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Background: Viral infectious diseases of poverty (vIDPs) remain a significant global health challenge. Despite their profound impact, the burden of these diseases is not comprehensively quantified. This study aims to analyze the global burden of six major vIDPs, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), HIV/AIDS, acute hepatitis, dengue, rabies, and Ebola virus disease (EVD), using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021 (GBD 2021). Methods: Following the GBD 2021 framework, we analyzed the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of the six vIDPs across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. We examined the association between the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) and the burden of vIDPs. All estimates were reported as numbers and rates per 100,000 population, calculated using the Bayesian statistical model employed by GBD 2021, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI). Results: In 2021, vIDPs caused approximately 8.7 million deaths and 259.2 million DALYs, accounting for 12.8% and 9.0% of the global all-cause totals, respectively. Globally, the burden of vIDPs varied significantly: COVID-19 caused around 7.9 million (95% UI: 7.5, 8.4) deaths and 212.0 million (95% UI 197.9, 234.7) DALYs in 2021. Acute hepatitis had the second-highest age-standardized incidence rate, with 3411.5 (95% UI: 3201.8, 3631.3) per 100,000 population, while HIV/AIDS had a high age-standardized prevalence rate, with 483.1 (95% UI: 459.0, 511.4) per 100,000 population. Dengue incidence cases rose from 26.5 million (95% UI: 3.9, 51.9) in 1990 to 59.0 million (95% UI: 15.5, 106.9) in 2021. Rabies, although reduced in prevalence, continued to pose a significant mortality risk. EVD had the lowest overall burden but significant outbreak impacts. Age-standardized DALY rates for vIDPs were significantly negatively correlated with SDI: acute hepatitis (r = −0.8, P < 0.0001), rabies (r = −0.7, P < 0.0001), HIV/AIDS (r = −0.6, P < 0.0001), COVID-19 (r = −0.5, P < 0.0001), dengue (r = −0.4, P < 0.0001), and EVD (r = −0.2, P < 0.005). Conclusions: VIDPs pose major public health challenges worldwide, with significant regional, age, and gender disparities. The results underscore the need for targeted interventions and international cooperation to mitigate the burden of these diseases. Policymakers can use these findings to implement cost-effective interventions and improve health outcomes, particularly in regions with high or increasing burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of 59‐year‐old female with solitary bilateral renal metastases after surgery of stage IA primary lung adenocarcinoma who underwent next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of both lesions. The patient received right upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection, which revealed primary invasive lung adenocarcinoma (pT1cN0M0, stage IA3). Two years following this, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) revealed multiple masses in both kidneys without other distant metastases, and ultrasonography‐guided puncture biopsy indicated the presence of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. The NGS of both the primary and metastatic lesions revealed the co‐alteration of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), RB transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1), and mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP3K1), which is potentially associated with the risk of renal metastasis in early postoperative non‐small cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observation of glacier surface characteristics through remotely sensed time-series data is essential for understanding glacier seasonality, mass balance, and long-term trends. Yet, the reliability of these observations depends significantly on the quality of the time-series data. This study presents a meticulous preprocessing scheme to improve the quality of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) time-series data for glacier monitoring. We propose a three-step algorithm specifically crafted to overcome the challenges associated with cloud contamination reduction, outlier removal and data gap handling. This innovative approach iteratively compares the median values of automatically adjusted asymmetrical moving windows to achieve convergence, removing outliers using minimal window size to keep the temporal resolution as high as possible. The methodology's effectiveness is demonstrated through its application to two glaciers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Benchmark Project, showcasing significant improvements in the quality of smoothed MODIS NDSI time series. These results affirm the efficacy of the proposed scheme in rendering a more reliable evaluation of glacier surface condition and seasonal fluctuations. Consequently, this study contributes significant methodological advancements to the fields of remote sensing and glaciology, enhancing the accuracy of glacier monitoring techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in skeletal muscle is a significant factor in the development of sarcopenia. This study aims to evaluate changes in ECM remodeling in the lumbar paravertebral muscles of sarcopenic rats using diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) and compare them with histology. Methods: Twenty 6-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the dexamethasone (DEX) group and the control (CON) group. Both groups underwent 3.0T MRI scanning, including Mensa, T2WI, and DT-MRI sequences. The changes in muscle fibers and extracellular matrix (ECM) of the erector spinal muscle were observed using hematoxylineosin and sirius red staining. The expressions of collagen I, III, and fibronectin in the erector spinae were detected by western blot. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to assess the correlation between MRI quantitative parameters and corresponding histopathology markers. Results: The cross-sectional area and fractional anisotropy values of the erector spinae in the DEX group rats were significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Hematoxylin eosin staining revealed muscle fiber atrophy and disordered arrangement in the DEX group, while sirius red staining showed a significant increase in collagen volume fraction in the DEX group. The western blot results indicate a significant increase in the expression of collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin in the DEX group (p < 0.001 for all). Correlation coefficients between fractional anisotropy values and collagen volume fraction, collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin were − 0.71, -0.94, -0.85, and − 0.88, respectively (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: The fractional anisotropy value is strongly correlated with the pathological collagen volume fraction, collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin. This indicates that DT-MRI can non-invasively evaluate the changes in extracellular matrix remodeling in the erector spinal muscle of sarcopenia. It provides a potential imaging biomarker for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, more than 5 000 exoplanets have been detected, and exoplanetary science is evolving from a focus on exoplanet detection to a focus on comprehensive exoplanetary characterization. Over the past 20 years, through the atmospheric characterization of about 100 exoplanets, a basic framework has been established for atmospheric detection methods, a series of atmospheric spectral forward modeling and retrieval methods, and atmospheric theory for transiting and directly imaged planets. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has unprecedented detection capabilities in the near to mid-infrared spectra, and high-quality data will drive the development of atmospheric theory and models. The early released scientific results of Cycle-1 have shown the ability of JWST to characterize the atmospheres of transiting and directly imaged exoplanets, as well as the initial constraints on the atmospheres of potentially habitable planets around nearby low-mass star. The pursuit of finely detailed exoplanet atmospheric characterization in the era of JWST has already begun, and in conjunction with future missions with atmospheric survey capabilities, such as ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey) and large-aperture adaptive-optics ground-based telescopes in the next 5 years, will reveal the diversity of exoplanet atmospheres at a much deeper level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) can lead to right heart dysfunction. Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter is an essential parameter of the right-heart function, but the relationship between scoliosis and the IVC diameter has not been established. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the IVC diameter and the severity of AIS. Methods • This retrospective study examined the data from patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2000 and June 2014 with a diagnosis of AIS. A preoperative spine full-length standing X-ray was collected. The IVC diameter was measured during the expiration phase as a routine examination. Results • Among the 339 included patients, 269 had thoracic curves, and 311 had at least a thoracic or thoracolumbar curve. Significant correlations between the diameter of IVC and the coronal Cobb angle of main thoracic curves (r=0.142, P = .015) and thoracolumbar curves (r=0.580, P = .015) were observed. Regarding the possible confounding factors, the IVC diameter was also significantly correlated to body weight (r=0.327, P < .001) and body height (r=0.134, P = .014). In the partial correlation analysis correcting for body weight and height, the IVC inner diameter was correlated to the Cobb angle of the thoracic curve (r=0.172, P = .003) and the larger curve of either the thoracic or thoracolumbar curve (r=0.190, P = .001). Discussion • The result of this study implies that even in patients with mild scoliosis, there might already be underlying right heart function changes. Heart function should be taken into more consideration for AIS paitents. For patients with higher IVC diameters, a more throught cardiology assessment should be performed. Conclusion • The IVC diameter is positively correlated with the Cobb angle of thoracic curves or the larger one of thoracic or thoracolumbar curves in patients with AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses in neurological wards face numerous challenges when caring for patients with dementia, particularly those who also present other acute illnesses. However, studies focusing on this area are limited. This study aimed to explore the difficulties and strategies in caring for patients with dementia among nurses working in a neurological ward. A qualitative descriptive design was adopted. Twelve nurses from a neurology ward participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The data collected through these interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: (i) various shortcomings and concerns, which include subthemes: insufficient support, worry about patient safety, inadequate care ability of the caregiver, and insufficient self-competence, and (ii) unique clinical strategies, which include subthemes: cooperate with the caregiver, improve selfcompetence in dementia care, and employ meticulous resorts. The findings highlighted the nurses' dedication to minimizing patient risks and utilizing available resources as well as stakeholders to provide optimal care. To enhance patient care quality, it is essential to support nurses by addressing care-related barriers, offering continuous education, and establishing care pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid acceleration of global warming has led to an increased burden of high temperature-related diseases (HTDs), highlighting the need for advanced evidence-based management strategies. We have developed a conceptual framework aimed at alleviating the global burden of HTDs, grounded in the One Health concept. This framework refines the impact pathway and establishes systematic data-driven models to inform the adoption of evidence-based decision-making, tailored to distinct contexts. We collected extensive national-level data from authoritative public databases for the years 2010e2019. The burdens of five categories of disease causes e cardiovascular diseases, infectious respiratory diseases, injuries, metabolic diseases, and non-infectious respiratory diseases e were designated as intermediate outcome variables. The cumulative burden of these five categories, referred to as the total HTD burden, was the final outcome variable. We evaluated the predictive performance of eight models and subsequently introduced twelve intervention measures, allowing us to explore optimal decision-making strategies and assess their corresponding contributions. Our model selection results demonstrated the superior performance of the Graph Neural Network (GNN) model across various metrics. Utilizing simulations driven by the GNN model, we identified a set of optimal intervention strategies for reducing disease burden, specifically tailored to the seven major regions: East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Sectoral mitigation and adaptation measures, acting upon our categories of Infrastructure & Community, Ecosystem Resilience, and Health System Capacity, exhibited particularly strong performance for various regions and diseases. Seven out of twelve interventions were included in the optimal intervention package for each region, including raising low-carbon energy use, increasing energy intensity, improving livestock feed, expanding basic health care delivery coverage, enhancing health financing, addressing air pollution, and improving road infrastructure. The outcome of this study is a global decision-making tool, offering a systematic methodology for policymakers to develop targeted intervention strategies to address the increasingly severe challenge of HTDs in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study is to comprehensively assess the recovery effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with poststroke cognitive impairment. Methods: Six English and four Chinese databases were searched for relevant studies published up to January 2022. Randomized controlled trials of patients with poststroke cognitive impairment treated with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation were included. Included studies were assessed for the risk of bias through the Cochrane Intervention Systematic Review Manual 5.1.0. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed. Results: Sixty-one randomized controlled trials (4012 patients) were included. Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score, Mini-Mental State Examination score, event-related potential P300 (P300) amplitude, Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment score, and total effective rate of cognitive function were higher in the high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation group than in the control group at the end of the treatment period, and scores of Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale and P300 latency were lower in the high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation group than in the control group. Fifty studies had selected the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as the stimulation site for high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Conclusions: Compared with nonrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation not only improves the overall cognitive function of poststroke cognitive impairment patients but also has better rehabilitation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sparse eclogite exposure in accretionaryto-collisional orogens cannot only reveal the sites of ancient subduction zones and plate boundaries, but also elucidate the multistage tectonic evolution in the Wilson cycle. The southern part of the Dora-Maira Massif in the Western Alps is well known for its ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks and contains small occurrences of petrographically distinct types of eclogite. Due to the lack of detailed geochronological and geochemical data on these rocks, the nature of their protolith and related geodynamic setting has remained unknown. In the current study, 33 samples from 13 localities were studied by wholerock major- and trace-element analysis, and a selection of the samples were studied using Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes, as well as high-resolution elemental mapping and U-Pb geochronology of zircon. According to macroscopic appearance, petrography, chemical composition, and principal-component analysis of multielements, two major types are distinguished. Light-colored eclogite is phengite-rich, commonly foliated, bears kyanite and quartz/coesite, shows relatively high MgO, K2O, SiO2, εNd(t) (-2.2 to +1.4), and εHf(t) (+3.5 to +7), with a protolith geochemically similar to an enriched-type mid-oceanic-ridge basalt (E-MORB). Dark eclogite generally is massive, rutile-rich, shows higher values of Ti, Fe, P, Nb, and Zr, εNd(t) values between -2.8 and -0.8, εHf(t) values between -6.1 and -3.2, with an oceanic island basalt (OIB)-type protolith composition. Magmatic zircon cores, which are characterized by steep heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns and negative Eu anomalies, yield consistent protolith ages of ca. 253-252 Ma in both eclogite types. Metamorphic zircon domains with flat HREE patterns and insignificant Eu anomalies yield a younger mean age of ca. 34 Ma, which is the age commonly assigned to eclogite-facies UHP metamorphism. Considering the various geochemical signatures of E-MORB-to OIB-like eclogites and the regional tectonic evolution, their protolith is best explained as rocks, which crystallized from rift-related basaltic magma, associated with the break-up of the Pangea Supercontinent that eventually resulted in the birth of the Piemonte-Liguria Ocean (Alpine Tethys Ocean) between the future Eurasia and Adria plates. Therefore, the UHP eclogites in the Dora-Maira Massif likely fingerprint a multi-stage tectonic evolution from divergent (continental extension, rifting) to convergent (subduction zone) plate boundary, corresponding to the beginning and end of a Wilson cycle. Incidentally, they reveal that mafic rocks in the Alpine basement units may not be polymetamorphic, but may actually consist of post-Variscan products that underwent only Alpine metamorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the surge in astronomical data volume, modern astronomical research faces significant challenges in data storage, processing, and access. The I/O bottleneck issue in astronomical data processing is particularly prominent, limiting the efficiency of data processing. To address this issue, this paper proposes a tiered storage algorithm based on the access characteristics of astronomical data. The C4.5 decision tree algorithm is employed as the foundation to implement an astronomical data access correlation algorithm. Additionally, a data copy migration strategy is designed based on tiered storage technology to achieve efficient data access. Preprocessing tests were conducted on 418GB NSRT (Nanshan Radio Telescope) formaldehyde spectral line data, showcasing that tiered storage can potentially reduce data processing time by up to 38.15%. Similarly, utilizing 802.2 GB data from FAST (Five- hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope) observations for pulsar search data processing tests, the tiered storage approach demonstrated a maximum reduction of 29.00% in data processing time. In concurrent testing of data processing workflows, the proposed astronomical data heat correlation algorithm in this paper achieved an average reduction of 17.78% in data processing time compared to centralized storage. Furthermore, in comparison to traditional heat algorithms, it reduced data processing time by 5.15%. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is positively correlated with the associativity between the algorithm and the processed data. The tiered storage algorithm based on the characteristics of astronomical data proposed in this paper is poised to provide algorithmic references for large-scale data processing in the field of astronomy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there have been advances in the fundamental research of acupuncture, yet the growing disconnect between this research and clinical practice has become increasingly evident. This paper revolves around the establishment of the discipline of Acupuncture Systems Engineering and explores the paradigm shift in acupuncture research from being science-driven to becoming technology-driven, with the aim of reshaping the innovative development path of acupuncture. Acupuncture Systems Engineering aims to investigate acupuncture techniques and their applications, while also seeking to establish research models and method that align with these pursuits, thereby providing new technological means and pathways for the study of acupuncture effects and achieving clinical translation. Under the guidance of Acupuncture Systems Engineering, acupuncture is no longer merely a traditional medical approach but has evolved into a multidisciplinary field of innovative traditional Chinese medicine, incorporating engineering, biology, information technology, artificial intelligence, and more. Through technology-driven research and application, Acupuncture Systems Engineering brings a revitalized and promising future to the field of acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulse rate is one of the important characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis, and it is of great significance for determining the nature of cold and heat in diseases. The prediction of pulse rate based on facial video is an exciting research field for getting palpation information by observation diagnosis. However, most studies focus on optimizing the algorithm based on a small sample of participants without systematically investigating multiple influencing factors. A total of 209 participants and 2,435 facial videos, based on our self-constructed Multi-Scene Sign Dataset and the public datasets, were used to perform a multi-level and multi-factor comprehensive comparison. The effects of different datasets, blood volume pulse signal extraction algorithms, region of interests, time windows, color spaces, pulse rate calculation methods, and video recording scenes were analyzed. Furthermore, we proposed a blood volume pulse signal quality optimization strategy based on the inverse Fourier transform and an improvement strategy for pulse rate estimation based on signal-to-noise ratio threshold sliding. We found that the effects of video estimation of pulse rate in the Multi-Scene Sign Dataset and Pulse Rate Detection Dataset were better than in other datasets. Compared with Fast independent component analysis and Single Channel algorithms, chrominance-based method and plane-orthogonal-to-skin algorithms have a more vital anti-interference ability and higher robustness. The performances of the five-organs fusion area and the full-face area were better than that of single sub-regions, and the fewer motion artifacts and better lighting can improve the precision of pulse rate estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the pattern of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in different postures among patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Methods: A observational study was conducted on a total of 74 patients with OAG (148 eyes). IOP measurements were taken in a variety of positions, including supine, left lateral decubitus, right lateral decubitus, head tilted downwards position with immediate head-up (transient head tilted downwards), seated, seated with head tilted downwards, standing, and walking. Each position was held for 5 min before measurement. In all positions, the patient maintains both eyes looking forward and remains alert. In the head tilted downwards position, the angle of head tilt with respect to the sagittal plane was 30°. Results: The overall trend of IOP changes showed a significant decrease with an increase in the position height (r = 0.037, p < 0.001). The IOP was significantly higher in the supine, left lateral decubitus, right lateral decubitus, and head tilted downwards positions than in the seated position (p < 0.001). Compared with the seated position with eyes at primary gaze, IOP decreased significantly when standing (p = 0.008) or walking (p < 0.001). The IOP in the left lateral decubitus and right lateral decubitus was significantly higher than in the supine position (p = 0.008, p = 0.001, respectively). The IOP decreased significantly during walking compared with standing (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The magnitude of IOP strongly correlates with the body position during IOP measurement. The head tilted downwards, supine, left lateral decubitus, and right lateral decubitus positions result in a higher IOP than IOP at the seated position. Patients with OAG can potentially reduce IOP fluctuations by adjusting their daily postures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing runoff declines in the Colorado River Basin have been shown to be predominately driven by decreasing albedo from warming‐driven snow‐cover loss, especially in late‐spring (hereafter snowmelt‐radiation feedback). Here, we explore the feedback's impact on annual runoff sensitivity to warming across the western U.S. (WUS) using hydrologic model simulations. For 1°C uniform warming, we show that runoff is most sensitive to warming in modestly snow‐covered, interior mountain headwaters, especially the Rocky Mountains. Runoff sensitivities are most associated with the snowmelt‐radiation feedback in basins with runoff coefficients between 0.2 and 0.6, where runoff sensitivity increases with more snow and lower winter temperature. In aggregate, ∼48% of WUS runoff sensitivity is attributable to the snowmelt‐radiation feedback and is especially pronounced in the warming‐sensitive river basins (annual runoff decreases >5%/°C). We also show that the feedback's impact decreases with increasing temperature, which has unresolved implications for streamflow declines in a less‐snow future. Plain Language Summary: Regional climate warming is driving strong runoff changes in the western U.S. (WUS), especially the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). Previous work showed that warming‐related snow cover reductions lead to more solar radiation absorption and evapotranspiration, which largely explain ongoing runoff declines in UCRB. Here, we assess the impact of this snowmelt‐radiation feedback on warming‐induced runoff changes across WUS. In a warmer world, we find that the largest annual runoff sensitivities are in the interior mountainous WUS with modest snow cover. The snowmelt‐radiation feedback explains over half of the warming‐induced runoff changes in warming‐sensitive WUS basins and about half of WUS' overall runoff sensitivity. In areas influenced by the snowmelt‐radiation feedback, both runoff sensitivity and the feedback's contribution become smaller with higher temperatures, suggesting a potentially slower rate of streamflow decline as temperatures rise in a warmer future. Key Points: Snowmelt‐radiation feedback accounts for ∼1/2 of warming‐driven runoff decline across the Western U.S. (WUS)Runoff sensitivities are most linked to snowmelt‐radiation feedback in river basins with runoff coefficients in the range 0.2–0.6Runoff sensitivities to warming are largest in modestly snow‐covered, interior mountainous parts of WUS, especially the Rocky Mountains [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the NANOGrav, PPTA, EPTA, and CPTA Collaborations independently reported their evidence of the Stochastic Gravitational Waves Background (SGWB). While the inferred gravitational-wave background amplitude and spectrum are consistent with astrophysical expectations for a signal from the population of supermassive black-hole binaries (SMBHBs), the search for new physics remains plausible in this observational window. In this work, we explore the possibility of explaining such a signal by the scalar-induced gravitational waves (IGWs) in the very early universe. We use a parameterized broken power-law function as a general description of the energy spectrum of the SGWB and fit it to the new results of NANOGrav, PPTA and EPTA. We find that this approach can put constraints on the parameters of IGW energy spectrum and further yield restrictions on various inflation models that may produce primordial black holes (PBHs) in the early universe, which is also expected to be examined by the forthcoming space-based GW experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cascade [4+3] annulation of o‐alkenyl bromoarenes and o‐bromoaniline derivatives was described. Various dibenzo[b,f]azepines with substitutions on the 10/11 position were obtained in 14–97% yields. The synthetic versatility of this protocol is highlighted by the preparation of a precursor of the drug molecule oxcarbazepine, a gram‐scale synthesis, and two product transformations. Unlike previous amination/Heck sequence, this cascade process is supposed to undergo a C(vinyl), C(aryl)‐palladacycle involved pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shenling Baizhu Powder is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been used for thousands of years to invigorate spleen, nourish stomach and regulate immune function. The multi-herbal extracts, an improved formular from Shenling Baizhu Powder, were used in our study to investigate its immune-enhancing effects and underling mechanisms. Based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and SPME-GC-MS analysis, 106 chemical compounds were identified from the extracts. In vitro assays indicated that the extracts could promote cell proliferation and NO secretion of RAW264.7 cells. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR showed that RAW264.7 cells treated with extracts increased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1ß, iNOS, TNF-a, and TGF-ß. Western-Blot revealed that the extracts could significantly enhance ERK phosphorylation level, and slightly increased JNK and p38 phosphorylation levels. These data suggest that multi-herbal extracts have a potential of regulating immune response via the JNK/p38/ERK signalling of MAPK pathways in RAW264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the research focus on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) is mainly on the economic consequences of ESG performance, and research on the influencing factors of ESG overall performance is lacking. The top management team plays a decisive role in the decision of ESG investment. To improve ESG performance and promote sustainable development of enterprises. This research explores the influence of different types of top management team faultlines on the ESG performance by using the panel fixed effects model from 2015 to 2019 for the samples of 347 listed enterprises in China, and tests the moderating effect of management incentives. Results show that the relationship-type top management team faultlines is positively correlated with the ESG performance, whereas the task-type faultlines is negatively correlated with the ESG performance. Management compensation incentive will weaken the positive effect of the relationship-type faultlines on the ESG performance, and the moderating effect of the task-type faultlines on the ESG performance is insignificant. Management equity incentive will strengthen the positive effect of the relationship-type faultlines on the ESG performance and weaken the negative effect of the task-type faultlines. Our findings provide a new perspective for how to improve the ESG performance of listed companies by the optimization of corporate governance structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we provide evidence that human regulation of aqueous outflow is by a pump-conduit system similar to that of the lymphatics. Direct observation documents pulsatile aqueous flow into Schlemm's canal and from the canal into collector channels, intrascleral channels, aqueous veins, and episcleral veins. Pulsatile flow in vessels requires a driving force, a chamber with mobile walls and valves. We demonstrate that the trabecular meshwork acts as a deformable, mobile wall of a chamber: Schlemm's canal. A tight linkage between the driving force of intraocular pressure and meshwork deformation causes tissue responses in milliseconds. The link provides a sensory-motor baroreceptor-like function, providing maintenance of a homeostatic setpoint. The ocular pulse causes meshwork motion oscillations around the setpoint. We document valves entering and exiting the canal using real-time direct observation with a microscope and multiple additional modalities. Our laboratory-based high-resolution SD-OCT platform quantifies valve lumen opening and closing within milliseconds synchronously with meshwork motion; meshwork tissue stiffens, and movement slows in glaucoma tissue. Our novel PhS-OCT system measures nanometer-level motion synchronous with the ocular pulse in human subjects. Movement decreases in glaucoma patients. Our model is robust because it anchors laboratory studies to direct observation of physical reality in humans with glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Under the guidance of the basic theory of AFL, a scientific and targeted measuring tool was initially developed to measure the perceived degree of college students' Assessment for learning in physical education classroom and serve as an important basis for the implementation of AFL in physical education classroom. Methods: according to the scale of the content framework, on the basis of expert interview and the inherent characteristics of AFL in the physical education classroom to form the initial questionnaire, used early 487 college students as object to the initial questionnaire for project analysis, to form the formal questionnaire, we used 391 college students as formal subjects was carried out the formal questionnaire by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, test reliability and validity, to form the Perception Scale of AFL in College Students' PE Class. Results: The perception scale of AFL in College Students' PE Class included 27 items, which were divided into four dimensions of learning diagnosis, goal clarification, process experience and result scaffold, which accounted for 64.253% of the total variation. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the fitting index was good (2/DF -2.819, GFI-0.905, AGFI-0.912, IFI-0.905, CFI-0.926, NFI-0.943, RMSEA-0.056). The overall internal consistency of the questionnaire was 0.895, the coefficients of each dimension were between 0.863 and 0.917, and the retest reliability was between 0.834 and 0.912. The scale as a whole has high calibration positive validity. Conclusion: The Perception Scale of AFL in College Students' PE Class compiled by this research has good differentiation, reliability and validity, and can be used as a measuring tool for Chinese college students' perceived assessment for learning in physical education classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing appropriate care to patients with dementia in acute care settings can be a challenge for healthcare professionals. A key factor is working closely with family caregivers. Purpose: This study aims to explore the difficulties and strategies involved in caring for patients with dementia who have been admitted to an acute care ward from the perspective of family caregivers. Methods: Exploratory research was conducted using a qualitative data collection approach. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews carried out with participants. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine participants. Content analysis was performed to analyze the data. Results: A number of themes and subthemes were identified based on the primary research purposes. The first theme is "vicious cycle due to multiple factors," with the following subthemes: (a) communication disturbance, (b) endless worries, (c) inadequate care skills of paid caregivers, and (d) physical and psychological exhaustion. The second theme is "do everything," with the following subthemes: (a) management of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, (b) constant accompaniment of the patient, and (c) seeking sources of support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear envelope (NE) separates genomic DNA from the cytoplasm and regulates transport between the cytosol and the nucleus in eukaryotes. Nuclear stiffening enables the cell nucleus to protect itself from extensive deformation, loss of NE integrity, and genome instability. It is known that the reorganization of actin, lamin, and chromatin can contribute to nuclear stiffening. In this work, we show that structural alteration of NE also contributes to instantaneous nuclear stiffening under indentation. In situ mechanical characterization of cell nuclei in intact cells shows that nuclear stiffening and unfolding of NE wrinkles occur simultaneously at the indentation site. A positive correlation between the initial state of NE wrinkles, the unfolding of NE wrinkles, and the stiffening ratio (stiffness fold-change) is found. Additionally, NE wrinkles unfold throughout the nucleus outside the indentation site. Finite element simulation, which involves the purely passive process of structural unfolding, shows that unfolding of NE wrinkles alone can lead to an increase in nuclear stiffness and a reduction in stress and strain levels. Together, these results provide a perspective on how cell nucleus adapts to mechanical stimuli through structural alteration of the NE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) delay the deterioration of renal function and reduce cardiovascular events in a glucose-independent manner, thereby ultimately reducing mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or heart failure. These existing clinical data stimulated preclinical studies aiming to understand the observed clinical effects. In animal models, it was shown that the beneficial effect of SGLT2i on the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) improves glomerular pressure and reduces tubular workload by improving renal hemodynamics, which appears to be dependent on salt intake. High salt intake might blunt the SGLT2i effects on the TGF. Beyond the salt-dependent effects of SGLT2i on renal hemodynamics, SGLT2i inhibited several key aspects of macrophage-mediated renal inflammation and fibrosis, including inhibiting the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages, promoting the polarization of macrophages from a proinflammatory M1 phenotype to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, and suppressing the activation of inflammasomes and major proinflammatory factors. As macrophages are also important cells mediating atherosclerosis and myocardial remodeling after injury, the inhibitory effects of SGLT2i on macrophage differentiation and inflammatory responses may also play a role in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques and ameliorating myocardial inflammation and fibrosis. Recent studies suggest that SGLT2i may also act directly on the Na+/H+ exchanger and Late-INa in cardiomyocytes thus reducing Na+ and Ca2+ overload-mediated myocardial damage. In addition, the renal-cardioprotective mechanisms of SGLT2i include systemic effects on the sympathetic nervous system, blood volume, salt excretion, and energy metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One Health approach is crucial to tackling complex global public health threats at the interface of humans, animals, and the environment. As outlined in the One Health Joint Plan of Action, the international One Health community includes stakeholders from different sectors. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an academic community for One Health action has been proposed with the aim of promoting the understanding and real-world implementation of One Health approach and contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals for a healthy planet. Main text: The proposed academic community would contribute to generating high-quality scientific evidence, distilling local experiences as well as fostering an interconnected One Health culture and mindset, among various stakeholders on different levels and in all sectors. The major scope of the community covers One Health governance, zoonotic diseases, food security, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change along with the research agenda to be developed. The academic community will be supported by two committees, including a strategic consultancy committee and a scientific steering committee, composed of influential scientists selected from the One Health information database. A workplan containing activities under six objectives is proposed to provide research support, strengthen local capacity, and enhance global participation. Conclusions: The proposed academic community for One Health action is a crucial step towards enhancing communication, coordination, collaboration, and capacity building for the implementation of One Health. By bringing eminent global experts together, the academic community possesses the potential to generate scientific evidence and provide advice to local governments and international organizations, enabling the pursuit of common goals, collaborative policies, and solutions to misaligned interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine corpus endometrial adenocarcinoma is the prevalent gynaecological malignancy. The related morbidity and mortality are high despite the progress made in treatments. Therefore, efficient prognostic indicators and reliable predictive factors for the treatments are vital. In this study, the transcriptome and clinical data of endometrial adenocarcinoma samples were screened and downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) database. The relation between immune cell types and clinicopathological grade of endometrial adenocarcinoma was explored. The endometrial adenocarcinoma samples were divided into six immune subtypes based on immune microenvironment scores. The differential genes in immune subtypes were classified according to the score, and correlation enrichment analysis was made to explore the immune pathways related to prognosis and survival. They were divided into high and low risk groups according to the median risk score in order to explore the survival outcomes of the various immune scores. Finally, the relationship between tumour mutation burden, immune subtypes, and prognosis was discussed. Herein, the endometrial adenocarcinoma is classified based on immune microenvironment which demonstrates good predictive potential of immune-based classification strategy. The predicted outcomes are described for the patients at high risk of endometrial adenocarcinoma to improve the treatment strategies. Immune risk score can be used as an independent risk factor for overall survival of endometrial adenocarcinoma patients. This immune-based classification system can prognose endometrial adenocarcinoma patients at high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive dataset from 594 fracturing wells throughout the Duvernay Formation near Fox Creek, Alberta, is collected to quantify the influences of geological, geomechanical, and operational features on the distribution and magnitude of hydraulic fracturing-induced seismicity. An integrated machine learning-based investigation is conducted to systematically evaluate multiple factors that contribute to induced seismicity. Feature importance indicates that a distance to fault, a distance to basement, minimum principal stress, cumulative fluid injection, initial formation pressure, and the number of fracturing stages are among significant model predictors. Our seismicity prediction map matches the observed spatial seismicity, and the prediction model successfully guides the fracturing job size of a new well to reduce seismicity risks. This study can apply to mitigating potential seismicity risks in other seismicityfrequent regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are the most abundant neurons in the human brain. Dysregulation of their development underlies movement disorders and medulloblastomas. It is suspected that these disorders arise in progenitor states of the CGN lineage, for which human models are lacking. Here, we have differentiated human hindbrain neuroepithelial stem (hbNES) cells to CGNs in vitro using soluble growth factors, recapitulating key progenitor states in the lineage. We show that hbNES cells are not lineage committed and retain rhombomere 1 regional identity. Upon differentiation, hbNES cells transit through a rhombic lip (RL) progenitor state at day 7, demonstrating human specific sub-ventricular cell identities. This RL state is followed by an ATOH1+CGNprogenitor state at day 14. By the end of a 56-day differentiation procedure, we obtain functional neurons expressing CGN markers GABAARa6 and vGLUT2. We show that sonic hedgehog promotes GABAergic lineage specification and CGN progenitor proliferation. Our work presents a new model with which to study development and diseases of the CGN lineage in a human context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central bank digital currency (CBDC) is generally defined as the digital form of a country's fiat currency. Based on the distributed ledger technology and other financial technology, CBDC could improve the efficiency of domestic and cross-border payments, increase payment safety and soundness, and promote financial inclusion. However, it is argued that the introduction of CBDC would threaten data security and invade personal privacy. Currently, this issue has received growing concern, and some recommendations are proposed by countries or international organizations, like privacy design, restrictions on public authorities and payment intermediaries, and establishing independent supervisory authority. Other suggestions include getting countries involved in international coordination and promoting the formation of unified standards. Among major economies, China is the first to launch CBDC, which is known as e-CNY. Based on an overview of the privacy protection legislation in China, this article attempts to describe the rules that should be followed when dealing with personal data generated in e-CNY circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context • Diabetes, a metabolic disease, can affect multiple organs and systems, including the heart, brain, kidneys, and nerves, and is the seventh leading cause of human death. Professional health education can help modify urbanization-related lifestyle habits, such as diet and physical activity, and is the foundation for self-management of type 2 diabetes. Objective • The current review aimed to (1) examine policies and guidelines related to type 2 diabetes in the UK and China; (2) identify lifestyle impacts of the disease; (3) evaluate the barriers and challenges to patients’ self)management; (4) investigate diabetes-related health education; (5) investigate methods of support for disease promotion; (6) evaluate the efficacy of self-care; (7) explore various treatment options when diabetes is comorbid with other diseases; and (8) describe the contributions of the health, social, and tertiary sectors involved in chronic disease management. Design • The research team performed a narrative review by searching Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Academic Search Complete databases. The search employed the keywords, such as Type 2 Diabetes, lifestyle changes person-centred care, self-care and management. Setting • The research is based on the clinical environment in China and the United Kingdom. Results • Recently published guidelines on diabetes nutrition and physical activity in the United Kingdom and China encouraged patients to self-manage their diabetes. Although patients are more aware of the need for disease self-management, they need more professional knowledge to manage the disease through lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise. Conclusion • Managing diabetes necessitates long-term treatments, guidance, and follow-up, with the support of the patients’ families, caregivers, and the entire community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambiguities in information and difficulties in distinguishing truth from fiction during natural disasters produce negative emotions and create problems in emergency rescue work. In this study, we focused on two aspects. First, we propose a method that improves upon the existing streaming data clustering method based on twin networks, which is a single-pass topic clustering method based on the Siamese-bidirectional gated recurring units (BiGRUs)-attention technique. Second, a bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT)-BiGRU-conditional random field (CRF) sentiment analysis model based on the idea of sequence tagging was designed. Combining this method with the proposed topic clustering method, we propose a new disaster management method that analyzes the public opinion before and after a disaster. We conducted experiments that showed that the single-pass topic clustering model based on Siamese-BiGRU-attention outperformed other clustering methods in terms of clustering performance. Simultaneously, the BERT-BiGRU-CRF model was employed to statistically analyze data on daily public opinion monitoring. The statistics of the clustering results before and after disasters occur and the emotion distribution based on each category were obtained. Overall, the proposed method can help rescue workers and governmental officials understand the sentiments of the public more clearly and provide the necessary response measures more effectively during disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) is an acute and hemorrhagic infectious disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), which is listed as an animal epidemic disease that must be reported by The World Organization for Animal Health and that causes serious economic losses to China and even the whole world. Currently, the entry mechanism of ASFV is not fully understood. Especially in the early stages of virus entry, the host factors required for ASFV entry have not yet been identified and characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that ASFV externalized phosphatidylserine (PS) on the envelope functioned as viral apoptotic mimicry, which interacts with AXL, a tyrosine kinase receptor, to mediate ASFV entry into porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). We found that AXL was the most pronounced phosphatidylserine receptor (PSR) affecting ASFV entry in PAMs by RNA interference screening. Knockout AXL gene expression remarkably decreased ASFV internalization and replication in MA104 cells. Furthermore, the antibody against AXL extracellular domains effectively inhibited the ASFV entry. Consistent with these results, the deletion of the intracellular kinase domain of AXL and the treatment of the AXL inhibitor, R428, significantly inhibited the internalization of ASFV. Mechanistically, AXL facilitated the internalization of ASFV virions via macropinocytosis. Collectively, we provide evidence that AXL is a coreceptor for ASFV entry into PAMs, which expands our knowledge of ASFV entry and provides a theoretical basis for identifying new antiviral targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding cell identity is critically important in the fields of cell and developmental biology. During cell division, a mother cell duplicates the genetic material and cellular components to give rise to two daughter cells. While both cells receive the same genetic information, they can take on similar or different cell fates, resulting from a symmetric or asymmetric division. These fates can be modulated by epigenetic mechanisms that can alter gene expression without changing genetic information. Histone proteins, which wrap DNA into fundamental units of chromatin, are major carriers of epigenetic information and can directly influence gene expression and other cellular functions through their interactions with DNA. While it has been well studied how the genetic information is duplicated and segregated, how epigenetic information, such as histones, are inherited through cell division is still an area of investigation. Since canonical histone proteins are incorporated into chromatin during DNA replication and can be modified over time, it is important to study their inheritance within the context of the cell cycle. Here, we outline the biological basis of histone inheritance as well as the imaging-based experimental design that can be used to study this process. Furthermore, we discuss various studies that have investigated this phenomenon with the focus on asymmetrically dividing cells in different systems. This synopsis provides insight into histone inheritance within the context of the cell cycle, along with the technical methods and considerations that must be taken when studying this process in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50) is an ultrarare childhood-onset neurological disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in the AP4M1 gene. SPG50 is characterized by progressive spastic paraplegia, global developmental delay, and subsequent intellectual disability, secondary microcephaly, and epilepsy. We preformed preclinical studies evaluating an adeno-associated virus (AAV)/AP4M1 gene therapy for SPG50 and describe in vitro studies that demonstrate transduction of patient-derived fibroblasts with AAV2/AP4M1, resulting in phenotypic rescue. To evaluate efficacy in vivo, Ap4m1-KO mice were intrathecally (i.t.) injected with 5 × 1011, 2.5 × 1011, or 1.25 × 1011 vector genome (vg) doses of AAV9/AP4M1 at P7–P10 or P90. Age- and dose-dependent effects were observed, with early intervention and higher doses achieving the best therapeutic benefits. In parallel, three toxicology studies in WT mice, rats, and nonhuman primates (NHPs) demonstrated that AAV9/AP4M1 had an acceptable safety profile up to a target human dose of 1 × 1015 vg. Of note, similar degrees of minimalto-mild dorsal root ganglia (DRG) toxicity were observed in both rats and NHPs, supporting the use of rats to monitor DRG toxicity in future i.t. AAV studies. These preclinical results identify an acceptably safe and efficacious dose of i.t.-administered AAV9/AP4M1, supporting an investigational gene transfer clinical trial to treat SPG50. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term maintenance of good condition for equipment is the basis of carrying out combat missions under the high technology and fast pace of modern war. However, the knowledge in the health management field at present has the characteristics of distribution, multi-source, heterogeneity and uncertainty, which seriously affects the efficiency of knowledge sharing and reuse. In order to improve the utilization of health management knowledge, an ontology-based knowledge representation method is proposed to describe knowledge in a unified and standardized way, and the classical ontology is extended to express the uncertain knowledge in the field of health management. In addition, to improve the maintenance and knowledge updating efficiency, a global ontology model and a hierarchy, time and activity (HTA) ontology model are constructed. This paper takes the guidance subsystem of a missile as an example to illustrate the process of knowledge modeling. The results show this method realizes knowledge sharing in the health management field and can provide decision support for health management of equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambiguities in information and difficulties in distinguishing truth from fiction during natural disasters produce negative emotions and create problems in emergency rescue work. In this study, we focused on two aspects. First, we propose a method that improves upon the existing streaming data clustering method based on twin networks, which is a single-pass topic clustering method based on the Siamese-bidirectional gated recurring units (BiGRUs)-attention technique. Second, a bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT)-BiGRU-conditional random field (CRF) sentiment analysis model based on the idea of sequence tagging was designed. Combining this method with the proposed topic clustering method, we propose a new disaster management method that analyzes the public opinion before and after a disaster. We conducted experiments that showed that the single-pass topic clustering model based on Siamese-BiGRU-attention outperformed other clustering methods in terms of clustering performance. Simultaneously, the BERT-BiGRU-CRF model was employed to statistically analyze data on daily public opinion monitoring. The statistics of the clustering results before and after disasters occur and the emotion distribution based on each category were obtained. Overall, the proposed method can help rescue workers and governmental officials understand the sentiments of the public more clearly and provide the necessary response measures more effectively during disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms of nephroprotection in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) models by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are not well defined. Five groups were established: sham-operated rats, placebo-treated rats with 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx), 5/6Nx + telmisartan (5 mg/kg/day), 5/6Nx + empagliflozin (3 mg/kg/day), and 5/6Nx + empagliflozin (15 mg/kg/day). Treatment duration was 95 days. Empagliflozin showed a dose-dependent beneficial effect on the change from baseline of creatinine clearance (Ccr). The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio likewise improved in a dose-dependent manner. Both dosages of empagliflozin improved morphological kidney damage parameters such as renal interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. 5/6 nephrectomy led to a substantial reduction of urinary adenosine excretion, a surrogate parameter of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. Empagliflozin caused a dose-dependent increase in urinary adenosine excretion. The urinary adenosine excretion was negatively correlated with renal interstitial fibrosis and positively correlated with Ccr. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that empagliflozin had no effect on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells as well as on CD68+ cells (macrophages). To further explore potential mechanisms, a nonhypothesis-driven approach was used. RNA sequencing followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that complement component 1Q subcomponent A chain (C1QA) as well as complement component 1Q subcomponent C chain (C1QC) gene expression were upregulated in the placebo-treated 5/6Nx rats and this upregulation was blunted by treatment with empagliflozin. In conclusion, empagliflozin-mediated nephroprotection in nondiabetic CKD is due to a dose-dependent activation of the TGF as well as empagliflozin-mediated effects on the complement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taeniaticornis-group of genus Apanteles Foerster from China is revised, in which a total of 3 species are recorded and illustrated. One new species, named, A. parectangular Liu & Chen, sp. nov. is described and illustrated, and a key to Chinese species of the taeniaticornis-group, is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demountable and modular light-gauge steel framed (DMLSF) wallboard is presented and used as non-load bearing exterior walls in medium and high-rise steel construction or temporary structure. Firstly, the bending tests were conducted on five wall modules to explore the flexural behavior of the wall. The numerical model was also established and verified by experimental results, and the simplified calculation method of the flexural capacity of the wall was proposed based on 68 numerical models. In addition, the reliability test of the seam between modules was finished to ensure the airtightness of the wall. Furthermore, the demountable behavior of the wall was studied by secondary loading tests and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Results suggested that the wallboard could be used repeatedly after disassembled under the serviceability limit state. Raw materials, especially the insulation material, accounted for a large proportion of the environmental impact of the wallboard. The wallboard's carbon dioxide emission and energy consumption could be significantly reduced when the wallboard was reused. This study can promote the application of the demountable concept in wall components and provide some guidance for the life cycle design of demountable structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymeric surfactant can be used as an efficient agent for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) because of its large bulk viscosity and good interfacial activity. However, there is a sparse understanding of its matching relationship with reservoirs and emulsification occurrence conditions, which may affect its migration and EOR efficiency. One intermolecular association molecule polymeric surfactant (IAM) was synthesized by micellar polymerization and characterized with 1H NMR, FTIR, and TGA. The matching relationship between IAM and reservoirs was evaluated by comparing the viscosity retention rate of effluent in the core flow experiments. Moreover, the effect of the matching relationship on EOR in the heterogeneous reservoir was clarified with parallel core displacement experiments by considering different flow abilities of IAM in the high-permeability layer. The occurrence conditions of in-situ emulsification of IAM were evaluated via oil-water co-injection experiments under the different injection rates and oil-water ratios. Microscopic visualization displacement was carried out to compare the micro EOR mechanisms of different chemical systems. The results show that IAM features thickening, shearing resistance, viscoelasticity, thermal stability, and interfacial activity. The matching relationship between cores and IAM could be divided as hardly injected, flow limited, and flow smoothly, corresponding to the viscosity retention ratio of < 20%, 20%e80%, and > 80%, respectively. IAM could gain better EOR efficiency (17.69%) when its matching relationship to the high permeability layer was "flow limited". The defined mixture capillary number shows that only when it is greater than 1 × 10-3, the in-situ emulsions can be generated. Compared to HPAM, IAM could reduce IFT and form vortices to more effectively displace film and corner remaining oils by stripping and peeling off crude oil. The formed emulsion accumulated at the pore throat could further increase flow resistance, which benefits swept area enlargement. This work could provide theoretical and data support for the parameters design in the polymeric surfactant practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 2019-03-04, the largest induced earthquake (ML4.18) occurred in the East Shale Basin, Alberta, and the underlying physical mechanisms have not been fully understood. This paper proposes a synthetical geoengineering methodology to comprehensively characterize this earthquake caused by hydraulic fracturing. Based on 3D structural, petrophysical, and geomechanical models, an unconventional fracture model is constructed by considering the stress shadow between adjacent hydraulic fractures and the interactions between hydraulic and natural fractures. Coupled poroelastic simulations are conducted to reveal the triggering mechanisms of induced seismicity. It is found that four vertical basement-rooted faults were identified via focal mechanisms analysis. The brittleness index (BI) along two horizontal wells has a high magnitude (BI > 0.5), indicating the potential susceptibility of rock brittleness. Due to the presence of overpressure, pre-existing faults in the Duvernay Formation are highly susceptible to fault reactivation. The occurrence of the earthquake clusters has been attributed to the fracturing fluid injection during the west 38th-39th stage and east 38th stage completions. Rock brittleness, formation overpressure, and large fracturing job size account for the nucleation of earthquake clusters, and unconventional natural-hydraulic fracture networks provide fluid flow pathways to cause fault reactivation. This workflow can be used to mitigate potential seismic risks in unconventional reservoirs in other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the common congenital heart diseases. The MYH6 gene has a critical role in cardiac development but the role of MYH6 promoter variants in patients with ASD has not been explored. Methods: In 613 subjects including 320 ASD patients, we investigated the MYH6 gene promoter variants and verified the effect on gene expression by using cellular functional experiments and bioinformatics analysis. Results: Eleven variants were identified in the MYH6 gene promoter, of which four variants were found only in ASD patients, and two variants (g.3434G>C and g.4524C>T) were identified for the first time. Cellular functional experiments indicated that all four variants reduced the transcriptional activity of the MYH6 gene promoter (p < 0.05). Subsequent analysis through the JASPAR (A database of transcription factor binding profiles) suggests that these variants may alter transcription factor binding sites, which may in turn lead to changes in myocardin subunit expression and ASD formation. Conclusions: Our study for the first time focuses on variants in the promoter region of the MYH6 gene in Chinese patients with ASD and the discovered variants have functional significance. The study provides new insights in the role of the MYH6 gene promoter region to better understand the genetic basis of ASD formation and facilitates clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schlemm's canal (SC) targeted procedures constitute a promising therapy for open angle glaucoma (POAG), safer and less invasive. However, little attention was paid to the intraocular pressure (IOP) variation in patients receiving these procedures, which is the risk factor for POAG progression. This study is to evaluate the IOP variation in eyes with POAG after modified canaloplasty (MC) and microcatheter assisted trabeculotomy (MAT). (2) Methods: POAG with good IOP in office hours after MC or MAT and age-matched normal subjects were recruited in this prospective coherent study. IOP in sitting and supine positions and 24-h IOP was measured. Aqueous vein and blood reflux into the SC were examined. (3) Results: Among 20 normal subjects, 25 eyes with MC eyes and 30 eyes with MAT were recruited in this study. Aqueous veins are frequently located in the inferior nasal quadrants in all groups. No pulsatile signs were observed in an aqueous vein in the MAT group but they were observed in 68% of the MC group. Blood reflux in the SC could be seen in all the operated eyes. The IOP in the sitting position was not significant different among groups (p = 0.419). Compared to normal, the IOP increased dramatically after lying down for 5 min in the MC and MAT groups (PMC vs. normal = 0.003, PMAT vs. normal = 0.004), which is similar for IOP change after lying down for 60 min (PMC vs. normal < 0.001, PMAT vs. normal < 0.001). In terms of diurnal IOP, subjects were stable in the MAT group (p < 0.01), variable in the normal group (p = 0.002), and most fluctuant in MC group (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: MC and MAT reduce the IOP but present aberrant short-term IOP regulation, which should be paid attention to in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report concave-side distraction technique to treat congenital cervical scoliosis in lower cervical and cervicothoracic spine. To evaluate and compare clinical and radiographic results of this procedure with classic hemivertebra resection procedure. Methods: This study reviewed 29 patients in last 13 years. These patients were divided into convex-side resection group (group R) and concave-side distraction group (group D). Radiographic assessment was based on parameter changes preoperatively, postoperatively and at last follow-up. Demographic data, surgical data and complications were also evaluated and compared between the 2 groups. Results: In group R, mean age was 8.9 ± 3.3 years and follow-up was 46 ± 18 months. Operation time and blood loss averaged 500 ± 100 minutes, 703 ± 367 mL. In group D, mean age was 9.9 ± 2.8 years and follow-up was 34 ± 14 months. Operation time and blood loss averaged 501 ± 112 minutes, 374 ± 181 mL. Structural Cobb angle was corrected from 29.4° ± 12.5° to 5.3° (2.1°–18.1°) (p = 0.001) and 33.7° ± 14.1° to 12.8° ± 11.4° (p < 0.001) in groups R and D. Compensatory Cobb angle had a spontaneous correction rate of 59.6% (40.0%–80.8%) and 59.7% ± 23.0% in groups R and D. Mandibular incline, clavicle angle and spine coronal balance were significantly improved at last follow-up in both groups. All correction rates were not statistically different between groups. However, group D had significant less blood loss (p < 0.001) and operation time (p = 0.004) per vertebra than group R. Seven patients developed C5 nerve root palsy and recovered by 6 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Both surgical procedures are safe and effective in correcting congenital cervical scoliosis. But concave-side distraction technique has less blood loss and time-consuming during surgery, which provides a better option for the treatment of congenital cervical scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been suggested as a major risk factor for preterm birth (PTB). This study aimed to explore the independent and joint effects of prenatal exposure to multiple household air pollution (HAP) sources on PTB. This study involved 63,038 mother–child pairs from the Longhua Child Cohort Study in 2017. A series of logistic regression analyses on associations of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), cooking oil fumes (COFs), burning mosquito coils (BMCs), indoor burning incense (IBI) and household renovation (HR) with PTB were conducted to evaluate their independent and joint effects on PTB. Compared to mothers without exposure, prenatal exposure to each individual HAP source increased the PTB risk. Moreover, the PTB risk increased incrementally with the number of prenatal HAP exposure sources. Finally, we found a synergistic interaction effect from COFs and HR on risk of PTB. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to five sources of HAP might increase the risk of PTB, with the risk increasing with the number of exposure sources and synergistic interaction effects between some pollution sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural architecture search (NAS) has attracted increasing attention. In recent years, individual search methods have been replaced by weight-sharing search methods for higher search eiciency, but the latter methods often sufer lower instability. This article provides a literature review on these methods and owes this issue to the optimization gap. From this perspective, we summarize existing approaches into several categories according to their eforts in bridging the gap, and we analyze both advantages and disadvantages of these methodologies. Finally, we share our opinions on the future directions of NAS and AutoML. Due to the expertise of the authors, this article mainly focuses on the application of NAS to computer vision problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our findings demonstrated that exosomal LINC00667 and DANCR in SLE patients could be used as a promising diagnostic biomarker. • Our findings demonstrated that exosomal DANCR was associated with SLE activity. • Exosomal LINC00667 and DANCR were first reported to be correlated with the pathogenic mechanism of SLE. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) dysregulation is key in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the role of exosomal lncRNAs in SLE has not been well studied. We elucidated the profiles of plasma exosomal lncRNAs expression in patients with SLE and predictd their potential clinical significance in SLE. In the screening stage, six newly diagnosed and untreated patients with SLE and six healthy controls were examined by high-throughput sequencing technology, and differential exosomal lncRNA profiles were constructed. In the validation phase, two differentially selected exosomal lncRNAs from 20 patients each with active and stable SLE and 20 healthy controls were verified with RT-qPCR. The correlation between the selected exosomal lncRNAs and SLE clinical indicators was examined. The diagnostic value of the selected exosomal lncRNAs in SLE was analyzed by the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Exosomes were successfully extracted from the patients and controls. Sequencing-phase sequencing demonstrated 528 upregulated lncRNAs and 7491 downregulated lncRNAs. In the validation stage, exosomal LINC00667 and DANCR were significantly upregulated in the patients, and positively correlated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2 K). Exosomal DANCR expression between the active and stable SLE patients was different. The area under the curve(AUC) of exosomal LINC00667 and DANCR for SLE diagnosis was 0.815 and 0.759, respectively. Exosomal LINC00667 and DANCR were upregulated in SLE, and might be new biomarkers thereof. Exosomal DANCR was associated with SLE activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new probe of primordial non-Gaussianities (NGs) through the observation of gravitational waves (GWs) induced by ultra-light (M PBH < 10 9 g) primordial black holes (PBHs). Interestingly enough, the existence of primordial NG can leave imprints on the clustering properties of PBHs and the spectral shape of induced GW signals. Focusing on a scale-dependent local-type NG, we identify a distinct double-peaked GW energy spectrum that, contingent upon M PBH and the abundance of PBHs at the time of formation, denoted as Ω PBH , f , may fall into the frequency bands of upcoming GW observatories, including LISA, ET, SKA, and BBO. Thus, such a signal can serve as a novel portal for probing primordial NGs. Intriguingly, combining BBN bounds on the GW amplitude, we find for the first time the joint limit on the product of the effective non-linearity parameter for the primordial tri-spectrum, denoted by τ ¯ NL , and the primordial curvature perturbation power spectrum P R (k) , which reads as τ ¯ NL P R (k) < 4 × 10 − 20 Ω PBH , f − 17 / 9 ( M PBH 10 4 g) − 17 / 9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ancients' perception of cultural services is linked to specific landscapes. • Various factors influenced the ancients' perception of cultural services. • The ancients tended to experience natural landscapes. • Urban development has an impact on cultural services. • Areas with better preservation of cultural heritage have a historical atmosphere. Urban forests significantly contribute to the subjective well-being of urban residents. As the scenic areas around cities, urban forests allow visitors to experience and perceive various intangible cultural ecosystem services by transmitting environmental information. Historically, long before the advent of modern society, humans have explored the forest surrounding urban areas for the well-being provided by their ecological environments. This study focuses on the Kushan Scenic Area depicted in ancient poems as a case to explore (1) the cultural services provided by ancient Kushan Mountain's ecosystems, (2) the primary landscape categories depicted in historical poems, (3) the relationship between cultural services and landscape features, and the factors influencing this relationship. This research identifies five types of cultural services provided by the past urban forest: recreation and ecotourism (3 3 6), inspiration (2 3 0), spirit and religion (2 0 2), social relations (1 7 4), and cultural memory (1 2 1). Geological landscapes (25.3%), meteorological landscapes (21.1%), and hydrological landscapes (15.3%) emerge as key categories that stimulate ancients' perceptual cultural services. The research reveals a distinct association between the perception of cultural services in ancient times and specific landscapes, with the strength of this association being influenced by factors such as season, time of day, and scenic context. Consequently, for the effective planning, marketing, and promotion of scenic areas and preserving their historical ambiance, a comprehensive understanding of the changing environment information of urban forests as scenic areas is essential, necessitating sustainable strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]