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Aims Design Methods Results Conclusion Implications for the profession and/or patient care Impact Reporting method Patient or public contribution To construct a conceptual framework on the process of family resilience during the first year following childhood leukaemia diagnosis.A longitudinal qualitative interview study.A longitudinal qualitative study following a grounded theory methodology was employed. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with parents of children with leukaemia in a general hospital. The participants were recruited through purposive and theoretical sampling and longitudinal engagement was achieved by conducting interviews at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the leukaemia diagnosis. The core category and categories were saturated following the enrolment of parents of children with leukaemia. Data collection and analyses were performed simultaneously.Sixteen parents of children with leukaemia participated. The core category of ‘families living with childhood leukaemia’ refers to the process of family resilience during the first year following childhood leukaemia diagnosis, which includes three phases: (1) destruction and resiliency period; (2) adjustment and consolidation period; and (3) growth and planning period.This study explored the dynamic, complex and continuous processes of resilience among families coping with childhood leukaemia during the first year following diagnosis. Further research should design tailored family interventions that characterise the different phases of family resilience, aiming to support family well‐being, integrity and functioning.Both families and healthcare professionals must create an enabling environment that supports families coping with difficulties. Understanding the different phases of family resilience allows healthcare professionals to provide holistic care that meets the demands of families with childhood leukaemia.Unique knowledge emerged about the family's resiliency process when facing childhood leukaemia, suggesting a family‐led revolution in understanding and managing childhood leukaemia. Therefore, the development of phased, resilience‐based family interventions is imperative.This study was reported using the COREQ checklist.Patients contributed via study participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atenolol, a cardioselective β1‐blocker, exhibits efficacy in treating cardiovascular diseases. We conducted a single‐center, randomized, open, single‐dose, 2‐preparation, 2‐cycle, 2‐sequence, double‐crossover trial with a 7‐day washout period to investigate the pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence (BE), and safety of test and reference atenolol tablets (25 mg) in healthy Chinese volunteers. Forty‐eight healthy participants were randomized into the fasting and fed arms. After administering a single oral dose of the test or reference formulation (25 mg), plasma atenolol concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from concentration‐time profiles. In total, 23 and 24 individuals were included in the fasting and fed arms, respectively. The mean concentration‐time profiles for both formulations were similar, and Cmax, AUC0‐t, and AUC0‐∞ were within the BE range of 80%‐125%. Thirteen adverse events (AEs) were observed in 7 participants in the fasting arm; 1 withdrew from the trial early owing to an AE. In the fed arm, 20 AEs were observed in 8 participants, and none withdrew from the trial. All adverse reactions were grade I, with no serious AEs or deaths. Therefore, the 2 tablets are bioequivalent in healthy Chinese individuals under fasting and fed conditions, supporting their further clinical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doxorubicin (Dox) is associated with various liver injuries, limiting its clinical utility. This study investigates whether NSUN2 participates in Dox-induced liver injury and the associated molecular mechanism. Methods: In vivo and in vitro liver cell injury models were constructed based on Dox therapy. The protein levels of NSUN2 and oxidative stress indicators Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 were evaluated by Western blot. The RNA binding potential was detected by RNA methylation immunoprecipitation (RIP). Additionally, the effect of NSUN2 on Nrf2 mRNA synthesis and localization was evaluated using an RNA fluorescence probe. Results: NSUN2 was downregulated, and liver tissue suffered significant pathological damage in the Dox group. The levels of ALT and AST significantly increased. NSUN2 interference exacerbated Dox-induced liver cell damage, which was reversed by NSUN2 overexpression. RIP demonstrated that NSUN2 recognized and bound to Nrf2 mRNA. Western blot analysis showed the protein level of Nrf2 in the NSUN2-WT group was significantly higher than that of the control group, whereas there was no significant change in Nrf2 level in the mutant NSUN2 group. Luciferase analysis demonstrated that NSUN2 could recognize and activate the Nrf2 5′UTR region of LO2 cells. In addition, RIP analysis revealed that ALYREF could recognize and bind to Nrf2 mRNA and that ALYREF controls the regulatory effect of NSUN2 on Nrf2. Conclusion: NSUN2 regulates Dox-induced liver cell damage by increasing Nrf2 mRNA m5C methylation to inhibit inhibiting antioxidant stress. The regulatory effect of NSUN2 on Nrf2 depends on ALYREF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to find out the characteristics in relation to tumor recurrence in diffused-tenosynovial giant cell tumor of temporomandibular joint and to develop and validate the prognostic model for personalized prediction. Methods: From April 2009 to January 2021, patients with diffused-tenosynovial giant cell tumor of temporomandibular joint at a single center were included in this study. The clinical features and local recurrence-free survival were assessed through the expression of the Ki-67 index and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor expression. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the prognostic factors for local recurrence-free survival. An independent predictor nomogram and pertinent tumor characteristics were included. Results: The retrospective study enrolling seventy eligible patients at the Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. During the follow-up time, eleven patients suffered tumor recurrence. Age was an independent risk factor for local recurrence-free survival (P = 0.032). The Ki-67 index varied significantly in different sites (P = 0.034) and tumor volume (P = 0.017). Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop the prediction model using both statistical significance and prognostic indicators. The C-index of the nomogram based on age, site, Ki-67, and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor was 0.833. These variates provided good predicted accuracy for a nomogram on local recurrence-free survival. Diffused-tenosynovial giant cell tumor from the temporomandibular joint is extremely uncommon, and certain clinical traits are linked to the tumor proliferation index. Conclusions: We identified the risk indicators and developed a nomogram in this study to forecast the likelihood of local recurrence-free survival in patients with diffused-tenosynovial giant cell tumor from temporomandibular joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The interface of L3 automated driving systems needs to take both automated and manual driving into consideration. This calls for a comprehension of drivers’ differed risk perception under manual and automated driving conditions, thus supporting description of contextual information and appropriate risk warnings. Existing studies have reported drivers’ impaired ability during automated driving, however, a quantified measurement is still lacking. This study tried to measure the difference in drivers’ ability to perceive risks during automated and manual driving. Specifically, a simulated driving experiment in car-following scenarios was conducted to collect drivers’ perceived risk under multiple manual and automated driving conditions, including varied motion directions, speed, and distance among vehicles. Then, the influences of driving mode, motion directions, speed, and distance on drivers’ risk perceptions were described using a linear mixed model. The result demonstrated a complicated interaction effect. Automated driving impaired drivers’ risk perception, and this effect was less severe in highly risky events. In both manual and automated driving, drivers were less sensitive to risk only when risky events happened backwards. These results indicated drivers’ varied ability under multiple conditions, and supported warning design and interface refinement under automated and manual driving conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jing Jiang's book, "Found in Translation: 'New People' in Twentieth-Century Chinese Science Fiction," offers new perspectives on Chinese science fiction by examining texts brought into dialogue through translation. The book covers the early twentieth century to the post-Mao era and explores how Chinese science fiction contributes to Chinese conceptualizations of modernity. The book analyzes themes of creating "new people" through edification or bioengineering, and discusses the genre's interventions in debates about citizenry, subjectivity, and humanity in China's twentieth century. This book will be of interest to scholars and graduate students studying Chinese science fiction and modern Chinese literature. [Extracted from the article]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in cell therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine because of their self-renewal, pluripotency, and immunomodulatory properties. The microenvironment in which MSCs are located significantly affects their physiological functions. The microenvironment directly or indirectly affects cell behavior through biophysical, biochemical, or other means. Among them, the mechanical signals provided to MSCs by the microenvironment have a particularly pronounced effect on their physiological functions and can affect osteogenic differentiation, chondrogenic differentiation, and senescence in MSCs. Mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo1 and Piezo2 are important in transducing mechanical signals, and these channels are widely distributed in sites such as skin, bladder, kidney, lung, sensory neurons, and dorsal root ganglia. Although there have been numerous studies on Piezo channels in MSCs in recent years, the function of Piezo channels in MSCs is still not well understood, and there has been no summary of their relationship to illustrate which physiological functions of MSCs are affected by Piezo channels and the possible underlying mechanisms. Therefore, based on the members, structures, and functions of Piezo ion channels and the fundamental information of MSCs, this paper focused on summarizing the advances in Piezo channels in MSCs from various tissue sources to provide new ideas for future research and practical applications of Piezo channels and MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To develop a conceptual framework that explores the process of building family resilience among Chinese families with children diagnosed with leukaemia. Background: The diagnosis of childhood leukaemia has a devastating effect on the family. Nonetheless, some families were able to positively respond to the crisis. The process through which Chinese families bounce back has received little attention. Design: Grounded theory. Methods: This study used purposive and theoretical sampling to select 16 parents who agreed to participate in semistructured interviews after children were diagnosed with leukaemia. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Data were analysed through a process of open, axial and selective coding. The COREQ checklist was followed for reporting. Results: A core category of 'finding family resilience in adversity' was generated. The core category was underpinned by a transition process between two fluid stages: (a) Disrupting the family system, informed by subcategories of negative emotional disturbances and challenges of the diagnosis and treatment journey; (b) Cultivating resilience in families, informed by subcategories of increasing positive attitudes; establishing new family routines; activating good support systems; and practising open family communication. Conclusions: The transition process from the disruption of the family system to the cultivation of family resilience is perceived as a complex family dynamic in response to childhood leukaemia. Our findings can form the basis for further research about resilience‐based family interventions that promote family well‐being during the early stages of a childhood leukaemia diagnosis. Relevance to Clinical Practice: It is necessary for healthcare professionals to provide essential support for families to face the challenges of diagnosis and treatment to facilitate the successful transition to family resilience. By understanding the dynamic process of developing family resilience, healthcare professionals are able to focus on these families to provide holistic care that satisfies the specific demands of family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the skin microbiota of amphibians in different disturbed habitats can clarify the relationship between the skin microbiota composition and environmental factors and have practical implications for the conservation of endangered species. In this study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to profile the skin microbiota of Maoershan hynobiids (Hynobius maoershanensis). Our results illustrate that the alpha diversity of the skin microbiota significantly differed among individuals in higher anthropogenic disturbance-degree (HADD) habitats and lower anthropogenic disturbance-degree (LADD) habitats. The diversity of the skin microbiota in forelimb bud-stage tadpoles from HADD habitats was higher than that in their counterparts from LADD habitats. The richness of the skin microbiota in hindlimb bud-stage tadpoles was greater in HADD habitats than in LADD habitats. However, the alpha diversity of the adult skin microbiota did not differ significantly between the two habitats. Furthermore, stepwise regression analysis indicated that the skin microbiota diversity and relative abundance of dominant bacteria decreased with increasing air temperature, water temperature, and pH; conversely, skin microbiota richness increased with increasing humidity. In addition, the relative abundance of dominant bacteria was influenced by anthropogenic disturbance. We conclude that the skin microbiota of Maoershan hynobiids is affected by ecological factors and anthropogenic disturbance, highlighting the importance of the skin microbiota in response to habitat alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between sagittal spine alignment and vertebral bone marrow fat is unknown. We aimed to assess the relationship between vertebral bone marrow fat and sagittal spine alignment using chemical shift-encoding-based water–fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 181 asymptomatic volunteers were recruited for whole spine X-ray and lumbar MRI. Spine typing was performed according to the Roussouly classification and measurement of vertebral fat fraction based on the chemical shift-encoding-based water–fat MRI. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the differences in vertebral fat fraction between spine types. The post hoc least significant difference (LSD) test was utilized for subgroup comparison after ANOVA. Results: Overall, the vertebral fat fraction increased from L1 to L5 and was the same for each spine type. The vertebral fat fraction was the highest in type 1 and lowest in type 4 at all levels. ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in fat fraction among different spine types at L4 and L5 (P <.05). The post hoc LSD test showed that the fat fraction of L4 was significantly different (P <.05) between type 1 and type 4 as well as between type 2 and type 4. The fat fraction of L5 was significantly different between type 1 and type 3, between type 1 and type 4, and between type 2 and type 4 (P <.05). Conclusion: Our study found that vertebral bone marrow fat is associated with sagittal spine alignment, which may serve as a new additional explanation for the association of sagittal alignment with spinal degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual perception and mental imagery have been shown to share a hierarchical topological visual structure of neural representation, despite the existence of dissociation of neural substrate between them in function and structure. However, we have limited knowledge about how the visual hierarchical cortex is involved in visual perception and visual imagery in a unique and shared fashion. In this study, a data set including a visual perception and an imagery experiment with human participants was used to train 2 types of voxel-wise encoding models. These models were based on Gabor features and voxel activity patterns of high-level visual cortex (i.e., fusiform face area, parahippocampal place area, and lateral occipital complex) to predict activity in the early visual cortex (EVC, i.e., V1, V2, V3) during perception, and then tested with respect to the generalization of these models to mental imagery. Our results showed that during perception and imagery, activities in the EVC could be independently predicted by the Gabor features and activity of high-level visual cortex via voxel-wise encoding models, which suggested that perception and imagery might share neural representation in the EVC. We further found Gabor-specific and non-Gabor-specific patterns of neural response to stimuli in the EVC, which were shared by perception and imagery. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms of how visual perception and imagery share representation in the EVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented Fructus Aurantii (FFA) is widely used in South China for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Naringin, neohesperidin, and other flavonoids are the main pharmacodynamic components of FFA. A new method is presented for the simultaneous determination of 10 flavonoids (including flavonoid glycosides and aglycones) in FFA using the quantitative analysis of multicomponents via a single marker (QAMS) approach and is used to investigate changes in flavonoids during fermentation. The viability and precision of QAMS were validated against the ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), with various UPLC instruments and chromatographic conditions being evaluated. Differences between raw Fructus Aurantii (RFA) and FFA were examined using orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) and content determination. The influence of various fermentation conditions on flavonoids was also investigated. There were no appreciable differences between the QAMS and the external standard method (ESM), demonstrating that QAMS is an improved method for the determination of FA and FFA. FFA and RFA can be readily distinguished based on OPLS-DA chemometric modelling and the corresponding chromatograms. In addition, the flavonoid changes after fermentation. Fermentation considerably reduced the contents of flavonoid glycosides, while increasing hesperidin-7-O-glucoside and flavonoid aglycones. Moreover, fermentation conditions impact multiple flavonoids in FA, so controlling these conditions is necessary for the quality control of fermented FA products. This QAMS approach is useful for detecting numerous components in RFA and FFA simply, quickly, and efficiently, thus strengthening the quality control of FA and its fermented products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-administration of losartan and puerarin in hypertension rat models was investigated aiming to evaluate their interaction and potential mechanism. Hypertension rat models were established with N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and the pharmacokinetics and antihypertensive effect of losartan were analyzed in normal and hypertension rats. In vitro, the metabolic stability of losartan was evaluated in rat liver microsomes, and the effect of puerarin on the activity of CYP2C9 and 3A4 was assessed in human liver microsomes. Puerarin significantly changed the pharmacokinetic profiling of losartan in hypertension rats, with the behaviour of increasing AUC, AUMC, Cmax, and prolonged t1/2. The antihypertensive effect of losartan was enhanced by the co-administration of puerarin, which reduced the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure below normal levels. In vitro, puerarin significantly improved the metabolic stability of losartan with a reduced intrinsic clearance rate. Puerarin also showed significant inhibitory effects on the activity of CYP2C9 and 3A4 with the IC50 of 17.15 and 7.69 μM, respectively. Losartan co-administered with puerarin increased the system exposure and metabolic stability of losartan and enhanced its antihypertensive effect. The inhibition of CYP2C9 and 3A4 by puerarin was the potential mechanism mediating their interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site elevation is one of the most important factors for successful mangrove restoration. Understanding how site elevation influences mangrove roots is critical for evaluating mangrove primary productivity, carbon dynamics and nutrient cycles. Root biomass and organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorus (P) stocks were compared through an in situ experiment among 11‐year‐old Kandelia obovata mangrove forests planted under three intertidal elevations. Compared with site upper elevation, biomass of total root, live root, dead root, fine root, and coarse root decreased approximately 74.62, 79.82, 26.65, 42.52, and 87.09%, respectively, but contribution rates of fine root to total root increased 35.40% at site lower elevation. Biomass of total root and fine root at the three sites decreased with soil depth increases. Stocks of OC, N, and P in the total root decreased approximately 70, 52.92, and 47.30% from site upper elevation to site lower elevation owing to decreases in the total root biomass. Stocks of OC, N, and P in the total root and fine root also decreased with soil depth increases, while only OC stock of coarse root had a decreasing trend with soil depth increases. These indicated that decreases in site elevation will reduce mangrove primary productivity, carbon dynamics, and nutrient cycles due to decreases in root biomass. For K.obovata forests, upper elevation should be used in the future mangrove forest restoration projects to improve mangrove blue carbon capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus pigments (MPs) display many beneficial biological activities and have been widely utilized as natural food-grade colorants in the food processing industry. The presence of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) seriously restricts the application of MPs, but the gene regulation mechanisms governing CIT biosynthesis remain unclear. We performed a RNA-Seq-based comparative transcriptomic analysis of representative high MPs-producing Monascus purpureus strains with extremely high vs. low CIT yields. In addition, we performed qRT-PCR to detect the expression of genes related to CIT biosynthesis, confirming the reliability of the RNA-Seq data. The results revealed that there were 2518 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 1141 downregulated and 1377 upregulated in the low CIT producer strain). Many upregulated DEGs were associated with energy metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, with these changes potentially making more biosynthetic precursors available for MPs biosynthesis. Several potentially interesting genes that encode transcription factors were also identified amongst the DEGs. The transcriptomic results also showed that citB, citD, citE, citC and perhaps MpigI were key candidate genes to limit CIT biosynthesis. Our studies provide useful information on metabolic adaptations to MPs and CIT biosynthesis in M. purpureus, and provide targets for the fermentation industry towards the engineering of safer MPs production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate whether the treatment zone (TZ) decentration in orthokeratology (OK) lenses affects retinal expansion in Chinese children with myopia. Methods: Children aged 8 to 13 years (n = 30) were assessed over 13 months comprising 12 months of OK lens wear followed by discontinuation of lens wear for 1 month. Corneal topography was measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 13 months. TZ decentration of the OK lens was calculated, and subjects were subdivided into a small decentration group (group S) and a large decentration group (group L) based on the median value of the weighted average decentration (dave). Central axial length (AL) and peripheral eye lengths (PELs) at the central retina, as well as 10°, 20° and 30° nasally and temporally were measured at 0 and 13 months under cycloplegia. Second‐order polynomial (y = ax2 + bx + c) and linear fits (y = Kx + B) were applied to the peripheral relative eye length (PREL), and the coefficients 'a' and 'K' were used to describe the shape of the eye. Results: Mean AL growth for one year was 0.28 ± 0.17 mm. In a multiple linear regression model, AL elongation was related to the baseline age (β = −0.41, p = 0.01) and the dave (β = −0.37, p = 0.03) (R2 = 0.34, p = 0.002). When compared with smaller dave (0.45 ± 0.15 mm), a larger dave (0.89 ± 0.17 mm) was associated with slower ocular growth (central: 0.20 ± 0.13 mm vs. 0.35 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.009; 10° nasal: 0.26 ± 0.18 mm vs. 0.45 ± 0.21 mm, p = 0.02; 10° temporal: 0.17 ± 0.14 mm vs. 0.32 ± 0.19 mm, p = 0.02) and more oblate retina shape ('a': −0.13 ± 0.02 vs. −0.14 ± 0.02, p = 0.02; Knasal: 0.35 ± 0.11 vs. 0.39 ± 0.09, p = 0.02; Ktemporal: −0.42 ± 0.08 vs. −0.46 ± 0.08, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Greater TZ decentration with the use of OK lenses was associated with slower axial growth and a more oblate retinal shape. TZ decentration caused local defocusing changes, which may inhibit myopic progression. These findings may have important implications for improving optical designs for myopia control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual MXene (Ti 3 C 3 T x) films tend to re-accumulate, seriously reducing the electrochemical properties. Herein, a viable hydrothermal method is being adopted to achieve the self-assembly of N and S co-doped three-dimensional porous carbon (3DPC) with conductive networks and MXene. For SCs, the N,S-MXene/3DPC electrode displays 412.7 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. When all-solid-state asymmetric SCs (ASCs) are manufactured with active carbon, the N,S-MXene/3DPC//AC ASCs present 210.5 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retain 97.5% of initial cycle through 5000 rotations. The energy density reaches its maximum of 94.7 Wh kg−1 at 900 W kg−1. In addition, the N,S-MXene/3DPC anode of SIBs demonstrates a reversible capability of 465.5 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1. It also sustains a remarkable 72.9% preservation of capacity over 1000 rotations at 2.0 A g−1. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to following points: 3DPC with conductive networks can provide multiple transfer paths for ions and charges and support MXene. The co-doping of N and S for 3DPC can provide numerous active sites for electrochemical reactions, while the addition of MXene improves conductivity and mechanical stability. The N,S-MXene/3DPC material and its preparation method exhibit great potential for application in the field of electrochemical energy storage. The hydrothermal method is adopted to achieve the self-assembly of N and S co-doped three-dimensional porous carbon (3DPC) with conductive networks and MXene. The N and S co-doped 3DPC conductive network enhances electron transport and ion diffusion. The resulting material exhibits remarkable electrochemical properties, making it a promising candidate for use in supercapacitors (SCs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Specifically, the N,S-MXene/3DPC//AC ASCs deliver an impressive performance of 210.5 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, maintaining a high capacity retention of 97.5% over 5000 cycles. This suggests excellent cycling stability and durability for the applications of SCs. Moreover, the N,S-MXene/3DPC anode for sodium-ion batteries demonstrates a reversible capacity of 465.5 mAh g−1 at a low current density of 0.2 A g−1. Even at a higher current density of 2.0 A g−1, it maintains a remarkable capacity retention of 72.9% over 1000 cycles, indicating its suitability for high-power and long-lasting sodium-ion battery applications. Overall, the N,S-MXene/3DPC material combines exceptional electrochemical performance with high stability and durability, making it a promising candidate for use in electrochemical energy storage devices. [Display omitted] • N,S-MXene/3DPC heterostructure with multiple charge transfer channels was successfully designed and synthesized. • The three-dimensional porous carbon can support MXene to alleviate agglomeration and increase cyclic stability. • DFT calculation was used to analyze the interaction between 3DPC and MXene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waterproof and breathable multifunctional films have been widely used in advanced wear protection, medical treatment, monitoring, and the aerospace industry. In this research, we prepared a new class/kind of waterproof and breathable intelligent (WBI) films through plasma surface treatment, which can be applied in the health care field. After air plasma treatments, the structural properties of polyethylene (PE) film were observed by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetry (TG), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that plasma treatment etches PE fibers due to the sputter etching effect of plasma modification, leading to a crystallinity decrease. In addition, the changes in water contact angle, air permeability, and water vapor transmission rate of PE films were measured to illustrate their waterproof and breathable properties. After plasma treatment, the water contact angle of PE film reduced from 112.67∘ to 45∘, indicating the PE surface converted from hydrophobic into hydrophilic. The air permeability increased to 0.450 mm/s and the water vapor transmission rate increased to 1419.788 g/m 2 ⋅ h , which means the treated PE films are breathable but not permeable to liquid water. The improved performance in waterproof and breathability expands the application of PE film in the pharmaceutical field. The waterproof and breathable polyethene (PE) film was developed using one-step plasma treatments. The nanopores of PE film changed with different plasma treatment times, which would also affect PE film's waterproof and breathability. Plasma treatments can optimize PE film's properties and enlarge its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare peripheral defocus, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and contrast visual acuity (CVA) in myopic children wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses and multifocal soft contact lenses (MSCLs) designed with highly addition. Methods: This is a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study. Subjects at 8 to 13 years of age with spherical equivalent refraction from − 1.00 to − 5.00 dioptres (D) were included in the OK group (n = 30) and MSCL group (n = 23). Relative peripheral corneal defocus (RPCD) and relative peripheral refraction (RPR) were measured before and after wearing lenses. HOAs including spherical aberration (SA), coma, trefoil, and total HOAs, and high (100%) and low (10%) CVA were compared between the groups. Axial length (AL) was measured before and after wearing the lenses for 1 year. Results: After wearing the lenses, subjects in the MSCL group had RPCD and RPR values similar to the OK group at the paracentral (within 2 mm of the cornea or 20° of the retina, all p > 0.05) but larger than the OK group at the periphery (all p < 0.05). All HOAs increased after wearing the lenses except the trefoil in the MSCL group (all p < 0.05). HOAs increased more in the OK group (all p < 0.05). The 100% and 10% CVAs were worse in the MSCL group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.004). After 1 year, AL elongation was 0.37 mm (SD = 0.16) in the MSCL group and 0.28 mm (0.16) in the OK group (p = 0.06). Conclusion: MSCL produced larger myopic defocus at the periphery, increased less HOAs and had worse CVA than OK lens. The high addition of this MSCL did not result in better myopia control efficacy Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800018564. Registered 25 September 2018; retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=31376 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waterproof and breathable wound dressings have undergone continuous and substantial evolution over time. Polyethene films have been widely used to fabricate waterproof dressing. Electrospun biopolymers enable rapid and effective wound healing due to the surface-area-to-volume ratio of electrospun nanofibers and their porous structure. In the present study, the waterproof and breathable bandages were prepared with plasma-treated PE films as the waterproof layer and a blend of polyvinyl alcohol–alginic acid by electronic spinning technique. The composited samples were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to increase their water stability and mechanical properties. The composited pieces were characterized for their structural properties using SEM, FTIR, DSC, TG. Their water vapour transmission rate, air permeability, tensile strength and antibacterial property were also studied. Cytotoxicity of the dressing was evaluated with human dermal fibroblast cells. The results revealed that the composited PVA/PE dressing shown excellent cooling ability, and improved the waterproof and breathable properties, which enhanced wound healing, compared with the traditional dressing material, such as cotton non-woven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Cyclodextrin modified magnetic microspheres were synthesized and used as an effective adsorbent for the solid-phase extraction of three phenols from water samples. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry were used to characterize the adsorbents. The major parameters affecting the extraction and desorption efficiencies, such as adsorbent dosage, extraction time, pH, ionic strength, and eluent type were systematically optimized. Under these conditions, three phenols in water samples were extracted and determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD). Limits of detection (LODs) of 0.04–0.34 ng mL−1 and limits of quantification (LOQs) from 0.13 to 1.14 ng mL−1 were achieved with good repeatability (relative standard deviation <7.5%). The developed method was applied for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol and bisphenol A in spiked Yangtze River water, and the recoveries were from 81.0% to 94.9%. The results demonstrated that the combination of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) with HPLC-DAD is suitable for the determination of trace phenolics in environmental water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core of semi-supervised cross-modal retrieval tasks lies in leveraging limited supervised information to measure the similarity between cross-modal data. Current approaches assume an association between unlabelled data and pre-defined k-nearest neighbour data, relying on classifier performance for this selection. With diminishing labelled data, classifier performance weakens, resulting in erroneous associations among unlabelled instances. Moreover, the lack of interpretability in class probabilities of unlabelled data hinders classifier learning. Thus, this paper focuses on learning pseudo-labels for unlabelled data, providing pseudo-supervision to aid classifier learning. Specifically, a cross-modal memory bank is proposed, dynamically storing feature representations in a common space and class probability representations in a label space for each cross-modal data. Pseudo-labels are derived by computing feature representation similarity and adjusting class probabilities. During this process, imposing constraints on the classification loss between labelled data and contrastive losses between paired cross-modal data is a prerequisite for the successful learning of pseudo-labels. This procedure significantly contributes to enhancing the credibility of these pseudo-labels. Empirical findings demonstrate that using only 10% labelled data, compared to prevailing semi-supervised techniques, this method achieves improvements of 2.6%, 1.8%, and 4.9% in MAP@50 on the Wikipedia, NUS-WIDE, and MS-COCO datasets, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely acknowledged that gastric cancer seriously affects the quality of life and survival of patients. The correlation between the microbiota and gastric cancer has attracted extensive attention in recent years, nonetheless the specific mechanism of its impact on gastric cancer remain largely unclear. Recent studies have shown that in addition to its role in the host's inflammatory and immune response, the microbiota can also affect the occurrence and development of gastric cancer by affecting the expression of miRNAs. This paper brings together all currently available data on miRNAs, microbiota and gastric cancer, and preliminarily describes the relationship among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has attracted significant attention as a promising eco-friendly technology for the deposition of ceramic-like oxide coatings with superior wear- and corrosion resistance as well as biomedical, catalytic, magnetic, dielectric and optical properties. However, the industrial implementation of PEO has been hindered by a poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying plasma-assisted electrochemical coating formation. This study compares the characteristics of PEO processes on different valve metals in a dilute aqueous solution of NaOH and Na 2 SiO 3 under pulsed unipolar and bipolar polarisation conditions. The focus is given to the influence of the nature of the valve metal on the transition to the soft sparking regime characterised by reduced energy consumption whilst yielding sintered coating materials enriched with crystalline phases. In-situ dynamic voltammetry analysis was employed to study the effects of the net current ratio and local negative charge injection using diagnostic pulses embedded in the polarisation signal. It has been demonstrated that soft sparking is a characteristic feature of valve metals such as Mg, Al, Zr and Ta that form insulating surface oxides with negligible electronic conductivity, whereas Ti and Nb form semiconducting oxides, which do not exhibit a characteristic voltage drop, although some features of spark softening were detected. This generalisation paves a way for implementation of a model known as 'digital twin' to the rational design of the PEO processes for deposition of the functional ceramics. [Display omitted] • Unipolar and bipolar plasma electrolytic oxidation compared for six metals. • Reverse polarisation leads to soft sparking on metals forming a dielectric oxide. • Cathodically induced changes promote planar energy dissipation in the active zone. • The soft sparking induction period relates inversely to the oxide isoelectric point. • Electronic conductivity in semiconducting oxides inhibits soft sparking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron selenide (FeSe 2), a p-type narrow band gap (1.0 eV) semiconductor, has been considered as a potential electrode material for electrochemical energy storage owing to its many benefits, including quick electron transfer, excellent electrical conductivity and exceptional theoretical specific capacity. Nevertheless, the volumetric expansion, agglomeration, low ion-diffusion capacity and other inadequacies in the process of discharging and charging. Therefore, FeSe 2 is far short of high initial coulomb efficiency, long-cycle stability, and excellent rate performance. The greatest obstacle to the practical use of energy storage systems is these drawbacks. Herein, the electrospinning and a thermally-induced selenization route are adopted to encapsulate the FeSe 2 hollow nanospheres into the intertwined Se, N co-doped carbon nanofibers (Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs). Density functional theory calculation delivers that Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs nanocomposite presents extremely low bandgap and high density of states at the Femi level, demonstrating significantly increased conductivity. When assembling into the all-solid-state symmetric supercapacitors (ASSSCs), the Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs ASSSCs provide a remarkable specific capacity of 330.2 F g−1 and maintain 92.0% after 5000 cycles at 2 A g−1. Meanwhile, the resistance of charge transfer decreases from 0.73 Ω (FeSe 2) to 0.28 Ω (Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs). Moreover, the Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs ASSSCs deliver 128.6 Wh kg−1 (energy density) at about 800 W kg−1 (power density). Additionally, the Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs anodes also have outstanding reversible capacity (549.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) and stability of long-circulation (481.3 mAh g−1 after 100 circles and 480.9 mAh g−1 after 200 circles at 0.1 A g−1) for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The superb property of energy storage can be due to the encapsulated structure that can maintain the integrity of structures for electrodes during electrochemical reactions and the Se, N heteroatoms doped CNFs that can conducive to ions/charges transport and storage. The designed encapsulated structure and synthesis approach have broad application prospects in electrochemical energy storage. [Display omitted] • The hollow FeSe 2 nanospheres are encapsulated in the N,Se co-doped carbon nanofibers. • The encapsulated structure can availably ameliorate the volume effect of FeSe 2 and raise the stability of electrodes. • The Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs electrodes show outstanding electrochemical properties in supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries. • According to density functional (DFT), the Se, N-FeSe 2 CNFs have narrow band structure and high density of states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Standalone MODERN achieved comparable accuracy to that of radiologists in detecting recurrent NPC on MR scans. • In a computer–human collaboration, accuracies of radiologists were augmented by MODERN. • This finding suggests that AI could provide an innovative approach for the identification of recurrent NPC and may help radiologists in effectively selecting patients with recurrence. Accuracy in the detection of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) on follow-up magnetic resonance (MR) scans needs to be improved. A total of 5 035 follow-up MR scans from 5 035 survivors with treated NPC between April 2007 and July 2020 were retrospectively collected from three cancer centers for developing and evaluating the deep learning (DL) model MODERN (MR-based Deep learning model for dEtecting Recurrent Nasopharyngeal carcinoma). In a reader study with 220 scans, the accuracy of two radiologists in detecting recurrence on scans with vs without MODERN was evaluated. The performance was measured using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) and accuracy with a 95% confidence interval (CI). MODERN exhibited sound performance in the validation cohort (internal: ROC-AUC, 0.88, 95% CI, 0.86–0.90; external 1: ROC-AUC, 0.88, 95% CI, 0.86–0.90; external 2: ROC-AUC, 0.85, 95% CI, 0.82–0.88). In a reader study, MODERN alone achieved reliable accuracy compared to that of radiologists (MODERN: 84.1%, 95% CI, 79.3%–88.9%; competent: 80.9%, 95% CI, 75.7%–86.1%, P < 0.001; expert: 85.9%, 95% CI, 81.3%–90.5%, P < 0.001). The accuracy of radiologists was boosted by the MODERN score (competent with MODERN score: 84.6%, 95% CI, 79.8%–89.3%, P < 0.001; expert with MODERN score: 87.7%, 95% CI, 83.4%–92.1%, P < 0.001). We developed a DL model for recurrence detection with reliable performance. Computer-human collaboration has the potential to refine the workflow in interpreting surveillant MR scans among patients with treated NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the short‐term effects of three myopia‐control lenses, which impose peripheral myopic defocus while providing clear central vision, on central and peripheral visual performance in myopic children. Methods: Twenty‐one myopic children were enrolled in the study. Central visual performance was assessed using the quick contrast sensitivity function. Peripheral visual performance was evaluated by measuring peripheral contrast threshold and global motion perception, while subjects maintained fixation through the central portion of the lens. Single‐vision spectacle lenses (SVL), spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) and defocus‐incorporated soft contact (DISC) lenses were evaluated in random order, followed by orthokeratology (OK) lenses. All tests were performed monocularly on the right eye. Results: The area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) with DISC lenses was lower than that with SVL (1.14 vs. 1.40, p < 0.001) and HAL (1.14 vs. 1.33, p = 0.001). HAL increased the temporal visual field contrast threshold compared with OK lenses (p = 0.04), and OK lenses decreased the superior visual field contrast threshold compared with that of SVL (p = 0.04) and HAL (p = 0.005). HAL also increased the peripheral coherence threshold for identifying the contraction movement compared with OK lenses (p = 0.01). Conclusions: The short‐term use of these optical interventions for myopia control exhibited measurable differences in central and peripheral visual performance. Relevant attention could be paid to these differences, especially when children switch to different treatments. DISC lenses exhibited worse central contrast sensitivity than SVL and HAL. Imposing peripheral defocus signals did not affect children's peripheral visual performance compared with SVL. However, considering the poorer peripheral visual performance provided by HAL, OK lenses are recommended for children if there are specific demands for global scene recognition and motion perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The image‐to‐image translation (I2IT) task aims to transform images from the source domain into the specified target domain. State‐of‐the‐art CycleGAN‐based translation algorithms typically use cycle consistency loss and latent regression loss to constrain translation. In this work, it is demonstrated that the model parameters constrained by the cycle consistency loss and the latent regression loss are equivalent to optimizing the medians of the data distribution and the generative distribution. In addition, there is a style bias in the translation. This bias interacts between the generator and the style encoder and visually exhibits translation errors, e.g. the style of the generated image is not equal to the style of the reference image. To address these issues, a new I2IT model termed high‐quality‐I2IT (HQ‐I2IT) is proposed. The optimization scheme is redesigned to prevent the model from optimizing the median of the data distribution. In addition, by separating the optimization of the generator and the latent code estimator, the redesigned model avoids error interactions and gradually corrects errors during training, thereby avoiding learning the median of the generated distribution. The experimental results demonstrate that the visual quality of the images produced by HQ‐I2IT is significantly improved without changing the generator structure, especially when guided by the reference images. Specifically, the Fréchet inception distance on the AFHQ and CelebA‐HQ datasets are reduced from 19.8 to 10.2 and from 23.8 to 17.0, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denitrification is the most important process for nitrogen removal in eutrophic lakes and was mostly investigated in lake sediment. Denitrification could also be mediated by cyanobacterial aggregates, yet how this process impacts nitrogen (N) availability and the associated autotroph-heterotroph relationships within cyanobacterial aggregates has not been investigated. In this study, incubation experiments with nitrate amendment were conducted with Microcystis aggregates (MAs). Measurement of nitrogen contents, 16S rRNA-based microbial community profiling and metatranscriptomic sequencing were used to jointly assess nitrogen turnover dynamics, as well as changes in microbial composition and gene expression. Strong denitrification potential was revealed, and maximal N removal was achieved within two days, after which the communities entered a state of severe N limitation. Changes of active microbial communities were further promoted both with regard to taxonomic composition and transcriptive activities. Expression of transportation-related genes confirmed competition for N sources by Microcystis and phycospheric communities. Strong stress response to reactive oxygen species by Microcystis was revealed. Notably, interspecific relationships among Microcystis and phycospheric communities exhibited a shift toward antagonistic interactions, particularly evidenced by overall increased expression of genes related to cell lysis and utilization of cellular materials. Patterns of fatty acid and starch metabolism also suggested changes in carbon metabolism and cross-feeding patterns within MAs. Taken together, this study demonstrated substantial denitrification potential of MAs, which, importantly, further induced changes in both metabolic activities and autotroph-heterotroph interactions. These findings also highlight the key role of nutrient condition in shaping autotroph-heterotroph relationships. [Display omitted] • Microcystis aggregates have strong denitrification potential. • Denitrification shifted composition and gene expression of active communities. • Prolonged incubation promoted antagonistic autotroph-heterotroph relationships. • Changes in carbon metabolism and cross-feeding patterns within Microcystis aggregates also occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate eye growth of children wearing spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL), slightly aspherical lenslets (SAL) and single‐vision lenses (SVL) compared to eye growth patterns in non‐myopes in Wenzhou, China. Methods: The randomised trial had 170 myopic children (aged 8–13 years) randomly assigned to the HAL, SAL or SVL group. Normal eye growth was examined using 700 non‐myopic schoolchildren (aged 7–9 years) in the Wenzhou Medical University‐Essilor Progression and Onset of Myopia (WEPrOM) cohort study using logistic function models. Slow, normal and fast eye growth was defined as range of values <25th, 25th–75th and >75th percentiles, respectively. Results: The predicted upper limits of slow eye growth (25th percentile) among non‐myopes aged 7–10 years and 11–13 years were 0.20–0.13 and 0.08–0.01 mm (after 2‐year period; 0.37–0.33 and 0.29–0.14 mm), respectively, while the upper limits of normal eye growth (75th percentile) were 0.32–0.31 and 0.28–0.10 mm (after 2‐year period; 0.58–0.55 and 0.50–0.24 mm), respectively. The 2‐year trial had 157 children, 96 of whom wore their lenses full time (everyday ≥12 h/day). The mean 2‐year axial length change for HAL, SAL and SVL was 0.34, 0.51 and 0.69 mm (0.28, 0.46 and 0.69 mm in full‐time wear), respectively. Slow eye growth was found in 35%, 17% and 2% (44%, 29% and 3% in full‐time wear); normal eye growth in 35%, 26% and 12% (44%, 32% and 9% in full‐time wear) and fast eye growth in 30%, 57% and 86% (12%, 39% and 88% in full‐time wear), respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The eye growth pattern in approximately 90% wearing HAL full time (compared with about 10% wearing SVL full time) was similar or slower than that of non‐myopic children both after 1‐ and 2‐year periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the removal of dye molecules from water sources is a major environmental concern and challenge. Enzymatic degradation (biological) and adsorptive (physical) dye removal are considered to be the most effective dye removal techniques. Laccase catalysis is a reliable method to remove synthetic dyes from water to reduce environmental pollution, but free laccase has the disadvantages of low stability and non-reusability. In this study, stable Pickering emulsions were prepared using chitin (Ch) and graphene oxide (GO) composite solutions. Ch/GO composite aerogel beads with hierarchical porous structure were obtained by emulsion template method combined with freeze-drying, and then used for laccase immobilization and dye decolorization experiments. The results showed that the immobilized laccase had better thermal stability compared to the free enzyme, and it was found that the optimum pH of the immobilized laccase was 3.4 and the optimum temperature was 55 °C. In the cyclic decolorization experiments of acid Big Red GR, the decolorization rate of CH/GO-30 was maintained at 100% after 5 cycles of ABTS (2,2-biazo-bis(3-ethyl-benzothiazole-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) by enzyme catalysis and carrier adsorption synergistically. The preparation of Ch/GO composite aerogel beads by the Pickering emulsion template method is simple and green, without the use of surfactants, avoiding secondary pollution to the environment, and has potential industrial applications in the decolorization and biodegradation of dye wastewater. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eutrophication problem now threatens many lakes and reservoirs. To avoid the occurrence of algal blooms, some cities try to increase the flow rate or directly choose lakes or reservoirs with a short water residence time (WRT) as drinking water sources. However, up to now, whether such a strategy can achieve its goal is still unclear. In this study, a newly restored lake with a WRT of approximately 3 days was chosen to investigate algal growth potential as well as its responses to external nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs. The results suggested that although the water quality of the lake could generally meet the environmental quality standards for surface water, dissolved inorganic nitrogen reached a high level with an average value of 1.58 mg/L. Meanwhile, a considerable increase in Chl- a concentration was observed across the flow direction. Especially, in July, Chl- a concentration at the site near the outlet was 8.1 times higher than that at the inlet, and cyanobacteria became the dominant species accounting for 83% of the total cell density. Nutrient enrichment experiments showed that algae could grow rapidly within 3 days with average specific growth rates (μ) of 0.36–0.42 d−1. The addition of N and P furtherly promoted the algal growth, and μ values of the treatments with P addition were the highest at 0.67–0.83 d−1. These results indicated that even if the WRT was reduced to 3 days, the risk of the occurrence of algal blooms still exists, and this undesirable trend would be enhanced by the short-term external nutrient input. Our findings indicated that the hydrodynamic control measures may not be entirely successful in protecting the drinking water source from algal blooms, especially when its influent has already been under eutrophication. • Shortening WRT may not successfully protect the lakes from algal blooms. • Algal biomass increased across the flow direction of the reservoir with a 3-day WRT. • High N in the influent promoted the succession of dominant species to cyanobacteria. • External nutrient input promotes algal growth and enhances the risk of algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag@AgCl@g-C 3 N 4 composite was successfully fabricated and applied for recyclable detection-removal of organic pollutions via SERS sensing. The constructed structure provides more SERS-active sites for efficient SERS sensing performance, as well as enhanced plasmon-induced hot carrier separation efficiency for superior photocatalytic property. The composite shows promising potentials in cycling detection-removal of organic pollutants. [Display omitted] • Ag@AgCl@g-C 3 N 4 composite is reported in recyclable detection-removal of organic pollutions via SERS sensing. • The constructed structure provides more SERS-active sites for SERS sensing. • The constructed structure contributes to hot carrier separation efficiency. The global environment is continuously being exposed to toxic organic pollutants, which also greatly threaten human health. Therefore, it is important to develop substrates for detection, identification, and removal of these organic pollutants. In this study, a multifunctional and reusable composite is prepared by anchoring Ag nanoparticles onto Cl-rich g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets (Ag@AgCl@g-C 3 N 4). The composites present not only excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance attributed to enhanced local electric field and SERS-active sites from the constructed structure, but also superior photocatalytic property boosted by the enhanced charge separation efficiency. These exceptional activities allow the composite to be used for detection of methylene blue with a high enhancement factor of 1.39 × 106, and a limit of detection of 1 × 10−11 M/L, as well as reusability via photocatalytic degrading the probe molecules, resulting in achieving recyclable SERS sensing applications. Furtherly, the outstanding SERS performance of the composite is demonstrated by recycling detection-degradation process for different molecules with acceptable performance decline. These results indicate that the Ag@AgCl@g-C 3 N 4 composite provides a new path for improving traditional single-use SERS substrates and promotes practical SERS applications in sustainable detection and removal of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The prevalence of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) among recurrent depression in China is 11.1% appropriately. • There were differences between patients with and without TRD, including demographic and clinical characteristics and somatic symptoms. • Depression with more somatic symptoms had a higher risk of TRD. • Some somatic symptoms, including symptoms with bipolar features, were significantly associated with TRD. Patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have fewer treatment options and worse prognoses than those without TRD. Although the etiology or pathophysiology of TRD remains unclear, certain clinical variables have been found to be related to its severity and prognosis. Therefore, 1151 patients with recurrent depression were recruited from the National Survey on Symptomatology of Depression (NSSD) and their depressive symptoms were assessed by using the doctor-rating assessment questionnaire. Then, the differences between patients with or without TRD were compared by parametric or nonparametric tests and the risk factors for TRD were explored by logistic regression. The results showed there were differences in clinical variables between patients with and without TRD. Additionally, we found depression with more somatic symptoms had a higher risk for TRD. Further analysis by stepwise logistic regression showed that age, gender, religious belief, drinking habit, the total course of depression, the number of hospitalizations, characteristics of seasonal episode remission, depressed mood, hypersexuality, emotionally incoherent psychotic symptoms, psychomotor agitation, respiratory system symptoms and history of suicide attempts were strongly associated with TRD. So, it is crucial for clinicians to identify these clinical features and adjust treatments timely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising electrode for energy storage, Fe 3 O 4 has many intriguing advantages, such as a high specific capacity, low cost, low toxicity, wide potential window and environmental benignity. However, the multi-phase changes of iron oxide during the charge and discharge process can give rise to a sharp decrease in its capacity. In addition, the low conductivity of Fe 3 O 4 may hinder the charge transfer and ion diffusion during redox process. In order to solve the above issues, this study mainly attempts to design a nanocomposite of Fe 3 O 4 encapsulated in intertwined N-doped carbon nanofibers (CNFs) via using electrospinning and high-temperature calcination. The sealed structure can efficiently relieve the volume effect of Fe 3 O 4 and raise the stability of electrodes. While a 3-dimensional interconnected conductive network composed of CNFs can increase the electroconductibility of electrodes. At the same time, the N-doping increases active sites on the surface of CNFs, providing more space for ions and charges storage. Herein, different amounts of Fe 3 O 4 are encapsulated in N-doped CNFs (Fe 3 O 4 -CNFs). Fe 3 O 4 -CNFs with 40 % content of Fe 3 O 4 (4Fe 3 O 4 -CNFs) deliver splendid electrochemical performances for all-solid-state supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries. The specific capacitance of 4Fe 3 O 4 -CNFs supercapacitor is 184.5 F g−1 and maintains 86.2 % of initial capacity at 2 A g−1 after 5000 times. Furthermore, 4Fe 3 O 4 -CNFs as the anode for the half cell vs. Na+/Na demonstrate a splendid specific capacity of 628.1 mAh g−1 at 0.02 A g−1 and can maintain 358.1 mA h g−1 after cycling for 200 laps at 500 mA g−1. Therefore, 4Fe 3 O 4 -CNFs can be widely used in energy storage. Hollow Fe 3 O 4 nanospheres are encapsulated in the N-doped carbon nanofibers (Fe 3 O 4 CNFs) by using electrostatic spinning and high-temperature calcination method. The encapsulated structure can availably ameliorate the volume effect of Fe 3 O 4 and raise the stability of electrodes. While the addition of carbon materials can increase the conductivity of electrodes. At the same time, the N-doping increases active sites on the surface of carbon nanofibers, providing more space for ions and charges storage. The Fe 3 O 4 CNFs and the preparation method have exceptional employments in the field of energy storage. [Display omitted] • The Fe 3 O 4 carbon nanofibers with the encapsulated structure are prepared by employing electrospinning method. • The encapsulated structure can availably ameliorate the volume effect of Fe 3 O 4 and raise the stability of electrodes. • The N-doped carbon nanofibers networks can increase the conductivity and against volume expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer patients not only experience a variety of problems associated with the treatment of their disease but also a range of psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, which may lead to reduced adherence to treatment and a lower quality of life for cancer patients. Telehealth interventions are widely used for cancer patients, and their effectiveness in improving anxiety and depression in cancer patients is variable and still contradictory.Embase, Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to 19 April 2022. Data synthesis was conducted using STATA 15.0, and scores for anxiety and depression were calculated using standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals.A total of 13125 cancer patients from 68 randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic evaluation. The meta-analysis showed that the telehealth intervention had a significant effect on anxiety (standardized mean differences = −0.40, 95% confidence intervals: −0.6 to 0.2, p < 0.001) and depression (standardized mean differences = −0.48, 95% confidence intervals: −0.67 to 0.28, p < 0.001) in patients with cancer.Telehealth interventions significantly improved anxiety and depression levels in cancer patients compared to traditional care interventions. Breast cancer patients most often received telehealth interventions; electronic device-based and application-based telehealth interventions were more effective than online interventions; short-term interventions were more effective than medium-term and long-term interventions, and different outcome measurement tools led to different intervention outcomes. More high-quality research is needed to explore the effects of telehealth interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This prospective study assessed the influence of wearing and then discontinuing orthokeratology (OK) lenses on retinal shape and peripheral refraction in myopic children.Methods: Fifty-eight myopic children (age 8-12 years) were equally divided into an OK group and a single vision spectacles (SVS) group. After 12 months of OK, it was discontinued for 1 month. Peripheral eye length (PEL), relative peripheral refraction (RPR), and corneal parameters were measured in the right eye on the nasal and temporal retinal sides at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months (13 months in OK group) visits.Results: In the SVS group, faster elongation of the temporal side PEL made the eyes more asymmetric and prolate, developing a temporal pointed shape. In the OK group, the nasal retinal side PEL grew faster, the nasal RPR developed less hyperopic defocus, and the eye shape became more symmetric and less prolate. The central cornea became thinner and flattened, while the peripheral cornea became steeper. Changes in corneal thickness, relative peripheral corneal power, and K-values were no significant differences for the OK and SVS groups at 12 months.Conclusions: The cornea reverted to be no difference with myopic children with SVS after 1 month discontinuation of OK. The retinal shape of SVS eyes became more asymmetric and prolate with myopia progression. OK remodelled retinal shape to be less asymmetric and less prolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of the devastating bacterial wilt disease, is of particular interest to the scientific community. The repertoire of type III effectors plays an important role in the evasion of plant immunity, but tolerance to plant immunity is also crucial for the survival and virulence of R. solanacearum. Nevertheless, a systematic study of R. solanacearum tolerance to plant immunity is lacking. In this study, we used exogenous salicylic acid (SA) to improve the immunity of tomato plants, followed by transposon insertion sequencing (Tn‐seq) analysis and the identification of R. solanacearum genes associated with tolerance to plant immunity. Target gene deletion revealed that the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production genes RS_RS02830, RS_RS03460, and RS_RS03465 are essential for R. solanacearum tolerance to plant immunity, and their expression is induced by plant immunity, thereby expanding our knowledge of the pathogenic function of R. solanacearum LPS. SA treatment increased the relative abundance of transposon insertion mutants of four genes, including two genes with unknown function, RS_RS11975 and RS_RS07760. Further verification revealed that deletion of RS_RS11975 or RS_RS07760 resulted in reduced in vivo competitive indexes but increased tolerance to plant immunity induced by SA treatment, suggesting that these two genes contribute to the trade‐off between tolerance to plant immunity and fitness cost. In conclusion, this work identified and validated R. solanacearum genes required for tolerance to plant immunity and provided essential information for a more complete view of the interaction between R. solanacearum and the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the value of a serum metabolomics-based metabolic signature for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) patients, thereby assisting clinical decisions. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 320 LA-NPC patients were randomly divided into a training set (ca. 70%; n = 224) and a validation set (ca. 30%; n = 96). Serum samples were analyzed using widely targeted metabolomics. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify candidate metabolites related to progression-free survival (PFS). Patients were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median metabolic risk score (Met score), and the PFS difference between the two groups was compared using Kaplan–Meier curves. The predictive performance of the metabolic signature was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index) and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and a comprehensive nomogram was constructed using the Met score and other clinical factors. Results: Nine metabolites were screened to build the metabolic signature and generate the Met score, which effectively separated patients into low- and high-risk groups. The C-index in the training and validation sets was 0.71 and 0.73, respectively. The 5-year PFS was 53.7% (95% CI, 45.12–63.86) in the high-risk group and 83.0% (95%CI, 76.31–90.26) in the low-risk group. During the construction of the nomogram, Met score, clinical stage, pre-treatment EBV DNA level, and gender were identified as independent prognostic factors for PFS. The predictive performance of the comprehensive model was better than that of the traditional model. Conclusion: The metabolic signature developed through serum metabolomics is a reliable prognostic indicator of PFS in LA-NPC patients and has important clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large areas of farmland in southern China are facing environmental problems such as cadmium (Cd) contamination and boron (B) deficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the reduction in Cd accumulation in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) by B application. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to compare the subcellular distribution of Cd, transcriptome profile, degree of pectin methylation, and glutathione (GSH) synthesis in the roots of hot pepper under different B and Cd conditions. Boron supply promoted root cell wall biosynthesis and pectin demethylation by upregulating related genes and increasing cell wall Cd concentration by 28%. In addition, with the application of B, the proportion of Cd in root cell walls increased from 27% to 37%. Boron supplementation upregulated sulfur metabolism-related genes but decreased cysteine and GSH contents in the roots. As a result, shoot Cd concentration decreased by 27% due to the decrease in GSH, a critical long-distance transport carrier of Cd. Consequently, B supply could reduce the uptake, translocation, and accumulation of Cd in hot pepper by retaining Cd in the root cell walls and decreasing GSH content. [Display omitted] • Boron (B) decreased cadmium (Cd) accumulation in hot pepper seedlings. • B increased Cd retention in cell walls and reduced Cd content in protoplasm. • B promoted cell wall biosynthesis and pectin demethylation. • B decreased root-to-shoot Cd translocation by decreasing GSH content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, a new drug delivery system was designed with polysaccharides from Bletilla striata (BSP) as a capping agent for the pH responsive release of anticancer drugs. First, BSP-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) prepared and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Second, resveratrol (RES) was loaded into the BSP-ZnO NPs, and its release properties were studied at pH 5.0 and 7.4. Interestingly, the stability study of RES-BSP-ZnO NPs showed that RES-BSP-ZnO NPs were very stable in blood circulation (pH 7.4) and accumulated and released RES under acidic conditions. Finally, the potential anticancer activity of the RES-BSP-ZnO NPs on Caco-2 cells was evaluated by anticancer activity and intracellular ROS level. The results demonstrated that the new drug delivery system not only met our expectations for the pH response release of RES, but also exhibited synergistic anticancer properties in vitro. From above all, the experiments indicated that BSP-ZnO NPs had great potential for pH responsive drug delivery in cancer therapy. [Display omitted] • BSP-ZnO NPs carriers were prepared by a simple and environmentally friendly approach. • The RES release fitted the Fickian diffusion model. • The RES-BSP-ZnO NPs only accumulate and release RES in a low pH microenvironment. • The pH response system can improve the therapeutic effect of the RES payload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrite iron sulfide (FeS 2) is a fascinating electrode material for energy reserve devices because of its high theoretical capacity, non-polluting nature and abundant resources. However, the practical application has been extremely inhibited owing to its poor rate capacity and short cyclability caused by volume change during charge/discharge processes. In this article, a novel nanocomposite that is hollow FeS 2 nanospheres encapsulated in N/S co-doped carbon nanofibers (FeS 2 CNFs) was synthesized through electrostatic spinning. The FeS 2 CNFs nanocomposite demonstrates a terrific specific capacity of 511 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 for all-solid-state supercapacitors. The FeS 2 CNFs as electrode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIB) displays a specific capacity of 827.7 mAh g−1 and possesses a capacity of 490.6 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 after 200 cycles. The results indicate that this encapsulated structure can guarantee the integrity of electrode materials. And the abundant defects in carbon nanofibers caused by N/S co-doping may increase electrochemical reaction sites to facilitate charge transfer. The N/S co-doped FeS 2 CNFs nanocomposite exhibits a great potential for applying in SIB and supercapacitors. • Hollow FeS 2 nanospheres are encapsulated in carbon nanofibers by electrostatic spinning. • In-situ S-doping can increase the electrochemical active sites. • The incorporation of carbon nanofibers can prevent the structure collapse of FeS 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion coefficients of hydrogen sulfide in water and brine are critical in geology and chemical industries for hydrogen sulfide geological storage and hydrogen sulfide separation from natural gas. However, previous studies have mostly measured the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen sulfide in water at room temperature and normal pressure and the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen sulfide in brine had not been reported. In this study, ratio of the Raman signal intensity of the H-S bond of hydrogen sulfide to the H O bond of water, H R H 2 S / H 2 O , was used to measure the diffusion coefficients of hydrogen sulfide in water at 0.1–2 MPa and 273.1–373.1 K and in four brine solutions (0.62, 1, 2, and 3 mol•kg−1 NaCl) at 1 MPa and 273.1–373.1 K. Results showed that the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen sulfide in water increased with the increasing temperature and was insignificantly affected by the pressure, which follows the relationship derived from the Speedy–Angell power-law: D (c m 2 / s) = 13.013 × 10 − 5 [ T / 216.478 − 1 ] 1.974 , where T is in the temperature (K). In brine, the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen sulfide also increased with the temperature and was clearly inhibited by salinity, which can be described using the Ratcliff–Holdcroft model D (c m 2 / s) = 13.013 × 10 − 5 (T / 216.478) 1.974 (1 − 0.0755 C s) , where Cs is concentration of NaCl in brine (mol•kg−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,8-cineole was synthesized via α -terpineol rearrangement over SiO 2 - and TiO 2 -supported phosphotungstic acid (PTA) catalysts prepared by ultrasonic impregnation. The structures of the catalysts were analyze using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The effects of reaction conditions on α -terpineol conversation and 1,8-cineole selectivity were investigated and the optimal reaction conditions are PTA loading of 20 wt%, mass fraction of 0.02, reaction temperature of 50 °C, and reaction time of 6 h. Under these conditions, the α -terpineol conversion and 1,8-cineole selectivity over PTA/TiO 2 were 98.96% and 48.77%, respectively, which were better than that over PTA/SiO 2. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Wave turbopause" is defined as the mesospheric altitude level where the temperature fluctuation field indicates a substantial increase in wave amplitude in the vertical direction. It is similar to turbopause in seasonal and latitudinal variations, providing an almost global analysis of turbopause on the basis of satellite measurements rather than localized detection. Previous studies of "wave turbopause" were based on standard deviation of temperature, which is an integrated measure of wave activity. In this study, we distinguish different atmospheric waves and investigate their influences on "wave turbopause". By comparing the altitude of "wave turbopause" with peak height of amplitude (PHA) for gravity waves and 6.5 days waves (6.5 DWs), whose period is approximately 6.5 days in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, we find that the seasonal variation in altitude of "wave turbopause" is higher at the winter pole and lower at the summer pole, correlated with PHA for 6.5 DWs but anti-correlated with PHA for gravity waves. We infer that gravity waves reach saturation and break at lower altitudes in the winter when Brunt–Vaisala frequency is also lower between 80 and 100 km altitudes. Finally, the results may imply that seasonal variations of the "wave turbopause" are driven mainly by 6.5 DWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional porous carbon decorated with FeS 2 nanospheres nanocomposites (FeS 2 /3DPC) are developed as electrode material for supercapacitors and sodium ion batteries through a facile hydrothermal approach. The FeS 2 /3DPC and the preparation method show the great potential for application in the field of electrochemical energy storage. [Display omitted] • The FeS 2 spheres are embedded into the matrix of three-dimensional porous carbon. • The FeS 2 /3DPC nanocomposites demonstrate excellent electrochemical performances. • The porous framework of 3DPC can supply an effective conductive network. The large volume variation and decomposition of pyrite iron sulfide (FeS 2) during the charge/discharge process are still a big issue limiting its application as electrode material for electrochemical energy storage. Herein, three-dimensional porous carbon (3DPC) decorated with FeS 2 nanospheres nanocomposites (FeS 2 /3DPC) are developed as electrode material for supercapacitors and sodium ion batteries (SIBs) through a facile hydrothermal approach. The FeS 2 /3DPC nanocomposites demonstrate much better electrochemical energy storage performances than pure FeS 2. The 50 %FeS 2 /3DPC (FeS 2 content at 50% weight percent) shows an outstanding specific capacitance of 304F g−1 at 2 A g−1. Moreover, the 50 %FeS 2 /3DPC as anode for Na+/Na half cell presents a high specific capacity of 770.3 mAh g−1 at 0.02 A g−1, and shows a remarkable rate performance and cyclic stability. The results prove that 3DPC as FeS 2 substrate can not only improve the conductivity of electrode material, but also effectively inhibit the volume collapse of FeS 2. The as-designed embedded structure and the synthesis technology should have a promising prospect for applying in electrochemical energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary root is the basic component of the root system and plays a key role in early seedling growth in rice. Its growth is easily affected by environmental cues, such as salt stress. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an essential role in root development, but the molecular mechanism underlying ABA-regulated root growth in response to salt stress remains poorly understood. In this study, we report that salt stress inhibits primary root elongation and promotes primary root swelling. Moreover, salt stress induces the expression of ABA-responsive genes and ABA accumulation in the primary root, revealing that ABA plays an essential role in salt-modulated root growth. Transgenic lines of OsSAPK10-OE and OsABIL2-OE, which constitutively express OsSAPK10 or OsABIL2, with enhanced or attenuated ABA signaling, show increased and decreased sensitivity to salt, correspondingly. Microscopic analysis indicates that salt and ABA inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell expansion in the root apical meristem. Transcriptome analysis showed that ABA induces the expression of EXPANSIN genes. Further investigations indicate that ABA exerts these effects largely through ABA signaling. Thus, our findings deepen our understanding of the role of ABA in controlling primary root growth in response to salt stress, and this knowledge can be used by breeders to cultivate rice varieties suitable for saline–alkali land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms present a serious threat to ecosystem safety and human well-being. Removal of toxic cyanobacterial biomass from freshwaters and its safe utilization is a worldwide problem. We showed that regulation of intracellular carbon flow by applying nitrogen deprivation strategy with light and inorganic carbon manipulation during the cultivation of cyanobacterium Microcystis allows efficiently convert its biomass into the biofuel feedstock. The proteomic analysis demonstrated that highly efficient feedstock production can be achieved during Microcystis culturing by nitrogen deprivation, which slows down the catabolic consumption of carbohydrates in cells. Further, we developed a novel approach that allows converting the natural Microcystis biomass into carbohydrate-rich feedstock by maintaining a high rate of carbohydrate production at minimal biomass losses. The yield attains 0.22 g ethanol per gram dry biomass, which is in the range of the ethanol yield of sugarcane, but higher than the values of sugarcane waste. The suggested approach provides cost-effective technology for sustainable green energy production from nuisance cyanobacterial biomass. The massive removal of toxic cyanobacterial biomass for bioethanol productions can mitigate the harmful cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic lakes, and positively affect their restoration. • N-deprivation enhances carbohydrate content in Microcystis cells to 2.7 fold. • Natural Microcystis scum can be manipulated to produce carbohydrate-rich feedstock. • Slowing down in catabolic consumption induces carbohydrate accumulation. • The bioethanol yield from carbohydrate-rich Microcystis attains 0.22 g-1 dry biomass. • This study sheds light on mitigation of CyanoHABs by converting into green energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Spectacle lenses with peripheral lenslets have shown promise for myopia control by providing peripheral myopic defocus signals. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of prolonged exposure (>6 months) to peripheral myopic defocus on visual information processing in myopic children. Methods: The study included 30 myopic children who habitually wore spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL group) and 34 children who habitually wore single‐vision (SV group) spectacles. The quick contrast sensitivity function (qCSF) was used to measure contrast sensitivity (CS) under conditions of no or high noise. Both groups were tested with HAL and SV lenses. The perceptual template model was utilised to fit the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and determine differences in information processing efficiency through internal additive noise (Nadd) and perceptual template gain (β). Results: The areas under the log CSF in the SV group were significantly higher than for the HAL group in both zero‐noise conditions with the SV test lens (p = 0.03) and high‐noise conditions with the HAL test lens (p = 0.02). For 2 cycle per degree (cpd) stimuli, β was significantly higher in the SV group with the HAL test lens than in the HAL group (p = 0.02), while there was a trend towards a significant difference in β for 6 cpd stimuli (p = 0.07). However, there were no significant differences in Nadd between the two groups, with or without noise interference. Conclusion: The reduced CS observed in myopic children wearing HAL lenses for 6 months or more may be due to decreased β. This suggests that prolonged use of spectacle lenses with peripheral myopic defocus signals may compromise the central visual system's ability to process additional external noise, resulting in decreased efficiency in visual information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various amounts of TiSi2 (30, 40, and 50 wt.%) were added to 3 mol% yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y‐TZP) to fabricate 3Y‐TZP/TiSi2 composites by vacuum sintering. The effects of the TiSi2 added amount, as well as the sintering temperature on the microstructure, mechanical, and electrical characteristics of the 3Y‐TZP/TiSi2 composites were examined. The sintered samples consisted of three phases: tetragonal (t‐ZrO2), TiSi2, and reaction product Ti5Si3. The maximum bending strength and relative density of the composites, reaching 501.20 MPa and 98.59% respectively, were achieved at a TiSi2 content of 30 wt.% and sintering temperature of 1500°C. The resistivity of 3Y‐TZP/TiSi2 composites showed a nonlinear decrease with increasing TiSi2 content. These results indicated that 3Y‐TZP/TiSi2 composites had a typical percolation threshold phenomenon due to the different TiSi2 content and a conductivity model of 3Y‐TZP/TiSi2 composites at room temperature was founded on the generalized effective medium equation. The resistivity of the composites could optionally adjust between 102 and 10−4Ω·cm with 30–50 wt.% TiSi2 under room temperature. Overall, the 3Y‐TZP/TiSi2 composites show great potential for applications in the heat‐not‐burn tobacco field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]