Search

Polyploid plants often exhibit superior yield, stress resistance, and quality. In this study, homologous tetraploid wucai (Brassica campestris L.) was successfully obtained by spraying seedling growth points with colchicine. The morphological, cytological, and physiological characteristics of diploid and tetraploid wucai were analyzed, and transcriptomic sequencing was performed at three stages of development. Tetraploid seedings grew slowly but exhibited darker leaves, enlarged organs and cells, increased stomatal volume, decreased stomatal density, improved nutritional content, and enhanced photosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in diploid and tetraploid plants at three stages of development were enriched in different pathways. Notably, DEGs identified in the tetraploid plants were specifically enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. In addition, we found that the light green module was most relevant to ploidy, and DEGs in this module were significantly enriched in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and TCA cycle pathways. The differential expression of key glycolysis-associated genes at different developmental stages may be the driver of the observed differences between diploid and tetraploid wucai. This study lays a technical foundation for the development of polyploid wucai germplasm resources as well as the breeding of new varieties with improved quality, yield, and stress resistance. It also provides a good empirical reference for the genetic breeding of closely related Brassica species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Evidence suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) decrease liver fibrosis, an intermediate step between liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to investigate the association between the use of ACEIs and ARBs on incident HCC and liver-related mortality among patients with HBV infection. Methods: We conducted a population-based study on a new-user cohort of patients seen at 24 hospitals across China. We included adult patients with HBV infection who started ACEIs or ARBs (ACEIs/ARBs), or calcium channel blockers or thiazide diuretics (CCBs/THZs) from January 2012 to December 2022. The primary outcome was incident HCC; secondary outcomes were liver-related mortality and new-onset cirrhosis. We used propensity score matching and Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of study outcomes. Results: Among 32 692 eligible patients (median age 58 [interquartile range (IQR) 48–68] yr, and 18 804 male [57.5%]), we matched 9946 pairs of patients starting ACEIs/ARBs or CCBs/THZs. During a mean follow-up of 2.3 years, the incidence rate of HCC per 1000 person-years was 4.11 and 5.94 among patients who started ACEIs/ARBs and CCBs/THZs, respectively, in the matched cohort. Use of ACEIs/ARBs was associated with lower risks of incident HCC (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.86), liver-related mortality (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64–0.93), and new-onset cirrhosis (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.94). Interpretation: In this cohort of patients with HBV infection, new users of ACEIs/ARBs had a lower risk of incident HCC, liver-related mortality, and new-onset cirrhosis than new users of CCBs/THZs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that an elevated triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was associated with all-cause mortality in both general adult individuals and critically ill adult patients. However, the relationship between the TyG index and clinical prognosis in pediatric patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the association of the TyG index with in-hospital all-cause mortality in critically ill pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 5706 patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care database were enrolled in this study. The primary outcome was 30-day in-hospital all-cause mortality, and secondary outcome was 30-day in-ICU all-cause mortality. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves and two-piecewise multivariate Cox hazard regression models were performed to explore the relationship between the TyG index and outcomes. Results: The median age of the study population was 20.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 4.8, 63.0] months, and 3269 (57.3%) of the patients were male. The mean TyG index level was 8.6 ± 0.7. A total of 244 (4.3%) patients died within 30 days of hospitalization during a median follow-up of 11 [7, 18] days, and 236 (4.1%) patients died in ICU within 30 days of hospitalization during a median follow-up of 6 [3, 11] days. The RCS curves indicated a U-shape association between the TyG index and 30-day in-hospital and in-ICU all-cause mortality (both P values for non-linear < 0.001). The risk of 30-day in-hospital all-cause mortality was negatively correlated with the TyG index until it bottoms out at 8.6 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55–0.93). However, when the TyG index was higher than 8.6, the risk of primary outcome increased significantly (adjusted HR, 1.51, 95% CI 1.16–1.96]). For 30-day in-ICU all-cause mortality, we also found a similar relationship (TyG < 8.6: adjusted HR, 0.75, 95% CI 0.57–0.98; TyG ≥ 8.6: adjusted HR, 1.42, 95% CI 1.08–1.85). Those results were consistent in subgroups and various sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Our study showed that the association between the TyG index and 30-day in-hospital and in-ICU all-cause mortality was nonlinear U-shaped, with a cutoff point at the TyG index of 8.6 in critically ill pediatric patients. Our findings suggest that the TyG index may be a novel and important factor for the short-term clinical prognosis in pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TP53 comutation is related to poor prognosis of non‐small cell lung cancer. However, there is limited study focusing on the structural influence of TP53 mutation on third‐generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) treatment. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and molecular data of patients treated with third‐generation EGFR‐TKIs in two independent cohorts. A total of 117 patients from the Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and 141 patients from the American Association for Cancer Research Project GENIE database were included. In the SYSUCC cohort, TP53 comutations were found in 59 patients (50.4%) and were associated with poor median progress‐free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS). The additional subtype analysis found that TP53 mutation in the alpha‐helix region had shorter mOS compared with those with TP53 mutations in other regions in the SYSUCC cohort (mOS, 12.2 vs. 21.7 months; p = 0.027). Similar findings were confirmed in the GENIE cohort. Specifically, the presence of TP53 mutation in the alpha‐helix region was an independent negative predictive factor for PFS [hazard ratio (HR) 2.05(1.01–4.18), p = 0.048] and OS [HR 3.62(1.60–8.17), p = 0.002] in the SYSUCC cohort. TP53 mutation in alpha‐helix region was related to inferior clinical outcomes in patients treated with third‐generation EGFR‐TKIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsupervised video prediction is widely applied in intelligent decision-making scenarios due to its capability to model unknown scenes. Traditional video prediction models based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gate Recurrent Unit (GRU) consume large amounts of computational resources while constantly losing the original picture information. This paper addresses the challenges discussed and introduces PSRUNet, a novel model featuring the lightweight ParallelSRU unit. By prioritizing global spatiotemporal features and minimizing redundancy, PSRUNet effectively enhances the model’s early perception of complex spatiotemporal changes. The addition of an encoder-decoder architecture captures high-dimensional image information, and information recall is introduced to mitigate gradient vanishing during deep network training. We evaluated the performance of PSRUNet and analyzed the capabilities of ParallelSRU in real-world applications, including short-term precipitation forecasting, traffic flow prediction, and human behavior prediction. Experimental results across multiple video prediction benchmarks demonstrate that PSRUNet achieves remarkably efficient and cost-effective predictions, making it a promising solution for meeting the real-time and accuracy requirements of practical business scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococcus faecium B13, selected from fermentation chili, has been proven to promote animal growth by previous studies, but it belongs to opportunistic pathogens, so a comprehensive evaluation of its probiotic properties and safety is necessary. In this study, the probiotic properties and safety of B13 were evaluated at the genetic and phenotype levels in vitro and then confirmed in vivo. The genome of B13 contains one chromosome and two plasmids. The average nucleotide identity indicated that B13 was most closely related to the fermentation-plant-derived strain. The strain does not carry the major virulence genes of the clinical E. faecium strains but contains aac(6′)-Ii, ant (6)-Ia, msrC genes. The strain had a higher tolerance to acid at pH 3.0, 4.0, and 0.3% bile salt and a 32.83% free radical DPPH clearance rate. It can adhere to Caco-2 cells and reduce the adhesion of E. coli to Caco-2 cells. The safety assessment revealed that the strain showed no hemolysis and did not exhibit gelatinase, ornithine decarboxylase, lysine decarboxylase, or tryptophanase activity. It was sensitive to twelve antibiotics but was resistant to erythromycin, rifampicin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline. Experiments in vivo have shown that B13 can be located in the ileum and colon and has no adverse effects on experiment animals. After 28 days of feeding, B13 did not remarkable change the α-diversity of the gut flora or increase the virulence genes. Our study demonstrated that E. faecium B13 may be used as a probiotic candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Insufficient withdrawal duration of antithrombotics leads to excessive bleeding after major surgery. We hypothesize that intraoperative hemoadsorption (HA) can reduce postoperative allogeneic transfusion requirements and excessive bleeding events (EBE), without an increase in ischemic/thromboembolic events (ITE) in patients who have taken antithrombotics and undergone nonelective cardiac surgery. Methods: A total of 460 patients admitted to our hospital from 2018 to 2022 were included in this study and divided into two groups: HA and non-HA. Because of the risk of bias due to differences in antithrombotic type, withdrawal duration, or basic coagulation function, propensity score matching was used for analyses. Results: Out of 154 cases in the HA group, 144 pairs were successfully matched. No HA safety events such as hemolysis, hypotension, or device failure occurred. After matching, the two groups were found to be comparable in preoperative antithrombotic type, withdrawal duration, platelets and coagulation function, and demographic and perioperative characteristics. Although the HA group did not have a reduced incidence of EBE, this group exhibited significant decreases in the transfusion rate and volume, the incidence of ITE, acute kidney injury, and central nervous system injury. Conclusions: For patients who have undergone nonelective cardiac surgery and taken antithrombotics, HA can simply and safely rebalance the postoperative coagulation system and have associations with reduced transfusion and postoperative ITE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a method for the synthesis of thioethers by forging C(aryl)‐S bond via an aryne mechanism. The active aryne species can be generated from o‐diiodoarenes and NaH in THF at room temperature, then lead to the arylations of a wide range of aryl thiols and thioureas. Different from transition metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions, no disubstituted byproduct is formed in our protocol. The o‐iodoaryl thioether products are intermediates that could be transformed into pharmaceutically interesting molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) are widely used in the field of optoelectronics due to their excellent luminescent properties. However, CDs have difficulty achieving long-wavelength modulation due to their complex structure and unclear luminescence mechanism, which limit their application and development in real-life situations. In this work, we explored the effect of the degree of carbonization on the long-wavelength emission of CDs. In this work, blue, green, and red fluorescent CDs were prepared by a hydrothermal carbonization method using sodium lignosulfonate as a carbon source. The experimental results show that the size and graphitization degree of CDs increase gradually with increasing carbonization time, and the sp2 structure and graphite N atoms also increase gradually, which causes the fluorescence red shift of CDs, which is verified by chemical simulation calculations. The starch was embedded in CDs to prepare tricolor phosphors, which were applied to full-color light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Finally, the combination of CDs and modules extends the range of applications for which CDs can be used. The prepared multifunctional modules that can be used for multicolor switching can be used not only for plant lighting to promote plant growth but also for indoor lighting. This work has implications for the modulation of long-wavelength emission of CD fluorescence, expanding the practical applications of LEDs prepared from CDs and promoting the development of CDs in the field of optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐healing materials exhibit the ability to repair damage and restore their function. Shape memory assisted self‐healing (SMASH) materials are smart materials that automatically close localized microscopic cracks and repair these cracks by bonding damaged surfaces. A novel temperature‐responsive SMASH polymer composite was established by introducing Diels–Alder bonds (D–A) in polyurethane. In this article, dynamic D–A produced by the polymerization of furfurylamine and 4,4'‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane was introduced into the molecular chain to enable the polyurethane elastomers containing D–A bonds to acquire self‐repairing capability. The self‐healing properties of the synthesized material were examined using polarized light microscopy, which revealed excellent fracture healing. The mechanical properties before and after healing were tested, in which the initial maximum tensile strength of the material could reach 7.9 MPa, and the maximum tensile strength after self‐healing was 7.3 MPa, with a repair rate of 91.8%; the maximum elongation was 585.9%, and the maximum elongation after self‐healing was 469.5%, with a repair rate of 80.1%. In addition, this material has excellent repair performance for microcracks of different scales, and the micromolten part of the surface after heating can fill the micrometer cracks, play the role of antiaging, and extend the service life of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential immunotherapy has shown certain advantages in malignancy. Here, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of sequential anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (R/M NPC). We retrospectively analysis 2 phase I trial of ipilimumab and camrelizumab in Chinese R/M NPC patients. These patients were initially treated with ipilimumab, a CTLA4 blockade, followed by anti-PD-1 treatment. We observed a durable tumor remission in these patients (mPFS: 12.3 months; mDoR: 20.9 months). Multimodal investigations of biopsy samples disclosed remodeling of tumor-immune microenvironment triggered by ipilimumab. In responders, we found increased tumoral PD-L1/PD-L2 expression and T-cell infiltration after ipilimumab treatment, accompanied by reduced stroma and malignant cell components. In contrast, non-responders exhibited increased B-cell infiltration and increased peripheral CD19 + B cells, suggesting a defective transition from memory B cells to plasma cells. This study proposes that sequential therapy can potentially enhance treatment efficacy in chemotherapy-resistant NPC patients and provides insights into how preexisting anti-CTLA4 blockade can influence subsequent anti-PD-1 efficacy by remodeling the TME. Additionally, our results highlight the need for therapeutic strategies targeting naïve/memory B cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nanling region is located at the intersection of the Yangtze Block and Cathaysia Block and is characterized by complex geological and tectonic processes, as well as distinct W-Sn-REE mineralization. Despite extensive research on the mineralization of W-Sn and REE deposits in the Nanling region, the factors impacting the distribution pattern of eastern tungsten and western tin deposits, as well as the mechanism of REE enrichment in the parent rocks, remain uncertain. Deep structural and tectonic variability plays a crucial role in the formation of mineral deposits in the upper crust. Information on deep structural and tectonic variability is contained in the Moho depth, Curie depth, effective elastic thickness, lithospheric density, and thermal structure derived from the processing and inversion of satellite gravity and magnetic data. In this paper, we comprehensively analyse satellite gravity and magnetic data from the Nanling region, integrating the processing and inversion results with the tectonic evolution of this region and relevant geological information. It is hypothesized that the Chenzhou–Linwu fault serves as a channel for mineral and thermal transfer in the Sn ore aggregation zone, facilitating the material transport from the deep mantle to the surface and ultimately leading to the formation of Sn-enriched granite. The collection area of tungsten ore is more weakly associated with the Chenzhou–Linwu fault, and through deep heat transfer, tungsten components are primarily concentrated in the Earth's crust to produce W-enriched granite. The primary source of REE enrichment in the parent rocks associated with REE mineralization is predominantly derived from the felsic crust, and the rapid intrusion of deep magma resulting from the subduction and retraction of the Palaeo-Pacific Plate is a contributing factor to the contrasting enrichment of light and heavy rare-earth elements. Mineral crystalline differentiation is relatively high, leading to the formation of ore-forming parent rocks with high heavy rare-earth element contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combined small-cell lung carcinoma (cSCLC) represents a rare subtype of SCLC, the mechanisms governing the evolution of cancer genomes and their impact on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) within distinct components of cSCLC remain elusive. Methods: Here, we conducted whole-exome and RNA sequencing on 32 samples from 16 cSCLC cases. Results: We found striking similarities between two components of cSCLC-LCC/LCNEC (SCLC combined with large-cell carcinoma/neuroendocrine) in terms of tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor neoantigen burden (TNB), clonality structure, chromosomal instability (CIN), and low levels of immune cell infiltration. In contrast, the two components of cSCLC-ADC/SCC (SCLC combined with adenocarcinoma/squamous-cell carcinoma) exhibited a high level of tumor heterogeneity. Our investigation revealed that cSCLC originated from a monoclonal source, with two potential transformation modes: from SCLC to SCC (mode 1) and from ADC to SCLC (mode 2). Therefore, cSCLC might represent an intermediate state, potentially evolving into another histological tumor morphology through interactions between tumor and TIME surrounding it. Intriguingly, RB1 inactivation emerged as a factor influencing TIME heterogeneity in cSCLC, possibly through neoantigen depletion. Conclusions: Together, these findings delved into the clonal origin and TIME heterogeneity of different components in cSCLC, shedding new light on the evolutionary processes underlying this enigmatic subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement learning (RL) interacts with the environment to solve sequential decision-making problems via a trial-and-error approach. Errors are always undesirable in real-world applications, even though RL excels at playing complex video games that permit several trial-and-error attempts. To improve sample efficiency and thus reduce errors, model-based reinforcement learning (MBRL) is believed to be a promising direction, as it constructs environment models in which trial-and-errors can occur without incurring actual costs. In this survey, we investigate MBRL with a particular focus on the recent advancements in deep RL. There is a generalization error between the learned model of a non-tabular environment and the actual environment. Consequently, it is crucial to analyze the disparity between policy training in the environment model and that in the actual environment, guiding algorithm design for improved model learning, model utilization, and policy training. In addition, we discuss the recent developments of model-based techniques in other forms of RL, such as offline RL, goal-conditioned RL, multi-agent RL, and meta-RL. Furthermore, we discuss the applicability and benefits of MBRL for real-world tasks. Finally, this survey concludes with a discussion of the promising future development prospects for MBRL. We believe that MBRL has great unrealized potential and benefits in real-world applications, and we hope this survey will encourage additional research on MBRL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle and Upper Permian Dalong and Gufeng Formations in South China have recently been considered as potential gas-producing shales. However, their pore structure characteristics remain poorly understood. To investigate the pore structure and fractal characteristics of the pores in these two formations, a suite of shale samples from the Dalong and Gufeng Formations in the western Hubei Province, South China were analyzed by multiple techniques, namely, TOC content, X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogy analysis, optical microscopy observations, major elemental analysis, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and low-pressure gas adsorption measurements (N2 and CO2). The identified major shale lithofacies include siliceous mudstone, carbonaceous mudstone, argillaceous-siliceous mixed mudstone, and calcareous-siliceous mixed mudstone. SEM images show that the dominant pore types include the pores between brittle minerals, slit-shaped pores between clay sheets, and secondary organic matter (OM) pores within solid bitumen. The pore size distribution is dominated by micropores and mesopores (<30 nm), which are the major contributors to total pore volume and surface area for the Dalong and Gufeng Formations. Based on the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) method, fractal dimensions (D1, D2) calculated from the nitrogen adsorption data have a range of from 2.489 to 2.772 (D1) and from 2.658 to 2.963 (D2), and are higher in the Gufeng Formation (average TOC = 8.3 wt.%) due to a higher TOC content comparing to the Dalong Formation (average TOC = 6.2 wt.%). The pore development and fractal characteristics are primarily controlled by organic matter (OM), carbonate minerals, and clay minerals for both the Dalong and Gufeng Formations. Shale samples with high TOC content, low carbonate content, and high clay content tend to develop more heterogeneous micropores and mesopores, which is ascribed to the generation of clay-related and OM-hosted pores, along with the destruction of primary pores by pore-filling carbonate cements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have achieved substantial advancements in clinical care. However, there is no strong evidence for identified biomarkers of ICIs in NPC. In this retrospective study, 284 patients were enrolled into a training or validation cohort. Inflammatory indexes based on peripheral blood parameters were evaluated, including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), and the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR). The optimum cut-off value for patient stratification was identified using X-tile. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's proportional regression analyses were used to identify prognostic factors. Immunotherapy significantly changed the levels of SII, NLR, PLR, LCR and LMR in NPC patients. Patients with lower SII, NLR, and PLR, as well as those with higher LCR and LMR, before immunotherapy had superior PFS (all p < 0.05). Moreover, PFS in the decreased SII, reduced NLR and increased LMR group was significantly longer than in the opposite group (all p < 0.05). Both univariate and multivariate analyses validated that baseline SII and LMR, and the immunotherapy-related SII reduction and LMR elevation were independent prognostic factors for PFS in advanced NPC patients receiving ICIs. Immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments significantly changed the levels of SII, NLR, PLR, LCR and LMR in NPC patients treated with immunotherapy. A lower baseline SII and a higher baseline LMR, and a reduction in SII and an elevation in LMR after immunotherapy are favorable factors for predicting survival among advanced NPC patients. There is no strong evidence for identified biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Lower baseline SII and higher baseline LMR were related to better PFS. The dynamic changes of SII and LMR were independent prognostic factors for the survival of NPC patients receiving ICIs. Neutrophils, platelets, lymphocytes, and monocytes can be used as cheap and valuable biomarkers for predicting tumor response in NPC on immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effects of centralized health management based on hot spring resorts on the physical examination index and sleep quality of people at high risk of chronic diseases. We recruited 114 volunteers at high risk of chronic diseases. We then divided them into 57 in the intervention group and 57 in the control group. The intervention group collectively received 4 weeks (28 days) of comprehensive health management interventions at Tongjing Hotspring Resort, including regular schedules, balanced diet, appropriate exercise, targeted health education, etc. The main outcomes are physical examination indicators (height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids, and glucose) and sleep quality. Both groups underwent a questionnaire and physical examination at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Intragroup comparisons grouped by exposure criteria showed decreases in BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and blood glucose in the intervention group at both 2 and 4 weeks (all P < 0.05); however, in the control group, only triglycerides decreased at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Intergroup comparisons showed BMI and waist circumference were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at 4 weeks (all P < 0.05). Intragroup comparisons of insomnia severity index (ISI) scores showed a significant decrease in the intervention group at both 2 and 4 weeks (all P < 0.001) with no significant change in the control group (P > 0.05). Intergroup comparisons showed that the insomnia severity index (ISI) scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at baseline (P = 0.006) but became significantly lower than the control group at 2 and 4 weeks (all P < 0.001). Thus, this pattern significantly improved BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, and sleep in the intervention group. Trial registration number: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry: ChiCTR2100053201, registered 14 Nov 2021. (Retroactive Registration) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been associated with increased risks of new-onset and worsening proteinuria. However, epidemiologic data for post-AKI proteinuria was still lacking. This study aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors and clinical correlations of post-AKI proteinuria among hospitalized patients. Methods This study was conducted in a multicenter cohort including patients aged 18–100 years with hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI) hospitalized at 19 medical centers throughout China. The primary outcome was the incidence of post-AKI proteinuria. Secondary outcomes included AKI recovery and kidney disease progression. The results of both quantitative and qualitative urinary protein tests were used to define post-AKI proteinuria. Cox proportional hazard model with stepwise regression was used to determine the risk factors for post-AKI proteinuria. Results Of 6206 HA-AKI patients without proteinuria at baseline, 2102 (33.9%) had new-onset proteinuria, whereas of 5137 HA-AKI with baseline proteinuria, 894 (17.4%) had worsening proteinuria after AKI. Higher AKI stage and preexisting CKD diagnosis were risk factors for new-onset proteinuria and worsening proteinuria, whereas treatment with renin–angiotensin system inhibitors was associated with an 11% lower risk of incident proteinuria. About 60% and 75% of patients with post-AKI new-onset and worsening proteinuria, respectively, recovered within 3 months. Worsening proteinuria was associated with a lower incidence of AKI recovery and a higher risk of kidney disease progression. Conclusions Post-AKI proteinuria is common and usually transient among hospitalized patients. The risk profiles for new-onset and worsening post-AKI proteinuria differed markedly. Worsening proteinuria after AKI was associated with adverse kidney outcomes, which emphasized the need for close monitoring of proteinuria after AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online reviews may influence unsafe acts and are significant in the context of big data. This study acquired online reviews related to air traffic control from social media websites. The word frequency statistics and coding of negative comments were taken to mine risk factors. Combined with the human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS), a conceptual model of the risk factors associated with the unsafe acts of air traffic controllers (ATCers) was constructed. The results indicate that the frequency of risk factors in online reviews, ranked from high to low, is organizational influences, ATCers' adverse states, environmental factors and unsafe supervision. Organizational influences, environmental factors and unsafe supervision indirectly affect the unsafe acts through the ATCers' adverse states. It is demonstrated that the combination of HFACS and online reviews to identify risk factors enables the identification of problems in the air traffic control industry and demands of ATCers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is widely used for evaluating organ perfusion, but its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between MAP and all‐cause mortality and readmission in patients with HF. Methods and results: We retrospectively analysed data from PhysioNet, involving 2005 patients with HF admitted to Zigong Fourth People's Hospital between 2016 and 2019. The primary outcomes were composite outcomes of all‐cause mortality and readmission at 3 and 6 months. The secondary outcomes were readmission at 3 and 6 months. Multivariate‐adjusted Cox regression models, restricted cubic spline curves (RCS), and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to explore the relationship between MAP and clinical outcomes. Among 2005 patients with HF [≥70 years, 1460 (72.8%); male, 843 (42.0%)], the incidence of primary outcome at 3 months was 33.4% (223/668), 24.4% (163/668), and 22.7% (152/669), and at 6 months, it was 47.5% (317/668), 38.5% (257/668), and 38.0% (254/669) across MAP tertiles [from Tertile 1 (T1) to Tertile 3 (T3)], respectively. The RCS showed an 'L‐shaped' relationship between MAP and primary or secondary endpoints. Multivariate‐adjusted Cox models showed that a higher MAP was significantly associated with a lower risk of composite endpoints at 3 months [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–0.92, P = 0.006, Tertile 2 (T2); aHR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.86, P = 0.001, T3] and 6 months (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67–0.93, P = 0.005, T2; aHR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64–0.91, P = 0.003, T3) compared with T1. After 1:1 PSM, the effect of maintaining a relatively higher MAP was slightly attenuated. Threshold analyses indicated that per 10 mmHg increase in MAP, there was a 21% and 14% decrease in composite endpoints at 3 and 6 months, respectively (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.69–0.91, P = 0.001), and 6 months (aHR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.97, P = 0.013) in patients with MAP ≤ 93 mmHg. The associations were consistent in readmission (secondary outcomes), various subgroups, and sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: A higher MAP was associated with a lower risk of a composite of all‐cause mortality and readmission. Maintaining a relatively higher MAP could potentially improve the clinical prognosis for patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing enterprises face a strategic challenge in managing risks, as safety concerns can result in huge costs for employee wellbeing and business success. However, there is no clear link between using diverse instruments to assess and measure safety performance and the culture and climate of safety in the workplace, which is likely due to differing perspectives on the topic. This study explores the influence of safety culture and climate on safety performance and on the mediating role of employee engagement in the Ethiopian manufacturing sector. This study was conducted using a quantitative research methodology 368, where three hundred and sixty-eight respondents from five large-scale industrial manufacturing enterprises were selected through purposive sampling. A combination of techniques was used, including structural equation modeling, growth paths, and correlation matrix, and these were performed using the SPSS/AMOS v. 24 software suites. These methods established a causal relationship between safety culture, safety climate, and safety performance. The study's main finding is that safety culture significantly impacts safety performance, which is followed by safety climate. Additionally, employee engagement played a significant mediating role between safety culture and safety performance, as well as between safety climate and safety performance. Based on these results, policymakers and practitioners in large-scale manufacturing enterprises in Ethiopia should prioritize improving the safety culture and climate of their workplaces to enhance safety performance and overall safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mood disorder that tends to occur after the delivery, which may bring lifelong consequences to women and their families in terms of family relationships, social relationships, and mental health. Currently, various risk factors including environmental factors and genetic factors that may induce postpartum depression have been extensively studied. In this review, we suggest that postpartum women's susceptibility to postpartum depression may be the result of the interaction between the genes associated with postpartum depression as well as the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. We reviewed the genes that have been studied in postpartum depression, including genes related to the synthesis, metabolism, and transport of monoamine neurotransmitters, key molecules of the HPA axis, and the kynurenine pathway. These studies have found more or less gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, so we will discuss these issues in more detail. However, so far, the conclusions of these risk factors, especially genetic factors, are not completely consistent in the occurrence and exacerbation of symptoms in postpartum depression, and it is not clear how these risk factors specifically participate in the pathological mechanism of the disease and play a role. We conclude that the role of genetic polymorphisms, including genetic and epigenetic processes, in the occurrence and development of postpartum depression, is complex and ambiguous. We also note that interactions between multiple candidate genes and the environment have been suggested as causes of depression, suggesting that more definitive research is needed to understand the heritability and susceptibility of PPD. Overall, our work supports the hypothesis that postpartum depression is more likely to be caused by a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors than by a single genetic or environmental influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge to produce short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is one of the means of sludge resource utilization. However, the protective effect of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) structure contained in sludge flocs can lead to a slow hydrolysis process, which inhibits the production of SCFAs. Results: In this study, a new step‐by‐step pretreatment method for breaking sludge flocs was adopted. The cationic complexing agent sodium citrate (C6H5Na3O7) was used first to break the cationic bridging structure of EPS, and then the strong oxidizing property of free nitrous acid (HNO2) was used to break the cell structure. The results showed that the C6H5Na3O7 dose of 0.10 g g−1 total suspended solids (TSS) was able to disintegrate EPS, and the optimal dose and pretreatment time of HNO2 under these conditions were 2.504 mg L−1 and 24 h, respectively, when the highest soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) content of 1700 ± 25 mg L−1 was reached. SCFA production in the group of 0.10 g g−1 TSS with 2.504 mg L−1 HNO2 co‐pretreatment reached 1827 ± 40 mg COD L−1 at 8 days of fermentation. Conclusion: The presence of C6H5Na3O7 accelerated the degradation rate of HNO2 during fermentation, and the pH fluctuation of the system was lower compared to the HNO2 pretreatment alone. Moreover, the synergistic pretreatment significantly changed the bacterial community structure within the system and Petrimonas (47.62%), belonging to the hydrogen and acetic acid‐producing bacteria, was enriched, which promoted organic matter degradation and SCFA production. These findings will contribute to optimization of the sludge treatment process. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of statin therapy in the development of kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the relationships between statin initiation and kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 DM. Methods: Through a new-user design, we conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study using the China Renal Data System database (which includes inpatient and outpatient data from 19 urban academic centres across China). We included patients with type 2 DM who were aged 40 years or older and admitted to hospital between Jan. 1, 2000, and May 26, 2021, and excluded those with pre-existing chronic kidney disease and those who were already on statins or without follow-up at an affiliated outpatient clinic within 90 days after discharge. The primary exposure was initiation of a statin. The primary outcome was the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), defined as a composite of the occurrence of kidney dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and > 25% decline from baseline) and proteinuria (a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g and > 50% increase from baseline), sustained for at least 90 days; secondary outcomes included development of kidney function decline (a sustained > 40% decline in eGFR). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate the relationships between statin initiation and kidney outcomes, as well as to conduct subgroup analyses according to patient characteristics, presence or absence of dyslipidemia, and pattern of dyslipidemia. For statin initiators, we explored the association between different levels of lipid control and outcomes. We conducted analyses using propensity overlap weighting to balance the participant characteristics. Results: Among 7272 statin initiators and 12 586 noninitiators in the weighted cohort, statin initiation was associated with lower risks of incident DKD (hazard ratio [HR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62–0.83) and kidney function decline (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44–0.81). We obtained similar results to the primary analyses for participants with differing patterns of dyslipidemia, those prescribed different statins, and after stratification according to participant characteristics. Among statin initiators, those with intensive control of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (< 1.8 mmol/L) had a lower risk of incident DKD (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32–0.81) than those with inadequate lipid control (LDL-C ≥ 3.4 mmol/L). Interpretation: For patients with type 2 DM admitted to and followed up in academic centres, statin initiation was associated with a lower risk of kidney disease development, particularly in those with intensive control of LDL-C. These findings suggest that statin initiation may be an effective and reasonable approach for preventing kidney disease in patients with type 2 DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and convenient palladium-catalyzed reductive system by employing sodium hydride as the hydrogen donor and acetic anhydride as an activator has been developed for transfer hydrogenation and acetylation of a wide range of N -heteroarenes including quinoline, phthalazine, quinoxaline, phenazine, phenanthridine, and indole. Moreover, acridine substrates could be directly reduced without the use of acetic anhydride. This protocol provides a simple method for the preparation of various saturated N -heterocycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the predictive value of FAR combined with CACS for MACCEs. Background: The fibrinogen-albumin-ratio (FAR), a novel biomarker of inflammation, is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary calcification score (CACS) is associated with the severity of coronary stenosis and is closely related to the prognosis of CAD patients. What is the prognostic value of FAR in patients with chest pain, which has not been reported. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between CACS and FAR and their impact on prognosis in patients with suspected CAD. Methods: We used information from 12,904 individuals who had coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for chest pain and tracked down any significant adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). The following formula was used to calculate FAR: fibrinogen (g/L)/albumin (g/L). Patients were separated into groups with greater levels of FAR (FAR-H) and lower levels of FAR (FAR-L) in accordance with the ideal cut-off value of FAR for MACCEs prediction. In addition, patients were divided into three groups based on their CACS scores (CACS ≤ 100, 100 < CACS ≤ 400, and CACS > 400). Results: 4946 patients [62(55–71) years, 64.4% male] were ultimately enrolled in the present study. During follow-up, a total of 234 cases (4.7%) of MACCEs were documented. Linear regression analysis results showed that CACS (R2 = 0.004, Standard β = 0.066, P < 0.001) was positively associated with FAR in patients with chest pain.Compared to ones with FAR-L, FAR-H had an increased risk for MACCEs (adjusted HR 1.371(1.053–1.786) P = 0.019). Multivariate Cox regression showed that age (adjusted HR 1.015 95% CI 1.001–1.028;p = 0.03), FAR (adjusted HR 1.355 95% CI 1.042–1.763;p = 0.023),FBG (adjusted HR 1.043 95% CI 1.006–1.083;p = 0.024) and CACS (adjusted HR 1.470 95% CI 1.250–1.727;p < 0.001) were the independent risk factors for MACCEs. The FAR and CACS significantly improved MACCEs risk stratification, contributing to substantial net reclassification improvement (NRI 0.122, 95% CI 0.054–0.198, P < 0.001) and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI 0.011, 95% CI 0.006–0.017, P < 0.001). Conclusion: FAR was an independent risk factor for MACCEs. The results showed that CACS was positively associated with FAR in patients with suspected CAD. A higher level of FAR and heavier coronary calcification burden was associated with worse outcomes among patients with suspected CAD. FAR and CACS improved the risk identification of patients with suspected CAD, leading to a significant reclassification of MACCEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water in rural areas all over the world. Twenty-one water quality parameters of fifteen drinking wells were studied in a rural area of Ganzhou (South China). The groundwater is dominated by Ca·Mg-HCO3 type, and the Water Quality Index (WQI) ranges from 12.1 to 283.1. The concentrations of groundwater solutes are generally very low, except for Na+, Al, Fe, Mn, and arsenic (As) are up to 232.0, 3.22, 1.25, 0.013 mg/L, respectively, which exceeding the drinking standards at several wells. The relatively high As content in groundwater might cause a mean Carcinogenic Risk (CR = 2.08 × 10−4) to the local people. The mathematical model predicted that the rare earth mining activities would cause a NH4+ pollution (concentrations up to 69.9 mg/L) transported at a speed of 200 m per year in the groundwater, resulting in a maximum increase in WQI of 418.9 and 533.2, and in Hazard Quotient (HQ) of 1.04 and 1.32 for the children, at the drinking wells located 1059 m and 6344 m downstream the mining area, respectively. This study is a warning to the local policymakers about the development of green mining technology and effective monitoring and emergency plans for drinking groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-rich shales found in the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation are typically deposited in oxygen-deficient reducing environments. One of the primary sources of debate revolves around the question of whether the anoxic bottom water found in these shales is either euxinic or ferruginous, and this matter remains unresolved. Previous studies have mostly focused on the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation as a whole in order to understand the key factors that control organic matter accumulation (OMA). However, research on OMA for each member, including the Wufeng Formation (WF), the lower Longmaxi Formation (LLM), and the upper Longmaxi Formation (ULM), has been insufficient. This paper aims to investigate the palaeoenvironmental conditions and OMA mechanisms of the Wufeng–Longmaxi shales in western Hubei by integrating data on total organic carbon (TOC) content, mineral compositions, major and trace elements, and iron speciation. The results indicate that the Wufeng–Longmaxi shales were deposited under highly restricted hydrographic conditions, except for relatively open and upwelling conditions in the upper WF. Silica in the upper WF was primarily biogenic origin and not hydrothermal. Ferruginous conditions were the primary redox conditions for organic-rich shales except for minor formations in the lower LLM that were deposited under euxinic conditions. Due to the tectonic uplift caused by the Kwangsian Orogeny in the upper LLM, the palaeoenvironment was characterized by a warmer and wetter climate, high terrigenous influx, oxic conditions, and low productivity as the result of the insufficient nutrients caused by the weak upwelling, leading to the turnover of graptolite biozones from LM5 to LM6. The factors influencing OMA changed vertically. TOC contents have a highly positive correlation with Al content, indicating that terrigenous influx was the main factor affecting OMA in the WF, which significantly differed from patterns found in other regions. This suggests that the sedimentation rate of organic matter was higher than the terrigenous dilution rate during the WF stage. The combination of redox conditions and productivity were the main factors affecting OMA in the LLM, while terrigenous influx was the key factor controlling OMA in the ULM, resulting in the dilution of organic matter. Regions in the eastern Yiling block, which are close to the Qinling Ocean, show better prospects for shale gas exploration. This research will further facilitate the development of shale gas in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies showed that the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was a better predictor of adverse cardiovascular events than triglycerides or fasting blood glucose alone. However, few studies have focused on new-onset hypertension. We aimed to explore the association of TyG index with new-onset hypertension in Chinese adults. Methods: A total of 4,600 participants who underwent at least 2 rounds of visits from 2009 to 2015 in the China Health and Nutrition Survey were enrolled in this study. Our outcome of interest was new-onset hypertension. Multivariate Cox hazard regression models and restricted cubic spline were performed to explore the relationship between TyG index and new-onset hypertension. Results: The mean (standard deviation, SD) age of the study population was 48.1 (13.6) years, and 2058 (44.7%) of the participants were men. The mean (SD) TyG index level was 8.6 (0.7). A total of 1,211 (26.3%) participants developed new-onset hypertension during a median (interquartile range) follow-up duration of 6.0 (2.0–6.1) years. The incidences of new-onset hypertension were 18.1%, 25.3%, 28.5%, and 33.4% by quartiles of TyG index [from quartile 1 (Q1) to Q4], respectively. The Cox model showed that high levels of TyG index were significantly associated with increased risk of new-onset hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.55, Q2; aHR, 1.24, 95% CI 1.03–1.49, Q3; aHR, 1.50, 95% CI 1.22–1.84, Q4) compared with Q1. Consistently, as a continuous variable, for every 1.0 increase in TyG index, there was a 17% increase in the risk of new-onset hypertension (aHR, 1.17; 95% CI 1.04–1.31). The associations were consistent in various subgroups and sensitivity analysis. The dose–response curve indicated a positive, linear association between TyG index and the risk of new-onset hypertension. Conclusions: High TyG index was significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset hypertension among Chinese adults. Our findings suggest that maintaining a relatively low level of TyG index might be effective in the primary prevention of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive efforts to understand the tectonic evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen in South China, the orogenic process and its mechanism remain a matter of dispute. Previous geodynamic studies have mostly focused on collisional orogeny, which is commonly invoked to explain the Jiangnan Orogen. However, it is difficult for such hypotheses to reconcile all the geological and geophysical data, especially the absence of ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic rocks. Based on the magnetotelluric data, we present a group of resistivity models produced through the combination of two ‐dimensional and three‐dimensional inversions, revealing the geo‐electrical structures of Jiangnan and a typical collisional orogen. In our models, the resistive crust is separated into three parts by a prominent conductive layer with opposite dipping directions on both sides. A special thrust‐nappe system, which is different from that developed in a typical collisional process, is revealed in the Jiangnan Orogen. This structure suggests a process different from the simple collisional orogeny. To interpret our observations, an 'intra‐continental orogeny' is proposed to address the development of the Jiangnan Orogen in the Mesozoic. Furthermore, this 'reworked' process may contain at least two stages caused by the decoupling of the lithosphere, which is revealed by an extra conductive layer beneath Jiangnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the independent and joint associations of baseline coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and cystatin C (Cys‐C) with the risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and all‐cause death in symptomatic populations. Methods: The study included 7140 patients with symptom of chest pain who underwent cardiac computerized tomography examinations to measure CACS. All of them had serum Cys‐C results. Endpoints were set for MACCEs and all‐cause death events. Results: A total of 7140 participants were followed for a median of 1106 days. A total of 305 patients had experienced MACCEs and 191 patients had experienced all‐cause death. CACS ≥ 100 and Cys‐C ≥ 0.995 mg/L were independently associated with an increased risk of MACCEs (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–1.85; p =.002 and adjusted HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.24–2.00; p <.001, respectively). Compared with CACS < 100 and Cys‐C < 0.995 mg/L patients, CACS ≥ 100 and Cys‐C ≥ 0.995 mg/L patients had the highest risk of MACCEs and all‐cause death (adjusted HR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.64–3.29; p <.001 and adjusted HR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.79–4.55; p <.001, respectively). Even in patients with CACS < 100, Cys‐C ≥ 0.995 mg/L was also associated with a higher risk of MACCEs and all‐cause death than Cys‐C < 0.995 mg/L (adjusted HR: 1.76; p =.003 and adjusted HR: 2.02; p =.007, respectively). Conclusions: The combined stratification of CACS and Cys‐C showed an incremental risk of MACCEs and all‐cause death, reflecting complementary prognostic value. Our results support the combination of the two indicators for risk stratification and event prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MnZn ferrite homogeneous fibers were synthesized via a simple solvothermal method and they were used as a reinforcing phase to prepare homogeneous-fiber-reinforced MnZn ferrite materials. The effects of MnZn ferrite homogeneous fibers (0 wt% to 4 wt%) doping on the microstructure, magnetic, and mechanical properties of MnZn ferrite materials were studied systematically. The results showed that MnZn ferrite homogeneous fibers exhibited high purity, good crystallinity, and smooth 1D fibrous structures, which were homogeneous with MnZn ferrite materials. Simultaneously, a certain content of MnZn ferrite homogeneous fibers helped MnZn ferrite materials exhibit more uniform and compact crystal structures, less porosity, and fewer grain boundaries. In addition, the homogeneous-fiber-reinforced MnZn ferrite materials possessed superior magnetic and mechanical properties such as higher effective permeability, lower magnetic loss, and higher Vickers hardness compared to ordinary MnZn ferrite materials. In addition, the magnetic and mechanical properties of homogeneous-fiber-reinforced MnZn ferrite materials first increased and then gradually decreased as the homogeneous fiber content increased from 0 wt% to 4 wt%. The best magnetic and mechanical properties of materials were obtained as the fiber content was about 2 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish several explicit formulas involving Arakawa–Kaneko zeta values and Kaneko–Tsumura η -values. In particular, we prove a more general duality theorem involving Kaneko–Tsumura η -values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of long-time consumption and high energy consumption in existing capacity detection methods of retired Ni-MH batteries, a fast and reliable capacity prediction method for retired Ni-MH batteries by multi-parameter driven analysis was proposed in this paper. This method mainly obtains several parameters through short-time measurement and pulse rapid nondestructive testing. Then, Pearson correlation coefficient and KS-test were used to analyze the correlation between the two parameters and verify the same distribution. Finally, SVR was used to predict the battery discharge capacity. The results show that the volume expansion thickness difference Δd, AC internal resistance R, terminal voltage U of the battery, charge and discharge polarization internal resistance Rf1 and Rf2 and pulse charging power P2 of the battery are strongly negatively correlated with the discharge capacity, and these characteristic parameters can effectively and reliably reflect the internal structural characteristics of the battery. Additionally, the mean relative error of the established capacity model is 5.87%, and the lowest error is 1.32%. The prediction effect is good, which provides a certain reference value for the subsequent consistent sorting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective team leadership and good activation criteria can effectively initiate rapid response system (RRS) to reduce hospital mortality and improve quality of life. The first reaction time of nurses plays an important role in the rescue process. To construct a nurse-led (nurse-led RRS) and activation criteria and then to conduct a pragmatic evaluation of the nurse-led RRS. Methods: We used literature review and the Delphi method to construct a nurse-led RRS and activation criteria based on the theory of "rapid response system planning." Then, we conducted a quasi-experimental study to verify the nurse-led RRS. The control group patients were admitted from August to October 2020 and performed traditional rescue procedures. The intervention group patients were admitted from August to October 2021 and implemented nurse-led RRS. The primary outcome was success rate of rescue. Setting: Emergency department, Gansu Province, China. Results: The nurse-led RRS and activation criteria include 4 level 1 indicators, 14 level 2 indicators, and 88 level 3 indicators. There were 203 patients who met the inclusion criteria to verify the nurse-led RRS. The results showed that success rate of rescue in intervention group (86.55%) was significantly higher than that in control group (66.5%), the rate of cardiac arrest in intervention group (33.61%) was significantly lower than that in control group (72.62%), the effective rescue time of intervention group (46.98 ± 12.01 min) was shorter than that of control group (58.67 ± 13.73 min), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The rate of unplanned ICU admissions in intervention group (42.85%) was lower than that in control group (44.04%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The nurse-led RRS and activation criteria can improve the success rate of rescue, reduce the rate of cardiac arrest, shorten the effective time of rescue, effectively improve the rescue efficiency of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the dynamic alterations of nutritional indexes before and after surgery, and the prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radical surgery are unclear. Methods: This study enrolled 100 NSCLC patients in stages I–III who received radical surgery. The preoperative and postoperative 6-month levels of nine nutrition-related indicators were assessed in patients. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves as well as Cox regression models. Patients had better disease-free survival (DFS) with baseline total protein (TP) >76.66 g/L (75% vs. 50%, P =.027), baseline albumin (ALB) >37.7 g/L (60% vs. 26.7%, P =.002), baseline albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) >1.31 (63.5% vs. 40.5%, P =.006), or baseline globulin (GLOB) <31.42 g/L (39.4% vs. 62.7%, P =.037). Moreover, patients with increased hematocrit (HCT) (69.8% vs. 43.9% P =.013) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (73.2% vs. 42.4%, P =.014) at the postoperative 6-month examination had superior DFS. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses demonstrated that age >65 years, adenocarcinoma (pathological type), higher baseline TP, and post-surgery elevated HCT independently predicted favorable DFS. Lower baseline TP and decreased postoperative HCT levels are independent predictors of prognosis in NSCLC following radical surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amine and bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane co-catalyzed hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDE) method via a Michael-retro-Michael pathway for site-selective introduction of deuterium at the α-position of enals using D2O as a deuterium source has been achieved. The mild, operationally simple protocol allows for high yielding and high level deuterium incorporation (up to 99%) for structurally diverse aromatic-derived enals and dienals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the applicability of the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of fossil charcoal for the quantitative reconstruction of paleoclimates, we selected five points in Shaanxi province, from north to south, to collect modern Pinus species and Quercus species to sample covering areas with obvious climatic differences. In order to reveal the relationships between δ13C of charcoal and climate variables on the basis of carbonization experiments, we evaluated the fractionation mechanism of δ13C of charcoal, and compared the differences between δ13C of charcoal in wildfire experiments and indoor experiments regarding genera and species. The results showed significant differences in δ13C between genera but no significant differences among species. Additionally, the δ13C of charcoal was significantly negatively correlated with precipitation and positively correlated with evaporation, which could be determined from δ13C values in the study area to reconstruct ancient precipitation and evaporation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Dysregulated RNA splicing factors have been reported to be associated with tumorigenesis and development in colon cancer. In this study, we interrogated clinical and RNA expression data of colon cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Genes regulating RNA splicing correlated with survival in colon cancer were identified and a risk score model was constructed using Cox regression analyses. In the risk model, RNA splicing factor peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1α (PPARGC1) is correlated with a good survival outcome, whereas Cdc2‐like kinase 1(CLK1), CLK2, and A‐kinase anchor protein 8‐like (AKAP8L) with a bad survival outcome. The risk model has a good performance for clinical prognostic prediction both in the TCGA cohort and the other two validation cohorts. In the tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis, the immune score was higher in the low‐risk group, and TME‐related pathway gene expression was also higher in low‐risk group. We further verified the mRNA and protein expression levels of these four genes in the adjacent nontumor, tumor, and liver metastasis tissues of colon cancer patients, which were consistent with bioinformatics analysis. In addition, knockdown of AKAP8L can suppress the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells. Animal studies have also shown that AKAP8L knockdown can inhibit tumor growth in colon cancer in vivo. We established a prognostic risk model for colon cancer based on genes related to RNA splicing regulation and uncovered the role of AKAP8L in promoting colon cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundant amino acids and flavonoids in tea crucially contribute to its particular flavor and many health benefits. The biosynthesis of these compounds is significantly affected by carbon and nitrogen metabolism, which is regulated by the nitrogen conditions in the soil. However, exactly how N-starved tea plants use N absorbed from the soil for the biosynthesis of amino acids, flavonoids, and phytohormones is still little known. Here, tea plants that were deficient in nitrogen owing to long-term non-fertilization were subjected to a higher N application (300 kg/ha) or lower N application rate (150 kg/ha) as well as organic or inorganic N. The levels of 30 amino acids, 26 flavonoids, and 15 phytohormone compounds were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-MS/MS). It was found that a continuous lack of fertilization generated a minimal availability of soil N; as a result, the yield and the theanine and soluble sugar contents were greatly decreased, while the accumulation of seven flavonoid compounds (e.g., epigallocatechin, vitexin, and genistein) increased notably. The levels of theanine, glutamate, and aspartate significantly increased with the supply of N, whereas multiple amino acids, such as alanine, phenylalanine, valine, etc., decreased, indicating that the absorption of nitrogen is preferentially used for the biosynthesis of theanine and glutamate-derived amino acids by a N-starved tea plant. Meanwhile, the changes in the accumulation of flavonoids in tea shoots with various N supplies clarified that a lower N application rate has a negative influence while higher N has a positive effect on the synthesis of flavonoids in a N-starved tea plant. In addition, following N supply, the N-deficient tea plant accumulated ABA (Abscisic acid), SA (Salicylic acid), JA (Jasmonic acid), CKs (Cytokinins), and ACC (1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid), at 2.03, 1.14, 1.97, 1.34, and 1.26 times, respectively, as high as those in a tea plant with normal fertilization. Furthermore, we performed the correlation network analysis among amino acids, flavonoids, and phytohormones. Its result confirmed that glutamate, aspartate, and hydroxyproline showed a significantly positive correlation with 8, 11, and 8 flavonoid compounds, respectively. Cis-OPDA (cis-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid) was also significantly negatively correlated with eight flavonoid compounds (e.g., naringenin, myricetin, and quercetin). Collectively, our tests suggested that a lower N application promotes the biosynthesis of the theanine and amino acids involved in theanine synthesis, thus inhibiting the accumulation of other amino acids, while greater N application promotes flavonoids in a N-starved tea plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient bio-conditioning of the nanomaterial for microbial inhibition and catalytic degradation has been recognized as a promising solution to protect public health and environmental safety. Herein, a bio-conditioned poly-dihydromyricetin-fused zinc nanoparticles (PDMY-Zn NPs) were designed and constructed based on a green tonic approach, which displays excellent processing efficiency against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as well as three dye effluents. Irregular-shaped PDMY-Zn NPs of size range 300–400 nm were formed by the undirected aggregation between Zn2+ and dihydromyricetin (DMY) isolated from Ampelopsis grossedentata, contributing to the controlled release of Zn2+ in gastrointestinal fluid. Such bio-conditioned nanomaterial relied on the stable and strong interaction between the bacterial membrane and carbohydrate polymeric DMY chain in PDMY-Zn NPs achieves a large amount of adhesion to both E. coli and S. aureus, which allows the targeted detachment of Zn2+ from nanoparticles and accurate penetration into the pathogens, thereby achieving the nontoxicity to normal cells and minimizing drug-resistant bacteria. The division and spread of E. coli and S. aureus treated with PDMY-Zn NPs were effectively restricted and halted owing to multidimensional antibacterial behaviors of bacteriostatic agents, which are reflected in membrane damage, high cellular leakages and destroying intracellular ATP. Moreover, the designed PDMY-Zn NPs exhibit an efficient generation of hydroxyl (OH) and excess superoxide, which support it as a promising catalyst for photodegradation of methyl blue (93.02%), methyl orange (93.02%) and safranine (88.3%). Thus, this novel bio-conditioned nanomaterial provides a stable, nontoxic and advanced strategy to address drug-resistant bacteria infections as well as degradation of toxic dye effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays a crucial role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, similar to other gaseous signaling molecules. The significant pathophysiological functions of H2S have sparked a great deal of interest in the creation of fluorescent probes for H2S monitoring and imaging. Using 3-cyanoumbelliferone as the push–pull fluorophore and a dinitrophenyl substituent as the response site, herein we developed a umbelliferone-based fluorescent probe 1 for H2S, which exhibited a remarkable turn-on fluorescence response with a low detection limit (79.8 nM), high sensitivity and selectivity. The H2S-sensing mechanism could be attributed to the cleavage of the ether bond between the dinitrophenyl group and the umbelliferone, leading to the recovery of an intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) process. Moreover, the probe had negligible cytotoxicity and good cell membrane permeability, which was successfully applied to image H2S in MCF-7 cells and zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]