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Abstract In a large class of nonlocal as well as local higher derivative theories minimally coupled to the matter sector, we investigate the exactness of two different classes of homogeneous Gödel-type solutions, which may or may not allow closed time-like curves (CTC). Our analysis is limited to spacetimes solving the Einstein’s EoM, thus we can not exclude the presence of other Gödel-type solutions solving the EoM of local and nonlocal higher derivative theories but not the Einstein’s EoM. It turns out that the homogeneous Gödel spacetimes without CTC are basically exact solutions for all theories, while the metrics with CTC are not exact solutions of (super-)renormalizable local or nonlocal gravitational theories. Hence, the quantum renormalizability property excludes theories suffering of the Gödel’s causality violation. We also comment about nonlocal gravity non-minimally coupled to matter. In this class of theories, all the Gödel’s spacetimes, with or without CTC, are exact solutions at classical level. However, the quantum corrections, although perturbative, very likely spoil the exactness of such solutions. Therefore, we can state that the Gödel’s Universes with CTC and the super-renormalizability are mutually exclusive.

ObjectiveExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced life support that has been utilized in the neonate for refractory respiratory and circulatory failure. Striving for the best outcomes and understanding optimal surgical techniques continue to be at the forefront of discussion and research. This study presents a single-center experience of cervically cannulated neonatal patients on V-A ECMO, a description of our cannulation/decannulation techniques and our patient outcomes.MethodsSingle center retrospective review of neonates who received neck V-A ECMO support from January 2012 to December 2022. The data and outcomes of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsA total of 78 neonates received V-A ECMO support. There were 66 patients that received ECMO for respiratory support, the other 12 patients that received ECMO for cardiac support. The median duration of ECMO support was 109 (32–293) hours for all patients. During ECMO support, 20 patients died and 5 patients discontinued treatment due to poor outcome or the cost. A total of 53 (68%) patients were successfully weaned from ECMO, but 3 of them died in the subsequent treatment. Overall 50 (64%) patients survived to hospital discharge. In this study, 48 patients were cannulated using the vessel sparing technique, the other 30 patients were cannulated using the ligation technique. We found no significant difference in the rates of normal cranial MRI at discharge between survivors with and without common carotid artery ligation.ConclusionWe achieved satisfactory outcomes of neonatal ECMO in 11-year experience. This study found no significant difference in early neuroimaging between survivors with and without common carotid artery ligation. The long-term neurological function of ECMO survivors warranted further follow-up and study.

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to examine the impact of short video addiction on college students' sleep quality and to elucidate the mechanism underlying this relationship. Thus, we examined the correlation between short video addiction and sleep quality and analyzed the roles of physical activity and procrastination.MethodsThe Short Video Addiction Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Aitken Procrastination Inventory, and Physical Activity Rating Scale were administered to 337 college students. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0. Pearson's correlation analysis and mediation analysis using the bootstrapping test were performed for the standard method bias test.Results(1) Overall, 25.2% of college students had problems with sleep quality (indicated by a PSQI score ≥ 8). (2) Short video addiction score is positively correlated with college students' sleep quality score; procrastination score was positively associated with both short video addiction score and sleep quality score, and physical activity score was negatively associated with them. (3) Short video addiction significantly positive predicted sleep quality (β = 0.458, P < 0.001), a significant negative predictive effect on physical exercise (β = −0.183, P < 0.001), and a significant positive effect on procrastination behavior (β = 0.246, P < 0.001). After physical exercise and procrastination behavior were entered into the regression equation, short video addiction and procrastination were significantly positive predictors of sleep quality, and physical activity was significantly negative predictor of sleep quality. (4) After accounting for the variables of age, gender, and grade, physical activity and procrastination behaviors independently mediated the association between short-video addiction and sleep quality. Physical activity and procrastination behavior acted as chain mediators in the association between short video addiction and sleep quality, with a chain mediation effect percentage of 1.04%. Short video addiction directly affects college students' sleep quality, indirectly through physical activity and procrastination behavior.

Abstract The design of catalysts with tunable active sites in heterogeneous interface structures is crucial for addressing challenges in the water‐splitting process. Herein, a hollow spherical heterostructure FeCo‐P is successfully prepared by hydrothermal and phosphorization methods. This hollow structure, along with the heterogeneous interface between Co2P and FeP, not only facilitates the exposure of more active sites, but also increases the contact area between the catalyst and the electrolyte, as well as shortens the distance for mass/electron transfer. This enhancement promotes electron transfer to facilitate water decomposition. FeCo‐P exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution (HER) and oxygen evolution (OER) performance when reaching @ 10 mA cm−2 in 1 mol L−1 KOH, with overpotentials of 131/240 mV for HER/OER. Furthermore, when FeCo‐P is used as both the cathode and anode for overall water splitting (OWS), it only requires low voltages of 1.49, 1.55, and 1.57 V to achieve CDs of 10, 100, and 300 mA cm−2, respectively. Density functional theory calculations indicate that constructing a Co2P and FeP heterogeneous interface with good lattice matching can facilitate electron redistribution, thereby enhancing the electrocatalytic performance of OWS. This work opens up new possibilities for the rational design of efficient water electrolysis catalysts derived from MOFs.

The skin mucus of fish is an important part of the innate immune system, which is poorly understood at the proteomic level. The study established a complete map of the proteins in the skin mucus of Ctenopharangdon idella (C. idella) and discussed the Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) after Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) infection. Using Label Free Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis, a total of 126 proteins were identified as differentially expressed, 89 proteins of which were upregulated, and 37 proteins were downregulated. Functional annotations of DEPs showed that the upregulated proteins in the skin mucus of the treated group were mostly associated with complement system and cytoskeleton proteins, whereas downregulated proteins were associated with metabolism. The key upregulated immune proteins were transferrin variant C, lysozyme g, annexin A11, 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 8, hypothetical protein ROHU_000884, 60S ribosomal L7a, calpain-2 catalytic subunit-like protein, calpain-9-like protein, complement component C9, complement C3, cathepsin S, cathepsin Z, 14 kDa apolipo, heat shock protein and intelectin, whereas, leukocyte elastase inhibitor, annexin A11, C-factor-like protein, biotinidase isoform X1 and epidermal growth factor receptor substrate 15-like were the downregulated proteins. Moreover, we for the first-time report proteins such as coactosin, lamin-B2 and kelch 12, which were never reported in fish. Our study directly pointing out the possible immunological biomarkers in the skin mucus of C. idella after A. hydrophila treatment. Each of the protein we report in this study could be used as base to establish their mechanism of action during bacterial infection that may contribute to the strategies against bacterial prevention and control in fishes.

Channel catfish virus (CCV, Ictalurid herpesvirus 1) is the causative pathogen of channel catfish virus disease, which has caused high mortality and substantial economic losses in the catfish aquaculture industry. Due to the lack of licensed prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic drugs, the prevention and control of CCV infection seem to remain stagnant. Active compounds from medicinal plants offer eligible sources of pharmaceuticals and lead drugs to fight against endemic and pandemic diseases and exhibit excellent effect against viral infection. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral ability of 12 natural compounds against CCV with cell models in vitro and found kaempferol exhibited the strongest inhibitory compound against CCV infection among all the tested compounds. Correspondingly, kaempferol decreased transcription levels of viral genes and the synthesis of viral proteins, as well as reduced proliferation and release of viral progeny, the severity of the CPE induced by CCV in a dose-dependent manner, based on quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting, viral cytopathic effects (CPE) and viral titer assessment. Moreover, time-of-drug-addition assays, virus attachment, and penetration assays revealed that kaempferol exerted anti-CCV activity probably by blocking attachment and internalization of the viral entry process. Altogether, the present results indicated that kaempferol may be a promising candidate antiviral agent against CCV infection, which shed light on the development of a novel and potent treatment for fish herpesvirus infection.

ABSTRACTIn many Vibrio species, virulence is regulated by quorum sensing, which is regulated by a complex, multichannel, two-component phosphorelay circuit. Through this circuit, sensor kinases transmit sensory information to the phosphotransferase LuxU via a phosphotransfer mechanism, which in turn transmits the signal to the response regulator LuxO. For Vibrio parahaemolyticus, type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1) is required for cytotoxicity, but it is unclear how quorum sensing regulates T3SS1 expression. Herein, we report that a hybrid histidine kinase, ArcB, instead of LuxU, and sensor kinase LuxQ and response regulator LuxO, collectively orchestrate T3SS1 expression in V. parahaemolyticus. Under high oxygen conditions, LuxQ can interact with ArcB directly and phosphorylates the Hpt domain of ArcB. The Hpt domain of ArcB phosphorylates the downstream response regulator LuxO instead of ArcA. LuxO then activates transcription of the T3SS1 gene cluster. Under hypoxic conditions, ArcB autophosphorylates and phosphorylates ArcA, whereas ArcA does not participate in regulating the expression of T3SS1. Our data provides evidence of an alternative regulatory path involving the quorum sensing phosphorelay and adds another layer of understanding about the environmental regulation of gene expression in V. parahaemolyticus.

Objective: Tumor cells hijack inflammatory mechanisms to promote their own growth. IL-6 is one of the major cytokines, and is frequently upregulated in tumors. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) generates the indispensable building blocks to produce various nucleotides. Here we aimed to determine whether and how PPP is timely tuned in response to IL-6 to support tumor growth. Methods: Protein expression was examined by immunoblot. Protein interaction was examined by immunoprecipitation. Tumor cell proliferation in in vitro culture was examined by BrdU assay and colony formation assay. Tumor cell proliferation in mouse xenograft model was examined by Ki-67 staining. Results: Here we show that the metabolic flux of PPP and enzymatic activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is rapidly induced under IL-6 treatment, without obvious changes in G6PD expression level. Mechanistically, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) phosphorylates G6PD Y437 under IL-6 treatment, which accentuates G6PD enzymatic activity by promoting G6PD binding with its substrate G6P. Further, JAK2-dependent G6PD Y437 phosphorylation is required for IL-6-induced nucleotide biosynthesis and tumor cell proliferation, and is associated with the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Our findings report a new mechanism implicated in the crosstalk between tumor cells and inflammatory microenvironment, by which JAK2-dependent activation of G6PD governs nucleotide synthesis to support tumor cell proliferation, thereby highlighting its value as a potential anti-tumor target.

ABSTRACTThrombocytopenia is one of the most common hematological adverse reactions in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) therapy, causing life-threatening bleeding cases. However, there are fewer therapeutic drugs for TKI-induced thrombocytopenia. Eltrombopag is a non-peptide thrombopoietin receptor agonist used for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia， aplastic anemia, and hepatitis C-associated thrombocytopenia. Nevertheless, studies of eltrombopag for TKI-induced thrombocytopenia are still lacking. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical and test data of 21 CML patients with TKI-related thrombocytopenia. The results demonstrated that the median baseline value of thrombocytopenia in the 21 CML patients was 15.57 × 109/L [2–28 × 109/L]. Following treatment with eltrombopag, 16 patients had a significant increase in their platelet levels. The peak median for platelet increase in effective responders was 145.12 × 109/L (51–460 × 109/L). However, 5 patients failed to respond to eltrombopag. Moreover, 4 of the 21 patients enrolled had adverse reactions, including reversible liver function impairment, palpitation, headache, insomnia, and loss of appetite. Nonetheless, no cases of disease progression, thrombotic events, or myelofibrosis were observed. Hence, eltrombopag may be a useful adjunctive therapy for relieving TKI-related thrombocytopenia in patients with CML.

Interleukins (ILs) are a subgroup of secreted cytokines, which are molecules involved in the intercellular regulation of the immune system. In this study, 12 IL homologs were cloned and functionally identified from obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus, and they were termed as ToIL-1β, ToIL-1, ToIL-6, ToIL-10, ToIL-11, ToIL-12, ToIL-17, ToIL-18, ToIL-20, ToIL-24, ToIL-27, and ToIL-34. Multiple alignment results showed that except for ToIL-24 and ToIL-27, other deduced ToIL proteins shared typical characteristics and structure with other known fish ILs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 12 ToILs were evolutionarily closely related to their counterparts in other selected vertebrates. Tissue distribution assay demonstrated that the mRNA transcripts of most ToIL genes were constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, with relatively high expression in immune tissues. Following Vibrio harveyi and Staphylococcus aureus infection, the expression levels of 12 ToILs in the spleen and liver were significantly upregulated, and their response over time varied. Taken together, these data were discussed accordingly with the ToIL expression and the immune response under the different situations tested. The results suggest that the 12 ToIL genes are involved in the antibacterial immune response in T. obscurus.

Baiyuerius gen. nov., a new genus of the subfamily Coelotinae F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 is described, including five new species: B. daxi sp. nov. (♀), B. pindong sp. nov. (♂), B. tamdao sp. nov. (♀), B. zhuping sp. nov. (♂) and B. zuojiang sp. nov. (♂♀), from southern China and northern Vietnam. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses support Baiyuerius gen. nov. as monophyletic and as a sister group of the newly established genus Yunguirius Li, Zhao & Li, 2023.

Abstract Expression of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) keratin-7 antisense (KRT7-AS) is downregulated in various types of cancer; however, the impact of KRT7-AS deficiency on tumorigenesis and apoptosis is enigmatic. We aim to explore the influence of KRT7-AS in carcinogenesis and apoptosis. We found that KRT7-AS was deficient in breast and lung cancers, and low levels of KRT7-AS were a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer. Cellular studies showed that silencing of KRT7-AS in lung cancer cells increased oncogenic Keratin-7 levels and enhanced tumorigenesis, but diminished cancer apoptosis of the cancer cells; by contrast, overexpression of KRT7-AS inhibited lung cancer cell tumorigenesis. Additionally, KRT7-AS sensitized cancer cells to the anti-cancer drug cisplatin, consequently enhancing cancer cell apoptosis. In vivo, KRT7-AS overexpression significantly suppressed tumor growth in xenograft mice, while silencing of KRT7-AS promoted tumor growth. Mechanistically, KRT7-AS reduced the levels of oncogenic Keratin-7 and significantly elevated amounts of the key tumor suppressor PTEN in cancer cells through directly binding to PTEN protein via its core nucleic acid motif GGCAAUGGCGG. This inhibited the ubiquitination-proteasomal degradation of PTEN protein, therefore elevating PTEN levels in cancer cells. We also found that KRT7-AS gene transcription was driven by the transcription factor RXRα; intriguingly, the small molecule berberine enhanced KRT7-AS expression, reduced tumorigenesis, and promoted apoptosis of cancer cells. Collectively, KRT7-AS functions as a new tumor suppressor and an apoptosis enhancer in lung and breast cancers, and we unraveled that the RXRα-KRT7-AS-PTEN signaling axis controls carcinogenesis and apoptosis. Our findings highlight a tumor suppressive role of endogenous KRT7-AS in cancers and an important effect the RXRα-KRT7-AS-PTEN axis on control of cancer cell tumorigenesis and apoptosis, and offer a new platform for developing novel therapeutics against cancers.

A new genus of the subfamily Coelotinae F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893, Yunguirius gen. nov. is described, comprising two new species and three species previously described in Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999, all from southwest China: Y. duoge sp. nov. (♀), Y. xiangding sp. nov. (♀), Y. ornatus (Wang, Yin, Peng & Xie, 1990) comb. nov. (♂♀) (the type species of Yunguirius gen. nov.), Y. subterebratus (Zhang, Zhu & Wang, 2017) comb. nov. (♀), and Y. terebratus (Peng & Wang, 1997) comb. nov. (♂♀). Molecular analyses support Yunguirius gen. nov. as a monophyletic group, with the Sinodraconarius clade as its sister group: Yunguirius gen. nov. + (Hengconarius + (Nuconarius + Sinodraconarius)).

Abstract Background Global connectivity and environmental change pose continuous threats to dengue invasions from worldwide to China. However, the intrinsic relationship on introduction and outbreak risks of dengue driven by the landscape features are still unknown. This study aimed to map the patterns on source-sink relation of dengue cases and assess the driving forces for dengue invasions in China. Methods We identified the local and imported cases (2006–2020) and assembled the datasets on environmental conditions. The vector auto-regression model was applied to detect the cross-relations of source-sink patterns. We selected the major environmental drivers via the Boruta algorithm to assess the driving forces in dengue outbreak dynamics by applying generalized additive models. We reconstructed the internal connections among imported cases, local cases, and external environmental drivers using the structural equation modeling. Results From 2006 to 2020, 81,652 local dengue cases and 12,701 imported dengue cases in China were reported. The hotspots of dengue introductions and outbreaks were in southeast and southwest China, originating from South and Southeast Asia. Oversea-imported dengue cases, as the Granger-cause, were the initial driver of the dengue dynamic; the suitable local bio-socioecological environment is the fundamental factor for dengue epidemics. The Bio8 [odds ratio (OR) = 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.67–2.68], Bio9 (OR = 291.62, 95% CI: 125.63–676.89), Bio15 (OR = 4.15, 95% CI: 3.30–5.24), normalized difference vegetation index in March (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06–1.51) and July (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00–1.07), and the imported cases are the major drivers of dengue local transmissions (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 4.34–5.28). The intermediary effect of an index on population and economic development to local cases via the path of imported cases was detected in the dengue dynamic system. Conclusions Dengue outbreaks in China are triggered by introductions of imported cases and boosted by landscape features and connectivity. Our research will contribute to developing nature-based solutions for dengue surveillance, mitigation, and control from a socio-ecological perspective based on invasion ecology theories to control and prevent future dengue invasion and localization. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Occlusal analysis is essential in the dental clinical practice. However, the traditional occlusal analysis performed on the two-dimensional level can not directly correspond to the tooth surface with three-dimensional profile, therefore the clinical guidance value is limited. Methods By combining the 3D digital dental models and quantitative data from 2D occlusal contact analysis, this study constructed a novel digital occlusal analysis method. The validity and reliability of DP and SA were verified by comparing the results of occlusal analysis of 22 participants. ICC values for occlusal contact area (OCA) and occlusal contact number (OCN) were tested. Results Results confirmed the reliability of the two occlusal analysis methods with ICC values of 0.909 for SAOCA, 0.906 for DPOCA, 0.929 for SAOCN and 0.904 for DPOCN. The Bland-Altman plot, paired t-test (tOCN = 0.691, P > 0.05) and Pearson correlation analysis results (R = 0.68, p

Grain size influences the yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.), and grain length is one of the component traits of grain size. In this study, a near-isogenic line LB3 with long grain size was constructed using japonica rice cultivar 02428, with short grain size, as the recipient parent and indica rice cultivar ZYX, with long grain size, as the donor parent, by multi-generation backcrossing and selfing. BSA-seq was used for preliminary QTL mapping and InDel markers were developed to fine map the locus. The major QTL, tentatively named qGL10, for grain length was located in a 128.45 kb region of chromosome 10. Combined with haplotype analysis of rice varieties, expression pattern analysis of candidate genes suggested LOC_Os10g39130 (OsMADS56) as a candidate gene. Sequence alignment of OsMADS56 in 02428 and LB3 revealed that there were 15 SNPs in the promoter region and four in the coding region. Further haplotype analysis suggested that SNP9 (G/A) located in the TGTCACA motif might account for the different expression levels of OsMADS56 in 02428 and LB3. These results lay a foundation for the application of qGL10 in molecular breeding of new rice varieties.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a pathogen that causes severe abortions in sows and high piglet mortality, resulting in huge economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. The emerging and novel PRRSV isolates are clinically and biologically important, as there are likely recombination and pathogenic differences among PRRSV genomes. Furthermore, the NADC34-like strain has become a major epidemic strain in some parts of China, but the characterization and pathogenicity of the latest strain in Inner Mongolia have not been reported in detail. In this study, an NADC34-like strain (CHNMGKL1-2304) from Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia was successfully isolated and characterized, and confirmed the pathogenicity in pigs. The phylogenetic tree showed that this strain belonged to sublineage 1.5 and had high homology with the strain JS2021NADC34. There is no recombination between CHNMGKL1-2304 and any other domestic strains. Animal experiments show that the CHNMGKL1-2304 strain is moderately virulent to piglets, which show persistent fever, weight loss and high morbidity but no mortality. The presence of PRRSV nucleic acids was detected in both blood, tissues, nasal and fecal swabs. In addition, obvious pathological changes and positive signals were observed in lung, lymph node, liver and spleen tissues when subjected to hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). This report can provide a basis for epidemiological investigations and subsequent studies of PRRSV.

Old landslides in the Loess Plateau, Northwest China usually occurred over a relatively long period, and their sizes are usually smaller compared to old landslides in the alpine valley areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Southeast Tibet. These landslide areas may have been changed either partially or greatly, and they are usually covered with vegetation and similar to their surrounding environment. Therefore, it is a great challenge to detect them using high-resolution remote sensing images with only orthophoto view. This paper proposes the optimal-view and multi-view strategic hybrid deep learning (OMV-HDL) method for old loess landslide detection. First, the optimal-view dataset in the Yan’an area (YA-OP) was established to solve the problem of insufficient optical features in orthophoto images. Second, in order to make the process of interpretation more labor-saving, the optimal-view and multi-view (OMV) strategy was proposed. Third, hybrid deep learning with weighted boxes fusion (HDL-WBF) was proposed to detect old loess landslides effectively. The experimental results with the constructed optimal-view dataset and multi-view data show that the proposed method has excellent performance among the compared methods—the F1 score and AP (mean) of the proposed method were improved by about 30% compared with the single detection model using traditional orthophoto-view data—and that it has good detection performance on multi-view data with the recall of 81.4%.

As the main organic materials, straw and manure play a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yield in China. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of straw and manure amendments, both individually and combined, on crop yield, SOC, and soil nutrients in China by collecting 173 studies. The findings of this study revealed that straw return and manure application increased crop yields by 14.4% and 70.4%, respectively, overall. Combined straw and manure application gained a better improvement effect than straw alone but was less effective than manure alone. Regarding the straw return results, rice straw and a 3000–6000 kg ha−1 returning quantity improved crop yield, SOC, available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and total nitrogen (TN) the most; regarding the straw return form, straw incorporated into soil and biochar increased crop yield and SOC more, respectively; and

IntroductionIn recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the visual fatigue caused by steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) paradigm. It is well known that the large-scale application of brain-computer interface is closely related to SSVEP, and the fatigue caused by SSVEP paradigm leads to the reduction of application effect. At present, the mainstream method of objectively quantifying visual fatigue in SSVEP paradigm is based on traditional canonical correlation analysis (CCA).MethodsIn this paper, we propose a new SSVEP paradigm visual fatigue quantification algorithm based on underdamped second-order stochastic resonance (USSR) to accurately quantify visual fatigue caused by SSVEP paradigm in different working modes using single-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. This scheme uses the fixed-step energy parameter optimization algorithm we designed, combined with the USSR model, to significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the processed signal at the target characteristic frequency. We not only compared the new algorithm with CCA, but also with the traditional subjective quantitative visual fatigue gold standard Likert fatigue scale.ResultsThere was no significant difference (p = 0.090) between the quantitative value of paradigm fatigue obtained by the single channel SSVEP processed by the new algorithm and the gold standard of subjective fatigue quantification, while there was a significant difference (p

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults based on gender differences. Data from the eighth wave of Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey were used. We analyzed the influencing factors of depressive symptoms reported by older adults using the chi-squared test and logistic model. Fairlie decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contribution level of each influencing factor. We found that 11.71 % of older adults met the CES-D-10 criteria for depressive symptoms. Females (13.89 %) reported a significantly higher level of depressive symptoms than males (9.24 %). Age, residence, sleeping time, exercise, activities of daily living functional disability, instrumental activity of daily living functional disability, and living status influenced depressive symptoms in older adults. Higher education and lower body mass index were only significant in male, whereas middle annual income and exercising were significant only in female. The Fairlie decomposition model explained the reasons for 75.64 % of the gender differences in depressive symptoms, with instrumental activity of daily living functional disability (33.60 %), age (−17.79 %), and education level (17.41 %) being major factors affecting gender differences in depressive symptoms. This is the first nationwide study to examine gender differences in depressive symptoms among older adults. These results provide a basis for relevant Chinese government departments to formulate policies to prevent and control depressive symptoms.

BackgroundDespite great efforts in HIV prevention worldwide, HIV testing uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM) remains suboptimal. The effectiveness of digital, crowdsourced, multilevel interventions in improving HIV testing is still unclear. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a digital, crowdsourced, multilevel intervention in improving HIV testing uptake among MSM in China. MethodsWe conducted a 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial among MSM in 11 cities in Shandong province, China, from August 2019 to April 2020. Participants were men who were HIV seronegative or had unknown serum status, had anal sex with a man in the past 12 months, and had not been tested for HIV in the past 3 months. Participants were recruited through a gay dating app and community-based organizations from preselected cities; these cities were matched into 5 blocks (2 clusters per block) and further randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a digital, crowdsourced, multilevel intervention (intervention arm) or routine intervention (control arm). The digital multilevel intervention was developed through crowdsourced open calls tailored for MSM, consisting of digital intervention images and videos, the strategy of providing HIV self-testing services through digital tools, and peer-moderated discussion within WeChat groups. The primary outcome was self-reported HIV testing uptake in the previous 3 months. An intention-to-treat approach was used to examine the cluster-level effect of the intervention in the 12-month study period using generalized linear mixed models and the individual-level effect using linear mixed models. ResultsA total of 935 MSM were enrolled (404 intervention participants and 531 controls); 751 participants (80.3%) completed at least one follow-up survey. Most participants were younger than 30 years (n=601, 64.3%), single (n=681, 72.8%), had a college degree or higher (n=629, 67.3%), and had an HIV testing history (n=785, 84%). Overall, the proportion of testing for HIV in the past 3 months at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups was higher in the intervention arm (139/279, 49.8%; 148/266, 55.6%; 189/263, 71.9%; and 171/266, 64.3%, respectively) than the control arm (183/418, 43.8%; 178/408, 43.6%; 206/403, 51.1%; and 182/397, 48.4%, respectively), with statistically significant differences at the 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups. At the cluster level, the proportion of participants who had tested for HIV increased 11.62% (95% CI 0.74%-22.5%; P=.04) with the intervention. At the individual level, participants in the intervention arm had 69% higher odds for testing for HIV in the past 3 months compared with control participants, but the result was not statistically significant (risk ratio 1.69, 95% CI 0.87-3.27; P=.11). ConclusionsThe intervention effectively improved HIV testing uptake among Chinese MSM. Our findings highlight that digital, crowdsourced, multilevel interventions should be made more widely available for HIV prevention and other public health issues. Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024350; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=36718. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.1186/s13063-020-04860-8

Vitellogenesis is the most important stage of ovarian maturation in fish, involving the synthesis and transport of essential yolk substances and their complex mechanisms and coordination process. The liver is the main tissue involved in the vitellogenesis of oviparous animals, but studies of vitellogenesis in fish rarely include the liver and ovary as a whole. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism and associated regulatory factors behind vitellogenesis in Sichuan bream (Sinibrama taeniatus). The different stages of oogenesis were first identified by successive histological observations. Then, ovary and liver tissues that developed to 115 days (stage II, previtellogenesis stage), 165 days (stage III, vitellogenesis stage) and 185 days (stage IV, late-vitellogenesis stage) were collected for transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, and serum testosterone (T), 17β-estradiol (E2), vitellogenin (Vtg), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels were measured at the corresponding stages. We found that energy redistribution during vitellogenesis is mainly regulated through glycolysis, fatty acid biosynthesis and the citrate cycle pathway. In the liver, energy metabolism was promoted by activating glucolipid metabolic pathways to provide sufficient ATP, but at the same time, the ovary tends to retain nutrients rather than decompose them to produce energy. In addition, we have identified several key factors involved in the metabolism of neutral lipids, polar lipids, amino acids and vitamins, which are involved in the assembly and transport of important yolk nutrients. The initiation of vitellogenesis was found to be associated with a surge in serum E2 levels, but the sustained increase in Vtg levels in the late stage may be due more to upregulation of the estrogen receptor. These results provide valuable information about the regulation of ovarian development in cultured fish.

Channel catfish virus (CCV; family Alloherpesviridae) infects channel catfish, causing great harm to aquaculture fisheries and economic development. Attachment is the first step in viral infection and relies on the interaction of virions with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The present study aimed to explored the role of the main three ECM components in CCV attachment. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that neither collagen nor hyaluronic acid treatments had significant effects on CCV attachment. When exogenous heparin was used as a competitive inhibitor, the adhesion of heparin sodium salt to CCV was dose-dependent. When the concentration of heparin sodium salt was 10 mg/mL, the inhibitory effect on CCV infection of channel catfish ovary (CCO/BB) cells was more than 90%. Heparinase I could significantly prevent CCV attachment by digesting heparan sulfate on the cell surface, and both heparin sodium salt and heparinase I could dose-dependently reduce CCV titers, suggesting that heparin plays an important role in CCV attachment. In addition, the binding experiments between heparin-agarose beads and virions showed that CCV virions could specifically bind to heparin in a dose-dependent manner. The above results suggested that heparan sulfate might be an attachment factor involved in CCV infection of CCO/BB cells. These results increase our understand of the attachment mechanism of CCV and lay the foundation for further research on antiviral drugs.

Panicle traits are important for improving the panicle architecture and grain yield of rice. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to analyze and determine the genetic determinants of five panicle traits. A total of 1.29 million single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were detected in 162 rice materials. We carried out a GWAS of panicle length (PL), total grain number per panicle (TGP), filled grain number per panicle (FGP), seed setting rate (SSR) and grain weight per panicle (GWP) in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PL were detected on chromosomes 1, 6, and 9; one QTL for TGP, FGP, and GWP was detected on chromosome 4; two QTLs for FGP were detected on chromosomes 4 and 7; and one QTL for SSR was detected on chromosome 1. These QTLs were detected via a general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) in both years of the study period. In this study, the genomic best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) method was used to verify the accuracy of the GWAS results. There are nine QTLs were both detected by the multi-environment GWAS method and the BLUP method. Moreover, further analysis revealed that three candidate genes, LOC_Os01g43700, LOC_Os09g25784, and LOC_Os04g47890, may be significantly related to panicle traits of rice. Haplotype analysis indicated that LOC_Os01g43700 and LOC_Os09g25784 are highly associated with PL and that LOC_Os04g47890 is highly associated with TGP, FGP, and GWP. Our results offer essential genetic information for the molecular improvement of panicle traits. The identified candidate genes and elite haplotypes could be used in marker-assisted selection to improve rice yield through pyramid breeding.

Sarcopenia is a common skeletal muscle degenerative disease characterized by decreased skeletal muscle mass and mitochondrial dysfunction that involves microRNAs (miR) as regulatory factors in various pathways. Exercise reduces age-related oxidative damage and chronic inflammation and increases autophagy, among others. Moreover, whether aerobic exercise can regulate mitochondrial homeostasis by modulating the miR-128/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway and can improve sarcopenia requires further investigation. Interestingly, zebrafish have been used as a model for aging research for over a decade due to their many outstanding advantages. Therefore, we established a model of zebrafish sarcopenia using d-galactose immersion and observed substantial changes, including reduced skeletal muscle cross-sectional area, increased tissue fibrosis, decreased motility, increased skeletal muscle reactive oxygen species, and notable alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function. We found that miR-128 expression was considerably upregulated, where as Igf1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha were significantly downregulated; moreover, mitochondrial homeostasis was reduced. Four weeks of aerobic exercise delayed sarcopenia progression and prevented the disruption of mitochondrial function and homeostasis. The genes related to atrophy and miR-128 were downregulated, Igf1 expression was considerably upregulated, and the phosphorylation levels of Pi3k, Akt, and Foxo3a were upregulated. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiration and homeostasis were enhanced. In conclusion, aerobic exercise improved skeletal muscle quality and function via the miR-128/IGF-1 signaling pathway, consequently ameliorating mitochondrial homeostasis in aging skeletal muscle.

Both oxyhydrogen and butanol are renewable alternative fuels. Based on gasoline/butanol compound injection mode, although the introduction of oxyhydrogen can effectually enhance the optimal BDIr (butanol direct injection ratio), it also leads to an increase in NO emission. Therefore, this paper further studies the influence of lean-burn on the combustion and emission of ternary-fuel combined supply engine with oxyhydrogen/butanol/gasoline. In this paper, three variables are set, namely five BDIr (0–80%), five ONPIv (oxyhydrogen negative pressure inhalation volume) (0–16 L/min) and five λ (1.0–1.4). The results show that the larger the λ, the more significant the impact of oxyhydrogen on improving combustion and thermal transfer inside the cylinder. With the increase of ONPIv, CoVIMEP, CA 10–90 and CA 0-10 decrease, IMEP increases. Under all lean-burn conditions, ONPI can reduce CO and HC emissions. Under the condition of λ = 1.4, when ONPIv = 16 L/min, NO emission is 49.98% lower than the value of the original engine. Moreover, based on BDIr = 40%, 16 L/min ONPIv can elevate the λ limit from 1.41 to 1.83. In summary, “1.1 = λ ≤ 1.2+ONPIv = 16 L/min+60%≤BDIr≤80%” is the excellent control strategy of ONPI + BDI + GPI engine. The synergistic influence of lean-burn and larger BDIr can greatly reduce gasoline consumption and NOx emission caused by oxyhydrogen, but also worsen the mixture combustion atmosphere. ONPI can effectively improve this problem, and further increase energy efficiency. The coupling technology of ternary-fuel combined supply and lean-burn has a positive impact on improving thermal transfer efficiency, optimizing mixture combustion and decreasing gaseous emission.

Abstract Background Exercise-related signaling Fndc5/irisin expresses in brain and acts as a crucial regulator of cognitive function, but its detailed roles in vascular dementia (VaD) are still unclear. Low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), a novel brain stimulation approach, has been suggested as a promising treatment for dementia. Here, we investigated the activity and efficacy of Fndc5/irisin in experimental VaD, further explored whether the potential effects of LIPUS on VaD is related to Fndc5/irisin. Methods Mouse model of VaD was established with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) using bilateral common carotid arteries stenosis (BCAS). Transcranial LIPUS was applied 24 h after BCAS and subsequently daily with a stimulation time of 5 min at an ultrasound pressure of 0.51 MPa for a period of 28 days. The levels of Fndc5/irisin in different brain regions, the hippocampal long-term potentiation and anti-inflammatory cytokines were investigated at day 28 after cognitive evaluation. Global Fndc5 knock-out (F5KO), forced expression or knockdown of Fndc5, and recombinant irisin application were respectively employed for mechanism exploration. The neuron dendritic spine density and astrocyte phenotype were detected in vitro. Results Fndc5/irisin was reduced in hippocampus of BCAS mice, forced expression hippocampal Fndc5 or bilateral intrahippocampal injection of recombinant irisin respectively improved hippocampal synaptic plasticity or inflammatory microenvironment, and then alleviated the cognitive impairments. LIPUS existed a positive efficacy in enhancing hippocampal Fndc5/irisin in BCAS mice, thus triggering a beneficial neuromodulation for VaD protection. Importantly, the neurorestorative effects of LIPUS on CCH-induced damages were totally reversed by knockdown the expression of hippocampal Fndc5 in WT mice, or in F5KO mice. Moreover, Fndc5 mediated the upregulated effects of LIPUS on spine density as well as irisin secretion of hippocampal neurons. The neuron-secreted irisin further drove reactive astrocytes to a neuroprotective phenotype. Conclusion LIPUS induced a neurorestorative stimulation against VaD may be through upregulation of the hippocampal Fndc5/irisin levels. Hippocampal Fndc5/irisin signaling might be a promising strategic target for VaD.

Abstract Cell death mechanisms in T lymphocytes vary according to their developmental stage, cell subset and activation status. The cell death control mechanisms of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a specialized T cell population, are largely unknown. Here we report that MAIT cells express key necroptotic machinery; receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein, in abundance. Despite this, we discovered that the loss of RIPK3, but not necroptotic effector MLKL or apoptotic caspase-8, specifically increased MAIT cell abundance at steady-state in the thymus, spleen, liver and lungs, in a cell-intrinsic manner. In contrast, over the course of infection with Francisella tularensis, RIPK3 deficiency did not impact the magnitude of the expansion nor contraction of MAIT cell pools. These findings suggest that, distinct from conventional T cells, the accumulation of MAIT cells is restrained by RIPK3 signalling, likely prior to thymic egress, in a manner independent of canonical apoptotic and necroptotic cell death pathways.

Abstract Objective Thyroid hormones stimulate myogenesis and muscle contraction and regulate skeletal muscle cell metabolism. However, the association between thyroid hormone levels and mortality in sarcopenic older adults remains elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between thyroid hormones and all-cause mortality in people over 80 years of age with sarcopenia. Methods This study was performed on 264 sarcopenic patients aged 80 years and older. Serum levels of thyroid hormone, including free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were tested to evaluate thyroid status. Sarcopenia was defined using the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Mortality data were available for up to 38 months of follow-up. The correlation between FT3 and calf circumference (CC) or handgrip strength (HGS) was determined by Pearson correlation analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the differences between FT3 tertile groups. Cox regression was used to analyze the mortality risk ratio of patients with different FT3 tertiles. Results During the follow-up period, 88 older adults died. Non-Survivors had lower serum FT3 levels (3.7 ± 0.5 vs. 3.9 ± 0.7, P = 0.001) than the Survivor. Serum FT3 was positively associated with CC and HGS (r = 0.29, P

Objective Cartilage defect is a common pathology still lacking a unified treating option. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical and radiological outcome of cartilage restoration of knee joint with allogenic next‐generation Matrix‐Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI) for the first time, as well as the correlation between postoperative clinical and radiological outcomes and preoperative patient history and demographics. Methods From July 2014 to August 2020, 15 patients who went through cartilage restoration with allogenic next‐generation MACI were included in this study. Patient demographics and PROM including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee score, Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were obtained preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and the last follow‐up using an online questionnaire platform. MOCART 2.0 score was calculated at the last follow‐up. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare PROM pre‐ and post‐operation, with two‐tailed p

Background Culprit-only revascularization and complete revascularization are two major treatments for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with multivessel disease. Many systematic reviews have compared the efficacy and safety of the two treatments, but the review results are inconsistent and cannot be directly applied to clinical practice. Objective To perform an overview of the systematic reviews of the efficacy and safety of complete revascularization versus culprit-only revascularization for AMI with multivessel disease. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and PROSPERO databases were searched from inception to February, 2022 for systematic reviews/meta-analyses about complete revascularization versus culprit-only revascularization for AMI with multivessel disease regardless of the language and status of publication. Two researchers independently evaluated the methodological quality and evidence quality of included studies using the AMSTAR 2 and GRADE, respectively. Results A total of 25 systematic reviews or meta-analyses were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was generally low, with one being of high quality, two being of moderate quality, and 22 being of critical low quality. Eight outcomes and 135 evidence bodies (eight were of high quality, 17 were of moderate quality, and the rest were of low or very low quality according to the GRADE classification) were identified in the studies in total. Conclusion Compared with culprit-only revascularization, complete revascularization can partially improve clinical outcomes in patients with AMI with multivessel disease, but its safety needs to be further evaluated by high-quality, large-sample clinical studies.

This paper proposes a novel end-to-end controller for the lower-limb exoskeleton for human performance augmentation (LEHPA) systems based on deep reinforcement learning (E2EDRL). The model-free controller contains two control levels: the high-level control responsible for end-to-end human motion intention recognition based on the exoskeleton state signals and the human-exoskeleton interaction (HEI) force signals by deep neural network predictor, and the low-level control for motion tracking by joint PD controllers. The deep neural network predictor does not require complex kinematic calculations that are inevitable in conventional human motion intention recognition methods. We execute the learning process in simulation to learn the E2EDRL strategy efficiently and safely by constructing a novel multibody simulation environment and proposing its specific hybrid inverse-forward dynamics simulation method. The passive mode (all joints remain unpowered) is introduced as a benchmark for comparison purposes. A novel performance assessment method based on HEI forces is put forward to evaluate the E2EDRL strategy quantitatively. The global ratio of the HEI forces in the E2EDRL strategy relative to those in the passive mode is as low as 0.65. The global reduction of the HEI forces demonstrates the superior control performance of the E2EDRL strategy.

The lower-limb exoskeleton for human performance augmentation (LEHPA) in sensitivity amplification control (SAC) is vulnerable to model parameter uncertainties and unmodeled dynamics due to its large sensitivity to external disturbances resulting from the positive feedback by the inverse dynamic model of the exoskeleton. This paper firstly proposes to combine SAC with deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to reduce the dependence on the model accuracy and tackle the ever-changing human-exoskeleton interaction (HEI) dynamics. The sensitivity adjustment is interpreted as finding the optimal policy for a Markov Decision Process (MDP) and solved using deep reinforcement learning algorithms. To train the policy safely and efficiently, a multibody simulation environment is created to implement the training process, accompanied by a novel hybrid inverse-forward dynamics simulation method to carry out the simulation. For comparison purposes, the SAC controller is introduced as a benchmark. A novel performance evaluation method based on the HEI forces at the back, thighs, and shanks is proposed to evaluate the control effect of the trained SADRL controller quantitatively. The SADRL controller is compared with the SAC controller at five specified walking speeds, resulting in a lumped HEI force ratio as low as 0.54. The total decrease of HEI forces demonstrates the superior control effect of the SADRL strategy.

Purpose: This investigation aimed to assess the impact of additive manufacturing-generated surface textures on zirconia bond strength. Materials and Methods: Zirconia samples (n = 144) fabricated using digital light-processing (DLP) technology were categorized into 6 groups according to the type of surface conditioning (group NN: no designs, no air abrasion; group NY: no designs, with air abrasion; group GN: groove designs, no air abrasion; group GY: groove designs with air abrasion; group HN: hexagon grid, no air abrasion; group HY: hexagon grid, with air abrasion). Composite resin cylinders were cemented to the treated zirconia surfaces with dual-curing, self-adhesive resin cement (Clearfil SA Luting). The shear bond strength (SBS) was tested after water storage for 3 days or 3 days with an additional 10,000 thermocycles. Results: The zirconia samples fabricated using DLP technology have high accuracy. The SBS of the NY, GY, and HY groups did not significantly differ after 3 days, and neither did the SBS of the NN, GN, and HN groups. The NN, NY, and HY groups exhibited reduced SBS compared to their initial values following artificial aging, while the SBS of the remaining three groups were not diminished. The GY group obtained the highest SBS value after aging. Conclusion: Printing grooves with air abrasion can improve the bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 300-Gbit/s free-space optical communication system is demonstrated in the mid-IR wavelength region by using both wavelength- and mode-division multiplexing.