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Abstract Aims To explore the effect of early initiation of self-management based on multidisciplinary education in heart failure (HF) patients. Methods HF patients in the Cardiology Department of Beijing Hospital were consecutively enrolled from June 2022 to February 2023. In-hospital HF patients from June 2022 to October 2022 were divided into the control group, and HF patients from November 2022 to February 2023 were divided into the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) group. A series of self-management education sessions with cardiologists, pharmacologists, nutritionists, and nurses was initiated early in the CR group. Continuous strengthening education was provided during the 3 months of discharge. Patients in the control group only received education twice during hospitalization. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), anxiety Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and Self-rating depression scale (SDS) were compared between the two groups. Major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were recorded during follow-up. Results A total of 91 HF patients were enrolled. There were 44 patients in the CR group and 47 in the control group. Compared with before the program, the MLHFQ and SAS scores significantly decreased at 3 months after discharge in both groups. PSQI also showed mild improvement without significant differences in both groups. Furthermore, SDS showed a significant increase in the CR group but within the normal range. MACE occurrences did not show a significant difference. Conclusion Early initiation of self-management program based on multidisciplinary education may help improve quality of life, sleep quality, and reduce anxiety for hospitalized HF patients.

Abstract Spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause spotted fever. The limitations of gene manipulation pose great challenges to studying the infection mechanisms of Rickettsia. By combining bioorthogonal metabolism and click chemistry, we developed a method to label R. heilongjiangensis via azide moieties and achieved rapid pathogen localization without complex procedures. Moreover, we constructed a C57BL/6 mice infection model by simulating tick bites and discovered that the stomach is the target organ of R. heilongjiangensis infection through in vivo imaging systems, which explained the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms following R. heilongjiangensis infection in some cases. This study offers a unique perspective for subsequent investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms of SFGR and identifies a potential target organ for R. heilongjiangensis.

Osteosarcoma is usually resistant to immunotherapy and, thus primarily relies on surgical resection and high-dosage chemotherapy. Unfortunately, less invasive or toxic therapies such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) generally failed to show satisfactory outcomes. Adequate multimodal therapies with proper safety profiles may provide better solutions for osteosarcoma. Herein, a simple nanocomposite that synergistically combines CDT, PTT, and chemotherapy for osteosarcoma treatment was fabricated. In this composite, small 2D NiFe-LDH flakes were processed into 3D hollow nanospheres via template methods to encapsulate 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) with high loading capacity. The nanospheres were then adsorbed onto larger 2D Ti3C2 MXene monolayers and finally shielded by bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form 5-FU@NiFe-LDH/Ti3C2/BSA nanoplatforms (5NiTiB). Both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that the 5-FU induced chemotherapy, NiFe-LDH driven chemodynamic effects, and MXene-based photothermal killing collectively exhibited a synergistic “all-in-one” anti-tumor effect. 5NiTiB improved tumor suppression rate from

Ticks are important vectors of zoonotic pathogens, and represent an increasing threat for human and animal health. Considering the complex natural environments of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, we expect the diverse tick species in this region. Here, we conduct a field survey on parasitic and host-seeking ticks. A total of 10,419 ticks were collected, which belonged to nine species of four genera. There were significant differences in terms of vegetation index, altitude, and seven climatic factors among the four tick genera —Hyalomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes, except between Haemaphysalis and Ixodes, where no significant differences were observed in these factors. The ecological niche modelling revealed that the suitable habitats for Hyalomma asiaticum was in the northwest Ningxia, with annual ground surface temperature as the most important factor. The suitable area for Dermacentor nuttalli was in the southwest and eastern regions of Ningxia with elevation as the highest contribution. D. silvarum was best suited to the southern Ningxia also with elevation as the most important factor. The four tick species including Haemaphysalis longicornis, Hae. qinghaiensis, Hae. japonica, and Ixodes persulcatus were best suited to the southernmost Ningxia with annual precipitation as the main factors for Hae. longicornis and elevation for the other three ticks. The results of predicted potential distribution of different tick species provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the region. Furthermore, the subsequent impacts of the Greening Program to regain forests and grasslands from former agricultural lands in Ningxia on tick population dynamics deserve further investigation.

The continual emergence of tick-borne rickettsioses has garnered widespread global attention. Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae (Candidatus R. barbariae), which emerged in Italy in 2008, has been detected in humans from northwestern China. However, the lack of Candidatus R. barbariae genome and isolated strains limits the understanding of its biological characteristics and genomic features. Here, we isolated the Rickettsia for the first time from eggs of Rhipicephalus turanicus in northwestern China, and assembled its whole genome after next-generation sequencing, so we modified the proposed name to Rickettsia barbariae (R. barbariae) to conform to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome revealed that it was most closely related to the pathogenic Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia africae. All virulence factors, present in the pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsiae, were identified in the R. barbariae isolate. These findings highlight the pathogenic potential of R. barbariae and the necessity for enhanced surveillance of the emerging Rickettsia in the human population.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has emerged as the foremost cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in DN progression. Triterpenoid saponin from Aralia taibaiensis (sAT) has been reported to possess anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant effects. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sAT on DN treatment and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms. A high-fat diet (HFD) and Streptozotocin (STZ) were employed to induce DN in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats which were subsequently treated with varying concentrations of sAT for 8 weeks. Our findings reveal that different doses of sAT significantly mitigated hyperglycemia, reduced urinary albumin excretion, and decreased plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels in DN rats. Moreover, sAT administration improved body weight, alleviated renal fibrosis and histopathological changes in the diabetic kidneys. Notably, sAT treatment partially restored increased Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, sAT inhibited ER stress-related proteins, including GRP78, p-PERK, ATF4 and CHOP in kidneys of DN rats. These results suggest that sAT ameliorated experimental diabetic nephropathy, at least in part, through ER stress pathway. These findings provide a scientific basis for the potential development of sAT as a therapeutic agent for DN treatment.

Abstract We recently detected a HKU4-related coronavirus in subgenus Merbecovirus (named pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T) from a Malayan pangolin1. Here we report isolation and characterization of pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T, the genome sequence of which is closest to that of a coronavirus from the greater bamboo bat (Tylonycteris robustula) in Yunnan Province, China, with a 94.3% nucleotide identity. Pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T is able to infect human cell lines, and replicates more efficiently in cells that express human-dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (hDPP4)-expressing and pangolin-DPP4-expressing cells than in bat-DPP4-expressing cells. After intranasal inoculation with pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251, hDPP4-transgenic female mice are likely infected, showing persistent viral RNA copy numbers in the lungs. Progressive interstitial pneumonia developed in the infected mice, characterized by the accumulation of macrophages, and increase of antiviral cytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in lung tissues. These findings suggest that the pangolin-borne HKU4-related coronavirus has a potential for emerging as a human pathogen by using hDPP4.

Cemented carbide circular saw blades are widely used for wood cutting, but they often suffer from vibration and noise issues. This study presents a multi-objective optimization method that integrates ANSYS and MATLAB to optimize the design of noise reduction slots in circular saw blades. A mathematical model was developed to correlate the emitted sound power with the overall vibration intensity. A multi-objective optimization model was then formulated to map the slot shape parameters to the deformation, equivalent stress, and vibration intensity during sawing. The ABAQUS thermal–mechanical coupling analysis was used to determine the sawing force and temperature field. The NSGA-II algorithm was applied on the ANSYS–MATLAB platform to iteratively compute slot shape parameters and conduct optimization searches for a globally optimal solution. Circular saw blades were fabricated based on the optimization results, and experimental results showed a significant reduction in sawing noise by 2.4 dB to 3.0 dB on average. The noise reduction effect within the specified frequency range closely agreed with the simulation results, validating the method’s efficiency. This study provides a feasible and cost-effective solution to the multi-objective optimization design problem of noise reduction slots for circular saw blades.

Soft ticks (Ixodida: Argasidae) are ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates with worldwide distributions. As one representative group of Argasidae, the genus Argas has an important vectorial role in transmitting zoonotic diseases. However, our knowledge of the subgenus Argas in China is still limited, as most literature only lists occurrence records or describes specific case reports without providing detailed morphological characteristics and further molecular data. This study aims to characterize Argas vulgaris through complete mitochondrial sequencing and morphological diagnostic techniques based on a batch of adult specimens collected from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regions (NXHAR), North China. The morphology and microstructures of Ar. vulgaris and other lectotypes of argasid ticks in the subgenus Argas were also observed using a stereomicroscope. Following DNA extraction and sequencing, a complete mitochondrial sequence of Ar. vulgaris was assembled and analyzed within a phylogenetic context. The 14,479 bp mitogenome of Ar. vulgaris consists of 37 genes, including 13 genes for protein coding, two for ribosomal RNA, 22 for transfer RNA, and one for control region (D-loops). Phylogenetic analysis of Ar. vulgaris showed 98.27%–100% nucleotide identity with Ar. japonicus, indicating a close relationship between the two tick species. The morphological diagnostic features to differentiate Ar. vulgaris from other ticks within the subgenus Argas included the location of the anus and setae on the anterior lip of the female genital aperture. This study provided high-resolution scanning electron microscope images of female Ar. vulgaris and corresponding molecular data, representing valuable resources for future accurate species identification.

Dermacentor nuttalli, a member of family Ixodidae and genus Dermacentor, is predominantly found in North Asia. It transmits various pathogens of human and animal diseases, such as Lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus and Brucella ovis, leading to severe symptoms in patients and posing serious hazards to livestock husbandry. To profile pathogen abundances of wild D. nuttalli, metagenomic sequencing was performed of four field-collected tick samples, revealing that Rickettsia, Streptomyces, and Pseudomonas were the most abundant bacterial genera in D. nuttalli. Specifically, four nearly complete Rickettsia genomes were assembled, closely relative to Rickettsia conorii subsp. raoultii. Then, a comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to evaluate its potential threats based on detected pathogens and geographical distribution positions reported in literature, reference books, related websites, and field surveys. At least 48 pathogens were identified, including 20 species of bacteria, seven species of eukaryota, and 21 species of virus. Notably, Rickettsia conorii subsp. raoultii, Coxiella burnetii, and Brucella ovis displayed remarkably high positivity rates, which were known to cause infectious diseases in both humans and livestock. Currently, the primary distribution of D. nuttalli spans China, Mongolia, and Russia. However, an additional 14 countries in Asia and America that may also be affected by D. nuttalli were identified in our niche model, despite no previous reports of its presence in these areas. This study provides comprehensive data and analysis on the pathogens carried by D. nuttalli, along with documented and potential distribution, suggesting an emerging threat to public health and animal husbandry. Therefore, there is a need for heightened surveillance and thorough investigation of D. nuttalli.

Abstract There has been increasing global concern about the spillover transmission of pangolin-associated microbes. To assess the risk of these microbes for emergence as human pathogens, we integrated data from multiple sources to describe the distribution and spectrum of microbes harbored by pangolins. Wild and trafficked pangolins have been mainly recorded in Asia and Africa, while captive pangolins have been reported in European and North American countries. A total of 128 microbes, including 92 viruses, 25 bacteria, eight protists, and three uncharacterized microbes, have been identified in five pangolin species. Out of 128 pangolin-associated microbes, 31 (including 13 viruses, 15 bacteria, and three protists) have been reported in humans, and 54 are animal-associated viruses. The phylogenetic analysis of human-associated viruses carried by pangolins reveals that they are genetically close to those naturally circulating among human populations in the world. Pangolins harbor diverse microbes, many of which have been previously reported in humans and animals. Abundant viruses initially detected in pangolins might exhibit risks for spillover transmission.

Abstract Background Social frailty has not been comprehensively studied in China. Our objective is to investigate the prevalence of social frailty among the older population in China, as well as identify relevant factors and urban-rural differences. Methods We obtained data from the Fourth Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban and Rural China (SSAPUR) database. The study employed a multistage, stratified, cluster-sampling method, recruiting a total of 224,142 adults aged 60 years or older. Participants were interviewed to gather demographic data and information on family, health and medical conditions, health care service status, living environment conditions, social participation, protected rights status, spiritual and cultural life, and health. Social frailty was assessed using the HALFE Social Frailty Index. A score of three or above indicated social frailty. Results We analyzed a total of 222,179 cases, and the overall prevalence of social frailty was found to be 15.2%. The highest prevalence was observed among participants aged 75–79 years (18.0%). The prevalence of social frailty was higher in rural older populations compared to urban older populations (19.9% in rural vs. 10.9% in urban, P

Anaplasma capra is an emerging tickborne human pathogen initially recognized in China in 2015; it has been reported in ticks and in a wide range of domestic and wild animals worldwide. We describe whole-genome sequences of 2 A. capra strains from metagenomic sequencing of purified erythrocytes from infected goats in China. The genome of A. capra was the smallest among members of the genus Anaplasma. The genomes of the 2 A. capra strains contained comparable G+C content and numbers of pseudogenes with intraerythrocytic Anaplasma species. The 2 A. capra strains had 54 unique genes. The prevalence of A. capra was high among goats in the 2 endemic areas. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the A. capra strains detected in this study were basically classified into 2 subclusters with those previously detected in Asia. Our findings clarify details of the genomic characteristics of A. capra and shed light on its genetic diversity.

Abstract Multi‐terminal flexible DC power grid plays an important role in large‐scale new energy integration, which usually requires the installation of multi‐terminal DC circuit breaker (MTCB) at the intersection of multiple DC lines. At present, the research on multi‐terminal DC circuit breaker is mostly limited to theoretical simulation calculation, and there are few experimental studies and engineering applications. In this paper, a four‐terminal DC circuit breaker based on commutating path multiplexing is proposed, which combines with the compact natural commutation scheme of hybrid gap, greatly reducing the cost and volume of the circuit breaker. The commutation characteristics of the four‐terminal hybrid DC circuit breaker equivalent prototype at 10‐kV voltage level were tested. On this basis, the equivalent prototype of the circuit breaker test results shows that under 10‐kV voltage level, the four‐terminal circuit breaker topology can achieve breaking of 11 kA in 2.8 ms by the natural commutation method.

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects joints. It was found that roburic acid (RBA), an ingredient from anti-RA herb Gentiana macrophylla Pall., displayed strong anti-inflammatory activity. However, its medical application is limited by its hydrophobicity, lack of targeting capability and unclear functional mechanism. Here, we constructed a pH responsive dual-target drug delivery system hitchhiking RBA (RBA-NPs) that targeted both CD44 and folate receptors, and investigated its pharmacological mechanism. In rat RA model, the nanocarriers effectively delivered RBA to inflammatory sites and significantly enhanced the therapeutic outcomes compared with free RBA, as well as strongly reducing inflammatory cytokine levels and promoting tissue repair. Following analysis revealed that M1 macrophages in the joints were reprogrammed to M2 phenotype by RBA. Since the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages play important roles in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing excessive inflammation in RA, this reprogramming is likely responsible for the anti-RA effect. Furthermore, we revealed that RBA-NPs drove M1-to-M2 phenotypic switch by down-regulating the glycolysis level via blocking ERK/HIF-1α/GLUT1 pathway. Thus, our work not only developed a targeting delivery system that remarkably improved the anti-RA efficiency of RBA, but also identified a potential molecular target to reversely reprogram macrophages though energy metabolism regulation.

Shock wave therapy (SWT) is a new alternative therapy for patients with severe coronary artery disease that improves myocardial ischemic symptoms by delivering low-energy shock wave stimulation to ischaemic myocardium with low-energy pulsed waves. However, the specific mechanism of its protective effect is not fully understood, especially for the protective mechanism in cardiomyocytes after hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). We selected a rat H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell line to establish a stable H/R cardiomyocyte injury model by hypoxia/reoxygenation, and then used SWT for therapeutic intervention to explore its cardiomyocyte protective mechanisms. The results showed that SWT significantly increased cell viability and GSH levels while decreasing LDH levels, ROS levels, and MDA levels. SWT also improved mitochondrial morphology and function of cells after H/R. Meanwhile, we found that SWT could increase the expression of GPX4, xCT, and Bcl-2, while decreasing the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis. Moreover, this protective effect of SWT on cardiomyocytes could be significantly reversed by knockdown of xCT, a key regulator protein of ferroptosis. In conclusion, our study shows that SWT can attenuate hypoxia–reoxygenation-induced myocardial injury and protect cardiomyocyte function by inhibiting H/R-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis, and this therapy may have important applications in the treatment of clinical myocardial ischemic diseases.

The effects of ultrasonic brine on the physicochemical properties, sensory quality and microstructure of low-sodium beef jerkies were investigated. Compared with control jerky brined in 1.5% NaCl solution, both of the direct reduction and partial replacement of 50% NaCl by KCl decreased the sodium content. Ultrasonic treatment resulted in sharp reduction in shear force. KCl substitution together with ultrasonic treatment caused the highest yield, a* value and water content, and the water activity of all groups were below 0.85. Only the direct reduction of NaCl had negative effects on the sensory quality. KCl substitution combined with ultrasonic treatment was the most suitable for producing low-sodium beef jerkies with high quality, possibly because the mixed salt had equal total salt content to control. Meanwhile, the cavitation and mechanical effects of ultrasound may unfold protein structure, increase myofibrillar fragmentation index and break the muscle fiber, thus improving the quality of beef jerky.

Abstract Background The impact of host skin microbiome on horizontal transmission of tick-borne pathogens , and of pathogen associated transstadial and transovarial changes in tick microbiome are largely unknown, but are important to control increasingly emerging tick-borne diseases worldwide. Methods Focusing on a rickettsiosis pathogen, Rickettsia raoultii, we used R. raoultii-positive and R. raoultii-negative Dermacentor spp. tick colonies to study the involvement of skin microbiota in cutaneous infection with rickettsiae in laboratory mice, and the function of the tick microbiome on maintenance of rickettsiae through all tick developmental stages (eggs, larvae, nymphs, adults) over two generations. Results We observed changes in the skin bacteria community, such as Chlamydia, not only associated with rickettsial colonization but also with tick feeding on skin. The diversity of skin microbiome differed between paired tick-bitten and un-bitten sites. For vertical transmission, significant differences in the tick microbiota between pathogenic rickettsia-positive and -negative tick chorts was observed across all developmental stages at least over two generations, which appeared to be a common pattern not only for R. raoultii but also for another pathogenic species, Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae. More importantly, bacterial differences were complemented by functional shifts primed for genetic information processing during blood feeding. Specifically, the differences in tick microbiome gene repertoire between pathogenic Rickettsia-positive and -negative progenies were enriched in pathways associated with metabolism and hormone signals during vertical transmission. Conclusions We demonstrate that host skin microbiome might be a new factor determining the transmission of rickettsial pathogens through ticks. While pathogenic rickettsiae infect vertebrate hosts during blood-feeding by the tick, they may also manipulate the maturation of the tick through changing the functional potential of its microbiota over the tick’s life stages. The findings here might spur the development of new-generation control methods for ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Video Abstract

ABSTRACT Theileria, a tick-borne intracellular protozoan, can cause infections of various livestock and wildlife around the world, posing a threat to veterinary health. Although more and more Theileria species have been identified, genomes have been available only from four Theileria species to date. Here, we assembled a whole genome of Theileria luwenshuni, an emerging Theileria, through next-generation sequencing of purified erythrocytes from the blood of a naturally infected goat. We designated it T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo because its genome was assembled by the researchers at Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China. The genome of T. lunwenshuni str. Cheeloo was the smallest in comparison with the other four Theileria species. T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo possessed the fewest gene gains and gene family expansion. The protein count of each category was always comparable between T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo and T. orientalis str. Shintoku in the Eukaryote Orthologs annotation, though there were remarkable differences in genome size. T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo had lower counts than the other four Theileria species in most categories at level 3 of Gene Ontology annotation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotation revealed a loss of the c-Myb in T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo. The infection rate of T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo was up to 81.5% in a total of 54 goats from three flocks. The phylogenetic analyses based on both 18S rRNA and cox1 genes indicated that T. luwenshuni had relatively low diversity. The first characterization of the T. luwenshuni genome will promote better understanding of the emerging Theileria. IMPORTANCE Theileria has led to substantial economic losses in animal husbandry. Whole-genome sequencing data of the genus Theileria are currently limited, which has prohibited us from further understanding their molecular features. This work depicted whole-genome sequences of T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo, an emerging Theileria species, and reported a high prevalence of T. luwenshuni str. Cheeloo infection in goats. The first assembly and characterization of T. luwenshuni genome will benefit exploring the infective and pathogenic mechanisms of the emerging Theileria to provide scientific basis for future control strategies of theileriosis.

ObjectiveFrailty increases poor clinical outcomes in older adults, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults in China.Research design and methodsData were obtained from the Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban and Rural China in 2015, which was a cross-sectional study involving a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 60 years or older from 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in mainland China. The frailty index (FI) based on 33 potential deficits was used to classify individuals as robust (FI < 0.12), pre-frail (FI ≧0.12 and

ObjectiveFrailty increases adverse clinical outcomes in older patients with cardio-cerebral vascular disease (CCVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with CCVD in China and the factors associated with it.Research design and methodsIn this cross-sectional study, we used data from the fourth Sample Survey of Aged Population in Urban and Rural China. We used the frailty index for frailty and pre-frailty assessment, and the diagnosis of CCVD in older adults was self-reported.ResultsA total of 53,668 older patients with CCVD were enrolled in the study. The age-standardized prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in older patients with CCVD was 22.6% (95% CI 22.3–23.0%) and 60.1% (95% CI 59.7–60.5%). Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that being female, increasing age, rural residence, illiteracy, widowhood, ethnic minority, living alone, no health screening during the last year, hospitalization during the last year, difficult financial status, comorbid chronic conditions, and disability in activities of daily living were associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older patients with CCVD.ConclusionCCVD is strongly associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older Chinese people, and assessment of frailty should become routine in the management of older CCVD patients. Appropriate public health prevention strategies should be developed based on identified risk factors for frailty in older CCVD patients, which can help prevent, ameliorate or reverse the development of frailty in CCVD in the older population.

BackgroundSocial frailty is one type of frailty. Physical frailty with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVD) have been studied a lot, but less research on social frailty.ObjectivesTo study the prevalence, related risk factors and regional differences of social frailty with CCVD in Chinese older adults.MethodsSSAPUR was a national cross-sectional survey. Participants aged 60 years or older were recruited in August 2015. Demographic data and information regarding family, health and medical conditions, living environment conditions, social participation, spiritual and cultural life, and health condition were obtained. Social frailty was assessed in five areas (HALFE Social Frailty Index) including inability to help others, limited social participation, loneliness, financial difficulty, and living alone. The prevalence of CCVD with social frailty, related risk factors and regional differences in CCVD with social frailty were studied.ResultsA total of 222,179 participants were enrolled. 28.4% of them had CCVD history. The prevalence of social frailty in the CCVD group was 16.03%. In CCVD participants, compared with the group without social frailty, there were significant differences in gender, age, urban–rural distribution, ethnicity, marital status, and education levels in the social frailty group. Significant differences were also found in physical exercise participation, health status, cataract, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hospitalization within 1 year, self-assessed health status, crutch or wheelchair usage, urinary and fecal incontinence, need for care from others, fall history, housing satisfaction, and self-assessed happiness in the social frailty group. Women with CCVD had a higher prevalence of social frailty than men. By age in CCVD with social frailty, the highest prevalence was found in participants 75–79 years old. The prevalence of CCVD was significant difference between social frailty in urban and rural group. The prevalence of social frailty with CCVD was significantly different in different regions. The highest prevalence was 20.4% in southwest area, and the lowest prevalence was 12.5% in northeast with area.ConclusionThe prevalence of social frailty among the CCVD older adults is high. Factors such as gender, age, region, urban–rural residence, and the state of the disease may be associated with social frailty.

ObjectiveThere are few studies on the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with asthma worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiological status and factors associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with asthma in China.Research design and methodsData were obtained from the Sample Survey of Aged Population in Urban and Rural China in 2015, a nationwide cross-sectional survey covering 224,142 older people aged 60 years or older in 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in mainland China. We performed frailty and pre-frailty assessments using the frailty index, and the diagnosis of asthma in the older adults was self-reported based on the history of the physician's diagnosis.ResultsNine thousand four hundred sixteen older adults with asthma were included in the study. The age-sex standardized prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in Chinese older adults with asthma was 35.8% (95% CI 34.8%−36.7%) and 54.5% (95% CI 53.5%−55.5%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that increased age, female, illiteracy, living alone, poor economic status, ADL disability, comorbid chronic diseases, previous hospitalization in the past year, and residence in northern China were associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with asthma.ConclusionThe prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in Chinese older adults with asthma is very high, and assessment of frailty should become routine in the management of older adults with asthma. Appropriate public health prevention strategies based on identified risk factors for frailty in older adults with asthma should be developed to reduce the burden of frailty in Chinese older adults with asthma.

The problem of two-dimensional irregular packing involves the arrangement of objects with diverse shapes and sizes within a given area. This challenge arises across various industrial sectors, where effective packing optimization can yield cost savings, enhanced productivity, and reduced material waste. Existing methods for addressing the two-dimensional irregular packing problem encounter several challenges, such as limited computing resources, a prolonged solving time, and the propensity to converge to local optima. To address this issue, this study proposes a hybrid algorithm called the GA-LP algorithm to optimize the two-dimensional irregular packing problem in the manufacturing industry. The algorithm combines the global search capability of a genetic algorithm with the precise solving characteristics of linear programming. Matheuristics merges the advantages of metaheuristics, such as genetic algorithms, and mathematical programming, such as linear programming. The algorithm employs the no-fit-polygon technique along with the bottom-left and lowest-gravity center mixing placement strategies to acquire an initial solution via the utilization of a genetic algorithm. The algorithm then optimizes the solution obtained by the genetic algorithm using linear programming to obtain the final packing result. Experimental results, drawn from a real case involving the European Special Interest Group on Cutting and Packing (ESICUP) demonstrate that the GA-LP algorithm outperforms two hybrid algorithms from the relevant literature. Compared with recent methods, this algorithm can increase the best and average utilization rates by up to 5.89% and 4.02%, respectively, with important implications for improving work quality in areas such as packing and cutting.

The research on picking robots is vital to the transformation and upgrading of the agroforestry industry and the revitalization and development of rural areas. This paper examines the research field of agroforestry picking robots by meticulously combing and analyzing 623 CNKI and 648 WoS core literature from 2004 to 2022 selected in China Knowledge Network (CNKI) and Web of Science (WoS) databases using Cite Space 6.1R3 software. The analysis includes the quantity of literature, issuing countries, organizations, keywords, keyword clustering, emerging terms, etc. On this basis, research hotspots in the field of agroforestry picking robots are identified, such as research based on the identification of picking targets, the control of motion planning, structural design and simulation, and the planning of walking paths. This paper analyzes and discusses these research hotspots and main lines, providing a reference for future studies in this field. This bibliometric approach can provide comprehensive literature information for research in related fields, as well as identify and summarize the major research hotspots in a shorter time, allowing new researchers to enter the field more quickly and obtain more valuable scientific information.

IntroductionTicks are the most important obligate blood-feeding vectors of human pathogens. With the advance of high-throughput sequencing, more and more bacterial community and virome in tick has been reported, which seems to pose a great threat to people.MethodsA total of 14 skin specimens collected from tick-bite patients with mild to severe symptoms were analyzed through meta-transcriptomic sequencings.ResultsFour bacteria genera were both detected in the skins and ticks, including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium and Propionibacterium, and three tick-associated viruses, Jingmen tick virus (JMTV), Bole tick virus 4 (BLTV4) and Deer tick mononegavirales-like virus (DTMV) were identified in the skin samples. Except of known pathogens such as pathogenic rickettsia, Coxiella burnetii and JMTV, we suggest Roseomonas cervicalis and BLTV4 as potential new agents amplified in the skins and then disseminated into the blood. As early as 1 day after a tick-bite, these pathogens can transmit to skins and at most four ones can co-infect in skins.DiscussionAdvances in sequencing technologies have revealed that the diversity of tick microbiome and virome goes far beyond our previous understanding. This report not only identifies three new potential pathogens in humans but also shows that the skin barrier is vital in preventing horizontal transmissions of tick-associated bacteria or virus communities to the host. It is the first research on patients’ skin infectome after a tick bite and demonstrates that more attention should be paid to the cutaneous response to prevent tick-borne illness.

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and pre-frailty in elderly Chinese patients with hypertension.BackgroundIn China, there have been few national studies into the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and pre-frailty in elderly patients with hypertension.MethodsThrough the 4th Sample Survey of Aged Population in Urban and Rural China (SSAPUR) in 2015, the situation of hypertension subjects aged 60 years or older in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland China was obtained. And the frailty index was constructed based on 33 potential defects, elderly hypertensive patients are classified as robust, frailty, and pre-frailty.ResultsA total of 76,801 elderly patients with hypertension were enrolled in the study. The age-sex standardized prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in hypertensive elderly in China was 16.1% (95%CI 15.8–16.3%), 58.1% (95%CI 57.7–58.4%). There were significant geographical differences in the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in elderly hypertensive patients. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that poor economic status, activities of daily living disability, and comorbid chronic diseases were related to frailty and pre-frailty.ConclusionFrailty and pre-frailty are very common in elderly Chinese patients with hypertension and have similar risk factors. Prevention strategies should be developed to stop or delay the onset of frailty by targeting established risk factors in the pre-frailty population of elderly hypertension. It is also crucial to optimize the management of frailty in elderly Chinese patients with hypertension.

AimTo evaluated the prevalence and potential risk factors of self-reported diabetes among the elderly in China, by demographic data, socioeconomic factors, and psychological factors.MethodsDescriptive analysis and Chi-square analysis were used to assess the prevalence and variation between self-reported diabetes and non-diabetes by demographic data, living habits, socioeconomic factors and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to describe the odds ratios (OR) of diabetes prevalence in different groups, while stratification analysis was performed to describe prevalence based on gender, age, and urban/rural areas.Results215,041 elderly adults (102,692 males and 112,349 females) were eventually included in the analysis. The prevalence of self-reported diabetes among the elderly in China is about 8.7%, with the highest prevalence in Beijing (20.8%) and the lowest prevalence in Xizang (0.9%). Logistic regression analysis showed that urban area (P < 0.001), older age (65–84 years old, P < 0.001), female (P < 0.001), higher income(P < 0.001), poor sleep quality (P = 0.01) and some other factors were potential risk factors for diabetes.ConclusionsThis study illustrates the prevalence and potential risk factors of diabetes among the elderly in China Meanwhile, these results provide information to assist the government in controlling non-communicable diseases in the elderly.

ObjectiveSeveral small sample-sized clinical studies have demonstrated that cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) might reduce the risk of rehospitalization in patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD). However, other observational studies did not reported that clinical benefit of CSWT. Therefore, the effect of CSWT plus optimal medical therapy (OMT) on rehospitalization is still controversial.MethodsWe performed an updated meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies identified in systematic searches of Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane library, the ClinicalTrials.gov website and Chinese SinoMed Database (up to December 2021). Primary endpoint was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs, the composite outcome of mortality, coronary artery revascularization, and rehospitalization). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to identify possible contributors to between-study variances in the HDRS. Required information size (RIS) was calculated with trial sequential analysis (TSA).ResultsA total of 11 RCTs and 5 prospective cohort studies involving 1,149 patients with a mean follow-up of 10.3 months (range 3–72) months were included. Overall, CSWT plus OMT significantly decreased the rate of MACEs compared with the OMT group (RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.29–0.53), which was mainly attributed to markedly lower risk of rehospitalization (RR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.27–0.51). Subgroup analysis showed that the pooled RRs for MACEs was significantly lower in studies enrolling patients with higher baseline Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class (≥2.2) (RR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.26–0.50) or studies with short follow-up period (followed ≤ 6 months, RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.24–0.64; followed 7–12 months, RR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.26–0.54) or studies with HF with reduced ejection fraction (RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13–0.72) or with preserved ejection fraction (RR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.29–0.56). TSA showed that The RIS for MACE was 935, and the accrued information size was 577.ConclusionCardiac shock wave therapy plus OMT could decrease the rate of rehospitalization among patients with severe CAD. However, this result must be interpreted with caution, for the evidence supporting the use of CSWT for severe CAD is limited by the small sample size and short follow-up period of previous studies. Larger RCTs with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings.Systematic review registration[https://inplasy.com/], identifier [INPLASY202210103].

The highly viscous nature of heavy oil/bitumen in the Lloydminster area leads to difficulty for oil recovery and production. In-situ combustion (ISC) is an attractive candidate as a post-SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) operation to improve oil mobilization and maximize oil production. The objective of the study was to demonstrate that the stability or failure of a combustion front when in-situ combustion is implemented in a post-SAGD reservoir can be realistically simulated on the basis of a sound understanding of the underlying chemical reactions, whose rates and stoichiometry have been determined from laboratory measurements. This accomplishment represents a significant step towards an improved application of the in-situ combustion processes.The simulations were performed with the Computer Modelling Group's (CMG) commercial simulator STARS. Four dominant ISC chemical reactions (i.e., pyrolysis of non-volatile oil, low-temperature oxidation, pyrolysis of partially oxidized oil, and combustion) were developed on the basis of available experimental data. Material and energy balances were applied. A representative fluid properties package was obtained by tuning components' parameters to match with available vapor-liquid equilibrium data. ISC was initiated after the steam-assisted gravity drainage stage had been simulated. By successively reducing the simulated initial (pre-SAGD) oil saturation in steps, it was shown that the combustion front changed from stable propagation to being extinguished at a low initial oil saturation around 0.06, for which a combustion-front temperature of 400 °C was maintained. The residual oil saturation approached zero after combustion.

Abstract Since the COVID‐19 pandemic, physicians concerned about the potential adverse effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). To explore the relationship between ACEIs/ARBs and the risk of mortality and other clinical outcomes in COVID‐19 patients, the authors conducted a systemic review and meta‐analysis. An electronic search was performed from inception to November 12, 2020 in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials, TRIP, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and CBM database. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non‐randomized Studies of Interventions tool. The primary outcome was in‐hospital all‐cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included all‐cause mortality measured at 30‐day or longer term, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, readmission, and cardiac adverse events. A total of 28 studies with 73 465 patients was included. Twenty‐two studies with 19 871 patients reported the incidence of all‐cause mortality. Results showed no association between using ACEIs/ARBs and risk of mortality crude odds ratio （OR） of 1.02, 95% CI 0.71–1.46, p = .90, I2 = 88%, adjusted OR in 6260 patients of 0.96, 95% CI 0.77–1.18, p = .68, I2 = 0%. While six studies with 10 030 patients reported a lower risk of mortality in ACEIs/ARBs group hazard ratio (HR) of 0.53, 95% CI 0.34–0.84, p = .007, I2 = 68%. Similar association (for HR) was found in hypertension subgroup. There was no significant association for the secondary outcomes. Based on the available data, we concluded that ACEIs/ARBs is not associated with the risk of in‐hospital all‐cause mortality in COVID‐19 patients, but may be associated with a decreased risk of 30‐day all‐cause mortality. Patients with hypertension may benefit from using ACEIs/ARBs.

ABSTRACT Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that can cause life-threatening illnesses. There is an ongoing debate as to whether established infections by one Rickettsia species preclude the maintenance of the second species in ticks. Here, we identified two Rickettsia species in inoculum from Haemaphysalis montgomeryi ticks and subsequently obtained pure isolates of each species by plaque selection. The two isolates were classified as a transitional group and spotted fever group rickettsiae and named Rickettsia hoogstraalii str CS and Rickettsia rhipicephalii str EH, respectively. The coinfection of these two Rickettsia species was detected in 25.6% of individual field-collected H. montgomeryi. In cell culture infection models, R. hoogstraalii str CS overwhelmed R. rhipicephalii str EH with more obvious cytopathic effects, faster plaque formation, and increased cellular growth when cocultured, and R. hoogstraalii str CS seemed to polymerize actin tails differently from R. rhipicephalii str EH in vitro. This work provides a model to investigate the mechanisms of both Rickettsia-Rickettsia and Rickettsia-vector interactions. IMPORTANCE The rickettsiae are a group of obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that include human pathogens causing an array of clinical symptoms and even death. There is an important question in the field, that is whether one infection can block the superinfection of other rickettsiae. This work demonstrated the coinfection of two Rickettsia species in individual ticks and further highlighted that testing the rickettsial competitive exclusion hypothesis will undoubtedly be a promising area as methods for bioengineering and pathogen biocontrol become amenable for rickettsiae.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty and its associated factors in Chinese older adults with diabetes through a nationwide cross-sectional study.Research design and methodsThe data were obtained from the Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban and Rural China (SSAPUR), conducted in 2015, which was a cross-sectional study involving a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 60 years or more from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland China. Subjects with diabetes were included in this study. Frailty index (FI), based on 33 potential deficits, was used to categorize individuals as robust, pre-frail, or frail.ResultsA total of 18,010 older adults with diabetes were included in this study. The weighted prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with diabetes in China was 22.7% (95% CI 22.1–23.3%) and 58.5% (95% CI 57.8–59.2%), respectively. The prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty among older adults with diabetes from different provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions was significantly different. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed living alone, poor economic status, ADL disability, and comorbidities were strongly correlated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with diabetes.ConclusionFrailty and pre-frailty are common in older adults with diabetes in China, and exhibit sociodemographic and geographic differences. In the clinical setting of older adults with diabetes, there is a need to increase awareness of frailty and to advance the early diagnosis and intervention of frailty.

Geothermal energy is a clean energy source to fulfill the increasing global energy demands. For the first time, several energy extraction strategies are proposed and compared through numerical simulations for effective energy recovery from low-permeability geothermal reservoirs. We simulate geothermal energy extraction using either Cyclic Water Injection (CWI) or Water-Assisted Gravity Drainage (WAGD) processes with or without hydraulic fracturing over a 10-year operation. We evaluate the positioning of injector and producer in WAGD process, well spacing, addition of one injector, and the time variation of injection/soaking periods in CWI process. The simulations indicate that the fractured reservoirs generate more energy than those without fracturing; CWI-based processes exhibit higher energy recovery efficiency than WAGD process in terms of Energy-Water-Ratio (EWR). EWR, as a newly proposed parameter in this study, is defined as the energy production specific to per unit volume of water injected, which is useful in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a geothermal energy extraction process. The gravitational effect proves to be the dominant factor that determines energy generation compared to phase change in WAGD process. In addition, formation and impacts of steam chambers in CWI and WAGD-based processes are discussed. Furthermore, statistical analyses are performed to evaluate the effects of reservoir temperature, pressure, permeability, and their mutual interactions on cumulative energy production. Eventually, two correlation models for predicting cumulative energy production based on these formation properties are proposed. This study provides a new perspective on implementing different innovative exploration strategies and optimization processes for energy extraction from low-permeability geothermal reservoirs.

This study explores the effect of tannic acid on the corrosion of woodworking tool material W18Cr4V in a simulated wood environment. The weight loss method, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study the corrosion and the corrosion inhibition process of W18Cr4V in an environment of acetic acid solution with different concentrations of tannic acid. The results show that after continuous immersion for 20 h, low concentrations (1 wt% and 3 wt%) of tannic acid promoted the corrosion of W18Cr4V, while high concentrations (5 wt% and above) of tannic acid had a significant anti-corrosion effect, with a corrosion inhibition efficiency of about 64% for 10 wt% tannic acid. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to further verify and elucidate the inhibition mechanism. It was found that tannic acid can form a dense and effective corrosion inhibition film composed of iron–tannin complexes on the surface of W18Cr4V. This study not only provides a new perspective on understanding the corrosion effect of tannic acid on woodworking tools but also offers new insights for developing effective bio-corrosion protection strategies.

Ticks are obligate blood-sucking vectors for multiple zoonotic diseases. In this study, tick samples were collected from Yunnan Province, China, which is well-known as the “Global Biodiversity Hotspot” in the world. This study aimed to clarify the microbial populations, including pathogens, associated with ticks and to identify the diversity of tick-borne microbiota in this region. The 16S rRNA full-length sequencing from pooled tick DNA samples and PCR amplification of pathogenic genera from individual samples were performed to understand tick-associated microbiota in this region. A total of 191 adult ticks of 5 tick species were included and revealed 11 phyla and 126 genera bacteria, including pathogenic Anaplasma , Ehrlichia , Candidatus Neoehrlichia, Rickettsia , Borrelia , and Babesia . Further identification suggested that Rickettsia sp. YN01 was a variant strain of Rickettsia spp. IG-1, but Rickettsia sp. YN02 and Rickettsia sp. YN03, were potentially two new SFGR species. This study revealed the complexity of ecological interactions between host and microbe and provided insight for the biological control of ticks. A high microbial diversity in ticks from Yunnan was identified, and more investigation should be undertaken to elucidate the pathogenicity in the area.

The emerging Babesia venatorum upsurges as a potential health threat occurring in China and other endemic countries. Few attempts to isolate and culture the Babesia species had been conducted in vitro. We collected the questing Ixodes persulcatus from identified endemic areas and allowed them to feed on the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. The positive mice were chosen to provide positive erythrocytes with asexual B. venatorum for continuous culture in mouse or human erythrocytes in vitro, with RPMI 1640 medium and appropriate serum. With B. venatorum in the SCID mice, erythrocytes were cultured in vitro for confirmation by morphological observations with transmission electron microscopes. Sequences of B. venatorum were then identified by way of conventional PCR amplification. Parasitemia counts monitored the growth of B. venatorum on thin blood smears and real-time quantitative PCR in parallel. As expected, B. venatorum positive mice were harvested by sufficient attacks of I. persulcatus ticks. The erythrocytes of the infected mice were then inoculated and successfully cultured in donated erythrocytes from humans and mice in RPMI 1640 culture medium. Active growth of B. venatorum was well demonstrated in human erythrocytes with 3.3 times parasite-load when compared with a mouse under similar conditions. With the increased subcultures, a prolonged period of detectable parasitemia with much higher peak parasitemia and shorter time to reach peak parasitemia were observed in the following subcultures. A new strategy for isolation and in vitro culture of B. venatorum has been provided with a continuous supply of sufficient pathogens to satisfy human babesiosis's testings and clinical therapies.

ObjectiveTo evaluate epidemiological characteristics of the COVID-19 outbreak that resurged in Yangzhou and to simulate the impact of different control measures at different regional scales.MethodsWe collected personal information from 570 laboratory-confirmed cases in Yangzhou from 28 July to 26 August 2021, and built a modified susceptible-exposed-infected-removed (SEIR) model and an agent-based model.ResultsThe SEIR model showed that for passengers from medium-high risk areas, pre-travel nucleic acid testing within 3 days could limit the total number of infected people in Yangzhou to 50; among elderly persons, a 60% increase in vaccination rates could reduce the estimated infections by 253. The agent-based model showed that when the population density of the chess and card room dropped by 40%, the number of infected people would decrease by 54 within 7 days. A ventilation increase in the chess and card room from 25 to 50% could reduce the total number of infections by 33 within 7 days; increasing the ventilation from 25 to 75% could reduce the total number of infections by 63 within 7 days.ConclusionsThe SEIR model and agent-based model were used to simulate the impact of different control measures at different regional scales successfully. It is possible to provide references for epidemic prevention and control work.

Oxidizing stimulation of organic-rich shale reservoirs, as a supplement of hydraulic fracturing, was proposed to enhance shale gas recovery. Previous publications revealed that the interaction between organic-rich shale and oxidative fluids causes the components’ dissolution, which induces lots of pores and microfractures, resulting in rock microfracturing without confined pressure and associated increments of the matrix permeability, and improving unpropped fracture conductivity. However, the enhancement of shale gas recovery with oxidative fluids still lacks an implementation clue targeted for specific engineering problems. In recent years, water–rock interaction inducing microfractures indicates a positive effect of retained fracturing fluid on the stimulation after the fracturing operation, which sheds light in the enhancement of shale gas production by shut-in. The objectives of this study are to provide a new perspective whereby the shut-in performance to enhance shale gas recovery could be increased by the injection of oxidative fluids into the formation during the fracturing operation. Firstly, the mechanisms of shut-in performance increased by oxidative dissolution, which illustrate the increment of the density of fracture networks, the improvement of fracture network conductivity, and the promotion of gas desorption and diffusivity, are demonstrated. Then, the feasibility of using oxidative fluids to increase shut-in performance, which follows the geological and engineering characteristics of organic-rich shale reservoirs, is evaluated. Finally, according to the analysis of production performance for two typical types of shale gas wells, in which one is a low gas production and a high fracturing fluid recovery (LGP-HFR) and the other is a high gas production and a low fracturing fluid recovery (HGP-LFR), a shut-in strategy with oxidative fluids to enhance shale gas recovery is developed. This indicates that the injection of oxidative fluids during the fracturing operation may become a promising and cost-effective approach to enhance shale gas recovery.

Background: Pasteurella multocida is an important and old zoonotic pathogen worldwide which has an impressive host spectrum including numerous domestic and wild animals as well as birds, causing specific diseases or outbreak with great economic impact. It has never been reported that P. multocida can cause an epidemic in wild rodents. In June 5–17, 2016, more than 1000 rodent deaths of an unknown cause quickly spread in the PuEr City, Yunnan province, southwestern China. Methods: The rodents in affected areas and outside of the epidemic areas were collected and screened for possible known pathogens including Yersinia pestis, rabies virus and hantavirus as well as other bacteria. The possible bacterial pathogens were isolated both by culture medium and by mouse inoculation in parallel. The isolates were identified by the Vitek GNI card and PCR assays for 16S rRNA genes. The pathogen strains were selected for whole genome sequencing analysis. Results: A total of 123 rodents were collected from 25 sample sites at affected area, among of which, all 119 dead rodents were negative for the pathogen under consideration except P. multocida, and all four live rodents were negative for P. multocida. In addition, 480 rodents collected from other 23 counties outside of the epidemic area in Yunnan were negative for with P. multocida. A total of 14 strains of P. multocida (six directly isolated from the field rodents and eight from the experimental mice that were injected with the organ substrates from the dead rodents) belonged to serogroup A and serogroup F represented by 9 N and 20 N were identified in these epidemic areas. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the serogroup F strain shared 99% similarity to P. multocida Pm70 from chicken, but contained a 50 k bp insertion sequence. The serogroup A strain shared 95% similarity to P. multocida FDAARGOS_385 from a human patient, but contained four large structural differences. Histological abnormalities were identified in the livers, lungs, hearts and brains of the inoculated mice. Conclusions: The simultaneous occurrence of both serotypes of P. multocida may have caused this sudden onset of mortality across the local rodent population in Yunnan Province, China. Further attention should be paid to this old bacterium in the world.

In order to seek the coordination of energy supply system in economy, security, environmental protection and energy conservation, relying on the "Internet plus", a distributed cooling, heating and power system integrated with power generation unit (PGU), ground source heat pump and energy storage system was constructed. The models about off-design condition of each device were illustrated. On this basis, four operation strategies were put forward: following electric load, following thermal load, following hybrid load and following max efficiency of PGU. Then operation cost, carbon dioxide emission and primary energy were employed as objectives to analyze the operating time, output and performances of the proposed system under off-design condition. The results show that the proposed system has better economy, lower emissions and lower primary energy consumption than the conventional separate system. Under FTL strategy, the operation cost and carbon dioxide emission are the lowest, which are reduced by 32.7% and 45.3%, respectively. Because of the continuous operating, the reduction of primary energy is the most, which is 86.7%. The results can provide some theoretical references for the operation of distributed system.

Abstract This paper presents an investigation into the effect of rock physical parameters on water phase trapping (WPT) damage in tight gas reservoirs. The investigation involved water imbibition and drainage experiments that were performed to simulate the WPT formation process. Gas permeability was measured before and after WPT, and an empirical formula was used to determine water film thickness in order to examine the influence of WPT on effective gas flow channel. Results showed that the average water saturation of 15 tight core samples increased from 19.41% to 44.76% during water imbibition and declined to 38.72% after drainage. Increments in water saturation caused a degree of damage to gas permeability in the 36.03%‐78.10% range with an average value of 59.31%. Comparative analysis showed that the dominant factors affecting WPT were average pore throat radius followed by rock permeability and porosity. Meanwhile, calculations showed that water film thickness in the 21.22‐38.18 nm range correlated to a reduced effective gas flow channel of 20.20‐45.15 nm caused by WPT, which suggests that tight rocks with smaller pore throats may be particularly sensitive to WPT damage. The relative size of the water film filling the pore throat, trapping gas, and reducing the effective gas flow channel together with the size of the pore throat itself were found to be the most common damage mechanisms of WPT and have proven to be fundamentally beneficial in understanding the controlling factors of these damage mechanisms.

The long-lasting co-evolution of ticks with pathogens results in mutual adaptation. Blood-feeding is one of the critical physiological behaviors that have been associated with the tick microbiome; however, most knowledge was gained through the study of laboratory-reared ticks. Here we detached Ixodes persulcatus ticks at different stages of blood-feeding from human patients and performed high-throughput transcriptomic analysis on them to identify their virome and genes differentially expressed between flat and fully fed ticks. We also traced bloodmeal sources of those ticks and identified bats and three other potential mammalian hosts, highlighting the public health significance. We found Jingmen tick virus and 13 putative new viruses belonging to 11 viral families, three of which even exhibited high genetic divergence from viruses previously reported in the same tick species from the same geographic region. Furthermore, differential expression analysis suggested a downregulation of antioxidant genes in the fully fed I. persulcatus ticks, which might be related to bloodmeal-related redox homeostasis. Our work highlights the significance of active surveillance of tick viromes and suggests a role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in modulating changes in the microbiome during blood-feeding.

Rickettsia raoultii is a tick-borne pathogen that infects humans; however, the vertebrate hosts of this pathogen have not been clearly defined. Our molecular examination of Rickettsia spp. infecting mammals and ticks in China, identified the gltA, ompA, and 17KD gene sequences of R. raoultii in horses and their ticks. This indicates a role of horses in R. raoultii epidemiology.

Non-Darcy flow is observed in the shale gas reservoir because it is rich in organic nanopores. Generally, the permeability of shale gas reservoirs is modified because of non-Darcy flow. However, the viscosity is much less concerned. It has been verified that the viscosity of dilute gas depends on the size of the pore. In this paper, the viscosity of methane in organic slit nanopore is determined with equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulation. The result shows that the viscosity of bulk methane would decrease with dropping down pressure, while the confined effect would make the viscosity of methane in the organic slit nanopore lesser than that of the bulk phase, and it decreases severely at low pressure. The confined dense gas viscosity model is obtained by theoretical derivation. The EMD results were fitted with this model to obtain the viscosity correction method for dense methane in organic slit nanopores. The dimensionless viscosity (μeff/μb) would decrease sharply with the Knudsen number between 0.1 and 10. Unlike the confined effect on the dilute gas, the potential contribution of the dense gas and the wall also affects its viscosity. Because of the confined effect on the dense methane, the flow capacity of methane is enhanced 1.5 times at least with the pore being smaller than 10 nm and the pressure being lower than 5 MPa. It means that keeping a low reservoir pressure helps to improve the flow of shale gas. This work can improve the understanding of the importance of gas viscosity with the non-Darcy flow in shale gas reservoirs.

This study systematically reviews the progress of research on the corrosion inhibition effects of organic compounds on carbon steel since 2002, using the CiteSpace bibliometric tool. Through the analysis of 2,264 articles from the WOS (Web of Science) and Scopus databases, our team delved into aspects such as annual publication volume, authors, institutions, countries and keywords which helped identify the current research focus in this field. In particular, the protective efficacy of organic compounds on carbon steel in acidic environments has been highlighted. It is evident that the integration of coating technology, the development of organic compound derivatives and the extraction of green organic compounds have emerged as new research hotspots in this field. This study not only comprehensively evaluates the means and methods of assessing the corrosion inhibition performance of new organic compounds but also further specifies the main directions for future research in this field. These include composite organic coatings, targeted development of new organic compounds, development and application of green organic compounds from plants and corrosion inhibition mechanisms of organic compounds on other metal materials. This study not only provides a thorough and in-depth review of the history and current status of this field but, more importantly, clarifies specific directions for future research in this area. The aim of this research is to provide strong theoretical support and practical guidance for subsequent researchers, promoting future development of this field.

Objective To evaluate epidemiological characteristics and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 outbreak resurged in Beijing and to assess the effects of three non-pharmaceutical interventions.Design Descriptive and modelling study based on surveillance data of COVID-19 in Beijing.Setting Outbreak in Beijing.Participants The database included 335 confirmed cases of COVID-19.Methods To conduct spatiotemporal analyses of the outbreak, we collected individual records on laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 11 June 2020 to 5 July 2020 in Beijing, and visitor flow and products transportation data of Xinfadi Wholesale Market. We also built a modified susceptible-exposed-infected-removed model to investigate the effect of interventions deployed in Beijing.Results We found that the staff working in the market (52.2%) and the people around 10 km to this epicentre (72.5%) were most affected, and the population mobility entering-exiting Xinfadi Wholesale Market significantly contributed to the spread of COVID-19 (p=0.021), but goods flow of the market had little impact on the virus spread (p=0.184). The prompt identification of Xinfadi Wholesale Market as the infection source could have avoided a total of 25 708 (95% CI 13 657 to 40 625) cases if unnoticed transmission lasted for a month. Based on the model, we found that active screening on targeted population by nucleic acid testing alone had the most significant effect.Conclusions The non-pharmaceutical interventions deployed in Beijing, including localised lockdown, close-contact tracing and community-based testing, were proved to be effective enough to contain the outbreak. Beijing has achieved an optimal balance between epidemic containment and economic protection.

The effects of different levels of rutin (0, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% w/v) and ethanol on the structure and gel properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) were examined. The results showed that the addition of ethanol promoted the gel formation of WPI. The addition of rutin increased the gel strength of WPI and maintained the water-holding capacity of the gel. Ethanol caused an increase in thiol content and surface hydrophobicity, but rutin decreased the thiol content and surface hydrophobicity of WPI. The particle size, viscosity and viscoelasticity of WPI increased at rutin levels of 0.2% and 0.3%, indicating that rutin caused cross-linking and aggregation of WPI, but rutin had no significant effect on the zeta-potential, indicating that electrostatic interactions were not the main force causing the changes in protein conformation and gel properties. Ethanol and rutin improved the gel properties of WPI possibly by inducing cross-linking of WPIs via hydrophobic and covalent interactions.