this paper, we consider a microscopic nuclear EOS model based on a field theoretical approach. We show that current measurements from NICER and gravitational wave observations constrain primarily the symmetric nuclear matter EOS. We then explore what could be delivered by measurements of mass and radius at the level anticipated for future large-area X-ray timing telescopes. These should be able to place very strong limits on the symmetric nuclear matter EOS, in addition to constraining the nuclear symmetry energy that determines the proton fraction inside the neutron star. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary At present, many DNA logic circuits have been successfully constructed. However, advanced complex DNA computing tasks with simple structure, fast response, and modularization still remain a huge challenge. In this paper, molecular switch circuits (MSCs) are constructed based on DNA strand displacement to improve above problems. At first, molecular switch is constructed, which is the basic element for building logic circuits. Next, the functions of AND, OR, Fan‐in, and Fan‐out are realized through switches cascading in series or parallel. Furthermore, switch canvas strategy is explored to obtain the shortest reaction path and highest output concentration for circuits. Finally, a novel strategy of integrating computing module using molecular switches is proposed. Here, we construct a half‐adder, half‐subtractor, and a 9‐bit parity checking circuits to verify its feasibility. Compared with the classical monorail and dual‐track logic circuits, the structure scale is reduced by more than two times, and the DNA strands are decreased by more than four times, which effectively reduces the circuit complexity and raises the reaction speed. The above results show that MSC strategy has a great potential to construct large‐scale DNA circuits and provides a development model for the scalability and modularity of biological computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining background aerosol optical depth threshold value (BAOD) is critical to aerosol type identification and air pollution control. This study presents a statistical method to select the best BAOD threshold value using the VIIRS DB AOD products at 1 × 1 degree resolution from 2012 to 2019 as a major testbed. A series of multiple lognormal distributions with 1 to 5 peaks are firstly applied to fit the AOD histogram at each grid point, and the distribution with the highest correlation coefficient (R) gives preliminary estimations of BAOD, which is defined as either the intersection point of the first two normal distribution curves when having multiple peaks, or the midpoint between the peak AOD and the first AOD with non-zero probability when the mono peak is the best fit. Then, the lowest 1st to 100th percentile AOD distributions are compared with the preliminary BAOD distribution on a global scale. The final BAOD is obtained from the best cutoff percentile AOD distributions with the lowest bias compared with preliminary BAOD. Results show that the lowest 30th percentile AOD is the best estimation of BAOD for different AOD datasets and different seasons. Analysis of aerosol chemical information from MERRA-2 further supports this selection. Based on the BAOD, we updated the VIIRS aerosol type classification scheme, and the results show that the updated scheme is able to achieve reliable detection of aerosol type change in low aerosol loading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic significance of high-frequency ultrasound combined with visual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) in the diagnosis and management of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients diagnosed with SSc and normal volunteers were recruited and divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group, respectively. The skin thickness at six sites was assessed using high-frequency ultrasound, and the shear wave velocity (SWV) was determined using the VTIQ method. The differences in skin thickness and SWV between the experimental group and the control group were compared and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. The value of high-frequency ultrasound, VTIQ, and high-frequency ultrasound combined with VTIQ for evaluating skin involvement in SSc was determined. The difference in SWV sum at six sites and the thickness sum was statistically significant (all p = 0.000 < 0.05) from that of the control group, and there was a strong association between the SWV sum, thickness sum, and Rodnan skin score at the six sites in the experimental group (p = 0.000, r = 0.726; p = 0.000, r = 0.679). Based on the ROC curve, the area under the curve (AUC) for high-frequency ultrasound examination was 0.789. The AUC for VTIQ examination was 0.893, while the AUC for high-frequency ultrasound combined with VTIQ examination was 0.923. The combined examination method showed the highest AUC, indicating the best diagnostic performance. The integration of high-frequency ultrasound and VTIQ provides a quantitative approach for assessing the extent of skin involvement in SSc patients, offering valuable insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a type of heavy metal ion, lead ions can pollute the environment and endanger human health, and thus, research on the detection of lead ions is crucial. In this study, a simple fluorescent biosensor based on lead ion-DNAzyme (Pb-enzyme) cleavage and a hemin/carbon quantum dot complex for the detection of lead ions was fabricated. Magnetic beads were linked to a substrate chain modified by adenosine ribonucleotide (Pb-substrate) via avidin-biotin interaction, Pb-enzyme bound Pb-substrate, and multifunctional magnetic beads were prepared. Carbon quantum dots were prepared from grapefruit peel (G-CQDs) and were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet and visible absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. The results indicated that the average particle size of G-CQDs was 2.41 nm, and G-CQDs emitted a bright blue color under ultraviolet irradiation at a wavelength of 350 nm. However, the fluorescence of G-CQDs could be quenched by hemin. When a G-quadruplex was combined with hemin, the fluorescence of hemin/G-CQDs was recovered. In the presence of lead ions, the cleavage activity of the Pb-enzyme was induced, the Pb-substrate strand was cleaved at the modification site, and a single-stranded DNA was released. The single-stranded DNA bound to a hairpin probe, and G-rich sequences of the hairpin probe formed a G-quadruplex, which could restore the fluorescence of hemin/G-CQDs. This fluorescent biosensor exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity, with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 5 nM, for lead ions. Moreover, the fluorescent biosensor can be further used to test water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops has escalated concerns about their safety and ethical implications, underscoring the need for efficient GM crop detection methods. Conventional detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, can be costly, lab-bound, and time-consuming. To overcome these challenges, we have developed RapiSense, a cost-effective, portable, and sensitive biosensor platform. This sensor generates a measurable voltage shift (0.1–1 V) in the system's current-voltage characteristics, triggered by an increase in membrane's negative charge upon hybridization of DNA/RNA targets with a specific DNA probe. Probes designed to identify the herbicide resistance gene hygromycin phosphotransferase show a detection range from ∼1 nM to ∼10 μM and can discriminate between complementary, non-specific, and mismatched nucleotide targets. The incorporation of a small membrane sensor to detect fragmented RNA samples substantially improve the platform's sensitivity. In this study, RapiSense has been effectively used to detect specific DNA and fragmented RNA in transgenic variants of Arabidopsis, sweet potato, and rice, showcasing its potential for rapid, on-site GM crop screening. • Accelerated GM plant detection with anion exchange membrane-based nucleic acid sensor. • Improved sensitivity with small membrane sensor integration to detect fragmented RNA. • The RapiSense prototype device is easy-to-operate, portable, and time-efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every once in a while, a revolutionary technological development arises, which leads to a significant change in the way to approach research and push development efforts. The appetite for new technology compels society to look for game‐changing materials, that can transform the industry and make advances. Sustainable energy production is paramount to addressing the climate crisis, and energy generation and storage play an important role in the development of self‐powered microelectronic devices. The 2D materials, MXenes have emerged as promising candidates for energy and other applications owing to their inherent electrical merits, high specific surface area, and tunable properties. Particularly, in the context of additive and interfacial materials for perovskite solar cell fabrication and utilization as additives in secondary batteries, this review delves into the application of MXenes in such devices. The protocols of MXenes and their nanostructures tailoring toward such applications and, the underlying mechanism is uncovered. Further, the existing challenges and direction for future in MXene‐based energy harvesters are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer significantly impairs exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has demonstrated positive effects on exercise capacity and HRQL in lung cancer patients. However, its impact on cardiopulmonary function needs further exploration. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of PR on cardiopulmonary function, exercise capacity and HRQL in patients with lung cancer. Methods: Patients with lung cancer were enrolled in a 12-week PR program. Each participant underwent a thorough evaluation, which included spirometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, respiratory muscle strength test, and evaluation of HRQL using the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT). Results: Fifty-six patients completed the PR program. Following PR, exercise capacity significantly improved, as evidenced by increased peak oxygen uptake and work rate (both p < 0.05). Exertional symptoms were notably reduced, including leg soreness and dyspnea at peak exercise, accompanied by a decrease in the CAT score (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, improvements in cardiopulmonary function were observed, encompassing respiratory muscle strength, ventilatory equivalent, tidal volume, stroke volume index, and cardiac index at peak exercise (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: PR demonstrated notable enhancements in cardiopulmonary function, exertional symptoms, exercise capacity, and HRQL in patients with lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractScar tissue is connective tissue formed on the wound during the wound-healing process. The most significant distinction between scar tissue and normal tissue is the appearance of covalent cross-linking and the amount of collagen fibers in the tissue. This study investigates the efficacy of four types of collagen scaffolds in promoting wound healing and regeneration in a Sprague-Dawley murine model—the histomorphology analysis of collagen scaffolds and developing a deep learning model for accurate tissue classification. Four female rats (n = 24) groups received collagen scaffolds prepared through physical and chemical crosslinking. Wound healing progress was evaluated by monitoring granulation tissue formation, collagen matrix organization, and collagen fiber deposition, with histological scoring for quantification—the EDC and HA groups demonstrated enhanced tissue regeneration. The EDC and HA groups observed significant differences in wound regeneration outcomes. Deep-learning CNN models with data augmentation techniques were used for image analysis to enhance objectivity. The CNN architecture featured pre-trained VGG16 layers and global average pooling (GAP) layers. Feature visualization using Grad-CAM heatmaps provided insights into the neural network’s focus on specific wound features. The model’s AUC score of 0.982 attests to its precision. In summary, collagen scaffolds can promote wound healing in mice, and the deep learning image analysis method we proposed may be a new method for wound healing assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthotopic allograft transplantation (OAT) is a significant approach to addressing organ failure. However, persistent immune responses to the allograft affect chronic rejection, which induces OAT vasculopathy (OATV) and organ failure. Porphyromonas gingivalis can infiltrate remote organs via the bloodstream, thereby intensifying the severity of cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. GroEL, a virulence factor of P. gingivalis promotes pro‐inflammatory cytokine production in host cells, which assumes to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Although the aggravation of OATV is attributable to numerous factors, the role of GroEL remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of GroEL on OATV. Aortic grafts extracted from PVG/Seac rats were transplanted into ACI/NKyo rats and in vitro human endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) models. The experimental findings revealed that GroEL exacerbates OATV in ACI/NKyo rats by affecting EPC and smooth muscle progenitor cell (SMPC) function and enabling the anomalous accumulation of collagen. In vitro, GroEL spurs endothelial‐mesenchymal transition in EPCs, reduces HCAEC tube formation and barrier function by downregulating junction proteins, accelerates HCAEC aging by lowering mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory function, and impedes HCAEC migration by modulating cytoskeleton‐associated molecules. This study suggests that P. gingivalis GroEL could potentially augment OATV by impacting vascular progenitor and endothelial cell functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that iDAScore is more accurate in predicting pregnancy outcomes in cycles without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) compared to KIDScore and the Gardner criteria. However, the effectiveness of iDAScore in cycles with PGT-A has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study aims to assess the association between artificial intelligence (AI)-based iDAScore (version 1.0) and pregnancy outcomes in single-embryo transfer (SET) cycles with PGT-A. Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chung Sun Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Patients undergoing SET cycles (n = 482) following PGT-A at a single reproductive center between January 2017 and June 2021. The blastocyst morphology and morphokinetics of all embryos were evaluated using a time-lapse system. The blastocysts were ranked based on the scores generated by iDAScore, which were defined as AI scores, or by KIDScore D5 (version 3.2) following the manufacturer's protocols. A single blastocyst without aneuploidy was transferred after examining the embryonic ploidy status using a next-generation sequencing-based PGT-A platform. Logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations was conducted to assess whether AI scores are associated with the probability of live birth (LB) while considering confounding factors. Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed that AI score was significantly associated with LB probability (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.037, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.632–2.542) when pulsatility index (PI) level and types of chromosomal abnormalities were controlled. Blastocysts were divided into quartiles in accordance with their AI score (group 1: 3.0–7.8; group 2: 7.9–8.6; group 3: 8.7–8.9; and group 4: 9.0–9.5). Group 1 had a lower LB rate (34.6% vs. 59.8–72.3%) and a higher rate of pregnancy loss (26% vs. 4.7–8.9%) compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis verified that the iDAScore had a significant but limited ability to predict LB (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.64); this ability was significantly weaker than that of the combination of iDAScore, type of chromosomal abnormalities, and PI level (AUC = 0.67). In the comparison of the LB groups with the non-LB groups, the AI scores were significantly lower in the non-LB groups, both for euploid (median: 8.6 vs. 8.8) and mosaic (median: 8.0 vs. 8.6) SETs. Conclusions: Although its predictive ability can be further enhanced, the AI score was significantly associated with LB probability in SET cycles. Euploid or mosaic blastocysts with low AI scores (≤ 7.8) were associated with a lower LB rate, indicating the potential of this annotation-free AI system as a decision-support tool for deselecting embryos with poor pregnancy outcomes following PGT-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the neuroimage change in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with cognitive impairments, this study investigated the correlation between plasma biomarkers and morphological brain changes in patients with normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment. The objective was to identify the potential target deposition regions of the plasma biomarkers and to search for the relevant early neuroimaging biomarkers on the basis of different cognitive domains. Methods: Structural brain MRI and diffusion weighted images were analyzed from 49 eligible PD participants (male/female: 27/22; mean age: 73.4 ± 8.5 years) from a retrospective analysis. Plasma levels of α-synuclein, amyloid beta peptide, and total tau were collected. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of the general and specific cognitive domains was performed. Difference between PD patients with normal cognition and impairment was examined. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between image-derived index and plasma biomarkers or neuropsychological assessments. Results: Significant correlation was found between plasma Aβ-42 level and fractional anisotropy of the middle occipital, angular, and middle temporal gyri of the left brain, as well as plasma T-tau level and the surface area of the isthmus or the average thickness of the posterior part of right cingulate gyrus. Visuospatial and executive function is positively correlated with axial diffusivity in bilateral cingulate gyri. Conclusion: In nondemented PD patients, the target regions for plasma deposition might be located in the cingulate, middle occipital, angular, and middle temporal gyri. Changes from multiple brain regions can be correlated to the performance of different cognitive domains. Clinical relevance statement: Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease is primarily linked to biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease rather than those related to Parkinson's disease and resembles the frontal variant of Alzheimer's disease, which may guide management strategies for cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Key Points: • Fractional anisotropy, surface area, and thickness in the cingulate, middle occipital, angular, and middle temporal gyri can be significantly correlated with plasma Aβ-42 and T-tau level. • Axial diffusivity in the cingulate gyri was correlated with visuospatial and executive function. • The pattern of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease can be similar to the frontal variant than typical Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) is a rare spectrum of acute, mucocutaneous drug reactions characterized by epidermal necrosis of the skin and mucous membranes with progressive multiorgan failure. Cutaneous presentation of SJS/TEN is similar to that of acute graft-versus-host disease, creating a diagnostic dilemma in solid-organ transplant recipients presenting with diffuse, erythematous eruptions, skin sloughing, and systemic sequelae, reflective of both diseases. This case report details a 48-year-old woman post-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) who developed a diffuse, painful, morbilliform rash with progressive desquamation, along with corresponding pathological analysis indicative of SJS/TEN. There are few documented reports of SJS/TEN in solid-organ transplant recipients, and this case illustrates successful intervention and resolution of SJS/TEN in an OLT recipient while managing intraabdominal sepsis and an episode of acute rejection. Despite its rarity, prompt diagnosis of SJS/TEN and the implementation of tailored therapeutic strategies are crucial in the care of solid-organ transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel approach has been developed to improve the robustness of the iBCIs to the changes in neural recording conditions. • This approach leverages contrastive learning and neural data augmentation to learn consistent neural-to-kinematic mapping. • Experimental results demonstrate that this approach can make iBCIs robust to recording condition changes over 83 days on one publicly available nonhuman primate dataset. • This approach outperforms the state-of-the-art iBCIs for long-term use, even when only 11.2 minutes of training data are available. • Our approach reduces the need for frequent calibration of iBCIs and the amount of time required for technicians to gather extensive annotated training data. Intracortical brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) aim to help paralyzed individuals restore their motor functions by decoding neural activity into intended movement. However, changes in neural recording conditions hinder the decoding performance of iBCIs, mainly because the neural-to-kinematic mappings shift. Conventional approaches involve either training the neural decoders using large datasets before deploying the iBCI or conducting frequent calibrations during its operation. However, collecting data for extended periods can cause user fatigue, negatively impacting the quality and consistency of neural signals. Furthermore, frequent calibration imposes a substantial computational load. This study proposes a novel approach to increase iBCIs' robustness against changing recording conditions. The approach uses three neural augmentation operators to generate augmented neural activity that mimics common recording conditions. Then, contrastive learning is used to learn latent factors by maximizing the similarity between the augmented neural activities. The learned factors are expected to remain stable despite varying recording conditions and maintain a consistent correlation with the intended movement. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed iBCI outperformed the state-of-the-art iBCIs and was robust to changing recording conditions across days for long-term use on one publicly available nonhuman primate dataset. It achieved satisfactory offline decoding performance, even when a large training dataset was unavailable. This study paves the way for reducing the need for frequent calibration of iBCIs and collecting a large amount of annotated training data. Potential future works aim to improve offline decoding performance with an ultra-small training dataset and improve the iBCIs' robustness to severely disabled electrodes. Proposed L atent F actor learning by D ata A ugmentation (LFDA) aims to increase robustness of intracortical brain-computer interfaces under changing recording conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1-polarized) play a crucial role in neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain following nerve injury. Redirecting macrophage polarization toward anti-inflammatory (M2-polarized) phenotypes offers a promising therapeutic strategy. Recognized for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, probiotics are becoming a focal point of research. This study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on macrophage polarization, nerve protection, and neuropathic pain behavior following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the median nerve. Rats received daily oral doses of L. plantarum for 28 days before and 14 days after CCI. Subsequently, behavioral and electrophysiological assessments were performed. The M1 marker CD86 levels, M2 marker CD206 levels, and concentrations of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the injured median nerve were assessed. L. plantarum administration effectively reduced neuropathic pain behavior and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio after CCI. Moreover, L. plantarum treatment increased serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels, preserved myelination of the injured median nerve, and suppressed injury-induced discharges. In CCI rats treated with L. plantarum , there was a reduction in CD86 and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, accompanied by an increase in CD206 and the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, receptors for anti-inflammatory cytokines were localized on Schwann cells, and their expression was significantly upregulated in the injured nerves of CCI rats receiving L. plantarum. In conclusion, L. plantarum shifts macrophage phenotypes from M1 to M2 by promoting the production of SCFAs and enhancing the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Ultimately, this process preserves nerve fiber integrity and impedes the onset of neuropathic pain. [Display omitted] • Peripheral nerve injury results in altered gut microbiota and neuropathic pain. • Both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines modulate macrophage phenotypes. • L. plantarum promotes SCFAs production and enhances anti-inflammatory responses. • Shifting macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes alleviates neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is crucial for anticipating the volatility of solar power output. Under clear-sky conditions, aerosols play a significant role in influencing GHI, with different types of aerosols exhibiting distinct radiation effects. In this study, we employed the Planck mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) —Informer model to forecast future GHI, utilizing historical data of AOD, meteorological parameters, and GHI as input variables. Two data-fusion schemes were proposed, and the calculation results indicate that Scheme 1, organized in the order of Xianghe—Beijing—Shangdianzi (XBS) based on the day as a unit, demonstrates superior prediction performance. Additionally, the site information was blurred, allowing for the flexible selection of input and output lengths. The calculation results remained stable and reliable, suggesting that the inclusion of fuzzy site information does not degrade the prediction effect. Building upon this, we categorized aerosols into three types based on their time span and data volume. GHI predictions for different aerosol types revealed that the mean square error (0.145) for marine aerosols were significantly lower than those for the other types. The GHI predictions for continental aerosols were closest to the true values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural polymer chitosan (CS) has gained wide attention in the field of proton exchange membrane (PEM) which is a key part and serve as the electrolyte and separator in fuel cells. Simultaneously enhancing the ionic conductivity and mechanical strength of CS faces a big challenge for its high-performance application as PEMs. In this paper, a zwitterionic compound was synthesized to functionalize one-dimensional (1D) needle-shaped palygorskite (Pal) natural clay to obtain a new acid-base zwitterion-modified nanofiller SPDA@Pal, which was subsequently added into CS to prepare a series of CS/SPDA@Pal composite PEMs. With the help of 1D geometric shape of Pal and the surface-grafted acid-base zwitterion pairs, SPDA@Pal can simultaneously play a dual role of reinforcing agent and proton conduction promoter. The tensile strength of the sample with 8% SPDA@Pal was 42.19 MPa, while the pure CS exhibited the strength of only 28.76 MPa. Moreover, the addition of 8% SPDA@Pal led to an increase of about 62% in proton conductivity and reached 51.74 mS cm−1 (80 °C). The as-prepared composite membranes comprising the natural biopolymer and modified natural clay are expected to be used as a new type of biomass-based PEMs in fuel cells. [Display omitted] • Zwitterion-modified palygorskite was incorporated in chitosan to obtain proton exchange membranes. • Modified palygorskite can play a dual role of reinforcing agent and proton conduction promoter. • The composite membrane showed a high conductivity of 51.74 mS cm−1 (80 °C). • Satisfactory mechanical strength and appropriate toughness were obtained. • Providing a new way to design biomass-based composite membranes with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let (Zn) be a supercritical branching process with immigration in an independent and identically distributed random environment. Under necessary moment conditions, we show the exact convergence rate in the central limit theorem on log Zn and establish the corresponding local limit theorem by using the moments of the natural submartingale and the convergence rates of its logarithm. By similar approach and with the help of a change of measure, we also present the so-called integrolocal theorem and integral large deviation theorem to characterize the precise asymptotics of the upper large deviations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Non-synonymous variants within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) genome are identified using whole genome sequencing. • The impact of identified variants on pyrazinamide (PZA) resistance is assessed with the protein structure model. • Amino acid variants within pncA, rpsA or panD are relevant to the PZA resistance of MTB. • Genomics-coupled proteomic analysis can be applied to predict the PZA resistance of MTB. Pyrazinamide (PZA) is considered to be a pivotal drug to shorten the treatment of both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis, but its use is challenged by the reliability of drug-susceptibility testing (DST). PZA resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is relevant to the amino acid substitution of pyrazinamidase that is responsible for the conversion of PZA to active pyrazinoic acid (POA). The single nucleotide variants (SNVs) within ribosomal protein S1 (rpsA) or aspartate decarboxylase (panD), the binding targets of POA, has been reported to drive the PZA-resistance signature of MTB. In this study, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to identify SNVs within the pncA, rpsA and panD genes in 100 clinical MTB isolates associated with DST results for PZA. The potential influence of high-confidence, interim-confidence or emerging variants on the interplay between target genes and PZA or POA was simulated computationally, and predicted with a protein structure modelling approach. The DST results showed weak agreement with the identification of high-confidence variants within the pncA gene (Cohen's kappa coefficient=0.58), the analytic results of WGS coupled with protein structure modelling on pncA mutants (Cohen's kappa coefficient=0.524) or related genes (Cohen's kappa coefficient=0.504). Taken together, these results suggest the practicable application of a genotypic-coupled bioinformatic approach to manage PZA-containing regimens for patients with MTB. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle-yak, which is the hybrid F 1 generation of cattle and yak, demonstrates better production performance compared to yak. However, there is limited research on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the muscle development of cattle-yak. To address this knowledge gap, a comprehensive transcriptomic survey of the longissimus dorsi muscle in cattle-yak was conducted. Three transcript types, namely lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs, along with protein-coding genes were characterized at two developmental stages (6 m, 18 m) of cattle-yak. The results revealed significant enrichment of these transcripts into pathways related to myoblast differentiation and muscle development signaling. Additionally, the study identified the TCONS00024465/circHIPK3-bta-miR-499- ADAMTS6 regulatory network, which may play a crucial role in the muscle development of cattle-yak by combining the transcriptome data of yak and constructing the ceRNA co-expression network. HEK 293 T cells were used to validate that TCONS00024465 and circHIPK3 are located upstream of bta-miR-499, and can competitively bind to bta-miR-499 as ceRNA. The study also verified that ADAMTS6 regulates skeletal muscle development by inhibiting myoblast proliferation, promoting myoblast differentiation, and positively regulating the apoptosis of myoblasts. Taken together, this study provides new insights into the advantages of cattle-yak production performance and offers a molecular basis for further research on muscle development. • Cattle-yak, as the hybrid animal, exhibits better production performance compared to yak. • The first transcriptome profile of cattle-yak revealed the key role of TCONS00024465/circHIPK3-bta-miR-499- ADAMTS6 regulatory network. • TCONS00024465 and circHIPK3 competitively bind bta-miR-499, thereby targeting ADAMTS6. • ADAMTS6 regulates skeletal muscle development by inhibiting myoblast proliferation and promoting myoblast differentiation. • New insights into the molecular basis of cattle-yak muscle development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music therapy has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating symptoms of mental disorders, prompting an investigation into its impact on emotion regulation and empathy levels in adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities. This study involved 120 adolescents diagnosed with mild intellectual disabilities, divided into experimental and control groups. The research evaluated empathy levels and the ability to recognize emotions using photographs and pictograms before and after the experiment. Significant improvements were noted in the experimental group, particularly in empathy towards elderly individuals (p ≤ 0.05), strangers (p ≤ 0.05), cartoon and video characters (p ≤ 0.05), and animals (p ≤ 0.05). Music therapy proved effective in enhancing empathy towards peers (p ≤ 0.01), strangers (p ≤ 0.05), elderly individuals (p ≤ 0.05), animals (p ≤ 0.05), and cartoon characters (p ≤ 0.05). Limited changes were observed in the control group, primarily in the category of empathy towards strangers (p ≤ 0.05). The study suggests music therapy as a recommendable intervention for adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities, enhancing their ability to recognize diverse emotions. The study significantly contributes to the theoretical understanding of music therapy's role in emotional development among adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities, highlighting the nuanced influence of music selection on therapeutic outcomes. The study acknowledges and briefly discusses the ethical considerations involved in conducting research with adolescents, emphasizing the importance of ethical guidelines in working with vulnerable populations. • Emotional disorders in children with mental retardation first appear in adolescence • The main purpose of music therapy is to evoke positive emotions in a child. • Mandatory music therapy positively correlates with empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury ions (Hg2+) can cause damage to human health, and thus, the study of the detection of Hg2+ is extraordinarily important in daily life. This work reported a fluorescence biosensor for the detection of Hg2+. The key point of this strategy was that the fluorescence of carbon quantum dots made from pomegranate peel (P-CQDs) was quenched by hemin, and restored after G-quadruplex binding with hemin. The presence of Hg2+ caused thymine (T)-rich DNA fragments to form T-Hg2+-T mismatches, and this change allowed the release of G-quadruplex. G-quadruplex could change the fluorescence of hemin/P-CQDs. P-CQDs exhibited excellent properties through characterization analysis, such as transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared. This proposed fluorescence detection strategy established the linear ranges of Hg2+ from 1 nM to 50 nM. In conclusion, this simple biosensor had the advantages of strong sensitivity, high selectivity, and low cost for Hg2+ detection in environmental water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare surgical outcomes, clinical outcomes, and complications between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) and midline lumbar interbody fusion (MIDLIF) in patients with spondylolisthesis. Methods: This study retrospectively compared the patients who underwent MIS TLIF (n = 37) or MIDLIF (n = 50) for spinal spondylolisthesis. Data of surgical outcomes (postoperative one-year fusion rate and time to bony fusion), clinical outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS] for pain and Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] for spine function), and complications were collected and analyzed. Results: There was more 2-level fusion in MIDLIF (46% vs. 24.3%, p = 0.038). The MIS TLIF and MIDLIF groups had similar one-year fusion rate and time to fusion. The MIDLIF group had significantly lower VAS at postoperative 3-months (2.2 vs. 3.1, p = 0.002) and postoperative 1-year (1.1 vs. 2.1, p = < 0.001). ODI was not significantly different. The operation time was shorter in MIDLIF (166.1 min vs. 196.2 min, p = 0.014). The facet joint violation is higher in MIS TLIF (21.6% vs. 2%, p = 0.009). The other complications were not significantly different including rate of implant removal, revision, and adjacent segment disease. Conclusion: In this study, postoperative VAS, operation time, and the rate of facet joint violation were significantly higher in the MIS TLIF group. Comparable outcomes were observed between MIDLIF and MIS TLIF in terms of fusion rate, time to fusion, and postoperative ODI score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We found that GroEL in Porphyromonas gingivalis accelerated tumor growth and increased mortality in tumor‐bearing mice; GroEL promoted proangiogenic function, which may be the reason for promoting tumor growth. To understand the regulatory mechanisms by which GroEL increases the proangiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), we explored in this study. In EPCs, MTT assay, wound‐healing assay, and tube formation assay were performed to analyze its activity. Western blot and immunoprecipitation were used to study the protein expression along with next‐generation sequencing for miRNA expression. Finally, a murine tumorigenesis animal model was used to confirm the results of in vitro. The results indicated that thrombomodulin (TM) direct interacts with PI3K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. When the expression of TM is decreased by GroEL stimulation, molecules in the PI3K/Akt signaling axis are released and activated, resulting in increased migration and tube formation of EPCs. In addition, GroEL inhibits TM mRNA expression by activating miR‐1248, miR‐1291, and miR‐5701. Losing the functions of miR‐1248, miR‐1291, and miR‐5701 can effectively alleviate the GroEL‐induced decrease in TM protein levels and inhibit the proangiogenic abilities of EPCs. These results were also confirmed in animal experiments. In conclusion, the intracellular domain of the TM of EPCs plays a negative regulatory role in the proangiogenic capabilities of EPCs, mainly through direct interaction between TM and PI3K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. The effects of GroEL on tumor growth can be reduced by inhibiting the proangiogenic properties of EPCs through the inhibition of the expression of specific miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 18 September 2022, the MW 6.9 Chihshang earthquake struck the south half of the Longitudinal Valley, Taiwan, and caused severe damage. A precise and rapid report for the distribution of aftershock sequence after a devastating earthquake provides key information for deciphering the seismogenic structure in the source region. The utilization of deep-learning methodologies for earthquake event detection offers a significant acceleration in data analysis. In this study, we use SeisBlue, a deep-learning platform/package, to extract the whole earthquake sequence from September to October 2022, including the MW 6.5 Guanshan foreshock, the MW 6.9 mainshock, over 14,000 aftershocks, and 866 foal mechanisms from two sets of broadband networks. After applying hypoDD for earthquakes, the distribution of aftershock sequence clearly depicts not only the Central Range Fault and the Longitudinal Valley Fault but also several local, shallow tectonic structures that have not been observed along the southern Longitudinal Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation‐disordered metal oxides as cathode materials for Li ion batteries have been overlooked from early studies due to to the restriction of Li ion diffusion, leading to poor electrochemical performance. However, the discovery of a new disordered rocksalt (DRX) structured material Li1.211Mo0.467Cr0.3O2 with a high capacity of >260 mAh g−1 at 0.05 C opened new research prospects in this emerging field and established DRX materials as a promising alternative with wider choices of transition metal elements compared with currently widely used layered cathode materials. Some of the major obstacles of the DRX materials include γ‐LiFeO2 type cation short‐range‐order that impedes Li ion diffusion, irreversible oxygen loss, and transition metal dissolution, which also present challenges for appropriate characterization techniques. Several performance optimization strategies have been employed, including fluorine incorporation, high entropy modification, and surface coating. This review article focuses on advancements in characterization techniques to uncover underlying mechanisms of Li ion diffusion and degradation of the DRX cathode materials to address the abovementioned challenges and provide inspiration for future studies of this class of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we discuss the interaction of mechanical factors influencing knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) pathogenesis. Emphasizing the importance of mechanotransduction within inflammatory responses, we discuss its capacity for being utilized and harnessed within the context of prevention and rehabilitation of osteoarthritis (OA). Additionally, we introduce a discussion on the Goldilocks zone, which describes the necessity of maintaining a balance of adequate, but not excessive mechanical loading to maintain proper knee joint health. Expanding beyond these, we synthesize findings from current literature that explore the biomechanical loading of various rehabilitation exercises, in hopes of aiding future recommendations for physicians managing KOA and PTOA and athletic training staff strategically planning athlete loads to mitigate the risk of joint injury. The integration of these concepts provides a multifactorial analysis of the contributing factors of KOA and PTOA, in order to spur further research and illuminate the potential of utilizing the body's own physiological responses to mechanical stimuli in the management of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the plasma polymerization reaction of fluorocarbon gases, with specific focus on three monomers: tetrafluoromethane, hexafluoroethane, and octafluorocyclobutane. Optical emission spectroscopy was employed to observe species within the glow discharge, while detecting plasma species in fluorocarbon plasma polymerization. Fluorocarbon plasma polymerized films surface morphology and roughness were scrutinized using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Chemical bonding on film surfaces was probed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Experimental outcomes highlight the essential role of chemical interactions between fluorocarbon plasma and monomers, with film surface composition inferred from fluorocarbon ratio analysis. These analyses improve the understanding of fluorocarbon-to-carbon ratio and duty cycle contributions to plasma polymerized film growth, which promises advancements in the ability to tailor fluorocarbon films to specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we describe an aberrant artery to a normal lung, focusing on its classification, embryological hypotheses, diagnostic methods, and treatment modalities. We present three cases of aberrant arterial supply to a normal lung in various age groups (51 years, 5 months, and 29 years). The cases presented symptoms ranging from hemoptysis to respiratory distress. Successful transarterial embolization was performed in the 5-month-old infant. In addition, we collected case reports published from 1962 to the present from the literature to compare the trends in management and variations in manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchrotron protein crystallography (PX) remains an indispensable tool for uncovering the atomic structures of biomolecules. TLS 15A1, operated by the protein diffraction group of NSRRC, has been accessible to both academic and industrial users since January 2013. This beamline is energy‐tunable within a range between 5.6 and 15.5 keV, which is suitable for phasing experiments. Over the past 11 years, TLS 15A1 has supported 657 projects and facilitated 1523 experiments across 41,656 h of beamtime. This article describes the beamline layout, studies of factors influencing data quality, and significant scientific contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our objective was to create a machine learning architecture capable of identifying obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patterns in single-lead electrocardiography (ECG) signals, exhibiting exceptional performance when utilized in clinical data sets. Methods: We conducted our research using a data set consisting of 1656 patients, representing a diverse demographic, from the sleep center of China Medical University Hospital. To detect apnea ECG segments and extract apnea features, we utilized the EfficientNet and some of its layers, respectively. Furthermore, we compared various training and data preprocessing techniques to enhance the model's prediction, such as setting class and sample weights or employing overlapping and regular slicing. Finally, we tested our approach against other literature on the Apnea-ECG database. Results: Our research found that the EfficientNet model achieved the best apnea segment detection using overlapping slicing and sample-weight settings, with an AUC of 0.917 and an accuracy of 0.855. For patient screening with AHI > 30, we combined the trained model with XGBoost, leading to an AUC of 0.975 and an accuracy of 0.928. Additional tests using PhysioNet data showed that our model is comparable in performance to existing models regarding its ability to screen OSA levels. Conclusions: Our suggested architecture, coupled with training and preprocessing techniques, showed admirable performance with a diverse demographic dataset, bringing us closer to practical implementation in OSA diagnosis. Trial registration The data for this study were collected retrospectively from the China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan with approval from the institutional review board CMUH109-REC3-018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose(s): The gut microbiota and its metabolites play crucial roles in pathogenesis of arthritis, highlighting gut microbiota as a promising avenue for modulating autoimmunity. However, the characterization of the gut virome in arthritis patients, including osteoarthritis (OA) and gouty arthritis (GA), requires further investigation. Methods: We employed virus-like particle (VLP)-based metagenomic sequencing to analyze gut viral community in 20 OA patients, 26 GA patients, and 31 healthy controls, encompassing a total of 77 fecal samples. Results: Our analysis generated 6819 vOTUs, with a considerable proportion of viral genomes differing from existing catalogs. The gut virome in OA and GA patients differed significantly from healthy controls, showing variations in diversity and viral family abundances. We identified 157 OA-associated and 94 GA-associated vOTUs, achieving high accuracy in patient-control discrimination with random forest models. OA-associated viruses were predicted to infect pro-inflammatory bacteria or bacteria associated with immunoglobulin A production, while GA-associated viruses were linked to Bacteroidaceae or Lachnospiraceae phages. Furthermore, several viral functional orthologs displayed significant differences in frequency between OA-enriched and GA-enriched vOTUs, suggesting potential functional roles of these viruses. Additionally, we trained classification models based on gut viral signatures to effectively discriminate OA or GA patients from healthy controls, yielding AUC values up to 0.97, indicating the clinical utility of the gut virome in diagnosing OA or GA. Conclusion: Our study highlights distinctive alterations in viral diversity and taxonomy within gut virome of OA and GA patients, offering insights into arthritis etiology and potential treatment and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of antiviral agents, specifically tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), in pregnant women to prevent mother‐to‐child HBV transmission is a key step towards hepatitis elimination. However, data on using tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is insufficient. The frequent occurrence of postpartum ALT flares may impact the clinical implementation. Methods: The maternal and infant outcomes were compared in multi‐centre trials of high viral load HBsAg/HBeAg+ pregnant women receiving TAF or TDF from the third trimester until 2 weeks postpartum with intensive follow‐ups. To explore the dynamic pre‐ and postpartum changes in ALT levels, we used a group‐based trajectory model for analysing data of 332 women from three prospective studies. Results: After treatment, the maternal HBV DNA levels significantly decreased from baseline to delivery: 7.87 ± 0.59 to 3.99 ± 1.07 Log10 IU/mL TAF (n = 78) and 8.30 ± 0.36 to 4.47 ± 0.86 Log10 IU/mL (TDF, n = 53), with viral load reductions of 3.87 versus 3.83 Log10 IU/mL. The HBsAg‐positive rates among 12‐month‐old infants were 1.28% (1/78) versus 1.82% (1/55) respectively (p = 1.00). Of the TAF or TDF‐treated mothers, 25.64% versus 16.98% experienced ALT > 2X ULN, and 11.54% versus 1.89% received extended antiviral treatment. Our model revealed four distinct ALT patterns: stable ALT (87.2%), moderate (8.0%) or marked (2.4%) postpartum flares, or prepartum elevations (2.4%). Conclusions: TAF effectively reduces mother‐to‐child HBV transmission, but prophylaxis failure still occurred in few cases. Postpartum ALT flares are common in women receiving TAF or TDF during pregnancy. Approximately 12.8% of mothers may require extended postpartum antiviral treatment. Clinical trial number: NCT03695029 (ClinicalTrials.gov). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online multimedia learning is a popular teaching approach. Based on the cognitive load theory and the learning process model, question guidance reduces cognitive load by reducing attention to unnecessary material and improving learning effectiveness. Moreover, according to the attention guidance hypothesis, cues can help learners allocate attentional resources better. This study created a mediated moderation model to explain how question guidance and cues affect online multimedia learning. We collected and analyzed data from university students, where question guidance significantly and positively predicted the retention and transfer test results, and cognitive load significantly and negatively predicted the retention test scores. Additionally, it was found that cues moderated the impact of question guidance's impact on online multimedia learning. The facilitation of learning-by-question guidance was weakened with cues compared to without cues. Furthermore, cognitive load mediated the effects of question guidance and cue interactions on learning outcomes. When cues were absent, the use of question guidance could reduce the total cognitive load and intrinsic cognitive load, which was conducive to maintaining the improvement of retention test scores. However, when cues were present, the positive effect of question guidance was reduced, and the impact on maintaining test scores was also reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of intrauterine infusion and hysteroscopic injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in patients with a persistent thin endometrium (EM) undergoing euploid frozen embryo transfer (EFET) cycles. Methods: This prospective case–control study enrolled 116 infertile women with thin EM (<7 mm) who underwent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for EFET. These women had experienced at least one previous unsuccessful EFET cycle, which either resulted in the cancellation of the cycle or failure of pregnancy. A total of 55 women received an intrauterine infusion of PRP before FET, 38 received a hysteroscopic injection of PRP, and 23 received standard HRT treatment without PRP (control group). Only euploid embryos were transferred in these cycles. The primary outcomes were the implantation rate (IR) and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) after EFET. Results: After receiving intrauterine infusion and hysteroscopic injection of PRP, 78.2% and 55.3% of patients, respectively, showed an EM thickness exceeding 7 mm, followed by embryo transfer. The hysteroscopic injection group demonstrated significantly higher IR (52%), a higher trend of CPR (52%), and a higher live birth rate (38%) than the control group (18%, 22%, and 4%). Conclusions: Intrauterine infusion and hysteroscopic injection of autologous PRP may be effective methods to increase EM thickness in HRT cycles. According to our results, both methods could increase EM thickness, while hysteroscopic injection appeared to provide more significant assistance in increasing IR, CPR, and live birth rate after EFET in patients with persistent thin EM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current data on post-discharge mortality and rehospitalization is still insufficient among in-hospital survivors of cardiogenic shock (CS), including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and non-AMI survivors. Methods: Patients with CS who survived after hospital discharge were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Each patient was followed up at 3-year intervals. Mortality and rehospitalization were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results: There were 16,582 eligible patients. Of these, 42.4% and 57.6% were AMI-CS and non-AMI-CS survivors, respectively. The overall mortality and rehospitalization rates were considerably high, with reports of 7.0% and 22.1% at 30 days, 24.5% and 58.2% at 1 year, and 38.9% and 73.0% at 3 years, respectively, among in-hospital CS survivors. Cardiovascular (CV) problems caused approximately 40% mortality and 60% rehospitalization. Overall, the non-AMI-CS group had a higher mortality burden than the AMI-CS group owing to older age and a higher prevalence of comorbidities. In multivariable models, the non-AMI-CS group exhibited a lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60 to 0.78) and CV mortality (aHR 0.65, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.78) compared to the AMI-CS group. However, these risks diminished and even reversed after one year (aHR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.25 for all-cause mortality; aHR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.49 for CV mortality).This reversal was not observed in all-cause and CV rehospitalization. For rehospitalization, AMI-CS was associated with the risk of CV rehospitalization in the entire observation period (aHR:0.80, 95% CI:0.76–0.84). Conclusions: In-hospital AMI-CS survivors had an increased risk of CV rehospitalization and 30-day mortality, whereas those with non-AMI-CS had a greater mortality risk after 1-year follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the existing shortcomings in the research on the coupling of safety risk factors in subway tunnel construction using the shallow-buried excavation method, this paper conducts a coupled analysis and dynamic simulation of the safety risks associated with this construction method. Firstly, by analyzing the mechanisms and effects of risk coupling in shallow-buried excavation construction of subway tunnels, this study divides the risk system into four risk subsystems (human, material, management, and environment), establishes an evaluation index system for the coupling of safety risks, calculates the comprehensive weight values of the risk indicators using the AHP-entropy weight method, and constructs a risk coupling degree model by combining the inverse cloud model and efficacy function. Subsequently, based on the principles of system dynamics, a causal relationship diagram and a system dynamics simulation model for the coupling of “human-material” risks in construction are established using Vensim PLE software. Finally, the case study of the underground excavation section of Chengdu Metro Line 2 is employed to perform dynamic simulation using the established model. By adjusting the relevant risk coupling coefficients and simulation duration, the impact of the coupling of various risk factors on the safety risk level of the human-material coupling system is observed. The simulation results demonstrate that: 1) Heterogeneous coupling of human and material risks has a particularly significant effect on the system’s safety risks; 2) Violations by personnel and initial support structure defects are key risk coupling factors. The findings of this study provide new insights for decision-makers to assess the safety risk of shallow-buried excavation construction in subway tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a stable, low-cost, environment-friendly, and gas-sensitive material, semiconductor metal oxides have been widely used for gas sensing. In the past few years, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have gained increasing attention in the field of gas sensing with the advantages of maximized atomic utilization and unique electronic and chemical properties and have successfully been applied to enhance the detection sensitivity and selectivity of metal oxide gas sensors. However, the application of SACs in gas sensors is still in its infancy. Herein, we critically review the recent advances and current status of single-atom catalysts in metal oxide gas sensors, providing some suggestions for the development of this field. The synthesis methods and characterization techniques of SAC-modified metal oxides are summarized. The interactions between SACs and metal oxides are crucial for the stable loading of single-atom catalysts and for improving gas-sensitive performance. Then, the current application progress of various SACs (Au, Pt, Cu, Ni, etc.) in metal oxide gas sensors is introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of SACs in metal oxide gas sensors are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous computing has been developing continuously in the field of high-performance computing because of its high performance and energy efficiency. More and more accelerators have emerged, such as GPU, FPGA, DSP, AI accelerator, and so on. Usually, the accelerator is connected to the host CPU as a peripheral device to form a tightly coupled heterogeneous computing node, and then, a parallel system is constructed by multiple nodes. This organization is computationally efficient, but not flexible. When new accelerators appear, it is difficult to join the system that has been built. At the hardware level, we create an array of accelerators and connect them to the existing system through a high-speed network. At the software level, we dynamically organize computing resources from various arrays to build a virtual heterogeneous computing node. This approach also includes a standard programming environment. Therefore, it is a more flexible, elastic, and scalable heterogeneous computing organization. In this paper, a supernode OpenCL implementation is proposed for hybrid parallel computing systems, in which virtual supernodes can be dynamically constructed between different computing arrays, and a standard OpenCL environment is implemented based on RDMA communication of high-speed interconnection, which can be combined with the system-level MPI programming environment, thereby realizing the large-scale parallel computing of the hybrid array. SNCL is compatible with existing MPI/OpenCL programs without the need for additional modifications. Experiments show that the runtime overhead of the supernode OpenCL environment is very low, and it is suitable for deploying applications with high computing density and large data scale between different arrays to utilize their computing power without affecting scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry eye disease (DED) is associated with ocular hyperosmolarity and inflammation. The marketed topical eye drops for DED treatment often lack bioavailability and precorneal residence time. In this study, we investigated catechol-functionalized polyzwitterion p(MPC-co-DMA), composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) monomers, as potential topical nanotherapeutics for DED. The copolymers were synthesized via random free-radical copolymerization, producing different proportions of catecholic functionalization. All as-prepared polymer compositions displayed good ocular biocompatibility. At a feeding ratio of 1:1, p(MPC1-co-DMA1) can facilitate a robust mucoadhesion via Michael addition and/or Schiff base reaction, thus prolonging ocular residence time after 4 days of topical instillation. The hydration lubrication of MPC and radical-scavenging DMA endow the nano-agent to ease tear-film hyperosmolarity and corneal inflammation. A single dose of p(MPC1-co-DMA1) (1 mg/mL) after 4 days post-instillation can protect the cornea against reactive oxygen species, inhibiting cell apoptosis and the over-expression of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α). In clinical assessment, DED-induced rabbit eyes receiving p(MPC1-co-DMA1) could increase lacrimal fluid secretion by 5-fold higher than cyclosporine A. The catechol-functionalized polyzwitterion with enhanced lubricity, mucoadhesion, and anti-oxidation/anti-inflammation properties has shown high promise as a bioactive eye drop formulation for treating DED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: Cardiovascular mortality risk is elevated among patients with diabetes and concurrent chronic kidney disease. However, controversy surrounds the use of aspirin for primary prevention within this population. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of low‐dose aspirin for primary prevention in patients with diabetes and pre‐end‐stage renal disease. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective population‐based cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The study included adults with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled in the pre‐end‐stage renal disease pay‐for‐performance program and had no atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We used propensity score analysis to control baseline characteristics between the two groups. Clinical outcomes including cardiovascular mortality, all‐cause mortality, major bleeding, and renal disease progression were compared between patients who first received aspirin and those who did not. Results: Between January 2012 and December 2015, a total of 2,155 low‐dose aspirin users and 6,737 nonaspirin users were identified. Following propensity score adjustment, aspirin use exhibited a comparable risk of cardiovascular death compared with nonaspirin users (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65–1.95; P = 0.681). The risk of all‐cause mortality was similar between the two groups (aHR 1.07; 95% CI 0.92–1.24; P = 0.385). Similar risks were observed in terms of major bleeding and renal disease progression. Conclusions: In patients with diabetes and pre‐end‐stage renal disease who lacked atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, low‐dose aspirin did not demonstrate a reduction in mortality. These findings do not support the use of aspirin for primary prevention in this high‐risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) have emerged as promising approaches toward a sustainable and green society. In this study, potassium citrate-derived activated carbon (ACK) was synthesized and incorporated with copper (Cu) for electrocatalytic reduction under CO 2 and N 2 flows. The ACK sample exhibited high CO 2 adsorption properties to generate different carbonate species and served as an electrocatalyst after Cu incorporation. To understand the competitive reactions of HER and CO 2 RR, different reaction conditions were applied. Under a CO 2 flow, the Cu-ACK sample revealed a high and long-term current density of 0.9 V, and H 2 (2.642 mmol) was determined as the major product, and CH 3 COOH, and C 2 H 5 OH as minor products. A reaction mechanism was proposed to elucidate the reaction path for the electrocatalytic CO 2 RR and HER. [Display omitted] • Cu-incorporated potassium citrate-derived activated carbon was prepared. • Cu-activated carbon exhibited activity for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution and CO 2 reduction. • A high Faradaic efficiency for H 2 evolution (over 90%) was obtained at 0.9 V (vs. RHE). • CH 3 COOH and C 2 H 5 OH were produced through electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of bilayer models is crucial for enhancing the performance and enabling multifunctionality of next-generation resistive random-access memory (RRAM). However, detailed switching information is still insufficient for multilayer RRAM, necessitating direct observation of the microstructural evolution to clarify its switching mechanism. In this study, the electrical properties of Pt/Nb 2 O 5−x /Pt monolayer devices were improved by introducing a polycrystalline NiO layer, and the resulting Pt/NiO/Nb 2 O 5−x /Pt bilayer devices exhibited a doubling of the endurance and a reduction of the set voltage. The bilayer device also exhibited a long retention time (>104 s) and high on/off ratio of 104. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy revealed that the conductive filament (CF) contained oxygen vacancies. In addition, a funnel-shaped CF was observed in the Pt/NiO/Nb 2 O 5−x /Pt system, with the neck at the NiO/Nb 2 O 5−x interface. This study provides a distinctive viewpoint and an innovative strategy for improving RRAM devices and exploring new applications in electronics. [Display omitted] • Introducing an oxygen reservoir layer enhances device performance and versatility. • The addition of a polycrystalline nickel oxide layer reduces device switching voltage. • The migration of holes and electrons forms funnel-shaped conductive filaments. • Electrical bias induces niobium oxide structural transformation, altering properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]