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During the process of bilateral teleoperation, operators not only need to perform complex maintenance tasks but also have to constantly monitor the safety of the operation, leading to reduced operational efficiency. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce a shared autonomous scheme that intervenes in the operator's command input when necessary, autonomously ensuring the safe operation of the manipulator by employing a rolling horizon planning controller based on Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC). This controller considers the motion boundaries and collision avoidance constraints of the manipulator, accompanied by the design of corresponding objective functions. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we conduct tests on collision-free trajectory tracking and comprehensive performance with collision constraints, confirming the feasibility and excellent performance of the approach.

To reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, the development of low-carbon or carbon-free fuel combustion technologies has become urgent. As a new zero-carbon fuel, ammonia (NH3) can be used to address the storage and transportation issues of hydrogen energy. Since it is not feasible to completely replace coal with ammonia in the short term, the development of ammonia–coal co-combustion technology at the current stage is a fast and feasible approach to reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants. This study focuses on modifying the boiler and installing two layers of eight pure-ammonia burners in a 300-MW coal-fired power plant to achieve ammonia–coal co-combustion at proportions ranging from 20% to 10% (by heat ratio) at loads of 180- to 300-MW, respectively. The results show that, during ammonia–coal co-combustion in a 300-MW coal-fired power plant, there was a more significant change in NOx emissions at the furnace outlet compared with that under pure-coal combustion as the boiler oxygen levels varied. Moreover, ammonia burners located in the middle part of the main combustion zone exhibited a better high-temperature reduction performance than those located in the upper part of the main combustion zone. Under all ammonia co-combustion conditions, the NH3 concentration at the furnace outlet remained below 1 parts per million (ppm). Compared with that under pure-coal conditions, the thermal efficiency of the boiler slightly decreased (by 0.12%–0.38%) under different loads when ammonia co-combustion reached 15 t·h−1. Ammonia co-combustion in coal-fired power plants is a potentially feasible technology route for carbon reduction.

The relationship between the mechanical and ballistic properties of armored ceramics was studied using a numerical method that combines finite element simulation and machine learning. A dataset containing the physical properties, mechanical properties, and ballistic performance of ceramic was built through numerical simulation with the JH-2 model. The machine learning method was employed to establish a relationship between residual penetration depth and ceramic’ properties, including its density, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL), dynamic compressive strength, quasi-static compressive strength, and bending strength. Through finite element simulation and machine learning, univariate analysis of the physico-mechanical properties of ceramics was achieved by predictive modeling. It was found that density, dynamic compressive strength, quasi-static compressive strength, and HEL had the most significant impact on the residual penetration depth, making them the key controlling parameters for the ballistic performance of ceramics. By combining the prediction results of the machine learning model with the influence patterns of the parameters, a predictive formula for the ceramic protection coefficient based on the key parameters was established.

For the development of new energy automobile industry and the trend of automobile lightweight have put forward a huge demand for high-strength lightweight materials, so developing high strength aluminum alloys is particularly momentous. As the most widely used aluminum alloy, 6000 series aluminum alloys (Al–Mg–Si alloys) have the advantages such as better mechanical properties, outstanding welding properties, excellent formability and fine processing capability, and therefore have obtained great attention as the structural materials. In addition, the Al–Mg–Si alloys with low density and corrosion resistance not only reduce the total weight of the car, but also extend the service life when subjected to chemical corrosion, which effectively achieve energy saving and emission reduction. This paper summarizes the research progress of 6000 series aluminum alloys, in particular, and reviews the methods of microalloying and particle strengthening, and their effects on the microstructure and properties of the alloy, thus providing a reference for the subsequent development of high-performance aluminum alloys in automobile and aerospace industries.

Nowadays, high-strength press-hardened steels (PHS) have gained wide applications in automotive body-in-white owing to excellent mechanical properties. Nevertheless, the fatigue properties of high-strength PHS and associated failure mechanisms have not been clearly revealed, which restricts their potential applications in other parts of automobiles involving fluctuating and repetitive stresses, such as wheels or beams. In this work, the fatigue behavior of 1900 and 2000 MPa grade PHS is systematically studied, with the main focus on the associated deformation and fatigue cracking mechanisms. The fatigue behavior of these two steels is similar, and the ratio of fatigue strength to tensile strength is around 0.5. The fatigue damage mechanism of high-strength PHS is dominated by surface cracking, as the fine martensite structures reduce the stress concentration and cracking at small-sized inclusions. This work can provide guidance for the application of high-strength PHS in alternating loads scenarios.

Water seepage in soil is a fundamental problem involving various scientific and engineering fields. According to the literature, low-velocity water seepage in low-permeability porous media, such as clay, does not follow Darcy's law, also known as pre-Darcy flow. The formation of immovable water due to water adsorption on the pore wall is believed to be responsible for the formation of pre-Darcy flow. However, this view lacks direct solid evidence. To investigate the pre-Darcy water flow in clay, head permeability experiments are conducted on six clay samples with different densities. The results indicate that water seepage in clay at low hydraulic gradients does not follow Darcy's law. A clear nonlinear relationship between flow velocity and hydraulic gradient is observed. Water flow in clay can be divided into the pre-Darcy flow and Darcy flow regions by the critical hydraulic gradient, which is 10–12 for the Albic soil with dry density between 1.3 g/cm3 and 1.8 g/cm3. According to the disjoining pressure theory, immovable water due to water adsorption on the pore wall is the primary reason for water flow deviating from Darcy's law in clay. The results indicate that the percentage of movable water ranges from 39.7% to 59.3% for the six samples at a hydraulic gradient of 1. As the hydraulic gradient increases, the percentage of moveable water also increases. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between the percentage of movable water and the variation in hydraulic conductivity with the hydraulic gradient. Furthermore, a quantitative relationship between the percentage of movable water and the hydraulic conductivity has been established. The results of this study suggest that water adsorption on the pore wall not only affects the water movability, but is also closely related to the pre-Darcy flow phenomenon in clay.

Background: High-dose dual therapy (HDDT) using proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) and amoxicillin attracted attention for its simplicity and lower adverse event profile. Besides, vonoprazan is not available worldwide. This real-world study aims to compare the efficacy of esomeprazole-based and rabeprazole-based HDDT regimens and to identify clinical factors influencing outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study enrolled 346 Helicobacter pylori-infected naïve patients from January 2016 to August 2023. Patients were assigned to either a 14-day esomeprazole-based HDDT (EA-14; esomeprazole 40 mg t.i.d. and amoxicillin 750 mg q.i.d. for 14 days, n = 173) or a 14-day rabeprazole-based HDDT (RA-14; rabeprazole 20 mg and amoxicillin 750 mg q.i.d. for 14 days, n = 173). Results: Five patients from the EA-14 group and 10 from the RA-14 group were lost to follow-up, resulting in 168 and 163 patients for the per-protocol (PP) analysis, respectively. Eradication rates for the EA-14 and RA-14 groups were 90.2% and 80.9% (P = 0.014) in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis; and 92.9% and 85.9% (P = 0.039) in PP analysis. Adverse event rates were similar between the two groups (11.9% vs 11.7%, P = 0.944). In multiple logistic regression analysis, age≧60 was associated with eradication failure (P = 0.046) and a trend of significance for smoking (P = 0.060) in the EA-14 group but not in the RA-14 group. A trend of significance was also observed for eradication regimens (EA-14 vs RA-14) (P = 0.071).The antibiotic resistance rates were amoxicillin (2.3%), clarithromycin (14.7%), metronidazole (40.3%), and dual resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole (7.0%). Conclusions: Esomeprazole-based HDDT achieved over 90% eradication rates but rabeprazole-based HDDT, which failed.

Amino acid metabolic remodeling is a hallmark of cancer, driving an increased nutritional demand for amino acids. Amino acids are pivotal for energetic regulation, biosynthetic support, and homeostatic maintenance to stimulate cancer progression. However, the role of phenylalanine in multiple myeloma (MM) remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that phenylalanine levels in MM patients are decreased in plasma but elevated in bone marrow (BM) cells. After the treatment, phenylalanine levels increase in plasma and decrease in BM. This suggests that changes in phenylalanine have diagnostic value and that phenylalanine in the BM microenvironment is an essential source of nutrients for MM progression. The requirement for phenylalanine by MM cells exhibits a similar pattern. Inhibiting phenylalanine utilization suppresses MM cell growth and provides a synergistic effect with Bortezomib (BTZ) treatment in vitro and murine models. Mechanistically, phenylalanine deprivation induces excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress and leads to MM cell apoptosis through the ATF3–CHOP–DR5 pathway. Interference with ATF3 significantly affects phenylalanine deprivation therapy. In conclusion, we have identified phenylalanine metabolism as a characteristic feature of MM metabolic remodeling. Phenylalanine is necessary for MM proliferation, and its aberrant demand highlights the importance of low-phenylalanine diets as an adjuvant treatment for MM.

Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are the most prevalent side effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, amikacin, neomycin) and platinum anti-tumor drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin). The inner ear and kidney share similarities in drug deposition and toxicity, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Investigating the shared mechanisms and metabolic alterations in these distinct organs will provide valuable insights for clinical therapy. A strong correlation has been identified between the spatiotemporal accumulation patterns of neomycin and the specific occurrence of lipid metabolism disorders in these two organs. The primary allocation of neomycin to mitochondria results in a notable escalation in the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs) and more interactions between mitochondria and LDs, leading to a sequence of disturbances in lipid metabolism, such as increased lipid ROS and the blocked transfer of fatty acids from LDs to mitochondria. PGC-1α deficiency worsens the neomycin-induced disorders in lipid metabolism and intensifies the pathological interactions between mitochondria and LDs, as indicated by the exacerbated disturbance of dynamic LD turnover, increased level of oxidized lipids and decreased use of fatty acids. This investigation provides a fresh perspective on the lipid metabolic dysfunction related to mitochondria–LD interactions in drug-induced ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity, potentially providing novel avenues for intervention strategies.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major threat to public health globally. A large proportion of people with dyslipidaemia have poorly controlled lipid levels, emphasizing the need for alternative lipid-lowering treatments that are both effective and safe. Xuezhikang, a red yeast rice (RYR) extract, containing 13 kinds of monacolins and other bioactive components, emerges as one such promising option. Its discovery was built on a long history of RYR use as a functional food supplement and traditional Chinese medicine. Several randomized, controlled clinical trials have substantiated its lipid-lowering effects and its potential to protect against CVDs. Safety concerns with statins did not arise during decades of experience with Xuezhikang treatment in clinical practice. The approval of Xuezhikang in multiple regions of Asia marked a conceptual shift in CVD management, moving from single agents to polypills and from synthetic medicines to natural extracts. This review comprehensively addresses important topics related to this medicinal natural extract, including the ancient utilization of RYR, the development of Xuezhikang, its mechanisms of action, pleiotropic effects, clinical studies, challenges, and future perspectives to enhance our understanding regarding the role of Xuezhikang, a representative, domestic lipid-lowering drug of RYR, in prevention and treatment of CVD.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes play a crucial role as catalysts in the biosynthesis of numerous plant natural products (PNPs). Enhancing the catalytic activity of P450s in host microorganisms is essential for the efficient production of PNPs through synthetic biology. In this study, we engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae to optimize the microenvironment for boosting the activities of P450s, including coexpression with the redox partner genes, enhancing NADPH supply, expanding the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), strengthening heme biosynthesis, and regulating iron uptake. This created a platform for the efficient production 11,20-dihydroxyferruginol, a key intermediate of the bioactive compound tanshinones. The yield was enhanced by 42.1-fold through 24 effective genetic edits. The optimized strain produced up to 67.69 ± 1.33 mg/L 11,20-dihydroxyferruginol in shake flasks. Our work represents a promising advancement toward constructing yeast cell factories containing P450s and paves the way for microbial biosynthesis of tanshinones in the future.

The choroid plexus (ChP) serves as the principal origin of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF hypersecretion due to ChP inflammation has emerged as an important pathogenesis of hydrocephalus recently. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms of ChP inflammation and the ensuing CSF hypersecretion in hydrocephalus remain ill-defined. In the present study, we elucidate the critical role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of ChP inflammation. Specifically, we identify the chemokine CCL2, released by ChP epithelial cells, recruits CCR2+ monocytes to the ChP thereby inciting hydrocephalus pathogenesis. The accumulated ChP macrophages increase the inflammation in ChP epithelial cells through TNF-α/TNFR1/NF-κB signaling cascade, thereby leading to CSF hypersecretion. Strikingly, augmentation of ChP‒CCL2 using an adeno-associated viral approach (AAV) exacerbates macrophage recruitment, activation, and ventriculomegaly in rat PHH models. Systemic application of Bindarit, a specific CCL2 inhibitor, significantly inhibits ChP macrophage infiltration and activation and reduces CSF secretion rate. Furthermore, the administration of CCR2 antagonist (INCB 3284) reduces ChP macrophage accumulation and ventriculomegaly. This study not only unveils the ChP CCL2‒CCR2 signaling in the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus but also unveils Bindarit as a promising therapeutic choice for the management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

Background: Oxaliplatin is commonly used to treat gastrointestinal malignancies. However, its applications are limited due to potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs), particularly severe anaphylactic shock. There is no method to predict or prevent ADRs caused by oxaliplatin. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the genetic HLA predisposition and immune mechanism of oxaliplatin-induced ADRs. Methods: A retrospective review was performed for 154 patients with ADRs induced by oxaliplatin during 2016–2021 recorded in our ADR notification system. HLA genotyping was conducted for 47 patients with oxaliplatin-induced ADRs, 1100 general population controls, and 34 oxaliplatin-tolerant controls in 2019–2023. The in vitro basophil activation test (BAT) was performed and oxaliplatin-specific IgE levels were determined. Results: The incidence of oxaliplatin-induced ADRs and anaphylactic shock in our cohort was 7.1% and 0.15%, respectively. Of the 154 patients, 67.5% suffered rash/eruption; 26.0% of the patients who could not undergo oxaliplatin rechallenge were considered to show oxaliplatin-induced immune-mediated hypersensitivity reactions (HRs). The genetic study found that the HLA-DRB∗12:01 allele was associated with oxaliplatin-induced HRs compared to the general population controls (sensitivity = 42.9%; odds ratio [OR] = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.4–8.2; P = 0.008) and tolerant controls (OR = 12; 95% CI = 2.3–63.7; P = 0.001). The in vitro BAT showed higher activation of CD63+ basophils in patients with oxaliplatin-induced HRs compared to the tolerant controls (P

Objective: Segmentectomy has been widely performed in clinical practice, which required a comprehensive understanding of anatomical structure. In right lower lobe, studies of superior segment (S6) were relatively small-sized. And only one study focusing on subsuperior segment (S∗) was published, which showed different results with previous ones. As the close relationship between S6 and S∗, variation types and their prevalence rate were reported, aiming to providing larger-size study of S6 and showing new evidence on anatomical structure of S∗. Methods: 800 CT imaging data were collected from patients in our hospital. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed after quality check. All images were screened according to the definition of corresponding segment and anatomical variations were analyzed. Results: The proportion of S6 variation types in the largest scale (718 patients) was reported with no significant difference compared to previous studies and newly classified subtypes of two-stem V6. The prevalence rate for S∗ in right lower lobe reached 28.3 % (203/718) with similar proportion of three types. Variation types and origins of pulmonary artery were analyzed in detail, finding two-stem A∗ only be observed in type III B∗. Conclusions: Through this study, the variation types and incidence rate of S6 were confirmed, and a different result of S∗ has been provided as well. The feasibility of the current classification standards and proposed new subclassifications were verified. The results would be a supplement to lung segmental anatomy and could advance researches in the future.

Using strong electromagnetic fields generated by lasers to interact with electrons for precise diagnosis and manipulation of electron beams represents a recent focal point in accelerator technology. This approach surpasses the limitations of conventional RF technology, such as low electric field gradients and timing jitters, effectively enhancing the accuracy of ultrafast electron beam diagnostics and manipulations. As demands for precision continue to rise, the precise diagnosis of crucial parameters of ultrafast electron beams remains challenging. This study delves into the electromagnetic behavior of THz-driven devices and proposes an all-optical method utilizing single-cycle THz radiation to compress and characterize a 3 MeV electron beam. Particle tracking simulations demonstrate an astonishing compression effect, reducing the bunch length from 54.0 fs to 4.3 fs, and achieving sub-femtosecond bunch length measurement resolution. Moreover, when combined with an orthogonal THz streak camera, this method shows even greater potential in multi-bunch scenarios.

The CFETR multipurpose overload robot (CMOR) is a critical component of the fusion reactor remote handling system. To accurately calculate and visualize the structural deformation and stress characteristics of the CMOR motion process, this paper first establishes a CMOR kinematic model to analyze the unfolding and working process in the vacuum chamber. Then, the dynamic model of CMOR is established using the Lagrangian method, and the rigid-flexible coupling modeling of CMOR links and joints is achieved using the finite element method and the linear spring damping equivalent model. The co-simulation results of the CMOR rigid-flexible coupled model show that when the end load is 2000 kg, the extreme value of the end-effector position error is more than 0.12 m, and the maximum stress value is 1.85 × 108 Pa. To utilize the stress-strain data of CMOR, this paper designs a CMOR morphology prediction control system based on Unity software. Implanting CMOR finite element analysis data into the Unity environment, researchers can monitor the stress strain generated by different motion trajectories of the CMOR robotic arm in the control system. It provides a platform for subsequent research on CMOR error compensation and extreme operation warnings.

Verticillium wilt (VW), induced by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae (Vd), poses a substantial threat to a diverse array of plant species. Employing molecular breeding technology for the development of cotton varieties with heightened resistance to VW stands out as one of the most efficacious protective measures. In this study, we successfully generated two stable transgenic lines of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), VdThit-RNAi-1 and VdThit-RNAi-2, using host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology to introduce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting the thiamine transporter protein gene (VdThit). Southern blot analysis confirmed the presence of a single-copy insertion in each line. Microscopic examination showed marked reductions in the colonization and spread of Vd-mCherry in the roots of VdThit-RNAi cotton compared to wild type (WT). The corresponding disease index and fungal biomass of VdThit-RNAi-1/2 also exhibited significant reductions. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated a substantial inhibition of VdThit expression following prolonged inoculation of VdThit-RNAi cotton. Small RNA sequencing (sRNA-Seq) analysis revealed the generation of a substantial number of VdThit-specific siRNAs in the VdThit-RNAi transgenic lines. Additionally, the silencing of VdThit by the siVdThit produced by VdThit-RNAi-1/2 resulted in the elevated expression of multiple genes involved in the thiamine biosynthesis pathway in Vd. Under field conditions, VdThit-RNAi transgenic cotton exhibited significantly enhanced disease resistance and yield compared with WT. In summary, our findings underscore the efficacy of HIGS targeting VdThit in restraining the infection and spread of Vd in cotton, thereby potentially enabling the development of cotton breeding as a promising strategy for managing VW.

Background/purpose: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), characterized by excessive collagen deposition by myofibroblasts, is often linked to Areca nuts consumption. Probiotics consumption has shown protective effects against fibrotic diseases, and recently, their metabolic byproducts, known as postbiotics, have demonstrated superior advantages over probiotics. However, studies on the therapeutic impact of postbiotics on OSF have been scarce. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of PostBio GK4, a postbiotic derived from Lactobacillus pentosus GK4, on OSF and explore its underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods: The cytotoxicity of GK4 in normal buccal mucosal fibroblasts (BMFs) and fibrotic BMFs (fBMFs) were assessed. Following this, we evaluated the effects of GK4 on collagen contraction, migratory, and wound healing capacities in arecoline-induced fibrotic BMFs. Next, Western blotting and ELISA were employed to assess GK4's impact on fibrosis-related proteins such as COL1A1, and α-SMA, as well as on TGF-β and Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Results: Arecoline was shown to stimulate cell migratory, contractile and wound healing abilities as well as the expression of α-SMA and COL1A1 in BMFs. Treatment with GK4 reduced all arecoline-induced phenomena in BMFs. Moreover, GK4 diminished the increased expression of TGF-β and Smad2/3. Conclusion: Our findings proposed that GK4 may exert a suppressive effect on arecoline-induced myofibroblast activities via the inhibition of TGF-β and Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Therefore, GK4 holds promise as an adjunct therapeutic approach for intervening in OSF. Further in-vivo and clinical studies are warranted to validate these observations.

A distinctive method for extraction of the bilateral impacted mandibular second molars (MM2s) and moving the bilateral mesioangularly impacted mandibular third molars (MM3s) to the MM2 positions with appropriate occlusion by orthodontic uprighting and protraction was demonstrated in a 24-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman, respectively. Although the surgical procedures should be performed under general anesthesia, rapid orthodontic treatment after tooth extraction aided in the initial teeth movement of the bilateral MM3s. The proposed treatment could be implemented and completed in 2 years or less. After undergoing the orthodontic treatment, the patient achieved robust bone support no matter with or without bone grafting. With this less technique-sensitive method, the patient still achieved improved posterior occlusion and masticatory function. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be consulted before this treatment option was adopted.

Background/purpose: Patients' considerations when choosing an orthodontist are influenced by many factors, including background, ethnicity, and location. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify factors influencing patients’ considerations when selecting an orthodontist in both Malaysia and Taiwan. Materials and methods: In total, 248 dental students from Taipei Medical University and 110 dental students from Manipal University College Malaysia were selected for this study. Participants' considerations when selecting an orthodontist were assessed using a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire collected data regarding participants’ demographic characteristics and their preferences regarding clinical settings, orthodontist attributes, administrative systems, and the influence of social media. The gathered data were analyzed and compared using independent t-test, ANOVA, and chi-squared for both cohorts. Results: The present results revealed significant differences between the Malaysian and Taiwanese participants with several variables, including orthodontist experience, recommendations, pain-free treatment procedures, treatment duration, friendly reception, sources of information about orthodontists, and preferred social media platforms. Notably, among the Taiwanese participants, “person responsible for treatment costs,” was significantly correlated with the orthodontist's age, the orthodontist's work experience, information sources, travel distance, and content posted by orthodontists on social media. By contrast, among the Malaysian participants, this variable was correlated with the work experience of orthodontists. Conclusion: Significant differences were observed between the Malaysian and Taiwanese participants in terms of their considerations when choosing an orthodontist. Participant's gender significantly influenced orthodontist preferences among the Malaysian participants, whereas the individual responsible for treatment costs was identified to be the most crucial factor influencing the Taiwanese participants.

Background/purpose: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a condition characterized by inflammation and excessive collagen deposition, which has been identified as a potentially malignant disorder. Recently, several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be implicated in various disorders associated with fibrosis. However, how these miRNAs modulate OSF development is poorly understood. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the specific miRNAs that contribute to the progression of OSF and to investigate their molecular mechanisms in promoting fibrosis. Materials and methods: The expression and clinical significance of potential pro-fibrosis miRNA in the OSF cohort and primary buccal mucosal fibroblasts were confirmed through RNA sequencing and qRT–PCR. Luciferase reporter activity assay, miRNA mimic or inhibitor, and short-hairpin RNA silencing were used to elucidate the molecular mechanism of miRNA. Transwell migration, collagen contraction, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation detection were used to investigate the effects of this mechanism on the myofibroblast phenotype and cellular pro-fibrosis capacity. Results: This study demonstrated that miR-190a was overexpressed in fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs). Transfecting fBMFs with miR-190a inhibitor resulted in reduced cell migration, collagen gel contraction, ROS generation, and expression of fibrotic markers. Furthermore, miR-190a exerted this pro-fibrosis property by direct binding to its target, Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15). The results also indicated that the aberrant upregulation of miR-190a, in turn, downregulated the expression of KLF15, which resulted in the activation of myofibroblast. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that miR-190a was involved in myofibroblast activation, suggesting that targeting the miR-190a/KLF15 axis may be a feasible approach in the therapy of OSF.

Background/purpose: Dental plaque is the main cause leading to the dental caries and periodontal diseases. The main purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of oral spray containing the antimicrobial peptide P-113 on the reduction of oral bacteria number and dental plaque formation in a randomized clinical assessment. Materials and methods: This study was divided into two parts. In Part A, we investigated the user experiences with the P-113 containing oral spray. In part B, 14 subjects in the experimental group used the P-113-containing oral spray, while 14 subjects in the control group used a placebo without the P-113 in a 4-week clinical trial. Participants were asked to use the P-113-containing oral spray or placebo 3 times per day and 5 times per use. Moreover, 3 check-ups and 2 washouts were carried out to evaluate the DMFT score, dental plaque weight, dental plaque index, and gingival index. Results: In part A, up to 91.8% of the subjects in the experimental group were satisfied with the use of the P-113-containing oral spray. In part B, based on our PacBio SMRT sequencing platform and DADA2 analysis, the numbers of Streptococcus and Porphyromonas in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group. In addition, decreased dental plaque weight, dental plaque index, and gingival index were all observed in the experimental group. Conclusion: The P-113-containing oral spray has the potential to reduce the dental caries and periodontal disease-related bacteria and to control the dental plaque formation.

Background/purpose: Understanding the relationship between maxillary sinus and posterior root apices is critical in preventing dental treatment complications. This study aimed to analyze and showcase the relationship between the posterior root apices and the maxillary sinus floor, the distance to the buccal cortical bone, and their correlation with age, gender, and sides. Materials and methods: Cone-beam computed tomography images were collected from 94 patients with a total of 478 maxillary posterior teeth and 997 roots. The shortest distance from root apices to the closest border of maxillary sinus and the outer buccal cortical bone margin were measured and grouped for statistical analysis for the differences (P

Background/purpose: The use of computed tomography (CT) for craniofacial measurements is common in medical imaging, but concerns about accuracy and reliability persist, especially with different CT technologies. This study assessed the accuracy of twenty-six common measurements on consecutive CT images from the same patients, using multidetector CT (MDCT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) with two software programs (Amira and Dolphin). Materials and methods: Ten adult subjects with consecutive CBCT scans within one year were randomly selected. Another ten subjects with consecutive MDCT scans were paired with the CBCT group based on age, gender, race, occlusion, and craniofacial pattern. All digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files were randomly coded and analyzed using the two software programs. Intra-examiner reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Successive measurement errors from consecutive scans for both imaging modalities and software programs were compared. Results: For most skeletal linear and angular measurements, Dolphin showed greater successive measurement errors compared to Amira. Eight of the 26 common measurements had errors greater than one unit (millimeter or degree). Despite almost perfect intra-examiner reliability for upper airway analysis, average successive measurement errors were notably high, particularly for intraoral and oropharyngeal airway volumes. The successive Dolphin measurement error for oropharyngeal airway volume on CBCT images was over three times that on MDCT images. Conclusion: Given the substantial successive measurement errors observed during consecutive CT scanning for the upper airway, this study does not support the quantitative use of CT for analyzing changes in airway dimensions for research purposes.

Background/purpose: In Taiwan, there are very few dental radiology curricula in medical radiation education system. This study assessed the participants’ learning outcomes after finishing the dental radiology course for the continuing education of medical radiation technologists in Taiwan. Materials and methods: This study used the questionnaire survey to evaluate the participants’ learning outcomes after finishing the dental radiology course for the continuing education of medical radiation technologists in Taiwan. Results: In this study, 85 participants filled out the questionnaires completely after finishing the dental radiology course. The majority of participants agreed that dental radiology courses were rare in the medical radiation school curricula and the continuing education courses of medical radiation technologists. Moreover, most of participants found this course to be helpful in raising their basic knowledge about the dental radiology, their attitude towards the dental radiology, and their interest in further learning of the dental radiology. They were satisfied with the courses. The degree of agreement for each question was high with all the mean scores for each question being between 3.87 and 4.61. The numbers (rates) of respondents who answered as agree were between 58 (68.24%) and 84 (98.82%). Conclusion: The dental radiology course for the continuing education of medical radiation technologists is found to increase the participants’ basic knowledge about the dental radiology, and their awareness and understanding of the radiation protection in dental radiography. Thus, this model can be further used for the dental radiology course for the continuing education of medical radiation technologists in Taiwan.

Dynamic obstacle avoidance is crucial in autonomous driving, ensuring vehicle safety by preventing collisions and enhancing driving efficiency. Dynamic obstacle avoidance algorithms have made significant progress due to deep learning. However, video-based target detection methods can suffer from missed or false detections when processing consecutive frames, especially for high-speed moving targets or in complex dynamic scenes. Multi-target tracking methods require intricate algorithm designs for target initialization and occluded object recovery, which can be compromised by tracker performance, leading to unstable tracking or target loss. To address the issue of target loss in multi-target tracking, we designed the novel YTCN model that infuses time series information through temporal convolution and enhances the sensitivity of the receptive field with Spatial Pyramid Pooling, Feature Concatenate and Spatial Convolution(SPPFCSPC), enhancing the model’s feature extraction capability. Simultaneously, we developed the novel Global Attention Mechanism(GAM) and Double Attention(DA) mechanisms that merge channel and spatial features to enhance feature representation. Finally we design the Temporal Residual Block(TRB) to model the temporal obstacles. Experimental results show that our method achieves 82.4 % of mAP_0.5 on the BDD 100 K dataset, which gets 1.3 % higher than the previous methods.

Automatic modulation recognition (AMR) stands as a pivotal operation within industrial cognitive radio systems. State-of-the-art real-valued convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have innovated modulation recognition but view complex signal components as separate real inputs, impairing signal phase integrity and model interpretability. This paper presents an innovative AMR method known as the CVCNN-LSTM. Our study aims to leverage CNNs in conjunction with a long short-term memory network (LSTM) to harness the strengths of both networks while mitigating their weaknesses. This approach enhances the learning of original I/Q signal features, thus improving recognition performance. The proposed network is composed of multiple LFLBs and an LSTM layer. Each LFLBs is primarily composed of a convolutional layer and an average pooling layer, which play a key role in enabling local correlation learning and hierarchical correlation extraction. Recognizing that I/Q data inherently possesses a complex-valued structure, we advocate using end-to-end complex-valued CNN and complex-valued LSTM instead of dual-channel real-valued networks for modulation recognition. We conduct experiments to evaluate complex-valued networks and demonstrate that our method surpasses current state-of-the-art approaches in the AMR field.

By establishing the characterization model of variable sectional area distributions, a cascade design method of torque converter based on variable sectional area distribution is proposed. Additionally, the corresponding collaborative design method for multi-impeller turbomachinery is proposed and further studied. The design cases of the impellers with different sectional area distributions are constructed through the response surface method, and the corresponding hydrodynamic characteristics are further compared and explored. However, the design of different impeller sectional area distributions for the optimal performance of the whole turbomachinery requires the collaborative design of each component’s distribution results rather than a simple combination of such optimal impeller’s area distribution result. Thus a collaborative design strategy is proposed, which can improve the pump’s capacity performance by 8.83%, the maximum torque ratio performance can also increased by 6.33%, which proves that such a collaborative design method is an effective optimization design approach to improve the performance of the torque converter without altering the overall dimension. The experimental results of the optimal prototype show that the torque ratio reaches 5.33% higher than the original value, which indicates that such a collaborative optimization method for multi-impeller turbomachinery is effective and reliable.

Background: Tendon-bone interface (TBI) repair is slow and challenging owing to its hierarchical structure, gradient composition, and complex function. In this work, enlightened by the natural characteristics of TBI microstructure and the demands of TBI regeneration, a structure, composition, and function-based scaffold was fabricated. Methods: The biomimetic scaffold was designed based on the “tissue-inducing biomaterials” theory: (1) a porous scaffold was created with poly-lactic-co-glycolic-acid, nano-hydroxyapatite and loaded with BMP2-gelatinmp to simulate the bone (BP); (2) a hydrogel was produced from sodium alginate, type I collagen, and loaded with TGF-β3 to simulate the cartilage (CP); (3) the L-poly-lactic-acid fibers were oriented to simulate the tendon (TP). The morphology of tri-layered constructs, gelation kinetics, degradation rate, release kinetics and mechanical strength of the scaffold were characterized. Then, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and tenocytes (TT-D6) were cultured on the scaffold to evaluate its gradient differentiation inductivity. A rat Achilles tendon defect model was established, and BMSCs seeded on scaffolds were implanted into the lesionsite. The tendon-bone lesionsite of calcaneus at 4w and 8w post-operation were obtained for gross observation, radiological evaluation, biomechanical and histological assessment. Results: The hierarchical microstructures not only endowed the scaffold with gradual composition and mechanical properties for matching the regional biophysical characteristics of TBI but also exhibited gradient differentiation inductivity through providing regional microenvironment for cells. Moreover, the scaffold seeded with cells could effectively accelerate healing in rat Achilles tendon defects, attributable to its enhanced differentiation performance. Conclusion: The hierarchical scaffolds simulating the structural, compositional, and cellular heterogeneity of natural TBI tissue performed therapeutic effects on promoting regeneration of TBI and enhancing the healing quality of Achilles tendon. The translational potential of this article: The novel scaffold showed the great efficacy on tendon to bone healing by offering a structural and compositional microenvironment. The results meant that the hierarchical scaffold with BMSCs may have a great potential for clinical application.

Background: Memantine, which is an FDA-proven drug for the treatment of dementia, exerts its function by blocking the function of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, a calcium-permeable ion channel that reduces cytotoxic calcium overload. Chondrocyte senescence is a crucial cellular event that contributes to articular cartilage degeneration during osteoarthritis (OA) development. To date, the effects of memantine and its downstream NMDA receptor on chondrocyte senescence and OA have been rarely reported. Methods: The protein levels of NMDA receptor and its agonistic ligand, glutamate, were compared between normal and OA chondrocytes. The quantity of intracellular calcium ions and the level of mitochondrial damage were evaluated using specific fluorescent probes and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. Chondrocyte senescence was evaluated by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining and p16INK4a analysis. The function of NMDA receptor in chondrocyte senescence and OA was tested via agonists activation and gene knockdown experiments. The therapeutic effects of memantine on OA were examined both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, to verify the findings from animal samples, a propensity score-matched cohort study was conducted using data from a United Kingdom primary care database (i.e., IQVIA Medical Research Database [IMRD]) to compare the risk of OA-related joint replacement involved in memantine initiators versus active comparators (i.e., acetylcholinesterase [AchE] initiators) in patients with dementia. Results: The protein expression of NMDA receptor and the secretion of glutamate were both significantly increased in OA chondrocytes. NMDA receptor activation was found to stimulate chondrocyte calcium overload, which further led to mitochondrial fragmentation and chondrocyte senescence. Blocking the NMDA receptor with memantine and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1(NR1, the gene encoding NMDA receptor) knockdown resulted in reduced calcium influx, mitochondrial fragmentation, as well as cellular senescence in OA chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of memantine in OA mice also exhibited protective effects against cartilage degeneration. Moreover, in the 1:5 propensity score-matched cohort study consisting of 6218 patients (n = 1435 in the memantine cohort; n = 4783 in the AchE cohort), the memantine initiator was associated with a lower risk of OA-related joint replacement than AchE initiators (Hazard ratio = 0.56, 95 % confidence interval: 0.34 to 0.99). Conclusion: NMDA receptor plays an important role in inflammatory-induced cytotoxic calcium overload in chondrocytes, while memantine can effectively block the NMDA receptor to reduce chondrocyte senescence and retard the development of OA. The translational potential of this article: As a clinically licensed drug used for the treatment of dementia, memantine has shown promising therapeutic effects on OA. Mechanistically, it functions by blocking NMDA receptor from mediating chondrocyte senescence. The protective effects of memantine against OA were verified not only by in vivo and in vitro experiments but also via a propensity score-matched human cohort study. These findings presented robust evidence for repurposing memantine for the treatment of OA.

Objectives: This study aimed to survey the geriatric nursing competencies of clinical nursing staff in Chongqing City, China, and provide suggestions to enhance these competencies. Methods: This study was conducted in 204 hospitals in Southwest China from December 24, 2022 to January 7, 2023. The “Geriatric Nursing Competence of Clinical Nurse Investigation Tool” was used to explore factors that influence geriatric nurses’ competencies via stratified sampling. The survey was conducted by distributing and collecting questionnaires through the online platform Wenjuanxing. Results: A total of 10,692 nurses answered the questionnaires. Of these questionnaires, 9,442 were valid. The total geriatric nursing competence score of the clinical nursing staff was 2.29 ± 0.81, the secondary hospital score was 2.23 ± 0.78, and the tertiary hospital’s overall mean score was 2.33 ± 0.83. The factors that influenced secondary hospitals included the department of medicine, age of nurses and total length of career (P

A high-Zn Al–27Zn-1.5Mg-1.2Cu-0.08Zr alloy was prepared by traditional casting and melt spinning. The as-casted alloy consists of well-developed α-Al dendrites with many coarse η-phase and low solute concentration, coarse network precipitates at grain boundaries and the α-Al/η-phase eutectic structures at triple junctions. Due to these featured structures, the as-cast alloy exhibits a low tensile strength of 101 MPa with room temperature and high temperature (300 °C) damping capacity of 0.0058 and 0.027 respectively. Comparatively, the as-spun alloy reveals gradient cross-sectional microstructures after solidification: an ultrafine grained region near the wheel surface, a transition region and an equiaxed-grained region near the ribbon free surface, with changes of precipitate morphologies from granular shape to network shape via vermicular. High-density nano-sized η′-phase/GP-zones within α-Al grains result in a higher tensile strength (121 MPa) of as-spun alloy with room temperature and high temperature (300 °C) damping capacity of 0.0049 and 0.048 respectively. Fracture analysis shows that the as-casted alloy fails in a mixed-mode fracture, comprised predominantly of transgranular fracture, quasi-cleavage fracture, cleavage fracture and dimple fracture, whereas the as-spun alloy failed in cleavage fracture and dimple fracture.

As the grade of copper concentrate decreases and its composition becomes increasingly complex, the silver content in the anode plate casting after fire refining increases. This leads to a high silver content in the copper cathode during electrorefining and a substantial loss of precious metals. This study investigated the effect of 1-aminopropyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (APMImBr) ionic liquid on the migration of silver during high-silver anode plate electrorefining. The results show that APMImBr is adsorbed on the anode surface by reacting with Ag+ released from the anode to form AgBr precipitates, thereby preventing Ag+ ions from entering the electrolyte. Simultaneously, agglomerates of fine Ag–Se compounds and AgBr particles form, resulting in anode slime particles that are sufficiently large to settle quickly to the bottom of the cell, thus inhibiting fine silver-containing particles from adhering to the cathode. Furthermore, APMImBr adsorbs onto the cathode surface, forming CuBr intermediates and inhibiting Cu2+ electrodeposition. This facilitates the refinement of the surface grains and flattens the copper cathode surface. The Ag content of the cathode decreased continuously as the concentration of APMImBr increased. The Ag content of the cathode decreased by 41.67% from 6.0 ppm (no additives) to 3.5 ppm upon the addition of the optimal concentration of 300 mg/L of APMImBr.

Strain rate plays a nonnegligible role in the plastic deformation behavior of metallic materials with heterogeneous nanostructure, while little research focuses on the topic. In-situ compression tests at various strain rates were conducted on the micropillars located at different depths from the gradient lamellar Ni. These tests intended to reveal the strain-rate dependence of micropillars with different lamellar thicknesses and illustrated the competitive relationship between strain rate and intrinsic grain size on the plastic deformation behavior of metallic materials. In addition, due to the strain rate sensitivity related to not only intrinsic size but also external size, single Ni micropillars with different diameters were also compressed at various strain rates in order to clarify the competitive relationship between intrinsic size and external size on the strain rate sensitivity. It is found that lamellar thickness rather than strain rate has more effect on plastic deformation, and external size exhibits a more obvious impact on the strain rate sensitivity. The plastic deformation behaviors of different micropillars are mainly explained by transitions in the effect of lamellar grain boundaries on the dislocation motion at various strain rates and over different lamellar thicknesses, resulting in the change of dislocation multiplication and annihilation rate.

Slope stability analysis is a classical mechanical problem in geotechnical engineering and engineering geology. It is of great significance to study the stability evolution of expansive soil slopes for engineering construction in expansive soil areas. Most of the existing studies evaluate the slope stability by analyzing the limit equilibrium state of the slope, and the analysis method for the stability evolution considering the damage softening of the shear zone is lacking. In this study, the large deformation shear mechanical behavior of expansive soil was investigated by ring shear test. The damage softening characteristic of expansive soil in the shear zone was analyzed, and a shear damage model reflecting the damage softening behavior of expansive soil was derived based on the damage theory. Finally, by skillfully combining the vector sum method and the shear damage model, an analysis method for the stability evolution of the expansive soil slope considering the shear zone damage softening was proposed. The results show that the shear zone subjected to large displacement shear deformation exhibits an obvious damage softening phenomenon. The damage variable equation based on the logistic function can be well used to describe the shear damage characteristics of expansive soil, and the proposed shear damage model is in good agreement with the ring shear test results. The vector sum method considering the damage softening behavior of the shear zone can be well applied to analyze the stability evolution characteristics of the expansive soil slope. The stability factor of the expansive soil slope decreases with the increase of shear displacement, showing an obvious progressive failure behavior.

Tiger puffer is a commercially important fish cultured in high-density environments, and its accurate detection is indispensable for determining growth conditions and realizing accurate feeding. However, the detection precision and recall of farmed tiger puffer are low due to target blurring and occlusion in real farming environments. The farmed tiger puffer detection model, called knowledge aggregation YOLO (KAYOLO), fuses prior knowledge with improved YOLOv5 and was proposed to solve this problem. To alleviate feature loss caused by target blurring, we drew on the human practice of using prior knowledge for reasoning when recognizing blurred targets and used prior knowledge to strengthen the tiger puffer's features and improve detection precision. To address missed detection caused by mutual occlusion in high-density farming environments, a prediction box aggregation method, aggregating prediction boxes of the same object, was proposed to reduce the influence among different objects to improve detection recall. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods, ablation experiments, model performance experiments, and model robustness experiments were designed. The experimental results showed that KAYOLO's detection precision and recall results reached 94.92% and 92.21%, respectively. The two indices were improved by 1.29% and 1.35%, respectively, compared to those of YOLOv5. Compared with the recent state-of-the-art underwater object detection models, such as SWIPENet, RoIMix, FERNet, and SK-YOLOv5, KAYOLO achieved 2.09%, 1.63%, 1.13% and 0.85% higher precision and 1.2%, 0.18%, 1.74% and 0.39% higher recall, respectively. Experiments were conducted on different datasets to verify the model's robustness, and the precision and recall of KAYOLO were improved by approximately 1.3% compared to those of YOLOv5. The study showed that KAYOLO effectively enhanced farmed tiger puffer detection by reducing blurring and occlusion effects. Additionally, the model had a strong generalization ability on different datasets, indicating that the model can be adapted to different environments, and it has strong robustness.

Autoclave corrosion testing has been used for many years; however, few have studied the effect of its shortcomings on the formation of corrosion products and corrosion behaviour. In particular, understanding of these effects under high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) is rare. In this study, we highlighted the important parameters such as heating periods, flow rates and volume-to-surface ratios influencing carbon steel corrosion in the early stages. Especially, characterisation and protection behaviour of corrosion products associated with corrosion behaviour in the heating stage under the geothermal CO2-containing environment were systematically studied via mass loss, in-situ electrochemistry and surface analysis techniques. The roles of pCO2, volume-to-surface ratio and flow rate influence the formation of the corrosion products in the early stage are also evaluated.

The immiscible and non-reactive Fe/Mg (304SS/AZ31B) dissimilar metals were butt joined by MIG-TIG double-sided arc welding-brazing (DSAWB) with AZ31 magnesium alloy welding wire. The brazing interface was metallurgically joined through the mutual diffusion of elements (Al, Fe and Mg) with the formation of α-Fe(Mg, Al) solid solution and FeAl intermetallic compound (IMC) at the interface. The joint tensile strength reached a maximum value of 235 MPa, which was 93.98 % of the base metal-Mg alloy. The joint tensile strength was influenced by the combination of joint forming and interface strength, with the latter being the main contributing factor. When the welding heat input was low, increasing the heat input by adjusting the welding parameters were advantageous for the wetting and spreading of liquid metal on the steel base material, ultimately improving the joint forming. The diffusion of elements in the brazing interface area was enhanced, resulting in improved interface strength when the diffusion distance of elements was maintained within the range of 1 μm–2.6 μm. The tensile strength remained high due to the excellent joint forming and interface strength. As the welding heat input continued to increase, excessive molten metal in the weld seam caused uneven joint forming, particularly on the back side. The diffusion of elements in the brazing interface area led to an increase in the formation of brittle intermetallic compounds, resulting in a decrease in interface strength. The overall tensile strength decreased due to the combined effect of both factors.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that high-speed jaw-opening exercises are effective in improving swallowing function. However, there has been no objective tool available for monitoring jaw-opening pace. This study aimed to develop an objective tool for monitoring and validating jaw-opening pace and compare it between young and old ages from different age groups. Materials and methods: A load cell plug-in jaw pad connected to an automatic recording and analysis system was used to record jaw-opening motions for offline analysis. We recruited 58 healthy volunteers from different age groups (20–39 y/o; 40-59y/o; 60-79y/o). During a 2-min recording session, each participant was instructed to fully open and close their jaw as quickly as possible while wearing a sensor. Bland-Altman plot, paired t-test and Pearson's correlation test were used to compare the number of jaw-opening motions between manual counting and automatic software analysis. The number of jaw-opening motions during the 2-min recording was compared between the three age groups. Results: Automated analysis of jaw-opening pace was efficient and equally comparable with the traditional manual counting method across the three age groups. A declining trend in jaw-opening pace among the old age group was found but with no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: A jaw-opening motion monitoring tool with reliable automatic pace analysis software was validated in young and old ages The jaw-opening pace demonstrated a tendency to decline with age.

Background: Non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery combines a minimally invasive technique with multimodal locoregional analgesia to enhance recovery. The mainstay sedation protocol involves propofol and fentanyl. Dexmedetomidine, given its opioid-sparing effect with minimal respiratory depression, facilitates sedation in non-intubated patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine during non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Methods: A total of 114 patients who underwent non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery between June 2015 and September 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Of these, 34 were maintained with dexmedetomidine, propofol, and fentanyl, and 80 were maintained with propofol and fentanyl. After a 1:1 propensity score-matched analysis incorporating sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, pulmonary disease and hypertension, the clinical outcomes of 34 pairs of patients were assessed. Results: The dexmedetomidine group showed a significantly lower opioid consumption [10.3 (5.7–15.1) vs. 18.8 (10.0–31.0) mg, median (interquartile range); P = 0.001] on postoperative day 0 and a significantly shorter postoperative length of stay [3 (2–4) vs. 4 (3–5) days, median (interquartile range), P = 0.006] than the control group. During operation, the proportion of vasopressor administration was significantly higher in the dexmedetomidine group [18 (53) vs. 7 (21), patient number (%), P = 0.01]. On the other hand, the difference of the hypotension and bradycardia incidence, short-term morbidity and mortality rates between each group were nonsignificant. Conclusion: Adding adjuvant dexmedetomidine to propofol and fentanyl is safe and feasible for non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. With its opioid-sparing effect and shorter postoperative length of stay, dexmedetomidine may enhance recovery after surgery.

Background/purpose: Zirconia has been a popular material in dental implantology with good biocompatibility. But few research focused on its application in implant drills. This study aimed to investigate the physical, thermal, and biological effects on using the zirconia and stainless-steel drills for implant bone site preparation. Methods: We performed a series of experiments to evaluate the physical wearing properties of zirconia and stainless-steel drills of identical diameter and similar shape. During the implant site preparation thermal test, we subjected both drills onto a resin-embedded bone, utilizing a thermal couple device without irrigation. Moreover, we conducted a cell study by collecting bone cells in vivo while preparing the implant site with both tested drills. The cell activity was evaluated through cell proliferation colorimetric analysis (XTT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurements. Results: The zirconia drill outperforms the stainless-steel drill in terms of requiring less force, maintaining stability over repeated cutting tests, and generating lower temperatures during drilling (stainless-steel drill: 45.48 ± 1.31 °C; zirconia-coated drill: 32.98 ± 1.21 °C, P = 0.000247). Meanwhile, both types of drills show similar results in XTT colorimetric analysis and ALP activity test. Conclusion: The thermal effect study is more favorable for using the zirconia drill than the stainless-steel drill for bone preparation. Cytological analysis indicate that the zirconia drill produces a similar impact on bone cells activity as the stainless-steel drill. Therefore, we conclude that the zirconia drills offer a good cutting effect similar to currently available stainless-steel drills in various aspects.

Background: Exosomes are membrane vesicles that are actively secreted in response to microenvironmental stimuli. In this study, we quantified the amount of exosomes in patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and evaluated its relationship with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) results. Methods: Patients who underwent both MPI and coronary angiography were recruited. Plasma was collected during angiography, and exosomes were extracted via the precipitation method. The summed stress scores (SSS), summed difference scores, and ventricular functional parameters were calculated from the MPI and compared with the amounts of exosomes and extracted miRNAs. Results: In total, 115 patients were enrolled (males: 78 %; mean age: 66.6 ± 10.6 years). Those with abnormal SSS according to the MPI had significantly fewer exosomes (p = 0.032). After multivariate analysis, the SSS remained significantly related to the amount of exosomes (p = 0.035). In forty randomly selected samples, miRNA-432–5p and miRNA-382–3p were upregulated in patients with abnormal SSS. Conclusion: Patients with compromised poststress myocardial perfusion on MPI tended to have fewer exosomes in association with CAD-related miRNAs. This is the first study to clarify the fundamental and pathophysiological causes of CAD using radiographic examinations.

The present study was undertaken to understand the effect of annealing on the microstructural features of the melt-pool structure and the associated multiscale mechanical properties of the Al–2.5%Fe–2%Cu alloy manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Microstructural characterizations and tensile tests were conducted for the LPBF-built specimen and those subsequently annealed at various temperatures ranging from 200 to 500 °C. Nanoindentation hardness mapping was used to evaluate the mechanical inhomogeneity of the melt-pool structure and its changes by annealing at different temperatures. The LPBF-manufactured sample exhibited a melt-pool structure containing numerous particles of the Al23CuFe4 phase (oC28, orthorhombic structure) formed because of local melting and rapid solidification during the LPBF process. The relatively coarsened cellular structure localized along the melt-pool boundary resulted in local soft regions. The local vulnerability contributed to the direction dependence of the tensile ductility. A slight variation was observed in the inhomogeneous microstructure of the samples annealed at 200 or 300 °C. The formation of numerous Al23CuFe4 nanoprecipitates in the α-Al supersaturated solid solution prevented strength loss after post-heat treatments. In addition, considerable coarsening of the intermetallic phase after annealing at 500 °C eliminated the melt-pool structure. The tensile performance of the specimens demonstrated a ductile fracture mode, wherein ductile fracture occurred in the α-Al matrix with low hardness while the harder θ-Al13Fe4 stable phase was embedded within it. The anisotropy in the mechanical properties was less pronounced owing to the significant microstructural changes.

Aminoglycosides (AGs) are a class of antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity. However, their use is limited by safety concerns associated with nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, as well as drug resistance. To address these issues, semi-synthetic approaches for modifying natural AGs have generated new generations of AGs, however, with limited types of modification due to significant challenges in synthesis. This study explores a novel approach that harness the bacterial biosynthetic machinery of gentamicins and kanamycins to create hybrid AGs. This was achieved by glycodiversification of gentamicins via swapping the glycosyltransferase (GT) in their producer with the GT from kanamycins biosynthetic pathway and resulted in the creation of a series of novel AGs, therefore referred to as genkamicins (GKs). The manipulation of the hybrid biosynthetic pathway enabled the targeted accumulation of different GK species and the isolation and characterization of six GK components. These compounds display retained antimicrobial activity against a panel of World Health Organization (WHO) critical priority pathogens, and GK-C2a, in particular, demonstrates low ototoxicity compared to clinical drugs in zebrafish embryos. This study provides a new strategy for diversifying the structure of AGs and a potential avenue for developing less toxic AG drugs to combat infectious diseases.