Search

Thermoelectric (TE) fibers are more suitable than films for portable or wearable devices. Herein, 2–3 nm thick poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) layer‐coated tellurium nanowires (PC‐Te NWs) are in situ prepared by a hydrothermal method. Then a series of PEDOT: PSS/PC‐Te NWs composite fibers are prepared by wet spinning and post‐treatment. The nanolayer prevents the agglomeration of the Te NWs and makes the NWs and PEDOT:PSS matrix have good compatibility, which results in the PC‐Te NWs content to a high value of 70 wt% and the fibers still with flexibility. The high aspect ratio of the PC‐Te NWs and the stress from the inner wall of the needle during spinning make the NWs ordered align along the composite fiber. Due to the large content and orientational arrangement of the PC‐Te NWs, as well as effective post‐treatment, an optimized composite fiber shows a power factor of 385.4 µW m−1 K−2 at 300 K, which is ≈4.9 times as high as the highest value of previously reported PEDOT:PSS/Te NWs‐based composite fibers. In addition, the composite fiber has good flexibility. The flexible TE generators assembled have excellent output performance. This work provides an effective strategy for the preparation of high‐performance flexible TE composite fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tellurium (Te)-bearing adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits are widely distributed in calc-alkaline magmatic arcs and are an important current and future source of precious and critical metals. The source of ore-forming fluids in these deposits remains unclear due to the lack of in situ isotopic evidence on Au-, Ag-, and Te-bearing minerals. To advance the understanding of the source and evolution of Te and precious metals, herein, we combine in situ Pb isotope analysis with He, Ne, and Ar isotope and microthermometric analysis of fluid inclusions in ore and gangue minerals from two Te-rich and two Te-poor epithermal Au-Ag deposits that occur in an Early Cretaceous magmatic arc in the North Heilongjiang Belt, northeastern China. Ore minerals (hessite, petzite, calaverite, altaite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena) from Te-rich Au-Ag deposits, including Sandaowanzi and Yongxin, have the least radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb from 18.1 to 18.3) and the lowest μ1 values (the 238U/204Pb ratio of the lead source down to 9.14) of the deposits studied. For these Te-rich deposits, noble gas isotope data show that fluid inclusions in ore minerals contain a large proportion of mantle He (up to 25%), whereas barren early-stage minerals do not (<1%). The Pb, noble gas isotope, and fluid inclusion microthermometric results suggest that Te-rich ore-forming fluids were likely discharged from mafic magmas into convecting meteoric flow systems at shallow levels (<2 km). In contrast to the Te-rich deposits, ore minerals from the Te-poor Dong'an Au-Ag deposit have radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb from 18.8 to 18.9) and the highest μ1 values (up to 10.54). Fluid inclusions in ore minerals contain a small proportion of mantle He (1% to 5%). The results suggest that metals and ore-forming fluids in these deposits were discharged from either more crustally contaminated intermediate-felsic magmas or leached from upper crustal rocks by convecting meteoric flow systems. Although the Te-poor Tuanjiegou Au-Ag deposit has a non-radiogenic Pb isotope composition consistent with a mafic magma source, Te is much less abundant (electrum [>95%] is the major gold- and silver-bearing mineral) than Au. The main exploration implication of these results is that unexplored volcano-plutonic centers in the northeast Xing'an Block with less radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb < 18.3) and containing fluids with a high proportion of mantle He are more likely to generate Te-rich epithermal Au-Ag deposits than other volcano-plutonic centers in NE China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an intercultural analysis of gesture and timbre in Fujikura Dai's neo for solo shamisen (2014). I analyze neo through the concept of te, a term used by shamisen players to refer to 1) recurring melodic patterns; and 2) their characteristic fingerings, hand positions, and performance techniques. My analysis of neo highlights how a performer's use of te can shape the form of a piece. Through aural and visual analysis of performances by shamisen player Honjoh Hidejirō, I demonstrate how the form of neo unfolds through changes in te. Weaving together the embodied knowledge of shamisen players, Japanese and U.S./Canadian theories of fretboard topography, and performance analysis, my consideration of te serves as an intercultural mode of analysis that reflects Fujikura's and Honjoh's backgrounds in Western art music, shamisen performance, and rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare success rates of trabeculectomy (TE) and Preserflo MicroShunt (PMS) in heterogenous glaucoma cohorts with regards to different pre- and postoperative therapeutic regimens. Data of 187 glaucoma patients who either received TE (73 eyes) or PMS implantation (114 eyes) between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Surgical success and failure rates were analyzed within six months of follow-up. Intraocular pressure (IOP) development over the course of follow-up was compared between both groups. Tertiary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number and type of medications, frequency of postoperative complications and revision surgeries. Outcome measures underwent additional assessment based on subgroup categorizations, and failure time hazard ratios were computed. The success rates were comparable between both procedures (TE: 54.1%, PMS: 60.0%; p = 0.17). Both procedures showed significant IOP reduction (p < 0.01); however, overall IOP reduction was greater in the TE group than in the PMS group (TE: Reduction by 12 mmHg (188.9%), PMS: Reduction by 7 mmHg (51.3%); p = 0.01). The number of topical medications decreased significantly in both groups over the course of follow-up (TE: 4 to 0, PMS: 3 to 0; p < 0.01). While the number of complications and revision surgeries were similar in both groups, the time interval until the first revision surgery within the TE group was significantly shorter (TE: 13.5 d, PMS: 163 d; p = 0.01) than within the PMS group. No difference could be detected between TE and PMS with regard to the follow-up regimen. In particular, there was no significant difference in the need for 5-floururacil injections postoperatively (p = 0.29). Less invasive glaucoma surgery with the PMS appeared comparable to the TE within a heterogenous glaucoma cohort with regards to IOP development and freedom from medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental tellurium, a prototypical one‐dimensional van der Waals material, has recently been found to crystallize quickly from the liquid on a nanosecond timescale, yet the inherent mechanism is not clear. Here, by combining in situ high‐energy synchrotron radiation X‐ray diffraction with ab initio molecular‐dynamics simulation, it is found that trigonal crystalline Te completely melts into the liquid phase at 450 °C, and recrystallizes into the trigonal phase for temperatures lower than 380 °C without the formation of any other phase. This directly confirms the recent proposal of a crystal‐liquid‐crystal phase transition in this material underlying the observed electrical‐switching process. Atomic‐scale, melt‐quench computer simulations show that liquid Te is capable of crystallizing within a time of 25 ps in the vicinity of templating crystallization interfaces. This ultrafast crystallization ability of Te can be understood as being due to delayed Peierls distortions during a quench and therefore a high atomic mobility over a wide range of temperature. This finding opens the way to develop a crystal‐liquid‐crystal, phase‐transition‐based selector switch with an ultrafast switching speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Chronic HCV infection causes long-term complications as liver cirrhosis and its consequences as hepatocellular carcinoma. The inadequate and improperly tolerated treatment options contributed to the health burden of chronic HCV. New treatment therapies had evolved that implied direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that targeted different hepatitis C virus genomic sites. DAAs demonstrated better efficacy, patient compliance, and tolerance than former antiviral therapy. transient elastography is established as a noninvasive method for assessing hepatic fibrosis in HCV patients. Aim of the study: to demonstrate the effectiveness of DAAs (sofosbuvir-based therapy) in treating chronic HCV infection and improving hepatic fibrosis through assessment using TE. Relevant articles were identified by searching PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Conclusions: This literature review revealed significant improvement in hepatic fibrosis assessed by TE in HCV patients treated by sofosbuvir-based antiviral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor heterostructures are the core of various advanced electronic devices. Herein, the successful fabrication of CuI films has been reported using the thermal evaporation (TE) method. With the help of the TE technique, copper iodide (CuI) was grown over Si substrates to form CuI-based heterostructures. CuI has p-type semiconductor properties, which can be a potential candidate for future optoelectronic devices. The CuI/Si heterostructures have been fabricated at argon (Ar) gas flow rates of 25, 50, 75, and 100 sccm, respectively. The structural, compositional, morphological, electrical, and optical properties were investigated. According to x-ray diffraction (XRD) results, CuI films have exhibited a polycrystalline nature, having lattice parameters of a = b = c = 6.03 Å, with a prominent characteristic peak at 25.5° corresponding to the crystallite (111) plane. The FESEM and AFM results revealed that CuI films have granular surface morphology. The Hall effect measurement revealed the p-type nature of the grown CuI film, having a carrier concentration of ~ 1019 cm−3 for all four conditions of gas flow, and the highest mobility has been obtained to be 8.90 cm2 V−1 s−1. The I–V measurements have shown the rectifying nature of the CuI/Si heterojunctions and good response toward UV light illuminations. The PL spectroscopy indicated the intense blue emission bands (413 nm), whereas the band broadening appeared for the red region (726 nm), and the right shifting occurred for a lower Ar flow rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal evaporation (TE)was employed to create thin coatings of AgO on glass substrates. The post-annealing temperatures for the deposited films were (100, 150, and 200), respectively. The XRD data demonstrate that when annealing temperature climbed from 100°C to 200°C, the intensity of (100) plane strengthened. Regardless of the temperatures used for post-annealing, the XRD spectra show that the films are polycrystalline and have a cubic structure. The average grain size was 15.39 nm, 16.30 nm, and 17.68 nm for the intended films. When the annealed temperature rises, the dislocation density and strain value decrease. The root mean square (RMS) roughness measured via AFM images decreased from 7.33 nm to 3.64 nm. Due to annealing at 200°C, the average particle size behaved similarly and reduced from 76.9 nm to 46.5 nm. The surface roughness exhibited the same behavior and dropped from 8.77 nm to 4.46 nm at 200 oC. The sample annealed at 200°C had the highest absorbance values, whereas the sample annealed at 100°C had the highest transmittance values. As the film annealing increased, the absorption coefficient rose somewhat. The bandgap of AgO thin films falls from 1.59 eV to 1.44 eV with the rise of annealing. In contrast, the transmittance, refractive index, and Extinction coefficient also lower as the temperature rises. Sensitivity measurements indicated a reduction in sensitivity as the annealing temperature and gas concentration increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of network scale, new network services are emerging. Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) can meet the diverse needs of more new services due to its excellent scalability and programmability. In the intelligent 6-Generation (6G) scenario, frequent SRv6 Traffic Engineering (TE) policy updates will result in the serious problem of unsynchronized updates across routers. Existing solutions suffer from issues such as long update cycles or large data overhead. To optimize the policy-update process, this paper proposes a scheme called Synchronous Update with the Division and Combination of SRv6 Policy (SUDC). Based on the characteristics of the SRv6 TE policy, SUDC divides the policies and introduces Bit Index Explicit Replication IPv6 Encapsulation (BIERv6) to multicast the policy blocks derived from policy dividing. The contribution of this paper is to propose the policy-dividing and combination mechanism and the policy-dividing algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate that compared with the existing schemes, the update overhead and update cycle of SUDC are reduced by 46.71% and 46.6%, respectively. The problem of unsynchronized updates across routers has been further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical method to accurately determine trace levels of Se and Te is essential to meet the growing importance of these elements to Earth science research. Herein, an in‐house assembled photochemical vapour generation (PVG) unit, instead of normal sample nebulisation, with inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), was developed for the detection of Se and Te in geological samples. The major parameters that might potentially influence the PVG efficiencies of Se(IV) and Te(IV) were investigated. The unit could fully generate volatile species under 30 s of ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of 15% v/v formic acid, 15% v/v acetic acid and 50 mg l‐1 of Co2+. Under optimised conditions, the limit of detections (LODs, 3s, n = 11) of the proposed method were 0.5 ng l‐1 for Se and 0.6 ng l‐1 for Te. The RSDs of Se and Te were 2.0% and 2.3% (1 μg l‐1, n = 7), respectively. Interference experiments showed that Fe, Ti, V and Cu have certain negative effects, so the standard addition method was used for real sample analysis. Measurement results for eleven CRMs, including soils (GSS‐4, GSS‐7), sediments (GSD‐9, GSD‐10) and rocks (GSR‐1, GSR‐2, GSR‐3, GSR‐5, AGV‐2, GSP‐2 and W‐2a), were consistent with literature values, and showed better precision, indicating the feasibility of the proposed method for determination of trace Se and Te in geological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare success rates of trabeculectomy (TE) and Preserflo MicroShunt (PMS) in heterogenous glaucoma cohorts with regards to different pre- and postoperative therapeutic regimens. Data of 187 glaucoma patients who either received TE (73 eyes) or PMS implantation (114 eyes) between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Surgical success and failure rates were analyzed within six months of follow-up. Intraocular pressure (IOP) development over the course of follow-up was compared between both groups. Tertiary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number and type of medications, frequency of postoperative complications and revision surgeries. Outcome measures underwent additional assessment based on subgroup categorizations, and failure time hazard ratios were computed. The success rates were comparable between both procedures (TE: 54.1%, PMS: 60.0%; p = 0.17). Both procedures showed significant IOP reduction (p < 0.01); however, overall IOP reduction was greater in the TE group than in the PMS group (TE: Reduction by 12 mmHg (188.9%), PMS: Reduction by 7 mmHg (51.3%); p = 0.01). The number of topical medications decreased significantly in both groups over the course of follow-up (TE: 4 to 0, PMS: 3 to 0; p < 0.01). While the number of complications and revision surgeries were similar in both groups, the time interval until the first revision surgery within the TE group was significantly shorter (TE: 13.5 d, PMS: 163 d; p = 0.01) than within the PMS group. No difference could be detected between TE and PMS with regard to the follow-up regimen. In particular, there was no significant difference in the need for 5-floururacil injections postoperatively (p = 0.29). Less invasive glaucoma surgery with the PMS appeared comparable to the TE within a heterogenous glaucoma cohort with regards to IOP development and freedom from medication.

[Display omitted] Hypothesis : Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have received considerable attention owing to their safety, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, the side reactions of hydrogen evolution revolution and Zn dendrite growth reduce the Coulombic efficiency and life span of AZIBs. To address these issues, we designed an artificial protective layer of a Te-hybridized core–shell zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). Experiments : A core–shell structure of ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was first developed as a protecting layer on the Zn anode. To improve the poor conductivity of ZIF and its affinity for Zn, the core–shell structure was hybridized with zincophilic Te to increase the surface area and reduce the charge-transfer resistance. Findings : By incorporating metallic Te into ZIF-8 and ZIF-67, the nucleation potential and charge-transfer resistance were significantly reduced, enhancing the ion reaction kinetics and electron migration. Benefiting from the Te-hybridized ZIF-8@ZIF-67-derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon (Te-hybridized ZIF-8@ZIF-67/NC) layer, a full cell of Zn coated with Te-hybridized ZIF-8@ZIF-67/NC//MnO 2 exhibited an excellent rate performance of 214 mAh g−1 at an ultrahigh current density of 10 A g−1 and ultralong cycle life (3200 cycles) without the formation of Zn dendrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 may be useful disease markers and prognostic indicators. Recently, postinfectious telogen effluvium and trichodynia have also been reported.ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of trichodynia and telogen effluvium in patients with COVID-19 and describe their characteristics in relation to the other signs and symptoms of the disease.MethodsPatients with a history of COVID-19 presenting to the clinics of a group of hair experts because of telogen effluvium and/or scalp symptoms were questioned about their hair signs and symptoms in relation to the severity of COVID-19 and associated symptoms.ResultsData from 128 patients were collected. Telogen effluvium was observed in 66.3% of the patients and trichodynia in 58.4%. Trichodynia was associated with telogen effluvium in 42.4% of the cases and anosmia and ageusia in 66.1% and 44.1% of the cases, respectively. In majority (62.5%) of the patients, the hair signs and symptoms started within the first month after COVID-19 diagnosis, and in 47.8% of the patients, these started after 12 weeks or more.LimitationsThe recruitment of patients in specialized hair clinics, lack of a control group, and lack of recording of patient comorbidities.ConclusionThe severity of postviral telogen effluvium observed in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection may be influenced by COVID-19 severity. We identified early-onset (12 weeks) telogen effluvium.

Early blastomeres of mouse preimplantation embryos exhibit bi-potential cell fate, capable of generating both embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages in blastocysts. Here we identify three major two-cell-stage (2C)-specific endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) as the molecular hallmark of this bi-potential plasticity. Using the long terminal repeats (LTRs) of all three 2C-specific ERVs, we identify Krüppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) as their major upstream regulator. Klf5 is essential for bi-potential cell fate; a single Klf5-overexpressing embryonic stem cell (ESC) generates terminally differentiated embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages in chimeric embryos, and Klf5 directly induces inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) specification genes. Intriguingly, Klf5 and Klf4 act redundantly during ICM specification, whereas Klf5 deficiency alone impairs TE specification. Klf5 is regulated by multiple 2C-specific transcription factors, particularly Dux, and the Dux/Klf5 axis is evolutionarily conserved. The 2C-specific transcription program converges on Klf5 to establish bi-potential cell fate, enabling a cell state with dual activation of ICM and TE genes.

Rivayetlerdeki bilginin aktarılmasıyla oluşan tefsire rivayet; akıl, dil vb. unsuların öne çıktığı tefsire dirâyet tefsiri denilmişse de bunlar farklı şekillerde anlaşılmıştır. Zehebî(ö.1977)’nin çalışmalarıyla sınıflandırılmaya başlanan bu durum, net sınırların çizilmesine imkan vermemekte ve bazı muğlak durumlara sebep olmaktadır. Çalışmanın konusu günümüze tam olarak ulaşmış ilk tefsirin yazarı olan ve rivayet kullanırken bazı yerlerde bundan söz etmeyen Mukâtil’in te’vil tarzından hareketle rivayet-dirâyet ayrımının imkanını ortaya koymaktır. Çalışmada bugün tefsir ilminin bir parçası kabul edilen meselenin problematik yönünün, bir tefsir üzerinden somutlaştırılarak ortaya konması amaçlanmıştır. Makalede tefsir, nitel araştırma yönteminin doküman analizi tekniğiyle incelenmiştir. Edinilen bulgular rivayetlerle karşılaştırmalı olarak irdelenmiştir. Dirâyet diye tanımlanan tefsirler senedli-senedsiz olarak veya herhangi bilgi zikretmeden rivayet kullanabilmektedir. Öte yandan rivayet tefsiri diye adlandırılan eserlere alınacak rivayetlerin seçilmesi, onların arasından tercihin belirtilmesi ve ayetin rivayetlerle ilişkilendirilmesi dirâyet örneğidir. Mukâtil de kimi yerlerde rivayet olduğunu belirtmeden onlara yer vermiş ve onlardan farklı şekillerde özgün bir yorum için istifade etmiştir.

Transposable elements, such as Long INterspersed Elements (LINEs), are DNA sequences that can replicate within genomes. LINEs replicate using an RNA intermediate followed by reverse transcription and are typically a few kilobases in length. LINE activity creates genomic structural variants in human populations and leads to somatic alterations in cancer genomes. Long-read RNA sequencing technologies, including Oxford Nanopore and PacBio, can directly sequence relatively long transcripts, thus providing the opportunity to examine full-length LINE transcripts. This study focuses on the development of a new bioinformatics pipeline for the identification and quantification of active, full-length LINE transcripts in diverse human tissues and cell lines. In our pipeline, we utilized RepeatMasker to identify LINE-1 (L1) transcripts from long-read transcriptome data and incorporated several criteria, such as transcript start position, divergence, and length, to remove likely false positives. Comparisons between cancerous and normal cell lines, as well as human tissue samples, revealed elevated expression levels of young LINEs in cancer, particularly at intact L1 loci. By employing bioinformatics methodologies on long-read transcriptome data, this study demonstrates the landscape of L1 expression in tissues and cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of network scale, new network services are emerging. Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) can meet the diverse needs of more new services due to its excellent scalability and programmability. In the intelligent 6-Generation (6G) scenario, frequent SRv6 Traffic Engineering (TE) policy updates will result in the serious problem of unsynchronized updates across routers. Existing solutions suffer from issues such as long update cycles or large data overhead. To optimize the policy-update process, this paper proposes a scheme called Synchronous Update with the Division and Combination of SRv6 Policy (SUDC). Based on the characteristics of the SRv6 TE policy, SUDC divides the policies and introduces Bit Index Explicit Replication IPv6 Encapsulation (BIERv6) to multicast the policy blocks derived from policy dividing. The contribution of this paper is to propose the policy-dividing and combination mechanism and the policy-dividing algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate that compared with the existing schemes, the update overhead and update cycle of SUDC are reduced by 46.71% and 46.6%, respectively. The problem of unsynchronized updates across routers has been further improved.

The prevalence of NAFLD and NASH is increasing worldwide, and there is no approved medical treatment until now. Evidence has emerged that interfering with bile acid metabolism may lead to improvement in NASH. In this study, 28 patients with elevated cholestatic liver function tests (especially GGT) were screened for bile acid gene polymorphisms and treated with UDCA. All patients had a bile acid gene polymorphism in ABCB4 or ABCB11. Treatment with UDCA for 12 months significantly reduced GGT in all patients and ALT in homozygous patients. No difference in fibrosis was observed using FIb-4, NFS, and transient elastography (TE). PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 were the most common NASH-associated polymorphisms, and patients with TM6SF2 showed a significant reduction in GGT and ALT with the administration of UDCA. In conclusion, NASH patients with elevated GGT should be screened for bile acid gene polymorphisms, as UDCA therapy may improve liver function tests. However, no difference in clinical outcomes, such as progression to cirrhosis, has been observed using non-invasive tests (NITs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, phonons with chirality (chiral phonons) have attracted significant attention. Chiral phonons exhibit angular and pseudoangular momenta. In circularly polarized Raman spectroscopy, the peak split of the Γ3 mode is detectable along the principal axis of the chiral crystal in the backscattering configuration. In addition, peak splitting occurs when the pseudoangular momenta of the incident and scattered circularly polarized light are reversed. Until now, chiral phonons in binary crystals have been observed, whereas those in unary crystals have not been observed. Here, we observe chiral phonons in a chiral unary crystal Te. The pseudoangular momentum of the phonon is obtained in Te by an ab initio calculation. From this calculation, we verified the conservation law of pseudoangular momentum in Raman scattering. From this conservation law, we determined the handedness of the chiral crystals. We also evaluated the true chirality of the phonons using a measure with symmetry similar to that of an electric toroidal monopole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cortical bone shows as a signal void when using conventional clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrashort echo time MRI (UTE-MRI) can acquire high signal from cortical bone, thus enabling quantitative assessments. Magnetization transfer (MT) imaging combined with UTE-MRI can indirectly assess protons in the organic matrix of bone. This study aimed to examine UTE-MT MRI techniques to estimate the mechanical properties of cortical bone. A total of 156 rectangular human cortical bone strips were harvested from the tibial and femoral midshafts of 43 donors (62 ± 22 years old, 62 specimens from females, 94 specimens from males). Bone specimens were scanned using UTE-MT sequences on a clinical 3 T MRI scanner and on a micro-computed tomography (μCT) scanner. A series of MT pulse saturation powers (400°, 600°, 800°) and frequency offsets (2, 5, 10, 20, 50 kHz) was used to measure the macromolecular fraction (MMF) utilizing a two-pool MT model. Failure mechanical properties of the bone specimens were measured using 4-point bending tests. MMF from MRI results showed significant strong correlations with cortical bone porosity (R = -0.72, P

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are global health issues all over the world, affecting about30% (NAFLD), and15% (CKD) of general people. Even, with absence of other risk factors such as overweight, diabetes and hypertension, there is force correlation between NAFLD and CKD. Objective: The target of our study is to detect the incidence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis between non-diabetic hemodialysis patients by measuring Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) using transient elastography (TE) (Fibroscan®). Methodology: This was a cross sectional study in Beni-Suef governorate, including 1000 hemodialysis non-diabetic ESRD patients from different hemodialysis units from all the central hospitals in Beni-Suef governorate. Results: According to CAP (dB/M) there were 503(50.3%) S0, 233(23.3%) S1, 100(10.0%) S1-S2, 67(6.7%) S2,10(1.0%) S2-S3 and 87(8.7%) S3. According to liver stiffness grades there were 508(50.8%) F0, 280(28.0%) F1, 57(5.7%) F2,95(9.5%) F3 and 60(6.0%) F4. There were 508(50.8%) F0 and 492(49.2%) F1:F4 with mean 6.14 (± 3.90SD) and range (2.0 – 19.90). Conclusions: In this study we concluded that there is a high incidence of NAFLD among non-diabetic patients on regular Hemodialysis in Beni-Suef governorate, significantly correlated with increasing degree of liver stiffness.

Abstract Background Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) tend to suffer from several central nervous system (CNS) infections due to hypoimmunity. However, CNS aspergillosis (CNSAG) is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose. Thus, it is easily misdiagnosed. Case presentation We reported a 47-year-old male AIDS patient with ghosting vision and anhidrosis on the left head and face. He was accordingly diagnosed with Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis (TE) at other hospitals, for which he received regular anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) treatment. Then, the patient was transferred to our hospital due to a lack of any improvement with the prescribed treatment. The patient's neurological examination revealed no abnormalities at admission, only a slight change in the cerebrospinal fluid. His cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple abnormal signals in the brain parenchyma, and his blood was positive for Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody. The initial diagnosis at our hospital was also TE. Considering the poor efficacy of anti-TE treatment, cerebrospinal fluid metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed, but no pathogenic bacteria were detected. However, Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid via targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) and bronchoalveolar alveolar lavage fluid via mNGS. The diagnosis was accordingly revised to CNSAG combined with his other clinical manifestations. After administering voriconazole antifungal therapy, the patient’s symptoms were relieved, with improved absorption of the intracranial lesions. Conclusions The present case experience indicates the need for clinicians to strengthen their understanding of CNSAG. Moreover, for patients with diagnostic difficulties, early mNGS and tNGS (using biological samples with only a few pathogens) are helpful for early diagnosis and treatment, potentially allowing patients to achieve favorable outcomes.

Self‐powered and flexible photodetectors exhibit great potential in the application of optical communication, deep space exploration, and other related fields. Herein, a self‐powered ultraviolet photodetector based on ZnO nanowires/Te nanowires heterojunction has been prepared by two‐step vacuum filtration method, which also has superior flexibility and fast response speed. The obtained photodetector has a high photocurrent (about 1 μA) at 5 V bias under 365 nm UV light illumination and a fast response speed (3.47/0.13 s). Even if the bending angle reaches 90°, its photocurrent still maintains about 0.5 μA under 5 V bias, showing superior flexibility. Under 0 V bias, the photocurrent of the photodetector is 0.18 nA and the response time is 65/140 ms, displaying its good self‐powered characteristic and fast response speed. These superior properties are caused by the flexibility of ZnO nanowire film and Te nanowire film, and the heterojunction is formed between ZnO and Te. The obtained results provide a solid foundation for the further development of flexible optoelectronic devices based on ZnO nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection characteristics of elementary tellurium (Te) nanocrystalline thin film for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas detection are presented. An electron beam evaporation method (eBE) was used to deposit elementary Te ultrathin nanocrystalline films at room temperature, with the thickness from 10 nm to 40 nm. An intermittent deposition method was employed to regulate the distribution of grains during the whole film deposition process. A type of compact and continuous nanocrystalline film structure was confirmed by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Such a structural feature of thin films is able to provide a continuous grain boundary, which can increase the surface-to-volume ratio and further improve the sensitivity of the sensors. The effects of film thickness and gas concentration with respect to the sensor performance have been evaluated. The sensor presents a ppm (parts per million)-level NO2 detection limit in an atmospheric environment, and the maximum sensitivity is up to 7.926 × 105 ppm−1. In addition, a complete evaluation demonstration system was developed for a NO2 concentration real-time monitor, which provides the possibility for the sensor to be applied to actual environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an economically important tropical oil crop widely cultivated in tropical zones worldwide. Being a tropical crop, low-temperature stress adversely affects the oil palm. However, integrative leaf transcriptomic and proteomic analyses have not yet been conducted on an oil palm crop under cold stress. In this study, integrative omics transcriptomic and iTRAQ-based proteomic approaches were employed for three oil palm varieties, i.e., B × E (Bamenda × Ekona), O × G (E. oleifera × Elaeis guineensis), and T × E (Tanzania × Ekona), in response to low-temperature stress. In response to low-temperature stress at (8 °C) for 5 days, a total of 5175 up- and 2941 downregulated DEGs in BE-0_VS_BE-5, and a total of 3468 up- and 2443 downregulated DEGs for OG-0_VS_OG-5, and 3667 up- and 2151 downregulated DEGs for TE-0_VS_TE-5 were identified. iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis showed 349 up- and 657 downregulated DEPs for BE-0_VS_BE-5, 372 up- and 264 downregulated DEPs for OG-0_VS_OG-5, and 500 up- and 321 downregulated DEPs for TE-0_VS_TE-5 compared to control samples treated at 28 °C and 8 °C, respectively. The KEGG pathway correlation of oil palm has shown that the metabolic synthesis and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites pathways were significantly enriched in the transcriptome and proteome of the oil palm varieties. The correlation expression pattern revealed that TE-0_VS_TE-5 is highly expressed and BE-0_VS_BE-5 is suppressed in both the transcriptome and proteome in response to low temperature. Furthermore, numerous transcription factors (TFs) were found that may regulate cold acclimation in three oil palm varieties at low temperatures. Moreover, this study identified proteins involved in stresses (abiotic, biotic, oxidative, and heat shock), photosynthesis, and respiration in iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of three oil palm varieties. The increased abundance of stress-responsive proteins and decreased abundance of photosynthesis-related proteins suggest that the TE variety may become cold-resistant in response to low-temperature stress. This study may provide a basis for understanding the molecular mechanism for the adaptation of oil palm varieties in response to low-temperature stress in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws from long-term research on Indian tea plantations. It argues that if the plantation is to be at all useful analytically, then enslaved people, indentured laborers, and workers who find themselves otherwise stuck on those land tenure formations called plantations need to come to the analytical forefront. One means of centering labor in these discussions is to attend to acts and processes of social reproduction. Certainly, the plantation is a space of production, but the plantation would not persist as such a space without acts of childrearing, feeding, eating, care, and maintenance. Attention to these acts centers workers’ perceptions of time, space, accumulation, and the plantation itself. Even in the context of monocultural expansion, plantation workers live not just in service to single crops but through diverse forms of provisioning. Social reproduction and nonmarket exchange, then, are not a redemptive outside to plantation production, but integral to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nodes in mobile networks change position randomly and quickly so modify their attachment point to the network. A most suitable method for handoff in core of the network is MPLS. For MPLS-TE, the most critical issue is LSP configuration. The goal of the routing algorithms in MPLS-TE is resource management and satisfy QoS metrics. The promising new SDN architecture can be a useful help to MPLS-TE due to its good features. This paper introduces a novel and low complexity SDN-MPLS algorithm. The proposed algorithm advances bandwidth-restricted routing as it trade-offs between network load balancing, route length, energy-saving with low complexity in mobile networks.

• The nonlinear optical properties and application of Te were first studied in the mid-infrared band. • A passive mode-locked Er:ZBLAN fiber laser based on Te saturable absorber was realized at mid infrared 2.8 μm. • The ultrafast laser properties and advantages of Er:ZBLAN fiber was demonstrated. In this manuscript, we present the experimental realization of a mode-locked Er3+: ZBLAN (ZrF 2 - BaF 2 - LaF 3 - AlF 3 - NaF) fiber laser operating at mid-infrared (mid-IR) 2.8 μm band, achieved through the utilization of Tellurium (Te) as the saturable absorber (SA). An exploration of their nonlinear optical absorption properties at 2.8 μm was undertaken employing a dual-channel detection methodology. Our investigation reveals that the Te-SA prepared exhibits a significant broadband saturable absorption response, thereby confirming its suitability as SA for passive mode-locked fiber laser at 2.8 μm. The peak average output power pulse and energy of the mode-locked Er3+: ZBLAN fiber laser are 41.2mW and 1.632nJ, respectively. These measurements were conducted at a repetition rate of 25.25 MHz, accompanied by a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 60 dB at a transmit pump power of 600 mW. This is the first demonstration of a mode-locked fiber laser operating in the 2.8 µm mid infrared band using Te-SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and analysis of a single-layer wide band-stop frequency selective surface (FSS) tailored for C-band applications. The proposed FSS design employs a modified bow-tie unit cell structure that enhances band stop characteristics, resulting in improved performance compared to traditional FSS geometry. The design process involves numerical simulations and optimization techniques to achieve the desired frequency response. A modified bowtie element with FR4 substrate comprises the proposed FSS which exhibits a resonant frequency of 6.0 GHz with a wide bandwidth of 4.84–6.96 GHz (35.93 %) and act as a band stop filter. The FSS is analyzed in terms of its transmission coefficients, providing insight into its filtering properties. In addition, parametric studies of the unit cells are done. Furthermore, the angular stability of the proposed FSS is simulated with incident waves at various angles between 0° to 60° for both TE and TM modes. The proposed FSS presents C-band applications of WLAN, ISM/WiMAX, satellite communications, radar systems, shielding and communication devices, also enhancing filtering capabilities and system performance. The simulation results are well correlated with measurement results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent cell mass, called callus, through a two-step in vitro tissue culture method. Incubation on callus-inducing medium triggers active cell proliferation to form a pluripotent callus. Notably, DNA methylation is implicated during callus formation, but a detailed molecular process regulated by DNA methylation remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we compared genome-wide DNA methylation profiles between leaf and callus tissues in Arabidopsis using whole-genome bisulphite-sequencing. Global distribution of DNA methylation showed that CHG methylation was increased, whereas CHH methylation was reduced especially around transposable element (TE) regions during the leaf-to-callus transition. We further analysed differentially expressed genes around differentially methylated TEs (DMTEs) during the leaf-to-callus transition and found that genes involved in cell cycle regulation were enriched and also constituted a coexpression gene network along with pluripotency regulators. In addition, a conserved DNA sequence analysis for upstream cis-elements led us to find a putative transcription factor associated with cell fate transition. CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) was newly identified as a regulator of plant regeneration, and consistently, the cca1lhy mutant displayed altered phenotypes in callus proliferation. Overall, these results suggest that DNA methylation coordinates cell cycle regulation during callus formation, and CCA1 may act as a key upstream coordinator at least in part in the processes.

Purpose- Many educational systems across the world have shifted to online learning methodology as a measure against Covid-19 Pandemic to continue educating students. This phenomenon is causing a lot of complications to the educational system around the world in the context of developing countries, especially to the public state colleges and universities. This paper aims to identify and describe the challenges of online learning from the perspective of Information Technology Education (ITE) students in the public state colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method- It used descriptive research for the conducted of the study wherein survey questionnaires were sent out via electronic survey in different state colleges and universities in the Philippines. The evaluations were calculated using descriptive statistics and Chi-square and responses were compared between their profiles using a nonparametric test. Results- The findings obtained the demographic profile of the ITE students with the degree of BS Information Technology, BS Computer Science, and BS Information System such courses, year level, and place they live. Additionally, the study gained a significant relationship between student profile in the device used in class, internet connectivity, student type of data connection, capability to attend online class, and their commitment to participate and submit class requirements. The study identifies different interrelated challenges such as the majority of the student only using smartphones in online learning and poor internet connection as they tried to adapt to online learning because they are committed to participating and submitting requirements. Conclusion- The study gives insights into the current condition experienced by the students in the school administrations and officials, and faculty as well to strengthen the appropriate online teaching mode and other practices applicable to the students. It can also use to emphasize to be more responsive to the learning needs of the IT students, especially beyond the conventional classrooms. Recommendations- It is suggested that educational institutions must create appropriate and effective content, and provide digital literacy training to current faculty to improve learning outcomes. Lastly, a strong Information Communication Technology Office that focuses on the development of a different website and mobile application that assist the need of the students and faculty may be established.

Abstract Background The majority of structural variation in genomes is caused by insertions of transposable elements (TEs). In mammalian genomes, the main TE fraction is made up of autonomous and non-autonomous non-LTR retrotransposons commonly known as LINEs and SINEs (Long and Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements). Here we present one of the first population-level analysis of TE insertions in a non-model organism, the giraffe. Giraffes are ruminant artiodactyls, one of the few mammalian groups with genomes that are colonized by putatively active LINEs of two different clades of non-LTR retrotransposons, namely the LINE1 and RTE/BovB LINEs as well as their associated SINEs. We analyzed TE insertions of both types, and their associated SINEs in three giraffe genome assemblies, as well as across a population level sampling of 48 individuals covering all extant giraffe species. Results The comparative genome screen identified 139,525 recent LINE1 and RTE insertions in the sampled giraffe population. The analysis revealed a drastically reduced RTE activity in giraffes, whereas LINE1 is still actively propagating in the genomes of extant (sub)-species. In concert with the extremely low activity of the giraffe RTE, we also found that RTE-dependent SINEs, namely Bov-tA and Bov-A2, have been virtually immobile in the last 2 million years. Despite the high current activity of the giraffe LINE1, we did not find evidence for the presence of currently active LINE1-dependent SINEs. TE insertion heterozygosity rates differ among the different (sub)-species, likely due to divergent population histories. Conclusions The horizontally transferred RTE/BovB and its derived SINEs appear to be close to inactivation and subsequent extinction in the genomes of extant giraffe species. This is the first time that the decline of a TE family has been meticulously analyzed from a population genetics perspective. Our study shows how detailed information about past and present TE activity can be obtained by analyzing large-scale population-level genomic data sets.

An in-house antibody generation campaign identified a diverse, high affinity set of anti-interleukin-11 (IL-11) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to enable successful development of novel, custom ultra-sensitive target engagement assays for detection of “free” (unbound to the dosed anti-IL-11 therapeutic mAb) and “total” (free and mAb-IL-11 complexed form) IL-11 in preclinical species and human. Antibody hits from distinct epitope communities were screened on various platforms, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Meso Scale Discovery, Simoa HD-1 and Simoa Planar Array (SP-X), and used for assay development and sensitivity optimization. The ultra-sensitive SP-X format achieved a lower limit of quantitation of 0.006 pg/mL, enabling the first reported baseline levels of IL-11 in healthy control plasma determined by custom bioanalytical assays. These newly established baseline levels supported mechanistic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling in mouse, cynomolgus monkey, and human for a greater understanding of preclinical study design and in vivo dynamic interaction of soluble IL-11 with an anti-IL-11 antibody therapeutic candidate. Modeling and simulation also helped refine the utility of assays with respect to their potential use as target engagement biomarkers in the clinic.Abbreviations IL-11: Interleukin-11, TE: Target engagement, PK/PD: Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic, mAb: Monoclonal antibody, NHP: Non-human primate, IgG: Immunoglobulin G, Cyno: Cynomolgulus monkey, GFR: Glomerular filtration rate, BQL: Below quantitation levels, DRM: Disease relevant model, kDa: kilodaltons, SPR: Surface plasmon resonance, pSTAT3: phosphorylated STAT3, IL-11R: Interleukin-11 receptor, TPP: Target product protein, LLOQ: Lower limit of quantitation, RLU: Relative light units

El término “umbral” nombra la parte inferior o el escalón, por lo común de piedra –y contrapuesta al dintel–, situado en la puerta o entrada de un edificio. Pero a su vez, evoca un lugar de la casa, un ámbito en torno a una abertura que comunica lo interior y lo exterior. Esta diferencia entre lo nombrado y lo evocado da pie a una reflexión. Se parte de ejemplos aparentemente lejanos entre sí y se buscan similitudes entre ellos: conexiones que van más allá de lo formal, y que nos acercan tanto al origen de la palabra como al trasfondo o potencial arquitectónico del umbral.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are global health issues all over the world, affecting about30% (NAFLD), and15% (CKD) of general people. Even, with absence of other risk factors such as overweight, diabetes and hypertension, there is force correlation between NAFLD and CKD. Objective: The target of our study is to detect the incidence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis between non-diabetic hemodialysis patients by measuring Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) using transient elastography (TE) (Fibroscan®). Methodology: This was a cross sectional study in Beni-Suef governorate, including 1000 hemodialysis non-diabetic ESRD patients from different hemodialysis units from all the central hospitals in Beni-Suef governorate. Results: According to CAP (dB/M) there were 503(50.3%) S0, 233(23.3%) S1, 100(10.0%) S1-S2, 67(6.7%) S2,10(1.0%) S2-S3 and 87(8.7%) S3. According to liver stiffness grades there were 508(50.8%) F0, 280(28.0%) F1, 57(5.7%) F2,95(9.5%) F3 and 60(6.0%) F4. There were 508(50.8%) F0 and 492(49.2%) F1:F4 with mean 6.14 (± 3.90SD) and range (2.0 - 19.90). Conclusions: In this study we concluded that there is a high incidence of NAFLD among non-diabetic patients on regular Hemodialysis in Beni-Suef governorate, significantly correlated with increasing degree of liver stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative splicing of messenger RNA (mRNA) precursors contributes to genetic diversity by generating structurally and functionally distinct transcripts. In a disease state, alternative splicing promotes incidence and development of several cancer types through regulation of cancer-related biological processes. Transposable elements (TEs), having the genetic ability to jump to other regions of the genome, can bring about alternative splicing events in cancer. TEs can integrate into the genome, mostly in the intronic regions, and induce cancer-specific alternative splicing by adjusting various mechanisms, such as exonization, providing splicing donor/acceptor sites, alternative regulatory sequences or stop codons, and driving exon disruption or epigenetic regulation. Moreover, TEs can produce microRNAs (miRNAs) that control the proportion of transcripts by repressing translation or stimulating the degradation of transcripts at the post-transcriptional level. Notably, TE insertion creates a cancer-friendly environment by controlling the overall process of gene expression before and after transcription in cancer cells. This review emphasizes the correlative interaction between alternative splicing by TE integration and cancer-associated biological processes, suggesting a macroscopic mechanism controlling alternative splicing by TE insertion in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) tend to suffer from several central nervous system (CNS) infections due to hypoimmunity. However, CNS aspergillosis (CNSAG) is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose. Thus, it is easily misdiagnosed. Case presentation: We reported a 47-year-old male AIDS patient with ghosting vision and anhidrosis on the left head and face. He was accordingly diagnosed with Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis (TE) at other hospitals, for which he received regular anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) treatment. Then, the patient was transferred to our hospital due to a lack of any improvement with the prescribed treatment. The patient's neurological examination revealed no abnormalities at admission, only a slight change in the cerebrospinal fluid. His cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple abnormal signals in the brain parenchyma, and his blood was positive for Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody. The initial diagnosis at our hospital was also TE. Considering the poor efficacy of anti-TE treatment, cerebrospinal fluid metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed, but no pathogenic bacteria were detected. However, Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid via targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) and bronchoalveolar alveolar lavage fluid via mNGS. The diagnosis was accordingly revised to CNSAG combined with his other clinical manifestations. After administering voriconazole antifungal therapy, the patient's symptoms were relieved, with improved absorption of the intracranial lesions. Conclusions: The present case experience indicates the need for clinicians to strengthen their understanding of CNSAG. Moreover, for patients with diagnostic difficulties, early mNGS and tNGS (using biological samples with only a few pathogens) are helpful for early diagnosis and treatment, potentially allowing patients to achieve favorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]