High spatiotemporal resolution scintillation imaging of pulsed pencil beam scanning proton beams produced by a gantry-mounted synchrocyclotron.

BACKGROUND: A dosimeter with high spatial and temporal resolution would be of significant interest for pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton beams' characterization, especially when facing small fields and beams with high temporal dynamics. Optical imaging of scintillators has potential in providing sub-millimeter spatial resolution with pulse-by-pulse basis temporal resolution when the imaging system is capable of operating in synchrony with the beam-producing accelerator. PURPOSE: We demonstrate the feasibility of imaging PBS proton beams as they pass through a plastic scintillator detector to simultaneously obtain multiple beam parameters, including proton range, pencil beam's widths at different depths, spot's size, and spot's position on a pulse-by-pulse basis with sub-millimeter resolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A PBS synchrocyclotron was used for proton irradiation. A BC-408 plastic scintillator block with 30 × 30 × 5 cm3 size, and another block with 30 × 30 × 0.5 cm3 size, positioned in an optically sealed housing, were used sequentially to measure the proton range, and spot size/location, respectively. A high-speed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera system synchronized with the accelerator's pulses through a gating module was used for imaging. Scintillation images, captured with the camera directly facing the 5-cm-thick scintillator, were corrected for background (BG), and ionization quenching of the scintillator to obtain the proton range. Spots' position and size were obtained from scintillation images of the 0.5-cm-thick scintillator when a 45° mirror was used to reflect the scintillation light toward the camera. RESULTS: Scintillation images with 0.16 mm/pixel resolution corresponding to all proton pulses were captured. Pulse-by-pulse analysis showed that variations of the range, spots' position, and size were within ± 0.2% standard deviation of their average values. The absolute ranges were within ± 1 mm of their expected values. The average spot-positions were mostly within ± 0.8 mm and spots' sigma agreed within 0.2 mm of the expected values. CONCLUSION: Scintillation-imaging PBS beams with high-spatiotemporal resolution is feasible and may help in efficient and cost-effective acceptance testing and commissioning of existing and even emerging technologies such as FLASH, grid, mini-beams, and so forth.

SIRT5 exacerbates eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis by promoting polarization of M2 macrophage.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies implied that local M2 polarization of macrophage promoted mucosal edema and exacerbated TH2 type inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the specific pathogenic role of M2 macrophages and the intrinsic regulators in the development of CRS remains elusive. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the regulatory role of SIRT5 in the polarization of M2 macrophages and its potential contribution to the development of CRSwNP. METHODS: Real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to examine the expression levels of SIRT5 and markers of M2 macrophages in sinonasal mucosa samples obtained from both CRS and control groups. Wild-type and Sirt5-knockout mice were used to establish a nasal polyp model with TH2 inflammation and to investigate the effects of SIRT5 in macrophage on disease development. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were conducted to elucidate the regulatory role of SIRT5 in polarization of M2 macrophages. RESULTS: Clinical investigations showed that SIRT5 was highly expressed and positively correlated with M2 macrophage markers in eosinophilic polyps. The expression of SIRT5 in M2 macrophages was found to contribute to the development of the disease, which was impaired in Sirt5-deficient mice. Mechanistically, SIRT5 was shown to enhance the alternative polarization of macrophages by promoting glutaminolysis. CONCLUSIONS: SIRT5 plays a crucial role in promoting the development of CRSwNP by supporting alternative polarization of macrophages, thus providing a potential target for CRSwNP interventions.

Dungeons and Dragons: Culture Differences in Attitudes Toward Exotic Animals.

The way exotic animals are viewed around the world differ. These views and attitudes are constantly evolving and may eventually converge in the way that cats and dogs are now widely accepted as part of most societies around the world. The choice and popularity of exotic animal species as pets is a complex interaction of many different factors, including legislation and availability. Media representation may be a factor too, but there has been very little evidence to demonstrate this. Regardless of the region, exotic animal practice appears to be an area of veterinary practice that is on the rise.

Icariin mitigates anxiety-like behaviors induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation via inhibiting of astrocytic activation.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal activation of astrocytes in the amygdala contributes to anxiety after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR). Nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-associated epigenetic reprogramming of astrocytic activation is crucial to anxiety. A bioactive monomer derived from Epimedium icariin (ICA) has been reported to modulate NF-κB signaling and astrocytic activation. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ICA on post-HSR anxiety disorders and its potential mechanism of action. METHODS: We first induced HSR in mice through a bleeding and re-transfusion model and selectively inhibited and activated astrocytes in the amygdala using chemogenetics. Then, ICA (40 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage once daily for 21 days. Behavioral, electrophysiological, and pathological changes were assessed after HSR using the light-dark transition test, elevated plus maze, recording of local field potential (LFP), and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS: Exposure to HSR reduced the duration of the light chamber and attenuated open-arm entries. Moreover, HSR exposure increased the theta oscillation power in the amygdala and upregulated NF-κB p65, H3K27ac, and H3K4me3 expression. Contrarily, chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes significantly reversed these changes. Chemogenetic inhibition in astrocytes was simulated by ICA, but chemogenetic activation of astrocytes blocked the neuroprotective effects of ICA. CONCLUSION: ICA mitigated anxiety-like behaviors induced by HSR in mice via inhibiting astrocytic activation, which is possibly associated with NF-κB-induced epigenetic reprogramming.

Achieving High Thermoelectric Performance in ZnSe-Doped CuGaTe2 by Optimizing the Carrier Concentration and Reducing Thermal Conductivity.

The CuGaTe2 thermoelectric material has garnered widespread attention as an inexpensive and nontoxic material for mid-temperature thermoelectric applications. However, its development has been hindered by its low intrinsic carrier concentration and high thermal conductivity. This study investigates the band structure and thermoelectric properties of (CuGaTe2)1-x (ZnSe)x (x = 0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%). The research revealed that the incorporation of Zn and Se atoms enhanced the level of band degeneracy and electron density of states near Fermi level, significantly raising carrier concentration through the formation of ZnGa- point defects. Simultaneously, when the doping content reached 1.5%, the ZnTe second phase emerged, collaborating with point defects and high-density dislocations, effectively scattering phonons and substantially reducing lattice thermal conductivity. Therefore, introducing ZnSe can simultaneously optimize the material's electrical and thermal transport properties. The (CuGaTe2)0.985(ZnSe)0.015 sample reaches peak ZT of 1.32 at 823 K, representing a 159% increase compared to pure CuGaTe2.

The prevalence and clinical correlates of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder: Results from a national survey in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Suicide is nearly always associated with underlying mental disorders. Risk factors for suicide attempts (SAs) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) remain unelucidated. This study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical risk factors of SAs in Chinese patients with BD misdiagnosed with MDD. METHODS: A total of 1487 patients with MDD from 13 mental health institutions in China were enrolled. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to identify patients with BD who are misdiagnosed as MDD. The general sociodemographic and clinical data of the patients were collected and MINI suicide module was used to identify patients with SAs in these misdiagnosed patients. RESULTS: In China, 20.6% of patients with BD were incorrectly diagnosed as having MDD. Among these misdiagnosed patients, 26.5% had attempted suicide. These patients tended to be older, had a higher number of hospitalizations, and were more likely to experience frequent and seasonal depressive episodes with atypical features, psychotic symptoms, and suicidal thoughts. Frequent depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts during depression were identified as independent risk factors for SAs. Additionally, significant sociodemographic and clinical differences were found between individuals misdiagnosed with MDD in BD and patients with MDD who have attempted suicide. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis in individuals with BD and provide valuable insights for the targeted identification and intervention of individuals with BD misdiagnosed as having MDD and those with genuine MDD, particularly in relation to suicidal behavior.

Temperature-Dependent Separation of CO2 from Light Hydrocarbons in a Porous Self-Assembly of Vertexes Sharing Octahedra.

Design of flexible porous materials where the diffusion of guest molecules is regulated by the dynamics of contracted pore aperture is challenging. Here, a flexible porous self-assembly consisting of 1D channels with dynamic bottleneck gates is reported. The dynamic pendant naphthimidazolylmethyl moieties at the channel necks provide kinetic gate function, that enables unusual adsorption for light hydrocarbons. The adsorption for CO2 is mainly dominated by thermodynamics with the uptakes decreasing with increasing temperature, whereas the adsorptions for larger hydrocarbons are controlled by both thermodynamics and kinetics resulting in an uptake maximum at a temperature threshold. Such an unusual adsorption enables temperature-dependent separation of CO2 from the corresponding hydrocarbons.

Asymptomatic norovirus infection during outbreaks in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Acute gastroenteritis outbreaks may be caused by the excretion of norovirus (NoV) from asymptomatic individuals. Despite numerous studies involving asymptomatic NoV infection during outbreaks in China, a comprehensive assessment of its role has not been conducted, which is critical for emergency management. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic NoV infection during outbreaks in China. We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Wanfang, and China Weipu, between January 1, 1997 and June 19, 2023. The retrieved articles and their references underwent screening, which utilized polymerase chain reaction-based assays for the detection of NoV in asymptomatic individuals during outbreaks that occurred in China. The primary summary data were the prevalence of asymptomatic NoV infection in outbreaks. We generated pooled estimates of asymptomatic prevalence in the population as a whole and in subgroups by using random-effect models. Of the 97 articles included, the pooled asymptomatic prevalence of NoV among 5117 individuals in outbreaks was 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.1-21.3). The asymptomatic prevalence of NoV GII (17.1%, 95% CI: 12.9-21.5) was similar to that of NoV GI (22.0%, 95% CI: 12.8-32.4). However, the proportion of asymptomatic individuals involved in NoV GII (57.44%) was significantly higher than that of NoV GI (5.12%), and NoV GII (75.26%) was reported much more frequently than NoV GI (14.43%) in the included articles. Meta-regression analysis of 11 possible influencing factors (geographic region, setting, season, sample type, genotype, transmission route, occupation, age, per capita income, study quality, and cases definition) showed that the source of heterogeneity might be related to the outbreak settings, per capita income, and study quality (p = 0.037, 0.058, and 0.026, respectively). Of particular note was the asymptomatic prevalence peaked in preschoolers (27.8%), afterward, it fell into trough in elementary and junior school children (10.5%), before the second peak located in adults (17.8%), and the elderly (25.2%). Prevalent genotypes reported include GII.4, followed by GII.17, GII.2, GII.3, GII.6, and so forth. The estimated asymptomatic prevalence of NoV during outbreaks in China was as high as 17.6%, with NoV GII dominating. In addition, genetic subtypes of NoV in outbreaks should be detected whenever possible. The role of asymptomatic individuals in NoV outbreaks cannot be ignored. This knowledge will help governments develop public health policies and emergency response strategies for outbreaks, assess the burden, and develop vaccines.

Simultaneously Boosting Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties of n-Type Mg3Sb1.5Bi0.5-Based Zintls through Energy-Band and Defect Engineering.

Incorporating donor doping into Mg3Sb1.5Bi0.5 to achieve n-type conductivity is one of the crucial strategies for performance enhancement. In pursuit of higher thermoelectric performance, we herein report co-doping with Te and Y to optimize the thermoelectric properties of Mg3Sb1.5Bi0.5, achieving a peak ZT exceeding 1.7 at 703 K in Y0.01Mg3.19Sb1.5Bi0.47Te0.03. Guided by first-principles calculations for compositional design, we find that Te-doping shifts the Fermi level into the conduction band, resulting in n-type semiconductor behavior, while Y-doping further shifts the Fermi level into the conduction band and reduces the bandgap, leading to enhanced thermoelectric performance with a power factor as high as >20 µW cm-1 K-2. Additionally, through detailed micro/nanostructure characterizations, we discover that Te and Y co-doping induces dense crystal and lattice defects, including local lattice distortions and strains caused by point defects, and densely distributed grain boundaries between nanocrystalline domains. These defects efficiently scatter phonons of various wavelengths, resulting in a low thermal conductivity of 0.83 W m-1 K-1 and ultimately achieving a high ZT. Furthermore, the dense lattice defects induced by co-doping can further strengthen the mechanical performance, which is crucial for its service in devices. This work provides guidance for the composition and structure design of thermoelectric materials.

Hemorrhagic Shock and Resuscitation Causes Excessive Dopaminergic Signaling in the mPFC and Cognitive Dysfunction.

Peri-operative hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR), a severe traumatic stress, is closely associated with post-operative anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, subsequently causing a serious burden on families and society. Following the co-release of corticotropin-releasing factor and catecholamine, traumatic stress activates dopaminergic neurons, increasing the addictive behavior and neurocognitive impairment risks. This study investigates the association between cognitive dysfunction and dopaminergic neurons in the mPFC under HSR conditions. This study established an HSR model by bleeding and re-transfusion in the mice. After HSR exposure, a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SKF-83566, was administered intraperitoneally for three consecutive days. Novel object recognition (NOR), conditioned fearing (FC), and conditioned place preference (CPP) were used to assess cognitive changes 16 days after HSR exposure. Local field potential (LFP) in the mPFC was also investigated during the novel object exploration. Compared with the mice exposed to sham, there was a significant decrease in the object recognition index, a reduction in context- and tone-related freezing time, an increase in CPP values, a downregulation of ß-power but upregulation of γ-power in the mPFC in the mice exposed to HSR. Moreover, the mice exposed to HSR showed significantly upregulated TH-positive cell number, cleaved caspase-1- and TH-positive cells, and interleukin (IL)-1ß/18 expression in the mPFC compared with sham; SKF-83566 could partially reverse these alternations. The HSR caused excessive dopaminergic signaling and cognitive dysfunction in the mPFC, a condition that might be ameliorated using a dopamine D1 receptor inhibitor.

Variable phenotypes and outcomes associated with the MMACHC c.482G > A mutation: follow-up in a large CblC disease cohort.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to characterize the variable phenotypes and outcomes associated with the methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria type C protein gene (MMACHC) c.482G > A mutation in 195 Chinese cases with CblC disease. METHODS: We carried out a national, retrospective multicenter study of 195 Chinese patients with CblC disease attributable to the MMACHC c.482G > A variant either in a homozygous or compound heterozygous state. The control group consisted of 200 patients diagnosed with CblC disease who did not possess the c.482G > A mutation. Clinical features, including disease onset, symptoms, biochemical metabolites, gene mutation, and follow-up outcomes were reviewed and analyzed in detail. The median follow-up period spanned 3 years and 8 months, with a range of 1 year and 2 months to 12 years and 10 months. RESULTS: Among 195 patients carrying the c.482G > A variant, 125 (64.1%) cases were diagnosed by newborn screening (NBS), 60 (30.8%) cases were detected due to disease onset, and 10 (5.1%) cases were identified from sibling diagnoses. One hundred and seventeen (93.6%) individuals who were diagnosed by NBS, and nine patients who came from sibling diagnoses remained asymptomatic in this study. From 69 symptomatic patients of the c.482G > A group, more patients presented with later onset, and the top six common clinical symptoms at disease onset were developmental delay (59.4%), lower limb weakness and poor exercise tolerance (50.7%), cognitive decline (37.7%), gait instability and abnormal posture (36.2%), seizures (26.1%), and psychiatric and behavioral disturbances (24.6%). In the 159 symptomatic patients lacking c.482G > A variants, the most frequently observed clinical manifestations at disease onset included developmental delay (81.8%), lethargy and feeding difficulty (62.9%), lower limb weakness and poor exercise tolerance (54.7%), prolonged neonatal jaundice (51.6%), vomiting (47.2%), and seizures (32.7%). Before treatment, the levels of blood propionylcarnitine, propionylcarnitine/acetylcarnitine ratio, and homocysteine in the c.482G > A group were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those in the non-c.482G > A group, while the concentration of urinary methylmalonic acid was slightly lower (P > 0.05). The degree of decline in the above metabolites after treatment in different groups significantly differed in both plasma total homocysteine values and urinary methylmalonic acid levels (P < 0.05). In patients carrying the c.482G > A variant compared with the non-c.428G > A group, there were markedly lower rates of mortality (0.5% vs. 2.0%) and developmental delay (20.5% vs. 65.5%). When compared with individuals diagnosed due to disease onset, those identified through NBS in either group exhibited a reduced proportion of disease onset (6.7% vs. 100% in the c.482G > A group, 54.4% vs. 100% in the non-c.482G > A group), lower mortality (0.0% vs. 1.7% in the c.482G > A group, 0.0% vs. 3.6% in the non-c.482G > A group), and had a higher percentage of patients exhibiting normal psychomotor and language development (99.3% vs. 33.3% in the c.482G > A group, 58.9% vs. 10.9% in the non-c.482G > A group). CONCLUSIONS: The c.482G > A variant in MMACHC is associated with late-onset and milder phenotypes of CblC disease. Patients with this mutation tend to have a relatively better response to hydroxocobalamin, better metabolic control, and more favorable neurological outcomes. NBS and other appropriate pre-symptomatic treatments seem to be helpful in early diagnosis, resulting in favorable clinical outcomes. Video Abstract (MP4 136794 kb).

Impact of early heparin therapy on outcomes in patients with solid malignancy associated sepsis: a marginal structural model causal analyse.

Background: Previous studies documented that heparin can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of tumors, but its role on outcomes in patients with solid malignancy complicated sepsis remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in critically ill patients with solid malignancy associated sepsis from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. The primary endpoint was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, secondary outcomes were thrombosis and hospital mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM), marginal structural Cox model (MSCM), cox proportional hazards model, stratification analysis and E-value were used to account for baseline differences, time-varying confounding and unmeasured variables. Results: A total of 1,512 patients with solid malignancy complicated sepsis were enrolled, of which 683 in the heparin group with intensive care unit mortality, thrombosis rate and hospital mortality were 9.7%, 5.4%, 16.1%, and 829 in the non-heparin group with ICU mortality, thrombosis rate and hospital mortality were 14.6%, 12.5%, 22.6%. Similar results were observed on outcomes for patients with PSM (ICU mortality hazard ratio [HR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-0.92), thrombosis rate (HR 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.68); hospital mortality HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.99). marginal structural Cox model further reinforced the efficacy of heparin in reducing ICU mortality (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34-0.68). Logistic regression and Cox regression model showed heparin use also markedly reduced thrombosis (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.26-0.68; p < 0.001) and hospital mortality (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.50-0.99; p = 0.043). Stratification analysis with the MSCM showed an effect only those with digestive system cancer (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16-0.69). Conclusion: Early heparin therapy improved outcomes in critically ill patients with solid malignancy complicated sepsis. These results are evident especially in those with digestive system cancer. A prospective randomized controlled study should be designed to further assess the relevant findings.

Band Engineering and Phonon Engineering Effectively Improve n-Type Mg3Sb2 Thermoelectric Material Properties.

Mg3Sb2-based thermoelectric materials can convert heat and electricity into each other, making them a promising class of environmentally friendly materials. Further improving the electrical performance while effectively reducing the thermal conductivity is a crucial issue. In this paper, under the guidance of the oneness principle calculation, we designed a thermoelectric Zintl phase based on Mg3.2Sb1.5Bi0.5 doped with Tb and Er. Calculation results show that using Tb and Er as cationic site dopants effectively improves the electrical properties and reduces the lattice thermal conductivity. Experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of codoping and effectively enhanced thermoelectric performance. The most immense ZT value obtained by the Mg3.185Tb0.01Er0.005Sb1.5Bi0.5 sample was 1.71. In addition, the average Young's modulus of the Mg3.185Tb0.01Er0.005Sb1.5Bi0.5 sample is 51.85 GPa, and the Vickers hardness is 0.99 GPa. Under the same test environment, the material was subjected to 12 cycles in the temperature range of 323-723 K, and the average power factor error range was 1.8% to 2.1%, which is of practical significance for its application in actual device scenarios.

Treatment of filtration bleb dysfunction after glaucoma surgery by needle revision of filtration bleb combined with conbercept.

Filtration surgery (Trabeculectomy) is the main treatment for glaucoma. The scarring of the filtration bleb and obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor through the filtration channel are the main reasons of the surgery failure. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy of needle revision of filtration blebs combined with subconjunctival injection of conbercept on the functional bleb formation in glaucoma patients with eye pressure out of control after trabeculectomy. A total of 48 eyes with poor filtration bleb function after trabeculectomy for glaucoma were treated with needle revision of filtration bleb combined with subconjunctival injection of conbercept. After the treatment, the patients were followed up for 3 months during which visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp and ultrasound biomicroscope examinations were performed. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. The visual acuity and intraocular pressure were significantly improved after the needle revision of filtration blebs. Among the 48 eyes, 39 eyes still had functional blebs at the end of the follow-up period, and filtration blebs failed in 9 eyes 2 to 8 weeks after the removal of the needle. The survival rate of filtration blebs at 3 months after needle revision was (79.06 ±â€…3.42%), and 81.25% (39/48) of the eyes showed good formation rate of functional bleb at the last follow-up. Three months after needle revision, there was local scar formation in some filtration blebs. Part of the filtration blebs showed mild thickening of the local subconjunctival tissue, and the filtration bleb was slightly raised and diffuse, showing a multi-cavity and thin-walled shape in some blebs. Ultrasound biomicroscopy examination showed relative structural manifestations. Subconjunctival hemorrhage occurred in 43 patients during and after the operation. Low intraocular pressure occurred in 8 patients with the lowest pressure of 5 mm Hg. Choroidal edema was observed in 3 patients. Five patients had intraoperative conjunctival hemorrhage in the anterior chamber, and hyphema occurred. All complications were self-limited and resolved without surgical intervention. Needle revision of filtration bleb combined with anti-VEGF drugs is a safe and effective method for the treatment of filtration bleb dysfunction after surgery of glaucoma.

AgCl Addition to Chalcopyrite Compound for Ultra-Low Thermal Conductivity in Realizing High ZT Thermoelectric Materials.

Optimizing the performance of thermoelectric materials by reducing its thermal conductivity is crucial to enhance its thermoelectric efficiency. Novel thermoelectric materials like the CuGaTe2 compound are hindered by high intrinsic thermal conductivity, which negatively impacts its thermoelectric performance. In this paper, we report that the introduction of AgCl by the solid-phase melting method will influence the thermal conductivity of CuGaTe2. The generated multiple scattering mechanisms are expected to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity while maintaining sufficient good electrical properties. The experimental results were supported by first-principles calculations confirming that the doping of the Ag will decrease the elastic constants, bulk modulus, and shear modulus of CuGaTe2, which makes the mean sound velocity and Debye temperature of Ag-doped samples lower than those of CuGaTe2, indicating the lower lattice thermal conductivity. In addition, the Cl elements within the CuGaTe2 matrix escaping during the sintering process will create holes of various sizes within the sample. These combined effects of holes and impurities will induce phonon scattering, which further reduces the lattice thermal conductivity. Based on our findings, we conclude that the introduction of AgCl into CuGaTe2 has shown a lower thermal conductivity without compromising the electrical performance, resulting in an ultra-high ZT value of 1.4 in the (CuGaTe2)0.96(AgCl)0.04 sample at 823 K.

The phylogeny and taxonomy of Glypholecia (Acarosporaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), including a new species from northwestern China.

Glypholeciaqinghaiensis An C. Yin, Q. Y. Zhong & Li S. Wang is described as new to science. It is characterized by its squamulose thallus, compound apothecia, ellipsoid ascospores, and the presence of rhizines on the lower surface of the thallus. A phylogenetic tree of Glypholecia species was constructed based on nrITS and mtSSU sequences. Two species G.qinghaiensis and G.scabra are confirmed in China.

Pathological findings in congenital diaphragmatic hernia on necropsy studies: A single-center case series.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with high mortality rates and significant pulmonary morbidities. The objective of this study was to delineate the histopathological features observed in necropsies of CDH patients and correlate these with their clinical manifestations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the postmortem findings and corresponding clinical characteristics in eight CDH cases from 2017 to July 2022. RESULTS: The median survival time was 46 (8-624) hours. Autopsy reports showed that diffuse alveolar damage (congestion and hemorrhage) and hyaline membrane formation were the primary pathological lung changes observed. Notably, despite significant reduction in lung volume, the lung development appeared normal in 50% of the cases, while lobulated deformities were present in three (37.5%) cases. All patients displayed a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and a patent foramen ovale, resulting in increased right ventricle (RV) volume, and myocardial fibers appeared slightly congested and swollen. The pulmonary vessels indicated thickening of the arterial media and adventitia. Lung hypoplasia and diffuse lung damage resulted in impaired gas exchange, while PDA and pulmonary hypertension led to RV failure, subsequent organ dysfunction and ultimately death. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CDH typically succumb to cardiopulmonary failure, a condition driven by a complex interplay of pathophysiological factors. This complexity accounts for the unpredictable response to currently available vasodilators and ventilation therapies.

Recyclable TPA-Modified MIL-88-Supported Ionic Pt as a Highly Efficient Catalyst for Alkene Hydrosilylation.

The hydrosilylation reaction driven by a homogeneous catalyst has been widely used in the industrial synthesis of functionalized silicone compounds. However, the homogeneous catalyst for hydrosilylation has the shortcomings of nonrecyclability, undesirable side reactions, and high cost. In this work, a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst was prepared by loading Pt ions on MIL-88 modified with trimethoxy[3-(phenylamino)propyl]silane. In comparison with previous research studies, the resulting catalyst can exhibit high catalytic activity and excellent stability during the hydrosilylation reaction, which was attributed to the presence of a pyrrolic nitrogen structure between TPA-MIL-88 and the Pt ion. Besides them, 1.2%Pt/TPA-MIL-88 showed the highest catalytic activity and can be reused five times without significant deactivation. Importantly, 1.2%Pt/TPA-MIL-88 also achieved satisfactory results when it was used to catalyze the hydrosilylation reaction for other olefins, implying great potential for application in the silicone industry.

Evaluating motion of pancreatic tumors and anatomical surrogates using cine MRI in 0.35T MRgRT under free breathing conditions.

Treatment tolerability is a significant limitation to pancreatic cancer treatment with radiotherapy due to proximity to highly radiosensitive organs and respiratory motion necessitating expanded target margins. Further, pancreatic tumors are difficult to visualize on conventional radiotherapy systems. Surrogates are often used to locate the tumor but are often inconsistent and do not provide strong positional relations throughout the respiratory cycle. This work utilizes a retrospective dataset of 45 pancreatic cancer patients treated on an MR-Linac system with cine MRI acquired for real-time target tracking. We investigated intra-fraction motion of tumors and two abdominal surrogates, leading to prediction models between the tumor and surrogate. Patient specific motion evaluation and prediction models were generated from 225 cine MRI series acquired during treatment. Tumor contours were used to evaluate the pancreatic tumor motion. Linear regression and principal component analysis (PCA) based models were used to predict tumor position from the anterior-posterior (AP) motion of the abdominal surface, the superior-inferior (SI) motion of the diaphragm, or a combination. Models were evaluated using mean squared error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). Contour analysis showed the average pancreatic tumor motion range was 7.4 ± 2.7 mm and 14.9 ± 5.8 mm in the AP and SI directions, respectively. The PCA model had MSE of 1.4 mm2 and 0.6 mm2 , for the SI and AP directions, respectively, with both surrogates as inputs for the models. When only the abdomen surrogate was used, MSE was 1.3 mm2 and 0.4 mm2 in the SI and AP directions, while it was 0.4 mm2 and 1.3 mm2 when only the diaphragm surrogate was used. We evaluated intra-fraction pancreatic tumor motion and demonstrated prediction models between the tumor and surrogate. The models calculated the pancreatic tumor position from diaphragm, abdominal, or both contours within standard pancreatic cancer target margin, and the process could be applied to other disease sites in the abdominothoracic cavity.

Regulation of drought tolerance in Arabidopsis involves the PLATZ4-mediated transcriptional repression of plasma membrane aquaporin PIP2;8.

Plant A/T-rich protein and zinc-binding protein (PLATZ) transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development and abiotic stress responses. However, how PLATZ influences plant drought tolerance remains poorly understood. The present study showed that PLATZ4 increased drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana by causing stomatal closure. Transcriptional profiling analysis revealed that PLATZ4 affected the expression of a set of genes involved in water and ion transport, antioxidant metabolism, small peptides and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. Among these genes, the direct binding of PLATZ4 to the A/T-rich sequences in the plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2;8 (PIP2;8) promoter was identified. PIP2;8 consistently reduced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis through inhibiting stomatal closure. PIP2;8 was localized in the plasma membrane, exhibited water channel activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes and acted epistatically to PLATZ4 in regulating the drought stress response in Arabidopsis. PLATZ4 increased ABA sensitivity through upregulating the expression of ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 3 (ABI3), ABI4 and ABI5. The transcripts of PLATZ4 were induced to high levels in vegetative seedlings under drought and ABA treatments within 6 and 3 h, respectively. Collectively, these findings reveal that PLATZ4 positively influences plant drought tolerance through regulating the expression of PIP2;8 and genes involved in ABA signaling.