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Abstract Background It’s unclear if excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass in individuals with prediabetes can be countered by adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE). We aimed to examine VAT mass, MEDLIFE adherence, and their impact on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and diabetic microvascular complications (DMC) in individuals with prediabetes. Methods 11,267 individuals with prediabetes from the UK Biobank cohort were included. VAT mass was predicted using a non-linear model, and adherence to the MEDLIFE was evaluated using the 25-item MEDLIFE index, encompassing categories such as “Mediterranean food consumption,” “Mediterranean dietary habits,” and “Physical activity, rest, social habits, and conviviality.” Both VAT and MEDLIFE were categorized into quartiles, resulting in 16 combinations. Incident cases of T2D and related DMC were identified through clinical records. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were employed to examine associations, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results Over a median follow-up of 13.77 years, we observed 1408 incident cases of T2D and 714 cases of any DMC. High adherence to the MEDLIFE, compared to the lowest quartile, reduced a 16% risk of incident T2D (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71–0.98) and 31% for incident DMC (0.69, 0.56–0.86). Conversely, compared to the lowest quartile of VAT, the highest quartile increased the risk of T2D (5.95, 4.72–7.49) and incident any DMC (1.79, 1.36–2.35). We observed an inverse dose-response relationship between MEDLIFE and T2D/DMC, and a dose-response relationship between VAT and all outcomes (P for trend

Abstract Background Arterial stiffness contributes to additional cardiovascular risks in diabetic patients by triggering the loss of vascular and myocardial compliance and promoting endothelial dysfunction. Thus, prevention of arterial stiffness is a public health priority, and the identification of potential biomarkers may provide benefits for early prevention. This study investigates the relationships between serum laboratory tests and pulse wave velocity (PWV) tests. We also investigated the associations between PWV and all‐cause mortality. Methods We examined a panel of 33 blood biomarkers among diabetic populations in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. The carotid‐femoral (cfPWV) and femoral‐ankle PWV (faPWV) were measured using an automated cardiovascular screening device. The aortic‐femoral arterial stiffness gradient (afSG) was calculated as faPWV divided by cfPWV. Biomarker levels were log‐transformed and correlated with PWV. Cox proportional hazard models were employed for survival analysis. Results Among 1079 diabetic patients, biomarkers including high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin, high‐sensitivity troponin T, cystatin C, creatinine, and albuminuria were significantly correlated with afSG (R = 0.078, −0.193, −0.155, −0.153, −0.116, and −0.137, respectively) and cfPWV (R = −0.068, 0.175, 0.128, 0.066, 0.202, and 0.062, respectively). Compared with the lowest tertile of afSG, the risk of all‐cause mortality was lower in the highest tertile (hazard ratio 0.543; 95% confidence interval 0.328–0.900). Conclusion Certain biomarkers related to blood glucose monitoring, myocardial injury, and renal function significantly correlated with PWV, suggesting that these putative risk factors are likely to be important atherosclerosis mechanisms in diabetic patients. AfSG may be an independent predictor of mortality among diabetic populations.

Abstract Background Existing evidence concerning the relationship between daytime napping and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is inconsistent, and whether the effects of napping differ by body fat percentage (BFP) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between daytime napping frequency and T2D risk and whether such an association was modified by BFP and CRP. Methods We included 435 342 participants free of diabetes from the UK Biobank. Participants were categorized as nonnappers, occasional nappers, and frequent nappers based on napping frequency, and BFP/CRP was divided into quartiles. Cox proportional hazards models were used. Results During a median follow‐up of 9.2 years, 17 592 T2D cases occurred. Higher frequency of daytime napping was significantly associated with an increased risk of T2D. Compared with nonnappers, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for occasional nappers and habitual nappers were 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–1.32) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.41–1.57), respectively. There was a significant additive and multiplicative interaction (relative excess risk due to interaction [RERI] = 0.490, 95% CI 0.307–0.673; p for multiplicative interaction

Abstract Background Research on the association of physical activity and sedentary time with dementia is accumulating, though elusive, and the interaction effects of the two remain unclear. We analysed the joint associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time with risk of incident dementia (all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia). Methods A total of 90,320 individuals from the UK Biobank were included. Accelerometer-measured total volume of physical activity (TPA) and sedentary time were measured at baseline and dichotomised by median (low TPA [ 0.05). Conclusion Higher TPA level was related to a lower risk of incident dementia irrespective of sedentary time, which highlighted the implication of promoting physical activity participation to counteract the potential detrimental effect of sedentary time on dementia.

Background To evaluate the sex‐specific associations of total and regional fat/muscle mass ratio (FMR) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality, and to explore the underlying mechanisms driven by cardiometabolites and inflammatory cells. We compared the predictive value of FMRs to body mass index. Methods and Results This population‐based, prospective cohort study included 468 885 UK Biobank participants free of CVD at baseline. Fat mass and muscle mass were estimated using a bioelectrical impedance assessment device. FMR was calculated as fat mass divided by muscle mass in corresponding body parts (total body, trunk, arm, and leg). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and mediation analyses were used. During 12.5 years of follow‐up, we documented 49 936 CVD cases and 4158 CVD deaths. Higher total FMR was associated with an increased risk of incident CVD (hazard ratios [HRs] were 1.63 and 1.83 for men and women, respectively), ischemic heart disease (men: HR, 1.61; women: HR, 1.81), myocardial infarction (men: HR, 1.72; women: HR, 1.49), and congestive heart failure (men: HR, 2.25; women: HR, 2.57). The positive associations of FMRs with mortality from total CVD or its subtypes were significant mainly in trunk and arm for male patients (P for trend

Abstract Background People living with dementia seem to be more likely to experience delirium following hip fracture. The association between mental disorders (MD) and hip fracture remains controversial. We conducted a nationwide study to examine the prevalence of MD in geriatric patients with hip fractures undergoing surgery and conducted a related risk factor analysis. Material and methods This retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2012 and focused on people who were older than 60 years. Patients with hip fracture undergoing surgical intervention and without hip fracture were matched at a ratio of 1:1 for age, sex, comorbidities, and index year. The incidence and hazard ratios of age, sex, and multiple comorbidities related to MD and its subgroups were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results A total of 1408 patients in the hip fracture group and a total of 1408 patients in the control group (no fracture) were included. The overall incidence of MD for the hip fracture and control groups per 100 person-years were 0.8 and 0.5, respectively. Among MD, the incidences of transient MD, depression, and dementia were significantly higher in the hip fracture group than in the control group. Conclusions The prevalence of newly developed MD, especially transient MD, depression, and dementia, was higher in the geriatric patients with hip fracture undergoing surgery than that in the control group. Prompt and aggressive prevention protocols and persistent follow-up of MD development is highly necessary in this aged society.

Abstract Although urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common perioperative complication among elderly patients with hip fracture, its incidence and effects are often underestimated. This study investigated the effects of severe UTI (S-UTI) on elderly patients with hip fracture and the risk factors for this condition. In this retrospective nationwide cohort study, we searched Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2012 for data on patients aged ≥ 50 years with hip fracture who underwent open reduction and internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty for comparison with healthy controls (i.e. individuals without hip fracture). The study and comparison cohorts were matched for age, sex, and index year at a 1:4 ratio. The incidence and hazard ratios of age, sex, and multiple comorbidities associated with S-UTI were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Among the 5774 and 23,096 patients in the study and comparison cohorts, the overall incidence of S-UTI per 100 person-years was 8.5 and 5.3, respectively. The risk of S-UTI was cumulative over time and higher in the study cohort than in the comparison cohort, particularly in those who were older, were female, or had comorbidities of cerebrovascular accident or chronic renal failure.

Polyploidy is a common feature in normal hepatocytes, however, the pathophysiological function of hepatic hyperpolyploidy is unclear. Here, the authors show that genotoxic stress induces accumulation of hyperpolyploid hepatocytes around the centrilobular region of the liver, which may indicate the origin of preneoplastic formation.

Background: Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rare, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), it is a catastrophic complication after spinal surgery. This study was aimed to investigate the risk factors and incidence of VTE after thoracolumbar spine surgery (TLSS). Methods: We retrieved the data of 8697 patients >20 years old who underwent TLSS between 2000 and 2013 from Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Each patient was randomly frequency-matched with four individuals who did not undergo TLSS by age, sex, and index year (the control group). Results: The incidence rates of VTE in the TLSS and control groups were 1.84 and 0.69 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The TLSS group had a higher VTE risk (adjusted HR (aHR): 2.13, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.41–3.21), DVT (aHR: 2.20, 95%CI: 1.40–3.46), and PE (aHR: 1.60, 95%CI: 0.68–3.78) than the control group. The correlated risk factors of VTE included older age (50–64 years: aHR: 2.16, 95%CI: 1.14–4.09; ≥65 years: aHR: 3.18, 95%CI: 1.65–6.13), a history of cancer (aHR: 2.96, 95%CI: 1.58–5.54), heart failure (aHR: 2.19, 95%CI: 1.27–3.78), and chronic kidney disease (aHR: 1.83, 95%CI: 1.18–2.83). Conclusions: The overall VTE risk following TLSS was less than 2% but correlated with certain risk factors. This information could help the spine surgeon help the patient prevent this fatal complication.

This paper presents an area-efficient time-domain CMOS smart temperature sensor using a curvature compensation oscillator for linearity enhancement with a −40 to 120 °C temperature range operability. The inverter-based smart temperature sensors can substantially reduce the cost and circuit complexity of integrated temperature sensors. However, a large curvature exists on the temperature-to-time transfer curve of the inverter-based delay line and results in poor linearity of the sensor output. For cost reduction and error improvement, a temperature-to-pulse generator composed of a ring oscillator and a time amplifier was used to generate a thermal sensing pulse with a sufficient width proportional to the absolute temperature (PTAT). Then, a simple but effective on-chip curvature compensation oscillator is proposed to simultaneously count and compensate the PTAT pulse with curvature for linearization. With such a simple structure, the proposed sensor possesses an extremely small area of 0.07 mm2 in a TSMC 0.35-mm CMOS 2P4M digital process. By using an oscillator-based scheme design, the proposed sensor achieves a fine resolution of 0.045 °C without significantly increasing the circuit area. With the curvature compensation, the inaccuracy of −1.2 to 0.2 °C is achieved in an operation range of −40 to 120 °C after two-point calibration for 14 packaged chips. The power consumption is measured as 23 mW at a sample rate of 10 samples/s.

ABSTRACT Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen, and its invasion via blood vessels is critically important in serious events such as bacteremia or multiorgan failure. Although GAS was identified as an extracellular bacterium, the internalization of GAS into nonphagocytic cells may provide a strategy to escape from immune surveillance and antibiotic killing. However, GAS has also been reported to induce autophagy and is efficiently killed within lysosome-fused autophagosomes in epithelial cells. In this study, we show that GAS can replicate in endothelial cells and that streptolysin O is required for GAS growth. Bacterial replication can be suppressed by altering GAS gene expression in an acidic medium before internalization into endothelial cells. The inhibitory effect on GAS replication can be reversed by treatment with bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar-type H+-ATPase. Compared with epithelial cells in which acidification causes autophagy-mediated clearance of GAS, there was a defect in acidification of GAS-containing vesicles in endothelial cells. Consequently, endothelial cells fail to maintain low pH in GAS-containing autophagosomes, thereby permitting GAS replication inside LAMP-1- and LC3-positive vesicles. Furthermore, treatment of epithelial cells with bafilomycin A1 resulted in defective GAS clearance by autophagy, with subsequent bacterial growth intracellularly. Therefore, low pH is a key factor for autophagy-mediated suppression of GAS growth inside epithelial cells, while defective acidification of GAS-containing vesicles results in bacterial growth in endothelial cells. IMPORTANCE Previous reports showed that GAS can induce autophagy and is efficiently killed within lysosome-fused autophagosomes in epithelial cells. In endothelial cells, in contrast, induction of autophagy is not sufficient for GAS killing. In this study, we provide the first evidence that low pH is required to prevent intracellular growth of GAS in epithelial cells and that this mechanism is defective in endothelial cells. Treatment of GAS with low pH altered GAS growth rate and gene expression of virulence factors and resulted in enhanced susceptibility of GAS to intracellular lysosomal killing. Our findings reveal the existence of different mechanisms of host defense against GAS invasion between epithelial and endothelial cells.

Abstract All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) offer improved morphological and mechanical stability compared with those containing small-molecule-acceptors (SMAs). They can be processed with a broader range of conditions, making them desirable for printing techniques. In this study, we report a high-performance polymer acceptor design based on bithiazole linker (PY-BTz) that are on par with SMAs. We demonstrate that bithiazole induces a more coplanar and ordered conformation compared to bithiophene due to the synergistic effect of non-covalent backbone planarization and reduced steric encumbrances. As a result, PY-BTz shows a significantly higher efficiency of 16.4% in comparison to the polymer acceptors based on commonly used thiophene-based linkers (i.e., PY-2T, 9.8%). Detailed analyses reveal that this improvement is associated with enhanced conjugation along the backbone and closer interchain π-stacking, resulting in higher charge mobilities, suppressed charge recombination, and reduced energetic disorder. Remarkably, an efficiency of 14.7% is realized for all-PSCs that are solution-sheared in ambient conditions, which is among the highest for devices prepared under conditions relevant to scalable printing techniques. This work uncovers a strategy for promoting backbone conjugation and planarization in emerging polymer acceptors that can lead to superior all-PSCs.

Advancements in assisted driving technologies are expected to enable future passengers to use a wide range of multimedia applications in electric vehicles (EVs). To address the bandwidth demands for high-resolution and immersive videos during peak traffic, this study introduces a bandwidth-management algorithm to support differentiated streaming services in heterogeneous vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks. By leveraging cellular 6G base stations, along with Cell-Free (CF) Massive Multi-Input Multi-Output (mMIMO) Wi-Fi 7 access points, the algorithm aims to provide a high-coverage, high-speed, and low-interference V2X network environment. Additionally, Li-Fi technology is employed to supply extra bandwidth to vehicles with limited connectivity via V2V communication. Importantly, the study addresses the urgency and prioritization of different applications to ensure the smooth execution of emergency applications and introduces a pre-downloading mechanism specifically for non-real-time applications. Through simulations, the algorithm’s effectiveness in meeting EV users’ bandwidth needs for various multimedia streaming applications is demonstrated. During peak-bandwidth-demand periods, users experienced an average increase in bandwidth of 47%. Furthermore, bandwidth utilization across the V2X landscape is significantly improved.

East Asian passiflora virus (EAPV) seriously affects passionfruit production in Taiwan and Vietnam. In this study, an infectious clone of the EAPV Taiwan strain (EAPV-TW) was constructed, and EAPV-TWnss, with an nss tag attached to its helper component-protease (HC-Pro), was generated for monitoring the virus. Four conserved motifs of EAPV-TW HC-Pro were manipulated to create single mutations of F8I (simplified as I8), R181I (I181), F206L (L206), and E397N (N397) and double mutations of I8I181, I8L206, I8N397, I181L206, I181N397, and L206N397. Four mutants, EAPV I8I181, I8N397, I181L206, and I181N397, infected Nicotiana benthamiana and yellow passionfruit plants without conspicuous symptoms. Mutants EAPV I181N397 and I8N397 were stable after six passages in yellow passionfruit plants and expressed a zigzag pattern of accumulation dynamic, typical of beneficial protective viruses. An agroinfiltration assay indicated that the RNA silencing suppression capabilities of the four double mutated HC-Pros are significantly reduced. Mutant EAPV I181N397 accumulated the highest level of the small interfering RNA at 10 days postinoculation (dpi) in N. benthamiana plants, then dropped to background levels after 15 dpi. In both N. benthamiana and yellow passionfruit plants, EAPV I181N397 conferred complete cross protection (100%) against severe EAPV-TWnss, as defined by no severe symptoms and absence of the challenge virus, checked by Western blotting and reverse transcription PCR. Mutant EAPV I8N397 provided high degrees of complete protection against EAPV-TWnss in yellow passionfruit plants (90%) but not in N. benthamiana plants (0%). Both mutants showed complete protection (100%) against the Vietnam severe strain EAPV-GL1 in passionfruit plants. Thus, the mutants EAPV I181N397 and I8N397 have excellent potential for controlling EAPV in Taiwan and Vietnam. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology in the scientific community with the potential to accelerate and enhance research in various fields. ChatGPT, a popular language model, is one such AI-based system that is increasingly being discussed and being adapted in scientific research. However, as with any technology, there are challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. This paper focuses on the challenges and limitations that ChatGPT faces in the domain of organic materials research. This paper will take organic materials as examples in the use of ChatGPT. Overall, this paper aims to provide insights into the challenges and limitations of researchers working in the field of organic materials.

It is expected that interconnected networks of autonomous vehicles, especially during peak traffic, will face congestion challenges. Moreover, the existing literature lacks discussions on integrating next-generation wireless communication technologies into connected vehicular networks. Hence, this paper introduces a tailored bandwidth management algorithm for streaming applications of autonomous vehicle passengers. It leverages cutting-edge 6G wireless technology to create a network with high-speed transmission and broad coverage, ensuring smooth streaming application performance. The key features of bandwidth allocation for diverse streaming applications in this work include bandwidth relay and pre-loading of video clips assisted by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Through simulations, this research effectively showcases the algorithm’s ability to fulfill the bandwidth needs of diverse streaming applications for autonomous vehicle passengers. Specifically, during periods of peak user bandwidth demand, it notably increases the bandwidth accessible for streaming applications. On average, users experience a substantial 55% improvement in the bandwidth they can access. This validation affirms the viability and promise of the proposed approach in efficiently managing the intricate complexities of bandwidth allocation issues for streaming services within the connected autonomous vehicular networks.

The reactivity of the {Fe(NO)}(super n) iron-thiolate and iron-sulfinate nitrosyl complexes toward O2, the influence of sulfinate ligand on Fe-N-O bonding and on the electronic structure of the {Fe(NO)}(super 6/7) core, and the photochemical interconversion between iron-thiolate and iron-sulfinate-thiolate nitrosyl complexes are studied. Insights into the interconversion pathways between the active and inactive NO-bound forms of Fe-containing nitrile hydratase are presented.

The diamagnetic diiron thiolate/sulfinate complexes [(ON)-Fe(S,S-C6H4)(sub 2)Fe(NO)(sub 2)(sub -) and [(ON)Fe(S,SO2-C6H4)(S,S-C6H4)Fe(NO)(sub 2)](sub -) containing an {Fe(NO)(sub 2)}(sub 9) dinitrosyliron motif are prepared. The findings imply that the dinitrosyl nonheme iron complexes may exist after biosynthetic evolution of NO in vitro and from the addition of NO to iron-centered proteins.

The popularity of video services such as video call or video on-demand has made it impossible for people to live without them in their daily lives. It can be anticipated that the explosive growth of vehicular communication owing to the widespread use of in-vehicle video infotainment applications in the future will result in increasing fragmentation and congestion of the wireless transmission spectrum. Accordingly, effective bandwidth management algorithms are demanded to achieve efficient communication and stable scalability in next-generation vehicular networks. To the best of our current knowledge, a noticeable gap remains in the existing literature regarding the application of the latest advancements in network communication technologies. Specifically, this gap is evident in the lack of exploration regarding how cutting-edge technologies can be effectively employed to optimize bandwidth allocation, especially in the realm of video service applications within the forthcoming vehicular networks. In light of this void, this paper presents a seamless integration of cutting-edge 6G communication technologies, such as terahertz (THz) and visible light communication (VLC), with the existing 5G millimeter-wave and sub-6 GHz base stations. This integration facilitates the creation of a network environment characterized by high transmission rates and extensive coverage. Our primary aim is to ensure the uninterrupted playback of real-time video applications for vehicle users. These video applications encompass video conferencing, live video, and on-demand video services. The outcomes of our simulations convincingly indicate that the proposed strategy adeptly addresses the challenge of bandwidth competition among vehicle users. Moreover, it notably boosts the efficient utilization of bandwidth from less crowded base stations, optimizes the fulfillment of bandwidth prerequisites for various video applications, and elevates the overall video quality experienced by users. Consequently, our findings serve as a successful validation of the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed methodology.

The paper describes an optical telescope system and control software for robotic observation of space debris. The telescope has a main aperture of 355 mm, adopts the optical design scheme of primary focus with a large field of view, and is equipped with a highly sensitive 4 K sCMOS camera to achieve a large field of view of 2.6° × 2.6°. The telescope is equipped with an environmental monitoring system and a highly reliable dome to ensure the safe operation of the telescope. The control software of the telescope consists of two parts. One part is deployed locally to comprehensively schedule the robotic operation of various equipment of the telescope system, and the other part is deployed remotely to realize the functions of equipment status monitoring, networking scheduling, remote control, and data management. At present, four telescopes have been deployed in Korla, Xinjiang, China to form a telescope array, basically realizing the remote “unattended” observation of space debris.

In addition to traditional battery exchange services and stationary charging stations, researchers have proposed wireless charging technology, such as decentralized laser charging or drone-to-drone charging in flight, to provide power to drones with insufficient battery electricity. However, the charging methods presented in the literature will inevitably cause drones to wait in line for charging during peak hours and disrupt their scheduled trips when the number of drones grows rapidly in the future. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no integrated solutions for drone flight path and charging planning to alleviate charging congestion, taking into account the different mission characteristics of drones and the charging cost considerations of drone operators. Accordingly, this paper provides adaptive charging options to help drone operators to solve the above-mentioned problems. Drones on ordinary missions can use conventional battery swap services, wired charging stations, or electromagnetic wireless charging stations to recharge their batteries as usual, whereas drones on time-critical missions can choose drone-to-drone wireless charging or decentralized laser charging deployed along the fight paths to charge the batteries of drones in flight. Notably, since fixed-wing drones have larger wing areas to install solar panels, they can also use solar energy to charge during flight if the weather is clear. The simulation results exhibited that the proposed work reduced the power load of the power grid during peak hours, met the charging needs of each individual drone during flight, and cut down the charging costs of drone operators. As a result, an all-win situation for drone operators, drone customers, and power grid operators was achieved.