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Are children from "Eastern" cultures less emotionally expressive and reactive than children from "Western" cultures? To answer this, we used a multi-level and multi-contextual approach to understand variations in emotion displays and cortisol reactivity among preschoolers living in China and the United States. One hundred two preschoolers from China (N = 58; 55% males) and the United States (N = 44, 48% males) completed three (i.e., control, interpersonal-related, and achievement-related) emotion-challenging paradigms over 3 days. Behavioral emotion expressions were coded, and salivary cortisol was sampled 30 minutes before and across 90 minutes post-task. Without considering context, Chinese preschoolers displayed fewer levels of positive and negative emotion expressions relative to their United States counterparts. However, Chinese preschoolers displayed similar levels of expressions as their United States counterparts during an achievement-related challenge that is more salient to their sociocultural emphases and showed higher negative emotion expressions in this challenge, relative to other contexts. Moreover, only the achievement-related challenge elicited increased cortisol levels among Chinese preschoolers, and this was correlated with higher levels of negative expressions. For US preschoolers, no cortisol increase was observed in any challenging paradigms, nor was cortisol associated with emotional expressions. Findings counter prior notions that East Asian children are generally less emotionally expressive. Instead, an achievement-related challenge elicited higher emotion expression and cortisol reactivity among Chinese preschoolers, suggesting that children's emotion expression and biological reactivity may be most responsive to contexts salient to their socio-cultural environments. We discuss the importance of considering cultural contexts when studying emotion regulation.

Medical communication skills are widely recognized as important, especially for situations in which providers must present complex and detailed information. Although much research focuses on how providers can improve their delivery of medical information, an equally important part of communication is supporting patient retention of the information. We present several methods to improve patient retention of medical information that we have found successful in an allergic contact dermatitis clinic. Some recommendations address information transfer (follow effective structure, teach to different learning styles, provide written instructions, employ the teach-back method). Other methods are effective, focusing on the patient's emotional, social, and relational needs (include storytelling, metaphor, and analogy, allay negative emotions, listen deeply/know your patient). This list is not exhaustive, but we have found these methods effective when counseling patients with allergic contact dermatitis. Patient retention of medical information is an important part of effective health care, benefits both the provider and the patient, and is applicable to every medical practice.

Background: When mathematical knowledge is expressed in general language, it is called verbalized mathematics. Previous studies on verbalized mathematics typically paid attention to mathematical vocabulary or educational practice. However, these studies did not exclude the role of symbolic mathematics ability, and almost no research has focused on verbalized mathematical principles. Aims: This study is aimed to investigate whether verbalized mathematics ability independently predicts mathematics achievement. The current study hypothesized that verbalized mathematics ability supports mathematics achievement independent of general language, related cognitive abilities and even symbolic mathematical ability. Sample: A sample of 241 undergraduates (136 males, 105 females, mean age = 21.95, SD = 2.38) in Beijing, China. Methods: A total of 12 tests were used, including a verbalized arithmetic principle test, a mathematics achievement test, and tests on general language (sentence completion test), symbolic mathematical ability (including symbolic arithmetic principles test, simple arithmetic computation and complex arithmetic computation), approximate number sense ability (numerosity comparison test) and several related cognitive covariates (including the non-verbal matrix reasoning, the syllogism reasoning, mental rotation, figure matching and choice reaction time). Results: Results showed that the processing of verbalized arithmetic principles displayed a significant role in mathematics achievement after controlling for general language, related cognitive abilities, approximate number sense ability and symbolic mathematics ability. Conclusions: The results suggest that verbalized mathematics ability was an independent predictor and provided empirical evidence supporting the verbalized mathematics role on achievement as an independent component in three-component mathematics model.

Abstract Background In recent studies, receipt of chiropractic care has been associated with lower odds of receiving prescription opioids and, among those already prescribed, reduced doses of opioids among patients with non-cancer spine pain. These findings suggest that access to chiropractic services may reduce reliance on opioids for musculoskeletal pain. Objective To assess the impact of chiropractic care on initiation, or continued use, of prescription opioids among patients with non-cancer spine pain. Methods We will search for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies indexed in MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Index to Chiropractic Literature from database inception to June 2024. Article screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment will be conducted independently by pairs of reviewers. We will conduct separate analyses for RCTs and observational studies and pool binary outcomes (e.g. prescribed opioid receipt, long-term opioid use, and higher versus lower opioid dose) as odds ratios (ORs) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). When studies provide hazard ratios (HRs) or relative risks (RRs) for time-to-event data (e.g. time-to-first opioid prescription) or incidence rates (number of opioid prescriptions over time), we will first convert them to an OR before pooling. Continuous outcomes such as pain intensity, sleep quality, or morphine equivalent dose will be pooled as weighted mean differences with associated 95% CIs. We will conduct meta-analyses using random-effects models and explore sources of heterogeneity using subgroup analyses and meta-regression. We will evaluate the certainty of evidence of all outcomes using the GRADE approach and the credibility of all subgroup effects with ICEMAN criteria. Our systematic review will follow the PRISMA statement and MOOSE guidelines. Discussion Our review will establish the current evidence informing the impact of chiropractic care on new or continued prescription opioid use for non-cancer spine pain. We will disseminate our results through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. The findings of our review will be of interest to patients, health care providers, and policy-makers. Trial registration Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023432277.

Abstract Background Bedside teaching remains a challenging endeavor for clinical doctors and medical students, as the students often encounter difficulties in applying their knowledge to clinical situations. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of combining case-based learning (CBL) with a flipped classroom (FC) approach in nephrology bedside teaching. Methods A total of 92 medical students were enrolled in this study, including clerks and interns. The students were assigned into two groups. The CBL/FC group students received the combined teaching approach of CBL and FC (CBL/FC). Students who received the traditional lecture-based teaching (LBT) approach were treated as the control group. General knowledge tests, clinical case scenarios, and questionnaires were used to evaluate the teaching efficacy. Results Ninety-two students were included in this study. Overall, 46 students were assigned to the CBL/FC group, while the other 46 students were assigned to the LBT group. The students in both groups showed comparable performance in the knowledge test. However, in clinical case scenarios, students in the CBL/FC group demonstrated superior performance compared to those in the LBT group. Additionally, the analysis of questionnaires revealed that the CBL/FC group students expressed more positive attitudes toward their proficiency in medical history taking, physical examination, medical record documentation, clinical reasoning, and consideration for patients’ welfare. Moreover, the students from the CBL/FC group regarded the CBL/FC teaching approach as an effective and satisfying method without increasing the learning burden. Conclusion This study reveals that the CBL/FC combined teaching approach shows promise in nephrology education and provides an effective and alternative format for medical teaching.

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has greatly improved the prognosis of relapsed and refractory patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). Early identification and intervention of patients who may respond poorly to CAR-T cell therapy will help to improve the efficacy. Ninety patients from a Chinese cohort who received CAR-T cell therapy and underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans at the screening stage (median time to infusion 53.5 days, range 27–176 days), 1 month and 3 months after CAR-T cell infusion were analyzed, with RNA-sequencing conducted on 47 patients at the screening stage. Patients with maximum diameter of the largest lesion (Dmax)

Abstract Background Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage (MAMS) clinical trial designs allow for multiple therapies to be compared across a spectrum of clinical trial phases. MAMS designs fall under several overarching design groups, including adaptive designs (AD) and multi-arm (MA) designs. Factorial clinical trials designs represent a combination of factorial and MAMS trial designs and can provide increased efficiency relative to fixed, traditional designs. We explore design choices associated with Factorial Adaptive Multi-Arm Multi-Stage (FAST) designs, which represent the combination of factorial and MAMS designs. Methods Simulation studies were conducted to assess the impact of the type of analyses, the timing of analyses, and the effect size observed across multiple outcomes on trial operating characteristics for a FAST design. Given multiple outcomes types assessed within the hypothetical trial, the primary analysis approach for each assessment varied depending on data type. Results The simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed class of FAST trial designs can offer a framework to potentially provide improvements relative to other trial designs, such as a MAMS or factorial trial. Further, we note that the design implementation decisions, such as the timing and type of analyses conducted throughout trial, can have a great impact on trial operating characteristics. Conclusions Motivated by a trial currently under design, our work shows that the FAST category of trial can potentially offer benefits similar to both MAMS and factorial designs; however, the chosen design aspects which can be included in a FAST trial need to be thoroughly explored during the planning phase.

Abstract China has experienced successive waves of dengue epidemics over the past decade. Nationwide data on 95,339 dengue cases, 89 surveillance sites for mosquito density and population mobility between 337 cities during 2013-20 were extracted. Weekly dengue time series including time trends and harmonic terms were fitted using seasonal regression models, and the amplitude and peak timing of the annual and semiannual cycles were estimated. A data-driven model-inference approach was used to simulate the epidemic at city-scale and estimate time-evolving epidemiological parameters. We found that the geographical distribution of dengue cases was expanding, and the main imported areas as well as external sources of imported cases changed. Dengue cases were predominantly concentrated in southern China and it exhibited an annual peak of activity, typically peaking in September. The annual amplitude of dengue epidemic varied with latitude (F = 19.62, P = 0.0001), mainly characterizing by large in southern cities and small in northern cities. The effective reproduction number R eff across cities is commonly greater than 1 in several specific months from July to November, further confirming the seasonal fluctuations and spatial heterogeneity of dengue epidemics. The results of this national study help to better informing interventions for future dengue epidemics in China.

Abstract Flexible devices, such as soft bioelectronics and stretchable supercapacitors, have their practical performance limited by electrodes which are desired to have high conductivity and capacitance, outstanding mechanical flexibility and strength, great electrochemical stability, and good biocompatibility. Here, we report a simple and efficient method to synthesize a nanostructured conductive hydrogel to meet such criteria. Specifically, templated by a hyperconnective nanofibrous network from aramid hydrogels, the conducting polymer, polypyrrole, assembles conformally onto nanofibers through in-situ polymerization, generating continuous nanostructured conductive pathways. The resulting conductive hydrogel shows superior conductivity (72 S cm−1) and fracture strength (27.2 MPa). Supercapacitor electrodes utilizing this hydrogel exhibit high specific capacitance (240 F g−1) and cyclic stability. Furthermore, bioelectrodes of patterned hydrogels provide favorable bioelectronic interfaces, allowing high-quality electrophysiological recording and stimulation in physiological environments. These high-performance electrodes are readily scalable to applications of energy and power systems, healthcare and medical technologies, smart textiles, and so forth.

Background/Aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH. Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients. Results: Out of 165 precirrhotic PBC patients, 40 (24.2%) also had PH. According to histological stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, 5.3% (1/19), 17.3% (17/98), and 45.8% (22/48) of patients also had PH, respectively. Precirrhotic PBC with PH was significantly positively correlated with bile duct loss, degree of cytokeratin 7 positivity, and degree of fibrosis in the portal area, but significantly negatively correlated with lymphoid follicular aggregation. Compared to the non-PH group, patients in the PH group showed a higher prevalence of obliterative portal venopathy, incomplete septal fibrosis, portal tract abnormalities and non-zonal sinusoidal dilatation (p

Walnut kernels, selected as the raw material, underwent hydrolysis with protein-glutaminase (PG) following pulping. This process laid the foundation for producing set-type walnut yogurt, involving steps such as blending, homogenization, sterilization, and fermentation. The study investigated the impact of protein-glutaminase and five distinct starter cultures labeled I~V on the quality of walnut yogurt. This was evaluated by examining the yogurt's fermentation characteristics, physicochemical indicators, and microstructure. Furthermore, walnut yogurt developed under these optimal conditions was compared to traditional milk yogurt to assess its quality and characteristics. The findings revealed a significant improvement in the fermentation characteristics and textural parameters of yogurt fermented by walnut milk following enzymatic hydrolysis compared to non-enzymatic walnut milk. The optimal conditions were identified as 0.2% enzyme concentration and a 40-minute reaction time, with the pH, acidity, hardness, and consistency of walnut yogurt being 4.3, 55°T, 85.30 g, and 583.96 g·s, respectively. Walnut yogurt developed using starter culture I exhibited the highest acidity level, maintaining minimal fluctuation over a 21-day storage period. In contrast, yogurts prepared with alternative starter cultures demonstrated varying degrees of stratification and sedimentation. The yogurt fermented with culture I showed superior viscoelastic properties, presenting a denser gel network. Conversely, yogurts fermented with cultures IV and V displayed reduced apparent viscosity, lower values of G' (storage modulus), and G'' (loss modulus), along with a looser gel structure. Additionally, walnut yogurt produced with starter culture I maintained bacterial counts exceeding 106 CFU/mL throughout the storage duration. Despite walnut yogurt requiring further refinement in aspects such as consistency, water-holding capacity, and whey release rate compared to milk yogurt, the overall impact of PG was positive, enhancing the gelation quality of walnut yogurt. The yogurt prepared with starter culture I (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) was notably improved, receiving favorable overall assessments.

Objective In this study, we explored the effect of fruit and vegetable waste addition on the quality of corn stalk silage. Methods Corn stalks were ensiled 20 days after ear harvesting and mixed with fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) consisting of apple, orange, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage waste as 3% of fresh matter. Fruit waste consisted of solid residue obtained after juicing, and vegetable waste was collected from farms and cut into small pieces (2 to 3 cm). The materials were stored anaerobically in 20-L silo buckets and opened after 60 days of fermentation. Results There were significant differences in dry matter (DM), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrient (TDN), and relative feed value (RFV) levels in FVW derived from all tested raw materials (p0.05) and significant decreases in yeast and mold counts (p

This study innovatively evaluated ecological civilization in China from the perspective of environment and health. A Composite Environmental Health Index (CEHI) was constructed based on the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) and Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) models. Results showed that significant and sustained improvements were observed in the ecological environment after ecological civilization, while economic development continued to progress at a steady pace. However, the advancement in population health (impact subsystem), exhibited comparatively modest progress, potentially linked to issues such as demographic aging and the enduring consequences of past exposure to environmental pollutants. At the provincial level, the regional development was uneven. The CEHI performance was highest in the eastern regions, followed by the central regions, with the western regions showing the least progress. Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang emerged as top performers with higher CEHI scores, which can be attributed to their favorable geographical positioning and the response subsystem. Conversely, northeastern regions (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) and northwestern regions (Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai) experienced limited advancements in post-ecological civilization implementation. For these underperforming regions, there is a pressing need to intensify efforts aimed at enhancing their response subsystems. In summary, China's pursuit of ecological civilization has yielded significant successes, potentially offering valuable insights for other nations striving for sustainable development. The ecological civilization model's integration of ecological environmental protection into economic, political, cultural, and social constructs may serve as a meaningful reference for the sustainable development of other countries.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) and asthma are two prevalent chronic respiratory diseases. Recent research has revealed that OSAHS not only shares several common risk factors with asthma but also exhibits a high comorbidity rate with it. This mutual interaction complicates the course of both diseases and increases complexity to clinical diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary and analysis, from an epidemiological and pathophysiological perspective, of the research progress and challenges concerning the OSAHS comorbided with asthma, particularly in severe asthma.

Non-methane short-lived climate forcer (SLCF) or near-term climate forcer (NTCF) emissions, as a significant driver of climate change, can be reduced to improve air quality. These reductions may contribute to additional warming of the climate system in the short term, thereby strongly affecting the likelihood of climate extremes. However, there has been no quantitative assessment of the impact of non-methane SLCF mitigation on compound flood–heatwave extremes (CFHEs). This study quantitatively investigates the changes in future (2031–2050 versus 1995–2014) CFHEs and the resulting population exposure in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) due to non-methane SLCF reductions. We used multi-model ensemble simulations under two future scenarios from the Aerosol and Chemistry Model Intercomparison Project (AerChemMIP) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The two future scenarios share the same greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but have weak (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 3–7.0) versus strong (SSP3-7.0-lowNTCF) levels of air quality control measures. The results show that future non-methane SLCF reductions during 2031–2050 results in about a 7.3% ± 2.3% increase in grid exposure to CFHEs in the NH relative to the period 1995–2014. The frequency, intensity, and duration of CFHEs increase by varying degrees. During the period 2031–2050, the frequency of CFHEs across the NH increases by 2.9 ± 0.9 events per decade due to non-methane SLCF reductions. The increases in CFHE frequency are more pronounced in East Asia, South Asia, Siberia, and northern and eastern North America. In East and South Asia, the intensities of both heatwaves and floods corresponding to CFHEs increase markedly, where heatwave magnitude (HWM) increases by 0.3 ± 0.2 K in East Asia and weighted average precipitation (WAP) increases by 18.3% ± 15.3% and 12.0% ± 4.5% in East Asia and South Asia, respectively. In other regions, rising temperatures dominate the increase in CFHEs. With regard to the duration of CFHEs, future reductions in non-methane SLCFs increases the duration of CFHEs in the NH by 0.3 ± 0.1 d. Regionally, the sensitivity of CFHE frequency to global warming caused by non-methane SLCF mitigation is 1.2–1.9 times higher than that caused by GHG forcing. Non-methane SLCFs results in NH-averaged increases in population exposure to CFHEs of (5.0 ± 2.0) × 105 person·event in the period 2031–2050. This study emphasizes the importance of considering the impacts of cleaner air in future responses to compound extremes and corresponding societal planning.

This paper considers the existence of multiple normalized solutions of the following $(2,q)$-Laplacian equation: \begin{equation*} \begin{cases} -\Delta u-\Delta_q u=\lambda u+h(\epsilon x)f(u), &\mathrm{in}\ \mathbb{R}^{N},\\ \int_{\mathbb{R}^{N}}|u|^2\mathrm{d}x=a^2, \end{cases} \end{equation*} where $20, a>0$ and $\lambda \in \mathbb{R}$ is a Lagrange multiplier which is unknown, $h$ is a continuous positive function and $f$ is also continuous satisfying $L^2$-subcritical growth. When $\epsilon$ is small enough, we show that the number of normalized solutions is at least the number of global maximum points of $h$ by Ekeland's variational principle.

Abstract Background In recent years, significant morbidity and mortality in patients with severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) have drawn considerable attention to the status of CMV infection in the intestinal mucosa of IBD patients and its role in disease progression. However, there is currently no high-throughput sequencing data for ulcerative colitis patients with CMV infection (CMV + UC), and the immune microenvironment in CMV + UC patients have yet to be explored. Method The xCell algorithm was used for evaluate the immune microenvironment of CMV + UC patients. Then, WGCNA analysis was explored to obtain the co-expression modules between abnormal immune cells and gene level or protein level. Next, three machine learning approach include Random Forest, SVM-rfe, and Lasso were used to filter candidate biomarkers. Finally, Best Subset Selection algorithms was performed to construct the diagnostic model. Results In this study, we performed transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing on CMV + UC patients to establish a comprehensive immune microenvironment profile and found 11 specific abnormal immune cells in CMV + UC group. After using multi-omics integration algorithms, we identified seven co-expression gene modules and five co-expression protein modules. Subsequently, we utilized various machine learning algorithms to identify key biomarkers with diagnostic efficacy and constructed an early diagnostic model. We identified a total of eight biomarkers (PPP1R12B, CIRBP, CSNK2A2, DNAJB11, PIK3R4, RRBP1, STX5, TMEM214) that play crucial roles in the immune microenvironment of CMV + UC and exhibit superior diagnostic performance for CMV + UC. Conclusion This 8 biomarkers model offers a new paradigm for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD patients post-CMV infection. Further research into this model will be significant for understanding the changes in the host immune microenvironment following CMV infection.

Abstract Tuberculosis is a serious global health burden, resulting in millions of deaths each year. Several circulating cell subsets in the peripheral blood are known to modulate the host immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in different ways. However, the characteristics and functions of these subsets to varying stages of tuberculosis infection have not been well elucidated. Peripheral blood immune cells (PBICs) were isolated from healthy donors (HD group), individuals with mild tuberculosis (MI group), and individuals with severe tuberculosis (SE group). CD4+ naive T cells and CD8+ T cells were decreased in the SE and MI groups, while CD14+ monocytes were increased in the SE group. Further analysis revealed increased activated CD4+ T cells, transitional CD8+ T cells, memory-like NK cells, and IGHG3highTTNhighFCRL5high B cells were increased in all patients with tuberculosis (SE and MI group). In contrast, Th17 cells, cytotoxic NK cells, and cytotoxic CD4+ T cells were decreased. Moreover, the increase of CD14+CD16+ monocytes correlated with severe tuberculosis, and the GBP5highRSAD2high neutrophils were unique to patients with severe tuberculosis. Cellular communication analysis revealed that CD8+ T cells exhibited the highest incoming interaction strength in the SE group. The increased CD8+ T cell incoming interactions are associated with the MHC-I and LCK pathways, with HLA-(A-E)-CD8A, HLA-(A-E)-CD8B, and LCK-(CD8A+CD8B) being ligand–receptor pairs. Patients with tuberculosis, especially severe tuberculosis, have profound changes in peripheral blood immune cell profiles. CD8+ T cells showed the highest incoming interaction strength in patients with severe tuberculosis, with the main signals being MHC-I and LCK pathways.

Abstract Introduction Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are critical components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with CRC. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of cohort studies with available data on the effect of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression on both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) by the risk ratios (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies were subgrouped based on the different tissue types, including cancer tissue and normal tissue, and the subgroup effect of MMP expression in different tissues was analyzed through meta-regression. To ensure the quality and reduce the risk of bias, the Newcastle‒Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the included studies. A sensitivity analysis was randomly performed to assess the potential impact of each study on our results. Results Eighteen trials were selected (Table 1) and included a total of 3944 patients. According to our primary meta-analysis, the expression of MMP-2 was significantly associated with a decrease in OS (RR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.34 to 2.29, P

Abstract Packetized energy encapsulates energy into modulated, routable, and trackable energy packets, enhancing the flexibility of managing distributed energy resources and expediting prosumers’ participation in transactive energy markets. In the context of packetized energy trading (PET), energy prosumers are naturally deemed as self‐interested agents seeking to obtain their own benefits. To align with prosumers’ demand, supply, quality of service (QoS), and system‐level social welfare, it is necessary to explore the design of prosumers’ bidding strategies and the market clearing methods, considering prosumers’ utility and the best demand response to markets. This study addresses challenges arising from prosumers’ selfishness and asymmetric preferences by proposing a PET‐oriented iterative double auction (IDA‐PET) design, where prosumers are allowed to iteratively change the bids before the auctioneer clears the market. Moreover, IDA‐PET accommodates system capacity constraints, energy balance, and economic constraints, providing cooperative strategies for both prosumers and the auctioneer. To validate the effectiveness of IDA‐PET, a novel and dedicated co‐simulation platform based on the hierarchical engine for large‐scale infrastructure co‐simulation platform is developed and case studies are conducted within a residential microgrid. The simulation results demonstrate that IDA‐PET can efficiently enhance the revenue of the auction market while meeting prosumers’ QoS requirements.

As a clinical pathological syndrome, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis （FSGS） is characterized by focal glomerulosclerosis, disappearance of podocyte processes and massive proteinuria. Current researches have confirmed that foot cell injury is a central pathogenetic cause of FSGS. And a growing number of studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress, inflammation and disruption of proximal tubular epithelial cells （PTECs） and glomerular endothelial cells （GECs） contribute to the development of FSGS. In recent years, autophagy has attracted greater attention in various research fields. It proved that autophagy plays an important regulatory role in FSGS, And it provided a novel therapeutic target FSGS. This review focused upon autophagy and its roles in FSGS.

Abstract In the framework of instantaneous Bethe-Salpeter equation, according to the J PC of quarkonia, we find that their wave functions all contain multiple partial waves, rather than pure waves. In the radiative electromagnetic transitions χ cJ →γψ and χ bJ →γΥ (J = 0, 1, 2), the main wave of quarkonium gives the non-relativistic contribution, while other waves provide the relativistic corrections. Our results indicate that the relativistic effect of charmonium, especially highly excited states, is significant. Such as the relativistic effects of χ cJ (2P) → γψ(1S) (J = 0, 1, 2) are {49.7%, 30.9%, 37.5%}, much larger than the corresponding {17.8%, 7.08%, 12.9%} of χ bJ (2P) → γΥ(1S). The decay of χ cJ (2P) → γψ can be used to distinguish between χ c0(3860) and χ c0(3915), which particle is the charmonium χ c0(2P). Although our result of χ c1(3872)→γψ(2S) is consistent with data, but the one of χ c1(3872)→γψ(1S) is much larger than data, so whether χ c1(3872) is the conventional χ c1(2P) remains an open question. The undiscovered Υ(1D) and Υ(2D) have large production rates in decays of χ b0(2P) → γΥ(1D) and χ bJ (3P) → γΥ(2D) (J = 0, 1), respectively. To search for χ bJ (3P) (J = 0, 1, 2), the most competitive channels are the decays χ bJ (3P) → γΥ(3S). And the best way to find χ b2(1F) is to search for the decay of χ b2(1F) → γΥ(1D).

Abstract Background Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a novel tick-borne infectious disease with a high fatality rate. Although several nomograms based on demographic and laboratory data have been reported to predict the prognosis of SFTS in recent studies, baseline serum glycated albumin (GA)/albumin (ALB) ratio included risk model has not been evaluated for the prediction of clinical outcome. Methods A total of 214 SFTS patients with integral data admitted to our hospital from May, 2020 to November, 2022 were included in this study. SFTS infection was confirmed by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory data were collected with in 24 h of admission and 1 to 2 days before discharge and were analysed retrospectively. Results Fiffty-seven patients (26.6%) died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood glucose (GLU), GA/ALB ratio, neutrophil counts (NEU) and lymphocyte percentage (LYM%) were the independent risk factors for mortality. A nomogram by these factors was created using RMS package in the R program. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of this nomogram was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.93). This model showed the excellent net benefit, as revealed by the decision curve analysis. GA/ALB ratios were also independent risk factors for poor out clinical come in subgroups of patients with hyperglycemia on admission and with diabetes history. Nomograms were constructed by the independent risk factors in the subgroups. AUCs of the nomograms in the subgroups showed high predictive values for adverse prognosis. Conclusions GA/ALB ratios were independent risk factors for mortality in all SFTS patients and subgroups of with hyperglycemia on admission and diabetes history. The nomograms including GA/ALB ratio had high predictive value for adverse clinical outcome.The nomograms provide a basis for clinical decision-making for the treatment of SFTS patients in different clinical settings.

Abstract Objective To explore the distribution and differences in the intestinal microbiota in girls with obesity-related precocious puberty and the relationship between intestinal microbiota and obesity-related precocious puberty. Methods 16 S rRNA gene amplicons from fecal samples from girls with precocious puberty and obesity-complicated precocious puberty and healthy children were sequenced to define microbial taxa. Results The α- and β-diversity indices of the microbiome significantly differed among the three groups. At the phylum level, the proportions of Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Bacteria, Campylobacterota, and Acidobacteriota were different. At the genus level, there were differences in Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Anaerostipes, Fusicatenibacter, Klebsiella, Lachnospiraceae, ErysipelotrichaceaeUCG-003, Prevotella9, Ruminococcus gnavus group, and Lachnoclostridium. Additionally, Bifidobacterium, Anaerostipes, Bacteroides, Candidatus Microthrix, Eubacterium hallii group, Klebsiella, and Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003 were identified as bacterial biomarkers by LEfSe. Furthermore, Sellimonas, Intestinibacter, Anaerostipes, Ruminococcus gnavus group, and Oscillibacter were identified as the differential biomarkers by random forest. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the biomarkers with high predictive value for obesity-related precocious puberty. Spearman correlation analysis confirmed that Anaerostipes levels were negatively correlated with body weight, body mass index (BMI), bone age, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol. Conclusions There was a significant correlation between obesity-associated precocious puberty and gut microbiota, especially the functional characteristics of the microbiome and its interactions, which can provide a theoretical basis for the clinical intervention of obesity and precocious puberty through the microbiome.

Abstract Background The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) presents a significant challenge due to the low bacterial load in pleural effusion (PE) samples. Cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (cf-TB) in PE samples is considered an optimal biomarker for diagnosing TP. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of cf-TB testing across diverse research sites with a relatively large sample size. Methods Patients suspected of TP and presenting with clinical symptoms and radiological evidence of PE were consecutively enrolled by treating physicians from 11 research sites across 6 provinces in China between April 2020 and August 2022. Following centrifugation, sediments obtained from PE were used for Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and mycobacterial culture, while the supernatants were subjected to cf-TB testing. This study employed a composite reference standard to definite TP, which was characterized by any positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) through either PE culture, PE Xpert, or pleural biopsy. Results A total of 1412 participants underwent screening, and 1344 (95.2%) were subsequently enrolled in this study. Data from 1241 (92.3%) participants were included, comprising 284 with definite TP, 677 with clinically diagnosed TP, and 280 without TP. The sensitivity of cf-TB testing in definite TP was 73.6% (95% CI 68.2–78.4), significantly higher than both Xpert (40.8%, 95% CI 35.3–46.7, P

Abstract Objective Transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are short non-coding RNA (ncRNA) sequences, ranging from 14 to 30 nucleotides, produced through the precise cleavage of precursor and mature tRNAs. While tRFs have been implicated in various diseases, including cancer, their role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the impact of tRF-Val-CAC-010, a specific tRF molecule, on the phenotype of LUAD cells and its role in tumorigenesis and progression in vivo. Methods The expression level of tRF-Val-CAC-010 was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Specific inhibitors and mimics of tRF-Val-CAC-010 were synthesized for transient transfection. Cell proliferation was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), while cell invasion and migration were evaluated through Transwell invasion and scratch assays. Flow cytometry was utilized to analyze cell cycle and apoptosis. The in vivo effects of tRF-Val-CAC-010 on tumor growth and metastasis were determined through tumor formation and metastasis imaging experiments in nude mice. Results The expression level of tRF-Val-CAC-010 was upregulated in A549 and PC9 LUAD cells (P

Abstract Background MOTS-c is known as mitochondrial open reading frame (ORF) of the twelve S c, produced by a small ORF-encoded peptides (SEPs) in mitochondrial 12S rRNA region. There is growing evidence that MOTS-c has a strong relationship with the expression of inflammation- and metabolism-associated genes and metabolic homeostasis, and even offering some protection against insulin resistance (IR). However, studies have reported inconsistent correlations between different population characteristics and MOTS-c levels. This meta-analysis aims to elucidate MOTS-c levels in physiological and pathological states, and its correlation with metabolic features in various physiological states. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the evidence of changes in blood MOTS-c concentration, and any association between MOTS-c and population characteristic. The Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, WANGFANG and VIP databases were searched from inception to April 2023. The statistical analysis was summarized using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CIs). Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation and generate forest plots through a random-effects model. Additional analyses as sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to identify the origins of heterogeneity. Publication bias was retrieved by means of a funnel-plot analysis and Egger’s test. All related statistical analyses were performed using Revman 5.3 and Stata 15 statistical software. Result There are 6 case–control studies and 1 cross-sectional study (11 groups) including 602 participants in our current meta-analysis. Overall analysis results showed plasma MOTS-c concentration in diabetes and obesity patients was significantly reduced (SMD = − 0.37; 95% CI− 0.53 to − 0.20; P 28 kg/ m2) was statistically significant after overweight people (BMI = 24–28 kg/ m2) were excluded (SMD = 0.51; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.81; P

Abstract Microcarrier is a promising drug delivery system demonstrating significant value in treating cancers. One of the main goals is to devise microcarriers with ingenious structures and functions to achieve better therapeutic efficacy in tumors. Here, inspired by the nucleus-cytoplasm structure of cells and the material exchange reaction between them, we develop a type of biorthogonal compartmental microparticles (BCMs) from microfluidics that can separately load and sequentially release cyclooctene-modified doxorubicin prodrug (TCO-DOX) and tetrazine-modified indocyanine green (Tz-ICG) for tumor therapy. The Tz-ICG works not only as an activator for TCO-DOX but also as a photothermal agent, allowing for the combination of bioorthogonal chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT). Besides, the modification of DOX with cyclooctene significantly decreases the systemic toxicity of DOX. As a result, the developed BCMs demonstrate efficient in vitro tumor cell eradication and exhibit notable tumor growth inhibition with favorable safety. These findings illustrate that the formulated BCMs establish a platform for bioorthogonal prodrug activation and localized delivery, holding significant potential for cancer therapy and related applications. Graphical Abstract