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Total serum magnesium (Mg) concentration (SMC) is commonly used to assess Mg status. This study reports current SMCs of Canadians and their associations with demographic factors, diabetes, and measures of glycemic control and insulin resistance using results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 3 (2012–2013). Associations were examined in adults aged 20–79 years using linear mixed models. Mean SMCs and percentile distributions for 11 sex-age groups between 3 and 79 years (n = 5561) are reported. SMCs were normally distributed and differences (p < 0.05) among sex and age groups were small. Between 9.5% and 16.6% of adult sex-age groups had a SMC below the lower cut-off of a population-based reference interval (0.75–0.955 mmol·L−1) established in the United States population as part of the NHANES I conducted in 1971–1974. Having diabetes was associated with 0.04 to 0.07 mmol·L−1 lower SMC compared to not having diabetes in the various models. Body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, serum glucose and insulin concentrations, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were negatively associated with SMC. This is the first study to report SMCs in a nationally representative sample of the Canadian population. A substantial proportion of Canadians are hypomagnesaemic in relation to a population-based reference interval, and SMC was negatively associated with diabetes and indices of glycemic control and insulin resistance.

Purpose Canada’s public health objective is that ≥ 90% of the population consume <1% of total energy (< 1%En) as trans fatty acids (TFA), in line with World Health Organization recommendations. Our study aimed to estimate usual intakes of total TFA, industrially-produced TFA (i-TFA), and naturally occurring TFA (n-TFA) overall and in subgroups of the population before Canada’s 2018 prohibition on the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) in foods. Methods Data from 1–2 24-h recalls was available for 19,670 participants in the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)—Nutrition 2015. Usual intakes of total TFA, i-TFA, n-TFA, and mixed TFA (TFA from foods containing both i-TFA and n-TFA) from all foods and beverages were generated according to the National Cancer Institute method, and weighted to represent the population of Canada aged ≥ 1 and within age, sex, income, and self-reported racial groups. Results For the overall population, the mean usual intake of total TFA was 1.2 g/day (SE:0.02) and represented 0.57%En (SE:0.001). All age-sex groups had mean total TFA intakes <1%En, ranging from 0.52 to 0.71%En. On average, foods containing only n-TFA provided >1/2 of total TFA intake (0.32%En, SE:0.01). The target of ≥ 90% of the population consuming <1%En as TFA had already been achieved before the PHO prohibition in all income, racial, and age-sex groups, except children 1–3 years old, with 86% within target. In that group, foods containing only n-TFA provided >2/3 of total TFA intake (0.48%En, SE:0.02). Conclusion Total TFA intakes in Canada before the PHO prohibition were relatively low, likely due to previous initiatives to reduce i-TFA in foods.

Background: One of the underpinning elements to support evidence-based decision-making in food and nutrition is the usual dietary intake of a population. It represents the long-run average consumption of a particular dietary component (i.e., food or nutrient). Variations in individual eating habits are observed from day-to-day and between individuals. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) method uses statistical modeling to account for these variations in estimation of usual intakes. This method was originally developed for nutrition survey data in the United States. The main objective of this study was to apply the NCI method in the analysis of Canadian nutrition surveys. Methods: Data from two surveys, the 2004 and 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey—Nutrition were used to estimate usual dietary intake distributions from food sources using the NCI method. The effect of different statistical considerations such as choice of the model, covariates, stratification compared to pooling, and exclusion of outliers were assessed, along with the computational time to convergence. Results: A flowchart to aid in model selection was developed. Different covariates (e.g., age/sex groups, cycle, weekday/weekend of the recall) were used to adjust the estimates of usual intakes. Moreover, larger differences in the ratio of within to between variation for a stratified analysis or a pooled analysis resulted in noticeable differences, particularly in the tails of the distribution of usual intake estimates. Outliers were subsequently removed when the ratio was larger than 10. For an individual age/sex group, the NCI method took 1 h–5 h to obtain results depending on the dietary component. Conclusion: Early experience in using the NCI method with Canadian nutrition surveys data led to the development of a flowchart to facilitate the choice of the NCI model to use. The ability of the NCI method to include covariates permits comparisons between both 2004 and 2015. This study shows that the improper application of pooling and stratification as well as the outlier detection can lead to biased results. This early experience can provide guidance to other researchers and ensures consistency in the analysis of usual dietary intake in the Canadian context.

Organometallic two‐dimensional (2D) nanosheets with tailorable components have recently fascinated the optoelectronic communities due to their solution‐processable nature. However, the poor stability of organic molecules may hinder their practical application in photovoltaic devices. Instead of conventional organometallic 2D nanosheets with low weatherability, an air‐stable π‐conjugated 2D bis(dithiolene)iron(II) (FeBHT) coordination nanosheet (CONASH) is synthesized via bottom‐up liquid/liquid interfacial polymerization using benzenehexathiol (BHT) and iron(II) ammonium sulfate [Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2] as precursors. The uncoordinated thiol groups in FeBHT are easily oxidized, but the Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2 dissociation rate is slow, which facilitates the protection of sulfur groups by iron(II) ions. The density functional theory calculates that the resultant FeBHT network gains the oxygen‐repelling function for oxidation suppression. In air, the FeBHT CONASH exhibits self‐powered photoresponses with short response times (<40 ms) and a spectral responsivity of 6.57 mA W−1, a specific detectivity of 3.13 × 1011 Jones and an external quantum efficiency of 2.23% under 365 nm illumination. Interestingly, the FeBHT self‐powered photodetector reveals extremely high long‐term air stability, maintaining over 94% of its initial photocurrent after aging for 60 days without encapsulation. These results open the prospect of using organometallic 2D materials in commercialized optoelectronic fields. The organometallic bis(dithiolene)iron(II) (FeBHT) 2D coordination nanosheets (CONASHs) are used to fabricate self‐powered photodetectors, resulting in a superior UV photoresponse. The effective suppression of oxygen molecule adsorption on FeBHT CONASHs is responsible for the device stability in air. This function provides guidance for the design of unstable organic–inorganic 2D hybrid nanomaterials in practical optoelectronic devices.

As a prominent approach to treat intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, disc transplantation still falls short to fully reconstruct and restore the function of native IVD. Here, we introduce an IVD scaffold consists of a cellulose‐alginate double network hydrogel‐based annulus fibrosus (AF) and a cellulose hydrogel‐based nucleus pulposus (NP). This scaffold mimics native IVD structure and controls the delivery of Growth Differentiation Factor‐5 (GDF‐5), which induces differentiation of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In addition, this IVD scaffold has modifications on MSC homing peptide and RGD peptide which facilitate the recruitment of MSCs to injured area and enhances their cell adhesion property. The benefits of this double network hydrogel are high compressibility, shape memory effect, and mechanical strength comparable to native IVD. In vivo animal study demonstrates successful reconstruction of injured IVD including both AF and NP. These findings suggest that this double network hydrogel can serve as a promising approach to IVD regeneration with other potential biomedical applications.

Objective Genomic biomarkers predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment outcomes for Asian metastatic melanoma have been rarely reported. This study presents data on next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and tumour microenvironment biomarkers in 33 cases. Methods Thirty‐three patients with advanced melanoma, who underwent ICI treatment at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, were recruited. The study evaluated clinical outcomes, including response rate, disease control rate, progression‐free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate. Archived tissue samples from 33 cases were subjected to NGS by ACTOnco, and ACTTME was employed in 25 cases. Results The most prevalent driver mutations were BRAF mutations (24.2%), followed by NRAS (15.2%), KIT (12.1%), KRAS (9.1%) and NF1 (9.1%) mutations. Acral/mucosal melanomas exhibited distinct mutation patterns compared to non‐acral melanomas. Tumour mutational burden estimated using ACTOnco was not associated with ICI efficacy. Notably, genetic alterations in the p53 pathway (CDKNA2 loss, MDM2 gain/amplification and TP53 mutation) accounted for 36.4% and were significantly associated with unfavourable PFS (median PFS 2.7 months vs. 3.9 months, P = 0.0394). Moreover, 26 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes that were upregulated in patients with clinical benefits compared to those without benefits. Four genes, GZMH, GZMK, AIM2 and CTLA4, were found to be associated with both PFS and OS. Conclusion Genetic alterations in the p53 pathway may be critical in Asian patients with melanoma undergoing ICI treatment. Further investigation is required to explore this mechanism and validate these findings. The genetic landscape of melanoma response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been previously investigated, but without correlation with modulation of the tumour microenvironment in clinical survival and treatment outcomes. We used next‐generation sequencing to define the genetic biomarkers of Asian melanoma associated with ICI response. The p53 pathway (CDKN2A/MDM2/TP53) is a prognostic factor for progression‐free survival after ICI treatment in Taiwanese patients with melanoma.

The impacts of falling ice (snow) radiative effects (FIREs) on simulated surface wind stress and sea surface temperature (SST) in Central Pacific El Niño (CP-El Niño) under a progressive warming climate are examined. Using controlled simulations with the CESM1 model, it is shown that the exclusion of FIREs (no snow: NOS) generates persistent westerly anomalies in surface wind stress relative to that with FIREs (snow on: SON). These anomalies subsequently lead to a weakening of the easterly trade winds associated with warmer SST anomalies in modeled life cycle. Results over three separated 40 year intervals (P1: 21–60 years; P2: 61–100 years; P3: 101–140 years) are compared with Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) models without FIREs. Both NOS configuration and CMIP5 models simulate longer life cycles of CP-El Niño events with weakening easterlies and warmer SST anomalies on the equator, persistently propagating eastward from the mature to dissipating phases. Compared to NOS, SON, on the other hand, produces a shorter CP-El Niño life cycle together with stronger easterlies and colder SSTs over the eastern to central equatorial Pacific. The magnitudes of the simulated westerlies and warm SST anomalies tend to diminish without eastward shifting following the peak of the CP-El Niño activity. There are substantial differences in CP-El Niño characteristics from P1 to P3 between NOS and SON. During P1, both SON and NOS show patterns which are consistent with their present-day counterparts. In P2 and P3, SON exhibits a prolonged CP-El Niño life cycle, while NOS develops a double-peak El Niño evolution at the mature and decaying phases. Regarding El Niño diversity and the projections, the CMIP5 models have not reached a consensus. The inclusion of the FIREs would increase the confidence in simulating El Niño future behavior.

The Matsu Islands Tern Refuge comprises eight reefs located at a relay station on the East Asian bird migration route, and it attracts many transiting, wintering, or breeding birds to inhabit and live on the reefs every year. In order to understand the compositions of plant communities as a breeding habitat for seabirds, we investigated the plant communities of the eight reefs. A total of 130 plots of 10 × 10 square meters were established, from which we found 107 species of plants in 102 genera and 51 families. Among this, we found one critically endangered (CR) species, four vulnerable (VU) species, and three near-threatened (NT) species. The result of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and indicator value (IndVal) showed 130 samples were divided into 11 vegetation types; most of the vegetation types had significant indicator species. We also use the two-way to present the plot of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) by vegetation types and reefs. Moreover, this result reveals that these samples were more clearly cluster divided by islands. Our results reveal that the compositions and characteristics of plant communities were related clearly to the environmental factors for each reef in the Matsu Islands Tern Refuge. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that species composition of vegetation yielded high correlation with soil property, especially with soil pH. In addition, we found that the traces of bird activity is relevant to the characteristics and structures of plant communities. We found that the plant communities comprising low-grass shrubs would provide relatively soft nesting materials and sheltering effects for eggs or hatchlings for terns. Compared to low-grass shrubs, the traits of high-grass shrubs would not be beneficial to nest for breeding of terns on the ground, and no nested trace was found in these plant communities.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), though rare, is the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. KIT or PDGFRα mutation plays as an oncogenic driver in the majority of GISTs. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment for localized disease. The discovery of imatinib with promising anti-tumor effect and successive tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), including second-line sunitinib and third-line regorafenib, revolutionized the management of advanced and metastatic GIST over the past two decades. Recently, ripretinib and avapritinib were approved for the fourth line setting and for PDGFRA exon 18-mutant GIST in first-line setting, respectively. Despite multi-line TKIs exerted ability of disease control, drug resistance remained an obstacle for preventing rapid disease progression. Experimental TKIs or novel therapeutic targets may further improve treatment efficacy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD1) and anti-CTL-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) showed moderate response in early phase trials composed of heavily pretreated patients. KIT/PDGFRα wild-type GISTs are generally less sensitive to imatinib and late-line TKIs. Recent studies demonstrated that targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling may be a potential target for the wild-type GISTs.

Diabetic patients normally have enlarged or normal-sized kidneys throughout their lifetime, but some diabetic uremic patients have small kidneys. It is uncertain if kidney size could have any negative impact on outcome in hemodialysis patients. This longitudinal, observational cohort study recruited 301 diabetic hemodialysis patients in 2015, and followed until 2019. Patients were stratified into two subgroups according to their kidney sizes before dialysis, as small (n = 32) or enlarged or normal (n = 269). Baseline demographic, hematological, biochemical, nutritional, inflammatory and dialysis related data were collected for analysis. Patients with small kidney size were not only older (P<0.001) and had lower body mass index (P = 0.016), but had also higher blood uric acid concentration (P<0.001) compared with patients with enlarged or normal kidney size. All patients received adequate doses of hemodialysis since the Kt/V and urea reduction ratio was 1.7±0.3 and 0.7±0.1, respectively. Patients with small size kidneys received higher erythropoietin dose than patients with enlarged or normal kidney size (P = 0.031). At the end of analysis, 92 (30.6%) patients expired. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no survival difference between both groups (P = 0.753). In a multivariate logistic regression model, it was demonstrated that age (P<0.001), dialysis duration (P<0.001), as well as blood albumin (P = 0.012) and low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.009) concentrations were significantly correlated with mortality. Small kidney size on starting hemodialysis was not related with an augmented risk for death in diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis. Further studies are necessary.