Antimicrobial Isochroman-Derived Atropo-diastereomeric Dimers from Penicillium steckii SCISO 41228.

A pair of unidentified atropisomeric dimers, penicisteckins G (1) and H (2), and twelve known compounds (3-16) were isolated from the marine coral-derived fungus Penicillium steckii SCISO41228. Their structures including the absolute configuration were determined by HR-ESI-MS, ECD, 1D-, and 2D-NMR spectra. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent antibacterial activity against most pathogenic strains, especially for MASA and Micrococcus luteus, with MIC values of 4.0 µg·mL-1. In addition, compounds 2 and 3 exhibit potent antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 10.76 and 8.66 µg·mL-1, respectively.

Micro Reference Electrode with an Ultrathin Ionic Path.

Reference electrode (RE) plays the core role in accurate potential control in electrochemistry. However, nanoresolved electrochemical characterization techniques still suffer from unstable potential control of pseudo-REs, because the commercial RE is too large to be used in the tiny electrochemical cell, and thus only pseudo-RE can be used. Therefore, microsized RE with a stable potential is urgently required to push the nanoresolved electrochemical measurements to a new level of accuracy and precision, but it is quite challenging to reproducibly fabricate such a micro RE until now. Here, we revisited the working mechanism of the metal-junction RE and clearly revealed the role of the ionic path between the metal wire and the borosilicate glass capillary to maintain a stable potential of RE. Based on this understanding, we developed a method to fabricate micro ultrastable-RE, where a reproducible ultrathin ionic path can form by dissolving a sandwiched sacrificial layer between the Pt wire and the capillary for the ion transfer. The potential of this new micro RE was almost the same as that of the commercial Ag/AgCl electrode, while the size is much smaller. Different from commercial REs that must be stored in the inner electrolyte, the new RE could be directly stored in air for more than one year without potential drift. Eventually, we successfully applied the micro RE in the electrochemical tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-TERS) measurement to precisely control the potential of the working electrode, which makes it possible to compare the results from different laboratories and techniques to better understand the electrochemical interface at the nanoscale.

Nanoscale chemical characterization of materials and interfaces by tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Materials and their interfaces are the core for the development of a large variety of fields, including catalysis, energy storage and conversion. In this case, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), which combines scanning probe microscopy with plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, is a powerful technique that can simultaneously obtain the morphological information and chemical fingerprint of target samples at nanometer spatial resolution. It is an ideal tool for the nanoscale chemical characterization of materials and interfaces, correlating their structures with chemical performances. In this review, we begin with a brief introduction to the nanoscale characterization of materials and interfaces, followed by a detailed discussion on the recent theoretical understanding and technical improvements of TERS, including the origin of enhancement, TERS instruments, TERS tips and the application of algorithms in TERS. Subsequently, we list the key experimental issues that need to be addressed to conduct successful TERS measurements. Next, we focus on the recent progress of TERS in the study of various materials, especially the novel low-dimensional materials, and the progresses of TERS in studying different interfaces, including both solid-gas and solid-liquid interfaces. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future developments of TERS in the study of materials and interfaces.

Comparison of Different Intraoral Scanners With Prefabricated Aid on Accuracy and Framework Passive Fit of Digital Complete-Arch Implant Impression: An In Vitro Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of digital complete-arch implant impressions with prefabricated aids using three intraoral scanners (IOSs) and explore the correlation between virtual deviation measurement and physical framework misfit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four edentulous maxillary master models with four and six parallel and angular implants were fabricated and scanned by a laboratory scanner as reference scans. Ten scans of each master model were acquired using three IOSs (IOS-T, IOS-M, and IOS-A) with and without prefabricated aids. Trueness and precision of root mean square (RMS) errors were measured. Ten aluminum alloy frameworks were fabricated, and the misfit was measured with a micro-computed tomography scan with one screw tightened. RESULTS: Trueness and precision showed significant improvement when prefabricated aids were used for all three IOSs (p < 0.010). Median (interquartile range) RMS errors of trueness reduced from 67.5 (30.4) to 61.8 (30.3) µm, from 100.6 (35.4) to 45.9 (15.1) µm, and from 52.7 (33.2) to 41.1 (22.5) µm for scanner IOS-T, IOS-M, and IOS-A, respectively (p < 0.010). The precision of IOS-A and IOS-M was significantly better than IOS-T when using prefabricated aid (p < 0.001). RMS errors and the maximum marginal misfit of the framework were significantly correlated (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.845). CONCLUSIONS: With the prefabricated aids, the accuracy of IOSs enhanced significantly in digital complete-arch implant impressions. Three IOSs showed different levels of improvement in accuracy. Virtual RMS errors <62.2 µm could be the clinically acceptable threshold (150 µm) for framework passive fit.

Assessment of Five-Year Relative Survival of Patients With Endometrial Cancer: A Period Analysis.

Background: Endometrial cancer is one of the most common female cancers globally and in China. Although timely assessment of 5-year relative survival is crucial for guiding secondary prevention and early screening programs for endometrial cancer patients, those kinds of data are scarce in China. We aimed to provide a timely and accurate assessment of 5-year relative survival for patients with endometrial cancer from eastern China. Methods: Overall, 945 patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer during 2004 - 2018 from four cancer registries with high-quality data from Taizhou, eastern China were included. Period analysis was used to calculate 5-year relative survival for overall and the stratification by age at diagnosis and region. Model-based period analysis was used to predict the 5-year relative survival for the upcoming period of 2019 - 2023. Results: We found that 5-year relative survival during 2014 - 2018 reached 86.4% for overall, while urban areas had higher survival compared to rural areas (91.3% vs. 85.3%). Furthermore, there was a clear age gradient, decreasing from 89.3% for age < 55 years to 80.5% for age > 74 years. Predicted 5-year relative survival for the upcoming period 2019 - 2023 could reach 88.4%. Conclusions: We provide, a timely and accurate assessment of 5-year relative survival for patients with endometrial cancer from Taizhou, eastern China, reaching 86.4% for overall. Our finding has important implications for the overall evaluation of early detection and screening programs for patients with endometrial cancer in eastern China.

Metabolomic Profiling and Biological Investigation of the Marine Sponge-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sp. SYPUF29 in Response to NO Condition.

Marine-derived fungi are assuming an increasingly central role in the search for natural leading compounds with unique chemical structures and diverse pharmacological properties. However, some gene clusters are not expressed under laboratory conditions. In this study, we have found that a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SYPUF29 would survive well by adding an exogenous nitric oxide donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) and nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor (L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, L-NAME) in culture conditions. Moreover, using the LC-MS/MS, we initially assessed and characterized the difference in metabolites of Aspergillus sp. SYPUF29 with or without an additional source of nitrogen. We have found that the metabolic pathway of Arginine and proline metabolism pathways was highly enriched, which was conducive to the accumulation of alkaloids and nitrogen-containing compounds after adding an additional source of nitrogen in the cultivated condition. Additionally, the in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory study showed that the extracts after SNP and L-NAME were administrated can potently inhibit LPS-induced NO-releasing of BV2 cells with lower IC50 value than without nitric oxide. Further Western blotting assays have demonstrated that the mechanism of these extracts was associated with the TLR4 signaling pathway. Additionally, the chemical investigation was conducted and led to nine compounds (SF1-SF9) from AS1; and six of them belonged to alkaloids and nitrogen-containing compounds (SF1-SF6), of which SF1, SF2, and SF8 exhibited stronger activities than the positive control, and showed potential to develop the inhibitors of neuroinflammation.

Quercetin represses cholesterol metabolism and mitigates resistance to cisplatin in oral squamous cell carcinoma by regulating AGR2/AKT/SREBP2 axis.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of quercetin on cholesterol metabolism and cisplatin sensitivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line (CAL27) and investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: CAL27 cells were exposed to quercetin or cisplatin after upregulation or downregulation of AGR2. The expression of proteins and genes associated with cholesterol metabolism were assessed. The levels of cholesterol and LDL were also measured, and the cisplatin sensitivity of CAL27 cells was analyzed. Results: RNA high-throughput sequencing revealed that after treatment with quercetin, the expression of AGR2 was significantly reduced in cisplatin-resistant CAL27 cells (CAL-27R), which was associated with lipid metabolism. AGR2 deletion ameliorated but its overexpression exacerbated cisplatin resistance and cholesterol metabolism, evidenced by changes in SQLE, HMGCS, LDLR, and n-SREBP2 expression and cholesterol and LDL levels. Moreover, AGR2 promoted cisplatin resistance by activating the AKT signaling pathway and enhancing SREBP2-mediated cholesterol metabolism. Quercetin increased cisplatin sensitivity by repressing cholesterol metabolism but suppressed the AGR2/AKT/SREBP2 signaling pathway in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects were partly reversed by AGR2 overexpression and AKT activation. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that quercetin inhibits cholesterol metabolism and cisplatin resistance in CAL27 cells by modulating the AGR2/AKT/SREBP2 axis.

Validation of intrinsic capacity and healthy sleep pattern in middle-aged and older adults: a longitudinal Chinese study assessing healthy ageing.

OBJECTIVES: Intrinsic capacity (IC), a multidimensional construct encompassing mental and physical capacities, has been established in the aging framework by the World Health Organization. However, the detailed relationship between IC and Chinese sleep patterns (nighttime sleep and post-lunch naps) remains inadequately elucidated. METHODS: Participants in this study were individuals aged ≥45 years residing in China, included in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We analyzed 4 years of CHARLS data from the first wave (May 2011-March 2012) to the second wave (July 2015-January 2016). Data from these waves were utilized for longitudinal analysis. Self-reported data included nighttime sleep and nap duration, along with other baseline characteristics. The IC evaluation involved physical examinations and blood tests. Initially, linear regression was used to assess the relationship between total sleep duration, nighttime sleep duration, nap duration, and IC change between the two waves that were determined by marginal effects (ME) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Regression splines were employed to explore potential nonlinear associations. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate the heterogeneity of IC change under specific conditions and the robustness of our results. Mediation analysis was performed to identify potential factors mediating the relationship between sleep patterns and IC change. RESULTS: Both excessive (>10 h) (total, ME: -1.12; 95% CI: -1.61, -0.64; nighttime, ME: -1.44; 95% CI: -2.29, -0.59) and insufficient (<6 h) sleep duration (total, ME: -0.43; 95% CI: -0.68, -0.18; nighttime, ME: -0.50; 95% CI: -0.73, -0.27) negatively impacted IC change. Moderate naps (≤60 min) mitigated the decline in IC change (ME: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.49). IC values decreased at the slowest rate when nap time constituted one-seventh of total sleep time. The onset of dyslipidemia partially mediated the association between naps (≤60 min) and IC change (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that maintaining a healthy sleep pattern of 6-8 h of nighttime or total sleep, along with a post-lunch nap of ≤60 min, helps preserve optimal IC or delay its decline. This is particularly beneficial for cognitive, psychological, and locomotion performance among middle-aged and older adults.

Bibliometric study of sepsis-associated liver injury from 2000 to 2023.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis-associated liver injury (SLI) is a severe and prevalent complication of sepsis. AIM: To explore the literature on SLI via a bibliometric approach. METHODS: Reviews and articles correlated with SLI published from January 1, 2000 to October 28, 2023 were searched from the Web of Science Core Collection. Then, the searched data were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R language. RESULTS: There were 787 publications involved in this paper, comprising 745 articles and 42 reviews. China, the United States, and Germany are the primary publication sources in this area. Studies related to SLI primarily focused on mechanisms of pathogenesis, as evidenced by analyzing keywords, references, and the counting of original research. These studies mainly involved tumor necrosis factor alpha, inflammation, oxidative stress, and nuclear factor-kappa B. CONCLUSION: There is significant growth in the research on SLI. Current investigations primarily involve basic experiments that aimed at uncovering pathogenic mechanisms. According to the analyzed literature, the identified pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets serve as the foundation for translating findings from basic research to clinical applications.

Deciphering functional groups of rumen microbiome and their underlying potentially causal relationships in shaping host traits.

Over the years, microbiome research has achieved tremendous advancements driven by culture-independent meta-omics approaches. Despite extensive research, our understanding of the functional roles and causal effects of the microbiome on phenotypes remains limited. In this study, we focused on the rumen metaproteome, combining it with metatranscriptome and metabolome data to accurately identify the active functional distributions of rumen microorganisms and specific functional groups that influence feed efficiency. By integrating host genetics data, we established the potentially causal relationships between microbes-proteins/metabolites-phenotype, and identified specific patterns in which functional groups of rumen microorganisms influence host feed efficiency. We found a causal link between Selenomonas bovis and rumen carbohydrate metabolism, potentially mediated by bacterial chemotaxis and a two-component regulatory system, impacting feed utilization efficiency of dairy cows. Our study on the nutrient utilization functional groups in the rumen of high-feed-efficiency dairy cows, along with the identification of key microbiota functional proteins and their potentially causal relationships, will help move from correlation to causation in rumen microbiome research. This will ultimately enable precise regulation of the rumen microbiota for optimized ruminant production.

Association between acetaminophen administration and outcomes in critically ill patients with gout and hypertension.

Background: Acetaminophen is a commonly used medication, yet its recommendation for patients with comorbid conditions of gout and hypertension is contradictory, and the impact of its usage on clinical outcomes in real-world practical settings remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between acetaminophen administration and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with gout and hypertension, utilizing real-world data. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the MIMIC-IV (Medical Information Mart in Intensive Care-IV) database. Adult critically ill patients with gout and hypertension were included in the analysis. The exposure was acetaminophen use during ICU stay. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary endpoints were frequent hospitalization, 30-day, and 60-day all-cause mortality, and incidence of hypertensive emergencies. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted at a 1:1 ratio. Multivariable analyses were used to adjust for confounders. Results: The pre-matched and propensity score-matched cohorts included 2448 and 1012 patients, respectively. In the PSM analysis, in-hospital mortality was 9.7% (49/506) in the acetaminophen use group and 12.1% (61/506) in the no use group. Acetaminophen use was associated with a decrease in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.92; P = 0.018). In terms of secondary endpoints, after PSM, there was no statistically significant difference for both 30-day and 60-day all-cause mortality reductions in the acetaminophen use group, and HRs were 0.78 (95% CI 0.55-1.11; P = 0.175), and 0.75 (95% CI 0.55-1.02; P = 0.069), respectively. According to the analysis of dosage and treatment group, the use of APAP within the dosage range of 2-4 g and within 3-5 days of treatment significantly reduced the mortality rate of the entire cohort and PSM cohort, with statistical differences. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that lower in-hospital mortality was consistent across different baselines (age, gender, BMI, liver disease, and renal disease), with no interactions in all subgroups (interaction p-values >0.05), thereby affirming the robustness and reliability of the findings. Conclusion: Acetaminophen use was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with gout and hypertension. Prospective studies are needed to verify this finding.

High Serum Allergen-Specific IgE of House Dust Mite in Predicting the Risk of Comorbidity in Children with Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Purpose: To investigate the patterns of allergens in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and the association with allergic comorbidity. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 2972 children with AC. Clinical data, including sex, age, allergic comorbidities (allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis), and serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), were collected from the electronic medical record (EMR). The categorical variables were compared with the chi-square test. The characteristics of allergens in children of different ages and comorbidities were analyzed by trend chi-square. The sensitivity level of HDM associated with AC and comorbidities was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals of logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 2972 children (2015 boys and 957 girls) with AC were included in the study. The mean age was 3.78 (0.5~12) years. The most common allergen was house dust mite(HDM) (43.41%). With age, the positive rate for inhaled allergens gradually increased, and the positive rate for ingested allergens decreased. With the number of comorbidities increasing, the positive rates of sensitization were 38.33%, 74.51%, 80.72%, and 89.05%, and the incidence of polysensitization was 44.66%, 56.48%, 59.54%, and 74.59%, respectively. With the increase of HDM-sIgE level, the number of comorbidities and the risk increased gradually. Conclusion: HDM is the most common allergen in AC children of different ages. High levels of HDM-sIgE may be a predictor for allergic comorbidities. Children with polysensitization and high levels of HDM sIgE will be an important target population for future intervention in other allergy-related disease prevention.

Flipped Classroom Based on Outcomes-Based Education Improves Student Engagement and Clinical Analysis Competence in Undergraduates Ophthalmology Clerkship.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of flipped classrooms (FC) based on outcomes-based education (OBE) on clinical ophthalmology clerkships. Methods: Ninety-nine undergraduates were non-randomly assigned to the FC based on the OBE (FC-OBE) group or traditional lecture (TL) group in the ophthalmology clerkship. Pre- and post-tests were performed to assess student learning outcomes. Anonymous questionnaires were collected to compare students' attitudes and classroom engagements between the two groups. Results: More participants agreed FC-OBE was helpful in developing teamwork ability and knowing the work standard. Teaching staff in the FC-OBE classroom received higher evaluations. More participants in the FC-OBE group had higher classroom engagement in skills and emotions than in the TL group. The post-class test scores, mainly case analysis scores were higher in the FC-OBE group than in the TL group. Conclusion: FC-OBE classroom improves student engagement and clinical analysis competence in undergraduate ophthalmology clerkship.

Accuracy of traditional open-tray impression, stereophotogrammetry, and intraoral scanning with prefabricated aids for implant-supported complete arch prostheses with different implant distributions: An in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Conventional impression techniques for complete arch implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (CIFDPs) are technique sensitive. Stereophotogrammetry (SPG) and intraoral scanning (IOS) may offer alternatives to conventional impression making. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the accuracy and passive fit of IOS with prefabricated aids, SPG, and open tray impression (OI) for CIFDPs with different implant distributions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three definitive casts with 4 parallel implants (4-PARA), 4 inclined implants (4-INCL), and 6 parallel implants (6-PARA) were fabricated. Three recording techniques were tested: IOS with prefabricated aids, SPG, and OI. The best and the worst scans were selected to fabricate 18 milled aluminum alloy frameworks. The trueness and precision of distance deviation (∆td and ∆pd), angular deviation (∆tθand ∆pθ), root mean square errors (∆tRMS for ∆pRMS), and passive fit score of frameworks were recorded. Two-way ANOVA was applied. RESULTS: SPG showed the best trueness and precision (95%CI of ∆td/∆tθ/∆tRMS, 31 to 39 µm, 0.22 to 0.28 degrees, 20 to 23 µm; 95%CI of ∆pd/∆pθ/∆pRMS, 9 to 11 µm, 0.06 to 0.08 degrees, 8 to 10 µm), followed by OI (61 to 83 µm, 0.33 to 0.48 degrees, 28 to 48 µm; 66 to 81 µm, 0.29 to 0.38 degrees, 32 to 41 µm) and IOS (143 to 193 µm, 0.37 to 0.50 degrees, 81 to 96 µm; 89 to 111 µm, 0.27 to 0.31 degrees, 51 to 62 µm). Tilted implants were associated with increased distance deviation. Increased implant number was associated with improved recording precision. The passive fit of frameworks was negatively correlated with the RMS error, and the correlation coefficient was -0.65 (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS: SPG had the best accuracy. Implant distributions affected implant precision. The RMS error can be used to evaluate the passive fit of frameworks.

Understanding Water Utilization Mechanisms in Degrading Bamboo Shoots: A Cytological and Physiological Study.

Degradation of shoots, characterized by stunted growth and signs of water deficit, is common in bamboo stands. However, the specific mechanisms underlying water utilization in degrading shoots remain unclear. This study sought to address this gap by harvesting bamboo shoots and culms of Phyllostachys edulis 'Pachyloen', employing cytological and physiological techniques to compare water utilization mechanisms between healthy and degrading shoots, and investigating the water supply to bamboo shoots by the parent bamboo. The water pressure in the degrading shoots was markedly lower compared to that of the healthy shoots, and it declined as the degradation progressed, resulting in reduced water content and the cessation of guttation in the degrading shoots. In conditions of water deficit, the percentage of free water in bamboo shoots decreased while the percentages of bound and semi-bound water increased, with the proportion of semi-bound water reaching as high as 88.13% in the late stages of degradation. The water potential of parent bamboo culms of different ages varied at different times of the day and during different growth stages of bamboo shoots, showing a strong association with the development of bamboo shoots. Conversely, the correlation between changes in the water potential of bamboo shoots and their degradation patterns was found to be comparatively minimal. The weakening of the connection between the bamboo shoots and the parent bamboo culms may play a significant role in the degradation of the bamboo shoots. This is evidenced by a decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the nucleus in bamboo shoots and the degradation of genetic material. This study lays the foundation for future research into the mechanisms of bamboo shoot degradation.

Programming of in Situ Tumor Vaccines via Supramolecular Nanodrug/Hydrogel Composite and Deformable Nanoadjuvant for Cancer Immunotherapy.

The development of in situ tumor vaccines offers promising prospects for cancer treatment. Nonetheless, the generation of plenary autologous antigens in vivo and their codelivery to DC cells along with adjuvants remains a significant challenge. Herein, we developed an in situ tumor vaccine using a supramolecular nanoparticle/hydrogel composite (ANPMTO/ALCD) and a deformable nanoadjuvant (PPER848). The ANPMTO/ALCD composite consisted of ß-cyclodextrin-decorated alginate (Alg-g-CD) and MTO-encapsulated adamantane-decorated nanoparticles (ANPMTO) through supramolecular interaction, facilitating the long-term and sustained production of plenary autologous antigens, particularly under a 660 nm laser. Simultaneously, the produced autologous antigens were effectively captured by nanoadjuvant PPER848 and subsequently transported to lymph nodes and DC cells, benefiting from its optimized size and deformability. This in situ tumor vaccine can trigger a robust antitumor immune response and demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth, suppressing tumor metastasis, and preventing postoperative recurrence, offering a straightforward approach to programming in situ tumor vaccines.

Combining spectrum and machine learning algorithms to predict the weathering time of empty puparia of Sarcophaga peregrine (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).

The weathering time of empty puparia could be important in predicting the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). As corpse decomposition progresses to the skeletal stage, empty puparia often remain the sole evidence of fly activity at the scene. In this study, we used empty puparia of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) collected at ten different time points between January 2019 and February 2023 as our samples. Initially, we used the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe the surface of the empty puparia, but it was challenging to identify significant markers to estimate weathering time. We then utilized attenuated total internal reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to detect the puparia spectrogram. Absorption peaks were observed at 1064 cm-1, 1236 cm-1, 1381 cm-1, 1538 cm-1, 1636 cm-1, 2852 cm-1, 2920 cm-1. Three machine learning models were used to regress the spectral data after dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis (PCA). Among them, eXtreme Gradient Boosting regression (XGBR) showed the best performance in the wavenumber range of 1800-600 cm-1, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.20. This study highlights the value of refining these techniques for forensic applications involving entomological specimens and underscores the considerable potential of combining FTIR and machine learning in forensic practice.

Use of Period Analysis to Timely Assess Five-Year Relative Survival for the Patients With Bone Cancer.

Background: While timely assessment of long-term survival for patients with bone cancer is essential for evaluation on early detection and prognosis level of treatment of bone cancer, those data are extremely scarce in China. We aimed to timely and accurately assess long-term survival for patients with bone cancer in Eastern China. Methods: Patients diagnosed with bone cancer during 2004 - 2018 from four cancer registries with high-quality data from Taizhou, Eastern China were included. Five-year relative survival (RS) of bone cancer patients was calculated by period analysis for overall and the stratification. We further predicted 5-year RS during upcoming 2019 - 2023 using a model-based period analysis and survival data during 2004 - 2018. Results: Overall, 5-year RS for patients with bone cancer during 2014 - 2018 reached 46.6%, being 40.8% for male and 51.0% for female. Five-year RS declined along with aging, decreasing from 58.9% for age < 45 years to 41.5% for age > 60 years, while 5-year RS for urban area was higher compared to rural area (59.1% vs. 44.3%). The 5-year RS during upcoming 2019 - 2023 reached 48.3%. We found a clear upward trend in 5-year RS during 2004 - 2023 for overall and the stratification by sex, age at diagnosis, and region. Conclusions: We found that, for first time in China using period analysis, most up-to-date 5-year RS for patients with bone cancer reached 46.6% during 2014 - 2018, and is projected to reach 48.3% for the period 2019 - 2023, which has important implications for timely evaluation on early detection and prognosis level of treatment for patients with bone cancer in Eastern China.

Uric acid to albumin ratio as a novel predictor for coronary slow flow phenomenon in patients with chronic coronary syndrome and non-obstructive coronary arteries.

BACKGROUND: The plasma uric acid to albumin ratio (UAR) is considered as a novel indicator for Inflammation. However, the association between UAR and coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 1328 individuals with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) receiving coronary angiography (CAG) and found no obvious obstructive stenosis (< 40%) were included in this study. 79 individuals developed CSFP and were divided into CSFP group. The 1:2 age-matched patients with normal coronary blood flow were allocated to the control group (n = 158). The clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters including uric acid, albumin ratio, UAR and the angiographic characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patients with CSFP had a higher level of uric acid (392.3 ± 85.3 vs. 273.8 ± 71.5, P < 0.001), UAR (10.7 ± 2.2 vs. 7.2 ± 1.9, P < 0.001), but a lower level of plasma albumin (36.9 ± 4.2 vs. 38.5 ± 3.6, P = 0.003). Moreover, UAR increased as the numbers of vessels involved in CSFP increased. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that UAR was independent predictors for CSFP. The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that when UAR was more than 7.9, the AUC was 0.883 (95% CI: 0.840-0.927, p < 0.001), with the sensitivity and specificity were 78.2% and 88.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined uric acid with plasma albumin, UAR could serve as an independent predictor for CSFP.

Ultralow-Frequency Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering Discovers Nanoscale Radial Breathing Mode on Strained 2D Semiconductors.

Collective excitations including plasmons, magnons, and layer-breathing vibration modes emerge at an ultralow frequency (<1 THz) and are crucial for understanding van der Waals materials. Strain at the nanoscale can drastically change the property of van der Waals materials and create localized states like quantum emitters. However, it remains unclear how nanoscale strain changes collective excitations. Herein, ultralow-frequency tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) with sub-10 nm resolution under ambient conditions is developed to explore the localized collective excitation on monolayer semiconductors with nanoscale strains. A new vibrational mode is discovered at around 12 cm-1 (0.36 THz) on monolayer MoSe2 nanobubbles and it is identified as the radial breathing mode (RBM) of the curved monolayer. The correlation is determined between the RBM frequency and the strain by simultaneously performing deterministic nanoindentation and TERS measurement on monolayer MoSe2. The generality of the RBM in nanoscale curved monolayer WSe2 and bilayer MoSe2 is demonstrated. Using the RBM frequency, the strain of the monolayer MoSe2 on the nanoscale can be mapped. Such an ultralow-frequency vibration from curved van der Waals materials provides a new approach to study nanoscale strains and points to more localized collective excitations to be discovered at the nanoscale.