Abstract Gut microbiota can regulate the metabolic and immunological aspects of ischemic stroke and modulate the treatment effects. The present study aimed to identify specific changes in gut ...microbiota in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic stroke and assess the potential association between gut microbiota and clinical features of ischemic stroke. A total of 63 CSVD patients, 64 cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients, and 36 matching normal controls (NCs) were included in this study. The fecal samples were collected for all participants and analyzed for gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. The abundances of five gut microbiota, including genera Bifidobacterium, Butyricimonas, Blautia, and Dorea and species Bifidobacterium_longum, showed significant changes with high specificity in the LVO patients as compared to the NCs and CSVD patients. In LVO patients, the genera Bifidobacterium and Blautia and species Bifidobacterium_longum were significantly correlated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at the admission and discharge of the patients. Serum triglyceride levels could significantly affect the association of the abundance of genus Bifidobacterium and species Bifidobacterium_longum with the NIHSS scores at admission and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge in LVO patients. The identification of five gut microbiota with high specificity were identified in the early stage of LVO stroke, which contributed to performed an effective clinical management for LVO ischemic stroke.
•A novel wearable microneedle-based sensor for continuous and real-time ISF multi-biomarkers monitoring and analyzing.•This device integrated an array of disposable multiplex-sensing microneedles, ...reusable electronics, a battery and a recharge coil into a miniaturized holder.•Targeted biomarkers including glucose, lactate and alcohol could be measured either individually or simultaneously with results highly consistent with those of the gold standard, providing its wearer with an accurate visualization of his physiological data.•The specific working mechanism of this device lay in two highly-integrated electronic modules, which were an electrochemical analog front end (AFE) and a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) system in package (SiP).
Wearable biosensors, which aim at providing continuous, real-time physiological information via monitoring and screening biomarkers in human body, are receiving increasing attention among various fields including disease treatment, diagnosis and self-health management. The ongoing development in this realm starves for the exploration of fully-integrated, non-invasive devices. In this paper, we review the latest achievements with breakthrough significance on the wearable biosensors. We start with the classification of different types of wearable electronic devices and analyze their characteristics and application values. Subsequently, we introduce a fully-integrated microneedle-based sensor and provide an in-depth look at its structure, subcomponents and in vivo performances. Finally, we put forward critical commentaries and clarify the direction of future researches.
As an effective combination chemotherapy, FOLFIRINOX regimen (fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) has shown definite antitumor efficacy for treating pancreatic cancer (PC) ...nowadays. However, the traditional systematic administration of these chemotherapeutics limits the drug targeting and causes unwanted effects. Herein, we present a novel Christmas tree-shaped adhesive microneedle (MN) patch coloading fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin simultaneously to realize spatiotemporal FOLFIRINOX therapy in situ. Such MN patch was fabricated by using a layer-by-layer mold replication method, in which oxaliplatin and leucovorin are encapsulated in the top MNs, while irinotecan and fluorouracil are encapsulated in the bottom MNs. The multilayer structure imparts the MNs with enhanced adhesive ability and spatiotemporal drug release property, contributing to the antitumor effect on PC organoid models. Therefore, our Christmas tree-shaped MN patch represents an innovative approach for spatiotemporal multiple-drug delivering and realizes the combination chemotherapy for PC in a single platform.
With the deepening of the power system reform since 2015, the construction of the electricity retail market continues to accelerate, the activity and competition of the electricity retail market ...continues to increase. In order to better guide the construction and development of China’s electricity retail market, it is necessary to accurately evaluate its construction effectiveness, finding the effectiveness and deficiencies, and making electricity retail market play the decisive role in the allocation of electricity resources. This article proposes a new set of construction effectiveness evaluation model for electricity retail market. It establishes the key factors of power retail market construction effectiveness from the seven aspects of market mechanism, market openness, market concentration, market quality, market performance, electricity retail side service content diversity and market satisfaction, etc. The corresponding evaluation index system is formed to measure the effectiveness of the electricity retail market construction, which helps to guide the discovery of weak links in retail market construction of power system and improve them in a timely manner. The validity of the proposed model is proved by case study.
An all-solid-state electronic three-dimensional terahertz tomography system designed specifically for non-destructive inspection of polymer materials is demonstrated, which is capable of determining ...the positions and shapes of hidden defects accurately. The imaging radar system, based on stepped-frequency modulated continuous wave (SFMCW), with center frequency at 180 GHz, bandwidth of 60 GHz, and average power 0.5 mW, is tested against thick Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) plates with internal voids as samples. The locations and shapes of the hidden holes are obtained in both electromagnetic simulation and experimental measurements with a three-dimensional image reconstruction algorithm, which features advantages of accurate reconstructed image details and fast computation speed, demonstrating that the terahertz imaging radar system combined with the algorithm developed is capable of detecting internal defects of thick polymers. Key resolution parameters are established experimentally in detail, demonstrating 2.5 mm and 1.7 mm range resolutions in free space and in Teflon separately, and lateral spot diameters ranging from 3.4 mm to 8 mm at imaging distances from 5 mm to 60 mm.
•An all-solid-state electronic 3D terahertz tomography system designed for NDI of polymer materials is demonstrated.•Hidden defects are obtained by a 3D image reconstruction algorithm, which features accuracy and fast computation speed.•A judgment basis for quantitative measurements of defect's cross-range size is summarized, which is suitable for other polymers.•Key resolution parameters and appropriate detection distance are established experimentally and discussed in detail.•The new approach is far-reaching significance for non-destructive inspection of polymer materials.
A system for long-length intraoperative imaging is reported based on longitudinal motion of an O-arm gantry featuring a multi-slot collimator. We assess the utility of long-length tomosynthesis and ...the geometric accuracy of 3D image registration for surgical guidance and evaluation of long spinal constructs.
A multi-slot collimator with tilted apertures was integrated into an O-arm system for long-length imaging. The multi-slot projective geometry leads to slight view disparity in both long-length projection images (referred to as 'line scans') and tomosynthesis 'slot reconstructions' produced using a weighted-backprojection method. The radiation dose for long-length imaging was measured, and the utility of long-length, intraoperative tomosynthesis was evaluated in phantom and cadaver studies. Leveraging the depth resolution provided by parallax views, an algorithm for 3D-2D registration of the patient and surgical devices was adapted for registration with line scans and slot reconstructions. Registration performance using single-plane or dual-plane long-length images was evaluated and compared to registration accuracy achieved using standard dual-plane radiographs.
Longitudinal coverage of ∼50-64 cm was achieved with a single long-length slot scan, providing a field-of-view (FOV) up to (40 × 64) cm
, depending on patient positioning. The dose-area product (reference point air kerma × x-ray field area) for a slot scan ranged from ∼702-1757 mGy·cm
, equivalent to ∼2.5 s of fluoroscopy and comparable to other long-length imaging systems. Long-length scanning produced high-resolution tomosynthesis reconstructions, covering ∼12-16 vertebral levels. 3D image registration using dual-plane slot reconstructions achieved median target registration error (TRE) of 1.2 mm and 0.6° in cadaver studies, outperforming registration to dual-plane line scans (TRE = 2.8 mm and 2.2°) and radiographs (TRE = 2.5 mm and 1.1°). 3D registration using single-plane slot reconstructions leveraged the ∼7-14° angular separation between slots to achieve median TRE ∼2 mm and <2° from a single scan.
The multi-slot configuration provided intraoperative visualization of long spine segments, facilitating target localization, assessment of global spinal alignment, and evaluation of long surgical constructs. 3D-2D registration to long-length tomosynthesis reconstructions yielded a promising means of guidance and verification with accuracy exceeding that of 3D-2D registration to conventional radiographs.
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has taken educational settings by storm in the past year due to its transformative ability to impact school education. It is crucial to investigate ...pre-service teachers' viewpoints to effectively incorporate GenAI tools into their instructional practices. Data gathered from 606 pre-service teachers were analyzed to explore the predictors of behavioral intention to design Gen AI-assisted teaching. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this research integrates multiple variables such as Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), GenAI anxiety, and technology self-efficacy. Our findings revealed that GenAI anxiety, social influence, and performance expectancy significantly predicted pre-service teachers' behavioral intention to design GenAI-assisted teaching. However, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions were not statistically associated with pre-service teachers' behavioral intentions. These findings offer significant insights into the intricate relationships between predictors that influence pre-service teachers' perspectives and intentions regarding GenAI technology.
With an ideal comfort level, sensitivity, reliability, and user‐friendliness, wearable sensors are making great contributions to daily health care, nursing care, early disease discovery, and body ...monitoring. Some wearable sensors are imparted with hierarchical and uneven microstructures, such as microneedle structures, which not only facilitate the access to multiple bio‐analysts in the human body but also improve the abilities to detect feeble body signals. In this paper, we present the promising applications and latest progress of functional microneedles in wearable sensors. We begin by discussing the roles of microneedles as sensing units, including how the signals are captured, converted, and transmitted. We also introduce the microneedle‐like structures as power units, which depend on triboelectric or piezoelectric effects, etc. Finally, we summarize the cutting‐edge applications of microneedle‐based wearable sensors in biophysical signal monitoring and biochemical analyte detection, and provide critical thinking on their future perspectives.
The integration of microneedle structures can significantly improve the performances of wearable electronics and greatly promote their developments. This review outlines different types of functional microneedle‐integrated wearable electronics, including electrochemical biosensors, capacitive biosensors, triboelectric biosensors and so on. The most advanced applications of these novel wearable electronics, such as gesture monitoring and biomarker detecting, are also discussed.
Urgent start peritoneal dialysis (USPD) is an effective therapeutic method for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, whether it is safe to initiate peritoneal dialysis (PD) within 24 h unclear. We ...examined the short-term outcomes of a break-in period (BI) of 24 h for patients undergoing USPD.
This real-world, multicenter, retrospective cohort study evaluated USPD patients from five centers from January 2013 to August 2020. Patients were divided into BI ≤ 24 h or BI > 24 h groups. The Primary outcomes included incidence of mechanical and infectious complications. The secondary outcome was technique failure. Moreover, we presented a subgroup analysis for patients who did not receive temporary hemodialysis (HD).
A total of 871 USPD patients were included: 470 in the BI ≤ 24 h and 401 in the BI > 24 h groups. Mechanical and infectious complications did not differ between the two groups across the follow-up timepoints (2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months) (p > 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that BI ≤ 24 h was not an independent risk factor for mechanical complications, catheter migration, or infectious complications (p > 0.05). A BI ≤ 24 h was not an independent significant risk factor for technique failure by multivariate Cox regression analysis (p > 0.05). The subgroup analysis of patients who did not receive temporary HD returned the same results.
Initiating PD within 24 h of catheter insertion was not associated with increased mechanical complications, infectious complications, or technique failures.
Liver plays a critical role in drug metabolism and nowadays multi-cellular culture systems aiming at imitating liver-specific morphology and functionality are advancing robustly. Numerous ...immortalized or stem cell-induced hepatic cell lines have been investigated to enhance the hepatic phenotype in establishing co-culture systems. Owing to the robust progresses of microtechnology and bioengineering, two-dimensional (2D) co-cultures such as sandwich culture and micropatterned co-culture systems have emerged. Controllably arranging the hepatocytes and fibroblasts allows bio-mimic homotypic and heterotypic interactions, and the miniaturized co-culture platform realizes high-throughput and sensitive drug screening. Yet, to address the rapid dedifferentiation and the decreased maintenance of hepatic functions existing in 2D cellular systems, various three-dimensional (3D) and dynamic hepatocyte co-culturing formats have been established to obtain more physiologically relevant liver microsystems and prolonged hepatic functionalities, such as spheroid barcodes, liver organoids, bioengineered hepatic spheroids, and microfluidic perfused liver-on-a-chip. In this review, we first introduce the typical structural color spheroid barcodes which facilitate multiple screening and testing. Then we sketch various advances in liver-imitating cellular co-culture protocols through representative examples. Meanwhile, we summarize current difficulties and propose the prospects of bioengineered liver-on-barcode systems for reliable and high-throughput drug screening.
PDF
