Exhaled VOC detection in lung cancer screening: a comprehensive meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC), characterized by high incidence and mortality rates, presents a significant challenge in oncology. Despite advancements in treatments, early detection remains crucial for improving patient outcomes. The accuracy of screening for LC by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath remains to be determined. METHODS: Our systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines and analyzing data from 25 studies up to October 1, 2023, evaluates the effectiveness of different techniques in detecting VOCs. We registered the review protocol with PROSPERO and performed a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Reviewers screened the studies' titles/abstracts and full texts, and used QUADAS-2 tool for quality assessment. Then performed meta-analysis by adopting a bivariate model for sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: This study explores the potential of VOCs in exhaled breath as biomarkers for LC screening, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods. In all studies, exhaled VOCs discriminated LC from controls. The meta-analysis indicates an integrated sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 86%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.93 for VOC detection. We also conducted a systematic analysis of the source of the substance with the highest frequency of occurrence in the tested compounds. Despite the promising results, variability in study quality and methodological challenges highlight the need for further research. CONCLUSION: This review emphasizes the potential of VOC analysis as a cost-effective, non-invasive screening tool for early LC detection, which could significantly improve patient management and survival rates.

Association of weight-adjusted waist index with all-cause mortality among non-Asian individuals: a national population-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The Weight-Adjusted Waist Index (WWI) is a new indicator of obesity that is associated with all-cause mortality in Asian populations. Our study aimed to investigate the linear and non-linear associations between WWI and all-cause mortality in non-Asian populations in the United States, and whether WWI was superior to traditional obesity indicators as a predictor of all-cause mortality. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using data from the 2011-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), involving 18,592 participants. We utilized Cox proportional hazard models to assess the association between WWI, BMI, WC, and the risk of all-cause mortality, and performed subgroup analyses and interaction tests. We also employed a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve study to evaluate the effectiveness of WWI, BMI, and WC in predicting all-cause mortality. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, WWI, BMI, and WC were positively associated with all-cause mortality. The performance of WWI, BMI, and WC in predicting all-cause mortality yielded AUCs of 0.697, 0.524, and 0.562, respectively. The data also revealed a U-shaped relationship between WWI and all-cause mortality. Race and cancer modified the relationship between WWI and all-cause mortality, with the relationship being negatively correlated in African Americans and cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: In non-Asian populations in the United States, there is a U-shaped relationship between WWI and all-cause mortality, and WWI outperforms BMI and WC as a predictor of all-cause mortality. These findings may contribute to a better understanding and prediction of the relationship between obesity and mortality, and provide support for effective obesity management strategies.

The Bax inhibitor UvBI-1, a negative regulator of mycelial growth and conidiation, mediates stress response and is critical for pathogenicity of the rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens.

Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1), an evolutionarily conserved protein, is a suppressor of cell death induced by the proapoptotic protein Bax and is involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stress in animals, plants and yeast. Rice false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens is one of the destructive rice diseases worldwide. Although BI-1 proteins are widely distributed across filamentous fungi, few of them are functionally characterized. In this study, we identified a BI-1 protein in U. virens, UvBI-1, which contains a predicted Bax inhibitor-1-like family domain and could suppress the cell death induced by Bax. By co-transformation of the CRISPR/Cas9 construct along with donor DNA fragment containing the hygromycin resistance gene, we successfully generated Uvbi-1 deletion mutants. The UvBI-1 deletion showed an increase in mycelia vegetative growth and conidiation, suggesting this gene acts as a negative regulator of the growth and conidiation. In addition, the Uvbi-1 mutants exhibited higher sensitivity to osmotic and salt stress, hydrogen peroxide stress, and cell wall or membrane stress than the wild-type strain. Furthermore, UvBI-1 deletion was found to cause increased production of secondary metabolites and loss of pathogenicity of U. virens. Taken together, our results demonstrate that UvBI-1 plays a negative role in mycelial growth and conidiation, and is critical for stress tolerance, cell wall integrity, secondary metabolites production and pathogenicity of U. virens. Therefore, this study provides new evidence on the conserved function of BI-1 among fungal organisms and other species.

In Situ Intercalation of Bismuth into 3D Reduced Graphene Oxide Scaffolds for High Capacity and Long Cycle-Life Energy Storage.

Metal anodes, such as zinc and bismuth have been regarded as ideal materials for aqueous batteries due to high gravimetrical capacity, high abundance, low toxicity, and intrinsic safety. However, their translation into practical applications are hindered by the low mass loading (≈1 mg cm-2 ) of active materials. Here, the multiscale integrated structural engineering of 3D scaffold and active material, i.e., bismuth is in situ intercalated in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) wall of network, are reported. Tailoring the rapid charge transport on rGO 3D network and facile access to nano- and microscale bismuth, the rGO/Bi hybrid anode shows high utilization efficiency of 91.4% at effective high load density of ≈40 mg cm-2 , high areal capacity of 3.51 mAh cm-2 at the current density of 2 mA cm-2 and high reversibility of >10 000 cycles. The resulting Ni-Bi full battery exhibits high areal capacity of 3.13 mAh cm-2 at the current density of 2 mA cm-2 , far outperforming the other counterpart batteries. It represents a general and efficient strategy in enhancing the battery performance by designing hierarchically networked structure.

The Rise of Fiber Electronics.

As a new direction in applied chemistry, fiber electronics allow device configuration to evolve from three to two dimensions and then to one dimension. The reduction in dimension brings unique properties, such as ultraflexibility, tissue adaptability, and weavability, enabling their use in a variety of applications, particularly in various emerging fields related to implantable devices and wearable systems. The different types of fiber electrode materials are summarized based on the one-dimensional configuration and their distinctive interfaces, various devices, and promising applications. The remaining challenges and future directions are finally highlighted.

Multicolor, Fluorescent Supercapacitor Fiber.

Fiber-shaped supercapacitors have attracted broad attentions from both academic and industrial communities due to the demonstrated potentials as next-generation power modules. However, it is important while remains challenging to develop dark-environment identifiable supercapacitor fibers for enhancement on operation convenience and security in nighttime applications. Herein, a novel family of colorful fluorescent supercapacitor fibers has been produced from aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube sheets. Fluorescent dye particles are introduced and stably anchored on the surfaces of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes to prepare hybrid fiber electrodes with a broad range of colors from red to purple. The fluorescent component in the dye introduces fluorescent indication capability to the fiber, which is particularly promising for flexible and wearable devices applied in dark environment. In addition, the colorful fluorescent supercapacitor fibers also maintain high electrochemical performance under cyclic bending and charge-discharge processes.

Image quality improvement of multi-projection 3D display through tone mapping based optimization.

An optical 3D screen usually shows a certain diffuse reflectivity or diffuse transmission, and the multi-projection 3D display suffers from decreased display local contrast due to the crosstalk of multi-projection contents. A tone mapping based optimizing method is innovatively proposed to suppress the crosstalk and improve the display contrast by minimizing the visible contrast distortions between the display light field and a targeted one with enhanced contrast. The contrast distortions are weighted according to the visibility predicted by the model of human visual system, and the distortions are minimized for the given multi-projection 3D display model that enforces constrains on the solution. Our proposed method can adjust parallax images or parallax video contents for the optimum 3D display image quality taking into account the display characteristics and ambient illumination. The validity of the method is evaluated and proved in experiments.

A One-Dimensional Fluidic Nanogenerator with a High Power Conversion Efficiency.

Electricity generation from flowing water has been developed for over a century and plays a critical role in our lives. Generally, heavy and complex facilities are required for electricity generation, while using these technologies for applications that require a small size and high flexibility is difficult. Here, we developed a fluidic nanogenerator fiber from an aligned carbon nanotube sheet to generate electricity from any flowing water source in the environment as well as in the human body. The power conversion efficiency reached 23.3 %. The fluidic nanogenerator fiber was flexible and stretchable, and the high performance was well-maintained after deformation over 1 000 000 cycles. The fiber also offered unique and promising advantages, such as the ability to be woven into fabrics for large-scale applications.

Augmented reality three-dimensional display with light field fusion.

A video see-through augmented reality three-dimensional display method is presented. The system that is used for dense viewpoint augmented reality presentation fuses the light fields of the real scene and the virtual model naturally. Inherently benefiting from the rich information of the light field, depth sense and occlusion can be handled under no priori depth information of the real scene. A series of processes are proposed to optimize the augmented reality performance. Experimental results show that the reconstructed fused 3D light field on the autostereoscopic display is well presented. The virtual model is naturally integrated into the real scene with a consistence between binocular parallax and monocular depth cues.

Performance improvement of compressive light field display with the viewing-position-dependent weight distribution.

Compressive light field display with multilayer and multiframe decompositions is able to provide three-dimensional (3D) scenes with high spatial-angular resolution and without periodically repeating view-zones. However, there are still some limitations on the display performance, such as poor image quality and limited field of view (FOV). Compressive light field display with the viewing-position-dependent weight distribution is presented. When relevant views are given high weights in the optimization, the displaying performance at the viewing-position can be noticeably improved. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Peak signal-noise-ration (PSNR) is improved by 7dB for the compressive light field display with narrow FOV. The angle for wide FOV can be expended to 70° × 60°, and multi-viewers are supported.

Improved halftoning method for autostereoscopic display based on float grid-division multiplexing.

Autostereoscopic printing is one of the most common ways for three-dimensional display, because it can present finer results by printing higher dots per inches (DPI). However, there are some problems for current methods. First, errors caused by dislocation between integer grids and non-customized lenticular lens result in severe vision quality. Second, the view-number and gray-level cannot be set arbitrarily. In this paper, an improved halftoning method for autostereoscopic printing based on float grid-division multiplexing (fGDM) is proposed. FGDM effectively addresses above two problems. GPU based program of fGDM is enabled to achieve the result very fast. Films with lenticular lens array are implemented in experiments to verify the effectiveness of proposed method which provides an improved three-dimensional performance, compared with the AM screening and random screening.

Tripaddle Posterior Interosseous Artery Flap Design for 3-Finger Defects: An Evaluation of 3 Surgical Approaches.

INTRODUCTION: The tripaddle posterior interosseous artery (PIA) flap can be used for multifinger defect resurfacing, but interpatient variations in perforator distribution remain an ongoing challenge when using this approach. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of 3 different tripaddle PIA perforator flap designs according to the PIA perforator distribution for the repair of 3-finger defects. METHODS: In accordance with the size of the 3-finger defects and the position of the perforators, a tripaddle flap was designed on the multiple perforators of the descending branch of the PIA in the distal two thirds of the forearm. Patients received 1 of 3 distinct tripaddle PIA perforator flap designs based on perforator distributions of the PIA. RESULTS: Three cases of 3-finger defects were repaired with type A trefoil-shaped tripaddle flaps, whereas 4 cases were repaired with type B modified trefoil-shaped tripaddle flaps, and the other 3 cases were repaired with type C chain-shaped tripaddle flaps. All flaps survived except 2 paddles with tip necrosis. After 9.1 months of mean follow-up, 9 of the 10 cases demonstrated satisfactory cosmetic appearance, whereas the last case required a debulking procedure in the second stage. CONCLUSIONS: The free tripaddle PIA perforator flap is an effective option for repairing 3-finger skin defects. Various flap designs based on the PIA perforator distribution allow for more individualized treatment approaches.

Automatic parameter estimation based on the degree of texture overlapping in accurate cost-aggregation stereo matching for three-dimensional video display.

Stereo matching plays a significant role in three-dimensional (3D) display applications. The estimation of the regularization parameter, which strikes a balance between the spatial distance and color difference, is essential for successfully solving ill-posed image-matching problems. Based on the cost-filtering algorithm, a degree of texture overlapping is designed to simultaneously estimate the optimal regularization parameter and achieve accurate matching results. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can estimate the smoothing parameter well, and the accuracy is comparable to other methods with manual adjustment. The application of the presented stereo-matching method in the 32-view 3D display is demonstrated.

Thinned chimeric radial collateral artery perforator flap in complex distal thumb reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Tissue loss accompanied by bone defects in the thumb is a challenging reconstruction problem. Traditional repair methods are unsatisfactory. METHODS: Microsurgical thumb reconstruction was performed using 13 thinned chimeric radial collateral artery (RCA) perforator flaps. The flap was created with a thinned skin paddle and humeral bone segments using independent perforators. Primary defatting was completed when the thickness of the perforator entry was approximately similar to that in the periphery. The posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm was carried to make a sensory flap. Defects were 8.5 × 4.5 cm(2) on average (ranging in size from 4.5 × 1.5 to 15.0 × 6.0 cm(2)), and flap size was 9.0 × 5.5 cm(2) on average (ranging in size from 5.0 × 2.0 to 16.0 × 7.0 cm(2)), whereas the humeral fragments were 2.0 × 1.0 cm(2) on average (ranging in size from 1.5 × 0.5 to 4.0 × 1.5 cm(2)). All data were expressed as mean ± SD. The cosmetic appearance of the donor and recipient sites, Kapandji opposition score and static two-point discrimination of the operated thumb were evaluated during a follow-up visit. RESULTS: Follow-up time was 16.6 months (ranging from 14 to 28 months). Flap thickness before defatting, measured immediately after flap elevation was 14.5 mm (ranging from 10.0 to 25.0 mm). Average flap thickness after defatting was 3.5 mm (ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 mm). Venous congestion occurred in two cases. Successful microsurgical revision was achieved in both cases. All flaps survived. Bone components achieved union in all cases at an average period of 4.8 months (ranging from 3 to 6 months). Based on Kapandji opposition score, the mean thumb opposition score was 6. The mean sensation of flap was 7.5 mm (ranging from 6 to 11 mm). No further flap revision or defatting procedures were required in all cases. Cosmetically acceptable results were achieved for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Findings proved that thinned chimeric RCA perforator flap is a beneficial microsurgical alternative for reconstructing complex bone and soft tissue defects in thumb.

DHTPY-Cu@ZOL-Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy: A Strategic Platform for Advanced Treatment of Drug-Resistant Bacterial Wound Infections.

Purpose: This research was to innovate a nanozyme-based therapeutic strategy that combines aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers with copper nanozymes. This approach is designed to address the hypoxic conditions often found in bacterial infections and aims to boost the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) by ensuring sufficient oxygen supply for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Methods: Our approach involved the synthesis of dihydroxyl triphenyl vinyl pyridine (DHTPY)-Cu@zoledronic acid (ZOL) nanozyme particles. We initially synthesized DHTPY and then combined it with copper nanozymes to form the DHTPY-Cu@ZOL composite. The nanozyme's size, morphology, and chemical properties were characterized using various techniques, including dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo tests to evaluate the photodynamic, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties of the DHTPY-Cu@ZOL nanozymes, including their oxygen-generation capacity, ROS production, and antibacterial efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Results: The DHTPY-Cu@ZOL exhibited proficient H2O2 scavenging and oxygen generation, crucial for enhancing PDT in oxygen-deprived infection environments. Our in vitro analysis revealed a notable antibacterial effect against MRSA, suggesting the nanozymes' potential to disrupt bacterial cell membranes. Further, in vivo studies using a diabetic rat model with MRSA-infected wounds showed that DHTPY-Cu@ZOL markedly improved wound healing and reduced bacterial presence, underscoring its efficacy as a non-antibiotic approach for chronic infections. Conclusion: Our study suggests that DHTPY-Cu@ZOL is a highly promising approach for combating antibiotic-resistant microbial pathogens and biofilms. The biocompatibility and stability of these nanozyme particles, coupled with their improved PDT efficacy position them as a promising candidate for clinical applications.

Enhancing diabetic wound healing through anti-bacterial and promoting angiogenesis using dual-functional slow-release microspheres-loaded dermal scaffolds.

Bacterial infections and the degeneration of the capillary network comprise the primary factors that contribute to the delayed healing of diabetic wounds. However, treatment modalities that cater to effective diabetic wounds healing in clinical settings are severely lacking. Herein, a dual-functional microsphere carrier was designed, which encapsulates polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) or recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor (rhVEGF) together. The in vitro release experiments demonstrated that the use of the microspheres ensured the sustained release of the drugs (PHMB or rhVEGF) over a period of 12 days. Additionally, the integration of these controlled-release microspheres into a dermal scaffold (DS-PLGA@PHMB/rhVEGF) imbued both antibacterial and angiogenic functions to the resulting material. Accordingly, the DS-PLGA@PHMB/rhVEGF scaffold exhibited potent antibacterial properties, effectively suppressing bacterial growth and providing a conducive environment for wound healing, thereby addressing the drawbacks associated with the susceptibility of rhVEGF to deactivation in inflammatory conditions. Additionally, the histological analysis revealed that the use of the DS-PLGA@PHMB/rhVEGF scaffold accelerated the process of wound healing by inhibiting inflammatory reactions, stimulating the production of collagen formation, and enhancing angiogenesis. This provides a novel solution for enhancing the antibacterial and vascularization capabilities of artificial dermal scaffolds, providing a beacon of hope for improving diabetic wound healing.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) in corals of the South China Sea: Occurrence, distribution, and bioaccumulation.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have garnered significant attention in recent years. In view of the enormous ecosystem services value and severe degradation of coral reefs in the South China Sea, this study investigated the occurrence, distribution, and bioaccumulation of 11 OPEs in five coral regions: Daya Bay (DY), Weizhou Island (WZ), Sanya Luhuitou (LHT), Xisha (XS) Islands, and Nansha (NS) Islands. Although OPEs were detected at a high rate, their concentration in South China Sea seawater (1.56 ± 0.89 ng L-1) remained relatively low compared to global levels. All OPEs were identified in coral tissues, with Luhuitou (575 ± 242 ng g-1 dw) showing the highest pollution levels, attributed to intense human activities. Coral mucus, acting as a defense against environmental stresses, accumulated higher ∑11OPEs (414 ± 461 ng g-1 dw) than coral tissues (412 ± 197 ng g-1 dw) (nonparametric test, p < 0.05), and their compositional characteristics varied greatly. In the case of harsh aquatic environments, corals increase mucus secretion and then accumulate organic pollutants. Tissue-mucus partitioning varied among coral species. Most OPEs were found to be bioaccumulative (BAFs >5000 L kg-1) in a few coral tissue samples besides Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP). Mucus' role in the bioaccumulation of OPEs in coral shouldn't be ignored.

Occurrence, distribution, and sources of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the air of the Indo-China Peninsula Based on a Passive Air Monitoring Network.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are a class of emerging and ubiquitous contaminants that are attracting increasing attention, and their large-scale use as flame retardants and plasticizers has led to their pervasive presence in the environment, although their broader impacts remain unknown. In this study, 11 OPEs were measured in the atmosphere of Southeast Asia and Southwest China during 2016. The ∑11OPEs were higher in this region (78.0-1670 pg/m3, mean 458 pg/m3) than in many remote areas, lower than in developed regions, and comparable to levels in many developing country cities. Generally, the ∑11OPEs were higher in urban (105-1670 pg/m3, mean 538 pg/m3) than in suburban (78.0-1350 pg/m3, mean 388 pg/m3). Seasonal variations of OPEs in the air were more pronounced in Cambodia and Laos, especially for Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP). Seasonal variations of ∑11OPEs in most regions correspond to changes in temperature and rainfall. Biomass burning may be also a factor in facilitating OPE emissions from biomass materials or soil into the atmosphere of Southeast Asia. The random forest analysis showed that among these, rainfall had the greatest effect on the seasonal variation of atmospheric OPE concentrations, followed by biomass burning and temperature. The inter-regional variation of ∑11OPEs in Southeast Asia was related to population and economic development in each region. Airflow trajectories indicated that the OPEs in this region were mainly from local sources. The health risk assessment revealed that the inhalation exposure risks of OPEs to the residents in the study areas were very low during the sampling period, but may be increasing.

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

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

Dietary fiber intake associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis among U.S. adults: NHANES 2010-2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent inflammatory joint disease that imposes a significant medical burden and morbidity. Recent scientific evidence suggests that dietary components and patterns could be associated with RA risk. In this study, we aim to investigate the possible relationship between dietary fiber intake and RA risk. We included 15,114 participants from the 2010 to 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database in our study. Participants aged 20 or above were categorized into those with and without RA. Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate regression models were used to test the association between dietary fiber intake, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and RA. Out of all the participants, 1053 were diagnosed with RA (6.97%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that fiber intake was negatively associated with high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (-0.09 [-0.18, -0.02]) and RA risk (0.99 [0.98, 0.99]). Furthermore, our sensitivity analysis suggested that individuals with higher fiber intake (>19.1 g/day) had a 25% lower risk of developing RA than those with lower fiber intake [0.75 (0.63, 0.88)]. Our findings suggest that higher dietary fiber intake is associated with a reduced risk of RA and may help reduce systemic inflammation, thereby potentially slowing down RA progression.