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In this study, novel iron-based spiky microparticles (approximately 1–2μm in diameter) were synthesized using iron oxalate precursors using a straightforward one-step hydrothermal reaction. The microparticles’ morphological, mineralogical and chemical properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The physico-chemical characteristics of spiky microparticles were also compared with cubic iron microparticles synthesized using standalone iron as well as with the addition of glycine. XRD and Raman analyses identified substantial presence of humboldtine, a type of ferrous oxalate dehydrate mineral, in the resultant yellowish solid hydrothermal product. The mechanism involving reactions of species in the hydrothermal process was described herein. The results described in this study afford vital insights into the design of iron oxalate-based microparticles synthesis processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel special-shaped steel tube concrete column steel beam joint is proposed. Bolt connections are used to connect the pre-welded steel beam and the special-shaped steel tube concrete column. Based on the finite element software ABAQUS, we established finite element models of the column-beam joints, and conducted a series of finite element analyses to investigate the influence of various parameters on the seismic performance of the joint. These parameters include the shape and size of the flange hole, the shape and size of the web hole, and thickness of the spliced plate on the flange. The results show that the difference between the finite element analysis and experimental results for bearing capacity and displacement is within 10%. This indicates that finite element analysis can be effectively utilized to study the seismic performance of the joint. Compared to joints with non-spliced beam, the rotational deformation capacity of the joint is reduced when using bolts and spliced plates designed by the equal-strength method. The energy dissipation capacity and ductility deformation capacity of the joints with spliced beams are significantly improved by using elliptical bolt holes in the flange, and plastic hinges are formed in the spliced region. The elliptical holes in the web with varying sizes have little effect on the seismic performance of the joint. The thicknesses of the spliced plate ranging from 6 mm to 8 mm has little effect on the seismic performance of the joint, and a thin spliced plate will reduce the seismic performance of the joint. The study presented in this paper can provide a reference for promoting the engineering application of special-shaped steel tube concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As most teleosts are unable to synthesize vitamin C, supplemental diets containing vitamin C diets play a crucial role in fish health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin C on the intestinal enzyme activity and intestinal microbiota of silver pomfre (Pampus argenteus). Four experimental diets were supplemented with basic diets containing 300 mg of vitamin C/kg (group tjl3), 600 mg of vitamin C/kg (group tjl6), and 1200 mg of vitamin C/kg (group tjl12), as well as vitamin C-free supplemental basic diet (group tjl0), respectively. The four diets were fed to juvenile P. argenteus (average initial weight: 4.68 ± 0.93 g) for 6 weeks. The results showed that the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase) increased significantly while that of MDA (malondialdehyde) decreased significantly in group tjl3 compared to vitamin group tjl0. At the genus level, groups tjl0, tjl6, and tjl12 contained the same dominant microbial community, Stenotrophomonas, Photobacterium, and Vibrio, whereas group tjl3 was dominated by Stenotrophomonas, Delftia, and Bacteroides. Among the fish fed with a basic diet containing 300 mg of vitamin C/kg, the intestines exhibited a notable abundance of probiotic bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) and Bacillus. The abundance of Aeromonas in groups tjl3 and tjl6 was lower than that of the vitamin C-free supplemental basic diet group, whereas Aeromonas was not detected in group tjl12. In addition, a causative agent of the disease outbreak in cultured P. argenteus, Photobacterium damselae subsp. Damselae (PDD) was the dominant microbiota community in groups tjl0, tjl6 and tjl12, whereas the abundance of PDD in group tjl3 was the lowest among the diets. Taken together, the diets supplied with vitamin C could influence the composition microbial community of P. argenteus. The low level of vitamin C (300 mg of vitamin C/kg per basic diet) supplementation could not only improve the antioxidant capacity but also resist the invasion of pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we describe a group of basal forebrain (BF) neurons expressing neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain 1 (Npas1), a developmental transcription factor linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. Immunohistochemical staining in Npas1-cre-2A-TdTomato mice revealed BF Npas1+ neurons are distinct from well-studied parvalbumin or cholinergic neurons. Npas1 staining in GAD67-GFP knock-in mice confirmed that the vast majority of Npas1+ neurons are GABAergic, with minimal colocalization with glutamatergic neurons in vGlut1-cre-tdTomato or vGlut2-cre-tdTomato mice. The density of Npas1+ neurons was high, five to six times that of neighboring cholinergic, parvalbumin, or glutamatergic neurons. Anterograde tracing identified prominent projections of BF Npas1+ neurons to brain regions involved in sleep-wake control, motivated behaviors, and olfaction such as the lateral hypothalamus, lateral habenula, nucleus accumbens shell, ventral tegmental area, and olfactory bulb. Chemogenetic activation of BF Npas1+ neurons in the light period increased the amount of wakefulness and the latency to sleep for 2 to 3 h, due to an increase in long wake bouts and short NREM sleep bouts. NREM slow-wave and sigma power, as well as sleep spindle density, amplitude, and duration, were reduced, reminiscent of findings in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Together with previous findings implicating BF Npas1+ neurons in stress responsiveness, the anatomical projections of BF Npas1+ neurons and the effect of activating them suggest a possible role for BF Npas1+ neurons in motivationally driven wakefulness and stress-induced insomnia. Identification of this major subpopulation of BF GABAergic neurons will facilitate studies of their role in sleep disorders, dementia, and other neuropsychiatric conditions involving BF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether pulse-wave analysis (PWA) performed by trained evaluators facilitates detection of nonsinus rhythm. ANIMALS Same-day, high-definition oscillometry pulse-wave data and ECG results of 155 animals (144 dogs and 11 cats) were analyzed. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 18 participants from various backgrounds, all of whom received PWA training. The ability to distinguish between sinus and nonsinus rhythms was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The pulse-wave datasets were divided into 5 ECG categories. Agreement between ECG diagnoses and PWA-based arrhythmia detection was evaluated using Cohen κ values, and the correlation between the academic year of veterinary students and their κ values was assessed. RESULTS All cardiology researchers demonstrated satisfactory accuracy in distinguishing pathological rhythms using PWA (area under the curve, 0.704 to 0.761), with the highest accuracy in detecting atrial fibrillation (area under the curve, 0.811 to 0.845). Fair agreement with ECG categorization was achieved by all 3 cardiology researchers, 2 of 5 general practitioners, and 3 of 10 veterinary undergraduates. The veterinary undergraduates’ years of study were correlated with their diagnostic performance (Spearman ρ = 0.658; P = .019). CLINICAL RELEVANCE PWA during routine noninvasive blood pressure measurement showed significant potential for the detection of pathological arrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation. This approach yielded improved effectiveness when it was used by veterinarians with cardiology experience. Thus, introducing hands-on training courses, particularly those focused on cardiology and interactive workshops, may enable frontline veterinarians to promptly identify arrhythmias using PWA, facilitating timely ECG examinations or referrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare masticatory muscle thickness in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) during rest and clenching, and by body position, using ultrasonography. This prospective study included 96 patients with TMD (67 females, 29 males; mean age: 40.41 ± 17.88 years): group 1, comprising 66 patients with TMD without bruxism (TMD_nonbruxer), and group 2, comprising 30 patients with concurrent TMD and bruxism (TMD_bruxer). In patients with TMD, bruxism was correlated with the presence of tinnitus, muscle stiffness, sleep problems, psychological stress, and restricted mouth opening. The masseter muscle significantly thickened during clenching (11.16 ± 3.03 mm vs 14.04 ± 3.47 mm, p < 0.001), whereas the temporalis muscle showed no significant increase in thickness from resting to clenching in an upright position (7.91 ± 1.98 vs 8.39 ± 2.08, p = 0.103). Similarly, during clenching in the supine position, the masseter muscle was significantly thicker compared with rest (11.24 ± 2.42 vs 13.49 ± 3.09, p < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed in temporal muscle thickness (8.21 ± 2.16 vs 8.43 ± 1.94, p = 0.464). In comparison between two groups, the average thickness of the masseter muscle was greater among TMD_bruxers than among TMD_nonbruxers in both the upright and supine positions (all p < 0.05). In the generalized lineal model, female sex (B = − 1.018, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 1.855 to − 0.181, p = 0.017) and bruxism (B = 0.868, 95% CI 0.567 to 1.169, p = 0.048) significantly predicted changes in masseter muscle thickness. Female sex (B = − 0.201, 95% CI − 0.299 to − 0.103, p = 0.011), increased age (B = − 0.003, 95% CI − 0.005 to 0.000, p = 0.038), and muscle stiffness (B = − 1.373, 95% CI − 2.369 to − 0.376, p = 0.007) were linked to decreased temporal muscle thickness. Comparing TMD nonbruxer and bruxer muscle thicknesses in upright and supine positions revealed significant increased thickness in the masseter muscle during clenching but not in the temporalis muscle. Masseter muscle thickness varied significantly by sex, body position, and resting/clenching, notably influenced by bruxism. These findings emphasize the relevance of these factors in clinical examinations of patients with TMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of mono/bimetallic isostructural hybrid tetraborates of the general formula [ZnxCo(1−x)(1,3-dap)B4O7] has been prepared using a solvothermal method. Their adsorption/desorption curves for H2O and D2O demonstrate that these materials have a stronger affinity for H2O than for D2O and enrich the D2O content of D2O/H2O mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hormone producing hypothalamus, pituitary and gonadal are arranged in hierarchy to form the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG axis). The axis is neuroendocrine in nature and releases hormones in response to the inputs from nervous systems. The axis maintains homeostasis and ensures smooth body functions, particularly those related to growth and reproduction. A deregulated HPG axis, such as observed under inflammation and other conditions, is therefore associated with several disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea etc. Several factors, both genetic as well as environmental, in addition to aging, obesity etc. affect HPG axis with resulting effects on puberty, sexual maturation and reproductive health. More research is now indicative of a role of epigenetics in mediating these HPG-affecting factors. Hypothalamus-secreted gonadotropin-releasing hormone is important for eventual release of sex hormones and it is subjected to several neuronal and epigenetic regulations. Gene promoter methylation as well as histone methylations and acetylations form the backbone of epigenetic regulation of HPG-axis, as the incoming reports suggest. Epigenetic events also mediate several feedback mechanisms within HPG axis and between HPG axis and the central nervous system. In addition, data is emerging for a role of non-coding RNAs, particularly the miRNAs, in regulation and normal functioning of HPG axis. Thus, the epigenetic interactions need better understanding to understand the functioning and regulation of HPG axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) refers to a condition that often has 'poly' liquid containing sacks around ovaries. It affects reproductive-aged females giving rise to menstrual and related reproductive issues. PCOS is marked by hormonal imbalance often resulting in hyperandrogenism. Inflammation is now considered a central manifestation of this disease with several inflammatory biomarkers such as TNF-α, C-reactive protein and Interleukins-6/18 found to be particularly elevated in PCOS patients. Diagnosis is often late, and MRI-based diagnosis, along with blood-based analyses, are still the best bet for a definitive diagnosis. Radiomics also offers several advantages and should be exploited to the maximum. The mechanisms of PCOS onset and progression are not very well known but pituitary dysfunction and elevated gonadotrophin releasing hormone resulting in high levels of luteinizing hormone are indicative of an activated hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in PCOS. A number of studies have also identified signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, NF-κB and STAT in PCOS etiology. The links of these signaling pathways to inflammation further underline the importance of inflammation in PCOS, which needs to be resolved for improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of target therapy, we face the challenge of the risk of opportunistic infection in patients with B-cell lymphoma who receiving rituximab-based chemotherapy. Opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia are life-threatening diseases. However, PJP with CMV coinfection is rare. Here, we report a follicular lymphoma patient who suffered from PJP with CMV coinfection after receiving three cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone regimen and was successfully rescured after timely identification and treatment. We emphasize that physicians should be alert for the coinfection of PJP and CMV in lymphoma patients receiving rituximab-based chemotherapy and the timely recognition, and treatment that may avoid a deadly outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program helps patients recover faster and better, postoperatively. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of the ERAS program after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We enrolled patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture who had undergone PKP between January 2019 and June 2021 and divided them into the control group (CG; n = 296), without the ERAS program, and the intervention group (IG; n = 306), with the ERAS program. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Barthel Index scores of the 2 groups were compared on admission and 2 days and 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Perioperative evaluation parameters included the mean surgery time, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization expenses. In addition, postoperative complications were compared. Regarding perioperative parameters, LOS and hospitalization expenses were significantly better in IG than in CG (P < 0.001), but the mean surgery time did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The VAS, Barthel Index, and ODI scores were significantly better in IG than in CG at 2 days and 1 month postoperatively (P < 0.001). None of the clinical effectiveness parameters (VAS, Barthel Index, and ODI scores) differed between IG and CG at 6 or 12 months postoperatively. In addition, 141 patients in CG and 56 patients in IG experienced postoperative complications, including pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, nausea and vomiting, and refracture (P = 0.970, P = 0.036, P < 0.001, P = 0.002 respectively). For patients undergoing PKP, the ERAS program is a reliable and effective perioperative management method that can effectively reduce LOS, postoperative pain, and economic burden and promote recovery of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social factors play an important role in adolescents' behaviors. This study aims to understand percentages of health risk behaviors across country in Europe, North America, and China; explore the associations between friendly school and family contexts and involvement for several health risk behaviors among adolescents. Methods: Data derived from health behavior in school‐aged children cross‐sectional surveys and China Education Panel Survey in 2014‐2015. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling was used to analyze data. Results: The highest percentages of health risk behaviors including unhealthy diet, smoking or alcohol, screen‐based sedentary behaviors, and violent behaviors across country ranged from 28.62% to 65.24%. National classmate friendliness was negatively associated with 5 out of 9 health risk behaviors prevalence rates in 41 countries (p < 0.05). Adolescents' perceived peer friendly and helpful were common protective factor for engaging in several health risk behaviors (p < 0.01). Individual family contexts were associated with 3 types of health risk behaviors involvement (p < 0.001). School health policy implications: Health risk behaviors among adolescents reducing was associated with the implementation of friendly school and family contexts, emphasizing the significance of the goals of embedding friendly adolescents, along with the home‐school collaboration. Conclusions: Public health strategies should promote national climate of friendship and individual perceived friendly school contexts to reduce health risk behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-inorganic CsPbI3−xBrx perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are becoming increasingly mature due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, because of the poor environmental stability of the perovskite material, the device is susceptibly decomposed when exposed to moisture, high temperature, and high illumination. Therefore, a critical task is to address the problem of poor long-term stability in the environment, which serves as a significant obstacle impeding the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. This article introduces the incorporation of PEO into all-inorganic CsPbI3−xBrx perovskites with an advantageous thermal stability. PEO acts as a passivating agent near the grain boundary, and its high viscosity characteristics effectively improve the film-forming properties, leading to a substantial reduction in defects and to improving the surface uniformity. In addition, the grain boundaries that serve as water and oxygen penetration channels are filled, resulting in a substantial improvement in device stability. With 7.5 mg/mL PEO doping into CsPbI3−xBrx, the unencapsulated device maintained its original power conversion efficiency of 98% after being placed in a dark environment of 40% humidity and 25 °C for 10 days. Using PEO effectively enhanced the performance of the devices, with the highest PCE reaching 10.95%, significantly improving environmental stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct catalytic enantioselective alkynylation reaction of trifluoropyruvates with terminal 1,3‐diynes was achieved by using C2‐symmetric NCN pincer rhodium (III) complexes with bis(imidazolinyl)phenyl ligands. This protocol is effective for enantioselective synthesis of optically active trifluoromethylated tertiary alcohols with the diyne moiety. A variety of electronically and structurally diverse terminal 1,3‐diynes are well tolerated. Furthermore, the catalytic reaction is applicable to preparation of both enantiomers of the chiral CF3‐containing conjugated diynols with high enantioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents novel life cycle assessment (LCA) findings on hydrochar production from Saudi-Arabia-based date palm fronds biomass waste using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The LCA procedure incorporated normalization, weighting, and improvement assessment. The system boundary encompassed water consumption and energy requirements within a lab setting representing a gate-to-gate process. The OpenLCA 1.11.0 software with the European Life Cycle Database 3.2 (ELCD 3.2) was utilized for the study and we employed the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) 2016 and Environmental Footprint 3.0 (EF 3.0) impact assessment methods. The results indicated that fossil fuel usage represented the most significant impact category with the HTC and drying processes identified as major contributors. It was also observed that the HTC process exerted far greater detrimental impacts on the environment than the biomass grinding process. The overwhelming impact of fossil fuel resources could be mitigated by optimizing the batches of biomass or hydrochar samples in each operation, which could alleviate fossil fuel consumption by up to 94%. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the environmental burden and contribute to sustainable hydrochar production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of spent MgO–C refractory is generated in steel plant every year. Because of the similarities in chemical and mineralogical composition of slag formers and MgO–C refractory, it is possible to reuse the spent MgO–C refractory as a steelmaking flux. To achieve this goal, it should promote the dissolution of MgO–C refractory during slag forming. In this study, the effect of slag composition on the dissolution behavior of spent MgO–C refractory in the CaO–SiO 2 –FeO slag system and the dissolution kinetics were investigated. It showed that the dissolution rate of MgO–C refractory was controlled by surface chemical reaction. The dissolution of MgO–C refractory led to an increase in the MgO content in slag while the FeO content decreased because the graphite in refractory was oxidized by FeO. Increasing temperature significantly promoted the dissolution of MgO–C refractory. The MgO–C refractory was readily dissolved in the low-basicity slag. A higher FeO content in slag was beneficial for the oxidation of graphite in refractory, resulting in better dissolution. The dissolution thickness of MgO–C refractory could exceed 4.0 mm under these conditions and its dissolution supplied some MgO to slag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of hypertension is not fully understood; endothelin 1 (EDN1) is involved in developing essential hypertension. EDN1 can promote vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation or hypertrophy through autocrine and paracrine effects. Proliferating smooth muscle cells in the aorta are 'dedifferentiated' cells that cause increased arterial stiffness and remodeling. Male SHRs had higher aortic stiffness than normal control male WKY rats. Male SHR VSMCs expressed high levels of the EDN1 gene, but endothelial cells did not. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanism of enhanced EDN1 expression in SHR VSMCs. We identified POU2F2 and CEBPB as the main molecules that enhance EDN1 expression in male SHR VSMCs. A promoter activity analysis confirmed that the enhancer region of the Edn1 promoter in male SHR VSMCs was from -1309 to -1279 bp. POU2F2 and CEBPB exhibited an additive role in the enh ancer region of the EdnET1 promoter. POU2F2 or CEBPB overexpression sufficiently increased EDN1 expression, and co-transfection with the CEBPB and POU2F2 expression plasmids had additive effects on the activity of the Edn1 promoter and EDN1 secretion level of male WKY VSMCs. In addition, the knockdown of POU2F2 also revea led that POU2F2 is necessary to enhance EDN1 expression in SHR VSMCs. The enhancer region of the Edn1 promoter is highly conserved in rats, mice, and humans. POU2F2 and CEBPB mRNA levels were significantly increased in remodeled human VMSCs. In conclusion, the novel regulation of POU2F2 and CEBPB in VSMCs will help us understand the pathogenesis of hypertension and support the development of future treatments for hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a ubiquitous organosulfur compound with key ecological roles in marine environments. This paper offers a brief insight into the mechanisms, environmental diversity, and importance of DMSP-mediated marine microbial interactions, including algae–microzooplankton interactions, bacteria–microzooplankton interactions, and algae–bacteria interactions. We also highlight current challenges that warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the position high-precision synchronization performance of multi-motor synchronous control, a multi-motor position synchronization control method based on non-singular fast terminal sliding mode control (NFTSMC) combined with an improved deviation coupling control structure (Improved Deviation Coupling Control(IDCC), NFTSMC+IDCC). Firstly, this paper designs a sliding mode controller using a non-singular fast terminal sliding mode surface with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) as the control object. Secondly, the deviation coupling is improved to enhance the coupling between multiple motors and achieve position synchronization. Finally, the simulation results show that the total error of multi-motor position synchronization under NFTSMC control is 0.553r in the simulation of multi-motor synchronization control under the same working conditions, which is 2.873r and 1.772r less than that of SMC and FTSMC in terms of speed error, and the anti-disturbance performance is 83.68% and 76.22% higher than that of both of them, respectively. In the subsequent simulation of the improved multi-motor position synchronization structure, the total error of the multi-motor position is in the range of 0.56r-0.58r at three speeds, which is much smaller than the synchronization error under the Ring Coupling Control (RCC) structure and Deviation Coupling Control (DCC) structure, showing a better The synchronization error is much smaller than that of the RCC structure and DCC structure, which shows better position synchronization performance. Therefore, the multi-motor position synchronization control method proposed in this paper has a good position synchronization effect and achieves the control effect of small displacement error and fast convergence of the multi-motor position synchronization control system after being disturbed, the control performance is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producing complex fracture networks in a safe way plays a critical role in the hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy exploitation. However, conventional hydraulic fracturing (HF) generally produces high breakdown pressure and results only in single main fracture morphology. Furthermore, HF has also other problems such as the increased risk of seismic events and consuption of large amount of water. In this work, a new stimulation method based on cyclic soft stimulation (CSS) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) fracturing, known as cyclic LN2 fracturing is explored, which we believe has the potential to solve the above issues related to HF. The fracturing performances including breakdown pressure and fracture morphology on granites under true-triaxial stresses are investigated and compared with cyclic water fracturing. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) tests and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning tests were used for quantitative characterization of fracture parameters and to evaluate the cyclic LN2 fracturing performances. The results demonstrate that the cyclic LN2 fracturing results in reduced breakdown pressure, with between 21% and 67% lower pressure compared with using cyclic water fracturing. Cyclic LN2 fracturing tends to produce more complex and branched fractures, whereas cyclic water fracturing usually produces a single main fracture under a low number of cycles and pressure levels. Thermally-induced fractures mostly occur around the interfaces of different particles. This study shows the potential benefits of cyclic LN2 fracturing on HDR. It is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the cyclic LN2 fracturing application in HDR reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design: This is an observational retrospective cohort study. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence rate of depression and anxiety and the changes in patients treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) following ERAS protocol. Summary of background data: The incidence of depression and anxiety is not uncommon in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), which affects the prognosis of surgery. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols can improve the perioperative stress response of patients. Materials and methods: Patients were treated conventionally in 2019 as the control group (CG) (n = 281), and patients were treated according to the ERAS protocol in 2020 as the intervention group (IG) (n = 251). All patients were evaluated for depression and anxiety using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 at admission, postoperative 1 week, 1 month and 3, 6, 12 months. Results: The degree of depression statistically decreased in the IG at follow-up periods (p < 0.001), and the degree of anxiety statistically decreased at 1 week (p < 0.001), 1 month (p < 0.001), 3 months (p = 0.017). Patients in the IG could soothe depression and anxiety disorders faster than patients in the CG and maintain psychological stability at the follow-up periods. The percentage of moderate or above depression in the IG was statistically fewer than in the CG at follow-up periods (p < 0.01). The odds ratio (OR) was respectively 0.410, 0.357, 0.294, 0.333, 0.327 from 1 week to 12 months. While the percentage of patients with moderate or above anxiety significantly decreased in the IG at 1 week (p < 0.001), OR = 0.528, 1 month (p = 0.037), OR = 0.309 and 12 months (p = 0.040), OR = 0.554, no differences between 3 months (p = 0.187) and 6 months (p = 0.133). Conclusion: PKP following ERAS protocol to treat patients with OVCF had a better effect on relieving postoperative anxiety and depression than following conventional protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of people suffering from diabetes in Taiwan has continued to rise in recent years. According to the statistics of the International Diabetes Federation, about 537 million people worldwide (10.5% of the global population) suffer from diabetes, and it is estimated that 643 million people will develop the condition (11.3% of the total population) by 2030. If this trend continues, the number will jump to 783 million (12.2%) by 2045. At present, the number of people with diabetes in Taiwan has reached 2.18 million, with an average of one in ten people suffering from the disease. In addition, according to the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan, the prevalence rate of diabetes among adults in Taiwan has reached 5% and is increasing each year. Diabetes can cause acute and chronic complications that can be fatal. Meanwhile, chronic complications can result in a variety of disabilities or organ decline. If holistic treatments and preventions are not provided to diabetic patients, it will lead to the consumption of more medical resources and a rapid decline in the quality of life of society as a whole. In this study, based on the outpatient examination data of a Taipei Municipal medical center, 15,000 women aged between 20 and 80 were selected as the subjects. These women were patients who had gone to the medical center during 2018–2020 and 2021–2022 with or without the diagnosis of diabetes. This study investigated eight different characteristics of the subjects, including the number of pregnancies, plasma glucose level, diastolic blood pressure, sebum thickness, insulin level, body mass index, diabetes pedigree function, and age. After sorting out the complete data of the patients, this study used Microsoft Machine Learning Studio to train the models of various kinds of neural networks, and the prediction results were used to compare the predictive ability of the various parameters for diabetes. Finally, this study found that after comparing the models using two-class logistic regression as well as the two-class neural network, two-class decision jungle, or two-class boosted decision tree for prediction, the best model was the two-class boosted decision tree, as its area under the curve could reach a score of 0.991, which was better than other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the behaviors of older adults in rural areas at all stages of active aging after participating in senior self-directed learning groups. This study adopted a qualitative research method and conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with six members of a senior learning center in a rural area. The themes identified from the thematic analysis were categorized into three levels: health, safety, and participation. The health level included (1) understanding the importance of exercise and taking the initiative in leading simple group exercises to develop regular exercise habits and (2) paying greater attention to disease and diet control through knowledge sharing with group members.The safety level included (1) paying more attention to safe driving when volunteering with other members; and (2) resonating with fall prevention techniques and cultivating a safe home to prevent falls. The participation level included (1) having more common topics to share with family members to enhance relationships (2) changing conceptualizations of interpersonal relationships and actively expanding and managing a circle of friends; and (3) increasing willingness to actively participate in social activities compared to before participating in the group. The results of this study showed that after joining the senior self-directed learning groups, the older adults had a positive change in their cognition of active aging, recognized the importance of active aging, and then faced their aging process with a positive attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native T1 values of the myocardium provide valuable information for tissue characterization and assessment of cardiomyopathies. In this study, we proposed a novel hybrid MOLLI sequence for myocardial T1 mapping. Unlike the two groups of inversion-recovery sampling of the conventional MOLLI5(3 s)3 sequence, the hybrid MOLLI sequence consisted of an inversion-recovery block followed by a saturation-recovery block. Since the second block employed a saturation pulse to spoil the longitudinal magnetization, it did not require a waiting period as MOLLI5(3 s)3 did. As a result, the hybrid MOLLI required less acquisition time leading to a practical application for patients with breath-hold difficulties. Phantom and healthy subject experiments were performed to evaluate the proposed sequence against the MOLLI5(3 s)3 sequence. The phantom study showed that the heart-rate dependency of one variant of the hybrid MOLLI sequences, hbMOLLI4, was comparable to that of MOLLI5(3 s)3. In addition, both hbMOLLI4 and MOLLI53 derived T1 values under 2% variations with simulated heart rates from 50 to 90 beats-per-minute within the range of T1 values for myocardium and blood before contrast administration. Simulation results suggested slightly reduced T1 fitting precision in hbMOLLI4 compared with MOLLI5(3 s)3, but prominently better than saturation recovery. Bland-Altman analysis on accuracy assessment revealed that hbMOLLI4 partially reduced the T1 underestimation of MOLLI5(3 s)3. In the human study, The T1 values of both methods were consistent (hbMOLLI4 vs. MOLLI5(3 s)3, slope = 1.14, R2 > 0.97), with equal reproducibility. The results supported that hybrid MOLLI produced comparable T1 mapping results in terms of accuracy, reproducibility, and heart-rate dependency, at the expense of slightly reduced precision. We concluded that the hybrid MOLLI sequence presents a competitive alternative to the MOLLI5(3 s)3 sequence when a speedy acquisition is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Claspin plays multiple important roles in regulation of DNA replication as a mediator for the cellular response to replication stress, an integral replication fork factor that facilitates replication fork progression and a factor that promotes initiation by recruiting Cdc7 kinase. Here, we report a novel role of Claspin in growth recovery from serum starvation, which requires the activation of PI3 kinase (PI3K)- PDK1-Akt-mTOR pathways. In the absence of Claspin, cells do not proceed into S phase and eventually die partially in a ROS- and p53-dependent manner. Claspin directly interacts with PI3K and mTOR, and is required for activation of PI3K-PDK1- mTOR and for that of mTOR downstream factors, p70S6K and 4EBP1, but not for p38 MAPK cascade during the recovery from serum starvation. PDK1 physically interacts with Claspin, notably with CKBD, in a manner dependent on phosphorylation of the latter protein, and is required for interaction of mTOR with Claspin. Thus, Claspin plays a novel role as a key regulator for nutrition-induced proliferation/survival signaling by activating the mTOR pathway. The results also suggest a possibility that Claspin may serve as a common mediator that receives signals from different PI3Krelated kinases and transmit them to specific downstream kinase [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An ESO-based controller is proposed for the attitude control of spacecraft with unknown faults. • The event-triggered policy reduces the effects of constants on the final convergence regions. • The controller reduces the frequency of data transmission and actuators updates. An event-triggered control strategy based on extended state observer (ESO) is proposed for the attitude tracking problem of small plug-and-play spacecraft with uncertain inertia parameters, external disturbances, and actuator faults. A simplified controller is developed based on the angular velocity and the general disturbances estimated by the provided ESO using the information of the system inputs and the angular velocities. In the designed event-triggered sampling mechanism, a state-dependent event-triggered strategy determines the triggering instant of the controller to reduce the frequency of information transmission between the controller and the actuator. In comparison with the previous literature, this paper considers uncertain inertia parameters, external disturbances, and actuator faults as general disturbances estimated by ESO, especially for the actuator faults. The inputs of ESO are the error of the angular velocities, which can simplify the controller design. Moreover, the designed ESO can effectively attenuate the influence of measured noises generated by the gyroscopes. The proposed event-triggered policy balances the performance of event-triggering and the control stability performance, which reduces the final state convergence regions without increasing more triggering times compared to existing studies. Furthermore, the investigated policy achieves Zeno-free triggering. Numerical simulations verify theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among many machine learning applications, classification is one of the important tasks. Most classification algorithms have been designed under the assumption that the number of samples for each class is approximately balanced. However, if the conventional classification approaches are applied to a class imbalanced dataset, it is likely to cause misclassification and, as a result, may distort classification performance results. Thus, in this study, we consider imbalanced classification problems and adopt an efficient preprocessing technique to improve the classification performances. In particular, we focus on borderline noise and outlier samples that belong to the majority class since they may influence classification performance. For this, we propose a hybrid resampling method, called BOD-based undersampling, which is based on density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) approach as well as noise and outlier detection methods, that is, borderline noise factor (BNF) and outlierness based on neighborhood (OBN) to divide majority class samples into four distinctive categories, i.e., safe, borderline noise, rare, and outlier. Specifically, we first determine the borderline noise samples in the overlapped region using the BNF method. Secondly, we use the OBN method to detect outlier samples and apply the DBSCAN approach to cluster the samples. Based on the results obtained from the sample identi- fication analysis, we then segregate the safe category samples which are not abnormal samples while keeping the rest of the samples as rare samples. Finally, we remove some of safe samples by using the random under-sampling (RUS) method and verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm through the comprehensive experimental analysis with considering several class imbalance datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent anxiety should receive more attention than it currently does since it might have long-term impacts that develop across the entire lifespan. We aim to clarify how school-, class- and individual-level factors affect adolescent anxiety and to try to identify the key mediators and moderators that help alleviate adolescent anxiety.Methods: We used data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), which is a longitudinal survey. A total of 7582 students aged 14-15 years (in 257 classes within 98 schools) were followed across two survey waves. Since the data are structured hierarchically, we utilized multilevel modeling with HLM 7.0 and Monte Carlo resampling with R to confirm the significance of the mediation effects. Then, we drew interaction diagrams to explain the effects of the moderator.Results: A higher share of interprovincial migrant students in the school, greater respect for teachers in the classroom, and greater self-confidence in one's personal appearance all reduce adolescent anxiety. Collective integration, as a key mediator, explains how the school-/individual-level factor affects adolescent anxiety. Parental involvement moderates the relationship between collective integration and adolescent anxiety.Limitations: Most of the variables were self-reported by the students. The findings of this study should be applied with caution to cross-cultural contexts.Conclusions: We advocate for a multipronged approach, particularly an approach that uses different strategies at school, class, and individual levels, to help students develop the skills needed to enhance their social inclusion and sense of personal belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The migrant elderly following family (MEFF), who migrates to new community to reunite with families, may face challenges of city integration and belonging. This study aims to explore from an elderly service perspective how to improve the sense of city belonging for MEFFs with and without hypertension/diabetes conditions.Methods: Data were derived from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey and China National Statistical Yearbooks in 2017. The study included 882 MEFFs with hypertension or diabetes and 1266 MEFFs without hypertension and diabetes. Hierarchical linear modeling was applied to analyze the effects of individual and provincial elderly services on sense of city belonging among the MEFF with and without hypertension/diabetes.Results: The MEFFs with hypertension or diabetes exhibited a greater sense of city belonging when they were familiar with a wider range of health education topics (γ = 0.05, p = 0.033) and were in those provinces with a greater number of licensed doctors (γ = 0.39, p < 0.001) and hospitals (p = 0.042). For those MEFFs without hypertension or diabetes, social security cards (γ = 0.57, p < 0.001) and awareness of a wider range of health education topics (γ = 0.07, p = 0.018) may help to improve their sense of city belonging.Conclusion: This study calls for strengthening the accessibility in inclusive elderly services, and minimizing or even eliminating the inequality in elderly services at the individual and provincial levels to increase sense of city belonging among the MEFFs. For the MEFFs with hypertension or diabetes, health managers should focus on improving health information dissemination and increasing the number of doctors per 1000 people as well as and the number of hospitals to enhance the sense of city belonging. Moreover, the government should strengthen social security and health education to facilitate the adaptation and integration of MEFFs without hypertension and diabetes into the host city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient solar energy conversion is ensured by the organization, physical association, and physiological coordination of various protein complexes in photosynthetic membranes. Here, we visualize the native architecture and interactions of photosynthetic complexes within the thylakoid membranes from a fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 (Syn2973) using high-resolution atomic force microscopy. In the Syn2973 thylakoid membranes, both photosystem I (PSI)-enriched domains and crystalline photosystem II (PSII) dimer arrays were observed, providing favorable membrane environments for photosynthetic electron transport. The high light (HL)-adapted thylakoid membranes accommodated a large amount of PSI complexes, without the incorporation of iron-stress-induced protein A (IsiA) assemblies and formation of IsiA-PSI supercomplexes. In the iron deficiency (Fe-)-treated thylakoid membranes, in contrast, IsiA proteins densely associated with PSI, forming the IsiA-PSI supercomplexes with varying assembly structures. Moreover, type-I NADH dehydrogenase-like complexes (NDH-1) were upregulated under the HL and Fe- conditions and established close association with PSI complexes to facilitate cyclic electron transport. Our study provides insight into the structural heterogeneity and plasticity of the photosynthetic apparatus in the context of their native membranes in Syn2973 under environmental stress. Advanced understanding of the photosynthetic membrane organization and adaptation will provide a framework for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of efficient light harvesting and energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of truncated ApEGF on wound healing in vitro, scratches were made in HaCaT cell cultures, which were then allowed to re-epithelialize for 48 h at 37 °C in the presence or absence of ApEGF. Therefore, rapid treatment is required to recover damaged skin tissues, and wound healing using appropriate wound treatments is essential. Compared to the control group, the truncated ApEGF group exhibited significant wound healing on day 3, and by day 15, the wounds in the truncated ApEGF group had fully healed. Keywords: wound healing; Antheraea pernyi; epidermal growth factor; prokaryotic expression; re-epithelialization EN wound healing Antheraea pernyi epidermal growth factor prokaryotic expression re-epithelialization 975 13 11/17/22 20221101 NES 221101 1. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to mediate gene expression participating in the progression of multiple cancers, including gastric carcinoma (GC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which circRNAs-modulated cell proliferation and apoptosis in GC had not been completely clarified. In our study, hsa_ circ_0017728 as a potential oncogene competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) was investigated in the progression and development of gastric carcinogenesis. Material and methods: High-throughput sequencing was used to determine differentially expressed circRNAs in GC tissues and corresponding non-cancerous tissues. The CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/ polyimide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) staining were performed to detect the cell viability and apoptosis in GC cells. In addition, gene expression and protein levels in GC tissues and cell lines were measured using RT-qPCR and western blotting, respectively. Results: Our results demonstrated that the hsa_circ_0017728 expression level was up-regulated in GC tissues and cell lines and closely associated with poor overall survival and pathological differentiation, higher TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0017728 had the ability to cause inhibition of cell proliferation and migration and elevate the cell apoptosis rate in GC cells. We also discovered that hsa_circ_0017728 might serve as a ceRNA to sponge miR-149 and indirectly regulated the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in GC cell proliferation and apoptosis. Conclusions: The regulatory network of hsa_circ_0017728/miR-149/IL-6/ STAT3 cascade signaling might provide a better understanding of gastric carcinogenesis and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of stress waves with complex waveforms serves as a critical inducing factor and energy transmission carrier in various underground dynamic disasters. Therefore, the development of testing methods and equipment that excites complex stress waveforms, and application in laboratory and field tests, are crucial in advancing our understanding of rock dynamics. In this study, a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) impact testing system has been used as excitation equipment for complex stress waves and an effective excitation scheme to generate an arbitrary waveform is established. Large random data sets of striker outlines and the corresponding waveform data sets are generated using an efficient discrete bead-string model. In addition, a BPNN-RNN scheme is designed to train the inversion model from waveform set to striker outline set. The results of numerical and laboratory impact tests have shown that the training algorithm delivered excellent inversion accuracy for complex stress waveforms, and the turn-milled striker bars based on the inversion results excited the requisite waveforms in the SHPB system. Stress waves with equal energy and different waveforms result in significantly different impact failure patterns in sandstone samples. • An efficient BPNN-RNN algorithm for controlled stress wave excitation in a SHPB testing system is developed. • The actual waveform excited by the designed striker bar matches the assumed waveform with a high level of accuracy. • Sandstone materials exhibit significant waveform effect under various equi-energy waveforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to explore whether student suicide reporting is consistent with media recommendations for suicide reporting; analyze public opinion and sentiments toward student suicide reports. A keyword search was performed on the WeiboReach platform. This study included 113 student suicide report posts and 176,262 readers’ comments on suicide news reports. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling was used to analyze the relationships between adherence to reporting recommendations and negative emotions in readers’ comments. None of the media reporting of student suicide was consistent with all of the media recommendations for suicide reporting. Netizens were less likely to post negative comments when the reports describe the suicide method used (OR 1.169, 95% CI 1.022∼1.337), and not specifying the cause of suicide was a protective factor for public negative emotion (OR 0.799, 95% CI 0.707, 0.905). The findings suggest improving responsible media reporting on student suicide to reduce negative public emotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on SnCl2‐catalyzed acetalation and selective benzoylation, a one‐pot strategy to efficiently synthesize orthogonally protected glycosyl acceptors with 2‐OH/3‐OH was developed. Consequently, 2‐OBz or 3‐OBz 4,6‐O‐benzylidene galactosides and glucosides were efficiently prepared in moderate to high yields starting from free galactosides and glucosides, and were used as valuable glycosyl acceptors for the synthesis of blood group antigens O and B analogues in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human infections with avian-origin H7N9 influenza A viruses were first reported in China, and an approximately 38% human mortality rate was described across six waves from February 2013 to September 2018. Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce morbidity and mortality during influenza epidemics and pandemics. Egg-based platforms for the production of influenza vaccines are labor-intensive and unable to meet the surging demand during pandemics. Therefore, cell culture-based technology is becoming the alternative strategy for producing influenza vaccines. The current influenza H7N9 vaccine virus (NIBRG-268), a reassortant virus from A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) and egg-adapted A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) viruses, could grow efficiently in embryonated eggs but not mammalian cells. Moreover, a freezing-dry formulation of influenza H7N9 vaccines with long-term stability will be desirable for pandemic preparedness, as the occurrence of influenza H7N9 pandemics is not predictable. In this study, we adapted a serum-free anchorage-independent suspension Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line for producing influenza H7N9 vaccines and compared the biochemical characteristics and immunogenicity of three influenza H7N9 vaccine antigens produced using the suspension MDCK cell-based platform without freeze-drying (S-WO-H7N9), the suspension MDCK cell-based platform with freeze-drying (S-W-H7N9) or the egg-based platform with freeze-drying (E-W-H7N9). We demonstrated these three vaccine antigens have comparable biochemical characteristics. In addition, these three vaccine antigens induced robust and comparable neutralizing antibody (NT; geometric mean between 1016 and 4064) and hemagglutinin-inhibition antibody (HI; geometric mean between 640 and 1613) titers in mice. In conclusion, the serum-free suspension MDCK cell-derived freeze-dried influenza H7N9 vaccine is highly immunogenic in mice, and clinical development is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the worldwide vaccination effort against COVID-19 gains traction, complications attributed to the vaccines are increasingly reported in medical literature. Herein, we describe the first two cases of new-onset refractory status epilepticus after receiving their first doses of tozinameran. These were attributed to underlying autoimmune responses against the vaccine given the temporal proximity to them receiving tozinameran, the absence of alternative diagnoses, the refractoriness of their seizures, and their clinical improvement only after administration of immunotherapies. Importantly, their cases supplement existing reports on the rare neurologic complications of the COVID-19 vaccines and encourage continued vigilance amongst the physicians amidst the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure evolution and hardening effect of pure tungsten and Wâ€"1.5%ZrO2 alloy under carbon ion irradiation are investigated by using transmission electron microscopy and nano-indentation. Carbon ion irradiation is performed at 700 °C with irradiation damages ranging from 0.25 dpa to 2.0 dpa. The results show that the irradiation defect clusters are mainly in the form of dislocation loop. The size and density of dislocation loops increase with irradiation damages intensifying. The Wâ€"1.5%ZrO2 alloy has a smaller dislocation loop size than that of pure tungsten. It is proposed that the phase boundaries have the ability to absorb and annihilate defects and the addition of ZrO2 phase improves the sink strength for irradiation defects. It is confirmed that the Wâ€"1.5%ZrO2 alloy shows a smaller change in hardness than the pure tungsten after being irradiated. From the above results, we conclude that the addition of ZrO2 into tungsten can significantly reduce the accumulation of irradiated defects and improve the irradiation resistance behaviors of the tungsten materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wnt pathway is essential for the initiation of lizard tail regeneration. The regenerated lizard tails exhibit obvious morphological differences compared to the original ones. The expression of Wnt1 and Wnt2b proteins in the regenerating tail of Scincella tsinlingensis was detected by immunohistochemistry and then comparatively analyzed for ultrastructural changes in the original and regenerated spinal cord. The ependymal layer of the original spinal cord was pseudostratified with multiciliated cells and primary monociliated cells, while the cells of the ependymal layer of the regenerated spinal cord were organized in a monolayer with a few biciliated cells. Immunolocalization indicated that Wnt1 and Wnt2b were mainly distributed in the dermis near the original tail stump, spinal cord, and clot-positive migratory cells during Stage I, 0-1 days post-amputation (dpa). Wnt1 and Wnt2b were predominantly detected in the epaxial and hypaxial musculature near the original tail stump, wound epithelium, and spinal cord in the original tail during Stage II, 1-7 dpa. Mesenchymal cells and wound epithelium showed immunostaining during Stage III and IV, 7-15 dpa. The ependymal tubes contained these signaling proteins during Stage V and VI, 20-30 dpa. Labeling was mainly observed in nearby regenerative blood vessels, ependymal cells, epaxial and hypaxial musculature in the apical epithelial layer (AEC) after 45-160 dpa. These findings indicated that Wnt1 and Wnt2b proteins presented primarily in regenerating epidermis and nerve tissues were a critical signal for tail regeneration in S. tsinlingensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new prenylated bibenzyls (1–3) and seven known congeners were purified from the Chinese liverwort Radula apiculata. Their structures were identified by the analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison of reported NMR data. All isolated compounds were tested for several human cancer cell lines with adriamycin served as a positive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PERM1 (PGC-1/ERR-induced regulator in muscle 1) is a muscle-specific protein induced by PGC-1 and ERRs. Previous studies have shown that PERM1 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism in cardiomyocytes in vitro. However, the role of endogenous PERM1 in the heart remains to be investigated with loss-of-function studies in vivo. We report the generation and characterization of systemic Perm1 knockout (KO) mice. The baseline cardiac phenotype of the homozygous Perm1 KO mice appeared normal. However, RNA-sequencing and unbiased pathway analyses showed that homozygous downregulation of PERM1 leads to downregulation of genes involved in fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism in the heart. Transcription factor binding site analyses suggested that PPARα and PGC-1α are involved in changes in the gene expression profile. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that PERM1 interacts with the proximal regions of PPAR response elements (PPREs) in endogenous promoters of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation. Co-immunoprecipitation and reporter gene assays showed that PERM1 promoted transcription via the PPRE, partly in a PPARα and PGC-1α dependent manner. These results suggest that endogenous PERM1 is involved in the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation through physical interaction with PPARα and PGC-1α in the heart in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemia is the most common live food that is used in aquaculture worldwide. This study reports on biometrical variation in the cysts of the introduced, originally American Artemia franciscana from 24 non-native localities and two native habitats, in Asia and the U.S.A., respectively. The results show, that the largest diameter of untreated cysts, the largest diameter of decapsulated cysts, and a thicker chorion usually are found in invasive populations. Because of the small cysts, which have an effect on an increasing quantity per unit weight and thus could be the cause of increased hatching efficiency, commercial productions of A. franciscana cysts from native sources should potentially be considered higher quality than productions from non-indigenous environments. Principal Component Analysis revealed that all cyst batches from San Francisco Bay were classified in one group and most of the invasive populations could be arranged in another, separate group. Although the diameter of the decapsulated cyst and chorion thickness showed a negative and significant correlation among invasive populations, there was no significant relationship within native populations. These observations contrast with biometrical patterns of parthenogenetic populations. Résumé: Artemia est la nourriture vivante la plus utilisée mondialement en aquaculture. Cette étude porte sur la variation biométrique des cystes de l' Artemia franciscana américaine originelle provenant de 24 localités non–indigènes en Asie et deux habitats indigènes aux U.S.A. Les résultats montrent qu'un diamètre plus grand des cystes non traités, un diamètre plus grand des cystes décapsulés et un chorion plus épais sont généralement trouvés dans les populations invasives. Du fait que les petits cystes ont un effet sur l'augmentation de la quantité par unité de poids et ainsi pourraient être la cause d'une augmentation de l'efficacité de l'éclosion, les productions commerciales de cystes à partir de sources indigènes devraient être potentiellement considérées comme de meilleure qualité que les productions à partir d'habitats non indigènes. L'analyse des composants principaux a montré que les lots de cystes de la baie de San Francisco ont été classés en un seul groupe et que la plupart des populations invasives peuvent être arrangées ensemble dans un groupe séparé. Bien que le diamètre des cystes décapsulés et l'épaisseur du chorion aient montré une corrélation négative et significative chez les populations invasives, il n'y a pas d'interrelation parmi les populations indigènes. Ces observations contrastent avec les données biométriques des populations parthénogénétiques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing life expectancy and declining birth rate are two key drivers of population aging globally, resulting in a falling population. This study investigated the evolution of pediatric patients with vertigo/dizziness during the past two decades. From 2001 to 2010, a total of 17,123 new patients with vertigo/dizziness visited our neurotological clinic. Of them, 472 (2.8%) were children (Group A). In contrast, 260 children (1.3%) out of 20,404 new patients with vertigo/dizziness were experienced during the period 2011–2020 (Group B). All patients underwent an inner ear test battery before diagnosis. The incidence of pediatric vertigo/dizziness in relation to overall neurotological cases significantly decreased from the first decade (2.8%) to the second decade (1.3%). Approximately 80% prevalence of pediatric vertigo/dizziness cases were referred to as vestibular migraine and benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood regardless of Group A or B. Correlation between annual birth rate (x) and incidence of pediatric vertigo/dizziness cases in relation to overall neurotological cases (y) represented as y = 6.488x − 0.037 via linear regression analysis. The evolution of pediatric vertigo/dizziness revealed decreased incidence from 2.8% (2001–2010) to 1.3% (2011–2020), which may be related to the declined annual birth rate from 11.7‰ (2001) to 7.0‰ (2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteosarcoma is one of the five leading causes of cancer death among all pediatric malignancies. Recent advances in non-coding RNAs suggested that many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in cancer tissues and play important roles in carcinogenesis. We aimed to further explore the mechanisms of Long Intergenic Non-Protein Coding RNA 313 (LINC00313)-promoted malignant phenotypes of osteosarcoma. Methods: The mRNA expressions were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Protein levels were detected using Western blotting or immunohistochemistry staining. Protein binding to genomic DNA and RNA were measured using chromatin and RNA immunoprecipitation assay, respectively. CCK-8 and EdU incorporation assay were adopted to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assay was employed to assess the capacity of cell migration and invasion. The roles of LINC00313 and its target genes in tumorigenesis and metastasis of osteosarcoma were evaluated using subcutaneous xenograft models and tail vein inoculation models. Results: LINC00313 was elevated in osteosarcoma tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Higher LINC00313 was associated with advanced grades of osteosarcoma. LINC00313 promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion in vitro and tumor growth as well as metastasis in vivo through inhibiting PTEN expression to promote AKT phosphorylation. Mechanistically, LINC00313 favored the interaction between FUS and EZH2, leading to the prolonged half-life of EZH2 mRNA, thereby in turn up-regulating EZH2 proteins and increasing EZH2-mediated epigenetic silence of PTEN. Conclusion: LINC00313 exerted oncogene-like actions through increasing EZH2 mRNA stability, leading to PTEN deficiency in osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is one of the most promising additive manufacturing technologies for fabricating various biomimetic architectures of tissues and organs. In this context, the bioink, a critical element for biofabrication, is a mixture of biomaterials and living cells used in 3D printing to create cell-laden structures. Recently, decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-based bioinks derived from natural tissues have garnered enormous attention from researchers due to their unique and complex biochemical properties. This review initially presents the details of the natural ECM and its role in cell growth and metabolism. Further, we briefly emphasize the commonly used decellularization treatment procedures and subsequent evaluations for the quality control of the dECM. In addition, we summarize some of the common bioink preparation strategies, the 3D bioprinting approaches, and the applicability of 3D-printed dECM bioinks to tissue engineering. Finally, we present some of the challenges in this field and the prospects for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and Alzheimer's disease are the most common cognitive impairment diseases in the elderly. This study aimed to apply the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) scale to evaluate VCI in elderly patients and analyze its reliability and validity. Methods: We enrolled 278 VCI patients admitted to our hospital, from June 2017 to June 2018. The basic clinical information of each patient was documented, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the RBANS scales were suggested to complete. Results: We found significant correlations between the RBANS total score and age, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and years of education. The internal consistency of the RBANS scale Cronbach α suggested a good agreement with the total score and the single score at two time points. Moreover, the RBANS total score and the score of each dimension in the RBANS scale were positively correlated with the MMSE immediate memory, calculation ability, delayed memory, commanding ability, reading comprehension ability, command execution, sentence making, and pattern duplicating ability. Conclusion: In conclusion, the RBANS has good reliability and validity for the assessment of cognitive dysfunction in elderly VCI patients. It can be used as a routine clinical and research tool, for the simplicity in operation and superior acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the outcomes of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identified the optimal treatment modality for such patients. We retrospectively enrolled 91 patients with treatment-naive HCC and tumor rupture at diagnosis, including 38 patients who underwent surgical resection (SR) alone, 28 patients who were treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) only, 20 patients who had a sequential combination therapy of TACE and SR, and 5 patients who received best supportive care. After a median follow-up of 13.1 months, 54 patients died. The cumulative 5 years overall survival (OS) rates were 55.1% and 0% in the SR group and non-SR group, respectively (p < 0.001). Non-SR therapy was associated with poorer OS according to a multivariate analysis with a hazard ratio of 6.649 (95% confidence interval 3.581–12.344, p < 0.001). Moreover, whether patients received TACE or not did not impact the OS in both the SR group and the non-SR group. In conclusion, for patients with HCC and tumor rupture at the time of diagnosis, SR could lead to better prognoses than non-surgery treatment modalities. Moreover, a sequential combination of TACE and SR had similar clinical outcomes when compared to SR alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is significantly higher in men than women. Nonetheless, the impact of sex disparities on HCC outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to compare the clinical manifestations and prognoses between male and female patients with HCC. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 5337 consecutive patients (3976 men, 1361 women) who were diagnosed with HCC from 2007 to 2020. The prognostic factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Male patients were younger upon HCC diagnosis (median age 64 vs 69 years; p < 0.001) with more favorable hepatic functional reserves (39.0% vs 35.1% albumin-bilirubin grade 1; p = 0.025) but had greater tumor burdens than the female patients. Furthermore, fewer male patients underwent curative therapies for HCC compared with the female patients (49.0% vs 57.0%; p < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 20.1 months (interquartile range, 5.8-47.3 months), 3133 patients died. The cumulative 5-year overall survival rates were 37.1% and 41.9% for male and female patients, respectively (p < 0.001). From the multivariate analysis, male sex was not an independent factor predictive of poor overall survival in all patients and in the subgroup analysis stratified by treatment modalities. When stratified by age, the female sex was an independent factor associated with lower mortality in younger (≤50 years) patients but not in older patients with HCC. Conclusion: Sex was not an independent predictor of the outcome of patients with HCC, especially for those aged more than 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]