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We report a fiber-based quasi-continuous-wave (CW) quantum key distribution (QKD) system with continuous variables (CV). This system employs coherent light pulses and time multiplexing to maximally reduce cross talk in the fiber. No-switching detection scheme is adopted to optimize the repetition rate. Information is encoded on the sideband of the pulsed coherent light to fully exploit the continuous wave nature of laser field. With this configuration, high secret key rate can be achieved. For the 50 MHz detected bandwidth in our experiment, when the multidimensional reconciliation protocol is applied, a secret key rate of 187 kb/s can be achieved over 50 kmof optical fiber against collective attacks, which have been shown to be asymptotically optimal. Moreover, recently studied loopholes have been fixed in our system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ideal strategy for hair cell regeneration is promoting residual supporting cell proliferation followed by induction of hair cell differentiation. In this study, cultured neonatal mouse organs of Corti were treated with neomycin to eliminate hair cells followed by incubation with recombined adenovirus expressing Pax2 and/or Math1. Results showed that overexpression of Pax2 significantly promoted proliferation of supporting cells. The number of BrdU+/myosin VIIA+ cells increased significantly in hair cell pre-existing region two weeks after adenovirus infection in Ad-Pax2-IRES-Math1 group compared to Ad-Pax2 and Ad-Math1 groups. This indicated that cotransfection of Pax2 and Math1 induced supporting cells to proliferate and differentiate into hair cells in situ. Most new hair cells were labeled by FM1-43 suggesting they acquired certain function. The results also suggest that inducing proliferating cells rather than quiescent cells to differentiate into hair cells by forced expression of Math1 is feasible for mammalian hair cell regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been many interests in exploring multiferroic materials with superior ferroelectric and magnetic properties for the purpose of developing multifunctional devices. Fabrication of thin films plays an important role in achieving this purpose, since the multiferroicity can be tuned via strain, dimensionality, and size effect, without varying the chemical composition. Here, we report exotic multiferroic behaviors, including high-TC (~75 K) ferroelectric state, a large spontaneous polarization (~4900 μC/m2) and relatively strong ferromagnetism emerging at ~105 K, in orthorhombic GdMnO3/SrTiO3 (001) thin films with self-assembled nano-scale twin-like domains. We propose a possible ab-plane spiral-spin-order phase to be responsible for the large spontaneous polarization in the films, which can only be stabilized by relatively high magnetic field H > 6 T in the bulk crystals. It is suggested that the nano-scale twin-like domain structure is essential for the high temperature ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism of the thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal stability of composite cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells, the mixtures of (La0.8Sr0.2)0.95MnO3-δ (LSM) and (Y2O3)x(ZrO2)1-x (xYSZ, x = 3, 6, 8 and 10), is determined using in-situ neutron diffraction. Thanks to the most advanced high flux neutron source, our work highlights the visualization of the phase evolutions in heterogeneous material systems at high temperatures, along with the analysis of the diffusion activities of transition metal ions that reveal the reaction mechanism and kinetics. It is found that the tetragonal-to-cubic phase transition in YSZ at T > 9006° leads to a heterogeneous redistribution of Mn ions. The subsequent reaction of LSM and YSZ occurring at T > 1100° is revealed as a three-stage kinetic process, yielding La2Zr2O7, SrZrO3 and MnO. The diffusion activities of Y, Mn and La ions in the heterogeneous systems at elevated temperatures are derived by the structural analysis, and the three-stage reaction of YSZ and LSM is found strongly correlated to ions' behaviors as functions of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advances in the development of various disciplines, there is a need to decipher bio-behavioural mechanisms via interdisciplinary means. Here, we present an interdisciplinary study of the role of silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) in disturbing the neural behaviours of zebrafish and a possible physiological mechanism for this phenomenon. We used adult zebrafish as an animal model to evaluate the roles of size (15-nm and 50-nm) and concentration (300 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL) in SiO2-NP neurotoxicity via behavioural and physiological analyses. With the aid of video tracking and data mining, we detected changes in behavioural phenotypes. We found that compared with 50-nm nanosilica, 15-nm SiO2-NPs produced greater significant changes in advanced cognitive neurobehavioural patterns (colour preference) and caused potentially Parkinson's disease-like behaviour. Analyses at the tissue, cell and molecular levels corroborated the behavioural results, demonstrating that nanosilica acted on the retina and dopaminergic (DA) neurons to change colour preference and to cause potentially Parkinson's disease-like behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in diverse biological pathways and may act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNAs (MirSNPs) might promote carcinogenesis by affecting miRNA function and/or maturation; however, the association between MirSNPs reported and cancer risk remain inconsistent. Here, we investigated the association between nine common MirSNPs and cancer risk using data from large scale case-control studies. Eight precursor-miRNA (pre-miRNA) SNPs (rs2043556/miR-605, rs3746444/miR-499a/b, rs4919510/miR-608, rs2910164/ miR-146a, rs11614913/miR-196a2, rs895819/miR-27a, rs2292832/miR-149, rs6505162/miR-423) and one primary-miRNA (pri-miRNA) SNP (rs1834306/miR-100) were analyzed in 16399 cases and 21779 controls from seven published studies in eight common cancers. With a novel statistic, Cross phenotype meta-analysis (CPMA) of the association of MirSNPs with multiple phenotypes indicated rs2910164 C (P 5 1.11E-03), rs2043556 C (P 5 0.0165), rs6505162 C (P 5 2.05E-03) and rs895819 (P 5 0.0284) were associated with a significant overall risk of cancer. In conclusion, MirSNPs might affect an individual's susceptibility to various types of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer survivors face employment challenges. How to promote BC's return to work is important for improving their quality of life and promoting recovery. Numerous studies have reported that BC survivors encounter employment challenges due to cognitive limitations, alongside factors. healthcare Professional has a good educational background and a good cognitive level and is also the closest combination of sociocultural tradition and healthcare systems, however, there is a lack of studies on their experience as BC survivors. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted to investigate the experiences of healthcare professionals returning to work following breast cancer diagnosis. 20 doctors and nurses were interviewed face-to-face with a semi-structured interview guide in three municipal hospitals. Four major themes and corresponding sub-themes were extracted from the collected data as follows: (1) Return to Work: Willingness and Conflicts; (2) Cancer Progression Anxiety; (3) Physical and Mental Re-Awareness, including (1) Decreased Physical Ability, (2) Frustration and Diminished Self-Esteem; 4. Reflection and Re-planning, including (1) Past Self-Questioning, (2) Active Life Re-planning, (3) Revitalizing Life's Value, and (4) Career Changes: Coping and Adapting. This study revealed a positive reintegration into the workforce among participants in China's healthcare professionals with a notably advanced medical understanding. It implies that, for BC survivors, a combination of rich medical knowledge, a stable work environment, substantial income, and robust support from colleagues and superiors play a positive role in enhancing their adaptability post a breast cancer diagnosis. Additionally, interviewees expressed guilt during sick leave, it was suggested that hospitals implement comprehensive support mechanisms related to leave, acknowledging the imperative need for adequate rest during the treatment period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen (H2) energy industry has continued to expand in recent years due to the decarbonization of the global energy system and the drive towards sustainable development. Due to hydrogen's high flammability and significant safety risks, the efficient detection of hydrogen has become an increasingly hot issue today. In this work, a new type of relatively fast and responsive conducting polymer sensor has been demonstrated for tracing H2 gas in a nitrogen environment. Inspiration of unique properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene, polyaniline (PANI) hollow nanotubes, PANI thin films are fabricated to study for structural-properties investigation. The PANI hollow nanotube sensor ensures the 1 ppm hydrogen gas detection at room temperature, and exhibits high sensitivity (29%) and fast response and recovery times of 15 and 17 s, follows by PANI thin film sensor (20%), response and recovery times of 65s and 45s. This conducting polymer-based hydrogen sensor holds promise for the early detection of H2 leaks in a wide range of industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the global architecture, engineering, and construction industry, the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has significantly expanded. However, given the unique characteristics of road infrastructure, the application of BIM technology is still being explored. This article focuses on the Yuanchen Expressway, exploring innovative applications of BIM technology in comprehensive construction management. The project employs advanced technologies, including BIM, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Internet of Things (IoT), to precisely identify critical nodes and breakthroughs. Supported by a detailed BIM model and a multi-level, diversified digital management platform, the project effectively addresses construction challenges in multiple tunnels, bridges, and complex interchanges, achieving intelligent construction innovation throughout the Yuanchen Expressway with BIM technology. By guiding construction through BIM models, utilizing a BIM+GIS-based management cloud platform system, and employing VR safety briefings, the project effectively reduces the difficulty of communication and coordination in project management, shortens the project measurement cycle, improves on-site work efficiency, and ensures comprehensive control and safety management. This article provides an exemplary case for the application of full-line construction management using BIM technology in the highway sector both in China and globally, offering new perspectives and strategies for highway construction management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fast-evolving realm of communication technology, microstrip patch antennas (MPAs) are in high demand owing to their compact size, lightweight, inexpensive, ease of integration, and compatibility with modern electronic devices. This research focuses on the synthesis of ZnAl2O4Ca (ZAC) ceramic nanoparticles using an economical sol–gel method suitable for microstrip patch antenna applications. The structural analysis study of ZAC nanoparticles confirmed the polycrystalline nature with 8.1 nm of crystallite size whereas an investigation of functional groups showed the corresponding vibration modes. Morphological investigation revealed the spherical grains having their mean diameter of 12.32 nm. The dielectric property’s examination, revealed the dielectric permittivity of 13, loss tangent of 0.02, and conductivity of 67 μΩ−1 cm−1. Furthermore, a prototype patch antenna fabricated using ZAC ceramics demonstrated a dual-band performance at frequencies 2.8 GHz and 4.8 GHz, with return losses of − 25.78 dB and − 28.5 dB, respectively. This work suggests the suitability of ZAC ceramic nanoparticles for use in WLAN applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary lung injury after SCI is a major cause of patient mortality, with apoptosis playing a key role. This study aimed to explore the impact of treadmill training and miR145-5p on the MAPK/Erk signaling pathway and apoptosis in rats with complete SCI. SD rats were used to establish T10 segmental complete SCI models and underwent treadmill training 3, 7, or 14 days postinjury. Various techniques including arterial blood gas analysis, lung wet/dry weight ratio, HE staining, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemical staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were employed to assess alterations in lung function and the expression levels of crucial apoptosis-related factors. In order to elucidate the specific mechanism, the impact of miR145-5p on the MAPK/Erk pathway and its role in apoptosis in lung cells were confirmed through miR145-5p overexpression and knockdown experiments. Following spinal cord injury (SCI), an increase in apoptosis, activation of the MAPK/Erk pathway, and impairment of lung function were observed in SCI rats. Conversely, treadmill training resulted in a reduction in alveolar cell apoptosis, suppression of the MAPK/Erk pathway, and enhancement of lung function. The gene MAP3K3 was identified as a target of miR145-5p. The influence of miR145-5p on the MAPK/Erk pathway and its impact on apoptosis in alveolar cells were confirmed through the manipulation of miR145-5p expression levels. The upregulation of miR145-5p in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats led to a reduction in MAP3K3 protein expression within lung tissues, thereby inhibiting the MAPK/Erk signaling pathway and decreasing apoptosis. Contrarily, rats with miR145-5p knockdown undergoing treadmill training exhibited an increase in miR145-5p expression levels, resulting in the inhibition of MAP3K3 protein expression in lung tissues, suppression of the MAPK/Erk pathway, and mitigation of lung cell apoptosis. Ultimately, the findings suggest that treadmill training may attenuate apoptosis in lung cells post-spinal cord injury by modulating the MAP3K3 protein through miR145-5p to regulate the MAPK/Erk signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial response mechanism of hydrology and water quality of large river-connected lakes is very complicated. In this study, we developed a spatial response analysis method that couples wavelet correlation analysis (WTC) with self-organizing maps (SOM), revealing the spatial response and variation of water level and water quality in Poyang Lake, China's largest river-connected lake, over the past decade. The results show that: (1) there was significant spatial heterogeneity in water level and quality during the dry seasons (2010–2018) compared to other hydrological stages. (2) We identified a more pronounced difference in response of water level and quality between northern and southern parts of Poyang Lake. As the distance increases from the northern lake outlet, the impact of rising water levels on water quality deterioration intensified during the dry seasons. (3) The complex spatial heterogeneity of water level and quality response in the dry seasons is primarily influenced by water level fluctuations from the northern region and the cumulative pollutant entering the lake from the south, which particularly leads to the reversal of the response in the central area of Poyang Lake. The results of this study can contribute to scientific decision-making regarding water environment zoning management in large river-connected lakes amidst complex environment conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mRNA vaccines are becoming a feasible alternative for treating cancer. To develop mRNA vaccines against LUAD, potential antigens were identified and LUAD ferroptosis subtypes distinguished for selecting appropriate patients. The genome expression omnibus, cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and FerrDB were used to collect gene expression profiles, clinical information, and the genes involved in ferroptosis, respectively. cBioPortal was used to visualize and compare genetic alterations, GEPIA2 to calculate prognostic factors of the selected antigens, and TIMER to visualize the relationship between potential antigens and tumor immune cell infiltration. Consensus clustering analysis was utilized to identify ferroptosis subtypes and their prognostic value assessed by Log-rank and cox regression tests. The modules of ferroptosis-related gene screening were conducted by weight gene co-expression network analysis. The LUAD ferroptosis landscape was visualized through dimensionality reduction and graph learning. Six tumor antigens had obvious LUAD-mutations, positively correlated with different antigen-presenting cells, and might induce tumor cell ferroptosis. LUAD patients were stratified into three ferroptosis subtypes (FS1, FS2, and FS3) according to diverse molecular, cellular, and clinical characteristics. FS3 showed the highest tumor mutation burden and the most somatic mutations, deemed potential indicators of mRNA vaccine effectiveness. Moreover, different ferroptosis subtypes expressed distinct immune checkpoints and immunogenic cell death modulators. AGPS, NRAS, MTDH, PANX1, NOX4, and PPARD are potentially suitable for mRNA vaccinations against LUAD, specifically in patients with FS3 tumors. This study defines vaccination candidates and establishes a theoretical basis for LUAD mRNA vaccinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the effect of symmetry breaking in cuprates superconductors YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - δ , we employ the renormalized mean-field theory to study the presence of uniform superconducting and charge-ordered states in two anisotropic t–J–U models, either with hopping strength anisotropy or antiferromagnetic interaction anisotropy. In the case of uniform superconducting state, compared with the isotropic t–J–U model with only d x 2 - y 2 -wave superconducting state, there is an additional s-wave superconducting state in the model with hopping strength anisotropy. Meanwhile, the hopping anisotropy may enhance the critical Coulomb interaction U c at the Mott insulator to the Gossamer superconductor transition point, and strong hopping anisotropy may weaken the superconducting state. In the case of a charge-ordered state, hopping anisotropy may suppress the amplitude of the charge density waves and pair density waves, which originate from local Coulomb interactions. These results indicate that the effects of hopping anisotropy and local Coulomb interactions are competitive. Moreover, the antiferromagnetic interaction anisotropy only weakly suppresses the superconducting gap and density wave amplitude. Our results show that the t–J–U model with hopping anisotropy is qualitatively consistent with experimental superconducting pair symmetry and charge density waves in the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - δ system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to investigate the causal relationship between genetically predicted endometriosis (EMS) and breast cancer risk. A total of 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls were included in the analysis, with gene-level summary data obtained from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC). An inverse variance-weighting approach was applied to assess the causal relationship between EMS and breast cancer risk, and weighted median and MR-Egger regression methods were used to evaluate pleiotropy. Results showed a causal relationship between EMS and a decreased risk of overall breast cancer (odds ratio [OR] 0.95; 95% CI 0.90–0.99, p = 0.02). Furthermore, EMS was associated with a lower risk for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer in a subgroup analysis based on immunohistochemistry type (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.86–0.97, p = 0.005). However, there was no causal association between ER-negative breast cancer and survival (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.94–1.06, p = 0.89). Pleiotropy was not observed. These findings provide evidence of a relationship between EMS and reduced breast cancer risk in invasive breast cancer overall and specific tissue types, and support the results of a previous observational study. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further evaluate the causal relationships between inflammatory cytokines and migraine, we conducted a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genetic data from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We used several MR methods, including random-effect inverse-variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, to test the causal relationships. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results. The results showed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was positively associated with the risk of migraine (odds ratio [OR], 1.004; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–1.008; P = 0.022). In addition, Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was considered a downstream consequence of migraine (OR, 0.012; 95% CI, 0.000–0.0929; P = 0.046). These findings suggest that HGF may be a factor associated with the etiology of migraine, while IL-2 is more likely to be involved in the downstream development of migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nemonoxacin is a novel non-fluorinated quinolone with strong antibacterial efficacy, but data of its effect on acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is rare. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of oral nemonoxacin with moxifloxacin in AECOPD outpatients. In this retrospective observational study, a total of 101 AECOPD outpatients initially treated with nemonoxacin or moxifloxacin from July 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled. We collected COPD assessment test (CAT), Transition Dyspnea Indices (TDI) scores, and exacerbations information during 24 weeks follow-up from the electronic medical records. Kaplan–Meier curve was used to analyze the time to the next moderate/severe exacerbation. Compared to the moxifloxacin group, changes in CAT scores and TDI scores were significantly higher in the nemonoxacin group, and the nemonoxacin group also had a greater probability to reach the minimal clinically important difference of CAT (71.40% vs. 97.80%, p < 0.01) and TDI (40.50% vs. 60.00%, p < 0.05) at week 4. Despite no significant difference in the incidence of exacerbations between two groups, patients treated with nemonoxacin had a significantly prolonged time to next moderate/severe exacerbation than those with moxifloxacin (p < 0.05). Nemonoxacin achieved a better symptomatic improvement and a prolonged interval to next moderate/severe exacerbation for AECOPD outpatients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer ranks as one of the top malignancies and the leading cause of cancer death in both males and females in the US. Using a cancer database covering the entire population, this study was to determine the gender disparities in lung cancer incidence during 2001–2019. Cancer patients were obtained from the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. The SEER*Stat software was applied to calculate the age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIR). Temporal changes in lung cancer incidence were analyzed by the Joinpoint software. A total of 4,086,432 patients (53.3% of males) were diagnosed with lung cancer. Among them, 52.1% were 70 years or older, 82.7% non-Hispanic white, 39.7% from the South, and 72.6% non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The AAIR of lung cancer continuously reduced from 91.0 per 100000 to 59.2 in males during the study period, while it increased from 55.0 in 2001 to 56.8 in 2006 in females, then decreased to 48.1 in 2019. The female to male incidence rate ratio of lung cancer continuously increased from 2001 to 2019. Gender disparities were observed among age groups, races, and histological types. In those aged 0–54 years, females had higher overall incidence rates of lung cancer than males in recent years, which was observed in all races (except non-Hispanic black), all regions, and adenocarcinoma and small cell (but not squamous cell). Non-Hispanic black females aged 0–54 years had a faster decline rate than males since 2013. API females demonstrated an increased trend during the study period. Lung cancer incidence continues to decrease with gender disparities among age groups, races, regions, and histological types. Continuous anti-smoking programs plus reduction of related risk factors are necessary to lower lung cancer incidence further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction to: I Scientific Reports i https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24419-8, published online 30 November 2022 The Funding section in the original version of this Article was omitted. The Funding section now reads: "This study was made possible by Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (ProgramNo. [Extracted from the article]

The disordered expression of ZNF143 is closely related to the malignant progression of tumours. However, the basic control mechanism of ZNF143 in glioma has not yet been clarified. Therefore, we tried to find a new pathway to illustrate the function of ZNF143 in glioma. To explore the function of KPNA2 in the development of glioma, we used survival analysis by the Kaplan‒Meier method to assess the overall survival (OS) of patients with low and high KPNA2 expression in the TCGA and CGGA cohorts. Western blotting assays and RT‒PCR assays were utilized to determine the expression level of KPNA2 in glioma cells. The interaction between ZNF143 and KPNA2 was confirmed by ChIP assays. Proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assays, and migration was evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry, and the expression level of YAP/TAZ was visualized using an immunofluorescence assay. The expression levels of LATS1, LATS2, YAP1, and p-YAP1 were determined. Patients with low KPNA2 expression showed a better prognosis than those with high KPNA2 expression. KPNA2 was found to be upregulated in human glioma cells. ZNF143 can bind to the promoter region of KPNA2. Downregulation of ZNF143 and KPNA2 can activate the Hippo signalling pathway and reduce YAP/TAZ expression in human glioma cells, thus inducing apoptosis of human glioma cells and weakening their proliferation, migration and invasion. In conclusion, ZNF143 mediates the Hippo/YAP signalling pathway and inhibits the growth and migration of glioma cells by regulating KPNA2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are required for action potential initiation and propagation in mammalian neurons. As with other ion channel families, VGSC density varies between neurons. Importantly, sodium current (INa) density variability is reduced in pyramidal neurons of Scn1b null mice. Scn1b encodes the VGSC β1/ β1B subunits, which regulate channel expression, trafficking, and voltage dependent properties. Here, we investigate how variable INa density in cortical layer 6 and subicular pyramidal neurons affects spike patterning and network synchronization. Constitutive or inducible Scn1b deletion enhances spike timing correlations between pyramidal neurons in response to fluctuating stimuli and impairs spike-triggered average current pattern diversity while preserving spike reliability. Inhibiting INa with a low concentration of tetrodotoxin similarly alters patterning without impairing reliability, with modest effects on firing rate. Computational modeling shows that broad INa density ranges confer a similarly broad spectrum of spike patterning in response to fluctuating synaptic conductances. Network coupling of neurons with high INa density variability displaces the coupling requirements for synchronization and broadens the dynamic range of activity when varying synaptic strength and network topology. Our results show that INa heterogeneity between neurons potently regulates spike pattern diversity and network synchronization, expanding VGSC roles in the nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qiutao Zhang was incorrectly affiliated with 'The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China' and 'Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, US'. Department of General Surgery, Wujin Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University and The Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. Additionally, Yunjie Lu was incorrectly affiliated with 'Department of General Surgery, Wujin Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University and The Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China'. [Extracted from the article]

Freshwater pollution and shortage have become an imminent problem. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a multi-functional membrane for the production of fresh water. In this work, the regenerated lignocellulose modified cotton fabric was developed as a novel, multi-functional and degradable membrane (LCPT@CF) for efficient oil–water separation and solar steam generation for the first time. The fabrication method has the merits of simple, environmentally friendly and cost effective. The regenerated lignocellulose was adhered on the surface of cotton fabric by tannic acid and polyvinyl alcohol complexes tightly, and the multilayered structures of the LCPT@CF can be formed, which endowed the membranes with underwater superoleophobic property and durability. The underwater superoleophobic property enabled LCPT@CF to purify various kinds of oil-in-water emulsions with a separation efficiency of more than 99.90%. Moreover, benefiting from the excellent photothermal conversion capacity of regenerated lignocellulose, the LCPT@CF achieved high evaporation rate of 1.39 kg m−2 h−1 and favorable evaporation efficiency of 84% under 1 sun illumination, and the LCPT@CF also presented excellent salt-resistance for evaporating seawater for 20 cycles, without salt accumulation. More importantly, the LCPT@CF could be naturally degradable by microorganisms in the natural condition within 3 months, which had outstanding environmental friendliness. These above results demonstrated that the green and efficient LCPT@CF could play great potential in oil–water separation and sewage purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of programmed spatial anatomy of myopectineal orifice technique in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal hernioplasty (TEP) surgery. A total of 121 adult male patients with unilateral inguinal hernias who underwent TEP in the Department of General Surgery, Wujin Hospital, affiliated with Jiangsu University, from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected. Patients were divided into the procedural (63 cases) and traditional groups (58 cases) according to the surgical methods adopted. The procedural group underwent programmed spatial anatomy of the myopectineal orifice combined with TEP, and the traditional group underwent traditional TEP. The perioperative evaluation indicators and postoperative complications were observed and compared between the two groups. Compared with the traditional group, the time of handling hernia, the intraoperative operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative ambulation time, and postoperative hospital stay in the procedural group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications such as sensory nerve abnormalities and chronic pain was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the total incidence of complications in the procedural group was significantly lower than that in the traditional group (P < 0.05). While there was no significant difference in postoperative incision infection (P > 0.05). The programmed spatial anatomy of the myopectineal orifice can significantly improve the treatment outcome of TEP, significantly improve the patients' intraoperative and postoperative indicators, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. It is worthy of being promoted among young physicians and basic hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure relief door (PRD) is a vital structure to ensure the safety and reliability of the engine. This paper established a zero-dimensional transient simulation mathematical model to study the plenum compartment pressure threshold and maximum opening angle effects on the nacelle pressure relief process under different opening modes. Then, a computational fluid dynamics model verified by experimental literature data was used to simulate the nacelle pressure relief process and to determine the influence of two different opening modes on the force and discharge characteristics of the PRD. The results of this study show that different opening modes strongly impact the nacelle pressure relief process. Reducing the nacelle compartment pressure threshold of the PRD opening can reduce the time required for the pressure relief process to reach the equilibrium stage. Reducing the maximum opening angle may increase the nacelle compartment pressure during the equilibrium stage. In addition, under the same nacelle compartment pressure thresholds and maximum opening angles, the pressure relief process under the vertical opening mode can reach a lower nacelle compartment pressure during the pressure relief equilibrium stage compared to that under the horizontal opening mode. Therefore, the vertical opening mode is better than the horizontal opening mode. This paper provides two lower calculation costs and high accuracy research models for studying the nacelle pressure relief process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the effects of aminosalicylic acid, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants on the expression levels of multidrug resistance genes in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), with the aim of providing a theoretical and therapeutic basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of UC. Fresh colonic mucosal tissues or postoperative pathological biopsies from 148 UC patients were collected, and the distribution sites and morphology of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) were detected using immunohistochemical staining. RT-PCR was used to quantify the expression levels of multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) mRNA before and after the corresponding treatment, and the effects of aminosalicylic acid, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs on P-gp were compared. In addition, the effects of the three drugs on MDR1 mRNA were analyzed. Administration of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) drugs did not correlate with MDR1 expression in UC, whereas administration of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs was positively correlated with MDR1 expression profile. The expression levels of MDR1 mRNA and its product P-gp were significantly upregulated in patients who did not respond to glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. 5-ASA had no effect on the expression levels of MDR1 and its product P-gp in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of UC. However, the use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants can increase the expression level of MDR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyspora Sweet (Theaceae) are winter ornamental landscape plants native to southern and southeastern Asia, some of which have medicinal value. The chloroplast (cp) genome data of Polyspora are scarce, and the gene evolution and interspecific relationship are still unclear. In this study, we sequenced and annotated Polyspora chrysandra cp genome and combined it with previously published genomes for other Chinese Polyspora species. The results showed that cp genomes of six Chinese Polyspora varied in length between 156,452 bp (P. chrysandra) and 157,066 bp (P. speciosa), but all contained 132 genes, with GC content of 37.3%, and highly similar genes distribution and codon usage. A total of eleven intergenic spacer regions were found having the highest levels of divergence, and eight divergence hotspots were identified as molecular markers for Phylogeography and genetic diversity studies in Polyspora. Gene selection pressure suggested that five genes were subjected to positive selection. Phylogenetic relationships among Polyspora species based on the complete cp genomes were supported strongly, indicating that the cp genomes have the potential to be used as super barcodes for further analysis of the phylogeny of the entire genus. The cp genomes of Chinese Polyspora species will provide valuable information for species identification, molecular breeding and evolutionary analysis of genus Polyspora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish a prognostic model based on immune-related microRNA (miRNA) for pancreatic carcinoma. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed using the "WGCNA" package to find the key module genes involved in pancreatic carcinoma. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to screen immune-related miRNAs. Uni- and multi-variate COX regression analyses were carried out to identify miRNAs prognostic for overall survival (OS) of pancreatic carcinoma, which were then combined to generate a prognostic model. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, distribution plot of survival status in patients and regression analysis were collectively performed to study the accuracy of the model in prognosis. Target genes of the miRNAs in the model were intersected with the key module genes, and a miRNA–mRNA network was generated and visualized by Cytoscape3.8.0. TIMER analysis was conducted to study the abundance of immune infiltrates in tumor microenvironment of pancreatic carcinoma. Expression levels of immune checkpoint genes in subgroups stratified by the model were compared by Wilcoxon test. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to analyze the enriched signaling pathways between subgroups. Differential analysis revealed 1826 genes differentially up-regulated in pancreatic carcinoma and 1276 genes differentially down-regulated. A total of 700 immune-related miRNAs were obtained, of which 7 miRNAs were significantly associated with OS of patients and used to establish a prognostic model with accurate predictive performance. There were 99 mRNAs overlapped from the 318 target genes of the 7 miRNAs and the key modules genes analyzed by WGCNA. Patient samples were categorized as high or low risk according to the prognostic model, which were significantly associated with dendritic cell infiltration and expression of immune checkpoint genes (TNFSF9, TNFRSF9, KIR3DL1, HAVCR2, CD276 and CD80). GSEA showed remarkably enriched signaling pathways in the two subgroups. This study identified an immune-related 7-miRNA based prognostic model for pancreatic carcinoma, which could be used as a reliable tool for prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have compromised mandibular bone architecture/quality, which markedly increase the risks of tooth loosening, tooth loss, and failure of dental implantation. However, it remains lacks effective and safe countermeasures against T2DM-related mandibular bone deterioration. Herein, we studied the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on mandibular bone microstructure/quality and relevant regulatory mechanisms in T2DM db/db mice. PEMF exposure (20 Gs, 15 Hz) for 12 weeks preserved trabecular bone architecture, increased cortical bone thickness, improved material properties and stimulated bone anabolism in mandibles of db/db mice. PEMF also upregulated the expression of canonical Wnt3a ligand (but not Wnt1 or Wnt5a) and its downstream β-catenin. PEMF improved the viability and differentiation of primary osteoblasts isolated from the db/db mouse mandible, and stimulated the specific activation of Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling. These positive effects of PEMF on mandibular osteoblasts of db/db mice were almost totally abolished after Wnt3a silencing in vitro, which were equivalent to the effects following blockade of canonical Wnt signaling using the broad-spectrum antagonist DKK1. Injection with Wnt3a siRNA abrogated the therapeutic effects of PEMF on mandibular bone quantity/quality and bone anabolism in db/db mice. Our study indicates that PEMF might become a non-invasive and safe treatment alternative resisting mandibular bone deterioration in T2DM patients, which is helpful for protecting teeth from loosening/loss and securing the dental implant stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Triassic saw a flourish of plant–arthropod interactions. By the Late Triassic, insects had developed all distinct strategies of herbivory, notably including some of the earliest occurrences of leaf-mining. Herein we describe exceptionally well-preserved leaf-mine trace fossils on a Cladophlebis Brongniart fern pinnule from the Momonoki Formation, Mine Group, Japan (Middle Carnian), representing the oldest unequivocal leaf-mines from East Asia. The mines all display a distinctive frass trail—a continuous meandering line, which later becomes a broad band containing spheroidal particles—demonstrating larval development. Although the shapes of the frass trails are generally comparable to those of Lepidoptera or Coleoptera, they cannot be unequivocally assigned to a specific extant leaf-mining taxon. Furthermore, elemental analyses by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) reveals that the frass trail comprises phosphate coprolites. The quantitative variations in P, S, and Si between coprolites and leaf veins may reflect physiological processes (e.g., consumption, absorption, and excretion) mediated by plant chemicals. Our findings reinforce the idea that leaf-mining had become a pervasive feeding strategy of herbivorous insects by the Late Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed the temporal associations of ~ 300 lifestyle exposures with nine cardiometabolic traits to identify exposures/exposure groups that might inform lifestyle interventions for the reduction of cardiometabolic disease risk. The analyses were undertaken in a longitudinal sample comprising > 31,000 adults living in northern Sweden. Linear mixed models were used to assess the average associations of lifestyle exposures and linear regression models were used to test associations with 10-year change in the cardiometabolic traits. 'Physical activity' and 'General Health' were the exposure categories containing the highest number of 'tentative signals' in analyses assessing the average association of lifestyle variables, while 'Tobacco use' was the top category for the 10-year change association analyses. Eleven modifiable variables showed a consistent average association among the majority of cardiometabolic traits. These variables belonged to the domains: (i) Smoking, (ii) Beverage (filtered coffee), (iii) physical activity, (iv) alcohol intake, and (v) specific variables related to Nordic lifestyle (hunting/fishing during leisure time and boiled coffee consumption). We used an agnostic, data-driven approach to assess a wide range of established and novel risk factors for cardiometabolic disease. Our findings highlight key variables, along with their respective effect estimates, that might be prioritised for subsequent prediction models and lifestyle interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the severity of the disease in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Hunan Province, China and use the subgroup analysis to evaluate the reliability of the new comprehensive evaluation of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). COPD outpatients from 12 medical centers in Hunan Province, China were stratified into groups A–D, and group D patients were further stratified into subgroups D1–D3 according to the GOLD 2016 and 2019 comprehensive assessment. Demography, clinical characteristics and medications were compared among groups. In 1017 COPD outpatients, the distribution from group A to D and subgroup D1 to D3 was 41 (4.0%), 249 (24.5%), 17 (1.7%), 710 (69.8%) and 214 (30.2%), 204 (28.7%), 292 (41.1%), according to GOLD 2016. In terms of demographic and clinical characteristics related to A–D groups, there was a significant difference in COPD assessment test (CAT), modified Medical British Research Council (mMRC), the clinical COPD questionnaire(CCQ), age, BMI, education level, smoking history, comorbidities, the course of chronic bronchitis/emphysema, number of exacerbations/hospitalisations in the previous year, treatment protocols, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) % predicted, and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (p < 0.01). Furthermore, some patients in groups C–D regrouped to groups A–B were all C1 and D1 subgroups according to GOLD 2019. Comparing subgroup D1 with group B, subgroup D2 and subgroup D3, it was found that the demography, clinical characteristics and medications of subgroup D1 were the closest to group B, according to GOLD 2016 (p < 0.01). The disease severity of outpatients with COPD in Hunan Province was more pronounced in group B and D and patients in groups A–D had different demography, clinical characteristics and medications. Subgroup analysis can explain to a certain extent that GOLD2019's new comprehensive assessment is more reliable than GOLD 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), clinically presenting as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Not all DVT patients carry the same risk of developing acute pulmonary embolism (APE). To develop and validate a prediction model to estimate risk of APE in DVT patients combined with past medical history, clinical symptoms, physical signs, and the sign of the electrocardiogram. We analyzed data from a retrospective cohort of patients who were diagnosed as symptomatic VTE from 2013 to 2018 (n = 1582). Among them, 122 patients were excluded. All enrolled patients confirmed by pulmonary angiography or computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and compression venous ultrasonography. Using the LASSO and logistics regression, we derived a predictive model with 16 candidate variables to predict the risk of APE and completed internal validation. Overall, 52.9% patients had DVT + APE (773 vs 1460), 47.1% patients only had DVT (687 vs 1460). The APE risk prediction model included one pre-existing disease or condition (respiratory failure), one risk factors (infection), three symptoms (dyspnea, hemoptysis and syncope), five signs (skin cold clammy, tachycardia, diminished respiration, pulmonary rales and accentuation/splitting of P2), and six ECG indicators (SIQIIITIII, right axis deviation, left axis deviation, S1S2S3, T wave inversion and Q/q wave), of which all were positively associated with APE. The ROC curves of the model showed AUC of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.77–0.82) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76–0.84) in the training set and testing set. The model showed good predictive accuracy (calibration slope, 0.83 and Brier score, 0.18). Based on a retrospective single-center population study, we developed a novel prediction model to identify patients with different risks for APE in DVT patients, which may be useful for quickly estimating the probability of APE before obtaining definitive test results and speeding up emergency management processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]