Change In Ratio Research Articles

Treatment of Kienböck's Disease Using Fourth and Fifth Extensor Compartmental Artery Vascularized Bone Grafts.

This study evaluated the radiological and clinical outcomes of bone grafts using fourth and fifth extensor compartmental arteries (4+5 ECAs) for the treatment of Kienböck's disease. In total, 21 patients (12 men and 9 women; mean age, 41 years; range, 19-59 years) were followed for a mean of 33 months. Radiological images were analyzed for the Lichtman stage, carpal height ratio, radioscaphoid angle, and Stahl's index. Clinical evaluation included range of motion, visual analog scale (VAS) score, grip strength, modified Mayo wrist score (MMWS), Lichtman outcome score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. At the time of surgery, 6, 14, and 1 patients had Lichtman stages II, IIIA, and IIIB, respectively. At the final follow-up visit, grip strength had improved from 65.4% to 79.7%, wrist extension had improved from 43° to 57°, and flexion had improved from 42° to 50°. There were no significant changes in the carpal height ratio, Stahl's index, or radioscaphoid angle. The mean VAS score was 1.7, and the mean DASH score was 6.9. The mean MMWS was 87.9, with excellent and good outcomes in 6 and 11 patients, respectively. Satisfactory Lichtman outcome scores were observed in 81%. Body mass index had a strong correlation and age had a weak correlation with MMWS (coefficient=-0.534, P=.013, and coefficient=-0.393, P=.078, respectively). The 4+5 ECA bone graft is effective for the treatment of Kienböck's disease in young patients with low body mass index. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x)xx-xx.].

Simultaneous adsorption of cadmium, zinc, and lead ions from aqueous solution by Montmorillonite clay coated with [formula omitted] nanoparticles

In this work, Montmorillonite (MMt) coated with MgCuAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles as a new adsorbent (MCA-LDH@MMt) was synthesized via a low supersaturation characterized using BET, TEM, XRD, SEM/EDS, and FT-IR analysis. The adsorption studies were conducted in a ternary-batch system of three heavy metal ions (cadmium, zinc, and lead). The results showed that the MMt was successfully loaded with MgCuAl nanoparticles with a porosity of 44.63 % and a specific surface area of 76.63 m2/g. In addition, the surface morphology analysis showed that there were several changes in elemental dispersion, molar ratio, and molecular weights during the preparation of the used adsorbent. The influence of environmental parameters on the adsorption behavior was studied in detail, whereby the maximum adsorption capacity for the three metals ions was achieved at pH 5, 120 min contact time, 0.2 g/100 mL dose, and 50 mg/l initial metal ion concentration at 25 ± 1 °C. A pseudo-second-order model well correlates the kinetic data of the three metal ions (R2 > 0.991). The Cd2+ and Zn2+ isotherm data exhibited high compatibility with the Langmuir model, while the Freundlich model better fitted the Pb2+ isotherm data. The maximum adsorption capacity from the Langmuir model was 91.6, 164.9, and 129.2 mg/g for Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+, respectively. Also, the adsorption process of the three metal ions onto MCA−LDH@MMt was primarily characterized by their spontaneous and exothermic nature. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that MCA-LDH@MMt is an effective adsorbent for the simultaneous adsorption of cadmium, zinc, and lead in aqueous solution, with the ability to recover the synthesized adsorbent after four consecutive cycles with a minimal reduction in adsorption ability.

Mortality associated with osteoporosis and pathological fractures in the United States (1999–2020): a multiple-cause-of-death study

BackgroundOsteoporosis with pathological fractures is a significant public health issue, contributing to morbidity, disability, diminished quality of life, and increased mortality. Understanding mortality trends related to this condition is crucial for developing effective interventions to reduce mortality and improve healthcare outcomes. This study aimed to analyze trends and causes of death associated with osteoporosis and pathological fractures in the United States using a multi-cause approach.MethodsAnnual death and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) data from 1999 to 2020 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mortality database. Death certificates listing ICD-10 M82 (osteoporosis with pathological fracture) as an underlying or related cause of death were analyzed. Epidemiological data were analyzed, and the ASMR data were calculated for each year, and trends were assessed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test.ResultsFrom 1999 to 2020, there were 40,441 deaths related to osteoporosis with pathological fractures in the United States, with a female-to-male ratio of 5.6:1. Among these, 12,820 deaths (31.7%) listed osteoporosis with pathological fractures as the underlying cause of death (UCD), yielding a female-to-male ASMR ratio of approximately 5.0-7.7:1. When classified as a non-UCD, the ASMR ratio was approximately 4.8–6.2:1. At the same time, we found that the total number of deaths classified as UCD and multiple causes of death (MCD), but the trend ratio of the two groups in different years did not change statistically significant (P > 0.05), and the ASMR of both groups showed a downward trend. The UCD-to-MCD ratio increased between 1999 and 2007, then decreased from 2007 to 2020. As MCD, the number of female deaths was more than that of male, and both showed a decreasing trend, but there was no statistical significance in the change of trend ratio in different years (P > 0.05). Deaths were predominantly concentrated in individuals over 75 years of age, with those over 84 years being the most affected. The number of deaths in different age groups showed a decreasing trend, and the change of trend ratio in different years was statistically significant (P < 0.05). White individuals had the highest number of deaths. The leading causes of death were heart diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the number of deaths of patients with prostate cancer and breast cancer showed a significant downward trend, and the change of trend ratio between the two groups in different years was statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAlthough mortality from osteoporosis with pathological fractures is decreasing, anti-osteoporosis therapy remains essential for elderly patients. Healthcare providers should remain vigilant for potential complications, including malignant neoplasms, and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment to further reduce mortality in this population.

A microscopic oxygen transport model for ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy in vivo: The impact of physiological conditions on FLASH effect.

Ultra-high dose rate irradiation (≥40Gy/s, FLASH) has been shown to reduce normal tissue toxicity, while maintaining tumor control compared to conventional dose-rate radiotherapy. The radiolytic oxygen (O2) depletion (ROD) resulting from FLASH has been proposed to explain the normal tissue protection effect; however, in vivo experiments have not confirmed that FLASH induced global tissue hypoxia. Nonetheless, the experiments reported are based on volume-averaged measurement, which have inherent limitations in detecting microscopic phenomena, including the potential preservation of stem cells niches due to local FLASH-induced O2 depletion. Computational modeling offers a complementary approach to understand the ROD caused by FLASH at the microscopic level. We developed a comprehensive model to describe the spatial and temporal dynamics of O2 consumption and transport in response to irradiation in vivo. The change of oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) was used to quantify and investigate the FLASH effect as a function of physiological and radiation parameters at microscopic scale. We considered time-dependent O2 supply and consumption in a 3D cylindrical geometry, incorporating blood flow linking the O2 concentration ([O2]) in the capillary to that within the tissue through the Hill equation, radial and axial diffusion of O2, metabolic and zero-order radiolytic O2 consumption, and a pulsed radiation structure. Time-evolved distributions of [O2] were obtained by numerically solving perfusion-diffusion equations. The model enables the computation of dynamic O2 distribution and the relative change of OER (δROD) under various physiological and radiation conditions in vivo. Initial [O2] level and the subsequent changes during irradiation determined δROD distribution, which strongly depends on physiological parameters, i.e., intercapillary spacing, ultimately determining the tissue area with enhanced radioresistance. We observed that the δROD/FLASH effect is affected by and sensitive to the interplay effect among physiological and radiation parameters. It renders that the FLASH effect can be tissue environment dependent. The saturation of FLASH normal tissue protection upon dose and dose rate was shown. Beyond ∼60Gy/s, no significant decrease in radiosensitivity within tissue region was observed. In turn, for a given dose rate, the change of radiosensitivity became saturated after a certain dose level. Pulse structures with the same dose and instantaneous dose rate but with different delivery times were shown to have distinguishable δROD thus tissue sparing, suggesting the average dose rate could be a metric assessing the FLASH effect and demonstrating the capability of our model to support experimental findings. On a macroscopic scale, the modeling results align with the experimental findings in terms of dose and dose rate thresholds, and it also indicates that pulse structure can vary the FLASH effect. At the microscopic level, this model enables us to examine the spatially resolved FLASH effect based on physiological and irradiation parameters. Our model thus provides a complementary approach to experimental methods for understanding the underlying mechanism of FLASH radiotherapy. Our results show that physiological conditions can potentially determine the FLASH efficacy in tissue protection. The FLASH effect may be observed under optimal combination of physiological parameters, not limited to radiation conditions alone.

Change in leaf C:N:P stoichiometry and its correlations with soil available nutrients and dry matter yield in common vetch/oat intercropping under N fertilization

AbstractC, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios of the leaf are important for adaptive plant growth and nutrient utilization. However, our knowledge of how these traits change with N fertilization in intercropping systems remains limited. Hence, a 2‐year experiment was conducted with four cropping patterns, including two‐row common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) intercropping with one‐row oat (Avena sativa L.), one‐row common vetch intercropping with two‐row oat as well as sole oat and common vetch cropping with 0, 50, and 100 kg N/ha fertilization. Leaf total nitrogen (LTN) and phosphorus (LTP) concentrations and C:N:P stoichiometric ratios were measured and their linkages with soil nutrient availability were analysed. N fertilization significantly increased LTN, N:P, and C:P, while significantly decreasing LTP and C:N. Intercropping affected leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, which were affected by N fertilization, basic soil fertility, and crop species. Intercropping and N fertilization affected soil nitrate nitrogen (SNN), available phosphorus (SAP) content, and dry matter (DM) yield. There were strong correlations between the leaf nutritional traits of oats and SNN, SAP, and DM, but few correlations were observed with common vetch. In conclusion, intercropping led to contrasting changes in leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, which varied with N fertilization and crop species. We failed to reveal solid and direct effects of intercropping ratio on leaf nutritional traits. These findings contribute to a better understanding of crop nutritional traits and the link between leaves and soil in response to intercropping and N fertilization.

Non-linear association of the platelet/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with bone mineral density a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNumerous studies have demonstrated shared risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and platelets have long been recognized as crucial factors for cardiovascular health. The platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) combines platelet count and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, It is a novel biomarker for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. The platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) possibly reflects the balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory states in the body. Therefore, we hypothesized that changes in PHR ratios may predict a predisposition to pro-inflammatory and increased bone resorption. However, the relationship between the platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) and bone mineral density (BMD) remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) index and bone mineral density (BMD).MethodsData from the NHANES 2005–2018 were analyzed, excluding adults with missing key variables and specific conditions. Nonlinear relationships were explored by fitting smoothed curves and generalized additive models, with threshold effects employed to calculate inflection points. Additionally, subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted.ResultsThe study included 13,936 individuals with a mean age of 51.19 ± 16.65 years. Fitted smoothed curves and generalized additive models revealed a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped relationship between the two variables. Threshold effect analysis showed a significant negative association between PHR and total femur bone mineral density (BMD) beyond the inflection point of platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) 33.301. Subgroup analyses showed that a significant interaction between these two variables was observed only in the age and sex subgroups (P-interaction < 0.05).ConclusionsOur study identified a complex, nonlinear, inverted U-shaped relationship between platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) and total femur bone mineral density (BMD). These findings underscore the importance of maintaining optimal PHR levels to support bone health, especially in high-risk populations.

Enhancing Efficiency in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking: A Multi‐Objective Optimization Approach Using the Non‐Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II

To realize the overall optimization of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking system, a multi‐objective optimization model including smelting cost, energy consumption per ton of steel, and carbon emission per ton of steel is established. The model is optimized by multi‐objective genetic algorithm to improve the charging structure. At the same time, the data in the optimal solution set are used to analyze the influence of the change of scrap ratio on smelting cost, carbon emission per ton of steel, and smelting cycle. According to the actual working conditions and the demand of steel plant, the optimized results are selected. Compared with the actual production data, the proportion of scrap steel increases to 50.9%, the ratio of molten iron decreases to 38.8%, the smelting cost per ton of steel decreases by 12 Yuan, the energy consumption per ton of steel decreases by 4%, the carbon emission per ton of steel significantly decreases by 13%, and the smelting cycle is shortened by 2 min, but at the cost of increasing the power consumption per ton of steel. The optimized results and the analysis of the change of scrap ratio provide reference for the optimization of EAF steelmaking system.

Numerical Study on the Impact of the Richardson Number on Convection in an Enclosure, with Moving Sidewalls for Three Aspect Ratios: A = 1, 2 and 0.5

Using mathematical models, this research investigation seeks to explore how varying aspect ratios and the Richardson number impact the mixing effectiveness, fluid flow velocity, and heat transfer characteristics in a rectangle-shaped space where cooling occurs along the sides and warm with a steady temperature exists throughout the 80% of the bottom section's center. Discretizing the governing equations through the finite volume approach, we solved them iteratively using the Tri-diagonal Matrix Algorithm, where pressure-velocity coupling was successfully implemented via the SIMPLER procedure. Innovative approaches for convection and diffusion terms involved employing a power-law difference scheme alongside a central differential scheme. In various simulations with specified parameters (Re = 100, Pr = 0.71), we visualized results in forms like streamlines, isothermal lines, and temperature/velocity profiles, along with local and average Nusselt numbers. We observe five unique structure formations during flow behavior by analyzing how Richardson numbers impact heat transmission within a specific geometric configuration (enclosure size A = 1). A change in aspect ratio leads to improved control over fluid movement while minimizing structural distortion. A subtle rise in heat transmission emerged as the average Nusselt number and Richardson number intersection strengthened force convection's domination while experiencing significant escalation under conditions conductive to natural convection. Decreasing the aspect ratio increased heat transfer efficiency when the Richardson number rose.

Molecular dynamics simulation and experimental verification of a biphasic solvent for CO2 capture

In the context of solvent-based carbon capture, researchers and industries are often interested in improvements in the efficiency of CO2 capture along with the reduction in the required energy. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulation based on a reax force field and experimental investigation to study the effects and main mechanisms of a mutual amine absorbent including diethylenetriamine (DETA) and diethylethanolamine (DEEA), accompanied by NMP and water co-solvents, on the performance of CO2 capture in a phase change system. The implementation of time-dependent partial radial distribution functions (TD-PRDF, gαβrtm) and coordination number (CN) analyses revealed the significant formation of C-N bonds between carbon (C) derived from CO2 and nitrogen (N) within the solution. The direct relationship between changes in DETA molar ratios and CO2 loading, coupled with examining the catalytic role of DEEA in facilitating CO2 removal through protonation, has been thoroughly studied with MD. The experimental methodology was followed to validate the MD results. The optimum composition, DETA: DEEA: NMP with a molar ratio of 3:2.5:1, as determined through MD simulations exhibitsgαβr|tm = 9.848, CN=0.403 at tm= 1 ns. The stable C-N absorption bond length is calculated to be between 1.7 and 1.77 Å. Experimental results confirm a CO2 loading capacity of 0.93 mol/mol for this composition.

PSIV-23 Transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanisms of resilience and susceptibility to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in dairy goats under high-concentrate diet

Abstract Liver health is vital for growth and health of ruminants, which can directly affect their performance. High-concentrate diet (HCD) feeding, a common practice to meet the energy requirements for animal production and growth, has been known to induce liver damage, including nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in ruminants. To date, the regulatory mechanisms of liver metabolic dysfunctions in ruminants induced by HCD are not well defined. To elucidate molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying liver dysfunction in ruminants, we compared liver transcriptome and single-cell transcriptome of dairy goats that had varied responses to the HCD, aiming to underpin the key mechanisms behind resilience and susceptibility to NASH in ruminants. After feeding 30 dairy goats with low-concentrate diet (LCD, n = 15, defined as Con) or high-concentrate diet (HCD, n = 15) for 6 wk, 10 of them developed NASH (defined as NASH), while the other 5 did not showed any NASH symptom (defined as NASH-tolerance, NASH-T) under HCD. Liver tissues were collected to extract RNA. The paired-end RNA-seq library was sequenced with a NovaSeq6000 sequencer (Illumina). Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to verify the significantly different genes among groups. Liver single-cell transcriptome was performed using 10×Genomics Chromium system. Liver transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression level of genes involved in the interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, including IL-17A (P = 0.035; 0.001), Act1 (P = 0.036; 0.002), FOSB (P = 0.041; 0.048) and IL-1β (P = 0.022; 0.002) in the NASH group were significantly greater than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. Hepatic single-cell RNA sequencing identified seven cell types in the liver, including hepatocytes, macrophages, T cells, endothelial cell, natural killer (NK) cell, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), B cells. In T cell subset, significantly decreased T helper 17 (TH17) cells and increased regulatory T (Treg) cells were detected in the NASH group compared with Con and NASH-T groups. In TH17 cell, the expression levels of IL-17A (P = 0.004; 0.009) and IL-23R (P = 0.007; 0.01; the surface antibodies of TH17 cells) in NASH group were significantly greater than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. The expression levels of Foxp3 (P &amp;lt; 0.001; 0.013), IL-2R (P &amp;lt; 0.001; 0.001), CTLA-4 (P = 0.005; 0.017) and CD127 (P = 0.004; 0.009; the surface antibodies of Treg cells) in NASH group were significantly less than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. Our results revealed the role of liver immune cells in maintaining tolerance to NASH in dairy goats under HCD, which provides new understanding in pathogenesis of NASH under HCD. Further studies are needed to identify major factors that drive the changes of ratio of TH17/Treg cell.

Superior performance of asymmetric supercapacitor based on Cu doped bismuth ferrite electrode

Electrochemical energy storage devices, like supercapacitors and batteries, are needed to meet the constantly increasing demands of portable energy devices. Many types of supercapacitor electrodes were synthesized and reported which include carbon-based materials, polymers, oxides and perovskites. In this work, we report on the fabrication of Cu doped bismuth ferrite (Cu-BiFeO3, Cu-BFO) nanoparticles via sol-gel procedure. In most of the doping cases the costly rare earth elements like La, Nd, Sm, Ce and Yb are used to replace Bi. Electrodes of Bi1-xCuxFeO3 where x have the values 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 and 0.15 were deposited on graphitic sheets. Optimum Cu doping value was found to be at x = 0.05. Cu2+ ions doping in place of Bi3+ ions will reveal the roles of oxygen vacancies, as determined from XPS. The estimated values of specific capacitance was found to be 732 F/g at 0.5 A/g for the electrode at x = 0.05 in three electrode system. 5%Cu-BFO//Carbon black asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device can be charged and discharged reversibly at cell voltage of 0.0 up to 1.5 V when using a 0.5 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. This configuration allows the ASC device to deliver a great energy density of 37.25 Wh/kg at a power density of 752 W/kg. The ASC device demonstrates excellent cycling stability, retaining 88.64 % of its initial specific capacitance after 5000 cycles. Increasing the Cu content up to 15 % causes instability in the crystal structure of BFO resulting on phase segregation into Bi2Fe4O9 along with BFO and deterioration in the electrode overall performance. XPS showed that replacement of Cu2+ in place of Bi3+ disturbs the neutrality and the chemical environment of the compound. Hence to achieve neutrality and ionic balance, oxygen vacancies increase and the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio increases as well. Both oxygen vacancies and the change in the Fe ions ratio reduce electrochemical impedance and give rise to charge density. The homogenous distribution of the pores at x = 0.05 contributed greatly to its fast electrolyte ion diffusion that improved the observed capacitive properties. One has to mention here, that despite doping that contains ions with different ionic size and/or different oxidation state is unfavorable, to some extent, due to the changes they produce in the electronic structure and the chemical environment, nevertheless it is sometimes beneficial in creating new parameters in the structure that promote specific application like in the case of the current work, oxygen vacancies, increase in surface area and the mixed state valency.

Changes in Neonatal Intraoperative Electroencephalogram Alpha: Delta Ratios Precede Neurologic Injury.

Background: Unrecognized intraoperative cerebral ischemia during neonatal aortic arch reconstruction may precede neurologic injury. Electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha:delta ratio (A:D) changes predict cerebral ischemia; however, if A:D differences can identify ischemia during neonatal antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) and aortic arch reconstruction is unknown. We hypothesized that A:D changes would precede neurologic injury. Methods: Simultaneous EEG derived left versus right: hemispheric and anterior cerebral A:Ds were retrospectively measured at baseline and every 5 min during arterial cannulation, cooling, ACP, and the rewarming phases of the operation. A paired left versus right A:D difference >25% was considered significant for ischemia, and the duration of a significant and continuous A:D difference was quantified in minutes. Neonates were divided into two groups: (1) new neurologic injury (stroke or seizure) and (2) no known neurologic injury. Results: From 72 neonates, there were no significant differences in the baseline A:Ds. Seven neonates (9.7%) developed a new neurologic injury (seizure = 3, stroke = 2, seizure and stroke = 2). Male gender and longer ACP times were significantly associated with neurologic injury. In neonates with a neurologic injury, the duration of a significant and continuous A:D difference was longer within the hemispheric and anterior regions. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that a significant and continuous anterior A:D difference (odds ratio: 1.345, 95% CI 1.058-1.712; P = .01) was independently associated with neurologic injury. Conclusions: A longer continuous anterior A:D difference > 25% was independently associated with neurologic injury. Intraoperative EEG monitoring could be considered during neonatal arch reconstruction.

Investigating the influence of varied ratios of red and far-red light on lettuce (Lactuca sativa): effects on growth, photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence.

Far red photon flux accelerates photosynthetic electron transfer rates through photosynthetic pigments, influencing various biological processes. In this study, we investigated the impact of differing red and far-red light ratios on plant growth using LED lamps with different wavelengths and Ca1.8Mg1.2Al2Ge3O12:0.03Cr3+ phosphor materials. The control group (CK) consisted of a plant growth special lamp with 450 nm blue light + 650 nm red light. Four treatments were established: F1 (650 nm red light), F2 (CK + 730 nm far-red light in a 3:2 ratio), F3 (650 nm red light + 730 nm far-red light in a 3:2 ratio), and F4 (CK + phosphor-converted far-red LED in a 3:2 ratio). The study assessed changes in red and far-red light ratios and their impact on the growth morphology, photosynthetic characteristics, fluorescence characteristics, stomatal status, and nutritional quality of cream lettuce. The results revealed that the F3 light treatment exhibited superior growth characteristics and quality compared to the CK treatment. Notably, leaf area, aboveground fresh weight, vitamin C content, and total soluble sugar significantly increased. Additionally, the addition of far-red light resulted in an increase in stomatal density and size, and the F3 treatments were accompanied by increases in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and stomatal conductance (Gs). The results demonstrated that the F3 treatment, with its optimal red-to-far-red light ratio, promoted plant growth and photosynthetic characteristics. This indicates its suitability for supplementing artificial light sources in plant factories and greenhouses.

Lateral Electronic Junction of a Single Ultrathin Silicon Induced by Interfacial Dipole of Self-Assembled Monolayer.

Interface engineering is pivotal for enhancing the performance and stability of devices with layered structures, including solar cells, electronic devices, and electrochemical systems. Incorporating the interfacial dipole between the bulk layers effectively modulates the energy level difference at the interface and does not significantly influence adjacent layers overall. However, interfaces can drastically affect adjoining layers in ultrathin devices, which are essential for next-generation electronics with high integrity, excellent performance, and low power consumption. In particular, the interfacial effect is pronounced in ultrathin semiconductors, which have a weak electric field screening effect. Herein, the substantial interfacial impact on the ultrathin silicon is shown, the p- to n-type inversion of the semiconductor solely through the deposition of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) without external bias. The effects of SAMs with different interfacial dipoles are investigated by using Hall measurement and surface analytic techniques, such as UPS, XPS, and KPFM. Furthermore, the lateral electronic junction of the ultrathin silicon is engineered by the regioselective deposition of SAMs with opposite dipoles, and the device exhibits rectification behavior. When the interfacial dipole of SAM is manipulated, the rectification ratio changes sensitively, and thus the fabricated diode shows potential to be developed as a sensing platform.

Accuracy and longitudinal consistency of PET/MR attenuation correction in amyloid PET imaging amid software and hardware upgrades.

Integrated PET/MR allows the simultaneous acquisition of PET biomarkers and structural and functional MRI to study Alzheimer disease (AD). Attenuation correction (AC), crucial for PET quantification, can be performed using a deep learning approach, DL-Dixon, based on standard Dixon images. Longitudinal amyloid PET imaging, which provides important information about disease progression or treatment responses in AD, is usually acquired over several years. Hardware and software upgrades often occur during a multiple-year study period, resulting in data variability. This study aims to harmonize PET/MR DL-Dixon AC amid software and head coil updates and evaluate its accuracy and longitudinal consistency. Tri-modality PET/MR and CT images were obtained from 329 participants, with a subset of 38 undergoing tri-modality scans twice within approximately three years. Transfer learning was employed to fine-tune DL-Dixon models on images from two scanner software versions (VB20P and VE11P) and two head coils (16-channel and 32-channel coils). The accuracy and longitudinal consistency of the DL-Dixon AC were evaluated. Power analyses were performed to estimate the sample size needed to detect various levels of longitudinal changes in the PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR). The DL-Dixon method demonstrated high accuracy across all data, irrespective of scanner software versions and head coils. More than 95.6% of brain voxels showed less than 10% PET relative absolute error in all participants. The median [interquartile range] PET mean relative absolute error was 1.10% [0.93%, 1.26%], 1.24% [1.03%, 1.54%], 0.99% [0.86%, 1.13%] in the cortical summary region, and 1.04% [0.83%, 1.36%], 1.08% [0.84%, 1.34%], 1.05% [0.72%, 1.32%] in cerebellum using the DL-Dixon models for the VB20P-16-channel-coil, VE11P-16-channel-coil and VE11P-32-channel-coil data, respectively. The within-subject coefficient of variation and intra-class correlation coefficient of PET SUVR in the cortical regions were comparable between the DL-Dixon and CT AC. Power analysis indicated that similar numbers of participants would be needed to detect the same level of PET changes using DL-Dixon and CT AC. DL-Dixon exhibited excellent accuracy and longitudinal consistency across the two software versions and head coils, demonstrating its robustness for longitudinal PET/MR neuroimaging studies in AD. AC = attenuation correction; AD = Alzheimer disease; HU = Hounsfield unit; ICC = intraclass correlation coefficient; MAE = mean absolute error; MRAE = mean relative absolute error; pCT = pseudo-CT; PiB = Pittsburgh Compound B; SD = standard deviation; SUVR = standardized uptake value ratio; wCV = within-subject coefficient of variation.

Aberration-robust monocular passive depth sensing using a meta-imaging camera

Depth sensing plays a crucial role in various applications, including robotics, augmented reality, and autonomous driving. Monocular passive depth sensing techniques have come into their own for the cost-effectiveness and compact design, offering an alternative to the expensive and bulky active depth sensors and stereo vision systems. While the light-field camera can address the defocus ambiguity inherent in 2D cameras and achieve unambiguous depth perception, it compromises the spatial resolution and usually struggles with the effect of optical aberration. In contrast, our previously proposed meta-imaging sensor1 has overcome such hurdles by reconciling the spatial-angular resolution trade-off and achieving the multi-site aberration correction for high-resolution imaging. Here, we present a compact meta-imaging camera and an analytical framework for the quantification of monocular depth sensing precision by calculating the Cramér–Rao lower bound of depth estimation. Quantitative evaluations reveal that the meta-imaging camera exhibits not only higher precision over a broader depth range than the light-field camera but also superior robustness against changes in signal-background ratio. Moreover, both the simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the meta-imaging camera maintains the capability of providing precise depth information even in the presence of aberrations. Showing the promising compatibility with other point-spread-function engineering methods, we anticipate that the meta-imaging camera may facilitate the advancement of monocular passive depth sensing in various applications.

Alar base symmetry in orthognathic surgery: Patients with unilateral cleft.

Patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) could present with a notable nasal deformity with alar base retrusion, which should be considered when planning orthognathic surgery (OGS). This retrospective study included 84 patients with Class III malocclusion. Cone beam computed tomographic data were used for the investigation. 42 patients had complete UCLP, and the other 42 did not have a cleft. All the patients underwent preoperative virtual surgical planning. Preoperative and postoperative images were used to measure anteroposterior changes in the bone and soft tissue at the alar bases. In the UCLP group, varying degrees of alar base discrepancies were observed before surgery. In the piriform region of the cleft side, the bone was retruded in 32 cases, but the soft tissue was thicker in 38 cases, and the mean skin surface was anterior in 28 cases. After surgery, the bone discrepancy was not significantly changed (p = 0.288), however, the skin surface symmetry was improved (p = 0.013). Relating to the bone advancement, the ratio of soft tissue change was smaller on the cleft side than the noncleft side (0.56 ± 0.30 vs. 0.77 ± 0.33, p < 0.001). In the control group, a consistent ratio change was observed on both sides (0.76 ± 0.19 vs. 0.79 ± 0.27, p = 0.544). This study revealed improved alar base symmetry in patients with UCLP after OGS. The soft tissue change ratios were different across the cleft, which should be considered during treatment planning.

Trajectories of CD4 T-cell count, CD8 T-cell count, and CD4/CD8 ratio in patients with HIV and long-term virological suppression based on Yunnan HIV cohort.

Our objective was to evaluate the trajectory of immunology in patients with HIV with different baseline CD4 T-cell count strata after antiretroviral therapy (ART) under long-term viral suppression. This was a sub-analysis focused on patients with virological suppression for at least 5 years after ART. Data were obtained from the Yunnan HIV cohort in China. Patients were categorized according to prespecified baseline CD4 T-cell counts. The trajectories of CD4 T-cell count, CD8 T-cell count, and CD4/CD8 ratio changing over time were fitted using a B-spline regression model. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association of baseline CD4 T-cell count with the risk of both immunological responder (IR) and CD4/CD8 ratio normalization. A total of 2618 patients with a median follow-up of 7.25 years (interquartile range [IQR] 5.92-8.75) were included. Over a period of 12 years, the mean CD4 T-cell count remained above 500 cells/μL in all groups. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio was solely normalized in patients whose baseline CD4 T-cell counts were above 350 cells/μL. Patients with higher baseline CD4 T-cell counts showed higher risks of both IR and CD4/CD8 ratio normalization than those with the lowest (all p trend <0.001). A higher baseline CD4 T-cell count predicted a shorter time for both IR and CD4/CD8 ratio normalization. Long-term, sustained viral suppression may not be able to fully normalize immunological functions in patients with HIV. A high baseline CD4 T-cell count benefits IR and CD4/CD8 ratio normalization.

Effect of aging and exercise on hTERT expression in thymus tissue of hTERT transgenic bacterial artificial chromosome mice.

Telomere shortening occurs with aging in immune cells and may be related to immunosenescence. Exercise can upregulate telomerase activity and attenuate telomere shortening in immune cells, but it is unknown if exercise impacts other immune tissues such as the thymus. This study aimed to examine human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) alternative splicing (AS) in response to aging and exercise in thymus tissue. Transgenic mice with a human TERT bacterial artificial chromosome integrated into its genome (hTERT-BAC) were utilized in two different exercise models. Mice of different ages were assigned to an exercise cage (running wheel) or not for 3weeks prior to thymus tissue excision. Middle-aged mice (16months) were exposed or not to treadmill running (30min at 60% maximum speed) prior to thymus collection. hTERT transcript variants were measured by RT-PCR. hTERT transcripts decreased with aging (r = - 0.7511, p < 0.0001) and 3weeks of wheel running did not counteract this reduction. The ratio of exons 7/8 containing hTERT to total hTERT transcripts increased with aging (r = 0.3669, p = 0.0423) but 3weeks of voluntary wheel running attenuated this aging-driven effect (r = 0.2013, p = 0.4719). Aging increased the expression of senescence marker p16 with no impact of wheel running. Thymus regeneration transcription factor, Foxn1, went down with age with no impact of wheel running exercise. Acute treadmill exercise did not induce any significant changes in thymus hTERT expression or AS variant ratio (p > 0.05). In summary, thymic hTERT expression is reduced with aging. Exercise counteracted a shift in hTERT AS ratio with age. Our data demonstrate that aging impacts telomerase expression and that exercise impacts dysregulated splicing that occurs with aging.

Hydrogen blending with natural gas for combustion efficiency improvement toward decarbonisation of power plants

Abstract The 12th Malaysia Plan highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 45% based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. To achieve this target, Malaysia has to decarbonise the energy sector as it is the primary emission source, contributing up to 75% of GHG emissions in Malaysia. Hydrogen fuel is getting much attention globally, and it has been said that it can be a new renewable energy source to replace fossil fuels. Hydrogen combustion is clean and only produces water and energy. However, several studies have identified that hydrogen combustion could produce NOx, which is more harmful to the environment than CO2. Studies on hydrogen application in the energy sector in Malaysia are limited, and the implementation of total hydrogen fuel in power plants may not happen shortly. Hence, a fundamental study was proposed on co-firing hydrogen and natural gas fuel. This study aimed to examine co-firing characteristics such as temperature, pressure, and air-to-fuel ratio on GHG emission and energy release to find the optimum natural gas-to-hydrogen ratio. The model was developed using Aspen Plus, and hydrogen-natural gas blend percentages varied from 0% to 30%. The findings showed that increased operating temperature led to higher NOx formation, while varying pressures did not impact the CO2 and NOx formation. The pure natural gas combustion system was more sensitive towards air-to-fuel ratio changes, and an increase in air-to-fuel ratio to 1.5 led to 160% higher NOx formation due to an increase in nitrogen content. The combustion of the hydrogen blend led to lower CO2 formation but higher NOx formation. Lastly, the energy released by the hydrogen blending system was lower due to the formation of water that absorbed the heat released by the combustion.