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Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers a sustainable strategy for producing fuels and chemicals. However, it suffers from sluggish CO2 activation and slow water dissociation. In this work, we construct a (P−O)δ− modified In catalyst that exhibits high activity and selectivity in electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate. A combination of in situ characterizations and kinetic analyses indicate that (P−O)δ− has a strong interaction with K+(H2O)n, which effectively accelerates water dissociation to provide protons. In situ attenuated total reflectance surface‐enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR‐SEIRAS) measurements together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations disclose that (P−O)δ− modification leads to a higher valence state of In active site, thus promoting CO2 activation and HCOO* formation, while inhibiting competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). As a result, the (P−O)δ− modified oxide‐derived In catalyst exhibits excellent formate selectivity across a broad potential window with a formate Faradaic efficiency as high as 92.1 % at a partial current density of ~200 mA cm−2 and a cathodic potential of −1.2 V vs. RHE in an alkaline electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have reported that additive manufactured ceramic lattices with microarchitectures often exhibit low‐strain brittle fracture behavior. In this work, the fracture behavior of ceramic triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattices was optimized by introducing a hybrid design strategy that utilizes different microarchitectures. Hybrid ceramic TPMS structures incorporating Gyroid and Primitive unit cells were successfully fabricated using the Lithography‐based ceramics manufacturing (LCM) technique, and their mechanical properties were evaluated under both quasistatic and dynamic compression. The hybrid designs exhibited improved damage tolerance and fracture strength compared to their normal counterparts. Compared to normal Gyroid and Primitive structures, the G2P2 structure exhibits the best energy absorption capacity of 12.5 × 104 J/m3, demonstrating a 13% and 217% increase in energy absorption capacity under quasistatic loading, respectively. Additionally, compared with other normal and hybrid designs, the G2P2 structure exhibits the highest fracture strength of 13.03 MPa under quasistatic loading conditions. Moreover, the P2G hybrid structure displayed a distinct deformation pattern characterized by a smoother stress decrease under quasistatic loading, enhancing damage tolerance. The order of Young's modulus under quasistatic loading was Normal Gyroid ≈ G2P2 > G2P1 > Normal Primitive > P2G. Fracture strength follows the order of G2P2 ≈ Normal Gyroid > Normal Primitive > G2P1 > P2G. The mechanical properties of hybrid TPMS structures suggest that the hybrid design strategy can broaden the achievable range of mechanical properties among ceramic TPMS structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of streaming time‐to‐event cohorts has garnered significant research attention. Most existing methods require observed cohorts from a study sequence to be independent and identically sampled from a common model. This assumption may be easily violated in practice. Our methodology operates within the framework of online data updating, where risk estimates for each cohort of interest are continuously refreshed using the latest observations and historical summary statistics. At each streaming stage, we introduce parameters to quantify the potential discrepancy between batch‐specific effects from adjacent cohorts. We then employ penalized estimation techniques to identify nonzero discrepancy parameters, allowing us to adaptively adjust risk estimates based on current data and historical trends. We illustrate our proposed method through extensive empirical simulations and a lung cancer data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the activation of mast cells (MCs) through the Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2) pathway. The study focuses on the chemokine CXCL17, which is expressed in mucosal tissues and has antimicrobial properties. The researchers found that CXCL17 activates human MCs via the MRGPRX2 pathway, and this activation may be important in inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis. The study also provides evidence of increased expression of CXCL17 in psoriatic skin, particularly in areas proximal to MRGPRX2-positive MCs. Further research is needed to understand the role of CXCL17-induced MC activation in psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Mn2(C2H6N6)4(NO3)4·2H2O (Mn) as one of the energetic coordination complexes was chosen for high‐pressure research. In this work, Mn was analyzed by in situ Raman scattering, infrared absorption, and synchrotron angle‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction (ADXRD) technologies up to ~20 GPa at room temperature. The vibrational modes of Mn at ambient pressure were comprehensively resolved based on the experimental results. Detailed spectral analyses revealed that Mn underwent three pressure‐induced phase transitions at 0.5, 2.5, and 5.7 GPa, respectively. ADXRD experiments confirmed the existence of these three phase transitions in Raman and infrared spectra analyses. Based on the analysis of the vibrational spectra and the changes of lattice parameters under pressure, it can be considered that the deformation of the 3‐hydrazino‐4‐amino‐1, 2, 4‐triazole (HATr) ligand led to the first phase transition, and the distortion of the triazole ring induced the second phase transition, and the rearrangement of the hydrogen bonds resulted in the third phase transition. In addition, it can be inferred from Raman spectra and ADXRD data that Mn may have experienced the abnormal expansion during the first phase transition. This work may lay the foundation for further investigating the structure and properties of energetic coordination complexes under pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the factors influencing the short-term adverse clinical outcome in patients hospitalized with grade 2/3 cirrhosis ascites. Methods 82 patients with grade 2/3 cirrhosis ascites in Kunming Third People's Hospital from December 2021 to February 2023 were used as research objects. Demographic data and first clinical data were collected. The clinical outcomes of the patients within 90 days after admission were followed up. Influencing factors of adverse clinical outcome were investigated by single factor screening and binary logistic regression analysis, including hospitalization over 28 days, unplanned readmission within 28 days, and death within 90 days (including death within 28 days). Finally, the diagnostic efficacy of the influencing factors were judged by ROC curve. Results (1) MELD-Na score (OR = 1.087, 95%CI: 1.006 ????? 1.175) and GGT (OR = 1.004, 95%CI: 1.002 ~ 1.007) were independent risk factors for hospitalization longer then 28 days, unplanned readmission within 28 days of admission and death within 28 days, respectively, all P < 0.05. BUN was an independent risk factor for all three conditions, with an OR of 1.111 (95% CI: 1.005 ~ 1.227), 1.115 (95%CI: 1.003 ~ 1.214) and 1.208 (95%CI: 1.057 ~ 1.382), all P < 0.05. (2) low serum chloride (OR = 0.875, 95%CI: 0.802 ~ 0.954) and low total CO2 (OR = 0.821, 95%CI: 0.690 ~ 0.976) were independent riak factors for death within 90 days, all P < 0.05. (3) The area under ROC curve of BUN combined with GGT predicted death within 28 days was 0.891; The area under curve of serum chloride combined with total CO2 predicted death within 90 days was 0.821, P < 0.05. Conclusion BUN combined with GGT had better predictive value for death within 28 days, serum chloride combined with total CO2 had better predictive value for death within 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper consists of two parts. The first is to study the existence of a point a at the intersection of the Julia set and the escaping set such that a goes to infinity under iterates along Julia directions or Borel directions. Additionally, we find such points that approximate all Borel directions to escape if the meromorphic functions have positive lower order. We confirm the existence of such slowly escaping points under a weaker growth condition. The second is to study the connection between the Fatou set and argument distribution. In view of the filling disks, we show nonexistence of multiply connected Fatou components if an entire function satisfies a weaker growth condition. We prove that the absence of singular directions implies the nonexistence of large annuli in the Fatou set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the dissolution of metal nanocatalysts to preserve active catalytic sites for peroxymonosulfate-activated advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is crucial for advanced wastewater treatment. On this basis, a well-defined hollow cage structure (H-CoS/NC)/nanoreactor was successfully constructed by the in situ assembly etching technique to promote the degradation of organic pollutants. The as-obtained catalysts played a significant role in reducing the dissolution of metal catalysts (0.46–0.65 mg L−1) and phenol (50 mg L−1) degradation achieved 100% within 30 min. The unique hollow structure allowed for higher instantaneous concentrations of organic pollutants in the microenvironment, thus providing the impetus for higher reaction rates. The mutual support and mesoporous adsorption of carbon shells allowed most of the CoS particles to be confined in the carbon framework without releasing them into the bulk solution, which improved the stability and reduced the dissolution of metal catalysts. In addition, the cavities between the hollow structures reduce the mass diffusion resistance making the enriched reactant molecules easier to contact with the active sites, which increases the contact of the reactants with the active sites, and realizes the ultra-fast pollutant degradation. This provides an effective way to reduce the dissolution of cobalt-based catalysts and retain active sites in AOPs, balancing the contradiction between the reactivity and stability of nanocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single Sb atoms on carbon vacancy-rich C 3 N 4 (Cv-C 3 N 4) with an electron-rich state tend to efficiently transfer electrons to pauling-type absorbed O 2 and boost the photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction to H 2 O 2. [Display omitted] Single-atom catalysts supported on semiconductors can serve as active sites for efficient oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). However, researchers have long been puzzled by the lack of guidance on optimizing the performance of single-atom photocatalysts. In this study, we propose a versatile strategy that utilizes carbon vacancies to regulate the electronic configuration of antimony (Sb) atoms on carbon nitrides (C 3 N 4). This strategy has been found to significantly enhance the photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2. The H 2 O 2 evolution rate of Sb single-atom on carbon vacancy-rich C 3 N 4 (designated as Sb 1 /Cv-C 3 N 4) is 5.369 mmol g-1h−1, which is 10.9 times higher than C 3 N 4 alone. By combining experimental characterizations and density functional theory simulations, we reveal the strong electronic interaction between Sb atoms and carbon vacancy-rich C 3 N 4. This interaction is capable for maintaining the electron-rich state of Sb atoms, facilitating efficient electron transfer to pauling-type absorbed oxygen, and ultimately enhancing the formation of *OOH intermediates. This innovative defect-engineering approach can manipulate the electronic configuration of single-atom catalysts, providing a new avenue to boost the photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction towards H 2 O 2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Anatomical and molecular staging strategies are needed for the personalized treatment of localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study evaluated the performance of [68 Ga]Ga–FAPI-04 and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT on the disease staging and prognostic value of patients with localized PDAC on contrast-enhanced (CE)-CT images. Methods: Patients with suspected localized PDAC on CE-CT were recruited for static [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and 18[F]F-FDG and PET/CT, and select patients underwent simultaneous 60-min dynamic 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT. The diagnostic and staging performances of the static PET/CT results were evaluated by delineating regions of interest in the primary tumor, whole pancreas, and distal pancreas in both types of scans and then evaluating correlations between the PET/CT findings and clinicopathological characteristics. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier and hazard ratio (log-rank) methods were used to evaluate the prognostic value of the combined dynamic [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and static [18F]F-FDG PET/CT method. Results: We included 49 patients with histologically confirmed PDAC adenocarcinomas; 32 underwent 60-min dynamic [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging simultaneously. The static [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 method had significantly higher accuracy and uptake values than the static [18F]F-FDG method for primary PDAC lesions, metastatic lymph nodes, and distal metastases. Furthermore, 18.4% and 10.2% of the patients' stages changed after using the [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT methodologies, respectively, compared to the CE-CT-designated stage. The Ki values obtained from dynamic [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT did not differ between PDAC and distal obstructive pancreatitis lesions. Pathologically enlarged tumor size, poor differentiation, and perineural invasion were associated with increased [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 uptake but not with [18F]F-FDG uptake. The preoperative prognostic performance of [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 was better than that of [18F]F-FDG. Interestingly, combined [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F]F-FDG uptake results in the whole pancreas could further stratify patients based on their postoperative prognosis. Conclusion: 6[68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT was more sensitive and accurate than [18F]F-FDG PET/CT for tumor, node, and metastasis staging of PDAC identified on CE-CT. Additionally, [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 uptake was significantly associated with pathologically aggressive tumor features. Combined [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT findings improved the prognostic value, potentially providing a non-invasive guide for clinical management. Finally, increased fibroblast activity in PDAC-induced obstructive pancreatitis may be associated with poor patient survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently a novel omnidirectional (OD) ureteral access sheath (UAS) has been developed. By retrospectively reviewing and comparing the flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL) cases in our institution with either a conventional Cook UAS or an OD UAS in the past year, we shared our experience of the safety, efficacy, and relevant issues on the usage of OD UAS. Materials and Methods: The medical history and surgery details of 199 patients with kidney stones or ureterojunctional stones who underwent FURL in Xinhua Hospital, including 61 Cook UAS and 138 OD UAS, were reviewed and compared. The maximal deflection angle was measured by steering four different types of ureteroscopes to bend the OD UAS in different states. Result: The deflection angle of OD UAS was ∼110° to 130° free load, and 90° to 130° when loaded with different instruments. The stone burden and position were similar in two groups. Given a similar prestent ratio and operation time, the OD UAS group achieved a higher single-session stone-free rate (SFR) (63.9% vs 94.2%, p < 0.0001) at 1-month follow-up evaluated by a CT scan. Conclusion: OD UAS is a novel device with high safety and efficacy. The unique flexible design allows it to bend with the ureteroscope and enter renal calices and be set close to the stone. Combined with the suction port, OD UAS contributes greatly to dealing with large-burden kidney stones, shortens operation time, and improves single-session SFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rhino‐orbito‐cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is an opportunistic pathogenic fungal disease caused by the fungus mucor, and it is a life‐threatening fungal infection. The ulceration on the skin of the head and neck, accompanied by rhinitis, headache, orbital inflammation, and eyelid edema, should raise a high suspicion of Mucor infection in diabetic patients with inadequately controlled blood glucose. Case Description: The clinical data of a patient with ROCM were analyzed retrospectively, and the clinical features were analyzed. The patient was admitted to the hospital with "diabetic hyperosmotic coma" after presenting with fatigue, poor appetite, and disturbances in consciousness as initial symptoms. After improving relevant examinations, controlling underlying diseases, and administering antifungal treatment, the final clinical outcome was death. Conclusion: ROCM is more prevalent in patients with uncontrolled diabetes and varied clinical manifestations. The characteristic feature is an eschar‐like necrosis of the local skin or mucosa. The gold criteria for diagnosis are pathology and fungal culture; imaging examination does not reveal any specific manifestations. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are the keys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative protein sources for the human diet may help overcome the growing food pressure. Plants with abundant resources and high protein content are potential sources. In this article, graded proteins and isolated proteins from Corylus mandshurica Maxim kernels were extracted by the Osborne procedure and the alkali-solution and acid-isolation method, respectively, and the contents of the five proteins, and the differences in nutritional value and structural properties of the main proteins, were investigated. Amino acid analysis revealed that the total essential amino acids in the five proteins ranged from 249.58 to 324.52 mg/g. The essential amino acid profiles in the proteins were similar to those of FAO/WHO except for the alcohol-soluble protein. The essential amino acid indices ranged from 58.59 to 72.19 and the biological values ranged from 52.16 to 66.99, and the highest nutritional indices were found for the isolate and water-soluble protein, which were 41.68 and 55.78, respectively. The molecular weight pattern distribution of the protein isolates of the Corylus mandshurica Maxim kernel was more similar to that of the water-soluble proteins by SDS–PAGE. The β-sheet and α-helix were the main secondary structures in the two protein fractions. The fluorescence spectra showed that the maximum fluorescence intensity of the two proteins and their λmax were also somewhat different. From the perspective of microscopic morphology, the two proteins are mainly compact and irregular lamellar structures, but the surface of the water-soluble protein is more flat and regular. Both proteins have good solubility, and the water-soluble protein has higher solubility. In general, the protein isolates of the Corylus mandshurica Maxim kernel and the water-soluble protein showed their potential as plant protein resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To clarify the effect of gentiopicroside on alleviating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats, and to explore the role of LC3II gene and autophagy in this process. Methods Establishment of SD rat NASH model was established and assigned to normal control group, model control group, gentiopicroside group, gentiopicroside+autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine group, metformin positive control group, 8 rats in each group. After 4 weeks of treatment, mRNA and protein expression of LC3 E were detected, LC3 I in liver tissue was assessed by q-PCR and Western blot, HE staining was performed for liver histopathology, the therapeutic effect of gentiopicroside on NASH in rats was evaluated with serum lipids (CHOL and TG), alanine aminotransferase and inflammatory factor (IL-1P and TNF-a) changes. Results (l)ln the normal control group, the structure of hepatic lobule was normal, without fatty change and inflammatory damage; In the model control group, the structure of hepatocyte cord was disordered, with severe liver steatosis and inflammatory damage, and spot and flaky necrosis was observed; The liver steatosis and inflammatory damage were alleviated in gentiopicroside group and metformin positive control group ; Compared with gentiopicroside group, liver steatosis and inflammatory damage in gentiopicroside+3-MA group were significantly aggravated, and the structure of hepatic lobule was disordered and necrosis was increased. (2) The ALT, CHOL, TG, IL-1 P, TNF- a levels of NASH model control group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group, the ALT, CHOL, TG, IL-1P, TNF-a levels of gentiopicroside group, metformin positive control group were reversed to some extent, while gentiopicroside+3-MA group the level of ALT, CHOL, TG, IL-1P, TNF- a is higher than that of gentiopicroside group, the difference was statistically significant, all P < 0.05. ( 3 ) The expression of LC3 E mRNA and protein in the liver tissue of rats in the model control group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group. This trend was reversed in the gentiopicroside group and the metformin positive control group, while the expression of LC3 E mRNA and protein in the gentiopicroside+3-MA group was significantly lower, the difference was statistically significant, all P < 0.05. Conclusion Gentiopicroside could alleviate NASH-related liver injury in rats. Its mechanism may be related to GPS up-regulating the expression of LC3 E in liver tissue and promoting autophagy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 protein and the recurrence of cervical cancer after radical operation. Methods From October 2019 to April 2021, 107 patients who underwent radical surgery for cervical cancer in the hospital were selected as the study subjects, and 30 patients with benign uterine lesions were selected as the control group ; The patients were followed up for 1 year and were divided into relapse group (n = 25) and non relapse group (n = 82) according to the follow-up results. The expression levels of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative analysis (qPCR), and the expression levels of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 protein were detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the expression of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 protein and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. Cox model was used to analyze the risk factors of cervical cancer recurrence after radical operation. Results The expression of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 mRNA in cervical cancer group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05) ; The levels of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 mRNA in cervical cancer tissues of patients with recurrence were significantly lower than those of patients without recurrence (P < 0.05).Among 107 patients with radical operation, 25 patients recurred, the recurrence rate was 23.36%. The postoperative recurrence rate of patients with low expression of SLIT3 (31.15%) was significantly higher than that of patients with high expression of SLIT3 (13.04%). The postoperative recurrence rate of patients with low expression of SPARCL1 (32.31%) was significantly higher than that of patients with high expression of sparcli (9.52%). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 in cervical cancer was correlated with the degree of differentiation, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and depth of stromal invasion (P < 0.05), but not with age, pathological type and maximum diameter of tumor (P > 0.05 ). Cox univariate analysis showed that the degree of differentiation, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, stromal invasion depth, SLIT3 protein expression and SPARCL1 protein expression were correlated with the recurrence of cervical cancer patients after radical surgery (P < 0.05 ) ; Cox multivariate analysis showed that moderate/high differentiation, stage IIA, lymph node metastasis, stromal invasion depth > 50%, low expression of SLIT3 protein and SPARCL1 protein were independent risk factors for recurrence of cervical cancer patients after radical surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusion the expression of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 in cervical cancer tissue is lower than that in normal cervical tissue. The low expression of SLIT3 and SPARCL1 protein is an independent risk factor for the recurrence of cervical cancer after radical operation, and has certain clinical significance in predicting the recurrence of cervical cancer after operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Exosomes (EXOs) have been considered a new target thought to be involved in and treat wound healing. More research is needed to fully understand EXO characteristics and the mechanisms of EXO-mediated wound healing, especially wound healing after burn injury. (2) Methods: All EXOs were isolated from 85 serum samples of 29 burn patients and 13 healthy individuals. We characterized the EXOs for morphology and density, serum concentration, protein level, marker expression, size distribution, and cytokine content. After a confirmation of EXO uptake by dermal fibroblasts, we also explored the functional regulation of primary human normal skin and hypertrophic scar fibroblast cell lines by the EXOs in vitro, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. (3) Results: EXOs dynamically changed their morphology, density, size, and cytokine level during wound healing in burn patients, which were correlated with burn severity and the stages of wound healing. EXOs both from burn patients and healthy individuals stimulated dermal fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis. (4) Conclusions: EXO features may be important signals that influence wound healing after burn injury; however, to understand the mechanisms by which EXOs regulates the fibroblasts in healing wounds, further studies will be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we demonstrate the application of continuous flow technology to the synthesis of hydrazine derivatives by deoxygenation of free alcohols with di-tert-butylazodicarboxylate. This operationally simple protocol has excellent functional group tolerance and enables large-scale synthesis and late-stage functionalization. It also provides access to three families of pharmacological compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and IgA vasculitis-associated nephritis (IgAVN) are among the most frequent childhood glomerular diseases and are characterized by significant variability in clinical manifestations, pathological presentation and long-term outcomes. IgAVN, alternatively called purpura nephritis, is pathologically indistinguishable from kidney-limited IgAN. In Chinese children, the clinical presentations and pathological manifestations of IgAN and IgAVN are variable. The severity of proteinuria and abnormalities in kidney function and blood pressure of children in China are comparable to those of children in Europe, the USA, and Japan. Compared to Caucasian children and Japanese children, crescents were more common in Chinese children with IgAN or IgAVN. Approximately 10–20% of childhood IgAN or IgAVN progresses to impaired kidney function in China. Since 2007, a series of guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric kidney diseases has been published following the principles of evidence-based medicine. However, a large difference exists between the Chinese evidence-based guidelines and the guidelines developed by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) in 2021. Chinese children with IgAN or IgAVN were more likely to be treated with steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Further studies exploring the optimal treatment regimen for childhood IgAN or IgAVN are needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many nontraditional classification methods, such as random forest, boosting, and neural network, have been widely used in applications. Their performance is typically measured in terms of classification accuracy. While the classification error rate and the like are important, they do not address a fundamental question: Is the classification method underfitted? To our best knowledge, there is no existing method that can assess the goodness of fit of a general classification procedure. Indeed, the lack of a parametric assumption makes it challenging to construct proper tests. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a methodology called BAGofT that splits the data into a training set and a validation set. First, the classification procedure to assess is applied to the training set, which is also used to adaptively find a data grouping that reveals the most severe regions of underfitting. Then, based on this grouping, we calculate a test statistic by comparing the estimated success probabilities and the actual observed responses from the validation set. The data splitting guarantees that the size of the test is controlled under the null hypothesis, and the power of the test goes to one as the sample size increases under the alternative hypothesis. For testing parametric classification models, the BAGofT has a broader scope than the existing methods since it is not restricted to specific parametric models (e.g., logistic regression). Extensive simulation studies show the utility of the BAGofT when assessing general classification procedures and its strengths over some existing methods when testing parametric classification models. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography (PET) uptake in PDAC and to evaluate the correlation between in vivo lesional radioactivity with pathological characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed treatment‐naïve PDAC patients who underwent preoperative [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT followed by pancreatectomy. The tracer uptake was determined as maximum tumor standardized uptake value (SUVmax), FAPI-avid tumor volume (FTV), total lesion FAP expression (TLF) as well total pancreatic uptake (TSUVmax), total FAPI-avid pancreatic volume (FPV), and total pancreatic FAP expression (TPF). Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging and ex vivo immunohistological FAP expression and pathological characteristics of surgical specimens (differentiation, size, vascularity, perineural invasion, and lymph node metastases). Kaplan–Meier and hazard ratio (HR, log-rank) methods were used to evaluate the prognostic value of [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT and clinicopathological factors. Results: Thirty-seven surgical PDAC patients were included. The ex vivo expression of FAP was significantly associated with the tumor SUVmax and TLF. FAP expression was more abundant in poorly differentiated PDAC than in well- to moderately differentiated neoplasms. Tumor SUVmax or TLF and pancreatic TSUVmax or TPF were significantly correlated with tumor size, differentiation, and perineural invasion, respectively. SUVmax had a significant independent prognostic value for recurrence-free survival (HR = 2.46, P < 0.05), while [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 TPF predicted overall survival (HR = 12.82, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The in vivo [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in localized PDAC showed a significant correlation with ex vivo FAP expression and aggressive pathological characteristics. [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT also presented a potential for postoperative prognostication of PDAC. Elevated fibroblast activity induced by obstructive pancreatitis might be associated with the patient's survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diastereomers 10-N-[2-fluoro-6-chloro-9H-9-purinyl]-(9R, 10R)-dihydroartemisinin(A) and10-N-[2-fluoro-6-chloro-9H-9-purinyl]-(9S, 10S)-dihydroartemisinin(B) were obtained via a trifluoroacetic acid catalyzed procedure simultaneously. Their structures were characterized by HRMS, MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 2D NMR(COSY) and IR spectroscopy, and the configurations were further confirmed by X-Ray diffraction and Density functional theory (DFT). Then, the intermolecular interactions were studied mainly through Hershfield surface (HS), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) methods. Finally, preliminary anticancer evaluations of A and B were conducted in human breast tumor cell lines (MDA-MB-436, T47D) and a normal mammary epithelial cell line (MCF-10A). The GI50 of A and B were better or comparable to the positive drug mercaptopurine (6-MP), and both of novel compounds did not display significant cytotoxicity toward MCF-10A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new magnetic adsorbent, namely, MnFe2O4/D201, with deep-treatment ability and high selectivity adsorption for As(V) was prepared. According to isotherm adsorption and kinetics, As(V) adsorption is primarily used for chemical bonding throughout the single-layer adsorbing process. The maximum As(V) adsorption capacity of MnFe2O4/D201 can reach 35.8 mg/g at pH 3. MnFe2O4/D201 also exhibits higher selectivity adsorption against Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, and PO43-. According to the thermodynamic results, the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption capacity is maintained at 81% of the initial after ten adsorption-desorption cycles. As(V) concentrations ranging from 1 mg/L to 10 μ g/L can be treated in fixed-bed column experiments. The effectual cure volume of As(V) reaches 1332 BV (26.64 L). The removal mechanism primarily comprises electrostatic attraction and complexation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Tandem catalysts consisting of metal oxides and zeolites have been widely studied for catalytic carbon dioxide (CO 2) hydrogenation to lower olefins, while the synergies of two components and their influence on the catalytic performance are still unclear. In this study, the composite catalysts composed of indium oxide loaded with zirconia (In 2 O 3 /ZrO 2) and silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve number 34 (SAPO-34) are developed. Performance results indicate that the synergies between these two components can promote CO 2 hydrogenation. Further characterizations reveal that the chabazite (CHA) structure and acid sites in the SAPO-34 are destroyed when preparing In-Zr/SAPO by powder milling (In-Zr/SAPO-M) because of the excessive proximity of two components, which inhibits the activation of CO 2 and hydrogen (H 2), thus resulting in much higher methane selectivity than the catalysts prepared by granule stacking (In-Zr/SAPO-G). Proper granule integration manner promotes tandem reaction, thus enhancing CO 2 hydrogenation to lower olefins, which can provide a practicable strategy to improve catalytic performance and the selectivity of the target products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is necessary to estimate their climate impact and the required mitigation efforts. However, existing scenario frameworks are not consistent and limit the comparability of projection studies. In this study, the “Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology” model was combined with the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Model forecasts were calculated for each SSP from 2020 to 2060 in Qinghai Province, an underdeveloped, carbon-sink-rich region in China. Total CO2 emissions in Qinghai Province consistently exhibited an upward then downward trend, with large differences between SSPs in the peak date and maximum value of total CO2 emissions. Considering the current socioeconomic development status and total carbon emission trends in Qinghai Province, SSP1 and SSP2 were the most suitable pathways, providing balance between carbon emissions reduction and population well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growing interest in incorporating auxiliary summary information from external studies into the analysis of internal individual‐level data. In this paper, we propose an adaptive estimation procedure for an additive risk model to integrate auxiliary subgroup survival information via a penalized method of moments technique. Our approach can accommodate information from heterogeneous data. Parameters to quantify the magnitude of potential incomparability between internal data and external auxiliary information are introduced in our framework while nonzero components of these parameters suggest a violation of the homogeneity assumption. We further develop an efficient computational algorithm to solve the numerical optimization problem by profiling out the nuisance parameters. In an asymptotic sense, our method can be as efficient as if all the incomparable auxiliary information is accurately acknowledged and has been automatically excluded from consideration. The asymptotic normality of the proposed estimator of the regression coefficients is established, with an explicit formula for the asymptotic variance‐covariance matrix that can be consistently estimated from the data. Simulation studies show that the proposed method yields a substantial gain in statistical efficiency over the conventional method using the internal data only, and reduces estimation biases when the given auxiliary survival information is incomparable. We illustrate the proposed method with a lung cancer survival study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Fast and accurate auto-segmentation is essential for magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy (MRgART). Deep learning auto-segmentation (DLAS) is not always clinically acceptable, particularly for complex abdominal organs. We previously reported an automatic contour refinement (ACR) solution of using an active contour model (ACM) to partially correct the DLAS contours. This study aims to develop a DL-based ACR model to work in conjunction with ACM-ACR to further improve the contour accuracy. Approach. The DL-ACR model was trained and tested using bowel contours created by an in-house DLAS system from 160 MR sets (76 from MR-simulation and 84 from MR-Linac). The contours were classified into acceptable, minor-error and major-error groups using two approaches of contour quality classification (CQC), based on the AAPM TG-132 recommendation and an in-house classification model, respectively. For the major-error group, DL-ACR was applied subsequently after ACM-ACR to further refine the contours. For the minor-error group, contours were directly corrected by DL-ACR without applying an initial ACM-ACR. The ACR workflow was performed separately for the two CQC methods and was evaluated using contours from 25 image sets as independent testing data. Main results. The best ACR performance was observed in the MR-simulation testing set using CQC by TG-132: (1) for the major-error group, 44% (177/401) were improved to minor-error group and 5% (22/401) became acceptable by applying ACM-ACR; among these 177 contours that shifted from major-error to minor-error with ACM-ACR, DL-ACR further refined 49% (87/177) to acceptable; and overall, 36% (145/401) were improved to minor-error contours, and 30% (119/401) became acceptable after sequentially applying ACM-ACR and DL-ACR; (2) for the minor-error group, 43% (320/750) were improved to acceptable contours using DL-ACR. Significance. The obtained ACR workflow substantially improves the accuracy of DLAS bowel contours, minimizing the manual editing time and accelerating the segmentation process of MRgART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying candidates responsive to treatment is important in lupus nephritis (LN) at the renal flare (RF) because an effective treatment can lower the risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease. However, machine learning (ML)-based models that address this issue are lacking. Methods: Transcriptomic profiles based on DNA microarray data were extracted from the GSE32591 and GSE112943 datasets. Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify disease-defining genes (DDGs). Peripheral blood samples (GSE81622, GSE99967, and GSE72326) were used to evaluate the effect of DDGs. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) scores of the DDGs were calculated and correlated with specific immunology genes listed in the nCounter panel. GSE60681 and GSE69438 were used to examine the ability of the DDGs to discriminate LN from other renal diseases. K-means clustering was used to obtain the separate gene sets. The clustering results were extended to data derived using the nCounter technique. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to identify genes with high predictive value for treatment response after the first RF in each cluster. LASSO models with tenfold validation were built in GSE200306 and assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with area under curve (AUC). The models were validated by using an independent dataset (GSE113342). Results: Forty-five hub genes specific to LN were identified. Eight optimal disease-defining clusters (DDCs) were identified in this study. Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation pathway was significantly enriched in DDC-6. LCK in DDC-6, whose expression positively correlated with various subsets of T cell infiltrations, was found to be differentially expressed between responders and non-responders and was ranked high in regulatory network analysis. Based on DDC-6, the prediction model had the best performance (AUC: 0.75; 95% confidence interval: 0.44–1 in the testing set) and high precision (0.83), recall (0.71), and F1 score (0.77) in the validation dataset. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that incorporating knowledge of biological phenotypes into the ML model is feasible for evaluating treatment response after the first RF in LN. This knowledge-based incorporation improves the model's transparency and performance. In addition, LCK may serve as a biomarker for T-cell infiltration and a therapeutic target in LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We analyzed the diagnostic efficiency of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT for functional nodules in primary aldosteronism (PA). Furthermore, we compared the correlation of CXCR4 expression with aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) expression and PET/CT uptake in these patients. Methods: We prospectively assessed 50 patients diagnosed with PA and 10 patients with non-functional adrenal adenoma (NFA). All patients underwent 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT before adrenalectomy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect the protein expression of CYP11B2 and the G-protein-coupled receptor CXCR4. Results: CYP11B2 IHC revealed the presence of 43 functional nodules. Subsequently, 40/43 functional nodules could be detected on 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT, while negative imaging findings were noted for 11/13 non-functional nodules (sensitivity, 93.0%; specificity, 84.6%). The optimum SUVmax cut-off for the identification of functional nodules was 8.95 (AUC 0.914 [0.828–1.000], p < 0.001). Regarding the size of functional nodules, diagnostic efficiency appeared to be much higher for nodules greater than 1 cm in size (sensitivity, up to 97.3%). Moreover, we examined the relationship between CXCR4 and CYP11B2 expression in 56 lesions. All 43 CYP11B2-positive nodules were CXCR4-positive, but one of the 13 CYP11B2-negative nodules (7.7%) showed false-positive staining for CXCR4. Moreover, the consistency between PET/CT uptake and CXCR4 staining results was 92.9% (52/56). Conclusions: At least 90% of functional nodules show positive uptake on 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT, and the detection ability is much better for nodules with a diameter ≥ 1 cm. With its high sensitivity and specificity, 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT can be considered a promising surgical decision-making tool for patients with PA. Key Points: •68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT could be a useful tool for the identification of functional adrenal nodules in APAs and even IHAs. • The diagnostic efficiency appears to be much higher for nodules ≥ 1 cm in size. • There is high consistency between the results of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT imaging and CXCR4 immunohistochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a catalyst denoted as FeZnK/SAPO-G was designed and prepared through a granule-stacking method, where the FeZnK was active phase for producing hydrocarbons and SAPO-34 cracked long-chain hydrocarbons into short-chain hydrocarbons dominated by ethylene. This catalyst can achieve a high CO2 conversion (49.4%) with a favorable light olefin selectivity (52.4%) among the hydrocarbon products. Results of characterizations show that the integrated manner of FeZnK and SAPO-34 would have a significant impact on the reducibility, the acidity and CO2 adsorption property of catalyst, leading to different catalytic activity. The catalyst exhibited a favorable stability in 72-h reaction test, indicating a promising candidate for industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, TCA–n‐butanol was chosen as the best deproteinization method for Lonicera japonica polysaccharide (LJP) by comparing the polysaccharide retention rate and the protein clearance rate of five different methods. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the deproteinization conditions as follows: TCA: n‐butanol = 1: 5.1, polysaccharide solution: (TCA–n‐butanol) = 1: 2.8, and shook for 33 min. LJP could promote the thymus and spleen indexes of cyclophosphamide (CTX)‐induced immune‐deficient mice. Besides, the contents of cytokine interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and hemolysin in mice serum were augmented after treatment with LJP. Based on serum metabolomics analysis, a total of 14 metabolites (VIP >1.0, FC >2 or FC <0.5, and p value <.05) were selected as the potential biological biomarkers related to the LJP for treating CTX‐induced mice. After the pathway enrichment analysis, these metabolites were mainly involved in the relevant pathways of arginine biosynthesis, Citrate cycle, and other metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology further showed that there were 57 key targeting proteins in the intersection of the potential biological biomarkers and immunodeficiency‐related targeting proteins according to protein–protein interactions analysis (PPI). The biological function analysis indicated that the potential biological processes were mainly associated with tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, phospholipid metabolic process, metabolic process, and so on. In conclusion, serum metabolomics combined with network pharmacology could be helpful to clarify the immunomodulatory mechanism of LJP and provide a literature basis for further clinical research on the therapeutic mechanism of LJP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, two ceramizable phenolic adhesives were prepared using ZrSi 2 particles or ZrSi 2 /B 4 C mix particles as the inorganic fillers. The thermal stability, bonding strength, microstructure and phase composition of the adhesives were investigated by TGA, shear strength of Al 2 O 3 joints, SEM, EDS, XRD and XPS. The results show that these two adhesives have different bonding performances and ceramicization evolutions above 600 °C in air due to the addition of the second phase particles B 4 C. The bonding strength of ZrSi 2 /B 4 C modified phenolic adhesive after treatment at 1200 ℃ can be as high as 36.6 MPa, while the bonding strength of ZrSi 2 modified phenolic adhesive under the same conditions is only 17.5 MPa. B 4 C undergoes oxidation reaction before ZrSi 2 , and the oxidation product B 2 O 3 liquid phase not only reacts with ZrSi 2 to form oxidation-resistant ZrB 2 , but also can dissolve the high temperatures defects of the adhesive and chemically bond with the Al 2 O 3 substrates at the interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by attention deficit, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Jing-Ning Granules (JNG) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that can alleviate ADHD. Although JNG is commonly used for the effective treatment of ADHD and has obtained the national invention patent, the exact mechanism of action remains unclear. Objective. In this study, we examined the effect and mechanism of JNG in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). We hypothesized that JNG affects dopaminergic D2/D1-like receptors and related pathways. Materials and Methods. Six rat groups were used in the experiment: Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY, control group) and five SHR groups, including a model group; atomoxetine (ATX, positive control) group; and low, medium, and high-dose JNG groups. The corresponding treatments were daily administered to each group for 6 weeks. A behavioral test, including a step-down test and open field test (OFT), was carried out at the end of treatment. After the behavioral test, all animals were sacrificed, and the brain tissue was collected and analyzed ex vivo; histopathological analysis was performed to assess the pathological changes of the hippocampus; expression of D1-like and D2-like receptors, sensor protein calmodulin (CaM), protein kinase A (PKA), and calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (CaMKII) in the striatum and hippocampus was measured by western blot and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR); cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in the striatum were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the level of Ca2+ in the striatum was analyzed by a calcium kit. Results. Our results showed that ATX or JNG could ameliorate the hyperactive/impulsive behavior and cognitive function of ADHD by promoting neuroprotection. Mechanistically, ATX or JNG could prompt the expressions of Dl-like and D2-like receptors and improve the mRNA and protein levels of cAMP/PKA and Ca2+/CAM/CAMKII signaling pathways. Conclusion. These results indicate that JNG can produce therapeutic effects by regulating the balance of D2/D1-like receptor-mediated cAMP/PKA and Ca2+/CaM/CaMKII signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), mainly mediated by B cells and AQP4 antibody, has a high rate of recurrence. Telitacicept is a novel drug specifically targeting the upstream signaling for the activation of B cell with its following production of autoimmune antibodies. Thus, it may be a promising approach. Our study preliminarily explored the potential safety and effectiveness of Telitacicept following plasma exchange in the treatment of recurrent NMOSD. Methods: This was a single‐center, single‐arm, open‐label study enrolling eight patients with recurrent NMOSD in China. All patients received plasma exchange three times, followed by Telitacicept 240 mg every week for 46 times. The primary endpoint was the time of first recurrence after enrollment. Secondary end points included: changes in Expanded Disability Status Scale score, Optic Spinal Impairment Scale score, Hauser Ambulation Index, number of lesions on MRI, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography, latency and amplitude of visual evoked potential, titer of AQP4 antibody, and immune parameters of blood. Safety was also assessed. The study was registered with Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1800019427). Results: Eight eligible patients were enrolled. Relapse occurred in two patients (25%) and five patients (63%) remained relapse free after 48 weeks of treatment. The time to first recurrence was prolonged and the number of recurrences was reduced (p < 0.001, power of test = 1). One patient withdrew from the study due to low neutrophil count. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions: In this small, uncontrolled study, Telitacicept following plasma exchange has the potential to be a safe treatment for patients with recurrent NMOSD. It may prolong the recurrence interval and reduces the annual count of recurrences. A multicenter randomized controlled study with a larger sample is thus feasible and needed to further assess its safety and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribociclib and palbociclib, two typical selective CDK4/6 inhibitors, which have been employed in clinic for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, possess an active fragment of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, respectively. Herein, 25 novel pyrrolo(pyrido)[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives have been designed and synthesized based on molecular diversity. Their antiproliferative activity was evaluated against ER+ (T47D) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-436) breast cancer cell lines. The obtained results demonstrated that dihydroartemisinin-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and dihydroartemisinin-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives are characterized by significant antiproliferative effects on both cell lines and have higher anticancer activity against triple-negative breast cancer cells compared to ribociclib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis (EM) is a common chronic inflammatory disease in women. Sampson's retrograde menstruation theory is the most widely accepted theory of EM pathogenesis. The periodic bleeding of ectopic lesions is an important pathological feature of this disease, and the occurrence and progression of EM are closely associated with the iron overload caused by ectopic lesions. However, animal models that simulate menstrual-blood reflux and hemorrhage from EM lesions are lacking. In this study, we performed intraperitoneal injection of endometrial fragments and periodic intraperitoneal blood injection to simulate the real cause and disease state of EM and successfully constructed a mouse model of EM iron overload. Our research found that the number, size, and degree of adhesion of EM lesions in the iron-overload model mouse were significantly higher than those in the model mouse. Moreover, the iron concentration in the abdominal fluid and ovary significantly increased, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the ovary increased. Conversely, GPX4, GSH, and other anti-ferroptosis-related proteins were downregulated, proving the occurrence of ferroptosis. Huayu Jiedu Fang (HYJDF) is an empirical prescription for EM treatment. This study combined animal experiments, UHPLC-QE-MS analysis, and network pharmacology to analyze whether HYJDF can inhibit ferroptosis to slow down the progression of EM and protect ovarian function. Based on the constructed iron-overload model, HYJDF can reduce the volume of EM lesions and the degree of adhesion, downregulate the total iron concentration in the peritoneal fluid and ovary, upregulate GPX4 expression and GSSG in the ovary, downregulate the level of MDA in the ovary, and promote the development of follicles. We further confirmed that HYJDF can inhibit the progression of EM disease and improve the ovarian function of the model mouse by inhibiting ferroptosis. Finally, through UHPLC-QE-MS and network pharmacology analysis, the natural compounds in HYJDF were identified and verified and the regulatory effect of HYJDF on the EM ferroptosis pathway through the IL-6/hepcidin pathway was preliminarily elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a rare case of Cushing's syndrome induced by an ectopic adrenocortical adenoma. A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing's syndrome based on clinical manifestation and laboratory information. She was found to have a mass in the left renal hilum via contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). The mass was negative, as seen in somatostatin receptor imaging with 99mTc-hydrazinonicotinyl-Tyr3-octreotide (HYNIC-TOC), and showed mild fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) activity via positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. The results of adrenal venous sampling suggested a left-side adrenal origin of hypercortisolism, possibly secreted by the mass in the renal hilum. Histopathology after surgical resection of the mass confirmed an ectopic adrenocortical adenoma, which was responsible for the patient's Cushing's syndrome. During the 8-month follow-up after surgery, no recurrence of Cushing's syndrome was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (PCa) patients with low prostate-specific antigen levels have the worst survival, while mucinous PCa had similar overall survival to typical PCa. There are currently few large-scale studies describing the clinical characteristics of these histological variants of prostate cancer (PCa) and the prognostic results of these patients. Thus, we used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the current prevalence and prognosis of these histological variants. A total of 780 (3.3%) patients with histological variants and 235 834 patients with typical adenocarcinoma were included in the present study. The variants group presented with a more advanced stage than the typical adenocarcinoma group. The results also showed that patients with neuroendocrine (NE) PCa were more likely to have visceral metastases. In prognostic comparison, we found that variants, except for mucinous, had a worse prognosis than typical adenocarcinoma. Moreover, among these variants, we also discovered that NEPCa patients with low prostate-specific antigen level had the worst survival. In contrast, mucinous PCa had similar overall survival to typical adenocarcinoma. We reported follow-up results for prostate cancer (PCa) patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004–2016). We focused on the prognosis of PCa with different histological variants and evaluated the risk factors that were significant in predicting poor prognosis. We suggested that neuroendocrine PCa patients should receive active treatment as soon as possible to improve their prognosis. We still need further studies to identify the role of mucinous PCa in patients' prognosis compared with typical adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a rising interest in exploiting aggregate information from external medical studies to enhance the statistical analysis of a modestly sized internal dataset. Currently available software packages for analyzing survival data with a cure fraction ignore the potentially available auxiliary information. This paper aims at filling this gap by developing a new R package CureAuxSP that can include subgroup survival probabilities extracted outside into an interested internal survival dataset. The newly developed R package CureAuxSP provides an efficient approach for information synthesis under the mixture cure models, including Cox proportional hazards mixture cure model and the accelerated failure time mixture cure model as special cases. It focuses on synthesizing subgroup survival probabilities at multiple time points and the underlying method development lies in the control variate technique. Evaluation of homogeneity assumption based on a test statistic can be automatically carried out by our package and if heterogeneity does exist, the original outputs can be further refined adaptively. The R package CureAuxSP provides a main function SMC.AxuSP() that helps us adaptively incorporate external subgroup survival probabilities into the analysis of an internal survival data. We also provide another function Print.SMC.AuxSP() for printing the results with a better presentation. Detailed usages are described, and implementations are illustrated with numerical examples, including a simulated dataset with a well-designed data generating process and a real breast cancer dataset. Substantial efficiency gain can be observed by our results. Our R package CureAuxSP can make the wide applications of utilizing auxiliary information possible. It is anticipated that the performance of mixture cure models can be improved for the survival data with a cure fraction, especially for those with small sample sizes. • Provide efficient information synthesis approach under the mixture cure models. • Synthesize subgroup survival probabilities at multiple time points. • Rely on the computational control variate technique. • Automatically carry out homogeneity evaluation and refine outputs adaptively. • Describe detailed usages and illustrate implementations with numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality Aurivillius ferroelectric thin film capacitors have garnered extensive research interest due to their excellent insulating properties, anti-fatigue capabilities, and satisfactory energy storage performance. However, the relatively low energy density of these ferroelectric thin films impedes the miniaturization and integration of capacitor devices. In this work, we have designed a band-gap engineering strategy to enhance the dielectric breakdown strength, consequently improving the energy storage performance of BaBi 4 Ti 4 O 15 (BBT) Aurivillius ferroelectric thin film capacitor. This engineering approach involves incorporating a broader band-gap BiInO 3 (E g ∼ 4.5 eV) into the BBT thin films (E g ∼ 3.59 eV), thereby improving their insulating characteristics. Especially in the BaBi 4 Ti 4 O 15 -0.09BiInO 3 (BBT-0.09BIO) thin film capacitor, an exemplary energy storage density ∼ 111.5 J cm−3 and efficiency ∼ 78.2 % under breakdown electric field of 4227 kV cm−1 are acquired. Furthermore, the BBT-0.09BIO thin film capacitor also demonstrates favorable thermal stability (ranging from 25 to 220 °C), frequency reliability (from 50 Hz to 10,000 Hz), and endurance over 107 fatigue cycles. This work paves the way for further exploration of band-gap engineering applications to enhance energy storage performance in capacitor technology. • High-performance Aurivillius ferroelectric thin films are prepared via band-gap engineering. • Discharged energy density ∼111.5 J/cm3and efficiency ∼78.2 % are achieved. • Remarkable stability of temperature, frequency, and fatigue resistance are attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene (PE) is the most productive plastic product and includes three major polymers including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) variation in the PE depends on the branching of the polymer chain and its crystallinity. Tenebrio obscurus and Tenebrio molitor larvae biodegrade PE. We subsequently tested larval physiology, gut microbiome, oxidative stress, and PE degradation capability and degradation products under high-purity HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE powders (<300 μm) diets for 21 days at 65 ± 5% humidity and 25 ± 0.5 °C. Our results demonstrated the specific PE consumption rates by T. molitor was 8.04–8.73 mg PE ∙ 100 larvae−1⋅day−1 and by T. obscurus was 7.68–9.31 for LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE, respectively. The larvae digested nearly 40% of the ingested three PE and showed similar survival rates and weight changes but their fat content decreased by 30–50% over 21-day period. All the PE-fed groups exhibited adverse effects, such as increased benzoquinone concentrations, intestinal tissue damage and elevated oxidative stress indicators, compared with bran-fed control. In the current study, the digestive tract or gut microbiome exhibited a high level of adaptability to PE exposure, altering the width of the gut microbial ecological niche and community diversity, revealing notable correlations between Tenebrio species and the physical and chemical properties (PCPs) of PE-MPs, with the gut microbiome and molecular weight change due to biodegradation. An ecotoxicological simulation by T.E.S.T. confirmed that PE degradation products were little ecotoxic to Daphnia magna and Rattus norvegicus providing important novel insights for future investigations into the environmentally-friendly approach of insect-mediated biodegradation of persistent plastics. [Display omitted] • Mealworms biodegrade high-density, linear low-density and low-density polyethylene. • Gut flora adapts to PE types by changing their niche width and diversity. • Molecular weights are a key factor influencing the gut microbiome. • The physiological and oxidative stress responses varied between larval species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The N,S-containing hyper-cross-linked polymers were prepared by a simple one-step Friedel-Crafts reaction. • HCP-N/S-2 possessed the highest TC and DCF adsorption capacity around 138.1 and 140.5 mg/g due to the existence of N and S. • The TC and DCF adsorption mechanism of HCP-N/S-2 is primarily derived from pore-filling, π-π stacking, H-bonding, and electrostatic interaction. Novel N,S-containing hyper-cross-linked polymers were designed for the adsorption of tetracycline (TC) and diclofenac (DCF) in water. The surface area, pore volume, and average pore diameter of N,S-containing hyper-cross-linked polymers were 32.5 m2/g, 0.11 cm3/g, and 16.8 nm, respectively. The pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models indicated that TC and DCF adsorption was chemisorption-dominated and exhibited a monolayer homogeneous adsorption. This adsorbent exhibited the highest TC and DCF adsorption capacity around 138.1 and 140.5 mg/g. Moreover, the adsorption capacity still maintained 85 % of the initial adsorption capacity after 10 adsorption–desorption cycles. Continuous fixed-bed runs demonstrated that this adsorbent reduced the TC and DCF concentrations to 1 mg/L at 738 and 612 BVs, respectively. The TC and DCF adsorption mechanism was primarily derived from pore-filling, π-π interaction, H-bonding, and electrostatic interaction. Therefore, N,S-containing hyper-cross-linked polymers proves to be an efficient adsorbent of TC and DCF during wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Patients in the hemodialysis stage are prone to psychological pressure of depression and anxiety and have resistance, which affects the clinical treatment effect. Effective psychological intervention plays a very important role in improving patients' psychological pressure and patients' compliance. The aim of this study is to explore the nursing effect of psychological intervention on uremic hemodialysis patients. Methods. There were 126 uremic hemodialysis patients admitted to the hospital from August 2020 to December 2021. The patients were randomly divided into the routine nursing care group (n = 63) and psychological intervention group (n = 63). The routine nursing care group received routine nursing care for uremia hemodialysis patients. The psychological intervention group implemented psychological intervention on uremia hemodialysis patients. The methods of psychological intervention mainly include establishing a good nurse-patient relationship, popularizing hemodialysis knowledge, timely psychological counseling for patients, and organizing patient communication meetings. The treatment compliance, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) of the two groups were compared before and after nursing. SF-36 scale was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients. The incidence of complications and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results. The treatment compliance rate and nursing satisfaction of hemodialysis uremic patients in the psychological intervention group were significantly higher than the routine nursing care group. The SAS and SDS of hemodialysis uremia patients in the psychological intervention group were significantly lower than the routine nursing care group after psychological intervention, and SF-36 scale was significantly higher than the routine nursing group. The main complications of uremic hemodialysis patients are hypotension, hyperkalemia, internal fistula occlusion, and infection. Compared with the routine nursing care group, the incidence of complications in the psychological intervention group was significantly reduced. Conclusion. The implementation of psychological nursing intervention for uremic hemodialysis patients have a very significant effect on reducing the incidence of complications and improving anxiety, depression, treatment compliance, and the quality of life and the nursing satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the application influence of dexmedetomidine (DEX) and dezocine in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery under general anesthesia and analysis of their roles in recovery time and cognitive function. Methods. A total of 120 patients who accepted thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection in our hospital from November 2021 to April 2022 were selected and randomly divided into group A (n =60) and group B (n =60). DEX combined with dezocine-assisted anesthesia was performed to group A, and the equal dose of normal saline was administered to group B, so as to compare their inflammatory influence level, brain function, arterial blood gas index, and cognitive function. Results. Compared with group B, group A obtained significantly lower intraoperative and postoperative inflammatory factor levels (P < 0.001), better postoperative brain function and arterial blood gas index (P < 0.001), and lower Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) scores after surgery (P < 0.001). Combining DEX with dezocine-assisted general anesthesia can improve the inflammatory factors level of patients undergoing lung cancer surgery and maintain their brain function and oxygen saturation, so that they have better postoperative cognitive function. Therefore, such anesthesia modality should be promoted in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the working principle of natural spiderweb and long-persistence phosphors, we have synthesized a spiderweb-like nanocomposite in which CoS quantum dots are confined in N-doped carbon frameworks/carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The intimate combination of three-dimensional conductive networks of CoS/CNTs with abundant active sites allows effective capture of sulfate radicals via both physical confinement and chemical bonding and accelerates the redox kinetics significantly. Furthermore, in virtue of the light storing and luminescence behaviors of long-persistence phosphors, the all-weather CoS/CNTs produced can realize an optimum degradation efficiency of 64% under dark conditions. Overall, this work reveals a significant step forward for building a desirable all-weather catalyst with abundant active sites for potential use in degradation under dark conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great challenge for the application of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activators for environmental applications in pollutant removal is their stability and activity. Pyrolysis of the MOF organic linkers under an inert gas atmosphere can maintain or improve the coordinatively unsaturated metal site (CUMS) activation ability of the MOFs and at the same time solve the problem of the collapsible and unstable MOF structure. Herein, we report a series of novel coordinatively unsaturated cerium-doped MIL-101(Fe(III)) compounds (denoted as Ce-MIL-101) with different shapes, containing mixed-valence Fe(II)/Fe(III) and Ce(III)/Ce(IV) sites, as new PMS activators, through the total release of solvent molecules under a controlled thermolysis reduction process at 500 °C under N2 to increase the number of CUMSs. The resulting rod-like cerium-doped Fe3O4 materials exhibited superior stability and a higher number of active sites compared to octahedral cerium-doped Fe3O4. The XPS results reveal a growth of the oxygen vacancies (77.8%) and a large number of electron-deficient metal sites. Following the great improvement of the number of CUMSs, the performance (apparent rate constant) of CUMSs/MIL-101(Fe,Ce) in the activation of PMS for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) increased by a factor of up to 2.5 relative to that of pristine MIL-101(Fe). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further clarified the nature of the PMS active sites at the atomic level. These new insights confirm a novel strategy for the synthesis of a highly active catalyst with different shapes for environmental remediation by controlling the CUMSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Bushen Huoxue Huatan Decoction (BHHD) is a classic prescription for treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aims to explore the effects and possible mechanisms of BHHD on PCOS by integrating network pharmacology and clinical study. Methods. The components and potential drug targets of BHHD were analysed using the TCMSP platform, and the potential pathogenesis targets for PCOS were analysed using the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Subsequently, a disease-compound-target network diagram was established to identify the targets of BHHD treatment on PCOS. In addition, protein-protein interaction analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, and Gene Ontology biological analysis were carried out to reveal the mechanisms of BHHD. To further validate the analysis, a clinical trial involving 62 PCOS patients was conducted. All patients were treated with BHHD for 3 months and the ovulation rate, anthropometric indicators, clinical symptoms, and serological indicators were measured and compared before and after treatment. Results. The network pharmacology analysis showed that quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol are the most significant active components in BHHD; STAT3, Jun, AKT1, MAPK3, MAPK1, and TP53 are the most critical drug targets; regulating hormones, reversing insulin (INS) resistance, exerting anti-inflammatory effects, and improving fertility might be the most important mechanisms of BHHD in the treatment of PCOS. After BHHD administration, the cyclic ovulation rate and the clinical symptoms including acanthosis nigricans and acne of patients were obviously improved. The serum endocrine levels of luteinising hormone (LH), LH/follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, insulin (INS), and area under the INS curve were evidently reversed, and the serum inflammatory factors levels including human interleukin (IL)-18, IL-16, IL-1β, IL-8, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, and human leukocyte differentiation antigen CD40 ligand were greatly reduced. Conclusion. BHHD has a good therapeutic effect on PCOS, and its mechanisms may be related to regulating hormone levels, improving insulin resistance, alleviating inflammation, and promoting pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging public awareness and government regulations of data privacy motivate new paradigms of collecting and analyzing data that are transparent and acceptable to data owners. We present a new concept of privacy and corresponding data formats, mechanisms, and theories for privatizing data during data collection. The privacy, named Interval Privacy, enforces the raw data conditional distribution on the privatized data to be the same as its unconditional distribution over a nontrivial support set. Correspondingly, the proposed privacy mechanism will record each data value as a random interval (or, more generally, a range) containing it. The proposed interval privacy mechanisms can be easily deployed through survey-based data collection interfaces, e.g., by asking a respondent whether its data value is within a randomly generated range. Another unique feature of interval mechanisms is that they obfuscate the truth but do not perturb it. Using narrowed range to convey information is complementary to the popular paradigm of perturbing data. Also, the interval mechanisms can generate progressively refined information at the discretion of individuals, naturally leading to privacy-adaptive data collection. We develop different aspects of theory such as composition, robustness, distribution estimation, and regression learning from interval-valued data. Interval privacy provides a new perspective of human-centric data privacy where individuals have a perceptible, transparent, and simple way of sharing sensitive data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]