Association of physical activity, including amount and maintenance, with the risk of HCC among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background & Aims: We investigated the association of physical activity (PA) levels and changes with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes who had undergone health examinations in 2009 and 2011 were enrolled. In total, 1,439,152 patients were included in the analysis. The level of PA was classified as inactive (<500 metabolic equivalent task [MET]-min/week), moderately active (500-1,500 MET-min/week), and active (≥1,500 MET-min/week). Change in PA was categorized as persistently inactive PA, newly active PA, active PA quitter, and persistently active PA according to change of PA between 2009 and 2011. Results: During a median of 5.2 years of follow-up, 22,686 patients developed HCC. Compared to the inactive group, the risk of HCC was significantly lower in the moderately active (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99), and active (aHR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99) groups. The patients in the persistently active PA group had a significantly lower risk of HCC than those in the persistently inactive PA group (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98). Conclusions: Physical activity exhibited a dose-responsive preventive effect against HCC in patients with diabetes. Impact and implications: Our study investigated the impact of physical activity (PA) levels and changes on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with type 2 diabetes. PA was associated with a dose-responsive preventive effect against HCC. Patients in the persistently active PA group had a significantly lower risk of HCC than those in the persistently inactive PA group, while newly active patients and PA quitters had similar risks to the persistently inactive group. Our study highlighted the importance of maintaining regular PA as a preventive strategy against HCC.

Effect of patent complete revascularization on the akinetic myocardial segments.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were (i) to examine the changes in echocardiographic parameters and (ii) to compare the fate of myocardial segments with akinesia and without akinesia on preoperative echocardiography after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: One hundred one patients who underwent complete revascularization, who were assessed by preoperative, before discharge, postoperative 3- and 12-month echocardiographic examinations, and who showed all patent grafts at postoperative 1-year angiograms were included. Echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction was assessed, and a 16-segment model was adopted for regional analysis of the left ventricle. A total of 1616 segments were analysed based on a 6-point scale: 1 = normal (N = 1083), 2 = mild hypokinesia (N = 2), 3 = moderate hypokinesia (N = 74), 4 = severe hypokinesia (N = 150), 5 = akinesia without thinning (N = 259) and 6 = akinesia with thinning (N = 48). RESULTS: The serial left ventricular ejection fraction measured preoperatively, before discharge, at postoperative 3- and 12-months were 0.48 ± 0.14, 0.49 ± 0.12, 0.49 ± 0.10 and 0.54 ± 0.10, respectively. The left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased over time during the postoperative 12 months (P < 0.001). Wall motion scores tended to decrease over time in both segment groups with akinesia and without akinesia (P < 0.001), and improvement of the wall motion was significantly higher in the segment group with akinesia than in the segment group without akinesia (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion improved over time during the postoperative 12 months, regardless of the presence of an akinetic segment. Complete revascularization including akinetic myocardium should be considered when performing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Morbidity and Mortality After Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy and Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy to Treat Gastric Cancer: An Interim Report: A Phase III Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Trial (The KLASS-07 Trial).

PURPOSE: We conducted a randomized prospective trial (KLASS-07 trial) to compare laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for gastric cancer. In this interim report, we describe short-term results in terms of morbidity and mortality. METHODS AND METHODS: The sample size was 442 participants. At the time of the interim analysis, 314 patients were enrolled and randomized. After excluding patients who did not undergo planned surgeries, we performed a modified per-protocol analysis of 151 and 145 patients in the LADG and TLDG groups, respectively. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics, including comorbidity status, did not differ between the LADG and TLDG groups. Blood loss was somewhat higher in the LADG group, but statistical significance was not attained (76.76±72.63 vs. 62.91±65.68 mL; P=0.087). Neither the required transfusion level nor the operation or reconstruction time differed between the 2 groups. The mini-laparotomy incision in the LADG group was significantly longer than the extended umbilical incision required for specimen removal in the TLDG group (4.79±0.82 vs. 3.89±0.83 cm; P<0.001). There were no between-group differences in the time to solid food intake, hospital stay, pain score, or complications within 30 days postoperatively. No mortality was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term morbidity and mortality rates did not differ between the LADG and TLDG groups. The KLASS-07 trial is currently underway. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03393182.

Establishment of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Type Asia1 Expressing the HiBiT Protein: A Useful Tool for a NanoBiT Split Luciferase Assay.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious virus that affects cloven-hoofed animals and causes severe economic losses in the livestock industry. Given that this high-risk pathogen has to be handled in a biosafety level (BSL)-3 facility for safety reasons and the limited availability of BSL-3 laboratories, experiments on FMDV call for more attention. Therefore, we aimed to develop an FMDV experimental model that can be handled in BSL-2 laboratories. The NanoBiT luciferase (Nano-luc) assay is a well-known assay for studying protein-protein interactions. To apply the NanoBiT split luciferase assay to the diagnosis and evaluation of FMD, we developed an inactivated HiBiT-tagged Asia1 Shamir FMDV (AS-HiBiT), a recombinant Asia1 shamir FMDV with HiBiT attached to the VP1 region of Asia1 shamir FMDV. In addition, we established LgBiT-expressing LF-BK cell lines, termed LgBit-LF-BK cells. It was confirmed that inactivated AS-HiBiT infected LgBiT-LF-BK cells and produced a luminescence signal by binding to the intracellular LgBiT of LgBiT-LF-BK cells. In addition, the luminescence signal became stronger as the number of LgBiT-LF-BK cells increased or the concentration of inactivated AS-HiBiT increased. Moreover, we confirmed that inactivated AS-HiBiT can detect seroconversion in sera positive for FMDV-neutralizing antibodies. This NanoBiT split luciferase assay system can be used for the diagnosis and evaluation of FMD and expanded to FMD-like virus models to facilitate the evaluation of FMDV vaccines and antibodies.

Recent advances and perspectives for intercalation layered compounds. Part 2: applications in the field of catalysis, environment and health.

Intercalation compounds represent a unique class of materials that can be anisotropic (1D and 2D-based topology) or isotropic (3D) through their guest/host superlattice repetitive organisation. Intercalation refers to the reversible introduction of guest species with variable natures into a crystalline host lattice. Different host lattice structures have been used for the preparation of intercalation compounds, and many examples are produced by exploiting the flexibility and the ability of 2D-based hosts to accommodate different guest species, ranging from ions to complex molecules. This reaction is then carried out to allow systematic control and fine tuning of the final properties of the derived compounds, thus allowing them to be used for various applications. This review mainly focuses on the recent applications of intercalation layered compounds (ILCs) based on layered clays, zirconium phosphates, layered double hydroxides and graphene as heterogeneous catalysts, for environmental and health purposes, aiming at collecting and discussing how intercalation processes can be exploited for the selected applications.

Recent advances and perspectives on intercalation layered compounds part 1: design and applications in the field of energy.

Herein, initially, we present a general overview of the global financial support for chemistry devoted to materials science, specifically intercalation layered compounds (ILCs). Subsequently, the strategies to synthesise these host structures and the corresponding guest-host hybrid assemblies are exemplified on the basis of some families of materials, including pillared clays (PILCs), porous clay heterostructures (PCHs), zirconium phosphate (ZrP), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), graphene-based materials, and MXenes. Additionally, a non-exhaustive survey on their possible application in the field of energy through electrochemical storage, mostly as electrode materials but also as electrolyte additives, is presented, including lithium technologies based on lithium ion batteries (LIBs), and beyond LiBs with a focus on possible alternatives such XIBs (X = Na (NIB), K (KIB), Al (AIB), Zn (ZIB), and Cl (CIB)), reversible Mg batteries (RMBs), dual-ion batteries (DIBs), Zn-air and Zn-sulphur batteries and supercapacitors as well as their relevance in other fields related to (opto)electronics. This selective panorama should help readers better understand the reason why ILCs are expected to meet the challenge of tomorrow as electrode materials.

Modulation of chicken gut microbiota for enhanced productivity and health: A review.

Microbiota in the digestive tract has become an interesting topic for researchers in recent years. The profile of chicken digestive tract microbiota and its relationship with health and production efficiency have become basic data for modulating the diversity and abundance of the digestive tract microbiota. This article reviews the techniques used to analyze the diversity, role, and function of the gastrointestinal microbiota and the mechanisms by which they are modulated. The gut microbiota plays an important role in animal production, especially during feed digestion and animal health, because it interacts with the host against pathogens. Feed modulation can be a strategy to modulate gut composition and diversity to increase production efficiency by improving growth conditions.

Synergistic Tailoring of Electronic and Thermal Transports in Thermoelectric Se-Free n-Type (Bi,Sb)2Te3.

Se-free n-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 thermoelectric materials, outperforming traditional n-type Bi2(Te,Se)3, emerge as a compelling candidate for practical applications of recovering low-grade waste heat. A 100% improvement in the maximum ZT of n-type Bi1.7Sb0.3Te3 is demonstrated by using melt-spinning and excess Te-assisted transient liquid phase sintering (LPS). Te-rich sintering promotes the formation of intrinsic defects (TeBi), elevating the carrier concentration and enhancing the electrical conductivity. Melt-spinning with excess Te fine-tunes the electronic band, resulting in a high power-factor of 0.35 × 10-3 W·m-1 K-2 at 300 K. Rapid volume change during sintering induces the formation of dislocation networks, significantly suppressing the lattice thermal conductivity (0.4 W·m-1 K-1). The developed n-type legs achieve a high maximum ZT of 1.0 at 450 K resulting in a 70% improvement in the output power of the thermoelectric device (7.7 W at a temperature difference of 250 K). This work highlights the synergy between melt-spinning and transient LPS, advancing the tailored control of both electronic and thermal properties in thermoelectric technology.

Crucial Role of Metal Coordination Number in Optimizing Electrocatalyst Activity of Holey Large-Area 2D Ru Nanosheets.

Low-dimensional metal nanostructures have attracted considerable research attention, owing to their potential as catalysts. A controlled reductive phase transition of monolayer RuO2 nanosheets could provide an effective way to produce holey large-area 2D Ru nanosheets with tailored defect structures and metal coordination number. The locally optimized holey Ru metal nanosheet, with a metal coordination number of ∼10.2, exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with a reduced overpotential of 38 mV in a 1 M KOH electrolyte. The creation of a highly anisotropic holey nanosheet morphology with optimization of local structure was quite effective in developing efficient catalyst materials. The universal importance of controlling the coordination number was confirmed through a comparative study of Ru nanoparticles, which showed optimized HER activity with an identical metal coordination number. The coordination number plays a pivotal role in governing electrocatalytic activity, which could be ascribed to the formation of the most active structure for HER at most 2 defects near active sites (2,2'), resulting in the stabilization of a dihydrogen Ru-(H2) intermediate and the increased contribution of Volmer-Tafel mechanism.

Totally laparoscopic versus laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy: the KLASS-07: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUNDS: Strong evidence is lacking as no confirmatory randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared the efficacy of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). The authors performed an RCT to confirm if TLDG is different from LADG. METHODS: The KLASS-07 trial is a multi-centre, open-label, parallel-group, phase III, RCT of 442 patients with clinical stage I gastric cancer. Patients were enroled from 21 cancer care centres in South Korea between January 2018 and September 2020 and randomized to undergo TLDG or LADG using blocked randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio, stratified by the participating investigators. Patients were treated through R0 resections by TLDG or LADG as the full analysis set of the KLASS-07 trial. The primary endpoint was morbidity within postoperative day 30, and the secondary endpoint was quality of life (QoL) for 1 year. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03393182). RESULTS: Four hundred forty-two patients were randomized (222 to TLDG, 220 to LADG), and 422 patients were included in the pure analysis (213 and 209, respectively). The overall complication rate did not differ between the two groups (TLDG vs. LADG: 12.2% vs. 17.2%). However, TLDG provided less postoperative ileus and pulmonary complications than LADG (0.9% vs. 5.7%, P= 0.006; and 0.5% vs. 4.3%, P= 0.035, respectively). The QoL was better after TLDG than after LADG regarding emotional functioning at 6 months, pain at 3 months, anxiety at 3 and 6 months, and body image at 3 and 6 months (all P< 0.05). However, these QoL differences were resolved at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The KLASS-07 trial confirmed that TLDG is not different from LADG in terms of postoperative complications but has the advantages to reduce ileus and pulmonary complications. TLDG can be a good option to offer better QoL in terms of pain, body image, emotion, and anxiety at 3-6 months.

JOURNAL/ijos/04.03/01279778-202408000-00031/figure1/v/2024-08-13T152924Z/r/image-jpeg.

Long-term efficacy of encapsulated xenogeneic islet transplantation: Impact of encapsulation techniques and donor genetic traits.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To investigate the long-term efficacy of various encapsulated xenogeneic islet transplantation, and to explore the impact of different donor porcine genetic traits on islet transplantation outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Donor porcine islets were obtained from wild-type, α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (GTKO) and GTKO with overexpression of membrane cofactor protein genotype. Naked, alginate, alginate-chitosan (AC), alginate-perfluorodecalin (A-PFD) and AC-perfluorodecalin (AC-PFD) encapsulated porcine islets were transplanted into diabetic mice. RESULTS: In vitro assessments showed no differences in the viability and function of islets across encapsulation types and donor porcine islet genotypes. Xenogeneic encapsulated islet transplantation with AC-PFD capsules showed the most favorable long-term outcomes, maintaining normal blood glucose levels for 180 days. A-PFD capsules showed comparable results to AC-PFD capsules, followed by AC capsules and alginate capsules. Conversely, blood glucose levels in naked islet transplantation increased to >300 mg/dL within a week after transplantation. Naked islet transplantation outcomes showed no improvement based on donor islet genotype. However, alginate or AC capsules showed delayed increases in blood glucose levels for GTKO and GTKO with overexpression of membrane cofactor protein porcine islets compared with wild-type porcine islets. CONCLUSION: The AC-PFD capsule, designed to ameliorate both hypoxia and inflammation, showed the highest long-term efficacy in xenogeneic islet transplantation. Genetic modifications of porcine islets with GTKO or GTKO with overexpression of membrane cofactor protein did not influence naked islet transplantation outcomes, but did delay graft failure when encapsulated.

Ammonolysis-Driven Exsolution of Ru Nanoparticle Embedded in Conductive Metal Nitride Matrix to Boost Electrocatalyst Activity.

Exsolution is an effective method for synthesizing robust nanostructured metal-based functional materials. However, no studies have investigated the exsolution of metal nanoparticles into metal nitride substrates. In this study, a versatile nitridation-driven exsolution method is developed for embedding catalytically active metal nanoparticles in conductive metal nitride substrates via the ammonolysis of multimetallic oxides. Using this approach, Ti1-xRuxO2 nanowires are phase-transformed into holey TiN nanotubes embedded with exsolved Ru nanoparticles. These Ru-exsolved holey TiN nanotubes exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction with excellent durability, which is significantly higher than that of Ru-deposited TiN nanotubes. The enhanced stability of the Ru-exsolved TiN nanotubes can be attributed to the Ru nanoparticles embedded in the robust metal nitride matrix and the formation of interfacial Ti3+─N─Ru4+ bonds. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the exsolved Ru nanoparticles have a lower d-band center position and optimized hydrogen affinity than deposited Ru nanoparticles, indicating the superior electrocatalyst performance of the former. In situ Raman spectroscopic analysis reveals that the electron transfer from TiN to Ru nanoparticles is enhanced during the electrocatalytic process. The proposed approach opens a new avenue for stabilizing diverse metal nanostructures in many conductive matrices like metal phosphides and chalcogenides.

Nomogram for Predicting Infectious Complications Following Curative Gastrectomy Using Clinical and Laboratory Parameters.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Postoperative infectious complications are prevalent and significantly impact the prognosis and hospital stay duration after curative gastrectomy. This study aimed to identify predictive factors and develop a nomogram for predicting infectious complications prior to patient discharge. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 2019 and December 2023, clinicopathological data of 237 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy at the Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 58 patients experienced postoperative complications, with 33 patients developing infectious complications. Univariate analysis revealed that the open approach, esophagus involving resection, advanced stage, and operation time were risk factors for infectious complications among clinicopathologic characteristics. Significant associations with laboratory parameters and body temperature (BT) were observed from postoperative day (POD) 1 to 5, with the highest area under the curve (AUC) observed for POD 5 data in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Multivariate analysis incorporating clinicopathologic features and laboratory parameters on POD 5 identified age (OR=2.98), approach (OR=4.05), operation time (OR=2.74), WBC count (OR=4.09), NLR (OR=9.74), and CRP (OR=2.62) as selected factors. The developed nomogram stratified patients into low-risk (<10%), intermediate-risk (10~50%), and high-risk (≥50%) groups, corresponding to actual infectious complication rates of 1.84%, 28.3%, and 71.43%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study presents a novel estimating model for infectious complications following curative gastrectomy. The utilization of this model in patient discharge planning can aid in identifying individuals who require additional treatment, thereby minimizing unexpected readmissions.

Accuracy of preoperative T2 gallbladder tumor localization and the adequate surgical resection.

INTRODUCTION: The agreement between the radiologic and histopathologic tumor locations in T2 gallbladder cancer is critical. There is no consensus regarding the extent of curative resection by tumor locations. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2019, a consecutive series of 118 patients with pathological T2 gallbladder cancer who underwent surgery were retrospectively analyzed in terms of the accordance between radiologic and histopathologic tumor locations, the extents of hepatic resection and the numbers of harvested lymph nodes. Radical resection was defined as liver resection with harvesting of at least four lymph nodes. RESULTS: The accuracy of preoperative tumor localization was only 68%. After radical resection, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 59.4%; after nonradical resection, the figure was 46.1% (p = 0.092). In subanalyses, the 5-year OS was marginally better for patients who underwent liver resection or from whom at least four lymph nodes were harvested than those who did not undergo liver resection or from whom three or fewer lymph nodes were harvested (58.2% vs. 39.4%, p = 0.072; 59.9% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.072, respectively). In patients with peritoneal side tumor, the 5-year OSs of those who did and did not undergo liver resection were 67% and 41.2%, respectively (p = 0.028). In multivariate analysis, perineural invasion and radical resection were independently prognostic of OS. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of preoperative tumor localization was 68%. Hepatic resection, lymph node dissection harvesting of at least four lymph nodes are required for curative resection for gallbladder cancer, regardless of tumor location.

Enhancing Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Activity of Palladium Catalyst by Immobilization on MXene Nanosheets.

Efficient catalysts with minimal content of catalytically active noble metals are essential for the transition to the clean hydrogen economy. Catalyst supports that can immobilize and stabilize catalytic nanoparticles and facilitate the supply of electrons and reactants to the catalysts are needed. Being hydrophilic and more conductive compared with carbons, MXenes have shown promise as catalyst supports. However, the controlled assembly of their 2D sheets creates a challenge. This study established a lattice engineering approach to regulate the assembly of exfoliated Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets with guest cations of various sizes. The enlargement of guest cations led to a decreased interlayer interaction of MXene lamellae and increased surface accessibility, allowing intercalation of Pd nanoparticles. Stabilization of Pd nanoparticles between interlayer-expanded MXene nanosheets improved their electrocatalytic activity. The Pd-immobilized K+-intercalated MXene nanosheets (PdKMX) demonstrated exceptional electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction with the lowest overpotential of 72 mV (@10 mA cm-2) and the highest turnover frequency of 1.122 s-1 (@ an overpotential of 100 mV), which were superior to those of the state-of-the-art Pd nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts. Weakening of the interlayer interaction during self-assembly with K+ ions led to fewer layers in lamellae and expansion of the MXene in the c direction during Pd anchoring, providing numerous surface-active sites and promoting mass transport. In situ spectroscopic analysis suggests that the effective interfacial electron injection from the Pd nanoparticles strongly immobilized on interlayer-expanded PdKMX may be responsible for the improved electrocatalytic performance.

Evaluation of a Vaccine Candidate Designed for Broad-Spectrum Protection against Type A Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Asia.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines are currently the most powerful protective and preventive measures used to control FMD. In this study, the chimeric vaccine strain containing antigenic epitopes from the FMD virus serotype A, which belongs to the ASIA topotype, was produced and evaluated. The chimeric vaccine strains contain sea-97/G1 (VP4, VP2, VP3) and A22 Iraq (VP1) or G-VII (VP1) for use in FMD vaccines in Asia. The 50% protective dose was determined in mice. Vaccinated mice were challenged with three different type A viruses (Sea-97/G1, Sea-97/G2, G-VII clade) seven days post-vaccination (dpv), and mice that received the vaccine candidates were protected against the three viruses. The protective capability of one of the vaccine candidates was evaluated in pigs. Vaccinated pigs were challenged with three different type A viruses (Sea-97/G1, Sea-97/G2, G-VII clade) at 28 dpv, and pigs that received the vaccine candidate were protected against the three viruses. The results showed that this vaccine candidate, which was designed to provide protection against FMD in Asia, efficiently protected pigs against virus challenge and thus has potential as a broad-spectrum vaccine for various epidemic FMD viruses.

Strategies to Minimize Sternal and Leg Wound Complications after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using No-Touch Saphenous Vein Grafts.

PURPOSE: The aims of the present study were to examine sternal and saphenous vein (SV) harvest site wound complication rates, and to assess the strategies to minimize the sternal and leg wound complications after coronary artery bypass grafting using a no-touch (NT) SV. METHODS: Patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using internal thoracic artery (ITA) and/or NT SV grafts from March 2021 to June 2023 (N = 166) at a newly opened cardiac surgical program were included. We obeyed the current guidelines for the prevention of sternal wound infection. In addition, unilateral ITA was used in most of the patients and the sternal wound was meticulously closed using multiple sternal wires (≥7) and ZipFix. For the NT SV harvesting, the LigaSure device was used to minimize thermal injury, and the wound was meticulously closed. RESULTS: Sternal wound infections developed in 3/166 (1.8%) patients; all three patients showed superficial sternal wound infections. Leg wound complications were present in 2/153 (1.3%) patients, who recovered after secondary intention healing. CONCLUSION: Sternal wound complications after CABG could be minimized by the unilateral ITA usage, meticulous closure of the sternal wound in addition to compliance with the current guidelines. Wound complications after NT SV harvest may also be minimized by preoperative evaluation, careful harvesting, and meticulous wound closure.

Atomically-Thin Holey 2D Nanosheets of Defect-Engineered MoN-Mo5 N6 Composites as Effective Hybridization Matrices.

The defect engineering of inorganic solids has received significant attention because of its high efficacy in optimizing energy-related functionalities. Consequently, this approach is effectively leveraged in the present study to synthesize atomically-thin holey 2D nanosheets of a MoN-Mo5 N6 composite. This is achieved by controlled nitridation of assembled MoS2 monolayers, which induced sequential cation/anion migration and a gradual decrease in the Mo valency. Precise control of the interlayer distance of the MoS2 monolayers via assembly with various tetraalkylammonium ions is found to be crucial for synthesizing sub-nanometer-thick holey MoN-Mo5 N6 nanosheets with a tunable anion/cation vacancy content. The holey MoN-Mo5 N6 nanosheets are employed as efficient immobilization matrices for Pt single atoms to achieve high electrocatalytic mass activity, decent durability, and low overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In situ/ex situ spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the presence of cation-deficient Mo5 N6 domain is crucial for enhancing the interfacial interactions between the conductive molybdenum nitride substrate and Pt single atoms, leading to enhanced electron injection efficiency and electrochemical stability. The beneficial effects of the Pt-immobilizing holey MoN-Mo5 N6 nanosheets are associated with enhanced electronic coupling, resulting in improvements in HER kinetics and interfacial charge transfer.

Reappraisal of optimal reconstruction after distal gastrectomy - a study based on the KLASS-07 database.

BACKGROUNDS: This study aimed to compare the incidence of bile reflux, quality of life (QoL), and nutritional status among Billroth II (BII), Billroth II with Braun anastomosis (BII-B), and Roux-en-Y (RY) reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the prospective data of 397 patients from a multicentre database who underwent LDG for gastric cancer between 2018 and 2020 at 20 tertiary teaching hospitals in Korea. Postoperative endoscopic findings, QoL surveys using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire (C30 and STO22), and nutritional and surgical outcomes were compared among groups. RESULTS: In endoscopic findings, bile reflux was the lowest in the RY group ( n =67), followed by the BII-B ( n =183) and BII groups ( n =147) at 1 year (3.0 vs. 67.8 vs. 84.4%, all P <0.05). The anti-reflux capability of BII-B was statistically better than that of BII, but not as perfect as that of RY. From the perspective of QoL, BII-B was not inferior to RY, but better than BII reconstruction in causing fewer STO22 reflux symptoms at 6 and 12 months. However, only RY caused fewer C30 nausea symptoms than BII at 6 and 12 months, but not BII-B. Nutritional status and morbidities were similar among the three groups, and the operative time did not differ between the BII-B and RY groups. CONCLUSIONS: BII-B cannot substitute for RY in preventing bile reflux, shortening the operative time, or reducing morbidities. Regarding short-term QoL, BII-B was sufficient to reduce STO22 reflux symptoms but failed to reduce C30 nausea symptoms postoperatively.

Defect-Regulated Two-Dimensional Superlattice of Holey g-C3N4-TiO2 Nanohybrids: Contrasting Influence of Vacancy Content on Hybridization Impact and Photocatalyst Performance.

Defect engineering provides an effective way to explore efficient nanostructured catalysts. Herein, we synthesize defect-regulated two-dimensional superlattices comprising interstratified holey g-C3N4 and TiO2 monolayers with tailorable interfacial coupling. Using this interfacial-coupling-controlled hybrid system, a strong interdependence among vacancy content, performance, and interfacial coupling was elucidated, offering key insights for the design of high-performance catalysts. The defect-optimized g-C3N4-TiO2 superlattice exhibited higher photocatalytic activity toward visible-light-induced N2 fixation (∼1.06 mmol g-1 h-1) than defect-unoptimized and disorderly assembled g-C3N4-TiO2 homologues. The high photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4-TiO2 was attributed to the hybridization-induced defect creation, facilitated hydrogenation of adsorbed nitrogen, and improvement in N2 adsorption and charge transport. A comparison of the defect-dependent photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4, g-C3N4 nanosheets, and g-C3N4-TiO2 revealed the presence of optimal defect content for improving photocatalytic performance and the continuous increase of hybridization impact with the defect content. Sophisticated mutual influence among defect, electronic coupling, and photocatalytic ability underscores the importance of defect fine control in exploring high-performance hybrid photocatalysts. Along with the DFT calculation, the excellent photocatalyst performance of defect-optimized g-C3N4-TiO2 can be ascribed to the promotion of the uphill *N hydrogenation step as well as to enhancement of N2 adsorption, charge transfer kinetics, and mass transports.