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Background: Delirium, a confused transient state of consciousness, can be divided into hyperactive, hypoactive, mixed, and no motor subtypes, according to different clinical manifestations. Several studies have investigated delirium subtypes in the knowledge dimension, but few studies have investigated delirium subtype in the attitude and practice dimensions. The barriers, knowledge sources, and practice details regarding subtype assessment are unclear. Objectives: This study had three objectives. First, we planned to investigate the KAP status regarding delirium and subtypes for nurses. Second, we wanted to identify factors affecting clinical nurses' KAP scores. Third, this study expected to explore more details regarding delirium and subtypes assessment, including assessment barriers, assessment instruments, and knowledge sources. Methods: This multicentre cross-section study was conducted in 10 tertiary hospitals in three provinces, China, from January to April 2022. We investigated 477 nurses from six departments with a high prevalence. The self-developed KAP questionnaire regarding delirium and subtypes assessment had four parts: knowledge, attitude, practice, and source. Its reliability and validity were verified effectively by 2-round Delphi expert consultation. Results: A total of 477 nurses from the general intensive care unit (ICU), specialty ICU, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, operating room, and geriatrics were 28.3, 22.4, 22.2, 10.5, and 5.2%, respectively. The total KAP score regarding deliriumand subtypes assessment was 60.01 ± 6.98, and the scoring rate was 73.18%. The scoring rate for knowledge, attitude, and practice was 58.55, 83.94, and 51.70%, respectively. More than half (54.1%) were unaware of the delirium subtypes assessment instruments. A total of 451 (94.6%) participants recognized the importance of nursing work for delirium prevention. A total of 250 (52.4%) nurses occasionally or sometimes assessed delirium subtypes, and 143 (30.0%) never assessed for delirium subtypes. We found that age, department, technical title, familiarity with delirium, familiarity with delirium subtypes, delirium training, and subtype training affected the total KAP scores. ICU nurses achieved the highest scores. Conclusion: Chinese nurses' KAP status regarding delirium and subtypes assessment were barely acceptable, and the attitude score was positive, but knowledge and practice needed improvement. Meanwhile, the department was one of the significant KAP factors, and ICU nurses did better in delirium and subtype assessment in knowledge and practice dimension than other departments. Systematic and scientific training processes including subtype content and assessment tools are required. Experience still drives nurses' assessments of delirium and subtype. Adding the delirium assessment into routine tasks should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to analyze environmental genetic selection signals in large-scale sheep populations with conflicting environmental adaptations, aiming to identify and isolate genes associated with environmental adaptations in sheep populations. Kirghiz sheep, which inhabit high-altitude environments year-round, demonstrate the ability to adapt to extreme conditions. In this study, 42 Kirghiz sheep, 24 Tien-Shan in Kyrgyzstan sheep, 189 Qira black sheep, and 160 Chinese Merino sheep were genotyped using Illumina Ovine SNP50K chip. Regions exhibiting a selection signal threshold of 5%, as well as PI analysis and haplotype statistical scanning gene data were annotated, and intersecting genes were identified as candidate genes. Through Fst and haplotype statistical analysis revealed the key gene PDGFD and its vicinity's impact on fat deposition in sheep tails. Additionally, Fst and PI analysis uncovered genes related to high-altitude adaptation as well as those linked to animal growth and reproduction. Further GO and KEGG enrichment pathway analyses unveiled pathways associated with high-altitude adaptation such as negative regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation and xenobiotic metabolism processes.This investigation into the adaptability of Kirghiz sheep provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the conservation and genetic enhancement of Kirghiz sheep germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower-limb exoskeletons (LLEs) can provide rehabilitation training and walking assistance for individuals with lower-limb dysfunction or those in need of functionality enhancement. Adapting and personalizing the LLEs is crucial for them to form an intelligent human–machine system (HMS). However, numerous LLEs lack thorough consideration of individual differences in motion planning, leading to subpar human performance. Prioritizing human physiological response is a critical objective of trajectory optimization for the HMS. This paper proposes a human-in-the-loop (HITL) motion planning method that utilizes surface electromyography signals as biofeedback for the HITL optimization. The proposed method combines offline trajectory optimization with HITL trajectory selection. Based on the derived hybrid dynamical model of the HMS, the offline trajectory is optimized using a direct collocation method, while HITL trajectory selection is based on Thompson sampling. The direct collocation method optimizes various gait trajectories and constructs a gait library according to the energy optimality law, taking into consideration dynamics and walking constraints. Subsequently, an optimal gait trajectory is selected for the wearer using Thompson sampling. The selected gait trajectory is then implemented on the LLE under a hybrid zero dynamics control strategy. Through the HITL optimization and control experiments, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone defects caused by tumors, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis attract great attention. Because of outstanding biocompatibility, osteogenesis promotion, and less secondary infection incidence ratio, stimuliresponsive biomaterials are increasingly used to manage this issue. These biomaterials respond to certain stimuli, changing their mechanical properties, shape, or drug release rate accordingly. Thereafter, the activated materials exert instructive or triggering effects on cells and tissues, match the properties of the original bone tissues, establish tight connection with ambient hard tissue, and provide suitable mechanical strength. In this review, basic definitions of different categories of stimuli-responsive biomaterials are presented. Moreover, possible mechanisms, advanced studies, and pros and cons of each classification are discussed and analyzed. This review aims to provide an outlook on the future developments in stimuli-responsive biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With global warming, the global ocean is experiencing more and stronger marine heatwaves (MHWs) and less and weaker marine cold spells (MCSs). On the regional scale, the complex circulation structure means that the changes in sea surface temperature (SST) and extreme temperature anomaly events in the Taiwan Strait (TWS) exhibit unique regional characteristics. In summer (autumn), the SST in most regions of the TWS has a significant increasing trend with a regionally averaged rate of 0.22 °C (0.19 °C) per decade during the period 1982–2021. In winter and spring, the SST in the western strait shows a significant decreasing trend with a maximum decreasing rate of −0.48 °C per decade, while it shows an increasing trend in the eastern strait. The annual mean results show that the TWS is experiencing more MHWs and MCSs with time. The frequency of the MHWs in the eastern strait is increasing faster than that in the western strait. In the western region controlled by the Zhe-Min Coastal Current, the MCSs have an increasing trend while in the other areas they have a decreasing trend. The MHWs occur in most areas of the TWS in summer and autumn, but the MCSs are mainly concentrated in the west of the TWS in spring and winter. The cooling effect of summer upwelling tends to inhibit the occurrence of MHWs and enhance MCSs. The rising background SST is a dominant driver for the increasing trend of summer MHWs. By contrast, both the SST decreasing trend and internal variability contribute to the winter MCSs increasing trend in the strait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new form of social wealth, digital wealth is becoming an important force in the promotion of common prosperity. In the digital economy era, digital labor and data factors are important sources for creating digital wealth. The creation of digital commodity wealth is reflected in the process of value formation and value appreciation of digital goods, as well as in the expansion and reproduction process of data production factors. The creation of digital non-commodity wealth needs to rely on the coordination of multiple supply systems including government, enterprises, society and platforms. In the distribution of digital wealth in a socialist market economy, it is necessary to adhere to the basic distribution system with remuneration based on work as the main form and the coexistence of multiple distribution methods. It should fully reflect the value contribution of data factors while also addressing and resolving potential polarization effects caused by the distribution of digital wealth. On the basis of the new development stage, China should steadily advance the creation and accumulation of digital wealth on the basis of constantly strengthening, improving and expanding the digital economy, and should pay attention to standardizing the distribution of digital wealth in order to achieve a solid advance in the common prosperity of all the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) might affect the ecological balance of biofilms in the presence of fluoride. We used a S. mutans and Candida albicans (C. albicans) cross-kingdom biofilm model to investigate whether fluoride-resistant S. mutans in biofilms would support C. albicans growth under fluoride stress and attenuate the in vitro anti-caries effect of fluorine. The impact of fluoride-resistant S. mutans on formation of cross-kingdom biofilms by S. mutans and C. albicans in the presence of fluoride was investigated in vitro using the crystal violet staining assay. Biofilm constitution was determined using colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) generation in biofilms was determined by EPS/bacterial dying and water-insoluble polysaccharide detection. Acid production and demineralization weremonitored using pH, lactic acid content, and transversal microradiography (TMR). The gene expression of microorganisms in the cross-kingdom biofilm was measured using qRT-PCR. Our results showed that both C. albicans and fluoride-resistant S. mutans grew vigorously, forming robust cross-kingdom biofilms, even in the presence of sodium fluoride (NaF). Moreover, fluoride-resistant S. mutans-containing cross-kingdom biofilms had considerable cariogenic potential for EPS synthesis, acid production, and demineralization ability in the presence of NaF than fluoride-sensitive S. mutans-containing biofilms. Furthermore, the gene expression of microorganisms in the two cross-kingdom biofilms changed dissimilarly in the presence of NaF. In summary, fluoride-resistant S. mutans in cross-kingdom biofilms supported C. albicans growth under fluoride and might attenuate the anti-caries potential of fluorine by maintaining robust cross-kingdom biofilm formation and cariogenic virulence expression in vitro in the presence of NaF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. It discusses the biogeochemical responses to physical processes in the North Pacific and its adjacent marginal seas. The editorial highlights the importance of understanding the effects of physical processes, such as wind-driven mixing, boundary currents, and upwelling, on ocean chemical compounds, primary productivity, and carbon sequestration. The document also mentions eight research articles included in the special volume, which cover various aspects of biogeochemical responses to physical processes, including the impact of tropical cyclones on nutrient supply and phytoplankton blooms, the influence of mesoscale eddies on biological activity, and the driving factors of red tides. The editorial concludes by emphasizing the complexity of marine biogeochemical responses to physical processes and the need for further research in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common type of glomerulonephritis, has great individual differences in prognosis. Many studies showed the relationship between thyroid hormones and chronic kidney disease. However, the relationship between free thyroxine (FT4), as a thyroid hormone, and IgAN is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FT4 on IgAN prognosis. Methods: This retrospective study involved 223 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN. The renal composite outcomes were defined as: (1) ESRD, defined as eGFR < 15 ml/(min·1.73 m²) or initiation of renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, renal transplantation); (2) serum creatinine doubled from baseline; (3) eGFR decreased by more than 50% from baseline. The predictive value was determined by the area under the curve (AUC). Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses assessed renal progression and prognosis. Results: After 38 (26–54) months of follow-up, 23 patients (10.3%) experienced renal composite outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the renal survival rate of the IgAN patients with FT4<15.18pmol/L was lower than that with FT4≥15.18pmol/L (P < 0. 001). Multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that FT4 was a protective factor for poor prognosis of IgAN patients, whether as a continuous variable or a categorical variable (HR 0.68, 95%CI 0.51– 0.90, P =0.007; HR 0.04, 95%CI 0.01–0.20, P <0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that FT4 combined with t score had a high predictive value for poor prognosis of IgAN patients (AUC=0.881, P<0.001). Conclusion: FT4 was a protective factor for IgAN. In addition, FT4 combined with tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis had a high predictive value for poor prognosis of IgAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics can identify and quantify the differential abundance of expressed proteins in parallel, and bottom-up proteomic approaches are even approaching comprehensive coverage of the complex eukaryotic proteome. Protein-nanoparticle (NP) interactions have been extensively studied owing to their importance in biological applications and nanotoxicology. However, the proteome-level effects of NPs on cells have received little attention, although changes in protein abundance can reflect the direct effects of nanocarriers on protein expression. Herein, we investigated the effect of PLGA-based NPs on protein expression in HepG2 cells using a label-free quantitative proteomics approach with data independent acquisition (DIA). The percentage of two-fold change in the protein expression of cells treated with PLGA-based NPs was less than 10.15% during a 6 hour observation period. Among the changed proteins, we found that dynamic proteins involved in cell division, localization, and transport are more likely to be more susceptible to PLGA-based NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centrifugal pumps are widely used in the metallurgy, coal, and building sectors. In order to study the hydraulic characteristics of a closed impeller centrifugal pump during its shutdown in the so-called power frequency and frequency conversion modes, experiments were carried to determine the characteristic evolution of parameters such as speed, inlet and outlet pressure, head, flow rate and shaft power. A quasi-steady-state method was also used to further investigate these transient behaviors. The results show that, compared to the power frequency input, the performance parameter curves for the frequency conversion input are less volatile and smoother. The characteristic time is longer and the response to shutdown is slower. The quasi-steady-state theoretical head-flow curves match the experimental head-flow curves more closely at low flow rates when the frequency conversion input is considered. Moreover, in this case, the similarity law predicts the hydraulic performance more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrimp is an important aquaculture species worldwide. The use of antibiotics to suppress disease outbreaks has led to antibiotic resistance; however, probiotics or natural herbal additives can enhance the health of farmed shrimp. In this study, the effects of formulations containing natural herbs and probiotics on shrimp farming were explored. Following indoor shrimp farming, the shrimp were returned to outdoor natural ponds for 1 week in the presence of a fermented probiotic product. The gut microbiota was surveyed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing at 1, 2, 3, and 8 weeks after the natural pond release. The results showed that Vibrio-related bacterial genera increased significantly in the shrimp intestinal microbiota at 2 weeks and were particularly high at 3 weeks after natural pond release. The phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Vibrio-related bacteria, and the genus Cetobacterium emerged as crucial bacteria linked to shrimp health and growth. Overall, the diversity of the shrimp intestinal microbiota was lower upon release into the natural pond. However, this outcome may be associated with dysbiosis or influenced by the natural environment. Further research is warranted to substantiate these findings. A perspective on the shrimp gut microbiota provides important information for aquaculture management and explains the implementation of control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gleditsia sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Zaojiao, has important economic value and medicinal compounds in its fruits and thorns, making it widely cultivated artificially in China. However, the available literature on the impact of waterlogging on the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and the accumulation of metabolite compounds in its thorns is limited. To address this knowledge gap, G. sinensis seedlings were planted in soil supplemented with pindstrup substrate, which enhances the water-holding capacity of the soil. The analyses of morphological traits and nutrient elements in one-year-old G. sinensis seedlings grown naturally under ambient conditions and metabolite accumulation in its thorns were conducted. The results showed that the waterlogged soil significantly diminished the height, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedling roots and stems (P < 0:05). Furthermore, waterlogging hindered the uptake of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), as well as the transport of potassium (K). The identified metabolites within the thorns were categorized into 16 distinct groups. Relative to the control soil, fatty acids and derivatives were the most down-regulated metabolites in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 40.58% of the total metabolites, followed by lignans (38.71%), phenolic acids (34.48%), saccharides and alcohols (34.15%), steroids (16.67%), alkaloids (12.24%), flavonoids (9.28%), and glycerophospholipids (7.41%). Conversely, nucleotides and derivatives experienced the greatest up-regulation in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 50.00% of the total metabolites. In conclusion, waterlogging negatively impacted the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and inhibited the accumulation of metabolites. Hence, when considering the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as lignans and phenolic acids, appropriate management of soil moisture levels should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an invasive alien species that causes major losses in the Chinese tomato industry. Historically, insecticides have been used extensively to control T. absoluta, but resistant populations have been frequently detected. Biological control represents a sustainable and effective method with which to prevent and control T. absoluta. Egg parasitoids from the family of Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) have been identified as potential biological option for controlling of T. absoluta. In the present study, we aimed to identify local dominant Trichogramma species that exhibited the best biological control ability against T. absoluta in China. To accomplish this, we compared the selectivity and number of offspring of three Trichogramma species to T. absoluta by performing host preference experiments in the laboratory. We also evaluated the fitness of Trichogramma against T. absoluta by assessing the parasitic ability and behavior of their offspring on different hosts. Compared with Trichogramma chilonis and Trichogramma dendrolimi, Trichogramma ostriniae exhibited a significantly greater preference to T. absoluta eggs and produced a higher number of offspring. The emergence rate and proportion of female T. ostriniae parasitizing the eggs of T. absoluta was higher than that of the other two Trichogramma species, the rate of T. ostriniae offspring deformity was only 3.00%. In addition, T. ostriniae has shortest immature stage and the longest adult stage among the three species. In conclusion T. ostriniae can be a promising native biological control agent against T. absoluta in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The interaction between inflammatory cells and integrin in the endothelium plays a key role during infiltration. Previous evidence has shown that synthetic C16 peptide selectively binds to integrins αvβ3 and a5ß1 and exhibits a neuroprotective effect. It has also been reported to inhibit the differentiation of microglia into the M1 (pro-inflammatory) phenotype while promoting its differentiation to the M2 (anti-inflammatory) phenotype. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of the C16 peptide in multiple sclerosis using a rodent model. Methods: Molecular, morphological, and neurophysiological assays were used to investigate the neuroprotective effects of C16 peptide and related signaling pathways in a model of EAE. Results: The results showed that C16 significantly improved the clinical score and cortical somatosensory/motor evoked potential. It also alleviated inflammatory responses, including microglial activation and leukocyte infiltration, relieved the impairment of the brain blood barrier and edema, and reduced neuronal apoptosis, axonal loss, and demyelination induced by EAE. The C16 peptide increased the expressions of pTie-2 and Tie-2, integrin αvβ3, and a5ß1 and activated the PI3K/Akt signal pathway but decreased the expression of Rho. Co-treatment of C16 with Tie-2 inhibitor and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 attenuated these effects of C16. Conclusion: The C16 peptide demonstrated neuroprotection in the EAE model through the integrin, Tie-2, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, and it could be a potential strategy for treating inflammation-related diseases in the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acids are among the most essential PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns). Animals have evolved numerous sensors to recognize nucleic acids and trigger immune signaling against pathogen replication, cellular stress and cancer. Many sensor proteins (e.g., cGAS, AIM2, and TLR9) recognize the molecular signature of infection or stress and are responsible for the innate immune response to DNA. Remarkably, recent evidence demonstrates that cGAS-like receptors acquire the ability to sense RNA in some forms of life. Compared with the nucleic-acid sensing by cGAS, innate immune responses to RNA are based on various RNA sensors, including RIG-I, MDA5, ADAR1, TLR3/7/8, OAS1, PKR, NLRP1/6, and ZBP1, via a broad-spectrum signaling axis. Importantly, new advances have brought to light the potential clinical application of targeting these signaling pathways. Here, we highlight the latest discoveries in the field. We also summarize the activation and regulatory mechanisms of RNA-sensing signaling. In addition, we discuss how RNA sensing is tightly controlled in cells and why the disruption of immune homeostasis is linked to disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reservoir landslides undergo large deformations during the early stages of impoundment and maintain long-term persistent deformations during the operational period of the reservoir. The management of reservoir landslides mostly focuses on the early identification, risk assessment during the large deformations, and long-sequence monitoring during long-term persistent deformations, which requires sufficient continuity and integrity of the landslide monitoring data. Methods: Taking the Wulipo (WLP) landslide in Baihetan Reservoir as example, this paper proposes a reservoir landslide monitoring method that integrates field survey, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) monitoring, which can effectively eliminate the practical monitoring gaps between multiple monitoring methods and improve the continuity and completeness of monitoring data. Results and discussion: First, this study determined the initiation time of the landslide through the field investigation and collected five period of UAV data to analyze the overall displacement vector of the WLP landslide using sub-pixel offset tracking (SPOT). On the basis of the above data, we compensated for the missing data in GNSS system due to the practical monitoring vacancies by combining the field survey and the landslide-water level relationship. Based on these monitoring data, this paper points out that the WLP landslide is a buoyancy-driven landslide, and whether or not accelerated deformation will occur is related to the maximum reservoir water level. Finally, this study analyzed and discussed the applicability of UAV photogrammetry for reservoir landslide monitoring in the absence of ground control points (GCPs), and concluded that this method can be quickly and flexibly applied to the stage of large deformation of reservoir landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively control the infection of plant pathogens, we designed and synthesized a series of phenylthiazole derivatives containing a 1,3,4-thiadiazole thione moiety and screened for their antibacterial potencies against Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, as well as their antifungal potencies against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, Magnaporthe oryzae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The chemical structures of the target compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. The bioassay results revealed that all the tested compounds exhibited moderate-to-excellent antibacterial and antifungal activities against six plant pathogens. Especially, compound 5k possessed the most remarkable antibacterial activity against R. solanacearum (EC50 = 2.23 μg/mL), which was significantly superior to that of compound E1 (EC50 = 69.87 μg/mL) and the commercial agent Thiodiazole copper (EC50 = 52.01 μg/mL). Meanwhile, compound 5b displayed the most excellent antifungal activity against S. sclerotiorum (EC50 = 0.51 μg/mL), which was equivalent to that of the commercial fungicide Carbendazim (EC50 = 0.57 μg/mL). The preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) results suggested that introducing an electron-withdrawing group at the meta-position and ortho-position of the benzene ring could endow the final structure with remarkable antibacterial and antifungal activity, respectively. The current results indicated that these compounds were capable of serving as promising lead compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local sheep in the northeastern Tarim Basin can adapt to dry and low-rainfall regional environments. In this study, three local sheep breeds in the northeastern Tarim Basin, LOP (LOP) sheep, Bayinbuluke (BYK) sheep, and Kunlun (KUN, also known as the Qiemo sheep) sheep, and three introduced sheep breeds, Suffolk (SUF) sheep, Dorset (APD) sheep, and Texel (TEX) sheep, were analyzed for genetic diversity, population structure, and selective signature using the Illumina OvineSNP50K BeadChip. We found that LOP, BYK, and KUN had lower observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity than TEX, SUF, and ADP, which were differentiated based on geographic distribution. We performed fixation index (FST) analysis on three local sheep breeds in the northeastern Tarim Basin (LOP, BYK, and KUN) and introduced sheep breeds (TEX, SUF, and ADP) to measure genetic differentiation. Nucleotide diversity (PI) analysis was performed on single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data of LOP, BYK, and KUN. A total of 493 candidate genes were obtained by taking the intersection at a threshold of 5%. Among them, SMAD2, ESR2, and HAS2 were related to reproductive traits. PCDH15, TLE4, and TFAP2B were related to growth traits. SOD1, TSHR, and DNAJB5 were related to desert environmental adaptation. Analyzing the genetic patterns of local sheep in the northeastern Tarim Basin can protect the germplasm resources of local sheep and promote the development and utilization of sheep genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic summer sea ice has shrunk considerably in recent decades. This study investigates sea-ice surface melt onset in springtime in the Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea, which are key seas along the Northeast Passage. Melt Advance, which is defined as the areal percentage of a sea that has experienced sea-ice surface melting before the end of May, is used instead of region-mean melt onset. Four representative scenarios of Melt Advance in the region are identified. Each scenario is driven by a distinct circulation in the lower troposphere in May, which regulates sea ice dynamics and air mass transport, further influencing surface energy balance and Melt Advance. In general, concurrent with faster Melt Advance are warm and wet atmosphere, reduced sea ice cover, and surface energy gains in spring. Melt Advance, as well as sea ice cover in May, is significantly correlated with summer sea ice over. This study implicates the interannual flexibility of spring circulation in the lower troposphere and the significance of seasonal evolution in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate how Guilu Erxian gum treats osteoporosis by using network pharmacology and related experiments. Methods: The TCMSP database, ETCM database, Chemical Specialties database, and DrugBank database were used to retrieve the potential active ingblueients and corresponding targets of Guilu Erxian gum. Therapeutic targets associated with osteoporosis were obtained from the OMIM and Genecards databases. The network was analyzed using Cytoscape 3.8.0 software to determine topological parameters and identify key active ingblueients and targets. Additionally, the effects of Guilu Erxian gum on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were evaluated through alkaline phosphatase assay and alizarin blue calcium nodule staining. The expression of osteogenesis-related genes (Runx2, Osterix, OPN) was assessed using RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: The analysis revealed that Guilu Erxian gum contained 41 active ingblueients and 236 targets, while there were 5,262 known therapeutic targets for osteoporosis. A protein-protein interaction network diagram was constructed using the String database. Enrichment analysis suggested that Guilu Erxian gum may regulate osteoporosis through various signaling pathways and cellular metabolism. The experiments demonstrated that Guilu Erxian gum could promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, potentially contributing to the treatment of osteoporosis. Moreover, the results showed that Guilu Erxian gum could increase the expression of osteogenesis-related genes (Runx2, Osterix, OPN). Conclusion: Guilu Erxian gum may have anti-osteoporosis effects by stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. This study provides a theoretical basis for further understanding the pharmacological mechanism of Guilu Erxian gum in treating osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For colorectal cancer (CRC), surgical resection remains essential for achieving good prognoses. Unfortunately, numerous patients with locally advanced CRC and metastatic CRC failed to meet surgical indications or achieve pathological complete response after surgery. Perioperative therapy has been proven to effectively lower tumor staging and reduce recurrence and metastasis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown unprecedented prolongation of survival time and satisfactory safety in patients with high microsatellite instability/deficient mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR), while the therapeutic effect obtained by patients with mismatch repair-proficient or microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) was considered minimal. However, recent studies found that certain CRC patients with dMMR/MSI-H presented intrinsic or acquired immune resistance, and pMMR/MSS CRC patients can also achieve better efficacy. Therefore, more predictors are required for screening patients with potential clinical benefits. Since the discovery of synergistic effects between immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, different immunotherapy-based therapies have been applied to the perioperative therapy of CRC in an increasing number of research. This review comprehensively summarized the past and current progress of different combinations of immunotherapy in perioperative clinical trials for CRC, focusing on the efficacy and safety, and points out the direction for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local sheep in the northeastern Tarim Basin can adapt to dry and low-rainfall regional environments. In this study, three local sheep breeds in the northeastern Tarim Basin, LOP (LOP) sheep, Bayinbuluke (BYK) sheep, and Kunlun (KUN, also known as the Qiemo sheep) sheep, and three introduced sheep breeds, Suffolk (SUF) sheep, Dorset (APD) sheep, and Texel (TEX) sheep, were analyzed for genetic diversity, population structure, and selective signature using the Illumina OvineSNP50K BeadChip. We found that LOP, BYK, and KUN had lower observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity than TEX, SUF, and ADP, which were differentiated based on geographic distribution. We performed fixation index (FST) analysis on three local sheep breeds in the northeastern Tarim Basin (LOP, BYK, and KUN) and introduced sheep breeds (TEX, SUF, and ADP) to measure genetic differentiation. Nucleotide diversity (PI) analysis was performed on singlenucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data of LOP, BYK, and KUN. A total of 493 candidate genes were obtained by taking the intersection at a threshold of 5%. Among them, SMAD2, ESR2, and HAS2 were related to reproductive traits. PCDH15, TLE4, and TFAP2B were related to growth traits. SOD1, TSHR, and DNAJB5 were related to desert environmental adaptation. Analyzing the genetic patterns of local sheep in the northeastern Tarim Basin can protect the germplasm resources of local sheep and promote the development and utilization of sheep genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power input to oceanic near‐inertial oscillations (NIOs) plays a crucial role in sustaining the global ocean conveyor belt. However, the impact of tropical cyclones (TCs) on wind power input to NIOs, despite being the most vigorous atmospheric dynamics capable of exciting NIOs, is often overlooked in global estimations due to their transient nature and a lack of observations. Utilizing hourly wind and ocean current records, we quantified the wind power on NIOs induced by TCs from 1990 to 2019. Our findings reveal that the wind power on NIOs due to TCs is estimated to be between 0.028 and 0.065 TW, which accounts for a significant proportion, that is, 8%–17%, of that over the globe. This study highlights the importance of incorporating the wind power induced by TCs when estimating the global wind power on NIOs, as its impact is non‐negligible. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the global energy balance by improving the estimation of wind power on NIOs. Plain Language Summary: Wind power input to oceanic near‐inertial oscillations (NIOs) is important for sustaining the global ocean conveyor belt. However, the influence of tropical cyclones (TCs) on wind power input to NIOs, despite being the most intense atmospheric dynamics that could easily excite NIOs, is often overlooked in global estimations due to their transient nature and a lack of observations. By analyzing wind and ocean current records from 1990 to 2019, the wind power on NIOs induced by TCs was quantified. We found that wind power on NIOs due to TCs is non‐negligible and accounts for a significant portion of that over the globe. This study highlights the importance of considering the wind power induced by TCs when estimating the global wind power on NIOs, which helps to achieve a more accurate estimation of wind power on NIOs, leading to an improved understanding of the global energy balance. Key Points: Observed data shows tropical cyclones contribute 8%–17% of global wind power on near‐inertial oscillationsTropical cyclones could contribute up to 90% of wind power on near‐inertial oscillations in their prone regionsAccounting for tropical cyclones is essential when estimating wind power on near‐inertial oscillations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA)/wood flour composites were prepared by fused deposition modeling (FDM). The effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) -g-maleic anhydride (PBAT-g-MAH) on mechanical properties, processing fluidity, crystallinity and thermal stability of composites were investigated. The results show that PBAT-g-MAH has a toughening effect on composites. When PLA/wood flour/PBAT-g-MAH is 90/10/9, tensile strength and impact strength of composite are 45.52 MPa and 15.80 kJ/m². Compared with composite without PBAT-g-MAH, tensile strength of composite is increased by 5.9% and impact strength is increased by 34.46%. The addition of PBAT-g-MAH increases melt flow rate of composites, decreases the glass transition temperature, and has little effect on the crystallinity. The addition of PBAT-g-MAH increases thermal stability of composites. The addition of PBAT-g-MAH makes the bonding between PLA matrix and wood flour more closely, and the exposed wood flour is significantly reduced. When the PLA/wood flour/PBAT-g-MAH is 90/10/9, comprehensive performance of composites is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperparameters play a vital impact in the performance of most machine learning algorithms. It is a challenge for traditional methods to configure hyperparameters of the capsule network to obtain high-performance manually. Some swarm intelligence or evolutionary computation algorithms have been effectively employed to seek optimal hyperparameters as a combinatorial optimization problem. However, these algorithms are prone to get trapped in the local optimal solution as random search strategies are adopted. The inspiration for the hybrid rice optimization (HRO) algorithm is from the breeding technology of three-line hybrid rice in China, which has the advantages of easy implementation, less parameters and fast convergence. In the paper, genetic search is combined with the hybrid rice optimization algorithm (GHRO) and employed to obtain the optimal hyperparameter of the capsule network automatically, that is, a probability search technique and a hybridization strategy belong with the primary HRO. Thirteen benchmark functions are used to evaluate the performance of GHRO. Furthermore, the MNIST, Chest X-Ray (pneumonia), and Chest X-Ray (COVID-19 & pneumonia) datasets are also utilized to evaluate the capsule network learnt by GHRO. The experimental results show that GHRO is an effective method for optimizing the hyperparameters of the capsule network, which is able to boost the performance of the capsule network on image classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering applications for honeycomb sandwich structures (HSS) are well recognized. Heterogeneous structures have been created using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material, glass fiber-reinforced PEEK (GF-PEEK), and carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK (CF-PEEK) to further enhance the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and impact resistance of HSS. In this study, we investigated the low-velocity impact response of HSS using numerical simulation. Our findings demonstrate that the choice of construction material significantly affects the impact resistance and structural stability of the HSS. We found that using fiber-reinforced PEEK significantly enhances the impact resistance of the overall structure, with GF-PEEK identified as the more appropriate face sheet material for the composite HSS based on a comparative study of load–displacement curves. Analysis of the plastic deformation of the honeycomb core, in combination with the stress and strain distribution of the composite HSS after low-velocity impact, indicates that CF-PEEK face sheets cause more noticeable damage to the core, resulting in evident plastic deformation. Additionally, we discovered that the use of fiber-reinforced materials effectively reduces deflection during low-velocity dynamic impact, particularly when both the face sheet and honeycomb core of the HSS are composed of the same fiber-reinforced PEEK material. These results provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of composite HSS for impact resistance applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypertension always goes with abnormal myocardial glucolipid metabolism. However, whether or not pioglitazone may alleviate the cardiac hypertrophy and reverse abnormal myocardial glucolipid metabolism is still unknown. We conducted this experiment to explore the influence of pioglitazone on cardiac hypertrophy in rats. Rats with cardiac hypertrophy induced by renovascular hypertension were given a gavage of pioglitazone 5-10 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Our crew determined systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Heart mass index (HMI), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), myocardial cell diameter (MCD) and surface area (SA) were further estimated. We members determined FFA and Ang II levels. HE and Masson staining were estimated histopathological changes. The protein and mRNA expression of PPAR-α, CPT-1 as well as PDK-4 were measured by western blot and qRT-PCR. The results showed that pioglitazone could reduced SBP, DBP, MCD, SA, HMI, LVMI as well as myocardial fibrosis and FFA and Ang II levels in serum. Moreover, pioglitazone inhibited the expression of HIF-1α protein and simultaneously enhanced the expressions of PPAR-α, CPT-1 as well as PDK-4 mRNA and proteins. So we infer that pioglitazone could improve hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and redress abnormal myocardial glucolipid metabolism in rats by down-regulating the protein expression of myocardial HIF-1α and increasing the protein expressions of myocardial PPARα, CPT-1 and PDK-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) is a natural plant resource widely used as a food and herbal medication in China. Glycycoumarin (GCM) is a major coumarin in licorice that possesses several biological activities. However, little is known about its pharmacokinetic profile. The present study aimed to describe the oral absorption, tissue distribution, and excretion of GCM in rats. Free (parent drug) and/or total (parent drug plus the glucuronidated metabolite) GCM in biological samples was quantified before and after the hydrolysis reaction with ß-glucuronidase using a reliable LC-MS/MS method. The results indicated that GCM was rapidly absorbed and transformed into its conjugated metabolites after administration. Free GCM plasma concentrations after i. v. (10 mg/kg) administration quickly decreased with an average t1/2,λz of 0.71 h, whereas the totalGCMconcentration reduced slowly with a t1/2, λz of 2.46 h. The area under the curve of glucuronidated metabolites was approximately four-times higher than that of free GCM. Presumably, because of hepatic and/or intestinal tract first-pass metabolism, GCM exhibited a poor bioavailability of 9.22%, as estimated from its total plasma concentration. Additionally, GCM was distributed rapidly and widely in various tissues except the brain. The liver had the highest concentration; further, GCM was promptly eliminated from test tissues after intraperitoneal (20 mg/kg) administration, but only a small amount of GCM was excreted via bile and urine. Overall, GCM is absorbed and rapidly transformed into its conjugated metabolites with low bioavailability; further, it is distributed in various tissues, except the brain. These pharmacokinetic results are helpful for better understanding the characteristics and pharmacological effects of GCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Elevated estradiol (E2) levels are an inevitable outcome of the controlled ovulation hyperstimulation. However, the effect of this change on pregnancy is still uncertain. Our study aimed to analyze the impact of increased serum E2 at the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on the clinical outcomes of women with fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles. Methods. This study included 3,009 fresh ET cycles from October 2015 to September 2021. Based on the stage of embryos transferred, these cycles were categorized into the cleavage group and blastocyst group. Both groups were then divided into four sets according to E2 levels when hCG was administered: set 1 (E2 ≤ 2,000 pg/ml), set 2 (E2 = 2,001-3,000 pg/ml), set 3 (E2 D 3,001-4,000 pg/ml), and set 4 (E2 > 4,000 pg/ml). The primary outcome was the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Binary logistics regression analysis was established to explore the association between CPR and E2 levels. Specifically, the threshold effect of serum E2 on CPR was revealed using the two-piecewise linear regression analyses. Results. The multivariate regression model in the cleavage group showed that patients' CPR in set 4 was 1.59 times higher than those in reference set 1, but the statistical difference was insignificant (P D0:294). As for the blastocyst group, patients in set 4 had a lower CPR with adjusted ORs of 0.43 (P D0:039) compared to patients in set 1. The inflection point for the blastocyst group was 39.7 pg/dl according to the results of the two-piecewise linear regression model. When E2 levels were over the point, the CPR decreased by 17% with every 1 pg/dl increases in serum E2 (adjusted OR D 0.83, 95% CI [0.72-0.96], P D0:012). Conclusions. Elevated E2 levels (>39.7 pg/dl) on hCG trigger day were associated with decreased CPR in patients with fresh blastocyst ET. However, it had no similar effect on the CPR of patients with fresh cleavage-stage ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effect of using a deep neural network (DNN) in breast cancer (BC) detection. METHODS In this retrospective study, a DNN-based model was constructed from a total of 880 mammograms that 220 patients underwent between April and June 2020. The mammograms were reviewed by two senior and two junior radiologists with and without the aid of the DNN model. The performance of the network was assessed by comparing the area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operating characteristic curves for the detection of four features of malignancy (masses, calcifications, asymmetries, and architectural distortions), with and without the aid of the DNN model and by the senior and junior radiologists. Additionally, the effect of utilizing the DNN on diagnosis time for both the senior and junior radiologists was evaluated. RESULTS The AUCs of the model for the detection of mass and calcification were 0.877 and 0.937, respectively. In the senior radiologist group, the AUC values for evaluation of mass, calcification, and asymmetric compaction were significantly higher with the DNN model than those obtained without the model. Similar effects were observed in the junior radiologist group, but the increase in the AUC values was even more dramatic. The median mammogram assessment time of the junior and senior radiologists was 572 (357-951) s, and 273.5 (129-469) s, respectively, with the DNN model, and the corresponding assessment time without the model, was 739 (445-1003) s and 321 (195-491) s, respectively. CONCLUSION The DNN model exhibited high accuracy in detecting the four named features of BC and effectively shortened the review time by both senior and junior radiologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale multivariate regression is a fundamental statistical tool with a wide range of applications. This study considers the problem of simultaneously testing a large number of general linear hypotheses, encompassing covariate-effect analysis, analysis of variance, and model comparisons. The challenge that accompanies a large number of tests is the ubiquitous presence of heavy-tailed and/or highly skewed measurement noise, which is the main reason for the failure of conventional least squares-based methods. For large-scale multivariate regression, we develop a set of robust inference methods to explore data features such as heavy tailedness and skewness, which are not visible to least squares methods. The new testing procedure is based on the data-adaptive Huber regression and a new covariance estimator of regression estimates. Under mild conditions, we show that our methods produce consistent estimates of the false discovery proportion. Extensive numerical experiments and an empirical study on quantitative linguistics demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method over many state-of-the-art methods when the data are generated from heavy-tailed and/or skewed distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encarsia formosa is a natural enemy of the invasive pest Bemisia tabaci and is known to be a dominant parasitic. The frequency and magnitude of climate extremes, particularly temperature extremes, have increased, which has put insect populations at risk. However, the effects of temperature extremes on E. formosa are not well understood. To examine the impact of short-term extreme temperature exposure on the development and reproduction of E. formosa, eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were exposed to high/low temperature treatments (HLT25, HLT50, LLT25, and LLT50). Our findings indicate that the pupal stage of E. formosa exhibited the strongest tolerance to both heat and cold, while adults exhibited a weaker tolerance. The shortest egg-to-adult development period of 12.65 days was observed in E. formosa exposed to HLT50 treatment during the egg-larval stage. The parasitism peak of the adult stage was delayed by 1–6 days after exposure to extreme temperatures during the egg-larval stage. Conversely, the parasitism peak was advanced by 1–3 days after exposure to extreme temperatures during the pupal and adult stages. The eclosion rate, total parasitism, eclosion rate of the F1 generation, and adult longevity of the F1 generation were lower in the treatment groups than in the control groups. The F1 generation’s development period was prolonged to 15.49 and 15.19 days after exposure to HLT25 and HLT50 treatments, respectively, during the egg-larval stage. The F1 generation’s development period was shortened to 13.33 days after exposure to LLT50 treatment during the pupal stage. Male individuals appeared in the F1 generation after exposure to HLT50 treatment during the pupal stage, with females accounting for only 56.38%. Our results demonstrate that short-term exposure to extreme temperatures has detrimental effects on the growth and reproduction of E. formosa. In field biocontrol against E. formosa, the release of E. formosa should be avoided as much as possible when the ambient temperature is higher than 35°C or lower than 0°C. During extreme temperature conditions, timely supplementation and release of E. formosa population, along with ventilation and cooling in greenhouse facilities during summer, are necessary for better pest control efficacy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of highly infectious influenza A virus (IAV) is still a major threat to global human health. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) possesses potent antiviral properties against the influenza virus. However, the role of small molecular metabolites and antioxidant stress in the NTZ's anti-influenza virus mechanism is not yet fully understood. This study compared the changes in cellular metabolism, ROS levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and Keap-1/Nrf2 pathway in IAV-infected MDCK cells after NTZ treatment in vitro, using LC-MS-based metabolomics, flow cytometry, immunoblot. We observed that the NTZ treatment in the IAV-infected cells drastically altered the metabolism of small molecules, among which eleven metabolites were highly relevant to NTZ. The virus induced oxidative stress was also remarkably suppressed by NTZ. Meanwhile, the Nrf2 pathway and some proteins with modulating antiviral activity were activated after NTZ treatment, protecting cells from IAV injury. Therefore, regulation of the intracellular oxidative state is the primary outcome of NTZ treatment, which may underpin an antiviral mechanism attributed to the thiazolide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encarsia formosa is a natural enemy of the invasive pest Bemisia tabaci and is known to be a dominant parasitic. The frequency and magnitude of climate extremes, particularly temperature extremes, have increased, which has put insect populations at risk. However, the effects of temperature extremes on E. formosa are not well understood. To examine the impact of short-term extreme temperature exposure on the development and reproduction of E. formosa, eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were exposed to high/low temperature treatments (HLT25, HLT50, LLT25, and LLT50). Our findings indicate that the pupal stage of E. formosa exhibited the strongest tolerance to both heat and cold, while adults exhibited a weaker tolerance. The shortest egg-to-adult development period of 12.65 days was observed in E. formosa exposed to HLT50 treatment during the egg-larval stage. The parasitism peak of the adult stage was delayed by 1–6 days after exposure to extreme temperatures during the egg-larval stage. Conversely, the parasitism peak was advanced by 1–3 days after exposure to extreme temperatures during the pupal and adult stages. The eclosion rate, total parasitism, eclosion rate of the F1 generation, and adult longevity of the F1 generation were lower in the treatment groups than in the control groups. The F1 generation’s development period was prolonged to 15.49 and 15.19 days after exposure to HLT25 and HLT50 treatments, respectively, during the egg-larval stage. The F1 generation’s development period was shortened to 13.33 days after exposure to LLT50 treatment during the pupal stage. Male individuals appeared in the F1 generation after exposure to HLT50 treatment during the pupal stage, with females accounting for only 56.38%. Our results demonstrate that short-term exposure to extreme temperatures has detrimental effects on the growth and reproduction of E. formosa. In field biocontrol against E. formosa, the release of E. formosa should be avoided as much as possible when the ambient temperature is higher than 35°C or lower than 0°C. During extreme temperature conditions, timely supplementation and release of E. formosa population, along with ventilation and cooling in greenhouse facilities during summer, are necessary for better pest control efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep shale gas (3500-4500 m) will be the important succeeding field for the growth of shale gas production in China. Under the condition of high temperature and high pressure in deep shale gas reservoirs, its gas occurrence characteristics are markedly different from those of medium and shallow layers. To elucidate the gas occurrence characteristics and controlling factors of deep shales in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, methane adsorption, low-temperature N2, and CO2 adsorption experiments were conducted. The results show that in deep shales, the mesopores provide approximately 75% of the total specific surface area (SSA) and 90% of the total pore volume (PV). Based on two hypotheses and comparing the theoretical and actual adsorption capacity, it is speculated that methane is adsorbed in deep shale in the form of micropore filling, and free gas is mainly stored in the mesopores. Correlation analysis demonstrated that TOC is the key material constraint for the adsorption capacity of deep shale, and micropore SSA is the key spatial constraint. Other minerals and mesopore parameters have limited effect on the amount of adsorbed gas. Moreover, the free gas content ranges from 2.72 m³/t to 6.20 m³/t, with an average value of 4.60 m³/t, and the free gas content ratio is approximately 58%, suggesting that the deep shale gas reservoirs are dominated by free gas. This ratio may also increase to approximately 70% when considering the formation temperature effect on adsorbed gas. Gas density, porosity, and gas saturation are the main controlling factors of free gas content, resulting in significantly larger free gas content in deep shale than in shallower formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are extreme climatic events that can have a significant impact on marine ecosystems and their services across the world. We examine the spatiotemporal variation of summer MHWs in the north Indian Ocean (NIO) and find that the whole NIO Basin exhibits a pronounced spatial variability as well as a significant increasing trend in MHW frequency. We show that the NIO has two leading MHW modes linked to two distinct sea surface temperature (SST) patterns during summer. The first MHW mode is associated with basinwide warming, which is preconditioned by a decaying El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and sustained throughout the summer by anomalous northeasterlies extending from the anticyclonic circulation of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH). The combined effect of thermocline warming due to downwelling oceanic planetary waves, decreased wind-induced evaporative cooling, and enhanced insolation cause basinwide summer MHWs. The second MHW mode exhibits a zonal dipole pattern, which has unfavorable cooling conditions in the previous seasons. The second MHW mode is associated with a phase change of ENSO and is greatly influenced by the formation of an interhemispheric pressure difference (IHPD) due to strengthening of the Australian high (AH) and weakening of the WNPSH. The IHPD induces cross-equatorial southerly winds across the eastern Indian Ocean. These winds favor the transformation of basinwide cooling conditions into zonal SST patterns via wind-evaporation-SST and thermocline-SST feedback, causing MHWs with a zonal dipole pattern. These MHW modes have a significant influence on the distribution and intensity of summer precipitation in the NIO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the relationship between AO and winter synoptic temperature variability (STV) over the Northern Hemisphere is examined in 34 CMIP5/CMIP6 model outputs. With significant model bias around the North Pacific and North Atlantic, most models fail to capture the correct AO-STV pattern in historical simulations compared to observations. To investigate the bias of AO-STV relationship simulations, AO-related processes for the connection between AO and winter STV are examined in high pattern score (HPS) models and low pattern score (LPS) models, respectively. Furthermore, the bias of AO impact can be traced back to AO pattern simulations. On the one hand, compared to observations, HPS models can overall capture the intensity in the North Pacific and North Atlantic center of AO. On the other hand, LPS models tend to overestimate the North Pacific center and underestimate the North Atlantic center. In addition, similar to historical simulations, a robust AO-STV relationship can still be found over the Northern Hemisphere in future projections based on HPS models. Meanwhile, the uncertainty of the projected AO-STV relationship in the multimodel ensemble is confined mainly to the North Pacific, consistent with the large diversity of intensity over the North Pacific center of AO, which is related to the uncertainty of the relationship between AO and regional mode variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug efficacy generally varies with different durations. There is no systematic review analyzing the effect of selegiline for Parkinson's disease (PD) on different treatment duration. This study aims to analyze how the efficacy and safety of selegiline changes for PD over time. Methods: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Database were systematically retrieved for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies of selegiline for PD. The search period was from inception to January 18th, 2022. The efficacy outcomes were measured by the mean change from baseline in the total and sub Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Webster Rating Scale (WRS) scores. The safety outcomes were measured by the proportion of participants having any adverse events overall and that in different system organ classes. Results: Among the 3,786 studies obtained, 27 RCTs and 11 observational studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies reported an outcome which was also reported in at least one other study, and were included in meta-analyses. Compared with placebo, selegiline was found with a stronger reduction of total UPDRS score with increasing treatment duration [mean difference and 95% CIs in 1 month: -3.56 (-6.67, -0.45); 3 months: -3.32 (-3.75, -2.89); 6 months: -7.46 (-12.60, -2.32); 12 months: -5.07 (-6.74, -3.41); 48 months: -8.78 (-13.75, -3.80); 60 months: -11.06 (-16.19, -5.94)]. A similar trend was also found fromthe point estimates in UPDRS I, II, III, HAMD andWRS score. The results of observational studies on efficacy were not entirely consistent. As for safety, compared with placebo, selegiline had higher risk of incurring any adverse events [rate: 54.7% vs. 62.1%; odd ratio and 95% CIs: 1.58 (1.02, 2.44)], with the excess adverse events mainly manifested as neuropsychiatric disorders [26.7% vs. 31.6%; 1.36 (1.06, 1.75)] and no significant change over time. The statistically difference in overall adverse event between selegiline and active controls was not found. Conclusion: Selegiline was effective in improving total UPDRS score with increasing treatment duration, and had a higher risk of incurring adverse events, especially the adverse events in the neuropsychiatric system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, massive data communication and computing pose a severe challenge on existing wireless network architecture, from various aspects such as data rate, latency, energy consumption and pricing. Hence, it is of vital importance to investigate active wireless transmission for wireless networks. To this end, we first overview the data rate of wireless active transmission. We then overview the latency of wireless active transmission, which is particularly important for the applications of monitoring services. We further overview the spectral efficiency of the active transmission, which is particularly important for the battery-limited Internet of Things (IoT) networks. After these overviews, we give several critical challenges on the active transmission, and we finally present feasible solutions to meet these challenges. The work in this paper can serve as an important reference to the wireless networks and IoT networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental biofilms are highly assembled microbial communities surrounded by an extracellular matrix, which protects the resident microbes. The microbes, including commensal bacteria and opportunistic pathogens, coexist with each other to maintain relative balance under healthy conditions. However, under hostile conditions such as sugar intake and poor oral care, biofilms can generate excessive acids. Prolonged low pH in biofilm increases proportions of acidogenic and aciduric microbes, which breaks the ecological equilibrium and finally causes dental caries. Given the complexity of oral microenvironment, controlling the acidic biofilms using antimicrobials that are activated at low pH could be a desirable approach to control dental caries. Therefore, recent researches have focused on designing novel kinds of pH-activated strategies, including pH-responsive antimicrobial agents and pH-sensitive drug delivery systems. These agents exert antibacterial properties only under low pH conditions, so they are able to disrupt acidic biofilms without breaking the neutral microenvironment and biodiversity in the mouth. The mechanisms of low pH activation are mainly based on protonation and deprotonation reactions, acids labile linkages, and H+-triggered reactive oxygen species production. This review summarized pH-activated antibiofilm strategies to control dental caries, concentrating on their effect, mechanisms of action, and biocompatibility, as well as the limitation of current research and the prospects for future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This multi‐center study was aimed at retrospectively evaluating the feasibility, safety, clinical outcomes, and surgical learning curve of an optimized procedure for right upper lobectomy (RUL), which is challenging because of the anatomical structures and features of this lobe. Methods: This study included 45 RUL cases of robot‐assisted thoracoscopy (RATS) in a pilot cohort and 187 RUL cases of video‐assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) in three cohorts. A total of 121 and 111 patients underwent traditional and optimized RUL, respectively. The optimized surgical procedure was performed to consecutively transect the superior arterial trunk and bronchus, and finally disconnect the pulmonary vein and posterior ascending artery with interlobar fissures. Clinical and radiological data were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Optimized RUL can be performed successfully by RATS or VATS. The optimized procedure yielded better clinical outcomes than the traditional procedure, including shorter operation times, less blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital times, lower costs, and a lower likelihood of postoperative intermedius bronchial kinking. Additionally, for calcified interlobar lymph nodes, the optimized VATS group was less likely to be converted to thoracotomy than the traditional group. The skills required to perform optimized VATS RUL can be gained by surgeons after 12 to 15 cases. The two RUL procedures in the pilot cohort showed similar disease‐free survival. Conclusions: The optimized RUL was safe, economical, and feasible, with a short learning curve and satisfactory disease‐free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypoxia is a hallmark of cancer, and is closely intertwined with tumor immune evasion. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in tumor response to immune checkpoint blockades. However, hypoxia-associated circRNAs that orchestrate the association between hypoxia and response to immunotherapy remain poorly understood. Here, we aimed to determine the roles of hypoxia-associated circRNAs in immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods: Differentially expressed hypoxia-associated circRNAs were determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. HCC patients treated with PD-1 blockade were enrolled to assess the clinical significance of circPRDM4. RT-qPCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, T cell-mediated tumor cell killing assay, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were used to investigate the roles of circPRDM4 in immune escape of HCC cells in vitro. Patient-derived xenograft mouse models and adoptive human tumor infiltrating lymphocyte-CD8+ T cell transfer were adopted to evaluate the effects of circPRDM4 in vivo. RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry, RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, chromatin isolation by RNA purification, dual-luciferase reporter assays, dot blotting, DNA in situ hybridization, and immunoprecipitation were utilized to examine the interaction between circPRDM4, HIF-1α, and CD274 promoter. Results: We identified circPRDM4 as a hypoxia-associated circRNA in HCC. circPRDM4 was upregulated in responders to PD-1 blockade and associated with therapeutic efficacy. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that circPRDM4 induced PD-L1 expression and promoted CD8+ T cell-mediated immune escape under hypoxic conditions. Mechanistically, circPRDM4 acted as a scaffold to recruit HIF-1α onto CD274 promoter, and cemented their interaction, ultimately promoting the HIF-1α-mediated transactivation of PD-L1. Conclusions: These findings illustrated that circPRDM4 promoted immune escape of HCC cells by facilitating the recruitment of HIF-1α onto the promoter of CD274 under hypoxia, thereby inhibiting CD8+ T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. This work may provide a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic candidate for HCC immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]