Diffuse skin erythematous plaque as a manifestation of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: A case report.

Epithelioid hemangioma (EHE) is a rarely malignant tumor originating from the vascular endothelium. Morphological manifestations and immunohistochemical staining results are key to diagnosing EHE. Herein, we present a case of cutaneous involment in a recurrence of EHE. A 75-year-old woman presented with a month-long history of persistent erythematous plaque and pain in the left shoulder. Skin biopsy specimen revealed epithelioid tumor cells containing abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed a recurrence of EHE involving the skin. Subsequently, recombinant human endostatin was administered. At the 10-day follow-up, the cutaneous plaque had improved, and the pain had resolved. When presenting as a local painful erythematous plaque, the possibility of skin involvement in a malignant tumor should be considered. Early diagnosis and early systemic therapy have an important impact on the overall survival of patients with EHE.

Computational insights into the aggregation mechanism and amyloidogenic core of aortic amyloid medin polypeptide.

Medin amyloid, prevalent in the vessel walls of 97 % of individuals over 50, contributes to arterial stiffening and cerebrovascular dysfunction, yet our understanding of its aggregation mechanism remains limited. Dividing the full-length 50-amino-acid medin peptide into five 10-residue segments, we conducted individual investigations on each segment's self-assembly dynamics via microsecond-timescale atomistic discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) simulations. Our findings showed that medin1-10 and medin11-20 segments predominantly existed as isolated unstructured monomers, unable to form stable oligomers. Medin31-40 exhibited moderate aggregation, forming dynamic ß-sheet oligomers with frequent association and dissociation. Conversely, medin21-30 and medin41-50 segments demonstrated significant self-assembly capability, readily forming stable ß-sheet-rich oligomers. Residue pairwise contact frequency analysis highlighted the critical roles of residues 22-26 and 43-49 in driving the self-assembly of medin21-30 and medin41-50, acting as the ß-sheet core and facilitating ß-strand formation in other regions within medin monomers, expecting to extend to oligomers and fibrils. Regions containing residues 22-26 and 43-49, with substantial self-assembly abilities and assistance in ß-sheet formation, represent crucial targets for amyloid inhibitor drug design against aortic medial amyloidosis (AMA). In summary, our study not only offers deep insights into the mechanism of medin amyloid formation but also provides crucial theoretical and practical guidance for future treatments of AMA.

Immunophenotyping and Therapeutic Insights from Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis Cases with STAT1 Gain-of-Function Mutations.

PURPOSE: Heterozygous STAT1 Gain-of-Function (GOF) mutations are the most common cause of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) among Inborn Errors of Immunity. Clinically, these mutations manifest as a broad spectrum of immune dysregulation, including autoimmune diseases, vascular disorders, and malignancies. The pathogenic mechanisms of immune dysregulation and its impact on immune cells are not yet fully understood. In treatment, JAK inhibitors have shown therapeutic effectiveness in some patients. METHODS: We analyzed clinical presentations, cellular phenotypes, and functional impacts in five Taiwanese patients with STAT1 GOF. RESULTS: We identified two novel GOF mutations in 5 patients from 2 Taiwanese families, presenting with symptoms of CMC, late-onset rosacea, and autoimmunity. The enhanced phosphorylation and delayed dephosphorylation were displayed by the patients' cells. There are alterations in both innate and adaptive immune cells, including expansion of CD38+HLADR +CD8+ T cells, a skewed activated Tfh cells toward Th1, reduction of memory, marginal zone and anergic B cells, all main functional dendritic cell lineages, and a reduction in classical monocyte. Baricitinib showed therapeutic effectiveness without side effects. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the first comprehensive clinical and molecular characteristics in STAT1 GOF patient in Taiwan and highlights the dysregulated T and B cells subsets which may hinge the autoimmunity in STAT1 GOF patients. It also demonstrated the therapeutic safety and efficacy of baricitinib in pediatric patient. Further research is needed to delineate how the aberrant STAT1 signaling lead to the changes in cellular populations as well as to better link to the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Weighted Attribute-Based Proxy Re-Encryption Scheme with Distributed Multi-Authority Attributes.

Existing attribute-based proxy re-encryption schemes suffer from issues like complex access policies, large ciphertext storage space consumption, and an excessive authority of the authorization center, leading to weak security and controllability of data sharing in cloud storage. This study proposes a Weighted Attribute Authority Multi-Authority Proxy Re-Encryption (WAMA-PRE) scheme that introduces attribute weights to elevate the expression of access policies from binary to multi-valued, simplifying policies and reducing ciphertext storage space. Simultaneously, the multiple attribute authorities and the authorization center construct a joint key, reducing reliance on a single authorization center. The proposed distributed attribute authority network enhances the anti-attack capability of cloud storage. Experimental results show that introducing attribute weights can reduce ciphertext storage space by 50%, proxy re-encryption saves 63% time compared to repeated encryption, and the joint key construction time is only 1% of the benchmark scheme. Security analysis proves that WAMA-PRE achieves CPA security under the decisional q-parallel BDHE assumption in the random oracle model. This study provides an effective solution for secure data sharing in cloud storage.

Evaluation of Bonding Behavior between Engineered Geopolymer Composites with Hybrid PE/PVA Fibers and Concrete Substrate.

Engineered geopolymer composites (EGCs) exhibit excellent tensile ductility and crack control ability, making them promising for concrete structure repair. However, their widespread use is limited by high costs of reinforcement fiber and a lack of an EGC-concrete interface bonding mechanism. This study investigated a hybrid PE/PVA fiber-reinforced EGC using domestically produced unoiled PVA fibers to replace commonly used PE fibers. The bond performance of the EGC-concrete interface was evaluated through direct tensile and slant shear tests, focusing on the effects of PE fiber content (1%, 2%, and 3%), fiber hybrid ratios (2.0:0.0, 1.5:0.5, 1.0:1.0, 0.5:1.5, and 0.0:2.0), concrete substrate strength (C30, C50, and C70), and the ratio of fly ash (FA) to ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) (6:4, 7:3, and 8:2) on interface bond strength. Results showed that the EGCs' compressive strength ranged from 77.1 to 108.9 MPa, with increased GGBS content significantly enhancing the compressive strength and elastic modulus. Most of the specimens exhibited strain-hardening behavior after initial cracking. Interface bonding tests revealed that a PE/PVA ratio of 1.0 increased tensile bond strength by 8.5% compared with using 2.0% PE fiber alone. Increasing the PE fiber content, PVA/PE ratio, GGBS content, and concrete substrate strength all improved the shear bond strength. This improvement was attributed to the flexible fibers' ability to restrict thermo-hydro damage and deflect and blunt microcracks, enhancing the interface's failure resistance. Cost analysis showed that replacing 50% of the PE fiber in EGC with unoiled PVA fiber reduced costs by 44.2% compared with PE fiber alone, offering the best cost-performance ratio. In summary, hybrid PE/PVA fiber EGC has promising prospects for improving economic efficiency while maintaining tensile ductility and crack-control ability. Future optimization of fiber ratios and interface design could further enhance its potential for concrete repair applications.

Broadband spectral cyan emission phosphor for full-spectrum LED caused by interstitial site occupation.

The phosphor with a highly condensed, rigid framework structure and a single crystallographic site often exhibit symmetrical narrow-band emission. It is challenging to achieve broadband emission by doping Eu2+ ions in similar structures. Here, we propose to control the occupation and quenching concentration of Eu2+ ions in a single-site matrix Sc2Si2O7 to increase efficiency and precise regulation of luminescence spectra substantially. The analysis of photoluminescence spectroscopy through steady-state, transient-state, and Gaussian fitting techniques has discovered two emission centers despite the presence of a single rare-earth substitution site. The theoretical calculations and bond valence sum subsequently prove that Eu2+ ions prefer substituting the Sc3+ and interval sites to emit intense cyan light. Under 340 nm excitation, broad cyan-emission (FWHM = 115 nm) is exhibited with a high quantum yield of 60.67 %. The present phosphor exhibits pronounced thermal stability, and the emission intensity can still keep 68.3 % at 170 °C compared to that at atmospheric temperature. The Sc2Si2O7: Eu2+ phosphor boasts exceptional potential as a highly efficient cyan component in full-spectrum WLEDs. By replacing the blue light component commonly found in WLEDs, the intelligent and healthy alternative Sc2Si2O7: Eu2+ phosphor can effectively decrease the harmful blue light. This work also highlights the critical need to analyze local phosphor distortions upon rare-earth substitution, especially in single crystallographic site structures.

Erythema Multiforme and Epidermal Necrolysis Following COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review.

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has raised urgent vaccine development to prevent viral transmission. Cutaneous adverse events such as erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been observed following COVID-19 vaccination. In this systematic review, we aimed to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of EM/SJS/TEN following COVID-19 vaccination. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to July 3, 2022. We included studies reporting patients who developed EM, SJS, or TEN following COVID-19 vaccination. A total of 47 studies involving 90 patients with EM and 16 patients with SJS/TEN were reviewed and outlined. EM predominantly occurred after the messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines (70.4%), mostly after the first (47.5%) and second doses (42.4%), with delayed onsets ranging from 1 day to 30 days. SJS/TEN were observed following either the first (55.6%)- or second-dose (33.3%) vaccination, with onset times ranging from 6 hours to 14 weeks. Three EM cases and 1 SJS case showed recurrence upon reexposure to the same vaccines. No mortality was reported. Most patients exhibited improvement or resolution after treatment, with resolution times ranging from 6 days to 8 weeks. In conclusion, EM and epidermal necrolysis, including SJS and TEN, have emerged as potential cutaneous adverse events following COVID-19 vaccine administration. Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathogenesis and casual relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and EM/SJS/TEN.

Isolation and Identification of Highly Sb-Resistant Rhodotorula glutinis Strain J5 and its Mechanism of Resistance to Sb(III).

Sb-resistant strains can detoxify antimony through metabolic mechanisms such as oxidation and affect the migration, transformation, and ultimate fate of antimony in the environment. In this study, a strain of Sb-resistant fungi, Rhodotorula glutinis sp. Strain J5, was isolated from Xikuangshan mine and its growth characteristics, gene expression differences, and functional annotation under Sb(III) stress were further investigated to reveal the mechanism of resistance to Sb(III). We identified strain J5 as belonging to the Rhodotorula glutinis species optimally growing at pH 5.0 and at 28 °C of temperature. According to gene annotation and differential expression, the resistance mechanism of Strain J5 includes: reducing the endocytosis of antimony by aquaporin AQP8 and transmembrane transporter pst, enhancing the efflux of Sb(III) by the gene expression of acr2, acr3 and ABC, improving the oxidation of Sb(III) by iron-sulfur protein and Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) chelation, methylation of methyltransferase and N-methyltransferase, accelerating cell damage repair and EPS synthesis and other biochemical reaction mechanisms. FT-IR analysis shows that the -OH, -COOH, -NH, -PO, C-O, and other active groups of Strain J5 can be complexed with Sb(III), resulting in chemical adsorption. Strain J5 displays significant resistance to Sb(III) with the MIC of 1300 mg/L, playing a crucial role in the global biochemical transformation of antimony and its potential application in soil microbial remediation.

A Soft-Fiber Bioelectronic Device with Axon-Like Architecture Enables Reliable Neural Recording In Vivo under Vigorous Activities.

Implantable neural devices that record neurons in various states, including static states, light activities such as walking, and vigorous activities such as running, offer opportunities for understanding brain functions and dysfunctions. However, recording neurons under vigorous activities remains a long-standing challenge because it leads to intense brain deformation. Thus, three key requirements are needed simultaneously for neural devices, that is, low modulus, low specific interfacial impedance, and high electrical conductivity, to realize stable device/brain interfaces and high-quality transmission of neural signals. However, they always contradict each other in current material strategies. Here, a soft fiber neural device capable of stably tracking individual neurons in the deep brain of medium-sized animals under vigorous activity is reported. Inspired by the axon architecture, this fiber neural device is constructed with a conductive gel fiber possessing a network-in-liquid structure using conjugated polymers and liquid matrices and then insulated with soft fluorine rubber. This strategy reconciles the contradictions and simultaneously confers the fiber neural device with low modulus (300 kPa), low specific impedance (579 kΩ µm2), and high electrical conductivity (32 700 S m-1) - ≈1-3 times higher than hydrogels. Stable single-unit spike tracking in running cats, which promises new opportunities for neuroscience is demonstrated.

Development of a Preoperative Prediction Model Based on Spectral CT to Evaluate Axillary Lymph Node With Macrometastases in Clinical T1/2N0 Invasive Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a prediction model based on spectral computed tomography (CT) to evaluate axillary lymph node (ALN) with macrometastases in clinical T1/2N0 invasive breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 217 clinical T1/2N0 invasive breast cancer patients who underwent spectral CT scans were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into a training cohort (n = 151) and validation cohort (n = 66). These patients were classified into ALN nonmacrometastases (stage pN0 or pN0 [i+] or pN1mi) and ALN macrometastases (stage pN1-3) subgroups. The morphologic criteria and quantitative spectral CT parameters of the most suspicious ALN were measured and compared. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) was used to screen predictive indicators to build a logistic model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the models. RESULTS: The combined arterial-venous phase spectral CT model yielded the best diagnostic performance in discrimination of ALN nonmacrometastases and ALN macrometastases with the highest AUC (0.963 in the training cohort and 0.945 in validation cohorts). Among single phase spectral CT models, the venous phase spectral CT model showed the best performance (AUC = 0.960 in the training cohort and 0.940 in validation cohorts). There was no significant difference in AUCs among the 3 models (DeLong test, P > .05 for each comparison). CONCLUSION: A Lasso-logistic model that combined morphologic features and quantitative spectral CT parameters based on contrast-enhanced spectral imaging potentially be used as a noninvasive tool for individual preoperative prediction of ALN status in clinical T1/2N0 invasive breast cancers.

EEGGAN-Net: enhancing EEG signal classification through data augmentation.

Background: Emerging brain-computer interface (BCI) technology holds promising potential to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Nevertheless, the constrained accuracy of electroencephalography (EEG) signal classification poses numerous hurdles in real-world applications. Methods: In response to this predicament, we introduce a novel EEG signal classification model termed EEGGAN-Net, leveraging a data augmentation framework. By incorporating Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (CGAN) data augmentation, a cropped training strategy and a Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention mechanism, EEGGAN-Net adeptly assimilates crucial features from the data, consequently enhancing classification efficacy across diverse BCI tasks. Results: The EEGGAN-Net model exhibits notable performance metrics on the BCI Competition IV-2a and IV-2b datasets. Specifically, it achieves a classification accuracy of 81.3% with a kappa value of 0.751 on the IV-2a dataset, and a classification accuracy of 90.3% with a kappa value of 0.79 on the IV-2b dataset. Remarkably, these results surpass those of four other CNN-based decoding models. Conclusions: In conclusion, the amalgamation of data augmentation and attention mechanisms proves instrumental in acquiring generalized features from EEG signals, ultimately elevating the overall proficiency of EEG signal classification.

Removal of Sb(V) from complex wastewater of Sb(V) and aniline aerofloat using Fe3O4-CeO2 absorbent enhanced by H2O2: Efficiency and mechanism.

Effective elimination of heavy metals from complex wastewater is of great significance for industrial wastewater treatment. Herein, bimetallic adsorbent Fe3O4-CeO2 was prepared, and H2O2 was added to enhance Sb(V) adsorption by Fe3O4-CeO2 in complex wastewater of Sb(V) and aniline aerofloat (AAF) for the first time. Fe3O4-CeO2 showed good adsorption performance and could be rapidly separated by external magnetic field. After five adsorption/desorption cycles, Fe3O4-CeO2 still maintained good stability. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe3O4-CeO2 in single Sb(V), AAF + Sb(V), and H2O2+AAF + Sb(V) systems were 77.33, 70.14, and 80.59 mg/g, respectively. Coexisting AAF inhibited Sb(V) adsorption. Conversely, additional H2O2 promoted Sb(V) removal in AAF + Sb(V) binary system, and made the adsorption capacity of Fe3O4-CeO2 increase by 14.90%. H2O2 could not only accelerate the reaction rate, but also reduce the optimal amount of adsorbent from 2.0 g/L to 1.2 g/L. Meanwhile, coexisting anions had little effect on Sb(V) removal by Fe3O4-CeO2+H2O2 process. The adsorption behaviors of Sb(V) in three systems were better depicted by pseudo-second-order kinetics, implying that the chemisorption was dominant. The complexation of AAF with Sb(V) hindered the adsorption of Sb(V) by Fe3O4-CeO2. The complex Sb(V) was oxidized and decomposed into free state by hydroxyl radicals produced in Fe3O4-CeO2+H2O2 process. Then the free Sb(V) was adsorbed by Fe3O4-CeO2 mostly through outer-sphere complexation. This work provides a new tactic for the treatment of heavy metal-organics complex wastewater.

Special education teachers' perspectives of effective pre-service training practices in systematic instruction for students with extensive support needs.

This survey study examined 164 in-service special education teachers' perceptions of training strategies in their cross categorical teacher preparation program in the United Sates for developing knowledge and skills in systematic instruction, an evidence-based practice for students with extensive support needs. Both classroom-based and field-based training strategies were evaluated along with teachers' perceptions of the contribution and importance of the various training strategies. Results from Chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, multivariate analysis of covariance, and repeated measures of analysis of covariance indicated that teachers felt prepared to implement systematic instruction after exiting their program and after teaching students with disabilities, and the perceived effectiveness of training strategies was related to teacher experience. Teachers perceived modeling and receiving performance feedback in both university classrooms and field-based settings to contribute to their knowledge and skill development in systematic instruction. We present the results in terms of implications for practice and future research.

Clinical Characteristics and Disease Burden of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Flares in Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe psoriasis subtype characterized by the rapid onset of coalescing sterile pustules over broad body areas and systemic inflammation. Data on its clinical course and outcomes in Taiwan are limited. We evaluated the clinical profile and outcomes of patients with GPP flares in Taiwan. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included adult patients with moderate-to-severe GPP flares occurring in January 2008-December 2021. Data were extracted from medical charts and electronic health records in the Chang Gung Research Database. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS for Windows (version 9.4). Multivariate Poisson regression models were built to investigate different predictors of GPP flare rate. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with 81 moderate-to-severe GPP flares were identified. Of the 14 patients undergoing genetic analysis, 10 (71.4%) had an IL36RN mutation. Patients' mean age at the index GPP flare was 47.1 ± 16.5 years; 58.0% of the flares were severe, while 42.0% were moderate. Overall, 96.3% of GPP flares were treated with at least one systemic therapy, acitretin being the most prescribed (85.2%), followed by cyclosporine (45.7%) and methotrexate (18.5%). After treatment, the proportion of flares responding positively increased from 0% on day 2 to 6.2% by week 12. Patients were newly diagnosed with psoriasis (23.5%), hypertension (20.6%), diabetes mellitus (14.7%), psoriatic arthritis (2.9%), malignant tumor (8.8%), and depression/anxiety (2.9%) after enrollment. Complications occurring within 12 weeks of GPP flares included arthritis (25.9% of the flares), skin infection (8.6%), and other infections (2.5%). No fatalities were reported. In the multivariate model, former smokers, patients with hepatic disease, and patients with psoriatic arthritis had an increased GPP rate ratio (RR) of 13.33 (95% confidence interval, CI, 2.87-61.78), 14.08 (95% CI 3.04-65.29), and 34.84 (95% CI 4.77- 254.42), respectively. Contrarily, obese and rheumatoid arthritis patients had a lower GPP rate ratio of 0.21 (95% CI 0.08-0.54) and 0.07 (95% CI 0.006-0.78), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the complexity of GPP flare presentations and the need for individualized, patient-centered management approaches and continued research to improve affected individuals' care and outcomes.

Influence of Epoxy Resin Interlayer Interfaces on Electrical Tree Growth and Breakdown Characteristics.

The solid-solid insulation interface structure is a typical interface in extra-high-voltage power equipment, in which the multilayer epoxy resin material is a key component in the insulation structure of the power equipment, and the study of its interface characteristics is the most important. In this paper, epoxy-epoxy cross-linking interface specimens were prepared through experiments, and the degree of cross-linking between the interfaces was analyzed by changing the ratio of the curing agent and adding hydroxyl-terminated liquid nitrile rubber (HTBN) particles; it can be concluded that there exists a weak cross-linking reaction between the interfaces. The electrical tree measurement and alternating current (AC) breakdown test platform were set up, and three different cases of no interface, the electric field direction parallel to the interface, and the electric field direction perpendicular to the interface were tested, through which it was concluded that the existence of the interface inhibited the development of the electrical tree. For the three different cases of AC breakdown tested, it was concluded that the presence of an interface enhances the AC breakdown strength when the electric field direction is parallel to the interface and decreases the AC breakdown strength when the electric field direction is perpendicular to the interface through the interface, affecting the charge transport.

Unlocking the potential of persimmons: A comprehensive review on emerging technologies for post-harvest challenges, processing innovations, and prospective applications.

Persimmons are widely acknowledged as a valuable source of both medicinal and nutritional components, providing a diverse spectrum of nutrients and phytochemicals. Despite these benefits, biases against persimmons persists due to their characteristic astringent flavor that sets them apart from other fruits. Although several studies have explored various aspects of persimmons, a comprehensive review that addresses post-harvest challenges, processing innovations, and potential applications is notably absent in the literature. This review aims to fill this gap by discussing a range of topics, including emerging preservation technologies, methods for detecting and eliminating astringency, identification of functional elements, health-promoting prospects, and advancements in processed persimmon products. The primary objective is to enhance the utilization of persimmons and promote the development of diverse, customized products, thereby fostering the emergence of functional and futuristic foods.

Simulation of gradient period polarization volume gratings for augmented reality displays.

Augmented reality (AR) displays are gaining attention as next-generation intelligent display technologies. Diffractive waveguide technologies are progressively becoming the AR display industry's preferred option. Gradient period polarization volume holographic gratings (PVGs), which are considered to have the potential to expand the field of view (FOV) of waveguide display systems due to their wide bandwidth diffraction characteristics, have been proposed as coupling elements for diffraction waveguide systems in recent years. Here, what we believe to be a novel modeling method for gradient period PVGs is proposed by incorporating grating stacking and scattering analysis utilizing rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) theory. The diffraction efficiency and polarization response were extensively explored using this simulation model. In addition, a dual-layer full-color diffractive waveguide imaging simulation using proposed gradient period PVGs is accomplished in Zemax software using a self-compiled dynamic link library (DLL), achieving a 53° diagonal FOV at a 16:9 aspect ratio. This work furthers the development of PVGs by providing unique ideas for the field of view design of AR display.

VUV coupled with low-dose H2O2 as pretreatment prior to UF: Performance, mechanisms, DBPs formation and toxicity evaluation.

Ultrafiltration (UF) is widely used in drinking water plants; however, membrane fouling is unavoidable. Natural organic matter (NOM) is commonly considered as an important pollutant that causes membrane fouling. Herein, we proposed VUV/H2O2 as a UF pretreatment and used UV/H2O2 for comparison. Compared to UV/H2O2, the VUV/H2O2 system presented superior NOM removal. In the VUV/H2O2 system, the steady-state concentration of HO• was approximately twice that in the UV/H2O2 system, which was ascribed to the promoting effect of the 185 nm photons. Specifically, 185 nm photons promoted HO• generation by decomposing mainly H2O at a low H2O2 dose or by decomposing mainly H2O2 at a high H2O2 dose. The VUV/H2O2 pretreatment also demonstrated better membrane fouling mitigation performance than did UV/H2O2. An increase in the H2O2 dose promoted HO• generation, thereby enhancing the performance of NOM degradation and membrane fouling alleviation and shifting the major membrane fouling mechanism from cake filtration to standard blocking. The VUV/H2O2 (0.60 mM) pretreatment effectively reduced disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation during chlorine disinfection. Additionally, the oxidant H2O2 affected the membrane surface morphology and performance but had no evident effect on the mechanical properties. In actual water treatment, the VUV/H2O2 pretreatment exhibited better performance than the UV/H2O2 pretreatment in easing membrane fouling, ameliorating water quality, and reducing DBPs formation and acute toxicity.

Antiseizure Medications Normalize Electroencephalographic Functional Connectivity and Power in Children With Benign Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spikes.

BACKGROUND: The decision to treat children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) using antiseizure medications (ASM) is controversial. Our goal is to compare the effect of ASM treatment on the alteration of electroencephalographic (EEG) functional connectivity and power across four frequency bands in children with BECTS. METHODS: Children with BECTS with two-year follow-up were retrospectively divided into ASM versus non-ASM groups. The network properties of the EEGs as based on network-based statistic and graph theory were evaluated by the following indices: global efficiency, clustering coefficient, betweenness centrality, and nodal strength in four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta). EEG power including absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) was analyzed in four frequency bands. RESULTS: In children with BECTS with ASM treatment, there was no significant change in EEG connectivity across all bands before and after two years of ASM. In children with BECTS without ASM treatment, there was a significant increase of global efficiency, clustering coefficient, and nodal strength but not the betweenness centrality in the delta band after two years of follow-up. A decrease in AP in the delta and theta bands and a decrease in RP in the theta band were found in the ASM group after two years of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ASM may play a role in modulating the development of increasing overall brain connectivity and in downregulating overt synaptic activity, but not intrinsic focal connectivity, in the early years of BECTS. The changes in the EEG power indicate that ASM significantly normalized slow-wave band power.

Preparation of multifunctional PET membrane and its application in high-efficiency filtration and separation in complex environment.

Nowadays, effluent treatment is a severe challenge mainly because of its complex composition, which includes oil, heavy metal ions, and dyes. Developing new intelligent membranes is one of the strategies to tackle these significant challenges in wastewater treatment. In this study, we fabricated asymmetric polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET) membranes by grafting cross-linked poly (itaconic anhydride) (CL-PITA) nanoparticles onto the irradiated face. These nanoparticles were then functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and protonated with HCl to introduce numerous active electropositive amine groups. The fundamental purpose was to increase surface roughness, introduce numerous hydrophilic groups, and modify it to create a multi-functional PET membrane to separate complex environments. The promising results demonstrated that the protonated PET-g-ITA/DVB(10)-cat membrane exhibited excellent separation efficiencies (SE) for water/light oil, water/heavy oil and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. Compared to PET-g-ITA/DVB(0)-cat, it showed superior performance in SE for O/W emulsion and flux decay for water/light oil after 10 cycles. More interestingly, owing to numerous positively charged active amino groups and negativley charged carboxylate groups, the intelligent membrane exhibited a high removal rate of ca. 90 % for anionic dye (congo red) and heavy metals (Cu2+ and Co2+), showing great potential in complex water treatment environments.