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Purpose: Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) is a prevalent condition with significant implications for quality of life, yet its association with mortality was less examined by a few studies. Using data from representative U.S. population, this study aims to investigate the relationship between UUI and cause-specific mortality. Methods: We utilized data from the NHANES collected between 2005 and 2014, comprising 21,973 patients (median age 49, 50.3% male). All data were combined with the National Death Index (NDI), which assessed mortality in December 2019. UUI was characterized by at least one incident of involuntary urination before reaching a toilet within a year. The Cox regression analysis was applied to compute the adjusted hazard ratios for mortality, with further subgroup and cause-specific analyses to assess the differential risk of mortality associated with UUI. Results: Of the participants, 21.8% (4781/21,973) reported experiencing UUI over the year. The average duration of follow-up was 9.3 years, during which 2968 (13.5%) subjects passed away. Controlling for potential confounders, individuals with UUI exhibited an elevated mortality risk. Interaction analyses did not show statistical interactions between UUI and age- and sex-stratified subgroups. However, the findings were consistently indicative of an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes. Conclusions: UUI presents a significant burden across all ages and sexes, being associated with various conditions and an increased risk of overall mortality including cardiovascular disease and cancer-related death. The causal relationship between UUI and mortality can provide a basis for understanding the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a method based on chronoamperometry (CA) with a simple unshielded microwire electrode and macroelectrode was used to estimate the diffusion coefficient (D) of the electroactive species in molten chlorides without any knowledge of its concentration. Theoretically evaluated CA response ratios of the two electrodes were fitted to the values obtained from digital simulations and experiments within a measurement time of 1 s, and the D value was determined as a fitting parameter. Theoretical and experimental analyses of the CA response under pure diffusion-controlled conditions confirmed the applicability of the proposed method for the determination of D for any electroactive species, regardless of its reaction kinetics characteristics. The D values of Eu3+ and Cr2+ in molten LiCl–KCl at 450 ℃, which were determined from the CA of their reduction reactions and validated by simulations of the microwire electrode CA response, were consistent with previously reported values. However, the D of Cr2+ could not be accurately determined from the CA of its oxidation, possibly owing to the additional chronoamperometric current generated by the dissolution of the Au electrode. Therefore, the prevention of side reactions is vital for the accurate estimation of D. The proposed method could facilitate future research on molten salts and their properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joints, prevalent worldwide. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is used for treating knee OA. However, the role of PDRN in IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of PDRN in IL-1β-induced impairment of chondrogenic differentiation in hBMSCs. hBMSCs treated with PDRN showed a large micromass, enhanced safranin O and alcian blue staining intensity, and increased expression of chondrogenic genes in IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses, in addition to regulation of catabolic and anabolic genes. In addition, PDRN treatment suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and mitigated IL-1β-induced apoptosis in hBMSCs. Mechanistically, PDRN treatment increased the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and upregulated the phosphorylation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) through the adenosine A2A receptor in hBMSCs and thus blocked the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Thus, IL-1β-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in hBMSCs was directly reduced by adenosine A2A receptor activation. Based on our results, we suggest that PDRN may be a promising MSC-based therapeutic agent for OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) have been described in critically ill patients with respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or sepsis. This scoping review aimed to systematically summarize existing literature on critical illness–associated CMBs. Methods: Studies reporting on adults admitted to the intensive care unit for respiratory failure, ARDS, or sepsis with evidence of CMBs on magnetic resonance imaging were included for review following a systematic search across five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, and Web of Science) and a two-stage screening process. Studies were excluded if patients' CMBs were clearly explained by another process of neurological injury. Results: Forty-eight studies reporting on 216 critically ill patients (mean age 57.9, 18.4% female) with CMBs were included. Of 216, 197 (91.2%) patients developed respiratory failure or ARDS, five (2.3%) patients developed sepsis, and 14 (6.5%) patients developed both respiratory failure and sepsis. Of 211 patients with respiratory failure, 160 (75.8%) patients had coronavirus disease 2019. The prevalence of CMBs among critically ill patients with respiratory failure or ARDS was 30.0% (111 of 370 patients in cohort studies). The corpus callosum and juxtacortical area were the most frequently involved sites for CMBs (64.8% and 41.7% of all 216 patients, respectively). Functional outcomes were only reported in 48 patients, among whom 31 (64.6%) were independent at discharge, four (8.3%) were dependent at discharge, and 13 (27.1%) did not survive until discharge. Cognitive outcomes were only reported in 11 of 216 patients (5.1%), all of whom showed cognitive deficits (nine patients with executive dysfunction and two patients with memory deficits). Conclusions: Cerebral microbleeds are commonly reported in patients with critical illness due to respiratory failure, ARDS, or sepsis. CMBs had a predilection for the corpus callosum and juxtacortical area, which may be specific to critical illness–associated CMBs. Functional and cognitive outcomes of these lesions are largely unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), a successfully commercialized polymeric semiconductor material, has potential as a transparent electrode in flexible electronic devices, yet has insufficient conductivity. We present the synthesis, properties, and directed crystallization of the PEDOT:dodecyl sulfate (PEDOT:DS) film. Iron(III) dodecyl sulfate (Fe(DS)3) multi-lamellar vesicles (MLVs), a new growth template, are used to synthesize and direct the growth of the PEDOT:DS film via vapor-phase polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene to form huge PEDOT:DS co-crystal domains within the MLV superstructure. The polycrystalline film has metallic conductivity (avg. ~1.0 × 104 S cm−1), is highly transparent and mechanically durable yet flexible, and suitable for next-generation flexible electronics. These noteworthy properties are conferred by the MLV lamellar superstructure of Fe(DS)3, a selective oxidant and an efficient in situ dopant that enhances the film hydrophobicity and durability. Sophisticated MLV-type oxidants are foreseen to enable the synthesis of more conductive, transparent, robust, flexible, and water-stable polymer electrode materials in future. PEDOT:PSS is a conductive polymer with potential as electrodes in flexible electronics, but conductivity is not always satisfactory. Here, the authors report the use of dodecyl sulfate in place of polystyrene sulfonate to prepare a durable and conductive film with large crystal domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic conductive film (ACF) is an essential layer used in Micro-LEDs and is applied through laser processing during the repair process. However, research related to the repair process using step-by-step morphology processing of ACF has hardly been conducted so far. Therefore, in this study, we proposed and thoroughly investigated a processing morphology suitable for the repair process through step-by-step processing using femtosecond lasers with wavelengths of 1026 (NIR), 513 (Green), and 257 (DUV) nm. By appropriately processing the ACF according to the intended purpose, it is expected that the desired repair process can be applied and can also be applied to all fields where ACF is utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To present an efficient method for fabricating artificial kidney stones with acoustic and physical properties to assess their fragmentation efficiency under shock waves and laser lithotripsy for very hard stones. The mixture ratio of super-hard plaster and water was adjusted to produce artificial kidney stones for comparison with > 95% human genuine calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and uric acid (UA) stones. Acoustic and physical properties, such as wave speed, stone hardness, density, compressive strength, and stone-free rates under shock-wave and laser lithotripsy, were assessed. The longitudinal wave speed of artificial stones prepared at a plaster-to-water ratio of 15:3 closely matched that of COM stones. Similarly, the transverse wave speed of artificial stones prepared at a plaster-to-water ratio of 15:3 to 15:5 aligned with that of COM stones. Stone fragmentation using shock-wave of artificial stones with mixed ratios ranging from 15:3 to 15:5 resembled that of COM stones. The Vickers hardness was similar to that of artificial stones produced with a mixing ratio of 15:3, similar to that of COM stones, while that of artificial stones produced with a mixing ratio of 15:5 was similar to that of UA stones. Density-wise, artificial stones with mixing ratios of 15:4 and 15:5 resembled COM stones. Compressive strength test results did not confirm the similarity between natural and artificial stones. The stone fragmentation using laser showed that stones produced with higher moisture content at a mixing ratio of 15:6 were similar to COM stones. This novel method for fabricating artificial kidney stones could be used to provide reliable materials for lithotripsy research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Blue micro-light-emitting diodes (μLED)-integrated gas sensors were fabricated as monolithic structure by directly loading sensing materials onto the μLED. SnO2 nanoparticles are activated by blue μLED and exhibit outstanding sensitivity to NO2 at μ-Watt power levels. Noble metal (Au, Pd, Pt)-decorated SnO2 showed the tunable gas selectivity for 4 target gases under blue light illumination. Micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) have gained significant interest as an activation source for gas sensors owing to their advantages, including room temperature operation and low power consumption. However, despite these benefits, challenges still exist such as a limited range of detectable gases and slow response. In this study, we present a blue μLED-integrated light-activated gas sensor array based on SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) that exhibit excellent sensitivity, tunable selectivity, and rapid detection with micro-watt level power consumption. The optimal power for μLED is observed at the highest gas response, supported by finite-difference time-domain simulation. Additionally, we first report the visible light-activated selective detection of reducing gases using noble metal-decorated SnO2 NPs. The noble metals induce catalytic interaction with reducing gases, clearly distinguishing NH3, H2, and C2H5OH. Real-time gas monitoring based on a fully hardware-implemented light-activated sensing array was demonstrated, opening up new avenues for advancements in light-activated electronic nose technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titanium (Ti) thin film is a material used in the thin-film transistor (TFT) of Micro-LED display and require partial processing during repair processes. For a suitable repair process, defects such as particles, droplets, and burrs should not be present during processing. In this study, Ti with a thickness of 100 nm was ablated by varying pulse duration and fluence with a wavelength of 1026 nm. In case of the pulse duration, it was set to 190 fs, 1 ps, 10 ps. Ablation thresholds of 0.116 J/cm² for 190 fs, 0.124 J/cm² for 1 ps, and 0.13 J/cm² for 10 ps were obtained. The Two-Temperature Model (TTM) equation was applied to simulate the ablation using COMSOL Multiphysics. Based on the simulation, it was observed that short pulse durations and low fluences near the ablation threshold can suppress burrs, particles, and droplets. Although various defects need to be addressed still exist, this foundational processing is expected to be helpful to study for Micro-LED display TFT repairing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Skin pigmentation influences peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) compared to arterial saturation of oxygen (SaO2). Occult hypoxemia (SaO2 ≤ 88% with SpO2 ≥ 92%) is associated with increased in-hospital mortality in venovenous-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) patients. We hypothesized VV-ECMO cannulation, in addition to race/ethnicity, accentuates the SpO2-SaO2 discrepancy due to significant hemolysis. Methods: Adults (≥ 18 years) supported with VV-ECMO with concurrently measured SpO2 and SaO2 measurements from over 500 centers in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry (1/2018–5/2023) were included. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to examine whether race/ethnicity was associated with occult hypoxemia in pre-ECMO and on-ECMO SpO2-SaO2 calculations. Results: Of 13,171 VV-ECMO patients, there were 7772 (59%) White, 2114 (16%) Hispanic, 1777 (14%) Black, and 1508 (11%) Asian patients. The frequency of on-ECMO occult hypoxemia was 2.0% (N = 233). Occult hypoxemia was more common in Black and Hispanic patients versus White patients (3.1% versus 1.7%, P < 0.001 and 2.5% versus 1.7%, P = 0.025, respectively). In multivariable logistic regression, Black patients were at higher risk of pre-ECMO occult hypoxemia versus White patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18–2.02, P = 0.001). For on-ECMO occult hypoxemia, Black patients (aOR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.16–2.75, P = 0.008) and Hispanic patients (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.15–2.55, P = 0.008) had higher risk versus White patients. Higher pump flow rates (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.08–1.55, P = 0.005) and on-ECMO 24-h lactate (aOR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03–1.10, P < 0.001) significantly increased the risk of on-ECMO occult hypoxemia. Conclusion: SaO2 should be carefully monitored if using SpO2 during ECMO support for Black and Hispanic patients especially for those with high pump flow and lactate values at risk for occult hypoxemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurological complications are common in patients receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support. We used machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify predictors for neurological outcomes for these patients. Methods: All demographic, clinical, and circuit-related variables were extracted for adults with VV-ECMO support at a tertiary care center from 2016 to 2022. The primary outcome was good neurological outcome (GNO) at discharge defined as a modified Rankin Scale of 0–3. Results: Of 99 total VV-ECMO patients (median age = 48 years; 65% male), 37% had a GNO. The best performing ML model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87. Feature importance analysis identified down-trending gas/sweep/blender flow, FiO2, and pump speed as the most salient features for predicting GNO. Conclusion: Utilizing pre- as well as post-initiation variables, ML identified on-ECMO physiologic and pulmonary conditions that best predicted neurological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of compressive strength (CS) of concrete is an active area of research in the domain of manufacturing engineering. The concrete ingredients are disseminated arbitrarily over the whole concrete matrix and the relationships among them are a complex nonlinear system, thus challenging to model. Soft computing techniques are found better to statistical methods applied for prediction of CS. However, sophisticated prediction models are still missing and need to be explored. Random vector functional link network (RVFLN) is an efficient algorithm with low time complexity and is able to handle complex domain problems without compromising on accuracy. It assigns input-hidden layer weights and bias randomly without further modification and computes output layer weights iteratively by gradient methods or non-iteratively by least square methods. Though it is applied on solving various engineering problems, its application on CS prediction of concrete is scarce. The learning ability, structural simplicity, and computational efficiency of RVFLN motivated us to investigate its efficiency on compressive strength prediction. In this article, we develop a RVFLN-based forecast for estimation of CS concrete. A publicly available dataset from UCI repository is used to develop and access the performance of the model. For comparative analysis, few other models such as FLANN, MLP, RBFNN, MLR, and ARIMA are also developed and used for the forecasting considering samples with curing ages at 14, 28, 56, and 91 days. All the models are evaluated in terms of MAPE, ARV, U of Theil's statistics (UT), NMSE, and execution time. Considering the four-sample series, RVFLN attained an average MAPE of 0.5341, ARV of 0.0982, UT of 0.3239, and NMSE of 0.1188 which are smaller than other models. The study revealed that RVFLN is quite capable in modeling and predicting the CS data. Outcomes of comparative studies and statistical significance tests are in favor of RVFLN-based forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impaired cerebral autoregulation (CA) is one of several proposed mechanisms of acute brain injury in patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The primary aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of continuous CA monitoring in adult ECMO patients. Our secondary aims were to describe changes in cerebral oximetry index (COx) and other metrics of CA over time and in relation to functional neurologic outcomes. Methods: This is a single-center prospective observational study. We measured COx, a surrogate measurement of cerebral blood flow measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, which is an index of CA derived from the moving correlation between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and slow waves of regional cerebral oxygen saturation. A COx value that approaches 1 indicates impaired CA. Using COx, we determined the optimal MAP (MAPOPT) and lower and upper limits of autoregulation for individual patients. These measurements were examined in relation to modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. Results: Fifteen patients (median age 57 years [interquartile range 47–69]) with 150 autoregulation measurements were included for analysis. Eleven were on veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO), and four were on veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO). Mean COx was higher on postcannulation day 1 than on day 2 (0.2 vs. 0.09, p < 0.01), indicating improved CA over time. COx was higher in VA-ECMO patients than in VV-ECMO patients (0.12 vs. 0.06, p = 0.04). Median MAPOPT for the entire cohort was highly variable, ranging from 55 to 110 mm Hg. Patients with mRS scores 0–3 (good outcome) at 3 and 6 months spent less time outside MAPOPT compared with patients with mRS scores 4–6 (poor outcome) (74% vs. 82%, p = 0.01). The percentage of time when observed MAP was outside the limits of autoregulation was higher on postcannulation day 1 than on day 2 (18.2% vs. 3.3%, p < 0.01). Conclusions: In ECMO patients, it is feasible to monitor CA continuously at the bedside. CA improved over time, most significantly between postcannulation days 1 and 2. CA was more impaired in VA-ECMO patients than in VV-ECMO patients. Spending less time outside MAPOPT may be associated with achieving a good neurologic outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading disease of cancer-related death in men around the world, and it is almost impossible to treat advanced PCa. OTUD7B is a member of the deubiquitinase family that undergoes a post-translational transformation process, which is essential for cell stability and signaling and is known to play a critical role in cancer. However, its role in PCa has not been discovered. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and mechanism of OTUD7B in PCa cells. According to the database, high OTUD7B expression showed a poor prognosis. Therefore, we downregulated OTUD7B using siRNA and confirmed the role of OTUD7B in PC3 prostate cancer cells. OTUD7B knockdown effectively induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation in PC3 cells. OTUD7B knockdown inhibited autophagy through AKT/mTOR signaling. We also confirmed the relationship between AKT/mTOR signaling and autophagy through rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor. Taken together, OTUD7B promotes the proliferation, and autophagy, and inhibits apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism and predictive biomarkers of sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) transformation into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are still unclear. We investigated the genetic mutations involved and the predictive biomarkers. Fourteen patients with SCC arising from IP and six patients with IPs without malignant transformation (sIP) were included. DNA was extracted separately from areas of normal tissue, IP, dysplasia, and SCC. Whole exome sequencing and immunohistochemistry was performed. Major oncogenic mutations were observed in the progression from IP to SCC. The most frequently mutated genes were TP53 (39%) and CDKN2A (27%). Mutations in TP53 and/or CDKN2A were observed in three of six IPs with malignant transformation (cIP); none were observed in sIPs. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) increased from IP to SCC (0.64/Mb, 1.11/Mb, and 1.25 for IP, dysplasia, and SCC, respectively). TMB was higher in the cIPs than in the sIPs (0.64/Mb vs 0.3/Mb). Three cIPs showed a diffuse strong or null pattern in p53, and one showed a total loss of p16, a distinct pattern from sIPs. Our result suggests that TP53 and CDKN2A status can be predictive markers of malignant transformation of IP. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry of p53 and p16 expression can be surrogate markers for TP53 and CDKN2A status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notum is a direct target of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and plays a crucial role as a Wnt inhibitor within a negative feedback loop. In the tooth, Notum is known to be expressed in odontoblasts, and severe dentin defects and irregular tooth roots have been reported in Notum-deficient mice. However, the precise expression pattern of Notum in early tooth development, and the role of Notum in crown and root patterns remain elusive. In the present study, we identified a novel Notum expression in primary enamel knot (EK), secondary EKs, and dental papilla during tooth development. Notum-deficient mice exhibited enlarged secondary EKs, resulting in broader cusp tips, altered cusp patterns, and reduced concavity in crown outline. These alterations in crown outline led to a reduction in cervical tongue length, thereby inducing root fusion in Notum-deficient mice. Overall, these results suggest that the secondary EK size, regulated by the Wnt/Notum negative feedback loop, has a significant impact on the patterns of crown and root during tooth morphogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischemic lesions on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) are common after acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) but are poorly understood for large ICH volumes (> 30 mL). We hypothesized that large blood pressure drops and effect modification by cerebral small vessel disease markers on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are associated with DWI lesions. Methods: This was an exploratory analysis of participants in the Minimally Invasive Surgery Plus Alteplase for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation phase 3 trial with protocolized brain MRI scans within 7 days from ICH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess biologically relevant factors associated with DWI lesions, and relationships between DWI lesions and favorable ICH outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0–3). Results: Of 499 enrolled patients, 300 had MRI at median 7.5 days (interquartile range 7–8), and 178 (59%) had DWI lesions. The incidence of DWI lesions was higher in patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction ≥ 80 mm Hg in first 24 h (76%). In adjusted models, factors associated with DWI lesions were as follows: admission intraventricular hematoma volume (p = 0.03), decrease in SBP ≥ 80 mm Hg from admission to day 1 (p = 0.03), and moderate-to-severe white matter disease (p = 0.01). Patients with DWI lesions had higher odds of severe disability at 1 month (p = 0.04), 6 months (p = 0.036), and 12 months (p < 0.01). No evidence of effect modification by cerebral small vessel disease on blood pressure was found. Conclusions: In patients with large hypertensive ICH, white matter disease, intraventricular hemorrhage volume, and large reductions in SBP over the first 24 h were independently associated with DWI lesions. Further investigation of potential hemodynamic mechanisms of ischemic injury after large ICH is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Endoscopic multiple plastic stents are an established first-line treatment for anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS) management after liver transplantation (LT). Fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCSEMSs) have recently been used with favorable outcomes, but long-term treatment outcomes remain an issue for ABS. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of FCSEMS for the management of refractory ABS after LT. Methods: We reviewed the prospectively collected and maintained endoscopic retrograde cholangiography database at Asan Medical Center to retrieve consecutive post-LT ABS cases that underwent an endoscopic FCSEMS placement between August 2009 and August 2019 after MPS placement failure. Results: A total of 34 patients were enrolled in this study. Technical success had been achieved in all subjects (100%). The median stent placement duration was 3.1 months (IQR 2.7–6.1). Stricture resolution was achieved in 26 patients (clinical success 76.5%, 95% confidence interval 62–91). Early adverse events developed in 3 patients (8.8%), including distal stent migration. Late adverse events occurred in 9 patients (26.5%), including cholangitis (n = 7, 20.6%) and asymptomatic distal stent migration (n = 2, 5.9%). The median follow-up period was 57.9 months (IQR 51.9–64.3). Stricture recurrence occurred in 3 of 26 patients who achieved clinical success (11.5%). Conclusions: FCSEMS placement appears to be an effective and advisable intervention for refractory ABS as it can provide persistent stricture improvement over the long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: FKF1 dimerization is crucial for proper FT levels to fine-tune flowering time. Attenuating FKF1 homodimerization increased CO abundance by enhancing its COP1 binding, thereby accelerating flowering under long days. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the blue-light photoreceptor FKF1 (FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX 1) plays a key role in inducing the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), encoding the main florigenic signal in plants, in the late afternoon under long-day conditions (LDs) by forming dimers with FT regulators. Although structural studies have unveiled a variant of FKF1 (FKF1 I160R) that disrupts homodimer formation in vitro, the mechanism by which disrupted FKF1 homodimer formation regulates flowering time remains elusive. In this study, we determined that the attenuation of FKF1 homodimer formation enhances FT expression in the evening by promoting the increased stability of CONSTANS (CO), a primary activator of FT, in the afternoon, thereby contributing to early flowering. In contrast to wild-type FKF1, introducing the FKF1 I160R variant into the fkf1 mutant led to increased FT expression under LDs. In addition, the FKF1 I160R variant exhibited diminished dimerization with FKF1, while its interaction with GIGANTEA (GI), a modulator of FKF1 function, was enhanced under LDs. Furthermore, the FKF1 I160R variant increased the level of CO in the afternoon under LDs by enhancing its binding to COP1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for CO degradation. These findings suggest that the regulation of FKF1 homodimerization and heterodimerization allows plants to finely adjust FT expression levels around dusk by modulating its interactions with GI and COP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The S2AI screw technique has several advantages over the conventional iliac screw fixation technique. However, connecting the S2AI screw head to the main rod is difficult due to its medial entry point. We introduce a new technique for connecting the S2AI screw head to a satellite rod and compare it with the conventional method of connecting the S2AI screw to the main rod. Methods: Seventy-four patients who underwent S2AI fixation for degenerative sagittal imbalance and were followed up for ≥ 2 years were included. All the patients underwent long fusion from T9 or T10 to the pelvis. The S2AI screw head was connected to the satellite rod (SS group) in 43 patients and the main rod (SM group) in 31 patients. In the SS group, the satellite rod was placed medial to the main rod and connected by the S2AI screw and domino connectors. In the SM group, the main rod was connected directly to the S2AI screw head and supported by accessory rods. Radiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated in both groups. Results: There were no significant differences in postoperative complications, including proximal junctional failure, proximal junctional kyphosis, rod breakage, screw loosening, wound problems, and infection between the two groups. Furthermore, the correction power of sagittal deformity and clinical results in the SS group were comparable to those in the SM group. Conclusion: Connecting the S2AI screw to the satellite rod is a convenient method comparable to the conventional S2AI connection method in terms of radiological and clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to assess overactive bladder (OAB) treatment patterns and factors associated with effectiveness and persistence. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, observational registry study of adults starting OAB therapy with mirabegron or antimuscarinics was undertaken. Primary endpoints were time from treatment initiation to discontinuation/switching; proportion who discontinued/switched; and reasons for discontinuation/switching. Secondary endpoints included OAB Symptom Score (OABSS), OAB Questionnaire: Short Form, and OAB Bladder Assessment Tool scores; factors associated with effectiveness and persistence; and safety. Results: In total, 556 patients initiating mirabegron and 250 initiating antimuscarinics were enrolled. There was no treatment switch, change, or discontinuation in 68.5% of the mirabegron initiator group and median time to treatment change was not reached. Mean initial treatment duration was 130.8 days. In multivariable models, baseline OABSS was the only variable significantly associated with change from baseline in OABSS, and patients with mild and moderate OAB had significantly better persistence with mirabegron than those with severe OAB. Urinary tract infection was the most common adverse event with mirabegron. There was no treatment switch, change, or discontinuation in 60.4% of the antimuscarinics initiator group and median time to treatment change was not reached. Solifenacin was the most frequent initial treatment (66.0%). Mean treatment duration was 122.2 days. In multivariable models, baseline OABSS was the only variable significantly associated with change from baseline in OABSS, while patients with OAB medication in the 12 months before enrollment had significantly better persistence with antimuscarinics than those with no previous OAB medication. Dry mouth was the most common adverse event with antimuscarinics. Conclusions: Mirabegron and solifenacin were commonly prescribed as first-line OAB medications. There was no treatment switch, change, or discontinuation in more than 60% of the mirabegron initiator and antimuscarinics initiator groups. Mean initial treatment duration was 130.8 days and 122.2 days for mirabegron and antimuscarinics, respectively. Graphical Abstract available for this article. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03572231. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is a multifunctional single-pass transmembrane receptor that binds to two disparate ligands, namely, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and semaphorins (SEMAs). It is reportedly involved in neuronal and vascular development. In this study, we uncovered the exact functional role of NRP2 and its molecular mechanism during aggressive behaviors and lymph node (LN) metastasis in human head and neck cancer (HNC) and identified algal methanol extract as a potential novel NRP2 inhibitor. Methods: In silico analyses and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the relationship between NRP2 expression and the prognosis of HNC patients. The functional role of NRP2 on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cancer stem cell (CSC) properties of HNC cells was examined by MTS, soft agar, clonogenic, transwell migration and invasion assays, and sphere formation assays. Signaling explorer antibody array, western blot, and qPCR were performed toward the investigation of a molecular mechanism that is related to NRP2. Results: NRP2 was highly expressed in HNC and positively correlated with LN metastasis and advanced tumor stage and size in patients. Using loss- or gain-of-function approaches, we found that NRP2 promoted the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of human HNC cells. Furthermore, NRP2 regulated Sox2 expression to exhibit aggressiveness and CSC properties of human HNC cells. We demonstrated that p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (RSK1) elevates the aggressiveness and CSC properties of human HNC cells, possibly by mediating NRP2 and Sox2. Zeb1 was necessary for executing the NRP2/RSK1/Sox2 signaling pathway during the induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and aggressive behaviors of human HNC cells. Moreover, the methanol extract of Codium fragile (MECF) repressed NRP2 expression, inhibiting the RSK1/Sox2/Zeb1 axis, which contributed to the reduction of aggressive behaviors of human HNC cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that NRP2 is a critical determinant in provoking EMT and aggressive behaviors in human HNC through the RSK1/Sox2/Zeb1 axis, and MECF may have the potential to be a novel NRP2 inhibitor for treating metastasis in HNC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the risk of acute brain injury (ABI) in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a treatment for severe respiratory or cardiac failure. The study focuses on patients undergoing venovenous (V-V) ECMO and examines the relationship between changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and ABI using plasma biomarkers. The findings suggest a weak association between CO2 changes and ABI, raising questions about the role of CO2 regulation in ECMO-associated ABI. The study emphasizes the need for further research and a standardized approach to studying ABI in ECMO patients. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the management of cerebral complications in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is a common condition in critical care, and improvements in ventilatory strategies have led to better outcomes. However, there is growing recognition of the neurological sequelae in ARDS survivors, including ischemic stroke, brain injury, seizures, and cognitive dysfunction. The article highlights the challenges in managing ARDS-associated cerebral complications, as lung protective ventilation strategies may have negative effects on cerebral physiology. The authors suggest a proactive approach that involves early assessment of individual patient cerebral physiology using neuroimaging and non-invasive bedside monitoring. This can help clinicians tailor interventions to improve pulmonary function while minimizing the risk of cerebral complications. The article also discusses the use of point-of-care diagnostic tools to inform decision-making based on intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow. Overall, the goal is to prevent additional neurological injury and improve outcomes for ARDS survivors. [Extracted from the article]

Semi-infinite single-atom-thick graphene is an ideal reinforcing material that can simultaneously improve the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of matrix. Here, we present a float-stacking strategy to accurately align the monolayer graphene reinforcement in polymer matrix. We float graphene-poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) membrane (GPM) at the water–air interface, and wind-up layer-by-layer by roller. During the stacking process, the inherent water meniscus continuously induces web tension of the GPM, suppressing wrinkle and folding generation. Moreover, rolling-up and hot-rolling mill process above the glass transition temperature of PMMA induces conformal contact between each layer. This allows for pre-tension of the composite, maximizing its reinforcing efficiency. The number and spacing of the embedded graphene fillers are precisely controlled. Notably, we accurately align 100 layers of monolayer graphene in a PMMA matrix with the same intervals to achieve a specific strength of about 118.5 MPa g−1 cm3, which is higher than that of lightweight Al alloy, and a thermal conductivity of about 4.00 W m−1 K−1, which is increased by about 2,000 %, compared to the PMMA film.To maximize composite reinforcing efficiency, a semi-infinite reinforcement should be aligned in the matrix. Here, the authors report a float-stacking strategy for graphene-PMMA laminate with precisely aligned monolayer graphene in a polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : Snoring is the most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. Various objective methods of measuring snoring are available, and even if the measurement is performed the same way, communication is difficult because there are no common reference values between the researcher and clinician with regard to intensity and frequency, among other variables. In other words, no consensus regarding objective measurement has been reached. This study aimed to review the literature related to the objective measurement of snoring, such as measurement devices, definitions, and device locations. Methods: A literature search based on the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was conducted from the date of inception to April 5, 2023. Twenty-nine articles were included in this study. Articles that mentioned only the equipment used for measurement and did not include individual details were excluded from the study. Results: Three representative methods for measuring snoring emerged. These include (1) a microphone, which measures snoring sound; (2) piezoelectric sensor, which measures snoring vibration; and (3) nasal transducer, which measures airflow. In addition, recent attempts have been made to measure snoring using smartphones and applications. Conclusion: Numerous studies have investigated both obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. However, the objective methods of measuring snoring and snoring-related concepts vary across studies. Consensus in the academic and clinical communities on how to measure and define snoring is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of base editing are frequently restricted by the requirement for a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), and selecting the optimal base editor (BE) and single-guide RNA pair (sgRNA) for a given target can be difficult. To select for BEs and sgRNAs without extensive experimental work, we systematically compared the editing windows, outcomes and preferred motifs for seven BEs, including two cytosine BEs, two adenine BEs and three C•G to G•C BEs at thousands of target sequences. We also evaluated nine Cas9 variants that recognize different PAM sequences and developed a deep learning model, DeepCas9variants, for predicting which variants function most efficiently at sites with a given target sequence. We then develop a computational model, DeepBE, that predicts editing efficiencies and outcomes of 63 BEs that were generated by incorporating nine Cas9 variants as nickase domains into the seven BE variants. The predicted median efficiencies of BEs with DeepBE-based design were 2.9- to 20-fold higher than those of rationally designed SpCas9-containing BEs. The best base editor for specific applications is predicted with a deep learning model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bimetallic zinc and cobalt zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZnCo-ZIF-71) catalyst was synthesized using metal acetate and 4,5-dichloroimidizole in a methanol solution. Various physicochemical analytical techniques were employed to characterize the synthesized catalyst and to confirm the existence of uniform distribution of Zn and Co atoms throughout the catalyst system. CO2-epoxide cycloaddition reactions were subsequently carried out to test the performance of ZnCo-ZIF-71. The bimetallic ZIF showed a higher conversion of epoxide compared to that of the corresponding monometallic ZIF (Zn-ZIF-71 and Co-ZIF-71), likely due to the prevalence of linker defects in bimetallic ZIF system. The degree of linker defects in bimetallic ZIFs was characterized based on molecular simulations. The mechanism for the solvent-free CO2-epoxide cycloaddition reaction catalyzed by ZnCo-ZIF-71 was proposed following the XAFS analysis and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O2-type lithium-rich layered oxides, known for mitigating irreversible transition metal migration and voltage decay, provide suitable framework for exploring the inherent properties of oxygen redox. Here, we present a series of O2-type lithium-rich layered oxides exhibiting minimal structural disordering and stable voltage retention even with high anionic redox participation based on the nominal composition. Notably, we observe a distinct asymmetric lattice breathing phenomenon within the layered framework driven by excessive oxygen redox, which includes substantial particle-level mechanical stress and the microcracks formation during cycling. This chemo-mechanical degradation can be effectively mitigated by balancing the anionic and cationic redox capabilities, securing both high discharge voltage (~ 3.43 V vs. Li/Li+) and capacity (~ 200 mAh g−1) over extended cycles. The observed correlation between the oxygen redox capability and the structural evolution of the layered framework suggests the distinct intrinsic capacity fading mechanism that differs from the previously proposed voltage fading mode. O2-type Li-rich layered cathodes suppress voltage decay and aid in oxygen redox research. Here, the authors report trilateral relationship among anionic redox utilization, bulk chemo-mechanical degradation, and electrochemical fading, which can be mitigated by balancing the redox center capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited data exist regarding the optimal clinical trial design for studies involving persons with disorders of consciousness (DoC), and only a few therapies have been tested in high-quality clinical trials. To address this, the Curing Coma Campaign Clinical Trial Working Group performed a gap analysis on the current state of clinical trials in DoC to identify the optimal clinical design for studies involving persons with DoC. Methods: The Curing Coma Campaign Clinical Trial Working Group was divided into three subgroups to (1) review clinical trials involving persons with DoC, (2) identify unique challenges in the design of clinical trials involving persons with DoC, and (3) recommend optimal clinical trial designs for DoC. Results: There were 3055 studies screened, and 66 were included in this review. Several knowledge gaps and unique challenges were identified. There is a lack of high-quality clinical trials, and most data regarding patients with DoC are based on observational studies focusing on patients with traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest. There is a lack of a structured long-term outcome assessment with significant heterogeneity in the methodology, definitions of outcomes, and conduct of studies, especially for long-term follow-up. Another major barrier to conducting clinical trials is the lack of resources, especially in low-income countries. Based on the available data, we recommend incorporating trial designs that use master protocols, sequential multiple assessment randomized trials, and comparative effectiveness research. Adaptive platform trials using a multiarm, multistage approach offer substantial advantages and should make use of biomarkers to assess treatment responses to increase trial efficiency. Finally, sound infrastructure and international collaboration are essential to facilitate the conduct of trials in patients with DoC. Conclusions: Conduct of trials in patients with DoC should make use of master protocols and adaptive design and establish international registries incorporating standardized assessment tools. This will allow the establishment of evidence-based practice recommendations and decrease variations in care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic conductive film (ACF) is an electrical and electronic material composed of conductive balls embedded in a polymer matrix. ACF plays a crucial role in connecting electrodes and chips in Micro-LEDs. It serves as the target material in the repair process, enhancing production yield. For the application of ACF in the Micro-LED display repair process, flawless selective micro-ablation is essential. However, little research related to ACF micro-ablation has been conducted so far. In this study, we investigated a detailed analysis of the ablation area and defects in ACF by using femtosecond lasers with three different wavelengths: 1026 nm (NIR), 513 nm (Green), and 257 nm (DUV) for selective micro-ablation. By conducting a comparative analysis of these wavelengths, we determined that the optimal ablation results were achieved using a 257 nm wavelength femtosecond laser. These results exhibited no-defect, uniform, reproducible, and symmetrical ablation characteristic, making it suitable for the Micro-LED display repair process. This research is expected to establish the foundation for micro-ablation in all applications where ACF is employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass is widely used for various applications, including flat panel displays, solar panels, architectural windows, and exterior materials. These applications exhibit increasing complexity and improved functionality. In particular, glass substrates used in display panels require diverse forms of processing, prompting the exploration of laser applications to enhance processing quality, yield, and efficiency. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using a high absorption, 257 nm femtosecond laser for processing glass substrates. The goal is to minimize damage and eliminate the need for post-processing, and ensuring superior quality and cross-sectional features. The analysis focuses on the influence of energy density and laser beam overlap ratio on processing variations. Point, line, and area processing were conducted within the achievable energy density range of 2.4–10.8 J/cm2. The results indicate that as the overlap ratio increases, processing depth, influenced by heat accumulation, exhibits a non-linear growth pattern. Moreover, the phenomenon of excessive processing width, surpassing design specifications, is mitigated by utilizing burst pulses that induce heat accumulation of ultra-short pulse lasers, thereby promoting increased processing depth while restraining width expansion. By comparing the outcomes of glass substrate processing using different laser wavelengths and pulse durations, it is confirmed that employing a 257 nm femtosecond laser minimizes damage, cracks, and chipping in the processed areas, obviating the need for post-processing. This paper presents the pioneering research on glass processing using deep ultraviolet femtosecond lasers. Results indicate that clear glass ablation is achieved without cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute inflammatory respiratory failure condition that may be associated with brain injury. We aimed to describe the types of structural brain injuries detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among patients with ARDS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and collected data on brain injuries as detected by brain MRI during index hospitalization of all patients with ARDS at a single tertiary center in the United States from January 2010 to October 2018 (pre-COVID era). Structural brain injuries were classified as cerebral ischemia (ischemic infarct and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury) or cerebral hemorrhage (intraparenchymal hemorrhage, cerebral microbleeds, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural hematoma). Descriptive statistics were conducted. Results: Of the 678 patients with ARDS, 66 (9.7%) underwent brain MRI during their ARDS illness. The most common indication for brain MRI was encephalopathy (45.4%), and the median time from hospital admission to MRI was 10 days (interquartile range 4–17). Of 66 patients, 29 (44%) had MRI evidence of brain injury, including cerebral ischemia in 33% (22 of 66) and cerebral hemorrhage in 21% (14 of 66). Among those with cerebral ischemia, common findings were bilateral globus pallidus infarcts (n = 7, 32%), multifocal infarcts (n = 5, 23%), and diffuse hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (n = 3, 14%). Of those with cerebral hemorrhage, common findings were cerebral microbleeds (n = 12, 86%) and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (n = 2, 14%). Patients with ARDS with cerebral hemorrhage had significantly greater use of rescue therapies, including prone positioning (28.6% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.03), inhaled vasodilator (35.7% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.046), and recruitment maneuver (14.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Structural brain injury was not uncommon among selected patients with ARDS who underwent brain MRI. The majority of brain injuries seen were bilateral globus pallidus infarcts and cerebral microbleeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac arrest (CA) is a sudden event that is often characterized by hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI), leading to significant mortality and long-term disability. Brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) is an invasive tool for monitoring brain oxygen tension, but it is not routinely used in patients with CA because of the invasiveness and the absence of high-quality data on its effect on outcome. We conducted a systematic review of experimental and clinical evidence to understand the role of PbtO2 in monitoring brain oxygenation in HIBI after CA and the effect of targeted PbtO2 therapy on outcomes. Methods: The search was conducted using four search engines (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane), using the Boolean operator to combine mesh terms such as PbtO2, CA, and HIBI. Results: Among 1,077 records, 22 studies were included (16 experimental studies and six clinical studies). In experimental studies, PbtO2 was mainly adopted to assess the impact of gas exchanges, drugs, or systemic maneuvers on brain oxygenation. In human studies, PbtO2 was rarely used to monitor the brain oxygen tension in patients with CA and HIBI. PbtO2 values had no clear association with patients' outcomes, but in the experimental studies, brain tissue hypoxia was associated with increased inflammation and neuronal damage. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to validate the effect and the threshold of PbtO2 associated with outcome in patients with CA, as well as to understand the physiological mechanisms influencing PbtO2 induced by gas exchanges, drug administration, and changes in body positioning after CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a machine learning approach to predict novel perovskite oxide materials in the Pr-Al-O and Pr-Sc-O compound families with the potential for photoluminescence applications. The predicted materials exhibit a large bandgap and high Debye temperature, and have remained unexplored thus far. The predicted compounds (Pr 3 AlO 6 , Pr 4 Al 2 O 9 , Pr 3 ScO 6 and Pr 3 Sc 5 O 12 ) are screened using machine learning approach, which are then confirmed by density functional theory calculations. The study includes the calculation of the bandgap and density of states to determine electronic properties, and the optical absorption and emission spectra to determine optical properties. Mechanical stability of the predicted compounds, as demonstrated by satisfying the Born-Huang criterion. By combining machine learning and density functional theory, this work offers a more efficient and comprehensive approach to materials discovery and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, radar sensors have been extensively used for vital sign monitoring in dogs, owing to their noncontact and noninvasive nature. However, a public dataset on dog vital signs has yet to be proposed since capturing data from dogs requires special training and approval. This work presents the first ever ultra wideband radar-based dog vital sign (UWB-DVS) dataset, which was captured in two independent scenarios. In the first scenario, clinical reference sensors are attached to the fainted dogs, and data from UWB radar and reference sensors are captured synchronously. In the second scenario, the dogs can move freely, and video recordings are provided as a reference for movement detection and breathing extraction. For technical validation, a high correlation, above 0.9, is found between the radar and clinical reference sensors for both the heart rate and breathing rate measurements in scenario 1. In scenario 2, the vital signs and movement of the dogs are shown in the form of dashboards, demonstrating the long-term monitoring capability of the radar sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to accelerate the learning ability of an artificial electric field algorithm (AEFA) by attributing it with two mechanisms: elitism and opposition-based learning. Elitism advances the convergence of the AEFA towards global optima by retaining the fine-tuned solutions obtained thus far, and opposition-based learning helps enhance its exploration ability. The new version of the AEFA, called elitist opposition leaning-based AEFA (EOAEFA), retains the properties of the basic AEFA while taking advantage of both elitism and opposition-based learning. Hence, the improved version attempts to reach optimum solutions by enabling the diversification of solutions with guaranteed convergence. Higher-order neural networks (HONNs) have single-layer adjustable parameters, fast learning, a robust fault tolerance, and good approximation ability compared with multilayer neural networks. They consider a higher order of input signals, increased the dimensionality of inputs through functional expansion and could thus discriminate between them. However, determining the number of expansion units in HONNs along with their associated parameters (i.e., weight and threshold) is a bottleneck in the design of such networks. Here, we used EOAEFA to design two HONNs, namely, a pi-sigma neural network and a functional link artificial neural network, called EOAEFA-PSNN and EOAEFA-FLN, respectively, in a fully automated manner. The proposed models were evaluated on financial time-series datasets, focusing on predicting four closing prices, four exchange rates, and three energy prices. Experiments, comparative studies, and statistical tests were conducted to establish the efficacy of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glomerular epithelial protein-1 (Glepp1), a R3 subtype family of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases, plays important role in the activation of Src family kinases and regulates cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we firstly examined the functional evaluation of Glepp1 in tooth development and morphogenesis. The precise expression level and developmental function of Glepp1 were examined by RT-qPCR, in situ hybridization, and loss and gain of functional study using a range of in vitro organ cultivation methods. Expression of Glepp1 was detected in the developing tooth germs in cap and bell stage of tooth development. Knocking down Glepp1 at E13 for 2 days showed the altered expression levels of tooth development-related signaling molecules, including Bmps, Dspp, Fgf4, Lef1, and Shh. Moreover, transient knock down of Glepp1 revealed alterations in cellular physiology, examined by the localization patterns of Ki67 and E-cadherin. Similarly, knocking down of Glepp1 showed disrupted enamel rod and interrod formation in 3-week renal transplanted teeth. In addition, due to attrition of odontoblastic layers, the expression signals of Dspp and the localization of NESTIN were almost not detected after knock down of Glepp1; however, their expressions were increased after Glepp1 overexpression. Thus, our results suggested that Glepp1 plays modulating roles during odontogenesis by regulating the expression levels of signaling molecules and cellular events to achieve the proper structural formation of hard tissue matrices in mice molar development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter published in the Journal of Neurology discussing the long-term neurological symptoms experienced by adult patients who were hospitalized with acute COVID-19. The authors highlight the wide range of persisting or new symptoms that can occur after the acute illness, known as long-COVID-19. They specifically focus on the neurological manifestations of long-COVID-19 and the need for a clear understanding of these symptoms to effectively manage the global healthcare burden. The study analyzes data from a large international cohort of adults and provides estimates of the prevalence of various neurological symptoms at different time intervals post-hospital discharge. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Cigarette smoke-induced chronic airway inflammation increases the risk of lung cancer and plays a multifaceted role in lung cancer initiation and progression. The RAGE-ligand axis (HMGB1, S100A8/A9) contributes to cigarette smoke-induced persistent and progressive inflammation. The aim of the present study was to determine the inflammatory effect on the S100A8/A9-RAGE pathway in smoke-induced lung cancer carcinogenesis. Methods: Human alveolar adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and normal bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were co-cultured for 24 h with PBMCs and then were incubated in the presence or absence of 1.5% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 24 h. The cells were then transfected with siRNA targeting S100A8/9 or RAGE. Cell viability, colony-forming ability, migration, invasion, metastasis, and morphological changes were assessed. Female A/J mice were given benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P; 100 mg/kg) in 0.1 mL of corn oil via oral gavage once a week for 3 weeks and administrated CSE (1.25 ul/g) intratracheally twice a week for 4 weeks. Tumor load was determined by averaging the total tumor volume in each group. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells were differentiated and counted to analyze inflammatory cells present. Results: Cell growth and colony formation were promoted by exposure to CSE and significantly inhibited by S100A8/9 and RAGE-siRNA transfection, especially in A549 cells compared to BEAS-2B cells. Cell migration, invasion, MMP-2/9 activity, and the mRNA and protein expression of TLR4, NF-κB, RAGE, S100A8/9, and HMBG1 were increased in CSE-exposed A549 cells. S100A8/9 and RAGE-siRNA transfection significantly attenuated those expressions. B(a)P induced an average tumor volume of 7.28 mm3 per mouse, and CSE significantly increased the tumor volume (8.10 mm3) compared to the B(a)P group. The total cell number and lymphocytes in BAL fluid tended to increase after CSE administration in the lung cancer mouse group. Moreover, CSE significantly induced the levels of S100A8/9, RAGE, p38, and ERK, and decreased JNK in serum and tumors compared to adjacent lung tissues (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the S100A8/A9-RAGE signal pathway is the mainstream of the inflammation-immune response induced in cancer progression in CSE-related smoke-induced lung carcinogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Further studies are needed to identify the therapeutic targets of cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistency regularization (CR) is representative semi-supervised learning (SSL) technique that maintains the consistency of predictions from multiple views on the same unlabeled data during the training. In recent SSL studies, the approaches of self-supervised learning with CR, which conducts the pre-training based on unsupervised learning and fine-tuning based on supervised learning, have provided excellent classification accuracy. However, the data augmentation used to generate multiple views in CR has a limitation for expanding the training data distribution. In addition, the existing self-supervised learning using CR cannot provide the high-density clustering result for each class of the labeled data in a representation space, thus it is vulnerable to outlier samples of the unlabeled data with strong augmentation. Consequently, the unlabeled data with augmentation for SSL may not improve the classification performance but rather degrade it. To solve these, we propose a new training methodology called adversarial representation teaching (ART), which consists of the labeled sample-guided representation teaching and adversarial noise-based CR. In our method, the adversarial attack-robust teacher model guides the student model to form a high-density distribution in representation space. This allows for maximizing the improvement by the strong embedding augmentation in the student model for SSL. For the embedding augmentation, the adversarial noise attack on the representation is proposed to successfully expand a class-wise subspace, which cannot be achieved by the existing adversarial attack or embedding expansion. Experimental results showed that the proposed method provided outstanding classification accuracy up to 1.57% compared to the existing state-of-the-art methods under SSL conditions. Moreover, ART significantly outperforms the classification accuracies up to 1.57%, 0.53%, and 0.3% over our baseline method on the CIFAR-10, SVHN, and ImageNet datasets, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium tin oxide (ITO) exhibits transparency and high electrical conductivity in the visible and near-IR wavelength ranges. Therefore, ITO is used in liquid crystal displays, organic light-emitting diodes, photovoltaics, and solar cells. However, ITO must be partially ablated before employing it in applications. High-resolution patterning technology is required to obtain the desired ITO morphology, and accordingly, various technologies have been developed. Recently, ultrafast lasers have been widely used for controlled ablation because of their non-thermal properties caused by short pulse widths. This study analyzes the changes in ablation characteristics as a function of various parameters such as pulse energy, pulse duration, number of pulses, and wavelength. We show that the optimized ablation characteristics could lead to the efficient formation of the desired morphology of ITO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global eradication of poliovirus remains elusive, and it is critical to develop next generation vaccines and antivirals. In support of this goal, we map the epitope of human monoclonal antibody 9H2 which is able to neutralize the three serotypes of poliovirus. Using cryo-EM we solve the near-atomic structures of 9H2 fragments (Fab) bound to capsids of poliovirus serotypes 1, 2, and 3. The Fab-virus complexes show that Fab interacts with the same binding mode for each serotype and at the same angle of interaction relative to the capsid surface. For each of the Fab-virus complexes, we find that the binding site overlaps with the poliovirus receptor (PVR) binding site and maps across and into a depression in the capsid called the canyon. No conformational changes to the capsid are induced by Fab binding for any complex. Competition binding experiments between 9H2 and PVR reveal that 9H2 impedes receptor binding. Thus, 9H2 outcompetes the receptor to neutralize poliovirus. The ability to neutralize all three serotypes, coupled with the critical importance of the conserved receptor binding site make 9H2 an attractive antiviral candidate for future development. Cross-neutralizing activity of monoclonal antibodies against poliovirus serotypes is less commonly reported. In this study, the authors use high-resolution cryo-EM to reveal that a cross-neutralizing human antibody neutralizes all three poliovirus serotypes by interacting with the receptor-binding region, called the canyon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]