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Background: This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of generating a volumetric stent expansion index for tapering lesions through intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Previous IVUS studies have used minimal stent area (MSA) to predict adverse outcomes. Methods: A total of 251 tapering lesions were treated in this study via IVUS guidance in 232 patients. Eight stent expansion indices were evaluated to determine the association of these indices with device-oriented clinical endpoints (DoCEs) after two-year follow-ups. These were the ILUMIEN III and IV standards, the ULTIMATE (Intravascular Ultrasound Guided Drug Eluting Stents Implantation in “All-Comers” Coronary Lesions) standard, the IVUS-XPL (Impact of Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance on the Outcomes of Xience Prime Stents in Long Lesions) standard, the minimal volumetric expansion index (MVEI) using the Huo-Kassab or linear model, the MSA/vessel area at the MSA cross-section, the traditional stent expansion (MSA/mean proximal and distal reference lumen cross-sectional area), and MSA. Results: The MVEI was the only stent expansion index that correlated significantly with the two-year DoCEs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.96; p = 0.028). In the ROC analysis, the area under the curve for the MVEI was 0.71 (p = 0.002), with an optimal cut-off value of 62.2 for predicting the DoCEs. Conclusions: This is the first study to use IVUS for tapering lesions and demonstrate that the MVEI is an independent predictor of two-year DoCEs.

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have made significant progress in the basic theoretical field since their invention in the 1970s. However, performance instability during continuous processing, such as thermal history, residual stress accumulation, and columnar grain epitaxial growth, consistently hinders their broad application in standardized industrial production. To overcome these challenges, performance-control-oriented hybrid AM (HAM) technologies have been introduced. These technologies, by leveraging external auxiliary processes, aim to regulate microstructural evolution and mechanical properties during metal AM. This paper provides a systematic and detailed review of performance-control-oriented HAM technology, which is categorized into two main groups: energy field-assisted AM (EFed AM, e.g. ultrasonic, electromagnetic, and heat) technologies and interlayer plastic deformation-assisted AM (IPDed AM, e.g. laser shock peening, rolling, ultrasonic peening, and friction stir process) technologies. This review covers the influence of external energy fields on the melting, flow, and solidification behavior of materials, and the regulatory effects of interlayer plastic deformation on grain refinement, nucleation, and recrystallization. Furthermore, the role of performance-control-oriented HAM technologies in managing residual stress conversion, metallurgical defect closure, mechanical property improvement, and anisotropy regulation is thoroughly reviewed and discussed. The review concludes with an analysis of future development trends in EFed AM and IPDed AM technologies.

(1) Background: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous syndrome with a constellation of cardiometabolic risk factors. We aimed to investigate if the association of body fat mass (BFM) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) with cardiometabolic risk differed in PCOS subtypes. (2) Methods: 401 participants (245 PCOS and 156 controls) were assessed for anthropometric measurements, glucose–lipid profiles, reproductive hormones and body composition with propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis. The association of the cardiometabolic risk score (z score, calculated based on levels of obesity and gluco-lipid measurements) with BFM (estimated by trunk BFM/Height2) and SMM (estimated by SMM/Height2) was calculated. (3) Results: Trunk BFM/Height2 and SMM/Height2 were both positively associated with cardiometabolic risk in PCOS (trunk BFM/Height2, OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.49–3.65; SMM/Height2, OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.12–3.76). SMM/Height2 associated with increased cardiometabolic risk in obese PCOS (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.15–4.47). For those with lower BMI (2), trunk BFM/Height2 showed a higher OR in both groups (PCOS, OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.06–4.24; control 2.04, 95% CI 1.04–4.02). Moreover, distinct associations among BMI-stratified groups were validated in hierarchical clustering identifying metabolic and reproductive clusters. (4) Conclusions: BFM and SMM are synergistically associated with higher cardiometabolic risk in PCOS women. Although BFM contributes to increased cardiometabolic risk, SMM also plays a primary role in obese PCOS. Our results highlight the importance of body composition in the management of PCOS.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, have been shown to have neuroprotective effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects and potential mechanisms of GLP-1 RAs in AD animal models. 26 studies were included by searching relevant studies from seven databases according to a predefined search strategy and inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool, and statistical analysis was performed using ReviewManger 5.3. The results showed that, in terms of behavioral tests, GLP-1 RAs could improve the learning and memory abilities of AD rodents; in terms of pathology, GLP-1 RAs could reduce Aβ deposition and phosphorylated tau levels in the brains of AD rodents. The therapeutic potential of GLP-1 RAs in AD involves a range of mechanisms that work synergistically to enhance the alleviation of various pathological manifestations associated with the condition. A total of five clinical trials were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov. More large-scale and high-quality preclinical trials should be conducted to more accurately assess the therapeutic effects of GLP-1 RAs on AD.

Recognizing and identifying tea plant (Camellia sinensis) cultivar plays a significant role in tea planting and germplasm resource management, particularly for oolong tea. There is a wide range of high-quality oolong tea with diverse varieties of tea plants that are suitable for oolong tea production. The conventional method for identifying and confirming tea cultivars involves visual assessment. Machine learning and computer vision-based automatic classification methods offer efficient and non-invasive alternatives for rapid categorization. Despite advancements in technology, the identification and classification of tea cultivars still pose a complex challenge. This paper utilized machine learning approaches for classifying 18 oolong tea cultivars based on 27 multispectral characteristics. Then the SVM classification model was executed using three optimization algorithms, namely genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and grey wolf optimizer (GWO). The results revealed that the SVM model optimized by GWO achieved the best performance, with an average discrimination rate of 99.91%, 93.30% and 92.63% for the training set, test set and validation set, respectively. In addition, based on the multispectral information (h, s, r, b, L, Asm, Var, Hom, Dis, σ, S, G, RVI, DVI, VOG), the germination period of oolong tea cultivars can be completely evaluated by Fisher discriminant analysis. The study indicated that the practical protection of tea plants through automated and precise classification of oolong tea cultivars and germination periods is feasible by utilizing multispectral imaging system.

For formulate an effective maintenance scheme of submarine pipeline and effectively ensure the safe operation of submarine pipeline, a strength evaluation and reliability technology of energy pipeline based on Fuzzy depth learning network algorithm is proposed. Firstly, the influence factors of marine environment on submarine pipeline corrosion are described. Secondly, the reliability model of corroded submarine pipeline is established. Given the uncertainty of the relevant parameters of the corrosion defect, the equation of state of the corrosion protection pipe shall be determined on the basis of the corrosion pressure analysis of the corrosion protection pipe. A vague in-depth networking algorithm is used to calculate the probability of a rusty pipeline failure. The results show that the probability of corrosion of the pipeline increases rapidly over time. When the time is 22 years, the failure probability is 2 × 10−4. When the time is 30a, the failure probability is 3.1 × 10−3. The feasibility of fuzzy deep learning network algorithm is verified.

Nano-selenium (Selenium nanoparticles, SeNPs) has unique properties and potential applications in the fields of food, medicine, pharmacology and agriculture. Polysaccharide is a natural biopolymer, which is considered to be the most promising carrier for the synthesis of SeNPs due to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. This article summarizes the research progress in the synthesis of SeNPs using polysaccharides as templates. The effects of different types of polysaccharides and different synthesis conditions on the properties of polysaccharide-selenium nanoparticles composites are also discussed. Finally, the applications of these composites in anti-tumor are introduced, which provides new ideas in constructing SeNPs system using polysaccharides as carriers and further promotes their applications in the fields of medicine and food.

Centrifugal pumps are widely used in life applications and engineering applications in agriculture, fishery, chemical industry, hydropower plants, energy and power engineering, and the main bottlenecks of centrifugal pump applications lie in the adjustment mode of centrifugal pump, energy loss and pump operation stability. Energy loss in centrifugal pumps not only reduces pump efficiency but also determines pump life. The main contribution of this paper is to propose an intelligent optimization algorithm-particle swarm optimization algorithm based on centrifugal pump regulation method and energy loss analysis method. This method can quickly search the global and find the global optimal value, so as to find the most suitable adjustment method and reduce energy consumption. According to the experimental findings of this work, the search efficiency of the traditional PSO algorithm ranges from 25% to 41% in five trials on the search ability of the PSO algorithm before and after the enhancement. The search efficiency of the improved PSO algorithm is the lowest of 72% and the highest of 89%. It can be seen that the search efficiency of the improved PSO algorithm is twice that of the classic PSO algorithm. Therefore, the improved PSO algorithm is more suitable to be applied to the intelligent search for suitable adjustment methods and energy consumption analysis of centrifugal pumps. The improved PSO algorithm finds that the most energy-saving adjustment method is to combine the two adjustment methods into a joint adjustment method. Therefore, the improved PSO algorithm proposed in this paper is of great significance to reduce the energy consumption of centrifugal pumps. This paper first expounds the importance of centrifugal pump, and expounds its current problems, and then proposes an intelligent optimization algorithm to improve the adjustment method of centrifugal pump, and proposes the PSO algorithm before and after enhancement. By comparison, it is found that the improved PSO algorithm is more suitable for intelligent search and energy consumption analysis of suitable adjustment methods of centrifugal pumps.

Myofibrillar protein as a structural protein with important biological functions in muscle, can form a gel alone or as the main part of a gel. The gelling mechanism and gel properties of MP have attracted much attention in meat science research. It is important to clarify the effects of various additives on the quality of meat product, thus providing references for the development of healthy low-fat meat products. Polysaccharides are widely used to improve the quality of meat products because of their good biocompatibility, wide sources, and low prices. This review introduces the definition, classification and functional properties of polysaccharides and summarizes the effects of polysaccharides on the gel properties of MP. Furthermore, the applications of polysaccharides in meat products are discussed, which provides theoretical basis for the production of low-fat meat products. Finally, the prospects and challenges associated with low-fat meat products are proposed.

To investigate the role of glucose in regulating milk fatty acid synthesis, 6 lactating Guanzhong dairy goats were infused with 0, 60, or 100 g/d glucose via the external pubic artery in a 3 × 3 repeated Latin square experiment. A concomitant in vitro experiment was conducted to investigate possible mechanisms whereby glucose regulates milk fatty acid synthesis. RNA sequencing was used for cellular transcriptome analysis. Drugs, MK-2206, rapamycin, and dorsomorphin were used to block cellular mammalian AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, and mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase signaling pathways, respectively. Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) was knockdown and overexpressed to investigate its role in regulating milk fatty acid synthesis in mammary epithelial cells. Glucose infusion linearly elevated the concentration of C8:0 (P = 0.039) and C10:0 (P = 0.041) in milk fat while it linearly decreased (P = 0.049) that of C16:0. This result was in agreement with the upregulation of genes related to de novo synthesis of fatty acids and lipid droplet formation, including adipose differentiation-related protein, butyrophilin subfamily 1 member A1, fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ChREBP. Their expression increased (P

Abstract This study aims to discover the therapeutic effect of chemokine (CXC motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) antagonist AMD3100 combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in a rat model with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). An orthotopic model of HCC was established and treated with TACE (doxorubicin‐lipiodol emulsion) with or without AMD3100. The tumor volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Histopathological changes were detected by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining. HCC cell apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)‐mediated biotin‐16‐dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CD34, hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Ki67. Gene and protein expressions were quantified by quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Both TACE and AMD3100 reduced the tumor volume in orthotopic rat model of HCC with the decreased CXCR4 expression in tumor tissues, and the combination had better effect. However, TACE increased the microvessel density (MVD) in HCC tissues of rats, while AMD3100 treatment reduced MVD in HCC tissues. AMD3100 reduced the TACE induced MVD in HCC tissues with the reduction of HIF‐1α and VEGF expression. Either AMD3100 or TACE could promote HCC cell apoptosis accompanying by decreased cell proliferation, and their combined use had better therapeutic effects. CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 enhance therapeutic efficacy of TACE in rats with HCC via promoting the HCC cell apoptosis, reducing cell proliferation, and inhibiting MVD, thus reducing tumor volume.

Alsineae are one of the most taxonomically difficult tribes in Caryophyllaceae and consist of over 500 species distributed in the northern temperate zone. Recent phylogenetic results have improved our understanding on the evolutionary relationships among Alsineae members. Nevertheless, there are still some unresolved taxonomic and phylogenetic problems at the generic level, and the evolutionary history of major clades within the tribe was unexplored to date. In this study, we carried out phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimation of Alsineae using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and four plastid regions (matK, rbcL, rps16, trnL-F). The present analyses yielded a robustly supported phylogenetic hypothesis of the tribe. Our results showed that the monophyletic Alsineae are strongly supported to be the sister of Arenarieae, and the inter-generic relationships within Alsineae were mostly resolved with strong support. Both molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence supported the Asian species Stellaria bistylata and the two North American species Pseudostellaria jamesiana and Stellaria americana all should be recognized as new monotypic genera respectively, and three new genera Reniostellaria, Torreyostellaria, and Hesperostellaria were thereby proposed here. Additionally, molecular and morphological evidence also supported the proposal of the new combination Schizotechium delavayi. Nineteen genera were accepted within Alsineae and a key to these genera was provided. Molecular dating analysis suggested that Alsineae splitted from its sister tribe at ca. 50.2 million-years ago (Ma) during the early Eocene and began to diverge at ca. 37.9 Ma during the late Eocene, and divergent events within Alsineae occurred mainly since the late Oligocene. Results from the present study provide insights into the historical assembly of herbaceous flora in northern temperate regions.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves are often used as vegetables in Africa. Anthocyanins possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and other biological activities. They are poor in green leaves but rich in the purple leaves of cassava. The mechanism of anthocyanin’s accumulation in cassava is poorly understood. In this study, two cassava varieties, SC9 with green leaves and Ziyehuangxin with purple leaves (PL), were selected to perform an integrative analysis using metabolomics and transcriptomics. The metabolomic analysis indicated that the most significantly differential metabolites (SDMs) belong to anthocyanins and are highly accumulated in PL. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are enriched in secondary metabolites biosynthesis. The analysis of the combination of metabolomics and transcriptomics showed that metabolite changes are associated with the gene expressions in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. In addition, some transcription factors (TFs) may be involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. To further investigate the correlation between anthocyanin accumulation and color formation in cassava leaves, the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system was used. VIGS-MeANR silenced plant showed the altered phenotypes of cassava leaves, partially from green to purple color, resulting in a significant increase of the total anthocyanin content and reduction in the expression of MeANR. These results provide a theoretical basis for breeding cassava varieties with anthocyanin-rich leaves.

The gut microbiome is clearly linked to the development of various autoimmune diseases, however, its association with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is less well understood. The current study collected 73 samples, including 36 from healthy individuals and 37 from ITP patients. The gut microbial community was assessed using 16s rRNA sequencing. Findings illustrated that the abundance of key microbiota was significantly higher in the ITP group. This group was further divided into three subgroups that received different treatments for ITP. A random forest model was used to predict the key microbiota and the identified bacteria were shown to easily distinguish between the healthy and the ITP treatment groups. Microbial function annotation and difference analysis showed that drug treatment changed the gut microbiota and may play a role in inducing host autoimmune responses by changing microbial metabolism pathways. Clinical indices also correlated negatively with changes in the microbiota after treatment. In summary, ITP patients who received drug treatment had significant differences in their microbiota along with a high abundance of bacteria. Thus, the microbiome could be used as a biomarker to distinguish between healthy and ITB groups. The key differential bacteria could help to regulate the number of platelets in ITP patients and provide a red blood cell overstock.

The activation of subliminal stimuli plays an indispensable role in trust research. This study aimed to investigate the effect of subliminal stimuli on team trust and the moderating role of openness on the relationship between subliminal stimuli and team trust. A total of 155 participants were recruited to complete five tasks. The results suggested a significant influence of subliminal stimuli on team trust and the significant moderating role of openness. This study revealed the mechanism of the effect of subliminal stimuli on team trust, which lays an empirical foundation for individualized team trust improvement intervention. The current study provided novel insights that subliminal priming technology offers a new way to improve team trust.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the composition of particulate matter (PM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by a comprehensively review of epidemiological studies. Methods: We systematically identified cohort studies related to air pollution and GDM risk before February 8, 2023 from six databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform and Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical databases). We calculated the relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the overall effect by using a random effects model. Results: This meta-analysis of 31 eligible cohort studies showed that exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 was associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM, especially in preconception and first trimester. Analysis of the components of PM2.5 found that the risk of GDM was strongly linked to black carbon (BC) and nitrates (NO3-). Specifically, BC exposure in the second trimester and NO3- exposure in the first trimester elevated the risk of GDM, with the RR of 1.128 (1.032–1.231) and 1.128 (1.032–1.231), respectively. The stratified analysis showed stronger correlations of GDM risk with higher levels of pollutants in Asia, except for PM2.5 and BC, which suggested that the specific composition of particulate pollutants had a greater effect on the exposure-outcome association than the concentration. Conclusions: Our study found that ambient air pollutant is a critical factor for GDM and further studies on specific particulate matter components should be considered in the future.

In this paper, a data-driven modeling method for precast concrete (PC) balcony components was proposed to solve the problems of low informatization and the difficult modeling of components at the design stage. Through the analysis of the characteristics of PC balcony components and the combination of modular design methods, the paper designed a data structure for the components and developed a data-driven modeling tool for PC balcony components that can realize the input of structural design data, automatically generating component models. First, this paper introduced the data-driven modeling concept and the modeling process. Second, the PC balcony components in common prefabricated residential projects were analyzed to identify their characteristics. By using a modular design approach, these components were divided and a module dataset was created based on the split modules. Consequently, a data structure for the prefabricated balcony component model was established, wherein both conventional parameters and adaptive parameters between modules were interrelated. Finally, the function of data-driven modeling was achieved by developing a modular design tool on the Revit platform using the C# programming language. The application conducted on a prefabricated building project demonstrated that the software tool and modeling method in this paper effectively improve the level of informatization and modeling efficiency of PC balcony components. The modular design approach was satisfied with the standardization and diversification requirements of balcony components, thereby offering insights for modeling other complex components.

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignancy worldwide, and a continued upward trend has been predicted in the coming decades. Screening in selected targeted populations, which is effective in reducing cancer‐related mortality, has been widely implemented in many countries. This review summarizes the advances in BC screening techniques, organized or opportunistic BC screening programs across different countries, and screening modalities recommended by different academic authorities. Mammography is the most widely used and effective technique for BC screening. Other complementary techniques include ultrasound, clinical breast examination, and magnetic resonance imaging. Novel screening tests, including digital breast tomosynthesis and liquid biopsies, are still under development. Globally, the implementation status of BC screening programs is uneven, which is reflected by differences in screening modes, techniques, and population coverage. The recommended optimal screening strategies varied according to the authoritative guidelines. The effectiveness of current screening programs is influenced by several factors, including low detection rate, high false‐positive rate, and unsatisfactory coverage and uptake rates. Exploration of accurate BC risk prediction models and the development of risk‐stratified screening strategies are highly warranted in future research.

Abstract Trust in automation plays a leading role in human-automation interaction. As there lack of scales measuring trust in automation in China, the purpose of this study was to adapt the trust between People and Automation Scale (TPAS) into Chinese and to demonstrate its psychometric properties among Chinese adults. A total of 310 Chinese adults were randomly selected as sample 1, and 508 Chinese adults as sample 2. Results of the item analysis revealed that each item had a good quality, and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested that the two-factor model with 12 items was the best fitting model. In addition, the TPAS was positively correlated with Interpersonal Trust Scale (ITS), proving good evidence based on relations to other variables to support the TPAS. In sum, the study suggested that the Chinese version of the TPAS could be used as an effective tool to assess trust in automation in the Chinese context.

Abstract Background Sepsis and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are both responsible for the alterations of the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics. For patients with sepsis receiving CRRT, the serum concentrations of meropenem in the early phase ( 48 h). This current trial aimed to investigate whether administration of a loading dose of meropenem results in a more likely achievement of the pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) target (100% fT > 4 × MIC) and better therapeutic results in the patients with sepsis receiving CRRT. Methods This is a single-blinded, single-center, randomized, controlled, two-arm, and parallel-group trial. This trial will be carried out in Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology Guangdong, China. Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with critical sepsis or sepsis-related shock receiving CRRT will be included in the study. The subjects will be assigned to the control group and the intervention group (LD group) randomly at a 1:1 ratio, the estimated sample size should be 120 subjects in each group. In the LD group, the patient will receive a loading dose of 1.5-g meropenem resolved in 30-ml saline which is given via central line for 30 min. Afterward, 0.75-g meropenem will be given immediately for 30 min every 8 h. In the control group, the patient will receive 0.75-g meropenem for 30 min every 8 h. The primary objective is the probabilities of PK/PD target (100% fT > 4 × MIC) achieved in the septic patients who receive CRRT in the first 48 h. Secondary objectives include clinical cure rate, bacterial clearance rate, sepsis-related mortality and all-cause mortality, the total dose of meropenem, duration of meropenem treatment, duration of CRRT, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), C-reactive protein levels, procalcitonin levels, white blood cell count, and safety. Discussion This trial will assess for the first time whether administration of a loading dose of meropenem results in a more likely achievement of the PK/PD target and better therapeutic results in the patients with sepsis receiving CRRT. Since CRRT is an important therapeutic strategy for sepsis patients with hemodynamic instability, the results from this trial may help to provide evidence-based therapy for septic patients receiving CRRT. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR2000032865 . Registered on 13 May 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=53616 .

Abstract Background Children's physical activity (PA) is an important guarantee for children's physical and mental health. Influencing factors of children's PA in family is related to the healthy growth of children and the happy life of families. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of influencing factors of children's PA in family. Parents whose children in 15 kindergartens(i.e., children are aged from 3 to 6 years) were sampled. Results Government had a significant negative impact on parents’ perceived risks. Community has a significant positive effect on parents’ perceived benefits and a significant negative effect on parents’ perceived risks. Kindergarten has a significant positive effect on parents’ perceived benefits, but has no significant effect on the parents’ perceived risks. Children sports club has a significant positive effect on parents’ perceived benefits. Parents’ perceived benefits has a significant positive impact on children's PA in family, while perceived risks has a significant negative impact. Conclusion Government should play a leading role in the development of children's PA in family. Community provides supplementary support. Kindergarten is the key point of developing children's PA in family. Children sports club is the auxiliary force of children's PA in family.

BackgroundObservational studies have suggested the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and the risks of autoimmune diseases. It is still unclear, however, whether or in which direction causal relationships exist, because these associations could be confounded.ObjectivesOur study seeks to assess the possibility of AD as a cause of autoimmune diseases, and to estimate the magnitude of the causal effect.MethodsTwo-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary-level statistics. Specifically, bidirectional MR analyses were conducted to examine the direction of association of AD with autoimmune diseases; multivariable MR analyses (MVMR1) were used to test the independence of causal association of AD with autoimmune diseases after controlling other atopic disorders (asthma and allergic rhinitis), while MVMR2 analyses were conducted to account for potential confounding factors such as smoking, drinking, and obesity. Genetic instruments for AD (Ncases=22 474) were from the latest GWAS meta-analysis. The GWAS summary data for asthma and allergic rhinitis were obtained from UK Biobank. The GWAS summary data for smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and autoimmune diseases (alopecia areata, vitiligo, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes) were selected from the largest GWASs available. Causal estimates were derived by the inverse-variance weighted method and verified through a series of sensitivity analyses.ResultsGenetically predicted AD linked to higher risks of rheumatoid arthritis (OR, 1.28; P=0.0068) (ORMVMR1, 1.65; P=0.0020) (ORMVMR2, 1.36; P

In this paper, a two-phase flow model and the improved thermal cavitation model are used to study the flow characteristics and the evolution of vorticity force for liquid nitrogen cavitation flow. The results are validated against the experimental data from NASA, which shows that the flow re-attachment occurs in the area where the boundary vorticity flux begins to decrease from its positive value. Alternatively, the flow separation occurs near the area with low boundary vorticity fluxes. Besides, the boundary vorticity flux changes typically from negative to positive around the cavity. The development of the cavity affects the surrounding vortex structure, which leads to the evolution of vorticity force and the fluctuations of lateral force and drag force. The results show that the drag force is magnified by the cavitation, and it first decreases and then increases in a typical cycle of cavity evolution. The negative resistance unit is mainly produced in the front of the cavity, and the positive resistance unit is also made in the rear of the cavity. When the attached cavity is shed, the positive drag elements decrease, and the drag force drops to its minimum. When the attached cavity is growing, the positive resistance elements behind the cavity increase, making the resistance force gradually increase. For the lateral force, the existence of the cavity produces lift elements pointing out of the surface outside the cavity, and the unsymmetrical distribution of the cavity leads to the fluctuation of the lateral force.

The present study aimed to explore the effect of subliminal priming on team trust and the mechanism through the mediating role of perceived trustworthiness. A total of 144 participants were asked to complete a lexical decision task that was embedded with the “trust” or “suspicion” Chinese words as the subliminal stimuli. Then, they played a public good game and evaluated the perceived trustworthiness of the team. The results of the study showed that subliminal stimuli had a significant effect on team trust [β = –0.99, 95% CI = (−1.64, −0.33)]. Perceived trustworthiness was found to have a significant mediating effect between the priming condition and team trust [β = −0.35, 95% CI = (−0.72, −0.02)]. The current study revealed the underlying mechanism through which subliminal priming techniques influence team trust and informed efforts by altering perceived trustworthiness.

IntroductionAnti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level has long been considered as a serum biomarker of ovarian reserve clinically, while emerging data suggest that serum AMH level may also predict pregnancy outcomes. However, whether pregestational serum AMH levels are related to perinatal outcomes among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles is unknown.ObjectiveTo explore the association between different AMH levels and perinatal outcomes in women with live births in IVF/ICSI.MethodsThis multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among three different provinces in China, from January 2014 to October 2019. A total of 13,763 IVF/ICSI cycles with 5657 live-delivery pregnant women and 6797 newborns were recruited. Participants were categorized into three groups according to the 75th (high) percentile of serum AMH concentration. Perinatal outcomes were compared among groups. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the number of live births.ResultsAmong women with singleton deliveries, low and high AMH levels increased the risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) (aOR1 = 6.02, 95%CI: 2.10-17.22; aOR2 = 3.65, 95%CI:1.32-10.08) and decreased the risk of macrosomia (aOR1 = 0.65, 95%CI:0.48-0.89; aOR2 = 0.72, 95%CI:0.57-0.96), while low AMH reduced the risk of large for gestational age (LGA, aOR=0.74, 95%CI:0.59-0.93) and premature rupture of membrane (PROM, aOR=0.50, 95%CI:0.31-0.79)compared with the average AMH group. In women with multiple deliveries, high AMH levels increased the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM, aOR=2.40, 95%CI:1.48-3.91) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH, aOR=2.26, 95%CI:1.20-4.22) compared with the average AMH group, while low AMH levels increased the risk of ICP (aOR=14.83, 95%CI:1.92-54.30). However, there was no evidence of differences in preterm birth, congenital anomaly, and other perinatal outcomes among the three groups in both singleton and multiple deliveries.ConclusionsAbnormal AMH levels increased the risk of ICP regardless of the number of live births for women undergoing IVF/ICSI, while high AMH levels increased the risks of GDM and PIH in multiple deliveries. However, serum AMH levels were not associated with adverse neonatal outcomes in IVF/ICSI. The underlying mechanism warrants further investigation.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal regulates stress-induced leaf abscission in cassava. The relationship between the function of the cassava transcription factor bHLH gene and low temperature-induced leaf abscission is still unclear. Here, we report that MebHLH18, a transcription factor, involved in regulating low temperature-induced leaf abscission in cassava. The expression of the MebHLH18 gene was significantly related to low temperature-induced leaf abscission and POD level. Under low temperatures, the levels of ROS scavengers in different cassava genotypes were significantly different in the low temperature-induced leaf abscission process. Cassava gene transformation showed that MebHLH18 overexpression significantly decreased the low temperature-induced leaf abscission rate. Simultaneously, interference expression increased the rate of leaf abscission under the same conditions. ROS analysis showed a connection between the decrease in the low temperature-induced leaf abscission rate caused by MebHLH18 expression and the increase in antioxidant activity. A Genome-wide association studies analysis showed a relationship between the natural variation of the promoter region of MebHLH18 and low temperature-induced leaf abscission. Furthermore, studies showed that the change in MebHLH18 expression was caused by a single nucleotide polymorphism variation in the promoter region upstream of the gene. The high expression of MebHLH18 led to a significant increase in POD activity. The increased POD activity decreased the accumulation of ROS at low temperatures and the rate of leaf abscission. It indicates that the natural variation in the promoter region of MebHLH18 increases antioxidant levels under low temperatures and slows down low temperature-induced leaf abscission.

The production of broadband, terawatt terahertz (THz) pulses has been demonstrated by irradiating relativistic lasers on solid targets. However, the generation of extremely powerful, narrow-band and frequency-tunable THz pulses remains a challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for such THz pulses, in which a plasma wiggler is elaborated by a table-top laser and a near-critical density plasma. In such a wiggler, the laser-accelerated electrons emit THz radiations with a period closely related to the plasma thickness. The theoretical model and numerical simulations predict that a THz pulse with a laser–THz energy conversion of over 2.0%, an ultra-strong field exceeding 80 GV/m, a divergence angle of approximately 20° and a center frequency tunable from 4.4 to 1.5 THz can be generated from a laser of 430 mJ. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this method can work across a wide range of laser and plasma parameters, offering potential for future applications with extremely powerful THz pulses.

Immunoregulation is crucial to septic shock (SS) but has not been clearly explained. Our aim was to explore potential biomarkers for SS by pathway and transcriptional analyses of immune-related genes to improve early detection. GSE57065 and GSE95233 microarray data were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SS. Gene Ontology and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed, and correlations between immune cell and pathway enrichment scores were analyzed. The predictive value of candidate genes was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. GSE66099, GSE4607, and GSE13904 datasets were used for external validation. Blood samples from six patients and six controls were collected for validation by qRT-PCR and western blotting. In total, 550 DEGs in SS were identified; these genes were involved in the immune response, inflammation, and infection. Immune-related pathways and levels of infiltration of CD4 + TCM, CD8 + T cells, and preadipocytes differed between SS cases and controls. Seventeen genes were identified as potential biomarkers of SS (areas under ROC curves >0.9). The downregulation of CD8A, CD247, CD3G, LCK, and HLA-DRA in SS was experimentally confirmed. We identified several immune-related biomarkers in SS that may improve early identification of disease risk.

With the rapid development of industrialization, the amount of copper-containing wastewater is increasing, thereby posing a threat to the aquatic ecological environment and human health. Sludge biochar has received extensive concern in recent years due to its advantages of low cost and sustainability for the treatment of heavy-metal-containing wastewater. However, the heavy-metal-adsorption capacity of sludge biochar is limited. This study prepared a sodium pyrophosphate- (Na4P2O7-) modified municipal sludge-based biochar (SP-SBC) and evaluated its adsorption performance for Cu(II). Results showed that SP-SBC had higher yield, ash content, pH, Na and P content, and surface roughness than original sewage sludge biochar (SBC). The Cu(II)-adsorption capacity of SP-SBC was 4.55 times than that of SBC at room temperature. For Cu(II) adsorption by SP-SBC, the kinetics and isotherms conformed to the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir–Freundlich model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of SP-SBC was 38.49 mg·g−1 at 35°C. Cu(II) adsorption by SP-SBC primarily involved ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and precipitation. The desired adsorption performance for Cu(II) in the fixed-bed column experiment indicated that SP-SBC can be reused and had good application potential to treat copper-containing wastewater. Overall, this study provided a desirable sorbent (SP-SBC) for Cu(II) removal, as well as a new simple chemical-modification method for SBC to enhance Cu(II)-adsorption capacity.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an urgent need to produce accurate and sensitive tests. However, there have been instances where a positive nucleic acid test turns negative after treatment, and then positive again. This case report describes such an instance from the tropical region of Hainan, China. The patient was a 61-year-old female who went to Hainan on vacation from Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Symptoms appeared 9 d after arriving in Hainan, and it was confirmed that the nucleic acid test was positive after 4 repeats. Her condition declined rapidly, her heart stopped beating, and she was admitted in a coma to the ICU. After treatment, the SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleic acid test of several nasopharyngeal swabs were negative, and tests on whole blood, anal swabs, and urine were also negative. Later, however, nucleic acid tests on a lower respiratory tract sputum swab and lower respiratory tract lavage fluid were positive. An autopsy examination was carried out 12 h after her death, and multi-organ secretions were extracted for nucleic acid testing. The SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleic acid was only detected in the swabs from the end of the bronchus, which was confirmed by the visualization of the coronavirus by electron microscopy. Autopsy confirmed that the damage was mainly concentrated in the lungs and immune organs and tissues throughout the body. Epidemiology indicated that none of the people she came into contact with after arriving in Hainan, including close contacts, were infected. This is in sharp contrast to the highly contagious virus in Wuhan in the temperate zone during the same period. This case report indicates: (1) The high temperatures in tropical areas may have an impact on the spread and harm of COVID-19, and (2) The reason why nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 was initially negative and then positive after treatment may be related to the survival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in deep lung tissues.

Abstract. Background:. Female breast cancer (FBC) has become the most prevalent malignancy worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the global and regional burden in epidemiological trends and factors associated with the incidence and mortality of FBC. Methods:. FBC incidence and mortality in 60 selected countries by cancer registry data integrity in 2020 were estimated from the GLOBOCAN database, and their association with the human development index (HDI) was further evaluated. Trends of age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality in 60 countries from 2000 through 2019 were evaluated by joinpoint regression analysis using data of Global Burden of Disease 2019. The association between potential behavioral, metabolic, and socioeconomic risk factor exposure at the nation level retrieved from the World Bank and Global Health Observatory and the incidence and mortality of FBC were evaluated by multivariate linear regression. Results:. FBC incidence and mortality varied greatly in the 60 included countries. Higher incidence and mortality rates were typically observed in countries with higher HDIs and vice versa. During 2000 to 2019, significantly increasing trends in incidence and mortality were observed in 26 (average annual percent changes [AAPCs], 0.35–2.96) and nine countries (AAPC, 0.30–1.65), respectively, while significantly decreasing trends in both incidence and mortality were observed in 22 countries, most of which were high-HDI countries. Among the population aged ≥40 years, there were 26 and 11 countries showing significantly increased trends in incidence and mortality, respectively. Ecological analysis showed that countries with higher prevalence rates of high cholesterol and higher health expenditures were more likely to have higher FBC incidence, and countries with higher rates of obesity and poorer universal health coverage were more likely to have higher FBC mortality. Conclusions:. Despite decreased or stabilized FBC incidence and mortality rates were observed in some countries with high HDI over the past decades, disease burden became even severer in developing countries, especially for the population aged ≥40 years. Effective targeted preventive programs are strongly encouraged to reduce the FBC disease burden worldwide.

This study aimed to evaluate role of nano-sized zinc (Zn) on lactation performance, health status, and mammary permeability of lactating dairy cows. Thirty multiparous dairy cows with similar days in milk (158 ± 43.2) and body weight (694 ± 60.5 kg) were chosen based on parity and milk production and were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: basal diet (control, 69.6 mg/kg of Zn adequate in Zn requirement), basal diet additional Zn-methionine (Zn-Met, providing 40 mg/kg of Zn), and basal diet additional nano-sized Zn oxide (nZnO, providing 40 mg/kg of Zn). The study lasted for 10 wk, with the first 2 wk as adaptation. Feed intake, milk yield and the related variables, and plasma variables were determined every other week. Blood hematological profiles were determined in the 8th week of the study. We found that feed intake, milk yield, and milk composition were similar across the 3 groups. The nZnO- and Zn-Met-fed cows had greater milk Zn concentrations in the milk (3.89 mg/L (Zn-Met) and 3.93 mg/L (nZnO)) and plasma (1.25 mg/L (Zn-Met) and 1.29 mg/L (nZnO)) than the control cows (3.79 mg/L in milk and 1.21 mg/L in plasma). The nZnO-fed cows had higher Zn concentrations in plasma but not in milk compared to Zn-Met-fed cows. The Zn appearance in milk was greater in nZnO-fed (area under curve during the first 4 h post-feeding for milk Zn: 16.1 mg/L) and Zn-Met-fed cows (15.7 mg/L) than in control cows (15.0 mg/L). During the first 4 h post-feeding, milk to blood Zn ratio was greater in nZnO-fed animals but lower in Zn-Met-fed cows compared with control cows. Oxidative stress-related variables in plasma, blood hematological profiles, and mammary permeability related variables were not different across treatments. In summary, lactation performance, Zn concentrations in milk and plasma, hematological profiles, mammary permeability were similar in cows fed nZnO and Zn-Met. We therefore suggested that nZnO feeding can improve Zn bioavailability without impairing lactation performance, health status, and mammary gland permeability in dairy cows.

Abstract Background Flowering plants (angiosperms) are dominant components of global terrestrial ecosystems, but phylogenetic relationships at the familial level and above remain only partially resolved, greatly impeding our full understanding of their evolution and early diversification. The plastome, typically mapped as a circular genome, has been the most important molecular data source for plant phylogeny reconstruction for decades. Results Here, we assembled by far the largest plastid dataset of angiosperms, composed of 80 genes from 4792 plastomes of 4660 species in 2024 genera representing all currently recognized families. Our phylogenetic tree (PPA II) is essentially congruent with those of previous plastid phylogenomic analyses but generally provides greater clade support. In the PPA II tree, 75% of nodes at or above the ordinal level and 78% at or above the familial level were resolved with high bootstrap support (BP ≥ 90). We obtained strong support for many interordinal and interfamilial relationships that were poorly resolved previously within the core eudicots, such as Dilleniales, Saxifragales, and Vitales being resolved as successive sisters to the remaining rosids, and Santalales, Berberidopsidales, and Caryophyllales as successive sisters to the asterids. However, the placement of magnoliids, although resolved as sister to all other Mesangiospermae, is not well supported and disagrees with topologies inferred from nuclear data. Relationships among the five major clades of Mesangiospermae remain intractable despite increased sampling, probably due to an ancient rapid radiation. Conclusions We provide the most comprehensive dataset of plastomes to date and a well-resolved phylogenetic tree, which together provide a strong foundation for future evolutionary studies of flowering plants.

Eight new species from China, Cheirostylis chuxiongensis, C. yei, Myrmechis lingulata, M. longii, Bulbophyllum ximaense, B. xizangense, B. retusum and B. pulcherissimum, are described and illustrated. Cheirostylis chuxiongensis differs from C. thailandica by having 5–9 irregular and papillae-like calli on each side in the sac of the lip, epichile with entire lobes, petals narrowly obliquely obovate and an apex that is not recurved. Cheirostylis yei is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having a long stem, pubescent ovary and sepals, epichile lobes with irregular and undulate margins, a subquadrate callus without teeth in the saccate hypochile. Myrmechis lingulata differs from M. chinensis by having a simple and lanceolate to ligulate lip, glabrous bracts and ovary, oblique and narrowly ovate petals. Myrmechis longii differs from M. pumila by having white-veined leaves, oblong-lanceolate epichile lobes, and viscidium attached to the middle of the caudicle. Bulbophyllum ximaense is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having distant pseudobulbs, shorter scape, an inflorescence with 9–16 orange-red flowers, shorter lateral sepals with a long acuminate apex, incurved and tubular apical margins, a papillate lip disk and triangular-subulate stelidia. Bulbophyllum xizangense is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having narrow lanceolate leaves, shorter inflorescence with 1–3 greenish-yellow flowers, falcate-ovoid lateral sepals, a lip with small lateral lobes and 3 keels at the base. Bulbophyllum retusum differs from B. spathulatum by having shorter inflorescence, peduncles with 2 tubular sheaths, dorsal sepals with a retuse apex, lateral sepals with lower edges that are connate to each other and free and divergent toward the apex, obovate petals with an acute or slightly retuse apex. Bulbophyllum pulcherissimum differs from B. lopalanthum by its 5-veined dorsal sepal, ovate-lanceolate lateral sepals, obliquely ovate-oblong petal, erose-toothed margins and obovate lip with a large, oblong basal callus, and an obtuse base. In addition, three species (Bulbophyllum frostii, B. raskotii and B. nematocaulon) are reported for the first time in China.

Five new species (Gastrochilus yei, Gastrochilus minimus, Luisia simaoensis, Taeniophyllum xizangense, Tuberolabium subulatum) and two newly recorded species (Cleisostoma tricornutum, Luisia inconspicua) of Vandeae (Orchidaceae) from China are described and illustrated. Gastrochilus yei is similar to G. affinis and G. nepalensis, but differs from them by having an epichile not lobed, the apex of the hypochile not bilobed, and a tine on the apex of the leaf. Gastrochilus minimus is similar to G. acinacifolius, but can be distinguished from the latter by having a flabellate epichile that is densely hirsute on the adaxial surface and an inconspicuous central cushion; in addition, the hypochile of G. minimus has a keel that extends to the apex of the epichile. Taeniophyllum xizangense is similar to T. stella and T. radiatum, but it is distinguished from them by having much bigger flowers, inflorescences densely covered with short-bristly hairs, papillae on the external surface of sepals, and bigger triangular-ovate viscidium. Luisia simaoensis is similar to L. magniflora and L. ramosii, but can be easily distinguished from them by having lateral sepals longer than dorsal sepals and petals, lip with irregular and waved margins, and lip with bilobed apex. Luisia inconspicua is moved from Gastrochilus to Luisia based on phylogenetic analyses of plastid matK sequence data. Tuberolabium subulatum is similar to T. carnosum, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by having an inflorescence much shorter than the leaves, yellow sepals and petals, and many small papillae outside the lip lobes.

Inflammatory processes are essential for innate immunity and contribute to carcinogenesis in various malignancies, such as colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer and lung cancer. Pharmacotherapies targeting inflammation have the potential to reduce the risk of carcinogenesis and improve therapeutic efficacy of existing anti-cancer treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), comprising a variety of structurally different chemicals that can inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and other COX-independent pathways, are originally used to treat inflammatory diseases, but their preventive and therapeutic potential for cancers have also attracted researchers’ attention. Pharmacogenomic variability, including distinct genetic characteristics among different patients, can significantly affect pharmacokinetics and effectiveness of NSAIDs, which might determine the preventive or therapeutic success for cancer patients. Hence, a more comprehensive understanding in pharmacogenomic characteristics of NSAIDs and cancer-related inflammation would provide new insights into this appealing strategy. In this review, the up-to-date advances in clinical and experimental researches targeting cancer-related inflammation with NSAIDs are presented, and the potential of pharmacogenomics are discussed as well.

The shear strength of the soil-rock mixture (S-RM) is the primary mechanical factor influencing the stability of the deposit slope. The particle size range inside the test sample, however, is not the same as that of the S-RM in the deposit slope due to the limitations of the test device, which results in a variation in the mechanical properties. In this study, computer simulation tests were conducted to examine the impact of particle size on mechanical behaviors under the uniaxial compressive condition, and the size effect was analyzed from both macroscopic and mesoscopic perspectives. Results indicate that when the particle size increases, the anisotropy levels of the S-RM sample also rise, causing the particle displacement difference inside the sample to increase and the rounding rock effect to become more pronounced. The quantitative relationship between the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and the maximum particle size (dmax) was proposed, and the accuracy of the prediction formula for the UCS value of S-RM that takes the size effect into account has been confirmed. The improvement of the shear strength determination method was achieved by unifying the particle size range corresponding to the uniaxial compressive and shear test results used in the approach, and the determination method was used to evaluate the stability of a typical deposit slope. The study results can be used as a guide for estimating strength parameters of S-RM throughout the design and construction process of the deposit slope.

Vaccinium motuoense (Ericaceae), a new species from Motuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to Vaccinium sect. Calcicolus and is morphologically most similar to V. dunalianum, but differs in having yellowish-brown tomentose young branches, petioles and inflorescence rachis, leaf blades with 2–3(–4) pairs of secondary veins, usually all basal and with fine veins impressed adaxially and urceolate to spherical corollas.

Abstract. Background:. Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) imposes a substantial burden on healthcare systems and confers considerable medical expenditures. We aimed to evaluate the global and regional burden in epidemiological trends and factors associated with the incidence and mortality of CRC. Methods:. We used data from the GLOBOCAN database to estimate CRC incidence and mortality worldwide in 2020 and their association with the human development index (HDI). Trends of age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality in 60 countries (2000–2019) were evaluated by Joinpoint regression analysis using data of Global Burden of Disease 2019. The association between exposure to country-level lifestyle, metabolic and socioeconomic factors obtained from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory and World Bank DataBank data and CRC incidence and mortality was determined by multivariable linear regression. Results:. CRC incidence and mortality varied greatly in the 60 selected countries, and much higher incidence and mortality were observed in countries with higher HDIs, and vice versa. From 2000 to 2019, significant increases of incidence and mortality were observed for 33 countries (average annual percent changes [AAPCs], 0.24–3.82) and 18 countries (AAPCs, 0.41–2.22), respectively. A stronger increase in incidence was observed among males (AAPCs, 0.36–4.54) and individuals

Abstract Nanoparticles are applied as versatile platforms for drug/gene delivery in many applications owing to their long‐retention and specific targeting properties in living bodies. However, the delivery mechanism and the beneficial effect of nanoparticle‐retention in many organisms remain largely uncertain. Here, the transport and metabolism of mineral nanoparticles in mammary gland during lactation are explored. It is shown that maternal intravenous administration of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs; diameter: ≈11.0 nm, surface charge: −29.1 mV, surface area: 1.05 m2 g−1) provides elevated iron delivery to mammary gland and increased iron secretion into breast milk, which is inaccessible by classical iron‐ion transport approaches such as the transferrin receptor‐mediated endocytic pathway. Mammary macrophages and neutrophils are found to play dominant roles in uptake and delivery of IONPs through an unconventional leukocyte‐assisted iron secretion pathway. This pathway bypasses the tight iron concentration regulation of liver hepcidin‐ferroportin axis and mammary epithelial cells to increase milk iron‐ion content derived from IONPs. This work provides keen insight into the metabolic pathway of nanoparticles in mammary gland while offering a new scheme of nutrient delivery for neonate metabolism regulation by using nanosized nutrients.

Summary: Bone cancer pain is a common symptom in cancer patients with bone metastases and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we report that Runx1 directly upregulates the transcriptional activity of P2X3 receptor (P2X3R) gene promoter in PC12 cells. Knocking down Runx1 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons suppresses the functional upregulation of P2X3R, attenuates neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity in tumor-bearing rats, whereas overexpressing Runx1 promotes P2X3R gene transcription in DRG neurons, induces neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity in naïve rats. Activation of GDNF-GFRα1-Ret-ERK signaling is required for Runx1-mediated P2X3R gene transcription in DRG neurons, and contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity in tumor-bearing rats. These findings indicate that the Runx1-mediated P2X3R gene transcription resulted from activation of GDNF-GFRα1-Ret-ERK signaling contributes to the sensitization of DRG neurons and pathogenesis of bone cancer pain. Our findings identify a potentially targetable mechanism that may cause bone metastasis-associated pain in cancer patients.

CD45, the leukocyte common antigen, is expressed on almost all cells of the immunological and hematological systems. CD45 expression is related to a variety of diseases, including leukemia and lymphoma. In this study, we analyzed the expression level of CD45 across cancers and evaluated the relationship between its expression and patient prognosis. We further integrated methylation data to explore the differences in CD45 across cancers from a multi-omics perspective. We also analyzed the relationship between CD45 expression and levels of immune cell infiltrates and immune modifiers. Our results revealed the distinct expression characteristics and prognostic value of CD45 across multiple tumors. In addition, we screened drug targets based on the immune index defined by CD45 expression and identified that GPR84 affected the proliferation of tumor cells and was associated with the inflammation caused by immunotherapy. In summary, our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of CD45 in oncogenesis and its prognostic significance across cancers.

BackgroundAfter the universal two-child policy has been fully implemented, challenges regarding pregnancy complications seemed to be more severe in China. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the main risk factors for GDM before and after the implementation of the universal two-child policy in China.MethodsA retrospective study was performed with 128,270 pregnant women who delivered at Ningbo Women & Children’s Hospital from January 2010 to December 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the risk factors associated with GDM prevalence. Segmented regression analyses of interrupted time series (ITS) were conducted to assess the effect of the universal two-child policy on the trends of GDM.ResultsThe prevalence of GDM increased remarkably from 4% in 2010 to 21% in 2020. ITS analysis presented that the prevalence of GDM increased by 0.190% (β1) per month from 2010 to 2016 (P30 years), multigravidity, multiparity, multiple gestation and gestational hypertension were significantly associated with GDM. Advanced age remained an independent risk factor for GDM even after cross stratification with gravidity and parity. The proportion of women with advanced maternal age (>30 years) increased by 0.161% per month before the implementation of the universal two-child policy and increased by 5.25% during the policy took effect month, and gradually increased by 0.124% (β1+β3) per month after then.ConclusionsThe prevalence of GDM has sharply increased in the past decade. The growth rate of GDM slowed down after the implementation of the universal two-child policy in China, but the rate would maintain at a high plateau. The rise in the proportion of older pregnant women could increase the GDM rate. We recommend having children at a relatively optimal reproductive age when encouraging childbearing.

Human hepatocyte transplantation for liver disease treatment have been hampered by the lack of quality human hepatocytes. Pigs with their large body size, longevity and physiological similarities with human are appropriate animal models for the in vivo expansion of human hepatocytes. Here we report on the generation of RAG2-/-IL2Rγ-/YFAH-/- (RGFKO) pigs via CRISPR/Cas9 system and somatic cell nuclear transfer. We showed that thymic and splenic development in RGFKO pigs was impaired. V(D)J recombination processes were also inactivated. Consequently, RGFKO pigs had significantly reduced numbers of porcine T, B and NK cells. Moreover, due to the loss of FAH, porcine hepatocytes continuously undergo apoptosis and consequently suffer hepatic damage. Thus, RGFKO pigs are both immune deficient and constantly suffer liver injury in the absence of NTBC supplementation. These results suggest that RGFKO pigs have the potential to be engrafted with human hepatocytes without immune rejection, thereby allowing for large scale expansion of human hepatocytes.

To better understand the positive impact of sports events on host cities, this study uses social capital and social identity theories combined with structural equation modeling (SEM) to explain the psychic income that sports events may bring to residents. The investigation and analysis of the Qingdao Marathon in 2021 show that (1) sports events can generate social capital; (2) social capital can positively influence social identity; and (3) social identity can significantly impact event excitement, city attachment, and city pride in psychic income.

A number of processes and pathways have been reported in the development of Group I pulmonary hypertension (Group I PAH); however, novel biomarkers need to be identified for a better diagnosis and management. We employed a robust rank aggregation (RRA) algorithm to shortlist the key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Group I PAH patients and controls. An optimal diagnostic model was obtained by comparing seven machine learning algorithms and was verified in an independent dataset. The functional roles of key DEGs and biomarkers were analyzed using various in silico methods. Finally, the biomarkers and a set of key candidates were experimentally validated using patient samples and a cell line model. A total of 48 key DEGs with preferable diagnostic value were identified. A gradient boosting decision tree algorithm was utilized to build a diagnostic model with three biomarkers, PBRM1, CA1, and TXLNG. An immune-cell infiltration analysis revealed significant differences in the relative abundances of seven immune cells between controls and PAH patients and a correlation with the biomarkers. Experimental validation confirmed the upregulation of the three biomarkers in Group I PAH patients. In conclusion, machine learning and a bioinformatics analysis along with experimental techniques identified PBRM1, CA1, and TXLNG as potential biomarkers for Group I PAH.

As a starchy and edible tropical plant, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has been widely used as an industrial raw material and a dietary source. However, the metabolomic and genetic differences in specific germplasms of cassava storage root were unclear. In this study, two specific germplasms, M. esculenta Crantz cv. sugar cassava GPMS0991L and M. esculenta Crantz cv. pink cassava BRA117315, were used as research materials. Results showed that sugar cassava GPMS0991L was rich in glucose and fructose, whereas pink cassava BRA117315 was rich in starch and sucrose. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis indicated that sucrose and starch metabolism had significantly changing metabolites enrichment and the highest degree of differential expression genes, respectively. Sugar transport in storage roots may contribute to the activities of sugar, which will eventually be exported to transporters (SWEETs), such as (MeSWEET1a, MeSWEET2b, MeSWEET4, MeSWEET5, MeSWEET10b, and MeSWEET17c), which transport hexose to plant cells. The expression level of genes involved in starch biosynthesis and metabolism were altered, which may result in starch accumulation. These results provide a theoretical basis for sugar transport and starch accumulation and may be useful in improving the quality of tuberous crops and increasing yield.

Abstract. Background:. Fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) are the most widely used non-invasive tests in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. However, evidence about the direct comparison of the test performance of the self-administered qualitative a laboratory-based quantitative FITs in a CRC screening setting is sparse. Methods:. Based on a CRC screening trial (TARGET-C), we included 3144 pre-colonoscopy fecal samples, including 24 CRCs, 230 advanced adenomas, 622 non-advanced adenomas, and 2268 participants without significant findings at colonoscopy. Three self-administered qualitative FITs (Pupu tube) with positivity thresholds of 8.0, 14.4, or 20.8 μg hemoglobin (Hb)/g preset by the manufacturer and one laboratory-based quantitative FIT (OC-Sensor) with a positivity threshold of 20 μg Hb/g recommended by the manufacturer were tested by trained staff in the central laboratory. The diagnostic performance of the FITs for detecting colorectal neoplasms was compared in the different scenarios using the preset and adjusted thresholds (for the quantitative FIT). Results:. At the thresholds preset by the manufacturers, apart from the qualitative FIT-3, significantly higher sensitivities for detecting advanced adenoma were observed for the qualitative FIT-1 (33.9% [95% CI: 28.7–39.4%]) and qualitative FIT-2 (22.2% [95% CI: 17.7–27.2%]) compared to the quantitative FIT (11.7% [95% CI: 8.4–15.8%]), while at a cost of significantly lower specificities. However, such difference was not observed for detecting CRC. For scenarios of adjusting the positivity thresholds of the quantitative FIT to yield comparable specificity or comparable positivity rate to the three qualitative FITs accordingly, there were no significant differences in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values and positive/negative likelihood ratios for detecting CRC or advanced adenoma between the two types of FITs, which was further evidenced in ROC analysis. Conclusions:. Although the self-administered qualitative and the laboratory-based quantitative FITs had varied test performance at the positivity thresholds preset by the manufacturer, such heterogeneity could be overcome by adjusting thresholds to yield comparable specificities or positivity rates. Future CRC screening programs should select appropriate types of FITs and define the thresholds based on the targeted specificities and manageable positivity rates.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are a large superfamily of transcription factors, and play a central role in a wide range of metabolic, physiological, and developmental processes in higher organisms. However, systematic investigation of bHLH gene family in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has not been reported. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide survey and identified 148 MebHLHs genes were unevenly harbored in 18 chromosomes. Through phylogenetic analyses along with Arabidopsis counterparts, these MebHLHs genes were divided into 19 groups, and each gene contains a similar structure and conserved motifs. Moreover, many cis-acting regulatory elements related to various defense and stress responses showed in MebHLH genes. Interestingly, transcriptome data analyses unveiled 117 MebHLH genes during postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) process of cassava tuberous roots, while 65 MebHLH genes showed significantly change. Meanwhile, the relative quantitative analysis of 15 MebHLH genes demonstrated that they were sensitive to PPD, suggesting they may involve in PPD process regulation. Cyanogenic glucosides (CGs) biosynthesis during PPD process was increased, silencing of MebHLH72 and MebHLH114 showed that linamarin content was significantly decreased in the leaves. To summarize, the genome-wide identification and expression profiling of MebHLH candidates pave a new avenue for uderstanding their function in PPD and CGs biosynthesis, which will accelerate the improvement of PPD tolerance and decrease CGs content in cassava tuberous roots.

Previous research shows that each type of cancer can be divided into multiple subtypes, which is one of the key reasons that make cancer difficult to cure. Under these circumstances, finding a new target gene of cancer subtypes has great significance on developing new anti-cancer drugs and personalized treatment. Due to the fact that gene expression data sets of cancer are usually high-dimensional and with high noise and have multiple potential subtypes’ information, many sparse principal component analysis (sparse PCA) methods have been used to identify cancer subtype biomarkers and subtype clusters. However, the existing sparse PCA methods have not used the known cancer subtype information as prior knowledge, and their results are greatly affected by the quality of the samples. Therefore, we propose the Dynamic Metadata Edge-group Sparse PCA (DM-ESPCA) model, which combines the idea of meta-learning to solve the problem of sample quality and uses the known cancer subtype information as prior knowledge to capture some gene modules with better biological interpretations. The experiment results on the three biological data sets showed that the DM-ESPCA model can find potential target gene probes with richer biological information to the cancer subtypes. Moreover, the results of clustering and machine learning classification models based on the target genes screened by the DM-ESPCA model can be improved by up to 22–23% of accuracies compared with the existing sparse PCA methods. We also proved that the result of the DM-ESPCA model is better than those of the four classic supervised machine learning models in the task of classification of cancer subtypes.