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Black college students continue to face the specter of anti-Blackness which creates additional barriers to success and flourishing in higher education. This study investigates how instructors in higher education can provide racial equity to Black students in AANAPISI/HSI classrooms through counterspaces. We use culturally relevant pedagogy to investigate the experiences of 21 Black college students at an AANAPISI/HSI to understand better how higher education instructors can utilize counterspaces, places where Black college students can challenge dominant discourses and create a collegial learning environment. We identified three counterspace themes: (1) Mitigate Eurocentric Pedagogy, (2) Employ Black and Critical Scholarship, and (3) Foster Black Excellence Zones. Implications provide educators with ways to enact meaningful support both academically and socially to Black-identifying students in college classrooms.

Abstract Ferns belong to species-rich group of land plants, encompassing more than 11,000 extant species, and are crucial for reflecting terrestrial ecosystem changes. However, our understanding of their biodiversity hotspots, particularly in Southeast Asia, remains limited due to scarce genetic data. Despite harboring around one-third of the world’s fern species, less than 6% of Southeast Asian ferns have been DNA-sequenced. In this study, we addressed this gap by sequencing 1,496 voucher-referenced and expert-identified fern samples from (sub)tropical Asia, spanning Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, to retrieve their rbcL and trnL-F sequences. This DNA barcode collection of Asian ferns encompasses 956 species across 152 genera and 34 families, filling major gaps in fern biodiversity understanding and advancing research in systematics, phylogenetics, ecology and conservation. This dataset significantly expands the Fern Tree of Life to over 6,000 species, serving as a pivotal and global reference for worldwide barcoding identification of ferns.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the decision of patients with severe knee osteoarthritis, who are covered by universal health insurance, to undergo total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, as recommended by orthopedic physicians. A questionnaire survey was used to collect participants’ demographics, socio-economic status, medical history, baseline Oxford Knee Score (OKS), and EuroQol-5 Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D). We included 704 patients with severe knee osteoarthritis, of which 487 underwent TKR (surgery group), while 217 did not (non-surgery group). Descriptive statistics was used to compare the characteristics of patients in the two groups, while logistic regression identified the factors influencing patients’ choice for TKR. Patients aged 75–79 or older were less likely to undergo TKR; those with poorer OKS (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.79–0.86) and lower EQ-5D VAS scores (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99) were more likely to undergo TKR. Household income did not significantly affect the decision of the patients to undergo surgery. In conclusion, for patients with severe knee osteoarthritis, the impact of joint discomfort on function and quality of life is the primary factor influencing their decision to undergo TKR, while economic factors do not have a significant impact under the provision of universal health insurance coverage.

AIM: To explore whether unilateral herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) can cause morphological changes of bilateral meibomian glands (MGs) based on artificial intelligence (AI) analytical system. METHODS: In the retrospective study, 29 patients with unilateral HSK and 29 participants matched in terms of age and sex were included as control group. Meibographic images of the upper eyelid using Keratograph 5M and assessed ocular surface parameters including tear meniscus height and tear break-up time. MG density and vagueness values were automatically analyzed and calculated using an AI analytical system. We compared the differences between the affected and the contralateral unaffected eyes in HSK patients, and the normal control eyes. We employed either the paired t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare significant difference between the affected and unaffected eyes in HSK patients or between the HSK group and control group. RESULTS: The MG density was 0.19±0.09 in the HSK-affected eye and 0.18±0.07 in contralateral unaffected eye, which had no significant difference (P=0.616). The MG density between the affected eye with HSK and the normal control group was statistically significant (P=0.028). There was a significant difference in MG density between the contralateral unaffected eye and the normal control group (P=0.012). However, no significant difference in vagueness value was observed between the eye with HSK and the control group or between HSK eye and contralateral eye. CONCLUSION: The MG density between the HSK-affected eye and the contralateral unaffected eye don't significantly differ, whereas there is a significant decrease in the HSK group compared to that of the normal participants. Unilateral HSV keratitis may suffer from bilateral changes of MG morphology indicating bilateral dry eye. Therefore, the fellow eye of patients with unilateral HSK should be considered a potential case of MG dysfunction, necessitating early treatment for bilateral dry eye in the clinic.

A gastric GIST which causes gastroduodenal intussusception is rare. A Pubmed search only identified 21 published cases of gastroduodenal intussusception due to gastric GIST. Only 2 of them mentioned ultrasound without further analysis. Here, we report a case of gastroduodenal intussusception due to a gastric GIST with multiple imaging especially ultrasound. A 72-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to hospital because of epigastric pain, black stool lasting and occasional vomiting for 2 months. She underwent abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and contrast enhanced CT in turn. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a hypoechoic, medium-sized lesion beside pancreatic head. Endoscopy showed a submucosal lesion of gastric fundus overlapping into duodenum. The lesion manifested slight enhancement in the arterial phase on enhanced CT scans. The patient underwent laparoscopic exploration and partial gastrectomy. The histological examination revealed a low-risk gastric GIST of spindle-shaped cell type.

The warm-temperate coastal waters of Qingdao, including Aoshan Bay, Jiaozhou Bay and Lingshan Bay, serve as crucial spawning and feeding grounds for diverse fishery organisms and as important fishing grounds. These areas have experienced significant ecological shifts due to escalated human activities, marine pollution, and increased fishing pressure, leading to changes in fishery resources towards miniaturization and domination by low economic value species. To understand the characteristics of the structural changes of the fishery resources in the coastal waters of Qingdao, the present study analyzed the composition, community structure, ecosystem stability, and biodiversity of fishery resources within the coastal waters of Qingdao, based on the data from the fishery surveys conducted in the summer (July-August) and winter (November-December) of 2022. The keystone species were identified using a food web topology, which is crucial for regulating marine ecosystems. A total of 92 and 86 fishery species were collected in the summer and winter with a notable replacement rate of 42.5% respectively. Specifically, Metapenaeopsis dalei is the predominant species in both seasons. The study also highlighted the seasonal dominance of Enedrias fangi and Hexagrammos otakii in summer and Loligo spp., Trachypenaeus curvirostris, Charybdis bimaculate and Syngnathus acus in winter. A discernible shift was observed in the structure of fishery resources, with the increasing dominance of invertebrates and a trend toward miniaturization and devaluation across fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. In terms of biodiversity indices, the Shannon-Weaver (H') and Pielou evenness (J') indices were significantly higher in summer, whereas the Margalef richness index (D) was higher in winter, indicating normal ecosystem diversity and demonstrating stable seasonal horizontal structures and consistent community compositions. Notable ecological improvement was observed over the past decade, benefiting from the implementation of measures to restore fishery resources. The food web topology for the ecosystem, developed based on the feeding relationships of the local feeding relationships, incorporated 26–29 major species (S) and 116–165 feeding relationships, indicating substantial seasonal variations. The node density (Dd) in summer was greater (0.22 > 0.18), whereas other indices i.e., average path length (1.17 < 1.27), interspecific connectance (C) (0.17 < 0.20) and clustering coefficient (Cl) (0.18 < 0.25) were lower than those in winter. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the topological index ranking (D, Dout, Din, BC, CC, IC, TI1, TI3, TI5, K, Kb, Kt, F, and DF), Lophius litulon and Metapenaeopsis dalei were identified as key species, with the former being a primary predator and the latter an important prey species. Overall, the food web of the coastal waters of Qingdao exhibited relatively high connectivity and complexity, presenting strong stability and resilience against disturbances and thereby ensuring the provision of vital ecosystem services. Furthermore the role of keystone species must be fully considered in the subsequent conservation of fishery resources and adaptive management to achieve precise management. The findings of this study provide scientific data and knowledge for understanding the structure of the marine food web and biodiversity conservation in this area.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal illness caused by a mutated feline coronavirus (FCoV). This disease is characterized by its complexity, resulting from systemic infection, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), and challenges in accessing effective therapeutics. Extract derived from Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek (VRE) exhibits various pharmacological effects, including antiviral activity. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral potential of VRE against FCoV, addressing the urgent need to advance the treatment of FIP. We explored the anti-FCoV activity, antiviral mechanism, and combinational application of VRE by means of in vitro antiviral assays. Our findings reveal that VRE effectively inhibited the cytopathic effect induced by FCoV, reduced viral proliferation, and downregulated spike protein expression. Moreover, VRE blocked FCoV in the early and late infection stages and was effective under in vitro ADE infection. Notably, when combined with VRE, the polymerase inhibitor GS-441524 or protease inhibitor GC376 suppressed FCoV more effectively than monotherapy. In conclusion, this study characterizes the antiviral property of VRE against FCoV in vitro, and VRE possesses therapeutic potential for FCoV treatment.

Abstract In August 2022, unprecedented and long-lasting extreme heatwaves attacked the Northern Hemisphere, with simultaneous record-breaking surface air temperature (SAT) in Eastern Europe (EE), Southern China (SC), and Western North America (WNA). However, the underlying physical mechanisms of these concurrent heatwaves, and the extent to which they are driven by anthropogenic forcing versus internal variability remain unclear. Our analysis using the HadGEM3-A-N216 large ensemble attribution model reveals that anthropogenic forcing is responsible for approximately 50% of the heatwaves in EE and SC, and over 80% in WNA. Furthermore, an internally-generated circumglobal atmospheric wave train is identified as a key circulation factor facilitating these simultaneous heatwaves. Observations and numerical simulations indicate that extreme warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Barents Sea, along with extreme cold SST anomalies in the tropical central Pacific, are critical in the formation and maintenance of this atmospheric teleconnection wave train. Under future high-emission scenarios, the influence of the internally-generated atmospheric teleconnection on concurrent heatwaves may be enhanced, particularly in WNA.

Abstract Background Pathogenic infections can significantly impact the health of livestock. Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) have been used in feed to enhance growth performance and disease control. However, concerns regarding antibiotic resistance have led to the exploration of traditional herbal medicine as a natural alternative, guided by the principle of medicine-food homology. The Taguchi method was employed to optimize the culture formula for cordycepin production, an active component of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris). The influences of C. militaris supplementing solid-state fermentation (CMSSF) in feed on the growth performance and immune responses of grower pigs were evaluated in the present study. Results The C. militaris ethanol extract (CME) displayed potent free radical scavenging activity against 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) after undergoing fermentation. Additionally, the antibacterial testing revealed that CME effectively inhibits the growth of common pig pathogens such as Glaesserella parasuis, Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus hyicus, and Streptococcus suis. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated intestinal porcine enterocyte cell line (IPEC-J2), CME significantly suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, higher antioxidative activity was detected as indicated by elevated concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in pig serum. The levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgA, and IgG antibodies, as well as classical swine fever virus (CSFV) antibodies (S/P ratio) in serum were all increased. Growth performance of pigs fed with dietary CMSSF supplementation was improved in comparison with the control. Conclusions Results demonstrated that CMSSF has the potential to be used as a natural growth promoter to enhance immunity, antioxidation, as well as overall health and growth performance of grower pigs.

Abstract Background Weight control behaviors are commonly observed among adolescents and emerging adults. However, the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in both these age groups remains an imperative health concern. Adolescents and emerging adults represent the most vulnerable groups facing the health burden of obesity. Methods This study was designed to articulate the underlying beliefs concerning weight control behaviors among adolescents and emerging adults living with obesity by an elicitation qualitative study based on the integrated behavioral model (IBM). Semi-structured and individual interviewing was utilized. Eligible participants were recruited during September and November 2020. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive content analysis approach. Results Twenty-seven participants, comprising 12 adolescents and 15 emerging adults living with obesity, were interviewed to explore their beliefs and strategies regarding weight control behaviors. Emerging adults were more likely to engage in extreme weight control methods. Three overarching themes emerged across both age groups: eating-centered concerns, focus on physical appearance, and social interference. Significant differences were noted while adolescents and emerging adults shared some common beliefs. Emerging adults expressed more economic concerns about weight control, whereas adolescents identified food restriction as the primary barrier to their weight management efforts. These findings highlight the nuanced differences in beliefs about the weight control practice of these two developmental groups. Conclusion More beliefs-tailored and theoretically driven interventions are needed for these two unique age groups. Healthcare providers should address dietary and economic concerns while engaging adolescents and emerging adults in weight management. Future obesity interventions should incorporate shared and unique beliefs identified in each group to promote healthy weight management effectively.

The concoction process is a vital technique for reducing the toxicity and enhancing the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines. To examine the alterations in the chemical compositions of Aurantii Fructus before and after stir-frying in diverse origins, a method of internal extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (iEESI-MS) was developed. It combines the advantages of internal extraction and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and is capable of detecting target molecules in complex samples with highly efficient and sensitive manner. iEESI-MS was employed to directly analyze the Aurantii Fructus samples before and after processing without complex sample pretreatment, which can obtain their fingerprints and identify the principal difference substances present in the samples before and after processing. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used for data handling. The aforementioned screened main differences in substances were subjected to analysis in a variety of origins. The experimental conditions were optimized including the temperature of ion transport tube, spray voltage, flow rate of the extractant, proportion of methanol spray solution and distance from the spray port to the mass spectrometry port, etc. The results showed that a total of 35 substances are identified in the Aurantii Fructus samples, including flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, volatile oils, and amino acids. The chemical composition of Aurantii Fructus exhibites notable differences before and after preparation. Flavonoids constitute approximately two-thirds of the identified distinct compounds, and serve as crucial quality markers for differentiating the origin and quality of Aurantii Fructus. The results of the human heat map analysis of Aurantii Fructus from disparate origins in Hunan, Sichuan and Jiangxi demonstrated that the variation of the 12 distinct substances present in Aurantii Fructus from different origins is considerable. This indicated that the contents of these 12 substances are inconsistent among the different origins, which is related to the disparate quality of Aurantii Fructus from different origins in terms of its medicinal effects. This study provides a novel approach to ambient mass spectrometry for the quality identification of herbs such as Aurantii Fructus and the material basis of efficacy change before and after processing.

Abstract Introduction Hypoxemia is a common complication of sedation. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation (SJOV) in preventing hypoxemia during sedative procedures. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared SJOV with conventional oxygen therapy in sedated patients were searched in five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], and Google Scholar) from their inception to March 2024. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who developed hypoxia (SpO2

Abstract Background The efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating myocardial infarction (MI) remains inconsistent, which limits their therapeutic applications. Therefore, exploring the mechanism for the inconsistent efficacy of MSCs and identification the criteria for screening MSCs are important for improving the efficiency of MSCs. Methods Mouse model after MI was utilized to test the role of MSCs from different donors and the functional subpopulation in improving cardiac function. Heterogeneity of MSCs was identified using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of MSC-GY. GSEA and Scissor analyses were used to find the functional subpopulations of MSCs that promote angiogenesis. The role of functional subpopulations in promoting angiogenesis was verified by detecting the secretory proteins, the ratio of N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulations in MSCs, and the tube formation, migration, and proliferation of HUVECs after treatment with conditional medium (CM) derived from different MSCs. Results We found that umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) from different donors have varied therapeutic efficacy in MI mice and UC-MSCs with higher therapeutic effectiveness exhibited the most potent pro-angiogenic effects by secreting elevated levels of angiogenesis-related proteins, such as MYDGF, VEGFA, and FGF2. ScRNA-seq of 10,463 UC-MSCs revealed that the N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulation was closely associated with pro-angiogenic effects, and the ratio of this cell subpopulation was positively correlated with the angiogenic potential of MSCs. We also found that the N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulation was the functional subpopulation of MSCs in improving cardiac function of MI mice. Conclusions Our study identified that the N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulation was the functional subpopulation of MSCs in treating MI, which was essential for the development and utilization of MSCs in MI treatment.

Abstract Background Infertility is a reproductive health problem that attracts worldwide attention. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major cause of female infertility and patients with obesity and PCOS are particularly common in clinical practice. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) are a functional core in cells that regulate gene expression, transcription, and chromatin modification processes, and participate in epigenetics, cell cycle, and cell differentiation. LncRNAs are assumed to play a role in the occurrence and development of PCOS; however, their specific mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Methods High-throughput sequencing technology has been used to sequence and analyze lncRNAs in exosomes from the follicular fluid of patients with obesity and PCOS and those who underwent assisted reproductive therapy owing to male factors. Specific expression profiles of patients with obesity and PCOS were obtained and functional information analysis combined with a literature review were performed to screen for differentially expressed lncRNAs, which were validated using real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that compared to normal patients with male infertility, patients with obesity and PCOS had a total of 20 lncRNAs with significant expression differences in follicular fluid exosomes. Among them, 17 lncRNAs were upregulated and three were downregulated. Functional analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in “cell metabolism,” “cell adhesion,” and other aspects: related gene pathways mainly involved Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, spliceosomes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and ribosomes. Verification of differentially expressed lncRNAs revealed that the expression of lncRNAs TPT1-AS1, PTOV1-AS1, PTPRG-AS1, and SNHG14 in follicular fluid exosomes was consistent with the sequencing results. Conclusion A preliminary differential expression profile of lncRNAs in exosomes of patients with obesity and PCOS was established by transcriptomic analysis of these individuals. Our bioinformatics analysis results may be applicable to further study of the impact mechanism involving obesity and PCOS. These differentially expressed lncRNAs maybe served as potential biomarkers for in-depth studies of the occurrence, development on Follicle quality and function for patients with PCOS in the future.

Introduction: Neurological dysfunction induced by fluoride contamination is still one of major concern worldwide. Recently, neuroprotective roles of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) focusing on mitochondrial function have been highlighted. However, what roles SIRT1 exerts and the underlying regulative mechanisms, remain largely uncharacterized in such neurotoxic process of fluoride. Objectives: We aimed at evaluating the regulatory roles of SIRT1 in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and Sprague-Dawley rats with fluoride treatment, and to further identify potential miRNA directly targeting SIRT1. Methods: Pharmacological suppression of SIRT1 by nicotinamide (NIC) and promotion of SIRT1 by adenovirus (Ad-SIRT1) or resveratrol (RSV) were employed to assess the effects of SIRT1 in mitochondrial dysfunction induced by fluoride. Also, miRNAs profiling and bioinformatic prediction were used to screen the miRNAs which can regulate SIRT1 directly. Further, chemical mimic or inhibitor of chosen miRNA was applied to validate the modulation of chosen miRNA. Results: NIC exacerbated defects in mitochondrial network dynamics and cytochrome c (Cyto C) release-driven apoptosis, contributing to fluoride-induced neuronal death. In contrast, the ameliorative effects were observed when overexpressing SIRT1 by Ad-SIRT1 in vitro or RSV in vivo. More importantly, miR-708-3p targeting SIRT1 directly was identified. And interestingly, moreover, treatment with chemically modified miR-708-3p mimic aggravated, while miR-708-3p inhibitor suppressed fluoride-caused neuronal death. Further confirmedly, overexpressing SIRT1 effectively neutralized miR-708-3p mimic-worsened fluoride neuronal death via correcting mitochondrial network dynamics. On contrary, inhibiting SIRT1 counteracted the promotive effects of miR-708-3p inhibitor against neurotoxic response by fluoride through aggravating abnormal mitochondrial network dynamics. Conclusion: These data underscore the functional importance of SIRT1 to mitochondrial network dynamics in neurotoxic process of fluoride and further screen a novel unreported neuronal function of miR-708-3p as an upstream regulator of targeting SIRT1, which has important theoretical implications for a potential therapeutic and preventative target for treatment of neurotoxic progression by fluoride.

Abstract Background Distal radius fractures are highly prevalent among older adults. Ulnar styloid fractures frequently accompany distal radius fractures, raising concerns about treatment outcomes due to the risk of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability. This study investigated the necessity of surgical intervention (open reduction internal fixation; ORIF) for distal radius fractures in very old patients with coexisting ulnar styloid fractures. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis of 96 patients aged ≥ 80 years with AO classification 23-A2 to 23-B3 distal radius fractures with concomitant ulnar styloid fracture between 2019 and 2022 was performed. Patients were excluded if they were aged 0.05). Conclusions Our findings suggest that very old patients with distal radius fracture accompanied by ulnar styloid fractures may benefit from ORIF to achieve optimal long-term functional recovery.

Abstract The most common mutation in southern Chinese individuals with late-onset multiple acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD; a fatty acid metabolism disorder) is c.250G > A (p.Ala84Thr) in the electron transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase gene (ETFDH). Various phenotypes, including episodic weakness or rhabdomyolysis, exercise intolerance, and peripheral neuropathy, have been reported in both muscular and neuronal contexts. Our cellular models of MADD exhibit neurite growth defects and excessive apoptosis. Given that axonal degeneration and neuronal apoptosis may be regulated by B-cell lymphoma (BCL)-2 family proteins and mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization through the activation of proapoptotic molecules, we measured the expression levels of proapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins (e.g., BCL-2-associated X protein and p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis), cytochrome c, caspase-3, and caspase-9 in NSC-34 cells carrying the most common ETFDH mutation. The levels of these proteins were higher in the mutant cells than in the wide-type cells. Subsequent treatment of the mutant cells with coenzyme Q10 downregulated activated protein expression and mitigated neurite growth defects. These results suggest that the activation of the BCL-2/mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization/apoptosis pathway promotes apoptosis in cellular models of MADD and that coenzyme Q10 can reverse this effect. Our findings aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies for reducing axonal degeneration and neuronal apoptosis in MADD.

Due to anthropogenic and long-term geological factors, radionuclide leakage may occur in deep geological repositories of radioactive waste when groundwater infiltrates a failed waste canister. The released radionuclides can migrate to near and far field regions through groundwater, posing a serious threat to the ecological environment and human health. As a consequence, knowledge of radionuclide speciation in groundwater is essential for understanding their transport behavior. Uranium is one of the key elements of significant concern for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In this study, the uranium species in groundwater from boreholes BS03(pH=9.43) and BS05(pH=7.51) located at the Beishan area(Gansu province) were calculated by the hydrogeochemical software PHREEQC(version 3). The effects of pH, temperature, and initial uranium concentrations on ternary uranyl species are presented. The results indicate that UO2CO3(aq) and (UO2)2CO3(OH)\begin{document}$_3^- $\end{document} are the dominant species in a mildly acidic condition, while CaUO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{2-} $\end{document} and Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) are the major species in neutral and weakly alkaline conditions. In BS05 groundwater, the concentration of Ca2+(5.11 mmol/L) is about three times higher than that of Mg2+(1.58 mmol/L). However, the concentration of calcium uranyl carbonate is estimated to be about 250 times higher than that of magnesium uranyl carbonate(MgUO2(CO3)\begin{document}$ _3^{2-}$\end{document}). With an increase of temperature, Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq), CaUO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{2-} $\end{document} and UO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{4-} $\end{document} concentrations progressively diminish. At uranium concentrations between 4×10−4 and 1×10−1 mmol/L (25 ℃), the dominant uranium species, in order of decreasing concentration are: Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq)(x＞62%)＞CaUO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{2-} $\end{document}(x≈35%)＞MgUO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{2-} $\end{document}/UO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{4-} $\end{document}(x≈1%), irrespective of the concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. In the near-neutral and slightly alkaline conditions, the results suggest that the formation of neutral Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) and anionic CaUO2(CO3)\begin{document}$_3^{2-} $\end{document} in Beishan groundwater reduces the distribution coefficient between uranium and environmental geo-medium, thereby enhancing the mobility and migration potential of uranium. The research findings contribute to understanding the transport and release mechanisms of uranium, as well as interactions between uranium species and engineered and natural barriers.

Developing adaptive skills poses a significant challenge for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Personal hygiene, including hand-washing, was particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic. Video self-modeling (VSM) is an effective strategy for teaching adaptive skills due to its inherent individualization nature. However, the production and implementation of VSM face certain barriers. To address this issue, the present study employed an innovative approach termed iVSM, which utilizes the head-swapping technique to generate self-modeling videos. To evaluate the efficacy of iVSM in teaching hand-washing skills, a single-subject multiple probe design was employed across three preschool children with ASD. The findings indicated that all participants successfully acquired the targeted skill, with two of them achieving mastery following a single intervention session. The implications of these findings underscore the potential of this novel approach to strike a balance between individualization and feasibility, thereby enhancing the broader implementation of VSM within the context of inclusive education. Furthermore, future studies can focus on the comparative research and explore more applications.

Abstract Background Improving the quality of medical care in hospitals is a major priority for all departments. The early warning score (EWS) trend is an effective early risk stratification tool that reflects the changes in patient condition and allows better assessment of deterioration risk. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether utilizing the trend of the modified early warning score (MEWS) level within 4 h of a patient's arrival in the emergency department (ED) could identify patients at risk of clinical deterioration at 8 h after arrival in the ED. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study of non‐trauma patients who had at least two vital sign measurements (Glasgow Coma Scale score, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature) within 8 h of arriving in the ED. The primary outcome was patients who had MEWS ≥ 4 at 8 h after arrival in the ED. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis using age, sex, MEWS level at arrival in the ED, MEWS level within 4 h after arrival in the ED, and MEWS level trend over time. Results Among the 5825 patients, 680 (11.7%) were at risk of deterioration at 8 h after arrival in the ED. To predict the risk of deteriorating conditions (MEWS ≥ 4), utilizing the MEWS level trend within 4 h of arrival in the ED was more effective in identifying patients at risk of deterioration after 8 h of arrival in the ED compared to using a single MEWS value during the ED stay. The corresponding areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.756 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.734–0.778) and 0.846 (95% CI 0.827–0.865), respectively (p

Abstract The vacancy effect in quantum spin liquid (QSL) has been extensively studied. A finite density of random vacancies in the Kitaev model can lead to a pileup of low-energy density of states (DOS), which is generally experimentally determined by a scaling behavior of thermodynamic or magnetization quantities. Here, we report detailed muon spin relaxation (μSR) results of H3LiIr2O6, a Kitaev QSL candidate with vacancies. The absence of magnetic order is confirmed down to 80 mK, and the spin fluctuations are found to be persistent at low temperatures. Intriguingly, the time-field scaling law of longitudinal-field (LF)-μSR polarization is observed down to 0.1 K. This indicates a dynamical scaling, whose critical exponent of 0.46 is excellently consistent with the scaling behavior of specific heat and magnetization data. All the observations point to the finite DOS with the form $$N(E)\sim {E}^{-\nu }$$ N ( E ) ∼ E − ν , which is expected for the Kitaev QSL in the presence of vacancies. Our μSR study provides a dynamical fingerprint of the power-law low-energy DOS and introduces a crucial new insight into the vacancy effect in QSL.

Abstract Background Although gray matter (GM) volume alterations have been extensively documented in previous voxel-based morphometry studies on vestibular migraine (VM), little is known about the impact of this disease on the topological organization of GM morphological networks. This study investigated the altered network patterns of the GM connectome in patients with VM. Methods In this study, 55 patients with VM and 57 healthy controls (HCs) underwent structural T1-weighted MRI. GM morphological networks were constructed by estimating interregional similarity in the distributions of regional GM volume based on the Kullback–Leibler divergence measure. Graph-theoretical metrics and interregional morphological connectivity were computed and compared between the two groups. Partial correlation analyses were performed between significant GM connectome features and clinical parameters. Logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) classifiers were used to examine the performance of significant GM connectome features in distinguishing patients with VM from HCs. Results Compared with HCs, patients with VM exhibited increased clustering coefficient and local efficiency, as well as reduced nodal degree and nodal efficiency in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG). Furthermore, we identified one connected component with decreased morphological connectivity strength, and the involved regions were mainly located in the STG, temporal pole, prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, cingulum, fusiform gyrus, and cerebellum. In the VM group, several connections in the identified connected component were correlated with clinical measures (i.e., symptoms and emotional scales); however, these correlations did not survive multiple comparison corrections. A combination of significant graph- and connectivity-based features allowed single-subject classification of VM versus HC with significant accuracy of 77.68%, 77.68%, and 72.32% for the LR, SVM, and RF models, respectively. Conclusion Patients with VM had aberrant GM connectomes in terms of topological properties and network connections, reflecting potential dizziness, pain, and emotional dysfunctions. The identified features could serve as individualized neuroimaging markers of VM.

Abstract Carbon sinks in the tropical rainforests are restricting the global warming to attain unprecedented heights. However, deforestation and climate change is switching them to a net carbon source at some of the deforested patches. Using machine learning algorithm we predict that more than 50% of the tropical rainforests will undergo rapid “Savannisation”/transformation by the end of 21st century under high emission scenarios. Climate change projects ‘El Niño-like’ warming condition, which decreases precipitation in the rainforests and favors atmospheric dryness. In Central Amazonia vegetation degradation saturates the carbon sink and more than 25% of the rainforests will transform into a net carbon source due to increase in soil microbial respiration. This transition will accelerate if Eastern Pacific/Global temperature warms beyond 1.5◦K/2.3◦K (by 2050’s) and will undergo a steeper transit by ~2075 (2.45◦K/3.8◦K warming). This alteration will exacerbate global warming and has consequences for policies that are intended to stabilize Earth’s climate.

Developing adaptive skills poses a significant challenge for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Personal hygiene, including hand-washing, was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Video self-modeling (VSM) is an effective strategy for teaching adaptive skills due to its inherent individualization nature. However, the production and implementation of VSM face certain barriers. To address this issue, the present study employed an innovative approach termed iVSM, which utilizes the head-swapping technique to generate self-modeling videos. To evaluate the efficacy of iVSM in teaching hand-washing skills, a single-subject multiple probe design was employed across three preschool children with ASD. The findings indicated that all participants successfully acquired the targeted skill, with two of them achieving mastery following a single intervention session. The implications of these findings underscore the potential of this novel approach to strike a balance between individualization and feasibility, thereby enhancing the broader implementation of VSM within the context of inclusive education. Furthermore, future studies can focus on the comparative research and explore more applications.

Scholarly attention to foreign language learning boredom (FLLB) has surged in recent years. However, little is known about L2 learners' online FLLB experience prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To fill this gap, the present mixed-methods study explores the conceptual structure and sources of FLLB in an online learning environment. A corpus of 348 Chinese as second language (CSL) learners participated in a questionnaire survey and 10 of them attended follow-up interviews. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure underlying CSL learners' FLLB: classroom boredom, content boredom and teacher/learner boredom. Qualitative data enriched our understanding of the three-factor construct of FLLB and boredom sources in online classes. Results were discussed with reliance on the control-value theory of achievement emotions, previous findings, as well as their theoretical and practical implications for L2 teaching and learning. The newly found three-factor structure coincides with the long-lasting '3T' difficulties ['3T' difficulties refer to three major concerns in teaching CSL. They are connected with how to implement effective teaching strategies, develop high-quality teaching materials and build qualified and capable teaching teams] in International Chinese education; therefore, it inspires CSL researchers and teachers to attach more importance to the negative emotion of FLLB in the future.

Learning strategies have been recognized as important predictors of mathematical achievement. In recent studies, it has been found that Asian students use combined learning strategies, primarily including metacognitive strategies, rather than rote memorization. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is only one prior study including South Korea in investigations of the relationship between learning strategies and mathematics achievement in PISA 2012. In that study, students were classified into groups using specific learning strategies, and their mathematics achievements were compared. There are two research gaps: (1) previous studies insufficiently explored how students use learning strategies in the South Korean education system, and (2) there is little research applying the nominal response model (NRM) to explore the association between learning strategy use and mathematics achievement in PISA 2012. Thus, the present study explores to what extent the NRM fits the data compared to the generalized partial credit model (GPCM). We created a learning strategy score from the NRM for South Korean students in PISA 2012 (N = 3,310). Then, using correlation analysis and quadratic regression analysis, we identified linear and nonlinear relations between learning strategy scores from the NRM and mathematics achievement. The findings indicated that (1) NRM was a better fit for creating learning strategy scores than GPCM, (2) the average correlation coefficient between the learning strategy score and mathematics achievement was 0.18 (p < 0.05), and (3) for the curvilinear relationship between the learning strategy score and mathematics achievement, the standardized quadratic coefficient was -0.090 (p < 0.001). Overall, the NRM represents an appropriate model for explaining the relationship between learning strategy and mathematical achievement. Additionally, high-performing South Korean students tend to primarily use metacognitive strategies with memorization. The negative quadratic coefficient captured the limited effect of the primary use of metacognitive strategies with memorization. The implications for the South Korean education system are discussed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) education is becoming an advanced learning trend in programming education. However, AI subjects can be difficult to understand because they require high programming skills and complex knowledge. This makes it challenging to determine how different departments of students are affected by them. This study draws on research in programming education and STEM education to explore the different factors that affect students in AI learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of AI learning platforms on information undergraduate and non-information undergraduate by using a research model. The course was implemented for 65 students in the information undergraduate group and 39 students in the non-information undergraduate group. The findings showed that the two groups had different learning effects under different variables. Students with different cognitive styles may use different skills to positively influence self-regulated learning. This study provides important evidence to understand the learning impact of artificial intelligence among university students from different disciplines.

Abstract Background Remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine that has been recently introduced as an alternative to propofol for general anesthesia. While both agents have been compared in terms of safety and efficacy, their relative effects on postoperative quality of recovery (QoR) remain unclear. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of remimazolam and propofol on subjective QoR in surgical patients who underwent general anesthesia. Methods Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to May 28, 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials comparing remimazolam and propofol in terms of postoperative QoR. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2) was used to assess study quality. QoR score on postoperative day (POD) 1 (primary outcome), QoR scores on PODs 2–3, QoR dimensions, time to loss of consciousness, other recovery characteristics, and rescue analgesia requirement were evaluated using random-effects meta-analyses. Results This meta-analysis included 13 studies published between 2022 and 2024 involving 1,418 patients. QoR was evaluated using either the QoR-15 (10 studies) or QoR-40 (3 studies) questionnaire. The pooled results indicated no significant difference in the QoR scores on POD 1 (standardized mean difference: 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: − 0.20, 0.23, P = 0.88, I2 = 73%) and PODs 2–3 between remimazolam and propofol. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in QoR dimensions, length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, and time to extubation as well as in the risks of agitation and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Patients administered remimazolam exhibited slower anesthetic induction (mean difference (MD): 32.27 s) but faster recovery of consciousness (MD: − 1.60 min) than those administered propofol. Moreover, remimazolam was associated with a lower risk of rescue analgesia requirement in the PACU (risk ratio: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.89, P = 0.009, I 2 = 0%) but not in the ward. Conclusion Remimazolam is a potential alternative to propofol for general anesthesia as it offers similar QoR to the latter and has advantages in terms of consciousness recovery and immediate postoperative analgesia requirement.

Abstract Background Empathy is important in hospice nursing clinics and may influence nurses’ professional quality of life (ProQOL). However, present studies ignoring each empathic dimension, and few researches have explored the correlation between empathy and ProQOL in hospice nurses in Asia. To better understand hospice nurses’ empathy abilities in China and its relationship with ProQOL, the aim of this study was to identify the latent profiles and its influencing factors of hospice nurses’ empathy ability, as well as differences in ProQOL across each latent profile. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to September 2022, and a total of 725 hospice nurses were recruited from different geographic regions in China. Participants completed the Empathy Ability Scale for Hospice Nurses and the Brief Professional Quality of Life Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify latent profiles of empathy ability among hospice nurses in China. The predictors of hospice nurses’ empathy ability in different latent profiles were assessed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. One-way ANOVA test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare the ProQOL scores in each latent profile of nurses’ empathy ability. Results This study identified three latent profiles of hospice nurses’ empathy ability, and those profiles labelled “poor empathy ability-high surface empathy expression” (n = 216, 29.8%), “moderate empathy ability” (n = 359, 49.5%) and “high empathy ability-high deep empathy expression” (n = 150, 20.7%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis suggested that age, hospital level, whether income meets expectations, interests in hospice care work, hospice work experience, and receiving psychological counselling were predictors of hospice nurses’ profile membership of empathy ability. The scores of compassion satisfaction (CS) and burnout (BO) in ProQOL were significantly different across each profile (P

The increase in global temperature has led to a significant surge in energy consumption within the air conditioning industry, resulting in environmental deterioration. Electrochromic (EC) windows have emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges. Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) stands out among all metal oxide materials due to its remarkable EC properties, including substantial Li+ ion insertion capacity and multicolor capabilities. Despite the potential of V2O5, there remains a lack of comprehensive research on the structural and optical properties of V2O5 films with varying thicknesses. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the structural and optical properties of V2O5 thin films with thicknesses ranging from 46 to 344 nm. By employing the sol-gel spin coating method, V2O5 thin films were fabricated and analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. The fabricated V2O5 thin films with thicknesses of 46-274 nm demonstrated an average film transparency of 83 %. XRD analysis further revealed that the V2O5 thin films reached their peak crystallinity at a thickness of 344 nm. Moreover, CV analysis revealed that the V2O5 device, with a thickness of 274 nm, exhibited a cathodic peak current of -1.63 mA, indicating its excellent ability to facilitate Li+ ion diffusion. Additionally, CA measurements displayed a high optical modulation of 37.78 %. Ultimately, this research contributes to the development of energy-efficient solutions for sustainable environmental practices.

Abstract Background Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) exposure-induced neuroinflammation is critical in mediating nervous system impairment. However, effective intervention is yet to be developed. Results In this study, we examine the effect of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation on nervous system damage upon PM exposure and the mechanism of spatial regulation of lipid metabolism. 120 C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to real ambient PM for 11 days (subacute) or 16 weeks (sub-chronic). NMN supplementation boosted the level of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in the mouse brain by 2.04 times. This augmentation effectively reduced neuroinflammation, as evidenced by a marked decrease in activated microglia levels across various brain regions, ranging from 29.29 to 85.96%. Whole brain lipidomics analysis revealed that NMN intervention resulted in an less increased levels of ceramide (Cer) and lysophospholipid in the brain following subacute PM exposure, and reversed triglyceride (TG) and glycerophospholipids (GP) following sub-chronic PM exposure, which conferred mice with anti-neuroinflammation response, improved immune function, and enhanced membrane stability. In addition, we demonstrated that the hippocampus and hypothalamus might be the most sensitive brain regions in response to PM exposure and NMN supplementation. Particularly, the alteration of TG (60:10, 56:2, 60:7), diacylglycerol (DG, 42:6), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, 18:3) are the most profound, which correlated with the changes in functional annotation and perturbation of pathways including oxidative stress, inflammation, and membrane instability unveiled by spatial transcriptomic analysis. Conclusions This study demonstrates that NMN intervention effectively reduces neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and hypothalamus after PM exposure by modulating spatial lipid metabolism. Strategies targeting the improvement of lipid homeostasis may provide significant protection against brain injury associated with air pollutant exposure.

Abstract Background Long-term care insurance (LTCI) was implemented in China to solve the elderly care problems caused by the aging population. It is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of LTCI implementation from the perspective of value-based healthcare. Objective This study aimed to investigate the impact of LTCI on medical care expenditure and health status in China. Methods We used staggered difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to analyze the effect of LTCI policy on medical expenditure and health status based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data from 2011 to 2018. Results Our findings confirmed the positive contribution of LTCI policies to medical expenditures and health status. We found that the implementation of LTCI significantly reduced inpatient and outpatient expenditure, scores of self-report of health, and CESD scores by 26.3%, 12.3%, 0.103, and 0.538, respectively. It also decreased ADL scores, but the decrease was not significant. The impact of LTCI on reducing inpatient expenditure was greater for individuals aged between 65 and 80 and those residing in urban areas and eastern cities. In terms of outpatient costs, the effect of LTCI was more pronounced among median and high-income people and people living in central and eastern cities. The impact of LTCI on self-report of health is stronger for rural populations, individuals under 80, and those in central and eastern cities. For ADL scores, LTCI affected those aged 65–80 the most. About the CESD scores, LTCI had a greater impact on rural populations, people aged 45–65, median income groups, and those in eastern cities. Conclusions Our study underscored LTCI’s effectiveness in curbing medical expenditures and enhancing health status, offering valuable insights for future LTCI development in China and beyond. Accelerating the development of LTCI is conducive to improving the quality of life of the disabled elderly, enhancing the well-being of people’s livelihoods, and realizing the goal of value-based healthcare.

Abstract The process of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) is quantified by evaluating a Z-spectra, where CEST signal quantification and Z-spectra fitting have been widely used to distinguish the contributions from multiple origins. Based on the exchange-dependent relaxation rate in the rotating frame (R ex), this paper introduces an additional pathway to quantitative separation of CEST effect. The proposed R ex-line-fit method is solved by a multi-pool model and presents the advantage of only being dependent of the specific parameters (solute concentration, solute‐water exchange rate, solute transverse relaxation, and irradiation power). Herein we show that both solute‐water exchange rate and solute concentration monotonously vary with R ex for Amide, Guanidino, NOE and MT, which has the potential to assist in solving quantitative separation of CEST effect. Furthermore, we achieve R ex imaging of Amide, Guanidino, NOE and MT, which may provide direct insight into the dependency of measurable CEST effects on underlying parameters such as the exchange rate and solute concentration, as well as the solute transverse relaxation.