Mid-infrared single-photon upconversion spectroscopy enabled by nonlocal wavelength-to-time mapping

Ultrasensitive spectroscopy is an essential component in mid-infrared (MIR) technology. However, the drawbacks of MIR detectors pose challenges to robust MIR spectroscopy at the single-photon level. We propose an MIR single-photon frequency upconversion spectroscopy nonlocally mapping the MIR information to the time domain. Broadband MIR photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion are frequency-upconverted to the near-infrared band with quantum correlation preservation. Via the group delay of fiber, the MIR spectral information within a 1.18-micrometer bandwidth of 2.76 to 3.94 micrometers is then successfully projected to arrival times of correlated photon pairs. Under the conditions of 6.4 × 106 photons per second illumination, the transmission spectra of polymers with single-photon sensitivity are demonstrated using single-pixel detectors. The developed approach circumvents scanning and frequency selection instability, which stands out for its inherent compatibility for evolving environments and scalability for various wavelengths. Because of its high sensitivity and robustness, characterization of biochemical samples and weak measurement of quantum systems are possible to foresee.

Wide-field mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging beyond video rate

Mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging has become an indispensable tool to spatially resolve chemical information in a wide variety of samples. However, acquiring three-dimensional data cubes is typically time-consuming due to the limited speed of raster scanning or wavelength tuning, which impedes real-time visualization with high spatial definition across broad spectral bands. Here, we devise and implement a high-speed, wide-field mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging system relying on broadband parametric upconversion of high-brightness supercontinuum illumination at the Fourier plane. The upconverted replica is spectrally decomposed by a rapid acousto-optic tunable filter, which records high-definition monochromatic images at a frame rate of 10 kHz based on a megapixel silicon camera. Consequently, the hyperspectral imager allows us to acquire 100 spectral bands over 2600-4085 cm-1 in 10 ms, corresponding to a refreshing rate of 100 Hz. Moreover, the angular dependence of phase matching in the image upconversion is leveraged to realize snapshot operation with spatial multiplexing for multiple spectral channels, which may further boost the spectral imaging rate. The high acquisition rate, wide-field operation, and broadband spectral coverage could open new possibilities for high-throughput characterization of transient processes in material and life sciences.

Approaching Effective Differential Centrifugal Fractionation by Combining Image Analysis with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Centrifugation is one of the most commonly used methods for separation in biology and chemistry. However, effective fractionation is not always easy to obtain, as preparative centrifuge experiments are mostly conducted in an empirical way, even when it is guided by the quantitative results from analytical ultracentrifuge (AUC). Very few works have been performed to enhance the fractionation resolution of the differential centrifugation method in a swing-out rotor. This is primarily due to the absence of a characterization tool for sedimentation in the preparative centrifuge. In this study, we utilized image analysis to map the particle concentration distribution throughout the preparative centrifuge tube, revealing an unexpected and abnormal sedimentation process. By characterizing the sedimentation coefficient distributions of the fractionated product via AUC, we demonstrated that the overall sedimentation efficiency in a swing-out preparative centrifuge was significantly reduced. Furthermore, effective fractionation was confined to the intermediate phase of the entire sedimentation process. We propose that the mechanism here is a combination of the inverse Boycott effect and droplet sedimentation. The actual sedimentation process within a preparative centrifuge can be described by modifying the Lamm equation phenomenologically, which simply results in an effective sedimentation coefficient. Our work builds a foundation for determining the optimal preparative centrifugation conditions for various systems.

EMNPD: a comprehensive endophytic microorganism natural products database for prompt the discovery of new bioactive substances

The discovery and utilization of natural products derived from endophytic microorganisms have garnered significant attention in pharmaceutical research. While remarkable progress has been made in this field each year, the absence of dedicated open-access databases for endophytic microorganism natural products research is evident. To address the increasing demand for mining and sharing of data resources related to endophytic microorganism natural products, this study introduces EMNPD, a comprehensive endophytic microorganism natural products database comprising manually curated data. Currently, EMNPD offers 6632 natural products from 1017 endophytic microorganisms, targeting 1286 entities (including 94 proteins, 282 cell lines, and 910 species) with 91 diverse bioactivities. It encompasses the physico-chemical properties of natural products, ADMET information, quantitative activity data with their potency, natural products contents with diverse fermentation conditions, systematic taxonomy, and links to various well-established databases. EMNPD aims to function as an open-access knowledge repository for the study of endophytic microorganisms and their natural products, thereby facilitating drug discovery research and exploration of bioactive substances. The database can be accessed at http://emnpd.idrblab.cn/ without the need for registration, enabling researchers to freely download the data. EMNPD is expected to become a valuable resource in the field of endophytic microorganism natural products and contribute to future drug development endeavors.

Association of tea and coffee consumption with the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among individuals with metabolic syndrome: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between tea and coffee consumption and mortality among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains barely explored. Herein, this study aimed to examine the association between tea and coffee consumption and the likelihood of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with MetS.

METHODS

A total of 118,872 participants with MetS at baseline from the UK Biobank cohort were included. Information on tea and coffee consumption was obtained during recruitment using a touchscreen questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality were determined using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 13.87 years, 13,666 deaths were recorded, with 5913, 3362, and 994 deaths from cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and respiratory disease (RD), respectively. This research showed a significant inverse association between tea intake and the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, the respective HRs (95% CI) for consuming tea 2 vs. 0 cup/day were 0.89 (0.84-0.95), and 0.91 (0.83-0.99), and tea intake ≥ 4 cups/day could reduce CVD mortality by 11% (HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.81-0.98). The U-shaped nonlinear association between coffee intake and all-cause/CVD mortality was examined (all p-nonlinear < 0.001). The HRs (95% CI) for coffee consumption 1 vs. 0 cup/day were 0.93 (0.89-0.98) and 0.89 (0.80-0.99), and for ≥ 4 vs. 0 cup/day were 1.05 (1.01-1.11) and 1.13 (1.03-1.25), respectively. Notably, the combined intake of tea and coffee presented a protective effect against all-cause mortality (HR < 1).

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of daily tea and moderate coffee consumption in individuals with MetS to optimise health benefits are highlighted.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with the incidence of 16 cancers, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality among individuals with metabolic syndrome: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

The relationship between vitamin D levels and cancer incidence and mortality in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains poorly explored. Herein, we aimed to determine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and the risk of 16 cancer incidence types and cancer/all-cause mortality in patients with MetS.

METHODS

We enrolled 97,621 participants with MetS at recruitment from the UK Biobank cohort. The exposure factor was baseline serum 25(OH)D concentrations. The associations were examined using Cox proportional hazards models, which were displayed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up period of 10.92 years for cancer incidence outcomes, 12,137 new cancer cases were recorded. We observed that 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely related to the risk of colon, lung, and kidney cancer, and HRs (95% CI) for 25(OH)D ≥ 75.0 vs. < 25.0 nmol/L were 0.67 (0.45-0.98), 0.64 (0.45-0.91), and 0.54 (0.31-0.95), respectively. The fully adjusted model revealed a null correlation between 25(OH)D and the incidence of stomach, rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, ovary, bladder, brain, multiple myeloma, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, esophagus, and corpus uteri cancer. Over a median follow-up period of 12.72 years for mortality outcomes, 8286 fatalities (including 3210 cancer mortalities) were documented. An "L-shaped" nonlinear dose-response correlation was detected between 25(OH)D and cancer/all-cause mortality; the respective HRs (95% CI) were 0.75 (0.64-0.89) and 0.65 (0.58-0.72).

CONCLUSION

These findings emphasize the importance of 25(OH)D in cancer prevention and longevity promotion among patients with MetS.

Childhood-Onset Lupus Nephritis in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry: Short-Term Kidney Status and Variation in Care

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to characterize short-term kidney status and describe variation in early care utilization in a multicenter cohort of patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and nephritis.

METHODS

We analyzed previously collected prospective data from North American patients with cSLE with kidney biopsy-proven nephritis enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry from March 2017 through December 2019. We determined the proportion of patients with abnormal kidney status at the most recent registry visit and applied generalized linear mixed models to identify associated factors. We also calculated frequency of medication use, both during induction and ever recorded.

RESULTS

We identified 222 patients with kidney biopsy-proven nephritis, with 64% class III/IV nephritis on initial biopsy. At the most recent registry visit at median (interquartile range) of 17 (8-29) months from initial kidney biopsy, 58 of 106 patients (55%) with available data had abnormal kidney status. This finding was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.21-12.46) and age at cSLE diagnosis (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.49). Patients with class IV nephritis were more likely than class III to receive cyclophosphamide and rituximab during induction. There was substantial variation in mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab ever use patterns across rheumatology centers.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort with predominately class III/IV nephritis, male sex and older age at cSLE diagnosis were associated with abnormal short-term kidney status. We also observed substantial variation in contemporary medication use for pediatric lupus nephritis between pediatric rheumatology centers. Additional studies are needed to better understand the impact of this variation on long-term kidney outcomes.

Mid-infrared single-photon 3D imaging

Active mid-infrared (MIR) imagers capable of retrieving three-dimensional (3D) structure and reflectivity information are highly attractive in a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications. However, infrared 3D imaging at low-light levels is still challenging due to the deficiency of sensitive and fast MIR sensors. Here we propose and implement a MIR time-of-flight imaging system that operates at single-photon sensitivity and femtosecond timing resolution. Specifically, back-scattered infrared photons from a scene are optically gated by delay-controlled ultrashort pump pulses through nonlinear frequency upconversion. The upconverted images with time stamps are then recorded by a silicon camera to facilitate the 3D reconstruction with high lateral and depth resolutions. Moreover, an effective numerical denoiser based on spatiotemporal correlation allows us to reveal the object profile and reflectivity under photon-starving conditions with a detected flux below 0.05 photons/pixel/second. The presented MIR 3D imager features high detection sensitivity, precise timing resolution, and wide-field operation, which may open new possibilities in life and material sciences.

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence properties of single defects in AlGaN micropillars

Single-photon emitters (SPEs) are attractive as integrated platforms for quantum applications in technologically mature wide-bandgap semiconductors since their stable operation at room temperature or even at high temperatures. In this study, we systematically studied the temperature dependence of the SPE in AlGaN micropillar by experiment. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, PL intensity, radiative lifetime and second-order autocorrelation function measurements are investigated over the temperature range from 303 to 373 K. The point defects of AlGaN show strong zero phonon line in the wavelength range of 800-900 nm and highly antibunched photon emission even up to 373 K. Our study reveals a possible mechanism for linewidth broadening in AlGaN SPE at high temperatures. This indicates a possible key for on-chip integration applications based on this material operating at high temperatures.

Plasma poration: Transdermal electric fields, conduction currents, and reactive species transport

Radical species and electric fields produced by gas plasmas are increasingly used in dermatology. Plasma-poration is the key basis for the efficient plasma skin treatment, which involves the plasma electric field, the directional motion of charged particles, and the transport of reactive particles. However, the enabling mechanisms of the plasma-poration remain unclear and require urgent attention. Here, the plasma-induced electric fields in each skin layer are accurately measured for the first time. The maximum electric field in the stratum corneum is 43 kV/cm, while the electric field in the active epidermis and dermis is about 1.8 kV/cm. This electric field strength is in the range of strength required for electroporation. Different from traditional electroporation treatments, the plasma-poration mainly relies on the effects of strong electric fields and the conductive current. The active power of the plasma-poration up to 18.5 kW/cm3 in the stratum corneum can rapidly change the structure of the skin. At the same time, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species also pass through the stratum corneum and effectively interact with the skin tissue. The plasma-poration does not cause any pain, which is an inevitable side effect of common electroporation.

Deciphering the photophysical properties of near-infrared quantum emitters in AlGaN films by transition dynamics

Point defects in wide bandgap III-nitride semiconductors have been recently reported to be one kind of the most promising near-infrared (NIR) quantum emitters operating at room temperature (RT). But the identification of the point defect species and the energy level structures as well as the transition dynamics remain unclear. Here, the photophysical properties of single-photon emission from point defects in AlGaN films are investigated in detail. According to the first-principles calculations, a three-level model was established to explain the transition dynamics of the quantum emitters. An anti-site nitrogen vacancy complex (V_NN_Ga) was demonstrated to be the most likely origin of the measured emitter since the calculated zero-phonon line (ZPL) and the lifetime of V_NN_Ga in the AlGaN film coincide well with the experimental results. Our results provide new insights into the optical properties and energy level structures of quantum emission from point defects in AlGaN films at RT and establish the foundation for future AlGaN-based on-chip quantum technologies.

Intraarticular steroids as DMARD-sparing agents for juvenile idiopathic arthritis flares: Analysis of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry

BACKGROUND

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who achieve a drug free remission often experience a flare of their disease requiring either intraarticular steroids (IAS) or systemic treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). IAS offer an opportunity to recapture disease control and avoid exposure to side effects from systemic immunosuppression. We examined a cohort of patients treated with IAS after drug free remission and report the probability of restarting systemic treatment within 12 months.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of patients from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry who received IAS for a flare after a period of drug free remission. Historical factors and clinical characteristics and of the patients including data obtained at the time of treatment were analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified 46 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of those with follow up data available 49% had restarted systemic treatment 6 months after IAS injection and 70% had restarted systemic treatment at 12 months. The proportion of patients with prior use of a biologic DMARD was the only factor that differed between patients who restarted systemic treatment those who did not, both at 6 months (79% vs 35%, p < 0.01) and 12 months (81% vs 33%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While IAS are an option for all patients who flare after drug free remission, it may not prevent the need to restart systemic treatment. Prior use of a biologic DMARD may predict lack of success for IAS. Those who previously received methotrexate only, on the other hand, are excellent candidates for IAS.

Genetic risk, incident colorectal cancer, and the benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle: A prospective study using data from UK Biobank and FinnGen

Background

Genetic factors increase the individual risk of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the extent to which a healthy lifestyle can offset increased genetic risk is unknown. This study investigated whether a healthy lifestyle is associated with lower CRC risk, regardless of genetic risk.

Methods

We recruited 390,365 participants without cancer at baseline (2006-2010) from the UK Biobank. The primary outcome was CRC incidence. A healthy lifestyle score constructed using 16 factors of six dimensions (smoking, drinking, body mass index, diet, exercise, and sleep) was categorized into three risk categories: favorable, intermediate, and unfavorable. To calculate the polygenic risk scores (PRSs) of UK Biobank participants, we extracted 454,678 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the UK Biobank and FinnGen Biobank after quality control. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to evaluate the associations and was expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

During a median follow-up of 10.90 years, 4,090 new CRC cases were reported in the UK Biobank. The "best-fit" PRSs were constructed using 59 SNPs based on the UK Biobank cohort and FinnGen genome-wide association study summary data (R² = 0.23%) and were divided into low (lowest quintile), intermediate (including second-fourth quintile), and high (highest quintile) genetic risk categories. The multivariate-adjusted Cox model revealed that participants with favorable lifestyles had HRs of 0.66 (95% CI = 0.60-0.72) for developing CRC vs. those with unfavorable lifestyles; low genetic risk was associated with a decreased risk of CRC (HR = 0.67, 95% CI =0.61-0.74) compared with those with high genetic risk. The HRs for low genetic risk participants with favorable lifestyles were 0.44 (95% CI =0.36-0.55) vs. participants with high genetic risk and unfavorable lifestyles. Among the participants with low, intermediate, or high genetic risk, the HRs of favorable vs. unfavorable lifestyles were 0.74, 0.64, and 0.72 (all p< 0.05).

Conclusions

Low genetic risk and a favorable lifestyle were significantly associated with a decreased risk of CRC. A favorable lifestyle was associated with a lower CRC risk, regardless of genetic risk.

Association of sleep duration and noise exposure with hearing loss among Chinese and American adults: two cross-sectional studies

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations of sleep duration (SPD) and noise exposure with hearing loss (HL) among Chinese and American adults.

DESIGN

Two cross-sectional studies.

SETTING

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2012), and Zhejiang Chinese participants between 1 January 2018 and 1 November 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

3322 adults from the USA and 4452 adults from Zhejiang, China.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

HL was defined as a pure-tone average >20 dB in the better ear at low frequency (500, 1000 and 2000 Hz), speech frequency (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz) or high frequency (3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz). Binary logistic regression analysis quantified the associations between SPD, noise exposure (at work or off-work) and HL.

RESULTS

SPD ≥8 hours/night had an OR of 0.71 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.84) for high-frequency HL vs. an SPD of 6-8 hours/night among the Chinese participants but had an OR of 1.28 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.58) among American participants. Noise exposure (both at work and off-work) was associated with poorer low-frequency (OR 1.58, 1.43; p<0.05), speech-frequency (OR 1.63, 1.29; p<0.05) and high-frequency (OR 1.37, 1.23; p<0.05) hearing among the Chinese participants; and it was associated with worse high-frequency hearing (OR 1.43, 1.66; p<0.05) among the American participants. The negative relationship between SPD ≥8 hours/night and HL was mainly observed in the Chinese participants with noise exposure (OR <1, p<0.05), and SPD ≥8 hours/night associated with poorer HF hearing was only identified in the American participants without noise exposure (OR >1, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Noise exposure was associated with poorer hearing. SPD ≥8 hours/night was negatively associated with HL in the Chinese participants especially when exposed to noise. SPD ≥8 hours/night was related to poorer high-frequency hearing in the American participants when they had no noise exposure.

Noncausal effects of genetic predicted depression and colorectal cancer risk: A Mendelian randomization study

Depression has been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in observational studies. However, the causality of depression on CRC risk remained unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the potential causal association between genetic variants related to depression and the risk of CRC using Mendelian randomization (MR). Two-sample MR analysis using summary data was performed to examine whether depression was causally associated with CRC risk. We used 2 sets of instrumental variables (IV) from the genome-wide association study results for analysis. A set of IV related to major depressive disorder contain 44 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Another set of IV was related to major depression, including 53 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Summary data of CRC was from the FinnGen consortium. Based on the results of MR using inverse-variance weighted method, we found that genetically determined major depressive disorder (odds ratio = 1.06, 95% confidence interval = 0.77-1.45) or major depression (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval = 0.57-1.04) did not causally increase CRC risk. The results of MR-Egger and the weighted median method are consistent with the inverse-variance weighted method. The two-sample MR analysis showed that depression is not causally associated with CRC risk. Further research is needed to investigate the association between depression and CRC.

A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study supports the causal effects of a high basal metabolic rate on colorectal cancer risk

Purpose

We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to determine whether genetically predicted basal metabolic rate (BMR) was a causal risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) or whether a genetically predicted CRC risk can influence the BMR level (i.e., reverse causation).

Methods

We employed 1,040 genetic variants as proxies for BMR to obtain effect estimates on CRC risk. Another 58 CRC-associated variants were used to estimate effects on BMR levels. Stratified analysis by tumor site was used to examine the causal associations between BMR and colon/rectal cancer risk.

Results

The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method indicated a significant causal effect of genetically determined BMR on CRC risk (OR_SD = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07–1.51). No significant reverse causal association was identified between genetically increased CRC risk and BMR levels [IVW (β = 0, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0)]. The results of MR-Egger and the weighted median method were consistent with the IVW method. Stratified analysis by CRC sites identified significant causal associations between BMR and colon cancer [IVW (OR_SD = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.16-1-80)], and null evidence of a causal association between BMR and rectal cancer risk was found (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings add to the current literature by validating a positive relationship between high BMR levels and CRC risk instead of reverse causality. The genetically predicted BMR level was causally associated with colon cancer risk but not rectal cancer risk.

Association of a Healthy Lifestyle with All-Cause, Cause-Specific Mortality and Incident Cancer among Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Study in UK Biobank

This study investigated the association between a healthy lifestyle with all-cause, cause-specific mortality, and cancer incidence among individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Healthy lifestyle scores were created based on MetS management guidelines, including never/quitting smoking, moderate drinking, good sleep, healthy diet, sufficient exercise, social support, and less sedentary behaviour. Weighted healthy lifestyle scores were further constructed and classified into three groups: unfavourable (lowest quintile), intermediate (quintiles 2−4), and favourable (highest quintile) lifestyles. We included 87,342 MetS participants from the UK Biobank. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression. During a median follow-up of 12.54 years, 6739 deaths were reported; during a median follow-up of 10.69 years, 10,802 new cancer cases were documented. We found a favourable lifestyle was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 0.57; 95%CI: 0.53−0.62), cause-specific mortality from respiratory disease, cancer, digestive disease, cardiovascular disease (HR < 1; p-trend < 0.001), and overall cancer incidence (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.79−0.90). Our results indicate that adherence to healthy lifestyles is associated with lower overall cancer incidence and all-cause mortality risk among MetS individuals. However, causality cannot be made due to the nature of observational studies.

Consumption of fruits, vegetables, and legumes are associated with overweight/obesity in the middle- and old-aged Chongqing residents: A case-control study

This study aimed to investigate the association of dietary habits with the risk of overweight/obesity among middle-and-old-aged Chongqing residents and also to examine the joint effects of behavioral lifestyles, dietary habits, and overweight/obesity. In this case-control study, age (±3 years), sex, and time of physical exercise matched 979 overweight/obesity residents, and 979 normal weight residents were recruited. A validated questionnaire was used to collect participants' information. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of dietary habits and lifestyles associated with overweight/obesity risk. Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 kg·m-2, and normal weight was defined as 18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg·m-2. The multivariate-adjusted models showed the weekly intake frequency of fruits 0-1 (day/week) (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.04-3.10), and legumes 0-1 (day/week) (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.28-4.67), as well as the weekly intake percentage of vegetables ≥ 15% (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.04-5.71) were associated with a higher risk of overweight/obesity. Besides, there were joint effects of lifestyles (smoking or drinking) and dietary habits on overweight/obesity risk (P for interaction < 0.05). The consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and the joint effects of behavioral habits (smoking or drinking) may modify the risk of being overweight/obese. It is essential to consume fruits and legumes at least 2 days/week, quit smoking, and stop consuming alcohol to avoid overweight/obesity among middle-aged and elderly people in Chongqing, China.

Social determinants of health influence disease activity and functional disability in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health (SDH) greatly influence outcomes during the first year of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis, a disease similar to polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). We investigated the correlation of community poverty level and other SDH with the persistence of moderate to severe disease activity and functional disability over the first year of treatment in pJIA patients enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.

METHODS

In this cohort study, unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear mixed effects models analyzed the effect of community poverty and other SDH on disease activity, using the clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score-10, and disability, using the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire, measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

One thousand six hundred eighty-four patients were identified. High community poverty (≥20% living below the federal poverty level) was associated with increased odds of functional disability (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.28-2.60) but was not statistically significant after adjustment (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 0.81-1.86) and was not associated with increased disease activity. Non-white race/ethnicity was associated with higher disease activity (aOR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.41-4.36). Lower self-reported household income was associated with higher disease activity and persistent functional disability. Public insurance (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06-2.29) and low family education (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.14-3.12) was associated with persistent functional disability.

CONCLUSION

High community poverty level was associated with persistent functional disability in unadjusted analysis but not with persistent moderate to high disease activity. Race/ethnicity and other SDH were associated with persistent disease activity and functional disability.

Wide-field mid-infrared single-photon upconversion imaging

Frequency upconversion technique, where the infrared signal is nonlinearly translated into the visible band to leverage the silicon sensors, offers a promising alternation for the mid-infrared (MIR) imaging. However, the intrinsic field of view (FOV) is typically limited by the phase-matching condition, thus imposing a remaining challenge to promote subsequent applications. Here, we demonstrate a wide-field upconversion imaging based on the aperiodic quasi-phase-matching configuration. The acceptance angle is significantly expanded to about 30°, over tenfold larger than that with the periodical poling crystal. The extended FOV is realized in one shot without the need of parameter scanning or post-processing. Consequently, a fast snapshot allows to facilitate high-speed imaging at a frame rate up to 216 kHz. Alternatively, single-photon imaging at room temperature is permitted due to the substantially suppressed background noise by the spectro-temporal filtering. Furthermore, we have implemented high-resolution time-of-flight 3D imaging based on the picosecond optical gating. These presented MIR imaging features with wide field, fast speed, and high sensitivity might stimulate immediate applications, such as non-destructive defect inspection, in-vivo biomedical examination, and high-speed volumetric tomography.

The authors present a simple yet effective solution to dramatically boost the performances of an upconversion imaging system, which leads to unprecedented mid-infrared imaging features with large field of view, single-photon sensitivity and a MHz-level frame rate.

Polarization control of plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials with reversibly convertible bright and dark modes

We numerically demonstrate a Z-shaped metal-based metamaterial to realize an active polarization-controlled plasmon-induced transparency (PIT). The metamaterial unit cell contains two horizontal Au bars and a vertical Au bar. Simply by varying the incident light polarization, a tunable PIT can be achieved due to the reversible conversion of bright and dark modes between the horizontal and vertical Au bars. Moreover, a switchable PIT window modulation can be accomplished via changing the geometrical parameters, and the theoretical fittings according to the coupled Lorentz oscillator model display consistency with the simulated results. Our proposed metamaterials provide a promising strategy for fabricating compact PIT devices such as optical switching, sensing, and selective filters.

1370 Classifying Morbidity and Error in Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma Using the Clavien-Dindo Classification: A Prospective Pilot Study

Introduction

The collection of morbidity outcomes following surgery was recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2014. They suggest a structure to stratify complications into groupings but do not include a classification this limits comparison. Our unit, a regionalised maxillofacial trauma service, introduced a standardised morbidity and error classification to be applied at M&M meetings.

Method

Prospective collection of data from March 2019 to February 2020. All patients discussed at our M&M meeting were then classified according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification (2004), assigned an error type and recommended action determined through a panel of between 5-10 consultants.

Results

301 surgical procedures were carried out with a 7% complication rate. 26 cases were discussed at M&M. The commonest error type was ‘nature of the disease’ (48%) followed by ‘error in judgement’ (37%). Clavien-Dindo Classification IIIb (intervention under GA) was the most frequent morbidity (74%)

Conclusions

Standardised national data collection of morbidity and error can be used to analyse a single institution or between institutions to improve patient care. To our knowledge, this is the first standardised classification of morbidity in maxillofacial trauma and was of educational and service benefit. However, there was discussion of the appropriateness of the classification systems to facial fractures. We would therefore recommend further development of both a morbidity classification and an error type classification specific to treatment of facial fractures so that it can be used to improve outcomes for our patients in the future.

Plasmon Enhanced Second Harmonic Generation from ZnO Nanofilms on Vertical Au Nanorod Arrays

Vertically aligned gold nanorod arrays have attracted much attention for their fascinating optical properties. Different from longitudinal surface plasmon wavelength (LSPW) and edge-to-edge spacing of gold nanorods, the role of gold nanorod diameter in plasmonic enhancement ability of vertical gold nanorod arrays has rarely been explored. In this work, we selected gold nanorods with similar LSPW but two different diameters (22 and 41 nm), the optical properties of which are dominated by absorption and scattering cross sections, respectively. The vertically aligned arrays of these gold nanorods formed by evaporation self-assembly are coupled with nonlinear ZnO nanocrystal films spin-coated on their surfaces. It was found that the gold nanorod array with a larger diameter can enhance the second harmonic generation (SHG) of ZnO nanofilm by a factor of 27.0, while it is about 7.3 for the smaller gold nanorod array. Theoretical simulations indicate that such stronger enhancement of the larger vertical gold nanorod array compared with the smaller one is due to its stronger scattering ability and greater extent of near-field enhancement at SHG fundamental wavelength. Our work shows that the diameter of gold nanorods is also an important factor to be considered in realizing strong plasmon enhancement of vertically aligned gold nanorod arrays.

A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes in Drosophila by undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience

Undergraduate students participating in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) have conducted a two-phased screen using RNA interference (RNAi) in combination with fluorescent reporter proteins to identify genes important for hematopoiesis in Drosophila. This screen disrupted the function of approximately 3500 genes and identified 137 candidate genes for which loss of function leads to observable changes in the hematopoietic development. Targeting RNAi to maturing, progenitor, and regulatory cell types identified key subsets that either limit or promote blood cell maturation. Bioinformatic analysis reveals gene enrichment in several previously uncharacterized areas, including RNA processing and export and vesicular trafficking. Lastly, the participation of students in this course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) correlated with increased learning gains across several areas, as well as increased STEM retention, indicating that authentic, student-driven research in the form of a CURE represents an impactful and enriching pedagogical approach.

Distance-Dependent Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence of Submonolayer Rhodamine 6G by Gold Nanoparticles

We investigate the fluorescence from submonolayer rhodamine 6G molecules near gold nanoparticles (NPs) at a well-controlled poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) interval thickness from 1.5 to 21 nm. The plasmonic resonance peaks of gold NPs are tuned from 530 to 580 nm by the PMMA spacer of different thicknesses. Then, due to the plasmonic resonant excitation enhancement, the emission intensity of rhodamine 6G molecules at 562 nm is found to be enhanced and shows a decline as the PMMA spacer thickness increases. The variation of spectral intensity simulated by finite-difference time-domain method is consistent with the experimental results. Moreover, the lifetime results show the combined effects to rhodamine 6G fluorescence, which include the quenching effect, the barrier effect of PMMA as spacer layer and the attenuation effect of PMMA films.

[Correlation analysis between type 2 diabetes and core gut microbiota]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the species, abundance and structure differences of intestinal flora between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and healthy individuals and explore the correlation between intestinal flora changes and T2D.

OBJECTIVE

We collected a total of 133 clinical fecal samples from 78 healthy individuals and 55 patients with T2D. Hiseq2500 was used for high-throughput sequencing of the V3+V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Usearch and QIIME were used for data splicing and filtering, classification and species annotation. The Alpha diversity index and Beta diversity index of the samples were analyzed using R language data packets to compare the richness and diversity of the sample flora. The flora differences were compared between the two groups and the disease marker flora was screened after correction of the relevant factors. PICRUST software was used to predict the function of different flora.

OBJECTIVE

There was significant difference in the intestinal flora diversity between the two groups. Cluster analysis showed that Fimicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant species at the phylum level. LefSe analysis showed that significant differences in the relative abundance between the two groups in 2 phyla, 3 classes, 3 orders, 4 families and 10 genera. After correction for the influence of related factors, the markers of T2Drelated bacteria groups were identified, including Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Lactobacillales, Lactobacillaceae and Lactobacillus. On this basis, analysis of KEGG metabolic pathways of the differential flora revealed significant differences in 36 KEGG metabolic pathways between the two groups, and the citric acid cycle, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and other metabolic pathways were all up-regulated in T2D group.

OBJECTIVE

The composition and abundance of intestinal flora were different between T2D group and the normal group, and T2D group showed the characteristics of ecological imbalance.

Attenuation-free non-diffracting Bessel beams

We report on a versatile method to compensate the linear attenuation in a medium, independently of its microscopic origin. The method exploits diffraction-limited Bessel beams and tailored on-axis intensity profiles, which are generated using a phase-only spatial light modulator. This technique for compensating one of the most fundamental limiting processes in linear optics is shown to be efficient for a wide range of experimental conditions (modifying the refractive index and the attenuation coefficient). Finally, we explain how this method can be advantageously exploited in applications ranging from bio-imaging light sheet microscopy to quantum memories for future quantum communication networks.

P2682Long-term effects of enhanced external counterpulsation treatment on symptom burden, usage of nitrates, physical capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with refractory angina pectoris

Background

Patients with refractory angina pectoris (RAP) suffer from debilitating symptoms with considerable limitation of functional capacity and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) despite optimized medical therapy. Recurrent angina symptoms are strongly associated with psychological distress and cardiac anxiety (i.e., a subtype of anxiety related to cardiac sensations). Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an alternative non-invasive treatment for these patients. An EECP course includes 35 1-hour sessions over 7 weeks. No previous study has explored long-term EECP effects on cardiac anxiety in patients with RAP.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of EECP treatment in patients with RAP regarding usage of nitrates, physical capacity, cardiac anxiety and HRQoL.

Methods

A quasi experimental design with long-term follow-up (6 months) involving 50 patients (men=37, 47–91 years) who had finished one course of EECP. Assessment of average use of nitrates, six-minute walk test, functional class with Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification and questionnaires for cardiac anxiety and HRQoL were collected pre and post treatment. In addition, the questionnaires were collected 6 months after completion of EECP.

Results

Patients used significantly less nitrates (p<0.001) compared to at the start of treatment. They enhanced the walking distance on average by 46 m after EECP (p<0.001) and CCS class also improved (p<0.001). All subscales except for one in cardiac anxiety were significantly reduced (p<0.05). All dimensions in HRQoL improved significantly (p<0.01). The positive effects in both cardiac anxiety and HRQoL were maintained 6 months after the treatment.

Conclusions

Patients with RAP received beneficial effects from EECP. Reduced symptom burden and improved physical capacity enable engagement in physical activities. Furthermore, less cardiac anxiety and improved HRQoL may enhance life satisfaction for these patients. EECP treatment should be considered to a greater extent to improve the life situation for these patients.

dc Magnetometry with Engineered Nitrogen-Vacancy Spin Ensembles in Diamond

The exquisite optical and spin properties of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have made them a promising platform for quantum sensing. The prospect of NV-based sensors relies on the controlled production of these atomic-scale defects. Here we report on the fabrication of a preferentially oriented, shallow ensemble of NV centers and their applicability for sensing dc magnetic fields. For the present sample, the residual paramagnetic impurities are the dominant source of environmental noise, limiting the dephasing time (T₂^*) of the NVs. By controlling the P1 spin-bath, we achieve a 4-fold improvement in the T₂^* of the NV ensemble. Further, we show that combining spin-bath control and homonuclear decoupling sequence cancels NV-NV interactions and partially protects the sensors from a broader spin environment, thus extending the ensemble T₂^* up to 10 μs. With this decoupling protocol, we measure an improved dc magnetic field sensitivity of 1.2 nT μm^3/2 Hz^-1/2. Using engineered NVs and decoupling protocols, we demonstrate the prospects of harnessing the full potential of NV-based ensemble magnetometry.

Reducing off target viral delivery in ovarian cancer gene therapy using a protease-activated AAV2 vector platform

Gene therapy is a promising strategy for treating metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, efficient vector targeting to tumors is difficult and off-target effects can be severely detrimental. Most vector targeting approaches rely on surface receptors overexpressed on some subpopulation of cancer cells. Unfortunately, there is no universally expressed cell surface biomarker for tumor cells. As an alternative, we developed an adeno-associated virus (AAV) based "Provector" whose cellular transduction can be activated by extracellular proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) that are overexpressed in the tumor microenvironments of the most aggressive forms of EOC. In a non-tumor bearing mouse model, the Provector demonstrates efficient de-targeting of healthy tissues, especially the liver, where viral delivery is <1% of AAV2. In an orthotopic HeyA8 tumor model of EOC, the Provector maintains decreased off-target delivery in the liver and other tissues but with no loss in tumor delivery. Notably, approximately 10% of the injected Provector is still detected in the blood at 24 h while >99% of injected AAV2 has been cleared from the blood by 1 h. Furthermore, mouse serum raised against the Provector is 16-fold less able to neutralize Provector transduction compared to AAV2 serum neutralizing AAV2 transduction (1:200 vs 1:3200 serum dilution, respectively). Thus, the Provector appears to generate less neutralizing antibodies than AAV2. Importantly, serum against AAV2 does not neutralize the Provector as well as AAV2, suggesting that pre-existing antibodies against AAV2 would not negate the clinical application of Provectors. Taken together, we present an EOC gene delivery vector platform based on AAV with decreased off-target delivery without loss of on-target specificity, and greater immunological stealth over the traditional AAV2 gene delivery vector.

[Proper patient education improves hepatitis C patients' disease-related knowledge and antiviral treatment acceptance in rural China]

Objective: To evaluate the affect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) education in chronic hepatitis C patients' disease related knowledge and antiviral treatment acceptance in rural china. Methods: Rural HCV patients of attended CHC project of HCV education. Doctor delivered subsequent interactive lecture, and patients completed pre- and post-education questionnaires before and after taking the lectures. Results: 151 CHC patients were included. Mean age was 57.3 years old, 50.3% were male, 51.0% of the students had primary school education or illiterate, and 76.2% had a monthly income below RMB 3,000. 98.0% of patients defined their baseline HCV knowledge as "nothing" or "a little bit". A multivariate analysis reveled baseline knowledge scores were associated with age and household income. After education, mean knowledge score (range: 0-28) increased from 13.1 to 23.0 (P < 0.001) and average percent of patients with correct answers from the topic rose from 46.8% to 82.1% (P < 0.001), and patients' antiviral treatment acceptance increased from 33.9% to 65.6% (P < 0.001). Conclusion: A rural Chinese patients had less education, HCV education delivered on the preferred format of patients substantially improved hepatitis C patients' disease-related knowledge and antiviral treatment acceptance in rural china.

High-speed photon-counting laser ranging for broad range of distances

We demonstrate a high-speed photon-counting laser ranging system with laser pulses of multiple repetition rates to extend the unambiguous range. In the experiment, the laser pulses of three different repetition rates around 10 MHz were employed to enlarge the maximum unambiguous range from 15 m to 165 km. Moreover, the range of distances was increased as well, enabling the measurement on different targets of large separation distance with high depth resolution. An outdoor photon-counting laser ranging up to 21 km was realized with high repetition rate, which is beneficial for the airborne and satellite-based topographic mapping.

Postmarketing cases of eluxadoline-associated pancreatitis in patients with or without a gallbladder

BACKGROUND

Cases of pancreatitis were identified in the eluxadoline clinical development program, reflected in initial product labelling, and the subject of postmarketing reports.

AIM

To analyse postmarketing cases of eluxadoline-associated pancreatitis.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed all US adverse event reports of pancreatitis associated with eluxadoline reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from May 27, 2015 through February 15, 2017.

RESULTS

The analysis included 119 cases of pancreatitis associated with eluxadoline; one resulted in death and 75 in hospitalisation. Sixty-seven cases reported the presence (n = 12) or absence (n = 55) of the patient's gallbladder. The eluxadoline dose received in the 55 cases of patients without gallbladders was 75 mg (n = 43), 100 mg (n = 5), or not reported (n = 7). Of the 119 cases, 37 reported the patient did not abuse alcohol and 82 did not report the alcohol abuse status. The single fatal case occurred in a patient without a gallbladder who received eluxadoline 75 mg and did not abuse alcohol. Forty-seven cases reported development of pancreatitis within the first or second dose of eluxadoline initiation. The median time to onset for the development of pancreatitis (n = 83) was 1 day, ranging from 1 to 56 days of continued use of eluxadoline.

CONCLUSION

The FAERS cases suggest that patients with or without a gallbladder receiving eluxadoline are at risk for the development of pancreatitis. However, patients without a gallbladder, despite receiving the recommended lower dose of eluxadoline 75 mg and screening for alcohol abuse, appear to be overrepresented among patients who developed eluxadoline-associated pancreatitis.

Plasmon-enhanced fluorescence of submonolayer porphyrins by silver-polymer core-shell nanoparticles

We investigate the fluorescence from submonolayer porphyrin molecules near silver-polymer core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) at a well-controlled separation distance of about 1 nm - 5 nm. When porphyrin molecules are deposited on silver NPs with the plasmonic resonance peak at about 410 nm, which matches very closely with the 405-nm excitation laser and the absorption band of porphyrin molecules, their emission intensity is found to be enhanced due to the plasmonic resonant excitation enhancement, and shows a decline as the increasing polymer shell thickness. Meanwhile, the lifetime results demonstrate that there exists the fluorescence quenching due to the charge transfer and nonradiative energy transfer losses, which is also the main reason that the maximum enhancement factor obtained in experiment is only about 2.3, although the theoretical one is above 60 according to the electric field distribution near silver NPs calculated by finite-difference time-domain method.