Development of an in-vacuum long trace profiler for in situ measurement of optical components.

In this work, we developed a vacuum-compatible long trace profiler (LTP) for in situ metrology of ultra-precise x-ray optics within synchrotron vacuum chambers. Although traditional LTPs operate ex situ under atmospheric pressure, earlier optical setups-such as that by Qian et al.-performed in situ distortion measurements by directing laser beams through vacuum viewports.

The TPS soft x-ray bendable mirror clip design and slope error analysis.

The TPS Phase III soft x-ray beamlines, designated as 33, 35, and 43, employ bendable mirrors to achieve the required optical performance across a broad energy range. All mirrors, except for the grating mirrors, are designed with adjustable height and position to optimize alignment. The mirrors are secured to the bending mechanism using specially designed clips and bolt joints.

Complexity of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): State of art review.

This article reviews the advancements made in the diagnosis and treatment of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progression to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). For inhibition of the MASLD progression, newly approved thyroid hormone receptor beta agonists and potential agents, including farnesoid X receptor agonists agonists, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor co-agonists, and or GIP/GLP-1/glucagon receptor co-agonists, offering new prospects for the the pharmacological management of MASLD. Lifestyle interventions, particularly personalized dietary and exercise regimens, as well as multidisciplinary collaboration, are recognized as vital components of treatment strategies.

Phase-transformable metal-organic polyhedra for membrane processing and switchable gas separation.

The capability of materials to interconvert between different phases provides more possibilities for controlling materials' properties without additional chemical modification. The study of state-changing microporous materials just emerged and mainly involves the liquefication or amorphization of solid adsorbents into liquid or glass phases by adding non-porous components or sacrificing their porosity. The material featuring reversible phases with maintained porosity is, however, still challenging.

Exploring Enzyme Encapsulation Efficiency in MOFs Using Eco-Friendly Approaches.

The encapsulation of protein enzymes in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been recognized as an effective enzyme immobilization approach. In this study, we demonstrated the influence of enzyme amount and the isoelectric points (pI) of different enzymes on the enzyme loading capacity in both mechanochemical (ball-milling) and water-based approaches. We found that increasing enzyme amounts enhances MOF enzyme loading without compromising activity, while the MOF shell protects encapsulated enzymes from proteinase K degradation through its size-sheltering mechanism.

Decoding the Biomimetic Mineralization of Metal-Organic Frameworks in Water.

This study unveils the "green" metal-organic framework (MOF) structuring mechanism by decoding proton transfer in water during ZIF-8 synthesis. Combining small- to wide-angle X-ray scattering, multiscale simulations, and quantum calculations, we reveal that the ZIF-8 early-stage nucleation and crystallization process in aqueous solution unfolds in three distinct stages. In stage I, imidazole ligands replace water in zinc-water cages, triggering an "acidity flip" that promotes proton transfer.

Assessing risk of recurrent small bowel obstruction after non-operative management in patients with history of intra-abdominal surgery: a population-based comprehensive analysis in Taiwan.

Background: Despite a significant 30% ten-year readmission rate for SBO patients, investigations into recurrent risk factors after non-operative management are scarce. The study aims to generate a risk factor scoring system, the 'Small Bowel Obstruction Recurrence Score' (SBORS), predicting 6-month recurrence of small bowel obstruction (SBO) after successful non-surgical management in patients who have history of intra-abdominal surgery.

Methods: We analyzed data from patients aged ≥ 18 with a history of intra-abdominal surgery and diagnosed with SBO (ICD-9 code: 560, 568) and were successful treated non-surgically between 2004 and 2008.

Mortality Prediction Model before Surgery for Acute Mesenteric Infarction: A Population-Based Study.

Surgery for acute mesenteric infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality. This study aimed to generate a mortality prediction model to predict the 30-day mortality of surgery for AMI. We included patients ≥18 years who received bowel resection in treating AMI and randomly divided into the derivation and validation groups.

Calculation of CYP450 protein-ligand binding and dissociation free energy paths.

The function of an enzyme depends on its dynamic structure, and the catalytic mechanism has long been an active focus of research. The principle for interpreting protein selectivity and fidelity stems from optimization of the active site upon protein-substrate complexation, i.e.

Ultrasonic Osteotome Assisted Full-Endoscopic en Block Resection of Thoracic Ossified Ligamentum Flavum: Technical Note and 2 Years Follow-up.

Background: Conventional open laminectomy is considered to be the standard procedure for the treatment of thoracic ossified ligamentum flavum, but multi-segment thoracic laminectomy extensively removes the facet joints and ligamentous tissue, destroying the thoracic spine biomechanics and stability, may lead to delayed thoracic spine kyphosis deformities, which in turn can lead to potential neurological deterioration and local intractable pain.

Objective: To introduce the technical notes and clinical outcome of ultrasonic osteotome assisted full-endoscopic en block resection of thoracic ossified ligamentum flavum.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

A Pilot Study of Full-Endoscopic Annulus Fibrosus Suture Following Lumbar Discectomy: Technique Notes and One-Year Follow-Up.

Background: An annulus fissure or defect will inevitably be left on the posterior annulus fibrosus after almost all kinds of lumbar discectomy, which may lead to unsatisfying postoperative pain relief and recurrence of the disc herniation.

Objective: The objective of this research is to introduce the technique of full-endoscopic annulus fibrosus suture following lumbar discectomy through the transforaminal or interlaminar approach, and to analyze the clinical outcome of full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy and annulus fibrosus suture.

Study Design: This study used a prospective cohort design.

[Analysis of the technical key points and clinical effect of full-endoscopic lumbar annulus fibrosus suture].

Objective: To introduce the technical key points of lumbar annulus fibrosus suture under full-endoscope and analyze the clinical efficacy of full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy and annulus fibrosus suture.

Methods: A total of 50 patients with non contained lumbar disc herniation treated with full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy and annulus fibrosus suture in our department between January 2018 and November 2018 were included. Full-endoscopic single-stitch suture through transforaminal approach or double-stitch suture through interlaminar approach was selected according to lesion level.

Metrology for optical components of Taiwan Photon Source beamlines.

To ensure the high performance of beamlines in Taiwan Photon Source, the metrology of the beamline optical components is essential to realize the theoretical optical simulation. The design and performance of a long-trace profiler (LTP) with moving optical head is described. A LTP is used as a metrological tool for the assembly and correction of optical components at the beamline.

Development of a long trace profiler in situ at National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center.

To achieve an ultrahigh resolution of a beamline for soft X-rays at the Taiwan Photon Source (TPS), the profile of a highly precise grating is required at various curvatures. The slope error could be decreased to 0.1 µrad (rms) at a thermal load with a specially designed bender having 25 actuators.

Modified Percutaneous Lumbar Foraminoplasty and Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: Instrument Design, Technique Notes, and 5 Years Follow-up.

Background: Conventional percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) with an "inside-outside" technique has 4.3% - 10.3% surgical failure rate, especially in central herniated discs (HDs), migrated HDs, and axillary type HDs.

Calibration of a compact XUV soft X-ray monochromator with a digital autocollimator in situ.

A digital autocollimator of resolution 0.1 µrad (0.02 arcsec) serves as a handy correction tool for calibrating the angular uncertainty during angular and lateral movements of gratings inside a monochromator chamber under ultra-high vacuum.

Percutaneous lumbar foraminoplasty and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression for lateral recess stenosis through transforaminal approach: Technique notes and 2 years follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome and safety of percutaneous lumbar foraminoplasty (PLF) and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression (PELD) with specially designed instrument for lumbar lateral recess stenosis with/without herniated discs (HDs).

Method: From August of 2011 to August of 2013, 96 patients met the inclusion criteria were treated with PLF-PELD and 85 cases were followed up to 2 years postoperatively. MRI or CT checkup performed in the next morning after operation.

A plug-and-measure diagnostic tool for flux, resolution and beam size of a soft X-ray beamline.

A compact multi-functional diagnostic tool has been installed for commissioning beamlines at the Taiwan Light Source. For a photon beam, the instrument can measure the photon flux, energy resolution and beam size, consecutively with a photodiode or gold mesh, a windowless gas cell and a movable fluorescence screen viewport. Two gratings with ruling densities of 350 and 1000 lines mm(-1) and dispersing photons of energies from 80 to 1200 eV were calibrated with a photon flux of 10(11) photon s(-1) at slit openings of 50 µm × 50 µm; a maximum resolving power of greater than 10000 was certified with an absorption spectra of gaseous samples.

The strategy and early clinical outcome of full-endoscopic L5/S1 discectomy through interlaminar approach.

Objective: To analyze the surgical strategy, safety and clinical outcome of full-endoscopic discectomy through interlaminar approach in the case of L5/S1 intervertebral disc excision.

Methods: From April 2011 to December 2011, 72 cases of intracanalicular non-contained disc herniations at L5/S1 level were treated with full-endoscopic discectomy through interlaminar approach. L5/S1 disc herniation was divided into three types according to position of herniated disc related to S1 nerve root: axilla type, ventral type and shoulder type.

Evaluation of endoscopic dorsal ramus rhizotomy in managing facetogenic chronic low back pain.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of surgical dorsal endoscopic rhizotomy for the treatment of facetogenic chronic low back pain.

Methods: From April 2011 to November 2011, 58 patients who were diagnosed with lumbar facetogenic chronic low back pain (CLBP) and thereafter experienced >80% reliefs of pain with two comparative lumbar medial branch blocks were recruited in the study. Of those 58 patients, 45 cases (the operation group) received dorsal endoscopic rhizotomy, and the remaining 13 cases (the conservative group) received conservative treatment.

[Laminectomy and extraction of nucleus pulposus for treatment of lumbar disc herniation: effect evaluation of over 10-year-followed-up].

Objective: To investigate retrospectively the clinical effects and recurrence rate of 143 cases who underwent one level discectomy and followed up more than 10 years. To evaluate the outcome of patients in groups of different operating age and extents of disc herniation, and analyse whether difference exists in each group.

Methods: There were 143 patients (operation time from January 1996 to December 2000) including 80 males and 63 females, aged from 18 to 66 years old with an average of 37.

[Surgical treatment of thoracolumbar single compression fracture by using in situ rod rotation reduction].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcome of the treatment of thoracolumbar single compression fracture by using in situ rod rotation reduction and short segment pedicle screw at the fracture level.

Methods: From December 2008 to May 2010,12 cases of traumatic thoracolumbar single compression fracture (T11-L2) were treated, including 9 males and 3 females, with an average age of 35.8 years old (ranging from 24 to 52).

Sirt1 overexpression protects murine osteoblasts against TNF-α-induced injury in vitro by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Aim: Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) is the class III histone/protein deacetylase that interferes with the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby has anti-inflammatory function. This study was undertaken to investigate whether Sirt1 could protect osteoblasts against TNF-α-induced injury in vitro.

Methods: Murine osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1, was used.