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Background: The Taihe black-boned silky fowl, a distinguished indigenous breed of chicken, is renowned for its dual utility in both traditional medicinal and culinary applications. However, the breed faces significant challenges due to its suboptimal reproductive capabilities and a notably brief egg-laying period, which have impeded its broader development and cultivation. In this research endeavor, we employed an advanced, rapid DIA (Data independent acquisition) quantitative proteomics method on the Astral platform to meticulously analyze the ovarian proteome of these chickens. By analyzing the ovarian proteomic information of Taihe black-boned silky fowl during peak and decline egg-laying periods, we aim to identify potential reproductive candidate proteins and the molecular mechanisms underlying egg-laying decline. This could enable us to implement interventions to improve the reproductive efficiency of this valuable breed. Result: In this study, a total of 8,281 proteins were identified within the ovarian proteome of the Taihe black-boned silky fowl. Among these, 303 proteins exhibited significant differential expression, with 98 proteins significantly up-regulated and 205 proteins significantly down-regulated. The functional annotation of these proteins illuminated their crucial roles in the steroid hormone synthesis pathways, which are pivotal during the peak of egg production. Furthermore, during the later stages of laying, there was a noticeable upregulation of proteins associated with inflammatory senescence and oxidative stress. This change suggests an increase in reproductive stress within the ovary, highlighting the physiological shifts that affect productivity as the chickens age. Conclusion: This study identified key candidate protein markers in the Taihe black-boned silky fowl during critical phases of their reproductive cycle, specifically peak and late egg-laying periods. These findings contribute valuable new scientific insights that can be utilized for the breeding optimization and effective management of this unique breed. By elucidating the protein dynamics during different laying phases, the research offers potential strategies aimed at enhancing reproductive performance and extending the reproductive lifespan of the Taihe black-boned silky fowl. This could lead to significant improvements in both the sustainability and profitability of farming this indigenous breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse genetics is a useful tool for studying viruses and developing vaccines for coronaviruses. However, constructing and manipulating the coronavirus genome in Escherichia coli can be time-consuming and challenging due to its large size and instability. Homologous recombination, a genetic manipulation mechanism found in organisms, is essential for DNA repair, gene recombination, and genetic engineering. In yeast, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, homologous recombination technology is commonly used for constructing gene expression plasmids and genome editing. In this study, we successfully split and spliced a 30 kb viral genome fragment using yeast homologous recombination. By optimizing the program parameters, such as homologous arm lengths and fragment-to-vector ratios, we achieved a splicing efficiency of up to 97.9%. The optimal parameters selected were a 60 bp homologous sequence size and a vector fragment ratio of 1:2:2:2:2:2 for yeast homologous recombination of large DNA fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryo-adsorption is an attractive method for hydrogen storage. However, the non-uniformity of temperature during the charging process affects its performance. To improve the uniformity of the temperature field inside the hydrogen storage tank, and thus improve the hydrogen storage performance and hydrogen storage efficiency of the tank, this paper proposed a thermal management method that combines the central and spiral cooling tubes with vacuum adiabatic heat management. Accordingly, a numerical model was built to investigate the hydrogen adsorption performance of the installation. The results reveal that satisfactory temperature-uniformity was shown in charging and dormant stages. Suitable operating conditions also can improve hydrogen storage performance by reducing the impact of thermal effects. Moreover, the hydrogen storage capacity of activated-carbon cryo-adsorption is roughly 2.5 times that of cryo-compressed storage and 10 times that of ambient-compressed storage. [Display omitted] • A new cooling structure enhancing temperature uniformity was proposed. • The charge cycle of cryogenic activated carbon hydrogen storage is simulated. • Hydrogen storage capacity is significantly improved with new cooling structure. • Proper operating condition leads to satisfactory hydrogen storage amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Taihe Black-Bone Silky Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson) possesses significant value in terms of consumption, medicinal applications, and ornamental appeal, representing a precious genetic resource and traditional Chinese medicinal material. However, considerable variation exists within populations regarding egg-laying performance. This study integrates a whole-genome selection signal analysis (SSA) with a transcriptome analysis to identify genes associated with egg-laying traits in Taihe Black-Bone Silky Fowls. We identified 31 candidate genes under selection from the high-yield chicken (HC) and low-yield chicken (LC) groups. Additionally, through RNA-seq analysis, 257 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from four comparative groups. Two overlapping genes—LPL and SETBP1—were found in both the selected gene and DEG lists. These selected genes and DEGs were enriched in pathways related to ovarian development, including the lysosome pathway, the ECM–receptor interaction pathway, the TGF-beta signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, the PPAR signaling pathway, and the glycerolipid metabolism pathway. These research findings contribute to the breeding of Taihe Black-Bone Silky Fowls with high egg production traits and provide a theoretical foundation for exploring the regulatory mechanisms of avian reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead toxicity has hindered the wide applications of lead halide perovskites in optoelectronics and bioimaging. A significant amount of effort has been made to synthesize lead-free halide perovskites as alternatives to lead halide perovskites. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of synthesizing CsSnI3-based powders mechanochemically with dual light emissions under ambient conditions from CsI and SnI2 powders. The formed CsSnI3-based powders are divided into CsSnI3-dominated powders and CsSnI3-contained powders. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light of 365 nm in wavelength, the CsSnI3-dominated powders emit green light with a wavelength centered at 540 nm, and the CsSnI3-contained powders emit orange light with a wavelength centered at 608 nm. Both the CsSnI3-dominated and CsSnI3-contained powders exhibit infrared emission with the peak emission wavelengths centered at 916 nm and 925 nm, respectively, under a laser of 785 nm in wavelength. From the absorbance spectra, we obtain bandgaps of 2.32 eV and 2.08 eV for the CsSnI3-dominated and CsSnI3-contained powders, respectively. The CsSnI3-contained powders exhibit the characteristics of thermal quenching and photoelectrical response under white light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with the concentrations of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its major metabolite, desethylhydroxychloroquine (DHCQ), in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Patients with SLE taking oral HCQ for at least 3 months were recruited from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Clinical characteristics and laboratory values were examined. The concentrations of HCQ and DHCQ were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the effects of various factors on the concentrations were investigated. Results: A total of 272 patients were included in this study. The average concentration of HCQ was 690.90 ng/ml and the average concentration of DHCQ was 431.84 ng/ml. Multivariate analysis indicated that gender (P = 0.015), age (year) (P < 0.001), weight (kg) (P = 0.013), duration of HCQ use (month) (P < 0.001), systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) (P < 0.001), platelet count (× 109/l) (P < 0.001), immunoglobulin G levels (g/l) (P = 0.014) were associated with low HCQ concentrations. Gender (P = 0.006), duration of HCQ use (month) (P < 0.001), SLEDAI (P = 0.007), and platelet count (× 109/l) (P < 0.001) were associated with low DHCQ concentrations. Conclusions: Patients with SLE require long-term administration of HCQ, but blood levels vary widely between individuals. Studying the factors influencing the blood HCQ and DHCQ concentrations and optimizing the dose according to individual characteristics might help to improve the efficacy of HCQ. Trial Registration: ChiCTR2300070628. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at various loci and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients with gynecologic cancer receiving platinum‐based chemotherapy (PPCT) remains unexplored. This research aimed to investigate the correlation between SNPs at several loci (e.g., GSTP1 rs1695, MTHFR rs1801133, XPC rs2228001, TP53 rs1042522, and ERCC1 rs3212986) and ADRs in patients with gynecologic cancer receiving PPCT. A total of 244 patients with gynecologic cancer who received first‐line PPCT were included in this retrospective study. Blood fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect genotypes. Logistic regression, Pearson's Chi‐square test, and Fisher's exact test were used to explore the correlations between these SNPs and the occurrence of ADRs. The logistic regression results showed that different genotypes of the five genes had no statistical significance in the overall grade greater than or equal to 3 ADRs. The results of Pearson's Chi‐square test showed the same results. On specific adverse reactions, we found that the rs1042522 GG genotype significantly increased the risk of grade greater than or equal to 3 leucopenia compared with the CG and the CC genotypes (p = 0.002). The rs1695 AG genotype showed higher correlation for grade greater than or equal to 3 neutropenia (p = 0.020). The rs2228001 CC genotype also had a higher risk for grade greater than or equal to 3 neutropenia (p = 0.003). This study found that whereas the overall grade greater than or equal to 3 adverse reactions in patients with gynecologic cancer receiving PPCT were not associated with SNPs, specific SNPs (rs1042522 GG, rs1695 AG, and rs2228001 CC) were linked to higher risks of leucopenia and neutropenia, indicating their potential as predictors of hematotoxicity in PPCT‐treated patients with gynecologic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future vehicle‐to‐everything (V2X) scenarios greatly call for reliable and efficient communication links between roadside units (RSUs) and vehicles. Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) represents one of the key candidate technologies for 6G, which provides new solutions for this problem. In this paper, the beam tracking design for V2X communication is investigated by exploiting the ISAC technique, where the RSU uses the echoes of the ISAC signals to estimate the motion parameters of the vehicles. Compared with traditional feedback‐based beam tracking, the proposed method can reduce the overall signaling costs and improve communication robustness. Furthermore, to achieve high accuracy and low latency for beam alignment, a Trajectory Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter (TA‐UKF) beam tracking algorithm is proposed, which obtains the optimal state transition model following the change of the vehicle state. Considering practical application scenarios, an ISAC‐based adaptive beam coverage (ISAC‐AC) scheme is further developed for the beam tracking of extended targets, which can achieve the beam misalignment of vehicles in practical scenarios. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed beam tracking and coverage strategies outperform baseline approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening pathological disease characterized by the damage of pulmonary endothelial cells and epithelial cell barriers by uncontrolled inflammation. During sepsis-induced ALI, multiple cells cooperate and communicate with each other to respond to the stimulation of inflammatory factors. However, the underlying mechanisms of action have not been fully identified, and the modes of communication therein are also being investigated. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of spherical membrane structures released by almost all types of cells, containing various cellular components. EVs are primary transport vehicles for microRNAs (miRNAs), which play essential roles in physiological and pathological processes in ALI. EV miRNAs from different sources participated in regulating the biological function of pulmonary epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and phagocytes by transferring miRNA through EVs during ALI induced by sepsis, which has great potential diagnostic and therapeutic values. This study aims to summarize the role and mechanism of extracellular vesicle miRNAs from different cells in the regulation of sepsis-induced ALI. It provides ideas for further exploring the role of extracellular miRNA secreted by different cells in the ALI induced by sepsis, to make up for the deficiency of current understanding, and to explore the more optimal scheme for diagnosis and treatment of ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since plant–plant interaction has been the fundamental issue of the ecology community and is essential for the multispecies forest community, it is necessary to analyze the interaction mechanisms and provide suggestions for collaborative management of multispecies forests with the background of double carbon goals in China. To explore the interaction mechanisms in different interaction modes and assist China's green development, we choose the most promising area, the Daxing'an Mountains, and its dominant species, Larch and Betula platyphylla, as research objects and establish a delayed two-species interaction model with an age structure. First, we calculate the equilibria of our model and analyze the stability of equilibria. Then, we study the existence of the Hopf bifurcation near the equilibria. Furthermore, we determine reasonable parameter values based on official data through mathematical methods, such as cluster analysis and model fitting. Finally, we carry out numerical simulations from three aspects, the evolution of a stand structure without interactions, the population dynamics in different interaction modes, and the influences of the parameters on the equilibria. Combined with simulation results, we provide biological interpretations for simulations of the stand structure evolution process and the interactions between Larch and Betula platyphylla; we also give reasonable values of the growth rates and mortalities for developing forest strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To develop prediction models for extubation time and midterm recovery time estimation in ophthalmic patients who underwent general anesthesia. Methods: Totally 1824 ophthalmic patients who received general anesthesia at Joint Shantou International Eye Center were included. They were divided into a training dataset of 1276 samples, a validation dataset of 274 samples and a check dataset of 274 samples. Up to 85 to 87 related factors were collected for extubation time and midterm recovery time analysis, respectively, including patient factors, anesthetic factors, surgery factors and laboratory examination results. First, multiple linear regression was used for predictor selection. Second, different methods were used to develop predictive models for extubation time and midterm recovery time respectively. Finally, the models' generalization abilities were evaluated using a same check dataset with MSE, RMSE, MAE, MAPE, R-Squared and CCC. Results: The fuzzy neural network achieved the highest R-Squared of 0.956 for extubation time prediction and 0.885 for midterm recovery time, and the RMSE value was 6.637 and 9.285, respectively. Conclusion: The fuzzy neural network developed in this study had good generalization performance in predicting both extubation time and midterm recovery time of ophthalmic patients undergoing general anesthesia. Trial registration: This study is prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, registration number: CHiCRT2000036416, registration date: August 23, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) mouse model is a well‐established model of SLE. LC3‐associated autophagy plays a critical role in extracellular particle clearance, including pathogens and apoptotic cells. Lupus Recipe (LR) is a Chinese herbal compound that has been proven to be effective in treating SLE. In the study, we investigated the protective effects of LR or LR combined with prednisone on cGVHD mouse model and LC3‐associated autophagy in the kidney. The mice were subjected to six groups. The LR treatment group received LR at the dosage of 1.15 and 2.3 g/kg/day, respectively. The corticosteroid treatment group received prednisone at a dosage of 5 mg/kg/day. The combination treatment group received LR at a dosage of 2.3 g/kg/day, and prednisone at 2.5 mg/kg/day. LR treatment reduced proteinuria and serum triglyceride levels, as well as spleen weight. LR also alleviated pathologic damage and immunoglobulin G deposition in the kidney. LR combined with a low dose of prednisone significantly improved kidney function and decreased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and spleen weight. In addition, combination treatment relieved kidney injury more effectively than LR alone. Western blot revealed that LR treatment or LR combined with prednisone increased the LC3‐associated autophagy protein of Rubicon and Nox2, as well as LC3I levels in the kidney tissues. In conclusion, LR inhibited the manifestation of cGVHD‐induced LN, which may attribute to the increased levels of LC3‐associated autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels, celebrated for their biocompatibility and adaptability, have become instrumental in the development of wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices. This evolution is driven by enhancements in mechanical strength, breathability, self-healing, water-retention, and adhesion capabilities, and the seamless integration of hydrogels with electronics, leading to improved device performance and user compliance. This review underscores the critical role of hydrogels in the sensing of mechanophysiological signals for health monitoring, showcasing their potential to revolutionize personalized medicine. Despite ongoing challenges, the intersection of material science, bioengineering, and advanced manufacturing techniques is fostering innovative solutions. These advancements are paving the way for the next generation of bioelectronics in medical technology, promising to transform health monitoring and personalized treatment approaches significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Deep clustering based on embedded auto-encoder" published in Soft Computing in 2021 has been retracted by the publisher due to concerns about compromised editorial handling, peer review process, and relevance to the journal's scope. The authors did not respond to inquiries regarding the retraction. The retraction note was authored by Xuan Huang, Zhenlong Hu, and Lin Lin. [Extracted from the article]

Drylands account for approximately 27 % of global soil organic carbon (SOC) reserves and play a vital role in regulating the global terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. Patchy patterns are common in drylands due to severe water shortages, making it difficult to predict sediment and SOC losses accurately. Therefore, a detailed field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of revegetation on sediment and SOC losses by runoff on typical dryland hillslopes on the Loess Plateau. Three machine learning models, namely, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) models, were used to simulate sediment and SOC losses, and the accuracies of these models were evaluated. The results revealed that the minimum value of SOC loss was 1.84 g kg−1 in the grass-covered plot, which was significantly lower than the loss of 17.73 g kg−1 observed in the bare plot. Compared with those in the bare plots, the sediment yields in the revegetation plots with shrubs, shrub–grass, trees, and grass were reduced by 46.9 %, 59.3 %, 70.7 %, and 94.4 %, respectively. The sediment and SOC losses were affected primarily by hydraulic characteristics (flow velocity and unit stream power) and soil properties (percentages of sediment fractions and median particle size). In addition, when the performances of the machine learning models were compared, the XGBoost and RF models yielded the best predictions of the SOC concentration, sediment loss, and SOC loss (NSE > 0.80, RRMSE < 0.14). In general, revegetation can significantly reduce SOC loss on hillslopes. Machine learning-based models provide a new method for sediment and SOC loss prediction in situations where severe erosion is occurring on dryland hillslopes. • Re-vegetation significantly reduces sediment and SOC loss on dryland hillslopes. • The SOC loss was primarily affected by the hydraulic and soil characteristics. • XGBoost and RF models outperform traditional regression in predicting SOC loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is recognized as the world's largest and highest plateau, characterized by intricate topography and underlying surfaces. Within this region, volatile meteorological conditions and severe synoptic systems, including thunderstorms, turbulence, sandstorms, and notably low-level wind shear (LLWS), present safety hazards to aviation operations. Therefore, a comprehensive examination of wind shear at typical QTP airports is essential. Xining Caojiapu International Airport (ZLXN) serves as a crucial transportation hub in the northeastern QTP. The frequent incidence of LLWS events due to the airport's unique geographical and meteorological features makes it an ideal location for investigating LLWS on the plateau. This study analyzed 80 pilot reports collected from 2016 to 2021 to elucidate the spatial and temporal characteristics of LLWS events at this plateau-valley airport. Subsequently, reanalysis data and observations from ground automated weather observing systems (AWOS), a geostationary satellite, a Doppler weather radar (DWR), and a Doppler wind lidar (DWL) were comprehensively employed to investigate the underlying meteorological factors and weather patterns associated with these LLWS events. The findings revealed that LLWS events at ZLXN are predominantly triggered by convective systems, followed by cold fronts and downward momentum transportation, with a smaller proportion being induced by orographic winds and turbulence. Analysis of four representative LLWS events utilizing high-resolution DWL measurements provided insights into the types of LLWS generated and their potential impacts on aircraft operations. Conceptual models, aimed at establishing a foundation for the forecasting and warning of local LLWS, were also proposed based on multiple data sources. • A first comprehensive inquiry into low-level wind shear at a Qinghai-Tibet Plateau airport. • Identification of primary meteorological drivers of low-level wind shear. • Detailed analysis of high-impact wind shear events, providing valuable insights. • Development of conceptual models for forecasting low-level wind shear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrated herein an I2O5-mediated radical nitration of olefins with NaNO2. A variety of (E)-nitroolefins can be synthesized in high yields and chemoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep clustering is a new research direction that combines deep learning and clustering. It performs feature representation and cluster assignments simultaneously, and its clustering performance is significantly superior to traditional clustering algorithms. The auto-encoder is a neural network model, which can learn the hidden features of the input object to achieve nonlinear dimensionality reduction. This paper proposes the embedded auto-encoder network model; specifically, the auto-encoder is embedded into the encoder unit and the decoder unit of the prototype auto-encoder, respectively. To ensure effectively cluster high-dimensional objects, the encoder of model first encodes the raw features of the input objects, and obtains a cluster-friendly feature representation. Then, in the model training stage, by adding smoothness constraints to the objective function of the encoder, the representation capabilities of the hidden layer coding are significantly improved. Finally, the adaptive self-paced learning threshold is determined according to the median distance between the object and its corresponding the centroid, and the fine-tuning sample of the model is automatically selected. Experimental results on multiple image datasets have shown that our model has fewer parameters, higher efficiency and the comprehensive clustering performance is significantly superior to the state-of-the-art clustering methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the relationship between erythrocyte folate levels and cervical lesions. Methods: Using a case–control method, patients with cervical lesions from September 2021 to February 2022 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jiangnan University Hospital were selected as study subjects. After cervical biopsy, 40 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) CIN3 and 65 cases of cervical cancer as case group. The normal population of 120 cases attending the same period served as the control group. A competitive model was used to establish a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for human erythrocyte folate. Erythrocyte folate levels of 225 subjects were determined. Results: Serum folate levels were 7.82 ± 3.13, 8.04 ± 3.58, and 7.58 ± 4.30 ng/ml in the control, CIN3, and cervical cancer groups, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.959). Erythrocyte folate levels were 307.27 ± 122.95, 306.52 ± 189.77, and 285.42 ± 125.74 ng/ml, respectively, with statistically significant differences (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In a population of middle‐aged Chinese women, the lower the erythrocyte folate value, the greater the risk of cervical cancer. In addition, serum folate levels were not associated with cervical lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which causes involuntarily leakage of urine, has an impact on many women and may affect self-efficacy, which, in turn, can lead to poor health-related quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to explore the effects of sociodemographic and health information, symptom distress, self-efficacy, and positive thinking on the health-related QOL (general QOL and urinary incontinence-specific QOL) of women with SUI.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Women with SUI were recruited from the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient department and urodynamics examination room of a hospital by convenience sampling from August 2021 to March 2022. Participants were surveyed on the following questionnaires: Urogenital Distress Inventory, Geriatric Self-efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence, Positive Thinking Scale, 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form.Results: Participants (N = 135) had a mean age of 53.76 years old. The mean SF-12 physical component summary score was 48.48 (physical QOL), and the mental component summary score was 46.56 (mental QOL). The urinary incontinence-specific QOL score was 16.01. Women with greater positive thinking and higher self-efficacy for urinary incontinence had better physical and mental QOL. Women with less symptom distress of urinary incontinence and higher self-efficacy for urinary incontinence had better urinary incontinence-specific QOL.Conclusion: The health-related QOL of women with SUI is affected by many factors, including positive thinking, self-efficacy, and symptom distress. Healthcare professionals can provide multifaceted programs to improve the health-related QOL of women with SUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The emerging of drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical challenge and renders an urgent action to discover innovative antimicrobial interventions. One of these interventions is to disrupt the pseudomonas quinolone signal (pqs) quorum sensing (QS) system, which governs multiple virulence traits and biofilm formation. This study aimed to investigate the QS inhibitory activity of a series of new PqsR inhibitors bearing a quinoline scaffold against Ps. aeruginosa. Methods and Results: The results showed that compound 1 suppressed the expression of QS‐related genes and showed the best inhibitory activity to the pqs system of wild‐type Ps. aeruginosa PAO1 with an IC50 of 20.22 μmol L−1. The virulence factors including pyocyanin, total protease, elastase and rhamnolipid were significantly suppressed in a concentration‐dependent manner with the compound. In addition, compound 1 in combination with tetracycline inhibited synergistically the bacterial growth and suppressed the biofilm formation of PAO1. The molecular docking studies also suggested that compound 1 could potentially interact with the ligand‐binding domain of the Lys‐R type transcriptional regulator PqsR as a competitive antagonist. Conclusions: The quinoline‐based derivatives were found to interrupt the quorum sensing system via the pqs pathway and thus the production of virulence factors was inhibited and the antimicrobial susceptibility of Ps. aeruginosa was enhanced. Significance and Impact of Study: The study showed that the quinoline‐based derivatives could be used as an anti‐virulence agent for treating Ps. aeruginosa infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is an ancient civilization. History has left us with a rich cultural heritage, of which ancient cultural sites account for a large proportion. As far as the current scientific research and technology are concerned, due to the particularity and complexity of the humid environment, the protection of ancient cultural sites in the humid environment is still an important topic before us. The research topic involved in this article is about the application of composite nano-calcium-based materials for the reinforcement and protection of soil sites in humid environments. Combined with the development of the research content of this article, the research thinking of the thesis is also adjusted accordingly, making the analysis and solution of the problem clearer. The first is a conceptual study, expounding the relevant concepts in this article. The main purpose is to sort out and study the reinforcement and protection measures and methods of relevant sites and ancient cultural sites, as well as the classification, characteristics, and protection value of ancient cultural sites. Through the analysis and research of these aspects, the composite nano-calcium bases for ancient cultural sites in the subsequent humid environment is proposed based on material basic information. The second is a descriptive research, qualitative and quantitative analysis of humid environment. On the basis of summarizing previous researches, this paper mainly conducts qualitative and quantitative analysis on the judgment of humid environment, the influence mechanism on ancient cultural sites, and the main diseases. Then, it is analytical research, studying the main diseases and causes of the underground palace site in the engineering case, and it is concluded that it is mainly affected by the combined effect of the characteristics of the site's soil and the environment. Through the collection of data from the site survey, field test, and indoor experiment of the underground palace site, the preservation status of the site is collected, and the disease problems faced by the site were analyzed, making it more difficult to protect. The main problem facing the protection of soil relics in humid environment, that is, the research focus, is the research on the development and applicability of reinforcement protection materials. This article attempts to explore the protective effect of composite nano-calcium-based materials on wet sites. Practical research was conducted to verify the feasibility of composite nano-calcium-based materials in practice through indoor site soil simulation. After the completion of a series of experiments, the applicability and compatibility of the composite nano-calcium-based material to strengthen the wet site soil was verified through data analysis, data collection, and mechanism discussion. The experimental results show that the sample with a solid content of 0.4% composite nano-calcium matrix has better salt and alkali resistance. Moreover, the unconfined compressive strength growth rate of 0.4% of the samples has a qualitative improvement over other solid content samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism is the leading cause of death in cancer patients, second only to tumor progression. The Khorana score is recommended by clinical guidelines for identifying ambulatory cancer patients at high risk of venous thromboembolism during chemotherapy. However, its predictive performance is debated among cancer patients. To map the applicability of the Khorana score in cancer patients and to assess its predictive performance across various cancer types, providing guidance for clinicians and nurses to use it more appropriately. Systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive literature search of the electronic database was first conducted on August 30, 2023, and updated on May 20, 2024. Studies examining the Khorana score's predictive performance (including but not limited to the areas under the curve, C-index, and calibration plot) in cancer patients were included. The Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) was applied to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Data synthesis was achieved via random-effects meta-analysis using the R studio software. The subgroup analysis was performed according to the study design, clinical setting, cancer type, anti-cancer treatment stage, and country. The review incorporated 67 studies, including 58 observational studies and nine randomized controlled trials. All included studies assessed the Khorana score's discrimination, with the C-index ranging from 0.40 to 0.84. The pooled C-index for randomized controlled trials was 0.61 (95 % CI 0.51–0.70), while observational studies showed a pooled C-index of 0.59 (95 % CI 0.57–0.60). Subgroup analyses revealed the pooled C-index for lung cancer, lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancer, and mixed cancer patients as 0.60 (95 % CI 0.53–0.67), 0.56 (95 % CI 0.51–0.61), 0.59 (95 % CI 0.39–0.76), and 0.60 (95 % CI 0.58–0.61), respectively. Inpatient and outpatient settings had the pooled C-index of 0.60 (95 % CI 0.58–0.63) and 0.58 (95 % CI 0.55–0.61), respectively. Calibration was assessed in only four studies. All included studies were identified to have a high risk of bias according to PROBAST. The Khorana score has been widely validated in various types of cancer patients; however, it exhibited poor capability (pooled C-index < 0.7) in accurately discriminating VTE risk among most types of cancer patients either in inpatient or outpatient settings. The Khorana score should be used with caution, and high-quality studies are needed to further validate its predictive performance. The protocol for this study is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023470320). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond laser shock peening (FsLSP) is performed on engineering alloys to improve their wear resistance in dry and oil-lubricated sliding conditions. In this study, the influence of FsLSP on the fretting wear behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy is studied. For this purpose, FsLSP treatment, with laser energies of 50, 100, 150, and 200 μJ, is performed on a Ti6Al4V sample which mainly consists of α-phase. Topographical investigations using white light interferometry reveal that with increase in the laser energy, the coverage area of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) decreases, and the extent of surface pitting damage increases, leading to higher surface roughness. While surface hardness also initially increases with increasing laser energy, it remains invariant when the energy is increased beyond 150 μJ. Sub-surface microstructural investigations and kernel average misorientation maps obtained from electron backscatter diffraction reveal that FsLSP treatment leads to the formation of severely deformed and mildly deformed layers along the depth of the alloy surface. Surface hardening due to FsLSP is attributed to the activation of prismatic , basal slip systems, and 1 0 1 ¯ 2 , 1 1 2 ¯ 3 tensile twins in the severely deformed zone along with grain refinement, which is an outcome of dynamic recrystallization. Fretting wear tests indicate that the coefficient of friction (CoF) of FsLSP treated alloys is consistently lesser than that of its as-received counterpart, whose CoF is 0.38. In contrast, the wear resistance, quantified by the wear rate, wear volume and wear depth, is highest in the sample treated with laser energy of 100 μJ but lower for the as-received as well as 150 and 200 μJ laser treated samples. These results are explained on the basis of the differences in the contact area, formation of surface hardening layer and the size and integrity of asperities on the surface, which in turn influences the dominant fretting wear mechanism. • Effects of femtosecond laser energies on fretting wear is investigated on Ti6Al4V. • Increasing laser energy up to 150 μJ, but not beyond it, enhances surface hardness. • Fretting resistance is highest in the Ti6Al4V treated with laser energy of 100 μJ. • During FsLSP treatment, nanocavities underneath the sub-surface oxide layer form. • The oxide layers break up during fretting and cause abrasive wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass pyrolysis has the potential to be transformed into valuable chemicals and fuels. Nitrogenous chemicals exert a substantial influence on the quality of bio-oil. Studying the impact of lignin on the transformation of nitrogen-containing elements in biomass during biomass pyrolysis is crucial for achieving efficient and effective utilization of biomass resources. In this study, tube furnace experiments, thermogravimetric infrared experiments (TG-FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) were used to investigate the interactions of typical lignins (vanillin and syringol), nitrogenous components (glutamic acid), and the effect of lignin on the pyrolysis gas release of glutamic acid and the pyrolysis products during the co-pyrolysis process. In addition, the impact of lignin on the effect of pyrrolidone formation from glutamic acid was investigated in this study in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The experimental findings demonstrated that the co-pyrolysis of lignin and glutamic acid resulted in a reduction in the pyrolysis temperature. This reduction facilitated the release of HCN, NH 3 , and CO 2 while notably impeding the formation of nitrogen-containing compounds in the oil. The nitrogen concentration in the pyrolysis oil declined from 97 % to a range of 51.06–79.63 %, and the inhibitory impact decreased as the pyrolysis temperature increased. At an elevated pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C, lignin facilitated the decarboxylation process of glutamic acid, resulting in an increased production of pyrrolidone.Simulation results demonstrated that the lowest energy barrier paths were the dehydration condensation process and the Maillard reaction involving glutamic acid and lignin and their pyrolysis intermediates, with a particular competitive connection between the two pathways. The results explained the interaction mechanism between the two pyrolysis products and provided a fundamental theoretical basis for nitrogen conversion in biomass pyrolysis. • Explored lignin's effect on amino acid nitrogen migration. • Lignin inhibits nitrogen transfer to bio-oil. • Lignin promotes pyrrolidone formation at high temperatures. • Revealed mechanisms of nitrogen transformation in co-pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tridentate thioether extractants are designed for selective extraction of Au and Pd. • The relationship between extractant structure and performance is explored. • Ext C 2 with the shortest carbon chain length delivers outstanding extraction capacity. • Ext C 2 exhibits high selectivity for Au(III) from practical e-waste leachate. To address resources shortage and environmental degradation, noble metal recovery from e-waste is in desperate need. Herein, to achieve selective extraction of gold (Au) and palladium (Pd) from practical e-waste, a series of tridentate thioether extractants are designed with ester functional groups at both ends of the thioether. By varying the chain length of the ester alkyl, the relationship between extractant structure and performance is further explored. The results indicate that the as-introduced tridentate structure facilitate the Au(III) and Pd(II) extraction, demonstrating a complex mechanism involving both coordination substitution and ion association. Notably, the extractant with the shortest carbon chain length and smallest molecular weight delivers outstanding extraction capacities of 920.2 mg/g for Au(III) and 280.7 mg/g for Pd(II). More importantly, it exhibits superior selectivity (∼100 %) for Au(III) and Pd(II) in complex metal solutions. This work guides the design of thioether-based extractants for sustainable recovery of noble metal from practical e-waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Utilizes multi-source data to quantify PLEFs at the grid scale. • Constructs identification system using equilibrium model & index. • Identifies 6 dominant & 12 composite spaces in NMA. • Proposes NMA optimization into 4 zone types. Based on the need for optimal spatial configuration of national land, this study utilizes a multi-source data integration method at the grid scale to precisely assess the levels of production, living, and ecological functions (PLEFs) in the Nanjing Metropolitan Area (NMA). Simultaneously, we develop an identification system for both the mechanistic equilibrium model and the comparative advantage index, which is applied to identify and enhance the zoning of production, living, and ecological space (PLES) within the NMA. The findings indicate that: (1) The production function in the NMA has shown a significant growth trend, while the increments in living and ecological functions are relatively modest, with each function transitioning from concentration to dispersion. (2) The spatial distribution of PLEFs in the NMA exhibits distinct characteristics: High production function values are concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest exhibits lower values. Living function values are elevated in the central region but diminish toward the northern and southern regions. Ecological function values are elevated in the south and decline toward the central and northern regions. There are also significant variations in the centers of gravity for these functions. (3) The NMA consists of six functionally-dominant spaces and twelve functionally-composite spaces, each showing significant fluidity during the study period. (4) In response to the demand for orderly development of national land and sustainable economic growth, this study categorizes the NMA into four zones: production priority, livelihood protection, ecological preservation, and ecological restoration. The production priority zone comprises the largest proportion, while the livelihood protection zone comprises the smallest. Additionally, this study proposes a tailored optimization strategy, designed to serve as a scientific benchmark for advancing and harmonizing the development of national land space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of coping with or eliminating the influence of carbon dioxide emissions effectively, it is crucial to apply the green investment models to carry out a qualitative analysis of carbon dioxide emission evolution. The effect of financial risks on the implementation of the carbon dioxide emission limit is essential for the distribution of resources, and it is necessary to summarize the patterns and make innovations in the process of limiting the emissions of carbon dioxide effectively. In the case of fully complying with the principles of low-carbon economic development and related policy protection, the appropriate model for low-carbon economic development is identified. In this article, the multivariate primary nonlinear model is applied to the analysis of the nonlinear influence of financial risks on carbon dioxide emissions to cope with the problem of financial risks on carbon dioxide emissions at present. In this method, a multivariate primary nonlinear model is established based on the detailed analysis of the financial development features, and the parameters are optimized mainly from various aspects such as the structure of the model, the features of data, and the dynamic changes of the model so as to obtain the optimal values for the parameters of the constructed multivariate primary nonlinear model. The results of the practical case analysis indicate that the influence of financial risks on the limits of domestic carbon dioxide emissions is differentiated in accordance with the results and related categories. Only in this way can the regional division of carbon emission factors be properly classified. The relationship between economic growth and carbon emission increase and changes indicates that effective strategies for carbon emission reduction should be adopted. The established panel data model is used to carry out an in-depth analysis of the influence of carbon dioxide limitations in Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The ovarian tissues of different breeds of hens during egg production were investigated through transcriptomics and metabolomics to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the ovary during egg production. Four genes involved in egg production were predicted by the transcriptome, including P2RX1, INHBB, VIPR2, and FABP3, and several close metabolites associated with reproduction were identified in the metabolome, including 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, iloprost, spermidine and adenosine. Correlation analysis of specific differential genes and differential metabolites identified important gene-metabolite pairs VIPR2–Spermidine and P2RX1–Spermidine in the reproductive process. Egg production is a pivotal indicator for evaluating the fertility of poultry, and the ovary is an essential organ for egg production and plays an indispensable role in poultry production and reproduction. In order to investigate different aspects of egg production mechanisms in different poultry, in this study we performed a metabolomic analysis of the transcriptomic combination of the ovaries of two chicken breeds, the high-production Ninghai indigenous chickens and the low-production Wuliangshan black-boned chickens, to analyze the biosynthesis and potential key genes and metabolic pathways in the ovaries during egg production. We predicted four genes in the transcriptomic that are associated with egg production, namely P2RX1, INHBB, VIPR2, and FABP3, and identified three important pathways during egg production, "Calcium signaling pathway", "Neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction" and "Cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction", respectively. In the metabolomic 149 significantly differential metabolites were identified, 99 in the negative model and 50 in the positive model, of which 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, iloprost, spermidine, and adenosine are important metabolites involved in reproduction. By integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics, the correlation between specific differential genes and differential metabolites identified important gene-metabolite pairs "VIPR2-Spermidine" and "P2RX1-Spermidine" in egg production. In conclusion, these data provide a better understanding of the molecular differences between the ovaries of low- and high-production hens and provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the mechanics of poultry egg production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The civilian airplane is a common transportation mode for the local people in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Due to the profound dynamic and thermal effects, the QTP can trigger strong windstorms during the warm season, during which downbursts can cause severe low-level wind shear and threaten aviation safety. However, the study of downbursts over QTP has not been given much attention. This study analyzes and interprets a typical traveling dry microburst line that happened at the Xining Caojiapu International Airport (ZLXN) on 14 May 2020, intending to show a better understanding of the dry downbursts over QTP and explore the synergetic usage of different remote sensing technologies for downburst detection and warning in plateau airports. Specifically, the characteristics of synoptic conditions, the convective system formation process, and the structure and evolution of downbursts and relevant low-level winds are comprehensively investigated. The results show that, under the control of an upstream shallow trough, features of the local atmosphere state, including a dry-adiabatic stratification, a shallow temperature inversion, increases in solar radiation heating, and strong vertical shears of horizontal winds, can be favorable atmospheric prerequisites for the formation and development of dry storms and downbursts. Low-reflectivity storm cells of the Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) organize to form narrow bow echoes, and downbursts show features of radial wind convergences and rapid descending reflectivity cores with hanging virga as observed by a Doppler weather radar. Moreover, details of gales, gust fronts, convergences, turbulences, wind collisions, and outflow interactions triggered by the downburst line are also detected and interpreted by a scanning Doppler wind lidar from different perspectives. In addition, the findings in this work have been compared with the results observed in Denver, U.S., and some simulation studies. Finally, a few conceptual models of low-level wind evolutions influenced by the dry downburst line are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques have been used in various fields of engineering practice. In order to evaluate the feasibility of machine learning algorithms for prediction of wind-induced effects on high-rise buildings, four ML algorithms including ridge regression, decision tree, random forest and gradient boosting regression tree are adopted in this study to predict wind pressures on Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Research Council standard tall building. The gradient boosting regression tree model is proved to be well performed in predicting both mean wind pressures and fluctuating wind pressures. Compared to expensive wind tunnel tests and time-consuming computational fluid dynamic simulations, it is expected that the gradient boosting regression tree model is an efficient and economical alternative for predicting wind pressures on high-rise buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a circularly polarized (CP) endfire multibeam antenna with wide axial ratio (AR) beamwidth coverage. It is based on a dielectric loaded waveguide structure and consists of a 4 × 4 Butler matrix and four rhombic waveguide elements. Regarding to each element, it decomposes the incoming linearly polarized waves into two orthogonal modes with equal amplitude and obtains 90° phase difference between the two modes via their different dispersion characteristics to realize CP radiation. Study found that the proposed element has low cross‐polarization performance within a wide beamwidth, which contributes to realize wide 3‐dB AR beamwidth coverage in the multibeam array. In fabrication process, injection modeling and electroplating techniques are employed to construct the proposed antenna. By using this way, the structure splitting and misalignment problems, which usually existed in conventional designs, can be avoided, and the antenna weight can be maintained to a moderate level. Through the experiment, it is found that the proposed antenna can achieve an overlapped 3‐dB AR bandwidth of 10.7% from 9.7 to 10.8 GHz and a wide 3‐dB AR beamwidth coverage of 91°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of baricitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, in treating patient with progressing vitiligo, and to further explore the regulation of baricitinib on melanocytes (MCs) in vitro. Methods: Four patients with progressing vitiligo were treated with oral baricitinib for a total of 12 weeks. MCs were cultured in vitro and irradiated by high-dose ultraviolet B (UVB, 150mJ/cm2) to make an MC damaged model (MC-Ds). Baricitinib was added at a final concentration of 25 μM. Dopamine staining and NaOH method were used to measure the tyrosinase activity and melanin level, respectively, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the mRNA levels of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Results: Significant re-pigmentation was observed in the week 12 without obvious side effects. Depigmentation occurred in 2 patients at the 3-month follow-up. Laboratory research found that higher doses of UVB irradiation (150mJ/cm2) could decrease melanin content of MCs, baricitinib (25 μM) could significantly promote tyrosinase activity, melanin content, and TYR, TRP-1 gene expression of MC-Ds. Conclusion: Our preliminary study showed that baricitinib was effective and safe in treating progressing vitiligo. Baricitinib could promote tyrosinase activity, melanin content and TYR, TRP1 gene expression of MC-Ds in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg production is an essential indicator of poultry fertility. The ovary is a crucial organ involved in egg production; however, little is known about the key genes and signaling pathways involved in the whole egg-laying cycle of hens. In order to explore the mechanism of egg production at different stages of the egg-laying process, ovarian tissues from four chickens were randomly selected for transcriptome analysis at each of the three ages (145 d, 204 d, and 300 d in the early, peak, and late stages of egg laying). A total of 12 gene libraries were constructed, and a total of 8433 differential genes were identified from NH145d vs. NH204d, NH145d vs. NH300d and NH300d vs. NH204d (Ninghai 145-day-old, Ninghai 204-day-old, and Ninghai 300-day-old), with 1176, 1653 and 1868 up-regulated genes, and 621, 1955 and 1160 down-regulated genes, respectively. In each of the two comparison groups, 73, 1004, and 1030 differentially expressed genes were found to be co-expressed. We analyzed the differentially expressed genes and predicted nine genes involved in egg production regulation, including LRP8, BMP6, ZP4, COL4A1, VCAN, INHBA, LOX, PTX3, and IHH, as well as several essential egg production pathways, such as regulation adhesion molecules (CAMs), calcium signaling pathways, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction. Transcriptional analysis of the chicken ovary during different phases of egg-lay will provide a useful molecular basis for study of the development of the egg-laying ovary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, there have been several meaningful advances in the understanding of the cognitive effects of vestibular loss. However, there has not yet been an investigation exploring the early biomarkers of preclinical cognitive decline in individuals with age-related vestibular loss.Objective: We aim to explore the "early biomarkers" of preclinical cognitive decline based on altered cortical activity (resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) and P300) with a multichannel EEG system in individuals with age-related vestibular loss.Method: This is a case-control study. A total of 21 patients with age-related vestibular loss (66.50±5.79 years, 13 [62% ] females), 19 patients with cognitive decline (68.42±5.82 years, 13 [68% ] females), and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. All participants underwent a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests, audio-vestibular evaluations, resting-state EEG and P300 recordings.Results: Significant visuo-spatial, executive, and attention hypofunction were observed in the age-related vestibular group, reflected by decreased subscale scores. Reduced gamma functional connectivity between the right cuneus (Brodmann area 19, BA19) and the left superior parietal gyrus (BA7) was observed in both the age-related vestibular group and the cognitive impairment group. Smaller P300 amplitudes were observed in the age-related vestibular group (1.43±3.69μV) and cognitive impairment group (1.15±4.24μV) than in the healthy control group (3.97±2.38μV).Conclusion: Decreased P300 amplitude and functional connectivity between the right BA19 and the left BA7 were "early biomarkers" observed in individuals with age-related vestibular loss; these biomarkers may contribute to visuospatial, executive, and attention hypofunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is a common and progressive skeletal muscle condition, often described as an intermediate stage in the development of frailty and disability in patients with diabetes. This can be improved through physical activity and exercise. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the exercise experiences of older adults with diabetes and sarcopenia. Individual interviews were conducted following semi-structured interview guidelines, and narratives were analyzed using Giorgi's method. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 14 purposively sampled older patients with diabetes and sarcopenia. The study identified three main themes: encountering difficulty during exercise, recognizing the advantages of exercise, and constructing a suitable exercise model. While older adults with diabetes and sarcopenia may encounter difficulty during exercise, they also experience positive feedback from exercise. Understanding the limitations of older adults, individualizing exercise models based on their exercise experiences, and providing appropriate interventions and necessary emotional support can effectively prevent diabetes and sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Airway mucus hypersecretion is one of the important pathological features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MUC5B is the main mucin expressed in the airways of COPD patients and has been indicated to play an important role in airway defense. However, the specific biological function of MUC5B in COPD and the possible mechanism are not clear.Methods: We established a COPD model with 24-week-old MUC5B-/- mice exposed to cigarette smoke and tested our hypothesis through lung function tests, HE and PAS staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot, q-PCR and ELISA.Results: Compared with MUC5B+/+ mice, MUC5B-/- mice had worse general condition and lung function, increased inflammatory infiltration, reduced goblet cell differentiation as indicated by decreased PAS staining (PAS grade: 1.8 ± 0.24 vs. 0.6 ± 0.16), reduced MUC5AC expression (ELISA: 0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 0.17 ± 0.01 mg/ml, q-PCR: 9.4 ± 1.7 vs. 4.1 ± 0.1 fold, IHC score: 3.1 ± 0.9 vs. 1.6 ± 0.7), increased macrophage secretion of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) and expression of downstream pathway factors (ERK1/2 and NF-κB), decreased expression of SPDEF and STAT6, and increased expression of FOXA2.Conclusion: The protective effect of MUC5B in the development of COPD was mediated by the promotion of goblet cell differentiation and the inhibition of inflammation. The role of MUC5B in regulating inflammation was related to macrophage function, and goblet cell differentiation was promoted by the induced expression of STAT6 and SPDEF. This study describes a mechanism of mucus hypersecretion and identifies MUC5B as a new target for the treatment of mucus hypersecretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy can lead to different tumor regression grades (TRG) in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. The purposes of this study are to investigate the relationships among TRG, pathologic complete response (pCR) and long-term survival, on the basis of reconstructed individual patient data (IPD).Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Ovid and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the survival landscape of different TRGs after neoadjuvant therapy and the secondary endpoint was to evaluate the associations between pCR and survival. IPD were reconstructed with Kaplan-Meier curves.Results: The 10-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) were clearly higher in the pCR group than in the non-pCR (npCR) group (80.5% vs. 48.3, 90.1% vs. 69.8%). Furthermore, the OS and DFS increased with improvement in tumor regression after neoadjuvant therapy. According to the IPD, the pCR group had longer OS (HR = 0.240, 95% CI = 0.177-0.325, p < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 0.274, 95% CI = 0.205-0.367, p < 0.001) than the npCR group. Better tumor regression was associated with better survival outcomes (p < 0.005). Direct calculation of published HR values yielded similar results.Conclusions: Our results indicate a positive relationship between better tumor regressions and improved survival benefits among the npCR group and patients with rectal cancer achieving pCR had much longer OS and DFS than patients achieving npCR, presenting a survival landscape of different TRGs and pCR in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of Trapaacornis husks (TAH) extract on SK-BR-3 cells of Her2-positive breast cancer. The bioactive compounds of TAH extracts were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS)/high-performance liquid chromatographic system (HPLC). The effects of TAH extracts on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of SK-BR-3 cells were determined by CCK-8 and flow cytometry. Besides, the In Vivo antitumor effect of TAH extracts was detected. UPLC-MS/HPLC showed that the main bioactive compounds of TAH were gallic acid and galloylglucose derivatives. TAH extracts significantly inhibited the proliferation of SK-BR-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.01). With the increase of TAH extracts concentration, cells in G2/M stage were increased and cell apoptosis was significantly increased. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that TAH extracts can significantly reduce the positive expression rate of Ki67 and Factor VIII index in tumor tissues. The mRNA expression levels of VEGF, MMP2, MMP9, and uPA were reduced after TAH extracts intervention (P < 0.01). TAH extracts also decreased the protein expression of p-Her2, p-ERK1/2, VEGF, MMP2, MMP9, and uPA (P < 0.01). In conclusion, polyphenol-enriched extracts from TAH might inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation and In Vivo tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regions of high mammographic density (MD) in the breast are characterised by a proteoglycan (PG)-rich fibrous stroma, where PGs mediate aligned collagen fibrils to control tissue stiffness and hence the response to mechanical forces. Literature is accumulating to support the notion that mechanical stiffness may drive PG synthesis in the breast contributing to MD. We review emerging patterns in MD and other biological settings, of a positive feedback cycle of force promoting PG synthesis, such as in articular cartilage, due to increased pressure on weight bearing joints. Furthermore, we present evidence to suggest a pro-tumorigenic effect of increased mechanical force on epithelial cells in contexts where PG-mediated, aligned collagen fibrous tissue abounds, with implications for breast cancer development attributable to high MD. Finally, we summarise means through which this positive feedback mechanism of PG synthesis may be intercepted to reduce mechanical force within tissues and thus reduce disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in patients with CKD or diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the relevance between DM and CI in diabetic patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) has not been clearly established. This study aimed to explore the role of DM in CI, the association of glycemic control with CI, and clinical outcomes of CI in diabetic PD patients. Methods: Continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) patients followed up in our PD center between 2014 and 2016 were enrolled. The participants were followed until an endpoint was reached or December 2017. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were collected, and laboratory parameters were measured. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate global cognitive function, and a score of <26 was considered to indicate CI. A propensity score matching according to age, gender, and mean arterial pressure was conducted between the DM and non-DM groups. Results: A total of 913 CAPD patients were enrolled, of whom 186 (20.4%) had diabetes. After appropriate matching, 175 patients in the DM group and 270 patients in the non-DM group were included. Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of CI and lower scores for visuospatial/executive function, naming, language, delayed recall, and orientation. Higher HbA1c (odds ratio [OR], 1.547; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.013–2.362) and cardiovascular disease (CVD; OR, 2.926; 95% CI, 1.139–7.516) significantly correlated with a risk of CI in diabetic patients. During a median of 26.0 (interquartile range 13.5–35.6) months of follow-up, diabetic patients with CI demonstrated a significantly lower survival rate than those without CI, and CI was an independent risk factor for mortality after adjustment (hazard ratio, 7.224; 95% CI, 1.694–30.806). However, they did not show worse technique survival or higher peritonitis rate than patients without CI. Conclusions: HbA1c and CVD are independent risk factors for CI in diabetic patients undergoing CAPD, and CI is independently associated with a higher risk of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECIIs) were generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to be used as a model of coronaviral infection of the lower respiratory tract. • iPSC-derived AECIIs (iAECIIs) were shown to be effectively infected by HCoV-229E. • The culture medium conditioned by the HCoV-229E-infected iAECIIs promoted the migration of neutrophils as well as their adhesion to the infected iAECIIs. • The importance of IL-8 secretion and ICAM-1 expression for neutrophil migration and adhesion was demonstrated by using neutralizing antibodies. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped single-stranded RNA viruses that predominantly attack the human respiratory system. In recent decades, several deadly human CoVs, including SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV, have brought great impact on public health and economics. However, their high infectivity and the demand for high biosafety level facilities restrict the pathogenesis research of CoV infection. Exacerbated inflammatory cell infiltration is associated with poor prognosis in CoV-associated diseases. In this study, we used human CoV 229E (HCoV-229E), a CoV associated with relatively fewer biohazards, to investigate the pathogenesis of CoV infection and the regulation of neutrophil functions by CoV-infected lung cells. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived alveolar epithelial type II cells (iAECIIs) exhibiting specific biomarkers and phenotypes were employed as an experimental model for CoV infection. After infection, the detection of dsRNA, S, and N proteins validated the infection of iAECIIs with HCoV-229E. The culture medium conditioned by the infected iAECIIs promoted the migration of neutrophils as well as their adhesion to the infected iAECIIs. Cytokine array revealed the elevated secretion of cytokines associated with chemotaxis and adhesion into the conditioned media from the infected iAECIIs. The importance of IL-8 secretion and ICAM-1 expression for neutrophil migration and adhesion, respectively, was demonstrated by using neutralizing antibodies. Moreover, next-generation sequencing analysis of the transcriptome revealed the upregulation of genes associated with cytokine signaling. To summarize, we established an in vitro model of CoV infection that can be applied for the study of the immune system perturbations during severe coronaviral disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success in synthesizing light-emitting lead-based halide perovskites from cesium halides (CsX, X: I, Br, and Cl) has stimulated great interests in the applications of halide perovskites and in the development of lead-free halide perovskites and related light-emitting materials. In this work, we explore the feasibility of synthesizing Sn-doped CsX powders (microcrystals) via mechanochemical processing and investigate the optical characteristics of the prepared Sn-doped CsX powders. The prepared Sn-doped CsX powders emit light with ultra-wide emission peak under UV light of 365 nm in wavelength, which is attributed to self-trapped exciton emission. The emission peak intensity decreases with the increase in temperature in the Sn-doped CsXs due to thermal quenching. The characterization of the optoelectronic response of the prepared Sn-doped CsX powders reveals that the current intensity passing through the Sn-doped CsX powders decreases with the increase of the intensity of the incident white light under the same applied voltage. Light emitting diodes are constructed from the prepared Sn-doped CsX powders and exhibit an ultra-wide spectrum spanning the range of entire visible light. The method presented in this provides a simple technique to prepare light-emitting materials of Sn-doped CsXs via mechanochemical process. [Display omitted] • Mechanochemically synthesize Sn-doped CsX (X: I, Br, Cl) halide compounds. • The Sn-doped CsX powders emit light with ultra-wide emission peak under UV light. • The Sn-doped CsX powders exhibit optoelectronic response. • LEDs from the Sn-doped CsX powders exhibit an ultra-wide spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas lacking essential sewage treatment facilities and collection systems often experience eutrophication due to elevated nutrient loads. Understanding nitrogen (N) sources and transport mechanisms in rural catchments is crucial for improving water quality and mitigating downstream export loads, particularly during storm events. To further elucidate the sources, pathways, and transport mechanisms of N from a rural catchment with intensive agricultural activities during storm events, we conducted an analysis of 21 events through continuous sampling over two rainy seasons in a small rural catchment from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The results revealed that ammonia-N (NH 4 +-N) and nitrate-N (NO 3 −-N) exhibited distinct behaviors during rainstorm events, with NO 3 −-N accounting for the primary nitrogen loss, its load being approximately forty times greater than that of NH 4 +-N. Through examinations of the concentration-discharge (c-Q) relationships, the findings revealed that, particularly in prolonged rainstorms, NH 4 +-N exhibited source limited pattern (b = −0.13, P < 0.01), while NO 3 −-N displayed transport limited pattern (b = −0.21, P < 0.01). The figure-eight hysteresis pattern was prevalent for both NH 4 +-N and NO 3 −-N (38.1% and 52.0%, respectively), arising from intricate interactions among diverse sources and pathways. For NO 3 −-N, the hysteresis pattern shifted from clockwise under short-duration rainstorms to counter-clockwise under long-duration rainstorms, whereas hysteresis remained consistently clockwise for NH 4 +-N. The hysteresis analysis further suggests that the duration of rainstorms modifies hydrological connectivity, thereby influencing the transport processes of N. These insights provide valuable information for the development of targeted management strategies to reduce storm nutrient export in rural catchments. [Display omitted] • High-frequency data reveal distinct NH 4 +-N and NO 3 −-N transport in rural areas. • NH 4 +-N is source limited while NO 3 −-N is transport limited under prolonged storms. • Most events had Fig. 8 hysteresis highlighting diverse sources and pathways. • NO 3 −-N hysteresis shift from clockwise to counterclockwise with storm duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has received extensive attention from clinical and scientific researchers due to its high incidence and refractory nature. Searching for HCC prognostic markers and gene therapy targets are key research efforts. The FAM83 protein family has been reported to promote tumor growth and metastasis in a variety of tumors, and many of its members are closely related to HCC. Multiple public databases showed that FAM83G is highly expressed in HCC patients and is associated with poor prognosis, but there is currently no relevant research evidence to verify its exact role in HCC. Through clinical data analysis, we found that increased expression of FAM83G is associated with early HCC metastasis and a high recurrence rate and indicates a poor survival rate. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that FAM83G overexpression significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, while inhibiting its expression reversed the above results. Mechanistic analysis indicated that FAM83G overexpression was accompanied by over-activation of PI3K/AKT pathway signaling, a combined increase of Cyclin D1 protein and decrease of p21 protein, and increased expression of EMT-related signal, which was manifested in the decrease of E-cadherin and the increase of N-cadherin and snail. Finally, we found that FAM83G activated PI3K/AKT signaling by directly binding with the PI3K-p85 subunit to promote its phosphorylation. In conclusion, FAM83G, as a tumor-promoting factor, can predict the poor prognosis of HCC patients and can significantly promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells by stimulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and related downstream signals. • FAM83G is highly expressed in hepatocarcinoma cells and plays a carcinogenic role. • FAM83G activates PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and regulates EMT signaling and cyclin D1 and p21 proteins. • FAM83G activates PI3K/AKT signaling via protein-protein interaction with PI3K-p85. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased mammographic density (MD) is a strong and independent risk factor for breast cancer. Lifetime oestrogenic exposure is associated with increased MD, however androgenic effects on MD have not been widely investigated. Methods: We studied the effect of 17 β -oestradiol (E2) alone or in combination with an androgen receptor (AR) agonist (5 α -dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) or a selective AR modulator (Enobosarm), in modulating MD as measured via single-sided Portable NMR in a patient-derived explant (PDE) model of normal human mammary tissue. Results: We observed an upward trend in explants treated with E2 alone in 3/6 cases, an effect which appeared to be somewhat influenced by menopausal status. Co-treatment of E2 with the AR agonists DHT or Enobosarm however effected a downward trend in regards to MD. E2 significantly upregulated the ER regulated genes (ERGs) CELSR2 and AR , and the AR regulated genes SEC14L2 and GRPC5A, whereas E2 in combination with AR agonist Enobosarm downregulated ERGs SERPINA3, ATP6V1B1, TFF1 and PR regulated gene RANK. Only GREB1 and CLIC6 were upregulated by E2 and downregulated by the combination of E2 with Enobosarm. DHT + E2 exhibited no significant difference in expression of ER, AR or PR genes examined, compared with the effect of E2 alone. A negative trend was observed between ER protein levels and MD increase in PDEs. Since ER protein gets degraded upon hormone activation, this observation supports active ER signalling in the promotion of MD. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings supports the utility of single-sided Portable NMR for the measurement of MD in explanted human mammary tissue to detect MD change in response to exogenous hormone treatments. A mechanism through which activation of AR may reduce MD as a potential mechanism for reducing breast cancer risk associated to high MD is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Postoperative pain management is an essential module for perioperative care, especially for enhanced recovery after surgery programs. Continuous wound infiltration (CWI) with local anesthetic may be a promising postoperative analgesic strategy. However, its analgesic efficacy and safety remain debatable. Methods: Embase and PubMed databases were systematically searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs assessing the analgesic efficacy and safety of CWI with local anesthetic for postoperative analgesia were selected. The outcomes contained pain scores during rest and mobilization, total opioid consumption, time to the first request of rescue analgesia, length of hospital stay, satisfaction with analgesia, time to return of bowel function, postoperative nausea and vomiting, total complication, wound infection, hypotension, and pruritus. The weighted mean difference and risk ratio were used to pool continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Results: A total of 121 RCTs were included. CWI with local anesthetic reduced postoperative pain during rest and mobilization at different time points, increased satisfaction with analgesia, shortened recovery of bowel function, and reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting compared with the placebo group, especially for laparotomy surgery. There were no significant differences in these clinical outcomes compared to epidural and intravenous analgesia. CWI with local anesthetic reduced the total opioid consumption and hypotension risk and did not increase total complications, wound infection, or pruritus. CWI with local anesthetic had a better analgesic efficacy without increased side effects for sternotomy surgery. However, CWI with local anesthetic did not translate into favorable analgesic benefits in laparoscopic surgery. Conclusion: CWI with local anesthetic is an effective postoperative analgesic strategy with good safety profiles in laparotomy and sternotomy surgery, and thus CWI with local anesthetic may be a promising analgesic option enhancing recovery after surgery programs for these surgeries. Plain Language Summary: Continuous wound infiltration (CWI) with local anesthetic may be a promising postoperative analgesic strategy, but its effect remains debatable. We performed this meta-analysis based on 121 high-quality articles (RCTs) to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of CWI with local anesthetic. We found that CWI with local anesthetic could reduce postoperative pain, increase satisfaction with analgesia, shorten recovery of bowel function, and reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting, especially for laparotomy surgery. However, CWI with local anesthetic did not show favorable analgesic benefits in laparoscopic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant melanoma is a critical and aggressive skin tumor with a steeply rising incidence and a less favorable prognosis due to the lack of efficient treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new promising treatment for this tumor through photosensitizers-mediated oxidative cytotoxicity. In this study, we explored the role of berberine-mediated PDT (BBR-PDT) in the anti-proliferative effect on human malignant melanoma cells (MMCs). We found that there were significant differences between MMCs with BBR-PDT and MMCs with BBR or PDT only. Further research showed that BBR-PDT induced apoptosis via up-regulating the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein. We also observed that LC3-related autophagy level was upregulated in MMCs with BBR-PDT. Besides, it was also found that BBR-PDT activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, involving a dramatic increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, the knockdown of CHOP protein expression inhibited apoptosis, autophagy and ER stress levels caused by BBR-PDT, suggesting that CHOP protein may be related to apoptosis, autophagy and ER stress in MMCs with BBR-PDT. Collectively, our results indicated that BBR-PDT had an essential impact on MMCs' growth inhibition, and therefore may reveal the possibility of developing BBR-PDT into human malignant melanoma. • BBR-PDT triggered apoptosis. • ER stress-mediated autophagy pathway inspirited cell apoptosis. • CHOP regulated apoptosis in BBR-PDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low‐concentration oxygen is an established way for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with Type II respiratory failure. Hypercapnia can complicate both COPD exacerbations and stable COPD. Treating with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) can reduce carbon dioxide tension in arterial (PaCO2) in hypercapnic COPD. As an open system, high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNC) is easy to tolerate and use. More researches are needed to focus on how HFNC is used to treat COPD patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure. Methods: The Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, and CINAHL database were retrieved from inception to October 2019. Eligible trials were clinical randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of HFNC and conventional oxygen on hypercapnic COPD patients. Two researchers assessed the quality of each study and extracted the data into RevMan 5.3 independently. The primary outcome was PaCO2 and the secondary outcome was PaO2. Results: Four RCTs with 329 patients were included. The research results indicated that PaCO2 in the HFNC group was similar to the conventional oxygen group. No significant difference were observed in PaCO2 (MD −0.98, CI: −2.67 to 0.71, Z = 1.14, p = 0.25) and PaO2 (MD −0.72, CI: −6.99 to 5.55, Z = 0.23, p = 0.82) between the HFNC group and conventional oxygen group. Conclusions: Our meta‐analysis showed no difference in PO2 and PCO2 between the HFNC and conventional oxygen. But we should treat this conclusion with caution because the number of studies and participants is small and, there is heterogeneity in the PaO2 and PCO2 measurements between stable and AECOPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]