Social control is associated with increased reproductive skew in a wild mammal.

In group-living species, reproductive variation among individuals of the same sex is widespread. By identifying the mechanisms underlying this reproductive skew, we gain fundamental insights into the evolution and maintenance of sociality. A common mechanism, social control, is typically studied by quantifying dominance, which is one of many attributes of sociality that describes how individuals exert influence on others and is an incomprehensive measure of social control as it accounts only for direct relationships. Here, we use the global reaching centrality (GRC), which quantifies the degree of hierarchy in a social network by accounting for both direct and indirect social relationships. Using a wild, free-living population of adult female yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris), we found a positive relationship between the reproductive skew index and GRC: more despotic social groups have higher reproductive skew. The GRC was stronger predictor for skew than traditional measures of social control (i.e. dominance). This allows deeper insights into the diverse ways individuals control other group members' reproduction, a core component in the evolution of sociality. Future studies of skew across taxa may profit by using more comprehensive, network-based measures of social control.

Development and validation of an early mortality risk model for pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a comparison with HScore, PELOD-2, P-MODS, and pSOFA.

There has been no severity evaluation model for pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) that uses readily available parameters. This study aimed to develop a novel model for predicting the early mortality risk in pediatric patients with HLH using easily obtained parameters whatever etiologic subtype. Patients from one center were divided into training and validation sets for model derivation. The developed model was validated using an independent validation cohort from the second center. The prediction model with nomogram was developed based on logistic regression. The model performance underwent internal and external evaluation and validation using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve with 1000 bootstrap resampling, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Model performance was compared with the most prevalent severity evaluation scores, including the PELOD-2, P-MODS, and pSOFA scores. The prediction model included nine variables: glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, albumin, globulin, myohemoglobin, creatine kinase, serum potassium, procalcitonin, serum ferritin, and interval between onset and diagnosis. The AUC of the model for predicting the 28-day mortality was 0.933 and 0.932 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The AUC values of the HScore, PELOD-2, P-MODS and pSOFA were 0.815, 0.745, 0.659 and 0.788, respectively. The DCA of the 28-day mortality prediction exhibited a greater net benefit than the HScore, PELOD-2, P-MODS and pSOFA. Subgroup analyses demonstrated good model performance across HLH subtypes. The novel mortality prediction model in this study can contribute to the rapid assessment of early mortality risk after diagnosis with readily available parameters.

Characteristics and spectrum changes of PICU cases during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: This study aims to compare the changes in the disease spectrum of children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic with the three years prior to the pandemic, exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the disease spectrum of PICU patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on critically ill children admitted to the PICU of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022, and the results were compared with cases from the same period between January 2017 and December 2019. The cases were divided into pre-pandemic period (January 2017-December 2019) with 8,218 cases, and pandemic period (January 2020-December 2022) with 5,619 cases. General characteristics, age, and gender were compared between the two groups. Results: Compared to the pre-pandemic period, there was a 31.62% decrease in the number of admitted children during the pandemic period, and a 52.78% reduction in the proportion of respiratory system diseases. The overall mortality rate decreased by 87.81%. There were differences in age and gender distribution between the two periods. The length of hospital stay during the pandemic showed no statistical significance, whereas hospitalization costs exhibited statistical significance. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a certain influence on the disease spectrum of PICU admissions. Implementing relevant measures during the pandemic can help reduce the occurrence of respiratory system diseases in children. Considering the changes in the disease spectrum of critically ill PICU children, future clinical prevention and treatment in PICUs should continue to prioritize the respiratory, neurological, and hematological oncology systems.

Impact of flaxseed gum on the aggregate structure, pasting properties, and rheological behavior of waxy rice starch.

This study examines the effects of flaxseed gum (FG) on the aggregate structure, pasting and rheological properties of waxy rice starch (WRS). Results display an increase in the ordered molecular structure (R1047/1024), relative crystallinity (RC), compactness (α), and microphase heterogeneity (ε, density degree of nanoaggregates, from 3.52 to 4.23) for WRS-FG complexes. These suggested FG facilitated the development of more organized molecular and crystalline structures of WRS, accompanied by the formation of ordered nanoaggregates with higher density (i.e., nano-aggregation structure). Also, FG addition resulted in the formation of enhanced gel network structure characterized by thicker layer walls and more uniform pores. These structural transformations contributed to a rise in gelatinization temperature (To, from 56.90 °C to 62.10 °C) and enthalpy (ΔH), as well as alterations in paste viscosities (PV, from 1285.00 mPa·s to 1734.00 mPa·s), and the rigidity of network structure (e.g., decreased loss tangent). These results indicate that FG could effectively regulate the techno-functional properties of WRS by rationally controlling the starch intrinsic structures of starch. And this study may improve the pasting and gelling properties of starch, thus driving the development of high-quality starchy foods and prolonging their shelf life, especially for glutinous rice flour products.

Self-injection-locked thin-film regenerative laser amplifier.

Organic lasers based on distributed feedback (DFB) microcavities have been extensively investigated. However, the application of these lasers is limited by their low output power and large beam divergence. Therefore, laser amplifiers are needed to achieve practically applicable laser intensity and controllable lasing modes for far-field applications. In this work, we report self-injection-locked laser amplifiers using the combination of a DFB microcavity and a Bragg reflector, where a high-reflection mirror acts as the Bragg reflector and its feedback supplies the external-cavity injection. The coherent coupling between the DFB microcavity and the Bragg amplifier is crucial for achieving high conversion efficiency and high-contrast transverse modes. An amplification factor larger than 20 and a single output laser spot with high contrast that has been achieved. Such an integration design of the self-injected DFB microcavity amplifier can be directly utilized in the realization of high-performance thin-film laser sources for practical applications.

Enhancing Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Resveratrol-Loaded Emulsions by Ovalbumin-Dextran Conjugates.

A reliable strategy for improving the stability and shelf life of protein-stabilized systems is by covalently attaching the protein onto a polysaccharide. In this study, ovalbumin (OVA) was modified with dextran (DEX) of different molecular weights by the Maillard reaction, and was used to enhance the stability of emulsions loaded with resveratrol. The surface hydrophobicity, thermal stability, and FT-IR spectroscopy of the OVA-DEX conjugates were evaluated. The results showed that the surface hydrophobicity of OVA decreased, while the thermal stability of OVA was significantly improved after DEX covalent modification. The OVA-DEX1k-stabilized emulsion exhibited high encapsulation efficiency of resveratrol, with the value of 89.0%. In addition, OVA-DEX was considerably more effective in droplet stabilization against different environmental stresses (heat, pH, and ionic strength). After 28 days of storage at 25 °C, the OVA-stabilized emulsion showed faster decomposition of resveratrol, whereas the OVA-DEX-conjugate-stabilized emulsion had approximately 73% retention of resveratrol. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of resveratrol-loaded emulsions stabilized by OVA-DEX was higher during storage under different temperatures. These results proved that the OVA-DEX conjugates had the potential to form stable, food-grade emulsion-based delivery systems against environmental stresses, which strongly supports their potential in the field of food and biomedical applications.

Precision Phenotypic Profiling and Capture of Circulating Tumor Cells via a Vertical Laminar Flow-Stacked Microfluidic Chip.

The heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells has a significant impact on the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of cancer. Research on the subtypes of circulating tumor cells can bring better treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Here, we proposed a microfluidic chip for the magnetic capture of subtypes of circulating tumor cells from the whole blood and phenotypic profiling by stacking laminar flow vertically. Circulating tumor cells were sorted and captured by the three-dimensional regulation of both magnetic fields in the vertical direction and flow fields in the lateral direction. Using EpCAM-magnetic beads, we achieved sorting and sectional capture of target cells in whole blood and analyzed the surface expression levels of the captured cells, confirming the functionality of the microfluidic chip in sorting and capturing subtypes of circulating tumor cells. This microfluidic chip can also aid in the subsequent subtype analysis of other rare cells.

Recent Progress on Copper-Based Bimetallic Heterojunction Catalysts for CO2 Electrocatalysis: Unlocking the Mystery of Product Selectivity.

Copper-based bimetallic heterojunction catalysts facilitate the deep electrochemical reduction of CO2 (eCO2RR) to produce high-value-added organic compounds, which hold significant promise. Understanding the influence of copper interactions with other metals on the adsorption strength of various intermediates is crucial as it directly impacts the reaction selectivity. In this review, an overview of the formation mechanism of various catalytic products in eCO2RR is provided and highlight the uniqueness of copper-based catalysts. By considering the different metals' adsorption tendencies toward various reaction intermediates, metals are classified, including copper, into four categories. The significance and advantages of constructing bimetallic heterojunction catalysts are then discussed and delve into the research findings and current development status of different types of copper-based bimetallic heterojunction catalysts. Finally, insights are offered into the design strategies for future high-performance electrocatalysts, aiming to contribute to the development of eCO2RR to multi-carbon fuels with high selectivity.

Oral Delivery of Astaxanthin via Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Modified Nanoparticles for Ulcerative Colitis Treatment.

The oral delivery strategy of natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agents has attracted great attention to improve the effectiveness of ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment. Herein, we developed a novel orally deliverable nanoparticle, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)-modified astaxanthin (AXT)-loaded nanoparticles (CMC-AXT-NPs), for UC treatment. The CMC-AXT-NPs were evaluated by appearance, morphology, particle size, ζ-potential, and encapsulation efficiency (EE). The results showed that CMC-AXT-NPs were nearly spherical in shape with a particle size of 34.5 nm and ζ-potential of -30.8 mV, and the EE of CMC-AXT-NPs was as high as 95.03%. The CMC-AXT-NPs exhibited preferable storage stability over time and well-controlled drug-release properties in simulated intestinal fluid. Additionally, in vitro studies revealed that CMC-AXT-NPs remarkably inhibited cytotoxicity induced by LPS and demonstrated superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities in Raw264.7 cells. Furthermore, CMC-AXT-NPs effectively alleviated clinical symptoms of colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS), including maintaining body weight, inhibiting colon shortening, and reducing fecal bleeding. Importantly, CMC-AXT-NPs suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß and ameliorated DSS-induced oxidative damage. Our results demonstrated the potential of CMC-modified nanoparticles as an oral delivery system and suggested these novel AXT nanoparticles could be a promising strategy for UC treatment.

Feature-Assisted Machine Learning for Predicting Band Gaps of Binary Semiconductors.

The band gap is a key parameter in semiconductor materials that is essential for advancing optoelectronic device development. Accurately predicting band gaps of materials at low cost is a significant challenge in materials science. Although many machine learning (ML) models for band gap prediction already exist, they often suffer from low interpretability and lack theoretical support from a physical perspective. In this study, we address these challenges by using a combination of traditional ML algorithms and the 'white-box' sure independence screening and sparsifying operator (SISSO) approach. Specifically, we enhance the interpretability and accuracy of band gap predictions for binary semiconductors by integrating the importance rankings of support vector regression (SVR), random forests (RF), and gradient boosting decision trees (GBDT) with SISSO models. Our model uses only the intrinsic features of the constituent elements and their band gaps calculated using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof method, significantly reducing computational demands. We have applied our model to predict the band gaps of 1208 theoretically stable binary compounds. Importantly, the model highlights the critical role of electronegativity in determining material band gaps. This insight not only enriches our understanding of the physical principles underlying band gap prediction but also underscores the potential of our approach in guiding the synthesis of new and valuable semiconductor materials.

A Three-Dimensional Hydrophobic Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensor via a Silver-Coated Polytetrafluoroethylene Membrane for the Direct Trace Detection of Molecules in Water.

We report a three-dimensional (3D) SERS substrate consisting of a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) coating on the skeleton-fiber surfaces of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. Simple thermal evaporation was employed to deposit Ag onto the PTFE membrane to produce grape-shaped AgNPs. The 3D-distributed AgNPs exhibit not only strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) but also strong hydrophobic performance. High-density hotspots via silver nano-grape structures and nanogaps, the large 3D interaction volume, and the large total surface area, in combination with the hydrophobic enrichment of the specimen, facilitate high-sensitivity sensing performance of such a SERS substrate for the direct detection of low-concentration molecules in water. An enhancement factor of up to 1.97 × 1010 was achieved in the direct detection of R6G molecules in water with a concentration of 10-13 mol/L. The lowest detection limit of 100 ppt was reached in the detection of melamine in water. Such a SERS sensor may have potential applications in food-safety control, environmental water pollution monitoring, and biomedical analysis.

A ferroptosis-reinforced nanocatalyst enhances chemodynamic therapy through dual H2O2 production and oxidative stress amplification.

The existence of a delicate redox balance in tumors usually leads to cancer treatment failure. Breaking redox homeostasis by amplifying oxidative stress and reducing glutathione (GSH) can accelerate cancer cell death. Herein, we construct a ferroptosis-reinforced nanocatalyst (denoted as HBGL) to amplify intracellular oxidative stress via dual H2O2 production-assisted chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Specifically, a long-circulating liposome is employed to deliver hemin (a natural iron-containing substrate for Fenton reaction and ferroptosis), ß-lapachone (a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor with H2O2 generation capacity for chemotherapy), and glucose oxidase (which can consume glucose for starvation therapy and generate H2O2). HBGL can achieve rapid, continuous, and massive H2O2 and •OH production and GSH depletion in cancer cells, resulting in increased intracellular oxidative stress. Additionally, hemin can reinforce the ferroptosis-inducing ability of HBGL, which is reflected in the downregulation of glutathione peroxidase-4 and the accumulation of lipid peroxide. Notably, HBGL can disrupt endo/lysosomes and impair mitochondrial function in cancer cells. HBGL exhibits effective tumor-killing ability without eliciting obvious side effects, indicating its clinical translation potential for synergistic starvation therapy, chemotherapy, ferroptosis therapy, and CDT. Overall, this nanocatalytic liposome may be a promising candidate for achieving potentiated cancer treatment.

Nurses' preferences for interventions to improve infection prevention and control behaviors based on systems engineering initiative to patient safety model: a discrete choice experiment.

BACKGROUND: The evidence of preferences for infection prevention and control (IPC) intervention from system perspective was lacked. This study aimed to elicit nurses' preferences for the intervention designed to improve IPC behaviors based on the Systems Engineering Initiative to Patient Safety (SEIPS) model using Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE). METHODS: A DCE was conducted among nurses who were on active duty and willing to participate from July 5th to 10th, 2021 in a tertiary hospital in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, using convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaire included scenarios formed by six attributes with varying levels based on SEIPS model: person, organization, tools and technology, tasks, internal environment and external environment. A conditional logit and latent class logit model were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 257 valid questionnaires were analyzed among nurses. The results from the latent class logit model show that nurses' preferences can be divided into three classes. For nurses in multifaceted-aspect-preferred class (41.9%), positive coefficients were obtained in those six attributes. For person-preferred class (19.7%), only person was positively significant. For environment-preferred class (36.4%), the most important attribute were tasks, tools and technology, internal environment and external environment. CONCLUSIONS: This finding suggest that nurses have three latent-class preferences for interventions. Multifaceted interventions to improve IPC behaviors based on the SEIPS model are preferred by most nurses. Moreover, relevant measured should be performed targeted the latent class of person-preferred and external-environment-preferred nurses.

Effects of intraoperative sodium oxybate infusion on post-operative sleep quality in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery: A randomized clinical trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Post-operative sleep quality is an important factor that influences post-operative recovery. Sodium oxybate has been used to treat sleep disturbances associated with various pathological conditions. However, whether intraoperative intravenous infusion of sodium oxybate improves post-operative sleep quality is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effects of sodium oxybate on the post-operative sleep quality of patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN: A single-center, prospective, two-arm, double-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University in Liaoning, China. PATIENTS: We enrolled 180 adult patients (90 for each group) undergoing elective gynecological laparoscopic surgery, and 178 patients (89 for each group) were included in the final analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either sodium oxybate (30 mg kg-1) or an equivalent volume of saline after intubation. The patients, anesthetists, and follow-up staff were blinded to group assignment. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was sleep quality measured using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) on post-operative days (PODs) one and three. Secondary outcomes included post-operative pain measured using the visual analog scale, sleep quality at one and three months post-operatively measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and factors associated with post-operative sleep quality. MAIN RESULTS: Analysis with generalized estimating equations showed that sodium oxybate significantly improved post-operative sleep quality, as represented by increased total RCSQ scores (mean difference (95% CI); 9 (2, 16), P = 0.010) over PODs one and three. There was no difference in post-operative pain between the two groups over PODs one and three or in post-operative sleep quality over one and three months post-operatively. Age, surgery type, start time of surgery, and use of sufentanil-based patient-controlled intravenous analgesia were significantly associated with post-operative sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative sodium oxybate infusion improved post-operative sleep in patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Clinical trial number: ChiCTR2200061460.

Associations between self-leadership and self-reported execution of infection prevention and control among physicians and nurses.

BACKGROUND: There is poor self-reported (SR) execution of infection prevention and control (IPC) among physicians and nurses. Self-leadership is considered an important factor to enhance IPC SR-execution. This study aims to explore the associations between self-leadership and IPC SR-execution among physicians and nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 26,252 physicians and nurses was conducted in all secondary and tertiary hospitals in Hubei province, China. A questionnaire was designed to measure physicians' and nurses' self-leadership, which includes positive traits and negative traits, and IPC SR-execution, which includes motivation, process, and outcome. RESULTS: Positive traits and negative traits of self-leadership had significant positive associations with SR-execution motivation (ß = .582, P < .001) (ß = .026, P < .001), SR-execution process (ß = .642, P < .001) (ß = .017, P < .001), and SR-execution outcome (ß = .675, P < .001) (ß = .013, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study recommends that health care institutions should focus on cultivating positive traits of self-leadership among physicians and nurses. Although negative traits of self-leadership can also promote IPC SR-execution, the association is limited and may lead to risks.

Sweat Sensor Based on Wearable Janus Textiles for Sweat Collection and Microstructured Optical Fiber for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Analysis.

Wearable sweat sensors provide real-time monitoring of biomarkers, enabling individuals to gain real-time insight into their health status. Current sensors primarily rely on electrochemical mechanisms, limiting their capacity for the concurrent detection of multiple analytes. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy offers an alternative approach by providing molecular fingerprint information to facilitate the identification of intricate analytes. In this study, we combine a wearable Janus fabric for efficient sweat collection and a grapefruit optical fiber embedded with Ag nanoparticles as a sensitive SERS probe. The Janus fabric features a superhydrophobic side in contact with the skin and patterned superhydrophilic regions on the opposite surface, facilitating the unidirectional flow of sweat toward these hydrophilic zones. Grapefruit optical fibers feature sharp tips with the ability to penetrate transparent dressings. Its microchannels extract sweat through capillary force, and nanoliter-scale volumes of sweat are sufficient to completely fill them. The Raman signal of sweat components is greatly enhanced by the plasmonic hot spots and accumulates along the fiber length. We demonstrate sensitive detection of sodium lactate and urea in sweat with a detection limit much lower than the physiological concentration levels. Moreover, the platform shows its capability for multicomponent detection and extends to the analysis of real human sweat.

Effects of the Implementation of Transport-Driven Poverty Alleviation Policy on Health Care-Seeking Behavior and Medical Expenditure Among Older People in Rural Areas: Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Improving the rural residents' accessibility to and affordability of health care is recognized as a common target globally. The Health in All Policies approach, from the Declaration of Helsinki to the United Nations' Decade Of Healthy Ageing, strengthened the far-reaching effect of large-scale public policies on health care-seeking behavior; however, the effects of national transport policy on health care-seeking behavior is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of the implementation of transport-driven poverty alleviation (TPA) policy on health care-seeking behavior and medical expenditure among older adults in rural areas and the mechanism underlying these effects. METHODS: We designed a quasi-experiment to estimate the effects of TPA policy implementation on health care-seeking behavior and medical expenditure among older adults in rural areas through a difference-in-differences (DID) analysis based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. The underlying mechanism was analyzed and effect modification patterns were further investigated by poor households, health status, and age. RESULTS: Our findings validated a positive contribution of TPA policy on health care-seeking behavior among older adults in rural areas. After the implementation of TPA policy, the number of inpatient visits increased by annually 0.35 times per person, outpatient medical expenditure increased by 192% per month, and inpatient medical expenditure increased by 57% annually compared with those of older adults in rural areas without the implementation of TPA policy. Further, there was a significant modification effect, with a positive effect among poor households, healthier older adults, and those aged 60-80 years. Additionally, the policy improved the patients' capabilities to seek long-distance care (ß=23.16, 95% CI -0.99 to 45.31) and high-level hospitals (ß=.08, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.13), and increased individual income to acquire more medical services (ß=4.57, 95% CI -4.46 to 4.68). CONCLUSIONS: These findings validate the positive contribution of TPA policy on health care-seeking behavior among older adults in rural areas; however, the medical expenditure incurred was also high. Concerted efforts are needed to address health care-seeking dilemmas in rural areas, and attention must be paid to curbing medical expenditure growth for older adults in rural areas during TPA policy implementation.

The Impact of Information Quality of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Report on the Rational Antimicrobial Use: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) report was important for rational antimicrobial use. However, the reference value of AST report was sometimes limited due to poor information quality (IQ). This study aimed to measure the IQ of AST and evaluate the impact of IQ of AST report on rational antimicrobial use as a reference for antimicrobial therapy. Methods: The retrospective study included data of AST report, antimicrobials prescribed after reporting AST results and related inpatient information. The inclusion criteria of the AST report included three conditions: 1. The AST reports were from inpatients with diagnosis of infection. 2. The bacteria were extracted from a sterile-site specimen. 3. The interpretive categories (ie sensitive, intermediary or resistance) were firstly reported during one hospitalization. The IQ of AST report was measured by the total IQ and IQ of completeness, usefulness, accuracy and consistency. The rational antimicrobial use was measured by the antimicrobial adherence to the interpretive categories of AST report. Fractional logit regression model (FLRM) was chosen to evaluate the impact of IQ on the rational antimicrobial use. Results: The median of the total IQ, completeness, usefulness, accuracy and consistency were 0.7345, 0.6082, 0.9167, 0.8966 and 1.0000, respectively. The results of FLRM showed that usefulness, accuracy and consistency had significant positive impacts on the rational antimicrobial use (ß = 4.220, P < 0.001; ß = 3.987, P < 0.001; ß = 0.511, P = 0.001, respectively), while the total IQ and completeness had no statistically significant impacts on the rational antimicrobial use (ß = -0.820, P = 0.35; ß = -0.793, P = 0.20, respectively). Conclusion: This study confirmed that usefulness, accuracy and consistency performed well and had positive impacts on the rational antimicrobial use, which indicated that improving IQ especially usefulness, accuracy and consistency would make AST report play a greater role in promoting the rational antimicrobial use.

Development of a New Collagen Gel Product for Leather Finishing.

Leather finishing is a critical process in the leather industry, as it significantly influences the final appearance, durability, and quality of leather products. Traditional leather finishing techniques often involve the use of synthetic chemicals, which may lead to environmental concerns and potential health hazards. In this study, we investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a new collagen-based product for leather finishing. Collagen, a natural protein found abundantly in animals, has shown promise as an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative for leather finishing. The new collagen gel product obtained from bovine hide waste by using an alkaline extraction method with lime was functionalized through an enzymatic treatment that allows to achieve a finishing product suitable for coating formulations, and at the same time, a biodegradable finishing. The collagen gel product was optimized by varying parameters, such as temperature, pH, and enzyme quantity. The optimized collagen gel product exhibits a wide particle size range and retains the triple-helical structure of collagen. The leather samples treated with the collagen gel product show enhanced properties compared to those with conventional finishes. The results show that the collagen gel product enhances water vapor permeability, color stability, and touch in the finishes. However, a low resistance to wet rubbing is obtained; therefore, it is necessary to study how to improve this parameter.

Surface Stability and Exfoliability of Non-van der Waals Magnetic Chromium Tellurides.

Exfoliation of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials from non-van der Waals (non-vdW) materials has attracted increasing attention because it provides a great platform for the construction of 2D magnetic materials. For non-vdW magnetic chromium tellurides with high Curie temperatures, their few-layer samples show promising applications in the field of spintronics. However, there is still no consensus on whether the surface structures of few-layer chromium tellurides should be terminated by Cr or Te atoms. By calculating the surface and exfoliation energy, we find that which structure is more stable depends greatly on the value of the chemical potential of Te atoms, and the few-layer sample with a Cr-terminated surface is easier to exfoliate than that with both Te-terminated surfaces. Finally, we propose that different exfoliated structures can be identified by using the atomic number ratio of Cr to Te and the average magnetic moment of Cr atoms in few-layer samples.