Case Report: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome as a cause of deep vein thrombosis and subsequent popliteal artery occlusion.

Background: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a relatively rare cause of arterial insufficiency in young and physically active individuals; however, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can develop in association with PAES. Case report: A 47-year-old man presented with a 6-day history of left leg swelling and discomfort which was diagnosed as DVT extending to the distal femoral vein and pulmonary embolism on computed tomography (CT). PAES was not suspected at this time, and the patient was administered anticoagulants for 1 year. Two years after the DVT diagnosis, the patient developed sudden-onset left calf claudication for 1 week. Repeat CT angiography showed popliteal artery (PA) occlusion caused by PA displacement from an abnormally lateral insertion of the medial gastrocnemius head. A retrospective review of the initial CT scan confirmed this, as well as compression of the popliteal vein between the displaced medial head and the normal lateral head of the gastrocnemius. The patient eventually underwent myotomy and resection of the PA with an interposition graft. Conclusion: This case underscores the potential of PAES as a rare etiology of DVT, emphasizing the importance of considering it in the differential diagnosis of DVT in younger patients lacking common predisposing factors.

A microcapsule-based reusable self-reporting system using a donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct.

Self-reporting systems automatically indicate damaged or corroded surfaces via color changes or fluorescence. In this study, a novel reusable self-reporting system is developed by exploiting the reversibility of a donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA). The synthesized DASA precursor exhibits a color change when damaged upon reaction with diethylamine, and returns to its colorless form upon irradiation with visible light. Microcapsules are synthesized with a core comprising styrene and the DASA precursor, along with a shell formed of urea and formaldehyde. The optimal particle size and shell thickness of the microcapsules are 225 µm and 0.17 µm, respectively. The DASA precursor-containing microcapsules are embedded in a PEG gel matrix with secondary amine groups. This coating system, initially colorless, exhibits a color change, becoming pink after being damaged by scratching due to the reaction between the DASA precursor released from ruptured microcapsules with the secondary amine groups of the PEG gel, thus demonstrating self-reporting characteristics. Furthermore, the colored surface is restored to its initial colorless state by irradiation with visible light for 1.5 hours, demonstrating the reusability of the self-reporting system.

Cell Type- and Age-Specific Expression of lncRNAs across Kidney Cell Types.

BACKGROUND: Accumulated evidence demonstrates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate cell differentiation and homeostasis, influencing kidney aging and disease. Despite their versatility, the function of lncRNA remains poorly understood due to the lack of a reference map of lncRNA transcriptome in various cell types. METHODS: In this study, we employed a targeted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) method to enrich and characterize lncRNAs in individual cells. We applied this method to various mouse tissues, including normal and aged kidneys. RESULTS: Through tissue-specific clustering analysis, we identified cell type-specific lncRNAs that showed a high correlation with known cell-type marker genes. Furthermore, we constructed gene regulatory networks (GRNs) to explore the functional roles of differentially expressed lncRNAs in each cell type. In the kidney, we observed dynamic expression changes of lncRNAs during aging, with specific changes in glomerular cells. These cell type- and age-specific expression patterns of lncRNAs provide insights into their potential roles in regulating cellular processes, such as immune response and energy metabolism, during kidney aging. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sheds light on the comprehensive landscape of lncRNA expression and function and provides a valuable resource for future analysis of lncRNAs (https://gist-fgl.github.io/sc-lncrna-atlas/).

Clinical significance of urinary inflammatory biomarkers in patients with IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common type of primary glomerulonephritis, although the definitive markers are unknown. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of urinary cytokines in patients with IgAN. METHODS: From 2009 to 2018, the patients were divided into three groups: IgAN (n = 191), disease control (n = 53), and normal control (n = 76). We used a multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure 16 selected urinary inflammatory cytokines, evaluated the correlation between clinical and pathological features following regression analysis on progression. RESULTS: The IgAN group exhibited significantly different levels of urinary cytokines compared to the normal control and disease control groups. Urinary levels of B-cell-activating factor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, C-X-C motif chemokine 10, C-X-C motif ligand 16, epidermal growth factor (EGF), endocan, endostatin, growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), interleukin-6 (IL-6), mannose-binding lectin, transferrin receptor, and kidney injury molecule-1 were significantly correlated with both the estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine protein-creatinine ratio. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, urinary EGF (hazard ratio [HR] 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.95, P = 0.04), GDF-15 (HR 2.45, 95% CI 1.01-5.94, P = 0.048), and IL-6 (HR 3.02, 95% CI 1.05-8.64, P = 0.04) were associated with progression in IgAN. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary inflammatory biomarkers may serve as alternative predictive biomarkers in patients with IgAN. Further studies are needed to elucidate the physiological mechanisms and confirm the results.

High energy density in artificial heterostructures through relaxation time modulation.

Electrostatic capacitors are foundational components of advanced electronics and high-power electrical systems owing to their ultrafast charging-discharging capability. Ferroelectric materials offer high maximum polarization, but high remnant polarization has hindered their effective deployment in energy storage applications. Previous methodologies have encountered problems because of the deteriorated crystallinity of the ferroelectric materials. We introduce an approach to control the relaxation time using two-dimensional (2D) materials while minimizing energy loss by using 2D/3D/2D heterostructures and preserving the crystallinity of ferroelectric 3D materials. Using this approach, we were able to achieve an energy density of 191.7 joules per cubic centimeter with an efficiency greater than 90%. This precise control over relaxation time holds promise for a wide array of applications and has the potential to accelerate the development of highly efficient energy storage systems.

Ferroptosis, Inflammation, and Microbiome Alterations in the Intestine in the Göttingen Minipig Model of Hematopoietic-Acute Radiation Syndrome.

Hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS) involves injury to multiple organ systems following total body irradiation (TBI). Our laboratory demonstrated that captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, mitigates H-ARS in Göttingen minipigs, with improved survival and hematopoietic recovery, as well as the suppression of acute inflammation. However, the effects of captopril on the gastrointestinal (GI) system after TBI are not well known. We used a Göttingen minipig H-ARS model to investigate captopril's effects on the GI following TBI (60Co 1.79 or 1.80 Gy, 0.42-0.48 Gy/min), with endpoints at 6 or 35 days. The vehicle or captopril (0.96 mg/kg) was administered orally twice daily for 12 days, starting 4 h post-irradiation. Ilea were harvested for histological, protein, and RNA analyses. TBI increased congestion and mucosa erosion and hemorrhage, which were modulated by captopril. GPX-4 and SLC7A11 were downregulated post-irradiation, consistent with ferroptosis at 6 and 35 days post-irradiation in all groups. Interestingly, p21/waf1 increased at 6 days in vehicle-treated but not captopril-treated animals. An RT-qPCR analysis showed that radiation increased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines IL1B, TNFA, CCL2, IL18, and CXCL8, and the inflammasome component NLRP3. Captopril suppressed radiation-induced IL1B and TNFA. Rectal microbiome analysis showed that 1 day of captopril treatment with radiation decreased overall diversity, with increased Proteobacteria phyla and Escherichia genera. By 6 days, captopril increased the relative abundance of Enterococcus, previously associated with improved H-ARS survival in mice. Our data suggest that captopril mitigates senescence, some inflammation, and microbiome alterations, but not ferroptosis markers in the intestine following TBI.

Comparison of Hemodynamic Parameters Based on the Administration of Remimazolam or Sevoflurane in Patients under General Anesthesia in the Beach Chair Position: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether the administration of remimazolam as a maintenance agent for general anesthesia affects the occurrence of hypotension compared with sevoflurane when switching to the beach chair position (BCP). Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial from June 2023 to October 2023 in adult patients undergoing orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia in the BCP. A total of 78 participants were randomly allocated to the remimazolam (R) or sevoflurane (S) groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension that occurred immediately after switching to a BCP. The secondary outcomes included differences between the study groups in perioperative blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), endotracheal tube extubation time, postoperative complications, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: The incidence of hypotension immediately after switching to a BCP was significantly higher in the S group. The risk factors associated with hypotension included sevoflurane administration and a high baseline systolic BP. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the occurrence of hypotension after the transition to a BCP, the cutoff value for systolic BP was 142 mmHg. The perioperative BP and HR were higher in the R group at several timepoints. Postoperative endotracheal tube extubation time was shorter in the R group. There were no significant differences in the postoperative complications or hospital LOS between the two groups. Conclusions: Remimazolam should be considered as an anesthetic agent to prevent hypotension when switching to BCP, and hypotension may occur frequently in patients with high baseline BP.

The Transaxillary Approach as a Direct Route in the Management of Upper Thoracic Spine Pathology: A Technical Note with Case Series.

This retrospective case series of prospective data aims to describe the transaxillary approach for the treatment of upper thoracic spine pathology. Various surgical techniques and approaches have been reported across the literature to address upper thoracic spine pathology, including the cervicothoracic approach, anterior transsternal approach, posterolateral approach, supraclavicular approach, and lateral parascapular approaches. These techniques are invasive. A minimally invasive, less morbid, and direct access approach to the pathology of the upper thoracic spine has not been reported in the literature. Patients with pathology affecting the first thoracic vertebra up to the sixth thoracic vertebra were classified into the upper thoracic spine group. Patients with pathology below the sixth thoracic vertebra were excluded. Patients not having a minimum follow-up of 12 months were also excluded. The study analyzed 18 patients. The mean preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score was 7.2±1.44, which improved to 10.16±1.2 (p<0.05). The majority (14/18) of the patients had an excellent outcome. Three patients had good outcomes, and one patient had a fair outcome. Five cases of intraoperative dural leak were recorded, and one patient had postoperative neurological deficit. The transaxillary approach is a safe, viable, muscle-sparing, and minimally invasive approach for ventral pathologies of the upper thoracic spine.

Histopathological studies of nonhuman primates exposed to supralethal doses of total- or partial-body radiation: influence of a medical countermeasure, gamma-tocotrienol.

Despite remarkable scientific progress over the past six decades within the medical arts and in radiobiology in general, limited radiation medical countermeasures (MCMs) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Additional effort is needed to develop large animal models for improving the prediction of clinical safety and effectiveness of MCMs for acute and delayed effects of radiation in humans. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are considered the animal models that reproduce the most appropriate representation of human disease and are considered the gold standard for drug development and regulatory approval. The clinical and histopathological effects of supralethal, total- or partial-body irradiations (12 Gy) of NHPs were assessed, along with possible protective actions of a promising radiation MCM, gamma-tocotrienol (GT3). Results show that these supralethal radiation exposures induce severe injuries that manifest both clinically as well as pathologically, as evidenced by the noted functionally crippling lesions within various major organ systems of experimental NHPs. The MCM, GT3, has limited radioprotective efficacy against such supralethal radiation doses.

Remote Epitaxy: Fundamentals, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Advanced heterogeneous integration technologies are pivotal for next-generation electronics. Single-crystalline materials are one of the key building blocks for heterogeneous integration, although it is challenging to produce and integrate these materials. Remote epitaxy is recently introduced as a solution for growing single-crystalline thin films that can be exfoliated from host wafers and then transferred onto foreign platforms. This technology has quickly gained attention, as it can be applied to a wide variety of materials and can realize new functionalities and novel application platforms. Nevertheless, remote epitaxy is a delicate process, and thus, successful execution of remote epitaxy is often challenging. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms of remote epitaxy, summarize recent breakthroughs, and discuss the challenges and solutions in the remote epitaxy of various material systems. We also provide a vision for the future of remote epitaxy for studying fundamental materials science, as well as for functional applications.

Exercise affects high-fat diet-stimulated breast cancer metastasis through irisin secretion by altering cancer stem cell properties.

Background: Regular physical activities reduce the growth of breast cancer, but research on the effects of steady exercise on metastasis and its mechanisms is limited. In this study, the effects of steady exercise on breast cancer metastasis and its possible mechanism were demonstrated. Methods: Experimental metastasis was induced after 8 weeks of steady exercise using a mouse model. Furthermore, one of the myokines, irisin, was studied to elucidate the effects of metastasis-regulating protein expression, and colony and sphere formation, which are cancer stem cell properties. Results: Low- and moderate-intensity exercise significantly reduced the number and volume of metastasized tumors. Among myokines, only irisin was significantly increased by steady exercise but decreased by a high-fat diet. In vitro studies, irisin significantly decreased the number of colonies and sphere formation. Irisin also inhibited cell migration and invasion and suppressed the malignancy of breast cancer cells by reducing the expression of vimentin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and HIF-1 and by increasing the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Conclusion: Steady exercise modulates myokine secretions and among them, irisin suppresses breast cancer metastasis by decreasing self-renewal properties and invasion regulating protein expressions. Thus, regular exercise may be beneficial in the prevention of breast tumor metastasis.

A comparative study on the Cs adsorption/desorption and structural changes in different clay minerals.

We investigated the structural changes in clay minerals after Cs adsorption and understood their low desorption efficiency using an ion-exchanger. We focused on the role of interlayers in Cs adsorption and desorption in 2:1 clay minerals, namely illite, hydrobiotite, and montmorillonite, using batch experiments and XRD and EXAFS analyses. The adsorption characteristics of the clay minerals were analyzed using cation exchange capacity (CEC), maximum adsorption isotherms (Qmax), and radiocesium interception potential (RIP) experiments. Although illite showed a low CEC value, it exhibited high selectivity for Cs with a relatively high RIP/CEC ratio. The Cs desorption efficiency after treatment with a NaCl ion exchanger was the highest for illite (74.3%), followed by hydrobiotite (45.5%) and montmorillonite (30.3%); thus, Cs adsorbed onto planar sites, rather than on interlayers or frayed edge sites (FESs), is easily desorbed. After NaCl treatment, XRD analysis showed that the low desorption efficiency was due to the collapse of the interlayer-fixed Cs, which tightly narrowed the interlayers' hydrobiotite due to the ion exchange of divalent cations (Mg2+ or Ca2+) into the monovalent cation (Na+). Moreover, EXAFS analysis showed that hydrobiotite formed inner-sphere structures after NaCl desorption, indicating that it was difficult to remove Cs from NaCl desorption due to the collapsed hydrobiotite and montmorillonite interlayers as well as the strong bonding in FESs of illite. In contrast, chelation desorption using oxalic acid effectively dissolved the narrowed interlayers of hydrobiotite (98%) and montmorillonite (85.26%), enhancing the desorption efficiency. Therefore, low desorption efficiency for Cs clays using an ion exchanger was caused by the collapsed interlayer due to the exchange between monovalent cation and divalent cation.

Association of decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate with lung cancer risk in the Korean population.

Objectives: Inconsistent results are available regarding the association between low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and lung cancer risk. We aimed to explore the risk of lung cancer according to eGFR category in the Korean population. Methods: We included 358,293 adults who underwent health checkups between 2009 and 2010, utilizing data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on their baseline eGFR, as determined using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation: group 1 (eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73m2), group 2 (eGFR ≥60 to <90mL/min/1.73m2), and group 3 (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2). Incidences of lung cancer were identified using the corresponding codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were employed to calculate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer incidence up to 2019. Results: In multivariate analysis, group 2 exhibited a 26.5% higher risk of developing lung cancer than group 1 (HR, 1.265; 95% CI, 1.189 to 1.346). Furthermore, group 3 demonstrated a 72.5% elevated risk of lung cancer relative to group 1 (HR, 1.725; 95% CI, 1.577 to 1.887). Among participants with dipstick proteinuria of 2+ or greater, group 3 faced a significantly higher risk of lung cancer than group 1 (HR, 2.928; 95% CI, 1.375 to 6.237). Conclusion: Low eGFR was significantly associated with increased lung cancer risk within the Korean population. A particularly robust association was observed in individuals with severe proteinuria, emphasizing the need for further investigation.

Clinical outcomes according to the timing of the first tracheostomy tube change.

Purpose: The first tracheostomy tube replacement is a critical procedure that can cause various complications, but there are few studies on the optimal timing of tracheostomy tube replacement in adult patients. This study aimed to evaluate the appropriate timing to replace the first tracheostomy tube to improve outcomes in adult patients. Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study that included 3957 patients aged ≥18 years who underwent the first tracheostomy tube change from January 2010 to February 2021. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality after the first tracheostomy tube change. Results: The all-cause mortality was statistically significantly lower in group changing the first tracheostomy tube between 7 and 9 days than in other groups (42.1%, P = 0.001). After adjustments in the multivariable analyses, early first tracheostomy tube change within 6 days was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality. The hospital stay, ICU stay, and post-procedural pulmonary complications seemed to increase as the replacement time was delayed. Conclusions: The timing of the first tracheostomy tube change between 7 and 9 days after tracheostomy was associated with improved clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality. Further prospective investigations are needed to determine whether the optimal timing of the first tracheostomy tube change can reduce mortality.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Transpedicular Intrabody Cage Technique for the Management of Kummell Disease.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of Kummell disease remains controversial, with a wide variety of options proposed in the literature. This study aims to introduce a unique and minimally invasive approach for the treatment of Kummell disease and present the clinical results of this technique. METHODS: Twenty patients underwent surgery using the minimally invasive surgery transpedicular intrabody cage (MISTIC) technique from 2014 to 2016. Postoperatively, patients were seen at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores were collected, and patient outcomes were graded according to the modified MacNab's criteria. Radiological outcomes were assessed through measurements of the anterior vertebral height (AH), mean vertebral body height (BH), and segmental angle (SA) on standing lateral radiographs pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the SA, AH, and BH postoperatively. The SA improved from 15.2 ± 8.7° of kyphosis to 1.2 ± 5.2° (P < 0.01) in the immediate postoperative period. The AH increased from 13.3 ± 14.6 to 22.6 ± 12.2 mm (P < 0.01), and at the final follow-up, it was 21.9 ± 12.6 mm (P < 0.01). Similarly, the BH increased from 18.5 ± 6.8 to 25.6 ± 7.6 mm (P < 0.01) postsurgery, and at the final follow-up, it was 23.6 ± 4.4 mm (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The MISTIC technique offers significant correction of kyphosis and restoration of the vertebral anatomy following surgery. These results were maintained at 12 months postoperation, with a 100% union rate of the fractures. Additionally, patients experienced significant pain relief and improvement in their ODI scores that were maintained at 12 months.

Enhancement of fouling resistance of microfiltration membranes by surface modification using UV-curing photopolymer.

Membrane fouling, a major problem in membrane-based processes, decreases the water permeability of a membrane. Membrane fouling can be mitigated either by the application of an additional process for membrane cleaning and pretreatment or by fabricating and modifying membranes to achieve low surface interaction forces. This study aimed to improve the fouling resistance of a commercially available membrane by modifying it with a UV-cured photopolymer, MINs, to achieve low surface energy. The morphological variations (thickness and pore size distribution) of the coating layer were most affected by the viscosity of the UV-cured photopolymer. The thickness of the coating layer was inversely proportional to the dilution factor of the MINs. The pore size distribution could be adjusted by surface modification, and the smallest pore size range (0.077-0.078 µm) was observed for the MC5 membrane. In addition, the pore size distribution, surface roughness, and zeta potential of the membrane decreased after the surface modification. Thus, the developed surface modification strategy has potential for improving the fouling resistance of commercially available microfiltration membranes.

Decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate increase the risk of pancreatic cancer: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Decreased kidney function is a putative risk factor for various cancers. However, few studies have investigated the association between a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and incident pancreatic cancer. We aimed to investigate the risk of incident pancreatic cancer according to eGFR categories. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we included 359 721 adults who underwent health checkups in 2009 or 2010 by using the Korean National Health Insurance Database. The study population was categorized into four groups by eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2 ) using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation: group 1 (eGFR < 45), group 2 (eGFR ≥ 45 to < 60), group 3 (eGFR ≥ 60 to < 90), and group 4 (eGFR ≥ 90). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the incidence of pancreatic cancer until 2019 by comparing the eGFR groups. RESULTS: During the 3 493 589.05 person-years of follow-up, 1702 pancreatic cancer cases were identified. Compared with group 4 (eGFR ≥ 90), HRs and 95% CIs for the incidence of pancreatic cancer were 1.39 (1.24-1.56) for group 3 (eGFR ≥ 60 to < 90), 1.79 (1.47-2.16) for group 2 (eGFR ≥ 45 to < 60), and 2.05 (1.62-2.60) for group 1 (eGFR < 45) in the multivariate adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased eGFR was significantly associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in Korean population. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between a decreased eGFR and the risk of pancreatic cancer in other ethnic groups.

Validating a Xylose Regulator to Increase Polyhydroxybutyrate Production for Utilizing Mixed Sugars from Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Escherichia coli.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production from lignocellulosic biomass is economically beneficial. Because lignocellulosic biomass is a mixture rich in glucose and xylose, Escherichia coli, which prefers glucose, needs to overcome glucose repression for efficient biosugar use. To avoid glucose repression, here, we overexpressed a xylose regulator (xylR) in an E. coli strain expressing bktB, phaB, and phaC from Cupriavidus necator and evaluated the effect of xylR on PHB production. XylR overexpression increased xylose consumption from 0% to 46.53% and produced 4.45-fold more PHB than the control strain without xylR in a 1% sugar mixture of glucose and xylose (1:1). When the xylR-overexpressed strain was applied to sugars from lignocellulosic biomass, cell growth and PHB production of the strain showed a 4.7-fold increase from the control strain, yielding 2.58 ± 0.02 g/l PHB and 4.43 ± 0.28 g/l dry cell weight in a 1% hydrolysate mixture. XylR overexpression increased the expression of xylose operon genes by up to 1.7-fold. Moreover, the effect of xylR was substantially different in various E. coli strains. Overall, the results showed the effect of xylR overexpression on PHB production in a non-native PHB producer and the possible application of xylR for xylose utilization in E. coli.

Solvent-Triggered Chemical Recycling of Ion-Conductive and Self-Healable Polyurethane Covalent Adaptive Networks.

Given the substantial environmental challenge posed by global plastic waste, recycling technology for thermosetting polymers has become a huge research topic in the polymer industry. Covalent adaptive networks (CANs), which can reversibly dissociate and reconstruct their network structure, represent a key technology for the self-healing, reprocessing, and recycling of thermosetting polymers. In the present study, we introduce a new series of polyurethane CANs whose network structure can dissociate via the self-catalyzed formation of dithiolane from the CANs' polydisulfide linkages when the CANs are treated in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or dimethyl sulfoxide at 60 °C for 1 h. More interestingly, we found that this network dissociation even occurs in tetrahydrofuran-DMF solvent mixtures with low DMF concentrations. This feature enables a reduction in the use of high-boiling, toxic polar aprotic solvents. The dissociated network structure of the CANs was reconstructed under UV light at 365 nm with a high yield via ring-opening polydisulfide linkage formation from dithiolane pendant groups. These CAN films, which were prepared by a sequential organic synthesis and polymerization process, exhibited high thermal stability and good mechanical properties, recyclability, and self-healing performance. When lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt was added to the CAN films, the films exhibited a maximum ion conductivity of 7.48 × 10-4 S cm-1 because of the contribution of the high concentration of the pendant ethylene carbonate group in the CANs. The ion-conducting CAN films also showed excellent recyclability and a self-healing performance.

A proposal for the performance evaluation of 0.5 mm lead aprons used in nuclear medicine.

The lead apron plays a crucial role in radiation protection and is extensively used in medical institutions. Periodic performance evaluations, involving visual inspections and transmission imaging, are conducted annually. This research aims to propose a performance evaluation method for 0.5 mm lead aprons used in nuclear medicine departments. The experiments were conducted using transmission imaging and source-based evaluation methods, involving two lead aprons with <1 year of use and two other aprons used for over 10 years. The experimental results indicate that using 50 kVp for transmission imaging is appropriate to detect cracks in the lead aprons. Additionally, in the case of lead aprons used for >10 years, the measured attenuation rate was found to be ~3-5% lower, depending on the measurement method. Consequently, a performance evaluation, including crack detection and actual attenuation rate measurements, should be carried out for lead aprons used long-term to ensure efficacy of radiation protection.