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To evaluate the impact of adverse health conditions, including multimorbidity, frailty, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy, on clinical outcomes in older people with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and Methods: This prospective cohort study focused on patients aged 65 years and older with AF. They were admitted to the hospital between September 2018 and April 2019 and followed up for 1 year. We evaluated these participants for adverse health conditions including multimorbidity, frailty, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy. The primary clinical outcome measured was a combination of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization. Results: 197 older patients (≥ 65 years) with AF (mean age, 77.5± 7.1 years; 57.4% men) were enrolled. During 1-year follow-up, Primary endpoint events (all-cause mortality or rehospitalization) occurred in 82 patients (41.6%). Compared with the non-event group, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was higher (2.5± 1.9 vs 1.7± 1.3, p=0.004), more heart failure (32.9% vs 17.4%, p=0.01) and chronic kidney disease (17.1% vs 7.0%, p=0.03), with lower systolic blood pressure (125.3± 18.3 mmHg vs 132± 17.9 mmHg, p=0.005) in the event group. On multivariate Cox regression showed that the CCI was associated with a higher odds ratio of the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and rehospitalization (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.02– 1.56, p=0.03). Other adverse health conditions showed no significant association with the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and rehospitalization. Conclusion: Among adverse health conditions in older people with AF, multimorbidity appears to be a significant determinant of adverse clinical outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR1800017204; date of registration: 07/18/2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metamaterials (MMs), which include phononic crystals (PCs) as a particular type, exhibit anomalous wave propagation properties through artificial design of topologies or lattice forms of unit‐cells. Recent advancements in MMs signify an ascendant research trend, providing promising design ideas and means for unprecedented wave propagation properties. The imperative for on‐demand, real‐time active control of wave propagation underscores the significance of tunable manipulation of acoustic/elastic waves, promoting the design and development of tunable MMs. Furthermore, the versatility of intelligent materials and their ongoing development and innovation contribute significantly to the emergence of diverse intelligent MMs. This comprehensive survey provides an overview of recent advancements and current research trends in the interdisciplinary field of intelligent MMs with electro‐/magneto‐mechanical couplings. The primary objective of the review is to emphasize significant progress in agile manipulation of acoustic/elastic waves in electro‐/magneto‐mechanical coupled MMs, followed by an in‐depth exploration of intelligent metasurfaces, topological MMs, non‐Hermitian parity‐time symmetric wave systems, odd elastic MMs, and spatiotemporally modulated MMs. Special emphasis is given to multi‐field coupling effects. The review concludes with a summary and outlines potential prospects, offering a timely and informative guide for future studies on actively tunable PCs and MMs in practical engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the potential use of pathobiome strains as live biotherapeutic products for human health. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating these strains at a detailed level, considering factors such as functional genes, ecological niche, and drug interactions. The article acknowledges the role of the gut microbiota in human health and discusses the potential benefits and risks of using pathobiome strains. It also addresses the challenges in developing these products, particularly in terms of safety, efficacy, and quality management. The authors propose further research into gene functions, ecological influences, and the pathogenicity of specific strains, and suggest expanding the applications of live biotherapeutics beyond gastrointestinal diseases. They discuss various development methods, such as large-scale screening and gene editing technology, and highlight the need for further investigation in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Dielectric elastomers have attracted considerable attention both from academia and industry alike over the last two decades due to their superior mechanical properties. In parallel, research on the mechanical properties of dielectrics has been steadily advancing, including the theoretical, experimental, and numerical aspects. It has been recognized that the electromechanical coupling property of dielectric materials can be utilized to drive deformations in functional devices in a more controllable and intelligent manner. This paper reviews recent advances in the theory of dielectrics, with specific attention focused on the theory proposed by Dorfmann and Ogden. Additionally, we provide examples illustrating the application of this theory to analyze the electromechanical deformations and the associated bifurcations in soft dielectrics. We compared the bifurcations in elastic and dielectric materials and found that only compressive bifurcation modes exist in elastic structures, whereas both compressive and tensile modes coexist in dielectric structures. We summarize two proposed ways to suppress and prevent the tensile bifurcations in dielectric materials. We hope that this literature survey will foster further advancements in the field of the electroelastic theory of soft dielectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the rapid aging trend of China's population, the issue of drug rational use in older adults has become more and more prominent. Parkinson's disease (PD) is the one of the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Pharmaceutical treatment plays a cardinal role in alleviating motor and non-motor symptoms to improve the quality of life of patients with PD. Patients with PD have complex medical needs yet little is known about the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) among them in China. We quantify the prevalence of PIM use and identify its predictors among older persons with PD in China. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using a national representative database of all medical insurance beneficiaries across China, extracting records of ambulatory visits of older adults with PD between 2015 and 2017. Beneficiaries aged 65 and above were eligible for inclusion. The prevalence of patients exposed to overall PIMs and PIMs related to motor and cognitive impairment was calculated based on Beers Criteria 2015 version. Potential predictors of PIM concerning patients' characteristics were estimated using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 14,452 older adults with PD were included. In total, 8,356 (57.8%) patients received at least one PIM; 2,464 (17.1%) patients received at least one motor-impairing PIM and 6,201 (42.9%) patients received at least one cognition-impairing PIM. The prevalence of overall PIM use was higher in patients of older age group (54.7% [65–74] vs. 59.5% [75–84; OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14–1.31] vs.65.5% [≥ 85; OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.38–1.80) and females (61.4% [female] vs. 55.0% [males; OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.72–0.82). Conclusions: Prescribing PIMs for older adults with PD was common in China, especially for females and older age groups, yet younger patients were more inclined to be prescribed with motor or cognition-impaired PIMs. Our findings represent a clear target awaiting multidimensional efforts to promote the rational prescribing of medications for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersion curves of bulk waves propagating in both AlN and ZnO film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) are presented to illustrate the mode flip of the thickness-extensional (TE) and 2nd thickness-shear (TSh2) modes. The frequency spectrum quantitative prediction (FSQP) method is used to solve the frequency spectra for predicting the coupling strength among the eigen-modes in AlN and ZnO FBARs. The results elaborate that the flip of the TE and TSh2 branches results in novel self-coupling vibration between the small-wavenumber TE and large-wavenumber TE modes, which has never been observed in the ZnO FBAR. Besides, the mode flip leads to the change in the relative positions of the frequency spectral curves about the TE cut-off frequency. The obtained frequency spectra can be used to predict the mode-coupling behaviors of the vibration modes in the AlN FBAR. The conclusions drawn from the results can help to distinguish the desirable operation modes of the AlN FBAR with very weak coupling strength from all vibration modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of various genes known to influence mean daily warfarin dose (MDWD) in the Han Chinese population. Methods: The study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Selected studies retrieved by searching Pubmed, Embase (Ovid), Medline, CNKI, Wanfang data, and SinoMed (from their inception to 31 August 2022) for the cohort studies assessing genetic variations that may possibly influence MDWD in Chinese patients were included. Result: A total of 46 studies including a total of 10,102 Han Chinese adult patients were finally included in the meta-analysis. The impact of 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 8 genes on MDWD was analyzed. The significant impact of some of these SNPs on MDWD requirements was demonstrated. Patients with CYP4F2 rs2108622 TT, EPHX1 rs2260863 GC, or NQO1 rs1800566 TT genotype required more than 10% higher MDWD. Furthermore, patients with ABCB1 rs2032582 GT or GG, or CALU rs2290228 TT genotype required more than 10% lower MDWD. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with EPHX1 rs2260863 GC genotype required 7% lower MDWD after heart valve replacement (HVR). Conclusion: This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of various genes known to influence MDWD besides CYP2C9 and VKORC1 in the Han Chinese population. CYP4F2 (rs2108622), GGCX (rs12714145), EPHX1 (rs2292566 and rs2260863), ABCB1 (rs2032582), NQO1 (rs1800566), and CALU (rs2290228) SNPs might be moderate factors affecting MDWD requirements. Registered information: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022355130). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antidepressant medications are widely used by patients with depression or a depressive disorder. In spite of a generally favorable safety profile of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin - norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI/SNRI), several cases of a possible connection between SSRI/SNRI and hyponatremia have been reported. To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with hyponatremia after SSRI/SNRI exposure, and to examine the association between SSRI/SNRI exposure and the presence of hyponatremia in a Chinese population. A retrospective single-center case series study. We performed a retrospective evaluation of inpatients with SSRI/SNRI-induced hyponatremia from a single institution in China between 2018 and 2020. Clinical data were obtained through review of medical records. Patients who met the initial inclusion criteria but did not develop hyponatremia acted as controls. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Board of Beijing Hospital (Beijing, P.R. China). We identified 26 patients with SSRI/SNRI-induced hyponatremia. The incidence rate of hyponatremia was 1.34% (26/1937) in the study population. The mean age at diagnosis was 72.58 (±12.84) years, with a male: female ratio of 1:1.42. The duration between SSRI/SNRI exposure and the onset of hyponatremia was 7.65 (±4.88) days. The minimum serum sodium level was 2328.23 (±107.25) mg/dL in the study group. Seventeen patients (65.38%) received sodium supplements. Four patients (15.38%) switched to another antidepressant. Fifteen patients (57.69%) recovered by the time of discharge. There were significant differences in serum potassium, serum magnesium and serum creatinine level between the two groups (p < 0.05). The rate of use of sertraline was significantly higher in the study group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). This pattern was not found in other SSRI/SNRI (p > 0.05). The results of our study show that SSRI/SNRI exposure, in addition to hyponatremia, may also affect the level of serum potassium, serum magnesium and serum creatinine. A history of hyponatremia and exposure to SSRI/SNRI may be potential risk factors for the development of hyponatremia. Future prospective studies are needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individual variability of rivaroxaban was observed in clinical application. This study aimed to identify genetic variants associated with the variability of pharmacodynamics and bleeding risk of rivaroxbaban in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Materials and Methods: From June 2017, and July 2019, this study enrolled 257 patients with NVAF receiving rivaroxaban. Pharmacodynamics was assessed by determining anti‐Factor Xa (anti‐FXa) level 3 h after rivaroxaban administration as peak concentration. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed to detected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This study was registered (NCT03161496). Results: The bleeding events within 12 months were significantly related to the peak anti‐FXa level (p =.027). SUSD3 rs76292544 was associated with 12‐month bleeding events (odds ratio [OR]: 4.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.17–8.14, p = 6.43×10−5). Five SNPs including NCMAP rs4553122 (p = 2.29×10−5), PRF1 rs885821 (p = 7.02×10−5), PRKAG2 rs12703159 (p = 7.97×10−5), PRKAG2 rs13224758 (p = 8.70×10−5), and POU2F3 rs2298579 (p = 8.24×10−5) were associated with peak anti‐FXa level. Genetic variants of 52 SNPs from 36 genes including GOT2 rs14221 and MMP13 rs640198 were potentially related to 12‐month bleeding events caused by rivaroxaban's efficacy. Conclusions: Peak anti‐FXa level was associated with risk of bleeding events in patients with NVAF receiving rivaroxaban. SUSD3 rs76292544 was suggestively associated with 12‐month bleeding events and five SNPs (NCMAP rs4553122, PRF1 rs885821, PRKAG2 rs12703159, rs13224758 and POU2F3 rs2298579) were suggestively associated with peak anti‐FXa level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major challenges of immunotherapy for glioblastoma are that drugs cannot target tumor sites accurately and properly activate complex immune responses. Herein, we design and prepare a kind of chemotactic nanomotor loaded with brain endothelial cell targeting agent angiopep-2 and anti-tumor drug (Lonidamine modified with mitochondrial targeting agent triphenylphosphine, TLND). Reactive oxygen species and inducible nitric oxide synthase (ROS/iNOS), which are specifically highly expressed in glioblastoma microenvironment, are used as chemoattractants to induce the chemotactic behavior of the nanomotors. We propose a precise targeting strategy of brain endothelial cells-tumor cells-mitochondria. Results verified that the released NO and TLND can regulate the immune circulation through multiple steps to enhance the effect of immunotherapy, including triggering the immunogenic cell death of tumor, inducing dendritic cells to mature, promoting cytotoxic T cells infiltration, and regulating tumor microenvironment. Moreover, this treatment strategy can form an effective immune memory effect to prevent tumor metastasis and recurrence. The blood-brain barrier represents a hurdle for the delivery of therapeutics in brain tumor tissues. Here the authors describe the design of a nitric oxide-driven nanomotor loaded with the glycolysis inhibitor lonidamine, breaking through the blood-brain barrier and eliciting anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical models of glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smell detection depends on nasal airflow, which can make absorption of odors to the olfactory epithelium by diffusion through the mucus layer. The odors then act on the chemo-sensitive epithelium of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Therefore, any pathological changes in the olfactory area, for instance, dry nose caused by Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) may interfere with olfactory function. SS is an autoimmune disease in which aquaporin (AQP) 5 autoantibodies have been detected in the serum. However, the expression of AQP5 in olfactory mucosa and its function in olfaction is still unknown. Based on the study of the expression characteristics of AQP5 protein in the nasal mucosa, the olfaction dysfunction in AQP5 knockout (KO) mice was found by olfactory behavior analysis, which was accompanied by reduced secretion volume of Bowman's gland by using in vitro secretion measure system, and the change of acid mucin in nasal mucus layer was identified. By excluding the possibility that olfactory disturbance was caused by changes in OSNs, the result indicated that AQP5 contributes to olfactory functions by regulating the volume and composition of OE mucus layer, which is the medium for the dissolution of odor molecules. Our results indicate that AQP5 can affect the olfactory functions by regulating the water supply of BGs and the mucus layer upper the OE that can explain the olfactory loss in the patients of SS, and AQP5 KO mice might be used as an ideal model to study the olfactory dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To identify the potential factors responsible for the individual variability of dabigatran, we investigated the genetic variations associated with clinical outcomes and pharmacodynamics (PD) in Chinese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Materials and methods: Chinese patients with NVAF taking dabigatran etexilate with therapeutic doses were enrolled. The primary (bleeding events) and secondary (thromboembolic and major adverse cardiac events) outcomes for a 2‐year follow‐up were evaluated. Peak and trough PD parameters (anti‐FIIa activity, activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time) were detected. Whole‐exome sequencing, genome‐wide sequencing and candidate gene association analyses were performed. Results: There were 170 patients with NVAF treated with dabigatran (110 mg twice daily) who were finally included. Two single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly related with bleeding, which include UBASH3B rs2276408 (odds ratio [OR] = 8.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.99–25.83, p = 7.77 × 10−5 at sixth month visit) and FBN2 rs3805625 (OR = 8.29, 95% CI: 2.87–23.89, p = 9.08 × 10−5 at 12th month visit), as well as with increased trends at other visits (p <.05). Furthermore, minor allele carriers of 16 new SNPs increased PD levels, and those of one new SNP decreased PD values (p < 1.0 × 10−5). Lastly, 33 new SNPs were found to be associated with bleeding and PD among 14 candidate genes. Unfortunately, the low number of secondary outcomes precluded further association analyses. Conclusions: Genetic variations indeed affected bleeding and PD in Chinese patients with NVAF treated with dabigatran. The functions of these suggestive genes and SNPs might further be explored and verified in more in vivo and in vitro investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has good thermal and chemical stability and relatively high mobility in the environment. It has been used in the applications of gas sensors, photodetectors and field effect transistors. Oxygen-doped molybdenum disulfide (MoS2-xOx) generated by oxygen-assisted technology can not only regulate the size of MoS2 single crystal, but also improve the photoluminescence intensity of MoS2 single crystal. MoS2-xOx films were prepared and their optical properties were investigated in this paper. First, radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering technology was used to prepare the precursors of MoS2-xOx films; next, the precursors in natural environment for 60 d were oxidized; finally, the MoS2-xOx films after a thermal annealing process were obtained. Herein, the angle between the sputtering plume and the glass substrate was specifically varied. The optical properties of MoS2-xOx films were investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze the elements and valence states of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy results show that the surface morphology is optimal at an angle of 45° (θ=45°) between the sputtering plume and the substrate. UV-Vis spectrophotometry results show that the optical band gap of the MoS2-xOx films decreasing as the thickness and oxygen content increasing. COMSOL Multiphysics software was utilized to simulate the transmittance of MoS2-xOx films, and the theoretical and experimental results agree well. The results of this paper will provide experimental data reference for the application of MoS2-xOx in the field of optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress hyperglycemia is strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recently, the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) has been proposed to represent relative hyperglycemia. Studies regarding the relationship between SHR and mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD) are limited. This study aimed to clarify the association between SHR and in-hospital mortality in patients with CAD. Methods: A total of 19,929 patients with CAD who were hospitalized in Beijing Hospital were enrolled in this study. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 ml/min, cancer, or missing blood glucose/HbA1c data were excluded; therefore, 8,196 patients were included in the final analysis. The patients were divided into three groups based on tertiles of SHR: T1 group (SHR < 0.725, n = 2,732), T2 group (0.725 ≤ SHR < 0.832, n = 2,730), and T3 group (SHR ≥ 0.832, n = 2,734). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Results: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 0.91% (n = 74). After adjusting for covariates, SHR was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with CAD [odds ratio (OR) = 17.038; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 9.668–30.027; P < 0.001], and the T3 group had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR = 4.901; 95% CI = 2.583–9.297; P < 0.001) compared with T1 group. In the subgroup analysis, the T3 group had an increased risk of mortality among patients with pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM) (OR = 9.670; 95% CI = 1.886–49.571; P = 0.007) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 5.023; 95% CI = 2.371–10.640; P < 0.001) after adjustments for covariates. The relationship between SHR and in-hospital mortality among patients with ACS and chronic coronary syndrome was consistent with the main finding. SHR and in-hospital mortality exhibited a dose-response relationship, and the risk of in-hospital mortality increased when the SHR index was above 1.20. Moreover, the area under the curve of SHR for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with CAD was 0.741. Conclusion: SHR is significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with CAD. SHR may be an effective predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with CAD, especially for those with pre-DM and DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development and applications of nano-electro-mechanical systems, academic interest in the mechanical behavior of piezoelectric structures at nanoscale is increasing. Interesting unconventional phenomena have been observed either experimentally or through molecular dynamics simulation. The most common and also important one is the size-dependent characteristics. Classical continuum mechanics with necessary modifications has been proven to be very powerful in explaining these particular characteristics in a relatively simple theoretical framework. This article reviews the recent advances in understanding the size-dependent dynamic responses of piezoelectric nanostructures from the viewpoint of modified continuum mechanics. Particular attentions are paid to three advanced theories of piezoelectricity (e.g. gradient piezoelectricity, surface piezoelectricity, and nonlocal piezoelectricity) and their abilities to predict unconventional vibration and wave characteristics in piezoelectric structures and devices at the nanoscale. The article could serve as a useful reference for the future research on or design of nanostructures with multifield couplings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index, which is a reliable surrogate marker of insulin resistance (IR), has been associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, evidence of the impact of the TyG index on the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited. This study investigated the relationship between the TyG index and CAD severity of individuals with different glucose metabolic statuses. Methods: This study enrolled 2792 participants with CAD in China between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2021. All participants were divided into groups according to the tertiles of the TyG index as follows: T1 group, TyG index < 6.87; T2 group, TyG index ≥ 6.87 to < 7.38; and T3 group, TyG index ≥ 7.38. The glucose metabolic status was classified as normal glucose regulation, pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM), and diabetes mellitus according to the standards of the American Diabetes Association. CAD severity was determined by the number of stenotic vessels (single-vessel CAD versus multi-vessel CAD). Results: We observed a significant relationship between the TyG index and incidence of multi-vessel CAD. After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate, antiplatelet drug use, antilipidemic drug use, and antihypertensive drug use in the logistic regression model, the TyG index was still an independent risk factor for multi-vessel CAD. Additionally, the highest tertile of the TyG group (T3 group) was correlated with a 1.496-fold risk of multi-vessel CAD compared with the lowest tertile of the TyG group (T1 group) (odds ratio [OR], 1.496; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.183–1.893; P < 0.001) in the multivariable logistic regression model. Furthermore, a dose–response relationship was observed between the TyG index and CAD severity (non-linear P = 0.314). In the subgroup analysis of different glucose metabolic statuses, the T3 group (OR, 1.541; 95% CI 1.013–2.344; P = 0.043) were associated with a significantly higher risk of multi-vessel CAD in individuals with pre-DM. Conclusions: An increased TyG index was associated with a higher risk of multi-vessel CAD. Our study indicated that TyG as an estimation index for evaluating IR could be a valuable predictor of CAD severity, especially for individuals with pre-DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of environmental values on consumer intentions to participate in agritourism through the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and value-belief-norm (VBN) theory. It proposes an integrative model by adding two variables, i.e., environmental benefits and the human-nature coordination concept, to the TPB. The study employs a questionnaire survey method and a sample of 640, which was statistically analysed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The results reveal that the “environmental values-attitudes-behavioural intentions” framework has scientific applicability in agritourism. Environmental values, measured through the variables environmental benefits and the human-nature coordination concept, are positively correlated directly or indirectly with agritourism consumption intentions, while attitudes and subjective norms serve as mediators. However, the mediating effect of perceived behavioural control is not statistically significant, indicating making efforts to influence attitudes and subjective norms is more useful for and effective in stimulating the public’s intentions towards agritourism. As this study tests the hypotheses with empirical data, it provides practical implications for policy-makers and programme managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode coupling between the operation mode and unwanted eigenmodes has a significant influence on the working performance of novel thin-film magnetoelectric (ME) devices operating at high frequencies. In this article, the extended frequency spectrum quantitative prediction (FSQP) method is used to investigate mode-coupling vibrations in high-frequency ME heterostructures. This method has three key procedures. First, wave propagation in ME heterostructures is studied to determine the wavenumber and frequency of the eigenmodes. Second, the variational formulation of a general ME heterostructure is constructed. Finally, frequency spectra for predicting the coupling strength among the eigenmodes are obtained by substituting the solutions consisting of all eigenmodes into the variational formulation. Two numerical examples are presented to validate the extended FSQP method. The mode shapes of the mechanical displacements are used to thoroughly describe the mode-coupling behavior in different vibration modes. The numerical results show that the mode-coupling strength is significantly affected by the structural size and number of layers in an ME heterostructure. Furthermore, structural symmetry along the thickness direction may cause specific mode-decoupling phenomena. Effective strategies for suppressing multimode-coupling vibrations in ME heterostructures by optimizing the lateral aspect ratios based on the frequency spectra are proposed to guide device design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current difficulty in treating blood lead poisoning lies in effectively removing Pb-(II), which is mainly located inside red blood cells (>95%) and is complexed with hemoglobin, without causing damage to the blood environment. In this work, a new type of blood nanoremover that can safely enter red blood cells to remove the Pb-(II) located in the cells is reported. Specifically, using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the silicon source, a silica shell with a mesoporous pore size of about 30 nm was synthesized on the outer surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, resulting in Fe3O4/mSi with flower morphology. Then, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) with good affinity to Pb-(II) was modified inside the pores of the silica shell to obtain Fe3O4/mSi/D. The experimental results showed that the size of the synthesized Fe3O4/mSi/D was relatively uniform, and the pore structures were regular. Fe3O4/mSi/D would not cause obvious hemolysis and coagulation in the blood, and they could avoid the phagocytosis of the immune system and enter the red blood cells. The removal efficiency of Pb-(II) by Fe3O4/mSi/D can reach about 73.5% in 30 min. This strategy provides the possibility for the removal of heavy metals in blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Antibiotic resistance is a growing health crisis that is further complicated by treatment failures caused by bacteria that exhibit heterogeneous susceptibility to antibiotics. The aim of this study was to describe imipenem (IPM)-heteroresistant strains among multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESBL/AmpC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates, investigate their molecular phenotypic characteristics, and elucidate the outcome of antibiotic treatment in mice infected with the heteroresistant isolates. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility of K. pneumoniae isolates was determined by the disk diffusion and E-test methods. Heteroresistance to IPM was confirmed by population analysis profile (PAP) assays. PCR and sequencing were employed to detect MDR determinants. Molecular differences between the susceptible and resistant subpopulations were evaluated by sequencing and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The effect of the carbapenem-heteroresistant strains on antibiotic treatment was assessed using a mouse model of peritonitis with heteroresistant K. pneumoniae and subsequent treatment with IPM. Results: In total, 37 MDR ESBL/AmpC-producing clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae were identified between September 2018 and December 2019. These strains were notably resistant to conventional antimicrobials other than carbapenems. Among the isolates, three strains exhibited heteroresistance to IPM and carried several ESBL and/or AmpC genes. Mice infected with a lethal dose of any of the three heteroresistant isolates were unable to survive in the presence of IPM treatment, as the percentage of the IPM-resistant subpopulation of each strain was increased in the peritoneum of these mice at 24 h after infection. The resistant subpopulation of the strains presented pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles that were identical to those of the susceptible subpopulation, but ompK36 porin showed a reduction in gene expression (0.09- to 0.50-fold) in the resistant subpopulation. Conclusion: Carbapenem-heteroresistant strains were present among the MDR K. pneumoniae isolates producing ESBL/AmpC β-lactamases, and these heteroresistant strains failed IPM therapy in experimentally infected mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a severe cardiovascular disease with high mortality. It is reported to be closely related to the mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic disturbance on endothelial cells under a chronic hypoxic state. Significant declined mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, and metabolic changes are the main characteristics of endothelial injury in the disease. Trelagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor applied for the treatment of type II diabetes and has been recently reported to exert various pharmacological properties. In this investigation, we examined whether Trelagliptin possessed a protective effect against mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic disturbance in human aortic valvular endothelial cells (HAVECs) under oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) conditions. We found that both the cytotoxicity and mitochondrial oxidative stress in HAVECs induced by OGD/R stimulation were greatly alleviated by Trelagliptin. In addition, the declined mitochondrial respiration and ATP production decreased secretion of cystathionine and creatine, and the increased production of triglyceride and adiponectin in OGD/R-challenged HAVECs was dramatically reversed by Trelagliptin, accompanied by the upregulated expression level of PGC-1α and CPT-1. Lastly, the AMPK pathway was observed to be significantly activated in OGD/R-challenged HAVECs by Trelagliptin treatment. After co-administration of the inhibitor of the AMPK pathway, the effects of Trelagliptin on mitochondrial function and metabolic alterations were significantly abolished. Taken together, our data indicate that Trelagliptin ameliorated OGD/R-induced mitochondrial disturbance and metabolic changes by activating the AMPK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode-coupled vibrations in a thickness-shear (TSh) mode and laterally finite film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) with one face in contact with Newtonian (linearly viscous and compressional) liquid are investigated. With boundary conditions and interface continuity conditions, exact dispersion curves in FBAR sensors contacting with two kinds of liquids are obtained, and they are compared with the dispersion curves in a bare sensor without liquid contact. Frequency spectra, describing mode couplings between the main TSh modal branch and undesirable modal branches, are calculated by employing weak boundary conditions at lateral free edges constructed based on the variational principle. Mode shapes of mechanical displacements in both the sensor and liquid layer are presented, and mode transformations are observed due to the liquid contact and lateral edge effect. The effect of liquid thickness on frequency spectra is also studied. Numerical results reveal that the generation of shear wave in the liquid layer results in the shifts of spectrum curves along the frequency axis and hence it is the main factor of frequency shifts of FBAR sensors. The compressional wave causes the shifts of spectrum curves along the lateral aspect ratio axis. Then for a given FBAR sensor, the liquid thickness changes could also cause frequency shifts. Therefore, desirable vibration modes should be chosen based on the frequency spectra to avoid strong mode couplings and to eliminate frequency shifts induced by the liquid thickness changes in real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode-coupled vibrations in an ultra-high frequency (UHF) ZnO thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) operating at thickness-extensional (TE) mode are studied by employing weak boundary conditions (WBCs), constructed based on Saint-Venant’s principle and mixed variational principle in the piezoelectric theory. The frequency spectra, describing the lateral size-dependence of mode couplings between the main mode (TE) and undesirable eigen-modes, for clamped lateral edges are compared with the existing frequency spectra for free lateral edges to illustrate the boundary influence. The displacement and stress variations in FBAR volume are also presented to intuitionally understand and distinguish the difference of frequency spectra between these two different lateral edges, and then we discuss how to select outstanding lateral sizes to weaken the mounting effect. The frequency spectra predicted from our approximate WBCs are also compared with and agree well with those predicted by the finite element method (FEM) using COMSOL, which proves the correctness and accuracy of our theoretical method. These results indicate that the WBCs could have potentials in the valid predictions of lateral size-dependence of mode couplings in piezoelectric acoustic wave devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine (BBR) is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, which is used in traditional medicine for its anti‐microbial, anti‐protozoal, anti‐diarrhoeal activities. Berberine interacts with DNA and displays anti‐cancer activities, yet its effects on cellular DNA repair and on synthetic treatments with chemotherapeutic drugs remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of BBR on DNA repair and on sensitization of breast cancer cells to different types of DNA damage anti‐tumoural drugs. We found BBR arrested cells in the cell cycle S phase and induced DNA breaks. Cell growth analysis showed BBR sensitized MDA‐MB‐231 cells to cisplatin, camptothecin and methyl methanesulfonate; however, BBR had no synergistic effects with hydroxurea and olaparib. These results suggest BBR only affects specific DNA repair pathways. Western blot showed BBR down‐regulated XRCC1 expressions, and the rescued XRCC1 recovered the resistance of cancer cells to BBR. Therefore, we conclude that BBR interferes with XRCC1‐mediated base excision repair to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. These finding can contribute to understanding the effects of BBR on cellular DNA repair and the clinical employment of BBR in treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode coupling vibration of a multilayered ZnO thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) with its c-axis along the wave propagation direction operating at the fundamental thickness-shear (TSh) mode is studied in this paper. The accurate dispersion curve from 3-D piezoelectric theory indicates that the operating TSh mode could couple to the flexural mode, which influences the performance of a sensing resonator and needs to be eliminated through the so-called frequency spectrum analysis. Frequency spectra of coupling vibration in this FBAR can be obtained by substituting the displacement solutions consisting of the mode branches in the dispersion curve into several weak boundary conditions, which gives the integral boundary conditions across the plate thickness at the side edge of FBARs. The results show that the content of mode couplings to spurious modes depends on the plate length/thickness ratios. The character of desirable values of plate aspect ratios under which the operating TSh mode dominates among all modes is stated specifically, which provides fundamental guidance to the design of structural parameters of FBARs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free and forced vibration analysis of ZnO thin-film resonator operating with trapped-energy thickness-extensional (TE) mode is performed based on the dispersion curves for both the unbounded fully electroded and unelectroded films. The thickness solutions to the free vibration problem consist of the mode branches of the dispersion curves for the electroded and the unelectroded regions, respectively. The mode branches in the unelectroded region that carry energy away from the vibration zone are neglected because this effective energy loss corresponds to a complex frequency in the frequency spectrum. Since the thickness solutions in each region have satisfied the differential equations and the boundary conditions on the major surfaces exactly, the substitution of the thickness solutions into the modified Hamilton variational principle derived by Tiersten gives an approximate continuity condition in the form of integral over the thickness of the resonator at the interface between the electroded and unelectroded regions. The stationary condition of the integral continuity condition leads to a system of homogeneous linear equations, which determines the frequency spectrum ranging from the first TE cutoff frequency of the fully electroded film to that of the unelectroded film where the conventional trapped-energy vibration occurs. Forced vibration analysis of ZnO thin film driven into TE mode by applying a voltage to the top and bottom electrodes is also performed, which further verifies the validity of the obtained results from the free vibration analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeastern Chinese sauerkraut is a well-known traditional fermented vegetable in China. Incomplete identification of the microorganisms’ (bacteria in spontaneous fermentation) diversity and accumulation of nitrite make it difficult to normalize the fermentation process and product qualities of northeastern Chinese sauerkraut. Conventional culturing and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis methods were combined to describe microbial structure and diversity. Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Enterobacter, Accumulibacter, Thermotoga, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Rahnella and Citrobacter were predominant microorganisms in different fermentation periods. The pH value and nitrite concentration presented a certain relevance to the amount of lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc had the ability to decrease nitrite by inhibiting nitrate-reducing bacteria such as Enterobacter. Therefore, Northeastern Chinese sauerkraut should not be eaten until 4 weeks of fermentation for the safety and quality of fermented foods. Northeastern Chinese sauerkraut is rich in lactic acid bacteria, which demonstrate its ability as an excellent probiotic for applications in functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thickness-shear vibration of a z-strip AT-cut quartz crystal plate covered by two pairs of electrodes with nonuniform lateral size and thickness is investigated by the Tiersten-Smythe scalar differential equations. Exact modes and resonant frequencies are obtained for different electrode dimensions, which are qualitatively validated by the displacement distribution of the fundamental mode from some existing work. The asymmetric structure results in the loss of the symmetry of the thickness-shear vibration. The effects of geometric parameters and mass ratios on the vibration distributions are discussed in detail, which provides a fundamental reference for the design and application of quartz crystal devices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The thickness-shear (TS) and thickness-twist (TT) vibrations of partially electroded AT-cut quartz plates for acoustic wave resonator and filter applications are theoretically studied. The plates have structural variations in one of the two in-plane directions of the plates only. The scalar differential equations derived by Tiersten and Smythe for electroded and unelectroded AT-cut quartz plates are used, resulting in free vibration resonant frequencies and mode shapes for both fundamental and overtone families of modes. The trapped modes with vibrations, mainly confined in the electroded areas, are found to exist in both the resonator and the filter structures. The numerical results for the trapped modes are presented for different aspect ratios of electrodes and material properties, providing a reference to the design and optimization of quartz acoustic wave resonators and filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a theoretical analysis on a rectangular trapped-energy piezoelectric resonator operating with thickness-extensional modes of a thin zinc oxide film on a silicon layer. The driving electrode covers the central part of the resonator only. The two-dimensional scalar differential equation for such a structure derived by Tiersten and Stevens is employed which can describe in-plane mode variations. A variational formulation is developed which provides the theoretical foundation for the Ritz method used in our analysis. Free vibration frequencies and modes are obtained and examined. Modes with vibrations trapped under the driving electrode are found. An approximation used to obtain the classical result of the resonator by Tiersten and Stevens, i.e., the neglect of the four corner regions of the resonator, is removed in our variational analysis. It is shown that their approximation causes a frequency difference on the order of dozens of parts per million for the fundamental thickness-extensional operating mode, quite significant in resonator design and operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an infinite circular ZnO thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) with a frame-like electrode operating at the thickness-extensional (TE) mode is studied. Two-dimensional scalar differential equations established for the problem in the Cartesian coordinate system are successfully solved by transforming them into normal Bessel equations and modified Bessel equations in the cylindrical coordinate system. Resonant frequencies and vibration distributions are obtained for this frame-like FBAR sensor. A nearly uniform mass sensitivity distribution in the active area is achieved by designing proper electrode size and mass ratio of the driving electrode to the ZnO film. Numerical results show that compared with the reported ring electrode FBAR sensor, the novel frame-like electrode FBAR can achieve a maximum optimization ratio (up to 97.90%) on the uniformity of the mass sensitivity distribution in the active area under the same structural parameters, which is also higher than the optimization ratio 77.63% obtained by the reported double-ring electrode design. Moreover, the mechanism to achieve a very uniform mass sensitivity distribution in the active area by the frame-like electrode is explained in detail according to dispersion curves. Namely, when the resonant frequency of the FBAR sensor is close to the cut-off frequency of the active region in the dispersion curve, the mass sensitivity distribution is nearly uniform. These conclusions provide a theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of ZnO FBAR mass sensors with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]