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School learners are the future of the motherland and the hope of the nation, and the level of mental health of school learners directly affects the achievement of moral education and the realization of the goal of moral education. The requirement of cultivating “self-esteem and self-confidence, rational and calm, and positive social mentality” provides guidance for the construction of mind fitness educating courses for school learners. At present, the research on the portrait technology for students in colleges and universities has been carried out one after another, and through the data mining of the informationized campus, the applications such as early warning of students' academic situation, dynamic detection of students' thoughts, and improvement of library lending service have been realized to better promote the management and service of students. The system can help students and teachers to make the mental health portrait model. This system can help students and teachers to analyze students' mental health problems more visually and improve the efficiency.

The degradation of organic dye from waterbodies is of great significance for clean production and environmental remediation. Herein, two porphyrin-based conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) loaded with nanoscale zerovalent iron (named as Por-CMPs-1–2@nZVI) were successfully fabricated by Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling reactions and the liquid-phase method. The as-synthesized Por-CMPs-1–2@nZVI composites were characterized by various means of analysis, and it was confirmed that Por-CMPs-1–2 loaded with nZVI had good photocatalytic performance. Calculated by ultraviolet–visible spectrum, the band-gap energies of Por-CMPs-1@nZVI and Por-CMPs-2@nZVI were 1.45 and 1.32 eV, respectively, indicating that both can be activated by visible light. The photodegradation of organic dye experiments demonstrated that Por-CMPs-2@nZVI degraded 98.0% of 10 ppm Methylene Blue (MB) within 150 min, which is higher than that of Por-CMPs-1–2 and Por-CMPs-1@nZVI. The experiment of active substance capture and mechanism of ESR confirmed that superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical were the primary valid substances in the photodegradation process of MB. In addition, the preparation of membrane materials was shown to be a successful strategy to realize engineered scale-up production.

Herein, a series of manganese oxide catalysts were prepared viadifferent synthesis routes and applied in the catalytic oxidation of toluene. Compared to MnO2-RP and MnO2-HT, MnO2-EG with a tetragonal cryptomelane structure (α-MnO2) synthesized viaa novel ethylene glycol (EG) reduction strategy exhibits better catalytic activity for toluene combustion. Moreover, Ce-doped MnO2-EG (Ce–MnO2-EG) was further prepared and characterized through XRD, XRF, N2adsorption–desorption, SEM, H2-TPR, O2-TPD and XPS techniques. It was demonstrated that the strong interaction between Ce and Mn species further regulated the microstructure and surface properties of MnO2-EG, resulting in a smaller crystal size, significant increase in specific surface area and the creation of more oxygen vacancies as well as promoted the redox capacity and lattice oxygen mobility of the Ce–MnO2-EG catalyst. The results of C7H8-TPSR further indicated that effective balance between toluene adsorption capacity and activation oxidation ability may play a key role in the catalytic combustion of toluene over the Ce–MnO2-EG catalyst, which accelerated the conversion rate and achieved an excellent low-temperature oxidation performance (T90= 197 °C). Meanwhile, Ce–MnO2-EG also exhibited high catalytic stability with strong water tolerance (5 and 10 vol%) in the oxidation of toluene. Therefore, this work provides a new idea for the preparation of catalysts for efficient elimination of volatile organic compounds.

Safe trajectory planning of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has drawn significant attention. For avoiding obstacles, the two prevailing methods of distance penalty and convex polyhedra confinement ignore the flight velocity, aggressive maneuvering increases the risk of collision. Other approaches ensure safety by limiting the flight speed, leading to conservative and slow trajectories. This article presents a motion planning method that ensures flexible maneuverability and a high level of UAV safety in unknown complex environments. First, an improved path planning method considering safety and search efficiency is proposed to generate discrete primitives. By representing the confident flight area with ball-shaped areas expected no obstacles included, the safe region constraint is designed and incorporated into the first-stage optimization with the low-order kinematic model. Subsequently, an agile maneuvering approach with environmental adaptability is integrated into the second-stage optimization with the high-order kinematic model. This approach can effectively adjust the agile flight according to the obstacle distribution and motion velocity. Simulations and real-world experiments are conducted to demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the presented approach. Moreover, benchmark comparison manifests that the proposed method outperforms the cutting-edge methods from the aspects of the perception uncertainty adaptation and flight safety.

Genomic data serve as an invaluable resource for unraveling the intricacies of the higher plant systems, including the constituent elements within and among species. Through various efforts in genomic data archiving, integrative analysis and value-added curation, the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC), which is a part of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB), has successfully established and currently maintains a vast amount of database resources. This dedicated initiative of the NGDC facilitates a data-rich ecosystem that greatly strengthens and supports genomic research efforts. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of central repositories dedicated to archiving, presenting, and sharing plant omics data, introduce knowledgebases focused on variants or gene-based functional insights, highlight species-specific multiple omics database resources, and briefly review the online application tools. We intend that this review can be used as a guide map for plant researchers wishing to select effective data resources from the NGDC for their specific areas of study.

ABSTRACTThe investigation was carried out to study the effects of water/binder (w/b) ratio, replacement level of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), and restrained condition on early-age shrinkage cracking of high-performance concrete [...]

High performance is the core objective that biotechnologists pursue, of which low efficiency, low titer, and side products are the chief obstacles. Here, a thermal strategy is proposed for simultaneously addressing the obstacles of whole-cell catalysis that is widely applied in the food industry. The strategy, by combining fast-growing Vibrio natriegens, thermophilic enzymes, and high-temperature whole-cell catalysis, was successfully applied for the high-performance production of N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) that plays essential roles in the fields of food (infant formulas), healthcare, and medicine. By using this strategy, we realized the highest Neu5Ac titer and productivity of 126.1 g/L and up to 71.6 g/(L h), respectively, 7.2-fold higher than the productivity of Escherichia coli. The major byproduct acetic acid was also eliminated via quenching complex metabolic side reactions enabled by temperature elevation. This study offers a broadly applicable strategy for producing chemicals relevant to the food industry, providing insights for its future development.

Recent randomized control trials (JCOG0802 and CALGB140503) have shown sublobar resection to be noninferior to lobectomy for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ≤2.0 cm. We have previously proposed histologic criteria stratifying lung adenocarcinoma into indolent low malignant potential (LMP) and aggressive angioinvasive adenocarcinomas, resulting in better prognostication than provided by World Health Organization grade. Here we determine whether pathologic classification is reproducible and whether subsets of adenocarcinomas predict worse outcomes when treated by wedge resection compared to lobectomy.

In this communication, a compact wideband dual-decoupling technique is proposed for wideband microstrip patch antennas (WMPAs) at the X-band. The wideband decoupling property is achieved by integrating the defected ground structure (DGS) and the coplanar inductance (CI) on the ground plane and patch layer, respectively. To validate the feasibility of the proposed method, both the aperture-coupled and probe-fed WMPAs with the proposed novel decoupling scheme are simulated, fabricated, and measured, respectively. An equivalent circuit and characteristic mode analysis (CMA) of this wideband decoupling scheme are developed to provide physical insight succinctly. Experimental results demonstrate that the poor isolation of the two proposed antennas has been improved from 6 dB to better than 20 dB with an extremely close edge-to-edge distance of 1 mm ( $0.033 \lambda _{0}$ ). The achieved decoupled bandwidths (BWs) are up to 17.6% and 22.2% for the aperture-coupled and probe-fed schemes, respectively. In addition, the proposed method has been extended to the decoupling of multielement antenna arrays, demonstrating its potential for large-scale wideband massive multiple-input and multiple-out (MIMO) applications.

Biological databasesserve as a global fundamental infrastructure for the worldwide scientific community, which dramatically aid the transformation of big data into knowledge discovery and drive significant innovations in a wide range of research fields. Given the rapid data production, biological databases continue to increase in size and importance. To build a catalogof worldwide biological databases, we curate a total of 5825 biological databases from 8931 publications, which are geographically distributed in 72 countries/regions and developed by 1975 institutions (as of September 20, 2022). We further devise a z-index, a novel index to characterize the scientific impact of a database, and rank all these biological databases as well as their hosting institutions and countries in terms of citationand z-index. Consequently, we present a series of statistics and trends of worldwide biological databases, yielding a global perspective to better understand their status and impact for life and health sciences. An up-to-date catalog of worldwide biological databases, as well as their curated meta-information and derived statistics, is publicly available at Database Commons (https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/databasecommons/).

The Resource for Coronavirus 2019 (RCoV19) is an open-access information resource dedicated to providing valuable data on the genomes, mutations, and variantsof the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this updated implementation of RCoV19, we have made significant improvements and advancements over the previous version. Firstly, we have implemented a highly refined genome data curation model. This model now features an automated integration pipeline and optimized curation rules, enabling efficient daily updates of data in RCoV19. Secondly, we have developed a global and regional lineage evolution monitoring platform, alongside an outbreak risk pre-warningsystem. These additions provide a comprehensive understanding of SARS-CoV-2 evolution and transmission patterns, enabling better preparedness and response strategies. Thirdly, we have developed a powerful interactive mutation spectrum comparison module. This module allows users to compare and analyze mutation patterns, assisting in the detection of potential new lineages. Furthermore, we have incorporated a comprehensive knowledgebase on mutation effects. This knowledgebase serves as a valuable resource for retrieving information on the functional implications of specific mutations. In summary, RCoV19 serves as a vital scientific resource, providing access to valuable data, relevant information, and technical support in the global fight against COVID-19. The complete contents of RCoV19 are available to the public at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/ncov/.

The current fertilization methods for Chinese yam are uneconomic and unfriend to environment. A rational one is very important to achieve desired balance of high yield of Chinese yam, economic and friend to environment. Here, we studied the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers on the yield of ‘Qinfeng’ Chinese yam in shallow-groove directional cultivation.

In this letter, a novel co-linearly polarized full-duplex antenna-in-package (AiP) with high Tx/Rx isolation and wide decoupled bandwidth is proposed for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). Fan-out wafer-level packaging technology is employed, and the preparation process is discussed in details. To improve Tx/Rx isolation, the current direction of the patch elements is orthogonal to that of the feeding ports. Two identical 1 × 2 patch antenna arrays are used as Tx and Rx antennas, respectively. To further suppress mutual coupling, a decoupling loop is proposed to enhance Tx/Rx isolation. In addition, a wideband full-duplex AiP with high isolation and wide decoupled bandwidth is also proposed by using the parasitic technique and the proposed decoupling method. Prototypes are fabricated and measured to verify the proposed AiPs. The measurement results demonstrate that the proposed AiP possesses the merits of high Tx/Rx isolation (up to 53 dB), wide isolation bandwidth (up to 9.2%) and low cost, providing a foundation for chip-level applications in ISAC.

Ageing is often accompanied with a decline in immune system function, resulting in immune ageing. Numerous studies have focussed on the changes in different lymphocyte subsets in diseases and immunosenescence. The change in immune phenotype is a key indication of the diseased or healthy status. However, the changes in lymphocyte number and phenotype brought about by ageing have not been comprehensively analysed. Here, we analysed T and natural killer (NK) cell subsets, the phenotype and cell differentiation states in 43,096 healthy individuals, aged 20–88 years, without known diseases. Thirty-six immune parameters were analysed and the reference ranges of these subsets were established in different age groups divided into 5-year intervals. The data were subjected to random forest machine learning for immune-ageing modelling and confirmed using the neural network analysis. Our initial analysis and machine modelling prediction showed that naïve T cells decreased with ageing, whereas central memory T cells (Tcm) and effector memory T cells (Tem) increased cluster of differentiation (CD) 28-associated T cells. This is the largest study to investigate the correlation between age and immune cell function in a Chinese population, and provides insightful differences, suggesting that healthy adults might be considerably influenced by age and sex. The age of a person's immune system might be different from their chronological age. Our immune-ageing modelling study is one of the largest studies to provide insights into ‘immune-age’ rather than ‘biological-age’. Through machine learning, we identified immune factors influencing the most through ageing and built a model for immune-ageing prediction. Our research not only reveals the impact of age on immune parameter differences within the Chinese population, but also provides new insights for monitoring and preventing some diseases in clinical practice.

Collagen has been widely used as a biomaterial for tissue regeneration. At the present, aqua-collagen derived from fish is poorly explored for biomedical material applications due to its insufficient thermal stability. To improve the bone repair ability and thermal stability of fish collagen, the tilapia skin collagen was crosslinked by EDC/NHS with heparin to bind specifically to BMP-2. The thermal stability of tilapia skin collagen crosslinked with heparin (HC-COL) was detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Cytotoxicity of HC-COL was assessed by detecting MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation using CCK-8 assay. The specific binding of BMP-2 to HC-COL was tested and the bioactivity of BMP-2-loaded HC-COL (HC-COL-BMP-2) was evaluated in vitro by inducing MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation. In vivo, the bone repair ability of HC-COL-2 was evaluated using micro-CT and histological observation. After crosslinking by EDC/NHS, the heparin-linked and the thermostability of the collagen of Nile Tilapia were improved simultaneously. HC-COL has no cytotoxicity. In addition, the binding of BMP-2 to HC-COL was significantly increased. Furthermore, the in vitro study revealed the effective bioactivity of BMP-2 binding on HC-COL by inducing MC3T3-E1 cells with higher ALP activity and the formation of mineralized nodules. In vivo studies showed that more mineralized and mature bone formation was achieved in HC-COL-BMP-2 group. The prepared HC-COL was an effective BMP-2 binding carrier with enough thermal stability and could be a useful biomaterial for bone repair.

Background: Frailty can increase adverse health outcomes in older adults. Progranulin is a secreted glycoprotein involved in regulating various biological processes. Different perspectives exist on the relationship between progranulin and frailty. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the association of progranulin with frailty in older Chinese adults. Methods: We included 265 older in-patients who were divided into the robust (n= 31), pre-frail (n= 116) and frail (n= 118) groups according to the FRAIL scale. Serum IL-6, CXCL-10, progranulin, and CRP levels were assayed. Spearman’s correlation and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of serum biomarkers with frailty, and ROC was used to evaluate the diagnostic progranulin value for frailty. Results: The frail group was older and had lower BMI, higher prevalence of coronary heart disease, worse grip strength and walking speed, and higher IL-6, CXCL-10, progranulin, and CRP serum levels than the robust and pre-frail groups. Progranulin levels were negatively correlated with grip strength (r= − 0.152, p= 0.016) and positively correlated with IL-6 (r= 0.207, p= 0.001) and CXCL-10 (r= 0.160, p= 0.009) after adjusting for age and sex. Furthermore, progranulin remained associated with frailty after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, chronic diseases, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (OR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.006, p= 0.022). The AUC of serum progranulin levels for diagnostic frailty was 0.927 (95% CI 0.896–0.958, p< 0.001). Conclusion: High serum progranulin levels were observed in frail older adults and were associated with worse physical function and increased chronic inflammation. Progranulin may be a potential biomarker for frailty.

Coupling of cathodic H2production with electrosynthesis of organic compounds not only solves the problem of sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics, but also produces valuable chemicals. However, this strategy has rarely been explored for direct and selective C(sp3)-H activation to construct C-C bonds, which could significantly enhance the synthetic efficiency in organic synthesis. Here, we report a nickel-iron layered double hydroxide-supported gold catalyst (Au/NiFe-LDH) for efficient electrocatalytic C-C coupling reaction in direct C(sp3)-H alkynylation of tertiary aliphatic amines with 1-iodoalkynes, which is coupled with H2production. Specifically, triethylamine and 1-iodoalkynes undergo efficient alkynylation to afford propargylamine in high yield (79%) and recycling ability without addition of external oxidants, coupling with 78-fold higher H2productivity compared with water splitting under the same potential. This work may shed light on OER-substituted reaction towards C-C bond formation reactions under mild conditions.

The hybrids show enhanced structural durability, good electrical conductivity, and rich active sites for the good synergistic effect and strong interfacial conjunction between the AlCoNi-LTH nanosheets and doped porous carbon.

Background: Phytosterol supplementation of 2 g/d is recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program to reduce LDL cholesterol However, the effects of different intakes of phytosterol on cholesterol metabolism are uncertain. Objective: We evaluated the effects of 3 phytosterol intakes on whole-body cholesterol metabolism. Design: In this placebo-controlled, crossover feeding trial, 18 adults received a phytosterol-deficient diet (50 mg phytosterols/2000 kcal) plus beverages supplemented with 0, 400, or 2000 mg phytosterols/d for 4 wk each, in random order. All meals were prepared in a metabolic kitchen; breakfast and dinner on weekdays were eaten on site. Primary outcomes were fecal cholesterol excretion and intestinal cholesterol absorption measured with stable-isotope tracers and serum lipoprotein concentrations. Results: Phytosterol intakes (diet plus supplements) averaged 59, 459, and 2059 mg/d during the 3 diet periods. Relative to the 59-mg diet, the 459- and 2059-mg phytosterol intakes significantly (P < 0.01) increased total fecal cholesterol excretion (36 [+ or -] 6% and 74 [+ or -] 10%, respectively) and biliary cholesterol excretion (38 [+ or -] 7% and 77 [+ or -] 12%, respectively) and reduced percentage intestinal cholesterol absorption (- 10 [+ or -] 1% and -25 [+ or -] 3 %, respectively). Serum LDL cholesterol declined significantly only with the highest phytosterol dose (-8.9 [+ or -] 2.3%); a trend was observed with the 459-mg/d dose (-5.0 [+ or -] 2.1%; P = 0.077). Conclusions: Dietary phytosterols in moderate and high doses favorably alter whole-body cholesterol metabolism in a dosedependent manner. A moderate phytosterol intake (459 mg/d) can be obtained in a healthy diet without supplementation. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28070.

Background: Intrinsic capacity is the combination of individual physical and mental abilities, reflecting the aging degree of the older adults. However, the mechanisms and metabolic characteristics of the decline in intrinsic capacity are still unclear. Aims: To identify metabolic signatures and associated pathways of decline in intrinsic capacity based on the metabolite features. Methods: We recruited 70 participants aged 77.19 ± 8.31 years. The five domains of intrinsic capacity were assessed by Short Physical Performance Battery (for mobility), Montreal cognition assessment (for cognition), 30-Item Geriatric Depression Scale (for psychology), self-reported hearing/visual impairment (for sensory) and Nutritional risk screening (for vitality), respectively. The serum samples of participants were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, followed by metabolite set enrichment analysis and metabolic pathway analysis. Results: There were 50 participants with a decline in intrinsic capacity in at least one of the domains. A total of 349 metabolites were identified from their serum samples. Overall, 24 differential metabolites, 5 metabolite sets and 13 pathways were associated with the decline in intrinsic capacity. Discussion: Our results indicated that decline in intrinsic capacity had unique metabolomic profiles. Conclusion: The specific change of acyl carnitines was observed to be a feature of decline in intrinsic capacity. Dysregulation of the pentose phosphate pathway and of arginine and ornithine metabolism was strongly associated with the decline in intrinsic capacity.

Background:This is a retrospective study aimed at comparing the clinical efficacy and safety between drug-eluting bead transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional TACE (C-TACE) in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods:From July 2019 to April 2021, we enrolled 282 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were admitted to our hospital, of which 179 and 103 were in the DEB-TACE and C-TACE groups, respectively. General information was collected, and treatment effects were evaluated following the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. To compare the indexes of liver and kidney function, routine blood and coagulation were collected before treatment, and 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Postoperative adverse reactions (ie, fever, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain) were recorded to evaluate the safety of treatment. The two groups’ progression-free survival and overall survival were also calculated to assess the treatment effect. Results:Preoperatively, the bilirubin, transaminase, and absolute neutrophil values between the two groups were not statistically significant (P> .05). At 1 month postoperatively, the absolute neutrophil values were significantly higher in the DEB-TACE group than those in the C-TACE group (P< .05). At 3 months postoperatively, AST, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels were significantly elevated in the DEB-TACE group (P< .05), compared with the C-TACE group. However, at 6 months postoperatively, total and direct bilirubin levels in the C-TACE group were higher than those in the DEB-TACE group, showing a statistically significant difference (P< .05). For patients undergoing DEB-TACE, the survival risk was lower compared to those undergoing C-TACE. The survival risk of patients undergoing DEB-TACE was lower than that of C-TACE within 20 months postoperatively. The survival risk of patients undergoing DEB-TACE was lower than that of patients undergoing C-TACE. Conclusion:DEB-TACE may be superior to C-TACE in terms of safety and efficacy in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Campylobacteris a major cause of bacterial foodborne diarrhea worldwide. Consumption of raw or undercooked chicken meat contaminated with Campylobacteris the most common causative agent of human infections. Given the high prevalence of contamination in poultry meat and the recent rise of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Campylobacterstrains, an effective intervention method of reducing bird colonization is needed. In this study, the Campylobacter-specific lytic phage CP6 was isolated from chicken feces. Phage CP6 exhibited a broad host range against different MDR Campylobacterisolates (97.4% of strains were infected). Some biological characteristics were observed, such as a good pH (3–9) stability and moderate temperature tolerance (<50 ℃). The complete genome sequence revealed a linear double-stranded DNA (178,350 bp, group II Campylobacterphage) with 27.51% GC content, including 209 predicted open reading frames, among which only 54 were annotated with known functions. Phylogenetic analysis of the phage major capsid protein demonstrated that phage CP6 was closely related to Campylobacterphage CPt10, CP21, CP20, IBB35, and CP220. CP6 phage exerted good antimicrobial effects on MDR Campylobacterin vitro culture and reduced CFUs of the host cells by up to 1-log compared with the control in artificially contaminated chicken breast meat. Our findings suggested the potential of CP6 phage as a promising antimicrobial agent for combating MDR Campylobacterin food processing.

How people encode numbers in the context of multiple overlapping encoded cues remains unclear. In this study, we explored Chinese finger numbers, which contain both a numerical magnitude cue and a left-right hand cue offered by the expressing hand, to investigate the number encoding mechanism in the context of multiple overlapping cues. Chinese finger numbers expressed by the left or right hand were randomly and centrally presented on a computer screen to participants who were asked to perform a hand classification task (Experiment 1), a magnitude classification task (Experiment 2), a parity classification task (Experiment 3) and a magnitude classification or ring classification task (Experiment 4). We discovered (a) only an association effect between the pressed key and the expressing hand in hand classification and parity classification tasks, (b) the SNARC effect only on the magnitude classification task, (c) the association effect between the pressed key and the expressing hand on the larger, Chinese finger number, magnitude classification task in Experiment 2, and (d) the SNARC effect and the association between the pressed key and the expressing hand were reversed on the ring classification task. From these results, we concluded that people can flexibly choose appropriate number encoding cues and how numbers are encoded in the context of multiple overlapping cues depending on (a) which cognition task individuals perform and (b) the character of the numbers involved.

The results from epidemiologic studies suggest that vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are potentially associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but this association has yet to be confirmed. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis based on a larger sample size to clarify the contribution of VDRgene polymorphisms to MCI and AD susceptibility. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched to obtain studies published before 30 October, 2020. The case group includes MCI and AD patients, and the matched controls were without any cognitive complaints. ORs and 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of the association. Ten case–control studies with 3573 participants and 4 loci of ApaIrs7975232, BsmIrs1544410, FokIrs10735810, and TaqIrs731236 were included in the meta-analysis. The global assessment indicated an association between the BsmIpolymorphism and increased odds of MCI in the allelic model (b compared with B; OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.54), the dominant model (bb + Bb compared with BB; OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.32, 3.16), and the heterozygote model (Bb compared with BB; OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.09). In contrast, the ApaIpolymorphism was protective against MCI in all models. The dominant model (tt + Tt compared with TT; OR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.79) and the homozygous model (tt compared with TT; OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.00) revealed an association between the TaqIpolymorphism of the VDRgene and increased odds of AD, particularly for Caucasian subjects. Egger's linear regression test found no publication bias. This meta-analysis indicated that VDR ApaIand BsmI, and TaqIgene polymorphisms may be important predictors of MCI and AD, respectively, with population discrepancies. More research is needed to further confirm these associations, especially considering gene–gene interactions, gene–environment interactions, and other confounding factors.Statement of Significance: Compared with previous studies on the same subject, this study included more data and found that the dominant and homozygous gene models of a TaqIgene polymorphism may increase the risk of Alzheimer disease. This study investigated the association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and mild cognitive impairment and for the first time indicated that the allele, dominant, and heterozygous gene models of BsmIpolymorphisms are related to an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment.

A 68-year-old woman rapidly developed a highly vascular placoid epibulbar lesion, which proved to be a proliferative fasciitis, which must be distinguished from other entities that feature spindle cells and a myxoid stroma.

Selective cleavage of C–C linkages is the key and a challenge for lignin degradation to harvest value-added aromatic compounds. To this end, electrocatalytic oxidation presents a promising technique by virtue of mild reaction conditions and strong sustainability. However, the existing electrocatalysts (traditional bulk metal and metal oxides) for C–C bond oxidative cleavage suffer from poor selectivity and low product yields. We show for the first time that atomically dispersed Pt–N3C1sites planted on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (Pt1/N-CNTs), constructed via a stepwise polymerization–carbonization–electrostatic adsorption strategy, are highly active and selective toward Cα–Cβbond cleavage in β-O-4 model compounds under ambient conditions. Pt1/N-CNTs exhibits 99% substrate conversion with 81% yield of benzaldehyde, which is exceptional and unprecedented compared with previously reported electrocatalysts. Moreover, Pt1/N-CNTs using only 0.41 wt % Pt achieved a much higher benzaldehyde yield than those of the state-of-the-art bulk Pt electrode (100 wt % Pt) and commercial Pt/C catalyst (20 wt % Pt). Systematic experimental investigation together with density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggests that the superior performance of Pt1/N-CNTs arises from the atomically dispersed Pt–N3C1sites facilitating the formation of a key Cβradical intermediate, further inducing a radical/radical cross-coupling path to break the Cα–Cβbond. This work opens up opportunities in lignin valorization via a green and sustainable electrochemical route with ultralow noble metal usage.

In-situ dynamic reconstruction strategy is developed to construct a heterogeneous FeS@NiS hybrid by cationic Co doping via surface-structure engineering, where the CoFeS@CoNiS is quickly reconstructed to Ni(Co)Fe2O4and further reconstituted to Ni/Co/FeOOH during the charging/discharging process, which could supply abundant active sites and hierarchical porosity, thus benefiting fast charge transfer kinetics, high capacity, and superior structural stability.

Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-b (Cbl-b) is a RING finger E3 ligase that has an important role in effector T cell function, acting as a negative regulator of T cell, natural killer (NK) cell, and B cell activation. A discovery effort toward Cbl-b inhibitors was pursued in which a generative AI design engine, REINVENT, was combined with a medicinal chemistry structure-based design to discover novel inhibitors of Cbl-b. Key to the success of this effort was the evolution of the “Design” phase of the Design-Make-Test-Analyze cycle to involve iterative rounds of an in silico structure-based drug design, strongly guided by physics-based affinity prediction and machine learning DMPK predictive models, prior to selection for synthesis. This led to the accelerated discovery of a potent series of carbamate Cbl-b inhibitors.

Numerous various databases worldwide collate information on the growing number of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that have been extensively characterized in several species. In this Comment, we overview the types and features of lncRNA databases, and discuss their contribution to facing challenges and seizing opportunities in lncRNA research.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fermented Caragana korshinskiifeed on meat quality in three muscle tissues (longissimus dorsi m., triceps brachiiand biceps femoris) in Tan sheep. Sheep were randomly divided into two groups: the control group was fed a basic diet, and the experimental group was fed the basic diet supplemented with 10% fermented Caragana korshinskii. The results for the meat quality characteristics showed that the fermented Caragana korshinskiigroup had significantly greater more crude protein in all three muscles and more ash in the longissimus dorsi m. and triceps brachiithan the control group. The fermented Caragana korshinskiigroup had a significantly higher ultimate pH in the biceps femorisand triceps brachiithan the control group. The fermented Caragana korshinskiigroup had greater inosinic acid content in the longissimus dorsi m. and triceps brachiithan the control group. The fermented Caragana korshinskiigroup had significantly higher levels of Asp, Thr, Glu and Ser in the triceps brachiithan the control group. The fermented Caragana korshinskiigroup had significantly higher levels of C12:0 in the triceps brachii, of C15:0 and C16:0 in the biceps femoris, of C16:1 in the longissimus dorsi m. and triceps brachii, of C18:0 in the triceps brachiithan the control group. Therefore, adding 10% fermented Caragana korshinskiito the diet of the sheep significantly improved the crude protein, ash, inosinic acid, partial amino acid and fatty acid contents as well as the ultimate pH and L*values in Tan sheep muscles.HIGHLIGHTSFermentative caragana korshinskii was partially substituted for corn stalk to feed Tan sheep could significantly improve crude protein, ash, ultimate pH, L* value, inosinic acid, partial amino acid and fat acid species and content of Tan sheep.It was provided scientific basis for the rational utilization of caragana korshinskii resources by studying its effect on meat quality of Tan sheep.Fermented Caragana korshinskii solves the problem of lack of forage resources in China and the imbalance of forage supply in winter and spring in China.

On January 22, 2020, China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB) released the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Resource (2019nCoVR), an open-access information resource for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 2019nCoVR features a comprehensive integration of sequence and clinical information for all publicly available SARS-CoV-2 isolates, which are manually curated with value-added annotations and quality evaluated by an automated in-house pipeline. Of particular note, 2019nCoVR offers systematic analyses to generate a dynamic landscape of SARS-CoV-2 genomic variationsat a global scale. It provides all identified variants and their detailed statistics for each virus isolate, and congregates the quality score, functional annotation, and population frequency for each variant. Spatiotemporal change for each variant can be visualized and historical viral haplotypenetwork maps for the course of the outbreak are also generated based on all complete and high-quality genomes available. Moreover, 2019nCoVR provides a full collection of SARS-CoV-2 relevant literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including published papers from PubMed as well as preprints from services such as bioRxiv and medRxiv through Europe PMC. Furthermore, by linking with relevant databasesin CNCB, 2019nCoVR offers data submission services for raw sequence reads and assembled genomes, and data sharing with NCBI. Collectively, SARS-CoV-2 is updated daily to collect the latest information on genome sequences, variants, haplotypes, and literature for a timely reflection, making 2019nCoVR a valuable resource for the global research community. 2019nCoVR is accessible at https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/.

To construct a high-performance next-generation carbon-based flexible supercapacitor, high porosity, large mass density, and high flexibility are three significant challenging goals. However, one side always affects another. Herein, high-density tetratomic-doped porous composite carbon derived from sustainable biomaterials is achieved via two-step processes of carbonization and acid-washing treatment. The assembled carbon-based electrodes are highly doped with various heteroatoms (B, O, N, and P) for 33.59 atom %, resulting in abundant porosity, high densities, high pseudocapacitive contribution for 84.5%, and superior volumetric capacitive performance. The fabricated flexible electrode exhibits high flexibility, high mass loading (316 mg cm–3), and remarkable tensile strength (44.6 MPa). Generally, the volumetric performance is key and a significant parameter to appraise the electrochemical characteristics of flexible supercapacitors within a limited space. The aqueous symmetric supercapacitor demonstrates a high volumetric energy density and an excellent power density of 2.08 mWh cm–3and 498.4 mW cm–3, respectively, along with 99.6% capacitance retention after 20 000 cycles, making it competitive to even some pseudocapacitors.

•142 sequence types (STs) were identified among 400 Escherichia colifaecal isolates.•Rate of potential pathogenic isolates was 12.5% from healthy animal samples and 17.5% from diarrhoeic samples.•All polymyxin B-resistant E. coliisolates harboured the mcr-1gene.•62 ESBL-producing isolates were identified, with TEM being the predominant ESBL type (82.3%).

An 88-year-old man presented with diplopia, limitation of extraocular movements, and a firm palpable mass in the superolateral orbit. Biopsy revealed a sclerosing signet ring cell carcinoma with histopathologic features mimicking those of a primary signet ring cell (histiocytoid) carcinoma of the eyelid of eccrine or apocrine gland origin, a metastasis from an invasive lobular breast carcinoma or a metastatic diffuse-type gastric carcinoma. An extensive panel of immunohistochemical stains and molecular genetic analyses unequivocally failed to establish a precise diagnosis. Electron microscopy demonstrated features of a primary lacrimal gland lesion with intracytoplasmic lumens and zymogen granules typical of lacrimal secretory pyramidal cells. A thorough initial systemic work-up failed to reveal a primary visceral malignancy. Fifteen months of follow-up have failed to detect the emergence of another primary malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, a tumor with the morphology of the current lesion has not been previously described in the major or accessory lacrimal glands.

Background To evaluate the impact of baseline resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) on direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment response among pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin (PR) failing patients in a real-life setting.Methods Blood samples and clinical data from 171 patients who failed PR treatment were collected. All of them received rescue DAA regimens. RAS identified in the NS3, NS5A and NS5B regions by Sanger sequencing method were compared by DAA regimen and HCV subtypes. We assessed sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) and evaluated the impact of baseline RASs on the effectiveness of DAA regimens in clinical practice.Results The overall SVR12 rates were: 89.47% (153/171), 92.1% (117/127) in patients without cirrhosis versus 81.8% (36/44) in those with cirrhosis, without significant difference (χ2=3.69, P=0.08); 87.9% in genotype (GT)1b patients (n=116) versus 93.8% in GT2a (n=32) versus 90.5% in GT3 (n=21) versus 100% in GT6 (n=2), without significant difference (χ2=1.02, P=0.84); 66.7% in asunaprevir (ASV) + daclatasvir (DCV) regimen (n=24) versus 94.0% in sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimen (n=133), with significant difference (χ2=19.7, P=0.001). Our results showed that the prevalence of NS3, NS5A, NS5B RASs was 45.02%, 39.76% and 71.34%, respectively, and higher incidence of RASs in cirrhosis than without cirrhosis (81.8% versus 63.8%), with a statistically significant difference (χ2=4.92, P=0.03). In the ASV/DCV cohort (n=24), 4 of 11 patients (36.4%) with baseline NS3/NS5A RASs achieved SVR12, whereas 12 of 13 patients (92.3%) without RASs achieved SVR12, with significant difference (χ2=8.39, P=0.008). However, this relationship was not seen in the SOF-based subgroup (94.6% versus 92.7%; χ2=0.18, P=0.7). Treatment failure with DAAs occurred in 10.53% (n=18) of our study population, baseline NS5A substitution including L31M or Y93H (n=13) was the most frequently detected RAS, rescue regimen with velpatasvir (VEL)/SOF + ribavirin (RBV) for 12 weeks or 24 weeks was highly effective in patients who failed previous use of NS5A inhibitors, regardless of GT or cirrhosis.Conclusions Natural RASs are common in Chinese patients failing with PR treatment. High prevalence of clinically relevant RASs (such as L31M, Y93H) supports the appropriateness of HCV resistance tests to properly guide DAA-based therapy. These findings might be used to select salvage therapies.

A 55-year-old woman developed a painless, non-ulcerated left upper eyelid swelling over 6 months. Examination disclosed a fluctuant mass that permitted movement of the eyelid skin over the lesion. A full-thickness eyelid resection contained a well-encapsulated cyst with milky contents that was predominantly located in the tarsus. The cyst’s lining was partially composed of segments of ciliated respiratory-type and non-keratinizing squamous epithelia. Immunohistochemical evaluation with cytokeratins 17, 18, and 19 confirmed the staining pattern of a respiratory-type epithelial cell (whether or not cilia were present in the non-squamous epithelial zones). In the squamous region, entirely different cytokeratin results were obtained vis-a-vis the non-squamous regions of the lining. The current lesion is interpreted as congenital and representing an in situ persistence of embryonic ciliated glandular epithelium that normally exists only transitorily. A more remote possibility is that the lesion was the result of ectopic epithelial cells displaced from an adjacent sinus. A recurrence has not developed during 6 months of follow-up.

Genome reannotationaims for complete and accurate characterization of gene modelsand thus is of critical significance for in-depth exploration of gene function. Although the availability of massive RNA-seqdata provides great opportunities for gene model refinement, few efforts have been made to adopt these precious data in ricegenome reannotation. Here we reannotate the rice (Oryza sativaL. ssp. japonica) genome based on integration of large-scale RNA-seq data and release a new annotation system IC4R-2.0. In general, IC4R-2.0 significantly improves the completeness of gene structure, identifies a number of novel genes, and integrates a variety of functional annotations. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are systematically characterized in the rice genome. Performance evaluation shows that compared to previous annotation systems, IC4R-2.0 achieves higher integrity and quality, primarily attributable to massive RNA-seq data applied in genome annotation. Consequently, we incorporate the improved annotations into the Information Commons for Rice (IC4R), a database integrating multiple omics data of rice, and accordingly update IC4R by providing more user-friendly web interfaces and implementing a series of practical online tools. Together, the updated IC4R, which is equipped with the improved annotations, bears great promise for comparative and functional genomic studies in rice and other monocotyledonous species. The IC4R-2.0 annotation system and related resources are freely accessible at http://ic4r.org/.

Telomeres and telomerase play important roles in the occurrence and development of hypertension. This review was performed to clarify the factors that influence telomere length and telomerase activity in older patients and elucidate the association of these factors with hypertension. A PubMed search and critical review of studies assessing the risk factors underlying the association of hypertension with telomere length and telomerase activity was performed. Telomere length and telomerase activity were found to be associated with hypertension. The factors that influence telomere length and telomerase activity in older patients with hypertension include genetics, demographics, social and environmental factors, chronic disease, psychological factors, and antihypertensive drug treatment. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the association of hypertension with telomere length and telomerase activity may help to reduce the incidence of hypertension.

Objective Volume load in patients undergoing hemodialysis correlates with renal anemia, with reductions in volume load significantly improving hemoglobin levels. We performed a prospective controlled study to assess the effect of post-dialysis dry weight reduction, resulting from the gradual enhancement of ultrafiltration, on renal anemia in this patient population.Methods Sixty-four patients with renal anemia on maintenance hemodialysis were randomized to an ultrafiltration group, in which dry weight was gradually reduced by slightly increasing the ultrafiltration volume while maintaining routine hemodialysis, and a control group, in which patients underwent conventional dialysis while routine ultrafiltration was maintained. After 28 weeks, post-dialysis weight and levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, serum albumin, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation were compared.Results All parameters were similar at baseline between the two groups and remained unchanged at week 28 in the control group compared with baseline. In contrast, the ultrafiltration group showed a significant reduction in post-dialysis weight and C-reactive protein concentration and a significant increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin, albumin, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation.Conclusions Dry weight reduction resulting from enhanced ultrafiltration may improve renal anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Transdermal drug delivery systems represent a critical focus in the pharmaceutics field; however, their use is limited by the fact that many drugs usually pass through the skin with low permeability. Menthol is a common penetration enhancer because of its high penetration-enhancing efficiency and safety. Our research aimed to reveal the penetration-enhancing mechanisms of menthol via a multiscale study.

Background: Diabetes is an independent risk factor of frailty, which increases adverse outcomes in patients with diabetes. Metformin is a common antidiabetic drug in clinical practice. Insulin resistance and chronic inflammation are the two common mechanisms of diabetes and frailty, as well as the main targets of metformin. Research suggested that metformin has anti-aging potential. However, few studies focus on the relationship between metformin and frailty. Thus, we aimed to explore whether metformin was associated with a low risk of frailty and other adverse outcomes in diabetic patients. Methods: A total of 422 patients (≥ 40 years old) with type 2 diabetes were recruited. Frailty was defined by the Fried phenotype. General information and metformin exposure data were collected, and comprehensive geriatric assessment and laboratory tests were performed. Follow-up was conducted after 4.5 years. The primary outcome was the combined endpoint of cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events, readmission, and death. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association of metformin with frailty. Survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The total prevalence of frailty was 19.4% among the participants with diabetes. 13.1% of patients in the metformin group and 28.2% in the non-metformin group had frailty. Metformin was inversely associated with frailty after adjusting for age, sex, duration, blood glucose levels, target organ damage, comorbidities, and polypharmacy. Further longitudinal analysis showed that metformin was also independently associated with a low risk of combined primary outcomes after adjusting for multiple covariables, while frailty was related to an increased risk of the combined primary outcomes. In the non-frail group, metformin was associated with a decreased risk of combined primary outcomes after adjustment for age and sex. However, the protective effect of metformin on adverse outcomes was not found in frail participants with diabetes. Conclusions: Metformin use is associated with a reduced risk of frailty. In addition, frailty may attenuate the protective effects of metformin on adverse outcomes in diabetic patients. The early identification and prevention of frailty progression may help enhance the benefits of metformin in patients with diabetes.

Background: Aging is an inevitable process associated with impairments in multiple organ systems, which increases the risk of comorbidity and disability, and reduces the health-span. Metabolomics is a powerful tool in aging research, which can reflect the characteristics of aging at the level of terminal metabolism, and may contribute to the exploration of aging mechanisms and the formulation of anti-aging strategies. Methods: To identify possible biomarkers and pathways associated with aging using untargeted metabolomics methods, we performed liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based untargeted metabolomics profiling on serum samples from 32 older adults and 32 sex-matched young controls. Results: Metabolite profiling could distinguish the two groups. Among the 349 metabolites identified, 80—including lysophospholipids whose levels gradually decline—are possible candidate aging biomarkers. Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation and biosynthesis were important pathways in aging, with reduced levels of l-isoleucine (r= − 0.30, p= 0.017) and l-leucine (r= − 0.32, p = 0.010) observed in older adults. Conclusions: We preliminarily revealed the metabolite changes associated with aging in Chinese adults. Decreases in mitochondrial membrane-related lysophospholipids and dysfunction of branched-chain amino acid metabolism were determined to be the characteristics and promising research targets for aging.

The clinical appearance and behavior of a small, superficial, fibrous epibulbar tumor are described, and the reasons for designating it as a benign storiform fibrous tumor rather than as a fibrous histiocytoma are presented along with a comprehensive differential diagnostic approach.

Large cell acanthoma (LCA) was first described as a lesion on sun-exposed skin. All LCAs feature keratinocytes twice the size of normal cells (cytomegaly). Although infrequently diagnosed in the skin, it has been even more rarely described by ophthalmic pathologists in the eyelid skin and the conjunctiva. This report describes the third case of a conjunctival epithelial LCA, with the first published clinical photograph highlighting its leukoplakic and well-circumscribed character, as well as the most thorough analysis of the immunohistochemical features of this lesion. It is contrasted with squamous dysplasias and papillomas of the conjunctiva. A review of previous conjunctival LCA lesions discloses frequent recurrences after initial surgery and the remote but real potential for squamous dysplastic transformation. Immunohistochemical stains for certain cytokeratins, p53, and Ki-67 (proliferation index) will in the future be particularly helpful in establishing an early and accurate diagnosis of conjunctival LCA.

Ophiocordyceps sinensisis well known as a traditional Chinese medicine and has widely been used for over 2,000 years to stimulate immune system, decrease blood pressure and to inhibit tumor growth. While miRNAs are increasingly recognized for their roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in animals and plants, miRNAs in fungi were less studied until the discovery of microRNA-like RNA (milRNA). High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches were used to identify conserved and novel milRNAs in O. sinensis. 40 conserved milRNAs were identified, while 23 pre-miRNA candidates encoding 31 novel milRNAs were predicted. Furthermore, the potential target genes of milRNAs in human were predicted and gene ontology analysis was applied to these genes. Enrichment analysis of GO-represented biological process showed that target genes of both conserved and novel milRNAs are involved in development, metabolic and immune processes, indicating the potential roles of milRNAs of O. sinensisin pharmacological effects as health food and traditional Chinese medicine. This study is the first report on genome-wide analysis of milRNAs in O. sinensisand it provides a useful resource to further study the potential roles of milRNAs as active components of O. sinensisin health food or traditional Chinese medicine.

To investigate the prevalence and related factors of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older residents in Beijing, China. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 2017 older individuals aged ≥ 60 years from Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging were included in this study. Information on demographic characteristics, life style, chronic disease and geriatric syndromes was collected. Cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 13.6% in community-dwelling older residents in Beijing. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was higher in women than it was in men and in rural areas than it was in urban areas, and increased with age. Logistic regression showed that older age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.496–3.033, P< 0.001], illiteracy (OR = 1.200–2.434, P= 0.003), low income (OR = 1.268–3.906, P= 0.005), less social participation (OR = 1.011–2.147, P= 0.044), stroke (OR = 1.410–3.305, P< 0.001), hearing loss (OR = 1.231–2.295, P= 0.001), depression (OR = 1.115–2.385, P= 0.012) and disability (OR = 2.315–4.681, P< 0.001) were independent risk factors for cognitive impairment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment among the older adults in Beijing was high. More attention should be paid to the identification of and intervention for factors influencing cognitive impairment, and health education should be carried out to improve the quality of life of the older adults.

An enucleated globe was submitted from an outside hospital to the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory for evaluation. There was a minimal amount of accompanying clinical history. Histopathologic examination revealed a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the choroid. The determination of the origin of the tumor proved to be challenging based on the lack of a definitive systemic diagnosis. Initial suspicions that the tumor may represent a breast carcinoma were disproved when immunohistochemical biomarkers for breast carcinoma were negative. Similarly, typical markers of colon adenocarcinoma were not expressed. Positive immunostaining with a newer immunohistochemical marker, SATB2, and defects in DNA mismatch repair helped to confirm that the ocular metastasis was of colonic origin. Further clinical evaluation including imaging studies established that the patient had a primary colonic adenocarcinoma with widespread systemic metastases. The diagnostic utility and biologic significance of these latest immunohistochemical biomarkers for colon cancer are reviewed. Clinicians are encouraged to provide detailed clinical histories with the tissue specimens to enable the discovery of undetected “silent primaries” at the time an ocular metastasis develops and is discovered.