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Compared to conventional artificial neural networks, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) better handle graph-structured data. Graph topology plays an important role in learning graph representations and impacts the performance of GNNs. However, existing GNNs encounter challenges in adequately capturing and representing the entire graph topology. In order to better capture the information about topological graph structures during message-passing, we propose a novel GNN architecture called Residual Structure Graph Neural Network (RSGNN). Specifically, RSGNN constructs residual links on local subgraphs to express the potential relationships between nodes, thus compensating for the lack of structural information solely conveyed by real edge connections. Meanwhile, the influence of edge structures of neighbor nodes is considered. We conduct comprehensive experiments on various graph benchmark datasets to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed RSGNN model. The experimental results demonstrate that our model outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods and alleviates the over-smoothing issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Newly detected hepatic nodules during follow-up of cancer survivors receiving chemotherapy may pose a diagnostic dilemma. We investigated a series of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) diagnosed by either typical MRI features and follow-up or pathology in cancer survivors. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 38 patients with tumours who developed new hepatic FNH after cyclophosphamide-based (n = 19) and oxaliplatin-based (n = 19) chemotherapies. The main tumour types were breast cancer (n = 18) and colorectal cancer (n = 17). MRI findings, clinical features, and temporal evolution of all target hepatic lesions (n = 63) were reported. In addition, the two chemotherapy drug groups were compared. Results: The median interval between chemotherapy completion and FNH detection was 30.4 months (12.9, 49.4). Six patients underwent biopsy or surgery, while the remaining patients were diagnosed based on typical MRI features and long-term follow-up. Among the patients, 60.5% (23/38) presented with multiple nodules and 63 target lesions were detected. The median size of target lesions was 11.5 mm (8.4, 15.1). The median follow-up time was 32.5 months (21.2, 48.6), and 15 patients experienced changes in their lesions during the follow-up period (11 increased and 4 decreased). The cyclophosphamide-based treatment group had a younger population, a greater proportion of females, and a shorter time to discovery than the oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy group (all p ≤ 0.016). Conclusions: FNH may occur in cancer survivors after cyclophosphamide- or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Considering a patient's treatment history and typical MRI findings can help avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive treatment. Clinical relevance statement: When cancer survivors develop new hepatic nodules during follow-up, clinicians should think of the possibility of focal nodular hyperplasia in addition to liver metastasis, especially if the cancer survivors were previously treated with cyclophosphamide or oxaliplatin. Key Points: Cancer survivors, after chemotherapy, can develop hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia. Cyclophosphamide and oxaliplatin are two chemotherapeutic agents that predispose to focal nodular hyperplasia development. Focal nodular hyperplasia occurs at shorter intervals in patients treated with cyclophosphamide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enoblituzumab, an immunotherapeutic agent targeting CD276, shows both safety and efficacy in activating T cells and oligodendrocyte-like cells against various cancers. Preclinical studies and mouse models suggest that therapies targeting CD276 may outperform PD1/PD-L1 blockade. However, data from mouse models indicate a significant non-responsive population to anti-CD276 treatment, with the mechanisms of resistance still unclear. In this study, we evaluate the activity of anti-CD276 antibodies in a chemically-induced murine model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Using models of induced and orthotopic carcinogenesis, we identify ITGB6 as a key gene mediating differential responses to anti-CD276 treatment. Through single-cell RNA sequencing and gene-knockout mouse models, we find that ITGB6 regulates the expression of the tumor-associated chemokine CX3CL1, which recruits and activates PF4+ macrophages that express high levels of CX3CR1. Inhibition of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis suppresses the infiltration and secretion of CXCL16 by PF4+ macrophages, thereby reinvigorating cytotoxic CXCR6+ CD8+ T cells and enhancing sensitivity to anti-CD276 treatment. Further investigations demonstrate that inhibiting ITGB6 restores sensitivity to PD1 antibodies in mice resistant to anti-PD1 treatment. In summary, our research reveals a resistance mechanism associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and identifies potential targets to overcome resistance in cancer treatment. Response rate to anti-CD276 based immunotherapy remains suboptimal in patients with cancer. Here, in a chemically-induced murine model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the authors show that expression of ITGB6 in tumor cells promotes resistance to anti-CD276 therapy, associated with accumulation of PF4+ macrophages and T cell dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing and separation of cells by microfluidic techniques are significant steps in many applications, such as single-cell analysis and disease diagnosis. Among the microfluidic techniques, passive magnetophoresis, as a label-free manner, can manipulate samples by means of magnetic field. Nowadays, most magnetic fields are generated by permanent magnets and electromagnets with large size. However, it is difficult to assemble a magnetic array using permanent magnets or electromagnets to optimize the field distribution. To produce a flexible magnetic field, a micro-magnet made by NdFeB powder and polydimethyl siloxane is proposed in this paper, and those magnetized micro-magnets are arranged into different arrays according to the arrangements of their magnetization directions. Meanwhile, a microfluidic chip containing magnetized micro-magnet arrays is designed for focusing and separating polystyrene microbeads with different diameters. The focusing and separation behaviors of microbeads in the designed microfluidic system are numerical and experimental investigated. In addition, the effects of flow rate and the arrangement of the magnetic micro-magnet array on microbead focusing and separation are discussed. Finally, a multistage microfluidic chip is designed to successfully isolate 5 μm-diameter, 10 μm-diameter, and 15 μm-diameter microbeads from their mixture at a flow rate of 240 μL/min with high purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four species of myxomycetes (Arcyria pseudodenudata, Diderma europaeum, Lycogala irregulare, and Trichia armillata) new to China were observed via light microscope and scanning electron microscope, and detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided, along with comparisons with related species. Among them, A. pseudodenudata was discovered for the first time outside of the type locality, D. europaeum was discovered for the first time outside of Europe, and L. irregulare and T. armillata were reported again after being named. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear 18S rDNA and elongation factor-1 alpha sequences or nuclear 18S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences was performed to provide a molecular basis for morphological identification. These specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Fungi of Nanjing Normal University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the domain of point cloud registration, the coarse-to-fine feature matching paradigm has received significant attention due to its impressive performance. This paradigm involves a two-step process: first, the extraction of multilevel features, and subsequently, the propagation of correspondences from coarse to fine levels. However, this approach faces two notable limitations. Firstly, the use of the Dual Softmax operation may promote one-to-one correspondences between superpoints, inadvertently excluding valuable correspondences. Secondly, it is crucial to closely examine the overlapping areas between point clouds, as only correspondences within these regions decisively determine the actual transformation. Considering these issues, we propose OAAFormer to enhance correspondence quality. On the one hand, we introduce a soft matching mechanism to facilitate the propagation of potentially valuable correspondences from coarse to fine levels. On the other hand, we integrate an overlapping region detection module to minimize mismatches to the greatest extent possible. Furthermore, we introduce a region-wise attention module with linear complexity during the fine-level matching phase, designed to enhance the discriminative capabilities of the extracted features. Tests on the challenging 3DLoMatch benchmark demonstrate that our approach leads to a substantial increase of about 7% in the inlier ratio, as well as an enhancement of 2%–4% in registration recall. Finally, to accelerate the prediction process, we replace the Conventional Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm with the selection of a limited yet representative set of high-confidence correspondences, resulting in a 100 times speedup while still maintaining comparable registration performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a safe, effective, economical, and convenient technique, tooth whitening is one of the most popular treatments for improving tooth discoloration. This review summarizes the theoretical and recent research developments in the classification and mechanisms of tooth discoloration, as well as the principles, agents, effects, and side effects of tooth whitening techniques. The aim is to provide a basis for the clinical treatment of tooth whitening techniques and to suggest possible new ideas for further research. The accepted mechanism of whitening is the redox reaction of oxides in the whitening reagent, and the whitening effect is remarkable. However, side effects such as tooth sensitivity and irritation of gum and other oral soft tissues can still occur. It is recommended that more monitoring be carried out in the clinic to monitor these side effects, and care should be taken to protect the soft tissues in the mouth during office whitening procedures. Furthermore, there is a need to develop new additives or natural whitening products to reduce the occurrence of side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by molecular heterogeneity with various immune cell infiltration patterns, which have been associated with therapeutic sensitivity and resistance. In particular, dendritic cells (DCs) are recently discovered to be associated with prognosis and survival in cancer. However, how DCs differ among ESCC patients has not been fully comprehended. Recently, the advance of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables us to profile the cell types, states, and lineages in the heterogeneous ESCC tissues. Here, we dissect the ESCC tumor microenvironment at high resolution by integrating 192,078 single cells from 60 patients, including 4379 DCs. We then used Scissor, a method that identifies cell subpopulations from single-cell data that are associated bulk samples with genomic and clinical information, to stratify DCs into Scissorhi and Scissorlow subtypes. We applied the Scissorhi gene signature to stratify ESCC scRNAseq patient, and we found that PD-L1, TIGIT, PVR and IL6 ligand-receptor-mediated cell interactions existed mainly in Scissorhi patients. Finally, based on the Scissor results, we successfully developed a validated prognostic risk model for ESCC and further validated the reliability of the risk prediction model by recruiting 40 ESCC clinical patients. This information highlights the importance of these genes in assessing patient prognosis and may help in the development of targeted or personalized therapies for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past decades, cancer enigmatical heterogeneity at distinct expression levels could interpret disparities in therapeutic response and prognosis. It built hindrances to precision medicine, a tactic to tailor customized treatment informed by the tumors' molecular profile. Single-omics analysis dissected the biological features associated with carcinogenesis to some extent but still failed to revolutionize cancer treatment as expected. Integrated omics analysis incorporated tumor biological networks from diverse layers and deciphered a holistic overview of cancer behaviors, yielding precise molecular classification to facilitate the evolution and refinement of precision medicine. Conclusion: This review outlined the biomarkers at multiple expression layers to tutor molecular classification and pinpoint tumor diagnosis, and explored the paradigm shift in precision therapy: from single- to multi-omics-based subtyping to optimize therapeutic regimens. Ultimately, we firmly believe that by parsing molecular characteristics, omics-based typing will be a powerful assistant for precision oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soy sauce, being a conventional condiment known for its rich flavor, has the ability to enhance the flavor of food and satisfy people's pursuits for a more enjoyable culinary experience. Consequently, it is extensively utilized in Asian cuisine. A comprehensive strategy was employed in this study, which involved multivariate statistical analysis, sensory analysis and chemical analysis of soy sauce from three production processes. Sensory analysis revealed that three types of sauce were significantly different in floral, fruity and nutty/baked aromas. Through GC × GC-TOF–MS analysis, a total of 358 potential aroma compounds were identified, among which 35 compounds were identified as markers for distinguishing the three types of soy sauce. Pyrazines were abundant in Chinese traditional-type soy sauce, while esters were predominant in Japanese soy sauce. The potential relationship between aroma compounds and aroma characteristics of soy sauce produced through three different processes was investigated. This study provides theoretical insights aimed at enhancing the quality of brewed soy sauce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATL) often experience chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Postoperative pain can affect the recovery of postoperative lung function, prolong postoperative recovery time, and increase patient hospitalization expenses. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is an alternative therapy based on acupuncture that has shown promise in postoperative recovery and pain management across various medical fields. However, research specifically focused on the improvement of CPSP after VATL is currently lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether TEAS can effectively reduce the severity and occurrence of chronic postsurgical pain in patients undergoing VATL. By investigating the potential benefits of TEAS in mitigating CPSP after VATL, this study aims to provide valuable clinical evidence to support the integration of TEAS into postoperative care protocols for patients undergoing VATL. Methods: This study is a prospective, single-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial to be conducted at the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force. Eighty patients undergoing VATL will be randomly divided into an experimental group (TEAS group) and a control group (sham group). The experimental group will receive TEAS at bilateral PC6, LI4, LR3, LU5, TE5, and LI11. The control group will not receive TEAS at the same acupoints. Both groups will receive TEAS or no TEAS before anesthesia induction and 1–7 days after surgery, with each session lasting 30 min. Planned Outcomes: The primary outcome will be the incidence of CPSP at 3 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes will include the incidence of CPSP at 6 months after surgery, the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery, as well as the NRS scores at 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery, remifentanil consumption during general anesthesia, demand for rescue analgesics, number and duration of indwelling chest tubes, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and changes of norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (Cor), tumor necrosis factor (TNF- α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum. Trial Registration: ChiCTR2300069458. Registered on March 16, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning model is a multi-layered network structure, and the network parameters that evaluate the final performance of the model must be trained by a deep learning optimizer. In comparison to the mainstream optimizers that utilize integer-order derivatives reflecting only local information, fractional-order derivatives optimizers, which can capture global information, are gradually gaining attention. However, relying solely on the long-term estimated gradients computed from fractional-order derivatives while disregarding the influence of recent gradients on the optimization process can sometimes lead to issues such as local optima and slower optimization speeds. In this paper, we design an adaptive learning rate optimizer called AdaGL based on the Grünwald–Letnikov (G–L) fractional-order derivative. It changes the direction and step size of parameter updating dynamically according to the long-term and short-term gradients information, addressing the problem of falling into local minima or saddle points. To be specific, by utilizing the global memory of fractional-order calculus, we replace the gradient of parameter update with G–L fractional-order approximated gradient, making better use of the long-term curvature information in the past. Furthermore, considering that the recent gradient information often impacts the optimization phase significantly, we propose a step size control coefficient to adjust the learning rate in real-time. To compare the performance of the proposed AdaGL with the current advanced optimizers, we conduct several different deep learning tasks, including image classification on CNNs, node classification and graph classification on GNNs, image generation on GANs, and language modeling on LSTM. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that AdaGL achieves stable and fast convergence, excellent accuracy, and good generalization performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interplay between innate and adaptive immune cells is important for the antitumor immune response. However, the tumor microenvironment may turn immune suppressive, and tumor associated macrophages are playing a role in this transition. Here, we show that CD276, expressed on tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), play a role in diminishing the immune response against tumors. Using a model of tumors induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine in BLCA male mice we show that genetic ablation of CD276 in TAMs blocks efferocytosis and enhances the expression of the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) of TAMs. This in turn increases CD4 + and cytotoxic CD8 + T cell infiltration of the tumor. Combined single cell RNA sequencing and functional experiments reveal that CD276 activates the lysosomal signaling pathway and the transcription factor JUN to regulate the expression of AXL and MerTK, resulting in enhanced efferocytosis in TAMs. Proving the principle, we show that simultaneous blockade of CD276 and PD-1 restrain tumor growth better than any of the components as a single intervention. Taken together, our study supports a role for CD276 in efferocytosis by TAMs, which is potentially targetable for combination immune therapy. Tumor associated macrophages (TAM) are playing an active role in tumor immune evasion in multiple cancer type. Here authors show that CD276 expression by TAMs may underpin this immune-suppressive role via promoting efferocytosis and suppressing MHC class II expression, which result in decreased CD4+ and CD8 + T cell infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that heavy oil has a high viscosity and is difficult to quickly and effectively adsorb and recover, the problem of offshore oil spill cleaning warrants consideration. In order to drastically reduce the viscosity of heavy oil and achieve effective adsorption and recovery, graphene aerogels appeared as a photothermal adsorbent. Graphene aerogels (RGA) were prepared using graphene oxide (GO) as the raw material, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the crosslinking agent, and an ice template method was used. To make high-temperature reduced graphene aerogel (HGA), the prepared RGA was reduced under 800 °C furtherly. Influence of hydrothermal pre-reduction time, crosslinker dosage, and high temperature reduction on the modeling effect of the materials were examined. The functional group structure and micro morphology of the produced graphene aerogels were identified through FT-IR, XRD, XPS, Raman, and SEM. The produced graphene aerogels have complex pore structures. Hydrothermal reduction can remove oxygen-containing functional groups from GO substantially. High temperature treating can further remove oxygen-containing functional groups, correct flaws, and open the pores of the aerogel, but it is unfavourable for the material's mechanical performance. RGA shows high absorbance on visible and ultraviolet light. Effective oil–water separation is possible under the sunlight. The temperature gradients of RGA and HGA are 34.5 and 37.0 K⋅cm−1, respectively. The saturation adsorption capacities reached 90.20 and 146.03 times of their own masses, respectively, and the rates of adsorption on heavy oil is 4.6 times and 3 times that without light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Considering the constraints in the costs and efficiency of seismic exploration acquisition, marine hydrocarbon exploration mainly relies on towed-streamer acquisition. However, the seismic data obtained from streamers have limited azimuthal coverage, posing significant challenges for the prediction of complex fractured reservoirs using azimuthal anisotropy features. To address this issue, we proposed a workflow for conventional offshore narrow-azimuth streamer data, including the local angle domain migration imaging and prestack anisotropy inversion methods based on the Rüger approximation equation. First, the local angle domain full-azimuth migration imaging method is used to perform prestack imaging processing on narrow-azimuth streamer seismic data, thus obtaining prestack gather data with azimuth information. The prestack anisotropy parameter inversion method is then used to predict the fracture intensity distribution. Finally, the method and technical process proposed in this paper are applied to the fractured reservoir description of buried hills reservoirs in the deepwater area of the northern South China Sea. The practical results demonstrate that the proposed workflow, which combines full-azimuth migration imaging processing and prestack azimuthal anisotropy parameter inversion, can accurately predict fractured reservoirs using narrow-azimuth seismic data acquired through marine towed-streamer surveys. This technical workflow is also applicable to fracture predictions and reservoir evaluations in similar seismic survey areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process mining technology has been widely used to optimize the processes of various organizations, especially in enterprises. It facilitates cooperation between departments and prompts efficient process design and resource scheduling in the production workshop. However, as a data-driven approach, the lack of production logs hinders the development of enterprise process mining research. Therefore, we introduce a new benchmark dataset named TV-ALP to provide effective data support for the combination of process mining and workshop production. The dataset comes from the field survey experience and product operation instructions, which highly restores the operation of the production workshop and details the processing of television (TV) sets in the assembly line. We compare TV-ALP with other public datasets for detailed statistical analysis and provide benchmark performance for the remaining time prediction task. The experimental results show that TV-ALP can meet the requirements of process mining and analysis research in terms of both scale and quality. In addition, while maintaining the data commonality of public datasets, it also emphasizes the importance of role information and supports a series of role-based log studies. The complete dataset is accessible for download at https://github.com/Zzou-Sdust/TV-ALP-dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetrasubstituted naphthalene diimide compound QN-302 binds to G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures. It shows high potency in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells and inhibits the transcription of cancer-related genes in these cells and in PDAC animal models. It is currently in Phase 1a clinical evaluation as an anticancer drug. A study of structure–activity relationships of QN-302 and two related analogues (CM03 and SOP1247) is reported here. These have been probed using comparisons of transcriptional profiles from whole-genome RNA-seq analyses, together with molecular modelling and molecular dynamics simulations. Compounds CM03 and SOP1247 differ by the presence of a methoxy substituent in the latter: these two compounds have closely similar transcriptional profiles. Whereas QN-302 (with an additional benzyl-pyrrolidine group), although also showing down-regulatory effects in the same cancer-related pathways, has effects on distinct genes, for example in the hedgehog pathway. This distinctive pattern of genes affected by QN-302 is hypothesized to contribute to its superior potency compared to CM03 and SOP1247. Its enhanced ability to stabilize G4 structures has been attributed to its benzyl-pyrrolidine substituent fitting into and filling most of the space in a G4 groove compared to the hydrogen atom in CM03 or the methoxy group substituent in SOP1247. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a nomogram based on preoperative clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features for the microvascular invasion (MVI) status in solitary intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (sIMCC) and to evaluate whether it could predict recurrence-free survival (RFS). Methods: We included 115 cases who experienced MRI examinations for sIMCC with R0 resection. The preoperative clinical and MRI features were extracted. Independent predictors related to MVI+ were evaluated by stepwise multivariate logistic regression, and a nomogram was constructed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive ability. All patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups of MVI. Then, the correlations of the nomogram with RFS in patents with sIMCC were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier method. Results: The occurrence rate of MVI+ was 38.3% (44/115). The preoperative independent predictors of MVI+ were carbohydrate antigen 19-9 > 37 U/ml, tumor size > 5 cm, and an ill-defined tumor boundary. Integrating these predictors, the nomogram exerted a favorable diagnostic performance with areas under the ROC curve of 0.767 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.654–0.881) in the development cohort, and 0.760 (95% CI 0.591–0.929) in the validation cohort. In the RFS analysis, significant differences were observed between the high- and low-risk MVI groups (6-month RFS rates: 64.5% vs. 78.8% and 46.7% vs. 82.4% in the development and validation cohorts, respectively) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A nomogram based on clinical and MRI features is a potential biomarker of MVI and may be a potent method to classify the risk of recurrence in patients with sIMCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementary private tutoring (PT) is commonly implemented worldwide, particularly among countries with highly competitive school systems and high-stakes examinations. Families often consider PT to promote their children's skills and address any gaps in children's learning. However, PT generally requires a considerable amount of family resources, and whether PT effectively increases students' academic achievement remains subject of debate. This study examined student-report questionnaires and school reports of mathematics achievement from approximately 1500 secondary school students in China to track retrospective longitudinal variations of PT over a year. The study involved an analysis of the differential effectiveness of regular mathematics PT participation on the mathematics achievement of students from different quantiles at four hierarchical cognitive levels. The results indicated that only the lower-quantile students benefited from PT for their lower cognitive level achievement. Further, it was observed that among the higher-quantile students there was a reduction in high cognitive level achievement. These results raise questions concerning the role and effectiveness of PT. This study provides an evidence-based assessment of the effectiveness of PT and highlights the implications for educational practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has recently grown on multi-agent systems (MAS) and their coordination and secure cooperative control, for example in the field of edge-cloud computing. MAS offers robustness and flexibility compared to centralized systems by distributing control across decentralized agents, allowing the system to adapt and scale without overhaul. The collective behavior emerging from agent interactions can solve complex tasks beyond individual capabilities. However, controlling high-order nonlinear MAS with unknown dynamics raises challenges. This paper proposes an enhanced genetic algorithm strategy to enhance secure cooperative control performance. An efficient encoding method, adaptive decoding schemes, and heuristic initialization are introduced. These innovations enable compelling exploration of the solution space and accelerate convergence. Individual enhancement via load balancing, communication avoidance, and iterative refinement intensifies local search. Simulations demonstrate superior performance over conventional algorithms for complex control problems with uncertainty. The proposed method promises robust, efficient, and consistent solutions by adapting to find optimal points and exploiting promising areas in the space. This has implications for securely controlling real-world MAS across domains like robotics, power systems, and autonomous vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to establish a nomogram based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features to predict the very early recurrence (VER, less than 6 months) of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) after R0 resection. Methods: This study enrolled a group of 193 IMCC patients from our institution between March 2010 and January 2022. Patients were allocated into the development cohort (n = 137) and the validation cohort (n = 56), randomly, and the preoperative clinical and MRI features were collected. Univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression assessments were adopted to assess predictors of VER. Nomogram was constructed and certificated in the validation cohort. The performance of the prediction nomogram was evaluated by its discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. The performance of the nomogram was compared with the T stage of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition staging system. Results: Fifty-three patients (27.5%) experienced VER of the tumor and 140 patients (72.5%) with non-VER, during the follow-up period. After multivariate stepwise logistic regression, number of lesions, diffuse hypoenhancement on arterial phase, necorsis and suspicious lymph nodes were independently associated with VER. The nomogram demonstrated significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) of 0.813 than T stage (AUC = 0.666, P = 0.006) in the development cohort, whereas in the validation cohort, the nomogram showed better discrimination performance, with an AUC of 0.808 than T stage (0.705) with no significantly difference (P = 0.230). Decision curve analysis reflected the clinical net benefit of the nomogram. Conclusion: The nomogram based on preoperative MRI features is a reliable tool to predict VER for patients with IMCC after R0 resection. This nomogram will be helpful to improve survival prediction and individualized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed traditional cancer treatments. Specifically, ICI-related myocarditis is an immune-related adverse event (irAE) with high mortality. ICIs activate CD4+ T-lymphocyte reprogramming, causing an imbalance between Th17 and Treg cell differentiation, ultimately leading to myocardial inflammatory damage. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) can limit inflammatory responses, with positive therapeutic effects across various cardiovascular inflammatory diseases; however, its role in the pathogenesis of ICI-related myocarditis and CD4+ T-cell dysfunction remains unclear. Accordingly, this study investigated whether LIPUS can alleviate ICI-related myocarditis inflammatory damage and, if so, aimed to elucidate the beneficial effects of LIPUS and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: An in vivo model of ICI-related myocarditis was obtained by intraperitonially injecting male A/J mice with an InVivoPlus anti-mouse PD-1 inhibitor. LIPUS treatment was performed via an ultrasound-guided application to the heart via the chest wall. The echocardiographic parameters were observed and cardiac function was assessed using an in vivo imaging system. The expression of core components of the HIPPO pathway was analyzed via western blotting. Results: LIPUS treatment reduced cardiac immune responses and inflammatory cardiac injury. Further, LIPUS treatment alleviated the inflammatory response in mice with ICI-related myocarditis. Mechanistically, in the HIPPO pathway, the activation of Mst1–TAZ axis improved autoimmune inflammation by altering the interaction between the transcription factors FOXP3 and RORγt and regulating the differentiation of Treg and Th17 cells. Conclusion: LIPUS therapy was shown to reduce ICI-related myocarditis inflammatory damage and improve cardiac function, representing an exciting finding for irAEs treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioresistance is the primary reason for radiotherapy failure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Glycosylation-related alterations are critically involved in tumor radioresistance. However, the relationship between glycosylation and NSCLC radioresistance is unclear. Here, we generated radioresistant NSCLC cell models by using fractionated irradiation. The aberrant glycosylation involved in NSCLC-related radioresistance was elucidated by transcriptomic, proteomic, and glycomic analyses. We conducted in vitro and in vivo investigations for determining the biological functions of glycosylation. Additionally, its downstream pathways and upstream regulators were inferred and verified. We demonstrated that mucin-type O-glycosylation and the O-glycosylating enzyme GALNT2 were highly expressed in radioresistant NSCLC cells. GALNT2 was found to be elevated in NSCLC tissues; this elevated level showed a remarkable association with response to radiotherapy treatment as well as overall survival. Functional experiments showed that GALNT2 knockdown improved NSCLC radiosensitivity via inducing apoptosis. By using a lectin pull-down system, we revealed that mucin-type O-glycans on IGF1R were modified by GALNT2 and that IGF1R could affect the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Moreover, GALNT2 knockdown-mediated in vitro radiosensitization was enhanced by IGF1R inhibition. According to a miRNA array analysis and a luciferase reporter assay, miR-30a-5p negatively modulated GALNT2. In summary, our findings established GALNT2 as a key contributor to the radioresistance of NSCLC. Therefore, targeting GALNT2 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of different water and fertilizer coupling on photosynthetic performance and plant nutrient utilization of post-anthesis flag leaf of wheat, a field experiment was conducted at the experimental base of Qingdao Agricultural University from October 2016 to June 2017. And two water levels (I1 and I2) and four fertilization levels (F1, F2, F3 and F4) were set. In terms of flag leaf light and performance of wheat, reasonable irrigation and fertilization (I1F1 and I1F4) of wheat can maintain a higher concentration of chlorophyll content, increase Gs, Pn and Tr, and reduce Ci. The Tr in I2F2 and I2F3 of wheat was very small, which was not conducive to CO2 assimilation and to photosynthesis in wheat. In regard to nutrient utilization, the contents of N, P and K contents in roots, stems and leaves of wheat decreased gradually from elongation stage to filling stage. Reasonable coupled treatment (I1F1, I1F3, and I1F4) of water and fertilizer could increase the contents of N, P and K in root, stem and leaf of wheat. The results showed that I1F1 and I1F3 treatments played a favorable role in the photosynthetic performance of flag leaves and plant nutrient utilization, indicating that the treatment with 60 mm irrigation amount was more conducive to photosynthesis and plant nutrient utilization of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on romantic relationships has, among other details, focused on matching effect of attachment between dyadic partners, as matching perspective could reveal the interdependence and interplay between partners. However, how attachment matching relates to relationship quality has yielded inconsistent findings. The present study investigated the links between dyadic attachment matching and relationship quality among 434 dating couples and 929 married couples. We found that, in contrast with discrepancy in anxiety, congruence in anxiety does not always relate to a higher quality of relationship. Notably, the association between congruence in anxiety and relationship quality seems to be represented by a U curve, indicating that dyads with two highly anxious partners could cultivate a satisfying relationship. Furthermore, dyads with a larger discrepancy in avoidance were associated with higher relationship quality than dyads with a smaller discrepancy. The discussion focused on the dyadic regulation effect, especially the buffering and thriving effect for dyads with insecure partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death, where TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process confers on cancer cells increased metastatic potential. However, the involvement of circRNAs in this process is still obscure. Here, we identify a TGFβ-induced circRNA called circITGB6 as an indispensable factor during the TGFβ-mediated EMT process. circITGB6 is significantly upregulated in metastatic cancer samples and its higher abundance is closely correlated to worse prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Through gain- and loss-of-function assays, circITGB6 is found to potently promote EMT process and tumor metastasis in various models in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circITGB6 enhances the mRNA stability of PDPN, an EMT-promoting gene, by directly interacting with IGF2BP3. Notably, interfering circITGB6 with PEI-coated specific siRNA effectively represses liver metastasis. Therefore, our study reveals the function of a TGFβ-regulated circRNA in tumor metastasis and suggests that targeting circITGB6 is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. TGFbeta is known to promote cancer metastasis through the promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, the authors demonstrate that a TGFbeta induced circular RNA (circITGB6) promotes colorectal cancer metastasis via activation of the m6A reader protein, IGF2BP3, resulting in stabilization of an EMT-promoting gene, PDPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste Zanthoxylum bungeanum branches were used to prepare activated carbon adsorbents with high mesopore ratio by H3PO4 staged activation method with adding KNO3 additive. The prepared activated carbon adsorbents were characterized by SEM, BET, FT-IR, and XRD. The adsorption properties of the prepared activated carbon adsorbents were evaluated by the toluene adsorption/desorption in air. The quasi-first-order, quasi-second-order, and Bangham models were used to fit the obtained toluene adsorption results. The oxidative etching of KNO3 additive improved the pore-forming ability of the H3PO4 activator to enhance the activation pore-forming effects of the selected biomass raw material. The secondary pore-forming effects of K atoms promoted the effective expansion of the pore diameter in the activated carbon preparation process to prepare activated carbon adsorbents with high mesopore proportion. The specific surface area and mesopore proportion of the activated carbon adsorbents prepared by adding KNO3 additive exceeded 1100 m2/g and 71.00%, respectively, and the toluene adsorption capacity exceeded 370.00 mg/g. The rich mesopore structures can effectively reduce the toluene mass transfer resistance, which can promote the corresponding activated carbon adsorbent to be regenerated by low-temperature (40 °C) thermal desorption. The toluene adsorption on the prepared activated carbon adsorbents includes surface adsorption and diffusion in pore structures, and the toluene adsorption mechanism is more consistent with the Bangham kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of weak stiffness of the existing fully decoupled parallel mechanism, a new synthesis method of fully decoupled three translational (3T) parallel mechanisms (PMs) with closed-loop units and high stiffness is proposed based on screw theory. Firstly, a new criterion for the full decoupled of PMs is presented that the reciprocal product of the transmission wrench screw matrix and the output twist screw matrix of PMs is a diagonal matrix, and all elements on the main diagonal are nonzero constants. The forms of the transmission wrench screws are determined by the criterion. Secondly, the forms of the actuated and unactuated screws can be obtained according to their relationships with the transmission wrench screws. The basic decoupled limbs are generated by combination of the above actuated and unactuated screws. Finally, a closed-loop units construction method is investigated to apply the decoupled mechanisms in a better way on the high stiffness occasion. The closed-loop units are constructed in the basic decoupled limbs to generate a high-stiffness fully decoupled 3T PM. Kinematic and stiffness analyses show that the Jacobian matrix is a diagonal matrix, and the stiffness is obviously higher than that of the coupling mechanisms, which verifies the correctness of the proposed synthesis method. The mechanism synthesized by this method has a good application prospect in vehicle durability test platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Iron-dependent lipid peroxidation causes ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death. Crucial steps in the formation of ferroptosis include the accumulation of ferrous ions (Fe2+) and lipid peroxidation, of which are controlled by glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Its crucial role in stopping the spread of cancer has been shown by numerous studies undertaken in the last ten years. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the process by which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics. EMT is connected to carcinogenesis, invasiveness, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in cancer. It is controlled by a range of internal and external signals and changes the phenotype from epithelial to mesenchymal like. Studies have shown that mesenchymal cancer cells tend to be more ferroptotic than their epithelial counterparts. Drug-resistant cancer cells are more easily killed by inducers of ferroptosis when they undergo EMT. Therefore, understanding the interaction between ferroptosis and EMT will help identify novel cancer treatment targets. In-depth discussion is given to the regulation of ferroptosis, the potential application of EMT in the treatment of cancer, and the relationships between ferroptosis, EMT, and signaling pathways associated with tumors. Invasion, metastasis, and inflammation in cancer all include ferroptosis and EMT. The goal of this review is to provide suggestions for future research and practical guidance for applying ferroptosis and EMT in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The synergistic "anchor-capture" mechanism of polar groups on Zn stripping/plating process is firstly proposed. The amino group firmly anchors on Zn surface and the carboxyl group strongly captures Zn2+, constructing a robust anode–electrolyte interface and inducing uniform Zn deposition. The ultra-stable cycle lifespan of Zn–Zn symmetric cell (over 2800 h) and high utilization rate of Zn anode (the depth of discharge up to 68% for 200 h) are achieved under the proposal of synergistic "anchor-capture." While the rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have been recognized as one of the most viable batteries for scale-up application, the instability on Zn anode–electrolyte interface bottleneck the further development dramatically. Herein, we utilize the amino acid glycine (Gly) as an electrolyte additive to stabilize the Zn anode–electrolyte interface. The unique interfacial chemistry is facilitated by the synergistic "anchor-capture" effect of polar groups in Gly molecule, manifested by simultaneously coupling the amino to anchor on the surface of Zn anode and the carboxyl to capture Zn2+ in the local region. As such, this robust anode–electrolyte interface inhibits the disordered migration of Zn2+, and effectively suppresses both side reactions and dendrite growth. The reversibility of Zn anode achieves a significant improvement with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.22% at 1 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2 over 500 cycles. Even at a high Zn utilization rate (depth of discharge, DODZn) of 68%, a steady cycle life up to 200 h is obtained for ultrathin Zn foils (20 μm). The superior rate capability and long-term cycle stability of Zn–MnO2 full cells further prove the effectiveness of Gly in stabilizing Zn anode. This work sheds light on additive designing from the specific roles of polar groups for AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective, observer-masked, randomized clinical trial was conducted between December 2018 and June 2021 at Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. A total of 45 glaucoma patients from Beijing, China, were enrolled in this clinical trial to compare the short-term efficacy of primary single-selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) to 0.005% latanoprost eye drops for the treatment of 24-h intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with newly diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Both SLT and latanoprost significantly decreased mean 24-h IOP and peak IOP, although the latanoprost group effect was more potent when compared to the SLT group (both Ps < 0.05). Compared with the SLT group, the latanoprost group had a significant and stable decrease in IOP after treatment. The latanoprost group had a more pronounced reduction in IOP at weeks 4 and 12 (P < 0.05) but had no difference at week 1 (P = 0.097). As a first-line treatment, both SLT and latanoprost eye drops are effective in newly diagnosed POAG and OHT patients. However, the latanoprost eye drops may be better in decreasing mean and peak 24-h IOP and thus controlling 24-h IOP fluctuation compared to SLT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic traveling waves (PTWs, wavetrains) have been extensively used to understand spatiotemporal oscillations observed in a number of field datasets. The aim of this paper is to investigate the existence, period functions and stability of PTWs with large speed in general two component reaction-diffusion systems. We first show the existence of small-amplitude (or large-amplitude) PTWs arising from Hopf bifurcation around a weak focus of order m (or from bifurcation of periodic orbits around a m-fold limit cycle). Second, we give the dominant terms of their period functions, which rarely appear in the existing references. Third, we establish the instability of PTWs in terms of the first-order derivative of their period functions. Our results indicate that the stability of small-amplitude PTWs depends on not only the real parts of the Lyapunov coefficients but also their imaginary parts. The invariant manifold theory developed by Fenichel is applied, along with bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems. Finally, we apply the main results to a host-generalist parasitoid model for the biological control of a leafminer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspect sentiment triplet extraction is an important research in the field of sentiment analysis, aiming at extracting aspect, opinion expression, and aspect-based sentiment at once. Most of existing end-to-end methods are tagging-based, which neglect the interaction between aspect term and opinion term while predicting the sentiment polarity. Besides, these methods cannot accurately resolve the complex correspondence between aspect terms and opinion terms. To address above concerns, we propose a span-level framework to extract aspect sentiment triplets, which is enhanced by introducing syntactic dependency relation and part-of-speech combination features through graph convolutional networks to deal with the complex relationships between aspect terms and opinion terms. Moreover, the proposed model explicitly considers the interaction between aspect and opinion spans generated by dual-channel pruning strategy when predicting their sentiment polarity. Experimental results demonstrate that our framework achieves strong performance over the baselines, especially on triplets including multi-word entities and complex corresponding relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a heated debate on a learning paradigm known as "fast mapping" for its early neocortical dependence and retained memory over time for amnesic patients with hippocampal system damage. Whether the fast mapping allows hippocampus independent learning and induces rapid integration is poorly understood. The present study aims to investigate the effect of fast mapping on very long-term retention, which to our knowledge has not been previously explored. We tested memory retention ranging from 10 min to 1.5 years, for novel word-object associations learned from fast mapping or explicit encoding procedures. The three-alternative forced choice recognition task was employed to assess memory performance. Besides the slight adjustment of the testing schedule, other settings remained the same in Experiment 2 to replicate and verify the findings of Experiment 1. Results showed that overall memory retrieval performance was higher after explicit encoding as compared to fast mapping. However, retrieval performance after explicit encoding dropped after 1.5 years, but remained stable in the fast mapping condition. Furthermore, matching the semantic category of the known and the novel items during the fast mapping paradigm might affect long-term retention. These results suggest that fast mapping creates more stable long-term memory representations as compared to the explicit encoding strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating distiller's grains (DG) into poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has not been investigated because DG is not suitable for processing at high temperatures. Hence, in this study, DG was treated with methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) to prepare reinforced DG (RDG), which was then used as a biological filler that was melt-mixed with a PET resin to produce PET/DG and PET/RDG composites. The composite mechanical properties were investigated. Compared with PET/DG composites, PET/RDG composites exhibited improved mechanical properties. When the RDG content was 12.5%, the elongation at break reached the maximum. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the structure of composites filled with MDI-modified DG at the tensile section, and the compatibility between RDG fillers and the PET matrix was analyzed; RDG dispersed and adhered well in the matrix. The FTIR results showed the appearance of new characteristic peaks, indicating the possibility of DG reacting with MDI after the blending with PET, as well as providing clues about the probable reaction mechanism. Through X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and water absorption tests, the crystallinity, thermal stability, and water absorption for the composites were analyzed. The results of TGA showed that RDG had a higher thermal stability than DG. Adding DG could significantly increase the crystallinity and rate of crystallization of PET, and at the same time, it could also improve the water absorption performance of the composites. But in the case of DG modification or treatment with MDI, the water absorption was slightly reduced. The results of contact angle analysis showed that the surface of PET/RDG composites had higher hydrophobicity than that of PET/DG composites because of the tighter structure. Relative to DG, RDG also effected improvement in the thermal stability of PET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the correlation of histogram metrics from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters with HIF-1alpha expression in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Methods: We enrolled 71 patients with STS who underwent 3.0-T MRI, including conventional MRI, DWI, and DCE-MRI sequences. Location, maximum tumor diameter, envelope, T2-weighted tumor heterogeneity, peritumoral edema, peritumoral enhancement, necrosis, tail-like pattern, bone invasion, and vessel/nerve invasion and/or encasement were determined using conventional MRI images. The whole-tumor histogram metrics were calculated on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), Ktrans, Kep, and Ve maps. Independent-samples t test and one-way ANOVA were used for testing the differences between normally distributed categorical data with HIF-1alpha expression. Pearson and Spearman correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the correlations between histogram metrics and HIF-1alpha expression. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Regarding conventional MRI features, only highly heterogeneous on T2-weighted images (55.6 ± 19.9% vs. 45.4 ± 20.5%, p = 0.041) and more than 50% necrotic area (57.3 ± 20.4% vs. 43.9 ± 19.7%, p = 0.002) were prone to indicate STS with higher HIF-1alpha expression. Histogram metrics obtained from ADC (mean, median, 10th, and 25th percentile values), Ktrans (mean, median, 75th, and 90th percentile values), and Kep (90th percentile values) were significantly correlated with HIF-1alpha expression. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that more than 50% necrosis, ADCskewness, Ktrans90th, and grade III were independently associated with HIF-1alpha expression. Conclusion: DWI and DCE-MRI histogram parameters were significantly correlated with HIF-1alpha expression in STS. Key points: • DWI and DCE-MRI histogram parameters are correlated with HIF-1alpha expression in STS. • More than 50% necrosis, ADCskewness, Ktrans90th, and grade III were independently associated with HIF-1alpha expression in STS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of metal nanoclusters has been reported, revealing the correlation between structure and ECL at an atomic level is highly challenging. Here, we reported the impact of the metal core of Au20(SAdm)12(CHT)4 (Au20-AC for short; SAdm = 1-adamantanethiolate; CHT= cyclohexanethiol) and its isomer Au20(TBBT)16 (TBBT = 4-tert-butylthiophenol) on their solution-state and solid-state electrochemiluminescence. In self-annihilation ECL experiments, Au20-AC showed a strong cathodic ECL but a weak anodic ECL, while the ECL signal of Au20(TBBT)16 was weak and barely detectable. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the Au7 kernel of [Au20-AC]- is metastable, weakening its anodic ECL. Au20-AC in solution-state displayed an intense co-reactant ECL in the near-infrared region, which is 7 times higher than that of standard Ru(bpy)32+. The strongest solid-state ECL emissions of Au20-AC and Au20(TBBT)16 were at 860 and 770 nm, respectively — 15 nm red-shifted for Au20-AC and 20 nm blue-shifted for Au20(TBBT)16, compared to their corresponding solid-state photoluminescence (PL) emissions. This work shows that ECL is significantly affected by the subtle differences of the metal core, and offers a potential basis for sensing and immunoassay platforms based on atomically precise emissive metal nanoclusters. Metal nanoclusters have shown great promise as electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophores, but understanding the relationship between ECL and atomic structure is highly challenging. Here, the ECL of nanocluster isomers Au20(SAdm)12(CHT)4 and Au20(TBBT)16 is studied, giving insight into structure–property relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim of this study was to compare the surgical results and the complications of absorbable suture (AS) versus permanent suture (PS) in sacrocolpopexy (SCP). Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles in which researchers compared AS with PS in SCP. The primary outcomes were the surgical success rate and suture-related complications (suture exposure/erosion, mesh erosion, and suture removal). All analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.3. Results: Four articles involving 689 patients were ultimately included. Our findings demonstrated that AS had similar surgical success rates to those of PS (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 0.60–2.96) and no significant differences in failure rates were noted between the two groups (OR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.34–1.66). Subgroup analyses in patients with anatomical failure revealed no significant differences in recurrent posterior prolapse (OR=0.33; 95% CI, 0.05–2.10) or in recurrent apical (OR=0.64; 95% CI, 0.03–13.66) or anterior prolapse (OR=0.45; 95% CI, 0.13–1.57). However, the AS group were at a lower risk of suture exposure/erosion (OR=0.18; 95% CI, 0.06–0.58) and a lower suture removal rate (OR=0.14; 95% CI, 0.03–0.61) and retreatment (OR=0.36; 95% CI, 0.16–0.82), but the mesh erosion was not significantly different (OR=1.00; 95% CI, 0.49–2.08). Conclusions: The data showed that AS had a similar success rate, less exposure/erosion, and were less likely to be removed and require retreatment than PS, which supported the notion that AS is as effective as PS but safer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether a deep learning (DL) model based on preoperative MR images of primary tumors can predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with stage T1–2 rectal cancer. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with stage T1–2 rectal cancer who underwent preoperative MRI between October 2013 and March 2021 were included and assigned to the training, validation, and test sets. Four two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) residual networks (ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet101, and ResNet152) were trained and tested on T2-weighted images to identify patients with LNM. Three radiologists independently assessed LN status on MRI, and diagnostic outcomes were compared with the DL model. Predictive performance was assessed with AUC and compared using the Delong method. Results: In total, 611 patients were evaluated (444 training, 81 validation, and 86 test). The AUCs of the eight DL models ranged from 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75, 0.85) to 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.92) in the training set and from 0.77 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.92) to 0.89 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.00) in the validation set. The ResNet101 model based on 3D network architecture achieved the best performance in predicting LNM in the test set, with an AUC of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.89) that was significantly greater than that of the pooled readers (AUC, 0.54 [95% CI: 0.48, 0.60]; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The DL model based on preoperative MR images of primary tumors outperformed radiologists in predicting LNM in patients with stage T1–2 rectal cancer. Key Points: • Deep learning (DL) models with different network frameworks showed different diagnostic performance for predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with stage T1–2 rectal cancer. • The ResNet101 model based on 3D network architecture achieved the best performance in predicting LNM in the test set. • The DL model based on preoperative MR images outperformed radiologists in predicting LNM in patients with stage T1–2 rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the human demand for crop productivity, there are several challenges that researchers are involved in the photosynthetic efficiency of plants may be one of them. Nanotechnology can improve agricultural productivity by affecting the photosynthetic activity of plants. However, no studies have yet shown that nano-calcium carbonate (NCC) can play a role in improving photosynthetic performance of plants. In order to explore the effects of NCC on wheat seedling morphology, antioxidant enzyme activities and photosynthetic parameters, wheat roots were exposed to different concentrations of NCC (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg L−1) through hydroponic experiments. Different concentrations affected root length, root surface area, root diameter, root volume and plant dry biomass. Compared to the control (0 mg L−1 of NCC) application (CK), wheat with 200 mg L−1 of NCC application showed 54% and 58% increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, respectively. As for photosynthesis-related physiological indicators, compared with CK, 200 mg L−1 of NCC significantly enhanced chlorophyll a (38%), chlorophyll b (20%), carotenoid content (19%), Rubisco activity (3.02-fold), net photosynthetic rate (Pn, 56%), transpiration rate (Tr, 40%), and stomatal conductance (Gs, 71%). The PCR results showed that compared with CK, the psbA gene encoding the photosystem PSII reaction center D1 protein and the rbcL gene encoding the large subunit of Rubisco were up-regulated by 2.56- and 2.58-fold at 200 mg L−1 NCC treatment, and by 3.22- and 3.57-fold at 400 mg L−1 NCC treatment, respectively. Specifically, NCC has significant benefits on wheat seedling growth, and 200 mg L−1 is the optimal concentration. NCC enhanced photosynthetic performance of wheat by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthetic pigment content, Rubisco activity, stomatal conductance and PSII reaction center activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to develop and validate a preoperative nomogram for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: In this retrospective study, 224 consecutive patients with clinicopathologically confirmed IMCC were enrolled. Patients whose data were collected from February 2010 to December 2020 were randomly divided into the training (131 patients) and internal validation (51 patients) datasets. The data from January 2021 to November 2021 (42 patients) were allocated to the time-independent validation dataset. Univariate and multivariate forward logistic regression analyses were used to identify preoperative MRI features that were significantly related to MVI, which were then used to develop the nomogram. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curve to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. Results: Interobserver agreement of MRI qualitative features was good to excellent, with κ values of 0.613–0.882. Multivariate analyses indicated that the following variables were independent predictors of MVI: multiple tumours (odds ratio [OR]) = 4.819, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.562–14.864, P = 0.006), ill-defined margin (OR = 6.922, 95% CI 2.883–16.633, P < 0.001), and carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA 19–9) > 37 U/ml (OR = 2.890, 95% CI 1.211–6.897, P = 0.017). A nomogram incorporating these factors was established using well-fitted calibration curves. The nomogram showed good diagnostic efficacy for MVI, with AUC values of 0.838, 0.819, and 0.874 for the training, internal validation, and time-independent validation datasets, respectively. Conclusion: A nomogram constructed using independent factors, namely the presence of multiple tumours, ill-defined margins, and CA 19–9 > 37 U/ml could predict the presence of MVI. This can facilitate personalised therapeutic strategy and clinical management in patients with IMCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to characterize the alterations in the immune phenotypes and explore the potential relevance to pathogenesis in IgG4-RD. Methods: Forty-two IgG4-RD patients and thirty-eight healthy controls were recruited in this study. Peripheral immunocompetent cells including T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, B cells, NK cells CD4 + CD45RA + T cells (naïve T cells), CD4 + CD25 − / + Foxp3 − T cells (Teff), CD4 + CD25hiCD127lowCD161 + T cells (CD161 + Treg), CD4 + CD25hiFoxp3 + T cells (Foxp3 + Treg), CD4 + CD4RA-CXCR5 + PD1 + CCR7low T cells (pTfh), T helper (Th) 1, Th2, and Th17 before and after treatment were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry. Results: Compared with healthy controls, IgG4-RD patients showed higher proportions of NK (20.1% vs 13.6%, p < 0.01), Th1 (CD4 + IFN-γ + : 17.9% vs 14.2%, p = 0.061; TNF-α: 43.7% vs 36.7%, p < 0.05), Th2 (CD4 + IL-4 + : 2.4% vs 1.3%, p < 0.0001), CD161 + Treg (14.9% vs 11.6%, p < 0.01), pTfh (3.2% vs 2.4%, p < 0.05), and Foxp3 + Treg (8.3% vs 7.0%, p < 0.01) and lower proportions of B lymphocytes (8.4% vs 13.1%, p < 0.001), Teff (91.6% vs 92.6%, p < 0.01), and naïve Th cells (19.9% vs 32.1%, p < 0.01) before treatment. Foxp3 + Treg percentage decreased significantly after treatment (8.6% vs 6.9%, p < 0.05). Both serum C3 (r = − 0.6374, p < 0.01) and C4 (r = − 0.6174, p < 0.01) levels were in negative correlation with CD161 + Treg. The eosinophil percentage was positively correlated with Foxp3 + Treg (r = 0.5435, p < 0.05). Serum IgE level was positively correlated with Th2 (r = 0.5545, p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between CD161 + Treg and pTfh (r = 0.4974, p < 0.05) while a negative correlation between Th2 and B cells (r = − 0.4925, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Immune phenotypes were altered in IgG4-RD. Treg/Teff balance was shifted toward Treg in IgG4-RD. CD161 + Treg was likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD. Key Points •Immune phenotypes were altered in B cells, T cells, and NK cells in IgG4-RD. •Treg/Teff balance was shifted toward Treg in IgG4-RD. •CD161+ Treg maybe play a proinflammatory role in IgG4-RD [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]