Publications by authors named "Lai J"

Topological insulating states in 2-dimensional (2D) materials are ideal systems to study different types of quantized response signals due to their in gap metallic states. Very recently, the quantum spin Hall effect was discovered in monolayer TaIrTe via the observation of quantized longitudinal conductance that rarely exists in other 2D topological insulators. The nontrivial topological charges can exist at both charge neutrality point and the van Hove singularity point with correlation-effect-induced bandgap.

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Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in transcription and translation. Identification of circRNA-RBP (RNA-binding protein) interaction sites has become a fundamental step in molecular and cell biology. Deep learning (DL)-based methods have been proposed to predict circRNA-RBP interaction sites and achieved impressive identification performance.

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This literature review evaluates any possible links between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and caloric restriction (CR), body mass index (BMI), and exercise, aiming to map the extent of the literature. Its primary objective is to recognise the nature and breadth of research evidence, identify possible gaps in these topics and develop future studies. The databases searched were MEDLINE (PudMed), Scopus and ScienceDirect, in April 2023 for articles published in English, with no date restriction.

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  • - Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) significantly influences the evolution of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, particularly in seed plants, where its patterns and adaptations remain underexplored.
  • - Researchers identified 1,150 foreign genes in 522 land plant genomes, indicating at least 322 distinct gene transfers from nonplant sources and showing uneven distribution of these transfers between seedless and seed plants.
  • - The study found that HGT-acquired genes in land plants tend to adapt by gaining introns, leading to higher expression levels and variations in guanine metabolism, which demonstrates HGT's important role in land plant evolution.
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Background: Previous studies have hinted at the benefits of following an anti-inflammatory diet for potentially reducing breast cancer prevalence. However, the combined influence of diet and inflammation on breast cancer remains unclear.

Methods: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) was used to assess inflammation and nutritional status.

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  • The study aimed to determine how common osteosarcopenia is among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and identify the risk factors associated with its development.
  • It involved 254 hospitalized patients aged 60 and older, assessing their bone density, muscle strength, and overall physical performance to diagnose osteosarcopenia.
  • Results showed that 22.8% of participants had osteosarcopenia, with male gender, low fasting plasma glucose, and low appendicular skeletal muscle mass being significant risk factors.
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Stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles decorated with cancer biomarkers represent an optimal choice for drug delivery applications due to their ability to enhance therapeutic efficacy while mitigating adverse side effects. Accordingly, we synthesized a digoxin-modified novel multifunctional redox-responsive disulfide-linked poly(ethylene glycol--poly(lactic--glycolic acid) copolymer (Bi(Dig-PEG-PLGA)-S) for the targeted and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer cells. Within the micellar aggregate, the disulfide bond confers redox responsiveness, while the presence of the digoxin moiety acts as a targeting agent and chemosensitizer for DOX.

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Currently, the poor whipping capabilities of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) in aerated emulsion products are a major obstacle for their use in beverages like tea and coffee, as well as in cakes and desserts, presenting fresh hurdles for the food industry. In this study, the mechanism of action of diacylglycerols (DAGs) with different carbon chain lengths and degrees of saturation on the partial coalescence of aerated emulsions was systematically investigated from three fundamental perspectives: fat crystallization, air-liquid interface rheology, and fat globule interface properties. The optimized crystallization of long carbon chain length diacylglycerol (LCD) based on stearate enhances interactions between fat globules at the air-liquid interface (with an elastic modulus E' reaching 246.

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  • * The study aimed to explore how HM affects platelet production and improve treatment strategies, using various methods like flow cytometry and molecular docking.
  • * Results indicated that HM enhances the differentiation of certain blood cells and increases platelet production by activating specific biological pathways, suggesting a new therapeutic approach to manage thrombocytopenia.
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Calcium oxide (CaO), utilized in semi-dry/dry desulfurization systems at municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plants, demonstrates some capability to remove polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). This study assessed the gas-phase PCDD/F removal performance of CaO, activated carbon (AC) and CaO-AC mixtures. Alone, CaO achieved removal efficiencies of only 31.

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Globally, nearly half of deaths from cirrhosis and chronic liver diseases (CLD) and three-quarters of deaths from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occur in the Asia-Pacific region. Chronic hepatitis B is responsible for the vast majority of liver-related deaths in the region. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common form of CLD, affecting an estimated 30% of the adult population.

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Background: Sternum and rib fractures represent a significant global health concern, contributing to morbidity and disability on a worldwide scale. However, there is a notable lack of recent epidemiological data detailing the global and regional burden of these fractures.

Methods: We undertook a systematic analysis of the prevalence of sternum and rib fractures at the global, regional, and national levels in 2019, while also examining time trends spanning from 1990 to 2019.

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In May 2023, the Detroit Health Department was notified of four cases of invasive nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) disease among students attending the same elementary school and grade, all with illness onsets within 7 days. Three patients were hospitalized, and one died. Most U.

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Millettia speciosa Champ, renowned for its diverse applications in traditional medicine, is extensively cultivated in the Guangxi region of China, spanning roughly 5,973 hectares. In July 2021, a plantation in Yulin, Guangxi, China (22°64'N; 110°29'E), exhibited severe leaf spot disease on M. speciosa.

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Glycerol electrooxidation reaction (GOR) to produce value-added chemicals, such as formic acid, could make more efficient use of abundant glycerol and meet future demand for formic acid as a fuel for direct or indirect formic acid fuel cells. Non-noble metal Cu-based catalysts have great potential in electro-reforming glycerol to formic acid. However, the high activity, selectivity and stability of Cu based catalysts in GOR cannot be achieved simultaneously.

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  • Noonan syndrome (NS) and a related condition called Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair (NS/LAH) are caused by changes in certain genes that affect how the body grows and develops.
  • A study looked at 25 patients with these syndromes, finding that they often have short stature and unique facial features, along with other health issues like heart defects and rare conditions.
  • The research also discovered that a small number of patients had an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which might affect their quality of life, and they noted a rare urinary condition as well.
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The global incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has increased over the past few decades, mainly in immunocompromised patients, and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. is one of the most common and deadliest IFI pathogens. Major hurdles to treating fungal infections remain the lack of rapid and definitive diagnosis, including the frequent need for invasive procedures to provide microbiological confirmation, and the lack of specificity of structural imaging methods.

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Understanding the mechanisms underlying residual oil displacement by CO flooding is essential for CO-enhanced oil recovery. This study utilizes molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the displacement of residual oil by CO flooding in dead-end nanopores, focusing specifically on the water-blocking effect. The findings reveal that oil displacement does not commence until the water film is breached.

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  • * In 2021, the age-standardised rates (ASR) indicated a global incidence rate of 21,668.40 per 100,000 population, with higher burdens observed in males and among those aged 5-9 years, while the elderly had the highest age-standardised rates.
  • * The study highlighted Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Mali as the countries with the highest age-standardised rates for fungal skin diseases, emphasizing the need
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Purpose: This study aimed to explore novel targets for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment by investigating the role of fatty acid metabolism.

Methods: RNA-seq and clinical data of HCC were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Bioinformatic analyses were employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to prognosis.

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Human space activities have been continuously increasing. Astronauts experiencing spaceflight are faced with health problems caused by special space environments such as microgravity, and the investigation of cell injury is fundamental. The development of a platform capable of cell culture and injury detection is the prerequisite for the investigation.

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Complete disruption of critical genes is generally accompanied by severe growth and developmental defects, which dramatically hinder its utilization in crop breeding. Identifying subtle changes, such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in critical genes that specifically modulate a favorable trait is a prerequisite to fulfill breeding potential. Here, we found 2 SNPs in the E-class floral organ identity gene cucumber (Cucumis sativus) SEPALLATA2 (CsSEP2) that specifically regulate fruit length.

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Purpose: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy have demonstrated significant clinical benefits in progression-free and overall survival. This study investigates the outcomes associated with two kinds of CDK4/6i in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic and relapsed breast cancer to inform real-world evidence of treatment strategies.

Methods: This retrospective study included 340 Taiwanese patients with HR-positive advanced breast cancer from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, between 2018 and 2023.

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Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major contributor to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. There is growing evidence that ankylosing spondylitis is closely linked to AS, often co-occurring with it; however, the shared pathogenic mechanisms between the two conditions are not well understood. This study employs bioinformatics approaches to identify common biomarkers and pathways between AS and ankylosing spondylitis.

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  • A study assessed the effectiveness of combining transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with lenvatinib and tislelizumab for treating patients with advanced intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that does not meet standard criteria.
  • Results showed that the combination treatment (TLT group) significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared to TACE alone (T group) and TACE with lenvatinib (TL group).
  • Despite a slightly higher incidence of treatment-related adverse events in the combination groups, all side effects were manageable and there were no treatment-related deaths.
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