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The high crystallinity and sophisticated hierarchical architecture of native animal silk endow it with comprehensive mechanical properties that are superior to those of most synthetic fibers. However, these features also make the direct exfoliation of silk nanofibrils (SNFs) highly challenging. On the other hand, silk‐based materials prepared by conventional method (i.e., through silk fibroin aqueous solution) are usually weak, so the preparation methods based on SNFs have attracted much attention in recent years. Herein, a facile and environmentally friendly route is developed to directly exfoliate SNFs from natural Bombyx mori silkworm silk via ammonium persulfate oxidation followed by ultrasonication. The obtained SNFs have a high yield (nearly 40%) and are well dispersed in water in a wide pH range, so they can act as a good starting material to prepare subsequent silk‐based materials. The main application of the SNFs demonstrated in this article is a curcumin (Cur)/SNFs hydrogel as wound dressing. In vivo experimental results show that the Cur/SNFs hydrogel significantly enhanced the healing rate of wounds on diabetic mice. Therefore, the preparation method developed in this study provides an efficient way to produce SNFs, which have great potential for a wide range of applications, including as wound dressings for diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) plant is world-renowned for its ornamental, medicinal, edible, and oil values. As global warming intensifies, its growth and development are often affected by high-temperature stress, especially in low-latitude regions. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an important enzyme in the plant antioxidant systems and plays vital roles in stress response by maintaining the dynamic balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations. To reveal the members of then SOD gene family and their potential roles under high-temperature stress, we performed a comprehensive identification of the SOD gene family in the low-latitude cultivar 'Hang Baishao' and analyzed the expression patterns of SOD family genes (PlSODs) in response to high-temperature stress and exogenous hormones. The present study identified ten potential PlSOD genes, encoding 145–261 amino acids, and their molecular weights varied from 15.319 to 29.973 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PlSOD genes were categorized into three sub-families, and members within each sub-family exhibited similar conserved motifs. Gene expression analysis suggested that SOD genes were highly expressed in leaves, stems, and dormancy buds. Moreover, RNA-seq data revealed that PlCSD1-1, PlCSD3, and PlFSD1 may be related to high-temperature stress response. Finally, based on the Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results, seven SOD genes were significantly upregulated in response to high-temperature stress, and exogenous EBR and ABA treatments can enhance high-temperature tolerance in P. lactiflora. Overall, these discoveries lay the foundation for elucidating the function of PlSOD genes for the thermotolerance of herbaceous peony and facilitating the genetic breeding of herbaceous peony cultivars with strong high-temperature resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a green biocatalytic approach using lipase as a catalyst has been developed for the synthesis of 3-selanyl-isoflavones through the selenylation/cyclization of 2-hydroxyphenyl enaminones and diphenyl di-selenide under mild conditions. The environmentally friendly method reached high yields of 87–95% in a short time at 30 °C, with 17 examples of 3-selanyl-isoflavones successfully prepared. Furthermore, we have investigated the possible mechanisms underlying this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatter generated by the interaction between laser and powder during Powder Bed Fusion-Laser Melting (PBF-LM) can significantly affect the quality of printed parts. A high-speed camera is used to observe the dynamic process of spatter's behavior under different layer thickness and laser powers during the printing process, and to analyze the printed samples' surface roughness, microstructure, and mechanical properties. In terms of spatter image processing, employing an optical flow approach to track and quantify the number of spatters efficiently eliminates statistical redundancy and improves statistical correctness. It is found that under the same laser power, the number of spatters produced by the laser scan direction with the gas flow (LSD-W) is more than that by the laser scan direction against the gas flow (LSD-A), and the number of spatters produced increases with the increase of laser power. Analyzing the mechanical properties and surface roughness of the printed samples under different process parameters quantitatively reveals that differences in the spatter amount generated under different process parameters in the PBF-LM process is not the determining factor affecting the difference in tensile strength of printed parts. During LSD-W, the number of spatters generated at laser power of 170 W and layer thickness of 0.03 mm is 87, and the tensile strength of the printed sample is 618 MPa. During LSD-W, the number of spatters generated at laser power of 320 W and layer thickness of 0.05 mm is 211, and the tensile strength of the printed sample is 680 MPa. Instead, spatter generation has a more direct impact on the surface roughness of printed parts. The layer thickness is 0.03 mm, the laser power is 170 W, and (Ra = 2.372 μm) is the surface roughness of the sample. The layer thickness is 0.05 mm, the laser power is 320 W, and (Ra = 8.163 μm) is the surface roughness of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant literature has extensively examined the diffusion of performance-based budgeting (PBB) from the standpoint of central governments, with a special focus on European and American countries. However, how PBB reforms diffuse within a unitary state, especially among mid-level governments, still remains elusive. To better understand the mechanism of PBB diffusion, this research use Event History Analysis to investigate how leadership characteristics, intergovernmental relations, financial standing, and organizational culture affect provincial PBB diffusion in China. The findings suggest that (1) the reasons for PBB adoption vary across different types of public leaders; (2) PBB reforms are primarily diffused through the bottom-up inducement, with central advocacy and horizontal competition playing an insignificant role; (3) provinces with a greater financial standing are more likely to adopt PBB reforms; (4) a culture that values reforms and transparency of information can drive the diffusion of PBB reforms. As a result, our research has clear implications for performance budgeting literature and practice: it provides valuable insights to policy-makers and public leaders on how to facilitate PBB reforms and policy diffusion across mid-level governments, particularly in a unitary state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (PCRS) is a common condition with a significant impact on quality of life. This study compares the microbiome of pediatric patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis., Study Design: Single-center, prospective, quantitative case-control., Setting: Metropolitan., Methods: Patients undergoing adenoidectomy for PCRS (subjects, n = 20) or obstructive sleep apnea (controls, n = 20) were recruited. 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was performed on the right middle meatus (MM), adenoid, and palatine tonsil samples from each patient. Alpha diversity was measured by the Simpson's diversity index, beta diversity was measured by the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index, and the differential abundance of bacteria genera was analyzed., Results: There were 40 adenoid, 40 tonsil, and 37 MM samples analyzed. There was no significant difference in alpha diversity between controls and subjects. Tonsils were significantly more diverse than the adenoids, which were more diverse than the MM (P < .001). There was no difference in bacterial composition between controls and subjects, but the composition of the 3 sites were significantly different (P < .001). The dissimilarity in bacterial composition between the adenoid and MM sites was larger in the control group than in the subject group., Conclusion: There were significant differences in alpha diversity and bacterial composition between the anatomic 3 sites; however, there was no difference between the controls and subjects. The larger dissimilarity in bacterial composition between adenoid and MM sites in controls compared to subjects suggests there may be colonization of the MM by the adenoid in PCRS patients., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Facial asymmetries can significantly affect patient satisfaction post-surgery. Social media can impact a patient's perception of their asymmetries. To gather insights into the practices, perceptions, and approaches concerning facial asymmetry among facial plastic surgeons. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of social media on perceptions of facial asymmetry. This is an American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (AAFPRS) survey consisting of 46 questions that sought to understand facial plastic surgeons' perceptions of facial asymmetry, their consultation process, their patients' perspectives on their own facial asymmetries, and patient satisfaction. The survey was distributed to 1,269 members of AAFPRS across community hospitals, private practices, and academic hospitals. Sixty-seven members completed the survey. The survey revealed that 31% (21) of surgeons face challenges in managing patient expectations regarding facial asymmetry. In addition, 12% (8) of surgeons felt that patients did not initially recognize their own asymmetries. Eighty-seven percent (58) of surgeons emphasize the natural occurrence of asymmetry during consultations to set realistic expectations. This study emphasizes the need for thorough patient education during initial consultations to align expectations with achievable outcomes. Surgeons should explain the natural occurrence of asymmetry clearly and use digital imaging to show patients realistic previews of surgical results., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this paper is to investigate the risk factors associated with intraoperative brain bulge (IOBB), especially the computed tomography (CT) value of the diseased lateral transverse sinus, and to develop a reliable predictive model to alert neurosurgeons to the possibility of IOBB., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 937 patients undergoing traumatic decompressive craniectomy. A total of 644 patients from Fuzong Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University were included in the development cohort, and 293 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College were included in the external validation cohort. Univariate and multifactorial logistic regression analyses identified independent risk factors associated with IOBB. The logistic regression models consisted of independent risk factors, and receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration, and decision curve analyses were used to assess the performance of the models. Various machine learning models were used to compare with the logistic regression model and analyze the importance of the factors, which were eventually jointly developed into a dynamic nomogram for predicting IOBB and published online in the form of a simple calculator., Results: IOBB occurred in 93/644 (14.4%) patients in the developmental cohort and 47/293 (16.0%) in the validation cohort. Univariate and multifactorial regression analyses showed that age, subdural hematoma, contralateral fracture, brain contusion, and CT value of the diseased lateral transverse sinus were associated with IOBB. A logistic regression model (full model) consisting of the above risk factors had excellent predictive power in both the development cohort [area under the curve (AUC)=0.930] and the validation cohort (AUC=0.913). Among the four machine learning models, the AdaBoost model showed the best predictive value (AUC=0.998). Factors in the AdaBoost model were ranked by importance and combined with the full model to create a dynamic nomogram for clinical application, which was published online as a practical and easy-to-use calculator., Conclusions: The CT value of the diseased lateral transverse is an independent risk factor and a reliable predictor of IOBB. The online dynamic nomogram formed by combining logistic regression analysis models and machine learning models can more accurately predict the possibility of IOBBs in patients undergoing traumatic decompressive craniectomy., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)