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Abstract Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a common respiratory pathogen affecting the longevity of the elderly and the health of children. However, the human vaccine against MP has not been successfully developed till now due to the poor immunogenicity and side effects of MP inactivated or attenuated vaccine. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a MP genetic engineering vaccine with influenza virus strain as vector. Methods In this study, the major antigen genes P1a of MP adhesion factor P1(3862‐4554 bases) and P30a of P30(49‐822 bases) were inserted into the nonstructural protein (NS) gene of Influenza A virus strain A/Puerto Rio/8/34(H1N1), PR8 for short, to construct the recombinant vectors NS‐P1a or NS‐P30a. The recombinant pHW2000 plasmids containing NS‐P1a or NS‐P30a were cotransfected with the rest 7 fragments of PR8 into HEK293T cells. After inoculating chicken embryos, the recombinant influenza viruses rFLU‐P1a and rFLU‐P30a were rescued. RT‐PCR and sequencing were used to identify the recombinant viruses. The hemagglutination titers of rFLU‐P1a and rFLU‐P30a were determined after five successive generations in chicken embryos so as to indicate the genetic stability of the recombinant viruses. The morphology of recombinant influenza viruses was observed under electron microscopy. Results P1a or P30a was designed to be inserted into the modified NS gene sequence separately and synthesized successfully. RT‐PCR identification of the recombinant viruses rFLU‐P1a and rFLU‐P30a showed that P1a (693 bp), P30a (774 bp), NS‐P1a (1992bp) and NS‐P30a (2073 bp) bands were found, and the sequencing results were correct. After five successive generations, each virus generation has a certain hemagglutination titer (from 1:32 to 1:64), and the band of P1a or P30a can be seen in the corresponding positions. The virus particles under the electron microscope appeared as spheres or long strips connected by several particles, revealing a complete viral membrane structure composed of virus lipid bilayer, hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix proteins. Conclusion The recombinant viruses rFLU‐P1a and rFLU‐P30a which carried the advantaged immune regions of the P1 and P30 genes in MP were successfully constructed and identified. And the genetic stability of rFLU‐P1a or rFLU‐P30a was relatively high. The typical and complete morphology of influenza virus was observed under the electron microscope. Our research provided a foundation for the further development of MP vaccines for human.

In this study, the influence of two distinct reactive aggregate dosages on the alkali–silica reaction (ASR) of concrete was investigated. The expansion ratio, axial compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and relative dynamic elastic modulus (RDEM) of concrete were considered as the main parameters to study the failure criteria of concrete induced by ASR at 40°C. Microscopic experiments, such as scanning electron microscopy and X-ray computed microtomography, were applied to analyze the damage induced by ASR on the concrete prisms and the propagation of internal cracks of the reactive aggregates in nanospace. The results showed that the two ranges can be used as the failure criteria produced by the ASR of concrete containing 3 and 6% dosages of reactive aggregates at 40°C, respectively, when the RDEM of concrete was reduced to 70‒75% and 85‒90%. Additionally, the results of CT indicated that microcracks tended to extend from the initial defects of aggregate to the cement slurry. Meanwhile, ASR gel packed with the pores, which reduced the porosity. It was noteworthy that the adhesive force between the ASR gel and the cement matrix after filling pores could not make up for the loss of the mechanical properties of concrete.

Background/Aim. Macroangiopathy is the major cause of death and disability in type 2 diabetic patients. Studies have shown that liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, can protect cardiovascular system by inhibiting chronic inflammation of diabetes. However, a study about the effects of liraglutide on peripheral blood vessels and peripheral blood leukocytes has not been reported yet. The aim of this study was to determine vasculoprotective effect, vascular protection and mechanism of action of liraglutide in addition to its hypoglycemic effect. Methods. A total of 60 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from December 2013 to December 2014 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, PR China. Before the treatment with liraglutide, height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and so on were detected. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and islet β cell function (HOMA-β) were computed. After applying liraglutide for three months, all indexes were measured again. The effects of liraglutide on these indexes were analyzed by paired sample t-test. Results. After the treatment with liraglutide, values of glycosylated hemoglobin ‒ HbA1c (8.46 ± 1.62 vs. 7.26 ± 1.40%) and 2h postprandial blood glucose ‒ 2hPBG (11.95 vs. 9.6 mmol/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Body weight (87.3 vs. 82.5 kg) and BMI (30.37 vs. 28.63 kg/m2) decreased by 5.5% and 5.7%, respectively (p < 0.05). Also, levels of triglycerides (TG) (2.57 ± 1.54 vs. 1.81 ± 0.70 mmol/L) and LDL-cholesterol (2.92 ± 0.78 vs. 1.89 ± 0.66 mmol/L) reduced significantly (p < 0.05). Ankle-brachial index (ABI) decreased from 1.24 ± 0.10 to 1.14 ± 0.06 cm/s by 8%, while brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) decreased from 1,442.15 ± 196.26 to 1,316.85 ± 146.63 cm/s by 8.7%, and both differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Liraglutide, with a good hypoglycemic effect, can significantly reduce postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c, but cannot significantly improve fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance and islet β cell function. It also considerably decreased body weight, BMI and TG. Liraglutide can significantly lower ba-PWV and ABI to protect peripheral blood vessels.

Objective: To compare the electroencephalogram power spectrum of patients with primary insomnia and good sleep controls in multiple brain areas and different frequency bands during non-rapid eye movement sleep. Methods: 48 primary insomnias and 30 age-and gender-matched good sleep controls were recorded overnight with polysomnography. Power spectral analysis was performed in six brain areas (F3, F4, C3, C4, O1 and O2) and across seven frequency bands (delta, sigma, alpha, theta, beta1, beta2, and gamma) during non-rapid eye movement sleep between primary insomnias and good sleep controls. Results: In primary insomnias, there were significant differences in frequency bands and areas. Compared to good sleep controls, delta power was lower in primary insomnias, while beta1, beta2, and gamma were higher. Beta2 power was substantially higher in all areas, sigma power was significantly higher on the right side, and gamma power was considerably higher on the left side in primary insomnias. The Beta1 power was positively correlated the number of awakenings (r = 0.3291, p = 0.02) in primary insomnias on the right side. Conclusion: This study marked the first specialized comparison of power spectral analysis during non-rapid eye movement sleep in different areas and across different frequency bands. The result suggested that primary insomnias had reduced deep sleep (lower delta power) and hyperarousal state (higher beta 2 power). Primary insomnia was associated with significant fragmented sleep, and an increase in beta1 power was related to the number of awakenings. Significance: These findings revealed the hemispheric lateralization characteristics of power spectral disturbances during non-rapid eye movement sleep in primary insomnias and provided valuable insights for selecting electrode placements in future power spectral analyses of primary insomnias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical decision-making is a complex multi-stage process. Chinese cancer patients' preference for participation in decision-making stages, family involvement and influencing factors remain unclear. Methods: A total of 1,422 cancer patients from four tertiary hospitals in China were included in the cross-sectional survey. Patient Expectation for Participation in Medical Decision-making Scale was used to measure patients' information, deliberation and decisional control preferences. The patient-family Control Preferences Scale was used to measure expected and actual levels of family involvement. Generalized estimation equation was performed to explore factors associated with patients' preferences. Results: 93.0% of patients had a high preference for information exchange, 95.8% for treatment deliberation, and 61.7% for decisional control. Equal participation was most common in family involvement in decision-making, followed by family-led and patient-led. 15.5% of patients reported a discrepancy between expected and actual family involvement. Age, education, marital status, number of adult children, occupation, family income, regular residence, health insurance and time since diagnosis were related to patient preference. Compared to patients with other cancer sites, those with breast [odds ratio (OR) 2.02, 95%CI: 1.47–2.77] and thyroid cancer [OR 2.37, 95%CI: 1.82–3.10] had higher information preference, those with breast [OR 2.98, 95%CI: 2.73–3.26] and esophagus cancer [OR 2.86, 95%CI: 1.13–7.22] had higher deliberation preference, and thyroid cancer patients [OR 1.50, 95%CI: 1.07–2.10] had higher decisional control preference. Patients who expected or experienced equal participation had higher preference at all stages of decision-making than those with family-led involvement. Patients with inconsistent expected and actual family involvement had lower preferences for the deliberation [OR 0.53, 95%CI: 0.36–0.77] and decisional control stages [OR 0.67, 95%CI: 0.56–0.79]. Conclusions: Chinese cancer patients generally have high preference for information exchange and treatment deliberation, but varied preferences for decision control, influenced by patients' sociodemographic factors, cancer types, time since diagnosis and family involvement. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring medical decision-making processes to individual patient preferences and ensuring family involvement aligns with patient expectations to enhance patient-centered care in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) are widely used in biosensing, catalysis, and energy storage due to their excellent conductivity, high specific surface area, unique quantum size effects, and optical properties. In this paper, we successfully synthesized N-GQDs using a facile hydrothermal approach and investigated the effects of different hydrothermal temperatures and times on the morphology and structure of N-GQDs. The results indicated that the size of N-GQDs gradually increased and they eventually aggregated into graphene fragments with increasing temperature or reaction time. Notably, N-GQDs synthesized at 180 °C for 6 h exhibited the most uniform size, with an average diameter of approximately 3.48 nm, a height of 5–6 graphene layers, as well as favorable fluorescence properties. Moreover, the surface of N-GQDs contained abundant oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, which could provide numerous active sites for electrode reactions. The assembled electrode exhibited typical pseudocapacitive behavior with exceptional electrochemical performance, achieving a specific capacitance of 102 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. In a 10,000-cycle test, the electrode demonstrated excellent cycling stability with a capacitance retention rate of 78.5%, which laid the foundation for practical application of the electrode. This work successfully applied N-GQDs in supercapacitors, offering new insights into their development for the energy storage field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimodal grain structure (BGS) Mg alloys containing a high fraction of fine grains (FGs) and a low fraction of coarse grains (CGs) show a good combination of strength and plasticity. Here, taking the ZK60 alloy as an example, the influences of CG size, volume fraction, and texture intensity on mechanical properties and the hetero-deformation-induced (HDI) effect were examined using the Mori–Tanaka mean-field method combined with strain gradient theory of plasticity. The results indicate that the overall mechanical properties decrease with an increase in CG size because the limited HDI effect cannot compensate for the strength and plasticity decrease derived from larger CGs. A higher aspect ratio of CG along the loading direction can weaken the HDI effect and subsequently reduce the overall mechanical properties. Optimal comprehensive mechanical properties can be achieved when the CG volume fraction is approximately 30%. Furthermore, an increasing basal texture intensity in CG results in higher yield strength and lower ultimate tensile strength, while the uniform elongation reaches a maximum value when ~60% of CGs possess hard orientations with Euler angles of (0~30°, 0°, 0°). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for effective electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers due to the proliferation of electronic devices and 5G communication systems, traditional wave-absorbing materials can no longer meet the current requirements. Thus, this research introduces a three-dimensional (3D) composite material consisting of PMMA@Mxene@Co₃O₄ microspheres, prepared through in situ self-assembly and hydrothermal growth. The strong electrical conductivity of Mxene, combined with the magnetic loss of Co₃O₄, ensures enhanced dielectric–magnetic synergy, leading to excellent EMW absorption. The study investigates the influence of varying Co₃O₄ content on the electromagnetic properties of the composite. Experimental results show that the optimal sample, with a thickness of 2.5 mm, achieves a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −52.88 dB at 6.88 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.28 GHz. This work highlights the potential of 3D PMMA@Mxene@Co₃O₄ composites as high-performance microwave absorbers, providing a promising solution to EMW pollution. The findings offer valuable insights into material design strategies, demonstrate a promising pathway for developing lightweight, high-performance EMW absorbing materials by optimizing impedance matching and utilizing advanced microstructure design techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study comprehensively performed genome-wide analyses of the oxidative stress 3 gene family in four representative Gossypium species, including identifications of family members, evolutionary relationships, structural features, chromosomal locations, collinearity, cis-acting elements, and expression patterns. Furthermore, the potential functions of cotton OXS3 genes against multiple abiotic stresses were verified. These findings offer valuable insights for use in molecular breeding aimed at cotton germplasm innovation or genetic improvement. Oxidative Stress 3 (OXS3) encodes a plant-specific protein that makes great contributions to a plant's stress tolerance. However, reports on genome-wide identification and expression pattern analyses of OXS3 were only found for Arabidopsis, wheat, and rice. The genus Gossypium (cotton) serves as an ideal model for studying allopolyploidy. Therefore, two diploid species (G. raimondii and G. arboreum) and two tetraploid species (G. hirsutum and G. barbadense) were chosen in this study for a bioinformatics analysis, resulting in 12, 12, 22, and 23 OXS3 members, respectively. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using 69 cotton OXS3 genes alongside 8 Arabidopsis, 10 rice, and 9 wheat genes, which were classified into three groups (Group 1–3). A consistent evolutionary relationship with the phylogenetic tree was observed in our structural analysis of the cotton OXS3 genes and the clustering of six conserved motifs. Gene duplication analysis across the four representative Gossypium species suggested that whole-genome duplication, segmental duplication, and tandem duplication might play significant roles in the expansion of the OXS3 gene family. Some existing elements responsive to salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) were identified by cis-regulatory element analysis in the promoter regions, which could influence the expression levels of cotton OXS3 genes. Furthermore, the expression patterns of the GhOXS3 gene were examined in different tissues or organs, as well as in developing ovules and fibers, with the highest expression observed in ovules. GhOXS3 genes exhibited a more pronounced regulatory response to abiotic stresses, of which ten GhOXS3 genes showed similar expression patterns under cold, heat, salt, and drought treatments. These observations were verified by quantitative real-time PCR experiments. These findings enhance our understanding of the evolutionary relationships and expression patterns of the OXS3 gene family and provide valuable insights for the identification of vital candidate genes for trait improvement in cotton breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantitative assessment of aircraft skin paint removal can more objectively reflect the efficacy of laser paint stripping. Post-laser paint removal, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted through both two-dimensional image analysis and three-dimensional profile analysis. This yielded two-dimensional cleanliness parameters based on the coverage of residual paint and three-dimensional removal efficiency metrics based on the volume of the stripped coating. The findings revealed that the two-dimensional cleanliness levels achieved by laser paint removal at varying degrees were recorded as 21.17%, 45.02%, 57.35%, 79.16%, and 97.79% respectively. Correspondingly, the three-dimensional removal rates were quantified at 85.94%, 87.97%, 89.12%, 94.84%, and 99.52% respectively. This research successfully provides an intuitive and quantitative characterization of both the two-dimensional cleanliness and three-dimensional removal rate in laser paint stripping, offering valuable references and a solid foundation for the objective and practical evaluation of laser paint removal effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]