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Kawasaki disease is a common systemic vasculitis in children, and early treatment is critical to prevent coronary artery complications. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different aspirin dosages on the prognosis of Kawasaki disease. A total of 161 children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease were enrolled and divided into four groups based on the dosage of aspirin: 30–34 mg/kg, 35–39 mg/kg, 40–44 mg/kg, and 45–49 mg/kg. Demographic characteristics, pre-treatment laboratory indicators, post-treatment laboratory indicators, the incidence of coronary artery complications, and the rate of IVIG resistance were compared across the groups. No significant differences were found in baseline characteristics such as age, gender, weight, IVIG treatment choice, IVIG treatment duration, or the proportion of patients diagnosed before the age of 1 year. Laboratory indicators before and after treatment were also similar between groups. However, at 3-4 weeks after the onset of illness, the incidence of coronary artery complications was significantly higher in the high-dose aspirin groups compared to the low-dose aspirin group. Additionally, the high-dose aspirin group had a longer duration of fever and a higher proportion of recurrent fever compared to the low-dose group. The results suggest that although aspirin dosage did not appear to have a clear impact on the overall prognosis of Kawasaki disease, high-dose aspirin administered in the 3-4 weeks following disease onset may increase the risk of coronary artery complications and is associated with a higher incidence of recurrent fever. Caution is therefore advised in selecting aspirin dosages to minimize unnecessary risks.

IntroductionEndothelial cell (EC) calcification is an important marker of atherosclerotic calcification. ECs play a critical role not only in atherogenesis but also in intimal calcification, as they have been postulated to serve as a source of osteoprogenitor cells that initiate this process. While the role of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in cellular differentiation, survival, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell adhesion is well established, the mechanism underlying the TG2-mediated regulation of EC calcification is yet to be fully elucidated.MethodsThe TG2 gene was overexpressed or silenced by using siRNA and recombinant adenovirus. RT-PCR and WB were used to analyze the relative expression of target genes and proteins. 5-BP method analyzed TG2 activity. mCherry-eGFP-LC3 adenovirus and transmission electron microscopy analyzed EC autophagy level. Calcium concentrations were measured by using a calcium colorimetric assay kit. Alizarin red S staining assay analyzed EC calcification level. Elisa analyzed IL-6 level. Establishing EC calcification model by using a calcification medium (CM).ResultsOur findings demonstrated that CM increased TG2 activity and expression, which activated the NF-κB signaling pathway, and induced IL-6 autocrine signaling in ECs. Furthermore, IL-6 activated the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to suppress cell autophagy and promoted ECs calcification.DiscussionECs are not only critical for atherogenesis but also believed to be a source of osteoprogenitor cells that initiate intimal calcification. Previous research has shown that TG2 plays an important role in the development of VC, but the mechanism by which it exerts this effect is not yet fully understood. Our results demonstrated that TG2 forms complexes with NF-κB components inhibition of autophagy promoted endothelial cell calcification through EndMT. Therefore, our research investigated the molecular mechanism of EC calcification, which can provide new insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Abstract Aiming at the problem of increased water injection pressure and poor water injection effect during the water injection operation of Weizhou X offshore low permeability oil reservoir. The cause of clogging was clarified using cast thin section experiments, water quality compatibility experiments and reservoir sensitivity experiments, and corresponding deblocking agents were configured based on the experimental results. The experimental results show that Weizhou X oilfield has strong velocity sensitivity (damage rate 85.35%) and strong salt sensitivity (damage rate 63.02%), and there is a phenomenon of water quality incompatibility. Analysis shows that the excessive velocity of the injected water causes the core particles to fall off and the water quality is incompatible with the calcium carbonate precipitation to cause pore throat blockage as the fluid migrates to the small roar, which is the main reason for the increase in water injection pressure. Based on the analysis results, the acid solution formula was optimized and determined to be: 12% HCl + 0.5% HF + 3% CH3COOH + 0.5% C6H12N4. Indoor test results show that the acid has good clay swelling prevention and reservoir modification effects, and the average reservoir modification rate is 129.21%. The plug‐removing effect is remarkable and can be promoted in similar oil fields.

In semi-arid and arid areas, gully erosion is one of the most destructive forms of erosion and causes serious land degradation and resource destruction. Steepland gullies are widely distributed in the dry valleys of southwest China, and their formation is one of the main causes of soil erosion and the destruction of sloping farmland in the region. Previous research on the development of steepland gullies is limited, and further study is needed. In this study, 11 steepland gullies at various stages of development located in Guobu Village, Xide County, Liangshan, Sichuan Province, were selected for investigation using a digital elevation model (DEM) derived from unmanned aerial vehicle data as the primary data source. These data had a spatial resolution of 0.1 m. Fundamental parameters such as the gully length, width, depth, area, and volume were extracted from the remote sensing data. Other characteristic parameters, including the coefficient of main and tributary gullies, vertical gradient, gully elongation, and gully openness, were also investigated. The results indicate a significant linear positive correlation between the gully’s degree of openness and elongation as the gully’s length, width, and depth increase. Furthermore, the vertical gradient and coefficient of main and tributary gullies exhibit power-law relationships with these gully dimensions. The development of steepland gullies was divided into infancy, youth, maturity, and old age based on the use of the gully length as an ergodic indicator in space-for-time substitution. The morphological characteristics of these different stages were quantitatively analyzed, and a proposed mechanism for how the evolution of the gullies proceeds was developed. An empirical model of volume–length erosion was established to investigate the development process of steepland gullies in the dry valleys. It has been observed that the development law of steepland gullies is essentially consistent with the very active stage of typical gully formation, suggesting that steepland gully may represent the initial stage of gully development. The results show that these steepland gullies have their origin in high-intensity rainfall events that are accompanied by the formation of steps and drop water. The effects of gravity erosion and hydraulic erosion then cause the gullies to expand rapidly, forming gullies with a large head and a small tail before they gradually stabilize. The results of this study will help with the understanding of the formation and evolution of steepland gullies and will be of practical significance for the prevention of gully erosion and the protection of sloping farmland in the dry valley region of southwest China.

Abstract In the previous studies, anti‐TGF‐β/PD‐L1 bispecific antibody YM101 is demonstrated, with superior efficacy to anti‐PD‐L1 monotherapy in multiple tumor models. However, YM101 therapy can not achieve complete regression in most tumor‐bearing mice, suggesting the presence of other immunosuppressive elements in the tumor microenvironment (TME) beyond TGF‐β and PD‐L1. Thoroughly exploring the TME is imperative to pave the way for the successful translation of anti‐TGF‐β/PD‐L1 BsAb into clinical practice. In this work, scRNA‐seq is employed to comprehensively profile the TME changes induced by YM101. The scRNA‐seq analysis reveals an increase in immune cell populations associated with antitumor immunity and enhances cell‐killing pathways. However, the analysis also uncovers the presence of immunosuppressive CCR5+ T cells in the TME after YM101 treatment. To overcome this hurdle, YM101 is combined with Maraviroc, a widely used CCR5 antagonist for treating HIV infection, suppressing CCR5+ T cell accumulation, and optimizing the immune response. Mechanistically, YM101‐induced neutrophil activation recruits immunosuppressive CCR5+ T cells via CCR5 ligand secretion, creating a feedback loop that diminishes the antitumor response. Maraviroc then cleared these infiltrating cells and offset YM101‐mediated immunosuppressive effects, further unleashing the antitumor immunity. These findings suggest selectively targeting CCR5 signaling with Maraviroc represents a promising and strategic approach to enhance YM101 efficacy.

In this paper, the electrochemical and corrosion behavior of pure titanium (TA1) in simulated Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (PEMWE) anodic environment was investigated. In this condition, the corrosion potential of TA1 was −689 mV, with a self-corrosion current density of 232.5 μA cm–2, and a polarization resistance of 125.9 Ω cm2. During potentiostatic polarization at 2 V, the current density was maintained at approximately 6 mA cm–2. However, the passivation process exhibited instability. Furthermore, this process has been shown to significantly facilitate the formation of surface oxides, and the passive film that formed displays the lowest bound water and OH−, and the highest content of O2–, exhibiting the highest average valence. Notably, dynamic potentials caused current transients, among which square wave potential was the most remarkable. The square wave potential shows an O2– content just below that of 2V potential polarization when fluctuating potentials are applied. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of 2 V potentiostatic polarization was slightly higher than that of square, sine and triangular waves. Additionally, the high temperature condition of PEMWE will aggravate the corrosion of TA1 by fluoride ions.

This study aims to address the potential and challenges of multimodal medical information in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) by developing an ILD identification model (ILDIM) based on the multimodal fusion attention mechanism (MFAM) to improve the accuracy and reliability of ILD. Large-scale multimodal medical information data, including chest CT image slices, physiological indicator time series data, and patient history text information were collected. These data are professionally cleaned and normalized to ensure data quality and consistency. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used to extract CT image features, Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Network (Bi-LSTM) model is used to learn temporal physiological metrics data under long-term dependency, and Self-Attention Mechanism is used to encode textual semantic information in patient’s self-reporting and medical prescriptions. In addition, the multimodal perception mechanism uses a Transformer-based model to improve the diagnostic performance of ILD by learning the importance weights of each modality’s data to optimally fuse the different modalities. Finally, the ablation test and comparison results show that the model performs well in terms of comprehensive performance. By combining multimodal data sources, the model not only improved the Precision, Recall and F1 score, but also significantly increased the AUC value. This suggests that the combined use of different modal information can provide a more comprehensive assessment of a patient’s health status, thereby improving the diagnostic comprehensiveness and accuracy of ILD. This study also considered the computational complexity of the model, and the results show that ILDIM-MFAM has a relatively low number of model parameters and computational complexity, which is very favorable for practical deployment and operational efficiency.

Understanding the characteristics of the growth zones of live corals and competitive algae, including turf algae and macroalgae, is crucial for assessing the degradation of coral reef ecosystems. However, identifying live corals and competitive algae in multispectral satellite images is challenging because different objects can have similar spectra. To address this, we used two satellite images acquired at different times (Landsat thematic mapper (TM), Landsat operational land imager (OLI), or Sentinel-2 multi-spectral instrument (MSI)) to assess the growth zone characteristics of live corals and competitive algae. This assessment leveraged the seasonal dieback of competitive algae and the relative stability of live-coral growth zones over a short period. Specifically, we developed a normalized red–green difference index (NRGI) to segment live-coral-or-competitive-alga growth zones in satellite images. By comparing the segmentation results from an image captured during a period with few competitive algae and another image captured during a period with lush competitive algae, we estimated the growth zone areas of the live corals and competitive algae. Finally, we calculated the ratio of the competitive-alga growth zone area to the live-coral growth zone area (RCL). Experiments on eight typical coral islands and reefs in the South China Sea (SCS) from 1995 to 2022 revealed that: (1) the identification accuracies of live-coral-or-competitive-alga growth zones reached 80.3 % and 92.6 % during periods with few competitive algae (January to March) and lush competitive algae (April to October), respectively; (2) the RCL was well correlated with the coral-macroalgae encounter rate (an ecological index indicating the pressure of the competitive algae on the live corals) (r = 0.79, P

ObjectiveEarly identification of autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is crucial, as it enables early interventions that can enhance AVF maturation rates and reduce the duration of catheter use. This study aimed to identify factors that may predict arteriovenous fistula maturation in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.MethodsThis retrospective study included a cohort of 532 ESRD patients who underwent AVF creation and routine follow-up at the Beijing Haidian Hospital (Haidian Section of Pecking University Third Hospital) from August 2018 to March 2022. A total of 532 patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (389 cases) and a validation cohort (143 cases). Patients in each cohort were categorized into mature and non-mature groups based on whether they met clinical or ultrasound criteria 3 months after AVF creation. The timing of early intervention for non-maturation AVF was preliminarily discussed after a risk prediction nomogram for non-maturation in newly AVF creation was constructed.ResultsOf the 532 patients, 379 (73.24%) achieved fistula maturation at 3 months postoperatively. We randomly divided the total study population using computer-generated randomization into a training cohort (n = 389) and a validation cohort (n = 143) in an approximately 7:3 ratio. Analysis of the training cohort revealed that the anastomotic diameter (anas1), the internal diameter of the anastomotic vein (V1), brachial artery blood flow (F1) at 1 month, and brachial artery blood flow (F3) at 3 months postoperatively were associated with AVF maturation. A maturation nomogram was developed for the training cohort, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.938 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.908–0.967), with a sensitivity of 0.911 and a specificity of 0.856. The model was validated in the validation cohort, showing an AUC of 0.927 (95% CI, 0.879–0.975), with a sensitivity of 0.870 and specificity of 0.886. The calibration curve showed strong agreement between nomogram predictions and actual observations.ConclusionThe anastomotic diameter (anas1), the internal diameter of the anastomotic vein (V1), brachial artery blood flow (F1) at 1 month, and brachial artery blood flow (F3) at 3 months postoperatively can predict the unassisted maturation of AVF.

In the past, the use of remote sensing for winter wheat growth monitoring mainly relied on the relative growth assessment of a single vegetation index, such as normalized Vegetation index (NDVI). This study advanced the methodology by integrating field-measured data with Sentinel-2 data. In addition to NDVI, it innovatively incorporated two parameters, aboveground biomass (AGB) and leaf area index (LAI), for a more comprehensive relative growth assessment. Furthermore, the study employed the agricultural production systems simulator (APSIM) model to use LAI and AGB for absolute growth monitoring. The results showed that the simulated LAI and AGB closely match the field-measured values throughout the entire growth period of winter wheat under various conditions (R2 > 0.9). For relative growth monitoring, NDVI showed significant linear positive correlations (r > 0.74 and P< 0.05) with both LAI and AGB simulated by the APSIM model. Overall, this research shows that LAI and AGB obtained from the APSIM model provide a more detailed and accurate approach to monitoring of winter wheat growth. This improved monitoring capability can support effective land management arable and provide technical guidance to advance precision agriculture practices.

ObjectiveThis study aims to observe the clinical efficacy of single-incision thoracoscopic bullectomy combined with C-shaped electrocautery pleurodesis compared to traditional iodine chemical pleurodesis in the treatment of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.MethodsA total of 128 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax who underwent surgical treatment at our institution from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected. Patients were categorized into the study group (n = 65) and the control group (n = 63) based on the surgical method used. The study group received C-shaped pleura cautery for pleurodesis, while the control group underwent traditional iodine chemical pleurodesis. Surgical and clinical outcomes were evaluated, and recurrence rates within one year postoperatively were compared. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were measured at different time points.ResultsNo significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, or postoperative hospital stay (p > 0.05). However, the study group demonstrated significantly lower serum CRP levels and VAS scores on postoperative days 1 and 2, as well as reduced drainage volumes compared to the control group (p 0.05).ConclusionSingle-incision thoracoscopic bullectomy combined with C-shaped electrocautery pleurodesis is an effective treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax. Compared to traditional iodine chemical pleurodesis, this method causes less pleural irritation, results in lower postoperative pain and drainage, and facilitates patient recovery, making it a safe and reliable option for the management of spontaneous pneumothorax.

IntroductionLung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Black/African American (B/AA) populations, in particular, exhibit the highest incidence and mortality rates of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in the United States.MethodsThis study aims to explore gene expression patterns linked to LUAD in B/AA and case-matched white patients, with the goal of developing predictive models for prognosis. Leveraging RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, genes and pathways associated with overall survival (OS) were identified.ResultsThe OS-associated genes in B/AA patients were distinct from those in white patients, showing predominant enrichment in immune-related pathways. Furthermore, mRNA co-expression network analysis revealed that OS-associated genes in B/AA patients had higher levels of interaction with various pathways, including those related to immunity, cell-ECM interaction, and specific intracellular signaling pathways. Notably, a potential B/AA-specific biomarker, C9orf64, demonstrated significant correlations with genes involved in immune response. Unsupervised machine learning algorithms stratified B/AA patients into groups with distinct survival outcomes, while supervised algorithms demonstrated a higher accuracy in predicting survival for B/AA LUAD patients compared to white patients.DiscussionIn total, this study explored OS-associated genes and pathways specific for B/AA LUAD patients. Further validation and clinical application of these findings are warranted to address disparities and improve outcomes in diverse patient populations.

Abstract Inhibitors of α‐amylase have been developed to regulate postprandial blood glucose fluctuation. The enzyme inhibition arises from direct or indirect inhibitor‐enzyme interactions, depending on inhibitor structures. However, an ignored factor, substrate, may also influence or even decide the enzyme inhibition. In this work, it is innovatively found that the difference in substrate enzymolysis modes, i.e., structural composition and concentration of α‐1,4‐glucosidic bonds, triggers the diversity in inhibitor‐enzyme aggregating behaviors and α‐amylase inhibition. For competitive inhibition, there exists an equilibrium between α‐amylase‐substrate catalytic affinity and inhibitor‐α‐amylase binding affinity; therefore, a higher enzymolysis affinity and concentration of α‐1,4‐glucosidic structures interferes the balance, unfavoring inhibitor‐enzyme aggregate formation and thus weakening α‐amylase inhibition. For uncompetitive inhibition, the presence of macromolecular starch is necessary instead of micromolecular GalG2CNP, which not only binds with active site but with an assistant flexible loop (involving Gly304‐Gly309) near the site. Hence, the refined enzyme structure due to the molecular flexibility more likely favors the inhibitor binding with the non‐active loop, forming an inhibitor‐enzyme‐starch ternary aggregate. Conclusively, this study provides a novel insight into the evaluation of α‐amylase inhibition regarding the participating role of substrate in inhibitor‐enzyme aggregating interactions, emphasizing the selection of appropriate substrates in the development and screening of α‐amylase inhibitors.

Abstract The effectiveness of Toll‐like 9 agonists (CpG) as an adjuvant for tumor immunotherapy is restricted due to their insufficient ability to activate anti‐tumor immunity. To address that, the common nutrient metal ions are explored (Mn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, and Al3+), identifying Mn2+ as a key enhancer of CpG to mediate immune activation by augmenting the STING‐NF‐κB pathway. Mn2+ and CpG are then self‐assembled with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) into a nanoadjuvant MPN/CpG. Local delivery of MPN/CpG effectively inhibits tumor growth in a B16 melanoma‐bearing mouse model, reshaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) by repolarizing M2‐type tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) to an M1‐type and boosting intra‐tumoral infiltration of CD8+/CD4+ T lymphocytes and DCs. Furthermore, compared to free CpG, MPN/CpG exhibits heightened accumulation in lymph nodes, enhancing CpG uptake and DC activation, consequently inducing significant antigen‐specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell immune response and humoral immunity. In a prophylactic tumor‐bearing mouse model, MPN/CpG vaccination with OVA antigen significantly delays B16‐OVA melanoma growth and extends mouse survival. These findings underscore the potential of MPN/CpG as a multifunctional adjuvant platform to drive powerful innate and adaptive immunity and regulate TME against tumors.

Abstract Incorporation of CO into substrates to construct high‐value carbonyl compounds is an intensive industrial carbonylation procedure, however, high toxicity and wide explosion limits (12.5–74.0 vol% in air) of CO limit its application in industrial production. The development of a CO‐free catalytic system for carbonylation is one of ideal methods, but full of challenge. Herein, this study reports the CO‐free aminocarbonylation conversion of terminal alkynes synergistically catalyzed by a unique Co(ІІ)/Ag(І) metal–organic framework (MOF), in which the combination of isocyanides and O2 is employed as safe and green source of aminocarbonyl. This reaction has broad substrate applicability in terminal alkyne and isocyanides components with 100% atom economy. The bimetal MOF catalyst can be recycled at least five times without substantial loss of catalytic activities. Mechanistic investigations demonstrate that the synergistic effect between Ag(I) and Co(II) sites can efficiently activate terminal alkyne and isocyanides, respectively. Free radical capture experiments, FT‐IR analysis and theoretical explorations further reveal that terminal alkynes and isocyanides can be catalytically transformed into an anionic intermediate through heterolysis pathways. This work provides secure and practical access to carbonylation as well as a new approach to aminocarbonylation of terminal alkynes.

Summary: Sarcopenia, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a critical health issue in nursing home residents. Given the high prevalence of sarcopenia in care settings, effective screening is crucial. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of two conventional sarcopenia screening tools, SARC-F and SARC-CalF, and developed an alternative tool, SEAC, specifically for nursing home residents. In a sample of 679 older adults from Zhejiang Province, SARC-CalF exhibited better sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy compared to SARC-F. The SEAC tool, incorporating strength, exhaustion, assistance in walking, and calf circumference, demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity among the three screening tools. These findings suggest that SEAC could serve as a valuable tool for large-scale sarcopenia screening in nursing homes, potentially improving early detection and management of sarcopenia in this vulnerable population.

This bibliometric analysis reviews 8521 articles related to the digitalization of higher education, spanning from 1968 and 2023, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), PubMed, and Scopus databases. Employing this analytical framework, we identify key authors, leading institutions, and influential countries while highlighting high-impact literature and intricate collaborative networks within this field. Through an examination of high-frequency keywords and topics, this study maps the knowledge structure of the field, suggesting emerging hotspots and setting the trajectories for future research directions. Notably, the study by Crawford et al., in 2020 has received the highest number of citations, marking a significant impact. Furthermore, Spain has been particularly active, emerging as a leader in the volume of contributions to digital research in higher education. Keywords such as “co-creation”, “competency”, “hybrid teaching”, and “digital writing” are identified to drive future research trends, reflecting a growing interest in these areas. Meanwhile, themes like “e-learning” and “blended learning” are expected to remain central in upcoming research work.

Summary: Blockade of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is considered a promising strategy for controlling pathogen infection by enhancing host immune cell function. Eosinophils, which play a crucial role in type 2 immune responses, are essential components of the host defense against helminth infection. Here, we investigate the role of PD-1 in eosinophilia during Trichinella spiralis infection in mice. PD-1-deficient (PD-1−/−) mice exhibit delayed expulsion of adult worms and increased muscle larva burdens compared to wild-type mice following infection. Additionally, PD-1−/− mice display impaired recruitment of eosinophils to parasite-invaded tissues, attributed to decreased upregulation of adhesion molecules on both eosinophils and vascular endothelium after infection. The compromised Th2 cytokine response further contributes to impaired adhesion interactions, affecting eosinophil migration and cytotoxicity against larvae in vitro within T. spiralis-infected PD-1−/− mice. Our findings demonstrate a positive role for PD-1 in the recruitment of eosinophils, suggesting its involvement in host defense against helminth infection.

As more multi-ancestry GWAS summary data become available, we have developed a comprehensive trans-ancestry pathway analysis framework that effectively utilizes this diverse genetic information. Within this framework, we evaluated various strategies for integrating genetic data at different levels-SNP, gene, and pathway-from multiple ancestry groups. Through extensive simulation studies, we have identified robust strategies that demonstrate superior performance across diverse scenarios. Applying these methods, we analyzed 6,970 pathways for their association with schizophrenia, incorporating data from African, East Asian, and European populations. Our analysis identified over 200 pathways significantly associated with schizophrenia, even after excluding genes near genome-wide significant loci. This approach substantially enhances detection efficiency compared to traditional single-ancestry pathway analysis and the conventional approach that amalgamates single-ancestry pathway analysis results across different ancestry groups. Our framework provides a flexible and effective tool for leveraging the expanding pool of multi-ancestry GWAS summary data, thereby improving our ability to identify biologically relevant pathways that contribute to disease susceptibility.

Strongly scattering media disrupt both the wavefront distribution and the polarization state of the incident light field. Controlling and effectively utilizing depolarization effects are crucial for optical applications in highly scattering environments, such as imaging through dense fog. However, current simulation models have difficulty simulating the evolution of vector light fields within scattering media, posing challenges for studying vector light fields in strongly scattering environments. Here, we propose the Vector Angular Spectrum (VAS) model for simulating the propagation of vector light fields within scattering media. By introducing the angular spectrum distribution of vector light scattering and polarization conversion mechanisms, this model can simulate the depolarization effects of vector light propagating through strongly scattering media. The VAS model has also been used to investigate the focusing of vector scattered light through scattering media. Furthermore, the simulation results of the model have been validated through experiments. The proposed VAS model is expected to play a role in the theoretical research of vector scattered light and optical applications in strongly scattering environments.

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to investigate the occupational epidemiological characteristics of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers through a cross-sectional study and to explore the impact of combined noise and dust exposure on workers’ hearing loss through a longitudinal study.ResultsThis cross-sectional study revealed that the risk of speech-frequency hearing loss increases with age (OR = 1.096, 95%CI = 1.081–1.111). Independent factors influencing high-frequency hearing loss include sex, age, hazardous factors, industry category, and enterprise size. Scientific research and technical services (OR = 1.607, 95%CI = 1.111–2.324), wholesale and retail (OR = 2.144, 95%CI = 1.479–3.107), manufacturing (OR = 1.907, 95%CI = 1.429–2.545), and other industries (OR = 1.583, 95%CI = 1.002–2.502) are risk factors for high-frequency hearing loss, whereas being female (OR = 0.297, 95%CI = 0.236–0.373) is a protective factor against high-frequency hearing loss. Independent factors influencing occupational noise-induced hearing loss include sex, working age, hazardous factors, industry category, smoking, and drinking, with the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss increasing with working age (OR = 1.045, 95%CI = 1.031–1.058). Noise and dust work (OR = 1.271, 95%CI = 1.011–1.597), other work (OR = 0.619, 95%CI = 0.479–0.800), manufacturing (OR = 2.085, 95%CI = 1.336–3.254), other industries (OR = 2.063, 95%CI = 1.060–4.012), occasional smokers (OR = 0.863, 95%CI = 0.652–1.142), regular smokers (OR = 1.216, 95% CI = 0.987–1.497), and excessive drinkers (OR = 2.171, 95%CI = 1.476–3.193) are risk factors for occupational noise-induced hearing loss, whereas being female (OR = 0.496, 95%CI = 0.347–0.709) is a protective factor against occupational noise-induced hearing loss. The longitudinal study revealed differences in pure-tone hearing threshold test results at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 3,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz, and 6,000 Hz in both ears before and after enrollment among noise-exposed workers (p

The research investigated the nutritional physiology effect of ginseng saponins on Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) under low-fishmeal diets. In total, five experimental groups were arranged, with 21% fishmeal (high-fishmeal) serving as the positive control (PC), 11% fishmeal (low-fishmeal) serving as the negative control (NC), and 11% fishmeal serving as the addition in all three other groups. Similarly, ginseng saponins (GSP, purity of 2%) were added in the order of 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% (GSP0.1, GSP0.3, and GSP0.5), with an 8-week growth cycle. Both GSP0.1 and GSP0.3 showed significantly higher growth performance (final body weight, FBW; weight gain rate, WGR; specific growth rate, SGR) than the NC group, but significantly lower growth performance than the PC group (P0.05). Whereas, in terms of the relative expression levels of the corresponding genes, in shrimp of the GSP0.3 group, the relative expression of antioxidant-related genes sod, cat, and gsh-px were significantly higher than that of the PC group (P

Abstract The north‐south seismic belt of China poses a high risk of earthquakes, necessitating the need for accurate and rapid prediction of intensity measures (IMs) to prevent and mitigate potential damage. We have developed a new multi‐task model, CRAQuake, to predict IMs for the north‐south seismic belt of China. Using initial arrival seismic waves recorded at a single station as input, CRAQuake simultaneously predicts six IMs without relying on pre‐configured parameters such as earthquake source, path, and location. The model was trained on 4,281 sets of strong motion records data sets at 822 stations and tested to show highly correlated results with the target IMs. The prediction performance continues to improve as the input initial arrival seismic wave time window increases. CRAQuake promises to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of IMs prediction in the north‐south seismic belt of China.

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the mental health of patients with lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy (LDHR) and to evaluate the effects of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) on their mental well-being.MethodThis study included 114 LDHR patients who received PTED in the Spinal Orthopedics Department of Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between May 2022 and May 2023. The study population was stratified into two groups according to the presence of preoperative anxiety and depression: Group A comprised patients with such symptoms, and Group B included the remainder. Patients were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at preoperative and final follow-up visits. Evaluations were performed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Visual Analog Scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at the time of preoperation and during the last follow-up.ResultsAmong the 114 LDHR patients who obtained complete follow-up, fifty-four had anxiety/depression symptoms before surgery, which accounted for a incidence of 47%. Both Group A and Group B patients showed significant improvement in all evaluation indicators after PTED, but the overall prognosis of Group A was worse than that of Group B.ConclusionPTED can effectively improve patients’ pain, functional activities and mental health, which has a positive impact on patients’ quality of life, and there is a significant correlation between patients’ preoperative mental health and prognosis.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is a new treatment for cancers, but reports on curing immune-related skin diseases are limited. We report a case of successful CAR-T-cell therapy in a patient with refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) who was incidentally cured of chronic generalized plaque psoriasis. The patient, a 65-year-old male who had a known history of psoriasis for 45 years, did not receive immunotherapy for psoriasis during this period. Imaging, molecular biology and immunology diagnostics confirmed DLBCL. After several weeks of standard-dose R-CHOP chemotherapy, the patient achieved partial remission, but according to CT, the patient relapsed, and there was no significant improvement in her psoriasis symptoms. Subsequently, the patient was enrolled in the CD19 CAR-T-cell therapy group. Four weeks after CAR-T-cell infusion, the patient’s abdominal pain disappeared, and there was a significant improvement in overall skin lesions. One year later, follow-up results indicated complete remission of R/R DLBCL (confirmed by PET-CT), with only minimal residual psoriatic skin lesions limited to the patient’s neck. The results of using CAR-T-cell therapy to achieve an incidental cure for psoriasis highlight the potential for exploring cell-based therapies for complex autoinflammatory skin diseases.

BackgroundAmiodarone and dronedarone are both class III antiarrhythmic medications used to treat arrhythmias. The objective of this study was to enhance the current understanding of adverse drug reaction (ADR) associated with amiodarone and dronedarone by employing data mining methods on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), and providing a reference for safe and reasonable clinical use.MethodsThe ADR records were selected by searching the FAERS database from 2011 Q3 to 2023 Q3. The disproportionality analysis algorithms, including Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Empirical Bayesian Geometric Mean (EBGM), were used to detect signals of amiodarone-related and dronedarone-related ADRs. The ADR profiles of amiodarone and dronedarone categorized by organ toxicity were compared through the Z-test and the Fisher exact test.Results9,295 reports specifically mentioned the use of amiodarone and 2,485 reports mentioned the use of dronedarone among 9,972,109 reports, with the majority of ADRs occurring in males over 60 years old. The United States was responsible for the highest proportion of reported ADRs. Significant system organ classes (SOC) for both included Cardiac disorders, Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders, and Investigations, etc. At the preferred terms (PTs) level, the more frequent ADR signals for amiodarone were drug interaction (n = 856), hyperthyroidism (n = 758), and dyspnoea (n = 607), while dronedarone were atrial fibrillation (n = 371), dyspnoea (n = 204), and blood creatinine increased (n = 123). Notably, unexpected ADRs, including electrocardiogram T wave alternans (n = 16; EBGM05 = 231.27), accessory cardiac pathway (n = 11; EBGM05 = 140), thyroiditis (n = 178; EBGM05 = 125.91) for amiodarone, and cardiac ablation (n = 11; EBGM05 = 31.86), cardioversion (n = 7; EBGM05 = 22.69), and dysphagia (n = 47; EBGM05 = 3.6) for dronedarone, were uncovered in the instructions. The analysis also revealed significant differences in the ADR profiles of amiodarone and dronedarone, with dronedarone showing higher proportions of cardiac toxicity but lower thyroid toxicity compared to amiodarone.ConclusionThese findings underscore the significance of vigilantly monitoring and comprehending the potential risks linked to the use of amiodarone and dronedarone. New ADRs discovered and clear ADR profiles of amiodarone and dronedarone enhance a thorough understanding of these drugs, which is essential for clinicians to ensure safe use of amiodarone and dronedarone.

Abstract Dental caries is one of the most prevalent and costly biofilm‐induced oral diseases that causes the deterioration of the mineralized tooth tissue. Traditional antimicrobial agents like antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) struggle to effectively eradicate bacteria in biofilms without eliciting resistance. Herein, we demonstrate the construction of FeOOH@Fe‐Lysine@Au nanostructured AMPs (nAMPs) distinguished by their AMP‐like antibacterial activity and self‐producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) capacity for caries treatment. On the one hand, FeOOH@Fe‐Lysine@Au nAMPs can catalyze glucose oxidation to generate ROS within the cariogenic biofilm microenvironment, resulting in the disintegration of the extracellular polymeric substance matrix and the exposure of bacteria. On the other hand, FeOOH@Fe‐Lysine@Au nAMPs can attach to bacterial surfaces via electrostatic attractions, proceeding to damage membranes, disrupt metabolic pathways, and inhibit protein synthesis through the aggregated lysine and the generated ROS. Based on this antibacterial mechanism, FeOOH@Fe‐Lysine@Au nAMPs can effectively eradicate Streptococcus mutans and its associated biofilm, significantly impeding the progression of dental caries. Given the straightforward and cost‐efficient preparation of FeOOH@Fe‐Lysine@Au nAMPs compared to AMPs that require specific sequences, and their minimal adverse impacts on gingival/palatal tissues, major organs, and oral/gut microbiomes, our research may promote the development of novel therapeutic agents in dental health maintenance.

Abstract The waste of resources associated with fruit decay is rapidly spreading globally, threatening the interests of relevant practitioners and the health of consumer groups, and demanding precise solutions. Controlling fruit ripening through ethylene regulation is one of the most important strategies for providing high‐quality fruits. However, current materials for ethylene regulation still have difficulty realizing their application potential due to high manufacturing costs and performance deficiencies. In this review, the ethylene‐controlled release materials for ripening based on molecular encapsulation and the ethylene scavengers for preservation based on mechanisms such as oxidation, photodegradation, and adsorption are presented. We discuss and analyze a wide range of materials in terms of mechanism, performance, potential of applicability, and sustainability. The ethylene release behavior of encapsulating materials depends on the form in which the ethylene binds to the material as well as on environmental factors (humidity and temperature). For ethylene scavengers, there are a variety of scavenging mechanisms, but they generally require porous materials as adsorption carriers. We highlight the great opportunity of designing soft crystalline porous materials as efficient ethylene adsorbent due to their unique structural properties. We present this review, including a summary of practical characteristics and deficiencies of various materials, to establish a systematic understanding of fruit quality assurance materials applied to ethylene regulation, anticipating a promising prospect for these new materials.

Landslide risk assessment in coal mining economic cities faces challenges due to inadequate knowledge of indicator systems and modeling techniques, despite its crucial significance in geological disaster management. This study addresses this gap by proposing a novel framework encompassing data preparation, susceptibility analysis, consequence analysis, and final risk assessment. The primary objective is to reduce the complexity and inherent uncertainties associated with landslide risk assessment in these specific urban environments. First, two comprehensive databases for the indication system were established. One database focuses on landslide susceptibility, considering the region’s mining disturbances and disaster-prone environments. The other evaluates the effect of consequences while accounting for the pertinent risk variables. Second, a hybrid machine learning model called Geo-FR-SVM was developed by combining the GeoDetector, Frequency Ratio method, and Support Vector Machine model to improve landslide susceptibility mapping. Integrating the susceptibility map with the consequence map created using fuzzy set theory and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methodologies resulted in the final landslide risk map. Our analysis revealed that elevation, distance to rivers and roads, groundwater level, and coal mining subsidence were the key factors influencing landslide occurrence in the Xishan mine area. The majority of the study area exhibits low landslide risk. However, higher consequence zones were primarily concentrated in highly populated residential regions and coal mine industrial zones in the east-central and western urban areas. Additionally, they are mainly distributed along the roads in the center region. With comparatively large percentages of landslide high-risk and extremely high-risk regions (4.596%, 3.855%, 3.625%, and 3.188%, respectively) at Tunlan Mine, Xiqu Mine, Zhenchengdi Mine, and Baijiazhuang Mine, these findings highlight the need for these mines to prioritize potential landslide identification and risk mitigation strategies. This framework offers broad applicability to other coal mining economic cities, serving as a valuable foundation for landslide risk management decision-making.

ObjectivePoly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are emerging targeted therapeutic agents in oncology, primarily indicated for ovarian and metastatic breast cancer. Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been observed in patients undergoing PARPi treatment, while there is still a lack of comprehensive comparisons of AKI associated with different PARPis. Our study aimed to extensively characterize the renal adverse effects (RAEs) of PARPi using real-world data.MethodsDisproportionality analysis and Bayesian analysis were employed for data mining to identify suspected RAE cases after different PARPis use within the Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System from January 2004 to September 2023. The time to onset, fatality, and hospitalization rates of PARPi-related RAEs were also investigated.ResultsWe identified 1,696 PARPi-related RAEs, predominantly affecting patients over 85 (56.31%). Veliparib exhibited a more pronounced association with RAEs compared to others, as indicated by the highest reporting odds ratio (ROR = 29.20, 95% CI = 8.79–96.97), proportional reporting ratio (PRR = 19.80, χ2 = 72.62), and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM = 19.80, the lower 90% one-sided CI = 7.25). The median time to RAEs onset was 15 (interquartile range: 6–55.75) days following the initiation of PARPi therapy. PARPi-related RAEs generally led to a 28.15% hospitalization rate and a 4.34% fatality rate.ConclusionAlthough the majority present with reversible creatinine elevation, PARPi-related RAEs merits broader attention, given its potential for clinical consequences. We should strive to early identify those individuals who may have irreversible kidney damage. The focus should be directed toward monitoring renal function in individuals receiving PARPi, especially in senile people and those with a predisposition to AKI.

ObjectivesTo explore the relationship between glymphatic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).MethodsThis study retrospectively included 38 patients with unilateral TLE and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs). The diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, choroid plexus volume (CPV), and cognitive assessment were obtained for each participant. Neuropsychological test batteries included Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Minimum Mental State Examination, Arithmetic Test (AT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Digit Span Test (DST), Boston Naming Test, Block design, Phonological Fluency Test (PFT), and Semantic Verbal Fluency (SVF).ResultsCompared to HCs, TLE patients had lower scores of MoCA, AT, DSST, DST, Block design, PFT and SVF (all p

BackgroundSeveral recent investigations have posited that distinct metabolites in the bloodstream may be correlated with the pathogenesis of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). Nonetheless, the interrelationship between the pathogenesis of PH and metabolite fluctuations remains incompletely elucidated, and findings may differ across studies.MethodsIn the extant research, data from 486 metabolite-and PH-related genetic variants in human subjects were procured based on Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and Finnish databases. Univariate Mendelian Randomization analyses were deployed to evaluate the causal relationships between them. The utilization of the randomized Inverse Variance weighted(IVW) method served as the primary analytic framework in this Mendelian Randomization (MR) study. Additionally, four alternative computational strategies, encompassing MR-Egger, were employed as auxiliary methods. A myriad of tests, including Cochran's Q Test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out analysis, and linkage disequilibrium score were incorporated to assess the robustness of the study outcomes. Metabolite pathway analysis was also executed to identify potential metabolic pathways.ResultsAfter a series of validations and corrected for False discovery rate (FDR), we found a significant association between 1,5-anhydroglucitol (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.39–2.89, P = 0.0002) and PH, and a significant association between pyridoxalate (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43–0.81, P = 0.0009) and 1-a achidonoylglycerophosphocholine (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.22–2.58, P = 0.0026) had a suggested association with PH. In addition, the vitamin B6 metabolic pathway was also determined to be associated with PH.ConclusionConclusively, we isolated 1,5-anhydroglucitol, 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphocholine, and pyridoxate as causally implicated in PH, thereby proffering substantial theoretical substantiation for the formulation of future PH prevention and screening paradigms.

BackgroundNovel β-lactam antibiotics as well as other kinds of antibiotics have been used to treat complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs); however, their efficacy and safety remain controversial.ObjectiveWe conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of novel β-lactam antibiotics versus other antibiotics against cUTIs.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched systematically from inception through 15 March 2024 for clinical trials comparing novel β-lactam antibiotics with other antibiotics for treatment of cUTIs. Random-effects models were used to evaluate the impact of treatment on the risk ratio (RR) of clinical response, microbiologic response, adverse effects (AEs), serious adverse effects (SAEs). The quality of evidence was evaluated with the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool. The review was registered in INPLASY (INPLASY202440054).ResultsTen randomized controlled trials involving 5, 925 patients met our inclusion criteria. Our meta-analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in overall clinical response (RR = 1.02), AEs (RR = 1.07), SAEs (RR = 1.20) between novel β-lactam antibiotics groups and other antibiotics groups. However, a significant difference was found in a subgroup of clinical cure rates at the end of treatment between novel β-lactam antibiotics groups and carbapenems groups, with low heterogeneity (RR = 1.02). A significant difference was observed in microbiologic response (RR = 1.11). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant difference in microbiologic response between novel BBL/BLS groups and carbapenems groups (RR = 1.13, I2 = 21%, P = 0.005). Differences was observed between novel BBL/BLS groups and piperacillin/tazobactam sodium groups (RR = 1.21, I2 = 70%, P = 0.02). Similar results were obtained from subgroup analysis of the difference in microbiologic response between novel β-lactam antibiotics groups and ertapenem groups (RR = 0.92, I2 = 0, P = 0.01).ConclusionNovel β-lactam antibiotics had similar overall clinical cure, AEs, SAE, to other antibiotics in the treatment of cUTIs. However, novel β-lactam antibiotics demonstrated superior clinical cure rates compared to carbapenems in a subgroup analysis, and exhibited better microbiologic response than other antibiotics.

Summary: Rooftop photovoltaics (RPVs) are crucial for decarbonizing the power sector and achieving carbon neutrality, with expected future capacity increases. The growth of RPVs necessitates substantial aluminum (Al) resources, contributing significantly to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Al production. Given China’s bauxite shortage, recycling Al from waste RPV panels presents an effective solution to enhance resource security and mitigate CO2 emissions. We developed a framework to project waste RPV quantities and assess the recycling potential of Al and its impact on CO2 emissions from 2020 to 2060. Our findings indicate potential waste flows of 95–221 million tonnes (Mt) and recycled Al ranging from 5 to 28 Mt, with a primary Al supply gap of 25–43 Mt. Recycling could reduce CO2 emissions by 35–207 Mt over the period. This research underscores the importance of Al resource security and sustainable RPV industry development in China’s pursuit of carbon neutrality.

The influences of phase coarsening and loading direction on the ductility of Ni-based superalloys with phase coarsening are investigated, and the relationship between their microstructural and macroscopic mechanical properties is also explored in detail. It is found that the precipitation phase and the corresponding phase coarsening significantly influence the ductility of alloys. Furthermore, anisotropic features in ductility are observed after phase coarsening. Generally, as the volume fraction of precipitation particles or the degree of phase coarsening increases, the ductility of alloys gradually decreases; and it initially increases and then decreases gradually with the increase of loading angle, presenting an inverted ‘V’ shape. Comparatively, for the alloys with lower volume fraction of precipitation particles and higher degree of phase coarsening, the ductility shows different variation trends with the degree of phase coarsening and loading angle compared with that in materials with other microstructure features, taking the minimum value at the loading angle of 45°. The variations of ductility are closely connected to the characteristics of precipitate shape, size and distribution. The microstructure evolution and the loading direction significantly affect the initiation and movement of dislocations within the material, and result in various macroscopic ductility characteristics in the Ni-based superalloys.

ObjectiveLevosimendan and Sacubitril/Valsartan are both potent pharmacotherapeutic agents in the clinical management of heart failure characterized by reduced ejection fraction. However, the limited efficacy of monotherapy and the lack of extensive clinical experience with combination therapy necessitate further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combining levosimendan with sacubitril/valsartan on chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, specifically through a meta-analysis of studies conducted in China.MethodsCochrane systematic evaluation method was used to complete data retrieval from the following related databases: (1) Wanfang database; (2) CNKI China Academic Journal Network; (3) Wipo Full-text Database of Chinese Sci-tech journals; (4) PubMed; (5) Medline; (6) Chinese Biomedical Literature Database; (7) Web of Science; and (8) Google Scholar database. We searched for studies published up to December 2021. Data were extracted from applicable articles. Meta-analyses were performed to assess the left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) level, NT-proBNP level, Clinical efficacy, and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) level outcomes, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.ResultsA total of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 398 patients were included, half of the patients for levosimendan combined with Sacubitril/Valsartan and half of the patients for control groups. The effective rate in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group [Peto-OR = 3.08, 95% CI (1.83, 5.19), P

ABSTRACT Although the Omicron variant has been associated with greater transmissibility and tropism of the upper respiratory tract, the clinical and pathogenic features of patients infected with the Omicron variant during an outbreak in China have been unclear. Adults with COVID-19 were retrospectively enrolled from seven medical centers in Guangzhou, China, and clinical information and specimens ( BALF, sputum, and throat swabs) from participants were collected. Conventional detection methods, metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and other methods were used to detect pathogens in lower respiratory tract samples. From December 2022 to January 2023, we enrolled 836 patients with COVID-19, among which 56.7% patients had severe/critical illness. About 91.4% of patients were infected with the Omicron strain (BA.5.2). The detection rate of possible co-infection pathogens was 53.4% by mNGS, including Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.3%), Aspergillus fumigatus (12.2%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.8%). The co-infection rate was 19.5%, with common pathogens being Streptococcus pneumoniae (11.5%), Haemophilus influenzae (9.2%), and Adenovirus (6.9%). The superinfection rate was 75.4%, with common pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae (26.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.4%). Klebsiella pneumoniae (27.1%% vs 6.1%, P < 0.001), Aspergillus fumigatus (19.6% vs 5.3%, P = 0.001), Acinetobacter baumannii (18.7% vs 4.4%, P = 0.001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.8% vs 7.0%, P = 0.024), Staphylococcus aureus (14.0% vs 5.3%, P = 0.027), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (0.9% vs 10.5%, P = 0.002) were more common in severe cases. Co-infection and superinfection of bacteria and fungi are common in patients with severe pneumonia associated with Omicron variant infection. Sequencing methods may aid in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pathogens.IMPORTANCEOur study has analyzed the clinical characteristics and pathogen spectrum of the lower respiratory tract associated with co-infection or superinfection in Guangzhou during the outbreak of the Omicron strain, particularly after the relaxation of the epidemic prevention and control strategy in China. This study will likely prompt further research into the specific issue, which will benefit clinical practice.

ABSTRACT Microbiomes play crucial roles in insect adaptation, especially under stress such as pathogen invasion. Yet, how beneficial microbiomes assemble remains unclear. The wood-boring beetle Monochamus alternatus, a major pest and vector of the pine wilt disease (PWD) nematode, offers a unique model. We conducted controlled experiments using amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS) within galleries where beetles and microbes interact. PWD significantly altered bacterial and fungal communities, suggesting distinct assembly processes. Deterministic factors like priority effects, host selection, and microbial interactions shaped microbiome composition, distinguishing healthy from PWN-infected galleries. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Ophiostomataceae emerged as potentially beneficial, aiding beetle’s development and pathogen resistance. This study unveils how nematode-induced changes in gallery microbiomes influence beetle’s development, shedding light on microbiome assembly amid insect-pathogen interactions. Insights gleaned enhance understanding of PWD spread and suggest novel management strategies via microbiome manipulation.IMPORTANCEThis study explores the assembly process of gallery microbiomes associated with a wood-boring beetles, Monochamus alternatus, a vector of the pine wilt disease (PWD). By conducting controlled comparison experiments and employing amplicon approaches, the study reveals significant changes in taxonomic composition and functional adaptation of bacterial and fungal communities induced by PWD. It identifies deterministic processes, including priority effects, host selection, and microbial interactions, as major drivers in microbiome assembly. Additionally, the study highlights the presence of potentially beneficial microbes such as Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Ophiostomataceae, which could enhance beetle development and resistance to pathogens. These findings shed light on the intricate interplay among insects, microbiomes, and pathogens, contributing to a deeper understanding of PWD prevalence and suggesting innovative management strategies through microbiome manipulation.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to use visual mapping and bibliometric analysis to summarize valuable information on the tumor microenvironment (TME)-related research on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the past 20 years and to identify the research hotspots and trends in this field.MethodsWe screened all of the relevant literature on the TME of HCC in the Web of Science database from 2003 to 2023 and analysed the research hotspots and trends in this field via VOSviewer and CiteSpace.ResultsA total of 2,157 English studies were collected. According to the prediction, the number of papers that were published in the past three years will be approximately 1,394, accounting for 64.63%. China published the most papers (n=1,525) and had the highest total number of citations (n=32,253). Frontiers In Immunology published the most articles on the TME of HCC (n=75), whereas, Hepatology was the journal with the highest total number of citations (n=4,104) and average number of citations (n=91). The four clusters containing keywords such as “cancer-associated fibroblasts”, “hepatic stellate cells”, “immune cells”, “immunotherapy”, “combination therapy”, “landscape”, “immune infiltration”, and “heterogeneity” are currently hot research topics in this field. The keywords “cell death”, “ferroptosis”, “biomarkers”, and “prognostic features” have emerged relatively recently, and these research directions are becoming increasingly popular.ConclusionsWe identified four key areas of focus in the study of the TME in HCC: the main components and roles in the TME, immunotherapy, combination therapy, and the microenvironmental landscape. Moreover, the result of our study indicate that effect of ferroptosis on the TME in HCC may become a future research trend.

Arsenic (As) is a widespread global pollutant, and there is significant controversy surrounding its complex relationship with obesity, primarily focused on short-term exposure. Recognizing the prolonged nature of dietary arsenic exposure, this study involved feeding mice with arsenic-contained food for 14 months. The results showed that mice exposed to arsenic developed a non-alcoholic fatty liver condition, characterized by a light-yellow hue on the liver surface and various pathological alterations in the liver cells, including enlarged nuclei, cellular necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, dysfunctional mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum disorganization. There were also disruptions in biochemistry indices, with a significant increase in total cholesterol (TC) level and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level. However, some contradictory observations occurred, such as a significant decrease in body weight, triglyceride (TG) level, and the numbers of lipid droplets. Several genes related to lipid metabolism were tested, and a model was used to explain these discrepancies. Besides, examinations of the colon revealed compromised intestinal barrier function and signs of inflammation. Fecal 16S rRNA sequencing and pseudo-targeted metabolomics revealed disruptions in internal homeostasis, such as modules, nodes, connections, and lipid-related KEGG pathways. Fecal targeted metabolomics analyses of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs) demonstrated a significant upregulation in three primary bile acids (CA, CDCA, TCDCA), four secondary bile acids (TUDCA, DCA, LCA, GUDCA), and total SCFAs level. Oxidative stress and inflammation were also evident. Additionally, based on correlation analysis and mediation analysis, it was assumed that changes in the microbiota (e.g., Dubosiella) can impact the liver metabolites (e.g., TGs) through alterations in fecal metabolites (e.g., LPCs). These findings provide a theoretical reference for the long-term effect of arsenic exposure on liver lipid metabolism.

Throughout history, various odors have been harnessed to invigorate or relax the mind. The mechanisms underlying odors’ diverse arousal effects remain poorly understood. We conducted five experiments (184 participants) to investigate this issue, using pupillometry, electroencephalography, and the attentional blink paradigm, which exemplifies the limit in attentional capacity. Results demonstrated that exposure to citral, compared to vanillin, enlarged pupil size, reduced resting-state alpha oscillations and alpha network efficiency, augmented beta-gamma oscillations, and enhanced the coordination between parietal alpha and frontal beta-gamma activities. In parallel, it attenuated the attentional blink effect. These effects were observed despite citral and vanillin being comparable in perceived odor intensity, pleasantness, and nasal pungency, and were unlikely driven by semantic biases. Our findings reveal that odors differentially alter the small-worldness of brain network architecture, and thereby brain state and arousal. Furthermore, they establish arousal as a unique dimension in olfactory space, distinct from intensity and pleasantness.

The present study aimed to prepare polysaccharides from the pomace of Polygonatum rhizome and characterize their structural features and biological activities. After hot water extraction and DEAE-52 cellulose fractionation, a neutral polysaccharide (PKP) was obtained with 91.85% sugars and 0.45% proteins. Structural characterization indicated that PKP contained a main fraction with a molecular weight of 4.634 × 103 Da and was composed of →1)-β-D-Fruf-(2→ and →6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→ residues. PKP was a semi-crystalline polymer, and the Congo red assay suggested the presence of triple-helix structure in PKP. PKP exhibited moderate radical scavenging activity (including 15.55% inhibition of DPPH, 21.48% inhibition of ABTS, and 22.52% inhibition of ·OH) and could effectively protect MRC-5 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage at 0.01 mg/mL through inhibiting apoptosis, decreasing SA-β-galactosidase activity, and downregulating the expression levels of p16 and p53. Therefore, PKP could be used in functional foods and pharmaceuticals as an antioxidant. This study provides an attractive method for utilizing polysaccharides from waste materials.

In this study, tea polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was purified via three-phase partitioning (TPP) using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) instead of t-butanol. First, the properties of 13 types of synthesized DESs were characterized, and DES-7 (thymol/dodecanoic acid) was selected as the best alternative solvent. The process parameters were optimized using response surface methodology. The experimental results revealed that when the (NH4)2SO4 concentration, DES to crude extract ratio, extraction time, and pH were 41%, 0.5:1, 75 min, and 5.6, respectively, the recovery and purification fold of tea PPO were 78.44% and 8.26, respectively. SDS-PAGE and native-PAGE were used to analyze the PPO before and after purification of the TTP system, and the molecular weight and purification effect of PPO were detected. Moreover, the DES could be recovered and recycled. The results indicate an environmentally friendly and stable DES, and provide a reference for the large-scale application of TPP to extract PPO.

Global warming is causing glaciers to retreat and glacial lakes to expand in the Himalayas, which amplifies the risk of glacial lake outburst debris flows (GLODFs) and poses a significant threat to downstream lives and infrastructures. However, the complex interplay between GLODF occurrences and associated indicators, coupled with the lack of a comprehensive susceptibility indicator system that considers the entire GLODF process, presents a substantial challenge in assessing GLODF susceptibility in the Himalayas. This study proposes a process-driven GLODF susceptibility assessment indicator system responding to climate change that considers the complete process of GLODF formation, incorporating relevant parameters about upstream, themselves, and downstream of glacial lakes. Furthermore, to mitigate subjective factors associated with traditional evaluation methods, we developed three novel hybrid machine-learning models by integrating classic machine-learning algorithms with the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to delineate the distribution of GLODF susceptibility in the Himalayas. All the hybrid models effectively predicted the GLODFs occurrence, with the WOA-SVC model demonstrating the highest prediction accuracy. Approximately 34% of the catchments exhibit high and very high susceptibility levels, primarily concentrated along the north and south sides of the Himalayan ridge, particularly in the eastern and central Himalayas. Indicators capturing the physical formation process of hazards, such as topographic potential (highest relative importance value of 40%), can precisely identify GLODF. A total of 128 catchments pose potential transboundary threats, with 24 classified as having a very high susceptibility level and 25 as having a high susceptibility level. Notably, the border region between China and Nepal is a prominent hotspot for transboundary threats of GLODF. These findings can provide valuable clues for disaster prevention, mitigation, and cross-border coordination in the Himalayas.

Abstract Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with primary stenting, which stands for stent implantation regardless of obtaining satisfactory results with balloon angioplasty, has superseded conventional plain old balloon angioplasty with provisional stenting. With drug-coated balloon (DCB), primary DCB angioplasty with provisional stenting has shown non-inferiority to primary stenting for de novo coronary small vessel disease. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of such a strategy to the primary stenting on clinical endpoints in de novo lesions without vessel diameter restrictions remain uncertain. Study design The REC-CAGEFREE I is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial aimed to enroll 2270 patients with acute or chronic coronary syndrome from 43 interventional cardiology centers in China to evaluate the non-inferiority of primary paclitaxel-coated balloons angioplasty to primary stenting for the treatment of de novo, non-complex lesions without vessel diameter restrictions. Patients who fulfill all the inclusion and exclusion criteria and have achieved a successful lesion pre-dilatation will be randomly assigned to the two arms in a 1:1 ratio. Protocol-guided DCB angioplasty and bailout stenting after unsatisfactory angioplasty are mandatory in the primary DCB angioplasty group. The second-generation sirolimus-eluting stent will be used as a bailout stent in the primary DCB angioplasty group and the treatment device in the primary stenting group. The primary endpoint is the incidence of Device-oriented Composite Endpoint (DoCE) within 24 months after randomization, including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically and physiologically indicated target lesion revascularization. Discussion The ongoing REC-CAGEFREE I trial is the first randomized trial with a clinical endpoint to assess the efficacy and safety of primary DCB angioplasty for the treatment of de novo, non-complex lesions without vessel diameter restrictions. If non-inferiority is shown, PCI with primary DCB angioplasty could be an alternative treatment option to primary stenting. Trial registration Registered on clinicaltrial.gov (NCT04561739).

Abstract Background Cancer cells frequently evolve necroptotic resistance to overcome various survival stress during tumorigenesis. However, we have previously showed that necroptosis is widespread in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and contributes to tumor progression and poor survival via DAMPs-induced migration and invasiveness in peri-necroptotic tumor cells. This implicated an alternative strategy that cancers cope with necroptotic stress by reprogramming a pro-invasive necroptotic microenvironment (NME). Here, we aim to decipher how necroptotic cells shape the NME and affect HNSCC progression. Methods Both our pre-established cellular necroptotic model and newly established Dox-induce intratumoral necroptosis model were used to investigate how necroptosis affect HNSCC progression. Transcriptomic alterations in peri-necroptotic tumor cells were analyzed by RNA-seq and validated in the NME in mice and patients’ samples. The differential DAMPs compositon among apopotosis. Necrosis, and necroptosis were analyzed by label-free proteomic technique, and the necroptosis-specific DAMPs were then identified and validated. The potential receptor for ISG15 were simulated using molecular docking and further validated by in vitro assays. Then the ISG15-RAGE axis was blocked by either knockdown of necroptotic-ISG15 release and RAGE inhibitor FPS-ZM1, and the impact on tumor progression were tested. Last, we further tested our findings in a HNSCC-patients cohort. Results Necroptosis played a crucial role in driving tumor-cell invasiveness and lymphatic metastasis via tumor-type dependent DAMPs-releasing. Mechanistically, necroptotic DAMPs induced peri-necroptotic EMT via NF-κB and STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, intrinsic orchestration between necroptotic and cGAS-STING signaling resulted in producing a group of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) as HNSCC-dependent necroptotic DAMPs. Among them, ISG15 played an essential role in reprogramming the NME. We then identified RAGE as a novel receptor for extracellular ISG15. Either blockage of ISG15 release or ISG15-RAGE interaction dramatically impeded necroptosis-driven EMT and lymphatic metastasis in HNSCC. Lastly, clinicopathological analysis showed high ISG15 expression in NME. Extensive necroptosis and high tumor-cell RAGE expression correlated with tumor progression and poor survival of HNSCC patients. Conclusions Our data revealed a previously unknown cGAS-ISG15-RAGE dependent reprogramming of the necroptotic microenvironment which converts the necroptotic stress into invasive force to foster HNSCC-cell dissemination. By demonstrating the programmatic production of ISG15 via necroptosis-cGAS orchestration and its downstream signaling through RAGE, we shed light on the unique role of ISG15 in HNSCC progression. Targeting such machineries may hold therapeutic potential for restoring intratumoral survival stress and preventing lymphatic metastasis in HNSCC. Graphical Abstract