Impact of Heterosigma akashiwo on the environmental behavior of microplastics: Aggregation, sinking, and resuspension dynamics.

Aggregation processes of microalgae have significant effects on the vertical distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment. This study explored how the harmful microalga Heterosigma akashiwo affects the aggregation and sinking characteristics of four types of MPs: low and high-density polyethylene (PE) spheres, and small and large polypropylene (PP) fragments. The aggregation of MPs was primarily driven by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) rather than direct attachment to the cells, contributing to their sinking.

Update on the treatment navigation for functional cure of chronic hepatitis B: expert consensus 2.0.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements.

Optimizing the graft size in the Evans osteotomy to minimize the calcaneocuboid joint pressure by highly realistic in-silico analysis.

This contribution details a new high-fidelity finite element analysis (FEA) methodology for the investigation of the effect of the graft size on the pressure distribution developing at the calcaneocuboid joint after the Evans osteotomy procedure. The FEA model includes all 28 bones of the foot up to the distal end of fibula and tibia as well as soft tissues, tendons, and muscles. The developed FEA model was validated by comparing the in-vivo pressure distribution on the foot plantar with the in-silico results, resulting in a low deviation equal to 7.

Performance of the automated digital cell image analyzer UIMD PBIA in white blood cell classification: a comparative study with sysmex DI-60.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of PBIA (UIMD, Seoul, Republic of Korea), an automated digital morphology analyzer using deep learning, for white blood cell (WBC) classification in peripheral blood smears and compare it with the widely used DI-60 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan).

Methods: A total of 461 slides were analyzed using PBIA and DI-60. For each instrument, pre-classification performance was evaluated on the basis of post-classification results verified by users.

Association between Everolimus Combination Therapy and Cancer Risk after Liver Transplantation: A Nationwide Population-based Quasi-Cohort Study.

The potential of everolimus in reducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among recipients following liver transplantation has been reported. This nationwide population-based quasi-cohort study investigated whether combining everolimus with calcineurin inhibitor therapy affects the risk of HCC and extrahepatic cancers compared to a time-duration-matched cohort of recipients not receiving everolimus. Using data covering the entire population from Korea, liver transplant recipients who had initiated immunosuppressants between June 2015 and February 2020 were collected and divided into two groups: the everolimus combination and non-combination groups.