Meta-analysis and partial correlation coefficients: A matter of weights.

This study builds on the simulation framework of a recent paper by Stanley and Doucouliagos (Research Synthesis Methods 2023;14;515-519). S&D use simulations to make the argument that meta-analyses using partial correlation coefficients (PCCs) should employ a "suboptimal" estimator of the PCC standard error when constructing weights for fixed effect and random effects estimation. We address concerns that their simulations and subsequent recommendation may give meta-analysts a misleading impression. While the estimator they promote dominates the "correct" formula in their Monte Carlo framework, there are other estimators that perform even better. We conclude that more research is needed before best practice recommendations can be made for meta-analyses with PCCs.

Early on-site detection of strawberry anthracnose using portable Raman spectroscopy.

We developed a method for the early on-site detection of strawberry anthracnose using a portable Raman system with multivariate statistical analysis algorithms. By using molecular markers based on Raman spectra, the proposed method can detect anthracnose in strawberry stems 3 days after exposure to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. A fiber-optic probe was applied for the portable Raman system, and the acquisition time was 10 s. We found that the molecular markers were closely related to the following subjects: i) an increase in amide III and fatty acids of C. gloeosporioides invading strawberry stems (Raman bands at 1180-1310 cm-1) and ii) a decrease in metabolites in strawberry plants, such as phenolic compounds and terpenoids (Raman bands at 760, 800, and 1523 cm-1). We also found that the increased fluorescence background caused by various chromophores within the invading C. gloeosporioides could serve as a marker. A two-dimensional cluster plot obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the three groups (control, fungal infection, and pathogen) were distinguishable. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA)-based prediction algorithm could identify C. gloeosporioides infection with a posterior probability of over 40%, even when no symptoms were visible on the inoculated strawberry plants.

Longitudinal Change in Brain Functional Connectivity with Herpes Zoster Patients: Neuroimaging Case Series.

The exact mechanism involved in the development of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is not yet known. The objective of this study was to evaluate longitudinal functional connectivity (FC) changes in the neuroimaging case series of patients with acute herpes zoster (HZ). Cases: This study included five patients who had symptoms of HZ. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted at enrollment and 3 months to determine FC changes. Of the five patients, three developed PHN. In the PHN subjects, the FC of the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) were activated. The left SFG is known to contribute to higher cognitive functions and working memory. The right IFG is associated with pain processing and empathy for pain. Conclusions: Although only a few patients were enrolled in this study, the PHN could be affected by pain itself, as well as pain memory and psychological aspects such as empathy for pain.

A Scanner Deeply: Predicting Gaze Heatmaps On Visualizations Using Crowdsourced Eye Movement Data.

Visual perception is a key component of data visualization. Much prior empirical work uses eye movement as a proxy to understand human visual perception. Diverse apparatus and techniques have been proposed to collect eye movements, but there is still no optimal approach. In this paper, we review 30 prior works for collecting eye movements based on three axes: (1) the tracker technology used to measure eye movements; (2) the image stimulus shown to participants; and (3) the collection methodology used to gather the data. Based on this taxonomy, we employ a webcam-based eyetracking approach using task-specific visualizations as the stimulus. The low technology requirement means that virtually anyone can participate, thus enabling us to collect data at large scale using crowdsourcing: approximately 12,000 samples in total. Choosing visualization images as stimulus means that the eye movements will be specific to perceptual tasks associated with visualization. We use these data to propose a SCANNER DEEPLY, a virtual eyetracker model that, given an image of a visualization, generates a gaze heatmap for that image. We employ a computationally efficient, yet powerful convolutional neural network for our model. We compare the results of our work with results from the DVS model and a neural network trained on the Salicon dataset. The analysis of our gaze patterns enables us to understand how users grasp the structure of visualized data. We also make our stimulus dataset of visualization images available as part of this paper's contribution.

Near-UV light emitting diode with on-chip photocatalysts for purification applications.

A new design for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with on-chip photocatalysts is presented for purification applications. An array of disk-shaped TiO2, with a diameter of several hundred nanometers, combined with SiO2 pedestals was fabricated directly on the surface of an InGaN-based near-ultraviolet (UV) LED using a dry etching process. The high refractive-index contrast at the boundary and the circular shape can effectively confine the near-UV light generated from the LED through multiple internal reflections inside the TiO2 nanodisks. Such a feature results in the enhancement of light absorption by the photocatalytic TiO2. The degradation of the organic dye malachite green was monitored as a model photocatalytic reaction. The proposed structure of LEDs with TiO2/SiO2 nanodisk/pedestal array exhibited a photocatalytic activity that was three times higher than the activity of LEDs with a TiO2 planar layer. The integration of photocatalytic materials with near-UV LEDs in a single system is promising for various purification applications, such as sterilization and disinfection.

Catalyst-free synthesis of sub-5 nm silicon nanowire arrays with massive lattice contraction and wide bandgap.

The need for miniaturized and high-performance devices has attracted enormous attention to the development of quantum silicon nanowires. However, the preparation of abundant quantities of silicon nanowires with the effective quantum-confined dimension remains challenging. Here, we prepare highly dense and vertically aligned sub-5 nm silicon nanowires with length/diameter aspect ratios greater than 10,000 by developing a catalyst-free chemical vapor etching process. We observe an unusual lattice reduction of up to 20% within ultra-narrow silicon nanowires and good oxidation stability in air compared to conventional silicon. Moreover, the material exhibits a direct optical bandgap of 4.16 eV and quasi-particle bandgap of 4.75 eV with the large exciton binding energy of 0.59 eV, indicating the significant phonon and electronic confinement. The results may provide an opportunity to investigate the chemistry and physics of highly confined silicon quantum nanostructures and may explore their potential uses in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, and energy systems.

Simultaneous Effects of Carboxyl Group-Containing Hyperbranched Polymers on Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide 6/Hollow Glass Microsphere Syntactic Foams.

The hollow glass microsphere (HGM) containing polymer materials, which are named as syntactic foams, have been applied as lightweight materials in various fields. In this study, carboxyl group-containing hyperbranched polymer (HBP) was added to a glass fiber (GF)-reinforced syntactic foam (RSF) composite for the simultaneous enhancement of mechanical and rheological properties. HBP was mixed in various concentrations (0.5-2.0 phr) with RSF, which contains 23 wt% of HGM and 5 wt% of GF, and the rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties were characterized systematically. As a result of the lubricating effect of the HBP molecule, which comes from its dendritic architecture, the viscosity, storage modulus, loss modulus, and the shear stress of the composite decreased as the HBP content increased. At the same time, because of the hydrogen bonding among the polymer, filler, and HBP, the compatibility between filler and the polymer matrix was enhanced. As a result, by adding a small amount (0.5-2.0 phr) of HBP to the RSF composite, the tensile strength and flexural modulus were increased by 24.3 and 9.7%, respectively, and the specific gravity of the composite was decreased from 0.948 to 0.917. With these simultaneous effects on the polymer composite, HBP could be potentially utilized further in the field of lightweight materials.

The additional analgesic effects of transverse abdominis plane block in patients receiving low-dose intrathecal morphine for minimally invasive colorectal surgery: a randomized, single-blinded study.

PURPOSE: Intrathecal analgesia (ITA) and transverse abdominis plane block (TAPB) are effective pain control methods in abdominal surgery. However, there is still no gold standard for postoperative pain control in minimally invasive colorectal surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether the analgesic effect could be increased when TAPB, which can further reduce wound somatic pain, was administered in low-dose morphine ITA patients. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were randomized into an ITA with TAPB group or an ITA group. Patients were evaluated for pain 0, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The primary outcome was the total morphine milligram equivalents administered 24 hours after surgery. The secondary outcomes were pain scores, ambulatory variables, inflammation markers, hospital stay duration, and complications within 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were recruited, and 55 were compared. There was no significant difference in morphine use over the 24 hours after surgery in the 2 groups (ITA with TAPB, 15.3 mg vs. ITA, 10.2 mg; P = 0.270). Also, there was no significant difference in pain scores. In both groups, the average pain score at 24 and 48 hours was 2 points or less, showing effective pain control. CONCLUSION: ITA for pain control in patients with colorectal surgery is an effective pain method, and additional TAPB was not effective.

Massive venous air embolism with bleeding caused by femoral vein injury during total hip arthroplasty: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Venous air embolism (VAE) from vascular injuries, is of rare occurrence but can result in catastrophic complications during total hip arthroplasty (THA). Early recognition and prompt management of vascular injury are required to avoid severe complications. Especially, bleeding is generally associated with profound hypotension in venous injury. We report an unusual complication of venous air embolism induced by femoral vein rupture during THA. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 54-year-old male patient with a history of old left acetabular fracture was scheduled for THA. We experienced massive bleeding and VAE induced by femoral vein rupture during total hip arthroplasty. The BP suddenly dropped from 100/70 mm Hg to 80/50 mm Hg with massive bleeding. ETCO2 and SaO2 decreased profoundly. DIAGNOSIS: The VAE was diagnosed by the change in end- tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and change of vital signs, so we performed ABGA and inserted TEE for confirmination. INTERVENTIONS: For treatment, patient was managed by oxygen therapy, inotropics, vasopressor, transfusion and surgical repair. OUTCOMES: Upon consulting with a cardiologist, the patient was extubated the next day and was transferred to the general ward and recovered without serious complications. He stayed for 17 days until finally discharged without complications. CONCLUSION: Preoperative vascular imaging may be recommended in the revisional case of THA or in patients with the history of hip trauma. The monitoring of ETCO2 and TEE might be helpful to recognize VAE earlier and therefore to avoid catastrophic complications through adequate treatment.

Using Monte Carlo experiments to select meta-analytic estimators.

The purpose of this study is to show how Monte Carlo analysis of meta-analytic estimators can be used to select estimators for specific research situations. Our analysis conducts 1620 individual experiments, where each experiment is defined by a unique combination of sample size, effect size, effect size heterogeneity, publication selection mechanism, and other research characteristics. We compare 11 estimators commonly used in medicine, psychology, and the social sciences. These are evaluated on the basis of bias, mean squared error (MSE), and coverage rates. For our experimental design, we reproduce simulation environments from four recent studies. We demonstrate that relative estimator performance differs across performance measures. Estimator performance is a complex interaction of performance indicator and aspects of the application. An estimator that may be especially good with respect to MSE may perform relatively poorly with respect to coverage rates. We also show that the size of the meta-analyst's sample and effect heterogeneity are important determinants of relative estimator performance. We use these results to demonstrate how these observable characteristics can guide the meta-analyst to choose the most appropriate estimator for their research circumstances.

Ultrasensitive and Stable Plasmonic Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrates Covered with Atomically Thin Monolayers: Effect of the Insulating Property.

We demonstrated the effects of monolayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on the stability and detection performance of two types of substrates in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS): a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer/Ag nanoparticle (NP) substrate and a Au NP/2D monolayer/Ag NP substrate. Graphene and h-BN, which have different electrical and chemical properties, were introduced in close contact with the metal NPs and had distinctly different effects on the plasmonic near-field interactions between metal NPs in the subnanometer-scale gap and on the electron transport behavior. A quantitative comparison was possible due to reproducible SERS signals across the entire substrates prepared by simple and inexpensive fabrication methods. The hybrid platform, an insulating h-BN monolayer covering the Ag NP substrate, ensured the long-term oxidative stability for over 80 days, which was superior to the stability achieved using conducting graphene. Additionally, a sandwich structure using an h-BN monolayer exhibited excellent SERS sensitivity with a detection limit for rhodamine 6G as low as 10-12 M; to the best of our knowledge, this is the best SERS detection limit achieved using monolayer h-BN as a gap-control material. In this study, we suggest an efficient strategy for hybridizing the desired 2D layers with metal nanostructures for SERS applications, where the substrate stability and electromagnetic field enhancement are particularly crucial for the various applications that utilize metal/2D hybrid structures.

Graft Regeneration and Functional Recovery in Patients with Early Allograft Dysfunction After Living-Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Successful graft regeneration is important in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) because partial liver grafts are used. Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) is an intermediate outcome that affects the long-term postoperative course in liver transplantation. The aim of the present study was to investigate liver graft regeneration under EAD development in LDLT. MATERIAL AND METHODS The data of 226 patients who underwent LDLT from September 2010 to July 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into 2 groups: one with and one without EAD. Graft regeneration, functional recovery, and long-term patient survival were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS The grafts grew more vigorously in the EAD group than in the non-EAD group, as evidenced by the larger absolute (ALV) and relative liver volumes (RLV) of the former on postoperative days (POD) 7 and 21. The median (interquartile range) RLVs of the non-EAD group versus the EAD group were as follows: 55.2 (47.9-65.8) vs. 53.7 (46.6-64.5)% preoperatively, p>0.05; 76.1 (66.9-85.7) vs. 86.7 (73.9-96.8)% on POD 7, p<0.01; 79.6 (69.3-91.2) vs. 93.7 (79.6-101.6)%, p<0.01 on POD 21. In the early postoperative period, hepatic function, measured as total bilirubin and international normalized ratio, was higher in the EAD group; however, after EAD development, graft function recovered in these patients. In the follow-up period, overall patient survival was comparable between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS The liver grafts of EAD patients steadily regenerated, such that the development of EAD did not affect long-term patient survival after LDLT.

Radial multi-quantum well ZnO nanorod arrays for nanoscale ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

Since semiconducting ZnO has attractive properties such as wide bandgap and large exciton binding energy, it has motivated us to realize efficient ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Furthermore, facile growth of ZnO nanostructures has triggered numerous research studies to examine them as nanoscale building blocks for optoelectronic devices. Here, we demonstrate the growth of ZnO-based core-shell p-n homojunction nanorod arrays with radial MgZnO/ZnO multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and report the characteristics of a core-shell ZnO nanorod LED. The shell layers of MgZnO/ZnO MQWs and p-type antimony-doped MgZnO were epitaxially grown on the surface of ZnO core nanorod arrays. By introducing the radial MQWs, the photoluminescence intensity was greatly increased by 4 times, compared to that of the bare ZnO nanorod array, suggesting that the core-shell MQWs can be used to realize the nanoscale ZnO LEDs with high internal quantum efficiency. As the injection current increased, the EL intensity of UV emission at 375 nm from the MgZnO/ZnO MQWs strongly increased without shifting of the emission peak because of the non-polar nature of MQWs grown on the side walls of the ZnO nanorods. These results highlight the potential of an integrated nanoscale UV light emitter in various photonic devices.

Analysis of Microbiota in Bellflower Root, Platycodon grandiflorum, Obtained from South Korea.

Bellflower root (Platycodon grandiflorum), which belongs to the Campanulaceae family, is a perennial grass that grows naturally in Korea, northeastern China, and Japan. Bellflower is widely consumed as both food and medicine owing to its high nutritional value and potential therapeutic effects. Since foodborne disease outbreaks often come from vegetables, understanding the public health risk of microorganisms on fresh vegetables is pivotal to predict and prevent foodborne disease outbreaks. We investigated the microbial communities on the bellflower root (n = 10). 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing targeting the V6-V9 regions of 16S rRNA genes was conducted via the 454-Titanium platform. The sequence quality was checked and phylogenetic assessments were performed using the RDP classifier implemented in QIIME with a bootstrap cutoff of 80%. Principal coordinate analysis was performed using the weighted Fast UniFrac distance. The average number of sequence reads generated per sample was 67,192 sequences. At the phylum level, bacterial communities from the bellflower root were composed primarily of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria in March and September samples. Genera Serratia, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea comprised more than 54% of the total bellflower root bacteria. Principal coordinate analysis plots demonstrated that the microbial community of bellflower root in March samples was different from those in September samples. Potential pathogenic genera, such as Pantoea, were detected in bellflower root samples. Even though further studies will be required to determine if these species are associated with foodborne illness, our results indicate that the 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing approach can be used to detect pathogenic bacteria on fresh vegetables.

Metagenomic Approach to Identifying Foodborne Pathogens on Chinese Cabbage.

Foodborne illness represents a major threat to public health and is frequently attributed to pathogenic microorganisms on fresh produce. Recurrent outbreaks often come from vegetables that are grown close to or within the ground. Therefore, the first step to understanding the public health risk of microorganisms on fresh vegetables is to identify and describe microbial communities. We investigated the phyllospheres on Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis, N = 54). 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing targeting the V5-V6 region of 16S rRNA genes was conducted by employing the Illumina MiSeq system. Sequence quality was assessed, and phylogenetic assessments were performed using the RDP classifier implemented in QIIME with a bootstrap cutoff of 80%. Principal coordinate analysis was performed using a weighted Fast UniFrac matrix. The average number of sequence reads generated per sample was 34,584. At the phylum level, bacterial communities were composed primarily of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The most abundant genera on Chinese cabbages were Chryseobacterium, Aurantimonadaceae_g, Sphingomonas, and Pseudomonas. Diverse potential pathogens, such as Pantoea, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Yersinia, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Clostridium were also detected from the samples. Although further epidemiological studies will be required to determine whether the detected potential pathogens are associated with foodborne illness, our results imply that a metagenomic approach can be used to detect pathogenic bacteria on fresh vegetables.

Vapor-Phase-Gating-Induced Ultrasensitive Ion Detection in Graphene and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks.

Designing ultrasensitive detectors often requires complex architectures, high-voltage operations, and sophisticated low-noise measurements. In this work, it is shown that simple low-bias two-terminal DC-conductance values of graphene and single-walled carbon nanotubes are extremely sensitive to ionized gas molecules. Incident ions form an electrode-free, dielectric- or electrolyte-free, bias-free vapor-phase top-gate that can efficiently modulate carrier densities up to ≈0.6 × 1013 cm-2 . Surprisingly, the resulting current changes are several orders of magnitude larger than that expected from conventional electrostatic gating, suggesting the possible role of a current-gain inducing mechanism similar to those seen in photodetectors. These miniature detectors demonstrate charge-current amplification factor values exceeding 108 A C-1 in vacuum with undiminished responses in open air, and clearly distinguish between positive and negative ions sources. At extremely low rates of ion incidence, detector currents show stepwise changes with time, and calculations suggest that these stepwise changes can result from arrival of individual ions. These sensitive ion detectors are used to demonstrate a proof-of-concept low-cost, amplifier-free, light-emitting-diode-based low-power ion-indicator.

Reciprocal relationship between membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and the algesic peptides of myelin basic protein contributes to chronic neuropathic pain.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is an auto-antigen able to induce intractable pain from innocuous mechanical stimulation (mechanical allodynia). The mechanisms provoking this algesic MBP activity remain obscure. Our present study demonstrates that membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP/MMP-14) releases the algesic MBP peptides from the damaged myelin, which then reciprocally enhance the expression of MT1-MMP in nerve to sustain a state of allodynia. Specifically, MT1-MMP expression and activity in rat sciatic nerve gradually increased starting at day 3 after chronic constriction injury (CCI). Inhibition of the MT1-MMP activity by intraneural injection of the function-blocking human DX2400 monoclonal antibody at day 3 post-CCI reduced mechanical allodynia and neuropathological signs of Wallerian degeneration, including axon demyelination, degeneration, edema and formation of myelin ovoids. Consistent with its role in allodynia, the MT1-MMP proteolysis of MBP generated the MBP69-86-containing epitope sequences in vitro. In agreement, the DX2400 therapy reduced the release of the MBP69-86 epitope in CCI nerve. Finally, intraneural injection of the algesic MBP69-86 and control MBP2-18 peptides differentially induced MT1-MMP and MMP-2 expression in the nerve. With these data we offer a novel, self-sustaining mechanism of persistent allodynia via the positive feedback loop between MT1-MMP and the algesic MBP peptides. Accordingly, short-term inhibition of MT1-MMP activity presents a feasible pharmacological approach to intervene in this molecular circuit and the development of neuropathic pain.

Highly Anisotropic Adhesive Film Made from Upside-Down, Flat, and Uniform Vertically Aligned CNTs.

We have created a multifunctional dry adhesive film with transferred vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs). This unique VA-CNT film was fabricated by a multistep transfer process, converting the flat and uniform bottom of VA-CNTs grown on atomically flat silicon wafer substrates into the top surface of an adhesive layer. Unlike as-grown VA-CNTs, which have a nonuniform surface, randomly entangled CNT arrays, and a weak interface between the CNTs and substrates, this transferred VA-CNT film shows an extremely high coefficient of static friction (COF) of up to 60 and a shear adhesion force 30 times higher (12 N/cm2) than that of the as-grown VA-CNTs under a very small preloading of 0.2 N/cm2. Moreover, a near-zero normal adhesion force was observed with 20 mN/cm2 preloading and a maximum 100-µm displacement in a piezo scanner, demonstrating ideal properties for an artificial gecko foot. Using this unique structural feature and anisotropic adhesion properties, we also demonstrate effective removal and assembly of nanoparticles into organized micrometer-scale circular and line patterns by a single brushing of this flat and uniform VA-CNT film.

Comparison of Fecal Microbiota between German Holstein Dairy Cows with and without Left-Sided Displacement of the Abomasum.

One of the most common diseases in high-performance German Holstein dairy cows is left-sided displacement of the abomasum (LDA). Hypomotility of the abomasum is detrimental during the pathogenesis of LDA. It is known that improper interactions between the gut microbiota and the enteric nervous system contribute to dysfunctions of gastrointestinal motility. Therefore, we hypothesized that the gut microbial composition will be different between German Holstein dairy cows with and without LDA. We used 16S rRNA gene analysis to evaluate whether there are any differences in bacterial composition between German Holstein dairy cows with and without LDA. Even though our data are limited to being used to correlate compositional changes with corresponding functional aspects in the pathogenesis of LDA, results from this study show that the fecal microbial compositions of German Holstein dairy cows with LDA shifted and were less diverse than those in normal cows. In particular,Spirochaeteswere absent in cows with LDA.

MgxZn1-xO/Ag/MgxZn1-xO Multilayers As High-Performance Transparent Conductive Electrodes.

We report on the optical and electrical properties of MgxZn1-xO/Ag/MgxZn1-xO transparent conductive electrodes. The transmittance and sheet resistance of MgxZn1-xO/Ag/MgxZn1-xO multilayers deposited at room temperature were strongly dependent on the thickness and surface morphology of Ag layer. The optical absorption edge of MgxZn1-xO/Ag/MgxZn1-xO showed a blue shift with increasing Mg composition due to the increased band gap of MgxZn1-xO. The Haack figure of merit value of Mg0.28Zn0.72O/Ag/Mg0.28Zn0.72O with a 14 nm-thick Ag layer, which has a sheet resistance of 6.36 Ω/sq and an average transmittance of 89.2% at wavelengths in the range from 350 to 780 nm, was 69% higher than that of a ZnO/Ag/ZnO multilayer electrode. These results indicate that MgxZn1-xO/Ag/MgxZn1-xO multilayers, which also show low surface roughness, can be used as highly conductive transparent electrodes in various optoelectronic devices operating over a wide wavelength region.