In this work, the synthesis and characterization of the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) activated carbon were studied for battery electrodes application. First, chemical activation carried out by variation concentrations and immersion time of NaOH and KOH. Then, the physical activation was studied using variation of activation temperature. The characterization of OPEFB activated carbon investigated on the surface morphology, surface area and the capacitance specific. Moreover, we designed, assembled and measured the electricity potential of the battery prototype. The activator solution of KOH 2 M showed the highest surface area of 354.25 m 2g -1, capacitance specific of 116.78 F.g -1, and potential of 1.17 V. Furthermore, the optimal immersion time was 18 hours with the highest surface area of 380.28 m 2g -1, capacitance specific of 96.57 F g -1, and the potential of 1.05 V. Finally, the optimal activation temperature is 900 oC which showed with the highest surface area 334.28 m 2g -1, capacitance specific of 96.41 F.g -1, and the potential of 1.12 V. Based on this report, OPEFB activated carbon can be used as the battery electrodes due to the carbon properties.

Natural products with high oxidation states and complex chemical skeletons exhibit diverse bioactivities due to their unique interactions with biological targets. The high oxidation state is characterized by the presence of multiple oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, and epoxides that are usually tough to construct selectively. In recent years, thanks to the development of efficient strategies and sophisticated methodologies, significant advancements have been made in the total syntheses of highly oxidized natural products (HONPs), which are reviewed herein.

Abstract Phencyclidine (PCP), a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is known to produce schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans, including positive and negative symptoms as well as cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, acute administration of PCP can emulate corresponding behavioral symptoms in rodents. We investigated the effect of PCP and the possible rescuing potential of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs (APDs) in vitro on spontaneously active neuronal networks. To this end, murine primary cortical cells were cultured on microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Concentration-response curves of PCP ranging from 0.01 to 200 µM were generated and network spike and burst rate as well as burst peak firing rate (PFR) and burst duration was measured in stable two-minute recordings. Measurements were done with and without pre-incubation with the APDs aripiprazole, clozapine, and haloperidol. We found a concentration-dependent network activity suppression reflected by a decrease in captured spike rate and network PFR upon PCP application relative to baseline. Preexposure with any of the three APDs mediated a right-shift of the PCP concentration-response curve (spike rate, PFR). However, as assessed by their IC50 values and Hill coefficients, the atypical APDs aripiprazole and clozapine exhibited a 20- to 30-fold protective potency—higher than the typical APD haloperidol (6-fold). In summary, a disruptive network effect of PCP as well as a protection by APDs could be demonstrated in the order of potency: clozapine > aripiprazole >> haloperidol. We propose this simple, noninvasive setup as a plausible electrophysiological model for testing current and future pharmaceuticals against schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Background and Purpose: D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) has been developed as a chemogenetic tool to precisely manipulate redox levels in tissues and cells by generating H2O2 in the presence of D-amino acids. The enzyme’s significant oxygen consumption during H2O2 production may influence cellular oxygen levels. We set out to explore if DAO activation results in hypoxia, which in turn alters the activity of the cellular oxygen sensors that are prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain enzymes and thus the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway. Experimental Approach: We analyzed oxygen consumption rate (OCR), pericellular oxygen concentration, and HIF-1α stabilization in HEK293 cells stably overexpressing DAO in either the cytoplasm or mitochondrial matrix. The obtained experimental data were used to test whether a simple mathematical model can be used to predict oxygen levels. Key Result: Using HEK293 cells expressing DAO in either the cytoplasm or mitochondrial matrix, we found a dose-dependent increase in OCR upon stimulating the DAO reaction, which resulted in a decreased pericellular O2. Correspondingly, HIF-1α protein levels were stabilized over time, reflecting the biological cellular response to DAO-induced hypoxia. Furthermore, we provide a spreadsheet with a simplified diffusion model that allows users to input experimental parameters and assess the risk of hypoxic conditions in cell cultures. Conclusion and Implications: High DAO activity can induce hypoxia due to increased oxygen consumption. Caution should be taken to prevent hypoxic conditions in cell culture experiments while using DAO. The provided spreadsheet is intended to help control oxygen levels in combination with OCR measurements.

A document by Mandana Khodahahi. Click on the document to view its contents.

Objective: There are increasing concerns about the trustworthiness of the medical literature. When identified after publication, such concerns about published papers can be addressed through a post-publication review (PPR) system. We evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of this system while addressing studies in women’s health. Design: Cohort study Setting: The project was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Australia. Sample: Papers Published in Women’s Health Journals Methods: We wrote to the editors and publishers about potentially untrustworthy papers in women’s health and requested an investigation according to the procedure established by the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE). Main outcome measure: For each paper, we tabulated the trial characteristics, investigation outcome [retraction, expression of concern (EoC), correction or no wrongdoing found] and time to decision. We also report the case completion rate per journal and publisher. Results: Between 7 th November 2017 and 30 th April 2024, we wrote to editors and publishers of 891 potentially untrustworthy papers published in 206 different journals. At present, 263 (30%) of 891 papers received an outcome, with 227 (86%) labelled as problematic (152 (58%) papers retracted; 75 (29%) EoC). It took a median time of 16 months for editors and publishers to decide, with 13% of the flagged cases reaching a decision within 12 months. Conclusions: The current PPR process is inefficient and ineffective in assessing and removing untrustworthy data from the medical literature. Funding: No funding was sought for this project.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a prevalent and highly virulent bacterium encountered in clinical settings. Due to its uneven drug resistance profile and the multitude of factors influencing detection rates, precise and sensitive identification of MRSA is essential. Herein, we developed a detection system (called “APC-Cas-PLNPs”) that can ultra-sensitive detection for MRSA, using nucleic acid-based allosteric probe, CRISPR-Cas12a and dual-colored persistent luminescent nanoparticles tandem detection. Simply, allosteric probe was used for specifically recognize MRSA and cyclic signal amplification, and then initiated catalytic CRISPR-Cas12a collateral cleavage. Meanwhile, red-emitting ZnGa2O4:Cr (ZGC) bonded with BHQ3 modified single-stranded DNA to create a detection probe known as ZGC@BHQ3, and green-emitting Zn2GeO4:Mn (ZGM) was utilized as the reference probe and electrostatically bound to both probes, forming the ratiometric luminescence sensor ZGC@BHQ3-ZGM for CRISPR-Cas12a detection.With this strategy, the non-nucleic acid targets were dexterously converted into fluorescent signals. This tandem detection system eliminates interference from background fluorescence and external factors, and provided a novel signal amplification and conversion strategy, which enables accurate and sensitive quantification of MRSA (1-105 CFU/mL) without requiring isolation and DNA extraction. Moreover, APC-Cas-PLNPs can recognize low levels of MRSA in food samples such as milk and orange juice, as well as in mouse serum, demonstrating greater sensitivity compared to real-time PCR. This method holds significant potential application value in food detection and early diagnosis of pathogenic bacteria, highlighting its broad applicability.

This work is absorbed in the neighboring mode-dependent event-triggered control scheme for Markov jump systems with unknown interconnections. A dynamic event-triggered mechanism composed of neighboring modes parameters is provided to save communication resources and reduce the number of solution parameters. Distinguished from existing version, the global operating modes are required to be unknown for each local subsystem. Resorting to neighboring modes information, an event-triggered state feedback controller is established to assure system stability. The cyclic-small-gain criterion is used to tackle the unknown interconnections so that novel stability criteria are obtained for the closed-loop systems with H ∞ performance. Finally, an illustrative example is employed to confirm the proposed method in the aspect of validity.

Ultrasound (US) can easily penetrate media with excellent spatial precision corresponding to its wavelength. Naturally, US plays a pivotal role in the echolocation abilities of certain mammals such as bats and dolphins. In addition, medical US generated by transducers interact with tissues via delivering ultrasonic energy in the modes of heat generation, exertion of acoustic radiation force (ARF), and acoustic cavitation. Based on the principle of echolocation, various assistive devices for visual impairment people have been developed. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) are developed for targeted ablation and tissue destruction. Besides thermal ablation, histotripsy with US is designed to damage tissue purely via mechanical effect without thermal coagulation. Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) has been proven to be an effective stimulation method for neuromodulation. Furthermore, US has been reported to transiently increase permeability of biological membranes, enabling acoustic transfection and blood-brain barrier open. All of these advances in US are changing the clinic. This review mainly introduces the advances in these aspects, focusing on the physical and biological principles, challenges and future direction.

A document by Mohan Bhusal. Click on the document to view its contents.

The Right Ventricular (RV) apex has been the standard site for pacing in symptomatic bradyarrhythmias, but chronic RV pacing can cause adverse effects such as atrial arrhythmias and left ventricular dysfunction. Physiological pacing, including His bundle and left bundle pacing, offers alternatives with fewer complications. We present a 66-year-old male with

IntroductionSARS-COV-2 infection has caused more than one million deaths in the US and significant economic and life expectancy losses [1]. 10-20% of patients infected with SARS-COV-2 develop persistent or new symptoms after acute infection, known as Post covid syndrome. Endothelial dysfunction secondary to vascular inflammation, autoimmunity, residual infection, and persistent inflammation from dysregulated cytokine signature are thought to play a major pathophysiologic role in the development of the syndrome [2]. COVID-19 is known to cause both ANCA-vasculitis and renal disease (tubular and glomerular disease) early during the course of disease and later after the resolution of early infection [3].ANCA (Anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is defined as a necrotizing vasculitis with few or no immune deposits and predominantly affecting small vessels and associated with ANCA positivity for myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) or proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) [4]. Pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (PIGN) is the most common pattern of injury seen with AAV, and more than 85% of PIGN cases have ANCA positivity [5-6]. Few case reports have shown COVID-19 as a potential trigger for AAV, although its exact role in the occurrence of the vasculitis is not completely understood [7, 8]. Here, we report a unique case of MPO-ANCA positive pauci-immune glomerulonephritis in a relatively healthy female post-COVID-19 infection.

Objectives: Impulsivity is considered a core feature of substance use disorders (SUDs). However, the efficacy of evidence-based treatments for SUDs on this dimension remains a topic of debate, especially considering therapeutic community (TC) interventions for severe forms of these clinical conditions. Therefore, the current study aims at investigating pre- posttreatment changes in levels of impulsivity and related psychological dimensions during a 6-month Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training program integrated within a TC (DBT-ST-TC) for individuals with severe SUDs. Methods: Impulsivity were assessed through a self-report measure (UPPS-P) and a neuropsychological battery. There were also evaluated levels of mindfulness (FFMQ, MAAS) emotion dysregulation (DERS) and distress tolerance (DTS). Intention-to-treat analysis controlling for baseline levels was performed. Contrast analyses were also conducted in order to compare results of the DBT-ST-TC group with two control groups (i.e., outpatient treatment-seeking individuals with SUDs; healthy controls [HCs]) Results: Sixty-eight patients with SUDs were admitted to the DBT-ST-TC. The clinical control group included 41 treatment-seeking individuals with SUDs. The HC group was composed of 53 participants. Considering pre- posttreatment changes, DBT-ST-TC patients reported that emotion dysregulation slightly improved as well as positive urgency and sensation seeking. Neuropsychological domain of cognitive disinhibition showed the most robust improvement, especially considering no significant differences between DBT-ST-TC group and HCs at the end of 6-month period of observation. Conclusion: The DBT-ST-TC might be a promising intervention for treating impulsivity among patients with severe SUDs. Future long-term outcomes are needed to corroborate and extent these provisional results.

The complexation of mercury (Hg) with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a pivotal factor influencing transformations, transport, and bioavailability of Hg in aquatic environments. However, identifying these complexes poses a significant challenge because of their exceedingly low concentrations and presence of coexisting ions. In this study, mercury-dissolved organic matter (Hg-DOM) complexes were isolated through solid phase extraction (SPE) from Hg-humic acid suspensions and complexes were putatively identified using ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total Hg analysis before and after SPE showed an increase in DOC:Hg ratio. The DOC:Hg ratio was lower in extracts from cartridges with silica structure bonded with hydrocarbon chains (C18) than priority pollutant cartridges (PPL) cartridges at circumneutral pH, indicating that C18 was more effective at extracting DOM complexed Hg. These results were confirmed with FTICR-MS analysis, where two Hg-DOM complexes were putatively identified from PPL extracts as opposed to nine from C18 (Winnow score >75%). In addition, C 8H 13HgN 2O 2S, a molecular formula with a m/z ratio of 403.04, was identified across three separate extractions using a C18 cartridge, suggesting that the complexes were preserved during extraction and, presumably, electrospray ionization. These results highlight the effectiveness of the methodology developed in this study - SPE coupled with FTICR-MS for isolating and identifying Hg-DOM complexes. This approach allows for the exploration of the elemental and structural composition of Hg-DOM complexes, which affects Hg speciation, bioavailability, and transformations in aquatic ecosystems.

Traumatic aortic and pelvic artery injury successfully treated with emergency TEVAR and vascular embolization: A case reportKanetsugu Nagao1, MD, Shigeyuki Yamashita1, MD, PhD, Kosaku Fuwa1, MD, So Motono1, MD, Norihito Naruto2, MD, Saori Nagura1, MD, PhD, Toshio Doi1, MD, PhD Kazuaki Fukahara1, MD, PhD, Naoki Yoshimura1, MD, PhD1 First Department of Surgery, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan2 Department of Radiology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan

Climate change is increasingly leading to more extreme weather events, such as droughts, which pose significant threats to many water bird species. During the winter season of 2022-2023, Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake, faced its most severe drought on record. This unprecedented event prompted the local government to reaffirm and intensify their proposal for constructing a dam. To evaluate the ecological impact of the drought, we used the White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio) as a case study. By tracking 56 birds with GPS transmitters, we gathered 268,615 valid location data points recorded at hourly intervals. We then developed a model system known as Heterogeneous-Occurrence Species Distribution Models (HOSDMs), which allows for the prediction of habitat suitability while distinguishing between different individual occurrence patterns. This methodology was encapsulated in an R package named migrationR, designed for streamlined analysis. Our findings indicated that the habitat suitability for White-naped Cranes reached its lowest point during this exceptionally dry winter. Reduced water levels forced the cranes to seek alternative habitats, especially shallow water areas for overnight roosting. Regarding the debate on the dam construction, we strongly advocate against an economically driven approach to dam management and instead support an ecologically focused strategy. Ensuring the preservation of the annual flooding cycle should be a fundamental requirement for protecting the habitats of waterbirds.

While the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) is often straightforward and reliant on correlation between genetic testing and clinical signs and symptoms, there is a subset where the distinction is not nearly as clearcut. This has previously been reported in patients identified through newborn screening but not meeting full CF diagnostic criteria, earning the label of CF Screen Positive, Inconclusive Diagnosis (CFSPID) instead. A homologous diagnostic category in adults is named CF Transmembrane Conductance Regulator-Related Disorder (CFTR-RD). Through a retrospective chart review, this study reports on a relatively large adult cohort (n=23) that presented to pulmonology clinic at a single center with intermediate or positive sweat chloride tests but non-diagnostic full CFTR gene analysis. Median sweat chloride result was 48 mmol/L, and a majority of the cohort had chronic lung disease with atypical pathogens on sputum culture, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, non-tuberculous Mycobacteria, Acinetobacter species, amongst others. This clinical picture suggests CFTR dysfunction or similar mechanism in the absence of an identified genetic cause. Alternate chloride channels and their respective genes or candidates of genetic modifiers to the CF-phenotype could be targets of further research in this cohort or similar patients. Such genetic modifiers include loci that have been implicated in inflammation, the CFTR interactome, and/or co-/post-translational modification of CFTR.

The study of the spatial point patterns in ecology, such as the records of the observed locations of trees, shrubs, nests, burrows, or documented animal presence, relies on multivariate point process models. This study aims to compare the efficacy and applicability of two prominent multivariate point process models, the multivariate log Gaussian Cox process (MLGCP) and the Saturated Pairwise Interaction Gibbs Point Process model (SPIGPP) , highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses in various scenarios. Using synthetic and real datasets, we assessed both models based on their predictive accuracy of the empirical K function. Our analysis revealed that both MLGCP and SPIGPP effectively identify and capture mild to moderate attractions and regulations. MLGCP struggles to capture repulsive associations as they intensify. In contrast, SPIGPP can well estimates both the direction and magnitude of interactions even when the model is miss-specified. Both models present unique advantages: MLGCP is particularly effective when there is a need to account for complex, unobserved heterogeneities that vary across space, while SPIGPP is suitable when interactions between points are the primary focus. The choice between these models should be guided by the specific needs of the research question and data characteristics.