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Abstract The orbital Hall effect in light materials has attracted considerable attention for developing orbitronic devices. Here we investigate the orbital torque efficiency and demonstrate the switching of the perpendicularly magnetized materials through the orbital Hall material, i.e., Zr. The orbital torque efficiency of approximately 0.78 is achieved in the Zr orbital Hall material with the perpendicularly magnetized [Co/Pt]3 sample, which significantly surpasses that of the perpendicularly magnetized CoFeB/Gd/CoFeB sample (approximately 0.04). Such a notable difference is attributed to the different spin-orbit correlation strength between the [Co/Pt]3 sample and the CoFeB/Gd/CoFeB sample, confirmed through theoretical calculations. Furthermore, the full magnetization switching of the [Co/Pt]3 samples with a switching current density of approximately 2.6×106 A/cm2 has been realized through Zr, which even outperforms that of the W spin Hall material. Our finding provides a guideline to understand orbital torque efficiency and paves the way for developing energy-efficient orbitronic devices.

Jiajun Zhou,1,2,* Yandong Luo,1,2,* Ping Chang,1,2 Liping Li1 1School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, People’s Republic of China; 2Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Liping Li, School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, People’s Republic of China, Email lpli@stu.edu.cnBackground: Poly-victimization involves more than just counting incidents; it varies in severity and type among adolescents and can change over time.Objective: The aim is to identify latent classes of poly-victimization among children in early adolescence, investigate transition probabilities between these latent categories, and examine the influencing factors.Methods: We used stratified cluster random sampling to select 2275 junior high students from five rural middle schools in Shantou and Jieyang, China, and surveyed them in two waves. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) identified latent classes of poly-victimization, and multi-factor logistic regression examined factors influencing the probability of students transitioning between these latent classes.Results: LCA identified three categories of poly-victimization: low poly-victimization, group, and high child maltreatment and peer and sibling victimization. The probabilities of remaining in the high child maltreatment and peer and sibling victimization group, transitioning to the transition group, or shifting to the low poly-victimization group were 37.00%, 29.20%, and 33.80%, respectively. Most transition group members remained in the same group, with a conversion probability of 77.10%, followed by transitioning to the low poly-victimization group with a probability of 15.80%. Physically healthy children, compared to those with disabilities or illnesses, were less likely to switch from the low poly-victimization group to the transition group (OR=0.034) or the high child maltreatment and peer and sibling victimization group (OR=0.14). Non-left-behind children, compared to left-behind children, have a higher probability of switching from the high child maltreatment and peer and sibling victimization group to the low poly-victimization group (OR=6.905).Conclusion: The high child maltreatment and peer and sibling victimization group had similar probabilities of transitioning into other categories. Physical illness or disability, as well as being left behind, are significant risk factors for children transitioning from the low-harm group to the high-harm group.Keywords: poly-victimization, latent class analysis, latent transition analysis, left-behind children, child maltreatment, peer and sibling victimization

Horng-Chyuan Lin,1– 3 Meng-heng Hsieh,1,2 Yu-Lun Lo,1,2 Hung-Yu Huang,1,2 Shih-Wei Huang,1,2 Chien-Da Huang,1,2 Po-Jui Chang,1,2 Chun-Yu Lo,1,2 Ting-Yu Lin,1,2 Yueh-Fu Fang,1,2 Shu-Min Lin,1,2 Chun-Yu Lin,1,2,* Ying-Huang Tsai1,2,4,* 1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 2College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 3Department of Respiratory Therapy, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 4Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Xiamen, 361028, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chun-Yu Lin, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Hsing Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan, Tel +886-3-3281200 ext. 8467, Fax +886-3-3282474, Email pitiful1984@gmail.com Ying-Huang Tsai, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical Foundation and Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 5 Fu-Hsing Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan, Tel +886-3-3281200 ext. 8470, Fax +886-3-3282474, Email chestmed@cgmh.org.twBackground: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is associated with airway pathogen colonization. We planned to investigate the inflammatory markers in patients with different airway pathogens and their correlation with disease severity.Methods: We enrolled patients aged between 20 and 75 from October 2021 to August 2022. All patients had sputum evaluation for bacterial and fungal cultures before enrollment, and were classified into four groups according to the culture results.Results: Forty-four patients with non-CF bronchiectasis and six controls were enrolled and categorized as follows: Group 1, no pathogens identified in sputum cultures (n = 14); Group 2, positive fungal culture results (n = 18); Group 3, positive P. aeruginosa culture results (n = 7); and Group 4, positive culture results for both fungi and P. aeruginosa (n = 5). Group 4 had significantly higher serum defensin α 1, IL-6 and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP)-1 levels than group 1 patients. The serum levels of IL-6 and TIMP-1 were positively correlated with the FACED score and negatively correlated with distance-saturation product.Conclusion: Significantly higher levels of serum IL-6 and TIMP-1 were found in the patients who had concomitant fungal and P. aeruginosa colonization, and were closely related to clinical severity and may have important roles in disease monitoring.Keywords: TIMP-1, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, clinical severity

Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a well-known complication of congenital heart disease (CHD). The lack of a satisfactory animal model for PAH associated with CHD (PAH-CHD) has limited progress in understanding the pathogenesis of PAH and the development of therapeutic agents. The development of a rat model for PAH associated with atrial septal defect (ASD) was achieved through atrial septal puncture and thermal ablation. Two and 4 weeks after modeling, hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the vascular thickness, vascular thickness index, vascular area, and vascular area index in pulmonary arteries with an outer diameter of 50–300 μm in the PAH-ASD 2 and 4 weeks group were higher than those in the sham group (all P

Abstract Background Tongoloa is a genus comprising approximately 20 species, primarily distributed in the mountainous regions of southwest China. The insufficiency of specimen materials and morphological similarities among species render it a taxonomically challenging genus within the Apiaceae family. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of Chinese Tongoloa, this study utilized a total of 115 nrITS sequences, including 47 recently obtained sequences, for phylogenetic reconstruction. Results Phylogenetic relationships reconstructed from ITS sequences indicate that the East Asia Clade and the Komarovia Clade are sister groups, and Tongoloa belongs to the East Asia Clade. Species of Tongoloa are subdivided into 3 distinct groups, all sharing similar fruit morphologies and are clearly differentiated from related taxa. Several Tongoloa-like members classified under other genera are interpreted to be closely related to Tongoloa. Morphological and molecular data indicate that Tongoloa, Sinolimprichtia subclade and Chinese Trachydium subclade are separate yet genetically contiguous taxa. It is confirmed that Tongoloa zhongdianensis belongs to the Hymenidium Clade, while Sinocarum is classified within the Acronema Clade. Two new taxa are found in the Hengduan Mountains. Conclusion Tongoloa is a genus within the East Asia Clade of Apiaceae, and the phylogeny reconstructed based on ITS sequences divides it into 3 main groups. By integrating fruit morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses, we preliminary clarified the intricate taxonomic relationships among Tongoloa and related taxa. These results provide valuable opportunities for a deeper understanding of the phylogeny of Tongoloa.

Abstract This study aimed to determine the relationships between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and childhood growth trajectories during the first 6 years of life. A total of 47,625 pairs of mothers and children were recruited from a prospective birth cohort conducted between 2011 and 2013 in Wuhan, China, and followed for 6 years. We used the group-based trajectory models to classify the population into three trajectory groups: slow growth (n = 13,671, 28.7%), normal growth (n = 29,736, 62.4%), and rapid growth (n = 4218, 8.9%). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the associations of prenatal PM2.5 exposure and childhood growth trajectories. Compared to normal growth trajectory, increased PM2.5 exposure in trimester 1, trimester 2 and the entire pregnancy showed significant associations with an increased risk of the slow growth trajectory but reduced the risk for the rapid growth trajectory, significant association of prenatal PM2.5 exposure with rapid growth trajectory was only observed in the trimester 3. Stratified analyses displayed relatively stronger associations among those mothers with maternal age over 35 years, pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, and previous delivery experience. Prenatal exposure to PM2.5, particularly during the midpoint period of pregnancy, was more likely to have a slow growth trajectory and a lower risk of rapid growth trajectory. Maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and previous delivery experience might modify these associations.

Abstract Risk prediction for subsequent cardiovascular events remains an unmet clinical issue in patients with coronary artery disease. We aimed to investigate prognostic metabolic biomarkers by considering both shared and distinct metabolic disturbance associated with the composite and individual cardiovascular events. Here, we conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis for 333 incident cardiovascular events and 333 matched controls. The cardiovascular events were designated as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction/stroke and heart failure. A total of 23 shared differential metabolites were associated with the composite of cardiovascular events. The majority were middle and long chain acylcarnitines. Distinct metabolic patterns for individual events were revealed, and glycerophospholipids alteration was specific to heart failure. Notably, the addition of metabolites to clinical markers significantly improved heart failure risk prediction. This study highlights the potential significance of plasma metabolites on tailed risk assessment of cardiovascular events, and strengthens the understanding of the heterogenic mechanisms across different events.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has been recognized as an unprecedented global health crisis. Over 7 million mortalities have been documented with many paediatric fatalities. Trauma and orthopaedic care, much like other specialities, were marginalized due to resource allocation during the pandemic which affected paediatric care. This is the first systematic review to centralise and compile the recommended published guidelines from professional bodies in principally English speaking countries on managing paediatric trauma and orthopaedic care. These guidelines will be required to be implemented sooner and more effectively in case of future pandemics with similar impact.MethodsA search was conducted on PubMed/MedLine, Cochrane Library and Embase using terms including p(a)ediatric or child* and/or COVID* or coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 and/or trauma and/or orthop(a)edic* with a simplified MeSH heading [mh] in order to make the search as comprehensive as possible. General terminology was utilized to make the search as exhaustive as possible for this systematic review. Another search was conducted on resources available in the public domain from professional bodies publishing on consensus statements and clinical practice guidelines in countries where English is the principal language managing pediatric trauma and orthopedics. The review adhered to PRISMA guidance.ResultsThe search revealed a total of 62 results from both databases and professional bodies. Duplicates were removed. This was then reviewed to identify a total of 21 results which fit the inclusion criteria and included within the main analysis. The guidelines from professional bodies were outlined and categorized into aspects of clinical care.DiscussionThe impact of COVID-19 pandemic has compelled for changes in clinical practice and pediatric management. The systematic review highlights the relevant guidelines on service provision for pediatric patients including indications for urgent referrals, surgical prioritization, reasons for follow-up and trauma guidelines. The rationale for care during the unpredictable evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic may have the potential to be translated and replicated in future pandemics of similar significance.

Gastric cancer is a significant health concern worldwide. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is associated with gastric cancer risk, but differences between HP-infected and HP-free gastric cancer have not been studied sufficiently. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of HP infection on the viability and migration of gastric cancer cells and identify potential underlying genetic mechanisms as well as their clinical relevance. Cell counting kit-8, lactate dehydrogenase, wound healing, and transwell assay were applied in the infection model of multiple clones of HP and multiple gastric cancer cell lines. Genes related to HP infection were identified using bioinformatics analysis and subsequently validated using real-time quantitative PCR. The association of these genes with immunity and drug sensitivity of gastric cancer was analyzed. Results showed that HP has no significant impact on viability but increases the migration of gastric cancer cells. We identified 1405 HP-upregulated genes, with their enriched terms relating to cell migration, drug, and immunity. Among these genes, the 82 genes associated with survival showed a significant impact on gastric cancer in consensus clustering and LASSO prognostic model. The top 10 hub HP-associated genes were further identified, and 7 of them were validated in HP-infected cells using real-time quantitative PCR, including ERBB4, DNER, BRINP2, KCTD16, MAPK4, THPO, and VSTM2L. The overexpression experiment showed that KCTD16 medicated the effect of HP on gastric cancer migration. Our findings suggest that HP infection may enhance the migratory potential of gastric cancer cells and these genes might be associated with immunity and drug sensitivity of gastric cancer. In human subjects with gastric cancer, HP presence in tumors may affect migration, immunity, and drug sensitivity.

Ting-Yu Lin,1,2 Firdian Makrufardi,3,4 Nguyen Thanh Tung,3,5 Amja Manullang,3 Po-Jui Chang,1,2 Chun-Yu Lo,1,2 Tzu-Hsuan Chiu,1 Pi-Hung Tung,1 Chiung-Hung Lin,1 Horng-Chyuan Lin,1,2 Chun-Hua Wang,1,2 Shu-Min Lin1,2 1Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 2College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 3International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; 4Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada – Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; 5Otorhinolaryngology Department, Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCorrespondence: Shu-Min Lin, Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tun-Hwa N. Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Fax +886 33272474, Email smlin100@gmail.comBackground: Early-onset asthma (EOA) and late-onset asthma (LOA) are two distinct phenotypes. Air pollution has been associated with an increase in poorer asthma outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on asthma outcomes in EOA and LOA patients.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 675 asthma patients (LOA: 415) recruited from a major medical center in Taiwan. The land-use regression (LUR) model was used to estimate the level of exposure to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 on an individual level. We investigated the association between TRAP and asthma outcomes in EOA and LOA patients, stratified by allergic sensitization status, using a regression approach.Results: An increase in PM10 was associated with younger age of onset, increased asthma duration, and decreased lung function in EOA patients (p< 0.05). An increase in PM10 was associated with older age of onset, and decreased asthma duration, eosinophil count, and Asthma Control Test (ACT) score in LOA patients. An increase in PM2.5 was associated with younger age of onset, increased asthma duration, decreased eosinophil count, and lung function in EOA patients (p< 0.05). An increase in PM2.5 was associated with decreased lung function and ACT score in LOA patients. An increase in NO2 was associated with increased eosinophil count and decreased lung function in EOA patients (p< 0.05). An increase in O3 was associated with decreased lung function in LOA patients (p< 0.05). In addition, associations of TRAP with age of onset and eosinophil counts were mainly observed in both EOA and LOA patients with allergic sensitization, and an association with ACT was mainly observed in LOA patients without allergic sensitization.Conclusion: The impact of TRAP on age of onset, eosinophil count, and lung function in EOA patients, and ACT in LOA patients, was affected by the status of allergic sensitization.Keywords: air pollution, allergy, early-onset asthma, late-onset asthma, respiratory disease

This paper establishes a fractional-order economic growth model to model the gross domestic product (GDP). The fractional-order model consists of a differential equation of integer and fractional orders, where the GDP is a function of several exploratory variables. An empirical application is adopted using Malaysia's GDP data from 1956 to 2018, incorporating exploratory variables such as total population, crude death rate, production of logs, gross fixed capital formation, exports of goods and services, general government final consumption expenditure, private final consumption expenditure, and the impact of investment. Extensive comparisons were carried out to evaluate the modelling performance of the full and reduced fractional-order multiple linear regression models with the benchmark models, namely full and reduced integer-order multiple linear regression models. Results indicate that the reduced fractional-order model with six exploratory variables, excluding the crude death rate and production of logs, predominates other models for the in-sample model fitting based on the Akaike information criterion, coefficient of determination and other criteria. Furthermore, the fractional-order model offers the best-of-sample forecasts evaluated based on the root mean square forecast error and mean absolute forecast error. The application of the Diebold–Mariano test also serves to confirm the superior performance of the suggested fractional-order model, revealing a significant difference in forecasting ability between the fractional-order and integer-order models.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health problem worldwide due to its high burden and poor outcomes. Despite progress in treatment, patient outcomes remain unsatisfactory, particularly in low-resource settings. The establishment of a registry is the first step towards gaining a comprehensive understanding of prevailing local conditions and identifying potential opportunities for improving patient survival. Here, we provide a narrative review of the BASeline Investigation of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (BASIC-OHCA), the first national OHCA registry in China, to introduce its development history, current state, challenges and future directions. We aim to enhance cross-cultural understanding by providing insights from China, while also serving as a reference for the implementation of large-scale registries in low-resource settings.

The optimization of a tourism economic network is critical in the promotion of the high-quality development of a regional tourism economy. In order to explore the spatial network structure of the tourism economy of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration and its influencing factors, this study used a modified gravity model and social network analysis methods for evaluation and analysis. The results show the following: (1) the spatial network of the tourism economy in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in 2016–2021 was characterized by significant non-equilibrium; however, that trend has weakened, and the tourism connections are now stronger in economically developed regions. (2) The density of the network structure was slightly strengthened. The structure of the tourism economy network shows an obvious core–periphery distribution pattern. The external radiation of the center city was enhanced, and the core area of the network expanded. (3) The concept of the “small world” is characterized by a significant evolution from five major associations to four major associations during the study period. (4) The quadratic assignment method (QAP) of regression analysis showed that tourism service reception capacity, tourism information flow, tourism resource endowments and transportation convenience make a significant contribution to the formation of the spatial network of inter-city tourism economic connections. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of the tourism economic network of urban agglomerations and the scientific decision-making underpinning tourism economic cooperation.

Po-Chien Chang,1 Wenhui Zhang,1,2 Qihai Cai,1 Hongchi Guo3 1School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Finance, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Beidahuang Group Co., Ltd, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qihai Cai, School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, 999078, People’s Republic of China, Tel +853 88973657, Fax +853 28823281, Email qhcai@must.edu.moPurpose: The increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within enterprises is generates significant technostress among employees, potentially influencing their intention to adopt AI. However, existing research on the psychological effects of this phenomenon remains inconclusive. Drawing on the Affective Events Theory (AET) and the Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Framework (CHSF), the current study aims to explore the “black box” between challenge and hindrance technology stressors and employees’ intention to adopt AI, as well as the boundary conditions of this mediation relationship.Methods: The study employs a quantitative approach and utilizes three-wave data. Data were collected through the snowball sampling technique and a structured questionnaire survey. The sample comprises employees from 11 distinct organizations located in Guangdong Province, China. We received 301 valid questionnaires, representing an overall response rate of 75%. The theoretical model was tested through confirmatory factor analysis and regression analyses using Mplus and the Process macro for SPSS.Results: The results indicate that positive affect mediates the positive relationship between challenge technology stressors and AI adoption intention, whereas AI anxiety mediates the negative relationship between hindrance technology stressors and AI adoption intention. Furthermore, the results reveal that technical self-efficacy moderates the effects of challenge and hindrance technology stressors on affective reactions and the indirect effects of challenge and hindrance technology stressors on AI adoption intention through positive affect and AI anxiety, respectively.Conclusion: Overall, our study suggests that AI-driven challenge technology stressors positively impact AI adoption intention through the cultivation of positive affect, while hindrance technology stressors impede AI adoption intention by triggering AI anxiety. Additionally, technical self-efficacy emerges as a crucial moderator in shaping these relationships. This research has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the literature on AI adoption intention, deepening our holistic understanding of the influential mechanisms involved. Furthermore, the study affirms the applicability and relevance of Affective Events Theory (AET) and the Challenge-Hindrance Stressor Framework (CHSF). In practical terms, the research provides actionable insights for organizations to effectively manage employees’ AI adoption intention.Keywords: challenge and hindrance technology stressors, AI adoption intention, positive affect, AI anxiety, technical self-efficacy

Abstract Background Multiple negative health outcomes were linked to residential proximity to major roadways. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge regarding the association between residential proximity to major roadways and chronic multimorbidity. Methods We used data from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which included 12,214 individuals aged ≥ 60. We derived the residential proximity to major roadways from self-reported data, defining chronic multimorbidity as the presence of two or more concurrent chronic diseases. A binary logistic regression model was utilized to investigate the association between residential proximity to major roadways and chronic multimorbidity. The model accounted for some demographic features, socioeconomic conditions, social participation, and health conditions. Subsequently, we conducted subgroup analyses to examine potential interaction effects. Results Residential proximity to major roadways was associated with chronic multimorbidity, even after adjusting for confounding factors. Compared with those living > 300 m from major roadways, the OR for those living 201-300 m, 101-200 m, 50-100 m, and 6 years (P = 0.017). Conclusion Our findings provide important implications for improving residential area siting, transportation policies, and environmental regulations to reduce the risk of chronic multimorbidity caused by traffic-related exposure.

Tunnel stability is influenced by the rheological properties of the surrounding rock. This study, based on the Ganshen high-speed railway tunnel project, examines the rheological characteristics of siltstone and sandstone through laboratory tests and theoretical analysis. Rheological curves and parameters are derived, revealing the time-dependent deformation mechanisms of the surrounding rocks. A numerical simulation model is created using these parameters to analyze deformation and stress characteristics based on different rock levels and inverted arch closure distances. Results indicate that sandstone follows the Cvisc model, with the Maxwell elastic modulus increasing under higher loads while the viscous coefficient decreases. The vault displacement is mainly affected by the surrounding rock strength; lower strength leads to greater displacement, which also increases with the closure distance of the inverted arch. These findings are crucial for determining the optimal closure distance of inverted arches in sandstone conditions.

The formation of multicellular fruiting bodies in basidiomycete mushrooms is a crucial developmental process for sexual reproduction and subsequent spore development. Temperature is one of the most critical factors influencing the phase transition for mushroom reproduction. During the domestication of mushrooms, traits related to fruiting bodies have significantly impacted agricultural adaptation and human preferences. Recent research has demonstrated that chromosomal variations, such as structural variants (SVs) and variant blocks (VBs), play crucial roles in agronomic traits and evolutionary processes. However, the lack of high-quality genomic information and important trait data have hindered comprehensive identification and characterization in Lentinula edodes breeding processes. In this study, the genomes of two monokaryotic L. edodes strains, characterized by thermo-tolerance and thermo-sensitivity during fruiting body formation, were reassembled at the chromosomal level. Comparative genomic studies of four thermo-tolerant and thermo-sensitive monokaryotic L. edodes strains identified a 0.56 Mbp variant block on chromosome 9. Genes associated with DNA repair or cellular response to DNA damage stimulus were enriched in this variant block. Finally, we developed eight CAPS markers from the variant block to discriminate the thermo-tolerant traits in L. edodes cultivars. Our findings show that the identified variant block is highly correlated with the thermo-tolerant trait for fruiting body formation and that alleles present in this block may have been artificially selected during L. edodes domestication.

ABSTRACT Intestinal digestibility can be affected by the interaction between host and gut microbiota, which could influence feed efficiency in poultry. In this study, the performance of 1480 10-week-old Wannan Yellow chickens was recorded for 6 weeks, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Thirteen 16-week-old chickens (7 in the high and 6 in the low FCR group) were selected for carcass performance, ileum structure, and microbiota composition analysis. The results showed that ileum weight and length were significantly higher (p

Introduction Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) occur frequently in patients undergoing lung surgery under general anaesthesia and are strongly associated with longer postoperative hospital stays and increased mortality. The existing literature has shown that a higher level of preoperative physical activity (PA) plays a positive role in the low incidence of postoperative complications and the quality of life in patients undergoing lung surgery. However, the association between preoperative PA levels and the incidence of PPCs has rarely been studied, particularly in thoracoscopic lung surgery. This study aims to evaluate PA levels in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung surgery using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and to investigate the association between PA levels and the incidence of PPCs.Methods and analysis A total of 204 participants aged 18–80 years undergoing thoracoscopic lung surgery (thoracoscopic wedge resection, thoracoscopic segmentectomy and thoracoscopic lobectomy) will be included in the study. The primary outcome is the incidence of PPCs within the first 5 postoperative days. The secondary outcomes include the number of PPCs, the incidence of PPCs 1 month postoperatively, the arterial blood levels of inflammatory markers, the incidence of postoperative adverse events within the first 5 postoperative days, extubation time, unplanned admission to the intensive care unit, postoperative length of stay and mortality 1 month postoperatively.Ethics and dissemination The study was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University on 31 March 2022 (YXLL-KY-2022(014)) and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. We plan to disseminate the data and findings of this study in international and peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number The trial has been prospectively registered at the clinicaltrials.gov registry (NCT05401253).

ABSTRACTIn subtropical forest ecosystems with few phosphorus (P) inputs, P availability and forest productivity depend on soil organic P (Po) mineralization. However, the mechanisms by which the microbial community determines the status and fate of soil Po mineralization remain unclear. In the present study, soils were collected from three typical forest types: secondary natural forest (SNF), mixed planting, and monoculture forest of Chinese fir. The P fractions, Po-mineralization ability, and microbial community in the soils of different forest types were characterized. In addition, we defined Po-mineralizing taxa with the potential to interact with the soil microbial community to regulate Po mineralization. We found that a higher labile P content persisted in SNF and was positively associated with the Po-mineralization capacity of the soil microbial community. In vitro cultures of soil suspensions revealed that soil Po mineralization of three forest types was distinguished by differences in the composition of fungal communities. We further identified broad phylogenetic lineages of Po-mineralizing fungi with a high intensity of positive interactions with the soil microbial community, implying that the facilitation of Po-mineralizing taxa is crucial for soil P availability. Our dilution experiments to weaken microbial interactions revealed that in SNF soil, which had the highest interaction intensity of Po-mineralizing taxa with the community, Po-mineralization capacity was irreversibly lost after dilution, highlighting the importance of microbial diversity protection in forest soils. In summary, this study demonstrates that the interactions of Po-mineralizing microorganisms with the soil microbial community are critical for P availability in subtropical forests.IMPORTANCEIn subtropical forest ecosystems with few phosphorus inputs, phosphorus availability and forest productivity depend on soil organic phosphorus mineralization. However, the mechanisms by which the microbial community interactions determine the mineralization of soil organic phosphorus remain unclear. In the present study, soils were collected from three typical forest types: secondary natural forest, mixed planting, and monoculture forest of Chinese fir. We found that a higher soil labile phosphorus content was positively associated with the organic phosphorus mineralization capacity of the soil microbial community. Soil organic phosphorus mineralization of three forest types was distinguished by the differences in the composition of fungal communities. The positive interactions between organic phosphorus-mineralizing fungi and the rest of the soil microbial community facilitated organic phosphorus mineralization. This study highlights the importance of microbial diversity protection in forest soils and reveals the microbial mechanism of phosphorus availability maintenance in subtropical forest ecosystems.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of suicidal behaviors, depressive emotion and anxious emotion and the associations of depressive/anxious emotion with suicidal behaviors among high school students in China. MethodsAn on-site self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 21 207 students recruited with stratified multistage cluster sampling at 40 high schools in five representative provinces (Jiangsu, Guangdong, Yunnan, Gansu, and Hubei province) of China during April – December 2021. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and a self-designed questionnaire were used to assess the participants′ depressive and anxious emotion and to collect demographics and other relevant information of the participants. ResultsOf 20 792 students (10 319 males and 10 473 females aged 11 – 20 years and averagely 15.16 ± 1.87 years) with eligible responses, 23.54% reported ever having suicidal behaviors during past one year, with 10.41%, 8.03%, and 5.10% reporting experience of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt during past one year, respectively. For all the eligible respondents, the detection rate of depressive and anxious emotion were 19.70% and 13.97% and the highest proportion of having depressive and anxious emotion (27.86% and 19.43%) were detected among rural girl students. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared to urban boy students, both urban and rural girl students were at an increased risk of having suicidal behavior during past one year, with the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) for urban and rural girl students in terms of suicidal ideation: 1.73 ( 1.52 – 1.97) and 1.68 (1.47 – 1.92), suicidal plan: 1.79 (1.53 – 2.08) and 1.67 (1.43 – 1.95), and suicidal attempt: 1.69 (1.40 – 2.04) and 1.47 (1.22 – 1.78), respectively; the results also revealed significantly positive correlations of depressive and anxious emotion with suicidal behaviors among the students and the correlation of depressive emotion (OR = 5.99, 95% CI: 5.00 – 7.16) and anxious emotion (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 2.82 – 4.03) were much stronger for suicidal attempt compared to the students without the emotions. ConclusionAmong high school students in China, there are gender and urban-rural differences in the prevalence of suicidal behaviors, depressive/anxious emotion and both depressive and anxious emotion are risk factors of different suicidal behaviors. The study results should be noted in developing relevant intervention measures.

Chien-Chia Huang,1,2 Po-Hung Chang,1,&ast; Yen-Lin Huang,3– 5 Ta-Jen Lee,1,2,6 Chi-Che Huang,1,2 Pei-Wen Wu1,2,&ast; 1Division of Rhinology, Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 2School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 3Department of Anatomic Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 4School of Medicine, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; 5Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 6Department of Otolaryngology, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Pei-Wen Wu, Division of Rhinology, Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fu-Shin Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, Tel +886-3-3281200 ext. 8466, Fax +886-3-3979361, Email a9665@cgmh.org.twIntroduction: Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is frequently associated with greater inflammation, poorer prognosis, and a high recurrence rate after sinus surgery.Objective: This study evaluated the clinical and imaging characteristics of eosinophilic CRSwNP in patients aged 12– 17.Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 139 patients aged 12– 17 with bilateral CRSwNP. Clinical characteristics, computed tomography (CT) features, tissue eosinophil counts, and eosinophil activity were evaluated.Results: Twenty-three (16.5%) patients had recurrent nasal polyps that required revision surgery. Patients requiring revision surgery had higher tissue eosinophil infiltration in the sinus mucosa than those not requiring revision surgery. The optimal cut-off value to distinguish the need for revision surgery was a tissue eosinophil count > 21.5/high-power field determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve. The Lund-Mackay and olfactory cleft opacification scores on CT images were significant predictors of tissue eosinophil count in the univariate analysis, and only olfactory opacification scores remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis.Conclusion: This study revealed that the CT feature of the olfactory cleft opacification score could be a significant characteristic of eosinophilic CRSwNP in adolescents.Plain Language Summary: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammation of the nasal and sinus mucosa characterized by nasal obstruction, mucopurulent rhinorrhea, facial pain/pressure, and decreased or loss of smell for over 12 weeks.CRS is classified as CRS without nasal polyps or CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), depending on the presence of nasal polyps. Based on the predominance of tissue inflammatory cell infiltration by eosinophils or neutrophils, CRS can be categorized into eosinophilic and neutrophilic entities. Eosinophilic CRSwNP is clinically characterized by a greater extent of inflammation, more severe clinical symptoms and high recurrence rate after sinus surgery. Thus, early identification of the endotypes in patients with CRS is important for determining prognosis and treatment strategies.This study retrospectively enrolled 139 patients aged 12– 17 with bilateral CRSwNP. Clinical characteristics, CT features, tissue eosinophil counts, and eosinophil activity were evaluated. The results showed that patients requiring revision surgery had higher tissue eosinophil infiltration in the sinus mucosa than those not requiring revision surgery. The optimal cut-off value to distinguish the need for revision surgery was a tissue eosinophil count > 21.5/high-power field. The Lund-Mackay and olfactory cleft opacification scores on CT images were significant predictors of tissue eosinophil count in the regression analysis.Keywords: adolescent, chronic rhinosinusitis, computed tomography, eosinophil, nasal polyp

Chun Zhang,1,2 Changzhou Shi,1 Pengzhao Chang,1 Shuang Bian,1,2 Bangbang Li,1 Jingjing Li,1,2 Pingfu Hou2,3 1School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221006, People’s Republic of China; 3Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Pingfu Hou; Jingjing Li, Email houpf612@xzhmu.edu.cn; qingchao0124@163.comPurpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a valuable and widely used examination technique in clinical diagnosis and prognostic efficacy evaluation. The introduction of MRI contrast agent (CA) improves its sensitivity obviously, particularly with the development of nano-CA, which presents higher contrast enhancement ability. However, systematical evaluation of their toxicity is still limited, hampering their further translation in clinics.Methods: In this paper, to systematically evaluate the toxicity of nano-CA, Gd-doped mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (Gd-MCNs) prepared by a one-step hard template method were introduced as a model and clinically used MRI CA, Magnevist (Gd-DTPA) as control. Their in vitro blood compatibility, cellular toxicity, DNA damage, oxidative stress, inflammation response as well as in vivo toxicity and MR imaging behaviors were studied and compared.Results: The experimental results showed that compared with Gd-DTPA, Gd-MCNs displayed negligible influence on the red blood cell shape, aggregation, BSA structure, macrophage morphology and mitochondrial function. Meanwhile, limited ROS and inflammatory cytokine production also illustrated the cellular compatibility of Gd-MCNs. For in vivo toxicity evaluation, Gd-MCNs presented acceptable in vivo biosafety even under 12 times injection for 12 weeks. More importantly, at the same concentration of Gd, Gd-MCNs displayed better contrast enhancement of tumor than Gd-DTPA, mainly coming from its high MRI relaxation rate which is nearly 9 times that of Gd-DTPA.Conclusion: In this paper, we focus on the toxicity evaluation of MRI nano-CA, Gd-MCNs from different angles. With Gd-DTPA as control, Gd-MCNs appeared to be highly biocompatible and safe nanoparticles that possessed promising potentials for the use of MRI nano-CA. In the future, more research on the long-term genotoxicity and the fate of nanoparticles after being swallowed should be performed.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: MRI, nano-contrast agent, cytotoxicity, tissue toxicity, immunotoxicity

Ting-Yu Lin,1,2 Chun-Yu Lo,1,2 Po-Jui Chang,1,2 Yu-Lun Lo,1,2 Chung-Shu Lee,1– 3 Chih-Hao Chang,1– 3 Chih-Teng Yu,1,2 Jonathan Huai Yao,1 Shu-Min Lin1,2 1Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 2College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 3Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital, New Taipei City, TaiwanCorrespondence: Shu-Min Lin, Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tun-Hwa N. Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Fax + 886 33272474, Email smlin100@gmail.comBackground: The immunological features of eosinophils in early-onset asthma (EOA) differ from those in late-onset asthma (LOA). Clinical trials of anti-interleukin-5 (IL-5) treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma showed a better response for LOA patients than EOA patients. We wonder if the transcriptional activity of activated eosinophils was different in EOA and LOA.Methods: Eosinophils obtained from well-controlled EOA and LOA patients and normal subjects were compared in terms of the mRNA expression of activation-related genes and specific markers related to cell functions in eosinophils activated by IL-5 or IL-17. The correlation between mRNA expression and clinical features and lung function was further analyzed.Results: The transcriptional expression of most genes was higher in activated eosinophils from LOA patients than in those from EOA patients and normal subjects. After IL-17 stimulation, the expression of certain genes was higher in atopic EOA patients than in non-atopic EOA patients. Similar observation was noted in obese EOA patients. After IL-5 stimulation, the transcriptional expression of most genes in eosinophils from LOA patients was negatively correlated with indicators of lung function. These correlations were less pronounced in EOA patients: After IL-17 stimulation, some genes in EOA patients were negatively correlated with post-bronchodilator changes in lung function.Conclusion: This study describes differences in the transcriptional active patterns of eosinophils and their correlation to atopy and obesity by age of onset. High transcriptional activity in activated eosinophils and a negative correlation to lung function indicate the importance of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of LOA.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: late-onset asthma, early-onset asthma, eosinophils, messenger RNA

Abstract The level of fibrinogen in patients with lower extremity atherosclerosis (LEAD) has been widely identified as a risk factor contributing to adverse outcomes. However, some knowledge gaps remain regarding fibrinogen levels and downstream adverse outcomes, such as length of stay (LOS). We conducted this study to examine the association between fibrinogen level and LOS in LEAD patients. The retrospective cohort study included 1428 LEAD patients between January 2014 and November 2021 in China. Several generalized linear models with a negative binomial link function were used to evaluate the association between fibrinogen level and LOS. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predicting effect of fibrinogen level on a LOS greater than 10 days (median LOS). The median age of the patients was 70 years old, and 1153 (80.74%) were males. Fibrinogen level was positively associated with LOS (β = 1.14; 95% CI, 0.42–1.86; p = 0.002) in LEAD patients after controlling for age, gender, number of historical hospitalizations, surgical history, vascular disease history, drinking history, smoking history, insurance type, surgical approach, lesion site, weight loss, Fontaine classification, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, urea, total protein, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, prothrombin time-international normalized ratio, calcium, triglyceride, albumin/globulin ratio, phosphorus, and D-dimer. The fibrinogen-added prediction model demonstrated good discrimination and calibration, with an AUC value of 0.807. Fibrinogen level was positively associated with LOS in LEAD patients. The fibrinogen level is a widely available and easy-to-measure biochemical indicator, and it could be used as a suitable indicator for the prognosis and prophylaxis of prolonged LOS in patients with LEAD during hospitalization.

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is thought to primarily colonize the human stomach and lead to various gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastritis and gastric cancer. Currently, main eradication treatment is triple or quadruple therapy centered on antibiotics. Due to antibiotic resistance, the eradication rate of H. pylori is decreasing gradually. Therefore, searching for anti-H. pylori drugs from herbal sources has become a strategy for the treatment. Our team proposed a Hezi Qingyou Formula (HZQYF), composed of Chebulae Fructus, Ficus hirta Vahl and Cloves, and studied its anti-H. pylori activity and mechanism.MethodsChemical components of HZQYF were studied using UHPLC–MS/MS and HPLC. Broth microdilution method and agar dilution method were used to evaluate HZQYF’s antibacterial activity. The effects of HZQYF on expression of adhesion genes (alpA, alpB, babA), urease genes (ureE, ureF), and flagellar genes (flaA, flaB) were explored using Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) technology. Effects on morphology and permeability of the extracellular membrane were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N-phenylnaphthalen-1-amine (NPN) uptake. Effect on urease activity was studied using a urease kinetics analysis in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining method was used to examine the effect on adhesion. Western blot was used to examine the effect on cagA protein.ResultsMinimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the formula against H. pylori clinical strains and standard strains were 80–160 μg/mL, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were 160–320 μg/mL. The formula could down-regulate the expression of adhesion genes (alpA, alpB, babA), urease genes (ureE, ureF) and flagellar genes (flaA, flaB), change the morphology of H. pylori, increase its extracellular membrane permeability, and decrease its urease activity.ConclusionPresent studies confirmed that HZQYF had promising in vitro anti-H. pylori activities and demonstrated its possible mechanism of action by down-regulating the bacterial adhesion, urease, and flagellar gene expression, which provided scientific bases for further clinical investigations.

BackgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT), a standard treatment for prostate cancer (PC), causes many physical side effects. In particular, it causes metabolic changes such as fasting glucose abnormalities or accumulation of body fat, and its continuation can lead to metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is closely related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is important to maintain and practice a healthy lifestyle in patients with PC. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led mobile-based program that aims to promote a healthy lifestyle in patients with PC undergoing ADT with MetS risk factors. MethodsThis was a single-blind, randomized, waitlist control interventional study. A total of 48 patients were randomly assigned to the experimental and waitlist control groups at the urology cancer clinic of a tertiary general hospital in South Korea. The inclusion criteria were patients who had undergone ADT for >6 months, had at least 1 of the 5 MetS components in the abnormal range, and could access a mobile-based education program. The experimental group attended a 4-week mobile-based program on exercise and diet that included counseling and encouragement to maintain a healthy lifestyle, whereas the control group was placed on a waitlist and received usual care during the follow-up period, followed by the intervention. The primary outcome was a change in the lifestyle score. The secondary outcomes were changes in 5 MetS components, body composition, and health-related quality of life. The outcomes were measured at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the initiation of the intervention. Each participant was assigned to each group in a sequential order of enrollment in a 4×4 permuted block design randomization table generated in the SAS (SAS Institute) statistical program. A linear mixed model was used for statistical analysis. ResultsA total of 24 participants were randomly assigned to each group; however, 2 participants in the experimental group dropped out for personal reasons before starting the intervention. Finally, 46 participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The experimental group showed more positive changes in the healthy lifestyle score (β=29.23; P≤.001), level of each MetS component (fasting blood sugar: β=−12.0; P=.05 and abdominal circumference: β=−2.49; P=.049), body composition (body weight: β=−1.52; P

BackgroundSuicide is a fatal public health issue for adolescents, and it is of great significance to explore the precursors of suicidal behaviors, especially suicidal ideation. However, the relationship between social anxiety and suicidal ideation and its mechanism are still unclear. The study aims to examine the association between social anxiety and suicidal ideation and the mediating effect through Internet addiction.MethodsA total of 2,278 middle-school students aged 12 to 16 years were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling method in this cross-sectional study. Logistical regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of social anxiety.ResultsDuring the past year, 262 (11.50%) participants reported suicidal ideation. Females had a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation than males (12.9% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.034), and urban adolescents reported a higher prevalence than their rural counterparts (13.4% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.006). In the total sample, social anxiety and Internet addiction were independently associated with suicidal ideation (p

To further improve the performance of distance protection in renewable energy systems, a distance protection method is proposed, which considers the effects of control system and the distributed capacitance effect of the line. When an asymmetric fault occurs in the system, combined with the control characteristics of the converter, the sequence impedance characteristics of the grid and the pure resistive feature of the fault resistance, three unknowns in the fault loop equation can be eliminated, and the solution of the fault distance can be solved in the R-L model. Then, the setting point is set based on the calculation results in the R-L model, and the real electrical quantity at the setting point can be deduced by the calculation formula in Bergeron model. Finally, the equation from the setting point to the fault point is simultaneously solved to reduce the distributed capacitance effect on the distance protection. The simulation results testify that the method is less influenced by the fault features of the converter and fault resistance. It still has good performance in long line.

Background: Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. To support agricultural production and enhance crop yield, two major N sources, nitrate and ammonium, are applied as fertilizers to the soil. Although many studies have been conducted on N uptake and signal transduction, the molecular genetic mechanisms of N-mediated physiological roles, such as the secondary growth of storage roots, remain largely unknown. Methods: One-year-old P. ginseng seedlings treated with KNO3 were analyzed for the secondary growth of storage roots. The histological paraffin sections were subjected to bright and polarized light microscopic analysis. Genome-wide RNA-seq and network analysis were carried out to dissect the molecular mechanism of nitrate-mediated promotion of ginseng storage root thickening. Results: Here, we report the positive effects of nitrate on storage root secondary growth in Panax ginseng. Exogenous nitrate supply to ginseng seedlings significantly increased the root secondary growth. Histological analysis indicated that the enhancement of root secondary growth could be attributed to the increase in cambium stem cell activity and the subsequent differentiation of cambium-derived storage parenchymal cells. RNA-seq and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that the formation of a transcriptional network comprising auxin, brassinosteroid (BR)-, ethylene-, and jasmonic acid (JA)-related genes mainly contributed to the secondary growth of ginseng storage roots. In addition, increased proliferation of cambium stem cells by a N-rich source inhibited the accumulation of starch granules in storage parenchymal cells. Conclusion: Thus, through the integration of bioinformatic and histological tissue analyses, we demonstrate that nitrate assimilation and signaling pathways are integrated into key biological processes that promote the secondary growth of P. ginseng storage roots.

Abstract Background Plants memorize previous pathogen attacks and are “primed” to produce a faster and stronger defense response, which is critical for defense against pathogens. In plants, cytosines in transposons and gene bodies are reported to be frequently methylated. Demethylation of transposons can affect disease resistance by regulating the transcription of nearby genes during defense response, but the role of gene body methylation (GBM) in defense responses remains unclear. Results Here, we find that loss of the chromatin remodeler decrease in DNA methylation 1 (ddm1) synergistically enhances resistance to a biotrophic pathogen under mild chemical priming. DDM1 mediates gene body methylation at a subset of stress-responsive genes with distinct chromatin properties from conventional gene body methylated genes. Decreased gene body methylation in loss of ddm1 mutant is associated with hyperactivation of these gene body methylated genes. Knockout of glyoxysomal protein kinase 1 (gpk1), a hypomethylated gene in ddm1 loss-of-function mutant, impairs priming of defense response to pathogen infection in Arabidopsis. We also find that DDM1-mediated gene body methylation is prone to epigenetic variation among natural Arabidopsis populations, and GPK1 expression is hyperactivated in natural variants with demethylated GPK1. Conclusions Based on our collective results, we propose that DDM1-mediated GBM provides a possible regulatory axis for plants to modulate the inducibility of the immune response.

Ping-Ying Chang,1,2 Jian-Hong Chen,1– 3 Hui-Wen Cheng,1 Yen-Chin Wang4 1Department of Psychiatry, Chang-Gung Medical Foundation Keelung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China; 2School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China; 3Doctoral Program for Transnational Sport Management and Innovation, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China; 4Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jian-Hong Chen, Email psydr.jc@gmail.comObjective: Prevention, de-escalation, and management of violence in the acute psychiatric ward is essential. Few studies have focused on differences in the duration of high-violence risk between different profiles of high-violence risk. This study aimed to analyze the data of high-violence patients and duration of high-violence risk to provide a new perspective on violence prevention, de-escalation and management.Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included 171 patients who were treated in the acute psychiatric ward of Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 2016 and June 2020, and who were assessed daily as having high violence risk. All patient data were collected from electronic hospital records (eg, age, gender, diagnosis, violence history, self-harm history, and admission condition (involuntary admission, discharged against medical advice). Between-group differences in disease severity, use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepine, and duration of high violence risk were analyzed using regression analysis.Results: Only patients’ age was significantly associated with duration of high-violence risk (P = 0.028), making it predictive of longer duration of high-violence risk. In patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder, higher severity was significantly associated with longer duration of high-violence risk (P = 0.007, P = 0.001, respectively).Conclusion: Only age is a predictor of longer duration of violence risk in psychiatric patients, although higher severity is associated with higher violence risk. Study results may help management and healthcare staff better understand how quickly or slowly violence risk will decrease and may improve efficient use of healthcare resources and individualized patient-centered care.Keywords: acute psychiatric ward, predictor, risk assessment, severity, violence risk

Understanding soil phosphorus (P) distribution and its key drivers is fundamental for sustainable P management. In this study, a 21-year fertilization experiment on black soil was carried out, setting up five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control (CK), nitrogen and potassium (NK), nitrogen, P and potassium (NPK), NPK plus straw (NPKS), and NPK plus manure (NPKM). The distribution and effecting factors of P pools within soil aggregates were investigated. Compared to CK, the NK and NPK treatments decreased calcium-associated P concentration in all aggregate fractions. Meanwhile, the NPK treatment significantly increased the organic P extracted from NaOH in unaggregated particles (3, and NaOH increased as aggregate size increased. This was mainly because straw or manure addition promoted soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in aggregates, creating more sorption sites via association with amorphous metallic minerals, and, thus, facilitating P accumulation. In conclusion, decreasing soil pH by chemical fertilizers is an effective strategy for mobilizing soil P, whereas increasing SOC by straw or manure facilitates P accumulation.

In pursuit of sustainable development and mitigation of the intermittency challenge associated with solar energy, this study proposes a hybrid solar system integrating waste heat incineration alongside solar power generation and distinct heat provision. Leveraging the superior energy efficiency of the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in medium- and low-temperature scenarios, a parabolic trough collector (PTC) is selected for its cost-effectiveness and long-term operational reliability. Dowtherm A and toluene are identified as the optimal working fluids for the PTC and ORC, respectively. To optimize this complex system, a combination of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and multi-objective optimization via non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is employed, streamlining the optimization process. Thermal dynamic simulations are executed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES, V11) to validate the proposed system’s performance. TOPSIS is employed to identify the optimal solution from the Pareto frontier. The results indicate that the hourly cost of the system stands at USD 43.08, with an exergy efficiency of 22.98%. The economic analysis reveals that the solar collector constitutes the most significant portion of the total initial cost, representing 53.2%, followed by the turbine, thermoelectric generator (TEG), and waste heat incineration, in descending order of costliness.

1,3,6-Trigalloylglucose is a natural compound that can be extracted from the aqueous extracts of ripe fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz, commonly known as “Haritaki”. The potential anti-Helicobacter pylori (HP) activity of this compound has not been extensively studied or confirmed in scientific research. This compound was isolated using a semi-preparative liquid chromatography (LC) system and identified through Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–MS/MS (UPLC-MS/MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Its role was evaluated using Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assay, scanning electron microscope (SEM), inhibiting kinetics curves, urea fast test, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Western blot, and Griess Reagent System. Results showed that this compound effectively inhibits the growth of HP strain ATCC 700392, damages the HP structure, and suppresses the Cytotoxin-associated gene A (Cag A) protein, a crucial factor in HP infection. Importantly, it exhibits selective antimicrobial activity without impacting normal epithelial cells GES-1. In vitro studies have revealed that 1,3,6-Trigalloylglucose acts as an anti-adhesive agent, disrupting the adhesion of HP to host cells, a critical step in HP infection. These findings underscore the potential of 1,3,6-Trigalloylglucose as a targeted therapeutic agent against HP infections.

Abstract The involvement of endothelial barrier function in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and its upstream regulators remains unknown. Single‐cell RNA sequencing shows that disrupted endothelial focal junction is an early (3 days) and persistent (28 days) event during Angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced AAA progression. Consistently, mRNA sequencing on human aortic dissection tissues confirmed downregulated expression of endothelial barrier‐related genes. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), a negative regulator of AAA, is found to be upregulated in the intimal media of AAA samples, leading to testing its role in early‐stage AAA. ALDH2 knockdown/knockout specifically in endothelial cells (ECs) significantly increases expression of EC barrier markers related to focal adhesion and tight junction, restores endothelial barrier integrity, and suppresses early aortic dilation of AAA (7 and 14 days post‐Ang II). Mechanically, ELK3 acts as an ALDH2 downstream regulator for endothelial barrier function preservation. At the molecular level, ALDH2 directly binds to LIN28B, a regulator of ELK3 mRNA stability, hindering LIN28B binding to ELK3 mRNA, thereby depressing ELK3 expression and impairing endothelial barrier function. Therefore, preserving vascular endothelial barrier integrity via ALDH2‐specific knockdown in ECs holds therapeutic potential in the early management of AAAs.

As an activator and alarm signal for tumor innate immune therapy, manganese ions can activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway directly or indirectly. However, due to their high positive charge, manganese ions cannot freely penetrate biological membranes, and it is challenging to target them to the cells. Liposomes have been widely used as an effective drug delivery system. Using metal ions as active carriers to establish a gradient is an effective way to load chemotherapy drugs, but its low delivery efficiency and significant degradation of effective drugs by lysosomes may result in reduced therapeutic effects. In this study, we constructed an active drug-loading liposome (LMD@LA) that enters cells through thiol-mediated endocytosis to encapsulate both the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin and manganese ions to achieve sustained manganese ion release. The combination of chemotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death and innate immune therapy with manganese ions was used to treat tumors. The liposome was able to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, reduce the resistance of B16F10 and 4T1 tumors to doxorubicin, and decrease the migration and invasion abilities of tumors by binding with lipoic acid.

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death with the lowest 5-year survival rate. Heterogeneity, difficulty in diagnosis, and rapid metastatic progression are the causes of high mortality in pancreatic cancer. Recent studies have shown that Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is overexpressed in pancreatic cancers, and these patients have a worse prognosis. Recently, PRMT5 as an anti-cancer target has gained considerable interest. In this study, we investigated whether inhibition of PRMT5 activity was synergistic with blockade of TGF-β1 signaling, which plays an important role in the construction of the desmoplastic matrix in pancreatic cancer and induces therapeutic vulnerability. Compared with T1-44, a selective inhibitor of PRMT5 activity, the combination of T1-44 with the TGF-β1 signaling inhibitor Vactosertib significantly reduced tumor size and surrounding tissue invasion and significantly improved long-term survival. RNA sequencing analysis of mouse tumors revealed that the combination of T1-44 and Vactosertib significantly altered the expression of genes involved in cancer progression, such as cell migration, extracellular matrix, and apoptotic processes. In particular, the expression of Btg2, known as a tumor suppressor factor in various cancers, was markedly induced by combination treatment. Ectopic overexpression of Btg2 inhibited the EMT response, blocking cell migration, and promoted cancer cell death. These data demonstrate that the combination therapy of T1-44 with Vactosertib is synergistic for pancreatic cancer, suggesting that this novel combination therapy has value in the treatment strategy of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Abstract Background Histone methylation modification plays an irreplaceable role in the wheezing diseases. The aim of this study was to explore whether azithromycin (AZM) attenuates post-inflammatory wheezing through inhibiting hypermethylation of histone H3K27me3 mediated by EZH2. Results A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 227 children who underwent fiber-optic bronchoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for analyses. The expressions of IL-6, IL-2, NF-κB P65, EZH2 and H3K27me3 in the BALF of wheezing cases were significantly increased when compared with levels in non-wheezing cases (P

This study aims to explore the impact of dual learning on preschool teachers' thriving at work and creative performance, and whether preschool teachers' thriving at work acts as a mediating factor in the relationship between dual learning and teachers' creative work. The participants were preschool teachers from Taiwan. Convenience sampling was used, resulting in a sample size of 388 people. The study results found that preschool teachers' dual learning, which includes both exploitative and exploratory learning, can improve the novelty and usefulness of their work and creativity. Furthermore, the study found that preschool teachers' thriving at work mediates the relationship between dual learning and creativity. This study also discovered that dual learning should combine and complement both exploitative and exploratory learning to achieve balance and the most significant effect. Therefore, it is essential to first help preschool teachers engage in both exploitative and exploratory learning. Schools and kindergartens can also provide relevant courses to help teachers combine these two learning methods. By integrating and complementing their advantages and disadvantages, a balance in learning can be achieved, thereby promoting teachers' creativity in their work.

Background: Low muscle mass, or sarcopenia, predicts poorer treatment outcomes in breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the main treatment to improve surgical outcomes for breast cancer, yet few studies have assessed the relationships between different chemotherapy regimens and sarcopenia. This study compared body composition change between two neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens: AC-T (anthracyclines and cyclophosphamide followed by a taxane) and TCHP (docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab). Methods: This study included 298 patients with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2017 and 2020 at one university hospital. Body composition was assessed by computed tomography. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine predictors of SMI change. Results: Patients receiving TCHP showed a significant mean skeletal muscle index (SMI) decrease of 1.6 cm2/m2 (SD = 3.5, p

To address the need for high-resolution imaging in lung nodule detection and overcome the limitations of the shallow imaging depth associated with high-frequency ultrasound and the complex structure of lung tissue, we successfully integrated 50 MHz ultrasound transducers with 18-gauge biopsy needles. Featuring a miniaturized size of 0.6 × 0.5 × 0.5 mm3, the 50 MHz micromachined 1-3 composite transducer was tested to perform mechanical scanning of a nodule within a lung-tissue-mimicking phantom in vitro. The high-frequency transducer demonstrated the ability to achieve imaging with an axial resolution of 30 μm for measuring nodule edges. Moreover, the integrated biopsy needle prototype exhibited high accuracy (1.74% discrepancy) in estimating nodule area compared to actual dimensions in vitro. These results underscore the promising potential of biopsy-needle-integrated transducers in enhancing the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) for clinical applications.

Po-Ya Chang,1 Fuh-Yuan Shih,2 Ming-Been Lee,3 Ching-Feng Lin,4– 6 Shu-Yu Lyu1 1Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan; 2Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 3Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 4Keelung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Keelung, Taiwan; 5Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan; 6School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, TaiwanCorrespondence: Ching-Feng Lin, Keelung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Keelung, Taiwan, Email jacoblcf@kln.mohw.gov.twPurpose: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading worldwide, causing mental health concerns among people. People’s perceptions of the disease affect their psychological adaptation and health outcomes. In this study, we present people’s perceptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), level of government trust, and their psychological distress during the pandemic for examining the impact of peoples’ COVID-19 perceptions on their mental health.Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through a telephone survey in Taiwan in April 2020. Participants were randomly selected for telephone screening using a computer-assisted telephone interviewer system. A total of 1098 participants aged more than 20 years participated in the survey.Results: The mean age of participants was 47.7 ± 16.4 years. After controlling for covariates, participants who were worried about contracting COVID-19, those who believed that they had a chance of being infected with COVID-19, those who were reluctant to visit the hospital for fear of contracting the virus, those who felt that the pandemic had affected their daily life, and those with low levels of trust in the government’s capacity to manage the pandemic had anxiety, hostility, depression, interpersonal sensitivity/inferiority, and psychological symptoms.Conclusion: People’s perception of COVID-19 and public’s trust in the government’s ability to respond to the pandemic are related to psychological distress. Although the Taiwanese government may have undertaken effective epidemic control measures to address with the COVID-19 pandemic, this crisis may have still caused mental health problems in the general population. Health professionals and policy makers should pay more attention to high-risk groups among those at risk for developing mental health problems.Keywords: COVID-19, perceptions, psychological distress, mental health, fears, trust, economic crisis

A large number of photovoltaic grid-connected operation will cause the decline of system frequency response performance, and the identification of system time-varying inertia is helpful for photovoltaic to participate in the setting of frequency regulation parameters. In view of this, an optimization strategy of photovoltaic frequency regulation control parameters was proposed by identifying the equivalent inertia and damping. Firstly, based on the equivalent model of photovoltaic grid connected system, the prediction error method (PEM) was used to identify the equivalent inertia and damping of the system. Then, the state space prediction model of frequency response of photovoltaic grid connected system was further established, and the parameters of primary frequency modulation coefficient and virtual inertia coefficient of photovoltaic frequency modulation control were optimized to ensure that the equivalent inertia and damping of the system meet the requirements of system frequency modulation. Finallly, the simulation model of three machines and nine nodes standard system was built based on Matlab / Simulink. The simulation results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the frequency characteristics of photovoltaic grid-connected system and improve the flexibility of photovoltaic frequency regulation, so that the lowest frequency and the maximum frequency change rate increase by 0.1 Hz and decrease by about 50% compared with the traditional primary frequency regulation.

This study aims to evaluate associations between the immunochromatographic rapid test technique and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in Taiwan. All patients received post-prostate massage urine (VB3) Trichomonas rapid tests. The demographic characteristics and urogenital symptoms of CP/CPPS were recorded. Routine urinalysis of VB3 was also performed, and laboratory examination results of semen were recorded if available. A total of 29 patients with TV infection and 109 without TV infection were enrolled, which reflected that the prevalence in patients with TV infection was approximately 21%. Patients with TV infection displayed a significantly higher frequency of suprapubic/lower abdominal pain (p = 0.034), semen leukocyte > 5/high-power field (HPF) (p = 0.020), and an inflammatory type (category IIIA) (p = 0.005) than patients without TV infection. A higher prevalence of TV infection was found in patients with category IIIA (47.37%). No significant difference was found in the symptom duration and other clinical symptoms. In conclusion, the high prevalence of TV infection was revealed in CP/CPPS patients using the VB3 rapid Trichomonas test, especially in CP/CPPS patients with category IIIA. Thus, rapid TV testing might be vital for CP/CPPS patients in the hospital.

Previous studies suggested that Syzygium aromaticum dried buds (S. aromaticum), which is an edible and medicinal herb, possess potential effect on innate immunity and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection-related inflammation, but the specific action and especially the molecular mechanism have not been well elucidated. The objective of this work was to further explore the effects of Syzygium aromaticum aqueous extract (AE) on innate immunity and H. pylori related-inflammation, especially the potential molecular mechanisms involved. In order to accomplish this, analyses of the phagocytic rate, NO content, ROS level, as well as ELISA, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting et al. assays were carried out. Results indicated that AE increased phagocytic rate, ROS, and cytokine expression levels, meanwhile activated TLR4/MyD88 mediated NF-κB and MAPK pathways and decreased Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. AE also prevented the release of pro-inflammatory substances made by H. pylori-infected RAW 264.7 and GES-1 cells. All things considered, it was shown that AE's ability to boost innate immunity involves inducing macrophage M1 polarization by increasing TLR4/MyD88-mediated NF-κB and MAPK pathways and blocking Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Additionally, by lowering the production of pro-inflammatory molecules, AE can lessen the inflammation brought on by H. pylori. Considering that S. aromaticum is an edible herbal medicine with immune-enhancing activity and good safety, it deserves further study and utilization for treating diseases including H. pylori infection-related disorders.

Sanguisorba officinalis L., a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) called DiYu (DY) in China, has a strong tradition of utilization as a scorching, blood-cooling, and hemostatic medication, and was used for cancer prevention and treatment due to its potential immune-enhancing and hematological toxicity-reducing effects. Previous studies have reported significant effects of DY on cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC), which is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The first-line cure 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plays decisive commerce in the sedative of CRC as a clinically available chemotherapeutic agent. One of the primary causes of cancer treatment failure is the acquisition of chemotherapy drug resistance. In order to successfully combat the emergence of chemoresistance, it is essential to identify herbs or traditional Chinese medicine that have adjuvant therapeutic effects on CRC. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether DY could improve the sensitivity, conquer the chemoresistance of 5-FU-resistant CRC cells, and investigate its intrinsic mechanism. Materials and methods: MTT, Hoechst 33258 staining, and flow cytometry assays were used to determine the anticancer activity of DY alone or in combination with 5-FU against 5-FU-resistant CRC cells (RKO-R and HCT15-R) and wound healing assays were conducted to detect cell migration. Transcriptomic techniques were carried out to explore the effect and mechanism of DY on drug-resistant CRC cells. Western Blot and RT q-PCR assays were performed to validate the mechanism by which DY overcomes drug-resistant CRC cells. Results: These results indicated that DY alone or in combination with 5-FU significantly inhibited the proliferation and the migration of resistant CRC cells, and potentiated the susceptibility of 5-FU to drug-resistant CRC cells. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the mechanisms of drug resistance in CRC cells and DY against drug-resistant CRC cells highly overlapped, involved in the modulation of biological processes such as cell migration, positive regulation of protein binding and cytoskeleton, and MAPK (Ras-ERK-MEK), PI3K/Akt, and other signaling pathways. Moreover, DY can mediate the expression of p-R-Ras, p-ERK1/2, p-MEK1/2, p-PI3K, p-AKT, HIF-1A and VEGFA proteins. In addition, DY significantly suppressed the expression of AKT3, NEDD9, BMI-1, and CXCL1 genes in resistant CRC cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, DY could inhibit the proliferation and migration of 5-FU-resistant cells and strengthen the sensitivity of 5-FU to CRC-resistant cells. Furthermore, DY may prevail over chemoresistance through the Ras/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways. These findings imply that DY may be a potential drug for clinical treatment or adjuvant treatment of drug-resistant CRC.

We present measurements of two-particle angular correlations of charged particles emitted in high-energy collisions using data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1992 to 2000. The correlation functions are measured over a wide range of pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle as a function of charged particle multiplicity. Previous measurement with LEP1 data at √S = 91 GeV shows no significant long-range correlations in either lab coordinate or thrust coordinate analyses, with associated yield distributions in agreement with predictions from the PYTHIA v6.1 event generator. The use of higher collision energy LEP2 data allows access to not only higher event multiplicity but also additional production channels beyond the e+e- → y* / Z → q¯q process. Notably, the highest multiplicity bin (Ntrk ≥ 50) suggests a tantalizing disagreement with MC and implies the potential to search for collective phenomena in small systems. This measurement is pushing the studies of long-range correlation to the smallest collision system limit and includes the first flow coefficient (vn) measurement in e+e− collisions, which uses a Fourier decomposition analysis to quantify the anisotropy in the azimuthal two-particle correlation as a function of charged particles’ transverse momentum. This work supplements our understanding of small-system references to long-range correlations observed in proton-proton, proton-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will be upgraded to Highluminosity LHC, increasing the number of simultaneous proton-proton collisions (pileup, PU) by several-folds. The harsher PU conditions lead to exponentially increasing combinatorics in charged particle tracking, placing a large demand on the computing resources. The projection on required computing resources exceeds the computing budget with the current algorithms running on single-thread CPUs. Motivated by the rise of heterogeneous computing in high-performance computing centers, we present Line Segment Tracking (LST), a highly parallelizeable algorithm that can run efficiently on GPUs and is being integrated to the CMS experiment central software. The usage of Alpaka framework for the algorithm implementation allows better portability of the code to run on different types of commercial parallel processors allowing flexibility on which processors to purchase for the experiment in the future. To verify a similar computational performance with a native solution, the Alpaka implementation is compared with a CUDA one on a NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPU. The algorithm creates short track segments in parallel, and progressively form higher level objects by linking segments that are consistent with genuine physics track hypothesis. The computing and physics performance are on par with the latest, multi-CPU versions of existing CMS tracking algorithms.

Spin-orbit torques driven by the conventional spin Hall effect are widely used to switch magnetization, but this approach is nondeterministic and inefficient for magnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Here, the authors demonstrate deterministic, field-free switching in a Ni/Co multilayer by exploiting the magnetic spin Hall effect in adjacent Mn3Sn.