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Implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) osteomyelitis is a severe challenge in orthopedics. While antibiotic-loaded bone cement is a standardized therapeutic approach for S. aureus osteomyelitis, it falls short in eradicating Staphylococcus abscess communities (SACs) and bacteria within osteocyte-lacuna canalicular network (OLCN) and repairing bone defects. To address limitations, we developed a borosilicate bioactive glass (BSG) combined with ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic scaffold to enhance antibacterial efficacy and bone repair capabilities. We conducted comprehensive assessments of the osteoinductive, immunomodulatory, antibacterial properties, and thermal response of this scaffold, with or without an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Utilizing a well-established implant-related S. aureus tibial infection rabbit model, we evaluated its antibacterial performance in vivo. RNA transcriptome sequencing demonstrated that BSG + 5%Fe3O4 enhanced the immune response to bacteria and promoted osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of MSCs. Notably, BSG + 5%Fe3O4 upregulated gene expression of NOD-like receptor and TNF pathway in MSCs, alongside increased the expression of osteogenic factors (RUNX2, ALP and OCN) in vitro. Flow cytometry on macrophage exhibited a polarization effect towards M2, accompanied by upregulation of anti-inflammatory genes (TGF-β1 and IL-1Ra) and downregulation of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-6 and IL-1β) among macrophages. In vivo CT imaging revealed the absence of osteolysis and periosteal response in rabbits treated with BSG + 5%Fe3O4 + AMF at 42 days. Histological analysis indicated complete controls of SACs and bacteria within OLCN by day 42, along with new bone formation, signifying effective control of S. aureus osteomyelitis. Further investigations will focus on the in vivo biosafety and biological mechanism of this scaffold within infectious microenvironment.

Abstract The objective was to explore the efficacy of single-port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure using double-modified hernia needles with hydrodissection (SLPEC group) and two-port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (TLPEC group) for the treatment of giant indirect inguinal hernias in children. We performed a retrospective review of all children with giant indirect inguinal hernias (inner ring orifice diameter ≥ 1.5 cm) who underwent laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac at FuJian Children’s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. We collected data from the medical records of all the children and analysed their clinical characteristics and operation-related and follow-up information. Overall, this study included a cohort of 219 patients with isolated giant inguinal hernias who had complete clinical data and who had undergone laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac at our centre. All procedures were successfully performed for the 106 patients who underwent SLPEC and for the 113 patients who underwent TLPEC at our centre. There were no statistically significant differences in patient age, sex, body weight, follow-up time or the side of inguinal hernia between the SLPEC group and the TLPEC group (P = 0.123, 0.613, 0.121, 0.076 and 0.081, respectively). However, there were significant differences in the bleeding volume, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and postoperative activity time between the two groups (P ≤ 0.001). The operation times in the TLPEC group were significantly longer than those in the SLPEC group (P = 0.048), but there were no significant differences in hospital length of stay or hospitalization costs between the two groups (P = 0.244 and 0.073, respectively). Incision scars were found in 2 patients in the SLPEC group and 9 patients in the TLPEC group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.04). However, the incidence of ipsilateral hernia recurrence, surgical site infection, suture-knot reactions and chronic inguinodynia did not significantly differ between the two groups (P = 0.332, 0.301, 0.332 and 0.599, respectively). Postoperative hydrocele occurred in only 1 male child in the SLPEC group and in no male children in the TLPEC group, and there was no difference between the two groups (P = 0.310). In this study, there were no cases of testicular atrophy or iatrogenic ascent of the testis. Compared with the TLPEC group, the SLPEC group had the advantages of a concealed incision, light scarring, minimal invasiveness, a reduced operation time, minimal bleeding, mild pain and rapid recovery. In conclusion, SLPEC using double-modified hernia needles with hydrodissection and high ligation of the hernia sac is a safe, effective and minimally invasive surgery. The cosmetic results are impressive, and the follow-up results are promising.

BackgroundClinical observations have recently shown that Abelmoschus manihot (L.) in the form of Huangkui capsule (HKC) and in combination with irbesartan (EB) is an effective therapy for diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The present study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacies of HKC and its combination with EB in DN via the gut-kidney axis.MethodsHKC, EB, and their combination or vehicle were administered in db/db mice, which is an animal model for the study of T2D and DN. Comparative analyses of the gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and kidney transcriptomics before and after drug administration were performed.ResultsAfter treatment with HKC, EB, and their combination for 4 weeks, the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratios decreased significantly in the db/db mice with DN. In terms of the gut microbiota, the abundances of Faecalitalea, Blautia, and Streptococcus increased but those of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Enterobacteriaceae, and Desulfovibrio decreased. Parallelly, serum metabolites, mainly including quercetin 3′-glucuronide and L-dopa, were elevated while cortisol and cytochalasin B were reduced. Furthermore, the S100a8, S100a9, Trem1, and Mmp7 genes in the kidneys were downregulated. These altered elements were associated with proteinuria/albuminuria reduction. However, EB had no effects on the changes in blood pressure and specific differentially expressed genes in the kidneys.ConclusionThe present study provides experimental evidence that HKC regulates the gut microbiota, circulating metabolites, and renal gene activities, which are useful for better understanding of the action mechanisms of A. manihot in the treatment of DN through the gut-kidney axis.

Abstract Background THOC7-AS1 and FSTL1 expression are frequently upregulated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). However, their molecular biological mechanisms remain elusive and their potential as therapeutic targets needs urgent exploration. Methods Human tissue samples were used to evaluate clinical parameters. In vitro and in vivo experiments assessed biological functions. Quantitative PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, silver staining, chromatin immunoprecipitation, dual luciferase reporter assays etc. were utilized to explore the molecular biological mechanisms. Results We found FSTL1 is an oncogene in cSCC, with high expression in tumor tissues and cells. Its elevated expression closely associates with tumor size and local tissue infiltration. In vitro and in vivo, high FSTL1 expression promotes cSCC proliferation, migration and invasion, facilitating malignant behaviors. Mechanistically, FSTL1 interacts with ZEB1 to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cSCC cells. Exploring upstream regulation, we found THOC7-AS1 can interact with OCT1, which binds the FSTL1 promoter region and promotes FSTL1 expression, facilitating cSCC progression. Finally, treating tumors with THOC7-AS1 antisense oligonucleotides inhibited cSCC proliferative and migratory abilities, delaying tumor progression. Conclusions The THOC7-AS1/OCT1/FSTL1 axis regulates EMT and promotes tumor progression in cSCC. This study provides clues and ideas for cSCC targeted therapy.

BackgroundPediatric solid tumors are a common malignant disease in children, and more and more studies have proved that there is an inseparable relationship between adult tumors and intestinal microbiome, but the changes in the intestinal microbiota of pediatric solid tumor (PST) patients have been scarcely examined. This study aims to examine the differences in the intestinal microbiota features between patients diagnosed with PST and healthy controls (HCs).MethodsTo elucidate the unique characteristics of the gut microbiota in pediatric patients with solid tumors, we recruited 23 PST patients and 20 HCs. A total of 43 stool samples were gathered, and then 16S rRNA sequencing was performed.ResultsWe noticed a noticeable pattern of elevated diversity in the gut microbiota within the PST groups. The differences in microbial communities among two groups were remarkable, regarding the analysis at the class level, the abundance of Bacilli was markedly increased in PST patients compared to HCs (P

In rapidly urbanizing regions, enhancing passenger comfort in subway systems through sustainable methods is a critical challenge. This study introduces an innovative exploration of the impact of subway entrance geometry on natural ventilation and its subsequent effects on the thermal environment within Cairo’s subway system. The primary objective is to identify optimal entrance configurations that maximize natural airflow, thereby improving passenger comfort and reducing energy consumption. Focusing on the newly constructed segments of the Cairo subway, the research employs a mixed-methods approach that integrates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with a questionnaire survey to evaluate interactions between various entrance designs and urban wind flow patterns. This dual approach allows for a comprehensive assessment of how different geometrical configurations influence the capture and distribution of prevailing winds. The results indicate that specific entrance geometries can significantly enhance ventilation efficiency by optimizing wind capture and distribution. The most effective designs demonstrated substantial improvements in air quality and thermal comfort, providing practical insights for subway systems in similar hot arid climates. The novelty of this research lies in its detailed analysis of architectural elements to leverage natural environmental conditions for improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort in public transit systems. The significance of this study is its contribution to the field of sustainable urban transport, offering a valuable framework for urban planners and engineers. By demonstrating how thoughtful design can lead to energy savings and enhanced passenger experiences, this research advances the discourse on sustainable urban infrastructure. This work not only enhances theoretical understanding but also provides actionable recommendations for creating more sustainable and comfortable public transit infrastructures.

This paper introduces a novel methodology for mitigating undesired oscillations in overhead crane systems used in material handling operations in the industry by leveraging Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-based Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs). Oscillations during material transportation, particularly at the end location, pose safety risks and prolong carrying times. The methodology involves collecting sensor data from an overhead crane system, preprocessing the data, training an LSTM-based RNN model that incorporates symmetrical features, and integrating the model into a control algorithm. The control algorithm utilizes swing angle predictions from the symmetry-enhanced LSTM-based RNN model to dynamically adjust crane motion in real time, minimizing oscillations. Symmetry in this framework refers to the balanced and consistent handling of oscillatory data, ensuring that the model can generalize better across different scenarios and load conditions. The LSTM-based RNN model accurately predicts swing angles, enabling proactive control actions to be taken. Experimental validation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach, achieving an accuracy of approximately 98.6% in swing angle prediction. This innovative approach holds promise for transforming material transportation processes in industrial settings, enhancing operational safety, and optimizing efficiency.

With the advancement of network technology, there has been an increase in the volume of data being transmitted across networks. Due to the bandwidth limitation of communication channels, data often need to be quantized or event-triggered mechanisms are introduced to conserve communication resources. On the other hand, network uncertainty can lead to data loss and destroy data integrity. This paper investigates the identification of finite impulse response (FIR) systems under the framework of stochastic noise and the combined effects of the event-triggered mechanism and uncertain communications. The study provides a reference for the application of remote system identification under transmission-constrained and packet loss scenarios. First, a congruential summation-triggered communication scheme (CSTCS) is introduced to lower the communication rate. Then, parameter estimation algorithms are designed for scenarios with known and unknown packet loss probabilities, respectively, and their strong convergence is proved. Furthermore, an approximate expression for the convergence rate is obtained by data fitting under the condition of uncertain packet loss probability, treating the trade-off between convergence performance and communication resource usage as a constrained optimization problem. Finally, the rationality and correctness of the algorithm are verified by numerical simulations.

BackgroundPediatric solid tumor, the abnormal proliferation of solid tissues in children resulting in the formation of tumors, represent a prevailing malignant ailment among the younger population. Extensive literature highlights the inseparable association linking oral microbiome and adult tumors, but due to differences in age of onset, characteristics of onset, etc., there are many differences between Pediatric solid tumors and adult tumors, and therefore, studying the relationship between Pediatric solid tumor and the oral microbiota is also essential.MethodsTo unravel the distinct characteristics of the oral microbiota within Pediatric solid tumor patients, 43 saliva samples, encompassing 23 Pediatric solid tumor patients and 20 healthy controls, were diligently procured. A meticulous screening process ensued, and conducted microbial MiSeq sequencing after screening.ResultsWe documented the oral microbiome attributes among pediatric diagnosed with solid tumors (PST), and meanwhile, we observed a significant trend of decreased oral microbiota diversity in the pediatric solid tumor group. There were notable disparities in microbial communities observed between the two groups, 18 genera including Veillonellaceae, Firmicutes unclassified, Coriobacteriia, Atopobiaceae, Negativicutes, were significantly enriched in PST patients, while 29 genera, including Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria, Burkholderiales, Neisseriaceae, were dominant in the HCs group. It was found that PST group had 16 gene functions, including Amino acid metabolism, Cysteine and methionine metabolism, Photosynthesis antenna proteins, Arginine and proline metabolism, and Aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesi, were significantly dominant, while 29 gene functions that prevailed in HCs.ConclusionThis study characterized the oral microbiota of Pediatric solid tumor patients for the first time, and importantly, targeted biomarkers of oral microbiota may serve as powerful and non-invasive diagnostic tools for pediatric solid tumor patients.

As a strong interference source for the all-time optical imaging surveillance of maritime targets, sea surface glare is difficult to mitigate accurately because of its time-varying characteristics due to lighting conditions and seawater fluctuations. In this paper, we propose an adaptive suppression approach to sea surface glare, which establishes a geographic polarization suppression model based on real-time information regarding geographic positioning and the orientation information of the floating platform, and also combines dynamic polarization control and pixel normalization to achieve adaptive suppression of sea surface glare. Experimental results show that this approach can mitigate the influence of rapidly changing glare effectively, and the SSIM indexes between the images without glare and those with glare suppression of the same scenes exceed 0.8, which is suitable for all-time glare suppression on the sea surface under natural lighting conditions.

In high-power electronic devices, the rapid accumulation of heat presents significant thermal management challenges that necessitate the development of advanced thermal interface materials (TIMs) to ensure the performance and reliability of electronic devices. TIMs are employed to facilitate an effective and stable heat dissipation pathway between heat-generating components and heat sinks. In recent years, anisotropic one-dimensional and two-dimensional materials, including carbon fibers, graphene, and boron nitride, have been introduced as fillers in polymer-based TIMs due to their high thermal conductivity in specific directions. The orientation of the fillers in the polymer matrix has become an important issue in the development of a new generation of high-performance TIMs. To provide a systematic understanding of this field, this paper mainly discusses recent advances in advanced oriented TIMs with high thermal conductivity (>10 W/(m·K)). For each filler, its preparation strategies and enhancement mechanisms are analyzed separately, with a focus on the construction of oriented structures. Notably, there are few reviews related to carbon fiber TIMs, and this paper details recent research results in this field. Finally, the challenges, prospects, and future development directions of advanced TIMs are summarized in the hope of stimulating future research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of multi‐carbon compounds through CO2 photoreduction (CO2PR) holds great promise but faces challenges due to high kinetic barriers and the sluggish process of C‐C coupling. Overcoming these obstacles requires fine engineering of active sites. In this study, Ni active sites are engineered through the synergistic effect of metal‐oxo cluster (Mo7O246−) and hydroxyl vacancy (VOH). In contrast to the Ni sites unmodified with Mo7O246− and VOH, which are unable to produce multi‐carbon products, the constructed electron‐enriched Ni active sites exhibit an impressive selectivity of up to 43.02% and a high yield rate of 246.70 µmol g−1 h−1 for C2H6, which represent one of the best results for CO2PR to C2H6. Through a comprehensive investigation involving operando experiments and theoretical simulations, hydroxyl vacancy and the formed Mo─O─Ni bonds is demonstrated due to the filling of hydroxyl vacancies with oxygen atoms from Mo7O246− synergistically constructed electron‐rich Ni sites. Such Ni sites efficiently catalyze CO2 conversion to C2H6 by enhancing the adsorption of *CO, promoting subsequent hydrogenation, and enabling low energy barriers for CO2 hydrogenation to *OCOH and the coupling of *CH3 intermediates. This study provides deeper insights into the photocatalytic process, highlighting the significance of tailored active sites for efficient CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse the association between serum bile acid (BA) profile and heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Methods: We enrolled 163 individuals with biopsy‐proven MAFLD undergoing transthoracic echocardiography for any indication. HFpEF was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction >50% with at least one echocardiographic feature of HF (left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, abnormal left atrial size) and at least one HF sign or symptom. Serum levels of 38 BAs were analysed using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Among the 163 patients enrolled (mean age 47.0 ± 12.8 years, 39.3% female), 52 (31.9%) and 43 (26.4%) met the HFpEF and pre‐HFpEF criteria, and 38 serum BAs were detected. Serum ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and hyocholic acid (HCA) species were lower in patients with HFpEF and achieved statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons. Furthermore, decreases in glycoursodeoxycholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid were associated with HF status. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, specific UDCA and HCA species were associated with HFpEF status in adults with biopsy‐confirmed MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the features of simultaneous interpreting (SI) from a multidimensional (MD) analysis perspective (Biber 1988), drawing on a newly built comparable intermodal corpus, the LegCo+ corpus. The corpus incorporates Cantonese speeches that are both interpreted and translated into English, as SI and written translation (WT), respectively. Additionally, a third English corpus consisting of English native speeches (NS), without mediation, serves as a benchmark comparison. We aim to examine the extent of similarities and differences between SI, NS and WT in terms of the linguistic patterns they display. Our findings show that: (1) SI is a hybrid language mode, exhibiting features that lie between those of non-mediated spoken language and mediated written language; (2) in terms of its spoken nature, SI resembles NS in certain dimensions where typical features are associated with orality, suggesting a strong modality effect; and (3) in terms of its mediated status, SI demonstrates similarities with WT, despite their perceptibly distinct modalities, pointing to a potential mediation-specific effect. These empirical findings emphasize the necessity of understanding the multidimensionality inherent in interpreted language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein synthesis in response to neuronal activity, known as activity-dependent translation, is critical for synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, the signaling cascades that couple neuronal activity to the translational events remain elusive. In this study, we identified the role of calmodulin (CaM), a conserved Ca2+-binding protein, in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) biogenesis in neurons. We found the CaM-regulated rRNA synthesis is Ca2+-dependent and necessary for nascent protein synthesis and axon growth in hippocampal neurons. Mechanistically, CaM interacts with nucleolar DEAD (Asp–Glu–Ala–Asp) box RNA helicase (DDX21) in a Ca2+-dependent manner to regulate nascent rRNA transcription within nucleoli. We further found CaM alters the conformation of DDX21 to liberate the DDX21- sequestered RPA194, the catalytic subunit of RNA polymerase I, to facilitate transcription of ribosomal DNA. Using high-throughput screening, we identified the small molecules batefenterol and indacaterol that attenuate the CaM-DDX21 interaction and suppress nascent rRNA synthesis and axon growth in hippocampal neurons. These results unveiled the previously unrecognized role of CaM as a messenger to link the activity-induced Ca2+ influx to the nucleolar events essential for protein synthesis. We thus identified the ability of CaM to transmit information to the nucleoli of neurons in response to stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chylothorax is a postoperative complication in patients with lung cancer. Diet-control approaches have been the mainstay for managing this condition. However, a surgical intervention is needed for the patients if conservative treatment is ineffective. Because of the lack of accurate indicators to assess the prognosis of the postoperative complication at an early stage, the criteria of surgical treatment were not consistent. Methods: We reviewed 2942 patients who underwent pulmonary resection and lymph node dissection for primary lung cancer at our hospital between March 2021 and December 2022. The prognostic implications of clinical indicators were assessed in patients with postoperative chylothorax who were managed with a low-fat diet. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the predictive value of these indicators for patient prognosis. Results: Postoperative chylothorax occurred in 108 patients and 79 patients were treated with a low-fat diet management while 29 patients were managed with TPN. In contrast to drainage volume, the pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet exhibited enhanced predictive efficacy in predicting patient prognosis. When the pleural fluid triglyceride level of 1.33 mmol/L was used as the diagnostic threshold for prognosis, the sensitivity and specificity reached 100% and 80.6%, respectively. Conclusions: The pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet can serve as a valuable prognostic indicator in patients undergoing lung surgery and experiencing chylothorax. This predictive approach will help thoracic surgeons to identify patients with poor prognosis in a timely manner and make decision to perform necessary surgical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the miniaturization, high frequency of electronic devices, and low‐carbon and sustainable development, higher requirements are put forward for thermal conductive polyurethane composites in terms of comprehensive performance and renewable raw materials. Herein, choosing bio‐based polyurethane (PU) derived from castor oil as matrix, and liquid metal (LM) and aluminum hydroxide (ATH) as hybrid thermal conductive filler, castor oil‐based PU composites were developed via high‐speed rotation and in‐situ polymerization method. The LM‐ATH hybrid filler displayed a synergistic enhancement effect on the thermal conductivity of composites due to the presence of LM‐bridging significantly improved the effective contact probability between ATH fillers. The thermal conductivity of 50LM‐ATH/PU reached 1.69 Wm−1 K−1, which was 9.9 times and 1.4 times higher than that of pure PU and 50ATH/PU, respectively. Notably, the 50LM‐ATH/PU exhibited outstanding mechanical properties including tensile strength up to 4.0 MPa and adhesion strength up to 7.9 MPa, especially elongation at break up to 120% which was improved by 200% compared with 50ATH/PU (40%). Additionally, the composite possessed excellent electric insulation, thermal stability, and inflaming retarding properties, showing great application potential in the electronic devices field. Highlights: Castor oil‐based PU composites with ATH‐LM hybrid filer were developed.LM‐ATH hybrid filler of 2:8 promoted the thermal conductivity of composites.Hybrid filler than ATH‐endowed composites with better mechanical properties.The ATH‐LM/PU exhibited excellent electric insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of oxalic acids on plant growth and Pb accumulation in different parts of the plants of intercropping Arabis alpina and Zea mays, pot experiment was conducted to investigate the changes of oxalic acid contents of the plants and Pb accumulation through exogenous oxalic acid addition (0, 5, 25 and 50 mmol kg−1). The results showed the root biomass of intercropped A. alpina and total biomass of Z. mays increased by 3.22 folds and 2.97 folds with 5 mmol kg−1 oxalic acid treatment. The oxalic acid contents of shoots and root secretions decreased by 86.5% and 44.3%, respectively. The BCF (bio-accumulation factor) and TF (translocation factor) of intercropping A. alpina reduced under 25 − 50 mmol kg−1 oxalic acid treatments. There were relationships between exogenous oxalic acid treatment concentrations and oxalic acid contents of A. alpina shoots, Z. mays root secretions. The Pb contents of shoots of A. alpina and Z. mays were related to exogenous oxalic acid additions and oxalic acid contents of shoots. In general, 5 mmol kg−1 oxalic acid treatment, that can improve plant growth of intercropped A. alpina and Z. mays, which Pb translocation and accumulation of A. alpina were promoted, whereas Pb accumulation of A. alpina was inhibited with 25 − 50 mmol kg−1 concentrations addition. This study will provide a basis for promoting the application of phytoremediation techniques and efficient crop production in heavy metal contaminated areas. Hyperaccumulators intercropped with crops will remediate heavy metal soils or mitigate the damage caused by heavy metals to plants through oxalic acid secretion by the root system. However, the effect of oxalic acid changes on plant growth and Pb accumulation is lacking. Our study investigated the changes in oxalic acid content at different concentrations and sites affected the ability of intercropped plants to grow and accumulate Pb. This work shown that under intercropping conditions, exogenous oxalic acid promotes intercropped plant growth as well as soil pH reduction, Pb content in shoots both Arabis alpina and Zea mays is influenced by exogenous oxalic acid content, while lower Z. mays roots Pb content is determined by a combination of exogenous addition and aboveground oxalic acid content. Low concentrations of oxalic acid promoted Pb enrichment in roots of A. alpina, while reducing the uptake of Pb content in Z. mays. This article gives us a better understanding for the response of intercropping plants to the use of organic acids under heavy metal stress and how to modify their environment so as to favor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium-based materials (e.g., In2O3) are a class of promising non-noble metal-based catalysts for electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, competitive hydrogen reduction reaction (HER) on indium-based catalysts hampers CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) process. We herein tune the interfacial microenvironment of In2O3 through chemical graft of alkyl phosphoric acid molecules using a facile solution-processed strategy for the first time, which is distinguished from other researches that tailor intrinsic activity of In2O3 themselves. The surface functionalization of alkyl phosphoric acids over In2O3 is demonstrated to remarkably boost CO2 conversion. For example, octadecylphosphonic acid modified In2O3 exhibits Faraday efficiency for H2 ( FE H 2 ) of as low as 6.6% and FEHCOOH of 86.5% at −0.67 V vs. RHE, which are far superior to parent In2O3 counterparts ( FE H 2 of 24.0% and FEHCOOH of 63.1%). Moreover, the enhancing effect of alkyl phosphoric acid functionalization is found to be closely related to the length of alkyl chains. By virtue of comprehensive experimental characterizations and molecular dynamics simulations, it is revealed that the modification of alkyl phosphoric acids significantly alters the interface microenvironment of the electrocatalyst, which changes the electrocatalyst surface from hydrophilic and aerophobic to hydrophobic and aerophilic. In this case, the water molecules are pushed away and more CO2 molecules are trapped, increasing local CO2 concentration at In2O3 active sites, thus leading to the significantly enhanced CO2RR and suppressed HER. This work highlights the importance of regulating the interfacial microenvironment of inorganic catalysts by molecular surface functionalization as a means for promoting the electrochemical performance in electrosynthesis and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore and analyze the effect of medical alliance health management model under the perspective of health ecology on mental health of patients with chronic heart failure. Methods Two communities under the jurisdiction of community health service centers in a grade A hospital in Nanjing were selected as the research communities and patients form two communities were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=115) and control group (n=103). The experimental group received medical alliance health management model under the perspective of health ecology; the control group was given routine health management education on chronic heart failure prevention and treatment. The intervention period was 12 months, and changes in patients’ levels of anxiety, depression and social support before and after the intervention were compared. Results At 12 months after intervention, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores were decreased in both experimental group and control group, and GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores were lower in the experimental group than those in the control group(ITT vs. PP: -1. 07 vs. -1. 07; -0. 45 vs. -0. 49, P＜0. 05). The Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS) score was increased in both experimental group and control group, and SSRS score was higher in the experimental group than that in the control group(ITT vs. PP: 9. 30 vs. 9. 17, P＜0. 05). The generalized linear mixed model showed that the interaction effect of anxiety and social support scores were significant in time and group (P＜0. 05). Conclusion The medical alliance health management model helps to improve the mental health needs and social support of patients with chronic heart failure. (目的 探讨和分析健康生态学视域下的医联体健康管理对慢性心力衰竭患者心理健康需求的影响。方法 选取江苏省南京市某三级甲等医院技术辐射的两个社区卫生服务中心管辖社区作为研究社区, 随机分为试验组(n=115)和对照组(n=103)。试验组采用健康生态学视域下医联体介导的健康管理; 对照组采用慢性心力衰竭健康管理教育。干预周期为12个月, 比较干预前后患者心理健康需求中焦虑抑郁和社会支持水平的变化。结果 干预12个月后, 两组患者广泛性焦虑量表(GAD-7)评分和患者健康问卷抑郁量表(PHQ-9)评分均有所降低, 且试验组与对照组得分差异有统计学意义(ITT vs. PP: -1. 07 vs. -1. 07; -0. 45 vs. -0. 49, P＜0. 05); 社会支持评定量表(SSRS)得分有所提高, 试验组与对照组得分差异有统计学意义((ITT vs. PP: 9. 30 vs. 9. 17, P＜0. 05)。广义线性混合模型结果显示, 两组焦虑抑郁、社会支持得分差异在时间和分组的交互效应均有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 健康生态学视域下的医联体健康管理有助于改善慢性心力衰竭患者心理健康, 提高社会支持水平。)

Studying differences in transcriptomes across various development stages of insects is necessary to uncover the physiological and molecular mechanism underlying development and metamorphosis. We here present the first transcriptome data generated under Illumina Hiseq platform concerning Zeugodacus tau (Walker) larvae from Nanchang, China. In total, 11,702 genes were identified from 9 transcriptome libraries of three development stages of Z. tau larvae. 7219 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out from the comparisons between each two development stages of Z. tau larvae, and their roles in development and metabolism were analyzed. Comparative analyses of transcriptome data showed that there are 5333 DEGs between 1-day and 7-day old larvae, consisting of 1609 up-regulated and 3724 down-regulated genes. Expressions of DEGs were more abundant in L7 than in L1 and L3, which might be associated with metamorphosis. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis suggested the enrichment of metabolic process. KOG annotation further confirmed that 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) pathway related genes Cyp4ac1_1, Cyp4aa1, Cyp313a4_3 were critical for the biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism of secondary metabolites and lipid transport and metabolism. Expression patterns of 8 DEGs were verified using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). This study elucidated the DEGs and their roles underlying three development stages of Z. tau larvae, which provided valuable information for further functional genomic research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: This study aims to assess how enhancing upper limb function on the affected side of stroke influences the gait of the lower limb., Methods: Forty eligible stroke patients were randomly assigned to either a control group or a treatment group, with 20 patients in each group. Both groups underwent dynamic evaluation using artificial intelligence and computer vision before treatment. This evaluation focused on analyzing the range of motion of the shoulder and elbow during the gait cycle, as well as various gait parameters (such as step length, step speed, and percentage of stance phase) on the affected side. Following evaluation, the control group received routine rehabilitation treatment., Results: The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups before treatment. However, following treatment, there was a notable improvement in the motion of the shoulder and elbow joints on the affected side among patients in the treatment group (p<0.05), whereas the control group showed only slight improvement, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05)., Conclusion: The improvement in upper limb function on the affected side also appears to positively influence gait recovery. However, it's important to note that the observation period was relatively short. Further studies are needed to confirm whether this effect is sustained over the long term., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest.

Background: Traditional bandages, gauze, and cotton balls are increasingly insufficient for addressing complex war injuries characterized by severe bleeding and diverse wound conditions. The giant salamander, a species of high medical value, secretes a unique mucus when stimulated, which has potential applications in wound care., Materials: Giant salamander skin mucus gel dressing wrapped with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs-GSSM-gel) was prepared and validated. Skin wound injury of rabbit and mouse models were established. Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's trichrome, and Sirius red staining were performed. The platelet aggregation rate and coagulation items were measured. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to find potential differential expression genes., Results: Preparation and characterization of BMSCs-GSSM-gel were performed, and BMSCs-GSSM-gel particles with a diameter of about 200 nm were obtained. BMSCs-GSSM-gel accelerated wound healing in both rabbit and mouse models. BMSCs-GSSM-gel significantly promoted hemostasis via increasing platelet aggregation rate and fibrinogen, but decreasing activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time. BMSCs-GSSM-gel treatment significantly impacted several genes associated with cell adhesion, inflammatory response, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, and the positive regulation of cell migration based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Integrin Subunit Beta 4 (ITGB4), Integrin Subunit Alpha 3 (ITGA3), and Laminin Subunit Beta 3 (LAMB3) might be involved in the wound healing process by BMSCs-GSSM-gel., Conclusions: We proved the BMSCs-GSSM-gel greatly improved the skin wound healing, and it might play a crucial role in the application fields of skin damage repair.