Multi-objective observational constraint of tropical Atlantic and Pacific low-cloud variability narrows uncertainty in cloud feedback.

Tropical marine low cloud feedback is key to the uncertainty in climate sensitivity, and it depends on the warming pattern of sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Here, we empirically constrain this feedback in two major low cloud regions, the tropical Pacific and Atlantic, using interannual variability. Low cloud sensitivities to local SST and to remote SST, represented by lower-troposphere temperature, are poorly captured in many models of the latest global climate model ensemble, especially in the less-studied tropical Atlantic.

Dapagliflozin improves diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting ferroptosis through β-hydroxybutyrate production.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Sodium-glucose cotransporter protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are antihyperglycemic agents that provide additional renal-protective effects in patients with DKD, independent of their glucose-lowering effects. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Aspirin is associated with lower risk of pancreatic cancer and cancer-related mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have higher pancreatic cancer (PC) risk. While aspirin has chemopreventive effects on digestive cancers, its effect on PC among patients with T2DM is unclear.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified newly diagnosed adult patients with T2DM in Hong Kong between 2001 and 2015 from a territory-wide healthcare registry.

Baseline nutrition risk as measured by SCREEN-8 predicts self-reported 12-month healthcare service use of older adults 3 years later.

This study investigated whether nutrition risk, as measured by SCREEN-8 at baseline, was associated with self-reported healthcare service use in the past 12 months among community-dwelling older adults who were interviewed 3 years later. Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were used. SCREEN-8 assessed nutrition risk among community-dwelling persons ages 55+.

External validation of EncephalApp Stroop test to screen minimal hepatic encephalopathy patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis.

Background: Neurocognitive impairment, including minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and overt hepatic encephalopathy, is one of the most common complications of all types of primary liver diseases, such as hepatitis B, biliary cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis. The EncephalApp Stroop test is a smartphone application-based test that is time-saving for MHE screening. However, neurocognitive impairment is different between alcoholic cirrhosis patients and nonalcoholic cirrhosis patients, so the cutoff value for MHE diagnosis might be inflated.

Therapeutic potential of -based Eefooton in patients with chronic kidney disease: from clinical to bench study.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health concern, and recent clinical evidence suggests the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to slow CKD progression. This offers alternative strategies for CKD patients, mitigating risks related to polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions. Our self-controlled, prospective study aims to assess the impact of Eefooton (EFT), a TCM-based regimen, on kidney health in stage 3-5 CKD patients.

Excitation-mode-selective emission through multiexcitonic states in a double perovskite single crystal.

Low-dimensional lead-free metal halide perovskites are highly attractive for cutting-edge optoelectronic applications. Herein, we report a class of scandium-based double perovskite crystals comprising antimony dopants that can generate multiexcitonic emissions in the ultraviolet, blue, and yellow spectral regions. Owing to the zero-dimensional nature of the crystal lattice that minimizes energy crosstalk, different excitonic states in the crystals can be selectively excited by ultraviolet light, X-ray irradiation, and mechanical action, enabling dynamic control of steady/transient-state spectral features by modulating the excitation modes.

Boosting bulk photovoltaic effect in transition metal dichalcogenide by edge semimetal contact.

Oxide materials with a non-centrosymmetric structure exhibit bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) but with a low cell efficiency. Over the past few years, relatively larger BPVE coefficients have been reported for two-dimensional (2D) layers and stacks with asymmety-induced spontaneous polarization. Here, we report a crucial breakthrough in boosting the BPVE in 3R-MoS by adopting edge contact (EC) geometry using bismuth semimetal electrode.

The guided fire from within: intratumoral administration of mRNA-based vaccines to mobilize memory immunity and direct immune responses against pathogen to target solid tumors.

We investigated a novel cancer immunotherapy strategy that effectively suppresses tumor growth in multiple solid tumor models and significantly extends the lifespan of tumor-bearing mice by introducing pathogen antigens into tumors via mRNA-lipid nanoparticles. The pre-existing immunity against the pathogen antigen can significantly enhance the efficacy of this approach. In mice previously immunized with BNT162b2, an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine encoding the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, intratumoral injections of the same vaccine efficiently tagged the tumor cells with mRNA-expressed spike protein.

Global and Regional Patterns in Edentulism (1990-2021) With Predictions to 2040.

Aims: Edentulism's impact on overall well-being is widely recognized, but there is limited information on regional and sex disparities in its global burden. This study aims to fill this gap by providing an updated picture of edentulism's burden by region and sex and predicting its global trend for the next 2 decades.

Methods: This study analyzed and reported Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data on the prevalence, incidence, and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) of edentulism, with a breakdown by sex and sociodemographic index (SDI).

hnRNPLL regulates MYOF alternative splicing and correlates with early metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly cancer known for its high rate of early metastasis, necessitating the discovery of the underlying mechanisms. Herein, we report that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L-like (hnRNPLL) expression significantly increases at the invasion forefront in PDAC and is associated with early metastasis and poor prognosis. Our findings revealed that hnRNPLL knockdown resulted in extensive exon skipping (ES) events.

Optical sectioning methods in three-dimensional bioimaging.

In recent advancements in life sciences, optical microscopy has played a crucial role in acquiring high-quality three-dimensional structural and functional information. However, the quality of 3D images is often compromised due to the intense scattering effect in biological tissues, compounded by several issues such as limited spatiotemporal resolution, low signal-to-noise ratio, inadequate depth of penetration, and high phototoxicity. Although various optical sectioning techniques have been developed to address these challenges, each method adheres to distinct imaging principles for specific applications.

Development of a Prognostic Model for Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Using Metastatic Patterns.

Background/aim: Metastatic patterns are the most convenient and common prediction models for the prognosis of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer. However, current prediction models do not include the severity of metastases in organs and exclude certain types of metastatic patterns. The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model that included several metastatic organs as well as the severity of liver and lung metastases, based on the Japanese Classification of Colorectal, Appendiceal, and Anal Carcinoma: the 3 English Edition.

Gut-kidney interaction reinforces dapagliflozin-mediated alleviation in diabetic nephropathy.

Intestinal microbiota are pathophysiologically involved in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Dapagliflozin, recognized for its blood glucose-lowering effect, has demonstrated efficacy in improving DN. However, the mechanisms beyond glycemic control that mediate the impact of dapagliflozin on DN remain unclear.

Silent threats of lead-based paints in toys and households to children's health and development.

Lead (Pb), a highly toxic heavy metal, poses a significant global health risk, particularly to children. Widely used in paint manufacturing for its remarkable corrosion-resistance properties Pb exposure has been linked to severe health issues, including reduced neurotransmitter levels, organ damage, potentially leading to death in extreme cases. Children Are particularly vulnerable, with Pb toxicity primarily affecting the brain, reproductive, kidneys, and cardiovascular systems.

Culture and pro-environmental behavior.

This paper aims to highlight the significant role of culture in human responses to global environmental challenges. Specifically, it discusses three thematic clusters of research, which demonstrate that: (i) culture can influence pro-environmental behavior through shaping values and moderating the relationship between psychological determinants and such behavior; (ii) perceptions of nature and its relationships with humans vary across cultures; and (iii) consumption behaviors are often shaped by practices that constitute social life within communities. Evidence from these research clusters suggests that understanding cultural dynamics is essential for designing effective, context-sensitive interventions aimed at driving sustainability transitions.

Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects.

Effects of Web-Based Decision Aid to Support Cervical Cancer Screening Decision Among Young Working Women: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: Young working women who devote most of their time to jobs and household chores may experience conflicts when faced with a cervical cancer screening decision. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a Web-based decision aid on cervical cancer screening by young working women, and to preliminarily examine the effects of the decision aid on the knowledge level, risk perception, decisional conflicts, screening decision and screening uptake.

Method: This was a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Quercetin as a therapeutic agent for skin problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis on antioxidant effects, oxidative stress, inflammation, wound healing, hyperpigmentation, aging, and skin cancer.

Quercetin is abundant in plants and has notable pharmacological properties for skin health. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the effects of quercetin on skin-related issues, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines and analyzing studies from ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. Of the 1,398 studies identified, 65 studies met the criteria for meta-analysis.

F2RL1 Inhibition Alleviates Lipotoxicity-Induced Kidney Injury Through the Hippo Pathway in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which is emerging as a pervasive global health concern and a considerable economic burden, is characterized by a detrimental effect on renal function and structure. Recent research indicates that the progression of DKD is facilitated by lipotoxic injury to tubular epithelial cells (TECs). However, the specific mechanisms that contribute to this cellular damage have yet to be fully elucidated.

Assessing handwriting skills in a web browser: Development and validation of an automated online test in Japanese Kanji.

Online language and literacy assessments have become prevalent in research and practice across settings. However, a notable exception is the assessment of handwriting and spelling, which has traditionally been conducted in person with paper and pencil. In light of this, we developed an automated, browser-based handwriting test application (Online Assessment of Handwriting and Spelling: OAHaS) for Japanese Kanji (Study 1) and examined its psychometric properties (Study 2).

A brief alcohol intervention during smoking cessation treatment in daily cigarette smokers: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Alcohol use attenuates successful smoking cessation. We examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a brief alcohol intervention in smokers. In this two-arm, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial, we randomized 100 daily smokers (82.

Aligning knowledge concepts to whole slide images for precise histopathology image analysis.

Due to the large size and lack of fine-grained annotation, Whole Slide Images (WSIs) analysis is commonly approached as a Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) problem. However, previous studies only learn from training data, posing a stark contrast to how human clinicians teach each other and reason about histopathologic entities and factors. Here, we present a novel knowledge concept-based MIL framework, named ConcepPath, to fill this gap.