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ObjectiveThis study aims to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of specific corticosteroids, including but not limited to hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone, in the treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). Efficacy will be assessed using specific outcomes, such as 30-day mortality and the requirement for mechanical ventilation. Safety evaluations will include adverse events like gastrointestinal bleeding and healthcare-associated infections. The study seeks to address the gaps identified in the latest guidelines regarding the optimal use of different corticosteroid types and to provide recommendations for clinical practice.Data SourcesThis study conducted a comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, covering the period from inception until 22 June 2023. Randomized clinical trials for corticosteroid use among adults with SCAP were collected.Study SelectionTwo researchers independently assessed study eligibility based on titles and abstracts, with any disagreements resolved through discussion or consultation with a third researcher.Data ExtractionTwo researchers independently collected and clarified study details, with a third researcher adjudicating in case of disputes.Data SynthesisThe data from 13 randomized clinical trials involving 2,495 patients, were analyzed using a random-effects model. Eleven trials were assessed as low risk, while two were assessed as high risk. Trials were rated as having low bias risk. Results, presented as risk ratios (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), indicated that hydrocortisone outperformed prednisolone (RR 0.35; 95% CI 0.10–0.94), methylprednisolone (RR 0.41; 95% CI 0.15–0.89), and placebo (RR 0.35; 95% CI 0.16–0.59) in reducing 30-day mortality. A rankogram plot suggested that hydrocortisone had the highest probability of being the most effective treatment for this outcome within the analyzed group.ConclusionIn this network meta-analysis, while hydrocortisone showed greater efficacy than prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and placebo in reducing 30-day mortality in patients with SCAP, further Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are required to confirm these findings before drawing definitive conclusions.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=438389, identifier CRD42023438389.

The phyllosphere of plants hosts diverse fungal microbial communities. Despite the significant impact of plant fungal diseases on productivity and community ecology, the relationship between phyllosphere fungal communities and plant health in natural environments remains poorly understood. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing and field investigations to explore the composition, dynamics, and incidence of fungal diseases across 29 plant species from four functional groups (forbs, grasses, legumes, and sedges) in alpine meadow plant communities of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We identified Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes as the predominant phyllosphere fungi. Significant differences were observed in the Shannon diversity index, β-diversity, indicator fungi, and hub fungi among the functional groups. With the exception of the sedge group, the incidence of fungal diseases in other groups was positively correlated with the proportion of pathogens in the phyllosphere fungal community. Predictive analyses revealed that Ascochyta was strongly associated with high disease incidence in grasses, Cercospora in forbs, and Podosphaera in legumes, while Calophoma was associated with low disease incidence in sedges. These findings enhance our understanding of how plant phyllosphere fungal communities assemble in natural environments and improve our ability to predict and manage foliar fungal diseases in alpine meadows.

Indoor location services often use Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices for their low energy consumption and easy implementation. Applications like device monitoring, ranging, and asset tracking utilize the received signal strength (RSS) of the BLE signal to estimate the proximity of a device from the receiver. However, in multipath environments, RSS-based solutions may not provide an accurate estimation. In such environments, receivers with antenna arrays are used to calculate the difference in time of flight (ToF) and therefore calculate the direction of arrival (DoA) of the Bluetooth signal. Other techniques like triangulation have also been used, such as having multiple transmitters or receivers as a network of sensors. To find a lost item, devices like Tile© use an onboard beeper to notify users of their presence. In this paper, we present a system that uses a single-measurement device and describe the method of measurement to estimate the location of a BLE device using RSS. A BLE device is configured as an Eddystone beacon for periodic transmission of advertising packets with RSS information. We developed a smartphone application to read RSS information from the beacon, designed an algorithm to estimate the DoA, and used the phone’s internal sensors to evaluate the DoA with respect to true north. The proposed measurement method allows for asset tracking by iterative measurements that provide the direction of the beacon and take the user closer at every step. The receiver application is easily deployable on a smartphone, and the algorithm provides direction of the beacon within a 30° range, as suggested by the provided results.

Abstract Chinese Painting and Calligraphy (ChP&C) holds significant cultural value, representing integral aspects of both Chinese culture and global art. A considerable amount of ChP&C works are dispersed worldwide. With the emergence of digital humanities, a vast collection of cultural artifacts data is now available online. However, the online databases of these artifacts remain decentralized and diverse, posing significant challenges to their effective organization and utilization. Addressing this, our paper focuses on the Wu Men School of Painting and proposes a framework for constructing a multimodal knowledge graph for the ChP&C domain. We construct the domain ontology by analyzing the ChP&C knowledge schema. Then, we acquire knowledge from diverse data sources, including textual and visual information. To enhance data collection around collecting historical context and subject matter, we propose methods for seal extraction and subject extraction specific to ChP&C. We validate the effectiveness of these methods on the constructed dataset. Finally, we construct the Wu Men Multimodal Knowledge Graph (WuMKG) and implement applications such as cross-modal retrieval, knowledge-based question-answering and visualization.

Abstract Background Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) is a type of schizophrenia (SCZ) with an age of onset of 0.7. Conclusion Our results indicate that immune system function is altered in SCZ. In addition, CCL8, PSMD1, AVPR1B and SEMG1 may regulate peripheral immune cells in EOS. Further, immune characteristic genes and cells are expected to be diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets of SCZ.

Abstract Hybrid speciation plays an important role in species diversification. The establishment of reproductive isolation is crucial for hybrid speciation, and the identification of diverse types of hybrids, particularly homoploid hybrid species, contributes to a comprehensive understanding of this process. Reaumuria songarica is a constructive shrub widespread in arid Central Asia. Previous studies have inferred that the R. songarica populations in the Gurbantunggut Desert (GuD) originated from homoploid hybridizations between its eastern and western lineages and may have evolved into an incipient species. To further elucidate the genetic composition of different hybrid populations and to determine the species boundary of this hybrid lineage, we investigated the overall phylogeographic structure of R. songarica based on variation patterns of five cpDNA and one nrITS sequences across 32 populations. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that within the GuD lineage, the Wuerhe population evolved directly from ancestral lineages, whereas the others originated from hybridizations between the eastern and western lineages. PCoA and genetic barrier analysis supported the subdivision of the GuD lineage into the southern (GuD‐S) and northern (GuD‐N) groups. Populations in the GuD‐S group had a consistent genetic composition and the same ancestral female parent, indicating that they belonged to a homoploid hybrid lineage. However, the GuD‐N group experienced genetic admixture of the eastern and western lineages on nrITS and cpDNA, with some populations inferred to be allopolyploid based on ploidy data. Based on cpDNA haplotypes, BEAST analyses showed that the GuD‐S and GuD‐N groups originated after 0.5 Ma. Our results suggest that multiple expansions and contractions of GuD, driven by Quaternary climatic oscillations and the Kunlun‐Yellow River tectonic movement, are important causes of the complex origins of R. songarica populations in northern Xinjiang. This study highlights the complex origins of the Junggar Basin flora and the underappreciated role of hybridization in increasing its species diversity.

Soil bacteria are important participants in biogeochemical cycles, and the stability of their community structure is not only affected by fluctuations in time and environment, but also by the participation and regulation of anthropogenic interference. With the increasing reclamation of farmland in the agropastoral transitional zone of northern China, it is imperative to understand the characteristics of soil bacterial communities in response to seasonal variations and anthropogenic reclamation. In this study, desert grassland, artificial shrubland, and desert grassland reclaimed farmland on the western side of the Mu Us Sandy Land were used as research objects. The following main results were obtained through soil sampling in April and September, and physicochemical analyses combined with 16S high-throughput sequencing: seasonal variations increased soil pH and soil water content, whereas land reclamation significantly increased soil total carbon, total phosphorus, soil available phosphorus, and soil available potassium contents. Changes in soil physicochemical properties altered the structure of soil bacterial communities to varying degrees, with Actinobacteriota and Acidobacteriota being the differential phyla among the three sampling sites under seasonal variations (p

Abstract Inflammatory depression is a treatment-resistant subtype of depression. A causal role of the gut microbiota as a source of low-grade inflammation remains unclear. Here, as part of an observational trial, we first analyze the gut microbiota composition in the stool, inflammatory factors and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in plasma, and inflammatory and permeability markers in the intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory depression (ChiCTR1900025175). Gut microbiota of patients with inflammatory depression exhibits higher Bacteroides and lower Clostridium, with an increase in SCFA-producing species with abnormal butanoate metabolism. We then perform fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotic supplementation in animal experiments to determine the causal role of the gut microbiota in inflammatory depression. After FMT, the gut microbiota of the inflammatory depression group shows increased peripheral and central inflammatory factors and intestinal mucosal permeability in recipient mice with depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. Clostridium butyricum administration normalizes the gut microbiota, decreases inflammatory factors, and displays antidepressant-like effects in a mouse model of inflammatory depression. These findings suggest that inflammatory processes derived from the gut microbiota can be involved in neuroinflammation of inflammatory depression.

Industrial Control Systems (ICSs) are vital components of industrial production, and their security posture significantly impacts operational safety. Given that ICSs frequently interact with external networks, cyberattacks can disrupt system symmetry, thereby affecting industrial processes. This paper aims to predict the network security posture of ICSs to ensure system symmetry. A prediction model for the network security posture of ICSs was established utilizing Evidence Reasoning (ER) and Explainable Belief Rule Base (BRB-e) technologies. Initially, an evaluation framework for the ICS architecture was constructed, integrating data from various layers using ER. The development of the BRB prediction model requires input from domain experts to set initial parameters; however, the subjective nature of these settings may reduce prediction accuracy. To address this issue, an ICS network security posture prediction model based on the Explainable Belief Rule Base (BRB-e) was proposed. The modeling criteria for explainability were defined based on the characteristics of the ICS network, followed by the design of the inference process for the BRB-e prediction model to enhance accuracy and precision. Additionally, a parameter optimization method for the explainable BRB-e prediction model is presented using a constrained Projection Equilibrium Optimization (P-EO) algorithm. Experiments utilizing industrial datasets were conducted to validate the reliability and effectiveness of the prediction model. Comparative analyses indicated that the BRB-e model demonstrates distinct advantages in both prediction accuracy and explainability when compared to other algorithms.

BackgroundsObservational studies suggest that air pollutants, including particulate matter and nitrogen compounds, could elevate asthma and allergic rhinitis health risks. Nevertheless, the exact nature of the causal relationship between air pollution and asthma and allergic rhinitis remains unknown. This study utilizes the Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to explore the potential causal links between air pollution components (PM2.5, PM2.5–10, PM10, NO₂, and nitrogen dioxide) and the incidence of allergic rhinitis and asthma.MethodsA MR study utilized summary statistics from GWAS that are publicly accessible. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) approach served as the foundational analysis technique. To ensure robustness, supplementary methodologies such as the weighted median, MR-Egger regression, simple mode, and weighted model were also applied. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran’s Q test, and the presence of pleiotropy was determined through MR-Egger regression. The MR-PRESSO test was employed for outlier detection, and the analysis’s sensitivity was scrutinized via a leave-one-out strategy.ResultsThe IVW technique showed a strong correlation between PM10 and asthma (OR = 0.625, 95% CI = 0.396–0.988, p = 0.044). No significant associations were found between asthma and other air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM2.5–10, NO₂, or nitrogen dioxide. Similarly, allergic rhinitis showed no causal relationships with any studied air pollution metrics. Pleiotropy was absent in the findings. Sensitivity analyses, employing the leave-one-out method, confirmed the stability of these results, unaffected by individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).ConclusionThis Mendelian randomization study establishes a causal link between PM10 exposure and asthma, suggesting that interventions to reduce air pollution may decelerate the adverse progression of asthma.

This article presents a comprehensive dataset from the annual reports of China's public-listed companies, the China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database, and the Wind database, focusing on digital transformation and strategic risk taking. This dataset covers 14 years from 2008 to 2021 with 17,089 firm-year observations. Digital transformation is calculated using text mining techniques and keyword frequency analyses based on the firms’ annual reports. Then, strategic risk taking is a composite strategic index that combines long-term debt, R&D expenditure, and capital expenditure. The dynamic capability is measured by a comprehensive index that includes three dimensions: absorptive capacity, adaptive capability, and innovation capability. This dataset can serve as a reference base for future studies on the effect of digital transformation on corporate strategic behavior. It can also be integrated into building core competencies to assist managers in identifying the role of dynamic capability.

Abstract Background The liver ranks as the sixth most prevalent site of primary cancer in humans, and it frequently experiences metastases from cancers originating in other organs. To facilitate the development of effective treatments and improve survival rates, it is crucial to comprehend the intricate and diverse transcriptome landscape of primary and metastatic liver cancers. Methods We conducted long-read isoform sequencing and short-read RNA sequencing using a cohort of 95 patients with primary and secondary liver cancer who underwent hepatic resection. We compared the transcriptome landscapes of primary and metastatic liver cancers and systematically investigated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), paired primary tumours and liver metastases, and matched nontumour liver tissues. Results We elucidated the full-length isoform-level transcriptome of primary and metastatic liver cancers in humans. Our analysis revealed isoform-level diversity in HCC and identified transcriptome variations associated with liver metastatis. Specific RNA transcripts and isoform switching events with clinical implications were profound in liver cancer. Moreover, we defined metastasis-specific transcripts that may serve as predictors of risk of metastasis. Additionally, we observed abnormalities in adjacent paracancerous liver tissues and characterized the immunological and metabolic alterations occurring in the liver. Conclusions Our findings underscore the power of full-length transcriptome profiling in providing novel biological insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying tumourigenesis. These insights will further contribute to improving treatment strategies for primary and metastatic liver cancers.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the neuroanatomical subtypes among early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) patients by exploring the association between structural alterations and molecular mechanisms using a combined analysis of morphometric similarity network (MSN) changes and specific transcriptional expression patterns. Methods We recruited 206 subjects aged 7 to 17 years, including 100 EOS patients and 106 healthy controls (HC). Heterogeneity through discriminant analysis (HYDRA) was used to identify the EOS subtypes within the MSN strength. The differences in morphometric similarity between each EOS subtype and HC were compared. Furthermore, we examined the link between morphometric changes and brain-wide gene expression in different EOS subtypes using partial least squares regression (PLS) weight mapping, evaluated genetic commonalities with psychiatric disorders, identified functional enrichments of PLS-weighted genes, and assessed cellular transcriptional signatures. Results Two distinct MSN-based EOS subtypes were identified, each exhibiting different abnormal MSN strength and cognitive functions compared to HC. The PLS1 score mapping demonstrated anterior–posterior gradients of gene expression in EOS1, whereas inverse distributions were observed in EOS2 cohorts. Genetic commonalities were identified in autistic disorder and adult schizophrenia with EOS1 and inflammatory bowel diseases with EOS2 cohorts. The EOS1 PLS1- genes (Z

Abstract Background Glucolipid metabolism plays an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus. However, there is limited research on the characteristics of glucolipid metabolism and complications in different subgroups of newly diagnosed diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of glucolipid metabolism and complications in novel cluster-based diabetes subgroups and explore the contributions of different glucolipid metabolism indicators to the occurrence of complications and pancreatic function. Methods This retrospective study included 547 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. Age, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), homeostasis model assessment-2 beta-cell function (HOMA2-β), and homeostasis model assessment-2 insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) were used as clustering variables. The participants were divided into 4 groups by k-means cluster analysis. The characteristics of glucolipid indicators and complications in each subgroup were analyzed. Regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of glucolipid metabolism indicators on complications and pancreatic function. Results Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), triglyceride glucose index (TyG), HbA1C, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (2hPG) were higher in the severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD) and severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD) groups. Fasting insulin (FINS), fasting C-peptide (FCP), 2-h postprandial insulin (2hINS), 2-h postprandial C-peptide (2hCP), and the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) were higher in mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD) and SIRD. 2hCP, FCP, and FINS were positively correlated with HOMA2-β, while FPG, TyG, HbA1C, and TG were negatively correlated with HOMA2-β. FINS, FPG, FCP, and HbA1C were positively correlated with HOMA2-IR, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was negatively correlated with HOMA2-IR. FINS (odds ratio (OR),1.043;95% confidence interval (CI) 1.006 ~ 1.081), FCP (OR,2.881;95%CI 2.041 ~ 4.066), and TyG (OR,1.649;95%CI 1.292 ~ 2.104) contributed to increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); 2hINS (OR,1.015;95%CI 1.008 ~ 1.022) contributed to increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); FCP (OR,1.297;95%CI 1.027 ~ 1.637) significantly increased the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Conclusions There were differences in the characteristics of glucolipid metabolism as well as complications among different subgroups of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. 2hCP, FCP, FINS, FPG, TyG, HbA1C, HDL and TG influenced the function of insulin. FINS, TyG, 2hINS, and FCP were associated with ASCVD, NAFLD, and CKD in newly diagnosed T2DM patients.

Cobweb disease in white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is a newly identified disease caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum in China. Currently, there are few highly effective and safe fungicides for controlling this disease in the field. This study assessed the fungicidal effect of prochloraz–manganese chloride complex and seboctylamine acetate against C. mycophilum, as well as their ability to control cobweb disease. Additionally, the residues of these fungicides in the mycelium and the mushroom were evaluated. The extent of the fungicidal effect against the pathogen was determined based on the efficiency of crop production. The results revealed that, in addition to the potent inhibitory effect of prochloraz–manganese chloride complex on the hyphae of C. mycophilum, the domestically developed seboctylamine acetate exhibited high toxicity, inhibiting both mycelial growth and spore germination of C. mycophilum, with EC50 values of 0.990 mg/L and 0.652 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, the application of the two chemical agents had no adverse effects on the mycelial growth and fruiting body growth of A. bisporus, and the residual amount of chemical agent was lower than the maximum residue limit standard. The field application results showed that 400 mg/L of prochloraz–manganese chloride complex and 6 mg/L of seboctylamine acetate resulted in 61.38% and 81.17% disease control respectively. This study presents efficient and safe fungicides for controlling cobweb disease in white button mushroom. Additionally, a residue determination analysis of the fungicide seboctylamine acetate in mushroom crops is described.

Abstract Background The exosomal lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks in first episode schizophrenia (FOS) have not reported yet. This study examined the lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression level in exosome derived from first episode schizophrenia (FOS) patients, and explored the the potential of exosomes as biomarkers for schizophrenia. Methods We recruited 10 FOS patients and healthy controls (HCs) respectively, examined the lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression level of plasma exosome by high throughput sequencing, constructed lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, and performed correlation analysis, GO and KEGG pathway analysis, PPI network construction and ROC analysis. Results There were 746 differently expressed lncRNA, 22 differently expressed miRNA, and 2637 differently expressed mRNA in plasma exosome in FOS compared with HCs. Then we constructed ceRNA network consisting of 8 down-regulated lncRNA, 7 up-regulated miRNA and 65 down-regulated mRNA, and 1 up-regulated lncRNA, 1 down-regulated miRNA and 4 up-regulated mRNA. The expression level of 1 lncRNA and 7 mRNA in exosomal network were correlated with PANSS score. GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed that 4 up-regulated mRNAs were enriched in neuropsychiatric system function. Down-regulated mRNA EZH2 and SIRT1 were identified as hub gene. Finally, we detected the ROC curve of ENSG00000251562, miR-26a-5p, EZH2, miR-22-3p, SIRT1, ENSG00000251562—miR-26a-5p—EZH2, ENSG00000251562—miR-22-3p—SIRT1, and found that the AUC of ceRNA network was higher than lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA alone. Conclusion We constructed the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in exosome derived from FOS plasma, and found that lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network has potential as biomarkers for FOS.

To cultivate excellent lily germplasms, an interspecific hybrid (LC×SQ-01) was successfully obtained by using a cut-style pollination method in which the rare wild lily Lilium callosum was used as the female parent and the cut flower L. longiflorum ‘Snow Queen’ was used as the male parent. The morphological features of LC×SQ-01 included height, leaf length, and width, which were observed to be between those of the parents in the tissue-cultured seedlings. The height and leaf length of LC×SQ-01 were more similar to those of the male parent, and the width was between the widths of the parents for field-generated plants. The epidermal cell length and the guard cell and stoma sizes were between those of both parents in tissue-cultured and field-generated plants. In addition, the shapes of the epidermal cells and anticlinal wall in LC×SQ-01 were more analogous to those in the male parent, while the stoma morphology was different from that of both parents. Fourteen pairs of polymorphic SSR primers were identified in both parents, and the validity of LC×SQ-01 was demonstrated by PCR amplification using five pairs of SSR primers. Flow cytometry and root tip squashing assays revealed that LC×SQ-01 was a diploid plant, similar to its parents. Furthermore, the LC×SQ-01 hybrid was more resistant to B. cinerea than its parents, and it also showed much greater peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity than the parents. These results lay a foundation for breeding a new high-resistance and ornamental lily variety.

Recently developed optogenetic technology, which allows high-fidelity control of neuronal activity, has been applied to investigate the neural circuits underlying sensory processing and behavior. The nasal cavity is innervated by the olfactory nerve and trigeminal nerve, which are closely related to common symptoms of rhinitis, such as impairment of smell, itching, and sneezing. The olfactory system has an amazing ability to distinguish thousands of odorant molecules at trace levels. However, there are many issues in olfactory sensing mechanisms that need to be addressed. Optogenetics offers a novel technical approach to solve this dilemma. Therefore, we review the recent advances in olfactory optogenetics to clarify the mechanisms of chemical sensing, which may help identify the mechanism of dysfunction and suggest possible treatments for impaired smell. Additionally, in rhinitis patients, alterations in the other nerve (trigeminal nerve) that innervates the nasal cavity can lead to hyperresponsiveness to various nociceptive stimuli and central sensitization, causing frequent and persistent itching and sneezing. In the last several years, the application of optogenetics in regulating nociceptive receptors, which are distributed in sensory nerve endings, and amino acid receptors, which are distributed in vital brain regions, to alleviate overreaction to nociceptive stimuli, has gained significant attention. Therefore, we focus on the progress in optogenetics and its application in neuromodulation of nociceptive stimuli and discuss the potential clinical translation for treating rhinitis in the future.

Warming coupled with precipitation changes induced by climate change profoundly affect desert ecosystem functions in global drylands. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in such ecosystems by regulating energy and nutrient exchange. However, little is known about how AMF communities respond to warming coupled with reduced precipitation (W + RP). We evaluated the impacts of 0.5 °C and 1.5 °C increase in temperature coupled with 5 % and 8 % reductions in total annual precipitation (0.5 °C W + 5 % RP, 1.5 °C W + 8 % RP) on AMF communities and the main ecological processes structuring AMF community assemblies in the rhizosphere soil of typical winter annual plants in the Tengger Desert, northwest China. The results showed that warming coupled with reduced precipitation could significantly alter the composition, abundance, and diversity of AMF communities. Both AMF biomass and AMF diversity increased in the 0.5 °C W + 5 % RP treatment but decreased in the 1.5 °C W + 8 % RP treatment. The 1.5 °C W + 8 % RP treatment significantly reduced root biomass and the AMF colonization rate but increased the specific root length, indicating a trade-off between fine roots and their symbiotic AMF. The AMF community was phylogenetically random in the 0.5 °C W + 5 % RP treatment but appeared clustered in the 1.5 °C W + 8 % RP treatment, implying that more pronounced warming coupled with reduced precipitation can promote the deterministic assembly of the AMF community. We provide a conceptual framework for comprehending the mechanisms underlying the effects of warming coupled with reduced precipitation on AMF communities, incorporating biological and geochemical processes. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that AMF abundance and diversity and the main ecological processes driving AMF assemblages respond differently to more pronounced compared to less intensive warming coupled with reduced precipitation. Importantly, higher warming coupled with a reduction in precipitation reduced plant dependence on AMF and resulted in stronger environmental filtration by significantly reducing soil water content.

Early-onset Schizophrenia (EOS) is a profoundly progressive psychiatric disorder characterized by both positive and negative symptoms, whose pathogenesis is influenced by genes, environment and brain structure development. In this study, the MIND (Morphometric Inverse Divergence) network was employed to explore the relationship between morphological similarity and specific transcriptional expression patterns in EOS patients. This study involved a cohort of 187 participants aged between 7 and 17 years, consisting of 97 EOS patients and 90 healthy controls (HC). Multiple morphological features were used to construct the MIND network for all participants. Furthermore, we explored the associations between MIND network and brain-wide gene expression in EOS patients through partial least squares (PLS) regression, shared genetic predispositions with other psychiatric disorders, functional enrichment of PLS weighted genes, as well as transcriptional signature assessment of cell types, cortical layers, and developmental stages. The MIND showed similarity differences in the orbitofrontal cortex, pericalcarine cortex, lingual gyrus, and multiple networks in EOS patients compared to HC. Moreover, our exploration revealed a significant overlap of PLS2 weighted genes linking to EOS-related MIND differences and the dysregulated genes reported in other psychiatric diseases. Interestingly, genes correlated with MIND changes (PLS2-) exhibited a significant enrichment not only in metabolism-related pathways, but also in specific astrocytes, cortical layers (specifically layer I and III), and posterior developmental stages (late infancy to young adulthood stages). However, PLS2+ genes were primarily enriched in synapses signaling-related pathways and early developmental stages (from early-mid fetal to neonatal early infancy) but not in special cell types or layers. These findings provide a novel perspective on the intricate relationship between macroscopic morphometric structural abnormalities and microscopic transcriptional patterns during the onset and progression of EOS.

Objectives To use a nomogram to predict the risk of mortality and estimate the impact of current treatment on the prognosis of glioma patients.Methods A total of 3798 cases were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database according to the selection criteria. A nomogram was built on the independent clinical factors screened by the variance inflation factor, univariate analyses and a multivariate Cox regression model. Then, categorising the overall population into high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk groups using nomogram-derived risk scores, to study the impact of treatment on different subgroups’ survival outcomes. Furthermore, based on the postmatch cohorts, the influences of treatment on survival outcomes were assessed by the log-rank test.Result Age, race, stage of disease, histological type, histological grade, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were identified as the independent prognostic factors. A nomogram with good discrimination and consistency was built. Generally, the patients who underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were more likely to achieve better prognosis than those who did not, except for those who received radiotherapy in the low-risk cohort and those who underwent surgery in the high-risk cohort. Furthermore, the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) wild-type patients with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy tended to have higher survival probabilities, while some inconsistent results were observed in the IDH mutant-type cohort.Conclusion Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy improved the prognosis, while appropriate selection of topical treatment for the low-risk or high-risk patients deserves further consideration. IDH status gene might be a reliable indicator of therapeutic effectiveness.

ABSTRACT: Particulate matter (PM) emissions from animal houses and the corresponding hazard have raised increasing attention during recent years. In this study, a large-scale manure-belt laying hen house located in Beijing, China was selected as the experimental site for the study of the emission rates (ER) and chemical compositions of PM2.5 and PM10 in 3 seasons, namely, summer, autumn, and winter, to investigate their possible influences on ambient air quality and human health. The results showed that the mean ER from the hen house in summer, autumn, and winter were 9.0 ± 1.7, 2.4 ± 0.7, and 1.9 ± 0.7 mg hen−1 d−1 for PM2.5 (P < 0.05), and 30.7 ± 1.1, 12.8 ± 1.5, and 10.9 ± 0.9 mg hen−1 d−1 for PM10 (P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, large amounts of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA) were observed inside the house in summer, accounting for 11.4 and 9.6% of indoor PM2.5 and PM10 mass, respectively, compared with the value of

BackgroundIndividuals suffering from short-term insomnia disorder (SID) experience difficulties in falling or staying asleep, often leading to daytime fatigue and impaired concentration. However, the underlying mechanisms of SID remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the alterations in brain activation patterns and functional connectivity in patients with SID.MethodsThe study enrolled a total of 31 adults diagnosed with SID and 31 healthy controls (HC). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was utilized to assess the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) and functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex of each participant while performing the verbal fluency test (VFT) task.ResultsIn the VFT task, no significant difference was found between the SID group and the HC group in terms of integral values, centroid values, and mean Oxy-Hb variations. These findings suggest that both groups exhibit similar hemodynamic responses. However, the functional connectivity analysis revealed significant differences in inter-channel connectivity strength between the two groups. The SID group showed significantly lower average inter-channel connectivity strength compared to the HC group. Moreover, six channel pairs (right frontopolar cortex – left frontopolar cortex, left orbitofrontal cortex – left temporopolar cortex, left temporopolar cortex – left frontopolar cortex, left frontopolar cortex-Ch38, left frontopolar cortex – right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex, and left frontopolar cortex – right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) exhibited significantly higher connectivity strength in the HC group compared to the SID group (FDR corrected, p

Abstract The stability of artificial sand-binding vegetation determines the success or failure of restoration of degraded ecosystem, accurately evaluating the stability of artificial sand-binding vegetation can provide evidence for the future management and maintenance of re-vegetated regions. In this paper, a novel data-driven evaluation model was proposed by combining statistical methods and a neural network model to evaluate the stability of artificial sand-binding vegetation in the southeastern margins of the Tengger Desert, where the evaluation indexes were selected from vegetation, soil moisture, and soil. The evaluation results indicate that the stability of the artificially re-vegetated belt established in different years (1956a, 1964a, 1981a, and 1987a) tend to be stable with the increase of sand fixation years, and the artificially re-vegetated belts established in 1956a and 1964a have almost the same stability, but the stability of the artificially re-vegetated belt established in 1981a and 1987a have a significant difference. The evaluation results are reliable and accurate, which can provide evidence for the future management of artificial sand-binding vegetation.

Abstract Accurate estimation of evaporation is of great significance for understanding regional drought, and managing and applying limited water resources in dryland. However, the application of the traditional estimation approaches is limited due to the lack of required meteorological parameters or experimental conditions. In this study, a novel hybrid model was proposed to estimate the monthly pan Ep in dryland by integrating long short-term memory (LSTM) with grey wolf optimizer (GWO) algorithm and Kendall-τ correlation coefficient, where the GWO algorithm was employed to find the optimal hyper-parameters of LSTM, and Kendall-τ correlation coefficient was used to determine the input combination of meteorological variables. The model performance was compared to the performance of other methods based on the evaluation metrics, including root mean squared error (RMSE), the normalized mean squared error (NMSE), the mean absolute error (MAE), the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (NSCE). The results indicated that the optimal input meteorological parameters of the hybrid Kendall-τ-GWO-LSTM models are the monthly average temperature, the minimum air temperature, the maximum air temperature, the minimum values of RMSE, NMSE, MAE, and MAPE are 38.28, 0.20, 26.62, and 19.96%, and the maximum NSCE is 0.89, suggesting that the hybrid Kendall-τ-GWO-LSTM exhibit better model performance than the other hybrid models. Thus, the hybrid Kendall-τ-GWO-LSTM model was highly recommended for estimating pan Ep with limited meteorological information in dryland. The present investigation provides a novel method to estimate the monthly pan Ep with limited meteorological variables in dryland by coupling a deep learning model with meta-heuristic algorithms and the data preprocessing techniques.

The sirtuin family, a group of NAD+-dependent class 3 histone deacetylases (HDACs), was extensively studied initially as a group of longevity genes that are activated in caloric restriction and act in concert with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides to extend the lifespan. Subsequent studies have found that sirtuins are involved in various physiological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and insulin signaling, and they have been extensively studied as cancer genes. In recent years, it has been found that caloric restriction increases ovarian reserves, suggesting that sirtuins may play a regulatory role in reproductive capacity, and interest in the sirtuin family has continued to increase. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the existing studies and analyze the role and mechanism of SIRT1, a member of the sirtuin family, in regulating ovarian function. Research and review on the positive regulation of SIRT1 in ovarian function and its therapeutic effect on PCOS syndrome.

Abstract The sustainability of artificial sand-binding vegetation is determined by the water balance between evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation in desert regions. Consequently, accurately estimating ET is a critical prerequisite for determing the types and spatial distribution of artificial vegetation in different sandy areas. For this purpose, a novel hybrid estimation model was proposed to estimate monthly ET by coupling the deep learning long short term memory (LSTM) with variational mode decomposition (VMD) and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) (i.e., VMD-WOA-LSTM) to estimate the monthly ET in the southeast margins of Tengger Desert. The superiority of LSTM was selected due to its capability of automatically extracting the nonlinear and nonstationary features from sequential data, WOA was employed to optimize the hyperparameters of LSTM, and VMD was used to extract the intrinsic traits of ET time series. The estimating results of VMD-WOA-LSTM has been compared with actual ET and estimation of other hybrid models in terms of standard performance metrics. The results reveale that VMD-WOA-LSTM provide more accurate and reliable estimating results than that of LSTM, the support vector machine (SVM), and the variants of those models. Therefore, VMD-WOA-LSTM could be recommended as an essential auxiliary method to estimate ET in desert regions.

Abstract Aldolase A (ALDOA), a crucial glycolytic enzyme, is often aberrantly expressed in various types of cancer. Although ALDOA has been reported to play additional roles beyond its conventional enzymatic role, its nonmetabolic function and underlying mechanism in cancer progression remain elusive. Here, it is shown that ALDOA promotes liver cancer growth and metastasis by accelerating mRNA translation independent of its catalytic activity. Mechanistically, ALDOA interacted with insulin‐ like growth factor 2 mRNA‐binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) to facilitate its binding to m6A‐modified eIF4G mRNA, thereby increasing eIF4G protein levels and subsequently enhancing overall protein biosynthesis in cells. Importantly, administration of GalNAc‐conjugated siRNA targeting ALDOA effectively slows the tumor growth of orthotopic xenografts. Collectively, these findings uncover a previously unappreciated nonmetabolic function of ALDOA in modulating mRNA translation and highlight the potential of specifically targeting ALDOA as a prospective therapeutic strategy in liver cancer.

To evaluated the risk ratio of Allergic rhinitis (AR) people on the symptoms after COVID-19 infection, and explored the relationship between AR and the symptoms after COVID-19 infection. An observational study was performed of people from outpatient department of the Hospital of Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine. Participants completed an electronic survey and between January 10 to January 20, 2023. We divided the participants into three groups according to the disease information of the population: non-AR people group (AR-N), AR patients with sublingual immunotherapy group (AR-S), and AR patients with conventional therapy group (AR-C). A total of 1116 participants were included in the study, with an average age of 21.76 ± 8.713, women accounted for 62.5%, men accounted for 37.5%. The final results showed that the risk of most symptoms after AR-C infection was not different from that of AR-N, except for sore throat, dry and itchy, chest distress, shortness of breath, and dyspnea. AR-S could effectively reduce the risk of post-infection symptoms including: dry and itchy (OR = 0.484, 95%CI: 0.335–0.698), pain (OR = 0.513, 95%CI:0.362–0.728), cough (OR = 0.506, 95% CI:0.341–0.749), expectoration (OR = 0.349, 95% CI:0.244–0.498), fever (OR = 0.569, 95% CI:0.379–0.853), head and body pain (OR = 0.456, 95% CI:0.323–0.644), fatigue (OR = 0.256, 95% CI:0.177–0.371), cold limbs (OR = 0.325, 95%CI:0.227–0.465), diarrhea (OR = 0.246, 95% CI:0.132–0.457), constipation (OR = 0.227, 95%CI:0.100–0.513), hyposmia (OR = 0.456, 95% CI:0.296–0.701), hypogeusia (OR = 0.397, 95% CI:0.259–0.607), chest distress (OR = 0.534, 95% CI:0.343–0.829), shortness of breath (OR = 0.622, 95% CI:0.398–0.974), palpitations (OR = 0.355, 95% CI:0.206–0.613). The risk of symptoms after COVID-19 infection in allergic rhinitis population receiving sublingual immunotherapy is lower.

IntroductionLumbar disc herniation, a chronic degenerative disease, is one of the major contributors to chronic low back pain and disability. Although many studies have been conducted in the past on brain function in chronic low back pain, most of these studies did not classify chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients according to their etiology. The lack of etiologic classification may lead to inconsistencies between findings, and the correlation between differences in brain activation and clinical symptoms in patients with cLBP was less studied in the past.MethodsIn this study, 36 lumbar disc herniation patients with chronic low back pain (LDHCP) and 36 healthy controls (HCs) were included to study brain activity abnormalities in LDHCP. Visual analogue scale (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to assess clinical symptoms.ResultsThe results showed that LDHCP patients exhibited abnormally increased and diminished activation of brain regions compared to HCs. Correlation analysis showed that the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the left middle frontal gyrus is negatively correlated with SAS and VAS, while the right superior temporal gyrus is positively correlated with SAS and VAS, the dorsolateral left superior frontal gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus are negatively correlated with VAS and SAS, respectively.ConclusionLDHCP patients have brain regions with abnormally increased and abnormally decreased activation compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, some of the abnormally activated brain regions were correlated with clinical pain or emotional symptoms.

With the development of digital economy, especially the Mobile payment, the lifestyles such as the private donation, is undergoing accelerated changes in the last decades. Based on the China Family Panel Studies 2018 data, this paper systematically investigated the donation models, empowered by digital technology, have realized economy system refinement and intelligent development. Compared with residents who do not use the Internet, residents who use the Internet are about 10% more likely to donate, and the amount of donations will increase by about 56%. After considering the potential endogeneity problem, results still hold with Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Instrumental Variable. The mechanism analysis shows that the searching cost and information asymmetry play an important role. The research of this paper has enlightening that the widespread use of digital technologies can effectively change the private donation behavior and penetrate energy consumption via dramatically decreasing searching cost.

BackgroundBecause of high working intensity, high responsibility, and unexpected situations, health care workers may suffer great work pressure, which may lead to health damage. ObjectiveTo explore the self-rated health status and its influencing factors such as demographic and occupational-related factors of medical staff in Lanzhou. MethodsIn-service medical staff were selected by using cluster random sampling method from 18 public hospitals in Lanzhou City and were investigated with a self-made questionnaire and the Self-rated Health Measurement Scale (SRHMS). SRHMS includes 48 items in 10 dimensions, which are divided into three sub-scales of physical health, mental health, and social health, and another independent dimension is overall health. The scores were converted into a percentage scale and expressed as the percentage of measured score to full score; a higher score indicated better health, and >70% was considered good health status. t test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Spearman correlation were used to analyze the scores of SRHMS and the demographic and occupational-related factors affecting the scores of physical, mental, and social health sub-scales. ResultsA total of 2989 valid questionnaires were recovered. There were statistically significant differences in total score and the scores of physical, mental, and social health among medical staff of different age, educational background, length of service, and weekly working hours groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of total score to full score in the medical staff was 71.41%, but the scores of physical, mental, and social health sub-scales and total scale of selected participants were all lower than the corresponding domestic norms (t=−3.323, −12.283, −7.157, −9.659, P < 0.05); the percentage of psychological symptoms and negative emotions in mental health scale to full score was the lowest, only 58.39%. Educational background, length of service, and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with physical health score (r=−0.061, −0.060, −0.165, P < 0.05); professional title was positively correlated with mental health score (r=0.045, P < 0.05), while educational background and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with it (r=−0.051, −0.172, P < 0.05). Monthly income, professional title, and length of service were positively correlated with social health score (r=0.040, 0.049, 0.071, P < 0.05), while educational background and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with it (r=−0.038, −0.110, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe self-rated health status of selected medical staff in Lanzhou is generally good, but lower than that of the norm, especially the mental health score is the lowest. The self-rated health score of total scale is correlated with education, length of service, professional title, and working time per week.

Riparian zones play a critical role in ecosystems. Accurately extracting the area of a riparian zone in open water is challenging due to human activities and climate change. This study used Sentinel-1 satellite data to investigate the capabilities of the support vector machine, extreme gradient boosting, and random forest methods, which were optimized by genetic algorithms for the detection of area changes in the riparian zone in the heart region of the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China. A total of 29 images were collected in 2020, and three models were created for each image, which were then transferred to other phases. The models’ performance metrics were validated using all of the images. The results indicated that the SVM method achieved the best performance with an accuracy of 0.945, an F1_Score of 0.950, and a kappa coefficient of 0.889. The optimal model was then used to monitor the area changes in the riparian zone over the study area in 2020. It was calculated that the area of the riparian zones was the smallest on 26 December and the largest on 17 June, with a maximum riparian zone of 31.97 km2. Overall, this study demonstrates that an SVM is the most stable method for detecting area changes in a riparian zone when using Sentinel-1 data compared to the RF and XGB methods. The findings are anticipated to provide a feasible plan for detecting the area dynamics in open-water riparian zones and to provide valuable information for the rational utilization of land resources and the ecological safety of the riparian zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir.

Introduction Previous studies have suggested an association between tobacco smoke exposure and allergic rhinitis. This study aimed to investigate if prenatal or postpartum smoke exposure will increase the risk of allergic rhinitis in offspring. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were searched from inception to July 2020 for eligible studies investigating the association between smoking exposure and allergic rhinitis. The random-effects model was adopted for the metaanalysis to obtain the summary odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis based on the age of children was performed. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to check the robustness of the results. Publication bias of included studies was assessed. Results This meta-analysis included nine studies, in which six studies suggested that children exposed to prenatal smoking were more likely to develop allergic rhinitis compared with children who were never exposed (OR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.04–1.21). The subgroup analysis divided children those aged 10 years (OR=0.99; 95% CI: 0.82–1.20). This metaanalysis revealed a positive relationship between postpartum smoke exposure and the development of allergic rhinitis in offspring (OR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.03–1.39) with marked heterogeneity. The subgroup analysis of age in the postnatal group showed similar results in children aged >10 years (OR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.05–1.30) and children aged

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that regulates many biological processes. The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus often suffers from heat stress that affects its growth and leads to significant economic losses. In this study, the mRNA expression patterns and DNA methylation characteristics in the body wall of A. japonicus under heat stress were analyzed by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). We found that CpG was the main DNA methylation type, and heat stress caused a significant increase in the overall methylation level and methylation rate, especially in the intergenic region of the A. japonicus genome. In total, 1,409 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 17,927 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were obtained by RNA-seq and WGBS, respectively. Association analysis between DNA methylation and transcription identified 569 negatively correlated genes in both DMGs and DEGs, which indicated that DNA methylation affects on transcriptional regulation in response to heat stress. These negatively correlated genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to energy metabolism and immunoregulation, such as the thyroid hormone signaling pathway, renin secretion, notch signaling pathway and microRNAs in cancer. In addition, potential key genes, including heat shock protein (hsp70), calcium-activated chloride channel regulator 1(clca1), and tenascin R (tnr), were obtained and their expression and methylation were preliminarily verified. The results provide a new perspective for epigenetic and transcriptomic studies of A. japonicus response to heat stress, and provide a reference for breeding sea cucumbers resistant to high temperatures.

Bluetooth low energy (BLE)-based location service technology has become one of the fastest growing applications for Bluetooth. Received signal strength (RSS) is often used in localization techniques for ranging or location fingerprinting. However, RSS-based localization solutions have poor performance in multipath environments. In this paper, we present a measurement system designed using multiple ESP32 BLE modules and the Bluetooth mesh networking technology, which is capable of exploiting the space, time, and frequency diversities in measurements. To enable channel-aware multi-device RSS measurements, we also designed a communication protocol to associate channel ID information to advertising messages. Based on channel measurement and analysis, we demonstrate that with a six-receiver configuration and space-time-frequency diversity combining, we can significantly reduce the residual linear regression fitting errors in path loss models. Such a reduction leads to more accurately correlating RSS measurements to the distance between the transmitter and receiver devices and thus to achieving improved performance with the RSS-based localization techniques. More importantly, the reduction in the fitting errors is achieved without differentiating the three advertising channels, making it possible to conveniently implement the proposed six-receiver configuration using commercially available BLE devices and the standard Bluetooth mesh networking protocol stack.

Abstract Rectal cancer is an important cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. In this study, the differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs/mRNAs were first identified and the correlation level between DE lncRNAs and mRNAs were calculated. The results showed that genes of highly correlated lncRNA‐mRNA pairs presented strong prognosis effects, such as GPM6A, METTL24, SCN7A, HAND2‐AS1 and PDZRN4. Then, the rectal cancer‐related lncRNA‐mRNA network was constructed based on the ceRNA theory. Topological analysis of the network revealed that the network was maintained by hub nodes and a hub subnetwork was constructed, including the hub lncRNA MIR143HG and MBNL1‐SA1. Further analysis indicated that the hub subnetwork was highly related to cancer pathways, such as ‘Focal adhesion’ and ‘Wnt signalling pathway’. Hub subnetwork also had significant prognosis capability. A closed lncRNA‐mRNA module was identified by bilateral network clustering. Genes in modules also showed high prognosis effects. Finally, a core lncRNA‐TF crosstalk network was identified to uncover the crosstalk and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs and TFs by integrating ceRNA crosstalks and TF binding affinities. Some core genes, such as MEIS1, GLI3 and HAND2‐AS1 were considered as the key regulators in tumourigenesis. Based on the authors’ comprehensive analysis, all these lncRNA‐mRNA crosstalks provided promising clues for biological prognosis of rectal cancer.

Abstract Background Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common and lethal carcinoma; however, the effectiveness and feasibility of the chemo- and radio-therapy (CRT) for the elderly patients (≥ 70 years) with surgery have not been fully discussed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect of CRT on the prognosis. Methods A total of 1085 patients (534 CRT patients vs. 551 non-CRT patients) from 1998 to 2016 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using the competing risk regression and survival analysis, an overall estimation of the effectiveness of CRT was performed on a well-balanced cohort via performing propensity score matching. Then, the specific impact of CRT on high- (n = 557) and low-risk (n = 528) cohorts derived from the nomogram’s risk quantification for every patient were further evaluated respectively. Additionally, the advantages of the nomogram model and the conventional tumor, node, metastasis (TNM, 6th revision) staging system were compared. Results A better survival outcome was observed among patients receiving both surgery and CRT than those who underwent surgery alone (HR: 0.55, 95% CI 0.45–0.68, P

Abstract Background Some pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal adverse events were observed in potential association with injection of COVID-19 vaccines, while there was no preventive intervention for it. We aim to investigate the efficacy of auricular acupressure (AA) therapy in preventing and relieving AEFI after injection of COVID-19 vaccine. Methods The study design is a randomized, multicentre, three-arm controlled, single-blind trial. Participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be advertised and enrolled and assigned in the medical institutions randomly for post-injection observation. No less than 360 participants will be randomized into one of three groups: auricular acupressure group, sham auricular acupressure group, and wait-list group. Interventions will be performed immediately and will happen 4 to 5 times per day for 5 days. The primary clinical outcomes will be quality and quantity evaluation among participants who reported any AEFI and who reported local pain at injection site. Secondary outcomes will concern headache, muscle and (or) joint pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other potential events. All the outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after the injection. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed, with significance level determined as 5%. Discussion Results of this trial will help to clarify the value of auricular acupressure therapy in preventing and relieving overall and certain adverse events following immunization after injection of COVID-19 vaccine. Trial registration China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ( ChiCTR2100043210 ). Registered on 8 February, 2021.

Study objectivesThe study aimed to (1) analyze the interrelationships among different types of childhood adversity, diverse personality dimensions, and individual coping style integratively among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and healthy participants using a network approach; (2) explore the latent class of child maltreatment (CM) and its relationship with cognitive function.MethodsData were collected from the Objective Diagnostic Markers and Personalized Intervention in MDD Patients (ODMPIM) study, including 1,629 Chinese participants. Using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess CM, the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire to measure individual coping style, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Short Form for personality characters, and a series of neurocognitive tests, including seven tests with 18 subtests for cognitive assessments. We used the “Network Module” in Jeffreys’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP) and R package for network analysis. A latent class analysis was performed with SAS9.4.ResultsChild maltreatment was more common in MDD patients than in healthy controls, except for emotional abuse. Network analysis showed that emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and physical neglect formed quadrangle connections. Personality dimensions were associated with physical neglect and emotional abuse. All types of CM (excluding sex abuse) showed an association with coping style. Emotional neglect showed the highest centrality measures. Physical neglect had a high level of closeness. To a concerning strength, emotional and physical neglect showed the highest levels. The structure of the networks is variant between groups (M = 0.28, P = 0.04). Latent class analysis (LCA) revealed that three classes provided the best fit statistics. Neglect and abuse classes tended to perform more poorly on the five cognitive domains.ConclusionThis study provided insights on multi-type of CM. Neglect played an important role in different routes through the relation between CM with personality traits and social coping style. However, neglect has often been ignored in previous studies and should receive more public attention.

IntroductionBreast cancer (BRCA) is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. It was widely accepted that autophagy and the tumor immune microenvironment play an important role in the biological process of BRCA. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), as vital regulatory molecules, are involved in the occurrence and development of BRCA. The aim of this study was to assess the prognosis of BRCA by constructing an autophagy-related lncRNA (ARlncRNA) prognostic model and to provide individualized guidance for the treatment of BRCA.MethodsThe clinical data and transcriptome data of patients with BRCA were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA), and autophagy-related genes were obtained from the human autophagy database (HADb). ARlncRNAs were identified by conducting co‑expression analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to construct an ARlncRNA prognostic model. The prognostic model was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, plotting risk curve, Independent prognostic analysis, clinical correlation analysis and plotting ROC curves. Finally, the tumor immune microenvironment of the prognostic model was studied.Results10 ARlncRNAs(AC090912.1, LINC01871, AL358472.3, AL122010.1, SEMA3B-AS1, BAIAP2-DT, MAPT-AS1, DNAH10OS, AC015819.1, AC090198.1) were included in the model. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of the prognostic model showed that the overall survival(OS) of the low-risk group was significantly better than that of the high-risk group (p< 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses suggested that the prognostic model was an independent prognostic factor for BRCA (HR = 1.788, CI = 1.534–2.084, p < 0.001). ROCs of 1-, 3- and 5-year survival revealed that the AUC values of the prognostic model were all > 0.7, with values of 0.779, 0.746, and 0.731, respectively. In addition, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) suggested that several tumor-related pathways were enriched in the high-risk group, while several immune‑related pathways were enriched in the low-risk group. Patients in the low-risk group had higher immune scores and their immune cells and immune pathways were more active. Patients in the low-risk group had higher PD-1 and CTLA-4 levels and received more benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.DiscussionThe ARlncRNA prognostic model showed good performance in predicting the prognosis of patients with BRCA and is of great significance to guide the individualized treatment of these patients.

Background: Some adverse events following immunization (AEFI) were observed in potential corelation with COVID-19 vaccination but without prevention or ongoing trial for it. We aimed to investigate efficacy of auricular acupressure (AuriAc) therapy in preventing AEFI after first dosage of the vaccine. Methods: We performed a multicentre randomized controlled trial with three arms, including AuriAc, SAuriAc (sham auricular acupressure), and TrAsU (treatment as usual) group, carried out in four medical institutions in Chengdu, China, from March 17th to April 23rd, 2021. We enrolled participants based on eligibility criteria and randomized them into three groups: AuriAc (AEFI-specific auricular points applied, n = 52), SAuriAc (n = 51) or TrAsU (n = 44) group. Primary outcomes were percentages of any AEFI and local pain, and secondary outcomes were percentages who reported other AEFI. They were followed at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days, by phone or online, with severity evaluated. Results: 147 participants (73.47% females) were included with median age as 31 years (25–45, IQR). One day after the injection, participants in AuriAc group reported significant reduction on percentages of any AEFI [intention-to-treat, difference of percentage (DP) = −20.13, 95%CI: − 0.39, − 0.02, p = 0.01; per-protocol, DP = −22.21, 95%CI: − 0.40, − 0.03, P = 0.02] and local pain (per-protocol, DP = −18.40, 95%CI: −0.36, −0.01, P = 0.04), compared with TrAsU group. The effects were slight at other follow-up days and for other outcomes, and with a low percentage of mild local allergic reactions. Conclusions: We firstly explored potential of AuriAc for preventing AEFI related to COVID-19 vaccine injection, which is beneficial for the vaccine recipients, but evidence is limited. Trial registration: chictr.org.cn no. ChiCTR2100043210 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=121519)

Land desertification associated with climate change and human activities significantly impacts ecosystem functioning in semi-arid alpine mountains. However, accurately revealing the state of desertification risk and the drivers of its evolution is frequently difficult, especially in the semi-arid alpine mountains. A new theoretical framework that combined qualitative and quantitative concepts has been developed to enhance ecological risk assessment in semi-arid alpine mountains and reveal the causes of desertification. The PSR model, multi-layer hierarchical theory, hierarchical analysis, inverse cloud generating principles, field surveys, structured questionnaires, and remote sensing techniques are all combined in this method. Our results showed that the risk of desertification in the study area exhibited a fluctuating trend between 2000 and 2020, with a period of decrease, followed by an increase, and then a subsequent decrease. However, the risk status remained overall stable, remaining at a light desertification level during the entire period. Desertification risk is driven primarily by climate warming and humidification, which can cause the melting of ice/snow. Additionally, increased rainfall and freeze–thaw cycles can enhance soil erosion, further exacerbating the risk. Conversely, the implementation of environmental protection projects, such as the establishment of protected areas, efforts to restore forests and grasslands, and initiatives to conserve soil and water, has been effective in limiting the increase in desertification risk. These efforts serve as a counterforce to the negative impacts of climate change and human activity, highlighting the beneficial effects of human intervention in preventing desertification. High-altitude, high-topographic relief places have considerable desertification risk, mainly in the alpine desert. Due to geography, grazing, rodent and pest infestation, and wildlife, there is still a risk of desertification expanding in low elevation areas. There will be a greater urgency in the future to enhance the management of anthropogenic activities in the local environment in order to handle the growing threat of desertification caused by climate change. This study combined the interactions of the natural environment and human activities, filled a research gap in assessing desertification risk, and revealed its driving mechanisms, as well as provided a theoretical foundation for improving the integrity and sustainability of ecosystems in semi-arid alpine regions and elsewhere.

Abstract Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) has established efficacy in the treatment of depression and a growing evidence base in the treatment of depression. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of MST in anti-depressive treatment and its impact on cognitive function (INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202170061). We searched for controlled trials published in English between 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2020 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. The evaluation process strictly followed the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool into the literature, and Meta-analysis was performed according to the Cochrane System Reviewer’s Manual. Data from a total of 285 patients from 10 studies were retained in the quantitative synthesis. The results showed no significant difference between MST and ECT in the antidepressant effect (SDM −0.13 [−0.78;0.52]). Compared with ECT, MST showed shorter recovery time (MD −5.67 [−9.75; −1.60]) and reorientation time (MD −14.67 [−27.96; −1.41]); and MST showed less cognitive impairment on the immediate recall of words (SDM 0.80 [0.35;1.25]), delayed recall of words (SDM 0.99 [0.01;0.74]), visual-spatial immediate memory (SDM 0.51 [0.20;0.83]), visual-spatial delayed memory (SDM 0.57 [0.11;1.02]), and the verbal fluency (SDM 0.51 [0.20;0.83]). Our evidence-based study is the first meta-analysis on the efficacy of MST in anti-depressive treatment and its effect on cognitive function. It showed that the curative effect of MST in anti-depressive treatment is equivalent to that of ECT. Besides, depressive patients with MST benefit more from cognitive function compared with ECT.

ObjectiveThe pathogenesis of schizophrenia is associated with neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene polymorphism to explore the relationship between rs16141, rs16145, and rs5573 polymorphisms in the NPY gene and antipsychotics response in the Chinese population.MethodsThe unrelated 228 Chinese Han patients with schizophrenia were enrolled in the present study. Genotypisation within NPY gene was performed using the KASP genotyping assays. Before treatment and on the weekends of the 2nd, 4th, and 8th weeks after treatment, the medication status of the patients was recorded and the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) was used to evaluate the clinical effect. A reduction in total PANSS scores ≥50% were classified as good responders, while others were poor responders. We evaluated the association between NPY gene and antipsychotic efficacy by comparing allele and genotype distribution, correlation analysis, linkage imbalance, and five genetic models between the two groups.ResultsNo significant associations were found in the rs16141, rs16145, and rs5573 of NPY and antipsychotic treatment response (all p > 0.05). There was no significant relationship between the three SNPs polymorphisms in the NPY gene and the changes of positive, negative and general psychopathology subscales scores at each stage (all p > 0.05). The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of locus rs16141 was not statistically difference between good responders and poor responders (genotype: χ2 =4.088, p=0.043, p-correction = 0.129; allele: χ2 = 4.088, p = 0.027, p-correction = 0.081). The allele distribution of rs5573 was significantly different between groups, yet the difference was disappeared after correcting (χ2 = 4.136, p = 0.042, p-correction =0.126). The distribution frequencies of TA/TG and GG haplotypes constituted by rs16141 and rs5573 showed no statistical difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). In recessive inheritance mode, NPYrs5573 was found to be associated with antipsychotic drug response (G/G vs. A/A +A/G: p = 0.028, AIC = 197.2, BIC = 210.9).ConclusionsThis study didn't found association between polymorphisms in the NPY gene locus (rs16141, rs16145, and rs5573) and the response to antipsychotics after Bonferroni correction. The polymorphism of NPY gene and the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia need further study.

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder which is contributed by both genetic and environmental factors. However, at present, its specific pathogenesis is still not very clear, and there is a lack of objective and reliable biomarkers. Accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, including SZ, and hold promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize and discuss the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of SZ and their potential value as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Immune dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SZ). Despite previous studies showing a broad link between immune dysregulation and the central nervous system of SZ, the exact relationship has not been completely elucidated. With immune infiltration analysis as an entry point, this study aimed to explore the relationship between schizophrenia and the immune system in more detail from brain regions, immune cells, genes, and pathways. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the hippocampus (HPC), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and striatum (STR) between SZ and control groups. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional enrichment analysis showed that three brain regions were closely related to the immune system. Compared with PFC and STR, there were 20 immune-related genes (IRGs) and 42 immune pathways in HPC. The results of immune infiltration analysis showed that the differential immune cells in HPC were effector memory T (Tem) cells. The correlation of immune-related DEGs (IDEGs) and immune cells further analysis showed that NPY, BLNK, OXTR, and FGF12, were moderately correlated with Tem cells. Functional pathway analysis indicated that these four genes might affect Tem by regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway and the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis results indicated that these four genes had a high diagnostic ability (AUC=95.19%). Finally, the disease animal model was successfully replicated, and further validation was conducted using the real-time PCR and the western blot. These results showed that these gene expression changes were consistent with our previous expression profiling. In conclusion, our findings suggested that HPC in SZ may be more closely related to immune disorders and modulate immune function through Tem, PI3K-Akt pathway, and neuroactive ligand-binding receptor interactions. To the best of our knowledge, the Immucell AI tool has been applied for the first time to analyze immune infiltration in SZ, contributing to a better understanding of the role of immune dysfunction in SZ from a new perspective.

When plants are subjected to various biotic and abiotic stresses, the root system responds actively by secreting different types and amounts of bioactive compounds, while affects the structure of rhizosphere soil bacterial community. Therefore, understanding plant–soil-microbial interactions, especially the strength of microbial interactions, mediated by root exudates is essential. A short-term experiment was conducted under drought and salt stress to investigate the interaction between root exudates and Nitraria tangutorum rhizosphere bacterial communities. We found that drought and salt stress increased rhizosphere soil pH (9.32 and 20.6%) and electrical conductivity (1.38 and 11 times), respectively, while decreased organic matter (27.48 and 31.38%), total carbon (34.55 and 29.95%), and total phosphorus (20 and 28.57%) content of N. tangutorum rhizosphere soil. Organic acids, growth hormones, and sugars were the main differential metabolites of N. tangutorum under drought and salt stress. Salt stress further changed the N. tangutorum rhizosphere soil bacterial community structure, markedly decreasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidota as r-strategist while increasing that of Alphaproteobacteria as k-strategists. The co-occurrence network analysis showed that drought and salt stress reduced the connectivity and complexity of the rhizosphere bacterial network. Soil physicochemical properties and root exudates in combination with salt stress affect bacterial strategies and interactions. Our study revealed the mechanism of plant–soil-microbial interactions under the influence of root exudates and provided new insights into the responses of bacterial communities to stressful environments.

The neural mechanisms of torpor have essential reference significance for medical methods and long-term manned space. Changes in electrophysiology of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) conduce to revealing the neural mechanisms from the torpor to arousal. Due to the lower physiology state during the torpor, it is a challenge to detect neural activities in vivo on freely behaving mice. Here, we introduced a multichannel microelectrode array (MEA) for real-time detection of local field potential (LFP) and action potential (spike) in the SCN in induced torpor mice. Meanwhile, core body temperature and behaviors of mice were recorded for further analysis. Platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and Nafion membrane modified MEA has a lower impedance (16.58 ± 3.93 kΩ) and higher signal-to-noise ratio (S/N = 6.1). We found that from torpor to arousal, the proportion of theta frequency bands of LFPs increased, spike firing rates rapidly increased. These results could all be characteristic information of arousal, supported by the microscopic neural activity promoting arousal in mice. MEA displayed real-time dynamic changes of neuronal activities in the SCN, which was more helpful to analyze and understand neural mechanisms of torpor and arousal. Our study provided a factual basis for the neural state in SCN of induced non-hibernating animals, which was helpful for the application of clinics and spaceflight.