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The study of energy correlations in catalytic reactions plays a pivotal role in guiding catalyst development. This paper focuses on the investigation of energy linear relationships in methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation on copper surfaces, systematically exploring energy parameters including activation energy, reaction energy and adsorption energy. A comparative analysis of the adsorption characteristics and reaction parameters in the formate, formic acid and reverse water–gas shift pathways is conducted, laying the data foundation for subsequent linear studies. Then, descriptors are extracted from electronic, energetic and structural information and further integrated using the sure independence screening and sparsifying operator (SISSO) method to establish an energy description paradigm characterized by interpretability and accuracy. Additionally, reactions are further categorized based on hydrogenation types to mitigate the adverse effects of redundant data points. Finally, the summarized reaction descriptors are extended to Cu-based alloy systems to highlight the rationality and transferability of the developed descriptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadening gene therapy applications requires manufacturable vectors that efficiently transduce target cells in humans and preclinical models. Conventional selections of adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid libraries are inefficient at searching the vast sequence space for the small fraction of vectors possessing multiple traits essential for clinical translation. Here, we present Fit4Function, a generalizable machine learning (ML) approach for systematically engineering multi-trait AAV capsids. By leveraging a capsid library that uniformly samples the manufacturable sequence space, reproducible screening data are generated to train accurate sequence-to-function models. Combining six models, we designed a multi-trait (liver-targeted, manufacturable) capsid library and validated 88% of library variants on all six predetermined criteria. Furthermore, the models, trained only on mouse in vivo and human in vitro Fit4Function data, accurately predicted AAV capsid variant biodistribution in macaque. Top candidates exhibited production yields comparable to AAV9, efficient murine liver transduction, up to 1000-fold greater human hepatocyte transduction, and increased enrichment relative to AAV9 in a screen for liver transduction in macaques. The Fit4Function strategy ultimately makes it possible to predict cross-species traits of peptide-modified AAV capsids and is a critical step toward assembling an ML atlas that predicts AAV capsid performance across dozens of traits. Conventional selections of AAV capsid libraries are inefficient at searching sequence space. Here the authors report 'Fit4Function', a generalizable ML approach for systematically engineering multi-trait AAV capsids, and use this to predict cross-species traits of peptide-modified AAV capsids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on well-known complexity theory conjectures, any polynomial-time kernelization algorithm for the NP-hard Line-Cover problem produces a kernel of size Ω (k 2) , where k is the size of the sought line cover. Motivated by the current research in massive data processing, we study the existence of kernelization algorithms with limited space and time complexity for Line-Cover. We prove that every kernelization algorithm for Line-Cover takes time Ω (n log k + k 2 log k) , and present a randomized kernelization algorithm for Line-Cover that produces a kernel of size bounded by k 2 , and runs in time O (n log k + k 2 (log k log log k) 2) and space O (k 2 log 2 k) . Our techniques are also useful for developing deterministic kernelization algorithms for Line-Cover with limited space and improved running time, and for developing streaming kernelization algorithms for Line-Cover with near-optimal update-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of ecotourism suitability is crucial for sustainable regional development and is seen as an effective strategy to achieve both environmental protection and economic growth. One of the key challenges in land research is effectively identifying potential ecotourism resources while balancing regional protection and development. This study mapped the suitability of ecotourism in Zhangjiajie, China, using a combination of various geospatial data sources and four machine-learning techniques. Additionally, an indicator system was developed, covering the ecological environment, geological geomorphology, socioeconomics, and resource availability. The prediction results for suitability classified the area into four categories: highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and unsuitable; based on the ensemble results generated by the four algorithms, these categories accounted for 19.34%, 28.78%, 23.87%, and 28.01% of the total area, respectively. This study's findings illustrate the spatial distribution of ecotourism suitability in Zhangjiajie, providing valuable insights for identifying potential ecotourism resources as well as informing regional planning and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Recent imaging studies have found significant abnormalities in the brain's functional or structural connectivity among patients with high myopia (HM), indicating a heightened risk of cognitive impairment and other behavioral changes. However, there is a lack of research on the topological characteristics and connectivity changes of the functional networks in HM patients. In this study, we employed graph theoretical analysis to investigate the topological structure and regional connectivity of the brain function network in HM patients. Methods: We conducted rs-fMRI scans on 82 individuals with HM and 59 healthy controls (HC), ensuring that the two groups were matched for age and education level. Through graph theoretical analysis, we studied the topological structure of whole-brain functional networks among participants, exploring the topological properties and differences between the two groups. Results: In the range of 0.05 to 0.50 of sparsity, both groups demonstrated a small-world architecture of the brain network. Compared to the control group, HM patients showed significantly lower values of normalized clustering coefficient (γ) (P = 0.0101) and small-worldness (σ) (P = 0.0168). Additionally, the HM group showed lower nodal centrality in the right Amygdala (P < 0.001, Bonferroni-corrected). Notably, there is an increase in functional connectivity (FC) between the saliency network (SN) and Sensorimotor Network (SMN) in the HM group, while the strength of FC between the basal ganglia is relatively weaker (P < 0.01). Conclusion: HM Patients exhibit reduced small-world characteristics in their brain networks, with significant drops in γ and σ values indicating weakened global interregional information transfer ability. Not only that, the topological properties of the amygdala nodes in HM patients significantly decline, indicating dysfunction within the brain network. In addition, there are abnormalities in the FC between the SN, SMN, and basal ganglia networks in HM patients, which is related to attention regulation, motor impairment, emotions, and cognitive performance. These findings may provide a new mechanism for central pathology in HM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, an inverse source problem in bioluminescence tomography (BLT) is investigated. BLT is a method of light imaging and offers many advantages such as sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, high signal-to-noise ratio and non-destructivity. It thus has promising prospects for many applications such as cancer diagnosis, drug discovery and development as well as gene therapies. In the literature, BLT is extensively studied based on the (stationary) diffusion approximation (DA) equation, where the distribution of peak sources is reconstructed and no solution uniqueness is guaranteed without proper a priori information. In this work, motivated by solution uniqueness, a novel dynamic coupled DA model is proposed. Theoretical analysis including the well-posedness of the forward problem and the solution uniqueness of the inverse problem are given. Based on the new model, iterative inversion algorithms under the framework of regularizing schemes are introduced and applied to reconstruct the smooth and non-smooth sources. We discretize the regularization functional with the finite element method and give the convergence rate of numerical solutions. Several numerical examples are implemented to validate the effectiveness of the new model and the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Influenza A virus outbreaks pose a significant burden to global health. However, detecting and subtyping the virus is challenging due to its high mutation rate, and it is difficult to distinguish viable viruses that cause infection from clinical samples. Here is a novel PMAxx-LAMP assay for the classification of viable and non-viable Influenza A virus together with differentiation between H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes. Our loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers displayed limits of detection of 102 copies/μL for both subtypes, high specificity, reproducibility, and good linearity with correlation coefficients of 0.9762 and 0.9901 for H1N1 and H3N2, respectively. PMAxx effectively distinguished between viable and non-viable viruses at an optimal concentration of 10 μM. In the LAMP method, the clinical specificity and sensitivity for the H1N1 subtype were both 100%, while for the H3N2 subtype, they were 94.44 and 92.31%, respectively. With the PMAxx-LAMP assay, the clinical specificity and sensitivity were 68% and 65% for the H1N1 subtype, and 81% and 69% for the H3N2 subtype, respectively. The reduced clinical specificity and sensitivity observed in the PMAxx-LAMP assay can be attributed to the presence of non-viable viruses, which are labeled with PMAxx and subsequently eliminated from positive samples. The PMAxx-LAMP offers potential benefits in determining the stage of infection, enabling early screening of patients, and shortening the window period for virus detection. The simplicity and efficiency of this assay make it suitable for use in resource limited settings and point-of-care (POCT) applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising method was established for the determination of nine halobenzoquinones (HBQs) in potable water by membrane solid-phase extraction (MSPE) pretreatment and the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. A 500 mL water sample was taken for enrichment by the SDB-RPS membrane, which was previously activated by methanol and ultrapure water. The sample was eluted with methanol and re-dissolved with the initial mobile phase after nitrogen blowing. Then, it was detected in negative ion mode using the working curve, and HBQs were quantified by the external standard method. The linearity was satisfactory in the concentration range of 4-1000 ng/L, with correlation coefficients of 0.9963~0.9994. The recoveries were 73.5~126.6% at three spiked levels, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 6.8~15.5%. The limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) values were 0.1~0.7 ng/L. The results demonstrate that the MSPE-LC-MS method is reliable, rapid, and sensitive for the simultaneous analysis of nine HBPs in potable water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic biology applications require finely tuned gene expression, often mediated by synthetic transcription factors (sTFs) compatible with the human genome and transcriptional regulation mechanisms. While various DNA-binding and activation domains have been developed for different applications, advanced artificially controllable sTFs with improved regulatory capabilities are required for increasingly sophisticated applications. Here, in mammalian cells and mice, we validate the transactivator function and homo-/heterodimerization activity of the plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins, FHY1 and FHL. Our results demonstrate that FHY1/FHL form a photosensing transcriptional regulation complex (PTRC) through interaction with the phytochrome, ΔPhyA, that can toggle between active and inactive states through exposure to red or far-red light, respectively. Exploiting this capability, we develop a light-switchable platform that allows for orthogonal, modular, and tunable control of gene transcription, and incorporate it into a PTRC-controlled CRISPRa system (PTRCdcas) to modulate endogenous gene expression. We then integrate the PTRC with small molecule- or blue light-inducible regulatory modules to construct a variety of highly tunable systems that allow rapid and reversible control of transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo. Validation and deployment of these plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins in a PTRC platform have produced a versatile, powerful tool for advanced research and biomedical engineering applications. Synthetic biology applications require finely tuned gene expression, often mediated by synthetic transcription factors. Here the authors validate two plant-derived proteins, FHY1 and FHL, acting as transactivators in mammalian cells for orthogonal, modular, and tunable control of gene transcription by forming a photosensing transcriptional regulation complex with PhyA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic biology applications require finely tuned gene expression, often mediated by synthetic transcription factors (sTFs) compatible with the human genome and transcriptional regulation mechanisms. While various DNA-binding and activation domains have been developed for different applications, advanced artificially controllable sTFs with improved regulatory capabilities are required for increasingly sophisticated applications. Here, in mammalian cells and mice, we validate the transactivator function and homo-/heterodimerization activity of the plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins, FHY1 and FHL. Our results demonstrate that FHY1/FHL form a photosensing transcriptional regulation complex (PTRC) through interaction with the phytochrome, ΔPhyA, that can toggle between active and inactive states through exposure to red or far-red light, respectively. Exploiting this capability, we develop a light-switchable platform that allows for orthogonal, modular, and tunable control of gene transcription, and incorporate it into a PTRC-controlled CRISPRa system (PTRCdcas) to modulate endogenous gene expression. We then integrate the PTRC with small molecule- or blue light-inducible regulatory modules to construct a variety of highly tunable systems that allow rapid and reversible control of transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo. Validation and deployment of these plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins in a PTRC platform have produced a versatile, powerful tool for advanced research and biomedical engineering applications. Synthetic biology applications require finely tuned gene expression, often mediated by synthetic transcription factors. Here the authors validate two plant-derived proteins, FHY1 and FHL, acting as transactivators in mammalian cells for orthogonal, modular, and tunable control of gene transcription by forming a photosensing transcriptional regulation complex with PhyA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor mutational burden (TMB) and T‐cell receptor (TCR) might predict the response to immunotherapy in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the predictive value of the combination of TMB and TCR was not clear. Targeted DNA and TCR sequencing were performed on tumor biopsy specimens. We combined TMB and TCR diversity into a TMB‐and‐TCR (TMR) score using logistic regression. In total, 38 patients with advanced NSCLC were divided into a discovery set (n = 17) and validation set (n = 21). A higher TMR score was associated with better response and longer progression‐free survival to immunotherapy in both the discovery set and validation set. The performance of TMR score was confirmed in the two external validation cohorts of 225 NSCLC patients and 306 NSCLC patients. Tumors with higher TMR scores were more likely to combine with LRP1B gene mutation (p = 0.027) and top 1% CDR3 sequences (p = 0.001). Furthermore, LRP1B allele frequency was negatively correlated with the top 1% CDR3 sequences (r = –0.55, p = 0.033) and positively correlated with tumor shrinkage (r = 0.68, p = 0.007). The TMR score could serve as a potential predictive biomarker for the response to immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is a common complication following cardiac surgery linked to unfavorable patient prognosis and increased mortality. This study aimed to search for the factors associated with the occurrence of PMV after valve surgery and to develop a risk prediction model. Methods: The patient cohort was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of PMV post-surgery. Comprehensive preoperative and intraoperative clinical data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors contributing to the incidence of PMV. Based on the logistic regression results, a clinical nomogram was developed. Results: The study included 550 patients who underwent valve surgery, among whom 62 (11.27%) developed PMV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.082, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.042–1.125; P < 0.000), current smokers (OR = 1.953, 95% CI = 1.007–3.787; P = 0.047), left atrial internal diameter index (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.002–1.081; P = 0.041), red blood cell count (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.275–0.876; P = 0.016), and aortic clamping time (OR = 1.031, 95% CI = 1.005–1.057; P < 0.017) independently influenced the occurrence of PMV. A nomogram was constructed based on these factors. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.782 and an accuracy of 0.884. Conclusion: Age, current smokers, left atrial diameter index, red blood cell count, and aortic clamping time are independent risk factors for PMV in patients undergoing valve surgery. Furthermore, the nomogram based on these factors demonstrates the potential for predicting the risk of PMV in patients following valve surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein posttranslational modifications are important factors that mediate the fine regulation of signaling molecules. O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine-modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is a monosaccharide modification on N-acetylglucosamine linked to the hydroxyl terminus of serine and threonine of proteins. O-GlcNAcylation is responsive to cellular stress as a reversible and posttranslational modification of nuclear, mitochondrial and cytoplasmic proteins. Mitochondrial proteins are the main targets of O-GlcNAcylation and O-GlcNAcylation is a key regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis by directly regulating the mitochondrial proteome or protein activity and function. Disruption of O-GlcNAcylation is closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction. More importantly, the O-GlcNAcylation of cardiac proteins has been proven to be protective or harmful to cardiac function. Mitochondrial homeostasis is crucial for cardiac contractile function and myocardial cell metabolism, and the imbalance of mitochondrial homeostasis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this review, we will focus on the interactions between protein O-GlcNAcylation and mitochondrial homeostasis and provide insights on the role of mitochondrial protein O-GlcNAcylation in CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to inhibit conflicting information is pivotal in the dynamic and high-speed context of fast-ball sports. However, the behavioral and electrophysiological characteristics underlying the cognitive inhibition processes associated with table tennis expertise remain unexplored. This study aims to bridge these research gaps by utilizing the color-word Stroop task and the spatial Stroop task alongside event-related potential (ERP) measurements to investigate domain-general and domain-specific cognitive inhibition among table tennis athletes. The study involved a total of 40 participants, including 20 table tennis athletes (11 males and 9 females; mean age 20.75 years) and 20 nonathletes (9 males and 11 females; mean age 19.80 years). The group differences in the Stroop effect on behavioral outcomes and ERP amplitudes were compared within each task, respectively. In the color-word Stroop tasks, athletes exhibited smaller incongruent-related negative potential amplitudes (Ninc; 300–400 ms; p = 0.036) and a diminished Stroop effect on late sustained potential amplitudes (LSP; 500–650 ms; p = 0.028) than nonathletes, although no significant differences were observed in behavioral outcomes (p > 0.05). Conversely, in the spatial Stroop tasks, athletes not only responded more swiftly but also exhibited reduced Stroop effects on both LSP amplitudes (350–500 ms; p = 0.004) and reaction times (p = 0.002) relative to nonathletes. These findings suggest that table tennis athletes excel in cognitive inhibition in the context of both domain-general and domain-specific tasks, particularly exhibiting enhanced performance in tasks that are closely aligned with the demands of their sport. Our results support the neural efficiency hypothesis and improve our understanding of the interactions between cognitive functions and table tennis expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life‐threatening condition characterized by lung inflammation and high mortality rates. Lung cancer, specifically lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), is a major cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Patients with LUAD, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy, are more likely to develop ARDS. ARDS inflicts major malfunctioning in the immune system. We suspected a certain shared pathogenic mechanism between these diseases. This study analyzed 503 LUAD patients from the TCGA‐LUAD cohort as the training set, 85 LUAD cases from the GSE30219 cohort as the validation set, and 24 RNA‐seq samples from ARDS mice model and control groups in the GSE2411 cohort. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of ARDS were analyzed using the limma package and screened by Cox and Lasso analysis. ssGSEA and xCell algorithms were utilized for immune landscaping. RT‐qPCR analysis was used to determine the mRNA levels of key genes in both the LPS‐induced ARDS model and human LUAD cell lines. We identified DEGs between ARDS and control groups, which were highly associated with cytokine production and leukocyte migration. A prognosis model for LUAD patients was developed based on the expressions of the key genes in the ARDS‐derived DEGs, including FMO3, IL1R2, CCL20, CFTR, and GADD45G. A satisfactory efficacy was observed in both the training and validation cohorts. The model demonstrated increased effectiveness in predicting the intratumor immune profile and mutation status of LUAD. Moreover, we utilized LPS to induce the ARDS model, which resulted in elevated expressions of IL1R2 and CCL20. Additionally, CCL20 was upregulated in cancerous LUAD cell lines. We developed an ARDS‐based model for stratifying LUAD prognosis. CCL20 was found to be elevated in both the ARDS model and LUAD, suggesting a shared underlying mechanism of these two diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fecal impaction is a digestive system disease, that is most common in the elderly population and becomes more prevalent with increasing age. Manual removal can successfully remove the impaction in 80% of fecal impaction cases. In severe cases, endoscopy and surgery may be necessary. Case presentation: A 78-year-old Han Chinese man living in a nursing home was diagnosed with fecal impaction; his initial symptom was overflow diarrhea, which is a rare occurrence with regard to fecal impaction. Nevertheless, we were able to effectively treat this situation by employing a new medical device that presents a novel method for addressing fecal impaction. Conclusion: Early identification of fecal impaction with atypical symptoms is crucial to provide proper emergency management. A safe and noninvasive treatment method, especially for elderly patients with fecal impaction, should be chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopy is the primary modality for detecting asymptomatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and precancerous lesions. Improving detection rate remains challenging. We developed a system based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for detecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions [high-risk esophageal lesions (HrELs)] and validated its efficacy in improving HrEL detection rate in clinical practice (trial registration ChiCTR2100044126 at www.chictr.org.cn). Between April 2021 and March 2022, 3117 patients ≥50 years old were consecutively recruited from Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang Province, and randomly assigned 1:1 to an experimental group (CNN-assisted endoscopy) or a control group (unassisted endoscopy) based on block randomization. The primary endpoint was the HrEL detection rate. In the intention-to-treat population, the HrEL detection rate [28 of 1556 (1.8%)] was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group [14 of 1561 (0.9%), P = 0.029], and the experimental group detection rate was twice that of the control group. Similar findings were observed between the experimental and control groups [28 of 1524 (1.9%) versus 13 of 1534 (0.9%), respectively; P = 0.021]. The system's sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting HrELs were 89.7, 98.5, and 98.2%, respectively. No adverse events occurred. The proposed system thus improved HrEL detection rate during endoscopy and was safe. Deep learning assistance may enhance early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer and may become a useful tool for esophageal cancer screening. Editor's summary: Early-stage esophageal cancers show better treatment response but are harder to detect. Li et al. developed a deep learning pipeline to aid clinicians in identifying early-stage, high-risk esophageal lesions and tested it in a randomized clinical trial in patients undergoing endoscopy. Deep learning assistance doubled the detection of high-risk esophageal lesions compared with the unassisted control group. This clinical trial demonstrates the promise of this pipeline to improve early esophageal cancer detection. —Catherine Charneski [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the overdetermined problem for the p-Laplacian equation on complete noncompact Riemannian manifolds with nonnegative Ricci curvature. We prove that the regularity results of weak solutions of the p-Laplacian equation and obtain some integral identities. As their applications, we give the proof of the p-Laplacian overdetermined problem and obtain some well known results such as the Heintze-Karcher inequality and the Soap Bubble Theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and anxiety and explore its central mechanisms using colitis mice. Methods: Anxiety‐like behavior was assessed in mice induced by 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) using the elevated plus maze and open‐field test. The spatial transcriptome of the hippocampus was analyzed to assess the distribution of excitatory and inhibitory synapses, and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor TAK‐242 (10 mg/kg) and AAV virus interference were used to examine the role of peripheral inflammation and central molecules such as Glutamate Receptor Metabotropic 1 (GRM1) in mediating anxiety behavior in colitis mice. Results: DSS‐induced colitis increased anxiety‐like behaviors, which was reduced by TAK‐242. Spatial transcriptome analysis of the hippocampus showed an excitatory‐inhibitory imbalance mediated by glutamatergic synapses, and GRM1 in hippocampus was identified as a critical mediator of anxiety behavior in colitis mice via differential gene screening and AAV virus interference. Conclusion: Our work suggests that the hippocampus plays an important role in brain anxiety caused by peripheral inflammation, and over‐excitation of hippocampal glutamate synapses by GRM1 activation induces anxiety‐like behavior in colitis mice. These findings provide new insights into the central mechanisms underlying anxiety in UC and may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for UC‐associated anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the protective action and mechanism of songorine on sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). The sepsis-induced ALI mouse and cell models were established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction. Lung injury was assayed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, lung injury score, and lung wet-to-dry (W/D) weight ratio. Apoptosis in lung tissues was evaluated by TUNEL assay, and the expression of apoptosis-related markers (Bcl2, Bax, and caspase-3) was measured by western blotting. Levels of pro-inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice were measured by ELISA and RT-qPCR. The expression of PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway-related proteins was analyzed by western blotting. Songorine treatment at 40 mg/kg mitigated sepsis-induced ALI, characterized by improved histopathology, lung injury score, and lung W/D weight ratio (p < 0.05). Moreover, songorine markedly attenuated sepsis-induced apoptosis in lung tissues; this was evidenced by an increase in Bcl2 levels and a decrease in Bax and caspase-3 levels (p < 0.01). Also, songorine reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and MPO) and oxidative stress regulators (SOD and GSH) in the BALF of LPS-induced sepsis mice and RAW264.7 cells (p < 0.05). In addition, songorine upregulated the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway-related proteins in LPS-induced sepsis mice and RAW264.7 cells (p < 0.05). Furthermore, LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) treatment reversed the protective effect of songorine on sepsis-induced ALI. Songorine inhibits oxidative stress-related inflammation in sepsis-induced ALI via the activation of the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combined with chemotherapy are efficacious for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the effectiveness of this approach in the malignant pleural effusion (MPE) population is unclear. This study evaluated ICI plus chemotherapy in NSCLC patients with MPE. Methods: Patients from 3 centers in China with NSCLC and MPE who received ICI plus chemotherapy (ICI Plus Chemo) or chemotherapy alone (Chemo) between December 2014 and June 2023 were enrolled. Clinical outcomes and adverse events (AEs) were compared. Results: Of 155 eligible patients, the median age was 61.0 years old. Males and never-smokers accounted for 73.5% and 39.4%, respectively. Fifty-seven and 98 patients received ICI Plus Chemo or Chemo, respectively. With a median study follow-up of 10.8 months, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer with ICI Plus Chemo than with Chemo (median PFS: 7.4 versus 5.7 months; HR = 0.594 [95% CI: 0.403–0.874], P = 0.008). Median overall survival (OS) did not differ between groups (ICI Plus Chemo: 34.2 versus Chemo: 28.3 months; HR = 0.746 [95% CI: 0.420–1.325], P = 0.317). The most common grade 3 or worse AEs included decreased neutrophil count (3 [5.3%] patients in the ICI Plus Chemo group vs. 5 [5.1%] patients in the Chemo group) and decreased hemoglobin (3 [5.3%] versus 10 [10.2%]). Conclusions: In patients with untreated NSCLC with MPE, ICI plus chemotherapy resulted in significantly longer PFS than chemotherapy and had a manageable tolerability profile, but the effect on OS may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing thermoelectric conversion efficiency requires the compromise of electrical and thermal properties of materials, which are hard to simultaneously improve due to the strong coupling of carrier and phonon transport. Herein, a one-pot approach realizing simultaneous second phase and Cu vacancies modulation is proposed, which is effective in synergistically optimizing thermoelectric performance in copper sulfides. Multiple lattice defects, including nanoprecipitates, dislocations, and nanopores are produced by adding a refined ratio of Sn and Se. Phonon transport is significantly suppressed by multiple mechanisms. An ultralow lattice thermal conductivity is therefore obtained. Furthermore, extra Se is added in the copper sulfide for optimizing electrical transport properties by inducing generating Cu vacancies. Ultimately, an excellent figure of merit of ~1.6 at 873 K is realized in the Cu1.992SSe0.016(Cu2SnSe4)0.004 bulk sample. The simple strategy of inducing compositional and structural modulation for improving thermoelectric parameters promotes low-cost high-performance copper sulfides as alternatives in thermoelectric applications. It is hard to simultaneously improve electrical and thermal properties of materials due to the strong coupling of carrier and phonon transport. Here, the authors propose a one-pot modulation strategy for simultaneously adjusting carrier and phonon transport in copper sulfids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hemorrhagic progression of a contusion (HPC) after Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the important causes of death in trauma patients. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the predictive effect of imaging features of Computed tomography (CT) on HPC after TBI. A comprehensive systematic search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases to identify all relevant literature. A total of 8 studies involving 2543 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR 3.28; 95% CI 2.57–4.20), subdural hemorrhage (OR 4.35; 95% CI 3.29–5.75), epidural hemorrhage (OR 1.47;95% CI 1.15–1.89), contrast extravasation (OR 11.81; 95% CI 4.86–28.71) had a predictive effect on the occurrence of HPC. Skull fracture (OR 1.64; 95% CI 0.84–3.19) showed no statistical significance, and midline displacement > 5 mm (OR 4.66; 95% CI 1.87–11.62) showed high heterogeneity. The results of this meta-analysis showed that some imaging features were effective predictors of HPC after TBI. Well-designed prospective studies are needed to more accurately assess the effective predictors of HPC after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs), as an emerging member of the green nanofibril family, have tremendous potential in improving the dispersibility, adsorption and photogenerated carrier separation efficiency of BiOBr because of the combination of the advantages of nanocellulose (NC) and nanolignins. Herein, sulfated lignocellulose nanofibrils (SLCNFs) were obtained from the poplar alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (APMP) using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) and a mechanical defibrillation strategy, and flower-like BiOBr/SLCNF composites with oxygen vacancies were prepared by in situ synthesis. Due to the well-preserved lignin structure, abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, and the interconnected three-dimensional mesh structure in SLCNFs, the composites exhibited flower-like morphology, good dispersion and excellent adsorption performance after the introduction of SLCNFs. EPR analysis showed that the introduction of SLCNFs increased the number of oxygen vacancies in BiOBr, which improved the visible light absorption and reduced the recombination of photogenerated carriers. In addition, the photocatalytic activity improved with interfacial interaction between BiOBr and SLCNFs promoting the separation of electrons and holes. Therefore, BiOBr/SLCNF can effectively remove RhB in the dynamic continuous process of adsorption enrichment and photocatalytic oxidation. Under visible light, 99% of RhB was degraded within 30 min and 88.5% of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) was degraded within 60 min. Importantly, the main active species which removed RhB by BiOBr/SLCNF were ˙O2− and h+, and the BiOBr/SLCNF composites still have good stability and recyclability after 5 times of repeated use. Overall, the BiOBr/SLCNF composite photocatalyst has great potential for the purification of organic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fecal impaction is a digestive system disease, that is most common in the elderly population and becomes more prevalent with increasing age. Manual removal can successfully remove the impaction in 80% of fecal impaction cases. In severe cases, endoscopy and surgery may be necessary. Case presentation: A 78-year-old Han Chinese man living in a nursing home was diagnosed with fecal impaction; his initial symptom was overflow diarrhea, which is a rare occurrence with regard to fecal impaction. Nevertheless, we were able to effectively treat this situation by employing a new medical device that presents a novel method for addressing fecal impaction. Conclusion: Early identification of fecal impaction with atypical symptoms is crucial to provide proper emergency management. A safe and noninvasive treatment method, especially for elderly patients with fecal impaction, should be chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of drugs were altered under high‐altitude hypoxia. We aim to describe the population PK of atorvastatin (ATV) to identify patient characteristics that are predictive of variability in the PK parameters of the ATV and investigate the effects of high‐altitude hypoxia on the blood concentration of ATV in patients with hyperlipidemia. A total of 160 plasma concentrations were collected from 40 patients with hyperlipidemia in plateau areas and 40 in plain areas. The population pharmacokinetic model of patients with hyperlipidemia in plateau and plain areas of China was established by a nonlinear mixed‐effects model. The PK of ATV were described by a 1‐compartment model with first‐order elimination. The main PK parameters of ATV were the first‐order absorption rate (0.76 hour−1 fixed); clearance (174.22 L/h) and apparent volume of distribution (1119.62 L). The values of area and age were identified as significant covariates for the clearance, area, age, and urea for the volume of distribution. The steady‐state peak concentration in the plateau area was higher than that in the plain area. This study may suggest dose reduction is necessary for patients with hyperlipidemia in high altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literature primarily examined the impact of unexpected events on the stock market at a single scale, posing the challenge of a lack of multiscale analysis. This paper investigates the impact of COVID-19 on stock markets (China, the U.S., and Hong Kong) from a multiscale perspective using an improved ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD)-based event analysis method. First, the stock price series is decomposed into several independent intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and a residue. Second, a novel composition method is proposed to reconstruct the IMFs into three components: high-frequency, low-frequency, and long-term trend. We find that the composition of low-frequency and long-term trend components is dominant, which is used to estimate the strength of COVID-19 impact on the stock markets. In addition, the outbreak of COVID-19 significantly increased the intensity of short-term fluctuations in stock prices. Finally, the high-frequency component is analyzed to capture the volatility spillover effects among the three stock markets by the BEKK(Baba-Engle-Kraft-Kroner)-GARCH model. The results show that before the outbreak, there are two-way volatility spillovers between any two of the three markets. After the outbreak, there is no spillover effect between China and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has no spillover effect on the U.S. However, volatility in the U.S. market still has a significant spillover effect on the other two markets, implying that a mature market can absorb new information more quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Progressive infarction (PI) has a negative effect on functional prognosis. Our study aimed to develop and validate a risk score for predicting PI in patients with anterior circulation single subcortical infarction (ACSSI). Methods: Between January 2020 and October 2022, we retrospectively enrolled 638 eligible patients with ACSSI. Two‐thirds of the eligible patients were randomly allocated to the training cohort (n = 425). Another resampling sample was formed through the bootstrap method and was used as the validation group (n = 425). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent factors associated with PI. Each factor was then point assigned based on β‐coefficient and a risk scoring system was developed. This scoring system was internally validated through 1000‐bootstrap resamplings. The C‐statistic and Hosmer‐Lemeshow test were used to assess model discrimination and calibration. Results: PI occurred in 121 patients, accounting for 19.0% of the total patients. A 7‐point NTS score system based on the initial NIHSS score, triglyceride‐glucose index, and the number of infarct slices on axial diffusion‐weighted imaging was developed. The NTS score showed good discrimination and calibration in the training cohort (C‐statistic = 0.686; p value of Hosmer–Lemeshow test = 0.797) and validation cohort (C‐statistic = 0.681; p value of Hosmer–Lemeshow test = 0.451). The three risk levels for predicting PI in the training and validation cohorts based on NTS score were as follows: low (0–2, 9.6% vs. 9.3%), intermediate (3–5, 28.2% vs. 26.7%), and high risk (6–7, 60.2% vs. 57.4%). Interpretation: The NTS score is a valid and convenient risk score for predicting PI in ACSSI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Table tennis athletes have been extensively studied for their cognitive processing advantages and brain plasticity. However, limited research has focused on the resting-state function of their brains. This study aims to investigate the network characteristics of the resting-state electroencephalogram in table tennis athletes and identify specific brain network biomarkers. Methods: A total of 48 healthy right-handed college students participated in this study, including 24 table tennis athletes and 24 controls with no exercise experience. Electroencephalogram data were collected using a 64-conductive active electrode system during eyes-closed resting conditions. The analysis involved examining the average power spectral density and constructing brain functional networks using the weighted phase-lag index. Network topological characteristics were then calculated. Results: The results revealed that table tennis athletes exhibited significantly higher average power spectral density in the α band compared to the control group. Moreover, athletes not only demonstrated stronger functional connections, but they also exhibited enhanced transmission efficiency in the brain network, particularly at the local level. Additionally, a lateralization effect was observed, with more potent interconnected hubs identified in the left hemisphere of the athletes' brain. Conclusions: Our findings imply that the α band may be uniquely associated with table tennis athletes and their motor skills. The brain network characteristics of athletes during the resting state are worth further attention to gain a better understanding of adaptability of and changes in their brains during training and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have indicated that intrapleural infusion of bevacizumab is an effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). However, the impact of bevacizumab administered through an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) on the prognosis of these patients is unknown. Methods: Consecutive advanced NSCLC patients with symptomatic MPE receiving an IPC alone or bevacizumab through an IPC were identified in a tertiary hospital. The patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected. Results: A total of 149 patients were included, and the median age was 60.3 years. Males and nonsmokers accounted for 48.3% and 65.8%, respectively. A total of 69.8% (104/149) of patients harbored actionable mutations, including 92 EGFR-activating mutations, 11 ALK fusions, and 1 ROS1 fusion. A total of 81.9% (122/149) of patients received IPC alone, and 18.1% (27/149) received bevacizumab through an IPC. The incidence of spontaneous pleurodesis during the first 6 months was greater in the bevacizumab-treated group than in the IPC-treated group in the subgroup with actionable mutations (64.3% vs. 46.9%, P = 0.28). The median overall survival (OS) in patients with actionable mutations treated with bevacizumab through an IPC was 42.2 months, which was significantly longer than the 26.7 months in patients who received an IPC alone (P = 0.045). However, the median OS did not differ between the two arms in the subgroup without actionable mutations (10.8 vs. 41.0 months, P = 0.24). No significant difference between the bevacizumab through an IPC group and the IPC group was detected in the number of participants who had adverse events, either in patients with actionable mutations (14.3% vs. 8.4%; P = 0.42) or in patients without actionable mutations (16.7% vs. 12.8%; P = 1.00). Conclusions: Bevacizumab through an IPC resulted in a significantly improved prognosis for NSCLC patients with MPE and actionable mutations. However, patients without actionable mutations do not benefit from bevacizumab through IPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence of the effects of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) on atherosclerosis is limited; the transition effects of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes have been ignored. We examined the association between metabolic health and the transition to atherosclerosis risk across body mass index (BMI) categories in a community population. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was based on a national representative survey that included 50,885 community participants aged ≥40 years. It was conducted from 01 December 2017 to 31 December 2020, in 13 urban and 13 rural regions across Hunan China. Metabolic health was defined as meeting less than three abnormalities in blood pressure, glucose, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, or waist circumference. The participants were cross‐classified at baseline based on their metabolic health and obesity. In addition, the relationship between atherosclerosis and transitions in metabolic health status based on 4733 participants from baseline to the second survey after 2 years was considered. The relationship between metabolic health status and the risk of transition to Carotid atherosclerosis (CA) was assessed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Results: In this study, the mean age of the participants was 60.7 years (standard deviation [SD], 10.91), 53.0% were female, and 51.2% had CA. As compared with metabolically healthy normal weight (MHN), those with MHO phenotype (odd ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.21), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.19–1.35), metabolically unhealthy overweight (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.33–1.48), and metabolically unhealthy obese (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.44–1.64) had higher risk for CA. However, during the follow‐up of 2 years, almost 33% of the participants transitioned to a metabolically unhealthy status. As compared with stable healthy normal weight, transition from metabolically healthy to unhealthy status (hazard ratios [HR] 1.21, 95% [CI] 1.02–1.43) and stable metabolically unhealthy overweight or obesity (MUOO) (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.17–1.48) were associated with higher risk of CA. Conclusions: In the community population, obesity remains a risk factor for CA despite metabolic health. However, the risks were highest for metabolically unhealthy status across all BMI categories. A large proportion of metabolically healthy overweight or participants with obesity converts to an unhealthy phenotype over time, which is associated with an increased risk of CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The management and nursing care of women's temperature during delivery is an important part of clinical obstetrics. We aimed to evaluate maternal intrapartum fever during epidural labour analgesia to provide evidence for the management and care of women in labour. Methods: This study was conducted and reported according to the STROBE statement. Women in labour undergoing epidural labour analgesia in our hospital from 1 January 2021 to 31 August 2022 were retrospectively selected. The characteristics of women in labour with and without intrapartum fever were compared. Pearson correlation and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the influencing factors of postpartum fever. Results: A total of 196 women in labour were included, the incidence of maternal intrapartum fever in women in labour undergoing epidural analgesia was 27.5%. Pearson correlation analyses showed that BMI, oxytocin use, labour duration, number of vaginal examinations, time from rupture of the foetal membranes to the end of labour and duration of epidural analgesia were all correlated with the occurrence of intrapartum fever (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analyses indicated that body mass index ≥28 kg/m2(OR = 1.825), oxytocin use (OR = 2.082), labour duration ≥9.2 h (OR = 2.613), number of vaginal examinations ≥8 (OR = 2.044–3.115), the time from rupture of the foetal membranes to the end of labour ≥250 min (OR = 2.766) and duration of epidural analgesia ≥300 min (OR = 3.106) were risk factors for intrapartum fever in women in labour undergoing epidural analgesia (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Maternal intrapartum fever in women in labour undergoing epidural analgesia is common and influenced by many factors. Nurses should take early preventive care measures according to these factors during epidural analgesia in labour. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Maternal intrapartum fever is commonly seen during epidural analgesia in labour in clinical practice.Intrapartum fever management and nursing care are important to the comfort and prognosis of women in labour. What this paper adds The incidence of maternal intrapartum fever in women in labour undergoing epidural analgesia was 27.5%.BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, oxytocin use, labour duration ≥9.2 h, number of vaginal examinations ≥8, the time from rupture of the foetal membranes to the end of labour ≥250 min and duration of epidural analgesia ≥300 min were risk factors for intrapartum fever. The implications of this paper Targeted nursing care to address identified risk factors are needed to reduce rates of maternal intrapartum fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracting time domain features of facial motion information to recognize unsafe driving behaviors such as fatigue and distraction is helpful to reduce traffic accidents. However, it is uncertain whether facial motion can recognize unsafe behaviors of workers. And whether it can improve recognition accuracy by introducing frequency domain features needs further research. This paper proposes a recognition method of workers' unsafe behavior based on frequency domain features of facial motion information. Firstly, the facial video of workers is obtained. And Gabor, histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) and local binary patterns (LBP) motion information are extracted. Then frequency domain features of these information are calculated, and finally sent to machine learning classifiers to recognize unsafe behavior. The results show that: (1) Compared with safe behavior, the complexity of facial motions during unsafe behavior is higher, especially in nose and mouth areas. (2) Wavelet entropy frequency domain features of Gabor motion information can better describe the complexity and have higher recognition accuracy (AUC = 0.766); (3) The proposed method can recognize unsafe behaviors of workers and is effective for operation errors (AUC = 0.818). The results can be used as a new idea to recognize unsafe behaviors of workers and provide technical support for on-site safety management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the attitude tracking problem for rigid spacecraft subject to external disturbance, inertia uncertainties, and actuator faults is investigated. A novel continuous control strategy is proposed to guarantee that the attitude tracking errors converge with desired performance before an appointed time. In addition, the proposed control law can enable the closed‐loop system to be unwinding‐free. For the purpose, a modified appointed‐time performance function (APF) is used to construct a disturbance observer‐based adaptive attitude control law based on the special orthogonal group (SO(3)). With the aid of the modified APFs, desired performance metrics, including transient and steady‐state performance, on the attitude tracking error can be specified in advance without the requirement for initial values of the tracking system to avoid singularity. By resorting to error transformation and backstepping technique, the control design process is simplified and a few control gains are involved in the proposed control law. Rigorous stability analysis based on the Lyapunov theory is provided to prove the appointed‐time stability of the attitude tracking error as well as the boundedness of all signals in the closed‐loop system despite external disturbance, inertia uncertainties, and actuator faults. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to support the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an established risk factor for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Although there are reports on the correlation of diabetes and stroke, data on its pathogenesis is limited. This study aimed to explore the underlying biological mechanisms and promising intervention targets of diabetes-related stroke. Methods: Diabetes-related datasets (GSE38642 and GSE44035) and stroke-related datasets (GSE16561 and GSE22255) were obtained from the Gene Expression omnibus (GEO) database. The key modules for stroke and diabetes were identified by weight gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes Genomes (KEGG) analyses were employed in the key module. Genes in stroke- and diabetes-related key modules were intersected to obtain common genes for T2DM-related stroke. In order to discover the key genes in T2DM-related stroke, the Cytoscape and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed. The key genes were functionally annotated in the Reactome database. Results: By intersecting the diabetes- and stroke-related crucial modules, 24 common genes for T2DM-related stroke were identified. Metascape showed that neutrophil extracellular trap formation was primarily enriched. The hub gene was granulin precursor (GRN), which had the highest connectivity among the common genes. In addition, functional enrichment analysis indicated that GRN was involved in neutrophil degranulation, thus regulating neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Conclusions: This study firstly revealed that neutrophil extracellular trap formation may represent the common biological processes of diabetes and stroke, and GRN may be potential intervention targets for T2DM-related stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence shows that the abnormal increase in the mortality of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) caused by apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis is closely related to the function of mucous membrane immunity and barrier function in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). As a procedural death path that integrates the above-mentioned many deaths, the role of PANoptosis in UC has not been clarified. This study aims to explore the characterization of PANoptosis patterns and determine the potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We constructed a PANoptosis gene set and revealed significant activation of PANoptosis in UC patients based on multiple transcriptome profiles of intestinal mucosal biopsies from the GEO database. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis revealed five key genes (ZBP1, AIM2, CASP1/8, IRF1) of PANoptosome with good diagnostic value and were highly correlated with an increase in pro-inflammatory immune cells and factors. In addition, we established a reliable ceRNA regulatory network of PANoptosis and predicted three potential small-molecule drugs sharing calcium channel blockers that were identified, among which flunarizine exhibited the highest correlation with a high binding affinity to the targets. Finally, we used the DSS-induced colitis model to validate our findings. This study identifies key genes of PANoptosis associated with UC development and hypothesizes that IRF1 as a TF promotes PANoptosome multicomponent expression, activates PANoptosis, and then induces IECs excessive death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy has developed rapidly in recent years. This study aimed to establish a prognostic signature for immune‐related genes (IRGs) and explore related potential immunotherapies. The RNA‐seq transcriptome profiles and clinicopathological information of patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Differentially expressed IRGs in tumors and normal tissues were screened and a risk score signature was constructed to predict the prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Receiver operating characteristic curves, survival analyses, and correlation analyses were used to explore the clinical application of this model. We further analyzed the differences in clinical characteristics, immune infiltration, somatic mutations, and treatment sensitivity between the high‐ and low‐risk populations characterized by the prognostic models. The immune cell infiltration score and immune‐related pathway activity were calculated using the single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) set enrichment analysis. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes, and GSEA were used to explore the underlying mechanisms. We constructed a nine‐IRG formula to predict the prognosis in HCC patients. The higher the risk score, the higher the malignancy of the tumor and the worse the prognosis. There were significant differences in immune related processes between the high‐ and low‐risk groups. TP53 and CTNNB1 mutations were significantly different between different risk groups. The expression of model gene was closely related to the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. This risk score model, which is helpful for the individualized treatment of patients with different risk factors, could be a reliable prognostic tool for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass resources possessed the advantages of being natural, renewable, abundant, inexpensive, and easy to degrade. Therefore, fabricated bio‐based UV‐curable materials have gradually attracted much more attention, which meet the requirements of sustainable development and save petrochemical resources. In this paper, cardanol was modified to synthesize radical reactive diluent and hybrid reactive diluent by a facial method and was used to adjust the viscosity and reduce the volume shrinkage of UV‐curable epoxy acrylic resin. The structure–activity properties and UV‐curing kinetics of the obtained UV‐curable materials were clarified, and the anti‐shrinkage mechanism was also explored. In addition, the obtained cardanol‐based materials were compared with petroleum based diluent methyl methacrylate (MMA) and application for UV‐curable coatings. The volume shrinkage of the cardanol‐based reactive diluents was 3.5% and 2.1%, respectively, which were lower than MMA (4.6%). The CC conversion of the cardanol‐based reactive diluent exhibited the highest value of 79.6%. This work provided a specific theoretical basis for the subsequent design and application of bio‐based UV‐curable resins. It is of certain significance to the alleviation of the shortage of petrochemical resources and the sustainable development of the UV‐curable coating industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse the efficacy of the therapeutic use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the tissue repair process of allogeneic scleral grafts in patients with contracted sockets by analysing the speed of graft vascularisation and fornice depth of contraction percentage. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed from April 2015 to April 2021 including 39patients with socket contraction. Allogeneic scleral grafts were used to repair the sockets in all patients. They were randomly enrolled into two groups. The laser group included 18 patients treated with LLLT after the surgery, whereas the control group included 21 patients without LLLT after the surgery who healed naturally. The LLLT equipment used in the research had a wavelength of 650 nm, 10 mW power, and 3.8 J/cm2 dosimetry, and the procedure was performed once daily for 5 min over 7 days, beginning 1 week postoperatively. All patients were followed up over 6 months to examine the changes in the size of the area of the non-vascularised graft and upper and inferior fornice depth. Results: The laser group presented a significantly increased speed of conjunctival vascularisation compared with the control group (P = 0.003). The fornice depth of contraction percentage was more apparent in the control group than that in the laser group (P = 0.000). Conclusion: LLLT accelerates conjunctival vascularisation, stimulates conjunctival incision healing within a short period, shortens the tissue repair process, reduces the local inflammatory response, and causes no significant shrinkage of the conjunctival sac. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in endoscopically resected early gastric carcinoma (EGC). Methods: Altogether 136 consecutive cases with EGC resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection over 5 years were included and divided into the early gastric cardiac (EGCC; n = 60) and non‐cardiac carcinoma (EGNCC; n = 76) groups. Goblet cell IM and subtypes were determined with histology and immunostaining. Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was compared among various IM groups. Results: IM was identified in 128 (94.1%) EGC cases, including complete IM (n = 39), incomplete IM (n = 27), and mixed IM (n = 62). Incomplete IM was significantly more common in EGCC and exhibited a lower frequency of en bloc resection than the complete subtype. The frequency of synchronous or metachronous gastric tumor was significantly more common in EGCC with complete IM than in those with incomplete IM. Compared to EGC without IM, EGC with IM showed a significantly higher frequency of non‐poorly cohesive carcinoma, en bloc resection, and non‐eCuraC‐1 grade. EGNCC with IM was significantly associated with negative resection margins and en bloc resection. The 5‐year RFS was significantly lower in EGNCC patients with incomplete IM compared with those with mixed IM. The independent risk factors for RFS included tumor size >2 cm and eCuraC‐1 grade. Conclusions: Subtyping IM in EGC helped predict endoscopic resectability, prognosis, and risk of synchronous or metachronous gastric tumor. The significance of IM differed between EGCC and EGNCC. Large studies with longer follow‐up are warranted to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alternative splicing (AS) of Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) and their expression profiles had never been illuminated in goats until now. Herein, a novel splice transcript in the CPT1a gene that is predicted to result in the skipping of exons 6–19 (CPT1a-sv1) has been isolated in addition to the full-length transcript in goats. The result of RT-PCR showed that CPT1a-sv1 is 606 bp in length and consists of 6 exons. A novel exon 6 was consisted of partial exon 5 and partial exon 19, compared to that in CPT1a. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression patterns of CPT1a and CPT1a-sv1 are spatially different. In both kid and adult goats, the CPT1a transcript is strongly expressed in the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain tissues. However, CPT1a-sv1 has a strong tissue-specific expression pattern, with moderate RNA levels in the liver and brain of kids, while highly expressed in the liver and minimally expressed in the brain of adults. We observed two transcripts to be involved in brain development. These findings improve our understanding of the function of the CPT1a gene in goats and provide information on the molecular mechanism of AS events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term glucocorticoid therapy may lead to osteoporosis (OP). Selenium (Se) is an essential microelement for human health and bone health. This study evaluated the association between dietary Se intake and the prevalence of OP and further explored the potential therapeutic effect of Se on glucocorticoid-induced OP (GIOP) in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Data were collected from a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in our hospital. OP is diagnosed based on bone mineral density (BMD) measurements using compact radiographic absorptiometry. Dietary Se intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between dietary Se intake and OP prevalence was analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. In animal experiments, male Sprague–Dawley rats were intramuscularly injected with dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) daily to induce GIOP, while different doses of Se were supplemented in rat drinking water for 60 d. BMD and biomechanical parameters of rat femur were measured. The histopathological changes of the femur were observed by HE staining, the number of osteoclasts was observed by TRAP staining, and OCN positive expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining. OPG, RANKL, Runx2, and BMP2 in rat femur were detected by Western blot. Bone turnover markers and oxidative stress markers were measured using commercial kits. MC3T3-E1 cells were induced to osteogenic differentiation, stimulated with DXM (100 μM), and/or treated with Se at different doses. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8 and flow cytometry. ALP activity was detected by ALP staining and cell mineralization was observed by alizarin red staining. Results: Participants with lower dietary Se intake had higher OP prevalence. Se supplementation improved BMD, biomechanical parameters, and histopathological changes of the femur in GIOP rats. Se supplementation also suppressed DXM-induced changes in bone turnover- and oxidative stress-related markers. Under DXM conditions, Se treatment induced MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, ALP activity, and mineralization. Conclusion: Lower Dietary Se intake is associated with OP prevalence. Moreover, Se takes a position in bone protection and anti-oxidative stress in GIOP models. Therefore, Se may be a complementary potential treatment for GIOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes of patients with duodenal Brunner's gland adenomas (BGAs) that were treated endoscopically. Methods: We identified 71 consecutive patients treated at our center with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for their duodenal tumors diagnosed pathologically as BGAs over the period between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2021. We retrospectively analyzed our experience and short- and long-term outcomes of ESD therapy on patients with BGAs. Results: Among 71 BGA patients with an average age of 57 ± 11.7 years (range: 30–82), 48 (67.6%) were male and 23 (32.4%) were female. The accuracy of preoperative diagnosis with endoscopic ultrasonography was 44.0% (22/50). The H. pylori infection was found in 29 patients (29/71, 40.8%). The median size of BGAs was 1.5 cm (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8–2.7 cm). The most common location was the duodenum bulb (50/71, 64.8%). For the ESD procedure, the median operation time was 15.0 min (IQR 9.5–25.5 min). The en bloc and the complete resection rates were 97.2% and 92.3%, respectively. ESD-related mild acute obstructive pancreatitis was present in 2 patients (2/4, 50%) with BGAs located in the ampulla region. During the follow-up period, 1 patient with a positive peripheral margin experienced tumor recurrence 2 years after the initial ESD. There was no disease-related death for the cohort. Conclusion: ESD was an effective and safe therapeutic option for BGA patients with excellent outcomes. Long-term follow-up is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]