Experimental Study for the Sorption and Diffusion of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide into Polyetherimide.

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly fluid and has been used in polymerization reactions, processing, foaming, and plasticizing of polymers. Exploring the behavior and data of SCCO2 sorption and dissolution in polymers provides essential information for polymer applications. This study investigated the sorption and diffusion of SCCO2 into polyetherimide (PEI). The sorption and desorption processes of SCCO2 in PEI samples were measured in the temperature range from 40 to 60 °C, the pressure range from 20 to 40 MPa, and the sorption time from 0.25 to 52 h. This study used the ex situ gravimetric method under different operating conditions and applied the Fickian diffusion model to determine the mass diffusivity of SCCO2 during sorption and desorption processes into and out of PEI. The equilibrium mass gain fraction of SCCO2 into PEI was reported from 9.0 wt% (at 60 °C and 20 MPa) to 12.8 wt% (at 40 °C and 40 MPa). The sorption amount increased with the increasing SCCO2 pressure and decreased with the increasing SCCO2 temperature. This study showed the crossover phenomenon of equilibrium mass gain fraction isotherms with respect to SCCO2 density. Changes in the sorption mechanism in PEI were observed when the SCCO2 density was at approximately 840 kg/m3. This study qualitatively performed FTIR analysis during the SCCO2 desorption process. A CO2 antisymmetric stretching mode was observed near a wavenumber of 2340 cm-1. A comparison of loss modulus measurements of pure and SCCO2-treated PEI specimens showed the shifting of loss maxima. This result showed that the plasticization of PEI was achieved through the sorption process of SCCO2.

Adipocyte maturation impacts daunorubicin disposition and metabolism.

INTRODUCTION: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood leukaemia with effective chemotherapeutic treatment. However, obesity has been associated with higher ALL chemoresistance rates and lower event-free survival rates. The molecular mechanism of how obesity promotes chemotherapy resistance is not well delineated. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of adipocyte maturation on sequestration and metabolism of chemotherapeutic drug daunorubicin (DNR). METHODS: Using targeted LC-MS/MS multi-analyte assay, DNR sequestration and metabolism were studied in human preadipocyte and adipocyte cell lines, where expressions of DNR-metabolizing enzymes aldo-keto reductases (AKR) and carbonyl reductases (CBR) were also evaluated. In addition, to identify the most DNR-metabolizing AKR/CBR isoforms, recombinant human AKR and CBR enzymes were subject to DNR metabolism. The results were further validated by AKR-, CBR-specific inhibitors. RESULTS: This report shows that adipocyte maturation upregulates expressions of AKR and CBR enzymes (by 4- to 60- folds, p < .05), which is positively associated with enhanced sequestration and metabolism of DNR in adipocytes compared to preadipocytes (by ~30%, p < .05). In particular, adipocyte maturation upregulates AKR1C3 and CBR1, which are the predominate metabolic enzyme isoforms responsible for DNR biotransformation to its metabolites. CONCLUSION: Fat is an expandable tissue that can sequester and detoxify DNR when stimulated by obesity, likely through the upregulation of DNR-metabolizing enzymes AKR1C3 and CBR1. Our data partially explains why obese ALL patients may be more likely to become chemoresistant towards DNR, and provides evidence for potential clinical investigation targeting obesity to reduce DNR chemoresistance.

Multi-dimensional signals coupling of simultaneous acquisition stripping current with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for accurate analysis of Cd(II) in coexisting Cu(II).

BACKGROUND: Despite significant advancements in detecting Cd(II) using nanomaterials-modified sensitive interfaces, most detection methods rely solely on a single electrochemical stripping current to indicate concentration. This approach often overlooks potential inaccuracies caused by interference from coexisting ions. Therefore, establishing multi-dimensional signals that accurately reflect Cd(II) concentration in solution is crucial. RESULTS: In this study, we developed a system integrating concentration, electrochemical stripping current, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) characteristic peak intensity through in-situ laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and electrochemical integrated devices. By simultaneously acquiring multi-dimensional signals to dynamically track the electrochemical deposition and stripping processes, we observed that replacement reactions occur between Cu(II) and Cd(II) on the surface of Ru-doped MoS2 modified carbon paper electrodes (Ru-MoS2/CP). These reactions facilitate the oxidation of Cd(0) to Cd(II) during the stripping process, significantly increasing the currents of Cd(II). Remarkably, the ingenious design of the Ru-MoS2 sensitive interface allowed for the undisturbed deposition of Cu(II) and Cd(II) during the electrochemical deposition process. Consequently, our in-situ integrated device achieved accurate detection of Cd(II) in complex environments, boasting a detection sensitivity of 8606.5 counts µM⁻1. SIGNIFICANCE: By coupling multi-dimensional signals from stripping current and LIBS spectra, we revealed the interference process between Cu(II) and Cd(II), providing valuable insights for accurate electrochemical analysis of heavy metal ions in complex water environments.

Application of Reducible Covalent Capture Purification for Resolving Persulfidome and Nucleolin S-Sulfhydration.

Protein S-sulfhydration involves the regulation of various protein functions, and resolving the S-sulfhydrated proteome (persulfidome) allows for a deeper exploration of various redox regulations. Therefore, we designed a reducible covalent capture method for isolating S-sulfhydrated proteins, which can analyze the persulfidome in biological samples and monitor specific S-sulfhydrated proteins. In this study, we applied this method to reveal the S-sulfhydration levels of proteins, including 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase, NFκB/p65, and nucleolin. Furthermore, this technique can be used to enrich S-sulfhydrated peptides, aiding in the determination of protein S-sulfhydration modification sites. Finally, we observed that the S-sulfhydration and oxidation of nucleolin on the C543 residue correlate with its nuclear translocation, downstream regulation of p53, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2 RNA levels and protein expression, as well as the protective function against oxidative stress. Therefore, this method may facilitate the understanding of the regulation of protein function by redox perturbation.

The genetic diversity and evolution analysis of the Hainan melioidosis outbreak strains.

Melioidosis is a zoonotic disease, with its outbreaks being rare and indicative of an unusual concurrence of extreme climate and natural environmental factors. An outbreak of melioidosis cases emerged in Hainan following Typhoon "Dianmu" from October to December 2021, presenting an opportunity to identify the environmental sources of infection for these cases due to its nature as a well-defined point-source cluster. To investigate the relationship between the occurrence of these melioidosis cases and the environment, we extracted the entire genome of 25 clinical strains and conducted MLST typing, followed by whole genome sequencing and analysis of molecular genetic information for four ST46 genotypes from these strains. Phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships between Hainan sequence types (STs) and those found in other endemic regions were analyzed using IslandPath-DIMO, PHASTER, e-BURST, PHYLOViZ, and the maximum likelihood method. Notably, a total of 25 clinical strains were identified, encompassing 12 STs (ST46, ST1105, ST1991, ST30, ST1992, ST50, ST164, ST55, ST70, ST1993, ST1545, and ST58), with ST1991, ST1992, and ST1993 being newly discovered subtypes. PHYLOViZ clustering analysis divided the strains into two groups (A and B), both closely related to the Asian region. Phylogenetic tree analysis further revealed that most of the strains in this study were closely related to those found in Australia and Thailand. Analysis of patient information and visits to their residences suggested that contaminated water sources might be the primary source of infection during this outbreak. Our findings underscore that extreme weather events, such as typhoons, significantly increase the infection rate of B. pseudomallei, along with its genetic diversity, necessitating additional prevention strategies to control these B. pseudomallei infections.

Manufacturing CD20/CD19-targeted iCasp9 regulatable CAR-TSCM cells using a Quantum pBac-based CAR-T engineering system.

CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have driven a paradigm shift in the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. However, >50% of CD19-CAR-T-treated patients experience progressive disease mainly due to antigen escape and low persistence. Clinical prognosis is heavily influenced by CAR-T cell function and systemic cytokine toxicities. Furthermore, it remains a challenge to efficiently, cost-effectively, and consistently manufacture clinically relevant numbers of virally engineered CAR-T cells. Using a highly efficient piggyBac transposon-based vector, Quantum pBac™ (qPB), we developed a virus-free cell-engineering system for development and production of multiplex CAR-T therapies. Here, we demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that consistent, robust and functional CD20/CD19 dual-targeted CAR-T stem cell memory (CAR-TSCM) cells can be efficiently produced for clinical application using qPB™. In particular, we showed that qPB™-manufactured CAR-T cells from cancer patients expanded efficiently, rapidly eradicated tumors, and can be safely controlled via an iCasp9 suicide gene-inducing drug. Therefore, the simplicity of manufacturing multiplex CAR-T cells using the qPB™ system has the potential to improve efficacy and broaden the accessibility of CAR-T therapies.

The dorsal raphe-to-ventral hippocampal projection modulates reactive aggression through 5-HT1B receptors.

Maladaptive reactive aggression is a core symptom of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. While uncontrolled aggression dampens societal safety, there is a limited understanding of the neural regulation involved in reactive aggression and its treatment. High levels of aggression have been linked to low serotonin (5-HT) levels. Additionally, post-weaning socially isolated (SI) mice exhibit outbursts of aggression following encountering acute stress, and hyperactivated ventral hippocampus (vHip) involves this stress-provoked escalated aggression. Here, we investigated the potential role of the raphe nucleus projecting to the vHip in modulating aggressive behavior. Chemogenetically activating the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) soma projecting the vHip or DRN nerve terminals in the vHip reduced reactive aggression. The reduction of attack behavior was abolished by the pretreatment of 5-HT1B receptor antagonist SB-224289. However, activating the median raphe nucleus (MRN)-to-vHip pathway ameliorated depression-like behavior but did not affect reactive aggression. DRN→vHip activation suppressed the vHip downstream area, the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), which is a core aggression area. Intra-vHip infusion of 5-HT1B receptor agonists (anpirtoline, CP-93129) suppressed reactive aggression and decreased c-Fos levels in the vHip neurons projecting to the VMH, suggesting an inhibition mechanism. Our findings indicate that activating the DRN projecting to the vHip is sufficient to inhibit reactive aggression in a 5-HT1B receptor-dependent manner. Thus, targeting 5-HT1B receptor could serve as a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate symptoms of reactive aggression.

Associations between hollow viscus injury and acute kidney injury in blunt abdominal trauma: A national trauma data bank analysis.

PURPOSE: It is well established that hollow viscus perforation leads to sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI) in non-trauma patients. However, the relationship between traumatic hollow viscus injury (HVI) and AKI is not well understood. Utilizing data from the National Trauma Data Bank, we investigated whether HVI serves as a risk factor for AKI. Additionally, we examined the characteristics of AKI in stable patients who underwent conservative treatment. METHODS: We reviewed blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) cases from 2012 to 2015, comparing patients with and without AKI. Significant factors from univariate analysis were tested in a multivariate logistic regression (MLR) to identify independent AKI determinants. We also analyzed subsets: patients without HVI and stable patients given conservative management. RESULTS: Out of the 563,040 BAT patients analyzed, 9073 (1.6%) developed AKI. While a greater proportion of AKI patients had HVI than those without AKI (13.3% vs. 5.2%, p < 0.001), this difference wasn't statistically significant in the MLR (p = 0.125). Notably, the need for laparotomy (odds = 3.108, p < 0.001) and sepsis (odds = 13.220, p < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for AKI. For BAT patients managed conservatively (systolic blood pressure >90 mmHg, without HVI or laparotomy; N = 497,066), the presence of sepsis was a significant predictor for the development of AKI (odds = 16.914, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While HVI wasn't a significant risk factor for AKI in BAT patients, the need for laparotomy was. Stable BAT patients managed conservatively are still at risk for AKI due to non-peritonitis related sepsis.

Instruments for evaluating the parental emotional status and ecological support systems among parents who considered cochlear implantation for their children with hearing loss: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Parents of children diagnosed with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss may experience a range of emotions owing to a lack of knowledge and experience in dealing with such children. However, most audiology clinics only attend to children with deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) and not their parents. Thus, parents' emotional and support needs are frequently excluded from the intervention sessions, making their own needs invisible. This study aimed to identify academic and clinical instruments used for assessing parental emotional status (PES) and ecological support systems (ESS) in early intervention and determine the factors affecting PES and ESS among parents of DHH children undergoing cochlear implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This scoping review followed the rigorous methodological framework; searched Medline (via OVID and EMBSCO), Scopus, and Web of Science; and selected studies relevant to validated instruments used to evaluate the PES and ESS among parents of DHH children below 6 years old. Before selecting and reviewing relevant articles, two reviewers independently assessed article titles and abstracts from the data sources. Two reviewers verified half of the first reviewer's extracted data. RESULTS: Overall, 3060 articles were retrieved from the database search, and 139 were selected for full-text review following title and abstract reviews. Ultimately, this study included 22 articles. Among them, 23 and 12 validated instruments, most of which are generic measures, were used for assessing PES and ESS, respectively. Three condition-specific instruments were identified and designed to be administered following cochlear implantation surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that healthcare professionals who interact with parents of DHH children lack the necessary instruments, particularly for parents of children undergoing cochlear implantation surgery. Therefore, it is necessary to develop condition-specific instruments for parents who consider cochlear implantation for their children.

Covalent versus noncovalent attachments of [FeFe]­hydrogenase models onto carbon nanotubes for aqueous hydrogen evolution reaction.

In an effort to develop the biomimetic chemistry of [FeFe]­hydrogenases for catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in aqueous environment, we herein report the integrations of diiron dithiolate complexes into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through three different strategies and compare the electrochemical HER performances of the as-resulted 2Fe2S/CNT hybrids in neutral aqueous medium. That is, three new diiron dithiolate complexes [{(µ-SCH2)2N(C6H4CH2C(O)R)}Fe2(CO)6] (R = N-oxylphthalimide (1), NHCH2pyrene (2), and NHCH2Ph (3)) were prepared and could be further grafted covalently to CNTs via an amide bond (this 2Fe2S/CNT hybrid is labeled as H1) as well as immobilized noncovalently to CNTs via π-π stacking interaction (H2) or via simple physisorption (H3). Meanwhile, the molecular structures of 1-3 are determined by elemental analysis and spectroscopic as well as crystallographic techniques, whereas the structures and morphologies of H1-H3 are characterized by various spectroscopies and scanning electronic microscopy. Further, the electrocatalytic HER activity trend of H1 > H2 ≈ H3 is observed in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7) through different electrochemical measurements, whereas the degradation processes of H1-H3 lead to their electrocatalytic deactivation in the long-term electrolysis as proposed by post operando analysis. Thus, this work is significant to extend the potential application of carbon electrode materials engineered with diiron molecular complexes as heterogeneous HER electrocatalysts for water splitting to hydrogen.

Se-dopant Modulated Selective Co-Insertion of H+ and Zn2+ in MnO2 for High-Capacity and Durable Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries.

MnO2 is commonly used as the cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). The strong Coulombic interaction between Zn ions and the MnO2 lattice causes significant lattice distortion and, combined with the Jahn-Teller effect, results in Mn2+ dissolution and structural collapse. While proton intercalation can reduce lattice distortion, it changes the electrolyte pH, producing chemically inert byproducts. These issues greatly affect the reversibility of Zn2+ intercalation/extraction, leading to significant capacity degradation of MnO2. Herein, we propose a novel method to enhance the cycling stability of δ-MnO2 through selenium doping (Se-MnO2). Our work indicates that varying the selenium doping content can regulate the intercalation ratio of H+ in MnO2, thereby suppressing the formation of ZnMn2O4 by-products. Se doping mitigates the lattice strain of MnO2 during Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation by reducing Mn-O octahedral distortion, modifying Mn-O bond length upon Zn2+ insertion, and alleviating Mn dissolution caused by the Jahn-Teller effect. The optimized Se-MnO2 (Se concentration of 0.8 at.%) deposited on carbon nanotube demonstrates a notable capacity of 386 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, with exceptional long-term cycle stability, retaining 102 mAh g-1 capacity after 5000 cycles at 3.0 A g-1.

Supramolecular assemblies derived from methyl-substituted cucurbit[5]uril and lanthanide nitrates.

Interaction of the lanthanide nitrates M(NO3)3 (M = Gd, Eu) with methylcucurbit[5]uril (Me10Q[5]) in the presence of transition metal chlorides (ZnCl2 and FeCl3) in acidic media resulted in the isolation of the complexes [Me10Q[5]Gd(H2O)2Cl Gd(H2O)6](ZnCl4)2∙Cl∙8.9H2O (1) and [Me10Q[5]Eu(H2O)3Cl(H3O)](FeCl4)3 (2). The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, and reveal discrete complexes which are involved in dense stacking with adjacent Me10Q[5]s linked via H-bonding and/or metal anions resulting in a supramolecular assembly.

The processed Euphorbia lathyris L. alleviates the inflammatory injury via regulating LXRα/ABCA1 expression and TLR4 positioning to lipid rafts.

Euphorbia lathyris L. (EL) is a traditional poisonous herbal medicine used to treat dropsy, ascites, amenorrhea, anuria and constipation. Processing to reduce toxicity of EL is essential for its safe and effective application. However, there is little known regarding the molecular mechanism of reducing toxicity after EL processing. This research aimed to screen the differential markers for EL and PEL, explore the differential mechanisms of inflammatory injury induced by EL and processed EL (PEL) to expound the mechanism of alleviating toxicity after EL processing. The results showed that 15 potential biomarkers, mainly belonging to diterpenoids, were screened to distinguish EL from PEL. EL promoted the expressions of TLR4, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, IL-1ß and TNF-α, increased lipid rafts abundance and promoted TLR4 positioning to lipid rafts. Meanwhile, EL decreased LXRα and ABCA1 expression, and reduced cholesterol efflux. In contrast to EL, the effects of PEL on these indicators were markedly weakened. In addition, Euphorbia factors L1, L2, and L3 affected LXRα, ABCA1, TLR4, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-1ß expression, influenced cholesterol efflux and lipid rafts abundance, and interfered with the colocalization of TLR4 and lipid rafts. The inflammatory injury caused by processed EL was significantly weaker than that caused by crude EL, and reduction of Euphorbia factors L1, L2, and L3 as well as attenuation of inflammatory injury participated in processing-based detoxification of EL. Our results provide valuable insights into the attenuated mechanism of EL processing and will guide future research on the processing mechanism of toxic traditional Chinese medicine.

Point mutation P174L of the penA gene endowing ceftazidime resistance to Burkholderia pseudomallei in China.

In a clinical isolate of Burkholderia pseudomallei from Hainan, the association between the emergence of ceftazidime resistance and a novel PenA P174L allele was identified for the first time, providing an understanding of one mechanism by which ceftazidime resistance arises in B. pseudomallei.

Accuracy and feasibility in building a personalized 3D printed femoral pseudoaneurysm model for endovascular training.

BACKGROUND: The use of three-dimensional(3D) printing is broadly across many medical specialties. It is an innovative, and rapidly growing technology to produce custom anatomical models and medical conditions models for medical teaching, surgical planning, and patient education. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of 3D printing in creating a superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm model based on CT scans for endovascular training. METHODS: A case of a left superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm was selected, and the 3D model was created using DICOM files imported into Materialise Mimics 22.0 and Materialise 3-Matic software, then printed using vat polymerization technology. Two 3D-printed models were created, and a series of comparisons were conducted between the 3D segmented images from CT scans and these two 3D-printed models. Ten comparisons involving internal diameters and angles of the specific anatomical location were measured. RESULTS: The study found that the absolute mean difference in diameter between the 3D segmented images and the 3D printed models was 0.179±0.145 mm and 0.216±0.143mm, respectively, with no significant difference between the two sets of models. Additionally, the absolute mean difference in angle was 0.99±0.65° and 1.00±0.91°, respectively, and the absolute mean difference in angle between the two sets of data was not significant. Bland-Altman analysis confirmed a high correlation in dimension measurements between the 3D-printed models and segmented images. Furthermore, the accuracy of a 3D-printed femoral pseudoaneurysm model was further tested through the simulation of a superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm coiling procedure using the Philips Azurion7 in the angiography room. CONCLUSIONS: 3D printing is a reliable technique for producing a high accuracy 3D anatomical model that closely resemble a patient's anatomy based on CT images. Additionally, 3D printing is a feasible and viable option for use in endovascular training and medical education. In general, 3D printing is an encouraging technology with diverse possibilities in medicine, including surgical planning, medical education, and medical device advancement.

Effects of acute and chronic heat stress on the rumen microbiome in dairy goats.

Objective: The objective of this study was to reveal the influence of acute and chronic heat stress (HS) on the abundance and function of rumen microbiome and host metabolism. Methods: The forty mid-lactation goats were randomly divided into two artificial environments a control group and a heat-stressed group. This study was collected from two periods, 1 day and 28 days. The first day was defined as control 1 (CT1) and HS 1 (acute HS), and the last day was defined as CT28 and HS28 (chronic HS). On the first and last day, 6 dairy goats in each group were randomly selected to collect rumen liquid after the morning feeding through oral stomach tubes. The barn temperature and humidity were recorded every day. Results: Disruption of the rumen microbiome was observed under chronic HS, represented by an increase in the abundance of Prevotella and Bacteroidales (p<0.05), and upregulation of carbohydrate transport and metabolism functions (p<0.05). Additionally, the abundance of Succinimonas and Ruminobacter in chronic HS is lower than in acute HS (p<0.05), and the functions of intracellular trafficking, secretion and vesicular transport, and the cytoskeleton were downregulated (p<0.05). Conclusion: HS affected the interaction between the microbiota and host, thereby regulating milk production in dairy goats. These findings increased understanding of the crosstalk between hosts and microorganisms.

Enhancing the Strength and Ductility Synergy of Lightweight Ti-Rich Medium-Entropy Alloys through Ni Microalloying.

Medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) have attracted considerable attention in recent decades due to their exceptional material properties and design flexibility. In this study, lightweight and non-equiatomic MEAs with low density (~5 g/cm3), high strength (yield strength: 1200 MPa), and high ductility (plastic deformation: ≧10%) were explored. We fine-tuned a previously developed Ti-rich MEA by microalloying it with small amounts of Ni (reducing the atomic radius and increasing the elastic modulus) through solid solution strengthening to achieve a series of MEAs with enhanced mechanical properties. Among the prepared MEAs, Ti65Ni1 and Ti65Ni3 exhibited optimal properties in terms of the balance between strength and ductility. Furthermore, the Ti65Ni3 MEA was subjected to thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) followed by cold rolling 70% (CR70) and cold rolling 85% (CR85). Subsequently, the processed samples were rapidly annealed at 743 °C, 770 °C, 817 °C, and 889 °C at a heating rate of 15 °C/s. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the MEA could retain its single-body-centered cubic solid solution structure after TMT. Additionally, the tensile testing results revealed that increasing the annealing temperature led to a decrease in yield strength and an increase in ductility. Notably, the Ti65Ni3 MEA sample that was subjected to CR70 and CR85 processing and annealed for 30 s exhibited high yield strength (>1250 MPa) and ductility (>13%). In particular, the Ti65Ni3 MEA subjected to CR85 exhibited a specific yield strength of 264 MPa·cm3/g, specific tensile strength of 300 MPa·cm3/g, and ductility of >13%.

Impact of Hearing Aids on Language Outcomes in Preschool Children With Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss.

This study aimed to investigate the role of hearing aid (HA) usage in language outcomes among preschool children aged 3-5 years with mild bilateral hearing loss (MBHL). The data were retrieved from a total of 52 children with MBHL and 30 children with normal hearing (NH). The association between demographical, audiological factors and language outcomes was examined. Analyses of variance were conducted to compare the language abilities of HA users, non-HA users, and their NH peers. Furthermore, regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of language outcomes. Aided better ear pure-tone average (BEPTA) was significantly correlated with language comprehension scores. Among children with MBHL, those who used HA outperformed the ones who did not use HA across all linguistic domains. The language skills of children with MBHL were comparable to those of their peers with NH. The degree of improvement in audibility in terms of aided BEPTA was a significant predictor of language comprehension. It is noteworthy that 50% of the parents expressed reluctance regarding HA use for their children with MBHL. The findings highlight the positive impact of HA usage on language development in this population. Professionals may therefore consider HAs as a viable treatment option for children with MBHL, especially when there is a potential risk of language delay due to hearing loss. It was observed that 25% of the children with MBHL had late-onset hearing loss. Consequently, the implementation of preschool screening or a listening performance checklist is recommended to facilitate early detection.

Cross-modal digit span and vocabulary proficiency in deaf or hard-of-hearing children.

This study aims to examine the relationship between vocabulary proficiency and short-term memory capacity in deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) children. We test the hypothesis that the relationship between vocabulary skills and digit span performance could be strengthened when the digit span task encompasses cross-modal integration processes. A group of DHH children performed two types of auditory digit span tasks. Furthermore, they participated in a standardized vocabulary proficiency test, comprising two subtests: Receptive Vocabulary and Expressive Vocabulary. The verbal digit span served as a significant predictor of Expressive Vocabulary among the DHH children. Simultaneously, the auditory-pointing digit span accounted for a substantial portion of performance variation in both Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary. After considering the impact of the duration of auditory-verbal intervention through regression models, likelihood ratio tests demonstrated that the auditory-pointing digit span persisted as a significant determinant of both receptive and expressive vocabulary skills. A positive influence of the intervention was also confirmed by the present results. This study provides evidence that memory span and the ability to integrate cross-modal information could serve as significant cognitive correlates of vocabulary proficiency in DHH children.

Highly Stable Solid Contact Calcium Ion-Selective Electrodes: Rapid Ion-Electron Transduction Triggered by Lipophilic Anions Participating in Redox Reactions of CunS Nanoflowers.

Solid contact (SC) calcium ion-selective electrodes (Ca2+-ISEs) have been widely applied in the analysis of water quality and body fluids by virtue of the unique advantages of easy operation and rapid response. However, the potential drift during the long-term stability test hinders their further practical applications. Designing novel redox SC layers with large capacitance and high hydrophobicity is a promising approach to stabilize the potential stability, meanwhile, exploring the transduction mechanism is also of great guiding significance for the precise design of SC layer materials. Herein, flower-like copper sulfide (CunS-50) composed of nanosheets is meticulously designed as the redox SC layer by modification with the surfactant (CTAB). The CunS-50-based Ca2+-ISE (CunS-50/Ca2+-ISE) demonstrates a near-Nernstian slope of 28.23 mV/dec for Ca2+ in a wide activity linear range of 10-7 to 10-1 M, with a low detection limit of 3.16 × 10-8 M. CunS-50/Ca2+-ISE possesses an extremely low potential drift of only 1.23 ± 0.13 µV/h in the long-term potential stability test. Notably, X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) spectra and electrochemical experiments are adopted to elucidate the transduction mechanism that the lipophilic anion (TFPB-) participates in the redox reaction of CunS-50 at the solid-solid interface of ion-selective membrane (ISM) and redox inorganic SC layer (CunS-50), thereby promoting the generation of free electrons to accelerate ion-electron transduction. This work provides an in-depth comprehension of the transduction mechanism of the potentiometric response and an effective strategy for designing redox materials of ion-electron transduction triggered by lipophilic anions.