Higher Values Research Articles

Establishment and validation of a predictive model for peripherally inserted central catheter-related thrombosis in patients with liver cancer

BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used in hospitalized patients with liver cancer for the administration of chemotherapy, nutrition, and other medications. However, PICC-related thrombosis is a serious complication that can lead to morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Several risk factors have been identified for the development of PICC-related thrombosis, including cancer type, stage, comorbidities, and catheter characteristics. Understanding these risk factors and developing a predictive model can help healthcare providers identify high-risk patients and implement preventive measures to reduce the incidence of thrombosis. AIM To analyze the influencing factors of PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer, construct a predictive model, and validate it. METHODS Clinical data of hospitalized patients with liver cancer admitted from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected. Thirty-five cases of PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer were collected, and 220 patients who underwent PICC placement during the same period but did not develop PICC-related thrombosis were randomly selected as controls. A total of 255 samples were collected and used as the training set, and 77 cases were collected as the validation set in a 7:3 ratio. General patient information, case data, catheterization data, coagulation indicators, and Autar Thrombosis Risk Assessment Scale scores were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed on relevant factors, and the value of combined indicators in predicting PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in age, sex, Karnofsky performance status score (KPS), bedridden time, activities of daily living impairment, parenteral nutrition, catheter duration, distant metastasis, and bone marrow suppression between the thrombosis group and the non-thrombosis group. Other aspects had no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years, KPS score ≤ 50 points, parenteral nutrition, stage III to IV, distant metastasis, bone marrow suppression, and activities of daily living impairment were independent risk factors for PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer (P < 0.05). Catheter duration of 1-6 months and catheter duration > 6 months were protective factors for PICC-related thrombosis (P < 0.05). The predictive model for PICC-related thrombosis was obtained as follows: P predictive probability = [exp (Logit P )]/[1 + exp (Logit P )], where Logit P = age × 1.907 + KPS score × 2.045 + parenteral nutrition × 9.467 + catheter duration × 0.506 + tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging × 2.844 + distant metastasis × 2.065 + bone marrow suppression × 2.082 + activities of daily living impairment × 13.926. ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.827 (95%CI: 0.724-0.929, P < 0.001), with a corresponding optimal cut-off value of 0.612, sensitivity of 0.755, and specificity of 0.857. Calibration curve analysis showed good consistency between the predicted occurrence of PICC-related thrombosis and actual occurrence (P > 0.05). ROC analysis showed AUCs of 0.888 and 0.729 for the training and validation sets, respectively. CONCLUSION Age, KPS score, parenteral nutrition, TNM staging, distant metastasis, bone marrow suppression, and activities of daily living impairment are independent risk factors for PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer, while catheter duration is a protective factor for the disease. The predictive model has an AUC of 0.827, indicating high predictive accuracy and clinical value.

Association Between Different Inflammatory Markers and Generalized Abdominal Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Inflammation is strongly correlated with obesity. However, very few studies have reported associations between novel inflammatory markers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), C-reactive protein (CRP), and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), and different obesity types. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the associations of these inflammatory markers with generalized and abdominal obesity. This cross-sectional study included data from 2015 to 2018 obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the associations between different inflammatory biomarkers and obesity. The discriminative capacities of the markers for obesity types were depicted using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, with corresponding area under the curve (AUC) metrics quantifying this discrimination. After adjusting for confounding variables, generalized obesity was found to be positively associated with an increased risk of NLR by 35%, SII by 52%, CRP by 941%, and CAR by 925%, compared with the reference groups. In the model, the CRP concentration and CAR demonstrated high AUC values of 0.690 and 0.889, respectively, for the identification of generalized and abdominal obesity (P < 0.05). This study revealed associations between obesity and inflammatory biomarkers, such as the NLR, SII, CRP, and CAR. CRP is the most sensitive marker for generalized obesity, while CAR shows the strongest association with abdominal obesity. These findings suggest that inflammatory biomarkers may be useful for assessing and managing obesity-related health concerns.

Longitudinal Phospho-tau217 Predicts Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease

BackgroundBlood-based AD biomarkers such as plasma P-tau217 are increasingly used in clinical trials as a screening tool.ObjectivesTo assess the utility of an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay in predicting brain amyloid PET status in cognitively unimpaired individuals.SettingPlasma samples collected at baseline, week 12, and week 240 or endpoint originated from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease (A4) trial and the companion Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration (LEARN) study.ParticipantsBoth A4 and LEARN enrolled eligible cognitively unimpaired persons 65 to 85 years. Individuals with elevated brain amyloid PET levels were eligible for the A4 Study, while those without elevated brain amyloid PET levels were eligible for the LEARN Study.InterventionParticipants in the A4 Study received intravenous solanezumab (up to 1600 mg) or placebo every 4 weeks. The LEARN Study is an observational study without intervention.MeasurementsPlasma P-tau217 concentration levels from A4 Study participants were measured using an ECL immunoassay. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for each biomarker against amyloid positivity, defined by ≥22 CL and ≥ 33 CL.ResultsReceiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis indicates high diagnostic value of P-tau217 in individuals with amyloid PET ≥ 20 (Area under the ROC (AUROC): 0.87) and ≥ 33 CL (AUROC: 0.89). Repeated testing with the placebo group taken 12 weeks apart (range: 68 to 143 days) and the LEARN participants taken between 1.4 and 1.75 years resulted in a strong positive correlation (Corr. 0.91 (0.90 to 0.92)).ConclusionAn ECL immunoassay testing plasma P-tau217 accurately predicts amyloid PET positivity in cognitively unimpaired individuals. Our future analyses aim to determine if use of this assay may reduce the screening burden of preclinical individuals into anti-amyloid clinical trials.

The role of VI-RADS scoring criteria for predicting oncological outcomes in bladder cancer.

Our purpose was to evaluate the prognostic value of Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) in bladder cancer (BCa) staging and predicting recurrence or progression. We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data from 96 patients with bladder tumors who underwent VI-RADS-based multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) before endourological treatment from April 2021 to December 2022. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by comparing mpMRI reports with final pathology, using logistic regression for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) predictors. Follow-up until May 2023 included Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis to assess VI-RADS predictive roles for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 96 patients (19.8% women, 80.2% men; median age 68.0 years) were included, with 71% having primary tumors and 29% recurrent BCa. Multiparametric MRI exhibited high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (79%) in predicting MIBC, showing no significant differences between primary and recurrent cancers (AUC: 0.96 vs. 0.92, P = .565). VI-RADS emerged as a key predictor for MIBC in both univariate (OR: 40.3, P < .001) and multivariate (OR: 54.6, P < .001) analyses. Primary tumors with VI-RADS ≥ 3 demonstrated significantly shorter RFS (P = .02) and PFS (P = .04). In conclusion, mpMRI with VI-RADS has a high diagnostic value in predicting MIBC in both primary and recurrent BCa. A VI-RADS threshold ≥ 3 is a strong predictor for MIBC, and in primary tumors predicts early recurrence and progression.

Oestrone removal by anodic oxidation using different mixed metal oxide anodes and graphite cathode

ABSTRACT In this study, the removal of oestrone (E1), one of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that strongly affects the life activities of organisms in the receiving water environment and is naturally secreted by many organisms and enters water resources, was investigated by the anodic oxidation (AO) process using titanium (Ti) anode and different metal oxide (MMO) anodes (Ti/Pt, Ti/IrO2, Ti/RuO2, Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 and Ti/IrO2-RuO2-SnO2) and graphite cathode. Batch experiments showed removal efficiencies between 86.1 and 92.3%. The highest removal efficiency was obtained at the Ti/Pt anode using an applied current of 1.5 A (28 mA/cm2 current density), an initial pH of 8.3, an initial E1 concentration of 20 mg/L, an oxidation time of 160 min and an electrolyte concentration of 0.1 M Na2SO4. Different E1 concentrations (5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L) were investigated. After 160 min, the removals were 97.9%, 95.5% and 92.4%, with degradation rates (k) of 0.0235, 0.0186 and 0.0158 min−1 and high R2 values. The specific energy consumption was also calculated to be in the range of 396–412 kWh/m3 and the lowest SEC value was obtained at an initial E1 concentration of 20 mg/L.

The "triple-layer sign": an optical coherence tomography signature for the detection of non-exudative macular neovascularization.

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the "triple layer sign" (TLS) (retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), neovascular tissue, and Bruch's membrane) on structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) images for the diagnosis of treatment-naïve non-exudative type-1 macular neovascularization (NE-MNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Cross-sectional study. Two masked retinal experts evaluated the presence of the TLS in eyes with NE-MNV and controls with an RPE elevation without exudation due to other causes than NE-MNV in AMD [e.g., medium-large drusen, cuticular drusen, basal laminar deposits (BlamD)]. 130 eyes of 98 consecutive patients met the study criteria; 40 eyes of 40 patients satisfied the criteria for being included in the NE-MNV secondary to AMD group (27 females, 13 males, with a mean age of 73.8 ± 8.0years), and 90 eyes of 58 patients met the criteria to be included in the control group (31 eyes were included in the medium-to-large drusen sub-group, 32 eyes in the cuticular drusen sub-group, and 27 eyes in the BlamD group. The TLS was observed in 39/40 patients with NE-MNV and 8/90 controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the TLS for the diagnosis of NE-MNV were 97% and 91%, respectively. The TLS on OCT demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity values in detecting treatment-naive type 1 NE-MNV.

The potential of cashew nut shell waste in charcoal briquettes after producing cashew nut shell liquid through cold extraction

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), extracted without chemicals or high temperatures, primarily contains phenolic compounds and is used in pharmaceuticals and special polymers. This study assesses a cold extraction process for CNSL at press forces of 200, 250, and 275 kg/cm2 and holding times of 1, 2, and 5 minutes, achieving a maximum yield of 35.98%, with holding time having minimal impact. The waste from cashew nut shells was carbonized to produce briquettes, enhancing their heating value. Briquettes were made from carbonized cashew nut shells and rice husks in various proportions, using cassava flour as a binder. Analysis of the briquettes' properties showed that the CNS amount significantly influenced calorific value and thermal efficiency, with rice husk charcoal mixtures improving stability and compressive strength. The recommended charcoal briquette from CNS, rice husk and cassava flour which is the ratio 7:3:1 by weight (recipe E), providing high compressive strength and calorific value similar to briquettes made solely from cashew nut shells (recipe A). This research supports converting CNS waste into industrial products and renewable energy.

Phase change hydrogels with tunable adhesion for wearable thermal management and intelligent healthcare

Intelligent wearable devices integrating real-time health monitoring and on-demand treatment are obtaining widespread attention. However, precise monitoring and prolonged photothermal therapy of human bodies still face significant challenges. Herein, a phase change gel (PCG) with simultaneous strain sensing and photothermal therapy functions was fabricated using sodium sulfate decahydrate (SSD, Na2SO4·10H2O), polyacrylamide (PAM), and polydopamine-modified MXene (PDA@MXene). The PCGs possessed a suitable phase transition temperature and high enthalpy value (128.8 J/g), which provided sufficient thermal comfort. The PAM hydrogel effectively overcame the liquid leakage of SSD and achieved flexibility. PDA@MXene not only imparted the PCGs with excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (93.83 %), but also ensured strong adhesive properties to precisely monitor human motions. Interestingly, the PCGs exhibited temperature-sensitive adhesion ability by triggering the phase transition of SSD, thus obtaining high adhesion to the skin and painless detachment simultaneously. The temperature-induced adhesive PCGs exhibit great application prospects in portable medicine devices.

Role of cyclone activity in summer precipitation over the northern margin of Eurasia

In recent decades, the atmospheric moisture capacity has increased globally in concert with global warming, with a particularly notable warming trend in Arctic regions. However, due to limited observational data, the variation and causes of polar precipitation, especially large-scale precipitation events associated with Arctic cyclones, remain unclear. In this paper, GPM satellite data are compared with ERA5 reanalysis data to explore the characteristics of summer precipitation at the northern margin of the Eurasian region (NMER) and the influence of cyclone activity on precipitation. It is revealed that high precipitation values in the Arctic region, as indicated by the GPM and ERA5 data, are mainly concentrated at the NMER. However, the GPM data show an overall larger precipitation amount, while the station observations more closely agree with the ERA5 precipitation changes at the NMER. The cyclone identification results indicate that summer cyclones at the NMER are mainly distributed in the Barents, Kara and Laptev Seas, and the precipitation contribution rate of ERA5-derived cyclones is 37.35%, which is significantly higher than that of GPM-derived cyclones (29.47%). Furthermore, high cyclone activity results in more intense precipitation, with the top 5% of the strongest cyclones contributing 60% (GPM) and 40% (ERA5) to the total cyclonic precipitation.

Enhanced efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing FeCo2S4 nanowires as Pt-free counter electrodes

Replacing traditional Pt-based counter electrodes with low-cost and highly stable materials is crucial for the development of commercially viable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, we synthesized a ternary Pt-free FeCo2S4 nanowire (NW)-based sulfide electrocatalyst by a three-step solvothermal method. This material was then used as a counter electrode in DSSCs to facilitate the reduction of triiodide species. The formation of FeCo2S4 NW was confirmed by various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the structure of the nanowires. Electrochemical studies, which included cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization methods, revealed the excellent stability, superior electrocatalytic activity and remarkable kinetics of FeCo2S4 NW in the reduction of triiodide to iodide. Photovoltaic measurements of the fabricated DSSCs yielded a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.88 % for the FeCo2S4-based devices, outperforming the control device made of Pt (PCE=7.45 %). This improvement was primarily due to the increase in short-circuit current density (JSC), thanks to the lower charge transfer resistance (RCT) of FeCo2S4 NW (JSC=15.23 mA/cm2; RCT=5.54 Ω cm2) compared to Pt (JSC=14.12 mA/cm2; RCT=7.07 Ω cm2). In addition, the FeCo2S4 NW-based solar cells exhibited excellent stability and maintained their high PCE value even after 10 days of aging under ambient conditions, while Pt-based DSSCs showed a 3 % decrease from their initial PCE value. This FeCo2S4 NW counter electrode proves to be an excellent alternative to Pt, and the presented results provide valuable insights for the development of cost-effective and highly stable DSSCs.

Meta-analysis: High pooled positive predictive value of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition no-biopsy approach for coeliac disease testing in children.

The European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition established guidelines in 2012 for a no-biopsy approach to diagnose coeliac disease in children. This guideline required symptoms suggestive of coeliac disease, positive human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQ2/DQ8 haplotypes, tissue transglutaminase type-2 immunoglobulin A antibody titre at levels greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal, and positive endomysial immune-globulin A antibody test. An updated 2020 guideline excluded the need for symptoms and positive HLA. To assess the pooled positive predictive value (PPV) of the no-biopsy approach with small bowel biopsy (SBB) data as the reference standard for comparison. Database searches (October 2023) provided data that we combined using a random-effects meta-analysis to provide a pooled PPV, representing the probability that a positive test result means that an individual truly has the condition. We included 23 studies. Study sample sizes totalled 23,769 but only 3007 children had comparative SBB. The proportion of coeliac disease confirmed by the no-biopsy approach and SBB ranged from 79.2% to 100%, with an overall pooled PPV of 97.4% (95% confidence interval 96.0, 98.6). Sensitivity analysis showed higher PPV for the criteria that included HLA (98.5% vs. 96.8%; p = 0.017). Both no-biopsy criteria exhibit high PPV when compared to the reference standard. These results provide a consistent message of accuracy and feasibility to inform change and improve outcomes.

PENGARUH NAUNGAN TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT GAHARU (AquilariaMalaccensis) DI PERSEMAIAN JURUSAN KEHUTANAN, FAKULTAS PERTANIAN UNIVERSITAS PATTIMURA.

Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) is a non-timber forest product commodity that has a high selling value. Indonesia is the largest agarwood producer in the world. By the end of 1990, Indonesia could produce more than 600 tons of agarwood annually. The research was carried out in the nursery of the Forestry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Patimura University. This research was carried out from February to May 2024 to determine the effect of shade on the growth of gaharu seedlings (Aquilaria malaccensis). The percentage of shade supports the growth of (Aquilaria malaccensis). The experimental design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments, namely no shade, 50% shade, 65% shade, and 75% shade. The research results show that gaharu seeds are a semi-tolerant type, or a type of gaharu tree that can grow in open and shaded areas.

Improved multiferroic properties of lanthanum ferrites through cobalt doping

LaFeO3 is a type II multiferroic material which exhibits improper ferroelectricity induced by magnetic order (antiferromagnetism). However, the antiferromagnetic order limits its applications. This study demonstrates the induction of ferromagnetism in LaFeO3 by doping with cobalt, varying the level of cobalt from 0 to 0.5 mol. Moreover, the effects of cobalt on the crystal structure, magnetic and dielectric properties are described. The XRD results show that at doping concentrations lower than 0.3 mol, LaFeO3 maintains its orthorhombic structure (Pnma), while at higher cobalt concentrations the rhombohedral (R-3c) LaCoO3 phase emerges. In addition, cobalt doping induces ferromagnetism because cobalt occupies iron positions until the solubility limit is reached (0.3 mol). All samples present high relative permittivity values, which increase with increasing cobalt content and temperature. Furthermore, the presence of cobalt results in a decrease in the dielectric dissipation factor for cobalt contents lower than 0.3 mol, due to the inhibition in the formation of vacancies. However, the presence of LaCoO3 at high cobalt contents increases the dielectric losses due to the presence of a mixtures of phases. Moreover, the electric polarization curves exhibited weak ferroelectric behavior for ferrites with cobalt contents lower than 0.3 mol, and lossy improper ferroelectric type behavior for samples with higher contents.

Investigation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in air environment for elevated saturation magnetization

Iron oxide nanoparticles have garnered interest for their unique properties and wide application areas. For applications, superparamagnetic nanoparticles are required so that they can be magnetized by an external magnetic field and rapidly demagnetize again when the field is removed. High saturation magnetization, Ms is also required for applications to provide easy magnetic control over separation and targeting. For magnetically controlled applications, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a high Ms are important. In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were co-precipitated under air atmosphere and the effects of alkali concentration, stirring rate and reaction time on the structural and related magnetic properties were investigated to obtain the high Ms for each parameter. According to the structural results, it is challenging to obtain magnetite nanoparticles under air atmosphere due to oxidizing effect. The increase of Ms values with the increase of alkali concentration may come from the phase of the samples although the crystal size of the nanoparticles is getting smaller. It can be said that there is an optimum stirring rate to obtain the highest Ms under air atmosphere rather than an uptrend/downtrend. The maximum Ms of 69.2 emu g−1 was obtained for superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized at 700 rpm. With the increase of reaction time, magnetic size of the nanoparticles is observed to decrease in contrast with the increase of physical particle size. The maximum Ms value for the reaction time parameter is 67.3 emu g−1 at 15 min. Due to their high Ms values and superparamagnetic nature, the nanoparticles synthesized under study may find use in magnetic separation, water purification, and other related fields.

High- Tc superconductivity in doped molecular superconductors of K4B8−xMxH32 (M = C, N) under high pressure

Stabilized and metallic light elements hydrides have provided a potential route to achieve the goal of room-temperature superconductors at moderate or ambient pressures. Here, we have performed systematic DFT theoretical calculations to examine the effects of different light elements C and N atoms doped in cubic K4B8H32 hydrides on the superconductivity at low pressures. As a result of various atoms substituting, we have found that metallic K4B _{8-x} M x H32 (M = C, N) hydrides are dynamically stable at 50 GPa, band structures and density of states (DOS) indicate that sizeable Tc correlates with a high B–H DOS at the Fermi level. With the increasing of B atoms in K4B _{8-x} M x H32 hydrides, the DOS values at Fermi level have been improved due to the delocalized electrons in B–H bonds, which result in strong electron–phonon coupling (EPC) interaction and increase the Tc from 19.04 to 77.07 K for KC2H8 and KB2H8 at 50 GPa. The NH4 unit in stable K4B7NH32 hydrides has weakened the EPC and led to low Tc value of 21.47 K. Our results suggest the light elements hydrides KB2H8 and K4B7CH32 could estimate high Tc values at 50 GPa, and the boron hydrides would be potential candidates to design or modulate hydrides superconductors with high Tc at moderate or ambient pressures.

Predicting postoperative visual acuity in epiretinal membrane patients and visualization of the contribution of explanatory variables in a machine learning model.

The purpose of this study was to develop a model that can predict the postoperative visual acuity in eyes that had undergone vitrectomy for an epiretinal membrane (ERM). The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) was used to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction and the contribution of the explanatory variables. Two models were designed to predict the postoperative visual acuity in 67 ERM patients. Model 1 used the age, sex, affected eye, axial length, preoperative visual acuity, Govetto's classification stage, and OCT-derived vector information as features to predict the visual acuity at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Model 2 incorporated the early postoperative visual acuity as an additional variable to predict the visual acuity at 3, and 6 months postoperatively. LightGBM with 100 iterations of 5-fold cross-validation was used to tune the hyperparameters and train the model. This involved addressing multicollinearity and selecting the explanatory variables. The generalized performance of these models was evaluated using the root mean squared error (RMSE) in a 5-fold cross-validation, and the contributions of the explanatory variables were visualized using the average Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values. The RMSEs for the predicted visual acuity of Model 1 were 0.14 ± 0.02 logMAR units at 1 month, 0.12 ± 0.03 logMAR units at 3 months, and 0.13 ± 0.04 logMAR units at 6 months. High SHAP values were observed for the preoperative visual acuity and the ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL) area with significant and positive correlations across all models. Model 2 that incorporated the postoperative visual acuity was used to predict the visual acuity at 3 and 6 months, and it had superior accuracy with RMSEs of 0.10 ± 0.02 logMAR units at 3 months and 0.10 ± 0.04 logMAR units at 6 months. High SHAP values were observed for the postoperative visual acuity in Model 2. Predicting the postoperative visual acuity in ERM patients is possible using the preoperative clinical data and OCT images with LightGBM. The contribution of the explanatory variables can be visualized using the SHAP values, and the accuracy of the prediction models improved when the postoperative visual acuity is included as an explanatory variable. Our data-driven machine learning models reveal that preoperative visual acuity and the size of the EIFL significantly influence postoperative visual acuity. Early intervention may be crucial for achieving favorable visual outcomes in eyes with an ERM.

Rosin reinforcement and protection of the unearthed outer coffin from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Hubei, China

The tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng was unearthed in 1978 at Leiguudun in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, China. This is the largest wooden coffin in rock pit and vertical cave in the Warring States period in China. The large wooden coffin components provide reliable material data for the study of the feudal burial system in the pre-Qin period and have high value. In this paper, the wooden coffin excavated from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng was studied. By understanding the composition of wood, studying the weight gain rate, shrinkage rate, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compression resistance, the wood reinforced by rosin and epoxy resin was compared, and the reinforcement effect and principle of the two reinforcement methods were discussed. The study found that the wood properties of rosin reinforced group were better than those of epoxy reinforced group in the aspects of compressive strength, weight gain rate and volume shrinkage rate, and the mechanical properties of wood were significantly improved. In addition, methanol or ethanol can be used to dissolve the rosin shellac in this strengthening process, which can achieve reversible strengthening treatment. The results provide valuable examples and research ideas for the selection of different conservation techniques of large wooden cultural relics unearthed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River during the Warring States Period.

Independent effects of the glucose-to-glycated hemoglobin ratio on mortality in critically ill patients with atrial fibrillation

BackgroundThe glucose-to-glycated hemoglobin ratio (GAR) represents stress hyperglycemia, which has been closely associated with adverse outcomes in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. No studies have examined the association between stress hyperglycemia and atrial fibrillation (AF) in critically ill patients. This study aims to explore the relationship between GAR and the prognosis of critically ill patients with AF.MethodsA retrospective cohort of patients was selected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. The GAR was calculated based on fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels measured after admission. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality rate, with secondary outcomes being the 90-day and 365-day mortality rates. The GAR was divided into tertiles, and Kaplan–Meier analysis was employed to compare differences in mortality rates between groups. The Cox proportional hazards model and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized to evaluate the relationship between the GAR and mortality. Subsequently, a segmented regression model was constructed to analyze threshold effects in cases where nonlinear relationships were determined.ResultsIn this cohort, the second tertile of the GAR exhibited lower mortality rates at 30 days (10.56% vs 6.33% vs 14.51%), 90 days (17.11% vs 10.09% vs 17.88%), and 365 days (25.30% vs 16.15% vs 22.72%). In the third tertile, the risk of mortality at 30 days increased by 165% (HR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.99–3.54, p < 0.001), at 90 days increased by 113% (HR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.68–2.70, p < 0.001), and at 365 days increased by 70% (HR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.68–2.70, p < 0.001). The association between the GAR and patient mortality demonstrated a “J-shaped” non-linear correlation. Once the GAR exceeded 15.915, each incremental unit increase in the ratio was associated with a 27.2% increase in the risk of 30-day mortality in critically ill atrial fibrillation patients (HR = 1.262, 95% CI 1.214–1.333, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe GAR is associated with both short-term and long-term mortality in critically ill patients with AF in a J-shaped relationship. Both low and excessively high GAR values indicate poor prognosis.

Isolation, identification and biological characterization of bacterial endophytes isolated from Gunnera Perpensa L.

In the present study, eleven endophytic bacterial strains, Herbaspirillum sp. (GP-SGM1, GP-SGM2, GP-SGM3, GP-SGM11), Pseudomonas sp. (GP-SGM4, GP-SGM5), Novosphingobium sp. GP-SGM6, Chryseobacterium sp. GP-SGM7, Labedella sp. GP-SGM8, Brevibacterium sp. GP-SGM9, and Pseudomonas sp. GP-SGM10, were isolated from the rhizomes of Gunnera perpensa L. The growth kinetics, assessed through maximum growth rates (µmax) and optical density (OD) values, revealed that GP-SGM7 exhibited highest µmax values of 0.33±0.01 hr-1 with an OD of 4.20±0.04. In contrast, GP-SGM11 exhibited the lowest µmax of 0.12±0.05 hr-1 and the smallest OD of 1.50±0.00. In addition, the endophyte crude extracts were tested for antibacterial activity against five pathogenic strains using the disk diffusion method, with GP-SGM7 crude extracts exhibiting promising antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays. The crude extracts of GP-SGM1, GP-SGM7, GP-SGM9, and GP-SGM10 were the most effective at scavenging DPPH radicals, with GP-SGM7 also exhibiting high FRAP value of 0.54±0.01. These findings emphasize the therapeutic potential of endophytic bacteria from Gunnera perpensa L. in addressing skin-related issues, including bacterial infections and free radicals.

Synthesizing a novel cerium-modified graphene powder to achieve long-term anticorrosion performance of epoxy powder coatings

Graphene with extremely large specific surface area possesses great loading capacity for various kinds of corrosion inhibitors to obtain long-term anticorrosion properties. In this study, the corrosion inhibitor cerium nitrate was employed to modify graphene on which the cerium species were loaded. The as-synthesized cerium-modified graphene (Ce-Gr) was introduced into epoxy powder coating to provide long-effective corrosion protection on steel. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis implies that cerium species were successfully loaded on graphene in the form of cerium nitrate and cerium oxide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation exhibited that Ce-Gr improved structural density and reduced the porosity in coating matrix. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated incredibly high impedance values of 1010.5 Ω cm2 for the epoxy powder coatings containing Ce-Gr after immersion in 3.5% NaCl solution for 45 days. Additionally, the smallest average corrosion propagation width of only 0.60 mm on the substrate at scratch after salt spray test, the shorter cathodic disbondment diameter of 3.49 mm and the fewest corrosion oxidation products with extremely low oxygen content of 3 wt% on substrate after salt solution immersion for 120 days implied that the coating with the addition of 0.05 wt% Ce-Gr possessed the most effective corrosion inhibition property to protect the steel substrate for a long period.