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Abstract Background Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease prevalent in pastoral areas, mainly involving the liver and lungs, and rarely affecting the brain and heart. This article describes the diagnosis and treatment of 14 patients with cardiac encapsulated cysts, with the aim of providing insights into the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, therapeutic strategies, and outcomes associated with cardiac encapsulated cysts. Methods This retrospective case series included 13 patients with cardiac and/or cerebral encapsulated cysts. Results We retrospectively analyzed 14 patients diagnosed with cardiac and pericardial echinococcosis between 2012 and 2024 at our hospital. The patients’ average age was 26 years, ranging from 3 to 60 years. Echinococcal cysts were found in various cardiac locations, including the pericardium (5 patients), left ventricle (3 patients), right atrium (2 patients), and apical region of the heart (1 patient). Chest pain (6 patients) was a common symptom if the cyst was in the heart, dyspnea, or cough (3 patients) if it was in the lungs, and epilepsy (1 patient) if it was in the brain. Diagnosis of this condition necessitates the performance of both laboratory tests and imaging procedures. The latter requires the expertise of a trained professional to accurately differentiate between cardiac-encapsulated cysts and other types of cysts. All patients in our study were examined as described above. The recommended course of treatment is typically surgical removal of the cyst and administration of medications to prevent recurrence. In instances where the patient declines to surgery, it is advised that they be provided with medication and scheduled for regular follow-up appointments. In our study, data were lost for two patients. Eight patients underwent open-heart surgery, one underwent craniotomy for epilepsy, one underwent thoracentesis and drainage for pleural effusion, and one patient declined surgery. Conclusions Cardiac echinococcosis is common in pastoral populations, Surgical excision combined with pharmacological treatment is the best option for the treatment of cardiac echinococcosis.

This study investigates the motion patterns of the nested test cabin in a gunpowder gas overload test device. Multiple factors during the overload impact process were explored. Under the conditions of keeping the gunpowder combustion model, the friction coefficient between the inner and outer cabins, and the mass of the cabins unchanged, the special acceleration curve and its frequency spectrum and the impact response spectrum of the pseudo-velocity are analyzed. Numerical simulations and experimental studies revealed that there is compound motion between the inner and outer cabins in the gunpowder gas overload test device, resulting in small oscillations (referred to as oscillation wavelets) in the measurement results of the test system within the inner cabin. These oscillation wavelets occur when the critical acceleration of the test cabin reaches approximately 4700g. Increasing the initial velocity of the test cabin leads to a larger amplitude of the oscillation wavelets in the overall acceleration curve. In the frequency domain, secondary spectra appear under high overload conditions, and the bandwidth of the secondary spectra increases with the overload. The PVSRS trends for all overloads are roughly the same, with the variation in peak pseudo velocity being only on the order of $10^{-3}$ . Theoretical analysis and experimental results show good consistency, which helps to better understand the motion process of the test cabin in the gunpowder gas overload test device and provides support for the improvement and design of the overall device.

In the distribution network under the background of disaster, the distribution terminal embodies the characteristics of disorder. Therefore, when the distribution terminal node accesses the backup network, there will be congestion, delay and other phenomena. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a distribution terminal access mechanism based on sequence control. Then, a family of control sequences is constructed based on the trace function in the finite field. The control sequences can realize the rapid access of distribution terminal node users and the safe transmission without interference. Finally, the program algorithm for the process of distribution terminal node accessing and exiting the backup network based upon the control sequences is given. The fast and stable information transmission of distribution terminal node can be realized by means of the sequence control mechanism.

Skeleton-based human interaction recognition has gained increasing attention due to its ability to capture complex multi-person dynamics. Significant progress has been made in interaction recognition research, but challenges remain. First, variations in camera positions and viewpoints can cause significant differences in skeletal data for actions of the same type. Second, capturing both spatial information from skeleton structures and temporal information from interaction sequences is crucial for discriminative interaction feature representation. Third, the different contributions of each participant especially in asymmetric interactions are often overlooked. To address the above issues, we propose an innovative method by designing the individual contribution based spatial-temporal attention graph convolutional network. In this work, we first propose a simple but feasible view transformation method to reduce data mismatch from multi-view cameras. Then we design individual contribution weights to measure the importance of each person for interaction feature representation. Next, a novel spatial-temporal attention module based on individual contribution weights is proposed to obtain attention based skeleton data, which are fed to multiple layers of graph convolution to extract spatial-temporal features. Additionally, we use a two-stream architecture with joint coordinates and joint motion data as inputs for each stream. A weighted fusion strategy is utilized to obtain the final classification score. Experiments conducted on three different datasets demonstrate that proposed interaction recognition method can achieve satisfactory results compared with other works.

Abstract Background Mixed exhaled air has been widely used to determine exhaled propofol concentrations with online analyzers, but changes in dead space proportions may lead to inaccurate assessments of critical drug concentration data. This study proposes a method to correct propofol concentration in mixed air by estimating pulmonary dead space through reconstructing volumetric capnography (Vcap) from time-CO2 and time-volume curves, validated with vacuum ultraviolet time-of-flight mass spectrometry (VUV-TOF MS). Methods Existing monitoring parameters, including time-volume and time-CO2 curves, were used to determine Vcap. The ratio of physiological dead space to tidal volume (VD/VT) was calculated using Bohr’s formula. Additionally, an animal experiment on beagles was conducted with continuous propofol administration until a pseudo-steady state in exhaled propofol concentration was achieved. The propofol concentration in mixed air (CONCmix), and in alveolar air combined with N2 (CONCAN) were measured using VUV-TOF MS to calculate VD/VT. The agreements between VD/VT values from the two methods, along with the predicted CONCAN values based on Vcap and the actual measured CONCAN values were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson correlation analysis. Results After 30 min of continuous propofol administration, a stable respiratory cycle was selected for analysis in each beagle. The calculated VD/VT-Bohr values were 0.535 for beagle A, 0.544 for beagle B, and 0.552 for beagle C. Additionally, based on CONCmix and CONCAN, the calculated VD/VT-VUV-TOF MS values were 0.494, 0.504, and 0.513, respectively. Strong agreement between the two methods was demonstrated by an ICC of 0.994 (P = 0.003) and Pearson’s r of 0.995 (P = 0.045). Additionally, the predicted CONCAN values from mixed exhaled air (5.11 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) for beagle A, 5.93 ppbv for beagle B, and 2.56 ppbv for beagle C) showed strong agreement with the actual CONCAN values, with an ICC of 0.996 (P = 0.002) and Pearson’s r of 0.994 (P = 0.046). Conclusion The physiological dead space to tidal volume ratio from mixed air in beagles can be accurately measured using the existing time-volume and time-CO2 curves from the anesthesia machine, enabling corrections of exhaled propofol concentrations in mixed air samples.

Background: Pancreatic cancer, referred to as the “monarch of malignancies,” is a neoplastic growth mostly arising from the epithelial cells of the pancreatic duct and acinar cells. This particular neoplasm has a highly unfavorable prognosis due to its marked malignancy, inconspicuous initial manifestation, challenging early detection, rapid advancement, and limited survival duration. Cellular immunotherapy is the ex vivo culture and expansion of immune effector cells, granting them the capacity to selectively target malignant cells using specialized techniques. Subsequently, these modified cells are reintroduced into the patient's organism with the purpose of eradicating tumor cells and providing therapeutic intervention for cancer. Present situation: Presently, the primary cellular therapeutic modalities employed in the treatment of pancreatic cancer encompass CAR T-cell therapy, TCR T-cell therapy, NK-cell therapy, and CAR NK-cell therapy. Aim of review: This review provides a concise overview of the mechanisms and primary targets associated with various cell therapies. Additionally, we will explore the prospective outlook of cell therapy in the context of treating pancreatic cancer.

Abstract Bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance represent significant global public health challenges, necessitating the development of innovative antibacterial agents with targeted delivery capabilities. Our study utilized macrophages’ natural ability to recognize bacteria and the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) at infection sites to develop a novel nanoparticle for targeted delivery and controlled release. We prepared bacteria-activated macrophage membranes triggered by Staphylococcus aureus (Sa-MMs), which showed significantly higher expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), compared to normal macrophage membranes (MMs). These Sa-MMs were then used to coat vancomycin-loaded amphiphilic nanoparticles with ROS responsiveness (Van-NPs), resulting in the novel targeted delivery system Sa-MM@Van-NPs. Studies both In vitro and in vivo demonstrated that biocompatible Sa-MM@Van-NPs efficiently targeted infected sites and released vancomycin to eliminate bacteria, facilitating faster wound healing. By combining targeted delivery to infected sites and ROS-responsive antibiotic release, this approach might represent a robust strategy for precise infection eradication and enhanced wound healing.

Abstract Background Accurate prediction of pathological complete response (pCR) and disease-free survival (DFS) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) is essential for formulating effective treatment plans. This study aimed to construct and validate the machine learning (ML) models to predict pCR and DFS using pathomics. Method A retrospective analysis was conducted on 294 patients who received NCRT from two independent institutions. Pathomics from pre-NCRT H&E stains were extracted, and five ML models were developed and validated across two centers using ROC, Kaplan-Meier, time-dependent ROC, and nomogram analyses. Result Among the five ML models, the Xgboost (XGB) model demonstrated superior performance in predicting pCR, achieving an AUC of 1.000 (p

Abstract Backgroud In the previous era of functional genomics, it was widely believed that the expression levels of housekeeping genes (HKGs) remained relatively constant and were unaffected by variations in tissue type, cell development stage, cell cycle state, as well as internal and external cellular environments. With the improvement of gene microarray technology and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology for expression analysis of high-throughput differential genes, changes in the expression levels of HKGs have been found in certain human cancers. The present study aimed to experimentally validate the expression of Surfeit 4 gene (SURF4), a member of HKGs, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods The experimental techniques employed in this study encompassed real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess the mRNA and protein expression of SURF4 in ESCC, and their clinicopathological significance was statistically analyzed. Results All three tests showed significant differences between the three groups (Kruskal–Wallis test, P

Abstract Background As a prevalent and deadly malignant tumor, the treatment outcomes for late-stage patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are often suboptimal. Previous studies have shown that tumor progression is closely related with tumor metabolism and microenvironment reshaping, with disruptions in energy metabolism playing a critical role in this process. To delve deeper into the understanding of CSCC development, our research focused on analyzing the tumor microenvironment and metabolic characteristics across different regions of tumor tissue. Methods Utilizing spatial transcriptomics (ST) sequencing technology, we conducted a study on FFPE (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded) tumor samples from CSCC patients. Coupled with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data after deconvolution, we described spatial distribution maps of tumor leading edge and core regions in detail. Tumor tissues were classified into hypermetabolic and hypometabolic regions to analyze the metabolism profiles and tumor differentiation degree across different spatial areas. We also employed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to examine the analysis results of ST data. Results Our findings indicated a more complex tumor microenvironment in hypermetabolic regions. Cell-cell communication analysis showed that various cells in tumor microenvironment were influenced by the signalling molecule APP released by cancer cells and higher expression of APP was observed in hypermetabolic regions. Furthermore, our results revealed the correlation between APP and the transcription factor TRPS1. Both APP and TRPS1 demonstrated significant effects on cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, potentially contributing to tumor progression. Conclusions Utilizing ST, scRNA-seq, and TCGA database, we examined the spatial metabolic profiles of CSCC tissues, including metabolism distribution, metabolic variations, and the relationship between metabolism and tumor differentiation degree. Additionally, potential cancer-promoting factors were proposed, offering a valuable foundation for the development of more effective treatment strategies for CSCC.

Abstract Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a common complication in the perioperative period, which not only prolongs the hospitalization of patients, increases the cost of treatment, but even increases the postoperative mortality of patients, bringing a heavy burden to families and society. Mechanism exploration involves anesthesia and surgery that lead to microglial activation, promote the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory factors, cause an inflammatory cascade, aggravate nerve cell damage, and lead to cognitive dysfunction. It is believed that microglia‐mediated neuroinflammatory responses play a vital role in the formation of PND. Microglia surface receptors are essential mediators for microglia to receive external stimuli, regulate microglial functional status, and carry out intercellular signal transmission. Various microglial surface receptors trigger neuroinflammation, damage neurons, and participate in the development and progression of PND by activating microglia. In this study, the roles of immunoglobulin receptors, chemokine receptors, purinergic receptors, and pattern recognition receptors in microglia surface receptors in PND were reviewed, to provide a reference for the mechanism research, prevention, and treatment of PND.

To elucidate the wear mechanism of rail steel welded joints in desert environments, we investigated the high-temperature friction and wear performance of U75V flash–butt welded rails across weld joints (normalised and non-normalised) as well as the base material at temperatures of 60, 200, and 300 °C. Owing to debris accumulation and the oxidised lubricating layer produced by the frictional process, all specimens exhibited elevated wear volumes accompanied by reduced friction coefficients with increasing temperature. The wear mechanism transitioned from adhesive wear to intense adhesive wear and ultimately delamination wear. Notably, owing to an optimised grain structure, the normalised joint demonstrated superior resistance against wear compared to its non-normalised counterpart under high-temperature conditions. These findings are anticipated to enhance rail quality within desert environments.

Abstract Irreversible electroporation is a nonthermal ablation technique that uses a high-voltage electric current to create nanosized pores in the cell membrane of a malignant tumor, thus resulting in cell death. In recent years, an increasing number of clinical studies have shown that irreversible electroporation is a safe and effective treatment for prostate cancer. We describe the progress of irreversible electroporation in prostate cancer in recent years in terms of its mechanism of action, clinical studies, advantages and disadvantages and summarize the gaps in existing studies and directions for future research.

Abstract Background The spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) indicates a prethrombic state that ultimately progresses into thrombus formation. A comprehensive understanding of specific plasma metabolomics characteristics may protect AF patients from thrombus, particularly in the early stage. Objectives Through the investigation of metabolic pathways, we endeavor to uncover the metabolomic characteristics associated with SEC states, and to examine the differential metabolites by which may exert their influence on thrombotic states. Methods Patients with AF were enrolled, and the participants were divided into three groups based on the results of the echocardiogram: non-SEC, low-SEC and high-SEC group. Samples were collected and subjected to non-targeted metabolomics analysis. The analytical process included data quality control, metabolite difference analysis, component analysis, Kegg cluster analysis, etc. Results Our metabolic phenotype revealed a clear differential metabolic pattern between the SEC and non-SEC. Specifically, we identified 35 and 142 significantly differential metabolites in venous and atrial plasma, respectively, suggesting that SEC may be involved in pervasive metabolic dysregulation and that the degree of metabolic dysregulation in atrial plasma is more severe than that in venous blood. Conclusion Patients with SEC have a significantly different metabolic pattern compared to those without SEC. Our work promoted the understanding of mechanism of the occurrence and development of SEC, facilitated the screening of the target metabolites for its therapeutic intervention, and provided evidence for the prevention and treatment of SEC or thrombosis in AF. Our work also provided new directions for subsequent research in related fields. In conclusion, our study not only provides a theoretical basis for understanding the occurrence and development of SEC in AF, but also provides recommendations for the daily diet of AF patients with SEC, such as a balanced intake of essential amino acids, avoiding excessive intake of benzoic acid, and intake of appropriate inositol. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

The present study examined the evolution of interfacial microstructure and on the element distribution of GH4169/GH3039 dissimilar joints by laser welding under different preheating temperatures. The results indicated that the microstructure observed in the interface layer on the GH4169 side exhibited distinct layers, namely diffusion layer and transition layer, which varied depending on the varied preheating temperature. Within the weld seam (WS), two types of dendrites were predominantly present: lath-like columnar dendrite and cellular dendrite. In the GH3039 side, the grain structure was mainly dominated by columnar dendrites, exhibits perpendicular growth to the fusion line and demonstrates a certain epitaxial growth morphology. Moreover, excessive preheating temperature intensified the migration of elements and phase transition behavior. As the preheating temperature increased, the low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) percentage decreased from 13% to 9.4%. The average grain size of the WS at room temperature, 200 °C and 400 °C is 44.1 μm, 53.3 μm and 58.2 μm, respectively. This paper provides a basis for tuning microstructure and element behavior via preheating temperature optimization in laser welding of dissimilar GH4169/GH3039 for further engineering application.

Abstract The adaptive capacity of ecosystems, or their ability to function despite altered environmental conditions, is crucial for resilience to climate change. However, the role of landscape complexity or species traits on adaptive capacity remains unclear. Here, we combine field experiments and morphodynamic modelling to investigate how ecosystem complexity shapes the adaptive capacity of intertidal salt marshes. We focus on the importance of tidal channel network complexity for sediment accumulation, allowing vertical accretion to keep pace with sea-level rise. The model showed that landscape-scale ecosystem complexity, more than species traits, explained higher sediment accumulation rates, despite complexity arising from these traits. Landscape complexity, reflected in creek network morphology, also improved resilience to rising water levels. Comparing model outcomes with real-world tidal networks confirmed that flow concentration, sediment transport and deposition increase with drainage complexity. These findings emphasize that natural pattern development and persistence are crucial to preserve resilience to climate change.

Abstract Background Primary electrical disorders (PEDs) are a group of cardiac rhythm abnormalities that occur in the absence of detectable structural heart disease and are a significant cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The initiation of cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation is orchestrated by the action potential (AP), generated through ionic changes across the membrane. Mutations in the AP-related gene CACNA2D1 have been identified as a causative factor for PED. Methods We recruited a Chinese family with a history of arrhythmia. The proband has experienced palpitations and chest tightness for over 40 years, with symptoms worsening over the past year. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to determine the genetic etiologies in this family. Results A novel heterozygous missense mutation (NM_000722.3: c.1685G > C;p.G562A) of CACNA2D1 gene was detected. Genotyping of the proband’s parents indicated that the arrhythmia phenotype in the proband was caused by a de novo mutation. Conclusions WES was utilized to explore the genetic etiology in a family with arrhythmia, leading to the identification of a novel mutation in the CACNA2D1 gene. This study not only expands the mutation spectrum of the CACNA2D1 gene but also contributes to genetic counseling and clinical diagnosis for this family.

Abstract Background Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder in which seizures cause recurrent episodes of unconsciousness or muscle convulsions, seriously affecting the patient’s work, quality of life, and health and safety. Timely prediction of seizures is critical for patients to take appropriate therapeutic measures. Accurate prediction of seizures remains a challenge due to the complex and variable nature of EEG signals. The study proposes an epileptic seizure model based on a multidimensional Transformer with recurrent neural network(LSTM-GRU) fusion for seizure classification of EEG signals. Methodology Firstly, a short-time Fourier transform was employed in the extraction of time-frequency features from EEG signals. Second, the extracted time-frequency features are learned using the Multidimensional Transformer model. Then, LSTM and GRU are then used for further learning of the time and frequency characteristics of the EEG signals. Next, the output features of LSTM and GRU are spliced and categorized using the gating mechanism. Subsequently, seizure prediction is conducted. Results The model was tested on two datasets: the Bonn EEG dataset and the CHB-MIT dataset. On the CHB-MIT dataset, the average sensitivity and average specificity of the model were 98.24% and 97.27%, respectively. On the Bonn dataset, the model obtained about 99% and about 98% accuracy on the binary classification task and the tertiary upper classification task, respectively. Conclusion The findings of the experimental investigation demonstrate that our model is capable of exploiting the temporal and frequency characteristics present within EEG signals.

Abstract Background Prompt identification of fracture healing is crucial for medical decision-making and clinical research. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Radiographic Union Score for Hip (RUSH) in subtrochanteric fractures and determine the optimal scoring threshold for fracture healing. Methods We obtained 94 sets of X-ray films from the postoperative follow-up of 35 patients who underwent intramedullary nail fixation for subtrochanteric fractures. Six orthopedic trauma surgeons evaluated the imaging data and determined fracture healing based on subjective judgment. They then scored the X-ray images using the RUSH form. After four weeks, the same observers re-evaluated 47 randomly selected sets of radiographs. Subsequently, the observers and study designer conducted a consensus meeting where they agreed on whether the fractures had healed. We used Fleiss kappa to evaluate agreement among observers based on subjective impressions, and the intraclass correlation coefficient assessed RUSH score consistency. Regression analysis examined the relationship between scores and fracture healing consensus using a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Based on overall impressions, the agreement level among orthopedic trauma surgeons for determining the healing status of subtrochanteric fractures was moderate (Kappa = 0.564, 95% CI: 0.511–0.616). However, utilizing the RUSH scoring system can improve the consistency to a substantial level of agreement (ICC = 0.748, 95% CI: 0.663–0.817). Regarding intraobserver reliability, there were significant differences among orthopedic trauma surgeons in judging fracture healing based on overall impressions. However, using the RUSH scoring form, the attending group achieved better intraobserver consistency than the resident group. Regression analysis and ROC curve analysis revealed a strong correlation between the RUSH total score, cortical bone score, cancellous bone score, and consensus on fracture healing. The AUC values are 0.769 (95% CI: 0.670–0.868), 0.779 (95% CI: 0.681–0.876), and 0.771 (95% CI: 0.674–0.867), respectively. Conclusions Our study highlights the effectiveness of the RUSH scoring system in enhancing interobserver agreement and intraobserver consistency when evaluating subtrochanteric fracture healing in orthopedic trauma surgeons. We propose setting 21 points as the threshold for the simplified RUSH scoring system to determine fracture healing. This system includes only eight items related to cortical bone, with a total score of 24 points.

Food bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, functional proteins and unsaturated fatty acids, have been used as important ingredients of functional foods due to their diverse biological activities. However, the low aqueous solubility, poor stability and limited bioavailability of these compounds limit their applications in the food industry. The preparation of delivery carriers from natural food macromolecules offers a promising approach to enhance the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. As a novel delivery system, intelligent responsive delivery carriers enable precise targeted and controlled release of bioactive compounds, thus improving their bioavailability. In addition, the delivery carriers have the capacity to effectively improve the added nutritional value, enhance the sensory properties, and extend the shelf life of functional foods. This review summarizes the functional properties of food bioactive compounds, the challenges in their application and their steady-state delivery strategies, with a particular emphasis on the common intelligent responsive delivery carriers and their mechanisms of action. Finally, this article discusses the application of these delivery carriers in functional foods, and provides an outlook on future research on bioactive compound delivery systems.

Abstract Net primary productivity (NPP) is an important parameter reflecting vegetation growth, and water is one of the necessary factors for vegetation growth. Investigating the mutual influence between NPP and water is significant for ensuring the stable development of the ecological environment. This study focuses on the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) as the research area, and based on medium-resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) data, climate data, and gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) data, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of vegetation NPP and terrestrial water storage (TWS) in the YRB from 2000 to 2022 are explored and analyzes the mutual influence of NPP with climate factors and TWS. The results show that vegetation NPP (4.10 gC·m−2·a−1) and TWS (0.55 mm) in the YRB have exhibited an increasing trend from 2000 to 2022, with a strong correlation between the two, which is related to recent environmental policies. Analysis of the impact of climate factors on NPP reveals that temperature and TWS significantly positively impact NPP changes. Furthermore, comparisons between NPP and TWS indicate that changes in TWS substantially promote plant growth. In addition, the comparison between NPP and TWS indicates that changes in TWS have an important promoting effect on plant growth. Surface water (SWS) and soil water (SM) have a significant promoting effect on plant growth, but with a strong lag, while the consumption of groundwater (GWS) has been promoting plant growth without significant lag.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity poses a significant constraint on field crop yields in acid soils. Zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) is well-documented for its pivotal role in enhancing tolerance to both drought and oxidative stress in rice. This study unveils a novel function of ZFP36 modulated by abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent mechanisms, specifically aimed at alleviating Al toxicity in rice. Under Al stress, the expression of ZFP36 significantly increased through an ABA-dependent pathway. Knocking down ZFP36 heightened Al sensitivity, while overexpressing ZFP36 conferred increased resistance to Al stress. Additionally, our investigations revealed a physical interaction between ZFP36 and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 in rice (OsPDK1). Biochemical assays further elucidated that OsPDK1 phosphorylates ZFP36 at the amino acid site 73–161. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that ZFP36 positively regulates the expression of ascorbate peroxidases (OsAPX1) and OsALS1 by binding to specific elements in their upstream segments in rice. Through genetic and phenotypic analyses, we unveiled that OsPDK1 influences ABA-triggered antioxidant defense to alleviate Al toxicity by interacting with ZFP36. In summary, our study underscores that pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (OsPDK1) phosphorylates ZFP36 to modulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes via an ABA-dependent pathway, influencing tolerance of rice to soil Al toxicity.

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictive biomarker for cardiovascular mortality among cancer patients, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). From the NHANES dataset (2007–2018), we analyzed 4974 cancer survivors, investigating the prognostic significance of NLR for all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer-specific mortality. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier methods. Optimal NLR cutoffs were identified as 2.61 for differentiating the higher NLR group from lower NLR group. Elevated NLR levels significantly correlated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.14, P

Abstract Background The pretherapeutic differentiation of subtypes of primary intracranial germ cell tumours (iGCTs), including germinomas (GEs) and nongerminomatous germ cell tumours (NGGCTs), is essential for clinical practice because of distinct treatment strategies and prognostic profiles of these diseases. This study aimed to develop a deep learning model, iGNet, to assist in the differentiation and prognostication of iGCT subtypes by employing pretherapeutic MR T2-weighted imaging. Methods The iGNet model, which is based on the nnUNet architecture, was developed using a retrospective dataset of 280 pathologically confirmed iGCT patients. The training dataset included 83 GEs and 117 NGGCTs, while the retrospective internal test dataset included 31 GEs and 49 NGGCTs. The model’s diagnostic performance was then assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in a prospective internal dataset (n = 22) and two external datasets (n = 22 and 20). Next, we compared the diagnostic performance of six neuroradiologists with or without the assistance of iGNet. Finally, the predictive ability of the output of iGNet for progression-free and overall survival was assessed and compared to that of the pathological diagnosis. Results iGNet achieved high diagnostic performance, with AUCs between 0.869 and 0.950 across the four test datasets. With the assistance of iGNet, the six neuroradiologists’ diagnostic AUCs (averages of the four test datasets) increased by 9.22% to 17.90%. There was no significant difference between the output of iGNet and the results of pathological diagnosis in predicting progression-free and overall survival (P = .889). Conclusions By leveraging pretherapeutic MR imaging data, iGNet accurately differentiates iGCT subtypes, facilitating prognostic evaluation and increasing the potential for tailored treatment. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Delayed neurocognitive recovery after surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, its mechanism of action remains controversial and complex. A prospective, double‐blind, randomized controlled trial was performed at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. Older patients (aged 65 years and older) who underwent gastrointestinal surgery were randomly divided into sevoflurane‐based or propofol‐based anesthesia groups. The Mini‐Mental State Examination was performed to evaluate cognitive function. Peripheral venous blood was collected to test the levels of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase. A total of 75 patients were enrolled and 30 patients in each group completed the study. On Day 1 postoperation, patients in the sevoflurane group showed worse performance on the Mini‐Mental State Examination than patients in the propofol group. Lower blood choline acetyltransferase concentrations and higher acetylcholinesterase concentrations were observed in patients who had sevoflurane anesthesia than in patients who had propofol anesthesia 1 day postoperative. At 3 days postoperation, patients with sevoflurane‐ or propofol‐based general anesthesia did not differ regardless of Mini‐Mental State Examination score or choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase levels. Sevoflurane‐based anesthesia has short‐term delayed neurocognitive recovery in older surgical patients, which may be related to central cholinergic system degeneration.

Abstract Background Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a crucial step in the resuscitation process for critically ill patients, and the judicious use of sedative drugs during RSI significantly influences the clinical outcomes of patients. Ketamine is a commonly used anesthetic sedative; however, its impact on the mortality of patients undergoing RSI has yielded inconsistent findings. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating ketamine’s role in RSI to provide insights into selecting appropriate sedatives for critically ill patients. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we conducted a systematic search on MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, without restricting to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies. The search was performed from inception until Dec 12, 2023, with no language restrictions. All studies comparing the use of sedatives, including ketamine, and documenting in-hospital mortality were included in this study. Results A total of 991 studies were identified, out of which 15 studies (5 RCTs and 10 cohort studies) involving 16,807 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. No significant impact on in-hospital mortality was observed with the use of ketamine compared to other drugs during RSI (OR 0.90, 95%CI 0.72 to 1.12). Low-quality evidence suggested that ketamine might reduce mortality within the first seven days of hospitalization (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.19 to 0.93), but it may also have a potential effect on prolonging ICU-free days at day 28 (MD -0.71, 95%CI -1.38 to -0.05). There were no significant differences in the results of the other RSI-related outcomes, such as physiological function and adverse events. Conclusions Based on existing studies, ketamine showed no significant difference compared to other sedatives in terms of in-hospital mortality, physiological impact, and side effects following RSI. However, it may reduce mortality within 7 days while probably prolong the length of stay in the ICU. Trial registration CRD42023478020.

Abstract Background Recent research has indicated that parental use of central nervous system-targeting medications during periconceptional periods may affect offspring across various developmental and behavioral domains. The present study sought to investigate the potential influence of paternal use of donepezil, a specific reversible central acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that activates the cholinergic system to promote cognition, on offspring. Results In this study, male rats were bred after 21 days of oral donepezil administration at a dose of 4 mg/kg to generate F1 offspring. Both male and female F₁ offspring displayed enhanced performance in learning and short-term memory tests, including novel object recognition, Y maze, and operant learning. Transcriptomic analysis revealed notable alterations in genes associated with the extracellular matrix in the hippocampal tissue of the F1 generation. Integration with genes related to intelligence identified potential core genes that may be involved in the observed behavioral enhancements. Conclusions These findings indicate that prolonged paternal exposure to donepezil may enhance the learning and memory abilities of offspring, possibly by targeting nonneural, extracellular regions. Further research is required to fully elucidate any potential transgenerational effects.

Abstract The cementation of desert aeolian sand is a key method to control land desertification and dust storms, so an economical, green and durable process to reach the binding between sand grains needs to be searched. The method based on the microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) appeared in recent years as a promising process that proved its efficiency. The feasibility of the MICP technique to treat aeolian sand composed by low clay content, fine particles, low water content and characterized by weak permeability was demonstrated in the present paper. The effects of initial dry density, cementation number and curing time on the permeability and strength of MICP-treated aeolian sand were investigated using permeability tests and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. The microstructure of aeolian sand was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests and X-ray diffraction (XRD), aiming to reveal the solidification principle of MICP. The tests result indicated that when the initial dry density and the cementation number rose, the hydraulic conductivity of aeolian sand decreased while the mechanical strength given by UCS values improved. When the initial dry density was 1.65 g/cm3, the curing time was 3 h and the cementation number reached 20, the hydraulic conductivity and UCS reached 0.00151 cm/s and 1050.30 kPa, respectively. With increasing curing time, the hydraulic conductivity first decreased, followed by an increase, while the UCS exhibited an up and then a downtrend. Furthermore, the correlation between UCS values and the CaCO3 content reached a high R 2 value equal to 0.912, which confirmed that the cementation occurred in sandy material and governed the soil strengthening. Indeed, the calcium carbonate crystals observed by SEM and XRD enhanced the friction between particles when they wrapped around the sand grains surface, while carbonates reduced the soil permeability when filling the pores and sticking the sand particles together. Finally, the theoretical and scientific knowledge brought by the present study should help in managing sand in desert areas.

Dewey's philosophy of education was heavily criticized by the Chinese Communist Party in the 1950s, which led many to believe that Dewey's education was in complete opposition to that of the CCP. However, this study intends to prove that Dewey had a tremendous influence on the early CCP members of the 1920s. Dewey's Chinese visit closely coincided highly with the time of the reception of Marxism in China and the eventual establishment of the CCP. Both founders of the CCP had close personal relationships with Dewey, and Chen even tried to practice Dewey's educational ideas in Southern China. As a graduate of a normal school, Mao Zedong also read and practiced Dewey's educational philosophy. Many other CCP members read Dewey in the 1920s and then became left-wing revolutionaries. Though Dewey himself did not stand with Marxism, his idea that education is an agent of social reform paved the way for Marxism in China in theoretical and practical aspects. When an educational theory is spread abroad, it is often not accepted in a fundamentalist way, but rather in a process of collision and integration with the local tradition.

This research evaluates the efficacy of a basketball-based teaching and training system supported by 5G technology in a wireless network environment. Initially are information about the Chinese basketball students is first gathered and then divided into a Control Group (CG) and an Experimental Group (EG). The control group uses the standard method of collegiate basketball instruction, while the experimental group learns the game under the background of 5G technology. For transmitting the basketball teaching data in the 5G network, we proposed a novel routing protocol named Probability-based Coupling Zone Routing Protocol (PbCZRP). An optimization technique called the Shark optimization approach is used to enhance the performance of the routing protocol. Finally, a comparison of the two groups reveals that the experimental group's basketball players fared better than the control group. The basketball training plan powered by 5G will supply students with adaptive learning services that take into account their individual needs and strengths.

Abstract Background Ibrutinib is a first‐line drug that targets Bruton's tyrosine kinase for the treatment of B cell cancer. However, cardiotoxicity induced by ibrutinib is a major side effect that limits its clinical use. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of ibrutinib‐induced cardiotoxicity and evaluate the protective role of metformin. Methods The study utilized male C57BL/6 J mice, which were administered ibrutinib at a dosage of 30 mg/kg/day via oral gavage for 4 weeks to induce cardiotoxicity. Metformin was administered orally at 200 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks, starting 1 week before ibrutinib treatment. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography and electrophysiological studies, including surface electrocardiography and epicardial electrical mapping. Blood pressure was measured using a tail‐cuff system. Western blot analysis was conducted to evaluate the activity of the PI3K‐AKT and AMPK pathways, along with apoptosis markers. Results C57BL/6 J mice were treated with ibrutinib for 4 weeks to assess its effect on cardiac function. We observed that ibrutinib induced ventricular arrhythmia and abnormal conduction while reducing the left ventricular ejection fraction. Furthermore, pretreatment with metformin reversed ibrutinib‐induced cardiotoxicity. Mechanistically, ibrutinib decreased PI3K‐AKT activity, resulting in apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Administration of metformin upregulated AMPK and PI3K‐AKT activity, which contributed to the improvement of cardiac function. Conclusion The study concludes that metformin effectively mitigates ibrutinib‐induced cardiotoxicity, including ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac dysfunction, by enhancing AMPK and PI3K‐AKT pathway activity. These findings suggest that metformin holds potential as a therapeutic strategy to protect against the adverse cardiac effects associated with ibrutinib treatment, offering a promising approach for improving the cardiovascular safety of patients undergoing therapy for B cell cancers.

Mitochondria, recognized as the "powerhouse" of cells, play a vital role in generating cellular energy through dynamic processes such as fission and fusion. Viruses have evolved mechanisms to hijack mitochondrial function for their survival and proliferation. Here, we report that infection with the swine arterivirus porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), manipulates mitochondria calcium ions (Ca2+) to induce mitochondrial fission and mitophagy, thereby reprogramming cellular energy metabolism to facilitate its own replication. Mechanistically, PRRSV-induced mitochondrial fission is caused by elevated levels of mitochondria Ca2+, derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R)-voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) channels. This process is associated with increased mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), mediated by the upregulated expression of sigma non-opioid intracellular receptor 1 (SIGMAR1). Elevated mitochondria Ca2+ further activates the Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) signaling pathway, which interacts with mitochondrial fission protein 1 (FIS1) and mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 49 kDa (MiD49) to promote mitochondrial fission. PRRSV infection, alongside mitochondrial fission, triggers mitophagy via the PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)-Parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin (Parkin) pathway, promoting cellular glycolysis and excessive lactate production to facilitate its own replication. This study reveals the mechanism by which mitochondrial Ca2+ regulates mitochondrial function during PRRSV infection, providing new insights into the interplay between the virus and host cell metabolism.

Abstract Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) offers significant advantages in terms of rate and time for healing through generating sub‐vacuum to draw out inflammatory exudate and promote wound closure. However, continuous drainage probably leads to healing delay due to the lack of information about the real status of the wound bed and the potential risk of infection. To address this concern, printed Negative Pressure Smart Patch (NPSP) is reported by integrating smart real‐time sensing acidity (infection) and glucose, and anti‐infection into NPWT systems. In addition, NPSP delivers vancomycin through chitosan porous microspheres under negative pressure to modulate wound healing. Compared with NPWT, NPSP projects a promising approach to removing bacteria, reducing local inflammation, and accelerating healing in a short period of time.

Aeromonas sobria is an opportunistic pathogen that can infect humans, animals and aquatic species, which is widely distributed in different aquatic environments and products. In recent years, with the rapid expansion of intensive aquaculture, the disease caused by A. sobria has occurred. This study aims to understand the pathogenic characteristics of A. sobria and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of the epidemic. The dominant strain As012 was isolated from the diseased rainbow trout during the outbreak. Through physiological and biochemical experiments, sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis of 16S rRNA and gyrB genes, the strain As012 was identified as A. sobria. The clinical signs of the diseased rainbow trout in the experimental infection were consistent with those in the farm, and the LD50 was 1.0 × 106.6 CFU/mL. The histopathological lesions in the gills, heart, liver, spleen and intestines were mainly extensive hemorrhage. In addition, eight virulence genes were screened from strain As012, including Act, Aer, AexT4, Alt, ahyB, ascV, Nuc and Hly. The strain As012 can grow in the environment with pH 1–11, temperature 8–43°C and NaCl concentration 0–8%. The drug sensitivity results showed that it was resistant to 12 antibiotics including penicillin G, vancomycin, and clindamycin, and highly sensitive to 16 antibiotics including cefazolin, ciprofloxacin, and furadantin. The results showed that A. sobria, the dominant strain isolated from diseased rainbow trout, was the main pathogen causing the epidemic in the farm. The strain As012 has a very wide range of growth and strong pathogenicity, causing widespread hemorrhaging in various tissues of rainbow trout. It is multi-resistant, but highly sensitive to cephalosporins, quinolones, nitrofurans and sulfonamides. Among them, ciprofloxacin will be one of the effective antibiotics for preventing and controlling A. sobria infection in Chinese aquaculture.

MAFB is essential for regulating male-type urethral differentiation, and especially, its variation can contribute to hypospadias in mice. However, the potential mechanism is still unclear. Here we observed that the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor MAFB and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPA) could promote human urothelium SV-HUC-1 growth. Moreover, MAFB and CEBPA expression were reduced in the prepuce tissues of hypospadias patients. Based on transcriptome sequencing analysis and Western blot, MAFB knockdown was found to suppress CEBPA protein expression and repress Wnt/β-catenin signaling in urothelium cells. Meanwhile, we observed blocked cell-cycle progression from the G1 to the S phase, inhibited cell proliferation, and activated apoptosis. Furthermore, MAFB could facilitate CEBPA transcription and regulate the proliferation of urothelium. The above results indicated that MAFB-mediated inhibition of urothelial SV-HUC-1 growth resulted from inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by down-regulating CEBPA. Our findings provide new insight into the understanding of genes associated with hypospadias and the pathogenic mechanism of this disorder.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the log odds of negative lymph nodes/T stage ratio (LONT) and develop an efficient prognostic staging system using LONT in patients with colon mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC).MethodsThis study included 5,236 patients diagnosed with colon MAC obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The Kaplan–Meier method, subgroup analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to determine the clinical outcomes. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was used to develop a novel prognostic system.ResultsThe 1-, 3-, and 5-year ROC curves, used to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS), demonstrated that the areas under the ROC curve for LONT were superior to those of pT, pN, and pTNM stages. Additionally, a lower LONT was correlated with worse clinical outcomes. The LONT classification efficiently differentiated the prognosis of patients in terms of OS and CSS. Multivariate Cox analyses revealed that LONT was an independent prognostic factor for both CSS and OS. Based on the pT stage and LONT, a novel prognostic staging system was developed using RPA, demonstrating a good prognostic predictive performance.ConclusionA lower LONT was associated with worse survival in patients with colon MAC. The pT stage and LONT-based prognostic staging system facilitated risk stratification in these patients.

Abstract Research from the past has indicated a link between the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is yet unknown. Nevertheless, exactly how the dynamic process of declining renal function and metabolic syndrome are related. The study's purpose is to evaluate the causal relationship between MetS and the deterioration in kidney function using a Mendelian randomization (MR). Univariable and multivariable MR were applied to evaluate the causal relationships between MetS and its components with Rapid3, CKDi25, and CKD. The main source of MetS data was the GTC database, whose constituents came from extensive genome‐wide association research. The CKDGen Consortium provided data on dynamic changes in kidney function. Preliminary analysis was conducted using five different statistical techniques, including Inverse Variance Weighting and Weighted Median. Rucker's Q, MR‐Egger, and Cochran's Q test were used in sensitivity studies. In order to address reverse causality, the Steiger test was used. The IVW results showed Rapid3, CKDi25, and CKD all exhibited positive correlations with MetS. Rapid3, CKDi25, and CKD were found to have a positive causal relationship with SBP and WC, while DBP was also linked to an increased risk of Rapid3 and CKDi25. Even after accounting for other variables, MVMR analysis showed a correlation between WC and the drop in kidney function indices. MetS, together with its constituents WC, SBP, and DBP, are separate risk factors for the deterioration of renal function. However, the causal relationship between FBG, HDL, TG, and the decline in kidney function indicators remains uncertain.

Abstract The transcription factor SOX9 is crucial in the development and differentiation of various tissues and cells. However, the roles of SOX9‐dependent genes and pathways in normal urethral development and the mechanism of hypospadias are unclear. This study collected 15 foreskin tissue specimens from patients who underwent hypospadias repair surgery and compared them to normal foreskin tissue specimens obtained during circumcision. The expression levels of SOX9, WNT signaling pathway markers, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were analyzed in both groups. It was found that mRNA and protein levels of SOX9, WNT signaling pathway, and EMT mesenchymal markers were significantly reduced in the hypospadias group compared to the normal foreskin group. In contrast, mRNA and protein levels of epithelial markers were significantly increased in the hypospadias group. Immunofluorescence confirmed the decrease in SOX9 expression. Experiments using siRNA to inhibit SOX9 expression in foreskin fibroblasts yielded similar results to the hypospadias group. The findings suggest that down‐regulation of SOX9 expression may contribute to the development of hypospadias by down‐regulating the WNT pathway and inhibiting EMT. These findings provide new insights into the embryonic development of the urethra.

Industry 4.0 is growing, and the strong economy is often accompanied by an integrated financial system. Now China is striving for the “double carbon” target and high-quality development so digital economy and green finance have become important strategies. Thus, this paper tries to construct a theoretical framework among them and uses various spatial measures and panel threshold techniques to analyze their relationship. The results demonstrate that: (1) Spatial correlation is an important and indispensable factor testified by the digital economy and green finance in the process of high-quality development. (2) The effect of digital economy differs from that of green finance on high-quality development. Moreover, the former outweighs the latter in China. The synergy between the two attributes more to economic development, indicating that the digital economy is beneficial for green finance. (3) The test of threshold effect shows that there is a threshold between digital economy and green finance, and only when the two match each other and develop coordinately can the effect on high-quality development be achieved better.

ABSTRACT The interaction between Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) and the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been uncovered in several viral infections. However, the role of this molecular pathway during infection with the alpha-herpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) remains largely elusive. Here, we report that during PRV infection, ZBP1-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation is inhibited by the viral tegument protein VP22, thereby facilitating viral infection. Through a combination of RNA sequencing and genetic studies, we demonstrate that PRV VP22 functions as a virus-encoded virulence factor by evading the inhibitory effects of ZBP1 on virus infection. Importantly, the replication and pathogenicity of a recombinant PRV lacking VP22 are significantly increased in ZBP1-deficient cells and mice. Mechanistically, PRV VP22 interacts with ZBP1, impeding the recruitment of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 and Caspase-8, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 activation. Furthermore, we show that the N-terminal 1–50 amino acid domain of VP22 dominantly destabilizes ZBP1-mediated function. Taken together, these findings identify a functional link between PRV infection and ZBP1-mediated NLRP3 inflammatory response, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of PRV and other herpesviruses.IMPORTANCEZ-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) functions as a pivotal innate immune sensor that regulates inflammatory cell death during viral infections. However, its role in pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that ZBP1 serves as a restrictive factor by triggering the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome, a process counteracted by PRV-encoded protein VP22. Furthermore, VP22 interferes with the interaction between ZBP1 and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3/Caspase-8, particularly through its N-terminal 1–50 amino acids. Importantly, deficiency in ZBP1 enhances the replication and virulence of recombinant viruses lacking VP22 or its N-terminal 1–50 amino acids. These findings reveal how PRV escapes ZBP1-mediated inflammatory responses during infection, potentially informing the rational design of therapeutic interventions.

In this study, the trastuzumab-functionalized SK-BR-3 cell membrane-wrapped mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with pyrotinib (Tra-CM-MSN-PYR) were prepared for targeted therapy of HER2-positive breast cancer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization showed that MSN had a spherical morphology with mesoporous channels and that the structure of Tra-CM-MSN was a cell membrane (CM) layer successfully coated on the surface of MSN. A cellular uptake assay demonstrated that FITC-labeled Tra-CM-MSN were taken up by SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells, which illustrated that Tra-CM-MSN had good targeting ability compared with CM-MSN and MSN. In vivo imaging experiments demonstrated significant accumulation of FITC-labeled Tra-CM-MSN in tumor tissues, further proving that Tra-CM-MSN have superior targeting properties. Cell apoptosis experiments suggested that Tra-CM-MSN-PYR significantly inhibited the proliferation of SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. The results of in vivo animal experiments also showed that Tra-CM-MSN-PYR significantly inhibited tumor growth. These results indicate that Tra-CM-MSN-PYR has potential application as a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer in the future.

The surface shot peening treatment was carried out on the as-cast SiCw/Al composites, and the distribution of the residual stresses in the surface matrix was measured, the X-ray diffraction method for the yield strength of the surface matrix of the composites was established to explore the strengthening effect of the surface shot peening. The results show that the surface matrix of the composites after shot peening shows a large compressive residual stress state, and the FWHM, that is, the microstructure strengthening effect, is significantly increased., resulting in an increase in the yield strength of the surface matrix of the composites.

There is a growing demand for wood as a sustainable energy source and an essential carbon sink for ecosystems. Wood formation is a dynamic process involving plant radial growth in various stages, including vascular cambial cell proliferation, xylem mother cell differentiation and expansion, secondary cell wall thickening, and programmed cell death. Wood formation is controlled by highly complex molecular regulatory networks. Identifying and analyzing the molecular mechanisms regulating key target genes is crucial for further characterizing how wood is formed. This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding wood formation and the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms.

Investigating methods for the detection of internal voids within road structures is a critical measure to ensure the safety and integrity of roadway operations. The purpose of this research is to investigate on the identification method of internal voids in pavement based on improved knowledge distillation technology. Ground penetrating radar data in three dimensions were extensively collected to capture the internal voids present within roadways, and this data was subsequently validated through in-situ verification. The echo characteristics of ground penetrating radar for areas with road voids were analyzed, and a dataset containing 1700 images of these internal voids was established. A YOLOv8 model improvement method was proposed, and a model for the detection of internal road voids was constructed based on the improved YOLO v8 framework. To further refine the model's performance, a knowledge distillation method based on multiple guidance from teacher assistants was developed. A stochastic learning approach was integrated, resulting in the establishment of a model optimized by this stochastic learning scheme for the identification of internal road voids. The results demonstrate that the presence of overfitting during the training phase of the void identification model can restrict its performance within a certain domain. The proposed stochastic learning-optimized, multi-teacher assistant guided knowledge distillation model, adeptly harnesses the performance benefits of both the teacher and assistant models by means of knowledge transfer, consequently achieving a significant improvement in the detection of internal road voids.

There is growing recognition among researchers and stakeholders about the significant impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology on classroom instruction. As a crucial element in developing AI literacy, AI education in K-12 schools is increasingly gaining attention. However, most existing research on K-12 AI education relies on experiential methodologies and suffers from a lack of quantitative analysis based on extensive classroom data, hindering a comprehensive depiction of AI education's current state at these educational levels. To address this gap, this article employs the advanced semantic understanding capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to create an intelligent analysis framework that identifies learning theories, pedagogical approaches, learning tools, and levels of AI literacy in AI classroom instruction. Compared with the results of manual analysis, analysis based on LLMs can achieve more than 90% consistency. Our findings, based on the analysis of 98 classroom instruction videos in central Chinese cities, reveal that current AI classroom instruction insufficiently foster AI literacy, with only 35.71% addressing higher-level skills such as evaluating and creating AI. AI ethics are even less commonly addressed, featured in just 5.1% of classroom instruction. We classified AI classroom instruction into three categories: conceptual (50%), heuristic (18.37%), and experimental (31.63%). Correlation analysis suggests a significant relationship between the adoption of pedagogical approaches and the development of advanced AI literacy. Specifically, integrating Project-based/Problem-based learning (PBL) with Collaborative learning appears effective in cultivating the capacity to evaluate and create AI.

Abstract The concept of a healthy lifestyle is receiving increasing attention. This study sought to identify an optimal healthy lifestyle profile associated with sleep health in general population of China. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to July 2022. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: healthy diet, regular physical exercise, never smoking, never drinking alcohol, low sedentary behavior, and normal weight. Participants were categorized into the healthy lifestyle (5-6 factors), average (3-4 factors), and unhealthy lifestyle groups (0-2 factors). The study’s primary outcome was sleep health, which included sleep quality, duration, pattern, and the presence of any sleep disorder or disturbance, including insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, obstructive apnea syndrome, and narcolepsy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to explore lifestyles associated with the selected sleep health outcomes. 41,061 individuals were included, forming 18.8% healthy, 63.8% average, and 17.4% unhealthy lifestyle groups. After adjusting for covariates, participants with healthy lifestyle were associated with a higher likelihood of good sleep quality (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.46–1.68), normal sleep duration (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.49–1.72), healthy sleep pattern (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 2.00–2.31), and lower risks of insomnia (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.61–0.71), excessive daytime sleepiness (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.60–0.73), and obstructive apnea syndrome (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.37–0.43), but not narcolepsy (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.83–1.03), compared to those with unhealthy lifestyle. This large cross-sectional study is the first to our knowledge to quantify the associations of a healthy lifestyle with specific aspects of sleep health. The findings offer support for efforts to improve sleep health by modulating lifestyle.

Abstract We aimed to build a deep learning-based pathomics model to predict the early recurrence of non-muscle-infiltrating bladder cancer (NMIBC) in this work. A total of 147 patients from Xuzhou Central Hospital were enrolled as the training cohort, and 63 patients from Suqian Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled as the test cohort. Based on two consecutive phases of patch level prediction and WSI-level predictione, we built a pathomics model, with the initial model developed in the training cohort and subjected to transfer learning, and then the test cohort was validated for generalization. The features extracted from the visualization model were used for model interpretation. After migration learning, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the deep learning-based pathomics model in the test cohort was 0.860 (95% CI 0.752–0.969), with good agreement between the migration training cohort and the test cohort in predicting recurrence, and the predicted values matched well with the observed values, with p values of 0.667766 and 0.140233 for the Hosmer–Lemeshow test, respectively. The good clinical application was observed using a decision curve analysis method. We developed a deep learning-based pathomics model showed promising performance in predicting recurrence within one year in NMIBC patients. Including 10 state prediction NMIBC recurrence group pathology features be visualized, which may be used to facilitate personalized management of NMIBC patients to avoid ineffective or unnecessary treatment for the benefit of patients.

Abstract Macrophages are multifunctional innate immune cells that play indispensable roles in homeostasis, tissue repair, and immune regulation. However, dysregulated activation of macrophages is implicated in the pathogenesis of various human disorders, making them a potential target for treatment. Through the expression of pattern recognition and scavenger receptors, macrophages exhibit selective uptake of pathogens and apoptotic cells. Consequently, the utilization of drug carriers that mimic pathogenic or apoptotic signals shows potential for targeted delivery to macrophages. In this study, a series of mannosylated or/and phosphatidylserine (PS) -presenting liposomes were developed to target macrophages via the design of experiment (DoE) strategy and the trial-and-error (TaE) approach. The optimal molar ratio for the liposome formulation was DOPC: DSPS: Chol: PEG-PE = 20:60:20:2 based on the results of cellular uptake and cytotoxicity evaluation on RAW 264.7 and THP-1 in vitro. Results from in vivo distribution showed that, in the DSS-induced colitis model and collagen II-induced rheumatoid arthritis model, PS-presenting liposomes (PS-Lipo) showed the highest accumulation in intestine and paws respectively, which holds promising potential for macrophage target therapy since macrophages are abundant at inflammatory sites and contribute to the progression of corresponding diseases. Organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney did not exhibit histological alterations such as inflammation or necrosis when exposed to PC-presenting liposomes (PC-Lipo) or PS-Lipo. In addition, liposomes demonstrated hemobiocompatibility and no toxicity to liver or kidney for circulation and did not induce metabolic injury in the animals. Thus, the well-designed PS-Lipo demonstrated the most potential for macrophage target therapy.