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Background: As depressed patients often fail to seek help and obtain treatment on time for reasons such as stigma and lack of treatment resources, research on self-management for depressed patients is crucial. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing self-management in depression patients from the perspectives of both patients and psychiatric nurses. Methods: Six depression patients and twelve psychiatric nurses were chosen for semi-structured interviews through a purposive sampling method from a tertiary Grade A psychiatric hospital in Shandong Province, China. The group of depressed patients included in the study had a male to female sex ratio of 1:1 with a mean age of 46years. The psychiatric nurse group had a male to female ratio of 1:2 with a mean age of 42.42 years. We used descriptive qualitative research techniques. Nvivo 12.0 software was used for the data management and analysis using thematic analysis. Results: The factors influencing the self-management of depression patients were summarized into three themes and eight sub-themes: disease impact (symptoms, stigma), the degree of symptom control (medication adherence, depression's cognitive status, its treatment and rehabilitation as well as additional factors), and support (self-efficacy, external support). Conclusions: This study found that multiple factors influence the self-management of depression patients, including disease impact, the degree of symptom control, and support. In addition to helping patients integrate social resources and seek social support, medical staff should also pay attention to changes in the patient's condition and disease control. Moreover, they should help patients increase their self-efficacy and enhance their self-management abilities through health education and other means. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of plastic pollution is becoming increasingly serious, and there is an urgent need to reduce the use of plastics and to improve the recovery rate of plastic wastes. Plastic wastes can be transformed into value-added chemicals at the anode through electrocatalytic conversion, while coupling with cathodic reduction reactions to achieve cogeneration of valuable anodic and cathodic products. The plastic electroreforming technology has unprecedented advantages, including a green and decentralizable process, renewable energy storage, ecological benefits, resource recovery, costeffectiveness, and so on. Herein, we present a mini review about recent advances in this topic. We first discuss the electrooxidation mechanisms of different plastic wastes (such as polylactic acid, polyethylene glycol terephthalate, polyethylene, polyethylene furanoate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamides). Then, the progress of plastic waste-assisted electrolysis systems is summarized, including plastic waste-assisted water splitting for hydrogen production and oxygen reduction, as well as plastic electroreforming coupled with CO2 reduction, and the nitrate reduction reaction. Finally, the development prospects and challenges in this field are introduced and discussed. This review aims to provide a concise overview of the emerging plastic electroreforming, thus offering insight on the design of efficient and stable plastic-assisted electrolysis systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysosomes, essential for intracellular degradation and recycling, employ damage-control strategies such as lysophagy and membrane repair mechanisms to maintain functionality and cellular homeostasis. Our study unveils migratory autolysosome disposal (MAD), a response to lysosomal damage where cells expel LAMP1-LC3 positive structures via autolysosome exocytosis, requiring autophagy machinery, SNARE proteins, and cell migration. This mechanism, crucial for mitigating lysosomal damage, underscores the role of cell migration in lysosome damage control and facilitates the release of small extracellular vesicles, highlighting the intricate relationship between cell migration, organelle quality control, and extracellular vesicle release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel organic fluorescent material, namely 2,6-di([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-4-(perfluorophenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-1,1,7,7-tetracarbonitrile (DBPDT), has been synthesized and characterized in this study. Due to the special molecular packing mode in the solid state, J-aggregation, DBPDT displayed red-shifted emission compared with that in dilute solution. In this study, it was found that DBPDT showed aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) and solvatochromic properties. Assisted by quantum chemistry calculations, optical response properties to external electric field (EEF) were investigated, where it was found that external electric field (EEF) would affect the structures and optical properties of DBPDT distinctly. The optical response characteristics of DBPDT can provide an alternative structure for constructing advanced photoelectric functional materials. A novel organic fluorescent material, namely 2,6-di([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-4-(perfluorophenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-1,1,7,7-tetracarbonitrile (DBPDT), has been synthesized and characterized in this study. Assisted by quantum chemistry calculations, optical response properties to external electric field (EEF) were investigated, where it was found that external electric field (EEF) would affect the structures and optical properties of DBPDT distinctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinoflagellate chromosomes are extraordinary, as their organization is independent of architectural nucleosomes unlike typical eukaryotes and shows a cholesteric liquid crystal state. 5-hydroxymethyluridine (5hmU) is present at unusually high levels and its function remains an enigma in dinoflagellates chromosomal DNA for several decades. Here, we demonstrate that 5hmU contents vary among different dinoflagellates and are generated through thymidine hydroxylation. Importantly, we identified the enzyme, which is a putative dinoflagellate TET/JBP homolog, catalyzing 5hmU production using both in vivo and in vitro biochemical assays. Based on the near-chromosomal level genome assembly of dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae, we depicted a comprehensive 5hmU landscape and found that 5hmU loci are significantly enriched in repeat elements. Moreover, inhibition of 5hmU via dioxygenase inhibitor leads to transcriptional activation of 5hmU-marked transposable elements, implying that 5hmU appears to serve as an epigenetic mark for silencing transposon. Together, our results revealed the biogenesis, genome-wide landscape, and molecular function of dinoflagellate 5hmU, providing mechanistic insight into the function of this enigmatic DNA mark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute retinal ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion injury are the primary causes of retinal neural cell death and vision loss in retinal artery occlusion (RAO). The absence of an accurate mouse model for simulating the retinal ischemic process has hindered progress in developing neuroprotective agents for RAO. We developed a unilateral pterygopalatine ophthalmic artery occlusion (UPOAO) mouse model using silicone wire embolization combined with carotid artery ligation. The survival of retinal ganglion cells and visual function were evaluated to determine the duration of ischemia. Immunofluorescence staining, optical coherence tomography, and haematoxylin and eosin staining were utilized to assess changes in major neural cell classes and retinal structure degeneration at two reperfusion durations. Transcriptomics was employed to investigate alterations in the pathological process of UPOAO following ischemia and reperfusion, highlighting transcriptomic differences between UPOAO and other retinal ischemia-reperfusion models. The UPOAO model successfully replicated the acute interruption of retinal blood supply observed in RAO. 60 min of Ischemia led to significant loss of major retinal neural cells and visual function impairment. Notable thinning of the inner retinal layer, especially the ganglion cell layer, was evident post-UPOAO. Temporal transcriptome analysis revealed various pathophysiological processes related to immune cell migration, oxidative stress, and immune inflammation during the non-reperfusion and reperfusion periods. A pronounced increase in microglia within the retina and peripheral leukocytes accessing the retina was observed during reperfusion periods. Comparison of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the UPOAO and high intraocular pressure models revealed specific enrichments in lipid and steroid metabolism-related genes in the UPOAO model. The UPOAO model emerges as a novel tool for screening pathogenic genes and promoting further therapeutic research in RAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumatic spring dampers are extensively utilized within hydraulic systems, and the flow characteristics of the internal oil play a crucial role in determining noise and vibration levels. To validate the mechanical structure's reliability, the shock absorber was simplified and the fluid domain was extracted using a CFD method. The velocity field and pressure field under different conditions were then simulated and analyzed. A finite element model of the flow field was established, and its accuracy was verified by comparing simulation results of gas side pressure with experimental results. According to the working principle of the oil-gas spring, dynamic active surfaces in contact with the main piston and dynamic driven surfaces in contact with the floating piston were defined, determining moving conditions for dynamic grids. The results indicate that as the diameter of flow channels increases, there is a decrease in average pressure drop within the oil chamber (i.e., pressure loss within the flow field). Additionally, as bend angle increases, average pressure drop decreases. However, optimization effects become less significant beyond a certain bend angle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the stability and reliability of the vibrating screen, modal and harmonic response characteristics were simulated and analyzed using the finite element method. The final assembly model was established in Creo, serving as an intermediate format for material definition and mesh accuracy verification. The analysis of natural frequency and mode revealed that the overall structural stiffness was basically satisfactory. However, harmonic response analysis indicated issues related to excessive stress and stress concentration within the structure. Subsequent optimization of the frame structure confirmed nearly unchanged low-order natural frequencies, while maximum stress was reduced by 22.15 %, holding significant implications for process cost control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the prevention of anti-D alloimmunisation in D-negative recipients receiving solid organ transplants from D-positive donors. It highlights the importance of estimating residual D-positive RBCs in recipients post-transplant and administering prophylactic anti-D (PAD) to prevent sensitisation. The study recommends routine administration of 1500 IU PAD for D-negative adult patients following a D-positive SOT to mitigate sensitisation risks. The findings underscore the critical role of PAD administration in safeguarding patients' long-term health outcomes and minimizing complications associated with alloimmunisation events. [Extracted from the article]

This study aimed to explore the effects of early rehabilitation nursing combined with enteral nutrition on acute myocardial infarction patients' recovery and nutritional status after percutaneous coronary intervention. A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 92 patients who underwent therapy in our hospital following percutaneous coronary intervention from February 2021 to February 2023. These patients were split into a control group and a study group. The control group received standard rehabilitation nursing and routine parenteral nutrition, while the study group was administered early rehabilitation nursing and enteral nutritional support. Post-intervention outcomes showed that the study group had higher left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output, 6-minute walking test results, Chinese Cardiovascular Patients' Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire scores, and total protein and albumin levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the study group exhibited a lower incidence of complications and higher nursing satisfaction than the control group (P < 0.05). This indicates that early rehabilitation nursing combined with enteral nutrition is beneficial for enhancing postoperative recovery, improving nutritional status, and elevating the quality of life in patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate death anxiety (DA) in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer and identify associated factors in the context of Chinese culture. Methods: Caregivers (N = 588) of advanced cancer patients in a tertiary cancer hospital completed anonymous questionnaire surveys. Measures included the Chinese version of the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (C-T-DAS), the Quality-of-Life Scale, the State–Trait Anxiety Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA) using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation test, and linear regression. Results: Respondents returned 588 (93.03%) of the 632 questionnaires. The total C-T-DAS score was 7.92 ± 2.68 points. The top-scoring dimension was “Stress and pain” (3.19 ± 1.29 points), followed by “Emotion” (2.28 ± 1.31 points) and “Cognition” (1.40 ± 0.94 points). In contrast, the lowest-scoring dimension was “Time” (1.06 ± 0.77 points). Factors associated with DA (R2 = 0.274, F = 13.348, p < 0.001) included quality of life (QoL), trait anxious personality, social support, caregiver length of care, caregiver gender, and patients’ level of activities of daily living (ADL). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated high levels of DA in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Generally, female caregivers and those with low social support had high DA. Caregivers caring for patients with low ADL levels or with a low QoL and trait anxious personality reported high DA. Certain associated factors help to reduce caregivers DA. Social interventions are recommended to improve the end-of-life transition and trait anxious personality as well as quality of life for caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the mediating role of trait anxious personality in the association between quality of life (QoL) and death anxiety (DA), as well as to test the moderating effect of social support in the mediation model. Methods: The Death Anxiety Scale, Quality of Life Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and Social Support Rating Scale were used to measure 588 family caregivers of advanced cancer patients. We then constructed a moderated mediation model. Results: The presence of QoL was negatively associated with DA (β = − 0.67, p < 0.01). Trait anxious personality partially mediated the relationship between QoL and DA (indirect effect β = − 0.08, p < 0.01). Social support moderated both the antecedent and subsequent segments of the mediating paths of “QoL → trait anxious personality → DA” and the direct relationship between QoL and DA. Among caregivers with a low level of social support, the mediating effect coefficient of trait anxious personality was higher at 0.25 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.059–0.182), in contrast to caregivers with a high level of social support, where the mediating effect coefficient of trait anxious personality was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.029–0.072). Conclusion: QoL is directly associated with an increased risk of DA and indirectly related to DA by increasing the risk of trait anxious personality among caregivers. Social support can moderate the mediating effect of trait anxious personality and the relationship between QoL and DA. The intervention strategy for preventing DA among caregivers who have encountered QoL reduction should focus on reducing trait anxious personality and social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to explore the correlation between the angiotensin II (Ang II) gene and serum adiponectin expression in patients with cerebrovascular complications of H-type hypertension (HH) and its mechanism. Methods: A total of 50 cases of outpatient patients in Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital were recruited from January 2022 to June 2023 and rolled into three groups according to their blood pressure and basic information, namely the HH cerebrovascular complications group, the non-H-type hypertension (NHH) group, and the healthy control (HC) group. Peripheral blood samples were taken; one sample was utilized to test for the Ang II gene and the methylation of Ang II, and the other sample was utilized to measure serum adiponectin levels to analyze the relationship between serum adiponectin level and Ang II in patients with cerebrovascular complications of HH. Results: The ratio of male to female was 8:7 in the group of cerebrovascular complications of HH, and mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 167.34 mm Hg and 112.56 mm Hg, respectively. In the NHH group, the mean SBP was 165.89 mm Hg, and the mean DBP was 113.47 mm Hg. The blood pressure of the HC group was in the normal range. The Ang II content was the highest in the group with cerebrovascular complications of HH, followed by the group with NHH, and the lowest in the HC group. Conclusions: Pyrosequencing chart of patients with cerebrovascular complications of HH showed that the content of deoxyphosphate ribose G was the highest, while the content of A was the highest in NHH patients. Moreover, the serum adiponectin level of patients with HH and NHH was superior to that of the HC group, and the adiponectin level between the former two groups and the HC group differed considerably. Ang II levels were high in patients with cerebrovascular complications of HH and were positively correlated with adiponectin levels. The incidence of cerebrovascular complications of HH may be related to Ang II levels in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative radiologic findings in predicting the tumor characteristics and clinical outcomes of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) was evaluated across all risk groups. Methods: In total, 939 PTMC patients, comprising both low-risk and non-low-risk groups, who underwent surgery were enrolled. The preoperative tumor size and lymph node metastasis (LNM) were evaluated by ultrasonography within 6 months before surgery and compared with the postoperative pathologic findings. Discrepancies between the preoperative and postoperative tumor sizes were analyzed, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Results: The agreement rate between radiological and pathological tumor size was approximately 60%. Significant discrepancies were noted, including an increase in tumor size in 24.3% of cases. Notably, in 10.8% of patients, the postoperative tumor size exceeded 1 cm, despite being initially classified as 0.5 to 1.0 cm based on preoperative imaging. A postoperative tumor size >1 cm was associated with aggressive pathologic factors such as multiplicity, microscopic extrathyroidal extension, and LNM, as well as a higher risk of distant metastasis. In 30.1% of patients, LNM was diagnosed after surgery despite not being suspected before the procedure. This group was characterized by smaller metastatic foci and lower risks of distant metastasis or recurrence than patients with LNM detected both before and after surgery. Conclusion: Among all risk groups of PTMCs, a subset showed an increase in tumor size, reaching 1 cm after surgery. These cases require special consideration due to their association with adverse clinical outcomes, including an elevated risk of distant metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive decline is a prevalent health problem in older adults, and effective treatments remain to be produced. Serum vitamin D, a commonly used biochemical marker, is widely recognized as an indicator of various diseases. Existing research has not fully elucidated the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive function. The aim of this study is to investigate the real relationship between vitamin D and cognitive function and to identify indicators that have a strong predictive effect on cognitive decline. Methods: At first, we used the dataset of the genome-wide association studies studying vitamin D and cognitive performance to conduct Mendelian randomization analysis. Subsequently, we employed linear regression and smooth curve fitting methods to assess the relationship using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Finally, we investigated other predictive features of cognitive performance utilizing a machine learning model. Results: We found that a 1-unit increase in vitamin D is associated with a 6.51% reduction (P < .001) in the risk of cognitive decline. The correlation between vitamin D and cognitive performance is nonlinear, with the inflection point at 79.9 nmol/L (left: β = 0.043, P < .001; right: β = -0.007, P = .420). In machine learning, the top 5 predictors are vitamin D, weight, height, age, and body mass index. Conclusion: There is a causal relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance. 79.9 nmol/L could be the optimal dose for vitamin D supplementation in the elderly. Further consideration of other factors in vitamin D interventions is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a kind of commutative and associative four-dimensional algebra, commutative quaternion has better applications in color image and signal processing than quaternion. Matrix decomposition is of great concern in the theoretical study and numerical calculation of commutative quaternion. Two kinds of disadvantages of commutative quaternion make the decomposition of commutative quaternion matrix extremely difficult. On one hand, commutative quaternion is not a kind of complete four dimensional division algebra because of the zero divisors. On the other hand, computing the inverse of commutative quaternion is very complicated. In this paper, the semi-tensor product (STP) of matrices will be used to overcome the above two kinds of shortcomings. And we will propose a real structure-preserving algorithm based on STP of matrices for commutative quaternion LU decomposition, which makes full use of high-level operations, relation of operations between commutative quaternion matrices and their L-representation matrices. Numerical experiments will be provided to demonstrate the efficiency of the real structure-preserving algorithm based on STP of matrices. Meanwhile, we will apply the structure-preserving algorithm for strict image authentication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflux hypersensitivity (RH) is a subtype of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Rome IV criteria separated RH from the original nonerosive reflux disease subgroup and classified it as a new functional oesophageal disease. Recently, the pathogenesis of RH has become the focus of research. According to the latest research reports, upregulation of acid-sensitive receptors, distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive nerve fibres, and psychiatric comorbidity have key roles in the pathogenesis of RH. This work reviews the latest findings regarding RH mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Providers should adjust the depth of sedation to promote lung-protective ventilation in patients with severe ARDS. This recommendation was based on the assumption that the depth of sedation could be used to assess respiratory drive. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between respiratory drive and sedation in patients with severe ARDS by using ventilator-measured P0.1 and RASS score. METHODS: Loss of spontaneous breathing was observed within 48 h of mechanical ventilation in patients with severe ARDS, and spontaneous breathing returned after 48 hours. P0.1 was measured by ventilator every 12 ± 2 hours, and the RASS score was measured synchronously. RESULTS: The RASS score was moderately correlated with P0.1 (R 푆푝푒푎푟푚푎푛 , 0.570; 95% CI, 0.475 to 0.637; p = 0.00). However, only patients with a RASS score of - 5 were considered to have no excessive respiratory drive, but there was a risk for loss of spontaneous breathing. A P0.1 exceeding 3.5 cm H2O in patients with other RASS scores indicated an increase in respiratory drive. CONCLUSION: RASS score has little clinical significance in evaluating respiratory drive in severe ARDS. P0.1 should be evaluated by ventilator when adjusting the depth of sedation to promote lung-protective ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological barriers of the body, such as the blood-brain, placental, intestinal, skin, and air-blood, protect against invading viruses and bacteria while providing necessary physical support. However, these barriers also hinder the delivery of drugs to target tissues, reducing their therapeutic efficacy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanostructures with a diameter ranging from 30 nm to 10 µm secreted by cells, offer a potential solution to this challenge. These natural vesicles can effectively pass through various biological barriers, facilitating intercellular communication. As a result, artificially engineered EVs that mimic or are superior to the natural ones have emerged as a promising drug delivery vehicle, capable of delivering drugs to almost any body part to treat various diseases. This review first provides an overview of the formation and cross-species uptake of natural EVs from different organisms, including animals, plants, and bacteria. Later, it explores the current clinical applications, perspectives, and challenges associated with using engineered EVs as a drug delivery platform. Finally, it aims to inspire further research to help bioengineered EVs effectively cross biological barriers to treat diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like biological species, words in language must compete to survive. Previously, it has been shown that language changes in response to cognitive constraints and over time becomes more learnable. Here, we use two complementary research paradigms to demonstrate how the survival of existing word forms can be predicted by psycholinguistic properties that impact language production. In the first study, we analyzed the survival of words in the context of interpersonal communication. We analyzed data from a large-scale serial-reproduction experiment in which stories were passed down along a transmission chain over multiple participants. The results show that words that are acquired earlier in life, more concrete, more arousing, and more emotional are more likely to survive retellings. We reason that the same trend might scale up to language evolution over multiple generations of natural language users. If that is the case, the same set of psycholinguistic properties should also account for the change of word frequency in natural language corpora over historical time. That is what we found in two large historical-language corpora (Study 2): Early acquisition, concreteness, and high arousal all predict increasing word frequency over the past 200 y. However, the two studies diverge with respect to the impact of word valence and word length, which we take up in the discussion. By bridging micro-level behavioral preferences and macro-level language patterns, our investigation sheds light on the cognitive mechanisms underlying word competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (MOC), an herbal drug, contains polyphenolic lignans mainly magnolol (MN) and honokiol (HK). Methotrexate (MTX), a critical drug for cancers and autoimmune deseases, is a substrate of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). This study investigated the effect of coadministration of MOC on the pharmacokinetics of MTX and relevant mechanisms. SpragueeDawley rats were orally administered MTX alone and with single dose (2.0 and 4.0 g/kg) and repeated seven doses of MOC (2.0 g/kg thrice daily for 2 days, the 7th dose given at 0.5 h before MTX). The serum concentrations of MTX were determined by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The results showed that a single dose of MOC at 2.0 g/kg significantly increased the AUC0-t and MRT of MTX by 352% and 308%, and a single dose at 4.0 g/kg significantly enhanced the AUC0-t and MRT by 362% and 291%, respectively. Likewise, repeated seven doses of MOC at 2.0 g/kg significantly increased the AUC0-t and MRT of MTX by 461% and 334%, respectively. Mechanism studies indicated that the function of MRP2 was significantly inhibited by MN, HK and the serum metabolites of MOC (MOCM), whereas BCRP was not inhibited by MOCM. In conclusion, coadministration of MOC markedly enhanced the systemic exposure and mean residence time of MTX through inhibiting the MRP2-mediated excretion of MTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) may impose substantial psychological and social burdens on caregivers and family members that are unique from other forms of dementia due to its distinctive clinical characteristics. This systematic review investigated these impacts on caregivers and family members. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases for relevant articles published from database inception to 23 March 2023. The methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using a checklist. Thirty-six articles (six qualitative and thirty quantitative), including 5129 participants, were included in this review. Like other forms of dementia, FTD caregivers had significant caregiver burden levels and psychological impacts. Caregiver burden was associated with behavioural symptoms (e.g., apathy and disinhibition) and motor symptoms. The costs of caring for a patient with FTD were found to be higher than those for Alzheimer's disease. FTD patients often face challenges in obtaining a correct diagnosis and experience significant delays and multiple misdiagnoses. Healthcare professionals may also be less familiar with FTD than with Alzheimer's, leading to delayed diagnosis. This can cause considerable stress and deprive patients and caregivers of early intervention. FTD is associated with significant costs and caregiver burden levels, and the difficulties faced by caregivers and family members can be unique and challenging in different aspects when compared to other forms of dementia. Better education about FTD for family members and healthcare professionals is required to improve the quality of life for both patients and caregivers, and more support needs to be provided at all stages of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entity alignment is the task of identifying entities from different knowledge graphs (KGs) that point to the same item and is important for KG fusion. In the real world, due to the heterogeneity between different KGs, equivalent entities often have different relations around them, so it is difficult for Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) to accurately learn the relation information in the KGs. Moreover, to solve the problem regarding inadequate utilisation of relation information in entity alignment, a novel GCN-based model, joint Unsupervised Relation Alignment for Entity Alignment (URAEA), is proposed. The model first employs a novel method for calculating relation embeddings by using entity embeddings, then constructs unsupervised seed relation alignments through these relation embeddings, and finally performs entity alignment together with relation alignment. In addition, the seed entity alignments are expanded based on the generated seed relation alignments. Experiments conducted on three real-world datasets show that this approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability analysis of vertically integrated protection devices is crucial for designing International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850-based substations. This paper presents the hardware architecture of a four-inone vertically integrated device and the information transmission path of each function based on the functional information transmission chain of protection devices, measurement and control devices, merging units, and intelligent terminals. Additionally, a reliability analysis model of the protection device and its protection system is constructed using the fault tree analysis method while considering the characteristics of each module of the vertically integrated device. The stability probability of the protection system in each state is analyzed by combining the state-transfer equations of line and busbar protection with a Markov chain. Finally, the failure rate and availability of the protection device and its protection system are calculated under different ambient temperatures using a 110 kV intelligent substation as an example. The sensitivity of each device module is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progress of research and forecast techniques for tropical cyclone (TC) unusual tracks (UTs) in recent years is reviewed. A major research focus has been understanding which processes contribute to the evolution of the TC and steering flow over time, especially the reasons for the sharp changes in TC motion over a short period of time. When TCs are located in the vicinity of monsoon gyres, TC track forecast become more difficult to forecast due to the complex interaction between the TCs and the gyres. Moreover, the convection and latent heat can also feed back into the synoptic-scale features and in turn modify the steering flow. In this report, two cases with UTs are examined, along with an assessment of numerical model forecasts. Advances in numerical modelling and in particular the development of ensemble forecasting systems have proved beneficial in the prediction of such TCs. There are still great challenges in operational track forecasts and warnings, such as the initial TC track forecast, which is based on a poor pre-genesis analysis, TC track forecasts during interaction between two or more TCs and track predictions after landfall. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) methods such as machine learning or deep learning have been widely applied in the field of TC forecasting. For TC track forecasting, a more effective method of center location is obtained by combining data from various sources and fully exploring the potential of AI, which provides more possibilities for improving TC prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • This study investigated the attitudes of the community surrounding palliative care practitioners towards palliative care and the factors influencing these attitudes. It provides valuable insights for the advancement of palliative care. Methods • We conducted a survey using anonymous online questionnaires distributed through various social media platforms. Members of the surrounding community were invited to participate voluntarily. We analyzed their attitudes towards palliative care and the relevant influencing factors. Results • Most participants expressed strong support for palliative care. Significant factors affecting their attitudes included awareness of palliative care, decision-making rights regarding treatment, and age (P < .05). Conclusions • The attitudes of the surrounding community towards palliative care practitioners were predominantly positive. To further enhance the development of palliative care, focusing on public awareness and education efforts is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of gene expression of subsurface bacteria and archaea provide insights into their physiological adaptations to in situ subsurface conditions. We examined patterns of expressed genes in hydrothermally heated subseafloor sediments with distinct geochemical and thermal regimes in Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico. RNA recovery and cell counts declined with sediment depth, however, we obtained metatranscriptomes from eight sites at depths spanning between 0.8 and 101.9 m below seafloor. We describe the metabolic potential of sediment microorganisms, and discuss expressed genes involved in tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA modifications that enable physiological flexibility of bacteria and archaea in the hydrothermal subsurface. Microbial taxa in hydrothermally influenced settings like Guaymas Basin may particularly depend on these catalytic RNA functions since they modulate the activity of cells under elevated temperatures and steep geochemical gradients. Expressed genes for DNA repair, protein maintenance and circadian rhythm were also identified. The concerted interaction of many of these genes may be crucial for microorganisms to survive and to thrive in the Guaymas Basin subsurface biosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antiviral Oral Liquid (AOL) is an adult medicine in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia used to treat upper respiratory infections such as influenza. It has shown promising clinical efficacy in relieving flu-like symptoms such as fever, inflammation, and pharyngalgia both in adults and children. However, the instruction manual does not specify the exact usage and dosage of AOL for children. In this article, we set 6 dosage ranges: 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.1, 1.4 mL/kg/d, according to its dosage for adults and the conversion method between adult and children dosage. And six animal models were used to evaluate the effectiveness of AOL in different doses. The results indicated that AOL could reduce the lung index, virus load, and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the lung. AOL could improve pathological changes and prolong the survival time of mice infected by the Influenza A virus (H1N1) A/PR/8/34 strains at 0.5–0.9 mL/kg/d concentrations in different degrees. The four dose groups of 0.7–1.4 mL/kg/d could significantly inhibit the ear shell swelling caused by xylene and reduce the rabbit body temperature induced by lipopolysaccharide (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). All the five dosage groups of 0.2–1.1 mL/kg/d could inhibit the increase of peritoneal capillary permeability induced by glacial acetic acid (P < 0.01). AOL at 0.7 and 0.9 mL/kg/d reduced the painful writhing times in young mice induced by glacial acetic (P < 0.01). These results indicated that the optimal dose of AOL in antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects is 0.7 mL/kg/d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • This study aimed to investigate the application and effectiveness of Morodan combined with rabeprazole in patients with chronic gastritis, focusing on its impact on gastric mucosa repair. Methods • A cohort of 109 patients diagnosed with chronic gastritis, who received treatment at our hospital between January 2020 and January 2021, were included in this study. Among them, 56 patients were assigned to the control group and received treatment with rabeprazole alone, while 53 were assigned to the research group and received a combination therapy of Morodan and rabeprazole. A comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups, assessing clinical efficacy, gastric mucosa repair effects, serum-related factors, and the incidence of adverse reactions. Results • The research group exhibited a higher total effective rate of treatment (94.64%) compared to the control group (79.25%) (P < .05). Following treatment, the research group showed lower levels of pepsinogen II, serum transforming growth factor α, serum epidermal growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, and C-reactive protein compared to the control group (P < .05). Additionally, the research group displayed higher levels of pepsinogen I compared to the control group (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the research group and the control group (P > .05). Conclusions • The combination therapy of Morodan and rabeprazole demonstrates efficacy in the treatment of chronic gastritis. It promotes gastric mucosa repair, reduces inflammatory damage, and exhibits a higher safety profile with no significant increase in adverse reactions. This treatment approach holds a higher clinical application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We developed a MHAS (Mexican Health and Aging Study) and O*NET (Occupational Information Network) linkage to allow global researchers using MHAS data to assign lifetime occupation domains for older Mexicans. Materials and methods. Three bilingual raters independently matched 440 records with 132 unique occupation codes from the 2012 MHAS. We used a modified Delphi technique to reach agreements. To assess reliability, we compared the distribution of observations between the MHAS file and the MHAS-O*NET linked file across five job categories (upper white collar, lower white collar, upper blue collar, low blue collar, and agriculture/fishing/forestry). The Institutional Review Board at the University of Texas Medical Branch reviewed and approved the research (IRB # 21-0268). Results. Using the developed 1:1 MHAS-O*NET linkage, consistency between MHAS and O*NET was 97.4% across the five job categories. Conclusion. This MHAS-O*NET linkage will allow researchers to analyze the association between lifetime occupation and multiple dimensions of health, functionality, and retirement determinants for a low-middle income country with a large proportion of workers in the informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic acid is rich in highly electronegative oxygen-containing organic functional groups, so it has high reactivity and can adsorb phthalic acid ester ( PAEs) in the environment to reduce the risk of environmental pollution from PAEs. In this paper, the extraction, characterization and adsorption models of humic acid were reviewed, and the research status of adsorption of PAEs by humic acid was further summarized. Based on these, the feasibility and observable application prospect of humic acid as a cheap adsorbent were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine transplantation (UT) is an emerging medical treatment for women affected by absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI). To date there have been over 90 documented cases of UT performed worldwide, with over 50 live births. UT allows women affected by AUFI the opportunity to carry and deliver a childd. The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) introduced a UT study in 2019; however, due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic the study was placed on hold for two years. In February 2023, RPAH performed the centre's first UT from a living unrelated donor to a 25‐year‐old woman with Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome. The donor and recipient surgeries were uncomplicated and both are recovering well in the early post‐operative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unexplained causes. Its pathological features include synovial tissue hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration in joint cavity fluid, cartilage bone destruction, and joint deformation. C–C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) belongs to inflammatory cell chemokine. It is highly expressed in inflammatory immune cells. Increasingly, studies have shown that CCL3 can promote the migration of inflammatory factors to synovial tissue, the destruction of bone and joint, angiogenesis, and participate in the pathogenesis of RA. These symptoms indicate that the expression of CCL3 is highly correlated with RA disease. Therefore, this paper reviews the possible mechanism of CCL3 in the pathogenesis of RA, which may provide some new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the current narrative of Chineseness in the context of higher education in Southeast Asia. We hypothesise that the concept of Chineseness at the macro-level has shifted beyond historical, ethnic, and cultural to include geopolitical, socio-political and economic considerations. At the meso level, we focus on unpacking Chineseness through the development of higher education institutions studying the case of Chinese established educational institutions in Malaysia, particularly in how these institutions articulate and portray their Chineseness in a multi-cultural higher education context. Having examined both macro and meso levels, the article discusses the importance and complexity of exploring Chineseness at the micro-level while also highlighting areas and gaps that have not allowed a more thorough understanding of Chineseness in the given context. Understanding this phenomenon allows us to explore the hypothesis of a shifting conceptualisation of Chineseness and thereby contribute to a more nuanced understanding of internationalisation and international students in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the antidepressant effects and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatments in patients with post‐stroke depression (PSD). Methods: We included randomized controlled trials comparing active stimulation with sham stimulation. Primary outcomes were the depression score after treatment, presented as standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Response/remission and long‐term antidepressant efficacy were also examined. We estimated effect‐size using pairwise and Bayesian network meta‐analysis (NMA) with random‐effects model. Results: We identified 33 studies (total n = 1793). In NMA, 5 of 6 treatment strategies were associated with higher effect compared with sham therapy: dual rTMS (standardized mean differences = −1.5; 95% confidence interval = −2.5 to −0.57), dual LFrTMS (−1.5, −2.4 to −0.61), dual tDCS (−1.1, −1.5 to −0.62), HFrTMS (−1.1, −1.3 to −0.85) and LFrTMS (−0.90, −1.2 to −0.6). And dual rTMS, dual LFrTMS or HFrTMS may be more effective than other interventions for achieving antidepressant effects. Regarding secondary outcomes, rTMS can promote depression remission and response, and alleviate depression for at least 1 month. rTMS and tDCS were well tolerated. Conclusions: Bilateral rTMS and HFrTMS are considered top‐priority non‐invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) interventions for improving PSD. Dual tDCS and LFrTMS are also efficient. Significance: The findings of this study provide evidence for considering NIBS techniques as alternative or add‐on treatments for patients with PSD. This work also emphasizes the need for future clinical trials to address the inadequacies identified in this review to optimize methodological quality. Key points: Bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and high‐frequency rTMS are considered top‐priority non‐invasive brain stimulation interventions for improving post‐stroke depression.Dual transcranial direct current stimulation and low‐frequency rTMS are also efficient.Clinical trials must optimize methodological quality by addressing the inadequacies identified in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biopsy of gastrocnemius muscle from a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome was studied histologically in semithin sections stained by hematoxylin-and-eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue, and ultrathin sections by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). H&E stain demonstrated typical ragged-red fibers (RRFs) and affected fibers in fascicles. Toluidine-blue stain showed an irregular meshwork in the center of RRFs. TEM demonstrated damaged myofibrils and variations in mitochondrial structure in RRFs and affected fibers. Dense mitochondria were compacted with cristae and pleomorphic electron-dense inclusions. Lucent mitochondria included paracrystalline inclusions with a parking lot appearance. At high magnification, the paracrystalline inclusions were composed of plates that paralleled and connected with mitochondrial cristae. These observations indicated that electron-dense granular and paracrystalline inclusions resulted from cristal degeneration and overlapping in mitochondria in MELAS syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mamyshev oscillators (MOs) have attracted significant attention given their potential in yielding ultrafast lasers with high peak power. Based on step-like saturable absorbers and self-similar evolution in the gain fiber, MO technology features an advanced system capable of generating ultrastable femtosecond pulses with ultrahigh peak power. In this review, the principle of MO is presented in terms of their transmission function and tolerance to nonlinear phase shift and recent progress is reported in the advanced output performance of MO, manifested through high peak power, few-cycles, high repetition rate, and supercontinuum generation. MO with various operation wavelengths (1, 1.5, and 2 μm) are examined, and MO starting methods are fully discussed, followed by a detailed account of diverse potential applications in areas such as biomedical imaging and material processing. Based on current progress, the prospective challenges and future directions of MO are highlighted and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposing waxy oils to an electric field may significantly improve their cold flowability. Our previous study has shown that interfacial polarization, i.e., charged particle accumulation on the wax particle surface, is the primary mechanism of the electrorheological behavior of waxy oils. However, the way that charged particles interact with wax particles under an electric field remains unknown. In this study, we found no viscosity and impedance change for two waxy crude oils after their exposure to a high-voltage electric field. However, the yield stresses were reduced obviously. We thus proposed that the collision of colloidal particles such as resins and asphaltenes with the wax particles could be an essential mechanism that the wax particle structure was weakened. To verify this hypothesis, a series of ad hoc experiments were carried out, i.e., by performing electrorheological tests on model waxy oils containing additives removable under an electric field, including electrically-neutral colloidal particles (Fe3O4), charged colloidal particles (resins), and oil-soluble electrolyte (C22H14CoO4), respectively, and demonstrated that upon application of a high-voltage electric field, charged particles in a waxy oil may move and thus collide with wax particles, and consequently adhere to the wax particle surface. The particle collision results in damage to the wax particle network, and the electrostatic repulsion arising from the adhesion of the charged particle on the wax particle diminishes attraction between wax particles. This study clarifies the process of interfacial polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovium of joints. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play an important role in RA pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate the effect of N-(4-methoxyphenyl) quinoline-8-sulfonamide (QS-3g) on the inflammatory response of FLS and explore the potential underlying mechanisms. We screened and found that QS-3g exhibits the best anti-inflammatory response against FLS using the CCK8 assay. To investigate the therapeutic effects of QS-3g on K/BxN STA mice, we used H&E staining, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, micro-CT, and other techniques. Additional investigations, including RNA-seq, molecular docking, and CETSA, revealed that QS-3g binds to RAMP1. Among a series of 8-quinoline sulfonyl amide derivatives, QS-3g reduced the inflammatory response in TNF-α stimulated FLS, such as the release of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. H&E staining and micro-CT showed that QS-3g inhibited synovial hypertrophy, inflammatory cell infiltration, and bone destruction. RNA-seq and CETSA analyses revealed the targeted inhibition of RAMP1 by QS-3g. Inhibition of RAMP1 expression could reduce IL-6 and IL-1β levels. Compared with RAMP1-si, combined administration of QS-3g and RAMP1-si reduced the TNF-α-induced inflammation in TNF-α stimulated FLS without statistically significant differences. Finally, the results of in vitro experiments showed that QS-3g could restore the balance of Gαi/Gαs by inhibiting Gαi and activating Gαs and up-regulate the expression of cAMP protein, thus inhibiting the RAMP1-mediated inflammatory response in FLS. QS-3g could inhibit RAMP1 activity and mediate the Gαs/Gαi–cAMP pathway to reduce FLS inflammatory response. Therefore, QS-3g may serve as a novel anti-inflammatory compound for treating RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new steroidal saponins, xuefengshanosides A–E; one new stilbene trimer, xuefengshansin; and 16 known compounds were isolated from the rhizomes of Paris xuefengshanensis (Melanthiaceae). The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by MS and NMR data analyses, ECD calculations, and acidic hydrolysis experiments. The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of the selected compounds were evaluated. Ophiopogonin C′, paris saponin I, paris saponin H, and paris saponin VII showed the most inhibitory activity against five human cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. Xuefengshansin showed weak cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. Paris saponin I was the most active compound against the five tested fungal strains. This species contains structurally diverse compounds that exhibit significant anticancer and antimicrobial activities, suggesting its potential for future development and utilization. [Display omitted] • Six previously undescribed compounds were isolated from Paris xuefengshanensis rhizomes. • The steroidal saponin xuefengshanoside B shows antifungal activity against Epidermophyton floccosum. • The stilbene trimer xuefengshansin showed cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While radiotherapy remains the cornerstone of head and neck cancer treatment, oral mucositis is a very serious side effect, especially grade III/IV oral mucositis. Oral mucositis not only seriously reduces the quality of life of patients, but also affects the ongoing treatment of patients. Use of honey for the remediation of oral mucositis promising, but clinically controversial. Therefore, to further ascertain its role in oral mucositis, an extensive literature search was performed in the Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Thirteen randomized controlled trials with 899 patients were included in the analysis. Pooled Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was analyzed. The results show that a significantly fewer number of patients treated with honey experienced grade III/IV oral mucositis after radiotherapy (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.13-0.44, p < 0.001). The administration of honey concurrently with radiotherapy decreased the rate of graded III/IV oral mucositis. Thus, the use of honey during radiotherapy may represent a feasible strategy for preserving tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the dust treatment problem of the coal Permian extra thick coal seam mined by Tashan Coal Mine, the comprehensive dust treatment technology research was carried out with the 8106 comprehensive discharge face and 8210 comprehensive discharge face of Tashan Coal Mine as the geological background, and the four aspects of coal seam water injection process, determination of water injection parameters, inspection of water injection and dust reduction effect and application promotion prospects were analyzed and studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has long been hypothesized that personality plays a causative role in incidence and outcome of breast cancer (BC), but epidemiological evidence of association between personality and BC is inconsistent. Method: We used two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to estimate the impact of personality on the risk and survival of BC. In total, 109 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were utilized as instruments of neuroticism from a large-scale Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), and five SNPs were utilized as instruments of extraversion from Genetic of Personality Consortium and 23andMe. Genetic association with the risk and survival of overall and individual subtype BC were obtained from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. Result: Neuroticism is significantly associated with the risk of overall BC [odds ratio (OR) 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.11; p = 0.015] and the risk of luminal A BC (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03–1.16; p = 0.004). Extraversion is not associated with the risk of BC. None of neuroticism or extraversion is associated with the survival of BC. Conclusion: Neuroticism was associated with a modest increased risk of BC and particularly luminal A BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous work used two deformable pooling to get different feature regions for classification and regression to alleviate the spatial misalignment problem of the rotating ships based on a three-stage framework in remote sensing image. In this paper, we find that when the IoU threshold of the third stage is 0.55, the model gets the best average precision (AP). Besides, the deformable pooling is not suitable for negative samples and the effect of deformable pooling for positive samples will gradually weaken as the Intersection-over-Union (IoU) of the sample increase. We propose a complementary branch with IoU-based loss weight to enhance the training of the pooling feature. The more accurate the pooling feature, the more accurate the deformable pooling feature. Furthermore, we add an angle offset learning module to the regression task of the complementary branch to enhance the ability of pooling feature to learn angle offset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is one of the promising linear aliphatic polyesters which can be used as mulching film. Although it has suitable glass transition temperature and good biodegradability, further practical applications are restricted by the limited temperature-increasing and moisturizing properties. The rational design of the PCL structure is a good strategy to enhance the related properties. In this study, thermally-induced phase separation (TIPS) was introduced to fabricate a PCL nanoporous thin film. The introduction of a nanoporous structure on the PCL surface (np-PCL) exhibited enhanced temperature-increasing and moisturizing properties when used as mulch film. In detail, the average soil temperature of np-PCL was increased to 17.81 °C, when compared with common PCL of 17.42 °C and PBAT of 17.50 °C, and approaches to PE of 18.02 °C. In terms of water vapor transmission rate, the value for np-PCL is 637 gm−2day−1, which was much less than the common PCL of 786 and PBAT of 890 gm−2day−1. As a result, the weed biomass under the np-PCL was suppressed to be 0.35 kg m−2, almost half of the common PCL and PBAT. In addition, the np-PCL shows good thermal stability with an onset decomposition temperature of 295 °C. The degradation mechanism and rate of the np-PCL in different pH environments were also studied to explore the influence of nanoporous structure. This work highlights the importance of the nanoporous structure in PCL to enhance the temperature-increasing and moisturizing properties of PCL-based biodegradable mulching film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the leading causes of global disability, major depressive disorder (MDD) places a noticeable burden on individuals and society. Despite the great expectation on finding accurate biomarkers and effective treatment targets of MDD, studies in applying functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are still faced with challenges, including the representational ambiguity, small sample size, low statistical power, relatively high false positive rates, etc. Thus, reviewing studies with solid methodology may help achieve a consensus on the pathology of MDD. Methods: In this systematic review, we screened fMRI studies on MDD through strict criteria to focus on reliable studies with sufficient sample size, adequate control of head motion, and a proper multiple comparison control strategy. Results: We found consistent evidence regarding the dysfunction within and among the default mode network (DMN), the frontoparietal network (FPN), and other brain regions. However, controversy remains, probably due to the heterogeneity of participants and data processing strategies. Conclusion: Future studies are recommended to apply a comprehensive set of neuro-behavioral measurements, consider the heterogeneity of MDD patients and other potentially confounding factors, apply surface-based neuroscientific network fMRI approaches, and advance research transparency and open science by applying state-of-the-art pipelines along with open data sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Pterostilbene (PTE), a common polyphenol compound, exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in many diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI). Objective: This study explores the potential mechanism of PTE pre-treatment against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Materials and methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, ALI, 10 mg/kg PTE + LPS, 20 mg/kg PTE + LPS, and 40 mg/kg PTE + LPS groups. At 24 h before LPS instillation, PTE was administered orally. At 2 h before LPS instillation, PTE was again administered orally. After 24 h of LPS treatment, the rats were euthanized. The levels of inflammatory cells and inflammatory factors in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the expression of nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1), and the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway-related protein levels were detected. NR4A1 agonist was used to further investigate the mechanism of PTE pre-treatment. Results: After PTE pre-treatment, the LPS induced inflammation was controlled and the survival rate was increased to 100% from 70% after LPS treatment 24 h. For lung injury score, it decreased to 1.5 from 3.5 after treating 40 mg/kg PTE. Compared with the control group, the expression of NR4A1 in the ALI group was decreased by 20-40%. However, the 40 mg/kg PTE pre-treatment increased the NR4A1 expression by 20-40% in the lung tissue. The results obtained with pre-treatment NR4A1 agonist were similar to those obtained by pre-treatment 40 mg/kg PTE. Conclusions: PTE pre-treatment might represent an appropriate therapeutic target and strategy for preventing ALI induced by LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigment-based color is one of the most important phenotypic traits of biofilms at the mineral–air interface (subaerial biofilms, SABs), because it reflects the physiology of the microbial community. Because color is the hallmark of all SABs, we argue that pigment-based color could convey the mechanisms that drive microbial adaptation and coexistence across different terrestrial environments and link phenotypic traits to community fitness and ecological dynamics. Within this framework, we present the most relevant microbial pigments at the mineral–air interface and discuss some of the evolutionary landscapes that necessitate pigments as adaptive strategies for resource allocation and survivability. We report several pigment features that reflect SAB communities' structure and function, as well as pigment ecology in the context of microbial life-history strategies and coexistence theory. Finally, we conclude the study of pigment-based ecology by presenting its potential application and some of the key challenges in the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ampelopsis grossedentata is an important national medicine in China. It is mainly used commonly by the Yao, Miao, Dong, and other ethnic minorities of China. The current literature, however, contains no study on the molecular genetics and taxonomy of A. grossedentata, which had led to potential problems in the conservation and utilization of this resource. Therefore, the present study was aimed to use simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for assessing the levels and the distribution of genetic diversity in a sample set of 225 individuals from nine populations of A. grossedentata in China. The genetic differentiation among the nine populations was estimated at the level of 27 microsatellite loci. All loci were polymorphic in the nine populations analyzed. The average value of the Wright's fixation index (Fis) was -0.1154, with the range of -0.4627 to 0.2399, at the population level. The average Fit value was -0.0119, with the range of -0.3523 to 0.3563, at the population level. The Fst value was 0.0928 on average, ranging from 0.0463 to 0.1567. The SSR analysis revealed high levels of genetic variations within the studied populations, while the genetic differentiation among the populations was low. This finding probably reflected the historical association among the different populations of A. grossedentata. It is possible that sexual reproduction in the natural breeding system of A. grossedentata increased the levels of genetic variation within the populations while it reduced the genetic differences among the populations. The genetic cluster analysis revealed that the basal clade comprised populations from South China and that the different populations of A. grossedentata were categorized into five branches, which had continuous southeastward and southwestward distributions. The genetic structure of the populations and the levels of genetic diversity of A. grossedentata observed in the present study could provide important insights into the current status and the protection value of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]