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Abstract Background Remimazolam tosilate represents the novel ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine drug. This work focused on exploring whether remimazolam tosilate was effective and safe in anesthesia for short otolaryngology surgery in adults, and optimize its medication regimen, thus providing a theoretical basis for its widespread clinical application. Methods The present unicentric, double-blind, randomized controlled study enrolled altogether 85 otolaryngology surgery patients aged 18–60 years, and they were divided as remimazolam (RM, 42 cases) or midazolam (MD, 43 cases) group. Efficacy outcomes included successful sedation time, sedation effect (Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) score), bispectral index values (BIS), and postoperative recovery. The safety outcomes were patient vital signs at each time point (before induction (T0), 2 min and 5 min after trial drug treatment (T1 and T2 separately), during successful intubation (T3), at the end of surgery (T4), during extubation (T5), and at the time of exiting the room (T6)), any adverse reactions (AEs) during perioperative period, and patient satisfaction with anesthesia experience. Results Demographics were not significantly different in both groups (P > 0.05). RM group had significantly decreased successful sedation time relative to MD group (P 0.05), but RM group exhibited decreased discharge time compared with MD group (P

Background/Aims: Metabolic syndrome is common in patients with acute pancreatitis and its components have been reported to be associated with infectious complications. In this post hoc analysis, we aimed to evaluate whether metabolic abnormalities impact the effect of immune-enhancing thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) therapy in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) patients. Methods: All data were obtained from the database for a multicenter randomized clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of Tα1 in ANP patients. Patients who discontinued the Tα1 treatment prematurely were excluded. The primary outcome was 90-day infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) after randomization. Three post hoc subgroups were defined based on the presence of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or both at the time of randomization. In each subgroup, the correlation between Tα1 and 90-day IPN was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. Multivariable propensity-score methods were used to control potential bias. Results: Overall, 502 participants were included in this post hoc analysis (248 received Tα1 treatment and 254 received matching placebo treatment). Among them, 271 (54.0%) had hyperglycemia, 371 (73.9%) had hypertriglyceridemia and 229 (45.6%) had both. Tα1 therapy was associated with reduced incidence of IPN among patients with hyperglycemia (18.8% vs 29.7%: hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 0.97; p=0.03), but not in the other subgroups. Additional multivariate regression models using three propensity-score methods yielded similar results. Conclusions: Among ANP patients with hyperglycemia, immune-enhancing Tα1 treatment was associated with a reduced risk of IPN (ClinicalTrials.gov, Registry number: NCT02473406).

Abstract The giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is one of the most widely cultured crustacean species. In recent years, its aquaculture has faced challenges, including the degradation of germplasm resources and the emergence of viral diseases. Genomic information can be a valuable resource for developing molecular breeding programs for this important aquaculture species. Here we constructed a high-quality reference genome for M. rosenbergii by integrating Nanopore, Illumina, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technologies. The final genome assembly is 3.18 Gb in size, with scaffold N50 and contig N50 of 62.73 Mb and 8.92 Mb, respectively. Approximately 98.6% of the assembled sequences were anchored into 59 pseudo-chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) benchmark of the genome assembly reached 94.5%. Repetitive sequences comprise 43.77% of the assembled genome, and 17,436 protein-coding genes were annotated. The high-quality genome of M. rosenbergii will empower molecular breeding efforts and provide invaluable resources for comparative genomic analysis of decapod species.

Abstract Background The introduction of non-native species is a primary driver of biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems. The redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a freshwater species that exhibits tolerance to hypoxic stresses, fluctuating temperatures, high ammonia concentration. These hardy physiological characteristics make C. quadricarinatus a popular aquaculture species and a potential invasive species that can negatively impact tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Investigating the genomic basis of environmental tolerances and immune adaptation in C. quadricarinatus will facilitate the development of management strategies of this potential invasive species. Results We constructed a chromosome-level genome of C. quadricarinatus by integrating Nanopore and PacBio techniques. Comparative genomic analysis suggested that transposable elements and tandem repeats drove genome size evolution in decapod crustaceans. The expansion of nine immune-related gene families contributed to the disease resistance of C. quadricarinatus. Three hypoxia-related genes (KDM3A, KDM5A, HMOX2) were identified as being subjected to positive selection in C. quadricarinatus. Additionally, in vivo analysis revealed that upregulating KDM5A was crucial for hypoxic response in C. quadricarinatus. Knockdown of KDM5A impaired hypoxia tolerance in this species. Conclusions Our results provide the genomic basis for hypoxic tolerance and immune adaptation in C. quadricarinatus, facilitating the management of this potential invasive species. Additionally, in vivo analysis in C. quadricarinatus suggests that the role of KDM5A in the hypoxic response of animals is complex.

Abstract The early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) remains challenging in the clinic. Primovist‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aids HCC diagnosis but loses sensitivity for tumors

IntroductionMyocardial infarction (MI), a leading cause of heart failure, is characterized by the loss of cardiomyocytes, which severely limits the heart’s regenerative capacity. The Hippo pathway, which regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis, presents a therapeutic target for cardiac regeneration. This study explores the efficacy of Lats-IN-1, a LATS1/2 kinase inhibitor targeting the Hippo pathway, as a novel treatment for MI.MethodsUsing male C57BL/6 mice subjected to surgically induced MI, we administered Lats-IN-1 and evaluated the effects on cardiac function, infarct size, cardiomyocyte proliferation, and apoptosis through various assays and echocardiographic assessments.ResultsOur results demonstrate that Lats-IN-1 significantly improves cardiac function, as evidenced by enhanced ejection fraction and reduced ventricular dimensions. Additionally, Lats-IN-1 decreased infarct size and apoptosis rates while promoting cardiomyocyte proliferation. These findings suggest that Lats-IN-1 promotes cardiac repair and regeneration.DiscussionBy modulating the Hippo pathway and reducing apoptosis markers, Lats-IN-1 represents a promising therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in heart diseases characterized by cardiomyocyte loss. This study highlights the critical role of the Hippo pathway in facilitating cardiac regeneration.

Introduction Pain is common in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intravenous opioids are recommended as first-line therapy for pain management; however, opioids have adverse side effects. Based on low-quality evidence, low-dose ketamine is therefore recommended as an opioid adjunct to reduce opioid consumption. Esketamine is an alternative to ketamine with greater efficacy and fewer side effects. However, evidence on the use of esketamine in patients receiving mechanical ventilation is lacking. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of esketamine as an adjunct to sufentanil for analgesic therapy in non-surgical ICU patients under mechanical ventilation.Methods and analysis This ongoing multicentre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial is being conducted at six ICUs in China. 132 non-surgical patients under mechanical ventilation will be randomly assigned to the standard care and S-ketamine groups at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the standard care group received a minimal dose of sufentanil as the sole analgesic agent. Patients in the S-ketamine group received a minimal dose of sufentanil in addition to an esketamine infusion at a fixed rate of 0.2 mg/kg/hour for analgesia. The primary outcome is mean hourly sufentanil consumption during the treatment period.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital (CZLS2022067-A). Participants are required to provide informed consent. The results of this trial will be reported in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200058933.

Abstract Background The general sluggish clearance kinetics of functional inorganic nanoparticles tend to raise potential biosafety concerns for in vivo applications. Renal clearance is a possible elimination pathway for functional inorganic nanoparticles delivered through intravenous injection, but largely depending on the surface physical chemical properties of a given particle apart from its size and shape. Results In this study, three small-molecule ligands that bear a diphosphonate (DP) group, but different terminal groups on the other side, i.e., anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic groups, were synthesized and used to modify ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles for evaluating the surface structure-dependent renal clearance behaviors. Systematic studies suggested that the variation of the surface ligands did not significantly increase the hydrodynamic diameter of ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles, nor influence their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement effects. Among the three particle samples, Fe3O4 nanoparticle coated with zwitterionic ligands, i.e., Fe3O4@DMSA, exhibited optimal renal clearance efficiency and reduced reticuloendothelial uptake. Therefore, this sample was further labeled with 99mTc through the DP moieties to achieve a renal-clearable MRI/single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dual-modality imaging nanoprobe. The resulting nanoprobe showed satisfactory imaging capacities in a 4T1 xenograft tumor mouse model. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of Fe3O4@DMSA was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo through safety assessment experiments. Conclusions We believe that the current investigations offer a simple and effective strategy for constructing renal-clearable nanoparticles for precise disease diagnosis. Graphical Abstract

Cancer is a serious global public health issue, and a great deal of research has been made to treat cancer. Of these, discovery of promising compounds that effectively fight cancer always has been the main point of interest in pharmaceutical research. Carnosic acid (CA) is a phenolic diterpenoid compound widely present in Lamiaceae plants such as Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that CA has significant anti-cancer activity, such as leukaemia, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, oral cancer, etc. The potential mechanisms involved by CA, including inhibiting cell proliferation, inhibiting metastasis, inducing cell apoptosis, stimulating autophagy, regulating the immune system, reducing inflammation, regulating the gut microbiota, and enhancing the effects of other anti-cancer drugs. This article reviews the biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, safety and toxicity, as well as the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of the anticancer activity of CA. This will contribute to the development of CA or CA-containing functional foods for the prevention and treatment of cancer, providing important advances in the advancement of cancer treatment strategies.

With a long-term usage, highways usually suffer from diverse pavement defects, which causes burdensome pavement defect detections on vast areas. To address this issue, the real-time and vehicle-mounted technique has been proposed and proved to be an efficient solution. However, as the detection systems are deployed on edge devices in complex environments, there exist several practical challenges in terms of real-time speed, detection performance and computational overhead. This study first provides a dataset captured by real-time and vehicle-mounted camera system. The height and angle where the high frame rate camera locates has been carefully designed to achieve the acquisitions of real-time images on highways. Then, this study proposes a novel lightweight network model named Real-time Pavement Detection of You Only Look Once (RPD-YOLO) with a lightweight Light C3 Ghost (LCG) block and an LCG Path Aggregation Network (LCG-PAN) neck structure, which can fully reduce the computational overheads and maintain a high precision and high speed during detection. Through a series of comparison experiments with current models, RPD-YOLO excels in overall balanced performance and can be deployed in resource-constrained devices to achieve real-time pavement defect detection.

This paper introduces a new device concept and outlines the fabrication process of a bipolar junction transistor based on an IGZO/NiO/PbSe nanoband array heterostructure. We performed comprehensive electrical property testing and characterization analysis on the device to thoroughly assess the device's performance. The heterojunction structure efficiently amplifies the opto-electric responsivity and enhances the transmission efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Significantly, the phototransistor demonstrates a high photoresponsivity of 4000 A/W under an incident light power of 1 μW/cm2 and a wavelength of 850 nm. Hence, a solution detection system integrated with a bipolar phototransistor is designed. Through the analysis of the output signals, the system accurately determines the identity of the solute present in the solution.

Abstract Our study focused on evaluating the effect of three common vasoactive drugs on the prognosis of elderly patients with sepsis and pre-existing heart failure. The Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database, Version 1.4, was used. Our study included critically ill older patients (aged ≥ 65 years) with sepsis and heart failure treated with vasoactive drugs. Patients were divided into norepinephrine group, norepinephrine combined with vasopressin group, and dopamine group. The baseline characteristics, primary outcome, and secondary outcome measures were compared among the three groups. In total, 1357 elderly patients were included (766 in norepinephrine group, 250 in norepinephrine combined with vasopressin group, and 341 in dopamine group). After propensity score matching, statistically significant differences in 28-d and 90-d mortality (P = 0.046, P = 0.031) were observed; meanwhile, there was a significant difference in the incidence of mechanical ventilation, AKI, and malignant arrhythmias. Cox regression analysis revealed that norepinephrine combined with vasopressin decreased 5-year survival statistically(P = 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated dopamine as an independent risk factor in reducing ICU and hospital length of stay (P = 0.001, P = 0.017). Logistic regression analysis showed dopamine was an independent risk factor for new-onset arrhythmias (P

Objective: Identify transcription factors and target genes associated with prostate cancer, offering new therapy approaches. Methods: Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) investigates early 2 factor (E2F) transcription factor family roles in prostate cancer using the TCGA database. Survival analysis examined E2F factors and patient survival connections. Dataset analysis identified E2F1-involved key genes. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qPCR), which combines ultrasound-guided methods to collect clinical samples from prostate cancer patients, was utilized to determine the expression levels of E2F1 and its target genes in patient samples and cancer cells. The effect of E2F1 and its target gene expression alterations on prostate cell proliferation was examined utilizing the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) technique. Double fluorescence enzyme experiment verified E2F1-target gene connections. Results: E2F family genes induce prostate cancer and show correlated co-expression. E2F1, E2F2, E2F3, E2F5, and E2F7 were considerably over-expressed in prostate cancer tissues. While E2F4 and E2F6 were notably underexpressed, there was no statistically important change in the E2F8 expression between prostate cancer and surrounding tissues. High expression of E2F genes is associated with lower patient survival. The transmemrane protein 132 (TMEM132A) was identified as a key gene for E2F1 action and is associated with poor prognosis in patients. The essential gene for E2F1 function, TMEM132A, was discovered. According to the qPCR results, E2F1 and TMEM132A are considerably expressed in cancer cells and patient samples. Interfering with its expression significantly inhibited the proliferation ability of cancer cells. The double luciferase experiment showed that E2F1 regulates the expression level in phase by binding directly to the TMEM132A promoter. Conclusions: The E2F transcription factor family induces prostate cancer and correlates with poor prognosis. E2F1 directly regulates TMEM132A by binding its promoter and controlling the degree of protein expression, thereby affecting cancer cell growth.

Edwardsiella piscicida, a significant intracellular pathogen, is widely distributed in aquatic environments and causes systemic infection in various species. Therefore, it’s essential to develop a rapid, uncomplicated and sensitive method for detection of E. piscicida in order to control the transmission of this pathogen effectively. The recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay is a newly developed, rapid detection method that has been utilized for various pathogens. In the present study, a real-time RAA (RT-RAA) assay, targeting the conserved positions of the EvpP gene, was successfully established for the detection of E. piscicida. This assay can be performed in a one-step single tube reaction at a temperature of 39°C within 20 min. The RT-RAA assay exhibited a sensitivity of 42 copies per reaction at a 95% probability, which was comparable to the sensitivity of real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. The specificity assay confirmed that the RT-RAA assay specifically targeted E. piscicida without any cross-reactivity with other important marine bacterial pathogens. Moreover, when clinical specimens were utilized, a perfect agreement of 100% was achieved between the RT-RAA and qPCR assays, resulting a kappa value of 1. These findings indicated that the established RT-RAA assay provided a viable alternative for the rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of E. piscicida.

Abstract Background Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are common clinical problems that arise from various reasons. The differential diagnosis of benign and malignant VCFs is challenging. This study was designed to develop and validate a radiomics model to predict benign and malignant VCFs with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT). Results Twenty-six features (9 PET features and 17 CT features) and eight clinical variables (age, SUVmax, SUVpeak, SULmax, SULpeak, osteolytic destruction, fracture line, and appendices/posterior vertebrae involvement) were ultimately selected. The area under the curve (AUCs) of the radiomics and clinical–radiomics models were significantly different from that of the clinical model in both the training group (0.986, 0.987 vs. 0.884, p 0.05). The accuracies of the radiomics and clinical–radiomics models were 94.0% and 95.0% in the training group and 93.2% and 93.2% in the test group, respectively. The three models all showed good calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, p > 0.05). According to the decision curve analysis (DCA), the radiomics model and clinical–radiomics model exhibited higher overall net benefit than the clinical model. Conclusions The PET/CT-based radiomics and clinical–radiomics models showed good performance in distinguishing between malignant and benign VCFs. The radiomics method may be valuable for treatment decision-making.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogen and one of the leading causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia and infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Murepavadin is a peptidomimetic that specifically targets outer-membrane lipopolysaccharide transport protein LptD of P. aeruginosa. In this study, we find that murepavadin enhances the bactericidal efficacy of ciprofloxacin. We further demonstrate that murepavadin increases intracellular accumulation of ciprofloxacin by suppressing drug efflux. In addition, the murepavadin–ciprofloxacin combination exhibits a synergistic bactericidal effect in an acute murine pneumonia model. In conclusion, our results identify an effective drug combination for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.

High-resolution and thermal infrared hyperspectral data acquired from the Thermal Infrared Airborne Spectrographic Imager (TASI) have been recognized as efficient tools in geology, demonstrating significant potential for rock discernment. Deep learning (DL), as an advanced technology, has driven substantial advancements in lithological mapping by automatically extracting high-level semantic features from images to enhance recognition accuracy. However, gathering sufficient high-quality lithological samples for model training is challenging in many scenarios, posing limitations for data-driven DL approaches. Moreover, existing sample collection approaches are plagued by limited verifiability, subjective bias, and variation in the spectra of the same class at different locations. To tackle these challenges, a novel sample generation method called multi-lithology spectra sample selection (MLS3) is first employed. This method involves multiple steps: multiple spectra extraction, spectra combination and optimization, lithological type identification, and sample selection. In this study, the TASI hyperspectral data collected from the Liuyuan area in Gansu Province, China, were used as experimental data. Samples generated based on MLS3 were fed into five typical DL models, including two-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D-CNN), hybrid spectral CNN (HybridSN), multiscale residual network (MSRN), spectral-spatial residual network (SSRN), and spectral partitioning residual network (SPRN) for lithological mapping. Among these models, the accuracy of the SPRN reaches 84.03%, outperforming the other algorithms. Furthermore, MLS3 demonstrates superior performance, achieving an overall accuracy of 2.25–6.96% higher than other sample collection methods when SPRN is used as the DL framework. In general, MLS3 enables both the quantity and quality of samples, providing inspiration for the application of DL to hyperspectral lithological mapping.

The digital economy and the high-quality development of the marine economy influence each other. This paper uses the entropy-TOPSIS method to construct a total of 21 secondary indicators and uses the coupling coordination model to obtain the coupling coordination level and coupling coordination type of high-quality development of digital economy and marine economy of 11 coastal provinces and cities in China from 2013 to 2019. The study found that the development of the digital economy in 11 coastal provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) in China showed a gradual upward trend, while the high-quality development trend of the marine economy was relatively stable. From 2013 to 2019, the coupling degree of the digital economy and high-quality marine development in most coastal areas was stable and maintained a good dynamic correlation. While the interaction between the high-quality development of the digital economy and the marine economy has been enhanced, the overall development level of the two systems has also been improved.

Accurate prediction of bus arrival time is essential to achieve efficient bus dispatch and improve bus trip sharing rate. This article proposes using the improved whale optimization algorithm–long short-term memory (IWOA–LSTM) model to predict bus arrival times and improving the whale algorithm by optimizing the hyperparameters of the LSTM model, so that the advantages and disadvantages of the whale algorithm and the LSTM model can complement each other, thus enhancing the robustness of the model. Initially, the bus arrival process and its associated influencing factors are analyzed, with certain factors being quantified to serve as input features for the prediction model. After processing the GPS data of the No. 220 bus in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, the proposed prediction model is analyzed and validated using an example and compared with other prediction models. The results show that the IWOA–LSTM prediction model has the best-fitting effect between the predicted values and actual values in all time periods. Its MAPE, RMSE, and MAE have been reduced by at least 9.47%, 12.77%, and 8.93%, respectively, and the overall R2 has been improved by at least 10.65%. These results indicate that the model has the best predictive performance.

The stabilization mechanism of soil organic matter (SOM) has received considerable attention. It is widely accepted that mineral sorption/protection is important for SOM stabilization. However, it remains unclear which organic carbon component is beneficial for mineral protection. We collected soil samples from a paddy field (TP) to compare with natural soil (NS). To illustrate the behavior of different SOM pools and their protection by particles, we separated the soils into different particle-size fractions and then removed the active minerals using an acid mixture (1 M HCl/10% HF). The different carbon pools were analyzed using stable carbon isotopes and lipid biomarkers. Our study showed that acid treatment evidently increased the extractability of free lipids, usually over 60%, which confirmed the predominant role of minerals in SOM protection. For NS, the δ13C values increased with decreasing soil particle sizes and soil depths, indicating that 13C-enriched SOM was selectively preserved. However, this trend disappeared after cultivation, which was mainly attributed to the combined effects of the input of 13C-depleted fresh SOM and decomposition of the preserved 13C-enriched SOM. Meanwhile, based on the degradation parameters of the overall lipid biomarkers, SOM showed higher degradation states in clay and silt fractions than in the sand fraction before cultivation. It is possible that the small particle-size fractions could selectively absorb highly degraded SOM. The clay-associated SOM showed a low degradation state, but its carbon content was low after cultivation. We propose that the previously protected SOM was degraded after cultivation and was replaced by relatively fresh SOM, which should be carefully monitored during SOM management.

Cultivating strategic emerging industries (SEIs) is an important strategy for most countries around the world to seize the economic frontier. Academics have not yet reached a unified conclusion on whether the adoption of industrial policy from the government level can effectively promote its R&D and innovation behaviors and contribute to industrial upgrading. Based on the data regarding 33,425 Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share-listed companies from 2007 to 2020, this article employs the difference-in-difference model (DID) and the mediated effect model to identify the effect and mechanism of how industrial policy affects the innovation behavior of SEIs. The results of this study show that the promulgation and implementation of industrial policies can help stimulate enterprises to carry out R&D and innovation behaviors and improve the innovation level of SEIs. Its promoting effect on state-owned enterprises is more significant than that on non-state-owned enterprises, and its promoting effect on the eastern and central regions is more significant than that on the western region. Further analysis reveals that government subsidies and tax incentives are important transmission mechanisms through which industrial policy affects firms’ innovation, with government subsidies playing a positive facilitating role and tax incentives having a negative impact.

Background: Malakoplakia is a rare acquired chronic infectious granulomatous condition, that is characterized by the accumulation of large granular macrophages containing basophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm termed Michaelis-Gutmann (MG) bodies. Malakoplakia most commonly involves the genitourinary system, and the second most commonly affected site is the gastrointestinal tract. Rectal malakoplakia is an unusual entity that is difficult to diagnose due to its diverse clinical manifestations and radiological findings that are similar to different diseases and advanced cancers. Case description: A 61-year-old male patient presented with difficulty in urination and defecation that started 4 months prior, along with a weight loss of 10 kg. Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scanning revealed diffuse lesions of the perirectal region with multiple lymphadenopathies and involvement of the bladder, prostate, bilateral seminal vesicles, and left ureter. 18F-FDG PET/CT MIP showed intense FDG uptake in the rectal region, and a diagnosis of an occupying lesion was proposed. Colonoscopy and histological examination of rectal lesion biopsies showed the characteristic features of malakoplakia. Conclusion: Malakoplakia of the rectum with lymph node involvement and adjacent organ extension has been extensively misdiagnosed in clinical practice, and mimics malignancy radiologically. It is of great importance for radiologists to be aware of malakoplakia when making the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant mass lesions of the rectum, although the radiologic findings are nonspecific. Endoscopic evaluation and pathologic examination of a biopsy should be recommended to make the correct diagnosis, which may prevent unnecessary surgical resection.

Aim: Chaihu-jia-Longgu-Muli-tang (CLM) is derived from “Shang Han Lun” and is traditionally prescribed for treating depression. However, there is still a lack of evidence for its antidepressant effects, and the underlying mechanism is also unclear. This study aimed to assess clinical evidence on the efficacy of CLM in patients with depression using a meta-analysis and to explore its underlying antidepressant molecular mechanisms via network pharmacology.Methods: Eight open databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of CLM alone or combined with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients with depression, evaluating the total effective rate of the treatment group (CLM alone or combined with SSRIs/SNRIs) and the control group (SNRIs or SSRIs), and comparing changes in depression scale, anxiety scale, sleep scale, inflammation indicators and adverse effects. Subsequently, the active ingredients and target genes of CLM were screened through six databases. Then Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and topology analysis were performed. Finally, Molecular docking was applied to evaluate the binding affinity between components and predicted targets.Results: Twenty-four RCTs with a total of 2,382 patients were included. For the efficacy of antidepression and adverse effects, whether CLM alone or in combination with SSRIs/SNRIs, the treatment group has no inferior to that of the control group. Additionally, the intervention of CLM + SSRI significantly improved the symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, and reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels. For network pharmacology, a total of 129 compounds and 416 intersection targets in CLM were retrieved. The interaction pathway between CLM and depression is mainly enriched in PI3K-Akt, JAK-STAT, and NF-κB signaling pathway, PIK3R1, MAPK3, and AKT1 may be the potential targets of Stigmasterol, β-stiosterol, coumestrol.Conclusion: Compared to SSRIs/SNRIs alone, CLM is more effective and safe in treating depression. It not only significantly alleviates depressive mood, but improves symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia, with fewer side effects, especially in combination with SSRI. Its antidepressant mechanism may be correlated with the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammatory response.

Various pulse regimes have been discovered in mode-locked fiber lasers with carefully designed cavity setups. However, the transitions between different types of stable pulse solutions are rarely observed in a laser with the same cavity configuration. Here, we report on the experimental observation of the transformation from stretched pulses (SPs) to dissipative solitons (DSs) in an all-polarization-maintaining dispersion-managed mode-locked Yb fiber laser for the first time. By means of the time-stretch dispersive Fourier transform technique, the temporal and spectral dynamics of transient behaviors from pulse breaking to pulse recovering are identified in real time. It is revealed that the overdriven nonlinear effect induced by pump increase triggers the wave breaking of SPs, and the improved net-cavity dispersion originated from wavelength shift helps the self-recovering of DSs. Numerical simulations validate the experimental observations and bring insights to the understanding of transient nonlinear dynamics in ultrafast fiber lasers.

Tracking the myotendinous junction (MTJ) motion in consecutive ultrasound images is essential to assess muscle and tendon interaction and understand the mechanics’ muscle-tendon unit and its pathological conditions during motion. However, the inherent speckle noises and ambiguous boundaries deter the reliable identification of MTJ, thus restricting their usage in human motion analysis. This study advances a fully automatic displacement measurement method for MTJ using prior shape knowledge on the Y-shape MTJ, precluding the influence of irregular and complicated hyperechoic structures in muscular ultrasound images. Our proposed method first adopts the junction candidate points using a combined measure of Hessian matrix and phase congruency, followed by a hierarchical clustering technique to refine the candidates approximating the position of the MTJ. Then, based on the prior knowledge of Y-shape MTJ, we finally identify the best matching junction points according to intensity distributions and directions of their branches using multiscale Gaussian templates and a Kalman filter. We evaluated our proposed method using the ultrasound scans of the gastrocnemius from 8 young, healthy volunteers. Our results present more consistent with the manual method in the MTJ tracking method than existing optical flow tracking methods, suggesting its potential in facilitating muscle and tendon function examinations with in vivo ultrasound imaging.

The large yellow croaker is one of the main economic fishes in Chinese coastal waters. In order to explore the sustainable development of the yellow croaker industry, this paper studied the industrial development law of the yellow croaker from the perspective of industrial agglomeration. The aquaculture industry and fishing industry oflarge yellow croaker were taken as the research objects in this paper, and the method of location entropy and spatial Gini coefficient were used to measure the agglomeration level of the large yellow croaker aquaculture industry and fishing industry from 2011 to 2020. The research found: from the spatial Gini coefficient according to the calculation results, the agglomeration level of the large yellow croaker aquaculture industry was higher than that of its fishing industry. The agglomeration degree of the large yellow croaker aquaculture industry in Fujian Province was the highest compared to Zhejiang and Guangdong, but showing a downward trend. The agglomeration level of the large yellow croaker aquaculture industry in Guangdong Province was relatively low and basically remained stable. The fishing output of large yellow croaker was relatively low, and its agglomeration level was relatively low, mainly concentrated in Liaoning, Guangdong and Hainan Provinces. The location entropy of the large yellow croaker fishing industry in Liaoning showed a downward trend, and the overall location entropy in Guangdong showed an upward trend. The level of industrial agglomeration of large yellow croaker fishing in China had remained basically stable, and the level of industrial agglomeration in fishing areas such as Fujian, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai was relatively low. Based on the research results and combined with the field research, this paper put forward 3 suggestions: strengthening the technical research on the breeding and processing of the giant yellow croaker; improving the implementation of relevant fishery regulations by the government, increasing the training of farmers, and improving the quality of yellow croaker; and protecting the resources of giant yellow croaker germplasm.

Abstract Background Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related mortality. Metastasis involves a complex multistep process during which individual tumor cells spread primarily through destruction of the endothelial barrier, entering the circulatory system to colonize distant organs. However, the role of the endothelial barrier as the rate-limiting process in tumor metastasis and how these processes affect the regulation of the host microenvironment at the molecular level are poorly understood. Methods Here, we analyzed differentially expressed genes in breast cancer and lung adenocarcinoma, including metastatic and recurrent specimens, using TCGA dataset. The effects of EMCN on endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo were analyzed by assessing angiogenesis and vascular permeability, respectively. We established a syngeneic mouse model of endothelial cell-specific knockout of EMCN (EMCNecko) to study the role of EMCN in tumor growth and metastasis. Transcriptome sequencing, Western blotting, qPCR and immunofluorescence confirmed important factors in the premetastatic niche. A mouse model of allograft tumor resection with lung metastasis was established to confirm the therapeutic effect of a notch inhibitor combined with an anti-TGF-β antibody. Results We found a strong correlation of EMCN deficiency with tumor recurrence and metastasis. Comparative experiments in WT and EMCNecko mice revealed that endothelial EMCN deficiency did not affect primary tumor growth significantly but strongly promoted spontaneous metastasis. EMCN deficiency was associated with gene profiles that regulate cell junctions in vitro and enhance vascular permeability in vivo. Mechanistically, EMCN deficiency mainly affected the host microenvironment and led to the formation of a lung premetastatic niche by recruiting Ly6G+ neutrophils and upregulating MMP9, S100A8/A9 and TGF-β expression. Anti-TGF-β antibody effectively eliminated TGF-β-induced neutrophil polarization, thereby reducing lung metastasis. Notably, the combination of a Notch inhibitor and an anti-TGF-β antibody effectively inhibited tumor growth and lung metastasis and prolonged the survival time of mice. Conclusions We present a new translational strategy of EMCN as a new key player in tumor lung metastasis by affecting the host microenvironment. These findings could provide a sound theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

ABSTRACT Recent advances in viromics have led to the discovery of a great diversity of RNA viruses and the identification of a large number of viral pathogens. A systematic exploration of viruses in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), one of the most important aquatic commercial species, is still lacking. Here, we characterized the RNA viromes of asymptomatic, milky disease (MD)-affected, and hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (HPNS)-affected Chinese mitten crabs collected from 3 regions in China. In total, we identified 31 RNA viruses belonging to 11 orders, 22 of which were first reported here. By comparing viral composition between samples, we observed high variation in viral communities across regions, with most of the viral species being region-specific. We proposed to establish several novel viral families or genera based on the phylogenetic relationships and genome structures of viruses discovered in this study, expanding our knowledge of viral diversity in brachyuran crustaceans. IMPORTANCE High-throughput sequencing and meta-transcriptomic analysis provide us with an efficient tool to discover unknown viruses and explore the composition of viral communities in specific species. In this study, we investigated viromes in asymptomatic and diseased Chinese mitten crabs collected from three distant locations. We observed high regional variation in the composition of viral species, highlighting the importance of multi-location sampling. In addition, we classified several novel and ICTV-unclassified viruses based on their genome structures and phylogenetic relationships, providing a new perspective on current viral taxa.

Spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) is a high-economic-value aquacultural fish widely distributed in the coastal and estuarine areas of East Asia. In August 2020, a sudden outbreak of disease accompanied by significant mortality was documented in L. maculatus reared in marine cage cultures located in Nanhuang island, Yantai, China. Two coinfected bacterial strains, namely, NH-LM1 and NH-LM2, were isolated from the diseased L. maculatus for the first time. Through phylogenetic tree analysis, biochemical characterization, and genomic investigation, the isolated bacterial strains were identified as Vibrio harveyi and Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida, respectively. The genomic analysis revealed that V. harveyi possesses two circular chromosomes and six plasmids, while P. damselae subsp. piscicida possesses two circular chromosomes and two plasmids. Furthermore, pathogenic genes analysis identified 587 and 484 genes in V. harveyi and P. damselae subsp. piscicida, respectively. Additionally, drug-sensitivity testing demonstrated both V. harveyi and P. damselae subsp. piscicida exhibited sensitivity to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, orfloxacin, minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone. Moreover, antibiotic resistance genes were detected in the plasmids of both strains. Extracellular product (ECP) analysis demonstrated that both V. harveyi and P. damselae subsp. piscicida can produce hemolysin and amylase, while V. harveyi additionally can produce caseinase and esterase. Furthermore, infected fish displayed severe histopathological alterations, including infiltration of lymphocytes, cellular degeneration and necrosis, and loose aggregation of cells. Artificial infection assays determined that the LD50 of P. damselae subsp. piscicida was 3 × 105 CFU/g, while the LD50 of V. harveyi was too low to be accurately evaluated. Furthermore, the dual infection of V. harveyi and P. damselae subsp. piscicida elicits a more rapid and pronounced mortality rate compared to single challenge, thereby potentially exacerbating the severity of the disease through synergistic effects. Ultimately, our findings offer compelling evidence for the occurrence of coinfections involving V. harveyi and P. damselae subsp. piscicida in L. maculatus, thereby contributing to the advancement of diagnostic and preventative measures for the associated disease.

Background: Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most popular vegetables in China because of its taste and health benefits. The area of production has obvious effects on the quality of Chinese cabbage. However, metabolite profiling and variations in different production areas are still unclear. Methods: Here, widely targeted metabolite analyses based on the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach were performed to study the metabolite profiling of Chinese cabbage planted in the Jiaozhou and Jinan areas. Results: A total of 531 metabolites were detected, of which 529 were present in the Chinese cabbage from both areas, 108 were found to be chemicals related to Chinese traditional medicine, and 79 were found to correspond to at least one disease. Chinese cabbage is rich in nutritious substances such as lipids, phenolic acids, amino acids and derivatives, nucleotides and derivatives, organic acids, flavonoids, glucosinolates, saccharides, alcohols, and vitamins. Comparative analysis showed that the metabolic profiles differed between areas, and 89 differentially altered metabolites (DAMs) were characterized. Of these, 78 DAMs showed higher levels in Jinan Chinese cabbage, whereas 11 had higher levels in Jiaozhou Chinese cabbage. Two metabolites, S-(Methyl)glutathione and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, were unique in Jiaozhou Chinese cabbage. Based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, the DAMs were enriched into 23 pathways, of which tryptophan metabolism and thiamine metabolism were the significant enrichment pathways. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the metabolite profiles and production areas affecting the metabolite variations of Chinese cabbage, which will be useful for functional Chinese cabbage cultivation.

Highlights 1. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) grading was positively correlated with lncRNA MALAT1 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 2. lncRNA MALAT1 expressed high and miRNA-613 expressed low in HCC tissues of patients with HCC. 3. lncRNA MALAT1 was targeted with miRNA-613. 4. Knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could significantly increase miRNA-613 expression. 5. Knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could reduce the migration of HCC cells. 6. Inhibiting miRNA-613 on the basis of knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could increase the survival and migration of HCC cells.

IntroductionThe leaf, the main product organ, is an essential factor in determining the Chinese cabbage growth, yield and quality.MethodsTo explore the regulatory mechanism of leaf size development of Chinese cabbage, we investigated the leaf size difference between two high-generation inbred lines of Chinese cabbage, Y2 (large leaf) and Y7 (small leaf). Furtherly, the transcriptome and cis-acting elements analyses were conducted.Results and DiscussionAccording to our results, Y2 exhibited a higher growth rate than Y7 during the whole growth stage. In addition, the significant higher leaf number was observed in Y2 than in Y7. There was no significant difference in the number of epidermal cells and guard cells per square millimeter between Y2 and Y7 leaves. It indicated that cell numbers caused the difference in leaf size. The measurement of phytohormone content confirmed that GA1 and GA3 mainly play essential roles in the early stage of leaf growth, and IPA and ABA were in the whole leaf growth period in regulating the cell proliferation difference between Y2 and Y7. Transcriptome analysis revealed that cyclins BraA09g010980.3C (CYCB) and BraA10g027420.3C (CYCD) were mainly responsible for the leaf size difference between Y2 and Y7 Chinese cabbage. Further, we revealed that the transcription factors BraA09gMYB47 and BraA06gMYB88 played critical roles in the difference of leaf size between Y2 and Y7 through the regulation of cell proliferation.ConclusionThis observation not only offers essential insights into understanding the regulation mechanism of leaf development, also provides a promising breeding strategy to improve Chinese cabbage yield.

Summary: Background: Immune-enhancing thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) therapy may reduce infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) in acute necrotising pancreatitis (ANP). However, the efficacy might be impacted by lymphocyte count due to the pharmacological action of Tα1. In this post-hoc analysis, we tested the hypothesis that pre-treatment absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) determines whether patients with ANP benefit from Tα1 therapy. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of data from a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial testing the efficacy of Tα1 therapy in patients with predicted severe ANP was performed. Patients from 16 hospitals of China were randomised to receive a subcutaneous injection of Tα1 1.6 mg every 12 h for the frst 7 days and 1.6 mg once a day for the following 7 days or a matching placebo during the same period. Patients who discontinued the Tα1 regimen prematurely were excluded. Three subgroup analyses were conducted using the baseline ALC (at randomisation), and the group allocation was maintained as intention-to-treat. The primary outcome was the incidence of IPN 90 days after randomisation. The fitted logistic regression model was applied to identify the range of baseline ALC where Tα1 therapy could exert a maximum effect. The original trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02473406. Findings: Between March 18, 2017, and December 10, 2020, a total of 508 patients were randomised in the original trial, and 502 were involved in this analysis, with 248 in the Tα1 group and 254 in the placebo group. Across the three subgroups, there was a uniform trend toward more significant treatment effects in patients with higher baseline ALC. Within the subgroup of patients with baseline ALC≥0.8 × 10ˆ9/L (n = 290), the Tα1 therapy significantly reduced the risk of IPN (covariate adjusted risk difference, −0.12; 95% CI, −0.21,-0.02; p = 0.015). Patients with baseline ALC between 0.79 and 2.00 × 10ˆ9/L benefited most from the Tα1 therapy in reducing IPN (n = 263). Interpretation: This post-hoc analysis found that the efficacy of immune-enhancing Tα1 therapy on the incidence of IPN may be associated with pretreatment lymphocyte count in patients with acute necrotising pancreatitis. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Broadband low-coherence light is considered to be an effective way to suppress laser plasma instability. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of low-coherence laser facilities to reduce back-scattering during beam–target coupling. However, to ensure simultaneous low coherence and high energy, complex spectral modulation methods and amplification routes have to be adopted. In this work, we propose the use of a random fiber laser (RFL) as the seed source. The spectral features of this RFL can be carefully tailored to provide a good match with the gain characteristics of the laser amplification medium, thus enabling efficient amplification while maintaining low coherence. First, a theoretical model is constructed to give a comprehensive description of the output characteristics of the spectrum-tailored RFL, after which the designed RFL is experimentally realized as a seed source. Through precise pulse shaping and efficient regenerative amplification, a shaped random laser pulse output of 28 mJ is obtained, which is the first random laser system with megawatt-class peak power that is able to achieve low coherence and efficient spectrum-conformal regenerative amplification.

This article explores the effects of different task repetition schedules on English learners’ oral fluency in terms of speed, breakdown, and repair indices using a PRAAT script to enhance objectivity and consistency in the assessment of learner performances. A total of 90 freshmen participated in the experiment and were divided into three groups: the blocked repetition group, the interleaved repetition group, and a control group. This study adopted a pre- and post-test design. After the learners repetitively practiced the problem-solving tasks for three weeks, their improvement was measured by a new task of the same type. The analyses of speed, breakdown, and repair in learners’ oral performance reported that the experimental groups outperformed the control group in fluency measurement. Specifically, the interleaved repetition group was advantageous compared with the blocked repetition group, except for the silent pause numbers. The findings not only support the interleaving effects and enrich the line of task repetition research but also have pedagogical implications in that introducing interleaved practice in real classrooms is beneficial to L2 speaking enhancement.

Phase-modulated (PM) spectral failsafe systems are necessary to promptly terminate amplification processes following accidental seeding of a high-power laser chain with a non-PM pulse to prevent optical damage. In this work, we present a reliable spectral failsafe system that can indicate the presence or absence of sufficient PM light. This requirement is met by combining dual temperature-sensitive fiber Bragg gratings detection with high-speed RF amplitude comparisons. The failsafe trigger signal is generated when the spectral power at the peak sideband exceeds that at the center. The spectral failsafe system has the ability to distinguish between adequate and inadequate PM pulses, and it exhibits significant robustness in pulse width, TEC temperature drift, and DFB wavelength drift in experiments, making it valuable for safe high-power laser operations and providing a useful reference for other detection system designs.

ObjectivesNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage using current tumor markers. Here, we aimed to identify potential novel potential biomarkers for NSCLC.Material/methodsFour independent datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were analyzed. The relative expression of ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) mRNA in 30 paired of NSCLC paired tissues was measured by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Serum levels of cytokeratin fragment 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays, and serum RRM2 levels were evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe mRNA expression level of RRM2 was significantly increased in most NSCLC lesions compared to para-adjacent tissues. Serum RRM2 levels in NSCLC patients were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls and were also associated with distant metastasis and histological type, but not with tumor size or lymph node metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a higher diagnostic ratio for NSCLC using RRM2 alone compared to other traditional tumor markers.ConclusionsRRM2 is a potential sero-diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC.

Under the framework of Directed Motivational Currents (DMCs), the present study aimed to explore the motivational dynamics of Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners’ English learning and to identify the possible parameters that influence Chinese EFL learners’ DMC-typed motivational states in their English learning. Data were collected from 10 focal Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners through reflective journal, trajectory equivalent modeling and semi-structured interview over a two-semester-long IELTS training course. The collected data were examined with thematic analysis and the findings indicated that: (1) Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners experienced the clear DMC-typed motivational surges during their journey of English learning; (2) Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners’ DMCs states were affected by various contextual factors which could be examined under three major themes, namely important others, instructional elements, and the exam pressure. The findings not only add to the literature on the validity of DMCs construct in the Chinese EFL context, but offer implications about how to facilitate the DMC-typed motivations in the classroom language instruction.

ABSTRACT The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is an important aquaculture species in China. Growth retardation disease (GRD) is a common contagious disease in M. rosenbergii, resulting in slow growth and precocious puberty in prawns, and has caused growing economic losses in the M. rosenbergii industry. To investigate the viral diversity of M. rosenbergii and identify potentially high-risk viruses linked to GRD, virome analysis of the GRD-affected and normal M. rosenbergii was carried out using next-generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 327 contigs (>500 bp) were related to viral sequences belonging to 23 families/orders and a group of unclassified viruses. The majority of the viral contigs in M. rosenbergii belonged to the order Picornavirales, with the Solinviviridae family being the most abundant in both the diseased and normal groups. Furthermore, 16 RNA viral sequences with nearly complete genomes were characterized and phylogenetically analyzed, belonging to the families Solinviviridae, Flaviviridae, Polycipiviridae, Marnaviridae, and Dicistroviridae as well as three new clades of the order Picornavirales. Notably, the cross-species transmission of a picorna-like virus was observed between M. rosenbergii and plants. The “core virome” seemed to be present in the diseased and normal prawns. Still, a clear difference in viral abundance was observed between the two groups. These results showed that the broad diversity of viruses is present in M. rosenbergii and that the association between viruses and disease of M. rosenbergii needs to be further investigated. IMPORTANCE Growth retardation disease (GRD) has seriously affected the development and economic growth of the M. rosenbergii aquaculture industry. Our virome analysis showed that diverse viral sequences were present in M. rosenbergii, significantly expanding our knowledge of viral diversity in M. rosenbergii. Some differences in viral composition were noted between the diseased and normal prawns, indicating that some viruses become more abundant in occurrences or outbreaks of diseases. In the future, more research will be needed to determine which viruses pose a risk for M. rosenbergii. Our study provides important baseline information contributing to disease surveillance and risk assessment in M. rosenbergii aquaculture.

Abstract Background Fluorescence imaging as the beacon for optical navigation has wildly developed in preclinical studies due to its prominent advantages, including noninvasiveness and superior temporal resolution. However, the traditional optical methods based on ultraviolet (UV, 200–400 nm) and visible light (Vis, 400–650 nm) limited by their low penetration, signal-to-noise ratio, and high background auto-fluorescence interference. Therefore, the development of near-infrared-II (NIR-II 1000–1700 nm) nanoprobe attracted significant attentions toward in vivo imaging. Regrettably, most of the NIR-II fluorescence probes, especially for inorganic NPs, were hardly excreted from the reticuloendothelial system (RES), yielding the anonymous long-term circulatory safety issue. Results Here, we develop a facile strategy for the fabrication of Nd3+-doped rare-earth core–shell nanoparticles (Nd-RENPs), NaGdF4:5%Nd@NaLuF4, with strong emission in the NIR-II window. What’s more, the Nd-RENPs could be quickly eliminated from the hepatobiliary pathway, reducing the potential risk with the long-term retention in the RES. Further, the Nd-RENPs are successfully utilized for NIR-II in vivo imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, enabling the precise detection of breast cancer. Conclusions The rationally designed Nd-RENPs nanoprobes manifest rapid-clearance property revealing the potential application toward the noninvasive preoperative imaging of tumor lesions and real-time intra-operative supervision. Graphical abstract

IntroductionSoluble sugar and glucosinolate are essential components that determine the flavor of Chinese cabbage and consumer preferences. However, the underlying regulatory networks that modulate the biosynthesis of soluble sugar and glucosinolate in Chinese cabbage remain largely unknown.MethodsThe glucosinolate and carotene content in yellow inner-leaf Chinese cabbage were observed, followed by the combination of metabolome and transcriptome analysis to explore the metabolic basis of glucosinolate and soluble sugar.ResultsThis study observed high glucosinolate and carotene content in yellow inner-leaf Chinese cabbage, which showed a lower soluble sugar content. The differences between the yellow and the white inner-leaf Chinese cabbage were compared using the untargeted metabonomic and transcriptomic analyses in six cultivars of Chinese cabbage to explore the metabolic basis of glucosinolate and soluble sugar. Aliphatic glucosinolate and two soluble sugars (fructose and glucose) were the key metabolites that caused the difference in Chinese cabbage’s glucosinolate and soluble sugar. By integrating soluble sugar and glucosinolate-associated metabolism and transcriptome data, we indicated BraA05gAOP1 and BraA04gAOP4, BraA03gHT7 and BraA01gHT4 were the glucosinolates and soluble sugar biosynthesis structural genes. Moreover, BraA01gCHR11 and BraA07gSCL1 were two vital transcription factors that regulate soluble sugar and glucosinolate biosynthesis.DiscussionThese findings provide novel insights into glucosinolate and soluble sugar biosynthesis and a possible explanation for the significant difference in nutrients between yellow and white inner-leaf Chinese cabbage. Moreover, it will facilitate genetic modification to improve the Chinese cabbage’s nutritional and health values.

To add to the currently limited research on the degree of cultural uniqueness of Chinese EFL learners’ anxiety and the multidimensional nature of second language writing anxiety (SLWA), the present qualitative study used think-aloud protocol and interview to examine Chinese EFL learners’ three dimensions of SLWA and the related variables, so as to probe into this problem that could pose an obstacle to sustainable second language writing. Findings showed that Chinese EFL learners experienced much Cognitive Anxiety, but relatively little Avoidance Behavior. Learner-internal, teacher-related, and human-external variables interacted with SLWA in a dynamic way. To a certain degree, Chinese EFL learners showcased uniqueness in some aspects of SLWA, under cultural influences, regarding ethnic culture, local culture, academic culture, and disciplinary culture.

In the original publication, there is a mistake in Figure 1: A duplication error between 1B and 1C, which occurred due to the similarity of the images of the three nanoparticles [...]

Aromatic moieties of biochar are considered as key components for immobilizing hydrophobic organic contaminants in the environment. However, the relative importance of different aromatic moieties such as low-/high-condensation components in sorption has not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, biochar was produced from flue-cured tobacco straw (TB) and pine wood sawdust (WB) at various pyrolysis temperatures (200–600 °C). Aromatic moieties were characterized via elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and benzene polycarboxylic acid molecular markers (BPCAs). The significance of different aromatic moieties in the sorption of phenanthrene (PHE) and bisphenol A (BPA) was assessed based on the individual BPCA patterns. The results indicated that aromaticity and aromatic moiety contents increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Biochar at 200 °C produced lower mellitic acid (B6CA) contents (18.7–27.9%) than the others. When the pyrolysis temperature was increased to 600 °C, the B6CA contents representing high-condensation aromatic moieties accounted for 55.4–60.9% of all the aromatic moieties. The unitary linear regressions between the individual BPCA distribution patterns and the n values and log Kd suggested that the high-condensation aromatic moieties played a more significant role than the low-condensation aromatic moieties (represented by B3CA–B5CA) in facilitating sorption nonlinearity (for PHE and BPA) and sorption capacity (for PHE). The elevated sorption of PHE can be attributed to the increased specific surface area and hydrophobicity of the newly formed aromatic moieties. Hydrogen bonds and π–π electron–donor–acceptor were the main mechanisms of BPA sorption. Because the WB biochar contained more aromatic moieties and more O-containing groups on the surface of the TB biochar, the WB exhibited a higher sorption for PHE; however, slightly elevated sorption was observed on the TB for BPA. This research may provide a new perspective in understanding the behavior of biochar aromatic moieties in sorption of organic contaminants.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to build and validate a radiomics nomogram by integrating the radiomics features extracted from the CT images and known clinical variables (TNM staging, etc.) to individually predict the overall survival (OS) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsA total of 1,480 patients with clinical data and pretreatment CT images during January 2013 and May 2018 were enrolled in this study. We randomly assigned the patients into training (N = 1036) and validation cohorts (N = 444). We extracted 1,288 quantitative features from the CT images of each patient. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression model was applied in feature selection and radiomics signature building. The radiomics nomogram used for the prognosis prediction was built by combining the radiomics signature and clinical variables that were derived from clinical data. Calibration ability and discrimination ability were analyzed in both training and validation cohorts.ResultsEleven radiomics features were selected by LASSO Cox regression derived from CT images, and the radiomics signature was built in the training cohort. The radiomics signature was significantly associated with NSCLC patients’ OS (HR = 3.913, p < 0.01). The radiomics nomogram combining the radiomics signature with six clinical variables (age, sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, T stage, N stage, and M stage) had a better prognostic performance than the clinical nomogram both in the training cohort (C-index, 0.861, 95% CI: 0.843–0.879 vs. C-index, 0.851, 95% CI: 0.832–0.870; p < 0.001) and in the validation cohort (C-index, 0.868, 95% CI: 0.841–0.896 vs. C-index, 0.854, 95% CI: 0.824–0.884; p = 0.002). The calibration curves demonstrated optimal alignment between the prediction and actual observation.ConclusionThe established radiomics nomogram could act as a noninvasive prediction tool for individualized survival prognosis estimation in patients with NSCLC. The radiomics signature derived from CT images may help clinicians in decision-making and hold promise to be adopted in the patient care setting as well as the clinical trial setting.

Key message Pulmonary co‐infection with varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) and Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) is uncommon. This case describes computed tomography (CT) findings of VZV pneumonia co‐infected with PJ. Co‐infection of VZV and PJ pneumonia is possible in immunocompromised patients. The similarities in chest CT makes it difficult to differentiate VZV from PJ.

In recent years, the high prevalence of Salmonella has emerged as a serious threat to public safety, prompting attempts to utilize accurate, rapid, and direct methods to ensure food safety. In this study, a multifunctional platform featuring dual-mode detection channels (colorimetric-fluorescence) combined with polymer chain reaction (PCR) was proposed for the sensitive and rapid detection of Salmonella. Additionally, the colorimetric measurements were achieved by color changes induced by methylene blue (MB) insertion into the double-stranded DNA, and the fluorescence measurements were performed by internal filter effect (IFE)-induced fluorescence quenching of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) by MB. The results showed that the IFE and PCR amplification processes improved the sensitivity of the sensor towards Salmonella detection, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 21.8 CFU/mL. Moreover, this colorimetric-fluorescence dual-mode PCR biosensor was applied to determine Salmonella in food samples, such as chicken, egg, and fish, which produced satisfactory results. Overall, the present study results demonstrate the potential for combining PCR amplification with IFE to develop an efficient and reliable dual-mode analysis platform to safeguard food security.