Understanding the charge transfer effects of single atoms for boosting the performance of Na-S batteries.

The effective flow of electrons through bulk electrodes is crucial for achieving high-performance batteries, although the poor conductivity of homocyclic sulfur molecules results in high barriers against the passage of electrons through electrode structures. This phenomenon causes incomplete reactions and the formation of metastable products. To enhance the performance of the electrode, it is important to place substitutable electrification units to accelerate the cleavage of sulfur molecules and increase the selectivity of stable products during charging and discharging. Herein, we develop a single-atom-charging strategy to address the electron transport issues in bulk sulfur electrodes. The establishment of the synergistic interaction between the adsorption model and electronic transfer helps us achieve a high level of selectivity towards the desirable short-chain sodium polysulfides during the practical battery test. These finding indicates that the atomic manganese sites have an enhanced ability to capture and donate electrons. Additionally, the charge transfer process facilitates the rearrangement of sodium ions, thereby accelerating the kinetics of the sodium ions through the electrostatic force. These combined effects improve pathway selectivity and conversion to stable products during the redox process, leading to superior electrochemical performance for room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries.

Simulating rigid head motion artifacts on brain magnitude MRI data-Outcome on image quality and segmentation of the cerebral cortex.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) datasets from epidemiological studies often show a lower prevalence of motion artifacts than what is encountered in clinical practice. These artifacts can be unevenly distributed between subject groups and studies which introduces a bias that needs addressing when augmenting data for machine learning purposes. Since unreconstructed multi-channel k-space data is typically not available for population-based MRI datasets, motion simulations must be performed using signal magnitude data. There is thus a need to systematically evaluate how realistic such magnitude-based simulations are. We performed magnitude-based motion simulations on a dataset (MR-ART) from 148 subjects in which real motion-corrupted reference data was also available. The similarity of real and simulated motion was assessed by using image quality metrics (IQMs) including Coefficient of Joint Variation (CJV), Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), and Contrast-to-Noise-Ratio (CNR). An additional comparison was made by investigating the decrease in the Dice-Sørensen Coefficient (DSC) of automated segmentations with increasing motion severity. Segmentation of the cerebral cortex was performed with 6 freely available tools: FreeSurfer, BrainSuite, ANTs, SAMSEG, FastSurfer, and SynthSeg+. To better mimic the real subject motion, the original motion simulation within an existing data augmentation framework (TorchIO), was modified. This allowed a non-random motion paradigm and phase encoding direction. The mean difference in CJV/SNR/CNR between the real motion-corrupted images and our modified simulations (0.004±0.054/-0.7±1.8/-0.09±0.55) was lower than that of the original simulations (0.015±0.061/0.2±2.0/-0.29±0.62). Further, the mean difference in the DSC between the real motion-corrupted images was lower for our modified simulations (0.03±0.06) compared to the original simulations (-0.15±0.09). SynthSeg+ showed the highest robustness towards all forms of motion, real and simulated. In conclusion, reasonably realistic synthetic motion artifacts can be induced on a large-scale when only magnitude MR images are available to obtain unbiased data sets for the training of machine learning based models.

2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel vs. adapaline gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris treatment: A multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blind, parallel-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Salicylic acid (SA) has been used for treatment of acne of different severity levels. However, there are few researches about the safety and efficacy for treatment of mild to moderate acne, and the improvement of the skin condition by using 2% supramolecular salicylic acid (SSA) compared to Davuwen Adapaline gel. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blind and parallel-controlled study was conducted. A total of 500 patients (trial group: 249, control group: 251) with mild to moderate (grade I-II) facial acne vulgaris were recruited in this study over a 16-week trial period. Patients in the trial group were treated with Broda 2% SSA hydrogel, while control group treated with Davuwen Adapaline gel once a day. The number of inflammatory papules, comedones, and pustules were counted and the rate of lesion reduction was calculated pre- and post-treatment. Then, the skin physiological indicators, including L*a*b*, TEWL, skin sebum and hydration were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS 9.4. Significance was set at p = 0.05. RESULTS: At the end of 12 weeks' therapy, the regression and markedly improvement rate of the trail group and the control group were 51.01% and 43.10% respectively, and there was no significant difference in the improvement rate between two groups (p = 0.0831). Although, there was no difference in adverse events rate between two groups, the adverse events rate of the trail group was 0.40%, a little lower than the control group (0.80%). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the numbers of pores at T1 between two groups. CONCLUSION: Both 2% SSA and Adapaline gel were equally effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. 2% SSA is worth the clinical promotion and application in mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

Evolution of phenotypic variance provides insights into the genetic basis of adaptation.

Most traits are polygenic, and the contributing loci can be identified by GWAS. The genetic basis of adaptation is, however, difficult to characterize. Here, we propose to study the genetic basis of trait evolution by monitoring the evolution of their phenotypic variance during adaptation to a new environment in well-defined laboratory conditions. Extensive computer simulations show that the evolution of phenotypic variance in a replicated experimental evolution setting can distinguish between oligogenic and polygenic adaptive architectures. We compared gene expression variance in male Drosophila simulans before and after 100 generations of adaptation to a novel hot environment. The variance change in gene expression was indistinguishable for genes with and without a significant change in mean expression after 100 generations of evolution. We suggest that the majority of adaptive gene expression evolution can be explained by a polygenic architecture. We propose that tracking the evolution of phenotypic variance across generations can provide an approach to characterize the adaptive architecture.

"Maintain Professionalism": Nurses' Experiences in Caring for Patients with Malignant Fungating Wounds in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Malignant Fungating Wounds (MFWs) occur among 5-15% of patients with terminal cancers, the uncontrollable symptoms result in serious psychosocial issues, thereby reducing the quality of life. Caring for MFWs impacts caregivers, including healthcare personnel. While existing studies are patient-focused, the impact of care experiences and associated support for nurses has not been examined. AIM: To explore the experiences in caring for patients with MFWs among nurses in Taiwan. DESIGN: Qualitative study with a phenomenological approach by thematic analysis was conducted with semi-structured interviews. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: 15 nurses who cared for patients with MFWs at local district hospitals in Southern Taiwan. RESULTS: Four themes were identified to describe the phenomenon: (1) Fear of Unpredictability (2) Maintaining Professionalism (3) Feeling Helpless (4) Rationalizing the Negatives. The themes illustrated the distress of managing physical symptoms and highlighted how nurses strived to promote comfort for patients. Nurses felt helpless about the incurable nature of MFWs but found a way to suppress their feelings. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested the need for addressing the emotional well-being of nurses who take care of patients with MFWs. Future studies should identify effective coping strategies for nurses' health when caring for this population.

Supramolecular salicylic acid combined with niacinamide in chloasma: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: No trial of supramolecular salicylic acid (SSA) for chloasma is available yet. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Bole DA 30% supramolecular salicylic acid (SSA) combined with 10% niacinamide in treating chloasma. METHODS: This multicenter (n=15), randomized, double-blind, parallel placebo-controlled trial randomized the subjects (1:1) to Bole DA 30% SSA or placebo. The primary endpoint was the effective rate after 16 weeks using the modified melasma area severity index (mMASI) [(pretreatment-posttreatment)/pretreatment×100%]. RESULTS: This study randomized 300 subjects (150/group in the full analysis set, 144 and 147 in the per-protocol set). The total mMASI score, overall Griffiths 10 score, left Griffiths 10 score, and right Griffiths 10 score were significantly lower in the Bole DA 30% SSA group than in the placebo group (all P<0.001). One study drug-related AE and one study drug-unrelated adverse events (AE) were reported in the Bole DA 30% SSA group. No AE was reported in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Bole DA 30% SSA combined with 10% niacinamide is effective and safe for treating chloasma. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2200065346.

Electronic Spin Alignment within Homologous NiS2/NiSe2 Heterostructures to Promote Sulfur Redox Kinetics in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The catalytic activation of the Li-S reaction is fundamental to maximize the capacity and stability of Li-S batteries (LSBs). Current research on Li-S catalysts mainly focuses on optimizing the energy levels to promote adsorption and catalytic conversion, while frequently overlooking the electronic spin state influence on charge transfer and orbital interactions. Here, hollow NiS2/NiSe2 heterostructures encapsulated in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (NiS2/NiSe2@NC) are synthesized and used as a catalytic additive in sulfur cathodes. The NiS2/NiSe2 heterostructure promotes the spin splitting of the 3d orbital, driving the Ni3+ transformation from low to high spin. This high spin configuration raises the electronic energy level and activates the electronic state. This accelerates the charge transfer and optimizes the adsorption energy, lowering the reaction energy barrier of the polysulfides conversion. Benefiting from these characteristics, LSBs based on NiS2/NiSe2@NC/S cathodes exhibit high initial capacity (1458 mAh·g⁻1 at 0.1C), excellent rate capability (572 mAh·g⁻1 at 5C), and stable cycling with an average capacity decay rate of only 0.025% per cycle at 1C during 500 cycles. Even at high sulfur loadings (6.2 mg·cm⁻2), high initial capacities of 1173 mAh·g⁻1 (7.27 mAh·cm⁻2) are measured at 0.1C, and 1058 mAh·g⁻1 is retained after 300 cycles.

2D Ferromagnetic M3 GeTe2 (M = Ni/Fe) for Boosting Intermediates Adsorption toward Faster Water Oxidation.

In this work, 2D ferromagnetic M3 GeTe2 (MGT, M = Ni/Fe) nanosheets with rich atomic Te vacancies (2D-MGTv ) are demonstrated as efficient OER electrocatalyst via a general mechanical exfoliation strategy. X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) results validate the dominant presence of metal-O moieties and rich Te vacancies, respectively. The formed Te vacancies are active for the adsorption of OH* and O* species while the metal-O moieties promote the O* and OOH* adsorption, contributing synergistically to the faster oxygen evolution kinetics. Consequently, 2D-Ni3 GeTe2v exhibits superior OER activity with only 370 mV overpotential to reach the current density of 100 mA cm-2 and turnover frequency (TOF) value of 101.6 s-1 at the overpotential of 200 mV in alkaline media. Furthermore, a 2D-Ni3 GeTe2v -based anion-exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis cell (1 cm2 ) delivers a current density of 1.02 and 1.32 A cm-2 at the voltage of 3 V feeding with 0.1 and 1 m KOH solution, respectively. The demonstrated metal-O coordination with abundant atomic vacancies for ferromagnetic M3 GeTe2 and the easily extended preparation strategy would enlighten the rational design and fabrication of other ferromagnetic materials for wider electrocatalytic applications.

Increased Apolipoprotein A1 Expression Correlates with Tumor-Associated Neutrophils and T Lymphocytes in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

An increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a poor prognostic biomarker in various types of cancer, because it reflects the inhibition of lymphocytes in the circulation and tumors. In urologic cancers, upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is known for its aggressive features and lack of T cell infiltration; however, the association between neutrophils and suppressed T lymphocytes in UTUC is largely unknown. In this study, we examined the relationship between UTUC-derived factors and tumor-associated neutrophils or T lymphocytes. The culture supernatant from UTUC tumor tissue modulated neutrophils to inhibit T cell proliferation. Among the dominant factors secreted by UTUC tumor tissue, apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) exhibited a positive correlation with NLR. Moreover, tumor-infiltrating neutrophils were inversely correlated with tumor-infiltrating T cells. Elevated Apo-A1 levels in UTUC were also inversely associated with the population of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Our findings indicate that elevated Apo-A1 expression in UTUC correlates with tumor-associated neutrophils and T cells. This suggests a potential immunomodulatory effect on neutrophils and T cells within the tumor microenvironment, which may represent therapeutic targets for UTUC treatment.

Performance of digital technologies in assessing fall risks among older adults with cognitive impairment: a systematic review.

Older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) are twice as likely to fall compared to the general older adult population. Traditional fall risk assessments may not be suitable for older adults with CI due to their reliance on attention and recall. Hence, there is an interest in using objective technology-based fall risk assessment tools to assess falls within this population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the features and performance of technology-based fall risk assessment tools for older adults with CI. A systematic search was conducted across several databases such as PubMed and IEEE Xplore, resulting in the inclusion of 22 studies. Most studies focused on participants with dementia. The technologies included sensors, mobile applications, motion capture, and virtual reality. Fall risk assessments were conducted in the community, laboratory, and institutional settings; with studies incorporating continuous monitoring of older adults in everyday environments. Studies used a combination of technology-based inputs of gait parameters, socio-demographic indicators, and clinical assessments. However, many missed the opportunity to include cognitive performance inputs as predictors to fall risk. The findings of this review support the use of technology-based fall risk assessment tools for older adults with CI. Further advancements incorporating cognitive measures and additional longitudinal studies are needed to improve the effectiveness and clinical applications of these assessment tools. Additional work is also required to compare the performance of existing methods for fall risk assessment, technology-based fall risk assessments, and the combination of these approaches.

Electrochemical coupling in subnanometer pores/channels for rechargeable batteries.

Subnanometer pores/channels (SNPCs) play crucial roles in regulating electrochemical redox reactions for rechargeable batteries. The delicately designed and tailored porous structure of SNPCs not only provides ample space for ion storage but also facilitates efficient ion diffusion within the electrodes in batteries, which can greatly improve the electrochemical performance. However, due to current technological limitations, it is challenging to synthesize and control the quality, storage, and transport of nanopores at the subnanometer scale, as well as to understand the relationship between SNPCs and performances. In this review, we systematically classify and summarize materials with SNPCs from a structural perspective, dividing them into one-dimensional (1D) SNPCs, two-dimensional (2D) SNPCs, and three-dimensional (3D) SNPCs. We also unveil the unique physicochemical properties of SNPCs and analyse electrochemical couplings in SNPCs for rechargeable batteries, including cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and functional materials. Finally, we discuss the challenges that SNPCs may face in electrochemical reactions in batteries and propose future research directions.

A Critical Review on Room-Temperature Sodium-Sulfur Batteries: From Research Advances to Practical Perspectives.

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT-Na/S) batteries are promising alternatives for next-generation energy storage systems with high energy density and high power density. However, some notorious issues are hampering the practical application of RT-Na/S batteries. Besides, the working mechanism of RT-Na/S batteries under practical conditions such as high sulfur loading, lean electrolyte, and low capacity ratio between the negative and positive electrode (N/P ratio), is of essential importance for practical applications, yet the significance of these parameters has long been disregarded. Herein, it is comprehensively reviewed recent advances on Na metal anode, S cathode, electrolyte, and separator engineering for RT-Na/S batteries. The discrepancies between laboratory research and practical conditions are elaborately discussed, endeavors toward practical applications are highlighted, and suggestions for the practical values of the crucial parameters are rationally proposed. Furthermore, an empirical equation to estimate the actual energy density of RT-Na/S pouch cells under practical conditions is rationally proposed for the first time, making it possible to evaluate the gravimetric energy density of the cells under practical conditions. This review aims to reemphasize the vital importance of the crucial parameters for RT-Na/S batteries to bridge the gaps between laboratory research and practical applications.

Comparison of the mesodermal differentiation potential between embryonic stem cells and scalable induced pluripotent stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have promising potential in clinical application whereas their limited amount and sources hinder their bioavailability. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have become prominent options in regenerative medicine as both possess the ability to differentiate into MSCs. METHODS: Recently, our research team has successfully developed human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-homozygous iPSC cell lines with high immune compatibility, covering 13.5% of the Taiwanese population. As we deepen our understanding of the differences between these ESCs and HLA-homozygous iPSCs, our study focused on morphological observations and flow cytometry analysis of specific surface marker proteins during the differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs into MSCs. RESULTS: The results showed no significant differences between the two pluripotent stem cells, and both of them demonstrated the equivalent ability to further differentiate into adipose, cartilage, and bone cells. CONCLUSION: Our research revealed that these iPSCs with high immune compatibility exhibit the same differentiation potential as ESCs, enhancing the future applicability of highly immune-compatible iPSCs.

Dysregulation of the circRNA_0087207/miR-548c-3p/PLSR1-TGFB2 axis in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is mainly the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) associated with high apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which is accepted to be caused by the mutations in the subunits of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The treatment is still infant while efforts of correcting genes or using antioxidants do not bring good and consistent results. Unaffected carrier carries LHON mutation but shows normal phenotype, suggesting that the disease's pathogenesis is complex, in which secondary factors exist and cooperate with the primary complex I dysfunction. METHODS: Using LHON patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as the in vitro disease model, we previously demonstrated that circRNA_0087207 had the most significantly higher expression level in the LHON patient-iPSC-derived RGCs compared with the unaffected carrier-iPSC-derived RGCs. To elaborate the underlying pathologies regulated by circRNA_008720 mechanistically, bioinformatics analysis was conducted and elucidated that circRNA_0087207 could act as a sponge of miR-548c-3p and modulate PLSCR1/TGFB2 levels in ND4 mutation-carrying LHON patient-iPSC-derived RGCs. RESULTS: Using LHON iPSC-derived RGCs as the disease-based platform, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis on targeted mRNA of miR-548c-3p showed the connection with apoptosis, suggesting downregulation of miR548c-3p contributes to the apoptosis of LHON patient RGCs. CONCLUSION: We showed that the downregulation of miR548c-3p plays a critical role in modulating cellular dysfunction and the apoptotic program of RGCs in LHON.

Next-Generation Sequencing in Lung Cancers-A Single-Center Experience in Taiwan.

Background and Objectives: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in Taiwan. With rapid advancement of targeted therapeutics in non-small cell lung cancers, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is becoming an important tool for biomarker testing. In this study, we describe institutional experience of NGS analysis in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A cohort of 73 cases was identified from the institutional pathology archive in the period between November 2020 and December 2022. Results: Adenocarcinoma was the most common histologic type (91.8%). Most patients presented with stage IIIB and beyond (87.7%). Twenty-nine patients (39.7%) were evaluated at the time of initial diagnosis, while the others had received prior chemotherapy or targeted therapy. The most frequently mutated gene was EGFR (63%), and this was followed by TP53 (50.7%), KRAS (13.7%), RB1 (13.7%), and CDKN2A (13.7%). Clinically actionable mutations associated with a guideline-suggested targeted therapy were identified in 55 cases (75.3%) overall, and in 47.1% of cases excluding EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutation. Biomarkers other than EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutations were compared. Cases without TKI-sensitizing EGFR mutation had more level 1 or 2 biomarkers (excluding EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutations) than cases with TKI-sensitizing EGFR mutations (47.1% versus 20.1%, p = 0.016). Progressive disease was associated with co-occurrence of clinically actionable mutations (20.5% versus 0%, p < 0.05). Eight of the nine cases with co-occurring actionable genetic alternations had an EGFR mutation. After an NGS test, 46.1% of actionable or potentially actionable genetic alternations led to patients receiving a matched therapy. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that NGS analysis identifies therapeutic targets and may guide treatment strategies in NSCLC. NGS tests may be advantageous over multiple single-gene tests for optimization of treatment plans, especially for those with non-EGFR mutations or those with progressive disease.

Sulfated disaccharide protects membrane and DNA damages from arginine-rich dipeptide repeats in ALS.

Hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 (C9) is the most prevalent mutation among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The patients carry over ~30 to hundreds or thousands of repeats translated to dipeptide repeats (DPRs) where poly-glycine-arginine (GR) and poly-proline-arginine (PR) are most toxic. The structure-function relationship is still unknown. Here, we examined the minimal neurotoxic repeat number of poly-GR and found that extension of the repeat number led to a loose helical structure disrupting plasma and nuclear membrane. Poly-GR/PR bound to nucleotides and interfered with transcription. We screened and identified a sulfated disaccharide that bound to poly-GR/PR and rescued poly-GR/PR-induced toxicity in neuroblastoma and C9-ALS-iPSC-derived motor neurons. The compound rescued the shortened life span and defective locomotion in poly-GR/PR expressing Drosophila model and improved motor behavior in poly-GR-injected mouse model. Overall, our results reveal structural and toxicity mechanisms for poly-GR/PR and facilitate therapeutic development for C9-ALS.