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Abstract Purpose This study evaluated and compared the clinical support capabilities of ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 4o mini in diagnosing and treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with radiculopathy. Methods Twenty-one questions (across 5 categories) from NASS Clinical Guidelines were input into ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 4o mini. Five orthopedic surgeons assessed their responses using a 5-point Likert scale for accuracy and completeness, and a 7-point scale for reliability. Flesch Reading Ease scores were calculated to assess readability. Additionally, ChatGPT 4o analyzed lumbar images from 53 patients, comparing its recognizable agreement with orthopedic surgeons using Kappa values. Results Both models demonstrated strong clinical support capabilities with no significant differences in accuracy or reliability. However, ChatGPT 4o provided more comprehensive and consistent responses. The Flesch Reading Ease scores for both models indicated that their generated content was “very difficult to read,” potentially limiting patient accessibility. In evaluating lumbar disc herniation images, ChatGPT 4o achieved an overall accuracy of 0.81, with LDH recognition precision, recall, and F1 scores exceeding 0.80. The AUC was 0.80, and the Kappa value was 0.61, indicating moderate agreement between the model’s predictions and actual diagnoses, though with room for improvement. Conclusion While both models are effective, ChatGPT 4o offers more comprehensive clinical responses, making it more suitable for high-integrity medical tasks. However, the difficulty in reading AI-generated content and occasional use of misleading terms, such as “tumor,” indicate a need for further improvements to reduce patient anxiety.

Abstract Objectives The CHROME-G is the first generic preference-based measure developed in China. This study aimed to validate and compare the psychometric properties of the CHROME-G with the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 among the Chinese general population. Methods A representative sample of the Chinese general population in terms of age, gender, education, and urban/rural residence was recruited for an online survey. During the survey, respondents completed three instruments (first the CHROME-G, then the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 in random order), demographic and health-related questions. The retest survey was carried out after two weeks. Ceiling/floor effects were first assessed. Convergent and divergent validity was examined using Spearman’s rank correlation. Known-group validity was examined using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis H test and effect size. Test–retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and weighted Kappa statistics. Results One thousand respondents (51.1% male, mean age 44.7 years) completed the first survey, with 378 also completing the retest survey. The mean ± SD completion time was 2.03 ± 0.58 min for the CHROME-G, and 1.37 ± 0.54 and 1.13 ± 0.38 min for the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2. Only the EQ-5D-5L had a ceiling effect of 35.1%. The range of Spearman rank’s correlations was 0.45–0.62 for convergent validity and 0.14–0.46 for divergent validity. Among different health subgroups, the effect size for the CHROME-G, EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2 was 1.348–3.416, 1.362–3.325 and 1.097–2.228, respectively. The ICC for test–retest was 0.791 for the CHROME-G, compared with 0.994 and 0.971 for the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2. Conclusions The CHROME-G showed good and comparable psychometric properties with the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6Dv2.

Abstract Metabolites can double as a signaling modality that initiates physiological adaptations. Metabolism, a chemical language encoding biological information, has been recognized as a powerful principle directing inflammatory responses. Cytosolic pH is a regulator of inflammatory response in macrophages. Here, we found that L-malate exerts anti-inflammatory effect via BiP-IRF2BP2 signaling, which is a sensor of cytosolic pH in macrophages. First, L-malate, a TCA intermediate upregulated in pro-inflammatory macrophages, was identified as a potent anti-inflammatory metabolite through initial screening. Subsequent screening with DARTS and MS led to the isolation of L-malate-BiP binding. Further screening through protein‒protein interaction microarrays identified a L-malate-restrained coupling of BiP with IRF2BP2, a known anti-inflammatory protein. Interestingly, pH reduction, which promotes carboxyl protonation of L-malate, facilitates L-malate and carboxylate analogues such as succinate to bind BiP, and disrupt BiP-IRF2BP2 interaction in a carboxyl-dependent manner. Both L-malate and acidification inhibit BiP-IRF2BP2 interaction, and protect IRF2BP2 from BiP-driven degradation in macrophages. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo, BiP-IRF2BP2 signal is required for effects of both L-malate and pH on inflammatory responses. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized, proton/carboxylate dual sensing pathway wherein pH and L-malate regulate inflammatory responses, indicating the role of certain carboxylate metabolites as adaptors in the proton biosensing by interactions between macromolecules.

Abstract Branching networks are key elements in natural landscapes and have attracted sustained research interest across the geosciences and numerous intersecting fields. The prevailing consensus has long held that branching networks are optimized and exhibit fractal properties adhering to power-law scaling relationships. However, tidal networks in coastal wetlands and mudflats exhibit scaling properties that defy conventional power-law descriptions, presenting a longstanding enigma. Here we show that the observed atypical scaling represents a universal deviation from an ideal fractal branching network capable of fully occupying the available space. Using satellite imagery of tidal networks from diverse global locations, we identified an inherent “laziness” in this deviation—where the increased ease of channel formation paradoxically decreases the space-filling efficiency of the network. We developed a theoretical model that reproduces the ideal fractal branching network and the laziness phenomenon. The model suggests that branching networks can emerge under a localized competition principle without adhering to conventionally assumed optimization-driven processes. These results reveal the dual nature of branching networks, where “laziness” complements the well-known optimization process. This property provides more flexible strategies for controlling tidal network morphogenesis, with implications for coastal management, wetland restoration, and studies in fluvial and planetary systems.

Abstract Background New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a rare primary headache disorder characterized by daily and persistent sudden onset headaches. Specific abnormalities in gray matter and white matter structure are associated with pain, but have not been well studied in NDPH. The objective of this work is to explore the fiber tracts and structural connectivity, which can help reveal unique gray and white matter structural abnormalities in NDPH. Methods The regional radiomics similarity networks were calculated from T1 weighted (T1w) MRI to depict the gray matter structure. The fiber connectivity matrices weighted by diffusion metrics like fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) were built, meanwhile the fiber tracts were segmented by anatomically-guided superficial fiber segmentation (Anat-SFSeg) method to explore the white matter structure from diffusion MRI. The considerable different neuroimaging features between NDPH and healthy controls (HC) were extracted from the connectivity and tract-based analyses. Finally, decision tree regression was used to predict the clinical scores (i.e. pain intensity) from the above neuroimaging features. Results T1w and diffusion MRI data were available in 51 participants after quality control: 22 patients with NDPH and 29 HCs. Significantly decreased morphological similarity was found between the right superior frontal gyrus and right hippocampus. The superficial white matter (SWM) showed significantly decreased FA in fiber tracts including the right superficial-frontal, left superficial-occipital, bilateral superficial-occipital-temporal (Sup-OT) and right superficial-temporal, meanwhile significant increased RD was found in the left Sup-OT. For the fiber connectivity, NDPH showed significantly decreased FA in the bilateral basal ganglion and temporal lobe, increased MD in the right frontal lobe, and increased RD in the right frontal lobe and left temporal-occipital lobe. Clinical scores could be predicted dominantly by the above significantly different neuroimaging features through decision tree regression. Conclusions Our research indicates the structural abnormalities of SWM and the neural pathways projected between regions like right hippocampus and left caudate nucleus, along with morphological similarity changes between the right superior frontal gyrus and right hippocampus, constitute the pathological features of NDPH. The decision tree regression demonstrates correlations between these structural changes and clinical scores.

Abstract As the COVID-19 epidemic ends in China, it is worth exploring the growth after experiencing the trauma of the epidemic. China has been managing the epidemic for a relatively long time compared to other countries. Many scholars have researched trauma and post-traumatic growth in groups such as doctors and patients. However, little attention has been paid to the post-traumatic growth of ordinary people who experienced the epidemic in the Chinese context and the related influencing factors. Based on the educational system as the research context, this study proposes the effects of proactive personality and social support on PTG in the post-epidemic era through the mediation of meaningfulness of life. To empirically examine the influences of PTG in the post-epidemic era, an online survey of 1210 university students was conducted for data analysis. The analysis results suggest that proactive personality and social support positively influence meaning in life. Proactive personality, social support and meaning in life positively influence post-traumatic growth. Proactive personality and social support social support and proactive personality indirectly influence post-traumatic growth through the mediation of the meaning in life. This research empirically investigated the role of personality, social support, meaning in life, and post-traumatic growth among university students.

Abstract With the development of sustainable economy, new energy materials are widely used in various industries, and many cars also adopt new energy power batteries as power sources. However, it is currently not possible to accurately diagnose faults in power batteries, which results in the safety of power batteries not being guaranteed. To address this issue, this study utilizes the Whale Optimization Algorithm to improve the Long Short-Term Memory algorithm and constructs a fault diagnosis model based on the improved algorithm. The purpose of using this model for fault diagnosis of power batteries is to strengthen the safety management of batteries. This study first conducted experiments on the improved algorithm and obtained an accuracy of 95.3%. The simulation results of the fault diagnosis model showed that the diagnosis time was only 1.2s. The analysis of the power battery showed that after using this model, the safety performance has been improved by 90.1%, while the maintenance cost has been reduced to 20.3% of the original. The above results verify that the fault diagnosis model based on the improved algorithm can accurately diagnose faults in power batteries, thereby improving the safety of power batteries.

Abstract Background Aquatic activities are becoming increasingly popular as a form of exercise during pregnancy. However, the effects of these activities on the physical and mental health outcomes of pregnant women during and after pregnancy as well as fetal outcomes remain unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the current evidence regarding the effects of aquatic activities during pregnancy on neonatal and maternal outcomes. Methods Three databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central electronic database, Embase) were searched from inception to July 17, 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of aquatic activities versus standard prenatal care or no exercise on neonatal and maternal outcomes. Pooled outcome measures were determined using random-effects models. Results Ten RCTs including 1949 patients met the criteria for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The results showed that prenatal aquatic activities could significantly improve maternal weight control (mean difference [MD]= -0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]= -1.64 to -0.18, P = 0.01, I2 = 0.00%), improve maternal quality of life (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.16, 95%CI = 0.03 to 0.28, P = 0.01, I2 = 0.00%), and extend fetal birth length (MD = 0.48, 95%CI = 0.10 to 0.87, P = 0.01, I2 = 0.00%) compared with standard prenatal care or no exercise, while no significant differences were observed in fetal birth weight, Apgar score at 1 min, Apgar score at 5 min, pH of umbilical cord blood, gestational age, rate of preterm delivery, incidence of postnatal depression and mode of delivery. Conclusions Prenatal aquatic activities can significantly improve maternal weight control and quality of life during pregnancy, and may promote longer birth length. However, additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background/Aims: Inflammation is an essential driver of colorectal cancer (CRC). Identifying phenotypes and targets associated with inflammation and cancer may be an effective way to treat CRC. Materials and Methods: R was used to analyze interleukin 6 cytokine family signal transducer (IL6ST) expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas Colon Adenocarcinoma database. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and quantitative PCR were used to detect IL6ST and ferroptosis-related genes expression in our cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curves evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of IL6ST to predict CRC. Cell counting kit-8 investigated cell viability. Mitochondrial morphology, total iron, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were evaluated to assess cell ferroptosis. The correlation of IL6ST and immune cells filtration were also analyzed based on R. Results: IL6ST was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues (P < .05). The specificity and sensitivity of IL6ST for predicting CRC were high (area under the curve (AUC): 0.919, CI: 0.896-0.942). IL6ST was significantly associated with ferroptosis-related genes. IL6ST knockdown decreased SW480 cells viability (knockdown vs. vector, P = .004), promoted the ferroptosis phenotype, and increased iron accumulation (knockdown vs. vector P = .014) and ROS production (knockdown vs. vector P = .005). IL6ST upregulation increased SW620 cells viability (overexpression vs. blank, P = .001), inhibited the ferroptosis phenotype, and decreased iron accumulation (overexpression vs. vector P = 0.006) and ROS production (overexpression vs. vector P = .05). IL6ST increased FTH1 and GPX4 expression and reduced PTGS2, NOX1, and ACSL4 expression (P < .01). Additionally, IL6ST level is linked to immune cell infiltration. A higher enrichment score of T cells was observed in IL6ST up-regulated group. Conclusion: IL6ST inhibits ferroptosis and may be a potential novel therapeutic target in CRC via the modulation of ferroptosis.

Background: Previous meta-analyses have demonstrated osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with an increased risk of dementia, but these studies were prone to bias based on residual confounding factors and reverse causality. Objectives: We aimed to investigate associations between OA and cognitive function using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and to investigate the causality using Mendelian randomization (MR). Design: This is a cross-sectional study and MR study. Methods: Data from the NHANES 2011–2014 were used. Multiple linear, logistic regressions and stratified analyses were used to determine the association between OA status and cognitive function. Sample weights were used to ensure result generalizability. Two-sample MR analysis was conducted to examine the association between OA and dementia. Mediation analyses were performed to investigate the mediating effects of depression. Results: We did not demonstrate a significant association between OA and cognitive performance after adjusting for relevant covariates ( p > 0.05), and the population of individuals with both OA and depression was associated with higher odds of low total word recall cognitive performance (odds ratio (OR) = 4.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–20.63; p = 0.04). Genetically predicted specific-site OA was not significantly associated with the risk of dementia (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.96–1.32; p = 0.16), Alzheimer’s disease (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.68–1.31, p = 0.74), vascular dementia (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.82–2.13, p = 0.25) with accepted heterogeneity and no evidence of directional pleiotropy. Furthermore, major depression was found to mediate the pathway between OA and vascular dementia (β = 0.044, 95% CI: −0.391 to 0.479, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that there is no significant association or causal relationship between OA and cognitive decline. However, depression may serve as an important factor influencing cognitive outcomes. Future research should further explore the bidirectional causal relationship and underlying mechanisms.

Background The application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has received little attention due to the ability of this plant to fix N. However, N deficiency stress is often observed in marginal lands of China, especially in saline–alkali soils. Thus, this study aimed to assess the response of alfalfa yield, quality, N fixation, and soil N concentration to N fertilizer application at different stages in saline–alkali soil of Inner Mongolia. A 2-year (2020 and 2021) field experiment with five N fertilizer application rates, namely, 0 (N0), 20 (N20), 60 (N60), 120 (N120) and 180 (N180) kg N ha−1, was conducted in Inner Mongolia. Results The results showed that N fertilizer application of 180 kg ha−1 significantly increased the total alfalfa yield by 29%–32% by improving the stem‒leaf ratio; however, it didn’t lead to a further increase in alfalfa quality. N fertilizer applications of 60 and 120 kg ha−1 significantly improved the crude protein by 10.6%–22.7% and reduced the acid or neutral detergent fiber by 10.0%–18.7% in vegetative and bud stages, respectively, by improving the leaf N concentration. Furthermore, the fraction of N derived from the atmosphere reached 68.6%, with a significant increase in the corresponding amount of N fixed in N60. Soil NO3−-N concentrations significantly increased by 24.1%–33.3%, and NH4+-N concentrations increased by 1 to 3 times when N fertilizer application exceeded 120 kg N ha−1 compared with that in N0. Conclusions Overall, this study revealed the essential role of N fertilizer application at low rates in alfalfa production, as this practice not only increases alfalfa yield but also improves N fixation in saline‒alkali soil. However, it did not result in further improvement in alfalfa quality at the early flowering stage. The findings provides valuable guidance for N fertilizer application in alfalfa production on saline‒alkali soils.

Abstract Obesity represents a low‐grade chronic inflammation status, which is associated with compromised adaptive thermogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the defective activation of thermogenesis in chronic inflammation remain unclear. Here, a chronic inflammatory model is first estabolished by injecting mice with low‐dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) before cold exposure, and then it is verified that LPS treatment can decrease the core body temperature of mice and alter the microbial distribution in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). An adipose tissue‐resident bacterium Sphingomonas paucimobilis is identified as a potential inhibitor on the activation of brown fat and browning of inguinal WAT, resulting in defective adaptive thermogenesis. Mechanically, LPS and S. paucimobilis inhibit the production and release of 15‐HETE by suppressing its main metabolic enzyme 12 lipoxygenase (12‐LOX) and 15‐ Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15‐HETE) rescues the impaired thermogenesis. Interestingly, 15‐HETE directly binds to AMP‐activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and elevates the phosphorylation of AMPK, leading to the activation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes. Further analysis with human obesity subjects reveals that individuals with high body mass index displayed lower 15‐HETE levels. Taken together, this work improves the understanding of how chronic inflammation impairs adaptive thermogenesis and provides novel targets for alleviating obesity.

ABSTRACT Microbial-induced oil degradation (MIOD) has a wide range of applications, such as microbial enhanced oil recovery and bioremediation of oil pollution. However, our understanding of MIOD is still far from complete. Particularly, how is the dynamics of degradation process at the microscale level with a single-cell resolution remains to be disclosed. In this work, using hexadecane droplets in water as a model system, we have studied the dynamics of hexadecane degradation by different strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, IMP68, O-2-2, and Dietzia sp. DQ12-45-1b, at the microscale. Based on visualization of MIOD, the dynamics of MIOD can be characterized by a three-stage process, including adhesion, adaptation, and degradation stages. Although different strains showed similar three-stage dynamics of MIOD, the effective degradation rate varied and followed an order of PAO1 > O-2-2 > IMP68 > DQ12-45-1b under aerobic conditions. Different oxygen conditions were also tested, and the dynamics of MIOD was slowed down under anaerobic conditions in comparison to under aerobic conditions. Further investigations at the degradation stage revealed that biofilms formed at the oil-water interface enhanced oil degradation, but a prerequisite for such enhanced degradation is proper stimulation of biofilm cells in the course of biofilm formation. The findings in this work provided a detailed picture on the dynamics of MIOD at the microscale and would be beneficial for better applications of MIOD.IMPORTANCEMicrobial-induced oil degradation is environmental friendly and economic and has become a promising technique in the fields of enhanced oil recovery and remediation of crude oil-polluted environments. For better applications of microbial-induced oil degradation, understanding the degradation dynamics particularly at the microscale is crucial. In this study, we investigated the degradation dynamics of hexadecane oil droplets incubated with different strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, O-2-2, IMP68, and Dietzia sp. DQ12-45-1b at the microscale by employing microdroplet-based methods and bacterial tracking techniques. The findings in this study provided a detailed picture on the dynamics of microbial-induced oil degradation at the microscale, which will deepen our understandings on the biodegradation mechanisms of alkanes and shed insights for developing more effective biodegradation techniques.

Abstract Background Mind-body interventions (MBI) have emerged as a potential therapeutic approach, but their effectiveness in the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) remains inconclusive. This study systematically evaluates the effectiveness of MBI on quality of life, anthropometry, androgen secretion, glucose, and lipid metabolism in PCOS. Methods A computer search was conducted across three databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to MBI for PCOS from their inception until July 2024. DerSimonian and Laird’s random-effects model and Stata 17.0 software was employed for our meta-analysis. Results Twelve RCTs were included. MBI significantly improved PCOSQ subscale scores, including emotional disturbances (MD: 7.75, 95% CI: 6.10 to 9.40), body hair (MD: 2.73, 95% CI: 0.54 to 4.91), menstrual problems (MD: 3.79, 95% CI: 2.89 to 4.69), and weight (MD: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.03 to 2.93). Furthermore, there was a reduction in depression levels (MD: -1.53, 95% CI: -2.93 to -0.13). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of PCOSQ-Emotional disturbances and PCOSQ-Menstrual problems, with a high GRADE level of evidence for these subscales. Secondary outcome measures, including waist-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose, and HOMA-IR exhibited statistically significant differences. Subgroup analysis revealed that obesity could influence treatment outcomes. Conclusion MBI can serve as an alternative therapy, modulating effect on the quality of life and depression in PCOS patients. Future well-designed, high-quality, and large-scale studies should be conducted to thoroughly assess the impact of different Mind-Body Interventions (MBI) on various PCOS phenotypes. Trial registration PROSPERO (CRD42023472035).

Abstract Background Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC), well known for its chemoresistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, exhibited a good response in clinical trials of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. By assessing PD-L1 expression, we sought to determine the potential therapeutic benefit of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in OCCC. Methods and results The retrospective study included 152 individuals with OCCC between 2019 and 2022 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Paired tumors of primary versus recurrent lesions (17 pairs from 15 patients) or primary versus metastatic lesions (11 pairs from 9 patients) were also included. The 22C3 pharmDx assay and whole sections were used for PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining. Pathologists with experience in premarket clinical trials evaluated PD-L1 expression based on various diagnostic criteria (TPS 1%, CPS 1, or CPS 10). The number and percentage of positive PD-L1 cases were 34 (22.4%, TPS ≥ 1%) and 59 (38.8%, CPS ≥ 1), respectively. Thirty-three (21.7%) of the cases had high PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 10). Half of the platinum-resistant patients (11/22) were PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥ 1). In addition, positive PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 1) was related to clinicopathological characteristics that represented a worse prognosis, such as advanced stages, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis (p = 0.032, p

Language phrases are an effective way to express uncertain pieces of information, and easily conforms to the language habits of decision makers to describe the evaluation of things. The consistency judgment of a linguistic judgment matrices is the key to analytic hierarchy process (AHP). If a linguistic judgment matrix has a satisfactory consistency, then the rank of the decision schemes can be determined. In this study, the comparison relation between the decision schemes is first represented by a directed graph. The preference relation matrix of the linguistic judgment matrix is the adjacency matrix of the directed graph. We can use the $ n - 1 $ st power of the preference relation to judge the linguistic judgment matrix whether has a satisfactory consistency. The method is utilized if there is one and only one element in the $ n - 1 $ st power of the preference relation, and the element 1 is not on the main diagonal. Then the linguistic judgment matrix has a satisfactory consistency. If there are illogical judgments, the decision schemes that form a 3-loop can be identified and expressed through the second-order sub-matrix of the preference relation matrix. The feasibility of this theory can be verified through examples. The corresponding schemes for illogical judgments are represented in spatial coordinate system.

Abstract Background The impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on the quality of life of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been rarely reported. Additionally, the challenges faced by these patients in seeking medical care have often been overlooked. In order to explore the personal struggles caused by LUTS and the difficulties or barriers experienced by Chinese patients with BPH when seeking help, we conducted a qualitative interview study. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted among 46 patients with BPH who were hospitalized in three tertiary hospitals in China from July 2021 to November 2022. Grounded theory was adopted as the methodology for the qualitative study. After obtaining written informed consent from the study participants, semi-structured interviews were conducted according to the question guidelines. The interview process was audio-recorded; subsequently, the recordings were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Results The difficulties faced by Chinese patients with BPH were classified into seven main themes: (i) disturbed life, (ii) mental burden, (iii) disease cognition and communication, (iv) delayed treatment, (v) medication status, (vi) hospital visits barriers, and (vii) medical insurance issues. Further, each theme was subdivided into 2–5 sub-themes. Conclusions LUTS have a certain effect on the life and spirit of patients with BPH. These patients face different degrees of difficulties in treatment and hospital visits. Therefore, better healthcare systems and additional social support are crucial for improving the current plight of these patients.

Abstract Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) has emerged as a promising super-resolution fluorescence imaging technique, offering diverse configurations and computational strategies to mitigate phototoxicity during real-time imaging of biological specimens. Traditional efforts to enhance system frame rates have concentrated on processing algorithms, like rolling reconstruction or reduced frame reconstruction, or on investments in costly sCMOS cameras with accelerated row readout rates. In this article, we introduce an approach to elevate SIM frame rates and region of interest (ROI) coverage at the hardware level, without necessitating an upsurge in camera expenses or intricate algorithms. Here, parallel acquisition-readout SIM (PAR-SIM) achieves the highest imaging speed for fluorescence imaging at currently available detector sensitivity. By using the full frame-width of the detector through synchronizing the pattern generation and image exposure-readout process, we have achieved a fundamentally stupendous information spatial-temporal flux of 132.9 MPixels · s−1, 9.6-fold that of the latest techniques, with the lowest SNR of −2.11 dB and 100 nm resolution. PAR-SIM demonstrates its proficiency in successfully reconstructing diverse cellular organelles in dual excitations, even under conditions of low signal due to ultra-short exposure times. Notably, mitochondrial dynamic tubulation and ongoing membrane fusion processes have been captured in live COS-7 cell, recorded with PAR-SIM at an impressive 408 Hz. We posit that this novel parallel exposure-readout mode not only augments SIM pattern modulation for superior frame rates but also holds the potential to benefit other complex imaging systems with a strategic controlling approach.

Abstract Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) were the first line drugs for advanced melanoma patients with BRAF mutation. Targeted therapies have significant therapeutic effects; however, drug resistance hinders their long-term efficacy. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic strategies against MAPKi resistance is critical. Our previous results showed that MAPKi promote feedback activation of STAT3 signaling in BRAF-mutated cancer cells. Studies have shown that alantolactone inhibited the activation of STAT3 in a variety of tumor cells. Our results confirmed that alantolactone suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis by inhibiting STAT3 feedback activation induced by MAPKi and downregulating the expression of downstream Oct4 and Sox2. The inhibitory effect of alantolactone combined with a MAPKi on melanoma cells was significantly stronger than that on normal cells. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that combination treatment was effective against drug-resistant melanomas. Our research indicates a potential novel combination therapy (alantolactone and MAPKi) for patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma.

Pdgfrα+ stromal cells are a group of cells specifically expressing Pdgfrα, which may be mentioned with distinct names in different tissues. Importantly, the findings from numerous studies suggest that these cells share exactly similar biomarkers and properties, show complex functions in regulating the microenvironment, and are critical to tissue regeneration, repair, and degeneration. Comparing the similarities and differences between distinct tissue-resident Pdgfrα+ stromal cells is helpful for us to more comprehensively and deeply understand the behaviors of these cells and to explore some common regulating mechanisms and therapeutical targets. In this review, we summarize previous and current findings on Pdgfrα+ stromal cells in various tissues and discuss the crosstalk between Pdgfrα+ stromal cells and microenvironment.

BackgroundIntravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) has been explored as a potential treatment for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), although its efficacy remains a subject of debate. We aim to conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of relevant trials.MethodsThis meta-analysis was performed under the PRISMA 2020 guideline. We meticulously searched for randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies in various databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov, spanning from inception to March 6, 2023. All studies included one treatment group of intravaginal electrical stimulation and the diseases spectrum of the studies involved different kinds of PFDs, including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, etc. Risk of bias charts were used to assess the risk of bias in the studies and forest plots were used the demonstrate the overall effects.ResultsOur analysis encompassed a total of 13 RCT studies. In most of the assessed PFD cure outcomes, the results demonstrated positive effects of IVES therapy, as indicated by the following findings: daily voiding frequency (MD = −1.57, 95% CI = −3.08 to −0.06, I2 = 68%,), nocturia (MD = −1.07, 95% CI = −2.01 to −0.13, I2 = 71%), Pad test, and Urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, the data concerning the impact of IVES therapy on the quality of life of individuals with PFDs did not confirm these positive results.DiscussionIn light of the insufficiency in both the quality and quantity of the included studies, it is premature to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the efficacy of IVES therapy for treating PFDs. Nonetheless, our study does provide several pieces of evidence in support of the potential therapeutic effects of electrical stimulation therapy in this context. We recommend that further research in this area be conducted to provide more conclusive insights into the efficacy of IVES therapy for PFDs.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023442171.

Abstract By employing metal oxides as oxygen carriers, chemical looping demonstrates its effectiveness in transferring oxygen between reduction and oxidation environments to partially oxidize fuels into syngas and convert CO2 into CO. Generally, NiFe2O4 oxygen carriers have demonstrated remarkable efficiency in chemical looping CO2 conversion. Nevertheless, the intricate process of atomic migration and evolution within the internal structure of bimetallic oxygen carriers during continuous high‐temperature redox cycling remains unclear. Consequently, the lack of a fundamental understanding of the complex ionic migration and oxygen transfer associated with energy conversion processes hampers the design of high‐performance oxygen carriers. Thus, in this study, we employed in situ characterization techniques and theoretical calculations to investigate the ion migration behavior and structural evolution in the bulk of NiFe2O4 oxygen carriers during H2 reduction and CO2/lab air oxidation cycles. We discovered that during the H2 reduction step, lattice oxygen rapidly migrates to vacancy layers to replenish consumed active oxygen species, while Ni leaches from the material and migrates to the surface. During the CO2 splitting step, Ni migrates toward the core of the bimetallic oxygen carrier, forming Fe–Ni alloys. During the air oxidation step, Fe–Ni migrates outward, creating a hollow structure owing to the Kirkendall effect triggered by the swift transfer of lattice oxygen. The metal atom migration paths depend on the oxygen transfer rates. These discoveries highlight the significance of regulating the release–recovery rate of lattice oxygen to uphold the structures and reactivity of oxygen carriers. This work offers a comprehensive understanding of the oxidation/reduction‐driven atomic interdiffusion behavior of bimetallic oxygen carriers.

In the two-dimensional (2D) melting transition of colloidal systems, the hexatic–isotropic (H–I) transition can be either first-order or continuous. However, how particle dynamics differs at the single-particle level during these two different melting transitions remains to be disclosed. In this work, by Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations, we have systematically studied the dynamic behavior of corner-rounded hexagons during the H–I transition, for a range of corner-roundness ζ = 0.40 to 0.99 that covers the crossover from the continuous to first-order nature of H–I transition. The results show that hexagons with ζ ≤ 0.5 display a continuous H–I transition, whereas those with ζ ≥ 0.6 demonstrate a first-order H–I transition. Dynamic analysis shows different evolution pathways of the dominant cluster formed by migrating particles, which results in a droplet-like cluster structure for ζ = 0.40 hexagons and a tree-like cluster structure for ζ = 0.99 hexagons. Further investigations on the hopping activities of particles suggest a cooperative origin of migrating clusters. Our work provides a new aspect to understand the dependence of the nature of H–I transition on the roundness of hexagons through particle dynamic behavior.

Held every four years, the International Workshop on Tropical Cyclone (IWTC) organized by the World Meteorological Organization has been a global leading conference in the field of tropical cyclone. In preparation for the 10th IWTC (IWTC-10) in December 2022, a summary of research advances of landfalling tropical cyclone (LTC) rainfall during past four years of 2019–2022 has been prepared. Some of the latest research advances has been summarized in Lamers et al. (2023), which reviewed the latest forecast and disaster prevention methods related to TC precipitation. As a supplement, this article mainly focuses on the recent advances in LTC asymmetric rainfall evolution mechanisms and forecast verification results over China. Some new findings have been made in the LTC inner-core size relationship with the asymmetric rainfall distribution. Some major advances focused on asymmetric microphysical characteristics in the TC rainbands. Current simulation and forecast performances of LTC precipitation have been analyzed, and different forecast error sources for rainfall during different landfall stages of TC were compared. To estimate the risk of TC rainfall hazards in China, a parameterized Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Model was reviewed as well in this article.

Objective At present, intraoperative ultrasound was widely used in spinal surgery. But there have been no reports on the use of intraoperative ultrasound in lateral decubitus position spinal surgery. The authors’ research objective was to describe the applications of intraoperative ultrasound in spinal trauma surgery when performed in the lateral decubitus position. Methods Six patients with polytrauma who underwent surgery for spinal trauma between June 2020 and March 2022 and could not be operated on using a posterior approach in the prone position. All six patients underwent surgery in the lateral decubitus position. During surgery, a capsular bag had been designed and surgical field can be filled with normal saline for acoustic coupling, and then ultrasound was used to observe and guide decompression, and assess injuries of the neural elements such as the spinal cord. The data of preoperative and postoperative (12 months) American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (AIS), follow‐up time, operation time, blood loss, ultrasound signal change of spinal cord, ultrasound guide decompression, internal fixation (12 months), and fracture healing(12 months) were collected. Results The study included four males and two females whose ages ranged from 19 to 56 years old (41.5 ± 13.06 years old). Follow‐up times ranged from 12 to 20 months (14.33 ± 2.75 months). The operation times ranged from 195 to 248 mins (222.16 ± 16.86 mins). The estimated volume of blood loss ranged from 280 to 450 mL (383.33 ± 55.58 mL). The six cases’ AIS (preoperative vs. postoperative) were A versus A, C versus D, A versus B, B versus B, B versus C, and B versus C. Intraoperative ultrasound was performed successfully in all patients using our designed method. Intraoperative ultrasound observation revealed varying degrees of changes in spinal cord echo in all patients. Intraoperative ultrasound provided excellent assistance in spinal cord decompression during surgery. The surgery was completed successfully with no surgery‐related complications till the last follow‐up. At the time of last follow‐up (median time of 12 months) satisfactory fracture reduction and good internal fixation was confirmed on postoperative computed tomography scans and radiographs. Conclusions The authors represented the technology of intraoperative ultrasound in spinal trauma surgery when performed in the lateral decubitus position. This technology solves how to apply intraoperative ultrasound in lateral decubitus position.

Abstract Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance presents a significant challenge in the treatment of gliomas. Although lysine demethylase 4A (KDM4A) has been implicated in various cancer‐related processes, its role in TMZ resistance remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the contribution of KDM4A to TMZ resistance in glioma cells and its potential implications for glioma prognosis. We assessed the expression of KDM4A in glioma cells (T98G and U251MG) using qRT‐PCR and Western blot assays. To explore the role of KDM4A in TMZ resistance, we transfected siRNA targeting KDM4A into drug‐resistant glioma cells. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK‐8 assay and the TMZ IC50 value was determined. ChIP assays were conducted to investigate KDM4A, H3K9me3, and H3K36me3 enrichment on the promoters of ROCK2 and HUWE1. Co‐immunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction between HUWE1 and ROCK2, and we examined the levels of ROCK2 ubiquitination following MG132 treatment. Notably, T98G cells exhibited greater resistance to TMZ than U251MG cells, and KDM4A displayed high expression in T98G cells. Inhibiting KDM4A resulted in decreased cell viability and a reduction in the TMZ IC50 value. Mechanistically, KDM4A promoted ROCK2 transcription by modulating H3K9me3 levels. Moreover, disruption of the interaction between HUWE1 and ROCK2 led to reduced ROCK2 ubiquitination. Inhibition of HUWE1 or overexpression of ROCK2 counteracted the sensitization effect of si‐KDM4A on TMZ responsiveness in T98G cells. Our findings highlight KDM4A's role in enhancing TMZ resistance in glioma cells by modulating ROCK2 and HUWE1 transcription and expression through H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 removal.

The rise of mobile communication, low-power chips, and the Internet of Things has made smartwatches increasingly popular. Equipped with inertial measurement units (IMUs), these devices can recognize user activities through artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of sensor data. However, most existing AI-based activity recognition algorithms require significant computational power and storage, making them unsuitable for low-power devices like smartwatches. Additionally, discrepancies between training data and real-world data often hinder model generalization and performance. To address these challenges, we propose LIMUNet and its smaller variant LIMUNet-Tiny—lightweight neural networks designed for human activity recognition on smartwatches. LIMUNet utilizes depthwise separable convolutions and residual blocks to reduce computational complexity and parameter count. It also incorporates a dual attention mechanism specifically tailored to smartwatch sensor data, improving feature extraction without sacrificing efficiency. Experiments on the PAMAP2 and LIMU datasets show that the LIMUNet improves recognition accuracy by 2.9% over leading lightweight models while reducing parameters by 88.3% and computational load by 58.4%. Compared to other state-of-the-art models, LIMUNet achieves a 9.6% increase in accuracy, with a 60% reduction in parameters and a 57.8% reduction in computational cost. LIMUNet-Tiny further reduces parameters by 75% and computational load by 80%, making it even more suitable for resource-constrained devices.

Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate, commercially known as F-53B, has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, the reproductive toxicology of F-53B on the placenta remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we examined the impact of F-53B on placental injury and its underlying molecular mechanisms in vivo. Pregnant C57BL/6 J female mice were randomly allocated to three groups: the control group, F-53B 0.8 µg/kg/day group, and F-53B 8 µg/kg/day group. After F-53B exposure through free drinking water from gestational day (GD) 0.5–14.5, the F-53B 8 µg/kg/day group exhibited significant increases in placental weights and distinctive histopathological alterations, including inflammatory cell infiltration, heightened syncytiotrophoblast knots, and a loosened trophoblastic basement membrane. Within the F-53B 8 µg/kg/day group, placental tissue exhibited increased apoptosis, as indicated by increased caspase3 activation. Furthermore, F-53B potentially induced the NF-κB signaling pathway activation through IκB-α phosphorylation. Subsequently, this activation upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and components of the NLRP3 inflammasome, including activated caspase1, IL-1β, IL-18, and cleaved gasdermin D (GSDMD), ultimately leading to pyroptosis in the mouse placenta. Our findings reveal a pronounced inflammatory injury in the placenta due to F-53B exposure, suggesting potential reproductive toxicity at concentrations relevant to the human population. Further toxicological and epidemiological investigations are warranted to conclusively assess the reproductive health risks posed by F-53B.

Background: Despite being widely applied in clinical practice, the wake-promoting effect of acupuncture in poststroke coma patients remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of poststroke coma. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for treating poststroke coma were identified in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI, WanFang and VIP up to 25 November 2023. The main outcomes were Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, awakening ratio and clinically effective ratio. Stata 17 and Review Manager 5.4 software were used for mate analysis. Results: A total of 34 RCTs involving 2757 patients were included. GCS (WMD = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.21) and NIHSS score (WMD = −2.84; 95% CI: −3.84 to −1.84) were significantly increased in acupuncture group compared with control group. Acupuncture combined with routine treatment may be better than routine treatment in improving the awakening ratio (RR= 1.65; 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.91) and the clinically effective ratio (RR= 1.20; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.27). Some methodological flaws were identified in the included studies, including non-implementation of blinding, inappropriate disease assessment and heterogeneous interventions. Conclusions: The existing evidence suggests that acupuncture combined with conventional treatment may be an effective treatment for poststroke coma patients. In the meantime, more high-quality RCTs are needed to demonstrate these findings due to methodological weaknesses like randomization, blinding, heterogeneous interventions and long-term follow-up.

We previously demonstrated that the C-E-cad protein encoded by circ-E-cadherin promotes the self-renewal of glioma stem cells. The expression pattern of C-E-cad in breast cancer and its potential function in the tumor microenvironment are unclear. The expression of circ-E-cadherin and C-E-cad was detected in breast cancer specimens. The influence of C-E-cad expression on MDSCs was assessed using FACS and in vivo tumorigenesis experiments. The synergistic effect of anti-C-E-cad and anti-PD-1 antibodies was validated in vivo. circ-E-cadherin and the encoded protein C-E-cad were found to be upregulated in breast cancer vs. normal samples. C-E-cad promotes the recruitment of MDSCs, especially PMN-MDSCs. C-E-cad activates EGFR signaling in tumor cells and promotes the transcription of CXCL8; moreover, C-E-cad binds to MDSCs and maintains glycolysis in PMN-MDSCs. Targeting C-E-cad enhanced anti-PD-1 efficiency. Our data suggested that C-E-cad is markedly overexpressed in breast cancer and promotes MDSC recruitment and survival. Targeting C-E-cad increases the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Deep neural networks have achieved significant success in various complex machine learning problems. However, their fundamental nature remains that of a black-box model, presenting substantial challenges in interpretability. This limitation significantly hampers their applicability, particularly in tasks e.g. electrocardiogram (ECG) classification. This paper proposes a white-box model named Generative Elastic Network (GEN) and the algorithms for training, validation, and testing, featuring inherent interpretability in its computational process and network architecture. Based on a strict convex optimization problem, its iterative process guarantees definite and strict convergence. The architecture of GEN is not predefined but generated elastically. The essence of GEN lies in filtering and recording key samples and their mapping processes, showcasing inherent adaptability to small and imbalanced dataset. Leveraging the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, by six classes of single-lead ECG with typical shape characteristics are classified. With only 0.4% of the total data for training and 50% for validation, an average testing accuracy of 99.47% is achieved, matching the performance level of state-of-the-art deep networks.

R peak detection is fundamental to the analysis of long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Despite their significant success in R peak detection, neural networks based on statistical learning usual require more than 50% of all data for training. However, it is often difficult to provide such a high proportion of training data in practice. This paper proposes a novel R peak detection method based on Generative Elastic Network (GEN), which is suitable for few-shot learning. Utilizing the Lobachevsky University Database (LUDB), this method achieves an accuracy exceeding 99% by using less than 3% of the data for training and 14% for validation. It dramatically reduces the dependency on large volumes of data for training and validation, while preserving an accuracy level that is on par with existing methods.

In order to clarify the key technologies for the coordinated development of coal and coalbed methane that are compatible with the mining conditions of inclined broken soft coal seams. Based on the characteristics of gas drainage and asymmetric mining of inclined crushed soft coal seam group gas drainage and coal seam group, a matching coordinated development mode of coal and coalbed methane was formed in the spatiotemporal synergy of “three holes, four zones and five quantities” of asymmetric pressure relief, and the coordinated development strategy of coal and coalbed methane under asymmetric mining was clarified, and the spatiotemporal synergy mechanism of coordinated development of combined coal and coalbed methane was clarified. In view of the problem of difficulty in eliminating the first mining seam of inclined crushed soft coal seam, the construction process of long drilling under inclined crushed soft coal seam was optimized, and a wireless measurement system of electromagnetic wave while drilling of drill bit was developed, which realized higher precision anti-biasing of drilling trajectory. Aiming at the problem of lack of pertinence of surface well protection in asymmetric mining area, the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of asymmetric mining-induced pressure relief failure were clarified, the evolution characteristics of mining-induced fractures under asymmetric mining were obtained, the safe position of wells in the surface well of inclined coal seam was determined, and a three-open casing structure in the mining area was developed that could take into account the stability and extraction efficiency of surface wells. The application results show that the “three-hole, four-zone and five-quantity” mode of spatiotemporal synergy can realize the efficient extraction of coalbed methane and ensure the balance of extraction and mining of inclined coal seam groups. The progressive extraction method of downward drilling of inclined coal seam expands the application scope of progressive extraction and solves the problem of time incoordination in the extraction process of inclined coalbed methane. The optimized stability maintenance structure of the mining surface well can adapt to the asymmetric mining effect, and realize the efficient extraction of coalbed methane from the surface well in the mining area. The above results have been popularized and applied in the Aiweigou mining area of Xinjiang Coking Coal Group, and the key technology and typical model of coalbed methane extraction that conform to the characteristics of inclined coal seams in major high-gas mining areas in Xinjiang have been initially formed.

Abstract Background The efficacy of vibration therapy (VT) in people with post-stroke spasticity (PSS) remains uncertain. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of VT in PSS. Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Web of Science were searched from inception to October 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of VT in people with PSS. The primary outcome was spasticity, and secondary outcomes included pain, motor function, gait performance, and adverse events. A meta‑analysis was performed by pooling the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, VT had significant effects on reducing spasticity (SMD = − 0.77, 95% CI − 1.17 to − 0.36, P

Abstract Aim As the second most prevalent subtype of epithelial ovarian cancers, ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is known for its chemoresistance to conventional platinum‐based therapy. In this work, we examined the tryptophan (Trp) metabolism enzymes' differential expression in patients with OCCC to assess the potential for personalised treatment. Methods A total of 127 OCCC tissues were used to construct tissue microarrays, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of the Trp enzymes IDO1, IDO2, TDO2 and IL4I1 was performed. The correlations between Trp enzyme expression and clinical characteristics were analysed. Results Positive IDO1, IDO2, TDO2 and IL4I1 staining was identified in 26.8%, 94.5%, 75.6% and 82.7% of OCCC respectively. IDO1‐positive samples were more common in the chemoresistant group than in the platinum‐sensitive group (46.7% vs. 19.8%). Moreover, positive expression of IDO1, TDO2 and IL4I1 was related to advanced stage, metastasis, bilateral tumours, endometriosis and tumour rupture (p

Background Globally, there is increasing interest in the use of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) to inform health technology assessment (HTA) and reimbursement decision-making. Using current practices and case studies shared by eleven health systems in Asia, a non-binding guidance that seeks to align practices for generating and using RWD/RWE for decision-making in Asia was developed by the REAL World Data In ASia for HEalth Technology Assessment in Reimbursement (REALISE) Working Group, addressing a current gap and needs among HTA users and generators.Methods The guidance document was developed over two face-to-face workshops, in addition to an online survey, a face-to-face interview and pragmatic search of literature. The specific focus was on what, where and how to collect RWD/RWE.Results All 11 REALISE member jurisdictions participated in the online survey and the first in-person workshop, 10 participated in the second in-person workshop, and 8 participated in the in-depth face-to-face interviews. The guidance document was iteratively reviewed by all working group members and the International Advisory Panel. There was substantial variation in: (a) sources and types of RWD being used in HTA, and (b) the relative importance and prioritization of RWE being used for policy-making. A list of national-level databases and other sources of RWD available in each country was compiled. A list of useful guidance on data collection, quality assurance and study design were also compiled.Conclusion The REALISE guidance document serves to align the collection of better quality RWD and generation of reliable RWE to ultimately inform HTA in Asia.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major health killer worldwide, and the role of epigenetic regulation in CVD has been widely studied in recent decades. Herein, we perform a bibliometric study to decipher how research topics in this field have evolved during the past 2 decades. Results Publications on epigenetics in CVD produced during the period 2000–2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). We utilized Bibliometrix to build a science map of the publications and applied VOSviewer and CiteSpace to assess co-authorship, co-citation, co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling. In total, 27,762 publications were included for bibliometric analysis. The yearly amount of publications experienced exponential growth. The top 3 most influential countries were China, the United States, and Germany, while the most cited institutions were Nanjing Medical University, Harbin Medical University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Four major research trends were identified: (a) epigenetic mechanisms of CVD; (b) epigenetics-based therapies for CVD; (c) epigenetic profiles of specific CVDs; and (d) epigenetic biomarkers for CVD diagnosis/prediction. The latest and most important research topics, including “nlrp3 inflammasome”, “myocardial injury”, and “reperfusion injury”, were determined by detecting citation bursts of co-occurring keywords. The most cited reference was a review of the current knowledge about how miRNAs recognize target genes and modulate their expression and function. Conclusions The number and impact of global publications on epigenetics in CVD have expanded rapidly over time. Our findings may provide insights into the epigenetic basis of CVD pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

Abstract The oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons offers a promising autothermal approach for direct methane conversion, but its progress has been hindered by yield limitations, high temperature requirements, and performance penalties at practical methane partial pressures (~1 atm). In this study, we report a class of Li2CO3-coated mixed rare earth oxides as highly effective redox catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane under a chemical looping scheme. This catalyst achieves a single-pass C2+ yield up to 30.6%, demonstrating stable performance at 700 °C and methane partial pressures up to 1.4 atm. In-situ characterizations and quantum chemistry calculations provide insights into the distinct roles of the mixed oxide core and Li2CO3 shell, as well as the interplay between the Pr oxidation state and active peroxide formation upon Li2CO3 coating. Furthermore, we establish a generalized correlation between Pr4+ content in the mixed lanthanide oxide and hydrocarbons yield, offering a valuable optimization strategy for this class of oxidative coupling of methane redox catalysts.

To address the challenges of low accuracy in indoor positioning caused by factors such as signal interference and visual distortions, this paper proposes a novel method that integrates ultra-wideband (UWB) technology with visual positioning. In the UWB positioning module, the powerful feature-extraction ability of the graph convolutional network (GCN) is used to integrate the features of adjacent positioning points and improve positioning accuracy. In the visual positioning module, the residual results learned from the bidirectional gate recurrent unit (Bi-GRU) network are compensated into the mathematical visual positioning model’s solution results to improve the positioning results’ continuity. Finally, the two positioning coordinates are fused based on particle filter (PF) to obtain the final positioning results and improve the accuracy. The experimental results show that the positioning accuracy of the proposed UWB positioning method based on a GCN is less than 0.72 m in a single UWB positioning, and the positioning accuracy is improved by 55% compared with the Chan–Taylor algorithm. The proposed visual positioning method based on Bi-GRU and residual fitting has a positioning accuracy of 0.42 m, 71% higher than the Zhang Zhengyou visual positioning algorithm. In the fusion experiment, 80% of the positioning accuracy is within 0.24 m, and the maximum error is 0.66 m. Compared with the single UWB and visual positioning, the positioning accuracy is improved by 56% and 52%, respectively, effectively enhancing indoor pedestrian positioning accuracy.

The development of super high-rise building projects has become crucial for mitigating land shortages in rapidly growing urban areas. Super high-rise steel structures, particularly RC core wall-steel frame systems, have become the preferred choice due to their superior performance, high prefabrication level, and construction efficiency. Despite their benefits, super high-rise buildings face challenges related to higher energy consumption and carbon emissions. Consequently, it is important to analyze the carbon emissions of these buildings throughout their lifecycle and propose low-carbon construction strategies. A carbon emission analysis focused on super high-rise buildings with RC core wall-steel frame structures is conducted in this study. A carbon emission analysis model is constructed based on BIM-enabled LCA through a real-world case study. The emission factor method is combined with the BIM model to calculate carbon emission. Furthermore, carbon emissions across various construction strategies are compared, with a particular focus on the manufacturing processes of the main materials. The results indicate that incorporating admixtures in concrete, along with adopting the electric arc furnace (EAF) method and utilizing recycled scrap steel in steel manufacturing, significantly reduces the carbon emissions of the buildings. Lastly, effective low-carbon approaches for these buildings are proposed.

Antibiotics are currently used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is confirmed to be the major cause of gastric disorders. However, the long-term consumption of antibiotics has already caused antibiotic resistance and side effects in vivo. Therefore, there is an emerging need for searching for safe and effective anti-H. pylori agents. Inspired by the excellent bioactivities of cinnamic acid, a series of cinnamic acid derivatives (compounds 1–30) were synthesized and determined for H. pylori inhibition. The initial screening revealed that compound 23, a 2,4-dinitro cinnamic acid derivative containing 4-methoxyphenol, showed excellent H. pylori inhibition with an MIC value of 4 μM. Further studies indicated that compound 23 showed anti-bacterial activity and had a bactericidal effect on H. pylori due to the destruction of the bacterial structure. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the 2,4-dinitro groups in cinnamic acid moiety formed hydrogen bonding with amino acid residues in an active pocket of H. pylori protein. Interestingly, the ester moiety fitted into the hydrophobic pocket, attaining additional stability to compound 23. Above all, the present study reveals that compound 23 could be considered a promising anti-H. pylori agent to treat H. pylori causing gastritis.

Abstract Background Genetic testing can facilitate the diagnosis and subsequent therapeutic management of rare diseases. However, there is a lack of data on the use of genetic testing for rare diseases. This study aims to describe the utilization rate and troubles encountered by clinicians in treating rare diseases with genetic testing. Methods A cross-sectional electronic questionnaire survey was conducted between June and October 2022 among the medical staff from the hospitals covering all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of China. The survey on genetic testing focused on whether genetic testing was used in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, the specific methods of genetic testing, and the problems encountered when using genetic testing. Results A total of 20,132 physicians who had treated rare diseases were included, of whom 35.5% were from the central region, 36.7% were from the eastern region, and 27.8% were from the western region. The total utilization rate of genetic testing for rare diseases was 76.0% (95%CI: 75.4–76.6). The use of genetic testing was highest in the Eastern region (79.2% [95% CI: 78.3–80.1]), followed by the Central (75.9% [95% CI: 74.9–76.9]) and Western regions (71.9% [95% CI: 70.7–73.1]). More than 90% (94.1% [95%CI: 93.4–94.8]) of pediatricians had used genetic testing to treat rare diseases, with surgeons having the lowest use of genetic testing (58.3% [95% CI: 56.6–60.0]). Physicians’ departments and education levels affect the use of genetic testing. Most physicians have used a variety of genetic tests in the management of rare diseases, the most popular methods were “Whole-exome sequencing (Proband)” and “Whole-exome sequencing (families of three or more)”. Doctors have encountered many problems with the use of genetic testing in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, among which the high price was the main concern of medical workers. Conclusion Three-quarters of physicians used genetic testing in rare disease practice, and there were regional differences in the use of genetic testing. Recognition of the utilization of genetic testing can help identify patterns of resource utilization in different regions and provide a more comprehensive picture of the epidemiology of rare diseases in jurisdictions.

Summary: To meet the requirements of fast response and simple process of deep ultraviolet (UV) pulsed laser detector, table salt (TS) was used as laser detection material in combination with a variable resistor to achieve single-pulse laser detection. Under the irradiation of a KrF excimer laser, the laser-induced voltage (LIV) of TS was influenced by the dynamic process of laser-induced plasma, and the whole process was well fitted with the sum of the three exponential functions. As the applied bias voltage (Vb) and incident laser energy (Ein) increased, the LIV amplitude (Vp) increased and the response time decreased. When the variable resistor (R) was reduced to 14.7 Ω, the response time of LIV decreased from ∼300 μs to ∼20 ns, which is the same as the duration of laser pulse. This research provided a simple, low-cost, and fast method for the detection of UV single-pulse laser based on the laser-TS interaction.

Diabetic wound healing is delayed due to persistent inflammation, and macrophage-immunomodulating biomaterials can control the inflammatory phase and shorten the healing time. In this study, acellular embryoid bodies (aEBs) were prepared and mixed with thermosensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) hydrogels to produce aEB/HBC composite hydrogels. The aEB/HBC composite hydrogels exhibited reversible temperature-sensitive phase transition behavior and a hybrid porous network. In vitro analysis showed that the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels exhibited better antimicrobial activity than the PBS control, aEBs or HBC hydrogels and promoted M0 to M2 polarization but not M1 to M2 macrophage repolarization in culture. The in vivo results showed that the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels accelerated cutaneous wound closure, re-epithelialization, ingrowth of new blood vessels, and collagen deposition and reduced the scar width during wound healing in diabetic mice over time. Macrophage phenotype analysis showed that the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels induce M2 macrophage reactions continually, upregulate M2-related mRNA and protein expression and downregulate M1-related mRNA and protein expression. Therefore, the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels have excellent antimicrobial activity, promote M2 macrophage polarization and accelerate the functional and structural healing of diabetic cutaneous wounds.

Abstract Lipid metabolic reprogramming is closely related to tumor progression with the mechanism not fully elucidated. Here, we report the immune‐regulated role of lanosterol synthase (LSS), an essential enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Database analysis and clinical sample experiments suggest that LSS was lowly expressed in colon and breast cancer tissues, which indicates poor prognosis. The biological activity of tumor cell lines and tumor progression in NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice were not affected after LSS knockdown, whereas LSS deficiency obviously aggravated tumor burden in fully immunized mice. Flow cytometry analysis showed that LSS knockdown significantly promoted the formation of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment, characterized by the increase in M2 macrophages and polymorphonuclear myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (PMN‐MDSCs), as well as the decrease in anti‐tumoral T lymphocytes. With the inhibition of myeloid infiltration or loss function of T lymphocytes, the propulsive effect of LSS knockdown on tumor progression disappeared. Mechanistically, LSS knockdown increased programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) protein stability by 2,3‐oxidosqualene (OS) binding to PDL1 protein. Anti‐PDL1 therapy abolished LSS deficiency‐induced immunosuppressive microenvironment and cancer progression. In conclusion, our results show that LSS deficiency promotes tumor progression by establishing an OS–PDL1 axis‐dependent immunosuppressive microenvironment, indicative of LSS or OS as a potential hallmark of response to immune checkpoint blockade.

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) has the worst prognosis among breast cancer subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy have promising survival benefits. Herein, we report a 51-year-old woman whose metastatic lesions were diagnosed as triple-negative subtype and who received tislelizumab plus eribulin treatment and achieved excellent efficacy. To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to present tislelizumab in combination with eribulin for mTNBC treatment. New treatments resulting in prolonged survival and durable clinical responses would benefit mTNBC patients. Then, we summarize the possible influencing factors of the interaction between tislelizumab and eribulin.