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The metathesis reaction between SnF4, ZnF2, and NaN3 under high pressure enabled the synthesis of ZnSnN2 crystals with a Zn/(Zn + Sn) ratio of 0.50. The crystal structure, optical bandgap, and carrier density of these stoichiometric ZnSnN2 crystals were investigated. X-ray diffraction profiles of the obtained powders coincided with those of a disordered wurtzite phase, regardless of the synthesis temperature and pressure. The electrical properties of the ZnSnN2 powders with stoichiometric metal compositions were studied after sintering under high pressure and temperature. The disordered wurtzite phase exhibited a bandgap of Eg = 0.7–1.2 eV, in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD3+CD4-CD8-T cells (double-negative T cells; DNTs) have diverse functions in peripheral immune-related diseases by regulating immunological and inflammatory homeostasis. However, the functions of DNTs in the central nervous system remain unknown. Here, we found that the levels of DNTs were dramatically increased in both the brain and peripheral blood of stroke patients and in a mouse model in a time-dependent manner. The infiltrating DNTs enhanced cerebral immune and inflammatory responses and exacerbated ischemic brain injury by modulating the FasL/PTPN2/TNF-a signaling pathway. Blockade of this pathway limited DNT-mediated neuroinflammation and improved the outcomes of stroke. Our results identified a critical function of DNTs in the ischemic brain, suggesting that this unique population serves as an attractive target for the treatment of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appropriate record period is necessary for calculating outdoor design conditions precisely, for example, the meteorological conditions of a particular location for heating, ventilation and air‐conditioning (HVAC) design purposes. A method for calculating the optimal period of record (OPR) for air‐conditioning outdoor design conditions is given in this study. The combination of standard deviation method (avoiding the OPR being too short) and optimal climate normal (OCN) model (avoiding the OPR being too long) was used to obtain the appropriate record period for the air‐conditioning outdoor design conditions. Especially, the method was examined in five different climate zones to determine its application. The results show that the OPR is in the range of 5–21 years depending on the climates, much less than the current 30‐year record period used for calculating outdoor design conditions. This indicates the 30‐year record period is no longer suitable for calculating air‐conditioning design conditions. The relatively short record period can well reflect the past climate change and support precise meteorological information for the design of air‐conditioning systems. By combining standard deviation and optimal climate normal model methods, a novel method was proposed to calculate the optimal period of record for air‐conditioning outdoor design conditions. The feasibility of the method was proved in five different climate zones in China. The previous study confirmed that the 30‐year record is no longer suitable for calculating the air‐conditioning design conditions and relative shorter record ranging from five to 21 years should be used in different climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A passive wand tracked in 3D using computer vision techniques is explored as a new input mechanism for interacting with large displays. We demonstrate a variety of interaction techniques and visual widgets that exploit the affordances of the wand, resulting in an effective interface for large scale display interaction. The lack of any buttons or other electronics on the wand presents a challenge that we address by developing a set of gestures and postures to track state and enable command input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult for physicians to identify patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who are sensitive to local treatment of metastases. Here, we aimed to establish a prognostic model for survival and individualize treatments for patients with metastatic NPC. Data were collated from 240 NPC patients diagnosed with metachronous metastasis between 2006 and 2020 who received palliative chemotherapy with or without local treatment. Multivariable Cox regression was implemented to construct a nomogram which had a concordance index of 0.764 when predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS). We then classified patients according to risk, creating low- and high-risk groups using the nomogram. Differences in OS between the two groups were significant (P<0.001). In the low-risk group, the OS for patients who received local treatment was longer than those without (P=0.009). This novel nomogram shows good performance in classifying patients according to risk and may also be a promising tool for determining who responds best to local treatment. Further validation using external center data is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of blastocyst culture supernatant transfer in hormone replacement freeze-thaw embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods The present study was a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study. Patients who met the inclusion criteria for the first hormone replacement freeze-thaw single blastocyst transfer proposed from September 2017 to December 2020 were randomly grouped at the endometrial transformation day of the secretory phase (P + 0). Patients in Group A (the experimental group) received the blastocyst culture supernatant at P + 2 and a single blastocyst at P + 5. Patients in Group B (the control group) received the embryo culture at P + 2 and a single blastocyst at P + 5. The clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 288 cycles were included in the present study, with 144 cycles in each group. The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were higher in group A than in group B (54.9% vs 45.8%, and 50% vs 39.6%, respectively), and the differences were more pronounced in patients with the age of ≥35 years (51.7% vs 37.5%, and 44.8% vs 32.1%, respectively), but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion Blastocyst culture supernatant transfer in hormone replacement FET cycles could improve the pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to screen for measures and lipid-derived indicators associated with insulin resistance (IR) in obese children and adolescents and develop a nomogram model for predicting the risk of insulin resistance., Methods: A total of 404 eligible obese children and adolescents aged 10-17 years were recruited for this study from a summer camp between 2019 and 2021. The risk factors were screened using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-logistic regression model, and a nomogram model was developed. The diagnostic value of the model was evaluated by plotting the receiver operator characteristic curve and calculating the area under the curve. Internal validation was performed using the Bootstrap method, with 1000 self-samples to evaluate the model stability. The clinical applicability of the model was assessed by plotting the clinical decision curve., Results: On the basis of the LASSO regression analysis results, three lipid-related derivatives, TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c, were finally included in the IR risk prediction model. The nomogram model AUC was 0.804 (95% CI: 0.760 to 0.849). Internal validation results show a C-Index of 0.799, and the mean absolute error between the predicted and actual risks of IR was 0.015. The results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test show a good model prediction (χ 2  = 9.523, P = 0.300)., Conclusion: Three early warning factors, TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c, were screened, which can effectively predict the risk of developing IR in obese children and adolescents, and the nomogram model has an eligible diagnostic value., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The medicinal plant Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc is rich in stilbenes (e.g., polygonin and resveratrol) and anthraquinones (e.g., emodin) for the therapy of human diseases, while how to increase the growth and medicinal composition concentrations of P . cuspidatum has become an urgent issue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Funneliformis mosseae , on plant growth, phosphorus (P) acquisition, medicinal component concentrations, and expressions of resveratrol synthesis-associated enzyme genes of P . cuspidatum at two P levels (0 M and 0.2 M). P supply (0.2 M) stimulated root AM fungal colonization rate. F . mosseae inoculation significantly improved growth performance (height, diameter, and biomass) and root morphology (diameter, length, and projected area), irrespectively of substrate P levels. P supply and F . mosseae distinctly increased soil acid and neutral phosphatase activities, as well as root P concentrations. P supply increased root physcion and resveratrol concentrations in inoculated and uninoculated plants, along with up-regulated expressions of PcCHS1 , PcCRS1 , PcRS11 , and PcSTS . AM plants represented significantly higher root aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, emodin, physcion, polydatin, and resveratrol concentrations than non-AM plants irrespective of P levels, coupled with up-regulated expressions of PcCHS1 , PcCHS2 , PcRS11 , PcRS , and PcSTS . It is concluded that 0.2 M P supply and F . mosseae inoculation promoted chrysophanol, physcion, polydatin, and resveratrol concentrations of P . cuspidatum , with the increase in resveratrol associated with up-regulated expressions of related genes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sun, Zhang, Liu, Feng, Zhou, Feng, Hashem, Abd_Allah, Harsonowati and Wu.)

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc is an important industrial crop because it contains a large amount of medicinal secondary metabolites (such as polydatin, resveratrol, chrysophanol, and emodin). However, it is unclear whether root endophytic fungi increase the content of secondary metabolites in the plant. This study aimed to analyze the effects of Funneliformis mosseae ( Fm ) and Piriformospora indica ( Pi ) alone or in combination on plant growth, root morphology, thirteen sugars concentrations, and six secondary metabolites (physcion, chrysophanol, emodin, aloe-emodin, polydatin, and resveratrol) concentrations of P . cuspidatum . After 11 weeks of the fungal inoculation, the roots could be colonized by Fm and Pi single or in combination, along with the higher root colonization frequency of Fm > Pi > Fm + Pi in the descending order. In addition, Fm and Pi improved plant growth performance (plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and shoot and root biomass) and root morphology (average diameter, maximum diameter, total length, area, and volume) to varying degrees, depending on fungal inoculations, in which Pi displayed a relatively better effect on plant growth. Single Fm and Pi inoculation significantly increased three disaccharides (sucrose, maltose, and trehalose) accumulation, while dual inoculum ( Fm + Pi ) only elevated sucrose concentrations. Most monosaccharides concentrations, such as D-arabinose, D-galactose, D-sorbitol, D-fructose, glucose, and L-rhamnose were not altered or inhibited by the endophytic fungi, except the increase in L-fucose and inositol. All fungal treatments significantly increased root chrysophanol and resveratrol concentrations, while decreased aloe-emodin concentrations. In addition, single Pi and dual Fm + Pi increased emodin concentrations, and single Fm and dual Fm + Pi elevated physcion and polydatin concentrations. It was concluded that Fm and Pi promoted the growth of P . cuspidatum , and the combination of Fm and Pi was more conducive to the production of some secondary metabolites than single inoculation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sun, Feng, Zhang, Zhou, Feng, Liu, Hashem, Al-Arjani, Abd_Allah and Wu.)