Search

This study aimed to describe a novel sandwich technique of minimally invasive surgical implantation by using corneal stromal lenticules for corneal perforation. This prospective observational study included nine patients aged 23-79 years (mean, 54 ± 9) from Tianjin Eye Hospital. Corneal stromal lenticules with a central thickness of 120 μm were obtained from small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE). With the corneal perforation as the central point, an iris-repositor was used to manually create a mid-stromal pocket; the stromal lenticular button was gently inserted into the intrastromal pocket and flattened. The graft was sandwiched between the anterior and posterior corneal stromal pockets; the incision was closed using two sutures. The primary health outcome measured in this study was the logMAR best spectacle-visual acuity at 6 months postoperatively. Corneal perforation closure and anterior chamber formation occurred immediately after surgery. No epithelial implantation, infection, or allogeneic rejection was observed during the follow-up. No patients required a penetrating keratoplasty. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed a mean thickness of the grafted tissue of 122 ± 21 μm, with a clear interface in all cases. Comparing the baseline and postoperative 6-month values, the mean logMAR best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was improved from 0.18 ± 0.12 to 0.52 ± 0.31 (P < 0.001). There was significant reduction in the mean manifest spherical equivalent, refractive cylinder, and mean keratometry readings. The novel minimally invasive surgical method for corneal implantation. It was an effective alternative treatment that could restore corneal integrity and improve vision in patients with corneal perforations. This method appears safe, easy, cost- and time-effective, and reliable., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Enhancing and strengthening food production capacity has always been a top priority in agricultural research, serving as a cornerstone for ensuring national food security and stable economic development. This study, based on panel data spanning from 2011 to 2021 across 30 provinces in China, delves into the mechanism through which the digital economy impacts food production capacity. Employing a double fixed effect model, a mediation effect model, and a panel threshold model, we uncover several key findings: The digital economy significantly boosts food production capacity, with robustness tests affirming the reliability of our results. Mechanism analysis reveals that the digital economy enhances food production capacity by elevating total factor productivity and bolstering agricultural resilience. The threshold effect underscores that urbanization levels exhibit a single-threshold impact, wherein the influence of the digital economy on food production capacity intensifies upon crossing this threshold. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the digital economy significantly boosts food production capacity in central and primary grain-producing regions, while its impact is comparatively weaker in the eastern and western regions, as well as in non-primary grain-producing areas. In summary, this research sheds light on the pivotal role of the digital economy in augmenting food production capacity, offering valuable insights into regional variations and thresholds in its impact across China., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to evaluate the safety profile and beneficial effects of Heyndrickxia coagulans strain BC99 (BC99) for potential use in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. We began with whole genome sequencing of BC99, followed by a comprehensive safety assessment comprising genome analysis, hemolysis, cytotoxicity, antibiotic susceptibility tests, and cell adhesion and tolerance studies, along with acute and subacute oral toxicity studies in animal models. BC99 was isolated from a well-characterized collection originating from the feces of a healthy infant. Our results indicated no hemolytic activity on Columbia blood agar plates and broad antibiotic sensitivity, including to gentamicin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and others. Cytotoxicity testing confirmed no adverse effects on HT-29 cells and significant adhesive properties to intestinal epithelial cells. Tolerance tests demonstrated over 90% viability of BC99 under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. In vivo studies in mice and rats confirmed the absence of adverse effects following oral administration. Collectively, these findings support BC99's robust tolerance to gastrointestinal environments, strong adhesion capabilities, and a broad spectrum of antibiotic resistance, underlining its potential as a safe and effective agent for gut microbiota modulation and host health enhancement., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Threshold voltage ( V th ) assignment is convenient for leakage optimization due to the exponential relation between leakage power and V th by swapping logic cells without routing effort. However, it poses great challenge in large scale circuit design as an NP-hard problem. Machine learning-based approaches have been proposed to solve this problem, aiming to achieve well tradeoff between leakage power reduction and runtime speed up without new induced timing violation. In this paper, a leakage power optimization framework based on reinforcement learning (RL) with graph neural network (GNN) is first-ever proposed to formulate V th assignment as a RL process by learning timing and physical characteristics of each circuit instance with GNN. Multiple instances are selected in a non-overlapped manner for each RL action iteration to speed up convergence and decouple timing interdependence along circuit path, where the corresponding reward is carefully defined to tradeoff between leakage reduction and potential timing violation. The proposed framework was validated by the Opencores and IWLS 2005 benchmark circuits with TSMC 28 nm technology. Experimental results demonstrate that our work outperforms prior non-analytical and GNN-based methods with better leakage power optimization by additional 5% to 17% reduction, which is highly consistent with the commercial tool. When transferring the trained RL-based framework to unseen circuits, it achieves the roughly identical leakage optimization results as seen circuit and speed up the runtime by 5.7 × to 8.5 × compared with commercial tool., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aiming at the veneer defect image acquisition process is prone to the problems of blurred edges, inconspicuous contrast and distortion, which cannot show the defects clearly.To improve image analyzability and clarity, a veneer defect image enhancement method based on AMEF-AGC is proposed herein. First, a veneer defect image is subjected to Gamma correction to obtain multiple underexposed image sequences for which Gaussian and Laplacian pyramids are constructed to determine the weights of the multiple exposure sequence group images.Multiscale fusion is then performed based on these weights. Second, the fused image is converted into the HSV color space, where contrast and brightness enhancements are performed for the luminance component, and then converted back to the RGB color space to obtain an enhanced veneer defect image. Solid wood panels selected herein were pine, poplar and birch with defects including live knots, dead knots, and cracks.Compared with those obtained using several algorithms including AMEF, AGC, improved AGC and GC, this algorithm achieved 6.93% and 5.4% improvements in PSNR and SSIM metrics, respectively.Results demonstrated that the proposed method effectively enhanced veneer defect images with blurred and distorted edges, improved image clarity and visual quality, and made defect parts and details of the image clearer., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Moyamoya disease (MMD) suffers from impaired cerebrovascular hemodynamics and high perioperative complications occurrence. This study aims to propose and evaluate the relationship between intraoperative hemodynamics and perioperative complications, and propose a potential compensatory self-recirculation network in MMD. We prospectively enrolled 63 MMD patients undergone combined revascularization, and patients were divided into decreased and increased group according to decreased and increased microvascular transit time (MVTT), respectively. Mean age of all patients was 45.9 ± 9.4 years. The post-bypass hyperperfusion syndrome occurrence was significantly higher in the decreased MVTT group, and the cerebral infarction occurrence was significantly higher in the increased MVTT group. For the hemodynamics of the recipient artery around anastomosis, the parameters of distal site demonstrated a significant higher intensity and shorter time in the decreased MVTT group, while the parameters of the proximal site demonstrated a significant higher intensity and shorter time in the increased MVTT group. Pre-bypass and post-bypass collision of blood flow in artery and vein were firstly observed and illustrated. Intraoperative hemodynamics showed close relationship with perioperative complications. The blood flow of MMD seems to develop a unique compensatory self-recirculation system and contribute to the clinical complications, providing a new insight to the clinical management the pathology of the disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Drug-resistant epilepsy with frequent seizures are considered to undergo surgery to become seizure-free, but seizure-free rates have not dramatically improved, partly due to imprecise intervention locations. To address this clinical need, we construct effective connectivity to reveal epilepsy brain dynamics. Based on the propagation path captured by the high order effective connectivity, calculate the control centrality evaluation scheme of the excised area. We used three datasets: simulation dataset, clinical dataset, and public dataset. The epileptogenic propagation network was quantified by calculating high-order effective connection to obtain accurate propagation path, based on this, combined with the outdegree index for virtual resection. By removing electrodes and recalculating control centrality, we quantify each electrode or region's control centrality to evaluate the virtual resection scheme. Three datasets obtained consistent results. We track the accurate propagation path and find the obvious inflection points occurring during the excision process. The minimum intervention targets were obtained by comparing different schemes without recurrence. The clinical data with multiple seizures found that after resection, the brain reaches a stable state and is less likely to continue spreading. By quantitative analysis of control centrality to evaluate the possible excision scheme, finally we obtain the best intervention area for epilepsy, which assist in developing surgical plans., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression is one of the most important pathological characteristics of gastric cancer. The positive rate of HER2 expression in patients with gastric cancer is approximately 20%. The phase III Keynote-811 study revealed that anti-HER2 and anti-PD-1 therapy combined with chemotherapy could significantly improve the objective response rate as first-line treatment in patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with trastuzumab and PD-1 inhibitors in patients with advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer in a real-world setting. Seventy-two HER2-positive gastric cancer patients from three hospitals in China were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were treated with trastuzumab plus one anti-PD-1 agent with or without chemotherapy. The overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival were assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST 1.1). From January 2018 to October 2021, 72 patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer received trastuzumab and a PD-1 inhibitor with or without chemotherapy as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, first-line therapy, second-line therapy or salvage therapy. The ORR was 54.2% for all patients and 79.4% for previously untreated patients. The median PFS and median OS were 10 months (95% CI: 8-13 months) and 26.1 months (95% CI: 18.5-NA months), respectively, for all patients. Grade 3 adverse effects occurred in approximately 25% of patients. Immune-related adverse effects occurred in approximately 12.5% of patients. Trastuzumab and PD-1 inhibitor combination therapy with or without chemotherapy achieved satisfactory survival outcomes in patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer with acceptable safety., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aim of the study was to analyze and discuss the value of preoperative systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in predicting the prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after operation, and to establish a nomogram prediction model for patients with RCC after operation based on SII and PNI. From January 2014 to December 2018, 210 patients with RCC who underwent surgical treatment at the Xuzhou Central Hospital were selected as the research object. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the optimal cut-off value for preoperative SII, PNI, LMR, PLR, NLR and the patients were divided into groups according to the optimal cutoff values. The survival rate of patients was evaluated. The risk factors that affect the prognosis of patients with RCC were determined by LASSO and Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic nomogram was constructed based on this result. The bootstrap method was used for internal verification of the nomogram model. The prediction efficiency and discrimination of the nomogram model were evaluated by the calibration curve and index of concordance (C-index), respectively. The average overall survival (OS) of all patients was 75.385 months, and the 1-, 2-and 3-year survival rates were 95.5%, 86.6% and 77.2%, respectively. The survival curve showed that the 5-year OS rate of low SII group was significantly higher than that of high SII group (89.0% vs. 64.5%; P < 0.05), and low PNI group was significantly lower than those in high PNI group (43.4% vs. 87.9%; p < 0.05). There were significant differences between preoperative SII and CRP, NLR, PLR, LMR, postoperative recurrence, pathological type and AJCC stage (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between preoperative PNI and BMI, platelet, NLR, PLR, LMR, postoperative recurrence, surgical mode and Fuhrman grade (P < 0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of PNI (AUC = 0.736) was higher than that of other inflammatory indicators, followed by the AUC of SII (0.718), and the difference in AUC area between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results from multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that SII, PNI, tumor size, tumor necrosis, surgical mode, pathological type, CRP, AJCC stage and Fuhrman grade were independent risk factors for postoperative death of patients with RCC. According to the results of Cox regression analysis, a prediction model for the prognosis of RCC patients was established, and the C-index (0.918) showed that the model had good calibration and discrimination. The subject's operating characteristic curve indicates that the nomogram has good prediction efficiency (the AUC = 0.953). Preoperative SII and PNI, tumor size, tumor necrosis, surgical mode, pathological type, CRP, AJCC stage and Fuhrman grade are closely related to the postoperative prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma. The nomogram model based on SII, PNI, tumor size, tumor necrosis, surgical mode, pathological type, CRP, AJCC stage and Fuhrman grade has good accuracy, discrimination and clinical prediction efficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The waste sulfuric acid solution emerged as a main emission substance from titanium dioxide production is called titanium white waste acid (TWWA). The disposal of TWWA has been a concern due to its potential impact on the environment. A green way including one-step preparation and purification stages of α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-HH) from TWWA and lime mud via a neutralization reaction in the hydrothermal pressure apparatus was developed. The preferred experimental conditions were obtained, i.e., lime mud/TWWA/sodium citrate ratio: 16/16/1, 140 ℃, 0.5 MPa, reaction time: 10 min. The recovery rate of α-HH in the whole process was 89.5%. The method presented high efficiency and selectivity in conversion to a short-columnar-shaped α-HH under addition of 3.40 × 10 -2 mol/L sodium citrate as a crystal modifier. The structure and composition of the obtained α-HH products were confirmed by XRD, TGA, and SEM. Compared with titanium gypsum, the obtained short columnar α-HH with hexaprismatic morphology showed excellent mechanical properties. According to GB/T 9776 - 2008 "Calcined gypsum", the compressive strength of 7 days of the cemented short-columnar α-HH was about 6.35 MPa, which it meets the strength requirements for building gypsum., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Digital images have become an important way of transmitting information, and the risk of attacks during transmission is increasing. Image watermarking is an important technical means of protecting image information security and plays an important role in the field of information security. In the field of image watermarking technology, achieving a balance between imperceptibility, robustness, and embedding capacity is a key issue. To address this issue, this paper proposes a high-capacity color image adaptive watermarking scheme based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT), Heisenberg decomposition (HD), and singular value decomposition (SVD). In order to enhance the security of the watermark, Logistic chaotic mapping was used to encrypt the watermark image. By adaptively calculating the embedding factor through the entropy of the cover image, and then combining it with Alpha blending technology, the watermark image is embedded into the Y component of the YCbCr color space to enhance the imperceptibility of the algorithm. In addition, the robustness of the algorithm was further improved through singular value correction methods. The experimental results show that the average PSNR and SSIM of the watermarking scheme are 45.3437dB and 0.9987, respectively. When facing various attacks, the average NCC of the extracted watermark reaches above 0.95, indicating good robustness. The embedding capacity of this scheme is 0.6667bpp, which is higher than other watermarking schemes, and the average running time is 1.1136 seconds, which is better than most schemes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sarcopenia is a severe complication affecting patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment over an extended period of time. This cross-sectional study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards sarcopenia among maintenance HD patients in Northeastern China between 13 December 2023 and 13 January 2024. A total of 752 questionnaires were collected. Multivariate logistic regression showed that completed high school or vocational secondary school, college or bachelor's degree, and maintenance HD lasting ≥ 11 years were independently associated with proactive practice. The Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that knowledge directly affected attitude and practice. Moreover, attitude directly affects practice. Maintenance HD patients showed inadequate knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice towards sarcopenia. Healthcare providers should focus on educational campaigns to increase patient awareness of sarcopenia, its risk factors, and preventive measures., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study investigates the impact of long-term water immersion on the mechanical and hydrochemical properties of cemented calcareous soil, emphasizing the critical role of carbonate content in mechanical performance. Utilizing hydrochemical analysis and triaxial testing, the research revealed that prolonged immersion disrupts the acid-base balance of the solution, resulting in an increased concentration of ions and chemicals. Significant dissolution of carbonates and soluble minerals occurs, which reacts with carbon dioxide to generate bicarbonate ions, thereby elevating the alkalinity of the soaking solution. Additionally, the gradual dissolution of clay minerals compromises the cementitious structure, leading to particle reorientation and interlocking. The study quantitatively assesses the changes in soil properties, demonstrating a substantial reduction in soil cohesion by up to 86.1% and an increase in the internal friction angle by 37.5%. Furthermore, the gradual dissolution of clay minerals compromises the cementitious structure, resulting in particle reorientation and interlocking that contribute to the observed mechanical changes. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the effects of extended immersion on the stability and engineering applicability of cemented calcareous soils., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and enhanced angiogenesis have been implicated in the severe progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Abnormal arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) is associated with AMD pathogenesis. However, no reports have shown the causal role of ALOX5 in angiogenesis during AMD. In the present study, ARPE-19 cells were exposed to hypoxia, an inducer of VEGF expression. Potential proteins implicated in AMD progression were predicted using bioinformatics. RNA affinity antisense purification-mass spectrometry (RAP-MS) was applied to identify the binding proteins of ALOX5 3'UTR. Expression of ALOX5 and YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein 1 (YTHDF1) was detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting. VEGF expression and secretion were assessed by immunofluorescence and ELISA, respectively. The chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) was used to analyze the effect of ALOX5 on angiogenesis. RNA stability was assayed using the Actinomycin D assay. The results show that hypoxia promoted cell growth and increased VEGF expression in ARPE-19 cells. ALOX5 was associated with AMD progression, and hypoxia upregulated ALOX5 expression in ARPE-19 cells. ALOX5 silencing reduced VEGF expression induced by hypoxia in ARPE-19 cells. Moreover, the conditioned medium of ALOX5-silenced ARPE-19 cells could suppress the viability and migration of HUVECs and diminish angiogenesis in the CAM. Furthermore, YTHDF1 was validated to bind to ALOX5 3'UTR, and YTHDF1 promoted ALOX5 expression by elevating the stability of ALOX5 mRNA. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that YTHDF1-regulated ALOX5 increases VEGF expression in hypoxia-exposed ARPE-19 cells and enhances the viability, migration, and angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We addressed fundamental questions about the influence of metabolites on the development of Diabetic retinopathy (DR), and explored the related pathological mechanism. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) database data for metabolites and DR were used to perform Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) was chosen as the primary analysis method. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out and Cochran's Q test. Confounding factors were eliminated to ensure robustness. We also conducted metabolic pathway analysis. In vivo experimental validation was conducted using Sprague Dawley rats. The serum metabolites of the DR group rats and normal group rats were examined to evaluate the MR results. The screen identified eighteen metabolites associated with DR risk, twelve of which were known components. Seven metabolites were positively correlated with DR risk, while five could reduce it. Eight metabolites associated with proliferative DR (PDR) risk were identified, four of which are known components. Three of these were positively associated with PDR risk and one metabolite reduced PDR risk. Additionally, two possible metabolic pathways involved in the biological mechanism of DR were identified. The ELISA results showed that the serum levels of isoleucine and 4-HPA were significantly increased in DR rats, while the level of inosine was decreased. This study offers novel insights into the biological mechanisms underlying DR. Metabolites that are causally linked to DR may serve as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As the global transition towards clean energy accelerates, the demand for the widespread adoption of solar energy continues to rise. However, traditional object detection models prove inadequate for handling photovoltaic cell electroluminescence (EL) images, which are characterized by high levels of noise. To address this challenge, we developed an advanced defect detection model specifically designed for photovoltaic cells, which integrates topological knowledge extraction. Our approach begins with the introduction of a multi-scale dynamic context-based feature extraction method, capable of generating static context by thoroughly capturing the local texture and structural information of multi-scale defects. This static context is then combined with dynamic context to produce fine-grained local features. Subsequently, we developed a centralized feature pyramid structure, enhanced by spatial semantics, which models the explicit visual center. This structure effectively elucidates the relationship between local and global features in defect images, thereby improving the representation of defect characteristics. Finally, we implemented a feature enhancement strategy grounded in spatial semantic knowledge extraction. This strategy uncovers potential correlations among defect targets by constructing a spatial semantic topology of features, mapping these features to a higher-order representation, and ultimately delivering precise defect detection results., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Using GIS technology, this study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of influenza incidence in Xinjiang from 2014 to 2023 based on influenza surveillance data. The study revealed a noticeable fluctuation trend in influenza incidence rates in Xinjiang, particularly notable spikes observed in 2019 and 2023. The results of the 3-year moving average showed a significant long-term upward trend in influenza incidence rates, confirmed by Theil-Sen method (MAD = 2.202, p < 0.01). Global spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated significant positive spatial autocorrelation in influenza incidence rates from 2016 and from 2018 to 2023 (Moran's I > 0, P < 0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis further revealed clustering patterns in different regions, with high-high clustering and low-high clustering predominating in northern Xinjiang, and low-low clustering predominating in southern Xinjiang. Hotspot analysis indicated a progressive rise in the number of influenza incidence hotspots, primarily concentrated in northern Xinjiang, particularly in Urumqi, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, and Hotan Prefecture. Standard deviation ellipse analysis and the trajectory of influenza incidence gravity center migration showed that the transmission range of influenza in Xinjiang has been expanding, with the epidemic center gradually moving northward. The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of influenza incidence in Xinjiang highlights the need for differentiated and precise influenza prevention and control strategies in different regions to address the changing trends in influenza prevalence., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Landslide disasters have characteristics of frequent occurrence, widespread impact, and high destructiveness, posing serious threats to human lives, property, and the ecological environment. Timely and accurate early identification of landslides remains an urgent issue within the disaster prevention field. This study focuses on Jianzha County, Qinghai Province, integrating PS-InSAR, SBAS-InSAR, and optical remote-sensing techniques to delineate potential landslide-prone areas. Utilizing Google Earth imagery and existing landslide datasets, potential landslide points were identified through a deep learning model. Results indicate the following: (1) In Jianzha County, the variation trend of the average surface velocity monitored by PS-InSAR and SBAS-InSAR technology is consistent, and the deformation monitoring results are reliable. (2) Utilizing the deep learning model, 56 potential landslide points were identified, comprising 39 high-risk points and 17 medium-risk points. By integrating the spatial distribution data of historical geological disaster points, 10 out of 13 previously occurred landslide disaster points were found to be located at the identified high-risk landslide points, achieving a detection accuracy of 76.92%. (3) The spatial distribution of landslide points exhibits clustering, with slopes ranging from 10° to 40°, elevations between 15 and 30 m, and slope orientations predominantly toward the northeast. (4) Landslide formation is correlated with seasonal precipitation concentrations and temperature fluctuations. This method can provide a crucial basis for large-scale surface deformation monitoring and early identification of landslide risks., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study evaluates the applicability of three thermal comfort indices-Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), Standard Effective Temperature (SET), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)-in various outdoor environments on the campus of Xi'an University, China. Meteorological data were collected on sunny days using a portable weather station at a height of 1.5 m, and subjective questionnaires were administered to 25 healthy university students over three months to gather Thermal Sensation Votes (TSV) and Thermal Comfort Votes (TCV). The study was conducted at four distinct outdoor locations: a lakeside area (Location 1), a shaded path (Location 2), a sports field (Location 3), and a plaza (Location 4). PET, SET, and UTCI values were calculated from the collected data using Rayman software. The analysis revealed significant differences in thermal comfort across the four locations, with the highest proportion of subjects feeling hot at the sports field (54.4%) and the highest proportion feeling cold at the lakeside (39%). The shaded path had the highest proportion of subjects feeling comfortable (79.4%), while the lakeside had the lowest (60.1%). The results indicated that SET underestimated thermal sensation at Locations 1, 3, and 4, necessitating calibration. PET was suitable for Locations 2, 3, and 4 but failed to reflect the thermal sensation at Location 1 due to prolonged sun exposure. In contrast, UTCI demonstrated applicability across all locations. To enhance accuracy, revised indices SET' and PET' were formulated using the mean-median method, providing more precise thermal comfort assessments. These findings underscore the limitations of SET and PET under specific conditions and highlight the robustness of UTCI, offering valuable insights for urban planning and design aimed at improving outdoor thermal comfort and well-being., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Systems theory and complex science, especially knowledge of social-ecological interdependencies, are urgently needed in planning and decision-making on sustainable urban development due to the intensification of the contradiction between human development and nature conservation. Here, we present an analytical framework, the "social-ecological coupling trajectory", that integrates the social-ecological coupling, multi-stability, causal feedbacks and sustainable management through understanding the evolution of the urban social-ecological system (SES). This framework is applied to a typical urban SES, i.e., China's rapidly prosperous Pearl River Delta (PRD). Our results indicate that the SES evolution in the PRD is a phased process, which is accompanied by a continuous decline in major ecosystem services (ESs) and the disproportionate decline of ecological management performance. Further analysis shows that social and economic policies have a decisive role in driving the evolution of SES and the cumulative effect of sustained human interference is directly linked to the disproportionate increase in sustainability challenges. The findings of critical slowing down and evolution patterns of SES in the PRD may provide evidence for the threshold recognition and regime shift prediction in SES. In sum, this study expands the theoretical framework and empirical knowledge of SES evolution and provides a pathway for sustainable development of regions seeking prosperity from the social-ecological coupling perspective., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The quantitative nature of fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance requires further exploration of the wheat genome to identify regions conferring resistance. In this study, we explored the application of hyperspectral imaging of Fusarium-infected wheat kernels and identified regions of the wheat genome contributing significantly to the accumulation of Deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin. Strong correlations were identified between hyperspectral reflectance values for 204 wavebands in the 397-673 nm range and DON mycotoxin. Dimensionality reduction using principal components was performed for all 204 wavebands and 38 sliding windows across the range of wavebands. The first principal component (PC1) of all 204 wavebands explained 70% of the total variation in waveband reflectance values and was highly correlated with DON mycotoxin. PC1 was used as a phenotype in a genome wide association study and a large effect QTL on chromosome 2D was identified for PC1 of all wavebands as well as nearly all 38 sliding windows. The allele contributing variation in PC1 values also led to a substantial reduction in DON. The 2D polymorphism affecting DON levels localized to the exon of TraesCS2D02G524600 which is upregulated in wheat spike and rachis tissues during FHB infection. This work demonstrates the value of hyperspectral imaging as a correlated trait for investigating the genetic basis of resistance and developing wheat varieties with enhanced resistance to FHB., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a very serious kind of stroke. If the outcome of patients can be accurately assessed at the early stage of disease occurrence, it will be of great significance to the patients and clinical treatment. The present study was conducted to investigate whether non-contrast computer tomography (NCCT) models of hematoma and perihematomal tissues could improve the accuracy of short-term prognosis prediction in ICH patients with conservative treatment. In this retrospective analysis, a total of 166 ICH patients with conservative treatment during hospitalization were included. Patients were randomized into a training group (N = 132) and a validation group (N = 34) in a ratio of 8:2, and the functional outcome at 90 days after clinical treatment was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Radiomic features of hematoma and perihematomal tissues of 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm were extracted from NCCT images. Clinical factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictive factors. In the validation group, the mean area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the hematoma was 0.830, the AUC of the perihematomal tissue within 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm was 0.792, 0.826, 0.774, respectively, and the AUC of the combined model of hematoma and perihematomal tissue within 10 mm was 0.795. The clinical-radiomics nomogram consisting of five independent predictors and radiomics score (Rad-score) of the hematoma model were used to assess 90-day functional outcome in ICH patients with conservative treatment. Our findings found that the hematoma model had better discriminative efficacy in evaluating the early prognosis of conservatively managed ICH patients. The visual clinical-radiomics nomogram provided a more intuitive individualized risk assessment for 90-day functional outcome in ICH patients with conservative treatment. The hematoma could remain the primary therapeutic target for conservatively managed ICH patients, emphasizing the need for future clinical focus on the biological significance of the hematoma itself., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) that infiltrate into the subsurface are commonly described in two distinct zones: the source zone and the plume zone. A precise differentiation between these zones is essential for constraining further migration and selecting an effective remediation method. In this study, we employ the induced polarization (IP) method to characterize the contaminants. Six time domain IP survey lines were conducted at a former chemical plant contaminated with LNAPLs. Even though the contaminated areas corresponding to BTEX concentration above 180 mg/kg are less than 5 mS/m, the source and plume zones cannot be distinguished by conductivity alone. However, a noticeable difference in phase ( φ ) between the two zones is observed, and the threshold phase value corresponding to a critical concentration of 450 mg/kg is 20 mrad. Moreover, the normalized chargeability ( M n ) threshold for the source zone is 80 mS/m, and the corresponding M n differences between the source and plume zones are more significant than those in φ . These results illustrate that changes in polarization characteristics associated with BTEX concentrations can aid in further distinguishing between the source and plume zones. Ultimately, it is concluded that IP imaging is a well-suited method for LNAPL investigations that permits an improved characterization of different contaminated zones, which can facilitate the optimization of drillings for further site assessment and remediation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, the removal effect of a new MOF-on MOF adsorbent based on Cu-Co bimetallic organic frameworks on tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in water system was studied. The adsorbent (Cu-MOF@Co-MOF) were synthesized by solvothermal and self-assembly method at different concentrations of Co 2+ /Cu 2+ . The characterization results of SEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR and BET indicated that the MOF-on MOF structure of Cu-MOF@Co-MOF exhibited the best recombination and physicochemical properties when the molar ratio of Co 2+ : Cu 2+ is 5:1. In addition, the Cu-MOF@Co-MOF have a high specific surface area and bimetallic clusters, which can achieve multi-target synergistic adsorption of TCs. Based on above advantages, Cu-MOF@Co-MOF provided a strong affinity and could efficiently adsorb more than 80% of pollutants in just 5 to 15 min using only 10 mg of the adsorbent. The adsorption capacity of tetracycline and doxycycline was 434.78 and 476.19 mg/g, respectively, showing satisfactory adsorption performance. The fitting results of the experimental data were more consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process of TC and DOX occurred at the homogeneous adsorption site and was mainly controlled by chemisorption. Thermodynamic experiments showed that Cu-MOF@Co-MOF was thermodynamically advantageous for the removal of TCs, and the whole process was spontaneous. The excellent adsorption capacity and rapid adsorption kinetics indicate the prepared MOF-on MOF adsorbent can adsorb TCs economically and quickly, and have satisfactory application prospects for removing TCs in practical environments. The results of the study pave a new way for preparing novel MOFs-based water treatment materials with great potential for efficient removal., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To investigate the effect of low-doses esketamine on spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension in women with preoperative anxiety undergoing elective cesarean section, the randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 women aged 18-35 years who preoperative State-Trait Anxiety Inventory State scores > 40, conducted from September 2022 to August 2023 in Xuzhou Central Hospital, China. Women in the esketamine group received a single intravenous injection of 0.2 mg/kg esketamine after sensory block level achieved. The incidence of hypotension in the esketamine group was significantly lower than the control group at T2 (10% [6 of 60]; P < 0.001), T3 (5.0% [3 of 60]; P = 0.007) and T4(5.0% [3 of 60]; P = 0.004). Despite being higher in the esketamine group, the overall rates of hypertension (11.7% [7 of 60]; P = 0.186), tachycardia (23.3% [14 of 60]; P = 0.246), and bradycardia (0.0% [0 of 60]; P = 0.079) were no significantly difference between the two groups. STAI-S scores was significantly lower in the esketamine group (mean [SD] 37.52[7.14]) than in the control group (mean [SD] 41.03[9.66], P = 0.39) in postoperative day 1. Spinal anesthesia combined with intravenous low-doses esketamine infusion can significantly reduce the incidence of hypotension in women with preoperative anxiety undergoing elective cesarean section., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Governance quality refers to how well the processes and institutions of public governance function and is widely recognized as having an important influence on human well-being. We developed and tested a theoretical model that elucidates the relationship between governance quality and the subjective well-being of residents in China by revealing the serial mediation effects of perceived social fairness and trust in government. Using data from the nationally representative Chinese Social Survey conducted in 2021 (n = 5019), we performed structural equation modeling to empirically examine our hypotheses. The results indicated that governance quality exerted a significant positive fully indirect impact on subjective well-being through perceived social fairness, trust in government, and their serial mediation effects. This study contributes to the literature by providing valuable insights into the determinants of subjective well-being and highlighting the serial mediating roles of perceived social fairness and trust in government in the relationship between governance quality and subjective well-being. The findings also provide practical insights for policymakers, as they indicate that promoting perceived social fairness and fostering trust in government are essential to translate governance quality into subjective well-being., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Prolonged ventricular repolarization has been associated with cardiovascular disease. We sought to investigate the association of prolonged ventricular repolarization with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the potential underlying neuropathological mechanisms in older adults. This cross-sectional study included 4328 dementia-free participants (age ≥ 65 years; 56.8% female) in the baseline examination of the Multidomain INterventions to delay dementia and Disability in rural China; of these, 989 undertook structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. QT, QTc, JT, JTc, and QRS intervals were derived from 12-lead electrocardiograph. MCI, amnestic MCI (aMCI), and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI) were defined following the Petersen's criteria. Volumes of gray matter (GM), white matter, cerebrospinal fluid, total white matter hyperintensities (WMH), periventricular WMH (PWMH), and deep WMH (DWMH) were automatically estimated. Data were analyzed using logistic and general linear regression models. Prolonged QT, QTc, JT, and JTc intervals were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of MCI and aMCI, but not naMCI (p < 0.05). In the MRI subsample, QT, QTc, JT, and JTc intervals were significantly associated with larger total WMH and PWMH volumes (p < 0.05), but not with DWMH volume. Statistical interactions were detected, such that prolonged QT and JT intervals were significantly associated with reduced GM volume only among participants with coronary heart disease or without APOE ε4 allele (p < 0.05). Prolonged ventricular repolarization is associated with MCI and cerebral microvascular lesions in a general population of older adults. This underlies the importance of cognitive assessments and brain MRI examination among older adults with prolonged QT interval., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To assess the effectiveness and safety of combining Saccharomyces boulardii powder with triple therapy as a primary approach for eradicating H. pylori infection, a total of 144 patients who tested positive for H. pylori and diagnosed with non-ulcer dyspepsia underwent endoscopy at two national centers between June 2017 and March 2019 were included. The patients were categorized into three groups using a subsection randomization method and received initial H. pylori eradication treatments. Microbial composition, eradication rates, symptom alleviation, and adverse reactions were monitored on the 14th and 44th days post-treatment. According to PP analysis showed the eradication rates for the SRAC group was 75%, BRAC was 93.18% and RAC was 65.2%. Group BRAC exhibited a marginally higher eradication rate compared to other groups. However, patients receiving Saccharomyces boulardii treatment exhibited an overall reduction in initial dyspepsia symptoms by the end of the treatment period. When employed as a primary strategy, the combination of Saccharomyces boulardii powder with triple therapy displayed notable efficacy and smaller gastrointestinal side effects in eradicating initial H. pylori infections among non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. Moreover, this approach demonstrated advantages in alleviating symptoms, exhibited favorable tolerance, and maintained a high level of clinical safety., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Locomotor preferences and habitat types may drive animal evolution. In this study, we speculated that locomotor preference and habitat type may have diverse influences on Bovidae mitochondrial genes. We used selection pressure and statistical analysis to explore the evolution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) protein-coding genes (PCGs) from diverse locomotor preferences and habitat types. Our study demonstrates that locomotor preference (energy demand) drives the evolution of Bovidae in mtDNA PCGs. The habitat types had no significant effect on the rate of evolution in Bovidae mitochondrial genes. Our study provides deep insight into the adaptation of Bovidae., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked to mortality rates, with family income being a quantifiable marker of SES. However, the precise association between the family income-to-poverty ratio (PIR) and all-cause mortality in adults aged 40 and older remains unclear. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from NHANES III, including 20,497 individuals. The PIR was used to assess financial status, and various demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors were considered. Mortality data were collected from the NHANES III linked mortality file. The study revealed a non-linear association between PIR and all-cause mortality. The piecewise Cox proportional hazards regression model showed an inflection point at PIR 3.5. Below this threshold, the hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was 0.85 (95% CI 0.79-0.91), while above 3.5, the HR decreased to 0.66 (95% CI 0.57-0.76). Participants with lower income had a higher probability of all-cause mortality, with middle-income and high-income groups showing lower multivariate-adjusted HRs compared to the low-income group. This study provides evidence of a non-linear association between PIR and all-cause mortality in adults aged 40 and older, with an inflection point at PIR 3.5. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the non-linear relationship between family income and mortality when addressing socioeconomic health disparities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of genetic neuromuscular disorders that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscles over time, influencing 1 in 3500-5000 children worldwide. New and exciting treatment options have led to a critical need for a clinical post-marketing surveillance tool to confirm the efficacy and safety of these treatments after individuals receive them in a commercial setting. For MDs, functional gait assessment is a common approach to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments because muscle weakness is reflected in individuals' walking patterns. However, there is little incentive for the family to continue to travel for such assessments due to the lack of access to specialty centers. While various existing sensing devices, such as cameras, force plates, and wearables can assess gait at home, they are limited by privacy concerns, area of coverage, and discomfort in carrying devices, which is not practical for long-term, continuous monitoring in daily settings. In this study, we introduce a novel functional gait assessment system using ambient floor vibrations, which is non-invasive and scalable, requiring only low-cost and sparsely deployed geophone sensors attached to the floor surface, suitable for in-home usage. Our system captures floor vibrations generated by footsteps from patients while they walk around and analyzes such vibrations to extract essential gait health information. To enhance interpretability and reliability under various sensing scenarios, we translate the signal patterns of floor vibration to pathological gait patterns related to MD, and develop a hierarchical learning algorithm that aggregates insights from individual footsteps to estimate a person's overall gait performance. When evaluated through real-world experiments with 36 subjects (including 15 patients with MD), our floor vibration sensing system achieves a 94.8% accuracy in predicting functional gait stages for patients with MD. Our approach enables accurate, accessible, and scalable functional gait assessment, bringing MD progressive tracking into real life., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Slide electrification is the spontaneous separation of electric charges at the rear of water drops sliding over solid surfaces. This study delves into how surfaces treated with a low-pressure plasma impact water slide electrification. Ar, O 2 , and N 2 plasma treatment reduced the drop charge and contact angles on glass, quartz, and SU-8 coated with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroctyltrichlorosilane (PFOTS), and polystyrene. Conversely, 64% higher drop charge was achieved using electrode-facing treatment in plasma chamber. Based on the zeta potential, Kelvin potential, and XPS measurements, the plasma effects were attributed to alterations of the topmost layer's chemistry, such as oxidation and etching, and superficially charge deposition. The surface top layer charges were less negative after electrode-facing and more negative after bulk plasma treatment. As a result, the zeta potential was less negative after electrode-facing and more negative after bulk plasma treatment. Although the fluorinated layer was applied after plasma activation, we observed a discernible impact of plasma-glass treatment on drop charging. Plasma surface modification offers a means to adjust drop charges: electrode-facing treatment of the fluorinated layer leads to an enhanced drop charge, while plasma treatment on the substrate prior to fluorination diminishes drop charges, all without affecting contact angles or surface roughness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is closely associated with sarcopenia. We aimed to examine the relationship between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and the incidence of sarcopenia among adults in the United States. In this study, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2018 and included 5999 adult participants. LE8 score was categorized into low (< 49), moderate (49-79), and high CVH (≥ 79) groups and consisted of health behavior score and health factor score based on American Heart Association definitions. Sarcopenia was defined according to The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project. Multivariate logistic regressions, restricted cubic spline regressions, and subgroup analyses were used to assess the association between LE8 and sarcopenia. LE8 and its subscales score were negatively associated with the incidence of sarcopenia in US adults., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To study the total particulate matter (TPM) in flue gas emitted by coking plants, a sampling system that could be used to collect filterable particulate matter (FPM) and condensable particulate matter (CPM) was designed and developed based on Method 202 recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2017 and HJ 836-2017 issued by China. Using this system, FPM and CPM in flue gas emitted by four coking furnaces named A, B, C, and D were tested in China. Further, 9 water-soluble ions, 20 elements, and organic matter present in the CPM were simultaneously examined to determine their formation mechanisms. Statistical data suggested that the FPM emission level in the coking flue gas was low and the average mass concentration was less than 10 mg/m 3 . However, with high CPM and TPM emission levels, the TPM mass concentrations of A, B, C, and D were 130 ± 11.1, 84.4 ± 6.36, 35.1 ± 17.0, and 63.8 ± 13.0 mg/m 3 , respectively. The main component of TPM was CPM, and the average mass concentration of CPM accounted for 98%, 95%, 68%, and 95% of TPM in furnaces A, B, C, and D, respectively. Water-soluble ions were the important components of CPM, and the total concentration of water-soluble ions accounted for 70%, 87%, 42%, and 66% of CPM in furnaces A, B, C, and D, respectively. Toxic and harmful heavy metals, such as Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb, were detected in CPM. The formation mechanism of CPM was analyzed in combination with flue-gas treatment. It was shown that the treatment process "activated carbon- flue-gas countercurrent-integrated purification technology + ammonia spraying" used in furnaces A and B was less effective in removing CPM, water-soluble ions, metals, and compounds than that of "selective catalytic reduction denitrification + limestone-gypsum wet desulfurization (spraying NaOH solution)" in furnaces C and D. Hence, different flue-gas treatment technologies and operation levels played vital roles in the formation, transformation, and removal of CPM from flue-gas. Organic components in CPM discharged from furnace A were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the top 15 organic components in CPM were obtained using the area normalization method. N-alkanes accounted for the highest proportion, followed by esters and phenols, and most of them were toxic and harmful to humans and ecosystems. Therefore, advanced CPM treatment technologies should be developed to reduce atmospheric PM 2.5 and its precursors to improve ambient air quality in China., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Suspenders play a crucial role in transmitting loads from the bridge deck to the main cable in a suspension bridge. They are susceptible to fatigue due to repeated dynamic loads, particularly traffic loads. Traffic Load Models (TLMs), typically created using Monte-Carlo simulation and Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) data, are employed to evaluate this fatigue. However, these models often overlook practical vehicle trajectories and spatio-temporal distribution, which compromises the precision of fatigue assessments. In this study, we introduce a novel 2D Intelligent Driver Model (2D-IDM) that incorporates actual vehicle trajectories, with a particular focus on transverse vehicle movement. This enhancement aims to improve the fidelity of existing TLMs. To provide a clear, qualitative, and quantitative understanding of the effects of fatigue evaluation with or without actual trajectory characteristics, we have structured this paper as a comparative study. We compare our proposed model, denoted as TLM S-3, with two observation-based models (O-1 and O-2) and two simulation-based models (S-1 and S-2). We conducted an experimental case study on a long-span suspension bridge, where the actual traffic load trajectory was obtained using a WIM-Vision integrated system. To calculate fatigue damage considering both longitudinal and transverse directions, we established a multi-scale Finite Element Model (FEM) using solid element types to simulate the bridge girder. This model can generate the stress influence surface of the bridge and has been verified in both static and dynamic aspects. Our detailed comparative analysis demonstrates the consistency of the proposed 2D-IDM with the actual measured traffic load trajectories. This indicates that our approach can enhance the fidelity and precision of fatigue evaluations for bridge suspenders., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, however, its underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. We examined single nucleotide polymorphisms linked to 486 blood metabolites through extensive genome-wide association studies conducted on individuals of European ancestry. The FinnGen Biobank database served as a reference to define DR. Two-sample MR analysis was conducted to reveal the association between the levels of genetically predicted circulating metabolites and the susceptibility to DR. To validate the robustness of the obtained findings, sensitivity analyses with weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-Egger were conducted. 1-oleoylglycerophosphoethanolamine (odds ratio [OR] (OR per one standard deviation [SD] increase) = 0.414; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.292-0.587; P = 7.613E-07, P FDR  = 6.849E-06), pyroglutamine (OR per one SD increase = 0.414; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.292-0.587; P = 8.31E-04, P FDR  = 0.007), phenyllactate (PLA) (OR per one SD increase = 0.591; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.418-0.836; P = 0.003, P FDR  = 0.026), metoprolol acid metabolite (OR per one SD increase = 0.978; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.962-0.993; P = 0.005, P FDR  = 0.042), 10-undecenoate (OR per one SD increase = 0.788; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.667-0.932; P = 0.005, P FDR  = 0.049), erythritol (OR per one SD increase = 0.691; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.513-0.932; P = 0.015, P FDR  = 0.034), 1-stearoylglycerophosphoethanolamine (OR per one SD increase = 0.636; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.431-0.937; P = 0.022, P FDR  = 0.099), 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoethanolamine (OR per one SD increase = 0.636; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.431-0.937; P = 0.030, P FDR  = 0.099) showed a significant causal relationship with DR and could have protective effects. stachydrine (OR per one SD increase = 1.146; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.066-1.233; P = 2.270E-04, P FDR  = 0.002), butyrylcarnitine (OR per one SD increase = 1.117; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.023-1.219; P = 0.014, P FDR  = 0.062), 5-oxoproline (OR per one SD increase = 1.569; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.056-2.335; P = 0.026, P FDR  = 0.082), and kynurenine (OR = 1.623; 95% CI 1.042-2.526; P = 0.041, P FDR  = 0.097) were significantly associated with an increased risk of DR. This study identified metabolites have the potential to be considered prospective compounds for investigating the underlying mechanisms of DR and for selecting appropriate drug targets., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The occurrence of nonenzymatic glycosylation reactions in skin fibroblasts can lead to severe impairment of skin health. To investigate the protective effects of the major functional ingredient from Gentianaceae, gentiopicroside (GPS) on fibroblasts, network pharmacology was used to analyse the potential pathways and targets underlying the effects of GPS on skin. At the biochemical and cellular levels, we examined the inhibitory effect of GPS on AGEs, the regulation by GPS of key ECM proteins and vimentin, the damage caused by GPS to the mitochondrial membrane potential and the modulation by GPS of inflammatory factors such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and IL-6 via the RAGE/NF-κB pathway. The results showed that GPS can inhibit AGE-induced damage to the dermis via multiple pathways. The results of biochemical and cellular experiments showed that GPS can strongly inhibit AGE production. Conversely, GPS can block AGE-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in skin cells by disrupting AGE-RAGE signalling, maintain the balance of ECM synthesis and catabolism, and alleviate AGE-induced dysfunctions in cellular behaviour. This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of GPS as an AGE inhibitor to improve skin health and alleviate the damage caused by glycosylation, showing its potential application value in the field of skin care., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This paper investigates Regional Integrated Energy Systems (RIES), emphasizing the connection of diverse energy supply subsystems to address varied user needs and enhance operational efficiency. A novel low-carbon economic dispatch method, utilizing the multi-objective chaotic artificial hummingbird algorithm, is introduced. The method not only optimizes economic and environmental benefits but also aligns with "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" objectives. The study begins by presenting a comprehensive low-carbon economic dispatch model, followed by the proposal of the multi-objective chaotic artificial hummingbird algorithm, crucial for deriving the Pareto frontier of the low-carbon economic dispatch model. Additionally, we introduce a TOPSIS approach based on combined subjective and objective weights, this approach harnesses the objective data from the Pareto solution set deftly, curbs the subjective biases of dispatchers effectively and facilitates the selection of an optimal system operation plan from the Pareto frontier. Finally, the simulation results highlight the outstanding performance of our method in terms of optimization outcomes, convergence efficiency, and solution diversity. Noteworthy among these results is an 8.8% decrease in system operational economic costs and a 14.2% reduction in carbon emissions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing membranous nephropathy (MN). Recent studies have suggested that renal biopsy can be replaced with the serum phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibody test for MN diagnosis in patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, this test has not been validated in the Chinese population. In this study, we investigated whether renal biopsy provides additional diagnostic information on patients with proteinuria who are seropositive for PLA2R antibodies (SAb +). We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics of SAb + adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with proteinuria (≥ 0.5 g/24 h) assessed at the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from June 2021 to March 2022. Among a total of 801 SAb + patients who received renal biopsy, those with incomplete pathological data, diabetes or any potential cause of secondary MN were excluded. Among the 491 remaining patients, 474 had primary MN (PMN), 16 had atypical MN (AMN, 9 patients with "full house" and 2 patients with HBsAg + /HBcAg + immunofluorescence results), and 1 had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In patients with an eGFR of ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (n = 451), 436 had PMN, and 71 (16.3%) exhibited additional biopsy findings, with obesity-related glomerulopathy being the most common. In patients with an impaired eGFR (n = 40), 38 had PMN, and 31 (81.6%) showed additional findings, with acute tubular injury being the most common. In conclusion, anti-PLA2R antibody positivity is highly predictive of PMN in Chinese adults but often coexists with other pathological diagnoses. The advantages of renal biopsy for detecting other pathologies should be weighed against the potential risks of the biopsy procedure., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Our objective is to develop a prognostic model focused on cuproptosis, aimed at predicting overall survival (OS) outcomes among Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. The model utilized machine learning algorithms incorporating stacking. The GSE37642 dataset was used as the training data, and the GSE12417 and TCGA-LAML cohorts were used as the validation data. Stacking was used to merge the three prediction models, subsequently using a random survival forests algorithm to refit the final model using the stacking linear predictor and clinical factors. The prediction model, featuring stacking linear predictor and clinical factors, achieved AUC values of 0.840, 0.876 and 0.892 at 1, 2 and 3 years within the GSE37642 dataset. In external validation dataset, the corresponding AUCs were 0.741, 0.754 and 0.783. The predictive performance of the model in the external dataset surpasses that of the model simply incorporates all predictors. Additionally, the final model exhibited good calibration accuracy. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the novel prediction model refines the prognostic prediction for AML patients, while the stacking strategy displays potential for model integration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Real-world data on effectiveness and safety of a single non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant in the Chinese population with atrial fibrillation (AF) are limited. This study reports characteristics of patients treated with edoxaban and factors associated with dosing patterns from routine care in China. ETNA-AF-China (NCT04747496) is a multicentre, prospective, observational study enrolling edoxaban-treated patients from four economic regions with a targeted 2-year follow-up. Of the 4930 patients with AF (mean age: 70.2 ± 9.5 years; male, 57.1%), the mean creatinine clearance (CrCl), CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc, and HAS-BLED scores were 71.2 mL/min, 2.9, and 1.6. Overall, 6.4% of patients were perceived as frail by investigators. Available label dose reduction criteria (N = 4232) revealed that 3278 (77.5%) patients received recommended doses and 954 (22.5%) non-recommended doses. Northeast (53.0%) and West (43.1%) regions had the highest prescriptions of 60 mg and 30 mg recommended doses, respectively. Non-recommended 30 mg doses were more frequently prescribed in patients with antiplatelet use and history of heart failure than recommended 60 mg. Multivariate analysis identified advanced age as the strongest associated factor with non-recommended doses. Frailty had the strongest association with 30 mg except for age, and history of TIA was the most relevant factor associated with 60 mg. In conclusion, patients in the ETNA-AF-China study were predominantly aged 65 years and older, had mild-to-moderate renal impairment and good label adherence. Advanced age was associated with non-recommended doses, with frailty most common for non-recommended 30 mg and a history of TIA for the non-recommended 60 mg dose., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising modality for addressing advanced or conventionally drug-resistant malignancies. When it comes to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), T cells have demonstrated significant influence on both antitumor activity and the tumor microenvironment. However, their specific contributions remain largely unexplored. This investigation aimed to delineate molecular subtypes and prognostic indicators founded on T cell marker genes, thereby shedding light on the significance of T cells in LUAD prognosis and precision treatment. The cellular phenotypes were identified by scrutinizing the single-cell data obtained from the GEO repository. Subsequently, T cell marker genes derived from single-cell sequencing analyses were integrated with differentially expressed genes from the TCGA repository to pinpoint T cell-associated genes. Utilizing Cox analysis, molecular subtypes and prognostic signatures were established and subsequently verified using the GEO dataset. The ensuing molecular and immunological distinctions, along with therapy sensitivity between the two sub-cohorts, were examined via the ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA methodologies. Compartmentalization, somatic mutation, nomogram development, chemotherapy sensitivity prediction, and potential drug prediction analyses were also conducted according to the risk signature. Additionally, real-time qPCR and the HPA database corroborated the mRNA and protein expression patterns of signature genes in LUAD tissues. In summary, this research yielded an innovative T cell marker gene-based signature with remarkable potential to prognosis and anticipate immunotherapeutic outcomes in LUAD patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In patients with kidney disease, the presence of monoclonal gammopathy necessitates the exploration of potential causal relationships. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to address this concern by developing a nomogram model for the early diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors for MGRS. Verification and evaluation of the nomogram model's differentiation, calibration, and clinical value were conducted using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. The study encompassed 347 patients who underwent kidney biopsy, among whom 116 patients (33.4%) were diagnosed with MGRS and 231 (66.6%) with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Monoclonal Ig-related amyloidosis (n = 86) and membranous nephropathy (n = 86) was the most common renal pathological type in each group. Notably, older age, abnormal serum-free light chain ratio, and the absence of microscopic hematuria were identified as independent prognostic factors for MGRS. The areas under the ROC curves for the training and verification sets were 0.848 and 0.880, respectively. In conclusion, the nomogram model demonstrated high accuracy and clinical applicability for diagnosing MGRS, potentially serving as a valuable tool for noninvasive early MGRS diagnosis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this paper, on one hand, the time-varying characteristics of the heat source and thermal boundary conditions of the high-speed spindle system were analyzed considering the thermal-structural coupling effect. And a transient bearing temperature field prediction method combining the thermal network method and finite element method was proposed. Furthermore, the relationships between time step, calculation efficiency and calculation results were analyzed. On the other hand, a online real-time monitoring system of the transient temperature of the cylindrical roller bearing inner ring for maximum speed of 13,000 r/min was designed and implemented using fibre optic sensing technology. Comparing with the conventional static thermal analysis results, it is verified that the simulation method proposed in this paper has higher accuracy. This paper provides a new approach for analysing and testing the thermal characteristics of high-speed spindle system., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Nano-FeS is prone to agglomeration in the treatment of chromium-containing wastewater, and ultrasonic precipitation was used to synthesize nano-FeS to increase its dispersion. The optimization of the preparation method was carried out by single factor method (reaction temperature, Fe/S molar ratio and FeSO 4 dropping flow rate) and response surface methodology. Dynamic experiments were constructed to investigate the long-term remediation effect and water column changes of nano-FeS and its solid particles. The changes of the remediation materials before and after the reaction were observed by SEM, and the mechanism of the remediation of chromium-containing wastewater by nano-FeS prepared by ultrasonication was revealed by XRD. The results showed that the reaction temperature of 12 °C, Fe/S molar ratio of 3.5 and FeSO 4 dropping flow rate of 0.5 mL/s were the best parameters for the preparation of nano-FeS. The nano-FeS has efficient dispersion and well-defined mesoporous structure in the form of needles and whiskers of 40-80 nm. The dynamic experiments showed that the average removal of Cr(VI) and total chromium by nano-FeS and its immobilized particles were 94.97% and 63.51%, 94.93% and 45.76%, respectively. Fe 2+ and S 2- ionized by the FeS nanoparticles rapidly reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Part of S 2- may reduce Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ , forming a small iron cycle that gradually decreases with the ion concentration. Cr(III) and Fe 2+ form Cr(OH) 3 and FeOOH, respectively, with the change of aqueous environment. Another part of S 2- reacts with Cr(III) to form Cr 2 S 3 precipitate or is oxidized to singlet sulfur. The FeS nanoparticles change from short rod-shaped to spherical shape. Compared with the conventional chemical precipitation method, the method used in this study is simple, low cost, small particle size and high removal rate per unit., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Studying extreme ideas in routine choices and discussions is of utmost importance to understand the increasing polarization in society. In this study, we focus on understanding the generation and influence of extreme ideas in routine conversations which we label "eccentric" ideas. The eccentricity of any idea is defined as the deviation of that idea from the norm of the social neighborhood. We collected and analyzed data from two sources of different nature: public social media and online experiments in a controlled environment. We compared the popularity of ideas against their eccentricity to understand individuals' fascination towards eccentricity. We found that more eccentric ideas have a higher probability of getting a greater number of "likes". Additionally, we demonstrate that the social neighborhood of an individual conceals eccentricity changes in one's own opinions and facilitates generation of eccentric ideas at a collective level., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Multiple evidence indicates that perinatal factors make impact on immune development and affect offspring allergic rhinitis (AR) risk. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined available published studies to clarify the relationship between cesarean section (C-section) and offspring AR in children. To explore the relationship between C-section, especially the special attention was paid to different cesarean delivery mode, and the risk of AR in children. Articles were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China knowledge Network, Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal databases. A meta-analysis of 22 studies published before August 1, 2022, which included 1,464,868 participants, was conducted for statistical analysis with RevMan5.4. The correlation strength between C-section and offspring AR was determined by combining odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was detected using the funnel chart and Egger tests. Meta-analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between C-section and children AR (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27, P < 0.001), especially C-section with a family history of allergy (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.36-2.43, P < 0.001). Moreover, elective C-section (without genital tract microbe exposure) had the higher risk of offspring AR (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.46, P = 0.010) compared with the whole study. Meta-regression demonstrated that sample size explained 38.0% of the variability between studies, and year of publication explained 18.8%. Delivery by C-section, particularly elective C-section and C-section with a family history of allergy can increase the risk of AR in children., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Outpatient care patterns have changed markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we compared the frequency of outpatient care (whether in-person or virtual) and continuity of care for all community-dwelling adults in Alberta between March 1, 2019 and February 29, 2020 (pre-pandemic) versus March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 (pandemic). We calculated provider continuity using Breslau's Usual Provider Continuity (UPC) for patients with at least 2 outpatient encounters. In 2019-20, 594,350 (98.4%) of 603,877 community-dwelling adults with ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) had [Formula: see text] 1 outpatient visit (median 8 visits, mean UPC score 0.61, SD 0.23), compared to 566,569 (98.6%) of 574,613 (median 8 visits, mean UPC score 0.67, SD 0.23) during the first year of the pandemic. Similar patterns were seen for adults without ACSC: 2,207,710 (93.9%) of 2,350,147 had [Formula: see text] 1 outpatient visit (median 3 visits, mean UPC score 0.61, SD 0.24) pre-pandemic compared to 2,113,239 (93.5%, median 4 visits, mean UPC 0.67, SD 0.24) in the first year of the pandemic. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact frequency of follow-up while continuity of care improved both for patients with or without ACSC in Alberta, Canada., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The strength of evidence regarding long-term changes to fitness resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns is deficient. This two-site retrospective study aimed to investigate the long-term changes in physical fitness among young adults a year after the onset of the pandemic using a robust historical control. University freshmen who underwent physical fitness tests in 2019 and completed a follow-up in 2020 (study group) were included. The primary focus was to compare the current cohort with a historical control group who completed the same tests a year prior (2018). A total of 5376 individuals were recruited, of which 2239 were in the study group. Compared with the control, the study group exhibited a decrease in anaerobic fitness, with an overall difference of -0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], [-1.33 to -0.36]); declines in aerobic fitness, with a difference of -2.25 [-3.92 to -0.57] for males and -4.28 [-4.97 to -3.59] for females; a reduced explosive fitness (-2.68 [-3.24 to -2.12]); and a decreased upper-body strength in females (-1.52 [-2.16 to -0.87]). The fitness of young adults has been considerably compromised by COVID-19 lockdowns, highlighting the importance of promoting physical activity to prevent long-term health implications., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)