Relative Ratio Research Articles

LabelSeg: segment annotation for tumor copy number alteration profiles.

Somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) are a predominant type of oncogenomic alterations that affect a large proportion of the genome in the majority of cancer samples. Current technologies allow high-throughput measurement of such copy number aberrations, generating results consisting of frequently large sets of SCNA segments. However, the automated annotation and integration of such data are particularly challenging because the measured signals reflect biased, relative copy number ratios. In this study, we introduce labelSeg, an algorithm designed for rapid and accurate annotation of CNA segments, with the aim of enhancing the interpretation of tumor SCNA profiles. Leveraging density-based clustering and exploiting the length-amplitude relationships of SCNA, our algorithm proficiently identifies distinct relative copy number states from individual segment profiles. Its compatibility with most CNA measurement platforms makes it suitable for large-scale integrative data analysis. We confirmed its performance on both simulated and sample-derived data from The Cancer Genome Atlas reference dataset, and we demonstrated its utility in integrating heterogeneous segment profiles from different data sources and measurement platforms. Our comparative and integrative analysis revealed common SCNA patterns in cancer and protein-coding genes with a strong correlation between SCNA and messenger RNA expression, promoting the investigation into the role of SCNA in cancer development.

Flotation and oil agglomeration of high ash LVMC coal after deshaling by jigging: a comparative study using different collectors

ABSTRACT LVMC coal with an ash content of 38.70% was initially crushed to −4.0 to +0.50 mm and deshaled using a laboratory model Batac Jig. The resulting concentrate was further size reduced to −0.50 mm and combined with the original fines obtained during crushing. Froth flotation (of −0.50 mm size) and oil agglomeration (of −0.075 mm size) tests conducted using different collectors at varying dosages revealed that the combination of jigging and froth flotation processes can effectively reduce the ash content down to 26.29%. At this stated ash, an acceptable yield of 54.67% was obtained with the highest Separation Efficiency value of 18.20 when the Mahua oil collector was used. Kinetic studies of batch flotation indicated that both ash and non-ash components of the coal reported to concentrate at the same rates, demonstrated by the relative ratios of rate constants ( K N A K A ) , which was equal to 1.0404. It is concluded in the paper that the collector mahua oil outperformed in both the flotation and oil agglomeration processes. The uniqueness of the paper is the approach of beneficiating the newly graded high-high, high-NGM Indian coal using cost-effective bio-degradable oils after deshaling in a Jig. The characteristic size distribution curve plotted for the agglomerates is defined mathematically.

Time Trend Analysis of Comorbidities in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Population-Based Study from 53,142 Hospitalizations in Poland.

(1) Influence of comorbidities on life expectancy and treatment outcomes is one of the main concerns of modern rheumatology, due to their rising prevalence and increasing impact on mortality and disability. The main objective of our study was to analyze the time trends and shifts in the comorbidity profile and mortality over 10 years in the Polish population with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). (2) Data from 2011-2020 years were acquired from the General Hospital Morbidity Study in the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene (NIH-PIB) as ICD-10 codes. Based on ICD10 codes, we calculated the percentage shares for comorbidities, with the relative risk ratios and odds ratios. We analyzed the hospitalization rates and mortality from the overlapping conditions. Also, we analyzed age and sex related differences in the clinical manifestations of AS patients. (3) Results: From 53,142 hospitalizations of patients with AS, we found that the male population presented higher rates of cardiovascular (2.7% vs. 1.3% p < 0.001) and pulmonary conditions (1.2% vs. 0.8% p < 0.025). Inflammatory bowel diseases were more common in the female population than in males (2.3% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001). In the years 2011-2020, we observed a decline in the number of hospitalized patients due to cardiovascular (p < 0.001) and respiratory system conditions (p < 0.001), yet the relative risk and odd ratios remained high. In the years 2011-2020, 4056 patients received biological treatment (7%). The number of initiated biological therapies correlated negatively with the number of reported hospitalizations due to ischemic heart diseases (IHD) (p < 0.031, r = -0.8). Furthermore, in the logistic regression model, we found strong collinearity between cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities (VIF = 14; tolerance = 0.1); also, the number of reported IHD's correlated positively with the number of pulmonary infections (p < 0.031, r = 0.7) (4). Cardiopulmonary comorbidities are a main factor associated with increased mortality in patients with AS, especially in hospitalized patients. The mortality rates among patients with AS admitted to hospital due to other conditions other than movement disorders exceed the populational risk. The number of biologically treated patients correlated negatively with hospital admissions due to IHD.

Epidemiology of spinal cord injury and spinal cord injury–induced urinary tract stones in Taiwan: A 2005–2015 population-based cohort study

Context Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) can develop urinary tract stones (UTSs) up to years after the injury, which is especially common in the first few months. However, relevant epidemiological studies and up-to-date epidemiological data for SCI in Taiwan are lacking. Purpose To estimate SCI and SCI-induced UTS incidence and trauma severity, neurological deficits, and injury site in patients with SCI-induced UTSs in Taiwan. Design Retrospective cohort study. Patient sample: Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) data and death data from the Department of Health and Welfare Data Science Center (HWDC) collected over 2005–2015 from 13,977 patients with SCI aged >18 years. Outcome measures Cumulative incidence (CI), incidence density (ID), relative ratios (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), and hazard ratios (HRs) were measured. Methods By using Cox regression, we assessed UTS risk in patients with SCI. Results Although standardized SCI incidence demonstrated a decreasing trend annually, the average annual incidence remained at 60.4 per million. Most (65.7%) of the included patients were men. SCI incidence was 1.98 times higher in men than in women. The most common injury site was the cervical spine (63.8%); the incidence at this site was 2.83 times higher in men than in women. Most (76.1%) of the patients had traumatic SCI (TSCI), and the standardized incidence of TSCI and non-TSCI was 45.9 and 14.4 per million, respectively. 46.1% of the patients had severe SCI (RISS ≥ 16). Over the 11-year follow-up period, UTSs occurred in 10.4% of the patients, with a standardized incidence of 2.39 per 100 person-years, and UTS risk was 1.56 times higher in men than in women. Age of 45–65 years, SCIs at multiple sites, and neurological deficits (e.g. paraplegia) were noted to be UTS risk factors. Finally, UTS onset mainly occurred in the first year after SCI. Conclusion The risk of UTS among patients with SCI is influenced by age, sex, injury site, and paraplegia but not by paralysis resulting from other neurological deficits. Even though SCI incidence is declining annually, severe SCI remains a significant issue. Therefore, continuing to reduce SCI incidence and strengthening urinary tract management in patients with SCI are essential for reducing UTS occurrence and their impact on health.

Rational fabrication of Ni2P-Ni12P5 heterostructure with built-in electric-field effects for high-performance urea oxidation reaction

Developing efficient electrocatalysts and investigating catalytic mechanisms are crucial in urea oxidation reaction (UOR) as a promising strategy to boost the energy efficiency of hybrid water electrolysis for H2 production. The present work rationally designed and fabricated Ni2P-Ni12P5 heterostructure with varying relative ratios embedded on the defective carbon–nitrogen-phosphorus substrate (Ni2P-Ni12P5/CNP) for high-performance UOR in alkaline conditions through a facile solution-combustion route without extra phosphorus sources. The developed synthesis method avoids the high cost, complicated routes, and extremely toxic emissions. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that the Ni2P-Ni12P5 heterostructure regulated the interfacial electric field and promoted electron transfer. The abundantly defective CNP substrate improved the electrical conductivity and prevented Ni2P-Ni12P5 heterostructure from corrosion and detachment. The optimal electrocatalyst, with an approximately equal content of Ni2P and Ni12P5, exhibits a low potential of 1.32 V to deliver 100 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 31.4 mV dec−1, robust stability of 80 h in UOR, and a low voltage of 1.85 V to reach 100 mA cm−2 in HER||UOR. This work provides a facile route to design electrocatalysts for efficient electrochemical hydrogen production.

Health economics for intra-capsular hip fractures undertaking fixation.

Hip fracture is a common musculoskeletal injury in the elderly requiring surgery worldwide. The operative mainstay of intra-capsular hip fractures is arthroplasty with a smaller proportion for fixation. To determine the most beneficial method of fixation for patients with intra-capsular hip fractures. A registered audit from 2012-2018 was conducted on all intra-capsular hip fractures treated with 2 commonly used fixation methods. Patient notes, electronic records and clinical codes for cost benefit were evaluated. A validated quality of life measure was collected at least 1 year after surgery. A total of 83 patients were identified with intra-capsular fractures undergoing fixation during the retrospective period. There were 47 cannulated cancellous screw and 36 sliding hip screw fixations with the case mix comparable for age, gender, co-morbidities and fracture configuration. There was no significant difference in blood loss, tip apex distance, radiation exposure, length of stay, radiological union time, collapse, avascular necrosis or re-operation between fixation methods. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated displaced intracapsular hip fractures correlated significantly with an undesirable outcome conferring a relative odds ratio of 7.25. There were 9 (19%) and 4 (11%) patients respectively, who required re-operation. There was no significant difference in health resource group tariff and implant cost with comparable EQ-5D and visual analogue scores. No significant advantage was identified with differing fixation type, but irrespective there were a high number of patients requiring re-operation. This was predicted by initial fracture displacement and patient age. Arthroplasty may need to be carefully considered for health economics and patient benefit.

Study the Effective Role of Metronidazole Nanoemulsion for the Treatment of Skin Lesions in Mice Induced by Entamoeba Histolytica

The current study aimed to create a metronidazole nanoemulsion and then use it in the treatment of skin lesions in mice caused by Entamoeba histolytica. We used parasite isolates which taken from the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Kirkuk. It was rediagnosed by conventional methods. After prepared metronidazole nanoemulsion. We selected 24 healthy males Mus musculus with an average weight of 20-25 grams mice aged 9-12 weeks from, the animals were randomly divided into four groups, with six animals in each group, as follows Control group which injected with normal saline in a volume of 0.1 ml. The second group was injected with a suspension of E. histolytica in a volume of 0.1 ml and at a concentration of 1 x 108 CFU. The third group was injected with Mt-nanoemulsion 0.1 ml. The fourth group was injected with a suspension of E. histolytica and treated with Mt-nanoemulsion. The solubility investigation was conducted using a variety of vehicles to determine the optimal solvent for isradipine's dissolution. Pseudo ternary phase diagrams are created at surfactant and co-surfactant mix related ratios of (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 2:1). Eight nano emulsions were created by combining several amounts of (Transcutol, Tween20, and Triacetin). The findings indicated that Triacetin was included in the formulations to preserve the medication in a solubilized state and prevent precipitation of the drug because Triacetin had a better solubility of metronidazole. The results of the in vitro study showed that the levels of Malondialdehyde were substantially greater (P &gt;0.05) in the E. histolytica group than in the normal mouse group. Glutathione and catalase levels in the E. histolytica group were substantially lower (P&gt;0.05) than those of normal mice. MDA, GSH, and catalase levels did not differ significantly between the Mt-nanoemulsion-treated group and the control group (P&lt;0.05).

Sustainable Supplier Evaluation: From Current Criteria to Reconstruction Based on ESG Requirements

The disclosure of ESG tasks, seen as companies’ performance of sustainability, has gradually became a necessity for listed enterprises. From an ESG perspective, this paper revisits and restructures the sustainable supplier evaluation criteria. Leveraging thematic analysis, this study dissected ESG reporting guidelines across stock exchanges and explored ESG annual reports and supplier codes of conduct from the listed firms. This elucidated the evaluation criteria currently in practice. The findings indicate that existing sustainable supplier evaluations cannot fully meet ESG regulatory requirements. Drawing insights from these gaps, we reconstructed the evaluation criteria through text analysis to better align with ESG mandates. This study introduces the concept of a “Relative Word Frequency Ratio” to analyze the importance of each indicator and to further determine which to retain or delete. This research offers a robust theoretical foundation and practical guidance for enhancing supplier sustainability evaluations, and the proposed sustainable supplier evaluation criteria system could provide a decision-making reference for enterprises in the choice of ESG-qualified suppliers.

In Situ pH Measurement in Microfluidic Porous Media Indicated by Surfaces Functionalized with Polyaniline (PAni)

Aqueous phase pH is a critical metric with significant importance in understanding reactive transport processes in porous media. At the microscale, however, traditional pH detection methods face challenges in capturing dynamic pH due to limited sample volume and sensing time. To overcome these limitations, we leveraged micro/nanofabrication techniques to create a microfluidic porous medium coated with polyaniline (PAni) on its surface. Using this innovative microfluidic design, we achieved colorimetric delineation of pH spatial distribution with fast response and robustness in porous media. By conducting coinjection tests with hydrochloric acid (pH = 2) and DI water (pH ≈ 5.8, equilibrated with air) at various flow rates and relative flow rate ratios in a sandstone-patterned microfluidic device, we observed dynamic pH changes in porous media and obtained a comprehensive understanding of the acid advection-diffusion dynamics. The results highlighted the capability of PAni to enable microscale pH sensing. This research contributes to the development of advanced porous media microfluidics and applications, particularly in mass transfer limits during reactive transport of carbon dioxide sequestration and geological hydrogen storage.

Experimental and numerical study on the seismic behavior of RC frame with energy dissipation self-centering hinge joints

Conventional reinforced concrete joints dissipate seismic energy through the deformation of plastic hinges, resulting in excessive residual deformation and difficult-to-repair damage. This paper proposes a new beam-column joint type: an Energy Dissipating Self-Centering Hinge Joint (EDSCHJ) with a high-stiffness spring and replaceable dampers fixed at the joint zone. The high stiffness spring provides restoring forces, and the replaceable dampers are utilized to dissipate seismic energy. A quasi-static test was conducted to investigate the seismic performance of the EDSCHJ. Three types of self-centering hinge joints with different dampers are designed and tested, and the hysteretic response, skeleton curve, stiffness degradation curve, and equivalent viscous damping coefficient of the EDSCHJ were obtained. The test results show that the specimens are undamaged at a story drift of 5%, the EDSCHJ without damper exhibits excellent self-centering capability with only a small residual deformation, the hysteresis curve of the EDSCHJ with dampers exhibits a full hysteresis loop with good energy dissipation capacity, the high-stiffness spring has remained elastic without strength degradation, and the lateral stiffness derived from the skeleton curve aligns closely with theoretical calculations. Finally, the finite element model of EDSCHJ is established and validated by comparing the test and numerical results. The structural parametric analysis reveals that as the relative lateral stiffness increases, the dynamic responses of the structure with EDSCHJ exhibits a increasing trend in displacement and an decreasing trend in acceleration and base shear. Additionally, the simulation results indicate an optimum relative stiffness ratio ranging from approximately 0.09 to 0.61.

Hydrodynamic and energy-harvesting performance of an isolated oscillating water column device: An experimental study

Most previous experimental studies on the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic performances of an oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter were conducted in a wave flume. In this study, an experimental study on an isolated OWC plant is carried out in a wave tank. The interactions between the OWC system and incident regular and irregular waves are analyzed by measuring the surrounding wave fields using a wave gauge array. The wave distribution patterns and reflection ratios of the OWC model are presented. In addition, the free-surface elevation, air pressure varying amplitude, turbine torque output, and relative capture width ratios and efficiencies in regular and irregular wave scenarios are measured and analyzed. The operating performances of the OWC model are analyzed and compared to the results derived from the flume tests. An overall performance reduction of over 20% can be observed in the wave tank tests. In addition, the representative results of the overall capture width ratio of the OWC model derived from irregular wave tests are corrected from the scaling effects caused by the similarity contradiction.

Applicability of perfusion weighted imaging in evaluating the curative effect of endostar combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical cancer

Purpose: To investigate the applicability of perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) in evaluating the curative effect of endostar (EN) combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in advanced cervical cancer.&#x0D; Methods: Between January 2021 and December 2022, 85 patients from Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, China with advanced cervical cancer received NAC intravenously and underwent pre and post-chemotherapy PWI. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) consisted of paclitaxel (135 - 175 mg/m2) and carboplatin (300 - 400 mg/m2). The NAC regimen comprised three courses, with each course lasting three weeks. General data, gross tumor volume (GTV), maximum signal intensity loss rate (MSILR), tumor regression rate (TRR), and post-chemotherapy MSILR reduction were compared between effective and non-effective groups.&#x0D; Results: There was a significant difference in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, pathological types and proportion of lymph node metastasis between effective and non-effective groups (p &lt; 0.05). At the end of 3 cycles of chemotherapy, ORR was 72.94 %. After treatment with EN combined with NAC, GTV and MSILR in effective group were significantly lower compared to non-effective group (p &lt; 0.05). After chemotherapy, the mean relative ratio (MRR) and MSILR in effective group were significantly higher compared to non-effective group (p &lt; 0.05). Also, MSILR before treatment (EN combined with NAC) was positively correlated with TRR after chemotherapy in patients with advanced cervical cancer (p &lt; 0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Perfusion-weighted imaging effectively changes tumor volume in patients with advanced cervical cancer after treatment with EN combined with NAC, and this has high application in evaluating the drug’s curative effect.

Evaluating bias with loss to follow-up in a community-based cohort: empirical investigation from the CARRS Study

BackgroundRetention of participants is a challenge in community-based longitudinal cohort studies. We aim to evaluate the factors associated with loss to follow-up and estimate attrition bias.MethodsData are from an ongoing...

Trajectories of prescription opioid tapering in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: a retrospective cohort study, 2015-2020.

To identify common opioid tapering trajectories among patients commencing opioid taper from long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain and to examine patient-level characteristics associated with these different trajectories. A retrospective cohort study. Australian primary care. Patients prescribed opioid analgesics between 2015 and 2020. Group-based trajectory modeling and multinomial logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine tapering trajectories and to examine demographic and clinical factors associated with the different trajectories. A total of 3369 patients commenced a taper from long-term opioid therapy. Six distinct opioid tapering trajectories were identified: low dose/ completed taper (12.9%), medium dose/ faster taper (12.2%), medium dose/ gradual taper (6.5%), low dose/ noncompleted taper (21.3%), medium dose/ noncompleted taper (30.4%), and high dose/ noncompleted taper (16.7%). A completed tapering trajectory from a high opioid dose was not identified. Among patients prescribed medium opioid doses, those who completed their taper were more likely to have higher geographically derived socioeconomic status (relative risk ratio [RRR], 1.067; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.137) and less likely to have sleep disorders (RRR, 0.661; 95% CI, 0.463-0.945) than were those who didn't complete their taper. Patients who didn't complete their taper were more likely to be prescribed strong opioids (eg, morphine, oxycodone), regardless of whether they were tapered from low (RRR, 1.444; 95% CI, 1.138-1.831) or high (RRR, 1.344; 95% CI, 1.027-1.760) doses. Those prescribed strong opioids and high doses appear to be less likely to complete tapering. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with the identified trajectories.

Polysaccharide from Thymelaea hirsuta L. leaves: Structural characterization, functional properties and antioxidant evaluation

In this study, we successfully extracted a new polysaccharide from Thymelaea hirsuta L., which we named THP, with a yield of 13.94 % through aqueous extraction. The polysaccharide comprises 46.83 % neutral sugars and 7.08 % uronic acids. This heteropolysaccharide contains glucose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose with relative molar ratios of 29.68: 25.73: 21.31: 13.47 and 9.8, respectively. Analysis of glycosylation positions via methylation and structural features using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy revealed that THP has a repeating unit (1 → 3 and 1 → 4)-linked β-d-glucopyranosyl backbone, with the d-glucopyranosyl residue as the branch point at O-6. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination showed ellipsoidal granules with smooth surface. This polysaccharide also has good foaming capacity and emulsion stability, and a water holding capacity of 1.81 g/g. The THP dispersion at 1 % showed shear thinning behavior, demonstrating that it is a promising natural additive in various food formulations. The polysaccharide also demonstrated significant antioxidant properties, with a total antioxidant capacity of 315 mg α-tocopherol equivalents/g and an IC50 value of 8.01 mg/mL using the β-carotene bleaching method, surpassing those of synthetic antioxidants. Additionally, when added at a concentration of 0.13 % to an oil/water emulsion system, THP effectively delayed lipid oxidation during storage at 37 °C. The kinetic study of THP-stabilized oil/water emulsion is anticipated to provide valuable insights for its future applications in food and pharmaceutical emulsions.

Insights into direct/synergetic processes for high-efficiency steam reforming of methanol over Pt-In2O3/CeO2 catalysts: The effect of support structural properties

The addition of Pt (1 %) and In2O3 (7 %) phases into CeO2 supports exhibited an interaction, resulting in the formation of bifunctional Pt2+-In2O3-CeO2, Ptδ+-CeO2 (0 < δ < 2), In2O3-CeO2, and inactive In2O3 macroparticles., Low CO selectivity was achieved in methanol steam reforming (MSR) by sacrificing methanol conversion/catalytic stability. Two distinct reaction paths were identified, viz., the direct process over bifunctional Pt2+-In2O3-CeO2 and the synergetic process between Ptδ+-CeO2 and In2O3-CeO2. The relative ratio of these two processes played a decisive role in determining the product distribution. The direct process improved methanol conversion while maintaining low CO selectivity. However, a decrease in catalytic stability was attributed to the agglomeration and sintering of the In2O3 phase, leading to the conversion of Pt2+-In2O3-CeO2 into Ptδ+-CeO2. To address the challenge of balancing methanol conversion/catalytic stability and CO selectivity, it was crucial to enhance Pt2+-In2O3-CeO2 sites and preserve their stability. Furthermore, the structural properties of the support played a significant role in governing the distributions and states of Pt and In2O3 phases. Specifically, the use of CeO2 (0.5 °C min−1) support resulted in a substantial increase in Pt2+-In2O3-CeO2 and effectively mitigated the sintering of In2O3 phases, ensuring the stability of Pt2+-In2O3-CeO2. In conclusion, our work elucidated the intricate relationships among the structural properties of CeO2 supports, the distributions and states of Pt and In2O3 phases, and MSR performance over Pt-In2O3/CeO2 catalysts, which hold promise for advancing the development of high-performance MSR catalysts.

Associations of antidiabetic drugs with diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes: an umbrella review and meta-analysis.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent complication of type 2 diabetes and remains the leading cause of preventable blindness. Current clinical decisions regarding the administration of antidiabetic drugs do not sufficiently incorporate the risk of DR due to the inconclusive evidence from preceding meta-analyses. This umbrella review aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of antidiabetic drugs on DR in people with type 2 diabetes. A systematic literature search was undertaken in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (from inception till 17th May 2022) without language restrictions to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials or longitudinal studies that examined the association between antidiabetic drugs and DR in people with type 2 diabetes. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies using the AMSTAR-2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) checklist, and evidence assessment was performed using the GRADE (Grading of recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Random-effects models were applied to calculate relative risk (RR) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022332052). With trial evidence from 11 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, we found that the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) was not statistically associated with the risk of DR, compared to either placebo (RR: GLP-1 RA, 0.98, 0.89-1.08; SGLT-2i, 1.00, 95% CI 0.79-1.27; DPP-4i, 1.17, 0.99-1.39) or other antidiabetic drugs. Compared to other antidiabetic drugs, meglitinides (0.34, 0.01-8.25), SGLT-2i (0.73, 0.10-5.16), thiazolidinediones (0.92, 0.67-1.26), metformin (1.15, 0.81-1.63), sulphonylureas (1.24, 0.93-1.65), and acarbose (4.21, 0.44-40.43) were not statistically associated with the risk of DR. With evidence from longitudinal studies only, insulin was found to have a higher risk of DR than other antidiabetic drugs (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 2.04-2.99). Our results indicate that antidiabetic drugs are generally safe to prescribe regarding the risk of DR among people with type 2 diabetes. Further robust and large-scale trials investigating the effects of insulin, meglitinides, and acarbose on DR are warranted. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=332052, identifier CRD42022332052.

Nano‐Au‐decorated hierarchical porous cobalt sulfide derived from ZIF‐67 toward optimized oxygen evolution catalysis: Important roles of microstructures and electronic modulation

AbstractEnhancing both the number of active sites available and the intrinsic activity of Co‐based electrocatalysts simultaneously is a desirable goal. Herein, a ZIF‐67‐derived hierarchical porous cobalt sulfide decorated by Au nanoparticles (NPs) (denoted as HP‐Au@CoxSy@ZIF‐67) hybrid is synthesized by low‐temperature sulfuration treatment. The well‐defined macroporous–mesoporous–microporous structure is obtained based on the combination of polystyrene spheres, as‐formed CoxSy nanosheets, and ZIF‐67 frameworks. This novel three‐dimensional hierarchical structure significantly enlarges the three‐phase interfaces, accelerating the mass transfer and exposing the active centers for oxygen evolution reaction. The electronic structure of Co is modulated by Au through charge transfer, and a series of experiments, together with theoretical analysis, is performed to ascertain the electronic modulation of Co by Au. Meanwhile, HP‐Au@CoxSy@ZIF‐67 catalysts with different amounts of Au were synthesized, wherein Au and NaBH4 reductant result in an interesting “competition effect” to regulate the relative ratio of Co2+/Co3+, and moderate Au assists the electrochemical performance to reach the highest value. Consequently, the optimized HP‐Au@CoxSy@ZIF‐67 exhibits a low overpotential of 340 mV at 10 mA cm–2 and a Tafel slope of 42 mV dec–1 for OER in 0.1 M aqueous KOH, enabling efficient water splitting and Zn–air battery performance. The work here highlights the pivotal roles of both microstructural and electronic modulation in enhancing electrocatalytic activity and presents a feasible strategy for designing and optimizing advanced electrocatalysts.

Resistance of sugarcane hybrids to internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

ABSTRACT A four-year field study (2013–2016) was conducted to screen Indian sugarcane hybrids together with two susceptible checks against internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in endemic locations of Tamil Nadu State, India. Each year, borer incidence on cane basis and intensity on internode basis were assessed at harvest to eliminate susceptible entries. Of the total 535 hybrids screened, only Co 293 emerged as resistant at the end of fourth year trial which was confirmed in tests under controlled conditions with artificial infestation. A modified relative resistance ratio computed using incidence and intensity also confirmed its resistance to the borer. In laboratory oviposition choice tests with excised leaves of the resistant Co 293 and susceptible hybrids Co 86032 and Co 1060, percent of leaf bits oviposited, egg masses laid, and egg numbers deposited were significantly lowest in Co 293. Also, an oviposition preference index computed for both egg mass number and egg number was significantly lowest for Co 293 which suggested antixenosis. Larval survival was significantly lowest in Co 293 with 5 to 10-fold higher neonate mortality than in the two susceptible hybrids. Prolonged larval development period and lower fecundity were observed when the borer was reared on Co 293 which indicated antibiosis. A relative suitability ratio developed from larval and pupal durations also indicated lower suitability of Co 293. Among the plant morphological characters examined, leaf length and cane thickness positively influenced borer incidence; loose sheath-clasp was associated with higher borer incidence. Among 12 shoot phenolics quantified, eight were present in higher quantities in Co 293 suggesting their role in antibiosis. Co 293 identified as resistant hybrid in the present study has the potential to be used as a parent in breeding programs for C. sacchariphagus indicus resistance.

Hybrid data-driven and physics-based modeling for viscosity prediction of ionic liquids

Viscosity is one of the most important fundamental properties of fluids. However, accurate acquisition of viscosity for ionic liquids (ILs) remains a critical challenge. In this study, an approach integrating prior physical knowledge into the machine learning (ML) model was proposed to predict the viscosity reliably. The method was based on 16 quantum chemical descriptors determined from the first principles calculations and used as the input of the ML models to represent the size, structure, and interactions of the ILs. Three strategies based on the residuals of the COSMO-RS model were created as the output of ML, where the strategy directly using experimental data was also studied for comparison. The performance of six ML algorithms was compared in all strategies, and the CatBoost model was identified as the optimal one. The strategies employing the relative deviations were superior to that using the absolute deviation, and the relative ratio revealed the systematic prediction error of the COSMO-RS model. The CatBoost model based on the relative ratio achieved the highest prediction accuracy on the test set (R2 = 0.9999, MAE = 0.0325), reducing the average absolute relative deviation (AARD) in modeling from 52.45 % to 1.54 %. Features importance analysis indicated the average energy correction, solvation-free energy, and polarity moment were the key influencing the systematic deviation.