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•NAFLD was associated with HCC development.•NAFLD was associated with colorectal cancer development in males.•NAFLD was associated with breast cancer development in females.•High NFS ...and high FIB-4 score were associated with developing all cancers and HCC.
Little is known about the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cancer development. This study investigated the cancer incidence rates in NAFLD and analysed the association between NAFLD and cancer development.
This historical cohort study included subjects who were followed up for >1 year after having a heath checkup at a tertiary hospital in Korea from September 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonographic detection of hepatic steatosis in the absence of other known liver disease, including alcoholic or viral hepatitis. Cox proportional hazards regression model was conducted to assess the association between NAFLD and cancer development.
Of 25,947 subjects, 8,721 (33.6%) had NAFLD. During the total follow-up of 164,671 person-years (median 7.5 years), the cancer incidence rate of the NAFLD group was higher than that of the non-NAFLD group (782.9 vs. 592.8 per 100,000 person-years; hazard ratio HR 1.32; 95% confidence interval CI 1.17–1.49; p <0.001). When demographic and metabolic factors were adjusted for, NAFLD showed a strong association with three cancers: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; HR 16.73; 95% CI 2.09–133.85; p = 0.008), colorectal cancer in males (HR 2.01; 95% CI 1.10–3.68; p = 0.02), and breast cancer in females (HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.15–3.20; p = 0.01). A high NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and a high fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were associated with the development of all cancers and HCC.
NAFLD was associated with the development of HCC, colorectal cancer in males, and breast cancer in females. A high NFS and a high FIB-4 score showed a strong association with the development of all cancers and HCC.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There have been limited data on the association between NAFLD and extrahepatic cancers. This study demonstrated that patients with NAFLD showed a higher association with the development of HCC, colorectal cancer in males, and breast cancer in females. A high NAFLD fibrosis score and a high fibrosis-4 score showed a strong association with the development of all cancers and HCC.
The widespread adoption of Li‐ion batteries is currently limited by their unstable electrochemical performance and high flammability under mechanical deformation conditions and a relatively low ...energy density. Herein, high‐energy‐density lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are developed for applications in next‐generation flexible electronics and electric vehicles with long cruising distances. Freestanding high‐S‐loading carbon nanotubes cathodes are assembled with a phosphorus (P)‐doped carbon interlayer coated on commercial separators. Strategies for the active materials and structural design of both the electrodes and separators are highly efficient for immobilizing the lithium polysulfides via multimodal capturing effects; they significantly improve the electrochemical performance in terms of the redox kinetics and cycling stability. The foldable Li–S cells show stable specific capacities of 850 mAh g−1 over 100 cycles, achieving high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities of 387 Wh kgcell−1 and 395 Wh Lcell−1, respectively. The Li–S cells show highly durable mechanical flexibilities under severe deformation conditions without short circuit or failure. Finally, the Li–S battery is explored as a light‐weight and flexible energy storage device aboard airplane drones to ensure at least fivefold longer flight times than traditional Li‐ion batteries. Nanocarbon‐based S cathodes and P‐doped carbon interlayers offer a promising solution for commercializing rechargeable Li–S batteries.
High‐energy‐density flexible lithium‐sulfur (Li–S) batteries are developed with high‐S‐loading freestanding cathodes and P‐doped carbon interlayers on a polyethylene membrane. The multimodal capturing effect via simultaneous physical trapping in micro/mesopores of carbon mixtures, and strong chemical interactions between phosphorus and lithium polysulfides, is highly efficient for immobilizing the polysulfide; thus, leading to significantly improved electrochemical performance for next‐generation flexible/portable electronics.
Targeted protein degradation allows targeting undruggable proteins for therapeutic applications as well as eliminating proteins of interest for research purposes. While several degraders that harness ...the proteasome or the lysosome have been developed, a technology that simultaneously degrades targets and accelerates cellular autophagic flux is still missing. In this study, we develop a general chemical tool and platform technology termed AUTOphagy-TArgeting Chimera (AUTOTAC), which employs bifunctional molecules composed of target-binding ligands linked to autophagy-targeting ligands. AUTOTACs bind the ZZ domain of the otherwise dormant autophagy receptor p62/Sequestosome-1/SQSTM1, which is activated into oligomeric bodies in complex with targets for their sequestration and degradation. We use AUTOTACs to degrade various oncoproteins and degradation-resistant aggregates in neurodegeneration at nanomolar DC
values in vitro and in vivo. AUTOTAC provides a platform for selective proteolysis in basic research and drug development.
Precise control over doping of photocatalysts is required to modulate their photocatalytic activity in visible light‐driven reactions. Here, a single precursor‐employing bottom‐up approach is ...developed to produce different heteroatom‐doped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with unique photocatalytic activities. The solvothermal reaction of a norepinephrine precursor with redox active and condensable moieties effectively produces both nitrogen/sulfur codoped GQDs (NS‐GQDs) and nitrogen‐doped GQDs (N‐GQDs) by simply varying solvents (from dimethyl sulfoxide to water) under microwave irradiation. As‐prepared NS‐GQDs and N‐GQDs show similar lateral sizes (3–4 nm) and heights (1–2 nm), but they include different dopant types and doping constitution and content, which lead to changes in photocatalytic activity in aerobic oxidative coupling reactions of various amines. NS‐GQDs exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity in reactions under visible light than N‐GQDs and oxygen‐doped GQDs (O‐GQDs). The mechanism responsible for the outstanding photocatalytic activity of NS‐GQDs in visible light‐driven oxidative coupling reactions of amines is also fully investigated.
Modulation of the photocatalytic activity of heteroatom‐doped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) is reported. A single precursor, norepinephrine, is used to effectively produce N,S‐co‐doped GQDs and N‐doped GQDs under microwave irradiation. Tailoring dopant types, constitution, and content imparts much higher photocatalytic activity to N,S‐codoped GQDs than N‐doped GQDs and O‐doped GQDs in the visible‐light‐driven oxidative coupling reaction of various amines.
Organic solid electrolytes offer an effective route for safe and high‐energy‐density all‐solid‐state Li metal batteries. However, it remains a challenge to devise a new strategy to promote the ...dissociation of strong ion pairs and the transport of ionic components in organic solid electrolytes. Herein, a zwitterionic covalent organic framework (Zwitt‐COF) with well‐defined chemical and pore structures is prepared as a solid electrolyte capable of accelerating the dissociation and transport of Li ions. The Zwitt‐COF solid electrolyte exhibits a high room‐temperature ionic conductivity of 1.65 × 10−4 S cm−1 with a wide electrochemical stability window. Besides, the Zwitt‐COF solid electrolyte displays stable Li plating/stripping behavior via effective inhibition of the formation of Li dendrites and dead Li, leading to superior long‐term cycle performance with retention of 99% discharge capacity and 98% Coulombic efficiency in an all‐solid‐state Li‐metal battery. Theoretical simulations reveal that the incorporation of zwitterionic groups into COF can facilitate the dissociation of strong ion pairs and reconstruct the AA‐stacking configuration by dissociative adsorption of Li+ ions on Zwitt‐COF producing linear hexagonal ion channels in the Zwitt‐COF solid electrolyte. This strategy based on Zwitt‐COF can provide an alternative way to construct various solid‐state Li batteries.
A zwitterionic covalent organic framework (Zwitt‐COF) is developed as a solid electrolyte for all‐solid‐state Li‐metal batteries. The Zwitt‐COF solid electrolyte exhibits a high room‐temperature ionic conductivity with a wide electrochemical window, leading to superior long‐term cycle performance in the battery. Theoretical simulations reveal that Zwitt‐COF promotes the dissociation of Li‐ion pairs and provides ion channels for effective Li+ transport.
Structural colors (SCs) of photonic crystals (PCs) arise from selective constructive interference of incident light. Here, an ink‐jet printable and rewritable block copolymer (BCP) SC display is ...demonstrated, which can be quickly written and erased over 50 times with resolution nearly equivalent to that obtained with a commercial office ink‐jet printer. Moreover, the writing process employs an easily modified printer for position‐ and concentration‐controlled deposition of a single, colorless, water‐based ink containing a reversible crosslinking agent, ammonium persulfate. Deposition of the ink onto a self‐assembled BCP PC film comprising a 1D stack of alternating layers enables differential swelling of the written BCP film and produces a full‐colored SC display of characters and images. Furthermore, the information can be readily erased and the system can be reset by application of hydrogen bromide. Subsequently, new information can be rewritten, resulting in a chemically rewritable BCP SC display.
An ink‐jet printable and rewritable full‐color structural color display is obtained by the position‐ and concentration‐controlled deposition of a single, colorless, water‐based ink containing a reversible crosslinking agent, ammonium persulfate, onto a self‐assembled block copolymer photonic‐crystal film. The information is quickly written and erased over 50 times with resolution nearly equivalent to a office ink‐jet printer.
Background & Aims Little is known about whether surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is worthwhile in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients who have achieved HBsAg ...seroclearance. Methods A retrospective analysis of 829 patients (mean age: 52.3 years; 575 males; 98 with cirrhosis) achieving HBsAg seroclearance was performed at a tertiary hospital in Korea between 1997 and 2012. We evaluated incidence rates of HCC, and validated CU-HCC score based on data at the time of HBsAg seroclearance. Results During a follow-up of 3464 patient-years, 19 patients developed HCC (annual rate: 0.55%). Liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio HR: 10.80; 95% confidence interval CI: 4.25–27.43), male gender (HR: 8.96; 95% CI: 1.17–68.80), and age ⩾50 years at the time of HBsAg seroclearance (HR: 12.14; 95% CI: 1.61–91.68) were independently associated with HCC. The estimated annual incidence of HCC was 2.85% and 0.29% in patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively. Among the non-cirrhotic patients, the annual rate of HCC was higher in the male patients than in the females (0.40% vs. 0%, respectively), and all the HCCs developed after age 50. The time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the CU-HCC score for 5 year and 10 year HCC prediction were 0.85 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusions HCC surveillance should be considered for cirrhotic patients and non-cirrhotic male patients over age 50, even after HBsAg seroclearance, especially those infected with HBV genotype C. HBsAg seroclearance at age ⩾50 years was also an independent predictor for HCC.
The spatial extent of dust emissions from a Zn smelter was assessed based on metal concentrations in roof dust samples. In addition, the vertical mobility of metal loads in soils was assessed from ...metal concentrations and Pb isotopic compositions. Moreover, the source apportionment of metals in the roof dusts and soils was estimated using Pb isotopes. A total of 13 roof dust and 11 smelter dust samples were collected respectively from residential houses and smelter stacks. The vertical distribution in soils was assessed at 10 cm intervals in four sites along the predominant wind direction. High metal concentrations were found in the roof dusts, which were enriched in Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu by a factor of 48–937, 13–169, 161–3400 and 10–135, respectively, compared to the regional background values of soils, depending on the distance from the smelter. Horizontal extents of the airborne metal transport were estimated to exceed the impact radius (<4 km) calculated by a numerical model. As for soils, the metal concentrations were high in the surface layer and decreased abruptly with depth. The vertical extent of the metal contamination was found up to 60 cm. Considering the operational period of the smelter, the Pb migration rate was 0.4–1.3 cm/year and the farmlands showed higher penetration rates than the other sites, probably due to agricultural practices. The Pb isotope compositions for the contaminated soils lay on a mixing line between the anthropogenic Pb of the smelter and the geogenic Pb of the background soils, which confirmed that the emission and deposition of the airborne particles produced by the smelter contributed to 49–83% of trace metals in the surface soils. Similarly, the Pb isotopic compositions of the roof dusts indicated that most of Pb was derived from the smelter, in particular, from the casting and leaching stacks.
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•A spatial extent of smelter-derived metal pollution was estimated using roof dusts.•The horizontal extent was estimated to be around 7–8 km from the Zn smelter.•The vertical movement of metal pollution was estimated using Pb isotopes in soils.•The migration rate of Pb was estimated to be in the range of 0.4–1.3 cm/year.•The roof dusts were mostly affected by the smelter, while little by the regional soils.
In this paper, we propose a novel intrusion detection technique using a deep neural network (DNN). In the proposed technique, in-vehicle network packets exchanged between electronic control units ...(ECU) are trained to extract low- dimensional features and used for discriminating normal and hacking packets. The features perform in high efficient and low complexity because they are generated directly from a bitstream over the network. The proposed technique monitors an exchanging packet in the vehicular network while the feature are trained off-line, and provides a real-time response to the attack with a significantly high detection ratio in our experiments.
•Zn levels and Pb isotopes indicated soil contamination of smelter origin.•Zn was spatially distributed along prevailing wind currents and river valley.•Zn also vertically moved to a maximum depth of ...60 cm.•Pb isotopes of smelter origin and geologic origin were distinct.•Pb isotopes were successfully applied to source identification and apportionment.
This study was conducted to assess the anthropogenic impact on the metal concentration in agricultural soils in the vicinity of a Zn smelter. We determined Pb isotope ratios to trace source of metals and calculate source apportionment. 19.7% of the agricultural soil samples had Zn concentrations exceeding the Korean worrisome level (WL). The isotopic variation in the contaminated agricultural soils reflected the input of contaminants derived from the Zn smelter. The spatial distribution of Zn concentrations and Pb isotopes suggested that the Zn smelter dust fallout was the major source of heavy metal pollution in the agricultural soils. Lead isotope compositions of soil horizon I was comparable to those of soil horizon II, indicating that smelter-origin Zn had migrated vertically. Binary mixing between Zn concentrates and background soils could explain the variations in Pb isotope ratios in the contaminated agricultural soils. Source apportionment calculations showed that for agricultural soils that were found to exceed the Korean countermeasure standard (CS), the average proportion of smelter-origin Zn was 45.8%–83.3% while for agricultural soils that exceeded the WL but were below the CS, the average proportion of smelter-origin Zn was 36.3%–68.1%. The remainder was derived from a geogenic source.
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