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With the increase in global population, the demand for aquatic products rises annually. As a sustainable industry, aquaculture offers a promising solution to address the growing demand for fish products. Meanwhile, intensifying and expanding sustainable aquaculture is essential for achieving the United Nations' global goal of the Decade of Action. Cage culture is a typical aquaculture method used globally. This culture method has the following advantages: (Ⅰ) Highly researched with a long history: cage culture has been in use since the 1970s. Cultivating high-value aquatic products through cage culture has become indispensable in aquaculture. (Ⅱ) The development prospects of cage culture are broad and include realization of the comprehensive breeding of different species. In the integrated multi-nutritive aquaculture (IMTA) system, cage culture enables a multi-species combination in which uneaten feed and nutrients from the excreted waste of one breeding species are used as food for other breeding species, thereby reducing nutrients released into the environment and increasing overall productivity. Net cage culture in shallow waters has grown exponentially in the past few decades. However, due to the limited space in nearshore areas and an increasing number of countries paying attention to the environmental problems caused by cage culture, the method has gradually shifted to deeper waters to ensure food security and safety. At the same time, alleviating environmental stress caused by nearshore cage culture and the expansion of the food production space are inevitable. Compared with nearshore aquaculture, the environmental conditions of offshore aquaculture are more complex, and the net cages are inevitably subjected to harsh sea conditions. To achieve the safe production of offshore aquaculture, it is crucial to study wind and wave resistance technology for use in culture net cages. As an essential part of net cages, the netting system is mainly used to maintain breeding space, protect the breeding species, prevent them from escaping, and protect them from predators. In the flow and wave field, the netting system bears most of the load on the farming facilities. Compared with other traditional marine structures, the nets have the mechanical characteristics of small scale and high flexibility. Under external force, the nets show large displacement and massive deformation, reducing breeding space and increasing the likelihood of damage to breeding species due to crowding. At the same time, the nets change the flow and wave field around the facility, affecting the distribution of the remaining bait, breeding species' excrement, and dissolved oxygen in the water. Currently, the lack of analysis technology for nets is a limitation in offshore cage culture engineering, which restricts the large-scale development of offshore cages. Therefore, research on the hydrodynamic characteristics of nets is vital for developing offshore cage culture. This study introduced primary methods for calculating the netting hydrodynamic loads and their applicability. Simultaneously, the predominant modeling techniques in the numerical calculation of the netting dynamic response were summarized and analyzed. Furthermore, a systematic review of studies relating to the wave flow field around net mesh was conducted. Finally, the current hot topics in the research of netting hydrodynamic characteristics were reviewed to provide a reference for designing and optimizing cages. Considering the influence of various parameters on the hydrodynamic loads on the nets is an effective way to improve the prediction accuracy for the loads, which is also a critical area of research that requires further investment. In order to restore the real force characteristics of nets, a database of the netting hydrodynamic coefficients should be established through experiments. Intelligent algorithms, such as digital twin technology, are used to construct prediction models and generate mapping relationships between multiple factors and the hydrodynamic coefficients of the nets. Moreover, databases and algorithms should be updated regularly to improve the accuracy of calculating the netting hydrodynamic load. For the dynamic response of the nets, the fluid-structure coupling of the flexible nets should be studied intensively in the future, focusing on the two-way coupling between the nets and the fluid and exploring direct numerical simulation methods. Meanwhile, considering computational accuracy, suitable algorithms, such as the submerged boundary method, should be selected, and parallel computational methods should be developed to improve computational efficiency. In terms of the flow and wave field around the nets, further research should be conducted to determine the effects of extreme waves, biofouling, fouling density, cultured fish species, fish size, fish number, fish swimming speed, and fish swimming status on the flow field in the net cages, which will be conducive to monitoring the health of fish, reducing the risk of fish diseases, and ensuring the sustainable development of cage culture. This study provides a reference for developing net hydrodynamic analysis for digitalization and precision. It also provides more information for the sustainable development of aquaculture.

In the framework of $ G_{b} $-metric spaces, we introduce the concept of a generalized Ćirić-type contraction and obtain several fixed-point theorems for this contraction. First, we present a significant lemma, which is used to ensure that the Picard sequence is a Cauchy sequence. Using this lemma, we establish three fixed-point theorems satisfying different conditions. Second, we construct new examples to illustrate our results. As applications, we deduce the famous Ćirić fixed-point theorem in terms of $ b $-metric spaces using our results. In addition, we obtain Reich-type contraction fixed-point theorems in such a space using the aforementioned lemma. Our results improve and complement many recent findings. In particular, we substantially enlarge the range of the contraction constant in our results. Finally, we consider the existence and uniqueness of solutions for integral equation applying our new results.

This study investigated the effects of a crystalline admixture (CA) and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on the self-healing and mechanical properties of basalt fibre mortars. Uniaxial compression experiments were conducted on basalt fibre mortar specimens to investigate the effects of the two admixtures and different admixture ratios on the strength repair ability of basalt fibre mortar at different maintenance ages after pre-cracking, and microscopic observations of cracks and their healing products were conducted using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy to verify the experimental results. The results showed that CA has a noticeable advantage in the self-healing of microcracks by producing a dense material through chemical reactions, whereas SAP can effectively fill wider cracks and reduce their width through physical expansion. Compared with CA, SAP had a greater effect on the compressive strength of the basalt fibre mortars. The simultaneous dosing of CA and SAP in appropriate amounts can effectively combine the advantages of CA and SAP to optimise the self-healing effect of basalt fibre mortars, generating self-healing fillers based on calcium silicate and calcium carbonate in the cracks and enhancing the repair strength of basalt fibre mortars with a self-healing rate of 103%.

Abstract Lacking effective therapeutic targets heavily restricts the improvement of clinical prognosis for patients diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 21 (USP21) is dysregulated in plenty of human cancers, however, its potential function and relevant molecular mechanisms in ESCC malignant progression as well as its value in clinical translation remain largely unknown. Here, in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that aberrant upregulation of USP21 accelerated the proliferation and metastasis of ESCC in a deubiquitinase-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we found that USP21 binds to, deubiquitinates, and stabilizes the G3BP Stress Granule Assembly Factor 1 (G3BP1) protein, which is required for USP21-mediated ESCC progression. Further molecular studies demonstrated that the USP21/G3BP1 axis played a tumor-promoting role in ESCC progression by activating the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, disulfiram (DSF), an inhibitor against USP21 deubiquitylation activity, markedly abolished the USP21-mediated stability of G3BP1 protein and significantly displayed an anti-tumor effect on USP21-driving ESCC progression. Finally, the regulatory axis of USP21/G3BP1 was demonstrated to be aberrantly activated in ESCC tumor tissues and closely associated with advanced clinical stages and unfavorable prognoses, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy targeting USP21/G3BP1 axis for ESCC patients.

Abstract Background Near work is generally considered as a risk factor for myopia onset and progression. This study aimed to investigate the choroidal responses to a brief-period of near work in children and young adults. Methods Thirty myopic medical students (aged 18–28 years) and 30 myopic children (aged 8–12 years) participated in this study. The submacular total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and choriocapillaris flow deficit (CcFD), as well as subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were measured with swept-source optical coherence tomography/optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCT/OCTA) before and immediately after 20 min, 40 min, 60 min of near work at a distance of 33 cm. Results In adults, 20 min of near work induced a significant reduction in SFCT (− 5.1 ± 6.5 μm), LA [(− 19.2 ± 18.6) × 103 μm2], SA [(− 8.2 ± 12.6) × 103 μm2] and TCA [(− 27.4 ± 24.9) × 103 μm2] (all P

Abstract To date, several molecules have been found to facilitate iron influx, while the types of iron influx channels remain to be elucidated. Here, Piezo1 channel was identified as a key iron transporter in response to mechanical stress. Piezo1-mediated iron overload disturbed iron metabolism and exaggerated ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). Importantly, Piezo1-induced iron influx was independent of the transferrin receptor (TFRC), a well-recognized iron gatekeeper. Furthermore, pharmacological inactivation of Piezo1 profoundly reduced iron accumulation, alleviated mitochondrial ROS, and suppressed ferroptotic alterations in stimulation of mechanical stress. Moreover, conditional knockout of Piezo1 (Col2a1-CreERT Piezo1 flox/flox ) attenuated the mechanical injury-induced intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Notably, the protective effect of Piezo1 deficiency in IVDD was dampened in Piezo1/Gpx4 conditional double knockout (cDKO) mice (Col2a1-CreERT Piezo1 flox/flox /Gpx4 flox/flox ). These findings suggest that Piezo1 is a potential determinant of iron influx, indicating that the Piezo1-iron-ferroptosis axis might shed light on the treatment of mechanical stress-induced diseases.

Osteoarthritis (OA) has emerged as a significant health concern among the elderly population, with increasing attention paid to ferroptosis-induced OA in recent years. However, the prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids can lead to a series of side effects and limited therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to employ the Mannich condensation reaction between epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and selenomethionine (SeMet) to efficiently synthesize polyphenol-based nanodrugs in aqueous media for treating OA. Molecular biology experiments demonstrated that EGCG-based nanodrugs (ES NDs) could effectively reduce glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inactivation, abnormal Fe2+ accumulation, and lipid peroxidation induced by oxidative stress, which ameliorated the metabolic disorder of chondrocytes and other multiple pathological processes triggered by ferroptosis. Moreover, imaging and histopathological analysis of the destabilization of the medial meniscus model in mice confirmed that ES NDs exhibiting significant therapeutic effects in relieving OA. The intra-articular delivery of ES NDs represents a promising approach for treating OA and other joint inflammatory diseases.

Care for patients with peripheral nerve injury is multifaceted, as traditional methods are not devoid of limitations. Although the utilization of neural conduits shows promise as a therapeutic modality for peripheral nerve injury, its efficacy as a standalone intervention is limited. Hence, there is a pressing need to investigate a composite multifunctional neural conduit as an alternative treatment for peripheral nerve injury. In this study, a BDNF-loaded chitosan-based mimetic mussel polymer conduit was prepared. Its unique adhesion characteristics allow it to be suture-free, improve the microenvironment of the injury site, and have good antibacterial properties. Researchers utilized a rat sciatic nerve injury model to evaluate the progression of nerve regeneration at the 12-week postoperative stage. The findings of this study indicate that the chitosan-based mimetic mussel polymer conduit loaded with BDNF had a substantial positive effect on myelination and axon outgrowth. The observed impact demonstrated a favorable outcome in terms of sciatic nerve regeneration and subsequent functional restoration in rats with a 15-mm gap. Hence, this approach is promising for nerve tissue regeneration during peripheral nerve injury.

Spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS) has rapidly developed in recent years. The application scope is still being continuously explored. We describe a case in which a 40-year-old woman with mixed ground-glass opacity (GGO) and an esophageal leiomyoma successfully underwent simultaneous segmentectomy and leiomyoma resection through spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The perioperative course was uneventful. Postoperative pathology revealed minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and esophageal leiomyoma.

We consider the concept of fuzzy H-quasi-contraction (FH-QC for short) initiated by Ćirić in tripled fuzzy metric spaces (T-FMSs for short) and present a new fixed point theorem (FPT for short) for FH-QC in complete T-FMSs. As an application, we prove the corresponding results of the previous literature in setting fuzzy metric spaces (FMSs for short). Moreover, we obtain theorems of sufficient and necessary conditions which can be used to demonstrate the existence of fixed points. In addition, we construct relevant examples to illustrate the corresponding results. Finally, we show the existence and uniqueness of solutions for integral equations by applying our new results.

This research introduces an innovative construction method based on magnesia expansive agent concrete for the seamless construction of hundred-meter scale super-length raft structures, corroborated by the on-site test. The basic principle of this construction method is to use the pre compression stress generated by magnesia expansive agent to offset temperature and shrinkage stress. A temperature-strain monitoring system was employed to gather data, affirming the technique’s applicability and safety. Through the examination of temperature and strain dispersion trends in super-length raft structure, recommendations for the configuration of temperature-strain sensors have been put forth. Through the scrutiny of the temporal evolution pattern of temperature, the specific temporal and spatial coordinates that warrant particular vigilance during the surveillance of the raft’s inner-surface temperature difference were identified. Upon evaluating the correlation between strain dispersion and strain-temperature differential in the raft’s thickness dimension, a novel temperature control index (the bottom-surface temperature difference) was introduced. The threshold for this metric was established at 30°C, derived from empirical test outcomes conducted on-site. Furthermore, the critical regions for monitoring the bottom-surface temperature difference were specified.

Abstract Mineral preservation and microbial residue production are vital for the accumulation of mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) in soils. However, their relative importance and interactive effects remain unclear. Here MAOC content and composition are analyzed in tandem with soil mineral and microbial attributes along a weathering gradient on a volcanic soil sequence. We find that MAOC content increases with increasing mineral weathering states, accompanied by increasing microbial contribution to MAOC. Mineral attributes rather than microbial physiological traits are strongly related to MAOC contents, suggesting that weathering‐enhanced mineral preservation capacity overrides microbial residue production in governing MAOC accumulation by increasing reactive minerals. Furthermore, mineral attributes have a strong interactive effect with microbial traits on MAOC accumulation and composition, likely related to increasing fungal abundance in the microbial community with increasing weathering. These findings highlight that mineral weathering may effectively boost persistent SOC in synergy with microbial conversion in the long term.

Abstract Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs) are widely considered to be the best mediators for cell-free therapy. An understanding of their composition, especially RNA, is particularly important for the safe and precise application of EVs. Up to date, the knowledge of their RNA components is limited to NGS sequencing and cannot provide a comprehensive transcriptomic landscape, especially the long and full-length transcripts. Our study first focused on the transcriptomic profile of hUMSC-EVs based on nanopore sequencing. Methods In this study, different EV subtypes (exosomes and microvesicles) derived from hUMSCs were isolated and identified by density gradient centrifugation. Subsequently, the realistic long transcriptomic profile in different subtypes of hUMSC-EVs was systematically compared by nanopore sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Results Abundant transcript variants were identified in EVs by nanopore sequencing, 69.34% of which transcripts were fragmented. A series of full-length and long transcripts was also observed and showed a significantly higher proportion of intact or near-complete transcripts in exosomes than that in microvesicles derived from hUMSCs. Although the composition of RNA biotypes transported by different EV subtypes was similar, the distribution of transcripts and genes revealed the inter-heterogeneity and intra-stability between exosomes and microvesicles. Further, 85 different expressed transcripts (56 genes) and 7 fusion genes were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that upregulated-expressed genes in microvesicles were mainly enriched in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, while upregulated-expressed genes in exosomes were mainly enriched in neutrophil extracellular trap formation, suggesting different functional tendencies of EV subtypes. Conclusions This study provides a novel understanding of different types of hUMSC-EVs, which not only suggests different transcriptome sorting mechanisms between exosomes and microvesicles, but also shows that different EV subtypes from the same source have different physiological functions, suggesting distinct clinical application prospects.

Abstract Sphagnum wetlands are global hotspots for carbon storage, conventionally attributed to the accumulation of decay-resistant litter. However, the buildup of mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) with relatively slow turnover has rarely been examined therein. Here, employing both large-scale comparisons across major terrestrial ecosystems and soil survey along Sphagnum gradients in distinct wetlands, we show that Sphagnum fosters a notable accumulation of metal-bound organic carbon (OC) via activating iron and aluminum (hydr)oxides in the soil. The unique phenolic and acidic metabolites of Sphagnum further strengthen metal-organic associations, leading to the dominance of metal-bound OC in soil MAOC. Importantly, in contrast with limited MAOC sequestration potentials elsewhere, MAOC increases linearly with soil OC accrual without signs of saturation in Sphagnum wetlands. These findings collectively demonstrate that Sphagnum acts as an efficient ‘rust engineer’ that largely boosts the rusty carbon sink in wetlands, potentially increasing long-term soil carbon sequestration.

Ginkgo biloba L. is a rare dioecious species that is valued for its diverse applications and is cultivated globally. This study aimed to develop a rapid and effective method for determining the sex of a Ginkgo biloba. Green and yellow leaves representing annual growth stages were scanned with a hyperspectral imager, and classification models for RGB images, spectral features, and a fusion of spectral and image features were established. Initially, a ResNet101 model classified the RGB dataset using the proportional scaling–background expansion preprocessing method, achieving an accuracy of 90.27%. Further, machine learning algorithms like support vector machine (SVM), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and subspace discriminant analysis (SDA) were applied. Optimal results were achieved with SVM and SDA in the green leaf stage and LDA in the yellow leaf stage, with prediction accuracies of 87.35% and 98.85%, respectively. To fully utilize the optimal model, a two-stage Period-Predetermined (PP) method was proposed, and a fusion dataset was built using the spectral and image features. The overall accuracy for the prediction set was as high as 96.30%. This is the first study to establish a standard technique framework for Ginkgo sex classification using hyperspectral imaging, offering an efficient tool for industrial and ecological applications and the potential for classifying other dioecious plants.

In engineering practice, similar surface insulation measures are typically applied to different parts of mass concrete surfaces. However, this can lead to cracking at the edges of the concrete surface or the wastage of insulation materials. In comparison to flat surfaces, the edges of mass concrete structures dissipate heat more rapidly, leading to more pronounced stress concentration phenomena. Therefore, reinforced insulation measures are necessary. To reduce energy consumption and enhance overall insulation effectiveness, it is essential to study the specific insulation requirements of both the flat surfaces and edges of concrete separately and implement targeted surface insulation measures. Taking the bridge abutment planned for pouring in Nanjing City as the research object, this study established a finite element model to explore the effects of different ambient temperatures and different surface heat dissipation coefficients on the early-age temperature and stress fields of different parts of the abutment’s surface. Based on simulation results, reasonable heat dissipation coefficients that meet the requirements for crack prevention on both the structure’s plane and edges under different ambient temperatures were obtained. The results indicate that under the same conditions, the reasonable heat dissipation coefficient at the edges was smaller than that on the flat surfaces, indicating the need for stronger insulation measures at the edges. Finally, mathematical models correlating ambient temperature with reasonable heat dissipation coefficients for the structure’s plane and edges at these temperatures were established, with high data correlation and determination coefficients (R2) of 0.95 and 0.92. The mathematical models were validated, and the results from finite element calculations were found to be consistent with those from the mathematical models, validating the accuracy of the mathematical models. The conclusions drawn can provide references for the insulation of similar engineering concrete planes and edges.

Informed species delimitation is crucial in diverse biological fields; however, it can be problematic for species complexes. Showing a peripatric distribution pattern, Stewartia gemmata and S. acutisepala (the S. gemmata complex) provide us with an opportunity to study species boundaries among taxa undergoing nascent speciation. Here, we generated genomic data from representative individuals across the natural distribution ranges of the S. gemmata complex using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq). Based on the DNA sequence of assembled loci containing 41,436 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and invariant sites, the phylogenetic analysis suggested strong monophyly of both the S. gemmata complex and S. acutisepala, and the latter was nested within the former. Among S. gemmata individuals, the one sampled from Mt. Tianmu (Zhejiang) showed the closest evolutionary affinity with S. acutisepala (which is endemic to southern Zhejiang). Estimated from 2996 high-quality SNPs, the genetic divergence between S. gemmata and S. acutisepala was relatively low (an Fst of 0.073 on a per-site basis). Nevertheless, we observed a proportion of genomic regions showing relatively high genetic differentiation on a windowed basis. Up to 1037 genomic bins showed an Fst value greater than 0.25, accounting for 8.31% of the total. After SNPs subject to linkage disequilibrium were pruned, the principal component analysis (PCA) showed that S. acutisepala diverged from S. gemmata along the first and the second PCs to some extent. By applying phylogenomic analysis, the present study determines that S. acutisepala is a variety of S. gemmata and is diverging from S. gemmata, providing empirical insights into the nascent speciation within a species complex.

To address the issue of data integrity and reliability caused by sparse vessel trajectory data, this paper proposes a multi-step restoration method for sparse vessel trajectory based on feature correlation. First, we preserved the overall trend of the trajectory by detecting and marking the sparse and abnormal vessel trajectories points and using the cubic spline interpolation method for preliminary restoration. Then, we established a composite indicator of feature correlation for selecting highly correlated trajectory features as inputs to the model, reducing data redundancy while improving the key correlation between trajectory features. Finally, we developed a vessel trajectory restoration model based on the Seq2Seq network for secondary restoration of the trajectory to ensure the accurate restoration of the vessel trajectory. Through comparison and ablation experiments, we demonstrate that the method can efficiently extract highly correlated features from vessel trajectories and combines the advantages of the interpolation method and neural network model to effectively improve the accuracy of trajectory restoration and ensure the integrity and accuracy of trajectory data. The research results could provide crucial technical support for the subsequent mining of vessel behavior patterns and assisted decision-making, which holds significant application prospects and potential value.

Hydrogel products for chronic diabetic wounds, a serious and prevalent complication of diabetes, show limited effects on disability and remain nonspecific. Thus, improvements in the usage of pharmaceutical molecule in the hydrogels are highly desirable to increase the therapeutic effect of hydrogels. In this study, thioctic acid (a common medicine molecule in diabetes treatment) is used for preparing regenerative antibacterial hydrogels (RAH) which contains in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The RAH shows regenerative, self-healing and injectable ability, because of the reversible hydrogen and coordination bonds. With good regenerative capacity, RAH can be stored as powder to avoid the water loss and facilitate storage availability. Owing to the antioxidant properties of thioctic acid, the RAH can decrease the oxidative damage and retain cell proliferation efficiency. Due to the in situ synthesized AgNPs, the RAH also exhibits extraordinary antimicrobial capacities against MDR bacteria. All of these superiorities enable RAH to be a promising therapy for chronic diabetic wounds.

Abstract Prolonged and incurable bacterial infections in soft tissue and bone are currently causing large challenges in the clinic. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been designed to address these issues, but materials with satisfying therapeutic effects are still needed. Herein, CaO2-loaded 2D titanium carbide nanosheets (CaO2-TiOx@Ti3C2, C-T@Ti3C2) were developed. Surprisingly, this nanosheet exhibited sonodynamic ability, in which CaO2 caused the in situ oxidation of Ti3C2 MXene to produce acoustic sensitiser TiO2 on its surface. In addition, this nanosheet displayed chemodynamic features, which promoted a Fenton reaction triggered by self-supplied H2O2. We detected that C-T@Ti3C2 nanosheets increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in response to sonodynamic therapy, which displayed an ideal antibacterial effect. Furthermore, these nanoreactors facilitated the deposition of Ca2+, which promoted osteogenic transformation and enhanced bone quality in osteomyelitis models. Herein, a wound healing model and prosthetic joint infection (PJI) model were established, and the C-T@Ti3C2 nanosheets played a protective role in these models. Taken together, the results indicated that the C-T@Ti3C2 nanosheets function as a multifunctional instrument with sonodynamic features, which might reveal information regarding the treatment of bacterial infections during wound healing. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Despite receiving orthokeratology (ortho-k), the efficacy of retarding ocular elongation during myopia varies among myopic children. The current study aimed to investigate the early changes of choroidal vasculature at one month after ortho-k treatment and its association with one-year ocular elongation, as well as the role of such choroidal responses in predicting the one-year control efficacy of ortho-k treatment. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted in myopic children treated with ortho-k. Myopic children aged between 8 and 12 years who were willing to wear ortho-k lenses were recruited consecutively from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), submacular total choroidal luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), choriocapillaris flow deficit (CcFD) were evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography over a one-year period. Results Fifty eyes from 50 participants (24 males) who finished one-year follow-ups as scheduled were included, with a mean age of 10.31 ± 1.45 years. The one-year ocular elongation was 0.19 ± 0.17 mm. The LA (0.03 ± 0.07 mm2), SA (0.02 ± 0.05 mm2) increased proportionally after one-month of ortho-k wear (both P

Stem cell transplantation has been proved a promising therapeutic instrument in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). However, the elevation of oxidative stress in the degenerated region impairs the efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation treatment via exaggeration of mitochondrial ROS and promotion of BMSCs apoptosis. Herein, we applied an emulsion-confined assembly method to encapsulate Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10), a promising hydrophobic antioxidant which targets mitochondria ROS, into the lecithin micelles, which renders the insoluble Co-Q10 dispersible in water as stable colloids. These micelles are injectable, which displayed efficient ability to facilitate Co-Q10 to get into BMSCs in vitro, and exhibited prolonged release of Co-Q10 in intervertebral disc tissue of animal models. Compared to mere use of Co-Q10, the Co-Q10 loaded micelle possessed better bioactivities, which elevated the viability, restored mitochondrial structure as well as function, and enhanced production of ECM components in rat BMSCs. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the injection of this micelle with BMSCs retained disc height and alleviated IVDD in a rat needle puncture model. Therefore, these Co-Q10 loaded micelles play a protective role in cell survival and differentiation through antagonizing mitochondrial ROS, and might be a potential therapeutic agent for IVDD.

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is a commercially important fish species worldwide, but high-density cultivation has led to serious diseases especially by Vibrio harveyi. Understanding the molecular response of large yellow croaker to V. harveyi infection is vital for the development of effective measures to combat the disease. In this study, RNA-Seq was performed on the spleen of uninfected and V. harveyi-infected large yellow croaker. A total of 7527 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 4413 up-regulated and 3114 down-regulated genes. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that several immune-related pathways were highlighted, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling pathway, apoptosis, p53 signaling pathway, and lysosome. In the TLRs signaling pathway, up-regulated genes included IL1b, bactericidal permeability-increasing protein, and IL12b, while down-expressed genes included tlr3 and irf3. The apoptosis pathway showed up-regulated genes such as casp6, bcl-2-like protein, and cytochrome c, and down-expressed genes such as granzyme B, sptan1, and FADD-Fas (tnfrsf6)-associated via death domain. These results suggest that V. harveyi infection induced inflammatory response and apoptotic cell death in the spleen of large yellow croaker. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune response of large yellow croaker to V. harveyi infection

Accurate shrimp seed counting is an important task in the aquaculture and stocking shrimp seeds processes. At present, most shrimp seed counting tasks are still performed manually, which is not only time-consuming and laborious but also has low accuracy, and this counting method cannot realize modern aquaculture. Therefore, to promote the modernization of aquaculture, a portable shrimp seed counting system is proposed in this paper. The system is based on Shrimpseed_Net, a modified CSRNet convolutional neural network, and can achieve higher accuracy in shrimp seed counting. The algorithm has been successfully implemented on a smartphone, enabling automatic counting of shrimp seeds within seconds by simply taking a picture of the shrimp seeds or selecting an image from the photo album to upload to the internal algorithm. Experimental results show that after only 50 iterations, the average absolute error of the algorithm is reduced to 17.28, with an accuracy rate of 95.53%. The system can accurately count shrimp seeds in real scenarios within a short period. The shrimp seed counting system studied in this paper can be widely used in the aquaculture industry to promote its development and enable intelligent aquaculture practices.

Objective To summarize the variation types of the axis in patients with basilar invagination (BI), then propose a classification scheme of the axis deformity. Methods From December 2013 to September 2020, 92 patients (male 42, female 50) who were diagnosed with BI were studied retrospectively. Based on the imaging data of CT, the width and height of the axis pedicle and the sagittal diameter of the lateral mass were measured in each patient. According to the development of axis pedicle and lateral mass, the types of axis variation were summarized, and then the classification scheme of axis deformity was put forward. Results All cases were analyzed and axis deformities were divided into four types. Type I: the axis is basically normal (53 cases, 57.6%). Type II: axis lateral mass is dysplasia (eight cases, 8.7%), which includes two subtypes: type IIA, the axis unilateral lateral mass is dysplasia (three cases); type IIB, the axis bilateral lateral masses are all dysplasia (five cases). Type III: axis pedicle is dysplasia (11 cases, 12%), which is subdivided into two subtypes: type IIIA, the axis unilateral pedicle is dysplasia (six cases); type IIIB, the axis bilateral pedicles are all dysplasia (five cases). Type IV: axis pedicle and lateral mass are all dysplasia (20 cases, 21.7%), this type contains the following four subtypes: type IVA, the unilateral axis pedicle and unilateral lateral mass (contralateral or ipsilateral) are all hypoplasia (four cases); type IVB, the unilateral axis pedicle and bilateral lateral masses are all hypoplasia (five cases); type IVC, the bilateral axis pedicles and unilateral lateral mass are all dysplasia (seven cases); type IVD, the bilateral axis pedicles and bilateral lateral masses are all dysplasia (four cases). The left and right abnormal lateral mass sagittal diameter (Type II) was (7.23 ± 1.39) mm and (5.96 ± 1.37) mm, respectively, the left and right abnormal pedicle width (Type III) was (2.61 ± 1.01) mm and (3.23 ± 0.66) mm, respectively, left and right abnormal pedicle height (Type III) was (5.43 ± 2.19) mm and (4.92 ± 1.76) mm, respectively. Moreover, the classification scheme has good repeatability and credibility. Conclusions The classification about axis deformity could provide personalized guidance for axis screw placement in the BI and other upper cervical surgery, and axis screw placement errors would be effectively avoided.

Introductions: Excessive mechanical stress is closely associated with cell death in various conditions. Exposure of chondrocytes to excessive mechanical loading leads to a catabolic response as well as exaggerated cell death. Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of cell death during cell aging and degeneration. However, it's potential association with mechanical stress remains to be illustrated. Objectives: To identify whether excessive mechanical stress can cause ferroptosis. To explore the role of mechanical overloading in chondrocyte ferroptosis. Methods: Chondrocytes were collected from loading and unloading zones of cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and the ferroptosis phenotype was analyzed through transmission electron microscope and microarray. Moreover, the relationship between ferroptosis and OA was analyzed by GPX4-conditional knockout (Col2a1-CreERT: GPX4flox/flox) mice OA model and chondrocytes cultured with high strain mechanical stress. Furthermore, the role of Piezo1 ion channel in chondrocyte ferroptosis and OA development was explored by using its inhibitor (GsMTx4) and agonist (Yoda1). Additionally, chondrocyte was cultured in calcium-free medium with mechanical stress, and ferroptosis phenotype was tested. Results: Human cartilage and mouse chondrocyte experiments revealed that mechanical overloading can induce GPX4-associated ferroptosis. Conditional knockout of GPX4 in cartilage aggravated experimental OA process, while additional treatment with ferroptosis suppressor protein (FSP-1) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) abated OA development in GPX4-CKO mice. In mouse OA model and chondrocyte experiments, inhibition of Piezo1 channel activity increased GPX4 expression, attenuated ferroptosis phenotype and reduced the severity of osteoarthritis. Additionally, high strain mechanical stress induced ferroptosis damage in chondrocyte was largely abolished by blocking calcium influx through calcium-free medium. Conclusions: Our findings show that mechanical overloading induces ferroptosis through Piezo1 activation and subsequent calcium influx in chondrocytes, which might provide a potential target for OA treatment.

Wear debris-induced osteolysis, especially titanium (Ti) particles-induced osteolysis, is the most common cause of arthroplasty failure with no effective therapy. Previous studies have suggested that inflammation and impaired osteogenesis are associated with Ti particles -induced osteolysis. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in the human body, which forms selenomethionine (Se-Met) in nature, and selenoproteins has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant stress effects. In this study, the effects of Se-Met on Ti particles-induced osteolysis were observed and the potential mechanism was explored. We found that exogenous Se-Met relieved osteolysis induced by Ti particles in two animal models and MC3T3-E1 cells. We found that the addition of Se-Met effectively inhibited Ti particle-induced inflammation by regulating reactive oxygen species-dependent (ROS-dependent) NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. These therapeutic effects were abrogated in MC3T3-E1 cells that had received a β-catenin antagonist, suggesting that Se-Met alleviates inflammatory osteolysis via the β-catenin signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings indicated that Se-Met may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for treating Ti particle-induced osteolysis.

It is prudent to take a unified approach to exploring how contextual social determinants of health (SDoH) relate to COVID-19 occurrence and outcomes. Poor geographically represented data and a small number of contextual SDoH examined in most previous research studies have left a knowledge gap in the relationships between contextual SDoH and COVID-19 outcomes. In this study, we linked 199 contextual SDoH factors covering 11 domains of social and built environments with electronic health records (EHRs) from a large clinical research network (CRN) in the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) to explore the relation between contextual SDoH and COVID-19 occurrence and hospitalization. We identified 15,890 COVID-19 patients and 63,560 matched non-COVID-19 patients in Florida between January 2020 and May 2021. We adopted a two-phase multiple linear regression approach modified from that in the exposome-wide association (ExWAS) study. After removing the highly correlated SDoH variables, 86 contextual SDoH variables were included in the data analysis. Adjusting for race, ethnicity, and comorbidities, we found six contextual SDoH variables (i.e., hospital available beds and utilization, percent of vacant property, number of golf courses, and percent of minority) related to the occurrence of COVID-19, and three variables (i.e., farmers market, low access, and religion) related to the hospitalization of COVID-19. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to explore the relationship between contextual SDoH and COVID-19 occurrence and hospitalization using EHRs in a major PCORnet CRN. As an exploratory study, the causal effect of SDoH on COVID-19 outcomes will be evaluated in future studies.

Modern scleractinian corals are classified into robust, complex, and basal clades through comparative molecular studies. However, only few morphological or biological criteria can systematically determine the evolutionary trajectories of these major scleractinian coral clades. Here, we obtained the structural information of 21 scleractinian coral species representing robust and complex clades: High-resolution micro-computed tomography was used to reconstruct the polyp-canal systems in their colonies and to visualize the dynamic polyp growth processes. We found that the emergence of mesh-like canals may distinguish representatives of complex and robust clades. The differences in polyp-canal connections suggest distinct evolutionary trajectories among coral species: The formation of the canal network promoted the development of more complex coral structures, and coral polyps within this network formed calices of very similar volume, following precise axial growth directions. The influence of individual polyps on the coral colony becomes less significant as coral structures become more complex, and coral species with more complicated polyp-canal systems occupied niches more efficiently. This work supplements current evolutionary studies on reef-building corals, providing insight for further studies on coral growth patterns.

The wave-driven floating photobioreactors (PBRs) with advantages of easy in scaling-up, low energy inputs and low fabricating cost, hold great potential for massive and cost-energy effective microalgae production. However, their applications may be seriously challenged by intermittent waves that could produce very poor mixing under poor wave conditions, leading to a significant reduction of biomass productivity or even collapse of the cultures. To improve the utilization efficiency of waves for efficient and stable microalgae production in the floating PBRs, this work aims at numerically studying the fluid-dynamics of the floating PBRs, as well as the effects from wave conditions, culture depth and three different PBRs’ structures of square, rectangular and circular types. The results showed that the liquid inside the floating PBRs follow a periodic sinusoidal and reciprocating flow, and the square PBR had aggressive mixing characteristics at high wave excitation frequency, while the rectangular PBR produced more intense mixing at low wave excitation frequency. Regarding the culture depth, the dependence of liquid mixing on the culture depth showed a decreasing trend. Moreover, the results indicated that the PBRs with a high culture depth had several dead zones, although there was apparent upward flow at the high excitation frequency. This work provides valuable insight into increasing the utilization efficiency of wave energy for mixing enhancement in the floating PBRs and their design.

Abstract Purpose Minimally invasive oesophagectomy is a technically demanding procedure, and the learning curve for this procedure should be explored. A survival analysis should also be performed. Methods A total of 214 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive oesophagectomy were retrospectively reviewed. To evaluate the development of thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy and compare mature minimally invasive oesophagectomy and open oesophagectomy, we comprehensively studied the clinical and surgical parameters. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) plot was used to evaluate the learning curve for systemic lymphadenectomy. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to explore the clinical factors affecting survival. Results The bleeding volume, operation time, and postoperative mortality within 3 months significantly decreased after 20 patients. The rise point for node dissection was visually determined to occur at patient 57 in the CUSUM plots. Patients who underwent mature thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy had better surgical data and short-term benefits than patients who underwent an open procedure. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of the tumour cross-sectional area and the number of positive nodes significantly influenced survival. Conclusions The results suggest that thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy has short-term benefits. There was no evidence that it was associated with a significantly better prognosis for patients with oesophageal cancer. ClinicalTrials Gov ID: NCT04217239; January 2, 2020 retrospectively registered.

A hybrid wind turbine foundation combined with a double-layer offshore net cage for marine aquaculture is proposed in this paper. To study the diffraction and hydrodynamic loads on the structure for waves with small steepness, a numerical model was established using linear potential theory and solved using the eigenfunction expansion method. A porosity parameter was introduced to describe the hydrodynamic characteristics of the net panels. The model was validated based on existing numerical results and experimental data. An empirical formula was derived to calculate the porosity parameter based on the opening ratios of the nets. The wavefield and wave force were calculated and analyzed by setting different porosity parameters, spacings between the exterior net and interior net, radius ratios of the exterior net to the wind turbine tower and thicknesses of the friction wheel. Noticeable differences in the wave elevation were observed between the upstream and downstream sides of the nets. At downstream sites, the wavefield exhibits different profiles, particularly for structures with low porosities. Sloshing modes were observed that impacted the force and wave elevation at certain frequencies. For the common fishing nets with large porosities, the spacing between the nets does not have a significant impact on the wavefield and wave force acting on the structure. Moreover, the radius and thickness of the friction wheel have a non-negligible influence on the force acting on the structure, which also narrows the intervals between adjacent sloshing frequencies. In summary, this study provides a perspective for the engineering design and hydrodynamic analysis of a hybrid wind turbine foundation with a double-layer aquaculture cage.

The coastal area near islands has become a key area for aquaculture because of the long offshore distance and suitable wave conditions. There is a topographic change near the islands, and the reflected waves generated by the topography modify the wave field in the aquaculture area, which may cause structural damage to the offshore net cage. Most studies on the hydrodynamic characteristics of aquaculture structures do not consider the effects of topography. Therefore, we investigated the hydrodynamic characteristics and wave field of a multi-body floating aquaculture platform under the influence of sloping seabed by leveraging a physical model approach. The results show that the low-frequency component of the surge motion of the cage on the weather side increases significantly under the influence of sloping seabed. However, the heave and pitch motions change slightly. Considering the presence of the sloping seabed, the wave elevations inside cages have been changed too., The wave breaking inside the cage on the weather side becomes more evident when the incident wavelength is equal to the width of the cage. And its wave response gradually shifts from wave frequency to high frequency. Regarding the cage on the lee side, the wave response inside it is positively correlated with the incident wavelength. The results of this study provide a reference for the design and optimization of aquaculture structures anchored near islands.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a predominant cause of disc herniation and is widespread worldwide. Inflammatory responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and extracellular matrix degradation are known to be involved in IVDD. Scutellarin, an active ingredient extracted from Erigeron breviscapus (Vaniot) Ha, Hand-Mazz, is reported to exhibit therapeutic potential in several degenerative diseases by suppressing inflammation and regulating metabolism. However, whether scutellarin can improve IVDD remains unknown. Human primary nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) were cultured and stimulated with TNF-α in the presence or absence of scutellarin. Furthermore, a rat needle puncture model was established, and scutellarin was injected into the IVD to verify its protective function against IVDD. Scutellarin attenuated the inflammatory reaction and retained the production of major IVD components both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, scutellarin reduced the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alleviated mitochondrial damage, and decreased the expression levels of apoptosis-related biomarkers upon stimulation with TNF-α. In addition, scutellarin antagonized the activation of the nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and suppressed the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome mediated by TNF-α. This study reveals that scutellarin protects against degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells, which might shed light on treatment of IVDD in the future.

Loading human umbilical mesenchymal stem cell (hUMSC) derived exosomes onto hydrogel scaffolds is a strategy for rapid wound healing. The clinical application of exosomes is hindered by low production, and exosome mimetics could be substituted for exosomes. Here, the therapeutic effects of exosome-loaded hydrogels and exosome mimetic-loaded hydrogels on wounds are evaluated. Our results revealed that exosome mimetic-loaded hydrogels promote wound healing more efficiently than exosome-loaded hydrogels. Exosome mimetics can promote the proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts (hDF-a) cells in vitro. To investigate how exosome mimetics play a role, proteomics analysis was applied, and the obtained results suggested that exosome mimetics significantly enrich mitochondrial-derived oxidative phosphorylation-related proteins in comparison to exosomes. Overall, our work envisages the emerging potential of exosome mimetics, which take the advantage of exosomes and can be promising candidates for exosomes. It also suggests that hUMSC-derived exosome mimetic-loaded hydrogels have remarkable prospects for clinical application.

Abstract The optimal treatment for resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still a debatable point; however, randomized trials for strategies including neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are not always available. This network meta-analysis aimed to identify an effective approach through indirect comparisons. An extensive literature search comparing multimodality treatment and surgery was performed, and a network meta-analysis was conducted with the frequentist method. Twenty-three trials including a total of 3636 ESCC patients were included. Neoadjuvant CRT and neoadjuvant CT, which were recommended by most guidelines for esophageal cancer, were associated with an overall survival advantage compared with surgery alone (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.26–0.73; HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.32–1.59). A statistically significant survival benefit from neoadjuvant CRT compared with neoadjuvant CT could not be demonstrated in our study (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.32–1.17, P = 0.08). Our network meta-analysis showed that both neoadjuvant CRT and neoadjuvant CT were effective in improving the survival of patients with ESCC. Individual clinical decisions need further study in the future.

In the marine ecological environment, marine microalgae is an important photosynthetic autotrophic organism, which can carry out photosynthesis and absorb carbon dioxide. With the increasingly serious eutrophication of the water body, under certain environmental factors, the rapid propagation of some algae in the water body gradually forms a harmful bloom, which damages the water environment. Therefore, how to identify the beneficial algae and harmful algae quickly and accurately has gradually become the key to solve the problem. There are more than 30,000 species of marine microalgae in the world, and the sample data are few and the characteristics are not obvious. Many of the algae are similar in shape and difficult to distinguish. The few-shot learning task is very challenging. By training very few labeled samples, the deep learning model has excellent recognition ability. Meanwhile, the few-shot classification method based on metric learning has attracted considerable attention. In this paper, in order to make full use of image features and improve the generalization ability of the model, a multi-scale local feature fusion algorithm was proposed to classify marine microalgae with few shots. First, the input image is gridded and multiscale processed, and then it is sent to the CTM category traversal module for feature extraction to obtain local features. A local feature fusion module based on the SE-NET self-attention mechanism is designed to obtain local enhanced features containing global information to improve the generalization ability of the model. Classification is realized by calculating the distance between the sample feature vector of the query set and the prototype of the support set. Under the settings of 5-way 1-shot and 5-way 5-shot, the classification accuracy of the proposed method is improved by 6.08% and 5.5%, respectively. It provides a new idea for microalgae identification and a new opportunity for the sustainable development of new energy.

Here, we describe a novel method using microwave ablation (MWA) guided by electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) and video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for simultaneous treatment of multiple high‐risk pulmonary nodules in a 47‐year‐old woman. After the ENB registration process, the operator delivered the locatable electromagnetic probe to the target in the right upper lobe following the navigational route. MWA was performed after an antenna was passed into the lesion through the working channel. The wedge resection of the left upper lobe and lower lobe and the lingual segment resection were performed by VATS. The pathological diagnoses was adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) of the right upper lobe lesion, AIS of the left upper lobe, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma of the left lower lobe lesion and chronic inflammation of the lingular segment. MWA guided by ENB combined with VATS is an alternative treatment strategy to deal with multiple pulmonary nodules at the same stage of the operation.

Objective. This paper aims to explore the use of computer-based simulation teaching combined with PBL in colorectal tumor bleeding. Methods. The outpatient department organized 21 nursing staffs to conduct computer simulation combined with PBL teaching, compared emergency theory and skill scores, and investigated the recognition of computer simulation teaching combined with PBL. Results. The scores of theoretical knowledge examination before training were (84.31 ± 6.39) and (92.59 ± 2.93) after training; the scores of treatment skills examination were (85.69 ± 6.15) and (95.43 ± 2.88) after training; the scores of comprehensive treatment skills before training were (76.6 ± 6.31) and (91.43 ± 2.3) after training. The results of the questionnaires showed that the nurses were more agreeable to the new teaching methods and were able to complete the tasks in strict accordance with the requirements, ultimately achieving a level of satisfaction with their progress. Conclusion. Computer simulation teaching combined with PBL can deepen general practitioners’ understanding of knowledge, improve practical ability, and provide a clinical basis for improving patient resuscitation in specialized oncology hospitals.

Introduction: Sciatic nerve injury is a common injury of the nervous system. Stem cell-based therapies, drug-based therapies and rehabilitation physiotherapy therapies are currently available, but their limited therapeutic efficacy limits their use. Here, we aimed to explore a novel lentiviral-based gene therapeutic strategy and to elaborate its mechanism.Materials and Methods: Recombinant GDF11 protein was used for the in vitro treatment of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. Lentivirus was used to construct a vector system for the in vivo expression of GDF11. The nerve conduction function was detected using action-evoked potentials at different time periods, and the regulatory effect of nerves on target organs was detected by weighing the gastrocnemius muscle. Immunofluorescence of NF200 and S100 was used to show the regeneration of the sciatic nerve, and myelin and Nissl staining were performed to observe the pathological features of the tissue. Western was used to validate signaling pathways. The expression of related genes was observed by qPCR and Western blotting, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Result: GDF11 promotes the axonal growth of DRG cells and inhibits DGR cell apoptosis in vitro. GDF11 acts by activating the Smad pathway. GDF11 promotes the recovery of damaged sciatic nerve function in rats, the regeneration of damaged sciatic nerves in rats, and myelin regeneration of damaged sciatic nerves in rats. GDF11 also exerts a protective effect on neuronal cells in rats.Conclusion: Based on the present study, we conclude that GDF11 promotes axonal growth and inhibits DRG cell apoptosis in vitro through the Smad pathway, and lentivirus-mediated GDF11 overexpression in vivo can promote the recovery of sciatic nerves after transection by promoting axonal growth and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in the spinal cord.

BackgroundInformation and misinformation on the internet about e-cigarette harms may increase smokers’ misperceptions of e-cigarettes. There is limited research on smokers’ engagement with information and misinformation about e-cigarettes on social media. ObjectiveThis study assessed smokers’ likelihood to engage with—defined as replying, retweeting, liking, and sharing—tweets that contain information and misinformation and uncertainty about the harms of e-cigarettes. MethodsWe conducted a web-based randomized controlled trial among 2400 UK and US adult smokers who did not vape in the past 30 days. Participants were randomly assigned to view four tweets in one of four conditions: (1) e-cigarettes are as harmful or more harmful than smoking, (2) e-cigarettes are completely harmless, (3) uncertainty about e-cigarette harms, or (4) control (physical activity). The outcome measure was participants’ likelihood of engaging with tweets, which comprised the sum of whether they would reply, retweet, like, and share each tweet. We fitted Poisson regression models to predict the likelihood of engagement with tweets among 974 Twitter users and 1287 non-Twitter social media users, adjusting for covariates and stratified by UK and US participants. ResultsAmong Twitter users, participants were more likely to engage with tweets in condition 1 (e-cigarettes are as harmful or more harmful than smoking) than in condition 2 (e-cigarettes are completely harmless). Among other social media users, participants were more likely to likely to engage with tweets in condition 1 than in conditions 2 and 3 (e-cigarettes are completely harmless and uncertainty about e-cigarette harms). ConclusionsTweets stating information and misinformation that e-cigarettes were as harmful or more harmful than smoking regular cigarettes may receive higher engagement than tweets indicating e-cigarettes were completely harmless. Trial RegistrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 16082420; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16082420

Background: To determine the respiratory outcomes in patients following COVID-19-related hospitalization.Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.Results: Forced vital capacity (FVC, % of predicted): 0–3 months post discharge: 96.1, 95% CI [82.1–110.0]; 3–6 months post discharge: 99.9, 95% CI [84.8, 115.0]; >6 months post discharge: 97.4, 95% CI [76.8–118.0]. Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO, % of predicted): 0–3 months post discharge: 83.9, 95% CI [68.9–98.9]; 3–6 months post discharge: 91.2, 95% CI [74.8–107.7]; >6 months post discharge: 97.3, 95% CI [76.7–117.9]. Percentage of patients with FVC less than 80% of predicted: 0–3 months post discharge: 10%, 95% CI [6–14%]; 3–6 months post discharge: 10%, 95% CI [2–18%]; >6 months post discharge: 13%, 95% CI [8–18%]. Percentage of patients with DLCO less than 80% of predicted: 0–3 months post discharge: 48%, 95% CI [41–56%]; 3–6 months post discharge: 33%, 95% CI [23–44%]; >6 months post discharge: 43%, 95% CI [22–65%].Conclusion: The meta-analysis confirms a high prevalence of persistent lung diffusion impairment in patients following COVID-19-related hospitalization. Routine respiratory follow-up is thus strongly recommended.

In this paper, we present a low-profile selective-transmittance resonant structure developed with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) metamaterials. A planar AMC is used for the two reflectors of the structure. The two reflectors cause no phase shift on reflection at the resonance frequency. The cavity can have zero thickness due to this in-phase reflection. The overall thickness of the structure is only 1.626 mm, which is less than 1/18 of the resonance wavelength. The electromagnetic characteristics of the resonant structure were simulated using simulation software. The simulated maximum transmittance was 0.999 at 9.72 GHz, with the electric field being localized at the interface of the two AMC layers. The measured maximum transmittance was 0.941 at 9.64 GHz. The experimental results are therefore in good agreement with the simulation results. The developed system can excite the interface mode at the resonance frequency and achieve near-perfect transmission of electromagnetic waves.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is known to play a critical role in OA. Cortistatin (CST) is a neuropeptide discovered over 20 years ago, which plays a vital role in inflammatory reactions. However, it is unknown whether CST is involved in cartilage degeneration and OA development. Methods: The interaction between CST and TNF-α receptors was investigated through Coimmunoprecipitation and Biotin-based solid-phase binding assay. Western blot, Real-time PCR, ELISA, immunofluorescence staining, nitrite production assay and DMMB assay of GAG were performed for the primary chondrocyte experiments. Surgically induced and spontaneous OA models were established and western blot, flow cytometry, Real-time PCR, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in vivo imaging were performed for in vivo experiments. Findings: CST competitively bound to TNFR1 as well as TNFR2. CST suppressed proinflammatory function of TNF-α. Both spontaneous and surgically induced OA models indicated that deficiency of CST led to an accelerated OA-like phenotype, while exogenous CST attenuated OA development in vivo. Additionally, TNFR1- and TNFR2-knockout mice were used for analysis and indicated that TNFRs might be involved in the protective role of CST in OA. CST inhibited activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in OA. Interpretation: This study provides new insight into the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategy of cartilage degenerative diseases, including OA. Fund: The National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, Key Research and Development Projects of Shandong Province and the Cross-disciplinary Fund of Shandong University. Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Chondrocyte, Cortistatin, TNFR, NF-κB signaling

Abstract Background Unlike conventional cultivation systems, liquid mixing in floating photobioreactors (PBRs) is solely induced by their hydrodynamic movement in response to waves, and this movement is affected by the wave conditions (wave height and wave period), the PBR configuration and the culture depth. However, to the best of our knowledge, a practical study of the hydrodynamic movements of PBRs has not been previously conducted. Results This study aims to investigate the hydrodynamic performance of floating PBRs in response to wave conditions. First, the effects of the experimental wave height (2–10 cm) and wave period (0.8–1.8 s) on movement was investigated using two 1.0 m2 PBR models: a square PBR (1.0 m/1.0 m; length/width) and a rectangular PBR (1.7 m/0.6 m). The results indicated that wave movement became not only more intense with increasing wave height, but also less intense when the wave period decreased. However, the square PBR experienced more intense movement than the rectangular PBR, but also little mooring force. The effects of culture depth (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 cm) were investigated and the results showed that the culture depth significantly affected the hydrodynamic movements of the PBRs; however, the mooring forces were unaffected. Finally, the movement and mooring-line forces of PBRs equipped with different mooring systems were investigated. The use of two different mooring systems had little effect on PBR movement; however, a mooring system with floaters was able to significantly reduce the mooring line forces compared to a system without floaters. During this study, the greatest force (10.5 N) was found for the rectangular PBR using a mooring system without floaters, whereas the lowest force (0.67 N) was observed for a rectangular PBR using a mooring system with floaters. Conclusions These studies have provided basic data describing the fluid dynamics of floating PBRs; as well as their structural design and scale up. These results also provide guidance for the selection of ocean fields with suitable wave conditions; as well as a proper mooring methods to ensure safe operation.

Antibiotic contamination has received widespread attention globally. In this work, the oxygen-doped porous graphite carbonitride (g-C3N4) was prepared with urea and ammonium oxalate (CNUC) or urea and glycine (CNUG) as precursors by thermal polymerization. Using bisphenol A (BPA) as a probe and CNUC or CNUG as photocatalysts, the removal performance test was carried out. Meanwhile, all prepared photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV-Vis DRS, PL and EIS. Under visible light irradiation, both CNUC and CNUG exhibited about seven and five times greater photocatalytic activity than that of pure g-C3N4, respectively. The radical capture experiments verified that superoxide radicals (•O2−) and holes (h+) were the main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of BPA by CNUC, and the possible photocatalytic mechanism of CNUC was proposed. In addition, all these results indicate that CNUC catalyst can effectually inhibit the photocorrosion and keep superior stability. The proposed technique provides a prospective approach to develop nonmetal-modified photocatalysts for future applications.