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Background: Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neurological syndrome resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. It has been recognized increasingly in non-alcoholic patients, such as in the condition of malnutrition. Recent literature has shed light on uncommon symptoms and neuroimaging findings. Case report: We reported a case of a 44-year-old male who initially presented with bilateral hearing loss, and exhibited abnormality in the splenium of the corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion-weighted imaging sequence. On the following day the patient developed new symptoms, including unstable walking, double vision and hallucination. The subsequent brain MRI demonstrated lesions involving periaqueductal grey matter and bilateral medial thalamus, indicating the diagnosis of WE. Empirical treatment with intravenous thiamine resulted in complete clinical and radiological resolution. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, the current case is the first report of WE in literature with uncommon but reversible manifestations. This case warns us to maintain a heightened level of suspicion for WE in malnourished patients with neurological deficits, despite the possibility of atypical presentations encompassing bilateral hearing disturbances and unusual neuroradiological results. Early diagnosis and timely administration of thiamine in WE are likely to lead to a favorable outcome and full recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue failure is invariably the most crucial failure mode for metallic structural components. Most microstructural strategies for enhancing fatigue resistance are effective in suppressing either crack initiation or propagation, but often do not work for both synergistically. Here, we demonstrate that this challenge can be overcome by architecting a gradient structure featuring a surface layer of nacre-like nanolaminates followed by multi-variant twinned structure in pure titanium. The polarized accommodation of highly regulated grain boundaries in the nanolaminated layer to cyclic loading enhances the structural stability against lamellar thickening and microstructure softening, thereby delaying surface roughening and thus crack nucleation. The decohesion of the nanolaminated grains along horizonal high-angle grain boundaries gives rise to an extraordinarily high frequency (≈1.7 × 103 times per mm) of fatigue crack deflection, effectively reducing fatigue crack propagation rate (by 2 orders of magnitude lower than the homogeneous coarse-grained counterpart). These intriguing features of the surface nanolaminates, along with the various toughening mechanisms activated in the subsurface twinned structure, result in a fatigue resistance that significantly exceeds those of the homogeneous and gradient structures with equiaxed grains. Our work on architecting the surface nanolaminates in gradient structure provides a scalable and sustainable strategy for designing more fatigue-resistant alloys. Most strategies to improve fatigue resistance address either crack initiation or growth. Here, the authors design a gradient-structured Ti with nacre-like surface nanolaminates that increase fatigue performance by suppressing both stages of cracking [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging capacity (HOSC) estimation is essential for evaluating antioxidants, natural extracts, or drugs against clinical diseases. While nanozymes offer advantages in related applications, they still face limitations in activity and selectivity. In response, this work showcases the fabrication of laminarin-modulated osmium (laminarin-Os) nanoclusters (1.45 ± 0.05 nm), functioning as peroxidase-like nanozymes within a colorimetric assay tailored for rational HOSC estimation. This study validates both the characterization and remarkable stability of laminarin-Os. By leveraging the abundant surface negative charges of laminarin-Os and the surface hydroxyls of laminarin, oxidation reactions are facilitated, augmenting laminarin-Os's affinity for 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) (KM = 0.04 mM). This enables the laminarin-Os-based colorimetric assay to respond to ·OH more effectively than citrate-, albumin-, or other polysaccharides-based Os. In addition, experimental results also validate the selective peroxidase-like behavior of laminarin-Os under acidic conditions. Antioxidants like ascorbic acid, glutathione, tannic acid, and cysteine inhibit absorbance at 652 nm in the colorimetric platform using laminarin-Os's peroxidase-like activity. Compared with commercial kits, this assay demonstrates superior sensitivity (e.g., responds to ascorbic acid 0.01–0.075 mM, glutathione 1–15 µg/mL, tannic acid 0.5–5 µM, and monoammonium glycyrrhizinate cysteine 1.06–10.63 µM) and HOSC testing for glutathione, tannic acid, and monoammonium glycyrrhizinate cysteine. Overall, this study introduces a novel Os nanozyme with exceptional TMB affinity and ·OH selectivity, paving the way for HOSC estimation in biomedical research, pharmaceutical analysis, drug quality control, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shot peening is widely used to increase the fatigue strength of materials by inducing plastic deformation and introducing residual compressive stresses on the material surface. To enhance the effects of shot peening further, an induction heating composite shot peening (IHCSP) method was developed to improve the strengthening effect. An IHCSP test bench was established to study the effect of the induction heating temperature field on the surface integrity parameters, and the synergistic effects of shot peening coverage and shot peening intensity on the temperature field were analyzed. The results show that IHCSP is conducive to increasing the surface compressive residual stress and maximum compressive residual stress, while the microhardness can be improved by increasing the coverage and shot peening intensity within the tempering temperature. The surface roughness is not significantly affected by the temperature field and is mainly affected by the coverage and shot peening intensity. The superiority of the IHCSP method was verified based on the analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed gear reducers are highly sensitive to vibration and noise, especially in new-energy vehicles. Hence, the current nonlinear dynamics model of gears does not fully consider the influence of tooth microstructure on backlash and friction. This study establishes a nonlinear friction dynamics model for a high-speed helical gear system, which includes time-varying dynamic backlash and friction coefficient based on the fractal characterization of tooth roughness. Furthermore, it investigates the influence of tooth surface roughness on the dynamic performance by taking into account the interaction between friction and vibration under Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL). Theoretical simulation results show that an increase in tooth roughness leads to an overall deterioration in the dynamic performance of the helical gear system; however, local optimization can also be observed. In the case of a dynamic tooth backlash, the amplitude of displacement oscillations increases, and the number of frequencies increases; in terms of frictional coefficient, the amplitude of displacement oscillations increases, but the change is small compared with that of the dynamic tooth backlash, and the number of frequencies in the spectrum decreases. The results indicate that the proposed model can provide a reference for controlling the tooth roughness of high-speed gears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was injected into test sheets and then dipped in a suspension of xylene and trimethylol propyl silane (95/5) containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) at 65 and 85 °C for 3, 7, 10 and 15 s. TiO2 NPs aggregates coated the sheet surfaces after dipping. The camera photos and the static water contact angle (WCA) showed that the dip-coating transformed all the hydrophilic surfaces into hydrophobicity, and especially that the sheet with retention of 85 °C and 7 s exhibited superhydrophobicity, while the water droplets on the 65 °C sheets were in pinning state. The water droplets rolled off the superhydrophobic surface at tilt angles below 3°, showing self-cleaning. The retention period of 7 s was suitable, as it achieved the highest surface hydrophobicity regardless the retention temperature. The images of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopes demonstrated the deposition of TiO2 NPs aggregates on the sheet surface and the formation of the porous structure on the surface. The combination of the aggregates with nanoscale protrusions and the pores with nanoscale pore walls constituted a hierarchical structure. The retention temperature of 65 °C made the pores shallow and wide, and the TiO2 concentration of 2% instead of 1% caused the excessive TiO2 NPs aggregates to cover the PLA substrate, reducing the WCA. The wetting models of water droplets on the surfaces of the 65 and 85 °C sticks were classified as Wenzel and Cassie states, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Consensus on the choice of the most accurate imaging strategy in diabetic foot infective and non-infective complications is still lacking. This document provides evidence-based recommendations, aiming at defining which imaging modality should be preferred in different clinical settings. Methods: This working group includes 8 nuclear medicine physicians appointed by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), 3 radiologists and 3 clinicians (one diabetologist, one podiatrist and one infectious diseases specialist) selected for their expertise in diabetic foot. The latter members formulated some clinical questions that are not completely covered by current guidelines. These questions were converted into statements and addressed through a systematic analysis of available literature by using the PICO (Population/Problem–Intervention/Indicator–Comparator–Outcome) strategy. Each consensus statement was scored for level of evidence and for recommendation grade, according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) criteria. Results: Nine clinical questions were formulated by clinicians and used to provide 7 evidence-based recommendations: (1) A patient with a positive probe-to-bone test, positive plain X-rays and elevated ESR should be treated for presumptive osteomyelitis (OM). (2) Advanced imaging with MRI and WBC scintigraphy, or [18F]FDG PET/CT, should be considered when it is needed to better evaluate the location, extent or severity of the infection, in order to plan more tailored treatment. (3) In a patient with suspected OM, positive PTB test but negative plain X-rays, advanced imaging with MRI or WBC scintigraphy + SPECT/CT, or with [18F]FDG PET/CT, is needed to accurately assess the extent of the infection. (4) There are no evidence-based data to definitively prefer one imaging modality over the others for detecting OM or STI in fore- mid- and hind-foot. MRI is generally the first advanced imaging modality to be performed. In case of equivocal results, radiolabelled WBC imaging or [18F]FDG PET/CT should be used to detect OM or STI. (5) MRI is the method of choice for diagnosing or excluding Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy; [18F]FDG PET/CT can be used as an alternative. (6) If assessing whether a patient with a Charcot foot has a superimposed infection, however, WBC scintigraphy may be more accurate than [18F]FDG PET/CT in differentiating OM from Charcot arthropathy. (7) Whenever possible, microbiological or histological assessment should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. (8) Consider appealing to an additional imaging modality in a patient with persisting clinical suspicion of infection, but negative imaging. Conclusion: These practical recommendations highlight, and should assist clinicians in understanding, the role of imaging in the diagnostic workup of diabetic foot complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of 3-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester methanesulfonate (MS-222)–assisted deep dormancy temperature (DDT) cultivation on the meat quality of crucian carp (Carassius auratus), crucian carp was treated with MS-222 and then cultivated at DDT. The research studied the lactic acid content, pH, water retention rate, cooking loss rate, color, texture, nucleotide content, and sensory score of the crucian carp meat and the serum glucose and residual MS-222 contents in the crucian carp bodies. The results indicated that the required concentration of MS-222 for the anesthetization of crucian carp was 40 mg/L. The serum glucose and lactic acid contents and the cooking loss rate of crucian carp meat increased from 0 to 10 days, whereas the pH and water holding capacity of the crucian carp decreased from 0 to 10 days; all indexes of the crucian carp treated with MS-222 were higher than those of the control from 2 to 10 days. The texture profile, color, and nucleotide content of the crucian carp meat decreased from 0 to 10 days; however, the decline rate of the MS-222-treated group was slower than that of the control. The metabolism results indicated that MS-222 was metabolized into 0 mg/g on the 5th day. These results demonstrated that MS-222-assisted DDT cultivation was superior to the control for the cultivation of crucian carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual developmental disorder, X-linked 104 (XLID104), caused by the FRMPD4 gene variant, is a rare X-linked genetic disease that primarily manifests as intellectual disability (ID) and language delay, and may be accompanied by behavioural abnormalities. Currently, only 11 patients from four families have been reported to carry FRMPD4 gene variants. Here, we report a rare case of a Chinese patient with XLID104 who was presented with severe ID and language impairment. Genetic testing results showed that the patient had a novel hemizygous variant on FRMPD4 inherited from the heterozygous variant NM_001368397: c.1772A>C (p.Glu591Ala) carried by his mother. To our knowledge, this variant has not been reported previously. Western blot results for the recombinant plasmid constructed in vitro indicated that the expression of the mutant protein may be reduced. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we predicted that the mutant protein may affect the interaction of the FRMPD4 protein with DLG4. In this study, we expand the spectrum of FRMPD4 variants and suggest that the clinical awareness of the genetic diagnosis of nonsyndromic ID should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the exponential growth of online social networks as complex networks has presented challenges in expanding networks and forging new connections. Link prediction emerges as a crucial technique to anticipate future relationships among users, leveraging the current network state to address this challenge effectively. While link prediction models on monoplex networks have a well-established history, the exploration of similar tasks on multilayer networks has garnered considerable attention. Extracting topological and multimodal features for weighting links can improve link prediction in weighted complex networks. Meanwhile, establishing reliable and trustworthy paths between users is a useful way to create metrics that convert unweighted to weighted similarity. The local random walk is a widely used technique for predicting links in weighted monoplex networks. The aim of this paper is to develop a semi-local random walk over reliable paths to improve link prediction on a multilayer social network as a complex network, which is denoted as Reliable Multiplex semi-Local Random Walk (RMLRW). RMLRW leverages the semi-local random walk technique over reliable paths, integrating intra-layer and inter-layer information from multiplex features to conduct a trustworthy biased random walk for predicting new links within a target layer of multilayer networks. In order to make RMLRW scalable, we develop a semi-local random walk-based network embedding to represent the network in a lower-dimensional space while preserving its original characteristics. Extensive experimental studies on several real-world multilayer networks demonstrate the performance assurance of RMLRW compared to equivalent methods. Specifically, RMLRW improves the average f-measure of the link prediction by 3.2% and 2.5% compared to SEM-Path and MLRW, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postnatal depressive symptoms have harmful effects on families' well-being. This study reports the dyadic interactions between fathers' and mothers' social support, parenting sense of competence, and postnatal depressive symptoms, and explores the mediating role of parenting sense of competence in the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms. A multi-center, cross-sectional study was designed. A convenience sample of 280 participants (140 couples) in China completed assessments of study variables at three days postpartum. Mothers' social support was positively related to fathers' parenting sense of competence (β = 0.219, p =.018). Fathers' social support was negatively related to mothers' postnatal depressive symptoms (β = -0.192, p =.036). In mothers and fathers, the indirect effects of social support on postnatal depressive symptoms through parenting sense of competence were significant (β = -0.108, 95% CI [-0.202, -0.040]; β = -0.108, 95% CI [-0.241, -0.007]). Furthermore, the indirect effect of mothers' social support on fathers' postnatal depressive symptoms through fathers' parenting sense of competence was significant (β = -0.100, 95% CI [-0.196, -0.014]). Postnatal depressive symptoms in fathers should receive equal attention as those in mothers. There are dyadic interaction effects between mothers' and fathers' social support, parenting sense of competence, and postnatal depressive symptoms, therefore, developing couple-centered interventions is crucial. Parenting sense of competence mediated the relationship between social support and postnatal depressive symptoms; thus it is important to improve parenting sense of competence to reduce postnatal depressive symptoms during the early postpartum transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has been linked with the impairment of spatial memory and synaptic plasticity but the molecular mechanisms remained unidentified. Since glutamatergic transmission and NMDA receptor neural pathways in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) are essential in the learning and memory, we aimed to investigate glutamate (Glu) and NMDA receptor signaling of DG in spatial learning and memory in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats. Spatial learning and memory were assessed via Morris water maze (MWM) test on control (Ctr) and DIO rats. Extracellular concentration of Glu in the DG was determined using in vivo microdialysis and HPLC. The protein expressions of NMDA receptor subunit 2B (NR2B), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) in the DG were observed by western blot. Spatial learning and memory were impaired in DIO rats compared to those of Ctr. NR2B expression was increased, while BDNF expression and CaMKII and CREB activation were decreased in DG of DIO rats. Extracellular concentration of Glu was increased in Ctr on the 3rd and 4th days of the MWM test, but significant further increment was observed in DIO rats. Microinjection of an NMDA antagonist (MK-801) into the DG reversed spatial learning and memory impairment. Such effects were accompanied by greater BDNF expression and CaMKII/CREB activation in the DG of DIO rats. In conclusion, the enhancement of Glu-NMDA receptor transmission in the hippocampal DG contributes to the impairment of spatial learning and memory in DIO rats, maybe via the modulation of CaMKII-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The external surface heat transfer coefficient of building envelope is one of the important parameters necessary for building energy saving design, but the basic data in high-altitude area are scarce. Therefore, the authors propose a modified measurement method based on the heat balance of a model building, and use the same model building to measure its external surface heat transfer coefficient under outdoor conditions in Chengdu city, China at an altitude of 520 m and Daocheng city at an altitude of 3750 m respectively. The results show that the total heat transfer coefficient (ht) of building surface in high-altitude area is reduced by 34.48%. The influence of outdoor wind speed on the convective heat transfer coefficient (hc) in high-altitude area is not as significant as that in low-altitude area. The fitting relation between convection heat transfer coefficient and outdoor wind speed is also obtained. Under the same heating power, the average temperature rise of indoor and outdoor air at high-altitude is 41.9% higher than that at low altitude, and the average temperature rise of inner wall is 25.8% higher than that at low altitude. It shows that high-altitude area can create a more comfortable indoor thermal environment than low-altitude area under the same energy consumption condition. It is not appropriate to use the heat transfer characteristics of the exterior surface of buildings in low-altitude area for building energy saving design and related heating equipment selection and system terminal matching design in high-altitude area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the exponential growth of social media platforms, retweet behavior has become a crucial factor in various social network applications like message diffusion, business intelligence, and E-commerce recommendations. The primary objective of this paper is to predict whether a user will retweet a tweet posted by followees. However, the existing prediction methods cannot model the complex interaction between users. Moreover, some complex and implicit features (e.g. content semantic and structural information) are difficult to be represented and fused reasonably and comprehensively. To address the above issues, we propose a novel framework named RLGAT by using Representation Learning and Graph Attention Networks (GATs) for retweet prediction. RLGAT combines content, structure and social attributes to predict retweet behavior. XLNet-CNN and E-SDNE are employed to generate content and structural representations, respectively. Based on the extracted features of content, structure and social attributes, the AE-GATs model for prediction can further incorporate the correlation of nodes into the generation of node representations. The two real-world datasets are extracted from Sina Microblog and Twitter. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of XLNet-CNN, E-SDNE, AE-GATs, and RLGAT. Notably, RLGAT surpasses state-of-the-art methods, achieving an F1 score of 0.8078 and 0.8017 on Sina and Twitter, respectively. RLGAT is not only effective in predicting user's retweet behavior, but also beneficial for predicting information diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food quality and safety oversight now urgently require the identification of similar food samples. Using infant rice cereals as an example, this study collected the Raman spectra of samples from various brands and used a statistical control chart method to reveal that samples from the same brand have controllable quality fluctuations. Additionally, samples from different brands also fall within the control limit, indicating a high degree of similarity between the samples. Under conditions of raw data, the extreme learning machine algorithm and Raman spectroscopy for sample identification demonstrated a recognition rate of 77.6%, suggesting that the machine learning algorithm has some identification effect. After optimizing the conditions, it was found that the recognition accuracy was significantly improved, reaching 99.9%, based on coif3 wavelet denoising and 0~0.1 normalization processing. During the experiment, it took 100 seconds to collect the Raman spectrum signal of a single sample and running the intelligent algorithm only took less than one second to obtain the calculation results. The optimization and identification methods proposed in this work have the advantages of efficiency and accuracy, which can provide a reference for the identification of similar samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) into photocatalysts is believed to boost the charge transfer rate and reduce charge complexation. Doping heteroatoms such as N, S, or P enable CQDs to have an uplifting electron transfer capability. However, the application of oxygen-doped CQDs to improve the performance of photocatalysts has rarely been reported. Herein, a type of carbon-oxygen quantum dots (COQDs) was in situ embedded into MIL-53(Fe) to aid peroxydisulfate (PDS)-activated degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) under visible light irradiation. The successful embedding of COQDs was confirmed by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, and TEM techniques. Photoelectrochemical testing confirmed its better performance. The prepared COQDs1/MIL-53(Fe) showed 88.2% decomposition efficiency of OTC in 60 min, which was 1.45 times higher than that of pure MIL-53(Fe). In addition, the performance of the material was tested at different pH, OTC concentrations, catalyst dosing, and PDS dosing. It was also subjected to cyclic testing to check stability. Moreover, free radical trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance were conducted to explore the possible OTC deterioration mechanism. Our work provides a new idea for the development of MOFs for water treatment and remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is an inflammatory syndrome with characteristic clinical, radiological, and pathological features, and can be effectively treated with corticosteroid-based immunotherapies. The exact pathogenesis of CLIPPERS remains unclear, and specific diagnostic biomarkers are not available. According to the 2017 diagnostic criteria, probable CLIPPERS should be considered in middle-aged patients with subacute onset of pontocerebellar symptoms and typical punctuate and curvilinear gadolinium enhancement lesions ("salt-and-pepper" appearance) located in the hindbrain (especially pons) on magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, CLIPPERS-mimics, such as central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, and several antibody-associated autoimmune CNS diseases (e.g., myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy, and anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis), should be extensively excluded. The prerequisite for definite CLIPPERS is the perivascular T-cell-predominant inflammatory infiltration observed on pathological analysis. A biopsy is strongly suggested when clinical/radiological red flags are present. Most patients with CLIPPERS respond well to corticosteroids and have a good prognosis. Long-term low-dose corticosteroid maintenance therapy or corticosteroids coupled with immunosuppressants are recommended to prevent the recurrence of the syndrome. The potential progression of CLIPPERS to lymphoma has been suggested in some cases; therefore, at least 2-year clinical and radiological follow-up is essential. Here, we critically review the recent developments and provided an update on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnoses, and therapeutic management of CLIPPERS. We also discuss the current controversies in this context that can be resolved in future research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin has the potential to function as the gel matrix in an ophthalmic formulation for the encapsulation of the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin. The quality of this formulation was thoroughly evaluated through various analyses, such as in vitro release assessment, rheological examination, intraocular retention studies in rabbits, assessment of bacteriostatic efficacy, and safety evaluations. It is worth mentioning that the gel demonstrated shear thinning properties and exhibited characteristics of an elastic solid, thereby confirming its structural stability. The gel demonstrated a notable affinity for mucosal surfaces in comparison to traditional azithromycin aqueous solutions. In vitro release testing revealed that drug release transpired via diffusion mechanisms, following a first-order kinetic release pattern. Additionally, the formulated gel exhibited remarkable antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bacteriostatic evaluations. Lastly, safety assessments confirmed that the gel eye drops induced minimal irritation and displayed no apparent cytotoxicity, indicating their good safety and biocompatibility for ocular application. Thus, these findings indicated that the prepared azithromycin gel eye drops complied with the requisite standards for ophthalmic preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weakly-supervised learning has emerged as a compelling method for object detection by reducing the fully annotated labels requirement in the training procedure. Recently, some works have treated the detection task as a classification task, resulting in highlighting only discriminative object parts. Moreover, fully-supervised object detectors use specific modules (e.g. feature pyramid networks (FPN) and region proposal network (RPN)) to accurately localize target objects, while weakly-supervised object detectors, such as a well-designed module for object localization, rarely exist. To address the above challenges and gaps, we propose a region-aware continual contrastive fusion (R-CCF) module, which can be plugged into any off-the-shelf weak detector to improve detection performance by refining object location. Specifically, a novel region association (RA) algorithm is proposed to automatically query similarities of the most discriminative regions with their surrounding regions and then to form new rough object locations. Furthermore, we introduce an effective object integration (OI) constraint, including a class sub-constraint and a distance sub-constraint, to refine the rough object locations from the RA algorithm further and achieve accurate object regions. By integrating our R-CCF module into weakly supervised detector architectures and training end-to-end, we can continually refine object locations by contrastively fusing the discriminative regions with surrounding patches. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in weakly supervised object detection and show that integrating R-CCF into the state-of-the-art MIST [1] achieves 58.3% in mAP on the PASCAL VOC2007 benchmark, surpassing MIST by 0.2% absolutely. Moreover, R-CCF based on OICR [2] and WSDDN [3] achieve 42.5% and 32.5% in mAP on the PASCAL VOC2007, which is 1.3% and 2.1% higher than the baseline detectors, respectively. We also test the robustness of R-CCF on the PASCAL VOC 2012 dataset, and R-CCF outperforms the baseline methods clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intention of achieving objectives through art seemingly conflicts with Kant's tenet that judgments of taste should be devoid of conceptual determinations. According to Kant, beautiful art must be viewed as the product of genius, a rare gift of nature that operates through the work of aesthetic ideas. This prompts inquiries into the respective roles of genius and taste in the production of beautiful art. It has been proposed that genius is a mere concept, a universal capacity, or a collaborator with taste, but these accounts are found to be deficient. Drawing upon Kant's distinction between free beauty and adherent beauty, this paper demonstrates that genius is neither sufficient nor necessary to produce beautiful art. Furthermore, this paper investigates the significance of taste in artistic production, taking into consideration the autonomy and refinement of taste over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After optimizing the original aptamer sequence by truncation strategy, a magnetic separation-assisted DNAzyme-driven 3D DNA walker fluorescent aptasensor was developed for detecting the food-borne pathogen Cronobacter species. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified with a hybrid of truncated aptamer probe and DNAzyme strand (AP-E1) denoted as MNPs@AP-E1, were employed as capture probes. Simultaneously, a DNAzyme-driven 3D-DNA walker was utilized as the signal amplification element. The substrate strand (Sub) was conjugated with the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), resulting in the formation of AuNPs@Sub, which served as a 3D walking track. In the presence of the target bacteria and Mg2+, E1-DNAzyme was activated and moved along AuNPs@Sub, continuously releasing the signal probe. Under optimized conditions, a strong linear correlation was observed for Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) in the concentration range 101 to 106 CFU mL−1, with a low detection limit of 2 CFU mL−1. The fluorescence signal responses for different Cronobacter species exhibited insignificant differences, with a relative standard deviation of 3.6%. Moreover, the aptasensor was successfully applied to determine C. sakazakii in real samples with recoveries of 92.86%—108.33%. Therefore, the novel method could be a good candidate for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of Cronobacter species without complex manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies indicate an increased carditis risk among adolescents following the two-dose messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine. Several jurisdictions have extended the interdose interval between the first and second doses to reduce the risk. However, the effectiveness of such an extension policy remains inconclusive. Using the territory-wide vaccine record-linked electronic health records in Hong Kong, we conducted a nested case–control study from February 23, 2021 to August 15, 2022. Adolescents aged between 12 and 17 who received two-dose BNT162b2 were included for comparing risks between standard interdose interval (21–27 days) versus extended interdose interval (≥ 56 days). The carditis cumulative incidence within 28 days following the second dose was calculated. The adjusted odds ratio was estimated from multivariable conditional logistic regression. We identified 49 adolescents with newly diagnosed carditis within 28 days following the second dose. The crude cumulative incidence is 37.41 [95% confidence interval (CI): 27.68–49.46] per million vaccinated adolescents. Compared to the standard interdose interval group, adolescents with an extended interval had a significantly lower risk of carditis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.34 (95% CI: 0.16–0.73)]. Sensitivity analysis of carditis occurring within 14 days following the second dose yielded a similar estimate [aOR 0.30 (95% CI: 0.13–0.73)]. Extending the interdose interval of the BNT162b2 vaccine from 21 to 27 days to 56 days or longer is associated with 66% lower risk of incident carditis among adolescents. Our findings contribute towards an evidence-based vaccination strategy for a vulnerable population and potentially informs product label updates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twinning is an essential mode of plastic deformation for achieving superior strength and ductility in metallic nanostructures. It has been generally believed that twinning-induced plasticity in body-centered cubic (BCC) metals is controlled by twin nucleation, but facilitated by rapid twin growth once the nucleation energy barrier is overcome. By performing in situ atomic-scale transmission electron microscopy straining experiments and atomistic simulations, we find that deformation twinning in BCC Ta nanocrystals larger than 15 nm in diameter proceeds by reluctant twin growth, resulting from slow advancement of twinning partials along the boundaries of finite-sized twin structures. In contrast, reluctant twin growth can be obviated by reducing the nanocrystal diameter to below 15 nm. As a result, the nucleated twin structure penetrates quickly through the cross section of nanocrystals, enabling fast twin growth via facile migration of twin boundaries leading to large uniform plastic deformation. The present work reveals a size-dependent transition in the nucleation- and growth-controlled twinning mechanism in BCC metals, and provides insights for exploiting twinning-induced plasticity and breaking strength-ductility limits in nanostructured BCC metals. Deformation twinning in body-centered cubic (BCC) metals is generally believed to be controlled by twin nucleation, but facilitated by rapid twin growth once the nucleation energy barrier is overcome. Here, the authors demonstrate both nucleation- and growth-controlled twinning modes in BCC Ta nanocrystals depending on the crystal size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging data have shown that previously defined noncoding genomes might encode peptides that bind human leukocyte antigen (HLA) as cryptic antigens to stimulate adaptive immunity1,2. However, the significance and mechanisms of action of cryptic antigens in anti-tumour immunity remain unclear. Here mass spectrometry of the HLA class I (HLA-I) peptidome coupled with ribosome sequencing of human breast cancer samples identified HLA-I-binding cryptic antigenic peptides that were noncanonically translated by a tumour-specific circular RNA (circRNA): circFAM53B. The cryptic peptides efficiently primed naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in an antigen-specific manner and induced anti-tumour immunity. Clinically, the expression of circFAM53B and its encoded peptides was associated with substantial infiltration of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and better survival in patients with breast cancer and patients with melanoma. Mechanistically, circFAM53B-encoded peptides had strong binding affinity to both HLA-I and HLA-II molecules. In vivo, administration of vaccines consisting of tumour-specific circRNA or its encoded peptides in mice bearing breast cancer tumours or melanoma induced enhanced infiltration of tumour-antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, which led to effective tumour control. Overall, our findings reveal that noncanonical translation of circRNAs can drive efficient anti-tumour immunity, which suggests that vaccination exploiting tumour-specific circRNAs may serve as an immunotherapeutic strategy against malignant tumours.The tumour-specific circular RNA FAM53B is highly immunogenic and can induce anti-tumour responses in mouse models of breast cancer and melanoma, expanding the repertoire of anticancer targets for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock farms are major reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that are discharged into the environment. However, the abundance, diversity, and transmission of ARGs in duck farms and its impact on surrounding environments remain to be further explored. Therefore, the characteristics of ARGs and their bacterial hosts from duck farms and surrounding environment were investigated by using metagenomic sequencing. Eighteen ARG types which consist of 823 subtypes were identified and the majority conferred resistance to multidrug, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicols, MLS, and sulfonamides. The floR gene was the most abundant subtype, followed by sul1, tetM, sul2, and tetL. ARG abundance in fecal sample was significantly higher than soil and water sample. Our results also lead to a hypothesis that Shandong province have been the most contaminated by ARGs from duck farm compared with other four provinces. PcoA results showed that the composition of ARG subtypes in water and soil samples was similar, but there were significant differences between water and feces samples. However, the composition of ARG subtypes were similar between samples from five provinces. Bacterial hosts of ARG subtypes were taxonomically assigned to eight phyla that were dominated by the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. In addition, some human bacterial pathogens could be enriched in duck feces, including Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus, and even serve as the carrier of ARGs. The combined results indicate that a comprehensive overview of the diversity and abundance of ARGs, and strong association between ARGs and bacterial community shift proposed, and benefit effective measures to improve safety of antibiotics use in livestock and poultry farming. Key points: • ARG distribution was widespread in the duck farms and surroundings environment • ARG abundance on the duck farms was significantly higher than in soil and water • Human bacterial pathogens may serve as the vectors for ARGs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA methylation is gradually acquired during oogenesis, a process sustained by successful follicle development. However, the functional roles of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), an epigenetic regulator displaying specifical binding with methylated DNA, remains unknown in oogenesis. In this study, we found MeCP2 protein was highly expressed in primordial and primary follicle, but was almost undetectable in secondary follicles. However, in aged ovary, MeCP2 protein is significantly increased in both oocyte and granulosa cells. Overexpression of MeCP2 in growing oocyte caused transcription dysregulation, DNA hypermethylation, and genome instability, ultimately leading to follicle growth arrest and apoptosis. MeCP2 is targeted by DCAF13, a substrate recognition adaptor of the Cullin 4-RING (CRL4) E3 ligase, and polyubiquitinated for degradation in both cells and oocytes. Dcaf13-null oocyte exhibited an accumulation of MeCP2 protein, and the partial rescue of follicle growth arrest induced by Dcaf13 deletion was observed following MeCP2 knockdown. The RNA-seq results revealed that large amounts of genes were regulated by the DCAF13-MeCP2 axis in growing oocytes. Our study demonstrated that CRL4DCAF13 E3 ubiquitin ligase targets MeCP2 for degradation to ensure normal DNA methylome and transcription in growing oocytes. Moreover, in aged ovarian follicles, deceased DCAF13 and DDB1 protein were observed, indicating a potential novel mechanism that regulates ovary aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis on maxillary skeletal expansion to elucidate the evolution and current status and predict future research hotspots and trends. Material and methods: A search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection at the University of Hong Kong’s electronic library using the query “(TS = maxillary expansion) AND (TS = skeletal expansion).” The resulting literature data were imported into CiteSpace 6.2.R4 and VOS viewer software to analyze authorship, countries, institutions, keywords, etc. Results: A total of 923 articles were analyzed. The research in this field has shown a steady growth, with a significant increase since 2019. The USA and Italy have played prominent roles in contributing to the publication volume and strengthening collaborative exchanges. Clustering labels provide directions for in-depth analysis of the literature. Conclusions: (1) MARPE (miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion) and SARME (surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion) have gained widespread attention and become research hotspots due to their applicability in adults whose growth and development have ceased, while still producing favorable skeletal effects. (2) In addition to widening the maxillary arch, maxillary expansion techniques have shown significant effects on increasing nasal cavity width and volume. However, there is still controversy regarding whether they can effectively improve the deviated nasal septum. (3) Maxillary skeletal expansion techniques have been shown to increase upper airway volume and improve breathing, making them potentially valuable in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Clinical relevance: This study can provide cutting-edge clinical recommendations for healthcare professionals to better formulate clinical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice-turtle coculture system is the most special rice-fish integrated farming system. In this study, we selected four paddy fields, including a rice monoculture paddy and three rice-turtle paddies with different planting years, to investigate the soil bacterial community composition with Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology. The results indicated that the contents of soil available nitrogen (AN), soil available phosphorus (AP) and soil organic matter (OM) in 9th year of rice-turtle paddy (RT9) were increased by 5.40%, 51.11% and 23.33% compared with rice monoculture paddy (CK), respectively. Significant differences of Acidobacteria, Desulfobacteria, Crenarchaeota were observed among the different rice farming systems. The relative abundance of Methylomonadaceae, Methylococcaceae and Methylophilaceae in RT9 was significantly higher than that in other treatments. RT9 had significantly lower relative abundance of Acidobacteria, but significantly higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria than other treatments. Redundancy analysis showed that soil AN and AP contents were the major factors influencing the abundance of the dominant microbes, wherein Methylomonadaceae, Methylococcaceae and Methylophilaceae were positively correlated with OM. The findings revealed the rice-turtle coculture system in the 9th year had higher soil nutrients and soil bacterial diversity, but there was also a risk of increasing methane emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the epidemiological characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolated from migratory birds and surroundings in Qinghai Lake, China. We identified 69 (15.7%) CRE isolates from a total of 439 samples including 29 (6.6%) blaNDM-5Escherichia coli and 40 (9.1%) blaKPC-2Klebsiella pneumoniae. WGS analysis indicated that ST746, ST48, ST1011, and ST167 were the primary sequence types (ST) for blaNDM-5E. coli, while all blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae were ST11 and harbored numerous antibiotic resistance gene types including blaCTX-M, qnrS, and rmtB. A phylogenetic tree based on core genomes revealed that blaNDM-5E. coli was highly heterogeneous while the blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae was highly genetically similar within the group and to human Chinese isolates. IncX3, IncHI2, and IncFIB-HI2 plasmid replicon types were associated with blaNDM-5 spread, while IncFII-R and IncFII plasmids mediated blaKPC-2 spread. We also identified IncFII-R hybrid plasmids most likely formed by IS26-mediated integration of IncFII into IncR plasmid backbones. This also facilitated the persistence of IncFII-R plasmids and antibiotic resistance genes including blaKPC-2. In addition, all of the blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae isolates harbored a pLVKP-like virulence plasmid carrying a combination of two or more hypervirulence markers that included peg-344, iroB, iucA, rmpA, and rmpA2. This is the first description of ST11 K. pneumoniae that co-carried blaKPC-2- and pLVKP-like virulence plasmids from migratory birds. The blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae carried by migratory birds displayed high genetic relatedness to human isolates highlighting a high risk of transmission of these K. pneumoniae. Key points: • Multidrug resistance plasmids (blaKPC-2, bla436NDM-5, bla CTX-M, qnrS, and rmtB). • Co-occurrence of plasmid-mediated resistance and virulence genes. • High similarity between migratory bird genomes and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are widely applied in meat industries due to the excellent gelling, water-holding, and thickening properties. In the current work, carrageenan (CAR), curdlan (CUR) and potato starch (PS), were involved in the process of high-moisture extrusion (HME) of pea protein isolate (PPI) in order to improve the textural and structural characteristics of HME-PPI. Results showed that the addition of CAR and CUR increased the hardness and chewiness of HME-PPI while the presence of PS led to the opposite textural attributes. Compared to the PPI alone, blending 0.4 wt% CAR resulted in the formation of a fine fibrous structure, and adding 0.4 wt% CUR contributed to the generation of short and flat fibers. The FTIR analysis suggested that incorporating polysaccharides resulted in a reduction of the α-helix and random coil contents of PPI, and correspondingly an increase in β-sheet and β-turn contents. Based on the sensory evaluation, the HME-PPI in the presence of 0.4 wt% CAR or 0.4 wt% CUR or 2.0 wt% PS, respectively, were preferred by the panelists. These findings would provide valuable insights into the polysaccharide-modulated product quality of HME-PPI, which is important for the development of PPI as an alternative protein source for meat analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel robot-assisted (RA) technique has been utilized increasingly to improve the accuracy of cervical pedicle screw placement. Although the clinical application of the RA technique has been investigated in several case series and comparative studies, the superiority and safety of RA over conventional freehand (FH) methods remain controversial. Meanwhile, the intra-pedicular accuracy of the two methods has not been compared for patients with cervical traumatic conditions. This study aimed to compare the rate and risk factors of intra-pedicular accuracy of RA versus the conventional FH approach for posterior pedicle screw placement in cervical traumatic diseases. A total of 52 patients with cervical traumatic diseases who received cervical screw placement using RA (26 patients) and FH (26 patients) techniques were retrospectively included. The primary outcome was the intra-pedicular accuracy of cervical pedicle screw placement according to the Gertzbin–Robbins scale. Secondary outcome parameters included surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, and complications. Moreover, the risk factors that possibly affected intra-pedicular accuracy were assessed using univariate analyses. Out of 52 screws inserted using the RA method, 43 screws (82.7%) were classified as grade A, with the remaining 7 (13.5%) and 2 (3.8%) screws classified as grades B and C. In the FH cohort, 60.8% of the 79 screws were graded A, with the remaining screws graded B (21, 26.6%), C (8, 10.1%), and D (2, 2.5%). The RA technique showed a significantly higher rate of optimal intra-pedicular accuracy than the FH method (P = 0.008), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinically acceptable accuracy (P = 0.161). Besides, the RA technique showed remarkably longer surgery time, less postoperative drainage, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and equivalent intraoperative blood loss and complications than the FH technique. Furthermore, the univariate analyses showed that severe obliquity of the lateral atlantoaxial joint in the coronal plane (P = 0.003) and shorter width of the lateral mass at the inferior margin of the posterior arch (P = 0.014) were risk factors related to the inaccuracy of C1 screw placement. The diagnosis of HRVA (P < 0.001), severe obliquity of the lateral atlantoaxial joint in the coronal plane (P < 0.001), short pedicle width (P < 0.001), and short pedicle height (P < 0.001) were risk factors related to the inaccuracy of C2 screw placement. RA cervical pedicle screw placement was associated with a higher rate of optimal intra-pedicular accuracy to the FH technique for patients with cervical traumatic conditions. The severe obliquity of the lateral atlantoaxial joint in the coronal plane independently contributed to high rates of the inaccuracy of C1 and C2 screw placements. RA pedicle screw placement is safe and useful for cervical traumatic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modification of biochar is essential to improve its properties and then promote its adsorption effect. In this study, modified biochar derived from peanut shell was prepared by KOH treatment. Adsorption behavior and mechanisms toward tetracycline (TC) by biochar were investigated. The results showed that KOH modification significantly changed the surface morphology, pore structure, elemental composition, functional groups, minerals, and carbon defects of biochar. The content of C, H, N, and S of biochar decreased as well as the content of O and ash increased after KOH modification. Surface area and pore volume of KBC were 1271.97 m2·g−1 and 0.653 cm3·g−1, which was 5.8 and 5.4 folds than that of BC, respectively. KOH modification also changed the Ca, Si minerals components in biochar. Moreover, the functional groups in biochar also significantly changed after modification, especially O- and N-containing groups. More carbon defects occurred in KBC due to the KOH reactions. Pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model can better describe the adsorption processes of TC on biochars. The maximum adsorption capacity of TC on KBC reached 356.19 mg∙g−1 at 318.15 K. KBC has a stable removal effect to TC in a wide pH range and under the interference of co-existing ions. Pore filling and π-π interaction were the main adsorption mechanisms for TC removal by KBC. Therefore, KOH-modified peanut shell-derived biochar has a potential to act as an adsorbent to remove TC from aqueous solutions or immobilization in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the effects of earthworm inoculation on cadmium-contaminated rice field remain unclear. In this study, four treatments were tested, including rice monoculture (CK), earthworm inoculation with low density (L, 30 g/m2), middle density (M, 60 g/m2), and high density (H, 90 g/m2). The pot and field experiment were conducted in Hunan Province, China. In the pot experiment, the H treatment significantly decreased the available cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 5.21% ~ 16.51%, and the M treatment significantly decreased in 0 ~ 10 cm soil by 7.29% ~ 8.96%. The H treatment significantly decreased the total cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 5 cm soil by 10.36%. Moreover, the earthworm inoculation treatments significantly reduced cadmium accumulation in rice organs. In the field experiment, the M and H treatment decreased the available cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 14.05% ~ 47.52% and the H treatment decreased the total cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 0.78% ~ 5.75% although there was no significant difference. Furthermore, the earthworm inoculation treatments significantly decreased cadmium accumulation in part of rice organs. In conclusion, this study recommends that earthworm inoculation is an effective method of controlling cadmium contamination for rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have observed relationships between immune cells and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but their causal links remain undetermined. Based on the public available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics, we conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate the associations between 731 immune phenotypes and SLE pairs. Pairwise pleiotropy analysis was performed to identify pleiotropic genes for significant immunophenotype–SLE pairs. A comprehensive gene function analysis was undertaken to explore the mechanisms of immune cells in SLE. By using the instrumental variables extracted from GWAS data, we observed that increased levels of five immune phenotypes were causally associated with SLE risk (FDR < 0.05), that were CD20 on IgD+ CD38− naïve, BAFF-R on IgD+ CD38dim, CD39+ secreting Treg AC, CD14− CD16+ monocyte AC, and HLA DR on CD14+ monocyte. Pairwise gene-based analyses identified a total of 38 pleiotropic genes for 5 significant pairs identified and gene set enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of the identified pleiotropic genes in complex pathways (i.e., systemic lupus erythematosus, an integral component of luminal side of endoplasmic reticulum membrane, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway and regulation of hormone secretion). This study demonstrates that the immune response influences the progression of SLE in a complex pattern. These findings greatly improve our understanding of the interaction between immune response and SLE risk and also aid in the design of therapeutic strategies from an immunological perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rapid urbanization and climate change, one of the pressing problems confronting Chinese cities lies in air pollution. Especially during recent years, most cosmopolitan cities in China suffer from thick smog caused by PMs. It is reported that such air pollution has close relations with traffic-related pollutants, such as NO2. Meteorological condition contributes significantly to long-range transport sources and has remarkable influences on the distribution of the above pollutants. Thus, it is necessary to quantitatively analyze such influential patterns. In this paper, taking Chengdu as an illustrative example, the meteorological and pollutant statistics in 4947 h are collected and fitted with 8 meteorological parameters of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 through linear regression method. And data is analyzed and compared on the hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly basis, respectively. Results show that hourly and daily data focus on fluctuations that affected by multiple interferences other than meteorological influences. When hourly values of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 exceed 175 μg/m3, 250 μg/m3, and 125 μg/m3, respectively, discrete values that cannot be explained by meteorological influences increase notably, while weekly and monthly variations illustrate more tendencies, and communicable patterns that decisively influenced by meteorology can be extracted among 3 pollutants. By comparing the results in 4 timescales, respectively, similar principal meteorological factors are involved in fitting processes. Thirdly, visibility (V), wind speed (WS), precipitation (P), and cloud condition (CC) are the most influential factors and served as main parameters in linear regressions within 4 timescales. Air temperature (AT) and dew temperature (DT) are less influential factors by daily and weekly data but are served as main parameters when it goes to hourly and monthly data and function as variables that signify tendency variances in linear regressions, while relative humidity (RH) and barometric pressure (BP) are lest influential factors and have limited effect on fitting results. This work can provide guidance and reference for urban planning optimization and air environment protection in cities with air quality control considerations impacted by local climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ternary Y-DNA walker amplification strategy designed fluorescence aptasensor based on Au@SiO2@Fe3O4 nanomaterials for ultrasensitive and specific ochratoxin A detection in food samples is presented. Au@SiO2@Fe3O4 nanomaterials provide the loading platform as well as separation and recovery properties for the ternary Y-DNA walker. The ternary Y-DNA walker is designed to be driven by Nb.BbvCI cleaving a large number of FAM probes to achieve signal amplification. Since Ochratoxin A (OTA) can bind to the constituent aptamer in the ternary Y-DNA walker, adding OTA will destroy the structure of the ternary Y-DNA walker, thereby inhibiting the driving process of the walker. After optimization of various parameters, a standard curve was obtained from 100 to 0.05 ng·mL−1 of OTA with the limit of determination of 0.027 ng·mL−1. The spiked recovery of peanut samples by this method was 82.00–93.30%, and the aptasensor showed excellent specificity and long-term stability. This simple, robust, and scalable oligonucleotide chain-based ternary Y-DNA walker can provide a general signal amplification strategy for trace analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to provide a new security solution for data storage based on semi-network OS architecture, that is, to create a comprehensive data security system with approaches of "OSPU security effect" and "data assembly verification" as main pillars. There are three factors to determine the security level of data storage, they are: the uniqueness of verification credentials, the exclusiveness of network access, and the verifiability of the user's identity, which are also the three weaknesses of some existing security configuration of data storage, the theme discussed here is trying to use the new comprehensive security configuration system to overcome some weaknesses of existing one and provide a more effective security environment for data storage. Currently, a large number of theories and approaches related to data security have emerged, including some latest "security hardware" and approaches of "data verification," but few of them are similar to the OSPU security effect and the "data assembly verification" mentioned here, and further, it is an unprecedented innovation that combines approaches of OSPU security effect and the "data assembly verification" into a comprehensive security system under the semi-network OS architecture. OSPU is a core hardware component in semi-network OS architecture, and it performs both system support and security checkpoints in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: The aims of this study were to analyze the clinical outcomes of treating duplex system ureteroceles with early endoscopic puncture decompression and to identify the risk factors related to outcomes to help guide future work. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients with ureteroceles with duplex kidney that were treated with early endoscopic puncture decompression. Charts were reviewed for demographics, preoperative imaging, surgical indications, and follow-up data. Recurrent febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs), de novo vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), persistent high-grade VUR, unrelieved hydroureteronephrosis, and the need for further intervention were considered unfavorable outcomes. Gender, age at surgery, BMI, antenatal diagnosis, fUTIs, bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), type of ureterocele, ipsilateral VUR diagnosed before surgery, simultaneously upper-pole moiety (UM) and lower-pole moiety (LM) obstruction, the width of ureter affiliated to UM, and maximum diameter of ureterocele were all considered potential risk factors. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors of unfavorable outcomes. Results: A total of 36 patients with ureteroceles related to duplex kidney underwent endoscopic holmium laser puncture from 2015 to 2023 at our institution. After a median follow-up of 21.6 months, unfavorable outcomes developed in 17 patients (47.2%). Three patients underwent ipsilateral common-sheath ureter reimplantation and one patient underwent laparoscopic ipsilateral upper to lower ureteroureterostomy combined with recipient ureter reimplantation. Three patients underwent laparoscopic upper-pole nephrectomy. Fifteen patients suffered from recurrent UTIs were treated with oral antibiotics and eight of them were diagnosed de novo VUR according to voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). In univariate analysis, patients with simultaneously UM and LM obstruction (P = 0.003), fUTIs before surgery (P = 0.044), and ectopic ureterocele (P = 0.031) were more likely to have unfavorable outcomes. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that ectopic ureterocele (OR = 10.793, 95% CI 1.248–93.312, P = 0.031) and simultaneously UM and LM obstruction (OR = 8.304, 95% CI 1.311–52.589, P = 0.025) were identified as independent factors for unfavorable outcomes. Conclusions: Our study suggested that early endoscopic puncture decompression is not a preferred but an available treatment option to release BOO or to cure refractory UTIs. It was easier to fail if the ureterocele was ectopic or simultaneously UM and LM obstruction existed. Gender, age at surgery, BMI, antenatal diagnosis, fUTIs, bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), ipsilateral VUR diagnosed before surgery, the width of ureter affiliated to UM, and maximum diameter of ureterocele were not significantly related to the success rate of early endoscopic punctures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) can be combined with various cathodic reactions to enable the electrochemical synthesis of diverse chemicals and fuels, particularly in water electrolysis for hydrogen production. It is however exhibiting a high overpotential due to the sluggish four-electron transfer process, which is considered the decisive reaction in energy conversion systems. In recent years, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as the ideal catalysts for accelerating OER. This is primarily because of their orderly porous architecture, structural tailorability, and compositional diversity. This review systematically summarizes the recent research progress in pristine MOF electrocatalysts for OER, which covers the construction strategies and electrocatalytic performance of more than eight types of MOFs. Additionally, the partial/complete structural reconstructions and their effects on MOF-based OER electrocatalysts are highlighted. In particular, the development process of "discovery, explanation, and utilization" for the structural reconstructions of MOF electrocatalysts is outlined. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanisms are elaborated in detail, aiming to provide insight into the rational design and performance optimization of MOF-based OER electrocatalysts. The challenges and future perspectives of MOF-based OER electrocatalysts for industrial applications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we established an efficient and rapid transient expression system in the protoplasts of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. (P. ternata). Results: The protoplasts of P. ternata were prepared from plant leaves as the source material by digesting them with the combination of 20 g·l−1 cellulase and 15 g·l−1 macerozyme for 6 h. Based on the screening of PEG concentration, the conditions for PEG-mediated protoplast transformation were improved, and the highest transformation efficiency was found for 40% PEG 4000. Furthermore, we used the subcellular protein localization technique in P. ternata protoplasts to allow further validation of transient expression system. Conclusions: We present the method that can be applicable for studying both gene verification and expression in P. ternata protoplasts, thus allowing for engineering the improved varieties of P. ternata through molecular plant breeding techniques. This method can also be widely applicable for analyzing protein interactions, detecting promoter activity, for somatic cell fusion in plant breeding, as well as for other related studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shot peening is a common surface strengthening process of gears. It can induce compressive residual stress, refine grain size and increase dislocation density. However, there are limited reports on the quantitative analysis of dislocation substructures (type, fraction and arrangement), crystallite size and micro-strain in different crystal planes. To further reveal the microstructure strengthening mechanism of gears during shot peening, X-ray diffraction line profile analysis (XRDLPA) method is applied to study the effect of coverage on the microstructure of the gear steels. The results show that with increasing coverage, the dislocation density is increased from 2.62 × 1016 to 3.37 × 1016 m−2 in the form of screw-edge-mixed type as determined from the dislocation characteristic parameter q. The fraction of edge dislocation increases, whereas the fraction of screw dislocation decreases. The dislocation arrangement parameter M is decreased from 7.1 to 5.6, indicating that the formation of dislocation dipoles or dislocation cells in the surface layer can be further enhanced by increasing coverage. Due to the different degrees of atomic slip, the (200) crystallographic plane exhibits the smallest crystallite size and highest micro-strain, whereas the (222) plane shows the smallest micro-strain and the largest crystallite size. In addition, during shot peening, the enhancement of surface hardness of the gear steels is attributed to the phase transformation strengthening, grain-boundary hardening and dislocation hardening. The surface compressive stress of the gear steels induced by shot peening is affected not only by phase transformation, but also by Bauschinger effect, surface topography, grain refinement and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare extranodal lymphomatous malignancy that affects the brain, spinal cord, leptomeninges, or eyes, in the absence of systemic diffusion. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a newly identified benign immune-mediated CNS inflammatory disorder with specific anti-MOG antibody seropositivity. These two seemingly unrelated nosological entities both have abundant clinical and radiological manifestations, and whether there is a potential link between them is unclear. Case report: We describe a 49-year-old man who presented progressive headache, dizziness, and unsteady gait with multifocal scattered T2 hyperintensities with contrast enhancement. The serum anti-MOG antibody test was positive, and a brain biopsy showed inflammatory infiltration. Initially, he was diagnosed with MOGAD and his condition improved after corticosteroid therapy. The patient relapsed with exacerbation of symptoms and neuroimaging showed new mass-forming lesions four months later. A second brain biopsy confirmed PCNSL. Discussion: This is the first report of histologically confirmed successive MOGAD and PCNSL. Our case broadens the phenotypic spectrum of sentinel lesions in PCNSL. Though rare, PCNSL should be considered in patients diagnosed with benign CNS inflammatory disorder and responding well to steroid treatment when their clinical symptoms worsen and the imaging deteriorates. A timely biopsy is critical for accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping usually reduces lattice thermal conductivity because of enhanced phonon-impurity scattering. Here, we report unexpected doping effects on the lattice thermal conductivity of quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) van der Waals (vdW) TiS3 nanoribbons. As the nanoribbon thickness reduces from ~80 to ~19 nm, the concentration of oxygen atoms has a monotonic increase along with a 7.4-fold enhancement in the thermal conductivity at room temperature. Through material characterizations and atomistic modellings, we find oxygen atoms diffuse more readily into thinner nanoribbons and more sulfur atoms are substituted. The doped oxygen atoms induce significant lattice contraction and coupling strength enhancement along the molecular chain direction while have little effect on vdW interactions, different from that doping atoms induce potential and structural distortions along all three-dimensional directions in 3D materials. With the enhancement of coupling strength, Young's modulus is enhanced while phonon-impurity scattering strength is suppressed, significantly improving the phonon thermal transport. Doping generally hinders phonon transport. Here, authors significantly increase the thermal conductivity of TiS3 nanoribbons through doping, originating from the intensified bonding strength along the molecular chain direction without distorting the one-dimensional structure induced by doped atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the competing modes of brittle versus ductile fracture is critical for preventing the failure of body-centered cubic (BCC) refractory metals. Despite decades of intensive investigations, the nanoscale fracture processes and associated atomistic mechanisms in BCC metals remain elusive due to insufficient atomic-scale experimental evidence. Here, we perform in situ atomic-resolution observations of nanoscale fracture in single crystals of BCC Mo. The crack growth process involves the nucleation, motion, and interaction of dislocations on multiple 1/2 < 111 > {110} slip systems at the crack tip. These dislocation activities give rise to an alternating sequence of crack-tip plastic shearing, resulting in crack blunting, and local separation normal to the crack plane, leading to crack extension and sharpening. Atomistic simulations reveal the effects of temperature and strain rate on these alternating processes of crack growth, providing insights into the dislocation-mediated mechanisms of the ductile to brittle transition in BCC refractory metals. Understanding the competing modes of brittle versus ductile fracture is critical for preventing material failure. Here, the authors reveal the atomic-scale processes of crack growth in Mo crystals, providing mechanistic insights into the ductile to brittle transition in BCC refractory metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lymph node metastasis is a cause of poor prognosis in breast cancer. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics aims to map the protein landscapes of biological samples and profile tumors more comprehensively. Here, proteomics was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that were associated with lymph node metastasis. Methods: Tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomic approaches were applied for extensive profiling of conditioned medium of MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cell lines and serums of patients who did or did not have lymph node metastasis, and DEPs were analyzed by bioinformatics. Furthermore, potential secreted or membrane proteins MUC5AC, ITGB4, CTGF, EphA2, S100A4, PRDX2, and PRDX6 were selected for verification in 114 tissue microarray samples of breast cancer using the immunohistochemical method. The relevant data was analyzed and processed by independent sample t test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test using SPSS 22.0 software. Results: In the conditioned medium of MDA-MB-231 cell lines, 154 proteins were upregulated, while 136 were downregulated compared to those of MCF7. In the serum of patients with breast cancer and lymph node metastasis, 17 proteins were upregulated, and 5 proteins were downregulated compared to those without lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, according to tissue verification, CTGF, EphA2, S100A4, and PRDX2 were associated with breast cancer lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Our study provides a new perspective for the understanding of the role of DEPs (especially CTGF, EphA2, S100A4, and PRDX2) in the development and metastasis of breast cancer. They could become potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]