Search

Transition metal-containing materials with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) have brought new opportunities for the development of biological probes, optoelectronic materials, stimuli-responsive materials, sensors, and detectors. Coordination compounds containing the platinum metal have emerged as a promising option for constructing effective AIE platinum complexes. In this review, we classified AIE platinum complexes based on the number of ligands. We focused on the development and performance of AIE platinum complexes with different numbers of ligands and discussed the impact of platinum ion coordination and ligand structure variation on the optoelectronic properties. Furthermore, this review analyzes and summarizes the influence of molecular geometries, stacking models, and aggregation environments on the optoelectronic performance of these complexes. We provided a comprehensive overview of the AIE mechanisms exhibited by various AIE platinum complexes. Based on the unique properties of AIE platinum complexes with different numbers of ligands, we systematically summarized their applications in electronics, biological fields, etc. Finally, we illustrated the challenges and opportunities for future research on AIE platinum complexes, aiming at giving a comprehensive summary and outlook on the latest developments of functional AIE platinum complexes and also encouraging more researchers to contribute to this promising field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing biomaterials in tissue engineering has shown considerable promise for tissue regeneration, particularly through delivering multimodel cell-regulatory signals, including the material-related signals and extrinsic stimuli. In this research, we developed a magnetic-responsive aligned nanofiber fibrin hydrogel (MAFG), integrating the structured alignment of nanofibers and the pliability of fibrin hydrogel with an external magnetic field. This design aimed to enhance the regenerative response in spinal cord injury treatment. A medium-strength magnetic field, aligned with the spinal cord, was applied to aid motor function recovery in rats with spinal cord injuries. The use of MAFG in this context not only intensified the effect of the magnetic field but also encouraged the activation and differentiation of native neural stem cells. Furthermore, this method effectively steered macrophage polarization towards a beneficial M2 phenotype, addressing immune dysregulation at the injury site. The parallel application of magnetic field stimulation through MAFG in a spinal cord injury model contributed to the concurrent promotion of neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation, resulting in marked improvement in motor function in rats. This investigation underscores the therapeutic potential of magnetic field stimulation and highlights how aligning this stimulation with the spinal cord can significantly enhance the regenerative milieu at the injury site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In magnetic resonance (MR) image reconstruction, the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) is widely recognized for its simplicity and competitive performance. However, OMP designs a termination condition based on some prior information such as sparsity and noise intensity. In practice, the unknown prior information of MR images cannot guarantee accurate reconstruction. To make OMP suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we propose an automatic threshold OMP algorithm based on QR decomposition (ATOMP-QR). The termination condition of ATOMP-QR, which utilizes the mutual incoherence property of the sensing matrix, is related to whether the residual vector includes the orthogonal projection component of measurements. Then, to avoid the computation of pseudo-inverse and accelerate reconstruction speed, we perform QR decomposition on the measurement matrix. We conduct the MRI experiments to evaluate the superiority and effectiveness of ATOMP-QR in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structure similarity index measure (SSIM), and running time. Specifically, for the T1-w image with a sparsity of 10, the PSNR was improved from 24 to 32 dB; the SSIM was increased from 0.87 to 0.99. The maximum time consumed decreased from 0.2276 to 0.0107 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming smallholder farms is critical to global food security and environmental sustainability. The science and technology backyard (STB) platform has proved to be a viable approach in China. However, STB has traditionally focused on empowering smallholder farmers by transferring knowledge, and wide-scale adoption of more sustainable practices and technologies remains a challenge. Here, we report on a long-term project focused on technology scale-up for smallholder farmers by expanding and upgrading the original STB platform (STB 2.0). We created a formalized and standardized process by which to engage and collaborate with farmers, including integrating their feedback via equal dialogues in the process of designing and promoting technologies. Based on 288 site-year of field trials in three regions in the North China Plain over 5 y, we find that technologies cocreated through this process were more easily accepted by farmers and increased their crop yields and nitrogen factor productivity by 7.2% and 28.1% in wheat production and by 11.4% and 27.0% in maize production, respectively. In promoting these technologies more broadly, we created a "one-stop" multistakeholder program involving local government agencies, enterprises, universities, and farmers. The program was shown to be much more effective than the traditional extension methods applied at the STB, yielding substantial environmental and economic benefits. Our study contributes an important case study for technology scale-up for smallholder agriculture. The STB 2.0 platform being explored emphasizes equal dialogue with farmers, multistakeholder collaboration, and long-term investment. These lessons may provide value for the global smallholder research and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although solar fuels photocatalysis offers the promise of converting carbon dioxide directly with sunlight as commercially scalable solutions have remained elusive over the past few decades, despite significant advancements in photocatalysis band‐gap engineering and atomic site activity. The primary challenge lies not in the discovery of new catalyst materials, which are abundant, but in overcoming the bottlenecks related to material‐photoreactor synergy. These factors include achieving photogeneration and charge‐carrier recombination at reactive sites, utilizing high mass transfer efficiency supports, maximizing solar collection, and achieving uniform light distribution within a reactor. Addressing this multi‐dimensional problem necessitates harnessing machine learning techniques to analyze real‐world data from photoreactors and material properties. In this perspective, the challenges are outlined associated with each bottleneck factor, review relevant data analysis studies, and assess the requirements for developing a comprehensive solution that can unlock the full potential of solar fuels photocatalysis technology. Physics‐informed machine learning (or Physics Neural Networks) may be the key to advancing this important area from disparate data towards optimal reactor solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Materials and Methods Results Conclusion This study aims to evaluate food impaction on three‐dimensional (3D) printed models with periodontal ligament simulation.Based on a commercial typodont pair, 3D maxillary and mandibular models were created with no teeth and with tooth sockets that were 1 mm wider than the original ones from 24 to 27 or 34 to 37 for periodontal ligament simulation with vinyl polysiloxane impression material. In total, 35 pairs of 7 combinations, including maxillary/mandibular typodonts in occlusion with maxillary/mandibular 3D models with/without a distal gap of canines on 3D models (tooth 23 or 33) were mounted on hinge articulators and divided into seven groups (n = 5). Each sample experienced the same manual chewing simulation on a customized device. The proximal surfaces were photographed to measure the percentage of food impaction area using ImageJ software.Group with fixed maxillary and mandibular teeth showed more food impaction than other groups with significant differences in the average of maxilla and the average of all proximal areas.The flexibility of the periodontal ligament and the degree of freedom of the teeth in their sockets may contribute to the extent of food impaction in proximal spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated level of serum C-reactive protein, a systemic inflammation biomarker, is associated with periodontitis, a common inflammatory condition. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of nutritional interventions on serum C-reactive protein levels in patients with periodontitis. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases according to PRISMA guidelines, including articles published until December 2023. The articles were selected according to predetermined inclusion criteria, and data extraction and quality assessment were conducted utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and standardized forms. Seven out of 438 identified articles met the inclusion criteria. We found that patients with periodontitis had a statistically significant correlation between nutritional interventions and decreased serum C-reactive protein levels (p < 0.05). The interventions included specified dietary modifications and dietary supplements, including vitamin C and folic acid. Diverse patient demographics and intervention categories were observed across the identified articles. Thus, this meta-analysis confirmed that nutritional interventions can reduce serum C-reactive protein levels in patients with periodontitis; therefore, dietary modification is essential in managing the systemic inflammation associated with periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of key enabling technologies in digital twin-based assembly precision analysis, three dimensional (3D) assembly tolerance analysis technology has increasingly become an important means for predicting the assembly accuracy and verifying the assembly quality of mechanical assemblies. However, current methods exist some deficiencies that (i) the traditional model mostly cannot cover geometric tolerances or form errors in 3D assembly tolerance analysis, and (ii) a loss of assembly accuracy can be caused by ignoring these parallel connections in the assembly deviation propagation. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel assembly tolerance analysis method considering form errors and partial parallel connections with assembly accuracy and reliability guarantees in mechanical assemblies. First of all, through the integration of the unified Jacobian-Torsor model and skin model shapes, the resulting integrated Jacobian-skin model shapes model is presented, which contains the two advantages of easy-to-use tolerance propagation and geometric tolerance representation. Secondly, a novel improved approach combined with progressive contact method and algebraic operation is introduced into the assembly deviation propagation, which can realize the calculation of assembly relative positioning errors in both serial and partial parallel connections. Meanwhile, an overall calculation scheme of the proposed method is elaborated for assembly tolerance analysis with a statistical way, which is used to obtain the final deviation results of the assembly functional requirements (AFRs). At last, a typical mechanical assembly involving three parts is used as a case study to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of this solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning models have a high application value in runoff forecasting, but their prediction mechanism is difficult to interpret and their computational cost is high when dealing with complex hydrological relationships, limiting their feasibility in hydrological process mechanism analysis. To address these concerns, the paper first introduces an attention mechanism (AM) for building a long short-term memory network (LSTM) model with AM in the hidden layer (AM-LSTM). The AM-LSTM model employs attention layers to improve information extraction from hidden layers, resulting in a more accurate representation of the relationships between runoff-related elements. Furthermore, in the hidden layers of the AM-LSTM model, interpretable spatiotemporal attention units are established, which not only improves the model's prediction accuracy but also provides interpretability to the forecasting process. Furthermore, parallelization techniques are used in the paper to address the issue of model runtime cost. Simultaneously, to address the accuracy degradation caused by parallelization, the paper employs wavelet denoising (WD) techniques and builds the WD-AM-LSTM model. This accomplishment enables the runoff forecasting model to predict runoff in real time and with high accuracy. Based on validation using ten-day runoff data from the Huanren Reservoir in the Hun River's middle reaches, the results show that, with two layers and an eight-batch size, the AM-LSTM model outperforms the LSTM model in capturing spatiotemporal runoff features. During the model testing phase, the AM-LSTM model improves the MAE, RMSE, and NSE performance metrics by 8.46%, 13%, and 3.82%, respectively. The WD-AM-LSTM model effectively mitigates the noise impact caused by data parallelization under the conditions of two layers and a batch size of 512, achieving the same level of prediction performance while reducing computational cost by 92.01%. By incorporating attention mechanisms and wavelet denoising techniques, this study obtains high-speed and accurate predictions with interpretable results. It expands the deep learning models' applicability in ten-day runoff forecasting work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have gradually shifted efforts to understand the COVID‐19 crisis renewal stage. Viewing a gap in college communities' knowledge regarding COVID‐19 renewal, this study drew upon the extended theoretical model of communal coping and explored college students' stressor coping in back‐to‐campus situations. Results of an online survey (N = 460) across nine US universities, first, supported the presence of communal coping in such a situation. Second, universities' transparent communication benefited students' communal coping appraisal, while online and offline bonding social capital boosted communal coping action; both the appraisal and action components positively contributed to student adaptivity, with life satisfaction being associated only with the action dimension. Theoretical and practical implications for interdisciplinary model concretization and public health crisis renewal are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the bioavailability and antihypertensive effect of the anti-depressant drug citalopram hydrobromide (CTH) we developed a sustained-release transdermal delivery system containing CTH. A transdermal diffusion meter was first used to determine the optimal formulation of the CTH transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS). Then, based on the determined formulation, a sustained-release patch was prepared; its physical characteristics, including quality, stickiness, and appearance, were evaluated, and its pharmacokinetics and irritation to the skin were evaluated by applying it to rabbits and rats. The optimal formulation of the CTH TDDS was 49.2% hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose K100M, 32.8% polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, 16% oleic acid-azone, and 2% polyacrylic acid resin II. The system continuously released an effective dose of CTH for 24 h and significantly enhanced its bioavailability, with a higher area under the curve, good stability, and no skin irritation. The developed CTH TDDS possessed a sustained-release effect and good characteristics and pharmacokinetics; therefore, it has the potential for clinical application as an antidepressant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a two-way coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) approach to analyze the evolution of clogging in slurry shield tunneling quantitatively. The interactions between clay particles and slurry were considered by exchanging three interaction forces, including buoyancy force, pressure gradient force, and drag force. The CFD-DEM coupling approach was first benchmarked by comparing cutterhead torque and total thrust with field monitored data of a practical slurry shield tunnel project. The evolution process of the particle phase and the fluid phase over time was presented. The results indicated that fewer than 70% of the particles can be washed away in time by the circulating slurry. About 9% of the particles adhered to the submerged wall, resulting in increased cutterhead torque and thrust. Through parametric analysis, the influence of the shield driving parameters on the clay clogging behavior is further explored. The time history of cutterhead torque or thrust can be used as a criterion for judging whether clogging has occurred. Additionally, a new assessment method of clogging risk and an optimization strategy of driving parameters were proposed, which were intended to provide some guidance for similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present six epochs of optical spectropolarimetry of the Type IIP supernova (SN) 2021yja ranging from ∼25 to 95 d after the explosion. An unusually high continuum linear polarization of |$p \approx 0.9~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| is measured during the early photospheric phase, followed by a steady decrease well before the onset of the nebular phase. This behaviour has not been observed before in Type IIP supernovae (SNe IIP). The observed continuum polarization angle does not change significantly during the photospheric phase. We find a pronounced axis of symmetry in the global ejecta that is shared in common with the Hα and Ca  ii near-infrared triplet lines. These observations are consistent with an ellipsoidal geometry. The temporal evolution of the continuum polarization is also compatible with the SN ejecta interacting with aspherical circumstellar matter (CSM), although no spectroscopic features that may be associated with strong interaction can be identified. Alternatively, we consider the source of the high polarization to be an extended hydrogen envelope that is indistinguishable from low-density CSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are standard first-line treatments to prevent viral reactivation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in individuals chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), but the long-term efficacy of the two drugs remains controversial. Also unclear is whether the drugs are effective at preventing viral reactivation or HCC recurrence after hepatectomy to treat HBV-associated HCC. This trial will compare recurrence-free survival, overall survival, viral indicators and adverse events in the long term between patients with HBV-associated HCC who receive entecavir or TDF after curative resection. Methods: This study is a randomized, open-label trial. A total of 240 participants will be randomized 1:1 into groups receiving TDF or entecavir monotherapy. The two groups will be compared in terms of recurrence-free and overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery; adverse events; virological response; rate of alanine transaminase normalization; and seroreactivity at 24 and 48 weeks after surgery. Discussion: This study will compare long-term survival between patients with HBV-associated HCC who receive TDF or entecavir monotherapy. Numerous outcomes related to prognosis will be analyzed and compared in this study. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02650271. Registered on January 7, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptic plasticity enhances or reduces connections between neurons, affecting learning and memory. Postsynaptic AMPARs mediate greater than 90% of the rapid excitatory synaptic transmission in glutamatergic neurons. The number and subunit composition of AMPARs are fundamental to synaptic plasticity and the formation of entire neural networks. Accordingly, the insertion and functionalization of AMPARs at the postsynaptic membrane have become a core issue related to neural circuit formation and information processing in the central nervous system. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding the related mechanisms of AMPAR expression and trafficking. The proteins related to AMPAR trafficking are discussed in detail, including vesicle-related proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, synaptic proteins, and protein kinases. Furthermore, significant emphasis was placed on the pivotal role of the actin cytoskeleton, which spans throughout the entire transport process in AMPAR transport, indicating that the actin cytoskeleton may serve as a fundamental basis for AMPAR trafficking. Additionally, we summarize the proteases involved in AMPAR post-translational modifications. Moreover, we provide an overview of AMPAR transport and localization to the postsynaptic membrane. Understanding the assembly, trafficking, and dynamic synaptic expression mechanisms of AMPAR may provide valuable insights into the cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy has gradually become an important support for high-quality economic development, but the speed of digital economy development is affected by policies. A reasonable digital economy policy system has practical significance for the development of the digital economy. This study takes the digital economy policy text published by Heilongjiang Province from 2015 to 2022 as the research object, uses the method of text mining and content analysis, innovatively introduces AE automatic coding technology into the PMC index model, constructs the PMC-AE index model, and quantitatively evaluates and analyzes the policy text. The study found that the digital economy policy of Heilongjiang Province is at a good level as a whole, but there is still room for improvement. The digital economy policy of Heilongjiang Province is mainly based on guiding policies. The richness of policy types, participants, and incentives is insufficient. The limitation of policy timeliness is strong, and the cooperation of the issuing agencies is not sufficient. Based on the research results, it is suggested that policymakers should pay attention to the combination of macro and micro policies, promote multi-agent participation, enrich incentive measures, develop both policy guidance and supervision, improve the timeliness and consistency of policies, and strengthen the communication between the Issuing Departments. In addition, this study puts forward policy suggestions for specific government departments from four aspects of digital industrialization, industrial digitization, digital governance, and data value. This study not only provides policy recommendations for policymakers but also expands the field of policy evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike absorption‐based colors of dyes and pigments, reflection‐based colors of photonic crystals, so called "structural colors", are responsive to external stimuli, but can remain unfaded for over ten million years, and therefore regarded as a next‐generation coloring mechanism. However, it is a challenge to rationally design the spectra of structural colors, where one structure gives only one reflection peak defined by Bragg's law, unlike those of absorption‐based colors. Here, we report a reconfigurable photonic crystal that exhibits single‐peak and double‐peak structural colors. This photonic crystal is composed of a colloidal nanosheet in water, which spontaneously adopts a layered structure with single periodicity (407 nm). After a temperature‐gradient treatment, the photonic crystal segregates into two regions with shrunken (385 nm) and expanded (448 nm) periodicities, and thus exhibits double reflection peaks that are blue‐ and red‐shifted from the original one, respectively. Notably, the transition between the single‐peak and double‐peak states is reversible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike absorption‐based colors of dyes and pigments, reflection‐based colors of photonic crystals, so called "structural colors", are responsive to external stimuli, but can remain unfaded for over ten million years, and therefore regarded as a next‐generation coloring mechanism. However, it is a challenge to rationally design the spectra of structural colors, where one structure gives only one reflection peak defined by Bragg's law, unlike those of absorption‐based colors. Here, we report a reconfigurable photonic crystal that exhibits single‐peak and double‐peak structural colors. This photonic crystal is composed of a colloidal nanosheet in water, which spontaneously adopts a layered structure with single periodicity (407 nm). After a temperature‐gradient treatment, the photonic crystal segregates into two regions with shrunken (385 nm) and expanded (448 nm) periodicities, and thus exhibits double reflection peaks that are blue‐ and red‐shifted from the original one, respectively. Notably, the transition between the single‐peak and double‐peak states is reversible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let 픤 be a basic classical restricted Lie superalgebras over an algebraically closed field k of odd characteristic p, and U0(픤) be the restricted enveloping algebra of 픤. The purpose of this paper is to study the representations of U0(픤). First, we prove a U0(픤)-module Q is projective if and only if it has both a baby Verma module filtration and a twist baby Verma module filtration. Second, we get the Humphreys–Brauer type reciprocity on projective module, baby Verma module and irreducible module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain vertical motions associated with meso-microscale systems are favorable for convection development and maintenance; correct initialization of updraft motions is thus significant in convective precipitation forecasts. A three-dimensional variational-based vertical velocity (w) assimilation scheme has been developed within the high-resolution (3 km) CMA-MESO (the Mesoscale Weather Numerical Forecast System of China Meteorological Administration) model. This scheme utilizes the adiabatic Richardson equation as the observation operator for w, enabling the update of horizontal winds and mass fields of the model’s background. The tangent linear and adjoint operators are subsequently developed and undergo an accuracy check. A single-point w observation assimilation experiment reveals that the observational information is effectively spread both horizontally and vertically. Specifically, the assimilation of w contributes to the generation of horizontal wind convergence at lower model levels and divergence at higher model levels, thereby adjusting the locations of convection occurrence. The impact of assimilating w on the convective precipitation forecast is then examined using a heavy rainfall event, and the results suggest that better 6-h precipitation forecasts are obtained by assimilating w. A batch continuous run is also conducted, and the result indicates that the scheme exhibits a high degree of robustness, leading to improved equitable threat score (frequency skill score) for the first 1 h (3 h) precipitation forecasts compared to the experiment without w assimilated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the n-i-p structure, inverted (p-i-n) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) promise increased operating stability, but these photovoltaic cells often exhibit lower power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) because of nonradiative recombination losses, particularly at the perovskite/C60 interface. We passivated surface defects and enabled reflection of minority carriers from the interface into the bulk using two types of functional molecules. We used sulfur-modified methylthio molecules to passivate surface defects and suppress recombination through strong coordination and hydrogen bonding, along with diammonium molecules to repel minority carriers and reduce contact-induced interface recombination achieved through field-effect passivation. This approach led to a fivefold longer carrier lifetime and one-third the photoluminescence quantum yield loss and enabled a certified quasi-steady-state PCE of 25.1% for inverted PSCs with stable operation at 65°C for >2000 hours in ambient air. We also fabricated monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells with 28.1% PCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, two CdII-based coordination polymers, namely [Cd4(HL)2(H2O)5]n (1), and {[Cd2(HL)(2,2′-bpy)2(H2O)]·6H2O}n (2) (2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been designed and synthesized using 2,3-bis(3,5-dicarboxylphenxoy)benzoic acid (H5L). Coordination polymer 1 displays a layer structure, which was connected through C–H‧‧‧π interactions into 3D supramolecular network, while coordination polymer 2 shows a three-dimensional framework structure. In addition, the excellent fluorescence performance make them potential luminescent sensors for antibiotics. The results show that coordination polymer 1 exhibits high sensitivity for detecting of sulfadiazine (SDZ), while coordination polymer 2 can selectively detect nitrofurantoin (NFT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP1a) is a rare endocrine disease caused by partial defects of the α subunit of the stimulatory Guanosin triphosphate (GTP) binding protein (Gsα) resulting from maternal GNAS gene variation. The clinical manifestations are related to PTH resistance (hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and elevated serum intact PTH) in the presence or absence of multihormone resistance, and Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). Objectives: To summarize the molecular genetics results and clinical characteristics as well as to explore the correlations between them. Methods: Articles pertaining to PHP1a until May, 31, 2021 were reviewed and 527 patients with genetic diagnosis were included in the data analysis. The clinical characteristics and molecular genetics results of these patients were analyzed and compared to explore the correlations between them. Results: A total of 258 GNAS rare variants (RVs) were identified in 527 patients. The RVs were most commonly found in exons 1 and 7 (17.6% each), with frameshift (36.8%), and missense (31.3%) being the main types of RVs. The median age of onset was 5.0 years old. The most common clinical manifestations were elevation of PTH (86.7%) and AHO (87.5%). Thyroid stimulating hormone resistance was the most common hormone resistance (75.5%) other than PTH resistance. Patients with missense and in-frame RVs had lower incidence rates of the round face (P = .001) and subcutaneous ossifications (P < .001) than those with loss-of-function (non-sense, frameshift, splicing site variants, and large deletions) variants. Conclusions: This study revealed the correlation between loss-of-function RVs with round faces and subcutaneous ossifications in PHP 1a patients. Further exploration of genotype-phenotype correlations through more standardized and prospective studies with long-term follow-up is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing convection information in initial field and weakening spurious convection information are hot topics in numerical weather prediction. How to economically assimilate radar reflectivity in the non-convective region (NCR) is the focus of this study. This study proposes a new assimilation scheme for the two-dimensional (2D) composite reflectivity in NCR through the ensemble square-root filter method. A single-column observation test and two convective cases are studied to verify the assimilation effect. Three experiments are designed for each test, including a control experiment (Exp_CTL) that only assimilates convective reflectivity and two assimilation experiments that assimilate reflectivity in NCR (one assimilates 3D weak reflectivity [Exp_RF] and the other assimilates 2D composite reflectivity [Exp_CRF]) based on the Exp_CTL. The results of real-case studies show that the new scheme has two clear advantages. One is that it can save approximately three quarters of the assimilation workload. The other is that the new scheme has the most significant effect on weakening spurious convection and decreasing the false alarm ratios of precipitation and reflectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saridoscelis Meyrick, 1894 belongs to Yponomeutidae, with 9 described species. A new species, Saridoscelis diffusolinearum Lu & Hsu, sp. nov., is described from Taiwan, with diagnostic characters provided for both sexes herein. We also proposed that S. diffusolinearum sp. nov. is close related to S. kodamai Moriuti, 1961. The new species feeds on a subalpine bush Gaultheria cumingiana Vidal (Ericaceae) further indicating that the host plant of the subfamily Saridoscelinae may restricted to Ericaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G = GL ⁡ (m | n) be a general linear supergroup over an algebraically closed field 퐤 of odd characteristic p. In this paper, we construct Jantzen filtration of Weyl modules V ⁢ (λ) for G when λ is a typical weight in the sense of Kac's definition, and consequently obtain a sum formula for their characters. By Steinberg's tensor product theorem, it is enough for us to study typical weights with aim to formulate irreducible characters. As an application, it turns out that an irreducible G-module L ⁢ (λ) can be realized as a Kac module if and only if λ is p-typical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The uncovertebral joint is a potential region for anterior cervical fusion. Currently, we are aware of no clinical trials on human uncovertebral joint fusion (UJF). The purpose of this study was to compare the time it took to achieve osseous union/fusion and the clinical efficacy of UJF to end plate space fusion (ESF)—i.e., traditional anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)—in anterior cervical surgery. Methods: Patients with single-level cervical spondylosis were recruited from April 2021 through October 2022 and randomly divided into the UJF and ESF groups, with 40 patients in each group. Autologous iliac bone was used for bone grafting in both groups. The primary outcome was the early fusion rate at 3 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the prevalence of complications and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for arm and neck pain. Results: A total of 74 patients (92.5%) with an average age of 49.8 years (range, 26 to 65 years) completed the trial and were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups at baseline. The operative duration and intraoperative blood loss were also comparable between the 2 groups. The fusion rate in the UJF group was significantly higher than that in the ESF group at 3 months (66.7% compared with 13.2%, p < 0.0001) and 6 months (94.1% compared with 66.7%, p = 0.006) after the operation. No significant difference was found in the fusion rate between the 2 groups 12 months postoperatively. Overall, the PROMs significantly improved after surgery in both groups and did not differ significantly between the groups at any follow-up time point. The prevalence of complications was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: In our study of anterior cervical fusion surgery, we found that the early fusion rate after UJF was significantly higher than that after ESF. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney–ureter–bladder (KUB) imaging is used as a frontline investigation for patients with suspected renal stones. In this study, we designed a computer-aided diagnostic system for KUB imaging to assist clinicians in accurately diagnosing urinary tract stones. The image dataset used for training and testing the model comprised 485 images provided by Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The proposed system was divided into two subsystems, 1 and 2. Subsystem 1 used Inception-ResNetV2 to train a deep learning model on preprocessed KUB images to verify the improvement in diagnostic accuracy with image preprocessing. Subsystem 2 trained an image segmentation model using the ResNet hybrid, U-net, to accurately identify the contours of renal stones. The performance was evaluated using a confusion matrix for the classification model. We conclude that the model can assist clinicians in accurately diagnosing renal stones via KUB imaging. Therefore, the proposed system can assist doctors in diagnosis, reduce patients' waiting time for CT scans, and minimize the radiation dose absorbed by the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toyotamaphimeia is an extinct crocodylian lineage whose name is derived from a mythological Japanese princess. Here, we re-examine the type specimens of a long-forgotten species: Tomistoma taiwanicus from the Pleistocene of Tainan (Taiwan) and revise its taxonomic status to Toyotamaphimeia taiwanicus n. comb., leading to the first recognized species of Toyotamaphimeia outside Japan. Our phylogenetic analyses also support this taxonomic assignment and, more interestingly, further suggest an East Asian lineage. In addition, Toyotamaphimeia taiwanicus n. comb. represents a tropical species, resolving a long-standing puzzle of why Toyotamaphimeia only inhabited a much higher latitudinal area (Japan). Given the large body size of Toyotamaphimeia taiwanicus n. comb. (~7 m) and the fact that it is geologically older than Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis from Japan, we propose a novel evolutionary scenario: the genus Toyotamaphimeia originated in Taiwan and evolved to a large body size with gigantothermic physiology, which resulted in migration out of Taiwan and dispersal farther north to Japan. Our taxonomic identification shows the presence of an extinct endemic crocodylian species from the Pleistocene of Taiwan with large-scale paleogeographic implications. This study, with our recent progress in vertebrate paleontology in Taiwan, should provoke more in-depth paleontological research on the Pleistocene extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The text-assisted problem-based, methods traditionally used to teach nursing students cannot adequately simulate holistic clinical situations and patient symptoms. Although video-assisted, problem-based learning methods combined with text have shown positive results in terms of improving comprehension and cognitive abilities, some studies have shown these methods to be inferior to text-assisted methods in terms of promoting deep critical thinking in medical students. Purpose: This study was designed to assess the benefits in nursing education of video-assisted, problem-based learning using online multimedia technologies compared with textassisted, problem-based learning using traditional face-to-face classes. Methods: A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group, preintervention-and-postintervention design was used. The experimental group (n = 31) received video-assisted, problem-based learning materials with multimedia technologies (video scenarios, Google Docs worksheets, Google slides, Zoom cloud meetings, and e-learning management system) and weekly online lectures (100 minutes) for 4 weeks. The control group (n = 35) received text-assisted, problem-based learning materials with traditional face-to-face classes and weekly lectures (100 minutes) for 4 weeks. The study data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and independent t tests as well as analysis of variance. Results: At posttest, learning motivation (t = 3.25, p = .002), academic self-efficacy (t = 2.41, p = .019), and self-directed learning (t = 3.08, p = .003) were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Video-assisted, problembased learning using multimedia technologies was shown to be effective in increasing learning motivation, academic selfefficacy, and self-directed learning in nursing students. These findings have implications for the development and planning of contactless classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, no intergroup differences were found in terms of problem-solving skills. Future studies should include in-depth reviews and assessments of the difficulties faced in producing problem scenarios as well as the methods of instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sirtuins (SIRT1-SIRT7), a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent enzymes, are key regulators of life span and metabolism. In addition to acting as deacetylates, some sirtuins have the properties of deacylase, decrotonylase, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosyltransferase, lipoamidase, desuccinylase, demalonylase, deglutarylase, and demyristolyase. Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs early on and acts causally in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). Sirtuins are implicated in the regulation of mitochondrial quality control, which is highly associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. There is growing evidence indicating that sirtuins are promising and well-documented molecular targets for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegenerative disorders by regulating mitochondrial quality control, including mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics, and mitochondrial unfolded protein responses (mtUPR). Therefore, elucidation of the molecular etiology of sirtuinmediated mitochondrial quality control points to new prospects for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying sirtuin-mediated mitochondrial quality control remain obscure. In this review, we update and summarize the current understanding of the structure, function, and regulation of sirtuins with an emphasis on the cumulative and putative effects of sirtuins on mitochondrial biology and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly their roles in mitochondrial quality control. In addition, we outline the potential therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative diseases of targeting sirtuin-mediated mitochondrial quality control through exercise training, calorie restriction, and sirtuin modulators in neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical spectropolarimetry of the normal thermonuclear supernova (SN) 2019np from −14.5 to +14.5 d relative to B -band maximum detected an intrinsic continuum polarization (p cont) of 0.21 ± 0.09 per cent at the first epoch. Between days −11.5 and  +0.5, p cont remained ∼0 and by day +14.5 was again significant at 0.19 ± 0.10 per cent. Not considering the first epoch, the dominant axis of |${\rm Si\, {\small II}}$|  λ6355 was roughly constant staying close the continuum until both rotated in opposite directions on day  +14.5. Detailed radiation-hydrodynamical simulations produce a very steep density slope in the outermost ejecta so that the low first-epoch p cont ≈ 0.2 per cent nevertheless suggests a separate structure with an axis ratio ∼2 in the outer carbon-rich (3.5–4) × 10−3 M⊙. Large-amplitude fluctuations in the polarization profiles and a flocculent appearance of the polar diagram for the |${\rm Ca\, {\small II}}$|  near-infrared triplet (NIR3) may be related by a common origin. The temporal evolution of the polarization spectra agrees with an off-centre delayed detonation. The late-time increase in polarization and the possible change in position angle are also consistent with an aspherical 56Ni core. The p cont and the absorptions due to |${\rm Si\, {\small II}}$| λ6355 and |${\rm Ca\, {\small II}}$|  NIR3 form in the same region of the extended photosphere, with an interplay between line occultation and thermalization producing p. Small-scale polarization features may be due to small-scale structures, but many could be related to atomic patterns of the quasi-continuum; they hardly have an equivalent in the total-flux spectra. We compare SN 2019np to other SNe and develop future objectives and strategies for SN Ia spectropolarimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in plant auxin levels can be perceived and converted into cellular responses by auxin signal transduction. AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) proteins are auxin transcriptional inhibitors that play important roles in regulating auxin signal transduction. The stability of Aux/IAA proteins is important for transcription initiation and downstream auxin-related gene expression. Here, we report that the Aux/IAA protein IAA17 interacts with the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase METHYL METHANESULFONATE-SENSITIVE 21 (AtMMS21) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). AtMMS21 regulated the SUMOylation of IAA17 at the K41 site. Notably, root length was suppressed in plants overexpressing IAA17, whereas the roots of K41-mutated IAA17 transgenic plants were not significantly different from wild-type roots. Biochemical data indicated that K41-mutated IAA17 or IAA17 in the AtMMS21 knockout mutant was more likely to be degraded compared with nonmutated IAA17 in wild-type plants. In conclusion, our data revealed a role for SUMOylation in the maintenance of IAA17 protein stability, which contributes to improving our understanding of the mechanisms of auxin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rare class of supernovae (SNe) is characterized by strong interaction between the ejecta and several solar masses of circumstellar matter (CSM) as evidenced by strong Balmer-line emission. Within the first few weeks after the explosion, they may display spectral features similar to overluminous Type Ia SNe, while at later phase their observation properties exhibit remarkable similarities with some extreme case of Type IIn SNe that show strong Balmer lines years after the explosion. We present polarimetric observations of SN 2018evt obtained by the ESO Very Large Telescope from 172 to 219 d after the estimated time of peak luminosity to study the geometry of the CSM. The non-zero continuum polarization decreases over time, suggesting that the mass-loss of the progenitor star is aspherical. The prominent H α emission can be decomposed into a broad, time-evolving component and an intermediate-width, static component. The former shows polarized signals, and it is likely to arise from a cold dense shell (CDS) within the region between the forward and reverse shocks. The latter is significantly unpolarized, and it is likely to arise from shocked, fragmented gas clouds in the H-rich CSM. We infer that SN 2018evt exploded inside a massive and aspherical circumstellar cloud. The symmetry axes of the CSM and the SN appear to be similar. SN 2018evt shows observational properties common to events that display strong interaction between the ejecta and CSM, implying that they share similar circumstellar configurations. Our preliminary estimate also suggests that the circumstellar environment of SN 2018evt has been significantly enriched at a rate of ∼0.1 M⊙ yr−1 over a period of >100 yr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tight junctions (TJs) are located in the apical region of the junctions between epithelial cells and are widely found in organs such as the brain, retina, intestinal epithelium, and endothelial system. As a mechanical barrier of the intestinal mucosa, TJs can not only maintain the integrity of intestinal epithelial cells but also maintain intestinal mucosal permeability by regulating the entry of ions and molecules into paracellular channels. Therefore, the formation disorder or integrity destruction of TJs can induce damage to the intestinal epithelial barrier, ultimately leading to the occurrence of various gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, a large number of studies have shown that TJs protein transport disorder from the endoplasmic reticulum to the apical membrane can lead to TJs formation disorder, in addition to disruption of TJs integrity caused by external pathological factors and reduction of TJs protein synthesis. In this review, we focus on the structural composition of TJs, the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles containing transmembrane TJs from the Golgi apparatus, and the transport process from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane via microtubules and finally fusion with the plasma membrane. At present, the mechanism of the intracellular transport of TJ proteins remains unclear. More studies are needed in the future to focus on the sorting of TJs protein vesicles, regulation of transport processes, and recycling of TJ proteins, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serious side effects of cisplatin hindered its clinical application and the nanotechnology might be the potential strategy to address the limitation. However, rapid clearance in the blood circulation and ineffective controlled drug release from nanocarriers hamper the therapeutic efficacy of the nano-delivery system. We constructed a tumor microenvironment and redox dual stimuli-responsive nano-delivery system PEG-c-(BPEI-SS-Pt) by cross-linking the disulfide-containing polymeric conjugate BPEI-SS-Pt with the dialdehyde group-modified PEG2000 via Schiff base. After optimized the cross-linking time, 72 h was selected to get the nano-delivery system. 1H NMR and drug release assays showed that under the acidic tumor microenvironment (pH 6.5â€"6.8), the Schiff base can be broken and detached the PEG cross-linked outer shells, displaying the capability to release the drugs with a sequential pH- and redox-responsive manner. Moreover, PEG-c-(BPEI-SS-Pt) showed more effective anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy in vivo with no significant side effects when compared with the drug of cisplatin used in the clinic. This strategy highlights a promising platform with the dual stimuli-responsive profile to achieve better therapeutic efficacy and minor side effects for platinum-based chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activating relevant responses is a key function of automatic processes in De Neys's model; however, what determines the order or magnitude of such activation is ambiguous. Focusing on recently developed sequential sampling models of choice, we argue that proactive control shapes response generation but does not cleanly fit into De Neys's automatic-deliberative distinction, highlighting the need for further model development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Desertification is one of the main obstacles to global sustainable development. Monitoring, evaluating and mastering its driving factors are very important for the prevention and control of desertification. As one of the largest deserts in China, the development of desertification in Otindag Sandy Land (OSL) resulted in the reduction in land productivity and serious ecological/environmental consequences. Although many ecological restoration projects have been carried out, the vegetation restoration of OSL and the impact mechanism of climate and human activities on desertification remain unclear. Methods: Taking OSL as the research area, this paper constructs the desertification index by using the remote sensing images and meteorological and socio-economic data, between 1986 and 2016, and analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution process and driving factors of desertification by using trend analysis and spearman rank correlation. Results: The results showed that: (1) Desertification in the OSL has fluctuated greatly during the past 30 years. Desertification recovered between 1986 and 1990, expanded and increased between 1990 and 2000, reduced between 2000 and 2004, developed rapidly between 2004 and 2007, and recovered again between 2007 and 2016; (2) The desertification of OSL is dominated by a non-significant change trend, accounting for 73.27%. In the significant change trend, the area of desertification rising trend is 20.32%, which is mainly located in the north and east, and the area of declining trend is 6.41%, which is mainly located in the southwest; (3) Desertification is the result of the superposition of climate and human activities. Climate change is the main influencing factor, followed by human activities, and the superposition effects of the two are spatio-temporal differences. Conclusions: These results shed light on the development of desertification in OSL and the relative importance and complex interrelationship between human activities and climate in regulating the process of desertification. Based on this, we suggest continuing to implement the ecological restoration policy and avoid the destruction of vegetation by large-scale animal husbandry in order to improve the situation of desertification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northeast Taiwan, many areas are affected by various tectonic forcings. Some areas appear to have a subsidence tendency, whereas others reflect uplift activities on the surface, due to tectonic northward compressive forcing growth and decline. Owing to the presence of widespread mountain areas, limited geodetic surveys in the field have made data scarce in the study area in the past decades. The distribution of the geomorphic indices, which were calculated along the river channels, were used to analyze the activities on a regional scale in this study. The long-term landscape evolution of drainage basins can record topographic changes through the river channels. By calculating the location and drop height of knickpoint in the river longitudinal profile, as well as the spatial distribution of the normalized steepness index ( Ksn ) value, it is possible to comprehensively discuss the perturbations that were caused by possible factors in river channels. Our results from the geomorphic indices synthetically suggest that the river channel of drainage basins is mainly influenced by the perturbations such as geological structures, tectonic activity, various lithologies, potential ruptures. In the study area, tectonic forcing act on a large area from north to south, which is reflected in the long-term incision of the river into the bedrock. Moreover, the potential ruptures on the surface may also induce displacement in the local area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background And Objectives: Human platelet antigens (HPAs) are alloantigens associated with antiplatelet alloantibodies and the risk of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few studies have investigated associations among HPAs, antiplatelet autoantibodies, and cryoglobulins. Methods: We enrolled 43 patients with primary ITP, 47 with hepatitis C virus-associated ITP (HCV-ITP), 21 with hepatitis B virus-associated ITP (HBV-ITP), 25 controls with HCV, and 1013 normal controls. We analyzed HPA allele frequencies, including HPA1-6 and 15, antiplatelet antibodies binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, Ia/IIa, Ib/IX, IV, human leukocyte antigen class I, cryoglobulin IgG/A/M, and their associations with thrombocytopenia. Results: In the ITP cohort, HPA2ab, rather than HPA2aa, predicted a low platelet count. HPA2b was associated with the risk of developing ITP. HPA15b was correlated with multiple antiplatelet antibodies. In HCV-ITP patients, HPA3b was correlated with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. HCVITP patients with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies had a higher positive rate of cryoglobulin IgG and IgA compared with those without anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. Overlapping detection was also found among other antiplatelet antibodies and cryoglobulins. Like the antiplatelet antibodies, cryoglobulins were associated with clinical thrombocytopenia, implying their close relationship. Finally, we extracted cryoglobulins to confirm the exhibition of cryoglobulin-like antiplatelet antibodies. In contrast, in primary ITP patients, HPA3b was correlated with cryoglobulin IgG/A/M rather than anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. Conclusion: HPA alleles were associated with antiplatelet autoantibodies and had different impacts in primary ITP and HCV-ITP patients. HCV-ITP was considered to be a symptom of mixed cryoglobulinemia in HCV patients. The pathophysiology may differ between these two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the regular development of the global epidemic, the global port shipping supply is tight. The problem of port congestion, soaring freight rates, and hard-to-find container space has emerged. This paper proposes a new joint berth-quay crane allocation model, namely E-B&QC, by taking the minimum of the time in the port of the ship, the cost of extra transportation distance for collector trucks in the land area of the port, and the cost of extra waiting time for ships. Then, the deficiencies of the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) are considered in solving the E-B&QC model, and the SSA is improved based on the three-dimensional Cat chaos mapping and quantum computing theory. Chaotic Quantum Sparrow Search Algorithm (CQSSA) is proposed, population individual coding rules are formulated, also E-B&QC model solving algorithm is established. Finally, a new berth-crane allocation optimization method, namely, E-B&QC-CQSSA, is proposed. Subsequently, the feasibility and superiority of the proposed allocation model and solution algorithm are tested according to the actual data of a small river port in the south and a medium-sized river port in the north. Simulation examples show that the E-B&QC model can develop different high-quality solutions for container ports under different working conditions, and the more complex the actual situation of the port, the more significant the optimization effect. The proposed CQSSA for E-B&QC model can obtain a better solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination, supported by social and public health measures, has proven efficacious for reducing disease severity and virus spread. However, the emergence of highly transmissible viral variants that escape prior immunity highlights the need for additional mitigation approaches. Heparin binds the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and can inhibit virus entry and replication in susceptible human cell lines and bronchial epithelial cells. Primary infection predominantly occurs via the nasal epithelium, but the nasal cell biology of SARS-CoV-2 is not well studied. We hypothesized that prophylactic intranasal administration of heparin may provide strain-agnostic protection for household contacts or those in high-risk settings against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we investigated the ability of heparin to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in differentiated human nasal epithelial cells and showed that prolonged exposure to heparin inhibits virus infection. Furthermore, we establish a method for PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes in heparin-treated samples that can be adapted for the detection of viruses in clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney–ureter–bladder (KUB) imaging is a radiological examination with a low cost, low radiation, and convenience. Although emergency room clinicians can arrange KUB images easily as a first-line examination for patients with suspicious urolithiasis, interpreting the KUB images correctly is difficult for inexperienced clinicians. Obtaining a formal radiology report immediately after a KUB imaging examination can also be challenging. Recently, artificial-intelligence-based computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems have been developed to help clinicians who are not experts make correct diagnoses for further treatment more effectively. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a CAD system for KUB imaging based on a deep learning model designed to help first-line emergency room clinicians diagnose urolithiasis accurately. A total of 355 KUB images were retrospectively collected from 104 patients who were diagnosed with urolithiasis at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Then, we trained a deep learning model with a ResNet architecture to classify KUB images in terms of the presence or absence of kidney stones with this dataset of pre-processed images. Finally, we tuned the parameters and tested the model experimentally. The results show that the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-measure of the model were 0.977, 0.953, 1, and 0.976 on the validation set and 0.982, 0.964, 1, and 0.982 on the testing set, respectively. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the proposed model performed well compared to the existing CNN-based methods and was able to detect urolithiasis in KUB images successfully. We expect the proposed approach to help emergency room clinicians make accurate diagnoses and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT) scans, along with the associated medical costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduced a novel surgery that combines ultrasound guidance, miniaturization and Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia (GMSV) position in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and evaluated the safety and efficacy. This retrospective, single-center study retrospectively reviewed 150 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided mini-PCNL in the GMSV position from November 2019 to March 2022. All perioperative parameters were collected. Stone-free status was defined as no residual stones or clinically insignificant residual fragments (CIRF) <0.4 cm on postoperative day one. Among the 150 patients, the mean age was 56.96 years. The mean stone size was 3.19 cm (427 mm2). The mean S.T.O.N.E. score was 7.61, including 36 patients (24%) with scores ≥9. The mean operative time was 66.22 min, and the success rate of renal access creation in the first attempt was 88.7%. One hundred and forty (93.3%) patients were stone free. The mean decrease in Hemoglobin was 1.04 g/dL, and no patient needed a blood transfusion. Complications included transient hematuria (n = 13, 8.7%), bladder blood clot retention (n = 2, 1.3%), fever (n = 15, 10%) and sepsis (n = 2, 1.3%). Totally X-ray-free ultrasound-guided mini-PCNL in the GMSV position is feasible, safe and effective for patients with upper urinary tract stones, indicating the synergistic and complementary effects of the three novel techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein phosphorylation is important in skeletal muscle development, growth, regeneration, and contractile function. Alterations in the skeletal muscle phosphoproteome due to aging have been reported in males; however, studies in females are lacking. We have demonstrated that estrogen deficiency decreases muscle force, which correlates with decreased myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation. Thus, we questioned whether the decline of estrogen in females that occurs with aging might alter the skeletal muscle phosphoproteome. C57BL/6J female mice (6 mo) were randomly assigned to a sham-operated (Sham) or ovariectomy (Ovx) group to investigate the effects of estrogen deficiency on skeletal muscle protein phosphorylation in a resting, noncontracting condition. After 16 wk of estrogen deficiency, the tibialis anterior muscle was dissected and prepped for labelfree nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry phosphoproteomic analysis. We identified 4,780 phosphopeptides in tibialis anterior muscles of ovariectomized (Ovx) and Sham-operated (Sham) control mice. Further analysis revealed 647 differentially regulated phosphopeptides (Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted P value < 0.05 and 1.5-fold change ratio) that corresponded to 130 proteins with 22 proteins differentially phosphorylated (3 unique to Ovx, 2 unique to Sham, 6 upregulated, and 11 downre- gulated). Differentially phosphorylated proteins associated with the sarcomere, cytoplasm, and metabolic and calcium signaling pathways were identified. Our work provides the first global phosphoproteomic analysis in females and how estrogen deficiency impacts the skeletal muscle phosphoproteome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PTFE/Al reactive material is an energetic material that releases energy under impact conditions, resulting in a wide range of application prospects. In order to improve its damage ability—considering the higher heat of the reaction per unit mass when Ni2O3 is involved in the aluminothermic reaction—we designed and studied PTFE/Al/Ni2O3, a reaction material based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). We also designed two other kinds (PTFE/Al, PTFE/Al/CuO) for comparative study, with the mass fraction of the metal oxides added at 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. The quasi-static compression properties and impact initiation behavior of the material were investigated by a universal material testing machine and a drop hammer test. The reaction process of different materials under a high strain rate was recorded using a high-speed camera. The results show that with the increase in Ni2O3 content, the strength of the PTFE/Al/Ni2O3 reactive material shows an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend. Among the three reactive materials, when the content of Al/Ni2O3 reaches 30 wt.%, the reaction duration is the longest (at 4 ms) and the reaction fireball is the largest. The addition of Ni2O3 is helpful to improve the reactivity and reaction duration of the PTEF/Al reactive material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a sustained-release transdermal delivery system containing losartan potassium (LP) and verapamil hydrochloride (VPH). LP and VPH have low bioavailability and long half-life. Therefore, the development of an optimum administration mode is necessary to overcome these drawbacks and enhance the antihypertensive effect. A transdermal diffusion meter was used to determine the optimal formulation of LP-VPH transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS). Based on in vitro results, a sustained-release patch was prepared. Physical characteristics, including quality, stickiness, and appearance, were evaluated in vitro, while pharmacokinetics and skin irritation were evaluated in vivo. The results showed that 8.3% polyvinyl alcohol, 74.7% polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, 12% oleic acid-azone, and 5% polyacrylic acid resin II provided an optimized TDDS product for effective administration of LP and VPH. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo release tests showed that the system continuously released LP and VPH for 24 h. The pharmacokinetic results indicated that although the maximum concentration was lower, both the area under the curve from 0–time and the mean residence time of the prepared patch were significantly higher than those of the oral preparations. Furthermore, the prepared LP-VPH transdermal patch showed good stability and no skin irritation. The developed LP-VPH TDDS showed a sustained-release effect and good characteristics and pharmacokinetics; therefore, it is an ideal formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]