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With the continuous development of information technology, data centers (DCs) consume significant and ever-growing amounts of electrical energy. Renewable energy sources (RESs) can act as clean solutions to meet this requirement without polluting the environment. Each DC serves numerous users for their data service demands, which are regarded as flexible loads. In this paper, the willingness to pay and time sensitivities of DC users are firstly explored, and the user-side demand response is then devised to improve the overall benefits of DC operation. Then, a Stackelberg game between a DC and its users is proposed. The upper-level model aims to maximize the profit of the DC, in which the time-varying pricing of data services is optimized, and the lower-level model addresses user's optimal decisions for using data services while balancing their time and cost requirements. The original bi-level optimization problem is then transformed into a single-level problem using the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker optimality conditions and strong duality theory, which enables the problem to be solved efficiently. Finally, case studies are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, as well as the effects of the time-varying data service price mechanism on the RES accommodation.

Abstract Background We report a pair of dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy affected by Noonan syndrome (NS) with a novel mutation of LZTR1 determined by genetic analysis. Case presentation A pregnant woman with monozygotic twins (DCDA) at 12 + 2 weeks gestation was referred to our center. This was her second pregnancy following a previous delivery of a healthy infant. Nuchal translucency of two fetuses was 11.2 mm (CRL 62.0 mm) and 6.9 mm (CRL 62.1 mm) respectively. Ultrasound examination indicated cystic hygroma and hypoplastic ear. The couple was not consanguineous, and both had normal phenotype. Familial hereditary disease was also excluded. Under ultrasound guidance, 30 mg of chorionic villi was obtained for karyotyping, quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR), chromosomal microarray analysis(CMA), and Trio-whole-exome sequencing(WES) examination. We used the “target region capture and sequencing” for WES, and the BWA (Burrows Wheeler Aligner) Multi-Vision software package for the data analysis. The results of all these tests were normal except WES detected a c.427 A > G mutation in the exonic region of the LZTR1 gene and a p. Asn143Asp novel heterozygous mutation associated with NS in this pair of twins. In addition, WES suggested that the mutation in the twin fetuses originated from the mother. When the mother got the genetic test report, she came to our fetal medicine department for genetic counseling and she declined the appointment with a clinical geneticist. The couple opted to terminate the pregnancy. Because the patient did not choose to terminate the pregnancy at our hospital, we were unable to take further examination. With the help of colleagues in another hospital, photos of the fetuses were taken. Compared with the prenatal ultrasound results, the appearance of the “cystic hygroma” and “hypoplastic ear” was consistent with the ultrasound. The couple were depressed after knowing this pathogenic result and although we advised the mother to take further investigation, they refused. Conclusion The mutant locus might be incompletely dominant, which led to an abnormal fetal phenotype such as cystic hygroma and hypoplastic ear.

The rapid spread of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (cpKP) poses serious threats to public health; however, the underlying genetic basis for its dissemination is still unknown. We conducted a comprehensive genomic epidemiology analysis on 420 cpKP isolates collected from 70 hospitals in 24 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities of China during 2009–2017 by short-/long-read sequencing. The results showed that most cpKP isolates were categorized into clonal group 258 (CG258), in which ST11 was the dominant clone. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three major clades including the top one of Clade 3 for CG258 cpKP isolates. Additionally, carbapenemase gene analysis indicated that blaKPC was dominant in the cpKP isolates, and most blaKPC genes were located in five major incompatibility (Inc) groups of blaKPC-harboring plasmids. Importantly, three advantageous combinations of host–blaKPC-carrying plasmid (Clade 3.1+3.2–IncFIIpHN7A8, Clade 3.1+3.2–IncFIIpHN7A8:IncR, and Clade 3.3–IncFIIpHN7A8:IncpA1763-KPC) were identified to confer cpKP isolates the advantages in both genotypes (strong correlation/coevolution) and phenotypes (resistance/growth/competition) to facilitate the nationwide spread of ST11/CG258 cpKP. Intriguingly, Bayesian skyline analysis illustrated that the three advantageous combinations might be directly associated with the strong population expansion during 2007–2008 and subsequent maintenance of the population of ST11/CG258 cpKP after 2008. We then examined drug resistance profiles of these cpKP isolates and proposed combination treatment regimens for CG258/non-CG258 cpKP infections. Thus, the findings of our systematical analysis shed light on the molecular epidemiology and genetic basis for the dissemination of ST11/CG258 cpKP in China, and much emphasis should be given to the close monitoring of advantageous cpKP–plasmid combinations.

Context Qiangli Wuhu (QLWH) mixture is a concoction approved and registered by Ningxia Medical Products Administration. It has therapeutic effects on various types of pneumonia.Objective To clarify the mechanisms of QLWH in treating pneumonia.Materials and methods The potential targets of QLWH in the treatment of pneumonia were predicted by network pharmacology. Male, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were randomly divided into five groups of 12 mice, control, vehicle, QLWH (10 and 20 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (DXM), and orally treated twice daily with normal saline, QLWH or DXM. The pneumonia model was established by tracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After treatment five days, ELISA, H&E staining and Western blot were used to investigate protective effects of QLWH.Results Nine hundred and ninety-four active ingredients were found through network pharmacology, corresponding to 135 targets for the treatment of pneumonia; compared to the vehicle group, QLWH (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly decreased the levels of TNF-α (14.3% and 28.8%), IL-1β (23.9% and 42.8%) and IL-6 (13.2% and 16.1%), increased the levels of IL-10 (134.3% and 172.9%); in terms of mechanism, QLWH down-regulated TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis related proteins in lung tissue of pneumonia model mice (p

Abstract Background Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterized by a high hospitalization rate and a high mortality rate. It is particularly important to identify biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of patients with acute attack of CHF. Purpose To observe the correlation between galectin-3, RDW, Hepc, HS and ferritin and the prognosis of patients with acute onset of CHF. Methods The study included 92 patients with acute onset of CHF who received treatment at our hospital between August 2020 and December 2021. After treatment, the patients were divided into the effective group and the non-effective group based on the effectiveness of treatment. The levels of galectin-3, RDW, Hepc, HS and ferritin before and after treatment were compared between the two groups and the correlation between prognosis of patients with acute attack of CHF and galectin-3, RDW, Hepc, HS and ferritin was observed. Results The effective rate was 71.74% (66/92) and the ineffective rate was 28.26% (26/92) in the 92 patients with acute attack of CHF in the study. Before and after treatment, the levels of galectin-3, RDW, Hepc, and HS were lower in the effective group than those of the non-effective group while the level of ferritin was higher in the effective group than that of the non-effective group (P

Creep aging forming (CAF) is a potential process to manufacture large integral components of Al–Li alloys, which exhibits poor formability and susceptibility to damage and cracking via traditional plastic forming processes. Al–Li alloys also have disadvantages, such as low creep and comprehensive properties.To address this problem, this study adopted pre-aging as a treatment process before creep aging (CA). The effects of pre-aging at different temperatures (65 °C, 90 °C, and 115 °C) on the CA of Al–Li alloys were evaluated at 155 °C for 18 h. Creep strain, the evolution of mechanical properties, and the microstructural characteristics were investigated as well. The results showed that pre-aging could effectively influence the subsequent CA behavior. As the pre-aging temperature increased, creep strain accumulation during CA decreased. Meanwhile, pre-aging significantly increased the elongation (EL) of the specimens after CA; Notably, the increase in EL did not compromise strength. Changes in the microstructure of the specimens after pre-aging and CA tests were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The effect of pre-aging on the subsequent CA properties mainly revealed that the strength was not lower than that of the specimen without pre-aging after the same CA test through adjusting the percentage and size of the T1 and θ′ phases. In addition, pre-aging could promote the transformation of the fracture mechanism from intergranular fracture to mixed fracture in the specimen after CA.

Mechanical metamaterials can be defined as a class of architected materials that exhibit unprecedented mechanical properties derived from designed artificial architectures rather than their constituent materials. While macroscale and simple layouts can be realized by conventional top-down manufacturing approaches, many of the sophisticated designs at various length scales remain elusive, due to the lack of adequate manufacturing methods. Recent progress in additive manufacturing (AM) has led to the realization of a myriad of novel metamaterial concepts. AM methods capable of fabricating microscale architectures with high resolution, arbitrary complexity, and high feature fidelity have enabled the rapid development of architected metamaterials and drastically reduced the design-computation and experimental-validation cycle. This paper first provides a detailed review of various topologies based on the desired mechanical properties, including stiff, strong, and auxetic (negative Poisson’s ratio) metamaterials, followed by a discussion of the AM technologies capable of fabricating these metamaterials. Finally, we discuss current challenges and recommend future directions for AM and mechanical metamaterials.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of serum gastrin-17 (G-17) and oral mucositis in head and neck carcinoma (HNC) patients receiving radiotherapy. Methods Serum G-17 were detected in patients before and after radiotherapy. Patients were divided into high G-17 group (baseline serum G-17 ≥ 5pmol/L) and low G-17 group (baseline serum G-17

In order to solve the problems of incomplete factors and inaccurate prediction in the current evaluation model of power transmission and transformation project, this paper uses the BP neural network algorithm optimized by simulated annealing genetic algorithm to solve the shortcomings of low training efficiency and local convergence value of BP neural network in model prediction. The comparison of experimental results shows that the BP neural network optimized by simulated annealing genetic algorithm proposed in this paper is 23.21% higher than that of BP neural network.

PurposeTo develop and validate a three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of extrathyroidal extension (ETE) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).MethodsThis retrospective study included 168 patients with surgically proven PTC (non-ETE, n = 90; ETE, n = 78) who were divided into training (n = 117) and validation (n = 51) cohorts by a random stratified sampling strategy. The regions of interest (ROIs) were obtained manually from 3D US images. A larger number of radiomic features were automatically extracted. Finally, a nomogram was built, incorporating the radiomics scores and selected clinical predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to validate the capability of the nomogram on both the training and validation sets. The nomogram models were compared with conventional US models. The DeLong test was adopted to compare different ROC curves.ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the radiologist was 0.67 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.580–0.757] in the training cohort and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.467–0.746) in the validation cohort. Sixteen features from 3D US images were used to build the radiomics signature. The radiomics nomogram, which incorporated the radiomics signature, tumor location, and tumor size showed good calibration and discrimination in the training cohort (AUC, 0.810; 95% CI, 0.727–0.876) and the validation cohort (AUC, 0.798; 95% CI, 0.662–0.897). The result suggested that the diagnostic efficiency of the 3D US-based radiomics nomogram was better than that of the radiologist and it had a favorable discriminate performance with a higher AUC (DeLong test: p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe 3D US-based radiomics signature nomogram, a noninvasive preoperative prediction method that incorporates tumor location and tumor size, presented more advantages over radiologist-reported ETE statuses for PTC.

It is important to be able to measure the similarity between two uncertain concepts for many real-life AI applications, such as image retrieval, collaborative filtering, risk assessment, and data clustering. Cloud models are important cognitive computing models that show promise in measuring the similarity of uncertain concepts. Here, we aim to address the shortcomings of existing cloud model similarity measurement algorithms, such as poor discrimination ability and unstable measurement results. We propose an EPTCM algorithm based on the triangular fuzzy number EW-type closeness and cloud drop variance, considering the shape and distance similarities of existing cloud models. The experimental results show that the EPTCM algorithm has good recognition and classification accuracy and is more accurate than the existing Likeness comparing method (LICM), overlap-based expectation curve (OECM), fuzzy distance-based similarity (FDCM) and multidimensional similarity cloud model (MSCM) methods. The experimental results also demonstrate that the EPTCM algorithm has successfully overcome the shortcomings of existing algorithms. In summary, the EPTCM method proposed here is effective and feasible to implement.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with huge specific surface area and abundant active sites, which are composed of metal ions or clusters and organic ligands in the form of coordination bonds. In recent years, MOFs have been successfully applied in many fields due to their excellent physical, chemical, and biological properties. Electrochemical sensors have advantages such as economy, portability, and sensitivity, making them increasingly valued in the field of sensors. Many studies have shown that the electrode materials will affect the performance of electrochemical sensors. Therefore, the research on electrode materials is still one of the hotspots. MOFs are also commonly used to construct electrochemical sensors. However, electrochemical sensors prepared from single MOFs have shortcomings such as insufficient conductivity, low sensitivity, and poor electrochemical catalytic ability. In order to compensate for these defects, a new type of nanocomposite material with very ideal conductivity was formed by adding metal nanoparticles (MNPs) to MOFs. The combination of the two is expected to be widely applied in the field of sensors. This review summarizes the applications of various MNPs/MOFs composites in the field of electrochemical sensors and provides some references for the development of MNPs/MOFs composites-based electrochemical sensors in the future.

Research objectiveTo propose a technique for placing pedicle screws in the thoracic spine using the Supraspinous ligament Arc Tangent (SLAT) as a guide to increase the safety and stability of screw placement.Content and methodsA retrospective analysis of postoperative anteroposterior and lateral x-ray images was performed for 118 patients with thoracic spine diseases who received conventional freehand technique from January 2016 to May 2020 and SLAT-guided technique since June 2020 to present. The diagnoses included thoracic spinal stenosis, deformity, fractures, infections, and tumors. The angle between the screw and the upper endplate was categorized as grade 1 (0°–5°), grade 2 (5°–10°), and grade 3 (>10°). Three surgeons with more than 10 years of experience in spinal surgery measured the angle between the screw and the upper endplate in the lateral view. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, and p

Study region: Baiyangdian Lake, the largest freshwater lake on the North China Plain, is located in Xiong'an New Area of Hebei Province. Study focus: Physical, chemical, and biological reactions are active at the sediment-water interface and have a complex impact on the interfacial transport process. Based on the theory of the effective diffusion coefficient, combined with the analysis of sediment, in-situ observations, and a hydrodynamic model, we built a multi-approach framework to accurately estimate the interfacial mass flux and its temporal and spatial variations. New hydrological insights for the region: The results showed that the NH4+-N release flux across the interface varies between 6.12 and 62.30 mg m−2 d−1. The transport processes in the Nanliuzhuang and Mapeng regions were dominated by the dispersive regime, whereas those in the remaining regions were dominated by the molecular regime. Under extreme weather conditions, such as typhoons, the mass flux is more than five times that under windless conditions. At this time, the framework to estimate the interfacial mass flux based on the effective diffusivity coefficient (FEIMF-EDC) can better reflect the sudden increase in mass flux caused by short-term strong hydrodynamic disturbances. This framework has a good application effect in shallow lakes with obvious spatiotemporal heterogeneity of sediment and hydrodynamics and can provide a basis for accurately formulating plans for water environment monitoring and management.

Background: Pulse transit time (PTT) is a key parameter in cuffless blood pressure measurement based on photoplethysmography (PPG) signals. In wearable PPG sensors, raw PPG signals are filtered, which can change the timing of PPG waveform feature points, leading to inaccurate PTT estimation. There is a lack of comprehensive investigation of filtering-induced PTT changes in subjects with different ages.Objective: This study aimed to quantitatively investigate the effects of aging and PTT definition on the infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering-induced PTT changes.Methods: One hundred healthy subjects in five different ranges of age (i.e., 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and over 60 years old, 20 subjects in each) were recruited. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and PPG signals were recorded simultaneously for 120 s. PTT was calculated from the R wave of ECG and PPG waveform features. Eight PTT definitions were developed from different PPG waveform feature points. The raw PPG signals were preprocessed then further low-pass filtered. The difference between PTTs derived from preprocessed and filtered PPG signals, and the relative difference, were calculated and compared among five age groups and eight PTT definitions using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Scheirer–Ray–Hare test with post hoc analysis. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between age and filtering-induced PTT changes.Results: Filtering-induced PTT difference and the relative difference were significantly influenced by age and PTT definition (p < 0.001 for both). Aging effect on filtering-induced PTT changes was consecutive with a monotonous trend under all PTT definitions. The age groups with maximum and minimum filtering-induced PTT changes depended on the definition. In all subjects, the PTT defined by maximum peak of PPG had the minimum filtering-induced PTT changes (mean: 16.16 ms and 5.65% for PTT difference and relative difference). The changes of PTT defined by maximum first PPG derivative had the strongest linear relationship with age (R-squared: 0.47 and 0.46 for PTT difference relative difference).Conclusion: The filtering-induced PTT changes are significantly influenced by age and PTT definition. These factors deserve further consideration to improve the accuracy of PPG-based cuffless blood pressure measurement using wearable sensors.

ObjectiveWe aimed to report the surgical outcomes of serial cases and retrospectively analyze the value of partial vertebrectomy and spinal shortening in the reduction of old spondyloptosis at the thoracolumbar spine.MethodsFrom 2015 to 2021, eight cases of patients who received a spinal intervention of partial vertebrectomy and spinal shortening for thoracolumbar spondyloptosis over 3 weeks post-trauma were retrospectively summarized. Medical records and surgical outcomes were extracted for clinical safety and efficacy evaluation.ResultsAcceptable reduction and immediate stabilization were achieved for all eight cases without causing iatrogenic damage to the viscera. The mean operation time was 3.7 h (range, 3.2–4.2 h) with a mean blood loss average of 1,081 ml (range, 900–1,300 ml). Postoperative stay in the spine department was an average of 11.4 days (range, 8–17 days), followed by an early rehab program. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain decreased from 8.0 preoperatively to 1.4 at the last follow-up. The average follow-up period was 19.9 months. As for neurological function recovery, six patients with preoperative ASIA-A status remained unchanged throughout the follow-up period and improvement of one ASIA grade was noted in two patients. At the latest follow-up, sound interbody fusion as well as good alignment of the spinal column were confirmed radiologically in seven patients, while one patient encountered slight re-dislocation 3 months after surgery, but eventually achieved spinal fusion.ConclusionPartial vertebrectomy and spine shortening via a posterior approach showed good efficacy and safety in the management of old spondyloptosis of the thoracolumbar spine, allowing for a one-step good reduction and spinal fusion for early rehabilitation.

As the largest global carbon pool system, terrestrial ecosystems have an important role to maintain the stability of ecosystems. Human activities affect the structural changes in the ground surface and interfere with terrestrial ecosystem evolution, and consequently, carbon stock is changed in the region. Therefore, forecasting future carbon stock changes under different land use scenarios has important research implications for promoting stable evolution and cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. This study is conducted with the land use data from 2000 to 2020, and incorporates the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation model with the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-Offs model to analyze the changes in land use in Hefei, and its influence on the carbon stock in Hefei in various scenarios. During the study period, the mutual conversion between different land types in Hefei City made the land structure change within the study area more significant. The rapidly evolving surface structure is the reason for the decrease of carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems, with a cumulative decrease of 1.2 × 108 t. The spatial distribution in carbon storage in the study area shows a distribution pattern of low in the north and high in the south. The high carbon storage area is obviously banded in the study area. The area with obvious changes in surface structure has more obvious changes in carbon storage. Compared with the natural development scenario, the downward trend of carbon storage in the ecological protection scenario and the comprehensive development scenario has slowed down due to the restrictions on the structural transformation of land types and the implementation of relevant ecological protection policies. Therefore, this study will support the future management and policy making of Hefei City with the background of China's “double carbon” target and the significant position of Hefei City.

Abstract Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) triggers neutrophilic inflammation in damaged tissues of the lung, but little is known about the distinct roles of tissue structural cells in modulating the recruitment of neutrophils to damaged areas. Here, by combining single‐cell and spatial transcriptomics, and using quantitative assays, we systematically analyze inflammatory cell states in a mouse model of DAD‐induced neutrophilic inflammation after aerosolized intratracheal inoculation with ricin toxin. We show that homeostatic resident fibroblasts switch to a hyper‐inflammatory state, and the subsequent occurrence of a CXCL1‐CXCR2 chemokine axis between activated fibroblasts (AFib) as the signal sender and neutrophils as the signal receiver triggers further neutrophil recruitment. We also identify an anatomically localized inflamed niche (characterized by a close‐knit spatial intercellular contact between recruited neutrophils and AFib) in peribronchial regions that facilitate the pulmonary inflammation outbreak. Our findings identify an intricate interplay between hyper‐inflammatory fibroblasts and neutrophils and provide an overarching profile of dynamically changing inflammatory microenvironments during DAD progression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and efficiency of automatic segmentation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images in renal tumors by convolutional neural network (CNN) based models and their further application in radiomic analysis.Materials and methodsFrom 94 pathologically confirmed renal tumor cases, 3355 CEUS images were extracted and randomly divided into training set (3020 images) and test set (335 images). According to the histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma, the test set was further split into clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) set (225 images), renal angiomyolipoma (AML) set (77 images) and set of other subtypes (33 images). Manual segmentation was the gold standard and serves as ground truth. Seven CNN-based models including DeepLabV3+, UNet, UNet++, UNet3+, SegNet, MultilResUNet and Attention UNet were used for automatic segmentation. Python 3.7.0 and Pyradiomics package 3.0.1 were used for radiomic feature extraction. Performance of all approaches was evaluated by the metrics of mean intersection over union (mIOU), dice similarity coefficient (DSC), precision, and recall. Reliability and reproducibility of radiomics features were evaluated by the Pearson coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsAll seven CNN-based models achieved good performance with the mIOU, DSC, precision and recall ranging between 81.97%-93.04%, 78.67%-92.70%, 93.92%-97.56%, and 85.29%-95.17%, respectively. The average Pearson coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.95, and the average ICCs ranged from 0.77 to 0.92. The UNet++ model showed the best performance with the mIOU, DSC, precision and recall of 93.04%, 92.70%, 97.43% and 95.17%, respectively. For ccRCC, AML and other subtypes, the reliability and reproducibility of radiomic analysis derived from automatically segmented CEUS images were excellent, with the average Pearson coefficients of 0.95, 0.96 and 0.96, and the average ICCs for different subtypes were 0.91, 0.93 and 0.94, respectively.ConclusionThis retrospective single-center study showed that the CNN-based models had good performance on automatic segmentation of CEUS images for renal tumors, especially the UNet++ model. The radiomics features extracted from automatically segmented CEUS images were feasible and reliable, and further validation by multi-center research is necessary.

Summary: Preserving structurally intact tissue through proper tissue fixation and cryopreservation minimizes tissue autolysis, desiccation, and enzymatic degradation. In this protocol, we describe the use of an optimized fresh freezing technique that cryopreserves the tissue and favors the retention of the natural protein structure of antigens. We also detail the use of cold, low-concentration paraformaldehyde (PFA) fixation to enhance tissue morphology and detection of fluorescent proteins, such as GFP and TdTomato, in tissues of genetically engineered mice.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Chen et al. (2022)1 and El-Naccache et al. (2022).2 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Water is a prerequisite for the formation of earth-biochemical-ecological systems. Differences in the spatial and temporal distribution of water resources are important factors in the formation of differences in the distribution of vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems and are key to the differences in vegetation productivity. Vegetation water use efficiency is calculated by the total amount of fixed biogenic carbon per unit mass of water consumed in photosynthesis and can be used to assess the intensity and capacity of an ecosystem to use water biomass. Based on remote satellite sensing data, this study proposes a new water use efficiency assessment model. The model was validated using flux site data, and we analyzed the relative contribution of climate factors to soil moisture use efficiency using a first-difference method. The results revealed the following: (1) The soil moisture use efficiencies (SUE) of remote sensing data inversions that were evaluated using flux site data based on correlation coefficients and Nash coefficients showed high reliability, and only the NMG (Inner Mongolia) station showed low correlation among the nine sites. (2) Among the nine agricultural sub-regions in China, only the SUE of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region showed a decreasing trend (−1.08 g C/m−2 kg H2O yr), while all other regions showed an increasing trend. (3) The highest vegetation soil moisture use efficiency (1.83 g C/m−2 kg H2O) was found in ferralisols, while the lowest vegetation SUE (0.17 g C/m−2 kg H2O) was found in arid soils. The SUE of different vegetation types showed the characteristics of forest > scrub > cultivated vegetation > wetland > grassland. (4) The relative contribution of gross primary productivity (GPP) to the change in SUE was 37.53%, while the relative contribution of soil moisture content to the change in SUE was −26.71%. Among the five climatic factors, temperature was the most dominant factor affecting the change in SUE, followed by precipitation, net radiation, leaf area index, and potential evapotranspiration. Revealing the relationship between terrestrial ecosystem GPP, soil moisture content, and their responses to climate factors is a prerequisite for understanding the adaptation strategies of regional terrestrial ecosystems to global climate change, which can help to inform decision-making for the sustainable development of ecosystems.

Base oil has great influence on the tribological and rheological properties of magnetorheological fluid. In this paper, four types of magnetorheological fluid are prepared respectively by silicone oil, mineral oil, synthetic oil (PAO) and castor oil, and their tribological and rheological properties are investigated. Firstly, the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid is measured by a viscometer. Then the friction coefficient and wear scar diameter of the magnetorheological fluid is measured by a four ball friction testing machine. Next, the sedimentation rate of the magnetorheological fluids is calculated by the observation method. Finally, the shear yield stress of the magnetorheological fluid is measured by a rheometer. By analyzing the experimental data, it is concluded that the magnetorheological fluid prepared by white mineral oil and castor oil has excellent wear resistance. The magnetorheological fluid prepared by castor oil has better sedimentation stability and higher shear yield stress. Consequently, the magnetorheological fluid prepared by castor oil has better comprehensive properties.

The performance of red InP and blue ZnTeSe-based quantum dots (QDs) and corresponding QD light emitting diodes (QLEDs) has already been improved significantly, whose external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) and luminances have exceeded 20% and 80 000 cd m ^−2 , respectively. However, the inferior performance of the green InP-based device hinders the commercialization of full-color Cd-free QLED technology. The ease of oxidation of the highly reactive InP cores leads to high non-radiative recombination and poor photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of the InP-based core/shell QDs, limiting the performance of the relevant QLEDs. Here, we proposed a fluoride-free synthesis strategy to in-situ passivate the InP cores, in which zinc myristate reacted with phosphine dangling bonds to form Zn–P protective layer and protect InP cores from the water and oxygen in the environment. The resultant InP/ZnSe/ZnS core/shell QDs demonstrated a high PL QY of 91%. The corresponding green-emitting electroluminescence devices exhibited a maximum EQE of 12.74%, along with a luminance of over 175 000 cd m ^−2 and a long T _50 @100 cd m ^−2 lifetime of over 20 000 h.

The processes coupled with carbon and water exchange are linked to crop assimilation, water consumption, controlling crop growth and development, and ultimately determining crop yield. Therefore, studying the characteristics of crop water constraints and their controlling factors at multiple scales is of great significance for regional and global food production stability and food security. Employing field observations and a comprehensive literature review, this study investigates the maximum water-use efficiency of wheat and its governing factors at both leaf and canopy (ecosystem) scales. The results demonstrate remarkable consistency and well-defined boundaries in maximum water-use efficiency across diverse climate regions and wheat varieties, both at the leaf and agricultural ecosystem scales. At the leaf scale, the maximum water-use efficiency of wheat was 4.5 μg C mg−1 H2O, while for wheat agricultural ecosystems, on a daily scale, the maximum water-use efficiency was 4.5 g C kg−1 H2O. Meanwhile, the maximum water-use efficiency of wheat agricultural ecosystems decreased continuously with increasing time scales, with values of 6.5, 4.5, 3.5, and 2 g C kg−1 H2O for instantaneous, daily, weekly, and monthly scales, respectively. Environmental factors, primarily vapor pressure deficit, light, and soil water content, exert significant control over leaf-level water-use efficiency. Similarly, the maximum water-use efficiency of agricultural ecosystems fluctuates in response to daily variations in meteorological elements. C3 crops like wheat exhibit remarkable resilience in their carbon–water exchange patterns across diverse environmental conditions. The findings in the current research can serve as a reference for improving crop water-use efficiency.

Laser-spot-location detection technology based on photodetectors is widely used in the aerospace, medical, military and communication fields. However, most of the current research focuses on continuous laser detection in the visible and near-infrared bands, and the real-time high-precision position detection of a long-wave infrared pulsed laser is lacking. In this paper, a spot-position detection system based on a four-quadrant detector is designed for a 10.6 μm CO2-driven laser in extreme ultraviolet light source, and a second-order extended error compensation algorithm based on a Gaussian-spot model is proposed. Finally, the algorithm is verified and analyzed experimentally by a spot-position detection system under both focusing and defocusing conditions. The experimental results show that the root-mean-square error, maximum absolute error and average absolute error of the second-order error compensation algorithm are significantly reduced compared with the traditional algorithm, and the detection accuracy of the spot-position is better than 9 μm. The above results show that this spot-position detection system has obvious advantages and high accuracy, which can realize the high-precision real-time detection of a laser’s spot position to obtain accurate spot position information, provide feedback adjustments for subsequent beam pointing control, and provide a theoretical basis for the beam pointing stability of the extreme ultraviolet light source system.

Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a recognized anti-tumor treatment involving three fundamental elements: photosensitizers, light, and reactive oxygen species. Enhancing the effectiveness of photosensitizers remains the primary avenue for improving the biological therapeutic outcomes of PDT. Through three generations of development, HPPH is a 2-(1-hexyloxyethyl)-2-devinyl derivative of pyropheophorbide-α, representing a second-generation photosensitizer already undergoing clinical trials for various tumors. The evolution toward third-generation photosensitizers based on HPPH involves structural modifications for multimodal applications and the combination of multifunctional compounds, leading to improved imaging localization and superior anti-tumor effects. While research into third-generation HPPH is beneficial for advancing PDT treatment, equal attention should also be directed toward the other two essential elements and personalized diagnosis and treatment methodologies.

The laser–produced plasma extreme ultraviolet (LPP–EUV) source is the sole light source currently available for commercial EUVL (extreme ultraviolet lithography) machines. The plasma parameters, such as the electron temperature and electron density, affect the conversion efficiency (CE) of extreme ultraviolet radiation and other critical parameters of LPP–EUV source directly. In this paper, the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was employed to investigate the time–resolved plasma parameters generated by an Nd:YAG laser irradiation on a planar tin target. Assuming that the laser–produced tin plasma satisfies the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition, the electron temperature and electron density of the plasma were calculated by the Saha–Boltzmann plot and Stark broadening methods. The experimental results revealed that during the early stage of plasma formation (delay time < 50 ns), there was a significant presence of continuum emission. Subsequently, the intensity of the continuum emission gradually decreased, while line spectra emerged and became predominant at a delay time of 300 ns. In addition, the evolution trend of plasma parameters, with the incident laser pulse energy set at 300 mJ, was characterized by a rapid initial decrease followed by a gradual decline as the delay time increased. Furthermore, with an increase in the incident laser pulse energy from 300 mJ to 750 mJ, the electron temperature and electron density of laser–produced tin plasma exhibiting a monotonically showed increasing trend at the same delay time.

Accurately predicting the changes in turbine vibration trends is a key part of the operational condition maintenance of hydropower units, which is of great significance for improving both the operational condition and operational efficiency of hydropower plants. In this paper, we propose a multistep prediction model for the vibration trend of a hydropower unit. This model is based on the theoretical principles of signal processing and machine learning, incorporating variational mode decomposition (VMD), stochastic configuration networks (SCNs), and the recursive strategy. Firstly, in view of the severe fluctuations of the vibration signal of the unit, this paper decomposes the unit vibration data into intrinsic mode function (IMF) components of different frequencies by VMD, which effectively alleviates the instability of the vibration trend. Secondly, an SCN model is used to predict different IMF components. Then, the predicted values of all the IMF components are superimposed to form the prediction results. Finally, according to the recursive strategy, a multistep prediction model of the HGU’s vibration trends is constructed by adding new input variables to the prediction results. This model is applied to the prediction of vibration data from different components of a unit, and the experimental results show that the proposed multistep prediction model can accurately predict the vibration trend of the unit. The proposed multistep prediction model of the vibration trends of hydropower units is of great significance in guiding power plants to adjust their control strategies to reach optimal operating efficiency.

Abstract This study develops a general method to evaluate the contributions of localized urbanization and global climate change to long-term urban land surface temperature (ULST) change. The method is based on the understanding that long-term annual ULST is controlled by three factors: (1) localized urbanization, (2) global climate change, and (3) interannual climate variation. Then the method removes the interannual climate fluctuations on long-term observed LST time series via linear regression and separates the contributions of urbanization and climate change to the impacts on long-term ULST via urban–rural comparison. The method is applied to Lagos, a fast-growing metropolis in the tropical West Africa, as an example for reference. Combined time-series daily daytime and nighttime MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) data over the years of 2003–2021 are used as the representation of land surface temperature. To avoid the potentioal interannual data biase due to uneven availability of data in the rainy seasons over years, only MODIS LST data from dry seasons are used in the study. The results are summarized as follows for Lagos: (1) long-term annual ULST is confirmed to be controlled by the three factors; (2) the proposed method can separate the contribution of the three factors to the ULST; (2) both localized urbanization and global warming are verified to contribute to the ULST increase with positive trends; (3) daytime ULST increased the most in the afternoon time at a mean rate of 1.429 °C per decade, with 0.985 °C (10 year)−1 contributed by urbanization and 0.444 °C (10 year)−1 contributed by climate warming; (4) nighttime ULST in Lagos increased the most after midnight at a rate of 0.563 °C (10 year)−1, with 0.56 °C (10 year)−1 contributed by urbanization and 0.003 °C (10 year)−1 contributed by climate warming; and (5) urbanization is generally responsible for around 60.97% of the urban warming in Lagos. Therefore, the increasing urbaniztion-induced urban heat island effect is the major cause for more heat-related health risks and climate extremes that many urban residents are suffering. The results of this study are of useful reference for both urbanization and climate change related issues in the geo-science field.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) had been the leading lethal infectious disease worldwide for a long time (2014–2019) until the COVID-19 global pandemic, and it is still one of the top 10 death causes worldwide. One important reason why there are so many TB patients and death cases in the world is because of the difficulties in precise diagnosis of TB using common detection methods, especially for some smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPT) cases. The rapid development of metabolome and machine learning offers a great opportunity for precision diagnosis of TB. However, the metabolite biomarkers for the precision diagnosis of smear-positive and smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SPPT/SNPT) remain to be uncovered. In this study, we combined metabolomics and clinical indicators with machine learning to screen out newly diagnostic biomarkers for the precise identification of SPPT and SNPT patients. Methods Untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling was performed for 27 SPPT patients, 37 SNPT patients and controls. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was then conducted to screen differential metabolites among the three groups. Metabolite enriched pathways, random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM) and multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP) were performed using Metaboanalyst 5.0, “caret” R package, “e1071” R package and “Tensorflow” Python package, respectively. Results Metabolomic analysis revealed significant enrichment of fatty acid and amino acid metabolites in the plasma of SPPT and SNPT patients, where SPPT samples showed a more serious dysfunction in fatty acid and amino acid metabolisms. Further RF analysis revealed four optimized diagnostic biomarker combinations including ten features (two lipid/lipid-like molecules and seven organic acids/derivatives, and one clinical indicator) for the identification of SPPT, SNPT patients and controls with high accuracy (83–93%), which were further verified by SVM and MLP. Among them, MLP displayed the best classification performance on simultaneously precise identification of the three groups (94.74%), suggesting the advantage of MLP over RF/SVM to some extent. Conclusions Our findings reveal plasma metabolomic characteristics of SPPT and SNPT patients, provide some novel promising diagnostic markers for precision diagnosis of various types of TB, and show the potential of machine learning in screening out biomarkers from big data.

“Informal heritage” refers to spaces in cities that have certain heritage value but cannot be officially recognized as urban or architectural heritage sites. The author has observed the recognition and conservation of informal building heritage driven by architectural scholars (professionals) or communities in some Asian cities; this phenomenon provides a suitable perspective from which to observe the connection between Asian conservation, citizen participation, and urbanism. Western heritage research recently emphasizes the empowerment of communities to manage heritage conservation; however, what is the meaningful community participation in the old building’s conservation if adding the professional perspective, especially in the diversified Asian urban context, remains unclear. This study involved participatory observation, interviews, and the analysis of relevant literature for comparison of the recognition and conservation approaches of two typical “informal heritage” cases in Hong Kong (China) and Iwate Prefecture (Japan). This paper discusses the interaction modes among historians, related professionals, and communities and the “heritage process” in these two urban contexts. Additionally, an argument is made that these two cases are consistent with a Western heritage conservation theory, which encourages community empowerment; however, in the Asian urban context, a higher degree of community participation does not necessarily indicate more meaningful participation.

Objective: To explore the separation condition for 90Sr using crown ether resin, in order to establish a fast method for analysis of 90Sr in food and environmental samples. Methods: Stable strontium isotope (88Sr) was used to simulate the radioactive 90Sr, and the concentration of 88Sr in elution solution was detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The separation conditions were investigated through batch experiment. Results: Under the optimized experimental conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of crown ether resin was 22.28 ​mg/g. 4.0–8.0 ​mol/L nitric acid made it easier for the Sr2+ to load on the resin, and 20 ​mL ultrapure water was used to rinse the chromatographic column to achieve a good separation effect, by which the recoveries of Sr2+ were nearly close to 100%. The average recovery rates of 4 samples were 60.25%, 69.26%, 75.09% and 66.33%, respectively. Conclusions: Crown ether resin has very good selectivity and adsorption for 90Sr. The optimized conditions were high-efficiency and easy to operate. The separation method has great potential for the fast analysis of 90Sr in food and environmental samples.

Abstract Background An animal model that can mimic the SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans is critical to understanding the rapidly evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus and for development of prophylactic and therapeutic strategies to combat emerging mutants. Studies show that the spike proteins of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 bind to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2, a well-recognized, functional receptor for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) to mediate viral entry. Several hACE2 transgenic (hACE2Tg) mouse models are being widely used, which are clearly invaluable. However, the hACE2Tg mouse model cannot fully explain: (1) low expression of ACE2 observed in human lung and heart, but lung or heart failure occurs frequently in severe COVID-19 patients; (2) low expression of ACE2 on immune cells, but lymphocytopenia occurs frequently in COVID-19 patients; and (3) hACE2Tg mice do not mimic the natural course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Moreover, one of most outstanding features of coronavirus infection is the diversity of receptor usage, which includes the newly proposed human CD147 (hCD147) as a possible co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry. It is still debatable whether CD147 can serve as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection or entry. Results Here we successfully generated a hCD147 knock-in mouse model (hCD147KI) in the NOD-scid IL2Rgammanull (NSG) background. In this hCD147KI-NSG mouse model, the hCD147 genetic sequence was placed downstream of the endogenous mouse promoter for mouse CD147 (mCD147), which creates an in vivo model that may better recapitulate physiological expression of hCD147 proteins at the molecular level compared to the existing and well-studied K18-hACE2-B6 (JAX) model. In addition, the hCD147KI-NSG mouse model allows further study of SARS-CoV-2 in the immunodeficiency condition which may assist our understanding of this virus in the context of high-risk populations in immunosuppressed states. Our data show (1) the human CD147 protein is expressed in various organs (including bronchiolar epithelial cells) in hCD147KI-NSG mice by immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry; (2) hCD147KI-NSG mice are marginally sensitive to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to WT-NSG littermates characterized by increased viral copies by qRT-PCR and moderate body weight decline compared to baseline; (3) a significant increase in leukocytes in the lungs of hCD147KI-NSG mice, compared to infected WT-NSG mice. Conclusions hCD147KI-NSG mice are more sensitive to COVID-19 infection compared to WT-NSG mice. The hCD147KI-NSG mouse model can serve as an additional animal model for further interrogation whether CD147 serve as an independent functional receptor or accessory receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry and immune responses.

Abstract The larynx is often sacrificed in patients with hypopharyngoesophageal cancer before reconstruction using the jejunum to restore the continuity of the digestive tract and allow oral alimentation. We retrospectively collected and analyzed data from three patients who underwent hypopharyngoesophageal reconstruction by partial patch and partial tube free jejunal flap with preservation of laryngeal function. All three flaps survived in patients who underwent the modified jejunal flaps. The larynx was preserved in all three patients. Partial patch and partial tube jejunal flap is a possible option for reconstruction of large and complex defects after pharyngectomy and cervical esophagectomy with larynx preservation.

ObjectiveFondaparinux is a synthetic anticoagulant for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and its administration in Chinese cancer patients is rarely reported. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fondaparinux in preventing VTE in Chinese cancer patients.MethodsA total of 224 cancer patients who received fondaparinux treatment were reviewed in this single-arm, multicenter, retrospective study. Meanwhile, VTE, bleeding, death, and adverse events of those patients in the hospital and at 1 month after treatment (M1) were retrieved, respectively.ResultsThe in-hospital VTE rate was 0.45% and there was no (0.00%) VTE occurrence at M1. The in-hospital bleeding rate was 2.68%, among which the major bleeding rate was 2.23% and the minor bleeding rate was 0.45%. Moreover, the bleeding rate at M1 was 0.90%, among which both the major and minor bleeding rates were 0.45%. The in-hospital death rate was 0.45% and the death rate at M1 was 0.90%. Furthermore, the total rate of adverse events was 14.73%, including nausea and vomiting (3.13%), gastrointestinal reactions (2.23%), and reduced white blood cells (1.34%).ConclusionFondaparinux could effectively prevent VTE with low bleeding risk and acceptable tolerance in cancer patients.

Introduction: Methionine (Met) is an important amino acid related to the development of skeletal muscle. This study investigated the effects of dietary Met restriction on the gene expression of M. iliotibialis lateralis.Methods: A total of 84 day-old broiler chicks (Zhuanghe Dagu) with a similar initial body weight (207.62 ± 8.54 g) were used in this study. All birds were divided into two groups (CON; L-Met) based on the initial body weight. Each group consisted of six replicates with seven birds per replicate. The experimental period was 63 days (phase 1, days 1-21; phase 2, days 22-63). According to the nutritional requirements of Zhuanghe Dagu chickens, we provided a basal diet (0.39% Met levels during phase 1 and 0.35% Met levels during phase 2, as-fed basis) to the birds in the CON group, while we provided a Met-restricted diet (0.31% Met levels during phase 1 and 0.28% Met levels during phase 2, as-fed basis) to the birds in the L-Met group. The growth performance of broiler chicks and their M. iliotibialis lateralis development parameters were measured on days 21 and 63.Results and Discussion: In this study, dietary Met restriction did not affect the growth performance of broiler chicks but hindered the development of M. iliotibialis lateralis at both sampling timepoints. On the final day, three birds selected from each group (three from CON and three from L-Met) were used to obtain M. iliotibialis lateralis samples from leg muscle for further transcriptome analysis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that dietary Met restriction significantly upregulated 247 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and downregulated 173 DEGs. Additionally, DEGs were mainly enriched in 10 pathways. Among DEGs, we observed that dietary Met restriction downregulated the expression of CSRP3, KY, FHL1, LMCD1, and MYOZ2 in M. iliotibialis lateralis. Therefore, we considered that dietary Met restriction had negative effects on the development of M. iliotibialis lateralis, and CSRP3, KY, FHL1, LMCD1, and MYOZ2 may serve as potential functional genes involved in this process.

Phagocytosis plays vital roles in injury and repair, while its regulation by properdin and innate repair receptor, a heterodimer receptor of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR)/β common receptor (βcR), in renal ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) remains unclear. Properdin, a pattern recognition molecule, facilitates phagocytosis by opsonizing damaged cells. Our previous study showed that the phagocytic function of tubular epithelial cells isolated from properdin knockout (PKO) mouse kidneys was compromised, with upregulated EPOR in IR kidneys that was further raised by PKO at repair phase. Here, helix B surface peptide (HBSP), derived from EPO only recognizing EPOR/βcR, ameliorated IR-induced functional and structural damage in both PKO and wild-type (WT) mice. In particular, HBSP treatment led to less cell apoptosis and F4/80+ macrophage infiltration in the interstitium of PKO IR kidneys compared to the WT control. In addition, the expression of EPOR/βcR was increased by IR in WT kidneys, and furthered increased in IR PKO kidneys, but greatly reduced by HBSP in the IR kidneys of PKO mice. HBSP also increased PCNA expression in IR kidneys of both genotypes. Moreover, iridium-labelled HBSP (HBSP-Ir) was localized mainly in the tubular epithelia after 17-h renal IR in WT mice. HBSP-Ir also anchored to mouse kidney epithelial (TCMK-1) cells treated by H2O2. Both EPOR and EPOR/βcR were significantly increased by H2O2 treatment, while further increased EPOR was showed in cells transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting properdin, but a lower level of EPOR was seen in EPOR siRNA and HBSP-treated cells. The number of early apoptotic cells was increased by EPOR siRNA in H2O2-treated TCMK-1, but markedly reversed by HBSP. The phagocytic function of TCMK-1 cells assessed by uptake fluorescence-labelled E.coli was enhanced by HBSP dose-dependently. Our data demonstrate for the first time that HBSP improves the phagocytic function of tubular epithelial cells and kidney repair post IR injury, via upregulated EPOR/βcR triggered by both IR and properdin deficiency.

BackgroundIn the information era, patients can easily be misled by inaccurate internet content, thus making not well-informed decisions about medical issues. Adenoid hypertrophy, one of the most common causes of chronic upper airway obstruction in children and adolescents, may lead to serious complications, including sleep apnea and craniofacial change. There have been no critical studies about the quality of websites on adenoid hypertrophy, posing a challenge for users without a medical background to determine which website offers more reliable information. Moreover, the blockage of access to internet search tools such as Google, Yahoo, and others has created an isolated internet environment for the enormous user population in mainland China. Differences in internet legislation, the commercial environment, and culture are also likely to result in varied quality of online health information inside and outside mainland China. To date, no study has compared the quality difference between mainland Chinese and English websites. ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to (1) analyze the quality of websites about adenoid hypertrophy accessible by patients, (2) investigate the quality differences between Chinese and English websites, (3) determine which type of website (eg, government-sponsored, health care provider) is more reliable in terms of medical information, and (4) determine whether the blockage of foreign websites is hindering users’ accessibility to better-quality websites in mainland China. MethodsThe first 100 websites (excluding advertisements) displayed on the top three search engines worldwide and in mainland China for the key search term “enlarged adenoids” were collected as the data source. The websites were evaluated based on accessibility, accountability, interactivity, structure, and content quality (accuracy, content coverage, and objectivity). Cohen κ was calculated, and one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were performed to compare the results between groups and subgroups. ResultsThe mean score for the content quality of English websites was significantly higher than that of Chinese websites (6.16 vs 4.94, P=.03 for Google, Bing, and Yahoo; 6.16 vs 4.16, P

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” poses a serious threat to human health. Nanomaterials and cationic polymers have shown unprecedented advantages as effective antimicrobial therapies due to their flexibility and ability to interact with biological macromolecules. They can incorporate a variety of antimicrobial substances, achieving multifunctional effects without easily developing drug resistance. Herein, this article discusses recent advances in cationic polymers and nano-antibacterial materials, including material options, fabrication techniques, structural characteristics, and activity performance, with a focus on their fundamental active elements.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of two major etiologies [intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) and cardioembolism (CE])] on outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).MethodsAnterior circulation AIS patients receiving EVT were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Clinical outcomes including favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale 0–2), mortality, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and symptomatic ICH (sICH) were compared. A systematic review and meta-analysis was also performed.ResultsA total of 302 AIS patients were included and divided into the ICAS group (86 patients) and the CE group (216 patients). Patients in the ICAS group were younger (62[18.0] vs. 68[19.0] years, p

With the rapid development of the automobile industry, the comfort of the cockpit has become the standard for judging the quality of the car. People have also put forward higher requirements for cockpit comfort. In the process of driving, the cockpit environment will constantly change, and the comfort will also change. When the comprehensive comfort level of the cockpit decreases and the occupants feel uncomfortable, the cockpit comfort should be adjusted. In this article, a cockpit comfort evaluation model is established to realize the evaluation of cockpit comfort. In addition, we elaborate the theory of optimal state distance, where the numerical magnitude of the optimal state distance is used to reflect the extent to which an indicator deviates from its optimal state. Also, a cockpit optimal adjustment strategy identification model is established based on the theory, which can obtain the optimal adjustment strategy in a certain cockpit operating environment, facilitate the timely adjustment of the corresponding actuator, and realize the dynamic monitoring and adjustment of cockpit comfort. This project provides a reference direction for cockpit comfort adjustment, which is of great significance for future research and development of automotive cockpit comfort.

IntroductionDespite recent developments in our comprehension of how the gut microbiota and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are related. The mycobiome: which is a small but crucial part of the gut microbiota and is involved in hosts’ homeostasis and physiological processes, remained unexplored in SLE.MethodsWe profiled the gut fungal mycobiota based on internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) sequencing for the gut microbial DNA from the SLE individuals with lupus nephritis (LN) (n = 23), SLE without LN (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 14) enrolled in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School.ResultsThe ITS sequencing generated a total of 4.63 million valid tags which were stratified into 4,488 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and identified about 13 phyla and 262 genera. Patients with SLE were characterized with unique fungal flora feature. The fungal microbiomes of the three groups displayed distinct beta diversity from each other. Compared with HC group, the abundance of fungal dysbiosis was reflected in a higher ratio of opportunistic fungi in SLE or LN group, as well as the loss of Rhizopus and Malassezia. The main principal components of the flora between the SLE and LN group were generally consistent. The relative abundance of Vanrija in the fecal fungal community was higher in LN group, while the relative abundance of Fusarium was higher in SLE group. Moreover, our data revealed superior diagnostic accuracy for SLE with the fungal species (e.g. Candida, Meyerozyma). Correlations between gut fungi and clinical parameters were identified by Spearman’s correlation analysis. Interestingly, Aspergillus in SLE patients was positively correlated with ACR, 24 h proteinuria, proteinuria, anti-dsDNA, ANA, and SLEDAI, while Rhizopus was negatively correlated with lymphocytes and Hb. Finally, we successfully cultured the fungi and identified it as Candida glabrata by microscopic observation and mass spectrometry.DiscussionWe first explored the highly significant gut fungal dysbiosis and ecology in patients with SLE, and demonstrated the applicability of fungal species as SLE diagnostic tools, signifying that the gut fungal mycobiome-host interplay can potentially contribute in disease pathogenesis.

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly malignant tumors with serious clinical and socioeconomic consequences. Although gene therapy holds great promise in the treatment of hepatoma, its clinical applications are hindered by uncontrolled gene transmission and transcription.MethodsThe pY-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG plasmid was constructed and identified by double enzyme digestion and gene sequencing. The expression of pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG in HepG2 cells was detected by quantitative PCR. PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres were prepared and characterized. In vitro heating test of magnetic albumin nanospheres in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) was carried out. The therapeutic effect of PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres on hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated by cell and animal experiments. After treatment, mice blood was collected for clinical biochemical analysis and histopathological evaluation of major organs was performed to assess potential adverse effects of treatment.ResultsDouble enzyme digestion and gene sequencing showed that the pY-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG plasmid was constructed successfully. QPCR results showed that the IFNγ transcript level in the PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG group was higher than that in the PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-cfosp-IFNG group after being treated with hypoxia (P

Sulodexide is a heparinoid compound with wide-ranging pharmacological activities. However, the effect of sulodexide on liver fibrogenesis has not been reported. In this study, we aim to evaluate the therapeutic potential of sulodexide in mouse model of liver fibrosis and explore the underlying antifibrotic mechanisms. We found that sulodexide treatment significantly attenuated thioacetamide (TAA) and 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Transcriptome analysis revealed that sulodexide treatment downregulated fibrosis-related genes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) capillarization-associated genes in fibrotic livers. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the increased expression of LSEC capillarization-related genes (CD34, CD31 and Laminin) in liver fibrotic tissues was reduced by sulodexide treatment. Scanning electron microscopy showed that LSECs fenestrations were preserved upon sulodexide treatment. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence demonstrated that the expression of mesenchymal markers was downregulated by sulodexide administration, suggesting sulodexide inhibited endothelial-mesenchymal transition of LSECs during liver fibrosis. Furthermore, sulodexide administration protected primary LSECs from endothelial dysfunction in vitro. In conclusion, sulodexide attenuated liver fibrosis in mice by restoration of differentiated LSECs, indicating that sulodexide treatment may present as a potential therapy for patients with liver fibrosis.

Background/purposeRhubarb peony decoction (RPD) is a formula of traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used to treat intra-abdominal inflammatory diseases. To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of RPD in pediatric periappendiceal abscess, patients who received intravenous antibiotics alone were compared with those treated with intravenous antibiotics combined with RPD.MethodsA retrospective review of children with periappendiceal abscess who received conservative treatment in our hospital between January 2013 and April 2022 was performed. The patients were divided into an intravenous antibiotic group (the control group) and an intravenous antibiotic combined with RPD group (the intervention group). Interval appendectomy (IA) was generally performed 10–12 weeks after conservative treatment. The primary outcome was the cure rate of conservative treatment, while the secondary outcomes included the recurrence rate, days of total intravenous antibiotic use, length of hospital stay (LOS), postoperative complications, and liver injury caused by RPD.ResultsA total of 142 patients (77 girls and 65 boys) were included, 52 in the control group and 90 in the intervention group. The two groups were similar in demographic data and clinical characteristics (P > 0.05). The mean total course of RPD in the intervention group was 11.82 days. The intervention group had a significantly higher cure rate than the control group (93.33% vs. 80.77%, P = 0.029), and the length of total intravenous antibiotic use (P = 0.150), LOS (P = 0.077), recurrence rate (9.52% vs. 4.76%, P = 0.439), as well as the operation time (P = 0.101), LOS (P = 0.572), and postoperative complications (P = 0.549) were not significantly different between the two groups when the patients received IA. No patient had a liver injury caused by RPD during the treatment.ConclusionIntravenous antibiotics combined with RPD demonstrated high effectiveness and safety for treating pediatric periappendiceal abscess.