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[Objective] To investigate the risk factors of Clostridium difficile infection in elderly inpatients and provide the theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. [Methods] A total of 121 patients hospitalized in the Department of Geriatrics of Xijing Hospital from November 2013 to June 2022 were selected for regression analysis and divided into a negative group(51 cases) and positive group(70 cases) according to the detection results of Clostridium difficile infection.The general data and clinical data of the two groups were compared and analyzed. [Results] The use rate of proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics and glucocorticoids in the positive group was higher than that in the negative group (P

Abstract Background Nurses have been at the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, facing extended work hours and heightened stress, predisposing them to psychological distress. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and correlates of severe anxiety among frontline nurses in China during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A large-scale multi-center survey was conducted from November to December 2022 and from April to July 2023. Data were collected using online surveys, covering demographic characteristics, job-related factors, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression, were performed to assess the incidence and factors influencing severe anxiety. Results The study included 816 nurses during the pandemic and 763 nurses after the pandemic. The prevalence of severe anxiety during the pandemic (52.3%) was significantly higher than after the pandemic (8.0%). Factors such as nursing title, night shift frequency, educational level, exercise frequency, COVID-19 infection status, economic pressure, and work pressure showed significant differences between the two periods. Binary logistic regression revealed associations between severe anxiety and factors such as night shift frequency, COVID-19 infection status, nursing title, depression, and sleep disorders. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis demonstrated good predictive value for severe anxiety. Conclusion The study underscores the importance of understanding and addressing severe anxiety among frontline nurses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should delve into long-term psychological effects and implement effective intervention measures to support nurses’ mental health.

Abstract Objectives Poststroke dysphagia (PSD) is a common complication after stroke but there is limited information on its global prevalence and influencing factors, such as spatial, temporal, demographic characteristics, and stroke-related factors. Our study seeks to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the overall prevalence of PSD and its influencing factors. Methods A search of English-language literature from database inception from 2005 until May 2022 was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instrument to estimate study quality and calculated the pooled prevalence of PSD with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using an inverse-variance weighted random-effects meta-analysis. A subgroup analysis was performed to identify sources of heterogeneity, and the relationship between PSD and various clinical features was examined using binary logistic regression. Results Among 95 studies of 1,059,969 patients, the overall pooled estimated prevalence of PSD was 38.57% (95% CI 35.45–41.69%). Subgroup analysis reveals that South America has the highest prevalence of PSD at 52.30% (95% CI 41.15–63.46%). In rehabilitation units, this rate is 42.42% (95% CI 34.20–50.64%). Women are notably affected, with a prevalence of 41.17% (95% CI 36.97–45.36%) and a higher risk (OR: 1.376, 95% CI 1.315–1.439) than men. Individuals over 65 years exhibit a higher prevalence of 40.26% (95% CI 35.68–44.84%). Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing test shows a striking prevalence of 64.27% (95% CI 55.72–72.81%), and Video fluoroscopic Swallowing Study is 46.93% (95% CI 41.99–51.87%). The the Speech Language Physiotherapist group accounts for 41.36% (95% CI 36.61–46.11%), and a positive correlation between the prevalence of PSD and the NIHSS score. The prevalence of PSD is higher in non-acute strokes, the hemorrhagic strokes, right hemisphere strokes, as well as in the cardioembolism group and the total anterior circulation syndrome (TACS) group. Hemorrhagic strokes [OR: 2.111 (95% CI 1.781–2.503)], the CARDIOEMBOLISM GROUP [OR: 1.531 (95% CI 1.381–1.698)], and TACS group [OR: 2.895 (95% CI 1.495–5.607)] were associated with higher risk of PSD. Conclusions We found that various factors, including spatial, temporal, demographic characteristics, and stroke-related factors, all influence the prevalence of PSD. More high-quality epidemiological research is needed to explore the links between PSD, demographic characteristics, and stroke-related factors. Caution is advised when interpreting our study results due to the included studies' heterogeneity.

ABSTRACT Background The optimal exercise regimen for alleviating sarcopenia remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) over moderate‐intensity continuous training (MICT) in ameliorating sarcopenia. Methods We conducted a randomized crossover trial to evaluate plasma proteomic reactions to acute HIIT (four 4‐min high‐intensity intervals at 70% maximal capacity alternating with 4 min at 30%) versus MICT (constant 50% maximal capacity) in inactive adults. We explored the relationship between a HIIT‐specific protein relative to MICT, identified via comparative proteomic analysis, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 epsilon 1 (EEF1E1) and sarcopenia in a paired case–control study of elderly individuals (aged over 65). Young (3 months old) and aged (20 months old) mice were randomized to sedentary, HIIT and MICT groups (five sessions/week for 4 weeks; n = 8 for each group). Measurements included skeletal muscle index, hand grip strength, expression of atrophic markers Atrogin1 and MuRF1 and differentiation markers MyoD, myogenin and MyHC‐II via western blotting. We examined the impact of EEF1E1 siRNA and recombinant protein on D‐galactose‐induced myoblast senescence, measuring senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase and markers like p21 and p53. Results The crossover trial, including 10 sedentary adults (32 years old, IQR 31–32) demonstrated significant alterations in the abundance of 21 plasma proteins after HIIT compared with MICT. In the paired case–control study of 84 older adults (84 years old, IQR 69–81; 52% female), EEF1E1 was significantly increased in those with sarcopenia compared to those without (14.68 [95%CI, 2.02–27.34] pg/mL, p = 0.03) and was associated with skeletal muscle index (R2 = 0.51, p

The in-situ EBSD analysis method was used to systematically study the effect of retained austenite characteristics on the phase transformation behavior of ferritic stainless steel after the quenching and partitioning （Q&P） process. The results show that the phase transformation behavior of retained austenite during deformation is related to its grain size， distribution， and morphology， and its influence degree is arranged in descending order. Compared with inter-martensitic austenite and inter-martensite-ferrite austenite， the trigeminal and twin austenite are more prone to martensitic transformation in the early stage of deformation. This is closely related to the different strains or stresses applied to different distributed retained austenites during deformation. Compared with large-sized austenite， small-sized austenite begins to transform in the later stage of deformation， which is helpful to prolong the uniform elongation. This may be due to the higher interfacial energy and average C content of small-sized austenite， and the need for larger macroscopic stress/strain to induce martensitic transformation due to the strengthening effect of fine grains. The elongated/equiaxed austenite is easy to transform in the early stage of deformation， while the transformation of thin film-retained austenite is mainly concentrated in the later stage of deformation， which is helpful to further improve plasticity. The different transformation behaviors are due to the differences in C and N content， as well as the presence of defects such as stacking faults， dislocations， and slip.

Relative permeability modifier (RPMs) is a water control technique that is implemented for enhancing gas recovery rates and prolonging well productive life during fracturing the tight gas reservoir. RPMs filtrate into formation for a certain depth along with the fracturing fluid to control water output by a “drag” effect on water phase only. To optimize RPM treatment, both experimental investigation and numerical simulation are used in this paper. In laboratory, transient core-flooding tests were conducted to investigate the water control performance of newly formulated polymer (RPM). The relative permeability of gas was corrected due to gas volume changes during displacement. The results showed that the selective water control effect of RPM by reducing water relative permeability dramatically with little impact on gas relative permeability. The RPM concentration was optimized as 0.01 %XSJ-14(A)+0.05 %XSJ-14(B) while injection volume as 5PV by comparison of relative permeability curves. A 2D fracture model of a tight gas model was built to compare the production before and after RPM treatment. The results of numerical simulation confirmed the different flow control effect of RPM on water and gas. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for the effect of fracture length, fracture conductivity, RPM filtration and RR value. The results indicate that there are limits of all the factor on RPM’s water control performance.

Abstract The prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is significantly higher than in the general population. However, the mechanisms underlying this remain obscure. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms by identifying the genetic signature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in PCOS. In the present study, a total of 27 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected for subsequent analyses. Functional analyses showed that immunity and hormone-related pathways collectively participated in the development and progression of PCOS and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Under these, 7 significant hub genes were identified, including S100A9, MMP9, TLR2, THBD, ITGB2, ICAM1, and CD86 by using the algorithm in Cytoscape. Furthermore, hub gene expression was confirmed in the validation set, PCOS clinical samples, and mouse model. Immune microenvironment analysis with the CIBERSORTx database demonstrated that the hub genes were significantly correlated with T cells, dendritic cells, mast cells, B cells, NK cells, and eosinophils and positively correlated with immune scores. Among the hub genes, S100A9, MMP9, THBD, ITGB2, CD86, and ICAM1 demonstrated potential as possible diagnostic markers for COVID-19 and PCOS. In addition, we established the interaction networks of ovary-specific genes, transcription factors, miRNAs, drugs, and chemical compounds with hub genes with NetworkAnalyst. This work uncovered the common pathogenesis and genetic signature of PCOS and SARS-CoV-2 infection, which might provide a theoretical basis and innovative ideas for further mechanistic research and drug discovery of the comorbidity of the two diseases.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative HALP score for postoperative intestinal obstruction in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer. Methods A total of 162 elderly patients with colorectal cancer who underwent radical resection in the 904th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistic Support Force from 2020 to 2022 were selected for retrospective analysis. The patients were divided into an intestinal obstruction group (30 cases) and a control group (132 cases) according to whether intestinal obstruction occurred 4 d after operation. The clinical data of the two groups were compared, logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of intestinal obstruction after colorectal cancer surgery, and ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive value of preoperative HALP score for intestinal obstruction after colorectal cancer surgery. Results The preoperative HALP score and preoperative globulin (Glb) level in the intestinal obstruction group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the preoperative HALP score and preoperative Glb level were independent risk factors of intestinal obstruction after colorectal cancer surgery (P < 0.05) . ROC curve analysis showed that, the AUC of preoperative HALP score for the prediction of intestinal obstruction after colorectal cancer surgery was 0.901 (95% CI: 0.842 - 0.976), the optimal cut-off value was 35.5 scores, the sensitivity was 92.2% , and the specificity was 87.6% . Conclusion Preoperative HALP score is a risk factor of postoperative intestinal obstruction in elderly patients with colorectal cancer, and has a high predictive value for postoperative intestinal obstruction.

Abstract The positive electrode|electrolyte interface plays an important role in all-solid-state Li batteries (ASSLBs) based on garnet-type solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) like Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO). However, the trade-off between solid-solid contact and chemical stability leads to a poor positive electrode|electrolyte interface and cycle performance. In this study, we achieve thermodynamic compatibility and adequate physical contact between high-entropy cationic disordered rock salt positive electrodes (HE-DRXs) and LLZTO through ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS). This approach constructs a highly stable positive electrode|electrolyte interface, reducing the interface resistance to 31.6 Ω·cm2 at 25 °C, making a 700 times reduction compared to the LiCoO2 | LLZTO interface. Moreover, the conformal and tight HE-DRX | LLZTO solid-state interface avoids the transition metal migration issue observed with HE-DRX in liquid electrolytes. At 150 °C, HE-DRXs in ASSLBs (Li|LLZTO | HE-DRXs) exhibit an average specific capacity of 239.7 ± 2 mAh/g at 25 mA/g, with a capacity retention of 95% after 100 cycles relative to the initial cycle—a stark contrast to the 76% retention after 20 cycles at 25 °C in conventional liquid batteries. Our strategy, which considers the principles of thermodynamics and kinetics, may open avenues for tackling the positive electrode|electrolyte interface issue in ASSLBs based on garnet-type SSEs.

BackgroundNeoadjuvant therapy is preferentially recommended for resectable locally advanced esophageal malignancies, with patients who achieve pathological complete response (PCR) anticipated to have longer survival rates. The aim of this study was to compare 3-year follow-up data for patients with esophageal malignancy who achieved PCR through neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCRT) and to compare the findings with those of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy (nICT).MethodsThis retrospective study included 85 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical resection following nCRT (n=47) or nICT (n=38) between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2020 at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and Gaozhou People’s Hospital. Propensity score matching was used to match baseline data and reduce bias between the patient groups. Data during the neoadjuvant treatment and perioperative periods were compared, and follow-up was performed to evaluate differences in 3-year survival rate and recurrence-free survival.ResultsAfter propensity score matching, 28 nCRT patients and 38 nICT patients were included. During neoadjuvant therapy, the nCRT group had higher incidences of leukopenia and neutropenia than did the nICT group. No significant differences were observed in the incidences of hemoglobin decrease, platelet decrease, liver function damage, elevated serum creatinine, diarrhea, radioactive pneumonia or immunotherapy-related pneumonia, and esophageal perforation. The nCRT group had fewer lymph node dissections and lymph node stations. Postoperative lung infection (50.00%) was significantly higher in the nICT group than in the nCRT group (25.00%). The 3-year survival rates were 97.37% and 85.71% in the nICT and nCRT groups, respectively; the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was significantly lower in the nCRT group (82.14%) than in the nICT group (97.37%, P=0.02).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that patients with esophageal cancer who achieve PCR after nICT treatment may have lower rates of disease recurrence.

Compared with fresh cream, recombined dairy cream has the advantages of low cost, high consistency between production batches, and good foam stability after whipping. It is widely used in industries such as coffee and tea beverages. However, due to the numerous ingredients and complex processes involved in its production, as well as the high requirements for static stability and whipping properties, the current market has heavily relied on imports, which leads to posing significant challenges to domestic dairy companies. The review first elucidated the mechanism of static instability occurring in recombined dairy cream during storage, including initial stable phase, phase separation, and creaming of fat globules, and discussed the factors influencing the rate and extent of instability at each stage. It elaborated on the interactions among fat globules, emulsifiers, and other components during storage and their impacts on the stability of recombined dairy cream. Furthermore, it delved into the process of partial coalescence and foaming during agitation of recombined dairy cream and the subsequent stabilization mechanism. It explicated the influence of solid fat content, fat crystallization characteristics, and emulsifier components on the partial coalescence of fat globules, which will provide technical support for the development and production process of recombined dairy cream products for domestic enterprises.

Jun N-terminal kinase pathway-associated phosphatase (JKAP) regulates CD4+ T-cell differentiation and immunity, which are linked to mental disorders. This study aimed to explore the relationships between JKAP and T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) ratio, as well as their associations with anxiety and depression in postpartum women. Serum JKAP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and blood Th17 and Treg cells were measured by flow cytometry in 250 postpartum women. Anxiety and depression were evaluated by the 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI6) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Anxiety and depression rates were 22.0 and 28.4%, respectively, among postpartum women. Notably, JKAP was negatively associated with the STAI6 (P=0.002) and EPDS scores (P

Lunar heat flow within 75°N to 65°S and 60°W to 100°E regions is retrieved from microwave brightness temperature observed by Chang’E-2 (CE-2) Lunar Microwave Radiometers and infrared brightness temperature observed by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Diviner Radiometers. The product of the regolith’s thermal conductivity and vertical temperature gradient yields the lunar heat flow. The vertical temperature gradient is calculated by a new temperature profile, the unknown parameters of which are determined from CE-2 microwave brightness temperature using a multi-layered lunar surface microwave brightness temperature model. The boundary condition of the temperature profile is determined by the LRO infrared brightness temperature. The measured heat flow at the Apollo 15 landing site is chosen as a calibration reference point in the retrieval process. The retrieved lunar heat flow within 75°N to 65°S and 60°W to 100°E regions ranged from 0.8 to 69.2 mW/m2. According to the retrieved results, lunar heat flow in the highlands is higher than the maria. The highest heat flux within 75°N to 65°S and 60°W to 100°E regions on the Moon are located toward the eastern highlands with an averaged heat flow value of 35.8 mW/m2, and the lowest heat flux is basically located in the typical maria such as Oceans Procellarum, Mare Imbrium, and Mare Serenitatis with an averaged heat flow value of 18.5 mW/m2.

Abstract Detrital composition of sandstone is the most important data for siliciclastic studies including sandstone classification, provenance analysis, oil and gas exploration. A large amount of detrital composition data has accumulated over the past decades, however, they are scattered in publications without unified standards. Here we constructed a global dataset of detrital components of sandstones from 646 peer‐reviewed publications using Gazzi‐Dickinson method. A total of 19,861 samples from Precambrian to Quaternary are involved in this dataset. For each sample, we present details on reference information, geographic information, geological background, depositional age and the original data. It is a high‐quality dataset for the information on each sandstone sample from different studies which was standardized. The dataset can be used widely, such as for stratigraphic comparison, provenance analysis, exploring the general laws of the source‐to‐sink process and geological engineering.

Glucosinolates are important phytochemicals in Brassicaceae. We investigated the effect of CaCl2-HCl electrolyzed water (CHEW) on glucosinolates biosynthesis in broccoli sprouts. The results showed that CHEW treatment significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdeh yde (MDA) contents in broccoli sprouts. On the the 8th day, compared to tap water treatment, the the total glucosinolate content of broccoli sprouts with CHEW treatment increased by 10.6% and calcium content was dramatically enhanced from 14.4 mg/g DW to 22.7 mg/g DW. Comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that CHEW treatment activated ROS and calcium signaling transduction pathways in broccoli sprouts and they interacted through MAPK cascades. Besides, CHEW treatment not only promoted the biosynthesis of amino acids, but also enhanced the expression of structural genes in glucosinolate synthesis through transcription factors (MYBs, bHLHs, WRKYs, etc.). The results of this study provided new insights into the regulatory network of glucosinolates biosynthesis in broccoli sprouts under CHEW treatment.

Abstract Background Imbalanced immune responses are involved in developing preeclampsia (PE). We wish to explore the expression and potential changes of immune checkpoint molecules TIGIT, CD226 and CD155 in PE patients. Methods The expression of the immune checkpoint molecules TIGIT, CD226 and CD155 in different lymphocyte subpopulations was determined by flow cytometry in 24 patients with PE and compared to 24 healthy pregnant women of the same gestational age as the controls.​Serum CD155 was detected by ELISA in the patients with PE compared to controls. Results The percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of PE patients were not significantly different from those of the controls, whereas the regulatory T cells (Tregs) in PE patients were significantly lower than those in controls (6.43 ± 1.77% vs. 7.48 ± 1.71%, P = 0.0420). The expression of TIGIT and CD226 showed different percentages on CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and Treg cells. However, the difference in the percentages of TIGIT, CD226 on these T cells between the two groups was not statistically significant. The level of CD155 in peripheral serum of PE patients was 6.64 ± 1.79 ng/ml, which was not significantly different from that in the control group 5.61 ± 1.77 ng/ml, P = 0.0505. The present results demonstrate that TIGIT, CD226 and CD155 are not present at altered immune conditions in the peripheral blood of patients with PE, compared with normal pregnant women. Conclusion The immune checkpoint molecules TIGIT, CD226 and CD155 are not abnormally expressed in PE patients.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), belonging to the Flaviviridae family. Diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis (JE) based on clinical signs alone is challenging due to the high proportion of subclinical cases. The Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) is considered the gold standard for detecting JE-specific antibodies because of its high specificity. However, PRNT is complex, time-consuming, and requires live viruses, limiting its applicability in routine diagnostics. In this study, we compared the sensitivity and correlation of the Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) assay and PRNT for detecting JE antibodies in avian serum samples. We conducted a comparative analysis of the outcomes obtained from the PRNT and HI using 240 serum samples collected from 30 JEV-immunized avian subjects at various time points. Comparative analysis revealed a significant correlation between the HI and PRNT (R2 = 0.9321, p ≤ 0.0001). The Bland–Altman analysis also exhibited favorable concordance between the two assays. Consequently, HI may function as a viable substitute for PRNT in the screening of a substantial number of serum samples.

This study focused on three drought-tolerant grasses, namely Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ (Mis), Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Ziguang’ (Pen), and Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski ‘Jingcao No. 2′ (Ely), selected from nine species. Despite limited knowledge regarding their tolerance to submergence and responses to this stress, these three grasses were chosen for investigation. The three grass species were exposed to varying durations of submergence (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days) in a greenhouse setting. Subsequently, their growth characteristics, physiological traits, and nitrogen accumulation were evaluated. The study found that all three grass species exhibited flood tolerance, with Mis showing the strongest resistance. Under an 11-day flooding treatment, there was no significant trend in the above-ground biomass of Mis. Flooding significantly reduced the root-to-stem ratio, with Pen and Ely exhibiting more pronounced declines than Mis. The chlorophyll content in Mis decreased by 38%, compared to 41% in Pen and 60% in Ely. The root activity of the most affected species dropped by 88.6%, and nitrogen accumulation was inhibited with longer flooding durations. Pen’s nitrogen levels decreased significantly across treatments, while no significant changes were observed in Mis. Ely’s nitrogen assimilation initially increased until T4, after which it began to decline, reflecting similar trends in above-ground biomass. These findings suggest that flood tolerance is linked to nutrient uptake and photosynthetic capacity, highlighting Mis as the most suitable grass species for flood-prone areas and recommending its use in ecological ditch construction in China. This study provides material selection for the construction of ecological ditches.

The genus Siphonaria G [...]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on inspiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life (QOL) in COPD patients. A comprehensive search was undertaken on the Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed databases, encompassing data published up to 31 March 2024. A meta-analysis was subsequently conducted to quantify the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the effects of IMT in COPD patients. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. IMT significantly improved inspiratory muscle strength (SMD, 0.86, p < 0.00001), dyspnea (SMD = −0.50, p < 0.00001), and QOL (SMD = 0.48, p = 0.0006). Subgroup analysis showed that p = 0.005; dyspnea, SMD = −0.92, p < 0.0001), IMT conducted for ≤20 min (inspiratory muscle strength, SMD = 0.97, p = 0.008; dyspnea, SMD = −0.63, p = 0.007; QOL, SMD = 1.66, p = 0.007), and IMT conducted >3 times per week (inspiratory muscle strength, SMD = 1.06, p < 0.00001; dyspnea, SMD = −0.54, p < 0.00001; QOL, SMD = 0.48, p = 0.0009) had greater effects. This meta-analysis provides clinicians with evidence supporting the recommendation that COPD patients engage in IMT at

Fungal keratitis is a severely vision-threatening corneal infection, where the prognosis depends on both fungal virulence and host immune defense. Inappropriate host responses can induce substantial inflammatory damage to the cornea. Therefore, in the treatment of fungal keratitis, it is important to concurrently regulate the immune response while efforts are made to eliminate the pathogen. Ebselen is a widely studied organo-selenium compound and has been demonstrated to have antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and oxidative stress-regulatory properties. The effectiveness of ebselen for the treatment of fungal keratitis remains unknown. In this study, ebselen was demonstrated to produce a marked inhibitory effect on Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), including spore germination inhibition, mycelial growth reduction, and fungal biofilm disruption. The antifungal activity of ebselen was related to the cell membrane damage caused by thioredoxin (Trx) system inhibition-mediated oxidative stress. On the contrary, ebselen enhanced the antioxidation of Trx system in mammalian cells. Further, ebselen was proven to suppress the expressions of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, and CCL2) and reduce the production of oxidative stress-associated indicators (ROS, NO, and MDA) in fungi-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, ebselen regulated PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, which contributed to the improvement of inflammation and oxidative stress. Finally, we verified the therapeutic effect of ebselen on mouse fungal keratitis. Ebselen improved the prognosis and reduced the fungal burden in mouse corneas. Expressions of inflammatory mediators, as well as the infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils in the cornea were also obviously decreased by ebselen. In summary, ebselen exerted therapeutic effects by reducing fungal load and protecting host tissues in fungal keratitis, making it a promising treatment for fungal infections.

This study aimed to investigate the immune regulation effect of edible bird’s nest (EBN) in vivo and elucidate the influence of EBN on immune microbiome, which is the basis of the activity of EBN. The immunosuppression mice model was established by subcutaneous injection of hydrocortisone (HC). The optimal modeling dose of HC was screened by various immune indexes. Studies have found that the mice immunosuppression model can be constructed with a HC dose of 12.5 mg/kg. The effects of EBN in low (0.285 g/kg) and high doses (0.649 g/kg) were investigated on the immunosuppression mice model. EBN low-dose treatment significantly improved macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell activity in immunosuppression mice. EBN high-dose treatment significantly increased the serum TNF-α content phagocytosis ability of macrophages, NK cell activity and serum hemolysin content of immunosuppression mice. It was found that changes in the intestinal flora are usually accompanied by changes in immune cells and inflammatory factors, so it was hypothesized that there is a correlation between changes in intestinal flora and immune regulation, therefore the changes in the intestinal flora of mice were then investigated after EBN administration. The regulation of intestinal flora experiments showed that species richness decreased in the immunosuppression mice, and after EBN treatment the species richness in mice increased. Additionally, after continuous administration of EBN, the abundance of Bacteroides, Akkermansiaceae and other intestinal probiotics increased, while the abundance of Firmicutes decreased, indicating that EBN can regulate intestinal dysfunction, up-regulate beneficial bacteria. It is reported that the increase of Bacteroides and Akkermansiaceae and the decrease of Firmicutes in the intestinal flora caused an increase in the levels of TNF-α and improved immunity, which is consistent with our experimental results. Therefore, it is hypothesized that EBN plays an immune regulation role mainly by affecting the changes in the intestinal flora. The study provides a theoretical basis for the functional investigation of EBN.

Digital technology changes the innovation mode, and the innovative factors among innovation subjects will be digitally empowered. The government plays a very important role in determining the allocation of innovative factors. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the main source of power for the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry in the future, so as to help the government to use digital technology to adjust the innovative factors allocation appropriately. We used systematic dynamic model to portray the innovation mechanism of manufacturing industry and set relevant parameters based on previous literature to predict the variation of innovation under different scenarios. It was found that government expenditure on science and technology can significantly improve innovation performance, followed by information expenditure, while government expenditure on education needs to reach a certain scale before it can play a positive role. However, after passing a certain threshold, education has a significantly positive role in promoting innovation.Therefore, when the government adjusts the structure of expenditures, it should ensure long-term and stable education expenditure, give full play to the role of innovative factors such as talents. It should also ensure the construction and maintenance of information infrastructure, so as to enhance the industry-university-research collaborative innovation in the digital era and promote high-quality development of manufacturing industry.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer surgery remains associated with significant morbidity and surgical complications across the globe. Non-intubation video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS) has been successfully employed in lung resection in recent years, but there are few reported cases with regard to the safety and feasibility of this approach in radical esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancers. We present 4 consecutive cases with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who received minimally invasive McKeown’s esophagectomy under non-intubation general anesthesia from November 2022 to April 2023. All these patients were aged from 55 to 75 years old and were pathologically diagnosed with ESCC. All procedures of McKeown’s esophagectomy in these patients were completed with non-invasive ventilation by laryngeal mask-assisted anesthesia. Operation duration ranged from 185 to 395 minutes and the estimated blood loss ranged from 25 to 60 ml in these 4 cases. No severe hypoxia was observed and transient hypercapnia was resolved intraoperatively. None of them was converted to endotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation or to thoracotomy. The number of retrieved lymph nodes in mediastinum were 21-27 and all patients received R0 surgery with pathological stage as T1bN0M0 to T3N2M0. There was no serious complication (Clavien-Dindo grade III-IV) observed perioperatively and they were all discharged 11-14 days after the surgery with resumption of oral feeding. They are all alive without tumor recurrence at the date of data collection. The safety and efficacy of minimally invasive esophagectomy with non-invasive ventilation by laryngeal mask-assisted anesthesia for patients with ESCC are warranted for explored in a larger cohort study.

In the post-epidemic era, public panic has emerged as a highly significant secondary disaster, necessitating an urgent enhancement of emergency management capabilities by governments at all levels. In order to ensure a robust assessment of the government's ability to manage public panic, it is crucial to effectively address the influence of uncertain and ambiguous factors associated with such scenarios. This paper proposes a governmental public panic emergency management capability assessment method based on fuzzy Petri nets. By analyzing the factors influencing public panic across the four evolutionary stages, namely gestation, outbreak, diffusion, and fading, we establish a hierarchical evaluation index system for assessing emergency management capabilities. Additionally, we develop a range of multi-scenario emergency management strategies. To address the challenges posed by uncertainty, randomness, fuzziness, and insufficient statistical data within the assessment index system, we introduce fuzzy Petri nets and fuzzy reasoning rules to evaluate the emergency management capability of the assessment system and derive the optimal emergency management strategy. According to example simulations, the effectiveness and practicality of models and rules constructed using fuzzy Petri nets are demonstrated, highlighting their superiority over traditional assessment methods. This comprehensive approach equips the government with a versatile toolkit for effectively managing public panic emergencies.

Abstract Rock strength criteria are the theoretical grounding of geotechnical design and stability estimation, the Mohr–Coulomb (MC) and Hoek–Brown (HB) criteria are the widely accepted criteria at present, due to their reasonability and unambiguous concept, however they overlook the effect of intermediate principal stress, and contain six singular corners in π plane. Aimed at overcoming those limitations, the MC and normal parabolic criterion (NPC) were improved to their 3D versions that lead to smooth and convex for a wide range of strength parameters. The extended 3D strength criteria coincide with corresponding original forms in the triaxial compression and triaxial extension states, which not only take intermediate principal stress into account, but also provide great convenient in numerical calculation. Multigroup of poly-axial strength datasets gathered from the references are used to check the prediction accuracy of the proposed 3D criteria by the least absolute deviation method. Research proved that the 3D NPC criterion has a relatively larger deviation on poly-axial strength data prediction, but the proposed 3D MC criterion can describe peak strength with low misfit for soft or hard rocks. Peak strength σ1 increases first and then decreases with the increase of σ2, whether increasing or decreasing σ2, both will result in rock failure. Moreover, the 3D MC can fit the poly-axial strength data well for lower or higher values of σ3, which strongly suggests the proposed 3D MC criterion is adequate. Applicability of the proposed strength criterion will be discussed in further research.

Abstract Background The high costs of innovative anticancer drugs hinder a number of cancer patients’ access to these drugs in China. To address this problem, in 2018, the medical insurance access negotiation (MIAN) policy was implemented, when the prices of 17 innovative anticancer drugs were successfully negotiated and they were therefore included in the reimbursement list. This study aimed to explore the impact of the MIAN policy on the utilization of innovative anticancer drugs. Methods With monthly data on drug expenditures and defined daily doses (DDDs) of each innovative anticancer drug from January 2017 to December 2019, interrupted time series analysis was employed to estimate both the instant (change in the level of outcome) and long-term (change in trends of outcomes) impacts of the MIAN policy on drug utilization in terms of drug expenditures and DDDs. Our sample consists of 12 innovative anticancer drugs. Results From January 2017 to December 2019, the monthly drug expenditures and DDDs of 12 innovative anticancer drugs increased by about 573% (from US$8,931,809.30 to US$51,138,331.09) and 1400% (from 47,785 to 668,754), respectively. Overall, the implementation of the MIAN policy led to instant substantial increases of US$8,734,414 in drug expenditures and 158,192.5 in DDDs. Moreover, a sharper upward trend over time was reported, with increases of US$2,889,078 and 38,715.3 in the monthly growth rates of drug expenditures and DDDs, respectively. Regarding individual innovative anticancer drugs, the most prominent instant change and trend change in drug utilization were found for osimertinib, crizotinib, and ibrutinib. In contrast, the utilization of pegaspargase was barely affected by the MIAN policy. Conclusions The MIAN policy has effectively promoted the utilization of innovative anticancer drugs. To ensure the continuity of the effects and eliminate differentiation, supplementary measures should be carried out, such as careful selection of drugs for medical insurance negotiations, a health technology assessment system and a multichannel financing mechanism.

A new electrolyzed water-CaCl2-HCl electrolyzed water (CHEW) was obtained by combining slightly acidic electrolyzed water and calcium. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of preharvest CHEW treatment on the quality during storage of broccoli sprouts. Preharvest CHEW treatment not only reduced the electrolyte leakage, reactive oxygen species, weight loss and the number of microorganisms during storage of broccoli sprouts, but also slowed down the breakdown of cell structure and maintained color and textural properties of broccoli sprouts. Besides, preharvest CHEW treatment reduced the degradation of active substances in broccoli sprouts during storage. The contents of important bioactive compounds in broccoli sprouts–glucoraphanin and sulforaphane, along with the enzymatic activity and genes involved in glucosinolates metabolism have also been further investigated. On day 12 of storage, compared to preharvest tap water treatment, the contents of glucoraphanin and sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts with preharvest CHEW treatment increased by 63% and 128%, respectively. Meanwhile, the generation of offensive odors in broccoli sprouts during storage was also inhibited under preharvest CHEW treatment. In general, preharvest CHEW treatment maintained the good quality during storage and prolong the shelf life of broccoli sprouts, which provides a new perspective for postharvest preservation of broccoli sprouts.

Objective To analyze the effect of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis on the progression of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in Shunyi cohort community population. Methods A total of 658 residents aged ≥ 35 years old from Shunyi cohort population (from June 2013 to April 2016) were selected as study subjects. Carotid ultrasound was used to assess the presence of baseline carotid plaque, and CSVD progression was assessed by baseline and follow ⁃ up MRI, which included lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of carotid plaque on incident lacunes or CMBs, and linear regression was used to analyze the linear correlation between baseline carotid plaque and WMH progression. Results Among 658 people 250 people (37.99%) had carotid plaque at baseline. After (5.57 ± 0.49) years of follow⁃up, 70 people (10.64%) developed incident lacunes and 56 people (8.51%) had incident CMBs. The annual WMH progression was 0.28 (0.14, 0.55) cm3/year. Logistic regression analysis showed the presence of baseline carotid plaque significantly predicted incident CMBs (OR = 2.411, 95%CI: 1.240- 4.687; P = 0.009). Conclusions Prensence of carotid plaque increased CMBs progression during five⁃year follow⁃up, but the influence on lacunes and WMH progression requires a longer cumulative effect.

Abstract Background Many patients during manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction will experience severe pain, which has a negative impact on their rehabilitation. However, there is rarely an analgesic method for these patients during rehabilitation. Nitrous oxide with rapid analgesic and sedative effects is often used to relieve pain in minor procedures. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not nitrous oxide analgesia decreases pain compared to oxygen during manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction. Methods/design This single-center, randomized, double-blind and controlled trial will recruit 120 patients. Patients ≥ 18 years old undergoing manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction (1 month post-operative) with acute pain (VAS ≥ 4) are included. The main exclusion criteria included the following: pulmonary embolism, intestinal obstruction, pneumothorax. Patients will be randomly allocated to the intervention group (A) and the control group (B) in a ratio of 1:1. Doctors, therapists, patients, and data collectors are all blind to the study. The manual therapy will be performed by therapists. Nurses who implemented the intervention handed the doctors envelopes containing the patients’ codes and allocation of A or B. Group A will receive a pre-prepared nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture plus conventional treatment (no analgesic) given as 30-min treatment sessions, once daily, and group B will receive oxygen plus conventional treatment (no analgesic) under the same conditions. Assessments will be taken 2 min before the intervention (T0), 5 min after the beginning of the intervention (T1), and 5 min after the intervention finished (T2). The primary outcome is pain score. Secondary outcomes include vital signs, side effects, joint range of motion, adjuvant analgesia need, therapist and patient satisfaction, and whether willing to receive the same gas again. Expected outcomes We expect nitrous oxide inhalation to have a beneficial effect on the pain of patients who receive manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction. Discussion If this treatment appears beneficial, it could improve patients’ satisfaction and quality of life potentially and even be implemented widely in hospital and rehabilitation settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, ChiCTR2200061175 (Version 2.0 June 15, 2022), https://www.chictr.org.cn .

AbstractIn this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete chloroplast genome of Chloranthus nervosus Collett ex Hemsl. 1890. The total length of the complete chloroplast sequence was found to be 158,002 bp. It consisted of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,127 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,541 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions, each with a length of 26,167 bp. The overall GC content of the complete chloroplast genome was 38.9%, with the LSC region, SSC region, and IR regions exhibiting GC contents of 37.4%, 34.1%, and 43.1%, respectively. The annotation of the chloroplast genome revealed a total of 131 genes, comprising 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the seven sampled species of Chloranthus were divided into two clades. Within the clade characterized by long filamentous anther connectives, C. nervosus showed the closest relation to C. japonicus. These findings validated the previous preliminary results on the phylogenetic relationships of the seven species of Chloranthus with strong support.

Abstract Miscanthus spp. show excellent application prospects due to its bioenergy potential and multiple ecological services. Annual N export with biomass harvest from Miscanthus, even without fertilizer supplement, do not reduce soil N levels. The question arises regarding how Miscanthus can maintain stable soil N levels. Metagenomic strategies were used to reveal soil N‐cycling‐related microbiome and their functional contributions to processes of soil N‐cycling based on the comparison among the bare land, cropland, 10‐year Miscanthus × giganteus, and 15‐year Miscanthus sacchariflorus fields. The results showed that, after long‐term cropland‐to‐Miscanthus conversion (LCMC), 16 of 21 bacterial phyla and all the archaeal phyla exhibited significant changes. Soil microbial denitrification and nitrification functions were significantly weakened, and N fixation (NF) was significantly enhanced. The biosynthesis of amino acids, especially alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, in soil N‐cycling‐related microbiome was dramatically promoted. The genus Anaeromyxobacter contributed largely to the NF process after LCMC. Variations in the soil available potassium, available N, organic C, and total N contents drove a functional shift of soil microbiome from cropland to Miscanthus pattern. We conclude that Miscanthus can recruit Anaeromyxobacter communities to enhance NF benefiting its biomass sustainability and soil N balance.

Global climate change has led to ocean warming, acidification, hypoxia, and alterations in the biogeochemical circulation, thereby influencing the distribution, abundance, and population patterns of marine organisms. Particularly, oysters, which tend to attach to rocks in intertidal zones, may be more vulnerable to climate change. The Kumamoto oyster, Crassostrea sikamea (Amemiya, 1928), is renowned for its nutritional content, breeding benefits, and ecosystem restoration abilities. Previous research has demonstrated that the geographical range of C. sikamea in China has gradually shifted. In this study, the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model was employed to predict the suitability for C. sikamea under different climate scenarios. We utilized first-hand data collected by our research team over the past 14 years, which consisted of 3030 C. sikamea samples from seven provinces in China. The contribution rate of the environmental variables and the jackknife test revealed that salinity (13–21PSS) and temperature (24.6–25.5 °C) are the primary factors influencing the distribution of C. sikamea. The future distribution shows a south-to-north migration pattern triggered by increased sea temperature, resulting in increased suitability at higher latitudes. The migratory effect is more dramatic under the high-emission scenario (Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 (RCP8.5)) compared to medium-(RCP4.5/RCP6.0) and low-emission scenarios (RCP2.6) and becomes increasingly evident over time. Model predictions indicated that C. sikamea could maintain its suitability under all climate scenarios until the 2050s. However, by the 2100s, the suitability is expected to shift northward beyond the 33–34°N boundary under RCP2.6, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5, extending to the northern coast of Jiangsu. The suitability of C. sikamea within its habitat may experience a significant decline by the 2050s, followed by a gradual recovery over the next 50 years. The potential northward migration of C. sikamea presents new prospects for oyster aquaculture and artificial reefs establishment in China. However, this migration will inevitably lead to significant impacts on the invaded ecosystems and overall biodiversity.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects of plumbagin (PL) in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), time-killing curve, spore adhesion, crystal violet staining, calcium fluoride white staining, and Propidium Iodide (PI) staining were employed to assess the antifungal activity of PL in vitro against A. fumigatus. The cytotoxicity of PL was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8). The impact of PL on the expression of HMGB1, LOX-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and ROS in A. fumigatus keratitis was investigated using RT-PCR, ELISA, Western blot, and Reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay. The therapeutic efficacy of PL against A. fumigatus keratitis was assessed through clinical scoring, plate counting, Immunofluorescence and Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. Finally, we found that PL inhibited the growth, spore adhesion, and biofilm formation of A. fumigatus and disrupted the integrity of its cell membrane and cell wall. PL decreased IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels while increasing IL-10 expression in fungi-infected mice corneas and peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, PL significantly attenuated the HMGB1/LOX-1 pathway while reversing the promoting effect of Boxb (an HMGB1 agonist) on HMGB1/LOX-1. Moreover, PL decreased the level of ROS. In vivo, clinical scores, neutrophil recruitment, and fungal burden were all significantly reduced in infected corneas treated with PL. In summary, the inflammatory process can be inhibited by PL through the regulation of the HMGB-1/LOX-1 pathway. Simultaneously, PL can exert antifungal effects by limiting fungal spore adhesion and biofilm formation, as well as causing destruction of cell membranes and walls.

Corydalis saxicola, an endangered medicinal plant endemic to karst habitats, is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat hepatitis, abdominal pain, bleeding hemorrhoids and other conditions. However, to date, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of C. saxicola has not been reported, which limits our understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms of C. saxicola. Here, the mt genome of C. saxicola was assembled by combining the Nanopore and Illumina reads. The mt genome of C. saxicola is represented by a circular chromosome which is 587,939 bp in length, with an overall GC content of 46.50%. 40 unique protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes and three rRNA genes were identified. Codon usage of the PCGs was investigated and 167 simple sequence repeats were identified. Twelve homologous fragments were identified between the mt and ct genomes of C. saxicola, accounting for 1.04% of the entire mt genome. Phylogenetic examination of the mt genomes of C. saxicola and 30 other taxa provided an understanding of their evolutionary relationships. We also predicted 779 RNA editing sites in 40 C. saxicola mt PCGs and successfully validated 506 (65%) of these using PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. In addition, we transcriptionally profiled 24 core mt PCGs in C. saxicola roots treated with different concentrations of CaCl2, as well as in other organs. These investigations will be useful for effective utilization and molecular breeding, and will also provide a reference for further studies of the genus Corydalis.

AIM: To compare the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, and retinal vessel density (VD) measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and analyze the correlations between them in the early, moderate, severe primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and normal eyes. METHODS: Totally 70 PACG eyes and 20 normal eyes were recruited for this retrospective analysis. PACG eyes were further separated into early, moderate, or severe PACG eyes using the Enhanced Glaucoma Staging System (GSS2). The GCIPL thickness, RNFL thickness, ONH parameters, and retinal VD were measured by SD-OCT, differences among the groups and correlations within the same group were calculated. RESULTS: The inferior and superotemporal sectors of the GCIPL thickness, rim area of ONH, average and inferior sector of the retinal VD were significantly reduced (all P

With the widespread use of distributed photovoltaic large-scale power generation, the net load ′duck′ curve has become more apparent. However, electric vehicle charging during the day is unable to fully utilize the new energy, and charging at night only adds to the already existing load peak. To address the issue of net load ′peak-to-peak′ exacerbation, the charging load transfer process is facililated with the objective of minimizing the peak-valley difference of net load. To achieve this, statistical data on fast and slow charging behaviors are used to predict future charging load distribution through Monte Carlo simulations. Fast and slow charging load constraints are then established based on the network access characteristics of slow charging and the delayed charging characteristics of fast charging. Then, the load transfer rate is calculated using the gradient descent method, and the charging load price response model is constructed based on user consumption psychology. Finally, economic analysis of power grid peak shaving limits the constraint of electricity price change, and a charging guidance model is constructed with the goal of minimizing the peak-valley difference of net load. Deep reinforcement learning is used to solve the model and solution strategy. The simulation results show that the proposed model and solution strategy can effectively guide the charging load to avoid the peak period of the net load, determine a reasonable price, and reduce the peak-valley difference of the power grid.

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the most common cancer‐related death worldwide. In 2022, the number of daily deaths of lung cancer was estimated to reach around 350 in the United States. Lung adenocarcinoma is the main subtype of lung cancer and patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) suffer from poor prognosis. Microbiota and its metabolites are associated with cancer progression. However, the effect of pleural microbiota on pleural metabolic profile of MPE in lung adenocarcinoma patients remains largely unknown. Methods Pleural effusion samples collected from lung adenocarcinoma patients with MPE (n = 14) and tuberculosis pleurisy patients with benign pleural effusion (BPE group, n = 10) were subjected to microbiome (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and metabolome (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry [LC‐MS/MS]) analyses. The datasets were analyzed individually and integrated for combined analysis using various bioinformatic approaches. Results The metabolic profile of MPE in lung adenocarcinoma patients were clearly distinguished from BPE with 121 differential metabolites across six significantly enriched pathways identified. Glycerophospholipids, fatty and carboxylic acids, and derivatives were the most common differential metabolites. Sequencing of microbial data revealed nine significantly enriched genera (i.e., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus) and 26 enriched ASVs (i.e., species Lactobacillus_delbrueckii) in MPE. Integrated analysis correlated MPE‐associated microbes with metabolites, such as phosphatidylcholine and metabolites involved in the citrate cycle pathway. Conclusion Our results provide substantial evidence of a novel interplay between the pleural microbiota and metabolome, which was drastically perturbed in MPE in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Microbe‐associated metabolites can be used for further therapeutic explorations.

Abstract Background Electrolyzed water, a green chemistry invention, is a novel disinfectant that has been widely used in the food field. Previous studies have found that slightly acidic electrolyzed water not only has a bactericidal effect but also promotes the accumulation of active substances in many types of sprouts. We developed a new type of electrolyzed water, CaCl2–HCl electrolyzed water (CHEW), which can effectively enhance the formation of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates in broccoli sprouts. The molecular mechanism by which CaCl2–HCl electrolyzed water promotes glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprouts during growth was investigated in this study. Results On the 4th day, the total glucosinolate content in broccoli sprouts reached 195.50 μmol/g DW under CHEW treatment. On the 8th day, compared to treatment with tap water, the contents of three isothiocyanates (sulforaphane, erucin, and 4-isothiocyanato-1-butene) in broccoli sprouts under CHEW treatment were significantly increased by 45.93, 34.04 and 185.15%, respectively. The results of calcium distribution and qRT‒PCR assessments indicated that CHEW treatment activated calcium signalling in broccoli sprouts and promoted the relative expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis-related genes through calcium sensors [calmodulin (CaM), calmodulin-like protein (CML), and calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK)] and the calcium-binding nuclear protein IQD1. Conclusion Our research provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of glucosinolate metabolism and a theoretical basis for cultivating high-quality broccoli sprouts. Graphical Abstract

Excessive Cd accumulation in soil reduces the production of numerous plants, such as Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., which is an important and widely cultivated medicinal plant whose roots and rhizomes are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Applying a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizers improved the overall health of the Cd-contaminated soil and increased the yield and quality of Sophora. However, the underlying mechanism between this mixed fertilization and the improvement of the yield and quality of Sophora remains uncovered. This study investigated the effect of biochar and organic fertilizer application (BO, biochar to organic fertilizer ratio of 1:2) on the growth of Sophora cultivated in Cd-contaminated soil. BO significantly reduced the total Cd content (TCd) in the Sophora rhizosphere soil and increased the soil water content, overall soil nutrient levels, and enzyme activities in the soil. Additionally, the α diversity of the soil bacterial community had been significantly improved after BO treatment. Soil pH, total Cd content, total carbon content, and dissolved organic carbon were the main reasons for the fluctuation of the bacterial dominant species. Further investigation demonstrated that the abundance of variable microorganisms, including Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Patescibacteria, Armatimonadetes, Subgroups_ 6, Bacillus and Bacillus_ Acidiceler, was also significantly changed in Cd-contaminated soil. All these alterations could contribute to the reduction of the Cd content and, thus, the increase of the biomass and the content of the main secondary metabolites (matrine and oxymatrine) in Sophora. Our research demonstrated that the co-application of biochar and organic fertilizer has the potential to enhance soil health and increase the productivity and quality of plants by regulating the microorganisms in Cd-contaminated soil.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban is a well-known medicinal plant which has multiple pharmacological properties. Notably, the leaves of C. asiatica contain large amounts of triterpenoid saponins. However, there have only been a few studies systematically elucidating the metabolic dynamics and transcriptional differences regarding triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis during the leaf development stages of C. asiatica. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome to reveal the dynamic patterns of triterpenoid saponin accumulation and identified the key candidate genes associated with their biosynthesis in C. asiatica leaves. In this study, we found that the key precursors in the synthesis of terpenoids, including DMAPP, IPP and β-amyrin, as well as 22 triterpenes and eight triterpenoid saponins were considered as differentially accumulated metabolites. The concentrations of DMAPP, IPP and β-amyrin showed significant increases during the entire stage of leaf development. The levels of 12 triterpenes decreased only during the later stages of leaf development, but five triterpenoid saponins rapidly accumulated at the early stages, and later decreased to a constant level. Furthermore, 48 genes involved in the MVA, MEP and 2, 3-oxidosqualene biosynthetic pathways were selected following gene annotation. Then, 17 CYP450s and 26 UGTs, which are respectively responsible for backbone modifications, were used for phylogenetic-tree construction and time-specific expression analysis. From these data, by integrating metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, we identified CaHDR1 and CaIDI2 as the candidate genes associated with DMAPP and IPP synthesis, respectively, and CaβAS1 as the one regulating β-amyrin synthesis. Two genes from the CYP716 family were confirmed as CaCYP716A83 and CaCYP716C11. We also selected two UGT73 families as candidate genes, associated with glycosylation of the terpenoid backbone at C-3 in C. asiatica. These findings will pave the way for further research on the molecular mechanisms associated with triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in C. asiatica.

Detecting damages in large-scale space trusses poses a significant challenge due to numerous elements that can generate disturbances with relative ease. Based on changes in the static flexibility matrix, a two-stage method to localize and quantify damages of large-scale space trusses was thus proposed. The first-order sensitivity equation between damage severities and flexibility matrix changes is established in the damage localization stage. A singular value contribution index (SVCI) was constructed to truncate singular values of the flexibility sensitivity matrix properly. Then, an iterative process using SVCI was suggested to make damaged elements more outstanding, so that suspiciously damaged elements could be readily determined. In the damage quantification stage, the improved particle swarm optimization algorithm was employed to further estimate damage severities by merely setting suspiciously damaged elements as optimization variables. Take a space truss as the numerical example. Analysis results show that the proposed method has good antinoise ability and can accurately achieve damage localization and quantification by using an incomplete static flexibility matrix composed merely of vertical degrees of freedom.

ABSTRACT Microbial food webs are drivers of material circulation and energy flow in lake ecosystems. The structural shifting of microbial food webs has important implications for the function of lake ecosystems. However, we continue to lack a clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying the complexity and stability of microbial food web structures. In this study, we investigated the diversity and structure of protist communities and bacterial communities by using DNA meta-barcoding to reveal the key factors affecting the complexity and stability of microbial food webs in subalpine lakes. Our analysis shows that significant seasonal variations occurred in protist taxonomic and functional communities (e.g., algivores, bacterivores, and phototrophs), which were mainly controlled by hydrological and nutrient parameters such as temperature, pH, and NH4 +-N. Based on the network approach, the most complex food webs in the summer exhibited the lowest stability. We also found that the trophic interaction between bacterivorous protozoans and bacteria was the main factor significantly having influence on microbial food web complexity and stability (P < 0.01). Moreover, biotic factors (i.e., bacterivorous protozoan composition) were better predictors of the relative abundance of several bacteria (Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria) as prey than abiotic factors. Thus, these results suggest that predation is essential for the complexity and stability of the microbial food webs in lake ecosystems. Our findings suggest that understanding these complex interactions of microbial food webs is critical for ecosystem management and for predicting the ecological consequences of future climate changes in aquatic ecosystems. IMPORTANCE As an important part of microbial food webs, protists transfer organic carbon and nutrients to higher trophic levels in aquatic ecosystems. Protist predation often influences the abundance and composition of bacterial communities. However, we still do not understand whether and how predation affects the complexity and stability of microbial food webs. This study assessed the seasonal dynamic characteristics and driving factors of microbial food webs in terms of complexity and stability. Our findings have implications for future surveys to reveal the effects of climate and environmental changes.

ObjectiveDiabetes pathology relies on exosomes (Exos). This study investigated how peripheral blood Exo-containing microRNAs (miRNAs) cause vascular injury in type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsWe removed DEmiRNA from T2D chip data from the GEO database. We isolated Exo from 15 peripheral blood samples from T2D patients and 15 healthy controls and measured Exo DEmiRNA levels. We employed the intersection of Geneards and mirWALK database queries to find T2D peripheral blood mRNA-related chip target genes. Next, we created a STRING database candidate target gene interaction network map. Next, we performed GO and KEGG enrichment analysis on T2D-related potential target genes using the ClusterProfiler R package. Finally, we selected T2D vascular damage core genes and signaling pathways using GSEA and PPI analysis. Finally, we used HEK293 cells for luciferase assays, co-cultured T2D peripheral blood-derived Exo with HVSMC, and detected HVSMC movement alterations.ResultsWe found 12 T2D-related DEmiRNAs in GEO. T2D patient-derived peripheral blood Exo exhibited significantly up-regulated miR-135a-3p by qRT-PCR. Next, we projected miR-135a-3p’s downstream target mRNA and screened 715 DEmRNAs to create a regulatory network diagram. DEmRNAs regulated biological enzyme activity and vascular endothelial cells according to GO function and KEGG pathway analysis. ErbB signaling pathway differences stood out. PPI network study demonstrated that DEmRNA ATM genes regulate the ErbB signaling pathway. The luciferase experiment validated miR-135a-3p and ATM target-binding. Co-culture of T2D patient-derived peripheral blood Exo with HVSMC cells increases HVSMC migration, ErbB2, Bcl-2, and VEGF production, and decreases BAX and ATM. However, miR-135a-3p can reverse the production of the aforesaid functional proteins and impair HVSMC cell movement.ConclusionT2D patient-derived peripheral blood Exo carrying miR-135a-3p enter HVSMC, possibly targeting and inhibiting ATM, activating the ErbB signaling pathway, promoting abnormal HVSMC proliferation and migration, and aggravating vascular damage.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of our revamped MIE-McKeown operation on postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery. Methods This revamped MIE-McKeown operation without removing azygos vein arch, bronchial artery and vagus nerve trunk and with the tubular stomach buried throughout esophageal bed and azygos arch, has been implemented from July 2020 to July 2021 by the same medical team of Gaozhou People's Hospital thoracic surgery for 13 times. Preoperative clinical data, main intraoperative indicators and postoperative complications were observed. Results All patients had esophageal malignant tumors at the level of middle and lower thoracic non-azygous venous arch, with preoperative clinical stage CT1-2N0M0 stage i-ii. V-vst test was performed on the 7th postoperative day, and 10 patients were found to have no loss of safety/efficacy. There were 2 cases with impaired efficacy and no impaired safety, 1 case with impaired safety. There were 1 cases of pulmonary infection, 1 cases of anastomotic fistula combined with pleural and gastric fistula, 2 cases of hoarseness, 2 cases of arrhythmia, 10 cases of swallowing function were grade i, 2 cases of swallowing function were grade iii, 1 case of swallowing function was grade iv in watian drinking water test one month after operation. Conclusions Merit of this revamped MIE-McKeown operation is well preserving the integrity of azygos arch of vagus nerve and bronchial artery, and it is technically safe and feasible. No postoperative mechanical obstruction of thoracostomach, huge thoracostomach and gastrointestinal dysfunction occurs.

ObjectiveBy observing the impact of Bevacizumab injection on the speed of wound healing and the expression of CD34 in cynomolgus monkeys, to verify its delayed wound healing mechanism, and to provide clinical reference for the dosage and frequency of Bevacizumab treatment for oncology surgery patients.MethodsSix male cynomolgus monkeys underwent full-thickness skin resection on the back to establish a wound healing evaluation model. Three cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected as the saline group, and the other three cynomolgus monkeys were allocated to the Bevacizumab treatment group. The monkeys of Bevacizumab group were administrated with Bevacizumab injection (30 mg/kg, i.v.) on day 0, day 4, day 8, and day 11, respectively. The monkeys of saline group were injected with the same volume of saline as the group receiving Bevacizumab. The blood routine test was conducted, and the wound healing of each group of cynomolgus monkeys was observed 28 days after operation. The wound healing rate was analyzed by software Image J, and the severity of the wound was assessed by scoring method. Wound healing skin samples of 6 cynomolgus monkeys were obtained after 4 weeks, and the expression level of CD34 in the wound skin tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry.ResultsA skin excision wound model has already been established in cynomolgus monkeys. The number of white blood cells and neutrophils in the blood of cynomolgus monkeys increased significantly on the 3rd day after operation (P

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels belongs to the Apiaceae family. The root of A. sinensis, is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its antioxidant and immune regulation properties. The main active compounds in A. sinensis include organic acids, phthalides and coumarins, and their biosynthetic pathways are the focus of international attention. A. sinensis is prone to early flowering and bolting, which negatively impacts production for several reasons, including germplasm degradation and quality instability in artificial cultivation. The identification of top-geoherbalism of A. sinensis has also become the focus of recent research, as it would allow selection for breeds with excellent medicinal quality and remarkable curative effects. Advances in sequencing technology and bioinformatic methodologies have enabled extensive molecular and genetic studies in A. sinensis. In this review, we summarize the latest molecular research advances related to A. sinensis, including biosynthetic pathways and regulation of active compounds, and molecular underpinnings of early bolting and flowering and top-geoherbalism. We discuss limitations of the current research and propose prospective topics in need of further exploration.