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Brain imaging genetics is an evolving neuroscience topic aiming to identify genetic variations related to neuroimaging measurements of interest. Traditional linear regression methods have shown success, but their reliance on individual-level imaging and genetic data limits their applicability. Herein, we proposed S-GsMTLR, a group sparse multi-task linear regression method designed to harness summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of neuroimaging quantitative traits. S-GsMTLR directly employs GWAS summary statistics, bypassing the requirement for raw imaging genetic data, and applies multivariate multi-task sparse learning to these univariate GWAS results. It amalgamates the strengths of conventional sparse learning methods, including sophisticated modeling techniques and efficient feature selection. Additionally, we implemented a rapid optimization strategy to alleviate computational burdens by identifying genetic variants associated with phenotypes of interest across the entire chromosome. We first evaluated S-GsMTLR using summary statistics derived from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. The results were remarkably encouraging, demonstrating its comparability to conventional methods in modeling and identification of risk loci. Furthermore, our method was evaluated with two additional GWAS summary statistics datasets: One focused on white matter microstructures and the other on whole brain imaging phenotypes, where the original individual-level data was unavailable. The results not only highlighted S-GsMTLR's ability to pinpoint significant loci but also revealed intriguing structures within genetic variations and loci that went unnoticed by GWAS. These findings suggest that S-GsMTLR is a promising multivariate sparse learning method in brain imaging genetics. It eliminates the need for original individual-level imaging and genetic data while demonstrating commendable modeling and feature selection capabilities.

ABSTRACTThe sweet aromas of red jujube extracts and caramel products are similar, and their reactions could bring synergistic flavors. However, the reaction conditions and the characteristic flavor compounds involved are not well known. In this study, the Maillard reaction was performed using red jujube extracts and glucose caramel products. The reaction factors, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, initial pH, and sample-to-solvent ratio, were optimized by the analysis of sensory scores, total flavor compound (TFC) content, and UV absorption at 420 nm. The optimization of the above factors was further performed by response surface methodology, and antioxidant activities were investigated. Single-factor optimization suggested that the preferred conditions for the Maillard reaction were a temperature of 120°C, a reaction duration of 80 min, an initial pH of 8.0, and a sample-to-solvent ratio of 7:1 (jujube extract: caramel product = 7:1). According to the response surface model, the influence of four factors on the TFC content decreased in the following order: reaction temperature > reaction time > sample-to-solvent ratio > initial pH. The optimal conditions were further established according to the response surface model. GC-MS analysis suggested that the TFC content of Maillard products under the optimized conditions increased by 30.8% compared with those of the unreacted samples. The characteristic flavor compounds in the Maillard products were furfuryl alcohol, 3,5-dihydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP), and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), with the contents of 44.68, 176.26, and 139.75 µg/g, respectively. Moreover, the reaction products exhibited potent antioxidant effects.

Calcium–magnesium–alumina–silicate (CMAS) corrosion has attracted special attention in the thermal barrier coating (TBC) field. At high temperatures, when CMAS melts, it adheres to the coating surface and penetrates the interior, severely destroying the TBC. In this study, a promising CMAS-phobic and infiltration-inhibiting material, GdPO4, on which molten CMAS is difficult to wet and penetrate, was proposed. These desirable attributes are explained by analyzing the material characteristics of GdPO4 and its interfacial reaction with CMAS. GdPO4 is demonstrated to have low surface energy, making it difficult for molten CMAS to wet and adhere to the surface. When in contact with molten CMAS, a double-layer structured reaction layer consisting of an acicular upper sublayer and a compact lower sublayer is formed on the GdPO4 surface, which can effectively impede molten CMAS spreading and penetration. First-principles calculation results revealed that the reaction layer has low surface energy and low adhesion to CMAS, which are favorable for molten CMAS phobicity. Additionally, the formation of the reaction layer increases the viscosity of the molten CMAS, which can increase melt wetting and penetration. Hence, GdPO4, which exhibits excellent CMAS-phobicity and infiltration-inhibiting ability, is a promising protective layer material for TBCs against CMAS adhesion and attack.

Abstract In order to study the mechanics, acoustic emission (AE) and electromagnetic emission (EME) response law of bursting liability coal at different loading rates, uniaxial compression tests were carried out on coal mass from Konggu Coal Mine. The corresponding relations among mechanical properties, AE and EME signals in the process of coal failure under loading were analyzed, and the energy evolution law of coal failure with bursting liability under loading rate was discussed. The results show that within a certain range of loading rate, the higher the loading rate, the higher the compressive strength and peak load of bursting liability coal, and the shorter the time for coal to reach the peak load. Under different loading rates, the mechanics, AE and EME signals of coal samples can be well corresponded. When the loading rate is low, the number of blocks destroyed of coal sample is large and the block size is relatively small, and the blocks are mainly scattered around the test platform. When the loading rate is high, the number of damaged blocks is relatively small and the block size is relatively large, and the blocks are far away from the test bench. When loading at a low rate, the internal cracks in coal can be fully developed and connected, and the energy release rate is relatively uniform in the process of loading and failure of coal sample. In the case of high loading rate, the energy release rate of coal sample in the loading process is much smaller than that in the moment of failure. Combining the above test results with the actual situation of the working face, it can be concluded that the total energy stored in the coal of fast mining increases and the threshold of impact decreases compared with that of slow mining. Therefore, under the disturbance of external dynamic load, rapid mining is more likely to induce rock burst.

Abstract Mutual coupling among multiple antennas has been a problem needed to be tackled in multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) systems. A decoupling method based on short decoupling feeding lines (DFLs) for MIMO patch antennas is proposed. The decoupling method utilises the feeding transmission line to create a new coupling path between the closely placed patch antennas. By adjusting the intensity and phase of the introduced new coupling, the original coupling can be cancelled out. The proposed method can realise both E‐ and H‐plane decoupling. A 1 × 2 H‐plane MIMO patch antenna array is first presented to explain the decoupling mechanism. Then, two practical examples of 2 × 2 and 4 × 4 MIMO patch antenna arrays are designed, fabricated and measured. The results indicate that the port isolation can be apparently improved from 15 to 38 dB for H‐plane coupling and from 19 to 35 dB for E‐plane coupling at the centre frequency of 3.5 GHz. Moreover, the proposed method is promising to be applied in arrays with other antenna type by adjusting the position and size of short DFLs.

Abstract Background Compassion fatigue in nursing interns contributes to career indecision and worsens the nursing shortage. While work environment and psychological factors are well-studied, the ethical dimension remains unexplored. Understanding these mechanisms, particularly the role of moral courage, is essential for designing interventions to combat compassion fatigue and address the workforce crisis. This study investigates the influence of moral courage on compassion fatigue among Chinese nursing interns, focusing on the mediating roles of moral sensitivity and professional identity. Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. We used the convenience sampling method to recruit 467 nursing interns from four public junior colleges in Hunan Province, China in February, 2024. Data were collected using Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, Moral Courage Scale, Revised Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and Professional Identity Scale. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0 and Amos 21.0. Results The modified model exhibited a good fit (χ2/df = 3.437, AGFI = 0.928, IFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.976, CFI = 0.984, NFI = 0.977, RMSEA = 0.072). Moral sensitivity positively influenced both moral courage and professional identity, while professional identity negatively impacted compassion fatigue. Importantly, the effect of moral courage on compassion fatigue was entirely mediated by moral sensitivity and professional identity (β = -0.114, P = 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that moral courage in nursing interns mitigates compassion fatigue through the combined mediating effects of moral sensitivity and professional identity. Ethics education programs fostering moral courage, moral sensitivity, and professional values in nursing students could be crucial in alleviating compassion fatigue.

Abstract Background Post-stroke depression (PSD) is closely associated with poor stroke prognosis. However, there are some challenges in identifying and assessing PSD. This study aimed to identify scales for PSD diagnosis, assessment, and follow-up that are straightforward, accurate, efficient, and reproducible. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in 7 electronic databases from January 1985 to December 2023. Results Thirty-two studies were included, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS) had higher diagnostic accuracy for PSD. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of PHQ-9 or diagnosing any depression were 0.82, 0.87, and 29 respectively. And for HDRS, used for diagnosing major depression, the scores were 0.92, 0.89, and 94. Furthermore, these two scales also had higher diagnostic accuracy in assessing depressive symptoms during both the acute and chronic phases of stroke. In patients with post-stroke aphasia and cognitive impairment, highly diagnostic scales have not been identified for assessing depressive symptoms yet. Conclusions The PHQ-9 and HDRS scales are recommended to assess PSD. HDRS, which demonstrates high diagnostic performance, can replace structured interviews based on diagnostic criteria.

Abstract Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been successfully integrated into a diverse array of surgical fields to improve the quality and efficacy of treatment intervention. Nonetheless, the application of the ERAS protocol for patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) subsequent to undergoing surgical procedures has not been previously explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of an enhanced recovery protocol on perioperative outcomes in patients with DFU following surgical procedures. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 112 patients with DFU who underwent surgery between January 2020 and December 2021 at a tertiary referral care center. In total, 57 patients received standard perioperative care (the non-ERAS group), and 55 patients received ERAS care (the ERAS group). The primary outcomes included the length of stay (LOS), wound healing time, patient satisfaction, and costs, serving as the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the two approaches. Secondary outcomes included preoperative anxiety (APAIS score), nutritional status (PG-SGA), pain (NRS score), the incidence of lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the reduction in lower-limb circumference, and the activity of daily living scale (Barthel Index). The ERAS group exhibited significantly shorter LOS (11.36 vs. 26.74 days; P 0.05). By reducing the LOS and hospital costs, and by minimizing perioperative complications, the ERAS protocol improves the quality and efficacy of treatment intervention in patients with DFU who underwent surgical procedures. Trial registration number: ChiCTR 2200064223 (Registration Date: 30/09/2022).

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques have made great advances in assisting antibody design. However, antibody design still heavily relies on isolating antigen-specific antibodies from serum, which is a resource-intensive and time-consuming process. To address this issue, we propose a Pre-trained Antibody generative large Language Model (PALM-H3) for the de novo generation of artificial antibodies heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDRH3) with desired antigen-binding specificity, reducing the reliance on natural antibodies. We also build a high-precision model antigen-antibody binder (A2binder) that pairs antigen epitope sequences with antibody sequences to predict binding specificity and affinity. PALM-H3-generated antibodies exhibit binding ability to SARS-CoV-2 antigens, including the emerging XBB variant, as confirmed through in-silico analysis and in-vitro assays. The in-vitro assays validate that PALM-H3-generated antibodies achieve high binding affinity and potent neutralization capability against spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 wild-type, Alpha, Delta, and the emerging XBB variant. Meanwhile, A2binder demonstrates exceptional predictive performance on binding specificity for various epitopes and variants. Furthermore, by incorporating the attention mechanism inherent in the Roformer architecture into the PALM-H3 model, we improve its interpretability, providing crucial insights into the fundamental principles of antibody design.

Few existing research examines the relationship between transformational leadership and professional learning communities. This study aims to explore the relationship between transformational leadership and professional learning community components from the perspective of teachers in the Chinese context. A total of 385 primary school teachers participated in the questionnaire survey. This quantitative study used the 12-item Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the16-item PLC scale. The structural equation model showed a good fit. The results showed that transformational leadership had a significant positive effect on professional learning community. Moreover, it has a significant impact on all four components of PLC, namely, organizational learning, shared responsibility, reflective dialogue, de-privatized practice. Transformational leadership conflicts with Chinese Confucian culture on some core features, which provides valuable cases for research on the applicability of transformational leadership in different contexts. At the same time, it also provides empirical evidence for the study of the relationship between transformational leadership and professional learning communities.

Abstract Background Dual-person inspection in IVF laboratories cannot fully avoid mix-ups or embryo transfer errors, and data transcription or entry is time-consuming and redundant, often leading to delays in completing medical records. Methods This study introduced a workflow-based RFID tag witnessing and real-time information entry platform for addressing these challenges. To assess its potential in reducing mix-ups, we conducted a simulation experiment in semen preparation to analyze its error correction rate. Additionally, we evaluated its impact on work efficiency, specifically in operation and data entry. Furthermore, we compared the cycle costs between paper labels and RFID tags. Finally, we retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of 20,424 oocyte retrieval cycles and 15,785 frozen embryo transfer cycles, which were divided into paper label and RFID tag groups. Results The study revealed that comparing to paper labels, RFID tag witnessing corrected 100% of tag errors, didn’t affect gamete/embryo operations, and notably shorten the time of entering data, but the cycle cost of RFID tags was significantly higher. However, no significant differences were observed in fertilization, embryo quality, blastocyst rates, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates between two groups. Conclusions RFID tag witnessing doesn’t negatively impact gamete/embryo operation, embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes, but it potentially reduces the risk of mix-ups or errors. Despite highly increased cost, integrating RFID tag witnessing with real-time information entry can remarkably decrease the data entry time, substantially improving the work efficiency. This workflow-based management platform also enhances operational safety, ensures medical informational integrity, and boosts embryologist’s confidence.

AIM: To investigate the effect of a new type of rhinodacryocystostomy combined with fluticasone propionate on patients with chronic dacryocystitis.METHODS: A total of 100 patients(100 eyes)with chronic dacryocystitis who admitted to our hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 were enrolled in the prospective study. The patients in the study were divided into a control group(n=50)and an observation group(n=50)based on their admission order and number. Patients in the control group were treated with novel rhinodacryocystostomy, while patients in the observation group were treated with a new type of rhinodacryocystostomy combined with fluticasone propionate. The preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), quality of life score, and recurrence of chronic dacryocystitis were compared between the two groups of patients.RESULTS: All patients completed the postoperative 6 mo follow-up, and the total effective rate of patients in the observation group was better than that of patients in the control group(98% vs 84%, P=0.001). There was no significant difference in preoperative and postoperative BCVA between the two groups(P>0.05). Preoperatively, there was no significant difference in the quality of life scores between the two groups of patients(P>0.05); At 6 mo postoperatively, the quality of life scores of patients in the control group, including physical function, psychological function, social function, and material life status, were lower than those in the observation group(all P

Abstract Rationale and objective To investigate the impact of the contrast enhancement boost (CE-boost) technique on the image quality of CT angiography (CTA) derived from 80-kVp cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) data, and to compare it with conventional CTApeak as well as other currently employed methods for enhancing CTA images, such as CTAtMIP and CTAtAve extracted from CTP. Materials and methods The data of forty-seven patients who underwent CTP at 80 kVp were retrospectively collected. Four sets of images: CTApeak, CTAtMIP, CTAtAve, and CE-boost images. The CTApeak image represents the arterial phase at its peak value, captured as a single time point. CTAtMIP and CTAtAve are 4D CTA images that provide maximum density projection and average images from the three most prominent time points. CE-boost is a postprocessing technique used to enhance contrast in the arterial phase at its peak value. We compared the average CT value, standard deviation (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and basilar artery (BA) among the four groups. Image quality was evaluated using a 5-point scale. Results The CE-boost demonstrated and CNR in the ICA and BA (all p

Abstract Esophageal cancer, ranked as the seventh most common cancer globally, encompasses squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Despite advancements in treatment modalities like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, radiotherapy, while crucial for enhancing local control and survival, poses risks for long-term side effects and the development of second primary malignancies (SPM), notably Second primary lung cancer (SPLC). This study aims to analyze the incidence of second primary lung cancer (SPLC) among esophageal cancer survivors, with a focus on the influence of radiotherapy, analyze variations across different demographic and clinical subgroups, and assess patient survival outcomes. Using data from the Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) program on 56,493 esophageal cancer patients (2000–2020), we compared SPLC incidence in those with and without prior radiotherapy. We applied a competing risks framework, propensity score matching (PSM), and survival analyses to assess SPLC risk and radiotherapy’s impact. The study showed that patients treated with radiotherapy have a significantly higher long-term risk of SPLC compared to those without it. Radiotherapy significantly raised SPLC risk (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06–1.88), with higher SIRs particularly in younger patients and females. Post-PSM, there were significant differences in cancer-specific survival between esophageal cancer survivors with post-radiotherapy SPLC and those with only primary lung cancer. This cohort study shows that radiotherapy in esophageal cancer survivors increases SPLC risk but does not worsen survival compared to those with OPLC, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and management.

Abstract The endothelial glycocalyx is damaged in postcardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS), but the prognostic value is unknown. We aimed to observe the expression and prognostic value of glycocalyx shedding products, including syndecan-1 (SDC-1), hyaluronan (HA), and heparan sulfate (HS) in PCAS. Data on clinical and 28-day outcomes of seventy-one consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were collected. SDC-1, HA, and HS were measured on days 0, 1, and 3 after ROSC. Thirty healthy individuals were controls. Glycocalyx shedding was observed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated during hypoxia and reoxygenation in vitro. Within 4 h of ROSC, SDC-1 and HA levels, significantly increased. In the 28-day non-survivors, HA levels showed a gradual upward trend, SDC-1 remained at a high level, and HS levels first increased, then decreased. Kaplan–Meier curves and binary logistic regression analysis showed the prognostic value of SDC-1 levels on days 0, 1, and 3, HA levels on days 1 and 3, and HS levels on day 1. Only HS levels on day 1 showed a prognostic value for 28-day neurological outcomes. SDC-1 and HA levels were positively correlated with the no-flow time. In vitro, HUVECs showed shedding of SDC-1 and HS during a prolonged duration of hypoxia. After ROSC, SDC-1, HA, and HS levels may predict the 28-day survival after PCAS, and HS levels are associated with functional outcomes.

Abstract Background Severe COVID-19 infection has been associated with the development of pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that significantly affects patient prognosis. Understanding the underlying cellular communication mechanisms contributing to this fibrotic process is crucial. Objective In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the TNFSF12-TNFRSF12A pathway in mediating communication between alveolar macrophages and fibroblasts, and its implications for the development of pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 patients. Methods We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis using lung tissue samples from severe COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. The data was processed, analyzed, and cell types were annotated. We focused on the communication between alveolar macrophages and fibroblasts and identified key signaling pathways. In vitro experiments were performed to validate our findings, including the impact of TNFRSF12A silencing on fibrosis reversal. Results Our analysis revealed that in severe COVID-19 patients, alveolar macrophages communicate with fibroblasts primarily through the TNFSF12-TNFRSF12A pathway. This communication pathway promotes fibroblast proliferation and expression of fibrotic factors. Importantly, silencing TNFRSF12A effectively reversed the pro-proliferative and pro-fibrotic effects of alveolar macrophages. Conclusion The TNFSF12-TNFRSF12A pathway plays a central role in alveolar macrophage-fibroblast communication and contributes to pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 patients. Silencing TNFRSF12A represents a potential therapeutic strategy for mitigating fibrosis in severe COVID-19 lung disease.

Abstract In order to further promote the application of cementitious sand gravel (CSG), the mechanical properties and variation rules of CSG material under triaxial test were studied. Considering the influence of fly ash content, water-binder ratio, sand rate and lateral confining pressure, 81 cylinder specimens were designed and made for conventional triaxial test, and the influence laws of stress–strain curve, failure pattern, elastic modulus, energy dissipation and damage evolution of specimens were analyzed. The results showed that the peak of stress–strain curve increased with the increase of confining pressure, and the peak stress, peak strain and energy dissipation all increased significantly, but the damage variable D decreased with the increase of confining pressure. Under triaxial compression, the specimen was basically sheared failure from the bonding surface, and the aggregate generally did not break. Sand rate had a significant effect on the peak stress of CSG, and decreased with the increase of sand rate. Under the conditions of the same cement content, fly ash content and confining pressure, the optimal water-binder ratio 1.2 existed when the sand rate was 0.2 and 0.3. After analyzing and processing the stress–strain curve of triaxial test, a Cuckoo Search-eXtreme Gradient Boosting (CS-XGBoost) curve prediction model was established, and the model was evaluated by evaluation indexes R2, RMSE and MAE. The average R2 of the XGBoost model based on initial parameters under 18 different output features was 0.8573, and the average R2 of the CS-XGBoost model was 0.9516, an increase of 10.10%. Moreover, the prediction curve was highly consistent with the test curve, indicating that the CS algorithm had significant advantages. The CS-XGBoost model could accurately predict the triaxial stress–strain curve of CSG.

Abstract The redox state of arc mantle has been considered to be more oxidized and diverse than that of the mid-ocean ridge, but the cause of the variation is debated. We examine the redox state of the Cenozoic global arc mantle by compiling measured/calculated fO2 of olivine-hosted melt inclusions from arc magma and modeled fO2 based on V/Sc and Cu/Zr ratios of arc basaltic rocks. The results indicate that the redox state of Cenozoic arc mantle is latitude dependent, with less oxidized arc mantle in the low latitudes, contrasting with a near constant across-latitude trend in the mid-ocean ridges. We propose that such a latitude-dependent pattern in the arc mantle may be controlled by the variation in the redox state of subducted sediment, possibly related to a latitudinal variation in the primary production of phytoplankton, which results in more organic carbon and sulfide deposited on the low-latitude ocean floor. Our findings provide evidence for the impact of the surface environment on Earth’s upper mantle.

Objective: To create a nomogram-based model to estimate the Chinese population's 5-year risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods: We randomly divided 7582 participants into two groups in a 7:3 ratio: one group was assigned to work with the training set, which consisted of 5307 cases, and the other group was assigned to validate the model using 2275 cases. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model was employed to ascertain the variables with the highest correlation among all potential variables. A logistic model was constructed by incorporating these selected variables, which were subsequently visualized using a nomogram. The discriminatory ability, calibration, and clinical utility of the model were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: During the 5-year follow-up, 1034 (13.64%) total participants were newly diagnosed with MASLD. Using eight variables (gender, body mass index, waist, hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein), we built a 5-year MASLD risk prediction model. The nomogram showed an area under the ROC of 0.795 (95% CI: 0.779–0.811) in the training set and 0.785 (95% CI: 0.760–0.810) in the validation set. The calibration curves revealed a 5-year period of agreement between the observed and predicted MASLD risks. DCA curves illustrated the practicality of this nomogram over threshold probability profiles ranging from 5% to 50%. Conclusion: We created and tested a nomogram to forecast the risk of MASLD prevalence over the next 5 years.

Abstract Background Certain occupations may predispose individuals to urolithiasis, a multi-factorial disease. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and related factors of nephrolithiasis in medical staff in Qingdao, China. Methods Physical examination results of 5115 in-service medical staff aged 22–60 years old were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and stratified analyses by age and gender were applied to explore the related factors of nephrolithiasis in these medical staff. Results The overall nephrolithiasis prevalence in medical staff in Qingdao, China was 4.65%. Doctors were more prone to nephrolithiasis than nurses (5.63% vs. 3.96%, P = 0.013) and the peak prevalence (6.69%) was observed in medical staff working in the emergency department (ED). Male gender (OR = 1.615, 95% CI = 1.123–2.323, P = 0.010), overweight or obesity (OR = 1.674, 95% CI = 1.266–2.214, P

Abstract Direct reduction of unactivated alkyl halides for C(sp3)-N couplings under mild conditions presents a significant challenge in organic synthesis due to their low reduction potential. Herein, we introduce an in situ formed pyridyl-carbene-ligated copper (I) catalyst that is capable of abstracting halide atom and generating alkyl radicals for general C(sp3)-N couplings under visible light. Control experiments confirmed that the mono-pyridyl-carbene-ligated copper complex is the active species responsible for catalysis. Mechanistic investigations using transient absorption spectroscopy across multiple decades of timescales revealed ultrafast intersystem crossing (260 ps) of the photoexcited copper (I) complexes into their long-lived triplet excited states (>2 μs). The non-Stern-Volmer quenching dynamics of the triplets by unactivated alkyl halides suggests an association between copper (I) complexes and alkyl halides, thereby facilitating the abstraction of halide atoms via inner-sphere single electron transfer (SET), rather than outer-sphere SET, for the formation of alkyl radicals for subsequent cross couplings.

Abstract Background The Atribacterota are widely distributed in the subsurface biosphere. Recently, the first Atribacterota isolate was described and the number of Atribacterota genome sequences retrieved from environmental samples has increased significantly; however, their diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution remain poorly understood. Results We report the isolation of the second member of Atribacterota, Thermatribacter velox gen. nov., sp. nov., within a new family Thermatribacteraceae fam. nov., and the short-term laboratory cultivation of a member of the JS1 lineage, Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS, both from a terrestrial oil reservoir. Physiological and metatranscriptomics analyses showed that Thermatribacter velox B11T and Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS ferment sugars and n-alkanes, respectively, producing H2, CO2, and acetate as common products. Comparative genomics showed that all members of the Atribacterota lack a complete Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway (WLP), but that the Reductive Glycine Pathway (RGP) is widespread, indicating that the RGP, rather than WLP, is a central hub in Atribacterota metabolism. Ancestral character state reconstructions and phylogenetic analyses showed that key genes encoding the RGP (fdhA, fhs, folD, glyA, gcvT, gcvPAB, pdhD) and other central functions were gained independently in the two classes, Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1), after which they were inherited vertically; these genes included fumarate-adding enzymes (faeA; Phoenicimicrobiia only), the CODH/ACS complex (acsABCDE), and diverse hydrogenases (NiFe group 3b, 4b and FeFe group A3, C). Finally, we present genome-resolved community metabolic models showing the central roles of Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1) in acetate- and hydrocarbon-rich environments. Conclusion Our findings expand the knowledge of the diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution of the phylum Atribacterota. This study is a starting point for promoting more incisive studies of their syntrophic biology and may guide the rational design of strategies to cultivate them in the laboratory. Video Abstract

Semantic Communication (SC) has emerged as a novel communication paradigm that provides a receiver with meaningful information extracted from the source to maximize information transmission throughput in wireless networks, beyond the theoretical capacity limit. Despite the extensive research on SC, there is a lack of comprehensive survey on technologies, solutions, applications, and challenges for SC. In this article, the development of SC is first reviewed and its characteristics, architecture, and advantages are summarized. Next, key technologies such as semantic extraction, semantic encoding, and semantic segmentation are discussed and their corresponding solutions in terms of efficiency, robustness, adaptability, and reliability are summarized. Applications of SC to UAV communication, remote image sensing and fusion, intelligent transportation, and healthcare are also presented and their strategies are summarized. Finally, some challenges and future research directions are presented to provide guidance for further research of SC.

Abstract Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and its derivatives exhibit considerable effects against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with unquestioned safety. Here we investigated CAPE derivative 1ʹ (CAPE 1ʹ) monotherapy to HCC, compared with sorafenib. HCC Bel-7402 cells were treated with CAPE 1ʹ, the IC50 was detected using CCK-8 analysis, and acute toxicity testing (5 g/kg) was performed to evaluate safety. In vivo, tumor growth after CAPE 1ʹ treatment was evaluated using an subcutaneous tumor xenograft model. Five groups were examined, with group 1 given vehicle solution, groups 2, 3, and 4 given CAPE 1ʹ (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively), and group 5 given sorafenib (30 mg/kg/day). Tumor volume growth and tumor volume-to-weight ratio were calculated and statistically analyzed. An estimated IC50 was 5.6 µM. Acute toxicity tests revealed no animal death or visible adverse effects with dosage up to 5 g/kg. Compared to negative controls, CAPE 1ʹ treatment led to significantly slower increases of tumor volume and tumor volume-to-weight. CAPE 1ʹ and sorafenib exerted similar inhibitory effects on HCC tumors. CAPE 1ʹ was non-inferior to sorafenib for HCC treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. It has great potential as a promising drug for HCC, based on effectiveness and safety profile.

Abstract China’s long-term sustainability faces socioeconomic and environmental uncertainties. We identify five key systemic risk drivers, called disruptors, which could push China into a polycrisis: pandemic disease, ageing and shrinking population, deglobalization, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Using an integrated simulation model, we quantify the effects of these disruptors on the country’s long-term sustainability framed by 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here we show that ageing and shrinking population, and climate change would be the two most influential disruptors on China’s long-term sustainability. The compound effects of all disruptors could result in up to 2.1 and 7.0 points decline in the China’s SDG score by 2030 and 2050, compared to the baseline with no disruptors and no additional sustainability policies. However, an integrated policy portfolio involving investment in education, healthcare, energy transition, water-use efficiency, ecological conservation and restoration could promote resilience against the compound effects and significantly improve China’s long-term sustainability.

Abstract As a hepatotropic virus, hepatitis B virus (HBV) can establish a persistent chronic infection in the liver, termed, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), which causes a series of liver-related complications, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC with HBV infection has a significantly increased morbidity and mortality, whereas it could be preventable. The current goal of antiviral therapy for HBV infection is to decrease CHB-related morbidity and mortality, and achieve sustained suppression of virus replication, which is known as a functional or immunological cure. The natural history of chronic HBV infection includes four immune phases: the immune-tolerant phase, immune-active phase, inactive phase, and reactivation phase. However, many CHB patients do not fit into any of these defined phases and are regarded as indeterminate. A large proportion of indeterminate patients are only treated with dynamic monitoring rather than recommended antiviral therapy, mainly due to the lack of definite guidelines. However, many of these patients may gradually have significant liver histopathological changes during disease progression. Recent studies have focused on the prevalence, progression, and carcinogenicity of indeterminate CHB, and more attention has been given to the prevention, detection, and treatment for these patients. Herein, we discuss the latest understanding of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic strategies of indeterminate CHB, to provide avenues for the management of these patients.

Abstract Intestinal fibrosis is a prevalent complication of IBD that that can frequently be triggered by prolonged inflammation. Fibrosis in the gut can cause a number of issues, which continue as an ongoing challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. The primary causes of intestinal fibrosis are soluble molecules, G protein-coupled receptors, epithelial-to-mesenchymal or endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and the gut microbiota. Fresh perspectives coming from in vivo and in vitro experimental models demonstrate that fibrogenic pathways might be different, at least to some extent, independent of the ones that influence inflammation. Understanding the distinctive procedures of intestinal fibrogenesis should provide a realistic foundation for targeting and blocking specific fibrogenic pathways, estimating the risk of fibrotic consequences, detecting early fibrotic alterations, and eventually allowing therapy development. Here, we first summarize the inflammatory and non-inflammatory components of fibrosis, and then we elaborate on the underlying mechanism associated with multiple cytokines in fibrosis, providing the framework for future clinical practice. Following that, we discuss the relationship between modernization and disease, as well as the shortcomings of current studies. We outline fibrosis diagnosis and therapy, as well as our recommendations for the future treatment of intestinal fibrosis. We anticipate that the global review will provides a wealth of fresh knowledge and suggestions for future fibrosis clinical practice. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Alterations in epigenetic factors are recognized as key contributors to the emergence of human cancer. The active and reversible alteration of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA is crucial for controlling gene activity and determining cellular destiny. Even with these insights, the triggering of KIAA1429 (also called VIRMA) and its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is mostly unclear. As a result, the objective of this study was to elucidate how KIAA1429 contributes to cancer development in LUAD. Methods This study utilized multiple methods for investigation, encompassing the in vitro functional examination of KIAA1429 in lung adenocarcinoma cells, transcriptome sequencing, methylation RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP‐seq), as well as RNA stability tests to ascertain the half‐life and stability of the target genes. Results The results indicated that modifying the expression of KIAA1429 regulated the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD. By employing transcriptome sequencing alongside MeRIP‐seq analysis, the research pinpointed genes affected by m6A alterations triggered by KIAA1429. In a more detailed manner, it was discovered that KIAA1429 plays a regulatory role in the expression of ARHGAP30. Suppressing KIAA1429 results in reduced m6A levels in the mRNA of the target gene ARHGAP30, boosting its stability and expression, thus inhibiting tumor proliferation and metastasis. Conclusion This study revealed the activation mechanism and pivotal function of KIAA1429 in LUAD tumor development, paving the way for molecular‐based interventions for LUAD.

Abstract Background The proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) is essential to follicular development and the ubiquitin–proteasome system is necessary for maintaining cell cycle homeostasis. Previous studies found that the deubiquitinase ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) regulates female reproduction, especially in ovarian development. However, the mechanism by which UCHL1 regulates porcine GC proliferation remains unclear. Results UCHL1 overexpression promoted GC proliferation, and knockdown had the opposite effect. UCHL1 is directly bound to cyclin B1 (CCNB1), prolonging the half-life of CCNB1 and inhibiting its degradation, thereby promoting GC proliferation. What’s more, a flavonoid compound-isovitexin improved the enzyme activity of UCHL1 and promoted the proliferation of porcine GCs. Conclusions UCHL1 promoted the proliferation of porcine GCs by stabilizing CCNB1, and isovitexin enhanced the enzyme activity of UCHL1. These findings reveal the role of UCHL1 and the potential of isovitexin in regulating proliferation and provide insights into identifying molecular markers and nutrients that affect follicle development.

Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), a severe complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), markedly influences patient prognosis by fostering a hypercoagulable state. However, its molecular underpinnings remain largely unexplored. This study sheds light on the critical role of the KIT ligand (KITLG) in modulating expression of the collagen gene COL4A1 via the STAT3-SMAD2 signaling pathway, thereby influencing platelet activation and PVTT development. Extensive analysis of PVTT tissue samples, alongside in vitro and in vivo experiments including cell-platelet interaction assays and PVTT animal models, revealed the mechanism through which KITLG regulates COL4A1 expression, as well as its downstream effects on platelet behavior and the coagulation cascade. Our findings revealed that marked upregulation of COL4A1 expression, mediated by KITLG through the STAT3-SMAD2 pathway, led to increased platelet activation and PVTT formation. KITLG and COL4A1 expression was markedly higher in PVTT tissues than primary HCC tissues, thus highlighting their critical role in the pathophysiological trajectory leading to thrombosis. The finding that the KITLG-COL4A1 signaling axis is a crucial mediator in PVTT development may offer promising new directions for developing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study underscores the importance of the KITLG-COL4A1 axis in PVTT formation and its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC treatment protocols.

Abstract Fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung (FLAC) is a rare form of lung adenocarcinoma and was divided into high-grade (H-FLAC) and low-grade (L-FLAC) subtypes. Despite the existence of some small case series studies, a comprehensive multi-omics study of FLAC has yet to be undertaken. In this study, we depicted the multi-omics landscapes of this rare lung cancer type by performing multi-regional sampling on 20 FLAC cases. A comparison of multi-omics profiles revealed significant differences between H-FLAC and L-FLAC in a multi-omic landscape. Two subtypes also showed distinct relationships between multi-layer intratumor heterogeneity (ITH). We discovered that a lower genetic ITH was significantly associated with worse recurrence-free survival and overall survival in FLAC patients, whereas higher methylation ITH in H-FLAC patients suggested a short survival. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between genetic and transcriptional heterogeneity in FLAC and suggest that different types of ITH may have distinct implications for patient prognosis.

Abstract Current clustering analysis of spatial transcriptomics data primarily relies on molecular information and fails to fully exploit the morphological features present in histology images, leading to compromised accuracy and interpretability. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a multi-stage statistical method called iIMPACT. It identifies and defines histology-based spatial domains based on AI-reconstructed histology images and spatial context of gene expression measurements, and detects domain-specific differentially expressed genes. Through multiple case studies, we demonstrate iIMPACT outperforms existing methods in accuracy and interpretability and provides insights into the cellular spatial organization and landscape of functional genes within spatial transcriptomics data.

Abstract Background To investigate the changes in the unhealthy eye-related behaviors of junior middle school students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the double reduction policy and its relationship with myopia. Methods Data were obtained from the 2019–2022 Tianjin Children and Youth Myopia, Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors Survey. Latent profile analysis (LPA) and a generalized linear model (GLM) were applied to analyze the effect of eye-related behavior classes on myopia. Results A total of 2508 junior middle school students were included. The types of eye-related behavior were categorized into the medium-healthy behavior group, heavy academic burden and near-eye behavior group, insufficient lighting group and high-healthy behavior group. Students with heavy academic burdens and near-eye behavior were more likely to develop myopia than were those in the high-healthy group (OR = 1.466, 95% CI = 1.203–1.787; P