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Abstract Background Remnant cholesterol (RC) exert a significant influence on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease development. However, the prognostic implications of RC in menopausal women received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain uncertain. Methods RC was derived by subtracting the sum of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from the total cholesterol. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analysis were employed for assessing the correlation between continuous RC levels and composite and individual adverse events in Q1-Q4 quartiles. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, derived from Cox regression, were employed for analyzing the relationship between RC and both composite and individual adverse events. Results 1505 consecutive menopausal women who underwent PCI and diagnosed with ACS were included. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a progressive reduction in composite adverse event survival rates across the four groups, observed in both the general population and among diabetic individuals, as RC values increased (Log-rank P

Abstract Regenerating inflamed bone defects represents a severe clinical challenge due to the undesirable inflammatory microenvironment. The inflammatory stimulus poses a weighty threat to the regenerative capacity of endogenously derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are mainly responsible for osteogenic differentiation, thereby resulting in compromised endogenous bone formation. Consequently, alleviating the biological characteristics of inflammatory-impaired MSCs is crucial for promoting inflamed bone regeneration. Nano-sized small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as promising therapeutic tools to orchestrate MSCs fate due to their intrinsic biocompatibility and encapsulated bioactive contents. In the present study, we extracted sEVs from youthful and adult dental pulp MSCs and explored their ability to recover inflammation-compromised periodontal ligament stem cells (IPDLSCs). The results indicated that both types of sEVs were capable of facilitating IPDLSCs osteogenesis. However, young sEVs exhibited a more robust potential at a lower concentration compared to adult sEVs. Mechanically, young sEVs enhanced the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) via delivering the protein Biglycan, which correspondingly promoted the osteogenic capability of IPDLSCs. Collectively, our findings emphasized that young sEVs hold enormous potential to rescue the inherent function and regenerative competence of inflammation-impaired MSCs, shedding light on their promising therapeutic prospects for infected bone regeneration.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most ubiquitous engineering plastics, presents both environmental challenges and opportunities for carbon neutrality and a circular economy. This review comprehensively addressed the latest developments in biotic and abiotic approaches for PET recycling/upcycling. Biotically, microbial depolymerization of PET, along with the biosynthesis of reclaimed monomers [terephthalic acid (TPA), ethylene glycol (EG)] to value-added products, presents an alternative for managing PET waste and enables CO2 reduction. Abiotically, thermal treatments (i.e., hydrolysis, glycolysis, methanolysis, etc.) and photo/electrocatalysis, enabled by catalysis advances, can depolymerize or convert PET/PET monomers in a more flexible, simple, fast, and controllable manner. Tandem abiotic/biotic catalysis offers great potential for PET upcycling to generate commodity chemicals and alternative materials, ideally at lower energy inputs, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs, compared to virgin polymer fabrication. Remarkably, over 25 types of upgraded PET products (e.g., adipic acid, muconic acid, catechol, vanillin, and glycolic acid, etc.) have been identified, underscoring the potential of PET upcycling in diverse applications. Efforts can be made to develop chemo-catalytic depolymerization of PET, improve microbial depolymerization of PET (e.g., hydrolysis efficiency, enzymatic activity, thermal and pH level stability, etc.), as well as identify new microorganisms or hydrolases capable of degrading PET through computational and machine learning algorithms. Consequently, this review provides a roadmap for advancing PET recycling and upcycling technologies, which hold the potential to shape the future of PET waste management and contribute to the preservation of our ecosystems.

Abstract Multiple gene abnormalities are major drivers of tumorigenesis. NF-κB p65 overactivation and cGAS silencing are important triggers and genetic defects that accelerate tumorigenesis. However, the simultaneous correction of NF-κB p65 and cGAS abnormalities remains to be further explored. Here, we propose a novel Induced Dual-Target Rebalance (IDTR) strategy for simultaneously correcting defects in cGAS and NF-κB p65. By using our IDTR approach, we showed for the first time that oncolytic adenovirus H101 could reactivate silenced cGAS, while silencing GAU1 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) inhibited NF-κB p65 overactivation, resulting in efficient in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy in colorectal tumors. Intriguingly, we further demonstrated that oncolytic adenoviruses reactivated cGAS by promoting H3K4 trimethylation of the cGAS promoter. In addition, silencing GAU1 using antisense oligonucleotides significantly reduced H3K27 acetylation at the NF-κB p65 promoter and inhibited NF-κB p65 transcription. Our study revealed an aberrant therapeutic mechanism underlying two tumor defects, cGAS and NF-κB p65, and provided an alternative IDTR approach based on oncolytic adenovirus and antisense oligonucleotides for efficient therapeutic efficacy in tumors.

Abstract As an autoimmune disease, up to 73% of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have a combination of extrahepatic autoimmune diseases (EHAIDs); however, the causal relationship between PBC and EHAIDs is unclear. The genome-wide association analyses provided 14 GWAS data for PBC and EHAIDs, and bidirectional, two-sample MR analyses were performed to examine the relationship between PBC and EHAIDs. The analysis using MR provides a strong and meaningful estimation of the bidirectional correlation between PBC and 7 EHAIDs: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, autoimmune hypothyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis of its types. In addition, PBC increases the risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases such as autoimmune hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease, as well as multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. Additionally, PBC is identified as a risk factor for Crohn's disease and Celiac disease. Based on genetic evidence, there may be connections between PBC and specific EHAIDs: not all coexisting EHAIDs induce PBC, and vice versa. This underscores the significance of prioritizing PBC in clinical practice. Additionally, if any liver function abnormalities are observed during treatment or with EHAIDs, it is crucial to consider the possibility of comorbid PBC.

Abstract Background The significance of A-to-I RNA editing in nervous system development is widely recognized; however, its influence on retina development remains to be thoroughly understood. Results In this study, we performed RNA sequencing and ribosome profiling experiments on developing mouse retinas to characterize the temporal landscape of A-to-I editing. Our findings revealed temporal changes in A-to-I editing, with distinct editing patterns observed across different developmental stages. Further analysis showed the interplay between A-to-I editing and alternative splicing, with A-to-I editing influencing splicing efficiency and the quantity of splicing events. A-to-I editing held the potential to enhance translation diversity, but this came at the expense of reduced translational efficiency. When coupled with splicing, it could produce a coordinated effect on gene translation. Conclusions Overall, this study presents a temporally resolved atlas of A-to-I editing, connecting its changes with the impact on alternative splicing and gene translation in retina development.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the landscape of gastric cancer (GC)-targeted therapy clinical trials and identify potential therapeutic targets. Methods: A systematic search and analysis of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was performed to retrieve all GC clinical trials published up to June 30, 2022. Approved therapeutic targets for 11 common cancers were compiled and analyzed. The role of CSNK2A1 in GC was investigated using bioinformatics tools such as GEPIA, KMPLOT, SangerBox, STRING, ACLBI, and TIMER. Four gastric cancer cell lines (AGS, HGC, MGC, BGC) and one normal gastric mucosa cell line (GES-1) were utilized to assess the sensitivity to the CSNK2A1 inhibitor CX-4945. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was employed to quantify the cellular expression of CSNK2A1. Cellular apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. Results: The failure rate of GC randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) was strikingly high, accounting for 74.29 % (26/35) of the trials. Among the 35 approved targets in 11 different cancers, 13 targets were rigorously evaluated and identified as potential therapeutic targets for GC. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CSNK2A1 is closely associated with multiple biological characteristics in GC, and its increased expression correlated significantly with enhanced sensitivity to CX-4945 treatment. Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis consistently demonstrated concentration-dependent apoptosis induced by CX-4945 in GC cell lines. Conclusions: The high failure rate of GC clinical trials highlights the need for a more scientific and precise approach in target identification and clinical trial design. CSNK2A1 emerges as a promising therapeutic target for GC, and its expression level could potentially serve as a biomarker for predicting sensitivity to CX-4945 treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and validate the clinical significance of CSNK2A1 in GC therapy.

Background: Smoking is a widespread behavior, while the relationship between smoking and various diseases remains a topic of debate. Objective: We conducted analysis to further examine the identified associations and assess potential causal relationships. Methods: We utilized seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to be linked to smoking extracting genotype data from the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical repository encompassing comprehensive health-related and genetic information of European descent. Phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) analysis was conducted to map the association of genetically predicted smoking status with 1,549 phenotypes. The associations identified in the PheWAS were then meticulously examined through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, utilizing data from the UK Biobank (n = 487,365) and the Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine Use (GSCAN) (n = 337,334). This approach allowed us to comprehensively characterize the links between smoking and disease patterns. Results: The PheWAS analysis produced 34 phenotypes that demonstrated significant associations with smoking (P = 0.05/1460). Importantly, sickle cell anemia and type 2 diabetes exhibited the most significant SNPs (both 85.71% significant SNPs). Furthermore, the MR analyses provided compelling evidence supporting causal associations between smoking and the risk of following diseases: obstructive chronic bronchitis (IVW: Beta = 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.61, P = 1.62×10−13), cancer of the bronchus (IVW: Beta = 0.92, 95% CI 0.68-1.17, P = 2.02×10−13), peripheral vascular disease (IVW: Beta = 1.09, 95% CI 0.71-1.46, P = 1.63×10−8), emphysema (IVW: Beta = 1.63, 95% CI 0.90-2.36, P = 1.29×10−5), pneumococcal pneumonia (IVW: Beta = 0.30, 95% CI 0.11-0.49, P = 1.60×10−3), chronic airway obstruction (IVW: Beta = 0.83, 95% CI 0.30-1.36, P = 2.00×10−3) and type 2 diabetes (IVW: Beta = 0.53, 95% CI 0.16-0.90, P = 5.08×10−3). Conclusion: This study affirms causal relationships between smoking and obstructive chronic bronchitis, cancer of the bronchus, peripheral vascular disease, emphysema, pneumococcal pneumonia, chronic airway obstruction, type 2 diabetes, in the European population. These findings highlight the broad health impacts of smoking and support smoking cessation efforts.

Abstract The limited success of current targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer underscores an urgent demand for novel treatment modalities. The challenge in mitigating this malignancy can be attributed to the digestive organ expansion factor (DEF), a pivotal yet underexplored factor in pancreatic tumorigenesis. The study uses a blend of in vitro and in vivo approaches, complemented by the theoretical analyses, to propose DEF as a promising anti‐tumor target. Analysis of clinical samples reveals that high expression of DEF is correlated with diminished survival in pancreatic cancer patients. Crucially, the depletion of DEF significantly impedes tumor growth. The study further discovers that DEF binds to p65, shielding it from degradation mediated by the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway in cancer cells. Based on these findings and computational approaches, the study formulates a DEF‐mimicking peptide, peptide‐031, designed to disrupt the DEF‐p65 interaction. The effectiveness of peptide‐031 in inhibiting tumor proliferation has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. This study unveils the oncogenic role of DEF while highlighting its prognostic value and therapeutic potential in pancreatic cancer. In addition, peptide‐031 is a promising therapeutic agent with potent anti‐tumor effects.

Abstract Because of recent developments in wireless communication, sensor technology, and computing technology, researchers have recently shown a significant amount of interest in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), which has become feasible as a result of these improvements. Because of the distinctive characteristics of IoV, such as the varied compute and communication capacities of network nodes, it is difficult to process jobs that are time-sensitive. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways in which cloud computing may collaborate with the IoV to make the processing of time-sensitive procedures easier. We propose a vehicle design that makes advantage of cloud computing as a means of accomplishing this goal. Increasing the proportion of time-sensitive jobs that are ultimately completed was the motivation behind the development of the offloading model that we devised. Taking this into perspective, we present an adaptive task offloading and transmission method. Taking into account the ever-changing requirements and constraints on the available resources, this algorithm dynamically organizes all of the tasks into separate cloud link lists on the cloud. Following that, the tasks contained within each list are distributed in a cooperative manner to a number of different nodes, with the characteristics of those nodes being taken into consideration. Following the presentation of the simulation model, we carried out an experimental investigation into the effectiveness of the model that was proposed. It is abundantly evident that the proposed model is effective, as indicated by the findings.

Abstract The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family members are plant-specific transcriptional factors, which function in meristem maintenance, embryogenesis, lateral organ development, as well as abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, 14 MsWOX transcription factors were identified and comprehensively analyzed in the cultivated alfalfa cv. Zhongmu No.1. Overall, 14 putative MsWOX members containing conserved structural regions were clustered into three clades according to phylogenetic analysis. Specific expression patterns of MsWOXs in different tissues at different levels indicated that the MsWOX genes play various roles in alfalfa. MsWUS, MsWOX3, MsWOX9, and MsWOX13-1 from the three subclades were localized in the nucleus, among which, MsWUS and MsWOX13-1 exhibited strong self-activations in yeast. In addition, various cis-acting elements related to hormone responses, plant growth, and stress responses were identified in the 3.0 kb promoter regions of MsWOXs. Expression detection of separated shoots and roots under hormones including auxin, cytokinin, GA, and ABA, as well as drought and cold stresses, showed that MsWOX genes respond to different hormones and abiotic stress treatments. Furthermore, transcript abundance of MsWOX3, and MsWOX13-2 were significantly increased after rhizobia inoculation. This study presented comprehensive data on MsWOX transcription factors and provided valuable insights into further studies of their roles in developmental processes and abiotic stress responses in alfalfa.

Fisetin has shown numerous health benefits, whereas its food application is constrained by water insolubility, poor stability, and low bioaccessibility. This work investigated the potential of hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated nanoliposomes for the encapsulation and delivery of fisetin. It was observed that HA can adsorb onto the liposomal membrane through hydrogen bonding and maintain the spherical shape of nanoliposomes. Fluorescence analysis suggested that the HA coating restricted the motion and freedom of phospholipid molecules in the headgroup region and reduced the interior micropolarity of the nanoliposomes but did not affect the fluidity of the hydrophobic core. These effects were more pronounced for the HA with a low molecular weight (35 kDa) and moderate concentration (0.4%). The HA coating improved the storage and thermal stability of the nanoliposomes, as well as the digestive stability and bioaccessibility of the encapsulated fisetin. These findings could guide the development of HA-coated nanoliposomes for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic bioactives such as fisetin in functional foods.

Remote sensing technologies are frequently employed in monitoring and evaluating agricultural meteorological disasters because they can provide high throughput and cost-effective accesses to obtain a variety of real-time spatial data related to crop growth information. Accurately and timely estimating the drought dynamics using remote sensing is valuable for improving crop management level and promoting agricultural sustainable development. In this study, the responses of winter wheat during the critical growth stages to different drought levels from 2010 to 2020 in the Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) region of China were evaluated based on Google Earth Engine. Four critical developmental stages of winter wheat were highlighted: greening－jointing, jointing－heading, heading－milking maturity, and milking maturity－maturity stages. The temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) was constructed for evaluating the drought of winter wheat. Our results indicated that the winter wheat in the HHH region during 2010－2020 was clearly impacted by drought disasters, mainly mild to moderate droughts. In particular, the TVDI index during the critical development stages of winter wheat from 2010 to 2020 wavered in the scope of 0.48 and 0.61, and the soil moisture content at a depth of 10 cm tended to obviously reducing with a rate of − 0.1615/a. For critical growth stages, the winter wheat in the HHH Region was the most prone to threatened by drought during the stage of jointing－heading, following the stage of milking maturity－maturity. The high probability incidence of drought in winter wheat gradually shifted from the nutritional growth to the reproductive growth stages, which increased the risk of drought affecting yield. Furthermore, the notable spatial variations of drought in winter wheat in the HHH region were found. The winter wheat was evidently threatened by moderate and severe droughts in certain areas such as southern Hebei province, northern Jiangsu province, Anhui province, etc. Our results provide new insights into the studies on monitoring and evaluating agricultural meteorological disasters based on remote sensing technology.

BackgroundSarcopenia adversely affects the treatment outcomes in Cirrhosis and NAFLD. However, such research is limited in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients. This study was performed to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia and its impact on PBC patients’ prognoses.MethodsThis study enrolled confirmed PBC patients who had an abdominal CT scan. Sarcopenia was determined by the L3-skeletal muscle index with a Chinese population-based cut-off value. Laboratory test values and liver stiffness measurements values were obtained from the electronic medical records.ResultsIn total, 174 PBC patients with a median age of 54 (IQR, 48, 62) years old, were enrolled. 45 (25.9%) patients among them were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression results illustrated that male gender (OR = 9.152, 95%CI = 3.131–26.751, p

Key Clinical Message Patients with aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) will cause reversibility systolic anterior motion (SAM). This may occur because of afterload reduction caused by the relief of the AS and the prolonged anterior mitral valve. It is important to evaluate the mechanism of SAM by intraoperative real‐time transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Abstract This case video describes the presentation and successful treatment of a 58‐year‐old man who experienced post‐AVR SAM with dynamic (left ventricle outflow tract) LVOT obstruction. This case highlights the fact that patients with AVR for severe AS may cause reversible SAM. This may occur because of afterload reduction caused by the relief of the AS combined with the prolonged anterior mitral valve. It is important to evaluate the mechanism of SAM by intraoperative real‐time TEE and then make the surgical decision.

BackgroundThe etiological factors of Cholestatic Liver Diseases especially primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are not fully illustrated. It has been reported in previous observational studies that gut microbiota are associated with cholestatic liver diseases. However, there is uncertainty regarding the causality of this association. By using Mendelian randomization, this study aimed to examine the causal impact of gut microbiota on cholestatic liver diseases.MethodsFrom large-scale genome-wide association studies, genetic instruments for each gut microbiota taxa as well as primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis were developed. Subsequently, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, supplemented by multiple post hoc sensitivity analyses. Additionally, we performed reverse MR analyses to investigate the possibility of the reverse causal association.ResultThis two-sample MR study indicated that the order Bacillales, family Peptostreptococcaceae, family Ruminococcaceae, genus Anaerotruncu was associated with a decreased risk of developing PBC, and that order Selenomonadales, family Bifidobacteriaceae may be factors that increase the risk of PBC. On the other hand, we also identified order Selenomonadales, family Rhodospirillaceae, and genus RuminococcaceaeUCG013 were positively associated with PSC. The order Actinomycetales, family Actinomycetaceae, genus Actinomyces, genus Alloprevotella, genus Barnesiella, and genus Peptococcus were found negative associations with the risk of PSC. The reverse MR analysis demonstrated no statistically significant relationship between PBC, PSC and these specific gut microbial taxa.ConclusionOur findings offered novel evidence that the abundance of particular bacteria contributes to the risk of PBC and PSC, which may contribute to more effective approaches to PBC and PSC therapy and prevention.

Abstract Background The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a novel biomarker associated with atherosclerosis, and an important risk factor for atherosclerosis, but its relation with cardiovascular prognosis in prediabetic patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) is still uncertain. Methods This study included 1096 prediabetic patients with UAP who were subjected to follow-up for a maximum of 30 months, with cardiac death, refractory angina, and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) being the primary cardiovascular endpoints. Results A significantly increased AIP was observed for the group with primary cardiovascular endpoints. Kaplan–Meier curves corresponding to these endpoints revealed pronounced differences between these two AIP groups (Log-rank P

Evidence on the association between red meat consumption and lung cancer risk is weak. This study examined the associations between red meat and lung cancer across levels of antioxidant intake from foods or supplements. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to assess hazard ratios (HRs) for lung cancer incidence in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial. Baseline food frequency questionnaires measured red meat and antioxidant intake. The food-based Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (fCDAI) evaluated the overall natural intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, and selenium. During 13 years of follow-up, 95,647 participants developed 1599 lung cancer cases. Higher red meat consumption was associated with a higher risk of lung cancer (HRQ4vsQ1 1.43, 95%CI 1.20–1.71, p-trend < 0.001). We observed similar trends across groups with low or medium levels of antioxidant intake. However, no association was noticed in the group with the highest fCDAI (HRQ4vsQ1 1.24, 95%CI 0.90–1.72, p-trend = 0.08) and highest independent natural antioxidant intake. The attenuated risk was not consistently observed among groups with high supplement use. Lastly, we did not notice evidence of interactions between red meat and antioxidant intake. Our findings emphasize the importance of limiting red meat in lung cancer prevention.

Pulses, as an important part of the human diet, can act as a source of high-quality plant proteins. Pulse proteins and their hydrolysates have shown promising results in alleviating metabolic syndrome and modulating the gut microbiome. Their bioactivities have become a focus of research, with many new findings added in recent studies. This paper comprehensively reviews the anti-hypertension, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-dyslipidemia and anti-obesity bioactivities of pulse proteins and their hydrolysates in recent in vitro and in vivo studies, which show great potential for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. In addition, pulse proteins and their hydrolysates can regulate the gut microbiome, which in turn can have a positive impact on the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of some pulse proteins and their hydrolysates on metabolic syndrome have been supported by clinical studies. This review might provide a reference for the application of pulse proteins and their hydrolysates in functional foods or nutritional supplements for people with metabolic syndrome.

Agroforestry systems can fully exploit the ecological benefits of an ecosystem’s component plants, and improve the ecological environment, soil quality, and land use efficiency, all of which have recently attracted the attention of many scholars. Southwest China’s karst graben basins have barren soil that needs immediate improvement. The karst graben basin in southwest China was used for this study to examine the impacts of several forest–grass composite systems of Bingtang orange–alfalfa–ryegrass on soil improvement, which is located in Jianshui County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The experiment had four treatments, Bingtang orange–alfalfa sowing (B2), Bingtang orange–ryegrass × alfalfa mixed sowing (A), Bingtang orange–ryegrass × alfalfa intercropping (R), and Bingtang orange monocropping (CK). The results showed that different forest–grass composite patterns had noticeable effects on improving the soil’s organic carbon (SOC), total nutrients, and available nutrients, especially in the rainy season when plants grew vigorously. Forage grass intercropping under forest exerted the best effect on soil improvement in the surface layer, and the effect decreased with the increase in soil depth. Alfalfa intercropping under Bingtang orange forest had the strongest effect on improving SOC, total N, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen, whose content increased by 30.7%, 27.3%, 35%, and 36.3%, respectively, in the dry season and 38%, 46.7%, 48.7%, and 55.3%, in the rainy season. However, the effect of alfalfa–ryegrass intercropping under the Bingtang orange forest on soil total P, total K, and available P was better than that of the Bingtang orange–alfalfa intercropping system. The C:N ratio is more suitable in the Bingtang orange–ryegrass-alfalfa composite system. Forage grass intercropping under the Bingtang orange forest effectively improved the soil NPK and C status, and the results of this study provided a basis for the selection of forest–grass composite patterns for soil improvement.

In this research, the adaptive event-triggered neural network controller design problem is investigated for a class of state-constrained pure-feedback fractional-order nonlinear systems (FONSs) with external disturbances, unknown actuator saturation, and input delay. An auxiliary compensation function based on the integral function of the input signal is presented to handle input delay. The barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is utilized to deal with state constraints, and the event-triggered strategy is applied to overcome the communication burden from the limited communication resources. By the utilization of a backstepping scheme and radial basis function neural network, an adaptive event-triggered neural state-feedback stabilization controller is constructed, in which the fractional-order dynamic surface filters are employed to reduce the computational burden from the recursive procedure. It is proven that with the fractional-order Lyapunov analysis, all the solutions of the closed-loop system are bounded, and the tracking error can converge to a small interval around the zero, while the state constraint is satisfied and the Zeno behavior can be strictly ruled out. Two examples are finally given to show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

According to the geological conditions of Mabao Coal Mine in Shanxi Province, the width range of the coal pillar of the heading roadway is 6.48~8.97 m calculated by the limit equilibrium theory and the internal and external stress field theory. By using FLAC3D, the vertical stress and plastic zone distribution of coal pillar and the deformation of surrounding rock of roadway were simulated when the width of coal pillar is 5~9 m. The results show that with the increase of coal pillar width, the peak stress and plastic zone range of coal pillar decrease continuously. After the width of coal pillar reaches 7 m, the peak stress reduction trend and plastic zone change are not obvious, and the surrounding rock deformation gradually tends to be stable, in consideration of safe mining and efficient utilization of resources, the width of coal pillar is finally determined to be 7 m. By simulating the stress changes at different positions of the coal pillar in the process of mining, it is determined that the influence range of mining and excavation is 30 to -30 m at the same time. Combined with the deformation of surrounding rock at different positions of the 15202 transportation gateway, a reasonable subsection support scheme is given.

BackgroundIn the process of modernization, along with economic development, intensified social competition, and increasing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, the issue of subjective well-being has received widespread attention. The level of subjective well-being of college students also affects whether society can achieve sustainable development. In philosophy, political science, economics, sociology and other disciplines, labor is regarded as an important factor affecting subjective well-being. Labor education is an educational activity carried out by Chinese universities in recent years. This further inspires the author to think, for the college students, will the labor education received on campus have an impact on the subjective well-being? What characteristics will its impact mechanism present? What are the characteristics of the influence on subjective well-being?.MethodsThis research adopts a cross-sectional design, specifically employing a random sampling approach. In this study, the questionnaire was distributed to the college’s students of 14 universities in China through the Internet. A total of 2100 questionnaires were collected.ResultsThis paper mainly used questionnaires to collect data, and on this basis, examined the relationship between labor education participation, self-efficacy, healthy lifestyle and subjective well-being of college students. The results showed that: (1) Labor education participation positively affected college students’ subjective well-being. (2) Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between labor education participation and college students’ subjective well-being. (3) Healthy lifestyle partially mediated the relationship between labor education participation and college students’ subjective well-being. (4) Self-efficacy and healthy lifestyle played a chain mediating role between labor education participation and college students’ subjective well-being.

Key Clinical Message Rheumatic mitral stenosis associated with left atrial myxoma has been reported previously. We reported an admitted rare case of rheumatic mitral regurgitation with left atrial myxoma. The discrimination between left atrial myxoma and thrombi presents a diagnostic challenge in the presence of rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a glycoprotein hormone the functions of which are mediated by a G protein-coupled receptor, FSHR. Here, Duan et al. report cryo-EM structures of FSHR in active and inactive states, suggesting the molecular basis of FSH and small allosteric agonist-mediated FSHR activation.

Geopolymer enhances mechanical properties with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, but there has been limited research exploring low PVA fiber dosages for mechanical properties in 3D printing or shotcrete. This study experimentally investigated slag and fly ash-based geopolymer mixtures reinforced with 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.2% PVA fiber by volume as well as a control group without PVA fibers. These mixtures were prepared using fly ash, quartz sand, slag powder, silica fume, and an aqueous sodium silicate solution as the alkali activator, with the addition of PVA fiber to enhance composite toughness. The mechanical properties of the composites, encompassing dog-bone tensile properties, cubic compressive strength, bending and post-bending compressive strength, and prism compressive properties, were evaluated. Significantly, specimens with 0.15% PVA fibers exhibited optimal performance, revealing a notable 28.57% increase in tensile stress, a 36.45% surge in prism compressive strain, and a 47.59% rise in tensile strain compared to fiber-free specimens. Furthermore, environmental scanning electron microscopy observations were employed to scrutinize the microscopic mechanisms of composites incorporating PVA fibers, slag, and fly ash. In comparison to fiber-free specimens, prism compressive specimens with 0.15% PVA fibers demonstrated a 27.17% increase in post-cracking loading capacity, a 44.07% increase in post-cracking ductility, a 50.00% increase in peak strain energy, and a 76.36% increase in strain energy ratio.

To describe the changes of juicy peach microstructure under different drying methods, microstructure images and cell parameter distribution curves of juicy peach under different moisture ratios were obtained by using paraffin section, micro-imaging and image processing technologies, after treated by five drying methods (i.e. hot-air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VD), freeze drying (FD), hot-air and vacuum combined drying (HA-VD), freeze and hot-air combined drying (F-HAD)). The effect of drying methods on microstructure parameters (i.e., cell area, cell perimeter, cell roundness, cell wall surface roughness and porosity) were analyzed via cell parameters distribution curves. Fitting equations were built by polynomial fitting to describe the correlation between cell parameters and moisture ratios. The results showed that microstructural parameters of juicy peach primarily changed in the first half process (moisture ratio>0.5) of hot air drying and second half process (moisture ratio

Landforms are a fundamental component of the natural environment, and digital terrain mapping on a large spatial scale is important when studying landforms. In this study, we adopted a semantic segmentation model in computer vision to classify elementary landform types using AW3D30 digital elevation model (DEM) data. We built a semantic segmentation model with an FCN-ResNet architecture that extracts features using a residual network (ResNet) and obtains pixel-level segmentation of the DEM using a fully convolutional network (FCN). A lightweight decoder based on skip connections was adopted to maintain detailed information at different scales. We used the 1:1,000,000 Chinese landform map as the label and tested different combinations of terrain factors. The experiments indicate that increasing the terrain factors has no significant influence on the model, and the semantic information can be learned using only DEM data. The model has strong feature extraction capability and is tolerant to noise and error. The results of landform category prediction confirm that deep learning methods have strong potential for landform classification and will have great application prospects in the field of geomorphological research.

Background: This project aimed to investigate the role of two arachidonic acid metabolites (14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) and 15-hydroxyeicosateraenoic acid (15-HETE)) as a precursor of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy by comparing their serum levels between third-trimester hypertensive and normal pregnant women. The relationship between their differential levels and pregnancy outcomes was investigated to clarify the role of arachidonic acid metabolites in the occurrence and development of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study and a total of 88 patients were included in the study. 17 of them were recognized as the gestational hypertension and 25 of them were considered to be the preeclampsia. 24 women were diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. The control group consisted of 22 healthy patients pregnancy course, with no disease at the present and in the history. For this purpose, the serum levels of 14,15-EET and 15-HETE of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia (PE) and normal pregnant women group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during the third trimester of pregnancy. It was followed by detecting placental cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) and 15-lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2) expression and localization using immunohistochemistry, their corresponding proteins employing western blotting. All outcomes of maternal pregnancy were then statistically analyzed. Results: The analysis indicated that the levels of 14,15-EET, and 15-HETE were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in gestational hypertension compared to control, where the same differences were observed when severe preeclampsia and preeclampsia groups were compared, which were altogether higher than gestational hypertension group patients. Similarly, the 14,15-EET and 15-HETE levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the adverse pregnancy outcome than in the normal pregnancy outcome group in severe preeclampsia. The immunohistochemical analysis results revealed that the positive staining for CYP2J2 and 15-LOX-2 expression in the placenta of the preeclampsia group was significant (p < 0.05) compared to the normal pregnant control and gestational hypertension groups, with significantly higher (p < 0.05) relative CYP2J2 and 15-LOX-2 protein levels in preeclampsia compared to normal control pregnancy group. Conclusions: The study concluded that the 14,15-EET and 15-HETE might be involved in gestational hypertension pathophysiology and preeclampsia, associated with disease severity and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, CYP2J2 and 15-LOX-2 signaling expression in the placenta may be related to arachidonic acid metabolites generated in preeclampsia.

The study aimed to examine the reciprocal associations among social–emotional competence (SEC), interpersonal relationships (including teacher–student relationships and peer relationships) and academic achievements in reading, mathematics and science of primary school students. The Chinese versions of the Delaware Social and Emotional Competency Scale, Teacher–student Relationship Scale, Peer-nomination method and Academic Achievement Tests were used to measure students’ SEC, teacher–student relationships, peer relationships (including social preference (SP) and social impact (SI)) and academic achievements, respectively. In total, 3995 fourth-grade students participated in the first survey, and 2789 of them were tracked in the follow-up survey two years later. Structural equation modelling was employed to investigate the cross-lagged relationships among the variables across time. The results showed the reciprocal associations between SEC with academic achievements and teacher–student relationships, as well as between academic achievements with SP and teacher–student relationships. Moreover, variations in these reciprocal associations were observed across the subjects of reading, mathematics and science. In summary, this study offers new insights for enhancing students’ SEC, interpersonal relationships and academic achievements, and implications for future subject-specific education can be derived by considering the complex interplay in the subjects of reading, mathematics and science.

We examined the feasibility of applying soaking root fertilizer to Eucalyptus urograndis seedlings by dipping the roots, and the effectiveness of the method for improving the overall growth quality of the seedlings by affecting root growth. The seedlings of E. urograndis in the Southern National Forest Seedling Demonstration Base in China were dipped with seven kinds of soaking root fertilizer formulas, while another group of clear water was set as a control. We regularly investigated the relationship between root traits and other seedling traits, and the formulas conducive to the high-quality growth of seedlings in one month and two months were screened by principal component analysis (PCA). The feasibility of applying soaking root fertilizer by dipping the roots was analyzed by comparing the difference between the formula and the control. The F2 formula had the best promoting effect on the growth and biomass of seedlings and the highest ground diameter within one month. The biomass, cumulative height growth, and average crown width were also the highest in the two months, but the decreasing growth height in F2 was also obvious, along with reduced photosynthesis and root morphology. The F8 and F4 formulas as compound fertilizers showed the potential of a high growth rate and high quality. The seedlings on which they were all applied had an excellent photosynthetic capacity and a well-developed root system. A correlation analysis showed that root traits were significantly correlated with some aboveground indices of seedlings (growth, biomass and nutrients, etc.), among which the root K concentration was very significantly correlated with photosynthetic capacity, and the root P was very significantly correlated with seedling biomass. Dipping roots mainly promoted the uptake of P and K nutrients by roots, which had a positive effect on seedling photosynthesis and the root system, and thus improved the growth increment and growth quality of seedlings. A principal component analysis showed that dipping roots significantly promoted the growth traits of seedlings, and the best-performing formula for dipping roots was F8 at one month of growth. F4 was the best choice for growth at two months. F4 showed excellent performance in all trait indices and was the only treatment where an increase in the rhizome-to-stem ratio occurred, indicating that the nutrient distribution of F4 seedlings was uniform and efficient, which compensated for the deficiency of the follow-up fertility of the quick-acting complex fertilizer. The scientific formula of soaking root fertilizer can be economically applied by dipping roots to synchronously promote early growth and quality of seedlings, which can provide a theoretical basis for the early large-scale cultivation of E. urograndis and other plants.

Iron humic acid complex (Fe/HA) was selected as the anode material for its good redox activity,and the effect of Fe/HA modified anode on the power generation and nitrate degradation performance of MFC was investigated.Fe/HA modified anode was prepared by electrodeposition method.The surface morphology and active functional groups of the prepared anode were measured by scanning electron microscopy and flourier transform infrared spectroscopy;cyclic voltammetry curve,tafel curve,and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy curve were used to investigate the electrochemical performance of Fe/HA modified anode;and the performance of MFC was investigated with the synthetic nitrate wastewater.Results showed that Fe/HA modified anode has a loose cluster structure and redox-active functional groups;compared with the control anode,the charge transfer amount,exchange current density and charge transfer impedance of the Fe/HA modified anode improved by 75.82%,14.95% and 17.60%;compared with the control anode MFC,the maximum average output voltage and denitrification efficiency of Fe/HA modified anode MFC were increased by 16.52% and 6.47%.The Fe/HA modified anode has effectively increased the number of redox-active functional groups and the area of microbial attachment on the anode surface,thereby improving the electron transfer efficiency and further achieving the enhancement of the MFC power generation and nitrogen removal efficiency.This work provides theoretical basis for the development of metal humic acid complex anodes and their applications in MFC wastewater treatment field.

As an important type of hydrocarbon reservoir, microbial carbonate contains great amount of hydrocarbon resources. The recent discovery of industrial gas in the Majiagou Formation in the east-central part of the Ordos Basin indicates that this type of reservoir also has very extensive exploration prospects in the Ordos Basin. Similar reservoirs were also found on the southern margin of the basin, but no systematic research has been achieved. In this paper, petrological and geochemical anatomy of microbial carbonate reservoirs of the Pingliang Formation on the southern margin of the Ordos Basin were carried out. Results show that the study area developed a larger-scale microbial mound and beach complex than that in the basin, and the thickness can be more than 100 m. The microbial rock is mainly agglomerate limestone with dissolution pores. The microbial rock reservoir of the Pingliang Formation has experienced two stages of karsting, quasi-syngenesis and epigenesis, which are the key for the formation of reservoir, and there is oil and gas charging during the burial period. Among them, the quasi-syngenetic stage experienced a brief exposure, forming a large amount of irregular-shaped solution pores, and radial fibrous calcite pores filled in the early pores, with similar oxygen/carbon isotope and trace element contents such as Sr and Mg as the matrix calcite, it is then indicated that they were originated from seawater in the same period. During the epigenetic stage, the early solution pores expanded, forming a large number of fractures and cavities, accompanied by the filling of coarse-crystal calcite and mud, and some of the coarse crystalline calcite shows the characteristics of atmospheric precipitation. There is oil and gas charging during the burial period. There are bituminous residues in the present-day solution holes and fractures, and a large amount of liquid hydrocarbon-bearing inclusions can be observed in the calcite filling during the burial period. In summary, the microbial carbonate of the Pingliang Formation at the southern edge of the Ordos Basin, where both reservoir formation and hydrocarbon filling processes exist, is a potential exploration field.

Abstract Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy of childhood. It is known that the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulates tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, how the malignant progression in RB is determined by the heterogeneity of tumor cells and TME remains uncharacterized. Here, we conducted integrative single-cell transcriptome and whole-exome sequencing analysis of RB patients with detailed pathological and clinical measurements. By single-cell transcriptomic sequencing, we profiled around 70,000 cells from tumor samples of seven RB patients. We identified that the major cell types in RB were cone precursor-like (CP-like) and MKI67+ cone precursor (MKI67+ CP) cells. By integrating copy number variation (CNV) analysis, we found that RB samples had large clonal heterogeneity, where the malignant MKI67+ CP cells had significantly larger copy number changes. Enrichment analysis revealed that the conversion of CP-like to MKI67+ CP resulted in the loss of photoreceptor function and increased cell proliferation ability. The TME in RB was composed of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), astrocyte-like, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Particularly, during the invasion process, TAMs created an immunosuppressive environment, in which the proportion of TAMs decreased, M1-type macrophage was lost, and the TAMs-related immune functions were depressed. Finally, we identified that TAMs regulated tumor cells through GRN and MIF signaling pathways, while TAMs self-regulated through inhibition of CCL and GALECTIN signaling pathways during the invasion process. Altogether, our study creates a detailed transcriptomic map of RB with single-cell characterization of malignant phenotypes and provides novel molecular insights into the occurrence and progression of RB.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) with para-aortic lymph node metastasis (PALNM) is an intractable clinical situation, and the role of radical lymphadenectomy in the treatment of CRC with PALNM is still controversial. The aim of the current system review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of radical lymphadenectomy in CRC patients with PALAN. Methods We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and other online databases up to 31 October 2021. The clinical data including overall survival and postoperative complications were screened and analyzed after data extraction. Odds ratios (ORs) were applied to analyze these dichotomous outcomes with a fixed effects model. Results A total of 7 available retrospective clinical studies involving 327 patients were finally included. CRC patients with PALNM who underwent radical lymphadenectomy showed significantly overall survival (OR: 6.80, 95% CI: 3.46–13.38, P

Background: Measuring glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) is a simple way to assess patients with prediabetes or diabetes mellitus. It has been shown that HbA 1c level predicts prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and the incidence of diabetes mellitus. However, the prognostic significance of HbA 1c level in Asian patients with prediabetes and CAD is not yet clear. Our study aimed to determine the relationship between HbA 1c level and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with prediabetes and CAD. Methods: We enrolled 1367 patients with prediabetes and CAD in the final analysis, and grouped them according to the HbA 1c level. Primary end points included nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, and ischemia-driven revascularization. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between HbA 1c level and MACE after our accounting for confounding factors. Results: A total of 1367 patients (age 58.8 ± 10.3 years; 71.6% men) were included. During 43 months of follow-up, 197 patients experienced at least one primary end point event. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis showed in comparison of HbA 1c levels that the hazard ratio for primary end points was 4.110, with a 95% confidence interval of 2.097–6.011 (P

Food-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can relatively easily be synthesized and chemically manipulated for a broad spectrum of biomedical applications. However, their toxicity may hinder their actual use. Here, Spinacia oleracea-derived CQDs i.e., CQD-1 and CQD-2, were synthesized by means of different shredding methods and followed by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach. Subsequently, these CQDs were analyzed in vitro and in an in vivo mice model to test their biocompatibility and potential use as bioimaging agents and for activation of osteogenic differentiation.When comparing CQD-1 and CQD-2, it was found that CQD-1 exhibited 7.6 times higher photoluminescent (PL) emission intensity around 411 nm compared to CQD-2. Besides, it was found that the size distribution of CQD-1 was 2.05 ± 0.08 nm, compared with 2.14 ± 0.04 nm for CQD-2. Upon exposure to human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in vitro, CQD-1 was endocytosed into the cytoplasm and significantly increased the differentiation of hBMSCs up to 10 μg mL−1 after 7 and 14 days. Apparently, the presence of relatively low doses of CQD-1 showed virtually no toxic or histological effects in the major organs in vivo. In contrast, high doses of CQD-1 (1 mg mL-1) caused cell death in vitro ranging from 35% on day 1 to 80% on day 3 post-exposure, and activated the apoptotic machinery and increased lymphocyte aggregates in the liver tissue. In conclusion, S. oleracea-derived CQDs have the potential for biomedical applications in bioimaging and activation of stem cells osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, it is postulated that CQD-1 from S. oleracea remains potential prospective material at appropriate doses and specifications.

Small-molecule photothermal agents (PTAs) with intense second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1,000 to 1,700 nm) absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are promising candidates for treating deep-seated tumors such as osteosarcoma. To date, the development of small-molecule NIR-II PTAs has largely relied on fabricating donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D/D′) structures and limited success has been achieved. Herein, through acceptor engineering, a donor–acceptor–acceptor (D–A–A′)-structured NIR-II aza-boron-dipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) PTA (SW8) was readily developed for the 1,064-nm laser-mediated phototheranostic treatment of osteosarcoma. Changing the donor groups to acceptor groups produced remarkable red-shifts of absorption maximums from first near-infrared (NIR-I) regions (~808 nm) to NIR-II ones (~1,064 nm) for aza-BODIPYs (SW1 to SW8). Furthermore, SW8 self-assembled into nanoparticles (SW8@NPs) with intense NIR-II absorption and an ultrahigh PCE (75%, 1,064 nm). This ultrahigh PCE primarily originated from an additional nonradiative decay pathway, which showed a 100-fold enhanced decay rate compared to that shown by conventional pathways such as internal conversion and vibrational relaxation. Eventually, SW8@NPs performed highly efficient 1,064-nm laser-mediated NIR-II photothermal therapy of osteosarcoma via concurrent apoptosis and pyroptosis. This work not only illustrates a remote approach for treating deep-seated tumors with high spatiotemporal control but also provides a new strategy for building high-performance small-molecule NIR-II PTAs.

Abstract Mortality associated with pancreatic cancer is among the highest of all malignancies, with a 5-year overall survival of 5–10%. Immunotherapy, represented by the blocking antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 or its ligand 1 (anti-PD-(L)1), has achieved remarkable success in a number of malignancies. However, due to the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment, the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-(L)1 in pancreatic cancer is far from expectation. To address such a fundamental issue, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and even immunotherapy itself, have individually been attempted to combine with anti-PD-(L)1 in preclinical and clinical investigation. This review, with a particular focus on pancreatic cancer therapy, collects current anti-PD-(L)1-based combination strategy, highlights potential adverse effects of accumulative combination, and further points out future direction in optimization of combination, including targeting post-translational modification of PD-(L)1 and improving precision of treatment.

Loss of myeloid JAK2 promotes atherosclerosis in an ApoE knockout mouse model. This is associated with decreased cholesterol efflux from bone-marrow-derived macrophages.

Background & aims: Traditional Chinese customs practicing in postpartum yield mixed results on maternal health. The objectives of this study are 1) to depict the postpartum customs in Chinese lactating women in varied areas and 2) to explore its effects on dietary intake. Method: This study is part of the “YI” study; data of 974 lactating women from ten cities of China were used. Food intake frequencies in the past month were assessed with the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The 24-h dietary recall was used to estimate nutrient intake and assess dietary diversity. Participants were also required to report in detail those traditional customs which they had practiced in postpartum, and word clouds were drawn according to the report frequencies of certain customs. Results: In total, 49.9% of women practiced certain traditional customs in postpartum. A total of 159 customs were recorded, including 130 dietary customs. The most frequently reported customs included “avoid eating cold food” (n = 164), “no spicy food” (n = 121) and “avoiding food influencing breast milk secretion” (n = 42). The dietary diversity was not associated with practicing postpartum customs; however, women with customs had significantly higher intake frequencies of potato and yam, seaweed, fruits, livestock meat and other dairy products, yet a lower intake frequency of dark green vegetables. For nutrient intake, women who practicing certain practices were observed to have a significantly higher intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, niacin, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Conclusions: Traditional postpartum customs are still common in Chinese women and associated with dietary intake.

Background & aims: Previous evidence varied on the relationship of dietary sodium, potassium, sodium/potassium, and salt with cognitive function. This study aimed to explore the associations of sodium, potassium, sodium/potassium, and salt intakes with cognitive function among the elderly in China. Methods: Data were accessed from the database of the 1997–2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey, including 4213 participants aged at least 50 years at baseline. Dietary data at individual and household levels were collected using the method of 24-h dietary recall in three consecutive days. Cognitive function was measured through objective and subjective methods. Linear regression models and multinomial logistic regression models were established to elucidate the association of dietary sodium, potassium, sodium/potassium, and salt with cognitive function. Mediation effect analysis and substitution analysis were also conducted. Results: Higher potassium intakes in Q3 (Median: 1653.3 g/day, β = 1.366, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.845 to 1.887) and Q4 (Median: 2181.4 g/day, β = 1.454, 95% CI: 0.865 to 2.044) were significantly associated with higher cognitive test score compared with Q1 (Median: 1053.7 g/day). Sodium/potassium intake in Q3 (Median: 3.8, β = −0.791, 95% CI: -1.264 to −0.317) and Q4 (Median: 5.5, β = −0.909, 95% CI: -1.401 to −0.417) were inversely associated with the cognitive test score compared with Q1 (Median: 2.0). Higher dietary sodium and sodium/potassium intakes were associated with a higher risk of a self-reported poor and deteriorated memory during the past 12 months. Additionally, higher potassium intakes were significantly associated with a lower risk of deteriorated memory. The associations of dietary potassium and sodium/potassium were mediated by CCVD, and average cognitive test score increased by about 1 point after replacing 1000 mg/day of sodium with an equal intake of potassium. Conclusions: Restricting sodium and increasing potassium, and keeping the balance of dietary sodium and potassium are encouraged to prevent cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly.

Fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCCs) have made significant progress in improving the tensile and flexural properties of concrete members. Studies have shown that polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers can effectively enhance the toughness of FRCCs, but the haphazard distribution of short-cut fibers makes it difficult to give full play to the high tensile strength of the fibers, and it is difficult for bundled fibers to effectively bond with the concrete substrate, which has become a challenge in the study of changing materials. Twisting the fibers by a physical process to improve the bonding performance of PVA fibers with FRCC substrate is a safe and feasible solution. However, research on silicate cementitious composites reinforced with twisted PVA fibers is limited. In this study, the interaction mechanism of through-length twisted PVA FRCCs with different twist factors and fiber bundle numbers was investigated. A concrete matrix material configured from silicate cement, fly ash, silica fume, and medium sand, in which PVA fibers with different twist factors were pre-incorporated, was used for the tests. Three-point bending tests were carried out on specimens with different twist factors (0, 50, 100, and 150 twists per meter) and fiber bundle numbers 1, 2, and 3. Compared to the untwisted PVA fiber specimens, the twist factor of 100 and the single fiber bundle specimens showed significant improvements in the bending properties, including a 36% increase in deflection, a 68% increase in the equivalent bending stress, and a 119% increase in energy consumption. Micro-X-ray computed tomography scans showed improved bending properties and energy consumption capabilities due to enhanced bonding properties as a result of the increased fiber–matrix interaction area and surface toughness.

The method of precipitation treatment of high-nickel waste electrolytic slag was studied, coupled with multi-step treatment to improve the recovery rate of nickel. In this study, HNO3 was used as dissolving agent, NaOH and Na2CO3 as precipitating agents, and the waste electrolytic slag was dissolved in the liquid phase and then precipitated. The results show that the electroslag with high nickel content can be completely dissolved under the optimal solid-liquid ratio of 1:10. When the pH of the leaching solution was adjusted to 7.5 by 5% NaOH solution, the iron removal rate could reach 99.3%. When the pH was adjusted to 11 with 5% Na2CO3, the nickel could be completely precipitated after standing, and the main component was basic nickel carbonate. The further recovery experiments show that high purity NiO can be obtained after the basic nickel carbonate is oxidized and calcined, and the average recovery rate of nickel is 92.4%. This study is of great practical significance to improve the treatment efficiency of the chemical precipitation method, reduce the operating cost of the chemical precipitation method, and reduce the production of secondary pollutants in the process of nickel recycling.

Seepage erosion is one of the main reasons for the local collapse or instability of embankments. To investigate the characteristics and mechanism of seepage erosion for cohesionless soils, model tests using an independently developed seepage erosion device and numerical simulations based on a discrete element method-computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) coupling model were carried out. The results show that the seepage erosion process of cohesionless soil could be characterized by four stages: stable seepage, upward migration of fine particles, boiling of sand samples, and erosion damage. The skeleton structure of a soil sample under seepage flow was continually changed due to the loss of fine soil particles, which resulted in a significant decrease in the sample strength and could, ultimately, lead to the failure of the sample. The results of this study can provide references and bases for the design, construction, and long-term service of embankments or earth dams under complex seepage conditions, reducing the risk of seepage erosion.

Although members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) exhibit high similarity, they are characterized by differences with respect to virulence, immune response, and transmissibility. To understand the virulence of these bacteria and identify potential novel therapeutic targets, we systemically investigated the total cell protein contents of virulent H37Rv, attenuated H37Ra, and avirulent M. bovis BCG vaccine strains at the log and stationary phases, based on tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics. Data analysis revealed that we obtained deep-coverage protein identification and high quantification. Although 272 genetic variations were reported in H37Ra and H37Rv, they showed very little expression difference in log and stationary phase. Quantitative comparison revealed H37Ra and H37Rv had significantly dysregulation in log phase (227) compared with stationary phase (61). While BCG and H37Rv, and BCG and H37Ra showed notable differences in stationary phase (1171 and 1124) with respect to log phase (381 and 414). In the log phase, similar patterns of protein abundance were observed between H37Ra and BCG, whereas a more similar expression pattern was observed between H37Rv and H37Ra in the stationary phase. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the upregulated proteins detected for H37Rv and H37Ra in log phase were virulence-related factors. In both log and stationary phases, the dysregulated proteins detected for BCG, which have also been identified as M. tuberculosis response proteins under dormancy conditions. We accordingly describe the proteomic profiles of H37Rv, H37Ra, and BCG, which we believe will potentially provide a better understanding of H37Rv pathogenesis, H37Ra attenuation, and BCG immuno protection.

Although many studies have characterized genetic variation in human populations, few have investigated structural variation and few have been in non-European populations. Here, the authors have performed long read sequencing on 405 Chinese individuals to identify structural variants and link them to phenotypes.

Aiming at the straight and turning movements of quadruped robots， the gait based on the crawling gait is separately planned. The concept of coordinated rotating gait is proposed and used it in in-situ turning. The common point of the foot trajectory of the straight gait and the turning gait on the spot is found， and then this point is used to realize the rapid migration of the gait and use it in the turning motion of the quadruped robot. According to the structure design of the quadruped robot in the early stage， a virtual prototype of a quadruped robot is established. A new evaluation criterion—angle margin criterion （SA criterion） is proposed to evaluate the stability of its planned gait， so as to find the optimal gait. A test platform is set up for testing， and the results showed that the gait planning for straight and turning is reasonable and feasible.

Abstract Background There has been increasing interest in the relationship between body mass index(BMI) and pregnancy outcomes, especially in women undergoing frozen embryo transfer(FET). Several observational studies have been published, but so far with conflicting results. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrails.gov and Web of Science databases were searched based on established search strategy from inception through January 2021. Results Twelve studies were eligible. In women following FET, high BMI (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2) was associated with an impaired live birth rate (LBR, OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82–0.96, P = 0.002), but wasn’t associated with the implantation rate or the clinical pregnancy rate. Subgroup analysis revealed higher LBR for women didn’t complicated by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.85–1.08, P = 0.46) and women with blastocyst transferred (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.68–1.16, P = 0.40). LBR did not differ between the low BMI group (BMI