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Adipose tissue plays an important role in systemic energy metabolism, and its dysfunction can lead to severe metabolic disorders. Various cells in adipose tissue communicate with each other to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as novel medium for remote intercellular communication by transferring various bioactive molecules from parental cells to distant target cells. Increasing evidence suggests that the endocrine functions of adipose tissue and even the metabolic homeostasis are largely affected by different cell-derived EVs, such as insulin signaling, lipolysis, and metabolically triggered inflammation regulations. Here, we provide an overview focused on the role of EVs released by different cell types of adipose tissue in metabolic diseases and their possible molecular mechanisms and highlight the potential applications of EVs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Moreover, the current EVs-based therapeutic strategies have also been discussed. This trial is registered with NCT05475418. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical glucocorticoids for total hip arthroplasty by meta-analysis. Methods. A computerized search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed English databases, as well as Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, vipu Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang database, and Chinese Knowledge Net Database, was performed to include all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding topical glucocorticoid therapy for postoperative bleeding after THA according to the inclusion criteria. The quality evaluation criteria of RCTs, as stated in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 4.2.5, were adopted for evaluation, and the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results. A total of 10 articles were included, including 1,112 patients: 566 in the topical glucocorticoid group and 546 in the control group. The transfusion rate was 8.43% for topical glucocorticoids and 30.05% for the control group (P < 0.001), and topical glucocorticoids reduced 317.89 ml total blood loss and 76.82 ml invisible blood loss, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.001). The amount of intraoperative blood loss was reduced by topical glucocorticoids, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.83), and the postoperative HB value was increased by topical glucocorticoids, although the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The incidence of DVT and PE after topical glucocorticoid application (3.03%) was greater than that of the control group (2.40%), the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.54), and the incidence of infection after topical glucocorticoid application (3.03%) was greater than that of the control group (2.40%). The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.39). Conclusions. Topical glucocorticoids can reduce the transfusion rate and blood loss in THA patients without increasing their risk of thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Anaesthesia can alter neuronal excitability and vascular reactivity and ultimately lead to neurovascular coupling. Precise control of the skeletal muscle relaxant doses is the key in reducing anaesthetic damage. Methods. A total of 102 patients with the normal functioning preoperative facial nerve who required parotid tumour resection were included in this study. Facial nerve monitoring was conducted intraoperatively. The surgeon stimulated the facial nerve at different myorelaxation intervals at TOF% (T4/T1) and T1% (T1/T0) and recorded the responses and the amplitude of electromyogram (EMG). Body movements (BM) or patient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA) was recorded intraoperatively. Results. In parotid tumour resection, T1% should be maintained at a range of 30 to 60% while TOF% should be maintained at a range of 20 to 30%. Analysis of the decision tree model for facial nerve monitoring suggests a partial muscle relaxation level of 30 % < T 1 % ≤ 50 % and TOF ≤ 60 %. A nomogram prediction model, while incorporating factors such as sex, age, BMI, TOF%, and T1%, was constructed to predict the risk of BM/PVA during surgery, showing good predictive performance. Conclusions. This study revealed an adequate level of neuromuscular blockade in intraoperative parotid tumour resection while conducting facial nerve monitoring. A visual nomogram prediction model was constructed to guide anaesthetists in improving the anaesthetic plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabricated building has become one of the most significant research directions in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and has attracted a large number of scholars and practitioners in recent years. However, few studies have conducted a systematic review on the development of prefabricated building research around the world. In this study, the scientometric method is used to analyze the literature on prefabricated buildings in the past ten years through analysis of co-authors, co-words, and co-citation. From the Web of Science (WOS) core collection database, a total of 1224 articles were collected for statistics and analysis. The analysis results indicated that Bruno Dal Lago obtained the maximum number of co-citations, and the most significant country/region and research institution in prefabricated building research were China and Tongji University, respectively. It was also found that engineering, civil engineering, and construction and building technology were the top three subject categories that prefabricated building research belonged to. Among all the keywords of the collected articles, citation bursts were received by "cladding panel," "precast concrete," and "project." Moreover, there were 11 co-citation clusters identified from the articles, and their themes included precast structures, waste management, progressive collapse, delay, precast facades, carbon reduction, laser scanning, and prefabricated residential building. This paper is expected to provide researchers and practitioners in this field a detailed and in-depth understanding of the trend and status of global research on prefabricated buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study aimed at evaluating the association between the speed of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and late skin and subcutaneous fibrosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after radiotherapy. Methods. The speed of NF-κB activation was represented by the nuclear p65 expression ratio before and after irradiation. The optimal time point to measure the ratio was determined by Western blot in the PBMCs from healthy outpatients ranging from 0 to 12 hours after ex vivo irradiation. We recruited patients with HNSCC who had received ratiotherapy and who were under regular follow-up care. We assessed the association between the risk of developing ≥grade 2 late fibrosis and the nuclear p65 expression ratio in the PBMCs after ex vivo irradiation in these patients. Results. The maximum nuclear p65 ratio was observed at 1 hour after ex vivo irradiation in the PBMCs from the healthy outpatients. The speed of NF-κB activation was then represented by the nuclear p65 ratio in the PBMCs before and 1 hour after ex vivo irradiation. A total of 200 patients with HNSCC were recruited, 32.50% (n = 65) of which presented with ≥grade 2 late fibrosis. There was a significant association between the speed of NF-κB activation in the PBMCs and an increased risk of developing ≥grade 2 late fibrosis in these patients (P = 0.004). Subgroup analysis suggested that this finding was independent of the known clinical characteristics. Conclusions. The speed of NF-κB activation might be a potential predictor of late toxicity in cancer patients after radiotherapy. Prospective studies are needed for validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the problem that the process quality state is difficult to analyze and monitor under manufacturing big data, this paper proposed a data cloud model similarity-based quality fluctuation monitoring method in data-driven production process. Firstly, the randomness of state fluctuation is characterized by entropy and hyperentropy features. Then, the cloud pool drive model between quality fluctuation monitoring parameters is built. On this basis, cloud model similarity degree from the perspective of maximum fluctuation border is defined and calculated to realize the process state analysis and monitoring. Finally, the experiment is conducted to verify the adaptability and performance of the cloud model similarity-based quality control approach, and the results indicate that the proposed approach is a feasible and acceptable method to solve the process fluctuation monitoring and quality stability analysis in the production process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of suitable native plant species for local animal husbandry development and ecological restoration is limited on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Therefore, comparisons of the ecological adaptability of native species to alternative habitats and their introduction into new habitats are of high importance. This study is aimed at identifying the alteration in morphological and physiological characteristics by measuring photosynthetic physiology, nutrient content, and growth associated with adaptation of plants to conditions at different altitudes 2450, 2950, 3100, and 3300 m above sea level (a. s. l.) on the plateau. Seeds of the dominant grass, Elymus nutans, were collected from locations at these altitudes and grown at a test location of 2950 m a. s. l. Results indicated that altitude had no significant effect on plant height and root depth. However, the leaf area and total root surface area of plants derived from 2950 and 3300 m a. s. l. showed a parabolic response, being greater than those of plants derived from the lowest (2450 m) and highest (3300 m a. s. l.). Total (root plus shoot) dry matter reduced progressively from 2450 to 3300 m a. s. l, while root : shoot ratio increased progressively with altitude. Seed yield of plants originating from the test altitude (2950 m a. s. l) was significantly higher than at any other altitude, being 20% lower at 2450 m, and 38% and 58% less in populations originating from the higher altitudes (3100 and 3300 m a. s. l.). There was also a parabolic decline in response of Elymus nutans germplasm from 3100, 3300, and 2450 m, compared with plants from 2950 m a. s. l., to photosynthetic rate, total N, soluble sugar, and starch contents. Germplasm from 2450 m a. s. l. had significantly lower shoot and higher root carbon content, lower shoot nitrogen, and lower root carbon-to-nitrogen ratio compared with plants derived from the other three altitudes. It is suggested that the stable, genetically determined morphological and physiological features of ecotypes showed parabolic responses which means these ecotypes have become adapted to local habitats, whereas parameters such as dry matter, total root : shoot ratio, photosynthetic rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration of plants reflected phenotypic linear response to current abiotic conditions. It is postulated that introduced ecotypes from 2450, 3100, and 3300 m could adapt to the environment at 2950 m a. s. l. gradually. We conclude that the increased thermal regime experienced by plants introduced from high altitude to low altitude may facilitate the increased growth of Elymus nutans subtypes. It is important to preserve local strains of native species, or ecotypes, for reintroduction into degraded environments and to maintain the greatest ecosystem stability in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been acknowledged that carbonate was identified as the source rocks of a series of oil-gas fields worldwide. For evaluating the carbonate source rocks, total organic carbon (TOC) contents act as an important indicator. However, the acid solution, which has been generated during conventional TOC measurements, contain organic matters. Hence, the released organic matters in acid solution during carbonate decomposition may lead to underestimate the hydorcarbon generation potential. In this study, rock-eval pyrolysis technique was applied to bulk rock and residue after acid treatment. Meanwhile, the organic matters in acid solution were measured by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) to investigate the geochemical characteristics. In addition, the hydrocarbon generation and alteration of TOC contents of released organic matters by acid treatment were studied by hydrous pyrolysis experiments. The results show that the acid solution contains organic compounds, including n-alkanes, saturated fatty acids and fatty acid methyl esters. Meanwhile, total organic carbon (TOC) contents and hydrocarbon generation potential (S1+S2) significantly decrease for bulk rocks after acid treatment in low maturity samples. Moreover, organic CO2 (S3) decreased after treating of acid, revealing that acidolysis process can affect and release organic matters containing oxygen-bearing functional groups. The S1, S2, S3, and TOC loss are positive correlation with the proportion of rock loss during acidolysis, indicating that the organic matters in acid solution are associated with carbonate minerals. The organic fractions may exist as adsorption state on the surface of carbonate minerals and (or) exist as organic acid salts. Moreover, the thermal simulation experiments reveal that the organic matter in acid solution, which is not recovered by the conventional measurement approach, could contribute to hydrocarbon generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]