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There is a growing body of evidence on the effects of subjective aging on health, well-being and quality of life. This review aims to synthesize findings about the link between subjective aging and cognition and cognitive decline. Furthermore, it provides an examination of variation sources such as subjective aging construct, cognitive domains, measures employed, age and moderator variables. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, PsychInfo and Web of Science, as well as grey literature searches in Google Scholar, OpenGrey, WorldCat and NDLTD, which resulted in 59 reports being included. Subjective aging is a relevant construct in the explanation and prediction of cognitive aging and cognitive decline in elderly adults. More positive views about own aging and self-perceptions of aging, as well as a younger subjective age, were consistently related to better cognition and lower risk of cognitive decline. However, there were differences due to subjective aging subdimensions and cognitive domains, as well as an effect of age. Additionally, there were concerns about the content validity of some measures employed, such as the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale for subjective aging and the Mini Mental State Examination for global cognition. Further studies should employ longitudinal designs with a process-based approach to cognition and precise subjective aging measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are multifaced diseases which can present with a variety of phenotypes, ranging from infections to autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and neoplasms. In recent decades, research has investigated the relationship between autoimmunity and IEI. Autoimmunity is more prevalent in primary humoral immunodeficiencies than in most other IEI and it can even be their first manifestation. Among these, the two most common primary immunodeficiencies are selective IgA deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency. More than half of the patients with these conditions develop non-infectious complications due to immune dysregulation: autoimmune, autoinflammatory, allergic disorders, and malignancies. Around 30% of these patients present with autoimmune phenomena, such as cytopenia, gastrointestinal and respiratory complications, and endocrine and dermatologic features. Complex alterations of the central and peripheral mechanisms of tolerance are involved, affecting mainly B lymphocytes but also T cells and cytokines. Not only the immunophenotype but also advances in genetics allow us to diagnose monogenic variants of these diseases and to investigate the pathogenetic basis of the immune dysregulation. The diagnosis and therapy of the primary humoral immunodeficiencies has been mostly focused on the infectious complications, while patients with predominant features of immune dysregulation and autoimmunity still present a challenge for the clinician and an opportunity for pathogenetic and therapeutic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vermicompost tea (VCT) is the effluent or leachate with a honeybrown colour collected during vermicomposting, an ecologically significant process essential to today's organic and regenerative agriculture. Dried earthworm, a.k.a. dilong (DL, meaning "earth dragon") in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used as a key component to treat diverse skin diseases, including eczema. In the present study, we hypothesized that VCT might have a positive influence on eczema therapy. It was found that the oral application of 50% VCT in mouse model reduced the ear allergic scores and alleviated the histological changes caused by eczema. Furthermore, the levels of Th2-associated and pro-inflammatory cytokines (namely IL-4 and IL-13 in serum) and IgE (in serum and ear tissues) were significantly reduced by VCT. Therefore, oral administration of 50% VCT exerts immunomodulatory effects on the development of eczema, suggesting its potential as a nutraceutical candidate for eczema treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell-associated coagulopathy can cause bleeding events. To explore risk factors for hemorrhage after CAR T-cell therapy, we retrospectively analyzed routine indicators in 56 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Disturbance of coagulation occurred mainly within one month post infusion, especially on day 7 and 14. The cumulative incidence of bleeding events within one month was 32.8%, with the median onset of 7 (range, 0–28) days. All bleeding events were grade 1–3. Patients who experienced bleeding events within one month had longer prothrombin time, higher IL-6, higher IL-10, and lower platelets before lymphodepletion. There were also correlations among coagulation-, inflammatory-, and tumor burden-related markers. Multi-variate analysis showed IL-10 (> 7.98 pg/mL; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 13.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.03–94.36; P = 0.007) and the endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX, defined as dehydrogenase [U/L] × creatinine [mg/dL] / platelets [×109 cells/L]; >7.65; adjusted OR, 7.06; 95% CI, 1.03–48.23; P = 0.046) were significant risk factors for bleeding events. IL-10 plus the EASIX defined three risk groups for bleeding events with cumulative incidence of 100% (hazard ratio [HR], 14.47; 95% CI, 2.78–75.29; P < 0.0001), 38.5% (HR, 3.68; 95% CI, 0.82–16.67; P = 0.089), and 11.8% (reference), respectively. Future studies are needed to verify the risk assessment models for bleeding events after CAR T-cell treatment in larger cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray and gamma-ray polarimetry is a promising tool to study the geometry and the magnetic configuration of various celestial objects, such as binary black holes or gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). However, statistically significant polarizations have been detected in few of the brightest objects. Even though future polarimeters using X-ray telescopes are expected to observe weak persistent sources, there are no effective approaches to survey transient and serendipitous sources with a wide field of view (FoV). Here we present an electron-tracking Compton camera (ETCC) as a highly sensitive gamma-ray imaging polarimeter. The ETCC provides powerful background rejection and a high modulation factor over an FoV of up to 2π sr thanks to its excellent imaging based on a well-defined point-spread function. Importantly, we demonstrated for the first time the stability of the modulation factor under realistic conditions of off-axis incidence and huge backgrounds using the SPring-8 polarized X-ray beam. The measured modulation factor of the ETCC was 0.65 ± 0.01 at 150 keV for an off-axis incidence with an oblique angle of 30° and was not degraded compared to the 0.58 ± 0.02 at 130 keV for on-axis incidence. These measured results are consistent with the simulation results. Consequently, we found that the satellite-ETCC proposed in Tanimori et al. would provide all-sky surveys of weak persistent sources of 13 mCrab with 10% polarization for a 107 s exposure and over 20 GRBs down to a 6 × 10−6 erg cm−2 fluence and 10% polarization during a one-year observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, dysprosium substituted Ce1Y2Fe5O12 (Ce:YIG) thin films (Dy:CeYIG) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are successfully deposited on silicon and silicon-on-insulator waveguides by pulsed laser deposition. The structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties of Dy:CeYIG films are investigated. We find that increasing dysprosium concentration leads to a decreased out-of-plane magnetic saturation field. Dy2Ce1Fe5O12 and Dy2Ce1Al0.4Fe4.6O12 thin films show PMA dominated by magnetoelastic effects due to thermal mismatch strain. These films further exhibit high Faraday rotation and low optical loss. Our work demonstrates that Dy substitution is an effective way to induce PMA in Ce:YIG thin films without compromising their magneto-optical figure of merit, making this material promising for self-biased transverse electric mode optical isolator applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon waveguide optical nonreciprocal devices that use the magneto-optical phase shift are reviewed. The phase shift caused by the first-order magneto-optical effect is effective in realizing optical nonreciprocal devices on semiconductor waveguide platforms. In a silicon-on-insulator waveguide, the low refractive index of the buried oxide layer contributes to the large penetration of the optical field into a magneto-optical material used as an over-cladding layer. This enhances the magneto-optical phase shift and, hence, contributes greatly to reducing the device footprint. A surface-activated direct bonding technique plays a key role in the fabrication of magneto-optical nonreciprocal devices. This technique makes it possible to use a high-quality single-crystalline magneto-optical garnet that exhibits a large first-order magneto-optical effect. An optical isolator based on the magneto-optical phase shift was demonstrated in a silicon waveguide with an optical isolation ratio as high as 30 dB and an insertion loss of 13 dB at a wavelength of λ = 1548 nm. Furthermore, a four-port optical circulator was demonstrated with maximum isolation ratios of 33.5 and 29.1 dB in the cross and bar ports, respectively, at λ = 1543 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique benefits of Fabry–Pérot resonators as frequency-stable reference cavities and as an efficient interface between atoms and photons make them an indispensable resource for emerging photonic technologies. To bring these performance benefits to next-generation communications, computation, and time-keeping systems, it will be necessary to develop strategies to integrate compact Fabry–Pérot resonators with photonic integrated circuits. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel reflection cancellation circuit that utilizes a numerically optimized multi-port polarization-splitting grating coupler to efficiently interface high-finesse Fabry–Pérot resonators with a silicon photonic circuit. This circuit interface produces a spatial separation of the incident and reflected waves, as required for on-chip Pound–Drever–Hall frequency locking, while also suppressing unwanted back reflections from the Fabry–Pérot resonator. Using inverse design principles, we design and fabricate a polarization-splitting grating coupler that achieves 55% coupling efficiency. This design realizes an insertion loss of 5.8 dB for the circuit interface and more than 9 dB of back reflection suppression, and we demonstrate the versatility of this system by using it to interface several reflective off-chip devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the prognosis after docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing surgical resection. We retrospectively examined a total of 100 patients who received neoadjuvant DCF therapy for ESCC at our institution between 2011 and 2020. The psoas muscle index (PMI) was calculated from the psoas muscle area at the L3 vertebral level, and the intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) was calculated from the mean CT value of the multifidus muscle and from four points of subcutaneous fat. The median PMI value was 6.11 cm2/m2 (range, 3.12–11.07 cm2/m2) in men and 3.65 cm2/m2 (range, 2.70–6.82 cm2/m2) in women. The median IMAC was −0.426 (range, −0.079–−0.968) in men and −0.359 (range, −0.079–−0.671) in women. Based on the PMI, IMAC, and other patient factors, factors associated with NAC-DCF postoperative survival were identified using multivariate Cox regression analysis. A high IMAC was significantly related to overall survival after surgery (p = 0.005, hazard ratio 2.699). A comparison of Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the 5-year survival rate was 76.5% in the low IMAC group and 42.7% in the high IMAC group (log-rank test; p = 0.001). A low IMAC was associated with good survival outcomes and was an independent prognostic factor in patients with cStage II/III ESCC who were treated with the NAC-DCF regimen and underwent surgical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eusocial animals exhibit a sophisticated division of labour. The self‐organized colony requires coordination of local interactions at the individual level. Termites are a well‐known group exhibiting social organization among castes within a colony, and helper castes have facilitated their ecological and evolutionary success. Termites have soldier castes specialized in defence, but other castes are also known to exhibit defensive behaviour depending on the context. However, it is unclear how variation in the frequencies of defensive behaviour is emerged. Here, we investigate the effects of the presence of nestmates on individual defensive behaviour in the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. We experimentally prepared three conditions and observed biting behaviour against the ant Camponotus obscuripes. First, the frequency of biting was significantly higher in soldiers than that in pseudergates (i.e. workers) under isolated conditions. Second, the results showed that the frequencies of biting exhibited by soldiers were much higher than those of pseudergates in the pseudergate–soldier pairs. Finally, we investigated the social conditions in the presence of the same castes, that is, pseudergate–pseudergate and soldier–soldier pairs. The frequencies of biting exhibited by first‐biting individuals were significantly higher than those exhibited by second‐biting individuals in both paired conditions. Our findings demonstrate that defensive behaviour can be frequently observed in first‐biting individuals despite the presence of two individuals of the same caste, suggesting that the variation of defensive behaviour may be increased in the presence of nestmates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wafer bonding is a highly effective technique for integrating dissimilar semiconductor materials while suppressing the generation of crystalline defects that commonly occur during heteroepitaxial growth. This method is successfully applied to produce efficient solar cells, making it an important area of research for photovoltaic devices. In this article, a comprehensive review of semiconductor wafer‐bonding technologies is provided, focusing on their applications in solar cells. Beginning with an explanation of the thermodynamics of wafer bonding relative to heteroepitaxy, the functionalities and advantages of semiconductor wafer bonding are discussed. An overview of the history and recent developments in high‐efficiency multijunction solar cells using wafer bonding is also provided. Bonded solar cells made of various semiconductor materials are reviewed and various types of wafer‐bonding methods, including direct bonding and interlayer‐mediated bonding, are described. Additionally, other technologies that utilize wafer bonding, such as flexible cells, thin‐film transfer, and wafer reuse techniques, are covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milling profiles of single-crystal gallium nitride (GaN) when subjected to focused ion beams (FIBs) using gallium (Ga), xenon (Xe), and helium (He) ion sources were investigated. An experimental analysis via annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed that Ga-FIB milling yields trenches with higher aspect ratios compared to Xe-FIB milling for the selected ion beam parameters (30 kV, 42 pA), while He-FIB induces local lattice disorder. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to investigate the milling process, confirming that probe size critically influences trench aspect ratios. Interestingly, the MD simulations also showed that Xe-FIB generates higher aspect ratios than Ga-FIB with the same probe size, indicating that Xe-FIB could also be an effective option for nanoscale patterning. Atomic defects such as vacancies and interstitials in GaN from He-FIB milling were suggested by the MD simulations, supporting the lattice disorder observed via HRTEM. This combined experimental and simulation approach has enhanced our understanding of FIB milling dynamics and will benefit the fabrication of nanostructures via the FIB technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leeches are well-known annelids due to their obligate blood-feeding habits. Some leech species secrete various biologically active substances which have important medical and pharmaceutical value in antithrombotic treatments. In this study, we provided a high-quality genome of the Asian buffalo leech (Hirudinaria manillensis), based on which we performed a systematic identification of potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. Combining automatic and manual prediction, we identified 21 antithrombotic gene families including fourteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. A total of 72 antithrombotic genes, including two pseudogenes, were identified, including most of their corresponding proteins forming three or more disulfide bonds. Three protein families (LDTI, antistasin, and granulin) had internal tandem repeats containing 6, 10, and 12 conserved cysteines, respectively. We also measured the anticoagulant activities of the five identified hirudins (hirudin_Hman1 ~ hirudin_Hman5). The results showed that three (hirudin_Hman1, hirudin_Hman2, and hirudin_Hman5), but not the remaining two, exhibited anticoagulant activities. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from a leech to date. These results will greatly facilitate the research and application of leech derivatives for medical and pharmaceutical purposes in the treatment of thrombotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previously developed fibrin‐agarose skin model—UGRSKIN—showed promising clinical results in severely burnt patients. To determine the histological parameters associated to the biocompatibility and therapeutic effects of this model, we carried out a comprehensive structural and ultrastructural study of UGRSKIN grafted in severely burnt patients after 3 months of follow‐up. The grafted epidermis was analogue to native human skin from day 30th onward, revealing well‐structured strata with well‐differentiated keratinocytes expressing CK5, CK8, CK10, claudin, plakoglobin, filaggrin, and involucrin in a similar way to controls, suggesting that the epidermis was able to mature and differentiate very early. Melanocytes and Langerhans cells were found from day 30th onward, together with a basement membrane, abundant hemidesmosomes and lack of rete ridges. At the dermal layer, we found an interface between the grafted skin and the host tissue at day 30th, which tended to disappear with time. The grafted superficial dermis showed a progressive increase in properly‐oriented collagen fibers, elastic fibers and proteoglycans, including decorin, similarly to control dermis at day 60‐90th of in vivo follow‐up. Blood vessels determined by CD31 and SMA expression were more abundant in grafted skin than controls, whereas lymphatic vessels were more abundant at day 90th. These results contribute to shed light on the histological parameters associated to biocompatibility and therapeutic effect of the UGRSKIN model grafted in patients and demonstrate that the bioengineered skin grafted in patients is able to mature and differentiate very early at the epithelial level and after 60–90 days at the dermal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although nurses are expected to address the social determinants of health (SDH) in clinical settings, the perspectives of front‐line nurses on the integration of SDH into their clinical practice remain unclear. Understanding the dynamism of this integration and its outcomes can yield crucial insights into effective nursing care. This study aims to elucidate the integration and adoption of tool‐based SDH assessment nursing programs and their impacts on daily nursing care. Methods: We conducted qualitative research at a small community‐based hospital in Japan, where a tool‐based program characterized by social background interviews and documentation was implemented. Nurses at the hospital were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. After hypothesis generation, semi‐constructed in‐depth online interviews were conducted. Each interview lasted between 30 and 50 min. The data were analyzed via thematic analysis using the framework approach. Results: A total of 16 nurses participated. Participants' incorporation of the novel SDH assessment program was bolstered by prior learning and their recognition of its practical value. Institutional support and collaborative teamwork further facilitated the adoption of this innovation. Enhanced knowledge about the social contexts of their patients contributed to increased respect, empathy, and self‐affirmation among participants, consequently enhancing the quality of nursing care. Conclusion: Through team‐based learning, reflection, and support, nurses can integrate a tool‐based SDH assessment program into their daily nursing practice. This program has the potential to empower nurses to deliver more holistic care and redefine their professional identity. Further research is warranted to assess patient‐reported outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case study of swarmalators (mobile oscillators) that move on a 1D ring and are subject to pinning. Previous work considered the special case where the pinning in space and the pinning in the phase dimension were correlated. Here, we study the general case where the space and phase pinning are uncorrelated, both being chosen uniformly at random. This induces several new effects, such as pinned async, mixed states, and a first-order phase transition. These phenomena may be found in real world swarmalators, such as systems of vinegar eels, Janus matchsticks, electrorotated Quincke rollers, or Japanese tree frogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and severe manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus and an important cause of acute and chronic kidney injury. Early diagnosis of LN and preventing relapses are key to preserving renal reserve. However, due to the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease, clinical management remains challenging. Kidney biopsy remains the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis of LN and subsequent assessment of kidney histopathology, but it is invasive and cannot be repeated frequently. Current clinical indicators of kidney function such as proteinuria and serum creatinine level are non-specific and do not accurately reflect histopathological changes, while anti-dsDNA antibody and C3 levels reflect immunological status but not kidney injury. Identification of novel and specific biomarkers for LN is prerequisite to improve management. Renal function deterioration is associated with changes in the endothelial glycocalyx, a delicate gel-like layer located at the interface between the endothelium and bloodstream. Inflammation induces endothelial cell activation and shedding of glycocalyx constituents into the circulation. This review discusses the potential role of soluble glycocalyx components as biomarkers of active LN, especially in patients in whom conventional serological and biochemical markers do not appear helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a natural macromolecule polysaccharide that is extensively distributed in a wide variety of organisms. CS is of great interest to researchers due to its many in vitro and in vivo functions. CS production derives from a diverse number of sources, including but not limited to extraction from various animals or fish, bio-synthesis, and fermentation, and its purity and homogeneity can vary greatly. The structural diversity of CS with respect to sulfation and saccharide content endows this molecule with distinct complexity, allowing for functional modification. These multiple functions contribute to the application of CS in medicines, biomaterials, and functional foods. In this article, we discuss the preparation of CS from different sources, the structure of various forms of CS, and its binding to other relevant molecules. Moreover, for the creation of this article, the functions and applications of CS were reviewed, with an emphasis on drug discovery, hydrogel formation, delivery systems, and food supplements. We conclude that analyzing some perspectives on structural modifications and preparation methods could potentially influence future applications of CS in medical and biomaterial research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the most aggressive solid tumors with a dismal prognosis and an increasing incidence. At the time of diagnosis, more than 85% of patients are in an unresectable stage. For these patients, chemotherapy can prolong survival by only a few months. Unfortunately, in recent decades, no groundbreaking therapies have emerged for PDAC, thus raising the question of how to identify novel therapeutic druggable targets to improve prognosis. Recently, the tumor microenvironment and especially its neural component has gained increasing interest in the pancreatic cancer field. A histological hallmark of PDAC is perineural invasion (PNI), whereby cancer cells invade surrounding nerves, providing an alternative route for metastatic spread. The extent of PNI has been positively correlated with early tumor recurrence and reduced overall survival. Multiple studies have shown that mechanisms involved in PNI are also involved in tumor spread and pain generation. Targeting these pathways has shown promising results in alleviating pain and reducing PNI in preclinical models. In this review, we will describe the mechanisms and future treatment strategies to target this mutually trophic interaction between cancer cells to open novel avenues for the treatment of patients diagnosed with PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) can be used as a valuable research tool to examine tumors. The CAM can be used to investigate processes such as migration, invasion, and angiogenesis and to assess novel antitumor drugs. The CAM can be used to establish tumors in a straightforward, rapid, and cost-effective manner via xenotransplantation of cells or tumor tissues with reproducible results; furthermore, the use of the CAM adheres to the three "R" principle, i.e., replace, reduce, and refine. To achieve successful tumor establishment and survival, several technical aspects should be taken into consideration. The complexity and heterogeneity of diseases including neuroblastoma and cancers in general and their impact on human health highlight the importance of preclinical models that help us describe tumor-specific biological processes. These models will not only help in understanding tumor biology, but also allow clinicians to explore therapeutic alternatives that will improve current treatment strategies. In this review, we summarize the technical characteristics as well as the main findings regarding the use of this model to study neuroblastoma for angiogenesis, metastasis, drug sensitivity, and drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programmable photonics play a crucial role in many emerging applications, from optical accelerators for machine learning to quantum information technologies. Conventionally, photonic systems are tuned by mechanisms such as the thermo-optic effect, free carrier dispersion, the electro-optic effect, or micro-mechanical movement. Although these physical effects allow either fast (>100 GHz) or large contrast (>60 dB) switching, their high static power consumption is not optimal for programmability, which requires only infrequent switching and has a long static time. Non-volatile materials, such as phase-change materials, ferroelectrics, vanadium dioxide, and memristive metal oxide materials, can offer an ideal solution thanks to their reversible switching and non-volatile behavior, enabling a truly "set-and-forget" programmable unit with no static power consumption. In recent years, we have indeed witnessed the fast adoption of non-volatile materials in programmable photonic systems, including photonic integrated circuits and free-space meta-optics. Here, we review the recent progress in the field of programmable photonics, based on non-volatile materials. We first discuss the material's properties, operating mechanisms, and then their potential applications in programmable photonics. Finally, we provide an outlook for future research directions. The review serves as a reference for choosing the ideal material system to realize non-volatile operation for various photonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a global health problem and leading cause of death worldwide. Thrombus formation, one of the CVDs, is essentially the formation of fibrin clots. The existing thrombolytic agents have the disadvantages of high price, short half‐life, and high bleeding risk; hence, there is an urgent need to find the alternative thrombolytic agents. In recent years, traditional fermented foods have been widely investigated for their outstanding effects in the prevention and treatment of thrombus formation. In this review, we have focused on fibrinolytic enzymes produced by microorganisms during the fermentation of traditional fermented foods and their potential use for treating CVDs. First, we discussed about the sources of fibrinolytic enzymes and microbial strains that produce those enzymes followed by the optimization of fermentation process, purification, and physicochemical properties of fibrinolytic enzymes. Finally, we have summarized the thrombolytic effects of fibrinolytic enzymes in humans and mice. Fibrinolytic enzymes produced by microorganisms during the fermentation of traditional fermented foods not only lyse thrombi but also acts as anti‐atherosclerotic, anti‐hyperlipidemia, and neuroprotection agents. Therefore, fibrinolytic enzymes from traditional fermented foods have great potential for the prevention and treatment of CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perineural invasion (PNI) is defined as the dissemination of neoplastic cells within the perineural space. PNI can be a strong indicator of malignancy and is linked to poor prognosis and adverse outcomes in various malignant neoplasms; nevertheless, it can also be seen in benign pathologic conditions. In this review article, we discuss various signaling pathways and neurotrophic factors implicated in the development and progression of PNI. We also describe the methodology, benefits, and limitations of different in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models of PNI. The spectrum of presentation for PNI can range from diffuse spread within large nerves ("named" nerves) all the way through localized spread into unnamed microscopic nerves. Therefore, the clinical significance of PNI is related to its extent rather than its mere presence or absence. In this article, we discuss the guidelines for the identification and quantification of PNI in different malignant neoplasms based on the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. We also describe benign pathologic conditions and neoplasms demonstrating PNI and potential mimics of PNI. Finally, we explore avenues for the future development of targeted therapy options via modulation of signaling pathways involved in PNI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the manufacturing industry, there is an extensive use of high-precision motion control techniques to achieve high performance in the feed drive system. This study deals with the simple adaptive control (SAC) technique for simultaneous high-precision motion and energy-saving of the feed drive system. The application of the SAC requires that the "almost strictly positive real (ASPR)" property is satisfied and there is a command general tracking solution for the plant and the reference model. This paper presents to use the jerk-based augmented output signal for the ASPR property. The proposed approach allows the SAC to track the desired signal at high frequencies more precise and is achieved by placing the zeros of the system at effective locations. To verify the feasibility of the proposed approach, simulation and experiment are conducted. The results are compared with those of the commonly used parallel feedforward compensation (PFC) approach. Experimental results revealed that the proposed approach reduced the tracking error by about 80% compared to PFC without any additional control input. Moreover, the proposed approach has been proved to be energy-efficient by about 21% than PFC under similar tracking conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treating malignant glioma is challenging owing to its highly invasive potential in healthy brain tissue and the formation of intense surrounding edema. Peritumoral edema in gliomas can lead to severe symptoms including neurological dysfunction and brain herniation. For the past 50 years, the standard treatment for peritumoral edema has been steroid therapy. However, the discovery of cerebral lymphatic vessels a decade ago prompted a re-evaluation of the mechanisms involved in brain fluid regulation and the formation of cerebral edema. This review aimed to describe the clinical features of peritumoral edema in gliomas. The mechanisms currently known to cause glioma-related edema are summarized, the limitations in current cerebral edema therapies are discussed, and the prospects for future cerebral edema therapies are presented. Further research concerning edema surrounding gliomas is needed to enhance patient prognosis and improve treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant proteins with domains rich in leucine repeats play important roles in detecting pathogens and triggering defense reactions, both at the cellular surface for pattern-triggered immunity and in the cell to ensure effector-triggered immunity. As intracellular parasites, viruses are mostly detected intracellularly by proteins with a nucleotide binding site and leucine-rich repeats but receptor-like kinases with leucine-rich repeats, known to localize at the cell surface, have also been involved in response to viruses. In the present review we report on the progress that has been achieved in the last decade on the role of these leucine-rich proteins in antiviral immunity, with a special focus on our current understanding of the hypersensitive response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken embryos are a powerful and widely used animal model in developmental biology studies. Since the development of CRISPR technology, gene-edited chickens have been generated by transferring primordial germ cells (PGCs) into recipients after genetic modifications. However, low inheritance caused by competition between host germ cells and the transferred cells is a common complication and greatly reduces production efficiency. Here, we generated a gene-edited chicken, in which germ cells can be ablated in a drug-dependent manner, as recipients for gene-edited PGC transfer. We used the nitroreductase/metronidazole (NTR/Mtz) system for cell ablation, in which nitroreductase produces cytotoxic alkylating agents from administered metronidazole, causing cell apoptosis. The chicken Vasa homolog (CVH) gene locus was used to drive the expression of the nitroreductase gene in a germ cell-specific manner. In addition, a fluorescent protein gene, mCherry, was also placed in the CVH locus to visualize the PGCs. We named this system 'germ cell-specific autonomous removal induction' (gSAMURAI). gSAMURAI chickens will be an ideal recipient to produce offspring derived from transplanted exogenous germ cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YIG, Ce0.9Y2.1Fe5O12) was epitaxially grown on a (111)-oriented yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) substrate using radio frequency ion beam sputtering. Magnetic hysteresis loops, transmissivity spectra, and magnetooptical (MO) responses, including Faraday rotation and Faraday ellipticity, were measured. The structural properties of the grown Ce:YIG were characterized using the x-ray rocking curve, reciprocal space map, pole figure, and x-ray reflectivity. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry revealed a dominant Ce3+ state in the grown Ce:YIG, but the transmission electron microscopy images showed columnar growth of Ce:YIG. This study demonstrates integration of epitaxial Ce:YIG on YAG, marking a significant step toward the fusion of MO garnets and laser crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the photoredox‐catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reaction with deuterium or tritium gas as isotope sources and in situ formed transition metal nanoparticles as hydrogen atom transfer pre‐catalysts. By this means we have found synergistic reactivities applying two different HIE mechanisms, namely photoredox‐catalyzed and CH‐functionalization HIE leading to the synthesis of highly deuterated complex molecules. Finally, we adopted these findings successfully to tritium chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular calcification is an important risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is also a complex process involving osteochondrogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and abnormal deposition of minerals in the vascular wall. In an observational, multicenter European study, including 112 patients with CKD from Spain and 171 patients on dialysis from France, we used serum proteome analysis and further validation by ELISA to identify calprotectin, a circulating damage-associated molecular pattern protein, as being independently associated with CV outcome and mortality. This was confirmed in an additional cohort of 170 patients with CKD from Sweden, where increased serum calprotectin concentrations correlated with increased vascular calcification. In primary human VSMCs and mouse aortic rings, calprotectin exacerbated calcification. Treatment with paquinimod, a calprotectin inhibitor, as well as pharmacological inhibition of the receptor for advanced glycation end products and Toll-like receptor 4 inhibited the procalcifying effect of calprotectin. Paquinimod also ameliorated calcification induced by the sera of uremic patients in primary human VSMCs. Treatment with paquinimod prevented vascular calcification in mice with chronic renal failure induced by subtotal nephrectomy and in aged apolipoprotein E–deficient mice as well. These observations identified calprotectin as a key contributor of vascular calcification, and increased circulating calprotectin was strongly and independently associated with calcification, CV outcome, and mortality in patients with CKD. Inhibition of calprotectin might therefore be a promising strategy to prevent vascular calcification in patients with CKD. Editor's summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased vascular calcification, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, Amaya-Garrido and colleagues performed a proteomic analysis on two cohorts of patients, one with stage 3-4 CKD and one with stage 5 CKD on dialysis, finding that increased calprotectin was associated with increased risk of CV complications and mortality. In a 5/6 nephrectomy mouse model of CKD on a high-phosphate diet, administration of the calprotectin inhibitor paquinimod could prevent increased vascular calcification without affecting renal function or calprotectin abundance, with similar findings observed after treatment of aged apolipoprotein E–deficient mice on a high-phosphate diet. These findings suggest that inhibition of calprotectin might help to prevent vascular calcification in high-risk patients. —Melissa Norton [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization is a fundamental degree of freedom for light and is widely leveraged in free space and fiber optics. Non-reciprocal polarization rotation, enabled via the magneto-optic Faraday effect, has been essentially unbeatable for broadband isolators and circulators. For integrated photonics foundries, however, there is still no good path to producing low-loss magneto-optic components, which has prompted a search for alternatives that do not use polarization rotation. Moreover, magneto-optic materials tend to be highly lossy, and while large (10–100 rad/cm) polarization rotation can be achieved, the key figure of merit (rotation-per-loss) is typically < 1 rad/dB. Here, we demonstrate that broadband non-reciprocal polarization rotation can be produced using electro-optics in nanophotonic devices. Our demonstration leverages electro-optic inter-polarization scattering around 780 nm in lithium niobate, in which the reciprocity is broken with the help of a radiofrequency stimulus that carries synthetic momentum. While the demonstrated electro-optic polarization rotation rate is ≈ 1 rad/cm, the exceptionally low loss of lithium niobate enables non-reciprocal polarization rotators with figures of merit that are 1-2 orders of magnitude better than what is possible with magneto-optics. This approach can be replicated on III–V platforms, paving the way for high-performance lasers with co-integrated monolithic non-reciprocal devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake is one of the earthquakes that have occurred multiple times in the past as part of the Sagami Trough earthquakes. These earthquakes, which occurred at the plate boundary, occurred in 1495 (Meio Earthquake), 1703 (Genroku Earthquake), and again in 1923, causing significant damage to various areas in Kanto, including Tokyo and Yokohama, and it came to be known as the Great Kanto Earthquake. The Sagami Trough earthquakes have consistently brought strong tsunami disasters to various areas in Kanto, extending from the Sagami Bay coast to the Boso Peninsula, and residents along the coast were highly aware of the risk of tsunamis occurring after major earthquakes. Although a tsunami occurred in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, it is believed to have had a wave height approximately half that of the tsunami in the Genroku Earthquake. However, this tsunami destroyed the livelihoods of villages and caused significant damage. In this study, we aim to reexamine historical records related to the tsunami in the Great Kanto Earthquake and objectively evaluate the actual situation of this tsunami disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To correlate fluorapatite thin films' morphology to their stability and bioactivity for temporary bioimplant applications, fluorapatite is ultrasonically spray-deposited on different substrates using chemical precursors. Mechanical agitation in phosphate-buffered saline solution is used to investigate the stability of the films aided with X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy for films' morphology and thickness. For bioactivity, the cell adhesion to the fluorapatite thin films is evaluated by growing HaCaT cells on the film surface. The films deposited on titanium are pure and polycrystalline. Agitation in solution leads to a thickness reduction of 18.3%, and 30.5% for the films deposited on alumina. However, the persistence of the films after agitation suggests partial degradability. The improved stability of fluorapatite on titanium is attributed to the layer plus island-like morphology that offers a reduced contact area with the surrounding solution compared with the island-like morphology of fluorapatite on alumina. These different morphologies can be understood in the context of a smaller lattice mismatch between the substrate and the film which results in the layer plus island-like morphology. HaCaT cell adhesion on Ti-fluorapatite film surfaces is better than the titanium reference and alumina-fluorapatite suggesting its bioactivity and the promise of spray-deposited FAP for orthopedic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Patient-derived sarcoma organoids (PDSOs) are a new and promising tool for treating sarcomas, a type of cancer that affects the body's connective tissues. These organoids are created in the lab to mimic the complexity of a patient's tumor. They help doctors understand the genetic and molecular makeup of the tumor and test different treatments to see which ones work best for each patient. PDSOs can guide personalized treatment decisions, ensuring that patients receive the most effective therapies tailored to their specific tumor characteristics. They also help researchers discover new biomarkers and develop better treatment options. By using PDSOs, doctors can improve patient outcomes and revolutionize how sarcomas are managed. Ongoing research is essential to fully unlock the potential of PDSOs and make them a standard part of sarcoma treatment. The management of sarcomas, a diverse group of cancers arising from connective tissues, presents significant challenges due to their heterogeneity and limited treatment options. Patient-derived sarcoma organoids (PDSOs) have emerged as a promising tool in the multimodal management of sarcomas, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalized medicine and improved treatment strategies. This review aims to explore the potential of PDSOs as a promising tool for multimodal management of sarcomas. We discuss the establishment and characterization of PDSOs, which realistically recapitulate the complexity and heterogeneity of the original tumor, providing a platform for genetic and molecular fidelity, histological resemblance, and functional characterization. Additionally, we discuss the applications of PDSOs in pathological and genetic evaluation, treatment screening and development, and personalized multimodal management. One significant advancement of PDSOs lies in their ability to guide personalized treatment decisions, enabling clinicians to assess the response and efficacy of different therapies in a patient-specific manner. Through continued research and development, PDSOs hold the potential to revolutionize sarcoma management and drive advancements in personalized medicine, biomarker discovery, preclinical modeling, and therapy optimization. The integration of PDSOs into clinical practice can ultimately improve patient outcomes and significantly impact the field of sarcoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of magneto-optical (MO) properties is reported in epitaxial cerium (Ce) substituted yttrium iron garnet thin films deposited on Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 (GGG) substrates using pulsed laser deposition technique at (i) different O 2 partial pressure (OPP) during film deposition and (ii) with different film thickness at a given OPP. The MO activity is estimated by measuring the Kerr rotation using the longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect with blue (405 nm), green (532 nm), and red (632 nm) incident laser light. The Kerr rotation is observed to increase with an increase in OPP and vary differently with thickness for a given OPP as a function of incident light wavelength. The results are explained in terms of the possible charge transfer mechanism for the films prepared with OPP variation and the optical interference effects in dielectric films with thickness variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of heritable connective tissue disorders. Common features of EDS include skin hyperextensibility, articular hypermobility, and tissue fragility. It is classified into 13 subtypes, caused by variations of more than 19 different genes. Among these two subtypes, EDS musculocontractural type 1 (EDSMC1/mcEDS-CHST14; MIM# 601776) is caused by biallelic mutations in the CHST14 gene (MIM# 608429) on chromosome 15q14 and EDS musculocontractural type 2 (EDSMC2/mcEDS-DSE;MIM#615539) is caused by a mutation in DSE (MIM# 605942) on chromosome 6q22. In this study, clinical and molecular diagnoses have been performed for a consanguineous Pakistani (Pakhtun) family with five affected siblings, presenting mcEDS-DSE phenotype. Whole-exome sequencing analysis identified a novel homozygous DSE variant (NM&#95;001080976.1; c.2813T>A, p.Val938Asp) in the proband. Sanger sequencing in all available affected members and their obligate carriers confirmed autosomal recessive segregation of the diseased allele. To the best of our knowledge, this variant identified is novel and expands the DSE pathogenicity leading to EDS, musculocontractural type 2. The result obtained has the potential to help in early diagnosis, genetic counseling, and possible therapeutic inventions., (© 2021 Japanese Teratology Society.)

Photon imaging for MeV gammas has serious difficulties due to huge backgrounds and unclearness in images, which originate from incompleteness in determining the physical parameters of Compton scattering in detection, e.g., lack of the directional information of the recoil electrons. The recent major mission/instrument in the MeV band, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory/COMPTEL, which was Compton Camera (CC), detected a mere ∼30 persistent sources. It is in stark contrast with the ∼2000 sources in the GeV band. Here we report the performance of an Electron-Tracking Compton Camera (ETCC), and prove that it has a good potential to break through this stagnation in MeV gamma-ray astronomy. The ETCC provides all the parameters of Compton-scattering by measuring 3D recoil electron tracks; then the Scatter Plane Deviation (SPD) lost in CCs is recovered. The energy loss rate (dE/dx), which CCs cannot measure, is also obtained, and is found to be helpful to reduce the background under conditions similar to those in space. Accordingly, the significance in gamma detection is improved severalfold. On the other hand, SPD is essential to determine the point-spread function (PSF) quantitatively. The SPD resolution is improved close to the theoretical limit for multiple scattering of recoil electrons. With such a well-determined PSF, we demonstrate for the first time that it is possible to provide reliable sensitivity in Compton imaging without utilizing an optimization algorithm. As such, this study highlights the fundamental weak-points of CCs. In contrast we demonstrate the possibility of ETCC reaching the sensitivity below 1 × 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1 at 1 MeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of diverse hereditary connective tissue disorders. Various EDS subtypes present as different diseases. Periodontitis of early onset is a major criterion of periodontal EDS (pEDS). This article reports the clinical case of two siblings, young adults, who came to the clinic for diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. The patients had already been diagnosed with pEDS several months earlier after being referred for genetic testing by a dermatologist. It should be noted that in these siblings pEDS had been misinterpreted for years by health care specialists despite the patients' periodontal disease, which had appeared at the age of 3 years. The subsequent effects of periodontal disease in these patients jeopardized the survival prognosis of their teeth. It may be stated that, in spite of pEDS's status as a rare syndrome, the dental practitioner can play a key role in the early diagnosis by responding appropriately to periodontal manifestations at early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite thin films made of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles embedded in silica/zirconia sol-gel matrix are presented, and their versatility is illustrated through the impact of the nanoparticle features on the films' final properties. The intrinsic magneto-optical potentiality of the nanoparticles is especially given by a peak around 1550 nm in the spectra of both the Faraday rotation and the magneto-optical figure of merit. These nanoparticles are inserted in the liquid preparation of a sol-gel host matrix, which is coated on a glass substrate at soft temperature. SEM and optical analysis show the absence of nanoparticle aggregates and defects into thin films and prove the ability of these films to be used as a guiding layer for photonic integration. The dispersion in the host matrix and the integration on a substrate do not affect the merit factor of the material. The specific Faraday rotation of the films is about 300 ° / cm for a volume fraction of nanoparticles of 1.5%, and it possesses a hysteresis loop. Its dependence on the nanoparticle mean size offers the possibility to achieve self-biased behavior. In addition, a magnetic field applied during the coating promotes an alignment of the magnetic easy axis of the nanoparticles along a preferential direction. It allows increasing even more the remanent magneto-optical effect and also reducing the birefringence and reaching a TE/TM phase matching of the film guided modes. It gives a way to tune these two parameters that play a crucial role in magneto-optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Head and neck cancers rank as the seventh most common cancer worldwide, nearly half of which result in death. The most common treatment methods for head and neck cancers include radiotherapy and surgery. Proton therapy has emerged in radiotherapy for cases where tumors are located near anatomically sensitive areas where the radiation dose must be strictly limited. The purpose of the work is to discuss the role of the proton therapy in the treatment in various types of cancer, and particularly head and neck tumors., Recent Findings: Proton therapy allows for the delivery of radiation doses to critical organs to be reduced, resulting in a decrease in the occurrence of late adverse effects on these organs. The occurrence of side effects caused by proton therapy depends on the relative and absolute volume of organs at risk receiving specific radiation doses. Proton therapy represents a promising alternative to conventional radiotherapy due to the reduced number of complications in healthy tissues by delivering a lower radiation dose outside the tumor area., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Since its identification as a marker for advanced melanoma in the 1980s, CD146 has been found to have multiple functions in both physiological and pathological processes, including embryonic development, tissue repair and regeneration, tumor progression, fibrosis disease, and inflammations. Subsequent research has revealed that CD146 is involved in various signaling pathways as a receptor or co-receptor in these processes. This correlation between CD146 and multiple diseases has sparked interest in its potential applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy. To better comprehend the versatile roles of CD146, we have summarized its research history and synthesized findings from numerous reports, proposing that cell plasticity serves as the underlying mechanism through which CD146 contributes to development, regeneration, and various diseases. Targeting CD146 would consequently halt cell state shifting during the onset and progression of these related diseases. Therefore, the development of therapy targeting CD146 holds significant practical value., (© 2024. Science China Press.)

Background: The optimal approach for the safe implementation and education of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) remains unclear. Prolonged operation time may cause surgeon fatigue and result in perioperative complications. To solve this issue, our department adopted task division by the console surgeon turnover between resection and reconstruction in 2022., Methods: This study retrospectively investigated consecutive patients who underwent RPD from November 2009 (initial introduction of RPD) to December 2023. The analysis excluded patients who underwent concomitant resection of other organs. The cases performed by a single console surgeon (single approach) were compared with those performed by two or more console surgeons (multiple approach)., Results: This study analyzed 85 consecutive RPD cases, including 51 with the single approach and 34 with the multiple approach. The operation time was significantly shorter (832 vs. 618 min, p < 0.001), and the postoperative major complication was less frequent (45% vs. 12%, p = 0.003) in the multiple approach group, although less experienced surgeons performed the multiple approach (number of RPD experiences: 19 cases vs. 5 cases, p < 0.001). The console surgeon turnover between the resection and reconstruction resulted in a safe pancreatojejunostomy performed by the less experienced surgeon (number of pancreatic reconstruction experiences: 6.5 vs. 14 cases, p = 0.010). Surgeons who started RPD with a multiple approach observed a reduction in surgical time and a lower incidence of complications earlier than those who started with a single approach., Conclusion: Task division during the early introduction phase of RPD using the multiple approach demonstrated potential contributions to improved surgical outcomes and enhanced educational benefits., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)