Asymmetric steering of phonon polaritons based on bilayer metagratings.

Polaritons in van der Waals (vdWs) materials enable light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Polaritonic manipulation is of significance in fundamental physics and various promising nanophotonic applications. Here we study the asymmetric steering of phonon polaritons (PhPs) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) based on numerical simulations.

Exploring Gua Sha Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Single Case Report and Critical Analysis.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant side effect of some chemotherapeutic agents. Effective treatment is limited.

Objectives: This single patient case details gua sha as an intervention to reduce CIPN.

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals hub proteins for high temperature-induced male sterility in bread wheat ( L.).

High-temperature (HT) stress can induce male sterility in wheat; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study examined proteomic alterations across three developmental stages between normal and HT-induced male-sterile (HT-ms) anthers in wheat. Utilizing tandem mass tags-based proteomics, we identified 2532 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs): 27 in the tetrad stage, 157 in the binuclear stage, and 2348 in the trinuclear stage.

Broadband acoustic illusion coating based on thin conformal metasurface.

Acoustic metasurface with rationally distributed phase manipulating characteristic provides a promising platform to reshape the wavefront of scattering wave. Such acoustic illusion carpet suffers from limitation of narrow bandwidth and relatively large volume to contain the object to be hidden. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate broadband conformal acoustic illusion coatings composed of subwavelength-thick metacells that are designed by two types of modified Helmholtz resonators with 2π reflection phase.

Clinical Value of Narrow Band Imaging Endoscopy in the Early Diagnosis and Staging Assessment of Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer.

Objective: To explore the clinical value of narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy in the early diagnosis and staging assessment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: A total of 78 patients with lesions in the hypopharynx or larynx were examined using endoscopy, observed under both white light and NBI modes, and graded using NBI. Using Lugol's iodine solution, laryngeal and hypopharyngeal lesions were graded using iodine staining.

Prediction of dose distributions for non-small cell lung cancer patients using MHA-ResUNet.

Background: The current level of automation in the production of radiotherapy plans for lung cancer patients is relatively low. With the development of artificial intelligence, it has become a reality to use neural networks to predict dose distributions and provide assistance for radiation therapy planning. However, due to the significant individual variability in the distribution of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) planning target volume (PTV) and the complex spatial relationships between the PTV and organs at risk (OARs), there is still a lack of a high-precision dose prediction network tailored to the characteristics of NSCLC.

The Clinical Effect and Safety of Dihuang Decoction in Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Compared With Different Traditional Programs: A Network Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Dihuang decoction (DD), anti-inflammatory drugs (AIDs), blood circulation improvement drugs (BCIDs), and conventional therapy (CT) in the management of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and to establish their comparative effectiveness rankings. Using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study (PICOS) design framework, we developed a detailed search strategy. The literature search included databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Weipu Journal Data, and the Chinese Biomedical Database, covering studies published up to June 2024.

Nanoelectrochemistry reveals how presynaptic neurons regulate vesicle release to sustain synaptic plasticity under repetitive stimuli.

Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to modulate synaptic strength in response to dynamic changes within, as well as environmental changes. Although there is a considerable body of knowledge on protein expression and receptor migration in different categories of synaptic plasticity, the contribution and impact of presynaptic vesicle release and neurotransmitter levels towards plasticity remain largely unclear. Herein, nanoelectrochemistry using carbon fiber nanoelectrodes with excellent spatio-temporal resolution was applied for real-time monitoring of presynaptic vesicle release of dopamine inside single synapses of dopaminergic neurons, and exocytotic variations in quantity and kinetics under repetitive electrical stimuli.

High AMH levels are associated with gestational hypertension in patients with PCOS who underwent IVF/ICSI-ET.

Background: Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk of obstetric complications. The association between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and gestational hypertension in these patients is poorly understood.

Objective: To determine the association between serum AMH levels and gestational hypertension in patients with PCOS undergoing fresh embryo transfer.

Identification and characterization of the CRK gene family in the wheat genome and analysis of their expression profile in response to high temperature-induced male sterility.

Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) play many important roles during plant development, including defense responses under both biotic and abiotic stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, callose deposition and programmed cell death (PCD). However, there are few studies on the involvement of the CRK family in male sterility due to heat stress in wheat ( L.).

Real-Time Monitoring of Multistep Batch and Flow Synthesis Processes of a Key Intermediate of Lifitegrast by a Combined Spectrometer System with Both Near-Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies Coupled to Partial Least-Squares.

Process analytical technology (PAT) has been successfully applied in numerous chemical synthesis cases and is an important tool in pharmaceutical process research and development. PAT brings new methods and opportunities for the real-time monitoring of chemical processes. In multistep synthesis, real-time monitoring of the complex reaction mixtures is a significant challenge but provides an opportunity to enhance reaction understanding and control.

Mechanical Strain Induces and Increases Vesicular Release Monitored by Microfabricated Stretchable Electrodes.

Exocytosis involving the fusion of intracellular vesicles with cell membrane, is thought to be modulated by the mechanical cues in the microenvironment. Single-cell electrochemistry can offer unique information about the quantification and kinetics of exocytotic events; however, the effects of mechanical force on vesicular release have been poorly explored. Herein, we developed a stretchable microelectrode with excellent electrochemical stability under mechanical deformation by microfabrication of functionalized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive ink, which achieved real-time quantitation of strain-induced vesicular exocytosis from a single cell for the first time.

Experimental Demonstration of Controllable PT and Anti-PT Coupling in a Non-Hermitian Metamaterial.

Non-Hermiticity has recently emerged as a rapidly developing field due to its exotic characteristics related to open systems, where the dissipation plays a critical role. In the presence of balanced energy gain and loss with environment, the system exhibits parity-time (PT) symmetry, meanwhile as the conjugate counterpart, anti-PT symmetry can be achieved with dissipative coupling within the system. Here, we demonstrate the coherence of complex dissipative coupling can control the transition between PT and anti-PT symmetry in an electromagnetic metamaterial.

Interaction between Dietary Lactoferrin and Gut Microbiota in Host Health.

The gut microbiota are known to play an important role in host health and disease. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition can disrupt the stability of the gut ecosystem, which may result in noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCCDs). Remodeling the gut microbiota through personalized nutrition is a novel therapeutic avenue for both disease control and prevention.

Nanosensor detection of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species leakage in frustrated phagocytosis of nanofibres.

Exposure to widely used inert fibrous nanomaterials (for example, glass fibres or carbon nanotubes) may result in asbestos-like lung pathologies, becoming an important environmental and health concern. However, the origin of the pathogenesis of such fibres has not yet been clearly established. Here we report an electrochemical nanosensor that is used to monitor and quantitatively characterize the flux and dynamics of reactive species release during the frustrated phagocytosis of glass nanofibres by single macrophages.

Radiofrequency ablation induces tumor cell dissemination in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) promotes tumor cell release and explored a method for reducing these effects.

Methods: A green fluorescent protein-transfected orthotopic HCC model was established in 99 nude mice. In vivo flow cytometry was used to monitor circulating tumor cell (CTC) dynamics.

Green syntheses of silk fibroin/wool keratin-protected AuAg nanoclusters with enhanced fluorescence for multicolor and patterned anti-counterfeiting.

Counterfeiting is a serious worldwide issue that threatens human health and economic security. How to apply anti-counterfeiting techniques to textile materials remains a great challenge. Herein, we report bimetallic AuAg nanoclusters (NCs) synthesized by one-step reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl) and silver nitrate (AgNO) with wool keratin (WK) as reducer and silk fibroin (SF) as stabilizer.

Effective protection: the embryonic development and clinical outcomes of emergency vitrification of 1246 oocytes and Day 0-Day 5 embryos in a natural disaster.

Study Question: Can emergency vitrification protect embryos and oocytes during natural disasters or other events that prevent normal practice to achieve satisfactory embryonic development and clinical outcomes at a later time?

Summary Answer: Emergency vitrification of oocytes and Day 0-Day 5 (D0-D5) embryos during disasters is a safe and effective protective measure.

What Is Known Already: When some destructive events such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other accidents occur, emergency vitrification in embryo laboratories to protect human embryos, oocytes, and sperm is one of the important measures of an IVF emergency plan. However, there are few detailed reports on emergency vitrification in a state of disaster, especially about oocytes and D0 zygotes.

[Chromosomal aneuploidy and pregnancy outcomes for D5/D6 blastocysts from patients undergoing PGT-A treatment].

Objective: To compare the prevalence of chromosomal aneuploidies and pregnancy outcomes of D5 and D6 blastocysts subjected to preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).

Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of 268 couples who underwent PGT-A at the Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2018 to September 2020 were collected. The prevalence of chromosomal aneuploidies and pregnancy outcomes of D5/D6 biopsied blastocysts were compared.

Applying a novel two-step deep learning network to improve the automatic delineation of esophagus in non-small cell lung cancer radiotherapy.

Purpose: To introduce a model for automatic segmentation of thoracic organs at risk (OARs), especially the esophagus, in non-small cell lung cancer radiotherapy, using a novel two-step deep learning network.

Materials And Methods: A total of 59 lung cancer patients' CT images were enrolled, of which 39 patients were randomly selected as the training set, 8 patients as the validation set, and 12 patients as the testing set. The automatic segmentations of the six OARs including the esophagus were carried out.

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for secondary constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Secondary constipation refers to constipation that occurs after certain diseases or medications, such as acute stroke or opioids, and the efficacy of electroacupuncture for secondary constipation is controversial. So, this study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for secondary constipation through a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Method: We retrieved articles from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases up to 28 February 2023.

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for secondary sleep disorders: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: To explore the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for secondary insomnia through a meta-analysis and a systematic review.

Methods: The CNKI, Wanfang, VIP database, Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were retrieved. The retrieval date was February 28, 2023.

Corrigendum: Genome-wide identification of genes encoding cystathionine beta synthase domain-containing proteins in wheat and its relationship with anther male sterility under heat stress.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.