Analysis of predictive factors in surgical treatment of intractable epilepsy caused by focal cortical dysplasia in children.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze key factors affecting the surgical outcome of children with intractable epilepsy caused by focal cortical dysplasia, providing more effective clinical guidance. METHODS: We conducted a study from March 2019 to February 2021, selecting 80 children with intractable epilepsy caused by focal cortical dysplasia who underwent surgical treatment. Comprehensive inclusion criteria were met. We collected general information and treatment outcomes before and after surgery, with a two-year postoperative follow-up. Patients were categorized into good and poor outcome groups based on outcomes. Various factors including pathological types, age of onset, seizure frequency, and extent of resection were selected as variables. Logistic regression analysis investigated predictive factors. RESULTS: Engel class I included 53 cases, class II had 16 cases, class III had 9 cases, and class IV had 2 cases. Thus, 53 cases were in the good outcome group, and 27 in the poor outcome group. General data showed no significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). Single-factor analysis revealed statistically significant risk factors: FCD classification, MRI results, age of onset, seizure frequency, and extent of resection (p < 0.05). Logistic multifactor analysis indicated seizure frequency. acute postoperative seizures (APSO) and extent of resection as independent influencing factors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Seizure frequency, extent of resection, and APSO are key independent factors for surgical outcome in children with intractable epilepsy caused by focal cortical dysplasia. Clinicians should consider these factors when planning treatment to improve success rates and outcome, enhancing quality of life for affected children.

Unraveling the impact of digital transformation on green innovation through microdata and machine learning.

How to use digitalization to support the green transformation of organizations has drawn much attention based on the rapid development of digitalization. However, digital transformation (DT) may be hindered by the "IT productivity paradox." Exploring the influence of DT on green innovation, we analyze panel data encompassing A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen spanning the period from 2010 to 2018. It tests the DT's non-linear impact, employing a random-forest and mediation effect models. The results reveal that (i) DT can promote green innovation; (ii) regarding heterogeneity, the promotion effect is mainly manifested in enterprises in non-state-owned and highly competitive industries; (iii) based on mechanism testing, DT relies on two routes to encourage green innovation: improving environmental information disclosure and reducing environmental uncertainty; and (iv) random-forest analysis shows that DT exhibits an inverted U-shaped non-linear effect on green innovation, including the "IT productivity paradox." This study enhances the existing discourse on DT and green innovation by furnishing empirical substantiation for the non-linear influence exerted by DT on green innovation. Furthermore, it imparts insights into the mechanisms and contextual limitations governing this association.

Performance evaluation of deep learning image reconstruction algorithm for dual-energy spectral CT imaging: A phantom study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm in dual-energy spectral CT (DEsCT) as a function of radiation dose and image energy level, in comparison with filtered-back-projection (FBP) and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) algorithms. METHODS: An ACR464 phantom was scanned with DEsCT at four dose levels (3.5 mGy, 5 mGy, 7.5 mGy, and 10 mGy). Virtual monochromatic images were reconstructed at five energy levels (40 keV, 50 keV, 68 keV, 74 keV, and 140 keV) using FBP, 50% and 100% ASIR-V, DLIR at low (DLIR-L), medium (DLIR-M), and high (DLIR-H) settings. The noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based transfer function (TTF) and detectability index (d') were computed and compared among reconstructions. RESULTS: NPS area and noise increased as keV decreased, with DLIR having slower increase than FBP and ASIR-V, and DLIR-H having the lowest values. DLIR had the best 40 keV/140 keV noise ratio at various energy levels, DLIR showed higher TTF (50%) than ASIR-V for all materials, especially for the soft tissue-like polystyrene insert, and DLIR-M and DLIR-H provided higher d' than DLIR-L, ASIR-V and FBP in all dose and energy levels. As keV increases, d' increased for acrylic insert, and d' of the 50 keV DLIR-M and DLIR-H images at 3.5 mGy (7.39 and 8.79, respectively) were higher than that (7.20) of the 50 keV ASIR-V50% images at 10 mGy. CONCLUSIONS: DLIR provides better noise containment for low keV images in DEsCT and higher TTF(50%) for the polystyrene insert over ASIR-V. DLIR-H has the lowest image noise and highest detectability in all dose and energy levels. DEsCT 50 keV images with DLIR-M and DLIR-H show potential for 65% dose reduction over ASIR-V50% withhigher d'.

Structural evolution and mechanical stabilities of head-to-side nanowelding of Cu-Ag bimetallic nanowires via atomistic simulations.

Nanowelding, self-healing and mechanical stabilities of conductive networks of Cu-Ag core-shell nanowires are of vital importance for their extensive applications. In this study, atomistic simulations are used to reveal the head-to-side cold welding behavior, ranging from the welding mechanism, mechanical stabilities of the obtained junction and effects of various conditions. The results show that head-to-side cold welding of Cu-Ag bimetallic nanowires can be excellently completed via atomic interaction and diffusion of atoms. Initial deformation in the junction induced in the welding process and welding temperature are proven to exert a significant influence on the mechanical stabilities of the obtained junction. Three different deformation mechanisms are proposed due to various motivations of dislocations. During the uniaxial tensile test of the junction, the plastic deformation map of initial deformation and welding temperature are expounded in detail. It is revealed that for all the involved welding temperatures explored in our study, the highest tensile strength always belongs to the T-junction with no initial deformation. Otherwise, the intersection will become a serious obstacle to a further process of plastic deformation and lead to abnormally larger elongation and lower strength. These findings are expected to provide an in-depth understanding of the deformation mechanism of bimetallic nanowires and provide valuable theoretical guidance for engineering applications.

Fluorinated covalent-organic polymers as stationary phase for analysis of organic fluorides by open-tubular capillary electrochromatography.

Fluorinated porous materials, which can provide specific fluorine-fluorine interaction, hold great promise for fluoride analysis. Here, a novel fluorinated covalent-organic polymer was prepared by using 2,4,6-tris(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorotelephtal aldehyde as the precursors and introduced as stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography. The as-synthesized fluorinated covalent-organic polymer and the modified capillary column were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Based on strong hydrophobic interaction and fluorine-fluorine interaction provided by fluorinated covalent-organic polymer coating layer, the modified column showed powerful separation selectivity toward hydrophobic compounds, organic fluorides, and fluorinated pesticides. Additionally, the fluorinated covalent-organic polymer with good porosity and regular shape was uniformly and tightly coated on the capillary inner wall. The obtained highest column efficiency could reach up to 1.2 × 105 plates⋅m-1 for fluorophenol. The loading capacity of the modified column can reach 141 pmol for trifluorotoluene. Besides, the relative standard deviations of retention times for intraday run (n = 5), interday run (n = 3), and between columns (n = 3) were all less than 2.55%. Significantly, this novel fluorinated material-based stationary phase shows great application potential in fluorides analysis.

Radiomics analysis based on CT for the prediction of pulmonary metastases in ewing sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop and validate radiomics models on the basis of computed tomography (CT) and clinical features for the prediction of pulmonary metastases (MT) in patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) within 2 years after diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 143 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of ES were enrolled in this study (114 in the training cohort and 29 in the validation cohort). The regions of interest (ROIs) were handcrafted along the boundary of each tumor on the CT and CT-enhanced (CTE) images, and radiomic features were extracted. Six different models were built, including three radiomics models (CT, CTE and ComB models) and three clinical-radiomics models (CT_clinical, CTE_clinical and ComB_clinical models). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and accuracy were calculated to evaluate the different models, and DeLong test was used to compare the AUCs of the models. RESULTS: Among the clinical risk factors, the therapeutic method had significant differences between the MT and non-MT groups (P＜0.01). The six models performed well in predicting pulmonary metastases in patients with ES, and the ComB model (AUC: 0.866/0.852 in training/validation cohort) achieved the highest AUC among the six models. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the AUC of the models. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ES, clinical-radiomics model created using radiomics signature and clinical features provided favorable ability and accuracy for pulmonary metastases prediction.

Fused Triangulene Dimers: Facile Synthesis by Intramolecular Radical-Radical Coupling and Application for Near-Infrared Lasers.

Large graphene-like molecules with four zigzag edges are ideal gain medium materials for organic near-infrared (NIR) lasers. However, synthesizing them becomes increasingly challenging as the molecular size increases. In this study, we introduce a new intramolecular radical-radical coupling approach and successfully synthesize two fused triangulene dimers (1 a/1 b) efficiently. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 1 a indicates that there is no intermolecular π-π stacking in the solid state. When the more soluble derivative 1 b is dispersed in polystyrene thin films, amplified spontaneous emission in the NIR region is observed. Using 1 b as the active gain material, we fabricate solution-processed distributed feedback lasers that exhibit a narrow emission linewidth at around 790 nm. The laser devices also exhibit low thresholds with high photostability. Our study provides a new synthetic strategy for extended nanographenes, which have diverse applications in electronics and photonics.

Two Copper-Containing Polyoxometalate-Based Metal-Organic Complexes as Heterogeneous Catalysts for the C-H Bond Oxidation of Benzylic Compounds and Olefin Epoxidation.

Using a one-pot assembly method, two novel copper-containing Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs)-based metal-organic complexes, that is, [CuII2(pbba)2NO3-(H2O)2(PW12O40)]·3H2O [PW12-Cu-pbba, H2pbba = 1,1'-(1,4-phenylene-bis(methylene))-bis(pyridine-3-carboxylic acid)] and [CuII2(pbba)2(H2O)2(GeW12O40)]·3H2O (GeW12-Cu-pbba), were successfully synthesized. These two complexes are isostructural, differing only in their POM components. They are applicable as heterogeneous catalysts for the C-H bond oxidation of benzylic compounds and olefin epoxidation under mild conditions, with oxygen as the oxidant and isobutyraldehyde as the coreductant. The catalytic activity of PW12-Cu-pbba was superior to that of GeW12-Cu-pbba. Under the optimal conditions, PW12-Cu-pbba catalyzed the oxidation of indane into 1-indanone with an 81% yield and >99% selectivity within 48 h. As heterogeneous catalysts, both complexes demonstrated excellent recoverability and high stability and could be stably reused five times without significant activity loss.

Determination of water in organic solvents and raw food products by fluorescence quenching of a crystalline vinyl-functionalized COF.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with good chemical stability, flexible chemical functionalization, tunable pore sizes, and high specific surface areas have been increasingly employed in the field of fluorescence sensing. In this work, a crystalline vinyl-functionalized COF TzDa-V was facilely prepared through a room-temperature synthetic method via condensation reaction between 4,4',4″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (Tz) and 2,5-diallyloxyterephthalaldehyde (Da-V). The intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect endowed the TzDa-V with fluorescence characteristic, and it was sensitive to trace water and can be quenched due to the disruption of ICT process by water. On this base, the prepared COF TzDa-V with excellent chemical/thermal stability was applied to sensing of trace water in common organic solvents such as DMF, acetone, THF, and ethyl acetate with rapid response (less than 10 s), satisfactory sensing range (0.5-18% water in DMF, 0.5-15% water in acetone, 0.5-16% water in THF, 0.5-5% in ethyl acetate, v/v), and high sensitivity. The limits of detection for water in DMF, acetone, THF, and ethyl acetate were 0.0497%, 0.0590%, 0.0502%, and 0.0766% (v/v), respectively. The proposed probe was successfully used for the detection of trace water in food products such as salt and sugar. The COF TzDa-V would be a good candidate for application in water sensing.

Research on Deep Learning Method and Optimization of Vibration Characteristics of Rotating Equipment.

CNN extracts the signal characteristics layer by layer through the local perception of convolution kernel, but the rotation speed and sampling frequency of the vibration signal of rotating equipment are not the same. Extracting different signal features with a fixed convolution kernel will affect the local feature perception and ultimately affect the learning effect and recognition accuracy. In order to solve this problem, the matching between the size of convolution kernel and the signal (rotation speed, sampling frequency) was optimized with the matching relation obtained. Through the study of this paper, the ability of extracting vibration features of CNN was improved, and the accuracy of vibration state recognition was finally improved to 98%.

Room-temperature growth of covalent organic frameworks as the stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of porous materials with high surface area, high porosity, good stability and tunable structure that have been widely used in the separation area. In this work, we have proposed the in situ synthesis of a novel COF composed of 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (Tz) and 1,4-dihydroxyterephthalaldehyde (Da) onto the capillary inner surface for electrochromatographic separation. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis (EA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have facilitated the characterization of the prepared capillary columns. The COF (TzDa) modified OT-CEC column exhibited satisfactory separation selectivity towards neutral compounds (such as chlorobenzenes and alkylbenzenes), acidic and basic compounds (such as phenols and anilines), food additives (vanillin and its analogues) and small biomolecules (such as amino acids and polypeptides). Furthermore, the TzDa modified capillary was quite stable and reproducible. The relative standard deviations for retention times of the test analytes (alkylbenzenes) were as follows: for intra-day (n = 3) runs (≤1.74%), inter-day (n = 3) runs (≤2.25%) and between columns (n = 3) (≤4.83%). This new type of COF-based stationary phase has tremendous potential in separation science.

A reversed-phase/hydrophilic bifunctional interaction mixed-mode monolithic column with biphenyl and quaternary ammonium stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography.

A novel organic polymer monolithic column with reversed-phase/hydrophilic (RPLC/HILIC) bifunctional interaction mixed-mode was successfully synthesized with the monomers 4-vinylbiphenyl and vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride and the cross-linker ethylene dimethacrylate by in situ copolymerization in a binary porogenic solvent consisting of cyclohexanol and dodecanol for capillary electrochromatography. The stationary phases formed by styrene-based monomers can allow powerful π-π, hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, which is beneficial for the chromatographic separation with high resolution and high column efficiency. One mixed-mode monolithic column can work as two individual mode columns based on the combination of binary RPLC and HILIC separation mechanisms. Vanillin substances and neutral and alkaline compounds can be separated perfectly on the monolithic column in different chromatographic modes which can be switched by changing the content of the organic modifier in the running phase. For benzene, the highest column efficiency was 3.49 × 105 plates per m (theoretical plates, N). The relative standard deviations of retention time of different test analytes for intra-day (n = 5), inter-day (n = 5), column-to-column (n = 3) and batch-to-batch (n = 3) reproducibility were all less than 5.0%. All these results demonstrate that the monolithic column with RPLC/HILIC mixed-mode has great application potential.

In-situ growth of a metal organic framework composed of zinc(II), adeninate and biphenyldicarboxylate as a stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography.

This work reports on the in-situ growth of a metal organic framework (MOF) composed of zinc(II), adeninate and biphenyldicarboxylate on the inner wall of a capillary, and the use of this MOF as a stationary phases in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography. The inner wall of a fused-silica capillary was first modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to create surface amino sites, and then the MOF was synthesized by in-situ growth. The modified capillary was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results proved the successful growth of the MOF. The resultant open-tubular column showed good separation selectivity towards neutral compounds, acidic and basic compounds including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfa drugs and small biomolecules. In addition, the modified column is stable and repeatable. The precisions (expressed as RSDs) of the retention time for intra-day (n = 5) and inter-day (n = 5) separations and between columns (n = 3) are less than 0.5, 1.6 and 4.7%, respectively. Conceivably, this new kind of MOF represents a most useful novel stationary phase in electrochromatographic separations. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the open-tubular column modified with bio-MOF-1 by in situ hydrothermal reaction with adeninate, Zn(II) and biphenyldicarboxylate for capillary electrochromatographic separations.

Polydopamine-assisted immobilization of a zinc(II)-derived metal-organic cage as a stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography.

A capillary column was modified with a soluble zinc(II)-derived metal-organic cage (MOC) [Zn2L] as the stationary phase to obtain a new coating layer for use in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography. The inner surface of the capillary was first coated with a layer of polydopamine. Then, a solution of the MOC in dichloromethane was introduced into the capillary upon which it is bonded both covalently and non-covalently. The resulting coating layer on the capillary was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results demonstrated the successful formation of the [Zn2L] modified open-tubular column. The column showed good separation performance towards neutral compounds (such as methylbenzene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene and n-butylbenzene), acidic drugs (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen and diclofenac sodium), food additives (such as parabens, vanillin and related phenolic compounds) and small biomolecules (such as nucleosides and nucleotide bases) by π-interaction and hydrophobic interaction. It also exhibited good precision, the relative standard deviations of the retention time for intra-day, inter-day runs and column-to-column being <1.6%, 2.8%, and 4.0%, respectively. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the open-tubular column modified with zinc(II)-derived metal-organic cage by polydopamine-assisted strategy onto the inner wall of capillary for electrochromatographic separations.

Fabrication of chitin/graphene oxide composite sponges with higher bilirubin adsorption capacity.

Chitin/graphene oxide (Ch/GO) composite sponges had been synthesized in 11 wt% NaOH/4 wt% urea aqueous solution by a simple method. The structure, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the composite sponges were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and compressive strength measurements. The results revealed that chitin and GO were mixed homogeneously. Interestingly, the composite sponges showed meso-macroporous structure, which played an important role in improving their adsorption properties. Besides, thermal stability and mechanical properties were significantly improved compared with pure chitin sponges. Taking advantages of these fantastic characteristics, the maximum adsorption capacity of composite sponges for bilirubin was up to 422.9 mg/g under the optimized condition, which was not only significantly higher than the adsorption capacities of pure chitin sponges, but also superior to those of many reported adsorbents for removal of bilirubin. Furthermore, blood compatibility evaluations confirmed that this blended sponges had negligible hemolysis and coagulation. Therefore, this work provided a potential possibility to offer Ch/GO composite sponges for removal of bilirubin.

Bone Regeneration Facilitated by Autologous Bioscaffold Material: Liquid Phase of Concentrated Growth Factor with Dental Follicle Stem Cell Loading.

The application of bioengineering techniques for achieving bone regeneration in the oral environment is an increasingly prominent field. However, the clinical use of synthetic materials carries certain risks. The liquid phase of concentrated growth factor (LPCGF), as a biologically derived material, exhibits superior biocompatibility. In this study, LPCGF was employed as a tissue engineering scaffold, hosting dental follicle cells (DFCs) to facilitate bone regeneration. Both in vivo and in vitro experimental results demonstrate that this platform significantly enhances the expression of osteogenic markers in DFCs, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and type I collagen (Col1a1). Simultaneously, it reduces the expression of inflammation-related genes, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), thereby alleviating the negative impact of the inflammatory microenvironment on DFCs. Further investigation into potential mechanisms reveals that this process is regulated over time by the WNT pathway. Our research results demonstrate that LPCGF, with its favorable physical characteristics, holds great potential as a scaffold. It can effectively carry DFCs, thereby providing an optimal initial environment for bone regeneration. Furthermore, LPCGF endeavors to closely mimic the mechanisms of bone healing post-trauma to facilitate bone formation. This offers new perspectives and insights into bone regeneration engineering.

A novel Cu(I)-based coordination polymer for efficient photocatalytic oxidation of C(sp3)-H bonds.

A novel coordination polymer CuCl-Pyhc was successfully synthesized, which can catalyze efficient and selective oxidation of C(sp3)-H bonds under mild conditions, exhibiting exceptional stability and remarkable recyclability. Furthermore, CuCl-Pyhc can mimic natural monooxygenases and activate oxygen into singlet oxygen (1O2).

Facile room-temperature synthesis of a spherical mesoporous covalent organic framework for capillary electrochromatography.

Herein, a spherical covalent organic framework COF TAPB-DMTP was facilely synthesized from 2,5-dimethoxyterephthalaldehyde (DMTP) and 1,3,5-tri-(4-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) as monomers. COF TAPB-DMTP with regular mesoporous and excellent mass transfer ability was first introduced into the capillary and immobilized on the inner wall of the capillary through a simple in situ growth method. Through various characterization results, COF TAPB-DMTP was successfully prepared and modified onto the capillary inner wall. The separation performance and potential of COF TAPB-DMTP modified capillary column was explored. The new developed COF modified column achieved a highly efficiency and selective separation between analytes with different properties, including halogeno benzenes, alkylbenzenes, phenols and sulfonamides. Satisfactory stability and reproducibility were observed on COF TAPB-DMTP modified columns. The intraday, interday and three batch columns relative standard deviations were all less than 1.85 % for the retention time. The separation performance of prepared column has no significant change after 90 continuous runs. Additionally, the COF TAPB-DMTP modified capillary column was successfully used for separation and detection of triazole antifungal drugs in human plasma, and the recoveries of three antifungal drugs (fluconazole, isavuconazole and posaconazole) in spiked samples were in the range of 98.6-100.8 %, 92.4-102.1 % and 99.9-107.5 %, respectively. This self-made column showed excellent application potential in chromatography separation science.

A cigarette filter-derived biomimetic cardiac niche for myocardial infarction repair.

Cell implantation offers an appealing avenue for heart repair after myocardial infarction (MI). Nevertheless, the implanted cells are subjected to the aberrant myocardial niche, which inhibits cell survival and maturation, posing significant challenges to the ultimate therapeutic outcome. The functional cardiac patches (CPs) have been proved to construct an elastic conductive, antioxidative, and angiogenic microenvironment for rectifying the aberrant microenvironment of the infarcted myocardium. More importantly, inducing implanted cardiomyocytes (CMs) adapted to the anisotropic arrangement of myocardial tissue by bioengineered structural cues within CPs are more conducive to MI repair. Herein, a functional Cig/(TA-Cu) CP served as biomimetic cardiac niche was fabricated based on structural anisotropic cigarette filter by modifying with tannic acid (TA)-chelated Cu2+ (TA-Cu complex) via a green method. This CP possessed microstructural anisotropy, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties similar to natural myocardium, which could promote elongation, orientation, maturation, and functionalization of CMs. Besides, the Cig/(TA-Cu) CP could efficiently scavenge reactive oxygen species, reduce CM apoptosis, ultimately facilitating myocardial electrical integration, promoting vascular regeneration and improving cardiac function. Together, our study introduces a functional CP that integrates multimodal cues to create a biomimetic cardiac niche and provides an effective strategy for cardiac repair.