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ObjectiveAiming at the area coverage problem of multiple autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), this paper investigates a coverage path planning (CPP) strategy based on an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS). MethodFirst, according to the information of sea, land and water depth from ECDIS, an environmental model for the area coverage of ASVs is established based on the grid method. Second, an area division method based on the roulette wheel selection method is proposed to solve the problem of irregular area division in divided areas based on the robots' initial position method, and achieve the reasonable area division of ASVs in the grid map. Finally, a template-based area coverage path planning method is proposed to solve the problem of generating too many turns in paths generated by the spanning tree coverage agorithm.ResultsA human-machine interactive simulation platform for ASVs based on ECDIS is established to verify the effectiveness of the proposed area coverage path planning method based on the roulette wheel method and template method in optimizing the number of turns in the planning path. ConclusionThe proposed area coverage path planning method for ASVs based on ECDIS can be used to achieve coverage path planning in target mission areas at sea.

Abstract Microglia are highly dynamic immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Microglial processes interact with neuronal elements constantly on the order of minutes. The functional significance of this acute microglia-neuron interaction and its potential role in the context of pain is still largely unknown. Here, we found that spinal microglia increased their process motility and electrophysiological reactivity within an hour after the insult in a mouse model of formalin-induced acute, sustained, inflammatory pain. Using an ablation strategy to specifically deplete resident microglia in the CNS, we demonstrate that microglia participate in formalin-induced acute sustained pain behaviors by amplifying neuronal activity in the spinal dorsal horn. Moreover, we identified that the P2Y12 receptor, which is specifically expressed in microglia in the CNS, was required for microglial function in formalin-induced pain. Taken together, our study provides a novel insight into the contribution of microglia and the P2Y12 receptor in inflammatory pain that could be used for potential therapeutic strategies.

Abstract Background We aimed to report pregnancy outcomes of women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in China, on which data were sparse. Methods This is a nationwide retrospective study conducted in 11 general medical centers in 8 cities across China. We investigated the clinical data of all women who attended these centers with a singleton pregnancy and whose pregnancy ended between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2014. Pregnancies of women with pregestational T1D were ascertained and compared with those of women without T1D. Results From over 300 000 pregnancies over the 11‐year study period, we identified 265 singleton pregnancies of women with T1D. One maternal death was documented among 265 (0.37%) women with T1D and 83 among 318 486 (0.03%) women without T1D. Women with T1D suffered from higher rates of pregnancy loss (13.21% vs 2.92%, crude risk ratio [cRR] 5.08 [95% CI, 3.56‐7.26]) and preeclampsia (17.74% vs 4.20%, cRR 4.94 [95% CI, 3.60‐6.77]) compared with those without T1D. Infants of these women with T1D had elevated rates of neonatal death (5.65% vs 0.16%, cRR 37.36 [95% CI, 21.21‐65.82]) and congenital malformation(s) (8.26% vs 3.53%, cRR 2.46 [95% CI, 1.54‐3.93]) compared with those of women without T1D. No significant improvement in pregnancy outcomes in women with T1D was observed over the period 2004 to 2014. Conclusions Pregnancy outcomes were persistently poor in women with T1D during 2004 to 2014 in China. Pregnancy care needs to be improved to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes among Chinese women with T1D.

Objective To explore the mechanism behind the faster volitional reaction time (RT) of open skill sports athletes from the perspective of proactive inhibitory control, with the hypothesis that the superior response speed of athletes from open skill sports is related to their enhanced capacity for releasing inhibition. Methods Participants were divided into two groups, an experimental group of 27 table tennis players and a control group of 27 non-athletes. By manipulating cue–target onset asynchrony (CTOA) in a simple cue-target detection task, the timing of target presentation occurred in different phases of the disinhibition process. The time needed for disinhibition were compared between groups. Results For the experimental group, RT varied with CTOA at delays less than 200 ms; for CTOAs greater than 200 ms, RTs were not significantly different. For the control group, RT varied with CTOA for delays as long as 300 ms. Conclusions Table tennis players took less time (200 ms) than non-athletes (300 ms) to complete the disinhibition process, which might partly explain their rapid response speed measured in unpredictable contexts. Significance The study provided evidence for disinhibition speed as a new index to assess the capacity of proactive inhibitory control, and provided a new perspective to explore the superior RT of athletes from open skill sports. We also offered support for the fundamental cognitive benefits of table tennis training.

Aims. To explore the associations between polymorphisms in SIRT1 and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Chinese Han patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods. This case-controlled study enrolled 492 patients with T2D: 297 with CHD and 195 without CHD. Five SIRT1 haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3818291, rs12242965, rs3818292, rs4746720, and rs16924934) were selected from Chinese Han data in the GRCh37.p13 phase 3 database and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fraction length polymorphism or sequencing. Results. The rs16924934 G allele was associated with a higher risk of CHD than the A allele (odds ratio OR=1.429; 95% confidence interval CI=1.003–2.037; P=0.048). Using an additive inheritance model, the rs3818291 G/A genotype was associated with a higher CHD risk than the G/G genotype (OR’=1.683; 95%CI=1.033–2.743; P’=0.037 after adjustment for CHD risk factors). Smokers carrying G/A or A/A rs3818291 genotypes had a 3-fold higher CHD risk than those carrying GG (adjusted OR’=3.035; P’=0.011) and a 2.6-fold higher CHD risk than nonsmokers carrying GG (adjusted OR’=2.604; P’=0.033). Conclusions. Genetic polymorphisms of SIRT1 are associated with the risk of CHD in a Chinese Han population with T2D.

The so-called large multi-body floating offshore structure is a new type of offshore structure with a huge and extremely flat deck area, which has a promising prospect as a floating port and also in applications in the area of marine space exploitation. Due to its unique structural form, the hydrodynamic and structural response characteristics are very complex. Specifically, due to the instantaneous position variation in the body surface, the nonlinearity of the free surface, the interactions between floating bodies, and the elastic deformation of floating bodies, the nonlinear factors are significant and cannot be neglected. For these kinds of problems, methods based on CFD-FEA (computation fluid dynamics–finite element analysis) coupling simulation have significant advantages over traditional methods. In the present paper, the hydrodynamic and structural response characteristics of a large multi-body floating offshore structure are studied using a CFD-FEA method, and the results are compared with those obtained by the potential-flow-based commercial code SESAM/WADAM, and a three-dimensional nonlinear hydroelastic analysis commercial code COMPASS-WALCS-NE. The comparison and the analysis of the results show that the CFD-FEA method presented in this study can well simulate the behavior of the hydroelastic responses of flexible floating structures and has the potential to capture complex nonlinear behaviors.

This paper is concerned with the cooperative diving problem of homogenous under-actuated saucer-type autonomous underwater gliders subject to model uncertainties, input constraints as well as external disturbances. A modular back-stepping design method is used to design a robust adaptive cooperative diving controller for each glider. Especially, a kinematic control law is at first designed by employing a line-of-sight guidance principle, and a path variable update law is developed based on a synchronization strategy. Next, in order to identify the unknown dynamics of gliders, an estimation model is constructed by using a fuzzy approximation technique and a low-frequency learning scheme. Finally, it is proved that the closed-loop system is input-to-state stable by using a cascade stability analysis. The simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for cooperative diving of autonomous underwater gliders in a vertical plane.

Insect chemoreception, including olfaction and gustation, involves several families of genes, including odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), and gustatory receptors (GRs). The variegated cutworm Peridroma saucia Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a worldwide agricultural pest that causes serious damage to many crops. To identify such olfactory and gustatory receptors in P. saucia, we performed a systematic analysis of the antennal transcriptome of adult P. saucia through Illumina sequencing. A total of 103 candidate chemosensory receptor genes were identified, including 63 putative ORs, 10 GRs, 24 IRs, and 6 ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs). Phylogenetic relationships of these genes with those from other species were predicted, and specific chemosensory receptor genes were analyzed, including ORco, pheromone receptors (PRs), sugar receptors, CO2 receptors, and IR co-receptors. RT-qPCR analyses of these annotated genes revealed that 6 PRs were predominantly expressed in male antennae; 3 ORs, 1 GR, 2 IRs, and 2 iGluRs had higher expression levels in male than in female antennae; and 14 ORs, 1 GR, and 3 IRs had higher expression levels in female than in male antennae. This research increases the understanding of olfactory and gustatory systems in the antennae of P. saucia and facilitates the discovery of novel strategies for controlling this pest.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and inflammation, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to investigate whether p38 MAPK contributes to the pathogenesis of T2DM. 6-week-old female db/db mice were randomly assigned to Dmo and Dmi groups, and C57 mice were assigned as controls. The Dmi group was gavaged with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 for 9 weeks, and the effects on β cell dysfunction and apoptosis were investigated. db/db mice showed higher food intake, body mass, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin levels than C57 mice. After SB203580 administration, blood glucose was significantly lower. HOMA β and HOMA IR were improved. Islet mRNA expression levels of the ERS markers were lower. P38 MAPK inhibition reduced blood glucose and improved β cell function, at least in part by reducing β cell apoptosis.

Peripheral nerve injury causes neuropathic pain accompanied by remarkable microgliosis in the spinal cord dorsal horn. However, it is still debated whether infiltrated monocytes contribute to injury-induced expansion of the microglial population. Here, we found that spinal microgliosis predominantly results from local proliferation of resident microglia but not from infiltrating monocytes after spinal nerve transection (SNT) by using two genetic mouse models (CCR2RFP/+:CX3CR1GFP/+ and CX3CR1creER/+:R26tdTomato/+ mice) as well as specific staining of microglia and macrophages. Pharmacological inhibition of SNT-induced microglial proliferation correlated with attenuated neuropathic pain hypersensitivities. Microglial proliferation is partially controlled by purinergic and fractalkine signaling, as CX3CR1−/− and P2Y12−/− mice show reduced spinal microglial proliferation and neuropathic pain. These results suggest that local microglial proliferation is the sole source of spinal microgliosis, which represents a potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain management.

Microglia and monocytes contribute to neuropathic pain states, but the precise role of the two cell types is not clear. Here Peng et al.use temporally controlled ablation of monocytes and microglia in mice to show that these cells work together to initiate neuropathic-pain like behaviour, but are less important in the maintenance phase.

Aims. Protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) pathway mutations lead to failure of β-cell function. The aim of this article was to assess the association between eIF2α and the risk of glucose metabolism abnormalities. Methods. Two eIF2α SNPs (rs9840992 T>C and rs13072593 A>G) were selected based on CHB data from HapMap, and 1466 unrelated nondiabetes individuals were genotyped. All subjects were examined by the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and 733 participated in a subsequent insulin release test. Various indicators of insulin resistance and islet β-cell function were examined. Results. There were no significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequency between the prediabetes and controls. CC genotype carriers at rs9840992 showed higher insulin levels at 120 min after a 75 g glucose load than noncarriers. Also, CC homozygotes had higher ΔI30/ΔG30 and ΔI120/ΔG120 than noncarriers, even after adjusting for insulin resistance. CC homozygotes had greater AUCi values than noncarriers. Subjects aged ≥ 65 yrs, those with a BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and those carrying the rs9840992 risk allele, had a 2.5-fold higher risk of glucose abnormalities than subjects who had none of these risk factors. Conclusion. The eIF2α polymorphism is associated with islet β-cell function in a Chinese population.

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) bestows protective effects upon the cardiovascular system through direct cardiovascular interactions or by improvements to metabolic function. Both these effects are thought to be at least partly mediated by the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). This case-controlled study investigated whether polymorphisms in the GLP-1R gene affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese Han population. Methods. Eleven haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), distributed across 22 kb of the 39 kb GLP-1R gene, were selected and genotyped in diabetic patients from a Chinese Han population. Patients were classified based on the severity of coronary artery stenosis. Coronary artery stenosis was ≥50% in 394 patients (coronary artery disease- (CAD-) positive group), and coronary artery stenosis was

Background. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is closely related to diabetes and obesity, both of which are confirmed to increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study aimed to investigate whether the polymorphisms in GIP genes could affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese Han population. Methods. We selected and genotyped two haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) (rs2291725 C>T, rs8078510 G>A) of GIP gene based on CHB data in HapMap Phase II database (r2

Aims. We investigated the association between ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2Z (UBE2Z) gene SNP rs46522 and the risk of CAD in a Chinese Han population with type 2 diabetes and explored a possible interactive effect with environmental risk factors of CAD. Methods. 665 patients with T2D were enrolled; 390 were CAD patients and 275 were non-CAD patients. Genotype analysis of rs46522 (T>C) was performed using PCR-RFLP. Results. The SNP rs47522 was associated with the risk of CAD supposing recessive inheritance model (TT versus CC+CT, OR′=1.277, 95%CI′ 1.039–1.570, p′=0.020) and codominant model (TT versus CT, OR′=1.673, 95%CI′ 1.088–2.570, p′=0.019) after adjustment for confounders of CAD. A synergistic effect of rs46522 and BMI was discovered (β=0.012, p for interreaction = 0.028). In subgroup analysis, minor allele T was significantly associated with CAD in overweight and obesity subgroup (p=0.034), and the association was also proved in recessive model (OR=1.537, 95%CI 1.075–2.196, p=0.018). Smokers with genotype TT had threefold risk of CAD in comparison to nonsmokers with genotype TC or CC (p

Background. Recent studies indicated that the Serine threonine kinase 11 (STK11), which is a key regulator of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), plays a crucial role in cardiovascular system. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic variations in the STK11 gene affect the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese type 2 diabetics. Methods. 5 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected, and 288 CAD-positive cases and 159 CAD-negative controls with type 2 diabetes were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Results. The carriers of minor allele A at rs12977689 had a higher risk of CAD compared to the homozygotes of CC (OR = 1.572, 95% CI = 1.039–2.376, p=0.035), and the difference was still significant after adjustment for the other known CAD risk factors (OR′ = 1.184, 95% CI′ = 1.036–1.353, p′=0.013). Conclusion. Genetic variability at STK11 locus is associated with CAD risk in type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), converted by proprotein convertase 1 (PC1/3) from proinsulin and proglucagon, are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study is to investigate the association of PCSK1 gene, which encodes PC1/3, with the risk of CAD in Chinese patients with T2DM. METHODS: We selected and genotyped 5 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at PCSK1 gene (across 39873bp locus) in a case-control study of Chinese Han population involving 425 diabetic patients (62.1% male, mean age 63.2 years) with CAD as positive cases and 258 diabetic patients (44.2% male, mean age 62.0 years) without CAD as controls. RESULTS: The allele frequencies at rs3811951 were significantly different between cases and controls (30.7% vs. 37.2%), with the allele G associated with decreased risk for CAD (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59-0.94, p = 0.013). In recessive inheritance mode, the carriers of GG had a lower risk (OR = 0.50, 95%CI = 0.31-0.82, p = 0.005), even after adjusted for gender, age, BMI and smoking (OR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.24-0.77, p = 0.004). The carriers of the minor allele A at rs156019 had a higher risk (OR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.10-2.50, p = 0.016 after adjustment) in dominant inheritance mode. The SNP rs6234 was also significantly associated with CAD risk in women, with the carriers of the minor allele G at rs6234 associated with a reduced CAD risk in recessive inheritance mode (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.18-0.95, p = 0.036 after adjustment). CONCLUSIONS: Our results found that common genetic variants in PCSK1 were associated with CAD in Chinese patients with T2DM.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is one of the contributing factors to the development of β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes. ER stress response through ATF6 has been shown to play an important role in insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell function. We investigated whether genetic polymorphisms in ATF6 were associated with the risk of pre-diabetes in a Chinese Han population, and whether they had a synergistic effect with obesity. Our samples included 828 individuals who were diagnosed as pre-diabetic, and 620 controls. The minor allele A at rs2340721 was associated with increased risk for pre-diabetes(p = 0.013), and this association was still significant after adjusting for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-hip ratio(p' = 0.011). BMI, treated as a continuous variable, and rs2340721 had an interactive effect on pre-diabetic risk(p for interaction = 0.003, β = 0.106). Carriers of GG at rs7522210 were also at a higher risk compared to non-carriers (OR = 1.390, 95%CI:1.206-1.818, p = 0.013, adjusted OR' = 1.516, 95%CI:1.101-2.006, p' = 0.006). GG homozygotes had increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels(GG vs CX: 5.6 ± 0.52 vs 5.5 ± 0.57 mmol/L, p = 0.016), lower insulin levels (0,30,120 minutes after glucose load) (p < 0.05), and reduced areas under the insulin curve than non-carriers(GG vs CX:67.3(44.2-102.3) vs 73.1(49.4-111.4), p = 0.014). rs10918270 was associated with FBG, and rs4657103 with 2 hour glucose levels after a 75 g glucose load. We also identified a haplotype of TTAG composed of rs4657103, rs2134697, rs2340721, and rs12079579, which was associated with pre-diabetes. The genetic variation in ATF6 is associated with pre-diabetes and has interactive effects with BMI on pre-diabetes in the Chinese Han population.

A high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for the determination of irinotecan, 7‐ethyl‐10‐hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), and SN38 glucuronide (SN38G) in rat plasma in the present study. The analytes were separated on a C18 column and a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray ionization source was applied for detection. Irinotecan, SN38 and SN38G could be well retained in the C18 column after optimization of mobile phase. A simple protein precipitation was used to pretreat the plasma. The extraction recovery was above 90% and the matrix effect could be negligible. The method was linear over the concentration ranges of 3.46–3458.8 ng/mL for irinotecan, 2.53–2530.0 ng/mL for SN38 and 2.5–2500.0 ng/mL for SN38G. The precision and accuracy was within the acceptable limits. The simple and convenient method was validated and successfully applied to support the pharmacokinetic study and elucidate the mechanism of irinotecan‐induced diarrhea after irinotecan was intravenously injected to the Sprague‐Dawley rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical synthesis serves as a green and efficient method with great application potential. However, it has not been extensively applied in the synthesis of energetic materials. Nitrogen-rich heterocyclic compounds, as a new generation of energetic materials, enjoy advantages such as eco-friendliness, high energy output, and excellent safety performance. This study reports the electrochemical cathodic synthesis of copper nitrotriazole [Cu(NTz)2] using copper chloride and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole as a reaction substrate and triethylamine as a deprotonation agent. The obtained Cu(NTz)2 comprises uniform spherical particles of nano lamellae. As the dosage of triethylamine increased from 50 µL to 150 µL, Cu(NTz)2 gradually grew into compact solid spherical particles, significantly increasing the energy output. Notably, the heat release increased from 711 J g-1 to 1301 J g-1, accompanied by a significant positive elevation of ignition performance and peak combustion pressure in the process of confined combustion. This greatly boosted the energetic performance of Cu(NTz)2. Moreover, Cu (NTz)2 demonstrates insensitivity to electrostatic discharge (E50>225 mJ) and friction (FS>360 N), suggesting excellent safety performance. Owing to its outstanding energetic and safety performance, Cu(NTz)2 boasts great potential for application as pyrotechnic compositions, including military gas-producing and incendiary agents. Moreover, it has been corroborated that Cu(NTz)2 can be applied as a micro ignitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for the determination of peramivir in rat plasma in the present study. The analytes were separated on a C18 column and a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray ionization source was applied for detection. Peramivir could be well retained in the C18 column after optimization of the mobile phase. A simple protein precipitation was used to pretreat the plasma. The extraction recovery was about 100% and the matrix effect could be negligible. The method was linear over the concentration ranges of 1.17–2340.0 ng/mL for peramivir. The precision and accuracy were within acceptable limits. The lowest limit of quantification was 1.17 ng/mL. Compared with those methods which have been developed and published since 2001, the present method is very simple and convenient. The method was validated and successfully applied to support the pharmacokinetics study after peramivir was intravenously injected into the Sprague‐Dawley rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Emergent superconductivity at the LaAlO3/KTaO3 interfaces exhibits a mysterious dependence on the KTaO3 crystallographic orientations. Here by soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we directly resolve the electronic structure of the LaAlO3/KTaO3 interfacial superconductors and the non-superconducting counterpart. We find that the mobile electrons that contribute to the interfacial superconductivity show strong k ⊥ dispersion. Comparing the superconducting and non-superconducting interfaces, the quasi-three-dimensional electron gas with over 5.5 nm spatial distribution ubiquitously exists and shows similar orbital occupations. The signature of electron-phonon coupling is observed and intriguingly dependent on the interfacial orientations. Remarkably, the stronger electron-phonon coupling signature correlates with the higher superconducting transition temperature. Our observations help scrutinize the theories on the orientation-dependent superconductivity and offer a plausible and straightforward explanation. The interfacial orientation effect that can modify the electron-phonon coupling strength over several nanometers sheds light on the applications of oxide interfaces in general.

The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) with spherical fuel elements contains complex pebble flow. The flow behavior of pebbles is influenced by various factors, such as pebble density, friction coefficient, wall structure, and discharge port size. Using a GPU-DEM numerical model, the effects of the friction coefficient on the cyclic loading and unloading of pebbles in the full-scale HTR-PM are studied. Numerical simulations with up to 420,000 spherical pebbles are conducted. Four sets of friction coefficient values are determined for comparative analysis based on experimental measurements. Discharging speed, residence time, stress, porosity, and velocity distribution are quantitatively analyzed. In addition, a comparison with the CT-PFD experiment is carried out to validate the numerical model. The results show that near-wall retention phenomena are observed in the reactor core only when using large friction coefficients. However, using friction coefficient values closer to the measured experimental values, the pebble bed in HTR-PM exhibited good flow characteristics. Furthermore, the friction coefficient also influences the porosity and velocity distribution of the pebble bed, with lower friction coefficients resulting in lower overall stress in the bed. The discharge outlet's influence varies with different friction coefficient values. In summary, this study demonstrates that the value of the friction coefficient has a complex influence on the pebble flow in HTR-PM, which provides important insights for future numerical and experimental studies in this field.

This study examines the uniaxial compressive mechanical properties of after high temperature bamboo scrimber, taking into account the combined effects of temperature, constant temperature duration, and moisture content. A series of 46 uniaxial compression tests were conducted on bamboo scrimber under various conditions to investigate the failure modes after high temperatures. The analysis focuses on the changes in compressive elastic modulus and peak stress of bamboo scrimber parallel and perpendicular to the grain, in relation to temperature, constant temperature duration, and moisture content. The findings reveal that below 180℃, diagonal shear failure and Y-type shear failure are the primary failure modes for specimens parallel to the grain, while diagonal shear failure predominates for specimens perpendicular to the grain. Above 180℃, bond failure and eccentric crushing become the main failure modes for specimens parallel and perpendicular to the grain, respectively. The peak compressive stress decreases significantly beyond 180℃, with a slower decrease observed as moisture content increases. Constant temperature duration has a notable impact on peak stress, with longer durations resulting in lower peak stress at the same temperature. Although temperature has a lesser effect on the elastic modulus compared to peak stress, empirical formulas were derived to establish the relationship between compressive elastic modulus and peak stress reduction coefficient with variations in temperature, constant temperature duration, and moisture content based on the experimental data.

Objective: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a common emergency in gastroenterology. Currently, there is insufficient information to predict adverse outcomes in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the clinical risk scores currently utilized and their ability to predict significant outcomes in lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We conducted a prognostic study of patients hospitalized for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding who underwent colonoscopy or angiography at a single-center hospital between January 2015 and October 2023. Adverse outcomes associated with ALGIB included rebleeding, blood transfusion, hemostatic interventions, and in-hospital death. We calculated three risk scores at admission (Oakland, Birmingham, SALGIB). We measured the accuracy of these scores using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared them with DeLong's test. Results: 222 patients with confirmed lower gastrointestinal bleeding (aged 64 years, 53–75) were finally included. The most common diagnoses were colorectal cancer (28 %) and hemorrhoids (14 %). The Oakland score, Birmingham score, and SALGIB score displayed comparable performance in predicting any adverse outcome (AUC = 0.54, 0.53, 0.55). However, none of the scores were able to sufficiently discriminate rebleeding, blood transfusion, or hemostatic intervention. Using the Youden index, cutoff points for predicting undesired results were identified for the Oakland score at 13, Birmingham score at 3, and SALGIB score at 2. Conclusions: None of the three scores demonstrated satisfactory discrimination for adverse outcomes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel risk stratification scores with higher performance to improve risk stratification in acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: The current understanding of the correlation between TLR4 gene (toll-like receptor 4) rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility is inconclusive, with studies and populations yielding conflicting results. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate this relationship using meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Databases were systematically queried for relevant articles from the establishment of the database to 19 June 2023 adhering to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two authors independently conducted screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation. Meta-analysis and TSA were carried out using RevMan 5.4, StataMP 17.0, and TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta, with α=0.05. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on racial demographics. A sensitivity analysis was conducted employing a one-by-one exclusion method. Publication bias was assessed using the Begg and Egger tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association of asthma susceptibility with TLR4 gene rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms. SAMPLE SIZE: 23 articles included 22 studies on the rs4986790 polymorphism and 11 studies on the rs4986791 polymorphism on the TLR4 gene. RESULTS: Out of 692 studies screened, 23 met the inclusion criteria. While the overall meta-analysis showed no significant association between the TLR4 rs4986790 polymorphism and asthma susceptibility, subgroup analysis revealed a significant link in the Caucasian population. A significant association was noted in the meta-analysis, particularly among Asian populations, on the rs4986791 polymorphism. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the meta-analysis results were relatively stable. Publication bias analysis revealed minimal influence from publication bias. However, TSA was underscored by the necessity for additional original studies to further validate specific outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscores the ethnicity-specific impact on the relationship between TLR4 polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility. While the overall findings for rs4986790 were not significant, the association with the Caucasian population merits further investigation. Furthermore, rs4986791 demonstrated a significant correlation with asthma susceptibility, specifically among Asian populations. LIMITATIONS: Our study predominantly examined the rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms, overlooking the potential influence of other genetic variants within TLR4.

Abstract Background Pharmacist clinics offer professional pharmaceutical services that can improve public health outcomes. However, primary healthcare staff in China face various barriers and challenges in implementing such clinics. To identify existing problems and provide recommendations for the implementation of pharmacist clinics, this study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacist clinics among primary healthcare providers. Methods A cross-sectional survey based on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) model, was conducted in community health centers (CHCs) and private hospitals in Shanghai, China in May, 2023. Descriptive analytics and the Pareto principle were used to multiple-answer questions. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and binary logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacist clinics. Results A total of 223 primary practitioners participated in the survey. Our study revealed that most of them had limited knowledge (60.1%, n = 134) but a positive attitude (82.9%, n = 185) towards pharmacist clinics, with only 17.0% (n = 38) having implemented them. The primary goal of pharmacist clinics was to provide comprehensive medication guidance (31.5%, n = 200), with medication education (26.3%, n = 202) being the primary service, and special populations (24.5%, n = 153) identified as key recipients. Logistic regression analysis revealed that education, age, occupation, position, work seniority, and institution significantly influenced their perceptions. Practitioners with bachelor’s degrees, for instance, were more likely than those with less education to recognize the importance of pharmacist clinics in medication guidance (aOR: 7.130, 95%CI: 1.809–28.099, p-value = 0.005) and prescription reviews (aOR: 4.675, 95% CI: 1.548–14.112, p-value = 0.006). Additionally, practitioners expressed positive attitudes but low confidence, with only 33.3% (n = 74) feeling confident in implementation. The confidence levels of male practitioners surpassed those of female practitioners (p-value = 0.037), and practitioners from community health centers (CHCs) exhibited higher confidence compared to their counterparts in private hospitals (p-value = 0.008). Joint physician-pharmacist clinics (36.8%, n = 82) through collaboration with medical institutions (52.0%, n = 116) emerged as the favored modality. Daily sessions were preferred (38.5%, n = 86), and both registration and pharmacy service fees were considered appropriate for payment (42.2%, n = 94). The primary challenge identified was high outpatient workload (30.9%, n = 69). Conclusions Although primary healthcare practitioners held positive attitudes towards pharmacist clinics, limited knowledge, low confidence, and high workload contributed to the scarcity of their implementation. Practitioners with diverse sociodemographic characteristics, such as education, age, and institution, showed varying perceptions and practices regarding pharmacist clinics.

Objective The study aimed to investigate the correlation and consistency between resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) in functional assessment of coronary arteries in a Chinese real-world cohort with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).Design Retrospective study.Setting A single-centre study in China.Participants A total of 292 diseased vessels of 226 Chinese patients with NSTE-ACS at Cangzhou Central Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2021 to June 2023 were included.Methods The correlation between RFR and FFR, resting ratio of distal coronary artery pressure (Pd) to aortic pressure (Pa) and FFR were analysed by using Person correlation, and the consistency between RFR and FFR, resting Pd/Pa and FFR were assessed by Bland-Altman test. The diagnostic values of RFR and resting Pd/Pa for predicting FFR≤0.80 were evaluated according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results RFR and resting Pd/Pa were significantly correlated with FFR, and correlation coefficients were 0.787 (p

Introduction: Polymyxin B is widely used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, the pharmacokinetic study data of PB in the elderly are scarce. Herein, a simple method to measure the concentration of PB in human plasma was developed and validated by high performance liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry, and it was applied to a PK study in the elderly.Methods: PB was extracted from human plasma by a rapid protein-precipitation method using 0.1% formic acid in methanol and then separated on an ultimate AQ-C18 column using linear gradient elution with a 0.5-mL/min flow rate. Subsequently, PB was detected using a mass spectrometer operated in positive-ion and multiple-reaction-monitoring modes.Results: The lower limits of quantification of the method for Polymyxin B1 and Polymyxin B2 were 1.00 and 0.10 μg/mL, respectively. The linear ranges for PB1 and PB2 were 1.00–20.02 and 0.10–2.04 μg/mL, respectively. Patients receiving a 75-mg maintenance dose every 12h had AUCss, 24 h, and Css, av values of 117.70 ± 37.03 μg h/mL and 4.14 ± 1.74 μg/mL, respectively. For patients receiving a 100 mg maintenance dose, these values were 152.73 ± 70.09 μg h/mL and 5.43 ± 2.85 μg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: The validated HPLC–MS/MS method was successfully applied to a study on the pharmacokinetics of PB in elderly patients infected with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Both two dose strategies in this study would have a excessive PB exposure in the elderly patients then the therapeutic window recommended by guidelines.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a significant threat to agricultural soils and food safety, necessitating effective remediation strategies. Salix species, with their high coverage and Cd accumulating capacity, hold promise for remediation efforts. The rhizosphere microbiome is crucial for enhancing Cd accumulating capacity for Salix. However, the mechanisms by how Salix interacts with its rhizosphere microbiome to enhance Cd extraction remains poorly understood. In this study, we compared the remediation performance of two Salix ecotypes: 51–3 (High Cd-accumulating Ecotype, HAE) and P646 (Low Cd-accumulating Ecotype, LAE). HAE exhibited notable advantages over LAE, with 10.80 % higher plant height, 43.80 % higher biomass, 20.26 % higher Cd accumulation in aboveground tissues (93.09 μg on average), and a superior Cd translocation factor (1.97 on average). Analysis of the rhizosphere bacterial community via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that HAE harbored a more diverse bacterial community with a distinct composition compared to LAE. Indicator analysis identified 84 genera specifically enriched in HAE, predominantly belonging to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, including beneficial microbes such as Streptomyces, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas. Network analysis further elucidated three taxa groups specifically recruited by HAE, which were highly correlated with functional genes that associated with biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. These functions contribute to enhancing plant growth, Cd uptake, and resistance to Cd in Salix. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of the rhizosphere microbiome in facilitating Cd extraction and provide insights into microbiome-based strategies for sustainable agricultural practices.

Background: Patient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA) frequently occurs in mechanically ventilated patients within the ICU and has the potential for harm. Depending solely on the health care team cannot accurately and promptly identify PVA. To address this issue, our team has developed a cloud-based platform for monitoring mechanical ventilation (MV), comprising the PVA-RemoteMonitor system and the 24-h MV analysis report. We conducted a survey to evaluate physicians' satisfaction and acceptance of the platform in 14 ICUs. Methods: Data from medical records, clinical information systems, and ventilators were uploaded to the cloud platform and underwent data processing. The data were analyzed to monitor PVA and displayed in the front-end. The 24-h analysis report for MV was generated for clinical reference. Critical care physicians in 14 hospitals' ICUs that involved in the platform participated in a questionnaire survey, among whom 10 physicians were interviewed to investigate physicians’ acceptance and opinions of this system. Results: The PVA-RemoteMonitor system exhibited a high level of specificity in detecting flow insufficiency, premature cycle, delayed cycle, reverse trigger, auto trigger, and overshoot, with sensitivities of 90.31 %, 98.76 %, 99.75 %, 99.97 %, 100 %, and 99.69 %, respectively. The 24-h analysis report supplied essential data about PVA and respiratory mechanics. 86.2 % (75/87) of physicians supported the application of this platform. Conclusions: The PVA-RemoteMonitor system accurately identified PVA, and the MV analysis report provided guidance in controlling PVA. Our platform can effectively assist ICU physicians in the management of ventilated patients.

Bamboo scrimber (BS) is a novel renewable biocomposite material with excellent mechanical performance and stability that is suitable for load-bearing structural members. Beam-type components are among the most widely used members in structural engineering, and their flexural behaviour is crucial for the safety and applicability of structures. Based on a review of the existing literature, this article presents a comprehensive overview and discussion of the research and development of various forms of beam-type BS members with the aim of reaching a clearer understanding of the bending mechanisms and mechanical characteristics of BS beams. The members highlighted in this review include general BS beams, reinforced BS beams (with steel bars and fibre-reinforced polymer plates), composite BS beams (with profile steel and concrete), and strengthened damaged BS beams. Moreover, the factors affecting the flexural performance of BS beams, such as span-depth ratios, their mechanical properties, and reinforcing materials, are analysed quantitatively. Finally, the calculation models for the flexural bearing capacity and stiffness of BS beams are summarised and compared. This review aims to illustrate the potential of BS in the field of structural engineering and provide references for future research and design methods for BS flexural members.

Abstract The structural characteristics of plant communities in urban green spaces have a significant impact on their carbon sequestration function. In this study, comprehensive data were collected from 106 plant communities (each 20 m × 20 m) in Zhengzhou Green Expo Park. We assessed aboveground and soil carbon storage, alongside maintenance carbon emissions, to quantify carbon dynamics. Our primary objective was to establish a statistical model that correlates the structural attributes of plant communities with their total annual carbon sequestration. This model aims to provide a quantitative framework for optimizing community structures to maximize carbon sequestration in urban green spaces. The results showed that density and coverage were significantly and positively correlated with aboveground and soil carbon stocks. Density and mean height were significantly and positively correlated with maintenance carbon emissions. Density played a key structural role in regulating the total carbon sequestration of the plant communities, being 27.24 times more effective than coverage. The total annual carbon sequestration of the plant community reached an optimal value of 327.67 kg CO2-eq/y−1 at a density and cover of 0.15 and 1, respectively. This study provides valuable data for increasing the carbon sink ability of urban green spaces through plant structure regulation and supporting low-carbon development strategies in urban management.

Abstract The objectives of this study were to explore the changes in soil stoichiometry and enzyme activities at different distances from an opencast coal mine in the Hulun Buir Grassland of China. Four transects were established on north and east sides of the opencast coal mining area, and samples were collected at 50 m, 550 m, and 1550 m from the pit on each transect. Control samples were collected from a grassland station 8 km from the opencast coal mining area that was not disturbed by mining. Four replicate soil samples were collected at each point on the four transects. Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were determined, and correlations between soil properties and stoichiometric ratios and enzyme activities were explored using redundancy analysis. The increase in distance from mining did not significantly affect soil properties, although soil urease activity was significantly lower than that of the control area. Soil properties 1550 m from the mine pit were similar to those at the grassland control. In addition, soil total nitrogen had the greatest effect on soil stoichiometry, and soil total potassium had the greatest effect on soil enzyme activities. Coal dust from opencast mining might be the main factor affecting soil stoichiometry and enzyme activities. The results of this study provide direction for the next step in studying the influence of mining areas on soil properties and processes.

AbstractSarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) angarosinica (Rohdendorf, 1937) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a species of both medical and ecological significance. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of S. angarosinica was sequenced and characterized. The mitogenome has a total length of 15,215 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and an adenine and thymine-rich region. This mitogenome comprises 39.5% adenine, 9.4% guanine, 14.4% cytosine, and 36.8% thymine. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. angarosinica is closely related to Sarcophaga similis. This study enriches the genetic data on S. angarosinica and will contribute to establishing the phylogenetic relationships among flesh flies.

Background: The SYNTAX score II (SS II) has earned widespread recognition for use on individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) due to its reliable predictions of 4-year all-cause mortality (ACM). This research focuses on substantiating the prognostic significance of using the SS II for patients experiencing concurrent chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and CAD who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This study retrospectively examined 2468 patients with concurrent CAD and CRI who underwent PCI. Based on their SS II, these participants were sorted into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups and monitored over a median of three years. The evaluation of the predictive precision of different SYNTAX scores for clinical outcomes in patients with CRI after PCI involved using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. These included the standard SS (SS), SS II, clinical SS (CSS), and residual SS (rSS). The primary outcomes were ACM and cardiac mortality (CM), while the secondary outcomes covered major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), stroke, unplanned revascularization, and myocardial infarction (MI). Results: Higher 5-year cumulative incidences of MACCEs, MI, CM, and ACM were observed significantly in patients in the high SS II category relative to those in the low and medium SS II categories. Multivariable Cox regression analysis confirmed that the SS II independently predicts ACM, CM, MI, and MACCEs as a prognostic marker. Additionally, the analysis of the time-dependent ROC curve demonstrated that the areas under the curve (AUC) for predicting CM and ACM were 0.772 and 0.767, respectively, which are superior to those of other SYNTAX scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: As an independent predictor, the SS II is notable for its ability to forecast long-term adverse outcomes, including MACCEs, CM, ACM, and MI. For patients with coexisting CAD and CRI undergoing PCI, it provides significantly improved prognostic accuracy for 5-year ACM and CM compared to other SYNTAX scores.

The visible-light-induced split in water confined in channels of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was experimentally studied. The results revealed that a great amount of hydrogen-rich gas could be repeatedly produced under several rapid flashes of light, occasionally accompanying evident charge emission phenomena.

Background: The expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) within large language models (LLMs) has the potential to streamline healthcare delivery. Despite the increased use of LLMs, disparities in their performance particularly in different languages, remain underexplored. This study examines the quality of ChatGPT responses in English and Japanese, specifically to questions related to anaesthesiology. Methods: Anaesthesiologists proficient in both languages were recruited as experts in this study. Ten frequently asked questions in anaesthesia were selected and translated for evaluation. Three non-sequential responses from ChatGPT were assessed for content quality (accuracy, comprehensiveness, and safety) and communication quality (understanding, empathy/tone, and ethics) by expert evaluators. Results: Eight anaesthesiologists evaluated English and Japanese LLM responses. The overall quality for all questions combined was higher in English compared with Japanese responses. Content and communication quality were significantly higher in English compared with Japanese LLMs responses (both P

Background: Patients are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to seek answers to medical queries. Methods: Ten frequently asked questions in anaesthesia were posed to three AI chatbots: ChatGPT4 (OpenAI), Bard (Google), and Bing Chat (Microsoft). Each chatbot's answers were evaluated in a randomised, blinded order by five residency programme directors from 15 medical institutions in the USA. Three medical content quality categories (accuracy, comprehensiveness, safety) and three communication quality categories (understandability, empathy/respect, and ethics) were scored between 1 and 5 (1 representing worst, 5 representing best). Results: ChatGPT4 and Bard outperformed Bing Chat (median [inter-quartile range] scores: 4 [3–4], 4 [3–4], and 3 [2–4], respectively; P

The onset of Alzheimer's disease is related to neuron damage caused by massive deposition of Aβ in the brain. Recent studies suggest that excessive Aβ in the brain mainly comes from peripheral blood, and BBB is the key to regulate Aβ in and out of the brain. In this study, we explored the pathogenesis of AD from the perspective of Aβ transport through the BBB and the effect of QKL injection in AD mice. The results showed that QKL could improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD mice, decrease the level of Aβ and Aβ transporter—RAGE, which was supported by the results of network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. In conclusion, RAGE is a potential target for QKL's therapeutic effect on AD.

Background: Spanish is the second most spoken language globally with around 475 million native speakers. We aimed to validate a Spanish version of the Obstetric Quality of Recovery-10 item (ObsQoR-10) patient-reported outcome measure. Methods: ObsQoR-10-Spanish was developed using EuroQoL methodology. ObsQoR-10-Spanish was assessed in 100 Spanish-speaking patients undergoing elective Caesarean or vaginal delivery. Patients 70 vs

AbstractIntroduction There is a dearth of comprehensive studies on the association between serum electrolyte and adverse short-term prognosis of Chinese patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).Patients and methods A total of 5166 patients with ADHF were divided into four serum electrolyte-related study populations (potassium (n = 5145), sodium (n = 5135), chloride (n = 4966), serum total calcium (STC) (n = 4143)) under corresponding exclusions. Different logistic regression models were utilized to gauge the association between these electrolytes or the number of electrolyte abnormalities and the risk of a composite of all-cause mortality or 30-day heart failure (HF) readmission.Results In multivariable adjusted analysis, patients with potassium below 3.5 mmol/L (odds ratios (ORs) 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.07–1.95), 4.01–4.50 mmol/L (OR: 1.29, CI: 1.02–1.62), 4.51–5.00 mmol/L (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.08–1.90) and above 5.00 mmol/L (OR: 1.74, CI: 1.21–2.51) had an increased risk of outcome when compared with potassium at 3.50–4.00 mmol/L. Sodium levels were inversely related to the risk of a composite outcome (