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Brachytherapy can kill cancer cells more effectively and make the normal tissues around the tumor free or less irradiated. It has become an effective means for the treatment of malignant tumors. 103Pd has a half-life of 16.96 days and a significant advantage in the field of brachytherapy due to its unique decay properties. In order to achieve the large-scale production of 103Pd, the preparation process based on Cyclone-30(C30) cyclotron was studied. The rhodium metal was electroplated on the copper target base by pulse electroplating method. The rhodium-plated target was transferred to C30 solid target station for irradiation with beam energy of 16-18 MeV, and the beam current was 200 μA. In order to obtain Curie-level 103Pd, the beam integral should be more than 10000 μA•h. After irradiation, the target was transferred to the separation and purification hot cell, the rhodium plating was separated from the target base first, then was ground into powder, and dissolved by high temperature melting of potassium bisulfate. The rhodium was converted into soluble rhodium sulfate, and the 103Pd nuclide was separated and purified by AG1-X8 resin. The impurities of Rh, Fe, Cu and Zn were rinsed with 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid and 0.03 mol/L hydrochloric acid, respectively. At last, 103Pd was desorbed with a mixed solution of ammonium chloride-ammonia mixed solution(volume ratio 1∶1). The radioactive activity, radionuclide purity and specific activity of 103Pd were measured respectively. The preparation of sealed seed core was studied by using the prepared 103Pd feed solution. The results show that the rhodium plating layer is smooth and dense, and firmly bonded with the copper plate, the rhodium layers mass thickness is greater than 150 mg/cm2. The production capacity of 103Pd is greater than 37 GBq, the radionuclide purity is greater than 99.9%, and the specific activity is greater than 875 GBq/mg, and activity concentrations greater than 6.2 GBq/mL. The preparation field of 103Pd brachytherapy sources is more than 90%, it can meet the requirements. The 103Pd preparation process is stable, and the quality is controllable. The large-scale production capacity has been reached, and it provides a stable source for the research of 103Pd brachytherapy sources.

Abstract Background It is widely known that the incidence rate and short-term mortality of acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) are generally higher during the winter months. The goal of this study was to determine how the temperature of the environment influences fatal acute myocardial infarctions in Xuzhou. Methods This observational study used the daily meteorological data and the data on the cause of death from acute myocardial infarction in Xuzhou from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. After controlling meteorological variables and pollutants, the distributed nonlinear lag model (DLNM) was used to estimate the correlation between temperature and lethal AMI. Results A total of 27,712 patients with fatal AMI were enrolled. 82.4% were over the age of 65, and 50.9% were men. Relative to the reference temperature (15 ℃), the 30-day cumulative RRs of the extremely cold temperature (− 2 ℃) for the general population, women, and people aged 65 years and above were 4.66 (95% CI: 1.76, 12.30), 15.29 (95% CI: 3.94, 59.36), and 7.13 (95% CI: 2.50, 20.35), respectively. The 30-day cumulative RRs of the cold temperature (2 ℃) for the general population, women, and people aged 65 years and above were 2.55 (1.37, 4.75), 12.78 (2.24, 5.36), and 3.15 (1.61, 6.16), respectively. No statistically significant association was observed between high temperatures and the risk of fatal AMI. The influence of the cold effect (1st and 10th) was at its peak on that day, and the entire cold effect persisted for 30 days. Temperature extremes had an effect on the lag patterns of distinct age and gender stratifications. Conclusion According to this study, the risk of fatal AMI increases significantly in cold weather but not in hot weather. Women above the age of 65 are particularly sensitive to severe weather events. The influence of frigid weather on public health should also be considered.

Abstract Memristors are a candidate device for artificial neural systems due to their excellent conductance‐regulation ability and potential to simulate the characteristics of biological synapses. This study fabricated a Pt/TaOx/TiOy/Ti analog artificial synapse memristor that exhibits excellent multilevel storage property with a large on/off ratio of ≈660 times. The dynamic resistive switching mechanism is well expounded and validated by the reset stopping voltage dependent Schottky fitting results. Moreover, the essential biological synaptic characteristics such as long‐term potentiation/depression (LTP/D) and paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF) are successfully mimicked with a low pulse energy consumption of 12.69 nJ. A neuromorphic network constructed on the enhanced symmetry and linearity of conductance for this Pt/TaOx/TiOy/Ti memristive device can achieve 92.45% accuracy in recognizing handwritten pattern. These results demonstrate a significant potential for application Pt/TaOx/TiOy/Ti memristor in non‐volatile memory and bioinspired neuromorphic systems.

Abstract Senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contributes to aging-related cardiovascular diseases by promoting arterial remodelling and stiffness. Ferroptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death associated with lipid oxidation. Here, we show that pro-ferroptosis signaling drives VSMCs senescence to accelerate vascular NAD+ loss, remodelling and aging. Pro-ferroptotic signaling is triggered in senescent VSMCs and arteries of aged mice. Furthermore, the activation of pro-ferroptotic signaling in VSMCs not only induces NAD+ loss and senescence but also promotes the release of a pro-senescent secretome. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of pro-ferroptosis signaling, ameliorates VSMCs senescence, reduces vascular stiffness and retards the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice. Mechanistically, we revealed that inhibition of pro-ferroptotic signaling facilitates the nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling of proliferator-activated receptor-γ and, thereby impeding nuclear receptor coactivator 4-ferrtin complex-centric ferritinophagy. Finally, the activated pro-ferroptotic signaling correlates with arterial stiffness in a human proof-of-concept study. These findings have significant implications for future therapeutic strategies aiming to eliminate vascular ferroptosis in senescence- or aging-associated cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract Background and objective Although the the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) serves to be one of the reliable indicator for hyperlipidaemia, there is still uncertainty about its relationship to prognosis in the hyperlipidaemic population. In current study, the DII levels were analyzed in relation to the mortality risk among among the hyperlipidaemic individuals with the aim of determining any prospective correlation. Methods 14,460 subjects with hyperlipidaemia from the 10-year (2001–2010) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were chosen for this study. The endpoint event for follow-up was all-cause mortality, and subjects were tracked for up to December 31, 2019, or death, whichever occurred first. The tertiles of the DII levels were utilized for categorizing the study population into three groups. Survival curves, Cox proportional hazards regression models, restricted cubic spline (RCS), subgroup and interaction analyses, and sensitivity analyses were employed sequentially for the purpose of evaluating the association of the DII with mortality. Results 3170 (21.92%) all-cause deaths were recorded during an average 148-month follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that the survival rate of participants divided into the low DII group was substantially improved compared to that of those in the higher DII group (log-rank P

Human pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) is the most common malignancy in the head and neck region, characterized by high mortality and a propensity for metastasis. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid isolated from brown algae, exhibits pharmacological properties associated with the suppression of tumor proliferation and metastasis. Nevertheless, its potential to inhibit HPSCC proliferation and metastasis has not been fully elucidated. This study represents the first exploration of the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on two human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma cell lines (FaDu and Detroit 562), as well as the mechanisms underlying those effects. The results showed dose-dependent decreases in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HPSCC cells after fucoxanthin treatment. Further studies indicated that fucoxanthin caused a significant reduction in the expression levels of proteins in the phosphoinositide 3−kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, as well as the downstream proteins matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)−2 and MMP−9. Specific activators of PI3K/AKT reversed the effects of fucoxanthin on these proteins, as well as on cell proliferation and metastasis, in FaDu and Detroit 562 cells. Molecular docking assays confirmed that fucoxanthin strongly interacted with PI3K, AKT, mTOR, MMP−2, and MMP−9. Overall, fucoxanthin, a functional food component, is a potential therapeutic agent for HPSCC.

This study investigated the mechanism by which fucoxanthin acts as a novel ferroptosis inducer to inhibit tongue cancer. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on SCC−25 human tongue squamous carcinoma cells. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total iron were measured. Reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT−qPCR) and Western blotting were used to assess glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), nuclear factor erythroid 2−related factor 2 (Nrf2), Keap1, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), p53, and heme oxygenase 1 (HO−1) expression. Molecular docking was performed to validate interactions. Compared with the control group, the activity of fucoxanthin−treated SCC−25 cells significantly decreased in a dose− and time−dependent manner. The levels of MMP, GSH, and SOD significantly decreased in fucoxanthin−treated SCC−25 cells; the levels of ROS, MDA, and total iron significantly increased. mRNA and protein expression levels of Keap1, GPX4, Nrf2, and HO−1 in fucoxanthin−treated cells were significantly decreased, whereas levels of TFR1 and p53 were significantly increased, in a concentration−dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that binding free energies of fucoxanthin with p53, SLC7A11, GPX4, Nrf2, Keap1, HO−1, and TFR1 were below −5 kcal/mol, primarily based on active site hydrogen bonding. Our findings suggest that fucoxanthin can induce ferroptosis in SCC−25 cells, highlighting its potential as a treatment for tongue cancer.

PurposePeriprosthetic fracture (PPF) is one of the severe complications in patients with osteosarcoma and carries the risk of limb loss. This study describes the characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes of this complication.MethodsPatients were consecutively included who were treated at our institution between 2016 and 2020 with a PPF of distal femur. The treatment strategies included two types: 1) open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws and 2) replacement with long-stem endoprosthesis and reinforcement with wire rope if necessary.ResultsA total of 11 patients (mean age 12.2 years (9–14)) were included, and the mean follow-up period was 36.5 (21–54) months. Most fractures were caused by direct or indirect trauma (n = 8), and others (n = 3) underwent PPF without obvious cause. The first type of treatment was performed on four patients, and the second type was performed on seven patients. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score was 20 (17–23). All patients recovered from the complication, and limb preservation could be achieved.ConclusionPPF is a big challenge for musculoskeletal oncologists, particularly in younger patients. Additionally, PPF poses a challenge for orthopedic surgeons, as limb preservation should be an important goal. Hence, internal fixation with plates and endoprosthetic replacement are optional treatment strategies based on fracture type and patient needs.

In this paper, based on the three-dimensional frame structure between the antenna unit and the ground, a decoupling method, the current phase decoupler method, is proposed for the 5 G smartphone multiunit frame antenna. Using this method in a dual-unit antenna, the additional current path reverses the phase of the coupled current flowing through the ground to the adjacent unit, while weakening the coupled current intensity and significantly suppressing the coupling between the units. The measured results show that the coupling is less than −28 dB, and the maximum efficiency is 85.53% without adding any lossy components. In an eight-unit smartphone antenna system, the coupling of adjacent units can also be reduced below −24.6 dB with a maximum efficiency of 82.17%. This method has significant advantages over the existing decoupling methods and can be used as the preferred decoupling scheme for the future 5 G smartphone multiunit frame antenna.

A compact eight-element frame antenna array covering the 5G n79 frequency band (4.4–5.0 GHz) has been proposed in this paper. Considering the demands in the application of 5G ultrathin smartphones, the antenna unit has been miniaturized and designed with a low profile. Each antenna unit occupies a distance of 11.1 mm on the long edge, and the profile height of each unit is only 3 mm. The antenna array consists of 8 identical monopole antennas. By loading an inverted E-shaped slot on the ground plane and arranging the positions of the antenna units reasonably without the need for a decoupling structure, the antenna can achieve a low profile and compact design. Simultaneously, it can achieve excellent isolation and cover the entire n79 frequency band. The processed eight-element antenna array has a −6 dB bandwidth ranging from 4.38 to 5.19 GHz. The isolation between all antennas is better than −13.9 dB. The total efficiency is between 48.66% and 90.57%, with an average efficiency of 68.6%. The ECC (envelope correlation coefficient) is less than 0.066. The antenna array is characterized by its small size, low profile, simple structure, easy manufacturing, and excellent radiation performance. It holds significant application value in the design of MIMO antennas for 5G ultrathin smartphones.

Park and Ride (P&R) as a demand management tool has the effect of reducing traffic congestion in urban centers, saving energy and reducing pollutant emissions. Since 2000, many cities in China have been constructing P&R facilities, which have partially alleviated urban traffic congestion and provided a time-reliable mode of travel for commuters heading to urban centers. However, in recent years, due to the pricing policy of the P&R facility, there has been an insufficient supply of P&R facilities in many places. In fact, the P&R system prefers to welcome travelers who make long-distance subway rides and does not want those who make short-distance subway rides to occupy more parking spaces. To address this, this paper proposes a tiered pricing strategy that considers charging parking fees based on the distance traveled by commuters after switching to public transportation, to improve the utilization of P&R. That is, charge less for parking for long-distance subway riders and more for short-distance subway riders. Firstly, based on questionnaire data from SP surveys, a fixed pricing mixed logit model (FP model) and a tiered pricing mixed logit model (TP model) for P&R facilities are constructed. Utilizing two models, we explored the mechanisms underpinning traveler’s mode choice influenced by daily habits and travel considerations through the comparison of the two models to validate the effectiveness of the tiered pricing for P&R facilities. The study found that the implementation of a tiered pricing method for P&R facilities increases its attractiveness to long-distance subway ride travelers, resulting in a higher proportion of long-distance subway riders among P&R commuters. In the study’s last section, a marginal effect analysis was conducted on the per-kilometer cost (Pkm) within the P&R model. This analysis determined the optimal Pkm for three subway travel distances within the P&R model. Consequently, it calculated the corresponding P&R parking fees for these three subway travel distances. Additionally, we have predicted the implementation effects of the tiered pricing scheme.

Abstract Background The significance of S100A8/A9 and S100A12 in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) has not been clarified. This study was dedicated to exploring the potential pathogenic roles of S100A8/A9 and S100A12 in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA-positive vasculitis. Methods Serum and urine concentrations of S100A8/A9 and S100A12 of forty-two AAV patients were evaluated. The influence of S100A8/A9 and S100A12 on the chemotaxis, the apoptosis, the release of IL-1β, the complement activation, the respiratory burst, as well as the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation of MPO-ANCA-activated neutrophils was investigated. Results The serum and urine S100A8/A9 and S100A12 of active MPO-AAV significantly increased (compared with inactive AAV and healthy controls, p

In this paper, we research a (2+1)-dimensional variable-coefficient Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation in fluid dynamics and plasma physics. The lump, lump-soliton and lump-periodic solutions are derived based on the variable-coefficient polynomial function method. The effect of variable coefficients on the amplitude and velocity of solitons is analyzed and shown by some 3D graphs, contour plots and density graphs.

Abstract Background 99mTc bone scintigraphy (BS) is the mainstay and most widely used technique in evaluation of bone metastasis (BM) in China. This study aimed to investigate the value of 99mTc BS in preoperative workup for patients with potentially resectable (cT1−4aN0−3) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods This prospective cross‐section clinical trial (ChiCTR1800020304) enrolled a total of 385 patients with ESCC diagnosed at thoracic surgery clinic from October 2018 to September 2020. All patients were diagnosed with stage cT1−4aN0−3 and were potential candidates for surgical resection. BS was performed preoperatively and the treatment strategy was changed after confirmation of BM. The primary endpoint was the rate of change of the treatment regimen because of BM, while the secondary endpoint was the rate of positive BS findings. Results Out of the 385 patients, only two (0.5%) changed their treatment regimen because of BM. The rate of positive BS findings was 1%, while two patients (0.5%) had false‐positive or false‐negative results. The BS diagnostic performance for BM was sensitivity 50%, specificity 99.5%, positive predictive value 50%, negative predictive value 99.5%, and accuracy 99.0%. There was no significant difference in BM in relation to age, sex, tumor location or clinical stage. Conclusion Our data demonstrated that 99mTc bone scintigraphy does not significantly affect the preoperative workup in patients with potentially resectable ESCC, especially in early clinical stage patients.

IntroductionEndothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling plays a significant role in acute vasoconstriction during early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Astrocytes in the neurovascular unit extend their foot processes around endothelia. In our study, we tested the hypothesis that increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression in astrocytes after SAH leads to eNOS uncoupling.MethodsWe utilized laser speckle contrast imaging for monitoring cortical blood flow changes in mice, nitric oxide (NO) kits to measure the level of NO, and a co-culture system to study the effect of astrocytes on endothelial cells. Moreover, the protein levels were assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. We used CCK-8 to measure the viability of astrocytes and endothelial cells, and we used the H2O2 kit to measure the H2O2 released from astrocytes. We used GSK2795039 as an inhibitor of NOX2, whereas lentivirus and adeno-associated virus were used for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) knockdown in vivo and in vitro.ResultsThe expression of NOX2 and the release of H2O2 in astrocytes are increased, which was accompanied by a decrease in endothelial DHFR 12 h after SAH. Moreover, the eNOS monomer/dimer ratio increased, leading to a decrease in NO and acute cerebral ischemia. All of the above were significantly alleviated after the administration of GSK2795039. However, after knocking down DHFR both in vivo and in vitro, the protective effect of GSK2795039 was greatly reversed.DiscussionThe increased level of NOX2 in astrocytes contributes to decreased DHFR in endothelial cells, thus aggravating eNOS uncoupling, which is an essential mechanism underlying acute vasoconstriction after SAH.