Unraveling the impact of blood RANKL and OPG levels on Alzheimer's disease: Independent of bone mineral density and inflammation.

Introduction: Observational studies have revealed a close relationship between reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) system, pivotal in regulating bone metabolism, has been implicated in brain function, but the causal impact on AD risk remains unclear.

Methods: We employed bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) approaches to elucidate the effect of blood soluble RANKL (sRANKL) and OPG levels on AD, assessing whether this influence was independent of BMD and inflammation.

PbSiOCl and PbCaSiO: Two Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials Exhibit a Moderate Second Harmonic Generation Response.

Finding novel efficient nonlinear optical materials with large second-order nonlinearity for the UV spectral range remains a formidable challenge, especially for silicate systems. Using a high-temperature solid reaction in a tight vacuum environment, two ultraviolet nonlinear optical materials with a moderate second harmonic generation (SHG) response have been created: PbSiOC and PbCaSiO. The SHG values they computed are roughly 2.

Integration of CeO-Based Memristor with Vertically Aligned Nanocomposite Thin Film: Enabling Selective Conductive Filament Formation for High-Performance Electronic Synapses.

The CeO-based memristor has attracted significant attention due to its intrinsic resistive switching (RS) properties, large on/off ratio, and great plasticity, making it a promising candidate for artificial synapses. However, significant challenges such as high power consumption and poor device reliability hinder its broad application in neuromorphic microchips. To tackle these issues, in this work, we design a novel bilayer (BL) memristor by integrating a CeO-based memristor with a Co-CeO vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) layer and compare it with the single layer (SL) memristor.

Genetic insights into the causal linkage between systemic inflammatory regulators and frailty.

Objectives: Previous studies have suggested the associations between systemic inflammation and the risk of frailty, but causal relationships between them remain not well established. We conducted a bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal links between systemic inflammatory regulators and frailty.

Methods: Genetic variants associated with systemic inflammatory regulators were obtained from a comprehensive genetic study on 41 circulating cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), eotaxin, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP1β).

The moderating role of information processing speed in the relationship between brain remodeling and episodic memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Introduction: The role of information processing speed (IPS) on relationships between episodic memory (EM) and central remodeling features in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) was investigated.

Methods: Neuropsychological evaluations and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging were performed on 48 patients diagnosed with aMCI and 50 healthy controls (HC). Moderation models explored the moderating effect of IPS on associations between EM and imaging features at single-region, connectivity, and network levels.

LiNaCaBOFCl and LiNaBO: A Case of Cation-Induced Birefringence Enhancement via Dimensional Changes of Highly Polymerized [BO] Motifs.

Borates, due to their structural chemistry diversity and exceptional performance, are premier material systems for investigating UV optical crystals. The B-O anionic groups with high polymerization (B ≥ 6) are much less in the borate-based system, which is worthy of further research. Herein, cations with different radii and proportions are introduced to borate system, and two new highly polymerized borates, LiNaCaBOFCl (LNCBFC) and LiNaBO (LNBO) were designed and synthesized successfully.

Alterations of contralesional hippocampal subfield volumes and relations to cognitive functions in patients with unilateral stroke.

Background: The volumes of the hippocampal subfields are related to poststroke cognitive dysfunctions. However, it remains unclear whether contralesional hippocampal subfield volume contributes to cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the volumetric differences in the contralesional hippocampal subfields between patients with left and right hemisphere strokes (LHS/RHS).

UV-enhanced photorefractive response rate in a thin-film lithium niobate microdisk.

The photorefractive (PR) effect plays a critical role in emerging photonic technologies, including dynamic volume holography and on-chip all-optical functionalities. Nevertheless, its slow response rate has posed a significant obstacle to its practical application. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the enhancement of the PR response rate in a high-Q thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) microdisk under UV light irradiation.

KMgMoPO and KMgMoPO: two new molybdophosphates exhibiting different optical anisotropies induced by variable dimensionality of the anion framework.

By introducing the d metal cation Mo into phosphates, two new molybdophosphates, KMgMoPO and KMgMoPO, were synthesized by spontaneous crystallization, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. KMgMoPO shows a two-dimensional layer composed of the uncommon eight-membered ring [MoPO] formed by [MoO] and [PO], while KMgMoPO shows isolated [MoPO] clusters composed of [MoO] and [PO]. KMgMoPO and KMgMoPO have UV cut-off wavelengths of 277 and 271 nm, respectively, which are significantly shorter than those of most recently published molybdophosphates.

Tongue coating-dependent superior temporal sulcus remodeling in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Tongue coating affects cognition, and cognitive decline at early stage also showed relations to functional and structural remodeling of superior temporal sulcus (STS) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The potential correlation between disparate cognitive manifestations in aMCI patients with different tongue coatings, and corresponding mechanisms of STS remodeling remains uncharted. In this case-control study, aMCI patients were divided into thin coating (n = 18) and thick coating (n = 21) groups.

Excessive Exogenous Gonadotropins and Genetic and Pregnancy Outcomes After Euploidy Embryo Transfer: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The safety of exogenous gonadotropin treatment, based on its effect on embryos and pregnancy outcomes, remains inconclusive.

Objective: To evaluate the associations of different doses and durations of gonadotropins with embryonic genetic status and pregnancy outcomes after euploid embryo transfer in couples with infertility.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This study was a post hoc analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical trial (RCT) conducted at 14 reproductive centers throughout China from July 2017 to June 2018 that evaluated the cumulative live birth rate with or without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) among couples with infertility and good prognosis.

Circuit-based neuromodulation enhances delayed recall in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of circuits-based paired associative stimulation (PAS) in adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

Methods: We conducted a parallel-group, randomised, controlled clinical trial. Initially, a cohort of healthy subjects was recruited to establish the cortical-hippocampal circuits by tracking white matter fibre connections using diffusion tensor imaging.

Poling-assisted hydrofluoric acid wet etching of thin-film lithium niobate.

Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) has been extensively investigated for a wide range of applications due to continuous advancements in its fabrication methods. The recent emergence of high-fidelity ferroelectric domain poling of TFLN provides an opportunity for achieving a precise pattern control of ferroelectric domains and a subsequent pattern transfer to the TFLN layer using hydrofluoric acid (HF). In this work, we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of z-cut TFLN microdisks using a poling-assisted HF wet etching approach.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy Could Not Improve Cumulative Live Birth Rate Among 705 Couples with Unexplained Recurrent Implantation Failure.

Objective: We evaluate whether next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) improves the cumulative pregnancy outcomes of patients with unexplained recurrent implantation failure (uRIF) as compared to conventional in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study (2015-2022). A total of 705 couples diagnosed with uRIF were included in the study.

Vanadate Crystals with an Enhanced Birefringence and a Broadened Transparency Spectrum through Controlled [VO] Chain Arrangements and Alkali Metal Cation Introduction.

The vanadate (VO) polyhedron offers a compelling avenue for exploring birefringent materials within the infrared frequency range. Among many potential building blocks, the implementation of [VO] chains demonstrated great potential as effective birefringent functional units. In this article, we successfully synthesized the LiNaCsVO·HO compound, which exhibits a remarkable birefringence of 0.

Whole-course care in photodynamic therapy of colorectal cancer: A short communication.

Photodynamic therapy is now widely used in different oncologic fields. It is feasible for the treatment of early, non-surgical and non-obstructive cancers. Also, in gastroenterology, where it was a few attempts to treat both the premalignant lesion and advanced colorectal cancer.

Improved epitaxial growth and multiferroic properties of BiFeMnO using CeO re-seeding layers.

In ferroelectric and multiferroic-based devices, it is often necessary to grow thicker films for enhanced properties. For certain phases that rely on substrate strain for growth, such thicker film growths beyond the typical thin film regime could be challenging. As an example, the BiFeMnO (BFMO) Aurivillius supercell (SC) phase possesses highly desirable multiferroic (, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric) properties and a unique layered structure but relies heavily on substrate strain.

Self-Assembled Au Nanoelectrodes: Enabling Low-Threshold-Voltage HfO-Based Artificial Neurons.

Filamentary-type resistive switching devices, such as conductive bridge random-access memory and valence change memory, have diverse applications in memory and neuromorphic computing. However, the randomness in filament formation poses challenges to device reliability and uniformity. To overcome this issue, various defect engineering methods have been explored, including doping, metal nanoparticle embedding, and extended defect utilization.

LiRbSOCl with a Short Ultraviolet Absorption Edge and an Acentric Structure through Assembling Heteroleptic [LiOCl] Tetrahedra.

Currently, short-wavelength nonlinear optical materials are urgently needed. Through substituting homoleptic [LiO] in centrosymmetric LiRbSO with heteroleptic [LiOCl] tetrahedra, an acentric sulfate chloride, LiRbSOCl, was designed and synthesized by the high-temperature melting method. LiRbSOCl shows a relatively short ultraviolet absorption edge (<200 nm) among newly reported sulfate chlorides.

Morphological alterations of contralesional hemisphere relate to functional outcomes after stroke.

The present study aimed to investigate poststroke morphological alterations contralesionally and correlations with functional outcomes. Structural magnetic resonance images were obtained from 27 poststroke patients (24 males, 50.21 ± 10.

Abnormal in-plane epitaxy and formation mechanism of vertically aligned Au nanopillars in self-assembled CeO-Au metamaterial systems.

Metamaterials present great potential in the applications of solar cells and nanophotonics, such as super lenses and other meta devices, owing to their superior optical properties. In particular, hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) with exceptional optical anisotropy offer improved manipulation of light-matter interactions as well as a divergence in the density of states and thus show enhanced performances in related fields. Recently, the emerging field of oxide-metal vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs) suggests a new approach to realize HMMs with flexible microstructural modulations.

Two-colour dissipative solitons and breathers in microresonator second-harmonic generation.

Frequency conversion of dissipative solitons associated with the generation of broadband optical frequency combs having a tooth spacing of hundreds of giga-hertz is a topical challenge holding the key to practical applications in precision spectroscopy and data processing. The work in this direction is underpinned by fundamental problems in nonlinear and quantum optics. Here, we present the dissipative two-colour bright-bright and dark-dark solitons in a quasi-phase-matched microresonator pumped for the second-harmonic generation in the near-infrared spectral range.

Prednisone vs Placebo and Live Birth in Patients With Recurrent Implantation Failure Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Implantation failure remains a critical barrier to in vitro fertilization. Prednisone, as an immune-regulatory agent, is widely used to improve the probability of implantation and pregnancy, although the evidence for efficacy is inadequate.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of 10 mg of prednisone compared with placebo on live birth among women with recurrent implantation failure.

Growth hormone supplementation ameliorates blastocyst euploidy rates and improves pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy cycles.

Background: Growth hormone (GH) supplementation has been shown to improve oocyte quality and live birth, but few studies have examined whether GH can reduce embryonic aneuploidy. Chromosomal abnormalities in preimplantation embryos have been regarded as the principal cause of implantation failure and miscarriage, and an increased percentage of aneuploid embryos has been observed in patient cohorts with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), recurrent implantation failure (RIF), and advanced maternal age.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on women whose previous PGT-A cycle ended up with no transferrable blastocysts, or the aneuploidy rate was above 50% and no live birth was acquired.

Stoichiometry and architecture of the platelet membrane complex glycoprotein Ib-IX-V.

Glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V is the second most abundant platelet receptor for thrombin and other ligands crucial for hemostasis and thrombosis. Its activity is involved in platelet adhesion to vascular injury sites and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. GPIb-IX-V is a heteromeric complex composed of four subunits, GPIbα, GPIbβ, GPV and GPIX, in a stoichiometric ratio that has been wildly debated.