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It is well known that crossbreds show many advantages over purebreds in improving calf health traits, but the immunological factors responsible for this heterosis remain largely unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the cellular immune responses and antibodies of Holstein (HO) and Montbéliarde-sired × Holstein (MH) F1 generation female calves, and investigate the effects of crossbreeding on the immunity. Fifty three-month-old healthy female calves (25 HO, 25 MH) were selected meticulously in a farm with the same criteria. Subsequently, complete blood count, flow cytometric analysis of T cell subsets and intracellular IFN-γ production, as well as indirect ELISA analysis of antibodies were performed in order to determine the immune profiles of the two groups of calves. We found that MH calves had higher percentage and number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells than HO calves in the peripheral blood (p

An aramid fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin composite connector was developed for the connection of trenchless penetration repair lining pipe of ocean pipeline. The results of the hydrostatic burst test show that the failure mode under internal pressure is that the fiber of the pipe itself breaks and the connector remains intact. The tensile test results show that the tensile strength of the connector is higher than that of the lining pipe body， which meets the requirements of penetration construction. The internal pressure， tensile and folding models of the composite connector were established， and the ultimate strength， stress and strain distribution， and variation trend of the lining pipe and connector were predicted by finite element analysis. The finite element results show that the main bearing structure under internal pressure is the toroidal fiber， and the maximum strain occurs at the junction of the connector and the lining pipe body. The main load-bearing structure under tensile action is axial fiber， and the outer thermoplastic polyurethane edge has a large strain due to stress concentration， but it is still within the limit elastic strain range of the material. During the large deformation process of folding and unfolding， the maximum strain occurs in the folding stage， and the intermediate connector strain is close to the strain at lining pipe body. The intermediate connector of the pipe body developed in this study is convenient to manufacture， exhibits a high degree of compatibility with the lining pipe， and can be continuously coiled and folded， meeting the requirements of one-time long-distance repair of submarine pipelines.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, memory impairment, and behavioral alterations. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has emerged as a promising target for AD pharmacotherapy due to its role in the disease’s pathogenesis. This study leverages advanced computational methods to screen 80 active constituents of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), a traditional herb known for its neuroprotective effects, against the NMDA receptor, using FDA-approved Ifenprodil as a reference. Our blind virtual screening results demonstrated that all tested compounds could bind to various domains of the NMDA receptor, with binding energies ranging from − 4.1 to -11.9 kcal/mol, compared to Ifenprodil’s -7.8 kcal/mol. Binding preference analysis revealed 7 compounds bound to the A-chain, 37 to the B-chain, 7 to the C-chain, and 29 to the D-chain of the receptor. Notable binding was observed predominantly at the Amino Terminal Domain (ATD) core site, some at the ATD-Ligand Binding Domain (LBD) interface, and a few at the Transmembrane Domain (TMD). Particularly, 17alpha-hydroxywithanolide D, with a binding energy of -11.9 kcal/mol, emerged as a prime candidate for further investigation. Molecular dynamics simulations of this compound revealed key interactions, including direct hydrogen bonding with residues ASP165, ARG431, THR433, LYS466, and TYR476 on the D-chain, as well as additional hydrophobic and water-bridging interactions. These simulations highlighted the compound’s influence on dynamic conformational states of the GluN1b-GluN2B receptor complex, modulating interactions between GluN1b Lys178 and GluN2B Asn184. Furthermore, the compound affected the distance between LBD heterodimers and the tension within the LBD-M30 linker, demonstrating its potential to modulate NMDA receptor activity. This comprehensive study not only underscores the therapeutic promise of Withania somnifera derivatives for AD but also provides a detailed molecular basis for their efficacy, offering valuable insights for targeted drug development and innovative therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer’s disease.

Abstract Objective To evaluate intraoperative and early postoperative clinical outcomes using the “tension band wiring first technique” to reduce C type patellar fractures. Methods Sixty-four patients with C type fractures were enrolled in this study. Thirty-four patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgeries using the traditional reduction technique by pointed clamps (TRT group). The other thirty patients received the patellar fracture reduction using the “Tension band wiring first technique” (TBWFT group). All patellar fractures were treated with a cable tension band and a cerclage cable. The duration of intraoperative procedure and X-ray exposure times were recorded. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Bone union time was recorded. The articular surface steps of the patellas were measured. After surgery, range of motion (ROM) of the knee, and complications were evaluated, and patellar function was evaluated using the Lysholm knee scores and Böstman scores. Results When compared to TRT group, the “Tension band wiring first technique” significantly reduced the intraoperative time and X-ray exposure times and tended to reduce the articular surface steps, though without statistical significance. In the two groups, there was no significant difference in bone union time, ROM, complications and patellar function. Conclusion The utilization of “Tension band wiring first technique” proved to be a straightforward, expeditious, and reproducible technique for reducing patellar fracture in comparison to the conventional reduction technique utilizing pointed clamps. Further studies are required to ensure the generalizability of these findings to additional patient populations at other institutions.

Abstract The application of multimodal deep learning for emergency response and recovery, specifically in disaster social media analysis, is of utmost importance. It is worth noting that in real-world scenarios, sudden disaster events may differ from the training data, which may require the multimodal network to predict them as unknown classes instead of misclassifying them to known ones. Previous studies have primarily focused on model accuracy in a closed environment and may not be able to directly detect unknown classes. Thus, we propose a novel multimodal model for categorizing social media related to disasters in an open-world environment. Our methodology entails utilizing pre-trained unimodal models as encoders for each modality and performing information fusion with a cross-attention module to obtain the joint representation. For open-world detection, we use a multitask classifier that encompasses both a closed-world and an open-world classifier. The closed-world classifier is trained on the original data to classify known classes, whereas the open-world classifier is used to determine whether the input belongs to a known class. Furthermore, we propose a sample generation strategy that models the distribution of unknown samples using known data, which allows the open-world classifier to identify unknown samples. Our experiments were conducted on two public datasets, namely CrisisMMD and MHII. According to the experimental results, the proposed method outperforms other baselines and approaches in crisis information classification.

Abstract Severe psoriasis has a long course and poor outcome, and it has long been a problem for patients. Understanding the independent risk factors that contribute to patients with severe psoriasis is critical for the development of effective treatment strategies. This large, multicenter study recruited 2,109 plaque psoriasis patients from 12 hospitals across China (October 31, 2019 – May 31, 2022). The logistic regression model underwent internal validation and external validation using two independent cohorts over future time periods (June 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023). The discriminative power of our model was substantiated by a C-index of 0.863 (95% CI: 0.848–0.879) in internal validation, further affirmed through 1,000 bootstrap validation (C-index: 0.860, 95% CI: 0.836–0.885) and external validation cohorts, where the C-index reached up to 0.910 (95% CI: 0.868–0.953) and 0.951 (95% CI: 0.924–0.977) in 2 external validation cohorts. To enhance accessibility for clinicians, the model has been made available as a dynamic nomogram and QR code. Our study identified 10 risk factors (the “DELPHI” consensus dichotomy, the DLQI index, the extent of skin involvement as measured by body surface area, the age of the patient at the time of clinical visit, sex, body weight in kilograms, career, the presence of scalp involvement, facial involvement, and arthropathy) for the overall severity of psoriasis (PASI ≥ 10). “Nomogram-10” provides clinicians with a practical tool to develop personalized intervention strategies based on an individual’s risk profile. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024852.

AIM: To develop an automated model for subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) detection in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, addressing manual fovea location and choroidal contour challenges. METHODS: Two procedures were proposed: defining the fovea and segmenting the choroid. Fovea localization from B-scan OCT image sequence with three-dimensional reconstruction (LocBscan-3D) predicted fovea location using central foveal depression features, and fovea localization from two-dimensional en-face OCT (LocEN-2D) used a mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) model for optic disc detection, and determined the fovea location based on optic disc relative position. Choroid segmentation also employed Mask R-CNN. RESULTS: For 53 eyes in 28 healthy subjects, LocBscan-3D's mean difference between manual and predicted fovea locations was 170.0 μm, LocEN-2D yielded 675.9 μm. LocEN-2D performed better in non-high myopia group (P=0.02). SFCT measurements from Mask R-CNN aligned with manual values. CONCLUSION: Our models accurately predict SFCT in OCT images. LocBscan-3D excels in precise fovea localization even with high myopia. LocEN-2D shows high detection rates but lower accuracy especially in the high myopia group. Combining both models offers a robust SFCT assessment approach, promising efficiency and accuracy for large-scale studies and clinical use.

Introduction: Depression is a common psychiatric problem in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Recent studies have begun to explore the relationship between body composition and depression. Phase angle (PhA), a core parameter for assessing body composition, has been observed to be associated with frailty and cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PhA and depression in MHD patients. Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included 843 MHD patients from seven dialysis centers in Shanghai, China. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with a score of ≥10 indicating depression. PhA was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Nutritional status was assessed by malnutrition inflammation score (MIS). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between PhA and depression. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was utilized to examine the association. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to identify the cut-off value of PhA for depression. Results: A total of 15.2% of patients (62.8% male, median age 66 years) had depression. Median PhA level (interquartile range) of depressed patients was 4.4° (3.9–4.9°) for males and 3.9° (3.2–4.7°) for females. There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of depression with increasing quartiles of PhA levels. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, after adjusting for age, sex, education level, spKt/V, dialysis vintage, Charlson comorbidity index, hemoglobin, and serum albumin, lower PhA levels (lowest quartile group) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 4.48), compared to higher PhA levels (highest quartile group). RCS analysis showed a relatively inverse linear association between PhA and depression. The optimal cut-off value of PhA for depression was 4.9° for males and 3.5° for females. Subgroup analyses validated the findings across patient characteristics, including age, sex, diabetes, education, and malnutrition. Conclusion: Our findings indicated an inverse association between PhA and depressive symptoms in Chinese MHD patients, suggesting that PhA could serve as a valuable indicator for assessing the risk of depression in this population. Further studies are needed to explore the potential of PhA as a prognostic tool and its implications for intervention strategies.

Abstract Little is known about biological processes controlling inorganic phosphate (PO4) in groundwater ecosystems. Here we present analyses of groundwater samples from the Hetao Basin, China that show an increasing contribution of microbial cycling to groundwater PO4 from oxic to anoxic conditions along a flow path with phosphate-bound oxygen isotopes (δ18OPO4). Under oxic conditions, although 25–47% of the dissolved PO4 inherited the initial source signal of igneous apatite, groundwater δ18OPO4 reflected a pronounced impact of intracellular enzymatic cycling. Under anoxic conditions, dissolved PO4 carried a nearly exclusive equilibrium isotope signal, which was probably due to (i) release of PO4 with an equilibrium δ18OPO4 from Fe(III) oxides, as a result of Fe(III) reduction in the presence of Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing bacteria; and/or (ii) cumulative microbial cycling of dissolved PO4 with increasing groundwater residence time. Our study highlights that PO4 in groundwater is tightly microbially cycled under a wide range of redox conditions and microbial cycling contributes to the release of PO4 in groundwater.

Background: The bone-vascular axis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification (VC) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Understanding and managing the role of the bone-vascular axis in CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is critical for preventing and treating associated complications, including osteoporosis, arterial calcification, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to comprehensively summarize the role of bone metabolism markers in uremic VC. Summary: The skeleton, as an endocrine organ, can regulate systemic metabolic processes by secreting various bioactive substances. These molecules can induce the transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells, promoting their transition to other functional states, thereby affecting vascular growth and remodeling. Key Messages: The prevalence of VC in individuals with CKD is notably high. CKD-associated VC is characterized by the widespread accumulation of hydroxyapatite within the arterial media, which occurs as a result of the transformation of smooth muscle cells into osteoblastic smooth muscle cells under the influence of uremic toxins. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts in bone tissue secrete mineral metabolic proteins, which can influence neighboring cells, primarily vascular smooth muscle cells, through paracrine signaling. Both circulating and osteocytic sclerostin can exert a protective effect by inhibiting wingless/integrated (WNT)-induced calcification. The therapeutic goal for CKD-MBD is to reduce production of sclerostin by decreasing the osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Calciprotein particles act as a physiological agent for delivering calcium-phosphate the bone and inducing fibroblast growth factor-23 expression in osteoblasts.

ObjectivesTo enhance the intelligent management of substation equipment maintenance, timely identify and mitigate the risks of failures caused by device overheating, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid, the temperature situation awareness and auxiliary decision-making scheme of substation equipment were proposed.MethodsThe research was carried out from four aspects: the perception layer, the understanding layer, the prediction layer, and the auxiliary decision-making layer. In the perception layer, the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification algorithm was used to analyze the correlation of multi-class temperature data. In the understanding layer, a BP neural network was employed to construct a historical data transmission model to address missing historical data issues. In the prediction layer, a temperature prediction model combining autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and support vector machine (SVM) was designed to handle nonlinear data and noise. In the auxiliary decision-making layer, the grey relational analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between equipment temperature changes and fault risks.ResultsThe verification results of numerical examples based on the proposed scheme show that the scheme realizes the effective perception of the future temperature variation trends of the equipment and provides a basis for the identification of equipment defects.ConclusionsThrough multi-dimensional and deep-level temperature data analysis, the proposed scheme reveals the potential correlation between equipment temperature and fault risk, realizes the prediction of the operational trend of substation equipment, and provides a reference for the optimization of operational mode and the formulation of equipment maintenance plan.

The applications of wearable sensors in sports， medicine， rehabilitation， and other fields， have greatly facilitated the capture and monitoring of human movement index signals effectively avoiding sports injuries， reducing the frequency of medical treatment， and even saving many lives. With the application and popularization of wearable sensors， suitable flexible energy supply systems are the key to its development. In recent years， researchers have studied and designed a variety of flexible energy supply systems based on different energy release methods， among which flexible Zn-ion batteries stand out due to their high energy density， high elastic modulus， high cycle stability， and high safety. We reviewed the research progress in flexible Zn-ion batteries for wearable sensors， mainly introducing and summarizing the batteries components （such as current collector， electrode （cathode and anode）， separator， electrolyte， and packaging） and the application of wearable sensors. Finally， the current problems and challenges of flexible Zn-ion batteries are discussed.

Electronic skin is a novel type of flexible and wearable sensor that mimics human skin perception， exhibiting characteristics such as lightweight， softness， and flexibility. It has the capability to convert external stimuli into diverse output signals， showing substantial potential in health monitoring and human-computer interaction. This article provides a comprehensive review from the perspective of intelligent materials for constructing electronic skin， focusing on commonly used substrates， conductive fillers， and their geometric structures. It discusses the requirements for biocompatibility， adhesion， self-healing， and self-powering performance of electronic skin based on the complex environmental conditions it faces in applications. It points out that in the research process， there are still issues such as poor comprehensive perception of human skin， complex and expensive fabrication processes， and delayed response to sensory signals. By optimizing materials and structures to enhance the basic performance of electronic skin， the development trend is to build outstanding performance， multifunctionality， and simultaneous detection of various external stimuli. Electronic skin shows great potential in medical diagnosis， soft robotics， smart prosthetics， and human-machine interaction.

【Objective】 The Jiaokou Irrigation District is a vital agricultural production base in Shaanxi Province, and this study evaluates the carrying capacity of its soil and water resources, aiming to provide a guidance for sustainable use of agricultural resources in this region. 【Method】 The indexes used to construct the evaluation system for carrying capacity of soil and water included soil and water resources, social, economic and ecological environment, based on data measured from 2016 to 2022. The TOPSIS model with combined weights was used to analyze the carrying capacity of soil and water resources, as well as the obstacles that restrict the carrying capacity. 【Result】 ① From 2016 to 2020, the carrying capacity of soil and water resources in the region had steadily improved, and the difference in carrying capacity between districts and counties in the region had gradually narrowed, despite difference in carrying capacity of soil and water resources between districts and counties still remaining significant. ② Spatially, the carrying capacity in the north of the region was higher than that in the south, across which its value varied from 0.257 to 0.621. ③ The main factors that restrict the carrying capacity of soil and water in the region were pesticide and fertilizer applications per unit cultivated land, matching coefficient between soil and water resources, soil reclamation, ecological water use, and water resource development and utilization. 【Conclusion】 The carrying capacity of soil and water resources had been leveling up in the region. Ecological environment is the key factor affecting the carrying capacity of soil and water resources. In order to comprehensively enhance the bearing capacity of the region, developing irrigation areas should consider sustainability, as well as the balance between agricultural development and ecological protection.

Abstract Background Anxious depression (AD) is a common subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD). Neuroimaging studies of AD have revealed inconsistent and heterogeneous brain alterations with the use of single-model methods. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the pathogenesis of AD using multi-model imaging analyses to obtain more homogeneous and robust results. Methods One hundred and eighty-two patients with MDD and 64 matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to estimate the gray matter volume (GMV) of all subjects. The GMV differences between the AD and non-anxious depression (NAD) participants were used as regions of interest (ROIs) for subsequent resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analyses. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate the associations between clinical symptoms and abnormal function in specific brain areas. Results Decreased GMV in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) was observed in the AD group compared to the NAD group. Taking the MFG and SFG as ROIs, the rs-FC analysis revealed decreased FC between the left SFG and left temporal pole and between the left SFG and right MFG in the AD group compared to the NAD group. Finally, the FC between the left SFG and left temporal pole was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 scores in the AD group. Conclusion By combining the GMV and rs-FC models, this study revealed that structural and functional disruption of the affective network may be an important pathophysiology underlying AD. The structural impairment may serve as the foundation of the functional impairment.

Abstract. Background:. Limited information exists regarding the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on psoriasis patients. The objective of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with the prognosis of psoriasis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods:. A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted between March and May 2023. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related psoriasis outcomes. The study included 2371 psoriasis patients from 12 clinical centers, with 2049 of them having been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Results:. Among the infected groups, lower exacerbation rates were observed in individuals treated with biologics compared to those receiving traditional systemic or nonsystemic treatments (22.3% [236/1058] vs. 39.8% [92/231] vs. 37.5% [140/373], P

ObjectiveThe Clinical Assessment Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE) is a novel tool tailored specifically for evaluating the severity of autoimmune encephalitis (AE). However, its application in severe AE patients is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the CASE and explore its clinical significance in a severe AE cohort.MethodsThe relevant clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and prognosis of patients diagnosed with severe AE between April 2017 and April 2023 were collected. The CASE and modified Rankin scale (mRS) were performed at admission, discharge, and 1-year follow-up, respectively. The reliability of CASE was validated by calculating the Cronbach’s alpha value. The validity was evaluated by calculating the Spearman’s rank correlation with the corresponding mRS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to identify risk factors for poor prognosis.ResultsA total of 140 patients were recruited for the study. The CASE scale presented great internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α value of 0.768 for the total score. The Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed strong criterion validity between CASE and mRS, with coefficients of 0.68, 0.92, and 0.95 at admission, discharge, and 1-year follow-up, respectively (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis identified CASE score at admission served as a promising predictive marker for clinical response to treatment, with an AUC of 0.67 (95% CI: 0.57-0.77, p = 0.003). The optimal cut-off point was 22.5. At 1-year follow-up, 72/140 (51.4%) patients achieved good functional status (mRS, 0-2). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed that higher CASE scores on admission and older age at onset were associated with poor short-term as well as 1-year prognosis, respectively. In addition, no clinical response to treatment (OR = 40.499; 95% CI: 7.077-231.746, p < 0.001) and longer duration of hospitalization (OR = 1.071; 95% CI: 1.017-1.128, p = 0.010) were associated with poor function states at 1-year follow-up.ConclusionThe CASE has proven suitable for evaluating disease severity and prognosis in severe AE patients. Besides, CASE score, age at disease onset, hospital stays, and response to immunotherapy are identified as independent risk factors for unsatisfactory prognosis in severe AE patients.

Owing to the vast development of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), especially the improvement of spatio-temporal resolution, observing and quantifying the complex and dynamic flood process becomes increasingly feasible. Utilizing the Sentinel-1 Ground Range Detected (GRD) dataset, we proposed an improved probabilistic flood mapping method combining image Pareto Scaling (PS) normalization and Bayesian probability estimation. We validated our method during a flood event in Xinjiang County, Shaanxi Province of China in October 2021 using a high spatial resolution (0.1 m) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) image. The overall reliability of the new method agrees 95% to the UAV measurements and achieves the highest accuracy (85.2%) when compared to the Sentinel-1 dual-polarized water index (SDWI) threshold method and the Z-score method. Our results distinguished four flood stages: flood emergence, peak, receding, and disappearance, which provide valuable insights into the dynamic change process of floods. Notably, we observed that pixels with different flood probabilities exhibited distinct temporal characteristics. The extremely high probability pixel experienced rapid fluctuations, while the medium probability pixel showed more gradual changes over time. We believe our proposed method can enhance our understanding of flood-prone areas and their dynamics so that decision-makers can develop targeted mitigation measures and response plans.

Objectives This study aimed at identifying risk factors for the incidence of interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) by a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods Information sources: studies published by March 2021 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases. Eligibility criteria: cohort studies or nested case-control studies that reported OR or HR of risk factors for RA-ILD were included. Two researchers independently screened the studies and extracted data. Synthesis of results: the relative risks (RRs) were introduced to measure the association across studies. Risk bias: quality assessments of included studies were performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Based on the result of heterogeneity, the random-effects model or fixed-effects model was chosen in the meta-analysis. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the origins of heterogeneity, and publication bias was evaluated for the factors with no less than five included studies by funnel plots and Egger’s test.Results Among 3075 identified articles, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. 17 risk factors were included in the meta-analysis. Male (RR 1.94, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.85, p60 years, RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.94, p=0.02), older RA onset age (RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.10, p=0.02), smoking (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.71, p=0.006), lung complications (RR 2.72, 95% CI 1.24 to 5.95, p=0.01), rheumatoid nodule (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.51, p

Background: Pirfenidone (PFD) is commonly applied for antifibrotic treatment in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis but has rarely been studied in cases with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILDs). Objectives: We aimed to examine the efficacy of PFD in patients with CTD-ILD based on real-world data. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study assessed the clinical features of CTD-ILD patients with or without a 6-month PFD treatment. A linear mixed effects model was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of PFD in alleviating lung function changes. Differences in response to PFD were analyzed based on CTD subtype, imaging classification, and pattern of pulmonary function at baseline. Results: A total of 289 patients with CTD-ILD were included, with 155 (53.6%) receiving PFD treatment and the remaining constituting the control group. Patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern were more likely to receive PFD treatment, and a relatively lower proportion of cases in the PFD group received immunosuppressive therapies compared to the control group ( p

ObjectiveDrawing from the extended Grossman health capital and demand theory and the life course theory, this study examined whether childhood SES has direct and significant correlation with health in middle and old age in a specific historical context in China.MethodsA sample of 9,861 respondents was obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Childhood SES was measured by objective indices of recall. Health was assessed by self-reported, physician diagnosis and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to estimate the treatment effect between childhood SES and later life health. The Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method was employed to examine the associative mediation effects.ResultsCompared to respondents with low SES in childhood, respondents with high SES in childhood had, on average, 5.1% more likely to report their health as good, an average 2.4% lower prevalence of chronic diseases and an average 7.6% lower in the score of depression in middle and old age. The indirect relationships of childhood health, adulthood SES and adulthood lifestyle with health in middle and old age were all significant. SES upward mobility in adulthood can diminish the association between childhood disadvantage and poor health in middle and old age.ConclusionThe health effects of childhood SES can persist into middle and old age, this is more noticeable in rural areas, particularly in females. The critical period, cumulative risk and social mobility models produce synergistic effects in China. Our results also promote a paradigm shift in health interventions from old age to early life for health-vulnerable populations.

Abstract Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is widely used for control of pest mites and insects worldwide. We evaluated its effect on M. usitatus when predators (N. barkeri) or insecticides (Spinetoram) were applied in the fields. Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes consumed 80% of M. usitatus prey offered within 6 h, and predation showed Type III functional response with prey density. The maximum consumption of N. barkeri was 27.29 ± 1.02 individuals per d per arena (1.5 cm diameter), while the optimal prey density for the predatory mite was 10.35 ± 0.68 individuals per d per arena (1.5 cm diameter). The developmental duration of N. barkeri fed with M. usitatus was significantly shorter than those fed with the dried fruit mite, Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) (Acari: Astigmata). In field trials, the efficiency of N. barkeri against M. usitatus was not significantly different from that of applications of the insecticide spinetoram. Biodiversity of other insects in treated fields was assessed, and there were 21 insect species in garden plots treated with N. barkeri releases. The total abundance (N), Shannon’s diversity index (H), Pielou’s evenness index (J) and Simpson’s diversity index (D) of the garden plots treated with predatory mites were all significantly higher than that in the garden plots treated with spinetoram, where we found no species of predators or parasitoids and 7 herbivores. Our results show that N. barkeri is a potential means to control M. usitatus while preserving arthropod diversity at the level of treated gardens.

The space environment strongly affects the on-orbit performance of spacecraft，and ultraviolet（UV） radiation is one of the important factors，which can lead to charge accumulation and charge discharge of spacecraft surface materials. The photoelectron emission yield（PEEY）of spacecraft surface materials is measured to obtain the basic data of photoemission and perform surface charging simulation analysis，which is an important method to study the charging problem of spacecraft surface materials. The paper firstly introduces the development of PEEY theoretical models，including the Fowler-Dubridge（FD） model，the one-step model，the three-step model（TSM）/Monte carlo（MC） model based on the three-step photoelectron emission theory，and the Moments-based （MB） emission model and quantum model（QM）. The research methods and applicable conditions of each model are analyzed and compared，and the development of PEEY model is sorted out. Then the experimental test applications of PEEY，including the development of domestic and foreign ultraviolet photoelectron yield spectroscopy （UV-PEEY） instruments，the experimental study of PEEY for typical space materials are introduced，and the influence of external conditions and surface conditions on PEEY is focused on. Finally，the suggestions for in-depth research on PEEY for space surface materials are put forward.

Background The correlation between hearing loss (HL) and physical performance in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) remains poorly investigated. This study explored the association between HL and physical performance in patients on MHD. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2020 and April 2021 in seven hemodialysis centers in Shanghai and Suzhou, China. The hearing assessment was performed using pure-tone average (PTA). Physical performance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), handgrip strength, and gait speed. Results Finally, 838 adult patients (male, 516 [61.6%]; 61.2 ± 2.6 years) were enrolled. Among them, 423 (50.5%) had mild to profound HL (male, 48.6% and female, 53.4%). Patients with HL had poorer physical performance than patients without HL (p < 0.001). TUGT was positively correlated with PTA (r = 0.265, p < 0.001), while handgrip strength and gait speed were negatively correlated with PTA (r = –0.356, p < 0.001 and r = –0.342, p < 0.001, respectively). Physical performance in patients aged

Landslides are destructive geohazards to people and infrastructure, resulting in hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars of damage every year. Therefore, mapping the rate of deformation of such geohazards and understanding their mechanics is of paramount importance to mitigate the resulting impacts and properly manage the associated risks. In this paper, the main outcomes relevant to the joint European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Dragon-5 initiative cooperation project ID 59,339 “Earth observation for seismic hazard assessment and landslide early warning system” are reported. The primary goals of the project are to further develop advanced SAR/InSAR and optical techniques to investigate seismic hazards and risks, detect potential landslides in wide regions, and demonstrate EO-based landslide early warning system over selected landslides. This work only focuses on the landslide hazard content of the project, and thus, in order to achieve these objectives, the following tasks were developed up to now: a) a procedure for phase unwrapping errors and tropospheric delay correction; b) an improvement of a cross-platform SAR offset tracking method for the retrieval of long-term ground displacements; c) the application of polarimetric SAR interferometry (PolInSAR) to increase the number and quality of monitoring points in landslide-prone areas; d) the semiautomatic mapping and preliminary classification of active displacement areas on wide regions; e) the modeling and identification of landslides in order to identify triggering factors or predict future displacements; and f) the application of an InSAR-based landslide early warning system on a selected site. The achieved results, which mainly focus on specific sensitive regions, provide essential assets for planning present and future scientific activities devoted to identifying, mapping, characterizing, monitoring and predicting landslides, as well as for the implementation of early warning systems.

Abstract. Background:. There is a need for effective and safe therapies for psoriasis that provide sustained benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab, an anti-interleukin-23p19 monoclonal antibody, for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients. Methods:. In this multi-center, double-blind, phase III trial, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous tildrakizumab 100 mg or placebo at weeks 0 and 4. Patients initially assigned to placebo were switched to receive tildrakizumab at weeks 12, 16, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients in the tildrakizumab group continued with tildrakizumab at week 16, and every 12 weeks until week 52. The primary endpoint was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) response rate at week 12. Results:. At week 12, tildrakizumab demonstrated significantly higher PASI 75 response rates (66.4% [73/110] vs. 12.7% [14/110]; difference, 51.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.72, 62.13]; P

ObjectiveTo establish a medical imaging teacher competency model and evaluate its application value in group teaching for undergraduates.MethodsBased on literature review, a competency model for teachers in medical colleges and universities was established. This study collected the self-evaluation scores and student evaluation scores of the competency model for teachers from Radiology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital who participated in the undergraduate medical imaging group teaching from September 2020 to November 2021, and compared the differences of various competencies before and after training, between different professional titles and between different length of teaching.ResultsA total of 18 teachers were included in the teaching of undergraduate medical imaging group, with 11 having short teaching experience (≤5 years) and 7 having long teaching experience (> 5 years). Altogether 200 undergraduate students participated in the course (95 in the class of 2016 and 105 in the class of 2017). There were 8 teachers with a junior professional title, 5 with an intermediate professional title, and 5 with a senior professional title. The teacher competency model covered a total of 5 first-level indicators, including medical education knowledge, teaching competency, scientific research competency, organizational competency, and others, which corresponded to 13 second-level indicators. The teachers' self-evaluation scores of two first-level indicators, scientific research competency and organizational competency, as well as three second-level indicators, teaching skills, academic research on teaching and research, and communication abilities, showed significant improvements after the training, compared to those before training(all P < 0.05). Compared to the teachers with intermediate to senior professional titles/long teaching years, the teachers with junior professional titles/short teaching years had lower self-evaluation scores for multiple first-level and second-level indicators before the teacher training. After the training, these teachers showed more significant improvements in multiple indicators of self-evaluation scores(all P < 0.05). Additionally, students' evaluation changes for the teachers with junior professional titles before and after the training were consistent with this trend.ConclusionsThe competency model of undergraduate medical imaging teachers based on teacher competency can be preliminarily applied for the training of medical imaging teachers, as it reflects the change of competency of the teachers with different professional titles and teaching years in the process of group teaching.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is prone to fibrodysplasia, lens dislocation and rapid height growth, which needs to be distinguished from gigantism. This article reports a 14-year-old patient with MFS who had a typical binocular lens subluxation in both eyes, with visual impairment and rapid height growth. MRI with contrast to the pituitary suggested a pituitary microadenoma, but growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 were in the normal range, thus excluding gigantism or acromegaly. Non-functional pituitary adenoma was considered. MFS patients need long-term follow-up and multidisciplinary collaboration, and attention should be paid to cardiovascular system monitoring and genetic testing, which can be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of patients and risk prevention and control.

Piezoelectric acceleration sensors are used for monitoring the vibration state of high-temperature components of some important technical equipment, such as aero engines and heavy gas turbines. These sensors require a high Curie temperature piezoelectric ceramic as a sensitive element, and "lead-free"electronic components are an urgent requirement for environmental protection. Gd/Mn co-doped high-temperature lead-free piezoelectric ceramics((0.67BiFeO3-0.33Ba1-xGdxTiO3)+0.5%(mass fraction)MnO2, x=0-0.02, BF-BT) were prepared by a traditional solid-state reaction process. The effects of doping concentration x of Gd3+ on the phase composition, microstructure, piezoelectric property, dielectric relaxation behavior and AC impedance characteristic of BF-BTceramics were investigated. The results show that all samples have pure perovskite structure with coexistence of tripartite phase (R) and tetragonal phase (T), and the T phase content increases with the increasing Gd3+ doping concentration. Moderate amount(x < 0.02)of Gd3+ dopant diffusing into the perovskite lattice would also promote the grain growth of BF-BT ceramics. Gd3+ doped samples exhibit enhanced relaxation phase transition behavior. The phase transition temperature (Tm) decreases with the increase of x, while the dielectric relaxation degree (ΔTrelax) increases with the increase of x. The R-CPE equivalent circuit model has been utilized to match the complex impedance spectra(Cole-Cole diagrams) of the BF-BTceramics, indicating that the AC impedance of samples at high temperature is mainly contributed by the grain boundary. The activation energy of dielectric relaxation increases with the increasing Gd3+ doping concentration, demonstrating the substitution of Gd3+ for Ba2+ can reduce the donor doping effect.In general, when x=0.01, the sample exhibits the optimized electrical properties, including TC=425 ℃, d33=126 pC/N, kp=25.9%, and tanδ=0.059. The Gd3+ doped BF-BTceramics are expected to be used as a promising high-temperature piezoelectric material.

Abstract Retention of metabolic end‐products in the bodily fluids of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may lead to uremia. The uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS), a tryptophan metabolite, is an endogenous ligand of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). It is clarified that the upregulation and activation of AhR by IS in tubular epithelial cells (TECs) promote renal senescence and fibrosis. Renal TEC‐specific knockout of AhR attenuates renal senescence and fibrosis, as well as the suppression of PGC1α‐mediated mitochondrial biogenesis in ischemia reperfusion (IR)‐ or IS‐treated CKD mice kidneys. Overexpression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1‐α (PGC1α) attenuates IS‐induced cell senescence and extracellular matrix production in cultured TECs. Mechanistically, AhR is able to interact with PGC1α and promotes the ubiquitin degradation of PGC1α via its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. In summary, the elevation and activation of AhR by the accumulated uremic toxins in the progression of CKD accelerate renal senescence and fibrosis by suppressing mitochondrial biogenesis via promoting ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of PGC1α.

Abstract Physical performance in hemodialysis patients declines and serves as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality predictor. However, lower extremity function's role remains unclear. This study aimed to quantify the association between lower extremity function and CVD risk in hemodialysis patients. This was a multicenter cross‐sectional study enrolling 868 participants (532 males, 336 females) from seven hemodialysis centers in Shanghai, China. Patients were divided into three groups per lower extremity function, evaluated by short physical performance battery (SPPB) scores: 0–6, 7–9, and 10–12. Upper extremity function was quantified through grip strength assessment. CVD risk was assessed using the Framingham Risk Score. Approximately 35% of hemodialysis patients had impaired lower extremity function (SPPB score

To meet the growing demand for integrated monitoring of complex power grid equipment, it is necessary to improve the situational awareness model of power transformers. The model is expected to assist monitoring personnel in timely identifying transformers with deteriorating trends among massive and discrete monitoring information, and to make responses in advance. However, the current transformer state awareness technology generally has the problem of single data source and poor timeliness, and still requires monitoring personnel to make artificial analysis and prediction in combination with telemetry information, which cannot fully meet the requirements of power grid equipment monitoring. This paper is based on multi-source data fusion technology, through associating and mining transformer alarm information, equipment maintenance records and power transmission and transformation online monitoring data, to extract the dimension features of transformer operation situation assessment. By constructing a multi-layer perceptron model, a transformer state transition model based on the principle of Markov chain is established, which can predict possible defects 2 h in advance and achieve good results, and determine the transformer state early warning index, providing sufficient time for monitoring personnel to deploy transformer operation and maintenance work in advance. Finally, the effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper is proved by the case of transformer crisis state in a city substation, and the method proposed in this paper has important significance for transformer state early warning.

Organ development, regeneration and cancer initiation are typically influenced by the proliferation and lineage plasticity of tissue-specific stem cells. Prostate intermediate cells, which exhibit characteristics of both basal and luminal cells, are prevalent in pathological states and during organ development. However, the identity, fate and function of these intermediate cells in prostate development are not well understood. Through single-cell RNA-seq analysis on neonatal urogenital sinus tissue, we identified intermediate cells exhibiting stem cell potential. A notable decline in the population of intermediate cells was observed during prostate development. Prostate intermediate cells were specifically labeled in early and late postnatal development by the enhanced dual-recombinase-mediated genetic tracing systems. Our findings revealed that these cells possess significant stem cell capabilities as demonstrated in organoid formation and cell fate mapping assays. These intermediate cells also exhibited intrinsic bipotential properties, enabling them to differentiate into both basal and luminal cells. Additionally, we discovered a novel transition from intermediate cell expressing neuroendocrine markers to neuroendocrine cell during prostate development. This study highlights intermediate cells as a crucial stem cell population and enhances our understanding of their role in prostate development and the plasticity of prostate cancer lineage.

With the escalation of global climate change and human activity, geohazards become increasingly frequent which cause severe casualties and property losses to local communities. To alleviate this situation and provide scientific guidance for risk reduction, it is imperative to address some of the basic questions related to geohazards, including: i) how to detect active geohazards (AGs) rapidly and automatically over a wide area; ii) how to determine the region with a high level of hazard activity; iii) what are the primary conditioning factors (CFs) of AGs; and iv) do factors operate independently or are they interconnected. To tackle these issues, we propose a universally applicable framework for wide area automated detection of AGs. The framework is based on multi-source Earth observations which capture surface deformation ranging from millimeters to meters. Our study has focused on the Hexi Corridor (HXC) in Gansu Province, China, covering an area of 210,000 km2 with a length of 1100 km. First, we construct an AGs database for the HXC with high automatic and rapid update capabilities, including a total of 4492 AGs (3652 active landslides and 840 land subsidence areas). Second, using the Geographic Detectors method, we determine the primary CFs including elevation, land surface temperature, and precipitation. We find that faults exert greater control over very slow-moving landslides, but are less effective over slow-moving landslides. Third, we analyzed the interactive effects of dual CFs on geohazard actives. Any interaction effect of dual CFs contributes to the bivariate enhancement of geohazard activity. This study significantly enhances the capabilities of the wide area automated detection of AGs, and provides a crucial dataset for hazard prediction and mitigation along the HXC.

To investigate the mechanism of inhibition of spontaneous combustion of coal by degradation of white-rot fungus, the changes of macroscopic oxidizing characteristics and microstructure of the degraded coal were investigated by the programmed temperature-raising test and the in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy experiments. The difference in gas production between the degraded coal and the blank samples indicated that the degradation inhibited the oxidation process of coal, and the intensity of the inhibition effect was different at different oxidation stages. The strongest inhibition effect was found in the accelerated oxidation stage, i.e. 80–140 °C. To further analyze the micro-mechanism of the degradation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium affecting the spontaneous combustion of coal, the relative contents of active functional groups in coal samples were compared. The results showed that the degradation affected the relative contents of hydroxyl, aliphatic hydrocarbon, and oxygenated functional groups in coal. Among them, the most significant changes of –OH and –CO- were observed at 80–140 °C. Thus, it was analyzed that Phanerochaete chrysosporium could degrade the macromolecular structure of coal by generating biological enzymes to reduce the number of oxidizable functional groups such as –OH, –CH2, –CH3, –CO-, and so on, thus reducing the risk of spontaneous combustion of coal.

Although the correlation between childhood obesity and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been explored, the causality of these remains uncertain. Thus, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify the causal association.

Abstract Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was originally identified as an environmental sensor that responds to pollutants. Subsequent research has revealed that AhR recognizes multiple exogenous and endogenous molecules, including uremic toxins retained in the body due to the decline in renal function. Therefore, AhR is also considered to be a uremic toxin receptor. As a ligand-activated transcriptional factor, the activation of AhR is involved in cell differentiation and senescence, lipid metabolism and fibrogenesis. The accumulation of uremic toxins in the body is hazardous to all tissues and organs. The identification of the endogenous uremic toxin receptor opens the door to investigating the precise role and molecular mechanism of tissue and organ damage induced by uremic toxins. This review focuses on summarizing recent findings on the role of AhR activation induced by uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy and acute kidney injury. Furthermore, potential clinical approaches to mitigate the effects of uremic toxins are explored herein, such as enhancing uremic toxin clearance through dialysis, reducing uremic toxin production through dietary interventions or microbial manipulation, and manipulating metabolic pathways induced by uremic toxins through controlling AhR signaling. This information may also shed light on the mechanism of uremic toxin-induced injury to other organs, and provide insights into clinical approaches to manipulate the accumulated uremic toxins. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to explore the separate and combined associations of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk and sleep duration with ideal cardiovascular health metrics in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods 470 HD participants (average: 59.48 ± 12.89 y, 281 men) were included in this study. Sleep duration was measured as self-reported average sleep time during the previous month. The OSA risk was assessed using the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Participants were divided into three groups based on the number of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics: 0–2,3–4, and 5–7. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to model the associations of CVH metrics with sleep duration, OSA risk, and their combined effects by adjusting for specific covariates. Results After adjusting for covariates, short sleep duration (

Abstract Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. A model based on Lazarus’ and Folkman’s theory tested the specific hypothesis: fear of cancer recurrence has a direct and indirect effect on quality of life mediated by coping strategies. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 305 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical surgery, including demographic information, FoP-Q-SF (Fear of Progression Questionnaire), MCMQ (The Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire), QLQ-C30 (Questionnaire for Quality of Life Assessment in patients with cancer, version 3.0), and a mediator model was tested using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results The total FoP-Q-SF score of 305 postoperative prostate cancer patients was 34.3 ± 5.856, with approximately 41.6% of the patients scoring higher than 34. There were significant indirect effects of fear of cancer recurrence on global health status through face [a1b1; 0.0394, Boot CIs 0.0025, 0.0819] and yield [a3b3; -0.1075, Boots CIs − 0.1657, -0.0557] but not for evasive [a2b2; 0.0235; Boots CIs − 0.057, 0.0508]. Conclusions Coping strategies are the most important mediating factors between fear of cancer recurrence and QOL among patients with prostate cancer. Our results support the proposed conceptual model, based on Lazarus’ and Folkman’s theory. Medical personnel need to develop corresponding intervention measures based on the different coping methods of patients, promote disease recovery, and improve postoperative quality of life.

Abstract Background Anhui Province is currently facing an increase in imported malaria cases as a result of globalization and international travel. In response, Anhui Province has implemented a comprehensive adaptive framework to effectively address this threat. Methods This study collected surveillance data from 2012 to 2022 in Anhui Province. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with severe malaria. Documents were reviewed to document the evolution of the adaptive framework designed to combat imported malaria. The effectiveness of the adaptive framework was evaluated based on the rates of timely medical visits, timely diagnosis, and species identification. Results During the study period, a total of 1008 imported malaria cases were reported across 77 out of 105 counties in Anhui Province, representing a coverage of 73.33%. It was found that 10.52% of imported cases went undiagnosed for more than seven days after onset. The multivariate analysis revealed several potential risk factors for severe malaria, including increasing age (OR = 1.049, 95%CI:1.015–1.083), occupation (waitperson vs. worker, OR = 2.698, 95%CI:1.054–6.906), a longer time interval between onset and the initial medical visit (OR = 1.061, 95%CI:1.011–1.114), and misdiagnosis during the first medical visit (OR = 5.167, 95%CI:2.535–10.533). Following the implementation of the adaptive framework, the rates of timely medical visits, timely diagnosis, and species identification reached 100.00%, 78.57%, and 100.00%, respectively. Conclusions Anhui Province has successfully developed and implemented an adaptive framework for addressing imported malaria, focusing on robust surveillance, prompt diagnosis, and standardized treatment. The experiences gained from this initiative can serve as a valuable reference for other non-endemic areas.

【Objective】 Soil temperature is not only important for hydrological processes but also plays an imperative role in crop growth and soil biochemical reactions. Understanding its spatiotemporal variation is crucial to improving soil and hydrological management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of the SARIMA model to model spatiotemporal change in temperature across the entire soil profile. 【Method】 The study is based on temperatures measured from 1964 to 2022 across a 0-320 cm profile located at the Wudaogou Hydrological Experimental Station, in Anhui province, China. Linear regression, Sen's slope estimation, MK test and other methods are used to analyze the seasonal change in temperature in different soil layers, and to establish the SARIMA model. 【Result】 ① In spring and winter, the temperature in 0-160 cm soil layer had been in increase from 1964 to 2022 at significant levels. Except in the 0-10 cm soil, summer temperature in other soil layers had been in decrease from 1964 to 2022 at significant levels. In the fall, the temperature had been increasing in the 0 and 20 cm soil layer, but decreasing in other soil layers. ② The temperature in depths of 0, 10, 20, 40, and 160 cm had endured sudden drops in spring in 2006, 2013, 2012, 2015 and 2018, followed by significant increases. Since 1984, temperature in the 320 cm soil layer had begun to decrease significantly. ③ The correlation between measured and predicted temperature was >0.95. With the increase in soil depth, the correlation increases, MAE decreases from 1.666 to 0.390, and the RMSE decreases from 2.139 to 0.525. 【Conclusion】 The SARMA model is accurate to model spatiotemporal change in soil temperature across the entire 0-320 cm soil profile in Huaibei Plain area.

【Objective】 Drought is an abiotic stress detrimentally affecting crop production in many countries. Understanding its occurrence in a region is crucial to improving its water and agricultural management. In this paper, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation in drought from 1961—2022 in Huaibei located in central China. 【Method】 The analysis is based on meteorological data measured from 1961—2022 from 21 weather stations across the region. Monthly, seasonal, and annual standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) in each station were calculated, from which we calculated the spatiotemporal variation in drought across the region. 【Result】 ① Monthly, seasonal and annual SPEI in Huaibei had been in decrease from 1961—2022. ② The frequency and duration of persistent droughts had both been in increase from 1961—2022, with Huaibei station showing the highest drought frequency at 0.73 times/year, and Sixian station showing the longest drought duration at 4.61 months. ③ Annual change in droughts in spring and autumn did not show any identifiable trend. Frequency and intensity of droughts in winter were the highest, reaching 34.43% and 21.86%, respectively. Spatially, spring drought was more frequent in the center, east, and southwest of the region; summer drought was less frequent in the southeast of the region; autumn drought was more frequent in the east and north of the region; winter drought was more frequent in the west, northeast and southeast of the region. ④ On average, annual change in drought was increasing at a rate of 0.01/10 a, but not at significant levels. Drought areas had been in increase from 1961 to 2022 at a rate of 1.4%/10 a. The north has a high tendency for occurrence of droughts, while drought intensity tends to be high in the west and southeast of the region. Drought is more frequent in the northeast and southwest. 【Conclusion】 Overall, there are noticeable trends in spatiotemporal variation in drought in the Huaibei region, with drought frequency and intensity varying between different regions and showing an increase trend from 1961 to 2022.

An analytic model is used to calculate the Raman and fluorescence enhancement of a molecule in between two closely spaced gold nanospheres. Instead of using the conventional approach that only the dipolar plasmonic mode is considered, we calculate the electric field enhancement in the nanometre sized gap, by taking account of the higher order modes in one gold sphere, which couples to the dipolar mode of the other sphere. The experimental confirmation is performed by gap-dependent tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) measurements. The photoluminescence and Raman enhancement are both observed with different growing trends as the gap width decreases. Red-shift of the background spectra is observed and implies the increasing coupling between the nanospheres. This analytic model is shown to be able to interpret the enhancement mechanisms underlying gap-dependent TERS experimental results.

To evaluate the extent of agreement between two blood collection methods for electrolytes, central venous blood sampling by the push-pull technique versus venipuncture, and to mitigate errors in blood sampling by a potassium-based quality control procedure.

Background: Serum neuritin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) have predictive value for the prognosis of patients with combined traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Studying their predictive effects has positive value for disease control and treatment. Methods: Sixty patients with combined TBI and SCI were recruited and rolled into three groups according to prognosis: Group I (n=42, favourable prognosis), Group II (n=11, poor prognosis), and Group III (n=7, death). Clinical indicators were compared between the groups, and the predictive value of different indicators for prognosis was analyzed. Results: The proportion of patients with combined injuries to other organs and hypotension, as well as levels of platelets (PLT), D-dimer (D-D), antithrombin III (AT-III), S100 protein (S100 ), NSE, and serum neurofilament levels were significantly higher in Groups II and III compared to Group I. Conversely, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were significantly lower in Group I (P

Abstract Background The incidence of dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery is high, which directly affects the quality of life of patients after surgery. The knowledge, attitude, and behavior of nurses can affect the identification and management of patients after anterior cervical spine surgery. Therefore, we need a survey to understand the current status of nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery. Objective To investigate the knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of orthopaedic nurses towards patients with dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery and provide recommendations for management and intervention. Method An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and June 2023, which among 894 orthopaedic nurses from 36 tertiary hospitals in Chongqing using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included general information and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to the management of dysphagia after anterior cervical surgery. Results The orthopaedic nurses’ mean score for dysphagia-related knowledge was 16.1 ± 3.640 (out of a total score of 30). The orthopaedic nurses’ mean score for dysphagia-related attitude was 32.5 ± 4.623 (out of a total score of 40). The orthopaedic nurses’ mean score for dysphagia-related behaviour was 43.6 ± 11.513 (out of a total score of 60). The results of statistical analysis showed that the dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery -related knowledge scores differed significantly among the nurses according to, education level, and training (P

In recent years， there have been several serious incidents involving explosions and fires in on-load tap changers （OLTCs） of converter transformers during the adjustment. To address this issue， a novel design solution for a split type OLTC is proposed， separating the switching part from the transformer body to effectively prevent the faults in the tap changer being intensified. The vacuum permanent magnet switch replaces each contact of the switch， and the operating mechanism is independently configured. Based on current sampling devices arranged in the internal circuit， monitoring and control of the switching process are achieved. Split type synchronous control logic and step control logic for the diverter switch are introduced to monitor the status and provide fault protection during the tap changer adjustment process. Experimental results from the prototype validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed OLTC design for converter transformers.

Abstract Our study presents a 319-gene panel targeting inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) genes. Through a multi-center retrospective cohort study, we validated the assay’s effectiveness and clinical utility and characterized the mutation spectrum of Taiwanese IRD patients. Between January 2018 and May 2022, 493 patients in 425 unrelated families, all initially suspected of having IRD without prior genetic diagnoses, underwent detailed ophthalmic and physical examinations (with extra-ocular features recorded) and genetic testing with our customized panel. Disease-causing variants were identified by segregation analysis and clinical interpretation, with validation via Sanger sequencing. We achieved a read depth of >200× for 94.2% of the targeted 1.2 Mb region. 68.5% (291/425) of the probands received molecular diagnoses, with 53.9% (229/425) resolved cases. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most prevalent initial clinical impression (64.2%), and 90.8% of the cohort have the five most prevalent phenotypes (RP, cone-rod syndrome, Usher’s syndrome, Leber’s congenital amaurosis, Bietti crystalline dystrophy). The most commonly mutated genes of probands that received molecular diagnosis are USH2A (13.7% of the cohort), EYS (11.3%), CYP4V2 (4.8%), ABCA4 (4.5%), RPGR (3.4%), and RP1 (3.1%), collectively accounted for 40.8% of diagnoses. We identify 87 unique unreported variants previously not associated with IRD and refine clinical diagnoses for 21 patients (7.22% of positive cases). We developed a customized gene panel and tested it on the largest Taiwanese cohort, showing that it provides excellent coverage for diverse IRD phenotypes.

Subsidence caused by underground coal mining activities seriously threatens the safety of surface buildings, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar has proven to be one effective tool for subsidence monitoring in mining areas. However, the environmental characteristics of mining areas and the deformation behavior of mining subsidence lead to low coherence of interferogram. In this case, traditional phase unwrapping methods have problems, such as low accuracy, and often fail to obtain correct deformation information. Therefore, a novel phase unwrapping method is proposed using a channel-attention-based fully convolutional neural network (FCNet-CA) for low coherence mining areas, which integrates multiscale feature extraction block, bottleneck block, and can better extract interferometric phase features from the noise. In addition, based on the mining subsidence prediction model and transfer learning method, a new sample generation strategy is proposed, making the training dataset feature information more diverse and closer to the actual scene. Simulation experiment results demonstrate that FCNet-CA can restore the deformation pattern and magnitude in scenarios with high noise and fringe density (even if the phase gradient exceeds π). FCNet-CA was also applied to the Shilawusu coal mining area in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The experimental results show that, compared with the root mean square error (RMSE) of phase unwrapping network and minimum cost flow, the RMSE of FCNet-CA in the strike direction is reduced by 67.9% and 29.5%, respectively, and by 72.4% and 50.9% in the dip direction, respectively. The actual experimental results further verify the feasibility and effectiveness of FCNet-CA.