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Abstract Treatment of COVID-19 with a soluble version of ACE2 that binds to SARS-CoV-2 virions before they enter host cells is a promising approach, however it needs to be optimized and adapted to emerging viral variants. The computational workflow presented here consists of molecular dynamics simulations for spike RBD-hACE2 binding affinity assessments of multiple spike RBD/hACE2 variants and a novel convolutional neural network architecture working on pairs of voxelized force-fields for efficient search-space reduction. We identified hACE2-Fc K31W and multi-mutation variants as high-affinity candidates, which we validated in vitro with virus neutralization assays. We evaluated binding affinities of these ACE2 variants with the RBDs of Omicron BA.3, Omicron BA.4/BA.5, and Omicron BA.2.75 in silico. In addition, candidates produced in Nicotiana benthamiana, an expression organism for potential large-scale production, showed a 4.6-fold reduction in half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) compared with the same variant produced in CHO cells and an almost six-fold IC50 reduction compared with wild-type hACE2-Fc.

The article presents a study which proposed a photon-recycling incandescent lighting device (PRILD) with a luminous efficacy of 173.6 lumens per watt at a power density of 277 watts per square centimeter, a color rendering index (CRI) of 96, and a LT70-rated lifetime of less than 60,000 hours. Topics include description of the device, design and fabrication of the visible-transparent infrared-reflective filter (VTIRF), and machine learning-enabled multiobjective design of the VTIRF.

Organic semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) are attractive photocatalysts to produce hydrogen from water splitting. Herein, a ternary strategy of incorporating crystalline n‐type molecule IDMIC‐4F into the host system made of p‐type polymer PM6 and n‐type molecule ITCC‐M is demonstrated. ITCC‐M and IDMIC‐4F form compact alloy‐like composite with shorter lattice spacing in the ternary p/n heterojunction NPs, resulting in enhanced exciton dissociation and charge transfer characteristics. As the result, an unprecedented hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 307 mmol h−1 g−1 and a maximum apparent quantum efficiency of 5.9% at 600 nm are achieved in the optimized ternary NPs (PM6:ITCC‐M:IDMIC‐4F = 1:1.3:0.2), which is among the highest HER from organic photocatalysts to the best of the authors' knowledge. The alloy‐like composite also improves the operational stability of ternary NP photocatalysts. This study shows that synergizing two compatible n‐type small molecules to form alloy‐like composite is a promising approach to design novel organic photocatalysts for boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft materials tend to be highly permeable to gases, making it difficult to create stretchable hermetic seals. With the integration of spacers, we demonstrate the use of liquid metals, which show both metallic and fluidic properties, as stretchable hermetic seals. Such soft seals are used in both a stretchable battery and a stretchable heat transfer system that involve volatile fluids, including water and organic fluids. The capacity retention of the battery was ~72.5% after 500 cycles, and the sealed heat transfer system showed an increased thermal conductivity of approximately 309 watts per meter-kelvin while strained and heated. Furthermore, with the incorporation of a signal transmission window, we demonstrated wireless communication through such seals. This work provides a route to create stretchable yet hermetic packaging design solutions for soft devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of COVID-19 with a soluble version of ACE2 that binds to SARS-CoV-2 virions before they enter host cells is a promising approach, however it needs to be optimized and adapted to emerging viral variants. The computational workflow presented here consists of molecular dynamics simulations for spike RBD-hACE2 binding affinity assessments of multiple spike RBD/hACE2 variants and a novel convolutional neural network architecture working on pairs of voxelized force-fields for efficient search-space reduction. We identified hACE2-Fc K31W and multi-mutation variants as high-affinity candidates, which we validated in vitro with virus neutralization assays. We evaluated binding affinities of these ACE2 variants with the RBDs of Omicron BA.3, Omicron BA.4/BA.5, and Omicron BA.2.75 in silico. In addition, candidates produced in Nicotiana benthamiana, an expression organism for potential large-scale production, showed a 4.6-fold reduction in half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) compared with the same variant produced in CHO cells and an almost six-fold IC50 reduction compared with wild-type hACE2-Fc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe incidence of kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer ranked ninth, sixth, and third in male cancers respectively, meanwhile, the incidence of testicular cancer also increased gradually in the past 30 years.ObjectiveTo study and present estimates of the incidence, mortality, and disability of kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancer by location and age from 1990 to 2019 and reveal the mortality risk factors of them.MaterialsThe Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 was used to obtain data for this research. The prediction of cancer mortality and incidence was based on mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). The MIR data was processed by logistic regression and adjusted by Gaussian process regression. The association between the socio-demographic index and the incidence or disease burden was determined by Spearman's rank order correlation.ResultsGlobally in 2019, there were 371,700 kidney cancer cases with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 4.6 per 100,000, 524,300 bladder cancer cases, with an ASIR of 6.5 per 100,000, 1,410,500 prostate cancer cases with an ASIR of 4.6 per 100,000 and 109,300 testicular cancer incident cases with an ASIR of 1.4 per 100,000, the ASIR of these four cancers increased by 29.1, 4, 22, and 45.5% respectively. The incidence rate of the four cancers and the burden of kidney cancer were positively correlated with the socio-demographic index (SDI), regions with a higher SDI faced more of a burden attributable to these four cancers. High body-mass index has surpassed smoking to be the leading risk factor in the past thirty years for kidney cancer mortality. Smoking remained the leading risk factor for cancer-related mortality for bladder cancer and prostate cancer and the only risk factor for prostate cancer. However, the contribution of high fasting plasma glucose to bladder cancer mortality has been increasing.ConclusionThe incidence of bladder, kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer is ever-increasing. High-income regions face a greater burden attributable to the four cancers. In addition to smoking, metabolic risk factors may need more attention.

BackgroundWhether wedge resection or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has better effectiveness in treatment of clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains unclear. Here we conducted the first meta-analysis to directly compare the survival outcomes of clinical stage I NSCLCs treated with wedge resection and SBRT.MethodsWe systematically searched studies from PubMed, Embase, and Corchrane Library up to October 1, 2021. Data for analysis mainly included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), which were obtained directly from the text results or calculated from the Kaplan–Meier survival curve. We used the standard random-effect model test (DerSimonian and Laird method) to analyze the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Q-test and I2-test were used to assess heterogeneity. The stability of pooled HRs was examined by sensitivity analysis.ResultsSix retrospective studies with a total of 11,813 clinical stage I NSCLCs who received wedge resection or SBRT were included. The results showed that patients receiving wedge resection had a significantly better OS (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = [1.07, 1.34], P = 0.002) than those with SBRT, but no significant difference of DFS (HR 1.53, 95% CI = [0.83–2.83], P = 0.17) was observed. There was no significant heterogeneity during our analysis, but there may be potential publication bias among these studies.ConclusionsOur meta-analysis showed that clinical stage I NSCLCs treated with wedge resection had superior OS than those treated with SBRT. However, more prospective clinical trials should be well-designed to evaluate the optimal treatment modality of early-stage NSCLCs.

我國政府為降低經濟弱勢學生因家庭背景影響其求學意願，提供多項協助措施，但研究仍指出有高比例的大專校院弱勢學生仰賴工讀填補就學所需，且繁瑣的獎學金申請程序降低弱勢學生申請意願。本研究以實際受助者觀點，邀請14位低收入、中低收入學生，以及教育部擴大就學照顧的「大專校院弱勢學生助學計畫」適用學生，進行兩場焦點團體訪談，探討我國政府提供給不同類型經濟弱勢生的各項協助措施是否足夠就學所需，以及其配套是否確實有助於降低經濟弱勢學生就學阻礙。研究結果發現，公立大專校院低收入生獲得的就學資源足夠其所需，私立大專校院低收入學生仍稍有不足，但中低收入學生與「大專校院弱勢學生助學計畫」適用學生獲得的資源卻遠不足以填補就學所需缺口；工讀措施名稱混淆，內涵又與學生學習衝突；且多項協助措施申請辦法不易理解，也未能有效傳播，導致有需要的學生及家長，申辦過程阻礙重重。本研究依據上述研究發現提供政策建議。 Research Motivation and Purpose The Taiwanese government has developed numerous financial aid measures to reduce the burden of higher education expenses for economically disadvantaged students. However, a large majority of economically disadvantaged university students continue to raise their education expenses through work-study opportunities. Furthermore, the complicated scholarship application process discourages students from applying for available scholarships, suggesting that the resources and measures aimed at supporting disadvantage students are inadequate. To address the dearth of information in this area, this study invited economically disadvantaged students who had received government assistance during their studies to participate in focus groups. This study aimed to (1) investigate whether the support measures offered by the government to students from low-income and lower-middle-income families and to students receiving funding from the Financial Aid Project for Economically Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education are sufficient to assist these students in their studies and (2) identify obstacles to the practical application of these support measures. Literature Review Reflecting the research goals, the literature review discusses relevant theoretical research in the field of student financial aid. It includes a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of educational assistance measures and the current efforts by the Taiwanese government to assist economically disadvantaged students with their educational expenses, as well as related problems and responses. The literature reveals that scholarships are the most direct method of reducing student financial burdens and that work-study programs that address both educational expenses and the student’s future development offer long-term benefits. Taiwan has expanded the number of recipients of funding from the Financial Aid Project for Economically Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education and has worked to strengthen work-study programs to ensure a connection between the work done and the student’s studies. However, the literature demonstrates that insufficient scholarships and work-study opportunities result in most students still choosing to work off-campus. Methodology This study was based on a consideration of schooling needs and support measures for a wide range of students enrolled in different types of universities. Fourteen students studying at four higher education institutions—public and private universities and public and private science and technology universities—were invited to participate. Each student came from a low-income or lower-middle-income family or was receiving funding from the Financial Aid Project for Economically Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education. This study investigated the channels and quotas for financial aid opportunities that are purportedly available to economically disadvantaged students and explored each interviewee’s actual experiences regarding the availability of such resources, as well as the barriers to entry created by the operational nature of financial assistance measures. Research Results The results reveal that low-income students in both public and private universities can reduce the financial burden of higher education without applying for additional loans by accessing various government scholarships and stipends. However, students from lower-middle-income families who receive funding from the Financial Aid Project for Economically Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education are still unable to acquire their schooling expenses through government scholarships and stipends, highlighting the ineffectiveness of existing financial aid measures for the most economically disadvantaged students. In addition, information regarding financial assistance is still not sufficiently updated or relayed to the students and families who need it the most. Even if parents and students receive the necessary information, the confusion caused by the names and qualifications of the different measures and the unfriendly and cumbersome nature of the application process reduces willingness to apply. Discussion and Research Suggestions To support economically disadvantaged students starting or finishing their tertiary education, the author suggests the following: (1) The number of scholarships and amount of aid available to students from lower-middle-income families and students under the Financial Aid Project for Economically Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education should be increased. (2) Work-study programs should be implemented with a focus on the student’s current studies or future career, and the labeling of the assistance measures should be standardized to help students distinguish their available options. (3) Finally, the updating and circulation of financial aid-related information should be improved. This study offers the Ministry of Education and universities a summary table of scholarships, the materials and deadlines for applications, and a point of contact that students and their families can access easily.

As higher education faces challenges in driving innovation, the effectiveness of academic leaders affects an institution’s overall performance. In Taiwan, most of the leading research focuses on leadership in primary and secondary schools. In this study, we interviewed a public university’s academic and administrative directors to outline the responsibilities and expectations of academic leaders, and investigated the problems and challenges that they faced during their work process to propose the support and leadership development needed for them to navigate through the obstacles and challenges. The results illustrate that an ideal academic leader should possess the following essential qualities and skills: enthusiasm, empathy, fairness and openness, and interpersonal communication skills. Academic leaders are faced with problems including budget, student enrollment, professors’ rights, and conflicts between professors and students, and challenges resulting from social change, such as faculty recruitment, student career development, university transformation and self-efficacy in administration. According to these findings, we propose suggestions for revising election procedures of institutional leaders and a leadership development program. The study contributes to this research field by offering insights of the problems and challenges of transiting from a faculty member to an administrator and by proposing a support system to enhance department leaders’ awareness of the importance of their roles and responsibilities in building consensus toward university development direction.

Retinoblastoma(RB)is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in children, which often occurs in infants and young children. It can damage the eyesight, eyeball and even life-threatening of children. The occurrence and development is closely related to the genome and epigenome. The treatment and prognosis of hereditary RB in all cases depends on the initial stage of the disease, and when the disease is diagnosed and treated early, the survival rate exceeds 95%. The survival rate of RB was less than 50% when extraocular dissemination occurred in late stage. Therefore, the treatment focus on RB is to save the lives of children through early tumor monitoring and prevention. The secondary goal is to preserve globe salvage and to preserve vision to the maximum extent possible. The research on RB genetics is helpful to find specific targets through gene screening, monitoring and search, which is very necessary to improve the survival rate of children and to research targeted therapy.

ABSTRACT: Bulletins of China’s National Sea Level show that the average rising rate of sea-levels in China is 3.3 mm/a over the past 40 years, with an obviously accelerated rising trend in the last decade. The rate of relative sea-level rise of the Yangtze River Delta reached >10 mm/a after considering the land subsidence, and Bohai Bay is even greater than 25 mm/a. The impact of the sea level rise to the coastal area will be greater in the coming years, so carrying out an assessment of this rising trend is urgent. This paper, taking the coastal area of Tianjin and Hebei as examples, comprehensively evaluates the impact of sea-level rise through multitemporal remote sensing shoreline interpretation, ground survey verification, elevation measurements for both seawall and coastal lowlands. The results show that the average elevation of the measured coastal areas of Tianjin and Hebei is about +4 m, and the total area of >100 km2 is already below the present mean sea level. More than 270 km, ca. 31% of the total length of the seawall, cannot withstand a 1-in-100-year storm surge. Numerical simulations of the storm flooding on the west coast of Bohai Bay, for 1-in-50-years, 1-in-100-years, 1-in-200-years and 1-in-500-years, show that if there were no coastal dykes, the maximum flooding area would exceed 3000 km2, 4000 km2, 5300 km2 and 7200 km2, respectively. The rising sea has a direct and potential impact on the coastal lowlands of Tianjin and Hebei. Based on the latest development in international sea-level rise prediction research, this paper proposes 0.5 m, 1.0 m and 1.5 m as low, middle and high sea level rise scenarios by 2100 for the study area, and combines the land subsidence and other factors to the elevation of the existing seawall. Comprehensive evaluation results indicate that even in the case of a low scenario, the existing seawall will not be able to withstand a 1-in-100-years storm surge in 2030, and the potential flooding areas predicted by the model will become a reality in the near future. Therefore, the seawall design in the coastal areas of Tianjin and Hebei must consider the combined effects of land subsidence, sea level rise and the extreme storm surges caused by it.©2019 China Geology Editorial Office.

Reservoirs are artificial ecosystems that modify the hydrological and environmental components nearby. The long-term monitoring of fish assemblages in reservoirs may provide key information to understand how these artificial ecosystems allow fish population fluctuations and identify proper conservation strategies. A sentinel-site approach method assessed changes in fish assemblages in the Feitsui Reservoir (1024 ha) over 14 years, including the periods 2006–2008, 2010–2011, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Fish assemblages, sampled using gill nets, were composed of 38 species (12 families and 8 orders) with Cyprinidae as the dominant family; the fish fauna were dominated by species of the family Cyprinidae (71%) and Cichlidae (20.3%). Principal component analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling categorized the assemblages into two groups (cold and warm seasons), and we identified three parameters that were significantly correlated with the season (p < 0.05): SD (R = −0.04), Chl-a (R = 0.01), and algal count (R = 0.19); the algal count was higher in the warm season than in the cold season. The fish assemblage in the cold and warm seasons contained no exclusive taxa, contributing to the dissimilarity between the groups. The fish assemblage for the years before and after 2010 indicated partial overlap between the two groups; S. macrops contributed greatly to the separation of the two periods (>10% each; SIMPER) and O. mossambicus was dominant in assemblage structures after 2010. Our findings show the importance of long-term fish monitoring for the investigation of the effects of nonnative fish species on native fish species composition.

The P1/HC-Pro viral suppressor of potyvirus suppresses posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS). The fusion protein of P1/HC-Pro can be cleaved into P1 and HC-Pro through the P1 self-cleavage activity, and P1 is necessary and sufficient to enhance PTGS suppression of HC-Pro. To address the modulation of gene regulatory relationships induced by turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) P1/HC-Pro (P1/HC-ProTu), a comparative transcriptome analysis of three types of transgenic plants (P1Tu, HC-ProTu, and P1/HC-ProTu) were conducted using both high-throughput (HTP) and low-throughput (LTP) RNA-Seq strategies. The results showed that P1/HC-ProTu disturbed the endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation and genes in the signaling pathway. Additionally, the integrated responses of stress-related genes, in particular to drought stress, cold stress, senescence, and stomatal dynamics, altered the expressions by the ABA/calcium signaling. Crosstalk among the ABA, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid pathways might simultaneously modulate the stress responses triggered by P1/HC-ProTu. Furthermore, the LTP network analysis revealed crucial genes in common with those identified by the HTP network in this study, demonstrating the effectiveness of the miniaturization of the HTP profile. Overall, our findings indicate that P1/HC-ProTu-mediated suppression in RNA silencing altered the ABA/calcium signaling and a wide range of stress responses.

Presents a study which determined the concentration distributions of Y dopings in LiTaO[sub 3] and LiNbO[sub 3] across growth striations in asgrown crystals by means of x-ray energy dispersive spectrum analysis in a scanning transmission electron microscope at room temperature. Mechanism for the formation of the periodic laminar ferroelectric domains; Coupling between the order parameter and the conjugate external field; Establishment of the physical model.

Good’s syndrome (GS) is often accompanied by recurrent respiratory infections and chronic diarrhea. The main purpose was to evaluate the peripheral immune status of a GS patient after thymoma resection. Twenty healthy volunteers were recruited as healthy controls (HCs). Flow cytometry was applied to determine the proportions of circuiting CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, γδT cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in our GS patient. We also examined the proliferation capability of ex vivo CD4+ T cells and detected the levels of cytokines interferon- (IFN-) γ and interleukin-17A secreted by ex vivo immune cells from this GS patient. Compared with healthy control subjects, this GS patient had fewer B cells, an inverted ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells, and more Treg cells in his peripheral blood. Additionally, the patient’s Vδ2 T cell levels were significantly decreased despite having a normal percentage of γδT cells. Ex vivo peripheral CD4+ T cells from the patient showed insufficient proliferation and division potential as well as excessive expression of PD-1. Moreover, IFN-γ was predominantly derived from CD8+ T cells in this GS patient, rather than from CD4+ T cells and γδT cells. This GS patient had impaired T and B cell immunological alternations and cytokine disruptions after thymectomy. Detailed research should focus on therapies that can adjust the immune status in such patients for a better outcome.

Previously reported amphiphilic diblock copolymer with pendant dendron moieties (P 71 D 3 ) has been further evaluated in tumor-bearing mice as a potential drug carrier. This P 71 D 3 -based micelle of an average diameter of 100 nm was found to be biocompatible, non-toxic and physically stable in colloidal system up to 15 days. It enhanced the in vitro potency of doxorubicin (DOX) in 4T1 breast tumor cells by increasing its uptake, by 3-fold, compared to free DOX. In 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, the tumor growth rate of P 71 D 3 /DOX (2 mg/kg DOX equivalent) treated group was significantly delayed and their tumor volume was significantly reduced by 1.5-fold compared to those treated with free DOX. The biodistribution studies indicated that P 71 D 3 /DOX enhanced accumulation of DOX in tumor by 5- and 2-fold higher than free DOX treated mice at 15 min and 1 h post-administration, respectively. These results suggest that P 71 D 3 micelle is a promising nanocarrier for chemotherapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studied the growth of calcium carbonate single crystals on top of the monolayer of Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with added external magnetic field. It showed that the occlusion process of the NPs into calcium carbonate single crystals varies as the force balance on the NPs shifts. Under no or weak magnetic field, the NPs are relatively mobile, the separation force from the substrate on NPs due to the growing calcium carbonate crystals is larger than the attraction force to the substrate by the magnetic field. The complete occlusion of the NPs into the single crystals is therefore observed. As the magnetic field strength increases, the balance shifts toward the attraction force. The mobility of NPs decreases and partial occlusion of the NPs into the single crystals is gradually observed. The findings in this study offer further insight into the occlusion process experienced by the NPs and also potential approach in engineering the force balance for the design and generation of composite materials that occlude foreign materials into their matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a new propulsion mechanism that is based on the ejection of hot vapor jet to propel the motor at the liquid/air interface. For conventional photothermal motors, which mostly are driven by Marangoni effect, it is challenging to propel those motors at the surfaces of liquids with low surface tension due to the reduced Marangoni effect. With this new vapor-enabled propulsion mechanism, the motors can move rapidly at the liquid/air interface of liquids with a broad range of surface tensions. A design that can accumulate the hot vapor is further demonstrated to enhance both the propulsion force as well as the applicable range of liquids for such motors. This new propulsion mechanism will help open up new opportunities for the photothermal motors with desired motion controls at a wide range of liquid/air interfaces where hot vapor can be generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gubenyiliu II (GYII), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula used in our hospital, has shown beneficial effects in cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of GYII on murine breast cancer models. GYII showed significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth and metastasis in the murine breast cancer model. Additionally, GYII suppressed the proliferation of 4T1 and MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. A better inhibitory effect on 4T1 cell proliferation and migration was found in the decomposed recipes (DR) of GYII. Moreover, heparanase expression and the degree of angiogenesis were reduced in tumor tissues. Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of heparanase and growth factors in the cells treated with GYII and its decomposed recipes (DR2 and DR3), and thereby a reduction in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and serine-threonine kinase (AKT). These results suggest that GYII exerts anti-tumor growth and anti-metastatic effects in the murine breast cancer model. The anti-tumor activity of GYII and its decomposed recipes is, at least partly, associated with decreased heparanase and growth factor expression, which subsequently suppressed the activation of the ERK and AKT pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of problems of low production efficiency and bad products quality existed in manual control used by silica production system of one company, the paper proposed a reform scheme of automatic control system of silica reactor based on S7-200 PLC. It analyzed technology process of silica production system and introduced design of hardware and software of the reformed automatic control system in details. The actual application showed that the reformed automatic control system realizes automatic control for flow of acid, alkali and water, automatic control for solution temperature and solution pH value, which improves products quality and production efficiency.

An experimental device of belt centralized control system was developed by use of AT89S52 single-chip microcomputer and(VB6.0) software development platform under background of design and application of belt centralized control system of coal mine.The experimental device has a friendly monitoring interface of upper computer,and the upper computer can communicate with the single-chip microcomputer by RS232C and real-timely monitor faults of belt deviation,over speed,temperature,tearing and others.The experimental device reproduces actual working environment and process of belt transport system of coal mine in laboratory,it not only can be applied in actual production,but can train students' innovation awareness and capacity through the secondary development.

As random operations for quantum systems are intensively used in various quantum information tasks, a trustworthy measure of the randomness in quantum operations is highly demanded. The Haar measure of randomness is a useful tool with wide applications, such as boson sampling. Recently, a theoretical protocol was proposed to combine quantum control theory and driven stochastic quantum walks to generate Haar-uniform random operations. This opens up a promising route to converting classical randomness to quantum randomness. Here, we implement a two-dimensional stochastic quantum walk on the integrated photonic chip and demonstrate that the average of all distribution profiles converges to the even distribution when the evolution length increases, suggesting the 1-pad Haar-uniform randomness. We further show that our two-dimensional array outperforms the one-dimensional array of the same number of waveguide for the speed of convergence. Our Letter demonstrates a scalable and robust way to generate Haar-uniform randomness that can provide useful building blocks to boost future quantum information techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is currently uncertain whether the combination of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor and high-intensity statin treatment can effectively reduce cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for culprit lesions., Methods: This study protocol describes a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of combining a PCSK9 inhibitor with high-intensity statin therapy in patients with ACS following PCI. A total of 1,212 patients with ACS and multiple lesions will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either PCSK9 inhibitor plus high-intensity statin therapy or high-intensity statin monotherapy. The randomization process will be stratified by sites, diabetes, initial presentation and use of stable (≥4 weeks) statin treatment at presentation. PCSK 9 inhibitor or its placebo is injected within 4 hours after PCI for the culprit lesion. The primary endpoint is the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, re-hospitalization due to ACS or heart failure, or any ischemia-driven coronary revascularization at 1-year follow-up between 2 groups. Safety endpoints mean PCSK 9 inhibitor and statin intolerance., Conclusion: The SHAWN study has been specifically designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adding a PCSK9 inhibitor to high-intensity statin therapy in patients who have experienced ACS following PCI. The primary objective of this study is to generate new evidence regarding the potential benefits of combining a PCSK9 inhibitor with high-intensity statin treatment in reducing cardiovascular events among these patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Surgical resection, the mainstay for melanoma treatment, faces challenges due to high tumor recurrence rates and complex postoperative wound healing. Chronic inflammation from residual disease and the risk of secondary infections impede healing. We introduce an innovative, injectable hydrogel system that integrates a multifaceted therapeutic approach. The hydrogel, crosslinked by calcium ions with sodium alginate, encapsulates a blood clot rich in dendritic cells (DCs) chemoattractants and melanoma cell-derived nanovesicles (NVs), functioning as a potent immunostimulant. This in situ recruitment strategy overcomes the limitations of subcutaneous tumor vaccine injections and more effectively achieves antitumor immunity. Additionally, the hydrogel incorporates Chlorella extracts, enhancing its antimicrobial properties to prevent wound infections and promote healing. One of the key findings of our research is the dual functionality of Chlorella extracts; they not only expedite the healing process of infected wounds but also increase the hydrogel's ability to stimulate an antitumor immune response. Given the patient-specific nature of the blood clot and NVs, our hydrogel system offers customizable solutions for individual postoperative requirements. This personalized approach is highlighted by our study, which demonstrates the synergistic impact of the composite hydrogel on preventing melanoma recurrence and hastening wound healing, potentially transforming postsurgical melanoma management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare the risk of immune-associated pneumonitis between PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors, the meta-analysis was designed., Method: The difference in risk of immune-associated pneumonitis between PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors was assessed by two different meta-analysis methods, the Mirror-pairing and the PRISMA guidelines., Results: A total of eighty-eight reports were used for meta-analysis, while thirty-two studies were used for the Mirror-pairing. Both PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors (used alone or combined with chemotherapy) increased the risk of developing immune-related pneumonitis (P < 0.00001; P < 0.00001). Based on indirect analyses results (subgroup analyses), the risk of PD-L1-induced pneumonitis was weaker than that of PD-1 inhibitors when the control group was chemotherapy (OR = 3.33 vs. 5.43) or placebo (OR = 2.53 vs. 3.19), while no obvious significant differences were found (P = 0.17; P = 0.53). For the Mirror-pairing-based meta-analysis, the risk of PD-1-induced pneumonitis was significantly higher than that of PD-L1 inhibitors (OR = 1.46, 95%CI [1.08, 1.98], I 2  = 0%, Z = 2.47 (P = 0.01)). However, this difference was not significant, when they were combined with chemotherapy (OR = 1.05, 95%CI [0.68, 1.60], I 2  = 38%, Z = 0.21 (P = 0.84))., Conclusion: Both PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors increased the risk of immune-related pneumonitis, while the risk of PD-1-induced pneumonitis was significantly higher than that of PD-L1 inhibitors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Preventing the recurrence of melanoma after surgery and accelerating wound healing are among the most challenging aspects of melanoma management. Photothermal therapy has been widely used to treat tumors and bacterial infections and promote wound healing. Owing to its efficacy and specificity, it may be used for postoperative management of tumors. However, its use is limited by the uncontrollable distribution of photosensitizers and the likelihood of damage to the surrounding normal tissue. Hydrogels provide a moist environment with strong biocompatibility and adhesion for wound healing owing to their highly hydrophilic three-dimensional network structure. In addition, these materials serve as excellent drug carriers for tumor treatment and wound healing. It is possible to combine the advantages of both of these agents through different loading modalities to provide a powerful platform for the prevention of tumor recurrence and wound healing. This review summarizes the design strategies, research progress and mechanism of action of hydrogels used in photothermal therapy and discusses their role in preventing tumor recurrence and accelerating wound healing. These findings provide valuable insights into the postoperative management of melanoma and may guide the development of promising multifunctional hydrogels for photothermal therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: To explore the efficacy of denture occlusal plate combined with comprehensive physical therapy for temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction(ADDwoR)., Methods: Sixty patients of ADDwoR and dentition defect or severely worn teeth who visited the Department of Orthodontics and Prosthodontics of Hengshui People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected and randomly divided into denture occlusal plate group (group A) and denture occlusal plate + comprehensive physical therapy group (group B) according to the treatment methods. Maximum mouth opening (MMO) and visual analog pain score(VAS) among all patients were recorded before treatment and every three weeks during three months of treatment. Cone-beam CT(CBCT) was taken before and 3 months after treatment. The changes in clinical efficacy indicators before and after treatment and CBCT data between the two groups were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 26.0 software package., Results: The differences of VAS of group A and B were statistically significant from before treatment to three weeks after treatment(P＜0.05), and group B decreases more. From 3 weeks after treatment, there was a significant difference of group B for MMO and VAS before treatment (P＜0.05). From 9 weeks after treatment, there was a significant difference of group A for MMO before treatment (P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference in MMO and VAS between group A and B(P＞0.05). CBCT showed narrowed anterior joint space, widened posterior joint space, enlarged superior joint space, decreased horizontal angle of the condyle and increased slope of joint nodules (P＜0.05). The difference between joint depth, anteroposterior diameter of the condyle, internal and external diameter was not significant (P＞0.05). There was significant differences in anterior, superior, and posterior joint space, condylar level angle, and slope of joint nodules of group B compared with group A(P＜0.05)., Conclusions: Denture occlusal plate can effectively improve symptoms of ADDwoR, and denture occlusal plate combined with comprehensive physical therapy can quickly improve mouth opening and reduce pain in the joint area.

Aim: To investigate the mechanism of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) and to improve immunotherapy efficacy. Materials & methods: In this study, hybrid vesicles containing DOX (HV-DOX) were prepared by thin-film hydration with extrusion, and the formulated nanoparticles were characterized physically. Furthermore, in vitro experiments and animal models were used to investigate the efficacy and new mechanisms of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Results: DOX improved tumor immunogenicity by alkalinizing lysosomes, inhibiting tumor cell autophagy and inducing ICD. HVs could activate dendritic cell maturation, synergistically enhancing chemotherapeutic immunity. Conclusion: The mechanism of DOX-induced ICD was explored, and antitumor immunity was synergistically activated by HV-DOX to improve chemotherapeutic drug loading and provide relevant antigenic information.

Purpose: This study aims to explore novel biomarkers related to the coagulation process and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD)., Methods: The macrophage M2-related genes were obtained by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) in bulk RNA-seq data, while the TAM marker genes were identified by analyzing the scRNA-seq data, and the coagulation-associated genes were obtained from MSigDB and KEGG databases. Survival analysis was performed for the intersectional genes. A risk score model was subsequently constructed based on the survival-related genes for prognosis prediction and validated in external datasets., Results: In total, 33 coagulation and macrophage-related (COMAR) genes were obtained, 19 of which were selected for the risk score model construction. Finally, 10 survival-associated genes (APOE, ARRB2, C1QB, F13A1, FCGR2A, FYN, ITGB2, MMP9, OLR1, and VSIG4) were involved in the COMAR risk score model. According to the risk score, patients were equally divided into low- and high-risk groups, and the prognosis of patients in the high-risk group was significantly worse than that in the low-risk group. The ROC curve indicated that the risk score model had high sensitivity and specificity, which was validated in multiple external datasets. Moreover, the model also had high efficacy in predicting the clinical outcomes of LUAD patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy., Conclusion: The COMAR risk score model constructed in this study has excellent predictive value for the prognosis and immunotherapeutic clinical outcomes of patients with LUAD, which provides potential biomarkers for the treatment and prognostic prediction., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Li, Yin, Luan, Zhang, Wang, Zhang, Chen, Yang and Tian.)

Tumors are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Cell-derived biomimetic functional materials have shown great promise in the treatment of tumors. These materials are derived from cell membranes, extracellular vesicles and bacterial outer membrane vesicles and may evade immune recognition, improve drug targeting and activate antitumor immunity. However, their use is limited owing to their low drug-loading capacity and complex preparation methods. Liposomes are artificial bionic membranes that have high drug-loading capacity and can be prepared and modified easily. Although they can overcome the disadvantages of cell-derived biomimetic functional materials, they lack natural active targeting ability. Lipids can be hybridized with cell membranes, extracellular vesicles or bacterial outer membrane vesicles to form lipid-hybrid cell-derived biomimetic functional materials. These materials negate the disadvantages of both liposomes and cell-derived components and represent a promising delivery platform in the treatment of tumors. This review focuses on the design strategies, applications and mechanisms of action of lipid-hybrid cell-derived biomimetic functional materials and summarizes the prospects of their further development and the challenges associated with it., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The current gold standard diagnostic for bacterial infections is the use of culture, which can be time consuming and can take up to five days for results to be reported. There is therefore an unmet clinical need for a rapid and label free alternative. This paper demonstrates a method of detecting the presence of amplified DNA from bacterial samples using a sterically-stabilised, cationic polymer latex and widely available equipment, providing an accessible alternative DNA detection technique. If DNA is present in a sample, successful amplification by polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) results in the amplified DNA inducing flocculation of the polymer latex followed by rapid sedimentation. This results in a visible and obvious change from a milky-white dispersion to a precipitated latex with a colourless and transparent supernatant, thus giving a clear visual indication of the presence or absence of amplified DNA. Specifically, the response of four polymer latexes with different morphologies to the addition of amplified bacterial DNA was investigated. Cationic latexes flocculated rapidly whereas non-ionic and anionic latexes did not, as judged by eye, disc centrifuge photosedimentometry (DCP), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The stability of several cationic latexes with different morphologies in typical PCR reagents was investigated. It was found that unwanted flocculation occurred for a latex with a non-ionic core and a cationic corona (poly[2-vinyl pyridine- b -benzyl methacrylate], prepared by polymerisation-induced self-assembly) whereas a ∼700 nm PEGMA-stabilised P2VP latex (non-ionic stabiliser, cationic core), prepared by emulsion polymerisation remained stable. The sensitivity and rate of sedimentation of the PEGMA-stabilised P2VP latex was demonstrated by varying the sequence length and concentration of amplified DNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa using universal bacterial primers. DNA concentrations as low as 0.78 ng μl -1 could readily be detected within 30 minutes from the addition of amplified DNA to the latex. Furthermore, the specificity of this method was demonstrated by showing a negative result occurs (no flocculation of the latex) when PCR product from a fungal ( Candida albicans ) sample using bacterial primers was added to the latex.

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process, and metabolic disturbances in the microenvironment of chronic wounds and the severe symptoms they cause remain major challenges to be addressed. The inherent properties of hydrogels make them promising wound dressings. In addition, biomembrane-based nanostructures and microstructures (such as liposomes, exosomes, membrane-coated nanostructures, bacteria and algae) have significant advantages in the promotion of wound healing, including special biological activities, flexible drug loading and targeting. Therefore, biomembrane-based nanostructure- and microstructure-loaded hydrogels can compensate for their respective disadvantages and combine the advantages of both to significantly promote chronic wound healing. In this review, we outline the loading strategies, mechanisms of action and applications of different types of biomembrane-based nanostructure- and microstructure-loaded hydrogels in chronic wound healing., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2023 Liu et al.)

A critical factor in developing an efficient photosensitizer-gold nanoparticle (PS-AuNP) hybrid system with improved plasmonic photosensitization is to allocate a suitable space between AuNPs and PS. Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer is selected as a spacer between the PS and confeito-like gold nanoparticles (confeito-AuNPs), providing the required distance (≈2.5-22.5 nm) for plasmon-enhanced singlet oxygen generation and heat production upon 638-nm laser irradiation and increase the cellular internalization of the nanoconjugates. The loading of the PS, tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), and modified zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc1) onto PAMAM-confeito-AuNPs demonstrate better in vitro cancer cell-killing efficacy, as the combined photothermal-photodynamic therapies (PTT-PDTs) outperforms the single treatment modalities (PTT or PDT alone). These PS-PAMAM-confeito-AuNPs also demonstrate higher phototoxicity than photosensitizers directly conjugated to confeito-AuNPs (TCPP-confeito-AuNPs and ZnPc1-confeito-AuNPs) against all breast cancer cell lines tested (MDA-MB-231, MCF7, and 4T1). In the in vivo studies, TCPP-PAMAM-confeito-AuNPs are biocompatible and exhibit a selective tumor accumulation effect, resulting in higher antitumor efficacy than free TCPP, PAMAM-confeito-AuNPs, and TCPP-confeito-AuNPs. In vitro and in vivo evaluations confirm PAMAM effectiveness in facilitating cellular uptake, plasmon-enhanced singlet oxygen and heat generation. In summary, this study highlights the potential of integrating a PAMAM spacer in enhancing the plasmon effect-based photothermal-photodynamic anticancer treatment efficiency of PS-decorated confeito-AuNPs., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Polymer/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite particles were prepared via heteroflocculation between 140-220 nm cationic latex nanoparticles and anionic GO nanosheets in either acidic or basic conditions. It is demonstrated that nanocomposite particles can be formed using either poly(2-vinylpyridine)- b -poly(benzyl methacrylate) (P2VP-PBzMA) block copolymer nanoparticles prepared by reversible-addition chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), or poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (PEGMA)-stabilized P2VP latexes prepared by traditional emulsion polymerization. These two latexes are different morphologically as the P2VP-PBzMA block copolymer latexes have P2VP steric stabilizer chains in their corona, whereas the PEGMA-stabilized P2VP particles have a P2VP core and a nonionic steric stabilizer. Nevertheless, both the P2VP-PBzMA and PEGMA-stabilized P2VP latexes are cationic at low pH. Thus, the addition of GO to these latexes causes flocculation to occur immediately due to the opposite charges between the anionic GO nanosheets and cationic latexes. Control heteroflocculation experiments were conducted using anionic sterically stabilized poly(potassium 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate)- b -poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PKSPMA-PBzMA) and nonionic poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) nanoparticles to demonstrate that polymer/GO nanocomposite particles were not formed. The degree of flocculation and the strength of electrostatic interaction between the cationic polymer latexes and GO were assessed using disc centrifuge photosedimentometry (DCP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. These studies suggest that the optimal conditions for the formation of polymer/GO nanocomposite particles were GO contents between 10% and 20% w/w relative to latex, with the latexes containing P2VP in their corona having a stronger electrostatic attraction to the GO sheets.

This paper reports a generic method for preparing reinforced nanocomposite worm-gels. Aqueous poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)- b -poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PGMA-PHPMA) and methanolic poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)- b -poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PGMA-PBzMA) worm gels were prepared by RAFT-mediated polymerisation-induced self-assembly (PISA). The former system undergoes a reversible worm-to-sphere degelation transition upon cooling to 5 °C whilst the latter system undergoes the same transition on heating to 56 °C. This transition allows these copolymer dispersions to be readily mixed with graphene oxide (GO) whilst in a low viscosity state and form nanocomposite gels on returning to room temperature via a sphere-to-worm transition. Various quantities of GO were added to the studied copolymer dispersions at a fixed copolymer content of 15% w/w. A general trend was observed whereby relatively small quantities of GO caused the gel strength of the nanocomposite gel to be higher than that of the pristine worm-gel, as determined by oscillatory rheology. Additional quantities of GO resulted in gel weakening or prevented gel-reformation altogether. For instance, 15% w/w PGMA 52 -PHPMA 130 worm gels had a storage modulus ( G ') of approximately 1.5 kPa. The addition of 1.5% w/w GO based on the copolymer caused G ' to increase to approximately 4.0 kPa but >1.5% w/w GO resulted in gel strengths <1.0 kPa. A combination of aqueous electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy measurements were used to investigate the mechanism of nanocomposite gel formation. It was observed that the PGMA-based copolymers readily absorb onto the surface of GO. Thus, the role of GO is both to strengthen the worm-gels when an optimal concentration of GO is used, but also prevent worm-reformation if too much copolymer becomes absorbed on the surface of the sheets.

Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has become widely recognized as a versatile and efficient strategy to prepare complex block copolymer nanoparticles with controlled morphology, size, and surface functionality. In this article, we report the preparation of cationic sterically-stabilized poly(2-vinylpyridine)-poly(benzyl methacrylate) (P2VP-PBzMA) diblock copolymer nanoparticles via RAFT-mediated PISA under aqueous emulsion polymerization conditions. It is demonstrated that the solution pH during PISA has a dramatic effect on the resulting P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles, as judged by dynamic light scattering (DLS), disc centrifuge photosedimentometry (DCP) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Varying the solution pH results in the P2VP stabilizer having different solubilities due to protonation/deprotonation of the pyridine groups. This allows P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles with tunable diameters to be prepared by altering the DP of the stabilizer (P2VP) and/or core-forming block (PBzMA), or simply by changing the solution pH for a fixed copolymer composition. For example, P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles with larger diameters can be obtained at higher solution pH as the protonation degree of the P2VP stabilizer has a large effect on both the aggregation of polymer chains during the PISA process, and the resulting behavior of the diblock copolymer nanoparticles. Changing the dispersion pH post-polymerization has a relatively limited effect on particle diameter. Furthermore, aqueous electrophoresis studies indicate that these P2VP-PBzMA nanoparticles had good colloidal stability and high cationic charge (>30 mV) below pH 5 and can be dispersed readily over a wide pH range.

Purpose: The use of nanocarriers to improve the delivery and efficacy of antimetastatic agents is less explored when compared to cytotoxic agents. This study reports the entrapment of an antimetastatic Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) dimerization blocker, Stattic (S) into a chitosan-coated-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (C-PLGA) nanocarrier and the improvement on the drug's physicochemical, in vitro and in vivo antimetastatic properties post entrapment., Methods: In vitro, physicochemical properties of the Stattic-entrapped C-PLGA nanoparticles (S@C-PLGA) and Stattic-entrapped PLGA nanoparticles (S@PLGA, control) in terms of size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, Stattic release in different medium and cytotoxicity were firstly evaluated. The in vitro antimigration properties of the nanoparticles on breast cancer cell lines were then studied by Scratch assay and Transwell assay. Study on the in vivo antitumor efficacy and antimetastatic properties of S@C-PLGA compared to Stattic were then performed on 4T1 tumor bearing mice., Results: The S@C-PLGA nanoparticles (141.8 ± 2.3 nm) was hemocompatible and exhibited low Stattic release (12%) in plasma. S@C-PLGA also exhibited enhanced in vitro anti-cell migration potency (by >10-fold in MDA-MB-231 and 5-fold in 4T1 cells) and in vivo tumor growth suppression (by 33.6%) in 4T1 murine metastatic mammary tumor bearing mice when compared to that of the Stattic-treated group. Interestingly, the number of lung and liver metastatic foci was found to reduce by 50% and 56.6%, respectively, and the average size of the lung metastatic foci was reduced by 75.4% in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice treated with S@C-PLGA compared to Stattic-treated group (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: These findings suggest the usage of C-PLGA nanocarrier to improve the delivery and efficacy of antimetastatic agents, such as Stattic, in cancer therapy., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2022 Fong et al.)

Background: Current guidelines recommend administering dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 12 months to patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and without contraindications after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. A recent study reported that 3 months of DAPT followed by ticagrelor monotherapy is effective and safe in ACS patients undergoing DES implantation compared with the standard duration of DAPT. However, it is unclear whether antiplatelet monotherapy with ticagrelor alone versus ticagrelor plus aspirin reduces the incidence of clinically relevant bleeding without increasing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with DES implantation guided by either intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or angiography who have completed a 1-month course of DAPT with aspirin plus ticagrelor., Methods: The IVUS-ACS and ULTIMATE-DAPT is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial designed to determine (1) whether IVUS-guided versus angiography-guided DES implantation in patients with ACS reduces the risk of target vessel failure (TVF) at 12 months and (2) whether ticagrelor alone versus ticagrelor plus aspirin reduces the risk of clinically relevant bleeding without increasing the risk of MACCE 1-12 months after the index PCI in ACS patients undergoing DES implantation guided by either IVUS or angiography. This study will enroll 3486 ACS patients eligible for DES implantation, as confirmed by angiographic studies. The patients who meet the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 fashion to the IVUS- or angiography-guided group (first randomization). All enrolled patients will complete a 1-month course of DAPT with aspirin plus ticagrelor after the index PCI. Patients with no MACCEs or major bleeding (≥Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 3b) within 30 days will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either the ticagrelor plus matching placebo (SAPT)group or ticagrelor plus aspirin (DAPT)group for an additional 11 months (second randomization). The primary endpoint of the IVUS-ACS trial is TVF at 12 months, including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), or clinically driven target vessel revascularization (CD-TVR). The primary superiority endpoint of the ULTIMATE-DAPT trial is clinically relevant bleeding, defined as BARC Types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding, and the primary non-inferiority endpoint of the ULTIMATE-DAPT trial is MACCE, defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, CD-TVR, or definite stent thrombosis occurring 1-12 months in the second randomized population., Conclusion: The IVUS-ACS and ULTIMATE-DAPT trial is designed to test the efficacy and safety of 2 different antiplatelet strategies in ACS patients undergoing PCI with DES implantation guided by either IVUS or angiography. This study will provide novel insights into the optimal DAPT duration in ACS patients undergoing PCI and provide evidence on the clinical benefits of IVUS-guided PCI in ACS patients., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Double kissing (DK) crush approach for patients with coronary bifurcation lesions, particularly localized at distal left main or lesions with increased complexity, is associated with significant reduction in clinical events when compared with provisional stenting. Recently, randomized clinical trial has demonstrated the net clinical benefits by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided implantation of drug-eluting stent in all-comers. However, the improvement in clinical outcome after DK crush treatment guided by IVUS over angiography guidance for patients with complex bifurcation lesions have never been studied in a randomized fashion., Trial Design: DKCRUSH VIII study is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial designed to assess superiority of IVUS-guided vs angiography-guided DK crush stenting in patients with complex bifurcation lesions according to DEFINITION criteria. A total of 556 patients with complex bifurcation lesions will be randomly (1:1 of ratio) assigned to IVUS-guided or angiography-guided DK crush stenting group. The primary end point is the rate of 12-month target vessel failure, including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target vessel revascularization. The secondary end points consist of the individual component of primary end point, all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and in-stent restenosis. The safety end point is the incidence of definite or probable stent thrombosis. An angiographic follow-up will be performed for all patients at 13 months and clinical follow-up will be continued annually until 3 years after the index procedure., Conclusions: DKCRUSH VIII trial is the first study designed to evaluate the differences in efficacy and safety between IVUS-guided and angiography-guided DK crush stenting in patients with complex true bifurcation lesions. This study will also provide IVUS-derived criteria to define optimal DK crush stenting for bifurcation lesions at higher complexity., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Photosensitizing nanogels were obtained through a surfactant-free single-step protocol by using a porphyrin-based cross-linker for stabilizing self-assembled nanosized aggregates of thermoresponsive copolymers. Nanogels with varying amounts of porphyrin retained the singlet oxygen generation ability of the porphyrin core and were also capable of inducing temperature increase upon irradiation at 635 nm. Photoinduced killing efficiency was tested against three cell lines: human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (AsPC-1) cells, and a predominant photodynamic mechanism at 450 nm and a mixed photodynamic and photothermal effect at 635 nm was observed. This innovative access to photosensitizing nanogels is a proof of concept, and opens new perspectives toward the preparation of optimized nanophotosensitizers.

As mobile payments become increasingly popular, the security of the transaction process should be taken more seriously. Many mobile phones are equipped with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) cameras, which can be used as visible light communication (VLC) receivers. An optical camera communication (OCC) system is a special VLC system that uses an optical camera as a receiver. OCC offers acceptable security, but challenges remain. In this paper, we propose an OCC system that uses an optical camera with a rolling shutter as a receiver and a light-emitting diode (LED) panel light as a transmitter. The feature of an LED panel light serving as a surface light source reduces the possibility of overexposure and avoids the blooming effect of the camera. The rolling shutter effect of the CMOS camera is used to increase the data rate, which is numerically much higher than the frame rate. Finally, the results of a symbol error rate (SER) test show that the VLC system exhibits error-free performance. The data rate is approximately 4.2 kb/s, while the net data rate is approximately 2.46 kb/s due to the redundancy of the 3-9 code bar code and the redundant cycle. This data rate is sufficient for mobile payments, which require only 60 bits of data at a time.