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Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a prevalent cause of clinical pharmacological liver injury worldwide. Artemether (ART), a first-line antimalarial drug, has demonstrated hepatoprotective activity. However, its effect on APAP-induced acute liver injury (AILI) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether ART can protect against AILI and examined its underlying mechanisms. In vivo, ART mitigated APAP-induced liver histological changes, including mitochondrial damage, hepatocyte necrosis, hepatocyte apoptosis, and inflammatory infiltration. Additionally, ART reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in APAP-induced mice. ART also activated the Nrf2-HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway, exerting antioxidant effects in both in vitro and in vivo models of AILI. To confirm Nrf2 as a target of ART in vivo, we pretreated C57BL/6 mice with the Nrf2 inhibitor, ML385. The results indicated that inhibiting Nrf2 diminishes the protective effect of ART against AILI. Overall, our findings suggest that ART's protective effect against AILI is mediated through the Nrf2-related antioxidant pathway.

To address the issues of low anti-clay performance and high adsorption of ordinary superplasticizer in concrete applications, a novel anti-clay polycarboxylate superplasticizer (Abbreviated as KN-G superplasticizer) was developed. Its structure and properties were characterized using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). The results indicate that the optimal mass ratio for the synthesized KN-G superplasticizer was monomer: sulfonic acid base: initiator quality: chain transfer agent: hydroxypropyl acrylate=0.808:0.129:0.008:0.008: 0.008:0.007:0.048 under specific conditions, including an acid-to-ether molar ratio of 4.0:1, temperature of 35 °C, solid content of 56%, and drop rate of 4 s/drop. The successful grafting of -SO3H functional groups was confirmed by test results of IR and NMR. At a water-to-cement ratio of 0.45, the disage of montmorillonite and KN-G superplasticizer at 3% and 0.5% of the cement mass, respectively, resulted in the fluidity of mortar with low-quality sand reaching 120 mm, demonstrating the effective anti-clay ability of the KN-G superplasticizer.

The existing residual film-recycling machines struggle to efficiently recover and separate film stubble in a single operation. With roller-type film-rolling device unloading difficulties and other problems, in order to improve the recovery efficiency of film stubble and the separation effect while reducing human labor and to improve work efficiency, we designed an automatic hydraulic unloading film stubble-recycling integrated residual film-recycling machine. The angle of the membrane lifting device was determined by theoretical calculations using the method of coupled simulation of EDEM and ANSYS Workbench. We analyzed the amount of resistance as well as the maximum stress and deformation during the working process of the membrane-lifting device and focused on the design of the membrane–soil separating device and membrane-rolling device. The depth of the film shovel, the forward speed of the machine, and the rotational speed of the driving wheel of the jogging chain were selected as the test factors, and the residual film recovery rate was taken as the evaluation index. A three-factor, three-level test was designed by applying the principles of the Box–Behnken experimental design. The results show that when the forward speed is 1.36 m/s, the soil depth is 147.16 mm, and the rotational speed of the driving wheel of the shaking chain is 77.89 r/min, the recovery rate of the residual film is 87.56%, and the relative error between the experimental value and the optimized value is 2.73%. The experimental results can provide a theoretical basis for the design of the residual film-recycling machine.

Aiming at the problems of low soil cover and serious wear and tear of transmission parts in the soil lifting device of potato planters, this paper carries out innovative optimization design of its key parts based on TRIZ theory. The discrete element model of the soil model and the multi-body dynamic model of the soil lifting device are established, the upper scraping and lower scraping soil lifting devices are simulated respectively through the method of DEM-MBD coupling, and the working mechanism of the soil lifting device is further explored. The simulation results show that the lower scraping type lifting device has a large conveying capacity and a stable flow rate at the soil outlet. The results of the soil tank performance comparison test show that: the improved soil lifting device has a simple structure, large conveying capacity, stable flow rate, and fast flow speed and is not easily congested. It meets the standard requirements of dryland potato seedling strip mulching planting technology on mulching parameters and is of great significance for improving dryland food production on the Loess Plateau.

To address the issues of the poor filling and clearing efficiency of spoon–chain potato seed dischargers, an optimization design was implemented in this study. Based on the motion characteristics of potatoes during the filling and transport processes, an inclination angle was set for the seed spoon cavity, and a seed-clearing brush was installed at the top of the seed discharger. A DEM-MBD coupled simulation model of the seed discharger was constructed. The working speed of the driving sprocket, the inclination angle of the seed spoon cavity, and the seed holding height were used as experimental factors, while the single-seed qualification rate, missed seed rate, and over-seeding rate were used as evaluation indices to conduct a quadratic regression orthogonal rotation combination experiment. This determined the optimal technical parameter combination for the best working performance. Based on the results of the DEM-MBD coupled simulation experiments, a response surface optimization test was conducted. The results showed that the optimal working performance was achieved when the working speed of the driving sprocket was 43 rpm, the inclination angle of the seed spoon cavity was 15°, and the seed holding height was 0.2 m. Under these conditions, the single-seed qualification rate was 95.28%, the missed seed rate was 0.92%, and the over-seeding rate was 3.80%. Further soil bin tests confirmed that, under the optimal working parameters, the relative deviations of all test indices from the response surface optimization test results were less than 2%. The research results provide new insights for the optimization design of spoon–chain potato seed-metering devices.

Aiming at the problems of poor passability of a tracked chassis due to small plots, complicated road conditions and steep slopes during mechanized potato harvesting in hilly and mountainous areas. To design a potato combine harvester and take the tracked chassis of the harvester as the research object to study its driving performance under typical road conditions in mountainous areas. Firstly, mechanical analysis and theoretical calculation are carried out on the tracked chassis to obtain the relevant parameters of key components, and secondly, its driving performance is analyzed to obtain the driving limit values of passing performance under different working conditions; RecurDyn software was used to establish the dynamics simulation and analysis model of the whole machine, and the driving limit values of the harvester were determined under five different road conditions through simulation. The results show the following: the driving limit gradient angle is 20° in cross-gradient conditions, 25° in longitudinal up-gradient conditions, 25° in longitudinal down-gradient conditions, the limiting height of the chassis that can be overpassed in obstacle-crossing conditions is 450 mm, and the limiting width of the chassis that can be spanned in trench-crossing conditions is 1200 mm. The simulation results were verified through field tests, and the results of the field tests showed that the harvester met the requirements of stable travelling on longitudinal slopes of 24°, climbed over a 450 mm straight wall and crossed over a 1200 mm trench, which were similar to the simulation results, indicating that the simulation results were accurate and feasible, and met the design requirements for the travelling passage of the crawler potato harvester. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the tracked chassis of the potato combine harvester in hilly mountainous areas, with a view to providing reference for the design of tracked harvesters for other crops in hilly mountainous areas.

IntroductionAccurate detection of potato seedlings is crucial for obtaining information on potato seedlings and ultimately increasing potato yield. This study aims to enhance the detection of potato seedlings in drone-captured images through a novel lightweight model.MethodsWe established a dataset of drone-captured images of potato seedlings and proposed the VBGS-YOLOv8n model, an improved version of YOLOv8n. This model employs a lighter VanillaNet as the backbone network in-stead of the original YOLOv8n model. To address the small target features of potato seedlings, we introduced a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network to replace the path aggregation network, reducing information loss between network layers, facilitating rapid multi-scale feature fusion, and enhancing detection performance. Additionally, we incorporated GSConv and Slim-neck designs at the Neck section to balance accuracy while reducing model complexity. ResultsThe VBGS-YOLOv8n model, with 1,524,943 parameters and 4.2 billion FLOPs, achieves a precision of 97.1%, a mean average precision of 98.4%, and an inference time of 2.0ms. Comparative tests reveal that VBGS-YOLOv8n strikes a balance between detection accuracy, speed, and model efficiency compared to YOLOv8 and other mainstream networks. Specifically, compared to YOLOv8, the model parameters and FLOPs are reduced by 51.7% and 52.8% respectively, while precision and a mean average precision are improved by 1.4% and 0.8% respectively, and the inference time is reduced by 31.0%.DiscussionComparative tests with mainstream models, including YOLOv7, YOLOv5, RetinaNet, and QueryDet, demonstrate that VBGS-YOLOv8n outperforms these models in terms of detection accuracy, speed, and efficiency. The research highlights the effectiveness of VBGS-YOLOv8n in the efficient detection of potato seedlings in drone remote sensing images, providing a valuable reference for subsequent identification and deployment on mobile devices.

BackgroundBased on pharmacoeconomics, drug availability and actual treatment, optimal treatment regimens for Chinese non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients over 70 years old are needed.MethodsThis multicenter, single-arm pilot trial enrolled patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC who refused systemic chemotherapy. Eligible patients received anlotinib (12 mg/day, d1-14, Q3W) until disease progression, intolerant toxicities, or withdrawal from the study. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsForty-nine patients were screened between January 2019 and September 2021, of whom 40 patients were eligible. The median age was 76 years. With a median follow-up period of 16.20 (95% CI: 8.77, 25.10) months, the median PFS was 5.45 months (95% CI: 3.52-9.23) and the median overall survival was 10.32 months (95% CI: 6.44-12.78). Three patients achieved a partial response and 34 had stable disease, with an objective response rate of 7.5% and a disease control rate of 92.5%. Thirty-three (82.5%; 33/40) patients reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of any grade, and the incidence rate of grade ≥3 TRAEs was 35% (14/40). The most common grade ≥3 TRAEs were hypertension (4/40; 10.0%), hand-foot syndrome (3/40; 7.5%), and proteinuria (2/40; 5.0%).ConclusionAnlotinib treatment was feasible and safe in Chinese elderly patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC who did not receive any systemic chemotherapy.

The dysregulation of the intestinal epithelial barrier significantly contributes to the inflammatory progression of ulcerative colitis. Recent studies have indicated that lactate, produced by gut bacteria or derived from fermented foods, plays a key role in modulating inflammation via G-protein-coupled receptor 81 (GPR81). In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of GPR81 in the progression of colitis and to assess the impact of lactate/GPR81 signaling on intestinal epithelial barrier function. Our findings demonstrated a downregulation of GPR81 protein expression in patients with colitis. Functional verification experiments showed that Gpr81-deficient mice exhibited more severe damage to the intestinal epithelial barrier and increased susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis, characterized by exacerbated oxidative stress, elevated inflammatory cytokine secretion, and impaired expression of tight-junction proteins. Mechanistically, we found that lactate could suppress TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression and prevent the disruption of tight-junction proteins by inhibiting NF-κB activation through GPR81 in vitro. Furthermore, our study showed that dietary lactate could preserve intestinal epithelial barrier function against DSS-induced damage in a GPR81-dependent manner in vivo. Collectively, these results underscore the crucial involvement of the lactate/GPR81 signaling pathway in maintaining intestinal epithelial barrier function, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis.

Abstract Background The Kingdom of Morocco approved BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on 22 January 2021 in a two-dose, three-to-four-week interval schedule. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine real-world BBIBP-CorV vaccine effectiveness (VE) against serious or critical hospitalization of individuals RT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first five months of BBIBP-CorV use in Morocco. Methods The study was conducted among adults 18–99 years old who were tested by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 February and 30 June 2021. RT-PCR results were individually linked with outcomes from the COVID-19 severe or critical hospitalization dataset and with vaccination histories from the national vaccination registration system. Individuals with partial vaccination (

ABSTRACT Global dissemination of K. pneumoniae clones poses health hazards to the public. Genomic epidemiology studies with comprehensive data set further revealed clone divergence, showing a high complexity in evolution. Moreover, clones carrying both acquired virulent and antimicrobial-resistant genes emerged and might replace the carbapenem-resistant clones. Co-occurrence of virulence and resistance is emerging. An unbiased collection of 3,061 clinical K. pneumoniae isolates (January 5, 2013 to July 24, 2018) underwent whole-genome sequencing. Pairwise core-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) distances identified clone divergence and transmission events. A sum of 2,193 nonduplicated genomes clustered into four phenotypically indistinguishable species complexes. 93% (n = 2,035) were KpI with its largest clonal group (CG) being CG11 (n = 406). Three hundred ninety-three were ST11 and three hundred seventy-four carried blaKPC-2. Noticeably, CG11 is divided into two main subclones based on the capsule synthesis K loci (KL). CG11-KL64 showed a clear hypervirulent plus antimicrobial-resistant (hv+AMR) characteristic. Besides, the phylogenetic structure revealed the clone divergence of CG25, and this is the first report with sufficient CG25 genomes to identify the divergence. The outcomes of the hv+AMR CG25 cluster 1 affected patients were poorer (P < 0.05). Moreover, two episodes of strain transmissions were associated with CG25 cluster 1. Other transmissions were associated with ST20 and ST307. Genomic epidemiology identified clone divergence of CG11 and CG25. The hv+AMR subclones pose greater threats on a global scale. Nosocomial transmissions of the high-risk clones raised our concerns about the evolution and transmission of emerging clones among newborns and critically ill patients. IMPORTANCE The convergence of AMR and acquired virulence posing higher risks to the public is a focusing point. With sufficient genomes and genotypes, we successfully identify the convergence in two subclones, the previously reported CG11-KL64, and the newly reported CG25 cluster 1. The novel finding of the CG25 divergence was not only revealed by the phylogenetic tree but also confirmed by the clinical outcome data and the accessory genome patterns. Moreover, the transmission subclones circulated in two clinically important wards highlights the deficiency of infection control program using conventional methods. Without the assistance of whole-genome sequencing, the transmissions of high-risk clones could not be identified.

Objective: To investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in patients with delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP).Design: A parallel-group, open-label randomised controlled study.Setting: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Room of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University.Subjects: A total of 40 patients were recruited for the current study. Patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group (20 cases/group).Interventions: Control group: conventional, individualised rehabilitation therapy. Treatment group: conventional, individualised rehabilitation therapy and tDCS.Main Measures: cognitive function of patients, the Barthel Index (BI).Results: After treatment, significantly higher MMSE and BI scores, as well as a greater reduction in P300 latency and an increase in P300 amplitude, were observed in the treatment group compared to the control group (MMSE: 13 ± 7 vs. 9 ± 5; P300 latency: 342 ± 29 vs. 363 ± 17 ms; P300 amplitude: 7.0 ± 3.3 vs. 5.1 ± 2.7 μV; all P < 0.05). In both groups, however, MMSE and BI scores, in addition to P300 amplitude, were significantly improved; in contrast, there was a decrease in P300 latency in both groups after treatment compared to before treatment (all P < 0.05).Conclusion: Combined with HBOT, tDCS can help improve cognitive function and ADL in patients with DEACMP. This combination therapy might be a helpful method to enhance the recovery of patients with DEACMP.

Stability of advanced functional materials subjected to extreme conditions involving ion bombardment, radiation, or reactive chemicals is crucial for diverse applications. Here we demonstrate the excellent stability of wafer-scale thin films of vertically aligned hexagonal BN nanosheets (hBNNS) exposed to high-energy ions and reactive atomic oxygen representative of extreme conditions in space exploration and other applications. The hBNNS are fabricated catalyst-free on wafer-scale silicon, stainless steel, copper and glass panels at a lower temperature of 400 °C by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and subsequently characterized. The resistance of BNNS to high-energy ions was tested by immersing the samples into the plasma plume at the anode of a 150 W Hall Effect Thruster with BNNS films facing Xenon ions, revealing that the etching rate of BNNS is 20 times less than for a single-crystalline silicon wafer. Additionally, using O2/Ar/H2 plasmas to simulate the low Earth orbit (LEO) environment, it is demonstrated that the simulated plasma had very weak influence on the hBNNS surface structure and thickness. These results validate the strong potential of BNNS films for applications as protective, thermally conductive and insulating layers for spacecrafts, electric plasma satellite thrusters and semiconductor optoelectronic devices.

Background: EBV-miR-BARTs exhibit significant relevance in epithelial tumors, particularly in EBVassociated gastric and nasopharyngeal cancers. However, their specific mechanisms in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer remain insufficiently explored. Material and Methods: Initially, EBV-miRNA-BART6-5p and its target gene SMAD4 expression were assessed in EBV-associated gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Subsequent transfection induced overexpression of EBV-miRNA-BART6-5p in AGS and MKN-45, and downregulation in EBVpositive cells (SUN-719). The subsequent evaluation aimed to observe their impact on gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and glycolytic processes, with the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signaling pathway value clarified using a TGF-ß inhibitor. Results: EBV-miRNA-BART6-5p exhibits pronounced upregulation in EBV-associated gastric cancer tissues and EBV-positive cells, while its target gene SMAD4 demonstrates downregulated expression. Upregulation of it can promote the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells. Additionally, We found EBV-miRNA-BART6-5p promotes glycolysis of gastric cancer cells. Inhibition of the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signaling pathway resulted in suppressed proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells, concomitant with a diminished glycolytic capacity. Conclusion: In this study, we found that EBV-miRNA-BART6-5p can target SMAD4, effectively increasing glycolysis in gastric cancer cells by regulating the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells. Our findings may offer new insights into the metabolic aspects of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a heterogeneous, life-threatening disease. A subgroup of HIV-negative and HHV-8-negative MCD is defined as idiopathic MCD (iMCD) with a poor prognosis. Here we report an unusual case of a 47-year-old male patient with iMCD who experienced multiple treatment regimens such as chemotherapy, immunomodulatory therapy, and targeted therapy, all of which were considered ineffective. Subsequently, he was started on bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone for six cycles and he was in complete remission. The patient has survived nearly 13 years to date – the longest survival of any iMCD patient treated with bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone. Bortezomib combined with dexamethasone may be an effective salvage strategy for severe and refractory iMCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim was to explore the value of combined detection of PCT, CRP, and FIB in differentiating severe pneumonia from viral infection and bacterial infection. Methods: A total of 100 patients with severe pneumonia admitted to Hebei General Hospital from August 2020 to November 2021 were selected as the research objects, including 50 patients with viral pneumonia (as the viral group, n = 50) and 50 patients with bacterial pneumonia (as the bacterial group, n = 50). At the same time, the clinical data of 50 healthy people in the hospital were selected as the healthy group (n = 50). All the subjects in the three groups were tested for PCT, CRP, and FIB. The difference of each index level among the three groups was compared. The diagnostic efficacy of each index for pneumonia was analyzed by drawing receiver operating characteristic curves, and the independent predictors of pneumonia were determined by logistic regression model. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, course of disease, body mass index (BMI), and other general data among the three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the healthy group, the levels of serum PCT, CRP, and FIB in the viral group and the bacterial group were significantly increased, and the levels of serum PCT, CRP, and FIB in the bacterial group were significantly higher than those in the viral group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The positive rates of FIB, CRP, and PCT in bacterial group and viral group were increased in turn, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05), and the positive rates of combined detection in the two groups were significantly higher than the positive rates of single index detection (p < 0.05). Taking etiological examination as the gold standard, the sensitivity (92.59%) and specificity (90.17%) of the three combined detection methods were significantly higher than those of PCT, CRP, and FIB alone. Kappa test showed that the results of the combined detection and etiological examination were in good agreement (Kappa value = 0.847, p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of combined prediction of the three was 0.964, which was higher than that of single detection of 0.859, 0.832, and 0.871. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum PCT, CRP, and FIB were independent predictors of bacterial pneumonia, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that FIB level in the bacterial group was positively correlated with PCT and CRP. PCT was positively correlated with CRP. Conclusions: Compared with viral pneumonia, the levels of serum PCT, CRP, and FIB in patients with bacterial pneumonia are higher. Biochemical indexes can be used as independent predictors for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia, and have high diagnostic value. The combined detection of the three has the highest diagnostic efficiency, which is conducive to the clinical differential diagnosis of the early types of pneumonia infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is economically significant important for offshore cage aquaculture in China and Southeast Asian countries. Lack of high-quality genomic data and accurate gene annotations greatly restricts its genetic breeding progress. Objectives: To decode the mechanisms of sex determination and rapid growth in golden pompano and facilitate the sex- and growth-aimed genetic breeding. Methods: Genome assemblies of male and female golden pompano were generated using Illumina, PacBio, BioNano, genetic maps and Hi-C sequencing data. Genomic comparisons, whole genome re-sequencing of 202 F1 individuals, QTL mapping and gonadal transcriptomes were used to analyze the sex determining region, sex chromosome evolution, SNP loci, and growth candidate genes. Zebrafish model was used to investigate the functions of growth candidate gene. Results: Female (644.45 Mb) and male (652.12 Mb) genomes of golden pompano were assembled and annotated at the chromosome level. Both genomes are highly conserved and no new or highly differentiated sex chromosomes occur. A 3.5 Mb sex determining region on LG15 was identified, where Hsd17b1, Micall2 and Lmx1a were putative candidates for sex determination. Three SNP loci significantly linked to growth were pinpointed, and a growth-linked gene gpsstr1 was identified by locus BSNP1369 (G → C, 17489695, Chr23). Loss of sstr1a (homologue of gpsstr1) in zebrafish caused growth retardation. Conclusion: This study provides insights into sex chromosome evolution, sex determination and rapid growth of golden pompano.