•Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified with Ag were synthesized with thermal decomposition method.•Nanoparticles morphology and size do not depend on Ag concentration.•The Ag effect on nanoparticles magnetic ...properties was studied.•Strong influence of Ag on visible magnetic circular dichroism was revealed and discussed.
Effect of Ag inclusions on magnetic properties and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) in the mixed system of Fe3O4 and Ag NPs in dependence on the relative concentration of the components is presented. The samples were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of the mixture of constant concentration of Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and varied concentration of AgNO3. The synthesized powdered samples consisted of Fe3O4 and Ag NPs located very close with each other, and in the most cases the Fe3O4 NPs were bordered with the Ag nanocrystals. The Ag introducing in the samples does not effect, practically, in the Fe3O4 NPs morphology and size distribution. At the same time, Ag NPs in the powdered samples cause a decrease in the Fe3O4 NPs magnetization and shift of the blocking temperature to lower temperatures, both approximately proportional to the Ag concentration. Most significant changes are revealed in the MCD spectra in the energy region of 1.2–2.2 eV. We have discussed the influence of the Ag NPs on the MCD spectra features in terms of the charge-transfer electron transitions.
Background
In the absence of randomized controlled data and even propensity‐matched data, indications for, and outcomes of, laparoscopic repeat liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ...remain uncertain. This study aimed to clarify the current indications for laparoscopic repeat liver resection for HCC, and to evaluate outcomes.
Methods
Forty‐two liver surgery centres around the world registered patients who underwent repeat liver resection for HCC. Patient characteristics, preoperative liver function, tumour characteristics, surgical method, and short‐ and long‐term outcomes were recorded.
Results
Analyses showed that the laparoscopic procedure was generally used in patients with relatively poor performance status and liver function, but favourable tumour characteristics. Intraoperative blood loss (mean(s.d.) 254(551) versus 748(1128) ml; P < 0·001), duration of operation (248(156) versus 285(167) min; P < 0·001), morbidity (12·7 versus 18·1 per cent; P = 0·006) and duration of postoperative hospital stay (10·1(14·3) versus 11·8(11·8) days; P = 0·013) were significantly reduced for laparoscopic compared with open procedures, whereas survival time was comparable (median 10·04 versus 8·94 years; P = 0·297). Propensity score matching showed that laparoscopic repeat liver resection for HCC resulted in less intraoperative blood loss (268(730) versus 497(784) ml; P = 0·001) and a longer operation time (272(187) versus 232(129); P = 0·007) than the open approach, and similar survival time (12·55 versus 8·94 years; P = 0·086).
Conclusion
Laparoscopic repeat liver resection is feasible in selected patients with recurrent HCC.
Antecedentes
Dado que no existen ensayos clínicos controlados ni estudios de datos emparejados por puntaje de propensión, todavía hay dudas sobre las indicaciones y los resultados de la resección iterativa laparocópica de un carcinoma hepatocelular (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). Este estudio tuvo como objetivo esclarecer las indicaciones actuales y los resultados de la resección hepática laparoscópica iterativa del HCC.
Métodos
Se incluyeron los pacientes de 42 centros de cirugía hepática a nivel mundial en los que se había realizado una resección hepática iterativa por HCC. Se analizaron las características del paciente, la función hepática preoperatoria, las características del tumor, el abordaje quirúrgico y los resultados a corto y largo plazo.
Resultados
El análisis demostró que la vía laparoscópica generalmente se utilizaba en pacientes con carácteristicas tumorales favorables, pero con estado funcional y función hepatica relativamente peores. La pérdida de sangre intraoperatoria (254,3 ± 551,2 versus 748,0 ± 1127,7 mL, P < 0,001), la duración de la intervención (247,6 ± 155,8 versus 285,1 ± 167,0 minutos, P < 0,001), la morbilidad (12,7 versus 18,1%, P = 0,005) y la estancia hospitalaria postoperatoria (10,07 ± 14,29 versus 11,80 ± 11,79 días, P = 0,010) fueron significativamente menores para los pacientes tratados por via laparoscópica en comparacion con la vía abierta, mientra que el tiempo de supervivencia fue comparable (mediana 10,04 versus 8,94 años, P = 0,297). El estudio de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión mostró que la resección hepática iterativa por vía laparoscópica de un HCC (frente a la vía abierta) conllevaba una menor pérdida sanguínea intraoperatoria (268,0 ± 730,2 versus 496,5 ± 784,2 mL, P = 0,01), una mayor duración de la intervención (272,1 ± 187,2 versus 231,8 ± 129,1 minutos , P = 0,07) y un tiempo de supervivencia similar (mediana 12,55 versus 8,94 años, P = 0,0855).
Conclusión
La resección hepática iterativa por vía laparoscópica es factible en pacientes seleccionados con HCC recidivado.
This report describes a propensity score matching analysis of open versus laparoscopic repeat liver resection. The laparoscopic procedure is generally used in patients with relatively low performance status and relatively poor liver function but favourable tumour characteristics. The present data indicate that laparoscopic repeat liver resection is feasible, yielding acceptable short‐ and long‐term outcomes, for treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in selected patients. ORLR‐PSM, propensity score‐matched open repeat liver resection group; LRLR‐PSM, propensity score‐matched laparoscopic repeat liver resection group.
Selection is key
Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel) was originated from Brazil (Lorenzi 2000). The production of jabuticaba is growing globally as its value in the food and pharmaceutical industries ...(Benvenutti 2021). In August 2019, jabuticaba plants with symptoms of leaf blight were observed in the field at the Meinong of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Disease incidence was 40%. Symptoms first presented as small, water-soaked lesions on young leaves, and then dark brown lesions of 1-3 cm in diameter on mature leaves. Six symptomatic leaves were collected from 6 jabuticaba plants for verifying the causal agents. Tissues (5 × 5 mm2) were cut from the margin of symptomatic leaf. Samples were sterilized in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 60 s, rinsed with sterile distilled water three times and then placed in 1% water agar in the dark for 5 days at room temperature. Resultant fungal colonies were purified by subculturing fungal hyphal tips on potato dextrose agar in a growth chamber (28°C, 12 h photoperiod) until fungal conidia appeared. The fungi initially produced white, cottony, aerial mycelium, after which concentric black conidiomata appeared on the plates after 7 days of incubation. The 5-celled conidia were fusiform to ellipsoid, straight to slightly curved, with sizes of 24.00-44.00 µm × 6.00-13.00 µm (avg. size, 32.00 × 9.37 µm, n = 120). The apical and basal cells were hyaline, and 3 median cells were pale brown and versicolorous. Conidia had 2-3 apical appendages and a conical basal cell with a truncate base. Based on the characteristics, which were common among isolates from diseased samples, the causal pathogen was identified as Neopestalotiopsis sp. (Solarte et al. 2018). Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1α (TEF), β-tubulin, and large ribosomal subunit (LSU) DNA sequences were obtained from these isolates and deposited in GenBank (MN723897, ITS; MN813055, TEF; MN813054, β-tubulin; MN860104, LSU). Sequences demonstrated high sequence identity with those of Neopestalotiopsis formicarum ex-type cultures CBS 362.72 (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2014): 99.44% for ITS (KM199358), 99.38% for TEF (KM199517), 98.86% for β-tubulin (KM199455), and 100.00% for LSU (KM116248). The phylogenetic relationship in Neopestalotiopsis species supported the identification of our isolates as N. formicarum. Three independent 3-isolate inoculation experiments were performed to fit Koch's postulates. Surface-sterilized leaves on live plants were punctured with a needle and inoculated with 5 µL of conidial suspension (1 × 105 conidia/mL). Inoculated plants were kept in a growth chamber (25°C, 70% relative humidity) for 7 days. Control plants were inoculated with sterile distilled water and kept under the same conditions. Inoculated leaves developed brown lesions around wounds after seven days. The pathogen was re-isolated from diseased plants, following the steps used for the original procedure, with identical characteristics as the initial isolates. This is the first report of leaf brown blight caused by N. formicarum on jabuticaba in Taiwan. N. formicarum was recently considered as a new threat to jabuticaba (Gualberto et al. 2021). In addition, it has a broad host range on many tropical crops, such as guarana and banana (Gualberto et al. 2021). Neopestalotiopsis spp. have been reported to cause important economic fruit diseases (Gualberto et al. 2021). Therefore, N. formicarum may become the potential risk for fruit production of tropical crops.
In this study, we developed a digital game‐based learning (DGBL) system, called the ToES, to foster students’ creativity. Fifty‐one fifth‐grade students from two classes in a public school in Taipei, ...Taiwan, were recruited and consented to participate. Both classes consisted of students with mixed abilities studying a foundation unit entitled “Electrical Science” in a natural science course. One class was chosen to be the experimental group (EG) and the other class was the control group (CG). The goal of this study was to examine how different instructional strategies (i.e., traditional instruction and instruction using digital games) affected the students’ creativity and their performance on manual skills. The analytical results indicated that the students’ creativity and their performance on manual skills displayed positive growth when they were involved in acquiring knowledge and resolving tasks in a DGBL environment, which fostered their creativity and facilitated the generation of flow experiences. Moreover, there were three interesting findings related to the use of DGBL: (1) the ToES was an effective learning tool for cultivating the students’ creativity; (2) there was a positive effect of creativity and their performance of manual skills; and (3) the ToES accelerated the improvement of practical behaviors regarding manual skills.
Highlights
We design a digital game with creativity called the ToES. We prove differences in creativity and manual skills between traditional classroom and digital game‐based environment. Students were able to achieve better learning performances in DGBL environment. DGBL facilitates the generation of flow experience.
Objective: Intra-Individual Cognitive Variability (IICV) is an emerging clinical tool that has shown promise in predicting cognitive decline and dementia incidence. The present study aims to assess ...the predictive validity of IICV in remote cognitive screening tests, using nationally representative data. Method: Two waves of cognitive and diagnostic data from the Health and Retirement Study (collected in 2010 and 2012) were utilized to investigate whether baseline IICV can predict cognitive decline and dementia pathology. Middle-aged and older adults who were cognitively intact and completed all cognitive tests at both baseline and follow-up were recruited in the study, resulting in a sample of 6,050 participants. With the coefficient of variation method, the IICV–dispersion was calculated based on cognitive screeners to predict follow-up mean cognitive performance, global cognition, suspected cognitive impairment, and self-reported dementia diagnosis. Results: After accounting for demographics, depressive symptoms, and baseline cognitive performance, the results provide support for the predictive validity of IICV. Specifically, the study demonstrated that IICV–dispersion significantly predicted cognitive and diagnostic outcomes in a concave pattern where the prediction was more sensitive toward the higher end of IICV. IICV explained about 0.2%–2.3% of the variance of outcomes variables. Conclusions: IICV retrieved from cognitive screening tests in telemedicine settings offers insight into future cognitive functioning and neurocognitive diagnostic status, which can be cost-effective and reduce the burden on both patients and health care providers, especially benefitting individuals with low socioeconomic status and rural residents. Potential avenues for future research were also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)
A nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) mass screening trial using a combination of immunoglobulin A antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen and nuclear antigen-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent ...assay in addition to indirect mirror examination in the nasopharynx and/or lymphatic palpation (IMLP) was conducted in southern China. Cantonese aged 30-59 years residing in 2 cities randomly selected by cluster sampling, Sihui and Zhongshan, were invited to participate in this screening from May 2008 through May 2010. Participants were offered fiberoptic endoscopy examination and/or pathologic biopsy if their serologic tests reached our predefined level of high risk or if results from the physical examination indicated possible cancer (i.e., were IMLP positive). A total of 28,688 individuals were voluntarily screened in the initial round. The overall NPC detection rate was 0.14% (41/28,688) with an early diagnosis rate of 68.3% (28/41) during the first year of follow-up. Thirty-eight of 41 cases (92.7%) were detected among the high-risk group, and 7 of 41 cases (17.1%) were detected among the IMLP-positive group. The 2 Epstein-Barr virus serologic tests by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay could be a feasible alternative for NPC screening in endemic areas. Further follow-up is needed to examine whether screening has an effect on decreasing mortality from NPC in these areas.
To assign fossil and nonfossil contributions to carbonaceous particles, radiocarbon (14C) measurements were performed on organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water-insoluble OC (WINSOC) of ...aerosol samples from a regional background site in South China under different seasonal conditions. The average contributions of fossil sources to EC, OC and WINSOC were 38 ± 11%, 19 ± 10%, and 17 ± 10%, respectively, indicating generally a dominance of nonfossil emissions. A higher contribution from fossil sources to EC (∼51%) and OC (∼30%) was observed for air-masses transported from Southeast China in fall, associated with large fossil-fuel combustion and vehicle emissions in highly urbanized regions of China. In contrast, an increase of the nonfossil contribution by 5–10% was observed during the periods with enhanced open biomass-burning activities in Southeast Asia or Southeast China. A modified EC tracer method was used to estimate the secondary organic carbon from fossil emissions by determining 14C-derived fossil WINSOC and fossil EC. This approach indicates a dominating secondary component (70 ± 7%) of fossil OC. Furthermore, contributions of biogenic and biomass-burning emissions to contemporary OC were estimated to be 56 ± 16% and 44 ± 14%, respectively.
A common imaging finding in brain abscess and necrotic glioblastoma is a T2 hypointense margin. The features of this hypointense rim on SWI have not been previously described, to our knowledge. We ...aimed to differentiate abscesses from glioblastomas by assessing the morphology of their lesion margin by using SWI.
T2WI and SWI were performed in 12 abscesses and 20 rim-enhancing glioblastomas. On T2WI and SWI, the prevalence and the border types (complete versus incomplete) of hypointense rims were qualitatively assessed. On SWI, the contour (smooth versus irregular) and the location of hypointense rims relative to the contrast-enhancing rims as well as the prevalence of the "dual rim sign," defined as 2 concentric rims at lesion margins with the outer one being hypointense and the inner one hyperintense relative to cavity contents, were also analyzed.
Prevalence and the border types of the hypointense rims on T2WI were not different between abscesses and glioblastomas. On SWI, there were significantly more hypointense rims that were complete (P < .001) and smooth (P < .001), having the same location as the contrast-enhancing rims (P < .001) for abscesses. A dual rim sign was present in 9 of 12 abscesses but absent in all glioblastomas (P < .001).
SWI may be helpful in differentiating pyogenic abscesses from necrotic glioblastomas. The dual rim sign is the most specific imaging feature distinguishing the 2.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with metastasis underlying majority of related deaths. Angiomotin (AMOT), a scaffold protein, has been shown to interact with oncogenic ...Yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) proteins, suggesting a potential role in tumor progression. However, the functional role of AMOT in lung cancer remains unknown. This study aimed to identify the patho-physiological characteristics of AMOT in lung cancer progression. Results revealed that AMOT expression was significantly decreased in clinical lung cancer specimens. Knockdown of AMOT in a low metastatic CL1-0 lung cancer cell line initiated cancer proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The trigger of cancer progression caused by AMOT loss was transduced by decreased cytoplasmic sequestration and increased nuclear translocation of oncogenic co-activators YAP/TAZ, leading to increased expression of the growth factor, Cyr61. Tumor promotion by AMOT knockdown was reversed when YAP/TAZ or Cyr61 was absent. Further, AMOT knockdown increased the growth and spread of Lewis lung carcinoma in vivo. These findings suggest that AMOT is a crucial suppressor of lung cancer metastasis and highlight its critical role as a tumor suppressor and its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for lung cancer.
Commercialization of the lithium‐sulfur battery is hampered by bottlenecks like low sulfur loading, high cathode porosity, uncontrollable Li2Sx deposition and sluggish kinetics of Li2S activation. ...Herein, we developed a densely stacked redox‐active hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATN) polymer with a surface area of 302 m2 g−1 and a very high bulk density of ca. 1.60 g cm−3. Uniquely, HATN polymer has a similar redox potential window to S, which facilitates the binding of Li2Sx and its transformation chemistry within the bulky polymer host, leading to fast Li2S/S kinetics. The compact polymer/S electrode presents a high sulfur loading of ca. 15 mgs cm−2 (200‐μm thickness) with a low cathode porosity of 41 %. It delivers a high areal capacity of ca. 14 mAh cm−2 and good cycling stability (200 cycles) at electrolyte–sulfur (E/S) ratio of 5 μL mgs−1. The assembled pouch cell delivers a cell‐level high energy density of 303 Wh kg−1 and 392 Wh L−1.
A dense‐stacking hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATN) porous polymer is reported. The compact polymer/S cathode (ca. 15 mgs cm−2, 200‐μm thickness) presents a low cathode porosity of 41 % and high areal capacity (>10 mAh cm−2) in a lean electrolyte of 5 μL mg−1. The lithiation/delithiation of HATN polymer by Li2Sx facilitates the formation of intimately bound nanostructured Li2S/S on the bulky polymer host, leading to fast Li2S/S kinetics.
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