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Abstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can cause invasive infections with significant mortality in neonates. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and antibiotic resistance profiles of invasive MRSA infections and determine risk factors associated with invasive MRSA infections in newborn inpatients. Methods This multicenter retrospective study of inpatients from eleven hospitals in the Infectious Diseases Surveillance of Pediatrics (ISPED) group of China was performed over a two-year period (2018–2019). Statistical significance was calculated by applying the χ2 test or by Fisher’s exact test in the case of small sample sizes. Results A total 220 patients were included. Among included cases, 67 (30.45%) were invasive MRSA infections, including two deaths (2.99%), while 153 (69.55%) were noninvasive infections. The invasive infections of MRSA occurred at a median age of 8 days on admission, which was significantly younger compared to 19 days in noninvasive cases. Sepsis (86.6%) was the most common invasive infection, followed by pneumonia (7.4%), bone and joint infections (3.0%), central nervous system infection (1.5%), and peritonitis (1.5%). Congenital heart disease, low birth weight infant (

Abstract Background Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is a less common but effective alternative method to total hip arthroplasty (THA) for hip reconstruction. In this study, we investigated the incidences of in-hospital complications between patients who had been subjected to THA and HRA. Methods The National Inpatient Sample data that had been recorded from 2005 to 2014 was used in this study. Based on the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, patients who underwent THA or HRA were included. Data on demographics, preoperative comorbidities, length of hospital stay, total charges, and in-hospital mortality and complications were compared. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether different surgical options are independent risk factors for postoperative complications. Results A total of 537,506 THAs and 9,744 HRAs were obtained from the NIS database. Patients who had been subjected to HRA exhibited less preoperative comorbidity rates, shorter length of stay and extra hospital charges. Moreover, HRA was associated with more in-hospital prosthesis loosening. Notably, patients who underwent HRA were younger and presented less preoperative comorbidities but did not show lower incidences in most complications. Conclusions The popularity of HRA gradually reduced from the year 2005 to 2014. Patients who underwent HRA were more likely to be younger, male, have less comorbidities and spend more money on medical costs. The risk of in-hospital prosthesis loosening after HRA was higher. The HRA-associated advantages with regards to most in-hospital complications were not markedly different from those of THA. In-hospital complications of HRA deserve more attention from surgeons.

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital for individuals to comply with the government’s prevention and control measures. This study aims to explore determinants of college students’ compliance behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study conducted an online survey among 3,122 individuals aged 18 and above from March to November 2022 in China. Individuals’ compliance behaviour was divided into protective behaviour (that includes wearing a mask, maintaining a physical distance, and getting vaccinated) and restrictive behaviour (that includes offering health codes and a nucleic acid test certificate). Individuals’ compliance motivation was divided into calculated motivation (including the fear of being infected, the fear of being published, and previous experience of pandemic prevention) and normative motivation (including the sense of social responsibility and trust in government). We defined young people aged between 18 and 24 with a college degree as young elites, and constructed ordinary least squares linear regression to compare their compliance behaviour with young people without a college degree (young non-elites), and non-young people with a college degree (non-young elites). Results Almost three years after the outbreak of the pandemic, Chinese individuals retained a high degree of compliance with COVID-19 prevention and control policies, particularly with respect to the provision of health codes. Young elites were more compliant with getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, providing health codes and testing results than their counterparts. The sense of social responsibility and trust in government were the major drivers of young elites’ compliance behaviour during the pandemic. Young elites who were male, had a rural “hukou”, and were not a member of the China Communist Party were more compliant with COVID-19 prevention and control measures. Conclusion This study found that young elites in China had high policy compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic. These young elites’ compliance behaviour was driven by their sense of social responsibility and trust in government rather than the fear of being infected and the fear of being punished as a result of violating the regulations. We suggest that in the context of managing health crises, in stead of introducing punitive measures to enforce citizens to comply with the management measures, promoting citizens’ sense of social responsibility and building a trusting relationship with citizens contrite to the enhancement of citizens’ policy compliance.

Abstract Despite extensive astrocyte activation in patients suffering from HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), little is known about the contribution of astrocytes to HAND neuropathology. Here, we report that the robust activation of neurotoxic astrocytes (A1 astrocytes) in the CNS promotes neuron damage and cognitive deficits in HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice. Notably, knockout of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) blunted A1 astrocyte responses, ultimately facilitating neuronal and cognitive improvement in the gp120tg mice. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite with α7nAChR inhibitory properties, attenuates gp120-induced A1 astrocyte formation through the blockade of α7nAChR/JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation. Meanwhile, compared with gp120tg mice, mice fed with tryptophan showed dramatic improvement in cognitive performance, which was related to the inhibition of A1 astrocyte responses. These initial and determinant findings mark a turning point in our understanding of the role of α7nAChR in gp120-mediated A1 astrocyte activation, opening up new opportunities to control neurotoxic astrocyte generation through KYNA and tryptophan administration.

Electrochemical oxidation of ammonia is an attractive process for wastewater treatment, hydrogen production, and ammonia fuel cells. However, the sluggish kinetics of the anode reaction has limited its applications, leading to a high demand for novel electrocatalysts. Herein, the electrode with the in situ growth of NiCu(OH)2 was partially transformed into the NiCuOOH phase by a pre-treatment using highly oxidative solutions. As revealed by SEM, XPS, and electrochemical analysis, such a strategy maintained the 3D structure, while inducing more active sites before the in situ generation of oxyhydroxide sites during the electrochemical reaction. The optimized NiCuOOH-1 sample exhibited the current density of 6.06 mA cm−2 at 0.5 V, which is 1.67 times higher than that of NiCu(OH)2 (3.63 mA cm−2). Moreover, the sample with a higher crystalline degree of the NiCuOOH phase exhibited lower performance, demonstrating the importance of a moderate treatment condition. In addition, the NiCuOOH-1 sample presented low selectivity (2− and stable activity during the long-term operation. The findings of this study would provide valuable insights into the development of transition metal electrocatalysts for ammonia oxidation.

The molecular weight (MW) of an enzyme is a critical parameter in enzyme-constrained models (ecModels). It is determined by two factors: the presence of subunits and the abundance of each subunit. Although the number of subunits (NS) can potentially be obtained from UniProt, this information is not readily available for most proteins. In this study, we addressed this gap by extracting and curating subunit information from the UniProt database to establish a robust benchmark dataset. Subsequently, we propose a novel model named DeepSub, which leverages the protein language model and Bi-directional Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), to predict NS in homo-oligomers solely based on protein sequences. DeepSub demonstrates remarkable accuracy, achieving an accuracy rate as high as 0.967, surpassing the performance of QUEEN. To validate the effectiveness of DeepSub, we performed predictions for protein homo-oligomers that have been reported in the literature but are not documented in the UniProt database. Examples include homoserine dehydrogenase from Corynebacterium glutamicum, Matrilin-4 from Mus musculus and Homo sapiens, and the Multimerins protein family from M. musculus and H. sapiens. The predicted results align closely with the reported findings in the literature, underscoring the reliability and utility of DeepSub.

Tobacco black shank induced by Phytophthora nicotianae causes significant yield losses in tobacco plants. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in plant biotic stress responses and have great potential in tobacco breeding for disease resistance. However, the roles of miRNAs in tobacco plants in response to P. nicotianae infection has not been well characterized. In this study, we found that Nta-miR6155, a miRNA specific to Solanaceae crops, was significantly induced in P. nicotianae infected tobacco. Some of predicted target genes of Nta-miR6155 were also observed to be involved in disease resistance. To further investigate the function of miR6155 in tobacco during P. nicotianae infection, Nta-miR6155 overexpression plants (miR6155-OE) were generated in the Honghua Dajinyuan tobacco variety (HD, the main cultivated tobacco variety in China). We found that the Nta-miR6155 overexpression enhanced the resistance in tobacco towards P. nicotianae infections. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly lower and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly higher in miR6155-OE plants than those in control HD plants during P. nicotianae infection. In addition, we found that the accumulation of salicylic acid and the expression of salicylic acid biosynthesis and signal transduction-related genes is significantly higher in miR6155-OE plants in comparison to the control HD plants. Furthermore, we found that Nta-miR6155 cleaved target genes NtCIPK18 to modulate resistance towards P. nicotianae in tobacco plants. Additionally, phenotypic analysis of miR6155-OE plants showed that Nta-miR6155 could inhibit the growth of tobacco by suppressing nitrogen uptake and photosynthesis. In conclusion, our findings indicated that miR6155 plays a crucial role in the regulation of growth and resistance against P. nicotianae infections in tobacco plants.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible and difficult-to-treat neurodegenerative disease. It is necessary to search for reliable biomarkers for the early diagnosis of AD in a timely and effective manner in high-risk or preclinical AD populations. Studies have shown that neurogenic exosomes in the blood can be effectively used as biomarkers for AD. Objective: In this meta-analysis, we aimed to find reliable biomarkers (Aβ42, T-tau, and P-tau181 in peripheral blood neurogenic exosomes) for the early diagnosis of AD to provide theoretical support for the early diagnosis of high-risk or preclinical AD populations. Methods: By searching the literature database, relevant studies on AD diagnostic markers were collected. The study period was from April 1, 2012, to April 1, 2022. The average concentrations of Aβ42, T-tau, and P-tau181 in the exosomes of the AD group and healthy control group were compared using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: A total of 13 studies were screened, including 842 subjects. Meta-analysis showed that the combined SMD value of neurogenic exosome Aβ42 was 1.70 (95% CI = [1.20,2.20], Z = 6.69, P

BackgroundSarcopenia, often observed in the elderly, is associated with declining skeletal muscle mass and impaired muscle function. This condition has been consistently linked to a less favorable prognosis in various malignancies. Computed tomography (CT) is a frequently employed modality for evaluating skeletal muscle mass, enabling the measurement of the skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level. This measurement serves as a defining criterion for sarcopenia. The meta-analysis dealt with evaluating the promise sarcopenia held as a prognostic indicator in individuals with colorectal cancer.MethodsResearch relevant to the subject was determined by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, WANFANG, and CNKI (up to June 11, 2023, published studies). In this meta-analysis, the incidence of sarcopenia in individuals with colorectal cancer was combined to analyze the disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of these individuals with and without sarcopenia. The included research was evaluated for quality per the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score. In the multivariate analysis of each study, the direct extraction of hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was executed. STATA 11.0 was applied to integrate and statistically analyze the data.ResultsOverall 20 articles participated in this meta-analysis. A 34% incidence of sarcopenia was noted in colorectal cancer. The presence of sarcopenia denoted a decrease in OS (HR=1.72,95% CI=1.45-2.03), DFS (HR=1.42,95% CI=1.26-1.60) and CSS (HR=1.48,95% CI=1.26-1.75) in individuals with colorectal cancer. In addition, the subgroup analysis depicted a pattern consistent with the overall analysis results.ConclusionCT-defined sarcopenia exhibits promise as an indicator of survival prognosis in individuals with colorectal cancer. Future studies need a more rigorous definition of sarcopenia to further verify these findings.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023431435.

Deep-learning-based models usually require a large amount of data for training, which guarantees the effectiveness of the trained model. Generative models are no exception, and sufficient training data are necessary for the diversity of generated images. However, for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, data acquisition is expensive. Therefore, SAR image generation under a few training samples is still a challenging problem to be solved. In this article, we propose an attribute-guided generative adversarial network (AGGAN) with an improved episode training strategy for few-shot SAR image generation. First, we design the AGGAN structure, and spectral normalization is used to stabilize the training in the few-shot situation. The attribute labels of AGGAN are designed to be the category and aspect angle labels, which are essential information for SAR images. Second, an improved episode training strategy is proposed according to the characteristics of the few-shot generative task, and it can improve the quality of generated images in the few-shot situation. In addition, we explore the effectiveness of the proposed method when using different auxiliary data for training and use the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition benchmark dataset and a simulated SAR dataset for verification. The experimental results show that AGGAN and the proposed improved episode training strategy can generate images of better quality when compared with some existing methods, which have been verified through visual observation, image similarity measures, and recognition experiments. When applying the generated images to the 5-shot SAR image recognition problem, the average recognition accuracy can be improved by at least 4$\%$.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 2-Cys Prx gene inhibition on photochemical reaction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism under high temperature (35°C) with low light (HT + LL) or high temperature with high light (HT + HL) in tobacco. The results showed that HT significantly increased the production of [Formula: see text] and H2O2 compared with CK (25°C). Particularly, the oxidative damage of RNAi plants was significantly greater than that of wild type (WT) under HT + HL treatment, possibly due to the inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. HT treatment inhibited the photosystem II (PSII) activity, and the oxygen evolution complex (OEC) was the main injury site. Notably, the photosystem I (PSI) activity of WT and RNAi plants did not change significantly under HT + LL treatment compared with CK. Although the PSI activity of WT and RNAi plants decreased significantly under HT + HL treatment, there was no significant difference between WT and RNAi plants. Collectively, these findings indicate that high light increases the photoinhibition of PSII and PSI and oxidative damage under high-temperature stress. The results also revealed that 2-Cys Prx plays a crucial role in alleviating oxidative damage and PSII photoinhibition under high-temperature stress in tobacco.

Abstract Numerical models have been developed to investigate and understand responses of biogeochemical cycle to global changes. Steady state, when a system is in dynamic equilibrium, is generally required to initialize these model simulations. However, the spin‐up process that is used to achieve steady state pose a great burden to computational resources, limiting the efficiency of global modeling analysis on biogeochemical cycles. This study introduces a new Semi‐Analytical Spin‐Up (SASU) to tackle this grand challenge. We applied SASU to Community Land Model version 5 and examined its computational efficiency and accuracy. At the Brazil site, SASU is computationally 7 times more efficient than (or saved up to 86% computational cost in comparison with) the traditional native dynamics (ND) spin‐up to reach the same steady state. Globally, SASU is computationally 8 times more efficient than the accelerated decomposition spin‐up and 50 times more efficient than ND. In summary, SASU achieves the highest computational efficiency for spin‐up on site and globally in comparison with other spin‐up methods. It is generalizable to wide biogeochemical models and thus makes computationally costly studies (e.g., parameter perturbation ensemble analysis and data assimilation) possible for a better understanding of biogeochemical cycle under climate change.

Abstract Objective To observe the clinical effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injection into the salivary glands of the severe neurological patients with tracheotomy Methods Seven patients with severe neurological disorders after tracheotomy and obvious drooling symptoms were enrolled. BTA was injected into bilateral parotid glands and submandibular glands under the guidance of ultrasound. Unstimulated salivary flow rate (uSFR) and Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS) were used to evaluate drooling before injection, 1 week, and 4 weeks after injection. We compared the extubation time, time of changing from balloon cannula to metal cannula, hospitalization time and incidence of recurrent pulmonary infection between these patients and other patients accepted conventional curation. Results (1) The drooling severity scale (DSFS‐S), the drooling frequency scale (DSFS‐F), the drooling frequency and severity scale total score (DSFS‐T) were significantly lower at 4 weeks after BTA injection compared to prior‐treatment (p

Nonlinear optical materials, especially two-dimensional materials, are anticipated to reveal broadband optical nonlinearity for future miniaturized photonic applications. Herein, we report a physical vapor deposition method to produce β-In _2 Se _3 thin film and investigate the broadband nonlinear absorption ( β ) and refraction (n _2 ) characteristics. The β-In _2 Se _3 semiconductor shows an excellent optical nonlinearity with large β in 10 ^2 cm GW ^−1 scale and n _2 in 10 ^−12 cm ^2 W ^−1 scale from visible to NIR wavelengths, which are superior to those of metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) and metal-organic frameworks. This excellent optical nonlinearity makes β-In _2 Se _3 a promising candidate for advanced nanophotonic devices and beyond.

Compared to voltage mode circuits, current mode circuits have advantages such as large dynamic range, fast speed, wide frequency band, and good linearity. In recent years, the development of call flow modeling technology has been rapid and has become an important foundation for analog integrated circuits. In this paper, a current mode chaotic oscillation circuit based on current differential transconductance amplifier (CDTA) is proposed. This proposed circuit fully utilizes the advantages of current differential transconductance amplifier: a current input and output device with a large dynamic range, virtual ground at the input, extremely low input impedance, and high output impedance. The linear and non-linear parts of the proposed circuit operate in current mode, enabling a true current mode multi scroll chaotic circuit. Pspice simulation results show that the current mode chaotic circuit proposed can generate multi scroll chaotic attractors.

The selective catalytic decomposition of methyl formate (MF) to methanol (MeOH) and high-purity carbon monoxide (CO) can be achieved by developing efficient alkaline catalysts. We synthesized a kind of ZnO supported on an activated carbon named ZnO/AC catalyst. The catalyst with 2 wt% ZnO loading showed near 100% conversion of MF at 230 °C and 1 bar. This work showed that the basicity of the catalysts is crucial in determining catalytic performance and that loading a suitable alkalinity metal oxide on AC is an effective strategy for developing efficient MF to MeOH and CO catalysts.

The mulberry (Mori Fructus), which is rich in many nutrients needed by the human body, serves as both food and medicine. Polysaccharides, which are considered to be important pharmacological components of mulberry, have received a lot of study for their structure and biological activity. In this study, six mulberry fruit polysaccharides (MFPs) were extracted by different extraction methods, and their physicochemical structures, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic biological activities were investigated and compared. According to the findings, MFP-III exhibited the best α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, whereas MFP-IV had the strongest scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS. Scanner electron microscopy (SEM) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the apparent morphology and monosaccharide content of MFP were significantly impacted by the different extraction techniques. The results of experiments using Congo red, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and the Congo red experiment showed that the MFP functional groups, glycosidic bonds, triple helix structure, and thermal stability were not significantly different between the extraction methods. According to the aforementioned research, various extraction methods had different effects on the chemical composition and biological activity of mulberry polysaccharides. This information can provide a scientific basis for selecting suitable extraction methods to obtain mulberry polysaccharides with ideal biological activity.

IntroductionRecent studies in human brain connectomics with multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data have widely reported abnormalities in brain structure, function and connectivity associated with schizophrenia (SZ). However, most previous discriminative studies of SZ patients were based on MRI features of brain regions, ignoring the complex relationships within brain networks.MethodsWe applied a graph convolutional network (GCN) to discriminating SZ patients using the features of brain region and connectivity derived from a combined multimodal MRI and connectomics analysis. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired from 140 SZ patients and 205 normal controls. Eighteen types of brain graphs were constructed for each subject using 3 types of node features, 3 types of edge features, and 2 brain atlases. We investigated the performance of 18 brain graphs and used the TopK pooling layers to highlight salient brain regions (nodes in the graph).ResultsThe GCN model, which used functional connectivity as edge features and multimodal features (sMRI + fMRI) of brain regions as node features, obtained the highest average accuracy of 95.8%, and outperformed other existing classification studies in SZ patients. In the explainability analysis, we reported that the top 10 salient brain regions, predominantly distributed in the prefrontal and occipital cortices, were mainly involved in the systems of emotion and visual processing.DiscussionOur findings demonstrated that GCN with a combined multimodal MRI and connectomics analysis can effectively improve the classification of SZ at an individual level, indicating a promising direction for the diagnosis of SZ patients. The code is available at https://github.com/CXY-scut/GCN-SZ.git.

Here the authors use broad-scale tree mortality data to estimate biomass loss, constraining uncertainty of projected forest net primary productivity in 6 models, finding weaker tropical forest carbon sinks with climate change.

Illicium verum Hook. F., also known as star anise, is one of the most important plants of the genus Anise in the family Magnoliaceae. I. verum not only has the functions of warming Yang, dispersing cold, regulating Qi and relieving pain but can also be used as a condiment to increase flavor as well as reconcile and remove fish smells. Currently, 201 chemical constituents have been identified from star anise; among these, star anise oil and shikimic acid are the two most widely used and studied chemical components in star anise, with the oil accounting for a large proportion of the total. This review integrates, classifies and updates studies related to the botany, pharmacology, phytochemistry, traditional and modern uses and quality control of star anise, with a special reference to its phytochemical composition and pharmacological activity. It will provide a reference for further research on this important medicinal plant. In addition, the broad applications and research profiles of star anise essential oil and shikimic acid are highlighted. Our review indicates that the research prospects regarding star anise are very broad and worthy of further investigation.

The imbalance between the supply and demand of ecological products between society and ecosystems is an important cause of a series of water ecological problems, and water ecological restoration projects aim to improve the above supply–demand relationship by means of inputs from the social side. For this reason, this paper takes the Yellow River Delta region as an example to launch a study on the assessment of the effectiveness of water ecological restoration projects from the perspective of the supply and demand of ecological products. Specifically, the level of the supply and demand of ecological products, as well as the relationship between the supply and the demand in the studied area, were measured using the equivalent factor approach and the water footprint approach, and the effects of the Yellow River Delta hydro-ecological restoration project were assessed by integrating the following four metrics: land use, supply of ecological products (ecosystem services), demand for ecological products, and the relationship between the supply of and demand for ecological products. The results of this study show that although the hydro-ecological restoration project continues to replenish water resources in the Yellow River Delta region, and promotes the level of ecological product supply in the study area through the restoration of wetlands and water, the growing and excessive demand for ecological products in the study area still puts the local ecosystems at risk of degradation. In the future, the Yellow River Delta region should continue to control the scale of land for production and living on the supply side of ecological products and increase its investment in water ecological restoration, while establishing a highly efficient mode of ecological product development and utilization and a reasonable mechanism for the payment of ecological products on the demand side. In addition, the Yellow River Delta region needs to pay attention to the impacts of rising sea levels and other climatic problems on ecological restoration.

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms pose a major threat. Among them, Microcystis aeruginosa has raised serious concerns for human health due to its frequent occurrence. In this study, an ecological floating-bed system consisting of activated carbon fibers, aquatic plants (Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal), animals (Daphnia), and a solar-powered ultrasonic device was designed. The algae-killing efficiency, removal mechanism, and toxicological effects of the floating-bed system on Microcystis aeruginosa were determined under different conditions. The results showed that the average activity of algal cell dehydrogenase (DHA) was reduced by 64.09%, the average malondialdehyde (MDA) content was reduced to 0.125 μmol/L, and the average removal rate of soluble protein was 57.22% under optimal conditions (pH = 7, temperature = 25 °C, dissolved oxygen concentration = 5 mg/L, and hydraulic retention time = 36 h). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the structure within the cells of Microcystis aeruginosa was severely damaged after treatment with the solar-powered ultrasonic carbon fiber eco-floating-bed system. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed that the pyrrole ring of chlorophyll-a was degraded. In addition, a tadpole-based micronucleus test and a comet assay were conducted to assess cell viability and DNA damage in water samples treated with the floating-bed system, and the results confirmed that chromosome damage and genotoxicity were significantly reduced. These findings suggest that the floating-bed system is effective in destroying algal cells, leading to massive algal cell death and reducing the risk of secondary contamination. This study provides a new perspective for further research on ecological floating-bed technology, demonstrating its potential practical application in the prevention and control of cyanobacterial blooms.

Abstract Background Large uncertainty in modeling land carbon (C) uptake heavily impedes the accurate prediction of the global C budget. Identifying the uncertainty sources among models is crucial for model improvement yet has been difficult due to multiple feedbacks within Earth System Models (ESMs). Here we present a Matrix-based Ensemble Model Inter-comparison Platform (MEMIP) under a unified model traceability framework to evaluate multiple soil organic carbon (SOC) models. Using the MEMIP, we analyzed how the vertically resolved soil biogeochemistry structure influences SOC prediction in two soil organic matter (SOM) models. By comparing the model outputs from the C-only and CN modes, the SOC differences contributed by individual processes and N feedback between vegetation and soil were explicitly disentangled. Results Results showed that the multi-layer models with a vertically resolved structure predicted significantly higher SOC than the single layer models over the historical simulation (1900–2000). The SOC difference between the multi-layer models was remarkably higher than between the single-layer models. Traceability analysis indicated that over 80% of the SOC increase in the multi-layer models was contributed by the incorporation of depth-related processes, while SOC differences were similarly contributed by the processes and N feedback between models with the same soil depth representation. Conclusions The output suggested that feedback is a non-negligible contributor to the inter-model difference of SOC prediction, especially between models with similar process representation. Further analysis with TRENDY v7 and more extensive MEMIP outputs illustrated the potential important role of multi-layer structure to enlarge the current ensemble spread and the necessity of more detail model decomposition to fully disentangle inter-model differences. We stressed the importance of analyzing ensemble outputs from the fundamental model structures, and holding a holistic view in understanding the ensemble uncertainty.

Abstract Large‐scale multi‐heterostructure and optimal band alignment are significantly challenging but vital for photoelectrochemical (PEC)‐type photodetector and water splitting. Herein, the centimeter‐scale bismuth chalcogenides‐based cascade heterostructure is successfully synthesized by a sequential vapor phase deposition method. The multi‐staggered band alignment of Bi2Te3/Bi2Se3/Bi2S3 is optimized and verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The PEC photodetectors based on these cascade heterostructures demonstrate the highest photoresponsivity (103 mA W−1 at −0.1 V and 3.5 mAW−1 at 0 V under 475 nm light excitation) among the previous reports based on two‐dimensional materials and related heterostructures. Furthermore, the photodetectors display a fast response (≈8 ms), a high detectivity (8.96 × 109 Jones), a high external quantum efficiency (26.17%), and a high incident photon‐to‐current efficiency (27.04%) at 475 nm. Due to the rapid charge transport and efficient light absorption, the Bi2Te3/Bi2Se3/Bi2S3 cascade heterostructure demonstrates a highly efficient hydrogen production rate (≈0.416 mmol cm−2 h−1 and ≈14.320 µmol cm−2 h−1 with or without sacrificial agent, respectively), which is far superior to those of pure bismuth chalcogenides and its type‐II heterostructures. The large‐scale cascade heterostructure offers an innovative method to improve the performance of optoelectronic devices in the future.

BackgroundHirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) is a common and life-threatening complication of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), which can occur before and after surgery. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the development of HAEC.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of HSCR patients admitted to the Children's Hospital of Shanxi Province, China, between January 2011 and August 2021. Diagnosis of HAEC was made using a scoring system with cutoff values ≥4 and included the patient's history, physical examination, and radiological and laboratory findings. The results are shown as frequency (%). The chi-square test was used to analyze a single factor with a significance level of P

BackgroundSchizophrenia patients with violent behavior are a severe public health concern, but the correlates of this violent behavior are unknown. Additionally, the relationship between neurocognitive function and violent behavior in Chinese patients with schizophrenia has not yet been investigated.MethodsA total of 337 schizophrenia inpatients were recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess psychopathological symptoms. Neurocognitive functioning was evaluated using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS).ResultsThe percentage of violent behavior was 10.4% in patients with schizophrenia. Patients with violent behavior had higher PANSS-positive, excited, and total subscale scores than patients who did not show violent behavior. Patients with violent behavior also had lower RBANS language, semantic fluency, and total subscale scores. Gender (OR = 0.066∼0.819, p = 0.023), illness duration (OR = 0.876∼0.971, p = 0.002), smoking (OR = 1.127∼2.950, p = 0.014), the PANSS positive subscale (OR = 1.050∼1.197, p = 0.001), and the RBANS language subscale (OR = 0.927∼0.987, p = 0.005) significantly contributed to the development of violent behavior in schizophrenia patients.ConclusionOur findings revealed that cognitive and clinical assessments should be considered in comprehensive assessments of future risks of violence in schizophrenia patients.

IntroductionMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a serious threat to public health worldwide. In December 2015, the Infectious Disease Surveillance of Pediatrics (ISPED) program was organized to monitor bacterial epidemiology and resistance trends in children.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted from January 2016–December 2021 on patients at eleven ISPED-group hospitals.ResultsFrom 2016–2021, a total of 13024 MRSA isolates were obtained from children. The most common age group for patients with MRSA infection was less than 3 years old, and newborns were an important group affected by MRSA infection. MRSA was most commonly isolated from the lower respiratory, an abscess, a secretion, or blood in neonates and from the lower respiratory, an abscess, or the upper respiratory in non-neonates. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid and resistant to penicillin; additionally, 76.88%, 54.97%, 22.30%, 5.67%, 5.14%, 3.63%, and 1.42% were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (TMP-SMX), gentamicin, and rifampin, respectively. Between 2016 and 2021, a significant increase was seen in the levofloxacin- and TMP-SMX-resistance rates (from 5.45% to 7.14% and from 4.67% to 6.50%, respectively) among MRSA isolates, along with a significant decrease in the rates of resistance to erythromycin (from 82.61% to 68.08%), clindamycin (from 60.95% to 46.82%), tetracycline (from 25.37% to 17.13%), gentamicin (from 4.53% to 2.82%), and rifampin (from 1.89% to 0.41%).DiscussionThe antibiotic-resistance rates varied among MRSA isolated from different sources. Because of the high antibiotic resistance rate to clindamycin, this antibiotic is not recommended for empirical treatment of MRSA infections, especially in osteomyelitis.

β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used to prepare remarkable and stable copper-based catalysts for hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) to ethylene glycol (EG). The DMO conversion (95.6% vs. 99.9%), EG selectivity (53.6% vs. 97.4%) and lifetime (25 h vs. 200 h) were significantly increased on the 0.2CD-Cu-SiO2 sample compared with Cu-SiO2 at 190 °C. The prominent catalytic property was due to the significant roles of β-cyclodextrin to regulate surface dispersion of copper species along with their particle sizes, namely improved copper phyllosilicate morphology, increased BET surface area, improved Cu dispersion, and enhanced surface ratio of Cu+/(Cu+ + Cu0).

Abstract It was still unclear how homocysteine (Hcy) levels and cognitive deficits change in patients with schizophrenia of various ages. The present article attempts to assess the relationship between Hcy levels and cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia across age groups, especially in young people. Totals of 103 patients and 122 healthy controls were included. All participants were stratified into four groups according to their age: 18–29 years, 30–39 years, 40–49 years, and 50–59 years. Clinical data, plasma Hcy levels, and cognitive function score were collected. Cognitive function was evaluated using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery of tests assessing speed of processing, verbal learning and memory, visual learning and memory, working memory, and attention/vigilance. Compared with the healthy group, Hcy levels increased significantly, and all the measured cognitive function score were significantly lower in all age groups of patients with schizophrenia (p

Vision plays a crucial role in the ability of compound-eyed insects to perceive the characteristics of their surroundings. Compound-eyed insects (such as the honeybee) can change the optical flow input of the visual system by autonomously controlling their behavior, and this is referred to as visual–motor coordination (VMC). To analyze an insect’s VMC mechanism in dynamic scenes, we developed a platform for studying insects that actively shape the optic flow of visual stimuli by adapting their flight behavior. Image-processing technology was applied to detect the posture and direction of insects’ movement, and automatic control technology provided dynamic scene stimulation and automatic acquisition of perceptual insect behavior. In addition, a virtual mapping technique was used to reconstruct the visual cues of insects for VMC analysis in a dynamic obstacle scene. A simulation experiment at different target speeds of 1–12 m/s was performed to verify the applicability and accuracy of the platform. Our findings showed that the maximum detection speed was 8 m/s, and triggers were 95% accurate. The outdoor experiments showed that flight speed in the longitudinal axis of honeybees was more stable when facing dynamic barriers than static barriers after analyzing the change in geometric optic flow. Finally, several experiments showed that the platform can automatically and efficiently monitor honeybees’ perception behavior, and can be applied to study most insects and their VMC.

Osmotolerant yeasts are considered one of the major contaminants responsible for spoilage in honey. To address the signature volatile components of jujube honey contaminated by Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and chemometrics analyses were used to analyze the variation of volatile substances during early contamination of mature and immature jujube honey. Undecanal, methyl butyrate, methyl 2-nonenoate, methyl hexanoate, and 2-methyl-3-pentanone were identified as signature volatiles of jujube honey contaminated with Z. rouxii. In addition, methyl heptanoate, 2,6,10-trimethyltetradecane, and heptanal were identified as potential volatile signatures for immature jujube honey. The R2 and Q2 of OPLS-DA analyses ranged from 0.736 to 0.955, and 0.991 to 0.997, which indicates that the constructed model was stable and predictive. This study has demonstrated that HS-SPME-GC-MS could be used to distinguish Z. rouxii-contaminated jujube honey from uncontaminated honey based on variation in VOCs, and could provide theoretical support for the use of HS-SPME-GC-MS for the rapid detection of honey decomposition caused by Z. rouxii, which could improve nutritional quality and reduce economic losses.

To address the potential risks to food safety, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) were used to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from chilled chicken contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus during early storage. Together with the KEGG database, we analyzed differential metabolites and their possible biotransformation pathways. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied to characterize VOCs and identify biomarkers associated with the early stage of chicken meat contamination with S. aureus. The results showed 2,6,10,15-tetramethylheptadecane, ethyl acetate, hexanal, 2-methylbutanal, butan-2-one, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 3-methylbutanal, and cyclohexanone as characteristic biomarkers, and 1-octen-3-ol, tetradecane, 2-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and ethyl 2-methylpropanoate as potential characteristic biomarkers. This provides a theoretical basis for the study of biomarkers of Staphylococcus aureus in poultry meat.

All-optical terahertz (THz) modulators have received tremendous attention due to their significant role in developing future sixth-generation technology and all-optical networks. Herein, the THz modulation performance of the Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure is investigated via THz time-domain spectroscopy under the control of continuous wave lasers at 532 nm and 405 nm. Broadband-sensitive modulation is observed at 532 nm and 405 nm within the experimental frequency range from 0.8 to 2.4 THz. The modulation depth reaches 80% under the 532 nm laser illumination with a maximum power of 250 mW and 96% under 405 nm illumination with a high power of 550 mW. The mechanism of the largely enhanced modulation depth is attributed to the construction of a type-II Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure, which could promote photogenerated electron and hole separation and increase carrier density dramatically. This work proves that a high photon energy laser can also achieve high-efficiency modulation based on the Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure, and the UV-Visible control laser may be more suitable for designing advanced all-optical THz modulators with micro-level sizes.

Abstract Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases that threaten human health, whereas more than 90% mortality of cancer patients is caused by tumor metastasis, rather than the growth of primary tumors. Thus, how to effectively control or even reverse the migration of tumor cells is of great significance for cancer therapy. CtBP, a transcriptional cofactor displaying high expression in a variety of human cancers, has become one of the main targets for cancer prediction, diagnosis, and treatment. The roles of CtBP in promoting tumorigenesis have been well studied in vitro, mostly based on gain-of-function, while its physiological functions in tumor invasion and the underlying mechanism remain largely elusive. Snail (Sna) is a well-known transcription factor involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor invasion, yet the mechanism that regulates Sna activity has not been fully understood. Using Drosophila as a model organism, we found that depletion of CtBP or snail (sna) suppressed RasV12/lgl -/- -triggered tumor growth and invasion, and disrupted cell polarity-induced invasive cell migration. In addition, loss of CtBP inhibits RasV12/Sna-induced tumor invasion and Sna-mediated invasive cell migration. Furthermore, both CtBP and Sna are physiologically required for developmental cell migration during thorax closure. Finally, Sna activates the JNK signaling and promotes JNK-dependent cell invasion. Given that CtBP physically interacts with Sna, our data suggest that CtBP and Sna may form a transcriptional complex that regulates JNK-dependent tumor invasion and cell migration in vivo.

Excessive fluoride anions in drinking water are toxic to the health of human beings. In this article, an effective fluoride removal adsorbent on the basis of amino-functionalized porous polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) was prepared through low cost processes, which included solvothermal preparation of porous PDVB and subsequent surface amino-functionalization. The obtained amino-functionalized porous PDVB (A-PDVB) has high surface area of 443 m2 g−1 and high adsorption capacity towards fluoride anion up to 105.9 mg g−1. Considering adsorbents surface area, the adsorption capacity per unit surface area of A-PDVB is 0.24 mg m−2 which is more than 4 times of porous PDVB (0.058 mg m−2). The enhanced adsorption performance of A-PDVB was due to amino groups electrostatic interaction coupled with hydrogen bond binding with fluoride anions. In addition, the amino-functionalized porous PDVB could be regenerated in high efficiency under alkaline conditions. This work not only exhibits the possibility of A-PDVB for application as an environment-friendly adsorbent for fluoride removal but also gives an insight into understanding mechanism of the fluoride anions adsorption onto amino-functionalized porous PDVB.

BackgroundThere has been growing evidence of the existence of abnormalities in the kynurenine pathway (KP) and structural gray matter volume (GMV) in schizophrenia (SCZ). Numerous studies have suggested that abnormal kynurenine metabolism (KM) in the brain is clearly associated with the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and may be one of the pathological mechanisms of SCZ. In this pilot study, we investigated whether there was a correlation between KP and GMV in schizophrenia patients.MethodsThe plasma levels of KM were measured in 41 patients who met the Structured Clinical Interview of the Diagnostic IV criteria for schizophrenia and 60 healthy controls by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and cortical thickness (as measured via magnetic resonance imaging) was obtained.ResultsOur study showed no statistically significant differences in the concentrations of kynurenine (KYN), tryptophan (TRP), and KYNA/TRP (all p > 0.05), but kynurenic acid (KYNA) and the KYNA/KYN ratio were significantly higher in the schizophrenia subjects than in the healthy controls (F = 4.750, p = 0.032; F = 6.153, p = 0.015, respectively) after controlling for age and sex. Spearman's tests showed that KYN concentrations in SCZ patients were negatively correlated with GMV in the left front cingulate belt (r = −0.325, p = 0.046) and that KYN/TRP was negatively correlated with GMV in the left island (r = −0.396, p = 0.014) and right island (r = −0.385, p = 0.017).ConclusionOur findings appear to provide new insights into the predisposition of an imbalance in the relative metabolism of KYN/TRP and KYN to GMV in schizophrenia.

The intermittent fasting regimen (IFR) has been certified as an effective strategy for improving metabolism. But the underlying mechanism is still obscure. Beige induction in white adipose tissue (WAT) by IFR may account for this. It has been demonstrated that the erupting of pregnancy zone protein (PZP) from the liver coincides with membrane translocation of grp78 in brown adipocytes during IFR to activate brown adipose tissue (BAT), which may partly explain the metabolic benefits of IFR. Liver-derived PZP appears to be responsible for all metabolic regulatory functions; the effect of boosting energy expenditure disappeared in liver-deficient mice. To verify whether any liver-specific modification was essential for functional PZP, we used the PZP adipose tissue-specific overexpression mice model (PZP TG). We found that the metabolic disorders induced by high-fat diet were improved in PZP TG mice under IFR. Additionally, in addition to the activation of BAT, UCP1 protein and angiogenesis were increased in WAT, as well as the expression of genes associated with glucose utilization. These results demonstrate that PZP fat-specific TG increased the energy conversion of WAT, indicating that WAT may be another direct target for PZP during IFR.

Abstract Background Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contributes to overall tumor progression. In the current survey, we explored the ability of microRNA‐20a (miR‐20a) within these CAF‐derived exosomes to influence non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Materials and methods Normal tissue‐associated fibroblasts (NAFs) and CAFs were collected from samples of NSCLC patient tumors and paracancerous lung tissues. Exosomes derived from these cells were then characterized via Western blotting, nanoparticle tracking analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The expression of miR‐20a was assessed via qPCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). CCK‐8, EdU uptake, and colony formation assessments were used for evaluating tumor proliferation, while Hoechst staining was performed to monitor the in vitro apoptotic death of tumor cells. A model of xenograft tumor established in nude mice was also used to evaluate in vivo tumor responses. Results CAF‐derived exosomes exhibited miR‐20a upregulation and promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and resistance to cisplatin (DDP). Mechanistically, CAF‐derived exosomes were discovered to transmit miR‐20a to tumor cells wherein it was able to target PTEN to enhance DDP resistance and proliferation. Associated PTEN downregulation following exosome‐derived miR‐20a treatment enhanced PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Conclusion The achieved outcomes explain that CAFs can release miR‐20a‐containing exosomes capable of promoting NSCLC progression and chemoresistance, highlighting this pathway as a possible therapeutic target in NSCLC.

Abstract Land ecosystems contribute to climate change mitigation by taking up approximately 30% of anthropogenically emitted carbon. However, estimates of the amount and distribution of carbon uptake across the world's ecosystems or biomes display great uncertainty. The latter hinders a full understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of land carbon uptake, and predictions of the future fate of the land carbon sink. The latter is needed as evidence to inform climate mitigation strategies such as afforestation schemes. To advance land carbon cycle modeling, we have developed a matrix approach. Land carbon cycle models use carbon balance equations to represent carbon exchanges among pools. Our approach organizes this set of equations into a single matrix equation without altering any processes of the original model. The matrix equation enables the development of a theoretical framework for understanding the general, transient behavior of the land carbon cycle. While carbon input and residence time are used to quantify carbon storage capacity at steady state, a third quantity, carbon storage potential, integrates fluxes with time to define dynamic disequilibrium of the carbon cycle under global change. The matrix approach can help address critical contemporary issues in modeling, including pinpointing sources of model uncertainty and accelerating spin‐up of land carbon cycle models by tens of times. The accelerated spin‐up liberates models from the computational burden that hinders comprehensive parameter sensitivity analysis and assimilation of observational data to improve model accuracy. Such computational efficiency offered by the matrix approach enables substantial improvement of model predictions using ever‐increasing data availability. Overall, the matrix approach offers a step change forward for understanding and modeling the land carbon cycle.

In this article, a new method for generating grid multi-wing chaotic attractors from fractional-order linear differential systems is proposed. In order to generate grid multi-wing attractors, we extend the method of constructing heteroclinic loops from classical differential equations to fractional-order differential equations. Firstly, two basic fractional-order linear systems are obtained by linearization at two symmetric equilibrium points of the fractional-order Rucklidge system. Then a heteroclinic loop is constructed and all equilibrium points of the two basic fractional-order linear systems are connected by saturation function switching control. Secondly, the theoretical methods of switching control and construction of heteromorphic rings of fractal-order two-wing and multi-wing chaotic attractors are studied. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified by numerical simulation.

Abstract The effect of the gut microbiome on the central nervous system and its possible role in mental disorders have received increasing attention. However, knowledge about the relationship between the gut microbiome and brain structure and function is still very limited. Here, we used 16S rRNA sequencing with structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional (rs-fMRI) to investigate differences in fecal microbiota between 38 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and 38 demographically matched normal controls (NCs) and explored whether such differences were associated with brain structure and function. At the genus level, we found that the relative abundance of Ruminococcus and Roseburia was significantly lower, whereas the abundance of Veillonella was significantly higher in SZ patients than in NCs. Additionally, the analysis of MRI data revealed that several brain regions showed significantly lower gray matter volume (GMV) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) but significantly higher amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in SZ patients than in NCs. Moreover, the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota showed a strong linear relationship with the values of both GMV and ReHo. In SZ patients, the ReHo indexes in the right STC (r = − 0.35, p = 0.031, FDR corrected p = 0.039), the left cuneus (r = − 0.33, p = 0.044, FDR corrected p = 0.053) and the right MTC (r = − 0.34, p = 0.03, FDR corrected p = 0.052) were negatively correlated with the abundance of the genus Roseburia. Our results suggest that the potential role of the gut microbiome in SZ is related to alterations in brain structure and function. This study provides insights into the underlying neuropathology of SZ.

Although 17β-estradiol (E2) can be locally synthesized in the brain, whether and how brain-derived E2 (BDE2) impacts neurogenesis with aging is largely unclear. In this study, we examined the hippocampal neural stem cells, neurogenesis, and gliogenesis of 1, 3, 6, 14, and 18-month (Mon) female rats. Female forebrain neuronal aromatase knockout (FBN-ARO-KO) rats and letrozole-treated rats were also employed. We demonstraed that (1) the number of neural stem cells declined over 14-Mon age, and the differentiation of astrocytes and microglia markedly elevated and exhibited excessive activation. KO rats showed declines in astrocyte A2 subtype and elevation in A1 subtype at 18 Mon; (2) neurogenesis sharply dropped from 1-Mon age; (3) KO suppressed dentate gyrus (DG) neurogenesis at 1, 6 and 18 Mon. Additionally, KO and letrozole treatment led to declined neurogenesis at 1-Mon age, compared to age-matched WT controls; (4) FBN-ARO-KO inhibited CREB-BDNF activation, and decreased protein levels of neurofilament, spinophilin and PSD95. Notably, hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory was impaired in juvenile (1 Mon) and adulthood (6 Mon) KO rats. Taken together, we demonstrated that BDE2 plays a pivotal role for hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as learning and memory during female aging, especially in juvenile and middle age.

In this paper, a deep learning-based prediction model VMD-GLRT is proposed to address the accuracy problem of service load prediction. The VMD-GLRT model combines Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and GRU-LSTM. At the same time, the model incorporates residual networks and self-attentive mechanisms to improve accuracy of the model. The VMD part decomposes the original time series into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and a residual part. The other part uses a GRU-LSTM structure with ResNets and Self-Attention to learn the features of the IMF and the residual part. The model-building process focuses on three main aspects: Firstly, a mathematical model is constructed based on the data characteristics of the service workload. At the same time, VMD is used to decompose the input time series into multiple components to improve the efficiency of the model in extracting features from the data. Secondly, a long and short-term memory (LSTM) network unit is incorporated into the residual network, allowing the network to correct the predictions more accurately and improve the performance of the model. Finally, a self-focus mechanism is incorporated into the model, allowing the model to better capture features over long distances. This improves the dependence of the output vector on these features. To validate the performance of the model, experiences were conducted using open-source datasets. The experimental results were compared with other deep learning and statistical models, and it was found that the model proposed in this paper achieved improvements in mean absolute percentage error (MAPE).

Terahertz radiation: thin film enhancement A new method for generating terahertz waves exploits the low-permittivity properties of an ultrathin film. Terahertz radiation, falling between the infrared and microwave range, has emerging applications in imaging, communications and materials inspection, and is usually generated through the rectification of optical signals in nonlinear crystals. Yuanmu Yang at Tsinghua University in Beijing and co-workers tried an alternative approach, directing a near-infrared laser onto commercially available films of indium tin oxide just 19 nanometres thick. They observed a large enhancement in the terahertz generation when they tuned the laser to hit the film’s ‘epsilon-near-zero’ state—a point where the permittivity of the thin film becomes vanishingly small. The method is relatively inefficient, but the researchers suggest that it could be enhanced by using other thin films in conjunction with metamaterials.

Pig islet xenotransplantation is a potential treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes. Current efforts are focused on identifying the optimal pig islet source and overcoming the immunological barrier. The optimal age of the pig donors remains controversial since both adult and neonatal pig islets have advantages. Isolation of adult islets using GMP grade collagenase has significantly improved the quantity and quality of adult islets, but neonatal islets can be isolated at a much lower cost. Certain culture media and coculture with mesenchymal stromal cells facilitate neonatal islet maturation and function. Genetic modification in pigs affords a promising strategy to prevent rejection. Deletion of expression of the three known carbohydrate xenoantigens (Gal, Neu5Gc, Sda) will certainly be beneficial in pig organ transplantation in humans, but this is not yet proven in islet transplantation, though the challenge of the ‘4th xenoantigen’ may prove problematic in nonhuman primate models. Blockade of the CD40/CD154 costimulation pathway leads to long-term islet graft survival (of up to 965 days). Anti-CD40mAbs have already been applied in phase II clinical trials of islet allotransplantation. Fc region-modified anti-CD154mAbs successfully prevent the thrombotic complications reported previously. In this review, we discuss (I) the optimal age of the islet-source pig, (ii) progress in genetic modification of pigs, (iii) the immunosuppressive regimen for pig islet xenotransplantation, and (iv) the reduction in the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction.

Accelerated brain aging had been widely reported in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). However, brain aging trajectories in SZ patients have not been well-documented using three-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. In this study, 138 schizophrenia patients and 205 normal controls aged 20–60 were included and multimodal MRI data were acquired for each individual, including structural MRI, resting state-functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. The brain age of each participant was estimated by features extracted from multimodal MRI data using linear multiple regression. The correlation between the brain age gap and chronological age in SZ patients was best fitted by a positive quadratic curve with a peak chronological age of 47.33 years. We used the peak to divide the subjects into a youth group and a middle age group. In the normal controls, brain age matched chronological age well for both the youth and middle age groups, but this was not the case for schizophrenia patients. More importantly, schizophrenia patients exhibited increased brain age in the youth group but not in the middle age group. In this study, we aimed to investigate brain aging trajectories in SZ patients using multimodal MRI data and revealed an aberrant brain age trajectory in young schizophrenia patients, providing new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia.

This paper proposes a new memristor model and uses pinched hysteresis loops (PHL) to prove the memristor characteristics of the model. Then, a new 6D fractional-order memristive Hopfield neural network (6D-FMHNN) is presented by using this memristor to simulate the induced current, and the bifurcation characteristics and coexistence attractor characteristics of fractional memristor Hopfield neural network is studied. Because this 6D-FMHNN has chaotic characteristics, we also use this 6D-FMHNN to generate a random number and apply it to the field of image encryption. We make a series of analysis on the randomness of random numbers and the security of image encryption, and prove that the encryption algorithm using this 6D-FMHNN is safe and sensitive to the key.