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We aim to investigate the additive effect of B-lines on lung ultrasound (LUS) for predicting outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) when combined with conventional assessment of clinical congestion.This study prospectively enrolled 117 hospitalized HF patients (61 ± 16 years, 70.1% males) who underwent congestion assessment by the 'wet/dry' status, clinical congestion score (CCS), and B-lines on LUS. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality or hospitalization for HF during the 180-day follow-up after discharge. The 'Wet', CCS ≥ 3, and B-lines5, indicators of congestion positive (+), were observed in 83.8%, 76.1%, and 70.1% of the patients on admission, respectively; and the numbers significantly decreased to 41.9%, 41.9%, and 35.9% at discharge, respectively. The agreement between the 'wet/dry' status and B-lines (58.1%) or between CCS and B-lines (56.4%) was moderate at discharge, in terms of both positive and both negative. By incorporating the B-lines with assessment of clinical congestion, the patients at discharge were divided into three phenotypes as clinical congestion (+), clinical congestion (-) with B-lines (+), and clinical congestion (-) with B-lines (-). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a better survival in the both (-) group ('wet/dry' with B-lines: Chi-square 10.591, P = 0.005; CCS with B-lines: χThe combination of B-lines on LUS and conventional assessment helped to identify new phenotypes of congestion that aid in the risk stratification of discharged HF patients. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether this strategy could be adopted as a guide for decongestion therapy.

Understanding the fundamental processes of human brain development and diseases is of great importance for our health. However, existing research models such as non-human primate and mouse models remain limited due to their developmental discrepancies compared with humans. Over the past years, an emerging model, the “brain organoid” integrated from human pluripotent stem cells, has been developed to mimic developmental processes of the human brain and disease-associated phenotypes to some extent, making it possible to better understand the complex structures and functions of the human brain. In this review, we summarize recent advances in brain organoid technologies and their applications in brain development and diseases, including neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, psychiatric diseases, and brain tumors. Finally, we also discuss current limitations and the potential of brain organoids.

Background Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies globally, and the development of innovative, effective drugs against EC remains a key issue. Phytoestrogen kaempferol exhibits anti-cancer effects, but the action mechanisms are still unclear. Method MTT assays, colony-forming assays, flow cytometry, scratch healing, and transwell assays were used to evaluate the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion of both ER-subtype EC cells. Xenograft experiments were used to assess the effects of kaempferol inhibition on tumor growth. Next-generation RNA sequencing was used to compare the gene expression levels in vehicle-treated versus kaempferol-treated Ishikawa and HEC-1-A cells. A network pharmacology and molecular docking technique were applied to identify the anti-cancer mechanism of kaempferol, including the building of target-pathway network. GO analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were used to identify cancer-related targets. Finally, the study validated the mRNA and protein expression using real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical analysis. Results Kaempferol was found to suppress the proliferation, promote apoptosis, and limit the tumor-forming, scratch healing, invasion, and migration capacities of EC cells. Kaempferol inhibited tumor growth and promotes apoptosis in a human endometrial cancer xenograft mouse model. No significant toxicity of kaempferol was found in human monocytes and normal cell lines at non-cytotoxic concentrations. No adverse effects or significant changes in body weight or organ coefficients were observed in 3–7 weeks’ kaempferol-treated animals. The RNA sequencing, network pharmacology, and molecular docking approaches identified the overall survival-related differentially expressed gene HSD17B1. Interestingly, kaempferol upregulated HSD17B1 expression and sensitivity in ER-negative EC cells. Kaempferol differentially regulated PPARG expression in EC cells of different ER subtypes, independent of its effect on ESR1. HSD17B1 and HSD17B1-associated genes, such as ESR1, ESRRA, PPARG, AKT1, and AKR1C1\2\3, were involved in several estrogen metabolism pathways, such as steroid binding, 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (NADP+) activity, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and regulation of hormone levels. The molecular basis of the effects of kaempferol treatment was evaluated. Conclusions Kaempferol is a novel therapeutic candidate for EC via HSD17B1-related estrogen metabolism pathways. These results provide new insights into the efficiency of the medical translation of phytoestrogens.

Lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are unequivocally associated with SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity. NCD manifestations and their lifestyle risks are associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (CLGSI). This review supports that immuno-modulation with positive lifestyle change aimed at reducing SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity, is a goal consistent with contemporary physiotherapy practice. Physiotherapists have a long tradition of managing a , thus, managing CLGSI is a logical extension. Improving patients' lifestyle practices also reduces their NCD risks and increases activity/exercise capacity, health and wellbeing - all principal goals of contemporary physiotherapy. The COVID-19 pandemic lends further support for prioritising health and lifestyle competencies including smoking cessation; whole food plant-based nutrition; healthy weight; healthy sleep practices; and stress management; in conjunction with reducing sedentariness and increasing physical activity/exercise, to augment immunity as well as function and overall health and wellbeing. To support patients' lifestyle change efforts, physiotherapists may refer patients to other health professionals. The authors conclude that immuno-modulation with lifestyle behaviour change to reduce susceptibility to viruses including SARS-CoV-2, is consistent with contemporary physiotherapy practice. Immuno-modulation needs to be reflected in health competencies taught in physiotherapy professional education curricula and taught at standards comparable to other established interventions. ispartof: Physiotherapy vol:114 pages:63-67 ispartof: location:England status: Published online

This project aims to illustrate procedures by which academic reality has been established in the neoliberal era rather than treating the neoliberal movement as a black box. Taking universities in Taiwan as a case, this thesis draws on Foucauldian theories and Actor-Network theory to investigate how the neoliberal discourse has been enacted within the academy. My first empirical chapter focuses on the problematisation of academic practices. By investigating historical and political configurations where policy on academic governance and higher education had emerged, this research suggests that the sector of higher education has always been an object of government in Taiwan, but models of governing universities have changed in various periods. The switch from direct supervision to marketisation represents a transition in the exercise of power from sovereign power to governmentality. The second empirical chapter aims to elaborate various narratives towards higher education under the one dominant neoliberal discourse. Through discussions on contemporary concerns about globalising higher education, university industry collaboration and university’s social responsibility, a variety of narratives are identified, representing the existence of alternative frameworks of seeing higher education and possibility of resistance against the neoliberalising university. By contrast, the third empirical chapter emphasises how the neoliberal discourse gained authority through its circulation within academic organisations. With those institutional practices, the imaginary of the neoliberal university has been actualised by individual scholars, turning it into a reality. In sum, this research suggests that the dominant position of neoliberal discourse should not be considered the status quo but a temporary result of continuous neoliberal practices in which a range of actors take part. It is better to understand the neoliberal movement as heterogeneous attempts at change rather than a single or universal essence. This study also indicates that bibliometric measures play indispensable roles in these changes. First, bibliometrics contribute to the accumulation of subject knowledge regarding academic behaviour. Second, they provide a ground for individuals to interpret and to build the academic world.

The prevailing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has presented some neurological manifestations including hyposmia, hypogeusia, headache, stroke, encephalitis, Guillain–Barre syndrome, and some neuropsychiatric disorders. Although several cell types in the brain express angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), the main SARS-CoV-2 receptor, and other related proteins, it remains unclear whether the observed neurological manifestations are attributed to virus invasion into the brain or just comorbidities caused by dysregulation of systemic factors. Here, we briefly review the neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, summarize recent evidence for the potential neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2, and discuss the potential mechanisms of COVID-19-associated neurological diseases.

Maximizing the catalytic activity of single-atom catalysts is vital for the application of single-atom catalysts in industrial water-alkali electrolyzers, yet the modulation of the catalytic properties of single-atom catalysts remains challenging. Here, we construct strain-tunable sulphur vacancies around single-atom Ru sites for accelerating the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction of single-atom Ru sites based on a nanoporous MoS2-based Ru single-atom catalyst. By altering the strain of this system, the synergistic effect between sulphur vacancies and Ru sites is amplified, thus changing the catalytic behavior of active sites, namely, the increased reactant density in strained sulphur vacancies and the accelerated hydrogen evolution reaction process on Ru sites. The resulting catalyst delivers an overpotential of 30 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, a Tafel slope of 31 mV dec−1, and a long catalytic lifetime. This work provides an effective strategy to improve the activities of single-atom modified transition metal dichalcogenides catalysts by precise strain engineering., The modulation of single-atom catalyst properties for industrial applications remains challenging. Here, authors use strain engineering to amplify the synergistic effect between MoS2’s sulphur vacancies and single-atom Ru sites and accelerate H2 evolution electrocatalysis.

As SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, spread globally, the most severely affected sub-populations were the elderly and those with multi-morbidity largely related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), e.g., heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity. NCDs are largely preventable with healthy nutrition, regular activity, and not smoking. This perspective outlines the rationale for health professionals' including physical therapists' role in reducing COVID-19 susceptibility. Evidence is synthesized supporting the pro-inflammatory effects of the western diet, increasingly consumed globally, inactivity, and smoking; and the immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory effects of a whole food plant-based diet, regular physical activity, and not smoking. An increased background of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation associated with unhealthy lifestyle practices appears implicated in an individual's susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. It is timely to re-double efforts across healthcare sectors to reduce the global prevalence of NCDs on two fronts: one, to reduce SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility; and two, to reduce the impact of subsequent waves given high blood pressure and blood sugar, common in people with multi-morbidity, can be improved within days/weeks with anti-inflammatory healthy lifestyle practices, and weight loss and atherosclerosis reduction/reversal, within months/years. With re-doubled efforts to control NCD risk factors, subsequent waves could be less severe. Health professionals including physical therapists have a primary role in actively leading this initiative. ispartof: AIMS Public Health vol:8 issue:2 pages:369-375 ispartof: location:United States status: published

ObjectivesTo investigate the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and short-term recovery after transcatheter tricuspid valve implantation (TTVI).MethodsA total of 17 patients diagnosed with severe tricuspid regurgitation who received a LuX-valve TTVI were included in this study. Spirometry lung function, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and 6-min walk test distance (6MWD) were recorded. Prior to surgery, patients were stratified into high or low pulmonary risk groups based on published predefined criteria. A physiotherapist provided all patients with education on thoracic expansion exercises, effective cough and an inspiratory muscle training protocol at 50% of MIP for 3 days preoperatively. All patients received standard post-operative physiotherapy intervention including positioning, thoracic expansion exercises, secretion removal techniques and mobilization. Patients were assessed for PPCs as defined by the Melbourne-Group Score-version 2. Clinical characteristics and hospital stay, cost, functional capacity, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) heart failure score were recorded at admission, 1-week, and 30-days post-op.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of the 17 patients was 68.4 (8.0) years and 15 (88%) were female. Pre-surgical assessment identified 8 patients (47%) at high risk of PPCs. A total of 9 patients (53%) developed PPCs between the 1st and 3rd day post-surgery, and 7 of these 9 patients were amongst the 8 predicted as “high risk” prior to surgery. One patient died before the 30 day follow up. Pre-operative pulmonary risk assessment score, diabetes mellitus, a low baseline MIP and 6MWD were associated with a high incidence of PPCs. Compared to those without PPCs, patients with PPCs had longer ICU and hospital stay, and higher hospitalization cost. At 30 days post-surgery, patients without PPCs maintained higher MIP and 6MWD compared to those with PPCs, but there were no significant between-group differences in other lung function parameters nor KCCQ.ConclusionThis is the first study to report the incidence of PPCs post TTVI. Despite a 3-day prehabilitation protocol and standard post-operative physiotherapy, PPCs were common among patients after TTVI and significantly impacted on hospital and short-term recovery and outcomes. In the majority of patients, PPCs could be accurately predicted before surgery. A comprehensive prehabilitation program should be considered for patients prior to TTVI.Clinical Trial Registration[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR2000039671].

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has sounded alarm bells throughout global health systems. As of late May, 2020, over 100,000 COVID-19–related deaths were reported in the United States, which is the highest number of any country. This article describes COVID-19 as the next historical turning point in the physical therapy profession’s growth and development. The profession has had over a 100-year tradition of responding to epidemics, including poliomyelitis; 2 world wars and geographical regions experiencing conflicts and natural disasters; and, the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The evidence-based role of noninvasive interventions (nonpharmacological/nonsurgical) that hallmark physical therapist practice has emerged as being highly relevant today in addressing COVID-19 in 2 primary ways. First, despite some unique features, COVID-19 presents as acute respiratory distress syndrome in its severe acute stage. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is very familiar to physical therapists in intensive care units. Body positioning and mobilization, prescribed based on comprehensive assessments/examinations, counter the negative sequelae of recumbency and bedrest; augment gas exchange and reduce airway closure, deconditioning, and critical illness complications; and maximize long-term functional outcomes. Physical therapists have an indisputable role across the contiuum of COVID-19 care. Second, over 90% of individuals who die from COVID-19 have comorbidities, most notably cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic lung disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Physical therapists need to redouble their efforts to address NCDs by assessing patients for risk factors and manifestations and institute evidence-based health education (smoking cessation, whole-food plant-based nutrition, weight control, physical activity/exercise), and/or support patients’ efforts when these are managed by other professionals. Effective health education is a core competency for addressing risk of death by COVID-19 as well as NCDs. COVID-19 is a wake-up call to the profession, an opportunity to assert its role throughout the COVID-19 care continuum, and augment public health initiatives by reducing the impact of the current pandemic.

The recently developed brain organoids have been used to recapitulate the processes of brain development and related diseases. However, the lack of vasculatures, which regulate neurogenesis, brain disorders, and aging process, limits the utility of brain organoids. In this study, we induced vessel and brain organoids respectively, and then fused two types of organoids together to obtain vascularized brain organoids. The fused brain organoids were engrafted with robust vascular network-like structures, and exhibited increased number of neural progenitors, in line with the possibility that vessels regulate neural development. Fusion organoids also contained functional blood-brain-barrier (BBB)-like structures, as well as microglial cells, a specific population of immune cells in the brain. The incorporated microglia responded actively to immune stimuli to the fused brain organoids. Thus, the fusion organoids established in this study allow modeling interactions between the neuronal and non-neuronal components in vitro, in particular the vasculature and microglia niche.

Additional file 4: Figure S3. Seedling growth inhibition assay of MeGRXC3-OE transgenic Arabidopsis under 100 mM D-mannitol treatment.

Additional file 2: Figure S1. Identification of MeGRXC3-OE, MeGRXC4-OE, MeGRXC15-OE and MeGRXC18-OE Arabidopsis.

Additional file 8: Figure S7. Diaminobezidin (DAB) staining of MeGRXC3-OE and wild type Arabidopsis seedlings.

Additional file 6: Figure S5. Seedling growth inhibition assay of MeGRXC3:3 �� GFP transgenic Arabidopsis under 200 mM D-mannitol treatment.

Additional file 3: Figure S2. Seed germination assay of MeGRXC3-OE, MeGRXC4-OE, MeGRXC15-OE, and MeGRXC18-OE on 1/2 MS containing with 100 mM or 200 mM D-mannitol.

Brain organoids have been used to recapitulate the processes of brain development and related diseases. However, the lack of vasculatures, which regulate neurogenesis and brain disorders, limits the utility of brain organoids. In this study, we induced vessel and brain organoids, respectively, and then fused two types of organoids together to obtain vascularized brain organoids. The fused brain organoids were engrafted with robust vascular network-like structures and exhibited increased number of neural progenitors, in line with the possibility that vessels regulate neural development. Fusion organoids also contained functional blood-brain barrier-like structures, as well as microglial cells, a specific population of immune cells in the brain. The incorporated microglia responded actively to immune stimuli to the fused brain organoids and showed ability of engulfing synapses. Thus, the fusion organoids established in this study allow modeling interactions between the neuronal and non-neuronal components in vitro, particularly the vasculature and microglia niche.Understanding how the organs form and how their cells behave is essential to finding the causes and treatment for developmental disorders, as well as understanding certain diseases. However, studying most organs in live animals or humans is technically difficult, expensive and invasive. To address this issue, scientists have developed models called ‘organoids’ that recapitulate the development of organs using stem cells in the lab. These models are easier to study and manipulate than the live organs. Brain organoids have been used to recapitulate brain formation as well as developmental, degenerative and psychiatric brain conditions such as microcephaly, autism and Alzheimer’s disease. However, these brain organoids lack the vasculature (the network of blood vessels) that supplies a live brain with nutrients and regulates its development, and which has important roles in brain disorders. Partly due to this lack of blood vessels, brain organoids also do not develop a blood brain barrier, the structure that prevents certain contents of the blood, including pathogens, toxins and even certain drugs from entering the brain. These characteristics limit the utility of existing brain organoids. To overcome these limitations, Sun, Ju et al. developed brain organoids and blood vessel organoids independently, and then fused them together to obtain vascularized brain organoids. These fusion organoids developed a robust network of blood vessels that was well integrated with the brain cells, and produced more neural cell precursors than brain organoids that had not been fused. This result is consistent with the idea that blood vessels can regulate brain development. Analyzing the fusion organoids revealed that they contain structures similar to the blood-brain barrier, as well as microglial cells (immune cells specific to the brain). When exposed to lipopolysaccharide – a component of the cell wall of certain bacteria – these cells responded by initiating an immune response in the fusion organoids. Notably, the microglial cells were also able to engulf connections between brain cells, a process necessary for the brain to develop the correct structures and work normally. Sun, Ju et al. have developed a new organoid system that will be of broad interest to researchers studying interactions between the brain and the circulatory system. The development of brain-blood-barrier-like structures in the fusion organoids could also facilitate the development of drugs that can cross this barrier, making it easier to treat certain conditions that affect the brain. Refining this model to allow the fusion organoids to grow for longer times in the lab, and adding blood flow to the system will be the next steps to establish this system.

The clinical role of perioperative respiratory muscle training (RMT), including inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and expiratory muscle training (EMT) in patients undergoing pulmonary surgery remains unclear up to now.To evaluate whether perioperative RMT is effective in improving postoperative outcomes such as the respiratory muscle strength and physical activity level of patients receiving lung surgery.The PubMed, EMBASE (Seven studies involving 240 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Among them, four studies focused on IMT and the other three studies focused on RMT, one of which included IMT, EMT and also combined RMT (IMT-EMT-RMT). Three studies applied the intervention postoperative, one study preoperative and the other three studies included both pre- and postoperative training. For primary outcomes, the pooled results indicated that perioperative RMT improved the postoperative MIP (mean = 8.13 cmHPerioperative RMT enhanced postoperative respiratory muscle strength and physical activity level of patients receiving lung surgery. However, RCTs with large samples are needed to evaluate effects of perioperative RMT on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lung surgery.

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is a complex pathophysiological process leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and poor outcomes in affected patients. As a form of programmed cell death, pyroptosis is proposed to play an important role in the development of ARDS. Here we investigated whether treating mice with the specific RIPK1 inhibitor Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) before mechanical ventilation could inhibit pyroptosis and alleviate lung injury in a mouse model.Anesthetized C57BL/6J mice received a transtracheal injection of Nec-1 (5 mg/kg) or vehicle (DMSO) 30 min before the experiment which was ventilated for up to 4 h. Lung damage was assessed macroscopically and histologically with oedema measured as the wet/dry ratio of lung tissues. The release of inflammatory mediators into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was assessed by ELISA measurements of TNF-α,interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. The expression of RIPK1, ZBP1, caspase-1, and activated (cleaved) caspase-1 were analyzed using western blot and immunohistochemistry, and the levels of gasdermin-D (GSDMD) and IL-1β were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining.High tidal ventilation produced time-dependent inflammation and lung injury in mice which could be significantly reduced by pretreatment with Nec-1. Notably, Nec-1 reduced the expression of key pyroptosis mediator proteins in lung tissues exposed to mechanical ventilation, including caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, and GSDMD together with inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines.Nec-1 pretreatment alleviates pulmonary inflammatory responses and protects the lung from mechanical ventilation damage. The beneficial effects were mediated at least in part by inhibiting caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis through the RIPK1/ZBP1 pathway.

Identifying and protecting refugia is a priority for conservation management under projected anthropogenic climate change. We have two main objectives: the first is to explore the spatial (East Asia) and temporal (Last Glacial Maximum to year 2070) distribution patterns of dominant Castanopsis species of evergreen broad-leaved forests, also the relation with their niche breadths; the second is to identify long-term stable refugia for preserving these species and provide a framework of conservation strategies. We find that there is an extraordinary richness with 32 dominant Castanopsis species, and they form both a geographically and climatically almost unbroken connection from ca. 5°N to 38°N, having thus ecological significance. During the Mid-Holocene and, particularly, the Last Glacial Maximum, the predicted suitable areas of the species as a whole were larger than those in the present. By 2070, potentially suitable areas with high richness of dominant Castanopsis species will be reduced by 94.5 % on average. No correlation between species niche breadths and distribution ranges is found, which could be due to regional climate stability. Mountains of southwestern and southern Yunnan in China are identified as climatically long-term stable refugia for 7¿9 Castanopsis species. We recommend that these refugia have the highest priority of conservation to prevent their extinction. Our suggested urgent measures include improving the effectiveness of currently protected Castanopsis species and expanding the network of protected areas to cover a larger fraction of the refugia, as well as ensuring Castanopsis species natural regeneration potential in fragmented and natural secondary forest areas., This study received financial support from the Major Program for Basic Research Project of Yunnan Province, China (202101BC070002), the Science and Technology Department of Yunnan University, China (2019YNU002), the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2015FY210200-15), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant PID2020-119163GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (JPMEERF20202002), and the Northeastern Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Thailand., Keywords 1. Introduction 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Data collection and notations 2.2. Ecological niche modeling 2.3. Data analyses 3. Results 3.1. Dominant Castanopsis species in East Asia today: richness and distribution patterns 3.2. Richness of dominant Castanopsis species shaped by climate change 3.3. Niche groups and niche breadths of dominant Castanopsis species 3.4. Climatically long-term stable refugia 4. Discussion 4.1. Richness of dominant Castanopsis species shaped by climate change 4.2. Niche groups and niche breadths of dominant Castanopsis species 4.3. Long-term stable refugia and conservation strategies 5. Conclusions CRediT authorship contribution statement Declaration of competing interest Acknowledgements Appendix A. Supplementary material References

Although significant progresses have been achieved recently in developing catalysts for electrochemical oxygen evolution in alkaline electrolytes, high performance catalysts toward oxygen evolution in acidic media have not been realized in spite of the technical importance for the development of promising energy transformation technologies including electrocatalytic water splitting, integrated (photo)electrochemistry cells, rechargeable metal-air batteries, and so on. Here, we synthesized a three-dimensional nanoporous Ir70Ni30-xCox alloy microwires as oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst using a dealloying strategy. The three dimensional binder-free np-Ir70Ni15Co15 catalyst in 0.1 M HClO4 shows a low overpotential (220 mV@ η = 10 mA cm−2), low Tafel slope (44.1 mV dec−1) and excellent corrosion resistance, significantly outperforming commercial IrO2 catalysts. The excellent performance is attributed to the nanoporous structure and the alloying effect, which promote the permeation of electrolyte, accelerate the transportation of electrons. More importantly, the high valence Ir oxide species with low-coordination structure in np-Ir70Ni15Co15 alloy are identified for the real catalytic sites of OER process by the XAS results acquired on synchrotron radiation. This work not only provides fundamental understandings of the correlation between surface activity and stability for OER catalysts, but also paves a new way to advanced electrocatalysts working in acidic media.

Two large successive co-site landslide dams blocked the Jinsha River in the Sichuan Province of China in 2018. A quantitative risk analysis was carried out to quantify potential human and economic losses resulting from the failure of these dams, especially the interaction between the co-site landslide dams, and to further investigate the influence of digging a diversion channel on risk mitigation to better evacuate upstream waters. Flood routing for three scenarios (i.e. after the first dam formation, when the second landslide mass was added, and with a diversion channel after failures) were simulated using HEC-RAS. The human and economic losses were evaluated using a human risk assessment model together with empirical formulations. The results show that the risk of breaching floods had increased significantly after the second co-site landslide dam formation on the pre-existing loose deposits of the first dam. This amplification effect of outburst floods was so great that the peak outflow resulting from the breaching of the second landslide dams was more important, leading to greater economic losses than those resulting from the breaching of the first dam. However, the expected loss of life caused by the breach of the two landslide dams appeared small because of the sufficient time lag provided by the long distance between the residential area and the dam site. The simulations also outline the importance of the diversion channel in decreasing the peak outflow rate and hence downstream risks. A parametric analysis shows that a deep channel with a moderate longitudinal gradient can significantly decrease the peak outflow discharge at the dam site. Flood intensity and risks to downstream towns did not change because of the relatively small attenuation rate of the peak outflow rate. However, a shorter height of the residual dam can be obtained by optimizing the diversion channel, and the amplification effects of such co-site dam can be significantly reduced in the future.

Peng, Ming-Kai, Zhang, Bo, Qu, Zhi, Li, Yu, Ma, Hai-Xia (2021): New record genus and a new species of Allodiatrype from China based on morphological and molecular characters. Phytotaxa 500 (4): 275-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.500.4.3, URL: https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/584598af-a819-37d5-b6de-402c9b36d3c8/

Design and synthesis of effective electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in wide pH environments are critical to reduce energy losses in water electrolyzers. Here, by using a self-activation strategy, we construct an atomic nickel (Ni) decorated nanoporous iridium (Ir) catalyst, which can create the reaction-favorable chemical environment and maximize the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), enabling efficient HER over a wide pH range. By using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, the atomic Ni sites are identified as the synergistic sites, which not only accelerate the water dissociation under operation conditions but also activate the surface Ir sites thus leading to the efficient H2 generation. This work highlights the significance of atomic-level decorating strategy which can optimize the activity of surface Ir atoms with negligible sacrifice of the ECSA.

Additional file 22: Fig. S1-S11. Fig. S1. Phylogeny of 388 cassava accessions generated using the neighbor-joining tree method with genome-wide SNPs. Fig S2. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay for different groups. Fig. S3. Manhattan plots for GWAS analysis of cassava agronomic traits. Fig. S4. Manhattan plots of two repeatedly observed MTAs for stem height and storage root number per plant. Fig S5. Comparison of SR epidermal types based on the non-synonymous SNPs in Sc10g012040. Fig. S6. Comparison of SR epidermal types based on the non-synonymous SNPs in Sc10g012050. Fig. S7. GWAS identification of Sc02g008280 as a candidate gene for SR endothelial color on chromosome 2. Fig. S8. Expression of candidate genes from GWAS analysis in different tissues and stages of storage root development.Fig. S9. Identification and screening of heterozygous blocks with high frequency in cultivars. Fig. S10. Transient overexpression and silencing of MeTIR1 affect starch content in leaves of four cassava cultivars (F1015, R72, 4363 and Baodao9-1).Fig. S11. Photos of cassava leaves transformed with pCAMBIA1304 (vector control, VC1), pCAMBIA1304::MeAHL17 (OE), pTRV (vector control, VC2) or pTRV::MeAHL17 (RNAi) in four cultivars at 0 and 6 days post inoculation.

Additional file 23. Review history.

To further explain the computational principles of the new features of the complexity metrics we reported, we first explain the heuristic information and new variable definition methods proposed by our algorithms, as well as the construction creep (CC) rate defined by the self-similar characterization in the new 3D variable space. Two typical nonlinear equations are applied as test cases. Numerical computing results show that the geometric expression of 3D features is more realistic than 0-1 test for chaos, and the key threshold parameter of the similarity measure in solid value can discover higher complexity than Kaplan–Yorke dimension. This case study on signal complexity measure will push new applications for the healthy growing of chaos criteria tree.

Backgroud: To study the dynamic changes in serum cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subset counts in children with septic shock (SS) and to explore their association with the severity and prognosis of the disease. Methods: The levels of serum cortisol, ACTH and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in 25 patients in the advanced-stage group with decreased blood pressure and 24 patients in the early-stage group with normal blood pressure. Twenty-five healthy children who underwent physical examination were selected as the control group. Children in the advanced-stage group were further divided into the death subgroup (n = 5) and the survival subgroup (n = 20).Results: At admission, the levels of serum cortisol and ACTH in the advanced-stage group were apparently higher than those in the early-stage group (P < 0.05). The advanced-stage group had significantly lower lymphocyte subset counts than the early-stage group (P < 0.05). On the 3rd day after admission, the levels of serum cortisol and ACTH in both groups decreased, and the counts of total lymphocytes, T cells and Th cells in the early-stage group were significantly higher than those at admission. On the 8th day after admission, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of serum cortisol or ACTH between the groups. At admission, there was no statistically significant difference in serum cortisol and ACTH levels between the death subgroup and the survival subgroup. On the third day after admission, the levels of cortisol and ACTH were decreased in both groups, but the differences between the two subgroups were not statistically significant. All the lymphocyte subset counts in the death subgroup on the third day after admission were significantly lower than those in the survival subgroup (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is excessively activated in children with SS. Higher serum cortisol and ACTH levels and lower peripheral blood lymphocyte subset counts indicate increased severity of the disease. After treatment, the first signs that indicate the effective control of the disease are decreased serum cortisol and ACTH levels and increased T cell, Th cell and total lymphocyte counts.

Missing (Letter). ispartof: JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE vol:52 issue:7 ispartof: location:Sweden status: published

Designing efficient single-atom catalysts (SACs) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for water-splitting. However, the self-reconstruction of isolated active sites during OER not only influences the catalytic activity, but also limits the understanding of structure-property relationships. Here, we utilize a self-reconstruction strategy to prepare a SAC with isolated iridium anchored on oxyhydroxides, which exhibits high catalytic OER performance with low overpotential and small Tafel slope, superior to the IrO2. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies in combination with theory calculations indicate that the isolated iridium sites undergo a deprotonation process to form the multiple active sites during OER, promoting the O–O coupling. The isolated iridium sites are revealed to remain dispersed due to the support effect during OER. This work not only affords the rational design strategy of OER SACs at the atomic scale, but also provides the fundamental insights of the operando OER mechanism for highly active OER SACs., Direct observation of the atomic and electronic structure of a single-atom catalyst is essential. Here, the authors report an oxyhydroxide stabilized iridium catalyst with superior oxygen evolution catalytic activity and identify the isolated iridium sites which promote the H2O attack and O–O coupling.

Hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting is a promising route to pursue clean and sustainable energy sources. Here, a three-dimensional nanoporous Cu-Ru alloy is prepared as a high-performance platinum-free catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by a dealloying process. Significantly, the optimized nanoporous alloy Cu53Ru47 exhibits remarkable catalytic activity for HER with nearly zero onset overpotential and ultralow Tafel slopes (∼30 and ∼35 mV dec-1) in both alkaline and neutral electrolytes, achieving a catalytic current density of 10 mA cm-2 at low overpotentials of ∼15 and ∼41 mV, respectively. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments, in conjunction with DFT simulations, reveal that the incorporation of Ru atoms into the Cu matrix not only accelerates the reaction step rates of water adsorption and activation but also optimizes the hydrogen bonding energy on Cu and Ru active sites, improving the intrinsic activity for HER.

The pandemic spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has driven efforts to address the global threat to public health and there is increasing pressure to exploit interventions to manage the pneumonic inflammation manifested in this disease. Ultra-shortwave diathermy (USWD) is proposed by some rehabilitation professions in China, purportedly to minimise pneumonic inflammation. However, treatment of any symptomatic pneumonia should be evidence-based. There is no valid evidence, published in English, which establishes any benefit of USWD in pulmonary conditions, let alone COVID-19. The need for rigorous research and evidence-based practice is discussed in this article. Novel interventions require a solid physiological basis and must undergo rigorous testing prior to clinical adoption even during a pandemic. We are of the view that deployment of USWD in patients with COVID-19 must be prudent and supported by a logical scientific basis.

Background. We aim at investigating the correlation between skip N2 metastases (SN2) and SUVmax, long diameter of tumor mass after 18F-FDG PET/CT, and pathological Ki67 expression in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods and Results. We retrospectively analyzed the factors that might affect the pathogenesis of SN2 in these patients. The clinical SN2 symptoms in patients with squamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma were investigated. The work curve was utilized to analyze the optimal cutoff value for the SUVmax and long diameter of tumor. Multivariate analysis revealed that high expression of Ki67 was a risk factor for mediastinal SN2 (OR=1.042, 95% CI: 1.009-1.076). Subgroup analysis indicated that the SUVmax of the non-SN2 group was significantly higher than that of the SN2 group in patients with squamous carcinoma (16.3±6.0 vs. 10.7±5.6, P=0.026). In the patients with adenocarcinoma, the long diameter of tumor in the SN2 group was significantly longer than that of the non-SN2 group (43.8±16.3 mm vs. 30.1±13.8 mm, P=0.032). The Ki67 expression in the SN2 group was significantly higher than that of the non-SN2 group (51.7±24.0 vs. 30.0±19.2, P=0.028). Conclusions. The differences of clinical features of the patients in the SN2 group and non-SN2 group in the NSCLC patients were associated with the pathological subtypes, which were featured by lower SUVmax in the SN2 of the squamous carcinoma, and longer diameter of SN2 in the adenocarcinoma patients.

Successive landslides during October and November 2018 in Baige village, eastern Tibet, China dammed the Jinsha River twice and the dam-breach had flooded many towns downstream, instigating a catastrophic disaster chain. In order to evaluate and understand the disaster chain effect that may be caused by the potentially unstable rock mass, we systematically studied the multi-hazard scenarios through an integrated numerical modelling approach. The model starts from the landslide failure probability to runout and river damming, and then to dam breach and dam-breach induced flood, hence predicting and visualizing an entire disaster chain. The parameters required for the modelling were calibrated using measured data from the two Baige landslides. Then, we predict the future cascading hazards based on seven scenarios according to all possible combinations of the potentially unstable rock mass failures. For each scenario, the landslide runouts, dam-breach process and flooding are numerically simulated with consideration of uncertainties of model input parameters. The maximum dam-breach flood extent, depth, velocity and peak arrival time at different places downstream are predicted. As a first attempt to simulate the whole process of a landslide induced multi-hazard chain, this study provides some insights and substantiates the necessity of landslide induced disaster chain modelling. The integrated approach proposed by this study can be applied for simulating similar types of landslide induced chains of hazards in other regions.

A facile, one-pot two-step synthesis of 7-methylene-1,5-piperazine-fused 1,2,3-triazole derivatives has been developed. The protocol employs an N-allylation of N-propargylated amines with 2,3-dibromopropene in the presence of K2CO3 in DMSO and a CuI-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the synthetic N-(2-bromoallyl)-N-propargyl amines with sodium azide sequentially. Such a method provides methylene-substituted 1,2,3-triazole fused piperazines with some advantages such as simple operation, high efficiency and good product yield (80–91%) through readily available starting materials.

River-damming by landslides is a widespread phenomenon around the world. Recent advances in remote sensing technology and the rising commercial availability of their products enable the assemblage of increasingly more complete inventories and improve monitoring efforts. On the ground, multi-method dating campaigns enhance our understanding of the timelines of dam formation and failure. In comparison to single-dating methods, they reduce uncertainty by using different materials from the landslide deposit, facilitate the advantages of each method, and consider the deposit and the source area. They can pin dates on the time of lake drainage where backwater sediments are included in the dating campaign and thus inform about dam longevity. Geophysical methods provide non-invasive and rapid methods to investigate the properties and interior conditions of landslide dams. By identifying, e.g. evolving zones of weakness and saturation they can aid in the monitoring of a dam in addition to providing information on interior stratification for scientific research. To verify results from geophysical campaigns, and to add details of dam interior structures and geotechnical properties, knowledge of their sedimentology is essential. This information is gathered at sections from breached dams, other (partially) eroded landslide deposits, and through laboratory testing of sampled material. Combining the knowledge gained from all these methods with insights from blast-fill and embankment dam construction, physical and numerical modelling in multi-disciplinary research projects is the way forward in landslide dam research, assessment and monitoring. This review offers a broad, yet concise overview of the state-of-the-art in the aforementioned research fields. It completes the review of Fan et al. (2020) on the formation and impact on landslide dams.

Summary: Fusion transcripts or RNAs have been found in both disordered and healthy human tissues and cells; however, their physiological functions in the brain development remain unknown. In the analysis of deposited RNA-sequence libraries covering early to middle embryonic stages, we identify 1,055 fusion transcripts present in the developing neocortex. Interestingly, 98 fusion transcripts exhibit distinct expression patterns in various neural progenitors (NPs) or neurons. We focus on CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 (CTCL), which is enriched in outer radial glial cells that contribute to cortex expansion during human evolution. Intriguingly, downregulation of CTCL in cultured human cerebral organoids causes marked reduction in NPs and precocious neuronal differentiation, leading to impairment of organoid growth. Furthermore, the expression of CTCL fine-tunes Wnt/β-catenin signaling that controls cortex patterning. Together, this work provides evidence indicating important roles of fusion transcript in human brain development and evolution.

The experiment and simulation investigations on out-plane compressive characteristics of FRP sandwich panel were conducted. The results show that two deformation stages are elastic deformation and fracture stages in out-plane compressive deformation. The yielding mode deformation as t1/h which is very big,while the buckling mode deformation as t1/h which is very small. The part 2 in the honeycomb core is main bearing part for sandwich panel,and the part 2 is supported by the part 1 and part 3 in the honeycomb core,while the honeycomb core is supported by the panel. So,the cell wall thickness of part 2 has the most significant influence on the compressive strength,and the influence by the cell wall side length of honeycomb core is the secondary,while the influence by the cell wall thickness of part 1 and part 3 in honeycomb core and the thickness of panel is the weakest. When the honeycomb core height is fixed,the compressive strength of FRP sandwich panel gradually increases along with honeycomb core layers increase.

In the field of communication terminal testing, wideband modulation and frequency hopping signals are required in order to adapt to the development of communication system. Single channel DDS is widely used to generate modulation and frequency hopping signals due to its advantages of low cost, low power consumption, high resolution and fast conversion time. However, the output range of single channel DDS is limited by the system clock, which can’t produce digital signal with high sampling rate for high speed DAC. To overcome the limit of single channel DDS, this paper proposed a method based on parallel DDS, which can generate modulated signal and frequency hopping signal. The test Implemented on the hardware platform with FPGA and DAC proves that this method can produce these signals in the range of $0 \sim 1$ GHz, the signal bandwidth is up to 80MHz, and the frequency hopping rate can reach 8000 hops per second. The performance of the method accords with the actual demand.