Dynamics of the prognostic index during the course of treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: Tumor/node/metastasis staging and prognostic index (PI) are used to predict prognosis and guide treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). With the advent of treatments, such as BRAF/MEK inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors, dynamic markers to assess disease status and treatment efficacy are needed. This study examined the utility of PI as a dynamic marker for ATC treatment.

Long-term outcomes of active surveillance for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma: Progression patterns and tumor calcification.

Introduction: Active surveillance (AS) for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is acknowledged as a valid management strategy. While older age is identified as a favorable factor for progression, long-term evidence is scarce and lifelong monitoring has been deemed essential. This study investigated progression patterns and tumor calcification under long-term AS and explored the possibility of ending follow-up.

Synergistic Interplay between Fe-Based Perovskite Oxides and Co in Electrolyte for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Perovskite oxides have been extensively investigated as active electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solution. While the OER activity of some perovskite oxides is positively influenced by Fe ions in the electrolyte, the impact of other transition metal ions in the electrolyte remains unclear. In this study, we compared the influence of Co ions intentionally added to the electrolyte on the OER activities of two Fe-based perovskite oxides (BaSrFeO and LaFeO).

Factors associated with non-intervention of antifibrotic agents in IPF patients.

Background: The efficacy of antifibrotic agents in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has been demonstrated and early introduction is recommended, especially in patients with preserved performance status (PS). We aimed to determine the proportion of untreated IPF cases using real-world data and to assess the factors associated with non-intervention.

Methods: A prospective observational study using questionnaires was performed on 518 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and their attending physicians who visited a clinic, general hospital, or tertiary respiratory center between December 2019 and October 2020.

Synergistic Impact of Alloying with Ni on Cu Cathode Interfaces for Fluoride Batteries.

All-solid-state fluoride batteries have the potential to achieve energy densities significantly higher than those of lithium-ion batteries. A common cathode material for fluoride batteries is Cu. Cu has a low polarization, but its rapid capacity degradation due to grain growth and subsequent delamination from the solid-state electrolyte are critical issues.

Elevations of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein over time as a precursor to anaplastic transformation of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma rarely undergoes anaplastic transformation. Some risk factors for anaplastic transformation of thyroid cancer are known, but such transformation is difficult to predict in practice. We report a case demonstrating elevations of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) over time as a precursor to anaplastic transformation of thyroid carcinoma.

Analysis of Malnutrition among Children under Five Years across Contrasting Agroecosystems of Northwest Ethiopia: Application of Structural Equation Modeling.

Child malnutrition remains a public health challenge in developing countries, but a comprehensive understanding of its burden and its determinants in specific local contexts is generally lacking. This study examined the prevalence of malnutrition and its determinants among children aged <5 years across contrasting agroecosystems in northwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study involving 400 respondents was employed.

Detection of quadratic phase coupling by cross-bicoherence and spectral Granger causality in bifrequencies interactions.

Quadratic Phase Coupling (QPC) serves as an essential statistical instrument for evaluating nonlinear synchronization within multivariate time series data, especially in signal processing and neuroscience fields. This study explores the precision of QPC detection using numerical estimates derived from cross-bicoherence and bivariate Granger causality within a straightforward, yet noisy, instantaneous multiplier model. It further assesses the impact of accidental statistically significant bifrequency interactions, introducing new metrics such as the ratio of bispectral quadratic phase coupling and the ratio of bivariate Granger causality quadratic phase coupling.

Characteristics of the patients consulted with emergency medicine physicians at a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination center: Prospective observational study.

Objective: We aimed to clarify the characteristics of patients consulted by the medical staff with emergency medicine (EM) physicians after vaccination and EM physicians transferred to an outside hospital.

Design: The Japanese Self-Defense Force established a large-scale coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination center. Overall, 1,306,928 citizens received the Moderna vaccine, which targeted the first and second vaccinations between May 24, 2021 and November 30, 2021.

Evolutionary Algorithm Directed Synthesis of Mixed Anion Compounds LaF X (X=Br, I) and LaFI.

Mixed-anion compounds have attracted growing attentions, but their synthesis is challenging, making a rational search desirable. Here, we explored LaF -LaX (X=Cl, Br, I) system using ab initio structure searches based on evolutionary algorithms, and predicted LaF X and LaFX (X=Br, I), which are respectively isostructural with LaHBr and YH I, consisting of layered La-F blocks with single and double ordered honeycomb lattices, separated by van der Waals gaps. We successfully synthesized these compounds: LaF Br and LaFI crystallize in the predicted structure, while LaF I is similar to the predicted one but with different layer stacking.

Polysiloxane-based Electrolytes: Influence of Salt Type and Polymer Chain Length on the Physical and Electrochemical Properties.

An oligo/poly(methyl(2-(tris(2-H methoxyethoxy)silyl)ethyl)siloxane)), 390EO, and 2550EO, were synthesized. Dilute electrolyte solutions of 390EO and 2550EO were prepared using LiTFSI, LiFSI, and LiPF . The influence of the length of the siloxane polymer chain, salt type, and Si-tripodand centers at the side chain on ionic conductivity, t , and physical properties were examined.

Influence of Strong Ionic Interaction on the Kinetics of Graphite Intercalation Compound Formation.

Graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) of anions have attracted much attention as a positive electrode for use in dual-ion batteries. In this study, GICs of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (TFSA) anions were electrochemically synthesized in ionic liquids with lithium or magnesium salts to investigate the kinetics of GICs formation. By varying the concentrations of LiTFSA or Mg(TFSA) , the activation energy of interfacial anion transfer resistance was discovered to be correlated with the viscosity of the ionic liquid electrolytes.

Degradation Mechanism of All-Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries Studied by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.

Solid-state Li-metal batteries have the potential to achieve both high safety and high energy densities. Among various solid-state fast-ion conductors, the garnet-type LiLaZrO (LLZO) is one of the few that are stable to Li metal. However, the large interfacial resistance between LLZO and cathode materials severely limits the practical application of LLZO.

Ionic liquid-containing cathodes empowering ceramic solid electrolytes.

Although ceramic solid electrolytes, such as LiLaZrO (LLZO), are promising candidates to replace conventional liquid electrolytes for developing safe and high-energy-density solid-state Li-metal batteries, the large interfacial resistance between cathodes and ceramic solid electrolytes severely limits their practical application. Here we developed an ionic liquid (IL)-containing while nonfluidic quasi-solid-state LiCoO (LCO) composite cathode, which can maintain good contact with an Al-doped LLZO (Al-LLZO) ceramic electrolyte. Accordingly the interfacial resistance between LCO and Al-LLZO was significantly decreased.

Kinetics of Interfacial Ion Transfer in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Mechanism Understanding and Improvement Strategies.

The development of high-rate lithium-ion batteries is required for automobile applications. To this end, internal resistances must be reduced, among which Li transfer resistance at electrode/electrolyte interfaces is known to be the largest. Hence, it is of urgent significance to understand the mechanism and kinetics of the interfacial Li transfer.

Fluoride Ion-Selective Electrode for Organic Solutions.

Fluoride ions are used in battery electrolytes in fluoride shuttle batteries. Since organic solvents are used in battery electrolytes, there is a growing demand to develop appropriate methods for quantifying fluoride ion concentration in organic solvents. In this study, a fluoride ion-selective electrode (ISE) for organic solutions is proposed as an electrode of the second kind.

Stabilizing the Nanosurface of LiNiO Electrodes by Varying the Electrolyte Concentration: Correlation with Initial Electrochemical Behaviors for Use in Aqueous Li-Ion Batteries.

This study attempted to stabilize the nanosurface of LiNiO (LNO) electrodes by varying the electrolyte concentration, significantly influencing its initial electrochemical behaviors for use in aqueous lithium-ion batteries. The charge/discharge capacities, reversibility, and cyclability of LNO were improved during initial cycles with an increase in the concentration of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). As determined by the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, the superior diffusivity of Li ions in the LNO electrode is also obtained in the concentrated electrolyte.

Sodium/Lithium-Ion Transfer Reaction at the Interface between Low-Crystallized Carbon Nanosphere Electrodes and Organic Electrolytes.

Carbon nanosphere (CNS) electrodes are the candidate of sodium-ion battery (SIB) negative electrodes with small internal resistances due to their small particle sizes. Electrochemical properties of low-crystallized CNS electrodes in dilute and concentrated sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide/ethylene carbonate + dimethyl carbonate (NaTFSA/EC + DMC) were first investigated. From the cyclic voltammograms, both lithium ion and sodium ion can reversibly insert into/from CNSs in all of the electrolytes used here.

Electrochemical Lithiation/Delithiation of ZnO in 3D-Structured Electrodes: Elucidating the Mechanism and the Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation.

Conversion/alloy active materials, such as ZnO, are one of the most promising candidates to replace graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Besides a high specific capacity ( = 987 mAh g), ZnO offers a high lithium-ion diffusion and fast reaction kinetics, leading to a high-rate capability, which is required for the intended fast charging of battery electric vehicles. However, lithium-ion storage in ZnO is accompanied by the formation of lithium-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers, immense volume expansion, and a large voltage hysteresis.

Mechanism of the Loss of Capacity of LiNiO Electrodes for Use in Aqueous Li-Ion Batteries: Unveiling a Fundamental Cause of Deterioration in an Aqueous Electrolyte through Raman Observation.

This study investigated the fundamental mechanisms of the loss of capacity of LiNiO (LNO) electrodes for Li insertion/deinsertion with a special focus on the origin of this deterioration in an aqueous system. Raman spectra revealed that the intercalation of H ions formed a NiOOH film at the surface of LNO during the initial electrochemical cycles; this NiOOH film was also confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The formation of an electrochemically inactive spinel-like phase (NiO) at the subsurface was triggered by the absence of Li in the NiOOH film at the surface.

An Integrated Genomic Approach Identifies HOXC8 as an Upstream Regulator in Ovarian Endometrioma.

Purpose: To identify the upstream regulators (URs) involved in the onset and pathogenesis of ovarian endometrioma.

Methods: Recently, a method called Significance-based Modules Integrating the Transcriptome and Epigenome (SMITE) that uses transcriptome data in combination with publicly available data for identifying URs of cellular processes has been developed. Here, we used SMITE with transcriptome data from ovarian endometrioma stromal cells (ovESCs) and eutopic endometrium stromal cells (euESCs) in combination with publicly available gene regulatory network data.

Charge-Transfer Kinetics of the Solid-Electrolyte Interphase on Li Ti O Thin-Film Electrodes.

Invited for this month's cover are the groups of Shih-kang Lin at the National Cheng Kung University and Takeshi Abe at Kyoto University. The image shows how interfacial chemistry design can play a role in unlocking higher-energy-density and fast-charging Li Ti O -based lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicle applications. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.