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Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are potent neurotoxins produced by certain microalgae, particularly dinoflagellates, and they can accumulate in shellfish in coastal seawater and thus pose significant health risks to humans. To explore the relationship between toxicity and PST profiles in seawater and mussels, the spatiotemporal variations in PST concentrations and profiles were investigated along the southern coast of Korea under peak PST levels during spring. Seawater and mussel samples were collected biweekly from multiple stations, and the toxin concentrations in the samples were measured. Moreover, the dinoflagellate community composition was analyzed using next-generation sequencing to identify potential PST-producing species. The PST concentrations and toxin profiles showed substantial spatiotemporal variability, with GTX1 and GTX4 representing the dominant toxins in both samples, and C1/2 tending to be higher in seawater. Alexandrium species were identified as the primary sources of PSTs. Environmental factors such as water temperature and salinity influenced PST production. This study demonstrates that variability in the amount and composition of PSTs is due to intricate ecological interactions. To mitigate shellfish poisoning, continuous monitoring must be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of these interactions.

Starch is a common source of carbohydrates in aqua feed. High-starch diet can cause hepatic injury and lipid accumulation in fish. Mangiferin (MGF) can regulate lipid metabolism and protect the liver, but there is limited research on its effects in fish. In the present study, we investigated whether MGF could ameliorate high-starch-induced hepatic damage and lipid accumulation in channel catfish. The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were fed one of four experimental diets for eight weeks: a control diet (NCD), a high-starch diet (HCD), an HCD supplemented with 100 mg/kg MGF (100 MGF), and an HCD supplemented with 500 mg/kg MGF (500 MGF). The results demonstrated that the weight gain rate (WGR) (p = 0.031), specific growth rate (SGR) (p = 0.039), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) (p = 0.040) of the 500 MGF group were significantly higher than those of the NCD group. MGF supplementation alleviated liver damage and improved antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) compared to those of the HCD group (p = 0.000). In addition, dietary MGF significantly reduced plasma glucose (GLU) (p = 0.000), triglyceride (TG) (p= 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (p = 0.000) levels. It is noteworthy that MGF significantly reduced the plasma total cholesterol (TC) levels (p = 0.000) and liver TC levels (p = 0.005) of channel catfish. Dietary MGF improves cholesterol homeostasis by decreasing the expression of genes that are involved in cholesterol synthesis and transport (hmgcr, sqle, srebf2, sp1, and ldlr) and increasing the expression of genes that are involved in cholesterol catabolism (cyp7a1). Among them, the largest fold decrease in squalene epoxidase (sqle) expression levels was observed in the 100 MGF or 500 MGF groups compared with the HCD group, with a significant decrease of 3.64-fold or 2.20-fold (p = 0.008). And the 100 MGF or 500 MGF group had significantly decreased (by 1.67-fold or 1.94-fold) Sqle protein levels compared to those of the HCD group (p = 0.000). In primary channel catfish hepatocytes, MGF significantly down-regulated the expression of sqle (p = 0.030) and reduced cholesterol levels (p = 0.000). In NCTC 1469 cells, MGF significantly down-regulated the expression of sqle (p = 0.000) and reduced cholesterol levels (p = 0.024). In conclusion, MGF effectively inhibits sqle expression and reduces cholesterol accumulation. The current study shows how MGF supplementation regulates the metabolism and accumulation of cholesterol in channel catfish, providing a theoretical basis for the use of MGF as a dietary supplement in aquaculture.

Abstract Background Self-directed learning (SDL) is one of the most important abilities for medical students in terms of their future clinical medical practice. During the blended teaching process, teachers can design a variety of learning activities to cultivate students’ SDL abilities. This study aimed to assess the differences between the SDL abilities of medical students using blended and traditional didactic teaching. Methods This study included 239 medical students from eight administrative classes. The students were divided into two groups: (1) the experimental group (EG), which included 119 students from four administrative classes, and (2) the control group (CG), which included 120 students from the remaining four classes. From February to July 2022, blended teaching methods were applied to the EG group, and SDL abilities were assessed in comparison to the CG group receiving traditional didactic teaching methods. Results At the end of the semester, significant differences (p

Abstract Using the CRITIC method, comprehensive index evaluation method, VAR model, coupling coordination model and other methods, this paper evaluates the comprehensive development of the population economy and eco-geological environment composite system in the twin-city economic circle of Chengdu–Chongqing region from 2000 to 2020, verifies the dynamic coupling relationship between subsystems and measures the coupling coordination degree of complex system. Meanwhile, the differences in the development process of each subsystem are discussed and the spatial–temporal evolution characteristics and laws of coupling coordination of the composite system during the research period are analyzed. The results reveal the following: (1) There is a long-term coordinated relationship between population, economy and eco-geological environment in Chengdu–Chongqing region, which have the conditions for emergence and generation. (2) The subsystems of population, economy and eco-geological environment in Chengdu–Chongqing region show an overall upward trend, among which the Sichuan part obviously outperforms the Chongqing part. Besides, the growth rate of the economy subsystem is significantly higher than that of the population, eco-geological environment subsystem. (3) The coupling coordinated development of the composite system has shown a benign upward development trend, gradually changing from “composite spiral structure” to “two cores outstanding, peripheral collapse, the west superior to the east”, while the main coordination state has developed from “Basic synergy—Economic lag” in 2000 to “Basic synergy—Population lag” in 2022. In addition, Cheng-De-Mian and Yuzhong districts with the better level of economic development have shown “Advanced synergy—Ecological lag”.

Abstract Background This project aimed to research the significance of THRIL in the diagnosis of benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) and to investigate the role of THRIL/miR-99a in malignant SPNs. Methods The study groups consisted of 169 patients with SPN and 74 healthy subjects. The differences in THRIL levels were compared between the two groups and the healthy group. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was utilized to analyze the THRIL’s significance in detecting benign and malignant SPN. Pearson correlation and binary regression coefficients represented the association between THRIL and SPN. CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry were utilized to detect the regulatory effect of THRIL silencing. The interaction between THRIL, miR-99a, and IGF1R was confirmed by the double luciferase reporter gene. Results There were differences in THRIL expression in the healthy group, benign SPN group, and malignant SPN group. High accuracy of THRIL in the diagnosis of benign SPN and malignant SPN was observed. THRIL was associated with the development of SPN. The expression of THRIL was upregulated and miR-99a was downregulated in lung cancer cells. The double luciferase report experiment confirmed the connections between THRIL/miR-99a/IGF1R. Silencing THRIL could suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote cell apoptosis by binding miR-99a. Conclusion The detection of THRIL in serum is useful for the assessment of malignant SPN. THRIL can regulate the expression of IGF1R through miR-99a, thereby promoting the growth of lung cancer cells and inhibiting apoptosis.

Keratopathy-associated cataract, that is, on the basis of corneal disease, and later the development of lens opacity, seriously damage visual quality. In order to avoid corneal transplantation for some patients, partial visual quality can be restored. A comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the effect of corneal opacity on visual function is of great improtance for determining cataract surgery alone. Due to the opacity of the cornea, the operation is very difficult and challenging. Therefore, it is of clinical value to develop and use new assistive technologies, including capsule staining, endoillumination, pupil dialation technology, femtosecond laser assisted technology, etc., avoiding problems such as limited visibility and decreased light flow caused by corneal opacity and facilitating cataract surgery. This article reviews progress of assistive technologies for keratopathy-associated cataract, hoping to guide clinical application.

Since the aquaculture industry is currently observing a deterioration in the flesh quality of farmed fish, the use of nutrients as additives to improve the flesh quality of farmed fish species is a viable strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary D-ribose (RI) on the nutritional value, texture and flavour of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Four diets were formulated containing exogenous RI at 4 gradient levels: 0 (Control), 0.15% (0.15RI), 0.30% (0.30RI) and 0.45% (0.45RI). A total of 240 fish (150 ± 0.31 g) were randomly distributed into 12 fibreglass tanks (150 L per tank). Triplicate tanks were randomly assigned to each diet. The feeding trial was carried out in an indoor recirculating aquaculture system for 60 d. After the feeding trial, the muscle and liver of gibel carp were analysed. The results showed that RI supplementation did not result in any negative impact on the growth performance and 0.30RI supplementation significantly increased the whole-body protein content compared to the control group. The contents of collagen and glycogen in muscle were enhanced by RI supplementation. The alterations in the flesh indicated that RI supplementation improved the texture of the flesh in terms of its water-holding capacity and hardness, therefore improving the taste. Dietary RI facilitated the deposition of amino acids and fatty acids in the muscle that contributed to the meaty taste and nutritional value. Furthermore, a combination of metabolomics and expression of key genes in liver and muscle revealed that 0.30RI activated the purine metabolism pathways by supplementing the substrate for nucleotide synthesis and thereby promoting the deposition of flavour substance in flesh. This study offers a new approach for providing healthy, nutritious and flavourful aquatic products.

The trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of dietary fishmeal (FM) by the blend of Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), Chlorella meal (CM), Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) on growth, protein utilization and intestinal health of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio, CAS Ⅴ). The FM-based diet was used as the control, and the blended proteins (TMM: CM: CAP: CPC) at ratios of 1 : 1:8 : 2 (BLEND A), 1 : 1:6 : 4 (BLEND B), and 1 : 1:4 : 6 (BLEND C) were used to replace FM at three levels (33%, 67%, 100%), respectively. The results showed that, compared to the control group, growth performance increased significantly when dietary FM was fully replaced by BLEND B (P

Purpose: To investigate perioperative risk factors that affect the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing gynecological surgery and to establish a preoperative risk prediction scoring system. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, characteristics and perioperative factors of patients who underwent elective gynecological surgery at Union Hospital from January 2021 to March 2022 were extracted from electronic medical records. Patients were grouped according to the Intake, Feeling nauseated, Emesis, physical Exam, and Duration of symptoms (I-FEED) scoring system to compare collected data. Results: In total, clinical data from 208 gynecological patients were extracted. The incidence of poor postoperative gastrointestinal recovery was 7.21 %. The number of previous abdominal surgeries (0.73 ± 0.06 vs 1.20 ± 0.24, p = 0.044), the incidence of malignant disease (20.2 % vs 53.3 %, p = 0.003), postoperative maximum WBC count (9.15 vs 12.44, p = 0.005) and postoperative minimum potassium (3.97 ± 0.36 vs 3.76 ± 0.37, p = 0.036) were not only associated with poor postoperative gastrointestinal recovery, but also malignant disease (p = 0.000), postoperative maximum WBC count (p = 0.027) and postoperative minimum potassium (p = 0.024) were significantly associated with the severity of postoperative gastrointestinal function. An increased number of previous abdominal surgeries and malignant primary disease could increase the risk of an I-FEED score >2 as independent risk factors. Conclusion: Patients with poor postoperative GI function had poorer postoperative recovery outcomes. A preoperative score prediction system was established, in which patients with ≥2 points had a 19.4 % risk of poor postoperative gastrointestinal recovery. Higher-quality prospective studies should be performed to achieve more precise risk stratification and to construct a more accurate prediction system.

The present study aimed to shed light on the effects of altitudes and three cooking methods (boiling, steaming, and roasting) on the physicochemical quality, volatile profile, and sensorial characteristics of yak meat. Composite meat samples were prepared to represent each cooking method and altitude level from the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle of nine yaks. The techniques employed were gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and electronic nose (E-nose) along with chemometrics analysis to study the changes occurring in yak volatile profile, and TBARS measurement in lipid oxidation during cooking. Among the cooking methods, boiling and steaming exhibited higher protein and fat content while lower volatile compound contents. Additionally, roasted yak meat received the highest sensory scores, along with decreased L*-values, while elevated a*- and b*-values, and tenderness. A total of 138 volatile compounds were detected, and among them, 36 odorants were identified as odor-active compounds in cooked yak meat. It is evidenced that low-altitude yak presented more complex and richer flavor profiles than high-altitude ones. Moreover, yak meat from low- and high-altitude was classified into two groups by an electronic nose (E-nose) owing to distinct flavor characteristics. Overall, roasted yak meat originating from low altitudes tends to be more popular from a sensory perspective.

Glutamate (Glu) plays important physiological roles in protein synthesis and muscle flesh quality. Despite existing studies on the effects of Glu on fish muscle quality, the underlying mechanism thereof remains unclear. To illustrate the effects of Glu on the flesh quality of triploid crucian carp, fish were fed a diet with added 3.2% Glu (no additional Glu was used as a control). Results showed that dietary Glu promoted the expression levels of genes related to the growth of muscle fibers, thereby promoting the development of the sarcolemma and regulating the hardness and springiness of muscle. Moreover, dietary Glu improved muscle protein deposition via AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway activation. Besides, aspartate, Glu, and inosine monophosphate (IMP) levels in muscle were markedly enhanced by dietary Glu supplementation. In summary, Glu improves flesh quality and growth of triploid crucian carp by regulating protein synthesis, protein retention and flavor compound deposition.

BackgroundIncreasing ownership of smartphones among Americans provides an opportunity to use these technologies to manage medical conditions. We examine the influence of baseline smartwatch ownership on changes in self-reported anxiety, patient engagement, and health-related quality of life when prescribed smartwatch for AF detection.MethodWe performed a post-hoc secondary analysis of the Pulsewatch study (NCT03761394), a clinical trial in which 120 participants were randomized to receive a smartwatch-smartphone app dyad and ECG patch monitor compared to an ECG patch monitor alone to establish the accuracy of the smartwatch-smartphone app dyad for detection of AF. At baseline, 14 days, and 44 days, participants completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 survey, the Health Survey SF-12, and the Consumer Health Activation Index. Mixed-effects linear regression models using repeated measures with anxiety, patient activation, physical and mental health status as outcomes were used to examine their association with smartwatch ownership at baseline.ResultsNinety-six participants, primarily White with high income and tertiary education, were randomized to receive a study smartwatch-smartphone dyad. Twenty-four (25%) participants previously owned a smartwatch. Compared to those who did not previously own a smartwatch, smartwatch owners reported significant greater increase in their self-reported physical health (β = 5.07, P

Sepsis-induced cardiac injury is associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, protects the injured myocardium by modulating mitochondrial dysfunction. We aimed to confirm whether the cardioprotective effect of DHA is mediated via the alleviation of mitochondrial fragmentation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiomyopathy in vitro. We found that DHA improved cell viability and alleviated cardiac cell apoptosis by reducing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, expression levels of Cleaved caspase-3, and Caspase 3 activity. DHA attenuated oxidative stress as evidenced by decreased ROS production and increased superoxide dismutase activity. In addition, DHA ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction by modulating mitochondrial respiratory chain injury and mitochondrial fragmentation, especially decreasing the mitochondrial fission-related protein p-Drp1(ser 616) but no effects on Drp1, p-Drp1(ser 637), and mitochondrial fusion-related protein. Our data suggest that DHA conferred cardioprotection by alleviating oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, which may be associated with alleviation of stress-induced mitochondrial fragmentation.

Previous nutritional studies have shown that intermediate metabolism in early fish development is highly plastic, and thus we hypothesized that there may be an early programming effect of a hyperglucidic diet on carbohydrate utilization in gibel carp. To test our hypothesis, gibel carp CAS Ⅴ (mean body weight: 0.10 g) were fed a high-carbohydrate/low protein (HC/LP) or low carbohydrate/high protein (LC/HP) diet for three weeks, and then were fed with normal feed for 12 weeks and a hyperglucidic diet for one week. We found that early HC/LP stimulus inhibited growth performance but altered the expression of glucose metabolism genes. After long-term feeding on the normal diet, the effects of early HC/LP stimulus were eliminated; these involved plasma metabolites, hepatic cholesterol, glycogen and triglyceride content, and glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the early HC stimulus group showed a better ability to maintain plasma glucose hemostasis when again given the HC diet. The capacity of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in juvenile gibel carp was improved in the early HC diet group, as indicated by upregulated expression of genes related to glycolysis, lipid transport (gk, akt, srebp1, acc, fas, hsl, and acly) and downregulated expression of genes involved in gluconeogenesis (fbpase). Moreover, the early HC diet significantly upregulated AKT protein expression levels. The DNA methylation levels of akt in the HC/LP group were significantly lower than those in the LC/HP group. Overall, the study suggests that early HC stimulus in juvenile gibel carp can result in better carbohydrate utilization through DNA methylation of critical elements in the insulin signaling pathway.

10-week dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) feeding trials were conducted in 14-month-old swamp eel (Monopterus albus) to evaluate the effects on growth performance, gonadal development, tissue fatty acid profile, and gene expression related to lipid metabolism. The results showed that swamp eels fed diets supplemented with 1.4% or 2.8% ARA had a significantly higher weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) than those fed the control diet. Dietary supplementation with ARA improved oocyte development and maturation. Higher gonadosomatic index (GSI) was detected in 1.4% and 2.8% ARA groups. ARA supplementation delayed sexual reversal in females. The ARA content in the muscle, liver and gonads increased with increasing dietary ARA concentration; however, ARA supplementation significantly reduced the transcriptional expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the gonads, such as fad2, pla2g4a, and elovl5. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the ARA 1.4% group were significantly lower than those in the control and ARA 2.8% groups. Total cholesterol (T-CHO) and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly lower in the 1.4% and 2.8% ARA groups than in the control group. Catalase (CAT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased with dietary ARA concentrations. This study found that dietary ARA is important for improving growth, Ovarian development, and antioxidant capacity in swamp eels.

Purpose Nail bed atrophy, a common condition for which conservative treatments have limited efficacy, continues to present challenges in determining the optimal surgical intervention. This study introduces a novel technique for nail bed expansion. Materials and Methods A total of 34 patients with nail bed atrophy, selected between 2015 and 2020 (ChiCTR2000036232), were randomized into a control group (n = 17) and a surgical group (n = 17). While no specialized treatment was administered to the control group, the surgical group underwent continuous W-shaped incisions on the ventral side of the digits. Results Following a 12-month follow-up period, changes in nail bed height, width, area, esthetic satisfaction, pain levels, and tactile sensation were assessed in both groups. In the surgical group, the height, width, and area of the nail bed increased significantly by 1.50 ± 0.49 times, 1.16 ± 0.23 times, and 1.69 ± 0.60 times, respectively, compared to the preoperative measurements. The newly-formed nail plate exhibited improved esthetics, characterized by its smoothness and transparency, a marked improvement over the control group (p

Abstract Silicon photonic integration has gained great success in many application fields owing to the excellent optical device properties and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility. Realizing monolithic integration of III-V lasers and silicon photonic components on single silicon wafer is recognized as a long-standing obstacle for ultra-dense photonic integration, which can provide considerable economical, energy-efficient and foundry-scalable on-chip light sources, that has not been reported yet. Here, we demonstrate embedded InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers directly grown on trenched silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, enabling monolithic integration with butt-coupled silicon waveguides. By utilizing the patterned grating structures inside pre-defined SOI trenches and unique epitaxial method via hybrid molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), high-performance embedded InAs QD lasers with monolithically out-coupled silicon waveguide are achieved on such template. By resolving the epitaxy and fabrication challenges in such monolithic integrated architecture, embedded III-V lasers on SOI with continuous-wave lasing up to 85 °C are obtained. The maximum output power of 6.8 mW can be measured from the end tip of the butt-coupled silicon waveguides, with estimated coupling efficiency of approximately -6.7 dB. The results presented here provide a scalable and low-cost epitaxial method for the realization of on-chip light sources directly coupling to the silicon photonic components for future high-density photonic integration.

Facial prostheses have developed significantly in the last 10 years, especially between 2016 and 2021. This development is mainly due to the great progress made in the fields of biocompatible materials, digital technology, and three-dimensional printing technology, which provides guarantee for low allergy, high biosimulation, comfort, and satisfactory usability. Treatment teams typically consist of plastic surgeons, material experts, engineers, and computer scientists who have extensive clinical experience. These teams successfully implement an integrated, multidisciplinary model by prioritizing the reasonable expectations of both the physician and patient, leading to improved patient satisfaction and compliance with prosthetic constraints. This study aimed to review the concept, development status, existing problems, and future of facial prosthesis.

Background: The objective of this study is to estimate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and myocardial infarction (MI) through Mendelian randomization (MR), predict potential target-mediated side effects associated with protein interventions, and ensure a comprehensive assessment of clinical safety. Methods: From 3 proteome genome-wide association studies (GWASs) involving 9775 European participants, 331 unique blood proteins were screened and chosed. The summary data related to MI were derived from a GWAS meta-analysis, incorporating approximately 61,000 cases and 577,000 controls. The assessment of associations between blood proteins and MI was conducted through MR analyses. A phenome-wide MR (Phe-MR) analysis was subsequently employed to determine the potential on-target side effects of protein interventions. Results: Causal mediators for MI were identified, encompassing cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) (odds ratio [OR] per SD increase: 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–1.18; p = 1.29 × 10-31), Selenoprotein S (SELENOS) (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.13–1.20; p = 4.73 × 10-24), killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DS2 (KIR2DS2) (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90–0.96; p = 1.08 × 10-5), vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 29 (VPS29) (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90–0.94; p = 8.05 × 10-13), and histo-blood group ABO system transferase (NAGAT) (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03–1.07; p = 1.41 × 10-5). In the Phe-MR analysis, memory loss risk was mediated by CT-1, VPS29 exhibited favorable effects on the risk of 5 diseases, and KIR2DS2 showed no predicted detrimental side effects. Conclusions: Elevated genetic predictions of KIR2DS2 and VPS29 appear to be linked to a reduced risk of MI, whereas an increased risk is associated with CT-1, SELENOS, and NAGAT. The characterization of side effect profiles aids in the prioritization of drug targets. Notably, KIR2DS2 emerges as a potentially promising target for preventing and treating MI, devoid of predicted detrimental side effects.

The mechanobiological response mechanism of the fenestrae of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) to the physical stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) remains unclear. We investigated how the mechanical properties of their substrates affect the LSECs’ fenestrae by the nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathway and how they relate to the progression of hepatic sinus capillarization during liver fibrosis. We detected different stiffnesses of ECM in the progress of liver fibrosis (LF) and developed polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAM) substrates to simulate them. Softer stiffness substrates contributed to LSECs maintaining fenestrae phenotype in vitro. The stiffness of liver fibrosis tissue could be reversed in vivo via treatment with anti-ECM deposition drugs. Similarly, the capillarization of LSECs could be reversed by decreasing the ECM stiffness. Our results also indicate that the NO-dependent pathway plays a key regulatory role in the capillarization of ECM-LSECs. Our study reveals ECM-induced mechanotransduction of capillarized LSECs through a NO-dependent pathway via a previously unrevealed mechanotransduction mechanism. The elucidation of this mechanism may offer precise biomechanics-specific intervention strategies targeting liver fibrosis progression.

Enhancing yield and achieving environmental goals represent challenges for the future of agriculture. Rational nitrogen (N) management is one of the most promising ways to meet this challenge. However, complicated nitrogen management strategies and considerable input requirements still exist in rice–ratoon rice production. To address this issue, field experiments were conducted with two main high-yield rice crop genotypes and five fertilization treatments at six sites in Southwest China from 2018 to 2020. The results showed the following: (1) the yield of the main rice crop was extremely significantly affected by the year, location, and fertilization, but not by genotype; (2) the yield of the ratoon rice was extremely significantly affected by year, genotype, location, and fertilization; and (3) the total plant N content (TPN) and leaf SPAD value at the full heading stage of the main crop were significantly positively correlated with the total soil N content (TSN) and soil available N (SAN) content of the basic soil. The highly efficient N application rate of grain- and bud-promoting fertilizer for ratoon rice was 60–120 kg ha−1. The TSN, SAN, TPN, and SPAD values higher than 0.247 kg N kg−1, 298 mg N kg−1, 2.159 kg N kg−1, and 49.94 were, respectively, considered the reference values when not applying grain- and bud-promoting fertilizer. A regression equation was established to predict the amount of high-efficiency grain- and bud-promoting fertilizer based on the TSN and SPAD. Overall, the yield of rice–ratoon rice was significantly affected by year, genotype, location, fertilization, and their interactions. The use of the predicted grain- and bud-promoting fertilizer regression equation can achieve high yields under simplified and reduced N input practices in the rice–ratoon rice systems.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, model extraction attacks pose a significant challenge, undermining the integrity of machine learning models by enabling adversaries to replicate proprietary algorithms without direct access. This paper presents a comprehensive study on model extraction attacks towards image classification models, focusing on the efficacy of various Deep Q-network (DQN) extensions for enhancing the performance of surrogate models. The goal is to identify the most efficient approaches for choosing images that optimize adversarial benefits. Additionally, we explore synthetic data generation techniques, including the Jacobian-based method, Linf-projected Gradient Descent (LinfPGD), and Fast Gradient Sign Method (FGSM) aiming to facilitate the training of adversary models with enhanced performance. Our investigation also extends to the realm of data-free model extraction attacks, examining their feasibility and performance under constrained query budgets. Our investigation extends to the comparison of these methods under constrained query budgets, where the Prioritized Experience Replay (PER) technique emerges as the most effective, outperforming other DQN extensions and synthetic data generation methods. Through rigorous experimentation, including multiple trials to ensure statistical significance, this work provides valuable insights into optimizing model extraction attacks.

An 88-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) on the growth performance and salinity and oxidative stress resistance in the juvenile gibel carp CAS III (Carassius auratus gibelio; initial body weight: 7.48 g). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing exogenous 5′-IMP were formulated. P1, P2, P3 and P4 were diets containing 5′-IMP at four concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 4 g kg−1). The four diets were randomly allotted to triplicate tanks in a recirculating system. After the feeding trial, six fish per tank were netted randomly and placed into 12‰ saline water to test their response to salinity stress. The results indicated that the feed conversion rate was enhanced by dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP. The appetite, plasma neuropeptide Y level and feeding rate of the P3 group were lower than those in the control treatment group. Dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP improved the osmoregulatory adaptation of gibel carp under acute salinity stress. Six hours after the salinity stress treatment, in the dietary 5′-IMP treatment group, the plasma cortisol and K+ concentrations were lower and the Na+/K+-ATPase activity was greater than that in the control group. Dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP promoted the expression of the glucocorticoid receptors NKA-α1b and NKCC and retarded the expression of Hsp70 in P4-treated gill filaments and kidneys. Dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP resulted in a stable oxidative-stress-resistant phenotype characterized by increased levels of cellular antioxidants, including SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and MPO. The above results of the current study demonstrate that supplementation of 5′-IMP can promote feed utilization and have positive influences on the salinity and oxidative stress resistance of gibel carp.

The direct growth of III-V quantum dot (QD) lasers on silicon substrate has been rapidly developing over the past decade and has been recognized as a promising method for achieving on-chip light sources in photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Up to date, O- and C/L-bands InAs QD lasers on Si have been extensively investigated, but as an extended telecommunication wavelength, the E-band QD lasers directly grown on Si substrates are not available yet. Here, we demonstrate the first E-band (1365 nm) InAs QD micro-disk lasers epitaxially grown on Si (001) substrates by using a III-V/IV hybrid dual-chamber molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. The micro-disk laser device on Si was characterized with an optical threshold power of 0.424 mW and quality factor (Q) of 1727.2 at 200 K. The results presented here indicate a path to on-chip silicon photonic telecom-transmitters.

Remdesivir (RDV) is a broad-spectrum nucleotide analog prodrug approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with clinical benefit demonstrated in multiple Phase 3 trials. Here we present SARS-CoV-2 resistance analyses from the Phase 3 SIMPLE clinical studies evaluating RDV in hospitalized participants with severe or moderate COVID-19 disease. The severe and moderate studies enrolled participants with radiologic evidence of pneumonia and a room-air oxygen saturation of ≤94% or >94%, respectively. Virology sample collection was optional in the study protocols. Sequencing and related viral load data were obtained retrospectively from participants at a subset of study sites with local sequencing capabilities (10 of 183 sites) at timepoints with detectable viral load. Among participants with both baseline and post-baseline sequencing data treated with RDV, emergent Nsp12 substitutions were observed in 4 of 19 (21%) participants in the severe study and none of the 2 participants in the moderate study. The following 5 substitutions emerged: T76I, A526V, A554V, E665K, and C697F. The substitutions T76I, A526V, A554V, and C697F had an EC50 fold change of ≤1.5 relative to the wildtype reference using a SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic replicon system, indicating no significant change in the susceptibility to RDV. The phenotyping of E665K could not be determined due to a lack of replication. These data reveal no evidence of relevant resistance emergence and further confirm the established efficacy profile of RDV with a high resistance barrier in COVID-19 patients.

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of stroke, and timely diagnosis is critical for secondary prevention. Little is known about smartwatches for AF detection among stroke survivors. We aimed to examine accuracy, usability, and adherence to a smartwatch-based AF monitoring system designed by older stroke survivors and their caregivers. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the feasibility of smartwatches for AF detection in older stroke survivors. MethodsPulsewatch is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which stroke survivors received either a smartwatch-smartphone dyad for AF detection (Pulsewatch system) plus an electrocardiogram patch or the patch alone for 14 days to assess the accuracy and usability of the system (phase 1). Participants were subsequently rerandomized to potentially 30 additional days of system use to examine adherence to watch wear (phase 2). Participants were aged 50 years or older, had survived an ischemic stroke, and had no major contraindications to oral anticoagulants. The accuracy for AF detection was determined by comparing it to cardiologist-overread electrocardiogram patch, and the usability was assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS). Adherence was operationalized as daily watch wear time over the 30-day monitoring period. ResultsA total of 120 participants were enrolled (mean age 65 years; 50/120, 41% female; 106/120, 88% White). The Pulsewatch system demonstrated 92.9% (95% CI 85.3%-97.4%) accuracy for AF detection. Mean usability score was 65 out of 100, and on average, participants wore the watch for 21.2 (SD 8.3) of the 30 days. ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that a smartwatch system designed by and for stroke survivors is a viable option for long-term arrhythmia detection among older adults at risk for AF, though it may benefit from strategies to enhance adherence to watch wear. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03761394; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03761394 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.1016/j.cvdhj.2021.07.002

In vitro culture systems that structurally model human myogenesis and promote PAX7+ myogenic progenitor maturation have not been established. Here we report that human skeletal muscle organoids can be differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cell lines to contain paraxial mesoderm and neuromesodermal progenitors and develop into organized structures reassembling neural plate border and dermomyotome. Culture conditions instigate neural lineage arrest and promote fetal hypaxial myogenesis toward limb axial anatomical identity, with generation of sustainable uncommitted PAX7 myogenic progenitors and fibroadipogenic (PDGFRa+) progenitor populations equivalent to those from the second trimester of human gestation. Single-cell comparison to human fetal and adult myogenic progenitor /satellite cells reveals distinct molecular signatures for non-dividing myogenic progenitors in activated (CD44High/CD98+/MYOD1+) and dormant (PAX7High/FBN1High/SPRY1High) states. Our approach provides a robust 3D in vitro developmental system for investigating muscle tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis.

Background & Aims: Bulevirtide (BLV) is a small lipopeptide agent that specifically binds to the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) bile salt transporter and HBV/HDV receptor on the surface of human hepatocytes and inhibits HDV and HBV entry. As a satellite virus of HBV, HDV virions are formed after assembly of HDV RNA with the HBV envelope proteins (HBsAg). Because both viruses exist as eight different genotypes, this creates a potential for high diversity in the HBV/HDV combinations. To investigate the sensitivity of various combinations of HBV/HDV genotypes to BLV, clinical and laboratory strains were assessed. Methods: For the laboratory strains, the different envelopes from HBV genotypes A through H were combined with HDV genotypes 1–8 in cotransfection assays. Clinical plasma isolates were obtained from clinical studies and academic collaborations to maximise the diversity of HBV/HDV genotypes tested. Results: The mean BLV EC50 against HDV laboratory strains ranged from 0.44 to 0.64 nM. Regardless of HBV and HDV genotypes, the clinical isolates showed similar sensitivities to BLV with mean values that ranged from 0.2 to 0.73 nM. Conclusions: These data support the use of BLV in patients infected with any HBV/HDV genotypes. Impact and implications: This study describes the potent activity of BLV against multiple laboratory strains spanning all HBV/HDV A–H/1–8 genotype combinations and the most diverse collection of HDV clinical samples tested to date, including HBV/HDV genotype combinations less frequently observed in the clinic. Overall, all isolates and laboratory strains displayed similar in vitro nanomolar sensitivity to BLV. This broad-spectrum antiviral activity of BLV has direct implications on potential simplified treatment for any patient infected with HDV, regardless of genotype, and supports the new 2023 EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on HDV that recommend antiviral treatment for all patients with CHD.

Limited research has focused on the psychological pain among older people and factors associated with psychological distress in older adults also remain to be evaluated. This study aims to examine the status and correlates of psychological pain among older people from urban and rural areas in China. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 4312 samples which extracted from the dataset of China's Health-Related Quality of Life Survey for Older Adults 2018. Psychological pain was assessed by the Chinese version of the Psychache Scale (PAS). Multiple linear regression models were established to examine the associations between demographic characteristics and psychological pain. The average score of PAS among older people was 41.79 ± 14.52, and the average score of PAS among urban older people was higher than rural ones in this study. For rural older people, age (B ≥ 80 = 2.55), gender (B Female = 1.27), educational level (B Primary school = 1.63; B ≥ Middle school = 0.27), smoking (B yes = 0.83), number of chronic diseases (B ≥ 2 = 3.19) and personal social capital (B BRC = 0.27) were positively related to psychological pain, while family per-capita annual income (B15,000-30,000 = −2.52; B > 30,000 = −3.44), living arrangement (B With spouse = -3.40; B With children = -2.89; B Others = -3.82) and personal social capital (B BOC = −0.36) were negatively associated with psychological pain (p 30,000 = −3.63), living arrangement (B With spouse = -1.31), BMI (Bnormal = −2.62) and personal social capital (B BOC = −0.16) were negatively associated with psychological pain (p

The spring phytoplankton bloom is a critical event in temperate oceans typically associated with the highest productivity levels throughout the year. To investigate the bloom process in the Yellow Sea, daily data on physical, chemical, and phytoplankton taxonomic group biomass, calculated via the chemotaxonomic approach, were collected from late March or early April to late May between 2018 and 2020 at the Socheongcho Ocean Research Station. During early spring (late March to mid-April), phytoplankton biomass increased, accompanied by a decrease in nutrient levels, with Bacillariophyceae and Cryptophyceae being the dominant groups. As water temperature increased, a pycnocline began to develop in late April, leading to a peak of the phytoplankton bloom dominated by chlorophytes and Cryptophyceae. Network analysis suggested that this phytoplankton bloom was caused by the onset of vertical stratification induced by increased sea surface temperature. The chlorophyte peak induced phosphate limitation above the pycnocline, resulting in succession to Prymnesiophyceae and Dinophyceae. Following pycnocline formation, phytoplankton biomass below the pycnocline was dominated by Bacillariophyceae and Cryptophyceae, with decreasing or fluctuating trends depending on phosphate concentration. Apart from these general patterns, 2019 and 2020 both had distinctive traits. The 2019 data revealed lower phosphate concentrations than the other 2 years, leading to a smaller chlorophyte peak at the surface compared to 2018 and extreme phosphate limitation above the pycnocline. This limitation resulted in decreased biomass of late successional groups, including Prymnesiophyceae and Dinophyceae. Pycnocline formation was delayed in year 2020, and stratification was significantly weaker compared to the previous 2 years. Due to the pycnocline delay, the surface chlorophyte peak did not develop and no succession to late successional groups was observed. Instead, high levels of Bacillariophyceae and Cryptophyceae biomass were observed throughout the water column with no surface bloom. Thus, among various environmental factors, increasing surface water temperature and phosphate concentrations play pivotal roles in shaping phytoplankton bloom dynamics. Distinct yearly variation points to the broader impacts of climate shifts, emphasizing the need for continued marine monitoring.

Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites have been applied to the manufacture of missile shields and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) shells. It is of great significance to explore the ablation characteristics of different lasers for these composites. Currently, most existing studies on the ablation characteristics of lasers for Glass fiber reinforced plastic composites are conducted under a single laser output mode, such as continuous wave (CW) laser or pulsed laser. However, the ablation characteristics of combined lasers for Glass fiber reinforced plastic composites have not been clarified. Therefore, the ablation characteristics of single lasers (continuous wave, millisecond (ms) pulsed, or nanosecond (ns) pulsed laser) and combined laser (CW/ms or CW/ns combined pulsed lasers) were investigated by experimental and simulation methods in this study. Additionally, the ablation mechanisms of Glass fiber reinforced plastic under different laser irradiation conditions were compared and analyzed. The results demonstrated that the ablation rates of single lasers for Glass fiber reinforced plastic composites were all within an order of magnitude of 10 μg/J, which was not significantly correlated with the light source system. The ablation efficiency of the single laser was determined by the incident laser energy. The continuous wave laser was found to be the optimal light source for the ablation and destruction of Glass fiber reinforced plastic composites. Nevertheless, there were some obstacles in the ablation process of continuous wave lasers. Applying pulsed lasers during the irradiation of the continuous wave laser may generate a synergistic effect. Under the conditions in this study, the CW/ns pulsed combined laser increased the ablation efficiency by 53.8%.

The microbial metabolism in vinegar is closely related to the flavor quality of vinegar, which has attracted the attention of researchers due to the diversity of microbes and flavor substances and their complex correlation. Exploring its research hot spots, evolution process and development trend is of great significance to guide the further research in this field. This paper used Cite Space to analyze the research hot spots, emerging trends and knowledge flow in the field of microbial diversity and flavor substance changes at home and abroad in the past 20 years, reflecting the research progress in this field in the past two decades. The results showed that the research heat of vinegar microbial diversity and flavor changes at home and abroad remained unchanged. Solid state fermentation, Chinese grain vinegar, acetic acid bacteria, metabolic characteristics, biological heat, and key environmental drivers were the main research directions in this field. The changes of knowledge flow in this research area were mainly from science, molecular, biology, immunology journals to environmental, toxicology, nutrition, molecular biology, genetics journals. Dynamics, solid state fermentation and volatile compounds would become new research hot spots.

To further reveal the relationships between different variables and yield at each growth stage of winter wheat, an approach for estimating regional yields of winter wheat at multiple time scales was developed by assimilating the CERES-Wheat model simulations and remotely sensed observations. Specifically, the particle filter assimilation algorithm was chosen to assimilate the simulated soil moisture at the depth of 0–20 cm and leaf area index (LAI) and MODIS retrieved vegetation temperature condition index (VTCI) and LAI. The resonance periods of time series assimilated VTCIs and LAIs at different growth stages of winter wheat with crop yield were analyzed separately using the cross-wavelet transform to determine the variation relationships between the assimilated variables and yield at multiple time scales, and the calculated weights of assimilated VTCI and LAI at each growth stage of winter wheat were used to establish a yield estimation model. Both assimilated VTCI and LAI could comprehensively integrate the effects of the CERES-Wheat model simulations and remotely sensing observations, and cross-wavelet transformed time series VTCIs and LAIs at each growth stage had specific resonance periods with the time series yields, regardless of whether they were assimilated or not. Compared with the unassimilated variables, assimilated VTCI and LAI were given greater weights at the key growth stages, namely VTCI at the jointing and heading-filling stages and LAI at the heading-filling and milk maturity stages, enhancing feature extraction and the accuracy of yield estimation was improved.

The emergence of prosumers in distribution systems has enabled competitive electricity markets to transition from traditional hierarchical structures to more decentralized models such as peer-to-peer (P2P) and community-based (CB) energy transaction markets. However, the network usage charge (NUC) that prosumers pay to the electric power utility for network services is not adjusted to suit these energy transactions, which causes a reduction in revenue streams of the utility. In this study, we propose an NUC calculation method for P2P and CB transactions to address holistically economic and technical issues in transactive energy markets and distribution system operations, respectively. Based on the Nash bargaining (NB) theory, we formulate an NB problem for P2P and CB transactions to solve the conflicts of interest among prosumers, where the problem is further decomposed into two convex subproblems of social welfare maximization and payment bargaining. We then build the NUC calculation model by coupling the NB model and AC optimal power flow model. We also employ the Shapley value to allocate the NUC to consumers fairly for the NUC model of CB transactions. Finally, numerical studies on IEEE 15-bus and 123-bus distribution systems demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed NUC calculation method for P2P and CB transactions.

Although bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) might have therapeutic potency in ischemic stroke, the benefits are limited. The current study investigated the effects of BMSCs engineered to overexpress vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on behavioral defects in a rat model of transient cerebral ischemia, which was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. VEGF-BMSCs or control grafts were injected into the left striatum of the infarcted hemisphere 24 hours after stroke. We found that compared with the stroke-only group and the vehicle- and BMSCs-control groups, the VEGF-BMSCs treated animals displayed the largest benefits, as evidenced by attenuated behavioral defects and smaller infarct volume 7 days after stroke. Additionally, VEGF-BMSCs greatly inhibited destruction of the blood-brain barrier, increased the regeneration of blood vessels in the region of ischemic penumbra, and reducedneuronal degeneration surrounding the infarct core. Further mechanistic studies showed that among all transplant groups, VEGF-BMSCs transplantation induced the highest level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These results suggest that BMSCs transplantation with vascular endothelial growth factor has the potential to treat ischemic stroke with better results than are currently available.

Background/Aims Histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) are used to treat acid-related disorders and functional dyspepsia. In contrast to other H2RAs, nizatidine promotes gastric emptying (GE). We investigated the effects of nizatidine and famotidine on intragastric pH and the GE rate in rats exposed to stress. Materials and Methods We used 8-week-old male Wistar rats. Based on administration of water or drugs after an overnight fast, the animals were categorized into the nonstress-water, stress-water, stress-nizatidine, stress-famotidine, and stress-nizatidine with mosapride groups. The rats had access to pre-weighed food for 10 minutes, and those in the stress groups were exposed to 1 hour of restraint stress. Intragastric pH was measured under isoflurane anesthesia, and the GE rate was measured after the rats were sacrificed. Results The GE rate was significantly lower in the stress-water and stress-famotidine groups than in the nonstress-water group. However, GE in the stress-nizatidine and stress-nizatidine with mosapride group did not significantly differ from that in the nonstress- water group. The GE rate was significantly higher in the stress-nizatidine with mosapride than in the stress-famotidine group. Intragastric pH was significantly higher in the stress-nizatidine and stress-famotidine groups than in the stress-water group. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference in pH between the stress-nizatidine and stress-famotidine groups. The intragastric pH was slightly but significantly higher in the stress-nizatidine with mosapride group than in the stress-nizatidine and stress-famotidine groups. Conclusions In contrast to famotidine, nizatidine prevents stress-induced GE delay, which suggests that nizatidine is superior to other H2RAs for treatment of functional dyspepsia associated with delayed GE.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different salting methods (wet salting, dry salting, ultrasonic assisted wet salting) on quality traits (color, texture, water retention capacity), histomorphology and protein structure of cooked pork steaks. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscles of pork were selected as experimental material, and the meat samples were salted by different methods and then cooked. Meat quality, water distribution, histomorphology, protein surface hydrophobicity and protein secondary structure of cooked meat were determined. The results showed that different salting methods had significant influences on the quality traits of cooked pork steaks. In comparison with the other two salting methods, the sample salted by ultrasonic had the lowest cooking loss, the highest redness value, and the highest viscosity and tenderness. The results of water distribution showed that the longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation intensity were the highest in samples of ultrasonic assisted salting. Meanwhile, the transverse relaxation time was the longest in cooked samples of ultrasonic-assisted salting, the proportion of immobilized water was the highest, and the proportion of free water was the lowest. Ultrasonic assisted salting increased muscle fiber swelling, and individual myofibers in the salted tissue could be discerned, perhaps due to the degradation of connective tissue during salting. Additionally, the cooked meat samples of ultrasonic assisted salting had the strongest protein hydrophobicity ability. Protein secondary structure analyses showed that the meat samples in ultrasonic assisted salting group exhibited the lowest content of α-helix and β-turn, and the highest content of β-sheet and random coil, indicating the highest degree of protein unfolding. Moreover, protein structural changes in cooked meat were significantly correlated with meat quality traits.

Abstract Radiation resistance and unsatisfactory efficacy of radioimmunotherapy are important barriers to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. The impacts of anlotinib on radiation and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in NSCLC remain to be resolved. Here, we find anlotinib enhances radiosensitivity, and further increases radiotherapy-stimulated CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation via triggering cGAS/STING pathway. Moreover, anlotinib shows significant effects on radioimmunotherapy (radiotherapy plus anti-PD-L1). The addition of anlotinib alleviates CD8+ T cell exhaustion, promotes the cytotoxicity and proliferation of CD8+ T cells, and boosts immune memory activation. Our work reveals the crucial role of anlotinib in antitumor immunity, and provides preclinical evidence for the application of anlotinib combined with radioimmunotherapy in NSCLC treatment.

As cataract surgery has entered the era of minimally invasive and accurate refractive surgery, higher requirements for perioperative infection control are needed. In recent years, “dropless cataract surgery” has been proposed and is gradually applied in clinical practice. It is based on the combination of different local injection forms in cataract surgery, in which antibiotics and steroids are applied to the operative eye through immediate or sustained release, so that patients do not need to use eye drops throughout the perioperative period.It can not only achieve the purpose of anti-inflammation and anti-infection after surgery, but also reduce the burden of patients, patients' family members and doctors.This article reviews the concept of “dropless cataract surgery”, the combined treatment methods, including combined anterior chamber antibiotic injection, triamcinolone acetonide and moxifloxacin hydrochloride(TriMoxi)and triamcinolone -moxifloxacin and vancomycin(TriMoxiVanc)intravitreal injection, combined dexamethasone lacrimal puncture implantation, continuous or sustained release drug delivery mechanism, as well as its efficacy and safety, with a view to provide a new idea and direction for the prevention of postoperative cataract infection.

In order to explore the quality status of tomato stewed beef brisket dishes of different brands on the market, five brands of tomato stewed beef brisket dishes were selected to determine the color, texture, shear force, electronic nose, electronic tongue, sensory evaluation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value, sulfhydryl content, carbonyl content and other indicators, and study the causes of quality differences from sensory evaluation, objective evaluation and fatty protein oxidation. The results showed that there were significant differences in the senses of the five brands of tomato stewed beef brisket dishes, among which the sensory score of sample HK was the highest and that of sample FY was the lowest, and there was a significant correlation between product quality and price. The overall acceptable score was 79.15, the product price was (55.28 yuan/500 g), and the commercially available tomato stewed beef brisket dishes were basically high quality and good price. The appearance of tomatoes in different brands of tomato stewed beef brisket dishes was seriously damaged, and the L* value, a* value and b* value of beef were significantly different, among which the change rate of L* value and b* value was large. The hardness, cohesion and chewiness in the texture index were the biggest difference between sample NF and sample FY, while the elasticity was the biggest difference between sample HK and sample FY. The correlation between the changes of objective indexes such as color and texture and sensory indexes was not significant. The overall presentation of quality characteristics might be more complex due to the combination of meat and vegetables. Principal components analysis (PCA) based on the results of electronic nose and electronic tongue could clearly distinguish the taste and smell of five commercial brands of tomato stewed sirloin dishes, and could be effectively used to evaluate and study the flavor quality of tomato stewed sirloin dishes. The pH, TBARS value, sulfhydryl content and carbonyl content of beef in different products were also significantly different, and were significantly related to color, texture and flavor. In addition to different raw and auxiliary materials, the oxidation of protein and fat was also an important factor affecting the quality of beef from different products. This would not only provide guidance for the optimization of processing technology and improvement of product quality of tomato stewed beef brisket, but also provide data support for improving the industrialization level and quality fidelity of tomato stewed beef brisket dishes.

Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether (PODEn, n ≥ 1) is a class of oxygenated fuels containing unique carbon-oxygen chain structure and a promising alternative fuel for diesel engines. In this study, low-temperature oxidation characteristics of PODE3 were studied experimentally and numerically. Experiments were performed in a jet-stirred reactor (JSR) at equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, in the temperature range of 500 to 950 K, and at atmospheric pressure. Mole fractions of PODE3, O2, H2, CO, CO2, CH3OH and C1-C2 hydrocarbons were measured by gas chromatograph (GC). Experimental measurements were compared with the simulation results based on two literature low-temperature oxidation models, denoted as the He model and the Cai model, respectively. Good agreement was obtained between the measured and simulated fuel consumption profiles, while a deviation was observed between the experimental and simulation results on the mole fractions of O2 and intermediate products at medium temperatures. Reaction pathway analyses based on the two models were performed, revealing that the second O2-addition reaction pathway is more significant in the prediction by the Cai model than that by the He model. Sensitivity analyses pointed out that the most important reactions affecting fuel consumption are the H-abstraction reactions of PODE3, and the decomposition of H2O2 and the consumption of CH2O become more sensitive at medium temperatures.

Abstract Following the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), the rate of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) declined, however, IPDs replaced by serotypes that are not included in the vaccine have emerged. We describe the epidemiology of IPD in South Korea over a 4.5-year period, encompassing the impact following introduction of PCV10/13 and PPSV23 into the public immunization program, and assess serotype dynamics in pediatric and adult population. This was a nationwide, retrospective review of surveillance of all IPD cases in Korea between September 2014 to December 2019. We analyzed VT13 (serotypes included in 13-valent conjugate vaccine) and NVT (nonvaccine type) cases by age, sex, IPD type, vaccination status, and deaths. A total of 893 cases with serotype data were included; 306 (34%) VT13 cases and 587 (66%) NVT cases. Serotype 3 (n = 155) was the most common VT13 serotype, followed by serotypes 19A (n = 70) and 14 (n = 28). Among the NVTs, serotype 10A (n = 74) was the most common serotype, followed by serotypes 23A (n = 60) and 34 (n = 58). Persons who had PCV13 vaccination were at lower risk (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.73, P = 0.022) of death compared to unvaccinated persons. Introduction of PCV10/13 and PPSV23 vaccination program has had different impacts on the serotype-specific IPD across age groups. The most common serotypes included serotypes 3 and 19A (VT13), and 10A, 23A, and 34 (NVT). Our findings suggest continued monitoring in the midst of new vaccine development, and a need to develop novel strategies to mitigate the IPDs from emerging pneumococcal serotypes.

Chlorella meal is a potential protein source for aquafeeds. However, the physiological response of carnivorous fish fed Chlorella meal remains elusive. This study evaluated the effects of replacing dietary fish meal with Chlorella meal on growth performance, pigmentation, and liver health in largemouth bass. Five diets were formulated to replace dietary fish meal of 0% (C0, control), 25% (C25), 50% (C50), 75% (C75), and 100% (C100) with Chlorella meal, respectively. Total 300 fish (17.6 ± 0.03 g) were randomly assigned to 15 tanks (3 tanks/group). Fish were fed the experimental diet twice daily for 8 weeks. The increased dietary Chlorella meal quadratically influenced the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed intake (FI), which were significantly lower in the C100 group than in the other groups (P

Abstract Background Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (PLAM) is a rare interstitial lung disease characterized by diffuse cystic changes caused by the destructive proliferation of smooth muscle-like cells or LAM cells. PLAM is more common in young women than other people, and a consensus is lacking regarding PLAM treatment. The clinical treatment of PLAM is currently dominated by rapamycin. By inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway, rapamycin can inhibit and delay PLAM’s occurrence and development. However, the application of rapamycin also has shortcomings, including the drug’s low oral bioavailability and a high binding rate to hemoglobin, thus significantly decreasing the amount of drug distributed to the lungs. Methods and results Here, we developed a new mode of rapamycin administration in which the drug was injected into the intrathecal space after being nanosized; the directional flow characteristics of the liquid in the intrathecal space were exploited to increase the drug content in the interstitial fluid to the greatest extent possible. We studied the rapamycin content in the interstitial fluid and blood after intervaginal space injection (ISI). Compared with oral administration, ISI significantly increased the drug concentration in the lung interstitial fluid. Conclusions These results provided new ideas for treating PLAM and optimizing the dosing regimens of drugs with similar characteristics to rapamycin.

Abstract Background Traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS) is the main cause of death in trauma patients with high mortality. Rapid control of the source of bleeding and early resuscitation are crucial to clinical treatment. Guidelines recommend isotonic crystal resuscitation when blood products are not immediately available. However, the selection of isotonic crystals has been controversial. Sodium bicarbonate Ringer solutions (BRS), containing sodium bicarbonate, electrolyte levels, and osmotic pressures closer to plasma, are ideal. Therefore, in this study, we will focus on the effects of BRS on the first 6 h of resuscitation, complications, and 7-day survival in patients with THS. Methods /design. This single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial will focus on the efficacy and safety of BRS in early THS resuscitation. A total of 400 adults THS patients will be enrolled in this study. In addition to providing standard care, enrolled patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive resuscitation with BRS (test group) or sodium lactate Ringer’s solution (control group) until successful resuscitation from THS. Lactate clearance at different time points (0.5, 1, 1.5, 3, and 6 h) and shock duration after drug administration will be compared between the two groups as primary end points. Secondary end points will compare coagulation function, temperature, acidosis, inflammatory mediator levels, recurrence of shock, complications, medication use, and 7-day mortality between the two groups. Patients will be followed up until discharge or 7 days after discharge. Discussion At present, there are still great differences in the selection of resuscitation fluids, and there is a lack of systematic and detailed studies to compare and observe the effects of various resuscitation fluids on the effectiveness and safety of early resuscitation in THS patients. This trial will provide important clinical data for resuscitation fluid selection and exploration of safe dose of BRS in THS patients. Trial registration. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR2100045044. Registered on 4 April 2021.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic continues, and the death toll continues to surge. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) on mortality in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A systematic search was made of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov, without language restrictions. Controlled clinical trials on treatment of COVID-19 with TPE, compared with standard of care, were reviewed. Studies were pooled according to risk ratios (RRs) and weighted mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of six trials (enrolling 343 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Therapeutic plasma exchange showed significant effect on mortality (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.69; P = 0.0008). Conclusion: TPE significantly reduced mortality in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-critical COVID-19. Plasma exchange therapy should be considered for patients with COVID-19.

Hypoparathyroidism, deafness, and renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome is an infrequent autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by haploinsufficiency of the GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) gene. In this report, we present a case study of a 6-year-old female patient manifesting seizures, tetany, hypoparathyroidism, and sensorineural hearing loss. A heterozygous variant, c.1050 + 2T>C, in the GATA3 gene was discovered by genetic testing. Moreover, a minigene splicing experiment revealed that the aforementioned variation causes incorrect splicing and premature cessation of protein synthesis. The clinical profile of the patient closely resembles the well-known phenomenology of HDR syndrome, supporting the association between the condition and the GATA3 variant. The challenges in early diagnosis highlight the importance of employing next-generation sequencing for timely detection of rare diseases. Additionally, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations in HDR syndrome, underscoring the critical need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Background The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of trunk kinematic characteristics and trunk muscle electromyography (EMG) activity on propulsion speeds in wheelchair racing T54 athletes. Method The Vicon infrared high-speed 3D motion capture system was utilized to acquire kinematic data of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and trunk from twelve T54 athletes at four different speeds (5.55 m/s, 6.94 m/s, 8.33 m/s, and personal maximum speed). Additionally, the Trigno Wireless EMG system was employed to collect synchronous surface electromyography (EMG) data from the rectus abdominis and erector spinae muscles. The kinematics and EMG data of the trunk were compared across various wheelchair propulsion speeds while also examining the correlation coefficient between wheelchair propulsion speeds and: (1) the range of motion of upper limb joints as well as the trunk; (2) the maximum angular velocities of the upper limbs joints as well as the trunk; and (3) rectus abdominis and erector spinae EMG activity. Two multiple linear stepwise regression models were utilized to examine the impact of variables that had been identified as significant through correlation coefficient tests (1) and (2) on propulsion speed, respectively. Results There were significant differences in the range of motion (p0.3), while one variable derived from the erector spinae was found to be significantly correlated with propulsion speed (p

Wassel type IV-D thumb duplication is the most complex form and anatomic reconstruction is difficult. The aim of this study was to create an aesthetically satisfactory anatomical reconstruction for Wassel type IV-D radial polydactyly thumbs using the modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure. Surgery was performed on 24 thumbs with Wassel type IV-D radial polydactyly. To align the joint surfaces, the proximal phalanxes were unequally joined, primarily on the ulnar, and the distal phalanx was either symmetrically joined or unequally joined via curvature osteotomy. The patients were followed up for 12–91 months. The interphalangeal joint remained stable in all cases. The average functional score was 13.5 points (maximum 14 points). The overall average cosmetic score was 3.3 (maximum 4 points). Our modification of the Bihaut-Cloquet procedure produced good functional results for patients with Wassel type IV-D radial polydactyly. This method is used to correct the alignment and to stabilize the interphalangeal joint in both hypoplastic thumbs.

Objectives: This study investigated the association between perivascular fat density (PFD) via preoperative computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and early in-stent restenosis (ISR) after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 248 consecutive patients who had undergone initial CAS and received a preoperative cervical CTA examination between January 2019 and October 2020. The patients were categorized into two according to whether they sustained ISR during the 2 years postoperative follow-up period. Correlations between PFD and ISR were assessed, and multivariate regression for evaluating predictors of ISR was conducted. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the cutoff value for the PFD. Results: A total of 181 eligible patients (mean age 61.25 ± 10.35 years, 57 male) were enrolled. The ISR group had a higher proportion of closed-cell stents (48.8% versus 27.5%; p = 0.009) and a greater degree of residual stenosis (28[20,33] % versus 20[14.75,30] %; p