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Background/Aims: The prevalence of rectal cancer is increasing every year due to changes in living and eating habits. Early diagnosis contributes to the treatment and survival of patients. This study investigated the feasibility of employing SLC26A4-AS1 combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: The current study involved 125 patients with rectal cancer and an equal number of healthy individuals. The study focused on assessing the relationship between SLC26A4-AS1 expression and clinical data among patients with rectal cancer by analyzing the expression levels. MRI blood perfusion parameters (Ktrans, Kep, Ve, and incremental area under the curve (iAUC)) were measured in the patients with rectal cancer. The regulation of SLC26A4-AS1 on the biological function of rectal cancer cells was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. Furthermore, luciferase activity assays and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assay (RIP) were conducted to elucidate the relationship between SLC26A4-AS1 and microRNA-3174 (miR-3174). Results: A significant reduction in SLC26A4-AS1 expression was observed in rectal cancer alongside a significant increase in miR-3174 levels. SLC26A4-AS1 expression was negatively correlated with Ktrans and Kep values, but not with Ve or iAUC values. Cell experiments confirmed the inhibitory effect of SLC26A4-AS1 overexpression on the growth of rectal cancer cells. Additionally, SLC26A4-AS1 sponged miR-3174 mediated the progression of rectal cancer. The enriched miR-3174 may counteract the suppression of the biological activity of oe-SLC26A4-AS1 on rectal cancer cells. Conclusion: SLC26A4-AS1 may serve as a diagnostic tool for rectal cancer, mediating tumor progression by directly targeting miR-3174.

To investigate the variation in pepper quality across different regions, three pepper varieties (Jiao yang 6, La yan 101 and Zhuo jiao xin 52) were selected and planted in Guizhou, Yunnan, Chongqing, Shaanxi and Xinjian Provinces. In order to provide reference for the selection of pepper varieties in different regions, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were employed to evaluate the suitability of each pepper variety for its region by determining the peppers' nutritional quality, such as capsaicin, reducing sugar, amino acids, crude fibre, crude fat, capsaicin. The study revealed that significant variations presented in pepper quality across different producing areas and the coefficient of variation ranged from 5.79% to 50.29%. Among them, capsaicin content varied the most with origin. Notably, the average coefficient of variation was 41.94% for capsaicin and was about 8% for crude fiber and amino acids. The comprehensive evaluation of La yan 101 variety was the highest, then Zhuo jiao xin 52 was the second by principal component analysis. Meanwhile, all three varieties showed higher quality scores when planted in Guizhou Province compared to other four regions. In summary, peppers quality varied significantly among different regions and La yan 101 planted in Guizhou demonstrated the best quality performance. Thus we concluded that these peppers planted in Guizhou Province had quality advantages to other four provinces.

Abstract The association between lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) and triglyceride (TG) levels has been extensively studied; however, the results remain controversial. Therefore, this research aimed to elucidate the association of TG levels with lumbar BMD in patients with osteoporotic fractures (OPFs) who have undergone surgery. This cross-sectional study analyzed 3,558 OPF patients (aged 50 years and above) who were admitted to the First People’s Hospital of Kunshan and assessed their TG levels, lumbar BMD, and other variables. The outcome variable of this research was bone density, whereas the baseline glycerol trihydrate levels were considered as the exposure variable. An analysis adjustment was conducted for various covariates, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and other baseline laboratory and clinical results. Furthermore, the potential non-linear relationships were assessed via the smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses. The mean age of 3,558 included OPF patients was 68.87 ± 10.55 years. In the fully adjusted multivariate regression analysis, a positive correlation was found between TG levels and lumbar BMD (β = 0.015, 95% CI: 0.001–0.028, p = 0.033). Furthermore, the threshold effect analysis revealed a curvilinear relationship between TG levels and lumbar BMD, with a turning point at 1.26 mmol/L. Moreover, on both sides of the turning point, different patterns were observed. On the left side, TG levels were positively correlated with lumbar BMD. However, despite higher TG levels, the differences in lumbar BMD on the right side of the turning point, were not statistically significant, indicating a lack of significant association (p = 0.712). In summary, this research indicated that in OPF patients, higher TG levels were significantly positively associated with lumbar BMD. Furthermore, there was a threshold value of 1.26 mmol/L, indicating that TG levels in OPF patients with concomitant hypertriglyceridemia should be maintained within the normal range, and reducing TG levels below 1.26 mmol/L requires continuous monitoring. This approach effectively controls TG levels without adversely impacting lumbar BMD.

Abstract In recent years, the application of deep learning models to protein-ligand docking and affinity prediction, both vital for structure-based drug design, has garnered increasing interest. However, many of these models overlook the intricate modeling of interactions between ligand and protein atoms in the complex, consequently limiting their capacity for generalization and interpretability. In this work, we propose Interformer, a unified model built upon the Graph-Transformer architecture. The proposed model is designed to capture non-covalent interactions utilizing an interaction-aware mixture density network. Additionally, we introduce a negative sampling strategy, facilitating an effective correction of interaction distribution for affinity prediction. Experimental results on widely used and our in-house datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and universality of the proposed approach. Extensive analyses confirm our claim that our approach improves performance by accurately modeling specific protein-ligand interactions. Encouragingly, our approach advances docking tasks state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance.

Abstract Background Titanium plantar plates have proven successful in the fixation of the first tarsometatarsal arthrodesis (TMT). However, a second surgery is typically needed for implant removal, and potential adverse effects, carried by the conventional implantations, are not uncommon. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a novel magnesium-based plantar plate system provides similar fusion stability to a titanium-based plantar plate system under various loading conditions. Methods Six matched-pair human cadaveric specimens underwent TMT fusions using either a magnesium plantar plate system prototype or a titanium plantar plate system. Specimens were cyclically loaded with a force ranging from 5 N to 50 N for 5,000 cycles, and displacement was recorded. Axial stiffness (N/mm) was calculated from load-displacement curves. Each specimen was loaded to failure at a rate of 5 mm/min, and the ultimate load was recorded. Results No significant difference was found in the vertical displacement between Ti group and Mg group after 100 cycles (2.4 ± 1.0 mm vs. 1.3 ± 1.4 mm, p = 0.196), 500 cycles (3.3 ± 1.3 mm vs. 1.7 ± 1.7 mm, p = 0.142), 1,000 cycles (3.7 ± 1.5 mm vs. 1.9 ± 1.9 mm, p = 0.128), 2,500 cycles (4.2 ± 1.7 mm vs. 2.3 ± 2.2 mm, p = 0.172) and 5,000 cycles (4.5 ± 1.8 mm vs. 2.3 ± 3.3 mm, p = 0.125), Additionally, no significant differences were observed in initial stiffness (53.1 ± 19.2 N/mm vs. 82.2 ± 53.9 N/mm, p = 0.257), final stiffness (90.6 ± 48.9 N/mm vs. 120.0 ± 48.3 N/mm, p = 0.319), or maximum load-to-failure (259.8 ± 98.2 N vs. 323.9 ± 134.9 N, p = 0.369). Conclusions Based on the performed biomechanical testing, the magnesium plantar plate system provides mechanical stability equivalent to the titanium plantar plate system in fixation for the first TMT joint fusion.

Abstract Depression frequently comorbidities with cancer, adversely affecting survivors’ quality of life. Liver dysfunction is also prevalent among cancer survivors. However, the association between these two conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between depression and liver function biomarkers in US cancer survivors. A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2020. Cancer survivors were screened and depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and 18 liver function biomarkers were included. Survey-weighted generalized linear models with multiple covariables adjusted were employed to examine the associations between depression and liver function biomarkers. A total of 4118 cancer survivors were included, representing a weighted population of 21 501 237. After adjusted with age, gender, race, marital status, education level, family income-to-poverty ratio, and number of cancer types, 8 biomarkers demonstrated positive correlations with depression in cancer survivors, included alanine aminotransferase (ALT, OR = 1.007, 95% CI: 1.000 to 1.013), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, 1.006 [1.002, 1.010]), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT, 1.004 [1.001, 1.007]), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 1.004 [1.000, 1.009]), total protein (TP, 1.040 [1.009, 1.072]), globulin (GLB, 1.060 [1.030, 1.091]), total cholesterol (TC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (1.162 [1.050, 1.286]), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to HDL-C ratio (1.243 [1.012, 1.526]); while 4 other biomarkers exhibited negative correlations, included HDL-C (0.988 [0.980, 0.997]), total bilirubin (TBi, 0.501 [0.284, 0.883]), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to ALT ratio (0.588 [0.351, 0.986]), albumin (ALB) to GLB ratio (0.384 [0.229, 0.642]). Following sensitivity analysis, 5 biomarkers included LDH, HDL-C, TBi, AST/ALT and LDL-C/HDL-C lost their statistical significance for the association. This study identified certain associations between 7 liver function biomarkers and depression in US cancer survivors. Further research, particularly prospective longitudinal studies, is warranted to elucidate the causal relationships and explore the potential of improving liver function for the management of depression in cancer patients.

Abstract Embedded Dynamic RAM (eDRAM) has become a key solution for large-capacity cache in high-performance processors. A heterogeneous two transistor capacitorless eDRAM (2T-eDRAM) that combines silicon and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is reported to address the short retention issue in conventional gain cell (GC) eDRAMs meanwhile eliminate the pillar capacitor in one transistor and one capacitor (1T1C) eDRAMs. The MoS2 write transistor with low OFF current (IOFF) enables long data retention, while the Si read transistor offers high drive current and logic compatibility. This combination enhances data retention by 1000 times and sense margin by 100 times respectively compared to full Si and MoS2 counterparts. A three-dimensional (3D) design stacking MoS2 on Si is demonstrated with back-end-of-line (BEOL) process to double integration density. With 6000 s data retention, 35 μA/μm sense margin, 5 ns access speeds, 3D integration and CMOS logic compatibility, this Si-MoS2 eDRAM marks a significant advancement in memory technology.

Abstract Fertility punishment is a powerful interpretation of the low birth rate in contemporary China, but it is not consistent with the fact that the proportion of second children has been increasing year by year for some time. From the perspective of Bandura’s “Self-efficacy”, based on the post-80 s and post-90 s youth samples in the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents 2021, this paper explores the quantitative relationship between the number of children and individual self-efficacy. The data indicates that: (1) Fertility is closely linked to self-efficacy, with young people who have two children exhibiting higher self-efficacy; (2) The quantitative relationship between the number of children and self-efficacy varies based on parental roles—men/fathers show almost no change in self-efficacy when moving from having no children to one child, but demonstrate a significant increase in self-efficacy when they have two children. In contrast, women/mothers experience the lowest self-efficacy when having one child, which only shows a significant improvement when they have two children. These findings provide a new perspective for theoretically explaining the current fertility situation and expand the application of self-efficacy. In terms of policy efforts, it is necessary to provide support for women’s one-child fertility, and to increase the publicity of the view of more children and more efficacy to resist the potential energy of low fertility that arises from the view of more children and more burdens.

Abstract Impact ionization effect has been demonstrated in transistors to enable sub-60 mV dec−1 subthreshold swing. However, traditionally, impact ionization in silicon devices requires a high operation voltage due to limited electrical field near the device drain, contradicting the low energy operation purpose. Here, we report a vertical subthreshold swing device composed of a graphene/silicon heterojunction drain and a silicon channel. This structure creates a low voltage avalanche impact ionization phenomenon and leads to steep switching of the silicon-based device. Experimental measurements reveal a small average subthreshold swing of 16 µV dec−1 over 6 decades of drain current and nearly hysteresis-free, and the operating voltage at which a vertical subthreshold swing occurs can be as low as 0.4 V at room temperature. Furthermore, a complementary silicon-based logic inverter is experimentally demonstrated to reach a voltage gain of 311 at a supply voltage of 2 V.

Abstract Objective We aim to develop a predictive model for lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics features. Methods A total of 204 patients with IBC admitted to our hospital were included in this retrospective study. The data was split into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. Feature normalization was conducted, followed by feature selection using ANOVA, correlation analysis, and LASSO in the training set. The final step involved building a logistic regression model. The LVI prediction models were established by single sequence image and combined different sequence images as follows: A: prediction model based on the optimal sequence in the 7-phase enhanced MRI scans; B: prediction model based on the optimal sequences in the sequences T1WI, T2WI, and DWI; and C: the combined model based on the optimal sequences selected from A and B. Subjects' work characteristic curves (ROC) and decision curves (DCA) were plotted to determine the extent to which they predicted LVI performance in the training and validation sets. Simultaneously, nomogram models were constructed by integrating radiomics features and independent risk factors. In addition, an additional 16 patients from the center between January and August 2024 were collected as the Nomogram external validation set. The ROC and DCA were used to evaluate the performance of the model. Results In the enhanced images, Model A built based on the enhanced 2-phase achieved the best average AUC, with a validation set of 0.764. Model B built based on the T2WI had better results, with a validation set of 0.693. Model C built by combining enhanced 2-phase and T2WI sequences had a mean AUC of 0.705 in the validation set. In addition, the tumor size, whether the tumor boundary was clear or not, and whether there was a coelom in the tumor tissue had a statistically significant effect on the LVI of IBC, and a clinical-radiomics nomogram was established. DCAs as well as Nomogram also indicate that Model A has good clinical utility. The AUC of the nomogram in the training set, internal validation set, and external validation set were 0.703, 0.615, and 0.609, respectively. The DCA also showed that the radiomics nomogram combined with clinical factors had good predictive ability for LVI. Conclusion In IBC, MRI radiomics can serve as a noninvasive predictor of LVI. The clinical-MRI radiomics model, as an efficient visual prognostic tool, shows promise in forecasting LVI. This highlights the significant potential of pre-radiomics prediction in enhancing treatment strategies.

Abstract Background How to reduce the high incidence rate and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) effectively is the focus of current research. Endoscopic treatment of early-stage CRC and colorectal adenomas (CAC) has a high success rate, but although several treatments are available for advanced CRC, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, the 5-year survival rate remains low. In view of the high incidence rate and mortality of CRC, early rational drug prevention for high-risk groups and exploration of alternative treatment modalities are particularly warranted. Summary Gut microbiota is the target of and interacts with probiotics, prebiotics, aspirin, metformin, and various Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) for the prevention of CRC. In addition, the anti-cancer mechanisms of probiotics differ widely among bacterial strains, and both bacterial strains and their derivatives and metabolites have been found to have anti-cancer effects. Gut microbiota plays a significant role in early drug prevention of CRC and treatment of CRC in its middle and late stages, targeting gut microbiota may be a new strategy for colorectal cancer treatment.

Abstract Objective This study aims to conduct an unbiased assessment of the synergistic effects of non-pharmacological Interventions of intermittent fasting and pulsed radiofrequency energy (PRFE) combination therapy on the facilitation of diabetic wound healing, while also exploring the underlying mechanisms. The findings of this research will provide a theoretical framework and innovative strategy for unconventional therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing the healing process of diabetes-related wounds. Methods In vivo experiments involved the induction of diabetic models in C57 mice through streptozotocin injection. To simulate a combined therapeutic approach, diabetic mice underwent fasting on days 2 and 6, accompanied by twice daily PRFE applications for 8 days. In vitro experiments were conducted using a serum-free culture medium to replicate fasting conditions. The investigation encompassed wound healing rate, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, fibrogenesis, and sensory nerve growth through histological analysis and functional assessments in vivo. Additionally, this study utilized quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence staining techniques to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of intermittent Fasting and PRFE combination therapy in diabetic wound healing, both in vitro and in vivo. Results The intermittent fasting and PRFE combination therapy demonstrated superior efficacy in enhancing diabetic wound healing compared to either treatment alone. It harnessed the respective strengths of individual therapies, fostering migration, mitigating oxidative stress, and enhancing fibrogenesis. Furthermore, the combination therapy manifested a synergistic effect in promoting proliferation, tube formation, angiogenesis, and sensory nerve growth. Conclusion This study demonstrates that intermittent fasting and PRFE combination therapy enhance diabetic wound healing, effectively leveraging the strengths of both therapies and even yielding synergistic benefits. Moreover, it indicates the potential engagement of the P75/HIF1A/VEGFA axis in mediating these effects.

The rate of retear after surgical repair remains high. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively employed in regenerative medicine for several decades. However, safety and ethical concerns constrain their clinical application. Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells (TSPCs)-derived exosomes have emerged as promising cell-free therapeutic agents. Therefore, urgent studies are needed to investigate whether TSPC-Exos could enhance tendon-bone healing and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In this study, TSPC-Exos were found to promote the proliferation, migration, and expression of fibrogenesis markers in BMSCs. Furthermore, TSPC-Exos demonstrated an ability to suppress the polarization of M1 macrophages while promoting M2 macrophage polarization. In a rat model of rotator cuff repair, TSPC-Exos modulated inflammation and improved the histological structure of the tendon-bone interface, the biomechanical properties of the repaired tendon, and the function of the joint. Mechanistically, TSPC-Exos exhibited high expression of miR-21a-5p, which regulated the expression of PDCD4. The PDCD4/AKT/mTOR axis was implicated in the therapeutic effects of TSPC-Exos on proliferation, migration, and fibrogenesis in BMSCs. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing TSPC-Exos therapy as a promising strategy for cell-free therapies, potentially benefiting patients with rotator cuff tear in the future.

Abstract The need for equitable access to primary healthcare services in the current global context has attracted widespread attention, prompting nations to continuously enhance their grassroots medical service levels. In response, China launched the "Healthy China" initiative, which prioritizes the enhancement of national health as a core goal of the healthcare system and uses this opportunity to deepen reforms aimed at strengthening primary care. However, in remote and rural areas, the optimization of medical resource allocation and the achievement of balanced service development remain critical challenges owing to limited resources. This study selected Liannan Yao Autonomous County, which is situated in the northwestern corner of Guangdong Province, as a case study due to its remote mountainous location, underdeveloped economy, and minority region characteristics. Through field research and interviews, this study thoroughly explored the needs of both supply and demand, factoring in elements such as the service capability of healthcare facilities and residents' travel thresholds to enhance the two-step floating catchment area model, thus making it more applicable to remote villages. By integrating electric bikes and cars, which are the primary means of transportation in rural areas, this study conducted a thorough analysis and comparison of the accessibility of medical services in Liannan Yao Autonomous County (Liannan County) . The results reveal significant disparities in healthcare accessibility, an uneven distribution of medical resources, and varying impacts of transportation conditions and facility service capabilities on accessibility. Notably, the study revealed that improving transportation conditions alone has limited effects in rural areas; the key lies in balancing medical service capabilities and the rationality of overall layouts. From the perspectives of equity and efficiency, this study employs the equitable coverage model and the efficiency-driven model to construct two scenarios, comparing accessibility changes in Liannan County under both conditions and proposing strategies to improve the spatial layout of local healthcare facilities. This research not only deepens the understanding of healthcare service accessibility in rural areas but also provides a scientific basis for optimizing resource allocation and enhancing primary medical services, offering valuable guidance and reference for Liannan County and other similar rural regions.

Abstract Spiking neural networks and neuromorphic hardware platforms that simulate neuronal dynamics are getting wide attention and are being applied to many relevant problems using Machine Learning. Despite a well-established mathematical foundation for neural dynamics, there exists numerous software and hardware solutions and stacks whose variability makes it difficult to reproduce findings. Here, we establish a common reference frame for computations in digital neuromorphic systems, titled Neuromorphic Intermediate Representation (NIR). NIR defines a set of computational and composable model primitives as hybrid systems combining continuous-time dynamics and discrete events. By abstracting away assumptions around discretization and hardware constraints, NIR faithfully captures the computational model, while bridging differences between the evaluated implementation and the underlying mathematical formalism. NIR supports an unprecedented number of neuromorphic systems, which we demonstrate by reproducing three spiking neural network models of different complexity across 7 neuromorphic simulators and 4 digital hardware platforms. NIR decouples the development of neuromorphic hardware and software, enabling interoperability between platforms and improving accessibility to multiple neuromorphic technologies. We believe that NIR is a key next step in brain-inspired hardware-software co-evolution, enabling research towards the implementation of energy efficient computational principles of nervous systems. NIR is available at neuroir.org

Abstract Current potentiometric sensing methods are limited to detecting nitrate at parts-per-billion (sub-micromolar) concentrations, and there are no existing potentiometric chemical sensors with ultralow detection limits below the parts-per-trillion (picomolar) level. To address these challenges, we integrate interdigital graphene ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) with a nitrate ion-sensitive membrane (ISM). The work aims to maximize nitrate ion transport through the nitrate ISM, while achieving high device transconductance by evaluating graphene layer thickness, optimizing channel width-to-length ratio (R WL), and enlarging total sensing area. The captured nitrate ions by the nitrate ISM induce surface potential changes that are transduced into electrical signals by graphene, manifested as the Dirac point shifts. The device exhibits Nernst response behavior under ultralow concentrations, achieving a sensitivity of 28 mV/decade and establishing a record low limit of detection of 0.041 ppt (4.8 × 10−13 M). Additionally, the sensor showed a wide linear detection range from 0.1 ppt (1.2 × 10−12 M) to 100 ppm (1.2 × 10−3 M). Furthermore, successful detection of nitrate in tap and snow water was demonstrated with high accuracy, indicating promising applications to drinking water safety and environmental water quality control.

Abstract Given the surpassing of the Shockley-Quiesser efficiency limit in conventional p-n junction photovoltaic effect, bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) has garnered significant research interest. However, the BPVE primarily focuses on a narrow wavelength range, limiting its potential applications. Here we report a giant infrared bulk photovoltaic effect in tellurene (Te) for broad-spectrum neuromodulation. The generated photocurrent in uniformly illuminated Te excludes other photoelectric effects and is attributed to the BPVE. The bulk photovoltaic wavelength in Te spans a wide range from the ultraviolet (390 nm) to the mid-infrared (3.8 µm). Moreover, the photocurrent density of 70.4 A cm−2 under infrared light simulation outperforms that in previous ultraviolet and visible semiconductors as well as infrared semimetals. Te attached to the dendrites or somata of the cortical neurons successfully elicit action potentials under broad-spectrum light irradiation. This work lays the foundation for the further development of infrared BPVE in narrow bandgap materials.

Abstract Objective To compare therapeutic outcomes of predicted proliferative and nonproliferative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after microwave ablation (MWA) using a previously developed imaging-based predictive model, the SMARS score. Methods This multicenter retrospective study included consecutive 635 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent MWA between August 2013 and September 2020. Patients were stratified into predicted proliferative and nonproliferative phenotypes according to the SMARS score. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared between the predicted proliferative and nonproliferative HCCs before and after propensity score matching (PSM). OS and RFS were also compared between the two groups in subgroups of tumor size smaller than 30 mm and tumor size 30–50 mm. Results The SMARS score classified 127 and 508 patients into predicted proliferative and nonproliferative HCCs, respectively. The predicted proliferative HCCs exhibited worse RFS but equivalent OS when compared with nonproliferative HCCs before (p < 0.001 for RFS; p = 0.166 for OS) and after (p < 0.001 for RFS; p = 0.456 for OS) matching. Regarding subgroups of tumor size smaller than 30 mm (p = 0.098) and tumor size 30–50 mm (p = 0.680), the OSs were similar between the two groups. However, predicted proliferative HCCs had worse RFS compared to nonproliferative HCCs in the subgroup of tumor size 30–50 mm (p < 0.001), while the RFS did not differ in the subgroup of tumor size smaller than 30 mm (p = 0.141). Conclusion Predicted proliferative HCCs have worse RFS than nonproliferative ones after MWA, especially in tumor size larger than 30 mm. However, the phenotype of the tumor may not affect the OS. Critical relevance statement Before performing microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma, the tumor phenotype should be considered because it may affect the therapeutic outcome. Key Points Proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be identified using the SMARS score, an imaging-based predictive model. SMARS predicted proliferative HCCs have worse recurrence-free and equivalent overall survival compared to nonproliferative HCC after microwave ablation. Tumor phenotype should be considered before performing microwave ablation. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Factor XII (FXII) is the zymogen of the plasma protease FXIIa that activates the intrinsic coagulation pathway and the kallikrein kinin-system. The role of FXII in inflammation has been obscure. Here, we report a single-domain antibody (nanobody, Nb) fused to the Fc region of a human immunoglobulin (Nb-Fc) that recognizes FXII in a conformation-dependent manner and interferes with FXIIa formation. Nb-Fc treatment inhibited arterial thrombosis in male mice without affecting hemostasis. In a mouse model of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), FXII inhibition or knockout reduced thrombus deposition on oxygenator membranes and systemic microvascular thrombi. ECMO increased circulating levels of D-dimer, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and TNF-α and triggered microvascular neutrophil adherence, platelet aggregation and their interaction, which were substantially attenuated by FXII blockade. Both Nb-Fc treatment and FXII knockout markedly ameliorated immune complex-induced local vasculitis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-induced systemic vasculitis, consistent with selectively suppressed neutrophil migration. In human blood microfluidic analysis, Nb-Fc treatment prevented collagen-induced fibrin deposition and neutrophil adhesion/activation. Thus, FXII is an important mediator of inflammatory responses in vasculitis and ECMO, and Nb-Fc provides a promising approach to alleviate thrombo-inflammatory disorders.

Abstract Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) studs are key components of nuclear reactors, and their connection with flange ensures the sealing of the RPV under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. In the present work, the external threads of the RPV stud were prepared by triaxial rolling, and the texture evolution of the external thread root material of an RPV stud was predicted by finite element analysis coupled with viscoplastic self-consistent simulations. The microstructure of the external thread root material of RPV stud was characterized by scanning electron microscope and electron back-scattered diffraction. The installation characteristics of the turned and rolled parts of the RPV stud were tested by installation and pretightening tests. It was found that the dynamic recrystallization at the external thread root formed ultrafine tempered sorbite grains, high-angle grain boundaries (47%), and strong {111} and {111} textures. In the installation and pretightening test, the residual elongation of rolled parts was reduced by 6% under the same loading pressure. The triaxial rolling process distributed the microstructure of the external thread root of the RPV stud in a gradient manner, resulting in improved stud installation characteristics.

In this work, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) with a fluoride-based electrolyte was performed on Mg-0.45Ca-xZn (x = 0, 0.45, 1.0, 2.0 wt%) alloys to enhance their degradation properties. These PEO coatings were composed of a porous layer and a barrier layer for alloys with Zn ≥ 0.45 wt%, while the coating on Mg-0.45Ca alloy was consisted of a dense inner layer and a porous outer layer. The content of Zn in the alloy has no significant effect on the hardness, adhesion strength and composition of the PEO coating. All coated-Mg-0.45Ca-xZn samples in this work showed decent anti-degradation properties in the simulated body fluid (SBF). Among them, PEO coatings on Mg-0.45Ca-1.0Zn and Mg-0.45Ca-2.0Zn alloys could provide excellent protection to the substrate over 3 months and exhibited good biocompatibility with Grade 0–1 of cytotoxicity, which were expected to be applied in the biomedical field. Besides, PEO process in this work enabled a high-quality coating to be formed on Mg–Ca–Zn bone screws.

MgLi alloys are one of the lightest structural materials, but suffer from severe corrosion due to the hyperactivity of Mg and Li. In this work, an electrically conductive and corrosion-resistant chemical conversion coating was fabricated on a duplex MgLi alloy LA103Z by two different routes: the first route using a conventional immersion treatment (Im-PCCs); and the second route using a brushing conversion treatment (Br-PCCs). Results demonstrate that chemical composition of conversion coatings remained, but surface morphology was altered. The Im-PCC depicts many lamellar CaHPO4 when the immersion time was longer than 60 s. The Br-PCC shows no lamellas on surface till a treatment time of 120 s. These lamellar crystals are detrimental to the electrical contact resistance (ECR), and the ECR for the Br-PCC was one order of magnitude lower than that for the Im-PCCs. Corrosion resistance for Br-PCCs, however, was slightly lower than Im-PCCs.

Abstract Owing to their capability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under solar irradiation, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with pre-designable structure and unique architectures show great potentials for water purification. However, the sluggish charge separation, inefficient oxygen activation and poor structure stability in COFs restrict their practical applications to decontaminate water. Herein, via a facile one-pot synthetic strategy, we show the direct conversion of reversible imine linkage into rigid thiazole linkage can adjust the π-conjugation and local charge polarization of skeleton to boost the exciton dissociation on COFs. The rigid linkage can also improve the robustness of skeleton and the stability of COFs during the consecutive utilization process. More importantly, the thiazole linkage in COFs with optimal C 2p states (COF-S) effectively increases the activities of neighboring benzene unit to directly modulate the O2-adsorption energy barrier and improve the ROS production efficiency, resulting in the excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency of seven toxic emerging contaminants (e.g. degrading ~99% of 5 mg L−1 paracetamol in only 7 min) and effective bacterial/algal inactivation performance. Besides, COF-S can be immobilized in continuous-flow reactor and in enlarged reactor to efficiently eliminate pollutants under natural sunlight irradiation, demonstrating the feasibility for practical application.

Abstract Background The current clinical management of carotid atherosclerosis is based on the control of risk factors and medicine. However, the risk of adverse events associated with the medicine resulting in concerns and low medication compliance makes it necessary to seek a safer alternative therapy. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for carotid atherosclerosis. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were included and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive real acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 12 weeks. The follow-up period was 12 weeks. The primary outcome included carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), plaque score (PS), plaque volume (PV) and grey-scale median (GSM). Secondary outcome was pulse wave velocity (PWV). Adverse events results were recorded as safety outcomes. Results From January 2021 to February 2022, 60 eligible patients were included. 55 patients (91.7%) completed the intervention and the 12-week follow-up and there was no statistical difference in demographics between the groups. At the end of treatment, the real acupuncture group had significantly reduced PS (P = 0.002), PV (P = 0.000), and improved GSM (P = 0.044). There was no significant difference in the reduction in cIMT (Left cIMT: P = 0.338, Right cIMT: P = 0.204) and PWV between the groups (the left BS: P = 0.429; the left ES: P = 0.701; the right BS: P = 0.211; the right ES: P = 0.083). Three mild adverse reactions occurred during the study. Conclusion This study found that acupuncture had a certain effect on reducing the thickness and volume of carotid plaque and improving the stability of plaque with minor side effects. These findings suggest that acupuncture may be a potential alternative therapy for carotid atherosclerosis. Trial registration This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ChiCTR2100041762). Submitted 30 December 2020, Registered 4 January 2021 Prospectively registered.

Abstract To investigate whether peritumoral edema (PE) could enhance deep learning radiomic (DLR) model in predicting axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) burden in breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer patients with preoperative MRI were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into low (

Abstract A single-atom catalyst with generally regarded inert Zn–N4 motifs derived from ZIF-8 is unexpectedly efficient for the activation of alcohols, enabling alcohol-mediated alkylation and transfer hydrogenation. C-alkylation of nitriles, ketones, alcohols, N-heterocycles, amides, keto acids, and esters, and N-alkylation of amines and amides all go smoothly with the developed method. Taking the α-alkylation of nitriles with alcohols as an example, the α-alkylation starts from the (1) nitrogen-doped carbon support catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols into aldehydes, which further condensed with nitriles to give vinyl nitriles, followed by (2) transfer hydrogenation of C=C bonds in vinyl nitriles on Zn–N4 sites. The experimental results and DFT calculations reveal that the Lewis acidic Zn-N4 sites promote step (2) by activating the alcohols. This is the first example of highly efficient single-atom catalysts for various organic transformations with biomass-derived alcohols as the alkylating reagents and hydrogen donors.

Highlights Negative charged acidic polarity (NCAP) has been unveiled as the guideline for selecting additives to regulate electric double layer (EDL) for Zn-ion batteries. NCAP glutamate has been verified to regulate EDL structure with synergetic effects, including preferential adsorption on Zn anode and reconstruction of hydrated Zn-ion clusters. Adding NCAP additives, Zn|Cu half-cell achieves a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.83% for 2000 cycles, and NH4V4O10|Zn full cell realizes a high-capacity retention of 82.1% for 3000 cycles.

Abstract Salt‐sensitive hypertension is common among individuals with essential hypertension, and the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has increased. However, data from early identification of the risk of developing LVH in young adults with salt‐sensitive hypertension are lacking. Thus, the present study aimed to design a nomogram for predicting the risk of developing LVH in young adults with salt‐sensitive hypertension. A retrospective analysis of 580 patients with salt‐sensitive hypertension was conducted. The training set consisted of 70% (n = 406) of the patients, while the validation set consisted of the remaining 30% (n = 174). Based on multivariate analysis of the training set, predictors for LVH were extracted to develop a nomogram. Discrimination curves, calibration curves, and clinical utility were employed to assess the predictive performance of the nomogram. The final simplified nomogram model included age, sex, office systolic blood pressure, duration of hypertension, abdominal obesity, triglyceride‐glucose index, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In the training set, the model demonstrated moderate discrimination, as indicated by an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.863 (95% confidence interval: 0.831–0.894). The calibration curve exhibited good agreement between the predicted and actual probabilities of LVH in the training set. Additionally, the validation set further confirmed the reliability of the prediction nomogram. In conclusions, the simplified nomogram, which consists of seven routine clinical variables, has shown good performance and clinical utility in identifying young adults with salt‐sensitive hypertension who are at high risk of LVH at an early stage.

Thyroid diseases are increasingly prevalent, posing significant challenges to patients’ quality of life and placing substantial financial burdens on families and society. Despite these impacts, the underlying pathophysiology of many thyroid conditions remains poorly understood, complicating efforts in treatment, management, and prevention. Observational studies can identify associations between exposure variables and disease; however, they often struggle to account for confounding factors and reverse causation. Understanding disease occurrence, epidemiological trends, and clinical diagnosis, prevention, and treatment relies heavily on robust etiological research. Mendelian randomization, a method grounded in genetics and epidemiology, has been widely employed in studying the etiology of thyroid diseases, offering a solution to some of these challenges. This paper categorizes thyroid diseases into thyroid dysfunction and thyroid cancer, reviewing related Mendelian randomization studies. It further provides novel perspectives and approaches for investigating the mechanisms underlying thyroid diseases and designing intervention strategies.

Abstract To address the issues of high demand for efficiently recognizing fish species in marine scientific research, such as impact assessments on biodiversity and monitoring, an automated hierarchical image classification web‐based platform, named FishAI, was developed. Trained with marine fish images collected from the World Register of Marine Species, FishAI used the Vision Transformer (ViT) model, to classify fish. The model considers hierarchy levels, covering 3 classes, 38 orders, 154 families, 438 genera, and 808 species. The FishAI achieved accuracies of 0.975 (Class), 0.798 (Order), 0.743 (Family), 0.638 (Genus), and 0.626 (Species) on test images, respectively, by using the hyperparameter optimization. Comparison between ViT and other baseline backbones proves its superiority by capturing long‐distance dependency. In addition, FishAI yields the top‐5 prediction accuracies of 1.000 (Class), 0.887 (Order), 0.816 (Family), 0.729 (Genus), and 0.727 (Species), respectively. In order to further enhance the practicality of FishAI, the user‐friendly graphic interface (http://www.csbio.sjtu.edu.cn/bioinf/FishAI/) facilitates its easy‐to‐use application. Furthermore, interpretability analysis by Grad‐CAM provides a visual explanation of the highlighted regions on the images for FishAI's prediction among different hierarchies.

BackgroundObservational studies have reported changes in gut microbiota abundance caused by long-term statin medication therapy. However, the causal relation between statin medication and gut microbiota subsets based on genetic variants remains unclear.MethodsWe used genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on statin medication from the FinnGen database and gut microbiota abundance GWAS data from the IEU OpenGWAS project. A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to evaluate the causal effect of statin medication on gut microbiota abundance using the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median approach. Meanwhile, heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses were also undertaken in this study.ResultsStatin medication was negatively correlated with five species of gut microbiota abundance: Parabacteroides (BetaIVW = −0.2745, 95% CI = (−0.4422, −0.1068), and PIVW = 0.0013), Ruminococcaceae UCG-009 (BetaIVW = −0.1904, 95% CI = (−0.3255, −0.0553), and PIVW = 0.0057), Coprococcus 1 (BetaIVW = −0.1212, 95% CI = (−0.2194, −0.0231), and PIVW = 0.0154), Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 (BetaIVW = −0.1149, 95% CI = (−0.2238, −0.0060), and PIVW = 0.0385), and Veillonellaceae (BetaIVW = −0.0970, 95% CI = (−0.2238, 0.0060), and PIVW = 0.0400) and positively correlated with one species of gut microbiota: Desulfovibrio (BetaIVW = 0.2452, 95% CI = (0.0299, 0.4606), and PIVW = 0.0255). In addition, no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy was detected in the abovementioned gut microbiota.ConclusionThis Mendelian randomization analysis indicates a causal relationship between statin medication and six gut microbiota species. These findings may provide new strategies for health monitoring in populations taking long-term statin medications.

Abstract Static rechargeable zinc‐iodine (Zn‐I2) batteries are superior in safety, cost‐effectiveness, and sustainability, giving them great potential for large‐scale energy storage applications. However, the shuttle effect of polyiodides on the cathode and the unstable anode/electrolyte interface hinder the development of Zn‐I2 batteries. Herein, a self‐segregated biphasic electrolyte (SSBE) was proposed to synergistically address those issues. The strong interaction between polyiodides and the organic phase was demonstrated to limit the shuttle effect of polyiodides. Meanwhile, the hybridization of polar organic solvent in the inorganic phase modulated the bonding structure, as well as the effective weakening of water activity, optimizing the interface during zinc electroplating. As a result, the Zn‐I2 coin cells performed a capacity retention of nearly 100% after 4000 cycles at 2 mA cm−2. And a discharge capacity of 0.6 Ah with no degradation after 180 cycles was achieved in the pouch cell. A photovoltaic energy storage battery was further achieved and displayed a cumulative capacity of 5.85 Ah. The successfully designed energy storage device exhibits the application potential of Zn‐I2 batteries for stationary energy storage.

ABSTRACT Purpose The objective is to establish a radiomics nomogram (Rad‐nomogram) using dual‐phase enhanced computed tomography (DPE‐CT) for the prediction of progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients diagnosed with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma (ADC). Methods From DPE‐CT scans, radiomic characteristics were retrieved from 133 patients diagnosed with stage IV lung ADC. Clinical data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The radiomics signature was combined with clinical features employing multivariate Cox analysis in order to develop a Rad‐nomogram. The predictive efficiency of the nomogram was evaluated using survival studies, such as Kaplan–Meier curves and Harrell's C‐index. The benefits and clinical utility of various models were compared using the net reclassification index (NRI), decision curve analysis (DCA), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Results In the test cohort, the C‐indexes for the clinical, artery, and vein phase CT models were 0.675, 0.691, and 0.678, respectively. The dual‐phase achieved a C‐index of 0.731, exceeding the CT model, while the developed nomogram reached a C‐index of 0.783. The Kaplan–Meier survival study classified patients into low‐risk and high‐risk groups related to PFS using the Rad‐nomogram (p

Abstract Neuromorphic computing, a promising solution to the von Neumann bottleneck, is paving the way for the development of next‐generation computing and sensing systems. Axon‐multisynapse systems enable the execution of sophisticated tasks, making them not only desirable but essential for future applications in this field. Anisotropic materials, which have different properties in different directions, are being used to create artificial synapses that can mimic the functions of biological axon‐multisynapse systems. However, the restricted variety and unadjustable conductive ratio limit their applications. Here, it is shown that anisotropic artificial synapses can be achieved on isotropic materials with externally localized doping via electron beam irradiation (EBI) and purposefully induced trap sites. By employing the synapses along different directions, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are constructed to accomplish variable neuromorphic tasks with optimized performance. The localized doping method expands the axon‐multisynapse device family, illustrating that this approach has tremendous potentials in next‐generation computing and sensing systems.

As an important part of rotating machinery, heat generation due to friction is inevitable during the rotating process of bearings. A large amount of heat causes the temperature of lubricating oil to increase, viscosity of lubricating oil to decrease, and lubricating performance decreases. Addressing the issue of inadequate lubrication between the rolling element and raceway due to increased lubricating oil temperature, this study focuses on full-ceramic ball bearings. It examines the impact of temperature fluctuations on the bearing's lubrication condition and investigates the vibration characteristics of the full-ceramic bearing. The variation in the viscosity of lubricating oil with respect to temperature is measured via a rotary viscometer. A dynamic model of the silicon nitride full-ceramic ball bearing, which considers the effects of elastohydrodynamic lubrication, is established. The impacts of changes in lubricating oil viscosity due to different temperatures on oil film pressure, oil film thickness, and bearing vibration are analyzed and then compared with experimental data. It is observed that under conditions of constant load and speed, the film thickness of the lubricating oil decreases as the viscosity decreases. Additionally, the second peak value of oil film pressure is reduced with the declining viscosity of the lubricating oil. As the viscosity decreases, the vibration of the bearing increases. The amplitude discrepancy between the simulated vibration signal and experimental vibration signal of the full-ceramic bearing is found to be less than 10 %, verifying the validity of the dynamic model.

Photodetectors (PDs) are crucial in modern society as they enable the detection of a diverse range of light-based signals. With the exponential increase in their development, materials are being used to create a wide range of PDs that play critical roles in enabling various applications and technologies. Image sensor technology has been hindered due to the lack of a universal system that can integrate all types of PDs with silicon-based readout integrated circuits (ROICs). To address this issue, we conducted experiments adopting two-dimensional materials as an example. High-performance MoS2-/MoTe2-based PDs were fabricated in the current work and the most suitable ROICs were identified to pair with them. This established a solid foundation for further researches in the field of image sensors. We developed and implemented a versatile testing system that uses a printed circuit board to connect the PD and ROIC. After the ROIC generates the sampled signal, it is collected and processed by algorithms, which overcome device uniformity limitations and produce a high-quality image that is visible to the naked eye. This universal system can be used with a wide range of PD and ROIC types made from different materials, making it highly convenient for diverse testing applications and the development of diverse image sensor types. This robust new platform is expected to spur further innovation and advancements in this rapidly developing field.

Predicting noise from the actual train model by numerical simulation and wind tunnel testing requires appropriate corrections based on reduced model scale and airflow velocity. This paper utilises the Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation method (IDDES) in conjunction with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation (FW-H) for simulating flow fields and predicting noise. The subdomain models of high-speed train head and leading bogie were used to investigate the effects of the model scale ratio (λ) and the airflow velocity ratio (γ) on the aerodynamic noise. The results show that compared with the baseline condition (case0), only reducing the model scale (case1) will lead to an increase in local viscous flow, thereby weakening the flow velocity and surface pressure fluctuation intensity in the bogie region, and the overall noise level is slightly reduced, with a difference of less than 1 dB. However, as expected, there is a significant frequency shift in the noise spectra. For case2, the model scale and the airflow velocity are reduced simultaneously to ensure the same Strouhal number, and the vortex structure and sound source distribution characteristics are closer to case0. The noise spectra have no frequency shift, but the noise level is reduced by 60 log10(γ).

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a major threat to global public health. Several lines of evidence have shown that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), along with two other highly pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) originated from bats. To prevent and control future coronavirus outbreaks, it is necessary to investigate the interspecies infection and pathogenicity risks of animal-related coronaviruses. Currently used infection models, including in vitro cell lines and in vivo animal models, fail to fully mimic the primary infection in human tissues. Here, we employed organoid technology as a promising new model for studying emerging pathogens and their pathogenic mechanisms. We investigated the key host-virus interaction patterns of five human coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2 original strain, Omicron BA.1, MERS-CoV, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43) in different human respiratory organoids. Five indicators, including cell tropism, invasion preference, replication activity, host response and virus-induced cell death, were developed to establish a comprehensive evaluation system to predict coronavirus interspecies infection and pathogenicity risks. Using this system, we further examined the pathogenicity and interspecies infection risks of three SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoV), including WIV1 and rRsSHC014S from bats, and MpCoV-GX from pangolins. Moreover, we found that cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive plant extract, exhibits significant inhibitory effects on various coronaviruses in human lung organoid. Cannabidiol significantly enhanced interferon-stimulated gene expression but reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines. In summary, our study established a reliable comprehensive evaluation system to analyse infection and pathogenicity patterns of zoonotic coronaviruses, which could aid in prevention and control of potentially emerging coronavirus diseases.

Myoferlin (MYOF) is a muscle-derived secretory protein. Recent studies have found that MYOF protects against cell damage. However, the role of MYOF in cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. Increasing evidence suggests that NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor protein 3) and the pyroptosis cascade play critical roles in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation. To investigate the role of MYOF in cardiac hypertrophy, we conducted a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) experiment in a mouse model. We found that MYOF can improve cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac function. Furthermore, our study confirmed a connection between cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial pyroptosis. Cardiac hypertrophy significantly increased the proportion of apoptotic cells and upregulated apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), caspase-1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD). This suggests that pharmacological or genetic inhibition of NLRP3 can effectively reduce cardiac hypertrophy. An abnormal increase in NLRP3 can reverse the cardioprotective effects of MYOF. Our findings indicate that MYOF is a potential therapeutic agent for cardiac hypertrophy.

Graduate attributes (GAs) have been formally adopted by higher education institutions for some time and describe the skills and competences that students should develop over the course of their studies. GAs are considered to be important to universities as they act as a means to represent and extend their brand, while also providing a channel to maintain connection with industry. However, despite regular engagement with industry, employers remain unsatisfied with graduate transferable skills. This may be caused by a lack of a common theoretical underpinning to develop such attributes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide an evidence-based methodology which develops transferable skills in university graduates. Two classes at a public university in Hong Kong were used in this study. One class received a 12-week intervention incorporating a variety of coaching activities. The second class acted as a control group. Students were asked to complete pre-intervention surveys which provided self-reports of current ratings in GAs and resourcefulness behaviours. After completion of the 12-week intervention, students were asked to complete post-intervention surveys, again reporting self-ratings on the same topics. Survey data was analysed to identify changes in student scores, which highlighted improvements in all graduate attribute ratings post-intervention. Furthermore, help-seeking behaviours were shown to have significant improvement post intervention. The findings of this study suggest that coaching practices may provide an efficient and effective way to develop transferable skills in students, and this paper provides discussion on the implications of these results.

ABSTRACT Purpose The feasibility of transarterial infusion chemotherapy and embolization (TAICE) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer remains unclear. This study explored the value of TAICE in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cancer of stomach or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Methods Patients with unresectable gastric cancer who received TAICE for tumor hemorrhage cessation were enrolled in this retrospective study. TAICE was performed using the Seldinger method. The tumor feeding artery was selected for infusion chemotherapy and then was embolized by microspheres or gelatin sponge. Patients involved in this study received one to four cycles TAICE with one to three drugs in the regimen. The possibility of surgery was evaluated after TAICE. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), R0 resection rate, pathological complete remission (pCR) rate, major pathological remission (MPR) rate, progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were analyzed. Results Between January 2015 and December 2020, a total of 27 patients received a median of 2 (range, 1–4) cycles of TAICE. ORR and DCR were 33.3% and 74.0%, respectively. Eighteen patients received surgery, and 15 of them underwent gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection, with an R0 resection rate of 83.3% (15/18). Four (26.7%, 4/15) patients achieved MPR, but none achieved pCR. The median PFS was 19.8 months (95%CI, 12.1–40.0), and the median OS was 36.1 months (95%CI, 21.0–not reached). Patients with gastrectomy had significantly longer PFS (40.0 vs. 9.5 months, p

Abstract Preoperatively predicting extensive intraductal component in invasive breast cancer through imaging is crucial for informed decision-making, guiding surgical planning to mitigate risks of incomplete resection or re-operation for positive margins in breast-conserving surgery. This study aimed to characterize intra- and peri-tumor heterogeneity using high-spatial resolution ultrafast DCE-MRI to predict the extensive intraductal component in invasive breast cancer (IBC-EIC) preoperatively. A retrospective analysis included invasive breast cancer patients who underwent preoperative high-spatial resolution ultrafast DCE-MRI, categorized based on intraductal component status (IBC-EIC vs. IBC without EIC). Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance clinicopathological covariates between the groups. Personalized kinetic intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITHkinetic) and peri-tumor heterogeneity (PTHkinetic) scores were quantified using clustered voxels with similar enhancement patterns. An image combined model, incorporating MRI features, ITHkinetic, and PTHkinetic scores, was developed and assessed. Of 368 patients, 26.4% (97/368) had IBC-EIC. PSM yielded well-matched pairs of 97 patients each. After PSM, ITHkinetic and PTHkinetic scores were significantly higher in the IBC-EIC group (ITHkinetic: 0.68 ± 0.23; PTHkinetic: 0.58 ± 0.19) compared to IBC without EIC (ITHkinetic: 0.32 ± 0.25; PTHkinetic: 0.42 ± 0.18; p

Abstract Background Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is a rare benign bone tumor, it is also called “Nora’s lesion”. The lesion is characterized by heterotopic ossification of the normal bone cortex or parosteal bone. The etiology of BPOP is unclear and may be related to trauma. In most BPOPs, the lesion is not connected to the medullary cavity. Here we report an atypical case, characterized by reversed features compared to the typical BPOP, which demonstrated continuity of the lesion with the cavity. Case presentation An 11-year-old female child had a slow-growing mass on her right wrist for 8 months with forearm rotation dysfunction. Plain X-rays showed an irregular calcified mass on the right distal ulna, and computed tomography (CT) showed a pedunculated mass resembling a mushroom protruding into the soft tissue at the distal ulna. The medulla of this lesion is continuous with the medulla of the ulna. A surgical resection of the lesion, together with a portion of the ulnar bone cortex below the tumor was performed, and the final pathology confirmed BPOP. After the surgery, the child’s forearm rotation function improved significantly, and there was no sign of a recurrence at 1-year follow-up. Conclusion It is scarce for BPOP lesions to communicate with the medullary cavity. However, under-recognition of these rare cases may result in misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment thereby increasing the risk of recurrence. Therefore, special cases where BPOP lesions are continuous with the medulla are even more important to be studied to understand better and master these lesions. Although BPOP is a benign tumor with no evidence of malignant transformation, the recurrence rate of surgical resection is high. We considered the possibility of this particular disease prior to surgery and performed a surgical resection with adequate safety margins. Regular postoperative follow-up is of utmost importance, without a doubt.

Abstract Soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) is crucial to atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic environments as well as human life. Here, by characterizing DOM from 89 grassland soils throughout China, we reveal the spatial association between DOM geochemistry in the dry season vs annual ecosystem exchange and cancer cases. The humic-like and high molecular weight (3.4–25 kDa) fractions with lower biodegradability, decline from the northern to the southern regions of China, and are correlated with lower soil respiration and net ecosystem productivity at the continental scale. The

Abstract The agriculture Internet of Things (IoT) has been widely applied in assisting pear farmers with pest and disease prediction, as well as precise crop management, by providing real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities. To enhance the effectiveness of agriculture IoT monitoring applications, clustering protocols are utilized in the data transmission of agricultural wireless sensor networks (AWSNs). However, the selection of cluster heads is a NP-hard problem, which cannot be solved effectively by conventional algorithms. Based on this, This paper proposes a novel AWSNs clustering model that comprehensively considers multiple factors, including node energy, node degree, average distance and delay. Furthermore, a novel high-performance cluster protocol based on Gaussian mutation and sine cosine firefly algorithm (GSHFA-HCP) is proposed to meet the practical requirements of different scenarios. The innovative Gaussian mutation strategy and sine–cosine hybrid strategy are introduced to optimize the clustering scheme effectively. Additionally, an efficient inter-cluster data transmission mechanism is designed based on distance between nodes, residual energy, and load. The experimental results show that compared with other four popular schemes, the proposed GSHFA-HCP protocol has significant performance improvement in reducing network energy consumption, extending network life and reducing transmission delay. In comparison with other protocols, GSHFA-HCP achieves optimization rates of 63.69%, 17.2%, 19.56%, and 35.78% for network lifespan, throughput, transmission delay, and packet loss rate, respectively.

Abstract The emergence of biomagnetism imaging has led to the development of ultrasensitive and compact spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers that promise high-resolution magnetocardiography (MCG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). However, conventional optical components are not compatible with nanofabrication processes that enable the integration of atomic magnetometers on chips, especially for elliptically polarized laser-pumped SERF magnetometers with bulky optical systems. In this study, an elliptical-polarization pumping beam (at 795 nm) is achieved through a single-piece metasurface, which results in an SERF magnetometer with a high sensitivity reaching 10.61 fT/Hz1/2 by utilizing a 87Rb vapor cell with a 3 mm inner diameter. To achieve the optimum theoretical polarization, our design combines a computer-assisted optimization algorithm with an emerging metasurface design process. The metasurface is fabricated with 550 nm thick silicon-rich silicon nitride on a 2 × 2 cm 2 SiO2 substrate and features a 22.17° ellipticity angle (a deviation from the target polarization of less than 2%) and more than 80% transmittance. This study provides a feasible approach for on-chip polarization control of future all-integrated atomic magnetometers, which will further pave the way for high-resolution biomagnetism imaging and portable atomic sensing applications.