Deep learning‑based prediction of in‑hospital mortality for acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent clinical syndrome that causes over one-fifth of hospitalized patients worldwide to suffer from AKI. We proposed the GCAT, which aims to identify high-risk AKI patients in the hospital settings using the MIMIC-III dataset. Firstly, it fully explores the similarity of attribute features among a large number of patients and calculates the attribute similarity values between patients to generate a node similarity matrix.

Short- and long-term comparative effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir in asthma patients: a cohort study.

Background: Few studies evaluated the effectiveness of COVID-19 antivirals specifically in the asthma population This study assessed short- and long-term effects of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir versus molnupiravir in asthma population.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on adult asthma patients infected with COVID-19, using real-world data obtained from the health officials in Hong Kong. Key inclusion criteria were infection with COVID-19 between March 16, 2022, and Oct 30, 2023, age ≥ 18 years, previous asthma diagnosis, and prescription history of an asthma medication.

modelSSE: An R Package for Characterizing Infectious Disease Superspreading from Contact Tracing Data.

Infectious disease superspreading is a phenomenon where few primary cases generate unexpectedly large numbers of secondary cases. Superspreading, is frequently documented in epidemiology literature, and is considered a consequence of heterogeneity in transmission. Since understanding the risks of superspreading became a rising concern from both statistical modelling and public health aspects, the R package modelSSE provides comprehensive analytical tools to characterize transmission heterogeneity.

AI-based approach to dissect the variability of mouse stem cell-derived embryo models.

Recent advances in stem cell-derived embryo models have transformed developmental biology, offering insights into embryogenesis without the constraints of natural embryos. However, variability in their development challenges research standardization. To address this, we use deep learning to enhance the reproducibility of selecting stem cell-derived embryo models.

Effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir on post-COVID-19 outcomes among outpatients: a target trial emulation investigation.

Limited studies compared the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir against a control group on post-COVID-19 conditions. Our study examined the association of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir with post-acute mortality and hospitalizations among outpatients using real-world outpatient records of COVID-19 designated clinics in Hong Kong. This is an observational study using a target trial emulation framework, involving nirmatrelvir-ritonavir versus no antiviral treatment (Trial 1) and molnupiravir versus no antiviral treatment (Trial 2).

Behavior changes influence mpox transmission in the United States, 2022-2023: Insights from homogeneous and heterogeneous models.

In 2022, an unprecedented mpox epidemic rapidly swept the globe, primarily transmitted through sexual contact among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, our understanding of how changes in human behavior influence this outbreak remains incomplete. In this study, we introduce a two-layer network model to investigate the impact of human behavior on mpox transmission within the United States during 2022-2023, leveraging surveillance data.

Disrupting AGR2/IGF1 paracrine and reciprocal signaling for pancreatic cancer therapy.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly aggressive and characterized by pronounced desmoplasia. PDAC cells communicate with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in a paracrine/reciprocal manner, substantially promoting tumor growth and desmoplastic responses. This study highlights the critical role of anterior gradient 2 (AGR2), an endoplasmic reticulum protein disulfide isomerase, secreted by PDAC cells to activate CAFs via the Wnt signaling pathway.

Computational insights into asymmetric cross-aldol carboligation in choline chloride/ethylene glycol deep eutectic solvents.

Limited research has been conducted on the exploration of chemical reactions in deep eutectic solvents (DES) using density functional theory (DFT). In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the mechanism of a cross-aldol reaction in DES through DFT calculations at the M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p)//M06-2X/6-31G(d,p) level was carried out for the first time. The aldol reaction mechanism comprised two primary stages, namely, enolization and addition, with the former identified as the rate-determining step.

Broadband MIMO all-optical unitary converter based on compact multimode interference on LNOI.

We propose and demonstrate a reconfigurable 4 × 4 multi-input multi-output (MIMO) all-optical unitary converter (OUC) based on non-uniform multimode interference (nMMI-OUC) on a lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) platform, which has the advantages of broadband operation, compactness, low loss, and fabrication-friendliness. To enhance the bandwidth, compact non-uniform multimode interference is utilized to replace uniform multimode interference, achieving the same cross talk and larger bandwidth. Compared with OUC based on uniform multimode interference (uMMI-OUC), the couplers using nMMI-OUC are only half length.

Effect of pixel size and lateral distortion on the accuracy of stitching interferometry for high-precision x-ray mirrors.

Stitching interferometry is essential for X-ray mirror metrology where lateral distortion and pixel size are critical factors influencing its accuracy. Simulations and experiments reveal that 1% error in pixel size causes a 2% deviation in the radius of curvature. After correcting pixel size, the stitching profile error of an elliptical mirror reduces from 2 μm to 250 nm (peak-to-valley).

Single soliton microcomb combined with optical phased array for parallel FMCW LiDAR.

The frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) technology combined with optical phased array (OPA) is promising for the all-solid-state light detection and ranging (LiDAR). We propose and experimentally demonstrate a silicon integrated OPA combined with an optical frequency microcomb for parallel LiDAR system. For realizing the parallel wavelengths emission consistent with Rayleigh criterion, the wide waveguide beyond single mode region combined with the bound state in the continuum (BIC) effect is harnessed to obtain an ultra-long optical grating antenna array.

Kidney failure-related excess mortality during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a nation-wide, population-based analysis.

Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the healthcare system. Patients with kidney failure and related kidney disease are notably vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it remains unclear how mortality trends associated with kidney failure have evolved over the past three years.

Evaluating a clinically available artificial intelligence model for intracranial aneurysm detection: a multi-reader study and algorithmic audit.

Purpose: We aimed to validate a clinically available artificial intelligence (AI) model to assist general radiologists in the detection of intracranial aneurysm (IA) in a multi-reader multi-case (MRMC) study, and to explore its performance in routine clinical settings.

Methods: Two distinct cohorts of head CT angiography (CTA) data were assembled to validate an AI model. Cohort 1, comprising gold-standard consecutive CTA cases, was used in an MRMC study involving six board-certified general radiologists.

Triptolide exhibits dual anti-tumor effects through inhibiting autophagy and extracellular matrix activation in pancreatic cancer.

Aim: The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, characterized by abundant desmoplastic stroma, has been implicated in the failure of chemotherapy. Therefore, developing therapeutic strategies targeting tumor and stromal cells is essential. Triptolide, a natural compound derived from the plant Tripterygium wilfordii, has shown antitumor activity in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against medically-attended influenza infection in 2023/24 season in Hangzhou, China.

From 2020, influenza viruses circulation was largely affected by the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, notably leading to the extinction of the B/Yamagata lineage and raising questions about the relevance of the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, which includes this lineage. Evaluating vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza infections is important to inform future vaccine programs. A test-negative case-control study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, China, enrolling medically-attended patients aged >6 months who presented with influenza-like illness (ILI) from October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

Comparing the protection of heterologous booster of inhaled Ad5-nCoV vaccine and hybrid immunity against Omicron BA.5 infection: a cohort study of hospital staff in China.

Background: After the exit "zero-COVID" strategy in mainland China by the end of 2022, a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak seeded by Omicron variants occurred. An inhaled adenovirus type-5 vector-based (i.e.

Grating-lobe-free optical phased array with 2-D circular sparse array aperture and high-efficiency phase calibration.

An optical phased array (OPA) with 2-D circular sparse array aperture has been proposed and demonstrated in the silicon integrated photonic platform. The sparse distribution of the antenna array can realize no grating lobes in 2-D full field of view (FOV). To achieve fast and accurate phase calibration for OPA, an improved rotating element electric field vector algorithm based on golden section search method (GSS-REV) has also been proposed and verified.

Long-term exposure to low-concentration sulfur dioxide and mental disorders in middle-aged and older urban adults.

The World Health Organization loosened the air quality guideline for daily sulfur dioxide (SO) concentrations from 20 μg/m to 40 μg/m. However, the guideline for SO concentrations in 2021 raised public concerns since there was no sufficient evidence that low-concentration SO exposure is harmless to the population's health, including mental health. We analyzed the associations between low-concentration SO exposure and incidence risks of total and cause-specific mental disorders, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Global burden associated with rare infectious diseases of poverty in 2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Rare infectious diseases of poverty (rIDPs) involve more than hundreds of tropical diseases, which dominantly affect people living in impoverished and marginalized regions and fail to be prioritized in the global health agenda. The neglect of rIDPs could impede the progress toward sustainable development. This study aimed to estimate the disease burden of rIDPs in 2021, which would be pivotal for setting intervention priorities and mobilizing resources globally.

Association of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir with post-acute sequelae and mortality among patients who are immunocompromised with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The effect of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir on post-COVID-19 outcomes for individuals who are immunocompromised is understudied. We aimed to examine the association of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir with post-acute sequelae and mortality among patients who are immunocompromised and admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

Methods: We did a retrospective cohort study using territory-wide electronic health records from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and Hong Kong Department of Health.