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BackgroundTunneling technique has shown preliminary promise in lung segmentectomy which requires the use of staplers in specific procedures. However, the obstacle when staples pass is the most obvious factor hindering the implementation and development of this technique. This study investigated whether the obstacle of the technology could be addressed by using an innovative self-designed stapler tractor and analyzed the combined and respective advantages of them.MethodsThe clinical data of patients with lung nodules located near anatomical sites with potential tunnel creation treated by segmentectomy were analyzed in this retrospective case-control study. The data were divided into four groups according to four distinct surgical strategies: In Group A, the tunneling technique was performed with a stapler tractor; in Group B, the tunneling technique was performed without a stapler tractor; in Group C, didn’t perform the tunneling technique but using stapler tractor in a normal approach; and in Group D, neither performed the technique nor used the stapler tractor. The general linear data, operation times, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative recovery and complications were compared.ResultsCompared with other groups, Group A exhibited the best surgical outcomes in comprehensive aspects. Separately, the tunnel groups (Group A&B) had better outcomes in the macro implementation of operation, including resection margin, the number of sampled intrapulmonary lymph nodes and resected subsegments, while the staple tractor groups (Group A&C) performed better on details of the procedure, including operation time, conversion to thoracotomy, and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.05). Both of them were beneficial for shorter hospital stay, and the tunnel group was more advantageous.ConclusionThe tunneling technique is an advanced and beneficial surgical strategy for performing precise resection of lung segments while a stapler tractor can promote and facilitate it as a supplementary instrument. They show more combined benefits in effectively minimizing the occurrence of erroneous injuries and enhancing the operational efficacy.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar application individually can enhance plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress and promote plant growth efficiency. However, little is known about the potential synergistic effects of their combination on improving plant growth and soil quality under saline-alkali stress. This experiment adopted the potted method to explore the effects of four treatments on switchgrass growth and soil quality: biochar (BC), Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri), biochar + Ri (BR) and a control without biochar or Ri (CK). Compared to the CK treatment, the switchgrass biomass increased by 92.4 %, 148.6 %, and 177.3 % in the BC, Ri, and BR treatment groups, respectively. Similarly, the rhizosphere soil quality index increased by 29.33 %, 22.7 %, and 49.1 % in the respective treatment groups. The BR treatment significantly altered the rhizosphere soil microbial composition and diversity. Notably, compared to the other treatments, the archaeal α-diversity in the BR group showed a significant decrease. BR treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of bacteria, fungi and archaea at the genus level (e.g., Bacillus, Trichome and candidatus_methanopenens). Network analysis showed that the complexity and closeness of interactions between different microbial taxa were stronger in the BC, Ri and BR treatments than in the CK treatment, with BR being the more prominent. In summary, biochar combined with Ri has a better effect on promoting the growth of switchgrass under saline-alkali stress, improving the quality of saline-alkali soil, and increasing soil microbial diversity. This study provides a new approach for the efficient development and utilization of saline-alkali land.

Chronic stress-mediated sustained release of neurotransmitters, which ultimately leads to the activation of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) signaling, is one of the most important reasons for triple-negative breast cancer (TBNC) progression. Quercetin (Que) has been proven to have the advantage of ameliorating stress psychological disorder. Our present study aimed to investigate the effect of Que on tumor growth and metastasis in TNBC xenograft mice undergoing stress, and to explore its underlying mechanisms. We first evaluated the effect of Que on the progression of TNBC in nude mice in vivo. The results showed that, Que could inhibit chronic stress-induced TNBC growth and occurrence of lung metastasis. We subsequently employed epinephrine (E) as a representative of stress hormone to investigate its possible mechanism in vitro. The results showed that, Que could inhibit E-mediated proliferation and migration of TNBC cells by blocking β2-AR/ERK1/2 pathway. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that Que could inhibit chronic stress-induced ERK1/2 activity in TNBC cells, and thereby weakening the potential for TNBC growth and metastasis.

Background Few small‐sample studies have quantified the T‐wave alternans (TWA) value by 24‐hour ambulatory recordings or exercise stress tests in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS). The cutoff point of TWA ≥47 μV was based on patients with myocardial infarction. In our study, we aimed to (1) evaluate the association of TWA with life‐threatening arrhythmic events (LAEs); (2) compare the predictive model of LAEs according to the TWA value measured by 24‐hour ambulatory recordings and exercise stress tests; and (3) propose a cutoff point for the high risk of LAEs in patients with LQTS. Methods and Results The study cohort included 110 patients with LQTS referred to our hospital, and the primary outcome was LAEs. Thirty‐one patients with LQTS (31/110 [28.2%]) developed LAEs during the following 24 (12–47) months. Peak TWA value quantified from 12 leads by 24‐hour ambulatory recordings in patients with LQTS with LAEs (LQTS–LAEs group) was significantly higher than LQTS without LAEs (LQTS–non‐LAEs group) (64.0 [42.0–86.0] μV versus 43.0 [36.0–53.0] μV; P

Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH) is an ancient Chinese medicine herb known for its therapeutic effects. This study investigated the potential protective effect of ACH against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in mice. Fifty (n= 50) ICR mice were grouped into five groups. CCl4 was intraperitoneally injected into different mice groups: AM (CCl4 induced), AD (ACH-treated with 25 mg/kg), AZ (ACH-treated with 50 mg/kg), and AG (ACH-treated with100mg/kg) after every three days for a total of 31 days. The control group was denoted as AC. Additionally, groups AD, AZ, and AG received daily doses of ACH via gavage throughout the study period. According to our findings, ACH administration prominently mitigated liver pathological lesions and the increased liver index induced by CCl4 in mice (p < 0.05). Treatment with ACH resulted in a dose-dependent recovery of GSH-px, SOD, and CAT activities (p < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, MDA, and ALT showed significanlty decreasing trends with various doses of ACH (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that ACH increased the abundance of beneficial genera of Comoclathris, Aureobasidium, and Kazachstania while decreased the presence of pathogenic genera such as Sporobolomyces and Filobasidium. Additionally, ACH treatment ameliorated the changes in liver metabolism due to CCl4 and enhanced the beneficial liver metabolites. In conclusion, ACH shows potential in protecting the liver against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by CCl4 exposure, possibly through its effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. Therefore, the use of ACH may offer an effective approach for alleviating CCl4-induced liver injury.

The intestinal microbiota assumes a pivotal role in modulating host metabolism, immune responses, overall health, and additional physiological dimensions. The structural and functional characteristics of the intestinal microbiota may cause alterations within the host’s body to a certain extent. The composition of the gut microbiota is associated with environmental factors, dietary habits, and other pertinent conditions. The investigation into the gut microbiota of yaks remained relatively underexplored. An examination of yak gut microbiota holds promise in elucidating the complex relationship between microbial communities and the adaptive responses of the host to its environment. In this study, yak were selected from two distinct environmental conditions: those raised in sheds (NS, n=6) and grazed in Nimu County (NF, n=6). Fecal samples were collected from the yaks and subsequently processed for analysis through 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing methodologies. The results revealed that different feeding styles result in significant differences in the Alpha diversity of fungi in the gut of yaks, while the gut microbiota of captive yaks was relatively conserved. In addition, significant differences appeared in the abundance of microorganisms in different taxa, phylum Verrucomicrobiota was significantly enriched in group NF while Firmicutes was higher in group NS. At the genus level, Akkermansia, Paenibacillus, Roseburia, Dorea, UCG_012, Anaerovorax and Marvinbryantia were enriched in group NF while Desemzia, Olsenella, Kocuria, Ornithinimicrobium and Parvibacter were higher in group NS (P

ObjectivesMast cell (MC) degranulation is a key process in allergic reactions and inflammatory responses. Aspartate aminotransferase 1 (AAT1)-derived endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an important regulator of MC function. However, the mechanism underlying its role in MC degranulation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which endogenous SO2 controlled MC degranulation.MethodsHMC-1 and Rat basophilic leukemia cell MC line (RBL-2H3) were used in the cell experiments. SO2 content was detected by in situ fluorescent probe. MC degranulation represented by the release rate of MC β-hexosaminidase was determined using a colorimetric assay. Sulfenylation of galectin-9 (Gal-9) in MCs and purified protein was detected using a biotin switch assay. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine the exact sulfenylation sites of Gal-9 by SO2. Animal models of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and hypoxia-driven pulmonary vascular remodeling were used to investigate the effect of SO2 on mast cell activation in vivo. Site-directed mutation of Gal-9 was conducted to confirm the exact site of SO2 and support the significance of SO2/Gal-9 signal axis in the regulation of MC degranulation.ResultsDegranulation was increased in AAT1-knockdowned MCs, and SO2 supplementation reversed the increase in MC degranulation. Furthermore, deficiency of endogenous SO2 contributed to IgE-mediated degranulation in vitro. Besides, SO2 inhibited IgE-mediated and hypoxia-driven MC degranulation in vivo. Mechanistically, LC-MS/MS analysis and site-directed mutation results showed that SO2 sulfenylated Gal-9 at cysteine 74. Sulfenylation of the 74th cysteine of Gal-9 protein was required in the SO2-inhibited MC degranulation under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.ConclusionThese findings elucidated that SO2 inhibited MC degranulation via sulfenylating Gal-9 under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, which might provide a novel treatment approach for MC activation-related diseases.

A neurogenic dysphagia is dysphagia caused by problems with the central and peripheral nervous systems, is particularly prevalent in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke. It significantly impacts the quality of life for affected individuals and causes additional burdens, such as malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, asphyxia, or even death from choking due to improper eating. Physical therapy offers a non-invasive treatment with high efficacy and low cost. Evidence supporting the use of physical therapy in dysphagia treatment is increasing, including techniques such as neuromuscular electrical stimulation, sensory stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. While initial studies have shown promising results, the effectiveness of specific treatment regimens still requires further validation. At present, there is a lack of scientific evidence to guide patient selection, develop appropriate treatment regimens, and accurately evaluate treatment outcomes. Therefore, the primary objectives of this review are to review the results of existing research, summarize the application of physical therapy in dysphagia management, we also discussed the mechanisms and treatments of physical therapy for neurogenic dysphagia.

Gastrointestinal mucositis (GIM) continues to be a significant issue in the management of abdominal cancer radiation treatments and chemotherapy, causing significant patient discomfort and therapy interruption or even cessation. This review will first focus on radiotherapy induced GIM, providing an understanding of its clinical landscape. Subsequently, the aetiology of GIM will be reviewed, highlighting diverse contributing factors. The cellular and tissue damage and associated molecular responses in GIM will be summarised in the context of the underlying complex biological processes. Finally, available drugs and pharmaceutical therapies will be evaluated, underscoring their insufficiency, and highlighting the need for further research and innovation. This review will emphasize the urgent need for improved pharmacologic therapeutics for GIM, which is a key research priority in oncology.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to establish a preoperative model to predict the outcome of primary debulking surgery (PDS) for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients by combing Suidan predictive model with HE4, CA125, CA153 and ROMA index. Methods 76 AOC Patients in revised 2014 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III-IV who underwent PDS between 2017 and 2019 from Yunnan Cancer Hospital were included. Clinical data including the levels of preoperative serum HE4, CA125, CA153 and mid-lower abdominal CT-enhanced scan results were collected. The logistics regression analysis was performed to find factors associated with sub-optimal debulking surgery (SDS). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive performances of selected variables in the outcome of primary debulking surgery. The predictive index value (PIV) model was constructed to predict the outcome of SDS. Results Optimal surgical cytoreduction was achieved in 61.84% (47/76) patients. The value for CA125, HE4, CA153, ROMA index and Suidan score was lower in optimal debulking surgery (ODS) group than SDS group. Based on the Youden index, which is widely used for evaluating the performance of predictive models, the best cutoff point for the preoperative serum HE4, CA125, CA153, ROMA index and Suidan score to distinguish SDS were 431.55 pmol/l, 2277 KU/L, 57.19 KU/L, 97.525% and 2.5, respectively. Patients with PIV≥5 may not be able to achieve optimal surgical cytoreduction. The diagnostic accuracy, NPV, PPV and specificity for diagnosing SDS were 73.7%, 82.9%, 62.9% and 72.3%, respectively. In the constructed model, the AUC of the SDS prediction was 0.770 (95% confidence interval: 0.654-0.887), P

Abstract Modular and regio-/stereoselective syntheses of all-carbon tetrasubstituted olefins from simple alkene materials remain a challenging project. Here, we demonstrate that a remote-carbonyl-directed palladium-catalyzed Heck/isomerization/C(sp2)–H arylation sequence enables unactivated 1,1-disubstituted alkenes to undergo stereoselective terminal diarylation with aryl iodides, thus offering a concise approach to construct stereodefined tetrasubstituted olefins in generally good yields under mild conditions; diverse carbonyl groups are allowed to act as directing groups, and various aryl groups can be introduced at the desired position simply by changing aryl iodides. The stereocontrol of the protocol stems from the compatibility between the E/Z isomerization and the alkenyl C(sp2)–H arylation, where the vicinal group-directed C(sp2)–H arylation of the Z-type intermediate product thermodynamically drives the reversible E to Z isomerization. Besides, the carbonyl group not only promotes the Pd-catalyzed sequential transformations of unactivated alkenes by weak coordination, but also avoids byproducts caused by other possible β-H elimination.

Abstract Background 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) plays a crucial part in the evaluation for pediatric epileptic patients prior to therapy. Short-term scanning holds significant importance, especially for pediatrics epileptic individuals who exhibited involuntary movements. The aim was to evaluate the effects of short acquisition time on image quality and lesion detectability in pediatric epileptic patients using total-body (TB) PET/CT. A total of 25 pediatric patients who underwent TB PET/CT using uEXPLORER scanner with an 18F-FDG administered dose of 3.7 MBq/kg and an acquisition time of 600 s were retrospectively enrolled. Short acquisition times (60 s, 150 and 300 s) were simulated by truncating PET data in list mode to reduce count density. Subjective image quality was scored on a 5-point scale. Regions of interest analysis of suspected epileptogenic zones (EZs), corresponding locations contralateral to EZs, and healthy cerebellar cortex were used to compare the semi-quantitative uptake indices of short-time images and then were compared with 600 s images. The comparison of EZs detectability based on time-dependent PET images was performed. Results Our study demonstrated that a short acquisition time of 150 s is sufficient to maintain subjective image quality and lesion significance. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in subjective PET image quality between imaging at 300 s and 150 s (P > 0.05). The overall impression scores of image quality and lesion conspicuity in G60s were both greater than 3 (overall quality, 3.21 ± 0.46; lesion conspicuity, 4.08 ± 0.74). As acquisition time decreased, the changes of SUVmax and SD in the cerebellar cortex gradually increased (P 15% in all groups. In 26 EZs of 25 patients, the lesion detection rate was still 100% when the time was reduced to 60 s. Conclusions This study proposed that TB PET/CT acquisition time could be reduced to 60 s with acceptable lesion detectability. Furthermore, it was suggested that a 150 s acquisition time would be sufficient to achieve diagnostic performance and image quality for children with epilepsy.

Abstract A novel magnetic coupling resonance wireless power transfer (MCR‐WPT) system, which has constant‐current (CC) and constant‐voltage (CV) output characteristics suiting for batteries charging, is proposed in this paper. The hybrid compensation topology is adopted; in detail, the LCL‐P circuit topology is used in the CC mode, while the LCL‐S topology is used in the CV mode. Since the switchable components are only located at the receiving side of WPT, the switching can be controlled by the receiving side based on the batteries’ state without data communication between transmitting side and receiving side. Furthermore, an adjustable frequency tuning method which is based on proportion integration (PI) closed‐loop controlled by the transmitting side is applied to maximize the current of the transmitting coil. This method also can solve the frequency splitting problem, improving the stability and power of the system while the distance of the two sides changes. The performance of the proposed WPT system is verified by simulation and experiments. The experiment results show that the load current variation is less than 3% in the CC mode and the load voltage changes less than 5% in the CV mode, as the load resister changes from 5 to 20 Ω.

Currently, deep hashing methods for cross-modal retrieval have achieved significant performance. However, label-based pairwise semantic keep correspondence within bounds of tags, while overlooking the connection between the essence of content. To solve the above-mentioned problem, we propose a novel deep hashing framework, named Deep Feature-based Neighbor Similarity Hashing with adversarial learning (DFNSH) to associate fine grained semantic relations and map high-level semantic similarity into binary codes. Specifically, to guarantee the semantic consistency beyond labels, the feature-based neighbor similarity matrix is developed using data feature vectors, independent of labels. Moreover, for feature vectors extraction, two Contrastive Language-Image Pre-training (CLIP) networks are employed as the backbone to obtain more representative characters. Furthermore, adversarial training manner sufficiently extract intra-modal information and autonomously investigate inner-modal heterogeneous correlations. Extensive experiments on three public benchmark datasets demonstrate that DFNSH achieves promising performance with respect to different evaluation metrics. The code can be downloaded at https://github.com/Lisa-Likun/DFNSH.

In this study, the quality of high-temperature Daqu in Northern China was targeted for enhancement, with the aim of subsequently improving the quality of sauce-flavor liquor. This was achieved by incorporating No.1 Bacillus velezensis, No.2 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the control without exogenous spore addition during the Daqu production process. A comparative analysis of different Daqu samples was conducted using physicochemical index determination, high-throughput sequencing technology, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). The findings revealed that in Fortified Daqu No.2, the physicochemical indices including saccharification, liquefaction, fermentation, and esterification capabilities were significantly elevated compared to Fortified Daqu No.1 and the control Daqu. Additionally, a decrease in Daqu acidity was observed following spore addition. High-throughput sequencing and microbial counts showed that Bacillus populations in Fortified Daqu No.2 reached 4.2×108 CFU/g, and the abundance ratio was 21.68%. In contrast, Fortified Daqu No.1 contained 2.3×108 CFU/g Bacillus, and the abundance ratio was 18.92%, while the control Daqu exhibited 4.4×107 CFU/g Bacillus and the abundance ratio was 7.48%. Analysis of the GC-IMS three-dimensional spectra indicated that both the content and variety of flavor compounds in the two Fortified Daqu samples were markedly higher than those in the control Daqu. Furthermore, multiple characteristic pyrazines were identified in Fortified Daqu No.2 based on fingerprint analysis. In brief, the addition of exogenous Bacillus subtilis has improved the physical and chemical indicators, microbial indicators, and volatile flavor compounds of the two types of Fortified Daqu, improving the quality of high-temperature Daqu in Northern China.

Abstract To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new modified MR dual precision positioning of thin-slice oblique sagittal fat suppression proton density-weighted imaging (DPP-TSO-Sag-FS-PDWI) sequence in detecting ACL injuries and its grades compared to standard sequences using arthroscopy as the standard reference. 42 patients enrolled in this retrospective study received the 1.5-T MRI with standard sequences and the new modified DPP-TSO-Sag-FS-PDWI sequence, and their arthroscopy results was recorded. The Mc Nemer-Bowker and weighted Kappa was performed to compare the consistency of MRI diagnosis with arthroscopic results. Finally, the diagnostic accuracy was calculated based on the true positive, true negative, false negative and false positive values. The diagnostic consistency of the DPP-TSO-Sag-FS-PDWI were higher than standard sequences for both reader 1 (K = 0.876 vs. 0.620) and reader 2 (K = 0.833 vs. 0.683) with good diagnostic repeatability (K = 0.794 vs. 0.598). Furthermore, the DPP-TSO-Sag-FS-PDWI can classify and diagnose three grades of ACL injury [the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value were more than 84%], especially for grade II injury as the PPV was superior for reader 1 (92.3% vs. 53.9%) and reader 2 (84.6% vs. 69.2%). The new modified DPP-TSO-Sag-FS-PDWI sequence can display the ACL injury on one or continuous levels by maximizing the acquisition of complete ligament shape and true anatomical images, and excluding the influence of anatomical differences between individuals. It can improve the diagnostic accuracy with good repeatability and classify three grades of the ACL injury.

Abstract Background Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the main clinical cause of low back pain. The pathogenesis of lumbar disc herniation is still uncertain, while it is often accompanied by disc rupture. In order to explore relationship between loading rate and failure mechanics that may lead to lumbar disc herniation, the failure mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc under high rates of loading were analyzed. Method Bend the lumbar motion segment of a healthy sheep by 5° and compress it to the ultimate strength point at a strain rate of 0.008/s, making a damaged sample. Within the normal strain range, the sample is subjected to quasi-static loading and high loading rate at different strain rates. Results For healthy samples, the stress–strain curve appears collapsed only at high rates of compression; for damaged samples, the stress–strain curves collapse both at quasi-static and high-rate compression. For damaged samples, the strengthening stage becomes significantly shorter as the strain rate increases, indicating that its ability to prevent the destruction is significantly reduced. For damaged intervertebral disc, when subjected to quasi-static or high rates loading until failure, the phenomenon of nucleus pulposus (NP) prolapse occurs, indicating the occurrence of herniation. When subjected to quasi-static loading, the AF moves away from the NP, and inner AF has the greatest displacement; when subjected to high rates loading, the AF moves closer to the NP, and outer AF has the greatest displacement. The Zhu–Wang–Tang (ZWT) nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model was used to describe the mechanical behavior of the intervertebral disc, and the fitting results were in good agreement with the experimental curve. Conclusion Experimental results show that, both damage and strain rate have a significant effect on the mechanical behavior of the disc fracture. The research work in this article has important theoretical guiding significance for preventing LDH in daily life.

Abstract Background Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common and serious complication of elective clean orthopedic surgery that can lead to severe adverse outcomes. However, the prognostic efficacy of the current staging systems remains uncertain for patients undergoing elective aseptic orthopedic procedures. This study aimed to identify high-risk factors independently associated with SSI and develop a nomogram prediction model to accurately predict the occurrence of SSI. Methods A total of 20,960 patients underwent elective clean orthopedic surgery in our hospital between January 2020 and December 2021, of whom 39 developed SSI; we selected all 39 patients with a postoperative diagnosis of SSI and 305 patients who did not develop postoperative SSI for the final analysis. The patients were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted in the training cohort to screen for independent risk factors of SSI, and a nomogram prediction model was developed. The predictive performance of the nomogram was compared with that of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical decision-making value of the nomogram. Results The SSI incidence was 0.186%. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class (odds ratio [OR] 1.564 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.029–5.99, P = 0.046]), operative time (OR 1.003 [95% CI 1.006–1.019, P

Abstract Purpose To investigate the optimal threshold for measuring thyroid volume in patients with Grave's hyperthyroidism (GH) by SPECT/CT. Materials and methods A 53 mL butterfly-shaped hollow container made of two 45-degree transparent elbows was put into a NEMA IEC phantom tank. The butterfly-shaped container and the tank were then filled with Na99mTcO4 of different radioactive concentrations, respectively, which could simulate thyroid gland with GH by different target-to-background ratios (T/B) (200:1, 600:1, 1000:1). The different T/B of planar imaging and SPECT/CT were acquired by a Discovery NM/CT 670 Pro SPECT/CT. With Thyroid software (Version 4.0) of GE-Xeleris workstation, the region of the thyroid gland in planar imaging was delineated. The thyroid area and average long diameter of both lobes were substituted into the Allen formula to calculate the thyroid volume. The calculation error was compared with the actual volume. Q-Metrix software was used to perform CT-based attenuation correction, scatter correction, resolution recovery. Ordered-subsets expectation maximization was used to reconstruct SPECT data. 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% thresholds were selected to automatically delineate the volume of interest and compared with the real volume, which determinated the optimal threshold. We measured the thyroid volume of 40 GH patients using the threshold and compared the volumes obtained by planar imaging and ultrasound three-dimensional. The differences of the volumes with different T/B and thresholds were compared by the ANOVA and least significant difference t test. The volumes delineated by SPECT/CT were evaluated using ANOVA, least significant difference t test, correlation analysis and, linear regression and Bland–Altman concordance test plot. The differences and consistency of thyroid volume were compared among the above three methods. Results There was no significant difference in the results between different T/B models (P > 0.05). The thyroid volume calculated by the planar imaging formula method was higher than the real volume, with an average overestimation of 22.81%. The volumes delineated by SPECT/CT threshold automatically decreased while the threshold increased. There were significant differences between groups with different thresholds (P 0.05). Thyroid volume measured by planar imaging method was significantly higher than ultrasound and SPECT/CT threshold automatic delineation method (P

Base station (BS) backup batteries (BSBBs), with their dispatchable capacity, are potential demand-side resources for future power systems. To enhance the power supply reliability and post-contingency frequency security of power systems, we propose a two-stage stochastic unit commitment (UC) model incorporating operational reserve and post-contingency frequency support provisions from massive BSBBs in cellular networks, in which the minimum backup energy demand is considered to ensure BS power supply reliability. The energy, operational reserve, and frequency support ancillary services are co-optimized to handle the power balance and post-contingency frequency security in both forecasted and stochastic variable renewable energy (VRE) scenarios. Furthermore, we propose a dedicated and scalable distributed optimization framework to enable autonomous optimizations for both dispatching center (DC) and BSBBs. The BS model parameters are stored and processed locally, while only the values of BS decision variables are required to upload to DC under the proposed distributed optimization framework, which safeguards BS privacy effectively. Case studies on a modified IEEE 14-bus system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in promoting VRE accommodation, ensuring post-contingency frequency security, enhancing operational economics, and fully utilizing BSBBs' energy and power capacity. Besides, the proposed distributed optimization framework has been validated to converge to a feasible solution with near-optimal performance within limited iterations. Additionally, numerical results on the Guangdong 500 kV provincial power system in China verify the scalability and practicality of the proposed distributed optimization framework.

Aiming at the problem of noise interference leading to poor fault diagnosis effect of rolling bearing, a two-stage signal noise reduction method based on multi-strategy coati optimization algorithm (MFCOA) optimized ICEEMDAN combined with wavelet threshold denoising (ICEEMDAN-WTD) is proposed. The MFCOA-optimized stochastic configured networks (MFCOA-SCNs) is used for fault type identification. Firstly, ICEEMDAN is used to decompose noisy signals into several IMF signals, and then a wavelet threshold denoising method is used to process IMF signals whose arrangement entropy is lower than the pre-set value to obtain reconstructed signals. In this process, the ICEEMDAN decomposition is affected by the number of white noise additions and the degree of addition. Therefore, MFCOA is introduced to optimize the parameters to ensure the effect of signal noise reduction. Secondly, ICEEMDAN is applied to the reconstructed signal, and the entropy of IMF signal samples of each order is calculated to obtain the fault characteristics in different simultaneous frequency domains. Finally, the scale factor $\lambda $ and regularization coefficient $r$ in SCNs are optimized by MFCOA, and the sample entropy feature is used as the input of the MFCOA-SCNs model to achieve fault identification. Several simulation experiments have verified that the proposed method can effectively reduce the impact of noise in bearing signals, and the experimental results are better than other methods, and the diagnostic accuracy is better.

The idea of Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs) has been extensively applied in various decision-making scenarios. Many of the applications of PFSs were carried out based on similarity functions. Some methods of similarity functions for PFSs (SFPFSs) cannot be trusted for a reliable interpretations in practical cases due to some of their setbacks. In this work, a new method of SFPFSs is developed with the capacity to outsmart the efficiency of the extant SFPFSs in terms of precise results and appropriately satisfying the rules of SFs. The new method is described with some results to validate the properties of SFs. In terms of practical application, we use the newly developed method of SFPFSs to discuss the relationship between the players of the Liverpool Football Club (FC) in the 2022/2023 English Premier League (EPL) season to assess their performances in their resurgent moments within the season. Using data from BBC Sport analysis (BBCSA) on the players' rating per match in a Pythagorean fuzzy setting, we establish the players' interactions, communications, passing, contributions, and performances to ascertain the high ranking players based on performances. Similarly, a comparative analyses are presented in tables to undoubtedly express the superiority of the newly developed method of SFPFSs. Due to the flexibility of the newly developed method of SFPFSs, it can be used for clustering analysis. In addition, the new method of SFPFSs can be extended to other uncertain environments other than PFSs.

International guidelines and standards for human protection from electromagnetic fields have been revised recently. The epithelial/absorbed power density (APD) has been used as a new physical quantity for local exposure to frequencies > 6 GHz, related to the temperature rise in the superficial layer. The assessment methods of APD for practical exposure scenarios are crucial for realistic exposures. This study investigates averaging methods for APD in nonplanar skin models for local electromagnetic field exposure from 10 to 90 GHz. Eight research groups compared the calculated APDs using distinct numerical approaches and postprocessing techniques. The intercomparison aimed to clarify the primary causes of variations in aspects, such as APD averaging methods, skin model structure, and types of exposure antennas. Statistical analyses reveal that the maximum differences in relative confidence intervals (RCI) due to different average methods and skin models are within 9.4% and 5.1%, respectively. In contrast, when the distance between the antenna and skin is set to 5 mm, the discrepancy attributed to the exposure antenna reaches 59.4% at 10 GHz. This difference does not exceed 9.2% under other computational conditions. Additionally, the spatially averaged APD appears to have a linear relationship with the maximum skin surface temperature elevation, based on regression analysis. The findings indicate that the variances in the spatially averaged APD are largely independent of both the APD averaging methods and skin model structures. However, they slightly depend on the antenna types used as exposure sources.

Abstract PageRank talent mining in power system is an effective means for enterprises to recruit talents, which can correctly recommend talents in practical applications. At present, the mining evaluation index system is not perfect, and the consistency coefficient between the evaluation results and the actual situation is low in practical applications. Therefore, PageRank talent mining algorithm in power system based on cognitive load and dilated convolutional neural network (DPCNN) is proposed. The cognitive load and DPCNN are used to establish a talent capability evaluation system, calculate the index weight value, construct the PageRank talent capability evaluation model of the power system according to the corresponding weight of the index, determine the membership range of the index, calculate the comprehensive score of the appraiser's ability, and determine the ability level of the appraiser, thus realizing the PageRank talent mining algorithm of the power system. The experimental results show that the algorithm has high accuracy and objectivity, good encryption effect, cannot crack the attack node, the prediction error and the prediction relative error are closest to the standard value, the maximum error is 0.51, the maximum relative error is 0.82, and can achieve the accurate prediction of talent demand.

Abstract Objective This study evaluated the association between admission MCV and preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in geriatric hip fractures. Methods Older adult patients with hip fractures were screened between January 2015 and September 2019. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected at the largest trauma center in northwest China. MCV was measured at admission and converted into a categorical variable according to the quartile. Multivariate binary logistic regression and generalized additive model were used to identify the linear and nonlinear association between MCV and preoperative DVT. Analyses were performed using EmpowerStats and the R software. Results A total of 1840 patients who met the criteria were finally enrolled and divided into four groups according to their MCV levels. The mean MCV was 93.82 ± 6.49 (80.96 to 105.91 fL), and 587 patients (31.9%) were diagnosed with preoperative DVT. When MCV was a continuous variable, the incidence of preoperative DVT increased with mean corpuscular volume. In the fully adjusted model, admission MCV was positively correlated with the incidence of preoperative DVT (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01–1.05; P = 0.0013). After excluding the effect of other factors, each additional 1fL of MCV increased the prevalence of preoperative DVT by 1.03 times as a continuous variable. Conclusion MCV was linearly associated with preoperative DVT in geriatric patients with hip fractures and could be considered a predictor of DVT risk. The MCV may contribute to risk assessment and preventing adverse outcomes in the elderly. Study registration This study is registered on the website of the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR: ChiCTR2200057323).

Porous Ti–Zr–Cu–Pd–Sn bulk metallic glass (BMG) produced by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) in our previous work demonstrates bone-like mechanical properties, effectively mitigating the issue of stress shielding within the implant. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding the BMG's brittleness and its lack of bioactivity, both of which pose concealed risks in practical applications. In light of these challenges, a semi-degradable biomaterial, the MG-Fe composites, has been meticulously crafted via SPS in this work. The incorporation of ductile Fe phase in the MG matrix significantly enhances its plasticity. Moreover, the degradation of Fe results in the deposition of Ca–P compounds, imbuing the MG-Fe composites with a degree of bioactivity. Furthermore, by introducing a gradient porous structure, researchers have managed to fine-tune the mechanical properties of the MG-Fe composites. This innovative design imparts plastic and ductile compression deformation behavior to the gradient porous MG-Fe composites, offering a potential solution to the issue of brittle fracture behavior observed in conventional brittle BMGs. In addition, the introduction of the gradient porous structure serves to further accelerate the degradation rate of Fe. This advancement holds the potential to strike a dynamic balance with the growth rate of human bone, further elevating the bioactivity of the MG-Fe composites.

Determining the appropriate soil cadmium (Cd) criteria for vegetable production is important for ensuring that the Cd concentrations of the vegetables meet food safety standards. The soil extractable Cd criteria for vegetable production are also essential for both food safety and environmental management, especially in areas with a high natural background level. In the present study, soil total and extractable Cd criteria were derived using the approach of species sensitivity distribution integrated with soil aging and bioavailability as affected by soil properties. A dataset of 90 vegetable species planted in different soils was compiled by screening the published in literature in five bibliographic databases using designated search strings. The empirical soil–plant transfer model was applied to normalize the bioaccumulation data. After normalization, the intra-species variability was reduced by 18.3 to 84.4%. The soil Cd concentration that would protect 95% (HC5) of the species was estimated by species sensitivity distribution curves that were fitted by the Burr III function. The soil Cd criteria derived from the added approach for risk assessment were proposed as continuous criteria based on a combination of organic carbon and pH in the soil. Criteria for total Cd and EDTA-extractable Cd in the soil ranged from 0.23 to 0.61 mg kg−1 and from 0.09 to 0.25 mg kg−1, respectively. Field experimental data were used to validate the applicability and validity of these criteria. Most of the predicted HC5 values in the field experimental sites were below the 1:1 line. These results provide a scientific basis for soil Cd criteria for vegetable production that will ensure food safety.

Paddy soils developed from various parent materials are widely distributed in the subtropical region in China and have a non-negligible but unclear potential to consume nitrous oxide (N2O) due to long-term flooding. This study selected three of the most common paddy soils in subtropical China, developing from quaternary red soil (R), lake sediment sand (S), and alluvial soil (C), to study their total N2O consumption and total nitrogen (N2) production using N2-free microcosm experiments. These paddy soils were treated with N2O addition (N2O treatment) or helium (He) addition (CK treatment) and incubated under flooding and anoxic conditions. The results showed that three alluvial soils (C1, C2, and C3) consumed over 99.93% of the N2O accumulated in the soil profile, significantly higher than R and S soils (p < 0.05). And the N2 production in three C soils was also significantly higher than other soils, accounting for 81.61% of the total N2O consumption. The main soil factors affecting N2O consumption in C, S, and R soils were soil clay content (p < 0.05), soil sand content (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.001), and soil available potassium (AK) (p < 0.01), respectively. These results indicate flooding paddy soils, no matter the parent materials developed, could consume extremely large amount of N2O produced in soil profiles.

In this study, the effects of different concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) stress on physiological parameters, as well as the uptake and removal of 2,4-DNP in Salix matsudana, were investigated using hydroponic simulation experiments to explore the potential of the use of Salix matsudana in the phytoremediation of wastewater polluted by 2,4-DNP. The results showed that PN (net photosynthetic rate), Tr (transpiration rate), Gs (stomatal conductance), Ls (stomatal limitation value), Fv/Fm (maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry), and qp (photochemical quenching coefficient) of Salix matsudana seedlings showed an overall decreasing trend, while Ci (intercellular CO2 concentration) showed an increasing trend with the increase in 2,4-DNP concentration. The net photosynthetic rate and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration showed an opposite trend in the leaves with the increase in 2,4-DNP stress concentration, and the inhibition of net photosynthesis by 2,4-DNP on Salix matsudana seedlings was mainly based on non-stomatal factors. In the 15 d incubation experiment, the values of SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase), and CAT (catalase) indexes were higher at low concentrations of 2,4-DNP stress, and all three enzymes reached their maximum values at 10 mg L−1 of 2,4-DNP and then decreased. Salix matsudana seedlings could tolerate 2,4-DNP stress well, which did not exceed 20 mg L−1. The toxicity of 2,4-DNP solution was significantly reduced after purification by Salix matsudana seedlings. The removal rate of 2,4-DNP was higher than 80% in each treatment group by Salix matsudana purified after 15 days. When the concentration of 2,4-DNP reached 20 mg L−1, the contents of MDA (malonicdialdehyde) were 55.62 mmol g−1, and the values of REC (relative conductivity) and LD (leaf damage) were 63.51% and 59.93%, respectively. The structure and function of the cell membrane in leaves were seriously damaged. With the increase in 2,4-DNP concentration, the removal of 2,4-DNP by Salix matsudana seedlings showed a decreasing trend. When the 2,4-DNP concentration was 5 mg L−1, the highest removal rate of 2,4-DNP by Salix matsudana seedlings was 95.98%, while when the 2,4-DNP concentration was 20 mg L−1, the highest removal rate was 86.76%. It is noted that the suitable, recommended concentration for the phytoremediation of 2,4-DNP contamination by Salix matsudana seedlings is between 8.81 and 13.78 mg L−1.

To address the issues of high labor intensity, excessive manpower requirements, low planting spacing qualification rates, low planting depth qualification rates, and low operational efficiency associated with sweet potato transplanting, a sweet potato seedling belt transplanter has been designed. This machine can perform multiple processes: precision tillage and ridge shaping, orderly seedling feeding from rolls, the efficient separation of seedlings from the belt, flexible gripping and shaping, precise soil covering and the mechanism of exposing seedling tips. A three-factor, three-level orthogonal test was carried out using the forward speed of the machine, the pitch of the screw belt and the rotational speed of the screw as the influencing factors of the performance test, and the qualified rate of planting spacing and the qualified rate of planting depth as the evaluation indexes. The test results indicated that the significance order of the factors affecting the qualification rate for planting spacing with the optimal combination of factors was as follows: a forward speed of 0.3 m·s−1, a ribbon spacing of 60 mm, and a screw speed of 160 rpm. Field trials confirmed that under optimal conditions, the average qualification rate for planting spacing was 90.37%, meeting relevant technical standards and agronomic requirements.

The error threshold is the cornerstone to balance the mathematical complexity and simulation speed of wind farm (WF) equivalent models, and can promote the standardization process of equivalent methodology. Due to differences in power system conditions and model evaluation standards in different countries, the form and indexes of error thresholds of WF equivalent models have not been unified yet. This paper proposes a theoretical method for quantifying the minimum risk of error threshold of WF equivalent models based on the Bayes discriminant criterion. Firstly, the Euclidean errors of WF equivalent models in different periods are quantified, and the probability density distributions of the errors are fitted by kernel density estimation. Secondly, the real-time weighted prior probability algorithm is used to obtain the prior probability of a valid WF equivalent model, and the different losses caused by the missed judgment and misjudgment of the model validity to power systems are taken into account. Thirdly, the minimum risk quantification model of error threshold is established based on the Bayes discriminant criterion, and the feasibility of the proposed method is verified by an actual WF with numerical examples. Compared with the existing error thresholds, the proposed error threshold can more quickly and accurately determine the validity of WF equivalent models.

This article reviews the research and development focus of metallic glasses in the field of biomedical applications. Metallic glasses exhibit a short-range ordered and long-range disordered glassy structure at the microscopic level, devoid of structural defects such as dislocations and grain boundaries. Therefore, they possess advantages such as high strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance, combining characteristics of both metals and glasses. This novel alloy system has found applications in the field of biomedical materials due to its excellent comprehensive performance. This review discusses the applications of Ti-based bulk metallic glasses in load-bearing implants such as bone plates and screws for long-term implantation. On the other hand, Mg-based metallic glasses, owing to their degradability, are primarily used in degradable bone nails, plates, and vascular stents. However, metallic glasses as biomaterials still face certain challenges. The Young’s modulus value of Ti-based metallic glasses is higher than that of human bones, leading to stress-shielding effects. Meanwhile, Mg-based metallic glasses degrade too quickly, resulting in the premature loss of mechanical properties and the formation of numerous bubbles, which hinder tissue healing. To address these issues, we propose the following development directions: (1) Introducing porous structures into titanium-based metallic glasses is an important research direction for reducing Young’s modulus; (2) To enhance the bioactivity of implant material surfaces, the surface modification of titanium-based metallic glasses is essential. (3) Developing antibacterial coatings and incorporating antibacterial metal elements into the alloys is essential to maintain the long-term effective antibacterial properties of metallic biomaterials. (4) Corrosion resistance must be further improved through the preparation of composite materials, while ensuring biocompatibility and safety, to achieve controllable degradation rates and degradation modes.

Heilongjiang, located in the cold region, is China’s largest rice-producing and commercializing province. The variety selection of rice in cold regions (RCR) is indispensable in promoting the rice industry’s development, and technological innovation in breeding theory plays a significant role in breeding breakthrough. Based primarily on long-term research, contemplation, and breeding practices, the 4S (selected topic, selected breeding, selected progenies, and selected promotion) phenotypic-design breeding technical system for RCR, which has revolutionized the theoretical basis and deepened the conceptual model, has been developed through systematic analyses and generalization. The system covers several key aspects such as scientific question formulation, breeding objective optimization, parental taxa hybridization, progeny population selection, and innovation dissemination, aiming to improve the foresight, precision, and efficiency of breeding. Furthermore, the system has demonstrated successful cases of rice variety breeding over the past 20 years, such as for Suijing 3, Suijing 4, Suijing 18, and a series of other rice varieties, providing theoretical and technical supports for cold-region rice breeding.

Remote sensing image classification usually needs many labeled samples so that the target nature can be fully described. For synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, variations of the target scattering always happen to some extent due to the imaging geometry, weather conditions, and system parameters. Therefore, labeled samples in one image could not be suitable to represent the same target in other images. The domain distribution shift of different images reduces the reusability of the labeled samples. Thus, exploring cross-domain interpretation methods is of great potential for SAR images to improve the reuse rate of existing labels from historical images. In this study, an unsupervised cross-domain classification method is proposed that utilizes the Gini coefficient to rank the robust and stable polarimetric features in both the source and target domains (GRFST) such that an unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) can be achieved. This method selects the optimal features from both the source and target domains to alleviate the domain distribution shift. Both fully polarimetric (FP) and compact polarimetric (CP) SAR features are explored for crop-domain terrain type classification. Specifically, the CP mode refers to the hybrid dual-pol mode with an arbitrary transmitting ellipse wave. This is the first attempt in the open literature to investigate the representing abilities of different CP modes for cross-domain terrain classification. Experiments are conducted from four aspects to demonstrate the performance of CP modes for cross-data, cross-scene, and cross-crop type classification. Results show that the GRFST-UDA method yields a classification accuracy of 2% to 12% higher than the traditional UDA methods. The degree of scene similarity has a certain impact on the accuracy of cross-domain crop classification. It was also found that when both the FP and circular CP SAR data are used, stable, promising results can be achieved.

BackgroundIn intracranial pathologic conditions of intracranial pressure (ICP) disturbance or hemodynamic instability, maintaining appropriate ICP may reduce the risk of ischemic brain injury. The change of ICP is often accompanied by the change of intracranial blood status. As a non-invasive functional imaging technique, the sensitivity of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to cerebral hemodynamic changes has been preliminarily confirmed. However, no team has conducted a feasibility study on the dynamic detection of ICP by EIT technology from the perspective of non-invasive whole-brain blood perfusion monitoring. In this study, human brain EIT image sequence was obtained by in vivo measurement, from which a variety of indicators that can reflect the tidal changes of the whole brain impedance were extracted, in order to establish a new method for non-invasive monitoring of ICP changes from the level of cerebral blood perfusion monitoring.MethodsValsalva maneuver (VM) was used to temporarily change the cerebral blood perfusion status of volunteers. The electrical impedance information of the brain during this process was continuously monitored by EIT device and real-time imaging was performed, and the hemodynamic indexes of bilateral middle cerebral arteries were monitored by transcranial Doppler (TCD). The changes in monitoring information obtained by the two techniques were compared and observed.ResultsThe EIT imaging results indicated that the image sequence showed obvious tidal changes with the heart beating. Perfusion indicators of vascular pulsation obtained from EIT images decreased significantly during the stabilization phase of the intervention (PAC: 242.94 ± 100.83, p

BackgroundRodents are recognized as the hosts of many vector-borne bacteria and protozoan parasites and play an important role in their transmission and maintenance. Intensive studies have focused on their infections in vectors, especially in ticks, however, vector-borne bacterial and protozoan infections in rodents are poorly understood although human cases presenting with fever may due to their infection have been found.MethodsFrom May to October 2019, 192 wild rodents were trapped in wild environment of Guangxi Province, and the spleen samples were collected to reveal the presence of vector-borne bacterial and protozoan infections in them. The microorganisms in rodents were identified by detecting their DNA using (semi-)nested PCR. All the PCR products of the expected size were subjected to sequencing, and then analyzed by BLASTn. Furthermore, all the recovered sequences were subjected to nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analyses.ResultsAs a result, 192 rodents representing seven species were captured, and Bandicota indica were the dominant species, followed by Rattus andamanensis. Based on the (semi-)nested PCR, our results suggested that Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma capra, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", "Candidatus E. hainanensis", "Candidatus E. zunyiensis", three uncultured Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella coopersplainsensis, Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella rattimassiliensis, Bartonella silvatica, two uncultured Bartonella spp., Babesia microti and diverse Hepatozoon were identified in six rodent species. More importantly, six species (including two Anaplasma, two Bartonella, "Ca. N. mikurensis" and Bab. microti) are zoonotic pathogens except Anaplasma bovis and Anaplasma ovis with zoonotic potential. Furthermore, dual infection was observed between different microorganisms, and the most common type of co-infection is between "Ca. N. mikurensis" and other microorganisms. Additionally, potential novel Bartonella species and Hepatozoon species demonstrated the presence of more diverse rodent-associated Bartonella and Hepatozoon.ConclusionsThe results in this work indicated great genetic diversity of vector-borne infections in wild rodents, and highlighted the potential risk of human pathogens transmitted from rodents to humans through vectors.

BackgroundThe disruption of intracranial fluid dynamics due to large unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) commonly triggers a domino effect within the central nervous system. This phenomenon is frequently overlooked in prior clinic and may lead to catastrophic misdiagnoses. Our team has documented the world’s first case of so-called AVM Pentalogy (AVMP) induced by a AVM.Clinical presentation and resultA 30-year-old female was first seen 9 years ago with an occasional fainting, at which time a huge unruptured AVM was discovered. Subsequently, due to progressive symptoms, she sought consultations from several prestigious neurosurgical departments in China, where all consulting neurosurgeons opted for conservation treatment due to perceived surgical risks. During the follow-up period, the patient gradually presented with hydrocephalus, empty sella, secondary Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, and scoliosis (we called as AVMP). When treated in our department, she already displayed numerous symptoms, including severe intracranial hypertension. Our team deduced that the hydrocephalus was the primary driver of her AVMP symptoms, representing the most favorable risk profile for intervention. As expected, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt successfully mitigated all symptoms of AVMP at 21-months post-surgical review.ConclusionDuring the monitoring of unruptured AVM, it is crucial to remain vigilant for the development or progression of AVMP. When any component of AVMP is identified, thorough etiological studies and analysis of cascade reactions are imperative to avert misdiagnosis. When direct AVM intervention is not viable, strategically addressing hydrocephalus as part of the AVMP may serve as the critical therapeutic focus.

BackgroundThere are many problems of psychological burden in patients with tumor implanted in port of intravenous infusion. However, more attention is paid to its complications in the literature, and psychological problems are seldom concerned. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychological state and needs of tumor patients after implantation of an intravenous infusion port and provide valuable references for psychological interventions.MethodA semi-structured interview was conducted with 11 patients with intravenous infusion ports. Colaizzi’s 7-step analysis was used to analyze the interview data.ResultsAccording to the primary information, four themes and nine sub-themes were extracted: (1) lack of self-worth, (2) multiple emotional experiences (guilt, doubt, worry, and gain). (3) Poor self-management and self-maintenance awareness (over-reliance on medical staff, unchanged family roles, lack of related knowledge). (4) Expectations and suggestions for the future (inner expectations, suggestions for infusion ports).ConclusionThe patient’s psychological state should be carefully monitored during tube implantation, to relieve the patient’s tension and anxiety and improve nursing satisfaction and patient outcomes.

Heterotopic pancreas is a relatively rare condition that may be associated to clinical complaints or signs. Here, we report a case of gastric heterotopic pancreas assictaed to ductal adenocarcinoma. Obstructive jaundice was the initial symptom prompting medical intervention. A 73-year-old male patient presented with yellow staining of the skin and sclera, and dull epigastric pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed stenosis of the extrahepatic distal bile duct and mass lesions of the antrum. The patient underwent tumor resection, distal gastrectomy (Billroth II), and common bile duct exploration. Postoperative pathological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma located in the wall of the gastric antrum. Immunohistochemical results suggested that the tumor originated from the pancreas. Heterologous pancreatic tissue and a dilated pancreatic duct were found in the tumor. These findings suggest malignant transformation of the gastric heterotopic pancreas. Of note, jaundice as clinical complaint for adenocarcinoma associated to gastric heterotopic pancreas.

As major components of the tumor microenvironment, both mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and macrophages can be remodelled and exhibit different phenotypes and functions during tumor initiation and progression. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a crucial role in the growth, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance of hematological malignancies, and are associated with poor prognosis. Consequently, TAMs have emerged as promising therapeutic targets. Notably, MSCs exert a profound influence on modulating immune cell functions such as macrophages and granulocytes, thereby playing a crucial role in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment surrounding tumors. However, in hematological malignancies, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between MSCs and macrophages have not been clearly elucidated. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of TAMs in various common hematological malignancies, and discuss the latest advances in understanding the interaction between MSCs and macrophages in disease progression. Additionally, potential therapeutic approaches targeting this relationship are outlined.

Illegal logging is an important cause of deforestation and forest degradation. As a voluntary market-driven mechanism, sustainable forest management certification aims to reduce illegal logging in forests and promote sustainable management practices by creating a transparent, independent tracing and auditing mechanism. To date, around 11% of global forest areas have been certified under forest certification schemes. Biologically, bamboo belongs to the grass family and is classified as a non-timber forest product. Owing to its high fibre quality, many bamboo panel-based products, such as flooring, furniture, and kitchenware, are traded as alternatives to timber products in the global market. Forest certification is widely acknowledged as a means of ensuring the sustainability and legality of forest sources by European countries and the United States, which are the largest importers of bamboo products. Therefore, certified bamboo and its products are often required to meet the legal requirements and public procurement policies when entering these markets. Currently, 48 valid Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) bamboo forest management certificates and 3237 valid bamboo FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificates have been issued, while only 1 bamboo forest management and 3 bamboo CoC certificates have been documented in PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) online database. Here, we describe the current development of global bamboo forest certification in terms of certification standards, practices, and markets; analyze challenges and future trends; and offer recommendations for creating interest in this issue and taking further action.

Objective: Cardiomyocyte senescence is an important contributor to cardiovascular diseases and can be induced by stressors including DNA damage, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic regulation, etc. However, the underlying mechanisms for the development of cardiomyocyte senescence remain largely unknown. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is produced endogenously by aspartate aminotransferase 2 (AAT2) catalysis and plays an important regulatory role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to explore the effect of endogenous SO2 on cardiomyocyte senescence and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Approach and results: We interestingly found a substantial reduction in the expression of AAT2 in the heart of aged mice in comparison to young mice. AAT2-knockdowned cardiomyocytes exhibited reduced SO2 content, elevated expression levels of Tp53, p21Cip/Waf, and p16INk4a, enhanced SA-β-Gal activity, and elevated level of γ-H2AX foci. Notably, supplementation with a SO2 donor ameliorated the spontaneous senescence phenotype and DNA damage caused by AAT2 deficiency in cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, AAT2 deficiency suppressed the sulphenylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) facilitated its nuclear translocation and DNA-binding capacity. Conversely, a mutation in the cysteine (Cys) 259 residue of STAT3 blocked SO2-induced STAT3 sulphenylation and subsequently prevented the inhibitory effect of SO2 on STAT3-DNA-binding capacity, DNA damage, and cardiomyocyte senescence. Additionally, cardiomyocyte (cm)-specific AAT2 knockout (AAT2cmKO) mice exhibited a deterioration in cardiac function, cardiomegaly, and cardiac aging, whereas supplementation with SO2 donors mitigated the cardiac aging and remodeling phenotypes in AAT2cmKO mice. Conclusion: Downregulation of the endogenous SO2/AAT2 pathway is a crucial pathogenic mechanism underlying cardiomyocyte senescence. Endogenous SO2 modifies STAT3 by sulphenylating Cys259, leading to the inhibition of DNA damage and the protection against cardiomyocyte senescence.

Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is caused by Rickettsia japonica, mainly vectored by hard ticks. However, whether R. japonica can be transmitted by other arthropods remains unknown. Moreover, it is of interest to investigate whether other Rickettsia species cause spotted fever in endemic areas. In this study, a survey of Rickettsia species was performed in hematophagous arthropods (mosquitoes, tabanids, and ticks) from endemic areas for JSF in Hubei Province, central China. The results showed that the diversity and prevalence of Rickettsia species in mosquitoes are low, suggesting that mosquitoes may not be the vector of zoonotic Rickettsia species. A novel Rickettsia species showed a high prevalence (16.31%, 23/141) in tabanids and was named “Candidatus Rickettsia tabanidii.” It is closely related to Rickettsia from fleas and mosquitoes; however, its pathogenicity in humans needs further investigation. Five Rickettsia species were identified in ticks. Rickettsia japonica, the agent of JSF, was detected only in Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haemaphysalis hystricis, suggesting that they may be the major vectors of R. japonica. Notably, two novel species were identified in H. hystricis ticks, one belonging to the spotted fever group and the other potentially belonging to the ancestral group. The latter one named “Candidatus Rickettsia hubeiensis” may provide valuable insight into the evolutionary history of Rickettsia.

Titanium alloy exhibits exceptional performance and a wide range of applications, with the high performance serving as the foundation for the development. However, traditional material design methods encounter numerous calculations and experimental trial-and-error processes, leading to increased costs and decreased efficiency in material design. The data-driven model presents an intriguing alternative to traditional material design methods by offering a novel approach to expedite the materials design process. In this study, a framework for computer-aided design high performance titanium alloys based on machine learning is proposed, which constructs an intelligent search space encompassing various combinations of 18 elements to facilitate alloy design. Firstly, a proprietary dataset was constructed for titanium alloy materials using feature design and a combination of unsupervised and supervised feature engineering methods. Secondly, six machine learning algorithms were employed to establish regression models, and the hyperparameters of each algorithm were optimized to improve model performance. Thirdly, the model was screened using five regression algorithm evaluation methods. The results demonstrated that the selected optimized model achieved an R2 value of 0.95 on the verification set and 0.93 on the test set, yielding satisfactory outcomes. Finally, a comprehensive model framework along with an intelligent search methodology for designing high-strength titanium alloys has been established. It is believed that this method is also applicable to other properties of titanium alloys and the optimization of other materials.

Alpine wetlands are critical ecosystems for global carbon (C) cycling and climate change mitigation. Ecological restoration projects for alpine grazing wetlands are urgently needed, especially due to their critical role as carbon (C) sinks. However, the fate of the C pool in alpine wetlands after restoration from grazing remains unclear. In this study, soil samples from both grazed and restored wetlands in Zoige (near Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province, China) were collected to analyze soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), soil properties, and plant biomass. Moreover, the Tea Bag Index (TBI) was applied to assess the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S), providing a novel perspective on SOC dynamics. The results of this research revealed that the mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) was 1.40 times higher in restored sites compared to grazed sites, although no significant difference in particulate organic carbon (POC) was detected between the two site types. Furthermore, the increased MAOC after restoration exhibited a significant positive correlation with various parameters including S, C and N content, aboveground biomass, WSOC, AMF diversity, and NH4+. This indicates that restoration significantly increases plant primary production, litter turnover, soil characteristics, and AMF diversity, thereby enhancing the C stabilization capacity of alpine wetland soils.

Summary: Electrocatalytic generation of H2O2 via the 2-electron pathway of oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) is an attractive technology compared to the anthraquinone process due to convenience and environmental friendliness. However, catalysts with excellent selectivity and high activity for 2e-ORR are necessary for practical applications. Reported here is a catalyst comprising boron-doped porous carbon hollow spheres (B-PCHSs) prepared using the hard template method coupled with borate transesterification. In an alkali electrolyte, the selectivity of B-PCHS for 2e-ORR above 90% in range of 0.4–0.7 VRHE and an onset potential of 0.833 V was obtained. Meanwhile, the generation rate of H2O2 reached 902.48 mmol h−1 gcat−1 at 0.4 VRHE under 59.13 mA cm−2 in batch electrolysis. The excellent catalytic selectivity of B-PCHS for 2e-ORR originates from the boron element, and the catalytic activity of B-PCHS for H2O2 generation is contributed to the morphology of porous hollow spheres, which facilitates mass transfer processes.

Alpine wetlands, critical ecosystems in high-altitude mountain areas, play essential roles in water conservation, biodiversity protection, and carbon (C) sequestration. These ecosystems are particularly sensitive to climate change, with temperature and precipitation variations significantly impacting their structure and functional processes, such as litter decomposition, a key mechanism for C stabilization. This study focused on the Zoige wetland, a representative alpine wetland located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. An incubation experiment was conducted with soil samples under simulated wet and dry moisture conditions to evaluate the environmental impacts on litter decomposition within this ecosystem. In this study, we employed the Tea Bag Index method, utilizing standardized litter, alongside native litter bags to compare the decomposition processes. This comparison between the uniform composition of standardized litter and the chemically diverse native plant litter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of litter decomposition dynamics in alpine wetland ecosystems. Our finding showed that both standardized and native litter decomposition significantly decreased under dry conditions, in contrast to wetter condition. The components of both standardized and native litter exhibited a decrease over time, with the easily decomposable fractions breaking down swiftly, in contrast to the slower decomposition of the more resistant components. Furthermore, soil exo-enzyme activities varied significantly with environmental conditions. Wet conditions were observed to enhance soil microbial activity, whereas dry conditions resulted in shifts in microbial biomass C and nitrogen, indicative of drought resilience. The correlation analysis revealed that the composition of native litter is the primary factor influencing its decomposition. In contrast, the decomposition of standardized litter was influenced by both its composition and soil microbial activity. Thus, the distinction between the influences on native and standardized litter decomposition highlights the necessity of considering both litter quality and microbial interaction in ecological studies. This approach offers critical insight into the advantages and limitations of each decomposition methodology within alpine wetland ecosystems.

Occupational stressors are commonly encountered in small animal veterinary practice and have been associated with burnout. The working context of veterinarians differs by specialty, and this can potentially lead to variable exposures to risk factors for burnout. The aim of this study was to explore differences in demographic and working conditions of veterinary general practitioners (GPs) and emergency practitioners (EPs) to compare exposure to different potential stressors. An anonymous, online survey was administered to veterinary GPs and EPs practicing in metropolitan regions of Australia. In total, 320 participant responses were analyzed (n = 237, 74.2% GPs and n = 83, 25.9% EPs). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in the demographics and work-related exposures were found between the two groups. GPs were found to be older than EPs with a greater number of years of experience in their field (P < 0.001). Most veterinary GPs worked only day shifts (207/236, 87.7%); where EPs worked a greater variety of shift patterns, with “only day shifts” being the least common shift pattern (P < 0.001). Most GPs worked a set and predictable roster pattern (195/236, 83.6%), while most EPs did not (51/83, 61.5%). EPs worked more weekends and public holidays (P < 0.001). The EP group performed more hours of work each week but worked less overtime. The main contributing factors for overtime were scheduling factors for GPs and staffing issues for EPs. EPs were commonly not able to take meal-breaks and GPs' meal-breaks were commonly interrupted by work. EPs were more frequently exposed to patient death, euthanasia (including for financial reasons), emotionally distressed clients and delivering negative news (P < 0.001). Both groups indicated that most work environments were collegiate and supportive, and a minority reported toxic colleagues (11.8%) or management teams (26.9%). Just under one-half of respondents reported having witnessed or experienced workplace bullying. Of our respondent group, 52.0% (166/319) were not satisfied with their remuneration. Desire to leave their principal area of practice was prevalent among this survey group (192/319, 60.2%) with approximately one-third considering leaving the veterinary profession. We discuss the implications of these workplace factors, including mitigation strategies.

Background and aimsSoil salinity negatively affects crop development. Halotolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria (HNFB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential microorganisms that enhance crop nutrient availability and salt tolerance in saline soils. Studying the impact of HNFB on AMF communities and using HNFB in biofertilizers can help in selecting the optimal HNFB-AMF combinations to improve crop productivity in saline soils.MethodsWe established three experimental groups comprising apple plants treated with low-nitrogen (0 mg N/kg, N0), normal-nitrogen (200 mg N/kg, N1), and high-nitrogen (300 mg N/kg, N2) fertilizer under salt stress without bacteria (CK, with the addition of 1,500 mL sterile water +2 g sterile diatomite), or with bacteria [BIO, with the addition of 1,500 mL sterile water +2 g mixed bacterial preparation (including Bacillus subtilis HG-15 and Bacillus velezensis JC-K3)].ResultsHNFB inoculation significantly increased microbial biomass and the relative abundance of beta-glucosidase-related genes in the rhizosphere soil under identical nitrogen application levels (p