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Partial cubes are the graphs which can be embedded into hypercubes. The cube polynomial of a graph G is a counting polynomial of induced hypercubes of G, which is defined as C(G,x)≔∑i⩾0αi(G)xi, where αi(G) is the number of induced i‐cubes (hypercubes of dimension i) of G. The clique polynomial of G is defined as Cl(G,x)≔∑i⩾0ai(G)xi, where ai(G) (i⩾1) is the number of i‐cliques in G and a0(G)=1. Equivalently, Cl(G,x) is exactly the independence polynomial of the complement G¯ of G. The crossing graphG# of a partial cube G is the graph whose vertices are corresponding to the Θ‐classes of G, and two Θ‐classes are adjacent in G# if and only if they cross in G. In the present paper, we prove that for a partial cube G, C(G,x)⩽Cl(G#,x+1) and the equality holds if and only if G is a median graph. Since every graph can be represented as the crossing graph of a median graph, the above necessary‐and‐sufficient result shows that the study on the cube polynomials of median graphs can be transformed to the one on the clique polynomials of general graphs (equivalently, on the independence polynomials of their complements). In addition, we disprove the conjecture that the cube polynomials of median graphs are unimodal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial cubes are graphs that can be isometrically embedded into hypercubes. Convex cycles play an important role in the study of partial cubes. In this paper, we prove that a regular partial cube is a hypercube (resp., a Doubled Odd graph, an even cycle of length 2n $2n$ where n⩾4 $n\geqslant 4$) if and only if all its convex cycles are 4‐cycles (resp., 6‐cycles, 2n $2n$‐cycles). In particular, the partial cubes whose all convex cycles are 4‐cycles are equivalent to almost‐median graphs. Therefore, we conclude that regular almost‐median graphs are exactly hypercubes, which generalizes the result by Mulder—regular median graphs are hypercubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium plating–stripping with high reversibility is still an intractable challenge for sodium metal‐based batteries due to the fragile natural solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) film and severe Na dendrites growth. Herein, a surface reconstruction strategy is proposed and a rooted heterogeneous interlayer derived from in situ reactions between tin selenide and Na metal (abbr. Na/SnSe) is produced to regulate Na+ deposition behavior and impede dendrite growth. The high sodiophilic Na15Sn4 component demonstrates the robust combination and dendrite suppression capability, inhibiting fracture and delamination problems during volume variation. Meanwhile, the superionic Na2Se ingredient contributes to the optimized Na+ conduction efficiency and low nucleation overpotential, enabling uniform distribution of electrical fields and ultimately eliminating Na dendrites. Consequently, the reconfigured multifunctional Na/SnSe interphase realizes a long‐term lifespan over 2400 h at 0.5 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2 in symmetric cell with an extremely low voltage hysteresis. Moreover, the assembled Na/SnSe||NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 pouch cell achieves exceptional cycling stability and capacity retention (90.4 mAh g−1 after 1800 cycles at a high current density of 2 A g−1), exploiting an avenue for designing durable SEI layer and high‐quality sodium metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the impact of clinical nursing pathway applied to acute appendicitis surgery on patients' postoperative wound infections and complications. A computerised search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure was conducted and supplemented by a manual search, from database inception to October 2023, to collect randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the application of clinical nursing pathways to acute appendicitis surgery. Literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment of the included literature were carried out independently by two researchers. RevMan 5.4 software was applied for data analysis. Twenty‐one RCTs with a total of 2408 patients were finally included. The analysis revealed the implementation of clinical nursing pathway could effectively reduce the incidence of wound infection (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.15–0.46, p < 0.001) and postoperative complications (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.15–0.27, p < 0.001), as well as shorten the hospital length of stay (MD = −3.26, 95% CI: −3.74 to −2.79, p < 0.001) and accelerated the time to first ventilations (MD = −14.85, 95% CI: −21.56 to −8.13, p < 0.001), as well as significantly improved patient satisfaction (OR = 5.52, 95% CI: 3.52–8.65, p < 0.001) in patients undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis. The application of clinical nursing pathway in acute appendicitis surgery can significantly reduce postoperative wound infection and complications, and at the same time can shorten the hospital length of stay as well as improve the satisfaction of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As a serious complication of moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) can lead to a prolonged course of interventional therapy. Most predictive models designed to identify such patients are complex or lack validation. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for the early detection of IPN in MSAP and SAP. Methods: A total of 594 patients with MSAP or SAP were included in the study. To reduce dimensionality, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was used to screen potential predictive variables, a nomogram was then constructed using logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the discrimination, accuracy, and clinical efficacy of the model. External data were also obtained to further validate the constructed model. Results: There were 476, 118, and 82 patients in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. Platelet count, hematocrit, albumin/globulin, severity of acute pancreatitis, and modified computed tomography severity index score were independent factors for predicting IPN in MSAP and SAP. The area under the ROC curves were 0.923, 0.940, and 0.817, respectively, in the three groups. There was a good consistency between the actual probabilities and the predicted probabilities. DCA revealed excellent clinical utility. Conclusion: The constructed nomogram is a simple and feasible model that has good clinical predictive value and efficacy in clinical decision‐making for IPN in MSAP and SAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically evaluates the impact of comprehensive nursing interventions on the treatment efficacy for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Utilizing computerized searches of databases including PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases, we identified randomized controlled trials pertaining to this topic, with the search timeframe extending to May 2023. Two independent researchers screened the literature, extracted data and conducted a quality assessment. Data analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software. A total of 17 randomized controlled trials, encompassing 1306 patients with diabetic foot ulcers, were included in this analysis. The analysis revealed that the application of comprehensive nursing interventions significantly reduced the wound healing time in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (standard mean difference [SMD] = −2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.05 to −1.83, P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a notable enhancement in nursing satisfaction (odds ratio [OR] = 7.54, 95% CI: 3.99–14.26, P < 0.001) and the overall treatment efficacy rate (OR = 6.97, 95% CI: 3.32–14.60, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates that comprehensive nursing interventions significantly shorten the wound healing time in patients with diabetic foot ulcers, enhance clinical nursing satisfaction and improve the overall efficacy of treatment. These findings underscore the value of such interventions for widespread clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waardenburg Syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder that leads to congenital hearing loss and pigmentation defects. Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) is one of its significant pathogenic genes. Despite the comprehensive investigation in animal models, the pathogenic mechanism is still poorly described in humans due to difficulties accessing embryonic tissues. In this work, we used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from a WS patient carrying a heterozygous mutation in the MITF gene c.626A>T (p.His209Leu), and differentiated toward melanocyte lineage, which is the most affected cell type involved in WS. Compared with the wild‐type cell line, the MITFmut cell line showed a reduced expression of the characteristic melanocyte‐related genes and a lesser proportion of mature, fully pigmented melanosomes. The transcriptome analysis also revealed widespread gene expression changes at the melanocyte stage in the MITFmut cell line. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in melanogenesis and cell proliferation‐related pathways. Interestingly, ion transport‐related genes also showed a significant difference in MITFmut‐induced melanocytes, indicating that the MITF mutant may lead to the dysfunction of potassium channels and transporters produced by intermediate cells in the cochlea, further causing the associated phenotype of deafness. Altogether, our study provides valuable insights into how MITF mutation affects WS patients, which might result in defective melanocyte development and the related phenotype based on the patient‐derived iPSC model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional Chinese Medicine, Prunella vulgaris L. (PVL) is potentially effective in the treatment of some human malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the detailed mechanism of action remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to decipher the constitutes of the bioactive ingredients of PVL, and its mechanism against HCC using network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. The bioactive components of PVL were obtained by Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis platform database, and the targets of bioactive components of PVL was investigated by Swiss Target Prediction database. HCC related targets were obtained from GEO database, GeneCards database and DisGeNET database, and the gene ontology function annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted for annotating the biological function of gene targets. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using STRING database. Molecular docking of key bioactive ingredients was performed using AutoDock Vina. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit‐8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression level of the target genes of PI3K/Akt pathway were detected by qPCR. In the present work, 11 bioactive components of PVL were screened out, which acted on 177 potential targets. In addition, 13,517 genes were strongly associated with HCC pathogenesis, of which 158 targets are overlapped with PVL's targets. KEGG results identified 39 signaling pathways closely associated with the 158 targets. Molecular docking showed that the main bioactive components of PVL, kaempferol, morin, quercetin, luteolin, and spinasterol, had good binding activity with the core proteins in cancer biology such as AKT1, EGFR, SRC, ESR1, and PPARG. In vitro assays showed that quercetin, one of the main components of PVL extracts effectively inhibited HCC cell proliferation, and promoted apoptosis, which may be associated with PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In summary, PVL may regulate HCC progression by regulating core targets such as AKT1, EGFR, SRC, ESR1, and PPARG, and acting on PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiCo2O4, as a low‐cost and high‐performance binary transition metal oxide material, has been widely used in the fabrication of supercapacitor electrodes. However, the low energy density of binary metal oxides limits their large‐scale practical applications in supercapacitors, so it is highly desirable to design the structure of the NiCo2O4‐based supercapacitor. Therefore, in this paper, NiCo2O4 is compounded with polyaniline (PANI) to improve its electrochemical performance by exploiting the synergistic effect. The NiCo2O4@PANI composite electrode exhibits a specific capacitance of 561.2 F/g at 10 mV/s. In this study, asymmetric supercapacitors are assembled with NiCo2O4@PANI as the positive electrode and MXene as the negative electrode. The NiCo2O4@PANI‐CC//MXene‐CC supercapacitor has a specific capacitance of 31.95 F/g at a scan rate of 10 mV/s and a good cycle retention capacity of 86.2% after 3000 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performances are attributed to the dynamic equilibrium and fast redox kinetics of the two electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We explored whether volatile organic compound (VOC) detection can serve as a screening tool to distinguish cognitive dysfunction (CD) from cognitively normal (CN) individuals. Methods: The cognitive function of 1467 participants was assessed and their VOCs were detected. Six machine learning algorithms were conducted and the performance was determined. The plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) was measured. Results: Distinguished VOC patterns existed between CD and CN groups. The CD detection model showed good accuracy with an area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.876. In addition, we found that 10 VOC ions showed significant differences between CD and CN individuals (p < 0.05); three VOCs were significantly related to plasma NfL (p < 0.005). Moreover, a combination of VOCs with NfL showed the best discriminating power (AUC = 0.877). Discussion: Detection of VOCs from exhaled breath samples has the potential to provide a novel solution for the dilemma of CD screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising approach for producing sustainable and clean hydrogen. Typically, high valence state sites are favorable for oxidation evolution reaction (OER), while low valence states can facilitate hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, here we proposed a high valence state of Co3+ in Ni9.5Co0.5−S−FeOx hybrid as the favorable center for efficient and stable HER, while structural analogues with low chemical states showed much worse performance. As a result, the Ni9.5Co0.5−S−FeOx catalyst could drive alkaline HER with an ultra‐low overpotential of 22 mV for 10 mA cm−2, and 175 mV for 1000 mA cm−2 at the industrial temperature of 60 °C, with an excellent stability over 300 h. Moreover, this material could work for both OER and HER, with a low cell voltage being 1.730 V to achieve 1000 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting at 60 °C. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) clearly identified the high valence Co3+ sites, while in situ XAS during HER and theoretical calculations revealed the favorable electron capture at Co3+ and suitable H adsorption/desorption energy around Co3+, which could accelerate the HER. The understanding of high valence states to drive reductive reactions may pave the way for the rational design of energy‐related catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term weightlessness in animals can cause changes in myocardial structure and function, in which mitochondria play an important role. Here, a tail suspension (TS) Kunming mouse (Mus musculus) model was used to simulate the effects of weightlessness on the heart. We investigated the effects of 2 and 4 weeks of TS (TS2 and TS4) on myocardial mitochondrial ultrastructure and oxidative respiratory function and on the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and mitochondrial fission, autophagy and fusion‐related signalling. Our study revealed significant changes in the ultrastructural features of cardiomyocytes in response to TS. The results showed: (1) mitochondrial swelling and disruption of cristae in TS2, but mitochondrial recovery and denser cristae in TS4; (2) an increase in the total number of mitochondria and number of sub‐mitochondria in TS4; (3) no significant changes in the nuclear ultrastructure or DNA fragmentation among the two TS groups and the control group; (4) an increase in the bax/bcl‐2 protein levels in the two TS groups, indicating increased activation of the bax‐mediated apoptosis pathway; (5) no change in the phosphorylation ratio of dynamin‐related protein 1 in the two TS groups; (6) an increase in the protein levels of optic atrophy 1 and mitofusin 2 in the two TS groups; and (7) in comparison to the TS2 group, an increase in the phosphorylation ratio of parkin and the ratio of LC3II to LC3I in TS4, suggesting an increase in autophagy. Taken together, these findings suggest that mitochondrial autophagy and fusion levels increased after 4 weeks of TS, leading to a restoration of the bax‐mediated myocardial apoptosis pathway observed after 2 weeks of TS. New Findings: What is the central question of this study?What are the effects of 2 and 4 weeks of tail suspension on myocardial mitochondrial ultrastructure and oxidative respiratory function and on the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and mitochondrial fission, autophagy and fusion‐related signalling?What is the main finding and its importance?Increased mitochondrial autophagy and fusion levels after 4 weeks of tail suspension help to reshape the morphology and increase the number of myocardial mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Super enhancers (SE) play pivotal roles in cell identity and diseases occur including tumorigenesis. The depletion of SE‐associated lncRNA transcripts, also known as super‐lncRNA, causes the activity of SE to be dysregulated. Methods: We screened and identified an elevated metastasis‐associated SE‐lncRNA SUCLG2‐AS1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using RNA‐sequencing, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and bioinformatics. Western blotting, RT‐qPCR, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA pull‐down and 3C (chromosome conformation capture assays) were used for mechanistic studies. Results: SUCLG2‐AS1 was correlated with a poor prognosis. SUCLG2‐AS1 promotes NPC cell invasion and metastasis while repressing apoptosis and radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, high SUCLG2‐AS1 expression occurred in an m6A‐dependent manner. SUCLG2‐AS1 was found to be located in the SE region of SOX2, and it regulated the expression of SOX2 via long‐range chromatin loop formation, which via mediating CTCF (transcription factor) occupied the SE and promoter region of SOX2, thus regulating the metastasis and radiosensitivity of NPC. Conclusions: Taken together, our data suggest that SUCLG2‐AS1 may serve as a novel intervention target for the clinical treatment of NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This multi‐center study was aimed at retrospectively evaluating the feasibility, safety, clinical outcomes, and surgical learning curve of an optimized procedure for right upper lobectomy (RUL), which is challenging because of the anatomical structures and features of this lobe. Methods: This study included 45 RUL cases of robot‐assisted thoracoscopy (RATS) in a pilot cohort and 187 RUL cases of video‐assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) in three cohorts. A total of 121 and 111 patients underwent traditional and optimized RUL, respectively. The optimized surgical procedure was performed to consecutively transect the superior arterial trunk and bronchus, and finally disconnect the pulmonary vein and posterior ascending artery with interlobar fissures. Clinical and radiological data were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Optimized RUL can be performed successfully by RATS or VATS. The optimized procedure yielded better clinical outcomes than the traditional procedure, including shorter operation times, less blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital times, lower costs, and a lower likelihood of postoperative intermedius bronchial kinking. Additionally, for calcified interlobar lymph nodes, the optimized VATS group was less likely to be converted to thoracotomy than the traditional group. The skills required to perform optimized VATS RUL can be gained by surgeons after 12 to 15 cases. The two RUL procedures in the pilot cohort showed similar disease‐free survival. Conclusions: The optimized RUL was safe, economical, and feasible, with a short learning curve and satisfactory disease‐free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting adsorbents with highly efficient extraction performance is of great promise for extracting small organic molecules from biological samples. In this work, a novel Zn2+‐immobilized chitosan@silica hybrid monolith was prepared through a simple self‐assembly Zn2+‐immobilization process. Exploited as an adsorbent in solid‐phase micro‐extraction for extracting trace β‐agonists, the monolith exhibited high extraction efficiencies for salbutamol, clenbuterol, and ractopamine with the enrichment factors approaching 120, 85, and 52, respectively. These could be attributed to the effective interaction between Zn2+ ions and the target molecule via coordination or other intermolecular interactions. Under optimized extraction operations, a sensitive determination was successfully developed coupling with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet detection. The linear range was 0.17–58.8, 0.12–68.5, and 0.18–65.5 ng/ml for salbutamol, clenbuterol, and ractopamine. The limits of detection of the β‐agonists were from 0.04 to 0.07 ng/ml, and the limits of quantification were from 0.12 to 0.18 ng/ml. The recoveries of spiking in mutton samples were observed in the range of 85.9%–95.7%, with relative standard deviations <8.0% (n = 3). Application tests demonstrated this newly developed determination was practical, accurate, and convenient for detecting trace content β‐agonists in meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graph is called a partial cube if it can be embedded into a hypercube isometrically. In this paper, we study a class of Cayley graphs—Cayley graphs generated by transpositions—and show that a Cayley graph Γ generated by transpositions is a partial cube if and only if Γ is a bubble sort graph. This result enhances a result of Alahmadi et al. in 2016: BSn is a partial cube. As a corollary, we give the analytical expressions of the Wiener indices of bubble sort graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the microstructure and composition of the Ti‐ and Ta‐doped Nb3Al superconductor fabricated by rapid heating, quenching, and transformation (RHQT) process are compared. After rapid heating and quenching (RHQ) process, body‐centered cubic (bcc) phase is formed in all the wires, showing dark stripe and bright contrast morphology in the backscattered electron (BSE) images. After transformation heat‐treatment, all wires consist of A15 phase and show the same morphology as that of the quenched samples. Near‐stoichiometric composition is shown in 3 at% Ti‐ and Ta‐doped Nb3Al samples, but when doping amount is 10 at%, Ti‐doped sample has constant Nb content of 67 at% and Ta‐doped sample has Al + Ta content of 25 at%. Superconducting properties of both 3 at% Ti‐ and Ta‐doped Nb3Al samples are comparable and much superior than that of 10 at% doped samples, including critical temperature (Tc), critical current density (Jc), and irreversible field (Birr). Though 10 at% Ta‐doped Nb3Al has higher Tc than 10 at% Ti‐doped sample, it presents wider ΔTc value and lower Jc performance. When increasing the measurement temperature from 8 to 10 K, the decay ratio of Birr value for Ti‐doped Nb3Al superconductor follows the scaling law; however, the Ta‐doped samples are not the case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)‐derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are potent candidates for the suppression of acute rejection post‐renal allograft and have been reported to halt dendritic cells (DCs) maturation. However, whether BMSC‐derived sEVs mitigate acute rejection post‐renal allograft by targeting DCs is still unclear. In this study, donor BMSC‐derived sEVs (sEVs) relieved the inflammatory response and suppressed mature DCs (mDCs) location in kidney grafts, and increased regulatory T (Treg) cell population in the spleens of the rats that underwent kidney allograft. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated immature DCs (imDCs), sEVs suppressed the maturation and migration of DCs and inactivated toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. Compared with LPS‐treated imDCs, imDCs treated with LPS+sEVs promoted CD4+T cells differentiated toward Treg cells. Subsequently, we found that Loc108349490, a long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) abundant in sEVs, mediated the inhibitory effect of sEVs on DC maturation and migration by promoting TLR4 ubiquitination. In rats that underwent an allograft, Loc108349490 deficiency weakened the therapeutic effect of sEVs on acute rejection. The present study firstly found that sEVs alleviated acute rejection post‐renal allograft by transferring lncRNA to DCs and screened out the functional lncRNA loaded in sEVs was Loc108349490. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In civil aviation industry, runway overrun is a typical landing safety incident concerned by both airlines and authorities. Among various contributing factors to the runway overrun incident, long landing plays an important role. However, existing studies for long landing prediction mainly depend on classic machine learning methods and handcrafted features. As a result, they usually require much expert knowledge and provide unsatisfactory results. To address these problems, this paper proposes an innovative deep sequence‐to‐sequence model which utilizes QAR (Quick Access Recorder) data for accurate long landing pre‐ diction. Specifically, to cope with the high heterogeneity of QAR dataset, a data pre‐processing procedure is first proposed which includes data cleaning, interpolation and normalization steps. Second, to avoid the noises incurred by too many QAR parameters and relieve the reliance on expert experience, the GBDT (gradient boosting decision trees) model is employed to choose the most relevant parameters as features. Then a CNN‐LSTM and TG‐attention encoder‐decoder architecture is proposed to accurately predict future aircraft ground speed and radio height sequences, based on which the touchdown distance can be finally calculated. Experimental results on a large QAR dataset with 44,176 A321 flights validate effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branchiootorenal spectrum disorder (BORSD) is a group of rare autosomal dominant entities characterized by branchiogenic malformations, hearing loss (HL) and renal anomalies. It comprises branchiootorenal syndrome and branchiootic syndrome, distinguished by the presence or absence of renal abnormalities. Pathogenic variants have been discovered in the following genes: EYA1, SIX5, SIX1 and SALL1. As the otological phenotype in BORSD is inconsistently reported, we performed a systematic review to provide an up‐to‐date overview, correlated with the genotype. Forty publications were included, describing 295 individual patients. HL was diagnosed in 95%, usually bilateral and mixed‐type, and differed among the different genes involved. Mixed moderate‐to‐severe HL was the predominant finding in patients with EYA1 involvement, regardless of the presence of renal abnormalities. The sensorineural HL of profound severity was more prevalent in patients with SIX1 mutations. No significant differences among different mutation types or location within the genes could be observed. Structural otological manifestations, ranging from periauricular to inner ear anomalies, were common in both genes. Especially periauricular anomalies were more common and more severe in EYA1. In summary, otological differences among the different genes involved in BORSD are observed, so the molecular analysis is strongly advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recent reports have identified autoimmune systemic diseases as a significant risk factor for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We investigated whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were correlated with the hearing recovery of SSNHL.Study Design: A retrospective study.Methods: Records of 663 SSNHL patients between January 2008 and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed, including demographic, comorbid diseases, and hearing recovery. Patients were divided into four groups (complete, partial, slight, and no recovery) according to Siegel's criteria and Chinese Medical Association of Otolaryngology (CMAO) criteria. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of onset of treatment, initial hearing threshold, audiogram pattern, diabetes mellitus, SLE, and RA on the prognosis of SSNHL according to both criteria.Results: Patients in complete recovery, partial recovery, slight recovery, and no improvement were 95 (14.3%), 183 (27.6%), 170 (25.6%), and 215 (32.4%) by Siegel's criteria, and 90 (13.6%), 152 (22.9%), 188 (28.4%), and 233 (35.1%) by CMAO criteria, respectively. Among the four groups, onset of treatment, initial hearing threshold, diabetes mellitus, SLE, RA, and profound audiogram pattern were found to be associated with recovery outcome by both Siegel's criteria and CMAO criteria (P < .05). According to analysis results, presence of SLE, RA, diabetes mellitus and higher initial hearing threshold were significantly correlated with a poor prognosis by both Siegel's criteria and CMAO criteria (P < .05).Conclusion: Comorbid SLE or RA may negatively affect the prognosis of SSNHL. Lower initial hearing threshold and absence of diabetes mellitus are associated with favorable hearing recovery.Level Of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 130:2475-2480, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of bone cement distribution, cement leakage, and clinical outcomes with side‐opening cannula for bone cement injection in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treatment of Kummell disease. Methods: A prospective study of patients with Kummell disease undergoing PVP was conducted from April 2012 to September 2017. In total, 43 patients (11 males, 32 females) with Kummell disease who received bilateral PVP were included in the study. The patients were divided into front‐opening cannulas (FOC) group with front‐opening cannulas and side‐opening cannulas (SOC) group with side‐opening cannulas. All patients were followed up for 6 months. The patient general information such as gender, age, bone density, compression ratio, operative time, and location of fracture vertebrae were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), bone cement distribution, radiation exposure time, bone cement leakage rate and vertebral height, and kyphosis angle were measured and compared for two groups before surgery, 1 day and 6 months after surgery. Results: A total of 43 patients were enrolled, including 11 males and 32 females, aged 61–84 years. The bone density (T value) was 2.5 ± 0.6 in FOC group and 2.4 ± 0.6 in SOC group (P > 0.05). The compression ratio and operative time were 36.1% ± 13.0%, 39.3 ± 7.9 min in FOC group and 35.2% ± 13.7%, 40.0 ± 10.7 min in SOC group (P > 0.05). There was no significance between FOC and SOC groups in the location of fracture vertebrae. All patients underwent at least 6 months of follow‐up. At 6 months postoperatively, the VAS and ODI were significantly higher in the FOC group (3.0 ± 0.8, 35.7% ± 2.1%) than in the SOC group (1.3 ± 0.4, 18.6% ± 2.4%) (P < 0.05). The cement leakage rate of the SOC group was 4.8%, which was lower than that of the FOC group (31.8%, P < 0.05), and the bone cement distribution ratio was higher than that of the FOC group (63.1% ± 7.9% vs 40.5% ± 8.6%, P < 0.05). At 6 months after operation, the height of the anterior and posterior vertebral bodies of the patients in the SOC group restored better than the FOC group (anterior SOC: FOC 5.1 ± 0.5 mm vs 4.5 ± 0.5 mm; posterior SOC: FOC 0.6 ± 0.1 mm vs 0.3 ± 0.1 mm, P < 0.05), and the kyphosis correction was more obvious than patients in FOC group (SOC: FOC 8.5° ± 1.4° vs 4.6° ± 0.8°, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Percutaneous vertebroplasty with side‐opening cannula is safe and effective in avoiding bone cement leakage, improving bone cement distribution, and restoring vertebral height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) epidemic spreads rapidly worldwide. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection caused mildly to seriously and fatally respiratory, enteric, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. In this study, we detected and analyzed the main laboratory indicators related to heart injury, creatine kinase isoenzyme‐MB (CK‐MB), myohemoglobin (MYO), cardiac troponin I (ultra‐TnI), and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), in 273 patients with COVID‐19 and investigated the correlation between heart injury and severity of the disease. It was found that higher concentration in venous blood of CK‐MB, MYO, ultra‐TnI, and NT‐proBNP were associated with the severity and case fatality rate of COVID‐19. Careful monitoring of the myocardiac enzyme profiles is of great importance in reducing the complications and mortality in patients with COVID‐19. Highlights: The blood tests of patients on admission showed some patients had higher levels of CK‐MB, MYO, ultra‐TnI and NT‐proBNP.Increased concentration in venous blood of MYO, ultra‐TnI and NT‐proBNP were associated with the severity of COVID‐19.All four parameters were significantly higher in the death than in the alive group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: P2RX2 encoding P2X purinoreceptor 2 has been identified as the gene responsible for autosomal dominant deafness-41 (DFNA41) as well as mediating vulnerability to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The objective of this study was to investigate the audiological and molecular characteristics of P2RX2-related deafness, with emphasis on its role in NIHL by determining the audiological characteristics of a previously reported six-generation DFNA41 family with a 10-year follow-up. We have also summarized phenotype-genotype correlations of P2RX2-related deafness in human and mouse models.Study Design: We describe clinical longitudinal follow-up in the DFNA41 family with P2RX2 (p.Val60Leu) mutation and perform a systematic literature search in PubMed and poster presentations on meeting/conference websites to identify current insights into P2RX2-mediated NIHL.Methods: Clinical and physical examinations of the family members were performed, and audiograms were obtained to assess the hearing thresholds. Clinical follow-up features in this DFNA41 family are presented along with correlation analyses of phenotype-genotype in all reported families with P2RX2-related deafness.Results: Progressive hearing impairment was confirmed by history and by audiological follow-up testing in all the patients. The onset of hearing loss was between age 25 and 35 years. All affected subjects had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss involving all frequencies with some significant gender differences.Conclusions: Our study and the review of the literature suggest that P2RX2 plays a crucial role in predisposition to noise-induced and age-related hearing loss. A better knowledge about the P2RX2-associated genetic variants can help in developing novel therapeutic strategies.Level Of Evidence: 2b Laryngoscope, 130:1657-1663, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Dehydropeptidase‐1 (DPEP1) is a zinc‐dependent metalloproteinase abnormally expressed in many cancers. However, its potential role in adults with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is unknown. We found that in adults with common B cell ALL high DPEP1, transcript levels at diagnosis were independently associated with an increased cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and worse relapse‐free survival (RFS) compared with subjects with low transcript levels. We show an increased proliferation and prosurvival role of DPEP1 in B cell ALL cells via regulation of phosphCREB and p53, which may be the biological basis of the clinical correlation we report. Our data implicate DPEP1 expression in the biology of common B cell ALL in adults. We report clinical correlates and provide a potential biological basis for these correlations. If confirmed, analysing DPEP1 transcript levels at diagnosis could help predict therapy outcomes. Moreover, regulation of DPEP1 expression could be a therapy target in B cell ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The symbiotic interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and land plants is essential for efficient nutrient acquisition and utilisation. Our understanding of key processes controlling the AMF colonisation in rice is still limited.Dongxiang wild rice (DY) exhibited a stronger colonisation with Rhizophagus irregularis than the rice cultivar Zhongzao 35 (ZZ35). Chromosome segment substitution lines were constructed and the OsCERK1 gene from DY was mapped. Transgenic plants in the japonica rice Zhonghua 11 (ZZ11) were constructed to compare root colonisation by AMF.Chromosome single‐segment substitution lines containing OsCERK1DY showed higher phosphorus content and grain yield relative to ZZ35. Four amino acids substitutions were identified among the OsCERK1 haplotypes of DY, ZZ35 and ZH11 and two of these were in the second lysine‐motif domain, which is essential for the differences of AMF colonisation level among rice varieties. Heterologous expression of OsCERK1DY in ZH11 significantly enhanced AMF colonisation and increased resistance against the pathogenic fungi Magnaporthe oryzae. Notably, the OsCERK1DY haplotype was absent from 4660 cultivated rice varieties.We conclude that OsCERK1 is a key gene affecting the symbiotic interaction with AMF and OsCERK1DY has the biotechnological potential to increase rice phosphorus acquisition and utilisation efficiency for sustainable agriculture. See also the Commentary on this article by Lefebvre, 225: 1404–1406. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome is characterized by branchial defects, hearing loss, preauricular pits, and renal anomalies, whereas patients with all symptoms except renal defects are diagnosed as branchio-oto (BO) syndrome. BOR/BO is one of the most common forms of autosomal dominant syndromic hearing loss, and EYA1 is the major causative gene. In this study, clinical and genetic analyses as well as auditory rehabilitation were performed in a Chinese family with BOR/BO syndrome.Methods: Three affected individuals from a Chinese family were analyzed by whole exome sequencing (WES) to analyze the single nucleotide variants and copy number variations (CNVs). Whole genome sequencing was used to identify the breakpoints of CNVs; and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was utilized to verify the CNVs. Furthermore, cochlea implantation was performed in one patient to reconstruct hearing.Results: A heterozygous 2.69 Mb deletion at chromosome 8q13 (chr8: 69582185-72275725) cosegregates with the BOR/BO symptoms in this family, resulting in heterozygous loss of the EYA1 gene. In addition to typical BOR/BO symptoms, epilepsy or gastroesophageal reflux was observed in some patients. Cochlear implantation resulted in significant hearing improvement in one patient.Conclusions: A novel deletion involving the whole EYA1 gene was identified by WES. To the best of our knowledge, epilepsy or gastroesophageal reflux was reported in BOR/BO patients for the first time, which expanded the BOR/BO phenotypes spectrum. Successful auditory rehabilitation can be achieved with cochlear implantations in some BOR/BO patients.Level Of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 130:526-532, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of non‐precious metal catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for widespread application of fuel cells. Herein, bimetallic Cu−Zn co‐doped porous N/C catalysts (Cu−Zn−N/C) with high N content were synthesized via a simple metal‐organic framework (MOF)‐derived method. The as‐prepared Cu−Zn−N/C catalyst presents superior catalytic activity toward ORR with an onset potential of 0.90 V, a half‐wave potential of 0.79 V, and a diffusion limiting current density of 5.82 mA cm−2. It is found that Cu exists in three forms: one exists in Cu particles, and the others exist in Cu single atoms (either in high valence or in zero valence) that embedded in the carbon substrate. The evaporation of Zn atoms during the pyrolysis induces the pore structure of the carbon matrix, making it possible to support for the zero valent Cu atoms. In addition, as an efficient Cu‐based catalyst for many applications, we show that the as‐prepared catalyst can selectively oxidize 1,2‐propanediol to lactic acid with 75.7 % selectivity at 82.8 % conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Sonazoid and SonoVue in subjects with focal liver lesions. Methods: The patients who had untreated focal solid liver lesions confirmed by B‐mode ultrasonography were eligible for the study. The target lesion and whole liver were scanned by gray scale ultrasonography; then, contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography was performed, and the results were evaluated blindly. The main end point was accuracy improvement with postcontrast versus precontrast ultrasound examination for diagnosis of the target lesion of interest as malignant or benign against the reference standard. Results: There were 65 patients with 65 hepatic tumors enrolled in the study. The improvement of diagnostic accuracy was 0.30 in the Sonazoid group and 0.16 in the SonoVue group (95% confidence interval, –0.828–0.168; P = .24). Using 20% as the noninferiority margin, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (0.168) was less than 0.20. The number of lesions detected during the whole‐liver scanning in the Sonazoid group was significantly more than that detected in the SonoVue group (P = .024). Conclusion: The diagnosis value of Sonazoid is noninferior to SonoVue, and this new contrast agent can improves the whole‐liver image quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a full‐order sliding‐mode control for rigid robotic manipulators. The output signals of the proposed controller are continuous. Therefore, the controller can be directly applied in practice. A time‐varying gain is constructed to regulate the gain of the signum function in the sliding‐mode control so as to avoid the overestimation of the upper‐bounds of the uncertainties in the systems and reduce the waste of the control power. The chattering is attenuated by using a novel full‐order sliding manifold and establishing a novel ideal sliding motion. The proposed method is robust to the load disturbance and unmodeled parameters, especially to the unknown portion in the control matrix. Simulation results validate the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-stage impedance source inverters with quasi-DC-DC output cell (QDDOC) are proposed here. The QDDOC is derived from DC-DC converters, and QDDOC can be applied in all the existing impedance source inverters. Compared to the traditional impedance source inverters without QDDOC, the proposed inverters with QDDOC can adapt to the wider inductor parameter range and flexibly work into dual inductor current states: continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Also, the proposed inverters can retain the single-stage voltage-boost performance, and solve the DClink voltage drop produced by DCM. Under DCM, the proposed inverters improve the boost ability, lower the inductor values, size and weight, and reduce the voltage stresses across passive components. The circuit topologies, modulation strategies, and operating principles are analysed in detail. Finally, experiment results verify the validity of proposed topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the distributed new energy power generation increased, the power grid system becomes more and more complex, leading to its stability more likely to be affected. Among them, the resonance caused by impedance mismatch is particularly critical. The small-signal model of phase-locked loop and current control in the inverter control system have been established by using harmonic linearisation method. Combining the average model of inverter main circuit, the inverter output impedance model has been obtained. Using grid impedance and the inverter output impedance model, the stability analysis method based on impedance is used to analyse the influence of grid impedance on the stability of grid-connected inverters. Finally, the simulation proves the correctness of the analysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: clinical patterns; HIV; SARS-CoV-2; Co-infection; COVID-19; CD4+ T lymphocyte count; lymphopenia EN clinical patterns HIV SARS-CoV-2 Co-infection COVID-19 CD4+ T lymphocyte count lymphopenia 1 3 3 07/30/20 20200701 NES 200701 People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were initially considered to be at an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 due to their risk of immunosuppresion [1]. Ten patients and two asymptomatic carriers showed undetectable HIV viral load (HIV-VL) and CD4 SP + sp T lymphocyte count (CD4 count) between 141 to 817/µL prior to SARS-CoV-2 co-infection. The pattern of immune cells in AIDS/COVID-19 patients showed minor differences from that of overall COVID-19 patients [8]. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: Aims: To evaluate technical feasibility and treatment results of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in single‐session for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 7 cm in diameter. Methods: Institutional review board approved this retrospective study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Between June 2007 and July 2013, 87 patients (75 men, 12 women; mean age, 55.5 years ± 15.0) with solitary HCC with a mean maximum diameter of 9.5 cm ± 2.4 (range, 7.1–13.5 cm) not feasible for surgical resection underwent combined TACE and RFA in a single‐session. Immediately following TACE, RFA was performed under fluoroscopy and CB‐CT guidance. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were technical safety and local tumor progression (LTP) rates. OS and time to progression (TTP) were analyzed with the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors affecting OS and TTP. Results: Technical success of combined TACE and RFA in a single‐session was achieved in all patients (100%). On 1‐month follow‐up MRI, complete response (CR) was observed in 76 of 87 patients (87.4 %), partial response (PR) in 8 and stable disease (SD) in 3 patients. The median follow‐up period was 49.5 months (interquartile range, 30.0–70.0 months). The median OS was 39 months (range, 15–86 months). The cumulative OS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 100%, 65.5% and 47.5%, respectively. The estimated 1, 3 and 5 year LTP rates were 0 %, 29.9% and 55.2 %, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed a tumor larger than 10.0 cm (P < 0.05) and presence of portal vein branch invasion (P < 0.05) led to the worst prognosis. No major complications were noted. Conclusions: Combined use of TACE and RFA in single‐session is a safe and effective option in the treatment of patients with solitary large HCC (> 7 cm) not amenable to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma is a common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Biopsy is often required for the initial diagnosis of pancreatic masses. Biopsy can be performed endoscopically or percutaneously with computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) guidance. MRI offers many inherent advantages over CT and US.Purpose/hypothesis: To prospectively evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and safety of MRI-guided percutaneous coaxial cutting needle biopsy of pancreatic lesions using an open 1.0T high-field MR scanner.Study Type: Prospective.Population: Thirty-one patients with 31 pancreatic lesions underwent MR-guided percutaneous coaxial cutting needle biopsy.Field Strength/sequence: 1.0T T2 WI-TSE PDW-aTSE T1 WI-TFE.Assessment: Final diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and clinical follow-up for at least 12 months. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Complications were recorded.Statistical Tests: There was no statistical analysis in this study.Results: The procedure was technically successful and final biopsy samples were adequate for histopathological examination in all patients. Biopsy pathology revealed malignant pancreatic tumor in 25 patients (25/31, 80.6%), and benign pancreatic lesions were present in six patients (6/31, 19.4%). The final diagnosis was pancreatic malignancy in 27 patients and benign disease in four patients, which was confirmed by surgery and clinical follow-up. Two biopsy results were false-negative. The diagnostic accuracy in biopsies was 93.5% (29 of 31). The sensitivity to detect a malignant disease was 92.6% (25 of 27), and the specificity was 100%. All patients tolerated the procedure well; minor peripancreatic hemorrhage was found in two patients after the procedure, and none had major complications either during or after the procedure.Data Conclusion: MRI-guided percutaneous biopsy of pancreatic lesions using an open 1.0T high-field scanner has high diagnostic accuracy, which is feasible and safe for use in clinical practice.Level Of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:382-388. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber‐absorbing material patches have been extensively applied in various fields because of its softness, excellent adhesive property, and moldability. However, the material undergoes thermal aging when used in a high‐temperature environment for a long time. Therefore, the mechanism through which the properties change with aging must be elucidated. This work mainly aims to analyze the electromagnetic and mechanical properties of such materials during thermal aging. Methyl vinyl silicone rubber (VMQ) was loaded with 45 vol% carbonyl iron powder (CIP) and subjected to accelerate thermal aging. The electromagnetic and mechanical properties were measured with a network analyzer and electronic tensile testing machine, respectively. Results confirmed the increase in the complex dielectric constant, the decrease in the band width of reflection loss (RL) ≤ −10 dB, and the lack of significant change in permeability. The tensile strength, tear strength, and Shore A hardness of CIP/VMQ composite‐absorbing materials evidently increased, but the elongation at break sharply decreased after hot air aging at 200°C for 14 days. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:2897–2903, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tarim Block contains important information of the Precambrian crustal evolution of the Earth. In this paper, we present detailed petrographic and in situ zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopes data for the Palaeoproterozoic host rocks (gneiss and gneissic granite) of the Shuangfengling gold deposit in the Quruqtagh terrane in order to constrain their ages and magma sources and discuss their tectonic environments. Zircon laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry data indicated that the host rocks (gneiss and gneissic granite) of the Shuangfengling gold deposit were formed at 1948 ± 17 and 1944 ± 13 Ma, respectively, and all underwent a metamorphism immediately after magma emplacement. The Hf isotopic signatures, negative εHf(t) values and older Archean two‐stage Hf model ages, of the studied rocks suggested that the magmas of these rocks were derived by crustal reworking in a manner similar to the magmatism related to a collisional orogeny. This study further confirms the existence of this Palaeoproterozoic magmatic and metamorphic event in the Tarim Block. The Tarim Block was part of the Columbia supercontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently discovered Shalong iron deposit in the Central Tianshan with a reserve of 14 Mt of iron at 25–30 wt.% Fe shows the typical iron formation geological characteristics: The host rocks are mainly metamorphosed volcanic rocks including quartz hornblende schist, mica quartz schist, and plagioclase amphibolite; the iron orebodies are stratiform and bedded, indicative of strata‐controlled deposits; metallic minerals are dominated by magnetite with haematite and ilmenite in minor quantities, whereas gangue minerals are quartz, amphibole, chloritoid, and plagioclase; and ore textures are banded and laminated. Here, we present LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U–Pb ages, whole‐rock geochemistry, Sm–Nd isotope, and zircon Lu–Hf isotope analyses on the host rocks in order to constrain the timing and geodynamic setting of the deposit. The geochemical characteristics, Sm–Nd isotope, and zircon Lu–Hf isotope compositions of the host rocks indicate that their protoliths were likely basic and felsic volcanic rocks. The bimodal kind rock types, the juvenile Nd–Hf isotopic characters, and the within‐plate trace element geochemical features of the host rocks together indicate that these rocks formed in a rift‐like extensional setting. Zircon U–Pb dating of the host rock interlayer suggests that the Shalong iron formation was formed in the Neoproterozoic (ca. 760 Ma). Combined with geological characteristics, close association with meta‐volcanic rocks, absence of glacial deposits, and within‐plate geochemical and juvenile isotopic signatures of the host rocks, the Shalong iron deposit is interpreted to be an Algoma‐type Neoproterozoic iron formation. The formation of this deposit can be linked to rift‐like volcanic activities related to the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. Our results in conjunction with previous studies suggest that the Central Tianshan should be related to the breakup of Rodinia, as indicated by the Neoproterozoic rift‐related igneous events of the Central Tianshan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zinc(II) coordination polymer Zn2(L)2(bix)2·2H2O (1) [H2L = 4,4'-methylenebis(oxy)dibenzoic acid, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-yl-methylene)-benzene] was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. The title compound was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The crystal structure determination reveals that compound 1 displays a twofold interpenetrated 3D framework, in which the Zn atoms are connected by the H2L ligands into interesting right and left-handed helical chains. Topological analysis reveals that the title compound displays a (3,4)-connected (6³) (65·8) topology. The solid-state luminescent spectra was studied. Furthermore, the dispersed solution of compound 1 in DMF exhibits strong fluorescent emission, which could be quenched by trace amount of nitrobenzene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention orienting has been found to be influenced by the previous cueing status in a spatial cueing paradigm. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cue predictive values or the spatial correspondence learning between cues and targets could influence the sequence effect of symbolic cueing. The findings revealed that the predictive values of arrow or word cues do not lead to different sequence effects, but that visually asymmetrical letter cues, which allow spatial correspondence learning between cues and targets, induce stronger sequence effects than visually symmetrical letter cues. In addition, visually symmetrical directional word cues can induce sequence effects. The results suggest that spatial correspondence learning, although not obligatory, is critical for the sequence effects of symbolic cueing. The findings support the feature-integration hypothesis, rather than the strategic adjustments account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of mini-sized carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNSs) by traditional methods remains a challenge. Herein, size-tunable and uniform mini-sized CNNSs are synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization of a single polyethyleneimine (PEI) precursor. The as-obtained mini-sized CNNSs possess uniform size, good hydrophilicity and abundant nitrogen active sites, which not only exhibit double excitation- and pH-dependent fluorescence behaviors, but also two-photon excitation fluorescence. áThe resulting CNNSs display low toxicity and can be efficiently delivered into live cells for two-photon fluorescence imaging, offering great potential as fluorescence probes in biochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of functional coordination polymers is motivated not only by their structural beauty but also by their potential applications. ZnII and CdII coordination polymers are promising candidates for producing photoactive materials because these d10 metal ions not only possess a variety of coordination numbers and geometries, but also exhibit luminescence properties when bound to functional ligands. It is difficult to predict the final structure of such polymers because the assembly process is influenced by many subtle factors. Bis(imidazol-1-yl)-substituted alkane/benzene molecules are good bridging ligands because their flexibility allows them to bend and rotate when they coordinate to metal centres. Two new ZnII and CdII coordination polymers based on mixed ligands, namely, poly[[μ2-1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene-κ2 N3: N3′]bis(μ3-2,2-dimethylbutanoato-κ3 O1: O4: O4′)dizinc(II)], [Zn2(C6H8O4)2(C14H14N4)] n, and poly[[μ2-1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene-κ2 N3: N3′]bis(μ3-2,2-dimethylbutanoato-κ5 O1, O1′: O4, O4′: O4)dicadmium(II)], [Cd2(C6H8O4)2(C14H14N4)] n, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Both complexes crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/ c with similar unit-cell parameters and feature two-dimensional structures formed by the interconnection of S-shaped Zn(Cd)-2,2-dimethylsuccinate chains with 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene bridges. However, the CdII and ZnII centres have different coordination numbers and the 2,2-dimethylsuccinate ligands display different coordination modes. Both complexes exhibit a blue photoluminescence in the solid state at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Survival of osteosarcoma patients is currently limited by the development of metastases and multidrug resistance (MDR). A well-established cause of MDR involves overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in tumor cells. However, some discrepancies still exist as to the clinical significance of Pgp in osteosarcoma. We sought to elucidate further whether the Pgp expression correlated with clinical behavior in a series of patients with osteosarcoma via high-throughput tissue microarray (TMA) analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of Pgp expression in a TMA of 114 specimens with a retrospective review of 70 osteosarcoma patients admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) was performed. High Pgp expression was correlated with metastasis development and poor response to pre-operative chemotherapy in osteosarcoma patients. Eighteen of the fifty-seven patients initially admitted with primary osteosarcoma showed high Pgp expression. Among these 18 patients with high Pgp expression, 13 of 18 (72%) patients eventually developed metastases. There was no significant clinical relevance between Pgp expression and osteosarcoma survival. These results support that high expression of Pgp is important, but cannot be assigned as, an individual predictor in the development of human osteosarcoma. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1606-1612, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]