Modeling order-disorder boundaries of colloidal dispersions in organic solvents using interaction force measurements.

HYPOTHESIS: The formation of soft colloidal crystals, which are nonclose-packed ordered arrays of colloidal particles suspended in a solvent, is dictated by a single physical factor that yields a fixed threshold at order-disorder boundaries for different experimental conditions such as ion concentration, solvent type, and particle size. Identifying the determinant factor and its threshold value should enable the prediction of the critical concentrations of colloidal particles to form soft colloidal crystals. EXPERIMENTS: Soft colloidal crystals were fabricated using a series of monohydric alcohols as dispersion media and reflectance spectra were measured to locate order-disorder boundaries. The interaction forces acting between particles were also measured by employing atomic force microscopy. FINDINGS: The interparticle forces at the order-disorder boundaries exhibited a universal threshold that was independent of the solvent types including alcohols and water. Therefore, the determinant factor for the formation of soft colloidal crystals was determined to be the force acting between the particles. Furthermore, a priori calculation of this critical force and consequently the critical particle concentration in colloidal systems was demonstrated by referring to the pressure at the liquid-to-solid transition in a hard sphere system (Alder transition).

Tip Detection-Antegrade Dissection and Re-Entry With New Puncture Wire in CTO Intervention: Revolution Through 3D-Wiring.

Background: The authors devised the tip detection (TD) method and developed AnteOwl WR intravascular ultrasound to standardize intravascular ultrasound-based 3-dimensional wiring for intraplaque tracking in chronic total occlusion (CTO)-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The TD method also allowed antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR). Combining TD-ADR with Conquest Pro 12 Sharpened Tip (CP12ST) wire, a new ADR wire with the strongest penetration force developed to date, enabled re-entry anywhere except calcification sites. Objectives: This study investigated the efficacy and feasibility of TD-ADR by comparison of procedural outcomes with Stingray-ADR in CTO-PCI. Methods: Twenty-seven consecutive CTO cases treated by TD-ADR with CP12ST wire between August 2021 and April 2023 and 27 consecutive CTO cases treated by Stingray-ADR with Conquest 8-20 (CP20) wire between March 2018 and July 2021 were retrospectively enrolled as the TD-ADR by CP12ST wire group and Stingray-ADR by CP20 wire group, respectively, from 4 facilities that could share technical information on these procedures. Results: The success rate of the ADR procedure was significantly improved (27 of 27 cases [100%] vs 18 of 27 cases [67%], respectively; P = 0.002) and total procedural time was significantly reduced (median procedural time: 145.0 [Q1-Q3: 118.0-240.0] minutes vs 185.0 [Q1-Q3: 159.5-248.0] minutes, respectively; P = 0.028) in the TD-ADR by CP12ST wire group compared to the Stingray-ADR by CP20 wire group. There were few in-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events or no complications in either group. Conclusions: TD-ADR by CP12ST wire can standardize highly accurate ADR in CTO-PCI.

Immunotherapy With Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases in Patients With NSCLC: NEJ060.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based treatment has become standard treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. We aimed to determine the survival benefit of upfront radiotherapy for brain metastases (BMs) in patients with NSCLC who received ICI alone (ICI-alone) or with chemotherapy (ICI-chemo). Methods: This study included consecutive patients with NSCLC having BMs who received ICI alone or ICI-chemo at 50 institutes between February 2017 and September 2021. The presence of BMs was confirmed by imaging before treatment. Treatment outcomes were compared between patients who did and did not receive upfront radiotherapy for BMs. Potential confounding factors were adjusted between the groups through inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis and overlap weighting (OW) analysis with propensity scores. Results: Patients were grouped as ICI-alone cohort, 224 patients (upfront-radiotherapy group, 135 patients; no-radiotherapy group, 89 patients) and ICI-chemo cohort, 367 patients (upfront-radiotherapy group, 212 patients; no-radiotherapy group, 155 patients). In the ICI-alone cohort, the overall survival of the upfront-radiotherapy group was significantly longer than that of the no-radiotherapy group (IPTW-adjusted hazards ratio [HR] = 0.45 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.72], OW-adjusted HR = 0.52 [95% CI: 0.35-0.77]). In contrast, in the ICI-chemo cohort, the OS of the upfront-radiotherapy group was not significantly different from that of the no-radiotherapy group (IPTW-adjusted HR = 1.02 [95% CI: 0.70-1.48], OW-adjusted HR = 0.93 [95% CI: 0.65-1.33]). Conclusions: Upfront radiotherapy for BMs was associated with longer overall survival in patients with NSCLC who received ICI alone; however, it did not exhibit survival benefits in the patients who received ICI-chemo.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and refractory cough have traction bronchiectasis and distorted airway architecture: a retrospective case review study.

Cough is a common and important sign/symptom in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, there have been few reports focusing on cough, and the exact mechanisms for cough in patients with IPF have remained unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical features of IPF patients with refractory cough and to clarify mechanisms for cough in these patients. We retrospectively reviewed the files of patients with the diagnosis of IPF at Kanazawa University Hospital and compared the clinical features of IPF patients with refractory cough with the clinical features of IPF patients without refractory cough. Among a total of 23 patients with IPF, 10 patients (43.5%) had chronic cough. Of the ten patients, seven patients had concomitant conditions that could lead to cough. Of these seven patients, the cough of four patients was resolved after treatment of their concomitant condition. Finally, among the 23 patients there were 6 (26.1%) with refractory cough associated with IPF. Significant differences were seen between the following clinical features of IPF patients with or without refractory cough, respectively, as follows: lower body mass index (BMI; 18.8±2.5 vs. 22.8±2.5 kg/m2, P<0.01), lower forced vital capacity (FVC; 77.5%±30.4% predicted vs. 99.9%±0.53% predicted, P=0.046), and presence of traction bronchiectasis and distorted airway architecture on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT; 83.3% vs. 11.8%, P<0.01). The difference between the proportions of patients with or without refractory cough with capsaicin cough sensitivity was not significant. Mechanical stress on the airways due to traction bronchiectasis and distorted airway architecture is a possible mechanism for cough in IPF patients.

Heat-Induced Changes in the Physical Properties of a New Premixed Calcium Silicate-Containing Root Canal Sealer: An In Vitro Study.

This study aimed to examine how heating affects the physical properties of a newly developed premixed calcium silicate-containing sealer (AH Plus Bioceramic Sealer; AHB), in comparison with EndoSequence BC Sealer (ES), AH Plus Jet (AH), and Pulp Canal Sealer. The setting time, flow, and film thickness were tested with or without heating at 100 °C for 30 or 60 s, in accordance with ISO6876:2012 standards. Ultrastructural and elemental analyses were performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a Tukey post hoc test (α = 0.05). All sealers exhibited significantly shorter setting time and flow after heating at 100 °C for 30 and 60 s (p < 0.05). After heating, AHB showed a significantly higher film thickness compared to that of the other materials (p < 0.05). None of the tested properties of heat-applied AHB and ES met ISO standards, except the setting time in ES. The SEM/EDS results for AHB and ES were not affected by heating. The detected changes in physical properties can negatively impact the performance of premixed calcium silicate-containing sealers, particularly AHB, when warm vertical compaction is employed.

Clinical Outcome of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Relapse after Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy followed by Durvalumab.

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab showed promising efficacy in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The efficacy of the nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination regimen in NSCLC patients who relapse after durvalumab consolidation following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has not been determined. Between January 2021 and June 2022, clinical data were retrospectively extracted from the medical records of patients with NSCLC who received nivolumab plus ipilimumab after CCRT and durvalumab consolidation. A total of 30 patients were included in this analysis. The median number of durvalumab treatment cycles was 11. Median PFS and OS with nivolumab plus ipilimumab were 4.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7-7.7) and 18.5 months (95% CI: 3.5-33.5), respectively. The 6-month and 12-month PFS rates were 46.7% (95% CI: 28.8-64.5) and 36.4% (95% CI: 19.0-53.7). In multivariate analysis, a significant correlation was observed between a durvalumab treatment duration of 6 months or more and PFS (p = 0.04) as well as OS (p = 0.001). Grade 3 adverse events, including pneumonitis, dermatitis, and colitis, occurred in 10% of the patients. This study suggests that nivolumab plus ipilimumab is effective, especially in patients who have received durvalumab for 6 months or more, and tolerable for patients who relapsed after durvalumab following CCRT.

Mobile medial pivot (lateral slide)-type total knee arthroplasty exhibited different motion patterns between under anaesthesia and weight-bearing condition.

PURPOSE: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which has medial pivot and mobile-bearing mechanisms, has been developed and clinically used. However, the in vivo dynamic kinematics of the mobile medial pivot-type TKA (MMPTKA) is unclear. This study analysed the in vivo kinematics of MMPTKA in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions. METHODS: The study included 10 knees that underwent primary TKA using MMPTKA. After TKA, lateral view radiographs of the knee in full extension, 90° of flexion and passive full flexion were taken under general anaesthesia in the nonweight-bearing condition. At least 6 months postoperatively, knee motion during squatting from a weight-bearing standing position was observed using a flat-panel detector and analysed using the three-dimensional-to-two-dimensional image registration technique. RESULTS: Under anaesthesia: in passive full flexion, the anteroposterior (AP) locations of the femoral component's medial and lateral distal points were 10.2 and 16.0 mm posterior, and the rotational angles of the femoral component's X-axis (FCX) and insert were 8.1° external rotation and 18.5° internal rotation to full extension, respectively. Squatting: the AP translations of the femoral component's medial and lateral most distal points were 2.2 and 6.4 mm, and the rotational angles of the FCX and insert were 5.7° and 1.6° external rotation, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the AP translation of the femoral component's medial and lateral most distal points and changes in the insert's rotational angle when comparing under anaesthesia and squatting. CONCLUSIONS: The kinematics of the insert in MMPTKA was significantly influenced by loading and muscle contraction. The femoral component exhibited substantial external rotation and posterior translation under anaesthesia, which may contribute to achieving an optimal range of motion. The insert remained relatively stable during squatting and minimal rotation was observed, indicating good stability. MMPTKA was expected to demonstrate rational kinematics by incorporating mobile and medial pivot mechanisms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prospective biomechanical case series study.

Comparing region of interest selection and whole-field analysis for measurement of ciliary beat frequency in high-speed video analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is crucial in mucociliary clearance. High-speed video analysis (HSVA) is commonly used to measure CBF but lacks standardization. We compared visual observation and computer-assisted calculation using fast Fourier transformation (FFT) in freshly collected bronchial ciliary epithelial cells and cultured cells. METHODS: Bronchial epithelial cells were obtained from 12 patients who required bronchoscopic examination. Eighty-five videos of ciliary movement of freshly collected and cultured cells were recorded and used to calculate CBF using manual observation, region of interest (ROI) selection, and whole-field analysis. RESULTS: CBF measured by the ROI selection method strongly correlated with that measured using manual observation, especially in freshly collected cells. However, 27.8% of the manual observation method values were doubled in the ROI selection method, probably because a round trip of cilia was calculated as two cycles and needed to be corrected to 1/2 value. Upon increasing the number of ROIs, the results of the ROI selection method came closer to that of WFA. CONCLUSIONS: Computer-assisted calculation using FFT can aid in measuring CBF; however, current methods require visual confirmation. Further automated evaluation techniques are needed to establish more standardized and generalized CBF measurement methods using HSVA.

Discovery of non-genomic drivers of YAP signaling modulating the cell plasticity in CRC tumor lines.

In normal intestines, a fetal/regenerative/revival cell state can be induced upon inflammation. This plasticity in cell fate is also one of the current topics in human colorectal cancer (CRC). To dissect the underlying mechanisms, we generated human CRC organoids with naturally selected genetic mutation profiles and exposed them to two different conditions by modulating the extracellular matrix (ECM). Among tested mutation profiles, a fetal/regenerative/revival state was induced following YAP activation via a collagen type I-enriched microenvironment. Mechanistically, YAP transcription was promoted by activating AP-1 and TEAD-dependent transcription and suppressing intestinal lineage-determining transcription via mechanotransduction. The phenotypic conversion was also involved in chemoresistance, which could be potentially resolved by targeting the underlying YAP regulatory elements, a potential target of CRC treatment.

Phase Diagrams of Anthracene Derivatives in Pyridinium Ionic Liquids.

Crystal engineering for single crystallization of π-conjugated molecules has attracted much attention because of their electronic, photonic, and mechanical properties. However, reproducibility is a problem in conventional printing techniques because control of solvent evaporation is difficult. We investigated the phase diagrams of two anthracene derivatives in synthesized ionic liquids for non-volatile crystal engineering to determine the critical points for nucleation and crystal growth. Anthracene and 9,10-dibromoanthracene were used as representative π-conjugated molecules that form crystal structures with different packing types. Ionic liquids with an alkylpyridinium cation and bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide were good solvents for the anthracene derivatives from ca. 0 °C to 200 °C. The solubilities (critical points for crystal growth) of the anthracene derivatives in the ionic liquids reached the 100 mM level, which is similar to those in organic solvents. Ionic liquids with phenyl and octyl groups tended to show high-temperature dependence (a high dissolution entropy) with 9,10-dibromoanthracene. The precipitation temperature (critical point for crystal nucleation) at each 9,10-dibromoanthracene concentration was lower than the dissolution temperature. The differences between the dissolution and precipitation temperatures (supersaturated region) in the ionic liquids were greater than those in an organic solvent.

Three-dimensional imaging evaluation of facial swelling after orthognathic surgery with compression and Kinesio taping therapy: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Postoperative swelling is a common complication of orthognathic surgery. The authors used three-dimensional (3D) image analysis and body surface temperature to determine the effects of compression taping (CT) and Kinesio taping (KT) by the epidermis, dermis, and fascia method (EDF-KT) on postoperative swelling. Materials and methods: The authors conducted a prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. Among the 162 patients diagnosed with jaw deformity and who underwent orthognathic surgery from August 2020 to October 2022, 105 patients (men: 36, women: 69, mean age: 28.27±8.92) underwent Le Fort type I + sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) or SSRO and were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: EDF-KT group (n=31), CT group (n=41), and no tape group (control group, n=30). All taping was performed immediately postoperatively and removed on postoperative day (POD) 5. Three-dimensional images of the participants' faces were obtained preoperatively and at PODs 3, 7, 30, and 90 using a hand-held 3D imaging system and infrared thermography. Results: No significant difference was observed in postoperative swelling and postoperative body surface temperature between the groups at each time point. The CT group showed a trend towards reduced swelling on PODs 3 and 7 and a trend toward residual swelling on POD 90. The EDF-KT group showed a trend towards an increase in postoperative body surface temperature. Conclusion: CT taping may not be appropriate for postoperative swelling control, suggesting that EDF-KT may affect body surface temperature. Further validation of the efficacy of KT for jaw deformities is needed.

PD-L1 mRNA derived from tumor-educated platelets as a potential immunotherapy biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: To date, the role of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) messenger RNA (mRNA) derived from tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) has not been well investigated in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A few reports have examined whether mRNA in TEPs can predict the clinical responses of patients with advanced NSCLC following immunotherapy. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers to improve the clinical benefits and outcomes of NSCLC patients. Methods: Advanced NSCLC patients receiving a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, or immunotherapy alone as a first- or second-line treatment at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were enrolled in this study. All the patients had wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor/anaplastic lymphoma kinase. The patients were enrolled in clinical trials for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, tremelimumab, and camrelizumab. Tumoral PD-L1 expression was tested by immunohistochemistry (PD-L1 22C3 pharmDx kit, Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA) in archived tissue samples, when available, to calculate the tumor proportion scores (TPSs). RNA and exosomal RNA of blood were isolated before immunotherapy using the Yunying RNA extraction kit (Yunying Medicine, Shanghai, China). The concentration and quality of the RNA was determined using a Qubit fluorometer (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA). Finally, we analyzed the predictive value of TEP-derived PD-L1 mRNA expression and association with the level of the tumoral PD-L1 expression. Results: In total, 72 patients were enrolled in this study. Most of the patients were male (n=54, 75.0%), had adenocarcinoma (n=49, 68.1%). We found there was no significant correlation between the TEP-derived mRNA of PD-L1 and tumoral PD-L1 expression based on the results of the Pearson Correlation test (r=-0.19, P=0.233). Based on the median of PD-L1 mRNA, 72 patients were divided into a high PD-L1 group and a low PD-L1 group. We found that 19 patients (44.4%) responded to immunotherapy [partial response or progression-free survival (PFS) >6 months] in the high PD-L1 group, but only five patients (13.9%) responded to immunotherapy in the low PD-L1 group (P<0.01). The median PFS of the low PD-L1 group was lower than that of the high PD-L1 group (2.8 vs. 8.3 months, P<0.001). For the patients who were treated with immunotherapy alone (n=64), a similar PFS advantage was observed in the high PD-L1 group (2.8 vs. 8.0 months, P=0.002). Conclusions: This article presented the first data on TEP-derived PD-L1 mRNA in advanced NSCLC patients following immunotherapy and showed the potential advantage of using it as the surrogate biomarker for predicting the PFS and overall survival of patients following immunotherapy.

Structure of full-length ERGIC-53 in complex with MCFD2 for cargo transport.

ERGIC-53 transports certain subsets of newly synthesized secretory proteins and membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. Despite numerous structural and functional studies since its identification, the overall architecture and mechanism of action of ERGIC-53 remain unclear. Here we present cryo-EM structures of full-length ERGIC-53 in complex with its functional partner MCFD2. These structures reveal that ERGIC-53 exists as a homotetramer, not a homohexamer as previously suggested, and comprises a four-leaf clover-like head and a long stalk composed of three sets of four-helix coiled-coil followed by a transmembrane domain. 3D variability analysis visualizes the flexible motion of the long stalk and local plasticity of the head region. Notably, MCFD2 is shown to possess a Zn2+-binding site in its N-terminal lid, which appears to modulate cargo binding. Altogether, distinct mechanisms of cargo capture and release by ERGIC- 53 via the stalk bending and metal binding are proposed.

Intestinal microbiome and maternal mental health: preventing parental stress and enhancing resilience in mothers.

The number of mothers suffering from mental illness is increasing steadily, particularly under conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. The identification of factors that contribute to resilience in mothers is urgently needed to decrease the risks of poor physical and psychological health. We focused on the risk of parenting stress and psychological resilience in healthy mothers with no psychiatric and physical disorders and conducted two studies to examine the relationships between intestinal microbiota, physical condition, and psychological state. Our results showed that alpha diversity and beta diversity of the microbiome are related to high parenting stress risk. Psychological resilience and physical conditions were associated with relative abundances of the genera Blautia, Clostridium, and Eggerthella. This study helps further understand the gut-brain axis mechanisms and supports proposals for enhancing resilience in mothers.

AXL signal mediates adaptive resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors in KRAS G12C-mutant tumor cells.

Recently, novel Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) inhibitors have been clinically developed to treat KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, achieving complete tumor remission is challenging. Therefore, the optimal combined therapeutic intervention with KRAS G12C inhibitors has a potentially crucial role in the clinical outcomes of patients. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms of adaptive resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors in KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC cells to devise a strategy preventing drug-tolerant cell emergence. We demonstrate that AXL signaling led to the adaptive resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors in KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, activation of which is induced by GAS6 production via YAP. AXL inhibition reduced the viability of AXL-overexpressing KRAS G12C-mutated lung cancer cells by enhancing KRAS G12C inhibition-induced apoptosis. In xenograft models of AXL-overexpressing KRAS G12C-mutated lung cancer treated with KRAS G12C inhibitors, initial combination therapy with AXL inhibitor markedly delayed tumor regrowth compared with KRAS G12C inhibitor alone or with the combination after acquired resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitor. These results indicated pivotal roles for the YAP-GAS6-AXL axis and its inhibition in the intrinsic resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitor.

Comparative evaluation of iStent versus iStent inject W combined with phacoemulsification in open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to compare the 12-month post-operative outcomes of iStent and iStent inject W (inject W), and the factors associated with their success in open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective comparative case series evaluated the medical records of patients who underwent iStent (comprising 1 stent) or inject W (comprising 2 stents) implantation with cataract surgery for primary open-angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma between January 2019 and March 2022. The 12-month post-operative efficacy outcomes included intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medications, and survival analysis of the probability of success. "Failure" was defined as any of the following conditions compared to baseline: 1) IOP elevation, 2) increased glaucoma medication, or 3) IOP decline not exceeding 20% when glaucoma medication scores were comparable, and 4) need for additional glaucoma surgery. The safety outcomes included intra- and post-operative adverse events and changes in the best-corrected visual acuity and visual field. RESULTS: The study comprised 55 eyes in the iStent and 105 in the inject W groups. At 12 months, treatment success was achieved in 66.0% of iStent and 78.4% of inject W eyes. The mean IOP was lower, and the percent reduction from baseline was equal in iStent-treated eyes (8.0% reduction, 14.8 mmHg to 13.7 mmHg, P<0.01) and inject W-treated eyes (11.9% reduction, 15.0 mmHg to 13.8 mmHg, P<0.01) (between-group comparison, P = 0.23). The mean medication burden decreased significantly from 2.5 to 1.1 for iStent (55.0% reduction, P<0.01) and 2.9 to 1.7 for iStent inject (46.8% reduction, P<0.01), with no significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.17). Both devices exhibited excellent safety. CONCLUSIONS: Both devices significantly reduced IOP and glaucoma medication 12 months post-operatively. The outcome measures did not differ significantly between the two groups, and lower baseline IOP was predictive of surgical failure.

Hydrogen-triggered metal filament rupture in Cu-based resistance switches.

Cation-based resistance switches have been considered as promising candidates for memory cells and other novel devices. So far, the most accepted switching processes of such devices are based on the formation/rupture of metallic filaments between two electrodes. Although many recent studies have identified the existence of H2O (and resulting -OH groups) in such devices, their effects on the switching process are still unclear. In the present work, by taking Cu/Ta2O5/Pt device as an example, we have theoretically revealed that H ions may dissociate from -OH groups and accumulate onto the Cu filament in amorphous Ta2O5. After that, the adsorbed H ions will induce a series of changes, such as the elongation of the adjacent Cu-Cu bonds, the weakening of the Cu-Cu bonds, the increase of charge on Cu cations, and the enhancement of diffusivities of Cu cations, all of which eventually lead to the rupture of the Cu filament. Interestingly, our proposed 'H-triggered metal filament rupture' model is similar to the widely studied 'hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon'. The crucial point of this model is the high catalytic activity of Cu towards the splitting of -OH group. Consequently, it is expected that this model could be applicable to other Cu-cation based resistance switches.

Cation-based resistance switches have been considered as the promising candidates for memory cells and other novel devices. So far, the most accepted switching processes of such devices are based on the forming/rupture of metallic filaments between two electrodes. Although many recent studies have identified the existence of H₂O (and as-resulted -OH groups) in such devices, their effects on the switching process are still unclear. In the present work, by taking Cu/Ta₂O₅/Pt device as an example, we have theoretically proposed that the H ions take the very important role during the rupture process of Cu filament in such device. Interestingly, our proposed 'H-triggered metal filament rupture' model is similar to the widely studied 'Hydrogen Embrittlement' phenomenon in the industry field, which serves as additional evidence supporting the credibility of such model. The crucial point of mechanism of this model is considered to be the high catalytic activity of Cu towards the splitting of -OH group. Consequently, it is expected that this model could be applicable to other Cu-cation based resistance switches.

Chemical Recycling and Physical Tuning of Necklace-Shaped Polydimethylsiloxanes Bearing Anthracene Dimer Units.

The problem of plastic waste in the environment calls for the development of new polymeric materials designed specifically for easy recycling at the end of their life cycle. Herein, a green polymer system comprising a series of necklace-shaped polydimethylsiloxanes bearing anthracene dimer units is developed. The polymers have low environmental impact and are easily recycled. Further, their flexibility and glass transition temperatures are easy to control. These necklace-shaped inorganic polymers are synthesized by photopolymerizing (dimerizing) anthracene-terminated oligo-dimethylsiloxane monomers. A key achievement of the present work is the successful chemical recovery of the monomers from the polymers through thermal depolymerization, enabling monomer-polymer recycling. By applying equilibrium polymerization with base catalysts, monomers with a controlled distributed chain length are synthesized from monomers with a constant chain length. The necklace-shaped polymers synthesized from these randomized monomers have amorphous structures and readily form transparent films. It is possible to modulate the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymers by controlling the average chain length of the polydimethylsiloxane between the anthracene dimers. This investigation presents a method for the synthesis and cyclic utilization of polymer materials with a wide range of applications, including plastics and elastomers.

Clinical features of patients with connective tissue disease with anti-human upstream binding factor antibodies: A single-center retrospective study.

Anti-human upstream-binding factor (anti-hUBF) antibodies have been reported predominantly in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs); these have also been reported in patients without CTDs such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of the low frequency of expression and few case reports, there is no consensus on the clinical significance of these antibodies. Thus, we aimed to examine the clinical features of patients with anti-hUBF antibodies and analyzed 1042 patients with clinically suspected CTDs. The presence of anti-hUBF antibodies was screened using immunoprecipitation assays. Of the 1042 patients, 19 (1.82%) tested positive for anti-hUBF antibodies; among them, 10 (56%) were diagnosed with undifferentiated CTD (UCTD), six with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and three with other diseases. Five of the 10 patients with UCTD were referred to our hospital with suspected SSc. None of the five patients fulfilled the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria, but three scored seven points, a relatively high score. Six anti-hUBF-positive patients with SSc had a significantly lower modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) than that of anti-hUBF-negative patients with SSc (2 [0-2] vs 7 [0-49], p < 0.01). Compared with anti-topoisomerase I-positive patients, anti-hUBF-positive patients had a significantly lower mRSS (2 [0-2] vs 13 [0-42], p < 0.01) and lower incidence of scleroderma renal crisis (0 of 6 vs 8 of 184, p < 0.01). Compared with anti-centromere-positive patients, anti-hUBF-positive patients had a higher incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD), but the difference was not statistically significant (4 of 6 vs 19 of 239). In conclusion, anti-hUBF antibodies were predominantly detected in patients with CTDs and UCTD. In patients with CTDs, SSc exhibited a high ratio, displaying a lower mRSS and higher incidence of ILD. In patients with UCTD, careful follow-up is recommended as they may develop CTDs in the future.