Reactive Oxygen Species Resistive Redox Mediator in Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

The utilization of redox mediators (RMs) in lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) has underscored their utility in high overpotential during the charging process. Among the currently known RMs, it is exceptionally challenging to identify those with a redox potential capable of attenuating singlet oxygen (O) generation while resisting degradation by reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as O and superoxide (O ). In this context, computational and experimental approaches for rational molecular design have led to the development of 7,7'-bi-7-azabicyclo[2.

Surface conduction and reduced electrical resistivity in ultrathin noncrystalline NbP semimetal.

The electrical resistivity of conventional metals such as copper is known to increase in thin films as a result of electron-surface scattering, thus limiting the performance of metals in nanoscale electronics. Here, we find an unusual reduction of resistivity with decreasing film thickness in niobium phosphide (NbP) semimetal deposited at relatively low temperatures of 400°C. In films thinner than 5 nanometers, the room temperature resistivity (~34 microhm centimeters for 1.

Protein engineering of an oxidative cleavage-free pathway for crocetin-dialdehyde production in Escherichia coli.

The growing depletion of petroleum resources and the increasing demand for sustainable alternatives have spurred advancements in microorganism-based biofactories. Among high-value compounds, carotenoids are widely sought after in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutrition, making them prime candidates for microbial production. In this study, we engineered an efficient biosynthetic pathway in Escherichia coli for the production of the C-carotenoid crocetin-dialdehyde.

Canine Stem Cell-derived Exosomes for Lung Inflammation: Efficacy of Intratracheal Intravenous Administration in an Acute Lung Injury Mouse Model.

Background/aim: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an important pathological process in acute respiratory distress syndrome; however, feasible and effective treatment strategies for ALI are limited. Recent studies have suggested that stem cell-derived exosomes can ameliorate ALI; however, there remains no consensus on the protocols used, including the route of administration. This study aimed to identify the appropriate route of administration of canine stem cell-derived exosomes (cSC-Exos) in ALI.

Improving functional correlation of quantification of interstitial lung disease by reducing the vendor difference of CT using generative adversarial network (GAN) style conversion.

Objective: To assess whether CT style conversion between different CT vendors using a routable generative adversarial network (RouteGAN) could minimize variation in ILD quantification, resulting in improved functional correlation of quantitative CT (QCT) measures.

Methods: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who underwent unenhanced chest CTs with vendor A and a pulmonary function test (PFT) were retrospectively evaluated. As deep-learning based ILD quantification software was mainly developed using vendor B CT, style-converted images from vendor A to B style were generated using RouteGAN.

Amorphous Carbon Monolayer: A van der Waals Interface for High-Performance Metal Oxide Semiconductor Devices.

Ultrasmall-scale semiconductor devices (≤5 nm) are advancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. However, the further scaling of these devices poses critical challenges, such as interface properties and oxide quality, particularly at the high-/semiconductor interface in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices. Existing interlayer (IL) methods, typically exceeding 1 nm thickness, are unsuitable for ultrasmall-scale devices.

Solvent-Tuned Plasticity for Various Binder-Free Applications of a New Lead-Free Manganese Halide.

The development of efficient color conversion layers for μ-LED technology faces significant challenges owing to the limitations of materials that require binders. Binders are typically used to ensure uniform film formation in color-conversion layers, but they often cause optical losses, increase layer thickness, and introduce long-term stability issues. To address the limitations of materials requiring binders, cyclopropyltriphenylphosphonium manganese tetrabromide (CPTPMnBr) is synthesized, a novel lead-free metal halide.

High-Throughput Screening of 3-Dimensional Co-culture Hair Follicle Mimetic Tissue with an Enhanced Extracellular Matrix for the Screening of Hair Growth-Promoting Compounds.

Hair follicle cells reside within a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) environment in vivo, where physical and chemical cues regulate their behavior. The ECM is crucial for hair follicle development and regeneration, particularly through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Current in vitro models often fail to replicate this complexity, leading to inconsistencies in evaluating hair loss treatments.

Comprehensive molecular characterization to predict immunotherapy response in advanced biliary tract cancer: a phase II trial of pembrolizumab.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in a subset of patients with metastatic solid tumors. However, the patients who would benefit most from ICIs in biliary tract cancer (BTC) are still controversial.

Materials And Methods: We molecularly characterized tissues and blood from 32 patients with metastatic BTC treated with the ICI pembrolizumab as second-line therapy.

Outcomes Comparison of Endovascular and Open Surgical Approaches for Subclavian Arterial Injury: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: The management of patients with subclavian artery injury is rapidly evolving from an open to an endovascular approach. We aim to present an analysis of management and a comparison of outcomes according to the type of approach used to treat these challenging injuries.

Methods: Adult patients with subclavian arterial injuries were abstracted from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2012-2014 and 2016-2021.

Dual-biased metal oxide electrolyte-gated thin-film transistors for enhanced protonation in complex biofluids.

pH sensing technology is pivotal for monitoring aquatic ecosystems and diagnosing human health conditions. Indium-gallium-zinc oxide electrolyte-gated thin-film transistors (IGZO EGTFTs) are highly regarded as ion-sensing devices due to the pH-dependent surface chemistry of their sensing membranes. However, applying EGTFT-based pH sensors in complex biofluids containing diverse charged species poses challenges due to ion interference and inherently low sensitivity constrained by the Nernst limit.

Autophagic signatures in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Parkinson's disease patients.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments and the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein. Dysregulation of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP), responsible for degrading misfolded proteins, has been implicated in PD pathogenesis. However, current diagnostic approaches rely heavily on motor symptoms, which occur due to substantial neurodegeneration, limiting early detection and intervention.

Automated Measurement of Effective Radiation Dose by F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

Background/objectives: Calculating the radiation dose from CT in F-PET/CT examinations poses a significant challenge. The objective of this study is to develop a deep learning-based automated program that standardizes the measurement of radiation doses.

Methods: The torso CT was segmented into six distinct regions using TotalSegmentator.

Sex and Age Differences in the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Heart Failure Development.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of metabolic dysregulations, is recognized as a significant risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF). The pathophysiological mechanisms linking MetS to HF are complex and multifaceted, with the components of MetS contributing to cardiac deterioration through impaired myocardial energy metabolism, increased inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Numerous clinical studies have confirmed the relationship between MetS and HF.

Oncologic and Operative Outcomes of Robotic Staging Surgery Using Low Pelvic Port Placement in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer.

Upper para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) is one of the most challenging gynecologic robotic procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the oncologic and operative outcomes of robotic staging surgery, including upper PALND, using low pelvic port placement (LP3) in 22 patients with high-risk endometrial cancer. High-risk was defined as patients who showed deep myometrial invasion with grade III, cervical involvement, or high-risk histology.

Physicochemical Properties, Drug Release and In Situ Depot-Forming Behaviors of Alginate Hydrogel Containing Poorly Water-Soluble Aripiprazole.

The objective of this study was to investigate the physicochemical properties, drug release and in situ depot-forming behavior of alginate hydrogel containing poorly water-soluble aripiprazole (ARP) for achieving free-flowing injectability, clinically accessible gelation time and sustained drug release. The balanced ratio of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) was crucial to modulate gelation time of the alginate solution in the presence of calcium carbonate. Our results demonstrated that the sol state alginate hydrogel before gelation was free-flowing, stable and readily injectable using a small 23 G needle.

Clinical Impact of TP53 Mutations in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Who Were Treated with Targeted Therapies or Immunotherapy.

Purpose: TP53 mutations are common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We evaluated their clinical impact in patients treated with targeted agents or immunotherapy in the KCSG HN15-16 TRIUMPH trial.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with TP53 mutations in the TRIUMPH trial, a multicenter, biomarker-driven umbrella trial in Korea.

Effect of individualized versus conventional perioperative blood pressure management on postoperative major complications in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: study protocol for the SPROUT-4 multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Intraoperative hypotension is very common during surgery and is linked to major organ dysfunction and mortality. Current perioperative blood pressure management is largely based on universal blood pressure thresholds ranging from a mean arterial pressure of 60-70 mmHg. However, the effectiveness of this conventional management remains unproven in prospective randomized trials.

Condylar position changes and prognosis in patients with unilateral mandibular condylar fracture treated non-surgically.

Background: Non-surgical method is a treatment option for mandibular condylar fracture; however, it is questionable whether bone fragments are adequately reduced and remodeled. The purpose of this study was to identify three-dimensional positional changes in the mandibular condyles in patients treated non-surgically, analyze factors influencing the extent of positional changes, and evaluate clinical prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 31 patients with unilateral mandibular condylar fractures treated non-surgically at the Ajou University Dental Hospital between 2005 and 2023.

Brain energy homeostasis: the evolution of the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis.

The brain's substantial metabolic requirements, consuming a substantial fraction of the body's total energy despite its relatively small mass, necessitate sophisticated metabolic mechanisms for efficient energy distribution and utilization. The astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) hypothesis has emerged as a fundamental framework explaining the metabolic cooperation between astrocytes and neurons, whereby astrocyte-derived lactate serves as a crucial energy substrate for neurons. This review synthesizes current understanding of brain energy metabolism, focusing on the dual roles of lactate as both an energy substrate and a signaling molecule.

Internal structure of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This review aimed to evaluate the internal structure (structural validity, internal consistency, and measurement invariance) of the Patient Health Questionnire-9 (PHQ-9), which is one of the most widely used self-administered instruments for assessing and screening depression.

Methods: The updated COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology for a systematic review of self-reported instruments was used. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from their inception up to February 28, 2023.

High p16 expression in glioblastoma is associated with senescence phenotype and better prognosis.

Glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype (GBM), is the most malignant brain tumor in adults, with limited therapeutic intervention. Previous studies have identified a few prognostic markers for GBM, including the methylation status of O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter, TERT promoter mutation, EGFR amplification, and CDKN2A/2B deletion. However, the classification of GBM remains incomplete, necessitating a comprehensive analysis.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Over a Million Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Seven Countries: Multinational Cohort Study and Open Data Resource.

Background And Aims: Observational healthcare data are an important tool for delineating patients' inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) journey in real-world settings. However, studies that characterize IBD cohorts typically rely on a single resource, apply diverse eligibility criteria, and extract variable sets of attributes, making comparison between cohorts challenging. We aim to longitudinally describe and compare IBD patient cohorts across multiple geographic regions, employing unified data and analysis framework.

Correlation between individual thigh muscle volume and grip strength in relation to sarcopenia with automated muscle segmentation.

Introduction: Grip strength serves as a significant marker for diagnosing and assessing sarcopenia, particularly in elderly populations. The study aims to explore the relationship between individual thigh muscle volumes and grip strength, leveraging advanced AI-based UNETR segmentation techniques for accurate muscle volume assessment.

Methods: The study included 49 participants from a cohort of 478 patients diagnosed with hip fractures at Gyeongsang National University Hospital.