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Abstract 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.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common mycotoxins distributed in food and feed, which causes severe liver injury in humans and animals. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has received much attention in mycotoxin degradation due to the advantages of easy operation, high efficiency, and low temperature. So far, the majority of studies have focused on the degradation efficiency and mechanism of CAP on DON, while there is still little information available on the hepatotoxicity of DON after CAP treatment. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the effect of CAP on DON-induced hepatotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo and its underlying mechanisms. The results showed that 120-s CAP treatment achieved 97 % degradation of DON. The vitro hepatotoxicity of DON in L02 cells was significantly reduced with CAP treatment time. Meanwhile, CAP markedly alleviated DON-induced liver injury in mice including the balloon-like degeneration of liver tissues and elevation of AST and ALP level. The underlying mechanism for CAP detoxification of DON-induced hepatotoxicity was further elucidated. The results showed that DON caused severe oxidative stress in cells by suppressing the antioxidant signaling pathway of Nrf2/HO-1/NQO-1, consequently leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell apoptosis, accompanied by cellular senescence and inflammation. CAP blocked DON inhibition on the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO-1 signaling pathway through the efficient degradation of DON, accordingly alleviating the oxidative stress and liver injury induced by DON. Therefore, CAP is an effective method to eliminate DON hepatotoxicity, which can be applied in the detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed to ensure human and animal health.

Introduction: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks as the fourth most prevalent malignant tumor among women worldwide, and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. GuiErBai (GEB), a compound preparation developed by our research team, is derived from the ancient Chinese medicine of the Miao nationality and is comprised of podophyllotoxin (PTOX), imperatorin, isoimperatorin, and A. dahurica alkaloids. These individual components have demonstrated notable efficacy in tumor treatment. However, the specific anti-tumor effect of the compound Chinese medicine GEB in the context of CC has yet to be validated.Methods: HeLa and SiHa cell lines were utilized for in vitro experiments and treated with 5 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL GEB concentrations, respectively. The cell cycle changes after GEB treatment were assessed using flow cytometry. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe autophagic bodies and apoptotic bodies, while MDC staining evaluated the occurrence of autophagy. CCK-8 was used to observe the effect of GEB on cell proliferation, and Transwell assays assessed cell migration and invasion. Western blotting detected cell cycle and apoptosis-related protein expression, along with the expression level of autophagy-related protein LC3I/II. Changes in ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential in cervical cancer cells following GEB treatment were determined using ROS detection and mitochondrial membrane potential detection kits. For the in vivo experiment, a nude mouse model of cervical cancer transplantation based on HeLa cells was established. Experimental animals were divided into negative control, positive control, high-dose GEB (10 mg/mL), and low-dose GEB (5 mg/mL) groups.Results: In HeLa and SiHa cell lines, the G0/G1 phase of tumor cells significantly decreased (p < 0.001), while the G2/M phase increased notably (p < 0.001) following various GEB treatments. Electron microscopy showed GEB promoted apoptotic body and autophagosome formation in both cell lines. Compared to untreated HeLa and SiHa cells, GEB-treated cells exhibited significantly reduced caspase3 protein expression, and substantially increased autophagy-related protein LC3I/II expression. GEB treatment significantly reduced migration and invasion capabilities in both cell lines (p < 0.001), while ROS content and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly elevated (p < 0.001). GEB effectively inhibited cervical cancer cell proliferation, with the optimal concentration being 10 mg/mL. A successful nude mouse model of cervical cancer transplantation was established using HeLa cells. Post-GEB treatment, the tumor volume and weight in nude mice significantly decreased (p < 0.001), with diminished expression of CD34, VEGF, and caspase3 proteins in tumor tissues.Discussion: GEB exhibits a robust antitumor effect against cervical cancer, both in vitro and in vivo, in a concentration-dependent manner, by regulating autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells.

Abstract Background The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is regarded as a dependable alternative for assessing insulin resistance (IR), given its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and strong correlation with IR. The relationship between the TyG index and adverse outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is not well established. This study examines the association of the TyG index with long-term adverse outcomes in hospitalized CHD patients. Methods In this single-center prospective cohort study, 3321 patients hospitalized with CHD were included. Multivariate Cox regression models were employed to assess the associations between the TyG index and the incidence of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). To examine potential nonlinear associations, restricted cubic splines and threshold analysis were utilized. Results During a follow-up period of 9.4 years, 759 patients (22.9%) succumbed to mortality, while 1291 (38.9%) experienced MACEs. Threshold analysis demonstrated a significant “U”-shaped nonlinear relationship with MACEs, with different hazard ratios observed below and above a TyG index of 8.62 (below: HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.50–0.99; above: HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10–1.48). Notably, an increased risk of all-cause mortality was observed only when the TyG index exceeded 8.77 (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19–1.96). Conclusions This study reveals a nonlinear association between the TyG index and both all-cause mortality and MACEs in hospitalized CHD patients with CHD. Assessing the TyG index, particularly focusing on individuals with extremely low or high TyG index values, may enhance risk stratification for adverse outcomes in this patient population.

Abstract This report introduces a young adult who has been in bed for more than ten years with end-stage hemophilic arthropathy. He didn’t have access to factor VIII (FVIII) in the early stage of hemophilia due to the high costs of clotting replacement therapy. As a result, he is experiencing some difficulties, such as joint contracture, muscular atrophy, severe pain, and poor function of cardiopulmonary. He came to visit us for a comprehensive rehabilitation program, and, finally, he achieved the basic goal of self-care in daily life.

A multi-component mixed acid was prepared by simulating the composition of exhaust gas recirculation condensate, and the effects of the multi-component mixed acid solution on the mechanical properties, apparent morphology and thermal stability of silicone rubber, fluororubber and ethylene-acrylate rubber were investigated. The results showed that after corrosion, the mechanical properties and surface morphology of fluororubber and ethylene-acrylate rubber remained good, while cracks appeared on the surface of silicone rubber and its tensile strength and elongation at break decreased significantly by 86.6% and 90.3%, respectively. Thermal stability of fluororubber remained good, while the initial decomposition temperature of ethylene-acrylate rubber and silicone rubber increased.

Abstract The product functions (PFs) extracted by local mean decomposition (LMD) of the noisy signal contain obvious energy‐concentrated pulses. As a result, the conventional amplitude threshold filtering used in wavelet transform (WT)‐based and empirical mode decomposition (EMD)‐based de‐noising methods is no longer applicable. To address this issue, an improved signal de‐noising method is proposed by using the multi‐level local mean decomposition (ML‐LMD), the superposition and recombination (SR) of high‐order PFs, the outlier detection, and waveform smoothing (OD‐WS) to remove noise by eliminating the pulse components. The proposed method's superior noise reduction performance is demonstrated through theoretical analysis and experimental verification. Compared to well‐known methods like WT‐based and EMD‐based de‐noising, the results show that the proposed method has significant comparative advantages in reducing noise in rolling bearing signals.

Objective To investigate the regulation and mechanism of Herkinorin preconditioning on NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in brain tissue of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) rats. Methods Rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (sham), model group (tMCAO) and Herkinorin group (Herkinorin). Before modeling, rats in Herkinorin group were intraperitoneally given Herkinorin (10 mg/kg) once a day for a week. The rats were evaluated by neurologic score, TTC staining, TUNEL staining 24 h after reperfusion. The expression levels of IκBα, p65, p-p65, pro-IL-1β, IL-1β, pro-caspase1, caspase1 p20 and NLRP3 were detected by Western blot. The binding level of IκBα to β-arrestin2 was detected by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results Compared with sham group, rats in tMCAO group had higher behavioral score (P＜0.01), increased cerebral infarction percentage and increased cerebral edema rate (P＜0.01). The level of cell apoptosis was increased in ischemic penumbra (P＜0.01). The expression levels of IκBα and p65 were decreased (P＜0.01) and the expression levels of p-p65, IL-1β, caspase1 p20 and NLRP3 were increased in ischemic penumbra (P＜0.01). The binding level of IκBα to β-arrestin2 was decreased in ischemic penumbra (P＜0.01). Compared with tMCAO group, rats in Herkinorin group had lower behavioral score (P＜0.01), lower cerebral infarction percentage and lower cerebral edema rate (P＜0.01). The level of cell apoptosis was decreased in ischemic penumbra(P＜0.01). The expression of IκBα and p65 was increased (P＜0.01) and the expression of p-p65, IL-1β, caspase1 p20 and NLRP3 was decreased in ischemic penumbra (P＜0.01). The binding of IκBα to β-arrestin2 was increased in ischemic penumbra (P＜0.01). Conclusions Herkinorin may negatively regulate NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway to alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury of tMCAO rats.

The diffusion of trace elements in mining wastelands has attracted widespread attention in recent years. Vegetation restoration is an effective measure for controlling the surface migration of trace elements. However, there is no field evidence of the effective riparian zone width in mining wastelands. Three widths (5 m, 7.5 m, and 10 m) of Rhododendron simsii/Lolium perenne L. riparian zones were constructed in lead–zinc mining wastelands to investigate the loss of soil, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Asbestos tiles were used to cut off connections between adjacent plots to avoid hydrological interference. Plastic pipes and containers were used to collect runoff water. Results showed that more than 90% of trace elements were lost in sediment during low coverage and heavy rainfall periods. Compared with the 5 m riparian zone, the total trace element loss was reduced by 69–85% during the whole observation period in the 10 m riparian zone and by 86–99% during heavy rain periods in the 10 m riparian zone, which was due to reduction in runoff and concentrations of sediment and trace elements in the 10 m riparian zone. Indirect negative effects of riparian zone width on trace element loss through runoff and sediment concentration were found. These results indicated that the wide riparian zone promoted water infiltration, filtered soil particles, and reduced soil erosion and trace element loss. Riparian zones can be used as environmental management measures after mining areas are closed to reduce the spread of environmental risks in mining wastelands, although the long-term effects remain to be determined.

Objective To evaluate the application of online-teaching in ultrasound-guided regional block. Methods A total of 356 students (September 2020 to October 2020) who participated in three-phase online teaching in ultrasound-guided regional block were enrolled. Questionnaire regarding the online teaching were distributed to gather the feedback opinions. Results 81.47% of the students responded positively about online-teaching. 71.63% of the students agreed that online-teaching didn't impact their learning experience. 63.82% of the students thought the interactivity of online teaching was satisfying. 59.41% of the students preferred online-teaching to traditional teaching in ultrasound-guided regional block. Conclusions The online-teaching in ultrasound-guided regional block is accepted well by trainers. Further combination of online-teaching and hands-on workshop training may improve the teaching quality by complementary mutual advantages.

This study determined the effects of seed structures on seed dormancy and tested methods to break dormancy in seeds of Urochloa hybrid cultivar ‘Mulato II’. Seeds stored for 10 months in indoor ambient conditions were studied to determine effects of seed structures on seed germination and their water permeability. Results showed that seed structures presented a barrier to water permeability. Removal of lemmas, puncturing the seed coat, seed structure removal and sulfuric acid immersion all reduced seed dormancy. Water and alcohol extracts from different parts of seeds inhibited seed germination of Brassica pekinensis seeds. There were 3 mechanisms responsible for seed dormancy; first, the mechanical barrier of seed structures, which excluded water and reduced gas exchange as well as restricting growth of the embryo; second, an endogenous germination inhibitor mainly found in lemmas; and third, water permeability of the seed coat (including pericarp and testa). The mechanical removal of lemmas and immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid reduced seed dormancy, although mechanical removal of the lemma alone was effective, convenient and safer.

[Purpose/significance] By calculating the operation efficiency of WeChat public account of academic journals of library, information and archives management, this study understands its development status and gives targeted suggestions. It is of certain guiding significance for the future development of the public account of academic journals of library, information and archives management. [Method/process] In this paper, 20 journal public accounts were selected as research samples, and the three-stage DEA method was used to determine the input-output index data, the operating efficiency value of each public account was estimated through the DEA-BCC model, and the impact of environmental factors were eliminated combined with SFA regression. [Result/conclusion] After excluding environmental factors and the influence of random noise, the average comprehensive efficiency of public accounts has increased compared with the first stage, but there are still 16 public accounts that did not achieve DEA effectiveness. Finally, combining with the principle of data envelope analysis, the public account improvement proposal is put forward from two perspectives of saving investment resources and ensuring the effectiveness of investment.

[Purpose/Significance] To analyze the factors affecting the quality of 24-hour self-service library service under the background of normal state of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, and to perform comprehensive and reasonable evaluation. It is of certain guiding significance for self-service libraries to deal with possible public health emergencies in the future. [Method/Process] Through semi-structured interviews, using root theory, combining the characteristics of 24-hour self-service libraries, and from the aspects of literature resources, physical environment, system function, interaction quality and management level, we selected 21 indicators to build service quality evaluation index system, and used hierarchical analysis to determine the weight of various indicators, form a calculation formula of self-service library comprehensive score under the background of normal state of epidemic prevention and control. Finally, two 24-hour self-service libraries were selected for the empirical study. [Results/Conclusions] Under the background of normal state of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, and on the basis of ensuring the quality of their information resources, self-service libraries should pay attention to the environment in the libraries, improve management efficiency, and do a good job in daily maintenance.

Background: Clinical 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. Methods: HKC, 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. Results: After 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. Conclusion: The 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 FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous composites possess distinctive structural features and performance advantages, making them promising for applications in various domains such as sensing, energy storage, and acoustics. A simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly method was employed to prepare porous polyurea materials, which were then modified with graphene nanosheets. The resulting graphene/polyurea porous composites demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties, with a 35.04% increase in tensile strength at a graphene content of 5 wt%. These composites exhibited exceptional multifunctionality, achieving a specific capacitance of 35.74 F/g when used as capacitor electrodes. Additionally, they displayed high sensitivity to resistance and capacitance changes under various mechanical loads, such as tensile, torsional, and bending stresses, with a resistance change rate of 57.72% under 180-degree torsion, highlighting their potential as resistive and capacitive sensors. Compared to traditional materials, the multifunctional composites maintained a resistance change rate below 40% and a capacitance retention rate above 95.07% after 10,000 cycles, underscoring their durability and reliability. Moreover, the developed graphene/polyurea porous composites exhibited good corrosion resistance and an impressive sound absorption rate of 30.68% for high-decibel noise, reducing environmental limitations for their applications. These properties position the composite as a durable, high-sensitivity, multifunctional material with significant potential in sensing, energy storage, and noise reduction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thinning vegetation and soil erosion problems left behind by extractive mining have caused serious environmental pollution, and vegetation restoration is one of the effective strategies to counter them. To study the effects of vegetation restoration on plant community species diversity, soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and the response of their plant community succession, four communities of different ages (1, 7, 10, 40) and one natural forest (>50 years) in the Kunyang phosphate mine were selected, and the analysis was carried out using the methods and protocols for plant community inventory. The species composition was recorded, and soil was collected from 0–60 cm in each community to determine the response of soil nutrients and plant diversity to the restoration process. The results show that the species richness of the community increases with the restoration year, the species composition at 40 years of restoration is similar to that of the natural forest, and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index in the tree layer at 40 years of restoration is greater than in the natural forest. Soil pH showed a decreasing trend with restoration year, and TP and AP increased with increasing time series. And the linear stepwise regression analysis showed that soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorous (TP), available phosphorous (AP), and restoration year were the main factors of plant diversity. Compared to restoration of 10 years, TP and AP at the restoration of 40 years increased to 11.9–20.0 g∙kg−1 and 33.4–75.5 mg∙kg−1. The SOC of the community reached a maximum at 40 years of restoration, 1.5, 2.8, and 2.4 times higher at 0–20 cm, 20–40, and 40–60 cm, respectively, than at 1 year. The organic carbon fraction increased with the restoration year in an ‘N’ pattern, and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) and unstable organic carbon fraction decreased at 10 years and 40 years of restoration. The SOC of natural forests decreased, but stable organic carbon increased. The soil pH, SOC, and organic carbon fraction of the communities decreased with increasing soil depth, while TP and AP increased with increasing soil depth at the later period of restoration. In general, with extended restoration years, 40 years plant of restoration in phosphate mines can be expected to allow for plant community succession to climax community, and the key influence on plant diversity are the phosphorus and stable carbon fractions. These results are expected to facilitate the future basis for vegetation succession and restore systems during mining area restoration.

Rolling bearings are critical in maintaining smooth operation of rotating machinery and considerably influence its reliability. The signals collected from rolling bearings in field conditions are often subjected to noise, creating a challenge to extract weaker fault features. This paper proposes a rolling bearing fault diagnosis method that addresses the above-mentioned problem through the moth-flame optimization algorithm optimized variational mode decomposition (MFO-optimized VMD) and an ensemble differential evolution online sequential extreme learning machine (DE-OSELM). By using the dynamic adaptive weight factor and genetic algorithm cross operator, the optimization accuracy and global optimization ability of the moth-flame optimization (MFO) are improved, and the two basic parameters of VMD decomposition level and quadratic penalty factor are adaptive selected. Since the vibration characteristics of the signal cannot be fully interpreted by a single index, The effective weighted correlation sparsity index (EWCS) is utilized to extract the relevant intrinsic mode functions (IMF) of VMD decomposition and extract their energies as features. In order to improve the classification accuracy, The energy feature set is subsequently inputted into DE-OSELM for training and classification purposes, and the proposed method is assessed via a sample set with four different health states of actual rolling bearings. Our proposed method results are compared with other diagnosis methods, proving its feasibility to diagnose rolling bearing faults with higher classification accuracy.