UBE2C as an Immune-Related Biomarker for Breast Cancer: A Study Based on Multiple Databases.

Objective To screen the target gene UBE2C and explore its prognostic value and immune correlation in breast cancer (BRCA) using multiple databases. Methods The microarray expression datasets of BRCA were downloaded from the Gene Expresssion Omnibus database (GEO) and analyzed to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Hub genes were obtained by constructing and visualizing the protein-protein interaction network of DEGs. Then the key gene UBE2C was determined using R language, STRING, and Cytoscape, and the differential expression of UBE2C was verified using the external datasets, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) , and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The prognostic value and immunological correlation of UBE2C in BRCA were explored using R language, TIMER, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA).Results The expression of UBE2C was differentially upregulated in BRCA, as verified by TCGA and qRT-PCR. Prognostic analysis revealed that UBE2C served as an independent prognostic factor. High expression of UBE2C was associated with decreased immune infiltration levels of B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and myeloid dendritic cells in BRCA tissue. The expression of UBE2C in BRCA showed a significant correlation with PDCD1, CD274, and CTLA4 expressions. There was a positive correlation between the expression of UBE2C and the tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability. GSEA demonstrated that UBE2C expression significantly enriched 786 immune-related gene sets.Conclusions UBE2C expression in BRCA tissues can predict the survivals and prognosis of BRCA patients. Also, it is closely related to the BRCA immune microenvironment and can predict the effecacy of immunotherapy in BRCA patients. Therefore, UBE2C may be an potential immune-related prognostic biomarker for BRCA.

Efficient electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO enhanced by the synergistic effect of N,P on carbon aerogel.

A metal-free catalyst, N,P-codoped carbon aerogel, was used to realize the high efficiency reduction of CO2 to CO. Therein, the pyridinic N acts as the active center to activate and reduce CO2 and the atom of P acts as the "transition atom" of the proton to reduce the free energy barrier from *CO2 to *COOH.

How does diagnosis-related group payment impact the health care received by rural residents? Lessons learned from China.

OBJECTIVES: There is growing evidence that differences exist between rural and urban residents in terms of health, access to care and the quality of health care received, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To improve health equity and the performance of health systems, a diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system has been introduced in many LMICs to reduce financial risk and improve the quality of health care. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of DRG payments on the health care received by rural residents in China, and to help policymakers identify and design implementation strategies for DRG payment systems for rural residents in LMICs. STUDY DESIGN: Health impact assessment. METHODS: This study compared the impact of DRG payments on the healthcare received by rural residents in China between the pre- and post-reform periods by applying a difference-in-difference (DID) methodology. The study population included individuals with three common conditions; namely, cerebral infarction, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). Data on patient medical insurance type were assessed, and those who did not have rural insurance were excluded. RESULTS: This study included 13,088 patients. In total, 33.63% were from Guangdong (n = 4401), 38.21% were from Shandong (n = 5002), and 28.16% were from Guangxi (n = 3685). The DID results showed that the implementation of DRGs was positively associated with hospitalization expense (ß4 = 0.265, P = 0.000), treatment expense (ß4 = 0.343, P = 0.002), drug expense (ß4 = 0.607, P = 0.000), the spending of medical insurance funds (ß4 = 0.711, P = 0.000) and out-of-pocket costs (ß4 = 0.164, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that the implementation of DRG payments increases health care costs and the financial burden on health systems and rural patients in LMICs. This is contrary to the original intention of implementing the DRG payment system.

CD3, CD8, IFN-γ, tumor and stroma inflammatory cells as prognostic indicators for surgically resected SCLC: evidences from a 10-year retrospective study and immunohistochemical analysis.

Current clinical guidelines limit surgical intervention to patients with cT1-2N0M0 small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Our objective was to reassess the role of surgery in SCLC management, and explore novel prognostic indicators for surgically resected SCLC. We reviewed all patients diagnosed with SCLC from January 2011 to April 2021 in our institution. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and independent prognostic factors were assessed through the Cox proportional hazard model. In addition, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to evaluate the predictive value of selected indicators in the prognosis of surgically resected SCLC patients. In the study, 177 SCLC patients undergoing surgical resection were ultimately included. Both univariate and multivariate Cox analysis revealed that incomplete postoperative adjuvant therapy emerged as an independent risk factor for adverse prognosis (p < 0.001, HR 2.96). Survival analysis revealed significantly superior survival among pN0-1 patients compared to pN2 patients (p < 0.0001). No significant difference in postoperative survival was observed between pN1 and pN0 patients (p = 0.062). Patients with postoperative stable disease (SD) exhibited lower levels of tumor inflammatory cells (TIC) (p = 0.0047) and IFN-γ expression in both area and intensity (p < 0.0001 and 0.0091, respectively) compared to those with postoperative progressive disease (PD). Conversely, patients with postoperative SD showed elevated levels of stromal inflammatory cells (SIC) (p = 0.0453) and increased counts of CD3+ and CD8+ cells (p = 0.0262 and 0.0330, respectively). Survival analysis indicated that high levels of SIC, along with low levels of IFN-γ+ cell area within tumor tissue, may correlate positively with improved prognosis in surgically resected SCLC (p = 0.017 and 0.012, respectively). In conclusion, the present study revealed that the patients with pT1-2N1M0 staging were a potential subgroup of SCLC patients who may benefit from surgery. Complete postoperative adjuvant therapy remains an independent factor promoting a better prognosis for SCLC patients undergoing surgical resection. Moreover, CD3, CD8, IFN-γ, TIC, and SIC may serve as potential indicators for predicting the prognosis of surgically resected SCLC.

Overcoming one-sidedness in cadre personnel management: Developing a competency framework for China's central state-owned enterprise executives.

China's central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are politically and economically significant, and executives play a crucial role in determining their performance. In a competitive business environment, the selection and competencies of central SOE executives are crucial. This study aims to identify the competencies required to operate central SOEs and develops a competency framework for their executives. Through qualitative studies (face-to-face interviews and Delphi method) and two quantitative studies, we identify four dimensions-self-development, interpersonal, positional and organizational development-comprising 12 factors and 45 competencies, and use these to construct a competency framework. The competencies identified include some previously identified, but also unique competencies that are specific to the Chinese context. The proposed framework is valuable for understanding and improving managerial practices in central SOEs, and will help in the selection and development of executives. It also provides insights for central SOEs, and for individuals considering career and competency development.

Mitigating Strain Accumulation in Li2RuO3 via Fluorine Doping.

Lithium ruthenium oxide (Li2RuO3) is an archetypal lithium rich cathode material (LRCM) with both cation and anion redox reactions (ARRs). Commonly, the instability of oxygen redox activities has been regarded as the root cause of its performance degradation in long-term operation. However, we find that not triggering ARRs does not improve and even worsens its cyclability due to the detrimental strain accumulation induced by Ru redox activities. To solve this problem, we demonstrate that F-doping in Li2RuO3 can alter its preferential orientation and buffer interlayer repulsion upon Ru redox, both of which can mitigate the strain accumulation along the c-axis and improve its structural stability. This work highlights the importance of optimizing cation redox reactions in LRCMs and provides a new perspective for their rational design.

Electrochemically-driven actuators: from materials to mechanisms and from performance to applications.

Soft actuators, pivotal for converting external energy into mechanical motion, have become increasingly vital in a wide range of applications, from the subtle engineering of soft robotics to the demanding environments of aerospace exploration. Among these, electrochemically-driven actuators (EC actuators), are particularly distinguished by their operation through ion diffusion or intercalation-induced volume changes. These actuators feature notable advantages, including precise deformation control under electrical stimuli, freedom from Carnot efficiency limitations, and the ability to maintain their actuated state with minimal energy use, akin to the latching state in skeletal muscles. This review extensively examines EC actuators, emphasizing their classification based on diverse material types, driving mechanisms, actuator configurations, and potential applications. It aims to illuminate the complicated driving mechanisms of different categories, uncover their underlying connections, and reveal the interdependencies among materials, mechanisms, and performances. We conduct an in-depth analysis of both conventional and emerging EC actuator materials, casting a forward-looking lens on their trajectories and pinpointing areas ready for innovation and performance enhancement strategies. We also navigate through the challenges and opportunities within the field, including optimizing current materials, exploring new materials, and scaling up production processes. Overall, this review aims to provide a scientifically robust narrative that captures the current state of EC actuators and sets a trajectory for future innovation in this rapidly advancing field.

Single body-coupled fiber enables chipless textile electronics.

Intelligent textiles provide an ideal platform for merging technology into daily routines. However, current textile electronic systems often rely on rigid silicon components, which limits seamless integration, energy efficiency, and comfort. Chipless electronic systems still face digital logic challenges owing to the lack of dynamic energy-switching carriers. We propose a chipless body-coupled energy interaction mechanism for ambient electromagnetic energy harvesting and wireless signal transmission through a single fiber. The fiber itself enables wireless visual-digital interactions without the need for extra chips or batteries on textiles. Because all of the electronic assemblies are merged in a miniature fiber, this facilitates scalable fabrication and compatibility with modern weaving techniques, thereby enabling versatile and intelligent clothing. We propose a strategy that may address the problems of silicon-based textile systems.

Clinicopathological factors predict residual lymph node metastasis in locally advanced rectal cancer with ypT0-2 after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Residual lymph node metastases (RLNM) remained a great concern in the implementation of organ-preserving strategies and led to poor prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In this study, we aimed to identify the clinicopathological factors correlated with RLNM in LARC patients with ypT0-2 after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 417 patients histologically diagnosed middle-low LARC after NCRT and total mesorectal excision (TME), whose pathological staging was ypT0-2. All patients received pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before NCRT. The radiation doses were 50-50.6 Gy for the planning gross tumor volume and 41.8-45 Gy for the planning target volume, respectively. A nomogram for predicting RLNM was constructed using a binary logistic regression. Nomogram performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC). RESULTS: After surgery, 191 patients (45.8%) were ypT0, 43 patients (10.3%) were ypT1 and 183 patients (43.9%) were ypT2, and a total of 49 patients (11.8%) were found the presence of RLNM. Multivariable analyses identified MRI-defined mesorectal fascia (MRF)-positive, high-grade histopathology at biopsy, advanced ypT-category, and the presence of perineural invasion (PNI) as the predictive factors. The nomogram, incorporating all these predictors, showed good discrimination and calibration efficacy, with the areas under the ROC curve of 0.690 (95% CI: 0.610-0.771). Both DCA and CIC demonstrated that this nomogram has good clinical usefulness. CONCLUSION: The nomogram model can predict RLNM in patients with ypT0-2 tumors. It can help select suitable patients for performing organ-preserving strategies after NCRT.

The ypT may better predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy than tumor regression grade in locally advanced rectal cancer patients diagnosed ypT1-4N0 / El ypT puede predecir mejor la eficacia de la quimiorradioterapia neoadyuvante que el grado de regresión tumoral en pacientes con cáncer de recto localmente avanzado diagnosticados ypT1-4N0

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of ypT stage and tumor regression grade (TRG) on the long-term prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) stage ypT1-4N0 after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 585 patients with histologically diagnosed middle-low LARC (cT3-4 or cN + by pelvic MRI) from 2014 to 2019. All patients underwent NCRT, followed by total mesorectal excision. Disease-free survival (DFS) rates were compared among patients with different ypT stages and TRGs by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. The chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between clinicopathological or therapeutic factors and ypT stage. Results: The median follow‐up was 35.8 months (range 2.8–71.8 months). The 3-year DFS was 79.5%. A better 3-year DFS was achieved in patients with a pathologic complete response (94.0% vs. 74.3%, p < 0.001) and those in the ypT0-2 (86.5% vs. 66.6%, p < 0.001), ypN0 (85.0% vs. 60.2%, p < 0.001), and TRG0 + 1 (83.1% vs. 73.0%, p = 0.004) subgroups. A total of 309 patients (52.8%) achieved stage ypT1-4N0 after surgery. Among these patients, the ypT1-2N0 subgroup achieved a significantly higher 3-year DFS than the ypT3-4N0 subgroup (85.4% vs. 72.8%, p = 0.018); in contrast, the 3-year DFS did not significantly differ between the TRG1 and TRG2 + 3 subgroups (79.9% vs. 81.1%, p = 0.833). In the ypT1-2N0 or ypT3-4N0 subgroup, different TRG had no significant effect on failure patterns. Conclusions: For LARC patients with a ypT1-4N0 status after NCRT, ypT stage may be a more effective predictor of long-term prognosis than TRG.(AU)

Impact of iodinated oil in proton therapy on relative stopping power of liver post-cTACE.

Objective. Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is a common treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), often with unsatisfactory local controls. Combining cTACE with radiotherapy shows a promise for unresectable large HCC, with proton therapy preserving healthy liver tissue. However, the proton therapy benefits are subject to the accuracy of tissue relative stopping power (RSP) prediction. The RSP values are typically derived from computed tomography (CT) images using stoichiometric calibration. Lipiodol deposition significantly increases CT numbers in liver regions of post-cTACE. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the accuracy of RSP in liver regions of post-cTACE.Approach. Liver, water, and iodinated oil samples were prepared. Some liver samples contained iodinated oil. The water equivalent path length (WEPL) of sample was measured through the pullbacks of spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) depth-dose profiles scanned in a water tank with and without sample in the beam path. Measured RSP values were compared to estimated RSP values derived from the CT number based on the stoichiometric calibration method.Main results. The measured RSP of water was 0.991, confirming measurement system calibration. After removing the RSP contribution from container walls, the pure iodinated oil and liver samples had RSP values of 1.12 and 1.06, while the liver samples mixed with varying oil volumes (5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml) showed RSP values of 1.05, 1.05 and 1.06. Using the stoichiometric calibration method, pure iodinated oil and liver samples had RSP values of 2.79 and 1.06. Liver samples mixed with iodinated oil (5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml) had calculated RSP values of 1.21, 1.34, and 1.46. The RSP discrepancy reached 149.1% for pure iodinated oil.Significance.Iodinated oil notably raises CT numbers in liver tissue. However, there is almost no effect on its RSP value. Proton treatment of post-cTACE HCC patients can therefore be overshooting if no proper measures are taken against this specific effect.

Astragaloside IV Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Inhibiting Cardiomyocyte Pyroptosis through the SIRT1/NLRP3 Pathway.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a powerful anthracycline antineoplastic drug used to treat a wide spectrum of tumors. However, its clinical application is limited due to cardiotoxic side effects. Astragaloside IV (AS IV), one of the major compounds present in aqueous extracts of Astragalus membranaceus, possesses potent cardiovascular protective properties, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of AS IV on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Our findings revealed that DOX induced pyroptosis through the caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) and caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME) pathways. AS IV treatment significantly improved the cardiac function and alleviated myocardial injury in DOX-exposed mice by regulating intestinal flora and inhibiting pyroptosis; markedly suppressed the levels of cleaved caspase-1, N-GSDMD, cleaved caspase-3, and N-GSDME; and reversed DOX-induced downregulation of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and activation of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in mice. The SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 significantly blocked the protective effects of AS IV. Collectively, our results suggest that AS IV protects against DIC by inhibiting pyroptosis through the SIRT1/NLRP3 pathway.

AMPK inhibition sensitizes acute leukemia cells to BH3 mimetic-induced cell death.

BH3 mimetics, including the BCL2/BCLXL/BCLw inhibitor navitoclax and MCL1 inhibitors S64315 and tapotoclax, have undergone clinical testing for a variety of neoplasms. Because of toxicities, including thrombocytopenia after BCLXL inhibition as well as hematopoietic, hepatic and possible cardiac toxicities after MCL1 inhibition, there is substantial interest in finding agents that can safely sensitize neoplastic cells to these BH3 mimetics. Building on the observation that BH3 mimetic monotherapy induces AMP kinase (AMPK) activation in multiple acute leukemia cell lines, we report that the AMPK inhibitors (AMPKis) dorsomorphin and BAY-3827 sensitize these cells to navitoclax or MCL1 inhibitors. Cell fractionation and phosphoproteomic analyses suggest that sensitization by dorsomorphin involves dephosphorylation of the proapoptotic BCL2 family member BAD at Ser75 and Ser99, leading BAD to translocate to mitochondria and inhibit BCLXL. Consistent with these results, BAD knockout or mutation to BAD S75E/S99E abolishes the sensitizing effects of dorsomorphin. Conversely, dorsomorphin synergizes with navitoclax or the MCL1 inhibitor S63845 to induce cell death in primary acute leukemia samples ex vivo and increases the antitumor effects of navitoclax or S63845 in several xenograft models in vivo with little or no increase in toxicity in normal tissues. These results suggest that AMPK inhibition can sensitize acute leukemia to multiple BH3 mimetics, potentially allowing administration of lower doses while inducing similar antineoplastic effects.

A model that predicts a real-time tumour surface using intra-treatment skin surface and end-of-expiration and end-of-inhalation planning CT images.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a mapping model between skin surface motion and internal tumour motion and deformation using end-of-exhalation (EOE) and end-of-inhalation (EOI) 3D CT images for tracking lung tumours during respiration. METHODS: Before treatment, skin and tumour surfaces were segmented and reconstructed from the EOE and the EOI 3D CT images. A non-rigid registration algorithm was used to register the EOE skin and tumour surfaces to the EOI, resulting in a displacement vector field that was then used to construct a mapping model. During treatment, the EOE skin surface was registered to the real-time, yielding a real-time skin surface displacement vector field. Using the mapping model generated, the input of a real-time skin surface can be used to calculate the real-time tumour surface. The proposed method was validated with and without simulated noise on 4D CT images from 15 patients at Léon Bérard Cancer Center and the 4D-lung dataset. RESULTS: The average centre position error, dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 95%-Hausdorff distance and mean distance to agreement of the tumour surfaces were 1.29 mm, 0.924, 2.76 mm, and 1.13 mm without simulated noise, respectively. With simulated noise, these values were 1.33 mm, 0.920, 2.79 mm, and 1.15 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-specific model was proposed and validated that was constructed using only EOE and EOI 3D CT images and real-time skin surface images to predict internal tumour motion and deformation during respiratory motion. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The proposed method achieves comparable accuracy to state-of-the-art methods with fewer pre-treatment planning CT images, which holds potential for application in precise image-guided radiation therapy.

Effects of Glutamine Synthetase on Neovascularization in Glioma: In Vivo MR Vessel Size Imaging and Histology.

BACKGROUND: Glutamine Synthetase (GS) could induce vascular sprouting through the improvement of endothelial cell migration in inflammatory diseases. MR vessel-size imaging has been proposed as a valuable approach for visualizing the underlying angiogenic processes in the brain. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the role of GS in the neovascularization of gliomas through the utilization of MR vessel-size imaging and histopathological techniques. METHODS: In this exploratory animal study, we randomly divided the C6 glioma rat models into a control group and an L-methionine sulfoximine (MSO) treatment group. Daily intraperitoneal injections were administered for three consecutive days, starting from day 10 following the implantation of C6 glioma cells in rats. Subsequently, MR vessel size imaging was conducted using a BRUKER 7 T/200 mm MRI scanner, and the MRI results were validated through histopathological examination. RESULTS: A significant decrease in microvessel density was observed in both the tumor periphery and center areas in the MSO treatment group compared to that in the control group. The mean vessel diameter (mVD) and vessel size index (VSI) did not exhibit significant changes compared to the control group. Moreover, the staining intensity of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) and GS in the tumor periphery was significantly decreased in the MSO treatment group. Additionally, the MSO treatment demonstrated a substantial inhibition of tumor growth. CONCLUSION: GS inhibitors significantly reduced angiogenesis in the periphery area of C6 glioma, exerting an inhibitory effect on tumor progression. Thus, GS inhibitors could be potential therapeutic agents for treating glioma. Additionally, in vivo MR vessel size imaging detects changes in vascularrelated parameters after tumor treatment, making it a promising method for detecting neovascularization in glioma.

The chemokine CCL20 can assist AFP in serological diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The chemokine 20 (CCL20) is a member of the CC chemokine family and plays a role in tumor immunity and autoimmune disease. This work investigated the value of CCL20 as a serum diagnostic marker for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on the data of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in the TCGA database, the up-regulated genes encoding secretory proteins were analyzed in each pathological stage, and the candidate marker CCL20 gene was selected. Serum concentrations of CCL20 in patients with primary HCC, benign liver disease, and healthy subjects were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ROC curve evaluated the efficacy of CCL20 alone or in combination with AFP in the diagnosis of HCC. It was found the expression of CCL20 in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in the benign liver disease group and healthy controls (P < 0.05); The AUC of ROC curve to distinguish HCC patients from healthy controls was 0.859, the sensitivity was 73.42%, and the specificity was 86.84%. After combination with AFP, the AUC increased to 0.968, the sensitivity was 88.16%, and the specificity was 97.37%. Although CCL20 was increased in the serum of patients with benign liver diseases, combined with AFP, the AUC to distinguish HCC patients from non-HCC cohorts (benign liver disease group and healthy control group) was 0.902, with a sensitivity of 91.67% and a specificity of 75.26%. Collectively, serum CCL20 is closely related to the occurrence of HCC, and detection of serum CCL20 can assist AFP in improving the diagnostic sensitivity of HCC.

Triboelectric micro-flexure-sensitive fiber electronics.

Developing fiber electronics presents a practical approach for establishing multi-node distributed networks within the human body, particularly concerning triboelectric fibers. However, realizing fiber electronics for monitoring micro-physiological activities remains challenging due to the intrinsic variability and subtle amplitude of physiological signals, which differ among individuals and scenarios. Here, we propose a technical approach based on a dynamic stability model of sheath-core fibers, integrating a micro-flexure-sensitive fiber enabled by nanofiber buckling and an ion conduction mechanism. This scheme enhances the accuracy of the signal transmission process, resulting in improved sensitivity (detectable signal at ultra-low curvature of 0.1 mm-1; flexure factor >21.8% within a bending range of 10°.) and robustness of fiber under micro flexure. In addition, we also developed a scalable manufacturing process and ensured compatibility with modern weaving techniques. By combining precise micro-curvature detection, micro-flexure-sensitive fibers unlock their full potential for various subtle physiological diagnoses, particularly in monitoring fiber upper limb muscle strength for rehabilitation and training.

CT radiomics-based model for predicting TMB and immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is one of the most significant predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Radiomics allows high-throughput extraction and analysis of advanced and quantitative medical imaging features. This study develops and validates a radiomic model for predicting TMB level and the response to immunotherapy based on CT features in NSCLC. METHOD: Pre-operative chest CT images of 127 patients with NSCLC were retrospectively studied. The 3D-Slicer software was used to outline the region of interest and extract features from the CT images. Radiomics prediction model was constructed by LASSO and multiple logistic regression in a training dataset. The model was validated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves using external datasets. Decision curve analysis was used to assess the value of the model for clinical application. RESULTS: A total of 1037 radiomic features were extracted from the CT images of NSCLC patients from TCGA. LASSO regression selected three radiomics features (Flatness, Autocorrelation and Minimum), which were associated with TMB level in NSCLC. A TMB prediction model consisting of 3 radiomic features was constructed by multiple logistic regression. The area under the curve (AUC) value in the TCGA training dataset was 0.816 (95% CI: 0.7109-0.9203) for predicting TMB level in NSCLC. The AUC value in external validation dataset I was 0.775 (95% CI: 0.5528-0.9972) for predicting TMB level in NSCLC, and the AUC value in external validation dataset II was 0.762 (95% CI: 0.5669-0.9569) for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in NSCLC. CONCLUSION: The model based on CT radiomic features helps to achieve cost effective improvement in TMB classification and precise immunotherapy treatment of NSCLC patients.

High Thermoelectric Performance in Ti3C2Tx MXene/Sb2Te3 Composite Film for Highly Flexible Thermoelectric Devices.

Flexible thin-film thermoelectric devices (TEDs) can generate electricity from the heat emitted by the human body, which holds great promise for use in energy supply and biomonitoring technologies. The p-type Sb2Te3 hexagon nanosheets are prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method and compounded with Ti3C2Tx to make composite films, and the results show that the Ti3C2Tx content has a significant impact on the thermoelectric properties of the composite films. When the Ti3C2Tx content is 2 wt%, the power factor of the composite film reaches ≈59 µW m-1 K-2. Due to the outstanding electrical conductivity, high specific surface area, and excellent flexibility of Ti3C2Tx, the composite films also exhibit excellent thermoelectric and mechanical properties. Moreover, the small addition of Ti3C2Tx has a negligible effect on the phase composition of Sb2Te3 films. The TED consists of seven legs with an output voltage of 45 mV at ΔT = 30 K. The potential of highly flexible thin film TEDs for wearable energy collecting and sensing is great.

Effects of Bacillus-based inoculum on odor emissions co-regulation, nutrient element transformations and microbial community tropological structures during chicken manure and sawdust composting.

This study aims to evaluate whether different doses of Bacillus-based inoculum inoculated in chicken manure and sawdust composting will provide distinct effects on the co-regulation of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nutrient conversions and microbial topological structures. Results indicate that the Bacillus-based inoculum inhibits NH3 emissions mainly by regulating bacterial communities, while promotes H2S emissions by regulating both bacterial and fungal communities. The inoculum only has a little effect on total organic carbon (TOC) and inhibits total sulfur (TS) and total phosphorus (TP) accumulations. Low dose inoculation inhibits total potassium (TK) accumulation, while high dose inoculation promotes TK accumulation and the opposite is true for total nitrogen (TN). The inoculation slightly affects the bacterial compositions, significantly alters the fungal compositions and increases the microbial cooperation, thus influencing the compost substances transformations. The microbial communities promote ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), TN, available phosphorus (AP), total potassium (TK) and TS, but inhibit nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), TP and TK. Additionally, the bacterial communities promote, while the fungal communities inhibit the nitrite nitrogen (NO2--N) production. The core bacterial and fungal genera regulate NH3 and H2S emissions through the secretions of metabolic enzymes and the promoting or inhibiting effects on NH3 and H2S emissions are always opposite. Hence, Bacillus-based inoculum cannot regulate the NH3 and H2S emissions simultaneously.