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Abstract Backgrounds Unilateral high myopia (uHM), commonly observed in patients with retinal diseases or only with high myopia, is frequently associated with amblyopia with poor prognosis. This study aims to reveal the clinical and genetic spectrum of uHM in a large Chinese cohort. Methods A total of 75 probands with simplex uHM were included in our Pediatric and Genetic Eye Clinic. Patients with significant posterior anomalies other than myopic fundus changes were excluded. Variants were detected by exome sequencing and then analyzed through multiple-step bioinformatic and co-segregation analysis and finally confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Genetic findings were correlated with associated clinical data for analysis. Results Among the 75 probands with a mean age of 6.21 ± 4.70 years at the presentation, myopic fundus of C1 and C2 was observed in 73 (97.3%) probands. Surprisingly, specific peripheral changes were identified in 63 eyes involving 36 (48.0%) probands after extensive examination, including peripheral retinal avascular zone (74.6%, 47/63 eyes), neovascularization (54.0%), fluorescein leakage (31.7%), peripheral pigmentary changes (31.7%), and others. Exome sequencing identified 21 potential pathogenic variants of 13 genes in 20 of 75 (26.7%) probands, including genes for Stickler syndrome (COL11A1 and COL2A1; 6/20), FEVR (FZD4, LRP5, and TSPAN12; 5/20), and others (FBN1, GPR179, ZEB2, PAX6, GPR143, OPN1LW, FRMD7, and CACNA1F; 9/20). For the peripheral retinal changes in the 20 probands, variants in Stickler syndrome-related genes were predominantly associated with retinal pigmentary changes, lattice degeneration, and retinal avascular region, while variants in genes related to FEVR were mainly associated with the avascular zone, neovascularization, and fluorescein leakage. Conclusions Genetic defects were identified in about one-fourth of simplex uHM patients in which significant consequences may be hidden under a classic myopic fundus in up to half. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic genetic study on simplex uHM to date. In addition to routine care of strabismus and amblyopia, careful examination of the peripheral retina and genetic screening is warranted for patients with uHM in order to identify signs of risk for retinal detachment and other complications and provide meaningful genetic counseling. more...

In recent decades, water pollution caused by emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, has attracted much attention. Antibiotics are commonly used pharmaceuticals, and their residue in water may accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance genes, which can produce resistance to the treatment of diseases. In this study, two energy-based systems, heat/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and ultrasound (US)/PMS were chosen to treat the typical antibiotic tetracycline (TC) in water. The influencing factors and kinetic equations of TC degradation by heat/PMS and US/PMS were investigated and the rates of TC degradation by the two systems were compared. The results showed that the optimal PMS concentration required for TC degradation in both systems was 0.3 mM, and neither system was affected by solution pH. The power of the US in the US/PMS system was as important as the temperature in the heat/PMS system because they provided activation energy. Both heat and US could activate PMS to degrade TC, and US was slightly superior with 80% TC removal under the conditions of [TC] = 20 mg/L, [PMS] = 0.3 mM, pH = 6.4, T = 20 °C, and US power = 550 W. US is considered to be more advantageous in activating PMS to degrade TC. HIGHLIGHTS Heat/peroxymonosulfate and ultrasound/peroxymonosulfate systems were compared toward tetracycline degradation.; The influencing factors of tetracycline degradation in both systems were studied.; The kinetic equations for tetracycline degradation were modeled.; Tetracycline degradation was mainly caused by hydroxyl radicals and sulfate radicals.; more...

Abstract Background Delirium is a common postoperative complication among patients who undergo Stanford Type A aortic dissection (TAAD). It is associated with increased mortality, as well as other serious surgical outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for delirium in TAAD patients. Methods Pubmed, Web of science, Embase, the Cochrane Library and CINAHL were searched by computer to collect literatures on risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) after TAAD. The retrieval period was from the establishment of the database to September 2022. After literature screening, two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Data were extracted according to standard protocols, and then meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 software. Results A total of 9 articles, comprising 7 case–control studies and 2 cohort studies, were included in this analysis. The sample size consisted of 2035 patients. POD was associated with increased length of ICU stay (MD 3.24, 95% CI 0.18–6.31, p = 0.04) and length of hospital stay (MD 9.34, 95% CI 7.31–11.37, p more...

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the preclinical stage of Alzheimer disease (AD), suffer decline in their visual working memory (WM) functions. Using large-scale network analysis of electroencephalography (EEG), the current study intended to investigate if there are differences in functional connectivity properties extracted during visual WM coding stages between MCI patients and normal controls (NC). A total of 21 MCI patients and 20 NC performed visual memory tasks of load four, while 32-channel EEG recordings were acquired. The functional connectivity properties were extracted from the acquired EEGs by the directed transform function (DTF) via spectral Granger causal analysis. Brain network analyses revealed distinctive brain network patterns between the two groups during the WM coding stage. Compared with the NC, MCI patients exhibited a reduced visual network connectivity of the frontal-temporal in $\theta $ (4-7Hz) band. A likely compensation mechanism was observed in MCI patients, with a strong brain functional connectivity of the frontal-occipital and parietal-occipital in both $\theta $ and $\alpha $ (8-13Hz) band. Further analyses of the network core node properties based on the differential brain network showed that, in $\theta $ band, there was a significant difference in the out-degree of the frontal lobe and parietal lobe between the two groups, while in $\alpha $ band, such difference was located only in the parietal lobe. The current study found that, in MCI patients, dysconnectivity is found from the prefrontal lobe to bilateral temporal lobes, leading to increased recruitment of functional connectivity in the frontal-occipital and parietal-occipital direction. The dysconnectivity pattern of MCI is more complex and primarily driven by core nodes Pz and Fz. These results significantly expanded previous knowledge of MCI patients’ EEG dynamics during WM tasks and provide new insights into the underpinning neural mechanism MCI. It further provided a potential therapeutic target for clinical interventions of the condition. more...

The design and study of pulsed eddy current sensors for detecting surface defects in small-diameter rods are highly significant. Accurate detection and identification of surface defects in small-diameter rods may be attained by the ongoing optimization of sensor design and enhancement of detection technologies. This article presents the construction of a non-coaxial differential eddy current sensor (Tx-Rx sensor) and examines the detection of surface defects in a small diameter bar. A COMSOL 3D model is developed to examine the variations in eddy current distribution and defect signal characteristics between the plate and rod components. The position of the excitation coil on the bar and the eddy current disruption around the defect are examined. Additionally, a Tx-Rx sensor has been developed and enhanced concerning coil dimensions, coil separation, and elevation height. An experimental system is established to detect bar structures with surface defects of varying depths, and a model correlating differential signal attenuation with defect depth is proposed, achieving a quantitative relative error of less than 5%, thereby offering a reference for the quantitative detection of bar surface defects. more...

A high degree of hydrolysis can reduce the allergenicity of milk, while lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation can further enhance the antioxidant ability of enzymatic milk. LAB with a strong antioxidant ability was screened, and the effects of LAB on the bitterness, taste and flavor of enzymatic skim milk (ESM) with a high degree of hydrolysis were investigated in this paper, in addition to the response surface methodology optimized the conditions of the LAB fermentation of ESM. The results indicate that the skim milk hydrolyzed by Protamex has a higher degree of hydrolysis and lower bitterness. The scavenging rate of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, the inhibition rate of hydroxyl radical (·OH) and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 16 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis m16 are significantly higher than those of other strains (p < 0.05), while the improvement effect of L. plantarum 16 on the bitterness and flavor of ESM is better than that of L. lactis subsp. lactis m16. The fermented ESM has a strong antioxidant ability and low bitterness when the inoculum quantity of L. plantarum 16 is 5%, fermentation at 37 °C for 18 h and the pH of the ESM is 6.5, for which the DPPH free radical scavenging rate is 61.32%, the ·OH inhibition rate is 83.35%, the SOD activity rate is 14.58 and the sensory evaluation is 4.25. The contents of amino acids related to bitterness and antioxidants were reduced and increased, respectively. The ESM fermented by L. plantarum 16 has a good flavor, antioxidant ability and low bitterness. more...

The success of the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide implementation depends largely on a high level of accuracy associated with the information supplied as design inputs. Truck axle load spectra play a critical role in all aspects of the pavement structure design. Inaccurate traffic information will yield an incorrect estimate of pavement thickness, which can either make the pavement fail prematurely in the case of under-designed thickness or increase construction cost in the case of over-designed thickness. The primary objective of this study was to create an accurate traffic design input module, and thus to improve the quality of pavement designs. The traffic input module was created with the most recent data to better reflect the axle load spectra for pavement design. The unclassified vehicles by weigh-in-motion devices were analyzed and a neural-network-model-based classification method was utilized to determine the appropriate allocations of unclassified vehicles to truck classes. The updated truck traffic information includes average annual daily truck traffic, truck volume monthly adjustment factors, truck volume lane distribution factors, truck volume directional distribution factors, truck volume class distributions, traffic volume hourly distribution factors, distributions of for single-axle, tandem-axle, tridem-axle, and quad-axle loads, average axle weight, average axle spacing, and average number of axle types. more...

α-Linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3Δ9,12,15) is an essential fatty acid for humans since it is the precursor for the biosynthesis of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Modern people generally suffer from deficiency of ALA because most staple food oils are low or lack ALA content. Biotechnological enrichment of ALA in staple oil crops is a promising strategy. Chia (Salvia hispanica) has the highest ALA content in its seed oil among known oil crops. In this study, the FAD2 and FAD3 genes from chia were engineered into a staple oil crop, oilseed rape (Brassica napus), via Agrobaterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of their LP4-2A fusion gene construct driven by the seed-specific promoter PNapA. In seeds of T0, T1, and T2 lines, the average ALA contents were 20.86, 23.54, and 24.92%, respectively, which were 2.21, 2.68, and 3.03 folds of the non-transformed controls (9.42, 8.78, and 8.22%), respectively. The highest seed ALA levels of T0, T1, and T2 plants were 38.41, 35.98, and 39.19% respectively, which were 4.10–4.77 folds of the respective controls. FA-pathway enzyme genes (BnACCD, BnFATA, BnSAD, BnSCD, BnDGAT1, BnDGAT2, and BnDGAT3) and positive regulatory genes (BnWRI1, BnLEC1, BnL1L, BnLEC2, BnABI3, BnbZIP67, and BnMYB96) were all significantly up-regulated. In contrast, BnTT1, BnTT2, BnTT8, BnTT16, BnTTG1, and BnTTG2, encoding negative oil accumulation regulators but positive secondary metabolism regulators, were all significantly down-regulated. This means the foreign ShFAD2-ShFAD3 fusion gene, directly and indirectly, remodeled both positive and negative loci of the whole FA-related network in transgenic B. napus seeds. more...

Antibiotic contamination in water has received significant attention in recent years for the reason that the residuals of antibiotics can promote the progression of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). It is difficult to treat antibiotics using conventional biological treatment methods. In order to investigate an efficient new method of treating antibiotics in water, in this study, microwave (MW) was employed in revitalizing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to treat typical antibiotic tetracycline (TC). The Box–Behnken design (BBD) was applied to organize the experimental schemes. The response surface methodology (RSM) optimization was run to derive the best experimental conditions and validated using actual data. Moreover, the main mechanisms of PMS activation via MW were resolved. The results demonstrated that the relationship between TC removal rate and influencing factors was consistent with a quadratic model, where the P-value was less than 0.05, and the model was considered significant. The optimal condition resulting from the model optimization were power = 800 W, [PMS] = 0.4 mM, and pH = 6.0. Under such conditions, the actual removal of TC was 99.3%, very close to the predicted value of 99%. The quenching experiment confirmed that SO4•− and •OH were jointly responsible for TC removal. HIGHLIGHTS MW/PMS was employed to treat tetracycline.; BBD was applied to design the experimental protocol.; The equation between TC removal and influences was established.; RSM was used to predict optimal conditions.; TC was co-oxidized by SO4•− and •OH to CO2 and H2O.; more...

Abstract Background The two-way communications along the gut-lung axis influence the immune function in both gut and lung. However, the shared genetic characteristics of lung function with gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases remain to be investigated. Methods We first investigated the genetic correlations between three lung function traits and four GIT diseases. Second, we illustrated the genetic overlap by genome-wide pleiotropic analysis (PLACO) and further pinpointed the relevant tissue and cell types by partitioning heritability. Furthermore, we proposed pleiotropic genes as potential drug targets by drug database mining. Finally, we evaluated the causal relationships by epidemiologic observational study and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Results We found lung function and GIT diseases were genetically correlated. We identified 258 pleiotropic loci, which were enriched in gut- and lung-specific regions marked by H3K4me1. Among these, 16 pleiotropic genes were targets of drugs, such as tofacitinib and baricitinib targeting TYK2 for the treatment of ulcer colitis and COVID-19, respectively. We identified a missense variant in TYK2, exhibiting a shared causal effect on FEV1/FVC and inflammatory bowel disease (rs12720356, P PLACO =1.38 × 10− 8). These findings suggested TYK2 as a promising drug target. Although the epidemiologic observational study suggested the protective role of lung function in the development of GIT diseases, no causalities were found by MR analysis. Conclusions Our study suggested the shared genetic characteristics between lung function and GIT diseases. The pleiotropic variants could exert their effects by modulating gene expression marked by histone modifications. Finally, we highlighted the potential of pleiotropic analyses in drug repurposing. more...

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive cartilage degradation disease, concomitant with synovitis, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. Over 37% of the elderly population is affected by OA, and the number of cases is increasing as the global population ages. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and analyze the hub genes of OA combining with comprehensive bioinformatics analysis tools to provide theoretical basis in further OA effective therapies. Two sample sets of GSE46750 contained 12 pairs OA synovial membrane and normal samples harvested from patients as well as GSE98918 including 12 OA and non-OA patients were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using Gene Expression Omnibus 2R (GEO2R), followed by functional enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction networks construction. The hub genes were identified and evaluated. An OA rat model was constructed, hematoxylin and eosin staining, safranin O/fast green staining, cytokines concentrations of serum were used to verify the model. The hub genes expression level in the knee OA samples were verified using RT-qPCR. The top 20 significantly up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs were screened out from the two datasets, respectively. The top 18 GO terms and 10 KEGG pathways were enriched. Eight hub genes were identified, namely MS4A6A, C1QB, C1QC, CD74, CSF1R, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DRA and ITGB2. Among them, the hub genes were all up-regulated in in vivo OA rat model, compared with healthy controls. The eight hub genes identified (MS4A6A, C1QB, C1QC, CD74, CSF1R, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DRA and ITGB2) were shown to be associated with OA. These genes can serve as disease markers to discriminate OA patients from healthy controls. more...

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common disease in neurosurgery with a high fatality and disability rate which imposes a huge burden on society and patient's family. Inhibition of neuroinflammation caused by microglia activation is a reasonable strategy to promote neurological recovery after TBI. Myricetin is a natural flavonoid that has shown good therapeutic effects in a variety of neurological disease models, but its therapeutic effect on TBI is not clear. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of appropriate doses of myricetin significantly improved recovery of neurological function after TBI in Sprague Dawley rats and inhibited excessive inflammatory responses around the lesion site. Myricetin dramatically reduced the expression of toxic microglia markers generated by TBI and LPS, according to the outcomes of in vivo and in vitro tests. In particular, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase 2, and some pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced, which protected learning and memory functions in TBI rats. Through network pharmacological analysis, we found that myricetin may inhibit microglia hyperactivation through the EGFR-AKT/STAT pathway. These findings imply that myricetin is a promising treatment option for the management of neuroinflammation following TBI. more...

Abstract Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent complication following acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery and is closely associated with unfavorable prognostic outcomes. Hence, the development of a robust and efficient diagnostic approach to identify high-risk patients is of paramount importance. Methods We conducted a prospective study involving 328 patients who underwent ATAAD surgery at our institution, comprising three distinct cohorts. In addition, 52 patients undergoing alternative cardiopulmonary surgeries and 37 healthy individuals were enrolled as control groups. Employing proteomic analysis, we initially identified plasma proteins potentially linked to AKI occurrence within the plasma proteomic cohort. Subsequent validation was performed in an independent cohort. Utilizing predictors derived from multivariate logistic regression analysis, a nomogram was meticulously formulated and its efficacy was validated in the model construction cohort. Results Proteomics revealed significant elevation of plasma levels of S100A8/A9, pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) immediately post-surgery in patients who developed ATAAD surgery-associated AKI (ASA-AKI). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated impressive predictive performance of S100A8/A9, PTX3, and CHI3L1 at 0 h post-surgery, yielding area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.823, 0.786, and 0.803, respectively, for ASA-AKI prediction. Furthermore, our findings exhibited positive correlations between plasma levels of S100A8/A9, PTX3, CHI3L1, and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) at 0 h post-surgery, along with correlations between plasma S100A8/A9, CHI3L1 levels, and the Cleveland Clinic score. A logistic regression model incorporating plasma S100A8/A9, PTX3, CHI3L1 levels, urinary NGAL levels, and the Cleveland Clinic score facilitated the construction of a predictive nomogram for ASA-AKI. This nomogram demonstrated robust discriminative ability, achieving an AUC of 0.963 in the model construction cohort. Conclusions Our study underscored the augmentation of plasma S100A8/A9, PTX3, and CHI3L1 levels immediately post-surgery in patients developing ASA-AKI. The incorporation of these three biomarkers, in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic score and NGAL, into a nomogram demonstrated commendable predictive efficacy. This presents a practical tool for identifying patients at an elevated risk of AKI following ATAAD surgery. more...

Abstract Coherent imaging techniques provide an unparalleled multi-scale view of materials across scientific and technological fields, from structural materials to quantum devices, from integrated circuits to biological cells. Driven by the construction of brighter sources and high-rate detectors, coherent imaging methods like ptychography are poised to revolutionize nanoscale materials characterization. However, these advancements are accompanied by significant increase in data and compute needs, which precludes real-time imaging, feedback and decision-making capabilities with conventional approaches. Here, we demonstrate a workflow that leverages artificial intelligence at the edge and high-performance computing to enable real-time inversion on X-ray ptychography data streamed directly from a detector at up to 2 kHz. The proposed AI-enabled workflow eliminates the oversampling constraints, allowing low-dose imaging using orders of magnitude less data than required by traditional methods. more...

Abstract Background Teenage pregnancy is a global public health issue, and it poses a serious threat to the health and socioeconomic status of mothers and their newborn children. Although Papua New Guinea has recorded one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates among Asia-Pacific countries, few studies have conducted research on the related inequality in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy and its contributing factors in Papua New Guinea. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2016–2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. The analytical sample consisted of 2,864 girls aged 15–19 years. We employed Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) and concentration curves to measure and depict socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy. Decomposition analysis was likewise performed to identify the contributions of determinants to the observed inequality. Results Weighted ECI for teenage pregnancy was − 0.0582 (P more...

Abstract Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, primarily due to its propensity for metastasis. Patients diagnosed with localized primary cancer have higher survival rates than those with metastasis. Thus, it is imperative to discover biomarkers for the early detection of NSCLC and the timely prediction of tumor metastasis to improve patient outcomes. Methods Here, we utilized an integrated approach to isolate and characterize plasma exosomes from NSCLC patients as well as healthy individuals. We then conducted proteomics analysis and parallel reaction monitoring to identify and validate the top-ranked proteins of plasma exosomes. Results Our study revealed that the proteome in exosomes from NSCLC patients with metastasis was distinctly different from that from healthy individuals. The former had larger diameters and lower concentrations of exosomes than the latter. Furthermore, among the 1220 identified exosomal proteins, we identified two distinct panels of biomarkers. The first panel of biomarkers (FGB, FGG, and VWF) showed potential for early NSCLC diagnosis and demonstrated a direct correlation with the survival duration of NSCLC patients. The second panel of biomarkers (CFHR5, C9, and MBL2) emerged as potential biomarkers for assessing NSCLC metastasis, of which CFHR5 alone was significantly associated with the overall survival of NSCLC patients. Conclusions These findings underscore the potential of plasma exosomal biomarkers for early NSCLC diagnosis and metastasis prediction. Notably, CFHR5 stands out as a promising prognostic indicator for NSCLC patients. The clinical utility of exosomal biomarkers offers the potential to enhance the management of NSCLC. more...

Abstract X-ray ptychography offers high-resolution imaging of large areas at a high computational cost due to the large volume of data provided. To address the cost issue, we propose a physics-informed unsupervised classification algorithm that is performed prior to reconstruction and removes data outside the region of interest (RoI) based on the multimodal features present in the diffraction patterns. The preprocessing time for the proposed method is inconsequential in contrast to the resource-intensive reconstruction process, leading to an impressive reduction in the data workload to a mere 20% of the initial dataset. This capability consequently reduces computational time dramatically while preserving reconstruction quality. Through further segmentation of the diffraction patterns, our proposed approach can also detect features that are smaller than beam size and correctly classify them as within the RoI. more...

Hydraulic fracturing is a technique for shale gas production. The use of this technology allows natural gas and oil to be economically produced from shale formations. However, the application of fracturing is accompanied by potential environmental risks such as water waste and pollution, ecological damage, air pollution and earthquakes. In China, shale gas development as one of the key ways to achieve energy supply security and its 2030 peak carbon target. China has liberalized the restrictions on extraction entities and has taken numerous measures to encourage shale gas development. The regulation of hydraulic fracturing and other environmental issues poses a new challenge to the harmonization of energy and environmental legislation in China. Based on the analysis of the existing system, this study proposed the shortcomings of the current Chinese shale gas environmental regulatory framework, which indicate that the legal level for hydraulic fracturing is low; there are loopholes in the legal rules regulating the environmental problems caused by hydraulic fracturing, and the environmental and energy laws are not compatible. A typical case of Fuling, China was selected for analysis. In addition, it is suggested that Chinese regulators should develop a special shale gas law, introducing appropriate hydraulic fracturing regulations to fill the legal regulatory loopholes. more...

Abstract Neuro-inspired vision systems hold great promise to address the growing demands of mass data processing for edge computing, a distributed framework that brings computation and data storage closer to the sources of data. In addition to the capability of static image sensing and processing, the hardware implementation of a neuro-inspired vision system also requires the fulfilment of detecting and recognizing moving targets. Here, we demonstrated a neuro-inspired optical sensor based on two-dimensional NbS2/MoS2 hybrid films, which featured remarkable photo-induced conductance plasticity and low electrical energy consumption. A neuro-inspired optical sensor array with 10 × 10 NbS2/MoS2 phototransistors enabled highly integrated functions of sensing, memory, and contrast enhancement capabilities for static images, which benefits convolutional neural network (CNN) with a high image recognition accuracy. More importantly, in-sensor trajectory registration of moving light spots was experimentally implemented such that the post-processing could yield a high restoration accuracy. Our neuro-inspired optical sensor array could provide a fascinating platform for the implementation of high-performance artificial vision systems. more...

Abstract Previous work has shown that motor skill learning stimulates and requires generation of myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs) from their precursor cells (OLPs) in the brains of adult mice. In the present study we ask whether OL production is also required for non-motor learning and cognition, using T-maze and radial-arm-maze tasks that tax spatial working memory. We find that maze training stimulates OLP proliferation and OL production in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior corpus callosum (genu), dorsal thalamus and hippocampal formation of adult male mice; myelin sheath formation is also stimulated in the genu. Genetic blockade of OL differentiation and neo-myelination in Myrf conditional-knockout mice strongly impairs training-induced improvements in maze performance. We find a strong positive correlation between the performance of individual wild type mice and the scale of OLP proliferation and OL generation during training, but not with the number or intensity of c-Fos+ neurons in their mPFC, underscoring the important role played by OL lineage cells in cognitive processing. more...

Abstract Background Iodophors are known to be a treatment for biofilm-related periprosthetic joint infection. However, the efficacy and mechanism of eradicating biofilms from different artificial joint materials after iodophor treatment are unknown. This study was conducted to understand the effect and mechanism of iodophors with respect to the adhesion and virulence of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms attached to artificial joint materials. Methods Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus strains were grown on titanium alloy, cobalt chromium molybdenum and polyethylene coupons, which are commonly used materials for artificial joints, for 24 h. Afterward, all coupons were divided into experimental and control groups: (1) exposed to a 0.5 ± 0.05% iodophor for 5 min and (2) exposed to phosphate-buffered saline for 5 min. To gauge the level of biofilm, colony forming units (CFU), live/dead staining confocal microscopy and crystal violet staining were used. Meanwhile, the expression of icaACDR and clfA, which are related to virulence and adhesion, was examined in both the experimental and control groups. Results A roughly three-log decrease in CFU/cm2 was seen in the viable plate count compared to the control group. Confocal imaging and crystal violet staining verified the CFU data. Moreover, the expression of icaACDR was reduced on three different orthopaedic implant materials, and the expression of clfA was also inhibited on titanium alloy coupons exposed to the iodophor. Conclusions Our results indicated that exposure to an iodophor for 5 min could significantly eliminate biofilms. When Staphylococcus aureus that had adhered to these three materials, which were used for artificial joints, was treated with an iodophor for 5 min, the expression of icaACDR was significantly reduced. This provides strong evidence for clinically clearing periprosthetic joint infections without removing the artificial joints. more...

Abstract Background Communicable diseases contribute substantially to morbidity and death rates worldwide, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. Pacific Island countries face unique challenges in addressing these diseases due to their remote locations and limited resources. Understanding the burden and trends of these diseases in this region is crucial for developing effective public health interventions. Objective This study aimed to analyze the burden and trends of communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries from 1990 to 2019. Methods We utilized data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study to analyze indicators including incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Excel 2016, R 4.2.1, and GraphPad Prism 9 were used to analyze and visualize the data. Joinpoint regression models were used for trend analysis, and the average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated. Results From 1990 to 2019, the standardized incidence rate of communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries showed an upward trend (AAPC = 0.198%, 95% CI = 0.0174 ~ 0.221), while the standardized death rate (AAPC = -1.098%, 95% CI = –1.34 ~ 0.86) and standardized DALY rate (AAPC = -1.008%, 95% CI = -1.187 ~ -0.828) showed downward trends. In 2019, the standardized incidence, death, and DALY rates of communicable diseases were higher among males than among females, but the standardized death and DALY rates among males decreased faster than those among females from 1990 to 2019. There were significant differences in the disease burden among different Pacific Island countries. The Solomon Islands had the highest standardized death rate (363.73/100,000), and Guam had the lowest (50.42/100,000). Papua New Guinea had the highest standardized DALY rate (16,041.14/100,000), and the Cook Islands had the lowest (2,740.13/100,000). In 2019, the main attributable risk factors for communicable disease deaths in Pacific Island countries were child and maternal malnutrition (28.32%), followed by unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (27.14%), air pollution (16.11%), and unsafe sex (14.96%). There were considerable geographical variations in risk factors. Conclusion The burden of communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries remains high, despite improvements in mortality and disability-adjusted life-year rates over the past few decades. This study provides valuable insights into the burden and trends of communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries from 1990 to 2019. The findings reveal several important insights and highlight the need for targeted public health interventions in the region. more...

Abstract Multi-enzyme complexes designed based on scaffold proteins are a current topic in molecular enzyme engineering. They have been gradually applied to increase the production of enzyme cascades, thereby achieving effective biosynthetic pathways. This paper reviews the recent progress in the design strategy and application of multi-enzyme complexes. First, the metabolic channels in the multi-enzyme complex have been introduced, and the construction strategies of the multi-enzyme complex emerging in recent years have been summarized. Then, the discovered enzyme cascades related to scaffold proteins are discussed, emphasizing on the influence of the linker on the fusion enzyme (fusion protein) and its possible mechanism. This review is expected to provide a more theoretical basis for the modification of multi-enzyme complexes and broaden their applications in synthetic biology. more...

Abstract Background Papua New Guinea (PNG) has recorded the highest maternal mortality ratio in the Western Pacific Region and faces major challenges in achieving SDG 3. Antenatal care (ANC), skilled birth attendant (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC) services are critical components of maternal healthcare services (MHS) for reducing maternal mortality and promoting maternal health in PNG. The study sought to assess the prevalence and determinants of ANC, SBA and PNC services amongst women in PNG. Methods The study was conducted using the 2016–2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 5248 reproductive-age women were considered as the analytical sample. The outcome variables were utilisation of ANC, SBA and PNC services. Chi-square test, multivariable logistic regression and dominance analysis were conducted. Statistical significance was set at p more...

Enthusiasm for exploring magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) and spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effects in magnetic studies of transition metal alloy clusters remains high. In this paper, the first-principle method was used to investigate the global minimum energy structure of FenPt (n = 3–13) clusters and their interesting magnetic properties. Comparative structural analyses show that FenPt (n = 3–13) clusters have unique structures, and their relative stability analyses indicate that the increase in the number of atoms influences the geometrical arrangement of the clusters. The exploration of magnetic properties has focused on two areas. First, FenPt (n = 3–13) is found to have a large magnetic moment, while the magnetic moment increment surprisingly varies in the same way in different cases with and without the inclusion of SOC effects. Second, the calculations show that FenPt (n = 3, 4, 9, 13) has MAE, ranging from 1.420-2.687 meV/atom. The SOC matrix results show the interaction of Pt dx2-y2 and Pt dxy, and the interaction of Pt dz2 and Pt dyz, exhibit an indispensable force in determining the MAE. more...

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescent and young adults in China from December 14, 2022 to February 28, 2023, when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.MethodsStudents in middle and high schools and colleges and universities in the province of Sichuan, China were asked to complete on-line cross-sectional surveys. Information was collected about sociodemographics, experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Participants also filled out the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Social Support Rate Scale surveys. Factors associated with suicidal ideation or suicide attempts were explored using logistic regression.ResultsOf the 82,873 respondents (aged 12 to 24 years), 21,292 (25.7%) reported having thought of suicide at least once in their lifetime, 10,382 (12.5%) reported having thought about suicide within the previous 12 months, and 1,123 (1.4%) reported having attempted it within the previous 12 months. Risk of lifetime suicidal ideation was higher among middle school students than among older students. Risk of suicidal ideation and risk of suicide attempts correlated directly with severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety, and inversely with level of social support. Greater risk of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts was associated with: being female, living in an urban environment, attending a boarding school, currently being in love, having parents who divorced or remarried, having parents who exhibit non-authoritative parenting behavior, having higher family income, having been COVID-19 infected, having been quarantined for a long time, and being dissatisfied with one’s education.ConclusionsSuicidal ideation and suicide attempts remain prevalent among young people in China. The potential associated factors identified in our study may be useful for targeting appropriate psychosocial interventions and developing mental health policies. more...

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive dysfunction pose significant challenges to global health and the economy. Systemic inflammation, endocrine disruption, and autoregulatory impairment drive neurodegeneration and microcirculatory damage in MetS. Due to their unique anatomy and function, astrocytes sense and integrate multiple metabolic signals, including peripheral endocrine hormones and nutrients. Astrocytes and synapses engage in a complex dialogue of energetic and immunological interactions. Astrocytes act as a bridge between MetS and cognitive dysfunction, undergoing diverse activation in response to metabolic dysfunction. This article summarizes the alterations in astrocyte phenotypic characteristics across multiple pathological factors in MetS. It also discusses the clinical value of astrocytes as a critical pathologic diagnostic marker and potential therapeutic target for MetS-associated cognitive dysfunction. more...

Abstract Introduction Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is characterized by a dismal prognosis with limited therapeutic alternatives. To explore phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN) as a biomarker for proteasome inhibition in ICC, we conducted a phase II trial to assess the second‐line efficacy of bortezomib in PTEN‐deficient advanced ICC patients. Methods A total of 130 patients with advanced ICC in our centre were screened by PTEN immunohistochemical staining between 1 July 2017, and 31 December 2021, and 16 patients were ultimately enrolled and treated with single‐agent bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 of a 21‐day cycle. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1. Results The median follow‐up was 6.55 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7–19.9 months). Among the 16 enrolled patients, the ORR was 18.75% (3/16) and the disease control rate was 43.75% (7/16). The median progress‐free survival was 2.95 months (95% CI: 2.1–5.1 months) and the median overall survival (mOS) was 7.2 months (95% CI: 0.7–21.6 months) in the intent‐to‐treat‐patients. Treatment‐related adverse events of any grade were reported in 16 patients, with thrombopenia being the most common toxicity. Patients with PTEN staining scores of 0 were more likely to benefit from bortezomib than those with staining scores > 0. Conclusions Bortezomib yielded an encouraging objective response and a favourable OS as a second‐line agent in PTEN‐deficient ICC patients. Our findings suggest bortezomib as a promising therapeutic option for patients with PTEN‐deficient ICC. Highlights There is a limited strategy for the second‐line option of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This investigator‐initiated phase 2 study evaluated bortezomib in ICC patients with phosphatase and tension homology deficiency. The overall response rate was 18.75% and the overall survival was 7.2 months in the intent‐to‐treat cohort. These results justify further developing bortezomib in ICC patients with PTEN deficiency. more...

Planetary waves, including quasi-2, -5, -10, −16-day waves, play significant roles in stratospheric dynamics. However, the existing knowledge on quasi-10-day waves (Q10DWs) at high latitudes is limited. This paper investigated the interannual and seasonal variations of Q10DWs with zonal wave numbers varying from the −3 (westward propagation) to 3 (eastward propagation) modes from 2008 to 2022, using temperature data measured by the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument (316−0.001 hPa, corresponding to an altitude of approximately 8–97 km) and temperature/ice water content data measured by the Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE) instrument (10−100 km at latitudes >55°). The findings revealed that the amplitude of Q10DWs in winter was higher than that in other seasons. The amplitude of Q10DWs was observed to substantially decrease with an increase in wavenumber. In addition, the amplitude of stationary Q10DWs in the northern polar region exceeded that in the southern polar region. Moreover, we used observational data from the SOFIE instrument, which simultaneously measures temperature and ice water content (IWC) in the mesosphere, to examine the variations of Q10DWs with respect to the temperature and IWC. Our findings suggest that in the northern polar region, the maximum value of Q10DWs in IWC was occasionally observed earlier than the lowest value of Q10DWs in temperatures. more...

Summary: Human cognitive abilities ranging from basic perceptions to complex social behaviors exhibit substantial variation in individual differences. These cognitive functions can be categorized into a two-order hierarchy based on the levels of cognitive processes. Second-order cognition including metacognition and mentalizing monitors and regulates first-order cognitive processes. These two-order hierarchical cognitive functions exhibit distinct abilities. However, it remains unclear whether individual differences in these cognitive abilities have distinct origins. We employ the classical twin paradigm to compare the genetic and environmental contributions to the two-order cognitive abilities in the same tasks from the same population. The results reveal that individual differences in first-order cognitive abilities were primarily influenced by genetic factors. Conversely, the second-order cognitive abilities have a stronger influence from shared environmental factors. These findings suggest that the abilities of metacognition and mentalizing in adults are profoundly shaped by their environmental experiences and less determined by their biological nature. more...

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB), mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a serious public health problem. Increasing evidence supports that selective evolution is an important force affecting genomic determinants of Mtb phenotypes. It is necessary to further understand the Mtb selective evolution and identify the positively selected genes that probably drive the phenotype of Mtb.MethodsThis study mainly focused on the positive selection of 807 Mtb strains from Southern Xinjiang of China using whole genome sequencing (WGS). PAML software was used for identifying the genes and sites under positive selection in 807 Mtb strains.ResultsLineage 2 (62.70%) strains were the dominant strains in this area, followed by lineage 3 (19.45%) and lineage 4 (17.84%) strains. There were 239 codons in 47 genes under positive selection, and the genes were majorly associated with the functions of transcription, defense mechanisms, and cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis. There were 28 codons (43 mutations) in eight genes (gyrA, rpoB, rpoC, katG, pncA, embB, gid, and cut1) under positive selection in multi-drug resistance (MDR) strains but not in drug-susceptible (DS) strains, in which 27 mutations were drug-resistant loci, 9 mutations were non-drug-resistant loci but were in drug-resistant genes, 2 mutations were compensatory mutations, and 5 mutations were in unknown drug-resistant gene of cut1. There was a codon in Rv0336 under positive selection in L3 strains but not in L2 and L4 strains. The epitopes of T and B cells were both hyper-conserved, particularly in the T-cell epitopes.ConclusionThis study revealed the ongoing selective evolution of Mtb. We found some special genes and sites under positive selection which may contribute to the advantage of MDR and L3 strains. It is necessary to further study these mutations to understand their impact on phenotypes for providing more useful information to develop new TB interventions. more...