Effectively adsorb Au(S2O3)23- using aminoguanidine as trapping group from thiosulfate solutions.

Thiosulfate gold leaching is one of the most promising green cyanide-free gold extraction processes; however, the difficulty of recovering Au(I) from the leaching system hinders its further development. This study prepared aminoguanidine-functionalized microspheres (AGMs) via a one-step reaction involving nucleophilic substitution between aminoguanidine hydrochloride and chloromethylated polystyrene microspheres and used AGMs to adsorb Au(I) from thiosulfate solutions. Scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the structure and properties of AGMs. Experiments were designed to investigate the effects of pH, temperature, initial Au(I), and thiosulfate concentrations on the gold adsorption performance of AGMs. Results demonstrated that AGMs can efficiently adsorb Au(I) from thiosulfate solutions in a wide pH range. The adsorption process conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum capacity of 22.03 kg/t. Acidic thiourea is an effective desorbent, and after four adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption rate of Au(I) by AGMs is 78.63%, which shows AGMs have good cyclic application potential. Based on the results of characterization, experiments, and density functional theory calculations, the mechanism for the adsorption of [Au(S2O3)2]3- on AGMs involves anion exchange. Importantly, AGMs exhibited satisfactory adsorption property for Au(I) in practical Cu2+-NH3(en)-S2O32- systems. This study provided experimental reference for the recovery of Au(I) from thiosulfate solution.

Benefit from luteal phase progestin-primed ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate supplementation in young women with diminished ovarian reserve: a retrospective study. / åµæ³¡æœŸå’Œé»„ä½“æœŸé«˜å­•æ¿€ç´ çŠ¶æ€ä¿ƒæŽ’åµæ–¹æ¡ˆåœ¨å¹´è½»åµå·¢å‚¨å¤‡åŠŸèƒ½å‡é€€å¥³æ€§ä¸­çš„åº”ç”¨.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the pregnant outcomes of luteal phase progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol with clomiphene citrate supplementation (LPPOS+CC) and follicular phase PPOS+CC protocol (FPPOS+CC) in young women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: A total of 483 women aged ≤35 years with DOR, who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)/embryo transfer (ET) with controlled ovarian stimulation using LPPOS+CC (n=257) or FPPOS+CC (n=226) protocols during June 2018 and December 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, were included in this retrospective study. The baseline characteristics, ovarian stimulation, endocrinological indicators, clinical outcomes between the two groups, and pregnancy outcomes of women achieved at least one high-quality cleavage-stage embryo or good-morphology blastocyst between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were identified between the groups with respect to number of oocytes retrieved, oocyte maturation rate, high-quality cleavage-stage embryo cycle rate, the percentage of women with profound pituitary suppression, preterm birth rate, and live birth rate (P>0.05). Compared to FPPOS+CC group, the duration of stimulation [11.0 (9.0,12.0) vs. 9.0 (8.0,11.0) d, P<0.01] was significantly longer in the LPPOS+CC group. The LH levels on the day of trigger [4.0 (2.7,5.3) vs. 5.1 (3.2,7.2) IU/L, P<0.01], the percentage of women with LH levels of >10 IU/L on the trigger day (3.13% vs. 10.67%, P<0.01), and the two pronucleate (2PN) rate of ICSI oocytes (72.16% vs. 79.56%, P<0.05) were significantly lower in the LPPOS+CC group than those in the FPPOS+CC group. The consumption of total gonadotropin [2213 (1650,2700) vs. 2000 (1575,2325) IU, P<0.01], the progesterone levels on the day of trigger [1.3 (0.8,2.9) vs. 0.9 (0.6,1.2) ng/mL, P<0.01], the clinical pregnancy rate [61.88% vs. 46.84%, P<0.01], and implantation rate [42.20% vs. 31.07%, P<0.01] in the LPPOS+CC group were significantly higher than those in the FPPOS+CC group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to FPPOS+CC, the LPPOS+CC protocol appears to have better pregnancy outcomes for young women with DOR undergoing IVF-ICSI-ET.

Cu-N Synergism Regulation to Enhance Anionic Redox Reversibility and Activity of Li- and Mn-Rich Layered Oxides Cathode.

Anionic redox chemistry enables extraordinary capacity for Li- and Mn-rich layered oxides (LMROs) cathodes. Unfortunately, irreversible surface oxygen evolution evokes the pernicious phase transition, structural deterioration, and severe electrode-electrolyte interface side reaction with element dissolution, resulting in fast capacity and voltage fading of LMROs during cycling and hindering its commercialization. Herein, a redox couple strategy is proposed by utilizing copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) to address the irreversibility of anionic redox. The Cu-N synergistic effect of CuPc could not only inhibit surface oxygen evolution by reducing the peroxide ion O2 2- back to lattice oxygen O2-, but also enhance the reaction activity and reversibility of anionic redox in bulk to achieve a higher capacity and cycling stability. Moreover, the CuPc strategy suppresses the interface side reaction and induces the forming of a uniform and robust LiF-rich cathode electrolyte, interphase (CEI) to significantly eliminate transition metal dissolution. As a result, the CuPc-enhanced LMRO cathode shows superb cycling performance with a capacity retention of 95.0% after 500 long-term cycles. This study sheds light on the great effect of N-based redox couple to regulate anionic redox behavior and promote the development of high energy density and high stability LMROs cathode.

Personalized prediction of diabetic foot ulcer recurrence in elderly individuals using machine learning paradigms.

BACKGROUND: This study utilizes machine learning to analyze the recurrence risk of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in elderly diabetic patients, aiming to enhance prevention and intervention efforts. OBJECTIVE: The goal is to construct accurate predictive models for assessing the recurrence risk of DFUs based on high-risk factors, such as age, blood sugar control, alcohol consumption, and smoking, in elderly diabetic patients. METHODS: Data from 138 elderly diabetic patients were collected, and after data cleaning, outlier screening, and feature integration, machine learning models were constructed. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was employed, achieving an accuracy rate of 93%. RESULTS: Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of SVM in predicting the recurrence risk of DFUs in elderly diabetic patients, providing clinicians with a more accurate tool for assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the significance of machine learning in managing foot ulcers in elderly diabetic patients, particularly in predicting recurrence risk. This approach facilitates timely intervention, reducing the likelihood of patient recurrence, and introduces computer-assisted medical strategies in elderly diabetes management.

Hedgehog signaling is required for larval muscle development and larval metamorphosis of the mussel Mytilus coruscus.

Understanding the developmental processes and signaling pathways involved in larval myogenesis and metamorphosis is crucial for comprehending the life history and adaptive strategies of marine organisms. In this study, we investigated the temporal and spatial patterns of myogenesis in the mussel Mytilus coruscus (Mc), focusing on the emergence and transformation of major muscle groups during different larval stages. We also explored the role of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in regulating myogenesis and larval metamorphosis. The results revealed distinct developmental stages characterized by the emergence of specific muscular components, such as velum retractor muscles and anterior adductor muscles, in D-veliger and umbo larvae, which are responsible for the planktonic stage. In the pediveliger stage, posterior ventral, posterior adductor, and foot muscles appeared. After larval metamorphosis, the velum structure and its corresponding retractor muscles degenerate, indicating the transition from planktonic to benthic life. We observed a conserved pattern of larval musculature development and revealed a high degree of conservation across bivalve species, with comparable emergence times during myogenesis. Furthermore, exposure to the Hh signaling inhibitor cyclopamine impaired larval muscle development, reduced larval swimming activity, and inhibited larval metamorphosis in M. coruscus. Cyclopamine-mediated inhibition of Hh signaling led to reduced expression of four key genes within the Hh signaling pathway (McHh, McPtc, McSmo, and McGli) and the striated myosin heavy chain gene (McMHC). It is hypothesised that the abnormal larval muscle development in cyclopamine-treated groups may be an indirect effect due to disrupted McMHC expression. We provide evidence for the first time that cyclopamine treatment inhibited larval metamorphosis in bivalves, highlighting the potential involvement of Hh signaling in mediating larval muscle development and metamorphosis in M. coruscus. The present study provides insights into the dynamic nature of myogenesis and the regulatory role of the Hh signaling pathway during larval development and metamorphosis in M. coruscus. The results obtained in this study contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary significance of Hh signaling in bivalves and shed light on the mechanisms underlying larval muscle development and metamorphosis in marine invertebrates.

Evaluation of a Cascaded Deep Learning-based Algorithm for Prostate Lesion Detection at Biparametric MRI.

Background Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) improves prostate cancer (PCa) detection compared with systematic biopsy, but its interpretation is prone to interreader variation, which results in performance inconsistency. Artificial intelligence (AI) models can assist in mpMRI interpretation, but large training data sets and extensive model testing are required. Purpose To evaluate a biparametric MRI AI algorithm for intraprostatic lesion detection and segmentation and to compare its performance with radiologist readings and biopsy results. Materials and Methods This secondary analysis of a prospective registry included consecutive patients with suspected or known PCa who underwent mpMRI, US-guided systematic biopsy, or combined systematic and MRI/US fusion-guided biopsy between April 2019 and September 2022. All lesions were prospectively evaluated using Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1. The lesion- and participant-level performance of a previously developed cascaded deep learning algorithm was compared with histopathologic outcomes and radiologist readings using sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Results A total of 658 male participants (median age, 67 years [IQR, 61-71 years]) with 1029 MRI-visible lesions were included. At histopathologic analysis, 45% (294 of 658) of participants had lesions of International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group (GG) 2 or higher. The algorithm identified 96% (282 of 294; 95% CI: 94%, 98%) of all participants with clinically significant PCa, whereas the radiologist identified 98% (287 of 294; 95% CI: 96%, 99%; P = .23). The algorithm identified 84% (103 of 122), 96% (152 of 159), 96% (47 of 49), 95% (38 of 40), and 98% (45 of 46) of participants with ISUP GG 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 lesions, respectively. In the lesion-level analysis using radiologist ground truth, the detection sensitivity was 55% (569 of 1029; 95% CI: 52%, 58%), and the PPV was 57% (535 of 934; 95% CI: 54%, 61%). The mean number of false-positive lesions per participant was 0.61 (range, 0-3). The lesion segmentation DSC was 0.29. Conclusion The AI algorithm detected cancer-suspicious lesions on biparametric MRI scans with a performance comparable to that of an experienced radiologist. Moreover, the algorithm reliably predicted clinically significant lesions at histopathologic examination. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03354416 © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Electrohydrodynamic Inkjet Printing of Three-Dimensional Perovskite Nanocrystal Arrays for Full-Color Micro-LED Displays.

Perovskite nanocrystal (PeNC) arrays are showing a promising future in the next generation of micro-light-emitting-diode (micro-LED) displays due to the narrow emission linewidth and adjustable peak wavelength. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing, with merits of high resolution, uniformity, versatility, and cost-effectiveness, is among the competent candidates for constructing PeNC arrays. However, the fabrication of red light-emitting CsPbBrxI(3-x) nanocrystal arrays for micro-LED displays still faces challenges, such as low brightness and poor stability. This work proposes a design for a red PeNC colloidal ink that is specialized for the EHD inkjet printing of three-dimensional PeNC arrays with enhanced luminescence and stability as well as being adaptable to both rigid and flexible substrates. Made of a mixture of PeNCs, polymer polystyrene (PS), and a nonpolar xylene solvent, the PeNC colloidal ink enables precise control of array sizes and shapes, which facilitates on-demand micropillar construction. Additionally, the inclusion of PS significantly increases the brightness and environmental stability. By adopting this ink, the EHD printer successfully fabricated full-color 3D PeNC arrays with a spatial resolution over 2500 ppi. It shows the potential of the EHD inkjet printing strategy for high-resolution and robust PeNC color conversion layers for micro-LED displays.

SHARPIN contributes to sevoflurane-induced neonatal neurotoxicity through up-regulating HMGB1 to repress M2 like-macrophage polarization.

Sevoflurane exposure can result in neurotoxicity especially among children, which remains an important complication after surgery. However, its related mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the biological roles of SHARPIN in sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity. As detected by qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining, SHARPIN and HMGB1 expression was elevated in sevoflurane-stimulated mice as compared with the control mice. SHARPIN depletion attenuated hippocampus injury, repressed the expression of HMGB1 and M1-like macrophage markers (iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6), but enhanced the expression of M2-like macrophage markers (ARG-1, IL-10). GST pull-down and Co-IP assays demonstrated that SHARPIN directly interacted with HMGB1 to enhance HMGB1 expression in SH-SY5Y cells. The inhibitory effects of SHARPIN silencing on inflammatory reaction and M1-like macrophages were counteracted by HMGB1 overexpression. Finally, SHARPIN-HMGB1 pathway affected neuroinflammation triggered by sevoflurane via modulating macrophage polarization. Collectively, our data suggested that SHARPIN stimulated sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity via converting M2-like macrophages to M1-like macrophages by enhancing HMGB1 expression. SHARPIN intervention may be a promising therapeutic method to relieve sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity.

Telephone follow-up based on empowerment theory to improve resilience and quality of life among patients after coronary artery stent implantation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Coronary heart disease has a high incidence rate, a high mortality rate, a high recurrence rate, and a high medical cost. In addition, some patients need to undergo percutaneous coronary artery stent implantation (CASI), which is a kind of traumatic treatment. Patients can easily experience negative emotions such as anxiety and depression after surgery, which seriously affects quality of life. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an empowerment-based telephone follow-up intervention on resilience and quality of life in patients who underwent CASI. Design: The design of the study is a randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 92 patients were recruited after CASI from the Internal Medicine Cardiovascular Department of a Grade A tertiary hospital in Xi'an, China. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. The control group performed routine care, whereas the intervention group developed a telephone follow-up program based on empowerment theory while carrying out routine care. Patients were investigated using the coronary heart disease-related knowledge questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to compare the effects of the intervention before and after 1 month of intervention. Results: After a 1-month telephone follow-up intervention based on the empowerment theory for patients after CASI, the variations in knowledge related to coronary heart disease and all of its subscale scores were greater in the intervention group than in the control group. Except for the three dimensions of risk factor, induction factor, and rehabilitation-related knowledge, the variations in knowledge related to coronary heart disease and the other subscale scores were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). The variations in resilience and scores on the three subscales in the intervention group were greater than those in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The variations in the quality of life and overall health, emotional functions, and social functions were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A telephone follow-up intervention based on the empowerment theory can effectively improve the resilience and quality of life of patients after CASI. This follow-up approach can provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for hospitals and communities to carry out targeted continuing nursing for patients after CASI. The long-term effects of the intervention and its underlying mechanisms require further study. Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=173682, identifier ChiCTR2200064950.

Unraveling the Unique Strong Metal-Support Interaction in Titanium Dioxide Supported Platinum Clusters for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) is crucial to modulating the nature of metal species, yet the SMSI behaviors of sub-nanometer metal clusters remain unknown due to the difficulties in constructing SMSI at cluster scale. Herein, we achieve the successful construction of the SMSI between Pt clusters and amorphous TiO2 nanosheets by vacuum annealing, which required a relatively low temperature that avoids the aggregation of small clusters. In situ scanning transmission electron microscopy observation is employed to explore the SMSI behaviors, and the results reveal the dynamic rearrangement of Pt atoms upon annealing for the first time. The originally disordered Pt atoms become ordered as the crystallizing of the amorphous TiO2 support, forming an epitaxial interface between Pt and TiO2. Such SMSI state can remain stable in oxidation environment even at 400 °C. Further investigations prove that the electron transfer from TiO2 to Pt occupies the Pt 5d orbitals, which is responsible for the disappeared CO adsorption ability of Pt/TiO2 after forming SMSI. This work not only opens a new avenue for constructing SMSI at cluster scale but also provides in-depth understanding on the unique SMSI behavior, which would stimulate the development of supported metal clusters for catalysis applications.

Synthesis of Spiro Polycyclic N-Heterocycles and Indolecarbazoles via Merging Oxidative Coupling and Cascade Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Oxidative Cyclization.

We report a step-economic strategy for the direct synthesis of spiro polycyclic N-heterocycles and indolecarbazole-fused naphthoquinones by merging oxidative coupling and cascade palladium-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative cyclization. In the protocol, bi-indolylnaphthoquinones were first synthesized by oxidative coupling of indoles and naphthoquinones. Subsequent cascade palladium-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative cyclization of bi-indolylnaphthoquinones gave spiro polycyclic N-heterocycles and indolecarbazoles. The intramolecular oxidative cyclization approach could also be realized by the presence or absence of iron catalysts under standard conditions. This protocol is featured with moderate to excellent yields, a wide substrate scope, and divergent structures of products.

Dose-Dependent Effect on Plant Growth of Exposure to Metal-Organic Framework MIL-101(Cr).

With the increasing use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), they will inevitably enter the environment intentionally or unintentionally. However, the effects of MOFs on plant growth are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of exposure of the rhizosphere to MOFs on plant growth. MIL-101(Cr) was selected as a research model due to its commercial availability and wide use. Soybean plants at the two-leaf stage were subjected to various durations (1-7 days) and concentrations (0-1000 mg/L) of exposure in hydroculture with a control group treated with ultrapure water. We found that MIL-101(Cr) had a positive effect on soybean growth at a lower dose (i.e., 200 mg/L); however, at higher doses (i.e., 500 and 1000 mg/L), it exhibited significant toxicity to plant growth, which is evidenced by leaf damage. To investigate the mechanism of this effect, we used Cr as an indicator to quantify, track, and image MIL-101(Cr) in the plant with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Results indicated that MIL-101(Cr) primarily accumulated in the cortex of roots (up to 40 times higher than that in stems), with limited translocation to stems and negligible presence in leaves and cotyledons. In addition, metabolomic analysis of soybeans indicated that low-dose MIL-101(Cr) could increase the sucrose content of soybean roots to promote plant growth, while a high dose could induce lipid oxidation in roots. This study provides valuable insights into the ecological toxicology of MOFs and underscores the importance of assessing their environmental impact for sustainable agricultural practices.

Long-term outcomes of endovascular therapy for right subclavian artery occlusive lesions: A multi-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: To review our multi-institutional experience with endovascular therapy for right subclavian artery occlusive disease and to evaluate the long-term outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all patients with right subclavian artery stenosis and occlusive disease who underwent endovascular therapy between March 2014 and September 2022 at two institutions. Patient baseline demographics, lesion characteristics, treatment strategies, and in-hospital and follow-up outcomes were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Between March 2014 and September 2022, 73 patients underwent endovascular treatment at the two institutions. The dominant cause of lesions in this cohort was atherosclerosis. Three different types of lesions were summarized, and the corresponding endovascular strategies were performed. 66 patients (90.4%) underwent successful endovascular treatment, and 62 patients (84.9%) underwent balloon-expandable stent deployment. The mean perioperative in-hospital stay was 4.0 days (range, 3-6 days). Two patients died due to myocardial infarction, and one died of cerebral hemorrhage resulting from a traffic accident within 30 days of the intervention. The median follow-up time was 31.6 months (range, 12-96 months). No complications, including death, stroke, stent fractures, or migration, were noted in any patient during the follow-up period. The overall complication rate was 7/73 (9.6%), and 5/7 (6.9%) of the complications required reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of right subclavian artery lesions is safe, effective, and technically achievable. The reasonable use of balloon-expandable stents can achieve satisfactory outcomes with accurate orientation and promising patency.

Protein-to-DNA Converter with High Signal Gain.

DNA isothermal amplification techniques have been applied extensively for evaluating nucleic acid inputs but cannot be implemented directly on other types of biomolecules. In this work, we designed a proximity activation mechanism that converts protein input into DNA barcodes for the DNA exponential amplification reaction, which we termed PEAR. Several design parameters were identified and experimentally verified, which included the choice of enzymes, sequences of proximity probes and template strand via the NUPACK design tool, and the implementation of a hairpin lock on the proximity probe structure. Our PEAR system was surprisingly more robust against nonspecific DNA amplification, which is a major challenge faced in existing formats of the DNA-based exponential amplification reaction. The as-designed PEAR exhibited good target responsiveness for three protein models with a dynamic range of 4-5 orders of magnitude down to femtomolar input concentration. Overall, our proposed protein-to-DNA converter module led to the development of a stable and robust configuration of the DNA exponential amplification reaction to achieve high signal gain. We foresee this enabling the use of protein inputs for more complex molecular evaluation as well as ultrasensitive protein detection.

Spatially resolved current density distribution in GaN-based flip-chip green mini-LEDs by microscopic hyperspectral imaging and modified two-level modeling.

A modified two-level model is proposed to study the spatially resolved current density distribution of GaN-based green miniaturized light-emitting diodes (mini-LEDs), combining with microscopic hyperspectral imaging. We found that the spatially resolved current density distribution reveals both the radiative and non-radiative recombination mappings, which can also be provided separately by this model. In addition, higher current density is not necessarily correlated with higher photon emission, especially for the regions around the electrode edges, where the high current density suggests current crowding and defect-related non-radiative recombination. The current density distribution of mini-LEDs is further verified by the laser-beam-induced current (LBIC) and the spatially resolved mappings of peak wavelength and FWHM. The modified two-level model also offers radiative/non-radiative mappings and is proved to be beneficial to determine the micro-zone current density distribution and to reveal the intrinsic radiative/non-radiative recombination mechanism of mini-LEDs.

Probing the stability of metal-organic frameworks by structure-responsive mass spectrometry imaging.

The widespread application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is seriously hindered by their structural instability and it is still very challenging to probe the stability of MOFs during application by current techniques. Here, we report a novel structure-responsive mass spectrometry (SRMS) imaging technique to probe the stability of MOFs. We discovered that intact CuBTC (as a model of MOFs) could generate the characteristic peaks of organic ligands and carbon cluster anions in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, but these peaks were significantly changed when the structure of CuBTC was dissociated, thus enabling a label-free probing of the stability. Furthermore, SRMS can be performed in imaging mode to visualize the degradation kinetics and reveal the spatial heterogeneity of the stability of CuBTC. This technique was successfully applied in different application scenarios (in water, moist air, and CO2) and also validated with different MOFs. It thus provides a versatile new tool for better design and application of environment-sensitive materials.

Biopsy or Follow-up: AI Improves the Clinical Strategy of US BI-RADS 4A Breast Nodules Using a Convolutional Neural Network.

OBJECTIVES: To develop predictive nomograms based on clinical and ultrasound features and to improve the clinical strategy for US BI-RADS 4A lesions. METHODS: Patients with US BI-RADS 4A lesions from 3 hospitals between January 2016 and June 2020 were retrospectively included. Clinical and ultrasound features were extracted to establish nomograms CE (based on clinical experience) and DL (based on deep-learning algorithm). The performances of nomograms were evaluated by receiver operator characteristic curves, calibration curves and decision curves. Diagnostic performances with DL of radiologists were analyzed. RESULTS: 1616 patients from 2 hospitals were randomly divided into training and internal validation cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. Hundred patients from another hospital made up external validation cohort. DL achieved more optimized AUCs than CE (internal validation: 0.916 vs. 0.863, P < .01; external validation: 0.884 vs. 0.776, P = .05). The sensitivities of DL were higher than CE (internal validation: 81.03% vs. 72.41%, P = .044; external validation: 93.75% vs. 81.25%, P = .4795) without losing specificity (internal validation: 84.91% vs. 86.47%, P = .353; external validation: 69.14% vs. 71.60%, P = .789). Decision curves indicated DL adds more clinical net benefit. With DL's assistance, both radiologists achieved higher AUCs (0.712 vs. 0.801; 0.547 vs. 0.800), improved specificities (70.93% vs. 74.42%, P < .001; 59.3% vs. 81.4%, P = .004), and decreased unnecessary biopsy rates by 6.7% and 24%. CONCLUSION: DL was developed to discriminate US BI-RADS 4A lesions with a higher diagnostic power and more clinical net benefit than CE. Using DL may guide clinicians to make precise clinical decisions and avoid overtreatment of benign lesions.

Photoelectrochemical Sensor for H2S Based on a Lead-Free Perovskite/Metal-Organic Framework Composite.

Halide perovskites have emerged as a highly promising class of photoelectric materials. However, the application of lead-based perovskites has been hindered by their toxicity and relatively weak stability. In this work, a composite material comprising a lead-free perovskite cesium copper iodide (CsCu2I3) nanocrystal and a metal-organic framework (MOF-801) has been synthesized through an in situ growth approach. The resulting composite material, denoted as CsCu2I3/MOF-801, demonstrates outstanding stability and exceptional optoelectronic characteristics. MOF-801 may serve a dual role by acting as a protective barrier between CsCu2I3 nanocrystals and the external environment, as well as promoting the efficient transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby mitigating their recombination. Consequently, CsCu2I3/MOF-801 demonstrates its utility by providing both stability and a notably high initial photocurrent. Leveraging the inherent reactivity between H2S and the composite material, which results in the formation of Cu2S and structural alteration, an exceptionally sensitive photoelectrochemical sensor for H2S detection has been designed. This sensor exhibits a linear detection range spanning from 0.005 to 100 µM with a remarkable detection limit of 1.67 nM, rendering it highly suitable for precise quantification of H2S in rat brains. This eco-friendly sensor significantly broadens the application horizon of perovskite materials and lays a robust foundation for their future commercialization.

Charge Density-Regulated Microchannel-Based Electrochemiluminescence Sensor for Hydrogen Sulfide Detection with a Highly Efficient Accumulation Strategy.

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity can be regulated by ionic current passing through the microchannel, which broadened the regulation of the ECL sensors. But in the early reported sensors, the electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance caused few targets to approach the interface of the microchannel driven by concentration difference, which reduced the detection efficiency and prolonged the detection period. In this study, different accumulation strategies, such as a positive electric field and different polarity electric fields, were designed to accumulate targets in the microchannel. The interaction of azide groups and hydrogen sulfide served as a research model. Hydrogen sulfide can react with the negatively charged azide groups in the microchannel surface to produce positively charged amino groups, decreasing the negative charge density of the microchannel and thus altering the ionic current and ECL intensity. The accumulation of hydrogen sulfide at the microchannel tip can increase the collision probability with azide groups to improve the detection efficiency, and the integration of accumulation and reaction can shorten the detection period to 28 min. The hydrogen sulfide concentration on the microchannel tip accumulated by applying different polarity electric fields was 22.3-fold higher than that accumulated by applying a positive electric field. The selected research model broadened the application range of a microchannel-based ECL sensor and confirmed the universality of the microchannel-based ECL sensor.

Forcefully engaging rods into tulips with gap discrepancy leading to pedicle screw loosening-a biomechanical analysis using long porcine spine segments.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Long-segment pedicle screw instrumentation is widely used to treat complex spinal disorders. Rods are routinely precontoured to maximize assistance on the correcting side of the deformity, but there often exists a residual gap discrepancy between the precontoured rods and screw tulips. No previous research has investigated the diminished pullout strength of the most proximal or distal pedicle screw resulting from a mismatched rod in long-segment pedicle screw instrumentation. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the decreased pullout force of pedicle screws affected by the gap discrepancy when forcefully engaging a mismatched rod into a tulip in a normal-density porcine spine. STUDY DESIGN: The pedicle screw fixation strength under axial pullout force was compared among three different gap discrepancies between rods and tulips using long porcine spine segments. METHODS: Twelve porcine lumbar vertebrae (L3-L6) were implanted with pedicle screws and rods. Screws on one side had no gap between the tulip and rod (0-mm group), while the most proximal screw on the other side had an intentional gap of 3 mm (3-mm group) or 6 mm (6-mm group). Three hours after forcefully engaging the rod into the tulips at room temperature, the set screws in all specimens were loosened, and each specimen was dissected into individual vertebrae for subsequent pullout testing. RESULTS: The control group exhibited significantly greater pullout strength (1987.68 ± 126.80 N) than the groups from different rod-tulip configurations (p<.05), with significantly greater strength in the 3-mm group (945.62 ± 97.43 N) than the 6-mm group (655.30 ± 194.49 N) (p<.05). Only 47.6% and 33.0% of the pullout strength was retained in the 3-mm and 6-mm groups, respectively, compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Gap discrepancies between rods and tulips can significantly reduce pedicle screw pullout strength, with a correlation between decreased strength and increased gaps. Surgeons should avoid forcefully engaging mismatched rods and consider well-fitted contoured rods in spinal surgery to minimize the risk of screw loosening. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The gap discrepancy between rod and tulip significantly affected pullout strength, with greater gaps leading to reduced strength. Forcefully engaging mismatched rods into tulips in degenerative spinal surgery should be avoided to minimize the risk of early screw pullout.