Publications by authors named "B-B Zhang"

Despite major progress in the investigation of boron cluster anions, direct experimental study of neutral boron clusters remains a significant challenge because of the difficulty in size selection. Here we report a size-specific study of the neutral B9 cluster using threshold photoionization with a tunable vacuum ultraviolet free electron laser. The ionization potential of B9 is measured to be 8.

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Deep brain stimulation is an efficacious treatment for dystonia. While the internal pallidum serves as the primary target, recently, stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been investigated. However, optimal targeting within this structure and its surroundings have not been studied in depth.

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In this study, we explore the substrate-mediated control of self-assembly behavior in diboron molecules (CHBO, BCat) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The structural transformation of BCat molecules from one-dimensional (1D) molecular chains to two-dimensional (2D) molecular arrays was achieved by changing the substrate from Au(111) to bilayer graphene (BLG), highlighting the key role of substrate interactions in determining the assembly structure. Notably, the B-B bond in the molecular arrays on BLG is distinctly pronounced, reflecting a more refined molecular resolution with distinct electronic states than that on Au(111).

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Introduction: We aimed to compare pregnancy outcomes of women with inflammatory bowel disease using biosimilar vs originator infliximab (IFX).

Methods: In a prospective cohort of pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease, we collected characteristics, medications, pregnancy outcomes, and developmental milestones. We compared outcomes by IFX biosimilar or originator use via bivariate statistics.

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Intrinsic and acquired resistance represent major obstacles to optimize outcomes in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeted therapy in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Hence, a deeper understanding of EGFR-TKI resistance mechanisms in LUAD will potentially assist in formulating strategies to delay or overcome such resistance. Herein, it was observed that trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) is a crucial mediator of the LUAD EGFR-TKI response.

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In the presence of an external magnetic field, the Kitaev model could host either gapped topological anyons or gapless Majorana fermions. In α-RuCl_{3}, the gapped and gapless cases are only separated by a 30° rotation of the in-plane magnetic field vector. The presence or absence of the spectral gap is key for understanding the thermal transport behavior in α-RuCl_{3}.

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Fibroblasts play critical roles in tissue homeostasis, but in pathologic states they can drive fibrosis, inflammation, and tissue destruction. Little is known about what regulates the homeostatic functions of fibroblasts. Here, we perform RNA sequencing and identify a gene expression program in healthy synovial fibroblasts characterized by enhanced fatty acid metabolism and lipid transport.

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The 'gas‒liquid‒solid' mechanism annealing method was used to create a superhydrophobic boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) stainless steel mesh in a tube furnace at 1250 °C in an NH environment. Fe powder was used as a catalyst, and B:BO = 4:1 was used as the raw material. The water droplets on the surface of the superhydrophobic material had a contact angle of approximately 150° and a slide angle of approximately 3°.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The huR83C mouse model replicates the disease phenotype and has been used to test the effectiveness of BEAM-301, a treatment that utilizes lipid nanoparticles and adenine base editing to correct the harmful G6PC1-R83C variant.
  • * BEAM-301 has shown the ability to correct about 60% of the variant in liver cells, restore blood sugar control, improve overall health, and increase survival rates in mice, indicating its potential as a therapeutic option for patients with this specific genetic mutation
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Objective: This study is focused on ultrasound multimodality examination, which refers to the combined use of three ultrasound examination modalities, ultrasound (US), acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The purpose of this study is to analyze the value of applying ultrasound multimodality examination in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast non-mass-like lesions (NMLs).

Methods: Cases of breast NMLs were analyzed retrospectively, and the nature of all the lesions was verified by pathological examination.

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Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence, timing, and type of new cancer diagnosis among patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Methods: We used data from the ARCADIA trial, which enrolled patients with cryptogenic stroke and atrial cardiopathy. Participants were prospectively followed, and serious adverse events were assessed every 3 months or sooner if investigators were alerted between visits to an event.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intracellular protein delivery has significant potential in cell biology and medicine, aiding in areas like bioimaging, disease treatment, and genome editing.* -
  • Researchers successfully delivered the functional protein cytochrome c (CYC) into lipid vesicles and live cells using a boron cluster anion carrier, achieving a cellular uptake rate of nearly 90%.* -
  • The method allowed CYC to enter the cytoplasm directly while maintaining its biological activity, showing a 25% increase in cell apoptosis at a low dose, highlighting the efficiency of inorganic cluster ions as protein delivery tools for future applications.*
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Reactions of -carborane-fused diborane(4) with 3-diazirines led to the complete cleavage of the N[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond, with one nitrogen atom being incorporated into the B-B bond. The molecular and electronic structures of the resultant borylnitrogen compounds were confirmed through single-crystal X-ray analyses and computational studies. The related reaction mechanism was investigated using DFT calculations.

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  • Dual immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) using CTLA4 and PD-(L)1 inhibitors shows improved anti-tumor effectiveness and immune toxicity compared to PD-(L)1 inhibitors alone in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
  • Patients with mutations in STK11 and/or KEAP1 genes benefit more from the combination treatment compared to those receiving only PD-(L)1 inhibitors, as shown in the POSEIDON trial.
  • The loss of KEAP1 serves as a strong predictor for the success of dual ICB, as it leads to a more favorable outcome by changing the tumor's immune environment to better engage CD4 and CD8 T cells for anti-tumor activity. *
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The inherent properties of exposed facets of iron minerals played key roles in heterogeneous reactions at the mineral interface, and the addition of co-catalysts has been elucidated to further enhance the reactions for contaminants degradation. Here, synergistic Fenton-like catalytic reactivity of different hematite dominant exposed facets ({001}, {012}, {100}, and {113}) with nano boron carbide (BC) was revealed. In 5 h, as compared with the cumulative •OH in the BC/HO system (96.

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Article Synopsis
  • Influenza and COVID-19 are two major respiratory diseases that have led to significant health challenges worldwide, prompting the need for an effective combined vaccine to avoid multiple doses.
  • Researchers created a chimeric protein subunit vaccine combining parts of the influenza virus and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, demonstrating effectiveness in mouse models against various strains.
  • An mRNA vaccine candidate was developed from this chimeric antigen, showing strong immune responses and complete protection in mice against both influenza and different strains of SARS-CoV-2, with the potential for easy adaptation to new variants.
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We report the results of the first search for B^{-} decays to the Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} final state using 711  fb^{-1} of data collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The results are interpreted in terms of both direct baryon-number-violating B^{-} decay and Ξ_{c}^{0}-Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0} oscillations which follow the standard model decay B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}. We observe no evidence for baryon number violation and set the 95% confidence-level upper limits on the ratio of baryon-number-violating and standard model branching fractions B(B^{-}→Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-})/B(B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}) to be <2.

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Background: Canada has one of the highest incidences of colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide. CRC screening improves CRC outcomes and is cost-effective. This study compares Canadian CRC screening programs using essential elements of an organized screening program outlined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

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The increasing need for mass spectrometric analysis of RNA molecules calls for a better understanding of their gas-phase fragmentation behaviors. In this study, we investigate the effect of terminal phosphate groups on the fragmentation spectra of RNA oligonucleotides (oligos) using high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS). Negative-ion mode collision-induced dissociation (CID) and higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) were carried out on RNA oligos containing a terminal phosphate group on either end, both ends, or neither end.

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  • Lung cancer is a major health issue in China, often diagnosed late, prompting this study to assess plasma-based near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for early detection.
  • The study analyzed 171 plasma samples using various pre-processing techniques and machine learning algorithms, identifying that the support vector machine (SVM) provided the most accurate results.
  • The findings highlight that while NIRS combined with machine learning offers an efficient method for early lung cancer diagnosis, distinguishing benign tumors from cancerous ones remains a challenge.
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Background: Many older adults with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) have a relapse despite having a measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative complete remission with combination chemotherapy. The addition of blinatumomab, a bispecific T-cell engager molecule that is approved for the treatment of relapsed, refractory, and MRD-positive BCP-ALL, may have efficacy in patients with MRD-negative remission.

Methods: In a phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients 30 to 70 years of age with -negative BCP-ALL (with :: indicating fusion) who had MRD-negative remission (defined as <0.

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Fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (fILDs) have poor survival rates and lack effective therapies. Despite evidence for immune mechanisms in lung fibrosis, immunotherapies have been unsuccessful for major types of fILD. Here, we review immunological mechanisms in lung fibrosis that have the potential to impact clinical practice.

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Background: Previous cohort studies of hospitalized patients with a delayed diagnosis of ischemic stroke found that these patients often had an initial emergency department (ED) diagnosis of a fall. We sought to evaluate whether ED visits for a fall resulting in discharge to home (ie, treat-and-release visits) were associated with increased short-term ischemic stroke risk.

Methods: A case-crossover design was used to compare ED visits for falls during case periods (0-15, 16-30, 31-90, and 91-180 days before stroke) and control periods (equivalent time periods exactly 1 year before stroke) using administrative data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project on all hospital admissions and ED visits across 10 states from 2016 to 2020.

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The vast high entropy alloy (HEA) composition space is promising for discovery of new material phases with unique properties. This study explores the potential to achieve rare-earth-free high magnetic anisotropy materials in single-phase HEA thin films. Thin films of FeCoNiMnCu sputtered on thermally oxidized Si/SiO substrates at room temperature are magnetically soft, with a coercivity on the order of 10 Oe.

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