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Abstract Objective The single‐center retrospective cohort study investigated underlying pathogenic mechanisms and clinical significance of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis (TLE‐HS), in the presence/absence of gray–white matter abnormalities (usually called “blurring”; GMB) in ipsilateral temporopolar region (TPR) on MRI. Methods The study involved 105 patients with unilateral TLE‐HS (60 GMB+ and 45 GMB−) who underwent standard anterior temporal lobectomy, along with 61 healthy controls. Resected specimens were examined under light microscope. With combined T1‐weighted and DTI data, we quantitatively compared large‐scale morphometric features and exacted diffusion parameters of ipsilateral TPR‐related superficial and deep white matter (WM) by atlas‐based segmentation. Along‐tract analysis was added to detect heterogeneous microstructural alterations at various points along deep WM tracts, which were categorized into inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and temporal cingulum. Results Comparable seizure semiology and postoperative seizure outcome were found, while the GMB+ group had significantly higher rate of HS Type 1 and history of febrile seizures, contrasting with significantly lower proportion of interictal contralateral epileptiform discharges, HS Type 2, and increased wasteosomes in hippocampal specimens. Similar morphometric features but greater WM atrophy with more diffusion abnormalities of superficial WM was observed adjacent to ipsilateral TPR in the GMB+ group. Moreover, microstructural alterations resulting from temporopolar GMB were more localized in temporal cingulum while evenly and widely distributed along ILF and UF. Interpretation Temporopolar GMB could signify more severe and widespread microstructural damage of white matter rather than a focal cortical lesion in TLE‐HS, affecting selection of surgical procedures.

Abstract To explore the relationship between morphological and hemodynamic parameters, baseline characteristics, and long-term outcomes in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) using a computational fluid dynamics model. We retrospectively reviewed 129 patients at Beijing Tiantan hospital between July 2020 and December 2021. Perioperative clinical variables and Suzuki stage were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors for unfavorable long-term outcomes. The association between morphological, CT perfusion parameters, hemodynamic parameters and the Suzuki stage, clinical variables of MMD was also analyzed. Patients with high relative Wall Shear Stress (rWSS) were older and had more cases with higher Suzuki stage and worse follow-up mRS scores (p

Abstract The impact of microplastics on antibiotic resistance has attracted widespread attention. However, previous studies primarily focused on the effects of individual microplastics. In reality, diverse microplastic types accumulate in soil, and it remains less well studied whether microplastic diversity (i.e., variations in color, shape or polymer type) can be an important driver of increased antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundance. Here, we employed microcosm studies to investigate the effects of microplastic diversity on soil ARG dynamics through metagenomic analysis. Additionally, we evaluated the associated potential health risks by profiling virulence factor genes (VFGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Our findings reveal that as microplastic diversity increases, there is a corresponding rise in the abundance of soil ARGs, VFGs and MGEs. We further identified microbial adaptive strategies involving genes (changed genetic diversity), community (increased specific microbes), and functions (enriched metabolic pathways) that correlate with increased ARG abundance and may thus contribute to ARG dissemination. Additional global change factors, including fungicide application and plant diversity reduction, also contributed to elevated ARG abundance. Our findings suggest that, in addition to considering contamination levels, it is crucial to monitor microplastic diversity in ecosystems due to their potential role in driving the dissemination of antibiotic resistance through multiple pathways.

Abstract Studies on the correlation of exposure to metals with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is scarce, especially concerning the impact of mixed metals on DKD. This study aimed to explore the association of blood heavy metals with DKD risk among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with T2DM in NHANES 2011–2020. ICP‒MS was applied to detect five metals, namely, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se and Mn, in blood. At the same time, the impacts of exposure to single and mixed metals on DKD were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, WQS, and BKMR models. The relationship was examined based on age, sex, BMI, hypertension, smoking status and PIR. Totally 2362 participants were enrolled for final analysis. Among them, 634 (26.84%) patients undergoing T2DM had DKD. Logistic regression indicated that, Pb (Q4: OR [95% CI]: 1.557 [1.175, 2.064]) was related to DKD when all covariates were adjusted. The WQS analysis, which was set in a positive directional mode, suggested that Pb was correlated positively with a higher incidence of DKD. In BKMR analysis, linear dose‒response curves were generated for Pb when fixing the other metals in the 50th percentile. In addition, exposure to mixed metals was significantly positively related to DKD. Subgroup analysis during logistic regression demonstrated that Pb was significantly and positively related to DKD in females, over 50 years, those with over 25 kg/m2, no hypertension, no smoking status and under PIR. Serum albumin (ALB) did not regulate the indirect impact of blood Pb on DKD risk. The results showed that the increased mixed metal concentration may lead to an increased DKD risk among patients with T2DM. Blood Pb is positively related to the DKD risk in diabetic patients, especially, in females, over 50 years, those with over 25 kg/m2, no hypertension, no smoking status and under PIR in T2DM patients. According to our observations, Pb absorption at least slightly influences DKD occurrence and progression. More studies are needed to validate the results in this work and illustrate the relevant biological mechanism.

Abstract All-polymer aqueous batteries, featuring electrodes and electrolytes made entirely from polymers, advance wearable electronics through their processing ease, inherent safety, and sustainability. Challenges persist with the instability of polymer electrode redox products in aqueous environments, which fail to achieve high performance in all-polymer aqueous batteries. Here, we report a polymer-aqueous electrolyte designed to stabilize polymer electrode redox products by modulating the solvation layers and forming a solid-electrolyte interphase. Polyaniline is selected as an example for its dual functionality as a cathode or anode working by p/n doping mechanisms. This approach pioneers the application of polyaniline as an anode and enhances the high-voltage stability of polyaniline cathode in an aqueous electrolyte. The resulting all-polymer aqueous sodium-ion battery with polyaniline as symmetric electrodes exhibits a high capacity of 139 mAh/g, energy density of 153 Wh/kg, and a retention of over 92% after 4800 cycles. Spectroscopic characterizations have elucidated the hydration structure, solid-electrolyte interphase, and dual-ion doping mechanism. Large-scale all-polymer flexible batteries are fabricated with excellent flexibility and recyclability, heralding a paradigmatic approach to sustainable, wearable energy storage.

Abstract Endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent chronic inflammatory condition, afflicts reproductive-aged women. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a critical enzyme involved in cellular metabolism and methylation regulation. This study investigated the role of NNMT in endometriosis. By analyzing datasets GSE5108, GSE7305, GSE141549, GSE23339, and GSE25628, we identified a significant overexpression of NNMT in the eutopic endometrium and ectopic lesions of endometriosis patients compared to normal endometrium. Furthermore, NNMT was upregulated in collected endometrioma specimens and isolated primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) compared to their respective controls. Inhibition of NNMT using JBSNF-000088 attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCs. In vivo, treatment of mouse models of endometriosis with JBSNF-000088 resulted in a marked reduction in lesion weight and quantity. NNMT expression in ESCs was dose-dependently upregulated by 17β-estradiol at concentrations of 1 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, an effect that was attenuated by 10 nM progesterone. Additionally, treating HESCs with macrophage-conditioned medium elevated NNMT expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of NNMT impeded the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCs, which was paralleled by decreased phosphorylation levels of Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4), PI3K, and AKT. Conversely, overexpressing ERBB4 mitigated the NNMT knockdown-induced decline in phosphorylated PI3K and AKT and rescued the proliferation of ESCs. Altogether, these results indicate that the overexpression of NNMT induced by estrogen and macrophage interaction modulates ESC proliferation via the NNMT-ERBB4-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, as well as promotes cellular migration and invasion, contributing to the development of endometriosis.

Abstract Psoriasis mimics uric acid in terms of inflammation, but the association has not been well defined. This study aimed to identify the causal link between serum uric acid (SUA) and psoriasis in an observational study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2004–2006, and 2011–2014) and transethnic Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. We utilized weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression and transethnic MR in European and East Asian populations to assess the association. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was the main analysis. To test the robustness and pleiotropy, further sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Weighted regression analysis suggested that SUA positively related to psoriasis risk (OR = 1.339, 95% CI: 1.092–1.642, P = 0.006) in women. For all participants and males, neither association was significant. IVW showed that SUA levels were not significantly associated with psoriasis in Europeans (OR = 1.099, 95% CI: 0.963–1.254, P = 0.159) or East Asians (OR = 1.297, 95% CI: 0.576–2.918, P = 0.528). Furthermore, sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the present MR results. In females, SUA and psoriasis were significantly correlated; findings from transethnic MR analysis did not indicate a causal relationship between SUA and psoriasis.

Hemostatic materials are essential for managing acute bleeding in medical settings. Chitosan (CS) shows promise in hemostasis but its underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. We unexpectedly discovered that certain protonated-chitosan (PCS) rapidly assembled plasma proteins to form protein membrane (PM) upon contact with platelet-poor plasma (PPP). We hypothesized that the novel observation was intricately related to the procoagulant effect of chitosan. Herein, the study aimed to elucidate the conditions necessary and mechanism for PM formation, identify the proteins within the PM and PCS's procoagulant action at the molecule levels. We confirmed that the amount of –NH3+ groups (>4.9 mmol/g) on PCS molecules played a crucial role in promoting coagulation. The –NH3+ group interacted with blood's multiple active components to exert hemostatic effects: assembling plasma proteins including coagulation factors such as FII, FV, FX, activating blood cells and promoting the secretion of coagulation-related substances (FV, ADP, etc) by platelets. Notably, the hemostatic mechanism can be extended to protonated-chitosan derivatives like quaternized, alkylated, and catechol-chitosan. In the blood clotting index (BCI) experiment, compared to other groups, PCS95 achieved the lowest BCI value (∼6 %) within 30 s. Protonated-chitosan exhibited excellent biocompatibility and antibacterial properties, with PCS95 demonstrating inhibition effectiveness of over 95 % against Escherichia coli (E.coil) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Moreover, PCS performed enhanced hemostatic effectiveness over chitosan-based commercially agents (Celox™ and ChitoGauze®XR) in diverse bleeding models. In particular, PCS95 reduced bleeding time by 70 % in rabbit models of coagulopathy. Overall, this study investigated the coagulation mechanism of materials at the molecular level, paving the way for innovative approaches in designing new hemostatic materials.

Abstract Purpose To develop and validate a radiomic model for differentiating pulmonary invasive adenocarcinomas from benign lesions based on follow-up longitudinal CT images. Methods This is a retrospective study including 336 patients (161 with invasive adenocarcinomas and 175 with benign lesions) who underwent baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1) CT scans from January 2016 to June 2022. The patients were randomized in a 7:3 ratio into training and test sets. Radiomic features were extracted from lesion volumes of interest on longitudinal CT images at T0 and T1. Differences in radiomic features between T1 and T0 were defined as delta-radiomic features. Logistic regression was used to build models based on clinicoradiological (CR), T0, T1, and delta radiomic features and compute signatures. Finally, a nomogram based on the CR, T0, T1 and delta signatures was constructed. Model performance was evaluated for calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility. Results The T1 radiomic model was superior to the other independent models. In the training set, it had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.858), superior to the CR model (AUC 0.694), the T0 radiomic model (AUC 0.825), and the delta radiomic model (AUC 0.734). In the test set, it had an AUC of 0.817, again outperforming the CR model (AUC 0.578), the T0 radiomic model (AUC 0.789), and the delta radiomic model (AUC 0.647). The nomogram incorporating the CR, T0, T1 and delta signatures showed the best predictive performance in both the training (AUC: 0.906) and test sets (AUC: 0.856), and it exhibited excellent fit with calibration curves. Decision curve analysis provided additional validation of the clinical utility of the nomogram. Conclusion A nomogram utilizing radiomic features extracted from longitudinal CT images can enhance the discriminative capability between pulmonary invasive adenocarcinomas and benign lesions.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between the perfusion parameters of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) as determined by multiphase CT angiography and bAVM rupture. Based on the occurrence of bAVM-related hemorrhage, 480 diagnosed bAVM patients were divided into hemorrhage (n = 220) and non-hemorrhage (n = 260) groups in this retrospective multi-center study spanning 2010 to 2020. On initial rupture CT images, the bAVM nidus and major draining vein were segmented, and time-density curves were extracted to compute perfusion parameters including mean transit time (MTT), time to peak (TTP), blood volume (BV), and blood flow (BF). To examine the potential correlation between these parameters and bAVM rupture, logistic regression was utilized to analyze multifactorial data and compare differences between the two groups. The ruptured group demonstrated a bAVM nidus characterized by an increased BF, a shorter TTP and MTT, and a higher peak density. The veins that were draining exhibited a reduced TTP, MTT, and peak density. A nidus TTP of less than 4s was identified by the multifactorial analysis as a critical risk factor for bAVM rupture. The statistical results highlight the noteworthy correlation between nidus TTP and bAVM rupture, presenting an original framework for assessing the risk of rupture.

There are various issues for CO2 flooding and storage in Shengli Oilfield, which are characterized by low light hydrocarbon content of oil and high miscible pressure, strong reservoir heterogeneity and low sweep efficiency, gas channeling and difficult whole-process control. Through laboratory experiments, technical research and field practice, the theory and technology of CO2 high pressure miscible flooding and storage are established. By increasing the formation pressure to 1.2 times the minimum miscible pressure, the miscibility of the medium-heavy components can be improved, the production percentage of oil in small pores can be increased, the displacing front developed evenly, and the swept volume expanded. Rapid high-pressure miscibility is realized through advanced pressure flooding and energy replenishment, and technologies of cascade water-alternating-gas (WAG), injection and production coupling and multistage chemical plugging are used for dynamic control of flow resistance, so as to obtain the optimum of oil recovery and CO2 storage factor. The research results have been applied to the Gao89-Fan142 in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) demonstration site, where the daily oil production of the block has increased from 254.6 t to 358.2 t, and the recovery degree is expected to increase by 11.6 percentage points in 15 years, providing theoretical and technical support for the large-scale development of CCUS.

Abstract Background The best antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) poses a complex challenge. The treatment effect of the combination of nucleoside analogues (NAs) and pegylated interferon alpha (PegIFN) was still in debate. Methods We studied patients treated with NAs and PegIFN-2b at our institution from November 2019 to January 2022. Logistic regression identified independent factors influencing clinical cure. The predictive accuracy of the formula was assessed using the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve at different time points (before therapy, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks into treatment). Results A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the final analysis. Among the cohort of patients under study, 71 (59.1%) patients had clinical cure while 49 (40.9%) patients did not. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at baseline and age were the powerful variables predicting the clearance of HBsAg. The area under the ROC (AUC) was 0.907 for pre-treatment predictive model, 0.958 for 12-week predictive model and 0.747 for 24-week predictive model. Conclusion This study provided predictive formulas for clinical cure, offering valuable insights for CHB treatment. PegIFN and NAs exhibited efficacy. Future research that explores additional factors, such as HBV genotype, in a larger cohort study is needed.

Abstract Metabolic memory (MM) is a major factor in the delayed wound healing observed in diabetic patients. While “Nocardia rubrum cell wall skeleton” (Nr-CWS) is utilized to enhance macrophage proliferation in immune diseases, its impact on MM wounds in diabetes is unclear. This study demonstrates that transient hyperglycemia leads to prolonged damage in vascular endothelial cells by decreasing METTL3 expression, leading to decreased RNA methylation and impaired cellular metabolism. Remarkably, Nr-CWS application increases METTL3 levels in these cells, facilitating the recovery of cell function. Further in vivo and in vitro analyses demonstrate that transient hyperglycemia-induced reduction in METTL3 hinders RNA methylation of the downstream gene Cds2, impacting mitochondrial function and energy metabolism and consequently reducing angiogenic capacity in endothelial cells. This impairment significantly influences diabetic wound healing. Our findings highlight the profound impact of transient hyperglycemia on wound healing, establishing METTL3 as a significant role in vascular complications of diabetes. This study not only elucidates the pathophysiological mechanisms behind MM in diabetic wounds but also suggests Nr-CWS as a potential therapeutic agent, offering a novel approach for treating diabetic wounds.

Abstract Objective Using Optical coherence tomography (OCT), we evaluated the association between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber, macular thickness, macular ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer, and drug resistance. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, we recruited people diagnosed with epilepsy and healthy controls. People with epilepsy were further stratified as drug‐resistant or non‐drug‐resistant based on their response to anti‐seizure medications. OCT measurements were conducted, and findings in right eye were analyzed. Results Fifty‐one drug‐resistant participants, 37 non‐drug‐resistant, and 45 controls were enrolled. The average peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer, and macular thickness were thinner in the epilepsy groups than in controls. The drug‐resistant group had significantly lower average ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer thickness (p = 0.004) and a higher proportion of abnormal/borderline GC/IPL thickness (p = 5.40E‐04) than the non‐drug‐resistant group. Nevertheless, no significant differences were seen between the average thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber and macular thickness. The temporal sectors of these three parameters were also significantly thinner in the drug‐resistant group than in the non‐drug‐resistant. In a multivariate regression model, drug resistance was an independent predictor of reduced ganglion cell‐inner plexiform thickness (Odds ratios OR = 10.25, 95% CI 2.82 to 37.28). Increased seizure frequency (r = −0.23, p = 0.039) and a higher number of anti‐seizure medications ever used (r = −0.27, p = 0.013) were negatively associated with ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer thickness. Significance Individuals with drug‐resistant epilepsy had a consistent reduction in average ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer thickness and the temporal sector of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness. This suggests that ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer thickness could potentially serve as an indicator of the burden of drug resistance, as it correlated with reduced thickness in individuals having more frequent seizures and greater exposure to ASMs. Plain Language Summary In our study, we used a special tool called OCT to measure how thick the retina is in people with epilepsy and in healthy control. We found that the retina was consistently thinner in all areas for those with epilepsy compared to healthy control. Particularly, a specific layer called the ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer was a lot thinner in the group that didn't respond to medications, and this thinning was related to how often seizures occurred and how much medications were taken. Also, certain parts of the retina were thinner in the drug‐resistant group.

Abstract Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a significant post-cardiac surgery complication, particularly prevalent among individuals with pre-existing renal dysfunction. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is frequently accompanied by persistent, low-grade inflammation, which is known to exacerbate systemic stress responses during surgical procedures. This study hypothesizes that these inflammatory responses might influence the incidence and severity of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), potentially serving as a protective mechanism by preconditioning the kidney to stress. Methods This retrospective study enrolled patients with preoperative renal dysfunction (eGFR between 15 and 60 ml/min/1.73 m²) who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2020 and December 2022. Preoperative inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative AKI, as defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Multivariate regression models and sensitivity analyses were conducted to ascertain the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and AKI. Restricted cubic spines (RCS) was conducted to explore nonlinear associations between inflammatory biomarkers and AKI. Results AKI occurred in 53.4% (392/734) of patients, accompanied by significant mortality and length of hospital stay increases in cases of AKI (P

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) immunotherapy facilitates new approaches to achieve precision cancer treatment. A growing number of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have benefited from treatment with neoadjuvant ICIs combined with chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms and associations between the therapeutic efficacy of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and chemotherapy (NAPC) and macrophage subsets are still unclear. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and identified a novel FABP4+C1q+ macrophage subtype, which exhibited stronger proinflammatory cytokine production and phagocytic ability. This subtype was found to be more abundant in tumor tissues and lymph nodes of major pathological response (MPR) patients compared to non-MPR patients, and was associated with a good efficacy of NAPC. Multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemical (mIHC) staining was subsequently used to verify our findings. Further mechanistic studies indicated that FABP4 and C1q regulate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines synergistically. In addition, FABP4 and C1q promote fatty acid synthesis, enhance anti-apoptosis ability and phagocytic ability of macrophage via the interaction of AMPK/JAK/STAT axis. This study provides novel insights into the underlying mechanisms and predictive biomarkers of NAPC. Our findings contribute to improving the prognosis of patients with NSCLC by potentially guiding more precise patient selection and treatment strategies. Novelty & Impact Statements We identified a group of macrophages (FABP4+C1q+ macrophages) related to the therapeutic efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. FABP4+C1q+ macrophages highly expressed proinflammatory cytokines-related genes and had a strong cytokine production and phagocytic ability. We believe that our study provides a novel insight into the synergistic mechanism of neoadjuvant ICI combined with chemotherapy and may lead to improved clinical outcomes in patients with NSCLC in the future.

Abstract The authors report a case of primary aldosteronism (PA) with postoperative elevation of aldosterone treated effectively by finerenone. The patient was a hypertensive man with a 30‐year history of hypertension and sustained an acute myocardial infarction 5 years ago. Bilateral adrenal nodules with hyperplasia were detected and PA was confirmed. His blood potassium, direct renin concentration, and aldosterone level returned to normal after surgery of right adrenalectomy. However, 1 year after surgery, he experienced a decrease in blood potassium and an increase in aldosterone. A saline infusion test revealed an aldosterone level of 124.47 pg/mL. The patient consented to treatment with finerenone. His aldosterone and potassium levels and blood pressure have been controlled well during follow‐up. This case highlights the need to screen for secondary hypertension as early as possible. Finerenone may be effective for patients with PA who are not candidates for surgery and those not relieved after surgery.

Abstract Background The Bucephalidae is a large family of digenean trematodes but most previous analyses of its phylogenetic position have relied on a single mitochondrial gene or morphological features. Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) remain unavailable for the entire family. To address this, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of Dollfustrema vaneyi and analyzed the phylogenetic relationships with other trematodes. Results The circular genome of Dollfustrema vaneyi spanned 14,959 bp and contained 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a major non-coding region. We used concatenated amino acid and nucleotide sequences of all 36 genes for phylogenetic analyses, conducted using MrBayes, IQ-TREE and PhyloBayes. We identified pronounced topological instability across different analyses. The addition of recently sequenced two mitogenomes for the Aspidogastrea subclass along with the use of a site-heterogeneous model stabilized the topology, particularly the positions of Azygiidae and Bucephalidae. The stabilized results indicated that Azygiidae was the closest lineage to Bucephalidae in the available dataset, and together, they clustered at the base of the Plagiorchiida. Conclusions Our study provides the first comprehensive description and annotation of the mitochondrial genome for the Bucephalidae family. The results indicate a close phylogenetic relationship between Azygiidae and Bucephalidae, and reveal their basal placement within the order Plagiorchiida. Furthermore, the inclusion of Aspidogastrea mitogenomes and the site-heterogeneous model significantly improved the topological stability. These data will provide key molecular resources for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the family Bucephalidae.

Abstract Controlling and reducing plaque formation plays a pivotal role in preventing and treating periodontal disease, often utilizing antibacterial drugs to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), an FDA-approved inorganic nanomaterial, possess robust physical and chemical properties, such as adjustable pore size and pore capacity, easy surface modification, and high biosafety. Numerous studies have exploited MSN to regulate drug release and facilitate targeted delivery. This study aimed to synthesize an MSN-tetracycline (MSN-TC) complex and investigate its inhibitory potential on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis)-induced bone resorption. The antibacterial efficacy of MSN-TC was evaluated through bacterial culture experiments. A P. gingivalis-induced bone resorption model was constructed by subcutaneously injecting P. gingivalis around the cranial bone of rats. Micro-computed tomography was employed to assess the inhibitory impact of MSN and MSN-TC on bone resorption. Furthermore, the influence of MSN and MSN-TC on osteoclast differentiation was examined in vitro. The MSN exhibited optimal pore size and particle dimensions for effective loading and gradual release of TC. MSN-TC demonstrated significant bacteriostatic activity against P. gingivalis. MSN-TC-treated rats showed significantly reduced cranial bone tissue destruction compared to MSN or TC-treated rats. Additionally, both MSN and MSN-TC exhibited inhibitory effects on the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand-mediated osteoclast differentiation. The MSN-TC complex synthesized in this study demonstrated dual efficacy by exerting antibacterial effects on P. gingivalis and by resisting osteoclast differentiation, thereby mitigating bone resorption induced by P. gingivalis. Graphical Abstract

Objective Poor bone quality is a risk factor for postoperative complications after degenerative lumbar fusion surgery. The magnetic resonance imaging-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score is a good tool for assessing bone quality, and this is the first meta-analysis performed to summarize the predictive value of the VBQ score for cage subsidence and screw loosening in patients undergoing degenerative lumbar surgery. Methods Studies were comprehensively searched in electronic databases. The quality of the studies was assessed. The pooled sensitivity, specificity and summary receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated. Publication bias was assessed and meta-regression was conducted. Results We ultimately included 9 studies with a total of 1,404 patients with a mean age of 60.4 years and a percentage of females of 57.0%. According to the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2) tool to assess methodological quality, the quality of the included studies was relatively low and risks of bias might exist. Results showed that a high VBQ was significantly associated with cage subsidence and screw loosening, and risk factor analysis revealed that the merged odds ratio was 5.37 for cage subsidence and 3.87 for screw loosening. With a VBQ cutoff value of 3.34±0.45, the pooled sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of postoperative complications were 0.75 and 0.75, respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.85). Conclusion A high VBQ was associated with a high risk of cage subsidence and screw loosening in patients who underwent degenerative lumbar surgery. The VBQ score could be considered for identifying high-risk patients for further evaluation.

Abstract Due to the excellent mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties of third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC), pressure sensors utilizing this material might be able to operate in extreme environments with temperatures exceeding 300 °C. However, the significant output drift at elevated temperatures challenges the precision and stability of measurements. Real-time in situ temperature monitoring of the pressure sensor chip is highly important for the accurate compensation of the pressure sensor. In this study, we fabricate platinum (Pt) thin-film resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) on a SiC substrate by incorporating aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as the transition layer and utilizing aluminum nitride (AlN) grooves for alignment through microfabrication techniques. The composite layers strongly adhere to the substrate at temperatures reaching 950 °C, and the interface of the Al2O3/Pt bilayer remains stable at elevated temperatures of approximately 950 °C. This stability contributes to the excellent high-temperature electrical performance of the Pt RTD, enabling it to endure temperatures exceeding 850 °C with good linearity. These characteristics establish a basis for the future integration of Pt RTD in SiC pressure sensors. Furthermore, tests and analyses are conducted on the interfacial diffusion, surface morphological, microstructural, and electrical properties of the Pt films at various annealing temperatures. It can be inferred that the tensile stress and self-diffusion of Pt films lead to the formation of hillocks, ultimately reducing the electrical performance of the Pt thin-film RTD. To increase the upper temperature threshold, steps should be taken to prevent the agglomeration of Pt films.

The effects of a high magnetic field (12 T) on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of high carbon steel during isothermal pearlitic transformation at 720 °C were investigated. The application of a high magnetic field effectively promotes pearlitic transformation and leads to a reduction in the lamellar spacing and the geometrically necessary dislocation density (GND) as well as to a slight increase in the grain size of the pearlite, which leads to a decrease in hardness. This is because the magnetic field reduces the magnetic Gibbs energy of ferrite and cementite, resulting in an increase in the driving force of phase transformation, which shortens the pearlite maturation time and reduces the nucleation barriers of pearlite, thereby accelerating the growth rate of pearlite. In addition, the interfacial energy of ferrite/cementite was found to be increased by the magnetic field from the thermodynamic point of view, and the mechanism of action of the magnetic field -induced precipitation of cementite in the form of particles and short rods was elucidated. The present work will enhance the understanding of the mechanism of magnetic field-induced phase transformation in iron-based materials.

Abstract Migraine is a common bi-directional comorbidity of epilepsy, indicating potential complex interactions between the two conditions. However, no previous studies have used brain morphology analysis to assess possible interactions between epilepsy and migraine. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), surface-based morphometry (SBM), and structural covariance networks (SCNs) can be used to detect morphological changes with high accuracy. We recruited 30 individuals with epilepsy and comorbid migraine without aura (EM), along with 20 healthy controls (HC) and 30 epilepsy controls (EC) without migraine. We used VBM, SBM, and SCN analysis to compare differences in gray matter volume, cortical thickness, and global level and local level graph theory indexes between the EM, EC, and HC groups to investigate structural brain changes in the EM patients. VBM analysis showed that the EM group had gray matter atrophy in the right temporal pole compared with the HC group (p

In this study, the electrospinning technique was employed to create a nanofiber membrane by stretching an organic polymer into nanofibers under a high electric field. Metronidazole (MNZ) at a concentration of 3 wt% was loaded into a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and silk fibroin (SF)-blended nanofiber membrane. This formulation aims to achieve effective and sustained drug release, enabling the eradication of bacteria for the efficient treatment of periodontitis. Results demonstrated that SF interacted with PLGA molecules, forming dense and uniform nanofibers with a diameter of 570 nm. Excessive SF molecules tended to aggregate, leading to an increased particle size, with the interaction between MNZ and SF contributing to adhesion. The composition of MNZ, SF, and PLGA formed a physical chimera without any chemical reactions. Moreover, as the SF content increased, the tensile properties of the membrane gradually improved. Concurrently, the in vitro degradation rate increased with higher SF content. Among the various groups tested, the 3 wt% MNZ/PLGA/SF 2:1 membrane exhibited superior drug release characteristics, with 71.76% release within 24 h. This formulation demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties, indicated by a bacterial inhibition diameter of 13.5 mm, noteworthy hydrophilicity with a contact angle of 44.3°, and favorable biocompatibility. The membrane holds significant application value in regenerative engineering and drug delivery systems, showcasing substantial potential for the treatment of periodontitis.

Abstract High-order diffraction (HOD) from optical microstructures is undesirable in many applications because of the accompanying ghosting patterns and loss of efficiency. In contrast to suppressing HOD with subwavelength structures that challenge the fabrication of large-scale devices, managing HOD is less developed due to the lack of an efficient method for independently manipulating HOD. Here, we report independent manipulation of HODs, which are unexploited for subdiffraction-limit focusing in diffractive lenses, through an analytical formula that correlates the diffraction order and the width of each zone. The large spatial frequencies offered by the HODs enable our lenses to reduce the lateral focal size down to 0.44 λ even without any subwavelength feature (indispensable in most high-NA diffractive lenses), facilitating large-scale manufacture. Experimentally, we demonstrate high-order lens-based confocal imaging with a center-to-center dry resolution of 190 nm, the highest among visible-light confocal microscopies, and laser-ablation lithography with achieved direct-writing resolution of 400 nm (0.385 λ).

Abstract Background The role of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) as a prognostic factor in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) remains uncertain. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the GNRI on mortality outcomes in critically ill patients with AKI. Methods For this retrospective study, we included 12,058 patients who were diagnosed with AKI based on ICD-9 codes from the eICU Collaborative Research Database. Based on the values of GNRI, nutrition-related risks were categorized into four groups: major risk (GNRI

The significance of collagen and vascular in skin augmentation have been recognized in recent years. However, current skin tissue fillers, e.g. hyaluronic acid (HA) or HA-based hydrogel, fail to meet the perfect augmentation requirements due to their inadequate long-term support effect and the lack of tissue-inducing activity. Herein, an injectable skin filler containing hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel and lithium calcium silicate (LCS, Li2Ca4Si4O13) bioceramic microspheres was developed for skin tissue fillers, owing to the excellent biological function of silicate bioceramics. The HA-LCS fillers could be easily injected through a tiny standard medical needle (27 G) with force of less than 36 N, and showed good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the bioactive ions released from HA-LCS fillers significantly enhanced the expression of vascularization-related genes and collagen-related genes. Importantly, the HA-LCS fillers not only stimulated the regeneration of mature blood vessels, but also promoted collagen secretion in dermal skin and filling area. This study not only presented an injectable filler with enhanced regeneration of blood vessels and collagen, but also provided a new strategy for developing tissue-induced fillers based on bioactive components of silicate bioceramics.

The abandoned roadways (ARs) in front of the longwall face catastrophic instability will seriously hamper mining progress, which is a complicated process related to the stress environment, the roadway section, and the mechanical properties of the surrounding rock. The cusp catastrophe theory is employed to establish a state identification model for the irregular coal pillar-roof system (CPRS) formed by the ARs and re-mining entries. To begin, the state discrimination equation (Δp) for the gradual CPRS is derived, and the critical value at which the system transitions into an unstable state under quasi-static conditions is determined. The results indicated that when 16.49 m ≤ L ≤ 22.63 m (L denotes the equivalent span of the intersection roof) and 0

The traditional geothermal reservoir volume method is suitable for the evaluation of geothermal resources in large-scale regions, but there is a significant error when it is used for the evaluation of mine geothermal resources. On the basis of analyzing the characteristics of the geothermal system of the Cambrian karst geothermal reservoir, i.e., heat sources, fluid channels, reservoirs, caprocks and the heat fluid in the Pingdingshan mining area, a conceptual model of geothermal genesis in the Pingdingshan coalfield was established. Based on the geothermal geological conditions and drilling data ground and underground in No.10 Coal Mine of Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co., LTD., a three-dimensional geological model of the strata in the study area was established using Groundwater Modeling System software. The distribution of Cambrian karst strata and its overburden strata was displayed, and the Cambrian karst strata space was gridded and digitized. The integrated geothermal reservoir volume method for evaluating geothermal resources in mines was proposed and used to estimate the static resource quantity of the Cambrian karst geothermal reservoir in the study area, and the dynamic resource quantity of the geothermal reservoir was also evaluated. The relationship curve between the geothermal reservoir resource quantity and water level elevation was obtained. A complete water quality analysis was conducted on the karst geothermal water in the study area, and the corrosiveness and scaling properties of the geothermal water were evaluated. The results show that the Cambrian carbonate strata in the study area are the karst geothermal reservoir, and the heat mainly comes from high-temperature rock mass deep in the Cambrian Zhushadong Formation; surface atmospheric precipitation enters the deep rock mass through Cambrian limestone outcrops and deep faults around the mining area, and is heated along the way and stored in Cambrian limestone, after which the water continue to receive the heat from deep bedrock and then forms a hydrothermal karst geothermal reservoir; the static hot water resource of Cambrian karst strata in the study area is 7.68 billion m3, containing heat of 1.19×1018 J; the heat contained in the rock is 3.25×1018 J, with a total geothermal resource of 4.44×1018 J; the recoverable geothermal resources are 6.66×1017 J, equivalent to 22.7 million tons of standard coal; the Cambrian karst hot water has slight corrosiveness, with a slight to moderate degree of scaling. Corrosion and scale prevention treatments are required for metal pipelines and containers of the geothermal water.

Abstract Since China proposed building a national park system in 2017, the establishment of a planning system for nature reserves, with national parks as the main body, is being actively promoted around the country. Among them, scientific ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) is an important link in maintaining the ecological stability of national parks. How to zone national parks and how to improve the precision of zoning has become a new task for national parks. Therefore, this study takes the Giant Panda National Park as the study area, takes ecosystem services and land use/cover change as the research perspective, integrates the InVEST model, PLUS model and bayes belief network (BBN) model, and builds a set of ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) spatial zoning framework based on raster scale, dividing the study area into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and controlled development zone. The results showed that: (1) The study area showed an increasing trend in water conservation, soil conservation and carbon storage from 2005 to 2020, and the habitat quality index was generally high. The spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem services in the study area was significant, and the effect of a single factor on ecosystem services was most pronounced. (2) Large variation in area for different land uses under natural development scenarios and ecological protection scenarios. In both scenarios, the area of cultivated land, the area of grassland and the area of unused land decrease relative to 2020, and the area of forested land, the area of water and the area of constructed land increase relative to 2020. (3) The Giant Panda National Park is divided into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and control development zone, of which the strictly protected zone have the largest area and the best ecosystem background condition, and the control development zone have the smallest area and the worst ecosystem background condition. (4) The ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) framework provides a more refined method for the secondary zoning of nature reserves such as the Giant Panda National Park, which is valuable for the implementation of zoning and categorization management for ecological conservation in the Giant Panda National Park.

Abstract Reproductive investment decision is an integral part of life-history theory. Differential allocation hypothesis predicts that females should increase investment when mated to high-quality males, conversely, reproductive compensation hypothesis predicts that females should increase investment when mated to low-quality males. Empirical research dominantly focuses on polygamous species and rarely on serially monogamous species. So, the question remains: which hypothesis does serially monogamous species fit? And if it fits reproductive compensation hypothesis, do females only compensate once or continuously for multiple times when mating to low-quality males? Here, we used a serially monogamous fish, the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), to investigate the reproductive investment pattern of females in relation to male quality (measured by sexual attractiveness). We found that females allocated more resources into eggs when they mated to less-sexually-attractive males, indicating the investment pattern of lined seahorse falls in with the prediction of reproductive compensation hypothesis. This finding may imply that the sex role of seahorses is reversed, and female is the side imposed on a greater sexual selection pressure. On this basis, we compared the investment difference of females in two consecutive breeding events when mated to less-sexually-attractive males. We found that females allocated less resources into eggs in the second breeding than in the first one. Females reduced their reproductive compensation in the second breeding, which may be attributed to the improvement in the quality (e.g., paternal care ability) of their mates after the first breeding, thus eliminating the need for them to invest more in the second breeding.

Abstract Mental fatigue during long-term motor imagery (MI) may affect intention recognition in MI applications. However, the current research lacks the monitoring of mental fatigue during MI and the definition of robust biomarkers. The present study aims to reveal the effects of mental fatigue on motor imagery recognition at the brain region level and explore biomarkers of mental fatigue. To achieve this, we recruited 10 healthy participants and asked them to complete a long-term motor imagery task involving both right- and left-handed movements. During the experiment, we recorded 32-channel EEG data and carried out a fatigue questionnaire for each participant. As a result, we found that mental fatigue significantly decreased the subjects’ motor imagery recognition rate during MI. Additionally the theta power of frontal, central, parietal, and occipital clusters significantly increased after the presence of mental fatigue. Furthermore, the phase synchronization between the central cluster and the frontal and occipital lobes was significantly weakened. To summarize, the theta bands of frontal, central, and parieto–occipital clusters may serve as powerful biomarkers for monitoring mental fatigue during motor imagery. Additionally, changes in functional connectivity between the central cluster and the prefrontal and occipital lobes during motor imagery could be investigated as potential biomarkers.

Abstract Background Disruptions in intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis, causing deviations from the physiological range, can damage renal epithelial cells. However, the existence of an adaptive mechanism to restore pHi to normalcy remains unclear. Early research identified H+ as a critical mediator of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), leading to the concept of acidic preconditioning (AP). This concept proposes that short-term, repetitive acidic stimulation can enhance a cell’s capacity to withstand subsequent adverse stress. While AP has demonstrated protective effects in various ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury models, its application in kidney injury remains largely unexplored. Methods An AP model was established in human kidney (HK2) cells by treating them with an acidic medium for 12 h, followed by a recovery period with a normal medium for 6 h. To induce hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury, HK2 cells were subjected to hypoxia for 24 h and reoxygenation for 1 h. In vivo, a mouse model of IPC was established by clamping the bilateral renal pedicles for 15 min, followed by reperfusion for 4 days. Conversely, the I/R model involved clamping the bilateral renal pedicles for 35 min and reperfusion for 24 h. Western blotting was employed to evaluate the expression levels of cleaved caspase 3, cleaved caspase 9, NHE1, KIM1, FAK, and NOX4. A pH-sensitive fluorescent probe was used to measure pHi, while a Hemin/CNF microelectrode monitored kidney tissue pH. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to visualize the localization of NHE1, NOX4, and FAK, along with the actin cytoskeleton structure in HK2 cells. Cell adhesion and scratch assays were conducted to assess cell motility. Results Our findings demonstrated that AP could effectively mitigate H/R injury in HK2 cells. This protective effect and the maintenance of pHi homeostasis by AP involved the upregulation of Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) expression and activity. The activity of NHE1 was regulated by dynamic changes in pHi-dependent phosphorylation of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) at Y397. This process was associated with NOX4-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, AP induced the co-localization of FAK, NOX4, and NHE1 in focal adhesions, promoting cytoskeletal remodeling and enhancing cell adhesion and migration capabilities. Conclusions This study provides compelling evidence that AP maintains pHi homeostasis and promotes cytoskeletal remodeling through FAK/NOX4/NHE1 signaling. This signaling pathway ultimately contributes to alleviated H/R injury in HK2 cells.

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a serious threat to public health, but its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In screening important genes using Gene Importance Calculator (GIC) we developed previously, ribosomal modification protein rimK-like family member A (RIMKLA) was predicted as one essential gene but its functions remained largely unknown. The current study determined the roles of RIMKLA in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. RIMKLA expression was reduced in livers of human and mouse with NAFLD. Hepatic RIMKLA overexpression ameliorated steatosis and hyperglycemia in obese mice. Hepatocyte-specific RIMKLA knockout aggravated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced dysregulated glucose/lipid metabolism in mice. Mechanistically, RIMKLA is a new protein kinase that phosphorylates betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase 1 (BHMT1) at threonine 45 (Thr45) site. Upon phosphorylation at Thr45 and activation, BHMT1 eliminated homocysteine (Hcy) to inhibit the activity of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP1) and its induction on fatty acid synthase (FASn) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) gene transcriptions, concurrently repressing lipid synthesis and uptake in hepatocytes. Thr45 to alanine (T45A) mutation inactivated BHMT1 to abolish RIMKLA’s repression on Hcy level, AP1 activity, FASn/CD36 expressions, and lipid deposition. BHMT1 overexpression rescued the dysregulated lipid metabolism in RIMKLA-deficient hepatocytes. In summary, RIMKLA is a novel protein kinase that phosphorylates BHMT1 at Thr45 to repress lipid synthesis and uptake. Under obese condition, inhibition of RIMKLA impairs BHMT1 activity to promote hepatic lipid deposition.

Abstract Objectives Epilepsy and migraine are common chronic neurological disease. Epidemiologic studies and shared pathophysiology and treatment suggest that these two diseases overlap. However, migraine is often underestimated among patients with epilepsy. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of migraine and identify the related influencing factors among adult patients with epilepsy. Methods Adult patients with epilepsy were recruited at the outpatient epilepsy clinic of 13 tertiary hospitals in China from February to September 2022. ID Migraine questionnaire was applied to evaluate for migraine. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the influencing factors of migraine. Results A total of 1326 patients with epilepsy were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of migraine among patients with epilepsy was 19.2% (254/1326). In the multivariable analysis, being female (OR = 1.451, 95% CI: 1.068–1.975; p = 0.018), focal and focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures (OR = 1.583, 95% CI: 1.090–2.281; p = 0.015), and current seizure attack in the last 3 months (OR = 1.967, 95% CI: 1.282–3.063; p = 0.002) were the influencing factors for migraine. However,

Abstract Objective Several antiseizure medications (ASMs) have been approved for the treatment of focal epilepsy. However, there is a paucity of evidence on direct comparison of ASMs. We evaluated the comparative efficacy and safety of all approved add‐on ASMs for the treatment of focal epilepsy using network meta‐analysis. Methods Data through extensive literature search was retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrial.gov databases using predefined search terms from inception through March 2023. PRISMA reporting guidelines (CRD42023403450) were followed in this study. Efficacy outcomes assessed were ≥50%, ≥75%, and 100% responder rates. Patient retention rate and safety outcomes such as overall treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and individual TEAEs were assessed. “Gemtc” 4.0.4 package was used to perform Bayesian analysis. Outcomes are reported as relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Literature search retrieved 5807 studies of which, 75 studies were included in the analysis. All ASMs showed significantly higher ≥50% responder rate compared with placebo. Except the ≥75% seizure frequency reduction for zonisamide (2.23; 95% CI: 1.00–5.70) and 100% for rufinamide (2.03; 95% CI: 0.54–11.00), all other interventions showed significantly higher ≥75% and 100% responder rates compared with placebo. Among treatments, significantly higher 100% responder rate was observed with cenobamate compared to eslicarbazepine (10.71; 95% CI: 1.56–323.9) and zonisamide (10.63; 95% CI: 1.37–261.2). All ASMs showed a lower patient retention rate compared to placebo, with the least significant value observed for oxcarbazepine (0.77; 95% CI: 0.7–0.84). Levetiracetam showed a lower risk of incidence (1.0; 95%CI: 0.94–1.1; SUCRA: 0.885067) for overall TEAE compared with other medications. Significance All approved ASMs were effective as add‐on treatment for focal epilepsy. Of the ASMs included, cenobamate had the greatest likelihood of allowing patients to attain seizure freedom. Plain Language Summary This article compares the efficacy and safety of antiseizure medications (ASMs) currently available to neurologists in the treatment of epileptic patients. Several newer generation ASMs that have been developed may be as effective or better than the older medications. We included 75 studies in the analysis. In comparison, all drugs improved ≥50%, ≥75% and 100% responder rates compared to control, except for Zonisamide and Rufinamide in the ≥75% and 100% responder rate categories. Retention of patients undergoing treatment was lower in drugs than placebo. All drugs were tolerated, the levetiracetam showed the best tolerability. Cenobamate more likely help completely to reduce seizures.

Abstract With childhood hypertension emerging as a global public health concern, understanding its associated factors is crucial. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among Chinese children. This cross-sectional investigation was conducted in Pinghu, Zhejiang province, involving 2,373 children aged 8–14 years from 12 schools. Anthropometric measurements were taken by trained staff. Blood pressure (BP) was measured in three separate occasions, with an interval of at least two weeks. Childhood hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ age-, sex-, and height-specific 95th percentile, across all three visits. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to collect demographic, socioeconomic, health behavioral, and parental information at the first visit of BP measurement. Random forest (RF) and multivariable logistic regression model were used collectively to identify associated factors. Additionally, population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated. The prevalence of childhood hypertension was 5.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1–5.9%). Children with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile were grouped into abnormal weight, and those with waist circumference (WC) > 90th percentile were sorted into central obesity. Normal weight with central obesity (NWCO, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.96–12.98), abnormal weight with no central obesity (AWNCO, aOR = 4.60, 95% CI: 2.57–8.21), and abnormal weight with central obesity (AWCO, aOR = 9.94, 95% CI: 6.06–16.32) were associated with an increased risk of childhood hypertension. Childhood hypertension was attributable to AWCO mostly (PAF: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.50–0.75), followed by AWNCO (PAF: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19–0.51), and NWCO (PAF: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03–0.30). Our results indicated that obesity phenotype is associated with childhood hypertension, and the role of weight management could serve as potential target for intervention.

Abstract A self-made triaxial testing machine with thermal–hydraulic–mechanical–chemical (THMC) coupling and a tubular heating furnace, combined with in situ (IS) micro-computed-tomography technology was utilized in this study. The evolution of pore-fissure (PF) structure parameters (porosity, PF scale distribution, effective PF volume ratio, and permeability) of bituminous coal under stress-free (SF) and IS conditions with temperature was investigated, and then the mechanism of experimental results was analyzed. Results showed that (1) under SF conditions, at 300–550 °C, the coal samples after pyrolysis are dominated by elongated large fissures, with PF structure parameters positively correlating with temperature. After 400 °C, the number of PFs increases, with most PFs having equivalent diameter (R) ≤ 100 μm. (2) Under IS conditions, coal sample fissures are dominated by elongated large fissures at 300–350 °C and by holes at 350–600 °C. (3) Under IS conditions at 300–600 °C, the PF structure parameters of coal samples initially decrease with temperature and subsequently increase. The number of PFs fluctuates within a certain range, and the PF scale distribution dynamically shifts with temperature. (4) After 300 °C, the PF structure parameters of bituminous coal under SF and IS conditions show a bipolar distribution with temperature. Therefore, the weakening effect of stress on the PF structure of coal samples should not be overlooked during IS pyrolysis mining of coal bodies.

Abstract Background As a vital soil-borne pathogenic bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum can cause wilt disease in multiple Solanaceae plants. Several phages, such as ϕPB2, could infect R. solanacearum acting as a potential biological control agent in soil. In addition, some nanoparticles, especially copper preparation, also showed high toxicity on R. solanacearum with low toxicity on plant. However, whether they can be administered in combination and how effective they are in inhibiting the plant disease caused by R. solanacearum is known very little. Results In this work, the characterization of CuONPs using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction ascertained the presence of CuONPs which were nanometer particle of 83 nm. Then it was found that combined application of CuONPs with phage (ϕPB2) was superior to that of ϕPB2 or CuONPs alone in controlling tobacco bacterial wilt, with the CuONPs (250 mg/mL) and phage (106 PFU/mL) ratio being the best, at 79.1%. The combination of CuONPs and ϕPB2 also showed no obvious toxicity on tobacco growth than control like single application of CuONPs or ϕPB2. Furthermore, the transcriptome changes of R. solanacearum analysis indicated that the combination application and single allocation of CuONPs could inhibit “biofilm formation”, molecular function, biological processes, cellular components, metabolic process, and so on. In addition, the combination application showed higher inhibition of motility and biofilm, and better enhancement of cell membrane permeability, protein leakage, MDA concentration, and enzyme activity of their respiratory chain dehydrogenase than single application of CuONPs or phage (ϕPB2). Transcriptomes analysis also supported that the addition of ϕPB2 enhanced the toxicity of CuONPs by influencing the ABC transporters and quorum sensing, metabolic processes, and cellular biosynthetic processes of R. solanacearum. Conclusion In total, our work not only proposed a novel way to increase the bactericidal effect of nanomaterials by adding phage, but also discovered the influence, synergistic effects, and mechanisms, which is useful to design novel way to combat phytopathogenic bacteria in the complicated environment. Graphical abstract

The impact effects of falling rocks on sand–reinforced concrete slab composite protective structures involve several factors. Among them, the existing codes are unable to consider the effect of rockfall shape and the angle of contact between the rockfall and the object on the impact force as well as the depth of penetration. Based on extensive field investigation, this paper proposes a shape factor to simplify the rockfall into an ellipsoid and determines the shape and dimensions of the rockfall by three-dimensional axis length. Besides, a coupled SPH-FEM numerical calculation model is established and validated through comparison with a large-scale outdoor test of a rockfall impact protection structure. Finally, the effects of rockfall shape and impact angle on the symbolic parameters including impact force, impulse and energy in the impact process are revealed. The findings indicate that the maximum force and displacement of the midpoint of the bottom of the reinforced concrete slab have relative errors within 5.0 % when compared to the model test, confirming the precision of the models discussed in this paper. For the same rockfall, the peak force decreases with the impact angle increasing; taking the same volume of spherical rockfall as the reference, under the same rockfall pattern, the peak impact force and impulse amplification factor decreases with the increase in contact attitude angle. Additionally, the scaling effect becomes more pronounced when the shape factor of the rockfall is smaller; under the same shape factor, the impact depth of the cushion layer is the smallest when the attitude angle is 45°, and the maximum when the impact angle is 90°; the SPH-FEM coupling algorithm could reasonably reproduce the pit-forming process of sand and soil, and it is very effective in simulating the flow effect of soil particles under impact.

The load-bearing performance (LBP) of pumpable supports (PPS) is crucial for the stability of longwall pre-driven recovery room (PRR) surrounding rock. However, the unbalanced bearing coefficient (UBC)of the PPS (undertaking unequal load along the mining direction) has not been investigated. A mechanical model of the PRR was established, considering the main roof cantilever beam structure, to derive an assessment formula for the load, the failure criteria, and the UBC of the PPS. Subsequently, the generation mechanisms, and influencing factors of the UBC were revealed. Global sensitivity analysis shows that the main roof hanging length (l2) and the spacing between the PPS (r) significantly impact the UBC. A novel design of the PPS and the coupling control technology were proposed and applied to reduce the UBC of the PPS in the adjacent longwall PRR. Monitor results showed no failure of the PPS at the test site, with the UBC (ζ) reduced to 1.1 consistent with the design value (1.15) basically, fully utilizing the collaborative LBP of the PPS. Finally, the maximum roof-to-floor convergence of the PRR was 234 mm, effectively controlling the stability of the surrounding rock of the PRR and ensuring the mining equipment recovery.

Abstract Background Excessive pericyte coverage promotes tumor growth, and a downregulation may solve this dilemma. Due to the double-edged sword role of vascular pericytes in tumor microenvironment (TME), indiscriminately decreasing pericyte coverage by imatinib causes poor treatment outcomes. Here, we optimized the use of imatinib in a colorectal cancer (CRC) model in high pericyte-coverage status, and revealed the value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) at 9.4T in monitoring treatment-related changes in pericyte coverage and the TME. Methods CRC xenograft models were evaluated by histological vascular characterizations and mpMRI. Mice with the highest pericyte coverage were treated with imatinib or saline; then, vascular characterizations, tumor apoptosis and HIF-1α level were analyzed histologically, and alterations in the expression of Bcl-2/bax pathway were assessed through qPCR. The effects of imatinib were monitored by dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)- and amide proton transfer chemical exchange saturation transfer (APT CEST)-MRI at 9.4T. Results The DCE- parameters provided a good histologic match the tumor vascular characterizations. In the high pericyte coverage status, imatinib exhibited significant tumor growth inhibition, necrosis increase and pericyte coverage downregulation, and these changes were accompanied by increased vessel permeability, decreased microvessel density (MVD), increased tumor apoptosis and altered gene expression of apoptosis-related Bcl-2/bax pathway. Strategically, a 4-day imatinib effectively decreased pericyte coverage and HIF-1α level, and continuous treatment led to a less marked decrease in pericyte coverage and re-elevated HIF-1α level. Correlation analysis confirmed the feasibility of using mpMRI parameters to monitor imatinib treatment, with DCE-derived Ve and Ktrans being most correlated with pericyte coverage, Ve with vessel permeability, AUC with microvessel density (MVD), DWI-derived ADC with tumor apoptosis, and APT CEST-derived MTRasym at 1 µT with HIF-1α. Conclusions These results provided an optimized imatinib regimen to achieve decreasing pericyte coverage and HIF-1α level in the high pericyte-coverage CRC model, and offered an ultrahigh-field multiparametric MRI approach for monitoring pericyte coverage and dynamics response of the TME to treatment.

The present study investigates the synergistic enhancement of hot corrosion resistance (900 °C, 75%Na2SO4+25%NaCl) and mechanical properties of IN738LC alloy prepared by selective laser melting after heat treatment. The results indicate that the M23C6 precipitation at the grain boundaries coupled with smaller-sized γ′ phase distribution in the inner grain is conducive to the formation of thicker Cr2O3 outer layer and Al2O3 inner layer for the samples, which effectively hinders the diffusion of S and Cl elements penetrate to the matrix, enhancing the hot corrosion resistance. Additionally, the presence of small-sized γ′ phase and re-crystallization-induced grain refinement contribute to an increase in yield strength (σYS = 1261 MPa) and ultimate tensile strength (σUTS = 1360 MPa) for the alloy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term efficacy of celiac plexus block combined with the interstitial permanent implantation of 125I seeds in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer (inoperable locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancers). MethodsA total of 100 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were selected and treated with celiac plexus block combined with the interstitial permanent implantation of 125I seeds under CT guidance. Pain relief and changes in the tumor marker CA19-9 were assessed on the seventh day, the first and third months after surgery. In the third month after surgery, tumor size was assessed by CT. ResultsAmong the 100 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, complete response (CR) was found in 12 cases, partial response (PR) in 78 cases, stable disease in five cases, and progression of disease in five cases three months after surgery. The CA19-9 level and the sum of short and long tumor diameters were significantly decreased (both P

Abstract The process of CH4 cracking into H2 and carbon has gained wide attention for hydrogen production. However, traditional catalysis methods suffer rapid deactivation due to severe carbon deposition. In this study, we discover that effective CH4 cracking can be achieved at 450 °C over a Re/Ni single-atom alloy via ball milling. To explore single-atom alloy catalysis, we construct a library of 10,950 transition metal single-atom alloy surfaces and screen candidates based on C–H dissociation energy barriers predicted by a machine learning model. Experimental validation identifies Ir/Ni and Re/Ni as top performers. Notably, the non-noble metal Re/Ni achieves a hydrogen yield of 10.7 gH2 gcat–1 h–1 with 99.9% selectivity and 7.75% CH4 conversion at 450 °C, 1 atm. Here, we show the mechanical energy boosts CH4 conversion clearly and sustained CH4 cracking over 240 h is achieved, significantly surpassing other approaches in the literature.

Abstract Microstructure and Cr2O3 doping profoundly impact the thermal-mechanical properties and fracture of oxides fuels. It is a challenge to study the transient behavior of nuclear fuels under loss-of-coolant-event (LOCA). In this study, the crack behavior of UO2 pellets with controlled grain structure and Cr2O3 doping was tested with rapid power ramping (300−900 °C per min) mimicking a prototypical LOCA heating profile. Dense micron-sized UO2 pellets display well-maintained integrity without cracking with the ramping up to 1500 °C at a heating rate of 8 °C per second. Fracture occurs in both pure and Cr2O3-doped dense nano-sized UO2 pellets. The Cr2O3 doped oxide fuel pellet with a larger grain size (~ 22.2 μm) displays the best performance under LOCA testing due to its highest thermal conductivity under high temperature. FEA calculations suggest a temperature gradient across the fuel pellet during transient testing, resulting in residual stress and cracking, which can be correlated with their thermal-mechanical properties.

Abstract Background Airway epithelial cell (AEC) necroptosis contributes to airway allergic inflammation and asthma exacerbation. Targeting the tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1 A (TL1A)/death receptor 3 (DR3) axis has a therapeutic effect on asthmatic airway inflammation. The role of TL1A in mediating necroptosis of AECs challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and its contribution to airway inflammation remains unclear. Methods We evaluated the expression of the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3(RIPK3) and the mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) in human serum and lung, and histologically verified the level of MLKL phosphorylation in lung tissue from asthmatics and OVA-induced mice. Next, using MLKL knockout mice and the RIPK3 inhibitor GSK872, we investigated the effects of TL1A on airway inflammation and airway barrier function through the activation of necroptosis in experimental asthma. Results High expression of necroptosis marker proteins was observed in the serum of asthmatics, and necroptosis was activated in the airway epithelium of both asthmatics and OVA-induced mice. Blocking necroptosis through MLKL knockout or RIPK3 inhibition effectively attenuated parabronchial inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and airway collagen fiber accumulation, while also suppressing type 2 inflammatory factors secretion. In addition, TL1A/ DR3 was shown to act as a death trigger for necroptosis in the absence of caspases by silencing or overexpressing TL1A in HBE cells. Furthermore, the recombinant TL1A protein was found to induce necroptosis in vivo, and knockout of MLKL partially reversed the pathological changes induced by TL1A. The necroptosis induced by TL1A disrupted the airway barrier function by decreasing the expression of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin, possibly through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusions TL1A-induced airway epithelial necroptosis plays a significant role in promoting airway inflammation and barrier dysfunction in asthma. Inhibition of the TL1A-induced necroptosis pathway could be a promising therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Within the global architecture, engineering, and construction industry, the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has significantly expanded. However, given the unique characteristics of road infrastructure, the application of BIM technology is still being explored. This article focuses on the Yuanchen Expressway, exploring innovative applications of BIM technology in comprehensive construction management. The project employs advanced technologies, including BIM, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Internet of Things (IoT), to precisely identify critical nodes and breakthroughs. Supported by a detailed BIM model and a multi-level, diversified digital management platform, the project effectively addresses construction challenges in multiple tunnels, bridges, and complex interchanges, achieving intelligent construction innovation throughout the Yuanchen Expressway with BIM technology. By guiding construction through BIM models, utilizing a BIM+GIS-based management cloud platform system, and employing VR safety briefings, the project effectively reduces the difficulty of communication and coordination in project management, shortens the project measurement cycle, improves on-site work efficiency, and ensures comprehensive control and safety management. This article provides an exemplary case for the application of full-line construction management using BIM technology in the highway sector both in China and globally, offering new perspectives and strategies for highway construction management.

Abstract Accumulating evidences are challenging the paradigm that methane in surface water primarily stems from the anaerobic transformation of organic matters. Yet, the contribution of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria, a dominant species in surface water, to methane production remains unclear. Here we show methanogenesis triggered by the interaction between oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria and anaerobic methanogenic archaea. By introducing cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 and methanogenic archaea Methanosarcina barkeri with the redox cycling of iron, CH4 production was induced in coculture biofilms through both syntrophic methanogenesis (under anoxic conditions in darkness) and abiotic methanogenesis (under oxic conditions in illumination) during the periodic dark-light cycles. We have further demonstrated CH4 production by other model oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria from various phyla, in conjunction with different anaerobic methanogenic archaea exhibiting diverse energy conservation modes, as well as various common Fe-species. These findings have revealed an unexpected link between oxygenic photosynthesis and methanogenesis and would advance our understanding of photosynthetic bacteria’s ecological role in the global CH4 cycle. Such light-driven methanogenesis may be widely present in nature.

[Objective] In order to explore the changes of vegetation communities under different grazing intensities in grassland, the effects of community characteristics on soil aggregates were analyzed. [Methods] Taking the controlled grazing experimental area of Xilamuren desert steppe as the research object, the characteristics of vegetation community and soil aggregates under light grazing (LG), moderate grazing (MG), heavy grazing (HG), and no grazing (CK) and their relationship were analyzed by field investigation and indoor analysis, and the effects of plant community changes on soil aggregates were revealed. [Results] (1) The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′) and Simpson dominance index (D) of LG were significantly lower than those of other grazing intensities (p