Doping Strategy of Monolayer MoS2 to Realize the Monitoring of Environmental Concentration of Desflurane: A First-Principles Study.

Desflurane is a new volatile inhalation anesthetic that is widely used in medical operation. However, various diseases can be caused by chronic exposure to desflurane, which is also a greenhouse gas. Therefore, it is urgent to find a suitable method for monitoring desflurane. In this paper, the process of doping of Pd, Pt, and Ni on the MoS2 surface is simulated to determine the stability of the doping structure based on first-principles. The adsorption properties and sensing properties of Pd-MoS2, Pt-MoS2, and Ni-MoS2 on desflurane are explored by parameters including independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH), electron localization function (ELF), and density of states (DOS), sensibility, and recovery time, subsequently. The doping results show that the three doping systems (Pd-MoS2, Pt-MoS2, and Ni-MoS2) are structurally stable, and the chemical bonds are formed with MoS2. The adsorption results show the best chemisorption between Pt-MoS2 and desflurane with the chemical bonds between them. The results of IGMH, ELF, and DOS also confirm it. The sensing characterization results show that the recovery time of Pt-MoS2 ranges between 85.27 and 0.027 s, and the sensitivity ranges from 99.26 to 25.69%, all of which can meet the requirements of the sensor. Considering the adsorption effect and sensing characteristics, Pt-MoS2 can be used as a gas-sensitive material for detecting the concentration of desflurane.

Functional Characterization of an Odorant Receptor Expressed in Newly Hatched Larvae of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda.

In the past decade, Spodoptera frugiperda has emerged as a significant invasive pest globally, posing a serious threat to agriculture due to its broad diet, migratory behavior, and ability to cause extensive plant damage. While extensive research has focused on the olfactory capabilities of adult S. frugiperda, understanding of the olfactory process in larvae remains limited, despite larvae playing a crucial role in crop damage. To address this gap, we identified an odorant receptor (OR), SfruOR40, expressed in the first-instar larvae through phylogenetic analysis. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we compared SfruOR40 expression levels in larvae and adults. We then characterized the function of SfruOR40 against 67 compounds using the Xenopus oocyte expression system and found that SfruOR40 responded to three plant volatiles. Further, behavioral experiments revealed a larval attraction to (-)-trans-Caryophyllene oxide. This study elucidates SfruOR40's role in the olfactory recognition of newly hatched S. frugiperda larvae, expanding our knowledge of such mechanisms in Noctuid moths. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of plant-derived natural products for biological pest control from a behavioral ecology perspective.

AURKB promotes immunogenicity and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Chromatin regulators (CRs) are capable of causing epigenetic alterations, which are significant features of cancer. However, the function of CRs in controlling Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is not well understood. This research aims to discover a CRs prognostic signature in ccRCC and to elucidate the roles of CRs-related genes in tumor microenvironment (TME). METHODS: Expression profiles and relevant clinical annotations were retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and UCSC Xena platform for progression-free survival (PFS) data. The R package "limma" was used to identify differentially expressed CRs. A predictive model based on five CRs was developed using LASSO-Cox analysis. The model's predictive power and applicability were validated using K-M curves, ROC curves, nomograms, comparisons with other models, stratified survival analyses, and validation with the ICGC cohort. GO and GSEA analyses were performed to investigate mechanisms differentiating low and high riskScore groups. Immunogenicity was assessed using Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB), immune cell infiltrations were inferred, and immunotherapy was evaluated using immunophenogram analysis and the expression patterns of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and checkpoint genes. Differentially expressed CRs (DECRs) between low and high riskScore groups were identified using log2|FC|> 1 and FDR < 0.05. AURKB, one of the high-risk DECRs and a component of our prognostic model, was selected for further analysis. RESULTS: We constructed a 5 CRs signature, which demonstrated a strong capacity to predict survival and greater applicability in ccRCC. Elevated immunogenicity and immune infiltration in the high riskScore group were associated with poor prognosis. Immunotherapy was more effective in the high riskScore group, and certain chemotherapy medications, including cisplatin, docetaxel, bleomycin, and axitinib, had lower IC50 values. Our research shows that AURKB is critical for the immunogenicity and immune infiltration of the high riskScore group. CONCLUSION: Our study produced a reliable prognostic prediction model using only 5 CRs. We found that AURKB promotes immunogenicity and immune infiltration. This research provides crucial support for the development of prognostic biomarkers and treatment strategies for ccRCC.

CT-Based AI model for predicting therapeutic outcomes in ureteral stones after single extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy through a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Exploring the efficacy of an artificial intelligence (AI) model derived from the analysis of CT images to precisely forecast the therapeutic outcomes of singular-session extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the management of ureteral stones. METHODS: A total of 317 patients diagnosed clinically with ureteral stones were included in this investigation. Unenhanced CT was administered to the participants within the initial fortnight preceding the inaugural ESWL. The internal cohort consisted of 250 individuals from a local healthcare facility, whereas the external cohort comprised 67 participants from another local medical institution. The proposed framework comprises three main components: an automated semantic segmentation model developed using 3D U-Net, a feature extractor that integrates radiomics and autoencoder techniques, and an ESWL efficacy prediction model trained with various machine learning algorithms. All participants underwent thorough postoperative follow-up examinations four weeks hence. The efficacy of ESWL was defined by the absence of stones or residual fragments measuring ≤2 mm in KUB X-ray assessments. Model stability and generalizability were judiciously validated through a fivefold cross-validation approach and a multi-center external test strategy. Moreover, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) values for individual features were computed to elucidate the nuanced contributions of each feature to the model's decision-making process. RESULTS: The semantic segmentation model we constructed exhibited an average Dice coefficient of 0.88 ± 0.08 on the external testing set. ESWL classifiers built using Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), XGBoost (XB), and CatBoost (CB) achieved AUROC values of 0.78, 0.84, 0.85, and 0.90, respectively, on the internal validation set. For the external testing set, SVM, RF, XB, and CB predicted ESWL with AUROC values of 0.68, 0.79, 0.80, and 0.83, respectively, with the last one being the optimal algorithm. The radiomics features and auto-encoder features made significant contributions to the decision-making process of the classification model. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation unmistakably underscores the remarkable predictive prowess exhibited by a scrupulously crafted AI model using CT images to precisely anticipate the therapeutic results of a singular session of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for ureteral stones.

The significance and prognostic value of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The prognostic value of multifocality in paediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients remains a subject of debate. This study aimed to explore the clinical significance and prognostic value of multifocality in children and adolescents with PTC. METHODS: This study retrospectively analysed the clinicopathological characteristics and postoperative follow-up data of 338 PTC patients aged ≤ 20 years from May 2012 to July 2022. The clinical and pathological characteristics of 205 patients with unifocal lesions and 133 patients with multifocal lesions were compared. A logistic regression model evaluated the relationship between multifocal lesions and disease recurrence/persistence in children and adolescents with PTC. Based on the median follow-up time of children with multifocal PTC, 114 patients with multifocal PTC older than 20 years were added, and the clinicopathological characteristics were compared between the 133. paediatric/adolescent patients and 114 adult patients with multifocal PTC. RESULTS: Among the paediatric and adolescent patients, over a median follow-up time of 49 months, 133 had multifocal disease and 205 had unifocal disease. Multifocal PTC patients exhibited stronger invasiveness in the form of extrathyroidal extension, tumour diameter, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Multifocality (OR 2.68; p = 0.017), lateral lymph node metastasis (OR 2.85; p = 0.036), and distant metastasis (OR 4.28; p = 0.010) were identified as independent predictive factors for the recurrence/persistence of disease. Comparing the paediatric/adolescent vs. adult multifocal patients, the former demonstrated greater tumour invasiveness. Lateral lymph node metastasis (OR 6.36; P = 0.012) and distant metastasis (OR 3.70; P = 0.027) were independent predictive factors for recurrence/persistence of disease in multifocal patients, while age was not (OR 0.95; P = 0.455). CONCLUSION: Tumour multifocality independently predicts persistent/recurrent disease in paediatric and adolescent PTC patients.

Mechanistic study of C5F10O-induced lung toxicity in rats: An eco-friendly insulating gas alternative to SF6.

The global warming and other environmental problems caused by SF6 emissions can be reduced due to the widespread use of eco-friendly insulating gas, perfluoropentanone (C5F10O). However, there is an exposure risk to populations in areas near C5F10O equipment, so it is important to clarify its biosafety and pathogenesis before large-scale application. In this paper, histopathology, transcriptomics, 4D-DIA proteomics, and LC-MS metabolomics of rats exposed to 2000 ppm and 6000 ppm C5F10O are analyzed to reveal the mechanisms of toxicity and health risks. Histopathological shows that inflammatory cell infiltration, epithelial cell hyperplasia, and alveolar atrophy accompanied by alveolar wall thickening are present in both low-dose and high-dose groups. Analysis of transcriptomic and 4D-DIA proteomic show that Cell cycle and DNA replication can be activated by both 2000 ppm and 6000 ppm C5F10O to induce cell proliferation. In addition, it also leads to the activation of pathways such as Antigen processing and presentation, Cell adhesion molecules and Complement and coagulation cascades, T cell receptor signal path, Th1 and T cell receptor signal path, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, complement and coagulation cascades. Finally, LC-MS metabolomics analysis confirms that the metabolic pathways associated with glycerophospholipids, arachidonic acid, and linoleic acid are disrupted and become more severe with increasing doses. The mechanism of lung toxicity caused by C5F10O is systematically expounded based on the multi-omics analysis and provided biosafety references for further promotion and application of C5F10O.

Switch Volmer-Heyrovsky to Volmer-Tafel Pathway for Efficient Acidic Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Correlating Pt Single Atoms with Clusters.

As cost-effective catalysts, platinum (Pt) single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted substantial attention. However, most studies indicate that Pt SACs in acidic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) follow the slow Volmer-Heyrovsky (VH) mechanism instead of the fast kinetic Volmer-Tafel (VT) pathway. Here, this work propose that the VH mechanism in Pt SACs can be switched to the faster VT pathway for efficient HER by correlating Pt single atoms (SAs) with Pt clusters (Cs). Our calculations reveal that the correlation between Pt SAs and Cs significantly impacts the electronic structure of exposed Pt atoms, lowering the adsorption barrier for atomic hydrogen and enabling a faster VT mechanism. To validate these findings, this work purposely synthesize three catalysts: l-Pt@MoS2, m-Pt@MoS2 and h-Pt@MoS2 with low, moderate, and high Pt-loading, having different distributions of Pt SAs and Cs. The m-Pt@MoS2 catalyst with properly correlating Pt SAs and Cs exhibits outstanding performance with an overpotential of 47 mV and Tafel slope of 32 mV dec-1. Further analysis of the Tafel values confirms that the m-Pt@MoS2 sample indeed follows the VT reaction mechanism, aligning with the theoretical findings. This study offers a deep understanding of the synergistic mechanism, paving a way for designing novel-advanced catalysts.

Laser-Ironing Induced Capping Layer on Co-ZIF-L Promoting In Situ Surface Modification to High-Spin Oxide-Carbon Hybrids on the "Real Catalyst" for High OER Activity and Stability.

Enhancing electrocatalytic performance through structural and compositional engineering attracts considerable attention. However, most materials only function as pre-catalysts and convert into "real catalysts" during electrochemical reactions. Such transition involves dramatic structural and compositional changes and disrupts their designed properties. Herein, for the first time, a laser-ironing (LI) approach capable of in-situ forming a laser-ironing capping layer (LICL) on the Co-ZIF-L flakes is developed. During the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process, the LICL sustains the leaf-like morphology and promotes the formation of OER-active Co3 O4 nanoclusters with the highest activity and stability. In contrast, the pristine and conventional heat-treated Co-ZIF-Ls both collapse and transform to less active CoOOH. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations pinpoint the importance of the high spin (HS) states of Co ions and the narrowed band gap in Co3 O4 nanoclusters. They enhance the OER activity by promoting spin-selected electron transport, effectively lowering the energy barrier and realizing a spontaneous O2 -releasing step that is the potential determining step (pds) in CoOOH. This study presents an innovative approach for modulating both structural and compositional evolutions of electrocatalysts during the reaction, sustaining stability with high performance during dynamic electrochemical reactions, and providing new pathways for facile and high-precision surface microstructure control.

Interfacial Synergy in Mo2C/MoC Heterostructure Promoting Sequential Polysulfide Conversion in High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Battery.

A rational design of sulfur host is the key to conquering the"polysulfide shuttle effects" by accelerating the polysulfide conversion. Since the process involves solid-liquid-solid multistep phase transitions, purposely-engineered heterostructure catalysts with various active regions for catalyzing conversion steps correspondingly are beneficial to promote the overall conversion process. However, the functionalities of the materials surface and interface in heterostructure catalysts remain unclear. In this work, an Mo2C/MoC catalyst with abundant Mo2C surface-interface-MoC surface tri-active-region is developed by in situ converting the MoZn-metal organic framework. The experimental and simulation studies demonstrate the interface can catch long-chain polysulfides and promote their conversion. Instead, the Mo2C and MoC tend to accommodate the short-chain polysulfide and accelerate their conversion and the Li2S dissociation. Benefitting from the high catalytic ability, the Li-S battery assembled with the Mo2C/MoC-S cathode shows more discrete redox reactions and delivers a high initial capacity of 1603.6 mAh g-1 at 1 C charging-discharging rate, which is over twofolds of the one assembled using individual hosts, and 80.4% capacity can be maintained after 1000 cycles at 3 C rate. This work has demonstrated a novel synergy between the interface and material surface, which will help the future design of high-performance Li-S batteries.

Discovery of 5-(Pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-1H-indole-2-carboxamide Derivatives as Nur77 Modulators with Selective and Potent Activity Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 has been validated as a potential drug target for treating breast cancer. Therefore, focusing on the SAR study of the lead 8b (KDSPR(Nur77) = 354 nM), we found the active compound ja which exhibited improved Nur77-binding capability (KDSPR(Nur77) = 91 nM) and excellent antiproliferative activities against breast cancer cell lines. Interestingly, ja acted as a potent and selective Nur77 antagonist, displaying good potency against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines but did not inhibit human normal breast cancer cell line MCF-10A (SI > 20). Exceptionally, ja Nur77-dependently caused mitochondria dysfunction and induced the caspase-dependent apoptosis by mediating the TP53 phosphorylation pathway. Moreover, ja significantly suppressed MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor growth but had no apparent side effects in mice and zebrafish. Overall, ja demonstrated to be the first Nur77 modulator mediating the TP53 phosphorylation pathway that has the potential as a novel anticancer agent for TNBC.

Jacalin-related lectin 45 (OsJRL45) isolated from 'sea rice 86' enhances rice salt tolerance at the seedling and reproductive stages.

BACKGROUND: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated grain crops in the world that meets the caloric needs of more than half the world's population. Salt stress seriously affects rice production and threatens food security. Therefore, mining salt tolerance genes in salt-tolerant germplasm and elucidating their molecular mechanisms in rice are necessary for the breeding of salt tolerant cultivars. RESULTS: In this study, a salt stress-responsive jacalin-related lectin (JRL) family gene, OsJRL45, was identified in the salt-tolerant rice variety 'sea rice 86' (SR86). OsJRL45 showed high expression level in leaves, and the corresponding protein mainly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. The knockout mutant and overexpression lines of OsJRL45 revealed that OsJRL45 positively regulates the salt tolerance of rice plants at all growth stages. Compared with the wild type (WT), the OsJRL45 overexpression lines showed greater salt tolerance at the reproductive stage, and significantly higher seed setting rate and 1,000-grain weight. Moreover, OsJRL45 expression significantly improved the salt-resistant ability and yield of a salt-sensitive indica cultivar, L6-23. Furthermore, OsJRL45 enhanced the antioxidant capacity of rice plants and facilitated the maintenance of Na+-K+ homeostasis under salt stress conditions. Five proteins associated with OsJRL45 were screened by transcriptome and interaction network analysis, of which one, the transmembrane transporter Os10g0210500 affects the salt tolerance of rice by regulating ion transport-, salt stress-, and hormone-responsive proteins. CONCLUSIONS: The OsJRL45 gene isolated from SR86 positively regulated the salt tolerance of rice plants at all growth stages, and significantly increased the yield of salt-sensitive rice cultivar under NaCl treatment. OsJRL45 increased the activity of antioxidant enzyme of rice and regulated Na+/K+ dynamic equilibrium under salinity conditions. Our data suggest that OsJRL45 may improve the salt tolerance of rice by mediating the expression of ion transport-, salt stress response-, and hormone response-related genes.

Biocompatible conjugated polymer nanoparticles labeled with 225Ac for tumor endoradiotherapy.

Recently, endoradiotherapy based on actinium-225 (225Ac) has attracted increasing attention, which is due to its α particles can generate maximal damage to cancer cells while minimizing unnecessary radiation effects on healthy tissues. Herein, 111In/225Ac-radiolabeled conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) coated with amphiphilic polymer DSPE-PEG-DOTA have been developed as a new injectable nano-radiopharmaceuticals for cancer endoradiotherapy under the guidance of nuclear imaging. Single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) using 111In-DOTA-PEG-CPNs as nano probe indicates a prolonged retention of radiolabeled nanocarriers, which was consistent with the in vivo biodistribution examined by direct radiometry analysis. Significant inhibition of tumor growth has been observed in murine 4T1 models treated with 225Ac-DOTA-PEG-CPNs when compared to mice treated with PBS or DOTA-PEG-CPNs. The 225Ac-DOTA-PEG-CPNs group experienced no single death within 24 days with the median survival considerably extended to 35 days, while all the mice treated with PBS or DOTA-PEG-CPNs died at 20 days post injection. Additionally, the histopathology studies demonstrated no obvious side effects on healthy tissues after treatment with 225Ac-DOTA-PEG-CPNs. All these results reveal that the new 225Ac-labeled DOTA-PEG-CPNs is promising as paradigm for endoradiotherapy.

Effective Treatment of SSTR2-Positive Small Cell Lung Cancer Using 211At-Containing Targeted α-Particle Therapy Agent Which Promotes Endogenous Antitumor Immune Response.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a neuroendocrine tumor with a high degree of malignancy. Due to limited treatment options, patients with SCLC have a poor prognosis. We have found, however, that intravenously administered octreotide (Oct) armed with astatine-211 ([211At]SAB-Oct) is effective against a somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-positive SCLC tumor in SCLC tumor-bearing BALB/c nude mice. In biodistribution analysis, [211At]SAB-Oct achieved the highest concentration in the SCLC tumors up to 3 h after injection as time proceeded. A single intravenous injection of [211At]SAB-Oct (370 kBq) was sufficient to suppress SSTR2-positive SCLC tumor growth in treated mice by inducing DNA double-strand breaks. Additionally, a multitreatment course (370 kBq followed by twice doses of 370 kBq for a total of 1110 kBq) inhibited the growth of the tumor compared to the untreated control group without significant off-target toxicity. Surprisingly, we found that [211At]SAB-Oct could up-regulate the expressions of calreticulin and major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) on the tumor cell membrane surface, suggesting that α-particle internal irradiation may activate an endogenous antitumor immune response through the regulation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, which could synergically enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. We conclude that [211At]SAB-Oct is a potential new therapeutic option for SSTR2-positive SCLC.

A quantitative analysis framework of placenta accreta spectrum: placenta subtype, intraoperative bleeding, and hysterectomy risk evaluation based on magnetic resonance imaging-anatomical-clinical features.

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to develop a quantitative analysis framework utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-anatomical-clinical features to predict 3 clinically significant parameters in patients with PAS: placenta subtype (invasive vs. non-invasive placenta), intraoperative bleeding (≥1,500 vs. <1,500 mL), and hysterectomy risk (hysterectomy vs. non-hysterectomy). Methods: A total of 125 pregnant women with PAS from 2 medical centers were enrolled into an internal training set and an external testing set. Some 21 MRI-anatomical-clinical features were integrated as input into the framework. The proposed quantitative analytic framework contains mainly 3 classifiers built by extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and their testing in external datasets. We also further compared the accuracy of placenta subtype prediction between the proposed model and 4 radiologists. A quantitative model interpretation method called SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was conducted to explore the contribution of each feature. Results: The placenta subtype (invasive vs. non-invasive), intraoperative bleeding (≥1,500 vs. <1,500 mL), and hysterectomy risk (hysterectomy vs. non-hysterectomy) demonstrated impressive area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values of 0.93, 0.88, and 0.90, respectively, in the internal validation set. Even in the external testing set, these metrics maintained their strength, achieving AUROC values of 0.91, 0.82, and 0.82, respectively. Comparing our proposed framework to the 4 radiologists, our model exhibited superior accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity in predicting placental subtypes within the external testing cohort. The features associated with intraplacental dark T2 bands played a crucial role in the decision-making process of all 3 prediction models. Conclusions: The quantitative analysis framework can provide a robust method for classification of placenta subtype (invasive vs. non-invasive placenta), intraoperative bleeding (≥1,500 vs. <1,500 mL), and hysterectomy risk (hysterectomy vs. non-hysterectomy) based on MRI-anatomical-clinical features in PAS.

Quasi-Copper-Mers Enable High-Performance Catalysis for CO2 Reduction.

As the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) level keeps hitting the new record, humanity is facing an ever-daunting challenge to efficiently mitigate CO2 from the atmosphere. Though electrochemical CO2 reduction presents a promising pathway to convert CO2 to valuable fuels and chemicals, the general lack of suitable electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity severely constrains this approach. Herein, a novel class of electrocatalysts is investigated, the quasi-copper-mers, in which the CuN4 rather than Cu atom itself serve as the basic building block. The respective quasi-copper-monomers, -dimers, and -trimers hosted in a graphene-like substrate are first synthesized and then performed both experimental characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to examine their atomic structures, evaluate their electrocatalytical performance and understand their underlying mechanisms. The experimental results show that the quasi-copper-trimers not only outperform the quasi-copper-dimer and quasi-copper-monomer when catalyzing CO2 to CO, it also shows a superior selectivity against the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The DFT calculations not only support the experimental observations, but also reveal the volcano curve and the physical origin for the qausi-copper-trimer superiority. The present work thus presents a new strategy in the design of high-performance electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity.

An automated surgical decision-making framework for partial or radical nephrectomy based on 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features in renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features can provide a more accurate prediction of surgical decision-making for partial or radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: This is a retrospective study based on multi-center cohorts. A total of 473 participants with pathologically proved renal cell carcinoma were split into the internal training and the external testing set. The training set contains 412 cases from five open-source cohorts and two local hospitals. The external testing set includes 61 participants from another local hospital. The proposed automatic analytic framework contains the following modules: a 3D kidney and tumor segmentation model constructed by 3D-UNet, a multi-level feature extractor based on the region of interest, and a partial or radical nephrectomy prediction classifier by XGBoost. The fivefold cross-validation strategy was used to get a robust model. A quantitative model interpretation method called the Shapley Additive Explanations was conducted to explore the contribution of each feature. RESULTS: In the prediction of partial versus radical nephrectomy, the combination of multi-level features achieved better performance than any single-level feature. For the internal validation, the AUROC was 0.93 ± 0.1, 0.94 ± 0.1, 0.93 ± 0.1, 0.93 ± 0.1, and 0.93 ± 0.1, respectively, as determined by the fivefold cross-validation. The AUROC from the optimal model was 0.82 ± 0.1 in the external testing set. The tumor shape Maximum 3D Diameter plays the most vital role in the model decision. CONCLUSIONS: The automated surgical decision framework for partial or radical nephrectomy based on 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features exhibits robust performance in renal cell carcinoma. The framework points the way towards guiding surgery through medical images and machine learning. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: We proposed an automated analytic framework that can assist surgeons in partial or radical nephrectomy decision-making. The framework points the way towards guiding surgery through medical images and machine learning. KEY POINTS: • The 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features provide a more accurate prediction of surgical decision-making for partial or radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma. • The data from multicenter study and a strict fivefold cross-validation strategy, both internal validation set and external testing set, can be easily transferred to different tasks of new datasets. • The quantitative decomposition of the prediction model was conducted to explore the contribution of each extracted feature.

LSP-SPP Coupling Structure Based on Three-Dimensional Patterned Sapphire Substrate for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensing.

Although the fabrication of controllable three-dimensional (3D) microstructures on substrates has been proposed as an effective solution for SERS, there remains a gap in the detection and manufacturability of 3D substrates with high performance. In this study, photolithography is adopted to obtain a pyramid-like array on a patterned sapphire substrate (PSS), with Al2O3 as the dielectric layer. In addition, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used to decorate Au films to obtain mass-producible 3D SRES substrates. In the case of low fluorescence, the substrate realizes the coupling of localized surface plasmon polaritons (LSPs) and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which is consistent with the simulation results obtained using the finite element method. The performance of the SERS substrate is evaluated using rhodamine 6G (R6G) and toluidine blue (TB) as probe molecules with detection limits of 10-11 M and 10-9 M, respectively. The substrate exhibits high hydrophobicity and excellent light-capturing capability. Moreover, it shows self-cleaning ability and long-term stability in practical applications. Allowing for the consistency of the composite substrate in the preparation process and the high reproducibility of the test results, it is considered to be promising for mass production.

Cascade bunch focusing on chip using terahertz pulses to drive prism arrays.

The dielectric laser accelerator (DLA) is a promising candidate for next-generation table-top and even on-chip particle accelerators. Long-range focusing of a tiny-size electron bunch on chip is crucial for the practical applications of DLA, which has been a challenge. Here we propose a bunch focusing scheme, which uses a pair of readily available few-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses to drive an array of millimeter-scale prisms via the inverse Cherenkov effect. The THz pulses are reflected and refracted multiple times through the prism arrays, synchronizing with and periodically focusing the electron bunch along the bunch channel. Cascade bunch-focusing is realized by making the electromagnetic field phase experienced by electrons in each stage of the array, that is, the synchronous phase, in the focusing phase region. The focusing strength can be adjusted via changing the synchronous phase and THz field intensity, optimization of which will sustain the stable bunch transportation in a tiny-size bunch channel on chip. This bunch-focusing scheme sets a base for developing a long-acceleration-range and high-gain DLA.

Long-term outcome and prognostic factors of syringo-subarachnoid shunt for syringomyelia.

BACKGROUND: Syringo-subarachnoid shunt (SSS) is often considered a rescue procedure or a second-line treatment option for syringomyelia. However, the clinical efficacy of SSS in treating this condition remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcome of the SSS and its relationship with the syrinx area, as well as to investigate the factors that influence the prognosis. METHODS: This retrospective study included twenty-seven consecutive patients who underwent SSS between 2014 and 2020. The study evaluated several independent variables such as age, sex, duration of progressive symptoms, morphological characteristics of the syrinx, changes in the syrinx area, and Chiari malformation. The long-term follow-up (>2 years) Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used to assess neurological function and outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using a stepwise logistic regression test. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for an average of 48.6 ± 14.8(26.8 to 78.0) months. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed syrinx collapse to different degrees occurred in 96.3% (26 of 27) patients. The JOA score was improvedinonly6patients (22.2%), remained stable in 5 patients (18.5%),and deteriorated in 16 patients(59.3%).A logistic regression test showed that the tension syrinx (odds ratio 0.111) and early shunting intervention (odds ratio 0.138) were favorable independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to note that the shrinkage of the syrinx does not necessarily translate to an improvement in clinical outcomes. Therefore, the decision to perform SSS should be made with caution and considered as a last resort.

Clinical management and prognosis of spinal myxopapillary ependymoma: a single-institution cohort of 72 patients.

PURPOSE: Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) was classified as grade 2 tumor in the 2021 World Health Organization central nervous system classification because of its high recurrence probability. This study aimed to investigate predictive factors and management of tumor recurrence. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with spinal MPE underwent initial surgical treatment at our hospital between 2011 and 2021. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were used to analyze the correlation between clinical variables and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 33.5 years (range 8-60 years). Twenty-one patients (29.2%) had preoperative spinal drop metastases. Gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 37 patients (51.4%). The median follow-up was 7.2 years, and the follow-up rate was 88.9% (64 of 72 cases). Twelve of the 64 patients (18.9%) relapsed, and preoperative drop metastasis occurred in 7 patients (58.3%). The estimated 5-year and 10-year PFS rates were 82% and 77%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that GTR was associated with improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.149, p = 0.014), while preoperative drop metastasis (HR 3.648, p = 0.027) and tumor involvement sacrococcygeal region (HR 7.563, p = 0.003) were associated with tumor recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) was significantly associated with improved PFS in patients with preoperative drop metastasis (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Complete surgical resection under the premise of protecting neurological function is an important factor in reducing spinal MPE recurrence. Adjuvant RT is recommended when the tumor invades the capsule with preoperative drop metastasis or adhesion to the nerve and cannot reach GTR.