Search

In this paper, it was found for the first time that with Sr addition in Al–Si–Mg–Ce alloy, the morphology of eutectic (Si) can be modified from branch to fine fibrous, while the bulk-like Al2Si2Ce phase may replace the elongated needle-like one. Moreover, Mg was observed to segregate along the (Al)/Al2Si2Ce interface and Sr was found to concentrate in the interior of Al2Si2Ce phase. Such heterostructured Sr–Al2Si2Ce was also supported by first-principles calculations. The synergistic morphology modification of eutectic (Si) and Al2Si2Ce phases by Sr addition stimulated the simultaneous improvement in strength and ductility in Al–Si–Mg–Ce alloy.

C18H22N5O2·C7H4ClO2, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 8.9188(2) Å, b = 10.8391(2) Å, c = 25.9295(5) Å, V = 2506.65(9) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt (F) = 0.0357, wRref (F 2) = 0.1085, T = 293(2) K.

Sepsis is a life-threatening state of organ dysfunction caused by systemic inflammation and a dysfunctional response to host infections that can induce severe intestinal mucosal damage. Pyroptosis is mediated by the activated NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome after stimulation by various inflammatory factors during sepsis. The inflammatory response is a major driver of intestinal damage during sepsis. Intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in sepsis is associated with pyroptosis, a type of programmed inflammatory cell death. Several studies have confirmed the role of miR-155 in sepsis and other diseases. However, the effect of miR-155 on intestinal pyroptosis in the context of intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction during sepsis remains unclear. Thus, a model of sepsis in Sprague-Dawley rats is established using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and a series of molecular biological methods are used in this study. The results show that the expression of miR-155 is increased and that of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is decreased in the intestinal tissues of patients with sepsis. miR-155 expression is negatively correlated with SIRT1 expression. Increased miR-155 expression significantly inhibits SIRT1 activity and upregulates the expressions of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) to promote pyroptosis. The inhibition of miR-155 expression is associated with increased SIRT1 expression, promotes the deacetylation of p65, and significantly downregulates p65 acetylation. Herein, we propose that miR-155 induces pyroptosis in the intestine partly by regulating SIRT1, thereby reducing the deacetylation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB subunit p65 and increasing NF-κB signaling activity in sepsis, leading to intestinal barrier damage.

Jellyfish, microorganisms, and the marine environment collectively shape a complex ecosystem. This study aimed to analyze the microbial communities associated with five jellyfish species, exploring their composition, diversity, and relationships. Microbial diversity among the species was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and QIIME analysis. Significant differences in bacterial composition were found, with distinct dominant taxa in each species: Mycoplasmataceae (99.21%) in Aurelia coerulea, Sphingomonadaceae (22.81%) in Cassiopea andromeda, Alphaproteobacteria_unclassified (family level) (64.09%) in Chrysaora quinquecirrha, Parcubacteria_unclassified (family level) (93.11%) in Phacellophora camtschatica, and Chlamydiaceae (35.05%) and Alphaproteobacteria_unclassified (family level) (38.73%) in Rhopilema esculentum. C. andromeda showed the highest diversity, while A. coerulea exhibited the lowest. Correlations among dominant genera varied, including a positive correlation between Parcubacteria_unclassified (genus level) and Chlamydiaceae_unclassified (genus level). Genes were enriched in metabolic pathways and ABC transporters. The most abundant potential pathogens at the phylum level were Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Chlamydiae, and Epsilonbacteraeota. The differing microbial compositions are likely influenced by species and their habitats. Interactions between jellyfish and microorganisms, as well as among microorganisms, showed interdependency or antagonism. Most microbial gene functions focused on metabolic pathways, warranting further study on the relationship between pathogenic bacteria and these pathways.

This study investigates the revolutionization of the application of ChatGPT with respect to its accessibility, creativity, and impact on music industry in China. To achieve this, the study employed Z-test technique for difference in proportion and the ordered logistic regression model. These methods were used to explore deeper into suitable strategies using survey with a sample size of 385 music artists including music producers, songwriters, artists/musicians, and sound engineers.

N-glycans play important roles in a variety of biological processes. In recent years, analytical technologies with high resolution and sensitivity have advanced exponentially, enabling analysts to investigate N-glycomic changes in different states. Specific glycan and glycosylation signatures have been identified in multiple diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, nervous system disorders, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. These glycans demonstrate comparable or superior indicating capability in disease diagnosis and prognosis over routine biomarkers. Moreover, synchronous glycan alterations concurrent with disease initiation and progression provide novel insights into pathogenetic mechanisms and potential treatment targets. This review elucidates the biological significance of N-glycans, compares the existing glycomic technologies, and delineates the clinical performance of N-glycans across a range of diseases.

Crude starches (C-S-1, C-S-2, C-S-3 and C-S-4) were prepared the dough method from wheat flours with different processing degrees from the wheat processing line, the front (S-1), middle (S-2 and S-3) and back (S-4) flour mill streams, and refined starches (R-S-1, R-S-2, R-S-3 and R-S-4) were obtained after the removal of yellow waste slurry. The effects of the retention or removal of yellow waste slurry on physicochemical indexes, pasting properties, gelatinization properties, granular morphology and crystal structure of wheat starch were investigated. It was shown that the particle size of the crude starches was larger than that of their refined counterparts (D10 7.51–8.26 μm versus 6.46–7.70 μm). High contents of impurities, specifically ash, crude protein and pentosan, were found in the crude starches than their refined counterparts. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that both crude and refined starches had an A-type crystalline structure, and the relative crystallinity of the latter was higher than that of the former. Their paste properties were significantly different. The refined starches had higher transparency, peak viscosity, final viscosity and trough viscosity but lower solubility and swelling strength than the crude starches. There was no significant difference in textural properties between the crude and refined starch gels, except that the hardness and gel strength of the back-stream starch were higher than those of the front- and middle-stream starches.

Nanomaterials (NMs) have found extensive applications in the realm of ornamental plants due to their unique properties. This article comprehensively discusses four main aspects of NM utilization in ornamental plants: 1) providing new insights into challenging problems in tissue culture, 2) exploring their regulatory effects on the growth of ornamental plants, 3) enhancing the resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors, and 4) discussing their widespread application and mechanisms in cut flower harvesting. Furthermore, potential issues and future directions are explored, providing a deeper theoretical basis for the application of novel NMs in the realm of ornamental plants.

Central α‑synucleinopathy includes Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The clinical manifestations of these diseases usually overlap, which make the differential diagnosis difficult in clinical practice. Autonomic dysfunction is a common feature of these diseases. Recent studies indicated the autonomic dysfunction would contribute to our further understanding of central α‑synucleinopathy. This article reviews the value of autonomic dysfunction in the predictive diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of the above diseases, to help clinical practice.

Fungal diseases form perforated disease spots in tobacco plants, resulting in a decline in tobacco yield and quality. The present study investigated the antagonistic effect of Bacillus subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 against Rhizoctonia solani, its ability to promote the growth of tobacco seedlings, and the expression of disease resistance-related genes for efficient and eco-friendly plant disease control. Our results showed that CTXW 7-6-2 had the most vigorous growth after being cultured for 96 h, and its rate of inhibition of R. solani growth in vitro was 94.02%. The volatile compounds produced by CTXW 7-6-2 inhibited the growth of R. solani significantly (by 96.62%). The fungal growthinhibition rate of the B. subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 broth obtained after high-temperature and no-high-temperature sterile fermentation was low, at 50.88% and 54.63%, respectively. The lipopeptides extracted from the B. subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 fermentation broth showed a 74.88% fungal growth inhibition rate at a concentration of 100 mg/l. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed some organelle structural abnormalities, collapse, shrinkage, blurring, and dissolution in the R. solani mycelia. In addition, CTXW 7-6-2 increased tobacco seedling growth and improved leaf and root weight compared to the control. After CTXW 7-6-2 inoculation, tobacco leaves showed the upregulation of the PDF1.2, PPO, and PAL genes, which are closely related to target spot disease resistance. In conclusion, B. subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 may be an efficient biological control agent in tobacco agriculture and enhance plant growth potential.

To improve the accuracy of automatic recognition and classification of food images, a classification model CBAM- InceptionV3 is proposed, which embeds the Convolutional Block Attention Module. The specific method is to split the Inception V3 model with ImageNet pre-trained weight parameters into blocks, embed CBAM modules after each Inception block, and reassemble them into a new model, embedding a total of 11 CBAM modules. This new model is used for transfer learning of Food-101 food image dataset padded and scaled to 299 pixels in both length and width, with the highest accuracy of 82.01%. Compared with the original Inception V3 model, the CBAM module can effectively improve the model's feature extraction and classification capabilities. At the same time, transfer learning can significantly improve the accuracy rate and shorten the training time compared with the training from scratch. Compared with several other mainstream convolutional neural network models, the results show that this new model has higher recognition accuracy and can provide strong support for food image classification and recognition.

The study evaluates Bangladesh–China relations through the ‘win-win cooperation’ lens and concludes with a ‘NOISE’ (Needs-Opportunities-Improvements-Strengths-Exceptions) analysis. Bangladesh, a South Asian developing nation, has maintained a strategic partnership with Beijing since the establishment of their diplomatic ties. However, the relationship gained exceptional momentum after Bangladesh’s inclusion in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Bangladesh’s need for growth-necessary financing and China’s massive foreign investment outlook have contributed to the growth of their economic engagements. The analysis suggests that the Bangladesh–China relationship exhibits ‘win-win cooperation’ dynamics. The study identified the significant trade gap, loan agreements, and disbursement delays, along with others, challenging the solid Bangladesh–China bilateral economic interactions. The Rohingya refugee crisis resolve and geopolitical competition among major powers are two non-bilateral issues that could potentially impact future Dhaka–Beijing relations. Overcoming the existing barriers could position Bangladesh–China relations as a model for smaller-major power bilateral relations, particularly for developing nations. It is a desk research by design. The findings of this study may provide insights to policymakers in addressing the existing barriers to meet future needs.

To enhance the efficiency and sustainability, technical preparations were made for eliminating the Temperature, Sample, Oxygen test of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steelmaking process in this work. Utilizing data from 13,528 heats and state-of-the-art (SOTA) machine learning (ML) and deep learning algorithms, data-driven models with different types of inputs were developed, marking the first use of time series data (off-gas profiles and blowing practice related curves) for BOF steelmaking’s endpoint prediction, and the tabular features were expanded to 45. The prediction targets are molten steel’s concentrations of phosphorus (Endpoint [P], %) and carbon (Endpoint [C], %), and temperature (Endpoint-Temp, °C). The optimal models for each target were implemented at a Hesteel Group’s BOF steelmaking facility. Initially, SOTA ML models (XGBoost, LightGBM, Catboost, TabNet) were employed to predict Endpoint [P]/[C]/Temp with tabular data. The best mean absolute errors (MAE) achieved were 2.276 × 10−3% (Catboost), 6.916 × 10−3% (Catboost), and 7.955°C (LightGBM), respectively, which surpassed the conventional models’ performance. The prediction MAEs of the conventional models with the same inputs for Endpoint [P]/[C]/Temp were 3.158 × 10−3%, 7.534 × 10−3%, and 9.150°C (Back Propagation neural network) and 2.710 × 10−3%, 7.316 × 10−3%, and 8.310°C (Support Vector Regression). Subsequently, predictions were explored to be made using SOTA time series analysis models (1D ResCNN, TCN, OmniScaleCNN, eXplainable Convolutional neural network (XCM), Time-Series Transformer, LSTM-FCN, D-linear) with the original time series data and SOTA image analysis models (Pre-activation ResNet, DenseNet, DLA, Dual path networks (DPN), GoogleNet, Vision Transformer) with resized time series data. Finally, the concat-model and the paral-model architectures were designed for making predictions with both tabular data and time series data. It was determined that the concat-Model with TCN and ResCNN as the backbone exhibited the highest accuracy. It’s MAE for predicting Endpoint [P]/[C]/Temp reaches 2.153 × 10−3%, 6.413 × 10−3%, and 5.780°C, respectively, with field test’s MAE at 2.394 × 10−3%, 6.231 × 10−3%, and 7.679°C. Detailed results of the importance analysis for tabular data and time series are provided.

High pressure technology has been utilized as an important means to regulate phase structure and improve the properties/performance of alloys. The CALPHAD approach based on accurate databases has great advantages in efficient alloy design. However, the application of CALPHAD in high pressure field is hindered by the lack of reliable thermodynamic model/database for multicomponent alloys under pressure. In this paper, a phenomenologically thermodynamic model for multicomponent alloys under pressure is first developed by separating the contribution into two parts, one is at atmosphere pressure and the other is caused by an increase in pressure, and then successfully applied to establish the pressure-dependent thermodynamic database of ternary Al–Si–Mg system. The calculated phase equilibria/thermodynamic properties of pressure dependence in related alloys are in good agreement with the limited experimental data in the literature, validating the reliability of the obtained thermodynamic database. After that, a CALPHAD design framework for pressurized solidified alloys is proposed by integrating the present pressure-dependent thermodynamic model/database, CALPHAD-type calculations/simulations, and previously developed high-throughput calculation platform Malac-Distmas. Such a framework is finally applied to predict the pressurized solidification and high pressure heat treatment behaviors in different Al–Si–Mg alloys. The predicted microstructure, phase transitions and phase equilibria after pressurized solidification and high pressure heat treatment are consistent with the experimental data. Furthermore, the insights into effect of pressure on the thermodynamic essence of alloys are gained, which may definitely facilitate the advancement of alloy design under high pressure technology.

ObjectiveThe choice of neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is controversial. This study aims to provide a basis for clinical treatment selection by establishing a predictive model for the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NICT).MethodsA retrospective analysis of 30 patients was conducted, divided into Response and Non-response groups based on whether they achieved major pathological remission (MPR). Differences in genes and immune microenvironment between the two groups were analyzed through next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF). Variables most closely related to therapeutic efficacy were selected through LASSO regression and ROC curves to establish a predictive model. An additional 48 patients were prospectively collected as a validation set to verify the model’s effectiveness.ResultsNGS suggested seven differential genes (ATM, ATR, BIVM-ERCC5, MAP3K1, PRG, RBM10, and TSHR) between the two groups (P < 0.05). mIF indicated significant differences in the quantity and location of CD3+, PD-L1+, CD3+PD-L1+, CD4+PD-1+, CD4+LAG-3+, CD8+LAG-3+, LAG-3+ between the two groups before treatment (P < 0.05). Dynamic mIF analysis also indicated that CD3+, CD8+, and CD20+ all increased after treatment in both groups, with a more significant increase in CD8+ and CD20+ in the Response group (P < 0.05), and a more significant decrease in PD-L1+ (P < 0.05). The three variables most closely related to therapeutic efficacy were selected through LASSO regression and ROC curves: Tumor area PD-L1+ (AUC= 0.881), CD3+PD-L1+ (AUC= 0.833), and CD3+ (AUC= 0.826), and a predictive model was established. The model showed high performance in both the training set (AUC= 0.938) and the validation set (AUC= 0.832). Compared to the traditional CPS scoring criteria, the model showed significant improvements in accuracy (83.3% vs 70.8%), sensitivity (0.625 vs 0.312), and specificity (0.937 vs 0.906).ConclusionNICT treatment may exert anti-tumor effects by enriching immune cells and activating exhausted T cells. Tumor area CD3+, PD-L1+, and CD3+PD-L1+ are closely related to therapeutic efficacy. The model containing these three variables can accurately predict treatment outcomes, providing a reliable basis for the selection of neoadjuvant treatment plans.

ObjectivesLevofloxacin is widely used because of its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and convenient dosing schedule. However, the relevance of its use in children remains to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of levofloxacin use in children with severe infections.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study of patients

The traditional hulling of Camellia oleifera fruit is mainly manual, with high work intensity, high labor cost and low production efficiency. Mechanized hulling is the inevitable trend of modernization of Camellia oleifera industry. The existing hulling device of Camellia oleifera fruit has poor universality, low hulling rate and high seed kernel breakage rate, which affects the popularization of mechanized hulling technology of Camellia oleifera. By comparing the existing hulling methods of Camellia oleifera, the structure and working principle of each hulling device were analyzed, their advantages and disadvantages were summarized, and their development direction was prospected.

Polarization processors with versatile functionalities are needed in optical systems, which use or manipulate polarized light. In this paper, we propose and realize an integrated polarization processor based on a coherent 4-port micro-ring resonator. The arbitrary unknown polarization state is input to the polarization processor via a 2-dimensional grating coupler (2DGC), which serves as a polarization beam splitter. The coherent 4-port micro-ring resonator (MRR) operates as a unitary processor and is formed by one crossbar micro-ring resonator and two thermally tunable phase shifters, one of which tunes the micro-ring while the other tunes the coherent interference between the two inputs from the 2DGC. The 4-port system can be used to control the input polarization states that appear at the two output ports and, therefore, can be used to implement a multi-function polarization processor, including polarization descrambler, polarization switch, polarizers, and polarization analyzer (both division of space (DOS) and division of time (DOT)). In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate the use of coherent 4-port MRR for polarization mode switching and for polarization mode unscrambling. The polarization unscrambler was capable of separating two polarization-multiplexed 40 GHz data lanes from the input fiber with crosstalk levels below −21 dB and is suitable for use in the receiver for polarization-multiplexed direct-detection optical communications systems. The same photonic circuit may be used as a polarization analyzer, either as a DOS polarization analyzer or a DOT polarization analyzer. The DOS polarization analyzer measured the polarization with measured deviation of the orientation angle (2ψ) varying from −0.5° to 1.3°and deviation of ellipticity angle (2χ) varying from −0.98° to 7.27°. The DOT polarization analyzer measured the polarization with a deviation of the orientation angle (2ψ) that varied from −2.93° to 3.49° and deviation of ellipticity angle (2χ) that varied from −3.5° to 3.05°.

Abstract Metastasis is a major cause of treatment failure and poor outcomes in cancer patients. The data used in the current study was downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. Differentially expressed metastasis-related genes were identified and the biological functions were implemented. Kaplan–Meier analysis univariate, and, multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify robust prognostic biomarkers, followed by construction of the risk model and nomogram. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to identify pathways enriched in low- and high-risk groups. POLR2J3 and MYH11 were treated as prognostic biomarkers in LSCC and the risk model was constructed. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed the good performance of the risk model. A nomogram with high accuracy was constructed, as evidenced by calibration and decision curves. Moreover, we found that the expressions of POLR2J3 and MYH11 was significantly higher in metastasis tissues compared with those in non-metastasis tissues by RT-qPCR and IHC. Our study identified novel metastasis-related prognostic biomarkers in LSCC and constructed a unique nomogram for predicting the prognosis of LSCC patients. Moreover, we explored the related mechanisms of metastasis-related genes in regulating LSCC.

The ongoing evolution of digital technology significantly transforms the format of film and television media, simultaneously diversifying the training modes and requirements for media professionals. In this paper, the comprehensive characteristics of film and television art media are analyzed, and specific manifestations of cultural change in the form of film and television art media are identified. At the same time, combined with the cultural change manifestations, it helps media talents to find their role positioning, clarifies the digital literacy structure of media talents, and establishes a double-loop digital cultivation model of the connotation and form change of film and television art media. To further explore the digital cultivation of media talents, a quantitative analysis of data was conducted on the market development trend and the cultivation of media talents. It was found that the overall market demand for media talents increased by 65.67% between 2015 and 2023, but the employment rate of media talents decreased by 3.85 percentage points between 2016 and 2020. The χ2 -test value of digital training of media talents is 26.317, which has a very significant difference at the 1% level. The digital cultivation mode of media talents based on digital technology can effectively enhance the satisfaction of media talents, better meet the demand for talents in the film and television art media market, and help the media industry develop with high quality.

In this study, the solution of the Neumann problem associated with the CR Yamabe operator on a subset Ω\Omega of the CR manifold S3{{\mathbb{S}}}^{3} bounded by the Clifford torus Σ\Sigma is discussed. The Yamabe-type problem of finding a contact form on Ω\Omega which has zero Tanaka-Webster scalar curvature and for which Σ\Sigma has a constant pp-mean curvature is also discussed.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors related to long ⁃ term prognosis in patients with severe tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Methods One hundred sixty⁃three patients with severe TBM admitted to Tianjin Haihe Hospital from June 2012 to December 2019 were included. After one year of anti⁃tuberculous therapy, the prognosis of the patients was evaluated by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Univariate and multivariate stepwise Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the influencing factors of long ⁃ term dismal prognosis of severe TBM. The predictive value was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results In the dismal prognosis group (mRS > 2, n = 68), patients' age (t = ⁃ 5.884, P = 0.000), hypertension (χ2 = 15.769, P = 0.000), coronary heart disease (adjusted χ2 = 6.785, P = 0.009), limb weakness (χ2 = 9.544, P = 0.002), hydrocephalus (χ2 = 23.004, P = 0.000), cerebral infarction (χ2 = 17.417, P = 0.000), cerebrospinal fluid (CBF) lactic acid level (Z = ⁃ 2.405, P = 0.016) were higher than those in favourable prognosis group (mRS ≤ 2, n = 95), while Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission was lower than that in favourable prognosis group (Z = ⁃ 6.750, P = 0.000). Logistic regression showed that old age (OR = 1.064, 95%CI: 1.031-1.098; P = 0.000) and high CSF lactic acid level (OR = 1.404, 95%CI: 1.065-1.852; P = 0.016) were risk factors for long⁃term dismal prognosis of severe TBM, and high GCS score on admission was a protective factor for long⁃term favourable prognosis of severe TBM (OR = 0.539, 95%CI: 0.405-0.716; P = 0.000). ROC curve showed the cut ⁃ off value of age for predicting long ⁃ term dismal prognosis of severe TBM on admission was 48.50 years, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.743 (95%CI: 0.665-0.822, P = 0.000), the sensitivity was 63.20% and the specificity was 76.80%. The cut⁃off value of GCS score was 12.50, the AUC was 0.802 (95%CI: 0.732-0.871, P = 0.000), the sensitivity was 58.80% and the specificity was 86.30%. The cut⁃off value of lactic acid level in CSF was 6.99 mmol/L, the AUC was 0.611 (95%CI: 0.517-0.704, P = 0.016), the sensitivity was 42.60% and the specificity was 91.60%. The AUC of the combined application of the 3 indexes was 0.892 (95%CI: 0.841-0.944, P = 0.000), the sensitivity was 80.90% and the specificity was 88.40%, which showed that the prediction efficiency was better than that of a single index. Conclusions Advanced age and high lactic acid level in CBF are risk factors for dismal long⁃term prognosis of severe TBM. High GCS score on admission is a protective factor. Clinicians should focus on these factors to improve the prognosis of patients.

Aiming at the problems of slagging and high temperature corrosion of water wall in a 1 000 MW ultra-supercritical double tangential boiler, the mechanism of slagging and high temperature corrosion of boiler was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF).The results show that the presence of sodium and calcium in coal reduces the ash melting point of coal, causing boiler slagging. Sulfide-type high temperature corrosion is the main type of high temperature corrosion of the boiler. Through coal blending optimization and air distribution adjustment, the coal quality feeding into the furnace and the air distribution mode of the burner were optimized. The results show that selecting low-sulfur and low-slagging coal for blending can effectively alleviate the problem of slagging in the furnace. The increase of the total air volume of the boiler and the reasonable adjustment of the secondary air distribution of the burner can effectively reduce the concentration of the reducing atmosphere in the furnace, and alleviate the problem of high temperature corrosion in the furnace. The prediction results of boiler corrosion tendency by numerical simulation method show that the high-temperature corrosion should be further prevented in the hot corner area of the furnace by adding adherent wind or water wall spraying.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the quality changes during the fermentation of sauerkraut without salt and inoculated with lactic acid bacteria and during low-temperature storage. Methods: The basic physicochemical indexes and quality changes of sauerkraut during fermentation were analyzed. Results: The unsalted sauerkraut reached maturity at 5 d of fermentation and the pH, nitrite content, reducing sugar content and vitamin C content decreased significantly (P

Objective: This study aimed to improve the preparation efficiency seaweed iodine and reduce the cost. Methods: The ultrasonic assisted technology was applied in kelp extraction section. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology of seaweed iodine was optimized by single factor and response surface test design. The amino acid composition in the final product was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: ultrasonic power 125 W, ultrasonic time 130 min and ultrasonic temperature 57 ℃. Under the control of these conditions, the extraction yield was 39.85%, which was 1.6 times higher than that without ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The seaweed iodine products contained 11 kinds of amino acids, including 2 kinds of essential amino acids and 2 kinds of umami amino acids, and diiodotyrosine was also detected. Conclusion: Ultrasonic-assisted preparation can improve the production efficiency of iodine in seaweed.

The classification of surrounding rock stability of coal roadway has important theoretical and practical significance for the design, construction and management of on-site rock mass engineering.This paper selected seven key indexes that affect the surrounding rock stability of coal roadway, collected the samples through field cases collection, questionnaires and literature measurement, and established the surrounding rock stability classification database.By drawing on six machine learning methods, this study established the classification prediction models of surrounding rock stability of coal roadway accordingly.Through model calculation, it is concluded that the Neural Network and the improved Support Vector Machine model have higher prediction accuracy.The model is applied to the actual project of Huozhou mining area.Results show that the neural network and the improved support vector machine methods have high prediction accuracy and good reliability.

Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects brain function, is associated with cancer progression, thus making it a potential biomarker. Despite the increasing efforts and ideas for gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based colorimetric detection over the years, preparing AuNPs and sensing targets are separate processes, and this incurs more time to operate and produces excess waste. Herein, we report a simple, sensitive, and rapid colorimetric detection method for serotonin based on the in situ formation of AuNP. When only the aptamer is present, it can prevent chloride-induced aggregation of AuNPs because it easily binds to the freshly synthesized AuNPs through its exposed bases to increase the positive charge of the AuNP surfaces. When a complex of serotonin and its aptamer is formed, this complex disturbs the adsorption between aptamers and AuNPs, resulting in reduced stability of AuNPs and easy aggregation of nanoparticles. Therefore, serotonin was measured by color change, consistent with the change in peak intensity in the UV-vis absorption spectrum. The sensor demonstrated good sensitivity with a detection limit of 1 ng/mL (5.7 nM) for serotonin, which is comparable to or better than that of other aptamer-based colorimetric detection methods, further exhibiting the requisite selectivity against possible interferents. These results serve as a basis for developing other biosensors using aptamer-mediated in situ growth of AuNPs.

Based on the strong classification feature recognition algorithm, the calculation algorithm of a text semantic similarity is studied with the performance evaluation in this paper. In order to achieve a general algorithm for this function, the semantic function library based on a semantic recognition code as a comparison object is designed. It drives the algorithm modules of two fuzzy neuron deep convolution machine learning, and between these two processes of machine learning, a rigid algorithm based on Fourier transform frequency domain feature is extracted. Finally, a more complex machine learning general algorithm is realized by the use of external data fuzzy algorithm and de-fuzzy algorithm before and after the algorithm module. It is also a technical innovation in this paper. Through the performance evaluation based on the subjective evaluation of volunteers, it is found that the system focuses on the text semantic similarity evaluation of the Chinese language, and achieves a comparison result of 81.78% of the artificial judgment accuracy rate, and only 5.52% of the volunteers believe that the system judgment result is completely different from that of manual judgment.

With the development of the combination of medicine and engineering and the improvement of clinical rehabilitation demand, intelligent upper limb rehabilitation robots can provide stroke patients with high intensity and repetition of active rehabilitation training to restore the upper limb motor function and achieve the remodeling of damaged brain nerves. However, many upper limb rehabilitation robot systems are still in the stage of laboratory development or clinical verification. This paper summarizes the latest research results of upper limb rehabilitation robots at home and abroad, compares the advantages and disadvantages of different types of robots, looks forward to the development trend of upper limb rehabilitation robots, and provides ideas for further promoting clinical transformation.

Abstract Objective To clarify the clinical efficacy of styloid incision truncation via percutaneous punching in treating styloid process (styloid) syndrome. Methods The clinical data of 40 styloid syndrome patients treated in our hospital from July 2018 to August 2021 were chosen and divided into an observation group and a control group in a random manner, with 20 cases in each. The control group received treatment with styloid truncation via an external cervical approach, and the observation group received treatment with styloid incision truncation via percutaneous punching. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of truncated styloid, clinical efficacy, pain scores, postoperative complications and inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed in the both groups. Results The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, length of truncated styloid and hospital stay in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P

C30H28Cl2N6O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 15.812(5) Å, b = 8.820(3) Å, c = 22.615(7) Å, β = 109.814(10)°, V = 2967.2(16) Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.0489, wRref(F2) = 0.1302, T = 296(2) K.

Grafting has been found to effectively reduce the prickly nature of Zanthoxylum armatum seedlings, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on stems (JJ) and leaves (JY) of grafted stems (SJ) and leaves (SY) of non-grafted Zanthoxylum armatum seedlings. The authors obtained 3097, 2124, 5995, and 5043 differentially expressed genes from JJ vs. SJ, JY vs. SY, JY vs. JJ, and SY vs. SJ with 17 co-expressed genes. The RNA-seq results were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. Function annotations showed that many DEGs enriched plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interaction. Secondary metabolites associated with stress-related hormones and defense were noticeably up-regulated in grafted plants. However, key enzymes regulating lignin synthesis were slightly down-regulated in grafted plants. Additionally, grafted plants had several noticeable up-regulated stress-response TFs (transcription factors), including NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC1/2), ERF (ethylene response factor), MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog), bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix), and WRKY. This study generated abundant sequences for elucidating the genetic differences between grafted and non-grafted Z. armatum.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent one of the main components in the tumor stroma and play a key role in breast cancer progression. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been established to mediate breast cancer metastasis by regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness of cancer cells. Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) is a scaffold protein of caveolae that is related to the proliferation and metabolism of cancer cells. It is now well demonstrated that CAV-1 deficiency in the tumor stroma is positively correlated with distant metastasis, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we explore whether CAV-1-deficient fibroblasts play an essential role in the EMT and stemness of breast cancer cells (BCCs) through TGF-β signaling. We establish a specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) to inhibit CAV-1 expression in fibroblasts and coculture them with BCCs to investigate the effect of CAV‑1-deficient fibroblasts and the tumor microenvironment on breast cancer progression. This study refreshingly points out that CAV-1 deficiency in fibroblasts enhances TGF-β1 secretion and then activates the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway of BCCs, thus promoting the metastasis and stemness of BCCs. Collectively, our findings indicate an unexpected role of CAV-1 deficiency in fibroblasts and the tumor microenvironment as a permissive factor, which is regulated by the TGF-β1 signaling pathway in BCCs.

Aiming at the data preprocessing requirements and label data cost issues arising from the intelligent operation and maintenance of electromechanical equipment, this article mainly studies structured data cleaning methods and fault prediction algorithms for a small number of label samples. First, this article introduces the overall architecture of the intelligent operation and maintenance system for electromechanical equipment. Second, based on the electromechanical equipment operation and maintenance data access service, data cleaning, and fault prediction, this article constructs an electromechanical equipment intelligent operation and maintenance platform based on Kafka message queue, Spark cluster, and other components, and introduces the functional composition of the system in detail. Finally, the article describes the functions of each component of data access service, data cleaning, and fault prediction in detail. To address the cost issue associated with sufficient labeled sample data for data analysis, we propose a semi-supervised learning algorithm, IF-GBDT, based on improved independent forests and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree. The independent forest algorithm supplements labels for unlabeled data based on the learning results of a small number of labeled samples. We also use the gradient lifting tree algorithm to train the model based on the new tag data set for fault prediction, thereby reducing the impact of lack of tags on the accuracy of the prediction model. Experiments show that this method improves classification accuracy and has good adaptability and concurrency performance for a small number of tags.

The IN738 nickel-based superalloy has a high Al, Ti and γ’ (Ni3 [Al, Ti]) content phase that causes notable crack sensitivity when processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). After examining the effects of Ti and Co on the microstructure and mechanical properties of IN738 alloy processed by LPBF, this research revealed that a moderate decrease in Ti content and an increase in Co content resulted in a wide range of processing parameters to obtain crack-free LPBF specimens. The samples were treated by different heat-treatment processes and then investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The newly designed IN738G exhibited an excellent combination of tensile strength (1253.5 MPa) and elongation (16.37%) compared to the IN738 alloy (1115.7 MPa, 6.99%) under room-temperature conditions.

The most prevalent chronic disease among senior people, and its prevalence rises with age, is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One study predicts that the prevalence of dementia will triple globally by 2050. Sleep disorder (sleep disturbance) is a condition that also often occurs in the elderly population. More than about 25%~60% of AD patients have sleep disturbances or circadian rhythm changes. But the sleep disorders during the early stage of AD have not been uniformly recognized. Of the stages of AD, those experiencing the early stage have the most patients. Therefore, this paper summarises the conditions and types of sleep disorders in the first stage of AD, and the articles of sleep disorders of that time lesions are retrieved and analysed. This paper also deals with two pathological mechanisms during early AD: beta amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and tau protein entanglement. By describing the effects of two western drugs and a Chinese herbal medicine, this paper shows that sleep disorders in older adults may suggest mild cognitive impairment and that more attention needs to be paid to what current research suggests. Early AD lesions can lead to sleep disorders and the search for more accurate biomarkers will be a major driver in the development of diagnostics that may delay AD onset.

Ferroptosis plays an important role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We aim to develop a new ferroptosis-related gene signature predicting the prognosis of ICC. We download RNA expression profiles and clinical data of ICC from TCGA and GEO databases. Ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are screened by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses are performed to understand the function of DEGs and co-expressed genes. Univariate Cox and LASSO regression are used to develop a ferroptosis-related gene signature. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic value. RNA sequencing is performed in 30 patients with ICC in our medical center to validate the prognostic value of the gene signature. We identify 44 ferroptosis-related DEGs, among which four (ACSL4, IREB2, NFE2L2, and TP53) are associated with overall survival (OS). Functional enrichment analysis shows that ferroptosis-associated DEGs have an important impact on ICC carcinogenesis. A new ferroptosis-related gene signature based on DEGs is built, and the prognostic ability is confirmed by KM and ROC curves (AUC=0.777, 0.75, 0.799 for 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively). Patients with high risk scores have worse OS ( P=0.0081). In the validation cohort, the expression of DEGs is in accordance with that in the exploration cohort. The four-gene signature is also demonstrated to have a favorable prognostic value (AUC=0.69). A new predictive model based on four ferroptosis-related genes (ACSL4, IREB2, NFE2L2, and TP53) is established and shows favorable prognostic value.

Antibiotic resistance is an emerging risk for human and animal health, and mitigating the risk requires an improved understanding of various sources of risks and identifying the level of threats for each source. Many antibiotics are currently used against pathogens for treating infections in animals and humans, and it is considered that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) acquired by pathogens may have an environmental origin. Because of contamination in ambient waterways, it is likely that ARGs may affect both organic and non-organic farming. While health risk as a consequence of ARGs is difficult to determine because of lack of understanding of dose-response, the presence of ARGs in human waste and animal manure, and the subsequent application of these organic wastes as fertilizers has a potential of spreading ARGs in the environment. Additional research is needed to understand the presence, growth, and transport of ARGs through animal wastes such as dairy manure. In this review, we focus on synthesizing information regarding the occurrence of ARGs in dairy manure, potential transport pathways, and factors responsible for the spread of ARGs in the environment. Besides, we also explore potential treatment methods that may contribute to the ARG removal in dairy manure and help alleviate ARG contamination.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of hybrid surgery (microsurgery combined with intraoperative DSA) in the treatment of acute hemorrhagic cerebral vascular disease. Methods The clinical data, imaging data, treatment and prognosis of 11 patients with acute hemorrhagic cerebral vascular disease treated by hybrid operation from April 2020 to February 2021 in the Anqing First People's Hospital of Anhui Medical University were analyzed. The results showed 3 cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (CAVM), including 2 cases located in temporoparietal lobe and one case in right lateral fissure; 2 cases of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) at the base of anterior cranial fossa while fistulaes located in sieve plate; 6 cases of intracranial aneurysms, including 3 cases in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation, one case in the pericallosal artery, and 2 cases in the communicating segment of internal carotid artery (ICA). Results All 11 patients completed the surgery successfully, and the success rate was 100%. CAVM resection combined with hematoma removal were performed in 3 cases of CAVM, including one case that intraoperative DSA suggested a little residual malformed mass after initial resection, while DSA reexamination suggested total resection after supplementary resection. Dural arteriovenous fistula resection combined with hematoma removal were performed in 2 cases of anterior fossa, after the fistula was closed, DSA reexamination suggested the arteriovenous fistula disappeared completely. Intracranial aneurysm clipping was performed in 6 cases, DSA showed complete clipping in 4 cases, and complete clipping in 2 cases of aneurysm neck residual after adjustment or aneurysm clip supplement. DynaCT indicated satisfactory final removal of intracranial hematoma in all patients with intracranial hematoma. No patient had serious complications such as rebleeding and cerebral infarction. After a mean follow-up of 8.45 months, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was 1 in 4 cases and 1 in 2 cases, and 0 in the other 9 cases. All patients underwent at least one CTA or DSA reexamination, and no residual or recurrent vascular lesions were found. Conclusions Hybrid operation as a new treatment mode for acute hemorrhagic cerebral vascular disease is safe and effective, and further accumulation of cases and experience are needed.

Kidney diseases are common health problems worldwide. Various etiologies ultimately lead to the development of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Natural compounds from herbs or medicinal plants are widely used for therapy and prevention of various ailments, among which is Inonotus obliquus. I. obliquus is rich in triterpenoids and the main active ingredients include betulinic acid, trametenolic acid, inotodiol, and ergosterol. New evidence suggests that I. obliquus triterpenes may be an effective drug for the treatment and protection of various kidney diseases. The aim of this review is to highlight the pharmacological activities and potential role of I. obliquus triterpenes in the kidney disease treatment and protection.

First-principle calculations are used to study the electronic structures, electronic and optical properties of pure, phosphorus-doped, aluminum-doped, and phosphorus and aluminum co-doped graphene. The gap between the conduction band and valence band of intrinsic graphene is zero. However, when graphene is doped with P, Ga, and P–Ga, the gap in energy will be opened and to a different extent. In the three different doping results, the gap values between the conduction and valence bands of P, Ga, and P–Ga graphene are 0.11, 0.35, and 0.39 eV, respectively. When graphene is doped with P–Ga, more electrons (1.40 e) will be gained by carbon atoms compared to P-doped graphene (0.61 e), while fewer electrons (1.49 e) will be transferred to carbon atoms compared to Ga-doped graphene (1.75 e). After doping with P, Ga, and P–Ga, the overall intensity of the graphene absorption peak is weakened and more pronounced relative to the low-frequency peaks. This result can fully demonstrate that the band gap of the doped graphene system can be better tuned by adding phosphorus and gallium atoms.

ObjectiveTo systematically compare the bowel cleaning ability, patient tolerance and safety of oral sodium phosphate tablets (NaPTab) and oral polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (PEGL) to inform clinical decision making.MethodsPubMed, Embase, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI, and VIP databases were searched for studies that used randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the roles of NaPTab and PEGL in bowel preparation before colonoscopy. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included papers. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 13 RCTs were eligible for inclusion, including 2,773 patients (1,378 and 1,395 cases in the NaPTab and PEGL groups, respectively). Meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in the cleansing quality of the NaPTab and PEGL groups [RR 1.02, 95% CI (0.96–1.08), P = 0.46]. The incidence of nausea was lower in the NaPTab group than in the PEGL group [RR 0.67, 95% CI (0.58–0.76), p < 0.00001]. Patients rated the taste of NaPTab higher than PEGL [RR 1.33, 95% CI (1.26–1.40), P < 0.00001]. Willingness to repeat the treatment was also higher in the NaPTab group than in the PEGL group [RR 1.52, 95% CI (1.28–1.80), P < 0.00001]. Both serum potassium and serum calcium decreased in both groups after the preparation; however, meta-analysis revealed that both minerals decreased more in the NaPTab group than in the PEGL group [MD = 0.38, 95% CI (0.13–0.62), P = 0.006 for serum potassium and MD = 0.41, 95% CI (0.04–0.77), P = 0.03 for serum calcium]. Meanwhile, serum phosphorus increased in both groups after the preparation; however, levels increased more in the NaPTab group than in the PEGL group [MD 4.51, (95% CI 2.9–6.11), P < 0.00001].ConclusionsWhile NaP tablets and PEGL were shown to have a similar cleaning effect before colonoscopy, NaP tablets had improved patient tolerance. However, NaP tablets had a strong effect on serum potassium, calcium, and phosphorus levels. For patients with low potassium, low calcium, and renal insufficiency, NaP tablets should be prescribed with caution. For those at high-risk for acute phosphate nephropathy, NaP tablets should be avoided. Given the low number and quality of included studies, these conclusions will require additional verification by large high-quality studies.Systematic review registration10.37766/inplasy2023.5.0013, identifier: NPLASY202350013.

The article summarized the classification of flavonoids and their physiological activities in recent years. The classification, adsorption mechanism and application effects of nano-solid-phase extractant in the separation and purification of flavonoids were reviewed, and the development trend of the separation and purification on flavonoids by nano-solid-phase extractant was analyzed.

Abstract In recent years, various newly emerged and re-emerged RNA viruses have seriously threatened the global public health. There is a pressing need for rapid and reliable nucleic acid–based assays for detecting viral RNA. Here, we successfully developed a highly sensitive, easy-to-operate G4-ThT-NASBA system to detect viral RNA that no need for labeled primers and probes. Next, we tested the system for detecting the Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), an RNA virus that causes a highly contagious disease in domestic pigs and wild boar and easily causes huge economic losses. Results showed that the system, integrated the G4-ThT fluorescent biosensor and NASBA (Nuclear acid sequence-based amplification),is capable to detect as little as 2 copies/μL of viral RNA without interfering by other swine viral RNA. Moreover, we were able to detect CSFV RNA within 2 h in serum samples taken from the field in a real-time mode. These findings indicate that the G4-ThT-NASBA system is a rapid, high sensitivity and easy-to-operate technique for RNA detection. The method also has the real-time detection capability which may be easily integrated in a highly automated system such as microfluidic chips.

Abstract Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex and multisystem neurobehavioral disease, which is caused by the lack of expression of paternally inherited imprinted genes on chromosome15q11.2-q13.1. The clinical manifestations of PWS vary with age. It is characterized by severe hypotonia with poor suck and feeding difficulties in the early infancy, followed by overeating in late infancy or early childhood and progressive development of morbid obesity unless the diet is externally controlled. Compared to Western PWS patients, Chinese patients have a higher ratio of deletion type. Although some rare disease networks, including PWS Cooperation Group of Rare Diseases Branch of Chinese Pediatric Society, Zhejiang Expert Group for PWS, were established recently, misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis and inappropriate intervention were usually noted in China. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated multidisciplinary approach to facilitate early diagnosis and optimize management to improve quality of life, prevent complications, and prolong life expectancy. Our purpose is to evaluate the current literature and evidences on diagnosis and management of PWS in order to provide evidence-based guidelines for this disease, specially from China.

The design of workwear has significant effects on worker performance. However, the current workwear for coal miners in Northern China is poor in fitness and thermal comfort. In this study, new workwear (NEW) for coal miners was developed with the design features providing better cold protection and movement comfort performance, as compared with a commonly worn workwear (CON). To evaluate the effectiveness of NEW, we conducted human trials which were performed using simulated work movements (i.e., sitting, shoveling, squatting, and crawling) in a climate chamber (10°C, 75% RH). Physiological measurements and perceptual responses were obtained. The results demonstrated that the local skin temperatures at chest, scapula, thigh, and calf; mean skin temperatures,; and thermal comfort in NEW were significantly higher than those in CON. NEW also exerted an improvement in enhancing movement comfort. We conclude that NEW could meet well with the cold protective and mobility requirements.

The aim of this study was to verify the biological function of miR-1273h-5p in gastric cancer (GC) and its underlying mechanisms. The differential expression of microRNAs between GC and tumor-adjacent normal tissues was detected using microarrays, miR-1273h-5p, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) mRNA, and protein levels were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting methods, cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. Compared to tumor-adjacent normal tissue and gastric epithelial mucosa cell line cells, miR-1273h-5p was significantly downregulated in tissues and cells of GC. The overexpression of miR-1273h-5p could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promote cell apoptosis; in contrast, inhibition of miR-1273h-5p expression could reverse this process. Moreover, a significant upregulation of CXCL12 was observed when the miR-1273h-5p was downregulated in GC cells. Additionally, miR-1273h-5p significantly reduces tumor volume and weight. Thus, this study suggests that miR-1273h-5p regulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis during GC progression by directly binding to CXCL12 mRNA 3′-untranslational regions, which may be a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target in GC.

Abstract Neuroinflammation occurs early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The initial stage of AD is related to glial dysfunction, which contributes to impairment of Aβ clearance and disruption of synaptic connection. CEBPβ, a member of the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (CEBP) family, modulates the expression of inflammation-associated genes, and its expression is elevated in brains undergoing degeneration and injured brains. However, the mechanism underlying CEBPβ-mediated chronic inflammation in AD is unclear. In this study, we observed that increases in the levels of nuclear CEBPβ facilitated the interaction of CEBPβ with the NFκB p65 subunit, increasing the transcription of proinflammatory cytokines in the APP/PS1 mouse brain. Oral administration of nanocarrier-packaged carnosic acid (CA) reduced the aberrant activation of microglia and astrocytes and diminished mature IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6 production in the APP/PS1 mouse brain. CA administration reduced β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and ameliorated cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. We observed that CA blocked the interaction of CEBPβ with NFκB p65, and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that CA reduced the transcription of the NFκB target genes TNFα and IL-6. We confirmed that CA alleviated inflammatory mediator-induced neuronal degeneration and reduced Aβ secretion by inhibiting the CEBPβ-NFκB signalling pathway in vitro. Sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD) was used as the encapsulation agent for the CA-loaded nanocarrier to overcome the poor water solubility and enhance the brain bioavailability of CA. The CA nanoparticles (NPs) had no obvious toxicity. We demonstrated a feasible SBEβCD-based nanodelivery system targeting the brain. Our data provide experimental evidence that CA-loaded NPs are potential therapeutic agents for AD treatment.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of diagnosing secondary pulmonary fungal infections (PFIs) in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) using computerized tomography (CT) imaging and a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. A total of 100 patients with HM complicated by secondary PFI underwent CT scans, and they were included in the training group. Concurrently, 80 patients with the same underlying disease who were treated at our institution were included in the test group. The types of pathogens among different PFI patients and the CT imaging features were compared. Radiomic features were extracted from the CT imaging data of patients, and a diagnostic SVM model was constructed by integrating these features with clinical characteristics. Aspergillus was the most common pathogen responsible for PFIs, followed by Candida, Pneumocystis jirovecii, Mucor, and Cryptococcus, in descending order of occurrence. Patients typically exhibited bilateral diffuse lung lesions. Within the SVM algorithm model, six radiomic features, namely the square root of the inverse covariance of the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (square root IV), the square root of the inverse covariance of the gray-level co-occurrence matrix, and small dependency low gray-level emphasis, significantly influenced the diagnosis of secondary PFIs in patients with HM. The area under the curve values for the training and test sets were 0.902 and 0.891, respectively. Therefore, CT images based on the SVM algorithm demonstrated robust predictive capability in diagnosing secondary PFIs in conjunction with HM.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of treadmill exercise stress echocardiography (TESE) combined with left ventricular (LV) layer‐specific strain (LSS) in subclinical myocardial and reserve function of hypertensive patients. A total of 55 hypertensive patients and 51 controls were evaluated during rest and exercise. Two‐dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) and LSS technique was used to measure longitudinal and circumferential strains at rest and peak exercise, strain difference characteristics were then evaluated. Compared to the control subjects, both longitudinal and circumferential LSS showed different degrees of reduction in hypertensive group, which was more pronounced at peak exercise. The global longitudinal endocardium strain (GLSendo) at rest was 24.4% ± 1.5% in the control group versus 20.4% ± 2.3% in the hypertensive group, while the difference was more obvious at peak state (control vs. hypertensive group, 30.8% ± 2.8% and 22.8% ± 2.9%, respectively). In particular, endocardial strain under exercise can be used as a sensitive indicator where the LV contractile reserve (CR) function of the three layers are all impaired. TESE combined with LSS might increase diagnostic accuracy of myocardial performance in hypertension patients.