Association between primary biliary cholangitis with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases: A bidirectional multivariable Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease often accompanied by multisystem damage. This study aimed to explore the causal association between genetically predicted PBC and diabetes, as well as multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). METHODS: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data of PBC in 24,510 individuals of European ancestry from the European Association for the Study of the Liver was used to identify genetically predicted PBC. We conducted 2-sample single-variable Mendelian randomization (SVMR) and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) to estimate the impacts of PBC on diabetes (N = 17,685 to 318,014) and 20 CVDs from the genetic consortium (N = 171,875 to 1,030,836). RESULTS: SVMR provided evidence that genetically predicted PBC is associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), hypertension, atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, ischemic stroke, and small-vessel ischemic stroke. Additionally, there was no evidence of a causal association between PBC and coronary atherosclerosis. In the MVMR analysis, PBC maintained independent effects on T1D, HF, MI, and small-vessel ischemic stroke in most models. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed the causal effects of PBC on diabetes and 7 CVDs, and no causal relationship was detected between PBC and coronary atherosclerosis.

Early Treatment of Nevus of Ota in Children is More Effective and Beneficial to Mental Health: Observation on the Efficacy of Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Treating 159 Cases of Nevus of Ota in Children.

Background and Objective: Nevus of Ota (NO), also known as "brownish-blue nevus of the palate of the eye", is a benign dermal pigmentation that increases skin disease. The Q-switched ruby laser is a classic treatment for nevus of Ota in children, but the optimal age for treatment is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment effect of Q-switched ruby laser in children with nevus of Ota at different ages and the effect on psychological health status. Materials and Methods: Children with nevus of Ota treated with Q-switched ruby laser in the Department of Dermatology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2015 to June 2019 were retrospectively analysed. And the mental health status was assessed using the CDI scale. Results: In the preschool children group (0-7 year age), the significant efficacy rates was 93.1%, the average number of treatments was 3.6, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 4.7%. The significant efficacy rates in the school-age children group (7-14 year age) was 90.3%, the average number of treatments was 5.1, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 13.7%. The mean post-treatment CDI score in the preschool children group was 10.8, and 9.7% of children exceeding 19 points. The mean pre-treatment CDI score in the school-age children group was 17.3, and 24.6% of children exceeding 19 points. The mean post-treatment CDI score was 13.6 and 15.1% of children exceeded 19 points. The chi-square test for the significant efficacy rate of the two groups showed P>0.05, which was not statistically significant. The significant efficacy rate of the preschool group and that of the school-age children group. The t-test for the number of treatments in the two groups showed P<0.05, which was statistically significant. Adverse reactions in the two groups showed a statistically significant P<0.05. The mean CDI scores and the percentage of depressed individuals in the school-age children group were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Q-switched ruby laser is safe and effective in treating nevus of Ota in children. Early treatment can reduce the number of treatments and the incidence of adverse reactions. In addition, early treatment can reduce children's depression, which is beneficial to mental health.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-based intratumoral and peritumoral machine learning radiomics analyses for distinguishing insulinomas from non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Objectives: To develop and validate radiomics models utilizing endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) images to distinguish insulinomas from non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs). Methods: A total of 106 patients, comprising 61 with insulinomas and 45 with NF-PNETs, were included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to either the training or test cohort. Radiomics features were extracted from both the intratumoral and peritumoral regions, respectively. Six machine learning algorithms were utilized to train intratumoral prediction models, using only the nonzero coefficient features. The researchers identified the most effective intratumoral radiomics model and subsequently employed it to develop peritumoral and combined radiomics models. Finally, a predictive nomogram for insulinomas was constructed and assessed. Results: A total of 107 radiomics features were extracted based on EUS, and only features with nonzero coefficients were retained. Among the six intratumoral radiomics models, the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) model demonstrated superior performance. Furthermore, a peritumoral radiomics model was established and evaluated. The combined model, integrating both the intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features, exhibited a comparable performance in the training cohort (AUC=0.876) and achieved the highest accuracy in predicting outcomes in the test cohorts (AUC=0.835). The Delong test, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to validate these findings. Insulinomas exhibited a significantly smaller diameter compared to NF-PNETs. Finally, the nomogram, incorporating diameter and radiomics signature, was constructed and assessed, which owned superior performance in both the training (AUC=0.929) and test (AUC=0.913) cohorts. Conclusion: A novel and impactful radiomics model and nomogram were developed and validated for the accurate differentiation of NF-PNETs and insulinomas utilizing EUS images.

Evaluating health literacy from an organizational perspective: A cross-sectional study of community health centers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate community health centers' (CHCs) health literacy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SAMPLE: A total of 374 CHCs were surveyed and 258 CHCs responded, with an effective questionnaire response rate of 69.0%. MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected by using a self-developed health literacy assessment tool to survey CHCs' health literacy throughout Taiwan from January to December 2019. RESULTS: The item of organizational health literacy (OHL) with the highest proportion of CHCs not implementing them was "Design of easy-to-use computer applications and new media" (47.3% not yet achieved), followed by "Involving target audiences in document and service development" (34.9% not yet achieved). CHCs located in northern Taiwan had higher health literacy achievement scores than those in other regions, and those in urban areas had higher health literacy achievement scores than those in general and remote areas. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified items with poor implementation of OHL and found regional differences in health literacy among CHCs. The findings can inform the development of targeted interventions to improve health literacy in underperforming CHCs and guide policymakers in allocating resources to regions and areas in need of.

Polarity-Matched Initiation of Radical-Polar Crossover Reactions for the Synthesis of C-Allyl Glycosides with gem-Difluoroalkene Groups.

Herein, we disclose a general method for the assembly of C-allyl glycosides containing gem-difluoroalkene groups via a radical-polar crossover strategy. Central to the success of this process is the polarity matching between the benzenesulfinate radical and the glycosyl donor, which facilitates the initiation of the glycosyl radical and the subsequent formation of gem-difluoroalkene sugar derivatives. This method demonstrated good compatibility with various glycosyl donors and functional groups. Furthermore, we showcase the utility of this method in modifying amino acids, potentially paving the way for analogous modifications to peptides.

Construction and validation of an endoscopic ultrasonography-based ultrasomics nomogram for differentiating pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: To develop and validate various ultrasomics models based on endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for retrospective differentiating pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) from pancreatic cancer. Methods: A total of 231 patients, comprising 127 with pancreatic cancer and 104 with PNET, were retrospectively enrolled. These patients were randomly divided into either a training or test cohort at a ratio of 7:3. Ultrasomics features were extracted from conventional EUS images, focusing on delineating the region of interest (ROI) for pancreatic lesions. Subsequently, dimensionality reduction of the ultrasomics features was performed by applying the Mann-Whitney test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm. Eight machine learning algorithms, namely logistic regression (LR), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), multilayer perceptron (MLP), random forest (RF), extra trees, k nearest neighbors (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were employed to train prediction models using nonzero coefficient features. The optimal ultrasomics model was determined using a ROC curve and utilized for subsequent analysis. Clinical-ultrasonic features were assessed using both univariate and multivariate logistic regression. An ultrasomics nomogram model, integrating both ultrasomics and clinical-ultrasonic features, was developed. Results: A total of 107 EUS-based ultrasomics features were extracted, and 6 features with nonzero coefficients were ultimately retained. Among the eight ultrasomics models based on machine learning algorithms, the RF model exhibited superior performance with an AUC= 0.999 (95% CI 0.9977 - 1.0000) in the training cohort and an AUC= 0.649 (95% CI 0.5215 - 0.7760) in the test cohort. A clinical-ultrasonic model was established and evaluated, yielding an AUC of 0.999 (95% CI 0.9961 - 1.0000) in the training cohort and 0.847 (95% CI 0.7543 - 0.9391) in the test cohort. Subsequently, the ultrasomics nomogram demonstrated a significant improvement in prediction accuracy in the test cohort, as evidenced by an AUC of 0.884 (95% CI 0.8047 - 0.9635) and confirmed by the Delong test. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) depicted this ultrasomics nomogram demonstrated superior accuracy. They also yielded the highest net benefit for clinical decision-making compared to alternative models. Conclusions: A novel ultrasomics nomogram was proposed and validated, that integrated clinical-ultrasonic and ultrasomics features obtained through EUS, aiming to accurately and efficiently identify pancreatic cancer and PNET.

Atrophy patterns in hippocampal subregions and their relationship with cognitive function in fibromyalgia patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) has been associated with decreased hippocampal volume; however, the atrophy patterns of hippocampal subregions have not yet been identified. We therefore aimed to evaluate the volumes of hippocampal subregions in FM patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to explore the relationship between different subregional alterations and cognitive function. Methods: The study included 35 FM patients (21 with MCI and 14 without MCI) and 35 healthy subjects. All subjects performed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to assess cognitive function. FreeSurfer V.7.3.2 was used to calculate hippocampal subregion volumes. We then compared hippocampal subregion volumes between the groups, and analyzed the relationship between hippocampal subregion volume and cognitive function using a partial correlation analysis method. Results: Compared with the healthy subjects, FM patients with MCI had smaller hippocampal volumes in the left and right CA1 head, Molecular layer head, GC-DG head, and CA4 head, and in the left Presubiculum head. Poorer executive function, naming ability, and attention were associated with left CA1 head and left Molecular layer head atrophy. By contrast, hippocampal subregion volumes in the FM patients without MCI were slightly larger than or similar to those in the healthy subjects, and were not significantly correlated with cognitive function. Conclusion: Smaller volumes of left CA1 head and left Molecular layer head were associated with poorer executive function, naming ability, and attention in FM patients with MCI. However, these results were not observed in the FM patients without MCI. These findings suggest that the hippocampal subregions of FM patients might present compensatory mechanisms before cognitive decline occurs.

Effects of axial loading and positions on lumbar spinal stenosis: an MRI study using a new axial loading device.

OBJECTIVE: A new axial loading device was used to investigate the effects of axial loading and positions on lumbar structure and lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: A total of 40 patients sequentially underwent 4 examinations: (1) the psoas-relaxed position MRI, (2) the extended position MRI, (3) the psoas-relaxed position axial loading MRI, (4) the extended position axial loading MRI. The dural sac cross-sectional area, sagittal vertebral canal diameter, disc height and ligamentum flavum thickness of L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 and lumbar lordosis angle were measured and compared. A new device with pneumatic shoulder-hip compression mode was used for axial loading. RESULTS: In the absence of axial loading, there was a significant reduction in dural sac cross-sectional area with extension only seen at the L3-4 (p = 0.033) relative to the dural sac area in the psoas-relaxed position. However, with axial loading, there was a significant reduction in dural sac cross-sectional area at all levels in both psoas-relaxed (L3-4, p = 0.041; L5-S1, p = 0.005; L4-5, p = 0.002) and extension (p < 0.001) positions. The sagittal vertebral canal diameter and disc height were significantly reduced at all lumbar levels with axial loading and extension (p < 0.001); however, in psoas-relaxed position, the sagittal vertebral canal diameter was only reduced with axial loading at L3-4 (p = 0.018) and L4-5 (p = 0.011), and the disc height was reduced with axial-loading at all levels (L3-4, p = 0.027; L5-S1, p = 0.001; L4-5, p < 0.001). The ligamentum flavum thickness and lumbar lordosis in extension position had a statistically significant increase compared to psoas-relaxed position with or without axial loading (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both axial loading and extension of lumbar may exacerbate lumbar spinal stenosis. Axial loading in extension position could maximally aggravate lumbar spinal stenosis, but may cause some patients intolerable. For those patients, axial loading MRI in psoas-relaxed position may be a good choice.

A mild deprotection of isopropylidene ketals from 2-deoxyglycosides using AcOH/H2O/DME: An efficient regioselective deprotection of terminal isopropylidene ketals.

This paper describes a mild and efficient catalytic deprotection method for isopropylidene ketals and benzylidene acetals using AcOH/H2O/DME(1,2-Dimethoxyethane). The method effectively removes ketal and acetal protecting groups from 2-deoxyglycosides which are prone to hydrolysis under acidic conditions. Moreover, it enables the selective removal of the terminal ketal over an internal one.

Altered chromatin topologies caused by balanced chromosomal translocation lead to central iris hypoplasia.

Despite the advent of genomic sequencing, molecular diagnosis remains unsolved in approximately half of patients with Mendelian disorders, largely due to unclarified functions of noncoding regions and the difficulty in identifying complex structural variations. In this study, we map a unique form of central iris hypoplasia in a large family to 6q15-q23.3 and 18p11.31-q12.1 using a genome-wide linkage scan. Long-read sequencing reveals a balanced translocation t(6;18)(q22.31;p11.22) with intergenic breakpoints. By performing Hi-C on induced pluripotent stem cells from a patient, we identify two chromatin topologically associating domains spanning across the breakpoints. These alterations lead the ectopic chromatin interactions between APCDD1 on chromosome 18 and enhancers on chromosome 6, resulting in upregulation of APCDD1. Notably, APCDD1 is specifically localized in the iris of human eyes. Our findings demonstrate that noncoding structural variations can lead to Mendelian diseases by disrupting the 3D genome structure and resulting in altered gene expression.

Identification and Functional Analysis of KH Family Genes Associated with Salt Stress in Rice.

Salinity stress has a great impact on crop growth and productivity and is one of the major factors responsible for crop yield losses. The K-homologous (KH) family proteins play vital roles in regulating plant development and responding to abiotic stress in plants. However, the systematic characterization of the KH family in rice is still lacking. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and functional analysis of KH family genes and identified a total of 31 KH genes in rice. According to the homologs of KH genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, we constructed a phylogenetic tree with 61 KH genes containing 31 KH genes in Oryza sativa and 30 KH genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and separated them into three major groups. In silico tissue expression analysis showed that the OsKH genes are constitutively expressed. The qRT-PCR results revealed that eight OsKH genes responded strongly to salt stresses, and OsKH12 exhibited the strongest decrease in expression level, which was selected for further study. We generated the Oskh12-knockout mutant via the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing method. Further stress treatment and biochemical assays confirmed that Oskh12 mutant was more salt-sensitive than Nip and the expression of several key salt-tolerant genes in Oskh12 was significantly reduced. Taken together, our results shed light on the understanding of the KH family and provide a theoretical basis for future abiotic stress studies in rice.

A smart tablet-phone-based high-performance pancreatic cancer cell biosensing system for drug screening.

Exploring more efficient pancreatic cancer drug screening platforms is of significant importance for accelerating the drug development process. In this study, we developed a high-sensitivity bioluminescence system based on smartphones and smart tablets, and constructed a pancreatic cancer drug screening platform (PCDSP) by combining the pancreatic cancer cell sensing model (PCCSM) on the multiwell plates (MTP). A smart tablet was used as the light source and a smartphone as the colorimetric sensing device. The smartphone dynamically controls the color and brightness displayed on the smart tablet to achieve lower LOD and wider detection ranges. We constructed PCCSM for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h , and performed colorimetric experiments using both PCDSP and a commercial plate reader (CPR). The results showed that the PCDSP had a lower LOD than that of CPR. Moreover, PCDSP even exhibited a lower LOD for 24 h PCCSM testing compared to CPR for 48 h PCCSM testing, effectively shortening the drug evaluation process. Additionally, the PCDSP offers higher portability and efficiency compared with CPR, making it a promising platform for efficient pancreatic cancer drug screening.

State-specific Regulation of Electrical Stimulation in the Intralaminar Thalamus of Macaque Monkeys: Network and Transcriptional Insights into Arousal.

Long-range thalamocortical communication is central to anesthesia-induced loss of consciousness and its reversal. However, isolating the specific neural networks connecting thalamic nuclei with various cortical regions for state-specific anesthesia regulation is challenging, with the biological underpinnings still largely unknown. Here, simultaneous electroencephalogram-fuctional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) and deep brain stimulation are applied to the intralaminar thalamus in macaques under finely-tuned propofol anesthesia. This approach led to the identification of an intralaminar-driven network responsible for rapid arousal during slow-wave oscillations. A network-based RNA-sequencing analysis is conducted of region-, layer-, and cell-specific gene expression data from independent transcriptomic atlases and identifies 2489 genes preferentially expressed within this arousal network, notably enriched in potassium channels and excitatory, parvalbumin-expressing neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Comparison with human RNA-sequencing data highlights conserved molecular and cellular architectures that enable the matching of homologous genes, protein interactions, and cell types across primates, providing novel insight into network-focused transcriptional signatures of arousal.

DMAP-promoted oxidative functionalization of α-amino ketones via oxygen delivery from water/alcohols.

This paper shows a novel oxidative functionalization of α-amino ketones to yield the corresponding α-ketoamides and α-acylimidates. The reaction proceeds via oxygen delivery from water/alcohols in conjunction with an electron acceptor and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Mechanistic study indicates that DMAP exhibits a dual function of nucleophilic catalysis and proton abstraction.

Identification and analysis of chemokine-related and NETosis-related genes in acute pancreatitis to develop a predictive model.

Background: Chemokines and NETosis are significant contributors to the inflammatory response, yet there still needs to be a more comprehensive understanding regarding the specific molecular characteristics and interactions of NETosis and chemokines in the context of acute pancreatitis (AP) and severe AP (SAP). Methods: To address this gap, the mRNA expression profile dataset GSE194331 was utilized for analysis, comprising 87 AP samples (77 non-SAP and 10 SAP) and 32 healthy control samples. Enrichment analyses were conducted for differentially expressed chemokine-related genes (DECRGs) and NETosis-related genes (DENRGs). Three machine-learning algorithms were used for the identification of signature genes, which were subsequently utilized in the development and validation of nomogram diagnostic models for the prediction of AP and SAP. Furthermore, single-gene Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) were performed. Lastly, an interaction network for the identified signature genes was constructed. Results: We identified 12 DECRGs and 7 DENRGs, and enrichment analyses indicated they were primarily enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and T cell receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, these machine learning algorithms finally recognized three signature genes (S100A8, AIF1, and IL18). Utilizing the identified signature genes, we developed nomogram models with high predictive accuracy for AP and differentiation of SAP from non-SAP, as demonstrated by area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.968 (95% CI 0.937-0.990) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.742-0.955), respectively, in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Subsequent single-gene GESA and GSVA indicated a significant positive correlation between these signature genes and the proteasome complex. At the same time, a negative association was observed with the Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation signaling pathways. Conclusion: We have identified three genes (S100A8, AIF1, and IL18) related to chemokines and NETosis, and have developed accurate diagnostic models that might provide a novel method for diagnosing AP and differentiating between severe and non-severe cases.

Stereoselective synthesis of α-glycosyl azides: allyl glycosyl sulfones as radical precursors.

Despite their critical importance in drug development and biochemistry, efficiently synthesizing α-glycosyl azides has continued to pose significant challenges. In this report, we introduce a universal and practical radical reaction for the stereoselective synthesis of α-glycosyl azides using bench-stable allyl glycosyl sulfones as the donor. This method is characterized by its mild reaction conditions, high stereoselectivity, and extensive scope of glycosyl units. Moreover, the accessibility of several structurally complex drug-sugar conjugates underscores the practicality of our approach.

Radiating blood flow signal: A new ultrasound feature of thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To summary radiating blood flow signals and evaluate their diagnostic value in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively recruited consecutive patients undergoing US at 4 hospitals from 2018 to 2022. In a training dataset, the correlations of US features with malignant thyroid nodules were assessed by multivariate logistic analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models involving the ACR TI-RADS score, radiating blood flow signals and their combination were built and validated internally and externally. The AUC with 95% asymptotic normal confidence interval as well as sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) with 95% exact binomial confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Among 2475 patients (1818 women, age: 42.47 ± 11.57; 657 men, age: 42.16 ± 11.69), there were 3187 nodules (2342 malignant nodules and 845 benign nodules). Radiating blood flow signals were an independent risk factor for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma. In the training set, the AUC of the model using the combination of radiating blood flow signals and the ACR TI-RADS score (0.95 95 % CI: [0.94, 0.97]; P < 0.001) was significantly higher than that of the ACR TI-RADS model (0.91 [0.89, 0.93]). In the two internal validation sets and the external validation set, the AUCs of the combination model were 0.97 [0.96, 0.98], 0.92 [0.88, 0.96], and 0.91 [0.86, 0.95], respectively, and were all significantly higher than that of the ACR TI-RADS score (0.92 [0.90, 0.95], 0.86 [0.81, 0.91], 0.84 [0.79, 0.89]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Radiating blood flow is a new US feature of thyroid carcinomas that can significantly improve the diagnostic performance vs. the ACR TI-RADS score.

Clinimetric Properties of the "FIND-NEEDS" to Screen Geriatric Conditions.

INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is used to thoroughly assess and identify complex healthcare problems among older adults. However, administration of CGA is time-consuming and labor intensive. A simple screening tool with the mnemonic "FIND-NEEDS" was developed to quickly identify common geriatric conditions. The present study was to evaluate the clinimetric properties of the FIND-NEEDS. METHODS: The participants comprised first-visiting older adults aged 65 years and above (and who were able to communicate by themselves or with the help of a caregiver) who were assessed (October to December, 2021) using the FIND-NEEDS and CGA at geriatric outpatient clinics of a tertiary, referred medical center. The FIND-NEEDS was examined for its criterion-related validity and compared with the CGA results. Two types of scoring (summed score and binary score) of FIND-NEEDS and CGA were analyzed using Spearman correlation, sensitivity and specificity, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: The mean age of the 114 outpatients was 78.3 ± 7.6 years, and 79 (69.3%) were female. The internal consistency was excellent when using all FIND-NEEDS items, and was acceptable when using domain scores. Exploratory factor analysis showed that most of the FIND-NEEDS domain scores had factor loadings higher than 0.3. Intercorrelations of binary scores between domains of FIND-NEEDS and CGA showed most domains were moderately correlated. The overall correlation of summed scores between FIND-NEEDS and CGA was high. The FIND-NEEDS summed score was moderately correlated with CGA score (r = 0.494; p < 0.001), and the binary score showed excellent correlation (r = 0.944; p < 0.001). When using the CGA score as the gold standard, the FIND-NEEDS showed excellent AUC (0.950), sensitivity (1.00), and specificity (0.90). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the FIND-NEEDS had acceptable clinimetric properties to screen for geriatric problems among older adults. Further in-depth assessment and care plan can then be conducted afterwards.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of ent-kaurene synthase-like Gene Family Associated with Abiotic Stress in Rice.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important crops for humans. The homologs of ent-kaurene synthase (KS) in rice, which are responsible for the biosynthesis of gibberellins and various phytoalexins, are identified by their distinct biochemical functions. However, the KS-Like (KSL) family's potential functions related to hormone and abiotic stress in rice remain uncertain. Here, we identified the KSL family of 19 species by domain analysis and grouped 97 KSL family proteins into three categories. Collinearity analysis of KSLs among Poaceae indicated that the KSL gene may independently evolve and OsKSL1 and OsKSL4 likely play a significant role in the evolutionary process. Tissue expression analysis showed that two-thirds of OsKSLs were expressed in various tissues, whereas OsKSL3 and OsKSL5 were specifically expressed in the root and OsKSL4 in the leaf. Based on the fact that OsKSL2 participates in the biosynthesis of gibberellins and promoter analysis, we detected the gene expression profiles of OsKSLs under hormone treatments (GA, PAC, and ABA) and abiotic stresses (darkness and submergence). The qRT-PCR results demonstrated that OsKSL1, OsKSL3, and OsKSL4 responded to all of the treatments, meaning that these three genes can be candidate genes for abiotic stress. Our results provide new insights into the function of the KSL family in rice growth and resistance to abiotic stress.

Mobile iodides capture for highly photolysis- and reverse-bias-stable perovskite solar cells.

For halide perovskites that are susceptible to photolysis and ion migration, iodide-related defects, such as iodine (I2) and iodine vacancies, are inevitable. Even a small number of these defects can trigger self-accelerating chemical reactions, posing serious challenges to the durability of perovskite solar cells. Fortunately, before I2 can damage the perovskites under illumination, they generally diffuse over a long distance. Therefore, detrimental I2 can be captured by interfacial materials with strong iodide/polyiodide (Ix-) affinities, such as fullerenes and perfluorodecyl iodide. However, fullerenes in direct contact with perovskites fail to confine Ix- ions within the perovskite layer but cause detrimental iodine vacancies. Perfluorodecyl iodide, with its directional Ix- affinity through halogen bonding, can both capture and confine Ix-. Therefore, inverted perovskite solar cells with over 10 times improved ultraviolet irradiation and thermal-light stabilities (under 85 °C and 1 sun illumination), and 1,000 times improved reverse-bias stability (under ISOS-V ageing tests) have been developed.