Dielectric breakdown-based ambient ionization mass spectrometry assisted by a cotton swab wrapped with aluminum foil.

Background: Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (MS) is widely used due to its simplicity. Dielectric breakdown-based ionization has emerged as a promising technique, where air molecules like nitrogen are ionized, producing N and electrons. These initiate ion-molecule reactions that generate protons from water molecules, leading to analyte ionization via protonation.

Intracranial AAV administration dose-dependently recruits B cells to inhibit the AAV redosing.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is a widely used viral vector for gene therapy. However, a limitation of AAV-mediated gene therapy is that patients are typically dosed only once. In this study, we investigated the possibility of delivering multiple rounds of AAV through intracerebral injections in the mouse brain, and discovered a dose-dependent modulation of the second administration by the first-round AAV injection in a brain-wide scale.

Characterization of the effects of micro-bubble treatment on the cleanliness of intestinal sludge, physicochemical properties, and textural quality of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

This study assessed the effects of Micro-bubble (MB; average size of 36.50 μm) on the physicochemical properties of live shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and cooked ones. This study also examined the visual appearance, intestinal sludge's presence, microbial decontamination efficacy, and shrimp meat's textural properties.

Chiral Methylbenzylpyridinium-Based Organic-Inorganic Lead Halides for Water-Resistant Photoluminescence Materials.

Chiral organic-inorganic metal halide (OIMH) materials are gaining increasing attention as candidates for asymmetric materials due to their unique photoelectric, chiral optic, and spintronic properties. The introduction of chirality into OIMHs is usually achieved by the use of chiral organic cations, while previous studies often focus on primary ammonium cations derived from commercially available chiral amines, limiting the tunability of the OIMH materials. Herein, we report the use of Zincke reactions to synthesize chiral N-substituted pyridinium salts, namely, (R)/(S)-methylbenzylpyridinium (/-MBnP) chloride and the corresponding 1D chiral OIMHs, (/-MBnP)PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I).

Stylus pen-based ambient ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of volatiles and semivolatiles from liquid, viscous, and solid samples.

Background: Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (MS) has attracted significant attention due to its simplicity and ease of operation. Contactless, or field-induced, ionization is one of the ambient ionization techniques. In this approach, no direct electrical contact or additional voltage is required on the ionization-assisted substrate.

Impact of Dihedral Angle in Conjugated Organic Cation on the Structures and Properties of Organic-Inorganic Lead Iodides.

Conjugated organic cations are intriguing for organic-inorganic halide perovskites due to their direct participation in the optoelectronic properties of hybrid materials. In conjugated cations, the dihedral angle, or torsion angle, between adjacent aromatic rings is a critical secondary structural element. This angle influences not only the shape of the cations but also the overlap between the π-orbitals on adjacent rings, thereby affecting their electronic properties.

Oncolytic avian reovirus-sensitized tumor infiltrating CD8 T cells triggering immunogenic apoptosis in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading malignant disease in numerous countries, including Taiwan with limited therapeutic options. Animal viruses including oncolytic avian reovirus (ARV) have the possibility to avoid pre-existing immunity in humans, while being safe and immunostimulatory. Here, we provide a novel insight into oncolytic ARV and UV-ARV-sensitized patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P-PBMCs) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) killing primary GC (PGC) cells through the surface TLR3 and TRAIL/DR4/DR5 immunogenic apoptosis pathway.

Facile Synthesis of Potassium Decahydrido-Monocarba-closo-Decaborate Imidazole Complex Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Potassium Metal Batteries.

All-solid-state potassium metal batteries have caught increasing interest owing to their abundance, cost-effectiveness, and high energy/power density. However, their development is generally constrained by the lack of suitable solid-state electrolytes. Herein, we report a new complex KCBH ⋅ 2CHN, synthesized by grinding and heating the mixture of potassium decahydrido-monocarba-closo-decaborate (KCBH) and imidazole (CHN) under mild conditions, to achieve the K-ion superionic solid-state electrolyte.

Catalytic depolymerization of Camellia oleifera shell lignin to phenolic monomers: Insights into the effects of solvent, catalyst and atmosphere.

Camellia oleifera shell (COS) is a renewable biomass resource abundant in lignin with significant potential for producing phenolic monomers. However, the dearth of research has led to considerable resource wastage and environmental pollution. Herein, reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of COS was performed using noble metal catalysts in different solvents.

Enhancing the Efficacy of Radiomics-Based Prediction of Fuhrman Pathological Grading in Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma Using Multilayer Spiral CT Imaging.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent subtype of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Conventional pathological methods of Fuhrman pathological grading system have limitations. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of radiomics-based multilayer spiral computed tomography (CT) imaging of Fuhrman pathological grading in ccRCC.

Blocking M2-Like Macrophage Polarization Using Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotide-Based Gene Therapy Prevents Immune Evasion for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.

M2-like macrophages exhibit immunosuppressive activity and promote pancreatic cancer progression. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) affect macrophage polarization; however, the mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular basis and design a gene therapy to inhibit M2-like polarization.

Dual-Salts Localized High-Concentration Electrolyte for Li- and Mn-Rich High-Voltage Cathodes in Lithium Metal Batteries.

Limited electrochemical stability windows of conventional carbonate-based electrolytes pose a challenge to support the Lithium (Li)- and manganese (Mn)-rich (LMR) high-voltage cathodes in rechargeable Li-metal batteries (LMBs). To address this issue, a novel localized high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) composition incorporating LiPF and LiTFSI as dual-salts (D-LHCE), tailored for high-voltage (>4.6 V) operation of LMR cathodes in LMBs is introduced.

Sodium Octahydridotriborate as a Solid Electrolyte with Excellent Stability Against Sodium-Metal Anode.

Solid-state sodium metal batteries have been extensively investigated because of their potential to improve safety, cost-effectiveness, and energy density. The development of such batteries urgently required a solid-state electrolyte with fast Na-ion conduction and favorable interfacial compatibility. Herein, the progress on developing the NaBH solid-state electrolytes is reported, which show a liquid-like ionic conductivity of 0.

Two-Dimensional Cobalt(II) Benzoquinone Frameworks for Putative Kitaev Quantum Spin Liquid Candidates.

The realization and discovery of quantum spin liquid (QSL) candidate materials are crucial for exploring exotic quantum phenomena and applications associated with QSLs. Most existing metal-organic two-dimensional (2D) quantum spin liquid candidates have structures with spins arranged on the triangular or kagome lattices, whereas honeycomb-structured metal-organic compounds with QSL characteristics are rare. Here, we report the use of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (Xdhbq, X = Cl, Br, H) as the linkers to construct cobalt(II) honeycomb lattices (NEt)[Co(Xdhbq)] as promising Kitaev-type QSL candidate materials.

Prognostic Molecular Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Lesions with Non-Mass Enhancement on MR.

Clustered ring enhancement (CRE) is a new lexicon for non-mass enhancement (NME) of breast MR in the 5th BIRADS, indicating a high suspicion of malignancy. We wonder if the presence of CRE correlates with expression of prognostic molecular biomarkers of breast cancer. A total of 58 breast lesions, which MRI reported with NME, were collected between July 2013 and December 2018.

Predicting the cryotolerance of boar sperm through antioxidant stress.

High sperm cryotolerance is crucial to the successful cryopreservation of boar sperm. Evaluating the cryotolerance of boar sperm by using a rapid and convenient technique can enhance the commercial viability of these sperm. This study investigated the correlation between sperm parameters for three sample subsets-fresh sperm, sperm with HO-induced oxidative damage (hereinafter referred to as HO-induced sperm), and frozen-thawed sperm-to identify the potential of these correlations to predict cryotolerance.

The effect of extraction methods on the components and quality of Camellia oleifera oil: Focusing on the flavor and lipidomics.

The objective of this study was to systematically elucidate the effects of conventional (Cold Pressing, CP; Hot Pressing, HP; Soxhlet Extraction; SE) and novel methods (Microwave-Assisted Extraction, MAE) on the physicochemical properties, bio-active substances, flavor and lipidomics of Camellia oleifera oil (COO). The cold-pressed COO contained the highest contents of squalene (176.38 mg/kg), α-tocopherol (330.

Recent advances in electrolyte molecular design for alkali metal batteries.

In response to societal developments and the growing demand for high-energy-density battery systems, alkali metal batteries (AMBs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage. Despite their high theoretical specific capacity and output voltage, AMBs face critical challenges related to high reactivity with electrolytes and unstable interphases. This review, from the perspective of electrolytes, analyzes AMB failure mechanisms, including interfacial side reactions, active materials loss, and metal dendrite growth.

Chiral Viologen-Derived Water-Stable Small Band Gap Lead Halides: Synthesis, Characterization, and Optical Properties.

Chiral organic-inorganic metal halides (OIMHs) are attractive for their potential applications in chiral optoelectronics and spintronics, such as circular polarized light emitters, detectors, and chiral-induced spin selectivity. Here, we report three pairs of chiral OIMHs with great water stability constructed from chiral viologens. These OIMHs contain either 1D or 0D structures, however, with small band gaps around 2 eV.

Ten-year epidemiology and risk factors of cytomegalovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients in Taiwan.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause infection and critical diseases in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. This study aimed to explore the cumulative incidence and risk factors for CMV infection and disease among HSCT recipients in Taiwan.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry (TBMTR) included HSCT recipients between 2009 and 2018 in Taiwan.

A High-Rate and Long-Life Sodium Metal Battery Based on a NaBH ⋅ xNH@NaBH Composite Solid-State Electrolyte.

All-solid-state sodium metal batteries are promising for large-scale energy storage applications owing to their intrinsic safety and cost-effectiveness. However, they generally suffer from sodium dendrite growth or rapid capacity fading, especially at high rates, mainly due to poor wettability, sluggish ionic transport, or low interfacial stability of the solid electrolytes. Herein, we report a novel composite, NaBH ⋅ xNH@NaBH (x<1), as a new class of solid electrolyte for high-rate batteries.

Deciphering the Formation and Accumulation of Solid-Electrolyte Interphases in Na and K Carbonate-Based Batteries.

The continuous solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) accumulation has been blamed for the rapid capacity loss of carbon anodes in Na and K ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC) electrolytes, but the understanding of the SEI composition and its formation chemistry remains incomplete. Here, we explain this SEI accumulation as the continuous production of organic species in solution-phase reactions. By comparing the NMR spectra of SEIs and model compounds we synthesized, alkali metal ethyl carbonate (MEC, M = Na or K), long-chain alkali metal ethylene carbonate (LCMEC, M = Na or K), and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) oligomers with ethyl carbonate ending groups are identified in Na and K SEIs.