Clustering-based risk stratification of prediabetes populations: Insights from the Taiwan and UK Biobanks.

Aims/introduction: This study aimed to identify low- and high-risk diabetes groups within prediabetes populations using data from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) and UK Biobank (UKB) through a clustering-based Unsupervised Learning (UL) approach, to inform targeted type 2 diabetes (T2D) interventions.

Materials And Methods: Data from TWB and UKB, comprising clinical and genetic information, were analyzed. Prediabetes was defined by glucose thresholds, and incident T2D was identified through follow-up data.

Understanding and alleviating informal caregiver burden through the development and validation of a caregiver strain index-based model in Taiwan.

Background: Quantifying the informal caregiver burden is important for understanding the risk factors associated with caregiver overload and for evaluating the effectiveness of services provided in Long-term Care (LTC).

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a Caregiver Strain Index (CSI)-based score for quantifying the informal caregiver burden, while the original dataset did not fully cover evaluation items commonly included in international assessments. Subsequently, we utilized the CSI-based score to pinpoint key caregiver burden risk factors, examine the initial timing of LTC services adoption, and assess the impact of LTC services on reducing caregiver burden.

Predicting Long-Term Care Service Demands for Cancer Patients: A Machine Learning Approach.

Background: Long-term care (LTC) service demands among cancer patients are significantly understudied, leading to gaps in healthcare resource allocation and policymaking.

Objective: This study aimed to predict LTC service demands for cancer patients and identify the crucial factors.

Methods: 3333 cases of cancers were included.

The new X-ray/visible microscopy MAXWELL technique for fast three-dimensional nanoimaging with isotropic resolution.

Microscopy by Achromatic X-rays With Emission of Laminar Light (MAXWELL) is a new X-ray/visible technique with attractive characteristics including isotropic resolution in all directions, large-volume imaging and high throughput. An ultrathin, laminar X-ray beam produced by a Wolter type I mirror irradiates the sample stimulating the emission of visible light by scintillating nanoparticles, captured by an optical system. Three-dimensional (3D) images are obtained by scanning the specimen with respect to the laminar beam.

[Treatment of comminuted fracture of inferior pole of patella with locking suspension and vertical fixation with three steel wires].

Objective: To explore the clinical application of lockedge suspension combined with three steel wires vertical fixation in comminuted fracture of inferior pole of patella.

Methods: From August 2016 to May 2019, 23 patients with comminuted fracture of the lower pole of the patella, including 14 males and 9 females, were treated with lockedge suspension combined with three steel wires vertical fixation. The age ranged from 34 to 68 (55.

Insight into enhanced Fenton-like degradation of antibiotics over CuFeO based nanocomposite: To improve the utilization efficiency of OH/O via minimizing its migration distance.

In Fenton or Fenton-like processes, the key step is to catalyze HO and produce highly reactive OH radicals. More efforts are then focus on designing efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalysts by activating HO to generate OH at the highest possible steady state concentration. In this study, using the antibiotic ofloxacin as target organic pollutant, we firstly demonstrate a point of view for improving OH utilization efficiency by regulating surface chemical reactions to minimizing its migration distance to the target pollutant.

Controllable growth of carbon nanosheets in the montmorillonite interlayers for high-rate and stable anode in lithium ion battery.

A novel insertable and pseudocapacitive Li ion material for highly ordered layered montmorillonite/carbon is explored in the present study. The commercially available protonated montmorillonite and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine act as starting materials to synthesize the layered material via hydrothermal intercalation, oxidative polymerization and carbonization. This method of preparing montmorillonite/carbon nanocomposite exhibits several advantages.

Significant enhancement of photo-Fenton degradation of ofloxacin over Fe-Dis@Sep due to highly dispersed FeC with electron deficiency.

An efficient strategy for enhancing iron efficiency in heterogeneous Fenton reaction via the pyrolysis of ferrocene chemically modified sepiolite (Sep) was proposed in this study. Highly dispersed FeC on sepiolite (Fe-Dis@Sep) was synthesized as an efficient photo-Fenton catalyst for the visible light degradation of ofloxacin (OFX). It exhibits an excellent Fenton activity and stability towards OFX degradation.

Safe and efficient degradation of metronidazole using highly dispersed β-FeOOH on palygorskite as heterogeneous Fenton-like activator of hydrogen peroxide.

In this study, the highly dispersed β-FeOOH on palygorskite (H-β-FeOOH/PAL) was prepared and investigated as Fenton catalyst for HO activation towards metronidazole (MTZ). Based on electron spin resonance and probe techniques, hydroxyl radicles (OH) as main reactive oxygen species was confirmed, and much more OH were generated over H-β-FeOOH/PAL than T-β-FeOOH/PAL using traditional impregnation method. The enhanced Fe(III) to Fe(II) cycle due to the highly dispersed β-FeOOH leads to the fast degradation of metronidazole over H-β-FeOOH/PAL.

[Modified Metaizeau's technique for the treatment of radial neck fractures of Judet III or IV in children].

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of modified Metaizeau's technique for radial neck fractures of Judet II or IV in children, summarizing the value of clinical application.

Methods: From May 2014 to March 2017, 32 children of Judet III or IV radial neck fractures were treated with percutaneous Kirschner wire poking reduction and closed reduction with elastic intramedullary nailing fixation, including 21 boys and 11 girls, aged from 5.7 to 10.

Surface Facet of CuFeO Nanocatalyst: A Key Parameter for HO Activation in Fenton-Like Reaction and Organic Pollutant Degradation.

The development of efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalysts is mainly by "trial-and-error" concept and the factor determining HO activation remains elusive. In this work, we demonstrate that suitable facet exposure to elongate O-O bond in HO is the key parameter determining the Fenton catalyst's activity. CuFeO nanocubes and nanoplates with different surface facets of {110} and {012} are used to compare the effect of exposed facets on Fenton activity.

The effectiveness of pressure therapy (15-25 mmHg) for hypertrophic burn scars: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although pressure therapy (PT) represents the standard care for prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scar (HS) from burns, its practice is largely based on empirical evidence and its effectiveness remains controversial. To clarify the effect of PT (15-25 mmHg) for HS, we performed the systematic review and meta-analysis. Several electronic databases were screened to identify related randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Structural and magnetic properties of iron nanowires and iron nanoparticles fabricated through a reduction reaction.

The main goal of this work is to study the structural and magnetic properties of iron nanowires and iron nanoparticles, which have been fabricated in almost the same processes. The only difference in the synthesis is an application of an external magnetic field in order to form the iron nanowires. Both nanomaterials have been examined by means of transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry and Mössbauer spectrometry to determine their structures.

Structural investigations of hybrid TiO2/CNTs nanomaterials.

In the present study, pure TiO2 and hybrid TiO2/CNTs nanomaterials are prepared by sol gel technique. Post heat treatment is performed at 600, 800, and 1000 degrees C, respectively. The structural characterizations are performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques.

Full-field hard x-ray microscopy below 30 nm: a challenging nanofabrication achievement.

The fabrication of devices to focus hard x-rays is one of the most difficult-and important-challenges in nanotechnology. Here we show that Fresnel zone plates combining 30 nm external zones and a high aspect ratio finally bring hard x-ray microscopy beyond the 30 nm Rayleigh spatial resolution level and measurable spatial frequencies down to 20-23 nm feature size. After presenting the overall nanofabrication process and the characterization test results, we discuss the potential research impact of these resolution levels.

Non-covalent functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with organic aromatic compounds.

Several aromatic compounds derived from benzene by its annelation (naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene) and exocyclic substitution (e.g., nitrobenzene, dinitrobenzenes, trinitrobenzene, chlorobenzene, N,N-dimethylaniline, and others) and endocyclic substitution (pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline) efficiently sorbed on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

Complexes of carbon nanotubes with selected carotenoids.

As proven by the UV-VIS, micro-Raman spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry, beta-carotene, lycopene, retinoic acid, and retinol adsorbed on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) form electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes. The rate of the adsorption of carotenoids is estimated as the rate of decrease in their concentration in solution followed the exponential curve equation. The rate of the adsorption decreased with the chain length of the guest capable sorption on the surface and steric effect of the terminals in the beta-carotene was also essential.

Electrochemical study on screen-printed carbon electrodes with modification by iron nanoparticles in Fe(CN)(6) (4-/3-) redox system.

The remarkable enhancement of electron transfer on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) with modification by iron nanoparticles (Fe(nano)), coupled with Fe(CN)(6) (4-/3-) redox species, was characterized with an increase of electroactive area (A (ea)) at electrode surface together with a decrease of heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k degrees ) in the system. Hence, Fe(nano)-Fe(CN)(6) (3-) SPCEs with deposition of glucose oxidase (GOD) demonstrated a higher sensitivity to various glucose concentrations than Fe(CN)(6) (3-)/GOD-deposited SPCEs. In addition, an inhibited diffusion current from cyclic voltammograms was also observed with an increase in redox concentration and complicated the estimation of A (ea).

Interactions of single-walled carbon nanotubes with monosaccharides.

Closed-end single-walled carbon nanotubes were wetted in aqueous solutions of monosaccharides, forming weak surface complexes, as proven by the estimation of the content of monosaccharides in complexes isolated from aqueous solutions. The complexation was confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The Gaussian 03 (Molecular Mechanics UFF method) computations of total energy of the single-walled carbon nanotube-monosaccharides inclusion and surface complexes showed that inclusion complexes should be more stable than corresponding surface complexes.

Hyperhydricity in shoot cultures of Scrophularia yoshimurae can be effectively reduced by ventilation of culture vessels.

An effective procedure for obtaining healthy shoots from nodal segments of Scrophularia yoshimurae is described. Nodal segments cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L(-1) benzyladenine (BA) and 0.

Quantum-chemical model evaluations of thermodynamics and kinetics of oxygen atom additions to narrow nanotubes.

This paper reports a computational study of oxygen additions to narrow nanotubes, a problem frequently studied with fullerenes. In fact, fullerene oxides were the first observed fullerene derivatives, and they have naturally attracted the attention of both experiment and theory. C60O had represented a long-standing case of experiment-theory disagreement, and there has been a similar problem with C60O2.