Search

Hyperdoped silicon is a promising material for near-infrared light detection, but to date, the device efficiency has been limited. To optimize photodetectors based on this material that operate at room temperature, we present a detailed study on the electrical nature of gold-hyperdoped silicon formed via ion implantation and pulsed-laser melting (PLM). After PLM processing, oxygen-rich and gold-rich surface layers were identified and a wet etch process was developed to remove them. Resistivity and Hall effect measurements were performed at various stages of device processing. The underlying gold-hyperdoped silicon was found to be semi-insulating, regardless of whether the surface gold was removed by etching or not. We propose a Fermi level pinning model to describe the band bending of the transformed surface layer and propose a promising device architecture for efficient Au-hyperdoped Si photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe species within the family Cunninghamellaceae during an investigation of soil microfungi in Korea, in which three strains were isolated from Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk provinces, designated as KNUF-22-121A, KNUF-22-126A, and KNUF-22-316, respectively. Because the morphological and molecular analyses of these three strains were identical, KNUF-22-316 underwent further detailed study. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region and the large subunit 28S rRNA gene revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Absidia, but occupied a distinct phylogenetic position. The strain KNUF-22-316 was compared with closely related species Absidia radiata CGMCC 3.16257T and Absidia yunnanensis CGMCC 3.16259T, morphologically different with shorter sporangiophores, smaller sporangia and columellae, and the consistent presence of collars. Here, we provide a detailed description and images of this proposed new species, which we have named Absidia microsporangia sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensor, designed to be worn directly on the skin, is suitable for real-time monitoring of the recovery level of not only general wounds, but also difficult-to-heal wounds, such as those with chronic inflammation. Notably, healthy skin has a pH range of 4–6. When a wound occurs, the pH is known to be approximately 7.4. In this study, alpha-naphtholphthalein (Naph) was immersed in a cotton-blended textile to produce a wearable halochromic sensor that clearly changed color depending on the pH of the skin in the range 6–9, including pH 7.4, which is the skin infection state. The coating was performed without using an organic solvent by dissolving it in micelle form using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, a surfactant, in water. Naph-based halochromic sensor shows light yellow, which is the dye's own color, at pH 6, which is a healthy skin condition, and gradually showed a clear color change to light green-green-blue as pH increased. Even after washing and drying by rubbing with regular tap water, the color change due to pH was maintained more than 10 times. Naph-based halochromic sensors use a simple solution production and coating method and are not only reusable sensors that can be washed with water but also use environmentally friendly water, making them very suitable for developing commercial products for wound pH monitoring. In addition, it can be easily applied to medical supplies, such as medical gauze, patient clothes, and compression bandages, as well as everyday wear, such as clothing, gloves, and socks. Therefore, it is expected to be widely used as a wound pH sensor, allowing real-time monitoring of the skin condition of individuals with chronic skin inflammation, including patients requiring wound recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy is gaining popularity among endoscopic spine surgeons for the treatment of radiculopathy caused by foraminal stenosis. This study describes a technique using the lateral decubitus position for endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy under monitored anesthesia care and local anesthesia only. A total of 10 patients with contraindications to general anesthesia underwent the procedure, resulting in improvement in cervical radicular pain with no perioperative complications. The findings suggest that this approach is a viable alternative for patients at high risk of general anesthesia care, expanding the surgical options for the treatment of radiculopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-invasive objective implant stability measurements are needed to determine the appropriate timing of prosthetic fitting after implant placement. We compared the early implant stability results obtained using resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and damping capacity analysis (DCA) depending on the implant length and bone density. Total 60, 4.0 mm diameter implants of various lengths (7.3 mm, 10 mm, and 13 mm) were used. In Group I, low-density bone was described using 15 PCF (0.24 g/cm3) polyurethane bone blocks, and in Group II, 30 PCF (0.48 g/cm3) polyurethane bone blocks were used to describe medium density bone. RFA was performed using an Osstell® Beacon+; DCA was performed using Anycheck®. Measurements were repeated five times for each implant. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05. In Group I, bone density and primary implant stability were positively correlated, while implant length and primary implant stability were positively correlated. In Group II, the implant stability quotient (ISQ) and implant stability test (IST) values in did not change significantly above a certain length. Primary implant stability was positively correlated with bone density and improved with increasing implant length at low bone densities. Compared with the Osstell® Beacon+, the simplicity of Anycheck® was easy to use and accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Redox changes of pyridine nucleotides in cellular compartments are highly dynamic and their equilibria are under the influence of various reducing and oxidizing reactions. To obtain spatiotemporal data on pyridine nucleotides in living plant cells, typical biochemical approaches require cell destruction. To date, genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors are considered to be the best option to bridge the existing technology gap, as they provide a fast, accurate, and real‐time readout. However, the existing pyridine nucleotides genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors are either sensitive to pH change or slow in dissociation rate. Herein, we employed the biosensors which generate readouts that are pH stable for in planta measurement of NADH/NAD+ ratio and NADPH level. We generated transgenic Arabidopsis lines that express these biosensors in plastid stroma and cytosol of whole plants and pollen tubes under the control of CaMV 35S and LAT52 promoters, respectively. These transgenic biosensor lines allow us to monitor real‐time dynamic changes in NADH/NAD+ ratio and NADPH level in the plastids and cytosol of various plant tissues, including pollen tubes, root hairs, and mesophyll cells, using a variety of fluorescent instruments. We anticipate that these valuable transgenic lines may allow improvements in plant redox biology studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute rejection (AR) is critical for long-term graft survival in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the integrated risk score of omics-based biomarkers in predicting AR in KTRs. This prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter, pilot study enrolled 40 patients who recently underwent high-immunologic-risk kidney transplantation (KT). Five omics biomarkers were measured, namely, blood mRNA (three-gene signature), urinary exosomal miRNA (three-gene signature), urinary mRNA (six-gene signature), and two urinary exosomal proteins (hemopexin and tetraspanin-1) at 2 weeks and every 4 weeks after KT for 1 year. An integrated risk score was generated by summing each biomarker up. The biomarker group was informed about the integrated risk scores and used to adjust immunosuppression, but not the control group. The outcomes were graft function and frequency of graft biopsy. Sixteen patients in the biomarker group and nineteen in the control group completed the study. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate after KT did not differ between the groups. Graft biopsy was performed in two patients (12.5%) and nine (47.4%) in the biomarker and control groups, respectively, with the proportion being significantly lower in the biomarker group (p = 0.027). One patient (6.3%) in the biomarker group and two (10.5%) in the control group were diagnosed with AR, and the AR incidence did not differ between the groups. The tacrolimus trough level was significantly lower in the biomarker group than in the control group at 1 year after KT (p = 0.006). Integrated omics biomarker monitoring may help prevent unnecessary or high-complication-risk biopsy and enables tailored immunosuppression by predicting the risk of AR in KTRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing ureolytic-type bacteria in lightweight foamed concrete to enhance its compressive strength. Previous research focused on microorganisms in different types of concrete, but there is a lack of study on microorganism incorporation in low-density foamed concrete. Bacillus megaterium was introduced in the production of microbial-based lightweight foamed concrete, inducing mineral precipitation through microbial activities. Four mix proportions were prepared: a control mix (LFC-CM) and LFCs incorporated with varying concentrations of B. megaterium. All specimens underwent water curing. Results show significant improvements in compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths of microbial-based LFC compared to control samples due to microbial-induced calcite precipitation. This research has implications for sustainable construction materials. The potential future directions include optimizing microbial dosage, exploring different ureolytic bacteria, and investigating the long-term durability and performance of microbial-based lightweight foamed concrete. This study contributes to knowledge on microbial-based construction materials, providing insights for sustainable concrete solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate trends in the incidence and survival outcomes of endometrial cancer (EC) based on the year of diagnosis, stage, age, and histologic types. Methods: Women with primary EC diagnosed between 1999 and 2018, and who were followed up with until 2019, were identified from the Korea Central Cancer Registry using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence, annual percent changes (APCs), and survival were estimated according to age, stage, histology, and year of diagnosis. Results: The ASR for EC increased from 2.38 per 100,000 in 1999 to 7.29 per 100,000 in 2018 across all histologic types (APCs of 9.82, 15.97, and 7.73 for endometrioid, serous, and clear cell, respectively, p<0.001). There were significant differences in the 5-year survival rates based on histology (90.9%, 55.0%, and 68.5% for endometrioid, serous, and clear cell, respectively, p<0.001), stage (93.4%, 77.0%, and 31.0% for localized, regional, and distant, respectively, p<0.001), and age (93.0% for <50 years and 80.6% for =50 years, p<0.001). The 5-year survival was significantly better in the group diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 (85.9%) than that in the 1999-2008 group (83.3%) (p<0.001). This trend was only observed for endometrioid cancer (p<0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of EC increased across the all 3 subtypes. Survival of patients with endometrioid histology improved over the past two decades, but remained static for serous or clear cell histology. Healthcare strategies to prevent EC incidence in at-risk populations and apply effective treatments for high-risk histology are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a 0.7 m telescope system at the Miryang Arirang Astronomical Observatory (MAAO), a public observatory in Miryang, Korea. System integration and a scheduling program enable the 0.7 m telescope system to operate completely robotically during nighttime, eliminating the need for human intervention. Using the 0.7 m telescope system, we obtain atmospheric extinction coefficients and the zero-point magnitudes by observing standard stars. As a result, we find that atmospheric extinctions are moderate but they can sometimes increase depending on the weather conditions. The measured 5 σ limiting magnitudes reach down to BVRI = 19.4–19.6 AB mag for a point source with a total integrated time of 10 minutes under clear weather conditions, demonstrating comparable performance with other observational facilities operating under similar specifications and sky conditions. We expect that the newly established MAAO 0.7 m telescope system will contribute significantly to the observational studies of astronomy. Particularly, with its capability for robotic observations, this system, although its primary duty is for public viewing, can be extensively used for the time-series observation of transients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In stealth applications, there is a growing emphasis on the development of radar-absorbing structures that are efficient, flexible, and optically transparent. This study proposes a screen-printed metamaterial absorber (MMA) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using indium tin oxide (ITO) as the grounding layer, which achieves both optical transparency and flexibility. These materials and methods enhance the overall flexibility and transparency of MMA. To address the limited transparency caused by the silver nanoparticle ink for the top pattern, a metal mesh was incorporated to reduce the area ratio of the printed patterns, thereby enhancing transparency. By incrementing the fractal order of the structure, we optimized the operating frequency to target the X-band, which is most commonly used in radar detection. The proposed MMA demonstrates remarkable performance, with a measured absorption of 91.99% at 8.85 GHz and an average optical transmittance of 46.70% across the visible light spectrum (450 to 700 nm), indicating its potential for applications in transparent windows or drone stealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent complication that affects up to 60% of children and adolescents with obesity. It is associated with poorer cardiometabolic outcomes and neurocognitive deficits. Appropriate screening and intervention for OSA are crucial in the management of children with obesity. We performed a scoping review of international and national pediatric obesity (n = 30) and pediatric OSA (n = 10) management guidelines to evaluate the recommendations on OSA screening in pediatric obesity. Sixteen (53%) of the pediatric obesity guidelines had incorporated OSA screening to varying extents, with no consistent recommendations on when and how to screen for OSA, and subsequent management of OSA in children with obesity. We provide our recommendations that are based on the strength and certainty of evidence presented. These include a clinical‐based screening for OSA in all children with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile or those with rapid BMI gain (upward crossing of 2 BMI percentiles) and the use of overnight polysomnography to confirm the diagnosis of OSA in those with high clinical suspicion. We discuss further management of OSA unique to children with obesity. An appropriate screening strategy for OSA would facilitate timely intervention that has been shown to improve cardiometabolic and neurocognitive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper airway collapse and apneas in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) induce intermittent hypercapnia and hypoxia, eventually contributing to excessive uric acid production. This study aimed to evaluate the association between hyperuricemia and OSA in the general population via analysis of the eighth KNHANES dataset (2019–2021). OSA risk was identified via the STOP-Bang questionnaire, with a score ≥3 indicating high risk. Among 11,981 total participants, 4572 (38.2%) had a high OSA risk. Participants with a high OSA risk had higher uric acid levels compared to those with a low risk (5.5 ± 1.4 mg/dL vs. 4.8 ± 1.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Serum uric acid levels were positively correlated with STOP-Bang score (r: 0.317, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that hyperuricemia was associated with a high OSA risk after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.11–1.53, p = 0.001). Therefore, serum uric acid levels are significantly higher in those with a high OSA risk and correlate with the risk of OSA. Further, hyperuricemia is an independently associated risk factor for high OSA risk. More research is warranted to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of hyperuricemia in OSA and to determine whether treatment targeting hyperuricemia is effective in the clinical course of OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Methods Results Conclusion Ustekinumab (UST) is an effective biologic for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, some patients treated with UST have suboptimal clinical response with standard dosing. The aims of this study were to determine the effectiveness of UST dose intensification (DI), identify factors associated with DI, cumulative incidence of DI and persistence of UST among treated patients.Clinical data of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) who received UST from September 2017 to October 2022 in Singapore General Hospital were collected. Primary outcome was defined as achieving corticosteroid‐free clinical remission, biochemical remission, endoscopic healing and/or transmural healing (CD). Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors, which are predictive of UST DI and effectiveness of UST DI.Forty‐two patients (34 CD and 8 UC) underwent UST DI to either 6‐weekly (n = 19, 45.2%) or 4‐weekly (n = 23, 35.9%) and the median time to intensification was 31.1 weeks (17.8–65.7). Presence of perianal disease in CD (HR 4.9; 1.47–16.4) was associated with DI. After DI, 16 (38%) patients achieved primary outcome by week 52. The overall drug persistence rates at 1 year and 2 years were 75.7% (95% CI 62.9–84.6) and 63.5% (95% CI 49.9–74.3), respectively.Two third of IBD patients underwent DI while on UST treatment and the median time to DI was about 6 months after induction. CD patients with perianal disease is more likely to undergo DI. More than one third of dose‐intensified patients achieved remission by week 52. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study addresses the urgent need for infection control agents driven by the rise of drug-resistant pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii. Our primary aim was to develop and assess a novel endolysin, Tha-PA90, designed to combat these challenges. Methods: Tha-PA90 incorporates an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) called thanatin at its N-terminus, enhancing bacterial outer membrane permeability and reducing host immune responses. PA90 was selected as the endolysin component. The antibacterial activity of the purified Tha-PA90 was evaluated using an in vitro colony-forming unit (CFU) reduction assay and a membrane permeability test. A549 cells were utilized to measure the penetration into the cytosol and the cytotoxicity of Tha-PA90. Finally, infection control was monitored in A. baumannii infected mice following the intraperitoneal administration of Tha-PA90. Results: Tha-PA90 demonstrated remarkable in vitro efficacy, completely eradicating A. baumannii strains, even drug-resistant variants, at a low concentration of 0.5 μM. Notably, it outperformed thanatin, achieving only a < 3-log reduction at 4 μM. Tha-PA90 exhibited 2–3 times higher membrane permeability than a PA90 and thanatin mixture or PA90 alone. Tha-PA90 was found within A549 cells' cytosol with no discernible cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, Tha-PA90 administration extended the lifespan of A. baumannii-infected mice, reducing bacterial loads in major organs by up to 3 logs. Additionally, it decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-6), reducing the risk of sepsis from rapid bacterial lysis. Our findings indicate that Tha-PA90 is a promising solution for combating drug-resistant A. baumannii. Its enhanced efficacy, low cytotoxicity, and reduction of proinflammatory responses render it a potential candidate for infection control. Conclusions: This study underscores the significance of engineered endolysins in addressing the pressing challenge of drug-resistant pathogens and offers insights into improved infection management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post Acute COVID Syndrome (PACS), a complex and poorly understood condition characterised by persistent symptoms following the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, has emerged as a significant global health concern. Healthcare workers who had been at the forefront of the pandemic response are at heightened risk of contracting the virus and subsequently developing PACS. Therefore, we aim to determine the prevalence and risk factors for PACS among healthcare workers infected with COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and August 2023 using an online REDCap electronic data capture tool questionnaire. PACS was defined as new or persistent symptoms lasting more than 28 days after a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction or rapid test kit antigen test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictors associated with PACS. Results: Among 609 infected healthcare workers, they were predominantly female (71.8%), Malays (84.6%), and aged 18–39 years (70.1%). 50.7% of infected healthcare workers experienced PACS. The most common PACS symptoms experienced were fatigue (27.9%), cough (25.1%), decreased physical strength (20.5%), and musculoskeletal pain (19.2%). Those who are more likely to develop PACS were females, underlying asthma, and COVID-19 severity category 3. On the other hand, those who received booster vaccinations were less likely to develop PACS. Conclusion: PACS is prevalent among healthcare workers with COVID-19 at the University Malaya Medical Centre. These findings emphasise the critical need for those with higher risk to receive regular health monitoring and checkups to detect any early signs of PACS. It underscores the need for continuous support and healthcare interventions to mitigate the impacts of PACS and ensure the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an ageing population, the use of mobility scooters by community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations has been increasingly prevalent in Singapore. Their experiences in using mobility scooters remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the impact of mobility scooters on occupational performance and engagement among elderly Singaporeans. Mobility scooter users were recruited via purposive and snowballing sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in English or Mandarin via phone call or face-to-face and audio-recorded with permission. Interviews were transcribed verbatim in their original language and translated to English (when applicable) for thematic analysis. Twelve eligible participants (mean age: 75 years) completed the interviews. They were predominantly female Chinese with 7 receiving training from occupational therapists (OT). Four main themes emerged from the interviews describing their experiences of using mobility scooters: factors of decision-making in getting a mobility scooter, enhanced occupational participation with the use of the mobility scooter, enablers for community participation and barriers to community participation. Despite having barriers, older adults with mobility limitations generally still had positive experiences to continue using mobility scooters to perform occupations in the community. This study highlights the benefits of mobility scooters in supporting users' occupational performance and engagement in the community. Continual efforts are required from all stakeholders to provide an accessible environment and improve societal attitudes to further support the mobility scooter users. Mobility scooter users can be deterred from performing their preferred occupations if they had a prior negative encounter and they mainly rely on self-developed coping strategies to overcome possible barriers in the community. Occupational therapists should identify and address the potential barriers when prescribing mobility scooters to older adult users. Occupational therapists should work collaboratively with other key stakeholders, such as external vendors and government agencies, to co-create a universal guideline to support and safeguard mobility scooter users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for secondary malignant neoplasms (SMN) in pediatric solid tumors, focusing on the effects of tandem high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT). Materials and Methods Patients (aged < 19 years) diagnosed with or treated for pediatric solid tumors between 1994 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The cumulative incidence of SMN was estimated using competing risk methods by considering death as a competing risk. Results A total of 1,435 patients (413 with brain tumors and 1,022 with extracranial solid tumors) were enrolled. Seventy-one patients developed 74 SMNs, with a 10-year and 20-year cumulative incidence of 2.680±0.002% and 10.193±0.024%, respectively. The types of SMN included carcinoma in 28 (37.8%), sarcoma in 24 (32.4%), and hematologic malignancy in 15 (20.3%) cases. Osteosarcoma and thyroid carcinoma were the most frequently diagnosed tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that radiotherapy (RT) > 2, 340 cGy, and tandem HDCT were significant risk factors for SMN development. The SMN types varied according to the primary tumor type; carcinoma was the most frequent SMN in brain tumors and neuroblastoma, whereas hematologic malignancy and sarcomas developed more frequently in patients with sarcoma and retinoblastoma, respectively. Conclusion The cumulative incidence of SMN in pediatric patients with solid tumors was considerably high, especially in patients who underwent tandem HDCT or in those who received RT > 2,340 cGy. Therefore, the treatment intensity should be optimized based on individual risk assessment and the long-term follow-up of pediatric cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is known to regulate cell growth, protein stability and cell-cycle progression, and many human tumors result from the dysregulation of mTOR signaling. Although various mTOR inhibitors have been developed, effective delivery systems are still needed to enhance the anti-cancer effects of mTOR inhibitors. In this study, we developed the Tat-fused mTOR inhibitor binding domain (Tat-MBD/TMBD) for the enhancement of the anti-cancer effect of mTOR inhibitors, due to the improvement of intracellular uptake. A TMBD/mTOR inhibitors complex spontaneously formed by biological affinity between MBD and mTOR inhibitors without chemical conjugation and modification. We constructed that a recombinant fusion protein expression vector composed of Tat (protein transduction domain) and mTOR inhibitor-binding domain (Tat-MBD) to deliver the mTOR inhibitors. The MBD spontaneously bound with mTOR inhibitors including sirolimus, everolimus, and temsirolimus, resulting in the formation of a TMBD/mTOR inhibitors complex. The enhancement of the delivery efficacy of mTOR inhibitors into various breast cancer cells was confirmed and improved anti-cancer efficacy was observed. We demonstrated the effective delivery systems of mTOR inhibitors without chemical conjugation of mTOR inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungal strain designated as KNUF-21-020, belonging to the genus Triangularia, was isolated from a soil sample collected in the Chungnam province, Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions and partial sequences of large subunit rRNA, beta-tubulin, and RNA polymerase II subunit genes revealed that the strain was grouped in a clade with Triangularia species. However, it occupied a distinct phylogenetic position. We also observed morphological differences between strain KNUF-21-020 and closely related species. Here, we provided detailed descriptions, illustrations, and discussions regarding the morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the closely related species to support the novelty of this isolated species. The phylogenetic analyses and morphological observations indicate that the strain KNUF-21-020 represents a novel species in the genus Triangularia (family: Podosporaceae). We have designated this species as Triangularia manubriata sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravesical treatment using either reovirus or natural killer (NK) cells serves as an efficient strategy for the treatment of bladder cancer cells (BCCs); however, corresponding monotherapies have often shown modest cytotoxicity. The potential of a locoregional combination using high-dose reovirus and NK cell therapy in an intravesical approach has not yet been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of reoviruses and expanded NK cells (eNK) as potential strategies for the treatment of bladder cancer. The anti-tumor effects of mono-treatment with reovirus type 3 Dearing strain (RC402 and RP116) and in combination with interleukin (IL)-18/-21-pretreated eNK cells were investigated on BCC lines (5637, HT-1376, and 253J-BV) using intravesical therapy to simulate in vitro model. RP116 and IL-18/-21-pretreated eNK cells exhibited effective cytotoxicity against grade 1 carcinoma (5637 cells) when used alone, but not against HT-1376 (grade 2 carcinoma) and 253J-BV cells (derived from a metastatic site). Notably, combining RP116 with IL-18/-21-pretreated eNK cells displayed effective cytotoxicity against both HT-1376 and 253J-BV cells. Our findings underscore the potential of a combination therapy using reoviruses and NK cells as a promising strategy for treating bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examined the psychological wellbeing of Healthcare Workers (HCWs) during COVID-19 in a mental health setting, associations of psychosocial wellbeing with coping style, and ways that organisations can mitigate the psychosocial burden on HCWs. Methods: Thirty-seven Mental HCWs (MHCWs) from infected and non-infected wards (control group), were recruited and assessed at three timepoints. Psychological wellbeing, perceived cohesion, and coping style (Brief-COPE) were assessed. Reports on individual coping and feedback on the organisation were collected through in-depth interview. Comparison between infected and non-infected wards, as well as comparison of psychosocial measures and perceived cohesion, across the three timepoints were made. As there were no significant changes in coping styles across the timepoints, Timepoint 1 (T1) coping style was used to correlate with the psychosocial measures across all timepoints. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Results: MHCWs from infected wards reported significantly higher levels of stress, χ2(1) = 6.74, p = 0.009, effect size: medium (ε2 = 0.198), and more severe sleep disturbance (PSQI), χ2(1) = 6.20, p = 0.013, effect size: medium (ε2 = 0.182), as compared to the control group at T2. They also engaged in more problem-focused coping (T2 and T3) and emotion-focused coping (T2). As expected, negative coping style was correlated with negative outcomes except problem-focused coping that was correlated with both negative (sleep disturbance and anxiety symptoms) and positive outcomes (wellbeing). Emotion-focused coping was moderately correlated (Tb = 0.348, p<0.017) with higher levels of wellbeing at T2. Thematic analyses revealed MHCWs felt supported by the responsiveness of the institution, emotional and informational support, and the availability from direct leaders, presence of team and hospital leaders on the ground, helped build trust and confidence in the leadership. Conclusions: MHCWs experienced significantly higher levels of stress and sleep disturbance during COVID-19. The ways that organizations can offset the psychological burden of pandemics on MHCWs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effort to find efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) continue due to the high cost and scarcity of Pt catalyst. This study centers on electrodeposited CoMoP, a transition metal-based catalyst, with a focus on augmenting its active sites. The Cu nanowires serve as a template, not only expanding the surface area of CoMoP but also aiding in electron acceptance due to their excellent electrical conductivity. Consequently, the surface area experiences an approximate 2.1-fold increase compared to the case without nanowires. Furthermore, the CoMoP on Cu nanowires exhibits a heterostructure with crystalline and amorphous phases, enhancing electrical conductivity and exposing active sites. This distinctive configuration facilitates the transfer of protons and electrons, thereby improving the electrocatalytic activity. As a result of this enhanced activity, the catalyst demonstrates fairly low overpotentials for HER in both alkaline and acidic conditions. At current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2 in alkaline environment, it only needs 32 and 117 mV, respectively. Similarly, in acidic environment, the overpotentials are 55 and 112 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively. The catalyst also shows good stability under both conditions. [Display omitted] • To increase surface area, Cu foam with Cu nanowires served as the substrate. • Heterostructure CoMoP catalyst was electrodeposited on the substrate. • The CoMoP catalyst underwent HER testing in acidic and alkaline conditions. • The CoMoP catalyst showed high HER activity and stability in both conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafy vegetables contain nutritious levels of vitamin C. Good postharvest management and food safety are the focus of reducing food loss. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of superoxide water in stabilizing the Vitamin C level and simultaneously prolonging the storage period for bok choy (Brassica rapa var. chinensis). The bok choy samples were immersed in superoxidised water [100 ppm Active chlorine concentration, neutral pH] and sodium bicarbonate solution for three different soaking periods: 5, 10, and 15 minutes and stored at 4°C. Weight loss, vitamin C, and chlorophyll content were evaluated during the 12 days of storage. The shelf life of bok choy treated with superoxidised water was extended from 3 days at room temperature to 8 days at 4°C. The results indicated that superoxidised water with a 5-minute treatment time could maintain a better quality of bok choy, which provides a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for chemical washing agents in the food industry compared to market-available sodium bicarbonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Once daily prednisolone taken at predawn has been proposed to be the glucocorticoid replacement of choice in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) who intend to fast for the month of Ramadan. However, the effects of prednisolone on metabolic parameters and quality of life during fasting for Ramadan are unknown. Design, Patients and Measurements: Patients with AI on twice‐daily hydrocortisone, who had low or moderate risk and intended to fast, were recruited. Patients were converted to prednisolone 5 mg once daily taken at sahur (predawn) and Ramadan education given. Weight, sleep duration, biochemical parameters and quality of life measures (SF‐36 questionnaire) were analysed at the end of Ramadan and compared against baseline. Results: Twenty patients (13 men) were recruited, with a mean age of 59.9 ± 15.0 years. All patients were on hydrocortisone 15 mg daily (in divided doses) as pre‐Ramadan glucocorticoid replacement. Half had type 2 diabetes with low IDF‐DAR risk. Eighty‐five percent of patients completed the full 29 days of fasting with no complications. There was a significant reduction in weight (−1.1 ± 1.6 kg, p =.005), with no significant change in blood pressure or sleep duration. There was a significant increase in urea (0.80 ± 1.1 mmol/L, p =.005) and haematocrit, (0.011 ± 0.019 L/L, p =.019) and decrease in serum sodium (−1.6 ± 3.0 mmol/L, p =.028), with no change in serum creatinine or liver function. Quality of life measures were preserved in all domains with significant improvement in role limitation due to physical health (15.3 ± 21.6, p =.005) and bodily pain (8.8 ± 16.3, p =.031). Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that converting patients with AI who are fasting for Ramadan from twice‐daily hydrocortisone to prednisolone 5 mg daily at sahur was safe, with no major short‐term adverse effects. Despite the higher equivalent glucocorticoid doses, patients experienced weight loss and no clinically significant change in blood pressure, sleep, biochemical parameters or quality of life. This study paves the way to trial even lower doses of prednisolone once daily in patients fasting for Ramadan with AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: SARC‐F is limited by low sensitivity for sarcopenia identification. As surrogates of muscle mass, mid‐arm circumference (MAC) and/or calf circumference have been proposed as additions to SARC‐F to enhance sarcopenia identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SARC‐F, SARC‐CalF, SARC‐F + MAC, and SARC‐CalF + MAC in sarcopenia detection, and to assess the impact of obesity on their diagnostic performance. Methods: We studied 230 healthy non‐frail community‐dwelling older adults age >50 years. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for SARC‐F, SARC‐CalF, SARC‐F + MAC and SARC‐CalF + MAC against sarcopenia diagnosed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 as the reference standard. Obesity was defined by high waist circumference (men ≥90 cm, women ≥80 cm). We performed subgroup analysis to compare between obese and non‐obese groups. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 27.0% by AWGS 2019. SARC‐CalF + MAC had the best diagnostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–0.81; sensitivity 66.1%; specificity 69.1%), followed by SARC‐CalF (AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.62–0.78; sensitivity 21.0%; specificity 95.8%). SARC‐F (AUC 0.57, 95% CI 0.49–0.66; sensitivity 0%; specificity 100%) performed significantly worsethan its modified versions (P < 0.05). There was higher accuracy of sarcopenia identification in obese compared with non‐obese groups for SARC‐F + MAC (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.85 vs. 0.58, 95% CI 0.46–0.70) and SARC‐CalF + MAC (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.66–0.85 vs. 0.70, 95% CI 0.59–0.81). Conclusions: The addition of arm circumference to SARC‐CalF confers better diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia identification, especially in the obese group. Thus, MAC may complement SARC‐CalF for community screening of sarcopenia amongst healthy community‐dwelling older adults by increasing sensitivity for the detection of sarcopenic obesity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 182–188. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 inhibitors (USP7i) are considered a novel class of anticancer drugs. Cancer cells occasionally become insensitive to anticancer drugs, known as chemoresistance, by acquiring multidrug resistance, resulting in poor clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. However, the chemoresistance of cancer cells to USP7i (P22077 and P5091) and mechanisms to overcome it have not yet been investigated. In the present study, we generated human cancer cells with acquired resistance to USP7i-induced cell death. Gene expression profiling showed that heat stress response (HSR)- and unfolded protein response (UPR)-related genes were largely upregulated in USP7i-resistant cancer cells. Biochemical studies showed that USP7i induced the phosphorylation and activation of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) signaling pathway. Inhibition of HSF1 and PERK significantly sensitized cancer cells to USP7i-induced cytotoxicity. Our study demonstrated that the ER stress–PERK axis is responsible for chemoresistance to USP7i, and inhibiting PERK is a potential strategy for improving the anticancer efficacy of USP7i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Congenital transsphenoidal meningocele is extremely rare. Aim: We present a newborn who was found to have a large midline cystic mass protruding from a cleft palate. Case study: Radiological imaging showed a large cerebrospinal fluid mass herniating through a large anterior cranial fossa defect into the sphenoid sinus with extension to the nasal cavity through a cleft palate into the oral cavity. Results and discussion: A bifrontal craniotomy and decompression of meningocele with dura repair was performed. Conclusions: The child was discharged healthy postoperatively and on monthly follow-up and subsequently thriving well with improving neurological recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Non-invasive, beat-to-beat variations in physiological indices provide an opportunity for more accessible assessment of autonomic dysfunction. The potential association between the changes in these parameters and arterial stiffness in hypertension remains poorly understood. This systematic review aims to investigate the association between non-invasive indicators of autonomic function based on beat-to-beat cardiovascular signals with arterial stiffness in individuals with hypertension. Methods: Four electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2022. Studies that investigated non-invasive parameters of arterial stiffness and autonomic function using beat-to-beat cardiovascular signals over a period of > 5min were included. Study quality was assessed using the STROBE criteria. Two authors screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts independently. Results: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A comprehensive overview of experimental design for assessing autonomic function in terms of baroreflex sensitivity and beat-to-beat cardiovascular variabilities, as well as arterial stiffness, was presented. Alterations in non-invasive indicators of autonomic function, which included baroreflex sensitivity, beat-to-beat cardiovascular variabilities and hemodynamic changes in response to autonomic challenges, as well as arterial stiffness, were identified in individuals with hypertension. A mixed result was found in terms of the association between non-invasive quantitative autonomic indices and arterial stiffness in hypertensive individuals. Nine out of 12 studies which quantified baroreflex sensitivity revealed a significant association with arterial stiffness parameters. Three studies estimated beat-to-beat heart rate variability and only one study reported a significant relationship with arterial stiffness indices. Three out of five studies which studied beat-to-beat blood pressure variability showed a significant association with arterial structural changes. One study revealed that hemodynamic changes in response to autonomic challenges were significantly correlated with arterial stiffness parameters. Conclusions: The current review demonstrated alteration in autonomic function, which encompasses both the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function and vasomotor tone (derived from beat-to-beat cardiovascular signals) in hypertension, and a significant association between some of these parameters with arterial stiffness. By employing non-invasive measurements to monitor changes in autonomic function and arterial remodeling in individuals with hypertension, we would be able to enhance our ability to identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Understanding the intricate relationships among these cardiovascular variability measures and arterial stiffness could contribute toward better individualized treatment for hypertension in the future. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42022336703. Date of registration: 12/06/2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The coronavirus-19 pandemic has impacted the delivery of medical education in dermatology, leading to decreased patient contact. There arose a need to pioneer innovative teaching tools to augment current methods for now and beyond the pandemic. Objectives We aimed to assess the utility of three-dimensional (3D) images in the learning and teaching of dermatology by analysing the perceptions of medical undergraduates and faculty members in a qualitative and quantitative study. Methods Medical undergraduates (n=119) and dermatology faculty members (n=20) were recruited on a voluntary basis to watch a showcase session using a portable 3D imaging system allowing 3D images of skin lesions to be examined and digitally manipulated. After the session, participants filled in an anonymous questionnaire evaluating their perceptions. Results Of the 119 learners, most (> 84%) strongly agreed/agreed that (i) they would have more confidence in the field of dermatology; (ii) their ability to describe skin lesions would increase; (iii) their understanding of common dermatological conditions would increase; (iv) 3D images allow a greater approximation to real-life encounters than 2D images; and (v) learning with this modality would be useful. Of the 20 faculty members, most (> 84%) strongly agreed/agreed that (i) it is easier to teach with the aid of 3D images, and (ii) they would want access to 3D images during teaching sessions. Skin tumours were perceived to be learnt best via this modality in terms of showcasing topography (P<0.01) and close approximation to real-life (P<0.001). Overall, thematic analysis from qualitative analysis revealed that conditions learnt better with 3D images were those with surface changes and characteristic topography. Conclusions Our results show that the greatest utility of 3D images lies in conditions where lesions have skin surface changes in the form of protrusions or depressions, such as in skin tumours or ulcers. As such, 3D images can be useful teaching tools in dermatology, especially in conditions where appreciation of surface changes and topography is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance is fast spreading globally, leading to treatment failures and adverse clinical outcomes. This review focuses on the resistance mechanisms of the top five threatening pathogens identified by the World Health Organization's global priority pathogens list: carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and methicillin, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Several novel drug candidates have shown promising results from in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials. The novel drugs against carbapenem-resistant bacteria include LCB10-0200, apramycin, and eravacycline, while for Enterobacteriaceae, the drug candidates are LysSAP-26, DDS-04, SPR-206, nitroxoline, cefiderocol, and plazomicin. TNP-209, KBP-7072, and CRS3123 are agents against E. faecium, while Debio 1450, gepotidacin, delafloxacin, and dalbavancin are drugs against antibioticresistant S. aureus. In addition to these identified drug candidates, continued in vitro and in vivo studies are required to investigate small molecules with potential antibacterial effects screened by computational receptor docking. As drug discovery progresses, preclinical and clinical studies should also be extensively conducted on the currently available therapeutic agents to unravel their potential antibacterial effect and spectrum of activity, as well as safety and efficacy profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertain future due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the technological advancements may have altered young adults' experiences of romantic relationships. It is unclear whether individuals will continue to prefer traditional long-term romantic relationships (LTRR) or opt for short-term ones (STRR). This research describes how young adults in Malaysia perceive LTRR and STRR. Using the structured approach of the theory of social representations, data were collected from 512 participants; 238 (46.48%) male; Mage 21.75; majority were heterosexual and students, and analyzed using prototypical analysis to reveal high consensus elements. Five observations were made: (1) females prioritize "love" in both STRR and LTRR, while males prioritize "love" only in LTRR; (2) females prioritize "marriage" in LTRR, while males prioritize "trust," "comfort," and "stability." Males do not consider "marriage" as part of a LTRR; (3) both males and females view STRR positively, while LTRR are viewed more practically; (4) "sex" is a core element in STRR but is absent in LTRR; (5) males differentiate between STRR and LTRR with no overlapping elements. These findings provide insight into the social representations of romantic relationships among young adults in Malaysia and suggest future directions for research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict the biofilm communities present in the microbial fuel cells (MFCs), as well as the power generation from wastewater treatment. The ANN model was able to predict the total abundances of seven exoelectrogenic bacteria-associated genera, viz. Anaeromyxobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Comamonas, Desulfuromonas, Geobacter , and Pseudomonas for the MFCs based on the physicochemical properties of the sludge inocula, with accuracies in the range of 62∼92%. An additional ANN model was developed to integrate the biofilm results and predict the power generation from wastewater, with an accuracy of 84% when validating with literature studies. The results show that ANN is a useful tool for predicting the biofilm communities and power generation from MFCs, thus avoiding the necessity of conducting complex biofilm metagenome analysis, and greatly aiding future parametric investigation and scale-up studies. • Artificial neural network (ANN) model predicted power from microbial fuel cells. • ANN model predicted inoculum's biofilm communities from physicochemical properties. • Avoiding the necessity of complex metagenome analysis. • Correlating biofilm community in MFCs with power generation. • Models are potentially refined and tailored for real applications using wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser ablation (LA) has been evaluated for the minimally invasive thermal treatment of various cancers, but conventional unidirectional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided LA has limitations. Therefore, we developed a cylindrical laser diffuser to overcome the limitations of unidirectional EUS-guided LA. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies and safeties of EUS-guided LA using a novel cylindrical laser diffuser and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in vivo in swine pancreas. EUS-guided RFA (15 W, 30 s, 450 J) and cylindrical interstitial LA (CILA) (5 W, 90 s, 450 J) were applied to normal pancreatic tissue in six anesthetized pigs (three per group). Laboratory tests were performed at baseline, immediately after ablation (day 0), and 2 days after procedures (day 2). Two days after procedures, all pigs were sacrificed, and histopathological safety and efficacy assessments were performed. Technically, EUS-guided RFA and CILA were performed successfully in all cases. No major complications, including perforation or acute pancreatitis, occurred during the experiment in either group. All animals remained in excellent condition throughout the experimental period, and laboratory tests provided no evidence of a major complication. Average necrotic volumes in the RFA and CILA groups were 424.2 mm3 and 3747.4 mm3, respectively, and average necrotic volume was significantly larger in CILA group (p < 0.001). EUS-guided RFA and CILA had acceptable safety profiles in the normal swine pancreas model. Our findings indicate EUS-guided CILA has potential for the effective local treatment of pancreatic cancer as an alternative to EUS-guided RFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the frequency of diabetic gastroparesis and associated risk factors in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients who underwent assessments of solid gastric emptying time (GET) by technetium-99 m scintigraphy between May 2019 and December 2020. We categorized patients into three groups according to gastric retention of technetium-99 m: rapid (< 65% at 1 h or < 20% at 2 h), normal (≤60% at 2 h and/or ≤ 10% at 4 h), and delayed (> 60% at 2 h and/or > 10% at 4 h). Results: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were more likely to show abnormal GET than those without DM (119 [70.8%] vs. 16 [44.4%]). The mean glycated A1c was 10.3% in DM patients. DM patients with normal GET were significantly younger (57.2 years, P = 0.044) than those with delayed (65.0 years) or rapid GET (60.2 years). Fasting glucose levels were the lowest in the normal GET group and the highest in the rapid GET group (delayed: 176.3 mg/dL, normal: 151.2 mg/dL, rapid: 181.0 mg/dL, P = 0.030). However, glycated A1c was not significantly different among the delayed, normal, and rapid GET groups in patients with DM. Patients with delayed and rapid GET showed a higher frequency of retinopathy (6.0 vs. 15.5%, P = 0.001) and peripheral neuropathy (11.3 vs. 24.4%, P = 0.001) than those with normal GET. In the multinomial logistic regression analysis, retinopathy demonstrated a positive association with delayed GET, while nephropathy showed a significant negative correlation. Conclusion: DM gastroparesis in the clinical setting was not uncommon. Abnormal GET, including delayed and rapid GET, was associated with DM retinopathy or peripheral neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a novel coffee bean matrix certified reference material (CRM) for elemental analysis is described. The CRM was prepared by processing green coffee beans into a dry homogeneous powder. Mass fractions of elements in the CRM were measured using double isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (double ID-ICP-MS), and measurement results for eight elements (Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb) of sufficient quality were certified. The mass fraction range was from 0.09476 mg/kg (Cd) to 1908 mg/kg (Mg), with relative expanded uncertainty range of 0.66% (Cd) to 12% (Pb). Measurement results of two elements (Cr and Ni) with insufficient quality were provided for information only. During characterization, an effective approach for the measurement of isotopic abundances and molar masses of elements with high natural isotopic variations for double ID-ICP-MS was developed and applied. The CRM developed in the present study is expected to be a useful measurement standard for assuring the quality of measurement procedures for coffee beans or related materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on a novel strategy that combines deep learning and radiomics to predict epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using computed tomography (CT). A total of 1280 patients with NSCLC who underwent contrast-enhanced CT scans and EGFR mutation testing before treatment were selected for the final study. Regions of interest were segmented from the CT images to extract radiomics features and obtain tumor images. These tumor images were input into a convolutional neural network model to extract 512 image features, which were combined with radiographic features and clinical data to predict the EGFR mutation. The generalization performance of the model was evaluated using external institutional data. The internal and external datasets contained 324 and 130 EGFR mutants, respectively. Sex, height, weight, smoking history, and clinical stage were significantly different between the EGFR-mutant patient groups. The EGFR mutations were predicted by combining the radiomics and clinical features, and an external validation dataset yielded an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.7038. The model utilized 1280 tumor images, radiomics features, and clinical characteristics as input data and exhibited an AUC of approximately 0.81 and 0.78 during the primary cohort and external validation, respectively. These results indicate the feasibility of integrating radiomics analysis with deep learning for predicting EGFR mutations. CT-image-based genetic testing is a simple EGFR mutation prediction method, which can improve the prognosis of NSCLC patients and help establish personalized treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol ingested by humans can be analyzed via breath tests; however, approximately 1% can be excreted via the skin. In this paper, we present a capacitive sensor using hydrophobically treated anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) capable of detecting alcohol excreted through the epidermis. The degree of hydrophobicity based on the duration of exposure to 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane vapor comprising a small number of Si–NH2 functional groups on the AAO surface was confirmed and the optimal exposure time was confirmed to be 60 min. The hydrophobized AAO showed a 4.8% reduction in sensitivity to moisture. Simultaneously, the sensitivity of the sensor to ethanol decreased by only 12%. Lastly, the fabricated sensor was successfully operated by attaching it to an ankle-type breathalyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The letter to the editor discusses a study conducted in South Korea that examined the immune response to COVID-19 in healthcare workers. The study found that individuals with hybrid immunity, meaning they had both natural infection and vaccination, and higher levels of certain antibodies had a lower risk of subsequent infection. The study suggests that these antibody levels can be used as an indicator of protection against infection. However, baseline saliva IgA antibodies did not show a protective role. The study concludes that further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a type of Advance Medical Directive (AMD) that documents a patient's wishes or desire to refrain from Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), especially in the terminally ill patient. It is a sensitive issue in patient care and less is known on medical students awareness on the area. Aim: This study assessed the opinion, knowledge, awareness and familiarity toward Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order among undergraduate medical students from year 1 to 5 in Universiti Sains Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 250 undergraduate medical students using an online questionnaire on awareness towards DNR orders. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were applied to examine the distribution and association of DNR awareness among medical students with year of study, gender, race and religion. Results: The study indicated that most participants (84.4%) were familiar with DNR orders. There was no significant association between all 4 variables (year of study, gender, race and religion) with level of awareness among undergraduate medical students in HUSM. Conclusion: Undergraduate medical students have a good awareness on DNR orders. Despite having a multiracial and multi religion community, the medical students have similar patterns in their knowledge about DNR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Perception is an essential factor influencing smoking among adolescents. Thus, a valid tool for measuring perception is a requisite in smoking studies. This study further establishes the validity and reliability of a Malay language version of the Perception Towards Smoking Questionnaire (BMPTSQ) for assessing the perception of smoking among secondary school-going adolescents in Malaysia. METHODS We administered the BM-PTSQ to 669 secondary school students selected through multistage sampling; 60% of respondents were male (n=398), and 69.9% (n=463) were from rural areas. Respondents were aged 13--16 years, 36.4% (n=241) were 13 years, 40.0% (n=265) were 14 years, and 23.6% (n=156) were 16 years old. We used parallel and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the domains of the questionnaire. In addition, we also employed EFA, confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), and Cronbach's alpha to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the BM-PTSQ. RESULTS EFA and parallel analysis identified two domains in the BM-PTSQ that accounted for 62.9% of the observed variance, and CFA confirmed the two-domain structure. The two domains' internal consistency scores ranged from 0.702 to 0.80, which suggested adequate reliability. CONCLUSIONS The BM-PTSQ has acceptable psychometric validity and is appropriate for assessing smoking perception and intention among Malaysian secondary school-aged youth. Researchers should further evaluate this tool's applicability in a more sociodemographically diverse population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germanium–tin (GeSn) alloys at sufficiently high Sn concentration, above several atomic percent, are the only group IV semiconductor exhibiting a direct bandgap and have generated much recent interest for optoelectronic applications into the mid-infrared region. Because the large lattice mismatch between GeSn and Si results in considerable strain for thin layers and a high defect density for thicker strain-relaxed layers, most reported GeSn growths incorporate a Ge buffer layer rather than depositing directly on Si substrates. Published reports of GeSn growth directly on Si utilize specialized precursors such as higher order germanes (Ge2H6, Ge3H8, or Ge4H10) or SnD4. In this paper, we report GeSn films with up to 10.6% Sn grown directly on Si substrates by remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using GeH4 and SnCl4 precursors. These alloys have been characterized in detail using x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry with channeling (RBS-C), as well as Raman spectroscopy (RS) and optical microscopy. The films studied are almost fully relaxed, with small residual strain observed, particularly in thinner films, and contain a high interface density of misfit dislocations that increases with Sn concentration. The defect density decreases toward the surface. Good agreement is found between the various characterization methods for the Sn content (XRD and RBS-C), lattice parameter measurement (XRD and TEM), and defect characterization (RBS-C, TEM, and RS). Such characterization of GeSn grown directly on Si substrates is essential to allow growth parameters to be optimized for the realization of the attractive optoelectronic properties of these alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]