Differential life cycle toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure on the female reproductive system.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), the most prevalent plasticizer worldwide, can enter the human body via various exposure pathways, including ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, and medical applications. It has been observed to exhibit characteristic patterns of accumulation in the female reproductive system. Research has demonstrated that DEHP poses a threat to reproductive health in females across various life stages.

VAM-Based Equivalent Cauchy Model for Accordion Honeycomb Structures with Zero Poisson's Ratio.

The accordion honeycomb has unique deformation characteristics in cellular materials. This study develops a three-dimensional equivalent Cauchy continuum model (3D-ECM) based on the variational asymptotic method (VAM) to efficiently predict the mechanical response of the accordion honeycomb. The accuracy of the 3D-ECM is validated via quasi-static compression experiments on 3D-printed specimens and detailed 3D finite element simulations (3D-FEM), showing a strong correlation between simulation and experimental data.

Recent progress of 3D-printed polymeric gel sensors for flexible electronics.

Solvent-impregnated polymeric gels, distinguished by their remarkable property tunability and excellent mechanical compatibility with biological tissues, emerge as highly promising candidates for flexible sensing materials and devices. These gel sensors are capable of transducing diverse health-related stimuli into detectable signals, thereby facilitating point-of-care diagnostics and advanced cyborg feedback systems. The reliable construction of materials or devices for gel sensors necessitates the development and application of suitable manufacturing techniques.

Simultaneous ratiometric fluorescence determination and removal of copper ions by a magnetic nanocomposite.

The exploitation of a bifunctional material for both identifying and extracting heavy metal ions (HMIs) is essential but still poses a major hurdle. In this work, a novel magnetic fluorescent nanocomposite (FeO/CD@SiO-QD) was successfully prepared for the specific detection and removal of Cu. Magnetic fluorescent nanoparticles (FeO/CDs) exhibiting blue fluorescence were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal approach, and a magnetic ratiometric fluorescence sensor was prepared after SiO and red fluorescent CdTe quantum dots were coated on the surface.

Slippage-suppression robot-assisted retraction for thyroid surgery with 5DoF contact force sensing.

Thyroid nodules often necessitate surgical intervention, where traditional retractors may cause muscle damage due to prolonged use. This study introduces a slippage-suppression robotic system for thyroid surgery, featuring a conformal force and torque sensing module integrated with a robotic manipulator for compliant force control. The system features five-dimensional (5DoF) contact force sensing, achieving accurate force measurement with a relative error of .

Emerging Nonvolatile Memory Technologies in the Future of Microelectronics.

Memory technologies are central to modern computing systems, performing essential functions that range from primary data storage to advanced tasks, such as in-memory computing for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications. Initially developed solely for data retention, these technologies are evolving to support new paradigms, such as in-memory computing, where processing occurs directly within the memory array. This evolution significantly enhances computational efficiency by minimizing data transfer between processors and memory, resulting in increased speed and reduced energy consumption, critical factors for AI and ML workloads.

Triple-Enzyme Mimetic Manganese Nanozyme with Redox-Adaptive Catalysis for Synergistic MSU Degradation and Inflammation Resolution in Acute Gout.

Acute gout, characterized by recurrent inflammatory flares caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition, presents a therapeutic challenge due to the limited efficacy of current drugs in concurrently eliminating MSU crystals and resolving inflammation. To overcome this, a manganese-based nanozyme derived from a ZIF-8 metal-organic framework (MOF) is developed, which is designed to avoid the reliance on precious metals seen in existing urate oxidase-mimetic systems. By leveraging competitive coordination between zinc and manganese during MOF synthesis, atomic-level dispersion of manganese active sites with precise modulation of the Mn/Mn redox equilibrium is achieved.

Alendronate-Functionalized Polycaprolactone/Gelatin Electrospun Fibrous Membranes for Enhanced Osteogenesis and Antiosteoclastogenesis in Bone Regeneration.

For alveolar bone defects associated with osteoclast-active periodontitis, polycaprolactone (PCL)-based electrospun guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes exhibit limited bone repair ability due to insufficient osteogenic promotion and inadequate osteoclast-targeted inhibition. To address these challenges, gelatin (GEL) was incorporated into the membranes to enhance their osteogenic capacity, while alendronate (ALN)─a bisphosphonate with both osteoclast inhibitory activity and osteogenic potential─was loaded at varying concentrations (1, 5, 10 wt %) to fabricate PG-1ALN, PG-5ALN, and PG-10ALN membranes. The membranes were characterized based on their physicochemical properties, and drug release studies confirmed that the PG-ALN group exhibited sustained ALN release over 28 days.

Continuous respiratory rate monitoring through temporal fusion of ECG and PPG signals.

Respiratory rate (RR) is an important vital sign indicating various pathological conditions, such as clinical deterioration, pneumonia, and adverse cardiac arrest. Traditional RR measurement methods are normally intrusive and inconvenient for ubiquitous continuous monitoring. There have been studies on RR estimation by extracting respiratory modulated components (RMCs) from wearable accessible noninvasive cardiovascular signals, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) or/and photoplethysmogram (PPG), with RR estimated from each RMC or fused RMCs derived from either ECG or PPG.

Superlinear control of phosphorus recycling in coastal sediments by organic matter availability.

Phosphorus (P) recycling from sediments regulates water column P availability. However, the balance between P regeneration and immobilization in coastal sediments under diverse environmental regimes remains poorly quantified, posing challenges for modeling biogeochemical processes and the estimation of regional and global geochemical budgets. We investigated sediment P cycling across the Pearl River Estuary region (9-63 m water depth), observing substantial variability in sediment phosphate effluxes (4.

First-line immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis of phase 3 trials.

Background: The integration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with chemotherapy (CT) regimens has become a critical focus of clinical investigation in the management of advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma over the past several years. Recent phase 3 trials have yielded diverse outcomes, sparking significant debate within the oncological community. In response to these disparate findings, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of this strategy.

High extracellular matrix stiffness upregulates TNNT1 to awaken dormant tumor cells in liver metastatic niches of gastric cancer.

Background: Liver is one of the target organs bearing the most frequent distant metastasis of gastric cancer (GC), and patients with GC liver metastasis suffering from poor prognosis. According to "seed and soil" theory, important and complex interactions between disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) and metastasis tumor microenvironment (MTM) have played a vital role in waking the dormant DTCs and promoting their proliferation. We have discovered that the aberrantly activated cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) could significantly increase the enrichment and stiffness of extracellular matrix (ECM).

Elevated circulating IL-8 correlates with poor prognosis in urological cancers: a meta-analysis and bioinformatic validation.

Background: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a key cytokine that has been implicated in multiple aspects of cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Elevated levels of circulating IL-8 (cIL-8) have been implicated in adverse clinical outcomes among patients with urological cancers. However, definitive evidence consolidating these observations remains lacking.

Using Achiral Monomers to Synthesize Organometallic Chiral Copolymers on an Achiral Surface.

Preparing chiral polymers by using achiral building blocks in an achiral reaction environment is very demanding because this strategy avoids the use of expensive chiral reagents. Here, a surface-confined and sequence-controlled chiral copolymer is synthesized by the organometallic reactions between the achiral precursors 4,4″-dibromo-1,1':3',1''-terphenyl and 1-ethynyl-4-[2-(4-ethynylphenyl)ethynyl]benzene on an achiral Ag(111) surface. Combined scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory explorations show that the terminal alkyne and aromatic bromide precursors undergo dehydrogenated and debrominated metalations with surface Ag adatoms to yield the organometallic polymeric products.

Maximum Entropy-Minimum Residual Model: An Optimum Solution to Comprehensive Evaluation and Multiple Attribute Decision Making.

To assess a subject with multiple factors or attributes, a comprehensive evaluation index, or say a composite indicator, is often constructed to make a holistic judgement. The key problem is to assign weights to the factors. There are various weighting methods in the literature, but a gold standard is lacking.

Angiotensin system inhibitors improve survival in patients undergoing pancreatic cancer resection: a meta-analysis of real-world evidence.

Background: The role of angiotensin system inhibitors (ASIs) in modifying the prognosis for patients undergoing pancreatic cancer resection is not yet definitively established. This meta-analysis endeavors to consolidate existing real-world data to provide a robust, evidence-based assessment of their impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods: A meticulous search strategy was devised and executed across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to retrieve all relevant studies evaluating the prognostic impact of ASIs in patients who have undergone resection for pancreatic cancer.

Downscaling of Non-Van der Waals Semimetallic WN with Resistivity Preservation.

The bulk phase of transition metal nitrides (TMNs) has long been a subject of extensive investigation due to their utility as coating materials, electrocatalysts, and diffusion barriers, attributed to their high conductivity and refractory properties. Downscaling TMNs into two-dimensional (2D) forms would provide valuable members to the existing 2D materials repertoire, with potential enhancements across various applications. Moreover, calculations have anticipated the emergence of uncommon physical phenomena in TMNs at the 2D limit.

Concomitant Statin Use and Survival in Patients With Cancer on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The prognostic significance of concomitant statin use in cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains a subject of ongoing investigation. This study aims to clarify the prognostic value of statin use in this patient population and to provide a robust, evidence-based foundation to guide therapeutic decisions.

Methods: A systematic search strategy was used across a multitude of digital archives to exhaustively identify all relevant academic literature published up until June 20, 2024.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Online and Face-to-Face Teaching for Medical Students in Shared Decision-Making Communication Skills Training.

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) is crucial in healthcare to facilitate effective communication between providers and patients, aiding in making optimal medical decisions. Communication skills training (CST) can improve physicians' ability in SDM. However, SDM CST for medical students in Taiwan is scarce, and research comparing online versus in-person CST outcomes is lacking.

Utilizing the Postvascular Phase of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound to Predict Breast Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis.

: To evaluate the value of the postvascular phase of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating between benign and metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with breast cancer (BC). : This study retrospectively analyzed 96 suspicious LNs in the lymphatic drainage area of the breast from 90 patients with BC. All LNs were assessed by conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS following intravenous Sonazoid injection.

Some Improvements on Good Lattice Point Sets.

Good lattice point (GLP) sets are a type of number-theoretic method widely utilized across various fields. Their space-filling property can be further improved, especially with large numbers of runs and factors. In this paper, Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence is used to measure GLP sets.

Circadian system disorder induced by aberrantly activated EFNB2-EPHB2 axis leads to facilitated liver metastasis in gastric cancer.

Background: Liver is one of the most preferred destinations for distant metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) and liver metastasis usually predicts poor prognosis. The achievement of liver metastasis requires continued cross-talk of complex members in tumor microenvironment (TME) including tumor associated macrophages (TAMs).

Methods: Results from 35 cases of ex vivo cultured living tissues of GC liver metastasis have elucidated that circadian rhythm disorder (CRD) of key molecules involved in circadian timing system (CTS) facilitates niche outgrowth.