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Background/Objectives: In previous studies, the morphological differences of corneal basal nerves in dry eye patients may be related to severity and aging.The aim of the study was to evaluate the morphological alterations of corneal basal nerves in adult patients with mild to moderate dry eye disease (DED) by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Subjects/Methods:Prospective, cross-sectional study.Forty-two adult patients (19-44 years) with mild to moderate DED and 16 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included in this study. All patients had a history of dry eye lasting less than 12 months.The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear film break-up time (TBUT), sodium fluorescein staining andSchirmer’s test, and IVCM were used to observe central corneal basal nerve parameters, including nerve density, main number, branch number, width, reflectivity, tortuosity and beading number. Results: Compared with the 16 healthy subjects (16 eyes), the 42 patients (42 eyes) with DED showed higher nerve density (21.889±3.459 vs. 16.653±1.793, PConclusions: Adult patients with mild to moderate DED demonstrated higher nerve density, branch numbers, width, tortuosity, reflectivity and beading numbers than normal subjects. IVCM may be a sensitive indicator for assessing mild to moderate DED in the early stage.

The performance optimization of isolated atomically dispersed metal active sites is critical but challenging. Here, TiO 2 @Fe species-N-C catalysts with Fe atomic clusters (ACs) and satellite Fe-N 4 active sites were fabricated to initiate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation reaction. The AC-induced charge redistribution of single atoms (SAs) was verified, thus strengthening the interaction between SAs and PMS. In detail, the incorporation of ACs optimized the HSO 5 - oxidation and SO 5 ·− desorption steps, accelerating the reaction progress. As a result, the Vis/TiFeAS/PMS system rapidly eliminated 90.81% of 45 mg/L tetracycline (TC) in 10 min. The reaction process characterization suggested that PMS as an electron donor would transfer electron to Fe species in TiFeAS, generating 1 O 2 . Subsequently, the h VB + can induce the generation of electron-deficient Fe species, promoting the reaction circulation. This work provides a strategy to construct catalysts with multiple atom assembly–enabled composite active sites for high-efficiency PMS-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).

The depletion of Bacteroides in the gut is closely correlated with the progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). This study aimed to identify Bacteroides strains with protective effects against ALD and evaluate the synergistic effects of Bacteroides and pectin in this disease. Mice were fed Lieber-DeCarli alcohol diet to establish an experimental ALD model and pre-treated with 4 Bacteroides strains. The severity of the liver injury, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation was evaluated through histological and biochemical assays. We found that Bacteroides fragilis ATCC25285 had the best protective effects against ALD strains by alleviating both ethanol-induced liver injury and steatosis. B. fragilis ATCC25285 could counteract inflammatory reactions in ALD by producing short-chain fat acids (SCFAs) and enhancing the intestinal barrier. In the subsequent experiment, the synbiotic combination of B. fragilis ATCC25285 and pectin was evaluated and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by metabolomic and microbiome analyses. The combination elicited superior anti-ALD effects than the individual agents used alone. The synergistic effects of B. fragilis ATCC25285 and pectin were driven by modulating gut microbiota, improving tryptophan metabolism, and regulating intestinal immune function. Based on our findings, the combination of B. fragilis ATCC25285 and pectin can be considered a potential treatment for ALD. KEY POINTS: • B. fragilis ATCC25285 was identified as a protective Bacteroides strain against ALD. • The synbiotic combination of B. fragilis and pectin has better anti-ALD effects. • The synbiotic combination modulates gut microbiota and tryptophan metabolism.

Nitrate contamination from human activities (

Chiral inversion of supramolecular assemblies is of great research interest due to its broad practical applications. However, chiral structure transition induced by in situ regulation of building molecules has remained a challenge. Herein, left-handed fibrous assemblies were constructed by

The application of organic fertilizer can improve soil fertility and maintain soil biodiversity. Soil enzyme activity can reflect the relationship between microbial nutrient demand and environmental nutrient availability. The experiment was established with a split-plot design, which included two main plots and two subplots. The main plots were 3 nitrogen levels (0, 150, 300 kg N ha

Our data demonstrated the association of the increase in germline methyltransferases required for methylation of H3K9 with transgenerational nanoplastic toxicity in nematodes.

Summary Intestinal flora provides an important contribution to the development of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). We performed a cross‐sectional study in 52 healthy controls (HCs) and 83 patients with untreated active PTB to assess the differences in their microbiomic and metabolic profiles in faeces via V3‐V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Patients with PTB had considerable reductions in phylogenetic alpha diversity and the production of short‐chain fatty acids, dysbiosis of the intestinal flora and alterations in the faecal metabolomics composition compared with HCs. Significant alterations in faecal metabolites were associated with changes in the relative abundance of specific genera. Our study describes the imbalance of the gut microbiota and altered faecal metabolomics profiles in patients with PTB; the results indicate that the gut microbiota and faecal metabolomic profiles can be used as potential preventive and therapeutic targets for PTB., The imbalance of the gut microbiota and altered faecal metabolomics profiles in patients with PTB;Mtb infection decreased the production of SCFAs in faeces.

Questions: What are the degree and pattern of dual-task interference during walking in people after stroke? How do these vary with disease chronicity and different component tasks in people after stroke? How does dual-task interference differ between people after stroke and people without stroke? Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis of studies reporting gait-related dual-task interference. Participants: People after stroke and people without stroke. Outcome measures: Measures of walking and secondary (cognitive or manual) task performance under dual-task conditions relative to those under single-task conditions. Results: Seventy-six studies (2,425 people after stroke and 492 people without stroke) were included. Manual and mental tracking tasks imposed the greatest dual-task interference on gait speed, although there was substantial uncertainty in these estimates. Among mental tracking tasks, the apparently least-complex task (serial 1 subtractions) induced the greatest dual-task interference (−0.17 m/s, 95% CI −0.24 to −0.10) on gait speed, although there was substantial uncertainty in these estimates. Mutual interference (decrement in both walking and secondary component task performances during dual-tasking) was the most common dual-task interference pattern. The results of the sensitivity analyses for studies involving people with chronic stroke were similar to the results of the primary analyses. The amount of dual-task interference from a mental tracking or manual task during walking was similar between people with or without stroke. Conclusions: The degree and pattern of dual-task interference vary with the choice of component tasks. When evaluating limitations to functional mobility during dual-tasking conditions and in planning interventions accordingly, clinicians should select dual-task assessments that correspond to the daily habits and physical demands of people after stroke. Registration: CRD42017059004.

A cycloid gear is the central component of a rotate vector reducer, and cycloid profile design has served as the basis for manufacturing modification research. The previous cycloid tooth profile equations are complicated to derive and not efficient to calculate. Moreover, the current tooth modification method only allows for uniform correction of the overall profile. This work presents an efficient calculation and high accuracy model of the cycloid profile which is designed in dual quaternion space by introducing assembly and machining error parameters. Moreover, we propose a vectorial modification method to achieve a single-point partial modification instead of simultaneous modification of all tooth profile points. With the meshing characteristics as the optimization objective, the optimal solution of the error term is obtained by means of the response surface method, which is the maximum error tolerance in the design process. Finally, verification is carried out by the finite-element method. The new cycloid tooth profile model provides the basis for a modification vector calculation of large-scale scatter points. The synchronization of the design error tolerance maximum and tooth profile design will also effectively improve the manufacturing accuracy of the whole machine and shorten the design cycle.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common nosocomial infection and is an urgent threat to public health.

Centromere protein M (CENPM) is essential for chromosome separation during mitosis. However, its roles in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression and metastasis remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of CENPM on LUAD progression as well as the underlying mechanisms. We analyzed the expression of CENPM and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics using GEO LUAD chip datasets and TCGA dataset. We further investigated the impact of CENPM on LUAD and . In silico analysis and qRT-PCR revealed that CENPM is upregulated in LUAD compared with that in normal lung tissues. Via gain/loss-of-function assays, we further found that CENPM promotes the LUAD cell cycle, cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibits cell apoptosis. The study showed that loss of CENPM inhibits the growth of A549 xenografts. Furthermore, we found that CENPM can promote the phosphorylation of mTOR rather than directly affect the mTOR content. Inhibition of mTOR activity abrogates the promoting effects of CENPM on cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Taken together, these results show that CENPM plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of LUAD and may be a promising therapeutic target in LUAD.

Background The modification of lysine malonylation found in recent years can affect biological metabolism and play an important role in life activities. Platycodon grandiflorus, as an economic crop and medicinal plant with a wide range of applications and has broad prospects for development. However, there is no reports on malonylation in the related research of P. grandiflorus. This study qualitatively introduces the malonylation of lysine in P. grandiflorus. Results 888 lysine malonylation modified proteins in P. grandiflorus were identified, with a total of 1755 modification sites. According to the functional annotation, malonylation proteins were closely related to catalysis, binding and other reactions. Subcellular localization showed that related proteins were enriched in chloroplasts, cytoplasm and nuclei, indicating that this modification could regulate a variety of biological metabolic processes. Motif analysis showed that the enrichment of Alanine (A), Cysteine (C), Glycine (G) and Valine (V) amino acids surrounding malonylated lysine residues. Metabolic pathway and protein-protein interaction network analyses suggested modification is mainly involved in plant photosynthesis. Moreover, malonylated proteins also involved in stress and defense responses. Conclusion This study shows that lysine malonylation can affect a variety of biological processes and metabolic pathways, and these contents are reported for the first time in P. grandiflorus, which can provide important information for further research on P. grandiflorus and lysine malonylation.

Intelligent manufacturing (IM) talent education is becoming considerably relevant owing to the increasing versatility and multi-level compound requirements of academic and applied personnel. Serving as the core promoter of IM talent education, the actions and orientation of higher education are essential for IM society. However, there is no coherent framework in current engineering teaching programs, which can determine the key advancements of IM to facilitate theoretical learning and professional skills. Hence, this study presents a systematic reference training system in a highly student-centered interpretation for IM formation by establishing (1) innovation education platform, to bridge theoretical learning and hands-on practice and (2) enhanced curriculum development, which advocates broad training outcomes from multi-perspectives. First, the IM system architecture and the required attributes of IM talents are analyzed. Second, an innovation platform is constructed by incorporating interdisciplinary IM frontiers. Third, combining multimedia and interactive instruction, the IM training course clusters are reformed by covering overall cognition, module practice, and comprehensive application. In particular, a typical IM production line is depicted to increase students’ interests in participation, which can simultaneously develop disciplinary knowledge and practical skills. From the perspectives of students and instructors, evaluations and assessments demonstrate that this presented reference training system is beneficial for supporting modern IM talent education.

Pulse signals contain abundant information which is useful in healthcare. Various approaches have been suggested with an aim of acquiring high-quality pulse signals, but are usually limited by either low accuracy or complicated apparatus. In this work, we proposed a “quasi applanation tonometry” method for pulse detection, where an adjustable static pressure was applied on wrist to compress artery and pulse signals were simultaneously recorded at the same position. To realize the method, a wearable compound sensing system, consisting of a piezoresistor and a piezoelectret sensor, was developed to measure the static pressure and pulse signals, respectively. The results showed that clear pulse signals with detailed information were successfully acquired with the sensing system, and by increasing the static pressure the pulse amplitude increased accordingly until a maximum was achieved. Further increase of the static pressure would lower the pulse amplitude and destroy the waveform gradually. A linear relation between the mean arterial pressure and the static pressure for maximum pulse amplitude was fitted, which would support the proposed method for the application of blood pressure estimation. In addition, heartbeat and respiration monitoring were also realized based on the recorded pulse signals. In general, this work has demonstrated a simplified pulse detection method by developing a piezoresistor-piezoelectret compound sensing system and realized some applications of pulse detection in health monitoring.

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a useful reliability analysis technique to identify potential failure modes in a wide range of industries. However, the conventional FMEA method is deficient in dealing with the risk evaluation and prioritization method. To overcome the shortcomings, this paper presents a new risk priority model using Best-Worst Method based on D numbers (D-BWM) and the Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to COmpromise Solution based on D numbers (D-MARCOS). First, D numbers are used to deal with the uncertainty of FMEA team members’ subjective judgment. Second, the distance-based method is proposed to determine the objective weight of each team member. Then, the D-BWM was used to determine the weight of risk factors. The combination rule of D number theory combined the evaluation information of multiple members into group opinions. Finally, D-MARCOS method is proposed to obtain the risk priority of the failure modes. An example and the results of comparative analysis show the method is effective.

At present, although there are some known molecular markers for the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases, but there are still shortcomings in sensitivity and specificity. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is one of the key enzymes involved in malignancy vital glycolytic pathway. Elevated serum LDH levels are reported significantly associated with a poor prognosis in various malignancies. However, there is currently no consensus regarding the prognostic value of LDH in NSCLC patients with brain metastases.We retrospectively analyzed 224 patients diagnosed with lung cancer brain metastases between January 2006 and June 2020 after excluding patients meeting combined with other malignancies and inaccurate clinical information. The LDH cutoff values were obtained using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the optimal cut-off value (180 U/L). 107 patients with LDH ≤180 (47.77%) and 117 patients with LDH180 (52.23%) were identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors. The overall survival (OS) time was defined as the time from the first diagnosis of brain metastases to the last follow-up or death. Of the included patients, 147 survived and 77 died. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to illustrate the OS difference between the two groups. Finally, sensitivity analysis was employed to evaluate the robustness of the results.The OS rate was significantly lower in the high LDH group versus the low LDH group (P=0.009). The median survival times of the high and low LDH groups were approximately 16 and 33 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that high LDH was associated with a significantly worse OS [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.567; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.058 to 2.32, P=0.025] with adjustment for covariables that P0.05 in univariate analysis. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results of this study are robust, despite potential unmeasured confounders.High level of serum LDH indicates poor prognosis for patients with NSCLC brain metastases. This finding may provide useful prognostic information for patients and clinicians to choose more aggressive treatment strategies.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is an important plant used worldwide for medicine and food. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF) family has essential roles in plant growth, development, and stresses resistance, and the number of genes in the family varies greatly among different types of plants. However, genome-wide discovery of ZoMYBs and gene responses to stresses have not been reported in ginger. Therefore, genome-wide analysis of R2R3-MYB genes in ginger was conducted in this study. Protein phylogenetic relations and conserved motifs and chromosome localization and duplication, structure, and cis-regulatory elements were analyzed. In addition, the expression patterns of selected genes were analyzed under two different stresses. A total of 299 candidate ZoMYB genes were discovered in ginger. Based on groupings of R2R3-MYB genes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., ZoMYBs were divided into eight groups. Genes were distributed across 22 chromosomes at uneven densities. In gene duplication analysis, 120 segmental duplications were identified in the ginger genome. Gene expression patterns of 10 ZoMYBs in leaves of ginger under abscisic acid (ABA) and low-temperature stress treatments were different. The results will help to determine the exact roles of ZoMYBs in anti-stress responses in ginger.

Retinal progenitor cell (RPC) transplantation has been proposed as a potential strategy for the treatment of retinal degeneration, which is a leading cause of vision loss. However, a major obstacle is the poor proliferation of RPCs. Accumulating evidence suggests that the chiral features of the extracellular microenvironment are closely related to cell proliferation. Inspired by this, L/D-phenylalanine-derived molecules (LP and DP) are employed to construct a biomimetic chiral microenvironment for enhancing RPC proliferation. LP and DP self-assemble into left-handed and right-handed helical fibrous networks, respectively. It is found that DP nanofibrous films show an excellent ability in promoting RPC proliferation

In this work, we propose a topology optimization (TO) method using fully adaptive truncated hierarchical B-splines (ATHB-TO), where the adaptive isogeometric analysis mesh and design mesh of ATHB-TO are locally refined and coarsened simultaneously. To meet the demands of full-mesh adaptivity of ATHB-TO, a marking strategy is established based on density variances between adjacent active elements. Then, an adaptive formulation for the mark strategy is proposed to avoid the overrefinement phenomenon that occurred in the adaptive TO method using a fixed mark strategy. Moreover, a density inheritance strategy is devised to project original design variables into design variables concerning a fully adaptive hierarchical mesh. Afterward, ATHB-TO with an adaptive mark strategy is successfully applied to two-dimensional and three-dimensional benchmarks. Numerical results show that the ATHB-TO method can obtain identical optimized designs at a lower computational burden, and improve the convergence rate compared with THB-TO with only hierarchical local refinement considered. Adopting the adaptive mark strategy releases the full potential of ATHB-TO in improving the computational efficiency compared with the fixed mark strategy. Additionally, the adaptive TO schemes outperform TO performed on uniformly refined meshes due to the enhanced numerical efficiency and improved structural performance with a largely accelerated convergence rate. Therefore, ATHB-TO is an effective way of solving structural TO problems.

Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation has been widely applied to various technical fields, especially in oil-gas field development in recent years. The MD simulation of nanofluids is elaborated from the aspect of nanofluid properties research via MD, the self-assembling MD simulation of nanoparticles at O/W two-phase interface, and the flow simulation of nanofluids in microscopic pores. Finally, theoretical guidance is provided for the application of MD in oilfield development to foster strengths and circumvent weaknesses.