The growth factor content as an indicator of platelet counts in platelet-rich plasma.

BACKGROUND: Platelet contains growth factors that enhance tissue repair mechanisms, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AA and -AB), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to significantly improve the treatment of tendon injuries compared with hyaluronic acid and placebo. The topic of agreement between platelet concentrations and growth factors has been covered in some previous studies, but growth factor levels did not correlate well with platelet concentrations. METHOD: In this study, autologous PRP was prepared by concentrating platelets through a J6-MI centrifuge. The automatic hematology analyzer Sysmex XN-20 was used to analyze the platelet concentration in PRP, and the PRP growth factors were determined by ELISA, including PDGF, transforming growth factor- ß1 (TGF-ß1), and EGF. Statistical analysis was conducted on data from 107 patients who received autologous PRP using Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis revealed PDGF, TGF, and EGF had a strong positive correlation with the platelet concentration of the final PRP product (r = 0.697, p < 0.0001; r = 0.488, p < 0.0001; r = 0.572, p < 0.0001, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong positive correlation between the concentration of platelets in the final PRP product and the levels of PDGF-AB, TGF-ß, and EGF. These results suggested straightforward and cost-effective growth factor tests can provide valuable information about platelet content in PRP.

Pt@WS2 -an Extrinsic 2D Dilute Ferromagnetic Semiconductor Beyond Room Temperature.

Extrinsic dilute magnetic semiconductors achieve magnetic functionality through tailored interaction between a semiconducting matrix and a non-magnetic dopant. The absence of intrinsic magnetic impurities makes this approach promising to investigate the newly emerging field of 2D dilute magnetic semiconductors. Here the first realization of an extrinsic 2D DMS in Pt-doped WS2 is demonstrated. A bottom-up synthesis approach yields a uniform and highly crystalline monolayer where platinum selectively occupies the tungsten sub-lattice. The orbital overlap between W 4d and Pt 5d results in spin-selective hybrid states that produce a strong valley-Zeeman splitting. Combined experimental and theoretical results show that this interaction yields a sizable ferromagnetic response with a Curie temperature ≈375 K. These results open up a new route toward 2D magnetic properties through tailoring of atomic interactions for future applications in spintronics and magnetic nanoactuation.

Electric-field assisted cascade reactions to create alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan composite hydrogels with gradient architecture and reconfigurable mechanical properties.

Rational designs of polysaccharide-based hydrogels with organ-like three-dimensional architecture provide a great possibility for addressing the shortages of allograft tissues and organs. However, spatial-temporal control over structure in bulk hydrogel and acquire satisfied mechanical properties remain an intrinsic challenge to achieve. Here, we show how electric-field assisted molecular self-assembly can be coupled to a directional reaction-diffusion (RD) process to produce macroscopic hydrogel in a controllable manner. The electrical energy input was not only to generate complex molecule gradients and initiate the molecular self-assembly, but also to guide/facilitate the RD processes for the gel rapid growth via a cascade construction interaction. The hydrogel mechanical properties can be tuned and enhanced by using an interpenetrating biopolymer network and multiple ionic crosslinkers, leading to a wide-range of mechanical modulus to match with biological organs or tissues. We demonstrate diverse 3D macroscopic hydrogels can be easily prepared via field-assisted directional reaction-diffusion and specific joint interactions. The humility-triggered dissipation of functional gradients and antibacterial performance confirm that the hydrogels can serve as an optically variable soft device for wound management. Therefore, this work provides a general approach toward the rational fabrication of soft hydrogels with controlled architectures and functionality for advanced biomedical systems.

Molten Salt-Assisted Synthesis of Catalysts for Energy Conversion.

A breakthrough in manufacturing procedures often enables people to obtain the desired functional materials. For the field of energy conversion, designing and constructing catalysts with high cost-effectiveness is urgently needed for commercial requirements. Herein, the molten salt-assisted synthesis (MSAS) strategy is emphasized, which combines the advantages of traditional solid and liquid phase synthesis of catalysts. It not only provides sufficient kinetic accessibility, but effectively controls the size, morphology, and crystal plane features of the product, thus possessing promising application prospects. Specifically, the selection and role of the molten salt system, as well as the mechanism of molten salt assistance are analyzed in depth. Then, the creation of the catalyst by the MSAS and the electrochemical energy conversion related application are introduced in detail. Finally, the key problems and countermeasures faced in breakthroughs are discussed and look forward to the future. Undoubtedly, this systematical review and insights here will promote the comprehensive understanding of the MSAS and further stimulate the generation of new and high efficiency catalysts.

Trained and ready - the case for an inflammatory memory for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the AML niche.

Lifelong hematopoiesis is sustained by crosstalk between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and specialized bone marrow niches. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) upends that balance, as leukemic blasts secrete factors that remodel the bone marrow into a self-reinforcing leukemic niche. The inflammatory secretome behind this compartmental adaptation accounts for a progressive decline in hematopoietic function that leads to diagnosis and persists through early treatment. Not surprisingly, the mediators of an acute inflammatory injury and HSPC suppression have attracted much attention in an effort to alleviate morbidity and improve outcomes. HSPCs typically recover during disease remission and re-expand in the bone marrow (BM), but little is known about potentially lasting consequences for stem cells and progenitors. We recently showed that AML-experienced HSPCs actively participate in the inflammatory process during leukemic progression. HSPCs are constituent components of the innate immune system, and elegant studies of infection and experimental inflammation over the past decade have described the generation of an adoptively transferable, innate immune memory. Building on this paradigm, we discuss the potential translational relevance of a durable legacy in AML-experienced HSPC.

Hydrogen Evolution Reactivity of Pentagonal Carbon Rings and p-d Orbital Hybridization Effect with Ru.

Topological defects are inevitable existence in carbon-based frameworks, but their intrinsic electrocatalytic activity and mechanism remain under-explored. Herein, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of pentagonal carbon-rings is probed by constructing pentagonal ring-rich carbon (PRC), with optimized electronic structures and higher HER activity relative to common hexagonal carbon (HC). Furthermore, to improve the reactivity, we couple Ru clusters with PRC (Ru@PRC) through p-d orbital hybridization between C and Ru atoms, which drives a shortcut transfer of electrons from Ru clusters to pentagonal rings. The electron-deficient Ru species leads to a notable negative shift in d-band centers of Ru and weakens their binding strength with hydrogen intermediates, thus enhancing the HER activity in different pH media. Especially, at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, PRC greatly reduces alkaline HER overpotentials from 540 to 380 mV. And Ru@PRC even exhibits low overpotentials of 28 and 275 mV to reach current densities of 10 and 1000 mA cm-2, respectively. Impressively, the mass activity and price activity of Ru@PRC are 7.83 and 15.7 times higher than that of Pt/C at the overpotential of 50 mV. Our data unveil the positive HER reactivity of pentagonal defects and good application prospects.

Competitive coordination assisted scalable fabrication of FITC­nickel frameworks anchored nanofiber paper for colorimetric/fluorescent monitoring of shrimp freshness.

A novel type of colorimetric/fluorescent nanopaper indicator has been developed from the melt-extruded poly (vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) nanofibers with surface anchored metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by an interfacial coordination strategy. Specifically, the fluorescein isothiocyanate molecules could be anchored to the nanofiber surface by nickel ions and co-assembled into a hydrophilic nanocoating via a dynamic water/alcohol solvent evaporation method. Interestingly, this hydrophilic surface enables fast adsorption of moistures and interaction with biological amine vapors, resulting a saffron cake-layer of MOF nanocrystals with ultra-sensitive colorimetric/fluorescent responses based on an alkaline pH/ammonia induced competitive coordination mechanism. Finally, these porous nanofibrous matrix and active nanocoating make the nano-paper an ultra-sensitive optical platform for in-situ monitoring of the shrimp freshness from mins to weeks. Therefore, this composite film shows great potential into advanced paper-based indicators for food quality control and safety in processing industry.

Dodecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate inhibits Enterococcus faecalis in a pH-dependent manner.

OBJECTIVES: Considering the correlation between survival microenvironment of E. faecalis and acidic pH value, this study aimed to investigate the potential of utilizing pH-responsive DMAEM monomers and their copolymers with resin-based root canal sealers to inhibit E. faecalis. METHODS: Broth microdilution assay, crystal violet staining and qPCR were performed to evaluate antibacterial effects of DMAEM monomers against E. faecalis at different pH. Methacrylate-resin based root canal sealers were prepared and copolymerized with DMAEM. The flow, solubility, water sorption, apical sealing ability and cytotoxicity of sealers were investigated to optimize formulation. The anti-E. faecalis effects of DMAEM copolymers with sealers were evaluated by direct contact test, colony-forming unit counting and live/dead staining. RESULTS: DMAEM monomers inhibited the growth, biofilm formation and virulence factors expression of E. faecalis in a concentration- and pH-dependent manner. Incorporation of 1.25 % and 2.5 % DMAEM into experimental sealers would not affect the flowability, solubility and periapical sealing ability (P > 0.05), but increased the water sorption of sealers (P < 0.01). Cells viability was higher than 90 % in both 1.25 % and 2.5 % DMAEM groups at pH 7.0. DMAEM copolymers with sealers reduced E. faecalis counts, inhibited biofilm formation and decreased live cells within the biofilm in response to pH values. SIGNIFICANCE: DMAEM monomers and their copolymers with resin-based sealers possessed antibacterial and antibiofilm effects on E. faecalis in response to pH values. DMAEM is promising to inhibit intraradicular E. faecalis in response to its acidic survival environment and maintain low cytotoxicity under neutral conditions, ensuring their biosafety in case of inadvertent entry into periapical tissues.

Nucleotide polymorphism-based study utilizes human plasma liposomes to discover potential therapeutic targets for intervertebral disc disease.

Background: While intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is crucial in numerous spinally related illnesses and is common among the elderly, the complete understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms is still an area of ongoing study. In recent years, it has revealed that liposomes are crucial in the initiation and progression of IVDD. However, their intrinsic mediators and related mechanisms remain unclear. With the development of genomics, an increasing amount of data points to the contribution of genetics in the etiology of disease. Accordingly, this study explored the causality between liposomes and IVDD by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and deeply investigated the intermediary roles of undetected metabolites. Methods: According to MR analysis, 179 liposomes and 1400 metabolites were evaluated for their causal association with IVDD. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with the concentrations of liposomes and metabolites. Consequently, they were employed as instrumental variables (IVs) to deduce if they constituted risk elements or protective elements for IVDD. Furthermore, mediation analysis was conducted to pinpoint possible metabolic mediators that link liposomes to IVDD. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) was the main analytical technique. Various confidence tests in the causality estimates were performed, including consistency, heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and sensitivity analyses. Inverse MR analysis was also utilized to estimate potential reverse causality. Results: MR analysis identified 13 liposomes and 79 metabolites markedly relevant to IVDD. Moreover, the mediation analysis was carried out by choosing the liposome, specifically the triacylglycerol (48:2) levels, which were found to be most notably associated with an increased risk of IVDD. In all, three metabolite-associated mediators were identified (3-methylcytidine levels, inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) to phosphate ratio, and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) to glycine ratio). Conclusion: The analysis's findings suggested possible causal connections between liposomes, metabolites, and IVDD, which could act as both forecast and prognosis clinical indicators, thereby aiding in the exploration of the pathogenesis behind IVDD.

Preliminary Data on SNP of Transplantation-Related Genes after Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is one of the mainstream treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies. The matching status of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) between the donor and recipient is highly related to the outcomes of HSCT. Haploidentical HSCT (haplo-HSCT) has emerged as a type of HSCT for patients who cannot find a fully HLA-matched donor. In this study, we investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HLA-related genes and the genes encoding co-stimulatory molecules located on the non-HLA region are related to the outcomes of haplo-HSCT. Methods: The genomic DNAs of 24 patients and their respective donors were isolated from the peripheral blood obtained before performing haplo-HSCT. A total of 75 SNPs of the HLA-related genes (HCP5, NOTCH4, HLA-DOA, LTA, HSPA1L, BAG6, RING1, TRIM27, and HLA-DOB) and the genes located in the non-HLA genes involved in co-stimulatory signaling (CTLA4, TNFSF4, CD28, and PDCD1) were selected to explore their relationship with the outcomes after haplo-HSCT, including graft-versus-host disease, survival status, and relapse. Results: Our data revealed that specific donor or patient SNPs, including rs79327197 of the HLA-DOA gene, rs107822 and rs213210 of the RING1 gene, rs2523676 of the HCP5 gene, rs5742909 of the CTLA4 gene, rs5839828 and rs36084323 of the PDCD1 gene, and rs1234314 of the TNFSF4 gene, were significantly related to the development of adverse outcomes post-haplo-HSCT. Conclusions: These SNPs may play important roles in post-transplant immune response that can be considered during the selection of suitable donors.

Grey modelling and real-time forecasting for the approximate non-homogeneous white exponential law BDS clock bias sequences.

Precise forecasting of satellite clock bias is crucial for ensuring service quality and enhancing the efficiency of real-time precise point positioning (PPP).The grey model with many benefits is an excellent choice for predicting real-time clock bias. However, the absolute prediction error of a small number of satellites is very high in actual forecasting process. In order to address this issue, a non-homogeneous white exponential law grey model has been constructed specifically for predicting clock bias sequences with non-homogeneous class ratio approximating constants. Considering that any model is difficult to apply to different kinds of satellite clocks and clock bias signals, an adaptive selection strategy for forecast model is proposed to ensure more excellent prediction accuracy. Afterwards, a prediction scenario based on the observed products of the BeiDou satellite navigation system (BDS) is created to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach described in this article. The outcomes of the method are then compared with those of a single grey model and the ultra-rapid predicted products. The outcomes demonstrate that this strategy's prediction accuracy is less than 1 ns/day and that its prediction uncertainty is much decreased, which may improve data selection for real-time applications like real-time kinematics (RTK) and PPP.

Advancing Anode Performance in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: A Review of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Strategies.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are garnering substantial research interest in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and portable electronics, primarily for the reason that the inexpensive cost, high theoretical specific capacity, and environmental sustainability of zinc metal anodes, which are an essential component to their design. Nonetheless, the progress of AZIBs is hindered by significant obstacles, such as the occurrence of anodic side reactions (SR) and the formation of zinc dendrites. Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based materials are being explored as promising alternatives owing to homogeneous porous structure and large specific surface areas. There has been a rare overview and discussion on strategies for protecting anodes using MOF-based materials. This review specifically aims to investigate cutting-edge strategies for the design of highly stable MOF-based anodes in AZIBs. Firstly, the mechanisms of dendrites and SR are summarized. Secondly, the recent advances in MOF-based anodic protection including those of pristine MOFs, MOF composites, and MOF derivatives are reviewed. Furthermore, the strategies involving MOF-based materials for zinc anode stabilization are presented, including the engineering of surface coatings, three-dimensional zinc structures, artificial solid electrolyte interfaces, separators, and electrolytes. Finally, the ongoing challenges and prospective directions for further enhancement of MOF-based anodic protection technologies in AZIBs are highlighted.

Non-Noble-Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a pivotal role in diverse renewable energy storage and conversion technologies, including water electrolysis, electrochemical CO2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, and metal-air batteries. Among various water electrolysis techniques, proton exchange membrane (PEM)-based water electrolysis devices offer numerous advantages, including high current densities, exceptional chemical stability, excellent proton conductivity, and high-purity H2. Nevertheless, the prohibitive cost associated with Ir/Ru-based OER electrocatalysts poses a significant barrier to the broad-scale application of PEM-based water splitting. Consequently, it is crucial to advance the development of non-noble metal OER catalysis substance with high acid-activity and stability, thereby fostering their widespread integration into PEM water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). In this review, a comprehensive analysis of the acidic OER mechanism, encompassing the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) and oxide path mechanism (OPM) is offered. Subsequently, a systematic summary of recently reported noble-metal-free catalysts including transition metal-based, carbon-based and other types of catalysts is provided. Additionally, a comprehensive compilation of in situ/operando characterization techniques is provided, serving as invaluable tools for furnishing experimental evidence to comprehend the catalytic mechanism. Finally, the present challenges and future research directions concerning precious-metal-free acidic OER are comprehensively summarized and discussed in this review.

Discovering Potential Mechanisms of Intervertebral Disc Disease Using Systematic Mendelian Randomization of Human Circulating Immunocytomics.

BACKGROUND: Although intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a critical factor in many spine-related diseases and has an extremely high prevalence in the aging population, the potential pathogenesis remains to be clarified entirely. Immune cells have been found to perform an essential function during the onset and progression of IVDD in recent years. Therefore, we explored the association between immune cell characteristics and IVDD through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and further delved into the mediating role of potential metabolites. METHODS: Based on the MR analysis, the association of 731 immune cell phenotypes and 1400 metabolites on IVDD were assessed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were closely associated the expression levels of immune cell characteristics and the concentrations of metabolites and have been used as instrumental variables for deducing them as risk factors or protective factors for IVDD. In addition, mediation analyses have been performed to identify potential metabolite mediators between immune cell characteristics and IVDD. RESULTS: MR analysis identified 27 immune cell phenotypes and 79 metabolites significantly associated with IVDD. In addition, mediation analysis was performed by selecting the immune cell phenotype that most significantly increased the risk of IVDD - CD86 on monocytes. A total of 4 metabolite-mediated mediation relationships were revealed (3 b-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid, X-22509, N-acetyl-L-glutamine, and N2-acetyl, N6, N6-dimethyllysine). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this analysis identified underlying association between immune cell phenotypes, metabolite, and IVDD that may serve as predictive and prognostic clinical biomarkers and benefit IVDD pathogenesis research.

PCSK9 inhibitors and osteoporosis: mendelian randomization and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors represent an effective strategy for reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Yet, PCSK9's impact on osteoporosis remains unclear. Hence, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis for examining PCSK9 inhibitor effects on osteoporosis. METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl cofactor A reductase (HMGCR) and PCSK9 were gathered from available online databases for European pedigrees. Four osteoporosis-related genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data served as the main outcomes, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as a positive control for drug-targeted MR analyses. The results of MR analyses examined by sensitivity analyses were incorporated into a meta-analysis for examining causality between PCSK9 and HMGCR inhibitors and osteoporosis. RESULTS: The meta-analysis involving a total of 1,263,102 subjects, showed that PCSK9 inhibitors can increase osteoporosis risk (P < 0.05, I2, 39%). However, HMGCR inhibitors are not associated with osteoporosis risk. Additionally, a replication of the analysis was conducted with another exposure-related GWAS dataset, which led to similar conclusions. CONCLUSION: PCSK9 inhibitors increase osteoporosis risk. However, HMGCR inhibitors are unremarkably linked to osteoporosis.

Robust PCA with Lw,∗ and L2,1 Norms: A Novel Method for Low-Quality Retinal Image Enhancement.

Nonmydriatic retinal fundus images often suffer from quality issues and artifacts due to ocular or systemic comorbidities, leading to potential inaccuracies in clinical diagnoses. In recent times, deep learning methods have been widely employed to improve retinal image quality. However, these methods often require large datasets and lack robustness in clinical settings. Conversely, the inherent stability and adaptability of traditional unsupervised learning methods, coupled with their reduced reliance on extensive data, render them more suitable for real-world clinical applications, particularly in the limited data context of high noise levels or a significant presence of artifacts. However, existing unsupervised learning methods encounter challenges such as sensitivity to noise and outliers, reliance on assumptions like cluster shapes, and difficulties with scalability and interpretability, particularly when utilized for retinal image enhancement. To tackle these challenges, we propose a novel robust PCA (RPCA) method with low-rank sparse decomposition that also integrates affine transformations τi, weighted nuclear norm, and the L2,1 norms, aiming to overcome existing method limitations and to achieve image quality improvement unseen by these methods. We employ the weighted nuclear norm (Lw,∗) to assign weights to singular values to each retinal images and utilize the L2,1 norm to eliminate correlated samples and outliers in the retinal images. Moreover, τi is employed to enhance retinal image alignment, making the new method more robust to variations, outliers, noise, and image blurring. The Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) method is used to optimally determine parameters, including τi, by solving an optimization problem. Each parameter is addressed separately, harnessing the benefits of ADMM. Our method introduces a novel parameter update approach and significantly improves retinal image quality, detecting cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Simulation results confirm our method's superiority over existing state-of-the-art methods across various datasets.

Clinical outcomes of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infection in patients with end-stage renal disease in intensive care units: a multicenter retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CRGNB) present a considerable global threat due to their challenging treatment and increased mortality rates, with bloodstream infection (BSI) having the highest mortality rate. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) face an increased risk of BSI. Limited data are available regarding the prognosis and treatment outcomes of CRGNB-BSI in patients with ESRD in intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS: This multi-center retrospective observational study included a total of 149 ICU patients with ESRD and CRGNB-BSI in Taiwan from January 2015 to December 2019. Clinical and microbiological outcomes were assessed, and multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent risk factors for day-28 mortality and the impact of antimicrobial therapy regimen on treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 149 patients, a total of 127 patients (85.2%) acquired BSI in the ICU, with catheter-related infections (47.7%) and pneumonia (32.2%) being the most common etiologies. Acinetobacter baumannii (49.0%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (31.5%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens. The day-28 mortality rate from BSI onset was 52.3%, and in-hospital mortality was 73.2%, with survivors experiencing prolonged hospital stays. A higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.35) and shock status (aHR, 2.12; 95% CI 1.14-3.94) independently predicted day-28 mortality. Colistin-based therapy reduced day-28 mortality in patients with shock, a SOFA score of ≥ 13, and Acinetobacter baumannii-related BSI. CONCLUSIONS: CRGNB-BSI led to high mortality in critically ill patients with ESRD. Day-28 mortality was independently predicted by a higher SOFA score and shock status. In patients with higher disease severity and Acinetobacter baumannii-related BSI, colistin-based therapy improved treatment outcomes.

Enhancing the Electrochemical Activity of 2D Materials Edges through Oriented Electric Fields.

The edges of 2D materials have emerged as promising electrochemical catalyst systems, yet their performance still lags behind that of noble metals. Here, we demonstrate the potential of oriented electric fields (OEFs) to enhance the electrochemical activity of 2D materials edges. By atomically engineering the edge of a fluorographene/graphene/MoS2 heterojunction nanoribbon, strong and localized OEFs were realized as confirmed by simulations and spatially resolved spectroscopy. The observed fringing OEF results in an enhancement of the heterogeneous charge transfer rate between the edge and the electrolyte by 2 orders of magnitude according to impedance spectroscopy. Ab initio calculations indicate a field-induced decrease in the reactant adsorption energy as the origin of this improvement. We apply the OEF-enhanced edge reactivity to hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and observe a significantly enhanced electrochemical performance, as evidenced by a 30% decrease in Tafel slope and a 3-fold enhanced turnover frequency. Our findings demonstrate the potential of OEFs for tailoring the catalytic properties of 2D material edges toward future complex reactions.

Epidemics and diversity of norovirus variants with acute gastroenteritis outbreak in Hongshan District, Wuhan City, China, 2021-2023.

BACKGROUND: Norovirus is the predominant pathogen causing foodborne illnesses and acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks worldwide, imposing a significant disease burden. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and genotypic diversity of norovirus outbreaks in Hongshan District, Wuhan City. METHODS: A total of 463 AGE cases from 39 AGE-related outbreaks in Hongshan District between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023, were included in the study. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify norovirus types GI and GII in anal swab samples from all cases. Norovirus-positive samples were sequenced and analyzed for the open reading frame (ORF) 1/ORF2 hinge region. RESULTS: 26 norovirus infectious outbreaks were reported among 39 acute diarrheal outbreaks, including 14 outbreaks in kindergartens, 8 in elementary schools, and 4 in universities. Based on clinical symptoms and epidemiological investigations, a total of 1295 individuals were identified as having been exposed to norovirus, yielding an attack rate of 35.75 %. A higher proportion of outbreaks was observed during the winter and spring seasons (38.46 %). Additionally, norovirus-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and analysis of the open reading frame (ORF) 1/ORF2 hinge region. Genotypic data for norovirus was successfully obtained from 18 (69.23 %) of the infectious outbreaks, revealing 10 distinct recombinant genotypes. GII.4 Sydney 2012 [P31] and GII.17[P17] were the predominant strains in 2021 and 2022, GII.3 [P12] emerged as the dominant strain in 2023. CONCLUSION: Norovirus outbreaks in Hongshan District predominantly occurred in crowded educational institutions, with peaks in the cold season and a high attack rate in universities. GII.3 [P12] has become the locally predominant strain.

The impact of enhanced Milieu teaching with phonological emphasis (EMT + PE) on the speech and language outcomes for toddlers with cleft palate in Brazil and the United States of America.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the speech and language outcomes of children with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP+/-L) in the USA to children with CP+/-L in Brazil who underwent intervention with enhanced Milieu teaching with phonological emphasis (EMT + PE), as there are few cross-country intervention comparisons for children with CP+/-L. METHOD: This is a retrospective analysis of 29 participants from the USA and 24 participants from Brazil who were matched on age. The US participants were between the ages of 13-35 months (M = 23.76), spoke Standard American English in the home, and were recruited from East Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University. The Brazilian participants were between the ages of 20-34 months (M = 25.04), spoke Brazilian Portuguese in the home, and were recruited from the Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais-Universidade de São Paulo. All treatment participants received EMT + PE from trained speech-language pathologists in hospital-university clinics. RESULT: The treatment groups demonstrated greater gains than comparison groups in percent consonants correct, number of different words, and expressive/receptive vocabulary. There was no main effect nor interaction by country. CONCLUSION: The application of EMT + PE in a second culture and language is a viable early intervention option for participants with CP+/-L.