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Abstract The resistance of pests to common insecticides is a global issue that threatens food production worldwide. Diamide insecticides target insect ryanodine receptors (RyRs), causing uncontrolled calcium release from the sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum. Despite their high potency and species selectivity, several resistance mutations have emerged. Using a chimeric RyR (chiRyR) approach and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we investigate how insect RyRs engage two different diamide insecticides from separate families: flubendiamide, a phthalic acid derivative, and tetraniliprole, an anthranilic compound. Both compounds target the same site in the transmembrane region of the RyR, albeit with different poses, and promote channel opening through coupling with the pore-forming domain. To explore the resistance mechanisms, we also solve two cryo-EM structures of chiRyR carrying the two most common resistance mutations, I4790M and G4946E, both alone and in complex with the diamide insecticide chlorantraniliprole. The resistance mutations perturb the local structure, directly reducing the binding affinity and altering the binding pose. Our findings elucidate the mode of action of different diamide insecticides, reveal the molecular mechanism of resistance mutations, and provide important clues for the development of novel pesticides that can bypass the resistance mutations.

Abstract Natural selection has driven arthropods to evolve fantastic natural compound eyes (NCEs) with a unique anatomical structure, providing a promising blueprint for artificial compound eyes (ACEs) to achieve static and dynamic perceptions in complex environments. Specifically, each NCE utilises an array of ommatidia, the imaging units, distributed on a curved surface to enable abundant merits. This has inspired the development of many ACEs using various microlens arrays, but the reported ACEs have limited performances in static imaging and motion detection. Particularly, it is challenging to mimic the apposition modality to effectively transmit light rays collected by many microlenses on a curved surface to a flat imaging sensor chip while preserving their spatial relationships without interference. In this study, we integrate 271 lensed polymer optical fibres into a dome-like structure to faithfully mimic the structure of NCE. Our ACE has several parameters comparable to the NCEs: 271 ommatidia versus 272 for bark beetles, and 180o field of view (FOV) versus 150–180o FOV for most arthropods. In addition, our ACE outperforms the typical NCEs by ~100 times in dynamic response: 31.3 kHz versus 205 Hz for Glossina morsitans. Compared with other reported ACEs, our ACE enables real-time, 180o panoramic direct imaging and depth estimation within its nearly infinite depth of field. Moreover, our ACE can respond to an angular motion up to 5.6×106 deg/s with the ability to identify translation and rotation, making it suitable for applications to capture high-speed objects, such as surveillance, unmanned aerial/ground vehicles, and virtual reality.

Abstract Zingiber striolatum Diels is a unique medicine food homology plant native to China. In recent years, due to severe habitat destruction, studying the impact of climate change on the distribution of wild resources is of great significance for the ecological conservation and artificial cultivation of Z. striolatum. This study collected 141 valid species distribution records, and 37 environmental variables, and projected two future climate scenarios (SSP126 and SSP585) for two periods (2050s and 2090s). By employing Pearson analysis, Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt), and Geographic Information System (ArcGIS), we predicted the potential suitable habitats for Z. striolatum under present and future climates, as well as identified the dominant environmental variables influencing its distribution. The results indicated that the MaxEnt model performed well (AUC > 0.9) with high accuracy and reliability. The dominant environmental factors included Precipitation of driest quarter (39.0 ~ 473.8 mm), Precipitation of wettest quarter (593.2 ~ 1269.4 mm), Temperature annual range (9.8 ~ 28.6℃), and Mean diurnal range (6.5 ~ 9.6℃). The highly suitable areas for Z. striolatum were mainly distributed in western and southern Yunnan, northern and western Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and central Hainan. Under future climate change, the centroid of the total suitable area for Z. striolatum is projected to shift towards the southwest (Yungui Plateau) at higher elevations.

To determine the quality changes and shelf life of grass carp fillets with sizing (GCFS), the aerobic bacterial count, microbial succession, water holding capacity (WHC), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), biogenic amines, ATP-related compounds and K value of GCFS were analyzed during storage at 4 ℃ and 10 ℃. Results showed that the aerobic bacterial count of GCFS stored at 4 ℃ and 10 ℃ approached or exceeded the limit on 7 d and 3 d, respectively, suggesting that low temperature significantly affects microbial amplification and microflora composition in GCFS, especially retarding the growth of Acinetobacter, Shewanella and Aeromonas. During storage, no significant difference (P>0.05) of WHC in samples was observed. The pH of GCFS reached the lowest level on 3 d, and the contents of TBARS, TVB-N and the specific biogenic amines (cadaverine, putrescine, histamine and tyramine) increased continuously. Furthermore, the changes in nucleotide degradation were greatly affected by storage temperature. The K value of GCFS exceeded the recommended limit value (60%) after 7 d of storage at 4 ℃ or 3 d of storage at 10 ℃, meaning that the samples entered the stale state. The results of sensory evaluation showed a negative correlation between the quality and storage time, with the phenomena of textural softening, flesh discoloration and fishy-smell aggravation in raw/cooked GCFS stored at 10 ℃ for 3 d and 4 ℃ for 5 d. Considering the results of various indicators and the pursuit of high edible quality, the suggested shelf life of GCFS at 4 ℃ and 10 ℃ was 3 d and 1 d, respectively.

Stress fracture is the result of bone destruction with prolonged and repetitive loading. It usually occurs among various groups, including athletes, military recruits, and others. Early stress fractures often undergo undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because of atypical symptoms and effective medical examination. Here, we report a rare clinical case about the multiple stress fractures in one adolescent. Expect for the pathological biopsy, it hardly gets confirm diagnosis. With the increasing population of sports lover, healthcare institutions should be enhanced their understanding of stress fractures and enable effective management at an early stage.

Abstract Site-selective C(sp3)–H arylation is an appealing strategy to synthesize complex arene structures but remains a challenge facing synthetic chemists. Here we report the use of photoredox-mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis to accomplish the site-selective α-C(sp3)–H arylation of dialkylamine-derived ureas through 1,4-radical aryl migration, by which a wide array of benzylamine motifs can be incorporated to the medicinally relevant systems in the late-stage installation steps. In contrast to previous efforts, this C–H arylation protocol exhibits specific site-selectivity, proforming predominantly on sterically more-hindered secondary and tertiary α-amino carbon centers, while the C–H functionalization of sterically less-hindered N-methyl group can be effectively circumvented in most cases. Moreover, a diverse range of multi-substituted piperidine derivatives can be obtained with excellent diastereoselectivity. Mechanistic and computational studies demonstrate that the rate-determining step for methylene C–H arylation is the initial H atom abstraction, whereas the radical ipso cyclization step bears the highest energy barrier for N-methyl functionalization. The relatively lower activation free energies for secondary and tertiary α-amino C–H arylation compared with the functionalization of methylic C–H bond lead to the exceptional site-selectivity.

Myositis ossificans (MO) is characterized by benign heterotopic ossificans in soft tissues like muscles, which can be classified into nonhereditary MO and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Although MO has been studied for decades, no research reviewed and analyzed the features of publications in this field quantitatively and qualitatively. Using bibliometrics tools (bibliometrix R package, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace), we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 1280 articles regarding MO in the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1993 to 2022. The annual number of publications and related research areas in the MO field increased gradually in the past 20 years. The USA contributed the most percentage (42.58%) of articles. The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and the Journal Bone published the most articles among all institutions and journals. Kaplan FS and Shore EM from UPenn were the top two scholars who made the largest contributions to this field. Keyword analysis showed that research hotspots changed from traumatic MO and clinical management of MO to the genetic etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of FOP. This study can provide new insights into the research trends of MO and helps researchers grasp and determine future study directions more easily.

Abstract The relentless pursuit of sustainable and safe energy storage technologies has driven a departure from conventional lithium‐based batteries toward other relevant alternatives. Among these, aqueous batteries have emerged as a promising candidate due to their inherent properties of being cost‐effective, safe, environmentally friendly, and scalable. However, traditional aqueous systems have faced limitations stemming from water's narrow electrochemical stability window (~1.23 V), severely constraining their energy density and viability in high‐demand applications. Recent advancements in decoupling aqueous batteries offer a novel solution to overcome this challenge by separating the anolyte and catholyte, thereby expanding the theoretical operational voltage window to over 3 V. One key component of this innovative system is the ion‐selective membrane (ISM), acting as a barrier to prevent undesired crossover between electrolytes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in decoupling aqueous batteries, emphasizing the application of various types of ISMs. Moreover, we summarize different specially designed ISMs and their performance attributes. By addressing the current challenges ISMs face, the review outlines potential pathways for future enhancement and development of aqueous decoupling batteries.

The promotion of electric vehicles brings notable environmental and economic advantages. Precisely estimating the state of health (SOH) of lithium-ion batteries is crucial for maintaining their efficiency and safety. This study introduces an SOH estimation approach for lithium-ion batteries that integrates multi-feature analysis with a convolutional neural network and kolmogorov-arnold network (CNN-KAN). Initially, we measure the charging time, current, and temperature during the constant voltage phase. These include charging duration, the integral of current over time, the chi-square value of current, and the integral of temperature over time, which are combined to create a comprehensive multi-feature set. The CNN’s robust feature extraction is employed to identify crucial features from raw data, while KAN adeptly models the complex nonlinear interactions between these features and SOH, enabling accurate SOH estimation for lithium batteries. Experiments were carried out at four different charging current rates. The findings indicate that despite significant nonlinear declines in the SOH of lithium batteries, this method consistently provides accurate SOH estimations. The root mean square error (RMSE) is below 1%, with an average coefficient of determination (R2) exceeding 98%. Compared to traditional methods, the proposed method demonstrates significant advantages in handling the nonlinear degradation trends in battery life prediction, enhancing the model’s generalization ability as well as its reliability in practical applications. It holds significant promise for future research in SOH estimation of lithium batteries.

Introduction Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, with breast cancer being one of the most commonly diagnosed types. Low-income and middle-income countries account for nearly half of all breast cancer cases and related fatalities. In Africa, mortality rates are higher and survival rates are lower compared with developed countries. Timeliness of care is a critical aspect of healthcare, but various studies and healthcare systems use different criteria and methods to measure it. Assessing the breast cancer care pathway and understanding the determinants of delayed care are essential for effective interventions. Therefore, this scoping review aims to evaluate the methods used to measure the timeliness of breast cancer care, identify specific points in the care pathway where delays are most frequently reported, and examine the factors affecting the timeliness of breast cancer care in Africa.Methods and analysis We will conduct this scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley framework endorsed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A scoping review of articles written in English concerning the timeliness of breast cancer care in the African context will be undertaken. Six electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, WEB Of SCIENCE and PsycINFO) will be searched to identify published literature on timeliness of breast care in Africa. Two reviewers will independently screen the articles at both the abstract and full-text stages, guided by predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The full texts of identified studies will be further examined and charted using a data extraction form guided by the Model of Pathways to Treatment framework. Publications describing the time to diagnosis and its associated factors in the contexts of breast cancer will be considered for inclusion, with no restrictions based on date of publication. Studies that are published in languages other than English and that do not focus on the timeliness of care or time-related aspects within the care pathway will be excluded. Evidence will be narratively synthesised and analysed.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not needed as this scoping review does not involve collecting data from human participants. The results produced from this review will be submitted to a scientific peer-reviewed journal for publication and will be presented at scientific meetings.

Abstract Choroid plexus tumors (CPT) are rare and highly vascularized neoplasms that have three histologically confirmed diagnoses, including choroid plexus papilloma, atypical choroid plexus papilloma, and choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC). This study aimed to determine the epidemiology and survival of patients with CPTs and develop a nomogram to quantify the prognosis of the patients with CPT. Data of 808 patients who were diagnosed as CPT between 2000 and 2020 was obtained from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the distribution and tumor-related characteristics of the patients with CPT. Independent prognostic factors for patients with CPT were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The nomogram was established and evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA), calibration curves. The independent prognostic factors for patients with CPT are age, tumor size, surgery, chemotherapy, tumor number, pathologies, and race. For the prognostic nomogram, the area under the curve (AUC) of 60-, 120-, and 180-months were 0.855, 0.869 and 0.857 in the training set and 0.836, 0.864 and 0.922 in the test set. The DCA and calibration curve indicated the good performance of the nomogram. Patients with CPTs can be diagnosed at any age. Among the three histopathological tumors, patients with CPC had the worst prognosis. The nomogram was established to predict the prognosis of patients with CPT, which had satisfactory accuracy, and clinical utility may benefit for clinical decision-making.

Gully erosion is the most destructive form of land degradation in NE China and many other regions around the globe. It is generally accepted that lithology and topography have an important impact on gully morphology. However, the effects of lithology and slope gradient on gully cross-sectional morphology remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate how the sequence of soil horizons and rock strata influence gully cross-sectional morphology in the Mollisol region of NE China. We measured the gully cross-sectional morphology by a combination of differential GPS, laser range finder, and ruler. Profile samples were collected by core drilling with depths from 1 m to 4 m at 39 sites along the gully thalweg and cross-sections. The physical and geo-chemical properties of 5 cm sub-samples were measured. The sequence of soil horizon and lithology in our study area was as follows (with increasing depth): (1) mollic epipedon (black soil horizon) and (2) subsoil developed in loess, (3) fine to coarse sands, (4) alternating layers of sand and shale debris, and (5) homogeneous shale. We found that the combined effect of soil horizons, lithology, and longitudinal slope gradient of the gully bottom determines gully cross-sectional morphology, which contrasts to simplified generalizations for homogeneous underground material. U-shaped gullies were related to the mollic epipedon, or cohesive sandy loess and fine sands, with an average gentle gully bottom gradient of

Diffractive optical imaging spectroscopy as a promising miniaturized and high throughput portable spectral imaging technique suffers from the problem of low precision and slow speed, which limits its wide use in various applications. To reconstruct the diffractive spectral image more accurately and fast, a three-dimensional spectrum recovery algorithm is proposed in this paper. The algorithm takes advantage of a neural network for image reconstruction which consists of a U-Net architecture with 3D convolutional layers to improve the processing precision and speed. Numerical experiments are conducted to prove its effectiveness. It is shown that the mean peak signal-to-noise ratio (MPSNR) of the recovered image relative to the original image is improved by 1.8 dB in comparison to other traditional methods. In addition, the obtained mean structural similarity (MSSIM) of 0.91 meets the standard of discrimination to human eyes. Moreover, the algorithm runs in just 0.36 s, which is faster than other traditional methods. 3D convolutional networks play a critical role in performance improvement. Improvements in processing speed and accuracy have greatly benefited the realization and application of diffractive optical imaging spectroscopy. The new algorithm with high accuracy and fast speed has a great potential application in diffraction lens spectroscopy and paves a new way for emerging more portable spectral imaging technique.

Abstract Idiopathic congenital nystagmus (ICN) manifests as involuntary and periodic eye movements. To identify the genetic defect associated with X-linked ICN, Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was conducted in two affected families. We identified two frameshift mutations in FRMD7, c.1492dupT/p.(Y498Lfs*15) and c.1616delG/p.(R539Kfs*2). Plasmids harboring the mutated genes and qPCR analysis revealed mRNA stability, evading degradation via the NMD pathway, and corroborated truncated protein production via Western-blot analysis. Notably, both truncated proteins were degraded through the proteasomal (ubiquitination) pathway, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues targeting this pathway for similar mutations. Moreover, we conducted a comprehensive analysis, summarizing 140 mutations within the FRMD7 gene. Our findings highlight the FERM and FA structural domains as mutation-prone regions. Interestingly, exons 9 and 12 are the most mutated regions, but 90% (28/31) mutations in exon 9 are missense while 84% (21/25) mutations in exon 12 are frameshift. A predominant occurrence of shift code mutations was observed in exons 11 and 12, possibly associated with the localization of premature termination codons (PTCs), leading to the generation of deleterious truncated proteins. Additionally, our conjecture suggests that the loss of FRMD7 protein function might not solely drive pathology; rather, the emergence of aberrant protein function could be pivotal in nystagmus etiology. We propose a dependence of FRMD7 protein normal function primarily on its anterior domain. Future investigations are warranted to validate this hypothesis.

Abstract Background The construct validity and interpretation of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Physical Function short form 20a (PF20a) questionnaire were evaluated for patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), a rare, autosomal recessive, progressive neuromuscular disorder treatable by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Methods In the phase 3 PROPEL study, adults with LOPD underwent testing of physical functioning and had PRO measurements at baseline and at weeks 12, 26, 38, and 52 while receiving experimental or standard-of-care ERT. All patients were pooled for analyses, without comparisons between treatment groups. Associations and correlations between PROMIS PF20a scores and the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), manual muscle test (MMT) of the lower extremities, Gait, Stairs, Gowers’ maneuver, Chair (GSGC) score, and Rasch-built Pompe-specific Activity (R-PAct) scale were evaluated by calculating regression coefficients in linear regression models and Pearson correlation coefficients (R); patients’ age, sex, race, ERT prior to study, body mass index, and study treatment were included as covariables. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of PROMIS PF20a was determined using distribution- and anchor-based methods. Results 123 patients received at least 1 dose of ERT. In multivariable analyses, PROMIS PF20a scores had strong correlations with R-PAct scores (R = 0.83 at baseline and R = 0.67 when evaluating changes between baseline and 52 weeks) and moderate correlations with the 6MWD (R = 0.57 at baseline and R = 0.48 when evaluating changes between baseline and 52 weeks). Moderate correlations were also observed between PROMIS PF20a and MMT (R = 0.54), GSGC (R=-0.51), and FVC (R = 0.48) at baseline. In multivariable linear regression models, associations were significant between PROMIS PF20a and 6MWD (P = 0.0006), MMT (P = 0.0034), GSGC (P = 0.0278), and R-PAct (P

Abstract Background Lysine demethylase 5C (KDM5C) has been implicated in the development of several human cancers. This study aims to investigate the role of KDM5C in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and explore the associated molecular mechanism. Methods Bioinformatics tools were employed to predict the target genes of KDM5C in CRC. The expression levels of KDM5C and prefoldin subunit 5 (PFDN5) in CRC cells were determined by RT-qPCR and western blot assays. The interaction between KDM5C, H3K4me3, and PFDN5 was validated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Expression and prognostic values of KDM5C and PFDN5 in CRC were analyzed in a cohort of 72 patients. The function of KDM5C/PFDN5 in c-Myc signal transduction was analyzed by luciferase assay. Silencing of KDM5C and PFDN5 was induced in CRC cell lines to analyze the cell malignant phenotype in vitro and tumorigenic activity in nude mice. Results KDM5C exhibited high expression, while PFDN5 displayed low expression in CRC cells and clinical CRC samples. High KDM5C levels correlated with poor survival and unfavorable clinical presentation, whereas elevated PFDN5 correlated with improved patient outcomes. KDM5C mediated demethylation of H3K4me3 on the PFDN5 promoter, suppressing its transcription and thereby enhancing the transcriptional activity of c-Myc. KDM5C knockdown in CRC cells suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and tumorigenic activity while increasing autophagy and apoptosis rates. However, the malignant behavior of cells was restored by the further silencing of PFDN5. Conclusion This study demonstrates that KDM5C inhibits PFDN5 transcription, thereby activating c-Myc signal transduction and promoting CRC progression.

Cardiac fibrosis is a serious health problem because it is a common pathological change in almost all forms of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by the transdifferentiation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into cardiac myofibroblasts and the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components produced by activated myofibroblasts, which leads to fibrotic scar formation and subsequent cardiac dysfunction. However, there are currently few effective therapeutic strategies protecting against fibrogenesis. This lack is largely because the molecular mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis remain unclear despite extensive research. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling cascade is an extensively present intracellular signal transduction pathway and can regulate a wide range of biological processes, including cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune response. Various upstream mediators such as cytokines, growth factors and hormones can initiate signal transmission via this pathway and play corresponding regulatory roles. STAT3 is a crucial player of the JAK/STAT pathway and its activation is related to inflammation, malignant tumors and autoimmune illnesses. Recently, the JAK/STAT3 signaling has been in the spotlight for its role in the occurrence and development of cardiac fibrosis and its activation can promote the proliferation and activation of CFs and the production of ECM proteins, thus leading to cardiac fibrosis. In this manuscript, we discuss the structure, transactivation and regulation of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and review recent progress on the role of this pathway in cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, we summarize the current challenges and opportunities of targeting the JAK/STAT3 signaling for the treatment of fibrosis. In summary, the information presented in this article is critical for comprehending the role of the JAK/STAT3 pathway in cardiac fibrosis, and will also contribute to future research aimed at the development of effective anti-fibrotic therapeutic strategies targeting the JAK/STAT3 signaling.

In view of the high false alarm rate in the oil debris monitoring results of the triple-coil inductive sensor in the transmission lubrication system of the aero-engine, a new debris signal processing method based on inductive monitoring is proposed. A time domain analysis is carried out first, and the signal energy is the most effective index to distinguish the debris signature from the noise signature. On this basis, signal energy values within a fixed-length sliding window is processed through the histogram. Finally, a threshold is set for the detection of the debris signature, which is based on the distribution of data within the histogram. This method is applied to the experimental data from a test run of an aero-engine, and the results show that all the debris is detected even if part of it appears during a change in the working condition of the aero-engine. Therefore, this method shows satisfactory results in debris detection accuracy and especially the inhibition of false alarms. It is also applicable for real-time monitoring due to the similarity between the movement of the sliding window and real-time data acquisition. In addition, it is applicable for various sensing principles, including but not limited to the inductive sensor signal, since the detection performance is only related to the signal itself.

Abstract Venture capital is an essential financing option for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially high-tech enterprises. The sustainable development of enterprises is of great significance for promoting the high-quality growth of the economy. In this paper, Chinese-listed companies supported by venture capital from 2002 to 2022 are taken as the research sample. Semiparametric and nonparametric methods are adopted to explore the long-term impact of venture capital on the sustainable development of Chinese enterprises. It is found that the early stage of venture capital companies has a significant promoting effect on the sustainable development of the enterprises. In contrast, professionalism has no significant impact on the sustainable development of enterprises in the short term but has an inhibitory effect in the long term. The results show that venture capital is conducive to enterprises’ standardization and long-term development because it provides funds, supervision, and other noncapital value-added services, such as networking resources, management experience, and market information. Venture capital should refrain from interfering excessively in decision-making in professional and technical fields. This paper addresses the need to research venture capital’s impact on enterprises’ sustainable development. It provides a specific reference for formulating venture capital contracts and related policy recommendations.

Natural compound eyes (NCEs) are the most abundant and successful eye designs in the animal kingdom. An NCE consists of a number of ommatidia, which are distributed along a curved surface to receive light. This curved feature is critical to the functions of NCE, and it ensures that different ommatidia point to slightly different directions and thus enables panoramic vision, depth perception, and efficient motion tracking while minimizing aberration. Consequently, biomimetic curved artificial compound eyes (BCACEs) have garnered substantial research attention in replicating the anatomical configuration of their natural counterparts by distributing ommatidia across a curved surface. The reported BCACEs could be briefly categorized into 2 groups: fixed focal lengths and tunable focal lengths. The former could be further subcategorized into simplified BCACEs, BCACEs with photodetector arrays within curved surfaces, and BCACEs with light guides. The latter encompasses other tuning techniques such as fluidic pressure modulation, thermal effects, and pH adjustments. This work starts with a simple classification of NCEs and then provides a comprehensive review of main parameters, operational mechanisms, recent advancements, fabrication methodologies, and potential applications of BCACEs. Finally, discussions are provided on future research and development. Compared with other available review articles on artificial compound eyes, our work is distinctive since we focus especially on the “curved” ones, which are difficult to fabricate but closely resemble the architecture and functions of NCEs, and could potentially revolutionize the imaging systems in surveillance, machine vision, and unmanned vehicles.

With the rapid development of the livestock industry, finding new sources of feed has become a critical issue that needs to be addressed urgently. China is one of the top five sunflower producers in the world and generates a massive amount of sunflower stalks annually, yet this resource has not been effectively utilized. Therefore, in order to tap into the potential of sunflower stalks for animal feed, it is essential to explore and develop efficient methods for their utilization.In this study, various proportions of alfalfa and sunflower straw were co-ensiled with the following mixing ratios: 0:10, 2:8, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, and 8:2, denoted as A0S10, A2S8, A4S6, A5S5, A6S4, and A8S2, respectively. The nutrient composition, fermentation quality, microbial quantity, microbial diversity, and broad-spectrum metabolomics on the 60th day were assessed. The results showed that the treatment groups with more sunflower straw added (A2S8, A4S6) could start fermentation earlier. On the first day of fermentation, Weissella spp.dominated overwhelmingly in these two groups. At the same time, in the early stage of fermentation, the pH in these two groups dropped rapidly, which could effectively reduce the loss of nutrients in the early stage of fermentation.In the later fermentation period, a declining trend in acetic acid levels was observed in A0S10, A2S8, and A4S6, while no butyric acid production was detected in A0S10 and A2S8 throughout the process. In A4S6, butyric acid production was observed only after 30 days of fermentation. From the perspective of metabolites, compared with sunflower ensiling alone, many bioactive substances such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenes are upregulated in mixed ensiling.

Abstract Background Endothelial cell migration is the initial stage of angiogenesis. In previous studies, miR‐9 has been found to regulate angiogenesis and cell migration in human medicine. Objectives This study aimed to reveal the regulatory effect of miR‐9 on canine endothelial cell migration. Methods Embryonic canine ventricle myocardium tissues were collected and induced to differentiate into endothelial‐like cells (ELCs). A transwell and invasion assay were used to evaluate the impact of miR‐9 on the migration capacity of ELCs, after which a luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, RNA sequencing and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction were conducted to explore the regulatory mechanism. Results Our results showed that we successfully induced the primary cells derived from canine cardiac embryo tissues into ELCs. MiR‐9 also promoted the migration and invasion of canine ELCs, and inhibited the expression of collagen XV, an angiogenic inhibitor, at the translational level by targeting the 3′ untranslated region of COL15A1 gene. Furthermore, RNA sequencing showed that overexpression of miR‐9 impacted several signalling pathways and eight genes involved in angiogenesis and cell migration in canine ELCs. Conclusions These findings suggest that miR‐9 enhances the migration of canine ELCs and may serve as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for canine diseases involved in endothelial cells migration and angiogenesis, but more further studies are needed.

Abstract Background The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak has significantly impacted public health. Moreover, there has been an association between the incidence and severity of osteoarthritis (OA) and the onset of COVID‐19. However, the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with both diseases remain uncertain. Bioinformatics is a novel approach that may help find the common pathology between COVID‐19 and OA. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by R package “limma.” Functional enrichment analyses were performed to find key biological functions. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING database and then Cytoscape was used to select hub genes. External data sets and OA mouse model validated and identified the hub genes in both mRNA and protein levels. Related transcriptional factors (TF) and microRNAs (miRNAs) were predicted with miRTarBase and JASPR database. Candidate drugs were obtained from Drug Signatures database. The immune infiltration levels of COVID‐19 and OA were evaluated by CIBERSORT and scRNA‐seq. Results A total of 74 common DEGs were identified between COVID‐19 and OA. Receiver operating characteristic curves validated the effective diagnostic values (area under curve > 0.7) of four hub genes (matrix metalloproteinases 9, ATF3, CCL4, and RELA) in both the training and validation data sets of COVID‐19 and OA. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot showed significantly higher hub gene expression in OA mice than in healthy controls. A total of 84 miRNAs and 28 TFs were identified to regulate the process of hub gene expression. The top 10 potential drugs were screened including “Simvastatin,” “Hydrocortisone,” and “Troglitazone” which have been proven by Food and Drug Administration. Correlated with hub gene expression, Macrophage M0 was highly expressed while Natural killer cells and Mast cells were low in both COVID‐19 and OA. Conclusion Four hub genes, disease‐related miRNAs, TFs, drugs, and immune infiltration help to understand the pathogenesis and perform further studies, providing a potential therapy target for COVID‐19 and OA.

BackgroundA number of studies have investigated the influencing factors regarding the renewal of contracts associated with Family Doctor Contract Services (FDCS) in different regions of China since it was officially implemented in 2009; however, none of the previous studies have been considered using a nationally representative sample in combination with a meta-analysis.MethodsA multistage stratified sampling method was used to investigate participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, health status, understanding, use, and evaluation of the FDCS, and their willingness to renew contracts in Eastern, Central, and Western China from September to November 2021. We searched the PubMed, Ovid Medline, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and SinoMed databases to retrieve previous studies related to the willingness of Chinese residents to renew contracts with their family doctor (FD), and a meta-analysis was performed to systematically summarize the willingness to maintain contracts and influencing factors.ResultsAmong 2,394 residents, 2,122 (88.64%) were willing to renew their contracts. The mixed-effect logistic regression model results demonstrated that residents who (1) preferred primary health service institutions, (2) had a better knowledge of FDCS, (3) were more willing to visit primary health service after signing the contract with FDs, (4) were not intending to change FDs, (5) were satisfied with FDCS, and (6) trusted in FDs reported a higher level of willingness to maintain contracts with FDs. Our meta-analysis confirmed that older age, being married, having chronic diseases, choosing primary medical institutions for the first contact, having a good knowledge of FDCS/FDs, being satisfied with FDCS and the medical skills of FDs, and trusting FDs were all positively associated with residents’ willingness to renew contracts (p

Sulfur utilization in high-mass-loading positive electrodes is crucial for developing practical all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries. Here, authors propose a low-density inorganic solid-state electrolyte to improve the sulfur utilization in lab-scale Li-In||S all-solid-state cells.

Low P-containing wastewaters (LPWs) exhibit huge P recovery potential, considering their larger volume. P recovery via CaP crystallization using apatite as seed is documented as being potentially well suited for LPWs. However, its responsible mechanisms remain a subject for debate. Taking hydroxyapatite (HAP) as the seed of LPWs, this paper conducted HAP adsorption/dissolution experiments, titration experiments, and P recovery experiments to distinguish the primary responsible mechanism. Results showed that it was HAP dissolution, not P adsorption, that occurred when the initial P concentration was no higher than 5 mg/L, ruling out adsorption mechanism of P recovery from LPWs using HAP as the seed. Significant OH− consumption and rapid P recovery occurred simultaneously within the first 60 s in titration experiments, suggesting CaP crystallization should be responsible for P recovery. Moreover, the continuous increase in P recovery efficiency with seed dosages observed in P recovery experiments seemed to follow well the mechanism of pre-nucleation ion clusters (PNCs) aggregation. During PNCs aggregation, P aggregates with Ca2+ quickly, generating CaP PNCs; then, CaP PNCs aggregate with seed particles, followed by CaP PNCs fusion, and ultimately transform into fines attached to the seed surface. PNCs’ aggregation mechanism was further supported by a comparison of seed SEM images before and after P recovery, since denser and smaller rod-shaped fines were observed on the seed surface after P recovery. This study suggests that PNCs’ aggregation is the dominant mechanism responsible for the recovery of P from LPWs via CaP crystallization using HAP as the seed.

Analyzing the sustainable decision-making mechanism between household consumption and education investment can theoretically develop education. This study uses the continuous-time utility model to demonstrate the independent characteristics of consumption and education investment, as well as the principle of decision incompatibility in the decision-making process of the utility maximization problem. Then, we establish a three-phase logarithmic utility model to obtain the intertemporal decision-making path of a family. The analysis shows that the investment allocation ratio between the two phases depends on the expected and discounted level of the offsprings’ abilities, while the total investment level is related to parental altruism. When parents, with foresight, factor in prospective transfer payments from progeny, the optimal decision is to maximize their children’s ultimate human capital within a given total investment. Education investment not only squeezes out consumption but also promotes consumption in various periods due to future transfer payments. The decision-making process of three typical growth stages indicates that as offspring mature and their human capital increases, parents’ willingness to invest in education decreases while self-consumption escalates. This study provides a new perspective and theoretical basis for studying household education expenditure, motivation, and related policy formulation.

Abstract Blood vessels play a role in osteogenesis and osteoporosis; however, the role of vascular metabolism in these processes remains unclear. The present study finds that ovariectomized mice exhibit reduced blood vessel density in the bone and reduced expression of the endothelial glycolytic regulator pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). Endothelial cell (EC)‐specific deletion of Pkm2 impairs osteogenesis and worsens osteoporosis in mice. This is attributed to the impaired ability of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to differentiate into osteoblasts. Mechanistically, EC‐specific deletion of Pkm2 reduces serum lactate levels secreted by ECs, which affect histone lactylation in BMSCs. Using joint CUT&Tag and RNA sequencing analyses, collagen type I alpha 2 chain (COL1A2), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), and transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) as osteogenic genes regulated by histone H3K18la lactylation are identified. PKM2 overexpression in ECs, lactate addition, and exercise restore the phenotype of endothelial PKM2‐deficient mice. Furthermore, serum metabolomics indicate that patients with osteoporosis have relatively low lactate levels. Additionally, histone lactylation and related osteogenic genes of BMSCs are downregulated in patients with osteoporosis. In conclusion, glycolysis in ECs fuels BMSC differentiation into osteoblasts through histone lactylation, and exercise partially ameliorates osteoporosis by increasing serum lactate levels.

Background: Recent studies have shown altered gut microbiome composition in patients with scoliosis. However, the causal effect of gut microbiota on scoliosis remains unknown. Methods: A Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted to quantify the impact of 191 gut microbiome taxa's instrumental variables from the MibioGen Genome-wide association study (GWAS) on scoliosis risk using data from the FinnGen GWAS (1168 cases and 16,4682 controls). Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was the main method, and MR results were verified by sensitive analysis. Results: Bilophila, Eubacterium (eligens group), Prevotella9, and Ruminococcus2 were discovered to have a protective effect on the risk of scoliosis. Ruminococcaceae UCG009, Catenibacterium, Coprococcus2, Eubacterium (ventriosum group), Lachnospiraceae (FCS020 group), Ruminiclostridium6, and Mollicutes RF9 may increase the occurrence of scoliosis. Heterogeneity (P > 0.05) and pleiotropy (P > 0.05) analysis confirmed the robustness of the MR results. Conclusion: Our study identified four protective bacteria taxa on scoliosis and seven microbiota that may increase scoliosis occurrence. Further MR analysis is required to corroborate our findings, using a more sophisticated technique to obtain estimates with less bias and greater precision or GWAS summary data with more gut microbiome and scoliosis patients.

Objective Intraoperative O‐arm navigation systems improve the accuracy of spinal instrumentation placement. However, deviation of the pedicle screw from the guide line might occur. The aim of the present study was to explore the causes of and countermeasures for the drift phenomenon during pedicle screw implantation with the aid of an O‐arm three‐dimensional navigation system in spinal deformity surgery. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 341 patients with spinal deformity who underwent O‐arm navigation system‐assisted pedicle screw placement from July 2015 to June 2019. The patient's general condition, Cobb angle, apical vertebra position, softness index, spinal release status, fixed reference frame position, and distance between the navigation vertebral body and the reference frame were collected and compared by independent‐samples t test or Pearson's chi‐square analysis. The potential risk factors for the drift phenomenon were identified using binary logistic regression analysis. Results The drift phenomenon occurred in 57 patients during the first navigation‐assisted pedicle screw placement, for an incidence of 16.7% (57/341). There were significant differences in factors such as the apical vertebra position, softness index, spinal release status, and distance between the vertebral body and the reference frame when the drift phenomenon occurred (P

Abstract Background Cryptosporidium parvum is an important zoonotic parasite, which not only causes economic losses in animal husbandry but also harms human health. Due to the lack of effective measures for prevention and treatment, it is important to understand the pathogenesis and survival mechanism of C. parvum. Autophagy is an important mechanism of host cells against parasite infection through key regulatory factors such as microRNAs and MAPK pathways. However, the regulatory effect of C. parvum on autophagy has not been reported. Here, we demonstrated that C. parvum manipulated autophagy through host cellular miR-26a, miR-30a, ERK signaling and P38 signaling for parasite survival. Methods The expression of Beclin1, p62, LC3, ERK and P38 was detected using western blotting in HCT-8 cells infected with C. parvum as well as treated with miR-26a-mimic, miR-30a-mimic, miR-26a-mimic or miR-30a-inhibitor post C. parvum infection. The qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-26a and miR-30a and the number of C. parvum in HCT-8 cells. Besides, the accumulation of autophagosomes was examined using immunofluorescence. Results The expression of Beclin1 and p62 was increased, whereas LC3 expression was increased initially at 0–8 h but decreased at 12 h and then increased again in C. parvum-infected cells. C. parvum inhibited miR-26a-mimic-induced miR-26a but promoted miR-30a-mimic-induced miR-30a expression. Suppressing miR-30a resulted in increased expression of LC3 and Beclin1. However, upregulation of miR-26a reduced ERK/P38 phosphorylation, and inhibiting ERK/P38 signaling promoted Beclin1 and LC3 while reducing p62 expression. Treatment with miR-26a-mimic, autophagy inducer or ERK/P38 signaling inhibitors reduced but treatment with autophagy inhibitor or miR-30a-mimic increased parasite number. Conclusions The study found that C. parvum could regulate autophagy by inhibiting miR-26a and promoting miR-30a expression to facilitate the proliferation of parasites. These results revealed a new mechanism for the interaction of C. parvum with host cells. Graphical Abstract

Background: Increasing number of studies have suggested the time to first cigarette after waking (TTFC) have significant positive effect on respiratory diseases. However, few of them focused on the Chinese population. This study aims to estimate the impact of TTFC on the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) in Chinese elderly and explore the association in different sub-populations. Methods: Cross-sectional data of demographic characteristics, living environment, smoking-related variables, and CRD were drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2018. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of the TTFC with the prevalence of CRD. Results: This study includes 13,208 subjects aged 52 years and older, with a mean age of 85.3 years. Of them, 3,779 participants were ex- or current smokers (44.9% had the TTFC ≤30 minutes, 55.1% >30 minutes) and 1,492 had suffered from CRD. Compared with non-smokers, participants with TTFC ≤30 minutes seemed to have higher prevalence of CRD (OR 1.97; 95% CI, 1.65–2.35) than those with TTFC >30 minutes (OR 1.70; 95% CI, 1.44–2.00), although the difference was statistically insignificant (Pinteraction = 0.12). Compared with TTFC >30 minutes, TTFC ≤30 minutes could drive a higher prevalence of CRD among female participants, those aged 90 years and older, urban residents, and ex-smokers (Pinteraction < 0.05). Conclusion: Shorter TTFC relates to higher prevalences of CRD in Chinese older females, those aged 90 years and older, urban residents, and ex-smokers. Delaying TTFC might partially reduce its detrimental impact on respiratory disease in these specific subpopulations.

Abstract Background Mental health problems are important public health issues among college students and are associated with various social factors. However, these influencing factors were scarcely summarized in Chinese college students comprehensively. This study aims to assess the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, social support quality (SSQ) and mental health among Chinese college students . Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wuhan, China, from October 2017 to February 2018. College students from 18 colleges or universities were randomly recruited using multi-stage cluster sampling method. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scale and 12-items General Health Questionnaire were used to estimate students’ SSQ and mental health statuses, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, SSQ and mental health problems. Results A total of 10,676 college students were included. Among them, 21.4% were identified as having possible mental health problems. Students being a female, aged 18–22 years old, whose mother held college degrees and above, and drinking alcohol were more likely to have mental health problems (P

Objectives To study the factors that influence the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) among older patients with chronic heart failure. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study. A total of 123 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was selected. The factors associated with the 6MWD were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression. Results The 6MWD of older patients was negatively correlated with age, fall risk, nutritional score, frailty, and depression but was positively correlated with educational level, fall efficacy, self-care ability, and plasma albumin. The results of independent variable multiple linear regression analysis showed that age (β = −0.098), fall risk (β = −0.262), fall efficacy (β = 0.011), self-care ability (β = −0.021), nutrition (β = −0.405), frailty (β = −0.653), and plasma albumin (β = 0.127) influenced the 6MWD. Conclusions The 6MWD of older patients with chronic heart failure was related to age, self-care ability, fall risk, nutrition, frailty, and depression.

ObjectiveTo propose and validate a new classification of surgical methods for patients with subaxial cervical hemivertebrae.MethodThis article reviewed cases diagnosed with subaxial cervical hemivertebrae in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2019. The results of preoperative (initial visit), postoperative and/or final follow-up were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, spinal balance parameters, and Scoliosis Research Society-22 Questionnaire (SRS-22). We also performed a reliability study to assess this classification.ResultThe classification includes three types. Each type can be divided into two subtypes, and a preliminary algorithm is proposed. Type I: There is an obvious appearance deformity in the neck, there are hemivertebrae in the cervical spine, and only a single hemivertebra of the subaxial cervical hemivertebra needs to be resected. Type II: There is an obvious appearance deformity in the neck, there are hemivertebrae in the cervical spine, and multiple subaxial cervical hemivertebrae need to be removed. Type III: No apparent deformity in the neck, at least one subaxial cervical hemivertebra existed or Klipper-Feil syndrome. Each type is divided into two subtypes, A and B, according to whether the upper and lower adjacent vertebral bodies of the rescected hemivertebra(e) are fused. We propose corresponding treatment methods for different types. We included a total of 121 patients and reviewed the prognosis for each type of patient. All patients achieved satisfactory results. The reliability study showed that the mean interobserver agreement was 91.8% (89.3%–93.4%), and the κ value was 0.845 (0.800–0.875). The intraobserver agreement ranged from 93.4% to 97.5%, with a mean κ value of 0.929 (0.881 to 0.954).ConclusionIn our study, we proposed and validated a new classification of subaxial cervical hemivertebrae and proposed corresponding treatment plans for different classifications.

Abstract Background Occupational stress among general practitioners (GPs) is a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with occupational stress among GPs in China. Methods A cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from 3,236 GPs in eastern, central, and western China (response rate, 99.75%) between October 2017 and February 2018 using a structured self-administered questionnaire. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with occupational stress among GPs. Results Among these respondents, 313 (9.67%), 1,028 (31.77%), and 1,895 (58.56%) of GPs had a low, medium, and high level of occupational stress, respectively. GPs from central China, with temporary work contracts, without management responsibility, receiving a moderate level of income, and with moderate occupational development opportunities had a lower level of occupational stress. GPs with greater than 40 working hours per week and those who worked overtime occasionally or frequently had a higher level of occupational stress. Conclusions The prevalence of occupational stress among GPs is high in China. Substantial regional variation in determinants of occupational stress among GPs was observed. These findings should inform the design of policies to reduce the occupational stress of GPs.

Abstract Background General practitioners (GPs) were at risk of violence in their everyday working lives. Workplace violence (WPV) among GPs is a global public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with WPV among GPs in China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4376 GPs in eastern, central, and western China between March and May 2021 using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The multivariable stepwise logistic regression model was used to examine the factors associated with WPV among GPs in China. Results Among these respondents, 14.26% of them reported exposure to WPV in the past 12 months. GPs who were female, practised in a rural area, made home visits occasionally, worked in a fair or good practice environment or work environment, and had a fair or good relationship with patients were less likely to encounter any type of WPV. In addition, GPs who served patients over 20 per day and worked overtime occasionally or frequently were more likely to be exposed to WPV. The determinants of WPV varied in different types of WPV and sexes. Conclusions The prevalence of WPV among GPs is low in China. Our findings could inform the measures to reduce the WPV among GPs.

Abstract Background The position of the aorta relative to the spine in kyphosis secondary to Pott's deformity is little understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomic relationship between the aorta and the spine in patients with Pott’s deformity and to compare it with the normal people. Methods Seventy-six patients with Pott’s deformity (Group TB) and seventy-two age- and sex-matched patients with a normal spine (group NC) were enrolled in this study. The relative position of aorta to the spine was evaluated from T4 to L4 on the computed tomographic angiography scans for controls and at the apex level for TB patient, and was classified into 4 kinds of degrees. Results The left pedicle-aorta angle in group TB was significantly larger than that in group NC at the T6-L3 levels. Group TB exhibited significantly smaller left pedicle-aorta distance, pedicular line-aorta distance and vertebra/rib-aorta distance than those in group NC at the T5-T10 levels, but bigger at the L1-3 levels. Patients with grade 3 and 4 aorta had more segments involved compared with those with grade 1 aorta. Patients with grade 2, 3, and 4 aorta showed larger kyphotic angles than those with grade 1. Conclusions Patients whose morbid segments involved only thoracic vertebrae presented with an “Ω” shaped aorta in sagittal plane, and 4 different kinds of degrees of aorta relative to the vertebra/rib in axial plane. Patients whose morbid segments covered lumbar vertebrae presented with an “M” shaped aorta in sagittal plane, and the aorta shifted further from apex vertebra but was located in close proximity to the vertebral body at levels above and below the osteotomy levels in axial plane.

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China and an internationally critical habitat for migratory birds. However, after 2004, the multiyear mean water levels of West Dongting Lake (WDL), South Dongting Lake (SDL), and East Dongting Lake (EDL) in the high-water stage decreased by 1.05 m, 1.15 m, and 1.32 m, respectively. Different areas of Dongting Lake experienced various degrees of shrinkage. It is necessary to study the dominant driving factors and their contributions to the falling water level. In this study, the water level changes in Dongting Lake were analyzed, and a long short-term memory neural network model was constructed to simulate the water level of Dongting Lake. Moreover, the contribution of changes in streamflow and topographic conditions to the water level changes in different areas of Dongting Lake was estimated with scenario analysis. The research results show that the changes in the streamflow were the main driving factors for the water level decline of WDL, SDL, and EDL in the high-water stage, and their contributions were 0.74 m, 0.97 m, and 1.16 m, respectively. The topographic changes had a great falling effect on the water level of Dongting Lake, and the falling effect on the water levels from October to June of the following year was the strongest in EDL (0.81 m), followed by WDL (0.49 m), and the weakest in SDL (0.3 m). These results can provide a scientific reference for the management of the water resources of Dongting Lake.

In the last few decades, microspheres and microsphere-based scaffolds have demonstrated great potential in translational medicine. Various materials, including natural polymers, synthetic polymers, bioactive ceramics, and their composites, have been fabricated into microspheres for bone-defect repair. In this review, we summarize the specific steps and research progress of various fabrication methods for microspheres and identify the main limitations of existing techniques. The appropriate materials and surface-modification strategies that can increase the biological properties of microspheres are also described. Finally, we discuss the key application of microsphere-functionalized scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. We expect that this review will enable more future investigations that focus on the field of microsphere tissue engineering, and thus advance the development of fabrication technology and facilitate the application of microspheres for bone regeneration.

The objectives of this study were to determine coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination hesitancy and influencing factors in China, while broadening the applicability of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS). A cross-sectional survey was conducted in China from 4th to 26th February 2021. Convenience sampling method was adopted to recruit participants. A total of 2,361 residents filled out the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis was used on the validation set to confirm the latent structure that resulted from the exploratory factor analysis, which was conducted on the construction set. Multiple linear regression model analyses were used to identify significant associations between the identified the revised version of VHS subscales and hypothesized explanatory variables. Two subscales were identified within the VHS through data analysis, including “lack of confidence in the need for vaccines” and “aversion to the risk of side effects.” The results indicated that the hesitancy of the participants in our sample was both driven the two mainly aspects. In addition, more than 40% of the participants expressed hesitation in half of the items in VHS. This study characterized COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in China, and identified disparities in vaccine hesitancy by socio-demographic groups and knowledge about the vaccine. Knowledge of the vaccine was statistically linked to respondents’ answers to the clustered ‘lack of confidence’ and ‘risks perception’ items. Our results characterize Chinese citizens’ COVID-19 vaccine concerns and will inform targeted health communications.

Aero-engine electrostatic monitoring technology (EMT) is a novel and effective condition monitoring technology. With the help of EMT, effective monitoring of early failures can be achieved. Since the electrostatic monitoring of the running engine will be strongly interfered, the sampled electrostatic signal has various noise components and low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). After analyzing the source of the noise components carried by the electrostatic signal, this paper proposes a method for electrostatic signal denoising in a strong interference environment, which is based on the nonlinear total variation theory. In the experiments, the simulated electrostatic measurement signal and the actual test-run electrostatic measurement signal were used as the analysis objects, and the denoising test was carried out by using the proposed method. Meanwhile, the denoising effect was compared and analyzed with other classical methods. The experimental results show that the proposed denoising method can effectively remove random noise, electromagnetic pulse and periodic noise in electrostatic signal, and is more applicable to the measured electrostatic signal with low SNR than the classical electrostatic signal denoising methods such as wavelet threshold denoising method and empirical mode decomposition method.

Recently, the quantum effect of condensed matter physics is introduced into the acoustic field, which lays a new pathway to manipulate the acoustic wave. However, the acoustic topological insulator based on Bragg scattering requires their lattice constant to be comparable with the wavelength. In this paper, a novel subwavelength spiral element on the basis of the Archimedean spiral is proposed. Thanks to the central resonator with a slender curved channels scheme, the subwavelength Dirac cone forms in the band structure. The eigenfrequency of the element can be changed by the spiral geometric parameters, which triggers the topological phase transition characterized by opposite valley Chern numbers. The backscattering-immune unidirectional transmission edge state exists at different topological boundaries, suggesting its great robustness even at the sharp bends. Also the topological edge modes along the Z-shaped interfaces are verified by the experiments and the calculation, which provides an effective structure to control the low frequency acoustic wave transmission.

PurposeTo provide reference data on CBT pedicle screws from CT measurements of L1 to L5 in the Chinese Han population and to assess the treatment efficacy of CBT pedicle screws in cases of lumbar degenerative disease.MethodsIn total, 100 patients were identified from the CT database for CBT morphometric measurement of the lumbar spine. According to sex and age, patients were divided into four groups. The diameter, length, and angle of the vertebral pedicle and trajectory were measured. Then, a total of 36 patients with lumbar degenerative disease were included in this study for clinical and radiographic evaluation. Demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and extent of intervertebral disc herniation and spondylolisthesis were evaluated.ResultsThe mean diameter and the mean length varied from L1 to L5 in Groups I to IV. The lateral angles ranging from L1 to L5 were 8.9 to 9.2°, 8.7 to 12.2°, 8.7 to 11.2°, and 9.2 to 10.1° in Groups I to IV, respectively. The cephalad angles from L1 to L5 were 23.5 to 28.6°, 24.7 to 26.6°, 25.0 to 28.2°, and 24.7 to 27.9° in Groups I to IV, respectively. In the case series, all patients’ neurological function and HRQOL were significantly improved at the final follow-up (p

Objectives: We aim to find out the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of workplace violence (WPV) against current Chinese emergency department (ED) nurses.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 20,136 ED nurses was conducted in 31 provinces in China between July and September 2019. Descriptive analyses were used to examine the prevalence and characteristics of WPV. Chi-square analysis and Binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify the predictors of WPV.Results: During the past 12 months, there are 79.39% of ED nurses exposed to any type of WPV, including 78.38% and 39.65% exposed to nonphysical and physical violence, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis shows that ED nurses who were male, had bachelor’s degrees, had average monthly salary between 5,001 and 12,000, worked in central China, had higher professional titles, were more experienced, arranging shift work, and had higher work stress were more likely to experience WPV.Conclusion: A relatively high prevalence of WPV against Chinese ED nurses has been revealed in this study. The characteristics and predictors of WPV remind us to take positive measures to reduce WPV.

The wilting process is required for the preparation of traditional low-moisture silage, which is not only subject to the interference of rainfall during the harvest season in many areas, but also increases labor, economic, and time costs. Therefore, in this experiment, newly harvested alfalfa was supplemented with a complex additive consisting of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), sucrose, and corn flour, and then ensiled directly in order to explore a suitable high-moisture silage processing method. There were four groups: control (CK), 0.01 g/kg LAB plus 2% sugar (S), 0.01 g/kg LAB plus 5% corn flour (C5), and 0.01 g/kg LAB plus 5% corn flour (C10). The results show that all four types of silage had significantly reduced acid detergent fiber, acetic acid content, and ammonia/total nitrogen (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lactobacillus spp. was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and that of Weissella, Clostridium sensu stricto 12, and Pantoea genera was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in all four treatments. Group S had significantly increased crude protein content, and groups C5 and C10 had significantly reduced neutral detergent fiber. Overall, group C10 had the highest LA concentration, the highest relative abundance of Lactobacillus spp., and the lowest pH, ammonia/total nitrogen, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber. Silage with a complex additive consisting of LAB + 10% corn flour is recommended to achieve good fermentation with high nutritional quality.

Purpose: To investigate the role of the mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) gene single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) T309G in the development of epimacular membranes (EMMs) by analyzing the genotype distribution and consistency of the polymorphism in paired membrane-blood samples.Methods: This was a cross–sectional genetic association study of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) or EMMs. PVR membranes (PVRMs), internal limiting membranes (ILMs) (PVR-ILMs) and blood samples (PVR-blood) from patients with PVR, and EMMs, EMM-ILMs and EMM-blood from patients with EMMs were collected. The genotype of all samples was determined by Sanger sequencing. Sex composition, mean age, the genotype distribution of MDM2 T309G, the allelic frequency of the MDM2 SNP309 G allele (% G) and the somatic mutation rate at the MDM2 T309G locus (% M) were analyzed and compared. The PVR and healthy Chinese donor groups were used as controls for different comparisons.Results: The EMM group of 62 patients was older than the PVR group of 61 patients by an average of 8.87 years (p < 0.0001), but the two groups were statistically similar in the sex composition (p = 0.1754). Importantly, G allele carriers were at a higher risk of developing EMMs than non-G allele carriers (p = 0.0479; OR = 2.047). Moreover, EMM-blood exhibited a significantly higher % G than blood samples from healthy Chinese donors (EMM-blood: 56.78%, donors: 45.61%; p = 0.0256; OR = 1.567). Regarding membrane-blood consistency, % M was significantly different between PVRMs and EMMs (PVRMs: 2.63%, EMMs: 21.57%; p = 0.0097; OR = 10.18) but not between different types of ILMs (PVR-ILMs: 18.18%, EMM-ILMs: 29.17%; p = 0.6855). Furthermore, EMMs (p = 0.0053; OR = 8.250) and EMM-ILMs (p = 0.0233; OR = 14.40) from patients with preoperative macular holes were more predisposed toward somatic mutations at the MDM2 T309G locus than those from patients without preoperative macular holes.Conclusions:MDM2 T309G is associated with the development of EMMs. Herein, the MDM2 SNP309 G allele is first reported as an associated factor of EMMs in a Chinese population. In addition, EMMs and ILMs are genetically unstable at the MDM2 T309G locus, especially when complicated with preoperative macular holes.

Insertion resistance is the resistance caused by a pile to a wheel loader when the latter inserts into the pile. It is significant to clarify the insertion resistance to avoid wheel slippage, increase additional energy consumption, and protect the wheel loader during the insertion process. To address the problem that current methods cannot accurately obtain the insertion resistance magnitude and insertion resistance variation trend, we propose a composite model based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. Firstly, the Pearson correlation coefficient method is used to test the parameters related to insertion resistance. Following this, the hyperparameters in the LSTM are optimized by PSO. Finally, different proportions of training sets are set in PSO-LSTM and compared with LSTM. The experimental data are selected from gravel sample groups and sand sample groups consisting of insertion depths of 600 mm, 800 mm, and 1000 mm. The results show that PSO-LSTM has higher prediction accuracy, better robustness, stability, and generalization ability compared with LSTM. In PSO-LSTM, when the proportion of the training set is 80%, the average relative errors are 2.28%, 1.57%, and 1.53% for the gravel sample group and 1.14%, 0.71%, and 0.60% for the sand sample group.