Search

The relative errors of virtual cathodes calculated by using the one-dimensional virtual cathode theory are analyzed and discussed. The studies of the error analysis show that the cathode temperature is the major factor affecting the calculated results of virtual cathodes, especially for calculations of the virtual cathode width. The smaller the virtual cathode produced by a hot cathode, the more significant the relative error of the virtual cathode caused by the uncertainties of electron emission parameters. Using the accurate cathode temperature, the potential barrier and the spatial width of virtual cathodes generated by a tungsten filament are calculated with experimental and theoretical electron emission parameters. The calculated results show that there is a strong linear correlation between the potential barrier of the virtual cathode and the heating current of the tungsten filament, which is independent of the electron collection current. With the increase in the heating current, the variation of the virtual cathode width is very sensitive to the relation between the electron collection current and the heating current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) and sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are both recommended for patients with diabetes, yet their effects on the development or progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) are largely unknown. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from a nationwide database. Patients with diabetes who initiated treatment with a GLP1RA or SGLT2i between 1 May 2016 and 31 December 2017, were identified. Patients were divided into those with or without a previous diagnosis of DR and then categorized into the GLP1RA and the SGLT2i groups according to drug use. The primary outcome of interest in the DR group was the composite of new‐onset proliferative DR, vitreous haemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment (RD). In the non‐DR group, the primary outcome was the composite of newly diagnosed DR of any severity, vitreous haemorrhage and RD. Results: In total, 97 413 patients were identified. After matching, 1517 patients were treated with a GLP1RA and 3034 with an SGLT2i in the DR cohort. In the non‐DR cohort, 9549 initiated a GLP1RA and 19 098 initiated an SGLT2i. In patients with pre‐existing DR, the incidence of any DR progression event was significantly higher in the GLP1RA group than the SGLT2i group (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.01‐2.23), primarily because of the increased risk of tractional RD. In patients without DR at baseline, the risks of all ocular outcomes were similar between the GLP1RA and SGLT2i groups. Conclusions: In patients with diabetes mellitus and established DR, GLP1RA treatment was associated with increased risks of DR progression compared with SGLT2i use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study compared the outcomes of laparotomic radical hysterectomy (LRH) and minimally invasive radical hysterectomy (MISRH) in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Methods: The clinical data of patients with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent LRH or MISRH (laparoscopic/robotic) at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, from 2002 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical safety (operation time, blood loss, blood transfusion rate, length of postoperative stay, and perioperative complications), overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence pattern were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) at a 3:1 ratio was performed to balance prognostic variables. Results: Of the 760 patients (entire cohort), 614 underwent LRH and 146 underwent MISRH. After PSM, 394 and 140 patients were included in the LRH and MISRH groups, respectively. The 5-year OS rate was significantly lower in the MISRH group than in the LRH group (85.6% vs. 93.2%, p=0.043), and the 5-year DFS rate (p=0.21) did not differ significantly. After PSM, the 5-year OS rates did not differ significantly between the MISRH and LRH groups (87.1% vs. 92.1%, p=0.393). The MISRH group had a significantly shorter operation time (p<0.001), lower intraoperative blood loss (p<0.001), lower blood transfusion rate (p<0.001), and shorter postoperative stay (p<0.001) but a significantly higher rate of intraoperative bladder injury (p<0.001) than the LRH group. Conclusion: After PSM, MISRH is associated with nonsignificantly lower OS but a significantly higher risk of intraoperative urological complications than LRH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C4 NAD‐malic enzyme (NAD‐ME) species occurs in drier regions and exhibit different drought responses compared to C4 NADP‐malic enzyme (NADP‐ME) species. However, a physiological mechanism explaining the geographical discrepancies remains uncertain. This study examined gas exchange patterns that might explain different distributions observed between two subtypes of C4 photosynthesis. We measured the response of leaf gas exchange to vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and CO2 in plants from six distinct C4 clades having closely related NAD‐ME and NADP‐ME species using a Li‐Cor 6400 gas exchange system. We found that NAD‐ME species exhibited greater relative reductions in stomatal conductance with increases in VPD than NADP‐ME species but observed no consistent subtype differences in C4 cycle activity as indicated by the initial slope of the A response to intercellular CO2 concentration. Based on these results, we hypothesise the greater response of gs to increasing VPD may enable NAD‐ME plants to outperform NADP‐ME plants in hot, dry environments where VPD is normally high. Summary statement: NAD‐malic enzyme (NAD‐ME) C4 species have more sensitive stomatal closures in response to increasing vapour pressure deficit than NADP‐malic enzyme C4 species which may explain why NAD‐ME grass species are found in drier areas than NADP‐ME species. This provides insight into the role of plant eco‐physiology in shaping biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The September 11, 2001, catastrophe unleashed widespread destruction beyond the World Center (WTC), with fires and toxic gases leaving lasting impacts. First responders at Ground Zero faced prolonged exposure to hazardous particulate matter (PM), resulting in chronic health challenges. Among the multitude of health concerns, the potential association between the WTCPM and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has emerged as an area of intense inquiry, probing the intricate interplay between environmental factors and neurodegenerative diseases. Objective: We posit that a genetic predisposition to AD in mice results in dysregulation of the gut-brain axis following chronic exposure to WTCPM. This, in turn, may heighten the risk of AD-like symptoms in these individuals. Methods: 3xTg-AD and WT mice were intranasally administered with WTCPM collected at Ground Zero within 72 hours after the attacks. Working memory and learning and recognition memory were monitored for 4 months. Moreover, brain transcriptomic analysis and gut barrier permeability along with microbiome composition were examined. Results: Our findings underscore the deleterious effects of WTCPM on cognitive function, as well as notable alterations in brain genes associated with synaptic plasticity, pro-survival, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Complementary, chronic exposure to the WTCPM led to increased gut permeability in AD mice and altered bacteria composition and expression of functional pathways in the gut. Conclusions: Our results hint at a complex interplay between gut and brain axis, suggesting potential mechanisms through which WTCPM exposure may exacerbate cognitive decline. Identifying these pathways offers opportunities for tailored interventions to alleviate neurological effects among first responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is an inflammatory autoimmune condition affecting the eyes, often associated with Graves' disease. Inflammation is important in TED, involving immune cells and orbital tissues. While inflammatory markers have been studied in other diseases, their role in TED is unclear. We included 734 participants from 5 eligible studies investigated associations between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and TED. Initial analysis found no significant differences in these markers between TED and control groups. However, sensitivity analysis excluding an outlier study revealed significant differences in NLR, PLR, and MLR between groups, suggesting the potential association between these inflammatory markers and TED. More research is needed, but these findings indicate complex TED pathogenesis and that inflammation may offer insights for TED diagnosis and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disorder which primarily affects skin and has systemic inflammatory involvement. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) are novel complete blood count (CBC)-derived markers which can reflect systemic inflammation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the associations of NLR, PLR, SII, and MLR with psoriasis. This study was performed in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. A comprehensive search of Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted for relevant studies. Observational studies evaluating the correlations of NLR, PLR, SII, or MLR with psoriasis were included. The primary outcomes were the associations of these inflammatory markers with the presence and severity of psoriasis. The random-effect model was applied for meta-analysis. 36 studies comprising 4794 psoriasis patients and 55,121 individuals in total were included in the meta-analysis. All inflammatory markers were significantly increased in psoriasis groups compared to healthy controls (NLR: MD = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47–0.7; PLR: MD = 15.53, 95% CI: 8.48–22.58; SII: MD = 111.58, 95% CI: 61.49-161.68; MLR: MD = 0.034, 95% CI: 0.021–0.048; all p < 0.001). Between-group mean differences in NLR and PLR were positively correlated with the mean scores of Psoriasis Area Severity Index (NLR: p = 0.041; PLR: p = 0.021). NLR, PLR, SII, and MLR are associated with the presence of psoriasis. NLR and PLR serve as significant indicators of psoriasis severity. These novel CBC-derived markers constitute potential targets in the screening and monitoring of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial transcriptomics provides valuable insights into gene expression within the native tissue context, effectively merging molecular data with spatial information to uncover intricate cellular relationships and tissue organizations. In this context, deciphering cellular spatial domains becomes essential for revealing complex cellular dynamics and tissue structures. However, current methods encounter challenges in seamlessly integrating gene expression data with spatial information, resulting in less informative representations of spots and suboptimal accuracy in spatial domain identification. We introduce stCluster, a novel method that integrates graph contrastive learning with multi-task learning to refine informative representations for spatial transcriptomic data, consequently improving spatial domain identification. stCluster first leverages graph contrastive learning technology to obtain discriminative representations capable of recognizing spatially coherent patterns. Through jointly optimizing multiple tasks, stCluster further fine-tunes the representations to be able to capture complex relationships between gene expression and spatial organization. Benchmarked against six state-of-the-art methods, the experimental results reveal its proficiency in accurately identifying complex spatial domains across various datasets and platforms, spanning tissue, organ, and embryo levels. Moreover, stCluster can effectively denoise the spatial gene expression patterns and enhance the spatial trajectory inference. The source code of stCluster is freely available at https://github.com/hannshu/stCluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to enhance the optical and thermal properties of cesium-based perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) through surface passivation with organic sulfonate (or sulfonic acid) ligands. Four different phenylated ligands, including sodium β-styrenesulfonate (SbSS), sodium benzenesulfonate (SBS), sodium p-toluenesulfonate (SPTS), and 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), were employed to modify blue-emitting CsPbBr1.5Cl1.5 perovskite NCs, resulting in improved size uniformity and surface functionalization. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful anchoring of sulfonate or sulfonic acid ligands on the surface of perovskite NCs. Moreover, the photoluminescence quantum yield increased from 32% of the original perovskite NCs to 63% of the SPTS-modified ones due to effective surface passivation. Time-resolved photoluminescence decay measurements revealed extended PL lifetimes for ligand-modified NCs, indicative of reduced nonradiative recombination. Thermal stability studies demonstrated that the SPTS-modified NCs retained nearly 80% of the initial PL intensity when heated at 60 °C for 10 min, surpassing the performance of the original NCs. These findings emphasize the optical and thermal stability enhancement of cesium-based perovskite NCs through surface passivation with suitable sulfonate ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, spatial transcriptomics (ST) research has become a popular field of study and has shown great potential in medicine. However, there are few bibliometric analyses in this field. Thus, in this study, we aimed to find and analyze the frontiers and trends of this medical research field based on the available literature. A computerized search was applied to the WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection) Database for literature published from 2006 to 2023. Complete records of all literature and cited references were extracted and screened. The bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix R Package software, and Scimago Graphica. A total of 1467 papers and reviews were included. The analysis revealed that the ST publication and citation results have shown a rapid upward trend over the last 3 years. Nature Communications and Nature were the most productive and most co-cited journals, respectively. In the comprehensive global collaborative network, the United States is the country with the most organizations and publications, followed closely by China and the United Kingdom. The author Joakim Lundeberg published the most cited paper, while Patrik L. Ståhl ranked first among co-cited authors. The hot topics in ST are tissue recognition, cancer, heterogeneity, immunotherapy, differentiation, and models. ST technologies have greatly contributed to in-depth research in medical fields such as oncology and neuroscience, opening up new possibilities for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Moreover, artificial intelligence and big data drive additional development in ST fields. Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies and application prospects. (1) Imaging-based approaches, including in situ sequencing (ISS)—where transcripts are amplified and sequenced in tissue—and ISH-based approaches—where imaging probes are sequentially hybridized in tissue. (2) NGS-based techniques, in which positional information is encoded onto transcripts prior to NGS sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulation is an essential way to investigate the discharge behaviors of atmospheric low-temperature plasmas (LTPs). In this study, a deep neural network (DNN) with multiple hidden layers is constructed to surrogate the fluid model to investigate the discharge characteristics of atmospheric helium dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) with very high computational efficiency, working as an example to show the ability and validity of DNN to explore LTPs. The DNN is trained by the well-formed training datasets obtained from a verified fluid model, and a designed loss function coupled in the DNN program is continuously optimized to achieve a better prediction performance. The predicted data show that the essential discharge characteristics of atmospheric DBDs such as the discharge current waveforms, spatial profiles of charged particles, and electric field can be yielded by the well-trained DNN program with great accuracy only in several seconds, and the predicted evolutionary discharge trends are consistent with the previous simulations and experimental observations. Additionally, the constructed DNN shows good generalization performance for multiple input attributes, which indicates a great potential promise for vastly extending the range of discharge parameters. This study provides a useful paradigm for future explorations of machine learning-based methods in the field of atmospheric LTP simulation without high-cost calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and lower urinary tract symptoms present challenges in aging men, often addressed through transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Despite technological advancements, bladder neck contracture (BNC) remains a concern. This study explores predictors, including comorbidities, influencing BNC after TURP. Methods: A retrospective cohort study at Changhua Christian Hospital analyzed 2041 BPE patients undergoing bipolar TURP. Preoperative urinary catheterization and resection speed were categorized. Patient data included demographics, comorbidities, operative details, and outcomes. Statistical analyses utilized χ2, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Cox regression models. Results: Within 3 years, 306 (15%) patients developed BNC. Univariate Cox regression identified chronic heart failure (p = 0.033), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; p = 0.002), preoperative urinary catheterization (p < 0.001), and low resection speed (p = 0.045) as significant BNC risk factors. Notably, COPD (p = 0.011) and preoperative urinary catheterization (p < 0.001) emerged as independent risk factors for BNC development in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Conclusions: Preoperative urinary catheterization and COPD were significant predictors of BNC post-TURP, while resection speed showed no significant influence. These findings offer clinicians insights for risk assessment, enhancing patient outcomes, and optimizing resources post-TURP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Letter unveils a novel observation of condensation shock in a thermoacoustic prime mover with a wet stack, powered by a consistent 70 W heat input and maintained at atmospheric pressure. Intermittent pressure bursts, triggered by distinct acoustic cycles, reveal new characteristics of non-combustion-driven thermoacoustic instabilities, expanding the horizon beyond the energy conversion applications of traditional heat engines. Our findings, highlighted by pressure bursts reaching up to 35.8 kPa and detailed through time–frequency analysis, not only emphasize the critical role of phase-change dynamics but also pave the way for potential applications in heat transfer and material separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the quality of a process can be represented by a functional relationship, a collection of this quality data is called a profile. In monitoring schemes, profile monitoring is used to evaluate the stability of a relationship. In some applications, quality data collected from continuous processes have time correlations and can thus be characterized by a linear relationship between more than one response and explanatory variables. Therefore, we investigate this type of multivariate multiple linear regression model with between‐profile correlations in this study. We propose two exponentially weighted moving average control charts for monitoring the regression parameters and the covariance matrix of the model. Our simulation results reveal that our proposed scheme has satisfactory performance in terms of the average run length and standard deviation run length criteria. Finally, we present an example using real data to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Indochina the species diversity of Cyatheaceae remains insufficiently known. Here we demonstrate the scaly tree fern Gymnosphaera salletii in Vietnam to be an assemblage of three distinct species based on molecular and morphological data, and report for the first time the occurrence of foliar nectaries in Gymnosphaera. The true G. salletii is morphologically unique based on the protuberant glands present on the petiole. Gymnosphaera phankelocii sp. nov. and G ymnosphaera vietnamensis sp. nov. are recognized as new species; G. phankelocii is characterized by its distant two-rowed sori and G. vietnamensis by the sub-tripinnate fronds. Our phylogenetic analyses indicated that G. phankelocii is a relatively isolated species, while G. vietnamensis is a member of the G. salletii clade along with G. austroyunnanensis , G. salletii , and G. saxicola. The two new species and members of the G. salletii clade are all local endemics, and provide good examples to understand the frequent local endemics and their evolution in scaly tree ferns. Eleven species of Gymnosphaera are now known from Indochina; we provide a diagnostic key to these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the microwave imaging of anisotropic objects by artificial intelligence technology. Since the biaxial anisotropic scatterers have different dielectric constant components in different transverse directions, the problems faced by transverse electronic (TE) polarization waves are more complex than those of transverse magnetic (TM) polarization waves. In other words, measured scattered field information can scarcely reconstruct microwave images due to the high nonlinearity characteristic of TE polarization. Therefore, we first use the dominant current scheme (DCS) and the back-propagation scheme (BPS) to compute the initial guess image. We then apply a trained convolution neural network (CNN) to regenerate the microwave image. Numerical results show that the CNN possesses a good generalization ability under limited training data, which could be favorable to deploy in image processing. Finally, we compare DCS and BPS reconstruction images for anisotropic objects by the CNN and prove that DCS is better than BPS. In brief, successfully reconstructing biaxial anisotropic objects with a CNN is the contribution of this proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible, non-enzymatic glucose sensor was developed and tested on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The sensor's design involved printing Ag (silver) as the electrode and utilizing mixtures of either gold–copper oxide-modified reduced graphene oxide (Au-CuO-rGO) or gold–copper oxide-modified reduced graphene oxide-multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Au-CuO-rGO-MWCNTs) as the carrier materials. A one-pot synthesis method was employed to create a nanocomposite material, consisting of Au-CuO-rGO mixtures, which was then printed onto pre-prepared flexible electrodes. The impact of different weight ratios of MWCNTs (0~75 wt%) as a substitute for rGO was also investigated on the sensing characteristics of Au-CuO-rGO-MWCNTs glucose sensors. The fabricated electrodes underwent various material analyses, and their sensing properties for glucose in a glucose solution were measured using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The LSV measurement results showed that increasing the proportion of MWCNTs improved the sensor's sensitivity for detecting low concentrations of glucose. However, it also led to a significant decrease in the upper detection limit for high-glucose concentrations. Remarkably, the research findings revealed that the electrode containing 60 wt% MWCNTs demonstrated excellent sensitivity and stability in detecting low concentrations of glucose. At the lowest concentration of 0.1 μM glucose, the nanocomposites with 75 wt% MWCNTs showed the highest oxidation peak current, approximately 5.9 μA. On the other hand, the electrode without addition of MWCNTs displayed the highest detection limit (approximately 1 mM) and an oxidation peak current of about 8.1 μA at 1 mM of glucose concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizopus oligosporus was utilized in the solid-state fermentation of Chenopodium formosanum sprouts (FCS) in a bioreactor. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity of food proteins derived from FCS was investigated. Results showed that glycine-rich peptide (GGGGGKP, G-rich peptide), identified from the <2 kDa FCS proteins, had antioxidant values. According to SwissADME, AllerTOP, ToxinPred, and BIOPEP-UWM analyses, G-rich peptide was identified as safe, non-toxic, and non-allergenic. Afterward, the peptide was examined using in silico and in vitro studies to evaluate its potential alleviating oxidative stress caused by particulate matter. This study proposed plausible mechanisms that involve the binding of G-rich peptide which inhibited phosphorylation of the v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA) subunit on NF-κB pathway. The inhibition then resulted in down regulation of NF-κB transcription and genetic expression of inflammatory responses. These findings suggested that G-rich peptide from FCS proteins can potentially alleviate oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent microgel for BPA detection has been successfully prepared by cross-linking linear poly(styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (poly (STY-co-GMA)) with L-cysteine-capped CdSe quantum dots (Lcys-caped CdSe QDs). The microgel contained specific binding sites created by the covalent grafting of the copolymer onto the QDs via the GMA units, allowing for selective trapping of BPA molecules through π–π and hydrogen bond interactions with phenyl, carboxylic, and amine groups. After binding, electron transfer from the QDs to the analyte quenched the fluorescence at a wavelength of 547 nm when excited at 400 nm. The rational compositional and structural design allows the microgel to accurately detect BPA concentrations over a wide dynamic range of 1.0×10−1 to 1.0×105 μg/L with a low detection limit (7.0×10−2 to 8.0×10−2 μg/L) in deionized, drinking, and tap waters within just 2.0 min. On top of that, the sensitivity for BPA detection was 2.0–4.6 times higher than that of the other 3 structural analogues, even molecular imprinting was not involved. The influence of the STY/GMA compositions in the copolymers and environmental conditions, including pH and ionic strength, on the sensing performance was determined. Moreover, the sensing mechanism and the selectivity with respect to the molecular features were elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main target of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), the sodium-glucose cotransporters 2, is found in the kidneys, and their activity is reduced in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). How the efficacy of SGLT2i may vary in patients with different levels of renal impairment has not been fully elucidated. Methods: We searched the PubMed databases for relevant studies published through May 25, 2022. Randomized control trials comparing SGLT2i with placebo and reporting cardiovascular or renal outcomes were included. The primary outcome was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which were defined as cardiovascular death (CV death), nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and nonfatal ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes included the components of MACE, all-cause mortality, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), the composite of CV death and HHF, and composite renal outcomes. Linear meta-regression analysis was used to assess the effects of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on the risks associated with SGLT2i treatment vs placebo for all outcomes. Nonlinear metaregression analysis was also performed for MACE to investigate the combined influence of reduced drug efficacy in CKD but possible greater risk reduction in a population with higher risk at baseline. Further analyses were performed by including additional study-level covariates, including the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), heart failure (HF), and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Results: Risk ratios for MACE, CV death, nonfatal MI, HHF, and composite renal outcomes associated with SGLT2i treatment were not significantly related to baseline eGFR values. A positive association was observed between eGFR values and the risk of stroke with SGLT2i use (regression coefficient ß = .0109, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0029-0.0188). A similar positive association was observed between eGFR values and the composite outcome of CV death and HHF (ß = .0025, 95% CI 0.0000-0.0051). The results of the meta-regression analyses, including the additional covariates of DM, HF, and ASCVD, were consistent with the results of the primary analyses for most outcomes. Conclusion: The protective effects of SGLT2i for reducing most adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes persisted in patients with variable degrees of renal impairment. The observed benefits such as preventing CV death, HF worsening, or stroke may be greater for patients with more severe CKD. Considering the cardiovascular and renal benefits associated with SGLT2i treatment, patients with CKD should be treated aggressively to improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of vertically stacked SiGe nanosheet (NS) field-effect transistors (FETs) was demonstrated in this study. The key process technologies involved in this device fabrication are low pressure chemical vapor deposition SiGe/Si multilayer epitaxy, selective etching of Si layers over SiGe layers using tetramethyl-ammonium-hydroxide wet solution, and atomic layer deposition of Y2O3 gate dielectric. For the fabricated stacked SiGe NS p-GAAFETs with a gate length of 90 nm, ION/IOFF ratio of around 5.0 × 105 and subthreshold swing of 75 mV/dec were confirmed via electrical measurements. Moreover, owing to its high quality of Y2O3 gate dielectric, the device showed a very small drain-induced barrier-lowering phenomenon. These designs can improve the gate controllability of channel and device characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new guaiacene-type sesquiterpenes 13α-dihydroixerin acid, ixerin acid and one new secoguaiacene-type sesquiterpene secoixerin Z, along with four known compounds, were separated from ethanol extract of Ixeris sonchifolia. The structures were determined based on the detailed spectroscopic and physicochemical methods. The cytotoxic activity of the isolates was tested against A549 cells. Among them, compound 3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against A549 cells with the IC50 of 5.6 ± 0.9 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) have become one of the most potential candidates for in situ resource utilization of CO2 ${\text{CO}}_{2}$ in the Martian atmosphere. The nonlinear behaviors in DBDs are directly associated with the stability of discharges, and understanding the formation mechanism of the nonlinear behaviors can effectively enhance the ability to control the plasmas. In this paper, to further explore the underpinning physics of temporal nonlinear behaviors in CO2 ${\text{CO}}_{2}$ discharges, the tailored sinusoidal voltages with power‐on and power‐off phases are applied to ignite the plasmas under Martian pressure. The simulation results from a fluid model with hundreds of reactions show that the discharge can evolve from period‐one state into period‐four state via period‐two state by reducing the power‐off duration; the electron density drops rapidly and the heavy ions of CO2+ ${\text{CO}}_{2}^{+}$ and CO3− ${\text{CO}}_{3}^{-}$ become the dominant charged particles after the discharge is extinguished. With the power‐off duration further reduced, the heavy ions produced by the previous discharge cannot be completely dissipated and remain in the sheath region to enhance the electric field before the next discharge event; thus, the next ignition takes place more easily with a reduced breakdown voltage and a lower discharge current, indicating the discharge transits from a period‐one state to a period‐two state. In the transition from period‐two discharge to period‐four discharge, the heavy ions produced by the second discharge event cannot be completely transported to the surface of barriers, affecting the ignition in the third voltage period. When the power‐off duration is less than 10 μs $\mathrm{\mu s}$ in the simulation, electrons become the dominant residual negative charges in the discharge region, and the rapid increase in memory voltage results in a smaller positive discharge current and a stronger negative discharge current. As the power‐off duration continues to decrease, the discharge undergoes an inverse period‐doubling bifurcation from reverse period‐four discharge to reverse period‐two discharge. This study provides a deeper insight into the underlying physics of nonlinear behaviors in CO2 ${\text{CO}}_{2}$ DBDs under Martian pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate that Tectaria cadieri (Tectariaceae) is a distinct species in Vietnam after long being placed under the synonymy of T. ingens. Morphologically, T. cadieri is similar to T. ingens, T. setulosa, and T. trichotoma in their large fronds (up to 0.8–2 m long), 3-pinnate laminae, fully free veins, and sori in two rows on ultimate segments. However, our observations show that T. cadieri differs from these species in the presence of linear, membranaceous stipe scales. Our analyses of five plastid regions (atpB, ndhF plus ndhF-trnN, rbcL, rps16-matK plus matK, and trnL-trnF) show that T. cadieri is not closely related to T. ingens, T. setulosa, nor T. trichotoma. Rather, T. cadieri is closely related to T. multicaudata, a morphologically distinct species with anastomosing veins. Along with a detailed description and illustrations for T. cadieri, we provide morphological comparisons and comments on the relationships between T. cadieri and morphologically similar species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the mechanisms of the period-doubling bifurcation in pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBDs) are numerically investigated at atmospheric pressure. Under the given discharge conditions, the pulsed DBDs could maintain a normal period-1 (P1) state at relatively larger repetition frequencies over 40 kHz, by decreasing the repetition frequency, namely, keeping the duration of the power-on phase unchanged but increasing the duration of the power-off phase, the simulation shows that the discharge bifurcates into a period-2 (P2) state after a transient period of instability. Although the charged particles can diffuse to the surface of dielectric plates more fully at a lower repetition frequency, the large quantities of ions in the sheath region produced by the relatively larger discharge current that have not yet dissipated completely before the next discharge event are proposed to play an important role in the discharge bifurcation process, and the spatial profiles of the charged particle density, electric field, and space charge density in the sheath region before the discharge ignition are examined deeply to further explore the corresponding underpinning physics. The large density of residual ions in the sheath region with the enhanced electric field can weaken the subsequent discharge event and induce the discharge to enter the period-doubling state. Moreover, the computational data indicate that the discharge evolves into the period-4 (P4) and period-8 (P8) state when the repetition frequency approaches 30 and 26 kHz at the given discharge conditions. The simulation data can effectively facilitate the understanding of the temporal nonlinear behaviors in pulsed DBDs and propose ways to further control the plasma stability in applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is purified from ginseng with various pharmacological effects, which might facilitate the biological behavior of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hAD-MSCs). This study is aimed at investigating the effects of Rg1 on the biological behavior, such as viability, proliferation, apoptosis, senescence, migration, and paracrine, of hAD-MSCs. hAD-MSCs were isolated from human amnions. The effects of Rg1 on the viability, proliferation, apoptosis, senescence, migration, and paracrine of hAD-MSCs were detected by CCK-8, EdU, flow cytometry, SA-β-Gal staining, wound healing, and ELISA assays, respectively. The protein expression levels were detected by western blot. Cell cycle distribution was evaluated using flow cytometry. We found that Rg1 promoted hAD-MSC cycle progression from G0/G1 to S and G2/M phases and significantly increased hAD-MSC proliferation rate. Rg1 activated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and significantly upregulated the expressions of cyclin D, cyclin E, CDK4, and CDK2 in hAD-MSCs. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling significantly downregulated the expressions of cyclin D, cyclin E, CDK4, and CDK2, prevented cell cycle progression, and reduced hAD-MSC proliferation induced by Rg1. hAD-MSC senescence rate was significantly increased by D-galactose, while the elevated hAD-MSC senescence rate induced by D-galactose was significantly decreased by Rg1 treatment. D-galactose significantly induced the expressions of senescence markers, p16INK4a, p14ARF, p21CIP1, and p53 in hAD-MSCs, while Rg1 significantly reduced the expressions of those markers induced by D-galactose in hAD-MSCs. Rg1 significantly promoted the secretion of IGF-I in hAD-MSCs. Rg1 reduced the hAD-MSC apoptosis rate. However, the difference was not significant. Rg1 had no influence on hAD-MSC migration. Altogether, our results demonstrate that Rg1 can promote the viability, proliferation, and paracrine and relieve the senescence of hAD-MSCs. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is involved in the promotive effect of Rg1 on hAD-MSC proliferation. The protective effect of Rg1 on hAD-MSC senescence may be achieved via the downregulation of p16INK4A and p53/p21CIP1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleeding during endoscopic prostate surgery is often overlooked, and appropriate measurement techniques are rarely applied. We proposed a simple and convenient method for assessing the severity of bleeding during endoscopic prostate surgery. We determined the factors affecting bleeding severity and whether they affected the surgical results and functional outcomes. Records from March 2019 to April 2022 were obtained for selected patients who underwent endoscopic prostate enucleation through either 120-W Vela XL Thulium:YAG laser or bipolar plasma enucleation of the prostate. The bleeding index was measured using the following equation: irrigant hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (g/dL) × irrigation fluid volume (mL)/preoperative blood Hb concentration (g/dL) × enucleated tissue (g). Our research revealed that patients who underwent surgery employing the thulium laser, those aged over 80 years, and those with a preoperative maximal flow rate (Qmax) of more than 10 cc/s experienced less surgical bleeding. The patients' treatment outcomes differed depending on the severity of the bleeding. Enucleating prostate tissue was easier in the patients with less severe bleeding, who also had a lower risk of developing urinary tract infections and an improved Qmax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been shown to provide survival benefits in patients with heart failure; however, MRA use in patients with chronic kidney disease has been limited by safety concerns. The effects of MRAs on outcomes in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) and heart failure remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MRAs on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure under maintenance dialysis in a real‐world setting. Methods and results: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by collecting data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients diagnosed with heart failure and ESRD and who started maintenance dialysis between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2013 were identified. Patients were grouped according to MRA prescription. The outcomes of interest included cardiovascular (CV) death, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), all‐cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischaemic stroke, any coronary revascularization procedures, and new‐onset hyperkalaemia. Propensity score matching was performed at a 1:3 ratio between MRA users and non‐users to minimize selection bias. A total of 50 872 patients who satisfied our inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified. After 1:3 matching, 2176 patients were included in the MRA group, and 6528 patients were included in the non‐MRA group. The risk of CV death was significantly lower among patients who received MRAs than those who did not (hazard ratio [HR] 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.95), as was the risk of all‐cause mortality (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83–0.94). Reductions in the risks of CV death and all‐cause mortality were more prominent among patients undergoing haemodialysis and those with coronary artery disease. Conclusions: In patients undergoing regular dialysis who are diagnosed with heart failure, the use of MRAs is associated with lower risks of all‐cause mortality and CV death. The benefits of MRA treatment in heart failure may persist in patients with ESRD. Further investigations through randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of MRAs in this high‐risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are a group of nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acids present in many medicinal herbs of the Aristolochia genus that may cause irreversible hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. However, the specific profile of AAs and their toxicity in Aristolochia plants, except for AAs Ι and ΙΙ, still remain unclear. In this study, a total of 52 batches of three medicinal herbs belonging to the Aristolochia family were analyzed for their AA composition profiles and AA contents using the UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS approach. The studied herbs were A. mollissima Hance (AMH), A. debilis Sieb.etZucc (ADS), and A. cinnabaria C.Y.Cheng (ACY). Chemometrics methods, including PCA and OPLS-DA, were used for the evaluation of the Aristolochia medicinal herbs. Additionally, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the selected AAs and the extracts of AMH and ADS were evaluated in a HepG2 cell line using the MTT method and a Comet assay, respectively. A total of 44 AAs, including 23 aristolochic acids and 21 aristolactams (ALs), were detected in A. mollissima. Moreover, 41 AAs (23 AAs and 18 ALs) were identified from A. debilis Sieb, and 45 AAs (29 AAs and 16 ALs) were identified in A. cinnabaria. Chemometrics results showed that 16, 19, and 22 AAs identified in AMH, ADS, and ACY, respectively, had statistical significance for distinguishing the three medicinal herbs of different origins. In the cytotoxicity assay, compounds AL-BΙΙ, AAΙ and the extract of AMH exhibited significant cytotoxicities against the HepG2 cell line with the IC50 values of 0.2, 9.7 and 50.2 μM, respectively. The results of the Comet assay showed that AAΙ caused relatively higher damage to cellular DNA (TDNA 40–95%) at 50 μM, while AAΙΙ, AMH and ADS extracts (ranged from 10 to 131 μM) caused relatively lower damage to cellular DNA (TDNA 5–20%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates acoustic impedance matching between a thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine and a branch liquid column, using multiple regenerators. We characterize acoustic impedances at both the engine and liquid column load ends using thermoacoustic theory, expressed as functions of frequency and temperature differences across regenerators. The intersection points of these functions indicate matched impedances, critical for evaluating the engine's operating points. Notably, this study emphasizes the impact of a vibrating membrane on the system's acoustic impedance, highlighting its significant role in modulating acoustic states and facilitating self-sustained oscillations. To verify our theoretical models, we conducted experiments with the proposed fluidyne engine under various liquid column volumes. The verifications confirmed our simple calibrations for characterizing a vibrating membrane clamped in the engine and the oscillating liquid columns. Significantly, the acoustic compliance and inertance effects respectively introduced by the membrane and liquid columns enable us to modulate the engine's acoustic states. The proposed configuration is named a thermoacoustic Stirling fluidyne. This fluidyne, a heat engine that outputs work power using a liquid piston, achieves a markedly higher acoustic impedance than the pure gas case while maintaining traveling wave phasing for the regenerators. • Introducing a flexible design in the fluidyne-style thermoacoustic Stirling engine. • Utilization of a vibrating membrane coupled with oscillating liquid columns for improved acoustic modulation. • Attainment of remarkably high acoustic impedance, while efficiently preserving the traveling wave phasing within regenerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high temperature may cause the insulation of electrical cables to age, resulting in insulation breakdown and electrical fire. The influence of two key factors, namely incident external heat flux and thermal aging time, and aged wires were prepared. A cone calorimeter is used to test the combustion performance of different aging degrees ZR-BVR wires under 35KW m−2 and 50KW m−2 radiation. In addition, the time-to-ignition (TTI), heat release rate (HRR), gas generation rate, and smoke generation rate under the two kinds of external radiation were compared and analyzed. And, the fire risk of the samples was comprehensively evaluated by Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy mass method. The results indicated that the longer the aging time, the less likely the sample to be ignited, the longer the time to reach the peak heat release rate increases, and the peak heat release rate (pHRR) of ZR-BVR10 is the largest, with a maximum value of 208.64KW m−2, the consumption of O2 and the production of CO2 and CO decreased significantly, and there was a great difference before and after 30 days of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8), a G-protein-coupled receptor sensing physiological or weak acids, regulates inflammatory responses. However, its role in traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unknown. Our recent study showed that delayed CO 2 postconditioning (DCPC) has neuroreparative effects after TBI. We hypothesized that activating astrocytic TDAG8 is a key mechanism for DCPC. WT and TDAG8−/− mice received DCPC daily by transiently inhaling 10% CO 2 after controlled cortical impact (CCI). HBAAV2/9-GFAP-m-TDAG8-3xflag-EGFP was used to overexpress TDAG8 in astrocytes. The beam walking test, mNSS, immunofluorescence and Golgi-Cox staining were used to evaluate motor function, glial activation and dendritic plasticity. DCPC significantly improved motor function; increased total dendritic length, neuronal complexity and spine density; inhibited overactivation of astrocytes and microglia; and promoted the expression of astrocytic brain-derived neurotrophic factor in WT but not TDAG8−/− mice. Overexpressing TDAG8 in astrocytes surrounding the lesion in TDAG8−/− mice restored the beneficial effects of DCPC. Although the effects of DCPC on Days 14–28 were much weaker than those of DCPC on Days 3–28 in WT mice, these effects were further enhanced by overexpressing astrocytic TDAG8. Astrocytic TDAG8 is a key target of DCPC for TBI rehabilitation. Its overexpression is a strategy that broadens the therapeutic window and enhances the effects of DCPC. • Delayed CO 2 postconditioning (DCPC) improved motor function after CCI. • DCPC enhanced dendritic plasticity and inhibited astrocyte overactivation after CCI. • Astrocytic TDAG8 is a therapeutic target of DCPC for TBI rehabilitation. • TDAG8 overexpression broadened the therapeutic window of DCPC for TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated the impact of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate on testosterone levels in hypotestosteronemic patients with bladder outlet obstruction. Methods: We enrolled 294 men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who received surgery between January 2019 and December 2020 in simple tertiary centre. The inclusion criteria were as follows: being a male patient aged 45–95 years and having recurrent urinary tract infection, having previously failed medical treatment for LUTS or urine retention, and undergoing bipolar or thulium laser enucleation of the prostate. The preoperative and postoperative data were retrospectively reviewed. Results: This study included 112 men with a mean age of 69.4 years. The mean preoperative and postoperative testosterone levels were 4.8 and 4.98, respectively. Of the patients, 88 (78.6%) received ThuLEP and 24 received BipolEP. We divided the patients into two groups according to preoperative serum testosterone levels: normal-testosterone (≥3 ng/mL) and low-testosterone (<3 ng/mL) groups. A significant change in testosterone levels (p = 0.025) was observed in the low-testosterone group. In contrast, no significant difference in testosterone levels was noted in the normal-testosterone group (p = 0.698). Conclusions: Endoscopic enucleation surgery of the prostate could improve postoperative testosterone levels in hypotestosteronemic patients with bladder outlet obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: In the era of easily available antibiotic use, this study provides epidemiological evidence for a re-examination of the relationship between syphilis and ischemic stroke (IS). Methods: Patients aged 18 years and older with newly diagnosed syphilis were included (n = 1585) from 2000 to 2012, and participants without syphilis in the control group (n = 6340) were matched by propensity score (age, sex, index year, insured amount, urbanization, seasons, and comorbidities). The Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of IS. Five different Cox regression models, sensitivity analyses, and negative control were conducted to test our findings. Results: In all, 1585 patients (1055 (66.56%) men; mean (SD) age, 49.59 (20.32) years) had syphilis, and 3.8% had new-onset IS. The syphilis group had a higher risk of IS than the controls (adjusted HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01–1.80; p value < 0.05) after full adjustment. Serial sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. Conclusion: Syphilis patients have higher risk of IS, and our data raise the question of implementation of prophylactic treatment for IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the complex patterns of latitudinal diversity gradients (LDGs) in deep time has been hampered by the absence of long-term records of LDGs through multiple climatic changes. We used records of marine invertebrate fossils to generate LDGs in each age bin from the Carboniferous icehouse to the Triassic greenhouse climates. We evaluated LDGs by subsampling, calculated evolutionary rates for different latitudinal zones, and assessed the modularity of the fossil data within latitudinal zones using the Louvain algorithm. Our results suggest that the LDG peaks may be shaped by multiple factors rather than alternating icehouse and greenhouse climates, although icehouse climates usually restrict diversity at high latitudes. In nearly all clades, peak diversity shifted northward during the late Carboniferous and early Permian, reflecting the northward drift of plates and increased habitat area. Changes in the steepness of the LDG was most pronounced at low latitudes and during biotic crises and recovery, while icehouse to greenhouse transitions created more deviation at high latitudes. Our results show a strong historical influence from previous LDG patterns in LDG dynamics, but one that was interrupted by upheavals in composition after dramatic environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare inflammatory disease often associated with high morbidity and mortality. Whether the midline transperitoneal or the flank retroperitoneal approach is superior remains unknown. We searched through pathology databases and reviewed 86 patients with an XGP diagnosis from 2000 to 2021 at our institution. After the patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded, 35 patients who had undergone nephrectomy through the midline transperitoneal or the flank retroperitoneal laparotomy approach were recruited. Nine (25.71%) of the thirty-five patients underwent nephrectomy through a midline approach, whereas twenty-six (74.29%) received a flank approach. Patients in the midline approach group had a longer surgical time (p = 0.03) than those in the flank approach group. In addition, patients in the flank approach group took less time after surgery to resume oral intake than those in the midline approach group (p = 0.01). No significant differences in the rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications such as peritonitis or intraabdominal infection were observed between the groups. For the patients with XGP who are good candidates for surgery, nephrectomy is a relatively safe surgical treatment method. Both surgical methods produced favorable surgical outcomes, and the patients who received these methods had similar complication rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the appendix is extremely rare, and because the symptoms are vague and nonspecific, obtaining a preoperative diagnosis is difficult. It cannot be detected using imaging modalities because its radiologic features are undefined, and its appearance on both computed tomography and ultrasound images is similar to that of nontumorous appendicitis. Usually, a diagnosis is made after surgery for other diseases involving the removal of the appendix. The right hemicolectomy is suggested for invasive adenocarcinoma; however, diagnosing primary signet-ring cell carcinoma before surgery and managing tumors with adequate surgical resection remain challenging. We present a case of a large ovarian tumor with peritoneal carcinomatosis diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer but subsequently revealed through pathology to be primary appendiceal signet-ring carcinoma. Detecting appendiceal signet-ring carcinoma warrants additional surgical management, and treating it involves chemotherapy. This rare disease should be kept in mind when encountering abdominal right lower quadrant pain and tumors to allow for a full treatment plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggs and nests are two critical traits for the ecological success of birds. Their functional interactions, however, remain unclear. Here, we examined the functional connections between egg stiffness and nest attachment, site and structure for 1350 avian species. We revealed high eggshell stiffness for eggs in nests with a pensile attachment, located on non‐tree vegetation or having a domed shape, suggesting that birds produce stiffer eggs in response to higher egg‐collision risk in unstable or enclosed nests. Interdependence models suggested that the evolution of eggshell stiffness was more likely to be driven by than drive that of nest characters. Our results implied a trade‐off between investment in competing for established nesting niches and producing stiff eggs to explore novel niches with high collision risk, possibly mediated by predation or thermoregulation. This study highlights an overlooked connection between nests and eggshells that may have broadened the ecological niches of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this meta-analysis is to examine the association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO). The analysis aims to provide insight into the potential of NLR and PLR as inflammatory biomarkers for RAO.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus identified eight eligible studies. The analysis assessed serum NLR and PLR levels in RAO and non-RAO groups by employing standardized mean differences (SMDs). Sensitivity analyses and publication bias were examined. The diagnostic performance of these markers was evaluated with a quantitative synthesis.The meta-analysis, involving 1,444 participants, demonstrated significantly elevated NLR (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.49–1.28, P < 0.001) and PLR (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16–0.73, P < 0.001) levels in individuals with RAO. Significant heterogeneity was noted. Sensitivity analysis showed robustness and no significant publication bias was found. Summary results of diagnostic performance revealed promising discriminatory power for NLR and PLR.The results support a possible connection between systemic inflammation, as indicated by NLR and PLR, and the occurrence of RAO. Although there was heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses showed the findings to be robust. While immediate diagnostic applications are limited, understanding the role of NLR and PLR in the pathological process of RAO provides valuable insights for developing future predictive models, risk management approaches, and treatment strategies. Further research exploring mechanistic insights and conducting prospective studies is warranted to validate their clinical utility.What is knownRetinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.What is newThis is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.This is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.Methods: The goal of this meta-analysis is to examine the association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO). The analysis aims to provide insight into the potential of NLR and PLR as inflammatory biomarkers for RAO.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus identified eight eligible studies. The analysis assessed serum NLR and PLR levels in RAO and non-RAO groups by employing standardized mean differences (SMDs). Sensitivity analyses and publication bias were examined. The diagnostic performance of these markers was evaluated with a quantitative synthesis.The meta-analysis, involving 1,444 participants, demonstrated significantly elevated NLR (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.49–1.28, P < 0.001) and PLR (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16–0.73, P < 0.001) levels in individuals with RAO. Significant heterogeneity was noted. Sensitivity analysis showed robustness and no significant publication bias was found. Summary results of diagnostic performance revealed promising discriminatory power for NLR and PLR.The results support a possible connection between systemic inflammation, as indicated by NLR and PLR, and the occurrence of RAO. Although there was heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses showed the findings to be robust. While immediate diagnostic applications are limited, understanding the role of NLR and PLR in the pathological process of RAO provides valuable insights for developing future predictive models, risk management approaches, and treatment strategies. Further research exploring mechanistic insights and conducting prospective studies is warranted to validate their clinical utility.What is knownRetinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.What is newThis is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.This is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.Results: The goal of this meta-analysis is to examine the association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO). The analysis aims to provide insight into the potential of NLR and PLR as inflammatory biomarkers for RAO.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus identified eight eligible studies. The analysis assessed serum NLR and PLR levels in RAO and non-RAO groups by employing standardized mean differences (SMDs). Sensitivity analyses and publication bias were examined. The diagnostic performance of these markers was evaluated with a quantitative synthesis.The meta-analysis, involving 1,444 participants, demonstrated significantly elevated NLR (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.49–1.28, P < 0.001) and PLR (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16–0.73, P < 0.001) levels in individuals with RAO. Significant heterogeneity was noted. Sensitivity analysis showed robustness and no significant publication bias was found. Summary results of diagnostic performance revealed promising discriminatory power for NLR and PLR.The results support a possible connection between systemic inflammation, as indicated by NLR and PLR, and the occurrence of RAO. Although there was heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses showed the findings to be robust. While immediate diagnostic applications are limited, understanding the role of NLR and PLR in the pathological process of RAO provides valuable insights for developing future predictive models, risk management approaches, and treatment strategies. Further research exploring mechanistic insights and conducting prospective studies is warranted to validate their clinical utility.What is knownRetinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.What is newThis is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.This is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.Conclusions: The goal of this meta-analysis is to examine the association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO). The analysis aims to provide insight into the potential of NLR and PLR as inflammatory biomarkers for RAO.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus identified eight eligible studies. The analysis assessed serum NLR and PLR levels in RAO and non-RAO groups by employing standardized mean differences (SMDs). Sensitivity analyses and publication bias were examined. The diagnostic performance of these markers was evaluated with a quantitative synthesis.The meta-analysis, involving 1,444 participants, demonstrated significantly elevated NLR (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.49–1.28, P < 0.001) and PLR (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16–0.73, P < 0.001) levels in individuals with RAO. Significant heterogeneity was noted. Sensitivity analysis showed robustness and no significant publication bias was found. Summary results of diagnostic performance revealed promising discriminatory power for NLR and PLR.The results support a possible connection between systemic inflammation, as indicated by NLR and PLR, and the occurrence of RAO. Although there was heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses showed the findings to be robust. While immediate diagnostic applications are limited, understanding the role of NLR and PLR in the pathological process of RAO provides valuable insights for developing future predictive models, risk management approaches, and treatment strategies. Further research exploring mechanistic insights and conducting prospective studies is warranted to validate their clinical utility.What is knownRetinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.What is newThis is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.This is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.Key messages: The goal of this meta-analysis is to examine the association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO). The analysis aims to provide insight into the potential of NLR and PLR as inflammatory biomarkers for RAO.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus identified eight eligible studies. The analysis assessed serum NLR and PLR levels in RAO and non-RAO groups by employing standardized mean differences (SMDs). Sensitivity analyses and publication bias were examined. The diagnostic performance of these markers was evaluated with a quantitative synthesis.The meta-analysis, involving 1,444 participants, demonstrated significantly elevated NLR (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.49–1.28, P < 0.001) and PLR (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16–0.73, P < 0.001) levels in individuals with RAO. Significant heterogeneity was noted. Sensitivity analysis showed robustness and no significant publication bias was found. Summary results of diagnostic performance revealed promising discriminatory power for NLR and PLR.The results support a possible connection between systemic inflammation, as indicated by NLR and PLR, and the occurrence of RAO. Although there was heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses showed the findings to be robust. While immediate diagnostic applications are limited, understanding the role of NLR and PLR in the pathological process of RAO provides valuable insights for developing future predictive models, risk management approaches, and treatment strategies. Further research exploring mechanistic insights and conducting prospective studies is warranted to validate their clinical utility.What is knownRetinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition with potential links to systemic inflammation and thrombosis.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging inflammatory markers.What is newThis is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis.This is the first meta-analysis examining the association between NLR, PLR and RAO.Elevated NLR and PLR levels were observed in patients with RAO compared to controls.NLR and PLR show potential as indicators of systemic inflammation in RAO pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Assess desert grassland degradation via field observations and UAV remote sensing. • Predict grassland desertification by combining the vegetation index and random forest. • Develop a UAV-based evaluation system and model to assess grassland degradation. • Provide a rapid remote sensing method for diagnosing grassland degradation. Desert grassland is an essential component of the northern grasslands of China, representing an ecosystem that transitions from grassland to desert. However, it is a fragile ecological environment. Evaluating degraded grassland ecosystems is a prerequisite for degradation prevention and management. However, a systematic and standardized evaluation system for the fragile ecosystems of desert grassland ecological regions in China is lacking. Therefore, to accurately identify the degree of desert grassland degradation, this study selected 66 sample plots in Otog Banner and, using the analytic hierarchy process-entropy method, established a comprehensive evaluation system for desert grasslands. Using nine vegetation indices extracted from unmanned aerial vehicle multispectral imagery, we employed machine learning regression algorithms to develop a model for assessing grassland degradation features. The results indicated that the primary factor influencing grassland degradation was the land condition layer, followed by the resilience layer. The regression model constructed using the random forest algorithm demonstrated optimal performance in grassland degradation evaluation, with correlation coefficients of 0.981 and 0.942. Finally, we established a high-precision grassland degradation assessment model with an average relative error of 9.49%, offering a novel approach for the rapid diagnosis of grassland degradation through remote sensing macroscopic evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasonic welding of Cu-Ti with Al interlayer was studied. • Interfacial strength evolved from plastic flow and mechanical interlocking. • Large plastic strain caused interface-adjacent cracks, reducing strength. • Introduced Al interlayer prevented base metal damage, improving weld quality. • Al interlayer increased interfacial strength by 26% via enhanced frictional heat. This study investigated the ultrasonic welding of Cu-Ti joints, revealing that the interfacial strength originated from mechanical interlocking. However, strength was diminished owing to interface-adjacent crack initiation due to excessive plastic strain. Introducing an Al interlayer prevented base metal damage with more frictional heat, and enhanced interfacial strength by 26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women have been underrepresented in the literature; the effects of female sex on outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain unclear. Objectives: This study compares the real-world outcomes of women and men with AMI who have undergone revascularization via percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. We identified patients who were admitted for AMI and who underwent coronary revascularization during the index admission period between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2013. Patients were then categorized based on the treatment received into PCI and CABG groups. In-hospital and long-term outcomes were compared between women and men in each group. Interaction tests were then performed to determine whether the differences between sexes were modified by the mode of revascularization. Analyses were repeated after propensity score matching between women and men in each group to minimize possible confounders. We also conducted subgroup analyses, stratifying by the presence of diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Results: We enrolled 67,534 patients who met the inclusion criteria in the analysis; 60,207 patients had undergone PCI (13,514 female and 46,693 male), while 7327 patients had received CABG (1762 female and 5565 male). Prior to matching, enrolled female patients were older on average, with more comorbidities. In-hospital and long-term outcomes were worse in women, particularly in the PCI group. After matching, the incidence of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) was higher in women (10.4% vs 8.0%, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.22–1.43), with fewer repeat revascularizations (28.1% vs 32.4%, OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.81–0.88). Both observations were more pronounced in the PCI group (HHF: P for interaction = 0.0496; repeat revascularization: P for interaction = 0.021). Conclusions: Women presenting with AMI exhibited worse in-hospital and long-term outcomes than men, especially among women who received PCI as the initial mode of revascularization. Women who underwent PCI were more likely to be admitted for heart failure during follow-up. Possible socioeconomic inequalities or a distinct pathobiology of cardiac ischemia between sexes may underlie these results; thus, further investigation is needed. Highlights: Among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), women were older, had more comorbid conditions, and were less likely to be discharged with optimal medical therapy than their male counterparts. In-hospital and long-term outcomes were worse among women compared to men, particularly in those who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as the mode of revascularization for AMI. Despite worse in-hospital survival, women were less likely to receive mechanical cardiac support. After propensity score matching between women and men for baseline characteristics, the incidence of hospitalization for heart failure was higher among women during long-term follow-up, especially among patients who had undergone PCI. Contrarily, the incidence of repeat revascularization procedures was lower in women in the long term. Mechanisms underlying cardiac ischemia likely differ between women and men, and socioeconomic inequalities that influence treatment of female patients are also possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fern species, Tectaria danangensis (Tectariaceae) from Vietnam, which had long been misreported as T. crenata, is described and illustrated. The new species resembles T. poilanei, a species long neglected in the fern flora of Indochina, in the frond shape and sori arrangement, but differs by its irregularly 2-rowed sori (versus regularly 2-rowed, distantly and evenly arranged) between lateral veins of pinnae, fronds being more or less dimorphic (versus monomorphic) and basal pinnae each with a base-joined (versus free) lobe. Phylogenetic analyses of five plastid regions (atpB, ndhF + ndhF-trnN, rbcL, rps16-matK + matK and trnL-F) suggested T. danangensis has a close affinity to T. harlandii. Tectaria danangensis appears to be an intermediate species between T. harlandii and T. poilanei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, pulse-modulated radio frequency (RF) plasmas have gained considerable interest in applications due to the advantages in reducing gas temperature and power consumption. In this article, the optimizations of operation mode in atmospheric pulse modulation RF discharges are investigated by a 1-D fluid model. From simulation data, the breakdown voltage and ${{\alpha -{\gamma }}}$ mode transition voltage both decrease as the duty cycle increases; however, a minimum breakdown voltage can be observed while altering the modulation frequency at a constant duty cycle, and the transition voltage always increases with the modulation frequency. The underpinning physics of the operation regime in pulsed RF discharges is discussed in detail by investigating the effects of the duration of the power-on phase based on the computational results. Increasing the number of applied RF cycles during the power-on phase contributes greatly to the breakdown and mode transition. This study can effectively deepen the understanding of the effects of pulse modulation in RF discharges and suggest ways to further optimize the pulse-modulated RF discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically designed a dual function of nearly zero dispersion flattened and polarization maintaining photonic crystal fiber (DF–PM-PCF) with ultra-broadband. The numeric results show that the DF–PM-PCF performs the nearly zero dispersion values between − 1.00 and − 0.12 ps/km/nm over a bandwidth range of 482 nm (1218–1700 nm). The operation band expands from O band (1260–1360 nm) to U band (1625–1675 nm). In the meanwhile, the birefringence values of the proposed DF–PM-PCF were estimated and show that they are 0.93 × 10−3–1.25 × 10−3 in the operation band. Confinement losses of some wavelengths in the operation band were calculated and confirmed that they are reasonable. The numeric results indicate that the DF–PM-PCF has confinement losses of 2.75 × 10−3–3.39 × 10−1 dB/km in the operation band. Furthermore, the mode properties of the proposed DF–PM-PCF were simulated and confirmed that it works in single mode in the operation band. The device can be well used in a WDM communication system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of lycophytes, Selaginella obovata and S. zhangii, were discovered in southeastern Yunnan, China. Selaginella obovata is characterized by the prostrate habit and relatively small size of plant, obovate median leaves, and short, dorsiventral strobili, and is not apparently similar to any known species. Phylogenetic analyses of plastid sequences (rbcL, atpI, psbA) indicated that S. obovata is closely allied to S. bisulcata, which is also supported by spore morphology, and that these two taxa together with S. pennata constitute a well-supported monophyletic group. Selaginella zhangii is comparable to S. rolandi-principis in their broad stems and shape and arrangement of vegetative leaves; but the former differs from the latter in its prostrate habit and dorsiventral strobili. The results of phylogenetic analyses indicated that S. zhangii is allied to S. heterostachys in the S. heterostachys–S. ciliaris clade, while S. rolandi-principis is distantly placed in the S. doederleinii–S. involvens clade. Finally, we provide comprehensive descriptions, photographs of living plants, line drawings, and scanning electron micrographs of spores to facilitate their recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we performed a one-dimensional fluid model to study the mechanism and optimization of pulse-modulated Radio-Frequency (RF) discharges at atmospheric pressure assisted by short pulse voltages. The evolution of discharge current density, helium metastable ( H e * ) density, and total electron density from the simulation demonstrates that the ignition of RF discharge could be effectively enhanced by the short pulsed discharge, and a large Peak Current in the First Period (PCFP) can be produced, which agrees well with the experimental measurements. Due to the assistance of pulsed voltage, a strong electric field could be formed near the anode with the same polarity of that near the cathode, which can reaccelerate the electrons near the anode to generate a large PCFP. Based on the simulation results, reducing the time interval and increasing the pulse rise rate are very helpful to enhance the ignition of subsequent RF discharge by strengthening the electric field near the anode. It is shown that by choosing the appropriate time interval and pulse rise rate, the pulse-modulated RF discharge assisted by the pulsed discharge can be effectively modulated and optimized for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transposable elements (TEs) initially attracted attention because they comprise a major portion of the genomic sequences in plants and animals. TEs may jump around the genome and disrupt both coding genes as well as regulatory sequences to cause disease. Host cells have therefore evolved various epigenetic and functional RNA-mediated mechanisms to mitigate the disruption of genomic integrity by TEs. TE associated sequences therefore acquire the tendencies of attracting various epigenetic modifiers to induce epigenetic alterations that may spread to the neighboring genes. In addition to posting threats for (epi)genome integrity, emerging evidence suggested the physiological importance of endogenous TEs either as cis-acting control elements for controlling gene regulation or as TE-containing functional transcripts that modulate the transcriptome of the host cells. Recent advances in long-reads sequence analysis technologies, bioinformatics and genetic editing tools have enabled the profiling, precise annotation and functional characterization of TEs despite their challenging repetitive nature. The importance of specific TEs in preimplantation embryonic development, germ cell differentiation and meiosis, cell fate determination and in driving species specific differences in mammals will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigated the optimization of pulse-modulated radio frequency (rf) discharges in the range of very high frequency from 50 to 800 MHz by a fluid model. A very strong Peak Current in the First Period (PCFP) during the power-on phase can be observed only when the excitation frequency is large enough, usually larger than 50 MHz, and the reversal electric field near the anode due to the accumulation of electrons contributes greatly to the formation of this peak current from the simulation data. The highest electron temperature is achieved in the first period, while the largest electron density is usually obtained in the last period during the power-on phase. By increasing the duty cycle, the value of PCFP increases initially, then it reaches the peak value at a duty cycle of approximately 70%, and later it drops to the normal value generated in a continuous rf discharge, and the maximum electron temperature also shows the similar evolution. However, as the duty cycle is increased, the electron density is always enhanced during the power-on phase. According to the simulation results, the duty cycle and modulation frequency can be effectively applied to modulate and optimize the electron density and electron temperature for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains inconclusive. Aim: Our aim was to systematically assess the relationship between preexisting OSA and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with newly diagnosed ACS by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library for studies published up to May 1, 2020, that reported any association between OSA and cardiovascular events in patients with newly diagnosed ACS. The main outcomes were a composite of all-cause or cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, or heart failure. We conducted a pooled analysis using the random-effects model. We also performed subgroup, sensitivity, heterogeneity analysis, and the assessment of publication bias. Results: We identified 10 studies encompassing 3350 participants. The presence of OSA was associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events in newly prognosed ACS (risk ratio [RR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-3.26, P <.001, I 2 = 64%). Between-study heterogeneity was partially explained by a multicenter study (9 single-center studies, RR 2.33 95% CI 1.69-3.19, I 2 =18%), and I 2 remarkably decreased from 64% to 18%. Moreover, OSA significantly increased the incidence of repeat revascularization (8 studies) and heart failure (6 studies) in patients with newly diagnosed ACS. Conclusion: Patients with preexisting OSA are at greater risk of subsequent cardiovascular events after onset of ACS. Further studies should investigate the treatment of OSA in patient with ACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]