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Background : Lymphadenectomy plays a crucial role in the surgical management of early- stage esophageal cancer. However, few studies have examined lymphadenectomy outcomes in advanced stages, particularly in patients who initially underwent concurrent chemoradiation therapy. This retrospective study investigates the effect of lymphadenectomy in patients diagnosed with AJCC 8th-edition clinical stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received concurrent preoperative chemoradiation. Methods : Data from 1994 to 2023 were retrieved from our retrospective database. All patients underwent a uniform evaluation and treatment protocol, including preoperative concurrent chemoradiation therapy comprising cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, followed by esophagectomy. The analysis encompassed clinical T and N stages, tumor location, tumor grade, pathological T and N stages, pathological stage, and the extent of lymph node dissection. Overall survival, "Free-To-Recurrence", and disease-free survival were assessed via Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the Cox regression model for multivariate analysis. Results : The dataset was stratified into two groups according to extent of lymph node dissection, with one group having <15 dissected nodes and the other having ≥15 dissected nodes. The group with <15 nodes exhibited a shorter "Free-To-Recurrence", worse disease-free survival, and lower overall survival. In multiple-variate analysis (Cox regression model), the number of dissected lymph nodes emerged as a significant factor influencing overall survival and freedom from recurrence. Conclusions : The quantity of lymphadenectomy is a crucial determinant for patients with AJCC 8th-edition clinical stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving preoperative concurrent chemoradiation.

The electrocatalytic performance of a Fe 65 Co 10 Si 12.5 B 12.5 Fe-based compounds toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is enhanced by dealloying. The dealloying process produced a large number of nanosheets on the surface of NS-Fe 65 Co 10 Si 12.5 B 12.5 , which greatly increased the specific surface area of the electrode. When the dealloying time is 3 h, the overpotential of NS-Fe 65 Co 10 Si 12.5 B 12.5 is only 175.1 mV at 1.0 M KOH and 10 mA cm -2 , while under the same conditions, the overpotential of Fe 65 Co 10 Si 12.5 B 12.5 is 215 mV, which is reduced. In addition, dealloying treated electrodes also show better HER performance than un-dealloying treated electrodes. With the increase in Co doping amount, the overpotential of the hydrogen evolution reaction decreases, and the hydrogen evolution activity is the best when the addition amount of Co is 10%. This work not only provides a basic understanding of the relationship between surface activity and the dealloying of HER catalysts, but also paves a new way for doping transition metal elements in Fe-based electrocatalysts working in alkaline media.

The out-of-control action plan (OCAP) is crucial in the wafer probing process of semiconductor manufacturing as it systematically addresses and corrects deviations, ensuring the high quality and reliability of semiconductor devices. However, the traditional OCAP involves many redundant and complicated processes after failures occur on production lines, which can delay production and escalate costs. To overcome the traditional OCAP's limitations, this paper proposes a novel OCAP aimed at enhancing the wafer probing process in semiconductor manufacturing. The proposed OCAP integrates proactive measures such as preventive maintenance and advanced monitoring technologies, which are tested and verified through a comprehensive experimental setup. Implementing the novel OCAP in a case company's production line reduced machine downtime by over 24 h per week and increased wafer production by about 23 wafers per week. Additionally, probe test yield improved by an average of 1.1%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. This paper not only explores the implementation of the novel OCAP but also compares it with the traditional OCAP, highlighting significant improvements in efficiency and production output. The results underscore the potential of advanced OCAP to enhance manufacturing processes by reducing dependency on human judgment, thus lowering the likelihood of errors and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

For designing single-molecule devices that have both conjugation systems and structural flexibility, a hyperconjugated molecule with a σ-π bond interaction is considered an ideal candidate. In the investigation of conductance at the single-molecule level, since few hyperconjugation systems have been involved, the strategy of building hyperconjugation systems and the mechanism of electron transport within this system remain unexplored. Based on the skipped-conjugated structure, we present a rational approach to construct a hyperconjugation molecule using a hydroxyl group, which serves as a bridge to interact with the conjugated fragments. The measurement of single-molecule conductance reveals a two-fold conductance enhancement of the hyperconjugation system having the 'bridging' hydroxyl group compared to hydroxyl-free derivatives. Theoretical studies demonstrate that the hydroxyl group in the hyperconjugation system connects the LUMO of the two conjugated fragments and opens a through-space channel for electron transport to enhance the conductance.

In this study, lead(II) sulphide (PbS) nanoparticles of varying particle sizes were synthesized using the hot injection method, employing 1-octadecene (ODE) as a coordinating ligand in conjunction with oleylamine (OAm). This synthesis approach was compared with the preparation of hexagonal-shaped nanoparticles through the ligand of 1-Dodecanethiol (DT), resulting in DT-capped PbS nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using multiple techniques including photoluminescence (PL), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The condensation reaction of DT ligands led to various nanoparticles within the range of 34.87 nm to 35.87 nm across different synthesis temperatures (120 °C, 150 °C, 180 °C, 210 °C, and 240 °C). The PbS with DT ligands exhibited a highly crystalline and superhydrophilic structure. Interestingly, near-infrared (NIR)-PL analysis revealed peaks at 1100 nm, representing the lowest-energy excitonic absorption peak of PbS nanoparticles for both ligands. This suggests their potential utility in various applications, including IR photoreactors, as well as in the development of non-toxic nanoparticles for potential applications in in vivo bioimaging.

Oral cancer ranks fourth among malignancies among Taiwanese men and is the eighth most common cancer among men worldwide in terms of general diagnosis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate how low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1B (LDL receptor related protein 1B; LRP1B) gene polymorphisms affect oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) risk and progression in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Three LRP1B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs10496915, rs431809, and rs6742944, were evaluated in 311 OSCC cases and 300 controls. Between the case and control groups, we found no evidence of a significant correlation between the risk of OSCC and any of the three specific SNPs. Nevertheless, in evaluating the clinicopathological criteria, individuals with DM who possess a minimum of one minor allele of rs10496915 (AC + CC; p = 0.046) were significantly associated with tumor size compared with those with homozygous major alleles (AA). Similarly, compared to genotypes homologous for the main allele (GG), rs6742944 genotypes (GA + AA; p = 0.010) were more likely to develop lymph node metastases. The tongue and the rs6742944 genotypes (GA + AA) exhibited higher rates of advanced clinical stages ( p = 0.024) and lymph node metastases ( p = 0.007) when compared to homozygous alleles (GG). LRP1B genetic polymorphisms appear to be prognostic and diagnostic markers for OSCC and DM, as well as contributing to genetic profiling research for personalized medicine.

General anesthetics were first used over 170 years ago; however, the mechanisms of how general anesthetics induce loss of consciousness (LOC) remain unclear. Ciprofol, a novel intravenous anesthetic, has been developed by incorporating cyclopropyl into the chemical structure of propofol. This modification offers the benefits of rapid onset and minimal injection pain. Recent studies have revealed that the glutamatergic neurons of the lateral habenula (LHb) play a crucial role in modulating the LOC induced by propofol and sevoflurane. Nevertheless, the specific involvement of LHb in the anesthetic effects of ciprofol remains uncertain. Here, using targeted recombination in active populations (TRAP) combined with electroencephalogram/electromyography recordings and the righting reflex behavioral test, our study revealed that intravenous infusion of ciprofol for 1 h could lead to the induction of c-Fos expression in the LHb in mice. The combination of TRAP and gene ablation, aimed at selectively ablating ciprofol-activated neurons in the LHb, has been shown to facilitate the emergence of ciprofol anesthesia and decrease the proportion of delta waves during the emergence phase. Chemogenetic inhibition of these neurons produced a comparable effect, whereas chemogenetic activation resulted in the opposite outcome. Chemogenetic activation of ciprofol-activated neurons in the LHb delays the emergence of anesthesia and induces a deep hypnotic state during the emergence phase. Taken together, our findings suggest that LHb ciprofol-activated neurons modulate the state of consciousness and could potentially be targeted to manipulate consciousness during ciprofol anesthesia.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection typically causes mild illnesses, such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), but occasionally leads to severe or fatal neurological complications in infants and young children. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment available for EV-A71 infection. Thus, the development of an effective anti-EV-A71 drug is required urgently. Cordycepin, a major bioactive compound found in Cordyceps fungus, has been reported to possess antiviral activity. However, its specific activity against EV-A71 is unknown. In this study, the potency and role of cordycepin treatment on EV-A71 infection were investigated. Results demonstrated that cordycepin treatment significantly reduced the viral load and viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) level in EV-A71-infected Vero cells. In addition, EV-A71-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly inhibited in the presence of cordycepin in a dose-dependent manner. The protective effect can also be extended to Caco-2 intestinal cells, as evidenced by the higher median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID 50 ) values in the cordycepin-treated groups. Furthermore, cordycepin inhibited EV-A71 replication by acting on the adenosine pathway at the post-infection stage. Taken together, our findings reveal that cordycepin could be a potential antiviral candidate for the treatment of EV-A71 infection.

Primary endocrine therapy (PET) offers non-surgical treatment for older women with early-stage breast cancer who are unsuitable for surgery due to frailty or comorbidity. This research assessed all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality of PET vs. surgery in older women (≥70 years) with oestrogen-receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer by frailty and comorbidity levels. This study used UK secondary data to analyse older female patients from 2000 to 2016. Patients were censored until 31 May 2019 and grouped by the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and hospital frailty risk score (HFRS). Cox regression models compared all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality between PET and surgery within each group, adjusting for patient preferences and covariates. Sensitivity analyses accounted for competing risks. There were 23,109 patients included. The hazard ratio (HR) comparing PET to surgery for overall survival decreased significantly from 2.1 (95%CI: 2.0, 2.2) to 1.2 (95%CI: 1.1, 1.5) with increasing HFRS and from 2.1 (95%CI: 2.0, 2.2) to 1.4 (95%CI 1.2, 1.7) with rising CCI. However, there was no difference in BCSM for frail older women (HR: 1.2; 0.9, 1.9). There were no differences in competing risk profiles between other causes of death and breast cancer-specific mortality with PET versus surgery, with a subdistribution hazard ratio of 1.1 (0.9, 1.4) for high-level HFRS ( p = 0.261) and CCI ( p = 0.093). Given limited survival gains from surgery for older patients, PET shows potential as an effective option for frail older women with early-stage breast cancer. Despite surgery outperforming PET, surgery loses its edge as frailty increases, with negligible differences in the very frail.

Guided-mode resonance (GMR) gratings have emerged as a promising sensing technology, with a growing number of applications in diverse fields. This study aimed to identify the optimal design parameters of a simple-to-fabricate and high-performance one-dimensional GMR grating. The structural parameters of the GMR grating were optimized, and a high-refractive-index thin film was simulated on the grating surface, resulting in efficient confinement of the electric field energy within the waveguide. Numerical simulations demonstrated that the optimized GMR grating exhibited remarkable sensitivity (252 nm/RIU) and an extremely narrow full width at half maximum (2 × 10 -4 nm), resulting in an ultra-high figure of merit (839,666) at an incident angle of 50°. This performance is several orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional GMR sensors. To broaden the scope of the study and to make it more relevant to practical applications, simulations were also conducted at incident angles of 60° and 70°. This holistic approach sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of the performance of the GMR-based sensor under diverse operational conditions.

Traditional research in inflammatory dermatoses has relied on animal models and reconstructed human epidermis to study these conditions. However, these models are limited in replicating the complexity of real human skin and reproducing the intricate pathological changes in skin barrier components and lipid profiles. To address this gap, we developed experimental models that mimic various human inflammatory skin phenotypes. Human ex vivo skins were stimulated with various triggers, creating models for inflammation-induced angiogenesis, irritation response, and chronic T-cell activation. We assessed the alterations in skin morphology, cellular infiltrates, cytokine production, and epidermal lipidomic profiles. In the pro-angiogenesis model, we observed increased mast cell degranulation and elevated levels of angiogenic growth factors. Both the irritant and chronic inflammation models exhibited severe epidermal disruption, along with macrophage infiltration, leukocyte exocytosis, and heightened cytokine levels. Lipidomic analysis revealed minor changes in the pro-angiogenesis model, whereas the chronic inflammation and irritant models exhibited significant decreases in barrier essential ceramide subclasses and a shift toward shorter acyl chain lengths (

89 Zr-iPET has been widely used for preclinical and clinical immunotherapy studies to predict patient stratification or evaluate therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we prepared and evaluated 89 Zr-DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb tracers with varying chelator-to-antibody ratios (CARs), including 89 Zr-DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb&#95;3X ( tracer&#95;3X ), 89 Zr-DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb&#95;10X ( tracer&#95;10X ), and 89 Zr-DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb&#95;20X ( tracer&#95;20X ). The DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb conjugates with varying CARs were prepared using a random conjugation method and then subjected to quality control. The conjugates were radiolabeled with 89 Zr and evaluated in a PD-L1-expressing CT26 tumor-bearing mouse model. Next, iPET imaging, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and ex vivo pathological and immunohistochemical examinations were conducted. LC-MS analysis revealed that DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb conjugates were prepared with CARs ranging from 0.4 to 2.0. Radiochemical purity for all tracer groups was >99% after purification. The specific activity levels of tracer&#95;3X , tracer&#95;10X , and tracer&#95;20X were 2.2 ± 0.6, 8.2 ± 0.6, and 10.5 ± 1.6 μCi/μg, respectively. 89 Zr-iPET imaging showed evident tumor uptake in all tracer groups and reached the maximum uptake value at 24 h postinjection (p.i.). Biodistribution data at 168 h p.i. revealed that the tumor-to-liver, tumor-to-muscle, and tumor-to-blood uptake ratios for tracer&#95;3X , tracer&#95;10X , and tracer&#95;20X were 0.46 ± 0.14, 0.58 ± 0.33, and 1.54 ± 0.51; 4.7 ± 1.3, 7.1 ± 3.9, and 14.7 ± 1.1; and 13.1 ± 5.8, 19.4 ± 13.8, and 41.3 ± 10.6, respectively. Significant differences were observed between tracer&#95;3X and tracer&#95;20X in the aforementioned uptake ratios at 168 h p.i. The mean residence time and elimination half-life for tracer&#95;3X , tracer&#95;10X , and tracer&#95;20X were 25.4 ± 4.9, 24.2 ± 6.1, and 25.8 ± 3.3 h and 11.8 ± 0.5, 11.1 ± 0.7, and 11.7 ± 0.6 h, respectively. No statistical differences were found between-tracer in the aforementioned pharmacokinetic parameters. In conclusion, 89 Zr-DFO-anti-PD-L1-mAb tracers with a CAR of 1.4-2.0 may be better at imaging PD-L1 expression in tumors than are traditional low-CAR 89 Zr-iPET tracers.

The outreach of healthcare services is a challenge to remote areas with affected populations. Fortunately, remote health monitoring (RHM) has improved the hospital service quality and has proved its sustainable growth. However, the absence of security may breach the health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA), which has an exclusive set of rules for the privacy of medical data. Therefore, the goal of this work is to design and implement the adaptive Autonomous Protocol (AutoPro) on the patient's r emote h ealth c are (RHC) monitoring data for the hospital using fully homomorphic encryption (FHE). The aim is to perform adaptive autonomous FHE computations on recent RHM data for providing health status reporting and maintaining the confidentiality of every patient. The autonomous protocol works independently within the group of prime hospital servers without the dependency on the third-party system. The adaptiveness of the protocol modes is based on the patient's affected level of slight, medium, and severe cases. Related applications are given as glucose monitoring for diabetes, digital blood pressure for stroke, pulse oximeter for COVID-19, electrocardiogram (ECG) for cardiac arrest, etc. The design for this work consists of an autonomous protocol, hospital servers combining multiple prime/local hospitals, and an algorithm based on fast fully homomorphic encryption over the torus (TFHE) library with a ring-variant by the Gentry, Sahai, and Waters (GSW) scheme. The concrete-ML model used within this work is trained using an open heart disease dataset from the UCI machine learning repository. Preprocessing is performed to recover the lost and incomplete data in the dataset. The concrete-ML model is evaluated both on the workstation and cloud server. Also, the FHE protocol is implemented on the AWS cloud network with performance details. The advantages entail providing confidentiality to the patient's data/report while saving the travel and waiting time for the hospital services. The patient's data will be completely confidential and can receive emergency services immediately. The FHE results show that the highest accuracy is achieved by support vector classification (SVC) of 88% and linear regression (LR) of 86% with the area under curve (AUC) of 91% and 90%, respectively. Ultimately, the FHE-based protocol presents a novel system that is successfully demonstrated on the cloud network.

Studies of the health impacts of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City's (NYC's) World Trade Center (WTC) towers have been hindered by imprecise estimates of exposure. We sought to identify potential biomarkers of WTC exposure by measuring trace and major metal concentrations in lung tissues from WTC-exposed individuals and less exposed community controls. We also investigated associations of lung tissue metal concentrations with self-reported exposure and respiratory symptoms. The primary analyses contrasted post-mortem lung tissue concentrations obtained from autopsies in 2007-2011 of 76 WTC Health Registry (WTCHR) enrollees with those of 55 community controls. Community controls were frequency-matched to WTCHR decedents by age at death, calendar quarter of death, gender, race, ethnicity and education and resided at death in NYC zip codes less impacted by WTC dust and fumes. We found WTCHR decedents to have significantly higher iron (Fe) lung tissue concentrations than community controls. Secondary analyses among WTCHR decedents adjusted for sex and age showed the log(molybdenum (Mo)) concentration to be significantly associated with non-rescue/recovery exposure. Post hoc analyses suggested that individuals whose death certificates listed usual occupation or industry as the Sanitation or Police Departments had elevated lung tissue Fe concentrations. Among WTCHR decedents, exposure to the WTC dust cloud was significantly associated with elevated lung tissue concentrations of titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) in non-parametric univariable analyses but not in multivariable analyses adjusted for age and smoking status. Logistic regression adjusted for age and smoking status among WTCHR decedents showed one or more respiratory symptoms to be positively associated with log (arsenic (As)), log(manganese (Mn)) and log(cobalt (Co)) concentrations, while new-onset wheezing and sinus problems were negatively associated with log(Fe) concentration. Fe concentrations among individuals with wheezing, nonetheless, exceeded those in community controls. In conclusion, these data suggest that further research may be warranted to explore the utility as biomarkers of WTC exposure of Fe in particular and, to a lesser extent, Mo, Ti, Cr and Cd in digestions of lung tissue.

Amongst the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. The failure of standard treatment modalities, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, demands the need for in-depth understanding of the complex signaling networks involved in the development of treatment resistance. A tumor's invasive growth and high levels of intrinsic or acquired treatment resistance are the primary causes of treatment failure. This may be a result of the presence of HNSCC's cancer stem cells, which are known to have self-renewing capabilities that result in therapeutic resistance. Using bioinformatics methods, we discovered that elevated expressions of MET, STAT3, and AKT were associated with poor overall survival in HNSCC patients. We then evaluated the therapeutic potential of our newly synthesized small molecule HNC018 towards its potential as a novel anticancer drug. Our computer-aided structure characterization and target identification study predicted that HNC018 could target these oncogenic markers implicated in HNSCC. Subsequently, the HNC018 has demonstrated its anti-proliferative and anticancer activities towards the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, along with displaying the stronger binding affinities towards the MET, STAT3, and AKT than the standard drug cisplatin. Reduction in the clonogenic and tumor-sphere-forming ability displays HNC018's role in decreasing the tumorigenicity. Importantly, an vivo study has shown a significant delay in tumor growth in HNC018 alone or in combination with cisplatin-treated xenograft mice model. Collectively with our findings, HNC018 highlights the desirable properties of a drug-like candidate and could be considered as a novel small molecule for treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Devices for cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement have become increasingly widespread in recent years. Non-invasive continuous BP monitor (BPM) devices can diagnose potential hypertensive patients at an early stage; however, these cuffless BPMs require more reliable pulse wave simulation equipment and verification methods. Therefore, we propose a device to simulate human pulse wave signals that can test the accuracy of cuffless BPM devices using pulse wave velocity (PWV)., Methods: We design and develop a simulator capable of simulating human pulse waves comprising an electromechanical system to simulate the circulatory system and an arm model-embedded arterial phantom. These parts form a pulse wave simulator with hemodynamic characteristics. We use a cuffless device for measuring local PWV as the device under test to measure the PWV of the pulse wave simulator. We then use a hemodynamic model to fit the cuffless BPM and pulse wave simulator results; this model can rapidly calibrate the cuffless BPM's hemodynamic measurement performance., Results: We first used multiple linear regression (MLR) to generate a cuffless BPM calibration model and then investigated differences between the measured PWV with and without MLR model calibration. The mean absolute error of the studied cuffless BPM without the MLR model is 0.77 m/s, which improves to 0.06 m/s when using the model for calibration. The measurement error of the cuffless BPM at BPs of 100-180 mmHg is 1.7-5.99 mmHg before calibration, which decreases to 0.14-0.48 mmHg after calibration., Conclusion: This study proposes a design of a pulse wave simulator based on hemodynamic characteristics and provides a standard performance verification method for cuffless BPMs that requires only MLR modeling on the cuffless BPM and pulse wave simulator. The pulse wave simulator proposed in this study can be used to quantitively assess the performance of cuffless BPMs. The proposed pulse wave simulator is suitable for mass production for the verification of cuffless BPMs. As cuffless BPMs become increasingly widespread, this study can provide performance testing standards for cuffless devices.

Sangelose ® (SGL) is a novel hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) derivative that has been hydrophobically modified. Due to its high viscosity, SGL has the potential as a gel-forming and release-rate-controlled material for application in swellable and floating gastroretentive drug delivery systems ( sf GRDDS). The aim of this study was to develop ciprofloxacin (CIP)-loaded sf GRDDS tablets comprised of SGL and HPMC in order to extend CIP exposure in the body and achieve optimal antibiotic treatment regimes. Results illustrated that SGL-HPMC-based sf GRDDS could swell to a diameter above 11 mm and showed a short floating lag time (<4 s) and long total floating time (>24 h) to prevent gastric emptying. In dissolution studies, CIP-loaded SGL-HPMC sf GRDDS demonstrated a specific biphasic release effect. Among the formulations, the SGL/type-K HPMC 15,000 cps (HPMC 15K) (50:50) group exhibited typical biphasic release profiles, with F4-CIP and F10-CIP individually releasing 72.36% and 64.14% CIP within 2 h dissolution, and sustaining release to 12 h. In pharmacokinetic studies, the SGL-HPMC-based sf GRDDS demonstrated higher C max (1.56-1.73 fold) and shorter T max (0.67 fold) than HPMC-based sf GRDDS. Furthermore, SGL 90L in GRDDS indicated an excellent biphasic release effect and a maximum elevation of relative bioavailability (3.87 fold). This study successfully combined SGL and HPMC to manufacture sf GRDDS that retain CIP in the stomach for an optimal duration while improving its pharmacokinetic characteristics. It was concluded that the SGL-HPMC-based sf GRDDS is a promising biphasic antibiotic delivery system that can both rapidly achieve the therapeutic antibiotic concentration and maintain the plasma antibiotic concentration for an extended period to maximize antibiotic exposure in the body.

In children-robot interactions, an impression of a robot's "social presence" (i.e., an interactive agent that feels like a person) links positively to an improved relationship with the robot. However, building relationships takes many exposures, and there is an intellectual gap in how social presence and familiarity collaborate in modulating children-robot relationships. We investigated whether social presence altered over time, how repeated exposure and social presence affected rapport, and how social presence would modulate children's attitudes toward the robot. Fourteen children (four female, age = 10.79 ± 1.12) interacted with a companion robot for four days in spontaneous interactions. The findings revealed that children who perceived the robot as having a higher social presence developed a stronger rapport than those who perceived a lower social presence. However, repeated encounters did not change the children's perceptions of the robot's social presence. Children rated higher rapport after repeated interactions regardless of social presence levels. This suggests that while a higher social presence initially elevated the positive relationship between children and the robot, it was the repeated interactions that continued solidifying the rapport. Additionally, children who perceived a higher social presence from the robot felt less relational uneasiness about their relationship with robots. These findings highlight the importance of robots' social presence and familiarity in promoting positive relationships in children-robot interaction.

Gene Ontology (GO) analysis can provide a comprehensive function analysis for investigating genes, allowing us to identify the potential biological roles of genes. The present study conducted GO analysis to explore the biological function of IRAK2 and performed a case analysis to define its clinical role in disease progression and mediating tumor response to RT. Methods: We performed a GO enrichment analysis on the RNA-seq data to validate radiation-induced gene expression. A total of 172 I-IVB specimens from oral squamous cell carcinoma patients were collected for clinical analysis, from which IRAK2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. This was a retrospective study conducted between IRAK2 expression and the outcomes of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients after radiotherapy treatment. We conducted Gene Ontology (GO) analysis to explore the biological function of IRAK2 and performed a case analysis to define its clinical role in mediating tumor response to radiotherapy. GO enrichment analysis to validate radiation-induced gene expression was performed. Clinically, 172 stage I-IVB resected oral cancer patients were used to validate IRAK2 expression in predicting clinical outcomes. GO enrichment analysis showed that IRAK2 is involved in 10 of the 14 most enriched GO categories for post-irradiation biological processes, focusing on stress response and immune modulation. Clinically, high IRAK2 expression was correlated with adverse disease features, including pT3-4 status ( p = 0.01), advanced overall stage ( p = 0.02), and positive bone invasion ( p = 0.01). In patients who underwent radiotherapy, the IRAK2-high group was associated with reduced post-irradiation local recurrence ( p = 0.025) compared to the IRAK2-low group. IRAK2 plays a crucial role in the radiation-induced response. Patients with high IRAK2 expression demonstrated more advanced disease features but predicted higher post-irradiation local control in a clinical setting. These findings support IRAK2 as a potential predictive biomarker for radiotherapy response in non-metastatic and resected oral cancer patients.

Early detection of rapidly progressive kidney disease is key to improving the renal outcome and reducing complications in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to construct a 6-month machine learning (ML) predictive model for the risk of rapidly progressive kidney disease and the need for nephrology referral in adult patients with T2DM and an initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . We extracted patients and medical features from the electronic medical records (EMR), and the cohort was divided into a training/validation and testing data set to develop and validate the models on the basis of three algorithms: logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). We also applied an ensemble approach using soft voting classifier to classify the referral group. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), precision, recall, and accuracy as the metrics to evaluate the performance. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) values were used to evaluate the feature importance. The XGB model had higher accuracy and relatively higher precision in the referral group as compared with the LR and RF models, but LR and RF models had higher recall in the referral group. In general, the ensemble voting classifier had relatively higher accuracy, higher AUROC, and higher recall in the referral group as compared with the other three models. In addition, we found a more specific definition of the target improved the model performance in our study. In conclusion, we built a 6-month ML predictive model for the risk of rapidly progressive kidney disease. Early detection and then nephrology referral may facilitate appropriate management.

In this work, acetone gas sensors were fabricated using pre-annealing metal oxide zinc oxide (pa-ZnO)-doped perovskite cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr 3 ). The ZnO nanopowder, before it was doped into CsPbBr 3 solution, was first put into a furnace to anneal at different temperatures, and formed the pa-ZnO. The properties of pa-ZnO were different from ZnO. The optimized doping conditions were 2 mg of pa-ZnO nanopowder and pre-annealing at 300 °C. Under these conditions, the highest sensitivity (gas signal current-to-air background current ratio) of the ZnO-doped CsPbBr 3 perovskite acetone sensor was 1726. In addition, for the limit test, 100 ppm was the limit of detection of the ZnO-doped CsPbBr 3 perovskite acetone sensor and the sensitivity was 101.

In recent years, combining different types of therapy has emerged as an advanced strategy for cancer treatment. In these combination therapies, oral delivery of anticancer drugs is more convenient and compliant. This study developed an irinotecan/rapamycin-loaded oral lecithin-based self-nanoemulsifying nanoemulsion preconcentrate ( LB SNENP ir/ra ) and evaluated its synergistic combination effects on pancreatic cancer. LB SNENP loaded with irinotecan and rapamycin at a ratio of 1:1 ( LB SNENP ir10/ra10 ) had a better drug release profile and smaller particle size (<200 nm) than the drug powder. Moreover, LB SNENP ir10/ra10 exhibited a strong synergistic effect (combination index [CI] < 1.0) in cell viability and combination effect studies. In the tumor inhibition study, the antitumor activity of LB SNENP ir10/ra10/sily20 against MIA PaCa-2 (a human pancreatic cancer cell line) was significantly increased compared with the other groups. When administered with rapamycin and silymarin, the area under the curve and the maximum concentration of irinotecan significantly improved compared with the control. We successfully developed an irinotecan/rapamycin-loaded oral self-nanoemulsifying nanoemulsion system to achieve treatment efficacy for pancreatic cancer.

This qualitative study aimed to explore the psychological resilience of undergraduate nursing students partaking in a virtual practicum during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in Taiwan. The virtual practicum, a form of online learning, creates challenges compared to the traditional teaching-learning experience of an actual clinical placement. Exploring how students overcome learning difficulties and build resilience is necessary for a new learning environment or for future online learning. Constructivist grounded theory and the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist were followed. Purposive and theoretical sampling were used to recruit 18 student nurses for data saturation. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted individually to collect data. Initial, focused, and theoretical coding and constant comparative data analysis were performed. Credibility, originality, resonance, and usefulness guided the assessment of the study's quality. The core category of psychological resilience in the virtual practicum was constructed to reflect Taiwanese nursing students' progress and experiences of learning during the virtual practicum. This core category consisted of three subcategories: (i) learning difficulties within one's inner self; (ii) staying positive and confident; and (iii) knowing what is possible. The findings identified psychological resilience as an important factor for students to adjust to the adverse experiences of a rapidly changing learning environment, such as the virtual practicum. The substantive theory of psychological resilience provided a frame of reference for coping with possible future difficulties. Correspondingly, psychological resilience reflected individuals' potential characteristics and may help students to enter and remain in the nursing profession.

GaN nanowires (NWs) grown on silicon via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition were doped with Cobalt (Co) by ion implantation, with a high dose concentration of 4 × 10 16 cm -2 , corresponding to an average atomic percentage of ~3.85%, and annealed after the implantation. Co-doped GaN showed optimum structural properties when annealed at 700 °C for 6 min in NH 3 ambience. From scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements and analyses, the single crystalline nature of Co-GaN NWs was identified. Slight expansion in the lattice constant of Co-GaN NWs due to the implantation-induced stress effect was observed, which was recovered by thermal annealing. Co-GaN NWs exhibited ferromagnetism as per the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurement. Hysteretic curves with Hc (coercivity) of 502.5 Oe at 5 K and 201.3 Oe at 300 K were obtained. Applied with a magnetic field of 100 Oe, the transition point between paramagnetic property and ferromagnetic property was determined at 332 K. Interesting structural and conducive magnetic properties show the potential of Co-doped GaN nanowires for the next optoelectronic, electronic, spintronic, sensing, optical, and related applications.

Perovskite CsPbI 3 quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized as a hole-transporting layer (HTL) of a planar perovskite solar cell (PSC). By using the Octam solution during the ligand engineering, CsPbI 3 QDs exhibits a denser grain and a larger grain size due to the short-chain ligands of Octam. In addition, CsPbI 3 QDs with the Octam solution showed a smooth and uniform surface on MAPbI 3 film, indicating the QDs improved the microstructure of the MAPbI 3 perovskite film. As a result, the PSC with CsPbI 3 QDs as an HTL has the optimal open-circuit voltage as 1.09 V, the short-circuit current as 20.5 mA/cm 2 , and the fill factor (FF) as 75.7%, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) as 17.0%. Hence, it is inferred that introducing QDs as a HTL via the ligand engineering can effectively improve the device performance of the PSC.

A lab-fabricated ocean bottom seismometer was modified and deployed terrestrially to detect low-frequency (<10 Hz) ground vibrations produced by debris flows. A frequency−response test of the new seismometer revealed that it can detect seismic signals at frequencies of 0.3−120 Hz. Its seismic ground motion detection ability was investigated by comparing its measurements of seismic signals produced by rockfalls with those of a geophone. Two new seismometers were deployed at the Aiyuzi Stream, Nantou County, Taiwan, in September 2012. Seismic signals produced by two local earthquakes, two teleseisms, and three debris flows detected by the seismometer in 2013 and 2014 were discussed. The seismic signal frequencies of the local earthquakes and teleseisms (both approximately 1800 km apart) were 0.3−30 and <1 Hz, respectively. Moreover, seismometer measurements revealed that seismic signals generated by debris flows can have minimum frequencies as low as 2 Hz. Time-matched CCD camera images revealed that debris flow surge fronts with larger rocks have lower minimum frequencies. Finally, because the seismometer can detect low-frequency seismic waves with low spatial decay rates, it was able to detect one debris flow approximately 3 min and 40 s before it arrived.

Hospital admission is associated with a high risk of harm, particularly for older people, and family members play a critical role in providing care. The aim of this study was to explore family caregivers' experiences in preventing harm to older people during hospitalization. The phenomenographic approach was applied. Thirty family caregivers were asked to describe their experiences of preventing harm to older people. Semi-structured interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Participants described preventing harm as "essential care", "an important step toward recovery", "a load off the mind", "outcomes of collaboration among caregivers and health professionals", and "improvement in the quality of life after discharge". The core theme was to achieve the goal of integrated care for older people. The results can help improve caregiving processes and prevent harm to older people during hospitalizations. They can assist in developing strategies for the delivery of safe care for older people.

This paper reports an AlGaN-based ultraviolet-B light-emitting diode (UVB-LED) with a peak wavelength at 293 nm that was almost free of efficiency droop in the temperature range from 298 to 358 K. Its maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEs), which were measured at a current density of 88.6 A cm -2 , when operated at 298, 318, and 338 K were 2.93, 2.84, and 2.76%, respectively; notably, however, the current droop (J-droop) in each of these cases was less than 1%. When the temperature was 358 K, the maximum EQE of 2.61% occurred at a current density of 63.3 A cm -2 , and the J-droop was 1.52%. We believe that the main mechanism responsible for overcoming the J-droop was the uniform distribution of the concentrations of injected electrons and holes within the multiple quantum wells. Through the subtle design of the p-type AlGaN layer, with the optimization of the composition and doping level, the hole injection efficiency was enhanced, and the Auger recombination mechanism was inhibited in an experimental setting.

(1) Background: Quorum sensing (QS) is the chemical communication between bacteria that sense chemical signals in the bacterial population to control phenotypic changes through the regulation of gene expression. The inhibition of QS has various potential applications, particularly in the prevention of bacterial infection. QS can be inhibited by targeting the LuxP, a periplasmic receptor protein that is involved in the sensing of the QS signaling molecule known as the autoinducer 2 (AI-2). The sensing of AI-2 by LuxP transduces the chemical information through the inner membrane sensor kinase LuxQ protein and activates the QS cascade. (2) Methods: An in silico approach was applied to design DNA aptamers against LuxP in this study. A method combining molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations was used to select the oligonucleotides that bind to LuxP, which were then further characterized using isothermal titration calorimetry. Subsequently, the bioactivity of the selected aptamer was examined through comparative transcriptome analysis. (3) Results: Two aptamer candidates were identified from the ITC, which have the lowest dissociation constants (K d ) of 0.2 and 0.5 micromolar. The aptamer with the lowest K d demonstrated QS suppression and down-regulated the flagellar-assembly-related gene expression. (4) Conclusions: This study developed an in silico approach to design an aptamer that possesses anti-QS properties.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskite have been widely researched for solar cells, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors because of their excellent environmental stability and optoelectronic properties in comparison to three-dimensional (3D) perovskite. In this study, we demonstrate the high response of 2D-(PEA) 2 PbBr 4 perovskite of the horizontal vapor sensor was outstandingly more superior than 3D-MAPbBr 3 perovskite. 2D transverse perovskite layer have the large surface-to-volume ratio and reactive surface, with the charge transfer mechanism, which was suitable for vapor sensing and trapping. Thus, 2D perovskite vapor sensors demonstrate the champion current response ratio R of 107.32 under the ethanol vapors, which was much faster than 3D perovskite (R = 2.92).

In this work, NiCo 2 S 4 -graphene hybrids (NCS@G) with high electrochemical performance were prepared using a hydrothermal method. The response surface methodology (RSM), along with a central composite design (CCD), was used to investigate the effect of independent variables (G/NCS, hydrothermal time, and S/Ni) on the specific capacitances of the NCS@G/Ni composite electrodes. RSM analysis revealed that the developed quadratic model with regression coefficient values of more than 0.95 could be well adapted to represent experimental results. Optimized preparation conditions for NCS@G were G/NCS = 6.0%, hydrothermal time = 10.0, and S/Ni = 6.0 of NCS@G (111) sample. The maximum specific capacitance of NCS@G (111)/Ni fabricated at the optimal condition is about 216% higher than the best result obtained using the conventional experimental method. The enhanced capacitive performance of the NCS@G (111) sample can be attributed to the synergistic effect between NCS nanoparticles and graphene, which has the meso/macropores conductive network and low diffusion resistance. Notably, the NCS@G (111) could not only provide numerous reaction sites but also prevent the restacking of graphene layers. Furthermore, a supercapattery cell was fabricated with an (G + AC)/Ni anode, a NCS@G (111)/Ni cathode, and a carboxymethyl cellulose-potassium hydroxide (CMC-KOH) gel electrolyte. The NCS@G (111)//(G + AC) demonstrates an outstanding energy density of 80 Wh kg -1 at a power density of 4 kW kg -1 , and a good cycling performance of 75% after 5000 cycles at 2 A g -1 . Applying the synthesis strategy of RSM endows remarkable capacitive performance of the hybrid materials, providing an economical pathway to design promising composite electrode material and fabricate high-performance energy storage devices.

A distinct security protocol is necessary for the exponential growth in intelligent edge devices. In particular, the autonomous devices need to address significant security concern to function smoothly in the high market demand. Nevertheless, exponential increase in the connected devices has made cloud networks more complex and suffer from information processing delay. Therefore, the goal of this work is to design a novel server-less mutual authentication protocol for the edge networks. The aim is to demonstrate an autonomous mutual authentication amongst the connected smart devices within the edge networks. The solution addresses applications of autonomous cars, smart things, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the edge or wireless sensor networks (WSN), etc. In this paper, the design proposes use of a public-key system, octet-based balanced-tree transitions, challenge-response mechanism, device unique ID (UID), pseudo-random number generator (PRNG), time-stamps, and event specific session keys. Ultimately, server-less design requires less infrastructure and avoids several types of network-based communication attacks, e.g., impersonating, Man in the middle (MITM), IoT-DDOS, etc. Additionally, the system overhead is eliminated by no secret key requirements. The results provide sufficient evidence about the protocol market competitiveness and demonstrate better benchmark comparison results.

Pyemotes zhonghuajia Yu, Zhang & He (Prostigmata: Pyemotidae), discovered in China, has been demonstrated as a high-efficient natural enemy in controlling many agricultural and forestry pests. This mite injects toxins into the host (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults), resulting in its paralyzation and then gets nourishment for reproductive development. These toxins have been approved to be mammal-safe, which have the potential to be used as biocontrol pesticides. Toxin proteins have been identified from many insects, especially those from the orders Scorpions and Araneae, some of which are now widely used as efficient biocontrol pesticides. However, toxin proteins in mites are not yet understood. In this study, we assembled the genome of P. zhonghuajia using PacBio technology and then identified toxin-related genes that are likely to be responsible for the paralytic process of P. zhonghuajia . The genome assembly has a size of 71.943 Mb, including 20 contigs with a N50 length of 21.248 Mb and a BUSCO completeness ratio of 90.6% (n = 1367). These contigs were subsequently assigned to three chromosomes. There were 11,183 protein coding genes annotated, which were assessed with 91.2% BUSCO completeness (n = 1066). Neurotoxin and dermonecrotic toxin gene families were significantly expanded within the genus of Pyemotes and they also formed several gene clusters on the chromosomes. Most of the genes from these two families and all of the three agatoxin genes were shown with higher expression in the one-day-old mites compared to the seven-day-pregnant mites, supporting that the one-day-old mites cause paralyzation and even death of the host. The identification of these toxin proteins may provide insights into how to improve the parasitism efficiency of this mite, and the purification of these proteins may be used to develop new biological pesticides.

Background and Objectives: Using an appropriate torque to tighten set screws ensures the long-term stability of spinal posterior fixation devices. However, the recommended torque often varies between different devices and some devices do not state a recommended torque level. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of set screw torque on the overall construct stability and fatigue life. Materials and Methods: Two commercial pedicle screw systems with different designs for the contact interface between the set screw and rod (Group A: plane contact, Group B: line contact) were assembled using torque wrenches provided with the devices to insert the set screws and tighten to the device specifications. The axial gipping capacity and dynamic mechanical stability of each bilateral construct were assessed in accordance with ASTM F1798 and ASTM F1717. Results: Increasing or decreasing the torque on the set screw by 1 Nm from the recommended level did not have a significant effect on the axial gripping capacity or fatigue strength of Group A (p > 0.05). For Group B, over-tightening the set screw by 1 Nm did cause a significant reduction in the fatigue strength. Conclusions: Excessive torque can damage the rod surface and cause premature failure. When insertion using a manual driver is preferred, a plane contact interface between the set screw and rod can reduce damage to the rod surface when the set screw is over-torqued.

Posterior eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are difficult to treat due to ineffective drug delivery to affected areas. Intravitreal injection is the primary method for posterior eye drug delivery; however, it is usually accompanied by complications. Therefore, an effective and non-invasive method is required. Self-assembling nanoparticles (NPs) made from gelatin-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were synthesized (GE) and surface-decorated with hyaluronic acid (HA) for drug delivery to the retinal/choroidal area. Different HA concentrations were used to prepare NPs with negative (GEH-) or positive (GEH+) surface charges. The size/zeta potential and morphology of the NPs were characterized by a dynamic light scattering (DLS) system and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The size/zeta potential of GEH+ NPs was 253.4 nm and 9.2 mV. The GEH- NPs were 390.0 nm and -35.9 mV, respectively. The cytotoxicity was tested by adult human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19), with the results revealing that variant NPs were non-toxicity at 0.2-50 µg/mL of EGCG, and that the highest amount of GEH+ NPs was accumulated in cells examined by flowcytometry. Topical delivery (eye drops) and subconjunctival injection (SCI) methods were used to evaluate the efficiency of NP delivery to the posterior eyes in a mouse model. Whole eyeball cryosections were used to trace the location of fluorescent NPs in the eyes. The area of fluorescent signal obtained in the posterior eyes treated with GEH+ NPs in both methods (eye drops: 6.89% and SCI: 14.55%) was the greatest when compared with other groups, especially higher than free dye solution (2.79%). In summary, GEH+ NPs can be transported to the retina by eye drops and SCI; in particular, eye drops are a noninvasive method. Furthermore, GEH+ NPs, characterized by a positive surface and HA decoration, could facilitate drug delivery to the posterior eye as a useful drug carrier.

(1) Background: Psoriasis is a T helper 1/T helper 17 cells-involved immune-mediated genetic disease. Lithospermic acid, one of the major phenolic acid compounds of Danshen, has antioxidation and anti-inflammation abilities. Due to the inappropriate molecular weight for topical penetration through the stratum corneum, lithospermic acid was loaded into the well-developed microemulsion delivery system for IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis treatment. (2) Methods: BALB/c mice were administered with topical imiquimod to induce psoriasis-like dermatitis. Skin barrier function, disease severity, histology assessment, autophagy-related protein expression, and skin and spleen cytokine expression were evaluated. (3) Results: The morphology, histopathology, and skin barrier function results showed that 0.1% lithospermic acid treatment ameliorated the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis and restored the skin barrier function. The cytokines array results confirmed that 0.1% lithospermic acid treatment inhibited the cutaneous T helper-17/Interleukin-23 axis related cytokines cascades. (4) Conclusions: The results implied that lithospermic acid might represent a possible new therapeutic agent for psoriasis treatment.

Sophoraflavanone G (SG), isolated from Sophora flavescens , has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor bioactive properties. We previously showed that SG promotes apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and leukemia cells and reduces the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. We investigated whether SG attenuates airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. We also assessed its effects on the anti-inflammatory response in human tracheal epithelial cells. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin, and asthmatic mice were treated with SG by intraperitoneal injection. We also exposed human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to different concentrations of SG to evaluate its effects on inflammatory cytokine levels. SG treatment significantly reduced AHR, eosinophil infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway inflammation in the lungs of asthmatic mice. In the lungs of ovalbumin-sensitized mice, SG significantly promoted superoxide dismutase and glutathione expression and attenuated malondialdehyde levels. SG also suppressed levels of Th2 cytokines and chemokines in lung and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. In addition, we confirmed that SG decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine, chemokine, and eotaxin expression in inflammatory BEAS-2B cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that SG shows potential as an immunomodulator that can improve asthma symptoms by decreasing airway-inflammation-related oxidative stress.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, 6.5% of Generation Y required medical treatment for emotional and stress-related mental disorders. This study explores the moderating effect of mindfulness training on psychological needs and emotions to propose effective measures to promote the mental health of Generation Y. This study was carried out by questionnaire, using the data of respondents born in 1980-1999, collected in three different periods for quantitative analysis with compassionate mindfulness as the main variable. The results show that the compassionate mindfulness effect on emotion regulation varies greatly among different educational levels. However, it still plays a positive role in the psychological needs of Generation Y. Most members of Generation Y who receive compassionate mindfulness training have fewer basic needs and more interpersonal trust. They pay more attention to individual-oriented self-realization. Compassionate mindfulness has a greater positive moderating effect on the mental health of women aged 30-39 and those who are highly educated. Compassionate mindfulness has a more positive moderating effect on the psychological needs of members of Generation Y who were born more recently. During the COVID-19 pandemic, providing compassionate mindfulness has a significant positive effect on the prevention of mental disorders of Generation Y in Taiwan.

We previously demonstrated that acacetin reduces adipogenesis in adipocytes, and decreases lipid accumulation in visceral adipocyte tissue. Here we investigated whether acacetin regulated the mechanisms of lipogenesis and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and then administered acacetin by intraperitoneal injection. Acacetin reduced body weight and liver weight in obese mice. Acacetin-treated obese mice exhibited decreased lipid accumulation, increased glycogen accumulation, and improved hepatocyte steatosis. Acacetin regulated triglycerides and total cholesterol in the liver and serum. Acacetin decreased low-density lipoprotein and leptin concentrations, but increased high-density lipoprotein and adiponectin levels in obese mice. Acacetin effectively weakened the gene expressions of transcription factors related to lipogenesis, and promoted the expressions of genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation in liver. Acacetin also reduced expressions of inflammation-related cytokines in the serum and liver. Oleic acid induced lipid accumulation in murine FL83B hepatocytes, and the effects of acacetin treatment indicated that acacetin may regulate lipid metabolism through the AMPK pathway. Acacetin may protect against hepatic steatosis by modulating inflammation and AMPK expression.

Background: Few studies have examined the mental profiles and academic status of collegiate triathletes during training/competitive periods. We evaluated the changes in sleep quality, physical fatigue, emotional state, and academic stress among collegiate triathletes across training periods. Methods: Thirteen collegiate triathletes (19−26 years old) were recruited in this study. Mood state, sleep quality, degree of daytime sleepiness, subjective fatigue, and academic learning states were measured during the following five training periods: before national competitions for 3 months (3M-Pre Comp), 2 months (2M-Pre Comp), 1 month (1M-Pre Comp), 2 weeks (2wk-Pre Comp), and national competition (Comp) according to their academic/training schedule. Results: The academic stress index in 1M-Pre Comp (Final exam) was significantly higher than that in 3M-Pre Comp in these triathletes. No markedly significant differences were observed in overall mood state, sleep quality, individual degree of sleepiness, and fatigue among these five periods. However, the profiles mood state scale (POMS)-fatigue and -anger were lower in 2wk-Pre Comp than that in 1M-Pre com. The POMS-tension score in Comp was significantly higher than that in 3M-Pre Comp and 2M-Pre Comp. POMS-depression in Comp was lower than that in 1M-Pre Comp. Conclusion: We found that training volume was highest one month before a competition, and the academic stress is greatest during their final term exam period (1M-Pre Comp). After comprehensive assessment through analyzing POMS, PSQI, ESS, and personal fatigue (CIS), we found that the collegiate triathletes exhibited healthy emotional and sleep states (PSQI score < 5) across each training period, and our results suggest that these elite collegiate triathletes had proficient self-discipline, time management, and mental adjustment skills.

Tumor penetration and the accumulation of nanomedicines are crucial challenges in solid tumor therapy. By taking advantage of the MSC tumor-tropic property, we developed a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based drug delivery system in which paclitaxel (PTX)-encapsulating hyaluronic acid-poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) polymeric micelles (PTX/HA-PLGA micelles) were loaded for glioma therapy. The results indicated that CD44 overexpressed on the surface of both MSCs and tumor cells not only improved PTX/HA-PLGA micelle loading in MSCs, but also promoted the drug transfer between MSCs and adjacent cancer cells. It was hypothesized that CD44-mediated transcytosis played a crucial role and allowed deep glioma penetration depending on sequential intra-intercellular delivery via endocytosis-exocytosis. MSC-micelles were able to infiltrate from normal brain parenchyma towards contralateral tumors and led to the eradication of glioma. The survival of orthotopic glioma-bearing rats was significantly extended. In conclusion, the MSC-based delivery of HA-PLGA micelles is a potential strategy for tumor-targeting drug delivery.

Meal replacement (MR) is widely used in weight and diabetes management programs due to its ease of compliance and handling. However, little is known about its impact on outcomes other than glycaemic control and weight loss. Furthermore, not many studies evaluate its cost-effectiveness and sustainability. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a diabetes-specific MR for the weight reduction and glycaemic controls of overweight and obese T2DM patients, as compared to routine dietary consultation. Other health outcomes, the cost effectiveness, and the sustainability of the MR will also be evaluated. Materials and Methods: This randomised controlled clinical trial will involve 156 participants who have been randomised equally into the intervention and control groups. As a baseline, both groups will receive diet consultation. Additionally, the intervention group will receive an MR to replace one meal for 5 days a week. The duration of intervention will be 12 weeks, with 36 weeks of follow-up to monitor the sustainability of the MR. The primary endpoints are weight and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reduction, while the secondary endpoints are anthropometry, biochemical measurements, satiety, hormone changes, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on study design is also discussed in this paper. This study has obtained human ethics approval from RECUKM (JEP-2019-566) and is registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR ID: TCTR20210921004).

Purpose: Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) models are often used by researchers in the field of public health to explore people’s healthy behaviors. Therefore, this study mainly explored the relationships among participants’ sociodemographic status, COVID-19 knowledge, affective attitudes, and preventive behaviors. Method: This study adopted an online survey, involving a total of 136 males and 204 females, and used a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationships between variables including gender, age, COVID-19 knowledge, positive affective attitudes (emotional wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, and social wellbeing), negative affective attitudes (negative self-perception and negative perceptions of life), and preventive behaviors (hygiene habits, reducing public activities, and helping others to prevent the epidemic). Results: The majority of participants in the study were knowledgeable about COVID-19. The mean COVID-19 knowledge score was 12.86 (SD = 1.34, range: 7−15 with a full score of 15), indicating a high level of knowledge. However, the key to decide whether participants adopt COVID-19 preventive behaviors was mainly their affective attitudes, especially positive affective attitudes (β = 0.18−0.25, p< 0.01), rather than COVID-19 disease knowledge (β = −0.01−0.08, p > 0.05). In addition, the sociodemographic status of the participants revealed obvious differences in the preventive behaviors; females had better preventive behaviors than males such as cooperating with the epidemic prevention hygiene habits (t = −5.08, p< 0.01), reducing public activities (t = −3.00, p< 0.01), and helping others to prevent the epidemic (t = −1.97, p< 0.05), while the older participants were more inclined to adopt preventive behaviors including epidemic prevention hygiene habits (β = 0.18, p = 0.001, R2 = 0.03), reducing public activities (β = 0.35, p< 0.001, R2 = 0.13), and helping others to prevent the epidemic (β = 0.27, p< 0.001, R2 = 0.07). Conclusions: Having adequate COVID-19 knowledge was not linked to higher involvement in precautionary behaviors. Attitudes toward COVID-19 may play a more critical function in prompting individuals to undertake preventive behaviors, and different positive affective attitudes had different predictive relationships with preventive behaviors.

The skipjack tuna ( Katsuwonus pelamis ) is a mesopredator fish species with seasonal abundance in waters off Taiwan. Regional ecological and life-history information has been historically lacking for this species. In recent years, stable isotope analysis (SIA) of carbon and nitrogen has been used to assess predator feeding ecology and broader ecosystem trophic dynamics. This study evaluated comparative skipjack feeding ecology in distinct regions off Taiwan, combining traditional stomach content analysis with SIA of individuals off western ( n = 43; 2020) and eastern ( n = 347; 2012-2014 and n = 167; 2020) Taiwan. The stomach content analysis showed the most important prey to be ponyfish ( Photopectoralis bindus ) in western Taiwan and epipelagic squids ( Myopsina spp.) and carangids ( Decapterus macrosoma ;) in eastern Taiwan from 2012 to 2014 and epipelagic carangids ( Decapterus spp.) and flying fishes ( Cheilopogon spp.) in eastern Taiwan in 2020, suggesting that the skipjack tuna is a generalist predator across regions. In contrast, time-integrated diet estimates from Bayesian mixing models indicated the importance of cephalopods and crustaceans as prey, potentially demonstrating more mesopelagic feeding in less productive waters during skipjack migrations outside the study regions. Skipjack off western Taiwan had a slightly higher estimated trophic position than in the waters off eastern Taiwan, potentially driven by the varying nutrient-driven pelagic food web structures. Skipjack SI values increased with body size off eastern Taiwan but not in western waters, suggesting that opportunistic predation can still result in different predator-prey size dynamics between regions.

Excretory-secretory products (ESPs) are the main research targets for investigating the hosts and helminths interaction. Parasitic worms can migrate to parasitic sites and avoid the host immune response by secreting this product. Angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important food-borne zoonotic parasite that causes severe neuropathological damage and symptoms, including eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in humans. Benzaldehydes are organic compounds composed of a benzene ring and formyl substituents. This compound has anti-inflammatory and antioxidation properties. Previous studies showed that 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3-HBA) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4-HBA) can reduce apoptosis in A. cantonensis ESP-treated astrocytes. These results on the protective effect underlying benzaldehyde have primarily focused on cell survival. The study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and oxidative stress in astrocytes in A. cantonensis ESP-treated astrocytes and to evaluate the therapeutic consequent of 3-HBA and 4-HBA. First, we initially established the RNA-seq dataset in each group, including normal, ESPs, ESPs + 3-HBA, and ESPs + 4-HBA. We also found that benzaldehyde (3-HBA and 4-HBA) can stimulate astrocytes to express ER stress-related molecules after ESP treatment. The level of oxidative stress could also be decreased in astrocytes by elevating antioxidant activity and reducing ROS generation. These results suggested that benzaldehyde may be a potential therapeutic compound for human angiostrongyliasis to support brain cell survival by inducing the expression levels of ER stress- and oxidative stress-related pathways.

First responders (FR) exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) Ground Zero air over the first week after the 9/11 disaster have an increased heart disease incidence compared to unexposed FR and the general population. To test if WTC dusts were causative agents, rats were exposed to WTC dusts (under isoflurane [ISO] anesthesia) 2 h/day on 2 consecutive days; controls received air/ISO or air only. Hearts were collected 1, 30, 240, and 360 d post-exposure, left ventricle total RNA was extracted, and transcription profiles were obtained. The data showed that differentially expressed genes (DEG) for WTC vs. ISO rats did not reach any significance with a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 at days 1, 30, and 240, indicating that the dusts did not impart effects beyond any from ISO. However, at day 360, 14 DEG with a low FDR were identified, reflecting potential long-term effects from WTC dust alone, and the majority of these DEG have been implicated as having an impact on heart functions. Furthermore, the functional gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) data at day 360 showed that WTC dust could potentially impact the myocardial energy metabolism via PPAR signaling and heart valve development. This is the first study showing that WTC dust could significantly affect some genes that are associated with the heart/CV system, in the long term. Even > 20 years after the 9/11 disaster, this has potentially important implications for those FR exposed repeatedly at Ground Zero over the first week after the buildings collapsed.

The COVID-19 epidemic has been confirmed as the largest scale outbreak of atypical pneumonia since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and it has become a public health emergency of international concern. It exacerbated public confusion and anxiety, and the impact of COVID-19 on people needs to be better understood. Indeed, prior studies that conducted meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort research compared mental health before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic and proved that public health polices (e.g., city lockdowns, quarantines, avoiding gatherings, etc.) and COVID-19-related information that circulates on new media platforms directly affected citizen's mental health and well-being. Hence, this research aims to explore Taiwanese people's health status, anxiety, media sources for obtaining COVID-19 information, subjective well-being, and safety-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 epidemic and how they are associated. Online surveys were conducted through new media platforms, and 342 responses were included in the analysis. The research results indicate that the participants experienced different aspects of COVID-19 anxiety, including COVID-19 worry and perceived COVID-19 risk. Among the given media sources, the more participants searched for COVID-19 information on new media, the greater they worried about COVID-19. Furthermore, COVID-19 worry was positively related to safety-seeking behavior, while perceived COVID-19 risk was negatively related to subjective well-being. This paper concludes by offering some suggestions for future studies and pointing out limitations of the present study.

The SPR phenomenon results in an abrupt change in the optical phase such that one can measure the phase shift of the reflected light as a sensing parameter. Moreover, many studies have demonstrated that the phase changes more acutely than the intensity, leading to a higher sensitivity to the refractive index change. However, currently, the optical phase cannot be measured directly because of its high frequency; therefore, investigators usually have to use complicated techniques for the extraction of phase information. In this study, we propose a simple and effective strategy for measuring the SPR phase shift based on phase-shift interferometry. In this system, the polarization-dependent interference signals are recorded simultaneously by a pixelated polarization camera in a single snapshot. Subsequently, the phase information can be effortlessly acquired by a phase extraction algorithm. Experimentally, the proposed phase-sensitive SPR sensor was successfully applied for the detection of small molecules of glyphosate, which is the most frequently used herbicide worldwide. Additionally, the sensor exhibited a detection limit of 15 ng/mL (0.015 ppm). Regarding its simplicity and effectiveness, we believe that our phase-sensitive SPR system presents a prospective method for acquiring phase signals.

The microenvironment for tumor growth and developing metastasis should be essential. This study demonstrated that the hyaluronic acid synthase 3 (HAS3) protein and its enzymatic product hyaluronic acid (HA) encompassed in the subcutaneous extracellular matrix can attenuate the invasion of human breast tumor cells. Decreased HA levels in subcutaneous Has3-KO mouse tissues promoted orthotopic breast cancer (E0771) cell-derived allograft tumor growth. MDA-MB-231 cells premixed with higher concentration HA attenuate tumor growth in xenografted nude mice. Human patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) experiments found that HA selected the highly migratory breast cancer cells with CD44 expression accumulated in the tumor/stroma junction. In conclusion, HAS3 and HA were detected in the stroma breast tissues at a high level attenuates effects for induced breast cancer cell death, and inhibit the cancer cells invasion at the initial stage. However, the highly migratory cancer cells were resistant to the HA-mediated effects with unknown mechanisms.