Morphologic and Functional Assessment of Photoreceptors in Laser-Induced Retinopathy Using Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy and Microperimetry.

Purpose: To assess the cone photoreceptors' morphology and associated retinal sensitivity in laser-induced retinopathy (LIR) using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AO-SLO) and microperimetry (MP).

Design: Cohort study.

Methods: This study included 13 patients (15 eyes) with LIR and 38 age-matched healthy volunteers (38 eyes).

Discovery of Aburatubolactams Reveals Biosynthetic Logic for Distinct 5/5-Type Polycyclic Tetramate Macrolactams.

A known polycyclic tetramate macrolactam (aburatubolactam C, ) and three new ones (aburatubolactams D-F, -, respectively) were isolated from the marine-derived sp. SCSIO 40070. The absolute configuration of was established by X-ray analysis.

Electrohydrodynamically Printed d-f Transition Cerium(III) Complex.

The d-f transition rare earth complexes have recently emerged as a promising candidate for display applications due to the parity-allowed transition, high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), short excited lifetime, and tunable emissions. Besides, inkjet printing has been regarded as an important technique for realizing full-color display. However, inkjet-printed d-f transition rare earth complexes have not been investigated.

Distributed Multi-GPU Density Matrix Renormalization Group Algorithm with Applications to the P-Cluster of Nitrogenase.

The presence of many degenerate d/f orbitals makes polynuclear transition-metal compounds, such as iron-sulfur clusters in nitrogenase, challenging for state-of-the-art quantum chemistry methods. To address this challenge, we present the first distributed multi-graphics processing unit (GPU) density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) algorithm suitable for modern high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructures. The central idea is to parallelize the most computationally intensive part─the multiplication of () operators with a trial wave function, where is the number of spatial orbitals, by combining operator parallelism for distributing the workload with a batched algorithm for performing contractions on GPU.

Correlation of IVIM/DKI Parameters with Hypoxia Biomarkers in Fibrosarcoma Murine Models: Direct Control of MRI and Pathological Sections.

Rationale And Objectives: To investigate whether intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) parameters correlate with hypoxia biomarkers, namely hypoxia inducible factor-1ɑ (HIF-1ɑ), carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), and pimonidazole (PIMO), in fibrosarcoma (FS) murine models.

Materials And Methods: A model of 30 FS nude mice was established. All mice underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans after which the IVIM (standard apparent diffusion coefficient [standard ADC], pure diffusion coefficient [D], pseudo-diffusion coefficient [D*], and perfusion fraction [f]) and DKI parameters (mean diffusion [MD], mean kurtosis [MK]) were obtained.

Self-Focused Brain Predictors of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Response in a Transdiagnostic Sample.

Background: Effective biomarkers of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) response provide information beyond available behavioral or self-report measures and may optimize treatment selection for patients based on likelihood of benefit. No single biomarker reliably predicts CBT response. In this study, we evaluated patterns of brain connectivity associated with self-focused attention (SFA) as biomarkers of CBT response for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Bio-based Low- Polymers at High Frequency Derived from Anethole: Synthesis and the Relationship between the Structures and the Properties.

Bio-based polymers have been widely investigated as sustainable low dielectric (low-) materials in past decades. Nevertheless, a few of the polymers with excellent comprehensive properties have been achieved to satisfy the requirements of high-frequency communication application. In this paper, two fluorinated monomers ( and ) have been designed and successfully prepared from biomass anethole.

Examining the effects of a modified SART when measuring mind-wandering.

Objective: Mind-wandering (MW) is defined as a shift of attention from external tasks toward internal thoughts and is popularly measured by the sustained attention to response task (SART). SART is able to capture MW, but cannot track the dynamics of mind-wandering over time well. We thus attempted to modify the sustained attention to response task paradigm (mSART) to capture the participant's mind-wandering state over time and quantify the degree of mind-wandering using the current behavioral data.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI for predicting the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for uterine fibroids.

Purpose: To evaluate the significance of magnetic resonance (MR) intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) quantitative parameters in predicting early efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of uterine fibroids before treatment.

Method: 64 patients with 89 uterine fibroids undergoing HIFU ablation (51 sufficient ablations and 38 insufficient ablations) were enrolled in the study and completed MR imaging and IVIM-DWI before treatment. The IVIM-DWI parameters, including D (diffusion coefficient), D (pseudo-diffusion coefficient), f (perfusion fraction) and relative blood flow (rBF) were calculated.

Lanthanide complexes with d-f transition: new emitters for single-emitting-layer white organic light-emitting diodes.

White organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) is a new generation of lighting technology and has stimulated wide-ranging studies. Despite the advantage of simple device structure, single-emitting-layer WOLEDs (SEL-WOLEDs) still face the challenges of difficult material screening and fine energy level regulation. Herein, we report efficient SEL-WOLEDs with a sky-blue emitting cerium(III) complex Ce-TBO and an orange-red emitting europium(II) complex Eu(Tp) as the emitters, showing a maximum external quantum efficiency of 15.

Correlation between IVIM parameters and microvessel architecture: direct comparison of MRI images and pathological slices in an orthotopic murine model of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters and microvessel architecture (microvessel density (MVD), vasculogenic mimicry (VM), and pericyte coverage index (PCI)) in an orthotopic murine model of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Methods: The murine model was established by injecting rhabdomyosarcoma-derived (RD) cells into the muscle. Nude mice underwent routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and IVIM examinations with ten b values (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, and 2000 s/mm).

Correlation of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion and Diffusion Kurtosis MR Imaging Models With Reactive Stromal Grade in Prostate Cancer.

Background: Reactive stroma is recognized as one of the independent prognostic factors in prostate cancer (PCa). Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) may be useful for assessing the reactive stromal grade (RSG).

Purpose: To investigate whether IVIM and DKI models can evaluate RSG in PCa patients.

Quantitative differentiation of malignant and benign thyroid nodules with multi-parameter diffusion-weighted imaging.

Background: The value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules is limited; however, the value of multi-parameter diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the quantitative evaluation of thyroid nodules has not been well determined.

Aim: To determine the utility of multi-parametric DWI including mono-exponential, bi-exponential, stretched exponential, and kurtosis models for the differentiation of thyroid lesions.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients (62 with benign and 17 with malignant nodules) underwent multi-b value diffusion-weighted imaging of the thyroid.

Rare Earth Complexes with 5d-4f Transition: New Emitters in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are considered as next-generation displays and lighting technologies. During the past three decades, various luminescent materials such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, and thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials have been subsequently investigated as emitters. To date, blue OLEDs are still the bottleneck as compared to red and green ones because of the lack of efficient emitters with simultaneous high exciton utilization efficiency and long-term stability.

A Nomogram of Combining IVIM-DWI and MRI Radiomics From the Primary Lesion of Rectal Adenocarcinoma to Assess Nonenlarged Lymph Node Metastasis Preoperatively.

Background: Lymph node (LN) staging plays an important role in treatment decision-making. Current problem is that preoperative detection of LN involvement is always highly challenging for radiologists.

Purpose: To explore the value of the nomogram model combining intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) and radiomics features from the primary lesion of rectal adenocarcinoma in assessing the non-enlarged lymph node metastasis (N-LNM) preoperatively.

Circulating ACE2-expressing extracellular vesicles block broad strains of SARS-CoV-2.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the pandemic of the coronavirus induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) with evolving variants of concern. It remains urgent to identify novel approaches against broad strains of SARS-CoV-2, which infect host cells via the entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Herein, we report an increase in circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) that express ACE2 (evACE2) in plasma of COVID-19 patients, which levels are associated with severe pathogenesis.

Combining Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion Weighted Imaging and Texture Analysis for a Nomogram to Predict Early Treatment Response to Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Cervical Cancer Patients.

This study aimed to predict early treatment response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) by combining intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) with texture analysis (TA) for cervical cancer patients and to develop a nomogram for estimating the risk of residual tumor. Ninty-three cervical cancer patients underwent conventional MRI and IVIM-DWI before CCRT. We conducted TA using T2WI.

PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells and platelets in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibition is effective in several cancers. Expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on circulating tumor or immune effector cells could provide insights into selection of patients for immune checkpoint inhibition.

Methods: Whole blood was collected at serial timepoints from metastatic breast cancer patients and healthy donors for circulating tumor cell (CTC) and platelet PD-L1 analysis with a phycoerythrin-labeled anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (Biolegend clone 29E.

A method for characterizing daily physiology from widely used wearables.

Millions of wearable-device users record their heart rate (HR) and activity. We introduce a statistical method to extract and track six key physiological parameters from these data, including an underlying circadian rhythm in HR (CRHR), the direct effects of activity, and the effects of meals, posture, and stress through hormones like cortisol. We test our method on over 130,000 days of real-world data from medical interns on rotating shifts, showing that CRHR dynamics are distinct from those of sleep-wake or physical activity patterns and vary greatly among individuals.

Synthesis of Tribenzo[,,]azepines via Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation Reaction of 2-Iodobiphenyls with 2-Halogenoanilines.

A palladium-catalyzed annulation reaction of 2-iodobiphenyls with 2-halogenoanilines has been developed. A variety of 2-iodobiphenyls and 2-halogenoanilines can undergo this transformation. Diversified tribenzo[,,]azepine derivatives can be synthesized in moderate to excellent yields according to this method.

Structural basis for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies with novel binding epitopes.

The ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) threatens global public health and economy unprecedentedly, requiring accelerating development of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Molecular understanding of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) would greatly help advance the development of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy, as well as the design of next generation recombinant vaccines. Here, we applied H2L2 transgenic mice encoding the human immunoglobulin variable regions, together with a state-of-the-art antibody discovery platform to immunize and isolate NAbs.

Terpenoids from Chinese Liverworts spp.

An investigation of the chemical composition of Chinese liverworts led to the isolation of six new caged clerodane-type diterpenoids, scaparins A-C (-) from and scaparins D-F (-) from . An unknown -trachylobane diterpenoid () and three known terpenoid derivatives (-) were obtained from . The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of physical data (IR, UV, HRESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR), and the absolute configurations were unequivocally confirmed by comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra.

The Role and Therapeutic Targeting of JAK/STAT Signaling in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma remains one of the deadliest and treatment-refractory human malignancies in large part due to its diffusely infiltrative nature, molecular heterogeneity, and capacity for immune escape. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway contributes substantively to a wide variety of protumorigenic functions, including proliferation, anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis, stem cell maintenance, and immune suppression. We review the current state of knowledge regarding the biological role of JAK/STAT signaling in glioblastoma, therapeutic strategies, and future directions for the field.