Improving LibGuides at a Health Sciences Library: A Case Study.

While LibGuides are widely used in libraries to curate resources for users, there are a number of common problems, including maintenance, design and layout, and curating relevant and concise content. One health sciences library sought to improve our LibGuides, consulting usage statistics, user feedback, and recommendations from the literature to inform decision making. Our team recommended a number of changes to make LibGuides more usable, including creating robust maintenance and content guidelines, scheduling regular updates, and various changes to the format of the guides themselves to make them more user-friendly.

Oridonin attenuates diabetes­induced renal fibrosis via the inhibition of TXNIP/NLRP3 and NF­κB pathways by activating PPARγ in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Oridonin possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory properties. However, the renoprotective effects of Oridonin and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been explored in Diabetic Nephropathy (DN). We hypothesized that Oridonin could ameliorate diabetes­induced renal fibrosis. METHODS: We used streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats combined high-fat diet to establish a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) animal model, and then treated with Oridonin (10,20mg/kg/day) for two weeks. Kidney function and renal fibrosis were assessed. We also treated high glucose-induced human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK-2) with Oridonin. In addition, the expression of inflammatory factors and fibrotic markers were analyzed. RESULTS: Oridonin treatment preserved kidney function and markedly limited the renal fibrosis size in diabetic rats. The renal fibrotic markers were inhibited in the 10mg/kg/day group and 20mg/kg/day group compared to the T2DM group. Moreover, the expression levels of TXNIP/NLRP3 and NF­κB pathway were decreased and the level of PPARγ were increased in the Oridonin treatment group compared to non-treated group. In vitro, intervention of PPARγ could significantly regulate the effect of Oridonin on the high glucose-induced inflammatory changes in HK-2. CONCLUSION: Oridonin reduces renal fibrosis and preserves kidney function via the inhibition of TXNIP/NLRP3 and NF­κB pathway by activating PPARγ in T2DM rat model, which indicates potential therapeutic effect of Oridonin on DN.

Causal association of blood cell traits with inflammatory bowel diseases: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies have found associations between blood cell traits and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), whereas the causality and dose-effect relationships are still undetermined. Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using linear regression approaches, as well as Bayesian model averaging (MR-BMA), were conducted to identify and prioritize the causal blood cell traits for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). An observational study was also performed using restricted cubic spline (RCS) to explore the relationship between important blood cell traits and IBDs. Results: Our uvMR analysis using the random effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) method identified eosinophil (EOS) as a causal factor for UC (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.63). Our MR-BMA analysis further prioritized that high level of lymphocyte (LYM) decreased CD risk (MIP = 0.307; θ^MACE = -0.059; PP = 0.189; θ^λ = -0.173), whereas high level of EOS increased UC risk (MIP = 0.824; θ^MACE = 0.198; PP = 0.627; θ^λ = 0.239). Furthermore, the observational study clearly depicts the nonlinear relationship between important blood cell traits and the risk of IBDs. Conclusion: Using MR approaches, several blood cell traits were identified as risk factors of CD and UC, which could be used as potential targets for the management of IBDs. Stratified genome-wide association studies (GWASs) based on the concentration of traits would be helpful owing to the nonlinear relationships between blood cell traits and IBDs, as demonstrated in our clinical observational study. Together, these findings could shed light on the clinical strategies applied to the management of CD and UC.

The prevalence of presbyphagia in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Presbyphagia is defined as structural, physiological and innervational alterations in the swallowing process as a result of aging and is considered to be involved in the etiology of dysphagia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of presbyphagia in older adults without disease-related dysphagia. METHODS: In this study five databases were searched in October 2023 with no time limitation. Combined effect sizes of presbyphagia prevalence were calculated using random effect models. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to identify sources of heterogeneity. Egger's test and a funnel plot were employed to examine publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were selected for analysis. Overall, the prevalence of presbyphagia in older adults was 30.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.8-36.7%). Publication bias was adjusted for using the fill-and-trim method and the corrected pooled prevalence of presbyphagia was 17.3% (95% CI 11.0-23.6%). In addition, the meta-regression findings revealed that the assessment tool had significant effects upon heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Although the pooled prevalence of presbyphagia in older adults was 17.3%, the lack of large representative studies limited the interpretation of these findings. In the future, further large studies that diagnose presbyphagia using standardized assessment tools would facilitate new avenues to reduce the risk of dysphagia in older adults.

Association of systemic inflammatory response index with bone mineral density, osteoporosis, and future fracture risk in elderly hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the relationship between the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis, and future fracture risk in elderly hypertensive patients. METHODS: Elderly hypertensive patients (age ≥60 years) who attended our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023 and completed BMD screening were included in the study. Analyses were performed with multivariate logistic and linear regression. RESULTS: The multiple linear regression indicated that SIRI levels were significantly negatively correlated with lumbar 1 BMD (ß = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.24, -0.05), lumbar 2 BMD (ß = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.24, -0.05), lumbar 3 BMD (ß = -1.35, 95% CI: -0.23, -0.02), lumbar 4 BMD (ß = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.30, -0.10), femur neck BMD (ß = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.18, -0.05) and Ward's triangle BMD (ß = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.20, -0.05) among elderly hypertensive patients, after fully adjusting for confounders. Furthermore, we observed that SIRI was positively associated with future fracture risk in elderly hypertensive patients. Specifically, SIRI was associated with an increased risk of major osteoporotic fractures (ß = 0.33) and hip fractures (ß = 0.25). The logistic regression analysis indicated that there is an association between the SIRI level and an increased risk of osteoporosis (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.37, 1.87), after fully adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a potential association between SIRI and BMD, osteoporosis, and the risk of future fractures in elderly hypertensive patients. However, further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Micro-and nano-plastics induce kidney damage and suppression of innate immune function in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae.

Aquatic environments serve as critical repositories for pollutants and have significantly accumulated micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) due to the extensive production and application of plastic products. While the disease resistance and immunity of fish are closely linked to the condition of their aquatic habitats, the specific effects of nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) within these environments on fish immune functions are still not fully understood. The present study utilized zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae as model organisms to examine the impacts of polystyrene NPs (100 nm) and MPs (5 µm) on fish immune responses. Our findings reveal that NPs and MPs tend to accumulate on the surfaces of embryos and within the intestines of larvae, triggering oxidative stress and significantly increasing susceptibility to Edwardsiella piscicida infection in zebrafish larvae. Transmission electron microscopy examined that both NPs and MPs inflicted damage to the kidney, an essential immune organ, with NPs predominantly inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and MPs causing lipid accumulation. Transcriptomic analysis further demonstrated that both NPs and MPs significantly suppress the expression of key innate immune pathways, notably the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway and the cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway. Within these pathways, the immune factor interleukin-1 beta (il1b) was consistently downregulated in both exposure groups. Furthermore, exposure to E. piscicida resulted in restricted upregulation of il1b mRNA and protein levels, likely contributing to diminished disease resistance in zebrafish larvae exposed to MNPs. Our findings suggest that NPs and MPs similarly impair the innate immune function of zebrafish larvae and weaken their disease resistance, highlighting the significant environmental threat posed by these pollutants.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and human health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence on the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and human health outcomes has grown exponentially, specific health outcomes and their potential associations with PFASs have not been conclusively evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search through the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to February 29, 2024, to identify systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies examining the associations between the PFASs and multiple health outcomes. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool, and credibility of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria. The protocol of this umbrella review (UR) had been registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42023480817). RESULTS: The UR identified 157 meta-analyses from 29 articles. Using the AMSTAR measurement tool, all articles were categorized as of moderate-to-high quality. Based on the GRADE assessment, significant associations between specific types of PFASs and low birth weight, tetanus vaccine response, and triglyceride levels showed high certainty of evidence. Moreover, moderate certainty of evidence with statistical significance was observed between PFASs and health outcomes including lower BMI z-score in infancy, poor sperm progressive motility, and decreased risk of preterm birth as well as preeclampsia. Fifty-two (33%) associations (e.g., PFASs and gestational hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc) presented low certainty evidence. Additionally, eighty-five (55%) associations (e.g., PFASs with infertility, lipid metabolism, etc) presented very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: High certainty of evidence supported that certain PFASs were associated with the incidence of low birth weight, low efficiency of the tetanus vaccine, and low triglyceride levels.

Applications of artificial intelligence-powered prenatal diagnosis for congenital heart disease.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant progress in the medical field in the last decade. The AI-powered analysis methods of medical images and clinical records can now match the abilities of clinical physicians. Due to the challenges posed by the unique group of fetuses and the dynamic organ of the heart, research into the application of AI in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) is particularly active. In this review, we discuss the clinical questions and research methods involved in using AI to address prenatal diagnosis of CHD, including imaging, genetic diagnosis, and risk prediction. Representative examples are provided for each method discussed. Finally, we discuss the current limitations of AI in prenatal diagnosis of CHD, namely Volatility, Insufficiency and Independence (VII), and propose possible solutions.

Organoselenium-Catalyzed C2,3-Diarylation of N-H Indoles.

An organoselenium-catalyzed C2,3-diarylation of unprotected N-H indoles with electron-rich aromatics has been developed. This one-pot multicomponent tandem cross-dehydrogenation coupling reaction allows for the incorporation of two different aromatic groups to indoles. More importantly, this approach offers significant advantages, including a high atom and step economy, eliminating the need for prepreparation of the reaction substrates, streamlining the synthetic process and enhancing its practicality. Overall, this organoselenium-catalyzed C2,3-diarylation reaction presents an efficient and versatile strategy for the functionalization of indole derivatives.

Klebsiella pneumoniae alters zebrafish circadian rhythm via inflammatory pathways and is dependent on light cues.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen causing severe infections. The circadian rhythm is the internal rhythm mechanism of an organism and plays an important role in coping with changes in the 24-h circadian rhythm. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can lead to immune, behavioral, mental, and other related disorders. Whether K. pneumoniae can disrupt the circadian rhythm after infection remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of K. pneumoniae NTUH-K2044 infection on biological rhythm and inflammation in zebrafish using behavioral assays, quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, neutrophil and macrophage transgenic fish, and drug treatment. The results showed that K. pneumoniae infection decreased the motor activity of zebrafish and reduced the circadian rhythm amplitude, phase, and period. The expression of core circadian rhythm-associated genes increased under light-dark conditions, whereas they were downregulated under continuous darkness. Analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae-mediated inflammation using Tg(mpx:EGFP) and Tg(mpeg:EGFP) transgenic zebrafish, expressing fluorescent neutrophils and macrophages, respectively, showed increased induction of inflammatory cells, upregulated expression of inflammatory factor genes, and stronger inflammatory responses under light-dark conditions. These effects were reversed by the anti-inflammatory drug G6PDi-1, and the expression of clock genes following K. pneumoniae treatment was disrupted. We determined the relationship among K. pneumoniae, inflammation, and the circadian rhythm, providing a theoretical reference for studying circadian rhythm disorders caused by inflammation.

Clinical significance of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for detection of incidental pre-malignant and malignant colonic lesions: correlation with colonoscopic and histopathological results.

BACKGROUND: Incidental colorectal fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, observed during positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans, attracts particular attention due to its potential to represent both benign and pre-malignant/malignant lesions. Early detection and excision of these lesions are crucial for preventing cancer development and reducing mortality. This research aims to evaluate the correlation between incidental colorectal FDG uptake on PET/CT with colonoscopic and histopathological results. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on data from all patients who underwent PET/CT between December 2019 and December 2023 in our hospital. The study included 79 patients with incidental colonic FDG uptake who underwent endoscopy. Patient characteristics, imaging parameters, and the corresponding colonoscopy and histopathological results were studied. A comparative analysis was performed among the findings from each of these modalities. The optimal cut-off value of SUVmax for 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The area under the curve (AUC) of SUVmax and the combined parameters of SUVmax and colonic wall thickening (CWT) were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 79 patients with incidental colorectal FDG uptake, histopathology revealed malignancy in 22 (27.9%) patients and premalignant polyps in 22 (27.9%) patients. Compared to patients with benign lesions, patients with premalignant and malignant lesions were more likely to undergo a PET/CT scan for primary evaluation (p = 0.013), and more likely to have focal GIT uptake (p = 0.001) and CWT (p = 0.001). A ROC curve analysis was made and assesed a cut-off value of 7.66 SUVmax (sensitivity: 64.9% and specificity: 82.4%) to distinguish premalignant and malignant lesions from benign lesions. The AUCs of the SUVmax and the combined parameters of SUVmax and CWT were 0.758 and 0.832 respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients undergo PET/CT for primary evaluation, imaging features of colorectal focal FDG uptake and CWT were more closely associated with premalignant and malignant lesions. The SUVmax helps determine benign and premalignant/malignant lesions of the colorectum. Moreover, the combination of SUVmax and CWT parameters have higher accuracy in estimating premalignant and malignant lesions than SUVmax.

Circadian rhythm and variability of large and small airway spirometric variables in healthy individuals.

Objective: To assess the diurnal rhythm and variability of lung function in healthy individuals, encompassing both large and small airways. Methods: A prospective study enrolled 35 healthy adults without a history of smoking. Initial spirometry and a bronchodilation test were performed using the Jaeger spirometer, followed by a seven-day continuous home monitoring using the GOSPT2000. We evaluated repeatability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and agreement through linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses. Circadian rhythm and variability in spirometric measurements were analyzed using the coefficient of variation (CV) and daily variation rate. Results: The GOSPT2000 demonstrated strong repeatability and high agreement with the Jaeger spirometer. Notable findings included a decrease in nocturnal forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV3 by 44, 59, and 53 mL, respectively. In contrast, peak expiratory flow at noon showed an increase of 0.143L/min. Small-airway variables, including forced expiratory flow at 50% and 75% of the FVC and maximum midexpiratory flow, showed no significant diurnal variation. The nocturnal CV for large-airway variables was ≤ 4%, while for small-airway variables, it was ≤ 11.89%. Conclusion: This study has established a spectrum of variability for both large and small airways in healthy populations. The variability of small-airway variables is higher than that of large-airway variables. The investigation into the diurnal rhythms and variability characteristics of both large and small airway variables in the healthy population can serve as a foundation for diagnosing asthma or assessing the efficacy of asthma treatments.

The role of rcpA gene in regulating biofilm formation and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a common seafood-borne pathogen that can colonize the intestine of host and cause gastroenteritis. Biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus enhances its persistence in various environments, which poses a series of threats to food safety. This work aims to investigate the function of rcpA gene in biofilm formation and virulence of V. parahaemolyticus. Deletion of rcpA significantly reduced motility, biofilm biomass, and extracellular polymeric substances, and inhibited biofilm formation on a variety of food and food contact surfaces. In mice infection model, mice infected with ∆rcpA strain exhibited a decreased rate of pathogen colonization, a lower level of inflammatory cytokines, and less tissue damage when compared to mice infected with wild type strain. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 374 genes were differentially expressed in the rcpA deletion mutant, which include genes related to quorum sensing, flagellar system, ribosome, type VI secretion system, biotin metabolism and transcriptional regulation. In conclusion, rcpA plays a role in determining biofilm formation and virulence of V. parahaemolyticus and further research is necessitated to fully understand its function in V. parahaemolyticus.

Large language models leverage external knowledge to extend clinical insight beyond language boundaries.

OBJECTIVES: Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Med-PaLM have excelled in various medical question-answering tasks. However, these English-centric models encounter challenges in non-English clinical settings, primarily due to limited clinical knowledge in respective languages, a consequence of imbalanced training corpora. We systematically evaluate LLMs in the Chinese medical context and develop a novel in-context learning framework to enhance their performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The latest China National Medical Licensing Examination (CNMLE-2022) served as the benchmark. We collected 53 medical books and 381 149 medical questions to construct the medical knowledge base and question bank. The proposed Knowledge and Few-shot Enhancement In-context Learning (KFE) framework leverages the in-context learning ability of LLMs to integrate diverse external clinical knowledge sources. We evaluated KFE with ChatGPT (GPT-3.5), GPT-4, Baichuan2-7B, Baichuan2-13B, and QWEN-72B in CNMLE-2022 and further investigated the effectiveness of different pathways for incorporating LLMs with medical knowledge from 7 distinct perspectives. RESULTS: Directly applying ChatGPT failed to qualify for the CNMLE-2022 at a score of 51. Cooperated with the KFE framework, the LLMs with varying sizes yielded consistent and significant improvements. The ChatGPT's performance surged to 70.04 and GPT-4 achieved the highest score of 82.59. This surpasses the qualification threshold (60) and exceeds the average human score of 68.70, affirming the effectiveness and robustness of the framework. It also enabled a smaller Baichuan2-13B to pass the examination, showcasing the great potential in low-resource settings. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study shed light on the optimal practices to enhance the capabilities of LLMs in non-English medical scenarios. By synergizing medical knowledge through in-context learning, LLMs can extend clinical insight beyond language barriers in healthcare, significantly reducing language-related disparities of LLM applications and ensuring global benefit in this field.

Ultra-Stable High-Capacity Polythiophene Derivative for Wide-Potential-Window Supercapacitors.

Conducting polymer (CP)-based supercapacitors show great promise for applications in the field of wearable and portable electronics. However, these supercapacitors face persistent challenges, notably low energy density and inadequate stability. In this study, we introduce a polythiophene derivative, designated as poly(EPE), synthesized via the electrochemical polymerization of 8-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine (EPE). The resulting poly(EPE) polymer exhibits an exemplary 3D porous network-like structure, significantly enhancing its capacitance performance. When employed as the electrode material, the symmetric supercapacitor demonstrates an exceptionally high specific capacitance of 1342 F g-1 at a current density of 4.0 A g-1, along with impressive energy and power densities of 119.3 W h kg-1 and 38.83 kW kg-1, respectively. These capacitance values surpass those of previously reported pristine CP-based supercapacitors. Notably, the supercapacitor showcases outstanding stability, maintaining a retention rate of 92.5% even after 50,000 charge-discharge cycles. These findings underscore the substantial potential of poly(EPE) as an electrode material for the advancement of the supercapacitor technology.

Association of exposure to multiple perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and glucose metabolism in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure and glucose metabolism indices. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018 waves were used. A total of 611 participants with information on serum PFASs (perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorooctane sulfonates acid (PFOS); perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA)), glucose metabolism indices (fasting plasma glucose (FPG), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin) as well as selected covariates were included. We used cluster analysis to categorize the participants into three exposure subgroups and compared glucose metabolism index levels between the subgroups. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), multiple linear regression analysis and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to assess the effects of single and mixed PFASs exposures and glucose metabolism. Results: The cluster analysis results revealed overlapping exposure types among people with higher PFASs exposure. As the level of PFAS exposure increased, FPG level showed an upward linear trend (p < 0.001), whereas insulin levels demonstrated a downward linear trend (p = 0.012). LASSO and multiple linear regression analysis showed that PFNA and FPG had a positive relationship (>50 years-old group: ß = 0.059, p < 0.001). PFOA, PFUA, and PFHxS (≤50 years-old group: insulin ß = -0.194, p < 0.001, HOMA-IR ß = -0.132, p = 0.020) showed negative correlation with HOMA-IR/insulin. PFNA (>50 years-old group: insulin ß = 0.191, p = 0.018, HOMA-IR ß = 0.220, p = 0.013) showed positive correlation with HOMA-IR/insulin, which was essentially the same as results that obtained for the univariate exposure-response map in the BKMR model. Association of exposure to PFASs on glucose metabolism indices showed positive interactions between PFOS and PFHxS and negative interactions between PFOA and PFNA/PFOS/PFHxS. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that positive and negative correlations between PFASs and FPG and HOMA-IR/insulin levels are observed, respectively. Combined effects and interactions between PFASs. Given the higher risk of glucose metabolism associated with elevated levels of PFAS, future studies are needed to explore the potential underlying mechanisms.

Preparation of novel gallic acid-based dummy-template molecularly imprinted polymer adsorbents for rapid adsorption of dibutyl phthalate from water.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are plasticizers widely used in the industry and easily released into the environment, posing a serious threat to human health. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are important as selective adsorbents for the removal of PAEs. In this study, three kinds of mussel-inspired MIPs for the removal of PAEs were first prepared with gallic acid (GA), hexanediamine (HD), tannic acid (TA), and dopamine (DA) under mild conditions. The adsorption results showed that the MIP with low cost derived from GA and HD (GAHD-MIP) obtained the highest adsorption capacity among these materials. Furthermore, 97.43% of equilibrium capacity could be reached within the first 5 min of adsorption. Especially, the dummy template of diallyl phthalate (DAP) with low toxicity was observed to be more suitable to prepare MIPs than dibutyl phthalate (DBP), although DBP was the target of adsorption. The adsorption process was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. In the isotherm analysis, the adsorption behavior agreed with the Freundlich model. Additionally, the material maintained high adsorption performance after 7 cycles of regeneration tests. The GAHD-MIP adsorbents in this study, with low cost, rapid adsorption equilibrium, green raw materials, and low toxicity dummy template, provide a valuable reference for the design and development of new MIPs.

Association of ambient ozone exposure and greenness exposure with hemorrhagic stroke mortality at different times: A cohort study in Shandong Province, China.

Evidence on the association between long-term ozone exposure and greenness exposure and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) is limited, with mixed results. One potential source of this inconsistency is the difference in exposure time metrics. This study aimed to investigate the association between long-term exposure to ambient ozone, greenness, and mortality from HS using exposure metrics at different times. We also examined whether greenness exposure modified the relationship between ozone exposure and mortality due to HS. The study population consisted of 45771 participants aged ≥40 y residing in 20 counties in Shandong Province who were followed up from 2013 to 2019. Ozone exposure metrics (annual mean and warm season) and the normalized difference a measure of greenness exposure, were calculated. The relationship between environmental exposures (ozone and greenness exposures) and mortality from HS was assessed using time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models, and the modification of greenness exposure was examined using stratified analysis with interaction terms. The person-years at the end of follow-up were 90,663. With full adjustments, the risk of death from hemorrhagic stroke increased by 5% per interquartile range increase in warm season ozone [hazard ratio =1.05; 95 % confidence interval: 1.01-1.08]. No clear association was observed between annual ozone and mortality HS. Both the annual and summer NDVI were found to reduce the risk of HS mortality. The relationships were influenced by age, sex, and residence (urban or rural). Furthermore, greenness exposure was shown to have a modifying effect on the relationship between ozone exposure and the occurrence of HS mortality (P for interaction = 0.001). Long-term exposure to warm season O3 was positively associated with HS mortality, while greenness exposure was inversely associated with HS mortality. Greenness exposure may mitigate the negative effects of warm season ozone exposure on HS mortality.

Intelligent perceptual textiles based on ionic-conductive and strong silk fibers.

Endowing textiles with perceptual function, similar to human skin, is crucial for the development of next-generation smart wearables. To date, the creation of perceptual textiles capable of sensing potential dangers and accurately pinpointing finger touch remains elusive. In this study, we present the design and fabrication of intelligent perceptual textiles capable of electrically responding to external dangers and precisely detecting human touch, based on conductive silk fibroin-based ionic hydrogel (SIH) fibers. These fibers possess excellent fracture strength (55 MPa), extensibility (530%), stable and good conductivity (0.45 S·m-1) due to oriented structures and ionic incorporation. We fabricated SIH fiber-based protective textiles that can respond to fire, water, and sharp objects, protecting robots from potential injuries. Additionally, we designed perceptual textiles that can specifically pinpoint finger touch, serving as convenient human-machine interfaces. Our work sheds new light on the design of next-generation smart wearables and the reshaping of human-machine interfaces.

Bulk Trapping Organic Semiconductor with Amino-Additive Enabling Ultrasensitive NO2 Sensors.

Organic semiconductor (OSC) gas sensors have garnered considerable attention due to their promising selectivity and inherent flexibility. Introducing a functional group or modification layer is an important route to modulate the doping/trapping state of the active layer and the gas absorption/desorption process. However, the majority of the functionalization lies in the surface/interface assembling process, which is difficult to control the functional group density. This in turn brings challenges for precise modulation of the charge transport and the doping/trapping density, which will affect the repeatability and reproducibility of sensing performance. Herein, we propose a facile bulk trapping strategy incorporating amino-terminated additive molecules via the vacuum deposition process, achieving ultrahigh sensitivity of ∼2000%/ppm at room temperature to NO2 gas and approaching ∼3000%/ppm at 50 °C. Additionally, the device exhibits commendable reproducibility, stability, and low concentration detection ability, reaching down to several ppb, indicating promising potential for future applications. Comprehensive analysis of electrical properties and density functional theory calculations reveals that these exceptional properties arise from the favorable electrical characteristics of the bulk trapping structure, the high mobility of C8-BTBT, and the elevated adsorption energy of NO2. This approach enables the construction of stable and reproducible sensitive sensors and helps to understand the sensing mechanism in OSC gas sensors.