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The Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) play crucial roles in the progression of Salmonella infection. In this study, we constructed an improved λ Red homologous recombination system to prepare single and triple deletion mutants of 3 prominent SPIs (SPI-1, 2, and 3), aiming at the impact of deletion on morphology, carbon source metabolism, adhesion and invasion capacity, in vivo colonization, and immune efficacy in chicks. Our examination revealed that the surface of the single deletion mutants (SM6ΔSPI1, ΔSPI2, and ΔSPI3) exhibited a more rugged texture and appeared to be enveloped in a layer of transparent colloid, whereas the morphology of the triple deletion mutant (SM6ΔSPI1&2&3) remained unaltered when compared to the parent strain. The carbon metabolic spectrum of the SPI mutants underwent profound alterations, with a notable and statistically significant modification observed in 30 out of 95 carbon sources, primarily carbohydrates (17 out of 30). Furthermore, the adhesion capacity of the 4 mutants to Caco-2 cells was significantly reduced when compared to that of the parent strain. Moreover, the invasion capacity of mutants SM6ΔSPI1 and SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 exhibited a substantial decrease, while it was enhanced to varying degrees for SM6ΔSPI3 and SM6ΔSPI2. Importantly, none of the 4 mutants induced any clinical symptoms in the chicks. However, they did transiently colonize the spleen and liver. Notably, the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 mutant was rapidly cleared from both the spleen and liver within 8 days post-infection and no notable pathological changes were observed in the organs. Additionally, when challenged, the mutants immunized groups displayed a significant increase in antibody levels and alterations in the CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ subpopulations, and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 immunized chicken serum surpassed those of other groups. In summary, the successful construction of the 4 SPI mutants lays the groundwork for further exploration into the pathogenic (including metabolic) mechanisms of SPIs and the development of safe and effective live attenuated Salmonella vaccines or carriers.

ObjectiveTo understand the process and influencing factors affecting the utilization of influenza vaccination services and vaccination decision-making among the elderly in Shanghai, to explore the delivery of influenza vaccination services and the difficulties faced by the health service system, and to provide guidance for optimizing immunization strategies.MethodsBased on the vaccine hesitancy determinants matrix, semi-structured personal interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved in influenza vaccination services in Shanghai from January to February 2024, using a purposive sampling method. Participants were included until thematic saturation was achieved. Interview data were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and organized using NVivo 20 software, and analyzed using the thematic framework method.ResultsA total of 25 interviewees were included, including 9 medical staff, 12 elderly people aged 60 and above, and 4 family members. The study found that Shanghai had a well-managed and standardized influenza vaccination service. However, the promotion of vaccine-related information at the grassroots level was passive and limited. Out-of-pocket payment of the vaccine and cultural beliefs of the elderly negatively impacted vaccination rates. Meanwhile, recommendations from family, friends, and medical staff facilitated vaccination, although the impact varied depending on the type of medical staff. Neighborhood committees in townships and streets played a crucial role in delivering vaccination information to the target population. Additionally, the internet, social media, and the COVID-19 vaccine had both positive and negative impacts on influenza vaccination. Strategic optimization of vaccination should prioritize price concessions, enhance publicity strategies, and improve awareness, professionalism, and willingness among medical and healthcare workers to recommend vaccination.ConclusionThe influenza vaccination service in Shanghai is well-managed and standardized. However, it is essential to consider the influence of family and other support systems on the elderly. It is also necessary to enhance the professionalism, service awareness, and willingness to recommend among the medical staff. Furthermore, systematic interventions and publicity efforts should be effectively integrated with social media and the functions of neighborhood committees.

This study focuses on enhancing the mechanical properties of 631 stainless steel through heat treatment for spring applications. 631 stainless steel (17–7PH), can achieve increased hardness and mechanical properties, offering high strength and hardness suitable for use in aerospace, chemical, and automotive industries. Heat treatment was recommended as one of the best ways in this regard; hence, the effects of temperature and time on the microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion properties of 631 stainless steel have been studied. This research conducted a series of heat treatments on 631 stainless steel, included solid-solution treatment, CH900, RH950, and TH1050 processes to modify the temperature holding period and the degree of undercooling of phase transformations. The study explored the microstructure and mechanical properties of each heat treatment, including spring tests. The results indicate that solid-solution treatment has no significant contribution to hot-rolled 631 stainless steel, whereas two-stage aging is able to conspicuously improves material hardness and mechanical performance. Quenching in 0°C ice water (increasing the degree of undercooling) can elevate hardness to approximately HRC40. After a two-stage aging heat treatment, 631 stainless steel possesses excellent strength and corrosion resistance. Spring test results show a K value of 1.1 kg/ mm, indicating its potential application.

Abstract Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory condition of the colon, characterized by repeated attacks, a lack of effective treatment options, and significant physical and mental health complications for patients. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a vital intracellular organelle in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is induced when the body is exposed to adverse external stimuli. Numerous studies have shown that ERS-induced apoptosis plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of UC. Mogroside V (MV), an active ingredient of Monk fruit, has demonstrated excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of MV on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC and its potential mechanisms based on ERS. The results showed that MV exerted a protective effect against DSS-induced UC in mice as reflected by reduced DAI scores, increased colon length, reduced histological scores of the colon, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as decreased intestinal permeability. In addition, the expression of ERS pathway including BIP, PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, as well as the apoptosis-related protein including Caspase-12, Bcl-2 and Bax, was found to be elevated in UC. However, MV treatment significantly inhibited the UC and reversed the expression of inflammation signaling pathway including ERS and ERS-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the addition of tunicamycin (Tm), an ERS activator, significantly weakened the therapeutic effect of MV on UC in mice. These findings suggest that MV may be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of DSS-induced UC by inhibiting the activation of the ERS-apoptosis pathway, and may provide a novel avenue for the treatment of UC.

Abstract Background The best method for selecting embryos ploidy is preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). However, it takes more labour, money, and experience. As such, more approachable, non- invasive techniques were still needed. Analyses driven by artificial intelligence have been presented recently to automate and objectify picture assessments. Methods In present retrospective study, a total of 3448 biopsied blastocysts from 979 Time-lapse (TL)-PGT cycles were retrospectively analyzed. The “intelligent data analysis (iDA) Score” as a deep learning algorithm was used in TL incubators and assigned each blastocyst with a score between 1.0 and 9.9. Results Significant differences were observed in iDAScore among blastocysts with different ploidy. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher scores were significantly correlated with euploidy (p

Quasi-periodic materials hold unique properties, but mass-producing bulk materials with such structures remains challenging. The rational approximant phase belongs to the Bravais crystal system but exhibits irrational cut features and diffraction symmetries, which are similar to quasicrystals. This study uses additive manufacturing (AM) and prolonged annealing to create an aluminum-based alloy featuring a quasicrystal-like rational approximant phase, Al6(Cu, Ni)1(Cr, Mn, Fe)1, overcoming the production limitations of reproducible quasi-periodic materials. This phase transformation occurs at the Al–Al9FeNi interface, resulting in a monoclinic periodic structure with long-range translational symmetry. The structure comprises sublattices of stars and compressed hexagons, forming tile mode coverings with pseudo-five-fold decagonal shield-like tiles (SLTs) through transition-element atoms. Furthermore, HAADF imaging reveals clear dark monoclinic rhombic patterns with long-range ordered translational symmetry, free from atomic defects. The rational approximant phase has been verified crystallography through X-ray diffraction, confirming its translational symmetry. Additionally, the Al3(Zr, Sc) phase facilitates the phase transformation process through lattice interactions. These findings introduce a novel perspective on the phase transformation in decagonal-like rational approximants and broaden the realm for future engineering applications.

In this study, the Al–Ni–Cu–Fe alloy was fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), with controlled Fe content, to investigate its metallurgical effects. Furthermore, the microstructural differences between the coarse-grained (CG), fine-grained (FG) regions, and the melt pool boundary were compared. The results showed that the FG region exhibited grain-boundary and precipitation strengthening effects. The grain orientation in the FG region was randomly distributed, leading to the randomly oriented columnar grains with a small ratio of low-angle misorientations in the CG region. This prevented the CG region from developing a temperature gradient texture and provided a solid foundation for the high strength. Both high (Al–4Ni–2Cu–1.4Fe) and low (Al–4Ni–2Cu–0.7Fe) Fe-addition alloys exhibited strengths of over 600 MPa. The FG region of the 1.4Fe contained more strengthening phases, contributing to its higher strength. However, the presence of more incoherent interfaces between Al9FeNi and the α-Al lattice resulted in reduced ductility. On the other hand, the 0.7Fe alloy exhibited lower brittleness and improved ductility. Overall, the LPBF Al–Ni–Cu–Fe alloy shows promising potential for aerospace applications, and a comprehensive understanding of the strengthening mechanisms and microstructure can expand its application scope.

ObjectiveTo determine the situation of vaccination certificate inspection and supplementary immunization among children attending kindergarten and primary school in Pudong New Area.MethodsThe study was conducted based on the annual report form“vaccination record inspection summary” of all community health service centers in Pudong New Area， Shanghai. Data related to vaccination certificate inspection and supplementary immunization among children attending kindergarten and primary school were retrieved in Pudong New Area from 2018 to 2021 and statistically analyzed.ResultsFrom 2018 to 2021， a total of 1 850 kindergartens and 887 primary schools in Pudong New Area inspected the vaccination certificates of children attending kindergarten and school，with a coverage rate of 100.00%. There were 375 407 children enrolled in kindergarten and primary school.A total of 373 820 children were inspected with an examination rate of 99.58%. The average certificate holding rate among children was 99.48%．The full-course immunization rate of eight national immunization programs vaccines was 94.95%. Furthermore， a total of 73 407 doses of eight national immunization vaccines were supplemented，with an average supplementary rate of 92.95%. The supplement rate increased annually．In terms of supplemented doses，the top three vaccines were meningococcal vaccine， measles vaccine and polio vaccine. As a vaccine of local immunization program in Shanghai， a total of 14 143 doses of varicella vaccine were supplemented with a supplementary rate of 86.99%.ConclusionIn Pudong New Area， vaccination certificate inspection of children attending kindergarten and primary school has been strictly performed . Inspection rate in the kindergartens and primary schools， children's certificate holding rate， full-course immunization rate and supplementary immunization rate remain high.

Background: Natural products are widely used for primary insomnia (PI). This systematic review with trial sequential analysis (TSA) aimed to summarize evidence pertaining to the effectiveness and safety of Zao Ren An Shen (ZRAS) prescription, a commercial Chinese polyherbal preparation, for treating PI.Methods: Controlled clinical trials appraising ZRAS compared to controls or as an add-on treatment were systematically searched across seven databases until January 2024. Cochrane ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools were adopted to determine risk of bias. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework.Results: We analyzed 22 studies, involving 2,142 participants. The effect of ZRAS in reducing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores was found to be comparable to benzodiazepines [MD = 0.39, 95%CI (−0.12, 0.91), p = 0.13] and superior to Z-drugs [MD = −1.31, 95%CI (−2.37, −0.24), p = 0.02]. The addition of ZRAS to hypnotics more significantly reduced polysomnographically-recorded sleep onset latency [MD = −4.44 min, 95%CI (−7.98, −0.91), p = 0.01] and number of awakenings [MD = −0.89 times, 95%CI (−1.67, −0.10), p = 0.03], and increased total sleep time [MD = 40.72 min, 95%CI (25.14, 56.30), p < 0.01], with fewer adverse events than hypnotics alone. TSA validated the robustness of these quantitative synthesis results. However, the quality of evidence ranged from very low to low. The limited data available for follow-up did not support meta-synthesis.Conclusion: While ZRAS prescription shows promising effectiveness in treating PI, the overall quality of evidence is limited. Rigorously-designed randomized control trials are warranted to confirm the short-term efficacy of ZRAS and explore its medium-to-long-term efficacy.Systematic Review Registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=471497), identifier (CRD42023471497).

Klebsiella variicola is an opportunistic pathogen often misidentified as Klebsiella pneumoniae, leading to misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatment in clinical settings. The genetic and molecular characteristics of clinically isolated K. variicola remain largely unexplored. We aim to fill this knowledge gap by examining the genomic properties of and evolutionary relationships between clinical isolates of K. variicola. The genomic data of 70 K. variicola strains were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was generated based on the gene sequences from these K. variicola strains and public databases. Among the K. variicola strains, the drug resistance genes with the highest carrying rates were beta-lactamase and aminoglycoside. Locally isolated strains had a higher detection rate for virulence genes than those in public databases, with yersiniabactin genes being the most prevalent. The K locus types and MLST subtypes of the strains exhibited a dispersed distribution, with O3/O3a being the predominant subtype within the O category. In total, 28 isolates carried both IncFIB(K)_Kpn3 and IncFII_pKP91 replicons. This study underscores the importance of developing more effective diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for K. variicola infections. The continued surveillance and monitoring of K. variicola strains is essential for understanding the epidemiology of infections and informing public health strategies.

The introduction of an individual pension system is crucial to improve the current pension system in China. To increase the rate of participation of individuals in this new pension system and to give full play to its pension security effect, in this study, we built a conceptual model of participation intention of residents based on the theory of planned behavior considering seven new factors. Data were obtained through a questionnaire survey, and empirical tests and analyses were conducted using methods such as structural equation modeling. According to the results, 77.8 % of residents were willing to participate in the individual pension system. The internal driving factors such as perceived usefulness, trust, family burden and policy support directly influenced the residents’ participation rate. Participation attitude was a key variable, with a partial mediating effect on participation intention. Thus, it is recommended to increase publicity and policy support, improve laws, regulations and the regulatory system, regulate market operations and enhance service quality for boosting residents' recognition and enthusiasm to participate and reducing their burden in old age.

Abstract Background The aging of the population is a social problem faced by many countries in the world. With the increase in the elderly population, the number of patients with Kummell’s disease is also gradually increasing. No study has demonstrated that Kummell’s disease has a clear correlation with the foramen of a vertebrobasilar vein. Objectives The research was conducted to describe and evaluate the morphological characteristics of a basivertebral foramen in patients with osteoporosis and Kummell’s disease by CT; to infer whether the specific morphological characteristics of basivertebral foramen may be one of the risk factors of Kummell’s disease; to provide clinical suggestions for the treatment of Kummell’s disease. Design Retrospective analysis from January 2020 to December 2021 on 83 patients with 83 vertebral bodies (T8-L5) diagnosed with senile osteoporosis and Kummell’s disease hospitalized in our hospital due to chronic low back pain, including 57 women and 23 men. Group A was assigned for the following patients: the age ranged from 59 to 86 years old, with the average age of 67.30 ± 7.32 years old; the body mass index ranged from 20.01 to 29.46 kg/m2, with the average body mass index of 23.51 ± 3.03 kg/m2.Group B was assigned for the following patients: 83 patients diagnosed with senile osteoporosis in our outpatient department from January 2020 to December 2021, including 41 males and 42 females; the age ranged from 60 to 85 years, with an average age of 68.52 ± 4.68 years old; the height to weight ratio met the normal reference standard (except 20% above or 10% below the standard weight). Through the lanwon PACS imaging system, the related parameters of the vertebrobasilar foramen in patients with osteoporosis and Kummell’s disease were measured to evaluate and analyze the correlation between the morphological characteristics of the vertebrobasilar foramen in patients with osteoporosis and Kummell’s disease. Results In patients with osteoporosis, the distribution of incidence rate of Kummell’s disease in the spine was consistent with that of osteoporotic compression fractures. Sagittal view of the vertebral body on CT scan and the triangular-shaped, trapezoidal-shaped, and irregular-shaped basivertebral foramen in group A accounted for 18%,57%,and 36%,respectively. In group B, triangular-shaped, trapezoidal-shaped, and irregular-shaped foramen accounted for 51%,17%,and 26%,respectively.The distribution of triangular-shaped, trapezoidal-shaped, and irregular-shaped foramen was compared between groups A and B, and the difference was recorded as statistically significant (P 0.05).On a horizontal CT scan of the vertebra of group A, triangles, trapezoids, and irregularities accounted for 28%, 26%, and 47%, respectively. In group B, triangles,trapezoids,and irregularities accounted for 31%, 37%, and 30%, respectively. The difference in the distribution of the triangular-shaped and trapezoidal-shaped foramen in groups A and B was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05), while that of irregular-shaped was statistically significant (P 0.05) in the difference in the morphological distribution of triangular-shaped and trapezoidal-shaped foramen in group A, while that of irregular-shaped was found to be statistically significant (P 0.05).In general, about 8% of the vertebral body of BF has an osseous septum. In group A, 97% are single-holed while the remaining 3% are porous; in group B, those with single holes accounted for 76%, while the remaining 24% are porous. In groups A and B, the difference in the morphological distribution of single-holed and multi-holed T8, T11, T12, L1, L2, L4, and L5 vertebral bodies was statistically significant (P