We report a study combining computational design and experimental evaluation of polyimides with high glass transition temperatures Tg between 220 °C and 500 °C. The computational approach is based on the recently introduced competitive learning algorithm, supervised self-organizing maps (SUSI), which we recast as an ensemble method, e-SUSI. We use e-SUSI to solve both unsupervised and supervised/semisupervised learning tasks capturing structure-property relationships of high-Tg polyimides historically studied at Almaden Research Center. Predictors trained on historical data were applied to the combinatorial library of novel polyimides and informed selection of the candidates for synthesis and characterization. In this manner, three new polyimides were prepared with Tg values 281 °C, 282 °C, and 331 °C. The measured values closely agree with the predicted values 273 °C, 311 °C, and 335 °C, respectively. We discuss specific reasons that make the proposed computational design strategy attractive in rapid, deliverable-driven efforts with limited, small-batch data sets.ConspectusCoordination polymers, commonly known as infinite crystalline lattices, are versatile networks and have diverse potential applications in the fields of gas storage, molecular separation, catalysis, optics, and drug delivery, among other areas. Secondary building blocks, mainly incorporating rigid polydentate organic linkers and metal ions or clusters, are commonly employed to construct coordination polymers. Recently, novel building blocks such as coordination polyhedra have been utilized as metal nodes to fabricate coordination polymers. Benefiting from the rigid porous structure of the coordination polyhedron, prefabricated designer „pores” can be incorporated in this type of coordinate polymer. In this Account, coordination polymers built by pyrogallol[4]arene-assembled metal-organic nanocapsules are summarized. This class of metal-organic nanocapsule possesses the following advantages that make them excellent candidates in the construction of coordination polymers (i) Various geometrical shapes f advanced functional materials. Overall, coordination polymers constructed with pyrogallol[4]arene-assembled metal-organic nanocapsules show wide diversity and tunability in structure and fascinating properties, as well as the promise of built-in functionality in the future.Molecular self-assembly is pervasive in the formation of living and synthetic materials. Knowledge gained from research into the principles of molecular self-assembly drives innovation in the biological, chemical, and materials sciences. Self-assembly processes span a wide range of temporal and spatial domains and are often unintuitive and complex. Studying such complex processes requires an arsenal of analytical and computational tools. Within this arsenal, the transmission electron microscope stands out for its unique ability to visualize and quantify self-assembly structures and processes. This review describes the contribution that the transmission electron microscope has made to the field of molecular self-assembly. An emphasis is placed on which TEM methods are applicable to different structures and processes and how TEM can be used in combination with other experimental or computational methods. Finally, we provide an outlook on the current challenges to, and opportunities for, increasing the impact that the transmission electron microscope can have on molecular self-assembly.

Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease, is a major contributor to deaths worldwide. Ganoderic acid A (GAA) has been widely applied for various diseases due to its excellent anti-inflammatory properties.

To investigate the underlying mechanism of GAA inhibition of inflammation and lipid deposition in human monocyte (THP-1) cells.

The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to assess the potential effect of GAA on the viability of THP-1 cells. The release of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the corresponding kit, respectively. The levels of lipid deposition and total cholesterol (TC) were also evaluated. Next, the scavenger receptors and proteins in Notch1/PPARă/CD36 signaling were measured with western blot. As Notch1 was overexpressed in the THP-1 cells induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), the above assays were performed again to confirm the underlying mechanism.

Ganoderic acid A suppressed ox-LDL-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in THP-1 cells. At the same time, it inhibited the TC level and lipid deposition. The effects of GAA on alleviating inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid accumulation were relieved after the overexpression of Notch1 in the treated cells, and the effects of GAA on alleviating inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid accumulation were diminished. The PPARă activator also weakened the effects of GAA on relieving inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid accumulation in ox-LDL-induced THP-1 cells.

Ganoderic acid A inhibits ox-LDL-induced macrophage inflammation and lipid deposition in THP-1 cells through Notch1/PPARă/CD36 signaling, which may provide theoretical guidance for the clinical applications of GAA in AS treatment.

Ganoderic acid A inhibits ox-LDL-induced macrophage inflammation and lipid deposition in THP-1 cells through Notch1/PPARă/CD36 signaling, which may provide theoretical guidance for the clinical applications of GAA in AS treatment.

Lung imaging, next to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, is a key diagnostic tool in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The degree of abnormalities correlates with clinical outcome. Imaging of the lungs using chest radiography (CXR) at the peak of a pandemic is considered a basic diagnostic tool at the triage stage. The CXR images are less characteristic than computed tomography (CT) and should be interpreted with a combination of clinical findings.

Comparison of the usefulness of 2 CXR severity scores to evaluate the presence/severity of inflammation in the course of COVID-19 and the possibility of a non-radiologist to interpret the image independently.

Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 152 consecutive patients (aged 19-96, 73 men), infected with SARS-CoV-2, confirmed using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Five-point and twelve-point CXR severity scoring systems were used (independently by a radiologist and a referring physician) to assess the severity of(COVID-19). Quantifying lung abnormalities accurately may be performed by a referring physician. Both CXR severity scales correlate well with clinical parameters.

The CXR severity score is a useful tool to assess the inflammation in the initial diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Quantifying lung abnormalities accurately may be performed by a referring physician. Both CXR severity scales correlate well with clinical parameters.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and advantages of immediate urinary catheter removal compared with prolonged indwelling catheterization in lung cancer lobectomy.

This study was designed as a prospective, single-centre, randomized and open-label clinical study.

People with lung cancer undergoing lobectomy/pneumonectomy were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups. One group had their urinary catheter removed immediately while the other group had it removed 48hr after surgery.

No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) was observed between the two groups. However, the incidence of postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in the immediate removal group (6.7%) was lower than the control group (17.2%) (p=.030). Furthermore, the incidence of catheter-associated emergence agitation (CAEA) in the control group (25.3%) was higher than the immediate removal group (8.9%) (p=.007). The average length of hospital stay of the immediate removal group [6.51(4-11) days] was shorter than the control group [7.20(5-12) days] (p=.002). Immediate removal of urinary catheter appeared to have fewer complications and shorter hospital stay than delayed removal.

No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) was observed between the two groups. However, the incidence of postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in the immediate removal group (6.7%) was lower than the control group (17.2%) (p = .030). Furthermore, the incidence of catheter-associated emergence agitation (CAEA) in the control group (25.3%) was higher than the immediate removal group (8.9%) (p = .007). The average length of hospital stay of the immediate removal group [6.51(4-11) days] was shorter than the control group [7.20(5-12) days] (p = .002). Immediate removal of urinary catheter appeared to have fewer complications and shorter hospital stay than delayed removal.

To investigate the published time to extrusion of tympanostomy tubes inserted in the various quadrants of the tympanic membrane.

Publications were selected by a search with 'PubMed’, 'Embase’ and 'Web of Science’. A meta-analysis of time to extrusion as a function of tympanic membrane quadrant intubation was performed.

Extrusion rate of tympanostomy tubes inserted in the various quadrants of the tympanic membrane.

Eleven studies describing 2232 tympanostomy tubes were enrolled into the quantitative meta-analysis. The extrusion rate was evaluated at 3-month intervals up to 24 months post-intubation, and it did not differ significantly at any of the time points tested for the superior and inferior anterior quadrants. The cumulative extrusion rates were as follows 11 and 9%, 32 and 23%, 59 and 36%, 80 and 67%, 87 and 70%, 88 and 82%, and 96 and 89% in the superior and anterior quadrants, respectively, at 3, 6, 9, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months post-intubation, respectively.

Time to extrusion of tympanostomy tubes are similar for all 3 tympanic membrane quadrants. The anterior superior quadrant intubation has no superiority in terms of intubation time.

Time to extrusion of tympanostomy tubes are similar for all 3 tympanic membrane quadrants. The anterior superior quadrant intubation has no superiority in terms of intubation time.

This study evaluated myocardial viability as well as global and regional functional recovery after successful chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using sequential quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

The patient benefits of CTO PCI are being questioned.

In a single high-volume CTO PCI center patients were prospectively scheduled for CMR at baseline and 3 months after successful CTO PCI between 2013 and 2018. Segmental wall thickening (SWT) and percentage late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were quantitatively measured per segment. Viability was defined as dysfunctional myocardium (<2.84 mm SWT) with no or limited scar (≤50% LGE).

A total of 132 patients were included. Improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction was modest after CTO PCI (from 48.1 ± 11.8 to 49.5 ± 12.1%, p < 0.01). CTO segments with viability (N=216, [31%]) demonstrated a significantly higher increase in SWT (0.80 ± 1.39 mm) compared to CTO segments with pre-procedural preserved function (N=456 [65%], 0.