Flower-like MoS2 nanospheres were synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The structure and surface morphology of the as-prepared MoS2 was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The supercapacitive behavior of MoS2 in 1 M KCl electrolyte was studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV), constant current charge-discharge cycling (CD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The XRD results indicate that the as-prepared MoS2 has good crystallinity. SEM images show that the MoS2 nanospheres have uniform sizes with mean diameter about 300 nm. Many nanosheets growing on the surface make the MoS2 nanospheres to be a flower-like structure. The specific capacitance of MoS2 is 122 F x g(-1) at 1 A x g(-1) or 114 F x g(-1) at 2 mv s(-1). All the experimental results indicate that MoS2 is a promising electrode material for electrochemical supercapacitors.

A simple, precise, accurate, and validated liquid chromatography-quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of vanillin, ethyl vanillin, and coumarin in infant formula samples. Following ultrasonic extraction with methanol/water (1:1, vol/vol), and clean-up on an HLB solid-phase extraction cartridge (Waters Corp., Milford, MA), samples were separated on a Waters XSelect HSS T3 column (150 × 2.1-mm i.d., 5-μm film thickness; Waters Corp.), with 0.1% formic acid solution-acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. Quantification of the target was performed by the internal standard approach, using isotopically labeled compounds for each chemical group, to correct matrix effects. Data acquisition was carried out in multiple reaction monitoring transitions mode, monitoring 2 multiple reaction monitoring transitions to ensure an accurate identification of target compounds in the samples. Additional identification and confirmation of target compounds were performed using the enhanced product ion modus of the linear ion trap. The novel liquid chromatography-quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry platform offers the best sensitivity and specificity for characterization and quantitative determination of vanillin, ethyl vanillin, and coumarin in infant formula and fulfills the quality criteria for routine laboratory application.

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PurposeTo determine retrospectively the prognostic factors for urinary incontinence following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).MethodsAltogether, 180 patients with localized prostate cancer underwent RARP (same surgeon). Preoperative physical status, disease characteristics, laboratory findings, and surgical technique were recorded and the patients checked 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after RARP regarding their contribution to predicting post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI).ResultsOverall, 114 (63.3%) patients had PPI 1 month after RARP and 19 patients (16.0%) at 24 months. Univariate analysis showed that age was a significant factor for predicting PPI at 1 month. PPI predictors at 24 months were age, body mass index, preoperative serum albumin level, previous transurethral resection of the prostate, total operative time, and bladder neck sparing. Multivariate analysis indicated that age and total operative time were significant predictors.ConclusionOlder age and longer operative time were highly relevant to short- and long-term PPI occurrence after RARP.

ImportanceThe dilemma between natural rupture risk and adverse outcomes of intervention is of major concern for patients with unruptured arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The existing risk score for AVM rupture includes factors that are controversial and lacks prospective validation.ObjectiveTo develop and robustly validate a reliable scoring system to predict the rupture risk of AVMs.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis prognostic study developed a prediction model derived from a single-center cohort (derivation cohort) and validated in a multicenter external cohort (multicenter external validation cohort) and a cohort of patients receiving conservative treatment management (conservative treatment validation cohort). Patients were recruited from a nationwide multicenter prospective collaboration registry in China. A total of 4135 patients were enrolled in the registry between August 1, 2011, and September 1, 2021. Of those, 3962 patients were included in the study (3585 in the derivation cohort and 377 in the multicenter external validation cohort); 1028 patients from the derivation cohort who had time-to-event data and prerupture imaging results were included in the conservative treatment validation cohort. Data were analyzed from March 10 to June 21, 2022.Main Outcomes and MeasuresA scoring system was developed based on risk factors identified from a literature review and a robust selection process. Patients were stratified into different risk groups based on scores to calculate hemorrhage-free probability in future years, and Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to visualize risk stratification. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the discrimination of models. Univariable analyses (logistic regression analysis for descriptive data and Cox regression analysis for survival data) were used to compare baseline information and assess bias.ResultsAmong 3962 patients (2311 men [58.3%]; median [IQR] age, 26.1 [14.6-35.5] years), 3585 patients (2100 men [58.6%]; median [IQR] age, 25.9 [14.6-35.0] years) were included in the derivation cohort, and 377 patients (211 men [56.0%]; median [IQR] age, 26.4 [14.5-39.2] years) were included in the multicenter external validation cohort. Thirty-six hemorrhages occurred over a median (IQR) follow-up of 4.2 (0.3-6.0) years among 1028 patients in the conservative treatment validation cohort. Four risk factors were used to develop the scoring system: ventricular system involvement, venous aneurysm, deep location, and exclusively deep drainage (VALE). The VALE scoring system performed well in all 3 cohorts, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.75-0.78) in the derivation cohort, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81-0.89) in the multicenter external validation cohort, and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.65-0.81) in the conservative treatment validation cohort. The 10-year hemorrhage-free rate was 95.5% (95% CI, 87.1%-100%) in the low-risk group, 92.8% (95% CI, 88.8%-97.0%) in the moderate-risk group, and 75.8% (95% CI, 65.1%-88.3%) in the high-risk group; the model discrimination was significant when comparing these rates between the high-risk group and the low- and moderate-risk groups (P < .001 for both comparisons).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this prognostic study, the VALE scoring system was developed to distinguish rupture risk among patients with AVMs. The stratification of unruptured AVMs may enable patients with low risk of rupture to avoid unnecessary interventions. These findings suggest that the scoring system is a reliable and applicable tool that can be used to facilitate patient and physician decision-making and reduce unnecessary interventions or unexpected AVM ruptures.