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Abstract Background Although gray matter (GM) volume alterations have been extensively documented in previous voxel-based morphometry studies on vestibular migraine (VM), little is known about the impact of this disease on the topological organization of GM morphological networks. This study investigated the altered network patterns of the GM connectome in patients with VM. Methods In this study, 55 patients with VM and 57 healthy controls (HCs) underwent structural T1-weighted MRI. GM morphological networks were constructed by estimating interregional similarity in the distributions of regional GM volume based on the Kullback–Leibler divergence measure. Graph-theoretical metrics and interregional morphological connectivity were computed and compared between the two groups. Partial correlation analyses were performed between significant GM connectome features and clinical parameters. Logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) classifiers were used to examine the performance of significant GM connectome features in distinguishing patients with VM from HCs. Results Compared with HCs, patients with VM exhibited increased clustering coefficient and local efficiency, as well as reduced nodal degree and nodal efficiency in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG). Furthermore, we identified one connected component with decreased morphological connectivity strength, and the involved regions were mainly located in the STG, temporal pole, prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, cingulum, fusiform gyrus, and cerebellum. In the VM group, several connections in the identified connected component were correlated with clinical measures (i.e., symptoms and emotional scales); however, these correlations did not survive multiple comparison corrections. A combination of significant graph- and connectivity-based features allowed single-subject classification of VM versus HC with significant accuracy of 77.68%, 77.68%, and 72.32% for the LR, SVM, and RF models, respectively. Conclusion Patients with VM had aberrant GM connectomes in terms of topological properties and network connections, reflecting potential dizziness, pain, and emotional dysfunctions. The identified features could serve as individualized neuroimaging markers of VM.

Abstract Background The Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index-related indicators improve risk stratification by identifying individuals prone to atherosclerosis early in life. This study aimed to examine the relation between TyG-waist circumference-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR) and coronary heart disease. Methods Data from four National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) cycles between 2011 and 2018 were used for a cross-sectional study. The association between TyG-WHtR and coronary heart disease risk was examined using a multifactorial logistic regression model, and corresponding subgroup analyses were performed. Nonlinear correlations were analyzed using smooth curve fitting and threshold effects analysis. When nonlinear connections were discovered, appropriate inflection points were investigated using recursive methods. Results TyG-WHtR and coronary heart disease were significantly positively correlated in the multifactorial logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests revealed that gender, age, smoking status, and cancer were not significantly associated with this correlation (P for interaction > 0.05). Furthermore, utilizing threshold effect analysis and smooth curve fitting, a nonlinear connection with an inflection point of 0.36 was observed between TyG-WHtR and coronary heart disease. Conclusions According to this study, the American population is far more likely to have coronary heart disease if they have higher TyG-WHtR levels.

Epilepsy with recurrent seizures is characterized by neuronal damage and glial proliferation induced by brain inflammation. Recurrent seizures can lead to changes in the microRNA (miRNA) spectrum, significantly influencing the inflammatory response of microglia. MiR-155–5p, as a pro-inflammatory miRNA, is increased in the epileptic brain. However, its specific role in acute seizures remains unknown. The study aimed to develop a new strategy for treating epilepsy by investigating how silencing of miR-155–5p initiated its anticonvulsive mechanism. The level of miR-155–5p was up-regulated in the hippocampus of epileptic immature rats induced by kainic acid (KA). The use of antago-miR-155–5p exerted significant beneficial effects on the seizure scores, brain discharges and cognition in immature rats following KA-induced epilepsy. Antago-miR-155–5p also inhibited neuron damage and microglial activation. Moreover, the silencing of miR-155–5p significantly inhibited the Dual-specificity phosphatase 14 (Dusp14)/ mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) axis in vivo. MiR-155–5p interacted with dusp14 to regulate MAPK signaling way expression, verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results suggested that the silencing of miR-155–5p might reduce hippocampal damage in epileptic immature rats induced by KA via Dusp14/MAPK signaling way. This implied that miR-155–5p could serve as a therapeutic tool to prevent the development of epilepsy.

Abstract Background Prior MRI studies on vestibular migraine (VM) have revealed abnormalities in static regional intrinsic brain activity (iBA) and dynamic functional connectivity between brain regions or networks. However, the temporal variation and concordance of regional iBA measures remain to be explored. Methods 57 VM patients during the interictal period were compared to 88 healthy controls (HC) in this resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The dynamics and concordance of regional iBA indices, including amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo), were examined by utilizing sliding time-window analysis. Partial correlation analyses were performed between clinical parameters and resting-state fMRI indices in brain areas showing significant group differences. Results The VM group showed increased ALFF and ReHo dynamics, as well as increased temporal concordance between ALFF and ReHo in the bilateral paracentral lobule and supplementary motor area relative to the HC group. We also found decreased ReHo dynamics in the right temporal pole, and decreased ALFF dynamics in the right cerebellum posterior lobe, bilateral angular gyrus and middle occipital gyrus (MOG) in the VM group compared with the HC group. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between ALFF dynamics in the left MOG and vertigo disease duration across all VM patients. Conclusion Temporal dynamics and concordance of regional iBA indices were altered in the motor cortex, cerebellum, occipital and temporoparietal cortex, which may contribute to disrupted multisensory processing and vestibular control in patients with VM. ALFF dynamics in the left MOG may be useful biomarker for evaluating vertigo burden in this disorder.

Abstract Background Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for many diseases. Previous studies have shown that diet is closely associated with hyperlipidemia. However, the relationship between cooking methods and hyperlipidemia remains unclear. The objective of this study was to identify the major cooking patterns existing in the Eastern Chinese population and evaluate their association with the prevalence of hyperlipidemia. Methods We interviewed 4,710 residents in Eastern China regarding the consumption frequency of each cooking method when they prepare food at home or when eating out and regarding the prevalence of hyperlipidemia. Factor analysis, Chi-square tests, analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify the cooking patterns and analyze the characteristics of participants’ categories of cooking patterns and the relationship between different cooking patterns and prevalence of hyperlipidemia. Results Three major cooking patterns were identified: Traditional Chinese, Bland (little or no oil is used to process the food), and High-temperature cooking patterns. After controlling for potential confounders, participants in the highest quartile of the Bland cooking pattern had lower odds of hyperlipidemia than those in the lowest quartile. Nevertheless, no significant associations were observed between the Traditional Chinese and High-temperature cooking patterns and the prevalence of hyperlipidemia. Conclusions This study confirms the association between cooking patterns and the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and indicates that the Bland cooking pattern is associated with a reduced prevalence of hyperlipidemia.

Infrared imaging has broad and important applications. However, the infrared detector manufacture technique limits the detector resolution and the resolution of infrared images. In this work, we design a Recurrent Large Kernel Attention Neural Network (RLKA-Net) for single infrared image super-resolution(SR), and then demonstrate its superior performance. Compared to other SR networks, RLKA-Net is a lightweight network capable of extracting spatial and temporal features from infrared images. To extract spatial features, we use multiple stacked Recurrent Learning Units (RLUs) to expand the network’s receptive field, while the large kernel attention mechanism in RLUs is used to obtain attention maps at various granularity. To extract temporal features, RLKA-Net uses the recurrent learning strategy to keep persistent memory of extracted features, which contribute to more precise reconstruction results. Moreover, RLKA-Net employs an Attention Gate (AG) to reduce the number of parameters and expedite the training process. We demonstrate the efficacy of the Recurrent Learning Stages (RLS), Large Kernel Attention Block (LKAB), and Attention Gate mechanisms through ablation studies. We test RLKA-Net on several infrared image datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that RLKA-Net presents state-of-the-art performance compared to existing SR models. The code and models are available at https://github.com/ZedFm/ RLKA-Net.

Cardiac arrest can lead to severe neurological impairment as a result of inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation neurological damage. Hypoxic preconditioning has been shown to improve migration and survival of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells and reduce pyroptosis after cardiac arrest, but the specific mechanisms by which hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells protect against brain injury after cardiac arrest are unknown. To this end, we established an in vitro co-culture model of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells and oxygen–glucose deprived primary neurons and found that hypoxic preconditioning enhanced the protective effect of bone marrow stromal stem cells against neuronal pyroptosis, possibly through inhibition of the MAPK and nuclear factor κB pathways. Subsequently, we transplanted hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells into the lateral ventricle after the return of spontaneous circulation in an 8-minute cardiac arrest rat model induced by asphyxia. The results showed that hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells significantly reduced cardiac arrest–induced neuronal pyroptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage, whereas knockdown of the liver isoform of phosphofructokinase in bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibited these effects. To conclude, hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells offer a promising therapeutic approach for neuronal injury following cardiac arrest, and their beneficial effects are potentially associated with increased expression of the liver isoform of phosphofructokinase following hypoxic preconditioning.

Abstract Background The incidence of rebleeding in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains despite advances in intervention approaches. Therefore, early prediction of the risk of rebleeding could help to greatly reduce the mortality rate in these patients. We aim to develop and validate a new prediction model to predict the probability of rebleeding in patients with AUGIB. Methods A total of 1170 AUGIB patients who completed the procedure of emergency gastroscopy within 48 h of admission were included. Logistic regression analyses were performed to construct a new prediction model. A receiver operating characteristic curve, a line graph, and a calibration and decision curve were used to assess the predictive performance of our new prediction model and compare its performance with that of the AIMS65 scoring system to determine the predictive value of our prediction model. Results A new prediction model was constructed based on Lactic acid (LAC), neutrophil percentage (NEUTP), platelet (PLT), albumin (ALB), and D-DIMER. The AUC values and their 95% confidence interval (CI) for the new prediction model and the AIMS65 score were 0.746 and 0.619, respectively, and 0.697–0.795 and 0.567–0.670, respectively. In the training group, the C index values based on the prediction model and the AIMS65 scoring system were 0.720 and 0.610, respectively. In the validation group, the C index values based on the prediction model and the AIMS65 scoring system were 0.828 and 0.667, respectively. The decision and calibration curve analysis also showed that the prediction model was superior to the AIMS65 scoring system in terms of accuracy of prediction, consistency, and net clinical benefit. Conclusion The prediction model can predict the probability of rebleeding in AUGIB patients after endoscopic hemostasis therapy.

BackgroundThere are limited epidemiological investigations of blood metal levels related to hyperlipidemia, and results indicating the association between blood lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se), and lipid biomarkers have been conflicting.MethodsWe included populations for which NHANES collected complete data. Multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to ascertain the relationship between blood Pb, Cd, and Se levels and hyperlipidemia. Nonlinear relationships were characterized by smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis.Results5429 participants in all, with a mean age of 53.70 ± 16.63 years, were included; 47.1% of the subjects were male, and 3683 (67.8%) of them had hyperlipidemia. After modifying for variables with confounders in a multivariate logistic regression model, we discovered a positive correlation between blood Pb and Se levels and hyperlipidemia (Pb: OR:2.12, 95% CI:1.56-2.88; Se: OR:1.84, 95% CI:1.38-2.45). Gender, age, smoking status, alcohol use status, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index were not significantly linked with this positive correlation, according to subgroup analysis and interaction test (P for interaction>0.05). Positive correlations between blood Pb, Cd, and Se levels and the risk of hyperlipidemia have been found using smooth curve fitting.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that higher blood levels of Pb, Cd, and selenium are linked to an increased risk of hyperlipidemia.

Background: Altered resting-state functional connectivity has been found in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the alteration of resting-state functional connectivity at whole-brain level in typhoon-traumatized individuals with PTSD remains largely unknown. Objectives: To investigate changes in whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity and brain network topology in typhoon-traumatized subjects with and without PTSD. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with typhoon-related PTSD, 33 trauma-exposed controls (TEC), and 30 healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional MRI scanning. The whole brain resting-state functional connectivity network was constructed based on the automated anatomical labeling atlas. The graph theory method was used to analyze the topological properties of the large-scale resting-state functional connectivity network. Whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity and the topological network property were compared by analyzing the variance. Results: There was no significant difference in the area under the curve of γ, λ, σ, global efficiency, and local efficiency among the three groups. The PTSD group showed increased dorsal cingulate cortex (dACC) resting-state functional connectivity with the postcentral gyrus (PoCG) and paracentral lobe and increased nodal betweenness centrality in the precuneus relative to both control groups. Compared with the PTSD and HC groups, the TEC group showed increased resting-state functional connectivity between the hippocampus and PoCG and increased connectivity strength in the putamen. In addition, compared with the HC group, both the PTSD and TEC groups showed increased connectivity strength and nodal efficiency in the insula. Conclusion: Aberrant resting-state functional connectivity and topology were found in all trauma-exposed individuals. These findings broaden our knowledge of the neuropathological mechanisms of PTSD.

Different from conventional decomposition methods, which utilize several steps to obtain the final result, a self-attention-based neural network, Attention Full-waveform Decomposition Network (AFD-Net), is discussed in this article for end-to-end full-waveform LiDAR signal decomposition. In existing LiDAR waveform decomposition methods, complicated functional models are used to fit echo components. Thus, the echo decomposition problem can be translated into a function approximation task. Recent studies present great progress in estimating the parameters of fitting models, hence, in the final decomposition results. However, the shape of received echo components is always irregular. None of the parametric functional models can fit the received echo components perfectly, which leads to unavoidable errors in the initial step of echo decomposition. In this article, we propose an end-to-end network AFD-Net to solve the echo decomposition problem without assuming any parametric functional models. AFD-Net consists of two modules: 1) the classification module and 2) the decomposition module. The former module is used to determine the number of echo components in a received waveform. Then, the decomposition module is used to output the echo components. By experiments, we have a classification accuracy of 96$\%$ using the first module. The average $R^{2}$ coefficient for the decomposed echo components is 0.9799. In addition, there are no public datasets for the waveform decomposition task available. Thus, another contribution of our work is to develop a tool to generate synthetic full-waveform LiDAR signals, which can help researchers to construct their own dataset for related works.

As a flourishing research topic in the field of remote sensing, spatial compressive imaging (SCI) can utilize prior knowledge to recover high-dimensional signals from low-resolution measurements through joint sampling and compression, thus contributing to the bandwidth reduction of information transmission. However, most of the existing SCI methods based on deep learning cannot effectively utilize prior information, and difficult to perform deep extraction of image features, so the reconstruction is not ideal in the case of low sampling ratio. To address the above difficulty, we propose an SCI network based on meta-attention (MA) and swin transformer, named Meta-TR. We adopt the swin transformer as the network backbone, through the wide application of self-attention mechanisms, to achieve deeper extraction of image features, thereby improving the reconstruction quality under low sampling ratios. In addition, we design an MA module, which adopts Squeeze-Excitation architecture to convert the metadata of SCI image degradation process to attention vectors. Then, the attention vectors are used in the channel modulation of network feature maps to guide the network training. Extensive experiments are performed on different benchmark remote sensing datasets and different sampling ratios to confirm the superiority of the proposed Meta-TR method.

Cooking methods can change the composition of foods and have important effects on human health. The Chinese people have developed many distinct and unique cooking methods. However, the daily cooking patterns of Chinese people and the characteristics and evolution of trends in cooking patterns commonly used by Chinese consumers remain unclear. The objective of this study was to identify the major cooking patterns and discuss their effects on human health, as well as to identify the cooking pattern consumer clusters and the evolution of trends in Chinese consumer cooking patterns. From March to June 2021, this study interviewed 4,710 residents in Eastern China regarding the consumption frequency of each cooking method when food is prepared at home or when eating out. Exploratory factor analysis, K-Means cluster analysis, Chi-square test, pairwise comparisons of multiple sample rates, and multivariate linear regression were used to identify the cooking patterns and cooking pattern consumer clusters, to assess differences in consumption preferences between consumer clusters, and to examine the relationship between demographic characteristic variables and different cooking patterns. Results revealed three major cooking patterns, namely traditional Chinese (cooking methods with native Chinese characteristics), bland, and high-temperature cooking patterns, as well as seven cooking pattern consumer clusters and their demographic characteristics in the Eastern Chinese population. With increases in age, education level, and income, consumers tended to choose the healthy "Bland" cooking pattern. Further, there was a higher proportion of people aged 36-65 years in the C3 cluster, which is characterized by the "Bland" cooking pattern. However, participants who were male and younger made fewer healthy choices in their cooking patterns. Specifically, a higher proportion of participants aged 21-35 years were found in the C5 cluster, which is characterized by the unhealthy "High-temperature" cooking pattern. Therefore, culinary health education should focus on individuals who are male and young. Specifically, the shift in cooking patterns among people aged 21-35 years should receive special attention.

ObjectiveTo further get insights of clinical characteristics of acute organophosphate poisoning-induced shock, investigate the relationship between shock and prognosis, and screen risk indicators for prognosis.MethodsA total of 73 patients with acute organophosphate poisoning admitted to our hospital between January 2014 and December 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into the shock group and the non-shock group. The pH value of blood, arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), base excess (BE), lactic acid (Lac), serum albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (Cr), serum potassium (K), serum calcium (Ca), serum sodium (Na), blood chloride (Cl), serum troponin I (cTNI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), platelet count (PLT), and other clinical indicators of patients were recorded. Incidence of shock, time of shock onset, and outcomes of patients were also recorded. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed for analysis.ResultsThe incidence of organophosphate poisoning-induced shock was 30.1% (22/73), and 72.7% of shock patients developed shock blood pressure within 6 h. The levels of blood lactate, ALT, Cr, cTNI, BNP, and Cl in the shock group were significantly higher than those in the non-shock group, while the level of Ca and pH value was significantly lower than that in the non-shock group (all p < 0.05). Moreover, compared with patients without shock (2.0%), the mortality rate was significantly increased in patients with shock (36.4%), which was supported by the results from adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model. We found that shock and elevated serum creatinine were associated with increased risk of death in patients with organophosphate poisoning (shock: HR, 10.9; 95% CI 1.2–96.3; elevated serum creatinine: HR, 1.0, 95% CI 1.0–1.0).ConclusionThis study indicated the association between elevated serum creatinine and increased mortality rates in patients with organophosphate poisoning, highlighting the importance of the comprehensive management of shock, especially the control of renal function, in these poisoning patients.

Abstract Background Interleukin (IL)-38, a novel member of the IL-1 family, has been reported to be involved in several diseases associated with viral infection. However, the expression and functional role of IL-38 in acute viral myocarditis (AVMC) have not been investigated. Methods Male BALB/c mice were treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) for establishing AVMC models. On day 7 post-injection, the expression of IL-38 and IL-36R (IL-36 receptor) were measured. Mice were then treated with i.p. injection of mouse Anti-IL-38 Antibodies (Abs) for neutralization of IL-38. The survival, bodyweight loss, cardiac function, and myocarditis severity of mice were recorded. The percentages of splenic Th1 and Th17 cells, the expression levels of Th1/Th17-related master transcription factors (T-bet and RORγt) and cytokines were determined by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and ELISA, respectively. Cardiac viral replication was further detected. Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-38 in myocardium and serum, as well as cardiac IL-36R mRNA levels were significantly elevated in mice with AVMC. Increased IL-38 levels were negatively correlated with the severity of AVMC. Neutralization of IL-38 exacerbated CVB3-induced AVMC, as verified by the lower survival rate, impaired cardiac function, continuous bodyweight loss, and higher values of HW/BW and cardiac pathological scores. In addition, neutralization of IL-38 suppressed Th1 cells differentiation while promoted Th17 cells differentiation, accompanied by decreased T-bet mRNA expression and increased RORγt expression. Down-regulation of IFN-γ and up-regulation of IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA and protein expression levels in myocardium and serum were also observed in the IL-38 neutralization group. Furthermore, neutralization of IL-38 markedly promoted cardiac viral replication. Conclusions Neutralization of IL-38 exacerbates CVB3-induced AVMC in mice, which may be attributable to the imbalance of Th1/Th17 cells and increased CVB3 replication. Thus, IL-38 can be considered as a potential therapeutic target for AVMC.

Knowledge of adequate diets can improve an individual's health status. Although previous studies have identified the main resources from which Chinese people acquire dietary knowledge, it is still unclear whether information sources regarding diets (ISRDs) can increase individuals' knowledge of adequate diets (KAD) and which ISRDs are most effective in conveying KAD to the Chinese population. In this study, we interviewed 4,710 residents in Eastern China regarding their ISRDs and KAD. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the effectiveness of different ISRDs in transmitting KAD to Chinese individuals and to determine the relationship between ISRDs and KAD. Results showed that the KAD scores of the respondents were low overall in Eastern China. Providing dietary information through expert lectures, books, newspapers, magazines, and social media could significantly improve the average KAD score of Chinese individuals. Respondents with a greater number of ISRDs were more likely to have higher KAD scores. These findings suggest that the number of ISRDs should be increased. In particular, emphasis should be placed on the role of expert lectures, books, newspapers, magazines, and social media.

In this paper, high-activity manganese oxide was prepared from electrolytic manganese anode slime to realize the efficient removal of antibiotics. The effects of sulfuric acid concentration, ethanol dosage, liquid–solid ratio, leaching temperature and leaching time on the leaching of manganese from electrolytic manganese anode slime were systematically studied. Under the optimal conditions, the leaching rate of manganese reached 88.74%. In addition, a Mn3O4 catalyst was synthesized and used to activate hydrogen persulfate (PMS) to degrade tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The synthesized Mn3O4 was characterized by XRD, XPS, Raman, SEM and HRTEM. As a result, the prepared Mn3O4 is spherical, with high purity and crystallinity. The catalytic activity of Mn3O4 for PMS to degrade TCH was increased to 82.11%. In addition, after four cycles, the performance remained at 78.5%, showing excellent stability and recyclability. In addition, O2− and 1O2 are the main active species in the degradation reaction. The activity of Mn3O4 is attributed to it containing Mn(II) and Mn(III) at the same time, which can quickly realize the transformation of high-valence and low-valence manganese, promote the transfer of electrons and realize the degradation of organic pollutants.

Abstract Solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting systems are highly promising for converting solar energy into clean and sustainable chemical energy. In such PEC systems, an integrated photoelectrode incorporates a light harvester for absorbing solar energy, an interlayer for transporting photogenerated charge carriers, and a co-catalyst for triggering redox reactions. Thus, understanding the correlations between the intrinsic structural properties and functions of the photoelectrodes is crucial. Here we critically examine various 2D layered photoanodes/photocathodes, including graphitic carbon nitrides, transition metal dichalcogenides, layered double hydroxides, layered bismuth oxyhalide nanosheets, and MXenes, combined with advanced nanocarbons (carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphdiyne) as co-catalysts to assemble integrated photoelectrodes for oxygen evolution/hydrogen evolution reactions. The fundamental principles of PEC water splitting and physicochemical properties of photoelectrodes and the associated catalytic reactions are analyzed. Elaborate strategies for the assembly of 2D photoelectrodes with nanocarbons to enhance the PEC performances are introduced. The mechanisms of interplay of 2D photoelectrodes and nanocarbon co-catalysts are further discussed. The challenges and opportunities in the field are identified to guide future research for maximizing the conversion efficiency of PEC water splitting.

In order to improve the performance of the electromagnet for electro-hydraulic proportional valve used in shock absorber, the static and dynamic characteristics of the proportional electromagnet are simulated and analyzed, which provides theoretical basis for the design and optimization of structural parameters of the proportional electromagnet. In this paper, the magnetic circuit model and finite element simulation model of the proportional electromagnet used in shock absorber are established, and the Ansoft software is applied to analyze the influence of the key structural parameters of the proportional electromagnet on static output force and dynamic characteristics. The results demonstrate that with the increase of the depth of basin mouth, the effective travel of the proportional electromagnet increases, and the mean value of the electromagnetic force in the working range decreases. The larger the radial clearance between armature and guide sleeve is, the smaller the electromagnetic force in the effective travel is. When the depth of the basin mouth is 3.9 mm, the slope of the magnetic isolation ring is 35°, the chamfer length of the convex platform is 0.2 mm, and the radial clearance is 0.3 mm, the proportional electromagnet has good displacement-force and current-force characteristics. According to the further transient analysis, it is found that when the voltage amplitude is 24 V, the rise time of the electromagnetic force under step excitation signal is about 40 ms.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. A growing number of studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in AP progression. Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 11(SNHG11) and its underlying molecular mechanisms behind AP progression. The in vivo and in vitro AP cell models were established by retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate and caerulein stimulation into AR42J cells and HPDE6-C7 cells, respectively. A bioinformatics website predicted the relationship between SNHG11, miR-7-5p, and Phospholipase C Beta 1(PLCB1) and validated it with a dual-luciferase reporter assay and an RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. AR42J cells and HPDE6-C7 cells were transfected with an overexpression of plasmids or shRNA to investigate the effects of the SNHG11/miR-7-5p/PLCB1 axis on cell proliferation and apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and acute pancreatitis. Low expression of SNHG11 and PLCB1 and high expression of miR-7-5p were observed in AP pancreatic tissue and AP cell models. SNHG11 overexpression inhibited apoptosis and inflammatory responses induced by caerulein. Simultaneously, we discovered that SNHG11 regulates PLCB1 expression by sponging miR-7-5p. PLCB1 overexpression abrogated inflammatory damage exacerbated by miR-7-5p enrichment. In addition, the SNHG11/miR-7-5p/PLCB1 axis could be involved in caerulein-induced inflammatory injury by participating in the p38MAPK signaling pathway. The overexpressed SNHG11/miR-7-5p/PLCB1 axis can inhibit AP progression by participating in the p38MAPK signaling pathway, thereby providing a potential therapeutic target and therapeutic direction for AP therapy.

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might have white matter abnormalities. However, less is known about white matter changes after exposing a specific traumatic event. The purpose of this study was to explore the abnormalities of diffusion in cerebral white matter and its relationship with the clinical symptoms in patients with PTSD by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Diffusion-weighted imaging of the cerebrum was performed in typhoon survivors with (n = 27) and without PTSD (n = 33) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 30). Differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were calculated among groups using voxel-based analysis of the DTI data. Correlations between diffusion indices and clinical symptoms in patients with PTSD were also assessed. Both patients with PTSD and trauma-exposed control (TEC) group showed increased FA in the anterior limb of the internal capsule, forceps of the corpus callosum, and corona radiata relative to the HC group. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between FA values in the white matter and the clinical symptoms. Trauma exposure may result in disruption of cerebral white matter in individuals with or without PTSD, particularly in the frontal fibers. Aberrant white matter alterations may be associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms.

Previous studies have revealed highly reproducible patterns of temporally lagged brain activity in healthy human adults. However, it is unknown whether temporal organization of intrinsic activity is altered in migraines or if it relates to migraine chronification. In this resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study, temporal features of intrinsic activity were investigated using resting-state lag analysis, and 39 episodic migraine patients, 17 chronic migraine patients, and 35 healthy controls were assessed. Temporally earlier intrinsic activity in the hippocampal complex was revealed in the chronic migraine group relative to the other two groups. We also found earlier intrinsic activity in the medial prefrontal cortex in chronic compared with episodic migraines. Both migraine groups showed earlier intrinsic activity in the lateral temporal cortex and sensorimotor cortex compared with the healthy control group. Across all patients, headache frequency negatively correlated with temporal lag of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal complex. Disrupted propagation of intrinsic activity in regions involved in sensory, cognitive and affective processing of pain may contribute to abnormal brain function during migraines. Decreased time latency in the lateral temporal cortex and sensorimotor cortex may be common manifestations in episodic and chronic migraines. The temporal features of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal complex were associated with migraine chronification.

Developing suitable photocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is still a challenging issue for efficient water splitting due to the high requirements to create a significant impact on water splitting reaction kinetics. Herein, n-type Bi2WO6 with flower-like hierarchical structure and p-type Cu2O quantum dots (QDs) are coupled together to construct an efficient S-scheme heterojunction, which could enhance the migration efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. The electrochemical properties are investigated to explore the transportation features and donor density of charge carriers in the S-scheme heterojunction system. Meanwhile, the as-prepared S-scheme heterojunction presents improved photocatalytic activity towards water oxidation in comparison with the sole Bi2WO6 and Cu2O QDs systems under simulated solar light irradiation. Moreover, the initial O2 evolution rate of the Cu2O QDs/Bi2WO6 heterojunction system is 2.3 and 9.7 fold that of sole Bi2WO6 and Cu2O QDs systems, respectively.

Biochars are considered as promising materials in energy storage and environmental remediation because of their unique physicochemical properties and low cost. However, the fabrication of multifunctional biochar materials with a well-developed hierarchical porous structure as well as self-doped functionalities via a facile strategy remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a heteroatom-doped porous biochar, prepared by a hydrothermal pretreatment followed by a molten salt activation route. With the creation of a high specific surface area (1501.9 m2/g), a hierarchical porous structure, and the incorporation of oxygen-/nitrogen-functional groups, the as-prepared biochar (BC-24) exhibits great potential for supercapacitor application and organic pollutant elimination. The assembled biochar electrode delivers a specific capacitance of 378 F/g at 0.2 A/g with a good rate capability of 198 F/g at 10 A/g, and excellent cycling stability with 94.5% capacitance retention after 10,000 recycles. Moreover, BC-24 also exhibits superior catalytic activity for phenol degradation through peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation. The phenol (0.2 mM) can be effectively absorbed and then completely degraded within only 25 min over a wide pH range with low catalyst and PDS dosages. More importantly, TOC analysis indicates 81.7% of the phenol is mineralized within 60 min, confirming the effectiveness of the BC-24/PDS system. Quenching experiments and EPR measurements reveal that SO4·− and ·OH as well as 1O2 are involved in the phenol degradation, while the non-radical pathway plays the dominant role. This study provides valuable insights into the preparation of cost-effective carbon materials for supercapacitor application and organic contaminant remediation.

Individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are more likely to develop into Alzheimer disease (AD) in the future. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies have shown alterations of intrinsic brain activity (IBA) in SCD individuals. However, rs-fMRI studies to date have mainly focused on static characteristics of IBA, with few studies reporting dynamics- and concordance-related changes in IBA indices in SCD individuals. To investigate these aberrant changes, a temporal dynamic analysis of rs-fMRI data was conducted on 94 SCD individuals (71.07 ± 6.18 years, 60 female), 75 (74.36 ± 8.42 years, 35 female) mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 82 age-, gender-, and education-matched controls (NCs; 73.88 ± 7.40 years, 49 female) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. The dynamics and concordance of the rs-fMRI indices were calculated. The results showed that SCD individuals had a lower amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations dynamics in bilateral hippocampus (HP)/parahippocampal gyrus (PHG)/fusiform gyrus (FG) and bilateral cerebellum, a lower fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation dynamics in bilateral precuneus (PreCu) and paracentral lobule, and a lower regional homogeneity dynamics in bilateral cerebellum, vermis, and left FG compared with the other two groups, whereas those in MCI patients were higher (Gaussian random field–corrected, voxel-level P < 0.001, cluster-level P < 0.05). Furthermore, SCD individuals had higher concordance in bilateral HP/PHG/FG, temporal lobe, and left midcingulate cortex than NCs, but those in MCI were lower than those in NCs. No correlation between concordance values and neuropsychological scale scores was found. SCD individuals showed both dynamics and concordance-related alterations in IBA, which indicates a compensatory mechanism in SCD individuals. Temporal dynamics analysis offers a novel approach to capturing brain alterations in individuals with SCD.

Abstract Background New evidence suggests that the centromedial amygdala (CMA) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) play different roles in threat processing. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of trauma and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the functional connectivity (FC) of the amygdala and its subregions. Methods Twenty‐seven patients with typhoon‐related PTSD, 33 trauma‐exposed controls (TEC), and 30 healthy controls (HC) were scanned with a 3‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The FCs of the BLA, the CMA, and the amygdala as a whole were examined using a seed‐based approach, and then, the analysis of variance was used to compare the groups. Results We demonstrated that the BLA had a stronger connectivity with the prefrontal cortices (PFCs) and angular gyrus in the PTSD group than in the TEC group. Additionally, compared with the PTSD and the HC groups, the TEC group exhibited decreased and increased BLA FC with the ventromedial PFC and postcentral gyrus (PoCG), respectively. Furthermore, the PTSD group showed abnormal FC between the salience network and default‐mode network, as well as the executive control network. Compared with the HC group, the TEC group and the PTSD group both showed decreased BLA FC with the superior temporal gyrus (STG). Finally, the FCs between the bilateral amygdala (as a whole) and the vmPFC, and between the BLA and the vmPFC have a negative correlation with the severity of PTSD. Conclusions Decreased BLA‐vmPFC FC and increased BLA‐PoCG FC may reflect PTSD resilience factors. Trauma leads to decreased connectivity between the BLA and the STG, which could be further aggravated by PTSD.

Background: Hypothesis-driven functional connectivity (FC) analyses have revealed abnormal functional interaction of regions or networks involved in pain processing in episodic migraine patients. We aimed to investigate the resting-state FC patterns in episodic migraine by combining data-driven voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) calculation and seed-based FC analysis.Methods: Thirty-nine patients suffering from episodic migraine without aura and 35 healthy controls underwent clinical assessment and functional MRI. DC was analyzed voxel-wise and compared between groups, and FC of regions with DC differences were further examined using a seed-based approach.Results: Compared with the control group, the migraine group showed increased and decreased DC in the right posterior insula and left crus I, respectively. Seed-based FC analyses revealed that migraine patients demonstrated increased right posterior insula connections with the postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area/paracentral lobule, fusiform gyrus and temporal pole. The left crus I showed decreased FC with regions of the default mode network (DMN), including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), angular gyrus, medial and lateral temporal cortex in patients with migraine. Furthermore, pain intensity positively correlated with DC in the right amygdala/parahippocampal gyrus, and migraine frequency negatively correlated with FC between the left crus I and mPFC.Conclusion: Patients with episodic migraine without aura have increased FC with the right posterior insula and decreased FC within the DMN, which may underlie disturbed sensory integration and cognitive processing of pain. The left crus I-mPFC connectivity may be a useful biomarker for assessing migraine frequency.

As an important chemical raw material, ammonia is mainly produced by the traditional Haber-Bosch process, which has certain limitations such as high energy consumption, high safety responsibility, and severe pollution, thereby having negative impacts on ecosystem. The synthesis of ammonia from dinitrogen at ambient temperature and pressure is one of the most attractive topics in the field of chemistry. As a new two-dimensional nanomaterial, MXene has excellent electrochemical properties and is a potential catalytic material for electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation. In this review, we firstly introduce the crystal, electronic structures of two-dimensional MXenes and summarize the synthesis methods, N2 reduction, and simulation computation, as well as have insight into the challenges of MXenes, which shed light on the development of highly efficient MXene-based electrocatalysts in the reduction of N2 to ammonia.

The isolation of the body from engine vibration is the most challenging and disruptive vibrational problem. Active engine mounts (AEMs), especially electromagnetic AEMs, achieve a significant performance improvement in decreasing the wide frequency band vibration. Increasing research interest is necessary to provide the academic community with a guideline for electromagnetic AEMs. Therefore, the current review aims to comprehensively supplement the review of AEMs. The key reviews of electromagnetic AEMs focus on (1) general considerations of electromagnetic AEMs, (2) models, and (3) control strategies. This paper presents a review of the current status and developmental progress of AEMs. A theoretical model, a finite-element model, and the identification (or experimental modelling) of electromagnetic AEMs during the last 2 decades are then studied. Finally, control strategies, such as classical control, adaptive control, and two degree of freedom (2DOF) control, are discussed and compared. The main purpose of this paper is to meet the needs of researchers and engineers engaged in electromagnetic AEM analysis and control.

Abstract Visible-light-responsive ternary metal tungstate (MWO4) photocatalysts are being increasingly investigated for energy conversion and environmental purification applications owing to their striking features, including low cost, eco-friendliness, and high stability under acidic and oxidative conditions. However, rapid recombination of photoinduced electron–hole pairs and a narrow light response range to the solar spectrum lead to low photocatalytic activity of MWO4-based materials, thus significantly hampering their wide usage in practice. To enable their widespread practical usage, significant efforts have been devoted, by developing new concepts and innovative strategies. In this review, we aim to provide an integrated overview of the fundamentals and recent progress of MWO4-based photocatalysts. Furthermore, different strategies, including morphological control, surface modification, heteroatom doping, and heterojunction fabrication, which are employed to promote the photocatalytic activities of MWO4-based materials, are systematically summarized and discussed. Finally, existing challenges and a future perspective are also provided to shed light on the development of highly efficient MWO4-based photocatalysts.

Background/Aims: Functional connectivity studies based on region of interest approach suggest altered functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and salience network (SN). The aim of this study is to determine whether intranetwork and internetwork brain connectivity are altered in both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients and traumatized subjects without PTSD using a data-driven approach. Methods: Resting-state functional MRI data were acquired for 27 patients with typhoon-related PTSD, 33 trauma-exposed controls (TEC), and 30 healthy controls (HC). Functional connectivity within the DMN, ECN, and SN as well as functional and effective connectivity between these resting-state networks were examined with independent component analysis (ICA), and then compared between groups by conducting analysis of variance. Results: Within the DMN, the TEC group showed decreased and increased functional connectivity in the superior frontal gyrus compared with the PTSD group and the HC group, respectively. The TEC group showed increased angular functional connectivity within the DMN and decreased functional connectivity in the superior temporal gyrus/posterior insula within the SN relative to the HC group. Compared with the TEC group, the PTSD group showed increased functional connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area within the ECN as well as in the inferior frontal gyrus/anterior insula within the SN. The PTSD group showed decreased functional connectivity in the supplementary motor area within the SN relative to both control groups. Moreover, the PTSD showed increased excitatory influence from the ECN to DMN compared with both control groups, while the TEC group showed increased inhibitory influence from the DMN to ECN compared with the HC group. Intranetwork functional connectivity within the DMN and SN is altered in traumatized subjects irrespective of PTSD diagnosis. PTSD patients also showed altered intranetwork functional connectivity within the ECN. Conclusions: Distinct changes of effective connectivity between the DMN and ECN in the PTSD group and TEC group may reflect different compensatory mechanisms for rebalance of resting-state networks in the two groups.

Abstract Background Intestinal ligation is the cornerstone for damage control in abdominal emergency, yet it may lead to bowel ischemia. Although intestinal ligation avoids further peritoneal cavity pollution, it may lead to an increased pressure within the bowel segments and rapid bacterial translocation. In this study, we showed that severed intestine could be readily reconnected by using silicon tubes and be secured by using rubber bands in a canine model. Methods Adult Beagle dogs, subject to multiple intestinal transections and hemorrhagic shock by exsanguination, randomly received conventional ligation vs. silicon tubes reconnecting (n = 5 per group). Intestinal transections were carried out under general anesthesia after 24-h fasting. The abdomen was opened with a midline incision. The small intestine was severed at 50, 100, and 150 cm below the Treitz ligament. Hemorrhagic shock was established by streaming blood from the left carotid artery until the mean arterial pressure reached 40 mmHg in 20 min. Fluid resuscitation and surgery began 30 min after the establishment of hemorrhagic shock. Severed intestines were ligated or connected with silicon tubes. Definitive repair was conducted in subjects surviving for at least 48 h. Results Operation time was comparable between the two groups (39.6 ± 8.9 vs. 36.6 ± 7.8 min in ligation and reconnecting groups, respectively; p = 0.56). The time spent in managing each resection was also comparable (4.6 ± 1.1 vs. 3.8 ± 0.84 min; p = 0.24). Blood loss (341.2 ± 28.6 vs. 333.8 ± 34.6 ml; p = 0.48), and fluid resuscitation within the first 24 h (1676 ± 200.6 vs. 1594 ± 156.5 ml; p = 0.46) were similar. One subject in the ligation group was sacrificed at 36-h due to severe vomiting that led to aspiration. Four remaining dogs in the ligation group received definitive surgery, but two out of four had to be sacrificed at 24-h after definitive repair due to imminent death. All five dogs in the reconnecting group survived for at least a week. Radiographic examination confirmed the integrity of the GI tract in the reconnecting group. In both groups, plasma endotoxin concentration increased after damage control surgery, but the increase was much more pronounced in the ligation group. Microscopic examination of the involved segment of the intestine revealed much more severe pathology in the ligation group. Conclusion The current study showed that the reconnecting resected intestine by using silicon tubes is feasible under emergency. Such a method could decrease short-term mortality and minimize endotoxin translocation.

Abstract Background Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is still one of the most severe complications in immunocompromised patients. Our previous systematic review showed noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) reduced mortality, length of hospitalization and ICU stay in AIDS/hematological malignancy patients with relatively less severe ARF, compared to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). However, this systematic review was based on 13 observational studies and the quality of evidence was low to moderate. The efficacy of NIV in more severe ARF and in patients with other causes of immunodeficiency is still unclear. We aim to determine the efficacy of the initial ventilation strategy in managing ARF in immunocompromised patients stratified by different disease severity and causes of immunodeficiency, and explore predictors for failure of NIV. Methods and analysis The VENIM is a multicentre randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effects of NIV compared with IMV in adult immunocompromised patients with severe hypoxemic ARF. Patients who meet the indications for both forms of ventilatory support will be included. Primary outcome will be 30-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes will include in-hospital mortality, length of stay in hospital, improvement of oxygenation, nosocomial infections, seven-day organ failure, adverse events of intervention, et al. Subgroups with different disease severity and causes of immunodeficiency will also be analyzed. Discussion VENIM is the first randomized controlled trial aiming at assessing the efficacy of initial ventilation strategy in treating moderate and severe acute respiratory failure in immunocompromised patients. The result of this RCT may help doctors with their ventilation decisions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02983851 . Registered 2 September 2016.

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) as unmanned intelligent devices can replace humans to perform missions more efficiently and safely in dangerous areas. However, due to the complex navigation environment and special mission requirements, USVs face many challenges in emergency response missions for marine oil spill accidents. To solve these challenges in the emergency response mission of the ‘Sanchi’ oil tanker collision and explosion accident, we designed and deployed an USV to perform the missions of real-time scanning and water sampling in the shipwreck waters. Compared with the previous USVs, our USV owned the following characteristics: Firstly, the improved navigation control algorithms (path following and collision avoidance) can provide high navigation accuracy while ensuring navigation safety; Secondly, an improved launch and recovery system (LARS) enabled the USV to be quickly deployed and recovered in the mission area; Thirdly, a new sampling system was specially designed for the USV. Our USV completed the missions successfully, not only providing a lot of information for rescuers but also offering a scientific basis for follow-up work.

Purpose: To determine whether effective connectivity of the amygdala is altered in traumatized subjects with and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Materials and Methods: Resting-state functional MRI data were obtained for 27 patients with typhoon-related PTSD, 33 trauma-exposed controls (TEC), and 30 healthy controls (HC). Effective connectivity of the bilateral amygdala was examined with Granger causality analysis and then compared between groups by conducting an analysis of variance.Results: Compared to the HC group, both the PTSD group and the TEC group showed increased effective connectivity from the amygdala to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The TEC group showed increased effective connectivity from the mPFC to the amygdala relative to the HC group. Compared to the TEC group, the PTSD group showed increased effective connectivity from the amygdala to the supplementary motor area (SMA), whereas decreased effective connectivity was detected from the SMA to the amygdala. Both the PTSD group and the TEC group showed decreased effective connectivity from the superior temporal gyrus (STG) to the amygdala relative to the HC group. Compared to the HC group, the TEC group showed increased effective connectivity from the amygdala to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), while both the PTSD group and the TEC group showed decreased effective connectivity from the dlPFC to the amygdala. The PTSD group showed decreased effective connectivity from the precuneus to the amygdala relative to both control groups, but increased effective connectivity from the amygdala to the precuneus relative to the HC group.Conclusion: Trauma leads to an increased down-top excitation from the amygdala to the mPFC and less regulation of the amygdala by the dlPFC. The results suggest that increased inhibition of the amygdala by the mPFC may reflect a resilience factor, and altered amygdala-SMA and amygdala-STG effective connectivity may reflect compensatory mechanisms of brain function. These data raise the possibility that insufficient inhibition of the amygdala by the mPFC might lead to PTSD in those who have been exposed to traumatic incidents, and may inform future therapeutic interventions.

The abnormal brain activity is a pivotal condition for the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder. However, the dynamic time features of intrinsic brain activities still remain unclearly in PTSD patients. Our study aims to perform the resting-state lag analysis (RS-LA) method to explore potential propagated patterns of intrinsic brain activities in PTSD patients. We recruited 27 drug-naive patients with PTSD, 33 trauma-exposed controls (TEC), and 30 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) in the final data statistics. Both RS-LA and conventional voxel-wise functional connectivity strength (FCS) methods were employed on the same dataset. Then, Spearman correlation analysis was conducted on time latency values of those abnormal brain regions with the clinical assessments. Compared with HC group, the time latency patterns of PTSD patients significantly shifted toward later in posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, middle prefrontal cortex, right angular, and left pre- and post-central cortex. The TEC group tended to have similar time latency in right angular. Additionally, significant time latency in right STG was found in PTSD group relative to TEC group. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the time latency value of mPFC negatively correlated to the PTSD checklist-civilian version scores (PCL_C) in PTSD group (r = −0.578, P < 0.05). Furthermore, group differences map of FCS exhibited parts of overlapping areas with that of RS-LA, however, less specificity in detecting PTSD patients. In conclusion, apparent alterations of time latency were observed in DMN and primary sensorimotor areas of PTSD patients. These findings provide us with new evidence to explain the neural pathophysiology contributing to PTSD.

BACKGROUND:Infection is a common cause of acute lung injury (ALI). This study was aimed to explore whether Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) play a role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and potential mechanisms. METHODS:In vivo: A sensitizing dose of LPS (50 µg) was administered i.p. to female mice before anesthesia with either 3% sevoflurane or phenobarbital i.p. After stabilization, the mice were challenged with 5 µg of intratracheal LPS to mimic inflammatory attack. The effects of sevoflurane were assessed by measurement of airway responsiveness to methacholine, histological examination, and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Protein and gene expression of TLR4 and NF-κB were also assessed. In vitro: After pre-sensitization of ASMCs and ASM segments for 24h, levels of TLR4 and NF-κB proteins in cultured ASMCs were measured after continuous LPS exposure for 1, 3, 5, 12 and 24h in presence or absence of sevoflurane. Constrictor and relaxant responsiveness of ASM was measured 24 h afterwards. RESULTS:The mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB and TLR4 in ASM were increased and maintained at high level after LPS challenge throughout 24h observation period, both in vivo and in vitro. Sevoflurane reduced LPS-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, lung inflammatory cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokines release in BALF as well as maximal isometric contractile force of ASM segments to acetylcholine, but it increased maximal relaxation response to isoproterenol. Treatment with specific NF-κB inhibitor produced similar protections as sevoflurane, including decreased expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in cultured ASMCs and improved pharmacodynamic responsiveness of ASM to ACh and isoproterenol. CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrates the crucial role of TLR4 activation in ASMCs during ALI in response to LPS. Sevoflurane exerts direct relaxant and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro via inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

A set of novel iron doped cerium‐tungsten catalysts were prepared by sol‐gel method with a view to their application for low temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3 in power plants. With a molar ratio Fe/W/Ce of 0.5:1:1, a NOx reduction of >90% at 200 °C was achieved. In Fe-W-Ce catalysts with low iron oxide content, it was found that the iron compounds were highly dispersed and formed a solid solution within the cerium oxide lattice, which promoted the SCR activity. Large amounts of iron in the catalysts might form a layer of Fe2O3 on the catalyst surface, which induced the synergistic inhibition effect among Fe, Ce and W species. Moreover, the Fe‐W‐Ce catalysts possessed a high resistance to changed operation parameters as well as to deactivation by SO2 and/or H2O. The novel catalyst showed to be competitive among recently developed low‐temperature SCR catalysts.

Herein, MoS2/TiO2 nanobelts heterojunction have been successfully synthesized by in situ growth method for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). TiO2 nanobelts (NBs) with rough surface were prepared firstly by acidic treatment process, which is beneficial for deposition and growth of MoS2 to form heterojunctions. As a result of special energy level offset and nanostructure, MoS2/TiO2 NBs composite were endowed with higher light-harvesting capacity and charge transportation efficiency, which are indispensible merits for excellent photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) reveals that the synthesized MoS2/TiO2 NBs composite have superior photocatalytic ability than other samples. Meanwhile, a photoreduction mechanism is proposed based on the systematic investigation, where the photogenerated electrons are demonstrated as the dominant reductive species to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III).

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) constitutes a significant health burden worldwide, with an estimated approximately 33% of the world's population exposed to the pathogen. The recent licensed HEV 239 vaccine in China showed excellent protective efficacy against HEV of genotypes 1 and 4 in the general population and pregnant women. Because hepatitis E is a zoonosis, it is also necessary to ascertain whether this vaccine can serve to manage animal sources of human HEV infection. To test the efficacy of the HEV 239 vaccine in protecting animal reservoirs of HEV against HEV infection, twelve specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rabbits were divided randomly into two groups of 6 animals and inoculated intramuscularly with HEV 239 and placebo (PBS). All animals were challenged intravenously with swine HEV of genotype 4 or rabbit HEV seven weeks after the initial immunization. The course of infection was monitored for 10 weeks by serum ALT levels, duration of viremia and fecal virus excretion and HEV antibody responses. All rabbits immunized with HEV 239 developed high titers of anti-HEV and no signs of HEV infection were observed throughout the experiment, while rabbits inoculated with PBS developed viral hepatitis following challenge, with liver enzyme elevations, viremia, and fecal virus shedding. Our data indicated that the HEV 239 vaccine is highly immunogenic for rabbits and that it can completely protect rabbits against homologous and heterologous HEV infections. These findings could facilitate the prevention of food-borne sporadic HEV infection in both developing and industrialized countries.