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BackgroundChangeful seasonal influenza activity in subtropical areas such as Taiwan causes problems in epidemic preparedness. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control has maintained real-time national influenza surveillance systems since 2004. Except for timely monitoring, epidemic forecasting using the national influenza surveillance data can provide pivotal information for public health response. ObjectiveWe aimed to develop predictive models using machine learning to provide real-time influenza-like illness forecasts. MethodsUsing surveillance data of influenza-like illness visits from emergency departments (from the Real-Time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance System), outpatient departments (from the National Health Insurance database), and the records of patients with severe influenza with complications (from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System), we developed 4 machine learning models (autoregressive integrated moving average, random forest, support vector regression, and extreme gradient boosting) to produce weekly influenza-like illness predictions for a given week and 3 subsequent weeks. We established a framework of the machine learning models and used an ensemble approach called stacking to integrate these predictions. We trained the models using historical data from 2008-2014. We evaluated their predictive ability during 2015-2017 for each of the 4-week time periods using Pearson correlation, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and hit rate of trend prediction. A dashboard website was built to visualize the forecasts, and the results of real-world implementation of this forecasting framework in 2018 were evaluated using the same metrics. ResultsAll models could accurately predict the timing and magnitudes of the seasonal peaks in the then-current week (nowcast) (ρ=0.802-0.965; MAPE: 5.2%-9.2%; hit rate: 0.577-0.756), 1-week (ρ=0.803-0.918; MAPE: 8.3%-11.8%; hit rate: 0.643-0.747), 2-week (ρ=0.783-0.867; MAPE: 10.1%-15.3%; hit rate: 0.669-0.734), and 3-week forecasts (ρ=0.676-0.801; MAPE: 12.0%-18.9%; hit rate: 0.643-0.786), especially the ensemble model. In real-world implementation in 2018, the forecasting performance was still accurate in nowcasts (ρ=0.875-0.969; MAPE: 5.3%-8.0%; hit rate: 0.582-0.782) and remained satisfactory in 3-week forecasts (ρ=0.721-0.908; MAPE: 7.6%-13.5%; hit rate: 0.596-0.904). ConclusionsThis machine learning and ensemble approach can make accurate, real-time influenza-like illness forecasts for a 4-week period, and thus, facilitate decision making.

Highlights A novel gradient-layered architecture based on single-pore hollow lignin nanospheres (HLNPs)-intercalated MXene layers was created to fabricate highly stretchable (600%) and durable (1000 cycling) supercapacitor electrodes. The architecture reduced the overstacking of MXene, and the micro-chamber structure of HLNPs better utilized lignin’s pseudocapacitive property to improve ion and electron accessibility (specific capacitance reached 1273 mF cm−2). HLNPs enhanced mechanical durability and capacitive stability of the integrated wrinkled electrodes during the stretch-release cycling.

Optogenetics has revolutionized the landscape of research on neurological disorders by enabling high spatial specificity and millisecond-level temporal precision in neuroscience studies. In the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI), optogenetic techniques have greatly advanced our understanding of the pathological and physiological processes involved, providing valuable guidance for both monitoring and therapeutic interventions. This article offers a review of the latest research applications of optogenetics in the study of TBI.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to quantify the global cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden attributable to diet low in fiber among adults aged 60 years and older using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. Methods We extracted data on CVD mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and risk-factor exposures from the GBD 2019 study for people aged 60 and older. Age-period-cohort models were used to estimate the overall annual percentage change in mortality and DALY rate (net drift, % per year), mortality and DALY rate for each age group from 1990 to 2019 (local drift, % per year), longitudinal age-specific rate corrected for period bias (age effect), and mortality and Daly rate for each age group from 1990 to 2019 (local drift, % per year). And period/cohort relative risk (period/cohort effect). Results From 1990 to 2019, global age-standardized cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates attributable to low dietary fiber intake decreased by 2.37% per year, while disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) fell by 2.48% annually. Decreases were observed across all sociodemographic index regions, with fastest declines in high and high-middle SDI areas. CVD mortality and DALY rates attributable to low fiber increased exponentially with age, peaking at 85–89 years, and were higher in men than women. Regarding period effects, mortality and DALY rates declined since 2000, reaching nadirs in 2015–2019. For birth cohort patterns, risks attributable to low fiber intake peaked among early 1900s births and subsequently fell, with more pronounced reductions over time in women. Conclusions Low dietary fiber intake is a leading contributor to the global cardiovascular disease burden, accounting for substantial mortality and disability specifically among older adults over recent decades.

Objective To prepare a high performance electrochemical immunosensor for detecting Brucella abortus (B. abortus). Methods Prussian blue (PB), multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs)(PB-MWCNTs-GNPs) nanocomposites were prepared, and appropriate antibody was used to construct the immunosensor for detecting B. abortus samples. The optimal conditions were clarified by examining the key factors in sensor construction, and then the performance of the sensor was evaluated. Results The optimal construction conditions were determined as follows: the ratio of MWCNTs-PB was 1 ∶5, the drying temperature was 37 ℃, the pH value of buffer system was 7.5, and the incubation time of antibody and sample was 1 h and 30 min, respectively. B. abortus exhibited a good linear relationship, when ranging from 10 to 1×105 CFU/mL. The sensor had good anti-interference ability, repeatability, stability and high accuracy. Conclusion Our prepared PB-MWCNTs GNPs nanomaterials modified electrochemical immunosensor for detecting B. abortus is easy to prepare, has good performance, and can provide reference for the early clinical diagnosis of brucellosis.

Abstract Background Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) plays a key role in cotton tolerance to abiotic stress. However, its role in cotton heat stress tolerance is not well understood. Here, we characterize the GhCDPK gene family and their expression profiles with the aim of identifying CDPK genes associated with heat stress tolerance. Results This study revealed 48 GhCDPK members in the cotton genome, distributed on 18 chromosomes. Tree phylogenetic analysis showed three main clustering groups of the GhCDPKs. Cis-elements revealed many abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways conserved promoter regions. Similarly, analysis of the transcription factor binding sites (TFBDS) in the GhCDPK genes showed many stress and hormone related sites. The expression analysis based on qRT-PCR showed that GhCDPK16 was highly responsive to high-temperature stress. Subsequent protein-protein interactions of GhCDPK16 revealed predictable interaction with ROS generating, calcium binding, and ABA signaling proteins. Overexpression of GhCDPK16 in cotton and Arabidopsis improved thermotolerance by lowering ROS compound buildup. Under heat stress, GhCDPK16 transgenic lines upregulated heat-inducible genes GhHSP70, GHSP17.3, and GhGR1, as demonstrated by qRT-PCR analysis. Contrarily, GhCDPK16 knockout lines in cotton exhibited an increase in ROS accumulation. Furthermore, antioxidant enzyme activity was dramatically boosted in the GhCDPK16-ox transgenic lines. Conclusions The collective findings demonstrated that GhCDPK16 could be a viable gene to enhance thermotolerance in cotton and, therefore, a potential candidate gene for improving heat tolerance in cotton.

Abstract Background Migraine, a widespread neurological condition, substantially affects the quality of life, particularly for adolescents and young adults. While its impact is significant, there remains a paucity of comprehensive global research on the burden of migraine in younger demographics. Our study sought to elucidate the global prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) associated with migraine in the 15–39 age group from 1990 to 2021, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Methods Our comprehensive study analyzed migraine data from the GBD 2021 report, examining the prevalence, incidence, and DALYs across 204 countries and territories over a 32-year span. We stratified the information by age, sex, year, geographical region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). To evaluate temporal trends in these metrics, we employed the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) calculation. Results Between 1990 and 2021, the worldwide prevalence of migraine among 15–39 year-olds increased substantially. By 2021, an estimated 593.8 million cases were reported, representing a 39.52% rise from 425.6 million cases in 1990. Global trends showed increases in age-standardized prevalence rate, incidence rate, and DALY rate for migraine during this period. The EAPC were positive for all three metrics: 0.09 for ASPR, 0.03 for ASIR, and 0.09 for DALY rate. Regions with medium SDI reported the highest absolute numbers of prevalent cases, incident cases, and DALYs in 2021. However, high SDI regions demonstrated the most elevated rates overall. Across the globe, migraine prevalence peaked in the 35–39 age group. Notably, female rates consistently exceeded male rates across all age categories. Conclusion The global impact of migraine on youths and young adults has grown considerably from 1990 to 2021, revealing notable variations across SDI regions, countries, age groups, and sexes. This escalating burden necessitates targeted interventions and public health initiatives, especially in areas and populations disproportionately affected by migraine.

Abstract Background In recent years, the escalating concern for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has been recognized as a pressing global health issue. This concern is acutely manifested in low- and middle-income countries, where there is an escalating prevalence among adolescents and young adults. The burgeoning of these conditions threatens to impair patients' occupational capabilities and overall life quality. Despite the considerable global impact of NTDs, comprehensive studies focusing on their impact in younger populations remain scarce. Our study aims to describe the global prevalence of neglected tropical diseases among people aged 15 to 39 years over the 30-year period from 1990 to 2019, and to project the disease burden of the disease up to 2040. Methods Annual data on incident cases, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for NTDs were procured from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019). These data were stratified by global and regional distribution, country, social development index (SDI), age, and sex. We computed age-standardized rates (ASRs) and the numbers of incident cases, mortalities, and DALYs from 1990 to 2019. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in the ASRs was calculated to evaluate evolving trends. Results In 2019, it was estimated that there were approximately 552 million NTD cases globally (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI]: 519.9 million to 586.3 million), a 29% decrease since 1990. South Asia reported the highest NTD prevalence, with an estimated 171.7 million cases (95% UI: 150.4 million to 198.6 million). Among the five SDI categories, the prevalence of NTDs was highest in the moderate and low SDI regions in 1990 (approximately 270.5 million cases) and 2019 (approximately 176.5 million cases). Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the most significant decline in NTD cases over the past three decades. Overall, there was a significant inverse correlation between the disease burden of NTDs and SDI. Conclusion NTDs imposed over half a billion incident cases and 10.8 million DALYs lost globally in 2019—exerting an immense toll rivaling major infectious and non-communicable diseases. Encouraging declines in prevalence and disability burdens over the past three decades spotlight the potential to accelerate progress through evidence-based allocation of resources. Such strategic integration could substantially enhance public awareness about risk factors and available treatment options.

[Objective] To solve the problem of poor manual detection accuracy of traditional grain and chaff separator and improve production efficiency. [Methods] An image detection method based on machine vision was proposed, which realized the feature recognition and separation of grain rough through multi-stage progressive fusion of different image algorithms. The acquired images were selected in the ROI region and enhanced by Retinex algorithm. The Otsu algorithm was used to segment the image, and then the median filtering wwas combined with morphology to remove the image noise. The improved Canny algorithm was used to detect edge features of binary images, and the position information of the contour of the valley rough image was extracted by combining the Hough transform. Finally, the state estimation of the position information was performed by using the Kalman filter, and the best predicted value of the separated position was obtained, while the position offset error was reduced. [Results] The average detection error of the system was 3.14 mm, a decrease of 1.82 mm compared to before filtering, and the average standard deviation of filtering error was 0.8 mm. [Conclusion] This method can effectively detect the grain rough feature information and improve the separation accuracy.

Abstract Background The growing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in younger populations, particularly those of working age (15–64 years), has become a public health concern. Being diagnosed at a younger age implies a greater likelihood of accruing disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) later in life due to potential progression to conditions such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to analyze NAFLD prevalence trends over three decades globally, regionally, and nationally, with a focus on age, period, and birth cohort associations. Methods Global, regional, and country time trends in the prevalence of NAFLD among working-age people from 1990 to 2019: Age-period-cohort analysis based on Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimates and 95% uncertainty interval (UI) of NAFLD prevalence in the working age population was extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study 2019. Age-period-cohort models were used to estimate the prevalence within each age group from 1990 to 2019 (local drift, % per year), fitted longitudinal age-specific rates adjusted for period bias (age effect), and period/cohort relative risk (period/cohort effect). Results The global age-standardized prevalence (ASPR) of NAFLD increased significantly from 1990 (14,477.6 per 100 000) to 2019 (19,837.6 per 100 000). In the Western Pacific, there were 42,903.8 NAFLD cases in 2019, 54.15% higher than in 1990. The ASPR also increased significantly in the region over the past three decades. At the national level, Palau had the highest ASPR while Brunei Darussalam had the lowest. Age-period-cohort analysis showed that in the Western Pacific, unlike globally, the risk of NAFLD declined after age 60–64 years. Relative to 1980–1989, incidence and DALY risks decreased but prevalence increased in subsequent birth cohorts. Future predictions indicate an upward trend in NAFLD burden, especially among women and medium (SDI) regions like China. Conclusion Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease imparts an immense health burden that continues to grow globally and in the Asia Pacific region. Our work highlights working age adults as an at-risk group and calls attention to socioeconomic gradients within Western Pacific countries. Upward future projections demonstrate that NAFLD prevention is an urgent priority.

This paper presents a method to establish typical operating conditions for train traction systems by combining site-based short trip analysis with nonparametric tests, in order to overcome various obstacles, such as inadequate efficiency testing results based on rated points of train traction systems, which often fail to accurately reflect the actual energy efficiency level of systems during long-distance operation under multiple conditions, and the existing absence of typical operating conditions essential for supporting the evaluation of traction systems' energy efficiency levels and guiding the energy-saving design of products. First, short trips were categorized, screened and randomly combined. Then, the optimal short-trip combination was identified through nonparametric tests. Subsequently, the typical operating conditions were developed, taking the traction system of an electric locomotive model as a case study. Furthermore, the proposed method was verified by analyzing errors in operating characteristic parameters and assessing the similarities in velocity-force (V-F) distribution probability two-dimensional matrix. The verification results revealed a deviation between the constructed typical operating conditions and the characteristic values derived from sampled data at 4.54%, and the consistency in V-F distribution probabilities at 98.06%. These findings indicate that the method proposed in this paper accurately reflects the actual operating characteristics of train traction systems, with the established typical operating conditions closely aligning with the actual operating conditions of train traction systems, underscoring their potential for aiding in energy-saving design and energy efficiency evaluation for train traction systems.

This study introduces a novel approach for analyzing thin film interference spectra by employing a micro-spectrometer equipped with a spectral chip. Focusing on zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films prepared via the sol–gel method, this research aims to explore the films’ physical properties through spectral analysis. After obtaining the interference spectrum of the ZnO thin films, the peak positions within the spectrum were cataloged. Mathematical simulation was used to adjust the refractive index and thickness of the films to match the simulated interference peak positions with the observed peak positions. The thickness of the prepared ZnO film was estimated to be 4.9 μm and its refractive index at 80 °C was estimated to be 1.96. In addition, the measurement system was used to detect environmental changes, including temperature changes and gas exposure. It was observed that the optical characteristics of ZnO films exhibit marked variations with temperature shifts, enabling the establishment of a temperature calibration curve based on spectral feature displacement. In addition, experiments using a variety of gases showed that NO2 and gaseous isopropanol significantly affect the interference spectrum of ZnO, with the peak of the interference spectrum shifted by 2.3 nm and 5.2 nm, respectively, after injection of the two gases. This indicates that interferometric spectroscopy can serve as an effective tool for ZnO monitoring, capable of selectively detecting specific gases.

Abstract Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the most common cerebrovascular diseases which accompanied by a disruption of aminothiols homeostasis. To explore the relationship of aminothiols with neurologic impairment severity, we investigated four aminothiols, homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), cysteinylglycine (CG) and glutathione (GSH) in plasma and its influence on ischemic stroke severity in AIS patients. Methods A total of 150 clinical samples from AIS patients were selected for our study. The concentrations of free reduced Hcy (Hcy), own oxidized Hcy (HHcy), free reduced Cys (Cys), own oxidized Cys (cysteine, Cyss), free reduced CG (CG) and free reduced GSH (GSH) were measured by our previously developed hollow fiber centrifugal ultrafiltration (HFCF-UF) method coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The concentration ratio of Hcy to HHcy (Hcy/HHcy), Cys to Cyss (Cys/Cyss) were also calculated. The neurologic impairment severity of AIS was evaluated using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The Spearman correlation coefficient and logistic regression analysis was used to estimate and perform the correlation between Hcy, HHcy, Cys, Cyss, CG, GSH, Hcy/HHcy, Cys/Cyss and total Hcy with NIHSS score. Results The reduced Hcy and Hcy/HHcy was both negatively correlated with NIHSS score in AIS patients with P = 0.008, r=-0.215 and P = 0.002, r=-0.249, respectively. There was no significant correlation of Cys, CG, GSH, HHcy, Cyss, Cys/Cyss and total Hcy with NIHSS score in AIS patients with P value > 0.05. Conclusions The reduced Hcy and Hcy/HHcy, not total Hcy concentration should be used to evaluate neurologic impairment severity of AIS patient.

To evaluate the plan quality and robustness of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for breast cancer, 50 patients, including 25 patients who received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCR) and 25 patients who received postmastectomy radiotherapy (PRT), were selected for this study. Nominal VMAT and IMRT plans were generated for each patient on Eclipse treatment planning system (version 15.6). The dosimetric metrics, dose distribution, gamma passing rate, and delivery time were compared. In addition, 12 uncertainty plans with plan isocenter uncertainty and CT density uncertainty were recalculated based on the nominal plans for each patient. The dose volume histogram (DVH) band width (DVHBW) was adopted to quantify the plan robustness of the nominal plans for the perturbed scenarios in this study. For BCR, the dosimetric metrics except planning target volume (PTV) conformal index (CI) and ipsilateral lung V 5 were not statistically different for IMRT and VMAT plans. PTV CI of VMAT plans was better than that of IMRT plans (VMAT: 0.923 ± 0.024, IMRT: 0.855 ± 0.032, p = 0.003). The ipsilateral lung V 5 of VMAT plan was higher than that of IMRT plan (VMAT: 42.4% ± 2.8%, IMRT: 40.5% ± 4.0%, p = 0.045). The VMAT plans save more than 1.20 min compared to the IMRT plans (VMAT: 0.87 min, IMRT: 2.08 min, p < 0.001). The gamma passing rates of VMAT plans were better than those of IMRT plans (3 mm/3%, VMAT: 99.7% ± 0.2%, IMRT: 99.4% ± 0.4%, p < 0.001; 2 mm/2%, VMAT: 97.2% ± 1.0%, IMRT: 96.9% ± 0.6%, p = 0.108). For PRT, the dosimetric metrics of VMAT plans, including PTV D mean, homogeneity index (HI), CI, and D max of spinal cord, were significantly better than those of IMRT plans. The VMAT plans save more than 45% time compared with IMRT plans (VMAT: 1.54 min, IMRT: 2.81 min, p < 0.001). The difference in gamma passing rates between VMAT plans and IMRT plans was not statistically significant. For the plan robustness, the DVHBW of VMAT plans and IMRT plans for BCR were 2.09% ± 0.23% and 2.98% ± 0.40%, respectively (p < 0.05). For PRT, the DVHBW of VMAT plans was significantly better than those of IMRT plans (VMAT: 3.05% ± 0.26%, IMRT: 3.57% ± 0.27%, p < 0.05). The results show that the dosimetric metrics of VMAT plans were comparable to those of IMRT plans. More importantly, the VMAT plans had excited dose distribution and fast execution efficiency. The plan robustness of VMAT plans were superior.

Abstract Combining epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with an anti‐ vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent, bevacizumab or ramucirumab, is indicated for advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutation. This study aimed to show the real‐world data of combination therapy and compare the effectiveness between bevacizumab and ramucirumab in combination with an EGFR‐TKI. This retrospective study enrolled 47 patients diagnosed of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with exon 19 deletion or L858R point mutation, receiving a first‐line EGFR‐TKI with anti‐VEGF agent, including 34 (72%) and 13 (28%) patients receiving bevacizumab and ramucirumab, respectively. The response rate was similar in both groups (p = 0.38). Patients receiving bevacizumab had similar progression free survival (PFS) as those receiving ramucirumab (median PFS: 21.9 vs. 24.2 months, p = 0.4871); similar finding was noted in overall survival (OS) (median OS: 33.5 months vs. not reached, p = 0.4618). Patients receiving ramucirumab experienced a significantly high‐grade hypertension compared to those receiving bevacizumab (p = 0.0351). Multivariable Cox regression analysis found independent risk factors for worse PFS included poorer ECOG performance status, multiple (≥3) metastatic sites, brain metastasis, and pleural metastasis/effusion, while the type of anti‐VEGF agent was not a risk factor. Pericardial metastasis/effusion was the only one independent risk factor for worse OS. In summary, ramucirumab may have similar effectiveness as bevacizumab in combination with an EGFR‐TKI as first line therapy for advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring susceptible EGFR mutation. Further large‐scale registry‐based cohort studies may be needed to validate our findings.

Abstract Background Accumulating evidence suggests a pivotal role of vitamin B2 in the pathogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Vitamin B2 intake has been postulated to modulate the screening rate for PCa by altering the concentration of prostate-specific antigen(PSA). However, the relationship between vitamin B2 and PSA remains indeterminate. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the association between vitamin B2 intake and PSA levels, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Methods From a pool of 20,371 participants in the NHANES survey conducted between 2003 and 2010, a cohort of 2,323 participants was selected for the present study. The male participants were classified into four distinct groups based on their levels of vitamin B2 intake. We employed a multiple linear regression model and a non-parametric regression method to investigate the relationship between vitamin B2 and PSA levels. Results The study cohort comprised of 2,323 participants with a mean age of 54.95 years (± 11.73). Our findings revealed a statistically significant inverse correlation between vitamin B2 intake (mg) and PSA levels, with a reduction of 0.13 ng/ml PSA concentration for every unit increase in vitamin B2 intake. Furthermore, we employed a fully adjusted model to construct a smooth curve to explore the possible linear relationship between vitamin B2 intake and PSA concentration. Conclusions Our study in American men has unveiled a notable inverse association between vitamin B2 intake and PSA levels, potentially posing a challenge for the identification of asymptomatic prostate cancer. Specifically, our findings suggest that individuals with higher vitamin B2 intake may be at a greater risk of being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in the future, possibly indicating a detection bias. These results may offer a novel explanation for the observed positive correlation between vitamin B2 intake and prostate cancer.

BackgroundIncreasing evidence suggests that environmental factors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Humans are simultaneously exposed to multiple brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in the environment. However, the relationship between BFRs and PD remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the overall association between BFRs and PD in a nationally representative US population and to further identify significant chemicals.MethodsThis study used data from 7,161 NHANES participants from 2009 through 2016. The serum BFRs registry included PBDE-28, PBDE-47, PBDE-85, PBDE-99, PBDE-100, PBDE-153, PBDE-154, PBDE-183, PBDE-209, and PBB-153. A survey-weighted generalized logistic regression model with restricted cubic splines (RCS) was used to evaluate the association between single BFRs exposure and periodontitis. Meanwhile, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to evaluate the overall association of mixed frankincense powder with periodontitis and to identify significant chemicals. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the results.ResultsAmong the 7,161 participants, 65 had PD. PD patients were older (mean age 57.79 vs. 46.57 years) and had a higher proportion of females (70.86%) compared to non-PD participants. Serum levels of PBB-153 were significantly higher in those with PD. Logistic regression analyses revealed a non-linear, inverted U-shaped relationship between serum PBB-153 and PD risk. The risk of PD increased with higher PBB-153 levels up to the 3rd quartile (Q3), beyond which the risk declined (Q3 vs. Q1: OR = 4.98, 95% CI = 1.79–13.86; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.03–10.08). PBB-153 (43.40%), PBDE-153 (24.75%), and PBDE-85 (19.51%) contributed most to the weighted quantile sum index associated with PD risk. Bayesian kernel machine regression confirmed the inverted U-shaped dose–response pattern for PBB-153 and the overall BFR mixture. Restricted cubic spline analyses corroborated the non-linear relationship between PBB-153 and PD, which was more pronounced among women and those aged 37–58 years. Sensitivity analyses substantiated these findings.ConclusionThis nationally representative cross-sectional study revealed a novel non-linear, inverted U-shaped relationship between serum levels of the brominated flame retardant PBB-153 and Parkinson’s disease risk in U.S. adults. The risk increased with higher PBB-153 exposure up to a point, beyond which it declined. This complex dose–response pattern highlights the importance of considering potential hormetic mechanisms and effect modifiers when evaluating environmental exposures and neurodegenerative diseases. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying biological pathways and inform risk mitigation strategies.

Most urine test strips are intended to enable the general population to rapidly and easily diagnose potential renal disorders. It is semi-quantitative in nature, and although the procedure is straightforward, certain factors will affect the judgmental outcomes. This study describes rapid and accurate quantification of twelve urine test strip parameters: leukocytes, nitrite, urobilinogen, protein, pH, occult blood, specific gravity, ketone, bilirubin, glucose, microalbumin, and creatinine using a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)-based spectrophotometer, known as a spectrochip. For each parameter, absorption spectra were measured three times independently at eight different concentration levels of diluted standard solutions, and the average spectral intensities were calculated to establish the calibration curve under the characteristic wavelength (λc). Then, regression analysis on the calibration curve was performed with GraphPad Prism software, which revealed that the coefficient of determination (R2) of the modeled calibration curves was greater than 0.95. This result illustrates that the measurements exceed standard levels, confirming the importance of a spectrochip for routine multi-parameter urine analysis. Thus, it is possible to obtain the spectral signal strength for each parameter at its characteristic wavelength in order to compare directly with the calibration curves in the future, even in situations when sample concentration is unknown. Additionally, the use of large testing machines can be reduced in terms of cost, time, and space by adopting a micro urine testing platform based on spectrochip, which also improves operational convenience and effectively enables point-of-care (POC) testing in urinalysis.

Summary: Background: Ischemic stroke remains a major contributor to global mortality and morbidity. This study aims to provide an updated assessment of rates in ischemic stroke prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021, specifically focusing on including prevalence investigation alongside other measures. The analysis is stratified by sex, age, and socio-demographic index (SDI) at global, regional, and national levels. Methods: Data for this study was obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). To quantify temporal patterns and assess trends in age-standardized rates of ischemic stroke prevalence (ASPR), incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASDR), and DALYs, estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were computed over the study period. The analyses were disaggregated by gender, 20 age categories, 21 GBD regions, 204 nations/territories, and 5 SDI quintiles. R statistical package V 4.4.2 was performed for statistical analyses and plot illustrations. Findings: In 2021, the global burden of ischemic stroke remained substantial, with a total of 69,944,884.8 cases with an ASPR of 819.5 cases per 100,000 individuals (95% UI: 760.3–878.7). The ASIR was 92.4 per 100,000 people (95% UI: 79.8–105.8), while the ASDR was 44.2 per 100,000 persons (95% UI: 39.3–47.8). Additionally, the age-standardized DALY rate was 837.4 per 100,000 individuals (95% UI: 763.7–905). Regionally, areas with high-middle SDI exhibited the greatest ASPR, ASIR, ASDR, and age-standardized DALY rates, whereas high SDI regions had the lowest rates. Geospatially, Southern Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest ASPR, while Eastern Europe showed the highest ASIR. The greatest ASDR and age-standardized DALY rates were observed in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, as well as North Africa, and the Middle East. Among countries, Ghana had the highest ASPR, and North Macedonia had both the highest ASIR and ASDR. Furthermore, North Macedonia also exhibited the highest age-standardized DALY rate. Interpretation: Regions with high-middle and middle SDI continued to experience elevated ASPR, ASIR, ASDR and age-standardized DALY rates. The highest ischemic stroke burden was observed in Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Funding: None.

BackgroundTunneling technique has shown preliminary promise in lung segmentectomy which requires the use of staplers in specific procedures. However, the obstacle when staples pass is the most obvious factor hindering the implementation and development of this technique. This study investigated whether the obstacle of the technology could be addressed by using an innovative self-designed stapler tractor and analyzed the combined and respective advantages of them.MethodsThe clinical data of patients with lung nodules located near anatomical sites with potential tunnel creation treated by segmentectomy were analyzed in this retrospective case-control study. The data were divided into four groups according to four distinct surgical strategies: In Group A, the tunneling technique was performed with a stapler tractor; in Group B, the tunneling technique was performed without a stapler tractor; in Group C, didn’t perform the tunneling technique but using stapler tractor in a normal approach; and in Group D, neither performed the technique nor used the stapler tractor. The general linear data, operation times, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative recovery and complications were compared.ResultsCompared with other groups, Group A exhibited the best surgical outcomes in comprehensive aspects. Separately, the tunnel groups (Group A&B) had better outcomes in the macro implementation of operation, including resection margin, the number of sampled intrapulmonary lymph nodes and resected subsegments, while the staple tractor groups (Group A&C) performed better on details of the procedure, including operation time, conversion to thoracotomy, and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.05). Both of them were beneficial for shorter hospital stay, and the tunnel group was more advantageous.ConclusionThe tunneling technique is an advanced and beneficial surgical strategy for performing precise resection of lung segments while a stapler tractor can promote and facilitate it as a supplementary instrument. They show more combined benefits in effectively minimizing the occurrence of erroneous injuries and enhancing the operational efficacy.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 /TLR9 agonists, Pam2CSK4 (Pam) and CpG ODN (CpG) on mice infected with Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) in the lungs. Methods Female C57 mice (6~8 weeks old) were randomly divided into PBS, Pam, CpG and Pam+CpG groups. In 24 h after intranasal immunization with different doses of the corresponding agonists, the mice were given a lethal dose of Ab infection in the lungs, and the survival rates of the mice were observed. A sublethal dose lung infection model of Ab was then established, and the bacterial colonization in the blood, lungs, liver, kidneys and spleen was measured respectively in the mice after infection. HE staining was used to observe the pathological damages in the lungs and kidneys. The protective effect of the agonists in the immunized mice against Ab was examined at 1, 3 and 7 d after immunization to explore the protective time window. Pam+CpG was used to stimulate A549 cells and RAW264.7 cells to investigate the killing or phagocytic effects on Ab. Results Compared to PBS, Pam+CpG treatment significantly improved the survival rate of the mice after a lethal dose of Ab lung infection (P

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore whether dietary live microbe intake is associated with various cognitive domains using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014. And the specific relationship between low, medium and high dietary live microbe intake groups and cognitive ability of the elderly. Dietary live microbe intake was calculated from 24-h diet recall interviews. Cognitive function was assessed using the number symbol substitution test (DSST, which measures processing speed), the animal fluency test (AFT, which measures executive function), the Alzheimer's Registry sub-test (CERAD, which measures memory), and the Composite Z-score, which adds the Z-values of individual tests. Multiple linear regression models and restricted cubic bar graphs were used to investigate the relationship between live microbe intake and cognitive performance. A total of 2,450 participants aged 60 or older were included. Live microbe intake was positively correlated with cognitive ability on the whole. Specifically, when the intake of low, medium and high live microbe was > 2640 g, > 39 g and > 0 g respectively, the CERAD, DSST, AFT and compositive-Z score of the subjects increased with the increase of microbial intake (P

Temperature rise measurement is crucial for evaluating the performance of motors and ensuring their safe operation. In order to more effectively, accurately, and scientifically evaluate temperature rise measurement results for traction motors, the incorporation of the measurement uncertainty concept holds practical significance. This paper proposes a method for evaluating uncertainties in temperature rise measurement of traction motors based on technical specifications outlined in JJF 1059.1-2012 Evaluation and expression of uncertainty in measurement. The current study started with a comprehensive analysis of uncertainty sources in temperature rise measurement results of traction motors using the standard IEC 60349-2:2010 Electric traction-Rotating electrical machines for rail and road vehicles-Part 2: Electronic converter-fed alternating current motors. Subsequently, an uncertainty evaluation model was constructed, and practical examples were used to evaluate measurement uncertainties, specifically involving standard uncertainty evaluation and calculations of uncertainties in synthesis and extension. The results showed that, with a confidence probability of 95%, the motor temperature rise measurement result stood at 79.22 K, containing an extension uncertainty of 1.30 K, which quantitatively characterized the quality of the test results. The proposed method provides a technical basis for determining the confidence level of temperature rise measurement results for rolling stock traction motors, while offering guidance for evaluating uncertainties in temperature rise measurement for motor winding, especially concerning curve fitting using the least squares method.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease rarely found outside Africa. Monkeypox can be spread from person to person through close contact with an infected person, and the rate of transmission is not very high. In addition, monkeypox and variola virus are both pox viruses, and the spread of monkeypox virus was also controlled to some extent by the smallpox campaign, so monkeypox was not widely paid attention to. However, as smallpox vaccination is phased out in various countries or regions, people's resistance to orthopoxviruses is decreasing, especially among people who have not been vaccinated against smallpox. This has led to a significant increase in the frequency and geographical distribution of human monkeypox cases in recent years, and the monkeypox virus has become the orthopoxvirus that poses the greatest threat to public health. Since the last large-scale monkeypox infection was detected in 2022, the number of countries or territories affected has exceeded 100. Many confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox have been found in individuals who have not travelled to affected areas, and the route of infection is not obvious, making this outbreak of monkeypox a cause for concern globally. The purpose of this systematic review is to further understand the pathophysiological and epidemiological characteristics of monkeypox, as well as existing prevention and treatment methods, with a view to providing evidence for the control of monkeypox.

Masonry walls, prevalent in many historical and contemporary structures, often require retrofitting to meet modern safety and performance standards. Motivated by the need for efficient and reliable retrofitting solutions, this research investigates the potential of various types of ferrocement, reinforced with high-strength steel meshes, to enhance the in-plane shear behavior of brick masonry walls. Through rigorous diagonal compression tests on nine masonry wallettes, the study evaluated the performance of ferrocement overlays in terms of overlay configuration (asymmetric or symmetric), cementitious material type (mortar, ECC, or UHPC), the presence or absence of steel mesh, and construction method (shotcrete or prefabricated panels). The results indicated that UHPC and ECC overlays significantly enhanced post-cracking deformation capacity. Compared to the asymmetric retrofit, the symmetric retrofit led to more uniform deformation in the retrofitted wallette, effectively improving the maximum shear by up to 119 %. While UHPC shotcrete was more effective in improving the shear strength, ECC shotcrete led to the highest rupture shear strain and pseudo-ductility for the retrofitted wallette, reaching 0.83 % and 17.2, respectively. Moreover, although steel mesh inclusion in the ferrocement overlay was crucial in enhancing post-peak ductility, its impact on shear strength of the retrofitted wallettes was minimal. The test results also demonstrated that the developed prefabricated UHPC panels emerged as an effective retrofitting solution to simultaneously improve the strength, deformation capacity, and ductility for masonry wallettes. In addition to the experimental investigation, a new strength model, accounting for various key design variables, was developed, offering reliable shear strength predictions for the retrofitted wallettes.

Influence of color fixation agent (CFA) and dyebath pH in secondary alcohol ethoxylate (SAE)-based reverse micellar dyeing system of cotton with reactive dyes was investigated and compared with water-based dyeing system using different alkali (i.e. CFA) such as: (i) sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), (ii) sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and (iii) sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The color, tensile strength, fastness and surface morphological properties of dyed samples were examined. Experimental results showed that samples dyed with Na2CO3 can achieve the highest color yield, followed by NaHCO3 and NaOH in both water-based and reverse micellar dyeing system. The color yield and reflectance percentage of the dyed cotton samples were found to be closely related to the dyebath pH value. Relative unlevelness indices (RUI) also reflected that cotton samples dyed with NaOH in reverse micellar dyeing system have a higher chance of color unlevelness when compared with NaHCO3 and Na2CO3. Tensile strength results affirm that higher alkalinity of dyebath could cause higher strength loss to the colored cotton samples. Both cotton samples dyed by water and SAE approach showed good to excellent color fastness properties while scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images exhibit that the use of different alkalis may cause some damage to the cotton fiber.

ABSTRACTJaceosidin (JAC) is a natural flavonoid with anti-oxidant and other pharmacological activities; however, its anti-cancer mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the mechanism of action of JAC in gastric cancer cells. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays showed that JAC effectively killed multiple gastric cancer cells and induced apoptosis in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells via the mitochondrial pathway. Network pharmacological analysis suggested that its activity was linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS), AKT, and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, JAC accumulated ROS to up-regulate p-JNK, p-p38, and IκB-α protein expressions and down-regulate the p-ERK, p-STAT3, and NF-κB protein expressions. Cell cycle assay results showed that JAC accumulated ROS to up-regulate p21 and p27 protein expressions and down-regulate p-AKT, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin E protein expressions to induce G0/G1 phase arrest. Cell migration assay results showed JAC accumulated ROS to down-regulate Wnt-3a, p-GSK-3β, N-cadherin, and β-catenin protein expressions and up-regulate E-cadherin protein expression to inhibit migration. Furthermore, N-acetyl cysteine pre-treatment prevented the change of these protein expressions. In summary, JAC induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest and inhibited migration through ROS-mediated signaling pathways in AGS cells.

PurposeHow cortical functional reorganization occurs after hearing loss in preschool children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL) is poorly understood. Therefore, we used resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to explore the characteristics of cortical reorganization in these patents.MethodsSixty-three preschool children with CSNHL and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores were determined at the 6-month follow-up after cochlear implantation (CI). First, rs-fMRI data were preprocessed, and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated. Second, whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis was performed using bilateral primary auditory cortex as seed points. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the differential ALFF, ReHo and FC values and the CAP score.ResultsALFF analysis showed that preschool children with CSNHL had lower ALFF values in the bilateral prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus than HCs, but higher ALFF values in the bilateral thalamus and calcarine gyrus. And correlation analysis showed that some abnormal brain regions were weak negatively correlated with CAP score (p

IntroductionPeople with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) often show reduced anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) before voluntary steps, impacting their stability. The specific subphase within the APA stage contributing significantly to fall risk remains unclear.MethodsWe analyzed center of pressure (CoP) trajectory parameters, including duration, length, and velocity, throughout gait initiation. This examination encompassed both the postural phase, referred to as anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) (APA1, APA2a, APA2b), and the subsequent locomotor phases (LOC). Participants were instructed to initiate a step and then stop (initiating a single step). Furthermore, we conducted assessments of clinical disease severity using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and evaluated fall risk using Tinetti gait and balance scores during off-medication periods.ResultsFreezing of gait (FOG) was observed in 18 out of 110 participants during the measurement of CoP trajectories. The Ramer-Douglas-Peucker algorithm successfully identified CoP displacement trajectories in 105 participants (95.5%), while the remaining 5 cases could not be identified due to FOG. Tinetti balance and gait score showed significant associations with levodopa equivalent daily dose, UPDRS total score, disease duration, duration (s) in APA2a (s) and LOC (s), length in APA1 (cm) and APA2b (cm), mediolateral velocity in APA1 (X) (cm/s), APA2a (X) (cm/s), APA2b (X) (cm/s) and LOC (X) (cm/s), and anterior–posterior velocity in APA2a (Z) (cm/s) and APA2b (Z) (cm/s). Multiple linear regression revealed that only duration (s) in APA2a and UPDRS total score was independently associated with Tinetti gait and balance score. Further mediation analysis showed that the duration (s) in APA2a served as a mediator between UPDRS total score and Tinetti balance and gait score (Sobel test, p = 0.047).ConclusionAPA2 subphase duration mediates the link between disease severity and fall risk in PD, suggesting that longer APA2a duration may indicate reduced control during gait initiation, thereby increasing fall risk.

BackgroundIndividuals experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are at an increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Early identification of SCD and neurodegenerative diseases using biomarkers may help clinical decision-making and improve prognosis. However, few cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have explored plasma biomarkers in individuals with SCD using immunomagnetic reduction.ObjectiveTo identify plasma biomarkers for SCD.MethodsFifty-two participants [38 with SCD, 14 healthy controls (HCs)] underwent baseline assessments, including measurements of plasma Aβ42, Aβ40, t-tau, p-tau, and α-synuclein using immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) assays, cognitive tests and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Following initial cross-sectional analysis, 39 individuals (29 with SCD, 10 HCs) entered a longitudinal phase for reassessment of these biomarkers and the MMSE. Biomarker outcomes across different individual categories were primarily assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The SCD subgroup with an MMSE decline over one point was compared to those without such a decline.ResultsHigher baseline plasma Aβ1-42 levels significantly discriminated participants with SCD from HCs, with an acceptable area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 67.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 52.7–80.0%]. However, follow-up and changes in MMSE and IMR data did not significantly differ between the SCD and HC groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, lower baseline plasma Aβ1-42 levels were able to discriminate SCD subgroups with and without cognitive decline with a satisfied performance (AUC, 75.0%; 95% CI, 55.6–89.1%). At last, the changes in t-tau and Aβ42 × t-tau could differentiate between the two SCD subgroups (p

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the chemical composition, volatile components, and biological activity of pickled bamboo shoots in the Guangxi and Guangdong regions, as well as the regional characteristics and flavor formation mechanisms of these pickled bamboo shoots. Methods: Physical and chemical experiments were used to analyze the major components in fermented bamboo shoots and their extracts. The volatile flavor components in fermented bamboo shoots were identified and analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （HS-SPME-GC-MS）. The antioxidant activity of fermented bamboo shoot extracts was evaluated using in vitro antioxidant activity methods （ABTS free radical scavenging method, DPPH free radical scavenging method, and FRAP method）. Results: There were no significant differences in moisture, pH, total soluble sugars, fats, amino acid nitrogen, and nitrite content between the pickled bamboo shoots from Guangxi Liuzhou Tianyi Agricultural Technology Co Ltd （hereinafter referred to as GXLZTY） and those from the Shaoguan Nanxiong Agricultural Trade Market in Northern Guangdong （hereinafter referred to as GDYBNX）. However, there were significant differences between the two in terms of chloride, total acids, proteins, dietary fibers, total flavonoids, total polyphenols, and mineral element content. Analysis of volatile components indicated that the main constituents in GXLZTY fermented bamboo shoots were P-cresol, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, 2-ethylhexanol, and sulfur dioxide, while the primary components in fermented bamboo shoots from GDYBNX were p-cresol, acetic acid, and serinol. Antioxidant activity test results showed that the GXLZTY sour bamboo shoot extracts were superior in terms of clearing ABTS free radicals, DPPH free radicals, and FRAP activity compared to the extracts from GDYBNX. Conclusion: GXLZTY fermented bamboo shoots have higher nutritional value and antioxidant activity. These research results provide a theoretical basis for the fermentation process and industrial production of fermented bamboo shoots.

The fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems employ technologies such as massive MIMO, millimeter-wave (mmWave), and ultra-dense networks to support higher transmission data rate and lower latency, thereby enabling commercial deployment. Furthermore, the forthcoming sixth generation (6G) networks will integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, aiming to achieve full spectrum, full applications, and global coverage. Whether in the context of 5G or 6G networks, base transceiver stations (BTS) require a substantial number of radio frequency (RF) transceiver chains and antenna array, particularly in mmWave frequency bands. It is known that bandpass RF filters between antenna elements and transceivers are key components for suppressing out-of-band spurs and interference. The single board seamless integration of transceivers and antennas has become a growing trend. It means there is no extra room for a large number of filters at mmWave bands, leading to the emergence of integrated designs that combine filtering circuitry with antennas, known as filtenna or filtering antenna. With illustrated examples, the design methodologies, operational principles, and implementation strategies of filtennas are reviewed in this paper.

Background/Aims Finite nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but biomarkers for post-treatment monitoring are limited. We investigated whether measuring hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) after NA cessation may stratify the risk of subsequent clinical relapse (CR). Methods This retrospective multicenter analysis enrolled adults with CHB who were prospectively monitored after discontinuing entecavir or tenofovir with negative HBeAg and undetectable HBV DNA at the end of treatment (EOT). Patients with cirrhosis or malignancy were excluded. CR was defined as serum alanine aminotransferase > two times the upper limit of normal with recurrent viremia. We applied time-dependent Cox proportional hazard models to clarify the association between HBcrAg levels and subsequent CR. Results The cohort included 203 patients (median age, 49.8 years; 76.8% male; 60.6% entecavir) who had been treated for a median of 36.9 months (interquartile range [IQR], 36.5–40.1). During a median post-treatment follow-up of 31.7 months (IQR, 16.7–67.1), CR occurred in 104 patients with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 54.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.1–62.4%). Time-varying HBcrAg level was a significant risk factor for subsequent CR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.53 per log U/mL; 95% CI, 1.12–2.08) with adjustment for EOT HBsAg, EOT anti-HBe, EOT HBcrAg and time-varying HBsAg. During follow-up, HBcrAg

Background Patients with liver cirrhosis complicated by gastroesophageal variceal and rupture hemorrhage have a certain probability of rebleeding events after endoscopic treatment, and the bleeding volume of rebleeding events is greater with higher risk, which seriously affects the survival rates of patients. Objective To investigate the independent risk factors of rebleeding events within 3 years after endoscopic treatment in cirrhotic patients with gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage, construct a nomogram risk prediction model and validate it internally. Methods Four hundred and three patients who underwent endoscopic treatment for liver cirrhosis associated gastroesophageal varices at the Tangdu Hospital and Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University from 2011-2022 were retrospectively collected and divided into the rebleeding group (n=252) and control group (n=151) based on the presence of rebleeding within 3 years. The general data and auxiliary examination results of the patients between both groups were compared, and the statistically significant factors were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis to analyze the independent risk factors. These data were then input into the R language software to construct a nomogram risk prediction model by using a specific program package. Results Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking〔OR=2.499, 95%CI (1.232, 5.066), P=0.011〕, portal vein internal diameter〔OR=1.047, 95%CI (1.028, 1.066), P

Inserting underlying reduced graphene oxide (rGO) into Co aims to regulate the chemical integrity and catalytic ability of the Co upper layer for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as a green-hydrogen goal. Principally, an operando mass spectrometer indicates 3.8 times more considerable hydrogen generation in Co/rGO than in Co. The spectroscopical approaches, combining operando soft and hard X-ray probing, illustrate the chemical oxidation evolution of electronic Co-3d and Co-4p states differently regarding the underlying rGO contribution. A unique examination is regarded as the phase transition from the initial middle to high oxidation and to deoxidation, related to the intermediate Co^{0} existence and H_{2} generation. The chemical adsorption of Co–O(H), Co–H_{ads}, and H_{2} molecules desorption have been assigned their spectral significances. The rGO mediation indicates two significant metal Co and Co–O(H) blocks in the two-dimensional R-k domain. Density-functional-theory (DFT) calculation provides the regeneration, sustained stability, and decreasing energy barrier of Co–H_{ads} catalysts due to the rGO incorporation, thereby augmenting the HER enhancement through the alternative Volmer-Heyrovsky process. The in-situ experiment, including mass spectrometer, soft, and hard X-ray, provides evidence regarding the catalyst’s HER enhancement. This study offers insights into the chemical composition, electronic structure, and active role of Co bonded with or without the extinct OH and H bonds, advancing our comprehension of electrocatalytic reactions, thus taking our knowledge of composite materials to stepwise electrocatalytic reactions forward. This cutting-edge experiment under in-situ environment and DFT studies gives critical information regarding the catalytic mechanism and chemical stability of the Co and rGO materials.

Background: Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is considered to play a vital part in tumor metabolic reprogramming. But the comprehensive description of FAO dysregulation in tumors has not been unknown. Methods: We obtained FAO genes, RNA-seq data and clinical information from the Msigdb, TCGA and GTEx databases. We assessed their prognosis value using univariate cox analysis, survival analysis and Kaplan-Meier curve. We determined the function of FAO genes using gene set variation analysis. The correlation analysis was calculated by corrplot R package. Immunotherapy response was assessed through TIDE scores. The protein expression levels of FAO genes were validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: The FAO scores were highest in COAD but lowest in PCPG. FAO scores were significantly associated with the prognosis of some cancers in OS, DSS, DFI and PFI. Besides, gene set variation analysis identified that FAO scores were related to immune-related pathways, and immune infiltration analysis showed FAO scores were positively related to cancer-associated fibroblasts and various immune-related genes. TIDE scores were significantly decreased in ACC, CHOL, ESCA, GBM, LAML, SARC, SKCM and THCA compared with normal samples, while it was significantly increased in BLCA, LUAD, LUSC, PCPG, PRAD and STAD. Besides, most FAO genes were downregulated in pan-cancer compared with normal samples. Moreover, we found copy number variation (CNV) of FAO genes played a positive role in their mRNA expression, while methylation was negative. We determined FAO genes were closely related to some drugs in pan-cancer. Conclusions: FAO score is a novel and promising factor for predicting outcomes.

BackgroundAsthma has become one of the most common chronic conditions worldwide, especially among children. Recent findings show that the prevalence of childhood asthma has increased by 12.6% over the past 30 years, with >262 million people currently affected globally. The reasons for the growing asthma epidemic remain complex and multifactorial. ObjectiveThis study aims to provide an up-to-date analysis of the changing global and regional asthma prevalence, mortality, disability, and risk factors among children aged

PurposeOur study aimed to explore the correlation between Sjögren syndrome, sociodemographic factors, comorbid conditions, and optic neuritis.MethodsThis retrospective, nationwide, population-based, matched case–control investigation involved 33,190 individuals diagnosed with optic neuritis, identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 377.30 for optic neuritis or 377.32 for retrobulbar neuritis. Patient data were extracted from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Demographic characteristics, the presence of Sjögren syndrome, and pre-existing comorbid conditions were analyzed using univariate logistic regression. Continuous variables were assessed with a paired t-test. Adjusted logistic regression was employed to compare the prognosis odds ratio (OR) of patients with optic neuritis to controls.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounding variables, individuals with Sjögren syndrome exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of developing optic neuritis compared to controls (adjusted OR, 9.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.28–12.98; p

Background & Aims: Novel finite therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are needed, since lifelong treatment is usually required with current available oral antivirals. This phase II study (NCT03615066) evaluated the safety, pharmacodynamics, and antiviral activity of selgantolimod (a Toll-like receptor 8 agonist [TLR8]) with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Methods: Viremic patients with CHB not receiving treatment were stratified by HBeAg status and randomized 2:2:1 to TAF 25 mg/day with selgantolimod 3 mg orally once weekly (QW), selgantolimod 1.5 mg QW, or placebo. Combination therapy continued until week (W)24, followed by TAF monotherapy until W48; patients then discontinued TAF and were followed until W96 (treatment-free follow-up [TFFU] period). The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion with ≥1 log10 IU/ml HBsAg decline at W24. Results: Sixty-seven patients received study drug; 27 were followed during TFFU. Nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, and dizziness were the most common adverse events. Most adverse events were grade 1. Alanine aminotransferase flares were not observed up to W48. Four patients experienced alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis flares during TFFU; all had HBV DNA increases. Selgantolimod increased serum cytokines and chemokines and redistributed several circulating immune cell subsets. No patients achieved the primary efficacy endpoint. Mean HBsAg changes were −0.12, −0.16, and −0.12 log10 IU/ml in the selgantolimod 3 mg, selgantolimod 1.5 mg, and placebo groups, respectively, at W48; HBV DNA declined in all groups by ≥2 log10 IU/ml as early as W2, with all groups rebounding to baseline during TFFU. No HBsAg or HBeAg loss or seroconversion was observed throughout TFFU. Conclusions: Selgantolimod up to 3 mg was safe and well tolerated. Pharmacodynamics and antiviral activity in viremic patients support continued study of selgantolimod in combination CHB therapies. Impact and implications: Novel therapeutics for chronic HBV infection are needed to achieve a functional cure. In this study, we confirmed the safety and tolerability of selgantolimod (formerly GS-9688, a TLR8) when administered with tenofovir alafenamide over 24 weeks in viremic patients with chronic HBV infection. Overall, declines in HBsAg levels with selgantolimod treatment were modest; subgroup analysis indicated that patients with alanine aminotransferase levels greater than the upper limit of normal had significantly greater declines compared to those with normal alanine aminotransferase levels (–0.20 vs. –0.03 log10 IU/ml; p

Rice straw is not easy to decompose, it takes a long time to compost, and the anaerobic bacteria involved in the decomposition process produce a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), indicating that applications for rice straw need to be developed. Recycling rice straw in agricultural crops is an opportunity to increase the sustainability of grain production. Several studies have shown that the probiotic population gradually decreases in the soil, leading to an increased risk of plant diseases and decreased biomass yield. Because the microorganisms in the soil are related to the growth of plants, when the soil microbial community is imbalanced it seriously affects plant growth. We investigated the feasibility of using composted rice stalks to artificially cultivate microorganisms obtained from the Oryza sativa-planted environment for analyzing the mycobiota and evaluating applications for sustainable agriculture. Microbes obtained from the water-submerged part (group-A) and soil part (group-B) of O. sativa were cultured in an artificial medium, and the microbial diversity was analyzed with internal transcribed spacer sequencing. Paddy field soil was mixed with fermented paddy straw compost, and the microbes obtained from the soil used for O. sativa planting were designated as group-C. The paddy fields transplanted with artificially cultured microbes from group-A were designated as group-D and those from group-B were designated as group-E. We found that fungi and yeasts can be cultured in groups-A and -B. These microbes altered the soil mycobiota in the paddy fields after transplantation in groups-D and -E compared to groups-A and -B. Development in O. sativa post treatment with microbial transplantation was observed in the groups-D and -E compared to group-C. These results showed that artificially cultured microorganisms could be efficiently transplanted into the soil and improve the mycobiota. Phytohormones were involved in improving O. sativa growth and rice yield via the submerged part-derived microbial medium (group-D) or the soil part-derived microbial medium (group-E) treatments. Collectively, these fungi and yeasts may be applied in microbial transplantation via rice straw fermentation to repair soil mycobiota imbalances, facilitating plant growth and sustainable agriculture. These fungi and yeasts may be applied in microbial transplantation to repair soil mycobiota imbalances and sustainable agriculture.

(1) Background: Early interventions may effectively reduce the risk of mental disorders in individuals with ultra-high risk. Specifying the health needs of individuals with ultra-high risk is crucial before the implementation of successful early intervention. This study aimed to explore the differences in lifestyles, mental risks, and physical indices among individuals with ultra-high risk, patients with schizophrenia, and healthy subjects. (2) Methods: A cross-section design applying seven questionnaires with physical examinations for 144 participants aged 13–45 years old was conducted in this study. The questionnaires included one about personal data, four on mental risks, and two for lifestyles. (3) Results: The individuals with ultra-high risk scored similarly in many dimensions as the patients with schizophrenia, but they displayed lower positive symptoms, lower negative symptoms, lower prodromal symptoms, higher interpersonal deficits, lower nutrition intake, and higher levels of exercise than the patients with schizophrenia. Female individuals with ultra-high risk had lower self-esteem, higher positive symptoms, lower nutrition intake, and higher exercise levels than male ones. (4) Conclusions: The study pinpointed specific health needs with interpersonal deficits, nutrition intake, and physical activity for the individuals with ultra-high risk. Future interventions targeted on improving social function, dietary pattern, and exercise will be beneficial.

Aiming at the problems of high stochasticity and volatility of power loads as well as the difficulty of accurate load forecasting, this paper proposes a power load forecasting method based on CEEMDAN (Completely Integrated Empirical Modal Decomposition) and TCN-LSTM (Temporal Convolutional Networks and Long-Short-Term Memory Networks). The method combines the decomposition of raw load data by CEEMDAN and the spatio-temporal modeling capability of TCN-LSTM model, aiming to improve the accuracy and stability of forecasting. First, the raw load data are decomposed into multiple linearly stable subsequences by CEEMDAN, and then the sample entropy is introduced to reorganize each subsequence. Then the reorganized sequences are used as inputs to the TCN-LSTM model to extract sequence features and perform training and prediction. The modeling prediction is carried out by selecting the electricity compliance data of New South Wales, Australia, and compared with the traditional prediction methods. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper has higher accuracy and better prediction effect on load forecasting, which can provide a partial reference for electricity load forecasting methods.

We demonstrate, both numerically and experimentally, an ultra-low-frequency sound absorber and its application in silenced ducts. The absorber comprises an array of resonant dual-spiral channel units (with a thickness of λ/47) backed by a wall, achieving near-perfect sound absorption with a fractional bandwidth of 18.3% around 73 Hz—a hallmark of ultra-low-frequency sound absorption. This characteristic arises from its effective near-zero modulus, with the absorbed energy dissipated through viscous losses in the unit channels. Furthermore, we explore the application of this ultra-low-frequency absorber in silenced ducts. By designing a composite absorber of five units with different parameters, we experimentally demonstrate efficient sound absorption in a duct with an enhanced fractional bandwidth of 60.6%. The average absorptance approaches 0.87. This designed absorber offers the advantages of deep-subwavelength thickness, ultra-low-frequency sound absorption, and broad bandwidth, opening up new possibilities for metamaterial-based absorbers in practical applications.

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease, with onset usually occurring during childhood or adolescence. The aim of this study was to estimate the dynamic changes in the burden of asthma disease among adolescents (aged 15–39 years). Between 1990 and 2019, our comprehensive analysis spanned 204 nations and territories to ascertain the global prevalence of asthma. This extensive evaluation meticulously quantified the disease's burden by examining a range of critical metrics—including mortality rates, prevalence figures, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)—across diverse demographics. Our investigation systematically segmented the data by age, gender, and year, as well as by geographical regions and the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), offering an in-depth perspective on the multifaceted impact of asthma worldwide. From 1990 to 2019, there was a global increase in the incidence cases of asthma among young adults, with the number rising from 6487957.18 (95 %UI: 4578735.08–8736387.55) to 7604488.39 (95 % UI:5428024.98–10177808.25). The prevalence rate of asthma among young adults exhibited a decline from 580.09 per 1,00,000 (95 %UI:481.37–757.28) to 504.28 per 1,00,000 (95 %UI:400.64–633.26). It is also noteworthy that the incidence rates in the remaining SDI regions, although lower, also showed varying degrees of increase in 2015. The age-standardized disease burden rate for asthma among young adults has exhibited a decline over the course of the previous three decades. Nevertheless, regions characterized by lower SDI demonstrate elevated age-standardized mortality rates for asthma, thereby warranting focused attention and prioritized allocation of medical resources.

BackgroundHydrocephalus is a brain abnormality frequently encountered in neonates. There are several known etiologies of hydrocephalus, which can be classified as either congenital or acquired. Occlusion of the foramen of Monro (FOM) is a cause of hydrocephalus and can be either congenital or secondary to various disorders. Idiopathic obstruction of the FOM presenting as prenatal ventriculomegaly is extremely rare but has been reported.Case presentationWe present the case of a preterm newborn with severe bilateral hydrocephalus due to FOM occlusion in the prenatal period. Although the neonate had normal head circumference and no clinical symptoms after birth, brain sonography revealed progressive ventriculomegaly. Further image revealed bilateral ventriculomegaly with normal-sized third and fourth ventricles. We suspected a complete obstruction of the right and a partial obstruction of the left of the FOM. The neonate underwent endoscopic septostomy and foraminotomy, resulting in improvement.ConclusionWe report a case of preterm FOM occlusion in the youngest and smallest neonate to date. Endoscopic septostomy and foraminotomy were performed in order to avoid ventriculoperitoneal shunt-related complications, highlighting the viability of endoscopic procedures which should be the primary treatment in preterm neonates with FOM occlusion.

Oncidium, an important tropical orchid, has high ornamental value due to its specific color and occupies a significant market position for the worldwide flower. Transcriptome analysis of flower and leaf color formation provides new sources for producing novel Oncidium hybridum cultivars. We sequenced 12 samples of flowers (yellow and white) and leaves (striped and regular) of O. hybridum and assembled 381,136 and 453,566 unigene sequences from RNA-seq data, respectively. Among unigenes, 662 and 1,324 differentially expressed genes were identified in flower and leaf samples, respectively. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment showed that secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways were responsible for flower and leaf color formation. It was determined that UGT75C1, E2.4.1.115, CCD7, E2.1.1.76, and CCoAOMT are involved in regulating flower color, and UGT75C1, LHCB, UGT, RP-L18Ae, and ABCB1 play crucial roles in regulating leaf color. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that UGT75C1 was significantly enriched in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, showing effects on flower and leaf colors. This study was the first detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms of O. hybridum flower and leaf colors, and the results advanced the understanding of the genetic basis of flower and leaf colors; they also provided additional support for improving commercial value and producing novel cultivars of O. hybridum.

Objective: Improve the mechanization and automation of the pretreatment process of China's freshwater fish processing industry. Methods: The catfish head cutting simulation model is constructed by the numerical analysis software ANSYS/LS-DYNA, and the catfish head removal process is simulated and analyzed and the motion parameters are optimized by FEM. The blade speed and transportation speed are adjusted with the minimum cutting power consumption as the optimization goal, and the accuracy of the simulation results is verified by the prototype test. Results: When the speed of the blade is 850 r/min and the conveying speed is 14 cm/s, the cutting section of the fish head is smooth and smooth, the sensory of the section is good, and the cutting efficiency of the head can be guaranteed. Conclusion: The established simulation model of disc cutter cutting fish head can describe the motion process, but the accuracy needs to be improved.

Objective: In order to improve the mechanization and automation level of catfish head cutting. Methods: Through the study on the shape parameters and friction characteristics of catfish, the related parameters of catfish were obtained. Based on the machine vision technology to identify the assembly line fish, the end of the fish skull was defined as the fish head cutting track line, and an adaptive adjustment device was designed to adjust the position of the fish body, so that the disc cutter can avoid the skull for head removal. The GUI was designed in order to achieve visual control. Results: The system test results showed that the success rate of cutting track line discrimination of the image acquisition system reached 90%, with the average error of the adaptive adjustment system of 0.21 cm, which confirmed the reliability of the system. Conclusion: According to the preset processing efficiency, about 600 catfish can be processed per hour.

Background and aim: We have previously reported that histamine H1 receptor antagonists facilitate electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia in experimental animals. In this pilot study, we sought to determine whether the histamine H1 receptor antagonist dexchlorpheniramine (DCPA) facilitates EA analgesia in healthy human subjects. Experimental procedure: Forty healthy subjects aged 20–30 years were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 groups: (1) sham EA at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) (sham EA; n = 10); (2) EA at ST36 and GB34 (n = 10); (3) EA at ST36 and GB34 plus low-dose DCPA (2 mg, n = 10); (4) EA at ST36 and GB34 plus high-dose DCPA (4 mg, n = 10). Before and after acupuncture treatment, pain thresholds were determined by transcutaneous electrical stimuli on the glabrous skin of the left upper arm. Results: After the acupuncture session, subjects in the EA plus high-dose DCPA group had a significantly higher pain threshold elevation compared with the other 3 study groups. The change from baseline in pain threshold in the EA plus high-dose DCPA group was significantly greater than the change in pain threshold with EA only, indicating that DCPA 4 mg facilitated EA analgesia. Conclusion: The results suggest that combining H1 receptor antagonist treatment with EA appears to relieve pain to a greater extent compared with EA alone. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/), number NCT03805035 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03805035).